Kos perubatan tinggi gusarkan rakyat marhain...

************************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Renungan ************************* "...Sesungguhnya masjid yang didirikan atas dasar takwa (Masjid Quba'), sejak hari pertama adalah lebih patut kamu solat di dalamnya. Di dalam masjid itu ada orag-orang yang ingin membersihkan diri. Dan sesungguhnya Allah menyukai orang-orang yang bersih." (Maksud Ayat 108 Surah At-Taubah) ************************** HIDUP perlu diteruskan sekalipun terpaksa 'makan nasi berlauk kangkung'. Dalam meneruskan kelangsungan kehidupan ada kalanya kita dan anak isteri jatuh sakit dan memerlukan rawatan. Bagi insan bekerja di jabatan kerajaan dan agensi swasta, mereka boleh menjalani rawatan yang biasanya dbiayai oleh majikan dan mendapat 'MC" tetapi bagaimana nasib mereka yang bekerja sendiri atau 'tidak bekerja' seperti suri rumah? *********************** Seorang anak saudara saya, seorang doktor pelatih, menangis dan menyatakan betapa sedihnya menyaksikan seorang 'nenek' gagal mendapatkan rawatan hemodialisis di sebuah hospital kerana gagal menyediakan biayanya. Kos menjalani hemodialisis yang dilakukan tiga kali seminggu bukan murah, seorang sahabat saya berkata setiap satunya adalah lebih RM200. **************************** Ini bermakna pesakit kegagalan fungsi gingal (buah pinggang) ini memerlukan RM600 seminggu atau RM2,400 sebulan. Jumlah wang ini sungguh banyak, menggusarkan' rakyat kebanyakan, alhamdulillah dalam sejumlah kes, ada pihak prihatin daripada sektor swasta dan kerajaan sedia membantu. ************************* Rawatan bagi 'sakit biasa' seperti demam dan selesema di klinik swasta juga memerlukan kos tinggi. Adalah biasa untuk sekali rawatan, seorang pesakit dicaj sebanyak RM40 (termasuklah ubat-ubatan). Awal bulan ini selepas mendapat rawatan luka-luka akibat terjatuh motosikal, penulis dicaj RM45, kemudian bagi rawatan susulan di sebuah klinik lain dicaj RM45 lagi. *************************** Berhubung kos perubatan tinggi ini, penulis teringat lawak seorang rakan. Beliau berkata seorang sahabatnya dihantar ke sebuah hospital swasta terkenal untuk menjalani rawatan. Apabila mengetahui deposit rawatan adalah sebanyak RM1,000; si pesakit tiba-tiba berkata dia sudah sihat dan tidak jadi dirawat di situ. ********************* Penulis tidak memeriksa kesahihan perkara itu; tetapi tidak lama dulu apabila ibu penulis dimasukkan ke sebuah hospital swasta, barulah penulis tahu ia bukan bahan lawak tetapi sesuatu yang serius kerana deposit untuk dirawat di situ juga RM1,000! ************************* Selepas menjalani rawatan selama dua setengah hari, cajnya kira-kira RM4,500; membuat penulis mengakui bahawa rawatan perubatan sebenarnya sudah menjadi satu industri membuat duit. ************************** Tidak lama kemudian bapa penulis dimasukkan ke sebuah hospital swasta terkenal bagi menjalani rawatan masalah prostatnya. Kos pembedahan secara laser dan rawatannya mencapai angka RM20,000 namun bersyukur kepada Allah SWT bapa penulis kembali sihat selepas itu. ************************* Kini sedarlah penulis bahawa bidang perubatan sudah menjadi satu industri kepada 'si bijak' atau 'diambil kesempatan untuk menangguk di air keruh' bagi sesetengah pihak. *************************** Dalam bidang ini, semakin banyak pihak menggunakan istilah hospitaliti malah ada banyak kolej menawarkan kursus dalam bidang ini. Malah ada agensi kerajaan dan swasta sudah memperkenalkan 'pelancongan-perubatan' di mana hospital-hospital swasta sedia melayani kehendak warga asing kaya dari negara jiran seperti Singapura, Indonesia dan Brunei bagi menjalani rawatan di sini. *************************** Berdasarkan situasi ini, penulis tidak terkejut apabila membaca sebuah berita baru-baru ini mengenai sebuah pusat rawatan swasta yang menolak kemasukan seorang wanita yang mahu bersalin sehingga akhirnya bayi beliau dilahirkan dalam kereta keluarga berkenaan yang diparkir berhampiran. **************************** Kini dengan peningkatan taraf hidup rakyat di samping gaya hidup mereka yang berubah (seperti tidak mempunyai masa terluang untuk ke hospital kerajaan), pusat rawatan swasta bercambah bagaikan cendawan selepas hujan apatah lagi banyak syarikat menginsuranskan pekerja mereka dari segi kesihatan dan rawatan. Malah ramai orang mempunyai insurans perubatan persendirian. ************************* Berhubung bayaran tinggi hospital swasta ini, penulis teringat sebuah filem Inggeris yang penulis tonton di televisyen, mengisahkan bagaimana seorang bapa nekad menawan hospital tempat anaknya dirawat kerana dia tidak mampu menyediakan wang rawatan diminta. ****************************** Dalam filem yang tajuknya tidak lagi diingati penulis, si bapa selepas kecewa dengan sikap pengurusan hospital yang menangguh-nangguhkan pembedahan kerana dia gagal menyediakan ratusan ribu dolar yang diminta, akhirnya berjaya menyelamatkan si anak melalui pembedahan itu selepas dia mengacukan pistol ke kepalanya dan juga kepala doktor. ********************************* Nampaknya kisah ini sudah ‘menghampiri’ masyarakat kita. Perkhidmatan perubatan dan rawatan kini menjadi satu industri; hospital dan klinik kerajaan semakin diabaikan termasuk dari segi mutunya dan kelewatan merawat sesuatu kes disebabkan giliran pesakit terlalu panjang; bukan saja pesakit ‘lari’ ke pusat rawatan swasta malah doktor-doktor turut berhijrah bagi mendapat pulangan lumayan. ****************************** Kos perubatan yang amat tinggi mengusarkan rakyat marhain. Jatuh sakit bukan sesuatu yang boleh dijangka, namun bijak pandai menyatakan 'sediakan payung sebelum hujan'. Namun berdasarkan jumlah pendapatan kita (misalnya RM2,000 sebulan) ditolak perbelanjaan sebanyak RM2,000 atau mungkin juga RM2,500 sebulan (kena pinjamlah tu), ternyata 'payung kita telah tersedia bocor sebelum berlaku hujan'!

Sendiri cari, sendiri siang, sendiri masak, sendiri makan...

**************** 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) ************* AHH kangkung, ada apa dengan kangkung? Orang kampung macam saya memang sinonim dengan kangkung; ya sayur kangkung kampung mudah diperolehi, ia hidup subur dalam parit, longkang, kolam dan sawah. *********************** Untuk 'membiakkan' kangkung kampung tak susah; campakkan saya potongan-potongan kangkung terutama yang sudah tua ke dalam parit atau kolam, insya-Allah tumbuhlah ia. Dua minggu selepas itu, dapatlah kita makan pucuk kangkung lembut yang sedap digoreng begitu saja - tetapi tentulah kena dibubuh perencahnya seperti ikan bilis yang sudah ditumbuk lumat. ************************** Ya, kalau sudah ada sayur kangkung, jangan lupa satu lagi bahan makanan yang boleh didapati secara 'free of charge' dari takungan dan saliran air seperti parit, longkang, kolam dan sawah. Itulah antara 'sumber protein terhebat sesetengah orang kampung - ikan darat seperti betuk (puyu), sepat, keli dan haruan. *************************** Ketika zaman kanak-kanak dulu, saya adalah 'raja longkang' - 'pemburu' ikan-ikan darat di sekitar kampung saya. Pantang saja ada peluang memancing atau 'menggogoh' (menangkap ikan dengan tangan), saya maksimumkan. ************************** Nasib baiklah ketika zaman kecil saya, ibu saya sudi memasak ikan-ikan tadi, jadi dapatlah saya menikmati 'resepi eksotik' seperti ikan haruan masak lemak yang ditaruh bunga kantan dan daun kesum; ohh sungguh sedap baunya dan menyelerakan sekali. ******************************* Kangkung yang saya ambil dari parit pula, dimanfaatkan untuk dijadikan lauk seperti 'pencuk kangkung' (semacam masak lemak berempah) tetapi biasanya digoreng saja. Aiii, kalau dapat lauk ikan darat masak lemak dan pencuk kangkung, 'ana rasa dunia ini ana yang punya'! ************************* Itu cerita zaman saya kanak-kanak dulu. Selepas kahwin, 'kisah lama itu tidak berguna diulang lagi'. Orang rumah hamba, bukannya pemakan ikan-ikan yang disebutkan itu. Ada pernah hamba beli ikan keli hidup-hidup seperti yang ada di jual di Pasar Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. Selepas beli, hamba sianglah sendiri...selepas itu serahkan kepada 'bini' untuk 'proses seterusnya'. Pembaca mahu tahu apa yang berlaku? ***************************** Ketika membersih-bersihkan ikan itu, orang rumah hamba menjerit kuat - terpaksalah hamba bergegas ke dapur, lantas bertanya, apa hal? "Ikan-ikan itu masih hidup bang, ketika saya tekan dagingnya, ia masih bergerak-gerak," katanya. Memanglah, ikan darat kalau sudah disiang, kadang-kadang masih bergerak-gerak anggota badannya. Itu normal bagi saya tetapi tidak bagi isteri saya. Mukanya sudah pucat, sejak itu saya sudah putuskan, tidak payahlah saya beli ikan masih hidup seperti keli atau betuk. *************************** Sudah lama saya 'melupakan' cara hidup kampung ini. Tetapi apabila 'dah pencen' teringin pula nak merasakannya balik. Saya pun cari ikan darat. 'Last-last' saya kena siang dan masak sendiri. Demikian juga dengan sayur kangkung. Sendiri cari, sendiri siang, sendiri masak...dan akhirnya saya sendiri makan sebab seluruh anggota keluarga saya tak makan 'benda-benda' dari longkang ini...Hai, 'apo, nak dikate'... ************************** Sebenarnya kisah lama tak payah diulang. Ulama menasihatkan manusia ada tiga masa - semalam, hari ini dan esok. Semalam adalah sejarah, esok belum tentu, jadi gunakan hari ini semaksimum mungkin untuk mencari kebahagiaan dunia akhirat. Ketika ini musim Maulid Rasul, jadi pada penghujung celoteh saya manfaatkannya untuk ingatan bersama. ************************ Dalam satu ceramah, saya dengar sang ustaz menasihatkan: "Berselawatlah ke atas Nabi sebanyak mungkin. Penuhkan dada dengan selawat dan zikir. Insya-Allah, akhir kalimah kita nanti, Lailahaillallah..." *************************** Seorang sahabat saya daripada Jemaah Tabligh pula selalu memberi nasihat dengan kisah-kisah ini: "Sebuah lori penuh muatan tembikai, apabila berlanggar, tentulah buah tembikai 'akan terhambur' dari lori itu. ********************** "Seorang pemandu teksi yang asyik menjerit, "JB, JB, JB" dikisahkan kerap menyebut "JB, JB, JB" ketika 'nak mati'." Demikian ibaratnya, jika dada kita penuh dengan kalimah Allah dan bibir kita sentiasa basah dengannya, insya-Allah ketika 'direntap nyawa' nanti, kalimah Allah akan terucap dari mulut kita..." ************************ Otak saya yang 'gatal' dan 'jahat', terfikir, kalau kita asyik teringat dan menyebut-yebut kangkung, dikhuatiri ketika akhir hayat nanti kita asyik sebut kangkung, kangkung, kangkung, kung, kung, kung, kung...Nauzubillahiminzalik! 'By the way' -- kangkung Malaysia adalah paling rendah harganya berbanding kangkung di negara-negara Asean yang lain!

'Alhamdulillah'...there's light at the end of the cave (tunnel)!

**************************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ****************************** Reflection The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. *********************************** DURING the last school holidays (December 2013), my family and I visited Perlis's well-known limestone cave, 'Gua Kelam' in Kaki Bukit, about 30 kilometers north of the state capital, Kangar. **************************** As we arrived too early (at about 8.00 am), the cave was still not open for visitors; nevertheless my two teenage boys who were 'in high spirits for adventure', made their way inside; and I who feared for their safety followed after failing to stop them. ****************************** "Kelam' is a Malay word for 'dusky' or 'shadowy', thus 'Gua Kelam' literally means 'Shadowy Cave' and in my opinion 'Gua Kelam' should not be translated into 'Cave of Darkness' as has been done by many people including from the tourism industry. ******************************* Dusky means 'there is still light -- very, very faint'; but during 'our adventure' we found out that it was total darkness in the cave. Perhaps 'our visit' was outside 'the official hours and not welcome'; thus not a light was switched on at that time. So, we were in darkness; luckily one of my sons had his hand phone; the faint light from it was our only 'source and hope' as we moved deeper! ********************** Since it was the first time we explored the cave, we did not know how long and 'what it was like and where 'the 'cave walk' would end. As we moved further inside, my heart beat faster; I prayed to Allah SWT for our safety; at the same time saying to myself "what a foolish thing my boys have done." ************************** In the dark, my mind was 'fast thinking including about the worst'...we would 'be finished' if the roof of the cave came crashing upon us, what if there were snakes at our feet, what would happen if the 'walkway' gave way...but looking at my sons who were in high spirits in the dim light of the hand phone, I coaxed myself...please think positively...hey LanH, have you not heard the phrase; there's light at the end of the tunnel...well the difficulty we were facing would come to an end, 'insya-Allah' (God willing). Just please be 'sabar' (patient)! ********************************* But that did not stop me from 'making some reflections on myself' -- LanH, it is too dark inside a cave, if the darkness and gloomy situation in it distressed and made you afraid, please do think that one day you would be sent inside a place of total darkness without any hope of returning! What was that place? **************************** Please LanH, do not forget that one day you would be buried six feet underground, without any light inside it, not even 'the light from your hand phone' -- that is your grave! Everyone would 'enter' their graves; there is no exception what more choice! *************************** Death is the end of this life and there is no returning to this life in any form. Life in the grave is a state of transition and waiting. It is also known as 'barzakh' which means 'a barrier between two things'. It is a barrier between the worlds the dead had just left and the Resurrection on the Day of Judgment. (Qur'an 23:100) -- Life in the Grave (Invitation to Understanding Islam, PERKIM) ***************************** So, what was it inside a grave? In a 'hadith', Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., said: "I have never seen a sight more horrifying than the grave." (Tirmizi) The passing of the dead to the world of the grave coincides with the beginning of their awakening to the the Truth. The Noble Qur'an says, "And the agony of death comes with Truth. That is what (the disbelievers and evildoers) used to flee from!" (50: 19) **************************** The souls of the righteous ones experience a gentle, quick and satisfied exit. Their souls will be taken to the heavens while the disbelievers and the evildoers will realize at death about the Punishment in the Fire that awaits them. They will struggle to prevent the removal of their souls from their bodies. ***************************** They will be in great pain as their blood vessels and nerves are ripped apart when their souls are forcibly removed. The Prophet s.a.w. was reported to have said that if human beings could hear their cries at death, they would faint. Their names will be recorded in the Register of Hell (Sijjeen) - Qur'an 83: 7-8 **************************** The Prophet s.a.w. was also reported to have said: "If one does not find salvation in the grave, then what follows is very hard upon him." (Ibn Majah and Tirmizi) ***************************** If we happened to be in the darkness of a cave, a very dim light such as from a handset is very much appreciated; surely we need 'light' when we are inside our own grave. What is 'that light'? Perhaps we could learn something from the story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah) alahis salam (peace be upon him) who had to overcome 'three layers' of darkness. What were 'those three layers of darkness'? ***************************** When Prophet Yunus set off in despair, abandoning his ummah after giving up hope of them coming to the right path, Allah the Exalted planned for him to be thrown into the sea, and instructed a whale (nun) to swallow him (but not digest) so that he stayed in the dark belly of the whale contemplating his mistake in abandoning his ummah without Allah's instruction and there he repented. *********************************** So Prophet Yunus was left in the darkness inside the stomach of a fish, darkness of the deepest sea and lastly darkness of the blackest night. In was inside the fish belly, that he made du'aa (supplication) - ‘Laa ilaaha illa Anta, subhaanaka inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen (There is no god but You, glory to You, verily I was one of the wrongdoers).’ ***************************** Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said to his companions: "“Shall I not tell you some words which, if distress or grief befalls any of you and he makes this du’aa, it will bring him joy? It is the du‘aa’ of Dhoo’l-Noon (i.e. Yunus or Jonah): ‘There is no god but You, Glory to You; verily I was one of the wrongdoers.’” (Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 2605) ************************** Well, back to 'the grave story' - if we needed light 'when we are buried six feet under' then let us be on His straight path - according to an 'ustaz' whose lessons I followed closely twice a month at a masjid near my house; the light was from our 'good deeds' during our lives such as 'solat' etc (performing all obligations under 'Rukun Islam'), Qur'an reading and learning, giving charity, 'dhikir' (praising Allah SWT), 'salawat' (prayer for peace and prosperty to the Prophet s.a.w.) and many more. *************************** And never forget to du'aa to Allah SWT for example: "O Allah! Cover my shame, pacify my fears, guard me from what is in front of me and behind me, from what is on my right and on my left, over my head and under my feet." Remember this du'aa is to be supplicated when we 'on the Earth and not when we are inside it!' *************************** Another 'ustaz' said knowledge is also 'cahaya' (light); it would light you up in this world and Hereafter. Thus seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, said the Prophet s.a.w. (Ibn Majah) ****************************** Well, when we are in the dark of a cave, we need a 'cahaya' (light) what more when we are buried six feet under. **************************** While 'straying' in 'Gua Kelam', we badly needed ‘cahaya’ and 'Alhamdulillah' (praises be to Allah SWT) we finally realized there was 'cahaya' at the end of the cave. Gua Kelam is more like a tunnel - at last we reached the other side of the hill which has such lovely scenery including at a 'Secret Garden'. ******************************* A sign placed at the end of Gua Kelam, notes that 'our journey in darkness' was only 370 meters - if the walk in the dark of not more than 10 minutes was 'full of suspense', what would be said about 'our journey with a 'one way ticket' inside our own graves'...so please think wisely and carefully before its too late! **************************** In conclusion, dear readers, we (I included) need badly 'cahaya' or 'nur' (Arabic) or light in this world, what more when we are buried inside 'our graves' (barzakh) and in the Hereafter!

Tandas dalam bilik menjadi 'trend' terkini

************************ 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 ************************ Seorang anak saudara saya yang berusia 10 tahun mengemukakan soalan ini dan saya gagal menjawabnya. Dia bertanya kenapa tandas rumah-rumah moden sekarang ini ditempatkan dalam bilik. Biasanya tandas ada dalam bilik utama selain di bahagian belakang (dapur). **************************** Katanya, ustaznya memberitahu setiap kali azan, syaitan akan terkentut-kentut dan cirit birit, melarikan diri ke dalam tandas. Pendeknya syaitan suka duduk di tempat-tempat kotor seperti tandas. ******************************** Tetapi kenapa rumah-rumah sekarang ini, tandasnya ada dalam bilik? Takkah itu bermakna kita membela syaitan dalam bilik, katanya membuatkan saya bingung. ********************************** Betul juga cakap budak ini. Orang sekarang makin teruk dan degil, mungkin salah satu sebabnya membela syaitan dalam bilik. Sebab dalam biliknya ada tandas. Punyanya malas orang kita, kalau nak ke bilik air, tak perlu jauh-jauh, di sebelah katilnya sudah ada bilik air. **************************************** Nampaknya orang Islam nak ikut stail orang Barat. Mereka nak jadikan rumah mereka macam hotel. Dalam bilik hotel ada tandas, jadi orang Islam yang membina mahligai mereka pun mahu buat macam itu - ada jamban dalam bilik. ******************************* Orang dulu, kalau bina tandas, mereka cari tempat jauh-jauh dari rumah. 'Bank kecil' ini memang berasingan daripada rumah mereka. ****************************** Tetapi kini, orang bukan saja membina tandas dalam bilik, malah ada melengkapkan tandas mereka sebegitu hebat seolah-olah macam tempat tidur! Tandas pun berbatu marmar, ada wangian pula! - Artikel lama LanH di Harakah Online yang dipetik dan disimpan oleh seorang peminat

Teladani Rasul; henti jadi pemimpin 'perasmi' saja...

********************** Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan **************************** "Patutkah aku menyembah beberapa tuhan yang lain daripada Allah? (Sudah tentu tidak patut, kerana) jika Allah Yang Maha Pemurah hendak menimpakan daku dengan sesuatu bahaya, mereka tidak dapat memberikan sebarang syafaat kepadaku dan mereka juga tidak dapat menyelamatkan daku." (Surah Yaasin, ayat 23) *************************** Bersyukur kita dilanjutkan usia maka dapatlah kita memuzakahkan isu semasa; kali ini kita ingin menyentuh hal kepimpinan semasa dan mengaitkannya dengan peribadi dan teladan ditunjuki Rasulullah s.a.w. sempena sambutan Maulidur Rasul yang sebahagian kita meraikannya dengan begitu gah sekali. ********************** Dalam Perang Ahzab, kota Madinah dikepung oleh gabungan tentera musuh. Seorang sahabat, Salman Al-Farisi mengesyorkan agar digali parit yang besar dan dalam di sekeliling kota Madinah. Maka orang Muhajirin dan Ansar pun bertungkus-lumus membina 'kubu pertahanan' yang belum pernah dipraktikkan orang Arab. Pemimpin mereka iaitu Nabi kita yang dikasihi, Muhammad s.a.w. pun bersama-sama menyertai mereka; menggali parit dalam perit sinar mentari dan ada kalanya dalam keadaan yang sungguh lapar dan kehausan. *************************** Itu Nabi kita; tetapi bagaimana sikap dan tindakan pemimpin kita hari ini? Ya, mereka datang untuk merasmikan sesuatu majlis atau projek, selepas itu mereka dijamu sama ada perut atau mata dan telinga; selepas sejam dua mereka 'mengucapkan selamat jalan'. Sekalipun hanya 'menggayakan jentera pemecah tanah' atau 'meletakkan batu asas' sesuatu projek, hakikatnya mereka tidak sama-sama merasai derita rakyat, namun ironinya 'usaha mereka yang tidak seberapa itu' mendapat liputan meluas media massa, kononnya merekalah pemimpin berjiwa rakyat dan sebagainya. ********************************* Nabi kita, Muhammad s.a.w. telah menunjukkan suri teladan yang terbaik, baginda mengotakan segala apa diucapkannya. Ia bukan cakap-cakap saja seperti yang hampir menjadi amalan sebahagian besar pemimpin hari ini, tetapi mempraktikkannya. Dari segi amalan seperti yang digariskan dalam al-Quran seperti solat, puasa dan sedekah; Nabi yang kita kasihi, melakukannya lebih daripada umatnya. Jika seorang Muslim diwajibkan solat lima waktu sehari semalam, Nabi melakukannya sebanyak lapan kali demikian juga puasa melebihi umatnya yang hanya diwajibkan berpuasa pada bulan Ramadan. ****************************** Adalah biasa untuk rumah Nabi 'tidak berasap selama beberapa hari' (bermakna tiada makanan), dan tiada hari berlalu tanpa baginda tidak makan. Pakaian Nabi ada tampalan, rumahnya sederhana saja - diperbuat daripada bata lumpur, manakala katilnya daripada bahan kasar dan ada kalanya baginda tidur di atas hamparan kasar yang menyebabkan belakang tubuhnya berbekas. **************************** Itulah Nabi kita; hari ini kita mahu bertanya bagaimana kehidupan dilalui pemimpin kita. Pemimpin kita ramai yang berani berkata (terutama ketika majlis sambutan Maulidur Rasul) kata-kata yang 'muluk-muluk' seperti 'Teladanilah Rasul', 'Hiduplah Secara Wasatiyah' dan 'Ikutilah Rasul', tetapi apakah mereka sudah amalkan apa yang ditunjuki Rasul yang kita kasihi? *********************** Apakah pemimpin kita hanya 'berbakat' sebagai perasmi saja atau 'memperagakan' kemahiran 'menggoreng mi' atau 'menggacau bubur lambuk' atau 'pandai berkain pelikat menghirup kopi' ketika kempen pilihan raya, tetapi tidak turun bersungguh-sungguh menyelami pahit getir rakyat seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh Rasul kita? Berhentilah dariada menjadi pemimpin 'touch and go' sebaliknya selamilah betul-betul derita rakyat. **************************** Kerana gagal menyelami derita rakyatlah, maka pemimpin 'tersasul' dalam menyebut hal-hal berkaitan rakyat marhain seperti 'sayur kangkung', ikan kembong, cencaru, gelama serta duri. Mungkin pemimpin tidak pernah tahu atau ambil tahu harga harga bahan makanan yang sinonim dengan golongan marhain ini sehingga mereka yang 'mahu tunjuk pandai' terperangkap dalam 'sandiwara' mereka sendiri. ***************************** Ingatlah ada satu 'permainan bahasa' berbunyi 'ikan senohong, ikan duri, pandai berbohong, lama-lama jadi menteri...'

Agamawan, berhati-hatilah ketika bercakap, bertindak...

******************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ******************** Renungan *************************** "Dan katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): Beramallah kamu (akan segala yang diperintahkan), maka Allah dan Rasul-Nya serta orang-orang beriman akan melihat apa yang kamu kerjakan; dan kamu akan dikembalikan kepada (Allah) yang mengetahui perkara-perkara ghaib dan yang nyata, kemudian ia menerangkan kepada kamu apa yang kamu telah kerjakan." (Surah At-Taubah, ayat 105) ********************** NABI yang kita kasihi, Muhammad s.a.w. tidak makan dhab. Tetapi baginda tidak melarang umatnya makan dhab, Sehubungan itu dijadikan hukum boleh makan dhab. Nabi s.a.w. tidak solat sunat sebelum maghrib, tetapi tidak melarang sahabat melakukannya. Jadi boleh solat sunat sebelum maghrib. ************************* Ulama adalah pewaris Nabi s.a.w. Orang kita menggelarkan golongan agamawan sebagai ustaz dan ustazah. Pada sepanjang zaman, perilaku (percakapan dan tindakan) ustaz dan ustazah menjadi perhatian dan ikutan masyarakat. ***************************** Sekarang ini masih musim kenduri (walaupun cuti sekolah sudah tamat). Pada hujung minggu, adalah orang buat kenduri kahwin, kenduri arwah, kenduri 'cukur jambul dan sebagainya'. ********************************** Seorang ustazah melangsungkan perkahwinan anaknya. Di rumah ustazah ada pelamin berhias indah, dia mahu sandingkan anak perempuan dengan menantu barunya. Pada hari 'langsung', anak dan menantu ustazah di pelamin 'ditepung tawarkan' dan 'direnjis-renjis'. ************************** Perkara ini berlaku di rumah ustazah, jadi orang kampung pun buat kesimpulan, bolehlah dirikan pelamin di khalayak ramai, termasuk di laman rumah, manakala pengantinnya direnjis-renjis dan 'ditepung-tawarkan'. Hai, bukankah ustazah yang buat, kata mereka, takkan mereka tak boleh pula. ************************ Seorang ustaz pula diundang ke majlis 'cukur jambul'. Apabila bayi 'disuakan' kepadanya, sang ustaz pun menggambil gunting dan menggunting sedikit rambut bayi lalu mencelupkan tangannya beserta helaian rambut tadi dalam air buah kelapa. Apabila ustaz membuat perkara itu, orang kampung pun membuat kesimpulan, boleh saja majlis cukur jambul cara sedemikian; kan ustaz yang buat... ************************** Demikianlah betapa kuatnya pengaruh golongan agamawan kepada masyarakat, kata seorang tokoh agama dalam majlis tazkirahnya yang saya hadiri baru-baru ini. Sehubungan itu beliau mengingatkan ustaz dan ustazah untuk berhati-hati dan cermat dalam sebarang tindakan mereka termasuklah dari segi percakapan supaya sentiasa sejajar dengan kehendak Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Ini kerana percakapan dan tindakan mereka akan menjadi ikutan masyarakat. ************************* Sempena musim Maulidur Rasul sekarang ini, tokoh agama ini memberi peringatan kepada penganjur majlis sambutan supaya tidak berlebih-lebihan menyemarakkan karnival mereka misalnya meneruskan persembahan nasyid dan pelbagai pengisian lain sekalipun laungan azan bagi solat waktu sudah berkumandang di udara. "Hentikan semua ini, sambutlah seruan azan dan utamakan untuk pergi solat," katanya. **************************** Hakikatnya, tiada hal yang lebih penting daripada memenuhi panggilan Illahi untuk solat apabila aungan azan kedengaran, lebih-lebih lagi pentas karnival adalah di sebelah masjid atau berkongsi kawasan dengan masjid. **************************** Beliau bimbang jika itu dilakukan, anak-anak muda akan membuat kesimpulan "bolehlah meneruskan program mereka sekalipun sudah kedengaran azan kerana ustaz dan ustazah pengelola karnival pun buat perkara yang sama." *************************** Demikianlah betapa kuatnya pengaruh ustaz dan ustazah hatta golongan agamawan lain seperti tok imam dan bilal dalam kehidupan masyarakat kita. Golongan agamawan dihormati, apa saja percakapan dan tindakan mereka dilihat sebagai 'pengesahan' (approval) untuk mereka melakukan sesuatu. Jadi adalah teramat penting untuk golongan agamawan berhati-hati dalam percakapan dan tindakan mereka. *********************** Baru-baru ini tindakan seorang mufti menggunakan istilah 'bughah' ke atas peserta demonstrasi pada malam tahun baru (1 Januari 2014) diberi reaksi hangat oleh masyarakat. Itulah percakapan dan tindakan golongan agamawan (seperti ustaz dan ustazah apatah lagi mufti) menjadi panduan masyarakat. ****************************** Mufti ini cakap mereka 'bughah' selepas ada pihak mendakwa mereka mahu menggulingkan kerajaan. Lantas apabila dibidas, bagi menguatkan hujahnya sang mufti memetik Ayat 9 Surah Al-Hujurat yang bermaksud: “Dan jika dua puak daripada orang-orang yang beriman berperang maka damaikanlah di antara keduanya. Jika salah satu berlaku zalim terhadap yang lain, maka lawanlah puak yang zalim itu sehingga dia kembali mematuhi perintah Allah. Jika dia kembali patuh maka damaikanlah di antara keduanya dengan adil (menurut hukum Allah), serta berlaku adillah kamu, sesungguhnya Allah mengasihi orang yang berlaku adil.” **************************** Mufti membuat kesimpulan peserta demonstrasi 'bughah' kerana mereka mahu menggulingkan kerajaan. Persoalannya, daripada mana mufti tahu mereka mahu menggulingkan kerajaan? Daripada 'media massa penyebar fitnah dan pengadu-domba'? Mengapa percaya bulat-bulat, sebagai seorang agamawan yang dihormati semua pihak, tidak mahukah membuat penyiasatan? ********************** Bukankah dalam Ayat 6 Surah Al-Hujurat, Allah SWT sudah memberi ingatan yang bermaksud: "Hai orang-orang yang beriman, jika datang kepadamu orang fasik membawa suatu berita, maka periksalah dengan teliti agar kamu tidak menimpakan kecelakaan kepada suatu kaum tanpa mengetahui keadaannya yang menyebabkan kamu menyesal atas perbuatan itu."

Cerita sedih rakyat mahu berjimat cermat...

***************************** 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." ******************************* DALAM artikel terdahulu dalam blog ini ada saya celotehkan (tajuknya; 2014: Berjimatlah tapi jangan sampai bahayakan diri...) antara kaedah saya mahu berjimat bagi menghadapi 'pesta kenaikan' harga barangan dan perkhidmatan mulai tahun baharu 2014 adalah dengan menyuruh seorang anak saya menunggang basikal ke sekolah. *********************** Sebelum ini anak saya menaiki bas sekolah yang tambangnya RM50 sebulan. Saya tidak bimbang menyuruhnya ke sekolah pagi dan petang (sekolah agama) dengan berbasikal kerana jaraknya tidak jauh - tidak sampai pun sekilometer. ****************************** Biasanya pada sebelah pagi, si anak akan menaiki kereta ibunya. Si ibu akan menghantar si anak dan kemudian terus ke sekolah tempat dia mengajar. Berdasarkan 'peraturan' ini, menjadi 'tugas baru' saya untuk 'menghantar' basikal ke sekolah agar anak saya dapat menaikinya apabila pulang nanti. ************************* 'Untuk menghantar' basikal kecil itu tidak menjadi masalah bagi saya. Semasa saya pergi ke masjid untuk solat zuhur, saya boleh memuatkannya di dalam kereta Iswara saya dan 'menurunkan' serta menguncinya sebelum pergi sembahyang. Sekolah dan masjid terletak bersebelahan, pintu pagarnya sentiasa terbuka kecuali pada waktu malam. Jadi tiada masalah untuk anak saya mengambil basikal itu untuk pulang. *********************************** Manusia boleh merancang tetapi Allah penentu segala-galanya. Pada petang Rabu, 1 Januari (sehari sebelum hari pertama persekolahan) saya dapati enjin kereta Iswara saya bermasalah. Jadi tidak bolehlah saya memuatkan basikal kecil anak saya. Saya pun pantas mencari jalan penyelesaian. ***************************** Terlintas di otak saya untuk menunggang motosikal saya dan sambil memegang basikal itu di bahagian 'handle' beriringan untuk dihantar ke kawasan sekolah. **************************** Esoknya, perkara inilah yang saya lakukan. Mula-mulanya ia berjalan lancar. Namun selepas lebih 100 meter, tiba-tiba saya terlebih tekan pemutar minyak, menyebabkan basikal bergerak laju dengan rodanya mendahului roda motosikal. Apa lagi, saya pun hilang keseimbangan; 'tergolek' ke bumi dengan motosikal itu menghempap kaki saya. ***************************** Aduhhh, terasa pedih di bahagian keting kaki kanan. Ya, Allah terkena ekzos panaslah tu. Hujung kaki kiri yang tersembam ke permukaan jalan berdarah pula. Saya cuba gagahkan bangun sebelum datang beberapa penunggang motosikal lain membantu. ******************************* Selepas menyelesaikan pelbagai masalah berkaitan seperti menghantar basikal anak saya dan menguruskan pemergian ibu saya ke hospital bagi memenuhi temu janjinya di sana, saya pun pergi ke klinik swasta bagi mendapatkan rawatan. *************************** Saya ingat doktor akan memberikan saya suntikan antibiotik dan ubat luka dan selepas itu bolehlah saya balik, sebaliknya dia mengarahkan seorang pembantunya membersihkan luka saya. ************************* Pada bahagian kulit terkena eksos dan mula menggelupas, pembantu itu menggunakan penyepit, menarik dan mengguntingnya. Aduhhh, tak tertahan sakit rasanya. Rupanya, sakit juga 'terjatuh motor' ini, bisik, hati saya. ************************** Itu baru 'jatuh motor' bagaimana agaknya mangsa kemalangan teruk; putus tangan atau kaki atau tertusuk besi atau kaca? Ohh, saya tidak dapat bayangkan...alangkah ngerinya jika ada mangsa cedera parah, terbunuh termasuk yang rentung...Ya Allah jauhkan kami daripada bala seperti itu... ************************* Selepas diberi ubat, saya diberikan bil rawatan RM45. Itulah 'nasib seorang rakyat' mahu berjimat RM50 daripada membayar tambang bas sekolah, kini perlu mengeluarkan RM45 pada hari pertama persekolahan! ************************* Kemalangan itu membuatkan saya bermuhasabah diri. Ya, Allah, mungkin niat saya tak betul; sewajarnya saya membuat sesuatu kerana Allah SWT semata-mata dan bukan mahu 'save' (jimat) duit atau sebagainya. Jika mahu 'save' duit; mungkin kita tidak dapat apa-apa, buktinya pada hari pertama saja duit saya sebanyak RM45 'sudah terbang'. Namun jika membuat sesuatu kerana Allah SWT demi keredaan-Nya, insya-Allah Dia akan membantu kita. *********************** Namun saya tidak menyalahkan diri saya saja kerana saya tahu ramai lagi 'orang di luar sana' melakukan pelbagai pendekatan penjimatan bagi menghadapi 'pesta' kenaikan harga barangan dan perkhidmatan ini. ************************* Seorang tua dilaporkan berjalan kaki 40 kilometer pergi balik hospital bagi mendapatkan rawatan sekali gus menjimatkan wang tambang; manakala satu pemandangan paling mengharukan saya ialah apabila melihat dengan 'mata kepala' saya sendiri bagaimana seorang pramugari 'seksi' sebuah syarikat penerbangan terkenal dan glamor, membuka .'tupperware' makanan yang mungkin dibawanya dari rumah dan dengan selamba makan di depan penumpang! Orang ramai nampak pramaguri penuh glamor tetapi 'derita' mereka siapa tahu dan ambil tahu? ********************** Aduhai, demikian episod sedih bagaimana rakyat mahu berjimat ketika 'pesta kenaikan' sekarang ini! Bagi diri sendiri, luka di kaki saya masih berdenyut-denyut sakitnya ketika saya menulis artikel ini, selepas dua minggu kemalangan! Ya pembaca, tolonglah doakan saya cepat sembuh. Amin.

Learning something from the Indians...

********************* 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) ************* Perfoming 'solat jemaah' (mass prayers) at Kempegowda International Airport ************************************ WHILE travelling home on the Manipal-Mangalore-Bangalore-Kuala Lumpur route, we (myself, my wife and my in-laws) had no choice but to perform our 'jamak' (combined) 'zuhur' (afternoon) and 'asar' (late afternoon) prayers either on the plane or at Bangalore International Airport. *********************** For the readers’ information, beginning December 14th, Bangalore International Airport was renamed Kempegowda International Airport in honour of the City's founder. Bangalore is currently the capital of the Indian State of Karnataka. **************************** By the way, who was Kempegowda? He was a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire and lived between 1510-1569 AD and was successful in planning and building the city of Bangalore (renamed Bengaluru in 2006). He is also noted for his societal reforms and also contribution to building temples and water reservoirs in the city. ************************* What amazed me when I was sitting and staring at the huge roof top of the airport was how it was fitted with many sky light glass (translucent coverings), thus tapping light inside the building. Perhaps it was their way to save energy; they too might have installed solar panels. The harnessed solar power could have been a major supplier of electricity for the airport. **************************** It is a well known fact that airports in India are increasingly looking to solar power. After Delhi International Airport Ltd announcing recently that it had set up a 2.14 MW solar power plant, Cochin International Airport Ltd has said it too has set up a 1 MW plant. *************************** Though the plant at Cochin Airport is up and running, it is yet to be formally inaugurated. And airports of Bangalore (Kempegowda) and Hyderabad are also keen on tapping solar energy, with Hyderabad closer to a decision for a 5 MW system. Unlike Delhi airport’s solar plant, the 1 MW facility at Cochin is spread over three locations within the airport, part of it on rooftops. ****************************** Perhaps our airport authorities could learn something from them, tapping the rich source of solar energy...and perhaps also the use of natural sunlight during day time. ************************** Back to 'our solat' story; during our journey we met and were on the same plane with seven young Muslim Malaysian girls who were studying medicine at a college in Mangalore. At one corner of Kempegowa Airport, we blocked the area with our bags; and behind the bags we performed our prayers. We did it in two sessions because we needed someone to guard our bags. Oh, it was such a feeling; praying in the open; not in a 'surau' or a 'masjid' as we did back home! ************************************ No-honking zones on the rise in India ********************************* During my travel on the roads in India, it was common to see the words 'Please sound' and 'Please horn' at the back of vehicles especially trucks, lorries and buses. And 'true' to the words, honking on roads was the norm in India. It was like a fiesta when 'almost everyone' honked their vehicles. To the Indians, 'that trait' was 'nothing to ponder over' but to outsiders like me, it was a 'nightmare'! *************************** At almost all Indian towns I had gone, all types of vehicles such ox-carts, rickshaw, tuk tuks, bikes, scooters, cars etc, made their way as 'they liked', but what surprised me was that there was almost an absence of policemen (if they were present, they were seen chatting but not controlling traffic) and there were so few collisions. Indian drivers seem to know how far they can push in front of others without colliding with one another. ************************** It is said that Indian drivers need only three things: good brakes, good horns and good luck. Horns are regarded as essential, thus blaring is 'a must' on Indian roads! And at times you come across herds of buffaloes and cows on the road in the middle of a city. And it is hard to come across traffic lights even in the city! ************************ Nowadays, more and more Indians are doing away with the 'honking way of life'. In several cities they have 'no-honking' zones such as in front of public institutions such as schools and hospitals. Indians have realized that honking in those places could affect health, work and concentration of people. *************************** Indians roads 'are bad' and their drivers ways could made outsiders like us 'have heart attacks' but the irony of it is, accidents seem rare in this part of the world. Perhaps, we could learn something from them... **************************** Being thrifty the Indian way **************************** While in India, I found out that Indians valued 'every source' available to them. For example all sections of a coconut tree are used to the maximum - coconut husk is used to make brushes and veins of coconut leaves are used to make brooms. *************************** Food is very cheap in India (compared to our Malaysian standard-lah); a bar of chocolate snack (Tofi-Luk) my son in Manipal usually bought was only 10 rupees (about 50 sen); thus it was not surprising that for our family of five (myself, my wife, my in-laws and my son) could have a 'grand' lunch or dinner such as having lamb chops and chicken tandooris at only 1,400 rupees (around RM70)for the whole meal. ************************** When I got accustomed to the 'Indian way' of living, I found out that the locals could buy slices of bread (not a loaf of bread), one or two potatoes, one or two onions (not a kilogram), three eggs (not a paper crate of 30 eggs) with a few rupees on each item. *************************** They seemed to buy items to be cooked for that specific time only; they finished off the food and for the next meal, they would buy another set of fresh items. Nothing would go to waste! Perhaps they too do not need to have refrigerators! *************************** Well, to me, 'these Indians' were superb in being thrifty; perhaps our Malaysian housewives should learn something from them. From my own experience, the fridge in my home would at almost all times be loaded and heaped with food items such as eggs, vegetables, fruits and all sorts of drinks and they would sometimes go rotten after a long period of time and would have to be thrown away. ****************************** What a waste! And more importantly, what our religion teaches us about 'this' - "Eat and drink; but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters." (Qur'an 7:31) ******************************* Perhaps we could learn something from the Indians especially during these hard and trying times.

Interesting 'religious findings' in South India

*************************** n the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessing and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************** Reflections ************************** "I have only created Jinns and Men, that they may serve Me." (Zariyat 51:56) **************************** 1. Being doubtful at a 'darga' (dargah) ******************************* While sightseeing in Mangalore, Karnataka State in South India recently, I asked our tour guide cum driver to stop at any masjid to enable us to perform our 'jamak' (combined) 'zuhur' (mid-day) and 'asar' (late afternoon) prayers. But our guide offered to take us to one of the largest and famous masjids amongst Muslims not only in Mangalore or Karnataka but in the whole of South India. ************************************* After a 'rough ride' for about an hour, we reached a large masjid complex - the guide told us that the complex held a 'darga' of one of the famous 'Muslim saints' in South India. Later on, after being given a booklet, I got to know it was the darga of Seyyid Muhammad Shareeful Madani. ******************************* In the booklet it was mentioned: "The history says that the saint came to Ullal (near Mangalore) around 500 years ago from the holy city of Madeena (Madinah) in Saudi Arabia by floating across the sea on a piece of Chadar or Musalla. He camped at a small mosque (masjid) in Melangadi area, which is the present Juma Masjid for Ullal, Permannur, Someshwara, Munnur, Kotekar, and Jeppinamogaru villages." ***************************** Well, what actually is a darga? I too was not sure. After searching for the word in several dictionaries but in vain, I found one dictionary as having the word 'dargah' which gave the meaning as 'the tomb or shrine of a Muslim saint'; the origin of the word was from Urdu and Persian. And on further reading, I found out that the Malays called it 'keramat'. ***************************** Wikipedia notes that a dargah (Persian: درگاه‎ dargâh or درگه dargah) is a Sufi Islamic shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervish. Local Muslims may visit a shrine as a form of pilgrimage known as ziyarat. Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, called khanqah or hospices. They usually include a mosque, meeting rooms, Islamic religious schools (madrassas), residences for a teacher or caretaker, hospitals, and other buildings for community purposes. ****************************** This description fit what I saw at darga Seyyid Muhammad Shareeful Madani. After performing my solat (prayer) at the main prayer hall, I went to a crowded area where congregators were seen making their 'du'a' (saying their supplications) at the shrine of the Sheikh. Some were seen rubbing their hands and clothes to metal railings at the grave. **************************** Near the grave, there were a few donation boxes. I was doubtful; thinking fast whether to drop or not a note or two in the boxes. It was because I was in doubt; whether my donation would be chanelled to promote 'activities' at the darga which I 'doubted'. Finally I did drop a note, praying to Allah SWT that I did the right thing. ************************** Later on, while reading the booklet; I came across something that said: "the income derived from the darga is spent for the development activities of the area, which are socially, economically backward." Among the many activities noted were; supplying free books to poor students irrespective of caste and creed, giving financial assistance to poor girls for their marriages and giving scholarships to deserving students for their higher education.” ************************************* Perhaps I was 'wrong and cruel' in having a 'bad thought' while at the large religious complex of Seyyid Muhammad Shareeful Madani; to which I prayed to Allah SWT for forgiveness on me who was without or with only a little knowledge on the subject of 'Sufism' including 'ziyarat' (visiting) the graves of 'saints'. *************************** Of course, ziyarat to graves is allowed, in fact a 'sunnah' of our Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. who in a 'hadith' mentioned: "I asked you (at first) not to perform ziyarat. But now I'm asking you to perform ziyarat, because verily ziyarat makes you think of the Hereafter." (Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Ibn Maaja, Abu Daud and Nasaee Shaif) ******************************* But what about those special rituals such as praying and making offerings that were being performed at the graves; mostly of 'saints' which in India are called 'brelwi'? It was said that in India it was common for some Muslims to offer prayers at tombs of respected people and saints. Once I had asked a good Muslim friend who had relatives and previously travelled to India on the subject; he claimed that ‘brelwi’ was against the teaching of Islam. ************************* A Malaysian Indian Muslim once told me that the practice of 'brelwi' was too strong in India and those who were against it were accused of not having respect for ulamas. He was afraid that their practices were straying away from the true teaching of Islam; but moving in the direction of Hinduism. ***************************** In South Asia, dargahs are often the site of festivals (milad) held in honor of the deceased saint at the date of his Urs, which is a day dedicated to the saint which usually falls on the saint's death anniversary. The shrine is illuminated with candles or strings of electric lights at this time. Among famous dargas are Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki's dargah in Mehrauli, Delhi, Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer; Nizamuddin Dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya and adjoining Jamaat Khana Masjid, Delhi and Tomb of Salim Chisti, at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra. ************************** Perhaps this report on the activities at a darga would help enlighten us on whether they are in line with the teachings of Islam or not. I prayed to Allah that He show me and readers His straight path (Ihdina sirata al moustaqim) as what we read at least 17 times in our 'solat' (prayers). ************************* It is reported that the Urs Fair in Ajmer (Rajasthan’s famous lakeside city) that honours the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, brings lakhs of devotees across all religions to the Dargah Sharif in the faithful and religious reminiscence of the saint. *************************** The Urs is held in Ajmer every year to commemorate the death of Khawaja, whose mortal deeds earned him the title of Gharib Nawaz (protector of the poor), and whose memorial at Dargah Sharif where his remains lie buried is now a pilgrimage shrine for Muslim devotees all over the world. *************************** The holy Urs fair is a six-day long festival beginning with Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. With the sighting of the moon, the Holy Tomb of the Khawaja opens up to the festive homage that sees pilgrims and devotees seeking blessings at the shrine and indulging in ‘tabbaruk’ (offerings of hallowed food) among other specialties that continue through days and nights alike. ***************************** The holy saint is said to have traversed from Persia to the sub-continent with the vision of building the Chistia order fakirs in this part of the world. For the altruistic services he extended to the poor and the downtrodden through his life that spanned a 100 years, he has gone in history as the Gharib Nawaz, to be worshipped for centuries to come at his tomb. ************************** The successor representative of the Chistis, or the Sajjada Nashin, traditionally hoists a white flag at the dargah to mark the commencement of the Urs Fair in the sixth lunar month (Rabiulakhir). As the month comes to an end, the Jannati Darwaza (symbolizing a gateway to heaven) is thrown open to devotees, who as per tradition cross the gate seven times in the belief that their abode in heaven is assured. The Sajjada Nashin also performed the ‘ghuzal’ the holy ritual of anointing the tomb with rose water and sandalwood paste and enveloping it in a sheet of silk. ************************* Among the host of such rituals is the tide of rich offerings (nazrana) that devotees bestow at the shrine – essence of rose and jasmine flowers, ‘chaddars’ (blankets) perfumes, sandalwood paste, ‘ghilaph’ and ‘neema’. The ‘qawwali mehfils’ that shape up in the ‘mehfilkhanas’ are quite the popular rituals at the fair, and hundreds of men and women immerse themselves in the glorious hymns of the saint which then culminate in a mass prayer in memory of Khwaja Chisti. - Info from an Indian magazine, Go Getter/June 2011. ***************************** 2. Casteist 'made snana' sparks protest ******************************* During my journey to Manipal, I met and talked to a Malaysian Hindu family who were heading to 'some religious spots' in Karnataka including in Mangalore and Udupi. In fact the name Mangalore derives from the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi while Udupi is notable for the Krishna Matha temple. ******************************* While I was in South India, one topic that was debated in the Indian press was about the caste ritual 'made snana' where it is believed that the saliva of upper castes is healing. This practice was said to be performed at the Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district where devotees would roll their bodies over leftover food of the upper castes. ****************************** Many groups and parties had gatherings to oppose the practice; among them was Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum with its president K S Shivaram who had launched an agitation against the ritual four years ago and urged Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to either pass the proposed anti-superstition law or issue an ordinance prohibiting the practice. ****************************** The protestors were clear in their support for the anti-superstition bill and called it a necessity to clean out the discriminatory, exploitative practices of religion in Karnataka state. ***************************** Even Karnataka's Minister for Social Welfare, H Anjaneya appealed to the people to shun such ritual saying it was inhuman and foolish. "I do not know how to call those people who participated in the ritual - fools or intelligent people. They should realise that rolling over the leftover food of others will further infect their skin and not cure them of skin diseases as is believed." ****************************** The Minister said such blind belief could not be eradicated just by legislation. "There should be awareness among the people that in this age of technological and medical advances, rolling over leftover food eaten by others will only give them infections," he was quoted saying by The Hindu on December 8th. ***************************** Janata Dal (United) State unit president M P Nadagouda said 'made snana' was an inhuman practice and it belittled the dignity of a human being. He condemned the Karnataka State government's inaction in banning the 'made snana' ritual, asking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resign if he failed to promulgate fast an ordinance to that effect.

'Be a statesman, not a hypocrite politician...'

************************ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Reflection ************************* The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. ******************************** * A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift. -- James Freeman Clarke ******************************* * A statesman is he who thinks in the future generations, and a politician is he who thinks in the upcoming elections. - Abraham Lincoln ***************************** “AT one corner of the stadium was I, ‘a humble reporter’ from Malaysia, covering the touching event, several thousand kilometers away from home. ******************************** “I looked at the ‘Mat Saleh’ journalists. They were tall, big and bold and of course had the advantage compared to the Asian pressmen. When the press mobbed the leaders for the latest news, the Asian press were left behind or pushed aside. ***************************** “But what impressed me while I was in the stadium, the blacks ‘were roaring back to life’ after more than four decades under the apartheid regimes. The Afrikaans, Zulus, Indians and non white minorities were on the way to a new era – and it was made possible by the struggle of ‘that humble leader’ – NELSON MANDELA." ***************************** This report was filed by me, a young reporter, some 20 years ago from the FNB stadium (known as Soccer City for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup) in Soweto, a very vast black township outside Johannesburg on the eve of South Africa’s historic first multi-racial election after the collapsed of the white aparthied regime with it’s last white president FW de Klerk. ************************** The April 1994 election was history – Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) secured more that 62 percent of the votes, paving way for him to be the first non-whites to be South Africa’s president; and for me, the event there was always on my mind because it was the second time I covered a major world event; the first was filing reports from the ex-Communist republics after the collapsed of the Soviet Empire in 1991. *************************** When apartheid collapsed and a multi racial elections held, paving way for Mandela to be sworn as South Africa first non-white president, I was one 'lucky guy' of 32 years of age who witnessed the event; and now at 52, while I was in India (a very good and close country for Mandela), I heard and read news about the demise of the statesman on Friday, 6th December 2013. ***************************** If in 1994, Mandela was given a standing ovation by some 80,000 supporters in the FNB Stadium which I witnessed the event; after his death about 20 years later, his body was taken to the same historic stadium to enable 'ordinary' South Africans especially the blacks to pay their final respect to him. ************************* While reading a few Indian English dailes, I realized that the Indians have high respect for Mandela; for example the 'Deccan Herald' reserved many pages on the news about Mandela with a headline 'Peace hero Mandela passes away' and and an biography entitled 'Nelson Mandela, the Gandhi of South Africa'. ************************** Why Mandela was likened to Mahatma Gandhi, India's Father of Nation? He was said to have a very strong Indian connections and had striking similarities with Gandhi. *************************** Thus, when Mandela died, India declared a 5-day mourning with its President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lead the nation to mourn the death of the much respected world leader who was conferred the 'Bharat Ratna' award, India's highest civilian honour in 1993. Mandela was the first non-Indian recipient of Bharat Ratna and he received it ahead of the Nobel Prize for Peace he was bestowed in 1993; sharing it with FW de Klerk. *************************** Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon shared a special bond for India and this was there for the world to see when he chose the land of Gandhi, who he called his 'political guru' and a 'role model', as his first destination abroad in 1990 after spending 27 years behind bars. ********************** The Deccan reported that as an avowed Gandhian, Madiba, as was affectionately known around the world, always praised Gandhi for his principles of 'Satya and Ahimsa' and followed his philosophy. ************************ "The Mahatma is an integral part of our history because it his here he first experimental with truth, here that he demonstrated his characteristic firmness in pusuit of justice; here that he developed Satyagraha as a philosophy and a method of struggle," Mandela said at an unveiling of Gandhi Memorail in South Africa in 1993. **************************** "Gandhi is most revered for his commitment to non-violence and the Congress Movement was strongly influenced by this Gandhian philosophy, is was a philosophy that achieved the mobilisation of millions of South Africans during the 1952 defiance campaign, which established the ANC as a mass organisation," Mandela has said in his address. *************************** During his five years tenure as South Africa's president (1994-1999), Mandela was 'not without mistake' (he himself said that 'I am a man with many weaknesses'), but one event that made the world realized that 'this man was not crazy for power' was that he declined to run for second term in the 1999 general elections but pave the way for his deputy, Thabo Mbeki to be president. **************************** Mandela was not like the many so-called liberation and freedom fighters or leaders, dictators, president and prime ministers of the world who would cling to power at any costs; the latest was shown by the regime of Sheikh Hasina Wajid of Bangladesh who sent Sheikh Abdul Quader Molla, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, to the gallows on 12th December. ************************** Instead, after leaving the presidency, Mandela brought that moral stature to bear elsewhere around the continent, as a peace broker and champion of greater outside investment. And when he died, I was 52; a 'not so young adult' compared to 'the robust me' of 32 when I covered South Africa's first multi-racial elections in 1994. So what have I learned from this statesman? ********************** Regarding this, I love to quote an article by Elisa Dass Avin in myStarjob.com (14 Dec 2013) with the title 'Mentoring the Mandela way' which states three approaches of the icon's leadership ways that are; first, lead from the front and back; second, have a core principle and third, quitting is leading too. ************************** Elisa quoted from a book written by Richard Stengel, 'Mandela's Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life and Love and Courage' which regarding leadership noted: 'Mandela once shared this story with Stengel': "When you want cattle to move in certain direction, you stand at the back with a stick and then you get a few of the cleverer cattle to go to the front and move in the direction that you want them to go. The rest of the cattle follow the cleverer cattle in the front, but you are really guiding them from the back." ************************ But among almost all societies including in our country, leaders want to be in front 'dulu, kini dan selamanya' (during the past, now and forever). They want to be 'the cleverer cow' for all times and to fulfil this wish, they would do all sorts of approaches including raising prices of necessity items that are of concern to the rakyat such as petrol, sugar, electricity tariff and toll rates. *********************** Some went against their own election manifestos such as not to raise toll rates and some even make mockery of themselves by not resigning from their top positions as they had promised before elections for example saying: "In two years time I would resign," but till today he is still at helm. ********************** Perhaps they did this to finance their crooked ways so that they would be in power 'dulu, kini dan selamanya'. In times of elections, they selved temporary their desires; they claimed they 'mendahulukan rakyat' (very concern about the welfare of the people) but their actions speak volumes about themselves. ************************* These types of leaders are merely hypocrite (munafik) and corrupted politicians; perhaps they fit to what James Freeman Clarke remarked: "A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country" And of course they are nothing to be compared to Mandela!

Masalah beres apabila suami isteri 'sekepala'...

*********************** Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan ************************** "Apabila seorang manusia meninggal dunia, terputuslah semua amalnya kecuali tiga perkara iaitu sedekah jariah, ilmu yang bermanfaat dan anak soleh yang mendoakannya." (Hadis laporan Muslim) ********************** BARU-BARU ini saya menerima hadiah buku karya Mohd Affandi Ramli bertajuk 'Surat Untuk Anak' (Catatan biografi seorang bapa kepada dua anak yang mengalami Cerebral Palsy) daripada Prof Dr Safiah Osman. Prof itu meminta saya membacanya dan membuat komen... **************************** Komen saya...buku berharga RM30 (Semenanjung) terbitan Anak Kunci Production itu bagus, saya memberikannya empat bintang. Pembaca silalah dapatkannya. Layari http://www.facebook.com/hope2walk atau http://hope2walk.blogspot.com **************************** Siapa Mohd Affandi Ramli? Ya, mencari latar belakang penulis adalah antara perkara pertama saya lakukan sebelum membaca sesebuah buku. Bagi saya, jika sudah tahu penulisnya, ia akan memancing minat untuk membaca...tidaklah nanti saya menghabiskan masa berharga untuk membaca karya merapu oleh seorang penulis merapu... ***************************** Apabila membelek-belek buku itu dengan cepat saya tahu Mohd Affandi Ramli itu adalah pelukis komik 'Datuk Kundur' dalam Suara Keadilan dengan nama pena Ronasina. Karyanya termasuk buku kartun 'Negaraku' tajam dengan sindiran...bermakna berkemungkinan besar bukunya 'Surat Untuk Anak' sarat dengan pengakuan jujur, sindiran, komentar dan paling penting, idea besar, demikian fikir saya. ************************** Fikiran saya tidak tersasar; itulah yang dipaparkan oleh Mohd Affandi - pengajuan jujurnya mengenai pelbagai himpitan dan kesukaran kehidupan terutama dari segi ekonomi untuk membesar dan mendidik dua anak Orang Kelainan Upaya (OKU) - Annisa dan An-Nur - yang akhirnya membawa kepada idea besar penubuhan Hope2Walk seterusnya Pertubuhan Harapan Anak-Anak Cerebral Palsy Malaysia. ************************** Membaca 'Surat Untuk Anak' menyedarkan saya satu hal penting - pasangan suami isteri Affandi-Raja Rohaisham (Sham) 'hampir menepati' ungkapan pasangan mabuk cinta - "demi cintaku padamu, lautan api pun sanggup kurenangi" tetapi hakikatnya jarang benar dipraktikkan dalam rumahtangga. ***************************** Dari awal hingga akhir penceritaan, kedua-dua Affandi-Sham berkorban bersama,seiya sekata dalam mencari yang terbaik untuk anak-anak mereka; ya kata orang jika pasangan suami isteri 'sekepala' - separuh daripada masalah sudah dapat diselesaikan. ***************************** Mereka sungguh bertuah, kerana saya tahu ada suami yang lari meninggalkan keluarga yang ada anak OKU; demikian juga perlakuan sesetengah isteri menyebabkan pasangannya terkontang-kanting dalam kehidupan. Malah ada lebih ekstrem, kedua-duanya meninggalkan anak-anak begitu saja! *************************** Anak-anak adalah ladang pahala. Tetapi berapa ramai ibu bapa benar-benar merebut peluang itu? Setiap anak malah setiap manusia adalah unik; masing-masing ada sifat fizikal dan kerohanian berbeza - ini termasuklah watak, pembawaan, kelemahan, kelebihan, minat dan banyak lagi. Jika anak yang biasa pun penat untuk mendidik mereka, apatah lagi anak kelainan upaya. Hakikatnya semua anak-anak berbeza upaya mereka; semuanya unik; hal ini perlu diperhatikan ibu bapa dan pendidik. ************************ Lelaki dan perempuan selain fizikal, pemikiran mereka pun tidak pernah sama. Falsafah Greek ada menyatakan lelaki dari Marikh, perempuan dari Zuhrah. Berdasarkan ini suami isteri pun sebenarnya 'tidak sekepala'. Dalam banyak hal, mereka bertentangan antara satu sama lain. Dalam soal makan 'yang remeh' itu pun mereka berbeza - misalnya si suami suka nasi ayam tetapi isteri tidak sukakannya tetapi gemar asam pedas. Demikian juga dalam soal mendidik anak - suami suka cara agak keras isteri dengan kaedah lembut, memujuk. Selalu terjadi pergaduhan kerana perbezaan ini. ***************************** Namun ada satu hal yang 'membolehkan' suami isteri sekepala? Sekepala apakah itu? Ya, bersekepala dalam menjalani kehidupan berdasarkan perintah Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Jika kedua-duanya bersekepala dalam mentaati syariat Allah, semua masalah mereka dapat dibereskan; bukankah Allah SWT dan Rasul-Nya telah memberi pengakuan mengenai kehebatan peribadi mukmin - semua perkara yang menimpa mereka adalah peluang untuk mereka meraih keredaan-Nya; jika ditimpa kepayahan dia bersabar dan jika mendapat nikmat dia bersyukur! ***************************** Anak-anak adalah ladang pahala; tahniah kepada pasangan Affandi-Sham; anda berdua kini insya-Allah sudah ada anak (Annisa) di syurga; kini 'bersekepalalah' menumpukan sepenuh perhatian (kepada ibadat dan sebagainya) untuk melayakkan anda berdua ke sana jua, menemui kekasih hati anda itu!