Take control to enjoy life's little moments...

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.
***

TAKE control to enjoy life's little moments...I saw a captive poster with this soothing words and a suggestive picture of a grinning 'veteran man' pushing a child (perhaps his grandchild) on a toy bicycle in a park, at a pharmacy recently. I was at the premise to accompany my mother to buy her medication.

Yes, scholars said to enjoy life you need to slow down your pace. Try to enjoy life's little moments...in fact everything around you. And also enjoy everything thrown upon you by Allah SWT, The Most High. If you fail to do so, then you will miss the beauty of life and things 'around' you.

Let us look for an example; nowadays when it is the durian season if you do as always stick to your daily routine of the 'mad,mad world' such as rushing to and fro your office, perhaps you would not realize it is now the local fruits season. When you fail to do so, then how are you going to enjoy life's little moment for example enjoying the sweet and rich taste of the king of fruits at a stall by the roadside? You have no time for them. 

But I had seen families coming from posh cars stopped by to enjoy durian at makeshift stalls by the roadside. They seemed to enjoy their life's little moments even though they had their 'makan' (feast) near a 'longkang' (drain).

Yes it is now the durian season, thus remember a wise man saying that for everything there is a season (so enjoy the season); he continued:

And a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace. 

An 'ustaz' during his 'tazkirah' (lesson) at a 'masjid' near my house which I attended recently said: "Take time to enjoy reading the Qur'an." But how come we could enjoy it when we don't know what we are reading?

He gave a simple example - "Many of us don't understand Hindi but why we were kept glued watching Hindustani movies hour after hour? The same could be said about English and Chinese movies...one factor we could enjoy the films because they have subtitles, therefore we could understand the plot of the story..."

"When reading the Qur'an (which is in Arabic) we too need 'subtitles'...nowadays translation of the Qur'an is available in all the major languages of the world including Malay, but how many among us bothered to spend time reading and doing reflections from it?

"Then how many of us spared time to attend the 'kelas tafsir' (classes held for the explanation and interpretation of the verses from the Qur'an) for us to improve our understanding of the words of Allah SWT?"

The 'ustaz' teased his audience by saying: "Many of us have and had read 'Surah Yassin' (a verse in the Qur'an) every Friday night perhaps for 40 or 50 years now, could you please tell me what's this 'surah' is about?" He said it is good for the Malay community to read the 'Surah Yassin' in masjids every Friday night but why not upgrade it by inviting 'ustazs' to do the 'tafsir'. By understanding Allah SWT's message only then we would ready to turn over a new leaf and our readings (of the Qur'an) would be beneficial in our life.

Perhaps many among us, the writer included, have 'to force' ourselves to read the Qur'an. Why it is so hard to us? Why we failed to enjoy reading the Qur'an? Why we cannot control ourselves to enjoy life's little moments such as reading the Qur'an?

Perhaps we could explain from the feelings we had when we are doing our hobbies such as gardening or fishing. When you are too engross in your hobbies thus there are occasions you forget about time. The same could be said about reading your favourite novels; you forget about time but the question is why when you are about to read the Qur'an, you feel sleepy...that's an indicator you must change your attitude to enjoy reading the Qur'an.

Not only regarding reading the Qur'an, we must enjoy whatever we do; but the first thing we should determine is whether it is in line with the teaching of Islam. We must know whether our activities are 'halal' (permissible) or 'haram' (forbidden). Doing 'halal' activities give us the feeling of tranquility but engaging in the 'haram' ones make our life miserable.

A scholar noted that life has its up and down. But for the majority of us, it is very hard to maintain our composure and feelings when we were down the drain. The scholar advised us to enjoy life, for it is brief and there is no time in it for anguish! Yes, we have no time to be sad on thrifty matters but wake up and be alive to reap His giving and rewards in this world and the Hereafter.

But to enjoy His giving and rewards, we have to be in the straight path. Isn’t that are what we ask from Allah the Almighty in each ‘rakaat’ (units) in our prayers when we read an ‘ayat’ in the Surah Al-Fatihah (the Opening): “Guide us on the Straight Path.”

Enjoy your life by emulating Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. way of life. His life is an example for us to follow and a model for us to refer to at all times. No matter what problem arises in our lives, if we look to the Prophet’s Seerah for a solution, we will surely find it.

If all problems could be solved, then we could enjoy our life in this world and 'insya-Allah' (God willing) in the Hereafter since we live in accordance to what Allah and His prophet s.a.w. had revealed and ordered us in His Holy Book, the Qur’an. But we must work hard for it because 'everything has its price'. 

For example in this world, if we wanted to use a public toilet or a tolled road, we must first make payment (have money); then whats more to enter 'jannah' (heaven)...we must have 'something' that would enable us to enter it.

Of course we could only enter 'jannah' on the mercy of Allah SWT but while living on earth we must perform good deeds as much we could and refrain from 'haram' things only to please Him. That good deeds would be transformed into 'pahala' (rewards from God); hopefully He would please to grant us His 'jannah'.

In the Qur'an, Allah told us to be successful in the world and Hereafter. Muslims recited this du'a over and over again: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar' (Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire." (2:201)

Haji, hajah merdekakan diri daripada politik kotor…

DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. 

Renungan

"Dan Dia yang menjadikan malam dan siang silih berganti bagi orang yang ingin mengambil pelajaran atau orang yang bersyukur." (Surah Al-Furqan; ayat 62) 

KINI musim haji. Sudah berbondong-bondong jemaah berangkat ke Tanah Suci. Jika berpandukan kuota satu peratus daripada jumlah penduduk sesebuah negara, ada 30,000 jemaah haji dari Malaysia. Mungkinkah jumlah ini termasuk lebih 1,000 jemaah tajaan 1MDB oleh kerajaan Persekutuan dan negeri daripada kalangan imam, bilal dan pengerusi JKKK?

Boleh dikatakan semua orang menunaikan Rukun Islam kelima berharap mendapat haji mabrur (kecualilah mereka yang pergi dengan ada niat lain) yang balasannya tiada lain, kecuali syurga. Abu Hurairah menyatakan Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda yang maksudnya: “Dosa yang berlaku di antara dua umrah adalah dihapuskan dan tidak ada balasan bagi haji mabrur (haji yang diterima) melainkan syurga.” (Bukhari dan Muslim)

Haji dan hajah jika amalan diterima, keadaan mereka bersih sebersihnya. Macam bayi, suci. Namun haji yang mabrur itu bukan bermakna kepatuhan seseorang kepada semua perintah dan larangan Allah SWT berakhir sebaik saja meninggalkan Tanah Suci, sebaliknya perlu dikekalkan sepanjang hayat.

Kata ulama, jika mahu tahu sama ada seseorang itu mendapat haji mabrur atau tidak, lihat kepada amalannya selepas bergelar haji dan hajah.

Seseorang itu boleh membuat penilaian terhadap insan bergelar haji dan hajah di persekitaran masing-masing; benarlah kebanyakannya dihormati dan disegani sepanjang hayat tetapi biasalah adalah seorang dua diberi gelaran tak elok seperti ‘Haji Bakhil’ dan ‘Hajah Murai’.

Dan biasalah, ada haji dan hajah yang marah jika ada orang tidak memanggil atau menulis pada pangkal namanya dengan gelaran istimewa itu.

Seorang haji atau hajah adalah ibarat utusan kebenaran, dia menegakkan yang hak dan menentang kebatilan. Hak tertinggi adalah mengakui keesaan Allah SWT dan mengharungi kehidupan berdasarkan pengakuannya dalam solat “hidup dan matiku hanya untuk Allah Tuhan seru sekalian alam.” Dia tahu dia menghadapi dosa dan pahala dalam setiap perlakuannya.

Misalnya, menolong orang dengan niat betul, mendapat pahala. Jadi dia akan terus membantu sesama manusia, hatta membantu anjing kehausan pun diganjari syurga Allah SWT seperti mana dinyatakan dalam sebuah hadis. 

Melakukan fitnah, mendatangkan dosa besar, jadi dia menjauhkannya. Bayangkan, alangkah jijiknya seorang haji atau hajah membuat fitnah misalnya mendakwa seseorang itu berbuat perkara keji malah bersumpah pula di masjid sedangkan dia tidak pun menyaksikannya.

Sebagai pejuang kebenaran haji dan hajah wajib menyatakan yang hak dan batil dalam semua aspek kehidupan termasuklah dalam berpolitik. Merdekakanlah diri daripada politik kotor dan kepartian yang bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam. Jika benar, katakan benar, jika salah katakan salah; jangan berselindung lagi kerana “tidak malukah kita dengan apa yang sudah kita ucapkan (berdoa) kepada Tuhan ketika kita munajat di depan Kaabah, di Arafah, Mina dan Mudzalifah.”

Antara rintihan jemaah haji: “...Ya Allah, aku berlindung dengan-Mu daripada menzalimi dan dizalimi, menyerang atau diserang atau membuat kesalahan dan dosa yang tidak Engkau ampunkan...Ya Allah, aku berlindung dengan-Mu daripada keras hati, kelalaian, kehinaan dan kemiskinan. Aku juga berlindung dengan-Mu daripada kekufuran, kefasikan, pepecahan, cinta kepada kemasyhuran dan riyak...”

Jadi selepas bergelar haji dan hajah, masih tergamakkah kita berbuat perkara tidak elok malah menyalahi hukum agama termasuk ketika berpolitik?Tidak payahlah dinyatakan perkara berat-berat; ambil yang mudah saja, misalnya membantu pemimpin dan parti penipu menang dalam pilihan raya. Kalau kita tahu parti dan pemimpin itu penipu mengapa kita mahu terus ‘berjuang’ memenang atau mempertahankannya? Ya, yang betul katakan betul; yang salah katakan salah. Inilah sebahagian maksud merdeka sebenarnya!

Pay workers before their sweat dries up…

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.
***

LAST Sunday (August 14th) during ‘kuliah subuh’ (early morning lesson) at a ‘masjid’ near my house, the ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) continued his discussion on the topic about 'nafkah' (alimony) to ones wife; he must adhere to this commitment in their marriage life. 

He said other than the 'normal' livelihood expenses such as food, shelter and clothing for the whole family, a husband must gives special maintenance expenses to his wife so that she could buy her personal requirements such as toiletries and make-up.

But the ‘ustaz’ was quick to point up that the ‘nafkah’ depends on the well being and capability of the husband and not to the fancies of his wife. The wife has the right to have what her husband normally eats, wears and lives or to that standard. He reminded to a husband even though his wife may be working and earns an income more than him, the ‘nafkah’ is still his responsibility.

But the ‘ustaz’ had these words of advice to working wives: “Based to what I witnessed and cases reported to me, women who were working and earned high incomes, spent their money according to their fancies. They buy expensive clothes, designers shoes, handbags and make-ups including international labelled perfumes. Then they ‘marched’ to their offices and working places wearing and using these attires and make-ups.

The ‘ustaz’ reminded women-folk to be careful in their ‘tabbaruj’  (display of beauty) even though they buy their attires and make-ups using their hard-earned money.  ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood r.a. reported that the Prophet s.a.w. used to dislike ten kinds of behavior and he (‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood) mentioned that from amongst them is displaying and beautification which is done in an improper place. It is ‘haram’ in displaying beautification to strangers; but only to one’s husband and certain family members.

‘Tabarruj’ is disobedience to Allah and His Messenger s.a.w. The one who disobeys Allah and His Messenger s.a.w. can only harm himself and can not in any way harm Allah. The Messenger s.a.w. said, “All of my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?” He s.a.w. said, “He who obeys me enters Paradise and he who disobeys me has refused.” (Reported by Imam al-Bukhary)

To the men-folk, the ustaz gave this warning: “I am afraid you are committing a sin by allowing your wife to go out in such a state…you must always gives advice to your wife…if she ignored your advice…keep on trying until two ‘things’ happen…either you die or you wife dies!”

After his talk, the ‘ustaz’ opened the floor for a question and answer session. I took the opportunity to asked him during this ‘hard times’ when job opportunities were scared, many workers were retrenched, the ‘rakyat’ were told to do two or three jobs and some employers were late in paying their workers or even worse hold on to monies due to them; what’s our (husbands) position in giving ‘nafkah’ to our wives and children?

The ‘ustaz’ said we (including the wife) have to practice ‘sabar’ (patience); for the husband, the ‘nafkah’ is according to his capability. If he could only effort to have ‘nasi’ (rice) and fried ‘ikan kembong’ to feed his wife and children, then it is it…but he must determined to work hard and not to lost hope…'insya-Allah' they would be better off in the near future.

And to employers, the ustaz mentioned several 'hadith' that they have to pay their workers or monies due to them promptly.  Ibn Maajah narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar r.a. said: The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” - Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah

Scholars said the command to give monies due to him before his sweat dries is a metaphor for the obligation to pay him as soon as the job is done, even if he does not sweat, or if he sweated and it has dried.

Employers delay in paying the salaries is wrongdoing which makes their honour and punishment permissible, as the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Withholding of payment by a rich man is wrongdoing.” (Narrated by Imam al-Bukhaari and  Muslim)

And the Prophet s.a.w. said: “If one who can afford it delays payment, his honour and punishment become permissible.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah; classed as hasan by al-Albaani)

The Prophet s.a.w. said: "The procrastination of the rich is an oppression that entitles him to be spoken against and to be punishment.” 

He also said: “Whoever oppressed another for a handspan measure of land will have a collar of seven lands placed around his neck on the Day of Judgment.” 

The rights of a person are highly regarded in Islam. In his Last Sermon during the Pilgrimage, the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Your blood, your money, and your kin are sacred and cannot be taken by force, just as this day in this month in this land is sacred."

Regarding a good employer, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) said: Three persons set out on a journey. They were overtaken by rain and they had to find protection in a mountain cave where at its mouth there fell a rock of that mountain and thus blocked them altogether.

One of them said to the others: Look to your good deeds that you performed for the sake of Allah and then supplicate Allah, the Exalted, that He might rescue you (from this trouble). The first person mentioned about his sacrifice to his aged parents, the second about his fear for Allah when he was about to commit ‘zina’ (adultery) and the third one said:

“O Allah, I employed a workman for a measure of rice. After he had finished his work I gave him his dues (in the form of) a measure of rice, but he did not accept them. I used the rice as seeds, and that gave a bumper crop and I became rich enough to have cows and flocks (in my possession). He came to me and said: Fear Allah, and commit no cruelty upon me in regard to my dues. I said to him: Take away this flock of cows and sheep. He said: Fear Allah and do not make a fun of me. I said: I am not making a fun of you. You take the cows and the flocks. So he took them. O Allah, if Thou art aware that I did it for Thine pleasure, case the situation for us.” (And Allah relieved them from the rest of the trouble).  (Sahih Muslim)