Steering ourselves onto His straight path

********************** In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Reflection *********************** “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) ************************** IF one is alert while traveling from Melaka city to 'Perigi Hang Tuah' (Hang Tuah Well) in Kampung Duyong via the Semabok Dalam Road, 'insya-Allah' (God willing), one would notice a 'surau' (small masjid) by the roadside with a prominient sign 'Surau Haji Hamid'. ********************** Well, dear readers, that surau was named after my maternal grandfather. The surau is a 'wakaf' (donated for religious purpose building) by my mother's father who had passed away years before I was born. He died when my mother was only nine years old. ******************* I mentioned this surau to readers while writing this article on Wednesday night (3rd April) after sensing strange feelings inside me while attending a 'tazkirah' (Islamic lesson) at a masjid near my house where the 'ustaz' (religious teacher) told congregators that they needed to perform good deeds as much as possible. ********************* It was because in the Hereafter, we need a lot of 'pahala' (rewards for good deeds done) to 'finance' ourselves during our 'long long journey' before we would rewarded with Paradise or thrown into Hell (nauzubillah - God forbid)). He told us for example during the journey on 'Siratulmustakim' (a very small bridge through the hell to heaven), it would took us 3,000 years in an ascending position, 2,000 years descending and 1,000 years in a flat condition. ************************* "Well, do not even think that our lives would be comfortable in the Hereafter if we fail to do things that would please Allah SWT during our lifetime. Terrible things would be awating us; so do not live in this world without preparing for our death or worst of all there are people taking their own lives (commiting suicide) thinking that death would end their sufferings," said the ustaz. ********************** Yes, we needed a lot of 'pahala' in the Hereafter where our worldly possessions are of no use. Other than obeying Allah's order and avoiding His prohibitions during our existence in the word, there are three things that would still benefit a Muslim even after his/her death. ********************** The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).” [Sahih Muslim] ********************** Well dear readers, when the ustaz mentioned about ceaseless charity, I remembered the surau that was given as a 'wakaf' by my grandfather. The surau was there before I was born in 1962. So it must be more than half a century old. Insya-Allah (God willing), my grandfather would reap the reward from his investment all those long years even though he passed away a very very long time ago. ********************** Thinking about the surau, I saluted my grandfather's deeds and question myself on what have I done to have 'pahala' being credited into my account even after my death. I was afraid that I have nothing; that's made me very scared because death is very near to each of us; there is only a little separation between being alive and being dead. ********************** Afraid of being not able to leave something beneficial to relatives, friends and readers, I quickly reached for my computer and wrote this article hoping that it would be one of my contributions that would be beneficial to me in the Hereafter. ********************* Since the 13th general election is around the corner; I would like to remind myself and readers to 'steer ourselves and our families members in His straight path' as the process towards establising an 'Islamic environment and insya-Allah an Islamic government', begins at home. ************************ Allah SWT says in the Qur'an: "O! You who believe, save yourself and your families from Hell-fire, whose fuel are humans and stones (idols) over which are are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they recieve from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded." (At-Tahrim 66:6) ********************* My family too was not spared from discussing the coming general elections. During a session, I carefully listened to what my mother had to say. She commented on the saying "kalau bagi duit ambil, kalau bagi gula kacau, kalau bagi sarung ambil, tetapi apabila undi, undi PAS" (if they give money take it, if they give sugar or sarung take them too, but when it comes to voting, vote for PAS) ********************** My mother pointed out that it is important for Muslims to verify the source of income or the food that makes it on the family's table - it must be free from any form of 'syubahat', or if one is unsure it is adviseable not to take or consume it. ********************* She said when we take the bribe for the very first time, our hearts will be a little blackened, but if we keep on doing it, our hearts would be hardened and it will finally be eclipsed from the truth. ********************* My mother was afraid that the bribes given by the political parties concerned, would have blackened the people's hearts. Their hearts are now more receptive to the fancies and fantasies of the world, and they are constantly in awe of the worldly benefits offered by those 'have all' parties. ********************* "If our heart had been blackened, how are we going to live according to the Islamic principles, for example when choosing leaders?" she asked. "We will blindly choose whoever is willing to please our desires (nafs)." ********************* She then asked us to do 'muhasabah' (check ourselves) including our families, whether we haved lived according to the Islamic way of life. *********************** "It is important because if we want Islam as a rule of law, we must make sure that it begins with our family especially the children," she said. **************** Well dear readers, our children are our 'assets' in the Hereafter. We must also leave behind contributions; perhaps a 'wakaf' in the form of a 'masjid', 'surau' or a 'tahfiz' school. If we can't build a 'surau' like my grandfather why not contribute generously to such projects!