Knowledge

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Praises due to the God the Highest. We managed to finish our Friday service in the mosque. The newly arrived imam at the mosque is quite helpful especially he would explain the message of the verses that he just recited in the prayer service. I did not bring my notebook to the mosque so I would have to focus more on his speeches.  This is actually the method that I would love every imam to practice and not just reciting the long-winding surah of the Glorious Quran and after that reciting the supplication in long-winding Arabic language. That is fine for the training but we could also do that while performing the Qiyam al-Lail or the Night Vigil Prayers.

Sermon

Well, today's sermon is about the importance of the knowledge. It is a broad and general topic discussed by everyone and almost everywhere. Knowledge is a useful tool for every da'ie and the preacher of Islam so that we would not be shooting like nothing. The reason why we wanted Islam to spread across the universe is not because of dominion. As what has been mentioned in the Hadith al-Qudsi, the intention is the primary source of the act. If we intend to have dominion on the world, then we would only bringing tensions and tainting the name of our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w while we always say that we love him. Is not this contradictory to what we say at our lips? I am sure everyone knows what is meant by the hypocrites and it is also a title of a surah in the Glorious Quran itself where the God explains to us about the hypocrites. Despite of looking to others with rising perceptions... How about if we have some insights in ourselves by keeping our silence. 

Monologue

I did a lot of meditation myself besides learning again about Islam and I felt the pain when I am trying to remove evil "me" from my inner self and mind. Perception is actually a phenomenon which comes and goes. It is a temporary phenomena. This is nothing from the sources of Imam al-Ghazali or Ibn Hajar while I am also learning from both of them through teachers such as the late Mr. Sa'id Ramadan al-Bouti materials. I am being honest. Some of my insight materials are from the source of the Path of Self Purification. They are not from prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Like I told everyone through various posts before. I had trained myself through the teachings of the enlightened teachers from ancient India though I was also educated in basic Islamic system. There were five recognized aggregates forming the mental phenomena that come and go while one of them is the perception. The other four are the physical form, cognition, volitional formation or sensuality, and mental structure or mental object. Translation perhaps is not enough to explain all of these matters. One need to understand the original language of the teachers who taught all of these which is the ancient Indian language. Just like fellow brothers and sisters believe that the Glorious Quran and teachings of our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w should also be understood in Arabic and through the exegesis. So do other teachings. When we depend too much on these matters, we would be sunken into the stream of sufferings. Suffering here refer to the state of mind and it affects the physical matters around. I am not trying to talk about these because these are not so much important.

But as to say, this is just a knowledge from various kind of sciences which could be founded in the Earth. This is a practical psychology. Not so much about metaphysical stuffs. That is why I was so furious when some kids saying that what I am talking is about the "unveiling" concept. One has to be very careful about what they are thinking and also saying as the word is the manifestation of the mind and heart. There are countless lights that veils Him and it is a blasphemy to think that we had already reached the knowledge about Him while only about 0.00000001 percent is unveiled. So, please those who is approaching the circle be very very careful I beg everyone including myself. Make sure that we are walking within the circle of Islamic Path and then practice the morality of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w may we be blessed with boundless happiness.

Manner of Seeking Knowledge

Before we study anything, we should start it with the intention. Our intention must be sincerely to reach the pleasure of the God the Highest. We should study anything because of we wanted to secure a job. Let me tell brothers and sisters something. I realize that why the God the Highest had turned me this far from the Sharia stream through everything that happened around me. I could see that if we study the religion only to secure a job and to live happily then it is not path of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w : ) 

The other is we should not study anything because of fame and that is why I hate people coming close to me in crowd. I always asked anyone who wanted to approach me or trying to practice the practices to always come to me alone. I do not mind to be a mentor and also his student. I believe in mentor-mentee system for training. That is the system where the previous teachers of the pious predecessors used to practice when they studied the traditions.  I did not intend to make anyone looking stupid. That is far from my heart because I do not like to do anything to others which I do not like to happen to me. If I intend to do so... I would have long reprimand people in front of the crowd like people of various movements doing that to me. The reason why I am secluding myself from movements today is because I do not like to see things being committed upside down by the wrong people. When it comes to Islamic teachings, we must doing it right in term of manner, time, position, knowledge and practices. 

We should seek the knowledge from the right teachers. While seeking information from the internet, one has to be careful with the sources of the information because the most doable research is always from the first source. This is based from research methodology and I am just summing it up for the sermon as an example. This is why the pious predecessors such as the Imam al-Shafi'ie and also teachers such as Imam al-Ghazali and others used to travel far while having to live in a very modest way just to seek knowledge which is now being studied by others without any trouble. If we wanted to know about particular matters then we should find the right teachers about the matter and not looking at some other people who oppose the matter because that is not according to the stream that we wanted to know. And this is why I wish that nobody using anything in this humble site as their arguments because this site is only a personal site based from one individual "perception" about life and the world. World view could vary from a location to another and from a person to another. So, be very wise in filtering information. Just treat this site as an entertainment so that brothers and sisters know that not only you in this world suffer but there are zillions of life suffering while living in this temporal world. This is just a humble sharing.

Be respectful to other opinions and agree to disagree. This is a very simple method and also a method which is practiced by Imam Ahmad where he loves to leave the argument or debates because it is a waste of time. Time management is very important for a seeker of knowledge especially Muslim students. Imam al-Shafi'ie said that I could debate in a very eloquent way with scholars but not with an ignorant. So, we could judge a person who is knowledgeable or not based from his tendency to debate or to prove this or that is right. Knowledge is not about whoever is wrong or correct. It is about the virtue and the benefit that everyone could enjoy from them. There are research method whether when someone is studying the Islamic sciences or any other sciences.

Be very patient when we learn something. Even in our life experience which we eventually learned from we should also be patient. I listened something in the Quran the New Dawn series and it explains something which is very beautiful about patience and its virtue. As an ordinary mortal human-being I am also not exceptional from distress or being affected by misfortunes but the concept of patience taught us to be like the cactus who sustain itself through the water supplies that it sought with its long root thrusting under the sand and stones. It signifies the mind which is used to generate the life of the physical. There is always wisdom behind whatever happened to us as what has been explained even by non-Muslim teachers. For example the philosophy about the fate, actions and destiny which signifies the past, the present and the future. There is a story too about patience and the wisdom behind everything through Quranic narration where prophet Moses a.s was ordered to follow the prophet Khidr a.s after he unintentionally slipped by thinking that no one is knowledgeable than him since he possess the wisdom from the God the Highest. But the God the Highest mentions that there is always people with knowledge almost everywhere so He ordered Him to get some wisdom from the other prophet (Surah al-Kahfi). This also means that we should be among the knowledgeable so we could get at least some of their knowledge and wisdom. In this case, I am perhaps not so much fortunate. I only know few of my cousins and nephew also memorize the Quran but I am not so much close to them. But, I could assure brothers and sisters I put value on the Quran memorizers. I love them all.

To study anything related to Him, we must make sure to protect our senses and through my contemplation of whatever wisdom of the East. The tools of senses are the portal of the mind. They are particularly six senses at our physical body which are the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue, the touching senses and the end is the cognition which is a group of mental processes. In these sense dear brothers and sisters, language and linguistic learning is very important. Azren which was my undergrad colleague is now a Malay teacher in Islamic College of Kuala Kangsar. He told me that the students there although studying in Islamic stream for their diploma but were not so much fond of Malay language as compared to Arabic. Maybe because Malay is not so much important as the previous times but it is still important for them because who are their target audience if they are going to perform the da'awa? Whatever language that you speak dear brothers and sisters, please take a good care of it and improve it. I am writing here in English because this is the only way I could reach other brothers and sisters outside there. I was not so much skillful in English and still improving it too. The way I studied English was that I memorized the English-Malay-English dictionary besides checking the etymology of words through R.O Winstedt English-Malay Dictionary (1913) something. That is why some people would claim that my Malay language is somehow classical as compared to modern Malay. I love Malay language so much and I could get better score for Malay language as compared to other subjects when I was in school. I only became not creative when I grow up perhaps because I learned to accept facts of life that life is not always about imagination. Imagination perhaps important but it is only an escapism. How are we going to go through the fact of life is important and the knowledge on what is the fact of life could also lead us to other branches of knowledge.

In the end, a knowledge without practice could never help us from torments of the hereafter. We have to practice and sharing them with others. Because I cannot find a suitable mentor nor mentee to study together or for sharing as I am already growing old... Three years to 30 years old so I guess this is among the ways to share some of the experience. There is of no use to collect thousand of books but we just keep them in shelves without sharing them while the contents of the books could help to bring the civilization to virtue and to Him. The things that we memorize for example the Quran is to be practice. Not for the job as a community imam or to be a religious officer. The sin for those who memorize the Quran but acting not in accordance to proper standard is gravest than the sin of the ignorant who knows nothing about the revelation. But there is always an urge for us to improve ourselves through seeking the knowledge and not to remain ignorant! 

Closing

Last week I was quite occupied because I helped Azren with his mid-term Malay paper. Thankful to him so I could earn some sustenance without having to beg like a beggar which I would better die if I commit that. He offered me to fill in another contract position as a Malay language teacher there by asking his dean but I guess I would not going to apply for that. I have had it enough.  I would just work part time here and study the Quran and other Islamic sciences here. It is ok I cannot enjoy my life like other young people with friends around. 

In fact I do not even care, hahaha. I would do it the other way which is to seek the God the Highest pleasure. The fact of life that I was talking about is the impermanence of existence, the absence of abiding self and the suffering. What matters is to improve ourselves and by time we wish that we could see Him in the hereafter. Wishing anyone who stumbled here maybe by accident enjoy them. I am not trying to post anything here for open publication. Simply my inner selves being poured down here. Outside, I am totally without voice but simply performing.

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad. Dear the God the Highest may You be pleased with all the teachers and bless prophet Muhammad s.a.w together with his family members may we also receive some essence of love from You.

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

Sunan for Friday

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

  

Just a sharing about my personal practices during Friday in conjunction to Friday. My understanding about sunan or the sunna, it actually refers to our traditions which are inherited from prophets and the messengers of the God the Highest. Besides the sunan, there are also adabs or manners in practicing the sunan as per the positive ones since the sunan could also refer to the negative ones. I don't know what my ex-roommates during my undergraduate time think about me when I practiced those things. Maybe in terms of angle of views, they seem different from the majority Muslim Malay practices. I am glad Habib Muhammad al-Sagof is helping me to explain the things as he is also one of our people, haha...

Practices during Thursday

Usually the evening before the proper Friday, which is on Thursday, I would begin to clean up the room and lit up fragrances such as sandalwood and frankincense. Then we have recitation of Quran after the Maghrib prayer service as the beginning of the new day is counted at the evening of the previous day or at 'Asr time.

Usually people in my country would recite the surat Yaasin and most who recite the Yaasin in group are the Muslim Malays who follows the Shafi'ie school. I still remember that I also used to do the same where I recited the Yaasin at home with my mother and sisters before 2000 as I began to have problems which made me deciding not to practice any Islamic practices but just performing "philosophical" meditation to clear myself from any influences. That was before I begin to learn Hanbali school when I went for pilgrimage in the Holy Mecca. The practice of hadith recitation was originated from the hadith which means: "Whoever recites the Yaasin on the eve of Friday, he will be forgiven by the morning". The status of the hadith according Ibn Jawzi is fabricated as the source chain of the hadith known as Muhammad bin Zakariya was notorious as a hadith fabricator.

By the way, Ibn Jawzi is a Hanbali scholar just to let brothers and sisters know. So, there shouldn't be any accusation or assumption being related to radical movements. I am not saying reciting Yaasin or any other surat from the glorious Quran as innovation. It is a good habit to recite Quran but there is no clear chain for the hadiths on the "benefits" of reciting surat Yaasin at "certain" time. Sometimes I would also join the group recitation at the mosque in my country to respect others and in my view, it is a good practice. I don't like to be tied to any movement or particular cult just to look different or superior than others. Besides, I hate over-reaction and I love being moderate and modest. It is enough to be a Muslim and the follower of Muhammad s.a.w while for the suggestions of sunna angle in worship, I would be referring to a particular school of jurisprudence. It does not make me eligible to harshly criticize other people practices especially when they are good ones or showing off as if my school of jurisprudence or the scholars of the school I am referring are superior above all other salaf and tabi'in scholars.       

Regarding the fragrant smokes, I tell brothers and sisters that if you live in Arabian Peninsula or in Gulf states, those people are also doing the same for certain event, majlis or festival. I am using the sandalwood in the form of sticks because it is difficult to find the pieces of sandalwood chunks here. It is very expensive and could only be founded in Arab fragrant stores. Maybe people think that I am a Muslim Indian or a Barelwi movement follower or even a Shi'a. I am not an Indian, not a second rated Indian, not a Shi'a Muslim not a Muslim Malay nor a particular sufi views adherent. I am an Arab Diaspora by descent, I love all of bani Hashim members of clan and fiercely an Orthodox Muslim. Day by day, I am trying to return to our heritage in order to protect our identity because we are largely "damaged" by the environment.

Practices during Friday          

1. Before Friday Prayer

Common practices during Friday morning before the prayer service, clipping the nails. Then, anointing myself and head with the olive oil or any oil that could be applied at the skin. Sometimes I would do it before the ghusl or sometimes after the ghusl. After the ghusl, I would apply the perfume all over my body. It is the symbolic that I am going to see the God the Highest and leaving behind the worldly affairs. If brothers and sisters see a Muslim corpse being embalmed, the practice is more or less the same.

Before I walk out, I would also lit up sandalwood or frankincense. However, myrrh and frankincense would be dangerous especially no one was checking on it at the room. Usually I do not like to walk in the crowd to the mosque. I prefer to walk rather than driving or using any vehicle. Especially when going to worship event at the mosque, it is favorable for me to walk and get prepared as early as I can in order to arrive at the mosque before the time. I practiced these as our customs since I was a young child but during the period of 1998-2004 I began to have some confusions regarding myself and some problems with life that made me starting to leave behind the salat services and all of these traditions.

2. At the Mosque     

At the mosque, I would stand at the front line if I am early to perform the two units prayer service to respect the Lord of the mosque before sitting down. Then maybe I would recite the Quran while waiting for the Friday sermon to begin. I don't like to chat nor listening to people talking about worldly affairs in the prayer hall as it is not favorable according to the manner. We can talk about worldly affairs or politics for us to survive, but outside of the prayer hall... Get the hell out of the prayer hall and talk or argue. We do not perform the optional prayer service before the first sermon. We usually would perform it at home, but that is in the case where our houses are closer to the mosque. 

When the sermon begins, we would sit still and try to attentively listen to sermon. We should try to avoid from sleeping or losing focus. Even if the sermon is so boring, try to keep some beneficial points in our mind. Last time, I used to keep the words from the sermon in my notebook once I arrived at my room just to practice whatever is beneficial for me and around. I have a special notebook specifically for Quran, Sunna and Arabic. Anything that I heard, I would keep the words in the form of writings including the source and the preachers' detail if available. Usually I can't wait to return home after the prayer service finish because I wanted to keep the words from the sermon in my notebooks, hehe...

When the imam recites the supplications between two sermons, I usually would just zip my mouth and mentally say my supplications. Sometimes by holding my hands like others, sometimes without holding hands. It is also good to recite an abundant of salawat upon noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, his family members and righteous companions. Or maybe just reciting the salawat Ibrahimi which also includes prophet Ibrahim a.s and his family members together with prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

3. After Friday Service

Just after the Friday prayer service, it would be followed with two units of optional prayer. Sometimes it would be up to 10 units just like the Hanafi school followers. In the evening, just after the 'Asr prayer service I would recite supplications and there are many kinds of supplications ones could recite. Sometimes I would recite supplications before the Maghrib prayer service and followed by the litanies and other supplications after the service which would take me around 10 minutes up to 15 minutes. The day is now, Saturday... Then after Isha' service, if there was roommate in my room which would make me feel uncomfortable to do some night activities or which I think would disturb him.... I would just stay night at the musalla or any mosque that I could reach just after I had my dinner or supper. I would also bring my kitabs and memorize stuffs that I had already learned and understood. They are just simple and compact stuffs as I tried to make everything easy to be practiced. Not only to be memorized or to preach around like an ustad. I would also recite the Quran or memorize the parts of the Quran.

Basic    

These are basic matters that I practiced during Friday or when celebrating Friday as a holy day. There are also personal supplications but I am not mentioning everything in detail together with the hadiths or stuffs as I am trying not to be too technical just to boast around.

Regarding the sunans, there are also adabs or manners when we talk about them to people. We don't simply jump into crowd and acting furious because it would make people upset. They also possess feelings and human-being just like us. Before we jump down to them, perhaps they are with faith. But after we jump in and harshly condemning them simply because we know more about hadith studies than them or because we want to show that scholars of our school had conducted researches, they begin to stay away from Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. So, what is the point? 

There is a thin line between innovations and improvisations. Improvisation means that we improvise with whatever "we already have" to suit the situation or condition. While innovation means we "introduce something new" in an established form of structure or organization where they were not taught before by early figures. Everything that we said to others would then goes back to the "intention" and our "heart". What is the condition of our heart at that time?

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad... May Allah Ta'ala change evil feelings within our soul into the good ones. May Allah Ta'ala makes us humble and lowly in our own eyes but in His sight, we are His beloved servants. May Allah Ta'ala gives us consistency in worshiping Him and grants us the sakina (tranquility) so we may always be on His path...  

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

Friday Sermon : The Concept of Fear to the God

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Often, when we talk with Christian preachers about fear to the God, they will contrast us with the term of love to the God is better than fear to the God. As a Muslim, I am always aware about our love or devotion to the God. I always close my postings with prayers for peace, mercy and love and it means also love toward the God. I actually don't really like preachers. No matter of what religion, I just don't like to be persuaded. I love to do everything because of my own sincerity for Him and because of my own awareness. Not because I look at this guy looks awesome or that guy looks great in any church, group or etc. If I am that kind of person, I would be a person who has many friends around me. But I am not...

The imam who delivered the sermon is my favorite imam in Masjid al-Malik Khalid, imam Zayd Zahari from Pulau Pinang. I love his Quranic recitation which is clear, simple, medium and without any exaggeration. He actually gains my respect though I never personally talk to him because I don't think I am fit enough to talk to him and I also care about his memorization which means I will never interrupt him although he does not recite any Quranic verse in front of me because I know the sacred verses is actually circulating within him and could not be interrupted. I think his sermon about fear to the God is more important than political sermon about Palestine or Israel. They are not important as the God is important (He is the Light of the world and heavens). So, why should I exaggerate about these people situation? They become like that simply because of they have no reflection on themselves. No muhasabah and they look at themselves as important. Who is actually important? Allah or His slaves?

My Palestinian classmate never join five times obligatory congregational prayer services although he lives in the hostel close to masjid which is actually a serious offense according to Hanbali madzhab. For me, his room should be burned as according to Abu Hurairah hadith but yet he still talks about how important his country to be enlisted in the world map. If he prays in congregation with his people there it would be nice but I saw it with my own eyes as I always accompanied him since we were classmates. People like us have no country of origin anymore and living as the citizen of others without the sense of belonging but why we never lament our fate like them and going to the media like superstars? We also don't live like normal human-being so I understood how the Jews diaspora feel. If I live like normal human perhaps I would not be writing these postings to talk to the Lord.  

Definition of Fear to the Lord

According to the sermon, the word fear is translated from the Arabic word at-Taqwa which means fear, haha. It is synonymous to English word, integrity which was derived from a Latin word Integer. In the Old Testament, Songs of the Song (Shir Ha Shirim), integrity was mentioned for about 66 times. In Quran there are hundreds of the word which refers to integrity and fear to the God. The concept of taqwa and the confidence that the Lord is monitoring us (He is Monitoring us!).    

The imam says that the serious problem in our society today is because we have no taqwa toward the God. If we wanted to talk about the devotion and love to the God. We must also talk about fear toward the God as all of these are inter-connected. It is like when we talk to a beginner about certain things, they would not get the picture if we only show half of it and mentioning it as a complete picture. If we can't show the whole picture in a space, we should show it step by step. As in Christians' faith for example, to get the knowledge on Salvation, one has to be baptized. What happened if a person is not baptized? He will be doomed forever. For us Muslims, the words of fear to the Lord or kalimah at-Taqwa is there is no gods but only the God. Baptism for me is just a tradition of prophet Jesus a.s and sages of ancient Israel. I perform it everyday according to what has been highlighted by noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w. When I repented to our ancestral path, I also performed ghusl (baptism) to clean myself from previous deeds and being a new-person. Certain special days, I also perform massaha (annointing) where I will apply olive oil on my skin and hair. If I translate it into Greek it sounds, Christos but I am not a "Christian" and I don't need any church baptism. I am a Muslim, and my patriarchs are Abraham a.s and Ismael a.s, my imam of jurisprudence school is Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, the seal of prophethood according to my faith and creed is Muhammad s.a.w : )

Three Degree of Fear to the Lord

1. Liberating one self from infidelity and ingrateful attitude

2. Avoiding one self from sinful acts

3. Cleansing one self's heart and soul from things which keeping him far from Allah

Closing

I found that if we have ample knowledge about the pillars of faith and pillars of Islam, we will understand what has been taught by teachers. I always advise myself to revise the hadith compiled by Imam an-Nawawi rahimahullah on the hadith Jibril a.s. If I found kids doing immoral activities, perhaps I will kidnap them and force them to memorize the pillars of faith and pillars of Islam and recite them until their throat sore, hahahhahahahahaa. So the sermon today is about taqwa. Let us ponder more about this topic and get our understanding in a more deep manner. The way Allah look at us is upon at-Taqwa. Not upon superiority of race or nationality or gender or appearance. I also look at people according this standard.

Prayer for mercy, peace, and love, amin!    

Friday Sermon: Manner of Being a Neighbor

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Thankful to Allah, we could complete the service for Friday prayer this afternoon without problem. The sermon delivered by a lecturer of architecture department. I can't remember his name because lately my memory became quite tarnished do to anxiety syndrome. It is not really good for health. I talked with Amir, my ex-colleague about this too realizing how "suck" is our life that leads us to this kind of syndrome. He is with his problem anxious about his younger brother and sisters. While I am also anxious with thesis due date, the next semester classes, and family. I am worried about my dad's health. I love him though I never get enough attention when I was a little kid. I understood him, he needs to work hard and sacrificing for the family.

I try to perform meditation again and it will surely cut me off from other brothers in faith or anyone. It is not easy to maintain positive mind when we are in uncertain period and when we keep asking "what if" although we try not to think much about the future.

Sermon

The preacher said that people today are too busy and too much influenced by material that makes them have no free time to greet neighbors even those beside their houses. It makes the relationship turns insipid. The failure to understand the concept of neighborhood makes people misunderstood each other, quarreling, fighting and to the serious one such as hurting and killing their own neighbors. It ruins the unity of society and raising up the enmity among society while Islam emphasizes the need to be good to the neighbors and respecting everyone. The prosperity of a country and nations depends on the relationship of every individual in the society. 

The quality of a society is reflected through understanding and the closeness of each other. It encompasses the boundary of religions, races, ethnicity, color, and languages. Everyone is encouraged to be good to everyone regardless these aspects. Nations are urged to maintain good ties and relationship. Trying to be friendly as to form a peaceful and harmonious life. When facing problems, trying to solve them through good means.

Says the God through Quran: "Be good to your parents, your relatives, orphans, paupers, close and distanced neighbors, travelers in trouble and servants (if you have ones)." (Surah an-Nisaa verse 36)

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w says: "Archangel Gabriel a.s always reminds me about neighbors until I though that neighbors inherit each other (it means that living like a family)." 

In the reality of life today, human could not run from living with each other and forming a society. Whether in the village or towns. Either they are interested or not interested to face their neighbors, or having different tastes and hobbies, or different characteristics. They are still in a society and forming neighborhood. Islamic manners of neighborhood prohibits a Muslim to reveal the humiliating secrets of a neighbor to others, intruding their residence, and taking their rightful rights (by all means either by law or by force). 

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w says: "The most good among humans are those who bring benefits to others."  

Ibnu Qayyim rahimahullah explained the hadith above through an explanation saying that: Those who did charities to others, the God will also be good to him. Those who display the merciful act to others, the God will also be Merciful to him. Those who brings benefits to others, the God will also pours benefit to him and those who protecting the secrets of others, the God will also protecting his secrets and never humiliating him. Those who prevents benefits to others (due to jealousy or enmity) or committing the acts other than prescribed, the God will also do the same to him in both this world and the hereafter. 

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w also says: "The doomsday would never come unless there are much disgusting acts and words came out from human-being, severing the ties of mercy among each other and disrespecting neighbors." (narrated by Ahmad and Hakim)

Manners of Being a Neighbor

They are summarized as 30 altogether by Imam al-Ghazali rahimahullah:

1. Trying to create friendly condition through self-introducing and respecting each other. Greeting each other with peace prayers which is assalaamu'alaikum when meeting a fellow Muslim and respecting fellow non-Muslim with respectful greetings.

2. Trying to tolerate everyone in term of religious matters, cultural differences, lifestyle, and etc if there are differences.

3. Never physically or mentally hurt neighbors by all means which is through words, acts, or bad thoughts. An evil and immoral neighbor is depicted as a possessed by black ghost (Satan) until they could do evil things and brings fear to others. 

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w says: "By the God, a person is not faithful..." The companions asked him: "Who is that dear prophet?" He says: "A person who makes his neighbor lives in fear because of his evilness." (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

In another hadith, prophet Muhammad s.a.w says: "A person never enter the paradise if his neighbor feels scared and not at peace due to his evil deeds." (narrated by Muslim)

3. Always talking in good speech and respecting neighbors as human.

4. Being humble, gentle and avoiding from bragging about ourselves.

5. Always trying to help neighbors in any form.

6. Loving neighbors like loving ourselves. Trying to be in accordance with neighbors as long as it is not against the religious rites and trying to avoid anything that is  disliked by neighbors.

7. Taking care about neighbors and showing sympathy on the problem faced by them in the matter of religion, family, matrimonial, psychology, health, education, finance, food and drinks, and others. Displaying noble morality to respective neighbors. 

8. Never insulting and looking down on neighbors regardless status. Always respecting neighbors and appreciate them. Being thankful to neighbors on their gifts, services, and assistance.

9. The ones in the top priority to be treated like a family are 40 houses around our houses. At the right, the left, the back and the front of our houses in the measurement of 40 houses are all our family and neighbors regardless if they are relatively connected to us or not.

10. Trying to create peaceful, tranquil, and nice environment at the neighborhood. This is a factor which is mentioned by prophet Muhammad s.a.w in the pillars of happiness, one of it is a good neighbor.

11. Always protecting oneself from offenses such as vandalism, polluting the dignity of one selves and neighbors and it includes the family of neighbors, their properties, their religions, and etc.

12. Avoid from being too nosy about others personal matters or about their family matters unless if they come to us and telling us to get assistance to solve problems.

13. Help those who are afflicted by calamity and disasters may they became peaceful and tranquil.

14. Put ourselves in neighbors' shoes. When they are facing the difficulties, try to imagine that we are also in difficulties like them and when they are in happiness we are also feeling happy for them. Congratulate them when they are getting new houses, new furniture, receiving new babies, marriages, and others. Sending them condolence when there are misfortunes like death and others.

15. Avoid from looking at stuffs brought by neighbors to their home. There is no necessity to be nosy about that.

16. Never be careless in calling them toward charity and chastity. Preventing evil and vices through wisdom.

17. If our neighbors are committing evil acts, be patient and always ready to forgive them their sins. Never strike back evil with evil but giving people only goodness.

18. Never listen to slanders and gossips of others about our neighbors and never be influenced by those evil matters.

19. Visit neighbors when they are sick and not well. Taking care about their health.

20. Help in managing their corpse when there is death in the neighborhood.  

21. Never heralding neighbors errors, humiliating them or telling others about their errors.

22. Helping neighbors in term of finance such as loan or donation if they need it.

23. Merciful and gentle to neighbors' children.

24. Looking after the safety of neighbors' home and children while they are not at home.

25. Congratulate them when there are good events happening to neighbors especially when they receive goodness and blessed by the God with good things.

26. Sending condolence to neighbors when they are in disasters.

27. Never build any high building which could obstruct the flow of the wind to neighbors' houses unless if they permit it and happy with it. Never burden neighbors by placing something which could prevent them from entering their own houses just for our own satisfaction.

28. Never hurt neighbors with the smell of the cooking. If the cooking is nice then give some for them to taste and enjoy it.

29. Giving presents to neighbors some fruit that we bought for their health and clean them first before giving them to neighbors.

30. Always praying for safety and happiness of the neighbors.

Three Kinds of Neighbors with Their Rights

1. Muslim neighbors with relative ties are with three rights as neighbors. They possess the rights of a neighbor, a family, and a brethren in faith.

2. Muslim neighbors who have no relative ties possess two rights where they are to be treated as a neighbor and a respective brethren in faith. 

3. Non-Muslim neighbors possess a right which is the right of a neighbor who is to be respected with 30 manners mentioned above.

Diary

Somehow this sermon is like hitting my nose too, lol. I have no strength to be friendly or talking to people anymore. If I have the choice, I would just run to the mountain, grassland or desert and live their until my end comes. I am afraid of negative thinking might influence my life but we have no choice as human is meant to live together as a society. If we keep our distance with people, people might also think that we are this and that. That is not good for them too because it cause them negative thinking. 

Urmm, now I also feel like living in a cave while having to finish the thesis. This place is perfect for temptations by Satan and also meditation. I feel like wanted to jump down from the tenth floor here but each time I noticed that it is Satan who is tempting me to do this silly and sinful act. It happens few times when I am pressured and I have no one to talk about the problem. When producing or doing something heavy, we needs someone to at least listen or discuss about the topic but I could not find anyone since postgraduate is not like undergraduate. We are on our own. 

Other than that, I am afraid that I might also burden others who are not related and I believe nobody would want to be associated to others problem. It is a common thing in which I understood. I still remember reading the Gospel of Matthew about Prophet Jesus a.s was also tempted by Satan after he was baptized (ghusl) where he was challenged by Satan to jump down from the tower of a temple. It shows that Satan indeed interfering when we are alone. Even the prophet of the God also experienced that. We are just ordinary people as compared to him. When some  friends come to me or my siblings talk to me about their problem I would also try to listen because I understand the feeling. In case like my seniors, auntie Roslin who also telling me about her problems until 2 a.m in the morning on Wednesday. Because of that I had cancelled my weekly fasting for two days Monday and Thursday but never mind. At least she feels better. I feel sorry that I can't help her as I am also stuck here. If not perhaps I might offer myself to perform sacrifice. I don't mind helping brothers and sisters in faith without any payment but just help me with prayers.

This one is a reminder to myself if I engaged in the society and community. For brothers and sisters in Europe and Western countries, try to also respect your non-Muslim neighbors and friends if they do not hurt you. Also everywhere in the world, we are the people who follow the nature of the universe. So we try to live in accordance to the nature.

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

First Friday in Ramadan 2011

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

 Pic source from rohzikir.wordpress. Faith and fear against polytheism and ungratefulness in the whole angles.

I had overslept after Fajr prayer. It is not a good habit but I think it is the effect of toxic in our mass or perhaps the lack of sugar level when we begin to fast again after a long time resting from fast, hehe. 

I shouldn't listen to one of my acquaintance who prevents me from fasting in alternate days last time. It was actually our habit to fast according to sunnah tradition and usually I would try to avoid from being detected by people with prescribed manners.

I woke up just before 13:00 and managed to clean up for the congregational prayer. I had a short dream and felt like someone singing a qaseedah praising Muhammad s.a.w at my ears that made me realize this is Friday and spontaneously woke up, lol. Maybe it is from my past experience listening to those stuffs and it replays again in my ears, haha.

So, I just walked to the mosque like always. Not really hot today although I began to sweat while approaching the mosque. It's calorie burning, haha. The sermon today is still about fasting month which is Ramadan. It talks about fear or taqwa to the God and obedience in performing the fast.  

Let us just share among us the verses from Quran regarding fear...

O, those who believe it was written for you the fast as what had been written on those who came before you may you have fear to (the God) (al-Baqarah 183)

O, human-being indeed We created you as male and female and making you of different ethnicity and tribes for you to know each other. Indeed We honor you according to your level of fear to the God. Indeed the God is the Most Highest the Most Discreet (al-Hujurat 13)

And then regarding charity...

Indeed those believers who are faithful to the God and His messenger, then they have no doubt and they put efforts with their properties and their selves on the Path of the God. They are all the people whom adhere to Truth (al-Hujurat 15)

Before the week to come for Ramadan to begin I had also heard Friday sermon in our mosque, about two days after I came back from individual Bangkok trip. The preacher had suggested for us to do things like these in Ramadan:

1. Reciting Quran with manner and trying to deeply think or ponder on the message of the God for us to obey.

2. Being generous in Ramadan although it is also good to be generous all over the year. In the same time avoiding showing off and wasting.

3. Learning Arabic to understand the message of glorious Quran and strengthening brotherhood bond through the language.

4. Increasing our knowledge about the pillars of fasting, the manner to fast and related to it.

5. Qiyaamullail or night vigil whether individually at home or in the mosque with congregation in service. In our mosque we just perform about 11 units of Taraweekh prayer including Witr. If we wish to do it until 20th units, we could individually perform it at our room or home.  

Wish that it is a beneficial sharing for everyone especially myself. May we recite salawat always for prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companions. May Allah bless our faithful ancestors and parents. Sealed with prayers for peace, love, and mercy, amin!