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In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Reflection
Say: "If both men and jinn banded together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could never produce anything like it, even if they backed each other up." (Our'an, 17:88)
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THE up coming 13th general elections has generated much interest amongst the rakyat, especially those inclined to politics. In the offices, coffee shops and even when families gathered together during weekends, heated arguments were exchanged. But the man entrusted to fix the date (the Prime Minister-lah) only mentioned it would be held this year...or next year, which 'semua orang sudah tahu' (all the people have known).
My family too was not spared. During one session, I carefullly listened to what one senior member of my family had to say. He commented on the the saying of a 'tok guru' (respected religious teacher) "kalau bagi duit ambil, kalau bagi gula kacau, kalau bagi sarung ambil, tetapi apabila undi, undi PAS" - if they give money, take it; if they give sugar or sarung take them too, but when it comes to voting, vote for PAS!
The veteran citizen pointed out that it is important for Muslims to verify the souce of their income or the food that makes it on the family's table - it must be free from any form of 'syubahat' or, if one is unsure, it is advisable not to take or consume it. Is the 'Bantuan Rakyat 1-Malaysia' (BR1M) that is the RM500 assistance money given by the government to the people whose household income is less than RM3,000 is a form of 'syubahat'? Well, I do not know.
The senior member of my family said, when we take the bribe for the very first time, our hearts will be a little blackened, but if we keep on doing it, our hearts wil l be hardened and it will finally be eclipsed from the truth.
The grand on man was afraid the bribes given by the political parties concerned, would be blackened the people's hearts. Their hearts are now more receptive to the fancies and fantasies of the world, and they are constantly in awe of the worldly benefits offered by those 'have all' parties.
"If our hearts had been blackened, how are we going to live according to the Islamic principles, for example when choosing leaders?" he asked. "We will blindly choose whoever is willing to please our desires (nafsu)."
He then asked us to check ourselves (muhasabah) and do the corrections including to our families, whether we have lived according to the Islamic way of life.
"It is important because if we want Islam as a rule of law, we must make sure that it begins with our family," he said. "That is why the home is a very important place in upbringing our children who would be leaders of the future generation.
The home is so sweet and lovely...remember Tom Jones lyrics of the 'Green Green Grass of Home'...The old home town looks the same as I step down from the train, and there to meet me is my Mama and Papa. Down the road I look and there runs Mary hair of gold and lips like cherries. It's good to touch the green, green grass of home...
Having a home is a blessing from Allah, the All-Glorious. So every Muslim should maintain his/her home in the light of the guidance and teachings of the Noble Qur'an and the honourable Sunnah of the last Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. (blessing and peace be upon him)
The home is the place to sow seeds of the Islamic way of living; from the very little deeds to the formation of an Islamic government. So what are the motives behind setting the home right? Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid in his book 'The Muslim Home - 40 Recommendations in the Light of the Qur'an and Sunnah' among others noted: "One has to protect oneself and one's family from the Fire of Hell, and keeping them safe from the burning punishment. Allah SWT warned us in the Qur'an 66; 6: "O' you who believe, protect yourselves and yor families from a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is people and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not (executing( the commands they recieve from Allah, but do that which they are commanded."
The father as the head of the household holds great responsibility to his family and on Judgment Day, he would be asked on his duty. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said: "Allah will ask every shepherd (person with responsibility) about his flock (those for whom he was responsible), whether he took care of them or neglected them. He will ask man about his household." (An-Nsa'i)
The home is a place to protect oneself, to keep away from evil and to keep one's own evil away from people. It is the refuge prescribed by Islam at times of 'fitnah' (strife, tribulation). The Prophet s.a.w. said: "Blessed is the one who control his tongue, whose house is sufficient for him, and who weeps over his mistakes." (At-Tabarani)
The Prophet s.a.w. said: "There are five things; whoever does one of them, Allah will be with him: visiting the sick, going out for jihad, visiting his leader with the intention of correcting and respecting him, or sitting in his home so that the people are safe from him and he is safe from the people." (Ahmad). He s.a.w. also said: "The safety of a man at time of 'fitnah' is in his staying home." (Sahih al-Jami)
Paying attention to the home is the most important means of building a Muslim society, because the society is formed of the households and families that make its building blocks. Households form neighborhoods, and neighborhoods form societies. If the building blocks are sound, the society will be based on the laws of Allah, standing firm in the face of enemies and filled with goodness that evil cannot penetrate. The Muslim homes will produce pillars of society who will reform and guide it aright, such as exemplary da'iyahs (callers to Islam), seekers of knowledge, sincere 'mujahidin' (fighters for the cause of Allah), righteous wife, caring mothers, and all types of reformers. - The Muslim Home
If we could provide the best to our children especially at home, according to the Islamic principles, then surely they will know better who should they choose as their leader or the parties that will lead them to be successful not only in this world but in the Hereafter. If we want Islam to rule, the process begins at home; the sweet and green green grass of home. Allahuakbar!
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