Thoughts Are Things

Writing again

2011-07-09T22:54:00.002+08:00

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim,
Beautiful indeed is the name of Allah, accompanying any beginning of a task :)
I hope all friends and family who (still) check this blog are fine and in Allah's care.
Alhamdulillah, both of us are good here too. Celebrated our 1st anniversary last Muharram and now it's been a year and a half into our marriage. I'm coming to my 2nd year here in Madrasah Al-Ma'arif, teaching, developing myself, wanting to be better in my work. I love the children. InsyaAllah will always try my best to impart knowledge onto them. Not an easy task, masyaAllah. May Allah help us.
Faruq is still in CD. His shifts are the same. He is taking online Arabic classes from http://shariahprogram.ca May Allah help him :)
Both of us just came back from the Holy cities of Makkah & Madinah. We went with my parents and sisters from 4th-15th June. We hadn't been there for my years (8 years for me and 10 for Faruq). We thank Allah greatly for inviting us there... it was a beautiful place. May Allah preserve the holiness of Baitullah, the city of the Prophet and two mosques where they are the first and second holiest mosques in the deen. The third is Baitul Maqdis in Jerusalem and may one day Allah wills us to visit it too.
As all the Muslims know, the Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam (rukn Islam). It completes the deen. All Muslims thus must make intention to fulfil it (in my opinion). Faruq and I both hope from Allah to help us fulfil this intention of ours to make the Hajj in the near future, insyaAllah. Amin.

Al-Kaabah Al-Musyarrafah

99 Rahmah are sent around the Ka'bah everyday... thus how could one not yearn to be amongst the mutatawwifin, to tawaf around the Ka'bah and dua to Allah. I pray all those who read this blog will get to go this holy places in this life.

No conclusion, till we meet again insyaAllah :) maassalam.

Journey of love

2010-11-02T23:35:00.005+08:00

Bismillah.
I was lucky last weekend when my auntie from my husband's side invited us to visit Maqam Habib Ali bin Jaafar al-Idrus. When she called my mother in law, we (me and my parents in law) were in JB at Larkin. My parents in law were very kind to accompany there... :) as I needed to collect the goods for my small online business of long hijab (tudung labuh/mini telekung). And while we were jalan-jalaning there, Wak Ati called mother in law... (Mak) to ask if we'd like to come along to Batu Pahat.

Mak was psyched... she was reallly happy and who wouldn't be? :) Especially Wak Ati who was kind enough to remember Mak who told her before that she and Abah (father in law) would like to go. And Wak Ati asked too masyaAllah, may Allah bless her for this :) I pulak.... just happened to be there. We were all just happened to be there. It was very well unplanned and I didn't know how to describe the feeling... Surreal, but acceptable with all my heart.

Wak Ati and Wak Jai picked us up while we were waiting at Dunkin' Donuts Larkin (had a nice brunch there :) And off we went in their Proton! We came by bus and was bringing soooo many things masyaAllah I felt so grateful when we took the car. Honestly, I've grown up all my life with car with my father... with my in laws I have to adapt and get use to public transport hehe.

And then, we drove off to Batu Pahat.... who would have guessed. We only planned to go Larkin and be home at noon and suddenly we went all the way to Batu Pahat (which is a few km away from JB, which is saying something).

At Batu Pahat Wak Jai drove to visit maqam Habib Ali bin Jaafar al-Idrus... a wali of Allah whose life was blessed with bringing himself closer to Allah, till Allah honored him the title of wali, a friend of Allah, recognized by Allah... loved by Allah. I remembered how my father took us to see him when he was alive. My husband also got to visit him twice: once, before our marriage in which Habib Ali advised him to get married :) And second, after our marriage with my father... with Habib's dua, I feel (and think) our marriage happened and the many duas of other habibullah.

The life of Habib Ali was full of trials but that was what Allah promised... "And we will surely test you with some fear, hunger and shortages of property, people and produce. But give good tidings to the steadfast. Those who, when a calamity befalls them say: "We belong to Allah and to Him we return." Upon these are prayers from their Lord and mercy and these are the rightly-guided ones." (Al-Baqarah: 155-157)
At 35, he lost his wife. Around the same year, he also lost 2 of his children.
Habib must have loved his wife very much because he didn't remarry. According to Wak Ati Habib said, "Tu isteri habib dunia akhirat". 'She is my wife in this world and the next' (Hababah Sharifah Alawiyah Al-Habsyi)
'Habib nak besarkan anak2' 'I would like to see my children grow' ...*touching..*

As we sat next to maqam habib, he was buried right beside his wife.... Wak Ati told us how he had expressed that wish before, to be buried beside his wife. Though by the time he passed away the cemetery was closed for anymore burials. But the people fulfilled habib's wish... as the people love him too.

And so he was buried just, nicely, beside Hababah Sharifah Alawiyah. Next to Hababah, is their daughter who passed away at age of 2, Sharifah Zahrah. And next to Hababah on her right, her mother, Salmah. All reunited in the yet another temporary world of Barzakh, a preview of Jannah (Paradise). Hababah's mother, Habib's mother in law was also a wara' (devoted). A family of pious, good and successful people, insyaAllah in religion and in the Hereafter.... how wonderful it must be.. How joyous to be together again (Sharifah Zahrah and her parents, imagine that *Allah...*)

As we sat next to the maqam, we read Al-Fatehah for the four souls.. (we gave salam first). My father taught me to read Al-Ikhlas and I did 33times, the pahala gave to Habib.. (may Allah accept this small sadaqah of mine to this man of God). We also read Yasin. I sent my husband's regards to habib (my husband was at work..) My husband asked to doa for us with the barakah of Habib Ali waliullah taala.

May Allah place Habib Ali and his family amongst the successful in the Paradise.
May Allah grant us all the Grand Syafaah of Rasulullah s.a.w. in the Hereafter.
Amin.

----------------
An article of Allah's Test : http://members.cox.net/arshad/allahtest.html
For my online shop, http://facebook.com/farrasyah.shop (I sell tudung labuh that can be used by muslimah :)

PS: I got to know from Wak Ati Habib and his wife also used to sell kain! I'm loving this line of job! Alhamdulillah.
During the journey, we ate lots of stuff including pisang goreng,epok-epok, putu bambu it was great! tho i missed my husband, of course all the way hehe.

Because it is (just) Sunnah

2010-11-01T08:24:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

The Companions performed the Sunnah because it is Sunnah.

We hesitate or even leave the Sunnah because it is Sunnah.

What a constrasting view on Rasulullah (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam)!

The former are not satisfied with just the wajib (obligatory), and seek out to better themselves through doing the Sunnah, no matter how small. There is a story of a Companion who was asked as to why he was resting under a certain tree. His reply? Because he once saw the Prophet (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam) rest under it!

The latter are not only satisfied, but think it good enough to simply perform the wajib and leave the Sunnah because it is seen as 'extra'. Allah have mercy on us! Do we not realise who it is we are following by performing the Sunnah? Are we blind as to the status of the man we are imitating? Is Rasulullah (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam) just like any other man?

Has the honour and awe of this man left our hearts? Have we forgotten that he is the Beloved of God?

We do not honour him by doing his acts of Sunnah. He honours us by giving us an example to follow!

"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful example (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah."
alAhzab : 21

May Allah give us the strength to follow His Beloved.

Sweetness of Faith

2010-10-19T11:16:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth; they pray: 'Our Lord! We believe, write us down among the witnesses.'
alMa'idah : 30

A Constant Relationship

2010-09-21T17:42:00.002+08:00

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/a-constant-relationship/
by Reehab Ramadan

All throughout life our environments change, but there is one thing that remains constant no matter what situation we may fall into: the fact that we are constantly in a relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He). With each emotion that results in action, we are paving our way to our permanent abode in the After Life.

There are four main states that we may find ourselves in:

1.The State of Blessing.

2.The State of Hardship.

3.The State of Sin.

4.The State of Obedience.

These four states are not completely separate from one another; a person may be going through more than one at the same time. For each one of these states, there is a specific form of worship mandated.

The State of Blessing
In the state of ni`am, or blessing, the believers should respond with shukr. Shukr is often times translated as “gratitude,” however it encompasses more than just that. There are three parts to shukr and if one of these parts is not present, the shukr is not complete. The blessing must be reflected in:

1. Your heart
Strive to be pleased internally with what Allah has bestowed upon you. Never think, “I deserve this,” or, “I earned this myself.

2. Your limbs
Be sure not to commit any haraam (unlawful act) with the blessing that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon you. This is the epitome of ungratefulness.

3. Your tongue
Thank Allah (swt) verbally and be sure to not boast about what has been bestowed upon you.

We must also remember that if you are thankful during times of ease and blessings, Allah (swt) will increase those blessings. On the other hand, if you are ungrateful, the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you will decrease and eventually disappear.

The State of Hardship
In the state of Al-Balaa’, or hardship, the believer should respond with sabr. Sabr is to have patience and ridda (acceptance) of the state in which you have been placed. You do not have to be pleased with your current situation, but you should acknowledge that the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing, has allowed you to be in this state so it must be for the best. During this time you should also increase acts of worship and obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.

The State of Sin
Being human, we will all be in states of sin at one point or another. Our beloved Messenger ﷺ said, “Every son of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners is the one who seeks forgiveness.” From the words of Rasulullah ﷺ we see that when we are in the state of sin, we should react to this by doing istighfaar, or seeking forgiveness. It is not enough to simply mutter an “I’m sorry, God” and return to our daily routine, rather there are parts to istighfaar and if one of them is not there, the istighfaar is not complete. The istighfaar must encompass:

1.Renouncing the sin.

2.Firm intention to never return to the sin.

3.Regret for having committed the sin.

4.If the sin was against the rights of another human being: compensation for that wrong doing.

The State of Obedience
In the state of obedience (I pray that this is our most frequent state) the believer should respond by striving to maintain ikhlaas (sincerity) while acting, as well as responding with shukr. Any action, if done for the wrong intention, will not be accepted. We learn this from the first hadeeth (report of the words or actions of the Prophet ﷺ) in Imam An-Nawawi’s collection of forty hadeeth:

“Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.”

Shaytaan (the devil) often times, finding us in an obedient state, will use his whispers to cause us to be arrogant. Arrogance is one of the most tempting, yet destructive sins that one can fall into. Remember that the sin that shaytaan committed was a sin of arrogance and he is now destined to eternal destruction. A way to combat these whispers is to display shukr. Remember that Allah (swt) is the one who allowed you to be obedient. Any good that you do should be attributed to the blessing of Allah (swt) upon you, not the righteousness of your own soul. And the more you thank Him for allowing you to be obedient, the more He will bestow upon you the means to be obedient.

I ask Allah to cause us to be of those who respond in the appropriate manner no matter what state we are in.

Ketika Cinta Bertasbih 2

2010-09-18T08:38:00.002+08:00

i give it 4/5 stars (both K.C.B 1 & 2)

Tags: Habiburrahman El-Sherazy, Islam in South East Asia, Islam in Indonesia, Nikah.

the part i like most is during nikah ceremony... when all the people doa for the couple. Ketika Cinta Bertasbih indeed.

The Blessed Tree

2010-09-13T11:09:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

The Blessed Tree - Trailer from AGCaustralia on Vimeo.

I Wanna Hug This Tree!

Burn-a-Quran-Day

2010-09-08T21:32:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

Sept. 11 Quran burn still planned

[ The leader of a small Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy said Wednesday he was determined to go through with his plan to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, despite pressure from the White House, religious leaders and others to call it off. ]

Dear Rev. Jones,

Firstly, thank you for disposing of the Holy Quran in the right manner. Please ensure a total and complete burn, beyond recognition. We are not afraid of Qurans 'disappearing' from the face of the earth for we have plenty of huffaz (memorisers of the whole Quran) to go around. We do not hate you, we only hate what you're trying to do. We fear for you because you're disrespecting not OUR book but one authored by the Almighty God Himself. We'll leave Him to deal with you.

"A Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
Is it such a Message that you would hold lightly?"
alWaqi'ah : 80 - 81

"Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!"
Muddatthir : 11

Joshua Evans : How the Bible Led Me to Islam

2010-08-24T09:13:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

I stumbled upon this video on FaceBook.

It's a beautiful story of how Allah (Jalla Jallaluh) guided this man into Islam.

From his beginnings as a strict Christian, his disapproval of it (after actually reading the Bible), his search for Truth, his fall into the dunya, his near-death experiences, his discovery of Islam (albeit through anti-Islamic propaganda), his apprehension towards Muslims because of it and finally his reading of the Quran - which brought him where he is now.

MasyaAllah. I loved the quote he got after his miraculous escapes from death: "People do not just live through accidents like this. God has a purpose for you, that's why you're still here, still alive."

It is an hour and 20 minute long video but I assure you it is worth every second of your time.

We, born Muslims, need to be grateful that we have Islam right from the start. These people, who desire the Truth, who go about searching for it, look at what they have to go through to find Islam. Is it any wonder that converts have double the reward?

May Allah help us to be grateful for our Islam.

Rasulullah...

2010-08-21T12:07:00.003+08:00

Peace and blessings be upon him who said, 'Allah loves if a believer does his craft, he does it diligently' (aw kazalik).

Craft= An art, trade or occupation requiring a certain skill (Dictionary.com)

I would like to think of my professions as both teacher and student as Craft. May Allah help me to perfect this craft of mine, amin :)

This Ramadhan, I pray too; that me and some of my old friends would tie our friendships again.. perhaps Allah will show us how...
I put my faith in Allah and the sincere among His 'ibad. Amin.

Just a Beggar

2010-08-12T15:36:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

It was the evening of 1st Ramadhan, and I was at the surau after Maghrib, reading Ratib alHaddad. For the first time in my life I actually felt a sense of peace, gratitude, at having met another Ramadhan. I was about to finish the Ratib when I heard someone 'coughing' outside.

I turned and found two colleagues (non-Muslims). I heard one of them say to the other: "I told you we'd find him here." I smiled and gestured if they wanted anything. "No, nothing." They went away.

I reflected on what he said: that if someone wanted to find me, they probably would, at the surau. My heart saddened, as I told myself: "I'm just a beggar at His Door, gathering scraps of His Mercy and the leftovers of His Blessings, for I do not deserve any."

*weeps*

Ya Rasulullah

2010-08-05T06:34:00.001+08:00

kami cinta padamu

Beginnings of Ramadhan...

2010-07-29T23:15:00.001+08:00

Feel the doors of Ramadhan opening for hearts who seek...

Perasaan yang tiada lain bahkan kerinduan yang teramat...

Pada yang Menciptakan kemuliaan Ramadhan,

Di mana yang mencari-cari

'kan berjumpa

mengharapkan

redha dari Tuhannya.

Maka terimalah ibadah kami ya Allah

Perkenan masuk doa' kami ke pintu Rayyan....

Allah, Allah

Ramadhan Kareem, Allahuma bariklana fii Rajab wa Syaaban

wa ballighna Ramadhan.

Amin

'If Only...'

2010-07-22T20:52:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

A hadith narrated by Imam Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurayra (radhiallahuanhu), that Rasulullah (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam) said: "If something afflicts you, do not say: 'if only I had done such-and-such.' Rather, say: 'Allah decrees, and does as He wills,' for 'if only' provides an opening for the works of Satan.'"

I believe this is something we habitually do. When something goes wrong, or doesn't turn out the way we expected (despite our best efforts), we lament and whine that we should have made a different decision - if only. As the Prophet (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam) said above, this shouldn't be the case for doing such a thing only helps our Avowed Enemy to deceive us with his whispers (Allah curse him).

May Allah help us in this.

Jihad : a Struggle

2010-07-07T18:20:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

This morning, the local headline news ran a report on a 20-year-old Malay Muslim who was caught and apprehended under the Internal Security Act for becoming 'self-radicalised' and intent on performing jihad overseas.

NSman held under ISA

If he had the proper teachers, the proper guidance and the proper knowledge, he wouldn't have turned out this way.

From Sahih Bukhari:

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr said, "A man came to the Prophet (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam), wanting to do jihad. The Prophet asked, 'Are your parents alive?' 'Yes,' he replied. He said, 'Then exert yourself on their behalf.'"

Sadly though, he did not know that his jihad could be found right in his home - to care for his parents. May Allah guide us.

Maulid & Fulfilling invitations

2010-07-05T07:48:00.005+08:00

Alhamdulillah, it had been a tremendous joy to some events in this temporal life :) For what is dunya except the temporary? And sooner than later one will feel the tiredness and boredom accompanied in this dunya. And a Mu'min will look forward to Akhirah to be meeting his/her God.

Though Alhamdulillah, we feel syukr and tremendously grateful to Allah for another day, another breathe, another life in dunya. May Allah fill it for us, with inclination to do ibadah, good deeds, good ties, gratefulness, humbleness, happiness, rahmah, mercy, patience, steadfastness. May Allah accept our jihad, make ease our ibadah and good deeds, bless our family with rahmah.

One of the events that I was able to attend was Majlis Maulid at Masjid Sultan. Alhamdulillah, for when attending such majlis, one's niat or intention must not be anything but in hope of honoring Messenger of Allah, Muhammad s.a.w, zikr, make dua', pray, listen to majlis ilmu, selawat and hope to be closer to Allah. Syukr to Allah who made it easy for my mother and me when we got a lift from Cik Noor and Cik Rose :) Met my favourite aunties and uncles (Cik Ea, Cik Awang, Cik Intan, Cik Liza, Cik Noor, Cik Ros); my cousins (No, Su, Ika, Farhanah, Khairun, Faizah, Asri). One of my intentions was indeed to meet my wonderful family and praises to Allah we, the women got to sit at the very front row of Masjid Sultan Auditorium. Where there was aircon, comfortable for us to sit and pray. And sat right infront of the screen for easy viewing of the event.. And we didn't turn back, didnt look at other people, didnt bother about the noise behind us.... for the night was indeed to fulfil intention, to make ibadah that is sometimes needed to be in such environment, to take benefit of such environment and hope in increasing level of taqwa and iman.

Felt very happy that night, with my mom and extended family :) My husband couldn't come, as he was working, though with his permission I went; in which he smsed 'Dua for us ok'. May Allah answer our prayers. May Allah continue to bless our marriage and look after it. For Allah's Redha is what we hope for, and not others, not human beings (with exception of parents). 'And be thankful to Allah, and thy Parents'. And Rasulullah and the many Habibullah who had prayed for us, since the time we got engaged till now 6 months after where in fulfilling the ayat above this blog, I say my thanks to Allah again for this marriage, specially. Alhamdulillah.

And yesterday, my husband and I also went to celebrate together the wedding of our two friends: Adi & Rufi who had been engaged during our wedding day and had came too ^^ As fulfilling our obligations to their invitation, to see them joined together in the bless of marriage, to celebrate their happiest day was our reason for being there. Alhamdulillah, Adi & Rufi: Barakallahu Lakuma wa Baraka Alaykuma, Wa Jama'a Baynakuma fi Kheir =) Marriage is indeed encouraged by Rasulullah s.a.w. May he be proud of us, as his Ummah and may through blessed tie of marriage, his Ummah continues to grow and he be proud of us. Amin.
Adi & Rufi's wedding was simple, joyous, beautiful. My husband and I enjoyed the delicious food :D the just-right entertainment (till now lagu Sejati is my favourite since kecik2 dulu :p), the berkaat! So cute, and masyaAllah with thank-you note inside! No, Adi & Rufi: Thank you both for inviting us!
We got to see both of them too: Rufi was like, smiling radiantly hehe. And Adi was the smartest I've ever seen him! Barakallulakuma Alhamdulillah.
:)
We also met many other sis and bros from the wedding hehehe. Somehow some people when u met them, u sorta of like mcm nak ketawe je (ntah kenape eh :D). Our cousin from my husband, Shahiddin; and Siswand, Azhar, Huda (all the bloggers :p) And Apex people.. and NYP people :) My husband and I very shy couple lah ah: so sorry if we didnt talk much haha.
But neway, we enjoyed the food. The food very nice, and we sat close to the food table :p K, after this I must exercise.

And so here it is... some of the things in dunya :)
I end with the example of 2nd Khalifa Sayyidina Umarun Faruq who settled his day affairs ruling the Ummah affairs, being a leader, busy with dunya.... but at night he cried in tears. Praying to Allah. Asking for forgiveness.
Allahumma solli ala sayyidina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa ashabih.

"Glad Tidings to the Strangers!"

2010-06-21T15:45:00.005+08:00

...bismillah...

Rasulullah (shalallahu 'alaihiwasalam) said: "Islam was strange when it began and will one day be strange again; Blessed are the ghuraba' (strangers). These are the people who enliven my Sunnah when society has buried it". [From Muslim, Tirmidzi, Ibnu Majah & Ahmad; with slight variation]

Islam brought monotheism among polytheism. Islam brought justice among tyranny. Islam brought brotherhood among enemies. Islam brought love among hatred. Islam brought light among darkness. Islam started strange.

So is it now.

"You pray FIVE times a day?!", "You fast a whole month?!", "You wear hijab?!" "You don't party and drink?!", "You stay a virgin till you marry?!", "You cannot ogle women?!"...

We are the strangers. We are PRACTICING Muslims. Because there are Muslims who do/don't perform the above. We are strangers even to (non-practicing) Muslims. We do not do what you do. We do what you do not do.

"Lakum deenukum, waliyadeen!" (To you, your way; to me, mine!)

Because for you, you think that there is only this life worth living.
But for us, we know that there is an eternal life that can we look forward to.

In the hadith above, the Prophet (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam) mentioned the people who enliven his Sunnah. We, the strangers, do not stop at doing the wajib, we strive our utmost to follow the example of our beloved Rasulullah (shalallahu'alaihiwasalam).

Sunnah Rawatib? Check. Praying Dhuha? Check. Fasting three days or more a month? Check. Tahajjud? Check. Siwak? Check. Reading the Quran? Check. And the list goes on. Let us not falter at enlivening his Sunnah. Let us be the strangers he mentioned. This is our way, this is our jihad.

May Allah help us.

Some of the surer things...

2010-06-11T09:07:00.006+08:00

Are the subtle and major changes happening to the world.

I learnt....

that the learned are not necessarily the academically qualified. And scholarship, is not based on the books you write or the papers you published.

Sometimes, knowledge is carried by something more powerful. More subtle perhaps, in the first glance but is actually more impactful.

And Allah is the Most Knowledgeable of All and His Knowledge encompasses all things.

*sigh*

Did u see the latest news? A big sinkhole has occured in Guatemala. Its perfectly round and its depth is even deeper than the Statue of Liberty! When I first saw it today at Channel NewsAsia, I am reminded straight away of one of the biggest signs of Qiyamah.... a talking creature named Dabbah whom all these while stayed underground...

وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِنَ الأرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لا يُوقِنُونَ

And when the Word is fulfilled against them (the unjust), we shall produce from the earth a beast to (face) them: He will speak to them, for that mankind did not believe with assurance in Our Signs.

Surah An-Naml:82

Perhaps then, Justice will prevail in this world..

103.001 وَالْعَصْرِ

103.001 By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),

103.002 إِنَّ الإنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ

103.002 Verily Man is in loss,

103.003 إِلا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

103.003 Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

Al-Qur'an, 103.001-003 (Al-Asr [The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch])

When in doubt...

2010-06-07T09:39:00.002+08:00

Pertaining to the most basic rule that I knew of.... from my very very limited knowledge: that Rasulullah s.a.w. said regarding syubhah or things that are doubtful, just leave it if your heart doesn't know exactly what it is..

Alhamdulillah, got the answer :-D

this blog is becoming more and more ruqayyah-style -_-

random like what heh.

that's what a wife does! infect her husband's place with her 'style' (and pray to God it is ok with him xp)

Happy Birthdays to my Sister-In-Laws (Fadilla & Fauziyah) and Mother in Law =)

And our good friend, Siswand =)

What is family and kinship without du'a for one another?

Rabbanaghfirlana wa tub alayna innaka anta tawwabur Rahim. Amin.

beautiful song (for husband and wife :))

2010-05-28T10:19:00.062+08:00

I praise Allah for sending me you, my love

You found me home and sail with me

And I`m here with you

Now let me let you know

You`ve opened my heart

I was always thinking that love was wrong

But everything was changed when you came along

And theres a couple words I want to say

(chorus)

For the rest of my life

I`ll be with you

I`ll stay by your side honest and true

Till the end of my time

I`ll be loving you. loving you

For the rest of my life

Thru days and night

I`ll thank Allah for openin my eyes

Now and forever I

I`ll be there for you

(chorus 2)
I know that deep in my heart

I feel so blessed when I think of you

And I ask Allah to bless all we do

You`re my wife (husband) and my friend and my strength

And I pray we`re together in Jannaah...

Now I find myself so strong

Yes, everything changed when you came along

And theres a couple words I want to say

(repeat chorus & chorus 2)

Now that you`re here infront of me,

I strongly feel love

And I have no doubt

And I`m singing loud that I`ll love you eternally

(repeat chorus & chorus 2)

Artist: Maher Zain

Album: Thank You Allah

;;;;;;;

green font is mine.

blue font is ours.

all colours are for Allah, our One and Only Rabb :)

اللهم افتح علينا و علي ذرياتنا فتوح العارفين الذين لا خوف عليهم و لا هم يحزنون...

امين!

From my favourite movie...

2010-05-06T19:03:00.000+08:00

it is a dialogue full of meaning... ya Allah, make our hearts submit to You always...
may You guide us towards Your Light.. Amin.

The Moment of Passing

2010-02-28T18:05:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

The universe never met a more joyous day than the day you were born...and never a more sorrowful day than the day you left us...

Rasulullah ... we miss you ...

Verify the Truth!

2010-02-13T08:06:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

'The verse on e-mail' - that's how Ustaz described it last night. He was very adamant, raising his voice to admonish those who do such things. What verse was he talking about?

O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done.
alHujurat : 6

The point Ustaz was trying to drive at: "ascertain the truth!"

Here comes the email bit: look at the masses of people who continually forward and spread unverified messages, causing harm to others. It's not just chain mail, if you don't know the sender, or you cannot verify the truthfulness of the message, why are you then forwarding it to other people?

You are then the cause of others' misery, should they find the message harmful.

In his commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali states: "All tittle-tattle or reports – especially emanating from persons you do not know – are to be tested & the truth ascertained. If they were believed & passed on, much harm may be done, of which you may have cause afterwards to repent heartily. Scandal or slander of all kinds is here condemned. That about women is specially denounced."

So throw gossip and rumours out the window.

If you receive a message, which you cannot verify, then delete it. If you know the sender, and trust his integrity, then you may forward such a message. Even so, verify any kind of information at your own discretion, instead of blindly forwarding messages without a second thought. Think of the harm you are doing!

Do you want to stand before God, being questioned as to why you spread a lie to over 5000 people?

Please. Verify the Truth!

Alhamdulillah

2009-12-24T22:59:00.003+08:00

Alhamdulillah, our wedding had gone smoothly on both sides. Exactly on the 24th of Dec last year, my husband (back then a complete stranger) talked to Habib Ali at Batu Pahat regarding marriage and how he had not yet married [read entry].
Alhamdulillah, a year after that here I am :)

We would like to thank... And we can't thank them enough.. Our parents, may Allah love and bless and place them among His servants who are safe and in His protection.

and also to everyone who had came, had helped, had wished us the best of luck, had prayed for us, had said kind words to us and had shared our happiness; Alhamdulillah! May Allah return the good deeds of all you with better rewards insyaAllah =)

Alhamdulillah, we're married!

-Faruq & Ruqayyah-

Man's Insatiable Appetite

2009-12-06T17:06:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

I got this from IslamiCity's bulletin:

Jesus' Teaching about Greed

A man once accompanied Jesus, saying to him, "I want to be with you and be your companion." They set forth and reached the bank of a river; where they sat down to eat. They had with them three loaves. They ate two loaves, and a third remained. Jesus then rose and went to the river to drink. When he returned, he did not find the third loaf, so he asked the man: "Who took the loaf?" "I do not know," the man replied.

Jesus set forth once more with the man, and he saw a doe [a female deer] with two of her young. Jesus called one of the two, and it came to him. Jesus then slaughtered it, roasted some of it; and ate with his companion. Then he said to the young deer, "Rise, by God's leave." The deer rose and left. Jesus then turned to his companion and said, "I ask you in the name of Him who showed you this miracle, who took the loaf?" "I do not know," the man replied.

The two of them then came to a body of water in a valley. Jesus took the man by the hand and they walked upon the water. When they had crossed over, Jesus said to him, "I ask you in the name of Him who showed you this miracle, who took the loaf?" "I do not know," the man replied.

They then came to a waterless desert and sat down upon the ground. Jesus began to gather some earth and sand, and then said, "Turn to gold, by God's leave," and it did so. Jesus divided the gold into three portions and said, "A third for me, a third for you, and a third for whoever took the loaf." The man said, "It was I who took the loaf." Jesus said, "The gold is all yours."

Jesus then left him. Two men came upon him [Jesus' companion] in the desert with the gold, and wanted to rob and kill him. He said to them, "Let us divide it into three portions among us, and send one of you to town to buy us some food to eat." One of them was sent off, and then said to himself, "Why should I divide the gold with those two? Rather, I shall poison the food and have the gold to myself." He went off and did so.

Meanwhile, the two who stayed behind said to each other, "Why should we give him a third of the gold? Instead, let us kill him when he returns and divide the money between the two of us." When he returned, they killed him, ate the food, and died; The gold remained in the desert with the three men dead beside it. Jesus passed by, found them in that condition, and said to his companions, "This is the world. Beware of it."

This story is excerpted from the book "The Muslim Jesus" by Tarif Khalidi. The book presents in English the largest collection of the sayings and stories of Jesus in Islamic literature.

Reference:

Abu Bakr ibn Abi al-Dunya (d. 281/894), Kitab Dilamm al-Dunya, in Mawsu'at Rasa'il, 2:49, excerpt no. 87. Cf. al-Ghazali, IIIya', 3:267 (Asin, pp. 383-384, no. 54; Mansur, no. 136; Robson, pp. 97-99); al-Makki, Qut, 1:255 (Asin, pp. 387-388, no. 54 quater; Mansur, no. 26); al-Thriushi, Siraj, pp. 79-80; Ibn 'Asakir, Sirat, p. 95, no. 82; al-Abshihi, al-Mustatraf 2:263-264 (Asin, p. 385, no. 54 his and pp. 386-387, no. 54 ter; slight variation).

. . . . . . .

Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying:

If there were for the son of Adam a valley full of riches, he would long to possess another one like it, and the son of Adam will only be filled with dust (when he dies). And Allah accepts the repentance of the one who repents.

Pride and Its Evils

2009-12-04T22:36:00.001+08:00

THE DISEASE OF PRIDE

The disease of pride and arrogance deletes all traces of goodness and piety. This is the worst vice in causing havoc to Deen and a regrettable disease to have for the followers of this perfect and exalted religion. It launches a direct attack on beliefs and principles. If ignored and overlooked for sometime it becomes fatal and incurable, and gives rise to other spiritual maladies and vices, which are no less than four in number, as, mentioned below:

1. Being deprived of truth and truthfulness. The heart becomes blind to the verse dealing with knowledge about Allah. It is a very grievous vice in which the mind of a man becomes dull and impervious to the understanding of Deen. Allah has said in the Holy Quran:

“I shall turn awayfrom My revelations those who show pride in the world wrongfully.” (7.146)

Allah has said in another place in the Quran:

“And in this way Allah does put a seal on every arrogant disdainful heart.” (40.35)

2. The wrath and punishment of Allah fall on the proud person. Allah has said:

“Certainly He does not love the proud ones.” (16:23)

It is narrated that Prophet Musa a.s. asked exalted Allah: “Oh my Lord! Who is the most deserving of your wrath and displeasure?” Allah Ta’aala told him:
“ It is he whose heart is filled with pride and his tongue is filthy (i.e. Abusive), his eyes are devoid of shame, his hands are miserly and he is of bad conduct and character".

3. The proud renders himself liable to Hell in the Hereafter. It occurs in a Hadith Qudsi:

“Pride is My cloak and grandeur is my trousers. If anyone disputes with Me in any one of these (two) I shall admit him into the Hell-fire.”

In the other words, pride and grandeur are two exclusive attributes of Allah, which none is allowed to apply and ascribe towards himself.

It is imperative to refrain from such a dangerous and deadly calamity which leads to loss of knowledge of Allah, inability to understand the commands of Allah, His displeasure, disgrace in this world and the Hereafter and painful torment therein. No wise person can be neglectful in the matter of such a harmful and destructive calamity.

We should, therefore, try to save ourselves from this and seek refuge from Allah.

------------
I was doing desk work when I came upon this website. Thought that it would be good to share insyaAllah :) Can read the full article here.

Meanwhile, my blog is currently on hiatus. Maybe will re-open though cannot entirely promise ^^

Hope everyone had received our invitation card =)

Complain Only to Allah

2009-11-26T18:18:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

I'm sure most Muslims think it would be utterly blasphemous to complain of anything to the Lord Almighty. I was in that same boat too. However, a verse in the Holy Quran made me think twice.

The Prophet Ya'qub ('alahisalam), upon hearing that his beloved son, the Prophet Yusuf ('alahisalam) was 'taken by the wolves' (a false tale conjured by his half-brothers), turned to Allah (Jalla Jallaluh) and proclaimed:

"He said: 'I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not."
Yusuf : 86

So here we have, a Prophet of God, complaining of his state to the Lord of the Worlds. I then found out that it is actually praiseworthy to complain ... albeit only to God.

And in Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah's book Patience and Gratitude, the Imam relates how patience and complaining to Allah (Jalla Jallaluh) are not contradictory.

Shun complaining to other people. Complain not to creation, but to the Creator!

"O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness and helplessness!"

- The Messenger of Allah (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam)

One True Love

2009-10-30T01:32:00.002+08:00

just makes me smile... and cry.
Allahumma Solli 'ala Sayyidina Mustafa, 'ala HabibiKa wa nabiyyiKa Mustafa.

More Proof of Life After Death

2009-10-21T07:34:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

Just over a month ago, I posted the Proof of Life After Death.

And now I find out that a scientist is actually testing out, experimenting, to recognise his own consciousness.

Just what does make me, 'me'?

And how apt is it, when we read from the article:

[ Deep sleep is a time when we surrender our consciousness ]

Did not the Prophet (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam) say: "Sleep is the brother of death"?

So if we surrender our consciousness at sleep, at death we return it back to the Lord!

And we find in the Holy Quran, God explicitly saying this:

"It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect"
azZumar : 42

Thus, our consciousness, our soul, lives on after death! Then, and only then, will we face the consequences of our actions in this life! So let our actions be good, that we receive good!

Ya Allah, grant us the best of death - us pleased and well-pleasing unto You!

(To the righteous soul will be said) "O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord, well-pleased (thyself) and well-pleasing unto Him!"
alFajr : 27 - 28

Who Are The Bankrupt?

2009-10-17T06:58:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

From Sahih Muslim, Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahuanhu) narrates:

The Messenger of Allah (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam) asked his Companions: "Whom do you consider as a bankrupt?" They said: "The one who does not have a dinar or a dirham (money)." The Prophet (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam) said: "The real bankrupt is the one who comes with mountains of good deeds but he also comes having slandered that one, beaten that one, insulted this one, consumed the wealth of this one, and shed the blood of that one. So on the Day of Judgement, those whom he harmed will be given some of his good deeds and when his good deeds run out before justice is done, some of their sins will be passed to him, then he will be cast into the Fire."

May we persevere and restrain ourselves from harming others. For it would be of manifest loss for us to work so hard at earning good deeds only to give them away because we attack others.

If we sin against God, we have hope in the All-Merciful. If we sin against our fellow human beings, how much hope do we have in their being merciful? They might want to bring it to the Court of God. Once it is brought there, the only currency used for exchange (for justice) is the deeds that we have brought.

Ya Allah, help us become among those who will not be bankrupt in Your Court!

Dust Storm Envelops Sydney

2009-09-24T18:09:00.009+08:00

...bismillah...

[ A large stretch of Australia's east coast, including the largest city Sydney, has been shrouded in red dust blown in from the desert outback. ]

Desert storm chokes Sydney

I guess the meteorologists didn't see this coming.

O Man! Vain is thy technology! Vain is thy knowledge! Vain is thy power!

For ye could not even save thy own selves!

The Almighty One merely sent one of His little breezes and ye are plunged in darkness! And what could ye do? Nothing!

There is no god but He: It is He Who gives life and gives death: The Lord and Cherisher to you and your earliest ancestors.

Yet they play about in doubt.

Then watch thou for the Day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke (or mist) plainly visible,

Enveloping the people: this will be a Penalty Grievous.

adDukhan : 8 - 11

And in that situation, in that desperation, in that desolation, only then did ye look up to the skies and admit thy helplessness!

Only then did ye seek help with prayer!

(They will say:) "Our Lord! remove the Penalty from us, for we do really believe!"

How shall the message be (effectual) for them, seeing that a Messenger explaining things clearly has (already) come to them.

Yet they turn away from him and say: "Tutored (by others), a man possessed!"

adDukhan : 12 - 14

So the Most Merciful One grants thy arduous pleas out of His Infinite Compassion.

But ye shall surely return to thy ungrateful ways, setting up other gods beside Him!

We shall indeed remove the Penalty for a while, (but) truly ye will revert (to your ways).

One day We shall seize you with a mighty onslaught: We will indeed (then) exact Retribution!

adDukhan : 15 -16

Had the dust storm not dissipated after that, who is there to bring ye sunlight?

Had it stayed on, clouding thy vision, masking the sun, how could ye get light?

Say, "What if Allah made the night perpetual, until the Day of Resurrection? Which god, other than Allah, can provide you with light? Do you not hear?

Say, "What if Allah made the daylight perpetual, until the Day of Resurrection? Which god, other than Allah, can provide you with a night for your rest? Do you not see?

It is mercy from Him that He created for you the night and the day in order to rest (during the night), then seek His provisions (during the day), that ye may be grateful ."

alQasas : 71 - 73

[ Sydney resident Andrew Hawkins said "it was like waking up to see that Armageddon is upon us. ]

When will we learn?

*weeps*

. . . . . . .

The above is NOT an interpretation of the related verses from the Holy Quran. The mufassirun (interpreters of the Quran) differ as to what kind of smoke it is, and when it will come about.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

عيد الفطر مبارك...=)

2009-09-20T08:38:00.005+08:00

wishing all Muslimin, Muslimaat, all friends and families both a happy eid =)
كل عام و انتم بخير
amin!

Proof of Life After Death

2009-09-06T15:55:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

Half the blessed month of Ramadhan has passed. May our ibadah be accepted and may we persevere towards doing more in its last days.

The materialists look down upon a 'life after death'. For them, if you cannot see it, cannot put it under a microscope, cannot analyze it ... it doesn't exist.

A simple proof of life after death can easily be explained.

Let's place a pair of exact, identical twins: Jack and John. Nothing distinguishes one from the other physically. So if one of them commits murder, can we hang the other?

Common sense says no of course. But what makes one twin know that he is not the other? What makes Jack know he is not John and John know he is not Jack?

Consciousness. A word that makes the scientist run away in fear - because he cannot explain it.

The Prophet (shalallahu 'alaihiwasalam) said: "Sleep is the brother of death."

And how true that is! Take a look at the sleeping, unconscious one! His heart is beating, his brain is functioning, yet he is not conscious! Death is similar to that. The body is gone, the body is dead. But the consciousness, our soul, is not!

Our body is made up of atoms and molecules. These same atoms and molecules are found in everything else in the universe. So what makes up consciousness? What makes this collection of atoms and molecules have feelings, perceptions, and ideas? It is the soul.

And it is this soul that will pass on into the next life.

This body, this physical tool, made of atoms and molecules, will simply turn to dust!

What have we prepared for our souls, in the next life?

رمضان مبارك...

2009-08-23T16:16:00.003+08:00

It is our job to find a meaning to this Ramadhan...
May Allah assist us in our searching..

Ramadhan Mubarak min Faruq wa ana to all our kenalan Muslimin Muslimaat :)

The Prophet's Advice

2009-08-15T07:47:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

Two hadiths of scientific significance:

Rasulullah (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam) said:

"Allow your food to cool a bit, for hot food lacks blessing."

- Reported by ad-Daylami, taken from Content of Character by Shaykh al-Amin al-Mazrui

I first heard of this hadith from Ustaz. He mentioned that whatever we eat (or drink) should be cooled down slightly before consumption. He gave an example of some of us who, when the rice, or mee or whatever food is served piping hot, that we have to blow it to cool it, we still tuck them in. Wait first, let it cool down by itself.

Science has proven the Messenger of God (shalallahu 'alaihiwasalam) right (not that he needs it):

Hot tea linked to throat cancer

[ Those who drank hot tea (between 65-69 degrees Celsius, 149-156 degrees Fahrenheit) were twice as likely to develop throat cancer compared with those who drank warm or lukewarm tea, whose temperature was 65 C (149 F) or less. ]

The Messenger of God (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam) was reported to have said:

"When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down."

- Reported by Abu Dharr, in the Sunan of Abu Dawood

Insults are better taken lying down, claim scientists

[ Those who received their insults while lying down, however, did not experience the same angry brain reaction. ]

There's another tip from the Prophet (shalallahu 'alahiwasalam) to diffuse anger:

"Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only with water; so when one of you becomes angry, he should perform ablution."

- Reported by Atiyyah as-Sa'di in the Sunan of Abu Dawood

Maybe those scientists should perform this experiment next : )

Scattered Dust

2009-08-06T07:20:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

Yaqub ibn Shaybah and ibn Abi al-Dunya record on the authority of Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah (radhiallahu anhum) that the Messenger of Allah (shalallahu 'alahi wasalam) said:

"A group of people will be brought on the Day of Judgement with deeds like Mount Tihamah and Allah will render their deeds to dust and they will be thrown face first in the Fire."

Salim said: "I fear that I am one of them!"

He (shalallahu 'alahi wasalam) said: "They would fast, pray, and apportion some of the night for worship, but in secret, when an opportunity to do something forbidden presented itself, they would take it and as such Allah will invalidate their deeds."

A person could have his deeds annulled because of showing off or arrogance and the likes yet not even be aware of it!

- Taken from The Journey to Allah by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

I fear that I am one of them! *weeps*

Missing Him

2009-07-30T17:35:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

(While walking back to our locker room...)

Me: I miss him, bro.
Akhi: Who?
Me: The one who brought light to the heavens and the earth.
Akhi (thinks...) ... God?
Me: No, the one He sent. The best one.
Akhi: (still thinking) ... Nabi?
Me: Yes, shalallahu 'alahi wa salam.

Akhi: How can you miss him - you've never seen him?
Me: (smiling) That's why you have to read about him, brother.
Me: You'll miss him too if you know him...

Ya Allah, sampaikan rinduku pada kekasihMu... *weeps*

The Night Ascension

2009-07-20T05:18:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

The grandest day for the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (shallallahu 'alaihi wa salam) is the day of his birth. But for the man himself, the grandest day for him is the night (the night of 27th Rajab) he ascended into the heavens and entered into the presence of the Lord Almighty Himself. He went where no other creature, not angel, man or jinn has gone before or will ever go to.

There's a mention of this in this beautiful nasyid of the famous Qasidah Burdah.

How close was Rasulullah (shallallahu 'alaihi wa salam) to the Omnipotent One?

Then he approached and came closer, and was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer
anNajm : 8 - 9

SubhanaAllah!

Trust in God

2009-07-04T20:06:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

Infiq maa fiil jaib, ya'tiik maa fiil ghaib

Roughly translated: "Give away whatever is in the pockets, and will descend upon you from the Unseen."

A saying from Yemen, which I learnt from class.

Ustaz gave an example: If we have $50 and someone asks for it, we simply give it away. Not give $20 and keep $30. Give it away and God will provide.

Someone asked if it depended on the situation. What if you're left with $2 and needed the money for transport back home? Amidst laughter, Ustaz replied that that is the test. Give away all that you have.

For indeed it is in the Quran: the famous verse of 1000 Dinar.

"And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out, and He provides for him from (sources) he could never imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion."

atTalaq : 2 - 3

Charity

2009-06-22T06:52:00.005+08:00

...bismillah...

Many of us would scorn at those beggars on the streets, whom we think are simply pretenders. I used to think so too ... until I read what Imam alHaddad (may God raise his degree) had to say in his Book of Assistance.

In it, the Imam stresses the need to give in charity every single day, even if a small amount (half a date) and to do it early, for hardships do not cross (the protective barrier of) charity. He tells us not to disappoint the beggar at the door, for he is God's gift to you. If you find nothing to give then send him away with kind words and a promise.

When giving something to a needy person, smile at him and be aware that you are indebted to him, for he accepts a little from you, through which you receive a reward worth more than the whole world.

So I pondered his words. Those of us who give unwillingly, what a waste of our charity. For sincerity is absent. Our hands give but our hearts doubt. Whether or not the beggar is a pretender does not diminish our reward from God, does it? In fact, the more we doubt, decreases the sincerity, lessens the reward.

So why doubt? Give and give sincerely. Let the heart be free.

May we perservere in goodness.

Rayuan Rindu II (Ramadhan Ta'al...)

2009-06-17T14:34:00.007+08:00

InsyaAllah!
-------------

Lyrics:

Munsyid : UNIC feat In-Team
http://liriknasyid.com

# Ramadhan bulan ibadah
bulan kerahmatan dan keampunan
para malaikat merendahkan sayap
untuk menghitung pahala berganda

ramadhan bulan berpuasa
bulan kesabaran dan keinsafan
lapar dan dahaga mendidik jiwa
menundukkan nafsu
mengawal indera

*Pintu syurga dibukakan
ditutup pintu neraka
dibelenggu syaitan yang durjana
dihentikan azab di pusara

**bersyukurlah pada rahmat-Nya
(Ya ramadhan)
dikurnia bulan yang mulia (ya ramadhan)
beruntunglah bagi mereka yang
mendapat keredhaan-Nya(ya ramadhan)
tiap satu pahala ibadah
tujuh puluh ia digandakan
10 akhir ramadhan
dikurniakan lailatul Qadar
malam yang terbaik
diumpamakan seribu bulan

ulang #
ulang *
ulang**

semoga dapat bertemu dengannya :)

Rayuan Rindu

2009-06-15T18:34:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

Out of the blue, akhi sang a couple of lines of this song to me.

I welcomed the tune and pointed to the sky : )

Imam Malik r.a.

2009-06-10T12:49:00.004+08:00

Get to know... The Great Scholars.

Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn `Amr, al-Imam, Abu `Abd Allah al-Humyari al-Asbahi al-Madani (93-179), the Shaykh of Islam, Proof of the Community, Imam of the Abode of Emigration, and Knowledgeable Scholar of Madina predicted by the Prophet.

The second of the four major mujtahid imams, whose school filled North Africa, al-Andalus, much of Egypt, and some of al-Sham, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, and Khurasan. He is the author of al-Muwatta’ ("The Approved"), formed of the sound narrations of the Prophet from the people of the Hijaz together with the sayings of the Companions, the Followers, and those after them.

Al-Muwatta'
It was hailed by al-Shafi`i as the soundest book on earth after the Qur’an, nearest book on earth to the Qur’an, most correct book on earth after the Qur’an, and most beneficial book on earth after the Qur’an according to four separate narrations. Malik said: "I showed my book to seventy jurists of Madina, and every single one of them approved me for it (kulluhum wâta’ani `alayh), so I named it ‘The Approved’." Imam al-Bukhari said that the soundest of all chains of transmission was "Malik, from Nafi`, from Ibn `Umar." The scholars of hadith call it the Golden Chain, and there are eighty narrations with this chain in the Muwatta’.

The Prophet's prediction
The Prophet said: "Very soon will people beat the flanks of camels in search of knowledge, and they shall find no-one more knowledgeable than the knowledgeable scholar of Madina." Al-Tirmidhi, al-Qadi `Iyad, Dhahabi and others relate from Sufyan ibn `Uyayna, `Abd al-Razzaq, Ibn Mahdi, Ibn Ma`in, Dhu’ayb ibn `Imama, Ibn al-Madini, and others that they considered that scholar to be Malik ibn Anas.

His Knowledge
Imam Malik is the connection of the entire Islamic Community to the knowledge of the Sunna as it was preserved by the scholars of the Prophet’s city, al-Madina. This reference-point of his school of jurisprudence is observed time and again in the Muwatta’ with the phrase: "And this is what I have found (or seen) the people of knowledge practicing."
He was keenly aware of his mission as both the transmitter and the elucidator of the Sunna. This is characteristic of his students’ praise of him, beginning with al-Shafi`i’s famous sayings: "No-one constitutes as great a favor to me in Allah’s Religion as Malik" and "When the scholars of knowledge are mentioned, Malik is the guiding star." `Abd Allah ibn Wahb said: "Every memorizer of hadith that does not have an Imam in fiqh is misguided (dâll), and if Allah had not rescued us with Malik and al-Layth (ibn Sa`d), I would have been misguided."

How he revered the Prophet's ahadith
Imam Malik held the hadith of the Prophet in such reverence that he never narrated anything nor gave a fatwa unless in a state of ritual purity. Isma`il ibn Abi Uways said: "I asked my uncle Malik about something. He bade me sit, made ablution, sat on the couch, and said: la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. He did not give a fatwa except he said it first."
Al-Haytham said: "I heard Malik being asked forty eight questions, to thirty-two of which he replied: ‘I do not know.’"
Abu Mus`ab reported that Malik said: "I did not give fatwas before seventy scholars first witnessed to my competence to do it."

Malik’s ethics, together with the states of awe and emotion which were observed on him by his entourage, were no doubt partly inherited from great shaykhs of his such as Ja`far al-Sadiq, Ibn Hurmuz, and Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri. He visited his shaykh Ibn Hurmuz (d. 148) every day from morning to night for a period of about eight years and recounts: "I would come to Ibn Hurmuz, whereupon he would order the servant to close the door and let down the curtain, then he would start speaking of the beginning of this Umma, and tears would stream down his beard."

The Maliki shaykh Ibn Qunfudh al-Qusantini (d. 810) wrote:

It was the practice of the Pious Predecessors and the Imams of the past that whenever the Prophet was mentioned in their presence they were overwhelmed by reverence, humbleness, stillness, and dignity. Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn `Ali ibn Abi Talib would turn pale whenever he heard the Prophet mentioned. Imam Malik would not mention a hadith except in a state of ritual purity. `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr al-Siddiq would turn red and stammer whenever he heard the Prophet mentioned. As for `Amir ibn `Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-`Awamm al-Asadi (one of the early Sufis), he would weep until his eyes had no tears left in them. When any hadiths were mentioned in their presence they would lower their voices. Malik said: "The Prophet’s sacredness (hurma) is in death is as his sacredness was in life."

:(

Imam Malik's Halaqah
Qutayba said: "When we went to see Malik, he would come out to us adorned, wearing kuhl on his eyes, perfumed, wearing his best clothes, sit at the head of the circle, call for palm-leaf fans, and give each one of us a fan." Muhammad ibn `Umar: "Malik’s circle was a circle of dignity and courtesy. He was a man of majestic countenance and noblity. There was no part for self-display, vain talk, or loud speech in his circle. His reader would read for all, and no-one looked into his own book, nor asked questions, out of awe before Malik and out of respect for him."

Imam Malik's stature
'It is elsewhere related that Malik himself was tall, heavyset, imposing of stature, very fair, with white hair and beard but bald, with a huge beard and blue eyes; he "detested and condemned" shaving of the moustache, and he always wore beautiful clothes, especially white'

RadiyaAllahu 'Anhu. (May Allah be pleased with his ruh)
Amin.

احببته...

2009-06-08T20:33:00.002+08:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

again, Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah to all :)

Impromptu

2009-06-03T17:18:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

It was after Isyak, at the surau: ...

Me: (lowers head, hand on forehead, closes eyes - too tired)

Akhi: Are you shedding a tear, my brother?

Me: Yes, I have too much sins.

Akhi: May God forgive you your sins.

Me: May God forgive you more.

Akhi: May God forgive you most.

Me: May God forgive you more.

Akhi (laughing) Hah! Caught you there.

Me: (smiling) God has no limits, brother!

Akhi: (taps my shoulder) May God forgive us both.

- - - - - - -

Amin, Ya Robb.

May God lengthen and strengthen the bond we share for His Sake.

P.s. Akhi in Arabic means 'my brother'. Yes, we call each other that, alhamdulillah : )

"Before you move your legs...

2009-05-30T05:14:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

Before you move your legs (after the end of the Friday prayers) or talk, recite:

alFatiha x 7
alIkhlas x 7
alFalaq x 7
anNas x 7

SubhanaAllah wabihamdih x 100
- - - - - - -

Why? Because as Imam alHaddad (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh raise his degree) put it in his Book of Assistance: "there are hadiths which indicate the merit of this act."

May we perservere with the good.

Kembali - Return

2009-05-20T17:43:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

One of my personal favourites...

My rather amatuerish Malay-to-English translation:

The life that you go through, has no meaning
Yet you do not realise it

When your face turns pale and stiff,
You worry that life is ending

Do you not know that He is the Most Powerful?
Do you still not realise that there is no life without Him?

SubhanaAllah - Glory be to Allah

Thereby you lower your head, silenced
Shivers run through

Reflecting on your sins, as huge as the sea
Hoping to be given a chance, a longer life

That you may be a true servant

Allah is the Most Kind
Allah is the Most Forgiving

Return then, to your true nature

Allah is the Most Kind
Allah is the Most Forgiving

Realise then, from your mistakes

You now prostrate humbly, arrogance disappears,
The dark spot upon your heart erased

Hoping to be given a chance, to worship again
That you may be a true servant

You realise the scant time that has been given
You realise that His Love is Eternal

Allah is the Most Kind
Allah is the Most Forgiving

Return then, to your true nature

Allah is the Most Kind
Allah is the Most Forgiving

Love God a love that is true

SubhanaAllah - Glory be to Allah

- - - - - - -

Glory be to the Almighty and Holy King!

*weeps*

Mothers

2009-05-10T18:37:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

A tribute to my mother... : )

Sami Yusuf's Ya Ummi

Yusuf Islam's Your Mother

Whoever said Islam denigrates women needs to know that the most important person in a Muslim's life is a woman - the mother.

Divine Greeting

2009-04-29T17:36:00.006+08:00

...bismillah...

The last four verses of Surah alFajr, describing the Most Gracious' greeting to the virtous:

(But unto the righteous, God will say) "O thou human being that hast attained to inner peace!"

Return to thy Lord, well-pleased (and) pleasing (Him)

Enter then, together with My servants!

Enter thou, My Garden!

*weeps*

O Lord! What honour, what nobility, what great reverence, to be called ... Your servant ...

For the Prophet (salallahu 'alahi wasalam) took pride in being called an 'abd (servant)

O Lord!

Truly I am unworthy to be called Your servant ...

What more enter Your Garden ...

*weeps*

We Will be Judged

2009-04-20T18:19:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

From the womb to the tomb...
I remind myself first, before I remind anyone else...
We will be judged ...

Where then are you going?

atTakwir : 26

Raping One's Wife

2009-04-13T17:11:00.010+08:00

...bismillah...

Read this article about a week back.

Critics assail Afghan law that 'legalizes rape'

I admit, I was astounded at first. I mean, where in the world would anyone want to 'legalize rape'?

Then came the big bummer: A new Afghan law makes it legal for men to rape their wives, human rights groups and some Afghan lawmakers said Thursday

Let me get this straight, how can a husband, ever, rape his own wife?

And should he, the husband, find it so hard to be intimate with his own wife, where do you think he'll satisfy his needs? So ... it' illegal to be intimate with one's wife but it's absolutely legal to have an illicit affair (?!)

It boggles the mind.

One of the most controversial articles stipulates the wife "is bound to preen for her husband as and when he desires."

"As long as the husband is not traveling, he has the right to have sexual intercourse with his wife every fourth night," Article 132 of the law says.

"Unless the wife is ill or has any kind of illness that intercourse could aggravate, the wife is bound to give a positive response to the sexual desires of her husband."

One provision also appears to protect the woman's right to sex inside marriage saying the "man should not avoid having sexual relations with his wife longer than once every four months."

Erm, so what exactly is wrong with this law?

It's Islamic, that's why!

The critics should turn their focus towards the problem of 'extra-marital affairs'. If they want to champion womens' rights, what greater right is there for women than that their own husbands be loyal to them?

Dude, look who's talking. These same people are the ones having the problems of scandals, teenage pregnancies, abortions, sexually-transmitted diseases and prostitutes lining the streets.

From Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that the Prophet (sallalllahu 'alaihi wa salam) said: "If a man calls his wife to bed and she refuses till he slept while angry, then the angels will curse her till the morning."

I wonder why this law only applies to the Shiites in Afghistan, though.

Afghan cleric defends 'rape' law

Mohseni said the law simply reiterates rules from Islam's holy book.

"In sharia law, it states that a woman cannot go out without the permission of her husband."

He argued that the law is permissive because it allows a woman to go out for a medical emergency or other urgent reason without asking beforehand. In addition, he said, a couple can opt out of this rule when signing a marriage contract.

Mohseni said much of the uproar has come from people misinterpreting the law. He said a woman can refuse sex with her husband for many reasons beyond illness. For example, he said, she may be fasting for Ramadan, preparing for a pilgrimage, menstruating or have just given birth.

May God guide us.

"Whoever imitates a people is from them"

2009-04-05T17:07:00.020+08:00

...bismillah...

A very relevant and significant hadith that I would like to remind myself of first, before I remind those who are reading. Narrated from four Companions, namely Abdullah ibn Umar, Abu Hurayra, Hudhaifa and Anas ibn Malik (may God be pleased with them all), that the Prophet (saw) said:

"Whoever imitates a people is from them."

An excellent breakdown of this hadith can be found here.

I believe this is strengthened by the hadith from Sahih Muslim, regarding the Muslim Ummah following our predecessors (Jews and Christians) so much so that if they were to enter a lizard hole, we would do the same.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah’s Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)” those before you”? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?

And of course, God's own Word that came via the Prophet's (saw) blessed lips: Lakum diinukum waliyadin Meaning, "to you, your way, to me, mine." I doubt this in any way means that we are to imitate anybody.

So anyway, to elaborate on the kind of things we do to imitate other people, is this video on the evil of the hip-hop culture. This is in no way stereotyping such a culture, indeed there are many other 'hobbies' or 'pastimes' that take away our time from what is the most important in life - preparing for death.

Sure, have hobbies, have pastimes, but do not make them overwhlem ourselves so much so that we forget.

Satan has gained the mastery over them, and caused them to forget God's Remembrance. Those are Satan's party; why, Satan's party, surely, they are the losers!
alMujadilah : 19

May Allah (Jalla Jallaluh) protect us from forgetting Him.

If video doesn't play, click here

Does this not remind us of the is-yoga-halal-or-haram fiasco?

Simple question: who are you imitating?

May God guide us.

O Lord, What have I Done?

2009-03-29T17:42:00.005+08:00

...bismillah...

*remorse*

O Lord, what have I done?

*weeps bitterly*

Forgive this weak servant of Yours, who cannot comprehend Your Majesty and Might.

For those who are able to grasp Your Greatness and Power, shudder to even think of disobeying You.

Have pity then, on this wretched and ungrateful servant, who desires death more than disobedience.

Let me cling to Your Robe when my nafs and the Accursed One seduce me.

Do not leave me to be tempted and give me the strength to resist them.

For what is with You is enormously better and lasting.

That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct

alKahf : 7

Thank You for the Rain

2009-03-24T07:30:00.011+08:00

...bismillah...

It happens almost every other day here in Singapore. In certain parts of the world, not that often and in some others, abundantly. What am I talking about? The rain. Something we take for granted, something we mostly complain about, something we don't even take notice of and reflect on.

I admit, I was among those people. But alhamdulillah through reading His Magnificent Book, I've come to realise the significance of such a wonder. The rain. SubhanaAllah.

It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which ye feed your cattle
anNahl : 10

It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies, and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you
Ibrahim : 32

And if indeed thou ask them who it is that sends down rain from the sky, and gives life therewith to the earth after its death, they will certainly reply, "(Allah)!" Say, "Praise be to Allah." But most of them understand not.
alAnkabut : 63

It is Allah Who sends the Winds, and they raise the Clouds: then does He spread them in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until thou seest rain-drops issue from the midst thereof: then when He has made them reach such of his servants as He wills behold, they do rejoice!
arRum : 48

Even though, before they received (the rain) - just before this - they were dumb with despair!
arRum : 49

I cried when I read those two verses.

*weeps*

Those of mankind, who crave for the rain, the life-giving nourishment, not just for themselves, but for their crops and cattle as well. On dry, barren land, they look to the heavens - helpless, powerless. For without the rain, what have we to eat, what have we to drink?

And do they not see that We do drive rain to parched soil (bare of herbage), and produce therewith crops, providing food for their cattle and themselves? Have they not the vision?
asSajdah : 27

And thus!

then when He has made them reach such of his servants as He wills behold, they do rejoice!
arRum : 48

Ya Allah! Thank you for the rain! O Lord! Thank you for the rain!
Thank you Ya Allah!

For the arrogant man who struts the earth thinking he owns himself, something as simple as the rain he has not any control over.

And We send the fecundating winds, then cause the rain to descend from the sky, therewith providing you with water (in abundance), though ye are not the guardians of its stores
alHijr : 22

See ye the water which ye drink?

Do ye bring it down (in rain) from the cloud or do We?

Were it Our Will, We could make it salt (and unpalatable): then why do ye not give thanks?
alWaqi'ah : 68 - 70

*weeps*

Thank You, Lord, for the rain.

Poem of Muhammad

2009-03-09T18:07:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

Monday, 12th RabiulAwal - the birth of the Most Honoured Messenger and Seal of the Prophets.

God saved His best for the last - the final Prophet being His Beloved.

So shall I post my final entry of the 12 days by sharing a simply brilliant poem-cum-video.

The hair on the back of my neck stood as I watched the video.

Beautiful Poem

2009-03-08T22:15:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

11th day.

One of the most beautiful poems of the Prophet (saw) I've read. Moved me to tears.

May blessings and salaams be upon our beloved equivalent to the
Leaves on every tree,
The water in every sea,
Every rain drop that should fall upon the earth,
Every grain of sand in the desert,
Every heart that should walk upon the earth,
Every child that shall taste birth,
Every man that shall touch the grave.

May your name be mentioned by each and every tongue

I envy the sand that met his feet,
I'm jealous of honey he tasted sweet.

Of birds that hovered above his head,
Of spiders who spun their sacred web,
To save him from his enemies,

I envy clouds that formed seas,
That gave him cover from the heat,
Of a sun whose light could not compete,
With his, whose face did shine so bright,
That all was so clear in pitch black night

I envy sightless trees that gazed,
Upon his form completely dazed.
Not knowing if the sun had rose,
Or if the sky was one with those,
Who knelt, who prayed and fasted too,
Simply because he (peace be upon him) told them to

With truth & kindness, charity
From God who gave such clarity.
His mercy comes in one, who sent,
To mould our hearts more heaven bent.

I envy all there at his side,
Who watched the turning of the tide,
As truth prevailed and falsehood fled,
And hope restored life to the dead.
And men and women who found their place,
With aspirations for Gods faith.

I envy the cup that gave him drink,
His thoughts that helped us all to think.
To be one thought the passed his mind,
Inspiring him to act so kind.

For me this world is not one jot,
If I could simply be a thought,
From him to God throughout the ages,
As revelation came in stages.

I pity those who think it odd,
To hear him say there is only one God.
For he was sent by God to men,
To hone their sprits acumen

Its pride that blinds us from the sight,
That helps all men to see his light.
He taught us all to be God's slave,
And he will be the one who saves.

Humanity from sinful pride,
Muhammad (peace be upon him) has God on his side.
So on this day be blessed and sing,
for he was born to grace our spring.

With lilies, flowers, life's rebirth,
In a dome of green like his on earth.

*weeps*

Salamun Salamun

2009-03-07T05:52:00.001+08:00

...bismillah...

10th day.

Salamun salamun, Ya Rasulullah!

The Best of Creation

2009-03-06T19:20:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

9th day.

Moving.

Ya Rasulullah, ... Muhammad ... Khaira khalqillah ... *weeps* ...

His Brothers

2009-03-05T17:32:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

8th day.

A hadith from Sahih Muslim, as narrated by Abu Hurayra (ra) reports that the Messenger of Allah (saw) came upon a graveyard and said: "Peace be upon you, abode of a believing people. Allah willing, we will join you. I wish that we could see our brothers."

The Companions (ra) who were with the Prophet (saw), enquired: "Are we not your brothers, Messenger of Allah?"

He said: "You are my Companions, my brothers are those who have not yet come."

A variant to the hadith states: "You are my Companions, my brothers are those who believe in me, without seeing me."

. . . . . . .

Ya Rasulullah, are we those brothers whom you mentioned and wished to see ... ?

*weeps*

His Warmth

2009-03-04T05:35:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

7th day.

As narrated by Abu Hurayra (ra), he said that if anyone ever took the hand of the Messenger of Allah (saw), he would not withdraw his hand until the other man would be the one to do so; and his knees - or 'his knee' - would never be seen to be withdrawn from the knee of his guest (sitting so close that their knees touched); and no one would greet him except that he would turn his face to them, and he would not leave them until they had finished speaking with him.

Umar b. al-As (ra) is reported to have said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) would turn his face and converse with even the most wicked of people, in order to gain their affection. He used to turn to me and engage me in conversation until I thought I was the best of people, so I said: "O Messenger of Allah, am I better, or is Abu Bakr?" "Abu Bakr," he replied. "O Messenger of Allah, am I better, or is Umar?" He replied: "Umar." "O Messenger of Allah," I said, "am I better, or is Uthman?" He replied: "Uthman." When I asked the Messenger of Allah (saw) this, he turned away from me, and I wished that I had never asked him. And when he sent an envoy, he used to say: "Gain people's affection!"

The Prophet (saw) would treat every single person who came to him as the most important person - thus felt Umar b. al-As (ra) until he asked the Prophet (saw) about who among the Companions (ra) were higher in rank.

Ya Rasulullah, you are such a beautiful soul... *weeps*

al-Mu'allim

2009-03-03T18:38:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

6th day.

One of my favourite songs.

Ya Rasulullah, what an honoured and exalted teacher you are, for who else taught you but the Almighty Himself!

His Blessed Face

2009-03-02T18:24:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

5th installment.

[ These hadith and others that I've related on the description of the Prophet (saw) have been extracted from the excellent book: Our Master Muhammad : The Messenger of Allah (saw) : His Sublime Character & Exalted Attributes, Vol. 1 ]

Tirmidhi narrated from Abu Hurayra (ra) who said: "I never saw anything more beautiful than the Messenger of Allah (saw): it was as though the sun were shining from his face."

Also from Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abi Ubayda b. Muhammad b. Ammar b. Yasir, who said: "I said to Rubayya bint Muawwidh: "Describe to me the Messenger of Allah (saw)." She said: "O my son, if you had seen him, you would have seen the sun rising."

In Bukhari, the narration of Kaab b. Malik states: "When the Messenger of Allah (saw) was pleased, his face would light up like the section of the moon."

Abu Nuaym narrates from Sayyidatina Aisha (ra) who said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) had the handsomest face and the lightest colour. Nobody would describe him without comparing his face to the full moon. The beads of his sweat on his face were like pearls, and more fragrant than strong musk."

Ya Rasulullah, the full moon pales in comparison to you!

The Man Himself

2009-03-01T05:34:00.001+08:00

...bismillah...

4th day.

Ya Rasulullah, accept us as your Ummah and grant us your most honoured intercession!

His Sweet Fragrance

2009-02-28T19:00:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

3rd day of the 12 days.

On the authority of Bukhari, Muslim and others, Anas (ra) related: "I never smelled any ambergis or musk, or anything sweeter than the fragrance of the Messenger of Allah (saw), and I never touched anything, neither brocade or silk, softer to touch than the Messenger of Allah (saw)."

The narration from Tirmidhi has it that: Anas (ra) said: "I never smelled any musk or perfume sweeter than the fragrance of the sweat of the Messenger of Allah (saw)."

Also from Anas (ra) who said: "When the Messenger of Allah (saw) passed down any of Madinah's streets, the people would notice the fragrant scent there, and would say: 'The Messenger of Allah (saw) has been this way.'"

The Prophet's (saw) own sweat was perfume, yet he used to apply so much of it, only that his Ummah might follow his ways. Ya Rasulullah, surely nothing smells sweeter than you!

His Kindness

2009-02-27T19:05:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

[ Related post : Love Thy Enemy ]

2nd day installment of The 12 Days.

How do you think the Prophet (saw) would react to those infamous cartoons that supposedly depicted him?

*weeps*

The 12 Days of Maulid

2009-02-26T05:07:00.002+08:00

...bismillah...

Alhamdulillah, the month of Rabiulawal is upon us. The blessed month of the birth of the most honoured prophet. Therefore during the first 12 days coming up to his birthday, I shall post daily about him, insyaAllah. Whether a poem, a description of him, a video clip or soundbite, I intend that we get closer and love him even more.

I shall start with a video clip of a moving poem by Dawud Wharnsby titled: "Don't talk to me about Muhammad". He relates a true story of an old woman who was helped and accompanied by this particular young man. She became Muslim at the end.

How can you not love such a man?

*weeps*

The Grievous End

2009-02-13T10:51:00.027+08:00

...bismillah...

The Trumpet will (just) be sounded, when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon, except such as it will please Allah (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!
azZumar : 68

The trumpet shall be sounded, when behold!
From the sepulchres (men) will rush forth to their Lord!
YaSin : 51

It will be no more than a single blast, when lo!
They will all be brought up before Us!
YaSin : 53

There I stand, with the rest of humanity that ever existed on the face of the earth, awaiting the Judgement of the Most Gracious. With the sun just above our heads, bearing down on us, each drowning in our own sweat.

Each and every son of Adam will stand forth before the Almighty to account for the life that he was given and how he spent it.

For to Us will be their return; Then it will be for Us to call them to account
alGhashiyah : 25 - 26

Everyone could see the nabiyyin wa siddiqqin wa syuhada wa sholihin clad in fine garments of silk and brocade, sitting atop thrones of light, embedded with magnificent jewels and gems, with crowns of blinding beauty on their heads - shaded from the sun. They were laughing merrily, rejoicing at the Promise of the Lord.

They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold
and they will wear green garments of fine silk
and heavy brocade: They will recline therein on raised thrones
alKahf : 31

They and their associates will be in groves of (cool) shade,
reclining on thrones (of dignity)
YaSin : 56

(They will be) on thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones)
alWaqi'ah : 15

As the Court of God commences session, I await my turn, trembling.

. . . . . . .

"Faruq, son of Muhammad Akbar, son of Abdullah! Come forth for your Judgement!" a herald calls out, the voice booming throughout the whole of creation.

My heart reached my throat - the greatest of fears has dawned - to stand before my Lord.

Warn them of the Day that is (ever) drawing near, when the hearts will (come) right up to the throats to choke (them)
Ghafir : 18

The sea of humanity parted, to make way for me to answer my Lord's questioning.

As I stand beneath the Mighty Throne of the King of kings, my record is read out before me:

"Faruq, son of Muhammad Akbar, son of Abdullah, born able-bodied with full-working senses and a sound mind, unorphaned, at this time of that day of this year, lived such-and-such years, given such-and-such portion of sustenance, wealth and health, married to such-and-such, beget such-and-such children and returned back to the Sublime King at this time of that day of this year."

"O Faruq!"

"How have ye spent your life and the bounties that the Most Gracious has bestowed on you?"

My lips sealed, my limbs begin to bear witness against my own self.

What my hands wrought, my feet trod, my eyes caught.

My ears listened, my stomach wantoned, my mind fashioned, my tongue mentioned.

That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But their hands will speak to us, and their feet bear witness, to all that they did
YaSin : 65

As each and every single act of mine is scrutinised, the Most Wise Judge will call out:

On that Day We will ask Hell, "Art thou filled to the full?"
Qaf : 30

I was hoping that it is filled already, that I would be spared His Punishment.

Alas for me, that hope was not to be, false is my judgement!

It will say, "Are there any more (to come)?"
Qaf : 30

Thus, my fate has gone forth! My place in the Fire ready!

Hell roars its fury at me, the ungrateful, wretched servant of the Almighty!

When it sees them from a place far off, they will hear its fury and its raging sigh
alFurqan : 12

The Angels of the Fire surround me, with blazing chains seventy cubits long.

"Hasten forward, O despicable one! Taste ye the torment for ye did wrong!"

Further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits
alHaqqah : 32

I shrieked: "Where are my good deeds, my prayers, my fasting, my charity?"

"Scattered dust are they, for ye performed them not with sincerity!"

(The stern command will say): "Seize ye him, and bind ye him"
alHaqqah : 30

A voice will cry: "Seize ye him and drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire!"
adDukhan : 47

Bound and beaten, chained and strickened, dragged on my face.

All of creation trembles, anxious of being cast into the Fiery Blaze!

The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces
alQamar : 48

Dragged I am, I pass my family. My relatives, my friends, my company.

I cry: "Save me! Help me! Will you not aid me?"

O mankind! do your duty to your Lord, and fear (the coming of) a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father
Luqman : 33

On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him
TaHa : 109

Tattered and torn, broken and worn, in front lie the Gates of Hell.

The Angels heave me, curse and mock me, into its Pits I fell.

Then they will be thrown headlong into the (Fire)- they and those straying in Evil
ashShu'ara : 94

The ferocious heat, the sweltering scorch, my skin toasted.

Fresh skin replace, that I may taste, the agony of being roasted.

We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty
anNisa' : 56

My hunger and thirst magnify the unbelievably excruciating pain.

Given bitter fruit and boiling water, a scourge that my belly cannot contain.

Such as shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)
Muhammad : 15

No food will be there for them but a bitter dhari': which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger
alGhashiyah : 6 - 7

Henceforth I lie, humiliated and grieved, in enduring misery.

With nothing but remorseful sighs and sobs as terrifying company.

Not for a decade neither a century, but dwelling therein for a whole eternity!

Those who are wretched shall be in the Fire: There will be for them therein (nothing but) the heaving of sighs and sobs
Hud : 106

They will dwell therein for ages
anNaba' : 23

. . . . . . .

Therefore, heed my brother this prose of mine

Not for fame or fortune did I rhyme

Awake and arise from your slumber

Before the time comes and your days are numbered

Take warning from the Lord that death is certain

Today or tomorrow you cannot reckon

Bring forth your good deeds and attract His Pity

For thy Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Full of Mercy

. . . . . . .

Allahumma ajirnaa minannaar!

O Lord God! Protect us from the Fire!

*weeps*

Man - The Ingrate

2009-02-09T17:59:00.016+08:00

...bismillah...

A headline on last Sunday's Straits Times front page caught my eye.

Bad times spell boom for religion

God Himself has stated in His Magnificent Book how man comes to Him in all earnestness when he is in trouble.

When trouble toucheth a man, He crieth unto Us (in all postures)- lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We have solved his trouble, he passeth on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes!
Yunus : 12

How ungrateful is that man, who comes to God begging and pleading to solve his problems and yet when God grants him ease, that same man forgets that he ever turned to Him!

Tak tau malu! How terribly unashamed such ingrates are!

There are people like that. They don't pray, they don't grant God His Rights. Yet when they get in trouble - wow - suddenly they turn pious and pray for miracles. When God, out of His Infinite Mercy removes that which troubled them, they stop praying. Such are the acts of fools.

Truly man is, to his Lord, ungrateful
al'Adiyat : 6

O Lord! Thus is the nature of man - to forget You in times of goodness and plead with You in times of turmoil.

O Lord! Thank you for these troubled times - for without it, we would not come running to You!

O Lord! Help us remember You in every circumstance - good or bad.

O Lord! Help us become grateful to You - for we tend to forget You.

When We bestow favours on man, he turns away, and gets himself remote on his side (instead of coming to Us); and when evil seizes him, (he comes) full of prolonged prayer!
Fussilat : 51

Adapting or Adopting Islam?

2009-02-04T11:40:00.018+08:00

...bismillah...

As a reply to the comments received on the previous post, I shall expound here the reasons why we shouldn't be doing what we have been doing.

Out of eagerness to pull in youths to the mosques or any other religious organisation, certain leeways have been taken to accomodate these young Muslims in order that they might feel motivated to join in the activities and events being organised.

Alhamdulillah, such efforts should be commended. However, the leeways taken more often than not trespass the very limits that God has ordained. An example is the mixed gathering problem.

To achieve a higher turnout rate for activities, a mixed gender event is promoted - this is not the problem itself. The problem lies when segregation takes a backseat. The barriers that Islam has placed between men & women dissolve in such activities, with the reasons cited that it is 'too strict' or 'too impeding' the goals of an event.

The Prophet (saw) and his Companions (ra) gave their very lives for the cause of Islam and here we shoo it away with such trivial reasons.

Are we not ashamed?

They suffered hunger, thirst, poverty, torture, humiliation, and their own blood being spilt to stand for the very thing we pretend to encourage - Islam.

Are we not ashamed?

We take great measures to convenience the participants of the events that we couldn't care less about the Rights of God. Instead of accommodating them to Islam, we accommodate Islam to them.

Are we not ashamed?

What did the Prophet (saw) do when the disbelievers of Quraysh made a deal with him to worship their gods for one year and his God the next?

Did he accomodate Islam to them? No! Never shall Islam bow down!

In that episode, God revealed Surah alKafirun.

Lakum diinukum waliyadiin - was the Prophet's (saw) reply!

"To you, your way, to me, mine!"

And yet here we are, easily pushing aside Islam - as if it is something not good enough. God has honoured Islam, God has chosen Islam, God has ordained Islam for mankind. Why seek other than it?

Do we place the dunya over the akhirah? Well, we certainly do if we keep making leeways in His Limits.

The people whom we are trying to attract, whose source of religion comes from Suria dramas, magazines like Manja and Sutra, movies like Ayat-ayat Cinta, and the occasional forwarded chain e-mail, isn't it upon us to point them the right way - instead confusing them further by mixing the good with the bad?

Others (there are who) have acknowledged their wrongdoings: they have mixed an act that was good with another that was evil. Perhaps Allah will turn unto them (in Mercy): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful
atTaubah : 102

I have heard with my own ears how one Muslim intends to participate in the lottery, planning to buy the tickets before going for Friday prayers.

I have heard with my own ears how another Muslim who said 'Alhamdulillah' had he won the lottery.

I have heard with my own ears how another Muslim became the best gambler among the other non-Muslims.

If these are the kind of people we want to attract, then why confuse them further? Guide them!

We should be bending over backwards to ease the participants to Islam. Aid them, educate them, assist them. If they ask why there is segregation - explain why. The burden is upon us to guide for they have no other source of guidance. If not, and we go ahead with mixed gender events without segregation - are we not helpers in the doing of evil?

We think we are doing good, but we are not.

That is how the Chief Deceiver works - by convincing us that what we're doing is good when in fact it is not.

O men! Certainly the Promise of Allah is true. Let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah
Fatir : 5

This is only a very small incursion (but a very big sin) that the Accursed One has managed to influence. What next? Have an ustaz sport tattoos, earrings and dyed hair in order to pull in such rebels? Naudzubillah.

We seek refuge in God from such foolishness.

Islam is beautiful as it already is - please don't change it according to our whims and desires. Accepting and rejecting as and when we see fit to adapt to 'modern times'.

Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest?
alBaqarah : 85

If we find segregation 'hardcore', 'extreme' and 'strict', we seriously need to reflect on our iman. For what happened to "Sami'na wa atho'na"? - We hear and we obey?

The answer of the believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: "We hear and we obey": it is such as these that will attain felicity
anNur : 51

God it is Who guides.

The Problem of Mixed Gatherings

2009-01-29T15:42:00.019+08:00

...bismillah...

[ This issue has never been seen as 'important' to me until that fateful night when I stumbled upon a news clip on television reporting about a workshop. I do not seek to critisize, but I do seek to remind, by God's Grace. I seek refuge in the Most Gracious from saying things that which I do not do. Let us come together and fear Him. God it is Who grants success. ]

It seemed innocent enough - a workshop. But I was quite uncomfortable with what I saw. Young ladies and young men sitting together in groups for a project.

Strange women and strange men mingling around - doesn't sound very Islamic does it? Sure, the ladies wore the hijab, alhamdulillah, but unfortunately some of them were not exactly wearing loose clothing. And (I'm quite embarassed to say this) there were ladies who were sitting, well, not very lady-like I might add.

"Young man, what are you doing sitting next to a young woman?"
"Young lady, why are you dressed that way?"

"It's for a good cause! It's a noble project!" comes the raucous reply.

But where is the segregation? Where are the barriers?

In a society where inter-mingling between the sexes is seen as normal and encouraged, the gender barriers that Islam has set become eroded - looked down upon even. The ironic thing about the workshop? It was held at a mosque's function hall. The men and women enter from different entrances (as mosques are required) and congregate together in a hall, sitting in groups (?)

May God make us see the Light.

“When you ask them [the wives of the Prophet (saw)] for anything then ask from behind a screen (hijab). This is a means for greater purity for your hearts and their hearts.”
alAhzab : 53

Ladies and gentlemen, if even the Companions of the Prophet (saw), who were the most righteous of men, had to ask from the Wives of the Prophet (saw), who were the most righteous of women, from behind a screen, what of us?

Ladies and gentlemen, what of us?

Notice that God mentioned it is greater purity not for the eyes, not for ears, but for the hearts. For it is from the hearts that desires are ignited. It is from the hearts that evil thoughts take root.

Sure, support that noble cause, that excellent project - but keep to His Limits. Why compromise the hearts of young men and women? God Himself did not allow the hearts of the Sahabah (ra) and the Wives of the Prophet (saw) to be compromised.

In Islam the relationship between men & women is simple: mahram & non-mahram. Marriageable or non-marriageable. Guidelines on their behaviour and conduct towards each other fall back on this relationship.

There's no such thing as 'friend' between a man and a woman and certainly not 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'. Heard of a female Sahabi?

What happened to 'Brothers Only' or 'Sisters Only'?

With groups being a mixture of men and women, there can hardly be an issue towards the command of the Lord to 'lower thy gaze', is there? "We have to talk to them, how can we talk if we lower our gaze?" Then segregate!

Lowering our gaze is an injunction not only towards 'beautiful people' as most of us might think. It is a command that encompasses even those whom we think are not attractive. However unattractive someone is, lower thy gaze!

Fear the Lord!

Ladies, God created you beautiful, so cover yourselves appropriately like the jewels He made you be and dress beautifully only for your husbands and be counted among those God Himself likened to rubies and coral:

In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched; Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? Like unto Rubies and coral
arRahman : 56 - 58

He also stated the nature and conduct of these maidens - restraining their glances. So shy are they that their glances hardly linger. In another verse, God calls them lu'lu'il maknun:

Like unto hidden pearls
alWaqiah : 23

Guard yourselves strictly from strange men and do not seek to enrapture their hearts.
Hide your beauty like the lu'lu'il maknun - who were created only for their husbands!

Your beauty is your most prized asset, so why let strange men get free looks at you? If your beauty has a price, let your husband pay it through nafkah. Isn't the value of something in its scarcity? Veil yourselves and let not your allurements be exposed, rarefy yourselves!

Do not stay out of your homes unless absolutely necessary - for your home is your shell like the pearl hidden in its shell. From the book Fathul Ilah (Anugerah Tuhan) as translated by Allahyarham Ustaz Syed Abdillah: Umar (ra) was reported to have said: "Strip the women (of their beautiful clothing and garments) that may they cover themselves (prefer to stay in their homes)." Meaning, they would prefer not to go out if their clothes were shabby.

And stay quietly in your houses and make not a dazzling display (tabarruj) like that of the Times of Ignorance
alAhzab : 33

Gentlemen, our trial is just as great. For did not the Prophet (saw) himself say that there is no fitnah of the ummah greater than the fitnah of women? Everywhere we turn, our eyes are bound to fall upon the haram. So why seek to bring upon ourselves an even greater trial by being in such situations? Prevention is better than cure.

Lower thy gaze! Fear the Lord!

I seek refuge in the Most Gracious from saying things that which I do not do. I remind myself first before I remind everyone else. Let us come together and fear the Almighty King!

May Allah (Jalla Jallaluh) give us the strength and patience to carry out His Commands and avoid His Prohibitions.

. . . . . . .

References:

[1] SunniPath QA

[2] Fathul Ilah (Anugerah Tuhan) by Habib Muhammad bin Husain bin Abdullah bin Syaikh al-Habsyi

[3] Free mixing in Islam

When the Sun Turned Crescent

2009-01-29T07:35:00.008+08:00

...bismillah...

An annular solar eclipse happens only 66 times in a century. In the eclipse, a 'solar ring' or 'annulus' is formed when the smaller-sized moon (whose apparent size differs due to its elliptical orbit) crosses in between the sun and the earth.

Solar Eclipse "Ring" Seen Over Indonesia

And so how fortunate is it, that my very first eclipse-sighting is an annular solar eclipse, praises be to God. Though it didn't last long - the clouds were hampering our amateurish sunglassed vision, it was enough a moment for us (my family) to reflect on the Greatness of our Creator.

Glory be to the Lord of the Sun and the Moon!

Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (with the thought): "Our Lord! Thou created not this in vain! Glory be to Thee! Save us from the doom of the Fire!"

Ali-Imran : 191

For us, it was a moment ... when the sun turned crescent ...

[ BBC video clip of Indonesian Eclipse Sighting ]

Heartbroken Because of You

2009-01-22T17:19:00.015+08:00

...bismillah...

[ Favourite version of I'tiraf ]

O God... I don't deserve Thy Heaven
Nor can I bear Thy Hell
Please, forgive my sins, accept my repentance
Only Thou art Forgiver of great sins

My sins are as numerous as the sand on the beach
With Thy mercy, please forgive me... O Owner of Majesty

O God... please save us
From all kinds of evils and woe
We fear, we hope unto Thee
Please enrich our love unto Thee
We, the slaves whose hopes are in Thy pity

[ Lyrics copy-pasted from youtube - any corrections please indicate ]

O Lord God
My heart is broken on account of Thee

Thy Love I seek
Thy Pity I plead

My sins plenty
My deeds scanty

Who do I turn to
Where do I hide

On the tallest of mountains
In the darkest of caves
Or the deepest of oceans

I would find Thee

Have pity
Have pity
Have pity

*weeps*

. . . . . . .

"I am with those whose hearts are broken for My sake."

- Hadith Qudsi

Why Our Prayers Aren't Answered

2009-01-19T11:20:00.011+08:00

...bismillah...

[ A very vulnerable cease-fire has come into effect between Hamas and Israel. Israel says it has achieved its goals. I wonder what they are. Killing a thousand? It's pretty ironic that during the Lebanon war of 2006, Israel also massacred that many people. They destroyed a UN observer post then. They destroyed 3 UN-run centres now. Pretty much same-old, same-old. The effective, blood-thirsty machine that is the Israeli Defence Forces.

God is Watching. ]

I'm sure it's a question many of us ask ourselves: "why doesn't God answer our prayers?" We usually take the positive side of things by thinking well of Him, which is good of course.

"He knows what is best for me, I'm probably asking for too much."
"He has something better in store for me."

It brings me to the point: what exactly are we asking Him for? A brand-new mobile phone? Those new pair of sneakers that caught your eye? A promotion? A raise?

Is that all we ask for? Dunya? Dunya, dunya, dunya.

Why don't we ask for strength to get up for Tahajjud? Or the patience to endure His trials? Or the resolve to withold our tongues from speaking ill? Or the determination to recite His Book everyday?

What we ask for speaks volumes about how we prioritise our lives doesn't it?
Whether you place the dunya above the akhirah or vice versa.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf touches on a very important factor when making doa' in this clip.

When we make doa', we shouldn't be asking Him. We should be beseeching, begging, pleading with Him! Humble ourselves for we are nothing but slaves! He doesn't need us but we need Him! I must admit, I was laughing under my breath at 1:14 of the video. I mean, c'mon, if we doa' like that, what makes us think it's going to be answered?

Where are the tears? The humility? The desparation? We are poor, He is Rich. We are the slaves, He is the Master. We are nothing, He is Everything. For God's sake, you are talking to the Lord of the Mighty Throne! Have some respect and awe!

An oft-quoted verse about God answering prayers is this verse from alBaqarah:

When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to My Call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way.
alBaqarah : 186

Oftentimes, the only quoted part of the verse is the first part, up till: "... when he calls on Me." What happened to the second part? Sure, God listens to our prayer, but do we listen to His Call?

Do we obey His Commands? Do we avoid His Prohibitions? Do we follow the Sunnah of His Beloved Messenger, Muhammad (saw)? If we do not even try to strive to fulfill these, what makes us think He's going to answer our prayer?

Is it any wonder then, why the sage Ibrahim ibn Adam (ra) replied as such when enquired as to why our prayers aren't answered (taken from al-Munabbihat, chapter 10, giving 10 statements):

"Your hearts have died because of ten reasons (for which your prayers are not accepted) (these are:)
1) You know Allah, still you do not fulfill His obligations.
2) You read the Quran, but still do not follow its instructions.
3) You know that your enemy is Satan (may God curse him), yet you follow him.
4) You claim to love the Messenger (saw), but still you abandon his Sunnah.
5) You claim to desire Paradise, but do not perform deeds necessary to inherit such.
6) You claim to fear the Fire, but do not refrain from committing sin.
7) You know that death is true, but do not procure the necessary provision for it.
8) You seek the faults of others, but do not look at your own faults.
9) You partake of Allah's (Jalla Jallaluh) sustenance, yet do not thank Him.
10) You bury the dead inside the grave, but do not take lessons therefrom.

So, the next time we raise our hands to doa', please have some respect for Our Creator and Sustainer and look at our faults first, and see for ourselves whether we deserve the things that we ask for. The adab of a doa' is to start and end with His Praises, together with the salawat on the Prophet (saw).

Ya Allah, help us become grateful to You!
Ya Allah, help us return to fitrah, our origin; a servant of You, a son of Adam!

Weeping over Gaza

2009-01-04T11:25:00.012+08:00

...bismillah...

There's no need for me to tell you what's happening.

*weeps*

You speak better than an orator.
You speak wisdom. You speak intelligence.

Most of all, you speak from experience.

My prayers are with you, my dear Palestinian sister. And your family, and your relatives, and your neighbours, and your friends.

... may I know your name, dear young lady ...

... and may I get you a new pair of sunglasses ... ?

*weeps*

Help Gaza

Our Lord!

Wilt Thou let the ones who affirm Thy Oneness and Thy Beloved Messenger to suffer at the hands of the kafirun and the dzhalimun?

Our Lord!

Thou knowest best who it is who will be granted fauzul adzhim (supreme achievement) and khusranan mubeen (manifest loss).

Our Lord!

Grant our brethren in Palestine the patience of Ayyub (as) and the strength of Dawud (as).

Our Lord!

Let this trial increase their faith, toughen their resolve and embolden their might against the deviant oppressors.

Our Lord!

Grant Thou our prayer for Thou art One Who heareth prayers!

Amin, Ya Dzal Jalali Wal Ikram!

God be with you, my dear Palestinian brethren.

. . . . . . .

Those who wish to donate for the Gaza Appeal but do not own credit/debit cards, you may drop me a line here: abrokadabro at yahoo dot com

Meeting a Saint

2008-12-27T08:23:00.011+08:00

...bismillah...

Praises be to God, who has allowed me to visit one of His noble friends.

I am truly grateful to both my aunt and uncle who invited me along their trip to Batu Pahat, together with Ummi and another aunt. It was to be my very first meeting, to be in the company of Habib Ali bin Jaafar alAydarus (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh preserve him).

How coincidental is it that just a few days before this meeting, a totally unplanned trip (I was only told of it about an hour before we drove off), I actually searched for pictures of this virtous man. Ladies and gentlemen, there are no coincidences. Only qada' and qadar.

Picture grabbed from hatzjourney

So it was, about an hour after Zuhur, on 24th December, we made our way to Johor. Arriving there at about 5 in the afternoon, I observed his humble abode; a plain, rusty house. This is a man who turned down an offer to have a terrace house built for him. As our car entered his 'driveway', if you want to call it that (just plain sandy ground), I noticed his great-grandchildren dressed simply, playing with the simplest of toys: kites. No PSP, no TV, no PC. A simple life - how serene and beautiful.

Truth be told, most people would be excited and anxious to meet such an honoured man - but it wasn't so for me. I felt a sort of fear, that this man is someone who can see through me, that he can read the secrets of my heart. But then I let it go, I'd put my trust in God. How unashamed I am, how terribly unabashed, that only now I fear my secret thoughts being laid bare, when God already knows them all this while!

Habib doesn't always accept female visitors, so my two aunts and Ummi headed for his daughter's place, while my uncle and me entered his house. We were greeted by his grandson, Ibrahim. I've never met such a mild-mannered and humble young man in my life - he's 22 years old.

We then waited for Habib. I was already informed that he doesn't always entertain his guests nowadays because of his hernia. So I was ready to accept his absence. About 15 minutes elasped when Ibrahim appeared from behind the curtain, helping his grandfather enter the main guest 'room'. My uncle and I both got up and salam-ed him. As we sat, he 'teropong-ed' my uncle - used his hands to cover the top & sides of his eyes and squint to see who his guests were. I thought that was cute.

Then, the introduction began... (dialogue may not be exact and may not be in proper timing)

Habib: Namanya siapa?

Me: Faruq...

Habib: Nama bapak?

Me: Muhammad Akbar.

Habib: (Bapak) Pernah datang sini?

Uncle: Ada, dalam setahun lepas.

Habib: Umurnya?

Me: 24 tahun.

Habib: Sudah beristeri?

Me: Belum

Habib: Nabi (saw) kahwin bila dia 25 tahun.

*nod heads*

Habib: Sudah tunang?

Me: Belum ... *gestures towards him and mumbles* ... Habib doakan eh ...

Habib: Orang sekarang terbalik. (Lelaki) Umur 40, carik 25 tahun.

Habib: Boleh cakap Arab?

Me: Ah ... tak ah..

Uncle: Sikit-sikit ajer.

He then related a hadith in Arabic where the Prophet (saw) said that marriage is his sunnah and whosoever does not follow his sunnah, is not from his community. He then went on telling a story of someone who visited him once and wasn't married, he immediately got married.

Habib then shared a fascinating anecdote of the current financial crisis. In the olden days, cents were worth a lot. 5 cents could buy you a nice, large fish. 3 cents a sweet-smelling apple. He gave other examples as well that I couldn't remember. Nowadays everything costs so much but its blessings have been taken away. Nikmat dia dah hilang. "Kenapa kejarkan duit?" he sighed. "Nak duit ... tapi SubhanAllah, subhanAllah (made dzikir gestures with his fingers) tak ada..."

Throughout the close to half-hour 'talk', he laughed and smiled. I gazed at his blessed face and laughed when he laughed, smiled when he smiled. During the conversation, there were times when he just sat silently, looked to the heavens, and utter: "Allaaaaahuuu!" Ah! The noble friend craves for His Company! About 15 minutes before Maghrib, he excused himself and went into the next room. No doubt to converse with his Almighty Friend.

After Maghrib, we waited for him to appear. As he came from behind the curtain to sit down, he told Ibrahim to buy food for the guests. Ibrahim replied that he had no transport to buy such a food (Habib specifically wanted to buy Nasi Briyani for us). My uncle offered his car immediately - but Habib was hesistant as he is a guest. My uncle told him that it was okay.

Upon figuring out that I was to be left alone with Habib, I felt fear again. Yeah, I know thousands would envy my position, but I was thinking maybe I shouldn't be bothering Habib if he wanted to do his ibadah. So I asked if I needed to tag along to buy the food. Not so.

I realised my fate was sealed, only then did it occur to me that such an honourable opportunity had come - to be alone with Habib. I quickly scanned myself as to what question I should ask him.

What would you ask a Saint of God?

Then, my mind struck it. I knew what I wanted to ask.

When both Ibrahim and my uncle left, I tapped lightly on Habib's knees and said:

Me: Habib, tumpang tanya boleh?

Habib: Kenapa nak tanya ... MUIS kan ada, Mufti kan ada. Tanyalah dia orang."
*I was taken aback, in dilemma as to whether I should ask*

I smiled wryly and asked: "Habib, ibadah apa bagus untuk amalkan?"

Habib: Semua ibadah tu bagus.

He continued by relating the Prophet's (saw) last sermon in which he said that if you uphold the Quran and my sunnah, you will not be lost. Habib gave an example of people who, after prayers, immediately leave for the dunya. Upon the imam's second salam, the makmum have already got up on their feet to exit. He stressed: "Mana SubhanAllah, subhanAllah ... ? (the same dzikir gestures)"

Habib: Kalau tak ada Allah, ada Allah lain tak?
*shakes head*
Habib Kalau tak ada Quran, Nabi (saw), ada yang lain tak?
Me: Tak ada ...

The other ibadah that I could hear him mention was Dhuha and Tahajjud - the rest I couldn't remember. But I do remember him reciting this ayat:

That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But their hands will speak to us, and their feet bear witness, to all that they did
YaSin : 65

Habib explained how the hands and feet will bear witness to our deeds. I began to recall the many ill deeds I've done and how my limbs will testify against me.

He also recited another ayat, but I simply cannot recollect it. At this point, another visitor arrived and my 'one-on-one' time with Habib ended.

I do not want to keep this post long but that is all that I can remember of the short time that I spent there. After dinner, Habib asked that the fruits (Habib's favourites) which my uncle brought be cut and served to us before we could leave. I also then realised that when Habib told me to go ask MUIS, Mufti about my question, it wasn't that he didn't want me to ask - he was simply humbling himself! How many of us would do that when asked a question we are experts at?

He was doing what the Prophet (saw) himself did when he said: "I am no better than Yunus (as)"

I remember Ibrahim relating to us that Habib requested that we pray for his eyesight, may it be restored, his hearing, may it be regained, and his heart, may it be calmed. How humble is he! We are more in need of his prayers than him of us!

As for asking that his heart be calm, I do not purport to know any secrets or anything of Habib for that matter, but it simply occured to me that his heart isn't calm because of his immense love for his Friend. Terlalu sangat rindu akan Kawannya sampai hati tidak tenang. MasyaAllah.

Where is peace and tranquility, when the heart of one so misses the Beloved?

After salam-ing Habib, he thanked us - thanked us! We should be thankful for his company!

Outside, while watiting to get in the car, my aunts and Ummi couldn't wait to hear what Habib shared - they didn't get to see him. I shared as much as I could remember. Along the way back, I was sleepy (going to work in a few hours) and Ummi placed a pillow on her lap and let me rest my head on it.

The most comfortable of places, the most peaceful of sleep can be had, on Ummi's lap : )

God vs Man

2008-12-23T18:30:00.013+08:00

...bismillah...

While sifting through my favourited videos, I discovered a rather intellectual debate going on in the comments section of a particular video between a Muslim and an atheist - arguing on the finer points of religion.

I wasn't looking for a debate, but somehow my heart just told me to go ahead and put forth the arguements that God Himself has placed in His Book - I mean, now that I have through His Grace and Mercy read and understood His Message.

And I did. Taking a cue from 'The Reminder', I started off. I've pasted the screenshots on a document and uploaded it to Scribd. Apparently the images taken were too big to be uploaded as pictures.

Here's the link to the file: God vs Man

Start your way from the bottom upwards. Oh, don't forget to zoom in yeah.

As you may notice, the two individuals are engaged in a scholarly intellectual discussion - as evidenced by the terms they use and the kind of arguement they're putting forth. Goodness, these people must hold degrees.

But you see, God's Arguements are not that complex - they are absolutely simple and easy. I barge in with a 'notice of death' so to say. I'm not here to put forth my point of view, I'm merely relaying His Warnings and Reminders from the very miracle that Muslims have but do not appreciate - the Holy Quran.

He starts to get defensive. I don't blame him. Someone who doesn't believe in God or an Afterlife would find death extremely provocative. His point on 'what if the Quran isn't divinely-inspired after all' was a piercing one. This is where it gets personal.

Every Muslim must be able to tell anyone, without the slightest bit of doubt whatsoever, that the Holy Quran is from God. I'm not talking about blind faith. "Oh, of course it's the book of God, I've been told that and I believe so."

That's not what I'm talking about. This isn't about belief, it's about conviction. I'm talking about being convinced, being absolutely certain, yaqin, that yes, this is from God - for that is what I have experienced as recorded in 'The Reminder'. Maybe I shall write about this again - this 'certainty'.

Anyway, upon closing the 'debate', you can see how I've peppered quotes from His Magnificent Book to challenge the atheist. Truly, His Arguments will never fail! God's Sign on food - how He gives life to the earth, making grain, fruit, causing springs to gush forth and how man did not make such things - was an absolute bullseye.

I myself was dumbfounded at what I wrote - I've never thought about how 'food', something so plain and straightforward, can become such a profound Sign. Ya Allah, how much I've underestimated Your Sign! Please forgive me!

Thus, the intellect has been defeated by pure simplicity. Allahuakbar!

Truly, truly, His Arguements will never fail!

May Allah Jalla Jallaluh increase our understanding of His Book.

Meadows of Paradise

2008-12-20T07:57:00.008+08:00

...bismillah...

I couldn't resist posting my two other favourited 'intro' videos of Habib Umar (may Allah Jalla Jalluh preserve him)

The first one:

And my ultimate favourite:

Ya Allah, if such a one who is near You, such a one who is Ahlul Bayt, such a one whom You mention among the angels, humbles himself so much, pleads and begs with You so bitterly ... what of us ... ?

*weeps*

I can't help but think that at 2:43 of the video is a scene from the meadows of Paradise. All the believers, in the company of the nabiyyin wa sidiqqin wa shuhada wa solihin, the best of companies, all in remembrance of the Almighty, singing His Praises, magnifying His Glory!

All who obey Allah and the apostle are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the righteous (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!

anNisa' : 69

Amal, Amal, Amal!

2008-12-17T11:40:00.006+08:00

...bismillah...

I'm sorry to disappoint but this will be another post on the condemnation of this dunya and its massive distractions. This will be a more convincing entry as I believe the words of Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh preserve him) ring true to what was shared before, insyaAllah.

From this blog : I shall translate the gist of what the whole post is about to the best of my ability.

Firstly, the words of Habib Umar: "...our determination in carrying out the Way of the Prophet (saw). And that is the way which will dissolve all other ways that are bad and the different forms of evil without having to argue among ourselves about it. Just perform 'amal!! (the Habib raised his voice). All of that will fall, become obstructed and all of it will be left behind if we perform our obligations and follow the example of the Prophet (saw)"

As for what the author of the post said: "When Habib Umar pressed on the issue mentioned and raised his voice (to stress the importance of it), it shook the hearts of those who heard it. That is what Habib instills in us: Amal, Amal, Amal. He is not one to give lectures but when he does, his words exemplify simplicity and this can be seen in his personality - one who lives according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (saw).

This is what attracts the hearts of those who see and hear to perform amal themselves. This is precisely an example of someone who follows the Way of the Prophet (saw).

It is clear that we keep arguing and debating on the problems that create division among the scholars, standing up for our own set of thoughts and beliefs and keep all manners of ill feelings towards our brethren in Islam. We waste away time discussing these problems without end while forgetting to bring up the manner with which to perform amal according to the Sunnah, which is undoubtedly true (no division in opinion). There are other matters of this ummah which require greater attention.

In our invitation to others to perform acts of goodness, ensure that we ourselves have done what we are asking people to do - a consequence of which will bear fruit.

We talk more than we amal isn't it? That is what makes people hesitate in doing amal, due to our own personality.

- - - - - - -

It's just another reminder for me especially and for the rest of us - don't get distracted, just do what you're supposed to do and excel at it! If we're supposed to pray, then be punctual, and make an effort to keep khusyu'! If we are not confident that our 5 daily prayers are perfect, then perform the rawatib! And more, and more! Dhuha, Israaq, Witir, Tahajjud, Awaabin. Use the siwak when taking ablution. Read the doa after wudu'

Recite the Quran! Read Wird Latif, Ratib alHaddad. If we keep ourselves occupied with these, the matters of the dunya won't matter to us anymore.

Amal, amal, amal!

The previous posts saw me battling down the dunya stopping short of cursing it - for I didn't know if the Prophet (saw) had cursed the dunya. Now I know.

From the Two Treatises of Imam al-Haddad (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh raise his degree) (God, I love his books), the Prophet (saw) said: "This world is accursed, and accursed is what is in it, except the remembrance of God, the learned, and those learning."

I'm afraid this does not apply to those who only seek knowledge of the dunya - for in the same book is also narrated another hadith where the Prophet (saw) said: "God loathes those who are learned in the affairs of this world but are ignorant of the Hereafter."

So what if you're a doctor of law, medicine, philosophy, psychology if you don't even know the rules of being a makmum masbuk (being late in congregational prayer). So what if you can dish out scientific theories and mathematical theorems if you're stuck with the same surahs you memorized when you were 12?

To Hell with the dunya!

There, I did it.

May Allah Jalla Jallaluh increase our displeasure for this dunya and increase our desire for the akhirah.

For those who don't know Habib Umar (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh preserve him), here is an absolutely brilliant introduction video. I believe it was the barakah of salam-ing him that made me change to what I am today. May God bless us with his presence soon.

Nothing But You

2008-12-12T09:01:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

- Returning 17 December 2008 -

InsyaAllah

Enough With The Dunya!

2008-12-02T18:07:00.016+08:00

...bismillah...

[ This post is borne out of inspiration from various situations and incidents where I see the dunya being prioritized over the akhirah. And also a disclaimer: I am in no way discrediting knowledge of the dunya, I am merely trying to put things into perspective. I'm not pointing the finger at secular studies towards achieving an educational qualification on the path to getting a job. It's more towards the voluntary learning & researching on subjects that we don't have to know ]

I will first warn my readers of any emotional outbursts I might have. I also seek refuge in The Most Gracious from saying things that which I do not do. He knows more than I do that I still have attachments to the dunya that I haven't removed yet. Please help me, God.

Dunya, dunya, dunya! I'm really getting sick and tired of us being so attached to it and trying to justify our clinging to this world. In particular this age that we're in, the Age of Fitan, the Dajjal has manifested his various forms all over trying to catch the unwary Muslims and get them addicted to the dunya so that they forget their roots.

It's the same 'excuse' given all over: "dunia kita nak, akhirat pon kita nak." Roughly translated: "we want both the dunya and akhirah". And of course, who can resist pointing towards the all important doa to prove that this dunya is worth something: "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah..."

Did we forget that chasing after the dunya will only get us the dunya, while chasing after the akhirah, will get us both the dunya and akhirah?

Also, do we really think that this dunya is worth something? Do we?

"If this dunya has the worth of even a mosquito's wing, Allah would not let the disbeliever have a sip of drink."
- hadith narrated by at-Tirmidhi

Face it! If God saw that this dunya is so worthy, even as worthy as a mosquito's wing, He would not let the disbeliever quench his thirst! We are all chasing, blinding ourselves to something that is worth less than a mosquito! But do we care? We're absolutely charmed by an old woman adorned with jewelry (that was how the dunya appeared to the Prophet (saw) during his Isra' Mi'raj)

Enough already!

Do we think that our 5 daily prayers are enough? How good is our solat?

Do we think that our annual fast of Ramadhan is enough? How good is our fast?

Do we think that giving zakat is enough? How good is our charity?

Merely pondering over all that should occupy our minds enough to forget the glitter of this world!

If the hadith above is not convincing, how about God Himself explaining to us what He feels this world is worth:

"Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things."

alKahf : 45

This dunya is but dust! Dust! Which the winds do scatter!

We are already so engrossed, so contained, so blinded by the dunya, still we go about without weighing how much of the akhirah we've devoted ourselves to. 24 hours. One day. I dare say we spend more hours dealing with the dunya than with the akhirah, do we not? And we still have the cheek to say: "dunia kita nak, akhirat pon kita nak"?

Dunia dah berlambak sangat! Akhirat dia mana?!

We do not think twice about forsaking our sleep in the middle of the night to watch our favourite football club in action, yet we dread to think of the rest we would miss if we got up for Tahajjud!

We do not hesitate to spend 3-4 hours on a movie marathon, laughing ourselves away, amusing ourselves silly, while we would have a hard time reciting the Quran for even half-an-hour!

We do not waver at the thought of finishing our favourite fiction/non-fiction books end to end, yet we struggle to khatam the Book of God!

And we say we want both the dunya and akhirah! And we say we want a balanced life! It's balanced alright - balanced on the side of the dunya! Shame on us!

Dunya is weighed more in our eyes than the akhirah - it's in our actions. Who are we trying to kid?

If we should be obsessed with either, it should be with the akhirah! Biar berat akhirat, jangan berat dunya. Instead, we chase after the dunya!

Likewise when seeking knowledge. Who cares if you know the value of pi? Who cares if you can solve the riddle of the 'chicken or the egg'? Who cares if you can spew out Newtonian laws? Who cares if you remember Carl Jung's theories? Do Mungkar and Nankir care? They are the two questioning angels of the grave.

Would they care if you carried a PhD in physics or chemistry? Would they bother checking your association with intellectuals? Would they express concern over your research on neuroscience?

Those who know me would recall my obsession with politics and conspiracy theories. Only recently did I realise the grave error I made devoting myself to such knowledge. Of what good will it be when I'm dead and buried?

With every book I pored over and every article I read, I distanced myself further and further away from my Lord. My solat was simply a routine of physical movement (absolutely no form of khusyu' whatsoever), I even delayed praying till the last minute. My fasting was also similar - giving me only hunger and thirst, no purification of the soul achieved. My sadaqah was calculative - I had to ponder over how much I'd lose. Lowering my gaze was something I had trouble in. I took pleasure in listening to wayward music. My heart was absolutely stained with sin.

I shudder to think what would happen if Izrail decided to show up while I was in that heedless state.

*weeps*

The Lord has been Most Kind and Most Gracious to me, allowing me to live long enough to realise my folly. I may have changed now but it only increases my fear of losing such a change and I beg my Lord to "la tudzigh qulubana ba'da idzhadaytana"- not deviate our hearts after He has guided it.

Did we forget that the first question they'll ask in the grave is : "Man Rabbuka?"

"Who is your Lord?"

You don't expect that your dissertation on 'The Political Rise and Fall of Islam in the Modern World' to be able to somehow answer their question, do you?

No, of course not. It is our amal, our ibadah, our devotions to God, our nearness to Him, and obviously His Grace and Mercy that is going to allow us to answer their questions.

Our solat, our fasting, our sadaqah, our recitation of the Quran, our dzikr will defend us in the grave. Back to the question posed again: how good is our solat? How good is our fast? How good is our sadaqah?

For all we know, tomorrow could be our turn to be questioned.

Yet we remain heedless.

I will state here again that I do not condemn the seeking of knowledge of the dunya. I'm just putting things into perspective. It would be better if we knew the calculations for faraid (Islamic inheritance) rather than the theory of relativity. It would be better if we knew the doa upon arising from sitting rather than the latest mathematical theorem. It would be better if we knew the procedures of washing, shrouding and praying for a jenazah rather than debate about Freud and Jung.

I seriously doubt Einstein would have an easier time at the Reckoning than Imam Ghazali (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh raise his degree)

We desperately need a wake up call. We need to return to our roots. We need to go back to our Lord and Cherisher. How much we've forgotten Him. How much we've blinded ourselves with the dunya.

Ya Allah, please remove the love of this world from us. Do not allow us to be blinded by its shining glitter. Do not allow us to be addicted to its amusement and play. Do not allow us to be heedless of what is coming to us.

Ya Allah, if You do not show us the way, we shall certainly be lost.

I know one of the attachments I have with this dunya is this blog itself. I do wonder sometimes whether I should keep it up. I'm not here to get fame, glory, honour in the number of visitors to this blog. I'm not here to show off my so called 'knowledge', if that's what you want to call it. I remember the time when I delayed the 'Asr prayer just because I was composing an entry. Even worse is when the Devil comes in to whisper suggestions about a new entry while I'm at my prayer - thus making me lose my khusyu'!

Therefore this blog will be on hold for 2 weeks, maybe more - while I ponder over the future of its existence.

: Sidetrack :

Last night at about 0200hrs in the morning, my ears sensed something and I was stirred up from rest at the surau of the fire station. It wasn't a fire call or an ambulance call. I heard a low, bass-like sound, something like a horn. Never heard it before. It was quite eerie and strange. The first thing that immediately came to my mind was:

... "O God! Is that Israfil's Horn?" ...

But the earth wasn't shaking ... "Idza zulzizatil ardhu zilzalaha..."

And then my senses came back to me. Faruq, dude, you know the 10 major signs of the Day of Judgement haven't passed yet - so how can it be Israfil's Horn? And only the worst of people would witness the destruction of the universe - so how can it be when Saints of God still roam the earth?

But I already know what I would do if I were to witness the Great Shaking. If I were to really hear Israfil's Horn and experience the convulsions of the earth, I would flee as much I can to the Prophet's (saw) Tomb, weeping my heart out, shrieking out my very soul: "Ya Rasulullah ... ! It is time ... !" and then, insyaAllah, I would faint.

You would think that I'm crazy to the point of being paranoid about this. But I know I would rather be crazy about my Lord's Promise than crazy about the dunya.

May God guide us all.

"Death is Sweet!"

2008-11-29T15:53:00.009+08:00

...bismillah...

Those words still resonate with me. As the writer Layla Mabrouk (Soul's Journey After Death, The Day of Rising) recounts the death throes of her grandmother, in between her gasps of breath, she was uttering: "Allah! Death is sweet!"

For the believer, it certainly is ...

How sweet a reunion, how pleasant a meeting, how magnificent the destination!

I recall the famous song by Ungu, Andai Ku Tahu (If I Only Knew) that describes the sorrows and remorse of the individual at death. It's one of the songs on my playlist and it's definitely a very emotional song. The lyrics script out the plea from the dying one to God, asking for time for repentance. But I do not want Him to delay my death, I do not want Him to prolong my life if He wants it back.

Take me! I want to meet You, my Lord!

Death is sweet!

*weeps*

"If My servant likes to meet Me, I like to meet him; and if he dislikes to meet Me, I dislike to meet him"
- Hadith Qudsi

I know the mountain of sins that I bear upon my back, I know the scarcity of good deeds that I bring with me but I shall not let them overcome me with fear of meeting my Beloved Cherisher, when He calls me back!

If I could ask the Angel of Death one thing before he takes my soul, I would ask:
"O Izrail! Has the Most Merciful of the merciful forgiven me ... ?"

The One I turn to when I'm down, the One I thank when I'm happy, the One I seek refuge in when evil suggestions come to me, the One Who gave me hearing, sight and understanding.

The One Who gave me food to satisfy my hunger, the One Who gave me drink to quench my thirst, the One Whom I have intimate conversations with in the stillness of the night...

The One Who shaped me in my mother's womb as He pleased, the One Who graciously bestowed on me a guardian (father) and an angel (mother) to bring me up from being weak, frail and ignorant to one having strength, knowledge and understanding. The One Who cured me when I'm sick, the One Who gave me life, the One Who takes it away and the One Who will bring me back to life again!

Ya Allah, Ya ArhamarRahimin, Ya Dzal-Jallali-WalIkram!

What an incredibly sweet reunion it will be to meet You, ya Rabbal 'Alamin!

*weeps*

"O Lord God! Give me life for as long as life is better for me, and cause me to die when death is better for me."

"Death is a gift to the believer"
- hadith narrated by al-Hakim al-Nisaburi

What Have I to Do With This World?

2008-11-24T10:37:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

[ Related post: For Richer or Poorer ]

Today, we shall talk about the dunya. The life of this world.

Its allures, its glitter, its glamour, its fortune, its absolutely deceptive illusions.

Now why would I want to talk of something which is already so intertwined in us? The television shows, the football, the movies, the music, the computer games. Aren't we fed up already? Aren't we bored already? Aren't we sick and tired already? The thing is, we aren't - and we will never be until death stares us in the face.

Little wonder then that the Prophet (saw) called it the Ender of Pleasures.

A hadith related from Ibn Asakir that the Prophet (saw) said: "Work for the dunya as if you were to live forever and work for the akhirah as if you were to die tomorrow."

We've heard this hadith often enough. Somehow, we justify to ourselves that: "Hey, the Prophet (saw) said that it's alright to plan for this world as if we're going to live forever." And so we go on busying ourselves with the affairs of this world 'like we're going to live forever.'

Wait a sec, dude. Just wait a sec.

Did you read the second part of the hadith? You did read it didn't you? Or maybe the thought of 'living forever' somehow blinded us to what the Prophet (saw) said after that?

Let me state it again: "...work for the akhirah as if you were to die tomorrow."

Now let me get this straight, would you be busy with amassing wealth 'like you're gonna live forever' when you know you're gonna die tomorrow?

Puts it into perspective doesn't it?

Think for ourselves: what would we be doing if we knew that the Angel of Death would be paying us a visit tomorrow? Planning our next vacation? Scheduling a project meeting? Fishing for a new client?

No! Absolutely not!

If we knew Izrail would be knocking on our door, food wouldn't satiate us, drink wouldn't quench us, sleep wouldn't rejuvenate us and laughing wouldn't cheer us!

We would be on our prayer mats, facing the qibla, bowing, prostrating, weeping till our voices become hoarse, begging and pleading with the Lord the of Mighty Throne to forgive us and accept us as His righteous servants!

We would even be fasting that day!

But, what are we doing ... ? Still we seek the dunya, still we get attracted to it, still we devote most of our time to it. We even try to justify our actions. We do all this and yet we know we may not live tomorrow.

Before I end with what the Prophet (saw) said regarding this world, let me just state for a fact that the hadith I wrote above isn't exactly the right interpretation - but this is how most of us have read it. In fact, the true, traditional interpretation of that hadith goes: "Work for the dunya without haste and work for the akhirah with great urgency." This I've gathered from Imam al-Haddad's (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh raise his degree) The Lives of Man.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what the Prophet (saw) said regarding the dunya, as narrated by Imam Bukhari:

"What have I to do with this world? The likeness of myself and the world is that of a rider travelling on a summer day, who found a tree, rested underneath it awhile, then went on, leaving it behind."

Let us then treat this world as merely a stopover, a transit, to a better and everlasting destination - the Gardens underneath which rivers flow. Let us ensure we bring provisions to enter it.

May Allah Jalla Jallaluh remove the love of this world from our hearts.

Nay, (behold), ye prefer the life of this world

But the Hereafter is better and more enduring
al'Ala : 16 - 17

The Glorious Lamp

2008-11-18T17:58:00.007+08:00

...bismillah...

I had already drafted a post on tips for tahajjud but I just couldn't find the motivation to finish it. So here's a couple of pictures I took of the splendour of the magnificent light that Allah Jalla Jallaluh has subjected for mankind, without which nothing on earth can live.

Startling Fact no. 1
The sun's light takes eight minutes to reach earth.
Yeah, that's right, the light that we use to see is eight-minutes-old.

Startling Fact no. 2
The earth's position relative to the sun is perfect.
Not too near - oceans would boil. Not too far - oceans would freeze.

Startling Fact no. 3
Nuclear reactions take place on the sun at every single second to produce its
tremendous amount of heat and light

I particularly like the 1st and 3rd photos. The first one is like seeing the aura of the sun amidst the tree branches. The 3rd photo is simply fascinating, I was walking along the station's corridor when I noticed a reflection of the sun on the pool of water below - how perfect!

Last but not least, let the Creator of the sun Himself praise it:

By the sun and his (glorious) splendour
ashShams : 1

The Reminder

2008-11-10T18:11:00.003+08:00

...bismillah...

I've made a 'letter-like' presentation on my experience in reading the Holy Quran from cover to cover during the last Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah that I've been able to do so.

What I have to say is not very joyful, but fearful ...

The Reminder

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

How Much Do I Love Thee?

2008-11-07T15:58:00.012+08:00

...bismillah...

How many times have we read or heard about the Prophet (saw) weeping?

I'm sure we've come across quite a number.

I know that when I read about it (his weeping), I just carry on without much thought.

Then, I came across these verses:

"It is not fitting for an apostle that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in Might, Wise."
alAnfal : 67

"Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took."
alAnfal : 68

My mind immediately flashed back to the episode of the captives of Badr. I remember the Prophet (saw) weeping, together with Abu Bakr (ra), when the verses were revealed. Umar (ra), who came to them and saw them weeping, asked for what reason they were weeping, and if he should find a good reason to weep, he would also weep. If he found no reason to weep, he would still weep because they were weeping.

I began to imagine: the Prophet (saw), Abu Bakr (ra) and Umar (ra) weeping ...

Only then did tears start to flow ...

I've never wept or felt even the slightest bit of sadness when I read or hear about the Prophet (saw) weeping. What does that show about my love for him ... ?

When a loved one is sad ... don't you feel sad too ... ?

Ya Rasulullah, is my love for you only in words, and not in my heart ... ?

Ya Rasulullah, how many times have I heard about you weeping, and couldn't care less about it ... ?

Ya Rasulullah, how much you've shed your pristine tears for us, while we don't weep together with you ... ?

*weeps*

For Richer or Poorer

2008-11-02T11:22:00.016+08:00

...bismillah...

This post is in no way discouraging being rich - for the grateful rich man is better than the poor worshipper. A lot can be done by having the money and the wealth - both for good and evil. I'm merely writing this (borne out of inspiration from this discussion - 40th comment onwards) to serve as a reminder for us. I'm also writing being an ex-I-want-to-be-the-next-millionaire.

First, a very relevant story, from Idries Shah's The Way of the Sufi:

The Five Hundred Gold Pieces

One of Junaid's followers came to him with a purse containing five hundred gold pieces.

"Have you any more money than this?" asked the Sufi.

"Yes, I have."

"Do you desire more?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then you must keep it, for you are more in need than I - for I have nothing and desire nothing. You have a great deal and still want more."

. . . . . . .

In this day and age, the fitnah of wealth is truly great.

The richest 2% own more than half of the world's wealth.

Read that again.

Do we now wonder why Sayidina Abu Bakar (ra) waged war on those who refused to pay the zakat?

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

Like in the story, we have wealth, yet we want more. Sure, we want more money so we can change the world! End poverty! Feed the hungry! How sure are we that we'll be doing that once our bank account grows to 7 zeroes? For all we know, the filthy rich had that same intention in mind when they weren't rich yet!

We still love our wealth, we sure do.

If we can lose $10,000 overnight without batting an eyelid, then that's a different story.

Look at the story of the invesments linked with Lehman Brothers. The investors are all complaining that they lost money. They still love their money! Of course, who doesn't?

They had $10,000, they had $50,000, they had $100,000. Yet they wanted more (hence they invested).

Now that all is gone, everyone's complaining.

The love of wealth is indeed strong.

The wealthy Companions (ra) distributed their wealth because they had no love for it! Zuhud. No attachments. What of us? Even giving a small donation can make us hesitant - the Devil threatening us with poverty.

The Evil one threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. Allah promiseth you His Forgiveness and Bounties. And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.
alBaqarah : 268

That is precisely what we should fear in ourselves - the love of wealth.
And we aren't even rich yet!

What's more, the rich man will have a longer time standing on the Day of Accounting.
He has to account for every single cent of his wealth!

It takes less time to account for a man with $100 than a man with $1,000,000, does it not?

Even after all this, the rich man who is proper with his wealth, gains a higher standing than the poor one.

If you think you are able to fulfill that trust, then go ahead. It's between you and Allah Jalla Jallaluh.

May Allah Jalla Jallaluh remove the love of wealth from us.

The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things)
atTakathur : 1

"Let's go up and meet the angels!"

2008-10-28T08:25:00.004+08:00

...bismillah...

Taken from The Hundred Tales of Wisdom by Idries Shah:

On Maulana Jallaludin Rumi's (may Allah Jalla Jallaluh raise his degree) youth and childhood, it was narrated that when Maulana was just six years of age, he was at play on the roof of his house with some friends of about the same age.

While at their games, a boy must have suggested hopping from one roof to another. Maulana is reported to have remarked that that sort of play was but a game of cats and dogs; and so it was a shame that they should involve themselves in such inferior playfulness.

He cried: "Let's go up to the skies and meet the angels!"

Having said thus, he disappeared from the sight of his young companions. The shocked boys raised a ruckus and thus news of the incident became widespread. Not long after, when he reappeared, he was pale and a little scared.

He said: "While I was talking to you, a group of men in green mantles descended from the skies upon me and raised me up into the heavens above and took me around celestial locations, and I heard the commotion over my flight and these creatures returned me back to you."

. . . . . . .

SubhanAllah ...

If only we had such certainty, such belief, such displeasure at what the dunya has to offer ...

The next time we feel tempted at the glitter and glory of this world ...

Look Up To The Heavens!

The Almighty King

2008-10-24T18:10:00.018+08:00

...bismillah...

If all the sins of mankind, if all the sins of jinn, if all the sins of creation were combined...
It would not encompass His Boundless Mercy.

Truly, He is the All-Merciful.

If all mankind disbelieved, if all jinn disbelieved, if all creation disbelieved...
It would not decrease the Eminence of His Kingdom.

Truly, He is the Absolute Sovereign.

If all mankind were believers, if all jinn were believers, if all creation were believers...
It would not increase the Greatness of His Majesty.

Truly, He is the Almighty King.

If all mankind were to plot, if all jinn were to plot, if all creation were to plot...
It would not come into being without His Power.

Truly, He is the All-Powerful.

For, when He intends a thing ...

Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is: "Be!" and it is!YaSin : 82

And He does what He pleases ...

He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth: for Allah has Power over all things
alBaqarah : 284

Because ...

And for Him is no fear of its consequences
ashShams : 15

Are we not afraid ... ?

*weeps*

Love Thy Enemy

2008-10-22T17:14:00.006+08:00

...bismillah...

Repel evil with that which is best: We are well aquainted with the things they say

alMu'minun : 96

How do we respond to evil? With goodness.

Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!

Fussilat : 34

Indeed! Allah Jalla Jallaluh indicates here that even the meanest of enemies can become our very best friend - if only we treat them with good when they treat us with evil. But! There is a condition! The next verse states:

And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint - none but persons of the greatest good fortune

Fussilat : 35

Ibn Kathir relates that those people who actually respond to evil with goodness are those who have a high-degree of patience. To treat people kindly the one who treats him badly, so as to soften his heart and turn his enmity into friendship and to turn his hatred to love.

And what a beautiful example we have of this in our Prophet (saw)! I'd like to relate a story which moved me to tears when I first heard it.

In the corner of the marketplace of Madinah, was a blind Jewish beggar, who would cry out daily to all those who came near him," O my brothers, don't be near Muhammad! He's a lunatic, he's a liar, a sorcerer! If you are to be close to him, you will be influenced by him!"

No matter whoever approached him, the blind Jewish beggar will definitely not waste his chance to incite them to hate the Prophet Muhammad, Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam (peace be upon him)! All kinds of curses would spew forth from the beggar's lips even though he had never known the Prophet personally! The news about the blind Jewish beggar's daily cursing and badmouthing him came to the knowledge of the Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam! Even then, the Holy Prophet Muhammad did not get angry and he ignored the blind Jewish beggar's insults against himself!

On the contrary, from that day onwards, at each morning, the Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam visited the blind beggar and brought food for him! Without saying a single word, the Blessed Messenger (peace be upon him) would feed the beggar with his own hand! The blind beggar would chew the food being fed to him and eat contentedly. Once he was full, he'd express his gratitude without knowing that the one who had fed him was the Holy Prophet of Allah, Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam! The Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam continued to feed the blind beggar without fail each day till the day he died!

The blind Jewish beggar waited daily and was perplexed as to why the kind man did no longer come to feed him and provide for him as he had done all this while. The blind beggar waited in vain for the kind gentleman who had never missed visiting him each and every morning all this while.

One day, the closest Companion of the Holy Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam, Saiyidina Abu Bakar As Siddiq @ The Truthful One, Radhiallahu Anhu (May Allah be pleased with him) visited the home of his daughter, Saiyidatina Aishah, Radhiallahu Anha (May Allah be pleased with her), the widow of the Blessed Messenger (SAW). Abu Bakar asked Aishah, "O my child, is there any habit of my beloved (Prophet) that I have yet to carry on?" Aisyah replied, "Dear Father, you are verily a follower of the Sunnah (Habits) of the Prophet and there is none that you have yet to do except for one deed only!" "What is that?" asked Abu Bakar. "Every morning, the Prophet of Allah will go to the end of the marketplace, bringing food to a blind old Jewish beggar who lives there and feed him by his hand," said Aishah.

The next day, Abu Bakar As Siddiq went to the marketplace with food for the blind beggar. Abu Bakar As Siddiq approached the beggar and started to feed him. At the first handfull of food being fed to him, the blind Jewish beggar became angry and shouted out,"Who are you?" Abu Bakar answered, "I am the one who usually feeds you every morning." "No! Don't you lie to me!" objected the blind beggar. Abu Bakar was shocked, thus he asked, "Why do you say so?" Answered the blind Jewish beggar," Because when he comes to me, I always felt it easy to hold his hand and found it easy to chew the food he fed me! The man who used to feed me would make the food fine before feeding it to me!"

Abu Bakar As Siddiq could not hold back his tears anymore and he burst out crying and had to disclose who he actually was to the beggar. "Verily, I am not the one who used to come and feed you. I am one of his Companions for the noble one is alive no more! He was none other than the Blessed Prophet of Allah, Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam!" "Muhammad?" asked the blind old Jewish beggar, totally shocked with what he had just heard. "You mean to tell me that the one who came each morning without fail and fed me by his hand was Muhammad?" asked the beggar.

"Yes! It was Muhammad!" answered Abu Bakar. Immediately, the blind old Jewish beggar wailed out in despair and cried so pitifully coming to realise that it was none other than the Holy Prophet who had been feeding him all this while. "All these while!...all these while, I had been cursing him, I had been slandering him! Not once has he ever scolded me ! He kept coming every morning to feed me! He is so noble!.." cried the old blind Jewish beggar as he wiped away his flowing tears on his cheeks. The blind beggar reached out to Saiyidina Abu Bakar As Siddiq, the first Caliph of the Muslims and testified before him the Kalimah Shahadah :'Ash har doo Allah ila ha ill lall Lah! Wa ash har doo anna Muhammad darr Rasulullah!' declaring that There is No God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah! From that moment onwards, the blind old Jewish beggar became a Muslim.

*weeps*

How beautiful you are O Beloved Of God ... !

Such is your character that God Himself praised you ... !

And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character

alQalam : 4

Shaykh Affefuddin related that this verse could be interepreted as the Prophet (saw) having a character that is 'above' exalted - when taking into account the Arab word 'Ala' meaning 'above'. MasyaAllah!

This video highlights another instance of the Prophet (saw) responding to evil.

Truly, you are beautiful, Ya Nabi!

Ya Allah, help us to emulate Your Beloved!

Lower Your Gaze!

2008-10-16T15:13:00.013+08:00

...bismillah...

[ Related post: It Starts With the Look ]

Just an awesome, awesome poem I found (you could rap to it!):

Remember the Order to Lower Your Gaze

As the heat gets hotter…. as the sun gets brighter
As they take it all off…. as their 'burden' gets lighter

When you feel the temptation as they roam half naked
When you think for sure that you just can't make it

Remember O Muslim the perfect instructions
Remember not to give in to those temptations

Through the lure, the enticement and through the haze
Remember the order…..to lower your gaze

Don't go to such places….don't go to the beaches
Remember the lessons ....remember what Islam teaches

Don't sit idle in the street nor visit the mall
When you know they are going to bare it all

Now, I know it isn't easy….. its hard not to stare
Its difficult to look away when its all there

But, don't feed your lust, nor set it ablaze
Remember the order…. to lower your gaze

What's the harm in it, they say. It's nothing but fun!
If I look at some bodies bathing in the sun!

A lustful look towards the opposite gender
Is all that it takes to set off the trigger

It leads to sin and abomination
It paves the way for fornication

Don't take it so lightly, don't think it's a phase
Remember the order…. to lower your gaze

Watch out for that arrow….the arrow from Satan
The one you're warned about….laden with poison

The arrow that is aimed towards your very heart
When it reaches its target, it leaves a black mark

It infects your heart and leaves it vulnerable
for Satan to take over and do as he is able

Recall the Prophet's words for he told no lies
"Looking at something forbidden is the zinaa of the eyes."

Don't look at anything haraam, that's what he said
So when temptation passes by…..just turn away your head

Just lower your gaze…..don't give that second look
For you never know when you get caught by the hook

A lustful glance….then the talk …..then the meeting
You know what comes next….after all the flirting

Fornication is major. "Don't even come near it.
"It starts with that first look, every Muslim should fear it

So lower your gaze…. don't look at haraam
Strive for good deeds….they work like a charm

If you are able then do get married
That's what the Prophet alaihis-salaam instructed

Keep voluntary fasts….they will make you strong
Being a good Muslim, you surely can't go wrong

A part of his character is the Muslim's gaze
So fear Allaah as you spend these summer days

Ask Allaah to help you….you'll find Him there
And never underestimate the power of prayer

Not only in the streets, remember O Muslim
Lower your gaze when watching television

The shows….the sitcoms…..the underwear ads
The suggestive scenes….the fashions and the fads

Day in and day out, we watch haraam and yet….
when 'Baywatch' comes on, we don't turn off the set

Did you forget the Day when Allaah will ask you
of every look you cast….every glance you threw

So where will you hide….what will you do
That Day your eyes will witness against you

Remember, the beauty of this world is temporary
The question is then….will you be able to carry

Your head up high in front of the Almighty
When you stand on a Day, so long so dreary?

You are the best Ummah….the Model Community
Custodians of Truth…Upholders of Morality

So fight the Shaytaan, stop him in his wickedness
Lower your gaze, ask for Allaah's forgiveness

And thank Allaah O Muslim and realize
The greatest blessing is a pair of eyes

Don't use it to disobey Him, don't earn His Displeasure
For you will be asked what you did with this treasure

It is not too late….to repent….to amend
Start now….by lowering your gaze my friend

Source: http://www.lutonmuslims.co.uk/lowergazepoem.htm

Again, these guys have it bad only during Summer. We have it bad all year round!

I would like to highlight the part where the poem advises not to go to such places where we will find ourselves immersed and in point-blank range of the poisoned arrows of the Devil. Need I mention Orchard? We don't even need to go there. In our own neighbourhood we can easily become targets of the devilish arrows.

There are people who make this a pastime - sitting idly, people-watching. "Cuci mata" they say. More like filling black marks upon the heart! A totally black heart unable to reflect the Light of the Lord!

In this day and age, it is much wiser to stay at home rather than go outside and become baits for the Dajjal. Of course we need to step outside the house to fulfill certain duties. But once done, get home. Do not linger and 'hang out'. This is what the Prophet (saw) meant when he said, narrated by Abu Hurayra (ra): "Whoever exposes himself to these afflictions, will be destroyed by them. So whoever can find a place of protection or refuge from them, should take shelter in it."

In his book The Approach of Armageddon, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani describes in the chapter 'Thirty Liars' the massive amounts of trials and tribulations that are to occur in the Last Age (the one we're in). As with the above hadith, the Shaykh relates several others and concludes that needlessly going outside - to cafes, restaurants, malls, will only expose ourselves to such afflictions.

He advises us to get to and from work directly without unnecessary stops or delays. We shouldn't get involved in anything, mix anywhere, associate with this or that, or interfere in politics or fighting.

When the situation is this bad - trials and tribulations around every corner, it is better to stay home and increase one's devotions. Praying, reciting the Quran, dzikr.

In Sahih Muslim, Ma'qil Ibn Yasar (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said: "Worshipping during the period of widespread turmoil is like emigration towards me."

Let us strive to emigrate to the Prophet (saw)!

The paragraph below is taken from: Lower Your Gaze!!!

[ In our wedding ceremonies and parties and even in many Islamic fundraising dinners, there is heavy free-mixing between brothers and sisters. Often the chairs of males and females are arranged facing each other, knowing that about 90 percent of our sisters do no wear hijab. It is often noticeable to see males and females peeking glances at each other from the opposite ends of the hall. A big curtain is not my intention, but a big and befitting Islamic manners is. ]

It doesn't matter whether the sisters wear hijab or not, does it? Lustful glances still occur, do we want to deny it? Even in 'Islamic' situations it is hard to avoid such trials.

I seek refuge with Allah Jalla Jallaluh from saying things which I do not do.

May Allah Jalla Jallaluh guide us.