Saturday, August 29, 2015

Exploring Emotions

source: flickr

It’s a journey. 
A complex, yet a wonderful journey. 
Exploring own emotions and feelings, that is.

You will never know the feeling of being loved until someone loves you.

You will never know the feeling of loving until you open your heart to love.

You will never know the feeling of getting hurt until you are being hurt yourself.

You will never know the feeling of disappointment until something frustrates you.

You will never know the emptiness of losing your loved one.
Until your loved one departs from this temporary world.

When you get to experience the emotion, you will think to yourself, so this is how it feels.

Discovered emotion can make you better or bitter.
Discovered emotion can also make you stronger or weaker.
Discovered emotion can also make you wiser or sillier.

Fragile human, you are.
Laugh if you please.
Weep if you may

Just trust The Creator of Emotions
The ultimate contentment is not in this world.
For now, just savor this journey of emotions.

And be grateful…



Brisbane, QLD. 29/8/15


“And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep” (Quran 53:43)

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Perih Pelangi



Munculku bukan selalu
Usai hujan yang muram
Panas yang ceria
Buatku teruja
Menampakkan diri
Membiaskan rona tujuh warna
Indah tidak tergambar bicara

Kerana Allah Maha Mencipta
Merangka segala
Mewajarkan kehambaan
Kepada Yang Maha Bijaksana
Pencipta keajaiban alam semesta
Juga Yang Maha Tahu
Sempadan dan panduan kehidupan

Aku pilu
Aku ciptaan Allah Maha Teliti
Dijadikan lambang nafsu syaitan
Bergegar jalur-jalur biasanku
Menangisi keingkaran manusia
Yang bertuhankan akal mereka
Sedang aku tidak pernah leka
Bertasbih memuji kebesaranNya

Hadirku tidak lama
Begitu juga kamu
Manusia yang ingkar
Bersegeralah mencariNya
Gapai redhaNya
Bukan kesenangan yang fana



Friday, June 26, 2015

The Grace of Allah and His Mercy

I am really sorry my blog for ignoring you this long. Reflection is vital at this point. I need to revisit my intention for starting this blog more than 10 years ago, masya Allah that long. It started as a place for pouring my personal emotion and observation. As years gone by, I don’t feel comfortable exposing myself here anymore. Alhamdulillah I have found the best way of seeking refuge, the same way most Muslims do.
Thus, the need for realigning the intention and direction of this blog. Let this be one of my amal jariah through sharing a minute amount of knowledge that I gain from great teachers. May Allah grant them all the highest of paradise aameen. And may we be able to benefit and practise from my sharing here insya Allah.

I am currently studying Hadeeth 40 of Imam An-Nawawi. This entry is about the 37th Hadeeth:
********************************************************************************************************

source: http://40hadithnawawi.com/index.php/the-hadiths/hadith-37

On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), from what he has related from his Lord:
 Verily Allah Ta’ala has written down the good deeds and the evil deeds, and then explained it [by saying]: “Whosoever intended to perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as from
ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied. And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended it [i.e., the evil deed] and then performed it, then Allah writes it down as one evil deed.”

[Bukhari & Muslim]

This is one of Hadeeth Qudsi. Additional reading about Hadeeth Qudsi here.

What are the differences between ayat from the Holy Quran dan hadeeth qudsi?

  • We can’t recite hadith qudsi in solat, because it’s not part of the Holy Quran
  • The reward of reciting hadeeth qudsi is not like the reward of reciting quran as stated in the following authentic hadeeth:
 A Muslim will be rewarded for each and every letter he/she reads. In an authentic hadith it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever reads a letter from the Allah’s Book, he will be rewarded for it. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “alif, laam, meem” is one letter, but “alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter.” (At-Tirmithi)
  • Quran is mutawatir (passed on from generation to generation), hadeeth qudsi may not necessarily be
  • Quran is preserved and miracle, hadeeth qudsi not necessarily.
  • Quran is a miracle and can’t be matched, while it is not the case with Hadeeth Qudsi. 
  • Hadeeth Qudsi also subjects to status authenticity

There are discussions among scholars that hadeeth qudsi is actually the paraphrasing of Allah’s words.

Whoever intends to do good…

Intention of doing good requires the following conditions:
  •  Not random thoughts
  • Rather it’s a resolution

Are a person’s thoughts accountable?

“To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will bring you to account for it. Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.” (Holy Quran 2:284)

However, the next two verses show the great Mercy of Allah Azza Wa Jalla.

“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." (Holy Quran 2:285-286)

When a bad thought enters the mind…

What to do?

“And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.(Holy Quran 7:200)

Seek refuge from Allah from evil thoughts. Don’t entertain the evil thoughts, the more you entertain the more likely you’ll do it.

Intending good but not acting…

  • Scenario 1: takes all means necessary to do the action but isn’t successful – rewarded with full good deed

“And whoever emigrates for the cause of Allah will find on the earth many [alternative] locations and abundance. And whoever leaves his home as an emigrant to Allah and His Messenger and then death overtakes him - his reward has already become incumbent upon Allah. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful. (Holy Quran 4:100)
  • Scenario 2: intends to do something good but leaves it and does something better – rewarded for the action done and for the intention of the good deed that was replaced.
  • Scenario 3: Intending to do good but leave it out of laziness… (this one really resonates with me T_T) – still rewarded for the good intention, masya Allah! 
  • Scenario 4: intending to do good and does it, get 10 times reward.

“Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.” (Holy Quran 6:160)

Factors that increase one’s reward…

-        Time related, for e.g. Lailatul Qadr and 10 days of Zulhijjah
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Holy Quran 97:3)
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adha”. It was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for Jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari

-          Location-related: Solat in Masjid Al Aqsa, Masjid An-Nabawi and Masjid Al-Haram.
It is narrated by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad and also by Ibn Maajah and others on the authority of Jaabir r.a. that the Prophet S.A.W said: ''The prayer in my mosque (Al-Madeenah mosque) is better than one thousand prayers in any other mosque with the exception of Al-Haraam mosque, and a prayer in Al-Haraam mosque is better than 100,000 prayers." Husayn (one of the narrators) said: "in other mosques."

-     Type of action: compulsory actions are more important than those which are voluntary.
-       Sincerity in doing the action: the more sincere the greater the reward.
-       Following the way of the Prophet S.A.W, sincerity only is not enough.

Intending to do bad and not doing it…
  • Does not do it for fear or love of Allah: rewarded with complete good deed.
  • Takes all the means but incapable to do it: bad deed written on the account.
  • Doesn’t do it for no reason: nothing bad or good is written.
Summary

In relation to reward, Allah uses the term complete (Kaamilah). While for sin, Allah uses the term single (Waahidah) for the punishment. What do these signify?
  • Care of Allah for His slaves.
  • It doesn’t mean that all sins are the same (some are worse than others)

Take note that some people give false excuse that they do sin because Allah has written their deeds. Whereas, we are actually given choice to pursue a bad action or a good action.


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.