Trading pleasures of the world for...

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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)

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AFTER graduating from the School of Mass Communication ITM (now known as UiTM) some 30 years ago, I worked as a stringer for NSTP in its branch office in Taman Melaka Raya, Melaka. There I befriended a young man who run a fruit stall at a corner of a 'lorong' (lane) just in front of the NSTP office.

I really admired him, not because of his good looks (he was always seen with his cowboy hat) but of 'this unique trait of him' - whenever the 'adzan' (call of prayers) was on air, he would leave his stall unattended - but 'his business' would be still on for he had left a bowl with small sign board with the word 'Maaf tauke pergi solat, sila layan diri' (Sorry I had gone for prayers, please serve yourself).

This friend of mine was not too concerned about his trade when he went do perform his 'solat'. He left his business including fruits and collection money into 'the hands of Allah SWT' and I had witnessed how honest were his regular customers putting their payments in the bowl (some even made changes) and 'the best part of it' nobody dared to steal money from his bowl.

During 'those youthful years' I was not concerned to perform my prayers at the 'masjid' and at the earliest time possible, but choose to do it later, especially during my 'free time' for example saying the 'zuhur' (mid day prayer) alone at 2:30 or 3:00 pm in the office 'surau'. 

Only years and years later that I 'was made to realize' that 'the best way' to perform all five obligatory prayers (subuh, zuhur, asar, maghrib and isyak) are in the masjid in 'jemaah' (congregation) and all Muslims male should stop their activities and headed to the masjid when the 'adzan' is on air.

'Subhanallah', only later on that I realized that the fruit seller which I befriended was indeed an example of an individual who choose to trade 'the pleasures of the world' to the promise of Allah SWT for a rewarding life in the Hereafter. 

After all, life in this world is nothing compared to the Hereafter. To the 'learned' the world 'is only a stepping stone' for one to gather as much as 'benefits' as possible to be taken to the Hereafter. It is only a place to sow seeds but the fruits shall be reaped in the Hereafter.

An 'ustaz' (religious teacher) during a 'tazkirah (lesson) at a masjid near my house said, the duration of our life in the world (say 60-70 years) is only about two and a half hours compared with the next world which is for eternity. So it is really a very big mistake we put so much effort for our worldly gains and benefits in this world but forget our share in the Hereafter.

The correct way is to follow the path shown by Allah SWT. From the Quran (Surah al-Baqarah 2:201), we recited this popular 'du'a': 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar" with the meaning: "Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire."

In Islam, examples of figures who traded their world for the Hereafter were two of the best companions of the Prophets. During a war campaign when the Prophets asked Muslims to help to finance it, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq gave all his properties while Umar Al-Khattab donated half of his belongings. To Abu Bakr, the Prophet s.a.w. asked: "What did you leave for your family?" Abu Bakr answered: "God and His Prophet."

In the Qu'ran (Surah an-Nisa' 4.74), Allah SWT says: "So let those who trade the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in God's cause. Whoever fights in God's cause, whether he is killed or victorious, We will grant him a tremendous reward."

If there are persons who traded their worldly lives for the Hereafter; there also persons who traded their Hereafter for the pleasures of the world which is too short. 

The 'ustaz' said examples of such persons are those who read the Qur'an only for worldly gains such as to be famous, rich, powerful and cured from illness. Then there are those who perform prayers such as 'solat hajat' just for worldly pleasures such as being successful in examinations for example scoring in UPSR and SPM. "Insya-Allah' (God willing) they would gain what they desired, but is that the reason for doing our religious obligations?" he asked.

Then there are people who seemed not to bother at all about their fate in the Hereafter. Many are madly in the 'rat race chase' - their lives are only to fulfill their desires; they work, eat and play and have no time even to say 'thank you' (Alhamdulillah) to their Creator such as performing the 'solat'. Look around us, we could see many people including 'tudung' clad ladies wasting 'the short period of maghrib prayers' at 'pasar malam' (night market) and eating places.

Some seemed like animals; Allah SWT says in the Qur'an: They are like cattle, who only think about what it eats, and does not think about the future and prepare for another life. They are not only like cattle but even worse, because cattle obey Allah in reasons of its creation. This is reflected in Surah al-Furqan where it says: "They are only like cattle - nay, they are even further astray from the Path - even worse than cattle." (Al-Qur'an 25: 44)

Come on brothers and sisters; we cannot trade the Hereafter for this temporary life which is just about two and a half hours. It is said that if one desires the Hereafter then this world will come rushing towards that person but the person who chases this world then they will only get what was meant for him and nothing more. 

Allah informs man about the insignificance and deceptive allure of the world in the Qur'an: "Know you (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude: how rain and the growth which it brings forth delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; you will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong). And forgiveness from Allah and (His) good pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception? (Surat al-Hadid: 20)

True wealth belongs to those believers who never show an inner interest in possessions in this world and truly believe that only Allah gives everything to man. These are actually the really wealthy people in this world; they do not limit their lives to a mere 60-70 years. Believers engage in the best trade by obtaining paradise in exchange for this life. They prefer permanent instead of temporary wealth. Allah informs us about this in the following verse:

Allah has purchased from the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Taurah, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded: that is the achievement supreme. (Surat at-Taubah: 111)

Pleasing Allah, not ourselves or others...

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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.
***

ONE 'ustaz' (religious teacher) during his weekly 'tazkirah' (lesson) at a masjid near my house was fond of repeating this phrase: "we must live according to the likes of Allah SWT that is to please Him and not to please ourselves or others." 

In short we must be always be gracious and thankful (bersyukur) to him to whatever befalls on us whether they seem good to us such as scoring excellent results in our examinations or what seem bad to us such as we had lost our wallets. 

Good news are always being welcomed but what about the bad ones? 'Subhanallah' we must also learned 'to welcome it too' for...perhaps they are only bad in our eyes but not 'in the eyes' of Allah SWT.

Remember the words of the Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, s.a.w.): “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999)

It was the habit of the 'ustaz' to open to the floor for questions and answers section at the end of his lesson. As I was 'a very shy person' during one session, I wrote this question on a piece of paper and put it on his desk. 

It read: "Assalamualaikum wbt; sindrom suka pada apa yang kita suka bukan Allah suka juga ada pemimpin negara. Pemimpin negara suka hebohkan hal-hal yang baik seperti negara kita kaya dan makmur tetapi sembunyi hal tak baik seperti nilai Ringgit yang jatuh teruk sekarang berbanding dolar Amerika dan Singapura; ertinya ekonomi kita tak berapa baik. Apa solusinya?" (Assalamualaikum wbt; the 'syndrome' of liking what we like not what Allah likes also infected the leaders of our country. They would be very noisy and boastful on good things such as our country is rich and prosperous but hide bad news such as the declining value of Ringgit compared with American and Singapore dollars which means our economy is not so good. What is the solution?"

The question looked hard; but to my surprise the 'ustaz' gave a very simple but firm answer. He said: "The Prophet s.a.w. had left us with a 'hadith' which means: 'I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.' So let us first have a glimpse about 'economy' mentioned in the Qur'an."

The 'ustaz' reminded congregators to have a look at some of the issues of economics involving the many prophets such as Nabi Yusuf (Joseph) and Nabi Syu'aib a.s. (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them). "If we follow the example shown by these prophets, 'insya-Allah' (God willing) we will be in His straight path."

Regarding 'the economy way of Prophet Yusuf s.a.w., the the Holy Qur'an says: "The king dreamt that seven lean cows were eating seven fat ones and that there were seven green ears of corn and seven dry ones. He asked the nobles to tell him the meaning of his dream if they were able to. They replied, "It is a confused dream and we do not know the meaning of such dreams." (Surah Yusuf,12:43,44)

Prophet Yusuf a.s. interpreted the dream by the power given to him by Allah. He said, "For seven years the crops will yield abundant food-grain for the people of Egypt. After that there will be a famine for seven years during which all the food-grain lying in the storehouses will be finished and people will starve. Therefore, the people should try to grow as much extra grain as possible so that it would stand them in good stead during the time of famine."

On Prophet Syu'aib, the Holy Qur'an says in Surah Al-A'raf ayah 85: "And to (the people of) Madyan (Midian), (We sent) their brother Shu'aib. He said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. [La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)]." Verily, a clear proof (sign) from your Lord has come unto you; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not men in their things, and do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, that will be better for you, if you are believers.

Ayah 86: "And sit not on every road, threatening, and hindering from the Path of Allah those who believe in Him. and seeking to make it crooked. And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you. And see what was the end of the Mufsidun (mischief-makers, corrupts, liars).

Ayah 87: "And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a party who do not believe, so be patient until Allah judges between us, and He is the Best of judges."

Ayah 88: The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: "We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'aib, and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion." He said: "Even though we hate it!

Ayah 89: "We should have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion, after Allah has rescued us from it. And it is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord comprehends all things in His Knowledge. In Allah (Alone) we put our trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment."

Ayah 90: "The chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said (to their people): "If you follow Shu'aib, be sure then you will be the losers!"

Ayah 91: "So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes."

To the congregators the 'ustaz' said, "life is simple, follow the way of the prophets including in politics and economy and in our times the way of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. then we would be safe in this world and Hereafter but if we are ignorant to be in His way, then we would went astray and see the doom."

He said leaders who are just (fair) would be rewarded handsomely in the Hereafter, they are among the seven groups of people who would be sheltered by Allah SWT at a place and time where there is no protection except His protection.

The 'ustaz' said Muslims and Muslims nations nowadays are depending too much on the Western way of managing economy; for example the bench mark for or currency (Ringgit) depended on the American dollars where else in Islam it is dinar and dirham. "For example during the Prophet s.a.w. time, a shepherd was paid 2 (two) dinar (gold) which nowadays is equivalent to about RM1,400.

"If nowadays we pay a worker with 2 dinar (gold), the value is still the same, that is about RM1,400. So, 'insya-Allah' if we follow the Islamic way of life including in economy then we would be safe from the disastrous effects of the said modern economy."

But again are we 'too proud' to go back to the Islamic way of life including in economy...why is it so? Are we in the thinking that "what the American would be thinking about us or what the world would be thinking about us?"

As mentioned in the early part of this article, "we must live according to the likes of Allah SWT that is to please Him and not to please ourselves or others" thus what the American or even the world think about us 'are not very important', the most important thing in life is 'what Allah SWT thinks about us'. 

So make sure that all our actions including in economy are in line with His desires or to please Him, not ours or others. By doing so, 'insya-Allah' we would be safe in this world and most importantly in the Hereafter!

'Sayang Sarawak sungainya sempit'... (1)

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

Renungan

"Orang-orang yang meninggal dunia di antara kamu dengan meninggalkan isteri-isteri (hendaklah para isteri itu) menangguhkan dirinya (beredah) empat bulan 10 hari." (Maksud ayat 234 Surah Al-Baqarah)

KIRA-KIRA 25 tahun lalu, buat kali pertama saya menjejakkan kaki di bumi Sarawak. Tanggal 17 Disember lalu saya kembali semula ke negeri terbesar di Malaysia dan 'tanah air Si Bujang Senang'.

Tentunya pelbagai pengalaman pahit manis dilalui tetapi untuk dibuat perbandingan 'kisah sekarang' dan 'kisah 25 tahun lalu' eloklah saya kutip catatan lama saya mengenai negeri bumi Kenyalang yang didiami kira-kira 2.5 juta penduduk terdiri daripada 40 etnik dan sub etnik. Kumpulan terbesar adalah orang Iban (29 peratus), Cina (24 peratus), Melayu (23 peratus), Bidayuh (8 peratus), Melanau (6 peratus) dan Orang Ulu (5 peratus).

Berbicara mengenai negeri Sarawak, teringat saya lagu 'Sayang Sarawak' (lagu ini ada banyak versi) dan salah satu daripadanya mempunyai senikatanya antara lain berbunyi; "Sayang Sarawak sungainya sempit; berbuahlah rengas; lambung-lambungan; hendakku bawa perahuku sempit; tinggallah emas; tinggal junjungan."

Apa agaknya yang sempit itu? Itulah persoalan yang baik untuk dimuzakarahkan; kerana kebanyakan sungai di Sarawak adalah 'besar, luas, panjang dan lebar' dan ini saya saksikan dengan 'mata kepala' saya sendiri.

Dalam kunjungan 25 tahun lalu, selain 'transit' di Kuching, saya berkesempatan berkunjung ke Sibu dan Sarikei. Kedua-dua bandar ini terletak di pinggir Batang (Sungai) Rajang. Aduh besar sekali sungai yang mengalir di tepi kedua-dua bandar ini.

Sungai adalah nadi penghidupan sebahagian penduduk Sarawak. Untuk ke sesuatu tempat mereka menggunakan laluan sungai. Ada penduduk tempatan menggelarkan perkhidmatan bot antara sesebuah bandar sebagai 'river express' (ekspres sungai).

Sesuai dengan namanya, bot-bot ini bergerak laju. Dulu saya berkesempatan menaiki bot ini dari Sibu ke Sarikei. Di pertengahan jalan, bot itu berhenti di sebuah lagi bandar bernama Bintangor.

Mengenai perkhidmatan 'river express' ini saya mencatatkan: "Ekspres sungai dari Sibu ke Sarikei berhawa dingin. Perhiasan dalaman hebat, dan di depan bot di pasang video. Tetapi seperti dalam bas ekspres, apa yang kerap ditayangkan adalah gusti.

"Perjalanan mengambil masa sejam 15 minit. Kata seorang rakan, jika melalui jalan darat, masa yang diambil mungkin tiga jam, itu pun mungkin ada yang pening kerana jalannya banyak berlopak.

"Dan kalau yang gemarkan 'cabaran ala-Camel' bolehlah terus ke Kuching yang jaraknya hampir 500 kilometer," katanya.

"Permadangan di tebing sungai boleh dikatakan lebih 90 peratus hutan. Selain itu, ada pusat pengumpulan atau kilang kayu balak dan penempatan. Saya berfikir lagi...untung orang Sarawak, dapat hidup mewah dengan hasil balak!"

Ya, itu kisah 25 tahun lalu. Dalam kunjungan terbaru ke Sibu, saya dapati tiada lagi perkhidmatan bot ekspres atau 'river express' dari Sibu ke Sarikei. Bukan saja tiada lagi perkhidmatan Sibu-Sarikei; dermaga lama yang berhampiran sebuah tokong (pagoda) Cina pun sudah tiada sebaliknya digantikan dengan sebuah terminal baru moden yang terletak jauh sedikit daripada kedudukan asal.

Ketika berkunjung ke terminal itu, saya diberitahu perkhidmatan bot ekspres hanya ada untuk ke kawasan pedalaman di hulu Rejang seperti Song dan Kapit dan tiada perkhidmatan ke kawasan hilirnya seperti Bintangor dan Sarikei.

Kisah saya menaiki 'river express' ke Sarikei dari Sibu menyelusuri Batang Rajang rupanya sudah puluhan tahun berlalu. Ia hanya nostalgia, kini sambil merenung air Batang Rajang yang 'padu', deras dan 'ganas' sedarlah saya bahawa Sarawak sudah jauh ke depan...persoalannya mengapa dikatakan 'Sayang Sarawak sungainya sempit'...!