Tilawah

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Muhammad Hussain 'Amir

Juz 18
Juz 19
Juz 20

Juz 22
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Juz 24
Juz 25

Juz 28

Juz 30

Maher al-Mua'yqli

Juz 'Amma

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

Quran Memorization: Du'as

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Last time I had put up the meaning of the du'a or supplication before we memorize the Quran. I am trying to structure the literature so I could check them again when I am transmitting the teachings to other brothers and sisters "only" when they ask for assistance. 

We recite supplications and trying to get His attention to us each time before we memorize the Quran. So, I am sharing it here in Arabic because the code of communication with Him lies behind the words within the supplications and the Quran itself. Du'a is not translated into Malay language but in Sanskrit we can translate the word with śrū or in Malay, which means səru that comes from the same word of Sanskrit... 

Before You Begin

Please recite أم الكتاب الفاتحة

Recite آية الكرسي ٢:٢٥٥

أستغفرالله العظيم الذي لا اله إلا هوالحي القيوم وأتوب إليه ١٠ مرات

أللهم صل على سيدنا محمد وعلى آل سيدنا محمد ١٠ مرات

أللهم افتح علينا حكمتك وانشرعلينا من خزائن رحمتك يا أرحم الراحمين

Dear our Lord, open up for us Your wisdom. And gather upon us from Your treasure of Mercy. O the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate.

أللهم نورنا بكتابك بصري واشرح به صدري واستعمل به بدني وأطلق به لساني وقوى به جنابي وأسرع به فهمي وبحولك وقوتك يا أرحم الراحمين

Dear our Lord, enlight my chest with Your scripture and explains me about everything around me with it and use it as a shield for my body and make my tongue fluent with it and strengthen my sides with it and make me understand things immediately with it and with You surrounding me and with Your strength protecting me, o the Most Mercy Compassionate One!

إنا نحن نزلنا ذكرى وإنا له لحافظون سورة الحجر٩:١٤ ٧ مرات

Indeed We, without doubt, sent down the Message and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).

So, you can memorize verses or the suras that you choose to memorize. You can use few different methods and maybe take time like half an hour everyday without specifying the time for memorization. It could be anytime but you just allocate half an hour for that purpose. So, it would be very flexible and you still practicing your memorization although you are doing other works.

Before You Close

صدق الله العظيم وبلغ رسوله الكريم تنزيل من رب العالمين ربنا آمنا بما أنزلتَ واتبعناالرسولَ فاكتبنا مع الشاهدينَ

True is the God the Great and His noble messenger (prophet Muhammad s.a.w) already had delivered everything which is revealed from the Lord of the universe. Our Lord, we believe in whatever (revelation) that You had revealed and we follow the example of the messenger thus write for us please, that we would be among those who bear the witness (that You are the God the Highest and prophet Muhammad s.a.w is Your appointed messenger)!

My Words

My translation is very loose because I understand the prayer and I can use them within applied situation. Please avoid writing them down, copying them and pasting it elsewhere or printing them down. I am very orthodox when it comes to memorization and veneration of the Quran! If you do not believe them then please skip this post. I am just sharing this for believers but I have no audio to transmit the sound...

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

Quran Studies

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Quranic Studies

Science of Quran
Definition of Science

History of Quranic Text

Favor of Reciting Quran
Closer to Quran
Imam Musa al-Kadhim r.a on Quran

Quran Memorization

Memorize Quran
Memorize Quran: Du'as

Juz 'Amma
Tilawah

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

Pleasure and Wrath of the God

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I learned that it is not cute to have such a long title. I tried to make the title simple but catchy. I think that it is an art itself, haha. I am trying to continue the discussion of Abdullah al-Hadad in his letter to fellow brethren.

The God the Highest through His will has put on His pleasure in the obedience towards Him and His wrath is in disobedience towards Him. He promises paradise for those obedient servants but threatening those who disobey with "bitterness" in this life and so on due to His infinite fairness and wisdom. 

Quran

These are the limits of the God the Highest, and whosoever obeys the God the Highest and His messenger will be admitted to the gardens which rivers flow, to abide therein, and that will be the great success (Surah al-Nisaa' 4:13).

"And whoever disobeys the God the Highest and His messenger, and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment" (Surah al-Nisaa' 4:14).

The God the Highest commanded His believing servants to compete in reaching the "forgiveness" and getting the "paradise" besides protecting themselves and their family from the "torments of hell" through obedience to His commandments but avoiding His prohibitions.

"And march forth in the way which leads to forgiveness from your Lord, and for paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious ones" (Surah Ali-'Imran 3:133). 

"O those who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are appointed angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey the God in what He commands them but do what they are commanded" (Surah al-Tahrim 66:6).

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

Deeds

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I am sure brothers and sisters had come across this word karma in Sanskrit. Most of all, many people in the world understood it in a rather weird way for me, hehe. If you watch this American TV series, "My Name is Earl" starred by Jason Lee then perhaps you will also find the notion about karma. 

I am fan of Earl (Jason Lee) and his retarded brother in the series, lol. The character presented a premise for the movie which sounds like, "You know the kind of guy who does nothing but bad things and then wonders why his life sucks? Well, that was me. Every time something good happened to me, something bad was always waiting round the corner: karma. That's when I realized that I had to change, so I made a list of everything bad I've ever done and one by one I'm gonna make up for all my mistakes. I'm just trying to be a better person. My name is Earl".

In this movie, Earl is trying to erase his evil deeds by trying to correct things which he has done to others while he was a bad person. He makes a long winding list for that and my colleagues were laughing hard watching Earl's stupidity in quest to get a "better" luck, lol. So, people talk about karma as something related to luck whether it is bad or good. 

This concept is actually an ancient Indian theory which prevails in philosophies of ancient Indian religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, and others. Hinduism is actually an umbrella term for these bunch of religious thoughts taught by ancient Indian sages and teachers. It also being a shade for folk religions in Indian sub-continent besides of the Vedic ones. 

The word karma frames the notion of the deeds of sentient creatures which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect and this cycle is known as samsara. The Malays had absorbed the word into Malay language but the meaning in Malay is, suffering. In explaining this, there are few interpretations which develop into theories proposed by those religions in order to explain the effect of deeds. People only use the words but they are at lost on how does the word works. I am sure those who study Malay language could distinguish which one is Sanskrit derived and which one is original ones. Which one is Arabic derivation and which one is Persian derivation and so on. 

Retaliation is Based on One's Deed

Well for Muslims, we have the concept of العمل and it is also translated in English as deed or action. Every sane and mentally healthy person actually knows that they would receive the fruits of their deeds. The deeds are like the seed which they thrust on the Earth and they will reap the result of what they had planted. They will achieve success when they work on it.

Why they do not know this matter and why have no confidence on what is there for them? While they also listen to whatever they believe and have confidence in it, whether it is a firm verse of the scripture revealed by the God the Highest or the sayings of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w? Both of these had brought certainty and confidence to those whom the God the Highest has enlighten their heart with His light.

Quran

Now, open up your eyes and carefully listen with your ears to some of the sentences from the scripture... from the hadiths. May you receive awareness and wake up from your long sleep. Thus with it, you will strive hard with your good deeds in order to save your self during, "the day where no treasure nor son is useful for you, except that you who come to Him with pure and clean heart" (Surah al-Shu'ara 26:88-89).

The God the Highest says which means, "And for the God is whatever in the heavens and whatever in the Earth for Him to retaliate on those who commit evil with their actions and to reward those who perform good deeds with their actions" (Surah al-Najm 53:31).

Some glimpse on ancient Indian philosophical view about the earth and heavens related to deeds. This one is philosophical. It is not religious nor related to the teachings of prophet Muhammad s.a.w! This is my philosophical experience as a young guy who studied Brahmanism with Indian Buddhism framework yet I was also a student in Islamic traditional system which was absorbed into national education stream. There is a cosmological notion about land of actions and land of birth in the previous Brahmins' scriptures. I guess it was the Srimat Bhagavatam as far as I could remember. It explains the planetary systems and I also read those "stimulative" labeled scripture which is more likely some kind of gospel for the Indians. The Earth and its surrounding is known as the physical universe. This physical universe is one of the four regions in the universe. The other three universe are the Earths of Retaliation where souls or beings reaping their deeds. In those regions, they could not commit anything independently as in the physical Earth. Other three regions are the hell, the paradise and the subterranean heavens or Hollow Earth inhabited by weird creatures. So, in physical Earth the creatures or beings in their forms could produce deeds independently either the bad ones or the good ones.

"And that, there is not for man except that for which he strives. And that his efforts is going to be seen. Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense. And that to your Lord is the finality". (Surah al-Najm 53:39-42)

"Paradise is not (obtained) by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensated for it and he will not find besides the God the Highest a protector or a helper. And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer, those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, even as much as the speck on a date seed" (Surah al-Nisaa' 4:123-124).

If we look at the notion wishful thinking, I had found many fellow Muslims (bigots) ourselves who condemn others to the hell without contemplating on ourselves. How courageous they are in throwing out those words as if they had gotten the stamp from the God the Highest to stamp others with the stamp of the hell. Who they think they are? Why they shamelessly thinking that they are favored by the God the Highest even if they are practicing? How do they know that the God the Highest favor them? Is it their wishful thinking or the revelation from the God which reaches them? As far as I know, "revelation" by the mean of those which is sent through the heavenly emissary, archangel Gabriel a.s to human-being is already stopped after the revelation which is piled as the Glorious Quran is completed.

So, where did they get this "wishful thinking" that they are the dweller of paradise and violently and harshly saying things to other creatures of the God the Highest? As for people of the scripture, I consider Muslims as people of the scripture too. We could say that most Arab tribes during the period of ignorance were without scripture and 'most' of them worshiped dates, palm trees, stones and other gods introduced from the Levant world as the Levantines were seafarers who sailed to other lands and bringing with them other foreign cultures. However, Muslims were people who are revealed with scripture, namely the Quran. From beginning of his prophethood, prophet Muhammad s.a.w was revealed with scripture which was the Surah al-'Alaq 96. So, how could this notion only being labeled to the Christians and Jews? Why not everyone together contemplate some more, having more insights rather than spewing "holier than thou" speeches and checking the chronicles of the world besides shooting words without we realize that we are burdened with 'responsibility' on our deeds and our speeches is a part of the deeds. Our thought is also a part of deeds and actions. It only come to materialize when we use our articulations, our hands, our eyes and others because we 'choose' to commit those acts!

So, whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom's wight of evil will see it! (Surah al-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

"The God does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity. It will have the consequence of what good it has gained, and it will bear the consequence of what evil it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our Protector, so give us victory over those who disbelieve You" (Surah al-Baqarah 2:286).

Whover perform charity thus it is for himself. Whoever commit evil thus it is for himself. And your Lord never tyrannize His servants (Surah Fussilat 41:46)

The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present (before it) and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that evil was a great distance. And the God warns you of Himself, and the God is the Most Kind to servants (Surah Ali-'Imran 3:30).

And fear a Day when you will be returned to the God the Highest. Then, every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly (Surah al-Baqarah 2:281).

Hadiths

Say the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, "The holy spirit (Gabriel a.s) whispered to my heart, choose whatever life you wanted to live since you will die, love whatever you wanted to love since you will be separated to it and do whatever you wanted to do since you will be recompensed with it".

He further says, "Goodness never perish, and sin is never forgotten and the Executor of the Retaliation (the God the Highest) never dies. You will be recompensed according to what you had done".

In another sacred hadith that he received while he was sleeping, he says in his own words that the God the Highest says, "O my servants, those are just your deeds. I am reckoning them for you and I will fulfill the retaliation upon you. And for those who receive goodness thus say, 'Praise be to the God, Lord of the universe' and if you get other than that, curse no one but himself!"

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w also mentions that, "Never curse those who were already dead since they indeed receiving whatever they had done".

And in another hadith he says, "Indeed there will be a slave boy who is placed higher than his master in the paradise and the master will be asking the Lord, 'Was not this my slave boy while we were on the Earth?' The God the Highest thus will be saying, "I am just recompensing whatever he had done in the Earth!'"

Quotes

Ali r.a mentions, "The world is the place for deeds and there is no material upcoming for those deeds in the world. The hereafter is the place to reap the deeds and there is no deed there! Thus, perform your deeds in the place where there is no retaliation there since the hereafter is not the place for deeds".  

Hasan of Basra said, "The God the Highest says to the dwellers of paradise, 'Enter into the paradise because of My Grace, be eternal there because of your good intentions and accept everything according to your deeds'".

All of the evidences from the scripture's verses and hadiths and quotes proving that there are retaliations on beings' deeds. And it is just a reminder for everyone including to ourselves. Why not for a reminder? This matter is known by everyone whether scholars or public... Even down to those who are ignorant among them.

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

Darkness after the Light

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Daily Life Experience

In this period of distress, because my father is bedridden since May 2012 and brothers and sisters could imagine how long he is in that condition. I stopped for few moments joining communal worship. The paralysis happened to my father is framed in the phrase, "one's body is the tomb of his soul". The other world is of course another story. How patient he is in that condition. I prayed that may the God the Highest forgives him whatever his errors and I forgive him too on whatever that he erred to me. 

When I ponder, he actually has done countless good things over me and to others. He encouraged me to study to the highest level that I can and he supported me. I just regret that I did not get to be his company when he was alone. I was also in trouble at the time trying to finish up the thesis. On the other hand, I had to become a counsel for sisters when they were in trouble, listening to mother crying over sisters and being the only boy in a home with all sister siblings could be stressful. I did not have any friend at home nor can I talk about boy's matter with them. Woman and man are different. 

Sometimes, I tried to meditate and closing my eyes but there are also times that I could not control my emotion. I simply burst out and it taints the environment around. I feel guilty and avoiding from looking at people's face after that. But most of all, I am thankful to the God the Highest. He kept me away from evil companies that will mislead me to destruction. He leads me to Him and I only know to find Him in the holy sanctuary, the mosque. I do not care if people call me crazy when I am in deep thought thinking about Him. Let them think whatever they wanted too. Sometimes, I would just chant holy verses and checking my pronunciation out loud at a comfortable place where no one performs prayer service.   

Last night I was keeping my father a company, and I simply sit at the sofa to signify to my mother that she should have some rest in her private room. She is a woman. It is ok I will take care of my father. I do not really sleep at night and reading some books and treatises. Early in the morning at 4:00 I perform the shower and praying for blessings and forgiveness under the pouring water. I cannot think myself as a good person though I go for prayer services. I still feel myself as an evil sinner. I feel guilty for not joining the daily communal worship simply because I do not want to see people's face. That is hypocrisy can I say. It is an ugly attitude. So, I just went to pray in communal worship. I am just writing this here to remind myself. 

After the 'Asr prayer service, I just sat in meditation at the pillar of the musalla. At that time, few people gathered there to listen to the Fadhilat al-'Amal recited by the guy who is a member of the Tabligh movement. I would actually try to avoid them. First of all, I do not like to talk with people broadly nor being interviewed. Most of all, the sunnah which I perform is not to be seen but only for the God. The obligatory one is of course free to be seen because it is not optional and offered in communal services. The other is, I will leave people when they start to speak in the "show off" tone or leaving behind the God the Highest and neglecting other souls (ego). Does not matter if it is coated with religious notions or in other means. I do not care if people call me an insolent. They are free to do so as that is their mouth. 

Never be Deceived

But, this evening I feel tired of running here and there simply to find a comfortable place to chant the litanies. So, I just remain there chanting litanies, closing my eyes while listening to them. I read those books such as Fadhilat al-'Amal when I am alone in the musalla and I made notes for them. I do not have any problem with their materials at all. I simply read anything that I think useful for "self" development. I listened about the "good words" and about not to be envious to the thing which is perceived as good received by the disbelievers. It says, "You have no knowledge about what will happen to the soul once it is pulled out from the body". 

This reminds me to a quote from Surat Ta-Ha v. 16 which means, "Thus, never let one avert you from "it" who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you then would perish". It in the verse is a pragmatic for the God which is our creed and refers to the prayer services and performing the connection with Him in order to remember Him. This is my own understanding based from the very surah itself as the references to "it" come from the previous verses.  

Light Perishes

In this post, I would like to remind myself that a person who knows his own religion could also be deviated because of the darkness and poisons around. A Jew who would understood the principles of Torah, a Christian who would understood the wisdom of Jesus Christ and a Muslim who could differentiate the position of hadiths and knows the Quran could still be deviated from the Truth. It happens because he does not know how to control his desire and lust. The scripture knowledge that he has at a time would be useless at all for him. 

The God says in al-A'araf v. 175 which means, "And read for them the news about those who were brought to them our evidences, but they detached themselves from them; Thus Satan pursued him and he became among the deviators". 

Because of the lust and desires, the verses that he knows does not bringing any light to his soul, but making it darker. In the end, he becomes the follower of Satan until the verses he memorized were wrongly used. He becomes lost and lost. Just like in an example of a man who lives in the Holy Mecca for such a long time and people around look at him as a learned scholar, but because he is deviated by the Satan he becomes a drunk and leaves behind his prayer services. Thus, a person asked him, "Why are you drunk?" He answers, "There is no such evidence in the Quran or the Hadith which says that a drunk would be cast off into the hell". And regarding prayer, he says, "The Surah al-Ma'un mentions that the Wayl is for those who pray." Because he is deceived by his lust and desires so he is still twisting the fact by using the verses he memorized to defend the wrong way. He memorized the Quran and the Hadiths, but those holy verses and traditions were long detached from his soul. He is naked. 

And we pray with Surah ali-'Imran v. 8, "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate, now after You have guided us but grant us mercy from Your own presence; for You are the Grantor of bounties without measure"...       

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

Live Forever with the Scripture

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Whoa, I haven't update anything for my record here, haha. I had lost those piles of notes again and I regret it so much cause I have no time to put them in here as a mean to save them. At least, somebody or other could read them and practice them even if I reach the other realm before them. I am just sharing this from Mr. Suhaib Webb but I had checked first whatever he wrote as I hate spreading anything without checking the contents. We are responsible for our own acts.....

In chapter 35:32, the God the Highest says, the Quran was "inherited" to his servants. Inheritance is usually distributed after a person's death. The idea" "A heart kept away from Him is dead. So grab the book and live again!" He says, "A reminder to those alive (in their hearts)". 

For that reason, 35:35 starts with, "Those who wronged themselves". To give them hope in a new life if they return to Him! Ponder! Instead of clipping the sinners hopes, the Quran gives them flight. May He forgive us in these days and grant us the strength to fly!

"The God began with them because they are farthest from hope; then those between sin and good because they are between fear and hope; then those who are foremost because of their confidence in the God guiding them". Imam Ja'afar al-Sadiq related by al-Qurtubi's exegesis.

I have to do some media control with other staffs in the IOI tomorrow. These whole Ramadan is not so much packed for me because the environment is quite pleasant for everyone. I just tried to key-in the data for our media project as quick as I can so I could help other staffs with their chores if I am free. I am glad that those in the musalla never neglect the prayer times especially those in day time and they have an hour lectures too. I joined them although my department do not put any constraint for us to be there like other departments. 

I just do not feel happy especially now there are many issues dividing Muslims and the slender is spreading all the way round. There are trendy assholes even in religious matters. We have to avoid arguing with them especially imam Ahmad also put forth his advice to leave arguments even if we are right. Let them pull their chest and we just stay calm without any emotion. I had trained myself for this since long while being viewed as a "weirdo" and I just need to practice it when I am facing the situations. That is a meditation method while we are walking, sitting and sleeping, hehehe... Thank you viewing, may He bless everyone and may He helps us to put down the slander around.

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

Quran Lesson: Surat al-Fajr

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Alhamdulillahi rabbi'l'aalamin... Praises only due to the Lord of the universe that we finished our night prayers at the mosque without any problem. I rarely pray at the musalla close to our neighborhood but I walk almost everyday to the al-Najah mosque at the religious primary school if brothers and sisters are familiar with Precinct 9 in Putrajaya. Because I have time for that and I don't make friends with fellow human-beings, my father is lying sick on the bed and I am broke right now that I cannot travel far, hahaha. 

I think today the mosque is extraordinarily filled with people just like yesterday. Thankful to the God when seeing them performing the salat services together. I am glad the young imam from Kelantan is back too. I was so sad when I thought he was shifted. Though never talked with him cause there is no chance yet but I simply feel comfortable to pray there because of him.  

Introduction

In the Name of the God the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate

 

I just chanted the surat al-Fajr to fill the gap time between the Maghrib and 'Isha servcies though been reading the opening part for so many times. Yes, it is a simple surat recorded in the Glorious Quran but please never under estimate its benefit to the reciters and those who learn this simple surat. This surat was revealed in the holy city, Mecca just after the revelation of the surat al-Layl. Al-Fajr means the Day Break. It consists of 30 verses. So, how to memorize this surat easily? You can break this surat into three parts where each part consists of 10 very simple verses. Methods may vary depends on a person. I am usually using the tasbeeh or prayer beads to memorize the verses. There are specific methods that a reciter may develop but I am not going to talk in length here.

Meaning

There are four major lessons which we could find in this surat. I am going to put them together in the meaning section.

1) The Destruction of Those who Opposed Teachings of the God

By the dawn 1 And the ten nights 2 And the even and odd 3 And the night when it passes 4 Is there in that, an oath for one of perception? 5 Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the tribe of 'Aad? 6 Iram who had lofty pillars 7 The likes of whom had never been created in the land 8 And Tamud, who carved out rocks in the valley? 9 And Pharaoh who owns the stakes? 10 Whom oppressed within the lands 11 And increased therein the corruption 12 So, your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment 13 Indeed, your Lord is in observation 14

2) Wealth and Poverty is the Tests for the Servants of the God

And as for man, when his Lord tries him and is generous to him and favors him, he says, "My Lord has honored me" 15 But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says, "My Lord has humiliated me" 16 No, but you do not honor the orphan! 17 And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor 18 And you consume inheritance, devouring it altogether! 19 And you love the wealth with intense love 20

3) The Remorse of Those who were Sunken in the Worldly Affairs

Never! When the earth has been leveled, pounded and crushed 21 And your Lord has come, and the angles rank upon rank 22 And brought within the view, that Day is Hell - that Day, man will remember, but what good for him will be the remembrance? 23 He will say, "Oh, I wish I had sent ahead some good for my life" 24 So, on that Day, none will punish as severely as His punishment 25 And none will bind as severely as His binding of the evildoers 26

4) Appreciation on Those who were Faithful

To the righteous it will be said, "O, tranquil soul!" 27 Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing to Him 28 And enter among My righteous servants 29 And enter into My paradise 30    

Lessons

Well, I can just relate this to my life. I never look far to others because I have no power to do that. Even our self is quite difficult to contemplate and to know. How can we judge people and say that we are better off than others? This surat is good for those who feel hopeless in their life. Maybe we are not fortunate as others, poor, broke, ugly, and so on. But the God Himself through the tongue of noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w assured us that these are not the humiliation for us. They are just the trials for us. If we wish to return to Him well-pleasing and peacefully, we should try our best to fulfill our Covenant with Him. 

Maybe we feel insinuated or feel sad when we suddenly compared ourselves with others. I too sometimes feel that way even I cried until some people looked at me like a crazy person because I looked awful just after that. We feel that way because they are more fortunate than us or lucky there while we are wretched miserable and hapless soul here. But, then the God says that it is also a trial as to show whether those people are going to be steady or sunken into worldly affairs. The God had earlier put forth the example to us, the 'Aad and the Tamud who were the ancient Arab nations. The Aad's archeological sites were discovered by Western archeologists in Rubb el-Khaly and the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w had also passed the area of the Tamud during the battle of Tabuk in the 9th of H as reported by Abdullah bin Umar r.a. Also the Pharaoh who killed the Egyptian sorcerers who testified the prophethood of Moses a.s thus refusing to worship the king just because he was rich and fortunate. 

So, this is some parts of the Quran... Try to memorize if brothers and sisters have some blurry image of the written surats. If brothers and sisters had already memorize them, then I am so pleased. Even more pleased if you help me to teach them around, to your children to your friends to your brothers and sisters. By memorizing the Quran, you people could also help me in the hereafter. At least please tell the God to save me :')

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

Nabil al-Rifai: Surat Maryam

Part 1

 

Part 2

 

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

The Dead Comes to Life

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Just before going to sleep, I have some reading from the Al-Azhar Exegesis of Quranic Verses by Mr. Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah. This tafseer was actually the one which I read while I was in the period of deciding to become a Muslim in which I am a Muslim because it is me who wanted to be a Muslim. Not because of my parents nor my ancestral tradition. I still keep some of the volumes in my room while I prevented my mother from sending these valuable lessons outside the house because I am reading and benefiting from it. I believe that it is not translated widely into world languages yet. I have been translating this book with 7000 something pages into English in another form of language part by part. Maybe this site would be the site for me to keep them first and I don't know if I would be alive to see people in the West and other parts of the world benefiting from this. I am just doing this with individual capacity for the sake of Allah. 

Surat al-An'am 6: 122-124

And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing 122 And thus We have appointed in every town its leading criminals that they may plot therein. Yet they do not plot except against their own selves but they are not aware 123 And when a Sign (from the God) comes to them, they say: "Never will we believe until we are given the like of what was given to messengers of the God. The God knows best where to place His messengers. Soon there shall befall those who are guilty the humiliation from the God and a severe punishment because of the plots they used to devise" 124  

In previous verses, it was explained that the satans in the form of human and genies used to attract those whom they could attract with sweet words full of tricks. Sometimes, they persuaded those who love to follow their footsteps to eat the flesh slaughtered for idols. And if the believers follow this, they would be fallen into polytheism again.

The verses shown that those who were attracted by those sweet tricky words of those satans are those who could not differentiate between the faith and ingratitude through the denial of the faith. Between the true monotheism and polytheism. However, those who were enlightened with the light of faith are not easily influenced by these persuasion as what has been explained through the verse 122 of this surat which sounds like: "And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom?" From this verse, we understood that the faithful and the ingrates are different. The ingrates are similar to the dead, and he is only alive when the God grants light upon him. Thus with the light granted by the God the Most Highest, he walks amidst people. 

Generally, everyone in this world knows that those who are dead would never be alive again. It is impossible for them to be brought into life again. One of the core faith for Muslims is that, the Resurrection is His promise. Every soul will be brought to life again through His decree. Zillion of times, He had shown that this matter is not impossible for Him. We were taught to see how a barren land becomes alive when the rain falls down. The dead plants on the barren land during summer becomes green when the rain falls upon them. 

Through these verses, the God the Most Highest poses to us a simile that those who are dead in this world could be brought again to life by Him. And after being alive, he is given with the "light" where with it; he could stay alive in front of the crowd. The God tells us that this man who was given a life after his death by the God is different to those who are still in the darkness. Those in the darkness could not easily escape their selves from it. He is dead although he appears alive. 

Although it seems like we are alive, breathing in and out. But if our soul has no light in it, it is just no difference to the dead. A human who live without any creed and basis to hold on is the same with a mere animal on the earth. What animals do day and night is that they are eating, drinking, mating and producing child. Later they die. Animals in the jungle have no particular law while those animals in livestock are to be slaughtered for their flesh as the food....         

Memorize Quran

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Since the past two days, I had been very busy writing and printing out my resume to find job. I went out and thinking so many times to do some migrant workers' job at the shopping complex where it also touches things like can I pray peacefully at the time I work like this or is it worth for me to do such jobs when I get only little payment for being humans' slave? Actually I was hit with the fear that I could not maintain my family house and I am the only son at home. I tried to practice meditation and all sort of things that I had learned from my previous experience but once I see my father face I began to feel so scared. I could say that my father had done everything he can to survive and maintaining his family. Though many people looked down upon him, I actually look at him with high esteem. He is way better than me because he could survive. I am also afraid and thinking about my mother. I wish that she would be happy and healthy. 

I had browsed again the schools in Middle East such as in Yemen or Saudi Arabia which taught Quran and the Sharia but now I am already 26. In few weeks I would turn to be a 27 years old man. I am not a little kid anymore. And still I am penniless with no property of my own and with no career. I am only sustained with the mercy of my family members and of course with Allah's mercy. I think that maybe it would be too late for me. I made the decision to shut down my social network account because I don't think that I could get help from any of friends out there. It would be just enough for me to depend only on Allah. Maybe people might think that I am crazy but I have had enough with this world. I don't mind people wanted to say that I am more inclined to rahbaniyyat (monkhood) which is forbidden in our religion. I did not ask for this but it still happens as I cannot get any help from people around. They do not understand me nor do I understand them. Urm, trying to hold my dropping tears. Please be strong...!!!

Anyway, I don't think that I could return to proper Sharia studies and studying Quran in proper environment. Maybe I would continue studying it under the ground and praying for Allah to help me by guiding me with ruhul qudus (holy spirit) and shun away all the satans from me as to protect the Quran that I am bearing. I try to frame the methods that I had used when I memorized the 19th part of the Quran with some help from syllabus from the net. I had lost almost all the methods due to the struggle with worldly affairs. I could just remember the prayers for memorization, the litany that I learned from teachers and chanting its meaning by heart in several languages. Right now, I keep an exercise book with me to jot down any verses that come across my head whenever it is and checking it again with my mushaf. It is almost the same method that I found in a site where I copied these down for myself.  

Memorizing Quran has a process which is broken into three categories which are:

1. New lesson

2. New memorization

3. Old memorization

It is very important to comprehend that memorizing Quran for the long term is a process and it takes close to a month. One we memorize the verse, it would not be solid until we repeat it a number of times until it enters the deeper part of our brain.

Beginning New Lesson

If we are serious about memorizing, try to follow these steps exactly:

1. Read the first verse 10 times while looking in from the top. 

2. Now read the same verse 10 times without looking at it until we can recite it without any mistakes.

3. Begin connecting the verses. Recite the first and second verses together without looking in and without mistakes. 

4. Keep connecting the verse on the page. Each time we connect the new verse, go back to the top of the page and read till the verse that we have memorized. 

5. When we reach the last verse, we should recite the whole page from the top without looking and without any mistakes.

6. Recite the page from memory to someone. We should have no mistakes.

7. We should repeat the above steps as needed to have a perfect page memorized.

New Memorization

This the amount of the Quran which we have memorized in the last 30 days. This part is to be taken seriously as it will determine if the verse we memorized will be solid for our life or not. Retaining and reviewing the Quran is a 25 day process. After those 25 days, reviewing once a month will suffice. This will lead to the old memorization which will be discussed.

1. Whatever we review in this section, we must recite it to someone who has either memorized the verse or is well-versed in reading the Quran.

2. If we have memorized five pages in the last five days, we must recite them to ourselves until we do not make any error. Then find a teacher and recite it to him.

3. At this point on, whatever we memorize, it must be recited daily. It means reviewed to ourselves without mistakes and recited to someone else.

4. If for some reason we did not review our "new memorization" for the day, then do not memorize new verse. We are pouring water into a cup with a hole. Each day we do not review new memorization, we are making the hole in our cup bigger and bigger until we would not remember anything. If we do not review a page for seven days consecutively, go back to the new lesson and re-memorize the page.    

5. It sounds redundant because there lies the importance on how much we need to review new memorization. It will make or break our memorization.      

6. If we memorize a page a day, we will finish a part in 20 days. After these 20 days, take extra five days to review whole part with someone proficient.
7. The part memorized will now be considered part of our "old memorization".

Old Memorization

This is anything we have reviewed for at least 25 days consecutively. The amount we review depends on how much Quran we have memorized. Once we have memorized the Quran, new lessons and new memorizations will come to a halt. And we will be left with the old memorization. This will continue for the rest of our lives till death do us part.

A. Daily Review

1. Between 1-3rd part, we should review five pages daily.

2. Between 4-7 part, we should review 10 pages which equals half the part daily.

3. Between 7-15 part, we should review 20 pages which equals to a part daily.

4. Between 15-20 part, we should review 30 pages which equals 1.5 part daily.

5. Between 20-30 part, we should review 60 pages which equals two parts daily.

B. Read the part to ourselves then recite to a teacher or another memorizer.

This process will have to continue for the rest of our life.

C. In the "old memorization", we should not get more than four mistakes, or four stutters in a part.

A mistake classifies as reading something incorrectly and not being able to correct it. A stutter classifies reading something incorrectly, being sent back a few verses to correct it and finally reading it correctly. At the same time, we should be making more than one mistake or one stutter for every five pages we read.

Conclusion

When we found a verse to be hard, we would look into the mushaf and write it somewhere. At times we would also listen to recitations to ease the memorization. Sometimes looking in and repeating it would not make the verse stick, so do whatever it takes to memorize it.

If we falter somewhat in the old memorization, it is ok. Just do not miss two or three days at once. Reading Quran is a lifetime endeavor. Reviewing is more important than memorizing. Focus on perfecting our "new lesson" and "new memorization". If we feel some part is not strong, give preference to review that part rather than memorizing something new. Read something everyday. Not only should we do this as a student of memorization, but it should be our habit as Muslims. Take out some time to read and reflect on a few verses daily. 

Wishing Allah helps me with this task and makes everything goes well. This life surely is not going on smoothly because nobody guides me or showing me what should I be. It was You who is the One that decides what am I going to be. I know I was not a good student nor excel well in any field that I studied. I keep hearing comments and critics from people around but nobody criticize their selves because they think that everything that they get is by their own effort without the intervention of the Divine Sustainer (luck). I pray that at least let the Quran being my company and my entertainer while waiting for the Resurrection the one which would be my savior in His promised Day if I have no possession in this world nor fame to show off like other people. That is all that I wanted for myself :')

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Al-A'araf 7 v. 33: Spiritual Adornments

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Recently I am seeking some help from fellow Ahlul Bayt members of various branches of Islamic movements to help us to clear the name of our ulamas, family and imams. I hate to see how we Muslims dividing our selves into congregations, organizations or movements just to tyrannize each other and posing judgements based on unwritten laws to satisfy our nationalism or perhaps our position. Many of our people had already sacrificed their selves and keeping their silence under oppressions just to make sure that the nations of Islam do not split out of Allah's course and for the peace of the humanity. I cannot put everything up here in a blow. Maybe I would compile the names of those figures first. Many fitnas nowadays and I am sensing that our prayer times becoming earlier than before. I am not sure about other regions. I do not like to speculate but favoring and incline more to the Quran and the prophethood of Muhammad s.a.w as the basis of our Creed. But I think the time is moving fast as the speed of the Earth circulating the Star is also increasing. 

Anyway, this is not the topic I wanted to talk about in this post. I am here to keep the written notes about surat Al-A'araf verse 33 exegesis. It means in English more or less: "Say: My Lord forbids me indecency; whatever obvious of it, whatever hidden of it and sins and unjust oppression; and that you associate not the God with what He never ascribe in Revelation out of the authority and that you say not anything about Him of which you have no knowledge about".

According to Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah in his al-Azhar, Allah commanded Muhammmad s.a.w as His messenger to tell the universe that adorning one self with ornaments or modest eating or drinking habits are not forbidden. However those are just at the surface. It is actually forbidden to neglect spiritual adornment. Never exceed the limit of spiritual body sanctity with sins when it is well protected, and never feel worried if physical body is granted with adornments.

الفَوَاحشَ or indecency in the verse refers to disgusting acts related to genitals. In modern days, it is also known as promiscuous sex and the verse mentions about it is committed secretly or openly. As what we could see today, ladies wearing sexually attractive attire to attract people's attention, skimpy dress and showing off their physical assets. Some people would say why only ladies? I would say this refers to every sane human-being regardless gender which also include the third gender if there is such a thing. I know several sexual terms from my experience with those kids who watched porn. Whatever disgusting acts exceeding the sanctity limit of spiritual body out of these related to human-physical body attraction portrayed in those terms is forbidden. 

Watching anything related to this such as pornographic materials is also counted as disgusting. I could still recall some of my hostel mates were watching porn videos while I was in their room cause I was chatting with some of them. Suddenly one of them organized some porn watching party and locked the door. I did not say anything to them nor watching it. I pretend that I was reading the newspaper before I force one of them to unlock the door as it used their keys. When I return to my room I just whip myself with belt buckle. Some kids there including my roommate perhaps had mistaken me for whipping myself for 'Ashura or Muharram matam but it was Ramadan's eve, lol. I would fast in those days of 'Ashura rather than whipping myself. Yea that was retarded but I can't help it with the feeling of guilt for disrespecting my soul when I mingled with those kids for da'awa purpose. This is what I am telling brothers and sisters that I am stepping one of my feet in the hell because I love those brothers because they said they are Muslims. It is so tormenting yet we have to be patient with some psychological strategies to bring everyone to Allah without breaking their "heart". So we are not being selfish by only circulating the Mercy of Allah among our selves. 

Please don't misunderstood me as a man who discriminate women on gender basis when I am stating these as apart of what we understood from the verse when it mentions women. Sometimes people love to make controversy out of others' statement when we only mention women. I have five sisters and I am the only male among the siblings. For traditional orthodox Muslim family. If we are discriminating women, my sisters would not be given opportunity to study to the highest level that they can achieve and they could even mingle with any male friend they like as long as they know how to behave. I even had accompanied my sister to Thai for a "cowboy marriage" and lied by her when she wanted to marry a guy of her choice that happened to be someone's husband. English and most Western languages usually mention pronouns with the men ones but in Asian languages such as Chinese or Malay, there is no such thing. Just to make sure we follow the standard of equality in gender treatment that I put both he and she but not in all places as it takes space, hehe.

These verses connecting the physical indecency with spiritual ones. They have to do with adornments at human physical body. The God never forbids the Ornaments of the God. But in our daily life, most people tend to appear in front of others such as looking sexually attractive or others just to show off to others. Some men perhaps would show off their muscular body to others or some women would show off their boobies or thigh or hips and etc just to make people adoring them. Through these verses, the God commanded Muhammad s.a.w to tell the world that there is nothing wrong with dressing nicely and decently. Nothing wrong to wear any pattern of fabrics. He forbids dress which is worn to show off physical body with the mean to raise sexual desire of people around regardless men or women. When a portal evil is opened, others will gradually be opened too. This is also one of the gates to polytheism.

As what has been mentioned in Surat al-An'am vs. 151 which means: "Say: 'Come, let me recite what your Lord has prohibited upon you. He commands that you should not associate anything with Him, and to parents be polite. And do not kill your children due to poverty. We provide them with sustenance and also for you. And never be close to indecency be it openly or secretly. And never take the soul which the God has forbidden except with justice and legal rights. He instructs you with these may you use logical thinking and reasons".

The verse also mentions about ألأِثْمُ which means the sins. Then it mentions ألبَغْيُ بِغَيرِالحَق which is translated as unjust oppression. Al-Suddiy interpret the sins as committing vices. While the word ألبَغْيُ or oppression refers to the act of hurting others unjustly. Al-Mujahid interpret the sins as all of the acts of vices. And oppression refers to the act without legal justification which also hurts the doer's self. 

Ibnu Katir says that: "As per conclusion, the sins refer to all of the crimes which affect the doer's self while oppression refers to the act of crimes which has hurt others". Based from the conclusion made by Ibnu Katir, we could now differentiate the sins into categories and identify on what is the oppression or tyranny. For example, B simply hates this A guy because he perhaps unintentionally became his rival. Then B took out his rifle and shot dead A. This is referred according to our terminology as ألبَغْيُ the unjust oppression or a tyranny.

Then, the verse mentions that it is forbidden to associate the God with others. Seeing others as powerful and as equal as the God in term of the power possession would make a person sinful for the crime of associating the God with others. Other than that, a person who is saying something about the God without any knowledge has the gravity of the sin heavier than associating Him with partners. This refers to people who established pseudo-religious teachings and claiming that it is of the God while the God never reveals as such. Such a person has no knowledge about the fact of religion, law and jurisprudence. He could not even differentiate what is legal and what is illegal but yet acting like he was revealed with the scripture to add in nonsense things which are claimed as part of religion. Around the world and throughout centuries, there are spiritual or pseudo religious movements established by people who claim their selves as teachers while his teachings is followed by ignorant followers. This is also a grave sin.

List of the Crimes and Sins Mentioned in the Verse

From these verses, there are six kind of the crimes forbidden by the God:

1. Sins committed openly       
2. Sins committed secretly
3. Sins out of the "heart"
4. Sins tyrannizing others
5. Associating the God with others
6. Sins of speculations about the God while they are just their mere imagination

Jushammiy Explanations

The sixth of these sins is the greatest after all the consideration given. Al-Jushammiy mentions: "This verse shows that all of the sins are illegal. The sayings of the God in the scripture covering the tiniest of all crime acts and all wrong promises which go against the divine law, evil words and evil belief which is related to crimes and vices".

The words ظَهَرَ and بَطَنَ include all of verbal acts and those emerged from "heart" such as cheating, lying, envious and etc. The word ألبَغْيُ or oppression refer to all of the tyranny to others. It includes for example the rebellion of people that destroys a country or making innocent people suffer, attacking or discriminating other congregations within the larger congregation and also the political leader who defends people who commit crimes.    

And in the scripture says the God: "وأنْ تُشْرِكوا باللهِ مالَم يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ" refers to acts of associating the God with partners and enslaving oneself to others for example to human bosses, earthly kings, earthly stuffs for example gold and silver, other creatures in the earth and heavens for example angels, stars, planets, animals, satan, genies and others.

And it includes in His sayings: "وأنْ تقولواعلى اللهِ مالاتعلمونَ" which refers to innovations and blasphemy. Those who issue out the fatawa without following the guidelines of the righteousness, providing fake testimony and lying about others are also counted as among those who committed this sin.

So this verse has collected all of what has been forbidden by the God to mankind. The verses before this verse has mentioned on numbers of what is not sinful to be done or known as مباح mubaah. The verse also highlighting the importance of politeness and manner related to religion's affair or worldly affair. This also shows that there is a cancellation of تقليد taqleed since the God commands everyone to investigate and researching on the reasons for arguments. Not to just stay blindly following on anything. Because there are also the indications about explanations in the revelation as mentioned in the verse: "مالم ينزل به سلطانا" which shows the importance of researching on arguments in our divine law. The سلطانا word refers to a precise explanation.

What are the Benefits of the Verse?

As what has been concluded for the verse, it is not forbidden for us to wear nice attire suitable with the position of holy sanctuaries such as masjid or when performing the circumambulation around the Ka'aba in holy Mecca. Nobody forbids that. Nobody also forbids us to eat or drink anything which is legal as long as we do it moderately.

The most important thing for us to put into our attention is our manner, politeness and the sanctity of our inner selves. Never adorn our selves with the adornments of satan which will cause us to fall into the trap of the envious creature. Protect our heart from being contaminated with sins or when we tyrannize others. Protect our inner selves from associating the God with partners by worshiping what is not to be worshiped or believing that earthly or heavenly materials and creatures have the power over the God. After that, never be religious without questioning and reasoning as what the God said in the verse through the words of Surat al-'An'am v. 151 about logical thinking and reasons. This is why I am performing da'awa according to suitability and I do not like to be bonded by specific movements. I saw some fellow Tabligh members walking like a penguin. So, I asked them why are you walking like that? They said this is how prophet Muhammad s.a.w walk as we are following the Sunna. I just feel it funny that they could walk properly but choosing to walk like a penguin. How do they know prophet Muhammad s.a.w walk like that? They ever seen it? In some hadiths narration, they mentioned that prophet Muhammad s.a.w walked "like" climbing the hills and his steps are moderate and modest. They never say anything about walking like a penguin. What I would say is that just be our selves. We don't have to show how eager we are until it become so awkward. Some people keeping bushy beard and looking to us who do not really have beard like ungodly people. I saw many people who keep beard as it is a "Sunna" but never bother to brush it nicely and apply oil. Their beard even contains lice, na'udzubillah. Sometimes I keep beard and sometimes not because I will trim it all when I feel "dirty" and grow it again. It is a "Sunna" which people should understand not the only "basis of religious" obligation. If we are a "Chinese" person or a Korean guy, how could we grow beard like Mid Easterners bushy beard? Our genetic developed differently of theirs.

This verse perfectly describe on how should we conduct our life with ethic and noble manner. It is nor wrong for an old guy or old woman to dress nicely with whatever expensive fabric or sprinkling some perfume according to occasion. As long as it does not affect people appreciation or respect on their selves due to "flirtatious gazing" to others then go on.

The Nexus of Jurisprudence and Shari'a and Islam

The verse strongly reminds us to avoid from talking about "religion" when our knowledge is not reaching the suitable level for the questions raised. And never try to debate on anything if our arguments are based on perception or hear says or simply copy-pasting certain ulama's thesis. Following our own thought and labeling others with accusations without referring to the sayings of the God and prophetic traditions is the peak of all sins and crimes. When it comes to jurisprudence on what is legal or what is illegal, we are not allowed to simply issuing any rulings accept with نص or the precise evidence. If we have no basic knowledge then start it with classes in the nearest masjid in our area. It is actually open for both men and women because I had female colleagues in our Shari'a stream class and many of our female elders were also trained as da'awa cadres where they protect the interests of ladies in the jurisprudence body and provide information to others.

For some jurisprudence schools of Islam, اجتهاد the ijtihad which refers to personal decision-making for interpretation of laws could be exercised if one possess the basic knowledge of Shari'a and Jurisprudence sciences. The فروع furu' could analogically be deducted through قياس qiyaas on the أصول usool in the religion. The derivation of the judgement or الإستنباط is based on the Shari'a Spirit where the previous judgements are referred as long as it is in accordance to the basis of law. What everyone should know is that the result of the ijtihad is not definite and not to be accepted by everyone like the sayings of the God! The result of the ijtihad according to the majority of ulamas is based on ظن the suspicion and not definite as implied in our technical term قطع qat'i.

Only the followers of the ulamas who hate others who differ from their teachers opinion and rulings that attack people around and issuing judgement to others on the reasons that only they themselves and the God know. This is the "chief" of all disasters around the world. Nations are judged by the مقلدين muqallideen. Not by the ulamas who are the real jurists. Everyone could be da'awa cadres but not all da'awa cadres around the world are the قاضي jurists and فاقِه faaqih.             
                                 
Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Quran: Juz 'Amma

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Yesterday Evening

Yesterday brother Rosli from the musalla congregation near our neighborhood had invited me to a feast at his house just after 'Isha prayer service. His house is just at the junction at our neighborhood. I actually did not promise him whether I would be there or not. I just went home to see my father cause I am afraid my sisters would forgotten to feed him with his milk and medicine while my mother was at the masjid for her Quran lessons. I am supporting her to study Quran and Islam since she had no time to study since she took care all of us who were little children. After that I feel lazy to go to his house because there was already lots of people. When I saw that many people had gone home only I went to his house just to fulfill his invitation as it is impolite to make the host feel sad. I did not eat much just three sticks of satay (grilled chicken) and few glasses of water before thanking him. He shoved me some chicken but I had politely turned it down saying that I have some problem with meat. There is a limit for poor people to take meat and it is also a no to take few seafood or those living under the water. 

Most of the times I feel safe with vegetarian foods. I sometimes would feel uneasy when I have to explain things to people. So, I would pick the first food that I had seen there just to make the host feel happy and not to make them seeing me as a weird quite guy. Currently, we are in high holy days. Those in Mecca were observing it. So do me here. I am bringing the prohibitions in the respected land outside of the boundary as a sacrifice for Allah. Anyway I am thankful to brother Rosli and his wife for hosting me. He is a nice guy and he prays regularly at the musalla. I just feel shy because I was just a Shari'a stream student who is now still struggling with European Union policy and decision making thesis while those uncles there discussing trillion dollars projects in government lead companies (GLC). It is not good to compare our selves with others but it is just the effect of post-trauma for me, hehehe. 

I am scared to be closer to rich people. I think brother Idris is right when he said I am scared to mingle with people. I spend most of my time with low-class labors, poor students and I don't know how to discuss about business or investment. If I know I am with a rich guy I would immediately leave him. The same thing for example when I chat with karkun Firdaws at the hostel in RST and suddenly few of his colleagues joined in and talked about setting up cyber cafe business. I just stood up of my sit and went off. I just don't know why people can't talk about common things like TV programs, musics, movies, cats, plain hobbies like gardening, cooking, sports, health and so on to start the friendship. I know prophet Muhammad s.a.w had managed to help his wife, Khadija in her business in Syria but did he do it for a life? There were stages in his life. That is what all of the people should be acknowledged. Nothing is so specific in his life except Allah is the One who is specific in his life. Well, I am not talking about religion 24/7 too. I know how to switch my speech into "secular" ones when it is necessary. 

Those are just what happened yesterday. I just did not sleep for few days writing up thesis so kind of high, haha. I am just posting for the Quran as I had draw a new schedule for Quran recitation plan for myself. To those who are so fond with conspiracy theories around the world. I would suggest you people to make up thesis out of your "confidential" information and data, hehe. Submit it to any recognized university and try to get the feedback from International Relations and World Politics professors. I am sure you will get the doctorate out of your theories about what ever topics be it about a certain race supremacy, history or about anthropology to be linked with regional nationalism or religion just to make you feel secure about your selves. I am sure you will enjoy the process of writing a "thesis" and get to know how theories or speculations work within time and space. Life is not only about theories of war, dominion, racial supremacy and life it self is not of any importance because it is a test before another test coming at the gate of the hereafter. Theories are just a bunch of speculations. They are used to frame the events and what ever happening in the world. Just don't let theories controlling our life. To act and to feel like a scholar or academician is easy but the torture to achieve it is like being tortured in the hell. Only Allah knows. Just recite the Quran like what our elders recite it and immediately try to implement them in our daily life. It is better than speculations or dreaming.

Juz 'Amma     

Juz 'Amma actually referring to the last juzu' of Quran or the 30th part. Other terms referring to juzu' that I would use is perhaps parah or parashat. This part is usually the part that we always listen in the imam's recitation in prayer services. During our childhood, we were taught with this part and memorized few surats from this part. This part is quite easy to be memorized because those surats are simple.

This part contains many surats as compared to others. Most of the surats here were revealed in our holy Mecca. I think they are about 34 surats and they are known as the Surat al-Makkiya which means they were revealed during Mecca period before the hijra event. The balance three surats which are al-Bayyinat, al-Zalzalat and al-Nashr were revealed in Medina period. Altogether, there are 37 surats out of the juzu'.           

Special Characteristics of Makkiya Surats

They are simple sentences, words are eloquently structured, high in aesthetic and literature. Their arguments are strong. They were characterized with reminders to human that Allah is omnipotent, life in the hereafter, meeting with Allah and His promise on the result of the deeds. Basically, they are in poetical Arabic so if we speak in English we should not comment it through the translation. The same thing as Shakespeare's masterpieces could not be commented in other languages as it could be appreciated in its English form. Translation only serves to bring the messages to audience of different languages and world view. Currently I am studying Yemenite Arabic poetry just to appreciate our ancestral art and heritage. 

Coming to this issue of language and cultural appreciation, I don't understand why some people in our country love to classify Arabs who are married to Malay women as a Malay? Or the peranakan Arab is also claimed as a Malay? I know that both Malay and Arabs are of same religion but is it wrong for us to be recognized as Arabs or non-Malay natives just like the Thai in regional northern Malaysia or identified according to our paternal side? I think the nation-state nationality which was practiced by British in identity certification is complicated and it has caused us who were the Arabs of the past facing identity crisis especially those of the flows in 15th century down to 19th century. I found that our community did not really marry or pairing their children with non-Arab except in special cases. Elders just married among relatives until the situation changed in 19th century where many had broken traditions. There are also conflicts in the time period for our flows which also confused us and the registration officers because we speak in regional Malay. Some local nationalists perhaps would say to us, you can return to your homeland if you refuse to identify with us but our elders had been here since before independence, involved in regional history for example in the battle to protect local sultanate and its citizens, serving the state court and we're denied with our identity and culture. I am currently doing a thesis about European nationality and how Muslims of diverse ethnicity as those among various types of minority in Europe needs to be framed for social integration policy without losing their religious and cultural identity of their first generation's country when they were promoted to European nationality. Personally for me, denying our selves is to deny our religion and our past. Those who identify their selves for purposes other than da'awa but for worldly affairs should be boycotted.  

Moqadaam

In our country, these surats were separated into a book which is known as Moqaddam. It means the introduction which could be immediately recited and memorized. I usually would buy few Moqaddams and prayer books as presents to few friends or brothers that I know or closer to me. I am actually hoping that they would recite it with me though they are far away. They could also recite them for my soul to hear because we do not know when we are going to die. I am praying to Allah to listen to their recitations when the light is filled wit the darkness if they live longer than me. Wishing to help me to accumulate meritorious deed because I am poor. They can help me in that way and also gaining benefit for their selves and their family, hehe.  

Surats List

al-Nabaa', al-Naazi'at, 'Abasa, al-Takweer, al-Infithaar, al-Mutaffifeen, al-Inshiqaaq, al-Buruuj, al-Taariq, al-A'alaa, al-Ghaashiyaat, al-Fajr, al-Balaad, al-Shams, al-Layl, al-Dhuhaa, al-Nashrah, al-Teen, al-'Alaq, al-Qadr al-Bayyinat, al-Zalzalat, al-'Adiyaat al-Qaari'at, al-Takatur, al-'Asr, al-Feel, Quraish, al-Maa'un, al-Kautar, al-Kaafirun, al-Nasr, al-Lahab, al-Ikhlaas, al-Falaq and al-Naas.     

Non-Arabic speaker Muslims perhaps would need to find the meaning and contents of the surats in the Quran. Nowadays we have many kind of Quranic translations. There are Quran with parallel translations in various languages for Muslims of different mother tongue. Important for us is to collect as much as possible lessons from the surats and to execute it beginning with our own selves. Try it, we will feel the difference : )  

Sawmana gaadin eemanan wahtesaaaban, allahomma taqabbal minna siyaam. Allah help us with the yearning, inshaAllah...

          

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