Quran Audio: Surah al-Haqqah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

 

Many things that we can learn from simple surahs... Just do not neglect them though you have memorized longer surahs. Through His Will....

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

Credential for "Jurists"

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Recently, one of my older friend had talked with me about some "debates" related to the Shi'a Muslims and he said some of those people he encountered had labelled the Shi'a Muslims as infidels. I am a Hanbali student myself in which it is is extremely strict and it leaves no room for ijtihad. That is why it is not suitable for all people. But I never see anyone who profess Muhammad s.a.w as the seal of prophethood as infidel or disbelievers and prefer not to say anything before I check their faith and creed from their side and comparing to our side. Basically I am also reading Islamic journals be they from Muslim or non-Muslim writers from medieval to contemporary era. I keep the reference books of Shi'a Muslims as well.

He said that just because he tries to stop them from such an act he was also labelled as a "Shi'a". Again I am stating my disappointment about Muslim nations. This is our quality and we look down upon Shari'a studies. But yet we still have the gut to take the position of authority in labeling people and issuing rulings. We had forgotten that we are in the position of muqallidun and not even in the position of the 'ulamas. Our knowledge about terms is ambiguous. That is what I could comment after listening to the brother. I just advised him to leave those people behind and never interfere. They will know what is the consequence of "evil tongue" when Allah reveals His veils.

Basically what am I going to do here is just to share what we had to study as Shari'a students whether in state's monitored Islamic schools in our country or those managed under twin institutions with the al-Azhar in Egypt. I am not sure whether it is still the same with the last 10 years'. These is how the da'awa cadres that everybody see in masjids around being trained in our parallel system and people do not understand it so it is left without being explained. In my school at that time, we were mixed with secular academic students which actually did not pose any advantages for us but only for them. Basically we would study for about six years and for me I had stopped at the fourth year. 

I am checking my kitabs again to see how silly I was for listening to people around and for letting them to decide my future and not Allah. If beloved Tabligh karkuns from other streams stopping by and would like to know why I didn't really mix up nor associate myself with any group or Islamic movement whether those of Middle East such as the Wahhabi, those of Salafi such as Ikhwan al-Muslim or those of Tabligh movements. These are subjects that humble Abdullah who listened to sermons in these churches and those temples in Penang, Perlis, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur studied and studying. These are what "we" as the da'awa cadres studied and have to study while being laughed and looked down by mainstream politicians, teachers and students in other "classes" because we will be tukang kukur nyior or coconut graters, hehe:

Religious Year I'dadi Level

First Year (Form 1: 13 Years Old)

Quranic Memorization Juzu': 1st - 10th

Islamic Studies: Quran and Matan Tajweed (Scripture and Basic of Philology), Matan Taweheed (Basic Monotheism), Matan Fiqh (Basic Jurisprudence basically according to Shafi'ie school), Safinat al-Najat (the Sail of Success), Matan Nahwu al-Ajurumiyya wa al-Saraf (Basic Arabic Grammar and Lexicography), Manzoumat al-'Aqidat al-'Awami (System of Public Creed), Seerah (Biographies), Matan Tafseer (Basic Quranic Exegesis), Matan Hadith (Basic Hadiths), Mutala'a wa al-Nasus (References and the Evidences).

Academic: Malay (National Language), English (International Language), Islamic Education, Living Skill, Communicative Arabic, Maths, Basic Geography, History and Science.  

Second Year (Form 2: 14 Years Old)

Quranic Memorization Juzu': 10th - 20th

Islamic Studies: Syarh al-Quran wa Tajweed (Explanation of Scripture and Philology), Tuhfat al-Atfal (Gift for Children), Syarh Tawheed (Monotheism explanation), Syarh Arkaan al-Imaan li-Ummat al-Islam min Manzoumat al-'Aqidat al-'Awami (Explanation of the Pillars of Faith for Muslim Nations from the System of Public Creed), Syarh al-Fiqh (Explanation of Jurisprudence), Nayl al-Raja' bi al-Syarhi Safinat al-Najah, Syarh Nahwu, Tuhfat al-Taaniyat Fi Syarh Matan al-Ajurumiyya (Second Gift in Explanation of Ajrumiyya Arabic Grammar), Matan Hadith, Al-Arba'ieen al-Nawawi (Forty Hadith of Nawawi Compilation). 

Academic: Malay, English, Communicative Arabic, World Geography, History, Maths and Science.

Third Year (Form 3: 15 Years Old)

Quranic Memorization Juzu': 20th-30th

Islamic Studies:Hadith Explanations, Forty Nawawi Hadiths, Basic Saraf of the Structure, Exegesis Dur al-Mansun, Sciences of Quran known as Zubdat al-Itqaan, Sciences of Hadith known as Baiquniyya System.  

Academic: Malay, English, Communicative Arabic, World Geography, European and World History, Maths and Science.

By the third year, we actually should finish up with Quranic memorization but the state religious school that I was  registered had neglected students who were incapable in academic studies. I was not good in modern mathematics but what I can tell brothers and sisters from what I had been told. Ancient philosophers are also not good in Mathematics such as Aristotle or Plato but their philosophy had been formulated as maths formula by others. Other than that, did our prophet Muhammad s.a.w learned or taught trigonometry, algebra and etc when he spread the Revelation to nations? I think it is enough to know how to do additional, subtraction, multiplication and etc or to generally count, hehe. I think that I was supposed to be advised by our elders rather than my father because he was not good in persuading a rebellious little boy when he sent me to Perlis to study in the al-'Alawiya. I would say that their system was among the nicest ones. Perhaps I could properly exercise my responsibility if I just stay patiently there but thankful to Allah I do not forget everything. Just need to refresh my memory. 

Religious Year of Tanawi Levels

First Year (Form 4: 16 Years Old)

Islamic Studies: Explanation of Arabic Lexicography, Basic of Sentence Structure, Explanation of Quranic Sciences: Zubdat al-Itqaan, Explanation of Hadith Sciences: Baiquniyyat System (Revision), Jurisprudence, Anwaar Massalik Shaar, 'Omdat al-Saalik: Dur al-Mansun and Riyaadh al-Saalihin.

Academic: Malay, English, Communicative Arabic, History, Quran and Sunnah, Shari'a, Tasawwur Islamiyya (Islamic Worldview), Maths and Science.

Second Year (Form 5: 17 Years Old)

Islamic Studies: Dur al-Mansun, Riyadh al-Saalihin, Tibyan fi Hamlaat al-Quran (Testimonial), Manhaj al-Latif fi Mustalaah al-Hadith (Testimonial), Moqaddima al-Jazariyya, and Mukhtasar Ibn Abi Jamrah. 

Academic: Malay, English, Communicative Arabic, History, Quran and Sunnah, Shari'a, Tasawwur Islamiyya (Islamic Worldview), Maths and Science.

Third Year (Form 6: 18 Years) 

Islamic Studies: Mafahim Yajib an Tusaahih, the Ahkaam verses and the Ahkam hadiths. 

Academic: Malay, English, Higher Classical Arabic, History, Quran and Sunnah, Shari'a, Tasawwur Islamiyya (Islamic Worldview).

Close 

I had dropped everything at the first year of Tanawi level around 2002 beside losing my "religion" by seriously practicing other faith that I had learned while I was wandering out of my loathe to society around. Some people who don't know about my life perhaps saying out things because they are full with perceptions. They judge everything based on their perception and not from their life experience including the process of learning to issue the rulings according to Quranic and Sunnah basis. I am telling readers. If people blame me or other guy who became like me turning away from our religious studies, then people are actually blaming their selves. They are not respecting us who were down-graded by their great politician and leader. They should also question their very own faith rather than busy looking around to find faults and forget to contemplate their selves. When we ask them, what is your qualification to issue "rulings and judgement" or issuing fatawa? Where did you get it? Is it yours? They just flee away and keep repeating their "rulings and judgement" without fear to the consequence that is waiting them. Why there is no "fear"? They should ask back their "heart" on whether the promise of Allah: Yawm al-Din exists or not? Or they just professing it at their mouth just like donkeys who bring scriptures on its back (Surat al-Juma'at verse 5th). Allah will never guide them if so. These is not "really" referring to Jews or others, but referring to Muslims! Jews are not reciting the Quran. It is Muslims who recite it in their salat services!

Any lay men who talk about any specific serious subjects related to creed and faith should be acknowledged that creed and faith is a component of Shari'a. By simply throwing words without we know the "process" and the "result" we are not doing any good to ourselves. We are tyrannizing ourselves as Allah will put the weight of responsibility burden on our shoulder when we see Him in the Hereafter. I would suggest to the brother to ask for the credentials of those who teach faith. It is not a sign of disrespect like what Mr. Webb Suhaib said in his site. We can ask them again but we do it with manner and as an obligation. Faith is the key to the hereafter. If it is taken from a poisoned well, it may very well lead a person to Hell. Please be very careful dear brothers and sisters from where we get the "fatawa". I am mentioning this in general. 

Shari'a should receive some respect as the way we respect prophet Muhammad s.a.w, the Quran, the companions, the followers of the followers, Salaf ulamas and others. Politicians should stay away from talking about us if they don't like us and they can talk about people of other streams all they like because they deal with them. Who cares about them and their political career. All they care is just about "position, money, power, and worldly matters" so victimizing other innocent people would be a satisfaction for them to boast in this temporary world. This is the morality of the nations in the era of Muhammad s.a.w. Allah knows everything well than us who are bunch of His lowly creatures. 

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

An Arab Peranakan Schooling Memories

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

  

Alhamdulillah all praises due only to Allah. I just had my supper with some drinks. Just had a walk outside for fresh night air and drink some tea that I bought from Indian department store. I just had some splash of memories when sitting alone under the tree at the soccer field behind the department store. So, I am just writing it again as it also has connection to previous posts about our education system.

When I was a little child, I was put in the mosque supervised by the federal territory religious authority maybe when I was around five to six years old. Before that, I was also educated back at home and in our villages at times when we spend holiday by the elders during religious occasion which is also treated as family meeting. Basically we are familiar with the way of salat performance according to Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence and we were also taught with few orthodox practices in salat which could actually be omitted or practiced if we know the evidence according to sunnah chains or hadiths. We were taught with the life of prophet Muhammad s.a.w through occasions known as qaseedah. I don't know if qaseedah is haram according to people of other movements but they are not mentioned by elders as mandatory but being presented to people around as a way to teach everyone about the life of the noble prophet s.a.w. There are many ways to teach religion to people without being so puritan and stiff but still in accordance to the Quran and Sunnah such as nasheed, lectures, poetry, kitab recitations with everyone, explanations of tafseer and others.  

Pre-School Education

I had problem then with Islamic nursery teachers because of difference in cultural traits. I am a peranakan Jawi and we're not purely thinking or behaving like Malays especially we're of northern Malaysian states and around early 1990s the situation is quite different as nowadays when media in our country widely exposing people around with northern Malayan cultural traits in movies and dramas. By the way Jawi here in northern Malayan Peninsula refers to people of Arabia especially Yemen and Northern Indian with Arab origin of the past from Gujarat which also includes those from Persian empire but speaking in fluent classical Malay language with lots of Arabic and Persian words. Now this term is also extended to include Indian Muslim from Southern India because they began to marry our women after independence from British. So, I refuse to identify myself as Jawi Peranakan anymore but using Peranakan Arab as a precise ethnicity identification. Jawi also refers to Arabic script used to write religious books in Malay language in South East Asia. It is almost the same thing as Hui is used to refer to Chinese speaking Muslims in China because they paternally were of Persian, Turkish or Arab origin of the past. I skipped the pre-school education for a year and I enjoyed watching TV at home, haha. 

Primary School

I was enrolled in national primary school when I was seven I guess around 1993. I didn't know how to read and write roman script but I can write and read Arabic script since my mother and grandma taught me at home using the script. My grandma till her deathbed could never read roman script. I began to be influenced by Chinese culture when I was around this age and it continues because the area I lived at that time was the area populated with Chinese community. The school that I went was known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu 3 1/2, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur. I can't even remember when I began to speak in Chinese language though I was not educated in Chinese national type primary school like three of my elder sisters, haha. I mingled with non-Muslim Chinese at the neighborhood and my mother also has Chinese relatives in Perlis. In the evening, we were sent to state religious authority supervised primary religious school. 

So basically we learned Islamic education twice a day. In secular school we learned Islamic Education and simple Fardh 'Ain lessons while in religious evening school we learned subjects such as: 

1. Tawheed which refers to Islamic monotheism

2. Akhlaq or noble morality and ihsan 

3. Fiqh which deals with Islamic jurisprudence for daily life disciplines from the school of Imam Shafi'ie

4. Tajweed and Qira'at for Quranic recitation in Arabic

5. Arabic language 

I had problem with lessons as the way they taught in the evening religious school is so different to what we're taught at home. We recognized the dots at the as nuqta and the baris atas, baris mati, depan bawah were confusing for me. I was taught by elders at the village and home with fatha, kasra and damma. The way they pronounce Arabic words seem so complicated while we don't have to pronounce them with difficulties because we integrate Arabic words in spoken Malay and we only alter the pronunciations when talking with Malays to make them feel comfortable. To tell brothers and sisters, I hate both religious school and secular schools equally. I had no problem in literacy as I am quite fast in term of recognizing letters and symbols. I studied in Kuala Lumpur for two and half years before shifting to Kedah Darul Aman. My parents always thinking to return to Kedah state as that is the only home for them and our grandparents live there our ancestors tomb and graves are there. We as children also viewed the state as our only home. My father was offered a position in Wisma Darul Aman to serve the state under the chief minister, Mr. Usman 'Arof.

In Kedah, I was registered in the school known as Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Ahmad Tajuddin in Jitra, the Kubang Pasu district town around the end of 1995. My first ancestors' mausoleum is in this town. I didn't have time to spend with friends or making good friends with school mates and in Kedah state I didn't have evening religious school like in Kuala Lumpur. We lived like refugees. I only made one good friend known as Saiful when I was in standard four. My father also tried to open up a business which is a photo shop in Jitra town just in front of Taman Indera. But we end up having problem to roll the capital. Our relatives who worked there had stolen the money for their own usage without being recorded in the account, the tax imposed on us by state tax office came in no time and we had no modern machine to print out pictures. We were the only "Muslim" photo shop at that time in the midst of non-Muslim photo shop dominated by Chinese community. In school I was viewed by my classmates as outsider though I spoke in fluent Kedah Malay. It was not easy back then to fit our selves. 

In the mid of 1996, my father packed up his things when the chief minister position was held by Mr. Sanusi Junaid and not Mr. Usman anymore. I am not sure there was election or not at that time or just the end of term and why my father was so honest for not offering his self to the new chief minister. So, my father has to return to his old company in Jalan Riong as he was jobless being a reporter. We lived in Hulu Langat and I was schooled in Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu. 9. I was also forced by especially my mother to be registered in evening religious school and at that time I was in standard five. Again I had to face problem to fit in and schools were so tormenting for a half and one year. Early at that time, I hardly could mingle with other pupils around. Even in the evening religious school, I was insinuated by few Javanese kids (they're children of newly arrived immigrants from Indonesia in Selangor state) and I was like confused with the syllabus related to Arabic and Quranic recitation. Some of my classmates during standard six that I could still remember were Naim, Aladin, Felix, Shanmukam and Mastura. Perhaps they're married with children now, lol. In the evening religious school I could still remember Azli because this boy was quite nice to talk with and he sits beside me. There were also three boys in my class who were like a cocky trio and I hate them. Perhaps they thought that they were popular or girls were attracted to them as they were achievers in school, rich and looked nice. I was not good in school because I was interrupted with the shifting periods and I didn't know how to fit myself as a traveler beside no one guide me. I learned basically through experience and environment.   

Lower Secondary School

My mother was worried because once I finished the national primary school, my name was sent together with other students in the school to secondary school known as Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perimbon near Kajang. I didn't even get the chance to be a student there as my mother quickly urged my father to ask his elders where they could put me as she afraid I would also be a punk. She heard that the students in the school were notorious with bad students and there were teachers who told her about this. 

So, my father was advised by his elders to put me in the al-Alawiya madrasah in Arau, Perlis state. The school located close to Perlis Royal Palace, the Perlis Royal Family Tomb Complex, the Arau Masjid, the Arau Police station and behind was the rail way. Then off I was sent to further north of Malaysia. I began to hate my own family because we understood that those who were sent to madrasah were usually bad kids. I didn't understand what exactly was my fault? 

In Perlis also I began to be exposed to Buddhism of Theravada teachings when I did not return to my grandparents house but I went to the Thai Buddhist monasteries. I met a monk one day in a bus to Sungai Petani and he invited me to visit the monastery in Yan after I told him I didn't know where to go. I tried to go down to Sungai Petani because I didn't like to hear other maternal relatives who came by and cynically talking shits to me while they weren't even close to me or know how I feel to live like a refugee. From that incident I began to be exposed to Buddhism and its monastic teachings. When I told some Tabligh kids about this experience they asked me whether I was hypnotized by black magic? I just laugh to them. I was aware about environment around and I did not being a Buddhist in a blink of eyes. It happened stage by stage and I made notes for Buddhism studies. I had disposed those mantras and kathas before I went to pilgrimage in holy Mecca in 2005. 

In the madrasah, I made friend with a Chinese-Thai guy too in the madrasah known as Sufian. His mother was a Thai citizen but lived in Ipoh. Then he began to be cocky so I left him and changing dorm. I was there only for about a year and totally a loner in the school. I didn't join group of students. The madrasah was part of Insaniah corporation and was operated with students monthly fees. At that time, the madrasah was all-boys school. The religious subject teachers were educated from Umm al-Qura in Mecca, al-Azhar in Egypt and Jordan. The level when I was there is known as the I'dadi level. Religious science subjects were taught in Arabic and the level there was actually higher than the level of the second year in other states' religious schools. Before me, senior students studied even secular academic subjects in Arabic. At my time they just imposed Arabic as an obligatory language during certain selected days and only during school time. They frequently organizing night prayers known as Qiyaam al-Layl and I always skip them by hiding under the roof in the toilet, haha. 

Then my mother began to feel something wrong happened to me and came by to the madrasah after she heard that I was not at school waiting for my older cousin brother who worked in the canteen in the Arau UITM. She immediately shifted me to Selangor state religious secondary school known as Sekolah Menengah Agama Hulu Langat in Batu 10 and it was a painful application because I was from a private madrasah. I painfully trying to coup up with academic and religious science studies until 2000 and being divided with other students into streams. I had no close friends in school and I also had many kind of classmates in the school such as transvestite she-male students, demon worshiper students who were just a group of attention-seekers or wannabes acting like die-hard fans of black metal music band, pornographic videos seller students, politicians like students and others.

In 2001, I was divided into Shari'a stream. At that time I knew that I was not good in secular academics but more inclined to religious sciences. It has no place in society and my class was the last class placed on the top of the roof and located beside stinky not well-managed toilet. Around 1960's or 1970's perhaps religious studies are not a big deal. They existed separately but in parallel with secular studies in Malayan Peninsula. The schools for religious studies were separate from secular schools where those who went to religious school were dropped from "national monitoring authority". They were operated under sufi order frameworks and initiated by religious teachers skilled in Islamic sciences. But in 1990s up to 2000, where the Vision 2020 being a hit topic popularized by our leader who was talking about the quest in order to build up a developed country and look East policy which emphasized on the Japanese technology and their culture. It means that we had to deny our inclinations and capacity to suit the pattern of society. Secular studies and science being greatly highlighted until it overshadow us in our own place.

Now those in Europe please give attention to this and you can see what happened to us. We are talking about our history track just like those in the European Middle Ages going through Renaissance age. Around this time I began to be greatly influenced by Buddhism teachings and I even contacted Chinese Buddhist monks of Mahayana traditions while being a Muslim teenage. I tied Buddhist strings at my wrist again around 2000. Those in Europe perhaps had little contact with civilizations but here we are in contact with various oriental civilizations, philosophies and religions.

Higher Secondary School

I was humiliated by other school mates along with our unfortunate classmates and I fought discipline teacher when I was in form four around the early of 2001 because he said harsh things to us. Shari'a stream class ranked the last ranking in all streams hierarchy. There were four classes for form four students at the school in that time. The first ranking is the science stream, the second is economy, the third was geography and the last was the shari'a stream. When we walked passed the first ranking class, the teacher inside the class would insinuate us and looking to us like bunch of dogs in the "religious" school. I studied Shari'a, Usuluddin, National Language, English, Higher Classical Arabic, Arabic for communicative purpose, History, Maths and Account in our class. There was the lack of teachers because nobody care about us while we had to face Fourth Thanawi exam and the next year O-Level (SPM). So, I made up my mind and applying to technical school in Kajang because my mother said that she did not want to see me in normal secular school. I actually suffered more in the technical school but I can't return to the old school. I just went on until 2003 and I got the result equal to third grade in the previous generation's O-Level (SPM). 

The exam means a lot for young students at that time because we think that the only way to survive in the future. To survive was only by confining our selves to the leader's notion of vision 2020 and studying something which has to be related to the vision. And I was also a stupid kid who still play honest in the midst of bad students because they also cheated in the O-Level exam while there were also monitors around. I thought of many ways to die after taking the result at school and I just kept my silence without talking to anyone at home or around. I almost killed myself by starving it for days in deep Buddhist-Hindu meditation just to clear up my mind. I thought and believed that if I died in meditation I would be incarnated in brahmalogam (higher soul world) and would never endure sufferings anymore. I made a note and wrote to my family for my empty body to be cremated if I died. If they are ashamed then they could just send it away to any monastery without witnessing anything. But while meditating my mother had broken the room door with an axe. She forced me to eat and put beside me a Muslim prayer book. After that I just lay idle without any emotion or feeling anymore. 

In the middle of 2004, there was a call for national service program. So I was sent to Terengganu and being viewed by people around as a problematic teenager because people understood kids being sent to places through the program were bad kids. In this time period I began to read again religious sciences book. I just read and practiced again from the very beginning, step by step. I also went to High School. Perhaps I had talked about my experience there.               

Close the Treatise

So, this was the story of a Muslim Arab Peranakan youngster in Malayan Peninsula. Facing identity crisis and problem in order to fit well in society around. I did not have any close friends around to tell my problem or feelings when I was young not even to my parents or sisters because men and women function differently though still the same human-being. Until now it is still the same and I am used to it by time. Nobody is sympathetic to us but Allah is the only One who gives His full attention to us. Just the environment and the world hinder us to "see" how caring He is to us. 

About how I feel when being sent to madrasah or pondok melele, I am sure many who experienced this in 1990s would feel the same and understood what I am talking here, hehe. One thing that made me feel weird was when I saw kids of bombastic courses in university for example petro-chemical, geophysics, and etc who joined Tabligh Jama'at or Wahhabi-Salafi movements regardless what is their political inclinations whether to the coalition or to the opposition sides in our country. Even if they were from "religious school" but their streams were totally different to the unpopular "Shari'a stream" where I was kicked into with other "academically" incapable students in "religious secondary schooling time". Shari'a students were seen as retards by teachers, political leaders because they could just play around with religious authority for their influence on public and those of the "higher caste" streams students also looked down on us because we only learned about "the hereafter" thus making us imbalanced in everything in this world. So, when they face sad or bad incidents in their life or growing older, they would return to religion or Islam? Then talking like they're with the authority to issue "rulings" while the Shari'a was not their line since their early time and being looked down upon. People actually spit on the face of Shari'a students even in countries where Muslims are predominantly living and the notion about balanced life of dunia and akhirat is not truly displayed by people because we were only functioning for influential people to get reference to implant their influence or maybe useful in certain occasions related to wedding or death. We feel that we had no self-esteem and shy when talking to people. So, we keep our silence when there are people boasting about but that does not mean that we don't know anything. This is how we feel and I am telling it to the world. Our elders feel the same too when they saw the same thing happening in 1960s and 1970s which developed to today's situation. 

When reflecting about what happened in the past, in the society, in the global world, I just think that this world is nothing but just a test. Those notions of a "developed" country or being recognized by other "modern" countries are just stupid things being repeated throughout the history of man-kind. The world is closer to resurrection day by day for people who believe in Allah's promises.

What is the use to chase all of those things? To chase gold and money? For pride? To boast around to other human? To be rich? To be comfortable? How long are we going to live in this Earth? When the Earth dissolves as the the Day of Religion come, they are all of no use. Truly what ancient sages had taught man-kind about simple life and being moderate in everything. Allahu A'alam and Allah knows everything better than us who are just His servants.  

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

Problem with APEX University

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I've just heard about the news that our course for master degree perhaps will be closed. We only have two juniors in European studies where one of them is a MITI staff which makes him few years older than me. I don't really care about the course but I am afraid that I would have no time to finish up what ever that I had begin. I don't know what will happen to these students too whether they would have to transfer to other university or else.

The problem that they encountered regarding the course is that there is a lack of lecturers and our lecturers have also to handle more than two classes. They work hard for researches, co-curriculum activities for university staffs, and etc but they've only gain few points of merits with the burden that they have. The dean of Social Science department is also moving to Malaysian National University (UKM) and he has few students under his supervision too. Our previous International Political Economy has also moved to the ministry because he had applied to upgrade his post but those in human resource did nothing. We have very bad human resource here. 

This university is a university which has no campus in Kuala Lumpur and only have campuses in Penang Island, Kelantan and Trans Kerian. Technically they are in states administrated by opposition parties. The principle here is that if we do not support national side, we receive no assistance as it is to teach people not to vote wrong side. It also means that people have to embrace their "political religion". When the university has no campus in Kuala Lumpur, it would be difficult to apply help from Federal government institutions.

The fund for the courses for example Asian and European Studies under International and Diplomatic Relation courses? We do not know where does the money for APEX goes. Perhaps only those in Critical Science courses like Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and etc are receiving it but those in Humanities and Social Science are not receiving it. Our education system since long is for profit making and for human capital. But human capital which has no human spiritual values such as morality and we still could see problems in developed society because of the lack of morality.  If it benefits politicians and the chronies, then everything can moves smoothly. If not, then let it sunk down. Religion is also being tied to filthy politics. Because this is what Western world taught everyone that religion is something which would threaten them and their wipers though they had introduced the term of Secularism to explain the concept of what happened in their nation-state while it does not apply to every place. Not all of the people are with black heart like them.

I am not talking about our courses in Social Science only but this is representing all of the people in our institutions in the country. We are not protected since long even politicians care nothing but only doing things for their "own" benefits. Those slogans that they made are just baby talks. I wish some day He shows them Who He is according to His Will to these people because we are vulnerable here and we could do nothing except talking to ourselves and among ourselves. This 10th of Muharram really reflects what happens now and human are repeating the same history.

Our brothers in Humanities department such as in Hadith Sciences? I do not know what happen to them and we never actually notice their existence here in USM. I tried to apply for Hadith studies in Saudi Arabia too but the procedures are so tight and we were threatened with international laws which is prejudice with no reason like we care about the Western world and trying to Islamisize them. Stop being full of yourselves lar Western World, please lar! We are sick of your old same n lame dramas. We don't care about what you want to do with yourselves or wanted to be. 

Our job is only telling the people about Him and His message through prophethood. We do not force people and have no right or strength to force people. The job to provide Guidance, Wisdom and Enlightening are His job. Not ours... I guess if people here are not using Islam as their so-called Malay identity from being Sinified or whatever racist-nationalism teachings (false religion), perhaps the Islamic Center would be scrapped down too because it is a waste and makes no profit in term of technology and industrial-material development and causing them "sad" pocket. Those people above only looks at the physical sciences as the benchmark for civilization and not at spiritual sciences where in the end we will only have empty vessels with no soul and shameless society. Education policy, economic policy, employment policy and policies are all cross-cutting. For us people of "art" which is not apart of "science," we are not protected by the Constitution.

Sometimes, I wonder... Don't they feel ashamed of themselves calling themselves as people who believe in the God and Muhammad s.a.w prophethood and message when they are looking down at the spiritual sciences or people who observe the society and those involved in it? Muhammad s.a.w was not an engineer, not a politician who studied in Harvard like them, nor a professor who sought for phd certificates or professorship or studying chemistry, physics, biology, or doing researches in laboratories. He was just an orphan who received Enlightment from the God through the emissary of Archangel Gabriel a.s after he was sick looking at the situation of his city.

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

Medieval Muslim Figure: Ibnu Sina

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Complex D, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Saudi Arabia

Let us learn about a Muslim figure who was active in educational field. His name is Abu Ali al-Hussein bin Abdullah bin Sina. His name is spelt as Avicenna in Latin and in Arabic we just call him Ibnu Sina. He is originated from Persian empire and ethnically a Tajik. 

Urmm, I know many sites had already talk about this but I am just recapturing them again for my personal reference especially about this figure sect where people are so allergic to each others' sect for example Shi'a Muslim but we never realize that we are proud of a Shi'a Muslim. If we really wanted to ban them, we should also never talk about their figures, right? Why I talk like this? I saw this figure information is displayed in certain Sunni public mosque and his school is not mentioned to everyone : )

I must also give credit to Isma'ili Shi'a Muslims because Ibnu Sina is from their school and actually many of translations of books were made by them either in Persian empire or in Egypt. Many Isma'ili Shi'ites from Yemen and India, those remnants of Fatimite dynasty until today are actually active in propagating Islam regardless sub-schools and they are active in establishing educational institutes since 10th C which is earlier than Iranian conversion into Twelver Shi'a Ali from Sunnah of Shafi'ie school under Safavid dynasty.

Background

Ibnu Sina was born in the year of 370 H (980 C) near Kharmaitan, Bukhara. His education began in Bukhara where he learned languages, art and literature. Although he learned all sorts of subjects including philosophy, he is more prominent in medical field either as a doctor or as a teacher who taught the knowledge of medicine.

Young Time Education

He first received informal Quranic and literature education. When he was five years old, he began to learn. At 10 years old, he had succeeded in memorizing the whole Quran. He had also mastering other religious studies subjects such as exegesis, jurisprudence, comparative religion and the root of religion, tasawwuf, and others since he was 10 years old.

He was first taught by his father friend, Abu Abdullah Natili and also by his dad. Among other knowledge and skills that he learned are philosophy, medical, geometry, astronomy, musical, theology, politics, physics, chemistry, literature, and cosmology.  

He becomes a royal doctor after he succeeded in curing the disease of prince Nub bin Nas as-Samani. Many other doctors failed to cure the prince and he was 18 at that time. His specialty at his time had made him being recognized as Sheikh ar-Rais which means the main teacher. 

During his life time, he was also known in other territories as well. His book al-Qanun fi al-Tibb was published in Rome around 1593 before being translated into English and known as Precepts of Medicine. In the time span less than 100 years, his book was translated into 15 languages. In 17th C, his book had already been reference textbook in universities and learning institutions in Italy and France. Those books were still in usage until 19th C and printed several times for medical students' reference. 

Ibnu Sina had also write a book which is called as Remedies for the Heart and it consists of poems related to medical. He elaborates about 760 diseases and explaining how to cure them in the book. There are other writings made by Ibnu Sina which also covers other areas as well such as metaphysical, musical, astronomy, philology, poetry, and religion.

He is not only mastering few subjects of knowledge and sciences but had made achievements through new findings. He had also hold the position of third teacher in logic and he had made hundreds of pamphlets which consist creative literature.

Philosophy

He was a famous philosopher. In this field, he wrote a book titled an-Najah which talks about philosophical matters. His philosophical thinking has much being influenced by the school of al-Farabi who brought alive Aristotelian thinking. Due to that, his medical view was also influenced by Greek's basic philosophy and medical theories especially those proposed by Hippocrates.  

Greek medical theory is based of elements which are called as humors. They are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. According to this theory, an individual health is related to the mixture of these four elements. These four elements must be balanced as to make sure that health could be maintained.

Each person has different formula in health maintenance. Although this theory was founded as not accurate but it has become a basic stepping stone for researchers to find the factors of human disease. Ibnu Sina had filthered Greek's Cosmogonist Theories and Islamicized it. He also holds the thought that human body consists of four elements which are earth, water, fire, and wind. These four elements give effects such as moist, cold, hot, or dry according to other elements in the universe. He has this thought that, human have natural antibody to combat diseases. Other than four elements in a body, a person also needs strong antibody to maintain health and curing process.

In mathematics and logics, Ibnu Sina has this opinion that it could also lead a person to know his Creator. This opinion is also proposed by Greek philosopher such as Pythagoras in order to explain about certain creation. For Pythagoras, a mass also consists of numbers and numbers has their own power in the universe. This understanding is condemned by honorable Imam al-Ghazali may Allah be Merciful to him, as deviating from the basic creed and it is more damaging than the doctrine of Jews and Christians.

In reality, Ibnu Sina never reject the Power of the God. In his book, an-Najah, he mentioned that the Creator is the Wajib al-Wujud and He is the True One. He is of no form (in human mind) and could never be divided even in concept. According to Ibnu Sina, everything in existence or mumkin al-wujud is derived from the Wajib al-Wujud who has no beginning. However, it is not necessary that everything in existence comes from the Wajib al-Wujud because He is also Willing not to the Will. There is of no obstacle for He to derive everything which is in existence due to He is Perfect over all and the Highest above all. Ibnu Sina philosophy and concept regarding theology was written in the chapter called Himah Ilahiyyah in the subject of "Regarding the Mind Arrangement and Heavens' Self and Higher Mass."

This is a bit high, be careful dear brethren. Don't dwell in this kind of speech or burdening our mind with non-necessary thoughts. It is very dangerous toward the Creed especially for lay persons. This kind of thought and speech had also created controversy as what had been mentioned as the trial to debate the Essence of the God. Honorable Imam al-Ghazali in his book Tahafat al-Falasifah (No Continuation in Philosophers' Thought) discussing the thoughts of Ibnu Sina and al-Farabi. Among the disagreement brought before everyone by the honorable Imam al-Ghazali is the denial of the believe that earth is eternal by Ibnu Sina and about Ibnu Sina and al-Farabi thoughts regarding the resurrection of of human mass with happiness of paradise and torture of hell.

No matter what he has in his thought or proposed, Ibnu Sina had already contributing toward the development of education for others no matter Muslims or non-Muslims. He is a person who was responsible in introducing philosophical thoughts and logical science such as medical and mathematics for both Muslims and non-Muslims in medieval era.     

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

Mind Perception Game

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Tuk Janggut's body hanged upside down after being exhibited around the capital of Kelantan Sultanate, Kota Bharu. Source Pic: Bodleian Library, Oxford University, UK. 

This is actually an excerpt from a lecture. Yesterday afternoon I didn't get to listen to the lecture in the radio on the first part. This lecture has three parts. For this second part too, unfortunately I didn't get to jot down nor listen almost all of the lecture but only some part at the end because I went for lunch. I missed almost all of the lecture except for few points. 

Oh, yeah... Yesterday I remembered I accompanied a junior who is five years older than me to Bukit Jambul getting a new printer for him. He fast for syawwal optional fasting yesterday and that was his last day. I just helped him to carry his printer since he only has a motorcycle. It's difficult to bring a box with a printer where we have to maintain the position of the ink tank. He didn't tell me in the beginning nor giving me some expectation that he really need somebody help to carry his new printer. I am so upset with this kind of attitude as I don't mind to help. I had learned patience during pilgrimage and furthermore he was fasting. Let everything go, just assume we please the God by helping a brother. We will feel at peace, amin!

This lecture was delivered by Ustad Ahmad Shukri at the Sultanah Bahiyah Polytechnic in Kulim district. Interestingly this lecture was integrated with national history studies for students. I think it is useful for my mini thesis too although indirectly so I better keep it here so I could review it besides reading other reminders to myself. We have to be creative and using everything that we have to carry our tasks. This is what I tried to tell some Tablighi brothers regarding their outing for da'awa. What had been proposed by their syeikh is a method, but that does not mean it could not be appropriated according to situation while retaining its context. I don't know how they understood it, perhaps they are young kids and I won't talk much if I feel that there is no necessity. Anyway I just say goodbye to everyone in this institution, I need to quickly finish my thesis. 

I don't want to be known nor remembered but only wishing for prayers to be saved and forgiven by the God through brotherhood and sisterhood spirit. If our path crossed, then we will meet again. If not, we still will meet but in the hereafter. Everybody is bound to it. Anyway, I just hope to see the God Glorious appearance. I don't think anybody care about each other in this world anymore so in the hereafter I only hope to see the God and hoping He is not angry with me but only His pleasure. 

From the portion of the ustad speech, he said that our states in Malaysia was colonized for more than 500 years. Malaysia history is quite complicated too as it was not a unified nation like today but consists of different sultanates or city-states with their own histories which could only be understood if we strand them one by one. It also applies to other new countries as well. Beginning with Portuguese conquest in 1515 in Malacca Sultanate. Malacca now is a state without any sultan but only a governor appointed by Federal government. And then the Dutch came to the Fort of Malacca replacing the Catholic Portuguese. Later, English came in from Britain into almost all of the states in Malayan Peninsula through trade company called the British East Indies Company but later getting the power to rule by subduing sultanates through their political chess. All of the states in Malaysia today getting their independence for about 53 years, it is only 10% of independence. We also have the issue about whether 'Malaysia' was colonized or not? This was raised through a statement by a professor in a higher education institution in Malaysia and polemics come too. My lecturer asked me questions too and I am lazy to answer this as I hate to be involved with this political matter, arghh.  

Ustad said, we must learn from history as we learn from mistakes of people who came before us. So, what I would like to say is that, try to reflect this... Whether we learn from what had been told to us about previous nations and people like the 'Aad, the Thamud, the Children of Israel, the Pharaoh who had tortured the children of Israel in Egypt? Or we just know how to curse people without watching our words, our attitude is no better than those people that we curse with our tongue? We must remember our tongue will be our witness in the hereafter. Everything will talk, we have no chance to lie though He knows everything. 

As for example, there is a figure who is a native in Kelantan Sultanate called Tuk Janggut. Kelantan Sultanate now is a state in eastern coast of Malaysia bordering Patani province of Southern Thailand. Tuk Janggut was brutally murdered by British administration in Kelantan. His real name is Hajji Muhammad Hassan bin Munas. He opposed British officer for the tax suddenly imposed on the land while before those officers came, people could live their simple life. 

Now, those who mumbled about Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and other immigrants in Britain as apart of immigration issue think back and don't just talk like a pile of bovine defecates. How do everyone think British behaved when they came to other people land imposing Common Law on people who practices Syariah laws? Wasn't it the same like those 'barbaric' Pakistanis and Bangladeshis who wanted to turn Britain into a Britishstan and trying to turn European women into ghosts in 'dark' hijab or burka jail?

The point is, why British and English 'suddenly' came to other people lands and later trying to seize other people lands if the concept of land is a possession of human by British and European nation-state concept? This question sounds more to Liberal thinking which is the idea that Europeans trying to impose that they are holding this idea. Before that, there was a treaty called the Anglo-Siamese Treaty, where Britain and the Kingdom of Siam had ratified in London in 9th of July 1909 where they had 'exchanged' sultanates of Malay natives without their consent for the Franco-British rivalry. Those countries were with native administrations and civilized even earlier than Europe. And another point is that, if British Isles and Europe in general were so civilized, they should just do business around Europe and Europeans do not have to roam like parasites to Asia, Africa, America, and Australasia plat. I believe if there were internet and immigration in the antiquities perhaps, we would also see many rambles about how these barbaric Europeans had come to other people place and behave so uncivilized. This is how some of European ingrates talk... So, Asia and other continents should also have their own standard of civilization. Don't just nod to people. Human proclaim themselves better than others are arrogant bunch of people. It has nothing to do with the teaching of Christ and a disgrace to the noble 'son' of the God, Jesus Christ. I hate politics but we can't run from it, especially when I have to think about Europe while I am not a European. Even if European nations offered me nationality, I would just say thanks. I don't need it, I love my beautiful state and sultanate although it has no snow, infamous nor having any pine tree.

How was Tuk Janggut being respected after being murdered? His body was hung upside down by British administration authority in 1915 after he died in a battle in a place called Kampong Pupoh. The body was exhibited for a week in order to give lessons to people who go against British. His house was burnt down. Now Britain is a country in EU. EU prohibited death sentence right and human rights. So, was that a civilized act?     

So, as to say, from the act of hanging the dead body of a person who go against imperial rule and exhibiting it to public, there lies the modus operandi of the West. They are trying to scare away people and letting them do anything they want. They would use all sort of chances and opportunities that they have. This is out of the lecture, I had read about late Hassan al-Banna, he was also suddenly being killed through leaders of his country, Egypt. He was just a plain person, he never try to gain any followers but people wanted to follow him. So, was that his fault for threatening others who were afraid their 'idols' or 'comfort' would be taken away from them? 

In 2003, the United States attacked Iraq. I did not agree with the late Saddam Hussein who also had massacred Kurdish minority brothers and sisters but last time wasn't he a puppet of the US? The US didn't actually attacked Iraq, but using Iraqi themselves. This is a global issue, I guess in International Studies many speculations would come up too. I hate to read or to listen all of this, but where should we go? This earth is only one, inhabited by human and other creatures since thousands, millions, whoever knows years ago. There are also pictures of prisoners being tied with wires, tortured, and others according to today's trend. It is to scare people not to go against imperial countries. Why need to dominate others or being so aggressive to maintain power? Only aggressive people are capable to survive? Where is the God? How does the children of Israel survived when they were oppressed by the Egyptian Pharaoh? Were they using force like the West? They don't even have any power nor force instead they had to run crossing the Red Sea to the Land of Cana'an.

In Malaysia, there are also historical events like 13th of May 1969. Last time my colleague when I worked a contract job had threatened Chinese speaker workers with this silly event just because of their jealousy regarding salary. This is what happened when people with SPM (O-Level) being appointed to hold an office and being called as 'officer.' There is MAGERAN (National Movement Council) after the 13th of May event. The five Rukun Negara had been forgotten. Today, people are playing mind perception game.

What is mind perception game? Mind perception game for example, there is a situation where it is close to an exam. Students in exam listened to rumors that there is ghost in the library so everyone do not go to the library to study or getting books for their examination. Weird too that in girl boarding school in Malaysia, we would encounter incidents like hysteria when it is near examination season... hahahahahaha, a classic example.

So, how is it teenagers? How could youngsters gain their maturity? Is it by getting girlfriend, boyfriend? Is it by losing virginity to a silly young man who thinks only with his knucklehead just to indicate that a girl is not a girl anymore? Teenagers should listen to both mainstream and alternative news. Later think and bring them into consideration. For example the constitution like the article 153. A special situation in Malaysia where we are of multiracial community. Before Malayan Peninsula ministering its path toward independence, the British had said that should any chaos or fight happened in the peninsula, they would reconsider again the independence. It shows that Britain were imposing multiculturalism on a new country which were its protectorate kingdoms. But now, we heard that British are also expressing dissatisfaction on those immigrant communities from South Asia with the notion that they are going to turn Britain into a Muslim country, lolll. You can ask people to be multicultural but you are afraid of your own policy. This is what I am trying to figure out in my mini thesis, and you know what, you people are making me dizzy with your inconsistencies. Tobat tak lapaq dah ngaji benda-benda ni semua, buat sakit kepala saja.

Ustad said, certain issue is being played according to certain perception for example by foreigners. So, children consider it. As for the constitution article 153, it states the rights of Malay natives in their states, other natives of non-Malay ethnicity and non-Malay ethnics being guaranteed protection by the Yang Dipertuan Agong. Article 3 (1) subbed under article 153 in the Malaysia constitution states that Islam is an official religion in the Federation of Malaysia but other religions could also been practiced by others in any part of the Federation. When people playing the perception game, they would only take half of the statement and playing it with their own perception. Hence, it is important for everybody to rationally think and not trapped in blind emotion.  

Students now could easily get access on these materials such as constitution and various of history books from book stores. It's not like students have to think a lot but it is enough to equip one selves with some knowledge. Take important notes for daily life. During the time of Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, there was an urge for human capital where citizen must acquire higher education, and students must be equipped with morality. Say no to war for idols, no to enmity. Respect Allah 'Azza wa Jalla and the noble messenger of Allah, prophet Muhammad s.a.w.    

Lecture was adapted from the program produced by Hasmah Bahari, important points by Ustad Ahmad Shukri, part II. Wishing that it benefits everyone for Allah's pleasure, amin!

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

Prophetic Timeline Project

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

We have a very good website to learn about noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w from a project developed by the Muslim Research and Development Foundation. It is to educate the world about the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w after few misunderstandings had risen.

We may see how the project has started off here. There are 10 other more resources waiting to be developed such as the iPad Seerah application, state and independent school teacher resources and it need brothers and sisters support to make them a reality. Here is the link for donation and fundraising if interested for those in the UK or anywhere else. We may use this resource for our activity together with brothers and sisters to learn about prophetic timeline too. It is a fun activity, try it yourselves.

May the effort in educating the world about the Path of prophets goes well and being a way for everyone to please Him beside strengthening the brethren bond around the globe. Happy celebrating the Nus Sha'aban to Muslim Shi'ite and some Sufi brothers. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for dearly brothers and sisters in faith, amin!

Apostacy News

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Throughout current issues that we had followed these few years, we could see many riddah (apostacy) cases happened in Malaysia. Last few years, we heard about an old folk Malay lady from Perlis died as a Buddhist. She had been a Buddhist since she was kidnapped to Thailand by a Thai man.

When she returned home, she was already married to a Buddhist man. Her children were initiated as Buddhists in Thai Buddhist Monastery and she remains non-committal to Islamic faith although being urged to return by her family member. Ironically the lady was a native from the village of my brother in law in Panggas Village but buried in Kok Khlang. These villages are the village with Thai speaking people. They can speak in both Malay and Thai because of the bordering situation with Southern Thailand province of Satun and Songkhla.

Other previous news was about a Malay lady converted to Christianity called Lina Joy and she is now living in unknown place in Sabah. I am not really sure if she won the case to retain her status as Malay but being a Christian because in Malaysia, Malay and Islam is incorporated as an inseparable identity by the Constitution. Sometimes I feel like Malay is a religion rather than a national identity inspired by the identification of nation-state of European countries concept.

As for me, I am comfortable with myself as a Muslim and a Bumiputera of Kedah state in Malaysia without having to steal others' ethnicity identity to be a life member of a political party. I did not get any scholarship or aid from the stolen identity. Instead it had made me astray from the path of Allah when I thought that my ancestors were native Buddhist and Hindus when I have problem to befit into the society during my childhood time. People do not accept me because I do not really look like a Malay and did not behave like one. The matter of racial identity is not a big deal, Allah is more important for now and for ever. 

The recent one that I heard is yesterday in Malaysian National News (BERNAMA) where a 19 years old Malay boy admitted that he had changed his faith to Christianity. He had already attended Christian mass in the church and rituals since early December 2010.

The boy was detained and ordered by the judge of Syari’ah Court to be referred to the mosque in his learning institution for 6 months. He must report his attendance to the mosque every week to the religious office and supervised by the Imaam of the mosque at his Learning Institution in Terengganu. The proceeding for the boy case is done by the Deputy Syari’ie Prosecutor, Mr. Mohd Zaini Sulaiman according to Section 102(3) Islamic Religious Council Enactment and Kelantanese Malay Customs 1994 after the boy was detained in remand in Pangkalan Chepa once being refered by his family to the state religious office. The boy had appealed to the Court not to place him in the ‘Aqidah Rehabilitation Center in Kuala Kubu Baru because he is still a student.   

I had been thinking alone in my room about ‘aqidah issue in the past few weeks and this news suddenly popped out like yesterday and discussing about it through my intercourse with those respective kids in the Jama’at-e-Tabligh.

I actually do not think that we should blame anyone whether the boy or the missionaries in this issue. I personally believe that parents should first know their responsibility to bring up their children together into remembering Allah and following the sunnah or the tradition of rasulullah (saw).

This is what happened when parents neglected their children. Even in a religious family, if the parents do not care about their children and just focusing on their own rituals and ‘ibadah, the same thing would also happen. This issue of ‘aqidah is actually more to the issue of identity. Through my personal experience observing, people who are known as Malays had been very stern in protecting their identity with Islam as the shield of the duniaa benefits. For me, when looking through this angle, it just reflects the surface and not from the inner that would beaming outward. It is not about the acceptance of Allah and His messenger as the source of guidance in their life. But the superficial protection of their worldly benefits which they believe could protect them. Now I am wondering, in this matter, where is our pure Tawheed (monotheism only to Allah)?  

It is undeniably important to have our identity or at least know about our background. I also feel comfortable after I know what I am now although with few hardships contacting people of the first villages and consulting elders in family assembly where they are so fond to be known as 'Malays.' Compared to before when I was a boy who has a crisis in his identity, I do not really care about political matters now. It is normal for kids because kids do not really understand what happens around them. Everything in our life is inter-connected to each other. We could not have anything in separate.

As for parental issue, Islam had taught us since the very beginning before a person should get married he or she must acquire themselves with parental knowledge and the responsibility that they have to bear when getting married. It is not only about channeling the lust and passion through a legal relationship between a man and a woman.

It is about responsibility to the soul that would be issued by a married couple. What would the future child (soul) be when they are born? Are they going to be a good sons or daughters? Obedient to the God and the teachings transmitted through Muhammad (s.a.w)? Are they going to be obedient toward their parents and respecting them? How would the parents or the married couple behave? I had seen many couples registering for the marriage seminar conducted at mosque and other licensed institutions but what do they cultivate from that few hours or perhaps few days seminars?

All of these came from the education that the child or soul received since their souls were to be sent by Allah to the womb of their mother to the age where they achieve their maturity. Of course guidance comes from Allah and it is Allah’s right to choose whom He wants to be guided and leaves behind who He does not want to be guided but imaan is also acquired through efforts as what had been decreed. Efforts to implant imaan in the heart of children are not a short term process but it takes such a long time and patience.

The issue of imaan and ihsaan do not only being the concern for the riddah (apostacy) case. But it is also being a concern when we see our youngsters behave in front of us. Last mid night I went to a mamak restaurant near my hostel to have my supper and dinner. I could see young kids, I suppose that they are Malays and Malays must be Muslim, they were kissing each other in front of people in the restaurant in front of others without any shame. I guess they are just around 15 years old or might be older from their feature and appearance. Also from the jargon and the way they talk to each other. When we see this, what is the implication of ihsaan in an individual and society? 

So, how do we measure our imaan (faith) my beloved brothers and sisters in faith? Is it from the identification of our race? Our ethnicity? Our identity card that stated our religious identity as Muslim and from our Islamic sound names? Or in side of our heart?

If the boy who admits himself as a Christian was detained and later being left behind after six months without any support and care from his parents, siblings, and friends, what will happen to him although he does not attend church meetings anymore? When we are going to die, will Allah look at our identity card, or look at whether we are Malays or not to determine what is our ‘real’ imaan? Will Allah check all of these in our documents? Or will Allah check it with our imaan and 'amaal? I began to understand this when I compare it with what I had heard from the Tabligh lectures and the tasawwuf kitaab. Also making cross check with basic faith. Before this I did not understand all of these although I learned about this in Islamic Education in schools be it primary education or secondary.

As what I had already analyzed and still going through it without feeling tired of it, the religion or deen is based from three basic things. Imaan, ‘Ibadah, and Ihsaan. Ihsaan is related to our behavior and attitude in front of God. These three basic things are inseparable elements of religion. From these three, the Syariah (Way) and the Ummah (Nation) are developed, my dear brothers and sisters.

I am not sure whether I put my points clear because I am not good in words but I am trying to brought this issue as an advice for every one of us who believes in Allah and His messenger (s.a.w). It includes myself without exception and may we be saved from His torments because we do not know how terrible His torments are when we lie to Him. When we try to cheat Him by saying that we have the faith to Him with our dirty lips while we behave a munafiq (hypocrite) and performing differently from what we had proclaimed, na’uzubillahu min dzaalik (may He prevents it)…

I am so afraid of myself ya Allah please save me, save my brothers and my sisters that I love so much. Brothers and sisters in faith are important than my own soul :’(

Brothers and sisters let us chant the kalimah syahadah everytime. It is not a sin to chant it everywhere in our heart. It is not only to be chanted once when a muallaf reverting to Islam and then being left behind. If it is not important after being known as a Muslim then, Allah would not prescribe us the five times obligatory daily prayers where the syahadah (faith proclamation) is included in two tasyahuds (proclamation) of each prayers except the Fajr prayer with only one tasyahud. We always take this matter easy.

Syahadah is very important and the first pillar in the five pillars of Islam. It is the key for syafa'at (salvation). It is related to the first and second pillars of the pillars of Imaan. When we leave obligatory salaat (prayers), then are we really a Muslim in that day? This is also a warning to myself. God would surely torment me with full torments in hell each time I miss my salaat :’((((((((((

Ya Allah my Lord, we seek Your protection from the torment of qubr (in grave), we seek your protection the jahannam (hell). Allah my Lord we seek protection from the slander of the life and death. Allah we seek protection from the slander of the al-Masih Dajjal. Allah my Lord we seek protection from the root of sins and the maghram (debt). O Allah please do not deflect our heart after You had guide us. Bless us with Your boundless Grace. Indeed You are the Greatest Grantor, aaminn!!!!