Persian: I Like ...

Assalāmu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

A : Salām, chitor asti? 

      Peace, how are you?

B: Ma khob astom, tashakor!
     I am fine, thanks!

Sentence

Ma khoshem maya ...

I like ...

Vocabulary

Sag Dog
Seb Apple
Pishaq Cat
Kelār Banana

Example

Ma khoshem maya seb.

I like apple.

Ma khoshem maya kelār.

I like banana.

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

Quran Lesson: Surat al-Fajr

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

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

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

Introduction

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

 

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

Meaning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4) Appreciation on Those who were Faithful

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

Lessons

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

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

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

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

Characteristics of Mind

The nature and the gift of mind shows that man-kind are weak and shallow in their knowledge. Scientists since the ancient of the most ancient times could not decipher nor particularly explain on what is the fact of mind. This clearly shows that not everything in this existence could physically be seen nor being proved on its existence. Not to say, if a human desires to think about the concept and the essence of the Creator the Highest which would never be achieved by their limited mind. 

In other context, mind is a character and a nature of man-kind which is in parallel to their creation. Mind is a part of human fact as a creation. Thus, a mindless human although is perfect with body parts would not be counted as a complete human. For e.g, an insane guy would never be sentenced on his acts whether in any term such as in his intention, verbal acts or oral as according to general law.

Nature and the characteristics of human's mind are positive. Mind could lead human-being toward goodness and development physically or spiritually. This positive nature of human-being's mind is in parallel to the origin of human-being creation, pure and clean. Both the characteristics of mind and its nature should be consistent with the nature of faith while the purity should be in accordance with the Divine Path. The positive traits of mind could be benefited as maximum as it can in order to strengthen the faith through scientific methods and logic with the help of Divine Path. 

The positive nature of mind and the pure faith would be tainted if not guided by the Divine Path or when being used in opposite to the goal of Divine Path. The mind would later be polluted and deviating from the truth. Among the factors of a filthy mind are following the longing of evil desires, polluting oneself with sins or the weakness of faith.

On the other hand, though mind as per its nature is pure and positive, but it is not equal to the "nature". It is due to that, mind plays the role to bring a human-being to a certain fact, stage by stage. When it reaches the stage only, it would experience tranquility and achieves its peak as its necessity is fulfilled. 

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

Pilgrimage Lesson: Conditions for Hajj Pilgrimage

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Early this morning I just want to reflect in the conditions for pilgrimage. Brothers and sisters, I am sure everyone know pilgrimage to holy Mecca is one of the pillars of Islam. We must learn about this all of our life because it is a necessity for us. It is a mirror of the life of patriarch Ibrahim a.s and his son Isma'el a.s with our mother Hagar. 

For pilgrimage, we have two kinds of it. The first one is Hajj which is the major pilgrimage usually according to season and specifically in the month of Zulhijjah while the lesser one is known as 'Umrah which could be performed at any time of the year or together with Hajj.

What are Conditions for Hajj?

According to Hanbali Madzhab there are about seven conditions to perform Hajj with one addition for ladies. They are:

1. One must be a Muslim

A non-Muslim should not enter the area of Mecca and Medina. The testimony of faith with its complete condition is a pre-condition to be a Muslim. 

2. Maturity

A child who performs hajj will transfer the blessings to his parents as the efforts come from his parents that makes him perform the pilgrimage. When he reached his puberty, he must perform it again. His pilgrimage when he was a little kid is accepted but it was not sufficient because the blessings are for his parents. 

3. Sanity

One must be sane in order to perform the pilgrimage. If one is insane, it is not an obligation for him to continue with the pilgrimage.

4. Freedom

A man must be free from slavery to perform the pilgrimage.

5. Healthy

A person who is sick, bed-ridden and not well are not obliged to perform pilgrimage.

6. Financially supported for food and shelter

A person who perform pilgrimage needs money as a tool for plane ticket, food and accommodation. Also for plane and bus ticket to go to the places in order to perform the pilgrimage.

7. Perform Hajj on behalf of the old, sick and the dead

For these people, it is permissible for a person who had already performed pilgrimage for himself to perform it again for others who are in old, sick and already passed away. This condition is agreed by all four honorable imams. It is illegal or haram to perform hajj for others while one is still not performing it for himself. Some people also are taking the burden to perform hajj for others because they are paid specifically for this. No evidence in the Quran and Sunnah saying that it is haram. According to Shariah, everything is halal unless if it is proven haram. Principle of jurisprudence says that everything which leads to haram is haram. So, when I saw an Indian Muslim or Mamak in Penang sneezing in my fried noodle before he give it to me at a restaurant I did not take the noodle as it is haram and I might be infected with diseases for example meningitis. It is according to this principle so please avoid lower estimate us as unorthodox when our method of performing da'awa is unorthodox or not according to movements. Another example is when there is a necessity for one to take 'pork' because there is only pork to be consumed and other food is not there (I am not saying it as halal!!!), if one trying to avoid it and he dies, he will be counted as committing suicide.

8. Mahram to assist a woman to perform hajj

A woman need a mahram or a male company for her which is from her family member such as her younger brother, father, uncle, older brother, nephew, and etc. Mahram means a person who is forbidden to marry a woman because of family ties. Hajj of a group of women is accepted. Hajj performed by a woman is also accepted but she had violated this condition. 

Wishing
    

I wish my brother and friend, Azren a safe journey for 'umrah in holy Mecca. He will be departing at 15:00 today. I can't wait to listen to his experience too. Pilgrimage to Mecca is always in my heart although I had also committed errors because I was ignorant. Life experience is a good teacher too. I would like to thank the Lord for helping me going through the life sometimes I feel so weak and crying always to Him as I feel myself as a useless man. I wanted to establish relationship with society but for now I guess it is not the time yet. Every thing has its 'time', so do myself. Urm, I am also registering again to perform the Hajj pilgrimage simply to clear my sins of ignorance. Now I am also learning about it again and trying to pay the sentence. Already save a little for this and hoping to fine a suitable job just for me to get tool to work for Him. Urm other than that if the reader is a Shafi'ie madzhab follower, please check it with your school of jurisprudence. If you're from Hanafi madzhab also please check it with your teachers on the conditions.

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

Quranic Memorization : Surah al-Kahfi I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Audio Part I

Diary

Just returned home. I can't really avoid musalla because my room is dusty to perform prayer. The floor is not smooth and I could not clean it like I was in my previous hostel during undergraduate time. I usually lie my face downward on the floor after I recite supplication and it already becomes a habit. I have to be careful when many people especially when I cry to Him I could not lift up my face but placing my forehead and nose down the floor.

I just wait until congregational prayer service being done for Dzuhr and 'Asr prayer just to avoid seeing people around. I prayed alone or maybe seeing if a person praying there I will make him my imam. Many people in musalla especially the senior undergraduates have giving me nice memories which will make me feel reluctant to leave them behind but I am always aware that the 'time' will never stay the same and they might not understood an 'old primitive guy' like me. 

If we still stay in the same place, but people and situation will always change. We can't get the time passing anymore. I am facing it now. Plus it sucks to be a master student. We can't go up nor going down the level. We wanted to befriend other postgraduate students but they are also occupied with their works and when we tried to befriend with undergraduate students, they might feel awkward speaking to me because I don't mingle with their friends. We are stuck in the middle. 

I actually went out to Queensbay Mall to calm down myself in this uncertain period. I just wander around alone and watching movie which is the Wrath of Titan. I found that it is not fun at all because I don't like Greek mythology. Since I was undergraduate student I always like this. I only go out with my course mate which was Amir if he does not go home. He never invite me to his house like other normal friends always do and I always understood the reasons behind. We go to class together and we joined the same classes as to make it easy to do assignments and homework. We never join other course mates and being out cast in the class because other course mates are afraid of Amir and it also affects me as his close friend. Sometimes we have dinner or lunch together and I will treat him as a respect because my roommate him self do not give me face to establish silaturrahim and being an observant servant for nations. Amir was not an observant Muslim can I say and I never force him to follow me to masjid or showing off to him that I am the most observant Muslim.

Da'awa Dimensions of a Plain Muslim : Spreading His Love and Mercy to Others

I didn't mingle with Tabligh kids and Islamic Center kids at that time because I don't want to scare away Amir or other naughty kids. The result is I have to face psychological torments and also laughed by people who do not understand what I am doing including my own family members. I am doing everything for da'awa just like what noble prophets had done and when we read what they had experienced. They do not live happy life too although they may choose to be like other happy human-being. I just pray for people who laughed, mocked and looking at me like a freak because they do not know what I am doing. My prophets were also facing these and they are now resting in peace waiting for Resurrection with other sages, teachers and my faithful brothers and sisters of the past. People would never look at me like something if they always recite and ponder on what Allah talks in glorious Quran. Quran is not for decoration, present to be displayed for marriage presents, or to show off that we are Muslim when we have it. It is to be kept in "heart" and to be recited. It is to be practiced. Maybe others are fortunate to have friends around to chat with them spending time together cherish their memories but I only have Allah words with me. His words are my friends and teachers. Allah is my True Friend and True Teacher. He taught Muhammad s.a.w with His word and His word also teaches me now. 

I taught Amir and others slowly in the manner that no one realize it with my attitude, prayers and behavior according to Quranic teachings and Sunnah but in a bit twisted way because we have to be creative. I found that he slowly begin to perform prayer services but I did not praise him nor offend him. I just leave it like that and never talking about what I saw. I just continue praying for him. Like always I have to mingle with this kind of people and in the beginning I tell brothers and sisters that I love the most, I was mentally and physically tortured and I have to put one of my foot into the hell-fire for other brothers who are not accepted by 'faithful' Muslims.

As an example during Ramadan 2007 when we break our fast, some of those "naughty" kids who mingled with me did not pay at the restaurants and just ran away. So the food that they took is non-halal because it is not legal to eat the food without permission. I also have to pretend to be like them because I can't tell them I can't do all of things or they may run away. If they could mingle with "orthodox" and Islam Syumul guys, they would long joined them but they can't as they think they are "filthy". When I returned to my room, I have to poke my throat until I vomit everything. It is very tormenting and I cried alone without anyone beside me not even my family members. And tomorrow I will find the manager of the restaurant and asking them forgiveness, later paying them the amount of the food that those "brothers" had not pay. I did not tell them nor claiming my money from them because I "love" them. They are my brothers and they are Muslims but just unfortunate. I talked with the manager next time do not say anything to them and please do not humiliate them. I will pay for them, they are my family and brothers. If they do not pay please just snatch me, I will bear the consequence for them.     

My tears dropping each time I remember this because I did all of these alone and I also entered temples alone to spread His mercy to nations. Last time I also listened to brother Firdaws telling me about his experience but I never in turn tell them what happened to me. If I tell people about myself, it means that I am saying goodbye to them and they will never see me anymore. I am also experiencing what Tabligh kids experienced but I have to face torture more. I have to be very discreet dipping myself into the shoes of those unfortunate people, crying and whipping myself with the buckle of belt at night for sins that I had to commit to help my "beloved" brothers to come out from unfortunate situation and I am doing everything alone and nobody understood it instead treating me like a freak. They never come to talk to me alone and discussing matters alone but only waiting for other people to be with them to dare talking to me. I am not a monster nor I attack people on what they believe. I wanted to share this with people as to tell them that there are people who could not be put into a group but sometimes needed some space given to them. When we perform da'awa sometimes we go in group and sometimes alone because the "audience" might be alone or lonely. Not all people will accept or understand this so brothers and sisters who know me, that is why you always see me alone here or any where :'( 

Tabligh and Islamic Center kids were looking at me strangely. They too did not accept me when I tried to join them after that because I mingled with 'filthy' people. Some of the people in the movement also emphasized that only their movement is the way for Salvation and I found that it is not likely because every Muslim is the same and why not we just move without being tagged like Tabligh? I also belong to a mission order but I never mention to people that my mission order is the only Jama'at to save everyone. When I come back here I think perhaps I should establish relationship with them but they assume me as an ignorant Muslim, do not assuming me as their brother but only a 'toy' to be played with, do not giving me face to be a good friend or brother or talking something which makes me sad. I face all of these from different groups of 'orthodox' Muslim kids but maybe they are kids and I should perhaps not mingle with kids because I am already old before my old age come? :'(  

Introduction

I thought of writing this one in Chinese first but never mind. I will keep this note and just translate it later when I am free. Internet could be accessed widely nowadays and those who are interested could get the notes printed out for others who are out of the reach or help me correct my wrong grammar or mistakes. I actually have this idea for long but I had forgotten. I only remember about this when I saw our people (Hui Muslims) here because I think there are now many of them in our university not like before and I have to be a hidden Chinese speaker Muslim. I consider Hui people of China as our people because their first paternal ancestors were also from Arabia and from Persia.

Maybe they would feel weird but we already know many things about them. Our people has connection among the tariqah (mission orders) who were also missionaries to regions. We are in between Arabia, India and China. I think instead of people in my hostel especially from Indonesia asking me this and that, why not google and get information from wikipedia the easiest source? Or if hardworking, go do some research in library and check at religious, history, social and politics sections on what they are curious about. Sometimes their simple questions actually makes me feel surprised on their general knowledge level because I was not a university students, instead I was not a good performer in schools. How do I know about everything around? That is because I care about the dynamics of society and the world. Sometimes it interrupts me when I am trying to get further and deeper information on Islamic mission in Eastern part of the region and I have to shut up my mouth because they are talking. That is why I always avoid people because I think it is useless if people are talking in the same time. Just come and find me alone if wanted to talk.      

Why am I trying to write in Chinese ya? Last time I watched news about Chinese muallaf or new Muslim couple from Pahang. Like always they are in the category of what Malays would derogatorily call as Cina Bukit or 中山 (Tongsan) or Cina Jinjang whatever it is which means their command in Malay is quite low since they were from Chinese lower education, living only in Chinese atmosphere which I also experienced this though I am not a 'Chinese' nor being educated in Chinese stream or perhaps they are poor uneducated Chinese. In the news that I can remember they said that they tried to have access with Malay community which are always the majority Muslim group in Malaysia but people keep themselves away from them. They do not know where to go and only have final choice to return to Chinese folk religion because they are also isolated by their community and relatives. I am sorry I have to talk about this but this the fact of this world, the reality we are facing today.

In Malaysia we do not have Islamic books in Chinese for Islamic branches of studies like Tajweed (Quranic recitation), Hadiths and Sunnah, Islamic Morality and Creed, Prayer and Supplications translations which talk in detail about all of these subject matters like in Malay or in Tamil. In Indian Muslim masjids, they have lectures for religious teachings in Tamil and they have private schools for Islamic studies teaching branches of the path in Tamil which is their mother tongue. And some of them who call themselves "Malays" but speaking at home in Tamil and eating Nasi Kandar with curry harshly offending people who are educated in Chinese. I have no choice but also to also be a "Chinese" because I need to reach other Chinese speaking Muslim compatriots. I thought that in China they also have all of these books but I don't think it is widespread. I have to begin the translation again if without help, I will do it alone to whatever that I am capable to do. I am not doing this for educated people but for people who are not educated in Malay and in Malaysia we have these kind of people. We cannot blame them. It is not the time to blame people anymore. It is the time to quickly exercise His mercy to others.  

Other reason is many madrasah students in Malaysia actually are non-Chinese educated people but they are only Arabic and Classical Malay educated people. Actually I try to explain this to some undergraduate foreign students from China on what I had already encountered as a Chinese culture influenced person but they are with people around and I am also thinking on a good way to explain to them why I always keep my silence when I was with Malay students or Indonesian students around them. I met another Muslim master student from China too in the bank but I didn't speak to him because people do not expect an Indian/Nepali face would speak in Chinese. He was asking a Malay (actually a mamak or Indian Muslim) about Chinese education in Malaysia and that 'Malay' guy's opinion is quite harsh on the attitude of our Chinese compatriots toward education. I myself feel that it is a curse to speak in Chinese and being a Chinese speaker in a racial based environment and when people talked about Malaysian Chinese I always feel down as I am also categorized as a Malaysian Chinese speaker. 

Last time when I mingled with Amir which was my course mate and also my hostel mate, he actually had ridiculed Chinese community and Chinese speakers as he watched too much American movies. So, I feel quite down but I don't feel angry too him because he is my friend. How could I be angry to my friend or my brother although they hurt me? Maybe I just feel aggrieved but I will keep it only to myself unless if the situation needs me to explain what I feel.   

About Surah al-Kahfi

This is one of my favorite surah in Quran. It is also used as a cure for diseases by our jurisprudence imam, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal rahimahullahu 'anhu. I actually intend to memorize this surah after I finished surah Ta-Ha which I actually had done but my life here is not as stable as when I was in undergraduate time. So, I had ruined my memorization and have to begin from the beginning. Besides I always have to perform Salat Sunat at-Tawbah as I feel that I am growing filthy when I mingle with people though the people that I mingled with are observant Muslims. Actually people are not wrong but when we mingle we will have many kind of feelings, perceptions and thoughts. On the other hand, being a master student is not as fun as being an undergraduate student especially when all of our friends who had earlier doing master had graduated and I am the only one who is still stuck here. No support from friends no roommate to share or exchange thoughts or even asking anything when I am stuck and having problem with technology. I am also having lunch and dinner alone. I know people would never dare coming knocking my room asking me whether I am free or messaging me. I am the only one who message people if I found that it is not nice to knock people doors. Last time when brother Firdaws messaged me, I still entertain him. But in the beginning I would be quite slow because I am not in the same level with them. I am in the beginning was a loner. I don't make friend through friend. People wanted to be friend me, just come directly to me. Not by friend. It shows sincerity.       

Parts in This Surah

I am going to divide the message of this surah into five parts according to what Allah talks to us regarding our path. For the beginning I will only post about two parts of the surah. Actually I am memorizing Quran according to these parts of stories and when we recite in prayer services we may choose whether reciting it in the form of parts or in form of pages like maybe one page for a unit of prayer service. The most important thing for me is not how many pages that we recite in the unit of prayer but the message for ma'amums behind and also for the imam himself at the front. 

For non-Arabic speakers or those who are not fluent in Arabic, we need a translation of Quran in our own language and I always encourage brothers and sisters to spend free time with Quranic translation reading and parallel checking with original Arabic one. The most important thing dear brothers and sister, is how are we going to practice Quran in ourselves? For me I don't like to listen people praising this person that person such as when I was in Tabligh masjid. One person calling a Quran memorizer kid to be an imam and proudly saying: "this people are walking Quran!" People already know about this, no need to loudly talk about this. 

For me it is not so good first because it harms that kid characteristic and second the person should also try make the Quran circulate in him self if he care about the Path! A person whose Quran is circulating within himself will never talk like that, if he is amazed with a person he will just slowly come and talk with the person without being seen by others. When I talk like this, it does not mean I am a restrictive person. People can talk about any topics with me as long as I know I could also talk about the same topic, but we should know the boundary of speech when we come to the matters of the Path especially the moral which lies behind it. Last time a Wahhabi Arab congregation member in masjid also said to me : "Insha Allah after you join our discourse on kitab Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, you will also become and ustadz". After that I never join them anymore. I was a translation and interpretation student. I also interprete a lot and reads interpretation behind lines of the speeches. It is crazy but I guess it is just our nature.   

First Two Part We are Going to See?

1. Criticism on the Doctrine of "the Son of the God"

2. The Young Men in the Cave

First Part of the Message : Criticism on the Doctrine of "the Son of the God"

In the Name of Allah the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful

All praise to Allah who reveals down to His slave the book and never making it crooked inside 1 As a direction to remind people about bitter torments from Him and as a good news for people who have faith and those who perform the practices of charity that they are going to receive good retaliation 2 They will be eternal in it forever 3 And it is to remind those who say that: "the Lord takes a Son" 4 They have no knowledge about this (doctrine) and so do their ancestors. Very hideous the word that come out from their mouths. What they said (the doctrine) is nothing but a liar 5 So, will you (Muhammad and those who profess witness on your prophethood) commit suicide feeling so sad when they turn away from this discourse? 6 Indeed We bring whatever on the earth as decorations for her as a mean to test on those who are better in their charity 7 And indeed We also will in fact make whatever on her barren and flat 8 

Second Part of the Message : The Young Men in the Cave        

Don't you ever recount that indeed the dwellers of the cave and the raqim (a dog or perhaps an inscription) are from Our miraculous signs? 9 At the time where the youths walks to the cave and they said (pray) our Lord : "Grant to us from Your side the Mercy and complete for us Your Straight Guidance in our matters" 10 And We strike to close their ears in the cave for years 11 And We make their heart firm at the time when they raised up and the said : "Our Lord, the Lord of the heavens and earth; we will never call other than Him as our Lord. If we say others are our Lord then we are talking far from the Truth" 12 They who are our people, taking other than Him as their gods 13 Why they do not propose to us on what basis they are doing that? 14 Who are more cruel than those who make lies to Allah? 15 

And when you leave them and what they are worshiping other than Allah, thus search for a cave for a shade and your Lord will spill on you His Mercy and providing for you what is important for your matters 16 And when you see the sun when it rises on their cave at the right side and when you see it sunken moving far from them to the left and they are in a wide space in the cave. That is from the signs of Allah. And those who are guided will be guided. Those who are deviated will be deviated and no one could even guide them (it is the Will of Allah) 17 

And you may thought that they are awake while they are actually sleeping. And We flip them right and left. And their dog projected both of its front feet at the face of the cave. And those who see it will run away with the heart full of fear 18 And We wake them up  as for them to ask among themselves. Said one from them : "How long have you been here?" Others said : "Perhaps half a day?" Said others : "Your Lord knows more on how long you have been here". So wake up one of you and go to the town with these silver coins and see whatever is good and safe to be eaten and bring it back for you from the sustenance from Him and be gentle do not tell to others on your matters 19 Indeed they once knowing where is your hidden place will stone you or forcing you to convert to their way and if it happens so, you will be unfortunate forever 20   

And as such we show them to human-being so may they know that the promise of Allah is true and the "Time" which has no doubt on it will come as He commanded it. And say some among the human : "Build on it buildings. Your Lord knows more about them". Those with authority among them said : "We will build on it (the cave) a veneration place" 21

And then some people will say, they are three and fourth is their dog and some will say they are five and the sixth is their dog as the guess for the things which they can't witness with their own eyes. And others say, they are seven and the eight is their dog. Say! Your Lord knows more on how many of them. Nobody knows about it except a very minority of people. So (Muhammad and those who witness his prophethood), do not quarrel with them about their matters except in the internal quarrel and never ask about them about these young men to any one of them 22

And never say anything like : "I will do it tomorrow morning" 23 Except saying : "Insha Allah (whatever He Wills)". And remember Your Lord when you had forgotten and say : "May my Lord giving me His guidance and making me close to the truth than this" 24

And they stayed in the cave 300 years plus other nine years 25 Say (o Muhammad and people) : "Allah knows more on how many years they stayed there". For Him (the knowledge) whatever is hidden in heavens and earth. His view is extremely clear, His listening is extremely sharp and accurate. Nobody except Him as the Protector Guardian and He has no partners for His decisions 26

Closing

Wishing this is beneficial for myself and for others who stepped by. Allah please grant everyone Your mercy and love. Let everyone peacefully co-exist among each other and be nice to each other. Allah I beg You please forgive my countless sins. I repent to You and I testify You are my Lord and Muhammad s.a.w is my prophet and messenger sent to me and others and as a mercy for the universe. 

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin ya Rabbal 'aalamiin!   

Pilgrimage Error

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I listened to lectures and now I realized I did something wrong during pilgrimage. Now I feel my heart is beating so hard because I am so afraid. It is not easy to return to the holy land since they have quotas, restrictions, and pilgrimage season usually is in November or December according to lunar calculation. We can't blame the Saudi kingdom for this though I don't really like monarchs. I called mum and she also said the same. We had few discussions which sounds like a quarrel and I can't eat anything while the phone is at my hand. 

Before that, let me explain that we have three kinds of pilgrimage that we call as hajj:

1. Ifrad

2. Tamattu'

3. Qiran

Urmmm, I don't know what to say. I almost raised my voice to mum in the phone because I regret that she followed my intention of performing the Ifrad Hajj while we were in the early group who departed for holy land. I didn't mention my intention but I don't know how she managed to know my intention and clinging to the same intention with me. 

When we were in ihram, though I wasn't so literate about hajj or pilgrimage, we should know that we were forbidden to do anything which our Tamattu' counterparts were doing. It also includes that we should not perform the umra together with them but I recounted that mum had urged me to also following her and her roommates in the muassasah to perform umra in which I had earlier refused to follow. 

My intention to perform hajj Ifrad was actually because it suddenly came into my head and it slowly comes out of my mouth while we were on the miqat air space. I feel that I did lots of sins to the Lord because I mistook people who did wrong to me as something which should not happen and I felt that I should repent and punish myself with penance in order to receive salvation. 

Because we followed the tamattu' pilgrims, we also had performed the tahallul which means the act of cutting the hair to be free from prohibitions of the white garment. It is actually wrong because we were the pilgrims with Ifrad intention and we should wait only after the acts of hajj are completed. We should first finish the hajj acts first and then only thinking of performing umra. I had told this to mum but she didn't listen. I told her not to buy anything from outside because we need to avoid from quarreling, we need to avoid talking in a crowd because it would cause us violating the rules, and do not buy anything in the holy land!

Prohibitions in white garment is actually very strict especially to the men and it applies to those who perform the pilgrim with the Ifrad intention whether in the holy land or outside of the holy land. It is almost the same with hermitage rules and regulations where we can't step on insects, not to harm animals, no mating, must be extra patient even with people who kicked us our ass, if people kill us with their weapon we must restrain from violating them, we can't wear luxurious stuffs and etc. Ya Allah! Now I feel more sinful and I don't know what to do. I can't think of anything right now but I just wanted to return to the holy land and correct everything even if I have to pay the blood (fine to the needy)!!!!  I don't know when the chance would come again with uncertain time like this and if I am occupied in the future I would be dooomed!!

Brothers and sisters who are going to perform pilgrim please make sure you learn about these and be very certain with your intention. Don't imitate people and don't simply believe what people around say because we need a qualified teachers for this. It is a holy place but it is also the place of test, all sort of test will reach us. Ya Alllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

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

The Virtue of Fajr Prayer Service in Congregation

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

فضل صلاة الفجر فى جماعة 

عن أبى هريرة (ر) قال : سمعتُ رسول الله (ص) يقول : تفضُلُ صلاة الجميعِ صلاةَ أحدِكم وحدهُ بخمسٍ وعشرينَ جزاءً .وتجمعُ ملائكةُ الليلِ وملائكةُ النهارِفى صلاة الفجر .ثم قال أبو هريرة : فاقرأو وإنْ شِئْتم : إنْ قرآنٌ الفجرِ كان مشهودًا

阿布胡來拉就是報告來： 我聽過安拉的報信者說： 

晨禮最好的做跟斬馬特。比一個人在家裡的禮拜功德

能到二十五的部分。夜日天仙在晨礼集合。然後阿布胡來拉繼續說：

如果你們想讀古蘭經也是好因為你們的念讀被安拉和天仙目睹的。

Narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a, he said: I listened to the messenger of the God s.a.w says: The virtue of the obligatory prayer services in congregation above the prayer service performed alone is 25 part of merits. And assembled the angels who are in charge for the night and the angels who are in charge for the day at the time of dawn (during fajr service). Then, Abu Hurairah further narrated: After the prayer service, if you have something better to do, recite the Quran as it is witnessed by those servants (angels) of the God in the dawn. (Sahih Bukhari)    

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

 

Maqasid Shariah: Definitions

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Pao Gong, a justice figure of China's Song dynasty who serves the court during the reign of emperor Renzong

Once again we are in Yom al-Jumu'ah which is the day we congregate together as brothers and sisters. The sermon delivered in the masjid today is once again about Shariah Islamiah. After my first part thesis being rejected over and over and considering that I have to do it once again after few times struggling, I think that I hate human idealism. This human idealism that I am studying is making me far from my Beloved One!!! 

I regret that I could only get C in my Shariah paper recognition for STPM (A-Level). I just learned it in a framed one year after returning from pilgrimage in holy Mecca where I've got His guidance while it needs me two years for basic understanding. Last time, I had escaped Thanawi papers because I didn't believe in Islam as I had misunderstanding regarding society and the religion though I know about basic principles and memorized things. I learned both Islamic studies and Hindu-Buddhism sastras in the same time but I just practiced Buddhism rituals while I was alone. If I could not be a Qadhi in the future, perhaps I could still be a transmitter of Shariah sciences as apart of my Qurbana (sacrifice) for Him. It's not for myself but only for Him. It's all my fault because I was not patient. Please forgive me dear Good Lord, please don't hate me : (

Coincidentally, the sermon today also talked about the weaknesses of human idealism as compared to Revelation from the God according to our nature. I lament it in myself while returning to my room because I am not a believer of Western idealism nor feeling amazed at their values. I can't even use anything from Revelation in my research which could harmonize and purify, at least my own mind if not useful for others.

Let us continue on few other definitions of maqasid shariah...

Definitions of Maqasid Shariah

Contemporary scholars such as al-Imam al-Shatibi who is synonymous with maqasid science never provide specific definitions for the term maqasid shariah or objective of the way. It is because he thought that everyone understood the concept and the term itself.  

Definition of Ibnu Ashoor for Maqasid 

Ibnu Ashoor has defined maqasid as: "referring to every understanding which could be seen at legislation that had been provided through Revelation as a whole as parts of it." It means that maqasid does not really defined with the specific meaning of observation for the legislation. It refers to these examples such as bringing benefits, rejecting evil and crimes, and there lies the concept of equality among human-being in every prescription of the legislation in the Way.

Ibnu Ashoor had divided maqasid into general maqasid and specific maqasid...

i. General Maqasid

It has been seen in obligatory legislation which generally involves individual.

ii. Specific Maqasid 

It refers to methods used in Shariah to brings public necessities into realization through individuals' acts. For example, the legislation on the act of recording debt negotiations in financial area.

Definition of Maqasid by I'lal al-Fasi

He defines maqasid as: "The goal of Shariah and the secrets of the legislation for every judgement in Islam." Al-Fasi has also divided this into two which are the general and specific objectives. The general objective refers to the goal of Shariah while the specific objective is referring to the secrets of the legislation.

The definition however was criticized by Dr. Iwad bin Muhammad al-Qarni. He criticizes that the definition by saying that the usage of the word "secret" is not suitable because the word does not representing maqasid in an absolute way. Sometimes secret could be an objective while in certain times secrets are not objectives for something.  

Definition by Ahmad al-Raysuni

Maqasid refers to goals of the Way which everyone is striving to achieve for the benefit of human nations. Al-Raysuni had divided objectives more discreetly compared to the above definition setters. He divided it into three which are the general objective, specific objective, and branches objective.

i. General Objective

Objective which is taken into account through the light of the Way in order to decide on all or the majority of legislation of Shariah. For example, the concept of al-Musawah (equality) which exists in all of the Shariah legislation.

ii. Specific Objective

It has been taken into account by the Way in order to decide on something or few groups of specific legislation. For example, legislation related to family and matrimonial.

iii. Branches Objective

It is taken into account by the Way in order to decide over specific legislation such as the legislation decision on matrimonial as a tradition. 

Further Discussion on Definitions

What had been discussed in the science of the origin of jurisprudence and the objective science is concerning the general objective. Specific objective became the topic of discussion by the legislators and jurists of the Way (Shariah).

Among those definitions proposed by scholars, al-Raysuni's one is considered as compact, precise, and covering over the concept of maqasid (objective) after being analyzed by today's scholars.

Conclusion of Definition

Maqasid (objective) of Shariah are the goals which is deemed by the Shariah to be achieved for the benefit of human civilization and society. 

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

Maqasid Shariah : The Objective of Shariah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

A very good and blessed Friday. We recite salawat to our beloved and noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w, the messenger and the servant of the God. Friday sermon delivered by Ustad Zayd Zahari in Islamic Center today is quite interesting. Besides I love to listen to Ustad Zayd Quranic recitation. I wanted to talk with him but I don't know, I feel shy. Macam budak-budak pulak, hahaha...

He talked about this matter called as maqasid shar'iyyah. I have no time to email to ustad Zayd but I wish to have a copy of the sermon that he delivered. It is very good in order to clarify what is shariah to some brick-head people who just lazy to read books about Islam written by a believer Muslim. Of course a believer Muslim is a Muslim who understand his religion and not because he follow anyone like his dad, his mum, his elders and people around. I don't care about non-Muslim view about this but first we Muslim ourselves must be clear on what is actually shariah? When we talk about shariah, we have this image in our mind about punishment to people or crime and some people would take this as something which could be attacked sesuka hati tuk nyang depa! I would write anything that I could still remember. My head is now so full, mannnnn!

My Opinion Before We Begin

Islam is a message of the God to the universe and it actually had began since the time of sage Adam a.s was taught with nouns. Who is sage Adam a.s? He is the forefather of all human-being who possess mind, emotion, feeling and being granted with civilization. So, human religion does not begin since Moses a.s or Jesus a.s or Muhammad s.a.w. I sometimes feel weird when looking at some non-Muslims' way of thinking, I don't know whether they are Christians or not but because we don't simply judge people by their religion but they keep talking in inconsistencies. I believe these kind of people are Western Protestant Christian pastors. I don't even hate any Jew or Christian and I found that many Western Christians especially those rednecks living in farms are quite hater to others and ignorant! I made friend with other Asian Christians especially of Catholicism and some Middle East Christians of Orthodox patriarchal lines. We do not hate each other and hating-racist culture or ideas come from the West. I always support my Christian friends especially those devout ones. Stop spreading those diseases from the West to Asia! 

Sometimes they talk about Arabs or Muslims (as Islam is the same entity of Arab like what they perceive to Christianity as their 'daddy's' handmade) trying to dominate the world, then later when we tell them that there are 100% Bedouin Arabs of Ghassan branch who are of Byzantine Orthodox Church under the Roman empire or Lakhmid Arabs who still exist under Nestorian churches since before the rise of Muhammad s.a.w, they would say they are glad that there are Arabs who resists the pressure of Islam. They would try to do all sort of thing for Muslim to leave their religion. When they leave their religion what those people who suggest apostacy can give to them? Mountain of gold? Food for the people who leave their religion until they die? Saving them from torments in hereafter if it is a common belief in other religion about hereafter? If he can help others, can he show people that he could also save himself from torments and sufferings? If zillions of people become apostates of their religion and choosing your religion because you offer them something, will you be able to cater everyone with their needs as the "change" for their "faith"? What for quantities if people who claim themselves in documents or just because being offered by something are not sincere because of the God but because of their belly, their desire, their comfort. In the end, the real god for them are their belly, their desire, their comfort, etc...

Don't they read the Judaism 13 articles of faith concluded by Musa bin Maimun which is a Judaism teacher about the path that the God teach human-being never change? Sure they don't read it because they are Christians who zealously "following" the Christ and that is what they are called as... Christians... Later they call us Muslims as Mohamedans like our concept of how we view the God is the same like them. Our God is not Muhammad s.a.w... Muhammad s.a.w is a sage, a teacher, a messenger of the God like his brothers in soul such as Moses, like Jesus a.s, like Noah a.s, like Abraham a.s. We worship only the God...! We do not need Trinity nor anything taught by Church Fathers with the regard on dogma and creed and we don't need those teachings in Protestantism or Catholicism which has been around longer than Protestantism to have faith in Jesus Christ. We believe and have faith in Jesus a.s and those who are mentioned by the God in glorious Quran. We love all of prophets and messengers of the God no matter Muhammad s.a.w, Moses a.s, Jesus a.s, Noah a.s, Abraham a.s, Ismael a.s, Isaac a.s all equally. We have our own sciences about the creed and faith and we have our own scholars.

I memorized the articles of Jew faith perfectly in both Hebrew and Arabic and one of it says that : "the God will never exchange or alter His law for any other for all eternity."

Is it hard to understand that celestial revelation does not come in certain period or being known to the person who transmit it in this sense like Western understanding when they call Muslims as Mohammedans or Christians for those who follow the teachings which flows from Jesus Christ. Revelation as a sign of His Mercy toward the universe will descend each time when human-being fallen into the darkness or human-being simply love to play ignorant? Why when you (Western Christians) talk, you have to use religion as the shield to protect your attachment toward worldly desire? Don't lie to people around because the God knows what is hidden in ones' heart. Don't also assume that the God is STUPID! 

This kind of people according to the pillars of morality is considered as polytheists no matter how they claim that they are worshiping the Supreme Authority! So, what had been said by the God is true... They hated Him but His Words will never be eliminated by these flies. This universe is under His supervision and not under those hypocrites. Their heart is filthy with polytheism. If people hate the God, then say so, no need to use the pretext of this nation or that nation or this religion or that religion. If they wanted to dominate others, don't accuse it on others like throwing stones to others while others are not looking and then hiding the hand.

When the soul of prophet Muhammad s.a.w being raised by the God, we have the Quran and the prophetic tradition. We know our goal of life in which the purest goal of life is to see the God. We do not consider this earth as our possession. When I was a Buddhist, I also believed the same thing. I am not I am or what is concluded in Anatta and Sunyata concept. Nothing in my physical body is true and everything around me is fake. When I wanted to die and performing some difficult tapas (meditation) according to Hindu-Buddhist ways I believe that I could transfer my soul into a better place than this physical body because it is fake. There are some Buddhists of Lao descents who live in the U.S Long Island, usually they are rich people who ran from revolution in their country and they live like the average Americans and sometimes visiting Thailand to boast around. They keep throwing racist stuffs to Chinese people in Bangkok or Muslim Malays in Southern Thailand and when I talked about Anatta and Sunyata concept, they just keep their silence. So, it means that people sometimes know about the stuffs but they never practice whatever had been taught but they claim themselves as this and that. Later they try to ban others without they first understand the essence of the teaching that they claimed to follow.  

Through deductive and inductive analysis on Islamic Shari'a sources, it confirms that the goal and intention of shariah is to attract benefit and goodness for human-being and environment. It is rejecting harms from human-being toward environment. All of law provisions under the shariah jurisprudence shelter under the concept of the guarantee for human-being and environment benefits. It is not only the benefit of the world but also the hereafter.     

Al-'Iz bin Abdul Salam in his book Qawaid al-Ahkam fi Masalih al-Anam vol. 1 page 9 said that Islam (path) is for benefits. It is either bringing benefit or avoiding harm. The sermon that we just heard from Islamic Center defines on the meaning of maqasid or the goal and its position. It tries to elaborate in the most comprehensive and easiest way on various categories of goals according to variety of perspectives, benefits of understanding what is the goal and how to recognize the goal. And then to evaluate the goal on how important is the goal of shariah in the evaluation of certain decision made.  

Introduction to the Concept of Maqasid

What is the definition of maqasid? 

According to Ahmad al-Raysuni in the View of the Goal by Imam al-Shatiby (1992, p.g 13) : "Maqasid means the goal, the objective or the purpose which we wanted to achieve in doing something. In this context, the objective which is placed by the path in molding the provisions. Among popular terms used for this maqasid shariah, maqasid shari' Allah (the objective the God's path), maqasid shari'iyyah."

There are many definitions brought upon by the scholars of the origin of understanding about the goal or the objective of shariah. Classical scholars never propose any specific definition for the goal. Al-Shatibi who was the apprentice of the objective branch of knowledge also never provide any specific definition. But it does not mean that they had neglected the objective or the goal of certain provisions in the law.

There are many views regarding the objective in their scholarly works. We could also see various classical scholars' views which forms the elements of contemporary scholars preceding them. What is certain is that the values of objective in the path is consisted in the al-Quran and prophetic traditions.

Some of scholars assume that the objective signifies the benefits, whether it attracts benefit or it rejects the demolition of human civilization. Ibnu Qayyim al-Jawziyyah emphasized that shariah is based on wisdom and benefit for human civilization in the world and benefit them in the hereafter. The changes in jurisprudence and law could also take place according to period of time and place since it is flexible according to human-nature, cultural background and environment. It guarantees the benefit of human-being as a whole.

Some scholars define the objective as the matters which avoid harms toward human-being and environment. The jurist I'yad said that : "providing provisions within the framework of the path of the God is obligatory." Some characterize the objective as a way to avoid trouble for society. It was mentioned by Ibnu al-'Arabi with his statement : "There is no burden on someone if he is not capable of it." 

Some had understood the objective of shariah with five basic principles of Islam. Islam (the path of the God) is to protect :   

1. religion

2. soul and life

3. mind

4. pedigree

5. property

In other angle, there are also classical scholars who view the objective as the logic to be integrated as apart of the decision in making the judgement in the court. Contemporary scholars such as Imam al-Shatibi who are famous in the science of the objective never propose any specific definition for the term of the objective or maqasid. He perhaps assumed that everybody understood the term.  Try to compare them with principles of Civil Law and the whole process in Civil Law instead of attacking something which we don't really understand at because we are not even lawyers to begin with, lol....

This gonna take long because we learn about Civil Law or Common Law for racist Western society and their religion (whatever ideologies they proposed are their religions) for about 4 years to be a practical chambering lawyers or attorneys while we read something in the surface about Shariah and assume ourselves as professionally a Law attorney to criticize this and that, hahaha....

will be continued, inshaallah...

Check Our General Knowledge

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah...

See it for yourselves, I can't believe that people of a Great country are so intelligent. Perhaps they were taught to only care about their selves. This is so embarassing, I thought that people in Afghanistan or Arabia are illiterate, LOL... Perhaps many of them will also join new season of American Idols to be rich and to go to the Hollywood... hahaha...

 

Oy vey!!! Hahahahahahahaha............................................................. You're right about these people homie...What is the function of medias in the US actually? These people interviewed do not look like beggars and living in the most advanced and respected country of the world, LOL... I'm thankful I'm not an American who depends on MadTV as the source of information, haha. I feel pity to our brethren American Muslims. You're living in a country with majority dumb populations and they are as dumb as those in the Middle Easts who they stereotyped as terrorists. I know several dumb Europeans too and not to forget some Asian counterparts who knows not so many things about their neighbors.

Thank You, dear the God. Everyone around the world please don't take this as an example. Ignorance does not have to wait for someone to be an American or etc. Educate ourselves with lessons especially to people in our country, our Asian counterparts and South East Asian countries. Take heed about our environment and countries around us. Don't just live within our own world.

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

Closer to Quran

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

The topic about al-Quran is always a fascinating topic for me when I start to learn again about this scripture. I love it and the Words in Arabic is nothing to be compared to any other literary style although it is not a compilation of poems. 

From the lecture delivered by Ustad Hibzi Abdur-Rahim who was a student of Insaniah I get to learn something about Quran today. I had missed the first part of the lecture and I regret it so much. I tried to access records for those lectures but can't find any. I would like to suggest to Kedah FM to help upload them or notify lecture listeners through the radio website. I can't find any there : ( 

Yesterday I went to the library to settle debts for locker key and didn't get to return home early to listen to the radio. Macam orang tua la pulak, hahahahaa. The university is organizing Convocation and Expo beginning yesterday and I hate to stay in crowd since I don't know anyone no more and nobody that I know remains here. So, today after I finished the class earlier since the lecturer of the repeating class which is Dr. Noreha feel sick and has to stop it. I feel a total liberation and right away running my way home to this room and listening for the lecture after Dzuhr prayer service, alhamdulillahi rabbil 'aalamin praise be to the Lord of the universe. The class and this course in general is torturing me and my heart is not in the class anymore. 

I just feel like I wanted to take out my Quran from the bag and just read it without bothering others because... I don't know how to say this. I just hate to see around anymore and letting people seeing sorrow in my face. Feel like wanted to burst out with tears seeing people do not have to stuck like this, that's just a personal feeling we are human. Urmm, maybe others would look to me like a freak but it's ok. Nobody would help me when environment is pressuring me, instead His Word and Miracle is helping me to gain peace and tranquility. I begin to wear skull cap in the midst of people now. It's just as a reminder that His Divine presence is surrounding me at least after I felt that I am not suitable to be tied to any organization such as Tabligh-e-Jama'at nor any other though I respect every brother and sister's organizations. At least I learned something from them. I should have had put skull cap on since I returned home from pilgrimage in the noble city, Mecca last five years but I had postponed it as I thought that I was young but now I am growing old. Death would not have to wait for me to grow old so I better take everything about Him seriously. Besides, I also talked about this with brother Sayyid Eidan last time and he told me about a sage who also wears the skull cap after being advised by his mother. Although we are of different religions but I respect him so much. I feel there is half of me in him, like mirror.

The ustad talked about the interpretation of the word مَهْجُورًا mahjuura something and it must be the word from any surah in the glorious Quran. I try to find the word مَهْجُورًا mahjuura and it happens to be in surah al-Furqan verse 30, the God says:

"And said the messenger (Muhammad): "Dear my Lord, indeed my people had make this Quran as something forsaken."

In the beginning of this part delivered by the ustad, he talked about the eternal life after the Resurrection. There would be no more death in the hereafter. It implies that while we are living in the world, we have to take care our act while living as we will be resurrected by the God and will be seeing Him. The faith to the hereafter and the day of Resurrection is a pillar in the pillars of faith. It notifies us about the importance of morality and conduct of life that would lead us to prosperity in the hereafter. The noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentioned: "And adulterer would have never fallen into adultery if he or she is faithful, and a drunkard would never drink intoxicate drinks if he or she is faithful to the God and His promises." A faithful person has the faith that the God is watching him or her. While doing such vices of adultery and drinking intoxicate drinks a person would feel the pleasure but it is only for a short term, but the longer term pleasure is in the hereafter. Thus, we have to think wisely and deeply before doing anything. It is said that if we follow a path, be a godly person.

Now comes to the word مَهْجُورًا mahjuura from surah al-Furqan. The word is translated to forsaken in English. It also means leave. In this sense it refers to people who never learn the lesson of previous nations for example the tribe of 'Aad and Thamud. The tribe of 'Aad is a tribe of southern Arabian Peninsula while the Thamud is a tribe who inhabited the caves at the way from northern Arabian Peninsula to Syria. They carved caves to be their houses and neighborhood. Both tribes are ancient Arab tribes. They are not Hebrews and they have prophets and messengers of the God sent to them for their infidelity which are mentioned in the glorious Quran as Huud and Saaleh a.h.m.s. The word for lesson in Islamic terminology is i'tibaar or tadabbur. Other example for infidelity due to the power is the Pharaoh as he assumed himself as the God who could take the life of people and spare people's life. If we want to see example of patience in women, we may see Aasiyyah the faithful wife of the Pharaoh or Maryam the mother of Jesus Christ. They are mentioned in the glorious Quran.

Ibnu Qayyim al-Jawjiyyah interpreted that the word مَهْجُورًا mahjuura means leaving from judgement and rule of conduct in society based from the sources of the Quran. When human-being violating the universe, society, civilization and environment, the God is the One who decides for the judgement. For example, the rule and regulation regarding faraai'd or distribution of properties among recipients of legacy or heirs, if being left without any rule regarding this, servants of the God would be killing each other so the God has prepared the basis for the rulings in the Quran. This knowledge about rulings is now expanded to the branches of science known as Shari'ah or the Path. There will be Qadhis or Judges and Solicitors helping people interpreting the verses of the Quran regarding the rulings in certain cases for rights. For this topic, we need a specific post as to elaborate more or getting information from the Shari'ah Court. In Malaysia we have two systems which is Civil Court and Shari'ah Court. Shari'ah Court usually deals with matters such as matrimonial and it is subbed under states.

The God had revealed the rulings and basis for it in order to keep the mind of human-being. It is an obligation for every human-being to guard their mind from damages through clean and blessed food. Human-being must also guard their acts as they are also related to mind and mental. As for example the basis principle ruling for property is to guard the property of human since human have to work for the property. In a Hadith Qudsi, the God says: "O sons of Adam, I had already distributed your sustenance. Every son of Adam in the earth indeed have his portion for the sustenance through the reason of working to get the sustenance..." The God reminds human not to go beyond the limit and never work until we snatch others sustenance where the God had also saved for brethren. Take our rights with the peace of mind, but do not perform the act that hurt brothers and sisters in order to get the rights in property and sustenance. If we really insist on the worldly matters, the God will give it to us. But in the end, we must bear the burden of consequences for our acts before Him. 

According to Ibnu Qayyim in his exegesis, nations left behind the treatment of sickness and problems through the blessings of the holy verses of Quran. In the Quran, there are curing verses and verses of compassionate mercy for the faithful servant. Quran is able to help people who face sickness, diseases, and psychological problems. If we are sick, we may see the doctor first and if we can't find the root of disease, we may use Quranic verses to treat ourselves. Or we may begin the treatment with Quranic verses, there is of no problem. 

The 1-5 verses of surah Ta-Ha for example could help softening the heart of people. There was an incident where prophet Muhammad s.a.w companion before he becomes a Muslim was a fierce heathen. He is Omar al-Khattab, and he is a favorite figure for me too. When he listened to his sister, Fatimah reciting the Quran he asked her to recite it again as it makes him wonders and think. He is an Arabic speaker so supposedly he knows what makes him wonder. Then he went to see prophet Muhammad s.a.w but while he was in his way other companions of prophet Muhammad s.a.w obstructed his way as they afraid Omar would hurt the noble prophet. However the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w asked those companions to leave Omar alone. Omar spontaneously declaring his faith in the God and the prophethood of Muhammad s.a.w as the seal of the era. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w had actually made prayers to the God as to help Muslims liberating them from tyranny either through Omar al-Khattab or Abu Jahal but the God has chosen Omar al-Khattab.

The Quranic verse is capable to soften the heart of husbands, wives, children, and sometimes when parents teaching lessons to children, they themselves are not confident with the ability of the Quran to assist their children. They may come to ustads and religious men with the words like "my child is so stubborn" jumped out of their lips. Their words will automatically be a prayer to the God and He listens to parents prayers. Parents could say dear ustad, please pray to the God for my children well-being. Do not use bad terms or words when talking about child or referring them. Say good things about them although sometimes we feel differently about our children.

How could we benefit from Quran? The first condition is we must know how to read letters in Quran. Nowadays many youngsters in Malaysia do not know how to read Quran. Maybe they could read but not many of them could further read other suras apart of those simple suras they memorized. If elderly come to ustad and say, they are old and now they are 70 years old but they can't read the Quran. That could still be forgiven. Because they perhaps had no time to learn, like women from the antiquity could not learn or further studies because of their parents are traditionalists. Perhaps they have no education because of poverty. But nowadays we have the Quranic lessons everywhere, we just need efforts. To prove to the God that we love Him, we must take our Quran and try to read it although it is difficult. 

From the exegesis of Ibnu Qayyim, there is a lamentation of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w about the five basic constitutions where people tend to miss: 

1. They would ignore the Quran while it is recited     

2. They would not enforce principles of Quran in rulings

3. They would leave the judgement through precedents from Quran and the basic principles of the path

4. They would leave from benefiting the verses for psychological and healings

5. They do not care about what is forbidden or what is legal though they know and claim that they believe

How should we began to come closer to Quran? 

I. Look at Quran

II. Read Quran

III Try understand and take heed on lessons

IV Teach them to others who don't know when we acquire the skill of the contents and others related to the scripture

Use the skill to read the Quran and share it among friends and brethren. Knowledge and Science belong to the God. Thus we should not keep it to ourselves but teaching to others and sharing it. First focus for us to teach is our own family. The reciter and the fan of Quran would be accompanied by the most good amongst angels called the kiramul bararah. Those who practicing the Quran and teaching it to others who don't know are the friend of angels. Hopefully, at least I could have friends whom are the God and angels. I don't think any human wanted to befriend a weird person like me. Now, I begin to think that I am weird too... After many things happened I don't like to open up my mouth anymore nor looking at people's face.

Lessons from the Quran could be boundaries for us. For example the previous nations. What about nations who still exist today like the Israelites as an example? We do not condemn them, but we take them as mirror. We are not as holy as angels of the God too which is the fact that we should not forget forever. Quran is the source of legal precedents, civilization, manner, and moulder of science. Always recite His Words at our lips. Whatever that we read and memorize let them be with ourselves. It is favorable if our sons or daughters memorize the Quran. I believe that we ourselves will eventually have to save ourselves so I prefer to memorize it myself and not depending on others though it's not a sin to send daughters and sons to teachers to memorize the Quran. Everything must begin with ourselves and our own awareness. A person who memorize the Quran and practicing it will also being the salvator for his or her family members in the hereafter. If we can't provide our sons or daughters with Quranic education, we may also try to provide it to our grandchildren. 

The vessel of those who memorize the Quran will never be harmed by the earth, not touched by worms, and their vessel will be in the grave until the resurrection in peace and tranquility. In the end, the benefit of the Quran in a person could also salvate others as well. 

Goodness and evil will be written in a record where it will be displayed and everyone will look and listened to it. As for us in the world, everyone sees us as a good person but it appears that we are not like what we were in the world. We were actually committing vice behind of people while pretending to be a good person. We ask people to do good and performing charity while we never do what we preached to others. The impact to our face in the hereafter would be bad isn't it? In other word the impact is embarrassment before being dragged to the torment, na'udzubillahu min dzaalik may He forbids it!    

Isn't it great if we would be resurrected in the hereafter with the record being handed over to us at our right hand, and being judged and counted without any complication, later seeing our family again with joy? The ustad still remember when they listened to their honorable syeikh, syeikh Nuruddin said to them that everything must be initiated from right side since in the world. When we do everything good, it is suggested to start it from right before taking any action. When we are going in our house, start stepping in with right leg just like we enter the house of worship and holy places. Before we step into our working place, start it with right leg and everything with right side as it symbolizes blessings of the God. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w said: "be at the right side, as being right gives you blessings." When we want to go out of our working places, house, or other good places, start it with left leg stepping out. Teachers before starting the class could begin entering their classes with right step and reciting the Name of the God and praises to the God. As it is the place for teacher to make a living so make it a blessed place. When we undress, start it with left side as for example. All of these simple matters are also recorded by the God.         

May everything that we delivered benefit us all. May everyone receives blessings and let us pray may we be groups of people who receive salvation, let us pray may the Quran being our friend and companion while we are in the world and when we passed away entertaining us who will be alone in the grave. May prayers be granted... In the Name of the God the Most Merciful the Most Beneficent 1 Praise be to the Lord of the universe 2 The Most Merciful the Most Beneficent 3 King of the Day of the Religion 4 You are the One we worship, and You are the One follow 5 Show us the Straight Path 6 The Path which You agreed with 7 Not paths of those who raised Your anger, and not the path of those who went astray 8 Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!