Salam Masdusi: Activism

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Mr. Salam al-Masdusi pays attention toward the betterment of the society. He associated himself with the activities of Anjuman Islah-e-Muashira which was established by the elders of Old Palmoor locality in the year 1925. The society conducted survey of the entire locality and collected data regarding socio-economical position of the people.

He established free reading room and library for students and other educated people in his locality. He taught uneducated people in his Adult Education Center and collected valuable Islamic literature including books and magazines. For the convenience of researchers, he established the Sunni Academy at his home in 1945. Scholars and intellectuals discuss socio-religious and political matters at his house almost everyday. The gatherings were attended by elders and youngsters of the localities of various caste and religious creed. 

Mr. al-Masdusi was a simple person by nature. He does not have any pride nor seeking for fame. He just sit on the mat with other people. His residence was known as "khanegah". He sat with other Muslims in Mahboobnagar Mosque between Maghrib and 'Isha prayers to discuss various matters in the circle of discussion. He believes that everything about their locality should be discussed in the circle and the decisions from the circle should be informed to public Muslims so they could take heed and getting the information too.  

He becomes an active member of the Jami'at Ulama-e-Hind and attended all annual and important sessions held at various places in India together with his friends. He set up its branch in Mahboobnagar and actively participated in the movement. He was influenced by "Khaksar Tahreek" established by Inayatullah Khan Mashraqi and was nominated as a Deputy Leader of Idara Alia.

The establishment of Jama'at-e-Islami Hind was initiated by Abu al-A'ala Maududi and its main objectives were to establish the kingdom of the God in the Earth. For this particular purpose, Abu al-A'ala Maududi picked up Pathankot in Punjab as the center. He wanted to set up an Islamic state by the name, "Dar al-Islam" just like the Vatican City which is monitored by the Pope for the Catholics. Mr. al-Masdusi was one of the 11 members who wanted to migrate to Pathankot for this purpose. This incident happened in 1937. However, due to uncertain political situations in India and the conflicts of opinion between al-Masdudi and Maududi, he gave up the idea to migrate there and Maududi had also stopped his proposal.

Al-Masdudi devoted his life to spread Islamic literature and trying to create brotherhood spirit among the people of India. He actively joined freedom movement to expel British from Indian administration who had ruled the continent since 200 years ago. He believed that British created hatred among Muslims and Hindus through the Policy of Divide and Rule which resulted the partition of Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947. Thousands of Muslims regardless background who believes in two nations theory including his brother, Ahmed Abdullah al-Masdusi migrated to Pakistan. Salam al-Masdusi however, refused to migrate to Pakistan but remain in India and serving India as a loyal citizen.

Before leaving India, British government gave the option to the rulers of Indian princely states either to merge in the Indian Union, joining Pakistan or to be independent. The ruler of Hyderabad state decided to be independent. Indian Union definitely was against this idea and Hyderabad was forcibly merged with India through military engagement in 1948. Muslim-Hindu riots began throughout Hyderabad. Thousands of Muslim were slaughtered. Salam al-Masdusi together with Hindu friends such as O. Hanmanth Rao, K. Siddilingappa, K. Achuta Reddy Satoor Rangaya and other Muslim friends, M. A. Qayyume, Hasan Mohammed Pahalwan, Mohammed Ahmed, M. A. Ghani and Babu Abd al-Rahman toured around the entire district in order to advise both Muslims and Hindus to stay in peace and treating each others as brothers and sisters. Because of their sincere efforts, Mahboobnagar district was peaceful without any riot. During the freedom struggle, al-Masdusi was much influenced by the sacrificed made by Abul Kalan Azad and he followed him in his efforts.    

Social Work

He was active in the organization to uplift the society to the better known as Anjuman Islah-e-Mu'ashira. He drafted the constitution for the Anjuman Khuddam-e-Millat and wanted to execute the program on the land endowed by his elder brother in Mahboobnagar. Unfortunately he had no chance to execute them due to that the land was temporarily handed over to the Anjuman-e-Islamia during political unrest in Hyderabad state just before the military action.

He had discussions with prominent ulamas of India regarding Islamic matters. He concluded that Indian Muslim faced the lack of Qazat and Wilayat and religious problems and matters related to Personal Law of the Muslims can be solved amicably at each Nahia (Mandal level) by a body of at least 11 members and he succeeded in doing so in his home town by setting up such body, Majlis-e-Qidayat presided by the Imam and the preacher of the District Mosque. The decisions taken in this body were published and expanded to the public Muslims for guidance. It continues for years.

He loves to help people regardless ages, background and personality. He did not do anything for name or for fame. Otherwise, he would already be a member of Parliament, Legislative Assembly man or even a minister.

Scholarship

He tried to follow the teachings of the Quran with the help of the prophetic traditions and the prophetic history. He also tried to spread these teachings to fellow Muslims through simple charts, pictures and posters. He could just write books, but he avoided to do so for few reasons...

• Common people in India are not well educated and most of them are illiterate.
• Even those who are literate do not read books due to their engagement with busy life.
• He believes that the teachings could easily be remembered through posters just like the expression says, "A picture speaks a thousand words".   
• Publishing books need hard labor and financial means while posters and pamphlets can easily be printed, distributed and pasted around.

Sunni Academy centered at his house became a center of learning for youngsters and elders in the town. The could read magazines, books and newspapers there. He used to explain tough subjects in simple manner to public. On his death, Dr. Hasanuddin Ahmed, I. A. S. who was a famous intellectual, scholar and author in Hyderabad paid him a tribute through his article under the heading, "Unknown Muslim Scholar", published in the leading local newspaper. The scholar actually respect al-Masdusi so much and calling him as a Muslim scholar of his time.   

Freedom Struggle

Al-Masdusi though an Arab by birth and only a migrant to Hyderabad state but actually a nationalist. He get the ideas from Mohaddis Dehelwi and his followers such as Mahmud Hasan, Hussain Ahmad Madani and Abul Kalam Azad. Mahmud Hassan and Madani were sentenced to jail by British ruler due to their active involvement in nationalism activities. They were sent to jail in Andaman and Nicobar Island at a place known as Kala Pani.  

He loves to read the books, articles and weekly newspapers such as al-Hilal and al-Balagh published by Abul Kalam Azad. He thinks that this man is an ideal personality during their freedom struggle. Salam al-Masdusi was also imprisoned for a short while. The Indian Government sanctioned all freedom fighters for government pensioned after the independence. His close friend and the native of Hyderabad state, P. Hanumanth Rao was the deputy minister of Hyderabad State at that time. He later became the member of parliament. He had to force Salam al-Masdusi to accept the government pension after he refused it for many times. He is so stubborn that he said, "I have done my duty for my country, I do not want any reward nor pension!".

Philanthropist

He believes that his "Service for humanity is the service for the God". All of the resources around him was directed to help the society. Al-Masdusi avoids being close to wealthy people and he only helped the poor and those who need help with his money or time. He provided things to guests who came to his house. His house was known as Zinda Pir ki Dargah which means the Mausoleum of the Living Saint. 

He and his colleagues managed to establish a commercial complex on the endowed lands in Mahboobnagar. The foundational stone was laid by Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then President of India in September 1967. On the occasion, a large gathering was arranged in which the governor of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister, Ibrahim Ali Ansari, Minister and the president of the complex committee were there. Salam al-Masdusi was also invited to sit along with them. However, he chose to sit on the ground among the crowd to see the ceremony.  

Poetry

He started to write poems in Urdu in his early schooling days. He also had a pen-name but later he gave up poetry. He dedicated his life for selfless social services. He destroyed all of his poems and writings. The only poems and ghazals written by him that could be seen today perhaps those published in the magazines.

My father has a lot of writings too. All of them are in Malay language. They are in the form of unpublished short stories, novels and poetry. Now he is bedridden and he could only cry when he feels sick or hungry. I write many things too and I could imitate sounds (which made me a multilingual little kid). In fact I also love to draw things and used to have a vast imagination. But nowadays I think that I could only think about logical matters. I destroyed many of my notes too just like this person destroyed his poetry. What I could interpret from his action is that, maybe he came to the fact that everything which blossoms would wither and fade away in the dust. People would forget us but the God remembers us always. 

Conclusion

Many people might think that this man is an idiot when he refuse the government pension. But for me, he is a great saint of his age. He believes that the hereafter is the factual one and not the "worldly" matters. I used to feel so sad, low-self esteem and humiliated when I heard non-Arab friends talking about how barbaric we are as the Arabs that made the God sent to Arab nations a prophet known as Muhammad s.a.w and some of our people are opportunistic. Other than that, I was confused on how those people who said such a thing know how the God "thinks"? What is with over-generalization and the notion of God-sent prophet to a certain nation when those non-Arab Muslims also claiming that Islam is a universal teaching? Their over-generalization seems to imply that they do not need Islam because they already were civilized thus the notion, "mercy to the worlds" which refers to the noble prophet Muhammad s..a.w is also obsolete....    

This figure is an Arab. He is loyal to his country. His name is not even known to people but he helped many people around him without being known through selfless services... I did not know him before. I just came to know him just before I posted his simple story while browsing Indian-Arab figures in the Wikipedia, the encyclopedia which could be edited by almost anyone, haha... 

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

Takfir: Rulings

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Ibn Hajar in his work, "al-I'lām bi Qawati' al-Islam" mentions that accusing other Muslims as infidels is a major sin of the major ones which will lead one who commits it to kufr himself. This is based from the hadiths of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w who condemns this action.

"When a Muslim labeled the other as kufr, and it will return to him; Whoever says to a Muslim, 'Hey infidel or hey you the enemy of the God while the person accused is not an infidel, thus the label which he uttered to the other will return to his very self; Whoever accuse a believer, then it is equal to he kills him; Whoever says to his brother, 'O infidel, thus it will definitely makes one of them (who utter that) an infidel; Three basis of the Faith are refraining oneself from hurting those who recite the testimony of Faith; refraining from calling him as a disbeliever or an infidel and refrain from judging him as a disbeliever or an infidel with the vices committed..."  

There are many hadiths with the same significance to these compiled hadiths....

According to Ibn Hajar, takfir is an action of equating one self to kufr in any way either by derogatorily saying to him, "You are an infidel or saying O you infidel while he has the belief that the other Muslim accused by him is an infidel". Included within this action is, accusing or labeling other Muslims as the enemies of the God the Highest.

Shafi'i School View

He later quoted the opinions of clerics with regard to the rulings of takfir from the basis of hadiths and traditions. Most of all from the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, since Ibn Hajar of Ashkelon is an adherent of this school of jurisprudence just like the majority of the people in our country and also in Hadramawt region in Yemen.

Abu al-Qasim Abdul Karim bin Muhammad al-Rafi'i of Qazvīn says, "A Muslim who says about other Muslims, 'o infidel' without any ta'wil thus he becomes an infidel himself. This happens because he is also naming the Path of Islam as a blesphemy. Ta'wil in this sense is referred to the word kufr whether it is an accusation of the Kufr al-Ni'mah or the Kufr al-'Amaly. Not a reference to the Kufr al-Haqīqī which would make a certain Muslim, an apostate".

Al-Nawawi in his book, al-Raudha also has the same opinion with the previous one. This opinion is held by almost all famous clerics within the school of jurisprudence for e.g Ibn al-Rifah, Abu al-'Abbas Najm al-Din Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Makki bin Yasin al-Qamuli, al-Asnawi, al-Asfirmani, Ibn Daqiq al-'Eid and many more. 

Ibn Hajar further explains that this accusation of kufr either with or without the ta'wil is prohibited by the councils of clerics. If the person who commits it legalize this, then he becomes a disbeliever; since "everybody among the Muslims knows that hurting other Muslims especially with this despicable word as something which is ḥaram!" (Ibn Hajar in al-I'lām, pp. 339-342).

Maliki School View

Malik bin Anas was also a teacher of Abu Idris al-Shafi'i so basically they learned from each other on the practices of the people of Medina. The practices of the people of Medina are deemed with great honor and many generations of tabi'in learned from them in the matter of the "Path" and its practices.

Abu al-Walid bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Rushd (1126-1198) among the scholars from this school of jurisprudence interpreted those hadiths mentioned above and says:

"Whoever commits that (accusing other Muslims as infidel), then he becomes an infidel if he has the belief that his brother who is a Muslim, really is an infidel (not kufr al-Ni'mah)". 

The gravity of this action is that if the defendant really an apostate, then the charge of the plaintiff is true. However, if the defendant is not an apostate and is still a Muslim by heart and by practices, then the plaintiff automatically becomes an infidel. Having the belief that Faith is a blasphemy is a blasphemous thought.

Enormity of the Issue

The discussion above displays the enormity of this question of takfir within Muslim society as according to Islamic view. It is hazardous for the religion and the creed of the plaintiffs and those involved with them. The implication of this accusation is enormous. It involves several issues as it poses spill-over effects such as on the questions of the blood of the defendants, matrimonial issues, guardianship, slaughtering of the sacrifice for meat consumption and so on. 

While a person who is a Muslim by inheritance and those who testify their faith on the God the Highest through the revelation upon Muhammad s.a.w are Muslims by confidence and through the decisions of the majority of clerics involved in jurisprudence and law; where the basis comes from the traditions...

Says the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w which more or less means, "I was commanded by the God the Highest to defend the "Word of Testimony" that there is no gods but only the God the Highest and they would return to Him with the teachings that I am revealed with.. Their safety is under my safeguard and their possessions are under my guardianship except with the security keeping rights; and the judgement is submitted only to the God the Highest!" 

The majority of our clerics agreed that those whose safety and security being supervised under our administration and guardianship with the Word of Testimony as those who submit themselves to the God the Highest, the Muslims.

The question on the legalization of other Muslims' blood is not a small matter within the framework of Islamic view. It could be reviewed in the literature of Ibn Hajar in his al-Zawajir; 2:88-95) through the hadith:

"If the whole dwellers of the heavens and earth associate themselves to spill the blood of a believer, thus they would certainly be thrown into the Hell! Killing a believer is heavier within the view of the God the Highest as compared to the destruction of the world; Whoever involves himself in the spilling of the blood of a Muslim although it is only with their speech, and in between his two eyes being stamped with "driven out from the mercy of the God the Highest!"

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

Logic Studies

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

This is actually a subject when I studied Sharia around 2005 just after I returned from the Holy Mecca. It is a philosophical branch of study. Logic actually has two meanings. The first one describes the use of valid reasoning in some activity. The second one refers to normative study of reasoning or a branch thereof. In the latter sense, it features most prominently in the subjects such as philosophy, mathematics and computer science. Basically I do not care about whatever people talk about science or technology. Because I know that they were all exist only in temporary "time" and "space". 

Logic was studied in several ancient civilizations such as India, Persia, Greece and China. In the West, logic was established as a formal discipline by Aristotle, who gave it a fundamental place in philosophy. The study of logic was part of classical trivium which also included grammar and rhetoric. In our medieval era, logic was extended further by al-Farabi who categorized it into two separate groups which were the idea and proof. Later on, Avicenna revived the study of logic and developed relationship between temporalis and the implication. In the East, logic was developed by Buddhists and Jains of ancient India. I am familiar with Buddhist thought since the region where I live right now was a Buddhist region. Buddhism concerns about psychology so you could see most of my posts dealing with psychology issues...

Beginner

Mind

Definitions of Mind

The Concept of Mind

The Uniqueness of Mind

Characteristics of Mind

The Role of Mind

Facts of Mind

The Limit of Mind

I am basically posting some basics of our logical studies here. We begin with mind and the faculties of intellect within human self. This would later be developed into 'Irfan (Gnosis). Our source for the studies of Gnosticism basically came from Abu Hamid al-Ghazali literary works and he was from the school of Shafi'ie jurisprudence and from the Book of Aphorisms by Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abd al-Karim bin 'Ataullah Iskandari. Gnosticism is not to be studied by laymen and laymen are strongly discouraged from engaging themselves in this study. Study and practice the basic traditional creeds and pillars of the religion first!

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

Issue of Nations

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

There are many issues of nations in which I am referring it to Muslim societies today. Muslims are not only of Arab ethnicity. There are Muslim of other nations too. The issues that exist in the society really concern me and I feel sad when seeing people waging war elsewhere for stupid things such as sectarian issue and it also dragged public who are innocent into the conflicts. People would rather take out their weapon and showing off the might rather than sitting and discussing matters. People would rather delivering speeches in the pulpit full with suspicion and hatred or engage in violent debates rather talking with humility before the God the Highest.

Hadiths on 73 Factions

Seventy Three Divisions
Reason of Fractions
Rashid Ridha on Fractions
Fractions due to Branch Matters
Analyzing the Fractions
Opinion on Fractions

Takfir in Muslim Society

Takfir
Historical Observation
Takfir: Personal Experience and Reviews
Takfir: Consensus of Sunnah Clerics
Takfir: Summary of al-Tahawi Creed
Defining Kufr: Ibn Katir
Takfir: Interpretations of Kufr
Takfir: Rulings

Mid East Politics

Arab Spring

Arab Spring: Global Implications Part 1
Arab Spring: Global Implications Part 2
Arab Spring: Global Implications Part 3

For this reason, I am trying to compile things for sharing in the hope that everyone could reconcile and returning to the kalimat al-sawaa', the word which is common to everyone. Just a very little humble devotion for the God the Highest which is nothing to be compared to the contributions of noble prophets, sages and scholars of the era. I cannot do much because of limitation as a weak creature of the God the Highest but I am trying to achieve His pleasure as much as I can through social works though I receive no help, assistance nor support. I have no wish for all of that but only dependent to the God the Highest with the spirit of patriarch Abraham a.s as a motivation when he asked the angel who was about to save him from the large pyre to return to the God the Highest because he refused to accept any assistance without the permission of the God the Highest. 

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad... Peace and love dear noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and dear tyrannized ancestors may we will be raised in the Resurrection together with all of you that we love, insha Allah...

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

Determined

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I was actually thinking of starting again. But I would only apply for a temporary job as a steward or perhaps as cleaner in a hotel in Putrajaya. So I do not have to go out from this area for a moment and could also check on my father. Ok, I am telling my exact location. I live in Putrajaya Federal state and my parents bought a house here because of few reasons. First, my mother was tired of moving in and out. Second, my sisters do not want to return to our state in Kedah. They work here. I agreed to follow my father returning home last time but we have to be in accordance with the majority. So, here we are. 

In the same time where my maternal grandfather passed away at our house around 2007, my father was attacked with hypertension and there is a blood clot in his head. We did not notice it until May 2012 where he was hospitalized after a low-risk falling at our cousin's house in Selayang. He worked with the former Minister of Natural Resources, Dato' Azmi Khalid as his press secretary. My father had served two federal ministers and Kedah state chief minister as their press secretary. The period he served those politicians was around 1998 up to 2007. The other two ministers and politicians were Dato' Osman Aroff and Dato' Abdul Hamid Zainal 'Abiddin. The previous was the Chief Minister of Kedah state and the latter was Religious Affair Minister in the Prime Minister's Department office. To tell brothers and sisters the truth. We did not live luxurious life nor taking advantage from the position that we have like other people. Our life were miserable ones and we have to survive just like other migrants but only with the status son of the soil as our ancestors were interwoven into Malayan state system since before British arrival. I never tell anyone about my father job except that I told them my father was a reporter. That was his previous job. Some editors in the Berita Harian of the News Straits Times Press (NSTP) are his colleagues and he was their senior. I did not really like my father job as a press secretary for politicians. The job is stressful and I could see that from his face. I understood that he only went there for career advancement but no one told him about how to let go if we are going to sink down the stream.     

The secretary of ministers are of contract basis. They are not permanent government staffs. They can apply for government quarters but they have no government pension nor other benefits like covered hospital admission and stuffs. My father bought the house in the state after the agreement with my mother and they sold a property in Hulu Langat in Selangor state. My secondary schooling time partly was in Selangor state. I was always alone never close to my sisters. I did not make any long term friendship with people around because I am afraid that I would have to shift place again. The only long term friend which still survive in my contact are Amir and Azren which were my colleagues in the Universiti Sains Malaysia. The other is Aliff from the school of humanity majoring in Geography studies. I visited him after his father passed away and handing my personal donations just to ease his family sadness. I wanted to visit him frequently but right now I have to survive too. Once I could grip my survival, then I would perhaps pay him and his mother a visit. But they are just my contacts. Never my close friends. That is why I keep repeating my closest friend is the God the Highest and noble prophets of the God. They are my friends and I talk with them through prayers and salawat and salaam.

Urmm, these three weeks I am in abstinence and penitence period. I fast for Monday and Thursday again. I ignored doctor's advice on me about nutritional balance. I eat only twice a day just to survive. One is during the predawn breakfast and one is during the iftaar breaking of the fast during the dusk hour. I am performing these simply for the God the Highest. It is counted as a sacrifice on my behalf and I wish the meritorious deeds being imparted to my ancestors too. It also includes my parents. 

I refuse to speak with people around but only using signals just like prophet Zachariah a.s and the blessed lady Maryam the mother of Jesus the Christ (Surah Maryam v. 10 & 29). I just keep my silence when some brothers in musalla or masjid talked to me but giving the signals by closing my eyes that I wanted to stay in litanies after answering their greeting which is the salaam. I do not care if they wanted to say to me things like, "budak ini tak reti berdunia kah?", "banyak sombong ini orang!" or saying, "hablumminannaas hablumminallah...". I do not care... I am still in communion with communal services but I am just secluding myself from the crowd. I feel exhausted and I do not know what can I say in the conversation anymore. As I said earlier. This period seems like resembling the period of  prophet Jesus a.s where the generation with venomous tongue is rampant. People seems like religious talking religion here and there or justifying their vices or ego through religious sounding statements but in the same time they are also hypocrites having no fear to the God when uttering slanders or hurting the "heart" of other souls created by the God the Highest. I even doubt myself and I am afraid of myself too.

I am thinking of saving some money to get myself a motorbike driving license. I have car driving license but I have had no time to finish the motorcycle's. Once I have got the license perhaps I would get a motorbike to find other secured jobs. This happens because my mother was so afraid that I would join those rempit racers and afraid that I would end up die on the road. Anyway, the God the Highest can take our soul anywhere and at anytime. I think they were too paranoid. It is now making my life difficult too. I would never borrow anyone possession and it also includes motorbikes or car. Who is going to be responsible if I scratch their car or involved in road accidents with their possession??  

In the meantime, I would have to plan everything such as my worship time and Quran memorization. It is more to make them into a habit but I also have to catch up with the syllabus while not studying like normal students in Mecca or Medina. They would use their certificate to be religious officers such as tithe collectors, paid preachers, imams, teachers, and others. But I simply study these because of my responsibility to know Him. I am not sure whether I am eligible for the tithe or zakaat because al-Umm in the Kitab al-Zakah mentions that the Hashemites can get help through khums which is the 2.5 tax taken from the other Hashemites. But the problem is most of my father closest relatives are also poor. So, I end up studying them on my own without any institutional help. Only based from my previous existing knowledge from teachers and memorizing them including checking everything in detail by asking here and there. And then implementing them as a habit.

I also fast yesterday in the 9th day of Dhulhijja 1434. For brothers and sisters who fast yesterday. Congratulations...! May you receive His pleasure and boundless love. Those in the holy land are not encouraged to fast because they should have more energy to perform other acts of worship. I avoid from beef and now it is also extended to chicken. I do not know... They smell weird or maybe it is just my own poseur sense, hahaha. I just eat plain rice with salt or soy sauce in a minimized amount. It is safer and I am also avoiding from taking others rights at home. I am not working right now. It would be disrespectful to eat stuffs from women's salary. It would make me a coward and against our dignity. Dignity is above money and cannot be sold with gold. I would rather die and being killed than losing my dignity. It is about faith and valor.

Through His will I would be a cleaner or a steward washing dishes in the hotel. As long as it is legal and as long as I am not stealing whatever is not given to me. It is a quest for His pleasure. While having no possession to sacrifice, I can only offer my body as the sacrifice to the Highest. And wishing that sincerity for His pleasure and love ingrained in the heart, reaches Him.

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

Seventy Three Divisions

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Pic by Abby Rowe

Let me just right away explain the meaning behind the topic today. It refers to the hadith reported by Muawiyya bin Abi Sufyan r.a. Well, before I could further this topic, I would like to admit... I am not a very fan of Muawiyya r.a because due to some disputes that had caused civil wars involving our ancestors but I am not a fanatic so people could see I am displaying his hadith report and narration here without any cursing because according to my understanding. I am not fit to curse anyone except the God the Highest and I have no enmity with Muawiyya r.a may the God the Highest be merciful to him.

This topic is in relation to current issues too like what happened in Syria and Pakistan where I could see that people are using the "religion" and labels on others to justify their judgement on others and to simply be bunch of fanatics besides promoting their movements to others in a devious wicked manner. Are the judgements and tantrums the da'awa according to the authentic manner proposed through the glorious Quran? Are they simply provocations for fun or the projection of our takabbur characteristics that we are the "chosen" people as we would be tormented in the hell-fire for few moments before being put into the paradise while inside we are rotten of evil self? Who were these "chosen" people?  

It means: "Behold that the messenger of the God had once stand in front of the public and said... 'Indeed from the people of the scriptures before you, they would be 72 fractions and my nations would split into 73 groups. The 72 would be cast into the Fire but the ones which would be put into the paradise are the jama'a". - Abi Dawud

This hadith is used by some self-proclaimed "Sunnah" Muslims to put the stamp of kafr or infidelity on the forehead of other side who are the Shi'a Muslims or perhaps Sufi Muslims because I know some Usooli Shi'a Muslims also detest "Sufi" Muslims just like other groups. But if we look closely to the hadith, the fractions are not further explained. What are those 72 groups? What are those 73 groups? Are they specifically the Catholics, the Coptic Orthodox, the Oriental Syrian Orthodox in the part of the people of scriptures? Are they the Shi'a Muslims in part of the nations of Muhammad? 

So, does this mean that only those Muslims who claim their selves with designation of Ahl Sunna wal Jama'a and confidently claiming the paradise for their selves would be saved from the Hell-Fire? Are they sure that their faith would be secured during the "death-bed" by the Highest Authority who controls the Guidance and Mercy of Faith?  Please refer to the narration about our Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal rahimahullah during his death-bed. What he told his son? I always remember this narration and details about Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal....

The hadith then has an addition in other narration...

"And indeed "they" would go out to the nations of my era a group of people who would be accompanied by the carnality like the dog that follows its master. Nothing left in his veins and his parts of body except being impregnated by it". 

This hadith is full of pragmatism. This was what we learned in translation and interpretation theories during undergraduate studies. And we also learned about the translations and interpretations to suit ones' ideology or the ideology of those who are involved in the interpretation and translation. The explanation of the addition of this hadith where it says that the dog would follow its master and then bites him. I wonder whether those who spread out this hadith to say that their movements or groups are right even know about the addition of the hadith by this companion of Muhammad s.a.w which is Muawiyya r.a? Or they know about it but hiding it from the ignorant public?

Let us see another hadith narrated by Abdullah bin 'Amr al-'As r.a which means:

"Indeed, my nations would be like the Children of Israel where the "clogs' trail" would follow the "clogs' trail". The Children of Israel were torn apart into 72 religions while the paths of my era would be torn apart into 73 paths. All of them would be cast into the hell-fire except a path. Thus, they asked: 'Who are those in the "path" dear Muhammad s.a.w?" He said: 'Those who follows me and my companions'".  

From these hadiths what could we see? We could see that in a religion, there would also be various modes of thought. This is known as al-ra'yi in Arabic. Imam Malik bin Anas r.a who is also a companion had once said: "Muhammad s.a.w has passed away and the matters had been perfected and completed. So, the one that we should follow is the trail he had left and never the opinions of others. If you follow the opinions, then there would be other opinions which are stronger than the current and you would later follow the opinions... so on and so on. In my view, it would be a never ending course".

What Imam Malik r.a means here is that, the opinions pertaining religious affairs, about the creed, the worship and jurisprudence whether it is halal or haram. It is not about the worldly affairs or states' interest, politics or the execution of states' administration. We should not follow people's opinions but only those stated in the primary sources of the path. I could see people quarreling with each other related to the "sunnah" for example in salat services. Whether to clasp our hands or to just leave it at our side like the Shi'a Muslims during the standing straight act of salat. When I see or hear this, I just feel tired and I do not think that my words would help to cure their fanaticism in their jurisprudence schools because they are not learning and never bother to learn. The act of clasping the hands is known as qabd... and laying the hands besides is known as the sadl. According to the Shafi'ie jurisprudence, it is not wrong to stand with sadl but no swaying is allowed. The act of qabd is the sunnah with the status of hai-aat. For some schools including the Maliki school, sadl or laying the hand is sunnah. How I know these? I refer to jurisprudence kitabs and asking teachers for evidences. Our people some of them were also praying like that but they are the Shafi'ies.

For worldly affairs, the Maliki school for example has the teaching of public benefits which is related to the aim of prophet Muhammad s.a.w being appointed as a messenger of the God the Highest. So, according to al-Shatibi who wrote in the al-I'tisaam chapter 9th, the "scholarly" decision maker of the path who use his personal efforts in the problems of decision-making are not involved in the view of Imam Malik bin Anas r.a. If they are involved in this matter, then the religion would be so narrow. While according to the difference of period, there are many rising issues which needs to be solved through decision-making of the divine law practitioners though they were not there in the era of Muhammad s.a.w in Mecca nor Medina. The questions of decision-making which exist in the era after the prophet s.a.w passed away are the questions which have no evidence for them. None of the previous ulamas especially the salaf ever discussed the issue.         

I would continue my reflection in other posts if there are opportunities may the God the Highest makes it true. I am not supporting any groups here. I am talking as an "ordinary" follower of Muhammad s.a.w path who was deflected from the path due to environment and lack of support from "fellow" Muslims our selves but I returned due to His Mercy-Compassionate. 

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

魔鬼怎樣制伏我們身體部分的呢?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

有些真回老師說魔鬼把我們的部分制伏通過十個門道 :

1. 小氣 - bakhil

2. 驕傲 - takabbur

3. 奸詐 - khanah

4. 醋意和惡意 - hasad

5. 說謊 - kazzab

6. 不聽知識和勸告 - ego

7. 低估人家 - 'ujub

8. 以自己光榮 - riyaa' 

9. 懷疑 - ishtibaah

10. 做徒勞夢的性質 - khayal

讚美真主, 阿敏!!!!

Lecture : What Happens in the Mahshar?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Introduction

This topic is related to the fifth article of faith which is the faith in the Resurrection. The word al-Qiyamah of Arabic means Resurrection. It was mentioned by prophet Muhammad s.a.w during his discourse with an unknown man who was actually Archangel Gabriel a.s when the prophet sitting together with his companion in the masjid. I had a goosebumps when reading this hadith and suddenly I felt like something wrong in my heart that slowly turns me to be this Abdullah. What does Mahshar means? It means the place where all of the people will be together before the Judgement by the Holy Lord. It is the time for Justice. 

Description of Mahshar according to Sunnah

To describe the Mahshar, everything will be gathered in a place. Human, animal, genies and other creatures are all gathered together in the huge place. They will all be judged because of their deeds during their life before the universe being destroyed by His Will for the Judgement to come. Tirmidzi, Muslim, and Imam Ahmad mentioned that every cruelty of creatures will be judged. Animals or creatures crawling on the earth, flying above the sky, swimming in the sea and river will be judged just like you humans! In the Guarded Tablet, nothing will be left behind. Everything has been discreetly created and everything will also be assembled in the Mahshar and nobody could ever escape.

Hadith about animals will also being judged by the Lord, says Muhammad s.a.w: "An animal which has been tyrannized by its species will be compensated." Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Muhammad s.a.w says: "The rights of those who were tyrannized will be returned after the Resurrection. A goat with its broken horn caused by other goat will receive its compensation during the Resurrection and it will receive Justice." Although animals have no merits nor sins but they will still receive the Justice of the Lord in the hereafter and during the Resurrection.     

As human-being, we should also think zillion of times before we tyrannize others by hijacking others' rights or when thinking to commit evil deeds. The Lord orders everyone to make sure that a trust to be exercised on others who supposedly to receive it. For e.g, if we are a department manager in an organization, we should honestly protecting and monitoring our subordinates. The Lord will judge and ask us again during the Judgement after the Resurrection since He is the Fairest and the Most Just. Everybody will be brought together to the Mahshar and will be investigated on the deeds. Everything including our body parts will be talking to tell the truth and our voice will be muted. Deeds will be discreetly measured and calculated. There will be the Book of Deeds which is our personal file handed to us. Our deeds since little to our death bed are all recorded in the Book of Deeds.

The Glorious Quran mentions about Shahaadatul Jawareh which means that body parts will be witnesses to our own deeds. We have the faith in it since it is mentioned by the God in Surah al-Ghaashiyah verse 25 and 26.

Indeed, to Us they will be returned 25 Then it depends to Us on how to calculate their deeds (to judge them) 26

All of fussy things in our daily life are indeed being recorded by His servants as evidence during the Resurrection. We may look at them as fussy, but the Lord view them as crucial and important. Luqman al-Hakim who is a member of wisdom had advised his son: "Dear son, even though the things that you're doing is in the measurement of a mustard seed (if it is the smallest measurement that we have or even smallest), either good or evil, obedience or vices, in the cave, in the heavens or in the earth, remember always that your Lord will hand to you those deeds readily calculated. The God is very very discreet in His calculation and the Most Wise over everything." This is how a dad reminds his son or child for him not to look at his daily deeds as a fussy thing but being very sensitive and paying attention to it. 

In Surah al-Hijir verse 92-93, the God began the verse from verse 92 with the "swear" word. Says the God: "For your Lord will ask (investigate) you everything and one by one (after the Resurrection) 92 On what they had done (during their lifetime) 93" 

The Lord will ask from where does those grace came from?! How did you benefit and use those grace???! Where did you use those benefits???! The ustad mentions also about the evil traits in one self such as showing off, arrogance, feeling one self as so great over others will spoil every good deeds performed. 

The ustad ends this lecture with these words of wisdom: "All of human-being will perish but save the 'ailom (scholars). All of the 'ailom will perish but save those who are practicing with their scholarship. Those who are practicing will also perish but save those who are sincere! 

Adapted from lecture source : Ustad Sheikh Fadzil Hajji Awang

May I myself benefit from this and quickly repent to Allah A.W.J, inshaAllah. Sealed with prayers of mercy, peace, and love, amin!    

Happy New Year 1433 H

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Despite of feeling anxious because of the thesis and classes right now, I am still trying to approach the God our Lord and dearly Friend. I wish that the God listens to my prayers and releases me from this worldly torments which trying to harm my heart. Muharram is the month where we are forbidden to act with unlawful acts such as waging war or quarrelling. Usually in Muharram I would try to fast as many days as I can but this is not obligatory! 

Last time when I talked with brother Eidan, we also share some traditions among us. Brother Eidan is not a Muslim anymore and he is a Jew of Hadrami Arab descent of Johore state as he had chosen to follow his mum's religion. I am so sad because last time I could talk with him about my anxiety and asking him to pray for me though we are of different Shariah (Way) since I also have the faith in the prophethood of Moses (as) the prophet. Now we had lost the contact. I always feel him like a mirror to myself. He also feels the same when we talked to each other. We share similarities in term that we do not have many friends, we are of the same paternal ancestry, we share some points of traditions inherited from ancestors and prophets, and most of all I could not mingle well with people around because of some differences due to past experience that always made me feel down and low-estimating myself just like him while he was the citizen of this country. 

Now, brother Eidan is not in the line anymore because he has to serve his country and I am actually very angry with his country because forcing my friend and a brother to serve the country at a young age and too bad that I could not hang out with him when he was in this country. I actually feel that nobody could accept myself too just like his experience but I am not a Jew but a Muslim who share the same faith and scripture with other nations here. I always think again whether my sins are actually harming me? I was taught not to blame anyone but only myself if anything wrong happened to me. I tried to ask forgiveness from the God and always questioning my faith to Him when I am in tribulations like now. 

Each time we meet new friends and people, but each time we also will go our separate ways when the time reaches us. My seniors had also departed from me. My colleagues had also departed from me. I had already lost contact with Amir whom was my close friend and classmate. He is also my long-lasting friend but I think he is struggling with the changing phase of his happy life (teenage way of thinking) to the new one (adulthood). I had already undergo this experience and will still struggle until He takes me away from this 'beautiful' world into His Mercy, may He be Merciful to my soul and brothers and sisters. 

I am just taking this opportunity to wish brothers and sisters Happy New Year 1433 H which will fall on this Saturday. I know some would say that this is a bida'ah (invention) but worshiping Allah together in a congregational prayer services in the masjid for everyday is not a bida'ah right? Remind everyone about valid sunnah but don't hurt people feeling by just stating this and that as bida'ah (invention). Provide evidences or else we are also considered as committing bida'ah to call other brothers and sisters with names. Dividing brothers and sisters by calling names is bida'ah and haram where we had already declared our testimony of faith to Allah (the God) and His messenger and servant, Muhammad (saw). Talk with everyone with love and mercy. Our Lord, the God is all-Merciful and full of Loving-Kindness. 

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

Beautiful South Thai

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

If those who were born and maintain relation with the state in northern Malaysian Peninsula like Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Northern Perak, they would also find it hard to resist from the influence which coming from neighboring states in neighboring country which is Thailand...

This song was actually produced during the Southern Thai insurgency in Pattani and Yalar provinces during the administration of Mr. Thaksin Shinawat. I have nothing against Mr. Shinawat nor any leader in Thailand. Even we Muslim outside of Thailand border actually respect Thai emperor, Mahagasatr Bhumibal just like we respect the Sultan who lead our state and we would kick those who insult him or his consort. This song was sung by Southern Thai artists whom are Luang Gai and Jiep Benjabarn. Luang Gai is a Muslim while Benjabarn is a Buddhist.

When I stayed in late grandparents' house during weekend off, I just tuned to Thai radio station and sleep beside radio because I felt bored being there alone while grandparents doing their chores around or taking a nap in the noon. I didn't really pray like a Muslim when I was 13 years old and I would hide myself during prayer times while we were in the madarasah, hahahaa. 

This song actually encourages Southern Thais to maintain unity and co-exist in peace since we are brothers and sisters. Our state was once almost being integrated into a Thai province in Southern Thai too while one of our territory which is Satun (Setul) had already being an integrated part of Southern Thai province. These singers are using Southern Thai dialect, it's not Central Thai dialect used in Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand. We share great deals of similarity with them outside the border there, hahaha. When we went to Thailand whether in Dannok or Bangkok, we would speak using Southern Thai dialect unless if the people speak to us in Malay.

I remember during lexicography project during first degree, I used this song as a project and the lecturer for this course, Dr. Aniswal is also a Kedah person but she had been living in London for many years so her Malay or Kedahan Malay sound quite different in accent even when she tried to speak in Malay. Well, I understand her situation and she's a nice person who does not boast around even when she lived there in Britain because we love our state no matter where we are. I used to use Thai model for our interpreting project where most of colleagues using well-known languages such as Swedish, French, Arabic, and other Caucasoid languages but we only use a modest language which is Thai and we didn't record it in video but simply talking whatever we had in our mind, lol. It was so hilarious when I played a character as a Tuk Moh Siam (Thai shaman) speaking to a Malay patient (Birshahman) with Amir as my interpreter. I don't know whether lecturer was laughing because I felt quite ashamed speaking in Southern Thai dialect in front of people who didn't speak the language. Whatever it is, we passed the course so it can flow down the stream, hahahahaa.... 

I heard that there are Dai people in Southern China... I guess in Jinghung city or Sipsongbanna of Yunnan province. They speak the language resembles Thai and Lao. Cultural traits are almost the same too with Theravada Buddhism and support of Gathin offerings by the emperor of Thailand. I used to listen to some videos where those people conversing in their language and I could more or less understand them, haha.

It's rainy season now and I don't know what happened to those in Bangkok. I also wish that Southern Thai do not being hit by flood because it will sure affect our states up here. If we have more sustenance with us, we may also help those in Thailand and Cambodia with some donation.   

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