Sharing the cake of wealth fairly...

******************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Reflection ************************ The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. ************************ MORE than 10 years ago I wrote an article which was published in Harakah (Malay section) about how animals and plants had sacrificed their lives just to fullfil tummies of men. *********************** For example in the 'nasi lemak' (rice cook with coconut milk) which some of us take almost every morning, there might be a heap of fried 'ikan bilis' (anchovies). *************************** Imagine tens of anchovies 'having willingly surrendered to die' in the name of Allah the Greatest (SWT) just to be chewed and swallowed into our stomachs; but had we done our part in saying 'thank you' to The Creator of those 'ikan bilis' and even we ourselves? Have we say 'Alhamdulillah' (Praise be upon Allah SWT) and lived accordingly to His commands! ****************************** Recently I met an old friend who surprisingly recounted the article and said that it had some impact on his life. Yes, if living things such as fish, fowls, cattles and vegetables 'surrendered to die and be on our plates' in the name of Allah SWT just to satisfy human beings' needs, why must we reluctant to lead lives according to His wish? Allah SWT has prepared and readied everything for us, but why must we reluctant to bow to Him? Why must we be arrogant to Him? ***************************** A few days ago in a weekly 'tazkirah' (Islamic lesson) at a masjid near my house, the 'ustaz' (religious teacher) who was having a discussion of 'hadiths' (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.) on food asked congregators to have some thought about the usual dish laid on our table. **************************** "The fish is from the South China Sea; perhaps the meat is from New Zealand; the vegetables is from Cameron Highlands; the salted egg from Ipoh, the rice from Thailand. Now, by only looking at the various food from various places on the table, one who is a thinking person would have his knees on the ground, thanking Allah SWT for all the good deeds He had bestowed upon us. ***************************** "Imagine if we were to ready those food ourselves; for fish we have to go to the sea, for meat we have to rear cows and for rice we have to toil ourselves in the fields. And what about the ingredients, utensils and fuel used; if we were to prepare our meal 'on our own', then it would take us a very long period and the costs beyond our reach. Think, if not for Allah's compassion and mercy upon us, then we would be in trouble. So why be arrogant against Him?" ************************** The ustaz said, one is recommended to eat along with others, either as a guest, family member, son or daughter or servant. This is based on this hadith: “Eat your food together, for you will thereby be blessed in it.” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmithi who said it is Sahih) ************************** Regarding sharing a meal from a 'dulang' or 'talam' (dish) example during a 'kenduri' (feast), the 'ustaz' said Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. recommended us to be fair in having our share on the food laid upon. In a hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, "Do not take two pieces at a time without your companion's consent." (Bukhari) *********************** From this hadith, we should be aware that Islam puts great emphasis on being fair in distributing and receiving the cake of wealth. If while taking food in a group; each member has to follow the fine etique of Islam such as "do not take two pieces at a time" which means to be fair in having our share of the food, then what could be said about the larger aspects of sharing in life such as acquisition of money from allocations and funds. This means we have to be fair in sharing or distributing the cake of wealth. ******************************* Talking about this subject; last Monday (13th May), Mohd Shamsir Mohd, 44, a commitee member of PAS task force (UPU) of Bukit Katil, Melaka, called on me to talk about how PAS is to manage its operations to service the people of Bukit Baru (a state constituency in Bukit Katil) after Dr Khalid Kassim became its new representative. Yes, how could the people have their share of the cake of wealth of the nation even though their 'wakil rakyat' is no more from Umno-Barisan Nasional. *************************** This is the first time PAS has a 'YB' in the Melaka State Assembly; thus Mohd Shamsir on behalf of the task force put on some ideas and suggestions on paper how to bond the people of Bukit Baru and Bukit Katil to PAS. He felt than Dr Khalid would not be given allocations to finance small projects in his constituency thus fresh ideas were needed fast to overcome this. **************************** He said PAS Bukit Katil had already establised a 'Pusat Aduan Rakyat' (People's Complaint Centre) and for the beginning they would help to bring the people's woes to the right authorities and agencies. ************************ Shamsir said, every 'rakyat' had their share on 'the cake of wealth' thus he and his team wowed to push for their needs regardless of their political inclination. "If they meet the requirements, then they have the right to have their share, we must be fair to all," he said. ***************************** Shamsir said his team would call a meeting with members of the 'Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung' (Village Development and Security Committee, JKKK) and commitee members of masjids in the area so that they would produce ideas on how to service the people, including in matters regarding the distribution of allocations and subsidies. *************************** "We hope to have their support; let us leave aside our 'political inclination' but forge a sincere cooperation to help the people," he said. ********************** The energetic Shamsir said PAS had to win the hearts of the people; thus he had formed a youth team to render their assistance and help free of charge at functions and happenings in kampungs in Bukit Baru such as during weddings, religious festivals and funerals. ************************** He too acknowledged that women's group have big influece on kampungs' folks, thus he tried to get the PAS Muslimah to follow the footsteps of the youth team. *********************** Shamsir was confident PAS Bukit Katil would make inroads in a short period of time, 'insya-Allah' (God willing). "For example, recently 31 youth and women in the area had submitted their forms to be members of PAS to Dr Khalid who is also a committee member of PAS Bukit Katil. **************************** He said these new members led by Mohd Taufek Abdul Rahman, 35, pledged support to Dr Khalid and PAS in a 'majlis kesyukuran' (thanksgiving function) for winning the Bukit Baru seat at Surau Haji Ibrahim Hitam in Bukit Katil. *************************** "Yes, we want the people to share the cake of wealth fairly, we want to help not only PAS members but everybody including hardcore Umno members and supporters," said Shamsir. *************************** This is what Islam teaches us, to be fair to all!

Apabila pagar/tembok masjid 'ditiadakan'...

********************* DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan ********************** Hadis diriwayatkan oleh Ibnul Abdul Barr dan Abu Naim bermaksud: Telah bersabda Rasulullah s.a.w.;“Dua golongan daripada umatku, apabila mereka baik, baiklah manusia dan apabila mereka rosak, rosaklah manusia. Itulah dia pemimpin dan ahli fiqh (ulama).” ********************* TAHNIAH diucapkan kepada Ketua Menteri Melaka yang baru, Dato' Idris Haron. Selayaknyalah sebagai orang muda yang baru-baru ini menyambut hari jadinya yang ke-47 tahun (beliau belajar setingkatan dengan salah seorang adik saya di Sekolah Menengah Sains Muzaffar Syah (Sekolah Sains Ayer Keroh atau Mozac) Melaka, Idris mempunyai banyak idea untuk memajukan negeri Hang Tuah. ************************ Sehubungan itu diucapkan syabas kepadanya, namun diharapkan beliau tidak mengetepikan peribadi dan pandangan Dr Mohd Khalid Kassim (seorang pesara timbalan pengarah Hospital Melaka, berusia 63 tahun yang boleh dianggap ayah kepada Idris), wakil sulung dan tunggal PAS yang terpilih ke Dun Melaka, mewakili kawasan Bukit Baru. *********************** Sekalipun sudah ternampak riak-riak 'ketidak-senangan' Idris terhadap Dr Khalid seperti dalam isu kononnya PAS Bukit Katil cuba merampas tiga prasarana di Dun Bukit Baru (pejabat Japerun, Dewan Tun Ali dan Masjid Sayidina Ali) yang dengan segera dinafikan Dr Khalid, diharapkan perkara seperti ini tidak berpanjangan. Buanglah yang keroh, ambil yang jernih untuk manfaat seluruh umat Islam terutama penduduk setempat. *********************** Salah satu idea Idris selepas menjadi Ketua Menteri ialah agar pagar dan tembok masjid dibuka sebaliknya dibina dataran yang membolehkan orang awam beraktiviti termasuk beriadah bersama keluarga. Beliau membayangkan mencontohi Masjid Nabawi di Madinah Al-Munawwarah yang mempunyai dataran terbuka (kini berpayung gergasi terbuka dan terkatup secara automatik) yang membolehkan orang ramai beriadah dan beribadat di bawahnya. ************************* Apabila tiba waktu solat waktu, pada waktu sesak dataran itu dibarisi oleh jemaah (mereka berada mengikut garisan saf disediakan); ini bermakna solat dapat ditunaikan tepat pada waktunya dan secara berjemaah pula walaupun seseorang itu berada bersama-sama keluarganya. Selain itu di dataran berkenaan boleh dimajukan kegiatan membangunkan masyarakat Islam seperti berniaga, demonstrasi kegiatan setempat seperti membuat kraftangan dan persembahan 'hiburan halal'. ************************ Pada pendapat saya, idea Idris sungguh bagus; tetapi 'bagi berlaku adil' saya cuba mendapatkan pandangan beberapa rakan dan individu lain. Seorang rakan yang tinggal di Klang, Selangor (negeri ini diperintah oleh Pakatan Rakyat yang telah berusaha memakmurkan sejumlah masjid dan hasilnya dapat dilihat dengan kunjungan orang ramai dengan pelbagai aktiviti seperti perniagaan dan siri ceramah dan kuliah), berkata idea membuka pagar/tembok masjid hanya boleh dilaksanakan di masjid-masjid tertentu saja. ************************* "Mungkin kita boleh menjayakan konsep itu di sebuah dua masjid seperti di Masjid Negeri; insya-Allah jika ia mendapat sambutan menggalakkan, kita boleh luaskan konsep itu di masjid-masjid besar lain," katanya. ********************** Beliau memberi contoh Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah di Shah Alam sebagai masjid yang berjaya dari segi menarik kunjungan orang ramai termasuklah keluarga yang mahu beriadah dan membeli barangan terpilih seperti kurma, tudung, buku-buku agama dan peralatan haji dan umrah di samping mengikuti ceramah dan kelas pengajian agama. **************************** Namun, katanya, adalah tidak praktikal untuk mengamalkan 'konsep masjid terbuka' di kawasan jenayah yang tinggi. Beliau berkata, berdasarkan pemerhatian dan pengalaman, sekalipun masjid bertembok dan berpagar malah dewan solat masjid pun berkunci; pencuri tetap memecah tabung masjid dan melarikan barangan berharga seperti jam malah bahan logam kitar semula seperti kepala paip (tembaga) juga 'dikebas' mereka. *************************** Beliau juga mengingatkan bahawa 'konsep masjid terbuka' seperti diamalkan di Masjid Nabawi (Madinah) dan Masjidilharam (Makkah) yang dibuka 24 jam (tidak pernah ditutup) dijayakan dalam suasana 'hukum hudud' terlaksana. Katanya, kadang-kadang jemaah haji dan umrah terserempak dengan hukuman pancung yang dijalankan di kawasan terbuka, dan hal ini menyumbang kepada keharmonian kehidupan masyarakat apabila penjenayah tidak berani bertindak sebarangan. Jadi siapa yang berani mencuri dalam premis masjid-masjid di Tanah Haram? ************************* Sehubungan itu, beliau mencadangan agar Ketua Menteri Melaka mula memikirkan dan mempengaruhi pemimpin tertinggi negara untuk melaksanakan undang-undang Islam sepenuhnya di negara ini. "Jika terlaksana hukum hudud, insya-Allah akan selamatlah masyarakat kita apatah lagi di kawasan masjid-masjid yang sudah dibuang pagar dan temboknya," katanya. ********************** Malangnya, jika ditinjau Kabinet PM Najib Razak yang diumumkan beberapa hari lalu, hanya seorang tokoh berpengajian tinggi agama iaitu Dato' Jamil Khir Baharom dikekalkan. Tokoh lain seperti Mashitah Ibrahim; mana pergi...adakah kerajaan baru ini mahu menjauhkan diri daripada agama...? Atau tidak suka lagi dengan Mashitah yang semakin merapu dengan ulasan terbarunya dalam akhbar Sinar Harian, Mahu 'Ini kalilah' dapat 'Innalillah'. Ya, sampai hati awak Mashitah yang ada PhD tetapi merendahkan kalimah Allah sebegitu teruk! ************************* Seorang jemaah sebuah masjid berdekatan rumah saya berkata, beliau menyokong idea Idris, yang boleh membantu mengimrahkan masjid termasuk menarik golongan muda yang sebahagiannya selama ini melihat rumah ibadat sebagai tempat 'transit' golongan KRU (kumpulan rambut uban) dan RTM (rehat tunggu mati) meluangkan masa sebelum dipanggil Illahi. ************************ "Bagi menarik golongan muda, saya cadangkan jawatan AJK masjid dipilih secara demokrasi, taklah dilantik pihak tertentu sekarang ini. Biar ahli kariah dan jemaah sendiri pilih siapa yang hendak mereka jadikan pengerusi dan AJK-nya. Apabila AJK masjid di kalangan orang dipercayai dan disukai penduduk, insya-Allah mereka akan rajin dan pandai buat kerja, secara automatik masjid pun dapat diimarahkan. Ni tak, apabila orang bukan kaki masjid malah tak datang ke masjid dijadikan AJK masjid, macam mana masjid nak makmur?" ************************ Seorang lagi jemaah berkata dengan sinis: "Saya bimbang, kalau tembok dan pagar masjid dibuang (terutama di kampung dan kawasan pedalaman), jangan-jangan nanti ayam, lembu dan kerbau pula yang 'melepak dan berak kat masjid-masjid tu'."

'Politics of Love...'

************************ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Reflection ************************* The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. ************************* A day after the 13th general election on May 5th, a friend SMSed me a message which ended with the word 'sabar' (to be patient). Well, PAS-Pakatan Rakyat failed in its bid to take over Putrajaya; so please be 'sabar' with what Allah The Greatest (SWT) has bestowed upon us. ************************* To 'sabar' myself and to have guidance and raise my spirit, I had a quick look at Harun Yahya's book 'Learning from the Qur'an' (Masterpiece) on the subject regarding the believers who would never weaken in their fight in the way of Allah. ************************* Under this subject, Harun notes the words of Allah SWT; among others: "Do not give up and do not be downhearted. You shall be uppermost if you are believers." (Qur'an, 3:139) *************************** "So be steadfast. Allah's promise is true. Do not let those who have no certainty make you impatient and shake your firmness." (Qur'an, 30:60) ***************************** "Many a Prophet has fought, when there were many thousands with him! They did not give up in the face of what assailed them in the Way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they yield. Allah loves the steadfast." (Qur'an, 3:146) ******************************* "Do not relax in pursuit of the enemy. If you feel pain, they too are feeling it just as you, but you hope for something from Allah, which they cannot hope for. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." (Qur'an, 4:104) **************************** Reading slowly the last 'ayah' mentioned above "if you feel pain, they too are feeling it just as you...", I could not help but think about the fate of Umno-BN top leaders 'slayed' in the 'battle'; one fine example being Mohd Ali Rustam, the Melaka Chief Minister for more than a decade in his own 'den' of Bukit Katil. ****************************** In this Parliamentary seat of 99,438 voters, Mohd Ali managed to secure 40,720 votes while his rival, state PKR Chairman, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin pulled 46,167 votes. ****************************** Before election, Shamsul had likened himself to the little known boxer Joe Frazier who took the stage against the renowned Muhammad Ali in their fight in Las Vegas in 1971, and amazingly Joe Frazier had Muhammad Ali on the floor. ***************************** In in 'this political battle' of May 2013, Shamsul had Mohd Ali down! And Mohd Ali who was feeling the pain; screamed aloud, among others accusing the Chinese (they comprise about 43 percent of the voters) of betraying Barisan Nasional and being ungrateful to 'all the good things' he had 'fed' and done to them. ************************** While writing this article on Wednesday evening (8th May), I had to stop as I had to attend to a funeral of a distant relative in Kampung Tun Razak in Bukit Katil. ************************** 'Alhamdulillah' (Praise to Allah SWT) at the 'kampung' masjid I met Cikgu Yusof Wahab, PAS Coordinator for the State constituency of Bukit Baru (a seat under Parliament constituency of Bukit Katil which PAS won this time for the first time in Melaka) who was beaming with delight when I congratulated him for 'the historical win'. *********************** In Bukit Baru, PAS candidate, Dr Khalid Kassim created history to become the first PAS 'YB' in Melaka. In the state constituency, he defeated Karim Yaakob of BN with a very slim majority of 48 votes. He secured 9,292 votes compared to Karim's 9,244 votes. ************************* Cikgu Yusof said as a seasoned and senior politician, Mohd Ali should not have vented his anger at the Chinese. "I would like to advise him to be calm and settle down and do some 'muhasabah' (soul searching). I believed Allah SWT 'still loves' him; He wants him to have some thought about his defeat; to repent for all 'ill things' he had done to the people, especially to the folks of Bukit Katil. *********************** "Remember the demolition of Pasti Jaya Insan in Bukit Katil a year ago for a road project; the 'rakyat' including children of the PAS run pre-school prayed and made du'a that those involved would be punished by the Almighty. The demolition of the Pasti building is unjust and cruel actions of Barisan Nasional government upon the people especially children as their place of learning had been torn down. *********************** Those in power too had carried out all sort of tactics including summoning the Pasti’s administrators to court, accusing teachers of preaching Islamic knowledge without permit from the Islamic religious council. But the cases are still pending, thus those in power have lost their patience in seeing that the Pasti’s activities ceased. Several other Pasti buildings in the state slapped with demolition orders by the city council, including those accused of not having Certificate of Fitness (CF). ********************** Cikgu Yusof said that the du’a (supplication) of those being oppressed would not be rejected by The Almighty for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had said to Mua’ad Ibn Jabal; “Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim) ************************* But the retired teacher was quick to say that PAS was not practising politics of hatred and revenged. "We want all people to be safe in this world and Hereafter. For the Muslims we prayed they would be in His straight path while for non-Muslims we hope they would be shown the way by Allah SWT. "We are practising 'politics of love', we want everyone to be safe in their lives. **************************** "To leaders who have swayed in their lives, why not follow the footsteps of those who had repented such as Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, the former Menteri Besar of Selangor who joined PAS recently? Let's do our bit for example in strengthening 'iman' (faith) of our young generation. Look, our life is too short....who knows whether we would still be alive tommorrow?" asked Cikgu Yusof pointing to the coffin that was being carried out of the masjid. ************************ At the entrance of the masjid, I was introduced to Dr Khalid Kassim, the new assemblyman for DUN Bukit Baru. This former assistant director of Hospital Melaka of 63 years of age was full of energy when he talked about his plans for his constituency and his role as the sole Malay/Muslim Opposition member of the Melaka State Assembly for the 'very first time'! *************************** He said as a person being trusted by the Islamic party, he must portray the Islamic way of conduct in the respectable 'Dewan'. "I must show what Islamic leadership is about; I cannot just follow the conduct of those 'Umno-BN' politicians; to me the saying 'if you can't beat them, then join them' could not be practised by me in the 'Dewan'. ************************** "The same could be said when dealing with the rakyat in my constituency. I must practise what Islam teaches us regarding the relationship of leaders and their people. We must show them the beauty of Islam, the bonding of love between people; when the rakyat realize this; 'insya-Allah' (God willing) we will be having more seats in the coming next election...but most importantly we would like to bring people to Islam and its fine way of life." ************************* He said by becoming the sole Malay/Muslim Opposition member in the 'Dewan', he was not only trusted to take care of the people in his constituency of Bukit Baru, but 'to have an eye' on matters regarding Islam such as the administration of 'zakat' (tithe) money and wakaf (property endowed for religious purposes), the administration of masjids and religious schools in the whole state. ************************ Dr Khalid took the opportunity to thank all especially the PAS task force of Bukit Katil, who had worked very, very hard for his victory; not fogetting the voters including the Chinese (in Bukit Baru, 40 percent of the voters are Chinese) who have faith in him. ************************** "This is our victory, 'insya-Allah', we will do the best for the people."