Saturday, November 29, 2014

Cantik Untuk Siapa?

Source: Google Image
Wujudkah perempuan yang tidak suka apabila dikatakan dirinya cantik? Mungkin ada segelintir yang benci dipuji rupawan, tetapi untuk entri ini kita memukul rata yang semua perempuan suka apabila ada yang memujinya cantik. Tambahan pula jika yang memuji itu pasangan dan ahli keluarga. Ya, saya juga termasuk dalam golongan umum itu, besar hati apabila dipuji cantik. Kesimpulannya, kerana mahukan pengiktirafan dari orang lain yang dirinya cantik, perempuan boleh jadi hilang keyakinan diri, obses yang dirinya banyak cacat cela, malah boleh membawa sakit mental dan jiwa.

Malah perempuan yang dianggap cantik oleh majoriti masyarakat turut merasakan dirinya masih ada kekurangan. Begitu sekali penangan tekanan daripada pandangan orang. Sebagai Muslim, sewajarnya kita maklum yang bukan pandangan manusia yang kita cari, sebaliknya pandangan Allah yang paling utama. Tetapi cakap lebih senang dari praktikal bukan. Hati tersentuh juga apabila sahabat atau saudara mara mendapat sanjungan, tetapi diri sendiri tiada siapa peduli.

Sejujurnya, saya juga mengalami ‘inferiority complex’ dalam bab kecantikan fizikal ini. Selalu mengingatkan diri yang dunia ini tidak kekal agar tidak terus-terusan luntur keyakinan diri, namun sering kalah dengan penyakit hati dan nafsu cintakan dunia. Kemudian berlanjutan merasakan diri sendiri mangsa yang sebenarnya tidak ada apa yang hendak dimangsakan.

Ditakdirkan Allah, baru-baru ini saya mendengar siri kuliah oleh Brother Nouman Ali Khan bertajuk ‘Hijab’ di Bayyinah TV yang saya langgani sejak tahun lepas. (Please1000x subscribe Bayyinah TV, insya Allah banyak sangat manfaatnya) Beliau menyentuh tentang keobsesan wanita dalam bab mahu cantik dan dipandang cantik. Antara ayat beliau yang sangat menyentap ialah, “If you are so obsessed with physical beauty, you will not have time to be obsessed with Allah.” Ok, sangat kelu lepas dengar ayat tersebut. Rasa macam kena tujah di batang hidung.

Tetapi point beliau yang paling memberi impak kepada saya apabila beliau menyebut yang wanita tidak perlu bersusah payah menanti dan mengharap pengiktirafan kecantikan daripada manusia. Allah S.W.T sendiri telah mengiktirafnya di dalam Surah An-Nur Ayat 31:

"Dan katakanlah kepada perempuan-perempuan yang beriman supaya menyekat pandangan mereka (daripada memandang yang haram), dan memelihara kehormatan mereka; dan janganlah mereka memperlihatkan perhiasan tubuh mereka kecuali yang zahir daripadanya;" (hingga akhir terjemahan)

"dan janganlah"


“ mereka memperlihatkan perhiasan tubuh mereka kecuali yang zahir daripadanya”

Petikan ayat di atas saya telah baca dan dengar entah berapa kali, tetapi tidak pernah saya menerima penjelasan dari perspektif seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Ustaz Nouman. Beliau menjelaskan, di dalam ayat tersebut: Allah mengesahkan yang wanita itu walaupun sudah menutup aurat, kecantikannya akan tetap terzahir. Bagi wanita mungkin dia merasakan, jika sudah tutup-tutup bagaimana kecantikannya akan disedari orang. Tetapi Allah sendiri, Pencipta wanita sudah berfirman, kecantikan wanita itu memang akan terzahir. Kalau Pencipta kita sendiri yang Maha Tahu sudah mengiktiraf sedemikian, perlukah lagi pengiktirafan manusia yang terbatas pengetahuannya? Allahu Akbar. Perspektif ini sangat memberi kesan kepada cara saya berfikir dan Alhamdulillah mendapat kekuatan untuk berhenti memangsakan diri.

Tetapi jangan pula, mentang-mentang Allah sudah mengiktiraf kita cantik, kita ambil jalan mudah tidak mahu menjaga kesihatan, tidak mahu membersihkan diri pula ya.

Insya Allah di akhirat nanti, kalau di dunia kita berusaha untuk menjadi orang soleh, semua orang cantik-cantik dan muda belaka. Oleh itu, “Let us be obsessed with seeking Allah’s pleasure.” Peringatan untuk diri sendiri lebih-lebih lagi. Allah Knows Best. 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Prophet S.A.W: An Exceptional Leader (Battle of Uhud Case)

This entry is based on a session given by Sheikh Abu Bakar Zoud at Twins Of Faith Conference held in Sydney on April this year. Alhamdulillah, Allah had granted me the rizq (blessing) of being one of the conference participants.  Adhering to its theme, The Sunnah The Better, I have gained so many eye-opening, Iman-boosting knowledge conveyed by established and renowned speakers. While I am quite familiar with most of the speakers, I never heard about Sheikh Abu Bakar Zoud at the time of conference. Still in his twenties, and yet his speech was so profound and touches different perspectives, masya Allah. His specialty and focus is Quran studies, which is the aspect that I have been delving myself into these recent years and so dear to my heart. ­I have noticed for quite some time that I am actually older or around the same age of many contemporary wonderful Muslim scholars. Sheikh Nouman Ali Khan is only a year older than me and Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda is of my age. I am also pretty sure that the likes of Sheikh Omar Suleiman and Sheikh Daood Butt are more or less around my age too. Such a wake-up call for me to hasten towards improving myself and to stop giving excuses. 

There are many instances and subjects which highlight the exemplary leadership of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. One of them is the Battle of Uhud. Battle of Uhud is known as one of the most trying times in the seerah and it really signifies the characteristic of our beloved Prophet S.A.W as the true leader.

The best way of teaching is to find the right way to teach

Prophet S.A.W assigns commander for every group prior to the battle.Jabal Uhud is a strategic location, its function is analogous to a security camera for the battle. 50 archers were appointed there. The battle was being won until the archers were losing discipline which led to casualties of 70 martyrs.

With the sad outcome of the battle, Prophet S.A.W had every right to be upset with the companions who left the mountain.  The companions felt guilty over what happened. Allah guides Prophet S.A.W in dealing with them as revealed in Surah Aal-Imran Ayat 159:


So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].

Leniency in leadership

Due to the remarkable Mercy of Allah Azza Wa Jalla, Allah has ordered Prophet Muhammad S.A.W to be lenient towards his subordinates.
How can we practice the lesson? When dealing with people under your supervision who do mistakes, hide your anger while speaking to them. If you are tough in speech or being hard they will run from you.

”lanfaddhu” means: run away or broken away like the way glass is shattered. If glass breaks, it can’t be grouped back together.
  
Handling tough situation

Being a leader is a tough responsibility by itself and it’s much tougher for Rasulullah S.A.W after the calamity of Battle of Uhud because he was going to meet the 35 companions who left their positions during the battle. Allah ‘Azza Wa Jalla has outlined three-step process in Surah Aal-Imran ayat 159:
  • Forgive them lovingly, Allah uses the term ‘fa’fu an hum’ not ‘faghfir lahum1. However, after forgiving them, there might be some bitterness left in the heart. Thus the next step.
  • Ask Allah to forgive them, it is a proof that nothing else remains in your heart. Nevertheless, you may feel that things will not be the same as before. Proceed to next step.
  • Consult them in your affairs: “wa shaawir hum fil amri”. Psychologically they will be convinced that Rasulullah S.A.W will have nothing more against them.
May Allah grant us strength to exemplify Rasulullah S.A.W in every aspect of our life, Allahumma Aameen.


Afw means to pardon, to excuse for a fault or an offense or a discourtesy, waiver of punishment and amnesty. Examples of usage in the Qur'an are verses 42:40, 2:187 and 5:95.
Ghafara
 or maghfira means to cover, to forgive and to remit. Examples of usage in the Qur'an are verses 2:263, 42:37 and 43:43.