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!