Obstacle on the Path

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Interesting insights...

Part 1

Part 2

 

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

Transactions in Islam

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

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

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

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

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

1. Gold 

2. Silver

3. Wheat grain

4. Dates

5. Salt

6. Barley

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

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

1. Ribaa' al-Fadhl

2. Ribaa' al-Nasee'at

3. Ribaa' al-Yad

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

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

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

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

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

Misconception About Islam II

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

Hurmmmm, quite bored yesterday. Everyday is a boring day here and I don't know what else to do or where else to go because I think I had walked around this island. However, we have to try to find what could make us feel at least our day would not be wasted. I think we need to make a list of what we wanted to do for a day as to make sure we know what we are supposed to do. I thought I had discussed this with Amir. I might need a paper to list down all things that I wanted to do the next day for everyday here.

I went to a free lecture delivered by brother Lim Jooi Soon from Hidayah Center and co-organized by Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia, Penang in USM. The lecture was delivered at DKA School of Social Science around 14:30-17:30. This one is the second part and I thought that it would be different from the first one which is Misconception About Islam I. But it seems like a kind of prolonged discussion from the previous one and the questions being posed are just the same. 

I just put them into some points here about what are the misconception of non-Muslims regarding Islam:

1. When reverting to Islam, a person needs to change their parents name or surname. Say if a person is a Chinese, he or she would have to leave out his or her surname and Chinese name for another as according to the situation in Malaysia where the majority of Muslim are Malays and prefer Arabic style names.

2. Orientalism which was established during imperialism period. Those European academicians were judging Islam through their academic researches while good researches should be made on the base of neutrality and out of bias. Human-being could not free themselves from flaws and it includes in their own view. Their books and scholarly writings being spread widely in Western world and those who have no experience with Muslims but just listen from afar became paranoid of something which is not yet experienced by themselves. Websites by non-Muslim like answeringislam.com and others.

3. The muftis who prescribed the guidelines and fatawas are not well-versed in the issue and certain field of studies related to the issue. They did not make any researches regarding that. So, their fatawas bring misunderstanding about Islam.

4. Knowledgeable Muslims who are well-versed in Islamic sciences are not mingling with non-Muslims but just mingle around themselves.

5. Women and feminism issue where Islam is said as pressing women. Women could not divorce their husband while their husband could divorce their wife or marry four wives as they pleased. Man could beat women, hijab issue and etc.

6. Transnational actor in political science such as terrorism issue.

7. Questions about Science and Technology to answer Freethinkers kind of people.

My opinion

For point no.2 I don't know what is exactly the problem of those web administrators with Islam. They certainly are not Muslim because I know who is behind trashy webs like answeringislam.com. I don't even read it anymore because it is full of junks written by a person with something broken in his mind. I suppose that my little nephew of two years old could do better than that.

For point no. 4, I regret this so much because I think that I also found that most religious school students are not mingling closely with non-Muslims. Many of my Muslim relatives are also students of religious school or meleley which refers to Islamic temple school or madrasah in our regional language. I myself was also a religious school students since I was a little child after a period where my parents was scolded by elders because registering my elder sisters into non-Muslim education system in this sense Mission schools and Chinese system. I was also accursed with a non-Muslim transition period of life before returning to Islam. If not because of this experience, perhaps I might not understood non-Muslims way of thinking and keep living in my own shell like others. When these people are not mingling with non-Muslims, those who are not knowledgeable mingle with non-Muslims. Non-Muslims asking them questions but they could not give satisfied questions to non-Muslims although they had tried and having good intention. So, non-Muslim dwells in confusion. That's why I visited non-Muslim temples and churches just like other sufis though I am not a sufi. Know what brothers and sisters in Islam, I am also stamped by other fellow brothers and sisters as a person without religion when entering these places.

For point no.5. If wearing hijab is considered as a violation of human-rights, how do we know that the person who wears hijab feel tortured? The same thing like wearing short skirts, some people also feel not comfortable with it. I had tested my sisters and asking them to take off their hijab if they need to take it off during their working time but they refused to do so. I also tested my little sister to see whether she feels comfortable wearing short skirt or skimpy uniform when she gets a job offer to be an air-stewardess. She just reject the offer though I said I am willing to be tortured in hell for her happiness and livelihood. It is her life and her choice. Also in the matter of having boyfriends, I meet all of their boyfriends and I never object their choice though I might also don't like their choices of boyfriend. I don't think that Europeans are better than everyone else in treating women. I as a little brother also cooked food and washing dishes at home. My late grandpa also cook himself and making coffee for himself without having to ask my late grandma to do it. My grandpa was an imam in the village mosque. He never forced me to pray too while I live with him. I live with him as a silent Buddhist beginning my late 13 years old and in the same time pretending to be a Muslim. So, please do interviews with all-kind of samples when doing researches. There are methods of doing researches we don't simply draw conclusions on everything. If it is so easy like what had been done by early Orientalists, I would not have to feel tortured here trying to finish this Social Studies thesis. Don't just read a book and claim that we are all-knowledgeable as compared to the God if we claim ourselves as people of a faith in relation to point no.2.

Point no.6 could be looked in Political and Social Science light through International Relation and Global Political Economic studies. Also the system of administration and decision-making of countries in the world. Before we relate everything to Islam we should also know both about Islamic Shariah in which Shariah does not only means law but it is terminological like Dharmma and these secular political system. If not then, we would better take care about our own business while waiting for the Resurrection to come.

Point no.7, I don't think Freethinkers and Atheists need Revelation to explain everything. These people for me are bunch of arrogant people, bragger, and boastful. They don't need the God so why should these things being useful to them? As a believer and trying to be sincere to the God. I don't need Science stuffs to explain these things. I accept my difference from these people so I don't need to fit in within them. They could think as they wish since Guidance and Success is within His Power. Not within me and not within anyone.

Other than that they talked about True Gospel of Jesus, Bible stuffs, Yahudi-Nasara. I don't think I am interested in those stuffs so I silently went out of the lecture room before it ends. I wanted to perform 'Asar service in the masjid. These things were repeated over and over at my ears and I feel bored. I read stuffs from professor Abdul Malik Amrullah from Indonesia. I also read Ahmad Deedat's long before I enter to the university as an undergraduate. I found that it is not favorable to find faults in people's scriptures though we do not accept the authority of scriptures.

Brothers and sisters in faith please help me to perform prayers may I finish this thesis I am doing quickly. I feel so tortured with it because I am longing to learn about the God. I think I made mistakes when I accepted the offer to further into postgraduate. We human-being are so reckless, may Allah forgive our recklessness.

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

Importance to Share the Quran with Others

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Just sharing around. Mr. Yee's background is almost the same with most of us here (Buddhism) and important is that he's of the same nationality with me.  

 

Video source: ameloona85

 Video source: ameloona85

The second video talks about previous scriptures. Regarding Torah and Injeel (Old and New Testaments), I read them here together with Quran. I memorize some parts of Zabur Dawud (Psalters) in Arabic and also trying to study Quranic suras again. I recite prayers and supplications everywhere and when I feel lonely I also recite verses to talk with the Friend. Last semester I bought a book of supplications based from Quran and Sunnah at Islamic Center and memorize them for my personal supplications.

I go to churches alone during certain days but I don't join sacraments. Only being an audience at the last pew if sacraments are going on. Sometimes I just sit in church if there is no sacrament until private prayer service finish. Some pictures of churches that I went were also posted here. I know not really what normal Muslims (Malays) do. I began to read many things during early times of my childhood life especially about Buddhism. Now I am quite busy so I have no time to take the bus and go to the town for the church. I only visit Orthodox and Catholic Church is an alternative but not Protestant ones. There is no Orthodox Church in Penang.

We were open in term of getting education and dad was actually encouraging his children to study anything that they feel important. Some books on Buddhism that I read actually came from him where he received them from Thai consulate. He didn't read them but I read them since I was 12-13 years old. It influenced my life today. My elder sisters were also sent to Hong Kong based Catholic Church in Kedah for their early education until they were shifted after being advised by some people.

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

Migration: Current Challenges to Nations

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Now we continue the third and final series of the lecture about migration in conjunction to Hijrah New Year 1433. The previous series could be accessed in Migration: Knowledge is the Light. According to Ustad Roslan Chik Ros, a scholar had once listed down based from the Quran and Sunnah on what are the obstacles which prevent a faithful servant of the God to be an obedient and a good servant?

1. Evil Desires and Lust   

In Arabic, we call desire and lust with the term nafs and it means self as human possess various selves in him. We had talked a lot about many bad things. Human who fails to educate this enemy (desire and lust) will be in turn being educated and lead by this enemy. It will lead human into destruction. 

The book Durat al-Nasihin mentions that the God has created the desire and later asked it. Who are you and Who am I?! It answers Him: I am as I am, and You are You! It means that the desire does not want to admit itself as His creation and servant. It has no gratitude and never feels enough. The God cast it into the hell of torment for 300 years. When he was brought out, the God asked it again. And it still answers the same. The God then cast him again for another 300 years. After that, he was brought out again. The God asked it again. And the desire admitted that it is His a servant of the God.

The goodness which could not penetrate into our selves was caused by this obstacle which is the evil desire. There is no struggle which is as great as the struggle to fight the evil desire as it is the root for various desires and which also brings war in this world. When the desire becomes younger and younger but our physical body becomes older each time we reach the year. If we do not bring the desire into what He is pleased with, thus there will be no changes in the society and nations.

2. The World 

The World or duniya in Arabic refers to anything which we can see in this world with our physical eyes and we can touch them. On the other hand, it also refers to materialism. In Islam, the matters which we sought for our necessity to face the life is considered as tools and in the same time those matters are also considered as the fitna (test). The God mentions that property, children and position that we have in our society are all the tests on us. Those who fail to reckon these matters as the tests from the God will sacrifice "Islam". What is the goal of human life? Is it for the stomach (to eat excessively)? Genitals (having sex for never ending lust)? Entertainment and having fun is our goal of life? 

The character and the appearance of the world is luring. She makes people obsessive of her. In the event of Isra' and Mi'raj where the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w had visited the heavens, he had saw a pretty woman with jewelries all over her. Then he was curious and asked his companion, the noble emissary, archangel Gabriel a.s. Who is that woman? The archangel Gabriel a.s answered, that is the simile of the world. Why the God made the world looks like a pretty woman? What is His message to us? How does a pretty lady looks like at the guys? We are also aware that there is also gay and transvestite communities. But this still applies. The world has her attractions and that is why the male and female must cover the parts which are prescribed in the jurisprudence as should not being exhibited to public. When people wanted to produce advertisement banners for example, they for example might use material and human models. The advertisement for cosmetics might use woman with "sexy" features for example lips, eyes, nose, and etc. The advertisement for obscene magazine perhaps using naked or half-naked male models. The advertisement for alcohol drink might also use woman as the attraction though it is non-related to the beverage, haha. 

This world is indeed fun for those who can't detect her weaknesses and flaws which is harmful for other higher selves. It is not enough until early in the morning that kids hanging around with friends, racing on the motorcycles. Will we be able to face challenges in society today if we had wrongly estimate the world? For example having wives. Human actually feels bored quite in no time. The God had given some loosen up for man to have four wives and practicing polygamous marriage. Because men feels bored with the only wife and preventing them from finding concubines or establishing non-legal relationship with other women. However men are not satisfied and still having boundless desire over the women (world) as an example.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentions that human will never be satisfied even when being given a valley of gold. He is still not satisfied with two valleys of gold and so on. He will only be satisfied when the soul leaving his mass. Money is never enough for human. If we never change our attitude toward the world, how would we be able to face obstacles to change the society and bringing it into His Mercy and Love? We are still being deceived by the worldly affairs. The worldly affairs which brings us toward the goodness and the success in the hereafter is when we assume it as the "field for us to work in reaching Him."

3. Satan: Genies and Devil     

In the Glorious Quran, surah Yaasin, the God mentions about human has an obvious enemy which are the Satans. These creatures are invincible at human physical eyes but they co-exist with human-being and that is why they are known as genies which means hidden creatures. The first genie, who's known as Iblis or Devil has made a promise before Him after he was accursed that he will drag human-being and others into the torment and the curse as he is envious. Envious is madzmumah (evil) characteristics for servants of the God. It brings no benefit to society. These creatures who are evil are classified as satans which means demons and those who are stubborn to submit to Him. Satan also applies to other creatures such as human-being and animals who are evil.

A person who is unable to see the tricks and the motions of Devil will be deceived and fail the tests. The Devil promised to deflect human-being and decorate His commands with lame looking while he decorates His prohibitions until they look interesting. For example, in Malaysia, people love to go for night market while nobody wanted to meditate in the masjid though the masjid has facilities and activities. People would walk around the night market and only ended up buying kacang puteh (garden peas). During the early part of Ramadan, people might influx the masjid until the mosque lose its balance and list. That happens because He had seized all of these hidden creatures so human will use their considerations and minds wisely, not being influenced by evil whispers. However, when it is near to the end of Ramadan, the masjid becomes empty and empty as the blessed month is almost over.

Devil decorates what is illegal and makes it look fun for example the time when a non-married couple is chatting to each other until they forgot the time. They could stare at each others' face for eight hours without stop. But when they are married and are legal to stay together, they feel that it is not fun anymore. The Devil made it opposing each other. When it is illegal, couples would be so fond of each other, perhaps calling each other every minutes. I also see this everywhere, it also includes my first year degree roommate Duwe, hahaha. His girlfriend called him even when he is in the toilet... poopin', hahahaha. If we have no knowledge and forget about this, we would be carried away by the current. No changes.

4. Satan: Human-Being   

We would be spoiled because of fellow human-being. Sometimes, our children who we had properly educated with religious classes, being sent to madarasas, and we taught them with scriptures but still could be found for example illegally racing on the road. Why? It's the influence of friends. Sometimes, a friend who is not good will bring a person into the darkness. 

As for myself, I have to think many times when I wanted to make friend too and this is how I survive until today. I am using my consideration despite I also think like sometimes I wanted to just break out of all the rules or norms in the society and just be like others. When I declared the faith into Buddhism, I still perform the norms and performing strict observance of a shraman (hermit who does not live in monastery) though I just undertake upasaka (layman) vow. This shraman life had also made me in conflict with people around because they don't understand me and I became one because I was treated like a thrash by people around. A shraman is a thrash in people's eyes.

Children, wife, and husband all could be the satan who lead human-being into darkness if they make a person forgets Him and His commandments. So, an immigrant should migrate into obedience to the God. Make sure that we are able to face these four obstacles to migrate to Him and for a better future. We must migrate into humility before Him and not being enslaved by these four matters mentioned by the scholar. If we fail to win them over, our civilization and nations will be in doom. We try to avoid our morality from being defecated and also protecting our Creed from being deflected by these four matters. 

Move the migration toward Faith and Fear to Him may everyone be blessed and all the blessings of the heavens and earth being directed to everyone as what had happened to the blessed prophets and messengers of the God.

Conclusion

Ustad Zamry Haji Kassim calling everyone together to reflect on the topic. The challenges that we are facing today is also could be reflected in the hadith narrated by Abu Dawud. Says the prophet Muhammad s.a.w where in a certain period, the nations of Him will be a target group! Companions feel weird and they asked further. Will we be among the minorities at that time? Muhammad s.a.w answered: No! There are many of you, but you are just like bubbles in the sea. You'll explode when you hit the ship, when the ship hit you too will you explode.  

When we look again at the reality of Muslims in Malaysian Peninsula today. We are not so many. We are challenged in three angles where our Creed has no strong foundation. The Shariat (Way) is not completed and performed well. We take some part of Shariat but we reject the other parts. Morality, dear Lord! In this angle of morality, we view nicely on wrong values of adultery. This applies to all groups who are sex-craved and thinking only genitals twenty four seven. 

We afraid that we will be like what is mentioned in Malay idioms. Melukut di tepi gantang, campak ke tengah halaman tidak dipatuk ayam, dibuang ke sungai tak disudu itik. We repeat again that the mind is filled with knowledge to know. The heart is filled with faith to motivate the move to Him. Facing the four challenges with perseverance to educate desires as to make sure that we are able. The most good property is the property which is managed by a good and pious man. If a pious man managed the property, the benefit is also into piety.

We train our desires to face the challenges in the situation and according to environment. Children, when we study, make sure Islam is with us. Others had far in front of us to recognize A as they know their environment. That is why a professor will send his broken engine to a mechanic to repair it though the mechanic gets no As in his examination. Mechanics know what happens to the engine. Remind ourselves that our intention for everything is for Him. He is our Source and our Base. Hopefully that tomorrow Fajr prayer service would be as crowded as today in the masjid, we can right?!  

a. Mind is filled with knowledge to know

b. Heart is filled with faith to move

c. Desires is trained to be able to face challenges  

May we see again in other opportunities. Pray may we meet again in His paradise the Abode of Peace. May everyone knows each other in the name of our Faith, we see each other because of the God, we say farewell also because of Him. Wish that this lecture (and post) injects some spirit to our souls and to other brethren from Portugal to China, from China to the US.  

- Final part of lecture, Masjid Yayasan al-Bukhary and co-Organizer, Kedah Islamic Guidance Department. 

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

New Year 1433 H Event in Masjid al-Malik Khalid

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Souvenir from the event, a Hijriyyah calender so I could also check prayer services time and try to be as early as possible in prayer hall waiting to see Him : )

Before the Maghrib Prayer Service

I regret that I had missed congregational prayer service in masjid this morning. They had conducted a lecture there I can't remember delivered by which Habeeb. This evening, rain fallen quite heavy. I had made a mistake by going to Sungai Dua without bringing clothes and hygiene stuffs where I could just clean up myself at the shower at the side of the masjid. I had some meal at the Thai restaurant at the alley near the KFC of Sungai Dua. I had to walk back to perform ghusl, wudhu' and clean up everything because we must be clean both physical and spiritual to enter the holy boundary as a mean to respect Him. Then walk again to the masjid.

I just wanted to pray to the God for the better future which also includes my future in the hereafter. Also praying for other brothers and sisters either Muslims or non-Muslims for their life to be blessed. So, I don't care about the rain and I never try to get any help from others in term of borrowing their transportation. I am not really close with people here anyway because I always feel afraid to say goodbye to friends. I regard friends the same as blood brothers and sisters. When I was a first degree student, brother Mijie and brother Duwe had also offered me their motorcycle but I just politely refused their offer. I feel bad to burden them though they don't mind. I just want to make sure that my heart and intention is purely for Him. We can strive hard to get certificates for better job or better life improvement but to sacrifice ourselves for Him is hard? He never asks us to give Him money, kill ourselves for blood nor anything. Just surrender to Him, our heart because He is the Most Compassionate full of Love and Mercy : )

The masjid people had also recited Yaasin Surah and the supplication to end the year and beginning the new cycle of year 1433 H. At home, parents and second sister would also go for masjid and pray there. I did that to respect my parents though I am in the distance of 400-500 km from home. I am aware about acts mentioned in valid Sunnah. I keep hadith books as well as Quran with me where I had immediately get them while performing hajj and I memorize some parts of 40 hadiths. Still in the process and this annoying political administration studies had also delayed my memorization. 

I also try to translate some important books into other languages when I am free for example Chinese for Malaysian Muslim Chinese compatriots but it hasn't finish yet because I need to check terminologies used and record them as not to commit mistakes of Orientalists. Second problem is that I am just using pen and paper because I don't know how to install Chinese application in this lousy computer, hahaha. We must be fair to Oriental brothers and sisters. They're all equal brothers and sisters. I intend to send them to some non-Muslim Chinese friends and pay them to type. Then just print them out and distribute them for people's personal use without sending them to religious departments but first I need to neatly check it as to make sure it is a right translation. I had already tried to access federal religious department but so far nothing in response and I know they have few Muslim Chinese translators too. I just observed that, Sunnah Islamic books' translation into Eastern languages is so limited except in the languages where the people are in majority Muslim. If it is not legal, then I would silently send them out maybe to Taiwan, Hong Kong or to Japan pleading help from friends out there to send them to masjids and Muslim families. Doing everything alone is actually very exhaustive but what to do. We have no choice.

Basically it is a good way to recite any surah of the Glorious Quran together because we could listen to others' recitation and we could also recite aloud without feeling shy because nobody care about our voice when we recite together. Usually some fellows who listened to Muhammad Abdul Wahhab followers' lectures would be harsh to their parents but I choose not to be harsh because I don't like to be a blind followers. I read Muhammad Abdul Wahhab however I am not his devotee. I am a devotee of Allah 'Azza wa Jalla and I sincerely proclaim my testimony on Muhammad s.a.w prophethood. I respect all the Salaf as-Saaleeheen and all the guided teachers including the ahlul bayt.

After Maghrib Prayer Service

I didn't get the first unit of Maghrib prayer service because I had already been late. I regret myself so much for that. Then, people listened to a lecture delivered by the religious officer of Kedah state Islamic Guidance Department, Ustad Muhammad Isa Abdul Rahman. It revolves around Hijrah and it went on for about half an hour. I just sat at the pillar and trying to hide from people because I don't want to be spotted recording notes because it is shameful, hahaha. But I was busted by an old resident of my hostel now. He was a Geophysics student. His name is Sayful and is now working in Bayan Lepas. I don't know how he recognized me. Because I hardly talk with people nor noticing people because I hate to show my face to people. Already experienced many things and the recent one in my current hostel last semester. So, I don't feel any importance to be tied to people around or knowing so many people. My name is also not important.    

Lecture Notes

It mentions that Hijriyyah calender is very important thought it was designated by Umar al-Khattab r.a. It was marked by the event of migration by Muslims after the prophethood of Muhammad s.a.w into Medina al-Munawwara. It is based from lunar calculation unlike the Gregorian calender which uses solar calculation. When we record important events such as matrimonial, birth, death, and everything related to life and death, we use Hijriyyah calender. An example, a divorcee sister may count her 'iddah (period after divorce) with Hijriyyah calender before she get marry again with the man of her choice. 

We must take heed on the importance of the terms used in the Glorious Quran. Hijrah or hegira signifies the migration from evil to goodness. From hideous traits to good traits. We do not want to associate Quranic terms with filthy or non-related matters. The Islamic Guidance Department of Kedah for example had issued a ruling for the term used in Islamic rituals should not be used in others' rituals. For example the term Qubur had been differentiated to Jeerat. Qubur and Jeerat both means cemetery but Qubur is Muslim cemetery while Jeerat is the term for non-Muslim cemetery. I remember that my dad had once scolded me because using the term Qubur to refer to non-Muslim cemetery because they are very particular with terminologies and language used. The term tahallel for example is used for Muslim supplications and the Buddhist should use the term phra paritt for their specific ritual because they indeed chant phra paritt during the ritual and not tahallel. As to say, hijrah means the migration where we transfer from evil to goodness.

Other example is the term of ulama' which generally means scholar. But there lies a hidden meaning of it where a scholar is a scholar who fear the God so he never distort the teachings for himself nor practicing out of what he preaches. A person with a knowledge is different from 'ulama. A person who learn Islamic knowledge but has no fear to the God is not an 'ulama (scholar) but just a person who had accessed the information. They could do whatever they want with the information that they have but they are not scholars. A very nice explanation by the ustad : )  

The lecture emphasizes the importance of terminologies and meanings of the word. The ustad also brought the quotes from Ibnu Katsir exegesis. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentioned that there is no more physical migration after the re-opening of Mecca to the Light of Revelation. But a person who live with the discipline like in Ramadan though he or she is not fasting because it is not Ramadan could still get the merit as equal as the merit of Ramadan. He or she eats only physically and spiritually clean food but leaving doubted and illegal foods. So do the migration event. It never happen anymore but the concept of migration is still there.  

Regarding illegal things like the ketum or kratom leaves or biak leaves in Kedah, it is advised for public to stay away from it. Kratom (Mytragyna Speciosa) is a kind of leaf which is used as a drug to cure fever but could be harmful if used excessively. Ustad said that don't misuse the drug and turning it into a crack. It is illegal or haram especially they soak it with the cow dung. Cow dung is not a kind of food.

Migration to study, spreading, and sharing Mercy and Love to others is counted as a migration. The person who migrates for these courses will be classified as muhajir (immigrants). While those who receive them are the ansar (the helpers). The honorable Imam al-Ghazali mentions that a dangerous friend is an ignorant friend. Because an ignorant friend loves his friends but he is ignorant and does not know about what is legal and what is illegal. Ustad explains in Kedah people tradition to serve guests with raw salads, rice, and other food stuffs. Raw salads is very important in Kedah people cuisine where they would dip them with sauces such as sambal belachan (shrimp paste sauce). He explained that the ignorant friend might pluck leaves at trees on others' lands to prepare food for his friend and it is spiritually illegal.     

The right on Guidance is the right of the God. It is not the right of human-being. When He is Willing and Pleased to open up the heart of a person into His Light, then it is His Will. For example the person will strive to seek knowledge and he will be released and entered into the Abode of Peace. We take opportunity on the teachings. If we've got little, then little we benefit. If we've got a lot, then a lot we've got. Perhaps from the little thing that we've listened could help us in the future or giving us some understandings. The ustad mentioned about his experience where Muslims in Singapore had accepted the ruling by the Guidelines from the mufti of Singapore that they could perform rituals with the recycled water as Singapore has no fresh water supply. The mufti has to think on the consequences of the nations in his supervision. 

Says the member of wisdom, Luqman al-Hakeem, a knowledgeable person who fears the God will be blessed with extra knowledge. Luqman al-Hakeem lives in the time of prophet David a.s the ruler of Judah. He was granted with a vision and dream by the God where he was asked to choose to be a prophet of the God or a member of wisdom? Luqman al-Hakeem had chosen to be a member of wisdom and not a prophet of the God. Luqman al-Hakeem had passed 20 advices to virgin girls. 

There is a merit for an immigrant who migrates from the chaotic land to a peaceful land. There are few matters related to immigration which is accompanied by merits and they are: 

1. Migration to protect his or her faith when being tyrannized by rulers

2. Migration to seek knowledge

3. Migration for da'awa and spreading love, amity and mercy

4. Migration from evil to goodness, from vice to charity and chastity, leaving illegal for legal matters

5. Migration to the way of the prophet s.a.w in performing shariat (way of conducting life)

6. Migration to protect one's dignity

It is not easy for someone to leave his or her land when we had already feel accustomed with the environment around. However as Muslims, our life principles is always revolving around the God. The God is always with us. Even if everybody had left us alone, the God is still with us. It is also not easy to migrate from bad habit to good habit. This event of hijrah by the prophet Muhammad s.a.w and Muslims in Meccan era into Abyssinia and Medinah signifies both physical and spiritual matters. In the matter of protecting one's faith, faith is not something which can be bought nor could be sold. It is in the heart and only the God has the Power to turn it upside down. Protecting faith has the merit as the merit of migration from the tyranny of old days.

The condition of repentance had also has something to do with migration. A person have to migrate from a place which leads him or her to vices and illegal acts. For example a drug addict must migrate from his old place to the new one which will lead him or her to goodness. The ustad had mentioned that he had tried to write and distribute the sermon about the danger of smoking but many of imams in the masjid in Kedah had refused to read the sermon but reading other sermon because imams also have the habit of smoking. So, migration from bad habit really need perseverance and strong will. It is not an easy matter.    

The event of Isra' and Mi'raj of prophet Muhammad s.a.w was actually the event which tests the strength of the faith of those who would later perform migration to Medina al-Munawwara. It means that a person who wants to perform migration needs a strong-will, determination, and strong faith. When we try to please the God, even if it is only a common act of worship, that should be ok in order to migrate to a better situation.

When we preach da'awa, we try to find person who wants to listen to us. No matter who listens to us, the person who listens to us actually is a person who is honored by the God. The God had mentioned about honorable companion of prophet Muhammad s.a.w who is so determined to learn the teachings of the God though he was just a poor blind man, which is Abdullah bin Maktum. He was honored by the God in surah 'Abasa. Teach to people who are willing to listen and those who are not willing just leave them once we remind them. Medium of da'awa today could vary according to technology that we have. We could also use text message system to message friends.  

I did texting messages and calling some friends though some of them (my Kedah and Kelantan compatriots) had humiliated me but never mind. We should never take people seriously but forgive everyone as the God forgives us our sins. How did the ustad knows this??? Maybe lots of people are using the same way, recycling messages, hahaha. I just typed what I feel to friends and I love to wish people around well-being because I was unfortunate when I was a school kid and nobody really cares about me. Usually the wishings come right away from my heart though sometimes I feel shy to tell them but I just send it without thinking about my self anymore. Let people be happy and enjoy and I would also feel happy for them : ) I don't like recycled messages.

Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah had once stated that: "When a human was born, he is crying while people are laughing to receive him. But let people cry when the human is dead but he is smiling because of the goodness that he had left for everyone around to share." 

Ustad mentioned also about the figure of Libya, Umar Mukhtar who was illegally hanged to death in front of public by Italian imperial power in 1913 at the age of 70 years old. Umar Mukhtar was an 'ulama of Libya. Umar Mukhtar had said (with his faith) before he was hanged that let people hang him. People who hanged him will never be known after they hang him, but he (his soul) will smile because he had united his people and his resistance to Italians was that because the Italians had did wrong by plundering people lands. A righteous person never even pluck leaves from others people land which thrust into the fence of his house.

Now, Italy is a member state of European Union and death sentence is not according to human rights but what these countries in the Union would do regarding the people who were killed by the governments before the establishment of the Union or before their ascension into the Union? Where are apologies and confession from civilized nations? I lose respect to these countries and nation-states. I am so sorry.

Closing

They prepared some refreshments for congregations which are some breads and beef dhalcha mixed with eggplant and potatoes. Urmm, I don't really like beef but it has no smell in the dhalcha so I think it is ok and I'm not a Buddhist anymore so what beef has to do with me? There is also a guy who currently live in Aman hostel which was my previous hostel and despite of his eyesight problem, he still come to congregational prayers and attending the event in the masjid. I am so amazed with his spirit and wishing him a good future may he be blessed too. This is another dimension of migration despite of what is understood in the West. Western world had claimed Christianity as their tradition but they never implement the morality of the Christ where the Christ had once said blessed be the meek. But Western world are craving for comfort, materialism and tyrannizing others in the name of 'civilization.' I don't believe any Christ followers exist in Western world when they talked about it in their discussions for example the discussion of Geert Wilders. He's not a Christ followers but a stinky politician. My advise to fellow Muslims in Europe, respect locals and maintain your faith. No need to show off to people nor looking down on others.

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

Lectures at Mosque in the End of September

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

I. Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin

In this note, I would like to keep this reminder about the lecture on the Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin. It is the summary of the Ihyaa' Ulumuddin by honorable Imam al-Ghazali may Allah be Merciful to him. Basically I can get this kitaab without going to the mosque but just keeping this as a record if I wanted to get information about books regarding particular topic. It is damn boring staying without properly spending our time. We could either go crazy or fallen into evil. So, if I have nothing to do, I better go to mosque and get some benefit from the lectures or at least memorize Quran and checking my horrible Tajweed.

Lecture of Kitab Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin

(Summary of Ihyaa' 'Ulumuddin)

Series 7th

By

Sheikh Rosli Othman

(Committee Member of State Fatawa)

29th September 2011, Thursday

15:00

USM Mosque

The book called Mukhtasar is edited by honorable Imam al-Maqdisi for the Minhaj al-Qasidin which was edited by al-Hafiz Ibnu Jawzi. It is a summary of the Ihyaa' Ulumuddin, a magnum opus by honorable Imam al-Ghazali may Allah be Merciful to him. Imam al-Ghazali was a scholar who adheres to Syafi'ie jurisprudence of Ash'ari school of theology.  

During Ramadan, I talked to a Jordanian while we walked to the mosque. I just call him racist Jordanian when he spit out curse to the Jews when I said to him that we don't have any synagogue here. We talked about Chinese people as that is the first time the guy living in different environment, and he just arrived to Penang for few days. I can't remember his name and I don't really pay attention to people unless a particular person has significance, important to me, or involved in my everyday life. I think most people are like me so I guess it is normal. As for my personal opinion, I am sorry if this is harsh but we have nothing to do with political or boundary problem between Jordan and Israel so don't bring hatred to us if you people in middle east are butt-hurted among each other. I see most of people in Middle East, South Asia and Europe as the same, no difference in term of barbarity and narrow-mindedness though not in general. These people chop each other heads for difference as it is their right to kill each other. Those Arab speakers easily curse people with mal'unah (cursing) word, I know this because I mingle with them. Spirit and soul (morality) is not important that make people become insolent. 

That guy said that people here in Malaysia, most of them are following something which is invented like the chant during the Taraweekh salaat service although they are very polite. I don't know what is his school of jurisprudence, but he seems more inclined to Hanbaliah as he praised the Medinah Imam which I posted some of his reminders here. I am a Hanbaliah myself in which he didn't expect me to be one and most of all I don't do what Syafi'iah Malay compatriots are doing. But, as to say, I would never talk like that to people before I check anything to the root. 

I personally think that these kind of people don't have to talk like they know everything although they speak Arabic because I know not all people are well-versed in their own religion though they speak Arabic in their daily life. They don't even memorize the Nahwu and Sarf of Arabic Grammar, the hadiths and even Quran except for few parts maybe more than native Muslims here. They are just the same like people they curse, ta'assub (fanatic) without any knowledge. 

Last time when I was a degree student, I was molested by a Jordanian guy who pretend to teach me religion while he don't realize that we are not converted 'muallaf' here. He has bad intention and I can sense that, he thought that I was a Kelantanese Malay or perhaps he thought that I was a Chinese. He has preference for Chinese boy face. What a crazy Old Jordanian Arab. Am I looking like a Chinese? Urr, sorry sikit I think I look more Indian-Nepalese than a Chinese though some of my sisters do look Chinese as what I use to call my sisters as Mongol face when we make jokes of each other, haha... But as to say, we Eastern people are quite polite and we avoid from humiliating people in front of others. I heard from my Thai counterparts and Malay friends too about that old Jordanian molesting them before they threatened him to kick his ass with their Muaythai and Taekwando. I hate people who use religion for their worldly desire and that always make me cautious with people around. I am not a total ignorant though I don't really look Arab. Our paternal ancestors from Yemen had previously came here to transmit the path of Allah to natives by royal decree. We just didn't know that since we do not live in comfort without any proper identity because of mixed background and nomadic family circumstances. Our elders never emphasize nor telling anything about lineages after few generations and some had lose out their title as it is not important. Is it so difficult to humble down ourselves before Allah?   

Ibnu Jawzi says regarding his book: "I wrote a book clean from errors which happened in the Ihyaa' by retaining its special sense. I depend on the proves from the most valid and famous hadiths of all with their concrete and accurate meanings."

 II. Kitab al-Hikam Ibn 'Athaillah

Lecture on Kitab al-Hikam Ibn 'Athaillah 

(Series 1)

Ustad Wan Hizam 'Abdullah

(Lecturer in Penang Radio)

30th September 2011, Friday

20:00

USM Mosque

Al-Hikam is the plural of hikmah. It means "every word in which beneficial knowledge lies in it" or "beneficial knowledge materials" such as the science of Fiqh, Tawheed or Tasawwuf. Al-Hikam consists the compact essence of Tawheed and Tasawwuf sciences. I would translate it into English as wisdom but that is what scholars mean by the word wisdom. 

Tasawwuf is a science which exposes on how to purify one self from hideous characteristics which is called as mazmumah characteristics and how to guard worship and acts from diseases in the heart such as arrogance, showing off, and feeling wondrous about one self when performing worship.  

It is just a branch of science and human need combinations of sciences. Science or knowledge is boundless. It is not narrow like what we understood here in Malaysia when we talk about science. Because in Malaysia, when I was in form three, I understood science as biology, physics, and chemistry and those things were important in my view to determine us good life in the future. I think many people also think like that, and still I can see people who talk like that at me but I just smile and lazy to elaborate further, hehe... This country education system, what can I say, ahahaha.... Further more, we are no intelligent compared to those above and religious knowledge wouldn't bring us no where though we claim ourselves as a person with a religion... A person can be a lorry driver but science of life (religious knowledge) must be acquired by everyone, it is a common thing for everyone because we are going to need it in the life after this life : )

While Tawheed is closely related to the Islamic Creed. I would translate it as monotheism as to make it easier but don't look at it as equivalent in sense and meaning. Words have their own context and other sub-branches of knowledge in it to get the definition as they are also terminological according to the path. Other word for it is Oneness of the God in term of concept. I had read something from Nilam Puri material regarding the concept of divinity.

Tawheed is a branch of knowledge which introduce a servant to his or her Creator and making the servant closer to Him. There are 99 wisdom which cover the content of the book. Those wisdom talk about roots and the fact of science of Tawheed in which it leads people to the God the Most Highest.  

As far as I know this book is popular amongst people in some pondok or madrasah. It was translated into classical Malay in Arabic script too and the writer was an Egyptian. Pondok or madrasah is traditional kind of school for people in South East Asia getting education. In northern part of Malayan Peninsula, we call it as melele or menadsoh. Melele means temple school. It's not a Thai influenced word but northern Malay native word while menadsoh is Arabic corruption for madrasah. 

However, I would like to advise myself and respective brethren that before we learn all of these, the basic thing we must have is the knowledge about Allah and His messenger, Muhammad s.a.w, Quran and later valid sunnah or prophetic traditions. Avoid from accusing each other, advise with manner. We are no holier than others, it is not-favorable to break the unity of the nation. We must try to bring everyone closer and bridge the gap through knowledge, not to divide everyone according to organizations and sects.

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

Searching for Noble Time for Supplications

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

We continue with one lecture that I heard yesterday evening. In Arabic, the general term for prayers suppose to be صلاة salaat. It terminologically means that we are in contact with our Creator and the Lord of the universe. But there is another term which we translate it into English as supplications. In Arabic, we call it as دُعَاء du'a. It terminologically means that we are calling and begging the God to listen to us, our prayers. 

As to say, many of Muslim Chinese brothers and sisters in our university here are learning Arabic because they understand the importance of Arabic as compared to our compatriots. It brings us closer to the God and His revelation. It is also something that makes me wonder that we are so fond to teach our children English as international language but we left behind Arabic which is an international language for Muslims' communication purpose. We even have Malaysian version of English, Singaporean English, Indian English, or Chinese English which are pidgins of English in Asia apart of those in America, Australia, and New Zealand. 

It's a good thing that Muslims involved in translation and interpretation field although I hate this field since it is not a famous thing in Malaysia and I think everybody in Malaysia is capable in English and Malay. So, my certificate (degree) would better end in dumpster as I do not know what is my specification? But I can't deny that I had learned many things from the course too such as the methodology and ideologies of translating documents. I tried to learn Arabic from mosques too but most of the times the budget in our mosque had limited the class and we must remember Arabic teachers and other sciences teachers in the mosque also coming from far. So, we must know our responsibility to support them. Don't let them ask us because it would degrade their position in society and not the manner of teachers. Teachers are people with dignity. I also try to polish up Arabic by joining lower level class again in UITM, and the class is so fun. However, fate is not so good to me, I have to stop before I go through other levels for higher language proficiency. I think it would be better if I could return to holy Mecca or going to some other Arabic speaking countries but sure need a lot of effort and money. I hate money, it enslaves people too :'(

From what I had learned from history, Christians are actually active translators of learning materials. It serves their evangelical purposes as well. I am not talking about Christians of Europe during imperialism era since 1500-1900 but about Oriental and Eastern Christians from Middle East under Byzantine Roman empire and Persia. Those materials that Muslim scholars learned were from their translations and those Christians are proficient in Syriac, Arabic and Greek. Now, we stop being ego but we learn to humble down ourselves. Knowledge and civilization does not belong to us, it belongs to the God. I mean this also to non-Muslims since some of them also believe in the God in general. 

Now we come back to our topic, noble times for supplications. The lecture was delivered by Ustad Aminuddin 'Abdur-Rahim. This is not from me as I am learning this from the lecture too. If everyone have any question for particular topic please don't hesitate to call the radio Kedah FM and ask the ustad or try searching for the ustad contact at his office for consultation. If I put my thinking in the lecture, it would be in italic so that is my thinking. It does not always correct since I am a human not free from error, we must correct our errors through the light of Quran and Sunnah. Don't stay in the dark. 

Among Good and Noble Times for Supplications

The good time from supplications is at Friday night and it begins just after 'Asar prayer service since for us Muslims the time change happens few minutes before Maghrib prayer service. Check our Islamic calender always regarding the time, it is very important so please pay attention at time. Then we may also supplicate at the pre-dawn time every night, those who fasts are always blessed with this good time. We must also grab the opportunity for supplications during noble situations such as during the rainy day, after we settle our five times obligatory prayer services, and the time between adzan and iqamah. Another good time is while we are fasting and while we are in prostration posture during salaat or prayer services.

Manners While Reciting Supplications

While reciting supplications, make sure that our face and chest facing Qiblah. Qiblah is the direction toward the Respected Mosque in Holy City, Mecca. When we read books and Quran, we may also face Qiblah. While we perform ablution also face the Qiblah. According to the lecture of Ihyaa, a noble ceremony is a ceremony which faces Qiblah. Everything noble that we perform by facing the direction of Qiblah is noble. While performing ablution, try to find the panchur (pipe) that when we scoup the water with our hand, our front side of body facing the Qiblah direction.

While reciting supplications, it is appraised to put together our hands with the palm facing the heaven. We do not look up the heaven while reciting supplications. Noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w recites supplications with his hands at the level of his face. The Qiblah direction for salaat is the Ka'abah in Respected Mosque of holy Mecca, while the Qiblah direction for supplications is the heaven. This is according to the books written by the ulamas of al-Azhar of Egypt. The reference for hands raised up to the level of face could be seen in Ihyaa' 'Ulumuddin.

Take into our notes too that while reciting supplications, make sure that our voice is in the middle tone between low and high voice. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari narrated that: "While we almost entering the Medinah, prophet Muhammad s.a.w saying the magnification of the Lord, his companions too magnifying the Lord but with loud voice. Thus prophet Muhammad s.a.w said to them: 'O human! The God who listens to prayers and supplications is not deaf and not blind.'" In a hadith the prophet Muhammad s.a.w said: "While in salaat services, don't recite supplications with voice too high or with voice too quietly but be modest." The word salaat in the hadith is interpreted by the noble mother of faithfuls, our mother 'Aisyah r.a as supplications. It is based from the verse 110 in Surah al-Israa'...

Says the God in His revelation: "Say (o Muhammad)! Call upon the God the Most Merciful. Whichever (Name) thus to Him belong the best Names. And do not recite (too) loudly or (too) quietly but seek between that a way (intermediate)."

According to the God in His revelation of surah Maryam verse 3, the prophet Zakaria a.s also supplicates with low voice. He supplicates with whispers. 

Says the God: "While he (Zakaria) called his Lord a private supplication."

According to al-Adzkar interpretation, we not only supplicate with low tone of the voice but also not asking nonsensical things. For example, supplications to fly in the sky with wings. The book also interpretes that we do not create words which are the same before the full stop until we lose concentration in supplication. We supplicate in natural ways. Recite supplications and beg Him with hope until concentration rise up from the heart and every parts of body.   

Says the God in surah al-Anbiyaa' verse 90: "So, We responded to him and We grant him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten into good deeds and supplicate to Us in hope and fear and they were to Us humbly submissive." 

Supplicate for the greed to do charity and for fear being hit by evil. Supplicate with hope and in hidden. In Uslatul Firdaus, it is said that when the God loves His servants He will test His servants until the servant beg to Him full with hope and diligence. A servant must be confident toward His supplications and do not say "if You want it to be" but right away beg Him to grant anything we ask for. If we want forgiveness, ask for forgiveness with diligence and don't do it half way. In a hadith reported by Tirmidzi, it says that supplicate and pray to the God with confidence that He will grant it. Behold that, the God never accept supplications and prayers of those whom their heart are careless.

It best to repeat whatever supplication and prayers that we make few times although it is same thing. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w sometimes asking for something from the God three times in a row. It is reasonable for someone not to assume that His prayer and supplications would come back to him in a blink. He listens to those who are not haste and clumsy. Avoid from evil-thinking toward the Holy God. Just supplicate and pray to Him.

A hadith says: "When we ask something and we can see that our prayers and supplications are granted or happened, we say alhamdulillahilladzi tatimmu saalihan." It means "praises be to the God who completes the goodness." If our prayers and supplications come late to us, then we say alhamdulillah 'alaa kulli haal. It means "praises be to the God on every condition I am in." Prayers and supplication begins with the recitation of the Name of the God and exaltation to Him such as praises and glorifying Him.

Our prophet Muhammad s.a.w begins his prayers with subhaana rabbiyal-'aliyyil a'alal wahhaab. It means glorified be the Lord on His highest awarding. If we have something to ask for His help, begin it with salawat to prophet Muhammad s.a.w and recite supplications. Then close it with salawat again. The God accepts the prayers and supplications in the middle of salawat and everything in the middle of salawats. The God accepts salawat too. So, when we begin our supplications and prayers, recite salawat dear beloved brethren. Two things we should never forget although very simple, al-Fatihah and salawat. They entertain us while we are alone in solitary, inshaallah.

             

Today is Friday, as always I can perform the سبت السلام sibtis-salaam time of worship altogether with Saturday. It's a day to respect scriptures, praying for well-being in this thorny world and hereafter and respecting knowledge from the God in the week. It's a custom for me, not an obligation nor a must since noble prophet Isa (Jesus) a.s said that we should not be the servant of the days but servants of the God. I am performing it in respect to prophets and messengers of the God as they are brothers of each other. It's among of my individual customs.

My tahiyyat to every single prophets and messengers of the God, most specially to noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w who we love with all of our heart, the entertainer of my sorrow heart :' Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!