Free ourselves from the burden of carrying coins…

************************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. *************************** Reflection ********************* Surat Adh-Dhariyat 55:56 (The Winnowing Winds) Allah SWT says, with the meaning; "I have only created jinn and men, that they may serve Me." ************************* A few days ago I paid a visit to the EPF headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur. I travelled to the city by bus from Melaka Sentral. Since I had not travelled to KL for a long time I was taken aback while checking at bus counters to find out that fares of all bus companies had risen by about 10 percent with the most expensive being Transnasional which was at RM13.80 and the lowest offered by Metro at RM10! ********************** At the EPF office, I heard a man grumbling about 'his difficulties in withdrawing his hard earned money which was stacked in EPF'. Of course if we could not fill in the requirements drawn up by EPF, 'we could not withdraw our money saved there because the money was simply for 'simpanan hari tua anda' (savings for your old age). ************************* While there, I pick up a booklet entitled 'EPF Savings and Your Retirement' and noted a few important messages from EPF with the first question being: "Are your retirements saving sufficient?" ************************* Then there was this question: "How much do you need for your retirement?" The answers given were: ************************* * It all depends on your needs and requirements, the state of your health and lifestyle. *************************** * If you wish to spend RM800 a month for a period of 20 years (55-75 years), you need to have savings of RM192,000. ************************ * If you wish to spend RM800 a month for the period of 15 years (assuming that you retire at the age of 60 years), you need to have savings of RM144,000. ****************************** Wow, that was a lot of money; I refrained myself from discussing further on matters regarding 'simpanan hari tua anda' but moved on to 'muzakarah' (exchange of ideas) on subjects regarding 'simpanan selepas anda mati' (savings for your life in the Hereafter, or in crude language - savings for your life in your grave!). ********************** A week ago I heard this story from a 'tok guru' (religious figure) while giving a 'tazkirah' (lessons) at a 'surau' (small masjid) near my house: "Once a great caliph asked the pious man, Hassan Al-Basri why he was not happy as power and wealth was already at his feet. The grand sufi gave a simple answer: "Your Majesty, you are only thinking on how to multiply your worldly gains such as building palace after palace but you have not built any palace for yourself in the Hereafter." *************************** Well, with the EPF money we are only thinking about our life after retirement, but what about our 'lives after our death'? If we assumed ourselves 'to go on' living for another 15 to 20 years after retiring at the age of 55 or 60 years and needed about RM150,000 to RM200,000 to 'sustain' life; then what would we have planned for life after death which is 'forever and forever' (eternal or in Malay 'abadi')? ********************************** Surely, if 'we have a sound mind', we know we need 'billions and trillions of ringgit (even that is not enough)' for our eternal life in the Hereafter. Unfortunately, dear readers and friends, in the Hereafter our ringgits or whatever you call it, such as dollars, pounds, riyals, bahts, rupiahs and rupees are of no use. ************************** The much sought after items would be 'iman' (faith with the most excellent saying 'La-Illaha-Illallah' - there is no God but Allah) and good deeds; unfortunately the Hereafter is not a place to do good deeds but a place to reap 'our best crops' grown on earth. **************************** If during our working days we have contributed to EPF, then at 'old age' we would reap our hard earned money; the same thing could be said about our life in the Hereafter -- if we have sowed 'a seed', during our existence on earth, 'in sha-Allah' (if Allah Wills) we would reap it the Hereafter. ***************************** The question is what is that seed? Dear brothers and sisters; here comes the importance of knowledge. Begin all things with knowledge, for he who knows his own self knows God. Since the beginning of this simple 'muzakarah', I mentioned about money and EPF, then I shall continue focusing only on 'our money'...how we could do charity even though it is 'ciput' (of a tiny amount). ****************************** The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: " After the death of a person, his actions stop, except three things that he leaves behind: first, continuous charity, second, knowledge from which some benefit may be obtained, third, a virtuous son who makes dua (prays, supplicates) on his behalf." (Related by Muslim) ********************* Since 'our money' (I am not talking about those rich 'fellas' -- tycoons, kings, queens, head of states, first ladies etc -- who could do big 'wakaf') is barely enough for us to survive in life, then how are we going to make 'those small amount of ringgits and even sens' as our very important source of help in the Hereafter. **************************** Never mind about the small amount, the most important aspect of doing good deeds is to be 'ikhlas' (sincere) and follow the way of the Prophet s.a.w. There is a 'hadith' which mentioned Aisha, the Prophet's young wife who one day donated a single grape to a beggar. Yahya related that Malik said: "I heard that a beggar asked for food from Aisha, umm al-muminin and she had some grapes. She told someone to take him one grape. He began to look in amazement. Aisha said, 'Are you amazed? How many atoms' weights do you see in this grape?" (referring to Sura 99 (Az-Zalzalah, ayah 7 - So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it) ****************************** One simple way for us 'orang hanya cukup makan', (barely enough for our basic necessities) to do charity is by 'dumping' away all loose coins in our pockets at 'every opportunity we come across'. Well, free ourselves from the burden of carrying 'those heavy' shillings. ********************** For example, while paying at shops and restaurant counters, drop all shillings you receive as returns into 'tabungs' (donation boxes) placed there. I am sure there are bound to be several 'tabungs' such as for poor orphans, for building 'tahfiz' (memorizing the Qur'an) schools and building masjids and suraus. ************************* Then whenever you are at a masjid, drop all your coins inside its donation boxes. If you go five times for your fardhu prayers, then you have five 'great opportunities' to 'wipe off' all the shillings from your pockets. If you happen to carry a lot of shillings, do not hesitate or look back but just 'dump in' all your shillings without much thinking. ****************************** And in case you fail to find those 'tabungs', give your shillings to primary school going children. But please do not give a child 10 sen, 20 sen or even 50 sen. These amounts are not enough for them to buy perhaps an ice-cream. So give them shillings amounting to RM1 or RM2. Please do not bring home any shillings. 'Dump' them all before going home. *********************** After 'dumping off all your shillings' you may feel the tranquility in you. You could feel the happiness in you. You feel lighter; you know you could do it. Ask any person who had performed hajj, they would tell you they were at ease without 'those shillings' because in the Holy Land during hajj, the lowest denomination is 1 riyal which is equalivent to RM1. Hujjaj do not burden themselves from carrying 'those heavy shillings'. **************************** Imagine if you 'dump' a total of RM5 in the form of shillings in a day, in a month it would be RM150, in a year in would be RM1,800 and in 10 years it would be RM18,000 and in 20 years (before you die) it would be RM36,000 -- more than enough for you to buy a simple home just like the PPRT (Projek Rumah Rakyat Termiskin) house. *************************** 'Insya-Allah' your 'rumah PPRT' would be converted into a grand palace 'or to a larger scale' in Paradise (which is eternal) for Allah SWT says: "Whatever you spend in the cause of Allah shall be paid to you in full and you shall not be treated unjustly." (Qur'an 8:60

Agama dipermain, hanya hukum Allah penyelamat manusia

********************* DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************* Renungan ******************** "Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang beriman itu adalah mereka apabila disebut Allah, takutlah hati mereka, dan apabila dibacakan kepada mereka ayat-ayat-Nya, bertambahlah iman mereka dan kepada Tuhanlah mereka bertawakal." (Surah Al-A'raf: 2) *************************** Bersyukur ke hadrat Illahi kita dipanjangkan usia, maka dapatlah kita memuzakarahkan isu semasa; kali ini kita ingin menyentuh sensitiviti agama membabitkan individu dan pihak tertentu sehingga mengusarkan masyarakat manakala kita dibimbangi semakin jauh daripada rahmat Allah SWT. ***************************** Kita cemas dengan perkembangan semasa di mana agama dipermain sehingga ada kecenderungan individu dan pihak tertentu yang menyimpang jauh daripada akidah seperti menolak hadis, muncul individu mengaku rasul Melayu dan lebih dahsyat lagi tuhan Harun. Amat malang sekali golongan sesat atau sudah murtad ini mempunyai ramai pengikut malah diberi 'pengesahan' dan 'dibela' oleh tokoh besar dan diikuti cendekiawan termasuk dari pusat-pusat pengajian tinggi. **************************** Selain kesesatan ini, jenayah termasuk yang dahsyat seperti membunuh dan membunuh diri semakin menjadi-jadi, kita amat khuatir ini terjadi kerana kita semakin jauh daripada rahmat Allah SWT kerana gagal menjalankan hukum-hakamnya. Hukum Allah SWT adalah penyelamat manusia, menolaknya kita amat bimbang sudah termasuk golongan sesat manakala jika tidak melaksanakannya kita cemas kita semakin jauh daripada-Nya. ************************ Hakikatnya, setiap Muslim tidak akan terlepas daripada ditanya usaha mereka dalam menunaikan kewajipan agama termasuklah menjayakan hukum jenayah Islam yang terbahagi kepada tiga iaitu hukum hudud, qisas dan takzir. ************************** Jika individu Muslim akan ditanya, apa pula yang akan dijawab oleh pemimpin dan juga pemerintah jika gagal melaksanakan hukum-hakam-Nya. Ini kerana melaksanakan hukum jenayah hudud, qisas dan takzir terletak di tangan pemerintah atau negara. ***************************** Hari ini kes jenayah berleluasa. Kenapa jenayah menjadi-jadi? Kenapa orang tidak takut melakukan jenayah? Kenapa suami tergamak mencurah asid atau mengelar kemaluan isteri? Mengapa orang tidak takut berzina dan membuang bayi? Dan lebih dahsyat lagi, mengapa orang berani murtad dengan menolak hadis, mengaku nabi Melayu ataupun tuhan Harun? ***************************** Bukankah jenayah murtad ini termasuk dalam hukum hudud yang pelakunya wajar disuruh bertaubat dan sekiranya dia enggan bertaubat maka hukuman bunuh akan dikenakan ke atas mereka. Sabda Rasulullah s.a.w. bermaksud: “Sesiapa yang menukar agamanya (murtad),maka bunuhlah dia.” (Hadith Riwayat Bukhari) ******************************* Dalam hukum-hakam Allah ada kehidupan, itu jaminan-Nya tetapi kita tidak mengendahkannya. Kita berlaku zalim, menggubal dan menuruti hukum-hakam berasaskan nafsu-nafsi manusia. Apabila manusia berani menolak hukum-hakam Allah, mereka sudah menempa kebinasaan diri. *************************** Ambil contoh ketegasan hukum qisas. Hukum qisas yang dari segi bahasanya bermaksud memotong dan dan dari segi syarak bererti hukuman yang ditetapkan oleh syarak melalui nas-nas al-Quran dan hadis-hadis Nabi s.a.w. kerana kesalahan-kesalahan melibatkan hak individu. ************************** Kesalahan-kesalahan yang diwajibkan hukuman qisas ialah membunuh dengan sengaja dan mencederakan anggota tubuh badan seperti mata, hidung dan telinga. Mengikut hukum qisas seseorang penjenayah mesti diikuti dengan hukuman yang sama sepertimana dia lakukan ke atas mangsanya. Kalau ia membunuh maka dia mesti dihukum bunuh. ************************ Allah SWT berfirman maksudnya: " Dan Kami telah tetapkan atas mereka di dalam Kitab Taurat itu, bahawa jiwa dibalas dengan jiwa, dan mata dibalas dengan mata, dan hidung dibalas dengan hidung, dan telinga dibalas dengan telinga, dan gigi dibalas dengan gigi dan luka-luka hendaklah dibalas (seimbang). Tetapi sesiapa yang melepaskan hak membalasnya maka menjadilah ia penebus dosa baginya." (Surah al-Maidah ayat 45) ******************************* Dengan tidak tertegaknya hukum-hakam Allah ini, masyarakat tidak menjadi gerun; tidak ada ketakutan bagi mereka melakukan jenayah. Cuba bayangkan bagaimana gentarnya anggota masyarakat untuk membunuh jika mereka tahu pengakhiran mereka dibunuh juga, pencurah asid akan menerima pembalasan dicurah asid ke mukanya pula manakala yang mengelar tubuh mangsa, akan dikelar juga tubuhnya. *************************** Demikianlah hukum-hakam Islam adalah untuk menjaga keselamatan semua; Islam menjaga lima perkara iaitu agama, nyawa, akal, harta dan keturunan. Apabila itu terjaga, terselamatlah semua, bukankah kedatangan Rasulullah s.a.w membawa rahmat kepada seluruh alam. Jadi mengapa kita menolak daripada melaksanakan hukum-hakam-Nya? Tidak sombong dan takaburkah kita?

'Datuk...boleh tolong' - hadiah hari jadi 'terindah'...

********************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************* Renungan ********************* "...dan Allah tidak sekali-kali akan memberi jalan kepada orang kafir untuk membinasakan orang-orang beriman." (Surah al-Nisa' ayat 141) ********************** SEORANG anak lelaki saya, pelajar Tingkatan Lima di sebuah sekolah berasrama penuh kira-kira 50 kilometer dari rumah mengirim surat meminta saya (ibu bapa) datang ke sekolahnya pada hari Sabtu, 15 Februari lalu. Agendanya, mesyuarat agung PIBG dan paling penting pertemuan dengan guru kelasnya bagi membincangkan prestasi pelajaran. ************************** Saya tidak dapat mengelak. Disebabkan isteri ada kursus hari itu dan dia pergi dengan keretanya, terpaksalah saya pergi sendirian dengan menunggang motosikal. Menunggang motosikal buruk sejauh 50 kilometer? Ya nampaknya macam tak mampu saya lakukan pada usia 52 tahun (tarikh lahir saya 17 Februari), tetapi demi semangat orang muda (saya terbalikkan angka itu menjadi 25 tahun), saya memulakan perjalanan selepas solat subuh. ********************************** Biasanya dengan berkereta, perjalanan ke sekolah itu mengambil masa kira-kira 45 minit tetapi dengan motosikal tua, saya mengambil masa lebih tiga jam! Yalah, saya banyak berehat termasuklah singgah di sebuah surau untuk solat duha dan membereskan urusan alami. **************************** Ketika duduk-duduk di tangga surau, bersedia untuk 'blah', saya terpandang sampah sarap banyak bertaburan di halaman surau. Saya pun mengambil bungkusan plastik dan memulakan kerja mengutip sampah-sampah itu. ************************* Ketika asyik 'bekerja', kemunculan dua kanak-kanak lelaki dan seorang perempuan dalam usia 10 tahun begitu mengejutkan saya yang sedang terbongkok-bongkok, apabila salah seorang daripada mereka menegur saya: "Datuk, boleh tolong...?" Hiss, budak-budak ini, sudahlah dipanggilnya saya datuk, nak mintak tolong pulak tu... **************************** "Tolong apa?" tanya saya. "Tolong datuk kutip sampahlah..." Terasa panas muka saya menahan malu. Malu kerana tersalah sangka, saya ingatkan mereka mahu minta tolong tetapi mereka mahu menolong - sama-sama mengutip sampah sekeliling surau dan kemudian saya lihat mereka memberus longkang dan mengangkat bongkah batu dan ketulan kayu yang terbiar. ******************************* Tercengang saya di pagi cerah itu. Terasa betapa indahnya dunia. Matahari saya rasakan seakan-akan 'tersenyum', angin menderu lembut, rerumput dan tanah berbau harum sekalipun dunia dan isinya 'didera' dengan cuaca membahang setelah tidak hujan hampir dua bulan. ************************** Ya, inilah kali pertama dalam hidup saya menemui kanak-kanak secara spontan dan sukarela menawarkan diri membantu kerja-kerja 'orang tua' seperti saya. ************************* Oooh, saya tidak pernah menemui situasi ini, peri laku kanak-kanak itu sungguh menggembirakan saya pagi itu, bagi saya mereka telah memberikan harapan bahawa 'ada esok' sebenarnya dalam kehidupan ini pada ketika kita meniti hidup yang masyarakatnya semakin kasar dan kejam. Ya, kanak-kanak itu telah membuat saya riang sepanjang hari. *************************** Perbuatan mereka telah 'makes up my day'! Tak apalah jika mereka memanggil saya 'datuk'. Mudah-mudahan tak lama lagi saya akan bergelar datuk juga (jika anak saya berkahwin dan dapat anak) atau pun 'datuk yang satu lagi' iaitu Dato'. *************************** Di surau itu saya telah saksikan 'satu sinar' - sinar harapan. Bagi saya inilah hadiah hari jadi paling indah pernah saya dapat. 'Hadiah' ini membuatkan pemberian berbentuk material dan kata-kata indah pada kad ucapan yang saya terima selama ini kelihatan amat kecil malah mungkin tidak bermakna. Ya, apa ertinya jika ia hanya indah pada kata-kata tetapi tidak disertai perbuatan? *************************** Akhirnya saya telah ketemui keindahan kata-kata diterjemahkan menjadi perbuatan. Saya menyaksikan dengan mata kepala ini sendiri bagaimana kanak-kanak itu dapat menterjemahkan apa yang dipelajari di rumah dan sekolah; tentang budi bahasa, tentang sifat tolong menolong yang 'berbuih-buih' diajar oleh ibu bapa dan guru di sekolah secara praktik tanpa disuruh, tanpa dipaksa. ***************************** Menemuii insan dewasa apatah lagi kanak-kanak yang ikhlas membantu orang lain memang sukar. Ini kerana sejak kecil anak-anak kita dilatih dengan upah, mengharapkan ganjaran pada penghujung sesuatu usaha. Misalnya berpuasalah, nanti bapak bagi duit, belajarlah bersungguh-sungguh nanti anak akan dapat 5A dalam UPSR, 9A dalam PMR dan 11A dalam SPM. ************************* Semuanya menjanjikan ganjaran, tetapi peristiwa "datuk, boleh tolong...?" di sebuah surau nun di sebuah kawasan pedalaman, menyedarkan saya bahawa 'generasi muda kita masih boleh diselamatkan' - ayuh marilah kita, terutama orang yang terbabit terus dalam bidang pendidikan seperti 'cikgu' berusaha sepenuh jiwa membimbing generasi muda kita ke jalan-Nya yang lurus!

Kisah ulang tahun perkahwinan ke-25, 55...

************************** Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ***************************** Renungan *************************** "...dan Kami telah menurunkan kepadamu al-Kitab (al-Quran), untuk menjelaskan dan (juga memberi) petunjuk serta rahmat dan pengkhabaran gembira bagi orang-orang yang tunduk kepada-Nya." (Maksud Ayat 89 Surah an-Nahl) ****************************** FEBRUARI meninggalkan banyak kenangan pada saya. Namun harap tidak silap...mengaitkannya dengan sambutan Hari Valentine pada 14 Februari yang diasosiasikan dengan hari berkasih sayang atau kekasih oleh sesetengah pihak. ******************************* Pada tanggal 17 Februari saya dilahirkan, pada bulan Februari 1989 saya berkahwin dan baru-baru ini ibu bapa saya mengambil kesempatan cuti Tahun Baharu Cina untuk membuat kenduri kesyukuran perkahwinan mereka yang ke-55 tahun. ****************************** Saya dan isteri pula meraikan hari perkahwinan ke-25 tahun; dulu perkahwinan kami dilangsungkan pada masa cuti Tahun Baharu Cina yang kerap jatuh pada bulan Februari, jadi ia tidak ada kena mengena langsung dengan sambutan Hari Kekasih! ****************************** Namun kasih sayang adalah intipati sebuah cinta, sebuah perkahwinan. Selepas 25 tahun apa yang saya rasakan? Demikian juga dengan ibu bapa saya, apa yang mereka ingin luahkan selepas 55 tahun? ************************* Beberapa hari lalu, saya mengikuti kuliah seorang tok guru yang memuzakarahkan salah satu Asma al-Husna Allah SWT iaitu 'Al-Halim'. 'Al-Halim' bermaksud, Yang Maha Tetap Menahan Marah. Allah SWT menahan balasan seksa-Nya terhadap orang yang sepatut telah menerimanya. Balasan seksa ditangguhkan-Nya, ada kala tidak diberi seksaan langsung, ada kalanya dimaafkan ada kalanya disegerakan seksaan-Nya. Semua ini merupakan persoalan azali dan bergantung kepada iradat dan ilmu-Nya. ************************ Berdasarkan Al-Halim Allah SWT ini, seorang penzina terus sihat walafiat, seorang perasuah semakin kaya, seorang pemimpin zalim terus berkuasa; Allah menahan balasan seksa-Nya, termasuk memberi peluang pelaku maksiat bertaubat. *********************** "Namun, apa yang kita selalu saksikan dalam kehidupan manusia?" tanya tok guru. Seorang pemimpin zalim tak sabar-sabar menghukum rakyatnya yang dituduh bersalah, seorang guru besar berlagak 'diktator' di sekolah dan dalam rumah tangga, sang suami bagaikan raja singa, sedikit saja kesalahan anak isteri habis disepak terajangnya. Ya, kuasa baru ada ke atas seorang dua insan, tetapi lagaknya, nauzubillah... ************************** Itulah, Allah SWT bersifat Al-Halim, tetapi saya sebagai seorang suami dan bapa bagaimana keadaannya? Segala sifat yang negatif ada pada diri ini - panas baran, tidak sabar, tamak haloba, kikir, perasan baik, sentiasa mahu menang (terutama ketika masa muda dulu)...senarai ini panjang; dulu semasa muda kita terlalu sibuk (atau buat-buat sibuk) menyebabkan tiada masa memikirkannya. ************************** Bangun pagi, kita 'sudah berdesup' ke pejabat dan balik rumah sudah lewat malam atau dinihari ketika anak isteri sudah lama lena, jadi apa yang boleh kita fikirkan? Pada hujung minggu malah pada cuti awam pun bertungkus lumus di pejabat atau di lapangan...ya apa nak jadi dengan diri ini yang 24 jam kerja, kerja, kerja. Malah ada rakan-rakan kita solat pun tak ada masa, yang wajib pun tunggang-langang apatah lagi yang sunat... ************************* Kini, pejam pelik mata, sudah 25 tahun saya berkahwin...ini suatu tempoh masa yang panjang. Anak sulung pun sudah berusia 24 tahun; pemuda ini masih bujang namun ramai rakan-rakan seangkatan saya anak mereka sudah berkahwin malah ada sudah bergelar datuk manakala isteri mereka nenek atau opah...oh, ada seorang rakan saya melawak - akhirnya "aku tidur dengan seorang opah!" Dulu begitu mengerikan memikirkannya...kini sudah menjadi kenyataan. *************************** Demikianlah perasaan pasangan sudah berkahwin suku abad yang kini 'belajar-belajar' untuk menjadi datuk dan nenek, bagaimana pula perasaan ibu dan bapa saya yang menyambut ulang tahun perkahwinan mereka yang ke-55? ************************* Ibu saya sempena hari bertuah itu menukilkan sebuah nasihat untuk anak cucu yang antara lain berbunyi: "Selepas melalui zaman kanak-kanak, kita memasuki usia remaja sehingga 20 tahun, kemudian dewasa dan matang pada usia 40 tahun. Pada usia 60 tahun sudah menjadi tua. Saya bersyukur kepada Allah SWT yang memberikan rahmat dan nikmat-Nya ke atas saya menjangkau 70 tahun dan suami 77 tahun - hidup bersama selama 55 tahun. Emak dan bapak kamu sudah memasuki peringkat 'kun' (pikun?) umur lebih banyak daripada Nabi Muhammad s.a.w." *************************** Beliau lantas memetik maksud Surah Al-Asr yang bermaksud: "Demi masa sesungguhnya manusia itu dalam kerugian...(sehingga habis)." Kemudian menyambung: "Sesungguhnya beruntunglah orang yang menyucikan jiwanya dan rugilah orang yang mengotorinya..." ************************* Ya, semua orang jika tak mati muda, akan memasuki usia tua. Kata tok guru jika seseorang tidak membersihkan jiwanya sejak muda, apabila memasuki usia tua perangainya akan menjadi lebih teruk lagi. ************************** Jika dulu apabila baran, kaki dan tangannya 'cepat naik' ke muka dan badan orang terutama anak isteri namun apabila tua ketika tenaga hampir sudah habis dan badan sentiasa sakit-sakit dan tak kuat lagi, mulutnya akan menjadi jahat - itulah sebabnya orang tua yang kurang imannya akan selalu menghambur kata-kata kesat, memaki hamun dan sebagainya terhadap anak dan cucu. ******************************* Namun jika dibajai iman sejak muda...hati dan mulutnya akan sentiasa basah, berzikir mengingati Allah, Allah, Allah sehinggalah maut menjemput-Nya. Berusahalah untuk menjadi orang tua sebegini jika kita dipanjangkan usia oleh-Nya. Amin.

Getting RM200 after spending RM2, 000...

***************************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ******************************* Reflection **************************** The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. ********************************* A few days ago, my Year Six 12-year old daughter proudly brought home a small envelope containing RM100 cash - an incentive by the government to each school going child. *************************** Since I did not turn up during handouts to parents a few days earlier because of an important appointment, the school authorities passed it to my child who before that insisted that I gave her a photocopy of my IC to take to school. *************************** Another child who was in a residential school told me he too received the RM100 cash incentive but during the Chinese New Year school break but he did not bring the money home, saying that it was 'absorbed' to pay 'certain fees' at school. ************************* "Alhamdulillah' (All praises to Allah SWT) and 'jazakallahu khayran ' (may Allah SWT reward you with goodness) to the government for the cash assistance but I must admit that providing for a child's education nowadays is a very, very expensive affair. ******************************* Well, I had received a cash incentive amounting to RM200 'for having two school going children' but before schools reopened in early January, I had forked out about RM2,000 to buy my children their school necessities such as uniforms and books and paid various bills and fees. ************************ If our boys and girls had to buy 'specific items' such as new spectacles (if they were broken) and blazers (if they were appointed prefects) then the money needed might have amounted to a very large amount. ****************************** And for transportation, one has to settle the school bus fares before one's child is allowed to step onto the bus on day one. The rule is pay first, only then would you be allowed to use its service! Nowadays, school bus operators are demanding the government to raise bus fares; about 10-30 percent of the present charges. ******************************* Yes the RM100 cash given to each child helped parents a lot; so thanks to the government; but to the authorities concerned especially top political leaders please do not go around boasting that education is free in Malaysia! **************************** During this Chinese New Year holiday, my Form Five boy brought home a set of notices and announcements from his boarding school ; and while going through its pages, I read the fee of his food amounted to RM750 per year. This amount is to be paid by parents whose monthly income exceeded RM4,999 per month while those with an income of less than that should pay RM250. *************************** The PIBG (Parents and Teachers Association) fees was not decided yet since its annual general meeting had not been called for but based on experience during previous years the amount should be around RM400. For last year it was RM350, which included about 15 items such as the PIBG annual contribution (RM50), computer fees (RM50), tuition classes (RM120) and dhobi RM60). ************************** In early January, my boy had bought his exercise books and other requirements such as name tag, outing T-shirt and extra reading materials but 'Alhamdulillah' nowadays all school children are given free textbooks. ****************************** From what I experience, education nowadays is too costly. It seems like a commodity. The high expenses in education do not begin at the highest level but even at pre-school. For registration in pre-school, it is normal for parents to pay about RM200 a child at any kindergarten including the PAS-run Pasti. The monthly fees differ from a low RM30 at the Pasti to hundreds of ringgit at the commercial and so-called elite kindergartens. ***************************** At the primary and secondary levels, as I had mentioned above judging from my children's needs, parents have had to pay hundreds of ringgit for every single child. A few years ago, the Ministry of Education announced that education was free in Malaysia, but the actual fact is that they only abolished the RM4.50 yearly school fees for primary pupils and RM9 for the secondary students. Luckily every child is now qualified for the school text book loan scheme. If not, parents involved would have to fork out even more. *************************** Several parents in conversation with the writer said on average they spent about RM500 for each child in primary schools. This included his/her uniforms, bags, and writing material. Other than that they had to keep aside about RM50 a month for pocket money and another RM50-RM100 for the bus fares. ******************************* For the secondary school students especially those in residential schools like the writer's Form Five child, the expenses double, amounting to about RM1,000. For these big boys and girls, their pocket money too has to be doubled from what they received at primary school level. ***************************** The cost of university education is even more exorbitant. For the public institutes of higher learning, it may be around RM1,500 each semester (not including food) but for the private ones, I was told it may exceed RM20,000 per semester (all inclusive). ************************** Since education is so expensive, several parents met said it was timely for young people to plan for their future by starting a special fund soon after a child is born. For example, the parents could put aside RM50 a month for the child’s education fund and when he/she was about to enter university, they would not be at a loss as to how to finance their children’s education. Or perhaps they should buy an education policy from insurance companies. ************************* Regarding the huge amount of money (about RM1,000) to be paid when a student enters a residential school, Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin who is also Education Minister some time ago said his ministry would study that development as the main objective of setting up ‘Sekolah Berasrama Penuh’ (SBP) was to have as many as possible underprivileged pupils especially from rural areas studying in such schools. ******************************* Prior to this, some children from poor families were said to reject offers to such residential schools, claiming they could not afford such exorbitant fees. Imagine how the poor parents had to fork out some RM1,000 a child during registration if they had a meager income of RM500-RM1,500 per month; an amount normally earned by paddy farmers, rubber tappers, fishermen, factory workers and labourers. ********************** To counter the high cost of education in residential schools, the ministry should think a way out; perhaps students from poor families should be exempted from paying food and hostel fees or even better begin a new concept of free education for all in all schools. **************************** Perhaps in a few years time, free education for all from kindergarten to first degree in universities could be available to the ‘rakyat’ in line with the government’s slogan ‘Rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan’ (People first performance now). **************************** If the present government cannot fulfil or had failed in this task, why not give 'the other party', 'Pakatan Rakyat' to prove its worth. Well, 'they said' do not be afraid of changes; why not give 'Pakatan Rakyat' a chance?

Helah sang singa tua mahu terus jadi raja...

****************** 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." ********************* Bersyukur ke hadrat Illahi kita dipanjangkan usia; dapatkan kita memuzakarahkan isu semasa. ******************** Kali ini kita ingin menyentuh perilaku pihak berkuasa yang bertindak bagaikan raja singa di hutan rimba. Sebahagian besar tindak tanduknya adalah demi kepentingan diri, jika berbuat baik terhadap haiwan-haiwan lemah (rakyat) di belantara, ada udang di sebalik 'mi' (batu). ************************ Kini sang singa sudah tua, sokongan rakyat hatta daripada kalangan tikus pun diperlukan. Selepas dapat berkuasa (selepas PRU lalu), singa tua menguak dada, mengaum hebat; segala yang sedap-sedap mahu dihimpunkan di sisinya. Maklumlah mandat baru diberi, jadi dinaikkan harga pelbagai keperluan rakyat - daripada gula, petrol malah cukai perkhidmatan dan barangan (GST) pun diketengahkan. ***************************** Rakyat bangkit, tanpa disangka singa tua terperangkap dalam sandiwara bikinan sendiri. Singa sekalipun sudah tua adalah pemaging; tidak makan dedaun apatah lagi sayur kampung. ************************** Tetapi singa tua tercakap sejenis sayur kampung kononnya sudah murah harga, tidakkah rakyat mahu memuji usaha kerasnya itu - malangnya rakyat sudah muak dengan sayur itu, mereka tidak ingin tiru gaya hidup mewah singa sebaliknya hanya mahu hidup selesa - cukup makan, ada tempat tinggal, pakaian dan serba serbi aspek kehidupan seperti pendidikan anak-anak, mudahnya perjalanan dan mendapat perkhidmatan kesihatan. Singa tua malu besar, tetapi tetap mahu 'menyingga'. ********************** Kebangkitan rakyat bertambah semarak apabila secara tiba-tiba akan diadakan pilihan raya kecil. Singa tua tidak menduga, fikirnya pemilihan lama lagi; kini perlu diadakan dalam masa terdekat pula. Tergaman sang singa. Namun singa tetap singa sekalipun sudah tua. Maka untuk 'mempasung' rakyat, sang singa mengorak langkah 'manis berbisa' - salah satunya menangguhkan kenaikan kadar tol. ************************* Kata singa tua, pihaknya sanggup berkorban RM400 juta untuk dibayar kepada syarikat konsesi lebuh raya. Singa tua amat memahami derita rakyat, langkah ini adalah untuk melegakan beban rakyat. Pelik sungguh kerana dulu singa tua beriya-iya mahu menaikkan kadar tol bersama-sama apa ia dakwa pengurangan dan penghapusan subsidi gula dan minyak. **************************** Selama ini kebanyakan rakyat ingat singa tua kuat - rupa-rupanya singa tua takut pilihan raya. Ya dalam pilihan raya, rakyat akan membuat pilihan. Jadi singa tua takut rakyat termasuklah 'tikus-tikus' sebenarnya. ************************ Jadi ini sudah diketahui rahsianya, ayuh 'tikus-tikus', sekalipun kecil dan lemah, mari kita bersatu kukuh, kita gulingkan singa tua durjana yang bijak bersandiwa mahu kekal berkuasa dulu, kini dan selamanya. *********************** Berdasarkan perkembangan terkini, tahulah kita betapa singa tua takut jika rakyat 'membuat bising'. Dulu rakyat senyap saja, tetapi dengan kemajuan teknologi komunikasi mereka sudah berani ke depan. *************************** Dulu mereka hanya dikenali sebagai 'the silent majority'. Kini golongan majoriti yang diam inilah yang yang perlu disuntik semangat mereka untuk bangun menyuarakan ketidakpuasaan hati terhadap pembahagian kekayaan negara yang tidak adil. *************************** Identiti kebanggaan negara seperti Petronas dan Tenaga Nasional dikatakan mencatat keuntungan berbilion-bilion ringgit, tetapi kenapa 'kekayaan' ini tidak dapat dikongsi bersama rakyat sebaliknya harga minyak dan tarif elektrik dinaikkan. ******************** Harap-harap rakyat tidak lagi digula-gulakan dengan cerita keuntungan besar (berbilion-bilion ringgit) syarikat milik kerajaan melalui media massa tetapi hakikatnya kebanyakannya terpaksa mengikat perut untuk menunaikan tanggungjawab asas seperti makan minum, tempat tinggal dan menyekolahkan anak-anak. ************************ Kepada 'tikus-tikus' di rimba, akhirilah sikap rendah diri yang sudah berdekad-dekad membelenggu diri, membiarkan singa tua meratah daging, hati dan jantung sedangkan 'kita' makan tulang atau lebih malang lagi 'sup kangkung'.

Simple things by the Prophet for us to emulate...

****************************** 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. ***************************** RECENTLY I had the opportunity to attend several ‘Maulidur Rasul tazkirah’ (talks or reminders in conjunction with Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) birthday. Some interesting points raised by speakers caught my attention and I would like to share them with readers especially regarding those small matters carried out by the Prophet which are easy for us to follow. *************************** One ‘ustaz’ (a religious teacher) said it was no point in getting involved in ‘Maulidur Rasul’ processions while ignoring and going against Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) teachings, what more the simple ones. He said among those who were jubilant when the Prophet was born was Abu Lahab, but 40 years later when Prophet Muhammad revealed that he was the Messenger of God, this uncle of the Prophet started a war against him. ************************** He said when Abu Lahab heard news that a baby boy was born to Aminah who was his brother’s (Abdullah) wife, he was full of joy that he circled the Ka’abah seven times (did tawaf) and proudly paraded in the holy city. ****************************** But when Muhammad (pbuh) became a Prophet, Abu Lahab dan his wife, worked continuously to make it hard for the Prophet; in the Qur’an, there is ‘Surah al-Tabat’ mentioning about Abu Lahab and his wife’s horrible fate in the Hereafter. *************************** Another 'ustaz' said many of us did not know the life story of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his struggle, thus how could we fall in love with him? He said the love for the Prophet s.a.w. was very, very, very important because he is the only one among Allah SWT's creations (makhluk) who could render us help in our journey in the Hereafter beginning with our lives in our graves (barzakh). ********************************** The 'ustaz' said, once inside our graves, the angels, Munkar and Nakir, would pose questions such as who is your Lord and who is your Prophet? What do you know about this man (Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.)? Based on this, the 'ustaz' said, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. would be beside us in our graves; but if in our lives we were ignorant of him and his teachings, then it would be difficult for us to have his 'syafaat' (blessings). ********************************* One way to get to know the Prophet s.a.w. is by following his 'sunnah' (way of life). Some 'sunnah' are so simple yet because of our ignorance, we just look it down or push it aside. ********************** From the several talks of Maulidur Rasul that I had attended, here is a compilation on the simple matters carried out by the Prophet as told by the 'ustazs' for us to follow. It is because of our love for him that we do our best to emulate his ways. Please do away with our ego and shyness in following the Prophet’s s.a.w. way of life ************************ On family matters *************************** One 'ustaz' said the Prophet s.a.w. was very loving towards his family, including to his wives. This 'ustaz' said one of his habits was to lay his head on the thigh of his beloved wife, Aishah upon returning home from a hard day’s work preaching to his people. *************************** "So after this talk, I recommend to husbands on returning home to show your affection to your wives. Please upon returning home, greet them with a 'salam' (greeting with a blessing) and whenever the two of you are free, do hold hands, never mind if you have been married for 20, 30 or 40 years. Your wife would be full of surprise, because all those long years you had not done that, but do not hesitate, go ahead; always be intimated with her, 'insya-Allah' (God willing) you would find out that your home would be full of 'barakah' (blessing) and with love." **************************** Drinking and eating *************************** "Oh, what a simple thing to emulate the Prophet," said an 'ustaz'. The general rule is to sit whenever one eats or drinks; begin with reciting 'Bismillah' (in the name of Allah) and when finished, recite 'Alhamdulillah' (all praises to Allah). Then one should drink or eat with one's right hand. ************************** "But this simple thing of the Prophet s.a.w. too people cannot follow...look around you, there are functions where even the ones organized by educated people and religious bodies where you find the guests drinking and worst of all, people eating whist standing." ************************** Conveying 'salam' ************************** An 'ustaz' said, when two persons (or more) meet, begin with 'salam' 'Assalaamu alaykum" (peace be upon you). And in the Qur'an in Surah An-Nisa 4:86) Allah SWT says; "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it or (at least) return it equally." ************************** Is it difficult to give 'salam'? It is a simple thing to do and by doing it, we are following the Prophet's way of life and it is a way to prove our love for him. But why does it seem hard for us to convey salam'? It seems to be 'the hardest word'... ******************** Seeking knowledge ************************** "Why masjids are always 'almost empty' during 'tazkirah' (talks) normally held between maghrib and isya prayers?" asked an 'ustaz'. "Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim," says the Prophet in a 'hadith' narrated by Imam Bukhari. ************************ The Prophet's way of life is to seek knowledge which must continue as long as breath of life reminds in our bodies. Allah SWT says: "...those truly fear Allah, among His servants, who have knowledge..." (Qur'an 35: 28) ************************* So why not take time from our busy schedules to be at the masjid for at least during the maghrib-isyak 'tazkirah' slot. Is this difficult for us to follow? ************************* 'Leading by example' (kepimpinan melalui teladan) ********************** An ustaz said: "During the Ahzab War (War of the Trench), a 'sahabah' (Companion) of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. by the name of Salman Al-Farisi suggested that Muslims dug wide and deep trenches around Madinah to stop the invading allied forces of the Mushrikin armies. Their leader, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. toiled and sweated in the hot sun with his 'sahabahs', many a time without enough food and water. There was a time when the Prophet had to tie a big stone onto his stomach to lessen his thirst and hunger. ************************** But today, why must our leader be only good at officially opening “projects”? He will officiate at a ground breaking ceremony or the laying of a foundation stone of the project, and in the next hour or worst still minutes later he would be gone... *************************** Why not our leaders emulate the Prophet’s s.a.w. way of life? Always be with the people and in this way you can share their feelings and their 'pangs of life' such as coping with the ever rising prices of necessary items or having 'kangkung goreng' (fried kangkung) every day for their lunch and dinner tables!

Nyahkan 'Firaun, Qarun dan Abu Jahal' daripada diri sendiri...

******************************* Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ***************************** Renungan ***************** "Wahai sekalian orang-orang yang beriman! Mintalah pertolongan (untuk menghadapi susah payah dalam menyempurnakan sesuatu perintah Tuhan)dengan bersabar dan dengan (mengerjakan) sembahyang; kerana sesungguhnya Allah menyertai (menolong) orang-orang yang sabar." (Al-Baqarah 2:153) ************************* TUGAS wartawan seumpama posmen, demikian saya dan rakan-rakan selalu diingatkan seorang pensyarah kewartawanan puluhan tahun lalu. Hantar saja surat (laporan) kepada penerima (pembaca), jangan sesekali 'memasukkan fikiran atau pendapat' sendiri dalam sesuatu laporan itu. ********************** Lapor seperti apa yang kamu nampak, katanya, jangan pandai-pandai membuat tambahan. Namun hal ini menjadi amalan dalam penulisan berita, tidak dalam penulisan bentuk lain seperti komentar, ulasan dan ruangan pojok. ************************ Apabila semakin matang dalam dunia penulisan, sebahagian wartawan kanan sudah ada kolum masing-masing. Mereka berkomentar dalam ruangan pojok dan dalam banyak kesempatan, selalunya mereka menyuarakan pendapat sendiri terhadap isu semasa tertentu termasuklah keadaan sosial masyarakat. Ada yang menyentuh jati diri generasi baru yang semakin terhakis sifat mulia seperti terlalu mementingkan diri sendiri, tidak sabar, tamak haloba dan sebagainya. ********************** Benar, tugas penulis adalah 'menyuluh' hal ehwal masyarakat, kemudian membentangkannya untuk tatapan dan renungan kumpulan sasaran (seperti pembaca). Namun teramat jarang, penulis 'membedah siasat' dirinya sendiri; sebagai contoh apabila dia menulis menyatakan sifat sabar semakin terhakis di kalangan orang awam, sebenarnya diri kita sendirilah yang tak sabar. Jika kita menuding jari menyatakan seseorang itu salah, tiga jari kita akan menuding ke arah kita, menunjukkan kitalah yang bersalah. *********************** Ibrahim Adham, seorang tokoh sufi termasyhur dalam menyatakan 10 sebab mengapa doa kita ditolak, antara lain berkata: "Kamu sibuk menceritakan/melihat akan keburukan orang, tetapi kamu tidak melihat pun keburukan diri kamu." Jadi, apabila kita katakan orang tidak sabar, hakikatnya kitalah yang tidak sabar. Memang betul, apabila seseorang rakan kita ditimpa sesuatu musibah, kita ucapkan kepadanya, "bersabarlah." Namun, apabila berada di kedudukan kawan kita itu, adakah kita 'dapat bersabar' seperti yang kita pinta rakan kita lakukan? ************************** Seorang cendekiawan berkata setiap orang dibekalkan nafsu. Nafsu diibaratkannya bagai kuda liar. 'Kuda liar' ini ada dalam diri kita. 'Kuda liar' ini mendesak diri kita mencontohi tokoh pengikut hawa nafsu seperti Firaun, Hamman, Qarun dan Abu Jahal. Semua tokoh ini pakar dalam bidang masing-masing, misalnya Firaun dari segi kekuasaan manakala Qarun dari segi kekayaan. ************************ Semua orang mahu berkuasa dan kaya, ternama, disanjung dan sebagainya. Jadi sifat Firaun, Hamman, Qarun dan Abu Jahal ada dalam semua orang. Semua orang berpotensi jadi Firaun dan 'teman-teman seangkatannya'. Nafsu mendorong ke arah itu. Itulah sebabnya kita sebagai orang berakal dan beramal (beragama) diperlukan untuk menundukkan (menjinakkan) 'kuda liar' bernama nafsu itu. ************************* Apabila kuda liar dapat dijinakkan, maka dapatlah kita menunggangnya. Menggunakannya ke arah kebaikan. Namun tidak mudah kita menjinakkan nafsu sebab wujud makhluk lain sebagai penghasut; itulah iblis dan syaitan dariada kalangan jin dan manusia. Malah, walaupun nafsu sudah dapat dijinakkan, tak mustahil seseorang itu tewas di tangan iblis dan syaitan pula yang tersangat ingin melihat kita berakhir di neraka Allah SWT. ************************ Sekalipun 'Firaun, Hamman, Qarun dan Abu Jahal' ada dalam diri kita, tidak ramai orang menyedarinya. Malah mungkin ramai yang tak tahu pun. Seorang ulama berkata, kita jangan perasaan kita baik dan orang lain tak baik, hakikatnya jika kita berbuat baik itu pun atas pertolongan Allah SWT. ***************************** Sebenarnya, hati dan diri kita pun kita tak terkawal. Itulah sebabnya antara lain orang beriman selalu berdoa, yang antara lain bermaksud: "Ya, Tuhanku, tolong jangan lepaskan diriku pada diriku sendiri...Ya Allah Tuhan yang membolak-balikkan hati, tetapkanlah hatiku..." ************************** Berbalik kepada 'kisah Firaun, Hamman, Qarun dan Abu Jahal'; kita janganlah lihat orang itu dan ini sebagai Firaun dan 'teman-temannya'. Renungi-renungilah sedalam-dalamnya dan apabila hidayah mula masuk ke dalam diri, kita akan menginsafi diri penuh ketakutan bahawa sebenarnya 'akulah Firaun penindas pekerja di pejabat'; 'akulah Abu Jahal yang bikin onar dalam rumah tanggaku'; 'akulah Qarun yang gila mengumpul harta sehingga tak mengerti apa itu siang dan malam' dan 'akulah Hamman yang kuat membodek asalkan kedudukan tetap terjamin'. *************************** Jadi tak payahlah kita cakap atau tulis orang itu Firaun, Hamman, Abu Jahal dan Qarun; tetapi mengakulah akulah Firaun, akulah Abu Jahal, akulah Hamman dan akulah Qarun dan berusahalah bersungguh-sungguh untuk menyingkirkan mereka daripada diri ini sebelum terlambat apabila diri ini dijemput Ilahi!

Perhebat dakwah melalui teknologi maklumat

************************* 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 ************************ Melihatkan keghairahan anak-anak generasi baru terhadap gadget teknologi maklumat, kita berpendapat alangkah molek dan bermanfaat besar untuk kita memaksimumkan penggunaan teknologi bagi memantapkan usaha-usaha dakwah sekali gus melawan aneka penyelewengan termasuk dari segi akidah yang berleluasa dalam masyarakat hari ini seperti mempercayai hal mengarut seperti rasul Melayu, tuhan Harun atau pun hanya parti tertentu dapat menyelamatkan orang Melayu. **************************** Pada era masa kini, dakwah melalui teknologi baru ini tersangat penting; jangan sama sekali kita biarkan anak-anak kita hanyut dalam dunia negatif sedangkan kita gagal menyediakan input-input dakwah menyegarkan melalui kemudahan teknologi ini. ********************************* Jika difikir-fikirkan secara positif, perkembangan teknologi komunikasi sekarang ini lebih memudahkan seseorang mendekatkan dirinya kepada Penciptanya, Allah SWT. Misalnya, dalam telefon selular boleh dimasukkan cip bacaan al-Quran sebanyak 30 juzuk, jadi bolehlah seseorang itu menghayati bacaan al-Quran sepanjang masa dan di mana saja dia berada. Ya, kemajuan teknologi boleh mendekatkan seseorang kepada Tuhan, tetapi jika digunakan secara negatif, maka seseorang itu akan semakin jauh daripada Allah. **************************** Berhubung kemajuan teknologi masa kini, seorang sarjana antara lain menulis: “Dengan meningkatnya teknologi komunikasi canggih bermakna meningkatlah darjah persaingan antara pelbagai kelompok, badan dan pertubuhan serta organisasi-organisasi untuk memenangi hati massa. ****************************** “Kini badan perniagaan dan korporat, parti politik, agensi pelancongan, badan budaya dan pengusaha industri hiburan terlibat dalam perang maklumat (infowar) yang sengit sekali. Dalam kebisingan dan hiruk pikuk seperti ini, mesej agama selalunya menjadi terpencil dan tidak didengari. Apatah lagi kalau badan-badan dakwah dan gerakan Islam memilih untuk menarik diri daripada perlumbaan yang hebat ini, pastilah suara dakwah menjadi bertambah perlahan. ****************************** “Kita yakin bahawa mesej Illahi adalah perutusan unggul yang harus ditebar seluas-luasnya. Allah sendiri menegaskan, “siapakah yang lebih baik perkataannya daripada orang yang mengajak kepada Allah? (terjemahan al-Quran, surah Fussilat 41:33). Namun tanpa ikut serta dalam ‘technological leap’ yang pantas kini, dakwah akan hanya mampu menguasai ‘market share’ yang kecil sahaja seperti yang disebut dalam American Demographics, ‘God may not be dead, but the mass market is’. ******************************** “Walaupun survival gerakan Islam tidak banyak bergantung kepada teknologi maklumat komunikasi, tanpa impak daripada operasi dakwahnya yang merupakan raison d’etre kehadirannya bergantung besar kepada kaedah dan media yang dimanfaatkan.” ***************************** Kerana begitu 'takutnya' kita kepada 'perubahan', dakwah kita asyik-asyik kepada orang sama. Kaedah tradisional memperlihatkan hanya segelintir orang mengikuti kelas pengajian di masjid. Mereka mungkin terdiri daripada 20 orang daripada seluruh penduduk kariah atau kampung seramai 2,000 atau 3,000 orang. ****************************** Jika orang dewasa di kampung itu ada 2,000 orang, kehadiran hanya 20 orang menunjukkan betapa gagalnya pentadbiran masjid dalam mendidik orang Islam. Tentunya masjid gagal diimarahkan kerana dengan tidak hadirnya 1,980 daripada 2,000 penduduk lelaki dewasa atau lebih 99 peratus penduduk kampung bermaksud mesej Islam gagal disampaikan secara berkesan. ******************************* Jadi bagaimana mahu berkomunikasi dengan lebih 99 peratus penduduk itu? Tentunya kaedah tradisional di mana ustaz duduk menghadap 20 ‘murid tua’ itu perlu diperkemaskan agar seruannya dapat didengar dan dimanfaatkan oleh seluruh penduduk kampung. ******************************* Melalui perkembangan teknologi maklumat, pengurusan masjid boleh mengusahakan bagaimana tazkirah itu dapat dipanjangkan kepada ratusan atau ribuan penduduk kariah yang tidak hadir berbanding dengan 20 jemaah tetap masjid. ***************************** Berdakwah kepada 20 ahli tetap masjid ini amatlah baik tetapi alangkah besar manfaat dan ganjarannya jika ribuan penduduk kampung dapat disampaikan ilmu dan maklumat. Memang betul, anak murid perlu mencari guru tetapi alangkah beruntung jika kita dapat memanfaatkan teknologi komunikasi yang kini berada di depan mata untuk menyeru seluruh penduduk ke arah kebaikan. ********************************** Bayangkan apa yang dapat dilakukan sekiranya organisasi dakwah mempunyai ‘linkage’ rangkaian telekomunikasi dengan setiap penduduk yang ada gadjet tertentu dengan data dan maklumat yang sedia dimanfaatkan oleh semua pihak. Ya, apa kata kita wujudkan telekomunikasi antara masjid dengan penduduk dan rumah mereka dalam sesebuah kariah itu. Dengan itu apa saja sesi tazkirah di masjid boleh diikuti di mana-mana, tetapi harap-harap ia tidak disalahgunakan oleh penduduk lelaki dewasa untuk tidak hadir ke masjid. ************************************ Mungkin orang lelaki akan berterusan dipujuk ke masjid tetapi dengan wujudnya hubungan telekomunikasi masjid-penduduk itu boleh dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya oleh golongan perempuan terutama suri rumah yang terlalu sibuk dengan anak-anak dan urusan rumahtangga.

Tips for public exam-sitting pupils, parents

******************** 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) ************************** MY twelve year old daughter is in Year Six and would be taking her 'Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah '(Primary School Achievement Test or UPSR) around September this year. A few days ago I attended a motivation programme for parents and pupils organized by her school. *************************** 'Syabas' to the school’s 'Program Kecemerlangan UPSR' (UPSR Excellence Programme) for being an early bird. Well, the early bird catches the worm; hopefully, pupils in the school would bag strings of achievements and produce as many as possible high achievers, 'insya-Allah' (God willing). ************************ Children like to beg and coax their parents to fulfill their wishes. My daughter too has that trait. She begs her mother to attend the programme but as my wife could not take time off from her work, my daughter turned to me. ************************** "Father, you should be at school before 8.00 am when the programme begins," she begged, to which I nodded but on the said day, I turned up at 9.30 am! Nevertheless my wife had sent the girl earlier; she had dropped her at her school on her way to work. *************************** When I arrived at the school, 'they (the parents, teachers, pupils and VIP guests) were still busy with the 'usual stuff'' - perhaps readers with school going children are well versed in this - there would be speech after speech by the honourable guests including by the Chairman of the Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG). *************************** The invited speaker only took the floor at 10.30 am! Phew, what a long wait, but I must confess that I played full attention (perhaps readers could give me an A+ mark for that, well in schools pupils are 'brainwashed' to get as many ‘A’s as possible! ) to what one Encik Ikhwan Nasir of 'Jemaah Nazir Sekolah Melaka' (Malacca Members of the School Board) had to say. *************************** I noted the tips given by Ikhwan; and on reaching home at 12.30 pm, the first thing I did was to reach for a big white manila card and a black marker and wrote with bold words - Pupil tasks, a reminder by Encik Ikhwan Nasir at SK...on 11th January 2014. ************************ 1. Perform your five times obligatory prayers on time. ************************** 2. Respect your parents. ************************* 3. Always be ready to help your parents. ************************ 4. Be obedient to your teachers. 5. Always 'du'a' (do supplication) for your father and mother. **************************** I stapled the card on a door which would be easy for the whole family to view. Then I wrote on another card regarding the rules when using the internet and viewing TV. I stuck it on the plug of the TV set. *************************** The notes read: ****************************** 1. Please switch off the TV 15 minutes from the scheduled time for 'adhan' (call for prayers). **************************** 2. Do not study / do your homework in front of the TV. ********************************* 3. Spend (if necessary) only an hour daily on TV and using the internet. -- Reminder by Encik Ikhwan Nasir at SK...on 11th January 2014. ************************* As a father of five children, I knew what it was like bringing up the children. Every child has his/her unique characteristic; this daughter (the youngest of the siblings, at this moment-lah), was good at praising her teachers. I noticed since she was in kindergarten, she always 'said good things' about her teachers but was 'hard' on the advice given by me and what panicked and saddened me at times she too ignored her mother words. ************************** Her teachers were always 'right', thus I grabbed 'the opportunity of attending the motivational talk’ to highlight what was mentioned by the speaker (a former teacher himself) and made my daughter vow to follow the rules as at the programme she and her about 70 classmates had taken their oath in which they had said among other things: "We would oblige to our teacher...so that we would score 5As in UPSR." ***************************** Well, Alhamdulillah after a few days, I realized that my daughter was turning for the better; hopefully she would turn over a new leaf. If before the talk, she would spend hours in front of 'the idiot box' watching what I told her 'those nonsense Korean, Chinese and Japanese stuff', nowadays she sticks to the one hour time allocated! ************************* She is now helpful in doing household chores, such as drying clothes, sweeping the floors and bathing 'our cats' - there are six of them. Usually we would not let the cats inside our house but two of them - Oren and Tupai would jump into the house as soon as we open the doors! ******************** In this article I would to take the opportunity to say 'jazakallahu khayran' (may Allah reward you with goodness) to the teachers, the school’s PIGB or PTA and last but not least to Encik Ikhwan for their concern for my (as well as our) child (and children’s) future what more in the religious aspects of it. ************************ Dear readers, as parents we too have to show good examples to our children; for example at times please perform the Maghrib and Isyak prayers in congregation at home with the whole family involved and please, please do 'du'a' (pray) hard for our children’s goodness, not only for their future in this world but also in the Hereafter. Pray that the whole family and all Muslims would be on His straight path and would escape hellfire but the doors of paradise be open to all of us. ********************** During his talk, Encik Ikhwan made a point to the children (and of course to their parents who were present) that life or success meant nothing if one did not perform his/her obligation to 'solat' (pray) five times daily. ********************** He then called for the children who did not perform their 'subuh' (dawn) prayers that morning to raise their hands. At first only two hands were raised but when the motivator 'grilled' the children, more than half of the class of 70 pupils admitted that they did not perform their subuh prayers. ************************ Encik Ikhwan then asked them why they did not 'solat'...and before getting the answer, he turned to the parents and commented: "Perhaps their mothers and fathers too did not 'solat'" which made some of them giggle and some faces turned red even though they tried to hide it by laughing. *********************** Encik Ikhwan then asked the children; what Islam stood for. Mind you, Encik Ihwan’s answer was only for the children to grasp and understand: I is for 'Isyak' (solat Isyak), S means 'Subuh', L means 'Lohor' (among some Melaka elderly folk Zuhur is pronounced Lohor), A means Asar and M is for Maghrib. ********************* "So you must obediently perform all those prayers...and leaving any means your Islam is not complete," warned the motivator. Yes, if you did not perform 'solat subuh' then the word Islam would become Ilam, if you failed to say your Maghrib prayer then it would be Isla, and if you skipped 'Lohor', it would be Isam!