Searching for Noble Time for Supplications

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

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

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

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

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

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

Among Good and Noble Times for Supplications

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

Manners While Reciting Supplications

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

             

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

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

Closer to Quran

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. They would ignore the Quran while it is recited     

2. They would not enforce principles of Quran in rulings

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

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

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

How should we began to come closer to Quran? 

I. Look at Quran

II. Read Quran

III Try understand and take heed on lessons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is in Wealth?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

continue...

Now we continue the previous post. I have to jot all of this down since I would have piles of paper on this messy desk. 

Regarding Wealth

The ustad further said, who's the real rich man? There are three kind of rich men:

1) A rich man is a man a healthy man. When we are healthy, we can eat anything we like. If we are affected by diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and others we would have to avoid many things.

2) A rich man is a man without any debt. If we have a TV, we do not owe anything to get the TV. We buy it with full payment. If we have debt with the bank say when we buy the car, we would have to pay for every month. If we do not pay the car for three months, the bank would pull the car into their garage. If we have no capacity, don't get into debt. If we want to live in peace, stay away from debt and pay the debt. This is my personal opinion, all of us creatures are in no position to be rich no matter what happen. We owe the God for this life. The noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w talked about debt where he mentioned about the war to defend the land and His light from the darkness. A person in debt must ask the person who he is in debt for his permission before joining any war (if ones are soldiers). Because debt would be counted even after death, the descents of a person in debt must help the person in debt who passed away to release him or her from torments. A person in debt has a heavy responsibility. Try to stay away from debt as it makes us poor.

3) A rich man is a person who has good manner, and high in morality. Be in modesty when we walk and do not look up the sky when we walk (be arrogant). Look down the earth. Lower the voice and do not walk with pride holding up our chest. The most ugly voice is the voice of a donkey. This is a metaphor.... 

The most ugly voice is the voice of a donkey... The Quran mentions two kind of animals' voice... They are the rooster and the donkey. Elders said that when a rooster crowing at the break of the dawn, it sees the angels. It means that the sound wakes up the people and reminds everyone for Fajr prayer service. And then the voice of human who cries in repentance because of his or her sins. People above 50 years old always have the habit of waking up late at night. They have the problem to sleep. The God makes them having this difficulty to sleep, but they are easy to wake up in the morning. It is the fitrah (nature) for us to cover our salat that we had left since whoever knows. How many of us prays when we are 13 years old for example? 

Oops, I didn't really pray when I was 13 years old until at one stage I didn't believe in You, dear the God!!! I didn't like to pray and I hate people who talked to me about salat. Most of them always talked about the hell. I don't like them because of this since I didn't do any harm to others but they are those who hurt me. At that time I was influenced a little bit by people around, I just wanted to be like other kids. I should had ignore whatever people said but just perform my responsibility. In the end You are my Judge, dear Lord. Dear the God, please forgive me if I didn't perform this responsibility properly please don't hate me :'( :'( :'(

Regarding the Voice

And then the ustad mentioned, the God loves the voice of those who recites the Quran. What voice that the God does not prefer according to the interpretation of the verse in surah Luqman? The God does not prefer the voice of the donkey. It does not mean that the donkey is a bad animal or the God 'hates' the donkey. The donkey voice is a metaphor for the voice of those who love to rant. The donkey always do anything that it is asked to do. It does not know how to bend at the road. People could put many things on its back. But while it walks, it would have the voice which sounds like ranting voice. The verse implies that the God does not prefer those who rants. A wife for example, she cooks 10 dishes a day for her family but while she cooks she would rant this and that, she is tired of marriage and etc. But she still cooks. A person who prays behind the imam. He or she still prays but he or she rants in the heart when the imam recites longer surah. They do everything, but they rant in the same time. The God listens to anything inside our heart or anything that could be heard by mortal ears. He is All-Listening and All-Knowing.

It is already late... We may continue little by little insyaallah...

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

Ciri-ciri Mencintai Rasul

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!
  

"Alang-alang dah ter-update blog lusuh ni, ada molek bagi aku teruskan sahaja. Selain tajuk blog ni pon tak sempoi dan nyampah aku tengok sebab berkaitan dengan subjek aku pernah belajarq. Aku tak berasa tringin nak cakap lagi pasai hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan kehidupan rakan-rakan sekuliah. Depa tak dak signifikan dalam idop wa, wa pon tak dak signifikan ke sapa pon.

Tak laparq aku terlibat dengan mana-mana pihak yang bermusuh atau bersengketa. Creta dia, aku malaih nak teruskan benda yang sia-sia. Lagi bek aku sediakan catatan agama bagi ke diri aku sendiri menuju ke kubuq dan selepas tu ke akhirat. Mana la nak pi tau noh, kita ni tak menungkat langit. Esok-esok tak dan nak kata apa lupppp masuk dalam tempat kotoq yang ada cacin tu mai malaikat bawak rantai sebat muka kita.

Kat sini, aku nak rakamkan pemahaman aku serta perkara yang aku dengar tentang ceramah agama yang disampaikan di Radio Malaysia Pulau Pinang atau Radio Malaysia Kedah, haha. Jadi lepas ni aku ada banyak punca untuk rujuk dan buat muhasabah diri aku sniri selain daripada mempelajari balik perkara-perkara yang aku pernah tertinggal semasa aku sekolah dulu akibat benci aku kat sekeliling. Lawaknya aku sebelum ni malu nak dengar ceramah agama, tapi dalam masa aku balik ke jalan ni pun aku ada disedarkan lagi oleh bekas teman sebilik aku masa tahun dua dulu yakni saudara Zaidi. Aku berterima kasih sangat kat dia dan minta mahap gak kat dia kalu aku ada menyusahkan dia semasa jadi rakan sebilik. Mesti dia meluat kat aku, roommate ni prangai paling terok penah dia jumpa, haha. Aku saja nak test hang jah Zaidi oii, aku bukan saja-saja jahat kat hang. Dok nampak hangpa kat bahagian Mahasiswa Islam aku nak tengok gak la gena cara. Dah test tau la hang memang bek sungguh. Orang 'kapiaq' macam kami memang selalu wat macam tu nak tengok betui ka dak sebelom nak ikot apa-apa pun. Mintak ampun banyak-banyak, aku doa hang mana-mana pun.

Semalam tak silapnya aku dengar ceramah berkenaan ciri-ciri cinta rasul s.a.w. Ceramah ni aku ingat dirakamkan di Masjid Seberang Perai Selatan. Kata Ustad yang aku tak ingat nama dia, bahawasanya Nabi bersabda "tidak sempurna iman seorang itu sehinggalah aku lebih dicintai melebihi ibu-bapanya, anak-anaknya, hartanya, serta sebagainya." Kita (ustad kata bukan aku) ada mendengar lagu yang disampaikan oleh kumpulan nasyid Hijjaz:

Rasulullah dalam mengenang mu, pahit getir, engkau taburkan pengorbanan mu untuk ummat mu yang tercinta, biar terpaksa harungi rintangan.....

Arghhh, haku tak ingat la lirik neh. Aku bukan jenis orang yang dengar nasyid pon. Besa aku dok gelak ja kat adik pompuan aku bila dia nyanyi atau dengar nasyid sebab dia macam ortho sikit. Tapi aku ingat salah gak apa aku buat tu, padan la dok keja kena karmma buruk. Itu pilihan dia, patutnya aku hormat kat minat dia bukan mengutuk. Lagipun minat orang kan macam-macam. Tak boleh lah kita nak paksa orang suruh minat benda yang sama macam kita, ada betui ka?

Kata ustaz lagi, orang jahiliah kata kat nabi macam-macam, songsang, sesat, gila, serta bermacam-macam kata nista seperti yang Allah SWT rakamkan dalam Surah Al-Qalam. Aku ingat nanti kot bleh bukak check. Ada ceramah Dr. Sepora kat Pusat Bahasa. Kesian lak kat dia kalo aku ponteng sebab dia dah susah-susah aturkan benda yang aku serta rakan sekelas tak payah bayar atau buat apa-apa melainkan dengar ja dan bagi sikit maklum balas atau keluarkan soalan kalau tak paham. Lagipun aku hormat sangat kat Dr. Sepora, aku anggap dia macam mak aku gak dan dia selalu cuba nak perbaiki mutu pengajaran. Ringkasan Surah al-Qalam tu ada sebut yang Allah sayang nabi s.a.w.

Semasa khutbah Jumaat juga ada selawat serta ayat Quran yang aku tak ingat Surah apa sebab aku tak hapai lagi surah tu mengatakan yang Allah dan para malaikat berselawat ke atas nabi s.a.w maka kita orang-orang biasa yang hina ni lagi lah kena banyak berselawat ke atas nabi s.a.w.

Selain itu kita perlukan penghayatan juga. Jika ada majlis ilmu atau ceramah keagamaan boleh lah kita dengar. Ku rasa tak mestinya pi mesjid jah, kat dalam bilik dengar radio ka tengok tv pon buleh macam aku dok perati Dr. Rokiah buat masa hari Jumaat masa consultation pukoi 10 tu. Dalam internet pon ada rakaman ceramah kalu dah maju siap boleh muat turun lagi.

Lani kalu ada ceramah bab nak ke akhirat tu jarang la kita jumpa beliawan ka beliawati mai. Aku teringat balik kat bekas teman sebilik aku dulu. Kagum gak aku dan agak terkejut sebab aku nampak ada lagi orang seusia aku yang dalam lingkungan 20-an ni yang dengar ceramah agama. Aku slalu dok ingat orang tua yang tunggu nak mati ja dengar ceramah sebelum ni pasai ramai orang dok kata lagutu. Kalu ada kursus uruskan jenazah yang diaturkan untuk golongan belia pon tak ramai la yang pi. Yang ni masuk lah aku pon. Yang hadir pun adalah golongan yang bakal jadi jenazah ja, kata ustaz tu.

Sekarang nih manusia dah jadi jahat sebab tidak ngaji ilmu agama sebaliknya lebih beratkan ilmu dunia, bak kata orang Kedah dok pulon tang tu ja la. Ilmu agama tu sekadar ada ja la, tau babi tu haram, anjing tu haram, tak leh menonggang botol arak ikutan ka apa nama. Agama diletakkan di belakang, yang diletakkan dan dijunjung di atas kepala tu wang ringgit, kawan-kawan, harta pangkat, keseronokan sementara yang berlebihan, dan lain-lain lagi. Ustad kata, Hindustan kata dil to pagal hai. Dalam surat-surat kiriman orang syariat lampau aku dok baca depa sebut benda ni berhala dalam hati buat hati jadi kotoq.

Ilmu pertama tu adalah dengar ceramah agama, dan jangan sia-siakan. Sayang nabi ni maksudnya kita sayang orang yang membawa pesanan dari Allah. Hari ni, kita pun harus sayangi tuk-tuk guru agama kita juga memberi hormat. Guru-guru agama yang 'ikhlas hati' ni adalah pewaris nabi.

Satu perkara lagi dalam cinta sayang kepada nabi ni adalah yakin. Kita harus yakin dengan sunnah nabi. Sunnah tu maksudnya cara hidup yang berasaskan contoh perbuatan nabi. Sunnah nabi tu ada terkandung dalam hadis-hadis nabawi yang diwahyukan juga oleh Malaikat Jibril a.s. Masalahnya sekarang ni, orang Islam tidak yakin lagi dengan sunnah serta tidak mengamalkannya. Setengahnya pula hanya mengambil sebahagian yang mereka boleh terima dan meninggalkan yang mereka tak boleh terima. Bila perintah disampaikan melalui rasul, kita ikut suruhan Allah Azza wa Jalla dan tinggalkan larangannya.

Ada juga ketaatan kepada perintah Allah dan larangan-Nya serta ikhlas mengikut suruhan Allah Azza wa Jalla yang disampaikan melalui rasul s.a.w. Ringkas ceritanya, Allah Azza wa Jalla berfirman bahawa tidak kami utus Rasul s.a.w kepada kamu kecuali sebagai rahmat atas alam. Bukan manusia saja bergembira, haiwan serta alam juga gembira kerana sebaik rasul s.a.w lahir sahaja, terpadam api orang majusi, bergegar segala berhala. Semuanya terasa rahmat kelahiran rasul s.a.w.

Selain itu, Allah Azza wa Jalla berfirman lagi, sesungguhnya bagi diri kamu rasul s.a.w sebagai contoh ikutan terbaik. Baginda dididik oleh Allah Azza wa Jalla sendiri. Tiada masuk mana-mana sekolah atau mana-mana universiti macam kita nih pun dia ada akhlak mulia. Akhlak dan adab sopan sungguh tip-top bukan macam orang sekarang nih yang belajar macam-macam ilmu tapi berlagak sombong bongkak lagi angkuh dok ada. Begitulah yang aku dengar adanya. Pengalaman aku masa aku sekolah dulu sampai ke lani pon sama ja la macam apa ustad kata dalam dok perhati keliling kita, moga jadi teladan buat sempadan sama kita lah hendaknya. - Tammat, 3 Rabi'uttaani 1430 H hari Isnin jam 20:40 (30th March 2009)"

This is actually imported from my previous blogs and I import it here before I wipe clean all of my previous track. Feel sick looking at them because some of them still have the configuration and links with my previous classmates during first degree time. I don't want anyone to know me or even imagine or remember my appearance anymore. Just want it to be like nothing ever happened and I am not existence.

I actually posted many things especially religious notes in non-centralized blogs last time when I was a roommate to Mijie in year 2009 but this note was with me since the previous semester I was with Zaidi. I was quite active last time in memorizing religious lectures and jotting them down when I return to my room cause I stay functioned like a primitive man and listened to them without any preparation such as when I was in the bus and had no pen or paper with me, lol.

This lecture was actually half typed in Kedah Malay and Standard one. Some people might understand or familiar, some may not because of structural difference. I was in the midst where I had problem with my classmates and some lecturers in that particular semester. They began to form groups and talking evil things about each other. I could only see Satan in it so I refuse to mix around and stay underrated. The God Will, we would try to make some English translation wherever possible on important points for others to get benefit. Lama tak tulis bahasa Melayu atau cakap bahasa Melayu betul-betul dok keja cakap Kedah and English jah, feel quite awkward and weird... haha.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Kamaa sallaita 'alaa Ibrahim wa 'alaa aali Ibrahim. Allahumma baarik 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad. Kamaa baarakta 'alaa Ibrahim wa 'ala aali Ibrahim. Fil 'aalameena innaka hameedun majeed. Our Lord, 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. Our Lord, please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family. As You had blessed our patriarch Abraham and his family. In the universe, You are the only worth praise and glory. 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...