H-E-L-L-O

Alighting off the train,
Stepping on the platform,
With bated breath I looked up,
To the signboard that confirmed…
My being in this place.

Flying kisses I sent,
To the very air that blows,
To let others know,
That I am back again…

Traipsing down the streets,
That I never thought I would walk on again,
Climbing up the hill,
That once had led me home,
Bringing so much memory,
A pang of sweet angst,
Clawed in my heart.

Tears prickled at the back of my eyes,
As the bus passed by Pierrepoint Street,
Turning about the corner,
Watching those old, Victorian buildings,
Standing still so majestically,
Though aeons have passed.

Parade Garden too,
As lovely as I could remember,
Reminiscing the time I spent there,
Basking in the summer shine,
With book in hand,
And joy in heart.

Then its ascend at Bathwick Hill,
That leads to the University,
The familiar earache I felt,
That only the treacherous route could caused,
Brings fresh tears,
That I was trying so hard to hold…

Finally I arrived,
Lo and behold,
I am back again…
To the start of where,
All the memoirs are created.

The air undoubtedly is colder,
Its iciness seeped through my skin,
But I mind that not in the least,
For it is the distinct quality of the place.

I wandered around the Uni,
As far as my feet would allow me,
Each step reminded me,
Of the past events that it held.

I wanted to scream my heart out,
To let others know how I feel,
But with dignity I hold back,
And my heart full of praises,
To the Lord that made this feasible.

The bustles in the Parade,
The quacking sound of the ducks,
The calmness of the lake,
The shine bouncing off the Library glass…
Another familiar sight,
Another pang of memories.

Hello again, then I said,
To this place that too,
Has earned a special place in my heart,
Then, now… and for time to come.

Alhamdulillah

Farewell

The crowd is overwhelming,
The emotions are too much,
Sadness I could feel,
Deep inside me.

I could feel they're being pulled,
From their firmly-rooted place,
Slowly but definitely,
Inch by inch,
Creeping on… to let,
The emotions get illuminated,
For tears to flood my face.

But strong I have to be,
At trying times like this,
Strength to go on,
So they won’t see me weakening,
Else it’ll be hard,
For them and for me.

Thus this façade I put on,
A masquerade of delight,
And a smile I plastered,
Goodbyes are said,
Respects to elders are given,
With leaden heart I left,
The pool of smiling faces.

Adieu I whispered,
Silently so they won’t hear,
To this place that I …
Called home.

In contrast to the normal warning, you definitely can try this at home!

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh

I caught a glimpse of the sky today. It was blue. A real nice shade of blue. In contrast to that, pure whiteness of the clouds too I can see. And only by looking at that, I feel amazed. I am still amazed! I remembered quickly that all those are in favours of Allah, for ‘tis Him who made it so. Masya Allah : )

I lowered my gaze. Beholding my sight is the greenness of lush tree tops. Is it not a wonder to us that, though the sun shining so brightly that its intensity could burn, but the leaves and the grass, despite the dazzling shine, still maintain their life even though its water content could evaporate, leaving them dry and lifeless? Such were the intricate yet absolute arrangement that has been drawn by our Lord… in order that we may live in this world comfortably.

Having said that, I wanted to share this piece of commentary that I stumbled upon. It’s interesting that he/she wrote it in response to the saying:

"A picture speaks a thousand words…”

Ada pepatah mengatakan: “Satu gambar itu dapat mengkompilasikan seribu kata-kata…” Benarkah itu? Aku mengambil maksud pepatah itu sebagai cabaran; jika ia benar… seribu kata itu tidak akan datang dengan begitu mudah. Lalu aku mengambil keputusan untuk mencoba melakarkan suatu gambaran yang sangat klise dengan mengunakan bahasa demi menyahut kebenaran pepatah itu. Izinkan aku mengorak kata-kata terhadap pandangan ku ke atas gambar ini. Sekeping gambar yang menunjukkan waktu senja di tepi pantai.

Aku melihat persisiran pantai yang bermandikan warna langit. Indahnya pemandangan yang mencuri penglihatan ku. Dapat aku bayangkan… bunyi angin yang menderu, menyebabkan ketenangan laut berkocak, lalu ombak tercipta. Lantaran itu, air laut terdorong hingga ke persisiran pantai, membasahi pasir-pasir yang kering sebelum kembali semula ke dasar laut. Itulah rutin pasang surutnya air di tepi pantai. Kerana olesan air dipermukaan pasir yang tersusun rapi disebelah laut, menyebabkan refleksi warna langit terjadi… mencipta suatu visual yang memukau.

Aku melihat warna kuning, jingga, ungu... warna awan saling bertukar ganti dengan setiap kadar yang bergerak dengan aksi turunnya bebola jingga yang seawalnya terang menghias siang. Bebola matahari. Turunnya di waktu senja, menurut titah Tuhannya, bagi memberi ruang kepada malam untuk melabuhkan tirainya, agar bulan bisa menyinar, agar bintang bisa memagari bentangan langit yang luas. Namun warna langit tetap dengan birunya yang mendamaikan. Sebentar cuma sebelum bertukar menjadi pekatnya hitam… menandakan tibanya malam. Waktu yang diperintahkan untuk datang setiap hari bagi memberi kesempatan kepada manusia untuk melempiaskan lelah, bagi merehatkan otot-otot yang bekerja keras disiang hari. Ah, alangkah indahnya percaturan alam yang dimainkan oleh Sang Pencipta.

Lantas aku teringat kepada sepotong dzikir harian, yang mengulas tentang pertukarannya siang kepada malam. Ianya suatu aksi menunjukkan kekuasaan Sang Khaliq, bagi mengingati umat manusia yang kian lalai dibuai dunia:

“Sesungguhnya Engkau Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu. Engkau masukkan malam kedalam siang dan Engkau masukkan siang kedalam malam.” (Ali Imran)

Indahnya kata-kata Allah... tiada yang bisa mengalahkannya. Walau dengan sepotong ayat sekalipun, aku terpegun namun tiada kata dapat ku lakarkan bagi mendefininasikan perasaan ku. Rasa itu lahir dari batin, tidak terungkapkan secara zahirnya. Mungkin kerana itu lah juga pepatah itu wujud.

Aku pikir aku bisa menulis seribu patah perkataan. Namun, kerana wujudnya batasan bahasa yang sedikit cuma aku ketahui bagi mengambarkannya... aku gagal. Lalu aku akur bahawa sememangnya... “Satu gambar itu lebih banyak berkata…” Andaian ku salah dan pepatah itu benar.

A. Mohamad - (Jumlah kata: 383)

_____

So, can you write a thousand words worth trying to describe a picture? It isn’t easy I tell you (because I’ve tried and failed too! :S But it’s worth the effort) and I think so should you :D

This festive season...

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh...

This greeting is a little late but nevertheless, I - on the behalf of the ex-six-thornbankers - would like to wish you a very happy lebaran! So:

Selamat Hari Raya

Salam Idul Fitri

Eid Mubarak

Taqabballahu Minna wa Minkum

Mohon maaf atas segala silap langkah dan kata yang pernah kami lakukan sepanjang persahabatan kami, sama ada disenghajakan mahupun tidak disenghajakan C:

p.s: Was about to put in a picture of us celebrating raya in 6 Thornbanks but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I could not post it in :|

Jaga Hati, Jaga Imaan,

Jaga Diri, Jaga Perbatasan

Nukilanku tentang cinta...

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh.

Coretan hari ini saya mulakan dengan kalimah Basmalah, "Bismillahhir Rahmaannir Rahmeen" agar kesempurnaan yang terupaya dapat dikecapi.

Para pembaca sekalian, mungkin anda semua berasa hairan mengapakah saya mengunakan Bahasa Melayu baku bagi coretan ini. Akan tetapi, tidakkah anda sekalian berasa hairan akan mengapakah kita sering menggunakan Bahasa Inggeris padahal ianya bukanlah bahasa rasmi kita. Mengapakah kita berasa kekok sekiranya nukilan hati mahupun coretan seharian kita diceritakan menggunakan bahasa ini? Mungkinkah kerana Bahasa Inggeris itu terlalu mudah bagi kita, atau pun kita sudah terbiasa dengan Bahasa Melayu Brunei kita sehinggakan kita tidak memikir akan adanya keperluan berbahasa begini?

Lantas saya ingin mencuba bagi coretan hari ini walaupun saya akui ianya agak sukar untuk dilaksanakan. Sudah acap kali punat ‘backspace’ ditekan bagi menghapuskan ayat-ayat yang secara tidak langsung tertulis didalam Bahasa Inggeris. Namun usaha ini saya teruskan juga, kerana saya yakin bahawasanya saya akan dapat membuahkan sebuah karya didalam Bahasa Melayu. Tidakkah kita sewajarnya berasa malu sekiranya sebagai anak melayu kita tidak dapat menulis didalam bahasa melayu yang tertib? Iaitu bukanlah bahasa melayu yang songsang mahupun dengan menggunakan bahasa kasar sekalipun.

Tetapi itu bukanlah topik utama bagi coretan hari ini. Ingin saya perdebatkan tentang cinta pada kali ini. Definisi cinta... apakah itu?

Ianya berbeza bagi tiap manusia. Namun yang pasti, ianya dipersetujui bahawa cinta adalah suatu emosi yang membuahkan rasa afeksi ataupun kasih diantara sesama makhluk mahupun kebendaan. Bagi saya pula, cinta adalah suatu perasaan yang tidak mungkin dapat digambarkan secara menyeluruh melalui kata-kata, waima oleh sang pujangga melalui bait-bait puitis yang indah. Mengetahui cinta adalah merasai cinta. Lalu, adakah anda pernah bercinta?

Boleh juga suatu afeksi yang berlebihan boleh disalah ertikan sebagai cinta. Walhal mungkin saja ianya adalah perasaan simpati atau kasih mahupun empati. Manusia itu dilalaikan lalu dibisikkan bahawasanya yang dirasainya itu adalah cinta. Lalu seseorang akan mengaku dirinya sedang dilamun cinta. Alangkah bodohnya manusia, terperangkap dengan hasutan halus itu!

Mungkin perihal cinta sudah tidak begitu dipersoalkan lagi. Mungkin kerana ianya ada dimerata untuk dilihat lantas manusia tidak memikirkannya dengan lebih mendalam. Jika cinta yang disanjung manusia melalui bisikan itu agung, maka mengapakah masih ada perpisahan? Mengapakah masih ada perkelahian antara sesama manusia kerananya? Mengapakah harus ada hati yang terluka, perasaan yang terhuris dan jiwa yang tersiksa sehinggakan seseorang itu boleh melalukan perkara ekstrim yang amat dibenci oleh Allah? Mungkinkah cinta itu adalah sebuah mainan perasaan? Lalu, wajarkah ia merupakan cinta yang sebenar?

Cinta sebenar. Saya bukanlah seorang penulis yang bijak menyusun kata-kata lantas dapat melakar perasan itu. Seperti yang saya katakan, ianya tidak dapat didefinasikan secara menyeluruh walaupun saya pernah merasainya. Ya, saya pernah merasainya... Seketika itu. Anda mungkin bertanya, apakah yang terjadi dengannya sekarang? Ianya masih ada, namun didalam kesamaran yang sedikit menutup. Akan tetapi saya sedang berusaha menyingkap langsir yang menutup itu agar sinarnya tetap bersemarak hingga menusuk hingga ke kalbu yang dalam.

Cinta sebenar adalah cinta yang tiada penghujungnya. Ianya kekal abadi; hakiki. Tidak pernah akan luntur walau maut memisahkan. Ianya akan membuatkan seseorang itu sentiasa berada didalam ketenangan, merasa selamat walau didalam keadaan yang sukar sekalipun. Tiada hati yang terluka, tiada duka yang tercipta. Rintihan perit tiada kedengaran, tangisan lara tidak terluahkan. Ujian yang datang adalah tanda kasih sayang. Kerana keyakinan terhadap cinta hakiki itu sangat utuh sehinggakan keraguan tidak bisa menembusi. Sehingga duka adalah suka, sehingga musibah adalah hadiah. Sehingga tangisan yang wujud hanyalah kerana perasaan syukur yang tidak terhingga kerana berjaya memilikinya, walau hanya sekelumit perasaan yang terdetik. Cinta hakiki itu ialah cinta kepada Sang Khaliq. Cinta yang tiada kondisi, cinta yang bukan berunsur materialistik.

Pepatah Inggris ada mengatakan: “When poverty knocks at the door, love flies out of a window.” Atau didalam Bahasa Melayunya: “Apabila kesusahan atau kemiskinan mengetuk pintu, cinta lari melalui tingkap.”

Cinta mainan. Berkali sudah terdengar atau terbaca cerita tentang kemiskinan yang melanda seseorang itu dapat menlenyapkan perasaan cinta yang ada. Menjadikan suka itu duka, menjadikan cinta itu benci. Lalu ketidakstabilan keadaan memaksa terjadinya perpisahan. Betulkah ia paksa? Ataupun perpisahan itu adalah suatu yang direlakan dalam situasi ini? Lantas apa terjadi dengan cinta itu?

Cinta hakiki. Kemiskinan yang melanda bukan pula dianggap keperitan. Ungkapan ‘Alhamdulillah’ pula sering terucapkan. Seseorang itu akan merasa lebih dekat kepada Sang Khaliq. Mungkinkah kerana seseorang itu tiada tempat lain untuk mengadu? Mungkin… namun yang pasti, dia akan sentiasa berada didalam ayunan asmara yang sebenar. Zikrullahnya itu lebih baik dari ketidakpuasan hati. Cintanya pula semakin mendalam.

Antara cinta mainan dan hakiki. Antara pepatah Inggeris, cinta yang lari dan cinta yang semakin mendalam. Mampukah anda memikirkan yang mana lebih baik untuk mu?

Walau luntasan pendapat yang tidak seberapa ini dikatakan dengan bait-bait yang tidak begitu sempurna, namun saya harap akan dapat membuka minda dan hati para pembaca. Mungkin diri ini merasa kekok dengan Bahasa Melayu lantas karya ini tidak begitu memberangsangkan. Segala kebaikkan datangnya dari Allah, segala kekurangan itu berasal dari diri ini juga.

Training my NFS

Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh.

How have you been doing? Any progress with the training? :)

In the last post, I was talking about training oneself with a deed or committing oneself to a deed or deeds so that by the end of Ramadhan, hopefully insyaAllah it will become a habit. Ameen.

So I decided to train myself with patience. Oh yes! How trying it has been. But Alhamdulillah, it kinda works somehow. You know that we are not born with it (another brilliant note pointed out by that friend of mine :D ). Imagine a baby. If the baby wants something, really really want it, then the baby will try to get our attention in order that we satisfy its want. If however we are unable to give the baby the attention that it seeks, well what do you think the baby will do? The baby will cry lah. Like, really loud and annoying at an earsplitting tone that you just want to shut the baby up and eventually do what it wants. God, babies do know how to manipulate us. Tsk tsk.

Anyway, so basically, you see… babies don’t have patience. Therefore, it is not something that we are born with; rather it is something that is developed within us as we grow.

You know, there a hadith relating imaan and patience:

“As-sabru minal imaan.”

“Patience is half of imaan.”

So if we could get to train our self with patience, insyaAllah our imaan will eventually rose. Could it also be true the other way round, though? InsyaAllah, wallahu’alam.

But anyway, how do you train yourself with patience? Well, there is lots of way to achieve this. It depends on where you want to inflict the patience; be it in your daily routines, your favourite chores or your habits etc. Me? I choose driving. Why? Well here it goes:

I kind of have an affliction. It’s called NFS – need for speed. It happens whenever I’m driving (apparently, duh!). I don’t know why I have the need but I know that I could not stand driving oh-so s-l-o-w-l-y! Or so I thought, hehe.

So because of this NFS condition that I have, I decided… hey, let’s try it on that! After all, driving too fast is never good and since I ‘could not stand’ it, I shall have to suffer and drive s-l-o-w because I want to be a patient person. And so it began.

I remind myself at all times to drive at moderate speed. Not too slow but again, not as fast as I would normally have. Especially if I am not in a hurry to catch something important. So one day I was driving (duh!). And automatically my foot slammed on the accelerator. Seeing as no car is behind me (therefore no pressure!) and quite a few cars in front of me, I said to myself to slow down a bit. Okay, so I lift my foot off the accelerator – just a bit! But at least I’m progressing. I am fighting my nafs (i.e. nfs) and training myself to be more patient. Whee!

And that went on for quite a while. Few days later, I managed to not have to lift my foot of the accelerator because… I am used to not driving that fast anymore. (Uh, are you bored by now? You should be! :p). But I am still driving at moderate speed. I don’t know if my moderate is somebody’s fast but at least it’s moderate to me. Progress.

And just yesterday, I was driving quite slowly. I even managed to stay on the left lane without having too much of an urge to go to the right lane; all the way from my house to the city centre and then to my grandma’s house. The distance is saying something and I am controlling it! Double whee! Or it could be because it’s raining that day haha, lol. No lah, after a while the rain stopped and I am still driving quite slowly *grins*

So! Have I mastered patience? Well, it’s not a one-off job. It’s a constant thing. Not on just one main action/habit but we need to apply it in our everyday routine. The driving adventure is just an example. Hehe.

Again, it differs with a person. What do you want to train yourself to this Ramadhan? :D

Jaga Diri, Jaga Imaan, Jaga Hati

It's been a while... RAMADHAN KAREEM!

Bismillahhir Rahmaannir Raheem.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh.

Aloha world out there! It has really been a while, has it not? For that, truly sorry for the absence from us the 6-Thornbankers. Or should I say, ex-6-Thornbankers now? Hehe.

To start with, Ramadhan Kareem to you all! Yes, it is that time of the year again, where MASSIVE sales are everywhere, in every little step that we took, in every small deed that we commit. But of course, profitable only if the intention is Lillahi Taa’la!

I have a confession to make. Okay, before everyone expects something REALLY big about to be told, let me be frank and say… it’s probably nothing to you. Hewhew. Well, it’s just that, I have not been writing much since… ages! Oh my. So pardon me for the simplicity of this post and any following posts that may come. The last piece of decent writing probably would be my last academic assignment. Whoa! Haha. And that is saying a lot, by the way.

So anyhow, I thought I might take up a bit of writing now that I actually had the time to write :S. God knows I’ve been busy! :) But no matter. Here we go:

..................................

As it turns out, I am out of idea of what to write! Or should I say, there’s too much to write that I could not bring myself to settle on one else I shall have to write a jumbled, incoherent piece that no one but me could understand! That would be troublesome then, seeing as I have to explain it again, wouldn’t it? Hmm… let me see!

Ah yes. It’s Ramadhan now, as we all know. I remembered (vaguely) a friend saying something about nafs and our imaan and its connection with the holy month. Well, let me rephrase it to my own. So it goes like this. Our imaan and our nafs are always, ALWAYS conflicting between themselves in our daily life.

For example… like, when a friend/family member invited you to recite the Quran together after Isya’ prayer but at the same time a special show is aired on TV that you just HAVE to watch it at that time because everybody’s talking about it and if you don’t watch it then you’re like… uncool. Boo!

So when our imaan is up, we tend to not follow that inner voice that says “C’mon, just this one time… you know you can always do to that next time.” (Sounds familiar? :O) But when it is otherwise, well should I say more? The inner voice, the oh-so-innocent-but-venomous-voice won. And this is… well this is the lure of the Shaitan that feeds on our nafs, which is to watch the tv. So basically, we’re in constant battle. And let me tell you my friend, if we are not too careful, if we do not spend a little bit of our time to ponder upon these things, we lose. BIG TIME. Sad, I know. Which is why we need to be CONSTANT VIGILANT (hehe, as Professor Moody would say it lol).

Anyway, so again, we’re in constant battle. Sometimes we won, sometimes we lose. I admit the latter has a higher probability of happening than the former, for me. But again, trying is the keyword here. Try not to lose. Oh sorry, let me rephrase that. Try to win! :D

Okay so, this friend of mine… she brought to light this interesting fact that I – and probably most of us – have overlooked! Jazakillahhu khair friend : ) She said, we have 12 months in a year. And in all those months, both our imaan and nafs fight with each other. All the time! But, mashaAllah… As we all know, Allah is the Great Planner, Allah Knows All. He made Ramadhan to be the blessed month, for we know in Ramadhan all Shaaitan are locked up so that we are free to commit ourselves to various deeds that are available. This means, our nafs can be tamed as it does not has its best friend. It’s not easy, I can tell you but it’s a start.

MashaAllah. Interesting, don’t you think? Our nafs has 11 months but we have an extra one month to train our self for the better, to increase our imaan and faith, to tame our nafs so that simple, good deeds that seemed hard to do before will be able to flow easily; just like if before you were a barren piece of land, then after the extra month, you’ll be a fertile piece of land with healthy grass growing on it due to the pouring, descendant flow of the incessant water.

(In case no one gets it, the water equals the good deeds that you attached yourself to, or trained yourself to commit, etc, while the grass is the state of your imaan in your heart.)

SO! One month to do it all, one month for a change, for a better future. Are you up to the challenge?

I’ll tell you about my ‘adventure’ with one of the things that I decided to do in next post, insyaAllah. Pray that I have the time to write it!

Therefore, remember our battle. Remember the formula is constant vigilant. Remember the keyword is to TRY. And remember, fighting our nafs does not equal to a considerable loss but a definite win. InsyaAllah :D

Oh, don’t forget the sale!

Ashabul Kahfi

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum wrb.

Aku berjalan bersendirian. Mencari ketenangan yang ku dambakan. Meraih kedamaian hati yang kian menghilang. Di sekelilingku, kesibukkan dunia semakin kelihatan. Sang pejalan kaki meningkat ramai, kenderaan semakin menyesakkan jalan raya. Namun kakiku melangkah rancak, mengikut alunan hati yang mencari. Sehingga akhirnya aku berhenti, terkesima melihat ciptaan Sang Khaliq yang teramat indah.

Sesekali, aku terfikir sejarah hidupku. Bagaimana indahnya membesar dengan kasih juga belai ibu dan ayah. Aku masih terbayang, bagaimana sekiranya aku meninginkan sesuatu, akan dengan mudah sahaja aku boleh mendapatkannya. Dari zaman kecilku menuju ke umur remaja. Memang aku akui, hidup yang aku lalui ku kecapi dengan nikmat kesenangan.

Di sini ku berdiri, berlalunya umur remaja. Aku meningkat dewasa, berada di bumi yang asing, sering merindui kampung halaman. Di sini ku renungi, pengalaman yang ku kumpul, segala rintangan dan cobaan yang datang menimpa. Semuanya dapat ku harungi. Pada ketika itu, aku tidak merenung jauh akan makna disebalik, kerana yang dipikiran hanyalah syukurku atas kebolehan merentasi halangan. Di bumi asing ini juga lah ku sedari betapa bertuahnya aku dilahirkan di dalam lingkungan keluarga yang pengasih, kerana aku mengalami betapa susahnya berdiri sendiri tanpa ayah juga ibu disampingku. Namun tidak ku kesali, kerana semuanya membina aku untuk menjadi seorang yang tabah, seorang yang kuat.



Ku bentangkan pemandanganku ke padang nan luas, yang menghijau indah di mata. Aku lihat langit sebiru laut, awan bermain gembira dibawa arus angin yang mendayu lembut. Sinar matahari yang cukup menerangi alam semesta. Seketika mataku berkaca. Seakan tidak percaya akan bisanya ada ciptaan seindah ini. Tetapi aku tahu akan kebenarannya, lalu ku hadapkan wajahku ke langit, mata terpejam lalu ku bisikkan: Allahhu Akbar! Indahnya ciptaan Mu.

Mindaku berputar. Kembali memikirkan nasib kehidupanku. Mengapakah aku merasakan seolah ada sesuatu yang kosong di dada ku… hatiku merasa tidak menentu…

Aku menghirup udara yang segar, menarik panjang lalu ke lepaskan lega. Tiba-tiba aku teringat akan suatu kisah; kisah yang pernah ku tonton dipaparan tv sewaktu kecilku. Ketika itu aku akui, ianya tidak begitu menimbulkan apa-apa perasan. Mungkin cuma rasa kagum. Tetapi aku terkenang juga, ketika aku mencari-cari erti hidupku. Aku bermuhasabah dengan kisah yang menjadi teman pembesaranku.

Aku terkenang kembali akan kisah Ashabul Kahfi. Tentang pemuda-pemuda yang diberi perlindungan Ilahi, dari cengkaman Raja Dikyanus yang zalim. Ketika cobaan datang menimpa, ketika hadir halangan terhadap agama yang satu, ketika imaan mereka diduga… Allah menghulurkan bantuan kepada mereka! Menidurkan mereka didalam gua, demi menjaga imaan mereka yang dilanda kemungkaran. Kerananya, mereka dijanjikan syurga!

Alangkah beruntungnya mereka, desis hatiku.

Namun aku teringat juga akan satu hadith, dimana Rasulullah menyebut akan bahawasanya umatnya lah yang terlebih dahulu dihisab berbanding dengan umat-umat yang lain. Sewaktu aku mendengar akan hadith itu, terus terang aku tidak memikirkan selanjutnya. Terus terang, aku merasa hiba dikatakan begitu. Aku merasa… tersangat beruntung diperlakukan begitu. Aku juga merasa kasih juga teramat sayang terhadap Rasulullah, kerana beliau terlalu cintakan umatnya. Aku bersyukur, ya! Kerana berada dinaungan umat yang terakhir.

Lalu aku memikir. Alangkah beruntungnya aku. Walhal baru tadi aku memikirkan tentang Ashabul Kahfi. Lalu siapakah yang lebih beruntung?

Di keluasan ciptaan Allah Yang Maha Esa, hatiku terdetik, suaraku sedikit teresak. Aku melihat gambaran secara luasnya. Bukankah kami lebih beruntung, kerana itulah janji Rasulullah? Tetapi ku lihat perjuanganku demi agamaku… Jika ku bandingkan dengan para Ashabul Kahfi yang mulia... Aku malu, Ya Rabb! Sungguh… Ampunkanlah aku!

Selaras aku bersujud, mengucup lantai ciptaan Allah, mengabdikan diri kepada Yang Esa. Aku bersyukur, ya! Walau halangan tiba, aku pasti melaluinya. Aku bersyukur, ya! Kerana aku tahu Sang Pencipta menolongku. Kerana aku tahu, tiada yang mustahil jika mempunyai iman juga taqwa.

Sebuah karya: A. Mohammad

Wahai diri itu & ini

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Wahai hati

Susahkah dikau

untuk ikhlas kerana Allah?

Baja apa yang engkau mahu aku letakkan ya..?

Wahai mata

Susahkan dikau untuk menundukkan pandanganmu?

Kau tak takut nikmat mata itu ditarik balik?

Atau perlu kau jalan sambil kau ditutup?

Tak bersyukurkah dikau oleh nikmatNya?

Wahai mulut

Susahkah dikau untuk berkata perkara yang baik?

Susahkah dikau untuk memberi sokongan kepada yang lain?

Susahkah dikau untuk berzikir membesarkan Ilahi?

Susahkah dikau untuk membaca ayat-ayatNya?

Perlukah aku menggunakan controller untuk mengawalmu?

Atau adakah perlu aku letak cili untuk menenangkanmu?

Wahai kumbang

Lemah sangatkah dikau dek tewas kepada bunga?

kepada bunga yang bertopengkan syaitan?

Susahkah dikau untuk menutup pusat sehingga patella kau?

Kau bilang kau kuat

Kau bilang kau hebat

Kau bilang kau macho

Namun adakah kau kuat untuk mengawal nafsu kau?

Adakah kau hebat untuk beribadah kepada Dia?

Adakah kau macho disisiNya??

Adakah kau sempoi disisiNya??

Oh kumbang,

sedarlah bahawa diri kita hanyalah seekor kumbang kecil..

Tak layak untuk mengambil sebiji epal di atas pohon itu..

Wahai bunga

Susahkah dikau untuk mengenakan pakaian yang bisa menutup maruahmu?

Susahkah dikau untuk istiqamah dalam pakaianmu?

oh wahai bunga

susahkah dikau untuk mengawal suaramu,perilakumu,tingkah lakumu

kau sedar yang kau diibaratkan seperti buah epal yang berada di atas pohon yang tinggi..

sungguh mahal hargamu..

tak terbeli maruahmu oleh sesiapa pun termasuklah jika si pembeli menggunakan mata wang Pound Sterling!

wahai bunga

apakah kau lupa

apakah kau sombong

apakah kau bangga dengan kecantikanmu?

kau bangga dengan mekarmu?

kau bangga dengan bentuk tubuhmu yang menawan?

semua itu milik Dia, milik Dia, milik ALLAH yang Maha Esa

Dia bagi kamu pinjam seketika didunia ini

Jangan menyesal pabila pinjaman itu ditarik semula!

Wahai kumbang dan Wahai bunga

Siapa kamu untuk berpegangan selagi tiada ikatan yang halal??

Siapa kamu untuk bergurau senda cuit sana cuit sini selagi tiada ikatan yang halal??

Siapa kamu untuk suap menyuap makan diantara satu sama lain selagi tiada ikatan yang halal??

Siapakau bunga? Siapa kau untuk panggil kumbang itu sebagai...? siapa kau?

Siapa kau..?

Jika betul si bunga sayang kepada si kumbang, usah bergelumang dengan dosa bertahun-tahun!

Binalah mahligai yang dikau impikan itu kerana itu lebih baik bagimu.

Marilah ketani berlumba-lumba untuk melakukan kebaikan. Fastabiqul khairats!

Peace & Du'a

Aku.

Exam tips?

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh.

First of all, apologies to everyone for not updating this blog in such a long time. It's been commented on, and so I suppose a little note to share at these trying times wouldn't hurt :) Okay, so some of you might have recognize this from somewhere else, but have a go at it again. It wouldn't hurt, right? hehe. Well, it's up to you really :D

Anyway, as we’re all aware, examinations are looming, that is for those who has not had it yet. So good luck guys! Semoga di permudahkan oleh Sang Rabb, insyaAllah.

This serves as a reminder, as well as to summarise what we talked about in our last solat hajat event. First and foremost, Allah is still our priority no matter how busy we are with our revisions. Remember him in everything you do for it is with His will that we get to do what we wanted to do. Therefore, set our niat that we’re studying because of Allah, because Allah has decreed it upon us. And if our intention is right, everything will be made easy, insyaAllah.

Begin your day, upon waking up with a niat. Say it out loud. Say, “O Allah, today I am going to do my revision. I am going to do it for You, because you decreed upon me to study. Therefore I am studying because of You, so make ease for me.”

Also, if we remember Allah in what ever it is that we do, that is also considered as dzikir… And Allah says in the Quran:

“For without doubt, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction (peace).” (13:28)

So if our heart is at peace, it will be much easier for us to absorb and comprehend our lecture materials, insyaAllah. Before starting your revision or your exam, recite the Fatihah to calm your hearts, read Ayatul-Kursi and Surah Al-Kafiruun, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Naas, to guard yourself from the trickery of syaaitan. Take your time reading the questions, comprehend them and make those structure/plans of your answers, contemplate upon them. For it was said in a hadith:

“Deliberation is from Allah and haste is from syaitaan.”

And put your trust in Allah i.e. tawakkal, thus recite: “Laa haulawalaa quwwata illa billahil’aliyyil ‘adzim.” Anything that you may discover afterwards upon completion of the examinations, don’t ponder upon it. Do not deliberate over what-ifs and should-have-beens. If you truly do understand the concept of tawakkal, these thoughts would not cross you mind for you know Allah has a better plan for you. Instead, look forward and learn from it. Make better for next time.

But does this mean, we should just make our intention right and let’s rely solely in Allah? No! You have to work to get what you want. Nothing will come easy in this life. Get into grip with good discipline for a better work environment. You are blessed with ‘tools’ (intelligence, senses, etc) from Allah, so make use of them to achieve what you wanted. Stay vigilant on your revision and study plans. Keep on answering those past year questions, for they are good practices.

So does that mean we should just work hard and have good discipline and stick to our study timetable or schedule? No! Don’t ever think that you can get through this with only hardwork… because that is a foolish thought. Sayyidina Ali (r.a.) said:

“Those who think they can achieve their aims without working are dreaming, and those who think they will attain their goals through exertion alone are over-confident and consider themselves self-sufficient.”

So, no matter how hard and trying these times may be, bear in mind that, you can go through this. How do I know? Because Allah said so :D

“On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear…” (2:286)

So work and strive for it! And may I also add, that these are not only to be applied or emphasized during the exam times. Keep it as a habit in your life, a daily routine if you want, anything. It definitely would not cost you a thing :D Be vigilant for it is the best of deeds.

Bittaufiq wannajah dan semoga dipermudahkan.



Jaga Diri Jaga Imaan

Syair... sebagai peringatan.

An ukhti *winks* was kind enough to share this with me, so here I am sharing it with the rest of you.

Jika dunia dianggap berharga,

Maka negeri balasan Allah lebih tinggi dan mulia,

Jika harta dicari utk ditinggal,

Mengapa dia kikir terhadapnya,

Jika rezeki telah dibagi sesuai takdir,

Semakin kecil semangat utk memperolehnya semakin baik,

Jika tubuh diciptakan untuk mati,

Maka mati di jalan Allah kerana tikaman pedang lebih utama.

MasyaAllah.

A cold splash... 'tis what it is.

Assalamualaikum :)

Taking Off the Hijab

-by Shazia Ahmad

Question

I understand that hijab is required, and I’ve been wearing it for some time now but I feel like putting it on might have been a mistake. I don’t feel like it’s made me become a better Muslim, and I feel almost like I’m deceiving people because they look at me as an example even though I’m still struggling with a lot of things. Also, if I take it off, is it really something Allah will punish me for? It seems like such a petty thing. Isn’t the most important thing having a clean heart?

Answer

Assalaamu `alaykum dear questioner,

Thank you for asking this question which opens up a number of important issues, and for entrusting us enough to share with us some of what you’re struggling with. I ask Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala – exalted is He) that He makes the words that I write beneficial to you and others who are reading, and that He leads you to the best decisions.

I’d like to start by addressing what I believe is the least important factor in this equation, and that is ‘what other people might think.’ It should never be the case that we alter our practice of Islam or our worship for the sake of other people, or what they might think or assume. People may be quick to judge or jump to conclusions, but whatever thoughts or opinions they have are strictly their responsibility, and not something we should be overly concerned with.

You said that you’re worried that wearing hijab may be deceiving, because people see you as better than you really are. But in truth all of us are sinners, and it is only from Allah’s mercy upon us that He is as-Siteer - the One who veils our faults and our flaws, and makes us seem better than we really are in others’ eyes. One famous scholar said, “If sins had a smell no one would come near me because of the stench!” Every single one of us has deficiencies and weaknesses, has made mistakes, has taken missteps or is presently taking them. We only do the best that we can, and any good deed that Allah grants us the opportunity to perform should be considered a blessing that we take advantage of. Instead of worrying about not being good enough, we can instead consider this as an opportunity to be thankful to Allah for concealing our negatives, and pray, “O Allah, forgive me for what they do not know about me, and make me even better than what they think.”

You will be hard-pressed to find anyone on this earth who can be considered ‘worthy’ of being a representative of Islam, because everyone has one dimension or another in their faith or practice in which they are lacking. However that doesn’t mean we should stop encouraging each other by whatever means are available to us. There is a very beautiful hadith related to this issue:

Anas relates that, “We asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, shouldn’t we refrain from calling others to goodness if we don’t practice all good things ourselves, and shouldn’t we refrain from forbidding wrong things until we ourselves have abstained from all the bad?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘You should call others to goodness even if you don’t do all good, and you should forbid bad things even if you don’t abstain from all of them yourselves.’” (Al-Tabarani)

Remember that by wearing hijab you are not saying to others ‘I am Islam’, but simply that ‘I am a Muslim’, meaning – I am someone who is trying to follow this religion, who accepts it as truth, sees beauty in it and hopes to beautify myself with it. I remember a quote attributed to Yusuf Islam: “Islam is not a state of being but it is a process of becoming,” – becoming more, become better, striving to reach that state of perfect submission and connection with Allah Most High, and May He help all of us achieve that, ameen.

You also said that you feel hijab has not really made you a better Muslim. A lot of times when a person first starts performing a good deed they feel an iman ‘rush’, a feeling of happiness at doing something good for the sake of Allah and energy to do more, improve themselves, etc. However, after some time, when that action starts to become just another part of a daily routine, it loses that power, and that increase in iman and excitement dissipates.

What a person needs, instead of focusing on those ‘rushes’, is a steady and constant diet of good deeds and spiritual nourishment. We cannot rely on one particular deed to ‘make’ us better Muslims. Instead, we have to take the reigns and make sure we are doing things regularly that increase us in iman, like recitation of the Qur’an, performing salah with consciousness and focus, dhikr, and so on. Wearing hijab can definitely be one of those things, but it is only one part of a whole that needs to be constructed. Just like exercise is important for good health, yet it has to be combined with eating right and many other things in order for the person to see the desired results in the end.

Also know that there is a direct relationship between a person’s actions and their inner state. We know that when someone is in a high state of iman it’s natural for him or her to start performing more good deeds. However, we may overlook the fact that the opposite is true as well – that just performing good deeds, even if one may not be ‘feeling it’, can affect us and change us. The limbs are inroads, and performing good deeds with them can soften a hardened heart, bring enlightenment to a closed mind, and give a person a feeling of rejuvenation and desire to come closer to Allah and do more positive things. I heard a scholar say that if one is feeling troubled, confused or in a low state of iman, “go quickly to action”; because good deeds can bring about that inner reawakening one may need. If we don’t see a change happening in us when we do a good deed, that doesn’t mean we should stop it but that perhaps we need to supplement it with others in order to gather the momentum needed to see results.

Thirdly, you are absolutely correct when you say that the most important thing is for us to have purified hearts. Allah (swt) emphasizes this in the Qur’an when He states that on the Day of Judgment nothing will be of benefit to the servant except “one who brings to Allah a clean, sound heart” (26:89). The question is, how does one achieve that? What purifies us and cleanses our hearts?

In our times we find that some people feel that we’ve reached a more ‘enlightened era’ in which spirituality can be derived solely from philosophy and ideas, and need not be bound by rituals and details of religion. However those who propound this notion forget that Allah did not create us as minds and souls alone – but coupled them with our physical bodies. We cannot deny the fact that we are body and soul, content and form, together, and each has its own needs and specifications for refinement. This is a sunnah of Allah in the way that we were created, and why prayer, fasting, and all our spiritual endeavors have very specific physical components. These forms house within them dimensions of meaning, but it is only from enacting them precisely that a profound spirituality can be achieved.

Purifying our hearts is the goal, but the means to reaching that goal is through the very real and specific physical prescriptions and commandments that Allah (swt) has given us. It is through His obedience and through following the teachings of our deen that we clean and polish our hearts. It is for this reason that I have to say that hijab is not something trivial. Anything that leads us to spiritual awareness, elevation, and purification – that helps us come closer to Allah – cannot be considered trivial or petty. Perhaps it is more likely that there are hidden depths within it that we do not perceive, or that we are not putting it in the proper context of its deeper purpose and meaning.

About punishment from Allah: a better way of looking at this issue is not considering the smallness or pettiness of the sin, but the greatness of the One whom we are sinning against. From His infinite wisdom, all-encompassing knowledge and vast mercy, in accordance to His Law – which is at its core about attaining benefit and warding off harm – He has instructed us to perform this action. In the Qur’an Allah says, ‘It may be that you dislike something and in it is goodness for you’ (2:216); ‘It may be that you dislike a thing but Allah brings about from it a great deal of good.’ (4:19) If someone chooses to step away from a prescribed action knowingly, we cannot deny that this is a sin, and that Allah holds us to account for our sins. However we always have hope in and pray for Allah’s mercy and kindness, as we know He can forgive all sins if He chooses.

In closing, I want to leave you with a beautiful quote from a Hadith Qudsi. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala said:

“My servant draws not near to Me with anything more beloved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him.” (Bukhari)

Know, dear questioner, that if you feel far from Allah, the solution is not to stop what you are doing and find a different way, but to persevere and continue on the path you are on, even though it is hard. This will make you beloved to Allah, and one who feels the happiness of being close to Him and being shaded by His Loving Mercy and care.

May Allah enliven and enlighten our hearts and grant us closeness to Him. May He make us people who love to worship Him, and through our worship become close to Him and gain His love. May He make our hearts firm and steadfast on our deen, and grant us strength and bravery in our spiritual struggles. May He guide us to the best decisions and make easy for us the path of khayr [goodness]. Ameen ya Rabb.

WAllahu a`lam – and He alone knows best.

Wasalaamu alaykum

The Rewards of Good Deeds

'AbdAllah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) related this Saying from his Lord:

"Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) has written down the good deeds and the bad ones. Then He explained it (by saying that) he who has intended a good deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed; but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds to seven hundred times, or many times over. But if he has intended a bad deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed." (Bukhari and Muslim)

On the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported that Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said:

"Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgement. Whosoever alleviates (the lot of) a needy person, Allah will alleviate (his lot) in this world and the next. Whosoever shields a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this world and the next. Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, without tranquility descending upon them, mercy enveloping them, the angles surrounding them, and Allah making mention of them amongst those who are with Him. Whosoever is slowed down by his actions will not be hastened forward by his lineage." (Muslim)

Buraida (may Allah be pleased with him) said that one morning Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) called Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, "What did you do to get to Paradise before me? I have never entered Paradise without hearing the rustling of your garments in front of me." He replied, "Messenger of Allah, I have never called the adhan without praying two rak'a (salah) and no impurity has ever happened to me without my performing ablution on the spot and thinking that I owed Allah (The Glorified and The Exalted) two rak'a." Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said. "It is because of them." (Tirmidhi)

Everything That Is Going To Happen Is Near At Hand

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This is one of the famous saying of Al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him):

"Before he created us, Allah knew that we would sin and disobey Him; yet He still made us Muslims. O sinners, hurry to repent before the pangs of death overcome you, before the time of utter regret is upon you. Work, for death is coming, and everything that is coming near at hand. Death hovers over you day and night; it will not come late, not even for one who has lost track of time (i.e., although the one who has loses track of time is late for all his appointments, he will not be late for his appointment with death)."

Salam :D

Ini Sejarah Kita

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah.

I was waiting for a show (cheh!) this late in the night, was browsing the net and masyaAllah, look what I found! I'm sure most of us have heard about the 1001 Inventions Exhibition that is to be held in London - Discovering The Muslim Heritage In Our World. In any case you have not heard of it, here's the video that is widely shared all over the net (esp. Facebook :P):

Thinking back, how silly was I to have thought that... Einstein is the physician/mathematician to look up at, works of Michelangelo and Da Vinci would set me apart by just knowing about them, to think that Antonio Pigafetta and Jean Passepartout (well, not really :P) are among the first few travelers that set out an expedition to explore the unknowns... and many more actually! To think that the Romans and the Greeks Civilization was one of the greatest... Man, how mistaken was I, huh?

Silly. That's what I am; for having thoughts like that.

No matter. For now, together I urge you all to embrace the fact that Muslim Civilization remains the greatest that had ever swept the world. The evidence are clearly there, what's to stop you from believing?

The next video... MasyaALLAH, I'll let you to form your own opinion about it =)

It's our turn now, InsyaAllah. Even if what we want to achieve now is not going to happen in our lifetime, maybe it will serve for better in the next. Remember the words:

"Dreams of yesterdays eventuate today. Tomorrow (future) held ours."

InsyaAllah.

Abdullah bin Alwi Al-Haddad dlm Kitabul Hikam berkata:

"Awalnya kebaikan itu berat utk dilakukan, tetapi akhirnya penuh dgn nikmat. Org yg berbuat baik ibarat seorg pendaki gunung. Ia tak akan merasa tenang sbelum sampai ke puncaknya. Sedang keburukan itu awalnya manis dan akhirnya kelak berat. Org yg melakukan keburukan ibarat seseorg yg jatuh dari puncak gunung. Ia baru akan merasa sakit setelah mendarat di tanah."

Beramal dengan jiddan

"Narrated Aishah (radhi-yallaahu 'anhaa): The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and receive good news because one's good deeds will not make him enter Paradise.” They asked, “Even you, O Allah's Messenger?” He said, “Even I, unless and until Allah protects me with His pardon and His Mercy."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadith No. 474

Ibnu 'Athaaillah dllm kitab Tajul Arus berkata: beramallah sesuai kekuatanmu, perbaikilah masa lalumu dgn bynk berdzikir sebab tidak ada amal yg lebih mudah dari dzikir... Dzikir dpt kamu lakukan ketika berdiri, duduk, berbaring maupun sakit...

Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda:

[ وليكن لسانك رطبا بذكر الله ]

'Dan hendaknya lisanmu basah dengan berdzikir kpd Allah...'

Kullu Ma Qaddarallahhu Khair =)

Bismillahhir Rahmaannir Raheem

Ibnu Taimiyyah bercerita tentang seorang menteri yang selalu menjawab ‘baik’ setiap kali ditanya pendapatnya tentang sesuatu. Suatu hari menteri ini menghadiri acara makan malam bersama Raja. Ketika sedang memotong buah, Raja dengan tidak sengaja telah mencederakan jari telunjuknya sendiri. Pisau yang dia gunakan untuk memotong buah telah menyebabkan jari telunjuknya terpotong dan merasa kesakitan. Raja pun bertanya bertanya kepada menteri yang duduk di sebelahnya tentang kejadian yang baru saja dialaminya.

“Baik wahai Raja,” jawab menteri itu tanpa keraguan.

“Apa? Kamu katakan ini baik?” Raja terperanjat dengan jawapan itu.

“Ya wahai Raja. Itu baik.”

Raja sangat marah dengan jawapan itu. Mana mungkin jarinya yang luka parah seperti itu dianggap menterinya sebagai hal yang baik? Maka dia pun memerintahkan menteri itu ditangkap dan dimasukkan ke dalam penjara. Kemudian Raja mengunjungi menterinya di penjara dan bertanya padanya, “Sekarang, apa pendapatmu tentang keadaanmu sendiri, masih mahu berada di dalam penjara seperti ini?”

“Baik wahai Raja,” jawab menteri itu tanpa ragu-ragu.

Mendengar jawapan itu, Raja menjadi semakin marah dan segera meninggalkan menterinya sendirian di dalam penjara. Dia merasa menterinya itu sangat bodoh dan keterlaluan dalam memberikan pendapat. Beberapa hari kemudian, Raja pergi berburu di dalam hutan dan ditemani menterinya yang lain kerana menteri yang biasa menemaninya telah dipenjarakan. Mereka pun berangkat dengan kuda menuju ke hutan. Oleh kerana menteri yang baru tidak biasa dengan cara Raja menunggang kuda, akhirya dia tertinggal jauh di belakang. Mereka terpisah dan Raja sendiri akhirnya sesat di dalam hutan. Bukan hanya tersesat, Raja juga ditangkap oleh sekumpulan penyembah berhala yang tinggal di dalam hutan tersebut.

Raja tersebut ditahan oleh para penyembah berhala dan mereka menetapkan Raja sebagai korban untuk berhala mereka. Mereka melakukan upacara selama tujuh hari dan pada hari ketujuh mereka membawa Raja ke tempat persembahan. Saat Raja sudah siap untuk dikorbankan, mereka melihat jari telunjuk raja terpotong, lalu mereka ragu untuk mengorbankan Raja.

“Kita hanya mempersembahkan yang terbaik dan sempurna pada berhala kita,” kata ketua suku yang memimpin upacara tersebut. “Orang ini jari telunjuknya terpotong, jadi dia tidak layak menjadi korban”.

Dengan itu, mereka melepaskan Raja tersebut dan beliau kembali ke kerajaannya dengan perasaan yang gembira. Selang beberapa hari peristiwa itu, Raja teringat akan kata-kata menterinya yang telah membuatnya marah ketika jarinya terpotong.

Dia segera ke penjara dan berkata kepada menteri itu, “Apa yang kamu katakan waktu jari saya terpotong memang betul. Itu memang hal yang baik."

Lalu dia pun menceritakan apa yang dialaminya hingga dia akhirnya selamat dari ancaman kematian. Menteri itu berkata, “Saya berada di dalam penjara ini juga baik kerana jika saya pergi dengan Raja pada hari itu, saya juga pasti turut tertangkap. Tentu saya akan dijadikan korban kerana anggota tubuh saya lengkap dan tidak ada yang cacat."

Maka Ibnu Taimiyyah menutup cerita ini dengan mengatakan, “Semua yang ditetapkan oleh Allah adalah baik."

Ref: Syed Alwi Alatas, "Bila Allah menduga kita."

Don't turn us in, though!

I'm not sure if you remember what a red-message on top of an entry means, but in case you don't, it means..... THIS ENTRY IS A RANDOM ONE!!! Hahaha.

Salam

Hot story guyss!! Rumah kami panas balik, yeayee!! Alhamdulillah. The heater was shut-off during the weekend, and when we came back in the wee hours that marks the first day of February, The House's (cheaah!) atmosphere was so gelid we had to on our portable heater to make comfy. Or stay curled up in our own duvet (it helped!). And to think that, we actually stand the cold last year... brrgghh! How on earth did we managed to do that huh? It's a wonder, really.

The culprits for the awful experience? Well, I'll let the picture deliver it to you :P



LOL. Sebenarnya kan show off the picture saja. Haha. Cool, no? This is one of our ole-ole from Londres (as Miss J called it). Oh, and plus, we saw Random gums. The real one. Finally. Haha. Excited ku berabis. Told one of the culprits about it, she got excited as well. Pokoknya, kami iski lah ah liat the Random gums.

Jaga Diri, Jaga Imaan.

Not-so-much-of-a-fairytale!

Once upon a time, a group of girls decided to be away from their home. Thus, they planned a trip. Of the many occasions during their trip, one was very much fresh in their minds.

The girls crafted their way through the throng; glancing sides to sides, sighing wonder at the sight they feasted upon. It was their maiden trip to the huge mall. For some anyway.

They've been there for nearly an hour, but nothing catches their eyes really. Turning about a corner upon visiting a shoe shop, a booth was strategically set up to attract the eyes of unwary shoppers as the rounded the corner. Such was the advertising skill, cunningly latching their prey. The girls... not an exception. The gadgets displayed made them stopped, arrested in track at the beauty of the technology. The offer made to them caused their hearts to sway towards acceptance. Should I, should I not?

The salespersons, sensing a win-situation, fervently relates to them the features, trying his/her best to persuade them into buying. Hearts fluttered indecisively.

One has made firm in her choice. She has been giving the gadget coveting glances; impatient to have it all for herself, to hold it with her hands knowing it was hers. The other two inclined to follow her; the other two, alas, not so.

In the end?

Let's just say, it was a lucky day for the salespersons when the girls paused at their booth. Now, three delighted hearts are content with their own.

And they all live happily ever after :)

Look back and learn

Bismillahhir Rahmaannir Raheem

Assalamualaikum all. So, in a few hours or so, most of you will be free from the exam fever that has gripped you for the past 3 weeks. And, the most frequent question asked would probably be: "How was exam? Ok?"

Then you go, "Uh... ok lah, I wish I did better." or "I should have... " or "If only..."

Word: IF. Iatah yang paling mahal ni.

But, usually after all those replies we uttered, we'll (probably) say "Tawakkal lah saja."

Then, if you truly do just that, the above replies wouldn't have come out from your lips. When (you're) asked the question, you'd just go straight to "Tawakkal" instead of playing around with ifs and what-should-have-beens.

But of course, we're human. We're never satisfied with what we did. However, if we understand the meaning of the concept of Tawakkal, we'll probably have a feeling of contentment though we did not do so well (in whatever it is that we're doing).

A friend of mine once said: "To know meaning is to know life and love... when the heart is empty, the mind doesn't work."

Thus with comprehension do we find satisfaction, insyaAllah.

Here's a very beautiful, self-explanatory excerpt on Tawakkal:

"You asked me about tawakkul [total reliance on Allah]: it means that you should strengthen your believe in everything promised by Allah the Exalted, that is, believe in whatever that has been destined for you will reach you inevitably, even if everybody in the universe should strive to keep it from you, and whatever has not been written for you will never reach you even if all of (the) creation assisted you."

So, other than hardwork and good discipline, Allah should be prioritised in everything that you do.

Sayyidina Ali (r.a.) said:

"Those who think they can achieve their aims without work are dreaming, and those who think they can attain their goals through exertion alone are overconfident and consider themselves self-sufficient."

Jaga Diri, Jaga Imaan

fortune-telling-and-what-not quizzes on Facebook

HUKUM BERTANYA TUKANG RAMAL

Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam telah melarang umatnya daripada bertemu dengan tukang ramal, apatah lagi mempercayai ramalannya.

Sabda baginda:

من أتى عرافا فسأله عن شيء لم تقبل له صلاة أربعين ليلة

Maksudnya, “Sesiapa mendatangi tukang ramal lalu bertanyakan sesuatu kepadanya, maka tidak diterima sembahyang baginya selama empat puluh malam”. (Direkod oleh Muslim).

Di dalam hadis lain:

مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا أَوْ عَرَّافًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُول فَقَدْ كَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Maksudnya, “Sesiapa mendatangi tukang ramal lalu mempercayai apa yang dikatakannya, maka dia telah kufur kepada apa yang diturunkan ke atas Muhammad”. (Direkod oleh Ashab Al-Sunan).

Mendatangi tukang ramal bukanlah satu kekufuran atau syirik secara mutlak. Menurut Syeikh Al-Utsaimin, ia boleh dibahagikan kepada tiga katagori.

Pertama: Orang yang datang kepada tukang ramal untuk bertanya ramalan sesuatu, tetapi tidak mempercayainya. Perbuatan ini adalah haram, dan balasannya ialah tidak diterima sembahyang selama 40 hari.

Kedua: Orang yang bertanya tukang ramal, dan mempercayai apa yang diramalnya. Perbuatan ini selain haram, ia menyebabkan jatuh kafir kepada Allah. Kerana mempercayai bahawa tukang ramal mengetahui perkara-perkara ghaib yang merupakan hak mutlak Allah. Ia juga satu bentuk mendustakan ayat-ayat Al-Quran yang menegaskan bahawa ilmu ghaib adalah kepunyaan Allah semata-mata.

Ketiga: Orang yang bertanya tukang ramal kerana maslahah untuk menyelidiki dakwaannya. Supaya dapat dijelaskan pendustaannya atau diambil tindakan terhadapnya. Tindakan ini adalah harus sebagaimana Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam pernah bertanya beberapa soalan terhadap Ibn Shoyyad.

Justeru, sebelum pengguna Facebook menyertai kuiz-kuiz ramalan, pastikan dulu dia termasuk dalam kategori manakah.

SEKADAR MAIN-MAIN

Sesetengah penagih kuiz-kuiz ini mempertahankan tindakan mereka dengan hujah kuiz-kuiz ramalan itu hanyalah satu bentuk permainan merehatkan minda sahaja, tanpa mempercayainya.

Sedarkah mereka bahawa dalam perkara Akidah, kita dilarang menjadikannya sebagai main-mainan dan olok-olokan? Bolehkah akidah tentang qadha dan qadar dijadikan main-mainan? Akidah bahawa Allah sahaja yang mengetahui perkara ghaib boleh dijadikan bahan mainan?

Di samping itu, adakah kita pasti kuiz-kuiz seperti itu langsung tidak memberi kesan kepada akidah pengguna Facebook yang rata-ratanya adalah remaja dan muda-mudi? Bagi saya, kuiz-kuiz ramalan di dalam Facebook adalah satu fitnah terhadap pengguna-pengguna Muslim, terutama mereka yang cetek ilmu agama.

Mereka yang bertanggungjawab mencipta kuiz-kuiz ini, hendaklah bertaubat kepada Allah kerana perbuatan mereka boleh membawa fitnah dan bencana kepada akidah orang Islam lain. Allah berfirman:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ

Maksudnya, “Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang menimpakan bencana untuk memesongkan orang-orang lelaki yang beriman dan orang-orang perempuan yang beriman, kemudian mereka tidak bertaubat, maka mereka akan beroleh azab Neraka Jahanam dan mereka akan beroleh lagi azab api yang kuat membakar. (Al-Buruj: 10).

so brothers and sisters, what can we learn from this? Menjaga akidah itu sangatlah penting and how I hear you ask? dengan mantapkan lagi ilmu agama ketani... :)

Syaitan pernah menyebut, " Sesungguhnya aku lebih takut dari seorang yang berilmu dari 1000 orang yang rajin beribadat tanpa ilmu".

Assalamualaikum.

Jaga diri, hiasi peribadi,

jaga hati, perbetulkan akidah dan mantapkan iman

Ameen Ameen Ya Rabb.