OMG...

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.
***

I was very very disturbed and worried when at certain times I heard my two daughters exclaimed 'OMG' (oh my God) in their conversations. 

In my opinion, we should not copy 'other people's' way of life; isn't Islam our complete way of life? By the way, my opinion is not important, I have to seek answers from knowledgeable people and authorized sources.

First, what's the meaning of OMG. Urbandictionary defines it as a exclamation of shock or surprise, often used repeatedly by stupid people who are shocked and surprised by almost everything and insert it into conversations whenever possible. It gave this example: "Oh my God, Becky, look at her butt!"

Oxford Living Dictionaries defines OMG as an exclamation (informal) used to express surprise, excitement, disbelief, etc. Among examples given were: "OMG, we finally did it!" and "OMG, that was fun."

It was stated that its origin was in early 20th century: from the initial letters of oh my God! (the final elements may sometimes represent goodness, gosh, etc.).

To know whether we (Muslims) are allowed to utter OMG in our daily lives especially during conversations, a few days ago I asked an 'ustaz' after his weekly 'tazkirah' (lesson) at a 'masjid' near my house during which he mentioned about the importance of Muslim doing their 'zikr' (reciting words for the remembrance of Allah SWT).

He warned that Muslims without the 'zikir' would be like 'monyet' (monkeys), quoting a well known scholar. He also mentioned that the best 'zikr' is reading and understanding the Qur'an.

In his lesson the 'ustaz' mentioned about several quotations from the Qur'an and 'hadith' about the importance of 'zikr' - among others: "Only in the remembrance of Allah SWT will your heart find peace." (Quran 13: Verse 28)

Abu Hurairah r.a. (may Allah be please with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah SWT said, "The uttering of the words: "Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection), Al-hamdu lillah (all praise is due to Allah), La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah) and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)' is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises." (Narated by Imam Muslim)

Abu Hurairah r.a. also reported: The Messenger of Allah SWT said, "There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: 'Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim (Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection)'." (Narated by Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Regarding 'my OMG question', The 'ustaz' didn't answer it directly, but first talked about how far our young generation had distanced themselves from the teachings of the Prophet s.a.w. He gave an example of some of our youth sporting various types of hair styles such as the Mohawk or Mohican style while ladies wear tight fitting and hugging jeans or leotards with hanging T-shirts and blouses even some of them wear their 'tudungs'!

He said it is not proper for us to follow 'everything' from 'people outside the Islamic teachings' such as from the Westerners uttering OMG, but if a person does it fully aware that he/she was only praising Allah SWT, for example having in mind it means 'Ya Allah!', then it is allowed.

But if we recite OMG with the intention of copying the non-Muslims way of life, then we are in great trouble because to them God are interpreted differently from us that is Allah SWT. This could jeopardy our 'iman' (faith), said the 'ustaz'.

To them, God is different from what we understand. For example a popular rapper, Weng Meng Chee or Namewee not long time ago caused controversy over his video song 'Oh My God'. In his song he mentioned about Allah and the gods of other believers. He was charged with defiling a place of worship with intention to insult religion.

Regarding the 'OMG issue', a renowned Malaysian Muslim scholar not long time ago, when asked about the matter answered: "It is a duty of every Muslim to always have the remembrance of Allah SWT. In the Qur'an, Allah SWT says, "Only in the remembrance of Allah SWT will your heart find peace." 

"Therefore to lead a calm life, always wet your tongue reciting phrases of praises to Allah SWT. The 'kalimah' (word) God could not all all be translated to Allah. The word 'God' could be in singular or plural form and have sexes such as God and Goddess. But the 'kalimah' Allah has the meaning of 'tauhid' monotheism in it. We acknowledge Allah SWT's oneness...its 'mustahil' (impossible) to be two or three. 

So to Muslims please exclaim 'Ya Allah' because its meaning is different from 'Oh my God' (OMG). Ones reciting 'Ya Allah' would have Allah SWT's bounties and huge rewards in this world whats more in the Hereafter. So, recite 'Ya Allah'...is it too difficult to recite it compared to OMG?

YES just stick to 'Subhan-Allah' or 'Ya Allah' or 'Astaghfirullah' or 'Allahu Akbar' or the likes, crying it out loud depending on the situation. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and upon all his Family and Companions.

The best thing to do to obtain peace of heart and mind, happiness and tranquility is by the remembrance of Allah. Allah says: "Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (Qur'an 13:28)

On the contrary, if one does not remember Allah, then there will be no peace, tranquility or happiness of the heart. Allah says: "But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'an nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship." (Qur'an 20:124) 

Terus bersilaturahim sekalipun berbeza pandangan…

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

Renungan

"Kalau sekiranya perempuan ahli syurga (termasuk bidadari) datang kepada penduduk bumi, nescaya akan disinarinya dunia antara langit dan bumi dan terpenuhinya dengan bau harum semerbak. Sesungguhnya tutup kepalanya lebih baik daripada dunia dan isinya." (HR. Bukhari) 

KETIKA menyaksikan pertandingan akhir Piala Malaysia antara Kedah dan Selangor pada malam Isnin hari Ahad (30 Oktober), teringat saya akan pesanan seorang ustaz bahawa perbezaan pendapat dan pihak disokong termasuk parti dibenarkan tetapi memutuskan siraturahim adalah haram. 

Yalah, kita faham orang Kedah tinggi semangat 'Kekedahannya' manakala orang Selangor dengan 'Keselangorannya', masing-masing 'mahu memenangkan' pasukan masing-masing. Malah ada suami isteri, orang Kedah dan Selangor, bermasam muka gara-gara sokongan pasukan mereka yang berbeza. Berlainan pasukan disokong tidak menjadi masalah, tetapi sehingga menjejaskan ikatan persaudaraan apatah lagi perkahwinan amat 'bahaya'!

Baru-baru ini di kelas pengajian mingguan di masjid yang saya ikuti, sang ustaz begitu bersungguh-sungguh mengingatkan jemaah jangan sesekali memutuskan siraturahim kerana rahmat Allah SWT tidak akan turun ke atas sesebuah keluarga, masyarakat, negara dan sejagat jika ada anggotanya berbuat demikian.

Ustaz memetik daripada kitab Khulasah Tanbihul Ghafilin karya Sheikh Abu Laits Samarqandi yang meriwayatkan dengan sanadnya daripada Abdullah bin Aufa r.a. berkata: “Pada waktu petang hari Arafah, kami duduk bersama-sama Nabi s.a.w., tiba-tiba Nabi s.a.w. bersabda; jangan duduk bersama kami siapa yang memutuskan hubungan kekeluargaan, supaya bangun dari tengah-tengah kami, maka tidak ada orang kecuali seorang di belakang berdiri, maka tidak berapa lama dia kembali.

“Maka Nabi s.a.w. bertanya: Mengapa kamu? Jawab beliau: Ya Rasulullah, ketika aku mendengar sabdamu itu, aku segera pergi ke rumah saudaraku yang memutuskan hubungannya dengan aku, lalu dia bertanya; mengapakah engkau datang? Ganjil sungguh kedatanganmu ini.

“Maka aku beritahukan apa yang aku dengar daripada kamu, maka dia membacakan istighfar untukku dan aku juga membacakan istighfar untuknya. Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: Bagus kamu, duduklah sekarang, sebab rahmat Allah tidak akan turun pada satu kaum jika ada antara mereka seorang yang memutuskan hubungan kekeluargaan.”

Demikianlah jika kita sering mengikuti kelas-kelas pengajian di surau dan masjid, kita diberitahu betapa pentingnya menjaga hubungan siraturahim. Berhubung silaturahim dalam keluarga, kita sering diingatkan supaya memuliakan ibu bapa di samping mendoakan mereka sepanjang masa. Jalan ke syurga adalah dengan restu dan reda ibu bapa, lebih-lebih lagi si ibu. Namun ada hubungan yang retak kerana anak dan ibu bapa berbalah mengenai soal jodoh malah ada yang tidak mengaku anak atau ibu bapa lagi,

Seorang anak perlu memuliakan ibu bapanya sepanjang hayat, malah jika 'orang tua' sudah meninggal dunia, anak-anak terus dituntut berbakti kepada mereka seperti berakhlak mulia sehinggalah kepada amalan menziarahi sahabat taulan mereka yang masih hidup. 

Dalam Islam, anak-anak juga diajar untuk memuliakan ibu bapa sekalipun mereka belum memeluk Islam. Ringkasnya, hubungan kekeluargaan tetap utuh tetapi apa yang berlaku hari ini amat menyedihkan kerana semakin ramai anak-anak jauh terpesong daripada mengamalkan ajaran Islam dalam kehidupan mereka. 

Jika dalam sejarah sahabat dan Sirah Nabi s.a.w. ada dikisahkan seorang anak yang tidak dapat mengucap dua kalimah syahadah ketika akan menghadapi sakratulmaut kerana tidak mengendahkan ibunya, anak-anak hari ini nampaknya mendengar saja kisah itu tetapi gagal menjadikannya iktibar dalam mereka menjalani kehidupan. 

Demikian juga amaran Allah agar anak-anak tidak membantah ibu bapa selagi bukan dalam perkara maksiat malah berkata 'aaahhh' pun tidak dibenarkan, nampaknya dijadikan halwa telinga saja. 

Dalam menghadapi perbezaan pandangan, anak-anak sewajar berhemah dalam menghadapi karenah dalam keluarga. Di sini letaknya perbezaan antara insan berilmu dan tidak berilmu. 

Seseorang yang tidak berilmu akan bertindak mengikut nafsu tetapi mereka yang berilmu serta mengamalnya sudah pasti akan bertindak berdasarkan hukum-hakam yang terkandung dalam agama. Apa yang dibolehkan itulah yang dibuat dan apa yang diharamkan, perkara itu dijauhi. 

Berdasarkan apa yang berlaku dalam masyarakat Islam hari ini, kita berpendapat amat penting (wajib) untuk mereka terutama ketua keluarga mendalami ilmu, terutama yang bersangkutan dengan penghidupan sebagai seorang Muslim sejati. 

Jika seseorang itu sudah tahu hukum-hakam agama, kita percaya masalah masyarakat seperti perpecahan dalam keluarga, pulau-memulau dan sebagainya dapat dibendung. 

Subhanallah, jika kita sudah ditunjuki 'jalan yang lurus' oleh Allah SWT seperti yang kita pohonkan dalam bacaan surah Al-Fatihah setiap rakaat solat, insya-Allah kita akan dapati kebenaran berada di depan mata! Allahuakbar.

Ladies, please emulate Hagar...

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.
***

LATELY when reading newspapers, sometimes I came across news or articles featuring women doing 'extraordinary feats' - the latest one was about a lady who traveled alone (solo) around the globe crossing over 40 countries in four continents on a motorbike in 370 days.

'Syabas' (congratulation) to that determined lady...Oh what a feat, I really admired her determination; her courage, her sacrifice and her achivement 'won' my heart - yes she had her name crafted in the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Malaysian Muslim women to travel around the world on a motorcycle.

The lady who was also touted as the first Muslim woman to successfully ride a motorcycle around the globe, was quoted as saying although her main motivation was to make Malaysia proud,the mission was also aimed at correcting the negative public perception of Islam and women in Islam.

"Too many people have become Islamophobic and think of Islam as the religion of terrorists, that Islam is rigid and discriminates women and that Islam does not allow women to study or work, and other negative perceptions.

"If they say Islam is rigid, oppressing women to the extent of not letting them to study, then how come I am going around the world riding solo on a motorbike," she was quoted saying.

Many Malaysian Muslims including intellectuals and leaders gave thumbs up to the lady's feat; for example a renowned professor said she support women doing tough outdoor activities including travelling solo around the world, travelling across Antartica or climbing roof top mountains.

Dear readers, I have no grudge against women, but when there are encouragements from top figures that Muslim ladies indulge in 'extraordinary feats' whats more involves travelling and they are looked as examples to our young generation, I was confused and my mind raced back to the many 'tazkirah' (lessons) I attended at 'masjids' around my house.

Regarding 'successful women' who should be looked as examples, what has Allah SWT and His prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. (peace be upon him) had mentioned; that's more important, in fact it is very crucial because we must strive to be successful in this world and the Hereafter.

From the Qur'an (Al-Baqarah, 2:201) we recited our du'a: "Our Lord, give us in this world (that which is) good and in the Hereafter (that which is) good and protect us from punishment of the Fire."

Regarding rules on 'musafir'; (traveler), I heard a few 'hadiths' from some 'ustazs'; one of the 'hadith' read: "Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id al-Khudri r.a. narrates that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: “Let no woman travel for more than three days unless her husband or a 'mahram' is with her." (Sahih Muslim)

Another one read: "Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas r.a. narrates that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: “'A woman must not travel except with a 'mahram' and a man must not enter upon her except if she has a 'mahram'. (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1763)

One 'ustaz' reminded that no 'Muslimah' (Muslim women) should travel to faraway places without being accompanied by her husband or 'mahram' (unmarriageable kin).

He said even to perform hajj, which is the fifth article in 'Rukun Islam' (Articles of Faith), Muslim female must be accompanied by her husband or 'mahram' then whats more to lesser important obligations such as working, studying and of course holidaying.

So 'the thing' that puzzled me is could a Muslim women travel solo around the globe riding a motorcycle? A few days ago, during a question and answer session after an 'ustaz' had given his 'tazkirah', I posed to him the question.

He said the general understanding is that it is prohibited in the Shariah for a female to travel without a 'mahram' under all circumstances. It is impermissible for a woman to travel the distance of three days (equivalent to 48 miles) without her husband or a ''mahram' accompanying her. 

Why are women not allowed to travel without 'mahram'? Firstly, it was Allah's command; just obey it and you be blessed and rewarded handsomely. And if you disobeyed Allah's command after you have the the knowledge about it, then it is up to you; the consequences you bear it yourself.

Regarding the ban, scholars said it was because travel usually causes exhaustion and hardship, and because women are weak and need someone to look after them and stay with them, and things may happen in the absence of her 'mahram' that she is not able to deal with. These are things that are well known and are frequently seen nowadays because of the large number of accidents involving cars and other means of transportation. 

Moreover, if a woman travels alone she may be approached and tempted to do evil, especially when there is a great deal of corruption. Someone may sit next to her who does not fear Allah and he made may doing 'haraam' (forbidden) actions seem appealing to her. It is perfectly wise that the woman should be accompanied by her 'mahram' when she travels, because the purpose of having her 'mahram' present is to protect her and look after her. Travelling is a situation in which emergencies may arise, no matter what the length of the journey is. 

The 'ustaz' said Muslims or Muslimah in specific, should looked upon the lives of 'special and successful women' mentioned in the Qur'an and hadith if they were aiming to be blessed in this world and the Hereafter. Among names mentioned were the Prophet's s.a.w. wives such as Lady Khadijah binti Khauwalid, Aisha' binti Abu Bakar; his daughter Fatimah Az-Zahra; women around his time such as Ummu Sulaim and before the time of the Prophet s.a.w. women such as Aisya' the wife of 'Firaun' (Pharaoh) and Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim a.s.

Reading the lives of these women with heart, one could not help but was tremendously touched and determined to follow their footsteps...of course not all of them but 'a little of it' could be able to guide us in life. They lead lives not to be popular and famous doing 'extraordinary deeds of feats', but only to please their Creator, Allah SWT. They lead lives in line with Allah's order - "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me." (Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51: 56-57)

A renowned writer, Dr Ali Shariati described beautifully how Allah SWT honoured one of the women - Hajar (Hagar) in his book 'Hajj'. This is an excerpt of it: Toward the west of Kaaba there is a semi-circular short wall which is arching towards the Kaaba. It is called Ismail’s Hagar. Hagar signifies lap or skirt. The semi lunar wall resembles a skirt. 

Sarah, the wife of Ibrahim had an Ethiopian maid called Hagar. She was a poor and humble servant of Sarah,who was given to Ibrahim

The skirt of Hagar was the area in which Ismail was raised. The house of Hagar is there. Her grave is near the third column of the Kaaba. 

What a surprise since no one, not even prophets, are supposed to be buried in mosques but in this case,the house of a maid is located next to Allah’s house! Hagar, the mother of Ismail is buried there. The Kaaba extends toward her grave. 

There is a narrow passage between the wall (Hagar’s skirt) and the Kaaba. When circumambulating around Kaaba, Allah commanded that you must go around the wall and not through the passage. 

Those who have submitted themselves to the oneness of Allah and those who have accepted His invitation for Hajj touch this skirt when circumambulating the Kaaba. The grave of a maid and a righteous mother is now a part of the Kaaba; it will be circumambulated by man forever! 

Allah, the Almighty, in His great and glorious Divinity is all self-sufficient. He needs no one and nothing. Nevertheless, among all His countless and eternal creatures, He has chosen one, humankind, as the noblest of all of them.  From among all humanity He has chosen: a woman, from among all women: a slave, and from among all slaves: a black maid! 

The weakest and most humiliated one of His creatures was given a place of dignity next to His own house.

The Unknown Soldier has been so chosen in the community of Islam! 

The rituals of Hajj are a memory of Hagar. The word Higrah (migration) has its root in her name as does the word mohajir (immigrant). “The ideal immigrant is the one who behaves like Hagar.” (Saying of Muhammad s.a.w.)

In Hagar’s mother-tong her name means “the city”. Even the name of this Ethiopian slave is symbolic of civilization. Furthermore, any migration like hers is a move toward civilization! 

Hagar’s grave is in the midst of man’s circumambulation of Kaaba. You, the mohajir (immigrant), who has detached himself from everything and accepted Allah’s invitation to go to Hajj,you will  devote your circumambulation of the Kaaba to Allah and at the same time you will be paying homage to the grave of a African maid. 

It is difficult to realize. But for those who think they live in freedom and defend humanism, the significance of these incidents transgresses the scope of their understanding!