Sunday, March 31, 2013

Perbaiki akhlak pemimpin, rakyat

**************************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *************************** Renungan "Dan janganlah engkau berdoa selain daripada Allah, iaitu sesuatu yang tidak dapat memberikan manfaat kepadamu, dan tidak pula mendatangkan mudarat. Maka jika engkau perbuat juga, sesungguhnya engkau pada waktu itu, termasuk orang-orang yang menganiaya dirinnya sendiri." (Maksud Ayat 106 Surah Yunus) **************** Ketika rejim Umno-BN di penghujung kuasa dengan terbubarnya Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) dan Parlimen secara automatik seterusnya membawa kepada kewujudan sebuah kerajaan sementara menunggu penubuhan kerajaan baru, adalah bermanfaat kita merujuk kepada pandangan cendekiawan Islam seperti Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi mengenai keberkesanan sesebuah pemerintahan. ************************ Kata Maududi, tugas utama pemerintahan yang diasaskan oleh Rasulullah s.a.w. adalah untuk menyampaikan ajaran Islam kepada penduduk seluruhnya. Kemudian bagi memurnikan akhlak masyarakat ketika itu berdasarkan akhlak yang tinggi lagi mulia. ***************************** Tidak ada sistem pemerintahan pun yang akan berjaya jika pemimpinnya tidak mempunyai akhlak yang tinggi dan masyarakatnya tidak bertakwa dan amanah. Keadaan ini akan terus berpanjangan walaupun sistem pemerintahan itu mempunyai perundangan yang baik dan pada zahirnya kelihatan hebat dan berkaliber. ************************** Itulah sebabnya, setelah mengajak supaya beriman kepada ajaran Islam dan seterusnya mengembangkannya, Rasulullah s.a.w. sangat menekankan persoalan ketakwaan dan akhlak yang mulia. ***************************** Hari ini kita dapat saksikan betapa longgarnya pemimpin kita dari segi akhlak. Amalan rasuah, salah guna kuasa, boros, cakap tak serupa bikin, aneka jenayah dan maksiat semakin menjadi-jadi. Perilaku buruk ini menjadi ikutan rakyat; peribahasa Melayu ada menyebutkan bagaimana acuan begitulah kuihnya ataupun bapa borek anak rintik. ****************************** Asas yang penting di dalam sistem yang ditegakkan oleh baginda ialah menganjurkan akhlak masyarakat supaya menepati akan kehendak dan ajaran sistem tersebut. Keadaan ini tidak memerlukan penggunaan kuasa kekerasan untuk manusia tunduk dan patuh kepada undang-undang tersebut. **************************** Cukuplah apabila dikatakan di sini bahawa semua telah diperintahkan oleh Allah, maka terpulanglah kepada masyarakat untuk mematuhinya. Pada zaman Rasulullah s.a.w. tidak ada pasukan polis dan tidak terdapat penjara-penjara. Tidak terfikir langsung akan keadaan di mana masyarakat menerima arahan daripada Rasulullah s.a.w. tetapi tidak mematuhinya. **************************** Contohnya, kita ambil kes mengenai larangan meminum arak itu sendiri. Apabila dikhabarkan di kota Madinah yang arak itu haram, maka tempat menyimpan arak semuanya dipecahkan dan masyarakat Madinah terus berhenti meminum minuman tersebut. ********************** Di sini, sejarah gagal untuk memberi contoh akan kepatuhan kepada undang-undang secara spontan. Malah, berjuta-juta dolar dibelanjakan di Amerika Syarikat untuk menjelaskan kepada masyarakat akan kesan buruk daripada arak itu sendiri. ************************ Satu propaganda besar-besaran telah dilancarkan untuk tujuan tersebut. Dengan sambutan masyarakat, satu pembaharuan telah dibuat di dalam undang-undang Amerika Syarikat untuk meluluskan satu undang-undang mengharamkan arak. Tetapi keesokan harinya masyarakat meminum pula minuman lain yang beracun dan berbahaya. Perbuatan ini merebak dengan cepatnya di mana akhirnya undang-undang pengharaman arak tadi terpaksa ditarik balik. ************************ Jadi, marilah kita membuat perbandingan ke atas dua keadaan yang berlaku tadi. Pertamanya, di mana arahan yang dikeluarkan telah dipatuhi dengan serta-merta. Keduanya di mana satu undang-undang telah digubal setelah satu perbelanjaan dan propaganda yang besar dijalankan yang disokong oleh masyarakat tetapi akhirnya mereka juga yang melanggarnya. *********************** Ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa asas pada satu-satunya sistem pemerintahan adalah terletak kepada keimanan dan akhlak yang mulia. Jika kedua-dua asas ini tidak ada, maka satu-satu sistem pemerintahan itu tidak akan berjaya, walaupun undang-undang itu telah digubal dengan baik. **************************** Ya, pemimpin paling takut kepada Allah persis dua Umar (Umar Al-Khattab dan Umar Abdul Aziz) begitu didambakan masyarakat. Pilihlah mereka yang menghampiri ciri-ciri ini bukan pemimpin lara yang tidak keberatan menari di pentas Gangnam Style. Ingatlah di akhirat kelak seseorang akan dihimpunkan bersama orang (pemimpin) dikasihi mereka. Anda mahu dihimpunkan bersama tok-tok guru dan ustaz atau tokoh penyemarak Gangnam Style dan pencinta bintang Bollywood dan beg tangan Birkin?

Friday, March 29, 2013

Sederhana itu cantik, melampau meloyakan...

********************** Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Renungan ********************* "Kerana itu ingatlah kamu kepada-Ku nescaya Aku ingat (pula) padamu, dan bersyukurlah kepada-Ku dan janganlah kamu mengingkari (nikmat)-Ku." (Al-Baqarah 2: 152) *************************** DULU sesekali saya tengok juga siaran berita di televisyen tetapi sejak akhir-akhir ini tiada lagi. Propaganda melampau dan murahan dalam siaran berita menyebabkan minat saya menjadi tumpul. Saya menjadi begitu meluat, loya...akhirnya saya membuat keputusan tidak mengikuti langsung siaran berita di TV. ***************************** Malahan untuk menonton program televisyen pun saya tiada minat lagi. Apatah tidaknya, asyik-asyik disiarkan petikan ucapan tokoh tertentu, kemudian cerita kejayaan Bajet 2013, kemudian sketsa dengan lolongan lagu 'terima kasih', BR1M dan 'perkara sewaktu dengannya'. ************************* Saya ingatkan saya seorang sudah 'loya' dengan siaran televisyen, rupanya ada orang tua yang berusia 70 tahun pun menyampah, demikian juga dengan anak-anak. Semuanya meluat sungguh dengan propaganda melampau dan episod masuk bakul angkat sendiri ini. Demikianlah sesuatu perkara melampau akan mengundang kesan negatif. ***************************** Misalnya, adakah wajar selepas memberi bantuan RM500 kepada seseorang kita berterusan menguar-uarkan kebaikan kita itu? Bukan saja penerimanya akan meluat, orang yang mendengarnya juga berasa loya. Penerima yang kerap diasak dengan dendangan kebaikan itu mungkin akan berkata; "Lain kali tak bagi bantuan pun tak apa; tak ingin aku dengan duit kau tu!" ****************************** Berlainan dengan pendekatan melampau, sesuatu yang dilakukan secara sederhana (pemimpin sendiri menguar-uarkannya dengan istilah wasatiyyah) akan kelihatan cantik, sedap mata memandang. Ya, bertindaklah secara sederhana dalam segala bidang penghidupan, insya-Allah kita akan selamat bukan saja di dunia tetapi di akhirat. ************************** Setiap insan dan pihak perlu menerima pandangan dan teguran. Dalam ruangan ini, kerap saya siarkan pandangan pembaca kerana bukan semua perkara yang saya utarakan itu betul. Mungkin pandangan dilontarkan pembaca adalah betul atau setidak-tidaknya kita dapat mendengar pandangan kedua, ketiga dan seterusnya dalam sesuatu isu itu. *************************** Baru-baru ini melalui satu artikel dalam bahasa Inggeris di blog ini, saya ada menulis kritikan terhadap pemimpin dan masyarakat yang terlalu melampau 'mendewakan' Hang Tuah sehingga menamakan semula Masjid Duyong di Melaka sebagai Masjid Laksamana Hang Tuah. Saya membuat teguran, menyatakan Hang Tuah bukanlah peribadi Muslim yang baik sehingga namanya diabadikan pada sebuah rumah ibadat Allah. Buktinya dia 'menundukkan dengan ubat guna-guna',' menculik dan melarikan tunangan kerabat Pahang, Tun Teja untuk dipersembahkan kepada Sultan Melaka **************************** Seorang pembaca mengirim maklumat, mengiyakan akan ketidakwajaran Hang Tuah disanjung secara melampau sehingga dibina sebuah perkampungan di atas namanya dengan kos RM132 juta manakala 'ada orang nak sembah kubur Hang Tuah'. Beliau mengirimkan selembar naskhah yang mengkisahkan hal Hang Tuah dengan Puteri Gunung Ledang yang nama sebenarnya Riangga. *********************** "Riangga merupakan seorang penari istana Raja Majapahit yang kecantikannya diidamkan segala raja yang pernah melihatnya. Tariannya yang mempersona membuatkannya menjadi buruan.Namun, kasihan, Riangga telah diperkosa Bendahara Majapahit. Dia mendapat anak kembar, kedua-duanya puteri. Pada zaman itu anak penzina akan dibunuh. Walaupun Riangga diperkosa, anak-anaknya tetap dianggap anak zina. Riangga digilai Sultan Melaka yang taksub kepada wanita. ********************** "Kononnya Hang Tuah bercinta dengan Puteri Gunung Ledang atau nama sebenarnya Riangga. Subhan-Allah, tidak benar. Hang Tuah hanya inginkan tubuh Riangga. Kesian Riangga, dahlah Bendahara Majapahit memperkosanya, Hang Tuah pula memperdayanya untuk mendapatkan tubuhnya. ************************* "Masya-Allah, Hang Tuah sebenarnya manusia keji yang bertuhankan senjata. Dia tak ada apa-apa, kehebatannya hanya pada kerisnya yang dihuni oleh jin kafir bernama Taming Sari. Ya, Taming Sari ialah nama jin kafir yang menginap di dalam keris Hang Tuah. Jin pertama yang menginap di dalam keris. Dia harus dijamu darah, kalau tidak pemiliknya boleh jadi gila. Itu yang diagung-agungkan orang. Astaaghfirullah...." ************************* Demikianlah secebis peribadi Hang Tuah yang dikirimkan seorang pembaca kepada saya. Terpulang kepada pembaca untuk membuat penilaian, namun apa yang ingin saya utarakan di sini adalah betapa pentingnya kita tidak terlalu melampau dalam tindak-tanduk kita dan dalam kes Hang Tuah ini 'mendewa-dewakannya' sehingga menamakan sebuah masjid berdasarkan namanya sedangkan peribadinya diragukan. *********************** Jika Hang Tuah mewakili 'watak purba', berdasarkan perkembangan semasa adalah tidak wajar untuk kita 'mendewa-dewakan' atau mengangkat (membodek) sesetengah pihak atau pemimpin termasuklah melalui media massa seperti TV sehingga rakyat menjadi meluat dan menyampah dengan propaganda murahan termasuk slogan mengarut seperti 'dulu, kini dan selamanya'. ************************* Ramai orang sudah loya dan tekak terasa nak muntah dengan propaganda murahan dan melampau ini. Hentikanlah atau rakyat 'memberhentikan sandiwara' kamu melalui pilihan raya!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Welcome to Hang Tuah's kampung of RM132 million!

************************ In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Reflection ************************** "Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80) ************************** While visiting the almost completed 'Perkampungan Hang Tuah' (The Village of Hang Tuah) in Kampung Duyong, Melaka recently, I could not help but compare it with the majestic Taj Mahal Complex in Agra, India which I had paid a visit to it in 2011. **************************** Well, 'Perkampungan Hang Tuah' was not ready to receive visitors yet, but I guess there might be some simillarities in its operations as the Taj Mahal Complex. *********************** Visitors to the Taj Mahal have to leave their vehicles including buses a distance away from the complex, then ride on special vehicles to its entrace. Looking at a newly completed large parking lot at the entrance of 'Perkampungan Hang Tuah', I guess visitors have to embark here and take a trip up a hill to the 'perkampungan' (village). ************************* Realizing there are stables built in the village, I guess that ride might use horse carts or bullock carts (kereta lembu) but I could be wrong; they might used motorized vehicles; and the presense of horses were for riding in the huge complex with an area of 40-hectares. ************************ The ground breaking ceremony and construction of giant heritage tourism project costing some RM132 million began in late 2011 and was expected to be completed in this month (March 2013).The building of the complex that is centred around the old 'Perigi Hang Tuah' (Hang Tuah Well) is to follow the cultural, architectural and traditional values of ancient Melaka. ************************ I was amazed with a very huge traditional building which I assumed was an 'istana'. Other structures are Rumah Hang Tuah, Rumah Hang Jebat, Rumah Hang Kasturi, Rumah Hang Lekir, Rumah Hang Lekiu, a traditional Malay house, Hang Tuah museum, auditorium, customary hall and cultural stage. *********************** Well, dear readers; as my families from my mother side also hail from Kampung Duyong, I am proud with the ambitious project to promote and upgrade the name of the famous warrior Hang Tuah; but I am afraid that it would not turn up as expected instead become another white elephant in the state at the expense of massive public funds of RM132 milion. ************************** There were residents complaining, a young man saying that RM132 million was a lot of money; and could that project generate a steady income to sustain its existence and operations because previous projects revolving the development of areas around 'Perigi Hang Tuah' proved futile. *************************** For example a 'gelanggang silat' (silat court) that was built near 'Perigi Hang Tuah' was left to rot and recently hundreds of Roman pillars that were erected on both sides of the road of about a kilometer leading to the well were uprooted and demolished. If each pillar cost RM500, imagine the money spent on this 'failed project'. ************************ Dear readers, Kampung Duyong and the story of Hang Tuah are close to me. Since I started working as a journalist in 1985 with my first posting in Melaka, I had written several articles about Hang Tuah and the village he was said to be brought up in – Kampung Duyong or Sungai Duyong which is situated some six kilometers from Melaka city. ************************** One of my earliest writing on Hang Tuah and artifacts claimed to have connection to him was an article entitled ‘Hang Tuah’s well or is it really?’ which was published in the New Sunday Times dated 23 November 1986. In that article; I questioned the belief that the well had any connection with the Malay legendary hero ************************* In the article, I wrote: “The Hang Tuah Well in Kampung Duyong Melaka is believed to have been originated from the print of Hang Tuah’s foot sole left on a stone but many elders in the kampung have a different version of the story. ****************************** The elders said the Hang Tuah Well did not exist before the 20th century. According to them, even though Hang Tuah was said to be raised in Kampung Sungai Duyong according to the Hikayat Hang Tuah, he did not leave any mark in the kampung. *********************** The elders said about 100 years ago, a child named Mat Segel went with a friend to fetch firewood near the site which is now known as the Hang Tuah Well Complex. *********************** At that time, the Hang Tuah Well was not in existence. The area was swampy and was covered with sago plants. At the site he saw an unused well and a few puddles of water. *********************** When Mat Segel returned home, he told his father Mat Koyan, what he had seen. Later, his father stated boasting that his son had found the Hang Tuah Well which was actually the unused well. ************************* The villagers believed him and soon the news spread far and wide that Hang Tuah’s well was discovered. *********************** They were even further convinced when a sick boy was cured of his illness after drinking some water from the well. ************************ The Hang Tuah Well looked like an ordinary well until early in the 70s when a Chinese woman known by the kampung folk as Nyonya Lilin of Melaka (she was a sinseh), built a shelter for the well. *************************** The State Government then recognized the well as the Hang Tuah Well and a modern complex with stalls, toilets and a ‘gelanggang silat’ was built to attract tourists to the kampung where Hang Tuah was believed to have been brought up.” ************************ In my opinion, Hang Tuah did exist. True he was a ‘laksamana’ (admiral) in the Melaka court, but his ability and achievement was too exaggerated; he was made the Malay folk hero. I had read old books such as ‘Sejarah Melayu’ (Malay Annals) and Hikayat Hang Tuah (unfortunately I have lost the copy), and I was in the opinion that Hang Tuah (if he really existed) was not a good example of a good Muslim. *********************** For example, he was said to have kidnapped Tun Teja of Pahang who was already engaged to be married; charmed her by using magic portion and brought her to Melaka to be the Sultan’s consort. And almost everyone knows the story of his duel and how he ‘finished off’ his best friend, Hang Kasturi (according to Sejarah Melayu) or Hang Jebat (according to Hikayat Hang Tuah). *********************** Based on Hang Tuah's ‘bad image’, I was surprised why the authority renamed Masjid Jamek Kampung Duyong to ‘Masjid Laksamana Hang Tuah recently. Perhaps today’s ‘history’ glorifies Hang Tuah but tomorrow who knows; don’t forget a historian, Prof Khoo Kay Kim had mentioned Hang Tuah did not exist! *********************** Before independence, the Malays did not bothered to have or restore heritage items and sites such as the Hang Tuah Well, but in modern Malaysia, their leaders made great efforts in doing such work and today we witnessed this gigantic project of 'Perkampungan Hang Tuah'. *********************** Well, to readers and visitors welcome to 'Perkampungan Hang Tuah' of RM132 million. ********************* That' s a lot of money but don't worry because perhaps at the village you may encounter 'Hang Tuah' and his four famous friends (Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi,Hang Lekiu and Hang Lekir); that experience 'would be more 'meaningful' than the money! Don't forget to ask 'Hang Tuah' how much he was paid!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Dosa orang diuar-uarkan, dosa kita bagaimana?

************************ Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan *********************** "Dan perangilah di jalan Allah orang-orang yang memerangi kamu, (tetapi) janganlah kamu melampaui batas, kerana sesungguhnya Allah tidak menyukai orang-orang yang melampaui batas." - Maksud Ayat 190 Surah Al-Baqarah ************************* TERSENTAK saya mendengar seorang pemimpin besar menguar-uarkan tujuh dosa besar pihak tertentu. Renungkanlah, jika jari telunjuk kita dihalakan dalam menuduh seseorang, tiga lagi jari akan menuding balik ke arah kita. Apabila kita menyatakan seseorang atau pihak melakukan tujuh dosa besar, berapa banyak pula dosa besar kita? Tidakkah ia sebanyak 21 dosa besar iaitu 7X3 atau lebih banyak daripada itu? ************************** Orang baik (atau beriman) adalah orang yang takut akan dosa dilakukannya, bukan menyibuk akan dosa orang lain. Dosa orang lain dia tanggunglah sendiri dalam kuburnya, yang perlu dibimbangi ialah dosa-dosa kita sendiri. Hakikatnya dosa kita sudah terlalu banyak untuk kita renung-renungkan seterusnya mengambil langkah bertaubat daripada menyibuk akan dosa orang lain. **************************** Tidak payahlah kita pergi jauh untuk memikirkan seterusnya cemas akan dosa kita sendiri. Dalam rumah tangga sendiri pun kita sudah tahu betapa banyak dosa kita. Kalau kita seorang bapa, apakah anak-anak kita sudah terdidik dengan ajaran Islam sepenuhnya dan mengamalkannya? Betulkah anak-anak mengikut pesanan kita atau mereka 'bersandiwara' saja? Misalnya, ada anak-anak yang pura-pura solat; mereka melakukan bacaan solat dengan kuat ketika kita melepasi bilik mereka sedangkan mereka masih di atas katil! ************************** Kisah seorang anak saya ini diharap dapat dijadikan iktibar dan menyuntik semangat ibu bapa dalam mendidik anak-anak. Ketika si anak ini dalam Tahun 2 (lapan tahun) termenung panjang saya apabila saya menyedari dia 'menyeludup keluar' sejenis permainan daripada sebuah pasar raya. Tentunya saya 'menggelupur kepanasan', tetapi selepas 'timbang punya timbang', saya bersyukur kerana Allah dedahkan perbuatan kurang baik itu ketika dia masih kanak-kanak. Kalau dia sudah jadi macam Sazali. anak P Ramlee (dalam filem) itu sudah terlambat. **************************** Ya, inilah masa untuk mendidik si anak. Saya berhasrat memberi pengajaran yang mungkin tak dilupakan sepanjang hayatnya. Ketika dalam satu perjalanan, saya terus memandu kereta memasuki sebuah balai polis. Tentunya si anak tak nak keluar dari kereta. Saya berjumpa dengan seorang pegawai polis, menceritakan hal yang berlaku dan merayu dia berlakon mahu menangkap anak saya. Pendeknya dia 'acah' saja, selepas itu dia nasihatkan anak saya jangan buat 'kerja-kerja tak baik' lagi. ***************************** Demikianlah bukan senang untuk membesarkan seorang anak agar dia menjadi insan berguna. Jika mereka gagal menjadi seorang Muslim yang baik seperti tidak solat, apakah kita boleh berlepas tangan saja? Jawapannya tidak, dosa kita terlalu banyak - terhadap Allah SWT, terhadap ibu bapa, anak isteri dan sebagainya. Jadi, fikir-fikirkan akan dosa kita yang banyak itu bukan bertindak sebaliknya seperti menguar-uarkan dosa pihak lain, malah dosa besar pula! ********************************* Berceloteh mengenai pendidikan anak-anak, seorang pembaca mahu berkongsi pandangannya dengan pembaca yang beliau e-mel kepada saya: ******************************** Assalamualaikum warahmatullahiwabarakatuh; semoga Saudara LanH dan keluarga serta seluruh rakyat Malaysia sentiasa sihat bahagia senyum sentiasa dalam masa kecederaan menunggu pembubaran Parlimen. ******************************** Syukur kepada Maha Pencipta dan rantaian terima kasih buat Saudara yang sudi menyiarkan pandangan rakyat biasa yang tiada kepentingan kecuali rasa kasih melimpah-ruah buat agama dan anak bangsa. Justeru apabila membaca coretan Saudara, hati tua tersentuh kemudian terbit linangan air mata. Terbayang di mata dan terdengar-dengar di telinga keluhan Saudara terhadap anak-anak sekarang yang menuduh kita menyibuk, sehingga tidak terkeluar ayat untuk bertanya, solat subuh hari ini? **************************** Itulah hakikatnya orang Melayu beragama Islam pada hari ini Saudara. Ustaz dan ustazah di sekolah pun dituduh menyibuk sekiranya bertanya, solat subuh pagi tadi? Ingin juga hati tua ini bertanya, murid yang tidak cukup sembahyang lima waktu, berada di 'band' mana dalam pentaksiran berasaskan sekolah? ******************************* Justifikasi kita orang tua, senang sahaja Saudara. Tidak sembahyang, tidak berterima kasih kepada Allah. Tidak cukup solat sehari semalam, tidak adalah rasa syukur, terima kasih kepada Tuhan bukan saja pada rezeki hatta oksigen yang disedut. *********************** Fikiran tua ini berpandangan, mengingatkan sembahyang (detik berterima kasih rasmi kepada Maha Pencipta) ini bukan kerja ustaz ustazah sahaja tetapi semua guru. Guru pula akan menambah, mak dan bapa juga kena selalu ingatkan anak-anak mereka. *************************** Mak, bapa, nenek, datuk pula akan menuding pada tuan guru dan ulama, ini autoriti tuan guru, mufti. Tok guru pula kata, ini kerja pemimpin dan pemerintah. Pemimpin tak jaga solat, rakyat pun ikut sama. *************************** Oleh sebab itu, mohon sangat kepada Saudara agar dihebah kepada rakyat jelata, hidup berkat disayangi Allah SWT lebih diutama. Pilihlah pemimpin yang sayang dan takut akan Maha Pencipta. Pemimpin inilah ulul-amri yang orang awam seperti hamba tua ini wajib dan mohon sentiasa diberi ingat akan kemenangan di dunia dan kemenangan di akhirat. Manusia berada di maya pada ini bersebab, bukan mati terus menjadi tanah. ******************************** Kepada mak dan bapa beragama Islam, jangan marah ustaz, ustazah yang menegur aurat anak-anak Dato', Datin, Tuan, Puan. ******************************* Jangan naik angin dengan soalan, solat subuh pagi tadi? Mak-mak pun jangan melatah, golongan bapa menambah dua, tiga atau empat. Golongan bapa pun dengan hujah mereka, tiada manusia yang boleh adil dalam soal kasih sayang (buktinya anak-anak kita sendiri - yang sulung, yang tengah, yang bongsu). Oleh hal yang demikian, pemerintah setaat Umar Abdul Aziz sangat diperlukan di Malaysia. ***************************** Pemerintah yang sangat takut akan Tuhannya, sangat menjaga perbendaharaan negara, sangat menjaga keluarga daripada menggunakan harta milik negara, sangat memikirkan jawapan yang akan diberikan di Padang Mahsyar, pemimpin Malaysia yang akan menjawab di hadapan Allah SWT bagi pihak 28 juta rakyat. *************************** Malaysia memang sudah lama menunggu pemimpin yang amanah, ikhlas, cerdik dan membetulkan semula semua jentera kerajaan yang sudah jelas bobrok di makan anai-anai. ***************************** Mohon saudara khabar-khabarkan. Sekian. Terima kasih kepada Allah SWT. Terima kasih Saudara.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Be grateful (syukur) with what we have...

*********************** 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. ***************************** As we grow older (I turned 51 last February), one thing we desire and hope for is calmness in life. ************************** Regarding this matter, one point raised regulary by an 'ustaz' gave me the spirit in life and I would to share it with your dear readers. It is a 'hadith' (saying and way of the Prophet s.a.w. which was elaborated beutifully by the ustaz. *********************** In life we have to be always grateful and thankful to the things we have and the blessing of Allah SWT would be showered upon us. Regarding 'the things' we have, these are categorized into two aspects - one on worldly (material) matters and the other one on religously matter (obligations). ************************** If we are in the habit of making comparison with others, if it is regarding worldly matters for example if we own an old rusty Datsun 120Y, then don't look up to those who have a new Toyota Vious or Rush. We will end up feeling restless and blame God for our 'bad luck'. We would not be happy in life; thus calmness would be denied us. ************************ To be in the state of calmness, why not people who own old cars look down upon those on even more lowly in state from them. They should be thankful for that they own vehicles with roofs compared to that person who rides a bike who has to endure rain and shine. A person who owns and old Honda C70 should be thankful to Allah SWT as he has a vehicle that need not to be pedalled compared to person who only owns a bicycle and a person with a bicycle should look at those who walk. ********************** A person who walks should thank Allah as he/she have the ability to walk with a beautiful and strong pair of legs as there are others who are without legs! And those without legs should be thanful to Allah SWT as there are others in the ICU of hospitals depending on life supporting system. ************************* And most important of all we are stil alive compared to those who are dead; we could still perform our duties to the Lord where else a dead person has nothing attached to this world except fot three things that is pious children who pray for him/her, knowledge shared to others and ongoing charity and good deeds such as building masjids and establishing a 'tahfiz' school. ***************************** Regarding religious obligations, it is an opposite side of the story. We should look up to those on the higher steps of the ladder, only then calmness would be showered upon us. If we only perform our daily five time compulsory 'solat' (prayers), we should be 'jeolous' to those who could person the 'sunat' (recommended) solat such as 'tahajud' (night prayers) or 'dhuha' (morning prayers for example at 9 am) and tried with every effort to surplus his/her good deeds. But we must remember to do it for only Allah SWT shake (only to please Allah SWT), please don't do it to gain worldly matters such as to gain praise and to be known as an 'alim' (knowledgeable person) or an 'abid' (a person who always performs his religious duty to Allah SWT). ************************** The same could be said about 'puasa' (fasting); if we only fast during the compulsory month of Ramadan, be 'jeolous' to those who could perform the recommended fasting day on every Monday and Thursday. Also be 'jeolous' to those who could contribute RM5,000 in charity work, why not you yourself contribute RM10,000! But again, remember to do it just for Allah's shake; we must not do it to gain publicity of fame. ************************* So dear readers, the lesson here is "to be please (or thankful and grateful) with whatever he have, 'insya-Allah" (God willing) He will gives us more. As for material matters to have calmness we must look down to those have not but regarding religious obligatios we must try our best to be closer to Allah SWT and His Prophet s.a.w. by each day (in fact seconds, minutes and hours) by practising everything He has ordered us be it regarding 'wajib' (compulsory or obligatory), 'haram' (forbidden or unlawful, sinful), 'makruh' (improper), 'harus' (probable) and 'sunat' (recommended or optional) matters. ***************************** Regarding politics, what is our stand regarding it? Well, if we think it is regarding worldly matters and we are for it to have material gains, then it is better we leave it alone; but if we positioned it as an religious obligation ordered upon us by Allah SWT, then we should strive to do it better and better by each second to be closer to Allah SWT and his Prophet. Politics is an 'ibadah' bacause; when Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ‘hijrah’ (migrated) to Madinah, the first step he took was building Masjid Quba’ where all activities including politics were discussed there. So there’s no separation between religion and politics. ************************ Some Muslims nowadays are not practicing the Prophet’s teaching in its truest sense; they are giving the wrong impression about Islam. They seem to follow and adhere to what benefits them and abandon the teachings that are against their interests. Everyone is answerable to their deeds; even in politics including voting, one is subjected to be rewarded and punished. ****************************** Life in this world is a bridge to the Hereafter; those who profess ‘agama lain, politik lain’ (separating religion and politics), were on the crooked path; they are straying from the straight path as we ask upon Allah SWT at least 17 times daily in our five ‘fardu’ (obligatory) prayers. *************************** So if we look politics as an 'ibadah' such as 'solat', 'puasa' and 'zakat', then we should be 'jeolous' to those nation (including past Islamic empires and of course during the Prophet's time and his Al Rashidin Caliphate that was Abu Bakar, Umar, Othman and Ali) and people who could put Allah SWT laws into practise in their lands. We should strive to be better and better by each day to be closer to Allah SWT and His Prophet by working hard to see His laws being honoured and practised. **************************** Well dear readers, as I man entering a 'matured aged at 50' (they said life begins at 40), nowadays it is common among my friends (especially those with 'thick wallets' and in high position) of the same age talking about the subject of having 'another wife or to have Mrs. No 2 in their life! ************************* One day on a Radio IKIM programme, I heard an ustaz said: "If you are grateful (syukur) with what you have (in this case a wife), then 'insya-Allah' (God willing), He would rewarded you with......(the ustaz paused wating for the DJ to say 'another wife' but continued, saying)...more blessing in life." *********************** To those who are in the thinking to have Mrs No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4, please digest this advise given by a friend: *********************** Allah Most High says: “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, three, or four. But if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one…” (Surah al-Nisa, V: 3) *************************** As such, it is a grave sin to treat the wives unequally and to fail giving them their rights. Any man who wishes to take on a second wife has to meet the important condition of fair treatment of all his wives. The verse quoted above includes the command to treat wives equally, and anyone who is unable to do so should marry only one woman. *********************** Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “A man who has two wives and he does not deal justly with them will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment with half his body paralysed.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, no: 1141) ************************ Treating wives fairly and equally is easier said than done. Many people think they are capable of treating their wives justly, but the reality on the ground is somewhat different. They start off treating them justly but eventually fall into the major sin of unjust and unfair treatment. ************************ Equal treatment includes all social, economical and physical needs. It is very difficult for human beings to be completely fair, a fact which is recognised by the Qur’an: ************************** “You are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: but turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air)...” (Surah al-Nisa, 129) ***************************** The above verse alludes to the fact that a man must be fair in his external treatment of his wives. He should spend equal time with all of them; spend out on them equally, etc. However, if his heart is inclined towards one or he has more love for one wife over the other, then that is not blameworthy, for it is beyond his control. But he should not let his extra-love for one wife be known to the other. ******************* Well, dear friends and readers, if it is because of religion or its needs such as helping a widower as the reason or reasons you are having second, third or fourth wives, then 'carry on' brother; insya-Allah, God will bless you; but it is for 'nafsu' (nafs or desire) and other worldly pleasures, then just forget it!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Cukuplah sudah agama, negara, bangsa dimalukan...

********************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Renungan ********************* Sabda Rasulullah s.a.w. bermaksud: “Perempuan yang memakai baju tetapi telanjang, dan dia memandang lelaki lain, dan membuatkan lelaki-lelaki lain terpandang kepadanya, maka perempuan ini tidak akan mencium bau syurga. Sedangkan syurga sudah pun boleh dibau dari jarak 500 tahun perjalanan.” (Riwayat Al-Bukhari dan Muslim) ************************* Ketika pertama kali kes l...t dihadapkan ke atas Timbalan Perdana Menteri (ketika itu), Anwar Ibrahim pada tahun 1998 yang kemudian laporannya diperbesar-besarkan oleh akhbar arus perdana yang biasa ditatap oleh murid-murid sekolah rendah, ramai murid bertanya kepada guru dan ibu bapa makna perkataan l...t itu. Demikianlah, betapa malu kita menerangkan kepada anak-anak. Ohhh, sungguh jijik isu yang diperbesar-besarkan oleh orang politik dan media massa kita. ************************** Murid-murid sekolah rendah yang berusia kurang 12 tahun itu tidak faham, kini ramai daripada mereka sudah dewasa; ada yang sudah mempunyai jawatan tetap dan tinggi dan tak kurang juga sudah berkeluarga dan mempunyai anak-anak sendiri. Bayangkan sudah puluhan tahun berlalu, tetapi hari ini negara kita masih dibelenggu oleh permasalahan yang tidak sudah-sudah ini. Sepanjang pengetahuan kita, tidak ada negara yang berterusan memfokus hal seperti ini sehingga puluhan tahun lamanya. **************************** Tuduhan l...t ini sudah cukup terlalu lama dan sungguh memalukan agama, bangsa dan negara kita. Cukuplah (enough is enough), bagi kita menanggung akibat daripada kebobrokan sistem dalam masyarakat kita. Sehubungan itu, bagi kita pengakuan bapa Saiful Bukhari, Azlan Mohd Lasim yang memohon maaf dalam keceluparannya dalam isu ini sewajarnya dijadikan pembatas untuk kita menguburkan terus perkara yang sepatutnya tidak singgah dalam kehidupan kita sebagai seorang Muslim. ************************** Kita amat dukacita apabila kes seperti dakwaan l...t ini dibicarakan luar daripada konteks kehendak Islam. Jelas sekali dalam menangani kes seperti ini Islam tidak diperlukan, lantas apakah maknanya kita meluangkan kecintaan kita kepada Rasululullah s.a.w. pada majlis-majlis khas yang kerap diadakan di negara kita seperti Maulidur Rasul? Saban tahun pada majlis-majlis seperti ini pemimpin akan beretorik, mengucapkan pesanan penuh syahdu seperti 'teladanilah Rasulullah s.a.w., nescaya kita akan selamat' atau pun 'Rasul adalah contoh ikutan'. ********************************** Dengan mengetepikan hukum-hakam Islam, dan kemudian membabitkan diri dalam membuka keaiban orang dalam suasana paling jijik dalam sejarah, tidak malukah kita untuk terus mengaku bahawa kita cintakan Rasulullah s.a.w.? Pada ketika kita begitu hebat melakukan maksiat dengan menghina ajaran Rasul yang pada anggapan kita tidak layak membicara kes seperti l...t ini, bagaimana mulut kita boleh berkomat-kamit menyebut dan memuji-muji Rasul? ****************************** Tanyalah diri kita secara jujur, apakah perbicaraan dalam kes liwat ini mengikut kehendak Rasul? Andainya Rasul hidup dan menyaksikan apa yang berlaku ini, apakah baginda akan bersenang hati mendengar puji-pujian kita pada majlis Maulidur Rasul sebaliknya apa yang diajarkan baginda tidak diamalkan dalam kehidupan umatnya? Apa kata Rasul jika diberitahu ada pemimpin mengaku Islam tidak mahu kes ini dibicarakan mengikut undang-undang Islam. Malah mereka menghalangnya daripada dibicarakan di mahkamah syariah sebaliknya sibuk dengan sumpah laknat seperti dibuat oleh Saiful dan trio Dato' T. ***************************** 'Enough is enough' - kita berpendapat sudah terlalu lama kita menanggung azab di bawah rejim pemerintah sekarang, Umno-BN yang jauh terpesong daripada kehendak agama. Maka pada PRU kali ini, lakukan penghijrahan bagi membolehkan kita mendaulatkan Islam dengan segara hukum-hakamnya di negara tercinta ini.Kuburkanlah rejim yang telah merosakkan minda anak-anak muda kita yang kini sudah memasuki alam dewasa yang penuh dengan masalah kronik seperti pembunuhan, penipuan dan maksiat! ****************************** Kita benar-benar takut jika kita adalah hipokrit paling besar; mendabik dada mengaku cintakan Rasul, tetapi sebenarnya kita penghina ajaran baginda. Ramai daripada kita adalah kaki rasuah, perompak harta negara, pengamal riba dan pemakan duit haram daripada sumber judi dan arak, tetapi sungguh aneh pada sambutan Maulidur Rasul, kita terhegeh-hegeh menjerit memberitahu satu dunia bahawa kita cintakan Rasul. ******************************** Contohilah Rasul, jerit pemimpin tetapi merekalah yang ke depan memboloti harta negara, sedangkan Rasul jauh daripada kesenangan dunia. Rumah Rasul terlalu daif, biasanya dapurnya tidak berasap selama beberapa hari. Hari baginda berlalu tanpa tidak berlapar, pakaiannya bertampal, perabot beliau hanya katilnya yang kasar dan apabila meninggal dunia tidak meninggalkan harta. Tidakkah jeritan pemimpin membayangkan kemunafikan mereka! ********************************** Alangkah baiknya jika aib (sekalipun dakwaan itu benar) orang ditutup rapat-rapat kerana keaiban diri sendiri pula ditutup oleh Yang Maha Kuasa. Untuk apa menghabiskan masa tua yang tinggal sebentar cuma itu menimbun dosa; sebaliknya memaksimumkannya untuk mencari bekalan sebanyak-banyaknya ke alam yang pangkat, kuasa, kemasyhuran dan duit serta emas permata tidak berguna lagi. ********************************* Jika keaiban orang sengaja kita dedahkan, segala keburukan diri kita pula akan didedahkan bukan saja di dunia ini tetapi tersangat dahsyat di akhirat nanti di mana seseorang itu hanya mengharapkan perlidungan Allah SWT. ****************************** Sebuah hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Muslim, menyatakan: "Barang siapa melepaskan seorang mukmin daripada kesusahan hidup di dunia, nescaya Allah akan melepaskan darinya kesusahan di hari kiamat, barang siapa memudahkan urusan (mukmin) yang sulit nescaya Allah akan memudahkan urusannya di dunia dan akhirat. Barang siapa menutup aib seorang Muslim, maka Allah akan menutup aibnya di dunia dan akhirat..."

Friday, March 15, 2013

Pemimpin pandai cakap tak serupa bikin...

**************************** Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. **************************** Renungan ***************************** "Dan janganlah kamu menghampiri zina, sesungguhnya zina itu adalah satu perbuatan yang keji dan satu jalan yang jahat yang membawa kerosakan." - Maksud Ayat al-Quran Surah al-Israa': 32 ****************************** SEJAK 'pencen' saya habiskan waktu pagi di kebun. Menebas dan bercucuk tanam. Sambil itu saya dengar-dengar siaran Radio IKIM. Bagus juga siaran radio ini, boleh tambahkan pengetahuan agama dan mendapatkan panduan hidup. Suatu pagi siaran radio ini menyiarkan ucapan secara langsung oleh seorang pemimpin pada majlis yang menghimpunkan umara (pemerintah) ulama dan asnaf (golongan penerima zakat). ********************************** Terpegun saya mendengar ucapan itu. Persis seorang ulama pemimpin itu bercakap. Memetik ayat-ayat al-Quran, hadis dan cendekiawan Islam hebat seperti Al-Ghazali. Kalaulah tidak disebutkan nama tokoh yang bercakap itu tentunya saranannya seperti amalan wasatiyah (hidup sederhana) amat mempesonakan. *********************************** Namun apabila diamati-amati cara hidup terutama isteri dan keluarganya serta merta kekaguman itu pudar. Ya, 'ada benda' dicakap tak sama dibikin. Kini ramai orang pandai cakap tetapi tidak patuh kepada apa yang dicakapnya. Kata orang mulut dan lidah padai bermain kata-kata, berbelit-belit ataupun lidah bagaikan ular atau biawak yang bercabang. ******************************** Sebenarnya saya pun takut diri saya jatuh dalam kategori ini. Pandai cakap (tulis) saja, diri sendiri pun tak terurus! Melalui ruangan ini pandai saya mengesyorkan kepada pembaca supaya mengamalkan nilai-nilai murni seperti menjaga kebersihan (terutama tandas masjid seperti diungkapkan dalam celoteh mengenai Masjid Keroh, Kuala Krai tidak lama dulu) tetapi bagaimana tandas di rumah sendiri? **************************** Bagi mengelak hal ini, saya membiasakan diri membasuh dan memberus tandas. Kata ulama perbuatan ini bagus kerana ia dapat membantu mengurangkan rasa takabur dalam diri kita. Membersihkan tandas adalah amalan sesetengah ahli sufi untuk mendidik nafsu masing-masing. Apabila nafsu sudah dididik barulah kita boleh menunggang nafsu, ini asyik-asyik nafsu yang menunggang kita. *************************** Orang yang pandai cakap (dan juga menulis) tetapi tak pandai buat (atau tak buat apa yang dia cakap atau tulis) telah membenarkan nafsu menunggang dirinya. Apabila nafsu (atau iblis dan syaitan) sudah menunggang diri, maka apa saja boleh berlaku. Termasuklah ketika berucap asyik mengungkapkan ayat-ayat Quran, hadis dan kata-kata ulama; tetapi realitinya dia tidak membuat perkara yang dicakapnya itu. Kata orang moden sekarang - cakap tak serupa bikin! ******************************** Pada ketika musim pilihan raya sekarang ini, maka makin ramailah orang (pemimpin) akan bercakap. Kerana sedar semakin ramai orang pandai cakap tapi tak sama bikin, ada kaedah untuk kita menilai seseorang itu, sama ada dia pemimpin tulen atau penipu. **************************** Pemimpin tulen boleh dilihat daripada seiringnya cakap dan perbuatannya. Jika dia mengesyorkan rakyat hidup sederhana, dia pun hidup secara sederhana. Tidak bolehlah seorang pemimpin meminta rakyat mengikat perut bagi menghadapi zaman inflasi sedangkan dia boros berbelanja seperti mengadakan majlis kahwin anak macam Raja Donan (tujuh hari tujuh malam) dengan dihadiri 100,000 tetamu. Lebih malang lagi jika wang perbelanjaan daripada sumber diragukan seperti membabitkan harta benda kerajaan. ***************************** Tidak bolehlah pemimpin bercakap beriya-iya mengajak rakyat "mengikut ajaran Islam sebenar" sedangkan anak isterinya pun tidak berpakaian menutup aurat sepenuhnya. Atau anak-anaknya terbabit dalam pesta maksiat seperti menogok minuman keras. Atau dia sendiri tidak dapat menahan nafsu untuk berjoget sekali dengan Psy atau Shah Rukh Khan dalam keadaan penyanyi dan penari pengiring seolah-olah tidak berpakaian. Jika ini berlaku, bermakna pemimpin berkenaan sudah membenarkan nafsu menunggangnya! ****************************** Orang bermuka-muka dipanggil hipokrit. Dalam istilah Islam, itulah munafik. Ada ciri untuk mengenal orang munafik. Antaranya jika bercakap dia bohong, jika berjanji dia mungkir. Mereka juga pandai bermain slogan tetapi jarang menunaikannya.Apabila slogan ini kerap diulang-ulang maka jadilah ia satu bentuk indoktrinasi yang sekarang ini semakin menjadi-jadi dalam masyarakat kita. ********************************* Hanya BN-Umno saja mampu buat itu dan ini. Hanya BN-Umno saja yang mampu perintah negara - demikian antara lain kita disogokkan dengan slogan berbentuk indoktrinasi ini. Bagi mereka yang telah termakan dakyah 'parti dulu, kini dan selamanya' akan percaya tetapi bagi golongan yang bersedia membuka gedung minda mereka untuk berfikir, akan menyedari hal ini tidak benar; ia temberang dan mengarut saja sebab di dunia ini apa saja boleh berlaku seperti mana yang dikehendaki oleh Yang Maha Kuasa!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

If Pakatan Rakyat wins...

******************** 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. *************************** ONE disturbing issue among Muslims that was raised by several 'ustaz' and religious figures in their 'ceramah' (talk) in several masjids was a survey that showed only about 12 percent of Muslim school children performed religiously their five times daily prayers (solat). ***************************** Then is it correct to say 88 percent of Muslim boys and girls are not committed to performing this second pillar of 'Rukun Islam'? **************************** To test 'the truth' in that findings, I approached a group of boys who were on their way to school after I have said my 'subuh' (dawn) prayers at a masjid. One morning, I saw two primary school boys resting on their bicycles under a tree on their way to school. I greeted them with a 'salam' and after giving the boys RM1 each, I was having a good meaningful conversation with them. ***************************** Both boys admitted that they had not said their 'subuh' prayers on that day before cycling to school. One of the boy was in Year Six and the other one in Year Three. They also admitted that they did not perform 'solat' at all. I asked them why, they answered their parents too did not solat and never asked them to do so! **************************** The elder boy said he did not go for 'sekolah agama' (afternoon religious school) because Year Six was a busy year as he would be sitting for his UPSR at the end of the year. The other boy said he goes to 'sekolah agama' and admitted he learnt a lot about solat and other principles in Islam. ************************** During our conversation another boy joined in. The Year Four boy admitted that he did not say his subuh prayer. At home he said, he performed his daily prayers but it was not on a regular basis. ************************ After telling the boys about the important of solat and going to the 'sekolah agama', I was on my way home; my mind focussed on the finding said by the ustaz. I had talk to three boys, none of them had performed their 'subuh' prayers (100 percent); thus I must admit that the findings that 88 percent of our children had truth in it. *********************** On another morning, I talked to a group of secondary school boys who were walking on a dirt road on their way to school. Since some of them were puffing away their cigaretts, I did not mention on whether they had performed the subuh prayers but instead asked why they were smoking. ********************* "'Pakcik' (Uncle), 'ini rokok kita beli pakai duit kita orang' (we buy this cigaretts with our own money). 'Kita orang bekerjalah' (We worked to earn money). 'Pakcik menyibuk buat apa?' (Why must Uncle bother us?)" ************************ I sensed trouble ahead, so I picked up myself to distance away from them. In my mind, I kept on thinking; how were teachers coping to handle these boys in school; were their parents having knowledge about their children's bad manners and behaviour? ******************* At first I wanted to ask the boys whether they had said their subuh prayers or not but the situation did not permit; so I just assummed that they did not perform it; perhaps I was wrong... ************************* So dear readers, why are our young generation distancing itself from performing solat which is the most important aspect of life for Muslims? It is the second article in 'Rukun Islam' (pillars of faith) - where without performing solat, other good deeds done by a Muslim will not be accountable for by Allah SWT. ************************ Solat is the benchmark whether a person would be successful or not in the world and the Hereafter. Remember the mu'azzin would call for prayers five times daily and in the azan, he would recite twice "come to sucess" after saying "come to prayer." This means to be sucessfull in this life what more in the Hereafter, a person MUST perform his/her solat. In short, no solat, no success in a human being's life. ************************** Solat is so powerful in life that even some non-Muslims acknowledged that a Muslim who perform this duty religously is an honest person that could be trusted and depended upon. I have experienced this circumstance when the Chinese headmistres of my primary school son told me that she had no problem in deadling with her pupils who performed their solat; they were well disciplined and organized in their work. ************************** Thus solat is the key word to be a successful person. A sincere Muslim performs all obligatory deeds and adheres to the pillars of Islam, complety and devotedly. He does not slacken, do it halfheartedly or seek excuses not to do it. So he establishes prayer, performing each of the five daily prayers on time, for prayer is the pillar of faith - whoever establishes prayer establishes faith, and whoever neglect prayer destroys the faith. *************************** Prayer is the best of deeds, as is made clear in the hadith narrated by Ibn Mas'ood r.a. (may Allah be pleased with him) in which he said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'What deed is most loved by Allah?' He said, 'To offer each prayer as soon as it is due...'" *************************** Prayer is so important because it is a direct link between the servant and his Lord, in which he distances himself from the concerns of daily life and focuses himself entirely on his Lord, asking Him for help, guidance and preseverance to continue along the Straight Path. So it is hardly surprising that prayer is considered to be the best of deeds, because it is the source from which the believer may replenish his 'taqwa' and the spring in whose pure water he may cleanse himself on his sins. - The Ideal Muslim (Muhammad Ali Al-Hashim, IIPH) ************************** Well, solat is the key to success but sadly our children were not keen in performing it. Only 12 percent of our young generation perform solat regulary; we must admit that a grave mistake has been done; perhaps previosly those in power were too concerned and focuses on those pillars that gave us economical gains such as paying zakat (tithe) and hajj programmes but left 'the issues of solat' alone. ****************************** So, if Pakatan Rakyat wins in the coming 13th general election and holds power in Putrajaya 'insya-Allah (God willing), let's hope its leaders especially from PAS and PKR would work hard in religious development so that the young generation will become people who are synonim with solat for solat is the key to be successful in this world in Hereafter!

Monday, March 11, 2013

The much awaited 'anak sulung'

*********************** In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Reflection*************** "Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80) ****************** ALMOST every morning, I drive along Jalan Bukit Katil in Melaka Tengah and during the journey I realize there are special bicycle lanes on both sides of the road from the Tehel-Kampung Tun Razak junction right up to the junction of Jalan Gapam-Jasin. ************************** The dedicated bicycle lanes are about two kilometers long but the irony of it is, I have not seen any cyclist using them. Judging from ‘the non existence’ of cyclists, I am afraid to say that the three-metre-wide lanes are among the many white elephants projects in Melaka which its leaders claimed had reached a fully developed status in 2010. ************************* During his campaign to promote the setting of the bicycle lanes, State Education, Youth and Sport Committee chairman Dato’ Gan Tian Loo said the projects were designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and boost the ‘Go Green’ campaign. In fact the state had the longest slogan in the country that is, ‘Melaka Maju Negeriku Sayang Negeri Bandar Teknologi Hijau’ (Melaka Progressive, My Beloved State, State and Town with Green Technology). *************************** Gan said the special lanes that were built in Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin would encourage more Melaka people to opt for cycling as a mode of transport. In Melaka Tengah, the stretches include Kampung Tun Razak in Bukit Katil to Kompleks Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh, Malacca International Trade Centre to Kompleks Seri Negeri, Bukit Cina roundabout to Jalan Hang Tuah near Avillion Legacy Hotel, Taman Rempah to Stadhuys and Jalan Ong Kim Wee to Mahkota Parade (via the flyover). ************************ In Alor Gajah district, the stretches are from SK Lesung Batu to SMK Seri Pengkalan in Taman Pengkalan, SK Alor Gajah to SM Teknik Datuk Seri Mohd Zin and Alor Gajah Municipal Council to SJKC Alor Gajah. The stretch between Taman Maju and SJKC Yu Hsien in Jasin will also have the dedicated bicycle lanes. ************************ Based on the ‘almost non existence cyclists’ on the dedicated lanes at Jalan Bukit Katil, I am afraid to say the choice of that route was a mistake. When the lane was made, I had talked to several residents of Kampung Tun Razak who grew their crops on government lands along the road and these crops were being slashed down. They said that that project was only to quench the thirst of a few selected contractors. ************************** Driving along the empty stretch of the dedicated bicycle lanes in Jalan Bukit Katil, I could not help but have a thought about a few more big and glamorous projects undertaken by the municipality and the state government with public money. ********************** If we enter the state by exiting at the Ayer Keroh Tol Plaza, if we open our eyes and ‘heart’ we could see for ourselves those glamorous but wasteful projects using public funds. ************************** After exiting the toll plaza, if one is observant, on the left near the road junction to Durian Tunggal, there stands the Melaka Go-Cart circuit which was built at the cost of RM9.9 milllion. ************************** It is now in ‘a confusion state’, the company in charge was said failed to settle rent amounting to RM210,000 to ‘Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Melaka’ (Melaka State Development Corporation). ************************* If one is to take the Ayer Keroh-Melaka road at night, one will notice the road is decorated with bright coloured lights all the way. Even some big trees were full of lights. For some it is okay to spend public money in this way but at some areas and buildings such as the Kota Cemerlang building, it is too much. **************************** On the grounds of the municipality building (Graha Makmur), one would notice a giant clock decorated with flowers. The locals called it ‘jam bunga’. It was said to cost the municipality RM500,000 to build. ********************* Down the road, after passing the ‘flower clock’, one will come across the Bukit Sebukor man-made waterfall. It cost the public RM1.78 million to build this so-called ‘highest man-made’ waterfall in the country. The RM1.78 million does not stop there however, as the people would have to continually fund for its electricity and maintenance. ************************ Other than the Ayer Keroh-Bukit Sebukor-Melaka route, road users to the historic city too could use the Ayer Keroh-Batu Berendam-Melaka road. On this road, one would notice the gleaming Melaka International Airport. ************************* This old Lapangan Terbang Batu Berendam has undergone a RM131 million project to extend the runaway with a second extension and upgrading works carried out to enable it to cater to Boeing 737A and Airbus 320A. ************************* Covering 7,000 square meters, the airport’s new terminal has facilities for domestic and international flights and can handle 1.5 million passengers annually. All went smoothly, so what’s the problem? ************************ The Chief Minister was ambitious with this (or his) project, but local and international carriers including the low cost ones such as AirAsia and Lion Air were not keen in using the airport because it was not far away from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang. *********************** From the Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza to these airports, traveling time is only about an hour, so it feasible for carriers to invest money by operating in this airport. Millions of ringgit has been spent to upgrade the airport facilities, and now it seems that it will become another white elephant in the state. *************************** About 15 minutes drive from the airport one would reach Melaka Sentral. This centre sits on 46.6 acres of land in Peringgit, cost RM53 million to build, consists of three main components – the bus and taxi terminals, the central market and the bazaar. It was opened by then Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on 14th May 2004. **************************** Not long ago ugly cracks could be seen along the bus boarding platforms at the bus terminal; tiles broken; their sharp edges posing danger to unsuspecting passengers. The uneven floor due to the sinking ground condition has made the condition worse. **************************** Some time ago the central market building too was declared unsafe and was closed to give way to repair works after cracks were found in the building. During that period traders had to do business in the market parking lot. ************************* Not far away from Melaka Sentral, the Sungai Melaka flows lazily downstream where rigorous, glamorous and big projects are already there or on going to be built or constructed. Among others were the beautifying and cleaning of the Melaka River with the first phase costing RM120 million and the second amounting to RM90 million. For the following phase, works are on going to clean the river from Pengkalan Rama Pantai to Melaka Sentral (near Pasaraya Maidin), a distance of about two kilometres. ************************** On the bank of Sungai Melaka at Kampung Morten, runs a monorail line of about one kilometer which cost the government some RM16.5 million to build. The joke that went around the state was that the tram broke down on its first day of service. It was of no benefit to the ordinary local commuters but to serve tourists who would pay a fare of RM10. ************************ Regarding the future of Muslims, several young Malay professionals interviewed said said Muslim must have Opposition representatives in the Melaka State Assembly to make sure that all matters regarding Islam are attended to. Matters involving ‘wakaf’ lands for example, must be dealt seriously and not handed over to anyone. ********************* Remember the mismanagement of properties (harta zakat) by Majlis Agama Islam (Melaka Islamic Religious Council, MAIM) as disclosed in the ‘Laporan Ketua Audit Negara’ (Auditor-General’s Report) for the Melaka state in 2009 resulting in the usage of ‘wang zakat’ (tithe money) amounting to RM13.8 million to complete Kompleks Perniagaan Al-Azim near the State Mosque (Masjid Al-Azim) in Bukit Palah? And what about the issues of MAIM properties being sold to third parties and the usage of another RM1.8 million tithe money for advance payment for the completion works of ‘Pejabat Agama Islam Melaka’ (Melaka Religious Department Office). ************************ Based on the ‘boros’ (lavish) attitude of the Umno-BN leaders in Melaka (the Auditor General’s Report 2011 notes that Malacca’s public debt has increased by RM12.87 million to RM865.94 million) , let us hope PAS Melaka would have an ‘anak sulung’ (first child) and it would be a bonus if it could captured at least nine out of 13 state seats which it would be contesting in the coming 13th general election, thus paving way for it to take helm of the historical state of Melaka with the help of its partners, PKR and DAP, 'insya-Allah' (God willing).

Friday, March 8, 2013

Bersopan santunlah hadapi pilihan raya...

******************** Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan ********************** Hadis riwayat Abu Hazim, daripada Abu Hurairah yang dikeluarkan oleh Muslim, bermaksud: "Tidak akan hancur dunia ini (kiamat) hingga ada seorang laki-laki yang melewati kuburan lalu ia berguling-guling di atasnya seraya berkata, 'alangkah baiknya sekiranya aku berada di tempat penghuni kubur ini.' Hal ini bukan kerana faktor agama tetapi kerana adanya musibah." *********************** HUJUNG minggu lalu (2-3 Mac) saya menginap di salah sebuah hotel di Segitiga Emas KL (berhampiran KLCC). Alhamdulillah pada subuh Ahad saya berpeluang bersolat berjemaah di Masjid Al-Syakirin KLCC. Jemaahnya tidak ramai, almaklumlah kawasan itu bukan penempatan penduduk apatah lagi orang Islam, sebaliknya kedapatan banyak pejabat, hotel, pusat beli-belah dan juga hiburan. ************************** Jika solat subuhnya jemaahnya sebaris, kuliah subuh yang diadakan selepas solat hanya dihadiri tidak sampai 10 orang. Itupun mereka (termasuk saya) berada nun jauh di belakang, termasuk di sebalik tiang. Di depan ustaz tiada orang tetapi senario itu tidak menghalang sang ustaz untuk bercakap penuh bersemangat mengenai sunnah-sunnah mudah Rasulullah s.a.w. untuk diamalkan oleh setiap orang Islam agar mereka disayangi bukan saja di dunia ini tetapi juga di kalangan 'makhluk langit'. ************************** Sayogia sunnah dikhabarkan sang ustaz itu dapat dimanfaatkan semua termasuklah calon pilihan raya agar mereka akan sentiasa disenangi; tetapi niatnya mestilah betul iaitu untuk mengikut sunnah Rasul seterusnya bagi mendapatkan keredaan Allah SWT. Soal disenangi manusia seterus menang pilihan raya itu adalah bonus, yang penting kita mahu sentiasa berada di jalan-Nya yang lurus. ************************ Ustaz itu sempat memberi tujuh sunnah saja; yang pertama sentiasalah senyum, mempamerkan wajah manis kepada sesiapa saja; yang kedua mendahuluilah memberi salam dan adalah lebih baik lagi dapat dijabat orang berkenaan; ketiganya banyakkan diam kerana diam itu adalah satu ibadah. *********************** Berkenaan hal diam ini, sang ustaz mengulas panjang; katanya, sewajarnya seseorang itu bercakap apabila perlu saja. Apabila seseorang itu diam dia akan dianggap hebat tetapi sebalik saja membuka mulut, dia akan dinilai lebih hebat jika buah cakapnya adalah mutiara sebaliknya nilaian dirinya jatuh terperosok jika mulutnya menuturkan 'hal longkang'. *********************** Sunnah keempat ialah kita menjadi seorang pendengar yang baik (beri tumpuan kepada orang yang bercakap dan jangan suka memotong cakapnya). Apabila kita sudah memberi dia peluang bercakap sepuas-puasnya, tentunya dia rela hati mendengar cakap kita pula. ************************** Sunnah kelima ialah sentiasa tampil menarik; katanya, Rasulullah s.a.w. apabila berjalan sentiasa membawa bekas (orang sekarang kata pouch) yang di dalamnya ada peralatan mendandan diri seperti minyak rambut, minyak wangi, kayu sugi dan gunting) untuk membolehkan baginda sentiasa menjaga penampilan diri. ********************** Yang keenamnya adalah sentiasa menyenangi orang lain (sebarkan salam). Adalah senang untuk kita menyenangi atau kasihi orang yang kita cintai dan dia mencintai kita tetapi bagaimana mahu mengasahi orang yang membenci kita? Inilah yang dilakukan oleh Rasul s.a.w.; baginda boleh mengasihi orang Yahudi yang setiap hari membuat onar kepadanya. Demikian juga perbuatan jahat seorang wanita tua dibalasnya dengan kebaikan sehingga ramai individu yang memeluk Islam dengan kaedah ini. *************************** Ketujuh, baginda Rasul sentiasa bersopan santun dalam sebarang tindak tanduknya. Jika kita bercakap cakaplah elok-elok sekalipun dengan lawan atau musuh kita. Demikianlah secara ringkas diberitahu oleh ustaz berkenaan dalam kuliah subuhnya suatu pagi dingin di Masjid As-Syakirin di tengah-tengah jantung ibu kota KL. ***************************** Berdasarkan ini, alangkah moleknya jika sunnah Rasul ini dapat kita (termasuk calon pilihan raya dan penyokong mereka) mempratikkannya dalam lapangan kehidupan seperti ketika berkempen. Alangkah buruknya jika menggunakan kaedah tidak mengikut sunnah seperti pendekatan samseng semata-mata untuk menang pilihan raya. ************************* Pendekatan politik samseng dan tipu daya bukan perkara baru dalam pilihan raya. Allahyarham Khatijah Sidek, pemimpin Muslimat PAS pertama yang menyertai pilihan raya pada tahun 1959, ada mengkisahkan hal ini dalam buku Memoir Khatijah Sidek - Puteri Kesateria Bangsa (UKM) 1995. Ambil iktibar apa yang dinyatakannya. ********************* Dalam Bab 12 - Malaya Merdeka, dalam buku itu ditulis: ************************ Di peringkat Parlimen pula dalam pilihan raya umum 1959, kami (PAS) memperolehi 13 kerusi. Akan tetapi Setiausaha Agung PAS, Othman Abdullah, keluar daripada PAS dan melompat ke pihak kerajaan. Kerana itu tinggal 12 kerusi PAS di Parlimen. *********************** Tuanku Abdul Rahman menghantar Othman naik haji ke Makkah untuk menaikkan namanya di kalangan rakyat. Untuk menjadi lebih popular, dia juga membuat kajian tentang kapal haji yang setiap tahun membawa jemaah haji Malaya ke Makkah. ************************ Setelah pulang dari Makkah, dia menyerang kami, dengan hebat sekali. Dia menuduh Yang Dipertua kami, Dr Burhanuddin, sebagai komunis, kerana pada masa Darurat pada 1948, beliau secara terbuka menyeru orang Melayu jangan menyerang kaum gerila Cina yang berjuang melawan British di dalam hutan, dan British telah menggunakan ini sebagai alasan untuk memenjarakannya. ************************* Sekarang Othman membangkitkan semula cerita lama untuk menuduh Dr Burhanuddin sebagai komunis. ************************* Kami dalam PAS tidak menduga akan memenangi Kelantan dan Terengganu pada 1959 itu sungguhpun kedua-dua negeri itu kuat dari segi agama. Kerajaan Perikatan pimpinan Tuanku Abdul Rahman memang sangat kuat dan mereka menggunakan banyak wang sumbangan tauke besar Cina untuk menentang kami, sebuah parti orang Melayu yang daif. *********************** Kami hanya bersandar pada orang kampung yang miskin yang untuk menyewa sebuah mikrofon pun mereka tidak mampu. Sering kali kami terpaksa buat ucapan tanpa mikrofon dan pembesar suara. Bukan saja kerajaan Umno yang menghalang kami; peniaga Cina juga buat begitu. Sekalipun kami dapat mikrofon, kami tak dapat pinjam bateri untuk alat pembesar suara. Kami tak dapat kereta untuk kempen pilihan raya. ******************** Dalam pilihan raya 1959, semua menteri Umno dan Perikatan menyerang kami sehebat-hebatnya, menuduh kami komunis untuk menakut-nakutkan orang kampung. Dakyah ini berjaya, akibatnya kami gagal di Perlis, sebuah kubu kuat PAS; dan rakyatnya kuat beragama. Kami bahkan lebih yakin dapat menawan Perlis daripada mana-mana negeri lain di Persekutuan. ************************ Tapi kerajaan menggunakan sepucuk surat yang ditulis oleh Dr Burhanuddin semasa pemerintahan BMA (Pentadbiran Tentera British - selepas tamat Perang Dunia Ke-2 pada 1945 hingga pertengahan 1946) sebagai senjata sulitnya. Pada masa itu beliau terlibat dalam penubuhan Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) untuk memperjuangkan hak orang Melayu dan kemerdekaan Malaya. ********************** Semboyan mereka ialah 'merdeka' dengan landasan berjuang bersama Indonesia bagi penubuhan Melayu Raya, iaitu sebuah gagasan besar terdiri daripada Malaya, Filipina dan Indonesia serta menyatukan seluruh Nusantara. PKMM diharamkan pada 1948. ********************* Semua pemimpin PKMM ditahan dan dipenjara. Ahmad Boestamam, pemimpin sayap pemuda API, Ishak Haji Muhammad anggota Socialist Front, dan Dr Burhanuddin Helmi, Yang Dipertua PAS, semuanya dipenjarakan bersama anggota lain, khasnya ahli jawatankuasa. ************************ Pihak kerajaan membuat salinan surat yang dikatakan ditulis oleh Dr Burhanuddin; kemudian pada pukul 4.00 hari mengundi, orang Umno pergi mengetuk pintu rumah orang kampung menunjukkan surat itu kepada penghuni sambil memberi amaran: "Kalau kamu undi PAS, bererti kamu undi komunis dan akan masuk penjara serta-merta." ************************* Orang kampung sangat takut. Mereka tak ada masa untuk datang kepada kami bagi mendapatkan nasihat kerana hari itu hari mengundi dan ada beberapa jam saja lagi sebelum membuang undi. **************************** Kami juga tak ada masa untuk mengambil langkah menentangnya; kerana itu, kami kalah teruk di Perlis tanpa mendapat satu kerusi pun. Kedah juga terpengaruh oleh dakyah ini; maka kami hanya memenangi dua buah negeri, iaitu Terengganu dan Kelantan."

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The old coconut…

************************* 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. ******************************* “DEAR Author, it is good to hear your helpful opinions (Ideas for masjid committees, previous posting), basically the reason of why I contact is that to share one more way of da`wah which is obligatory upon every Muslim. *********************** “There is one influential scholar called Bediuzzaman Said Nursi originated at Turkey. His way of teaching or training is unlikely so impressive and functional in this fast technology life, to some extent technology causes the people, especially youth, be away from integrating the consultation and conversation each other at all. In other words, every person remains himself or herself, called more individual life. *********************** “As regards of mentioned scholar training, fundamentally to closely deal with a person or group of people for long time by kindly attaching with sincerity and brotherhood because saving a belief of man is as equal as universe itself. Even throughout life of man is needed to be attached and engaged, not a certain time. ************************** “As a result of this, religious lessons in masjids held within this personal way of learning will produce more fruitful results. If you are more interested, we can do study and talk on more about it.” – Mustafa **************************** ‘Jazakallahu Khairan Kasira’ (may Allah bless you with goodness) Mr. Mustafa, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "If good is done to someone and then they say "Jazakallahu khayran" to the one who did the good, they have indeed praised them well." (Tirmidhi). Thanks for e-mailing me this helpful information. It is kind of you to mention to me and readers about the method of da’wah propagated by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. ****************************** Another writer noted that Shariah has not prescribed a special method for the da'wah work. The responsibility of da'wah will be discharged by using any method, whether this is by teaching religious knowledge to thirsty students, writing books, inviting people to Islam, going to peoples’ homes and calling them to the masjids (as the Jama'ah Tabligh does) or any other means. ************************* We need to realize that there are different methods of serving the deen of Allah. Some people are involved in teaching children Qur’an and basics of deen, some in teaching advanced sciences like tafsir, hadith and fiqh, others in doing charity work, some spending their night and day answering people’s questions and writing fatwas, some spending their whole time authoring beneficial books, and some in lecturing and advising people on how to reform their souls. These are all works of deen, and it is wrong to deem that a particular effort is better than the other. ************************* The meaning of da’wah is to invite. Da’wah has two dimensions; external and internal, External da’wah is to invite non-Muslims to Islam, and internal da’wah is to remind the Muslims about their duties to Allah and the teachings of Islam taught by our beloved Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). ********************** The person who does such a work is called a da’ee. Calling to Allah (ad-Da’wah ilallaah) is the way of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his followers, as Allah, the Most High, says: “Say, O Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam): This is my way, I call to Allah (i.e to the testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, with no partner) upon certain knowledge - I, and those who follow me. I declare Allah free and far removed from all that they associate as partners with Him, and I am free of those who worship anything else along with Him.” (Soorah Yoosuf 12:108)] *********************** Indeed calling to Allah was the mission of all the Messengers and their followers, in order to bring the people out of darkness and into light, from unbelief non believer to true Faith (eemaan), from shirk to tawheed, and from the Fire to Paradise. ************************ An important matter for Muslims to realise is that da`wah is an obligation upon them. Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) says in the Qur’an: “Invite to the way of your Rabb with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious, for your Rabb knows best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance. “ (An-Nahl: 125) ********************* He says: “You are the best of peoples, taken out for mankind. You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah.” (Al-Imran:110) ******************** “Let there be a group of people amongst you inviting to all that is good, enjoining al-ma`roof (i.e. Islamic monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are successful.” (al-Qur’an, Aal `Imraan (3):104) ********************** The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) has said: “Convey from me, even one verse.” ([al-Bukhaaree) Conveying the message therefore does not require a high level of scholarship, it is in fact a responsibility of each and every Muslim, according to his or her ability. ************************* There are numerous verses of the Quran and the Ahadith of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that emphasizes on the importance of da’wah. *********************** All praise is for Allaah who has made it easy for us to take part in da’wah in this day and age with the barakah of da’wah and tabligh. ************************** Talking about the many da’wah groups in our country, I would like to share with readers a point raised by a member of a group to me regarding their shyness to get involved in politics. “Please brother; lets God decide who would lead the country. Why must you or your party busily trying to oust the present leaders? ************************ “Remember, you should not try to ‘jolok’ (to force down) a coconut from a tree. Just wait for when the right time comes, the coconut will fall down by itself. Not only old coconuts fall down, even at times the young ones too fall to the ground.” ************************* He said events and developments in the country clearly showed that the old coconut (the old party) is about to fall down. Its leaders made mistakes again and again and strangely they failed in their bid to cover up their mistakes. ******************************** If Allah the Almighty wished to have the old coconut (or even a bunch of them) fall down during this season, then who could stop it? Insya-Allah (God willing), the time has come. 'INI KALILAH' (This is the time)!

Friday, March 1, 2013

Masa depan rakyat gemilang apabila Pakatan bawa harapan

DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. Renungan "Bagi setiap orang ada malaikat yang sentiasa mengikutinya secara bergilir-gilir, baik di depan mahupun di belakangnya, mereka menjaga atas perintah Allah." - Al-Rad 13: 11 Bersyukur ke hadrat IIahi kita dipanjangkan usia dan diberi kesempatan bagi memuzakarahkan isu semasa; kali ini kita ingin menyentuh harapan rakyat berdasarkan Manifesto Rakyat oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Jika ada bijak pandai menghuraikan demokrasi sebagai kuasa rakyat kepada rakyat, kita mendoakan kebangkitan rakyat kali ini terutama bagi menghadapi pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) yang disifatkan sebagai 'ibu segala pilihan raya' iaitu yang paling getir dalam sejarah negara, selepas itu akan menyaksikan tertubuhnya sebuah kerajaan yang menepati definisi bijak pandai itu - kuasa rakyat kepada rakyat. Kita percaya Pakatan Rakyat sudah berada dalam laluan itu akan membuat yang terbaik untuk semua rakyat berdasarkan semangat yang sudah dilakar - Malaysia adalah negara berpotensi besar. Rakyatnya yang bersaudara gigih berusaha. Negara dibina atas landasan agama dan akar budaya diikat oleh muafakat Perlembagaan. Ya, sekaranglah masanya untuk mengakhiri keegoan kuasa golongan feudal yang bagaikan barah mengganas membaham rakyat sejak Merdeka lebih 50 tahun lalu. Cita-cita murni rakyat direncat oleh elit kekuasaan. Rasuah dan ketamakan membarah. Rakyat dibiarkan dengan kepayahan hidup. "Setiap daripada kita berhak mendapat yang terbaik. Pendidikan berkualiti, negara berkebajikan, peluang saksama dan pentadbiran beramanah menanti kita. Demi kita, demi rakyat, bersama-sama ubah sekarang untuk melakar masa depan Malaysia," demikian antara lain rumusan Manifesto Rakyat itu. Juga dinyataan: "Malaysia yang ditadbir secara amanah dan rakyat yang makmur kehidupannya akan melahirkan sebuah masyarakat yang bermaruah. Masyarakat bermaruah adalah sebuah masyarakat yang yakin dengan asal-usulnya, berpegang dengan prinsip agama dan nilai sejagat yang membela yang benar dan menentang yang zalim, saling percaya akan hubungan persaudaraan setiap insan, gigih berusaha memperbaiki diri, yang kuat membantu yang lemah tiada yang terpinggir, berlumba-lumba mengagungkan budaya ilmu dan istiqamah pada usaha amar ma’aruf nahi munkar. "Rekod pentadbiran kerajaan-kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat menjadi bukti iltizam kita terus membina kerajaan yang amanah demi memakmurkan rakyat. Pakatan Rakyat telah merakyatkan ekonomi. Jutaan penduduk Malaysia menikmati agihan kekayaan negara pada kala kekuatan kewangan negeri-negeri yang ditadbir terus digandakan. Pakatan Rakyat telah membudayakan amanah di dalam pentadbiran. Amalan rasuah dicegah dan laba dari pentadbiran beramanah ini disalurkan kembali untuk menjana kemakmuran rakyat." Demikianlah keadaan gemilang digambarkan apabila kuasa berada di tangan rakyat. Rakyatlah penentu masa depan negara, bukan di tangan segelintir pemimpin kroni yang membahagi-bahagi kekayaan (daging) sesama puak sendiri dan bagi menutup pekung di dada melemparkan sedikit 'tulang' agar tidak 'disalak' rakyat. Dan apabila mereka tersepit seperti ketika PRU13 ini, maka lebih banyak lagi 'tulang' (atau hampas) dilemparkan kepada rakyat. Namun kepada semua pemimpin, sukacita kita mengingatkan akan kata-kata bijak pandai yang menyebut 'power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Sehubungan itu kita benar-benar berharap agar rakyat akan sentiasa terbela melalui sikap besar pemimpin yang sedia dikritik termasuklah melalui saluran umum seperti media massa. Memetik kata seorang pemimpin Pakatan yang bermaksud, "tidak guna kepemimpinan negara berubah, tetapi nasib rakyat tetap sama" marilah kita sama-sama berdoa bahawa masa depan gemilang yang diuar-uarkan itu akan menjadi milik semua rakyat!