Masjid Keroh yang 'jernih'

******************** Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Renungan *********************** “HANYALAH yang memakmurkan masjid-masjid Allah ialah orang-orang beriman kepada Allah dan hari kemudian, serta tetap mendirikan solat, menunaikan zakat dan tidak takut (kepada siapa pun) selain Allah, maka merekalah orang-orang yang diharapkan termasuk golongan orang-orang yang mendapat petunjuk.” (QS. at-Taubah:18) *************************** KIRA-KIRA jam 12.00 tengah hari tanggal 25 Disember lalu, saya dan keluarga yang dalam perjalanan dari Kota Bharu ke Kuala Lumpur, terperangkap dalam kesesakan jalan raya yang teruk di laluan berhampiran bandar Kuala Krai. Dereten kenderaan memanjang di sepanjang laluan menghala pekan itu. Selepas dua jam bersesak-sesak sebelum menghampiri bandar Kuala Krai barulah saya tahu kenderaan bergerak perlahan kerana terpaksa meredah arus air banjir. ****************************** Ketika berlaku kesesakan itu, saya dan keluarga sempat singgah di Masjid Keroh untuk solat jamak zuhur dan asar. Waduh, sepanjang beberapa kali saya berkelana di Kelantan sejak pertama kali pada 1988, inilah masjid terbersih (pada pandangan saya) dengan kemudahan paling tersusun pernah saya temui di negeri Cik Siti Wan Kembang ini. Walaupun bernama 'Masjid Keroh' , terletak di Kampung Keroh yang hanya beberapa kilometer dari bandar Kuala krai, 'kejernihan' suasananya menambat hati saya. ********************************** Melalui ruangan ini, izinkan saya berceloteh hal-hal menarik saya saksikan di masjid ini yang insya-Allah boleh dijadikan contoh oleh pengurusan masjid-masjid lain. Apabila dinyatakan bersih, tentunya keadaan tandas dan tempat wuduk masjid begitu selesa keadaannya. Apatah lagi ruang solat dan almari di mana naskhah al-Quran dan kitab-kitab diletakkan. *********************** Selepas solat, saya pun melihat-lihat papan kenyataannya. Seperti masjid-masjid lain ada disertakan senarai nama ahli jawatankuasa masjid. Namun apa yang menariknya, di masjid ini ada dinyatakan (ditulis secara terperinci) tugas-tugas ahli jawatankuasa masjid itu. Bagi saya ini perkara ini sesuatu yang amat baik kerana kebiasaannya hanya nama AJK masjid ditulis tetapi orang ramai termasuk jemaah masjid tidak tahu apa sebenarnya tugas dan apa yang dibuat mereka. *************************** Ada AJK masjid yang bukan saja tidak menyumbang apa-apa kepada usaha memakmurkan masjid malah mereka pun jarang-jarang ke masjid, ada yang hanya datang untuk bersolat Jumaat saja malah mungkin ada yang tidak datang langsung. Pendeknya nama mereka saja terpampang gagah, kerja mereka tiada malah ada yang terbabit dalam perbuatan keji yang memalukan umat Islam setempat, negeri dan negara. ***************************** Ya, pada pandangan hamba yang daif, alangkah eloknya setiap pengurusan masjid mengambil contoh usaha dilakukan pentadbir Masjid Keroh ini. Selain menyenaraikan nama AJK masjid daripada Pengerusi sehinggalah Pemeriksa Kira-Kira dan nama pegawai syarak daripada Imam 1 sehinggalah Noja, paparkan secara terperinci tugas masing-masing termasuk jadualnya sekali. Dengan cara ini, tidaklah boleh seseorang yang namanya dipaparkan di dinding masjid itu, berlepas tangan, mereka mesti menunaikan setiap apa yang dinyatakan itu. **************************** Ketika membelek-belek tugasan AJK Masjid Keroh itu, penulis perasan ada ditulis siapa yang tugasnya memastikan kebersihan tandas pada hari itu. Ya, jika dinyatakan siapa pelaku tugas itu secara spesifik tidak bolehlah seseorang itu mengelat. Jika dinyatakan cuci tandas, cuci tandaslah tanggungjawabnya dan jika ada masalah berkaitan dengan tandas, dialah orang yang akan dicari. ************************ Bagi penulis, menulis dan mempamerkan tugasan setiap AJK masjid adalah satu tindakan profesional. Hasilnya, penulis melihat sendiri persekitaran Masjid Keroh begitu bersih serta mendamaikan. Bagi kemudahan orang berkeluarga dan musafir di sediakan sejumlah wakaf di hujung kawasan masjid. Wakafnya sungguh bersih; di setiap wakaf disediakan tong sampah. Sungguh selesa pengunjung bersantai makan bersama keluarga selepas menunaikan solat. ************************ Jika Masjid Keroh mendapat markah tinggi daripada penulis, ada sejumlah masjid yang pernah dikunjungi penulis perlu memperbaiki pengurusannya. AJK-nya perlu dibangkitkan daripada mimpi panjang, jadi sedarlah wahai anda yang namanya terpapar sebagai AJK masjid, jangan harapkan nama saja 'glamour' tetapi kerja tidak dibuat. ************************* Ada masjid yang penulis kunjungi, tandas dan bilik airnya....alamak boleh pengsan dibuatnya. Kadang-kadang bukan saja najis manusia terpalit sana sini tetapi tahi cicak 'bertimbun-timbun' menunjukkan tandasnya jarang dibersihkan. Pernah sekali penulis dan keluarga singgah di sebuah masjid pada waktu subuh, selepas solat penulis pun mandi; isteri penulis hairan kerana penulis lama sangat dalam bilik air tetapi terdengar bunyi bagai dicurah-curah. ********************** "Abang buat apa tu?" tanyanya. "Tahi cicak banyak sangat, terpalit sana, terpalit sini, depa tak pernah cucikah tandas inikah?" Selepas mandi, penulis yang lalu di depan masjid melihat papan tanda yang melakarkan nama AJK masjid. Ramai juga AJK-nya, lebih 10 orang. Terfikir di benak penulis, AJK aje ramai, buat apa, jika tandas masjid pun sudah macam setor simpan keranda saja. ************************** Bukankah lebih baik pada papan kenyataan masjid ditulis begini: AJK Masjid: Leman bin Bujal, tugasan CUTI TANDAS setiap Isnin dan Jumaat (kalaulah tak ada tugas langsung). Syor ini bukan menghina, ia sudah diamalkan di Masjid Keroh yang hasilnya 'sungguh menjernihkan'! ************************ Ingatlah akan ayat al-Quran (Surah at-Taubah: 18) yang bermaksud: “Hanyalah yang memakmurkan masjid-masjid Allah ialah orang-orang beriman kepada Allah dan hari kemudian, serta tetap mendirikan solat, menunaikan zakat dan tidak takut (kepada siapapun) selain Allah, maka merekalah orang-orang yang diharapkan termasuk golongan orang-orang yang mendapat petunjuk.” ************************** Orang yang menjaga kebersihan masjid termasuk tandasnya, termasuk dalam golongan 'memakmurkannya' daripada sebuah kata dalam bahasa Arab yang antara lain bermaksud mendiami, menetapi, menyembah, mengabdi (berbakti), membangun (mendirikan), mengisi, memperbaiki, mencukupi, menghidupkan, menghormati dan memelihara. ************************ Apa dimaksudkan “memakmurkan masjid” adalah membangun dan mendirikan masjid, mengisi dan menghidupkannya dengan pelbagai ibadah dan ketaatan kepada Allah, menghormati dan memeliharanya dengan cara membersihkannya daripada kotoran-kotoran dan sampah serta memberinya wewangian. Semoga mewangilah masjid-masjid kita dengan mencontohi pengurusan masjid yang efisyen seperti Masjid Keroh di Kuala Krai, Kelantan!

Islamic DJs at weddings

************************ 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. *********************** DURING this long school holidays, I attended numerous wedding ‘kenduris’ (feasts); including one ‘kenduri’ held by a relative in Bidor, a small town in Perak. ******************* This one captured my heart, not because of the grand occasion but for the host’s creativeness in bringing in ‘Islamic DJs’ (disc jockeys) to enlighten and brighten the event. ********************** I thought the DJs performed well according to Islamic requirements; they aired reciting of the Qur'an, played mostly ‘nasyid’ (religious) songs softly and in between the songs they read and talked about ‘hadiths’ on love, marriage and stories about homes of chosen Islamic families such as of that of Ali bin Abi Talib and Fatima binti Rasulullah (peace be upon him – s.a.w.) and of course on the homes of Prophet s.a.w. and his wives such as Khadijah and Aishah. ************************ Among the ‘hadiths’ I heard was about Fatima’s complaint to her father (the Prophet) about the hardship in running her household. Ali bin Abi Talib narrated: “Fatima came to the Prophet asking for a servant. He said, "May I inform you of something better than that? When you go to bed, recite "Subhan Allah' thirty three times, 'Alhamdulillah' thirty three times, and 'Allahu Akbar' thirty four times. 'Ali added, 'I have never failed to recite it ever since." Somebody asked, "Even on the night of the battle of Siffin?" He said, "No, even on the night of the battle of Siffin." (Bukhari) ************************ And among the songs they played were ‘The Chosen One’ and ‘Al-Mu’alim’ (The Teacher) by Sammi Yusof. The DJs also recited du’a (prayers) and make announcement of prayer times; read messages from guests and well wishers especially to the ‘pengantin’ (bride and groom) and gave room for a 'nasyid' group to perform live in entertaining the guests. ********************** Well readers, the DJs and MCs ‘employed’ at this relative’s wedding gave fresh looks and ideas compared to the stereotyped ones in mostly Malay wedding feast I have attended. It was usual to bump into a ‘kenduri’ with loud music banging on in the air. It would be deafening and ones faced difficulty in having conversation with other guests or even with the newlyweds or their families. *********************** Since ‘Islamic' DJs and MCs are quite new to me (the one in Bidor was my first ‘encounter’), I searched the internet for this subject and ‘alhamdulillah’ (praise to Allah SWT), I found some helpful information. ********************* There was one enterprise under Alunan-firdausi.blogspot.com (Alunan Firdausi Entertainment) that provides services of Islamic DJs and MCs in the Klang Valley. ********************* With a tagline ‘Hati Ceria, Islam Terpelihara’ (Be Happy, Islam Secure), the enterprise has this to say: “Islamic DJs and MCs do not only means that he must be able to be well versed in Arabic, but more importantly, the values, the ‘akhlak’ and the ‘adab’ (manners) that are being produced and being absorbed directly and indirectly by the audience. ******************** Well, it is about re-branding the stereotype DJ and MC. This enterprise also provides for functions on sharing knowledge about the Qur’an or hadith and for wedding receptions the charges are about RM800 for a five hour sitting. ********************* Regarding hosting a function the Islamic way, a scholar said: “There must not be any form of free mixing in any of the events. Any form of ‘haraam’ is obviously forbidden. Apart from that any form of musical instrument is permissable as long as the lyrics used for it does not contravene ‘Shariah’. ********************* On the international front on this topic, in Muzaffarnagar, India, the News reported that the Muslim clerics of Jamiat Ulema Hind have called for a ban on using DJ and display of dowry goods by community members during weddings' saying it is against Islamic law. ********************* The clerics also appealed the ulemas to avoid performing ‘nikah’ in such marriages. The decision came during a meeting held in which several Muslim clerics were present. The clerics decided to ban DJs and exhibition of dowry goods during marriage saying that it is against the Shariat law. *********************** The clerics who participated in the meeting included President of Utter Pradesh Imam Organisation Mufti Zulfikar, District President of Jamiat Ulema Hind Maulana Nazar Mohammad and District Secretary Maulana Tahir Kasmi. ******************* Still on marriage but from a different aspect of it, an ‘ustaz’ during a ‘tazkirah’ (Islamic lesson) at a masjid near my house recently, gave some advise to would to be grooms and brides and most importantly to their parents. Among the tips were: ******************* · When writing invitation cards, please do not use any quotation from the Qur’an (in Arabic form) including the word ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim’ because of the tendency of receivers of the cards to throw away the cards including in dustbins after the said dates. Receivers of ‘kad kahwin’ please do not just throw away the cards. Dispose cards ‘carefully’, if there are words from the Qur’an on it, cut it out first. ******************* · Nowadays, it is norm to mention the word ‘bersanding’ (sitting on the wedding dais ceremony) on cards that would be held it at 1.00-1.30 pm; wouldn't this be the time for ‘Zuhur’ (mid-day) prayers? The ustaz said: “Why not someone make a move to mention in wedding cards that at 1.00-1.30 pm, the hosts would have a break for the ‘Zuhur’ prayers. ********************* · Why must we have a ‘bersanding’ with the ‘tepung tawar’ ceremony if it contradicts with the teaching of Islam? If you would hold one which does not contravene ‘Shariah’ such as having it in a special room where the sexes do not mix and minus the un-Islamic rituals such as the ‘tepung tawar’ , then there is no problem. ******************** · Nowadays there is a tendency for the would-be groom and bride to have a photo session before their ‘nikah’ (solemnization of marriage) and have their intimate pictures put on banners which are displayed at entrances of the respective homes during their ‘kenduri’ days. Avoid this because it is against the teaching of Islam because it is ‘haraam’ for intimacy for a couple who have not performed 'nikah’ or to put their pictures on banners displayed for the public to view. ********************** The ‘ustaz’ said; a marriage is an ‘ibadat’, why must we waste the opportunity to gain rewards from Allah SWT in organizing it; but instead ‘heap upon ourselves sins’ by doing things forbidden by Allah SWT. He said we were just wasting our money, resources and more importantly our time in organizing such a ‘lara’ (wasteful) ways of living. ******************** Allah SWT The Almighty had warned us about the wasting of our time and resources in in Surah Al-Asr (The Time): ****************** 1. By Al-'Asr (the time). 2. Verily! Man is in loss, 3. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf)which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.). ********************* So, please adhere to the teaching of Islam including when holding a wedding reception or feast. Insya-Allah, we would be rewarded handsomely by Allah SWT, the newly weds would have a 'barakah' life; they would have offspring who would uphold the struggle of Islam that would be of much benefit to parents!

Floods: Being patient like the Kelantanese

************************* 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. ************************* IGNORING warnings not to visit the East Coast states by a relative who was staying there, I took my family to Kelantan for a holiday on the 24th December 2012, a day before Christmas. ********************* We entered Kelantan via the East-West Highway from Butterworth; all was smooth during the journey except for the drizzle for almost the entire journey until we passed Tanah Merah, a small town about 100 kilometres south of Kota Bharu. ******************** The Tanah Merah-Machang road was choked with vehicles on both sides; about half an hour after ‘inching’ our car foward, only then did we realize that a stretch of the road was under repair. ************************ The authorities had removed the tarmac surface, unfortunately the rainy season had put them into difficulty in giving the road a new surface; thus vehicles had to move on an uneven road marred with many pot holes. ******************** Yes, I was advised not to go to the East Coast states during this monsoon season, but I ignored it and now am already in Kelantan, so what should I do? *********************** I remember a Malay proverb ‘masuk kandang kambing mengembek, masuk kandang harimau mengaum’ – which I thought was equivalent to the English phrase – when in Rome just do what the Romans do; so why not I just follow the good traits of the Kelantanese for example some of them seemed very ‘patient’ and ‘cool’ in facing difficulties resulting from the floods. ********************* After the ‘crawl-like situation’ which lasted more than one hour, we reached Pulai Chondong on our way to Kota Bharu. The traffic was smooth but I realize we were already in flood prone areas. ************************ We could see in some low areas along the road submerged in waters. But surprisingly some boys were playing in the water while some men were seen casting their nets to catch fish. Well to me who was not used in facing floods, the Kelantanese were ‘cool’ in facing such a situation. **************************** We moved on until we reached Wakaf Che Yeh, a small commercial area about 10 kilometers south of Kota Bharu. Normally during our stay in Kota Bharu, we would rent a room at a homestay some distance from the commercial area but during the recent vacation, we found out that the house was submerged in water. ********************* Well, it was not our luck; I tried a few other homestays and inns and at last we were ushered into a room on level three of a building of the commercial centre. A ‘mischievous thought’ ran through my mind – if the flood water came, we would be safe as we were in a high place! ********************* That evening it rained cats and dogs. But as we were hungry we had to go out to look for food. We went down and walk along the sidewalk of the building, ran into the rain and then took refugee under canopies erected by ‘pasar malam’ (night market) traders in the area. ******************************* We kept on walking until we could go no more; the rain was pouring heavily and then came strong winds; the canopies were shaking and about to be uprooted. We then ran for our dear lives and took shelter under a building nearby but I saw the traders were not shaken in facing such a situation; they seemed ‘cool’; some just held on to the pillars of their tents while others embraced their goods such as ‘tudung’ from being blown by the strong winds. ************************* Walking along the sidewalk of the building, we realized we would not be able to go to some ‘gerai’ (food court) which was a distance away in the open. The rain was pouring heavily, and as we were too hungry we went to a 24 hour retail shop; bought a few cups of instant mee; poured hot water unto them and then had a ‘fast dinner’ while standing! ************************* We waited for the rain to stop and fortunately the rain subsided at about 10 pm. We went back to the ‘pasar malam’ area; the traders seemed unfazed by the earlier events. I thought after the heavy rain, they would ‘bungkus’ (pack up) their goods and go home as I normally witnessed ‘pasar malam’ scenes in my home state; but here I witnessed an ‘unique trait’- Kelantanese were patience in facing hardship in earning a living. ************************* The ‘pasar malam’ was much alive after the heavy rain; customers kept on coming while the traders were seen putting up more goods on display tables and hanging clothes under their canopies. **************************** A few traders asked by the writer said they would carry out their businesses even if the weather was ‘bad’ as it was only their only way to earn an income. They said as floods were almost a yearly phenomena in their areas, they were used to the difficulties during that period. **************************** They seemed calm in facing tribulations and as an outsider I admired this good trait of the Kelantan people. If the traders have positive minds not to give up in doing their businesses, perhaps those in other industries such as fishing and farming too might have a very high level of patient in facing difficulties during hard times. ************************** Just imagine fishermen not going out to sea during this monsoon season; so how would they go about coping with life without fixed incomes; perhaps they could do part time jobs but how much could they could earn from these activities? ***************************** The farmers too have to cope with the difficulties of life when their crops are destroyed or damaged by flood water. On the road to Kota Bharu, I witnessed vast areas of paddy fields submerged in waters. There were also areas planted with palm oil and rubber trees that were flooded. **************************** And what about the life of small man on the street such as the trishaw rider, shoe repairers and small stall retailers? When floods hit their areas, they might be without an income for days. So how were they going to survive? ******************************* Reflecting the difficulties in life of those caught in these floods made me realize to treasure the pleasures of life I have been endowed with by Allah SWT all this while. If the people of Kelantan could still put ‘happy faces’ when faced with this tribulation; could we do the same when we had the same fate? ********************** The relative who had earlier warned us not to go for a holiday in the East Coast upon hearing that we were already in Kota Bharu, advised us to leave Kelantan as soon as possible because the floods were getting worse by each day. ************************ This time we submitted to his advise and in no time we were packing our bags and heading home via the main road to Kuala Krai-Gua Musang-Kuala Lipis-Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. ************************ We started the journey at around 11.00 am on the 25th December and only reached Kuala Lumpur at 1.00 am and Melaka at 3.00 am the next day. Why did it took such long hours for that journey? **************************** It was because the road was packed with vehicles heading south because another main road leading south out of Kelantan via Terengganu was cut off because of the rising flood waters in Setiu and its surroundings. ******************* And another reason was because a section of the Kuala Krai-Gua Musang main road near Kuala Krai town was also flooded, but it was not that deep so vehicles could still move on but a very slow phase. ************************* At this section of the road, we experienced ‘a bumper to bumper’ situation; we had ‘to practice patience’ while ‘inching’ our car for about two hours. ********************** Well ‘that patience’ was only an ant bite compared to what was faced and experienced by the people in the East Coast states especially in Kelantan!