Some Basic Kitabs for Tawheed Lessons

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I had jot down few kitabs for basic lessons regarding tawheed (monotheism) and syirk (polytheism) from Saudi authority publications other than Kitab at-Tawheed. Just for additional knowledge anyway.  Not all of Hanbalis are aggressive like in Saudi Arabia, everyone should note that. 

I just talked with a Tablighi brother whom I offer shelter in my room last night because he had already giving up his room to the office as he had finished his term but not his thesis. He was confused and couldn't differentiate a plain Hanbali and a Wahhabi who also claim themselves as Salafis. Salafi was actually a wide term, and being associated with the Hanbali school of jurisprudence.  I think many people too facing the same problem.

Later it is only associated with the Wahhabis who had bombed few historical places in Holy Land as to make it easy for them. Terms are sometimes confusing and not good for the unity. We denounce violence to humanity or any other creatures of Allah!!! Everyone must equally receive His mercy and love!

We need to always bear in mind that the Saudis are using Hanbali jurisprudence in legal term. Anything that they talk are actually in the framework of Hanbali madzhab. I personally believe that no one should claim that they are better over another and refrain from being aggressive over others without any rights. Respect all of the Four Imams equally. I can't find the hard copy of these kitab. I tried to ask few friends from an Islamic forum to help me out but the forum had already been closed.

1. Kashfusy-Syubahaat fit-Tawheed (Detection of Doubtfulness in Monotheism) - Muhammad b. Abdul Wahhab

2. Al-Usul ath-Thalathah (Three Fundamental Principles) - Muhammad b. Abdul Wahhab

3. Al-'Aqidah Wasathiyyah (Moderate Doctrine) - Ibnu Taimiyyah

4. Ad-Duruus al-Muhimmah li-'Ammah al-Ummah (the Important Lessons for the Public and Nation) - Abdul 'Azeez Abdullah b. Baaz

Salawat for prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companion. Happy celebrating weekly celebration, Friday and congratulations for those who had observed sunnah fasting yesterday. May you be blessed with His boundless blessings. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy and love.

Halaqah: Lesson from Surah al-Mujadilah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Just returned from the mosque. I feel quite relieved and thankful to Allah that I could perform most of prayer services today through congregational way and also rawatib prayer services.  Well, rawatib prayers are not as important as five main daily prayer services but just optional. I choose to perform that simply because I love Allah Azza wa Jalla.

Sometimes people would appoint me to be a leader for small congregational prayers in some places. I would feel bad if I become a prayer leader without performing full part of prayers including the optional ones because I personally believe the rightful person to be a leader must be a person who is attached to daily code regardless obligatory or optional. However, this is just my personal belief, it does not apply to others. I read something in Sultan Muhammad al-Fateh of Ottoman stories and his characteristics also influence my thoughts.

Tonight, our Arab congregation have their halaqah (learning circle) and a syeikh (elder) would explain about different lessons according to different days in a week in the gap time after maghrib service and isya' service. They talked about surah al-Mujadilah. It is the 58th surah in the glorious Quran and we may see it in parah (part) 28th.  Everyone coming across this post may open up your tafseer (exegesis) of the glorious Quran that you have in whatever language that you have. His mercy and love to His servants know no language. 

We would just simplify our note into points here so everyone could gain benefit, but it would be better to recite the verse whenever we have free time to spend around. This is what we do when we feel empty without any companion. We would meditate and recite the verses that we could remember.  

Regarding Dzihar

1. Basically the surah talks about a lady who has a dispute with her husband and her name is Khawlah binti Tsa'labah and her husband is 'Aus bin as-Samit. 

2. The God listens and saw the event and He declares it in the surah (divine letter) through the tongue of His holy prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Nowadays, we are reciting His words with our tongues. It is about the husband who had divorced his wife according to ignorance period manner by declaring that the back of his wife is as his mum. This act is called as dzihar in our Arabic. 

3. So, the God says in His holy words that the divorce took place although he never declares that he divorced his wife. If he wants to get back to his wife again, he must free a slave. If there is no slave to be freed, then he must fast for two months without stop or if he could not perform the kaffarah (sentence) fast, he must treat 60 paupers with food. 

Concerning Conspiracy 

1. The God says that He knows everything in the heavens and the earth. He knows what is being discussed by groups of people, and He is noting every words spoken from the lips of people who conspire. Whatever they speak out in their heart or aloud, the God will certainly display everything that they did in the hereafter. 

The God says that conspiring something which would be sinful acts over the other is forbidden but yet many still doing it. These people greeting the other not according to what has been taught by holy words and mocking the God to torture them from their evil acts. The God made the promise that they would surely receive the torment that they desire in the place to torture them since they love to return to the horrible place.

2. Faithful servants who talk about something in a secret counsel and in hidden place should never discuss about committing sins, enmity, and betraying the messenger of the God. They must only speak in hidden or in a secret counsel about charity, righteousness and piety to the God.     

3. The God tells us that conspiracies are from Satan because it wants the faithfuls to grief while those conspiracies can never harm no one without His permission. The faithfuls must be dependent to Allah only and not to believe that conspiracies could harm them without His permission.

Politeness in an Assembly with the Messenger

1. The faithfuls must give way for the assembly, may the God gives them huge space. When ordered to rise up, thus they must rise up for charity, righteousness and piety! The God will honor the faithfuls and granting them wisdom. 

2. Before privately consulting the messenger concerning special issue, give your donation to the paupers as it is better for you.    

3. If you can't make the donation for paupers before privately consulting the messenger and the God forgives you your sin, then obey the order of the God through the performance of prayer services, paying the zakah, and obey the holy God and His noble messenger! 

Prohibition about taking the enemy of the God and His messenger as companions

1. People who violate His order are not the companions of the faithfuls. Why God says this? Because they are lying while taking the oath. A person who violate his or her oath are the hypocrites and they are the most hideous creatures amongst His creatures.

2. Why do they become like that? They had chosen to follow the Satan who made them forgetful to remember the God.  The people who choose to follow the Satan are the Hizbussyaithan (the men of the Satan).

3. The God says there is no love between the faithfuls and the adversaries of the God even if the adversaries and the faithfuls are in a family. 

4. The God helps the faithfuls with His boundless mercy which is the faith implanted in their heart and the ruh (guidance and faithful spirit) from Him. These faithful servants are the Hizbullah (the men of the God). This hizbullah is not the political party in Lebanon! It is a generic term for the men of the God. It means that these people are those who obeys Him. They are faithful, righteous and performing charity.

Then the syeikh also talked about the stories between Moses and Khidr regarding wisdom. Since tomorrow is optional fasting day for twice holidays, we should sleep early and wake up early so that we may get the birkah (blessings) in sahur. Later we would talk about Moses and Khidr in their rihlah (journey) full of wisdom if the God permits it, insya-Allah...     

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad, wa 'ala aali Muhammad. Ka-maa sallai-ta 'ala Ibrahim, wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. Wa baarik 'ala Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Ka-maa baarak-ta 'alaa Ibrahim wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. Fi-l 'aalameena innaka hameedum-majeed. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Manners for Quran memorization process

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

With the Name of Allah (the God), the Most Merciful the Most Beneficent

I am actually a bit disappointed with my self. I suppose to follow one of my sister and parents to Saudi next semester but I had made wrong plan in the last semester. Well, at least this will happen when we do not discuss the matter with anyone. I have no one to talk too concerning my studies even my lecturers are so busy and my classmates, of course I have barriers to talk with girls since they are not my mahram. 

My sister had offered to help me with visa so that we could be together in Saudi. She wanted to move out from the place where she currently works in. She wants me to help her out with her english due to that her level of confidence in english is quite low and i also have to help her out with her final semester thesis as it is in english. She studied nursing and I have to read her books too. Since I could not see anyone cries so I would just agree to help her. She is my sister anyway, I don't want to see anyone in sadness nor failure.  

I had been thinking to get arabic certificate too so that I could possibly apply for translator job in private companies there while hoping that I could perform 'umrah in holy mecca to get better luck and getting His valuable blessings in this life and hereafter. Maybe He wants me to improve certain things more before reaching Him again. I am so sad, but yeah we would never reach Him easily as this life is full of bumps, loopholes and heaps.

I have to repeat a paper on political and decision making in Europe this coming semester and the next year I would have to cover another paper concerning the economy in Europe. Wenpei too did not pass the political and decision making paper so I am still lucky to have my classmate with me next semester. 

Economy is not my thing so I was so afraid that I would do it bad so I talked with my classmate, Sivagami. The girl said that she is also afraid since she is also from pure linguistic line. We do not have any ample knowledge about economy.  I also called our senior, sister Rezwana and she suggested me to split the paper in the beginning of this semester if I think that I would not be able to cover the whole thing because she did the same and she is working while doing master. So, basically I and Siva decided to be the only seniors that taking the paper in the fourth semester. I also hope that I would not facing too much obstacles for my research and hope it finish according to the plan. 


The other thing is that I have to take spanish again because I had forgotten to attend my german test. And german is quite tough so I think I better off with spanish. Just to fulfill my certificate requirement and I had already have some basic in spanish compared to german. Only a level more to finish, be patient friend!

I also heard a news which is not so good to be heard last two days where one of my friend from the same course but a bit senior than me had only pass minimum requirement for his thesis. I could not talk with him and I hope that he would not lose his faith in God. I understand how he feels especially when I always listen to friends in sadness if they wanted to share it with me. At least if I could not share their happiness I could listen to their sadness and they would feel a bit relieved. Beg Lord God for the obstacles being removed please! This friend also had helped me when I was in my first degree and he still helps me when I am in this level of study although he never follows me to the mosque when I persuaded him because guidance is only with Him. If I can't return his favor with favor I really feel that I am so evil. Say that indeed everything is from God, and to Him we return.

So, what should I do to cure my disappointment, ja? I think I maybe need to recapture my memorization of muqaddam (beginning of Quran) and juz 'amma suras. Next semester I still have more or less six months, I had wasted times in my life so may He permits not wasting anymore. May God forgives me but I would never have any chance to recover it back. Serves me right anyway for being an ignorant! 

Some friends had suggested me to divide my memorization according to parah or juz (section). I had already finished ek parah (one section) which consists of dvai suras (two divine letters). But to maintain them both is so hard. I maybe need a notebook special for memorization. I had already begin this custom when I was in holy mecca but once i returned home i was so busy with academic studies and distractions around. I tried to ask forgiveness but the distractions still come, my Lord. Maybe I haven't enough focus, may You forgive me. 

Later when I lived with Zaidi who was my second year roomate during my bachelor degree, I practised memorization again. I found that my life was full with energy when I practise a Muslim life according to what we call as sunnah tradition to guard memorization although my daily routine in the campus is so hectic and sometimes quite frustrating. I even could submit my assignments only a week after being issued by lecturer and she was so surprised with what I had done. She said, "I had never seen such a student like you doing this, this is crazy!!!" May God bless Zaidi, I always remember you brother no matter if you had already forgotten me. You are one of my teachers and mentors, how could I forget you? My respect, dear brother.

To begin with the manner of memorizing Quran. I need to first isolate myself from publics because it may distract me. This is for personal recitation for memorization and time with God during Saturday service during Friday evening because it is the time for personal supplications or du'a. 

Take shower with the intention to be in prayer and worshiping Him. Well, each daily prayer time especially for fajr (sunrise), dzuhr (noon), 'asr (after noon) and maghrib (sunset) prayers we need to perform the hadas akbar shower (dipping in water) and I call it as ma'mad in arabic and wudhu' (ablution) after that.  It is actually time consuming accompanied with niyyah (intention) and supplications so around half an hour or 15 minutes before prayer times we need to perform all of these if we have no duty or in free time. 

This is actually an old tradition which is also mentioned in sunnah. Usually I do not care how busy I am or no matter where I am, I would try to perform this and after that being called as an orthodox by few friends. I don't care, let them call me anything they want or how pathetic I look like when performing these. I believe what has been prescribed in Quran and Sunnah benefits us in this life and hereafter. I was just like them or even worse laughing at the sunnah adherents when I was an ignorant.   

Then I may need to have some 'oud (sandalwood), myrhh and frankincense stock in my closet, because we need to respect and celebrate holy words of God with fragrances. He is indeed Merciful and full of Love to lowly slaves and servants by revealing His holy words to us as a blessing among blessings. I had noted a ba'alawi shop in Georgetown when I followed tablighi friends. I may not buy those stuffs with friends because only for my personal use. Malay friends might mistaken me for performing polytheistic worship because last time Mijie had complained that to my friend and my friend had asked me to be careful with certain practices not in common with Malay customs. Now I am lucky because my roomate is only in the room once in a blue moon. 

Then I also need to perform memorization and recitation after obligatory prayers. To begin with memorization I may need to follow the guidelines given by elders concerning memorization. They are in the form of dzikr (remembrance of God), invocations, and supplications before beginning memorization and after finishing memorization. 

I could not type the arabic script for the supplications due to barriers and respecting holy words but only sharing the meanings of those formula for Quranic memorization. They are necessary to guard memorization and cleaning our inner selves after we purified our external self with ma'mad and wudhu' rituals.

To begin the memorization 

Recite the al-Fatihah, mother of the scripture

Recite the ayatul Kursi verse 255 surah al-Baqarah

Recite al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Naas seeking protection from God from distractions

Chant the dzikr asking forgiveness from God, "I seek forgiveness from You and I repent my sins" 10 x

Chant the salawaat to prophet Muhammad (saw), "Our Lord be in connection with Muhammad (saw), and the family of Muhammad (saw) as You had been in connection with Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family. Our Lord, please bless Muhammad (saw) and his family as You had blessed Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family." 10 x

Chant this supplication to Lord God for our personal recitation and memorization

"O Lord our God, enlight me my view with Your scripture, and clear me my chest (to receive Your lessons), and use my body (to contain Your holy words), and make the words risen from my tongue, and fasten them inside my heart and soul, and make me quickly understand Your lessons and with Your Power and Your Strength thus there is no power except the Strength of God, the Greatest!"

Then chant this supplication

O Lord our God, open to us Your Wisdoms and from  the many blessings O You who is the Merciful amongst the merciful (no one is merciful than Him).

O Lord, clear me my chest (fill it with confidence and boldness), and make me easy in accomplishing my task, and untie the knot at my tongue so that they would understand my speeches (surah Ta-Ha:25-28). 

Indeed We revealed down the remembrance (scripture), and indeed it is with Us the task to guard it! 7 x

Begin the memorization of any surah or part of Quran that we desire to the end, memorize it and chant it slowly about half an hour at any time we feel free to do.

After the process done, chant this supplication dear brothers and sisters

I testify that God the Greatest is indeed true in His message (to me). And had accomplished the task of His messenger the noble one the message. It is indeed revealed by the Lord of the Universe. Our Lord, we believe in what You had revealed and we follow the messenger and write for us (in Your holy tablet) that we are among those who testifies Your truth! And praise be only to the God, the Lord of the Universe. Amin! 

These are some invocations that I use to chant for the process of memorization. I am sorry for the language style because it is in classical arabic and I tried hard to convey the message and try to stick to the meaning without making people misunderstand the message especially when there is no gloss translation with original language. 

Other people might have different prescriptions but this is what I had received and I practised when performing pilgrimage hajj rites and after I returned. Basically not really different, almost the same. maybe some are with additional prayers or simpler. Hope everyone teach our friends and anyone we are close with these supplications and spread the knowledge of scripture to everyone. May everyone being saved from disaster during the Day of Religion. 

I hope it is beneficial for everyone including myself and I sincerely pray that my respective brothers and sisters could also being granted the ni'mah (grace) to receive the honor from God our Lord. Amin! Sealed with love and peace.