Don't compare your life with others

”P, aku jealous lah dengan ko. Ko sejak single balik ni, bahagia je aku tengok. Senyum je selalu. Pastu makin ramai pulak aweks yang dating dengan ko akhir2 ni. Ish, bertuah badan hang!”

P hanya tersenyum. Komen E terhadapnya sungguh bersifat luaran. Dia tidak tahu bagaimana gelodak hatinya sejak perpisahan tunggalnya dengan si kekasih hati beberapa bulan yang lalu.

“Aku kalau boleh nak jadi macam hang gak la. Single balik. Xda komitmen, boleh keluar dengan ramai aweks. Boleh senyum selalu. Ada awek ni, ada la berteman sikit. Tapi yang banyaknya akhir2 ini adalah gaduh. Sikit2 pun gaduh. Haish, kuat merajuk dah satu hal. Susah pulak tu nak dipujuk. Awek aku ni satu macam la, over sensitive.”

“E, aku rasa baik ko jaga elok2 awek ko tu. Ko sure tak mau dan takkan mau jadi macam aku ni skarang!” Bentak P sambil berlalu meninggalkan E.

E terpinga2. Tidak disangka P yang happy go lucky orangnya itu akan melenting seperti itu.

P berlalu. ”Bersyukurlah E, kau tidak tahu betapa kesunyiannya aku walau didampingi ramai gadis! Jangan compare hidup kau dengan aku. You don’t know what I’ve went through”, hatinya bermonolog.

* * *

N pulang dari kerja. Tercatuk di kiub kerjanya, berdepan dengan komputer sahaja sejak pukul 8 pagi tadi memang memenatkan. Bukan dia mahu bekerja seperti itu. Dia lebih inginkan kerja yang membolehnya berinteraksi dengan manusia, seperti doktor – cita-citanya yang tidak kesampaian. Tapi kerana desakan keluarga yang menginginkan dia cepat habis belajar dan bekerja, apatah lagi sebagai anak sulung; dia akur. Nah, terhumbanlah dia ke dunia itu. Dunia yang meletihkan lagi kesunyian.

Adiknya J, sangat mengagumi abangnya dan bercita2 utk mempunyai karier yang sama seperti abangnya. Gaji pun besar. Diam2 dia menyimpan impian itu.

Satu hari J & N berborak bersama. Dalam perbualan itu, J menghalakan arah tuju perbualan itu ke arah cita-citanya. Dia mahu jadi seperti N.

“Kalau abang nak tau, J pun nak kerja yang sama macam abang. Gaji besar, boleh beli kereta mewah, boleh bawa mak ayah pergi jalan-jalan...kan best tu! Sama macam abang sekarang.”

“J, abang rasa J jangan amik course sama macam yang abang amik dulu. Abang tak rasa J sesuai dengan kerja tu,” ulas si abang yang tahu J memang seorang periang orangnya. Dia tidak mahu adik kesayangannya dikaburi kesenangan dunia, dengan menerima bahana kesunyian dan kemurungan seperti dialaminya.

“Kenapa bang?”

“Kerja abang ni tak berinteraksi dengan manusia. Sangat sunyi dan membosankan. Ini tidak sesuai dengan karakter J yang periang dan suka berinteraksi. You’ll get bored easily & felt depressed soon.”

“Itu ke yang abang alami sekarang? Tapi kenapa abang pilih jalan ni?”

“Because this is my journey. I chose to be like this so that our family can prosper and financially stable. You don’t have to be like me. You can choose better career that suits yourself. It’s your journey. And everybody have different ones.”

Si adik termangu. Dalam hatinya, dia mengagumi abangnya yang telah banyak berkorban itu. “It’s your journey. And everybody have different ones!” Perkataan itu bergema-gema di benaknya.

* *I *

Dua cerita yang berbeza, tapi membawa kesimpulan yang sama. Jangan membandingkan kehidupan anda dengan orang lain. Kita seringkali melihat orang lain hidup lebih bahagia dari diri kita, tanpa kita tahu apa sebenarnya yang dirasai mereka. Orang lain lebih kaya dari kita, lebih itu dan ini; berjaya itu dan ini. Kita seringkali merasakan hidup kita ini serba kekurangan. Serba ketidakadilan jika dibandingkan dengan manusia lain.

Lupakah anda di saat anda berjaya mendapat 8A dalam PMR, semua member anda dapat result sama ke? Di saat anda dapat hadiah cabutan bertuah di majlis sekian-sekian, orang lain dapat ke? Time si apek cina jual ikan yang duduk sebelah rumah kita tu menang loteri RM2juta, semua orang menang gak ke? Tentulah tidak bukan. Asbab? Sebab setiap orang punya jalan hidup masing-masing yang Allah dah tentukan. Kalau tak percaya sila rujuk hadith no 4 dari koleksi 42 hadith diriwayat oleh Imam Nawawi. Setiap orang itu telah ditetapkan perjalanan hidup dan rezeki masing-masing. Jodohnya, ajal, celaka atau bahagia. Setiap orang pun berbeza.

Berhentilah membuat perbandingan. Hidup anda adalah cerita anda sendiri. You chart your own journey. Don’t compare yours with others, cause it will never be the same. Instead, be grateful & walk ahead.

Lagipun, kita wajar takut; andai kita terus membanding2kan kelebihan orang lain dengan kekurangan diri kita; kita jadi lupa untuk bersyukur pada nikmat2 Allah yang memang dah banyak tak terkira. Jadi kufur plak nanti. Astaghfirullah. Teringat kat firman Allah surah Ibrahim ayat 7:

“Demi sesungguhnya! Jika kamu bersyukur nescaya Aku akan tambah nikmat-Ku kepada kamu, dan demi sesungguhnya jika kamu kufur, sesungguhnya azab-Ku amatlah berat.”

Nota kaki: aweks = plural utk awek.

p/s: Atuk saya time muda2 dapat kawen dua. Saya pun nak jadi macam dialah. Woha! Gurau saja. Marah bakal bini saya nanti kalau baca entry ni.

Back from hiatus: This made my eyes wet

Apology for not updating this blog since the end of last year. I have been busy settling myself down in Malaysia and jumping into the new world of working. Only now I have the chance to write down on this blog, sharing the wisdom with fellow readers.

The story that I want to share in this blog is not my original work nor I heard about it on my own. It sources out from a chained email that I received from my brother. Please, read it to your heart's content.

This made my eyes wet

Every Friday afternoon, after the Jumma prayers, the Imam and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out "PATH TO PARADISE" and other Islamic literature.

This particular and fortunate Friday afternoon, as the time came for the Imam and his son to go to the streets with their booklets, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain.

The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready!'

His dad asked, 'Ready for what' 'Dad, it's time we go out and distribute these Islamic books.'

Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.'

The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to hell, even though it's raining?'

Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather..'

Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go Please'

His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the booklets. Be careful son.'

'Thanks, Dad!'

And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a pamphlet or a booklet.

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST BOOKLET. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a booklet to, but the streets were totally deserted.

Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered..

He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.

Finally, he turned to leave, but something stopped him.
Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch!

He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.

Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU and I came to give you my very last booklet which will tell you all about God, the real purpose of creation, and how to achieve His pleasure.'

With that, he handed her his last booklet and turned to leave.

She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'

Next week on Friday afternoon after Jumma prayers, the Imam was giving some lectures. As he concludes the lectures, he asked, 'Does anybody have questions or want to say anything?'

Slowly, in the back row among the ladies, an elderly lady's voice was heard over the speaker.
'No one in this gathering knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Friday I was not a Muslim, and thought I could be. My husband died few years ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.. Last Friday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, i was contemplating suicide as i had no hope left.

So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home.. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.

I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly....

I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.

When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU!'

Then he gave me this booklet, Path To Paradise that I now hold in my hand.

As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this book. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.

You see? I am now a Happy Vicegerent of the One True God. Since the address of your congregation was stamped on the back of this booklet, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell.'

There was not a dry eye in the mosque. The shouts of TAKBIR...ALLAH AKBAR.. rented the air.



Imam-Dad descended from the pulpit to the front row where the little angel was seated....

He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

Probably no jama'at has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a father that was more filled with love and honor for his son... Except for One. This very one...

Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.

Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heaven is for His people!
Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you.

Please share this wonderful message

Spread His Word, help Him and you'll see His hand in everything you do...

Q 5:3: This day I've perfected your religion for you, and completed my favor on you, and chose Islam for you as religion.... .

With prayers...

p/s: the origin of the story is unknown. however, let the morale of the story stick in our hearts...inspiring ourselves to double the effort to spread Islam to people around us. InsyaAllah

Monolog

Sedar atau tidak…tahun baru Hijrah sudah bermula.
Sedar atau tidak…usia diri ini bertambah lagi tanpa perlu dikira.
Diri melangkah lagi ke alam baru…

Semalam...itu cerita lama.
Esok...itu belum tentu.
Hari ini...sedang berlaku sekarang, dan mungkin akan berakhir bila-bila masa.

Ibarat kata imam ghazali...
Benda paling jauh untuk digapai...adalah masa lepas kita...kerana ia tidak mungkin dapat dikejar kembali.
Perkara paling dekat...adalah mati...yang mungkin datang sebentar lagi.

Oleh itu wahai diri…
Insaflah…sedarlah…
Dirimu bukan selamanya hidup…bukan selamanya teguh.
Menongkat langit berpasak bumi.

Ingatlah mati wahai diri!
Jika kau mampu mengingatinya...kau takkan rugi.
Manfaatkan masamu...agar kau tersenyum di kemudian hari.

p/s: Selamat menyambut Maal Hijrah dengan menghayati makna di sebaliknya...Selamat berpuasa sunat juga di kala 9 dan 10 Muharam (Hari Asyura)

Sang Murabbi

Dedikasi khas untuk meniup semangat jiwa-jiwa yang bergerak mencenderungkan manusia ke jalan Allah. moga menjadi inspirasi, insyaAllah.



Ribuan langkah kau tapaki
Pelosok negri kau sambangi
Ribuan langkah kau tapaki
Pelosok negri kau sambangi

Tanpa kenal lelah jemu
Sampaikan firman Tuhanmu
Tanpa kenal lelah jemu
Sampaikan firman Tuhanmu

Terik matahari
Tak surutkan langkahmu
Deru hujan badai
Tak lunturkan azzammu

Raga kan terluka
Tak jerikan nyalimu
Fatamorgana dunia
Tak silaukan pandangmu

Semua makhluk bertasbih
Panjatkan ampun bagimu
Semua makhluk berdoa
Limpahkan rahmat atasmu

Duhai pewaris nabi
Duka fana tak berarti
Surga kekal dan abadi
Balasan ikhlas di hati

Cerah hati kami
Kau semai nilai nan suci
Tegak panji Illahi
Bangkit generasi Robbani..

Hikmah Bersangka Baik

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Jauhilah sebanyaknya dari prasangka, kerana sebahagian prasangka itu adalah dosa, dan janganlah kamu mencari-cari kesalahan orang lain, dan janganlah di antara kamu mengumpat sebahagian yang lain. Apakah kamu suka memakan daging saudaramu yang mati? Tentu kamu berasa jijik. Dan bertakwalah kamu kepada Allah, sesungguhnya Allah maha menerima taubat, maha penyayang.

(Al-Hujurat:12)

Dikisahkan pada suatu ketika dahulu, pada zaman kegemilangan Islam wali Songo di Indonesia masyarakatnya dikhabarkan sangat taat kepada ajaran dan cara hidup Islam. Mereka mempraktikkan Islam dalam semua aspek kehidupan, dari sekecil-kecil hingga sebesar-besar perkara. Hatta bersangka baik (husnu dzon) terhadap manusia lainnya juga diberi perhatian dan menjadi gaya kehidupan mereka.

Dikisahkan juga pada zaman ini, hidup seorang pemuda kacak anak kepada kiyai di satu kawasan di tanah Jawa. Walau bapanya adalah kiyai dan ibunya adalah seorang yang solehah, namun pemuda ini tidak pula mewarisi kewarakan ibu bapanya. Dia hidup sebagai seorang Muslim yang nakal dan lalai. Dia banyak menghabiskan masanya dengan perkara sia-sia, mengusik orang di tepi jalan dan bersuka ria dengan pria-pria sebayanya di kampung itu. Puas ibu bapanya memujuk dan mengingatkan dirinya untuk berubah ke arah gaya hidup Islam yang sebenar namun dia menolak dan selesa dengan gaya hidup santainya. Ibu bapanya terus-terusan menasihati dan berdoa agar anak lelaki mereka ini diberikan hidayah oleh Allah dan menjadi orang yang soleh.

Pada suatu hari ketika pemuda ini sedang duduk-duduk di jalanan bersama dengan rakan-rakannya, dia terlihat seorang gadis bertudung labuh berjalan pulang dari pengajian di surau. Dia terus terkesan dengan keanggunan dan akhlak gadis tersebut, hingga dia lupa usikan-usikan nakal yang sering dilontarkannya kepada pejalan-pejalan kaki yang sering lalu di hadapannya. Hatinya terpaut dengan gadis itu. Lantas dia bergegas pulang ke rumah dan memberitahu ibunya yang dia sudah punya calon untuk bernikah dan ingin berkahwin segera.

Cerah wajah si ibu melihat perubahan pada anaknya. Lantas dia memberitahu si bapa pula perihal anakanda mereka yang seorang itu. Mereka mengucap hamdalah dan gembira dengan keinginan anak mereka itu. Jauh di sudut hati, mereka mendoakan moga perubahan anak mereka ini berterusan dan terus-terusan berada dalam kebaikan.

Maka bertanya si bapa, “wahai anakku, siapa yang ingin kamu nikahi ini? Beritahulah agar aku dapat meminangnya untukmu”. Si anak menjawab, “ perempuan sekian-sekian bertudung labuh. Aku baru ketemunya pulang dari surau tadi”.

Si bapa pun menyelidik dan akhirnya mendapati bahawa gadis itu adalah anak kepada kiyai kampung seberang, teman sepengajiannya dahulu. Dia memberitahu isterinya, “Wah, ini sudah bagus. Orang tuanya adalah saudara sepengajianku. insyaAllah urusan peminangan dan penikahan anak kita ini akan menjadi lebih mudah”. “Ya, bapaknya. insyaAllah, kita doakan saja”.

Si bapa pun pergi berjumpa saudara sepengajiannya itu dan menyampaikan hasrat hati anaknya. Huluran peminangan itu disambut gembira oleh si kiyai kampung seberang. Setelah diberitahu kepada puterinya akan peminangan itu, si puteri diam dan tersenyum tanda setuju pada ayahandanya. Melihat si gadis setuju menerima pinangan itu, kedua kiyai itu terus menetapkan hari pernikahan anak mereka berdua. Masing-masing gembira menunggu hari di mana persaudaraan mereka berdua diperkukuhkan lagi atas pernikahan anak-anak mereka. Si kiyai kampung seberang, keluarganya dan masyarakat kampung seberang tidak tahu tentang kenakalan dan kelalaian si pemuda. Mereka menyangka bahawa anak kiyai itu pastinya orang yang soleh, malah pasti tinggi ilmu agamanya.

Hari pernikahan pun tiba. Pernikahan berlangsung pada malam jumaat, selepas solat isya’. Kedua-dua anak kiyai itu selamat diijabkabulkan dalam satu lafaz oleh si bapa gadis. Selesai akad, seluruh hadirin yang hadir di majlis itu mendoakan keberkatan rumahtangga mereka. Berbunga hati si kiyai kampung seberang melihat menantunya itu. Berdetik hatinya, “Alhamdulillah, terima kasih Allah kerana anakku bukan saja dianugerahi dengan suami yang soleh, malah kacak dan manis wajahnya”. Dia tersenyum sendiri. Dia tidak tahu yang menantunya itu “nakal” orangnya.

Selesai majlis, kedua mempelai masuk ke kamar –sunnah pengantin baru. Si pemuda merapati isterinya. Pun begitu, si isteri berkata, “Mas, solat sunnat dahulu. Kita ikut jejak langkah Rasul dalam hal ini. Agar rumah tangga kita lebih barakah”. Terkedu si suami. Walau dia “nakal” selama ini, dia tidak pula membiasakan dirinya berbohong. Dia dengan jujur membalas, “Bagaimana mahu solat ya sayang? Aku sudah lama meninggalkan perkara itu. Malah, bacaannya juga aku tidak tahu”.

Terkejut si isteri. “Bukankah kau ini orang yang soleh anak kepada seorang kiyai?” “Ya, aku anak seorang kiyai namun aku tidak mewarisi kesolehan ibu bapaku,” balas si pemuda, kaget. Si isteri terkejut dan berisighfar. Oleh kerana dia gadis yang solehah, maka dia tidak panik dan tenang berucap, “wahai suamiku, ini adalah keaibanmu. Tidak ada seorang pun di kampung ini yang tahu perihalmu. Dan keaibanmu adalah keaibanku juga. Jangan kau biarkan perkara ini diketahui orang lain. Hanya Allah dan kita berdua saja tahu tentangnya.” Si suami mengangguk setuju.

“Mari ke sini biar aku ajarkan mas tentang solat, cara dan bacaannya,” pinta si isteri. Si suami mengikut. Maka penuhlah malam pertama mereka itu dengan pengajian tentang wudhu, solat dan bacaannya. Dari malam hingga ke pagi, si isteri gigih mendidik dan membimbing suaminya. Si suami pula tekun mengaji dan memahami apa yang diajarkan si isteri. Berakhir malam pengantin si pemuda itu dengan dia sudah menguasai wudhu, solat dan bacaannya (al-fatihah). Si isteri pun berkata, “Mas, sebentar lagi subuh. Bapa pasti akan ke masjid untuk solat subuh berjamaah. Kau ikut dia ya. Amalkan apa yang sudah aku ajarkan tadi. Sama jua dengan solat Jumaat nanti ya.” Si suami mengiyakan dan tersenyum.

Solat subuh itu, si bapa mengimami solat dan pemuda itu menjadi makmum di barisan pertama di belakang mertuanya. Sampai waktu zohor, maka si bapa sebagai kiyai pun naik menjadi khatib dan menyampaikan khutbahnya. Di akhir khutbah itu, dia memperkenalkan menantunya yang baru, anak kiyai saudara pengajiannya. Dia juga meminta si pemuda itu mengimamkan solat jumaat pada hari itu. Orang-orang kampung mengucap hamdalah dan masing-masing tertunggu-tunggu untuk solat berimamkan menantu kiyai itu.
Si pemuda kecut perut. Dia tidak menyangka yang dia akan diminta untuk mengimami solat sebesar solat Jumaat, walhal dia baru saja tahu selok belok solat itu. Oleh kerana tidak tahu untuk menolak, dia maju kehadapan lantas mengimami solat Jumaat itu. Dimulai dengan takbir, si pemuda membaca Al-Fatihah dengan suara yang merdu seperti yang diajar oleh isterinya:

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ

Sampai ke ayat ke-6, pemuda itu terhenti. Ayat seterusnya, dia terlupa! Dia beristighfar, puas dia mengingat tapi ayat terakhir itu tidak menjelma di ingatan. Dia cuba mengingat dan mengingat hingga menangis, namun ayat terakhir ummul kitab itu tidak juga keluar.

Makmum sekaliannya menunggu imam dalam diamnya. Apabila si imam mula menangis, mereka pun menangis juga. Sangka mereka si imam sangat menghayati ayat-ayat yang dibacanya hingga menangis, maka mereka pun turut menangis. Seluruh masjid menangis dalam solat Jumaat pada hari itu.

Si pemuda dalam tangisnya mencari jalan. Dia perlu melakukan sesuatu. Akhirnya dia terlihat pintu di sebelah mihrab yang menghala keluar masjid. Akhirnya, dia berlari keluar dari masjid melalui pintu itu. Dia malu dengan seisi kampung. Dia berlari sekuat-kuatnya agar dia dapat lepas dari perhatian jemaah masjid itu.

Makmum seluruhnya apabila melihat si imam berlari keluar, maka mereka pun turut mengikut berlari dan mengejar imam tersebut. Mereka akhirnya berhenti di padang berhampiran masjid apabila si imam berhenti berlari gara-gara kepenatan. Mereka tertanya-tanya mengapa imam itu berbuat demikian. Belum sempat mereka bertanya, mereka dikejutkan oleh satu bunyi.

(gambar hiasan: sebuah masjid di tanah Jawa)

Kaboom!!! Semua mata di padang itu tercatuk kepada bangunan masjid yang runtuh. Masing-masing menelan liur. Andai mereka masih berada di dalam masjid itu sebentar tadi, tertimbuslah mereka di bawah runtuhan bangunan kayu itu. Semua mengucap hamdalah dan berterima kasih kepada si pemuda kerana berlari keluar dari masjid sejurus sebelum runtuhan itu dalam solatnya. Mereka bersyukur kerana pada sangkaan mereka, Allah memberi ilham kepada pemuda itu tentang runtuhnya masjid itu di dalam solatnya dan menyelamatkan mereka dari bencana itu.

Pemuda itu pucat dan keletihan. Si kiyai yang melihat wajah menantunya yang pucat itu,lantas menyambung dan mengimami solat Jumaat yang tergendala itu. Hari itu, mereka solat Jumaat di atas padang. Dalam solat itu, mereka mengucap syukur pada Tuhan yang Esa yang menyelamatkan mereka dari bencana itu. Selamatlah si pemuda dari terbuka keaibannya pada orang ramai.

Pemuda dan mertuanya pulang ke rumah. Si pemuda lantas menceritakan apa yang terjadi kepada isterinya. Isterinya mengucap hamdalah dan memuji-muji Allah atas apa yang terjadi. Si suami pun berkata, “demi Allah, aku ingin belajar agama. Aku tidak akan menyentuhmu hingga aku selesai belajar agama dan menguasainya.” Keesokannya, si pemuda pun memberitahu bapa mertuanya, “Ayahanda, anakanda ingin keluar menuntut ilmu. Anakanda ingin belajar untuk menampung kekurangan yang ada dalam diri anakanda.” Si bapa yang masih tidak tahu perihal menantunya itu pun mengizinkan dan menggalakkan. 5 tahun selepas itu, si menantu pulang dengan ilmu yang mantap dan fikiran yang faqih. Dia menjadi salah seorang ulama terbilang di zamannya, menggantikan bapa dan bapa mertuanya. Subahanallah.

Pendapat sesetengah ulama’ tentang runtuhnya masjid itu, adalah kerana Allah ingin menyimpan aib si pemuda dan keluarganya. Juga kerana Allah redha dan suka dengan penduduk kampung itu yang sentiasa bersangka baik dalam semua perkara. Lantas Allah mengutus malaikat untuk menekan masjid itu hingga runtuh, bagi menyimpan keaiban pemuda itu dan keluarganya, juga menyelamatkan seluruh isi kampung yang sangat bersangka baik sesama mereka. Wallahualam.

p/s: kisah benar rakyat ini di petik dari syarah Ustaz Muslim Mubarak di Curtin Musolla. Ustaz Muslim merupakan imam Masjid Hepburn, Padbury WA.

end of a prologue

It has been a while since I last post something in this blog. I’ve been kept busy for this last month with the act of worships in Ramadhan, religious programs, assignments and even a week of field trip. Alhamdulillah everything went fine and now I’m back in this blogging world, writing on my thoughts, ideas and understanding so that it would benefit not only me but anyone who is willing to read this masterpiece of mine.

I’ve been talking to a close friend of mine about my hiatus from the blogging world since I started writing in early august of this year. I told him about how hard it is to be consistent (istiqamah) in writing something meaningful and beneficial for the blog and at the same time catching up with study and programs. I also told him that I might consider stopping to write midway if I continued to be busy and run out of ideas to be presented to the world. This is his answer to my whining:

“ya akh(brother), istiqamah is something that is very hard to achieve. What I’ve seen is you tried your hard during your early involvement in this writing world by keeping your blog updated and posted as frequent as you can, but later you’ve been busy and unable to post anything on your blog. For me, that’s not what you should have done if you want to achieve istiqamah in writing. It is better for you to write once in a while, but those writing give a good impact on the readers. This also will help you in achieving istiqamah in writing.”

I startled for a while when I heard about his opinion. What he is saying is true. My eyes have been folded that I can’t see that the quality of writing is better than the quantity. I’ve always thought that the quantity of the posting is important so that the readers will always get something new to be read and learn about. Well, it is partially true but the essence of writing is much more emphasized on its quality and in many times, that’s always being the case. Quantity is just a bonus-if you have the ability to do it.

A good analogy to this is that you have a lot of food but with no taste, and little food but very delicious and tasty. Which one will you choose? I reckon you would prefer to take that delicious food and enjoy its taste to the fullest, isn’t it?

Furthermore, I also don’t want to be called an empty can (tin kosong in malay). Write and babbling a lot, but nothing useful comes out of it.

InsyaAllah, from now on I will try my best to continue on blogging. Furthermore, I believed that blogging will be a good medium for me to call people towards Allah SWT and the Deen. Allah said in the Quran:

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

“And whose word is better than the words of those who called towards Allah, doing good deeds and proclaims ‘verily I’m from amongst the Muslimin (those who submit to Allah)?”

(Al-Fushilat verse 33)

Hopefully I can be among the people who are honoured by Allah in the above verse. InsyaAllah, May this small effort will be rewarded by Allah.

p/s: eid mubarak to everyone. Taqaballahu minna wa minkum. May Allah grant us with the opportunity to witness ramadhan again in the coming year.

The Inner Dimensions of Fasting By Imam al-Ghazali

Summary by Syeikh Faizel Chothia (UWA Muslim Chaplin 2009)

Three Grades

It should be known that there are three grades of fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special. Ordinary fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.
Special Fasting means keeping one’s ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet — and all other organs — free from sin.
Extra-special Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but Allah, Great and Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world.
Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of trust in the bounty of Allah, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of certain faith in His promised sustenance.
To this third degree belong the Prophets, the true awliya and the intimates of Allah. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in utmost dedication to Allah, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than Allah, Exalted is He. It is bound up with the significance of His words: ‘Say: “Allah (sent it down)”: then leave them to play in their vain discussions.’ [al-An'am, 6:91]

Inward Requirements

As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It means keeping all one’s organs free from sin and six things are required for its accomplishment.

See Not What Displeases Allah

A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of Allah, Great and Glorious is He. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be Allah’s curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of Allah will receive from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.’
Jabir relates from Anas that Allah’s Messenger, on him be peace, said: ‘Five things break a man’s Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.’

Speak Not…

Guarding one’s tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness, arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of Allah, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue. Said Sufyan: ‘Backbiting annuls the Fast.’ Layth quotes Mujahid as saying: ‘Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.’
The Prophet, on him be peace, said: ‘Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am Fasting, I am Fasting!”‘
According to Tradition: ‘Two women were Fasting during the time of Allah’s Messenger, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the day, from hunger and thirst, that they were on the verge of collapsing. They therefore sent a message to Allah’s Messenger, on him be peace, requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, the Prophet, on him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: “Tell them to vomit into it what they have eaten.” One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished. Then the Prophet, on him be peace, said: “These two women have been Fasting from what Allah made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what Allah, Exalted is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they maligned!”‘

Hear Not…

Closing one’s ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why Allah, Great and Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His words, Exalted is He: ‘Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit gain.’ [al- Ma'idah, 5:42]
Allah, Great and Glorious is He, also said: ‘Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and consume unlawful profit?’ [al-Ma'idah, 5:63]
Silence in the face of backbiting is therefore unlawful. Allah, Exalted is He, said: ‘You are then just like them.’ [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Prophet, on him be peace, said: ‘The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.’

Do Not…

Keeping all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast — to abstain from lawful food – only to break one’s Fast on what is unlawful. A man who Fast like this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city. Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess. The object of Fasting is to induce moderation. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!’ This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food, but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their organs from sin.

Avoid Overeating

Not to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the point of stuffing one’s belly. There is no receptacle more odious to Allah, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful food. Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering Allah’s enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together. It is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.
The spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are Satan’s means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to cut down one’s intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much as one would usually take during the day and night combined. Moreover, one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious of the weakening of one’s powers, with the consequent purification of the heart.
One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into the night, making it easier to perform the (tahajjud) and to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover around one’s heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven. The Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this Kingdom is revealed. This is what is meant by the words of Allah, Exalted is He:’We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.’ [al-Qadr, 97:1]
Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but Allah, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the starting point of it all is cutting down on food.

Look To Allah With Fear And Hope

After the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one’s Fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with Allah, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.
It is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: ‘Allah, Great and Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won, while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends the victors, and failure the wasters. By Allah, if the veil were lifted off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works and the evildoer with his evil deeds.’ In too full of joy to indulge in idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be precluded by remorse.
Of al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: ‘You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.’ But he replied: ‘By this I am making ready for a long journey, Obedience to Allah, Glorified is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.’

Such are the inwardly significant meanings of Fasting.

p/s: "Oh you who have believed, decreed upon you fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" (Al-Quran, Chapter 2- verse 183)

ahlan ya ramadhan, shahru mubarak.