No time for prayers?

********************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Reflection ********************** Surah 114 ******************* An-Nas, the second of the two cries for refuge and protection, takes its name from a recurring word which marks the rhythm in the Arabic. In this case protection is sought especially from the evil in a man's own heart in the hearts of other men. An early Meccan revelation ****************** MANKIND ****************** Revealed at Mecca ***************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. **************************** 1. Say; I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, ************************ 2. The King of mankind, ************************ 3. The God of mankind, ************************* 4. From the evil of the sneaking whisperer, *************************** 5. Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, ******************************* 6. Of the jinn of mankind. ****************** (The Meaning of the GLORIOUS QUR'AN, The Final Revelation, An Explanaory Translation by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall) ***************** Of several Isra' (Israk) and Mi'raj (Mikraj) talks I attended in masjids near my house recently, a point raised by an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) struck deep inside my heart that I keep on thinking about it to this day. ******************* It was about time – Allah is The Creator of time; He is The Controller of time, in a short span of time (not even one night) He could take Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. for a journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to the upper heavens. ******************** Isra' and Mi'raj was the miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. (peace be upon him) from the Haram Masjid in Makkah to the al-Aqsa Masjid in al-Quds (Jerusalem) and from there he ascended to the upper heavens and Sidratul-Muntaha. ***************** For the journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, Arab caravans travelling by camels at that time needed one month and another one month for the journey back but the Prophet could made in a very short time. Nowadays travelling by plane for the same journey takes a few hours. ********************** And for the journey from Jerusalem to the upper heavens and Sidratul-Muntaha, only Prophet Muhammad s.a.w as the chosen one by Allah SWT could make it and he took a short period of time; nowadays man boasted that he has reached the moon (Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on 20th July 1969), yet their journey in Apollo 11 spacecraft needed the time span of eight days travelling in space. The average distance between Earth and Moon is about 239,000 miles or about 384,000 kilometers. ********************* If man could go to the sun, then the journey of 93,000,000 miles (about 150,000,000 kilometers) by taking the fastest spacecraft would take them generation after generation; the fact is that man could not reach the sun because of various factors including its heat that would melt the craft. ******************* Keep in mind that all these ‘sky creatures’ – the moon and sun - are all under the Earth's sky (first layer of sky); Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. had ascended all seven layers of skies to Sidratul-Muntaha. ********************** So why Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. could make the Isra' and Mi'raj journey in a short period of time – not even one night? The answer is in Ayah 1 of Surah 17 (Al-Israa’) which means: “Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).” **************** It was Allah SWT that made the journey possible. Allah is The Creator of time and space. It is His wish to do anything including time. In Ayahs 80-81 Surah Yasin, Allah SWT says: “Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Aye, that He is! for He is the All-Wise Creator. But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it: Be! And it is.” (The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an, English Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall) **************** If Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. had seen, witness and experienced many miracles on the blessed journey (Isra' and Mi'raj) for only part of a night (in several hours) what could be said about the time of 24 hours a day given by Allah to each of us? Perhaps our (the writer included) 24 hours were full of playful and useless activities and being wasted away without us being guilty! ******************* Let us look at look at the things we do during those 24 hours given to each of us by Allah SWT. A large part of it (about 6-8 hours) we sleep, another 8 hours we spend it working, and for the balance time, we are engage in routine activities such as eating, watching TV, playing games, going to the toilets and so on. ******************** This is what ordinary people do, as for a busy person such a businessman, a journalist or a politician; he may spend perhaps up to 16 hours doing business or work and may complain he has no time to say his ‘solat’ (prayers). Imagine, from the 24 hours a day given by Allah SWT, he has the guts to say that he has no time to say his five times daily ‘fardu’ (compulsory) prayers! Some dared to say they have no time to perform even a prayer! ********************** How come when a person says he has no time for prayers yet pious people during the same period of 24 hours could perform all five times daily prayers in congregation in masjids and some could offer up tens or even hundreds of ‘rakaat’ of ‘sunat’ (recommendation) prayers. If a ‘busy’ person complains he has no time to even flip the pages of the Qur’an, then there are pious people who could complete reading (khatam) the whole Qur’an in a day! ******************* And nowadays when almost everybody is busy with Euro 2012, a fanatic football fan would perhaps spend all his 24 hours a day given by The Almighty with his ‘eat and sleep way of life’ in front of the idiot box (TV). Perhaps he is too busily engrossed in his interest that he has no time to perform his obligations to Allah SWT such as performing his ‘solat’! Yes his 24 hours a day is spend only of football yet pious people with the Hereafter as their main concern, could do numerous good things that ‘insya-Allah’ (God willing) would please Allah SWT and would rewarded handsomely by Him. ********************* Allah created time; hence he can do whatever He wants to with it. If the Prophet could travel, witnessed and experienced many miracles during the short span of time (according to human beings calculation) during Isra' and Mi'raj, Allah SWT out of His Mercy has also awarded Muslims bounty rewards in the Hereafter if they perform their good deeds during special times and places. ************************ For example when ones perform his obligations and good deeds during ‘Lailatul Qadr’ (the Night of Destiny) during Ramadan, then he/she would be rewarded for his/her deeds for that night better than a thousand months (1 night = 83 years 4 months!). ******************* Then if one performs his obligations for example saying his prayers in the Haram Masjid, then he would be rewarded 100,000 times more than the rewards at ordinary masjids. At The Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah it is 1,000 times and at the Al-Aqsa Masjid it is 500 times! ******************* Some people benefit from the time and gift given to them by the Almighty, others don’t. Imagine you were determined to go for an ‘umrah’ (minor hajj) this coming Ramadan and ‘alhamdulillah’ you made it. If one day, you perform all your five times daily prayers in congregation (jemaah) coupled with hundreds of ‘rakaat’ of ‘sunat’ prayers in the Holy Masjid and it happened to be ‘Lailatul Qadr’, what a bountiful reward would be awaiting you in the Hereafter! ************************** The world is only a play, remember what the Prophet had advised us: “Grab five things before five others: your youth before your decrepitude, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your leisure before your work, and your life before your death.” (Al-Hakeem) ************************ Allah SWT The Almighty had warned us about time 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.).

Antara getah gelang, pemadam getah dan ‘handset’…

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." **************** ****************** DIDIKLAH anak-anak kamu untuk menghadapi zamannya, bukan zaman kamu, demikian antara lain kata-kata masyhur Sayidina Ali Karramallahu wajhah (k.w.). **************** Kira-kira 10 tahun lalu, saya perasaan seorang anak saya yang berada di sekolah rendah terbabit dalam sejenis permainan menggunakan pemadam getah. Kegunaan alat ini adalah untuk memadamkan tulisan pensil tetapi lain pula dibuat oleh anak saya itu dan rakan-rakannya. ***************** Dalam permaianan membabitkan sekurang-kurangnya dua orang ini, pemadam getah itu digerakkan dan pemenangnya adalah orang yang berupaya meletakkan pemadamnya di atas pemadam lawan. Si pemenang akan mengambil pemadam rakan yang kalah. **************** Saya naik angin dengan anak saya selepas menemui berpuluh-puluh pemadam dalam begnya. ************** Saya jelaskan kepadanya permainan itu tidak wajar diteruskan kerana adalah membazir untuk membeli begitu banyak pemadam lagi pun akiviti itu melekakannya daripada pelajaran. Saya meminta dia berhenti daripada terbabit daripada permainan itu. ***************** Permainan getah pemadam ini adalah baru bagi saya. Pada zaman saya kecil dulu, permainan yang menjadi kegilaan budak-budak adalah getah gelang yang berwarna-warni tetapi sekarang sukar menjumpai getah gelang ini. Zaman saya adalah ‘zaman getah gelang’ tetapi zaman anak saya itu adalah ‘zaman getah pemadam’. ****************** Tidak pernah terlintas dalam dalam fikiran saya, getah pemadam boleh dijadikan bahan pertaruhan dalam permainan di kalangan kanak-kanak. Apa yang saya tahu adalah getah gelang tetapi zaman sudah berubah; si anak itu sudah bermain getah pemadam tetapi anak zaman sekarang lebih dahsyat lagi…anak-anak bermain ‘handset’ dan pelbagai permainan elektronik lain. Telefon bimbit kini bagaikan permainan saja bagi mereka. ***************** Perkara inilah yang rasanya seperti tidak tertanggung lagi oleh kebanyakan ibu bapa dan guru-guru. Anak-anak zaman sekarang sudah terlalu ke depan dalam teknologi komunikasi ini sehinggakan budak sekolah rendah yang belum sampai 10 tahun pun sudah biasa dengan istilah seperti ‘top up’ dan‘reload’. ******************** Macam mana jantung ibu bapa tak rasa ‘macam mahu putus’ atau guru ‘naik angin’ kerana ada sesetengah daripada anak-anak ini tidak ‘berenggang’ langsung daripada ‘toy’ baru ini. Dulu saya naik angin dengan anak yang bermain getah pemadam tetapi sekarang ‘budak yang masih berhingus’ pun sudah ada ‘handset’ yang dibelinya sendiri dengan menggunakan duit hasil kutipan pada hari raya. Aduh, sungguh canggih ‘toy’ budak-budak zaman sekarang! *************** Berhubung perkembangan ini, saya tertarik dengan maksud kata-kata hikmah Sayidina Ali k.w. bahawa didiklah anak-anak sesuai dengan zamannya manakala Sayidina Umar Al-Khattab pula mengingatkan ibu bapa hendaklah mendidik anak-anak berlainan dengan cara mereka dididik sebab Allah melahirkan anak itu berlainan zaman daripada zaman ibu bapanya. ***************** Jika dulu, apabila seseorang itu bercakap seorang diri, kita copnya sebagai gila tetapi sekarang dengan wujudnya pelbagai gajet elektronik ini, kerap benar kita temui anak muda yang bercakap seorang diri. Kadang-kadang kita lihat mereka tersenyum, ketawa dan menjerit ‘sorang-sorang’, jadi bagaimana mak bapak atau cikgu zaman sekarang ini tak ‘tension’ dibuatnya? ***************** Ya, ramai ibu bapa cuba didik anak-anak mereka sebaik mungkin. Apabila bersama anak-anak bolehlah kita pantau kegiatan mereka, tetapi apabila berada di luar persekitaran rumah tangga, anak-anak kerap tergoda dengan pengaruh luar. Tentunya permainan gelang atau pemadam getah bersifat 'mati' (tiada reaksi dan respons) tetapi gajet elektronik cukup bahaya kerana boleh memberi respons (bahan) tanpa sempadan. Ngeri memikirkan jika anak-anak kita dalam usia hingusan itu sudah menjadi ketagih dalam mengakses bahan-bahan lucah dan sampah. ******************* Zaman teknologi maklumat inilah menjadikan ibu bapa dan guru semakin tercabar kerana kerap berlaku apa yang mereka ajar tidak sejajar dengan persekitaran. Misalnya media massa semakin teruk dengan bahan lucah dan pembohongan, orang politik semakin banyak menyeleweng manakala jenayah semakin menjadi-jadi. Jadi pendidikan anak-anak semakin sukar; bagaimana agaknya kita perlu lakukan agar tindakan kita bertepatan dengan ingatan Sayidina Ali - didiklah anak-anak kamu untuk menghadapi zamannya...takkan kita nak suruh anak kita main getah gelang lagi. ************** Menghalang anak-anak main gelang dan pemadam getah mudah tetapi bagaimana mahu membendung mereka daripada bermain 'toy' masa kini? Sama-samalah kita fikirkan...

Lessons learned from a ‘trustworthy friend’

******************* 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) ****************** I was in ITM (now UiTM) in the eighties (1982-85). As a student, it was a dream for me to own a motorcycle. Since hostels of male students were far away from dining halls and lectures rooms, owning motorcyles would certainly of much help and thankful to Allah SWT for His blessing. ************* Alas during Year One, with only a ‘Fama sponsorship’ (father’s and mother’s small allowance), I was only day dreaming but during Semester Three in early 1984, I was awarded an education loan amounting to a thousand ringgit per year. Oh, how could I forget the thrill of having lots of money in my hands! *************** The first pay was RM1,000. After settling various bills (at that time college fee was only RM90 per semester), I was left with RM800 in my pocket. Could I fulfill by dream of owning a motorcycle with that amount of money? ****************** As I knew that amount was not enough even to buy a second hand Yamaha Cup, I gave the ‘trust’ to my father whose monthly salary at that time I thought was not more that RM500. ******************* I remembered how ‘naughty and selfish’ I was then when I persuaded and pressured my parents to buy a bike for me. It worked, one day my father asked me to go his friend’s house, a Chinese man who was willing to part off his Yamaha Cup, with the registration number MM9XXX at RM1,200. ***************** My money was RM400 short, but being ignorant at that time I didn’t even asked my father how he topped it up. Perhaps he had sacrified by borrowing money from friends or worst still from ‘ah longs’ (illegal money lenders). ******************* I started owning that bike in January 1984, and believe me it was my ‘trustworthly friend’ until it ‘died’ on the 29th February 2012 when I was on my way to a masjid for ‘zuhur’prayers. I had used the bike for more than two decades; the years it serviced me has been more than my married life of 23 years. ****************** I had lost a ‘true friend’ but that didn’t stop me from deposing it. One day in March this year after a few weeks being left idle in the garage, I took the almost broken into two bike to a friend’s motocycle shop and had it sold as old metal scrap at only RM40! ******************* My bike reflected my life. When I first had my hands on it, I was not even 22 years old. Those early years I had a robust life. Once, with that bike, I raced illegally with a few friends in Shah Alam. I lost control at a roundabout and was flung into a drain; the bike crashed on the pavement. ****************** With my best friend, Zek, sometimes we would sneek from our homes and hostels and with our motocycles went to watch movies in small cinemas which were history today such as Kammah, New Oriental and Capitol in Melaka and Klang that screened steamy movies not shown at respected ones such as Cathay and Rex. ********************* One Saturday in 1984, Zek and I went to Port Klang jetty with my bike, and then we took a ferry ride to Pulau Lumut (nowadays known as Pulau Indah). We roamed the island with the bike, eat a lot of durians and by night time landed in a ‘surau’ (small masjid). A kind villager took us to his house and during our stay there, we were feasted with more durians; even cakes served were made from that fruit! My ‘beloved’ MM9XXX became my ‘spare vehicle’ after I bought a second hand car in 1989. It was left rusty in the sun and rain but fortunately my youngest brother who was studying in UiTM ‘rescued’ and used it for a few years before returning it back to me. ********************* How time had slipped pass and people has change; if during my younger days, I used the bike for ‘silly purposes’ such as involving in illegal racing, going to cinemas and roaming the country, alhamdulillah (Praise to the Almighty) when that vehicle had become old (just like the writer) with ‘a little power’ left, I only ride it to nearby places such as attending prayers and classes in masjids and suraus or buying simple groceries such as bread and newspapers. ************************ If that ‘trustworthy bike’ which had given me an excellent service for more than two decades, had ‘passed away’ and I had it abandoned, I too was on my way to say goodbye to this ‘untrustworthy’ world. It was because all life ends in death. ************************* Scholars had warned men; let us remember that a certain time is fixed for us when we too will be abandoned to the darkness in our graves. We should, therefore, consider the passing life of this world as a means towards out ultimate goals. ******************** Yes, this material world is not the main object of our life but a means towards a higher goal. The purpose of man’s life is ‘Servie to Allah’ and nothing else. This life is a preparation of what Allah has in store for us. ******************** The life in the Hereafter is eternal, and it is that which the believer should strive for. Hence let us not be deceived by the glamor and spendour aroud us. ******************** This life should never be wasted by merely seeking a comfortable and rich life of worldly happiness because Allah SWT tells us: “And surely the Hereafter is indeed better than this world.” ********************** Again says the Qur’an, “Every soul shall taste of death” – none shall be made to wander this world for ever. ******************** And when their time to depart has come, none shall be given a respite for even an hour, neither shall death be hastened by an hour. On the other hand the righteous and pious will be glad to leave. ******************** For them death will be easy and the greatest object of their lives. “Death is a bridge, whereby the loved ones reach their beloved.” These are the ones who made Allah the object of their devotion, adoration and obedience and Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. the model examplar of their lives. Thus success awaits them. ****************** Yes, these are those who will be successful in the Hereafter to enjoy the pleasure of their Lord. Then Allah will grant them Paradise. (Pearls of the Prophet) ****************** It is very necessary that we take a lesson from the coming and going of men and things around as. One day we too will be no more. Even my trustworthy MM 9XXX Yamaha Cup has ‘passed away’. So what are we waiting for? Let us now prepare ourselves for that fateful day; it may be after a few years, it may be tomorrow or even today. So beware! ****************** Let us, therefore, endeavour to become His loyal and humble servants who will unfailingly strive to improve our lives to live a better, fuller and richer life goodness so that death will be to us a brige joining the loved one with the beloved. ****************** Allah SWT says in the Qur;an: “Only those who believe in Our revelations when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate and they are not scornful; who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (Qur’an 32: 15-17)

Ulasan buku 'Travelog Wartawan Islam' oleh Beritakampus USM

***************** 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 *** ULASAN buku 'Travelog Wartawan Islam' karya LanH yang disiarkan oleh 'Beritakampus USM' **************** Buku: Travelog Wartawan Islam, Penerbit, Kemilau Publika ******************** Diterbitkan pada Jumaat, 18 May 2012 04:47 ***************** Pengulas Sitti Hadijah Ahmad ********************* SETELAH 12 tahun bergelar seorang wartawan, idea menghasilkan Travelog Wartawan Islam tercetus apabila penulis buku ini melihat hampir kesemua buku-buku yang berkaitan kewartawanan Islam di pasaran hanya bercerita dari sudut teori dan panduan sahaja. ***************** Tiada satu pun buku di pasaran yang memaparkan pengalaman sebenar, pahit manis, jatuh bangun yang dilalui oleh seorang wartawan. ******************* Tulisan tajam berdasarkan pemerhatian adalah senjata menyengat penulis buku ini. ************** Realitinya, buku ini menceritakan pengalaman Roslan Hamid atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan LanH dan suka duka yang dialaminya sepanjang begelar seorang wartawan di salah satu syarikat akhbar Melayu terbesar negara. ******************** Di dalam buku ini, agak menarik di mana penulis cuba menjelaskan tentang konsep kerja menurut Islam dan cabaran yang perlu dibawa oleh seorang muslim dalam setiap kerja yang dilakukan. ************************* Penulis berjaya menimbulkan satu perasaan bahawa tugas wartawan tidaklah bersifat murni sebagaimana tugas-tugas mulia yang lain dan penulis buku ini berjaya memperkenalkan satu istilah mengikut cita rasanya sendiri iaitu wartawan sekular yang hanya bersifat duniawi. ******************* Maka buku ini bagaikan sebuah catatan kecewa seorang wartawan apabila tuntutan tugasnya selama ini menyebabkan beliau tidak dapat menyempurnakan tanggungjawabnya kepada Tuhan. Sama ada kesempatan untuk menyempurnakan solat fardu lima waktu, menghadiri kelas belajar dan mengaji al-Quran sehinggalah menghalangnya untuk menyambut setiap kali tibanya 1 Syawal. ************************ Pengalaman selok-belok dan liku-liku atau rencah kehidupan seorang wartawan adalah bahan menarik yang diselitkan di dalam buku ini. Tanpa meninggalkan cabaran dimarahi oleh ketua, mengejar ‘deadline’ dan sebagainya. Semua ini membuat beliau muhasabah diri dan akhirnya memutuskan untuk meletak jawatan. ******************** LanH turut menceritakan bagaimana dunia kewartawanan masa kini penuh dengan pertentangan etika yang dipelajari sewaktu di universiti, serta turut berlawanan antara unsur baik atau buruk. Misalnya, dalam kehebatan akhbar menceritakan keburukan judi dan minuman keras, tetapi pihak yang sama juga memperuntukkan ruangan iklan minuman keras dan ruangan khas keputusan empat nombor ekor secara terang-terangan. ************************ Pengakuannya sangat jelas dan ikhlas. Adakalanya unsur baik dan buruk bercampur gaul di dalam dunia kewartawanan dan penerbitan. Artikel agama tentang aurat yang dimuatkan dalam ruang agama, tetapi dihelaian lainnya memaparkan juga aksi artis bagaikan tidak cukup kain. *********************** Buku ini boleh dikatakan terbahagi kepada dua sisi. Sisi pertama menceritakan pengalaman beliau sebagai wartawan dan sisi yang satu lagi adalah koleksi tulisan penulis ketika mengisi ruangan ‘Kisah Atara Dua Kota’ yang pernah beliau siarkan ketika bertugas di sebuah syarikat akhbar terkemuka negara. Ia meliputi pelbagai tajuk tanpa terhad kepada bidang tugasnya sebagai Pengarang Meja Luar Negara. ********************** Wartawan bukan seperti sasterawan. Kerja wartawan berkejar dengan masa, wartawan harus cepat. Itulah salah satu penekanan yang dilakukan LanH dalam buku ini. ********* Pelbagai perkongsian berharga turut disisipkan di dalam buku ini yang dapat dijadikan pengajaran dan tauladan kepada pelajar-pelajar pengajian media dan individu yang mempunyai aspirasi untuk menjadi wartawan. **************** Beliau mampu berdakwah dan menasihat, bagai menarik benang dalam tepung, benang tidak putus dan tepung dan tidak berselerak. Buku ini wajar dibaca oleh semua golongan supaya dapat menilai dengan bijak akan kerjaya wartawan yang memberi sumbangan yang besar kepada masyarakat.

Fish for food, not sport...

******************* In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************* Reflection ***************** There is no god but He, Praise and glory to Him; Far is He from having the partners they associate unto Him. (Tauba 9:31) ******************** ALMOST every Sunday morning I attend ‘Kuliah Subuh’ (Dawn Classes) at a masjid near my house. The ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher)would give talks based on a collection of hadiths compiled by At-Tirmidhi which were discussed and written in huge volumes of books named ‘Bahru Al-Madzi’ by a renowned Malay ulema from Lubuk Merbau, Perak; Syeikh Muhammad Idris Al-Marbawi. ************************ Recently, while discussing the topic of ‘jihad’, the ustaz mentioned briefly that Muslims should not be cruel to animals. He said it is ‘haram’ (forbidden) to even slap an animal on its face what more to kick it on a part of its body. For example when your pet cat tries to steal a fish placed on the eating table, you could chase it away, but never, never hit it on its face! In short Islam is totally against cruelty to animals. **************** When the ustaz opened the floor for questioning, I asked him about, perhaps a new craze among Malaysian that is fishing without a purpose as compared to consuming the catch. It is just for fun. Fishing is just a hobby or a kind of sport; the question is whether catch-and-release-fishing allowed in Islam? ***************** The ustaz said: “We are asked not only to treat human beings with dignity and respect but also towards other creatures. If we want to have animals for our food we have to follow the syariah for example reciting Bismillah (in the name of Allah SWT) and slaughtering them in a polite (humane) manner such as having our knives sharpened but never do it in front of the animals. ******************* “As a basic principle, all acts of killing are forbidden in Islam. But Allah SWT upon His Mercy on us, allowed us to kill certain animals for our food but only under His name. Animals killed not in the name of Allah, could not consumed by Muslims. ******************** “Killing animals is only allowed for food with the exception of certain animals that are harmful to us such as snakes, mosquitoes, centipedes and so on. These harmful animals too have to be killed in proper way. You killed them instantly; do not be cruel to them. ********************* “So regarding to catch-and-release-fishing, it is unethical for Muslims to be involved in such an activity. If fishing is your hobby and the fish you catch is for consumption, then it is okay. It is also not wrong for you to sell your catch for an income. ******************* “But to catch fish just for fun and then release them, what more injure the fish during the process, then it is not permitted. Islam forbids cruelty to animals. Why feel triumphant at the expense of exposing the fish to death and pain?” ********************* In en.islamtoday.net a question posted is quite similar to mine. A reader asked: “Is fishing as a hobby allowed in Islam? This means catching fish with a rod and reel, but not to eat them, but rather to return them to the sea, river or lake.” ******************* The Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî responded: “Fish are among the creatures in Allah’s creation that He blessed us to derive benefit from. Allah says: “Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use for food.” [Sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 96] ****************** If any kind of sport with these fish brings any sort of harm to them, then this is unlawful to engage in such a sport. These fish represent populations of beings that glorify and praise Allah. We can, therefore, fish as long as we eat the fish we harvest or give them to others to eat. ************************* If we have no purpose behind our pulling these fish out of the water with a hook – thereby injuring them – except to amuse ourselves, then it is unlawful for us to do so. **************** Muslims are prohibited from abusing animals. The Prophet (peace be upon him) informs us of how a woman earned Allah’s wrath for her mistreatment of a cat. She entered the Hellfire on account of a cat that she imprisoned, neither feeding it nor letting it hunt for food. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî] ******************* The Prophet (peace be upon him) even forbade the cursing of animals: Once, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was on a journey, he heard a woman invoke Allah’s curse upon a camel that she was riding. He said: “Offload the camel and let it go, since it has been cursed.” [Sahîh Muslim] ******************* Sport fishing, which at the very least brings pain to the animals, and at worst serious infection or death, is clearly a transgression against these principles. ******************* As a general rule, it is unlawful to kill animals except for food or to protect ourselves from harm. Even when we slaughter an animal for food, we must do so in the best, most humane manner possible. The Prophet (peace be upon him)) said, “When you kill, you should kill well, and when you slaughter, you should slaughter well. Sharpen your knife and give relief to your slaughtered animal. [Sunan Abî Dâwûd] ********************* We cannot even kill insects except if they cause harm to us in some way, and then we may kill them only to the extent that we must in order to safeguard ourselves from their harm. Evidence for this is that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A prophet once sat under a tree when he got bitten by an ant so he burnt the ant’s village. Allah inspired to him: Why not only one ant?” [Sahîh Muslim] “ ************************ People for the ethical treatment of animals (Peta) said catch-and-release-fishing is cruelty disguised as ‘sport’. Studies show that fish which are caught and then returned to the water suffer such severe physiological stress that they often die of shock. ******************** Fish often swallow hooks, and anglers may try to retrieve a hook by shoving their fingers or pliers down the fish's throat, ripping out not just the hook but some of the fish's throat and guts as well. When fish are handled, the protective coating on their bodies is disturbed. These and other injuries make fish easy targets for predators once they are returned to the water. ********************* Fish feel pain because, like all animals, they have nerves. Hooked fish struggle out of fear and experienced physical pain, desperate to breathe. Once fish are hauled out of their aqueous environment and into ours, they begin to suffocate, and their gills often collapse. In commercial fishing, fish’s swim bladders can rupture because of the sudden change in pressure. ******************** Angling hurts other animals too. Every year, anglers leave behind a trail of tackle victims that includes millions of birds, turtles, and other animals who suffer debilitating injuries after they swallow fishhooks or become entangled in fishing line. Wildlife rehabilitators say that discarded fishing tackle is one of the greatest threats to aquatic animals. ******************* An article approved by Mufti Ebrahim Desai from Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah, Australia noted: “It is not permissible to do fishing just to pass time and to have fun when one does not have a valid shar’ee purpose such as to keep the fish for consumption etc. ************************* Therefore, recreational fishing and sport fishing in which one catches fish merely to release them again is not permissible. Releasing the fish due to it being undersized according to the law of the country is a different issue. ******************** To persistently spend a lot of time on fishing is not permissible as it causes ghafla (heedlessness) because of which the person is distracted from and deprived of praiseworthy as well as compulsory acts. Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever pursues the game (i.e. hunted animal, fish etc.) becomes heedless.” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i). *********************** Mulla Ali Qaari (May Allah be pleased with him) explains the hadith thus: “i.e. whoever persistently pursues (the animal, fish etc.) and engrosses himself in it and mounts himself in order to pursue it -- such as a pigeon etc. -- for amusement and delight, becomes heedless: i.e. of Allah’s obedience, His worship, the congregation, and Jum’ah; and he distances himself from gentleness and mercy because of his resemblance with a predatory animal and a beast.” (Mirqaatul Mafaatih vol. 7 pg. 279) ******************* In short, to fish with a valid syariah purpose, such as to keep the fish for eating, is permissible. To incessantly and persistently spend a lot of time on fishing is not permissible. To fish just for the sake of fishing without the intention of keeping the fish is also not permissible.”

Atas nama sukan, orang jadi 'hamba bola'

******************* DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ***************** Renungan ************** "Ucapkanlah kepada mereka, kata-kata yang mulia dan rendahkan dirimu di hadapan kedua-dua ibu bapamu dengan penuh rasa sayang." (Surah al-Israk, ayat 23-24) ****************** PADA musim bola (Euro) sekarang ini dan Olimpik bulan depan, ramai orang jadi sasau. Dulu saya gila sukan terutama bola sepak (setakat menonton kerana bermain bola hanya mewakili kelas!) tetapi apabila usia sudah tua, barulah saya insaf semua itu merugi dan membodohkan diri. ************************ Maaflah jika saya berkata begitu, mungkin ada pembaca tidak setuju, tetapi bukankah negara ini mengamalkan demokrasi, seseorang boleh menyatakan pendapatnya secara bebas (tetapi ada batasannya-lah). Dulu teman gila bola saya dua orang. Seorang sudah meninggal dunia, seorang berubah sikap selepas isterinya meninggal, jadi takkan saya nak terkontang-kanting gila bola seorang diri pada penghujung usia ini? Entah esok lusa, saya masuk kubur, takkan soal bola ditanya Munkar dan Nakir? ******************** Bagi saya, Euro ini propaganda Barat dan dengan segala jenteranya berjaya memaksa penduduk dunia taksub kepada mereka sedangkan kalau difikir-fikirkan kejohanan ini tiada kena mengena dengan kita. Kalau Piala Dunia itu lainlah, ia membabitkan penduduk seluruh dunia tetapi Euro membabitkan negara Eropah saja. Kalau sukan negara Eropah kita sanjung tinggi, apakah penduduk rantau itu ambil peduli kejohanan peringkat benua kita, Asia. Mereka tidak ambil ‘pot’ pun. Kita terlebih sudu daripada kuah, berjaga siang malam kerana bola! ******************* Kegilaan kita menyanjung apa didakwa kehebatan Barat ini menunjukkan mentaliti kita dijajah sekalipun negara kita sudah merdeka daripada cengkaman mereka lebih setengah abad. Kita menyanjung Eropah, kononnya merekalah terbaik. Secara kebetulan dalam permainan bola sepak ini memanglah negara Eropah selain Amerika Selatan adalah hebat tetapi mengapa difokuskan kepada bola sedangkan dalam banyak bidang lain, rantau kita lebih hebat. Mengapa kita mahu tiru cara hidup orang Eropah (bukan Islam) sedangkan cara hidup Islam adalah terbaik dan dijamin oleh Allah SWT. *********************** Allah Taala mengiktiraf umat Islam adalah umat terbaik. Ini berdasarkan firman-Nya dalam Surah Ali Imran ayat 110 yang bermaksud: “Kamu (wahai umat Muhammad) adalah sebaik-baik umat yang dilahirkan bagi (faedah) umat manusia, (kerana) kamu menyuruh berbuat segala perkara baik dan melarang daripada segala perkara salah (buruk dan keji) serta kamu pula beriman kepada Allah (dengan sebenar-benar iman) dan kalaulah ahli Kitab (Yahudi dan Nasrani) itu beriman (sebagaimana yang semestinya), tentulah (iman) itu menjadi baik bagi mereka. (Tetapi) di antara mereka ada yang beriman dan kebanyakan mereka itu orang-orang yang fasik.” ******************* Berdasarkan ini, sepatutnya orang Eropah meniru orang Islam kerana umat Islam adalah sebaik-sebaik umat. Tetapi hari ini perkara yang sebaliknya berlaku, umat Islam yang meniru orang Barat malah memuji muja cara hidup mereka seperti mengagung-agungkan sukan bola sepak ini. Kenapa perkara ini berlaku? Akibat demam Euro, ramai sanggup berjaga malam, bersekang mata, tidak cukup tidur. Apakah ini akan membawa keuntungan pada kita? Pada saya yang untung besar adalah tauke-tauke komersial yang bijak mencuri kesempatan memanipulasi minat manusia bagi membolehkan mereka kaya raya seterusnya menjajah minda penduduk Dunia Ketiga terutama orang Islam. *********************** Berhubung gila bola ini, saya bertanyakan seorang ustaz dan beliau menjawab orang Islam sewajarnya menggunakan pendekatan agama bagi mendapatkan ketenangan dalam menjalani kehidupan. Gunakan ruang masa keheningan waktu malam untuk mendekatkan diri dengan bermunajat kepada-Nya seperti mendirikan solat malam dan memperbanyakkan zikrullah. Hanya dengan zikir seseorang itu boleh mencapai ketenangan. Namun cukup sukar seseorang bangun malam untuk mendirikan solat hatta dua rakaat sekalipun tetapi cukup istikamah berjaga malam untuk menonton perlawanan demi perlawanan bola. Ada pula kerana terlalu letih terlepas solat subuh yang wajib itu! ************************* Oleh kerana terlalu taksub mengikuti mereka, orang Barat tidak menghormati keperluan orang Islam. Mereka tahu orang Islam akan ikuti mereka; bukan mereka yang mengikuti orang Islam. Hal ini termasuklah dalam sukan. Jika atlet mereka terutama wanita hampir bertelanjang dalam bersukan (seperti acara gimnastik, renang dan bola tampar pantai), orang Islam pun ikut sama kecualilah beberapa ahli sukan dari Iran dan individu tertentu seperti atlet Bahrain, Rugaya Al-Ghasari. ********************** Disebabkan kecenderungan umat dan negara Islam menjadi pak turut inilah agaknya pihak Barat tidak peduli langsung melangsungkan Sukan Olimpik London 2012 ini pada bulan puasa (Ramadan). Bagi mereka, orang Islam berpuasa atau tidak itu bukan urusan mereka, yang penting seluruh dunia akur dengan kehebatan mereka. Bila agaknya mentaliti jiwa hamba kepada Barat terutama di kalangan orang Islam ini akan berakhir?

Be like a turtle or a hen?

***************** In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Reflection ***************** There is no god but He, Praise and glory to Him; Far is He from having the partners they associate unto Him. (Tauba 9:31) ********************* How time flies; now it is the month of Rajab (the 7th month of the Islamic calendar) and in a few days time Muslims would be commemorating Isra (Israk) and Miraj (Mikraj) - the miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. (peace be upon him) from Makkah to al-Quds (Jerusalem) and from there he ascended to the upper heavens and Sidratul-Muntaha. ************************** This journey is believed to have taken place just over a year before Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. migrated from Makkah to Madina, on the 27th of Rajab. After Rajab it would be the month of Shaaban and then Muslims will enter the holy month of Ramadan. ************************ In welcoming the month of Rajab, Shaaban and Ramadan, it is advisable for Muslims to increase their good deeds to get closer to Allah SWT; one way is to frequent the masjid. In one of the many ‘tazkirah’ (religious lessons) I attented at a few masjids near my house, a point raised by an ‘ustaz’ ‘stuck’ deep into my heart up to this moment when I am writing this piece. ************************ The ‘ustaz’ said, we should emulate the down to earth and humble character of ‘penyu’ (turtles) and not to copy that of ‘ayam betina’ (hens). He said a turtle from the sea silently lays hundred of eggs on the beach only at night and then move quietly back home with tears in her eyes, but a hen lays only an egg during a day and after that feels proud of her deed by making a lot of noise. *********************** Only a few people choose to be liked the turture. They keep silence, perhaps nobody knows about their good deeds. Just like the turtle which lays hundreds of eggs, these people bring hundreds or perhaps thousands and millions of goodness but they prefer to remain silence. They are among the seven groups of people who will be rewarded handsomely as promised by Allah SWT. ********************* In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet s.a.w. said, “"Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His. They are: (1) a just ruler; (2) a young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, (i.e. worship Allah (Alone) sincerely from his childhood), (3) a man whose heart is attached to the mosque (who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque); (4) two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only; (5) a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for an illegal sexual intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah; (6) a person who practices charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity). (7) a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears." ***************** Why are so many people preferered to be like hens? Why do they love publicity and make a lot of noise? Perhaps one reason is that they have little knowledge about the purpose of the existence in this world. If we were to look around during ‘tazkirah’ in masjids, there would be only 10-20 ‘jemaah’ (congregators) around. Why is it in a place such as a kampung (village) with 5,000 inhabitans, only a faction of them turn up in masjids to say their prayers and attend classes held there? **************** To be in His straight path so that we would be successful in this world and the Hereafter we have to have knowledge. Islam stressed the importance of knowledge; Muslims, men or women are asked to learn and enrich themselves, to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave, a hadith said: “Seeking knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim, male and female.” (Bukhary and Muslim) ***************** No matter what kind of knowledge are there, all for the benefits of this world and Hereafter, every Muslim should study and try to be a kind hearted believer, and get success in this world and Hereafter. A hadith said: “He who wants to be successful in this world, then he must have knowledge; he who wants to get successful in the Hereafter, then he must have knowledge; he who wants to get successful in this world and Hereafter, then he must have knowledge.” (Bukhary and Muslim) ********************** Pursing knowledge is like a welfare work, being conceptulalised about ‘ibadah’ (acts of devotion to Allah SWT) one can pursuit knowledge easily. There are different ways to pursuit knowledge such as going to school, reading, listening, inquiring and communicating. But the problem among Muslims nowadays, many were of the thinking that pursuing knowledge stopped when ones have completed their schooling years or their tertiary education. ******************** Then there are terms such as ‘khatam’ (completed) learning such as ‘khatam al-Quran’ and ‘khatam belajar’ (completing one's lesson) that perhaps this situation could corrupt the young poople's minds into thinking that they have mastered and completed their subjects of interest and this phenomena leads to poor attendance in masjids during ‘tazkirah’ sessions. In many masjids only senior citizens are to be seen, whereare the young ones? ******************** A learned person should practice what he himself preaches, and spread his or her knowledge to other people. This kind of scholar will be holding a higher rank in front of Allah and in social community as well. The Qur’an says: “Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks.” (58: 11) ********************* Those with knowledge would understand that doing any kind of good jobs and good behaviour, must be sincerely and faithfully done for Allah SWT Alone. Only these kinds of ‘ibadah’ can get benefit from Allah SWT. We should know that doing goodness is not for reputation and praise, but to practice the obligation of Islam i.e. only to please Allah SWT. *********************** The Qur’an says: “Whosoever doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verily we shall quicken with good life, and we shall pay them recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do.” (16:97) ********************** In life we need sincerity. We do good deeds to please Allah SWT and none else. It is because deeds done for other than Allah or along with Allah SWT will not be acceptable by Him. Allah The Most Beautiful loves beauty. Worship Allah Alone. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One-And-Only. ***************** So if you do a good deed just to get cheap publicity or won favours and votes, you might get what you wish for, but what awaits you in the Hereafter? ********************** It is up to you to emulate the turtle or hen; as a guideline to be safe in this world and Hereafter as we often mention in our du’a (prayers); “Rabbanā ‘Ātinā Fī Ad-Dunyā Ĥasanatan Wa Fī Al-’Ākhirati Ĥasanatan Wa Qinā `Adhāba An-Nār” (Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire, Surat al-Baqarah Verse 201), please seek knowledge because “he who knows his own self knows God.”

Antara suami salih, 'sporting', bangang dan dayus

********************* DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. **************** Renungan ******************** Daripada Aisyah r.a., berkata: "Saya mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Semua manusia dikumpulkan tanpa memakai alas kaki, telanjang dan belum dikhatan.' Aisyah bertanya; 'Apakah antara lelaki dan perempuan akan saling melihat antara satu dengan yang lain?' Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Urusan pada hari itu lebih dahsyat daripada mementingkan hal-hal seperti itu.'" (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim) ******************************** “APAKAH doa kamu?” **************** “Semoga dapat suami salih.” ****************** Jawapan begini biasa diberikan gadis termasuk artis seksi yang bakal mendirikan rumah tangga ataupun pengantin baru. Kebanyakan wanita jika diajukan soalan mengenai jodoh, mahukan suami salih. ********************** Tetapi apakah suami salih yang diidamkan itu, benar-benar memenuhi keperluan dan kehendak wanita? Cuba kita jengok apa yang berlaku dalam sesebuah rumah tangga selepas doa si gadis untuk mendapatkan ‘lelaki salih’ mungkin sudah dimakbulkan Allah. ************************ Suami yang salih tidak akan duduk-duduk di rumah saja. Dia tidak boleh berada di bawah ketiak isteri sepanjang hari. Ini kerana jihad fisabillah termasuk berjuang dalam jemaah adalah antara program lelaki salih. ********************* Suami yang salih akan sentiasa keluar untuk berjuang. Misalnya, jemaah PAS atau Tabligh sibuk dengan programnya. Kadang-kadang tidak pulang pada malam hari malah ada ketikanya beberapa hari. Perkara ini tidak disukai kebanyakan isteri. Macam mana ni, dulu awak dambakan suami yang salih, apabila dah dapat awak tak suka pula cara hidupnya. ************************ Lelaki yang salih juga akan menjadikan masjid dan tempat pengajian (markas) sebagai ‘rumah keduanya’. Ini pun kebanyakan isteri tak suka. Asyik-asyik ke masjid, kata mereka. ******************* Lelaki yang salih amat taat kepada ibu bapanya. Malah kewajipan untuk berbakti kepada orang tuanya adalah lebih besar berbanding kepada isteri dan anak-anaknya. Ada suami yang sedaya upaya memuaskan hati dan berkhidmat kepada kedua-dua ibu bapanya. Perkara ini membuatkan sesetengah isteri amat cemburu. Macam mana ni, dulu awak kata mahukan lelaki yang salih tetapi kini selepas mendapatkan lelaki salih, awak tak senang hati pula. Sudah lupakah doa kamu dulu untuk mendapatkan lelaki salih? ********************** Lelaki yang salih juga tidak hidup bermewah-mewahan dan berperangai boros. Sebahagian wangnya dihabiskan untuk perjuangan. Dia juga tidak berani terima rasuah atau merasuah atau makan segala macam duit daripada sumber yang haram. ****************** Jadi dia tidak dapat kumpul banyak harta dan tidak dapatlah beri barang-barang mewah seperti rumah besar, kereta besar dan rantai berjela kepada isteri dan keluarganya. Berhubung perkara ini ada isteri yang tidak tahan. Pelik, dulu awak mahukan suami yang salih, tetapi apabila sudah mendapat lelaki yang mempunyai cirri-ciri berkenaan, awak tak suka pula sikapnya. ****************** Lelaki yang salih berusaha keras menjauhkan diri daripada membuat maksiat. Dia selalu tegur si isteri yang cuba berpakaian seksi atau tak solat. Dia buat yang halal saja dan tinggalkan yang haram seperti ada perempuan simpanan (mistress). Salah satu perkara halal ialah kahwin lebih daripada satu, malah sampai empat. ********************** Perkara ini lagi ramai isteri tak suka dan tak mahu bincangkan langsung. Macam mana ni, dulu bukan main lagi doa mahukan lelaki yang salih, sekarang kamu cukup takut dia berpoligami tetapi ok saja jika bermaksiat dengan perempuan lain asalkan jangan memadukan kamu! *********************** Seorang cendekiawan menyenaraikan sejumlah kriteria mengenai lelaki salih antaranya; sentiasa taat kepada Allah SWT dan Rasulullah s.a.w., jihad fisabilillah adalah program hidupnya, mati syahid adalah cita-cita hidupnya yang tertinggi, sabar dalam menghadapi ujian dan cabaran daripada Allah SWT, ikhlas dalam beramal, kampung akhirat menjadi tujuan utama hidupnya sangat takut kepada Allah SWT dan ancaman-Nya, selalu memohon ampun atas segala dosa-dosanya, zuhud dalam dunia tetapi tidak meninggalkannya. ******************** Kriteria lain adalah solat malam menjadi kebiasaannya, tawakal penuh kepada Allah SWT dan tidak mengeluh kecuali kepada Allah SWT, selalu berinfak sama ada dalam kelapangan atau sempit, menerap nilai kasih saying sesama mukmin dan ukhuwah antara mereka, sangat kuat amar makruf dan nahi mungkarnya, sangat kuat memegang amanah, janji dan kerahsiaan, pemaaf dan berlapang dada dalam menghadapi kebodohan manusia, sentiasa saling koreksi sesama insan dan tawaduk penuh kepada Allah SWT dan berkasih sayang dengan penuh pengertian kepada keluarga. ********************* Selepas kahwin ramai wanita tidak suka jika suami mengongkong mereka. Jika nak mengenakan pakaian terdedah, suami perlu dibiarkan. Jika mahu keluar dengan kawan-kawan termasuk teman lelaki biarkan. Jika mahu terus 'bermain wayang' (berlakon) sekalipun ada adegan di atas ranjang biarkan atas nama seni. *********************** Wahai wanita, ini bukan lelaki salih, tetapi lelaki didakwa 'sporting' dalam istilah orang sekarang. Dari segi agama lelaki ini dipanggil dayus manakala sesetengah pihak menggelar mereka lelaki 'bangang'! Jadi kalau benar-benar mahu mencari suami salih, jadilah isteri yang salihah. Carilah ilmu bagi mengerti ciri-ciri lelaki salih dan wanita salihah. Jangan mulut saja pandai menuturkan: "Saya berdoa mendapat suami salih!" Tetapi jadilah isteri (wanita) salihah.

‘Convey, even if only one verse…’

********************** 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 a friend who had resided a few years in a European country returned home and one day we met and talked about life over a cup of coffee. *************** One subject he mentioned that I thought worth to be discussed in this column was how lucky we are as Muslims. A knowledgeable Muslim knows his direction in life whereas many non Muslims especially those at old age seem lost; they keep to themselves and are busy mostly on worldly activities such as shopping and traveling around the globe. ******************* Consider this scenario: A knowledgeable and practicing veteran Muslim (for example a pensioner) frequents the ‘masjid’; the masjid has been his central point of activities. He prays five times a day there; he longs to die while praising his Lord or doing good deeds especially in the ‘masjid’. ******************* If he has extra money, he wishes to perform hajj and ‘umrah’ (small hajj); never mind if it would be the second, fifth or tenth trip. Some even long to die in Makkah, hopping their bodies would be blessed in the funeral prayers the Haram Masjid and buried in the Ma’ala cemetery. ******************** “A pious Muslim, what’s more during old age, longs to meet his Lord. He knows the direction he is heading for but in Europe I found old folks at a lost,” said the friend. “To kill time they carry out all sorts of activities such as shopping and getting involved in social gatherings.” ****************** If a person has no type of mental bounds then he is apt to adopt free ways to acquire whatever his goals and ambitions are, and to fulfill his desires by all possible means no matter fair or unfair. ****************** But the person who has some good knowledge about the reality of life, his attitude about life, and its goals and ambitions will be different and so will be the ways of fulfilling his desires. He will found himself bound to adopt only the fair and legal ways. ******************** I thanks this friend who had conveyed to me how lucky we are being Muslims. We should be thankfull (Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah) and proud being Muslims. Being a Muslim and having His ‘hidayah’ (God’s guidance) is the biggest gift we have attained and we must thank the Lord. ******************** In this column I would like to pass some messages to readers in accordance to a hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him - s.a.w.). ********************* The Prophet s.a.w. ordained all his companions and, thus, every Muslim who possesses some knowledge -- even as little as one verse -- to disseminate what they know to others: He said, "Convey (what you learn from me) even if only one verse…" (Related by Bukhari) ******************** Regarding the conveying of knowledge, I must admit that I am not good at words and am also no ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher). My knowledge is very limited and I depend a lot on others for views. ********************* In this column I would like to quote writings from readers who had give encouragement so that I could continue slogging on on my work so that others would perhaps benefited from them. ******************** Dr Safiah Osman wrote: Dear Saudara (Brother) LanH. Thank you for your equally precious gift of ‘Travelog Wartawan Islam’ (Dr Safiah had sent me her book entitled ‘Let Us Remember Allah for the Gift of Love in Our Hearts’). **************** I am so glad that you liked my book and thank you for that brief write up in your column. Also, thank you for the write-up about my first book (Let Us Remember Allah for the Wonder of His Creation), complete with a coloured photograph of the cover. I showed it to a friend and she did not know I wanted it back and so I have nothing to remind myself about what you wrote. ******************* My husband passed away in Oct last year after a long illness. He underwent surgery for a massive brain tumour, made good recovery, but slipped into a coma for more than a month. Allah SWT freed him from a lot of pain and suffering. ***************** I am so very glad that you are continuing to write. After all the headlines I would read your article. I like your articles in particular about how your mother raised her children (Love you mother, mother and mother…). I know there will be bountiful rewards for you for taking care of her. ************** My third book will not be a coffee table books but just a compilation of short stories, heart-warming and inspirational, with Islamic values and teachings subtly embedded in them. I will edit what friends and accqaintances have written. Thus far I have written about 10 stories, the longest entitled "Portrait of My Mother". I would really be grateful if you would contribute a few articles. Would you like to read a few that I had written? Salam, Safiah Osman ***************** Siti Salwah Arshad from Myqisah.blogspot.com wrote: Take Time.....Give it a Thought - Recently I came across a poem in your column that seemed familiar that brought me down memory lane during my high school days in the late 70's. ***************** During those days, I often copied inspiring English poems and excerpts from books and newspapers and paste it onto the front cover of my notebooks. Eventhough I did not understand some of the words in the poem, it did inspired me especially during my stressfull, weary days. ****************** This is the the poem titled Take time that LanH (the article writer) found in a phamplet at the Melaka hospital recently that though not new to me have made me realised that it is time to slow down and make time for all these beautiful things before it is too late. *************** We tend to rush in doing things madly these days that we forgot that there are many other things that we should make time before our time is up. As Muslims we have to balance our daily activities so that we achieve our target; that is Jannatul Firdaus in the hereafter. **************** Thank you LanH for bringing foward this inspirational poem. ********** Take time...... ************** Take time to think.... It is the source of power *************** Take time to play...It is secret of perpetual youth *************** Take time to read... It is the fountain of wisdom ****************** Take time to pray..... It is the greatest power on earth ************** Take time to love and beloved..... It s God given priviledge ****************** Take time to be friendly.... It is the road to happiness ******************* Take time to laugh.... It is the music of the soul ***************** Take time to give... It is short a day to be selfish ****************** Take time to work.... It is the price of success ******************* Take time to do charity..... It is the key to heaven *************** She also commented on my other article (The Durian Lesson) ************** When I was young; when I could finish off two or three durian fruits in one go, at that time my wallet was thin, my purchasing power was not strong enough so I had to be satisfied by having a small portion of the fruit. **************** But sad to say when I grew older and my wallet became fatter and fatter each day, I could not each much of the fruit as I had now developed diabetes, have high blood pressure and my cholesterol level is too high. ******************* Question: So how can I accept this with an open heart, not blaming Allah for the misfortune that had befallen to me? ******************* Answer: If you wish to buy a basket or two of durians, please do so. But as you could not consume it what about donating all the fruits (except one for you to sample) to those who can eat them, for example to pupils of tahfiz school or to a group of children in your neighbourhood; they would gladly finish them off in a few minutes. **************** The lesson learnt: If you give something that you really love, Allah will reward you even more in the Hereafter. The reward even comes after you give ‘sedekah’ to those people in need or appreciate it especiallly when you see their smiling faces and words of gratitudes such as Alhamdulillah, Syukran or Thank you. You'll notice the reward is actually the feeling of satisfaction deep in your heart.

Baik pemimpin, baiklah orang dipimpinnya

********************* DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan Hadis diriwayatkan oleh Ibnul Abdul Barr dan Abu Naim bermaksud: Telah bersabda Rasulullah s.a.w.;“Dua golongan daripada umatku, apabila mereka baik, baiklah manusia dan apabila mereka rosak, rosaklah manusia. Itulah dia pemimpin dan ahli fiqh (ulama).” ********************* Dewasa ini kita dapat saksikan betapa kroniknya masyarakat. Aneka jenayah semakin menjadi-jadi. Pembunuhan, rogol, memeras ugut, merompak dan rasuah sudah menjadi bahan biasa hiasan dada-dada akhbar dan media elektronik. *************** Daripada institusi keluarga sehinggalah ke peringkat tertinggi seperti pemimpin kerajaan semuanya bermasalah. Malah ada pemimpin negara mempamerkan contoh buruk dengan menggalakkan budaya asing K-pop. Jadi tak hairanlah jika anak muda kita pun terkinja-kinja akan K-pop, budaya songsang yang cuba diterapkan dalam masyarakat. ****************** Gejala songsang ini seolah-olah tidak mempunyai penamatnya. Lagi ditegur, lagi menjadi-jadi, laksana mencurahkan minyak ke dalam api. Nasihat pun tidak diendahkan, bagaikan mencurah air ke daun keladi. **************** Tentulah masyarakat tertanya-tanya mengapa hal ini terjadi. Di sini kita berharap masyarakat dapat membuka hati dan fikiran agar permasalahan ini dapat dilerai bersama. ****************** Kata pepatah Melayu, bagaimana acuan begitulah kuihnya. Kalau hendak melentur buluh biar daripada rebungnya manakala bijak pandai pula berkata 'kalau nak tahu masa depan negara, lihatlah pada generasi mudanya'. ******************* Demikianlah, kita percaya sebahagian daripada punca generasi muda kita semakin tidak terkawal adalah persekitaran yang begitu membingungkan. **************** Jika di rumah dan sekolah, segala keluhuran diterapkan tetapi apabila berada di luar, anak-anak hilang punca. ****************** Di luar sana pelbagai suasana negatif mereka saksikan dan hadapi. Misalnya, akhbar dan majalah lucah serta separuh lucah membanjiri pasaran. ******************** Apabila menjenguk gerai-gerai majalah, kira-kira 80 peratus daripada bahan bacaan, memaparkan gambar-gambar wanita dalam aksi keterlaluan. ******************** Sebaliknya pula, amat kurang sekali bahan bacaan bermutu yang dapat menyuntik minda generasi muda. Demikian juga pengaruh media massa lain seperti televisyen dan radio dan kini internet. Dalam akhbar pun disiarkan keputusan judi (empat nombor ekor). ***************** Jika dalam usia setahun jagung, anak-anak didedahkan dalam suasana kurang sihat, bagaimana mereka dapat membesar dalam keadaan bebas daripada gejala negatif? ******************* Di sini kita ingin bertanya, mengapakah Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) begitu mudah memberi kebenaran kepada penerbit untuk mengeluarkan bahan-bahan yang boleh merosakkan masa depan generasi muda, seterusnya masyarakat dan negara? **************** Generasi muda juga mendambakan idola tetapi yang menjadi tumpuan adalah artis-artis dan dunia hiburan yang kerap benar terpesong daripada sempadan tuntutan agama. ******************* Sekali lagi generasi muda gagal mendapatkan contoh baik sebaliknya mereka terikut-ikut gaya penghidupan songsang. ***************** Pemimpin mempunyai tanggungjawab besar dalam menentukan masa depan generasi muda. ******************* Jika pemimpin gemar dengan agenda berfoya-foya dengan pesta yang tidak pernah habis-habis, maka tidak hairanlah generasi muda akan terikut sama. Agama rakyat adalah berdasarkan agama pemimpinnya. Ia bermaksud, jika seorang pemimpin itu patuh kepada agamanya, rakyat akan mengikutinya. Sebagai contoh, ramai daripada Khalifah Bani Umaiyah kaki hiburan, maka ramai rakyat kaki hiburan tetapi apabila Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz yang warak naik takhta, maka rakyat pun menjadi taat kepada agama. ******************* Kita bimbang jika pemimpin kaki pelbagai noda seperti menjadi pembunuh, kaki perempuan, kaki rasuah, penipu, dan talam dua muka; rakyat pun akan berperangai sama sebab hal ini sudah diberi amaran oleh Rasulullah s.a.w. dalam sebuah hadisnya yang antara lain bermaksud “baik pemimpin baiklah orang dipimpinnya.” ******************** Manakala orang Melayu pula berkata, bapa borek anak rintik, kalau guru kencing berdiri, anak murid kencing berlari! Kalau pemimpin pembunuh, maka rakyat pun cenderung menjadi pembunuh. Inilah kita bimbangkan, nauzubillah!

Iktibar kisah nyamuk, lalat...

***************** 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." **************** HIDUP tidak selalunya indah. Kadang-kadang, entah apa sebabnya, dalam menjalani kehidupan ini kita terasa bagaikan berada di bahagian bawah roda yang berputar; kita rasakan diri ini bagaikan tidak diperlukan. Kita dapat merasakan betapa sepinya diri sekalipun di sekeliling ramai orang. ********************* Bagi saya, saat-saat ini saya perlukan bahan inspirasi yang dapat menaikkan semangat. Tentunya pegangan agama yang kuat dapat membantu, misalnya jika kita fikir sesuatu derita yang kita alami itu sudah teruk dan tidak tertanggung, bayangkan derita berlipat kali ganda menunggu di alam kubur dan di akhirat sana. Jadi kita dapat rasakan sakit di dunia tiada apa-apa, ia akan berakhir jua tetapi derita di akhirat tiada penghujungnya sebab kematian sudah tiada lagi sedangkan di dunia kematian mengakhiri sesuatu penderitaan. ******************** Ketika membelek-belek sebuah buku, saya terjumpa kisah ini yang mungkin dapat memotivasi pembaca. Jika anda ingat diri anda tidak ada apa-apa (tidak dapat menyumbang sesuatu atau memberi kesan kepada orang lain), jadikan nyamuk atau haiwan halus lain sebagai iktibar. ************************ Sedang anda solat, seekor nyamuk mengnyiang-nyiang di telinga. Ia cukup mengganggu konsentrasi. Anda cuba menghalaunya tetapi gagal. Nyamuk itu berterusan mengganggu anda. Anda gagal khusyuk sehingga habis solat. Anda menyumpah nyamuk itu - seekor nyamuk kecil yang nampak tidak berdaya telah ‘menggagalkan’ solat anda. ************************* Anda dan keluarga sedang makan tengah hari. Lauk sedap-sedap belaka. Seekor lalat hijau terbang bagai roket, hinggap pada pinggan kari ayam kegemaran anda. Anda mengibas, cuba menghalaunya. Lalat itu pergi tetapi datang lagi, hinggap pula pada nasi anda. Anda geram. Kurang ajar punya lalat. Anda ambil surat khabar, memukul lalat itu. Tidak kena, sebaliknya terpukul pinggan kuah kari ayam yang terbalik, tertumpah menyimbah tubuh isteri anda. Wah, mengamuklah si isteri, jadi seekor lalat kecil yang nampak tidak berdaya telah menggagalkan rancangan anda untuk menikmati jamuan yang damai dengan seisi keluarga. ************************ Kisah dari Quran, menyatakan Raja Namrud (raja ketika zaman Nabi Ibrahim a.s.) menjadi tidak keruan sehingga mati selepas seekor nyamuk masuk ke hidung dan otaknya. Demikianlah jika nyamuk dan lalat boleh memberi kesan dalam kehidupan, apakah anda tidak boleh memberikan apa-apa sumbangan, termasuk membantu pihak berhak menewaskan penguasa batil berdasarkan perkembangan semasa. ************************ Sesuatu sumbangan itu mungkin nampak kecil, tetapi hasilnya, masya-Allah...Cuba pembaca hayati kisah ini... ************** Saudara LanH, ****************** Saya pernah terbaca pandangan anda di akhbar Harakah tidak lama dulu mengenai kelas belajar memandu kenderaan yang tidak ramai tenaga pengajar wanita dan keadaan ini menjadi kesulitan pada calon-calon pemandu wanita terutama yang beragama Islam. ******************* Selang tidak berapa selepas itu, saya mendapati hal itu benar-benar berlaku terhadap saudara mara saya sendiri kerana dua anak saudara saya enggan belajar memandu kereta lagi walaupun sesi latihan sudah dibayar oleh ahli keluarga mereka. Ini kerana lelaki Cina yang mengajar selalu memegang tangan mereka semasa menunjukan cara memegang dan menukar gear. Lama kelamaan, teknik cara mengajar lelaki itu sudah seperti hendak menggatal pula. ******************* Tidak cukup dengan adegan sebegitu, lelaki tadi berbahasa seperti mencarut pula bunyinya apabila menyebut perkataan “pantas, pantas... ” Maklumlah lelaki itu pun bersekolah tidak setinggi mana dan berbahasa Melayu pun ala kadar sahaja. ******************* Mengambil iktibar daripada kisah dua anak saudara saya itu, saya terpanggil menubuhkan sebuah pejabat mendaftarkan calon-calon memandu kenderaan yang mengutamakan wanita di No 10-A, Taman IKS Tangga Batu, Melaka dan mula beroperasi pada 1 Mei lalu. Alhamdullilah, sambutannya amat menggalakan terutama di kalangan wanita kerana institut memandu kami di kawasan industri Krubong, Melaka kini mempunyai ramai tenaga pengajar wanita Islam selepas kami menyedari keperluannya. ******************** Terima kasih kepada Saudara LanH yang telah membuka minda saya melalui celoteh anda dahulu hingga memberi peluang kepada Koperasi Bumijaya Melaka Berhad pimpinan saya membuka sebuah pejabat pendaftaran lesen memandu kenderaan, termasuk memenuhi keperluan fardu kifayah, pengajar wanita mengajar pelajar wanita bagi mendapatkan lesen memandu. – Haji Abdul Aziz Haji Othman, Klebang Besar, Melaka, tel: 019-6267887