Syaaban 4, 1443: The sincere 'pendakwah' (preacher) (U)

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. 

THE closure of the Klang Bus Stand also known as Pasarama Kota Bus Terminal, making way for a MRT project evokes fond memories of my younger years in Kuala Lumpur. 

The bus station which used to be one of the most notable landmarks in the Kuala Lumpur, ceased operations on 1st November to facilitate the construction of the new underground Pasar Seni MRT station. 

The Klang Bus Stand, located in Jalan Sultan Mohammed which was near the Klang River, has been serving Klang Valley folk for over 40 years. It was built in the late 1960s, and in the middle of 1980s, I was one of the regular patrons there. So the news on the demolition of the Klang Bus Stand brings back nostalgic memories to me. 

In early 1985 I began my university journalism practical training with a giant media house in Bangsar and a year later I was accepted as one of its staff. During those early years, as a green reporter, with my old trustworthy Yamaha Cup, I roamed the streets of Kuala Lumpur. 

Some seniors told me, if you needed to 'master' the roads and areas in the city, during your off-day, just filled up the tank of your motorcycle to the maximum and have a 'jolly' ride without any specific destination in mind. 

I did what they told me and in not more than a month, I had 'mastered' many areas in Kuala Lumpur. So to young reporters out there, try your luck by following my footsteps!

During my 'rounds' I would stop at some interesting landmarks (to me-'lah') such as Campbell Shopping Complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Klang Bus Stand, Hentian Puduraya (now Pudu Sentral), Dayabumi and of course Masjid Negara (the National Mosque) to say my prayers.

One day during that 'carefree' time, I stopped at the famous cave of Batu Caves and had a try climbing the hundreds of steps there. It turned out to be history because it was the first and the last time I entered it until this day. 

Among those landmarks, the Klang Bus Stand stood above the rest because it was here since 1986, I normally fixed appointments to meet my sweetheart (now she had been my wife and we have been blessed with five children); she would travel all the way from her campus in Shah Alam and I waited for her anxiously at the bench of the dirty and crowded terminal. 

At that time I I have nothing to complain because the anxiety and feeling to meet my 'rose' was too great, much greater than effect of the miserable condition of the station. 

At times she would arrive at the Klang Bus Stand by the famous KL-Klang-Port Swettenham red buses. 

At that time mobile phones were unheard of so meeting with one's love was a 'great and much awaited event' that was much treasured. 

If she came to the meeting spot by bus, normally I would ride my Yamaha Cup and parked it at a lane that was sandwiched by two rows of shop-houses near Klang Bus Stand before making my way to the station.

I would leave the bike there; move to the premises of Klang Bus Stand and after meeting 'my girl', we would went on our way walking, taking buses or taxis to move around Kuala Lumpur. 

It was troublesome and not a 'cool' thing to bring one's helmet, what’s more when one is on a date, so I would just lock it at the bike. 

One evening after sending off 'my love' to Shah Alam from the Klang Bus Stand, I went to seek my bike and was at a loss for words after discovering my helmet was gone. The thief had cut off the strap of the helmet, and without it, I had a long night at the station; only at 10.00 pm I did manage to call a friend who came an hour later with an extra helmet for me. 

The Klang Bus Stand had 'taught me a lesson' - never, never leave our things unattended or expose yourselves to danger because the place was hangout for many types of people; vagrants, beggars and drug pushers! 

But what 'a great impact' Klang Bus Stand had on me. It was at this spot, I 'watered and tendered' the seed of love that I had planted in since 1986; in 1988 I pulled enough courage to sweep 'my rose' off her feet as my fiancée and a year later, she and me got married and we 'live happily ever after' hopefully until our final breath. 

When I was used to the life in Kuala Lumpur, I ventured to some 'trouble' spots such as the famous Lorong Haji Taib. Some senior journalists told me to be a ‘jack of all trades’ in the field of journalism; one had to have a true life experience meeting all sorts of people including prostitutes. 

 All the years, I had heard about this 'red light district', after a few months of being a reporter, one night I went to the spot alone. It was easy to go there; I parked my bike near the Maybank building in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, walked along a small side road and then entered the red light district of Lorong Haji Taib. 

I swear I did not indulge in any unmoral activities there; I was only to please my curiosity and of course ‘to broaden’ my knowledge and experience as a ‘thoroughbred’ reporter and writer. 

After many nights observing activities there; I was attracted to a ‘pendakwah’ (preacher) at a roadside who would talk and talk about religious matter especially about the heavy punishment by Allah SWT to people who indulged in adultery. 

At one point, I saw him shout to some men who were seen entering a back entrance of a cheap hotel. 

“Don’t enter!” he reminded them. “Adultery is a great sin. You would be thrown into Hellfire!” The men ignored him, but that did not dampen the preacher’s spirit. He continued his ‘lecture’; but people just passed him, they were more interested gathering around peddlers who sells items such as sex toys and stimulus products or around those who had opened fast gambling activities.

That preacher had truly captured my heart. If an ‘ordinary’ religious teacher (ustaz) lectures or gives lesson in masjids (nowadays many masjids are fully air-conditioned), this man would surely stand high above them all. Perhaps he was not paid even a cent for his‘dakwah’ work. 

In my opinion he was very sincere in his work, he was only hoping to be rewarded by the Master of the Universe, Allah SWT who says: “Every self will taste death. You will be paid your wages in full on the Day of Rising. Anyone who is distanced from the Fire and admitted to the Garden has triumphed. The life of this world is the just the enjoyment of delusion.” (Qur’an, 3:185)

Syaaban 3, 1443: 'Hate the Jews' way of life'...

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)

NOT long time ago, in his 'tazkirah' (lesson) in a 'masjid' near my house, before leaving for Makkah to perform 'umrah' (minor hajj), an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) said he was excited to see with his own eyes some latest development in the sacred city said to be of the the Western world influences.

It was a well known fact that in the city, even around or just outside the gates of the Haram Mosque (Masjidilharam) stand proudly Western identities such as the Hilton Towers and fast food chains KFC and McDonald's.

The 'ustaz' said it is true that non Muslims could not enter the holy city but 'their' (the Western) way of life are 'strongly presence' there and are getting stronger and stronger by each day. Thus not only Muslims from 'faraway' lands are gripped with the Western way of life, but here in the holy city itself the way of life of the non-Muslims including the Jews are being emulated.

He then stressed that Muslims around the globe nowadays are 'at the feet' of the Jews in several categories of life - he listed them under the letter 'F' -  food, fashion, film, fun and faith and under the letter 'S' - sing, sex, smoke and sport.

All the above 'way of life' are accepted as the standard yardstick of modern living internationally and with the advancement of communications technologies even those people living and staying in the Holy Land are not spared.

Contrary to what many of us we think, the 'ustaz' said the Jews should be respected as fellow human beings; but what we should do is not the emulate their way of life or the things they 'cornered' us to get involved so that we would be living just like one of them. Yes, we should not hate the Jews but rather hate their 'crooked' way of life!

By following their way of life be it the food we consume and free lifestyles of living such as in sex and fashion, eventually we would be destroyed, being  failures in this world whats more in the Hereafter, said the 'ustaz'.

There are some ‘hadith’ proving that our beloved Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. had dealings with the Jews.

It is related that 'A'isha said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, bought some food from a Jew on credit and left his armour as security." (Narated by Al-Bukhary)

In another hadith narrated by Jabir bin 'Abdullah: A funeral procession passed in front of us and the Prophet stood up and we too stood up. We said, 'O Allah's Apostle! This is the funeral procession of a Jew." He said, "Whenever you see a funeral procession, you should stand up." (Bukhari )

Based on these hadiths, it is not correct to say Muslims cannot have dealings including businesses with the Jews, but what Muslims are told is that they should not follow or imitate the brutality of the Jews; today in the form of the Zionist regime.

To live safely in this world and Hereafter including to guard ourselves from brutality of the unbelievers especially the Zionist and 'Dajjal' we should obeyed all Allah SWT words in the Qur’an. Allah SWT has given us warning on this matter in one Qur’anic verse where He warns us not to become like the Children of Israel who disobey some of Allah SWT’s commandments in the Taurah, as stated in Ayah 85 Surah Al-Baqarah which reads; “…Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful for what ye do.”

In the following verse (Ayah 86 Al-Baqarah), Allah SWT says: “Such are those who buy the life of the world at the price of the Hereafter. Their punishment will not be lightened, neither will they have support.” 

Are our lives truly guided by the Qur’an? Or are we good in taking what we think are good to us and ignoring what we feel bad? Regarding this, Allah the Almighty warns in Surah al-Baqarah 2:85, that to accept some part of the Qur’an and to reject some is to reject all of it. There is no room for partial acceptance in your relationship with the Qur’an; there cannot logical be.

Muslims should have no reservations in implementing all of Allah SWT commands including hudud law and preventing ‘mungkar’ (sins). Having reservation on any of Allah SWT’s commands is a clear violation of our oath, the ‘syahadah’, that we will submit and obey all of Allah SWT’s commands.

Some scholars even say having such an attitude will nullify our ‘syahadah’ and is sufficient to make a person ‘kafir’ (a non-believer). And Allah SWT has given us warning on this matter in Ayah 85 Surah al-Baqarah (stated above) where Allah SWT warns us not to become like the Children of Israel who disobey some of Allah SWT’s commandments in the Taurah.

Thus, only by submitting to Allah's will, Muslims have 'the power' to face the ruthless Zionist regime which is backed by 'their brothers' in the form of Western powers such as the Americans and British.

  

If Muslims are raring to practice the 'sunnah' (way of life) of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and not the way of the Jewish people, only then 'insya-Allah' (if Allah wills), He will render us help to overcome our plight and problems including in our dealings against our enemies.

But sadly, nowadays not only minority Muslims have been subjected to cruelty, those who live in Muslim lands too are ill treated by leaders and governments and society themselves who claim to be practicing Islam but in actual fact are living and leading lives which are against the teaching of Islam, yes it is sad to say they are practicing the Jews' way of life that's why the '5F' (food, fashion, film, fun and faith) and '4S' (sing, sex, smoke and sport) are 'easily accepted' by their people!

Syaaban 1, 1443: Hang Tuah 'dighaibkan' tatkala tua..

 .

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

Renungan

"Sesungguhnya solat itu adalah fardu yang ditentukan waktunya atas orang-orang beriman." (Maksud Ayat 103 Surah An-Nisa')

SELEPAS 'perintah berkurung' akibat wabak Covid-19, dunia semakin bersih, dakwa sesetengah orang. Alam menjadi segar dan ceria. Ada yang berkata sudah nampak puncak Gunung Everest dari kejauhan. Sesetengah sungai pula, aliran airnya didakwa semakin bersih.

Alhamdulillah, jika itu kesan daripada 'keberhentian' sementara aktiviti 'mencemar' manusia, baguslah. Namun harap-harap ia tidak bersifat 'sementara' kerana manusia sifatnya 'rakus', kebanyakannya pemusnah alam - dari dahulu sampai sekarang.

Apabila orang bercakap sudah nampak puncak Gunung Everest, dahulu semasa kecil pada tahun 1970-an, dari nun kejauhan di kampung saya di Melaka Tengah, pada awal pagi ketika menunggu bas sekolah, sekali-sekala saya nampak puncak Gunung Ledang.

Jika Gunung Everest sudah nampak, mungkin Gunung Ledang juga akan kelihatan, saya meneka. Jadi suatu pagi saya keluar rumah, 'menempatkan diri' berhampiran lokasi yang dahulunya saya nampak puncak Gunung Ledang.

Hasilnya, 'hempeh'...jarak penglihatan saya cuma 300 meter - di depan saya sudah tercanggak deretan kedai sedangkan di atas tapaknya dahulu adalah kawasan bendang meluas.

Pembangunan dan pembangunan sudah mengubah landskap kampung saya yang kini rasanya tidak 'relevan' langsung memakai nama kampung.

Jika dahulu puncak Gunung Ledang boleh dilihat berbalam-balam dari kejauhan hatta dari Melaka (mungkin ini menyebabkan Sultan Melaka termimpi-mimpi siang malam sang Puteri Gunung Ledang), rasanya zaman (keadaan) itu tidak mungkin berulang.

Namun beberapa hari lalu, ketika menyeberangi Lebuh AMJ di kampung saya dengan menggunakan 'jambatan motosikal', terpegun saya 'terlihat' banjaran Gunung Ledang. Saya berhenti sebentar dan menikmati pemandangan itu puas-puas. Benar Gunung Ledang kelihatan dari Melaka setelah kali terakhir saya melihatnya dari kampung saya kira-kira 50 tahun lalu!

Baharu-baharu ini juga saya ada terbaca laporan dalam Youtube yang mendakwa penduduk di Pulau Rupat (berdekatan Dumai di Riau Indonesia) juga dapat melihat puncak Gunung Ledang. Ini dapat dijadikan sokongan bahawa memang benar Gunung Ledang dapat dilihat dari kejauhan termasuk dari Melaka. 

Apabila 'terlihat kembali' Gunung Ledang, saya sebagai 'orang lama' (60+) teringat kisah ini.  Puluhan tahun lalu sebagai murid Tingkatan Enam aliran sastera, teks 'Sejarah Melayu' menjadi bacaan wajib. Malah kerana minatnya kepada sastera Melayu Lama, 'Hikayat Hang Tuah' yang tebal itu pun saya cuba baca, tetapi tidak pernah tamat sebab sukar difahami.

Antara kisah 'memukau perasaan' saya sebagai seorang anak muda yang penuh angan-angan ketika itu adalah mengenai rombongan peminangan Sultan Melaka, Mahmud Shah ke atas Puteri Gunung Ledang yang dikepalai oleh Laksamana Hang Tuah dan Tun Mamat.

Tun Mamat dilaporkan berjaya ke puncak Gunung Ledang dan menemui seorang nenek bongkok tiga (ada yang mempercayai dia adalah Puteri Gunung Ledang) yang meletakkan tujuh syarat bagi dipenuhi Sultan antaranya menyediakan jambatan emas dari Melaka ke Gunung Ledang dan persembahan kepada sang puteri semangkok darah Raja Ahmad, putera Sultan.

Apa yang memusykilkan saya tatkala membaca kisah ini adalah mengenai Hang Tuah. Catatan mengenai Hang Tuah tiada lagi selepas ekspedisi meminang ke Gunung Ledang itu. Mungkinkah Hang Tuah sudah tua...kudratnya tiada...dia terus ghaib (hilang termasuk dalam penceritaan).

Demikianlah agaknya nasib orang tua (termasuklah orang 60+), tenaga sudah tak seberapa, khidmatnya pun mungkin tak diperlukan lagi. Jadi pada golongan 60+, muhasabahlah diri...nasib aku ini bagaimana...apakah aku senasib Hang Tuah yang ghaib secara tiba-tiba?

Ada sejumlah filem dan drama dibuat mengenai kisah klasik ini. Saya tertarik dengan sebuah filem (terlupa pula saya tajuknya) yang menggambarkan bagaimana pembesar dan hulubalang  Melaka 'menjarah dan melarikan harta rakyat' dalam menjayakan pembinaan jambatan emas.

Syukurlah akhirnya rancangan pembinaan jambatan emas itu tidak jadi diteruskan kerana Sultan sedar bahawa sekalipun jika jambatan itu 'boleh dibina', tidak mungkin dia tergamak menumpahkan darah anaknya sendiri!

Itulah pada usia tua sebahagian orang termasuk pemerintah masih tak sedar diri. Kisah Hang Tuah yang sudah tua dan 'ghaib' tatkala ke Gunung Ledang, berlaku pada zaman gerhana Kesultanan Melaka, Ia boleh dijadikan teladan - yang baik dijadikan ikutan yang tidak baik dijadikan sempadan.

Zaman gerhana Melaka kerap dirujuk kepada pemerintahan Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488-1511) iaitu pemerintah Melaka terakhir. Merujuk kepada sesetengah pengkaji, mereka mendakwa Sultan Mahmud tidak mementingkan kesejahteraan rakyatnya. Salah satu kelemahannya adalah berkenaan perempuan..

Misalnya, Tun Fatimah, anak Bendahara Melaka yang cantik dicemburui sultan kerana telah berkahwin dengan Tun Ali. Akibat rasa cemburu dan tidak senang hati dengan tindakan Bendahara Tun Mutahir tidak mempersembahkan Tun Fatimah terlebih dahulu kepadanya, Sultan Mahmud murka. Terlebih dahulu Datuk Mandeliar dan Si Kitol telah menghasut Sultan Mahmud Shah – masuk jarum.. Alahai sultan, mudahnya terpengaruh. Akhirnya seluruh keluarga Tun Mutahir dibunuh, yang tinggal hanya Tun Fatimah untuk dijadikan isteri Sultan.

Kezaliman Sultan sudah keterlaluan, tetapi adakah orang berani menegur? Jawapan yang zahir adalah tidak kerana mereka tersangat takut kerana orang kanannya sendiri seperti Bendahara bukan saja disingkirkan tetapi seluruh keluarganya dibunuh. Menegur Sultan bermakna mati atau setidak-tidak dihumbankan ke dalam penjara atau 'dibuang ke luar daerah' (dihukum bunuh tetapi diselamatkan Bendahara Tun Perak) seperti dialami Laksamana Hang Tuah.

Menegur Sultan (mengkritik pemerintah) tidak berlaku pada zaman gerhana ini. Apa yang ada terdapat ramai pengampu dan tukang fitnah serta pengkhianat seperti Si Kitol dan Datuk Mendeliar. Sultan diberi 'gambaran indah-indah' - tidak mengetahui situasi sebenar dalam negara yang di ambang untuk jatuh. Ramai yang berarak menyatakan sokongan kepada Sultan, hakikatnya sokongan inilah yang membawa rebah. 

Apabila Portugis menyerang Melaka pada 1511, dilaporkan angkatan perang Melaka terlalu gagah untuk dikalahkan. Tetapi angkara terlalu ramai pengkhianat yang memberi bantuan sama ada secara terang-terangan atau sembunyi-sembunyi, akhirnya tewaslah Melaka menyebabkan Sultan Mahmud terpaksa berpindah randah dan akhirnya mangkat di Sumatera pada 1528.

Demikianlah berakhirnya sebuah empayar, peristiwa dalam sejarah kerap berulang-ulang...adakah kita mahu terus membutakan mata dan memekakkan telinga daripada pengajaran sejarah ini. 

Faktor seperti pemerintah 'dikuasai bini', bersikap boros, menindas rakyat dengan cukai tinggi, membunuh (menyingkir) pesaing termasuk pembantu kanan adalah fenomena biasa pada zaman gerhana. 

Ya, bukan setakat kerajaan sahaja melalui zaman gerhana, kita sebagai individu pun begitu juga...bersediakah kita pada hari tua ini kerana Hang Tuah pun secara tiba-tiba ghaib pada usia tua!