Tools for Da'awa Part III

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Another two points before I burn down the notes. Just returned from Cyberjaya after 'Isha service in Sultan Mizan mosque. Long time haven't prayed in the mosque cause helping my mother to take care my paralyzed father. Just after the prayer service, they had salat hajaat (special prayer). So, I just take the opportunity to pray to Allah to help my father, to guide everyone with His mercy and helping me with thesis. I wish to be graduated in March next year. I spend some time in Cyberjaya because the night life there is quite lively as compared to us who is nearby. Just watching people around to make sure that I am still "normal" like other human and I bought olive oil for prayer purpose.

I think that I need to return to the varsity apart of getting permission to endorse my thesis, I wanted to take a book of the Qadiri mission lineage to read it again. I met those teachers too but I do not want them to initiate me to be within the circle. Some kids trying to get some kind of conformation when they talked with me and I detest this. If we wanted to join any mission lineage, make sure we are at least acquired with Shari'a knowledge at the basis of taqlidi (follower). Find qualified teachers who memorized holy Quran in full, well-versed in Shari'a and Sunnah. Also make sure they are certified and recognized by our local states government. Those who had no problem with their life and do not have to shift madzhab then just remain in Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence. Though now, I am a Hanbali kitabs student but I still have huge respect to this imam of salaf.

Regarding tasawwuf sciences and sufi circles, there are two types of people whom being initiated into it. I do not like to talk about this but just telling brothers and sisters that I am not from Wahhabi-Salafi group though I am studying Hanbali traditional books. The first kind of person is those who finding the teachers so they are initiated into chains of circles. They will receive prayer books from teachers, some tenets and trained as da'ies according to steps if the teacher agreed to accept them. This is known as suluk. The second type of person is initiated by Allah through His mahabbah (loving-kindness) without any "visible" teacher because Allah is their Sole True Teacher and Mawla. The second type of person actually suffers a lot in his life and living like a pathetic animal but nobody realize that. I am aware about this once I went for pilgrimage to holy Mecca. Somebody told me that. When I listened about the kids talking about whatever saints among people, I do not really feel happy. Never ask for sainthood as it is nonsense! Nobody would know what would fallen upon them! Anyhow, the knowledge about Allah and his prophets could be acquired from al-Quran and Sunnah of Muhammad s.a.w. Just try to be in the middle path dear brothers and sisters labels mean nothing. You will be o.k and living a happy life with the middle path. So, we continue:

12. Comparative Religion

A da'ie need to know about the religions around him or her. Know the differences of these religion in their regions, the developments of the religion and philosophies within them. For example of world religions and philosophies in the Orient there are Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Bahai and Zoroastrianism. There were sub-sects and sub-philosophies under those religion. For celestial religions, there are Samaritanism, Judaism or Christianity. For Islam, there are three branches of lineages which are the Sunnah, the Shi'a and the Ibadhi. There are schools of jurisprudence. So, when we wanted to talk to the others we won't argue like little kids and bringing all sort of lies just to win the debates for example with Shi'a Muslims we would bring up things that we only learn from pamphlet spread out to public in the mosque or bringing up issues like muta'ah marriage or taqiyya without realizing that there are also usooli branch of Shi'a Muslim lineage who adhere to hadiths and ijtihad. Not only listening to the fatawa of their imams. This is to make sure that we are not thinking that Islam is only a group of people which happens to be our group while we committing the sin of "takfeer" to others. For this, I am talking on the basis of Amman Message spirit which was endorsed in 1425 H (2004) by Abdullah II, the ruler of Jordan after he commissioned meetings among ulamas from Islam's main schools of thought and sufi tariqas. For non-Muslim religion, I am watching and listening how Muslim brothers and sisters are talking about them. I was once among them. Don't tell anything which is not true about other religions even if we want to promote Islam or never talk anything that we do not know or never experience. We should not be speculating on things that we have no knowledge about. We should be displaying the manner and the morality of the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w. When we commit those things, we are actually displaying bad quality of moral and at certain point showing our ignorance (of spirituality) and ego selves.                

13. Knowledge about Culture and Art

I get some knowledge when I mingle with some kids. Some of the kids are influenced by popular culture such as pop music. Other kind of kids were influenced by poetry in the form which is delivered by metal music band. Some are listening the hip hop music. We can't expect the audience of da'awa are listening to nasheed, mosque goers, talking about this hadith or that Quranic verse all the time like us and always in accordance to our taste of art or wearing white robe with beard or wearing the attire like our movements' uniform that make us to mingle comfortably with them. This is an example for young people. 

For other nations perhaps the da'ie needs to know what are the socio-cultural traits of certain nations for example how the Japanese or Chinese view their culture? In some revert brothers' experience, they perhaps had talked about the significance of incense sticks in their culture. So, other dai'e who had never experienced this perhaps would need to take note on their explanations. It might be useful in dealing with other friends of different culture and ethnicity thus helping us to promote charity, peace, spreading mercy and propagating chastity. Allah never ask others to be an Arab or a Saracen when a person getting to know Islam because Islam is the nature of human-being and universe. The knowledge about others' culture and art made a person thinking calmly and he would not hastily issuing judgement over certain things. He would not been neglected in his opinion and would not be confused when question regarding these matters risen.

These points perhaps come up to the mind of some brothers who were involved in the organizations such as Mahasiswa Islam but I had to work down here with many type of people. So I am not talking the theories or simply discussing here. As what I always say that I have only thugs and thrash as my friends. No one of decent background or looking would want to be my friend. When I mingled with those "ungodly" kids, those of Mahasiswa Islam groups were just looking at me like an ungodly person with "holier than thou view" because they do not know what is my "real" life and my education before I joined the university as a graduate student. If these "da'ie" group talking about da'awa, they would just forming the group circle known as halaqah among them. Not approaching others of different levels because they are afraid to be looked down by their other friends or perhaps they looked down on those "non-religious" people. 

If we wanted to be serious, then these are some suggestions that a da'ie needs to know or perhaps being taught in all mission orders. This is from my limited observation, my humble experience and also from the highlights of some ulamas way of performing da'awa. Anything to add or to correct, this site is still opened to public. I do not know for how long I would be posting in here but only Allah is the One who decides everything according to His decree.    

Important things for a da'ie to take note. One needs to be free in his thought, free from taqlid. It means that he should know and understand well the jurisprudence so he would not be unrealistic and he could be creative in explaining the words of Allah (messages in Quran) to others and fitting them within society in a flexible yet firm way. Fluency in speech, having his own consideration accompanied with the courage to endure sufferings for the sake of Allah's pleasure. A successful da'awa is when his noble manners and morality never show any falsity.

Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa ahlihi wa sahbihi ajma'in..... Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

The Importance of Da'awa : Part IV

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Religious Awareness

Some interpreters of the Quranic verses say that, what is mentioned as al-Khayri means the goodness which refers to Islam. Islam is about nurturing the Creed and Faith on the God. It includes the Tawheed (Oneness of the Lord) and Ma’rifat (Knowing Him). These two matters lead to the fact of religious awareness where ones could differentiate between goodness and evil.

Later, the feeling to incline toward goodness in the soul grows and it makes one having the courage to uphold the goodness and opposing the evil. If religious awareness is not yet growing in the soul, then the calling for goodness and opposing evil would be of no use since to differentiate goodness from evil is the teaching of the God.  

To bring da’awa into the effect, religious awareness is very important dear brothers and sisters. A da’awa with the notions of the halal (legal) and haram (illegal) before everyone are aware about the religion or the path would be in vain like a man who divorce another man’s wife.

In the Arabic text of Surah Ali Imraan v. 104, we could also see the word ummatun which means a nation or a group of people. There must be amongst you a nation. Another one is the verb yad’ouna which means calling or launching a call. It refers to the mission or da’awa. The verse could be understood that among millions of people who are known as Muslims, there should be a nation who becomes the inner part with a specific mission to perform da’awa to others. The life, the development and the marginalization of the Path depends on the da’awa.

    

The verse which says: “And there must be some of you a group (or nation) who call toward goodness and telling others to perform charity and to prohibit vices” is explained as the field held by the nation who perform the mission to call others toward the Path are two:

• Mission among the nations who profess Islam as their Path.

• Mission toward those outside of the Muslim circle.

Inward Da’awa

During the period of Muhammad s.a.w and few years after he passed away, Muslims could still receive the da’awa right away from Muhammad s.a.w himself or receiving the da’awa from his companions after he passed away. The law and principles which was not widely known were counseled and explained by Muhammad s.a.w himself. Later when he passed away, his companions took the charge and later the charge were passed to the teachers since the disciples period, the disciples of disciples period, the early period teachers and scholars, and to the recent teachers or scholars who continued the mission among Muslims so that they are aware about their Faith and Path.   

Outward Da’awa

Besides the inward da’awa, there is also the outward da’awa. The verse refers to the da’awa toward non-Muslims and to explain to them on what is Islam. What is the fact of Islam? 

Telling others about Islam is our responsibility. It is not the responsibility of those baseless websites or preachers who call themselves as the most qualified people on the earth to tell the truth about Islam or the God while they could not bear the tests of the God and that made them turning to this and that. 

In Malay language that we use in the northern Malayan Peninsula as our state’s national language, the term referring to these people is lalang. It means a weed. When the wind blows, the lalang will also follow the direction of the wind. It has no stance and no dignity like the weed that makes it easily being blown by the wind. The Arabic specific word for the term lalang is the munafiq. When we translate it into English, it means the hypocrite. People like these should just be abandoned, ignored and neglected.

The Definition of Ma’aruf and Munkar

As what has been mentioned before, ma’aruf refers to goodness, the act of goodness. It is basically something which is widely accepted by a good society. It is the obligation on a member of da’awa mission or the nation of da’awa to form a healthy public opinion on the nations through their acts and attitude.  A mission of everyone in a congregation of a musalla or a masjid.

Now, why some Tabligh Jama’at members thought that I am one of them? Because the basis of the da’awa is all the same dear brothers and sisters no matter from what order we’re from. That is why I translate our turooq in English as mission orders. The tradition that I am following is the same tradition which is practiced by the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his predecessors.

Munkar refers to evil symptoms, evil and bad attitude of life. It is rejected by a normal and sane society. Da’awa always in co-existence with healthy society and a healthy society is the goal of human life. 

The normal human nature is to accept the goodness but rejects evil. If there is a society which rejects the noble way of life, then the society is not a healthy or a sane society. Goodness is for everyone's benefit. This is the fact of Islam. Islam is the nature of the universe.

When the amar ma'aruf nahi munkar which leads people toward charity and hinders them from evil stops, it signifies that the society is in danger and facing its disaster. Alhamdulillah, ending this part with salawat for Muhammad s.a.w : Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad, wa 'alaa aali Muhammad wa sahbihi aj'ma'in.

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

Bulleh Shah: Comforting Prayer of Love

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Hail, Lord the True Teacher!!! 

The God that you find in the jungle

Is found by birds and fishes

Only those with pure sacred heart find the True God

You have learned so much reading thousand of books...

But do you even bother to read what is inside you?

You visit and sit inside the masjid and temple...

But have you ever think of visiting your own soul?

You are busy of fighting Satan

But have you ever fought your own evil intentions and desires?

You have reached the sky but you failed to reach your own heart

You may destroy masjids, go and destroy to the earth temples...

Do as you wish, do as you please

But never destroy the human heart

For the Lord is there in

This is one of my favorite poem from a portion sung by Abidah Parveen in Punjabi. The poet name is Abdullah Shah but widely known as Bulleh Shah. His poetry are also being sung by Sikh and Hindu singers but he is a Muslim of Qadiri order. 

Some of his poems actually sounds cynical and critical toward orthodox practices of people in 17th C but that does not mean that he is not an Orthodox Muslim. Sometimes his poems are questioning certain things but it actually asking us on our intention of doing certain things whether it is simply a mere ritual which we imitate others doing or because it is due to our devotion to the God. He emphasizes the heart as the core of every practices and advocate love toward fellow creatures regardless religion and creed.

I always feel that I am not sincere to the God which makes me actually afraid of what will happen after being taken away. Baba Bulleh Shah was also accused by his colleagues because of his messages were misunderstood. Sometimes we have to think very deep and ponder on every words which would make us keep our silence and observe more. It also applies to Quran and Sunnah, right?

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

Cure for the Heart: Second Section on Ears

In the Name of Allah the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful

www.geocities.jp

Behold that there are few benefits of the creation of ears on you whether it is worldly in nature or for the hereafter, dear human!

Worldly Benefits of Ears' Examples

1. Listening to words and sounds

2. Through listening to words, human comes to comprehension

3. Human would be responsive to words

Hereafter Benefits of the Ears' Examples

1. Listening to Quran and Hadiths of prophet Muhammad s.a.w

2. Listening to any beneficial lessons which could lead everyone toward Him

Listening is more favorable than looking at something due to that the benefits of the hereafter of listening is much larger than the looking at something. Most of the benefits that the eyesight gives human are of the worldly benefits. Thus, you will find that those who are blind are more perfect compared to those who are deaf. The beginning of being grateful to the Lord on the grace of listening is through avoiding from what the Lord forbids us to listen. 

What are examples on what He forbids us to listen? 

1. Slanders

2. Gossips

3. Listening to young women voice and the same goes to women listening to young men to avoid slanders

4. Listening to pointless debates and arguments

5. Listening to musical instruments which are forbidden due to that they may cause carelessness in worship for example listening to flute and other instruments (refer to sunnah and slowly changing don't be too drastic)

6. Listening to words which consist sinful remarks and worthless because they may cause doubts in the heart

Words that we listen are like food. Some are nutritional and some are harmful for health like junk foods though they taste nice. Some words could also be antidote for diseases just like few types of spices. Words would leave marks in the heart longer than the food stays in the stomach. Food would just disappear, digested and absorbed by body system such as intestines through human daily activities like sleeping and etc. If there are some leftover undigested food, we could still get some laxatives to digest them. However, word being cast in the heart are different. Sometimes they would remain there the whole life of the listeners. If those words fallen in the heart of the listeners are evil words, they would always cause doubts, slanders, and even worse larger destruction.

So, a sane person must be very careful and protect his or her body parts before being questioned and investigated in the hereafter during the Resurrection as what has been mentioned by the Lord:   

"Indeed the listening and the eyesight and the heart will be questioned in the Resurrection!" (Surah al-Israa' verse 36)

Dear Allah my beloved Lord, please protect my body parts. They are not mine but Yours. I don't have anything here even my soul is Your belongings. Please lead me into the light but banish darkness in me and around, dear Lord. Protect brothers and sisters in faith, and forgive us our sins.Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Friday Sermon: Manner of Being a Neighbor

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

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

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

Sermon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manners of Being a Neighbor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Always trying to help neighbors in any form.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. Merciful and gentle to neighbors' children.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three Kinds of Neighbors with Their Rights

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

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

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

Diary

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

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

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

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

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

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!   

Ramadhan Mubarak 1423 H!!!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

We stop a moment on the recap about Bangkok. I would continue it when I am free may Allah permits it. I would like to wish my dearly faithful brothers and sisters in faith regardless lines, sunni or shiite, Ramadhan Mubarak. We are thankful to Allah for prolonging our life to see this blessed month again in this year, it is through His Grace and Mercy that we could reach this month.

May everyone have a blessed Ramadhan which begins with His Mercy, continued with His Forgiveness, and ends with Liberation from the torment and His salvation over every faithful servant. I just went to the mosque in USM because it is close to my hostel and we prayed only 11 raka'ats while other kind of prayers could be performed while we are alone or after we sleep for a while. 

It is quite lively at the mosque and I love to see everyone greeting each other although I know no one in the mosque no more. People coming in and out year by year. People are reciting holy verses after Taraweekh prayers, it is a relieve to hear holy verses recited by brothers. May we have good experience this Ramadhan and learn as many things as we can in order to see Him :)

Salawat for prophet Muhammad s.a.w: Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad, wa 'ala aali Muhammad, ka-maa sallaita 'ala Ibrahim wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. Allahumma baarik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad, ka-maa baarak-ta 'alaa aali Ibrahim wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. 

Allah please be in contact with our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family, as You had been in contact with our patriarch Abraham and his family. Dear Allah, please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had blessed our patriarch Abraham and his family. May we be blessed and may Allah forgives our sins this whole year, aamin!

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for dearly brothers and sisters, I equally love all of my brothers and sisters!

Pray for brethren in Somalia....

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!!!

Here is a site about the news there. I don't know what else to say when I see all of these.... We don't know how to help them or have no capability to meddle in helping them as brothers in soul, but at least please help these brethren with prayers for faith, success, and peace in their way to see Him.

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

Salat: Concentration in Prayers I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!
Notes from the lecture of Ustad Yeop Sa'idin 

All praises belongs only to Allah 'Azza wa Jalla, Lord of the Universe. Praising Allah, the King of kings... O our Lord, open up for us Your Wisdom and gather for us from the bountiful of Your blessings. O the One who is Merciful full of Blessings! 

Our title today is about tama'ninah in salat. It means that our body stays still according to the pillars of fi'lee (acts) where it consists of i'tidal (bowing) and tama'ninah. 

Tama'ninah means that we stay still in our salaat while chanting glory be to Allah. Tama'ninah in this sense means, concentration and tranquility. There is a narration about Rabi' bin Haitham while he was performing his salaat. Rabi' bin Haitham is an example of a salafi or the earliest followers of the prophet s.a.w. While he was performing his salaat, there came a thief and stealing his horse. People around who witnessed the incident cursed the thief. Rabi' said that he saw the thief and he realized that he untied the rope which ties his horse. People around asked: "then why don't you stop your salaat and chase after him????!"

This incident has shown us that salaat is among important things for these people. Rabi' bin Haitham said that his salaat and prayers is more important than his horse. He can just stop his salaat if there are urgent things coming up like nature calls but he said that his horse is not as urgent as his obedience to the God. He can stop his salaat and chase after the thief but he refused to. He wanted to concentrate on his salaat and prayers because he had made his promise in the iftitah (opening) prayer in salaat: "I turn up my face only to You who creates the heavens and earth..." thus he must not go against his promise in prayers. 

We must strive hard to concentrate in our salaat due to that He prepares us the place of torment which is the Unfortunate Hell and losing focus in prayers is a sin (surah al-Ma'un). The God knows that we are able to concentrate because if we have no capability to do that, why did He asks us to do it? Let us check surah al-Mu'minun verses 1-9. Who are the ones achieving success in the world and the hereafter? It says that indeed the ones who are successful among the faithful servants males and females are the ones who concentrate in prayers and salaat.

The first source for us to achieve concentration in salaat and prayers is that we must take a good care on our food sources. They must be halal (legal) and no doubtfulness in it. We need to be careful with something which looks physically legal but it brings doubt because doubtfulness will lead us to prohibition or haram. Sometimes prohibited stuffs could look like the legal ones. Our noble prophet peace be upon him said, many people care less about doubtful stuffs and it is not good for heart purification. How could we concentrate in salaat with doubtful stuffs that we take? Through salaat and heart purification, we will gain the success in the world and the hereafter.

We pray and supplicate to Allah for us to be given goodness in the world and the hereafter, being saved from the torment of the hell. We can concentrate in our salaat. Our Lord gives us only one heart. If we have two hearts, then it would not be wrong if we think of many things while performing salaat which leads us to lack of focus to Him.  

There was an incident of another salafi brother of the past who prayed in an orchard and he saw birds in the orchard flying here and there. He was astonished with those birds and careless in his salaat. He had forgotten that he was in salaat, so he lament himself after he realized that. He sold out his orchard for charity because he had done a great sin. These people had reached the level faith where they feel so sinful although the error is only in one salaat. 

We aren't yet at that level of faithful servants. But we still need to strive hard so that we won't be careless in our salaat and prayers. At least we could imagine the letters of the divine revelation in the salaat, since we might not all understand Arabic because it is not our mother tongue or daily language. This is a jihad or an effort on our selves. It means that we have efforts to perform something diligently to please the Lord and not being an irresponsible servant of the Lord. We are not only performing salaat according to the thirteen pillars of salaat but also with our heart and soul facing Him. 

If jihad is about to kill others with swords or bombs, then we would have to bomb or kill ourselves because we are careless in salaat, hahaha. What a crazy notion. I hope cable medias could stop this nonsense sense on jihad or at least learn Arabic. Don't show that Western civilization are of the people who are lazy in pretext of academics because many people respect Western civilization especially after the establishment of the European Union. 

The same should also goes to the States. It is among the champion of humanity where many had fled to the States due to the messy situation in the Europe in the past. No need to be a Muslim to understand Arabic. It is among ancient dialects of Semitic world like Hebrew and Aramaic.

The meaning of certain words in these languages would be broadly translated. English only began as a rough tongue of barbaric Germanic and Scandinavian tribes in British Island around the 6th C while Arabic had been around the world since BCE with ancient Arabian tribes who were the nomadic people of the Middle East descended from Shem the son of Noah.

Umar bin al-Khattab may Allah be pleased with him had also cried while performing salaat until his beard becomes wet because of his tears. Abu Bakar may Allah be pleased with him can still concentrate in salaat while the house is burned down in a fire. He could feel the burning of hell fire if he runs away without completing his salaat and turning his face away from Him while in obedience.  

Allah 'Azza wa Jalla would at least would prevent us from the torment if we have the efforts because He knows that we have the effort to concentrate although the concentration is not coming. Honorable Imam al-Ghazali had said that keeping the salaat means that performing the salaat in term of the physical acts of salaat and concentration in salaat with care. 

There are 13 physical acts of salaat. We can check it in furu'uddin or the branches of the path. For example our forehead should not being covered with our scull cap since our neck should be lower (for male), or else our salaat wouldn't be complete. Because a physical part of salaat which is prostration is not complete. There are 7 parts of prostration which are the forehead, palms, knees, and six fingers at our feet.     

to be continued...