Friday Prayers and Supplications

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Just a reminder for myself. It's not intended to others. Urm...... I dunno how to only private this post :'(

Narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a: Prophet Muhammad s.a.w talked about Friday and he said: "There is an hour on Friday and if a believer Muslim gets it while offering salat and asks something from Allah AWJ, then Allah will definitely meet his prayers". And prophet Muhammad s.a.w pointed out the shortness length of that particular time with his hands. - Sahih Bukhari

Understandings about the time:

1. From the time the imam enters the masjid on Friday's prayer until the prayer is over, in addition between two sermons. 

2. Others said that it is the last hour of the day which is after 'Asr prayer until Maghrib prayer services.

Our people hold the second understanding because the time of sermon we must pay our focus and attention for the sermon and following the supplications of the imam by heart. Usually I will tidy up my room in Friday morning, shower for Friday prayer service and after prayer service, lit up incense before walking to masjid, get something to eat in 'Asr and turn off all the electricity while waiting for Maghrib service as to remind ourselves that we were poor people who used to live in darkness and we only have candle sticks or oil lamp with us. If we have friend or at least a roommate, I will actually share with people around my bread and recite prayers or blessings for them through the salawat for prophet Muhammad s.a.w as to ask Allah to grant blessing for brothers because I am actually trying to begin the lessons of scripture (Glorious Quran memorization and checking) and other traditions. I try also to ask people around to check my recitation but I guess maybe they will be afraid when I begin the checking and closing it with some "weird" ceremonies and supplications. Weird for them but not weird for me.

Last time when I did this to my Kelantanese Malay roommates. They ran away from me and complaining to friend who always mingle with me though they were my roommate because they think I am worshiping satan, lol. People are so funny and that is why I am not comfortable with Malay or other South East Asian Muslims. They assume me as a "Malay" while our customs and traditions differ and I actually feel more comfortable with non-Muslims because they never run away from me. This is just our traditions and also customs. I was so sad because people do not tolerate differences in term of culture. For example when I was with my undergraduate roommate Zaidi, I just put my bread and some water as a service on his table because he was also afraid of me. He was a member of Islamic brotherhood student movement in our institution and I respect him so much. I used to ask him why he was running from me? Am I a monster or something? We are of the same age and I apologized many times for what I had done to him. It was just a formality for us to check people we are mingling with and being our habit :'(

I don't know about other Hadramis but I am still maintaining this. After I realized my errors as a young youth I perform again whatever had be done by elders. I can't put personal supplications and prayers here. It is not for others and people who view here are of different backgrounds. People must learn from basics and with guidance from teachers and mentors. Just reminding me to respect holy day which is Friday and sanctify it. 

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

Friday Sermon: Da'awa of Nine Saints in Java Island

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Urmm, I was quite surprised to listen about these nine saints of Java Island in Friday sermon at our university masjid. It wasn't that we aren't aware about them. But I don't think that those saints have anything to do with Hindu gospels of Java Island like the Serat Dhadhanggul. I heard these Serat and I know the teachings behind the Serat is not from Quranic teachings or even Sunnah. It is a kind of Javanese meter and poetry. It could be of any story like about the Legend of Damar Wulan and Anjasmoro of Majapahit Hindu Kingdom in 15th century. When we talk about other paths, we should make sure it is clear.

I read and listened to many things about Hinduism traditions including the orthodox ones like Hinduism and I am aware about them including those Tantri-Sakti traditions in Java Island. Not so much different to my previous faith and practices when I was deflected except in traditions and school of thoughts. If we have to be strict, we will be very strict and stern even to our own customs and culture if they are incompatible with the Path of the God. We would never claim them as apart of the religion but declare them as customary as to avoid confusion.

What the preacher trying to say is maybe he wanted to emphasize about the methodology of da'awa where everybody has their own method. Perhaps he is also a Javanese. He mentioned that one should not claim that they are right and others are wrong. So, he poses the example of the Nine Saints or called as Wali Songo in Javanese. One of the saint is known as Sunan Kalijaga was among those Nine Saints that had brought the Javanese Hindu Kingdom in the island into Islam. He made the previous native Hindu traditions of Javanese compatible to the Path through cultural modifications. The method that he used for da'awa is step by step and not in a whole since the place like Java Island is the land of customs and culture. My opinion, I have no problem with this but one should mention the culture is not part of the teachings in Quran and Sunnah no matter how good it is or how compatible it is to Islam. It is just to avoid confusion and Islam is already the Nature of human-being. This kind of method of the Sunan Kalijaga had also being practiced in Indian sub-continent.

The preacher mentioned about the method of da'awa according to the steps from the verse of surah an-Nahl no. 16 verse 125: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His path, and He is most Knowing of who is (rightly) guided." 

Ok, I agree with this verse. We can practice this with also the support from Sunnah and prophetic traditions of the past. The preacher further mentioned that Sunan Kalijaga also faced criticism from fellow saint such as the one who is called as Sunan Ampel who raised the question that people might confuse their customs with religion since their customs have the root from Hinduism and Buddhism. Sunan Kalijaga still with his decision and he spread the Islamic da'awa to the people of Java Island through their cultural traits like wayang (shadow play) and Javanese Hindu poetry but with modifications. 

From what I had read, the acceptance of Islam by Javanese kingdom actually has another consequence where Javanese Hindu Brahmins in the palace were outraged and cursing the island before seeking refuge to other place since the Javanese king could not take back his faith declaration as a Muslim though he feel very hard to leave Hindu-Buddhism. One of the high priest or the palace Brahmin had mentioned about the people are going to follow other traditions which he means, the Arabs'. This event is also written in a Javanese poetry known Serat Dharmoghandhul.

I think this also has some cognitive line with what had happened to Paul of Tarsus who spread the teaching of Jesus Christ to the gentiles such as the Romans and the Greeks through his epistles and notes of the gospels. However Paul of Tarsus was accused as a person who violates the Covenant because some says that Jesus Christ was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel and he never personally meet Jesus Christ. He was not among the 12 tilmidaw (disciples) and was among those Orthodox Jews who hated Jesus Christ. 

Last time some people said that they thought I was an Indonesian. Perhaps they didn't want to offend me but it is actually very offensive for me to be mistaken as an Indonesian. I don't mind if people mistaken me for a Myanmarese or a Vietnamese or even Nepalese as I am a continent kind of person in nature. I am a Malaysian and I am very proud of my state which is the Sultanate of Kedah. My state exists earlier than Indonesia or Malaysia and it survives the period of colonialism though only as a sub-state and not a country. We have our own Islamic traditions and receiving Islamic preachers since 11th century and it goes on until now. We have our own melele (madrasah) or temple school system beside of those in Kelantan state and Patani. Our state had received kitabs from pre-Indonesia Pasai and from Holy Mecca. Maybe next time we could do some research about prominent ulamas from Kedah Sultanate. My dad has once collected the data about these people in South East Asia and he had written a book about them during his service with the newspaper agency. I don't know if I have the book with me.  

So, this is what we learned today from Friday sermon. About the Muslim preachers in 15th century Java Island. In Malayan Peninsula which is now apart of Malaysia, we have Seven Saints. One of them is known as Sayyid Habeeb Nuh al-Habshi rahimahullah. This guy is of Southern Yemeni descent. This one is around 17th century the same time where my first paternal ancestors landed in our beloved Kedah Sultanate.

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

Taufeeq and Hidayah

With the Name of God the Most Merciful the Most Beneficent!

This is an extraction from a religious lecture by an ustad whom I could barely remember his name. First of all what is Taufeeq? It is also a name for Muslim boy. We may name our son Taufeeq as it is in masculine form. I love this word. I understood this word as a meaning for success and luck through the blessings of God. It would be followed by the word Hidayah which means guidance from God. Hidayah is a feminine word. So it could be a name for a girl. 

A person who is granted with taufeeq would have the ability to perform religious duty and life responsibility. Taufeeq and hidayah are both different things but they are a package. A person with taufeeq sometimes have no hidayah. A person with hidayah sometimes could be a person without taufeeq. As an example, a person with taufeeq could be a person who is blessed with success and ability to perform a certain charity act but he has no hidayah thus he could not completely display his role as a servant of God. A person with hidayah as an example might be a person who is inspired by God to perform religious duty and life responsibility but he has no taufeeq thus but because he has no taufeeq so he is hindered from performing the hidayah part.  

According to Wahbah Suhaily, hidayah could come in four forms:

1 - Tabi'ee which means the guidance in the form of intuition. All of His creatures possess this and He grants this to us all. It also includes animals, organisms and trees. It has no difference in a Muslim individual or a non-Muslim individual. As for example a bird could make an extremely beautiful nest and not even human could challenge it. It is a hidayah or guidance of God to the bird. 

2 - 'Aqal which means the guidance in the form of idea. When a person think hard to solve something and an idea emerge from that. That is called as the guidance in the form of idea from Lord God. A person feels the need of love and mercy, thus that is also called as a guidance in the form of idea. The sincere feeling which arise from a servant's heart and soul for brotherhood is also a guidance in this category.

3 - Hawaasiy which means the guidance in the form of senses. For example, when we receive a good news we would smile. It is spontaneous but how could it happens? It is through the guidance of God. When we receive sad news we would feel sad. That is a guidance from God. If a person feels in contrary then it must be something wrong in an individual.

4 - Deen which means the guidance in the form of law of life. It is a guidance in a term that a servant of God is performing God's order and avoiding His prohibitions. This guidance is the most highest guidance when it is accompanied by taufeeq. A person who feels to go to the mosque, it is called as religious guidance. And then he has the ability to reach the mosque and he is already inside the mosque performing worships to Him. That is taufeeq. A person who is granted by God the taufeeq and hidayah is indeed a successful person in this life and the hereafter if it remains the same to his end in this world. 

What are the elements showing that a person is receiving taufeeq and hidayah? First of all, he or she would feel everything is easy for him despite of difficulties faced, and then he or she is a person who think wisely. He or she is patient in performing worships, charity and life. He or she is consistent and committed in performing the charity and worship.

How could a person receive success and guidance? According to surah al-'Ankabut verse 169, we need to pursue the guidance. It does not come without any effort. The term used for this effort in arabic is called as mujahadah or jihad. It doesn't only mean holy war like in Bush's speech or displayed in global medias. That is ignorance. Vanquishing ignorance through one's effort or a group's effort is also a form of jihad.

As for example for this statement where a person receives success and guidance through effort. He is having a problem say he had received an offer from a company but he also has other commitments. Then he performs istikharah salaat to ask God what is good for him. He also asked others opinion concerning the solution. The istikharah salaat, his prayers to God, and consultation are considered as a jihad and effort for him self. The inspiration and intuition in his heart about what is good is hidayah while when he makes the move for what had been inspired is called as taufeeq. He is thus successful in a quest in this life if everything goes smoothly for that particular time.

But in pursuing taufeeq and hidayah, there are also few negative zones which could make a person confuse in his quest for that. Thus, a person need to be really careful and performing du'as (supplications and prayers) so may his or her efforts of getting the guidance being protected by Lord God until they are successful.

The development in society today, many had changed from previous style of life to the newly blessed life style. Many too had repented and changing their life but in this effort, it is better for every one to slowly change and not drastically transforming. A person who wants to change from previous life style to the better will always being the prey of satans. The tests are more heavy. So, may we continue our efforts to be a person who perform charities and receiving the blessings of God. 

Sealed with love, peace, and prayers for blessings for brethren in faith. "It is indeed not you (Muhammad) who guides the person that you like but God is the One who guides any one that He wants (to be a follower of His law), and He knows the best who will be guided (and being succesful in His path)" -- surah al-Qasas verse 56