Mavi Marmara : Bertaqwa dan Berjihadlah Saudaraku

Semalam, dunia dikejutkan dengan serangan askar Israel terhadap konvoi kemanusiaan yang membawa ratusan aktivis pro-Palestin dari pelbagai negara. Seluruh dunia bersedih,pilu dan berdukacita dengan berita serangan dan pembunuhan yang berlaku.

Pastinya, serangan askar Israel terhadap kapal Mavi Marmara adalah satu tindakan kejam dan tidak berperikemanusiaan.

Misi murni 'Flotila Kebebasan' untuk menghantar bantuan kepada rakyat Gaza mungkin tidak mampu dicapai, namun sebenarnya mereka telah berjaya. Mereka sukses memberikan mesej kepada seluruh dunia bahawa Israel adalah jahat dan kejahatan mereka semakin menjadi-jadi.

Firman Allah SWT :
"Sesungguhnya kamu dapati orang-orang yang paling keras permusuhannya terhadap orang-orang yang beriman ialah orang-orang Yahudi dan orang-orang musyrik. Dan sesungguhnya kamu dapati yang paling dekat persahabatannya dengan orang-orang yang beriman ialah orang-orang yang berkata: "Sesungguhnya kami ini orang Nasrani." Yang demikian itu disebabkan karena di antara mereka itu (orang-orang Nasrani) terdapat pendeta-pendeta dan rahib-rahib, (juga) karena sesungguhnya mereka tidak menymbongkan diri."
(Surah Al-Maidah, 82)

Alhamdulillah, saya dapat menghubungi seorang rakyat Palestin yang pakar dalam 'Jureselem Studies', Dr. Abdullah Maarof sebentar tadi untuk membincangkan isu ini. Beliau kini merupakan 'senior visiting lecturer' di Universiti Malaya. Menurutnya, serangan semalam menyebabkan banyak negara mengutuk keras tindakan mereka termasuk negara-negara yang pro-Israel. Selain itu, hampir semua media menyiarkan apa yang telah berlaku. Sudah pasti berita-berita tersebut mampu mengubah persepsi sebahagian masyarakat dunia yang masih menyokong Israel atau yang masih kabur tentang kezaliman Israel.

Menurut Dr. Abdullah Maarof, Israel dapat menguasai Palestin kerana mereka menguasai ekonomi dan media. Mereka menggunakan media untuk meraih simpati masyarakat dunia dan melobi kuasa ekonomi antarabangsa. Namun, peranan media dalam menghebahkan peristiwa semalam pasti mampu menyuntik semangat dan kesedaran di kalangan masyarakat dunia terutamanya Muslim untuk terus membantu membebaskan Palestin.

"Kemungkinan kerajaan Israel tidak menjangka untuk membunuh ramai orang dalam kapal Mavi Marmara. Namun pembunuhan yang berlaku (dan ramai yang dibunuh) pasti ada kesannya akan datang," kata Dr. Abdullah Maarof.

Gambar

Jika kita membaca forum-forum internet seluruh dunia, bukan sahaja ahli forum Islamik yang mengutuk tindakan ganas itu, malah banyak forum lain yang hangat menyatakan kebencian mereka seperti muselive.com dan macam-macam lagi.

Apabila ditanya tentang kemungkinan akan berlaku peperangan besar sekali lagi di Gaza, pakar 'Juruselem Studies' itu memberitahu bahawa ia mungkin berlaku. Selain itu, Hamas telah mengisytiharkan 'intifada' untuk menentang kezaliman Israel.


Firman Allah SWT :
"Dan kamu akan melihat kebanyakan dari mereka (orang-orang Yahudi) bersegera membuat dosa, permusuhan dan memakan yang haram. Sesungguhnya amat buruk apa yang mereka telah kerjakan itu."
(Surah Al-Maidah, 62)

Peristiwa semalam sepatutnya membuatkan kita sedih dan simpati. Kesedihan itu mestilah kesedihan yang memberikan kita inspirasi untuk terus berusaha (mengikut kemampuan masing-masing) membebaskan Al-Quds; tanah suci kita.
"Sesungguhnya penolong kamu hanyalah Allah, Rasul-Nya, dan orang-orang yang beriman, yang mendirikan solat dan menunaikan zakat, seraya mereka tunduk (kepada Allah)."
(Surah Al-Maidah : 55)

Allah SWT menjanjikan kemenangan untuk umat Islam. Adakah kita ingin menjadi sebahagian daripada mereka yang berjuang untuk kemenangan itu? Fikir-fikirkan.
"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, bertakwalah kepada Allah dan carilah jalan yang mendekatkan diri kepada-Nya, dan berjihadlah pada jalan-Nya, supaya kamu mendapat keberuntungan."
(Surah Al-Maidah : 35)

Marilah kita bertaqwa kepada Allah SWT dan berjihad di jalan-Nya.


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Doa dengan Lafazh “Ya Allah, ampunilah aku jika Engkau menghendaki”

Saudaraku –yang semoga dirahmati Allah-, berdo’a merupakan suatu amal ibadah yang agung. Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda, “Do’a adalah ibadah.” (HR. Abu Dawud, Tirmidzi, Nasai, dan Ibnu Majah). Ketika kita berdo’a tentu kita berharap agar do’a kita dikabulkan oleh Allah Ta’ala. Tidak ada diantara kita yang berdo’a tetapi dia ingin do’anya tidak terkabul. Akan tetapi tidak semua do’a yang dipanjatkan oleh seorang hamba lantas dikabulkan oleh Allah Ta’ala. Bahkan terkadang ada orang yang berdo’a dengan do’a yang dilarang oleh syariat. Ya, ia ingin beribadah, tetapi malah terjatuh kedalam perkara yang haram.

Marilah kita perhatikan hadits berikut ini,
Abu Hurairah radhiyallah ‘anhu menuturkan bahwa Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda, “Janganlah salah seorang diantara kamu berdoa, ‘Ya Allah ampunilah aku jika Engkau menghendaki’ atau berdoa, ‘Ya Allah, limpahkanlah rahmatMu kepadaku jika Engkau menghendaki’, tetapi hendaklah ia berkeinginan kuat dalam permohonan itu, karena sesungguhnya Allah tiada sesuatupun yang memaksa-Nya untuk berbuat sesuatu.” (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim)

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala tentu tidak bisa disamakan dengan makhluk. Seseorang akan mengabulkan permintaan orang lain karena sebab-sebab tertentu. Boleh jadi karena ia memiliki kepentingan dengan si peminta, atau karena ia takut kepadanya atau karena punya harapan dengannya, lalu orang itu memberi apa yang diminta dengan terpaksa. Lain halnya dengan Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, Dia Maha Suci, tidak mungkin bagi-Nya hal seperti itu karena kesempurnaan sifat tidak butuh-Nya terhadap makhluk, kesempurnaan kedermawanan dan kemuliaan-Nya, pemberian-Nya tiada habis-habisnya, Dia sama sekali tidak butuh kepada makhluk, bahkan makhluk-lah yang butuh kepada-Nya dengan kebutuhan yang tidak putus sekejap matapun.

Diriwayatkan dalam sebuah hadits “Tangan kanan Allah penuh, tidak akan membuatnya berkurang sebuah nafkahpun, terbuka siang dan malam. Tahukah kalian apa yang telah diinfakkan semenjak penciptaan langit dan bumi? Itu semua tidak mengurangi apa yang ada di tangannya. Dan pada tangan yang lain ada neraca keadilan, Allah merendahkannya dan mengangkatnya.” (HR. Bukhari -diberbagai tempat dalam Al Jami’-, dan Muslim dari Abu Hurairah). Allah Ta’ala memberi karena hikmah dan menahan karena hikmah, dan Dia adalah Maha Bijaksana lagi Maha Mengetahui. Maka seharusnya bagi orang yang meminta kepada Allah, hendaklah ia berkeinginan kuat dalam permohonannya karena sesungguhnya Allah tidak memberikan sesuatu kepada hamba-Nya dalam keadaan terpaksa ataupun menganggap besar permintaan itu.

Allah memiliki sifat kedermawanan, kedermawanan yang terus menerus dan tiada pernah henti. Bahkan Allah memberi karunia kepada hamba-Nya sebelum hamba tersebut meminta. Marilah kita perhatikan penciptaan manusia, sejak air mani diletakkan di dalam rahim, nikmat-nikmat-Nya didalam perut ibunya terus mengalir, Dia mengurusnya dengan sebaik-baiknya. Jika ibunya telah melahirkannya, Dia menjadikan orang tuanya merasa menyayangi dan mengurusnya dengan nikmat-nikmat-Nya sehingga anak itu tumbuh menjadi besar dan dewasa.

Ia selalu berada dalam nikmat-nikmat Allah sepanjang hidupnya. Jika hidupnya selalu dalam keimanan dan ketakwaan, maka bertambahlah nikmat-nikmat Allah kepadanya. Apabila ia meninggal, maka ia memperoleh kenikmatan yang berlipat ganda daripada kenikmatan yang ia peroleh ketika di dunia. Ia memperoleh kenikmatan yang hanya Allah yang bisa menghitungnya, nikmat yang Allah persiapkan khusus bagi hamba-hamba-Nya yang beriman dan bertakwa.

Semua kenikmatan yang diperoleh seorang hamba didunia ini pada hakekatnya adalah karunia dari Allah Ta’ala. Meskipun sebagian kenikmatan tersebut ia peroleh melalui perantaaran orang lain, tapi ketahuilah bahwa nikmat tersebut tidak akan pernah sampai kepadanya kecuali dengan izin, kehendak dan kebaikan dari Allah Ta’ala. Dengan demikian, Allah-lah yang berhak dipuji atas segala nikmat tersebut. Dialah yang menghendakinya dan menentukannya serta mengalirkannya dengan kebaikan, kedermawanan dan karunia-Nya. Hanya milik-Nya segala nikmat, karunia dan sanjungan yang baik.

Allah Ta’ala berfirman,
“Dan apa saja nikmat yang ada pada kamu, maka dari Allah-lah datangnya, dan bila kamu ditimpa oleh kemudharatan, maka hanya kepada-Nyalah kamu minta pertolongan.” (Qs. An-Nahl (16) : 53)

Terkadang Allah Ta’ala menahan pemberian kepada hamba-Nya jika ia memohon kepada-Nya, karena adanya suatu hikmah dan pengetahuan-Nya tentang yang terbaik bagi hamba-Nya, dan terkadang dia mengakhirkan apa yang diminta hamba-Nya untuk waktu yang telah ditentukan atau untuk memberinya dengan pemberian yang lebih banyak. Maha Suci Allah Tuhan Semesta Alam.

Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallambersabda, “Tidaklah seorang muslim berdoa kepada Allah dengan suatu doa yang didalamnya tidak mengandung dosa dan pemutusan silautarahmi, melainkan Allah akan memberikan kepadanya salah satu dari tiga kemungkinan ; (yaitu) dikabulkan segera doanya itu, atau dia akan menyimpan baginya di akhiat kelak,atau dia akan menghindarkan darinya keburukan yang semisalnya.” Maka para sahabat pun berkata,” Kalau begitu kita memperbanyaknya.” Beliau bersabda, “Allah lebih banyak lagi ( memberikan pahala).” (HR. Ahmad III/8, al-Bukhari dalam al-Adabul Mufrad,dan lainnya. Lihat Doa dan Wirid Mengobati Guna-Guna dan Sihir Menurut al-Qur-an dan as-Sunnah hal 37-38, karya Yazid bin Abdul Qadir Jawas)
Hendaknya kita membesarkan harapan kita kepada Allah ketika berdo’a, karena sesungguhnya Allah memberi permintaan yang besar karena kedermawanan, karunia dan kebaikan. Allah Ta’ala tidak merasa diberatkan dengan apa yang Dia berikan, maksudnya tidak ada sesuatu yang berat bagi-Nya walaupun terasa berat bagi makhluk.

Karena orang yang meminta kepada makhluk, ia tidak memintanya kecuali sesuatu yang mudah baginya untuk dikabulkan. Lain halnya dengan Rabb Semesta Alam, sesungguhnya pemberian-Nya terwujud sesuai dengan Firman-Nya. Sebagaimana dijelaskan dalam firman-Nya, “Sesungguhnya perintah-Nya apabila Dia menghendaki sesuatu hanyalah berkata kepadanya,”Jadilah!” maka jadilah ia.” (Qs. Yaasiin: 82).
Maha Suci Allah yang makhluknya tidak dapat mengagungkan-Nya dengan sebenar-benar pengagungan, tidak ada Tuhan yang Haq selain-Nya dan tidak ada Rabb selain-Nya.

Penyusun: Ummu Maryam Ismiyanti
Diringkas dari Fathul Majid karangan Syaikh Abdurrahman Hasan Alu Syaikh cetakan Pustaka Azzam.
Dimuroja’ah oleh Ustadz Jamaludin, Lc.

Kegagalan Mengajar Erti Kehidupan

Setiap Isnin petang, kami di iLuvislam.com akan mengadakan usrah bersama para pekerja sepenuh masa di sini. Perbagai topik dan perbincangan telah dibahaskan. Di antara topik yang pernah dibahaskan itu seperti; manusia diberikan pilihan untuk memilih, kerja secara berkumpulan, berusaha tangga kejayaan, bersyukur dengan segala pemberianNya dan sebagainya lagi. Namun, semasa giliran saya menjadi naqib, saya memilih satu topik yang sedikit berlawanan dengan topik-topik sebelum ini dengan menjadikan kegagalan sebagai subjek perbahasannya.

Setiap ahli usrah dikehendaki menceritakan kegagalan yang paling teruk pernah menimpa mereka. Pelbagai reaksi daripada perkongsian topik ini. Kebanyakkan mereka menceritakan pengalaman menghadapi kegagalan di dalam peperiksaan semasa pengajian dan sebagainya. Begitu juga saya, tidak terlepas daripada perkongsian tersebut.

Persoalan yang selalu kita dengari jika seseorang itu menghadapi kegagalan ialah; kenapa aku gagal sedangkan aku telah berusaha bersungguh-sungguh?, berdoa siang dan malam, akan tetapi kejayaan tidak juga muncul tiba. Di mana silapnya aku? Adakah Tuhan tidak menyayangi aku?

Bagi menjawab persoalan ini, saya ingin berkongsi beberapa perkara yang saya telah jelaskan semasa usrah tersebut. Semoga kita semua mendapat manfaatnya. InsyaAllah.

Berusaha Untuk Memilih Kejayaan

Imam Abu Hassan al-Asyaari memperkenalkan teori al-Kasbu (usaha) di dalam membincangkan kudrat Allah Taala dan perbuatan manusia, iaitu pandangannya adalah pertengahan di antara golongan Jabariyyah dengan Muktazillah. Golongan Muktazillah berpandangan bahawa manusia yang menciptakan perbuatannya sendiri. Golongan Jabariyyah pula berpendapat bahawa manusia tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk mencipta perbuatan apatah lagi berusaha untuk melakukan sesuatu. Manakala Imam Abu Hassan al-Asyaari berpandangan bahawa manusia tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk mencipta perbuatannya akan tetapi berkuasa untuk berusaha.

Beliau menafsirkan al-Kasbu dengan maksud ia adalah kuasa hamba untuk melakukan perbuatan yang mana perbuatan tersebut diciptakan oleh Allah Taala. Bagi hamba (manusia), al-Kasbu tidak memberikan kesan yang nyata di dalam perbuatannya. Ini bermakna segala perbuatan yang diusahakan adalah sesuatu yang dikuasai oleh kuasa bersifat baharu yang diciptakan oleh Allah Taala kepada manusia.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Padahal Allahlah yang menciptakan kamu dan apa yang kamu perbuatkan itu."
(Surah al-Soffat: Ayat 96).

Daripada teori al-Kasbu ini, dapatlah kita fahami bahawa setiap manusia diberikan pilihan samada untuk memilih kebaikkan ataupun memilih keburukkan. Jika kita memilih dan berusaha ke arah kebaikkan maka kebaikkan yang kita perolehi. Namun jika kita memilih dan berusaha ke arah keburukkan maka keburukkan yang kita perolehi. Ini bertepatan dengan peribahasa Melayu: Jika tidak dipecahkan ruyong manakan dapat sagunya.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengubah keadaan sesuatu kaum sehingga mereka mengubah keadaan yang ada pada diri mereka sendiri."
(Surah ar-Rad: Ayat 11).


Dugaan Kegagalan Setelah Berusaha

Di dalam menjalani liku-liku kehidupan, kita tidak akan dapat lari daripada diuji dengan pelbagai dugaan dan rintangan daripada Allah Taala. Ujian yang datang tidak kira masa dan siapa sudah tentulah tersembunyi segala hikmah dan akan menjadikan diri kita lebih kuat.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Dan Kami menguji kamu dengan kesusahan dan kesenangan sebagai dugaan dan kepada Kamilah kamu semua akan dikembalikan."
(Surah al-Anbiya: Ayat 35).

Setelah kita penat berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk memilih kebaikkan dan kejayaan, sebagai umat Islam yang menyakini kekuasaanNya, kita disarankan untuk berdoa memohon diperkenan daripadaNya. Ini kerana Allah Taala sentiasa mendengar segala permohonan dan rintihan hamba-hambaNya.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Dan apabila hamba-hambaKu bertanya kepadamu tentang aku maka (jawablah) bahawasanya Aku adalah dekat. Aku mengabulkan permohonan orang yang berdoa apabila ia memohon kepadaKu maka hendaklah mereka itu memenuhi (segala perintah) Aku dan hendaklah mereka beriman kepadaKu agar mereka selalu berada dalam kebenaran."
(Surah al-Baqarah: Ayat 186).

Walaubagaimanapun, kadang-kala apa yang kita doa dan pohon tidak semestinya diperolehi dan dimakbulkan pada ketika itu. Jika berlaku perkara ini, kita perlulah berbaik kepada konsep mengimani Qadha dan Qadar iaitu:

- Menisbahkan kepada Allah Taala di atas segala yang berlaku di dunia ini samada ia sesuatu kebaikkan ataupun keburukkan.

- Beriman bahawa hanya Allah Taala yang memiliki kuasa mutlak menentukan urusan di dunia ini walaupun kita diberikan pilihan untuk berusaha bersungguh-sungguh.

- Menyedarkan bahawa hakikat manusia itu lemah dan perlu kepada Allah Taala.

- Hikmah qada dan qadar disembunyikan dari pengetahuan hamba adalah supaya seseorang hamba itu sentiasa berusaha dan taat kepadaNya.

Selain itu, dugaan juga datang bersama tujuan dan hikmah yang tersembunyi. Ia memerlukan masa untuk manusia memperhalusi sebab dan punca sesuatu perkara itu berlaku. Hikmah itu pula kadang-kala kita sedari setelah sesuatu ujian yang menimpa kita itu berlalu atau juga langsung tidak kita ketahui sehingga akhir hayat kita.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Yang menjadikan mati dan hidup, supaya Dia menguji kamu, siapa antara kamu yang lebih baik amalannya. Dan Dia Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Pengampun."
(Surah al-Mulk: Ayat 2).

Sabar Di Atas Segala Dugaan

Dengan dugaan kegagalan, kita belajar erti kesabaran. Ada ulama mentakrifkan sabar ialah menjauhkan diri daripada mengingkari, tenang ketika menelan kepahitan bala serta menampakkan ketidakperluan kepada makhluk ketika ditimpa kefakiran di dalam menempuh ranjau kehidupan. Malah Syeikh Sayyid al-Jurjani di dalam kitabnya Tarifat mentakrifkan sabar ialah tidak mengadu tentang penderitaan bala kepada selain Allah Taala.

Kesabaran di atas musibah dan kegagalan yang menimpa ialah dengan menyakini bahawa kehidupan di dunia ini adalah medan ujian dan cubaan. Allah Taala akan menguji iman hambaNya dengan pelbagai jenis musibah dan dugaan. Dia juga menduga hamba-hambaNya yang beriman dengan pelbagai cabaran agar Dia membezakan di antara orang yang jahat dengan yang baik dan yang beriman dengan yang munafiq.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Alif Lam Mim. Apakah patut manusia menyangka bahawa mereka (hanya) dibiarkan (sahaja) berkata: Kami telah beriman sedangkan mareka belum diuji."
(Surah al-Ankabut: Ayat 1-2).

Musibah dan dugaan ini pasti akan datang samada terhadap harta benda ataupun diri sendiri. Ini bertepatan dengan firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Demi sesungguhnya, kamu pasti akan diuji pada harta benda dan diri kamu."
(Surah ali-Imran: Ayat 186).

Firman Allah Taala lagi bermaksud:
"Demi sesungguhnya, Kami pasti akan menguji kamu dengan sedikit perasaan takut dan kelaparan, dan kekurangan dari harta denda dan jiwa serta hasil tanaman. Dan berilah khabar gembira kepada orang-orang yang sabar (iaitu) orang yang apabila mereka ditimpa oleh sesuatu kesusahan, mereka berkata: Sesungguhnya kami adalah kepunyaan Allah dan kepada Allah jualah kami kembali. Mereka itu ialah orang yang dilimpahi dengan berbagai-bagai kebaikkan dari Tuhan mereka serta rahmatNya."
(Surah al-Baqarah: Ayat 155-157).

Tidak syak lagi bahawa orang mukmin yang sejati akan menanggung musibah ini dengan sabar dan penuh pasrah, bahkan dengan redha dan gembira. Kerana dia pasti musibah ini tidak diturunkan oleh Allah Taala kecuali untuk menghapuskan dosa-dosa serta menghilangkan kejahatan di dalam dirinya.

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. bermaksud:
"Tidak ditimpa seseorang muslim itu daripada kepenatan, kesakitan, dukacita, kebimbangan, penderitaan, kesedihan dan tusukan duri sekalipun melainkan dengan perkra tersebut Allah Taala menjadikannya sebagai kifarat terhadap kesalahan-kesalahannya."
(Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim).

Selain itu, musibah dan dugaan itu juga adalah untuk mengangkat darjat orang-orang beriman kepada satu darjat dan kedudukan yang lebih tinggi di sisi Allah Taala. Jika mereka menerimanya dengan penuh kesabaran dan keredhaan maka Allah Taala akan mengangkat lagi darjat mereka itu.

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. bermaksud:
"Apabila Allah telah mendahulukan kedudukan seseorang hamba kepada satu kedudukan yang tidak mampu dicapai dengan ilmunya maka Allah mengujinya pada tubuh badan, keluarga serta harta bendanya, kemudia Allah menjadikannya sabar terhadap ujian yang menimpa sehinggalah dia mencapai kedudukan yang telah disediakan oleh Allah Taala."
(Riwayat Abu Daud).

Redha Dengan Segala Ketentuan-Nya

Dengan kegagalan jugalah akan mengajar kita erti keredhaan. Syeikh Sayyid al-Jurjani di dalam kitabnya Tarifat telah mentakrifkan redha ialah perasaan senang hati dengan kepahitan qadha atau takdir. Manakala di dalam kitab ar-Risalah al-Qusyairiyyah menukilkan kata-kata Imam al-Muhasabi dengan mentakrifkan redha ialah hati tenang di bawah ketentuan hukum.

Rasulullah S.A.W. telah menerangkan bahawa orang yang redha dengan ketentuan Allah Taala merupakan manusia yang paling kaya kerana dia adalah orang yang paling gembira dan tenang, paling jauh daripada dukacita, sedih, marah serta kesempitan jiwa. Kaya bukanlah dengan banyaknya harta benda dan wang ringgit, tetapi kaya itu adalah kayanya hati dengan iman dan redha.

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. bermaksud:
"Bertakwalah kamu terhadap perkara-perkara haram nescaya kamu menjadi manusia paling beribadah. Redhalah dengan apa yang ditentukan Allah kepadamu nescaya kamu menjadi manusia paling kaya."
(Riwayat Tarmizi).

Redha juga merupakan sebab yang kuat untuk mencapai kebahagiaan dunia dan akhirat. Manakala kemurkaan pula merupakan sebab kesengsaraan di dunia dan akhirat.

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. bermaksud:
"Di antara kebahagiaan anak Adam ialah dia redha dengan takdir Allah kepadanya dan di antara kesengsaraan anak Adam ialah dia meninggalkan pilihan Allah Taala dan di antara kesengsaraan anak Adam juga ialah kemarahannya terhadap apa yang ditentukan Allah Taala kepadanya."
(Riwayat Tarmizi).

Yakinlah bahawa Allah Taala tidak redha kepada hambaNya kecuali setelah hamba itu redha kepadaNya di dalam semua hukum dan perbuatanNya. Di sebabkan itulah kita perlu redha di atas dugaan kegagalan yang menimpa diri kita ini.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Allah redha kepada mereka dan mereka redha kepada Allah."
(Surah al-Bayyinah: Ayat 8).

Syukur Di Atas Nikmat-Nya

Kegagalan juga dapat mengajar kita erti kesyukuran. Sebahagian ulama mendefinasikan syukur ialah hati yang sentiasa teguh mencintai pemberi nikmat, anggota sentiasa mentaatiNya dan lidah sentiasa bergerak menyebut dan memujiNya. Imam Ibnu Abidin di dalam kitab Dalil al-Falihin mentakrifkan syukur ialah mengiktiraf nikmat serta melaksanakan khidmat. Sesiapa yang banyak melakukannya dia dinamakan orang yang benar-benar bersyukur.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Dan sedikit sekali dari kalangan hamba-hambaKu yang bersyukur."
(Surah Saba: Ayat 13).

Kegagalan yang kita hadapi kini adalah secebis sahaja daripada episod kehidupan yang penuh kesenangan, sedangkan nikmat yang diberikanNya sebelum ini terlalu banyak jika hendak dihitung dan dikira. Ini bertepatan dengan firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Dan jika kamu menghitung nikmat Allah nescaya kamu tidak dapat menghitungnya."
(Surah Ibrahim: Ayat 34).

Syukur merupakan makam (kedudukan / peringkat) yang tertinggi bagi pengamal Tawasuf kerana ia melibatkan hati, lidah dan anggota. Allah Taala juga menyuruh kita banyakkan bersyukur dan menegah kekufuran sepertimana firmanNya bermaksud:
"Dan bersyukurlah kepadaKu dan janganlah kamu mengufuri (nikmat) Aku."
(Surah al-Baqarah: Ayat 152).

Allah Taala menyifatkan sebilangan besar manusia tidak bersyukur sedangkan betapa banyak kelebihan dan nikmat daripadaNya yang telah diberikan. Hanya sekali sekala dugaan datang, ia sesekali tidak akan melenyapkan nikmat dan kesenangan yang telah dikurniakanNya sebelum ini. Begitu jugalah jika dilihat pada dugaan dan ujian yang menimpa orang lain, alangkah bersyukurnya kita kerana dugaan yang kita perolehi tidaklah sebesar mana jika hendak dibandingkan dengan orang lain. Tidakkah kita bersyukur lagi?

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Dan sesungguhnya Tuhanmu benar-benar mempunyai kurnia yang besar (yang diberikanNya) kepada manusia, tetapi kebanyakkan mereka tidak mensyukuri."
(Surah an-Naml: Ayat 73).

Kesimpulan

Dalam mendepani ujian atau musibah yang melanda diri, kita sentiasa diingatkan supaya sentiasa bersabar dan menerimanya dengan hati yang terbuka serta penuh redha. Inilah panduan yang cukup berharga untuk diri kita agar kita dapat mengatasi setiap dugaan kegagalan ini dengan penuh ketakwaan kepadaNya.

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. bermaksud:
"Apabila Allah mencintai sesuatu kaum, maka Dia menguji mereka. Sesiapa yang reda, ia akan mendapat keredaan Allah dan sesiapa yang marah, ia akan mendapat kemurkaan Allah."
(Riwayat Tarmizi).

Bergembiralah bagi sesiapa yang diberikan ujian! Bergembiralah juga bagi sesiapa yang sabar dan redha dengan ujian tersebut!

Dugaan kegagalan mengajar kita erti berusaha lebih kuat. Kegagalan mengajar kita erti berdoa setelah kita lalai daripada mengharapkanNya. Kegagalan juga mengajar kita erti kesabaran dan keredhaan dengan segala dugaaNnya. Kegagalan turut mengajar kita erti kesyukuran setelah mendapat nikmat kejayaan. Kegagalan itulah yang mengajar kita erti kembali kepadaNya setelah diri lupa dan leka mengingatiNya.

Firman Allah Taala bermaksud:
"Dan Kami uji mereka dengan (nikmat) yang baik-baik dan (bencana) yang buruk-buruk agar mereka kembali (kepada kebenaran)."
(Surah al-Araf: Ayat 168).

Kegagalan mengajar kita erti kehidupan!

Wallahualam.

“Memberi dan Berbakti”

*Ustaz Rashidi Abdul Wahab merupakan content executive iLuvislam.com. Berkelulusan Universiti Al-Azhar, beliau menggunakan 'nickname' buluh dalam komuniti iLuvislam.

Blog beliau adalah http://buluh.iluvislam.com.

Bringing Sunnah Back: The Proper Steps of Seeking Knowledge

Bismillah

It’s the year 1244; a group of children go to see their friend to ask him to join them in playing games. This young boy, at the tender of age of ten, turns them down. They continue to probe him, and even attempt to force him to play, but this boy refusesand returns to what he was doing before they interrupted him: reciting the Qur’an.
This young boy was Yahya ibn Sharraf, otherwise known as Imam an-Nawawi (rahimahullah).

Fast forward hundreds of years later to 2010. Knowledge is readily available and easily accessible. A quick search on the internet will easily produce more knowledge for us than was available to Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah), yet we do not have the likes of Imam Nawawi walking amongst us. Rather, what we see now is a methodology of seeking knowledge that is strange and backwards.

In this day and age, our young generation of students are proficient in the most minute details of Fiqh and Aqeedah, yet they are unable to recite Surah Fatiha with the same level of proficiency. These same youth have the opinions of various scholars memorized, yet they have not memorized more than a few chapters of the Speech of Allah. Even more so, they can debate in great detail why a certain group has incorrect Aqeedah, but they do not understand Arabic and when they stand to pray before their Lord, they do not understand His Words.
Strange, isn’t it?

Imam ibn AbdulBarr (rahimahullah) said,
“Seeking knowledge is in consecutive levels and ranks, it does not befit that they should be bypassed. Whoever bypasses them at once, then he has bypassed the path of the salaf. Whoever bypasses them intentionally will go astray and whoever bypasses them with sincere effort will fall into error.”
Just as becoming a doctor involves stages and methods, knowledge should also be sought through a process with stages. Today, these stages are mixed together and reversed like a person with no formal education entering medical school.

Analyzing the Problem

What is it that differentiates the students of the past from the students of today? There are a few major issues, but the most critical mistake, we as students commit, is making knowledge the goal and not the means to the goal. Historically, knowledge was not a goal that was completed after a few years of study, rather the Salaf viewed it as the means to reaching Jannah. When the students of the past began their search for knowledge, they made it a lifelong pursuit because their goal could only be reached in the hereafter. Abdullah ibn Mubaarak (rahimahullah) was asked, “How long will you seek knowledge?” His response was, “Until I die, for probably I have not yet learned the things that will benefit me most.” We must realize that knowledge of the religion is a lifelong quest; it does not end after a weekend, or a few years or even twenty years.

The scholars and students of the past sought knowledge as a means to Jannah because beneficial knowledge leads to righteous actions. Sufyan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) said: “The excellence of knowledge is due only to the fact that it causes a person to fear and obey Allah, otherwise it is just like anything else.” Our predecessors did not seek knowledge for the sake of seeking knowledge, rather it was so they could act upon what they learned. It should be clear in our hearts and minds that knowledge is action; and without action, knowledge will not benefit us in the least.

The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) narrated to us that, “The two feet of the servant will not cease (from standing before Allah) on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: about his life and how he spent it; about his knowledge and what he did with it; about his wealth and where he earned it and how he spent it; and about his body and in what way he utilized it.” [Saheeh, reported by At-Tirmidhi] Shaykh Husayn Al-Awaa’ishah said in regards to this hadeeth, “Check yourself before you try to seek increase through reading and listening to lectures and convert the knowledge that you already have into actions that accompany you as you live.” Imam ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullah) stated, “And the miskeen (poor person), the true miskeen is the one who wasted his life learning what he does not practice, thus he loses the pleasures of the dunya and the goods of the aakhirah. (In addition to) coming forth bankrupt (on the Day of Judgment) with strong evidences against himself.”

The second mistake we fall into is in focusing on the knowledge but not on how it is sought. We must realize that ilmis of levels; if it is not sought with the right steps, it will bring you down. The Messenger of Allah (alayhi salaatu wa salaam) gave us the description of the Khawaarij; they recited the Qur’an throughout the night and day, but it did not go past their throats. The scholars state that even though their worship seemed to be superior to the worship of the Companions, the Khawaarij did not have knowledge of the sunnah so they were deprived of proper understanding and reward for their deeds.

One of the direct results of not seeking knowledge in the proper steps is the lack of basic adab amongst students. This is also connected to the problem of seeking knowledge without acting upon it, because it is impossible for a student to truly learn the Qur’an and Sunnah and continue to have manners that contradict that knowledge. The scholars and students of the past emphasized manners so much so that manners were considered half or a third of knowledge. Knowledge is a tool that needs adab along with it. The ayaat and ahadeeth regarding manners are numerous, but one narration of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) sums up why every Muslim should strive to perfect their manners, he (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the scale of the believer than good manners.” [Saheeh, Narrated in At-Tirmidhi]

What we also see today is the ‘talibul ilm superstar syndrome‘. ‘Student of Knowledge’ has become a trendy title, turning this sacred knowledge of the Deen into a mere adornment and degrading it to something that is superficial and fake. By treating this knowledge as a commodity, we have reduced its value and stripped it of its rightful honor. This lack of honor is one of the reasons why we don’t have barakah in our ilm today. Habeeb ibn Ubayd ar-Rahbi (rahimahullah) said,
“Acquire knowledge, comprehend it and use it. And do not acquire it in order to adorn yourselves with it, for indeed, it is imminent – should your life-spans be prolonged for you – that knowledge will be used as a means for adorning oneself, just as a man adorns himself with his garment.”

We may think that seeking a title is harmless, but this wrong intention can deprive one of Jannah. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever acquires knowledge not learning it except to achieve some worldly gain will not perceive the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgment.” [Saheeh, Narrated in Ahmad] The proper intention for seeking knowledge (and any good deed in Islam) is so important because having an incorrect intention can take one to Hell-Fire. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) told us the example of a scholar who will be amongst the first thrown into Hell-Fire because he sought and taught knowledge to be known as a learned person. Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) said, “There is nothing equal (to the reward) of knowledge, for the one who rectifies his intention.” The success of a student of knowledge, in this life and the next, lies in their intention.
The Neglected Book and Language

Know that we will never be true students of knowledge without the Book of Allah, and we will never taste any sweetness from it without the Arabic language.

When we as students seek knowledge today, we do not begin with the Qur’an or Arabic. This is not only contrary to the sunnah of the past predecessors, it is contrary to the sunnah of Allah (azza wa jal). A’ishah (radi Allahu anha) said,
“If the first ayah revealed in the Qur’an was telling people do not drink, they would have rejected that order. If the first verse revealed was telling people not to commit fornication, they would have rejected that order. But the first verses revealed were about Paradise and Hell-Fire until the hearts became attached to Allah then the orders of haram and halal were given.”

The best way of teaching is the way of Allah (azza wa jal), so it is more befitting for us to begin our studies with the Qur’an. In doing so, we will attach our hearts to Allah and empower our remembrance of Him.

There is a serious state of emergency in our ummah with regards to the Qur’an. We are a part of a destructive cycle that has been repeating, generation after generation; we have no bridge towards the Qur’an so we are not motivated to learn it, we are not motivated to learn it because we do not understand it, and we do not understand it because we do not know the language.

The scholars of the past emphasized this point of beginning with the Qur’an when seeking knowledge. Imam Al-Baghdadi (rahimahullah) said, “It is fitting for a student that he begins with memorization of the Book of Allah – since it is the greatest of the branches of knowledge and that which should be placed first and given precedence.”

We must realize that memorizing the Book of Allah is a great virtue, but acting upon it is obligatory. Contrary to this, in this day and age, we have made its memorization obligatory and have made acting upon it a virtue. Knowledge of the Qur’an is not enough, rather this knowledge needs to be beautified with deeds.

It is important for us to memorize the Qur’an, learn the language of the Qur’an, the tafseer of Qur’an, the sciences of Qur’an, the grammar of Qur’an, tajweed of Qur’an—but the most important of all of these is reflecting upon the guidance of the Qur’an. The first purpose of the Qur’an is not to educate, rather it is to remind. Even more so, the reminder is not the main goal of this Book, but the main goal is guidance. Tying these two together, the means to this guidance is in the reminder itself. Allah (azza wa jal) says,

فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَنْ يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ
And remind by the Qur’an, him who fears My Threat. (50:45)
Allah ta’ala speaks of people who were very knowledgeable yet in the same passage, He tells us that they rejected the Messenger and changed their books after they understood them. They did not change the book because they did not understand, but Allah says:

يُحَرِّفُونَهُ مِن بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ
They altered it even after they understood it (2:75)
They were not missing knowledge, but they were missing the guidance of the Book.
Our intention when learning the Qur’an and Arabic should be to remember Allah (azza wa jal) by means of His Words. We need to look at the Qur’an and Arabic as a means to increase us and empower us in the remembrance of Allah.

The first step in gaining this relationship with the Qur’an is learning the Arabic language. Just as Allah ta’ala chose Muhammad ibn Abdillah as our Messenger (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), He chose Arabic as the language of His revelation. Allah states eleven times that He chose Arabic for the Qur’an for our own benefit:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
“We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, in order that you may gain understanding.” (12:2)

It is a sad contradiction that one claims to be a student of knowledge, yet he or she does not understand the Qur’an nor affords the Qur’an its due right. Rather, one may seek to gain knowledge of secondary sciences, and give these sciences a primary role. The scholars of the past have warned against this mindset. Malik ibn Dinar (rahimahullah) said, “Whoever does not find delight in the speech of Allah and instead finds it in the speech of people, then surely his knowledge has taken a plunge, his heart has become blind and his life has become wasted.”

We see in the Qur’an that Allah azza wa jal connects having emaan with having a Qur’anic relationship:

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَـٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ
Those to whom We have given the Book recite it as it should be recited, they are the ones who believe therein. (2:121)

Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (radi Allahu anhu) swore by Allah and said that, haqqa tilaawatihi, the proper reciting, is to treat permissible as what it states is permissible, to treat as impermissible what it states to be impermissible, to recite it in the way Allah revealed it, not to distort a word from its proper meaning, and not to interpret it in a way it is not to be interpreted.

Realize that knowledge can go both ways —it can either be something beautiful that brings one closer to Allah or it can be something harmful that can ruin one’s hereafter. It is upon us to reform ourselves and seek the help of Allah to gain that knowledge that will guide us to success in this life and the next.

Huru-hara kiamat

SURAH al-Takwir ini termasuk dalam kategori surah Makkiah. Ia berjumlah 29 ayat dan diturunkan selepas surah al-Masad. Hubungan surah ini dengan surah Abasa yang terdahulu ialah kedua-duanya menceritakan peristiwa hari kiamat dan bala bencananya.
Imam Ahmad, al-Tirmizi dan al-Hakim meriwayatkan hadis daripada sahabat Umar r.a yang mengatakan bahawa: Rasulullah SAW bersabda yang bermaksud: "Sesiapa yang ingin melihat hari kiamat yang seolah-olah dia melihat dengan mata kepalanya, maka bacalah: Idhashshamsu kuwwirat, idhassama'un fatarat dan idhassama'un shaqqat".
Firman Allah SWT: Apabila matahari dilingkari cahayanya (dan hilang lenyap).
Al-Maraghi berkata: Tanda-tanda datangnya hari Kiamat ialah ketika matahari digulung, cahayanya pudar dan hilang ketika dunia mengalami kehancuran sehingga tidak ada satu pun benda di alam lain yang boleh menggantikan benda-benda itu.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila bintang-bintang gugur berselerak.

Syed Qutb berkata: Gugurnya bintang dimaksudkan ia kelak akan terjatuh bertaburan dari sistem yang mengikatnya dan akan padam cahayanya. Allah SWT sahaja yang tahu bintang manakah yang akan jatuh bertaburan.
Adakah kumpulan bintang-bintang yang dekat dengan kita atau galaksi yang terdiri dari ratusan juta bintang atau seluruh bintang yang tidak diketahui bilangannya melainkan Allah SWT.

Namun, yang pastinya ada bintang-bintang yang akan gugur bertaburan pada hari kiamat sebagaimana yang telah dijelaskan oleh berita yang benar ini. Tiada siapa yang mengetahuinya melainkan Allah SWT sahaja.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila gunung-ganang diterbangkan ke angkasa (setelah dihancurkan menjadi debu)

Al-Maraghi berkata: Sehingga ikatannya terlepas dan terhempas di padang sahara dan terbang dibawa awan di atas kepala.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila unta-unta yang bunting terbiar.
Menurut al-Qurtubi bahawa tidak terurusnya unta bunting pada saat itu hanyalah sebagai perlambangan sahaja. Ini disebabkan pada hari kiamat sudah tidak ditemui unta bunting.

Tuhan menggambarkan huru-hara hari Kiamat bagaikan satu keadaan di mana seseorang berangan-angan mempunyai unta bunting 10 bulan yang nescaya unta itu akan dibiarkan sahaja kerana amat sibuk menjaga urusan dirinya sendiri yang lebih kritikal itu.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila binatang-binatang liar dihimpunkan.
Ibn kathir berkata: Dan umat manusia telah mengabaikan unta-unta pilihannya yang sedang bunting serta mengabaikan urusan kebajikannya sedangkan sebelum ini binatang itulah yang disayangi.

Ini kerana mereka disibukkan dengan hal yang lebih utama tanpa memikirkan kewujudan hari kiamat dan peristiwa lain yang akan berlaku.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila lautan meluap-luap bercampur-baur.
Al-Maraghi berkata: Ia juga bermaksud laut meluap. Perkara ini disebabkan airnya bergelombang bagaikan lautan api kerana di dalam perut bumi terdapat magma yang dapat menggegarkan permukaan bumi.

Pada ketika itu air mendidih dan terus berwap sehingga yang tinggal hanya bara api sahaja. Kajian saintifik telah menetapkan bahawa di perut bumi terdapat gunung-gunung berapi yang selalu bergejolak dan menimbulkan gempa bumi yang hebat boleh menghancurkan dataran bumi dan gunung-ganang di beberapa daerah.
Contohnya gempa bumi yang telah terjadi di Nessina, Itali pada tahun 1909 dan kemudian di Jepun. Dalam beberapa hadis disebutkan: "Bahawa laut itu adalah penutup neraka jahanam".

Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila tiap-tiap diri disatukan dengan pasangannya.
Iaitu ketika jiwa itu kembali kepada jasadnya ketika memasuki awal kehidupan akhirat. Pendapat ini daripada Ikrimah, al-Dahhak dan al-Sya'bi.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila anak perempuan yang ditanam hidup-hidup: ditanya, dengan dosa apakah ia dibunuh?

Syed Qutb berkata: Kerendahan jiwa manusia di zaman jahiliah mengakibatkan tersebarnya adat menanam anak perempuan hidup-hidup kerana takut malu dan miskin. Adat ini telah diceritakan oleh al-Quran sebagai merakamkan keburukan zaman jahiliah. Ketika inilah Islam datang menyelamatkan umat arab dari jurangnya yang dalam dan mengangkat darjat manusia seluruhnya.

Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila surat-surat amal dibentangkan.
Ibn Kathir berkata: Oleh yang demikian, hendaklah seseorang memperhatikan dengan apa dia mengisi lembaran catatannya.
Mujahid berkata: Iaitu ditarik. Sedangkan al-Suddi berkata: Iaitu dibuka dan al-Dahhak mengemukakan: Mengelupas dan kemudian menghilang.
Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila langit ditanggalkan dari tempatnya.
Al-Maraghi berkata: Ketika langit sudah terbuka secara keseluruhan sehingga tidak ada lagi apa yang dikatakan atas dan bawah.

Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila neraka dinyalakan menjulang.
Al-Qatadah berkata: Neraka itu dinyalakan oleh murka Allah SWT dan pelbagai kesalahan anak cucu Adam a.s.

Firman Allah SWT: Dan apabila syurga didekatkan.
Al-Dahhak, Abu Malik, al-Qatadah dan al-Rabi' bin Khaitsam berkata: Iaitu mendekati para penghuninya.
Firman Allah SWT: (setelah semuanya itu berlaku), tiap-tiap orang akan mengetahui tentang amal yang telah dibawanya.

Al-Maraghi berkata: Pada saat seluruh kejadian yang telah diterangkan di atas berlaku, barulah setiap orang mengetahui amalannya yang diterima dan yang ditolak.
Kebanyakan manusia yang sewaktu hidupnya di dunia ini tertipu oleh pujuk rayu syaitan, pada hari kiamat kelak akan mendapati amalan-amalan mereka itu ditolak dan tidak dihargai Allah SWT. Bahkan amalan itu dijauhkan daripada Allah SWT serta dia mendapat kemurkaan-Nya.

Orang yang melakukan amalannya dengan riak untuk dilihat oleh orang ramai, maka amalannya itu hanya dianggap usaha yang sia-sia sahaja dan tidak diterima oleh Allah SWT.

Oleh sebab itu, kita wajib memandang perbuatan kita dengan kacamata Islam dan menimbangnya dengan timbangan yang benar. Allah SWT hanya menerima amalan yang lahir daripada hati yang berisi keimanan, penuh cinta dan mengharapkan keredaan-Nya serta melakukan kewajipan-Nya dengan bersungguh-sungguh.
Semoga kita bertambah keimanan berkenaan dengan hari kiamat dan seterusnya menjadikan kita golongan yang mendapat keredaan daripada-Nya. Amin.


Oleh DR. ZULKIFLI MOHAMAD ALBAKRI

10 Ways American Muslims Can Help Save the World

The world, it appears, has completely lost its mind. It seems that our tiny planet is staged for a complete disaster with the West and Muslim world as the co-stars. What’s sad is that all of these problems are based on misunderstandings and lies spread by hate mongers with one interest: growing their bank accounts. To add insult to injury, citizens from the West and the Muslim world are starting to detest each because they feel the other side is this Great Evil trying to enslave them. Then there are those caught in the middle: the American Muslims, aka, you and I. We’re blessed with the conundrum of being, both, Muslims and Americans. We know that Islam is not about killing the innocent, but, also know that reality tv is not the reality of Western culture. So what’s a brother/sister to do?

A crucial problem American Muslims should understand is that the people in this country are learning Islam from the evening news. Those profiting from spreading hate have hijacked the media and stifled the truth. The result is that people listen to Mike Savage and never our side of the story. Hence, it becomes our job as American Muslims to pick up the slack. Because many of us are born here or have lived here since childhood, we know the language and culture of our communities. With the help of knowledge, technology, and personality, we can touch the people around us and show that Islam prescribes many of the same values the West cherishes. Here are a few simple things that every American Muslim can do to help save the world.

1. Practice your Islam: Continue to pray, make dua, wear hijab, fast, etc. Only by staying close to Allah (swt) and asking for His help can we accomplish anything.

2. Educate yourself: Spend time learning about Islam especially the most misunderstood parts. You’ll be surprised how much you don’t know and you’ll be better prepared to help others understand. People can sense whether you know what you’re talking about. So spend time with your Imam and local scholars learning more about this deen.
3. Smile: The Prophet (saw) said that even a smile is charity. By being polite and smiling, people will feel more comfortable around you even when your sporting a hijab or a 1 ft. beard. So when FOX news reports that Muslims are blood thirsty murderers, the image of your award winning smile will make them think twice.

4. Be friendly with your neighbors: Make friends with your neighbors and coworkers/classmates and talk to them like normal human beings about everyday stuff. It can be from spending a few minutes talking on the driveway to being involved with them in the school’s PTA. By making friends with them, you’ve bridged the gaps of communication. So when they hear lies against Islam, they’ll feel more comfortable to come talk to you about it.

5. Stand up for others: If you hear someone dropping the N-bomb or any other racial slurs about any racial/ethnic/religious group, don’t be afraid to stand up for what’s right. Many people complain that Muslims (and other minority groups) only care about themselves. Islam demands from us to defend the rights of everybody, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. If we stand up for others, our neighbors will be more likely stand up for us.

6. Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer: The best way to show people the mercy of Islam is to help others around you. There are plenty of homeless shelters, safehouses, foodbanks, etc to get involved in. Volunteer with non-Muslims and show them that Muslims do care about problems in this society. If you can, start a Muslim-based organization that addresses a problem in your community. It could be anything from distributing blankets in the winter to standing outside your local grocer and collecting cans for a food pantry. There are no shortages of problems this society has and no shortages of answers in Islam. Show people that Muslims care.

7. Highlight the good things about the West: Sure this country has many problems. What country doesn’t? The fact is that Western culture has many good things about it. So don’t be afraid to tell your family and friends back on the farm about the good things of this society. Our brothers and sisters across the ocean need to understand that the majority of Americans are not blood thirsty adulterers but are peace loving individuals that share many of the values we cherish.

8. Be active on the internet: Internet technology has enabled us to communicate with others around the globe in more ways then we can imagine. There are tons of websites, blogs, etc., out there that promote Islam and defame it. Get involved in the internet community and spread the truth. Go to a newspaper website and comment on all articles there, whether it’s Muslim related or not. The internet can be our biggest advantage and our biggest threat. What it becomes depends on how we use it.

9. Be a model citizen: Follow the law, clean up after yourselves, don’t speed in a school zone, etc. By being a role model citizen, you show everyone around you that Muslims do respect the law of the land and can live peacefully within its boundaries, with the assumption that none of those laws contradict the laws of Islam.

10. Be a human being: If you see a mother of 5 struggling to get her groceries to the car, help her with the bags. When you’re coming off a plane, help the old lady ahead of you find her way to the baggage claim. Show compassion for others and they’ll be more likely to show compassion towards you. The hatemongers have tried to demonize Muslims as bomb carrying barbarians. By showing our Non-Muslim friends otherwise, we help to dispel that image.

Easy enough? Some of the naysayers might be snickering about how could a smile save the world. Remember the problem statement. The West see Muslims only as what is shown in the media. They see “Muslims” blowing up innocent civilians and the “scholars” justifying the attacks with Islam. By us living within the manners and values of Islam, we have the unique ability to help stop the violence and show this country’s citizens that Islam truly is a beautiful way of life that cherishes equal rights, justice, and mercy for all humanity. With knowledge comes compassion and understanding. These are the key elements to help end the bloodshed. We just need to lead the way.

Petua Mencuci Hati

Segala aspek kehidupan ini bermula daripada hati. Oleh itu di bawah ini ada
beberapa cara bagaimana hendak mencuci hati. Diolah oleh pakar motivasi
Datuk Dr. Haji Fadzilah Kamsah.

1. Dirikan solat dan banyakkan berdo’a – Ini adalah salah satu kaedah yang sungguh berkesan. Semasa berdo’a turut katakan “Ya,Allah jadikan hatiku bersih”

2. Selawat keatas Nabi Muhammad s.a.w paling minima 100 X sebelum tidur – Ini merupakan satu pelaburan yang mudah dan murah. Disamping dosa-dosa diampunkan, otak tenang, murah rezeki, orang sayangkan kita dan mencetuskan semua perkara kebaikan.

3. Solat taubat – Selain daripada memohon keampunan, dapat mencuci hati dan menenangkan minda.

4. Membaca Al-Quran – Selain dapat mencuci hati juga menenangkan jiwa, penyembuh, penenang, terapi. Sekurang- kurangnya bacalah “Qulhu-allah” sebanyak 3X.

5. Berma’af-ma’afan sesama kawan setiap hari – Semasa meminta maaf perlu sebutkan.

6. Bisikan kepada diri perkara yang positif – Jangan sesekali mengkritik, kutuk diri sendiri, merendah-rendahkan kebolehan diri sendiri.katakan lah “Aku sebenarnya……(perkara yang elok-elok belaka)

7. Program minda/cuci minda – Paling baik pada waktu malam sebelum tidur, senyum, pejam mata, katakan di dalam hati “Ya, Allah cuci otak aku, cuci hatiku, esok aku nak jadi baik, berjaya, ceria, bersemangat, aktif, positif”. Menurut kajian saikologi, apa yang disebut sebelum tidur dapat dirakamkan sepanjang tidur sehingga keesokan harinya – CUBALAH!!).

8. Berpuasa – Sekiranya dalam berpuasa terhindar dari melakukan perkara-perkara kejahatan.

9. Cuba ingat tentang mati (Sekiranya hendak melakukan sesuatu kejahatan, tidak sampai hati kerana bimbang akan mati bila- bila masa).

10. Kekalkan wuduk.

11. Bersedekah.

12. Belanja orang makan.

13. Jaga makanan – jangan makan makanan yang shubhah.(diragui halal dan haramnya.)

14. Berkawan dengan ulama.

15. Berkawan dengan orang miskin (menginsafi).

16. Pesan pada orang, jadi baik.

17. Menjaga pacaindera (mata, telinga, mulut…dsb), jangan dengar orang mengumpat

**Jangan bertangguh lagi.. Jom kita sama-sama mengamalkannya **

Outside the Box: A Beautiful Jumu’ah

Last Friday after my Penalty Box post was published, I went to salatul-jumu’ah at a hotel. The usual space was reduced by a third due to a scheduling conflict with another group’s event. On a normal jumu’ah we have three rooms, two for the brothers and one partitioned off for the sisters. This day with only two rooms, the brothers had one room and the second room was divided by some chairs with brothers in the front and sisters in the back. The partition was opened in the middle to allow the overflow of brothers to enter the second room and to provide the sisters with a view of the imam. Those sisters that desired more privacy could sit closer to the wall to be out of sight of the men.

I wish I had a better picture to show you because despite the impromptu nature of the setup, it was one of the best setups that I’ve ever experienced. I had intended to take more pictures after everyone left but I was only able to manage this one before a little girl grew fascinated with the slider capacity on my phone. By the time I regained control of my phone, the partition had been moved and the brothers were putting the rooms back in order.

I came early and took my seat in the back of the room against the wall to try to get into the ajr-filled last row but also in a spot where I would be able to have a clear view of the imam. The khutbah began with two beautiful reminders:
“None of you truly believes, until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you are thankful, I will give you more…” [Ibrahim 14:7]

I was struck by a few things that made my heart overflow with thankfulness and happiness and my eyes overflow with tears:

1. I appreciated being able to clearly see the imam standing while delivering the khutbah. The sensory experience is quite different when able to see the full range of expression and verbal and nonverbal speech than simply listening or even watching on a monitor. I think I’m a fairly good listener and have become adept at listening without visuals. I am usually able to stay focused, yet I believe my attention and focus was greater with the direct line of sight to the speaker.

2. I didn’t mind being cramped and squeezing myself against the wall to make way for the other believers, as space was a genuine concern.

3. The imam is better able to lead the community when he can see them, all of them. He can ask the brothers to move up, or more fully utilize the open spaces, and can see what issues there are as they arise and help to immediately correct or rectify them. The imam acknowledged the presence of the sisters and showed care and concern for us, even saying that the sisters could move up the chairs if they needed more space.

4. Many times we hear the necessity for erecting a barrier to prevent the men and women from seeing each other, which could lead to fitna. Yet, it seems to me that while we are ostensibly lowering our gazes, even if you were to see someone that attracted you, the community and the environment would not allow for any improper interaction. And perhaps, if interested in marriage, one could then inquire in a proper fashion about that person. Do you know that brother with the handsome beard or black kufi? Or, do you know that sister with the green hijab or black niqab?

5. I love praying in congregation. It is rare with our Western concepts of personal space and distance that we sit and stand in such close proximity to complete strangers. Careful not to bump into or step on each other, regretful if we do, but not overly concerned because there is this mutual understanding that comes with knowing that we’re all just trying to perform our salah in the best way possible.

6. Listening to the reminders and recitation of the Quran is critical for one’s iman and the life of the heart. The imam recited Surah Ad-Duha in the first rak’ah.

I remember my first time consciously listening to this surah: I was driving my car in the morning, behind a slower moving car, on the way to my first AlMaghrib class. As I passed the car, I realized the hijabi driving it was also probably going to the same class. I didn’t know then what the words meant as I was still relatively new in Islam, and I wondered if I would ever be able to learn that surah. At that time, those few lines seemed like a mountain. I remember racing home to read the translation and saying yes, indeed to those rhetorical questions. Those words are so powerful and so comforting:

3 Your Lord has neither forsaken you nor hates you.

4 And indeed the hereafter is better for you than the present.

5 And verily, your Lord will give you so that you shall be well-pleased.

6 Did He not find you an orphan and gave you a refuge?

7 And He found you unaware and guided you?

8 And He found you poor, and made you rich?

7. I’ve been blessed and am thankful to have grown up in my Islam in such a beautiful community.

8. Why do I love going to the masjid? As I said earlier, I love praying in congregation; it inculcates so many beautiful manners and characteristics within us.

Parts of Islam are meant to be practiced communally. Coming from a family of non-Muslims, practicing Islam in my house is to practice Islam alone. To pray alone, to fast alone, to remember Allah alone, sometimes to eat alone, to celebrate alone all the while being surrounded by elements hostile to my Islam. Truly, I think all of my closest friends that I have met in Islam have been through my interactions at the masjid or Islamic events, mostly seminars.

I learned to read the Quran in the masjid starting with the Noorani Qaaidah and alif, ba, and ta. My Bengali teacher saw me struggling and asked a Saudi sister to help me out, and the sister whose name I’ve forgotten sat with me in the masjid and patiently worked with me. I owe both a huge debt of gratitude; I learned so much from their manners, and I hope that they are rewarded with each letter I recite. And the masjid is such a mini United Nations or like the Olympic Games in its diversity. I can glimpse the diversity of the Muslim world in the vibrancy of my own community, which makes me a little more accepting of others and differences and reminds me that I am not alone in my belief in Islam.

The second part of the khutbah focused on practical examples of implementing the two reminders given earlier. A few weeks ago, someone asked me for help and since I was able to help, I helped him. Last week, I was in need of help, and I won’t lie, shaytaan whispered to me for a split-second saying, “If only I hadn’t helped that person, I would be okay, I would have enough to be able to do this or that.” But recognizing that shaytaanic impulse, I pushed it away and out of my mind and said alhamdulillah and just like that someone came to my rescue and helped me out of the situation. And then shortly thereafter in many different ways culminating on this day of jumu’ah, Allah (subhanahu wa ta ala) resolved the entire situation for me in ways I never imagined with more than I could have imagined.

…And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him… [At-Talaq 65:2-3]

10. I am often asked by those that do not believe or are unsure of their belief in God, why I am so certain in my own belief in God. And I can say without any doubt that everything in my life and the world around me testifies to existence of Ar-Rahman, the Most-Merciful and for that blessing I am most thankful. Alhamdulillahi rabbil alameen.

Jernihkan Minda, Menuju Khilafah

“Mukmin yang kuat itu lebih baik dan lebih dikasihi Allah daripada mukmin yang lemah….”

Kata-kata motivasi di atas merupakan sebahagian daripada pesanan Nabi S.A.W kepada umat Islam. Sebuah ucapan perangsang bernilai tinggi dalam menggerakkan umat yang lena dan sentiasa alpa. Himpunan kalimat yang meluncur jujur keluar dari bibir baginda S.A.W yang mulia. Siapakah mukmin yang kuat? Apakah ciri-cirinya? Mungkin ini antara persoalan yang timbul apabila hadis ini dikemukakan.

Apa tidaknya, perkataan ‘al qawiyyu’ yang bermaksud lemah boleh diwakili dengan bermacam-macam makna. Antara pandangan ulama berhubung tafsiran ‘al quwwah’ tersebut ialah;
1) Mukmin yang mempunyai fizikal dan tubuh badan yang kuat dan mantap.
2) Mukmin yang mempunyai keimanan yang teguh.
3) Mukmin yang kuat mengerjakan amal yang soleh.
4) Mukmin yang mempunyai kekuatan akal dan kemahuan (cita-cita) yang tinggi.
Dan banyak lagi. (sila rujuk pandangan-pandangan ulama tradisionalis dan kontemporari.)

Saya tidak berhasrat untuk mengulas panjang tentang pelbagai tafsiran ulama berhubung istilah tersebut, cukuplah untuk kita memahami bahawa Islam mahukan kita menjadi seorang mukmin yang berkredibiliti, hebat dan berbeza dengan graduan-graduan daripada madrasah agama dan ideologi yang lain. Lagipun, saya bukanlah seorang yang fakih untuk menghuraikan satu persatu pandangan para ulama berhubung hadis tersebut.

Seperti biasa, penulisan saya bermisi untuk membuka minda para pembaca dan membuat kritikan-kritikan yang dirasakan perlu. Kritikan yang konstruktif bukannya deskruktif. Begitu juga dengan anda, supaya anda mengkritik penulisan dan pandangan saya. Ya, marilah kita menjadikan kritikan sebagai rakan karib kita supaya kita dapat menjadi individu muslim yang unggul.

Cukup makan isme

Umat Islam pada hari ini cukup terkenal dengan idea ‘cukup makan isme’nya. Mereka terperangkap dengan istilah redha, qanaah, tawakkal dan pelbagai lagi istilah-istilah yang lain. Akhirnya, lahirlah individu muslim yang bertaklid buta dalam setiap perbuatannya, gagal melontarkan ideanya sendiri, menjadi ustaz yang ‘copy and paste’ dan lebih parah lagi menunggu buah gugur ke bumi tanpa ada sebarang usaha untuk memanjat pokok tersebut ataupun sekurang-kurangnya bertindak mengait buah yang berada di pokok.

Mereka mengharapkan nusrah (pertolongan) daripada Allah, namun tiada sebarang usaha untuk memenuhi syarat-syaratnya. Yang lebih kritikal, terdapat golongan yang membuat teknik penyelesaian mudah iaitu;

“kita tunggu Imam Mahdi je, biar baginda dan Nabi Isa bunuh Dajal dan musuh-musuh Islam.”

Adakah dinamakan redha jika kita hanya mengangguk tanda setuju dengan permainan kotor golongan musuh tanpa sebarang usaha untuk menentang (siasah) dan memberi penerangan (dakwah) kepada mereka? Apakah layak dinisbahkan qanaah dengan sikap bercukup-cukup dengan kejayaan yang diterima sedangkan kita masih jauh ketinggalan dalam pelbagai lapangan dan bidang? Ataupun benarkah tawakkal itu ialah berserah diri bulat-bulat kepada Allah tanpa sebarang usaha dan praktikal demi mencapai satu cita-cita. Jawapannya ialah, tidak sama.

kita jangan gusar, orang yang belajar agama ni insyaAllah rezekinya di mana-mana. Habis belajar nanti akan ada tawaran pekerjaan.

kita mesti mempertingkatkan usaha, bersungguh-sungguh dalam melakukan sesuatu perkara. InsyaAllah rezeki kita akan dikurniakan-Nya.

Cuba anda lihat kedua-dua ayat di atas. Nampak tak perbezaan antara ayat yang pertama dan ayat yang kedua?

Hakikatnya, inilah yang sedang berlaku dalam kalangan umat islam. Ayat yang pertama itu sentiasa diucapkan kepada mereka yang menuntut dalam bidang agama khususnya. Saya memahami bahawa nasihat itu diberikan untuk memberi satu keyakinan kepada orang muda bahawa rezeki di tangan Allah dan bukan sebaliknya. Tetapi, tanpa kita sedari dan boleh jadi kita sudah menyedarinya, penerima nasihat tersebut akan berminda ‘cukup makan isme’ apabila ‘keyakinan’ itu sentiasa menziarahi gegendang telinganya.

Berbeza dengan ayat yang kedua, satu bentuk motivasi yang menjamin keyakinan buat pendengar. Bukan hanya jaminan keyakinan tanpa motivasi supaya bersungguh-sungguh. Contoh di atas nampak agak ringkas kan. Akan tetapi sedarilah, perkara tersebut menyebabkan akan membiak umat yang tidak bercita-cita tinggi dan lemah, paradoks dengan status khalifah yang sudah dianugerahkan kepada keturunan Adam.

Bagaimana mungkin puncak agung khilafah akan berjaya ditawan sekiranya kita hanya ‘qanaah’ berkaki ayam. Ingat saudara, gunung khilafah cukup licin dan penuh dengan duri!

Teodhor Hertzel dan Israel

Siapa tidak kenal seorang figur global yang bernama Dr Teodhor Hertzel? Beliau merupakan seorang tokoh Yahudi yang cukup berpengaruh dan berminda futuristic. Beliaulah yang bertanggungjawab menghimpunkan kira-kira 300 orang cendikiawan Yahudi di Bassel, Switzerland pada 29 Ogos 1897. Beliaulah yang telah mengajak orang-orang Yahudi dari seluruh dunia berkongres buat kali pertama. Wal hasilnya, 24 protokol yahudi telah berjaya dicipta dan teori zionisme dipraktikkan.

Sejarah telah mencatatkan bahawa Hertzel pernah berkata; “Aku telah mendirikan negara yahudi di bassel.”

Satu kenyataan yang menunjukkan bahawa si bedebah ini cukup tinggi imaginasi dan mempunyai cita-cita yang memuncak untuk memartabatkan agamanya. Barangkali Hertzel menghayati satu kata-kata Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal yang bermaksud:

“Gantung dan simpanlah cita-citamu di atas awan supaya tiada sesiapa yang boleh mengganggunya.” (sesiapa yang mempunyai kata-kata penuh beliau, sila nyatakan.)

Dan kesudahannya, pada 15 Mei 1948 iaitu kira-kira 51 tahun selepas kongres pertama Yahudi di bassel, negara haram Israel telah berjaya didirikan. Saya tidak berniat untuk mengagung-agungkan Hertzel, tetapi cukuplah kita mengagumi kekentalan visi dan cita-citanya. Sentiasa berminda positif dan tidak memandang halangan di depan sebagai ancaman, sebaliknya sebagai peluang.

Islam kaya dengan motivasi

Saya mengambil contoh mudah iaitu peristiwa Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih yang telah berjaya menawan Kota Kontantinople. Kejayaan agung itu sebenarnya didorong oleh satu keyakinan yang telah dibawa oleh baginda S.A.W menerusi salah satu sabdanya yang masyhur iaitu;

“Kontantinople akan dibuka (ditawan) oleh seorang pemuda. Sebaik-baik panglima ialah penglima itu dan sebaik-baik tentera ialah tentera itu.”

Hadis di atas telah dijadikan visi oleh al-Fatih dalam meninggikan kalimah Allah di atas muka bumi ini. Cita-cita tinggi yang dimiliki beliau itu telah menyebabkan beliau berjaya melaksanakan misi ajaib dengan mengatasi halangan yang berada di hadapan beliau dan tentera-tenteranya. Malah, sikap tidak berputus asanya setelah tiga usaha beliau dalam peperangan tersebut gagal akhirnya membawa kejayaan yang luar biasa hebat menerusi misi keempatnya.

Al-Fatih dan bala tenteranya telah memindahkan 70 buah kapal Uthmaniah dari Selat Bhosporus ke Tanjung Emas melalui sebuah bukit dengan jarak lebih 3 batu dalam tempoh satu malam.

Subhanallah, cukup ajaib. Bahkan, dek kerana penangan motivasi Nabi S.A.W itu juga menyebabkan banyak individu yang telah mendahului al-Fatih dalam melaksanakan misi besar itu dengan didahului oleh Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, salah seorang sahabat Nabi S.A.W. Begitu juga dengan kisah Suraqah bin Malik yang telah dimotivasikan oleh Nabi S.A.W bahawa beliau akan dipakaikan gelang kebesaran Raja Parsi yang cukup berkuasa pada waktu itu. Dan benarlah janji baginda S.A.W itu apabila pada zaman Saidina Umar al Khattab, kerajaan Parsi telah berjaya ditumbangkan. Malahan, banyak lagi tasyji’ yang terkandung dalam agama Islam termasuklah motivasi berbentuk dosa pahala dan syurga neraka.

Hiasilah diri kita dengan bercita-cita tinggi!

Mungkin jarang orang yang menyatakan bahawa bercita-cita tinggi itu ialah perhiasan. Biar saya yang katakan, inilah salah satu perhiasan yang tidak ternilai milik umat Islam! Kitalah umat yang paling layak untuk mempunyai jiwa yang besar.

Terdapat satu pepatah yang menyebut; “diri manusia itu kecil, tetapi dalam dirinya itu terdapat satu alam yang besar.”

Letakkan visi, siapkan misi dan pandanglah ke hadapan. Imaginasi dan berilusi itu penting, tetapi jangan kita lupa untuk melaksanakan pelan-pelan yang telah dirangka untuk sampai ke destinasi yang reality.

Dalam kita sibuk berteoretikal, luangkan masa untuk melakukan praktikal.

Einstein pernah menyebut: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Lupakah kita bahawa Allah telah mengiktiraf kita? “Dan janganlah kamu berasa hina dan janganlah kamu berdukacita kerana kamu mulia dan tertinggi (berbanding yang lain) sekiranya kamu benar-benar beriman.” (Surah Ali Imran:139)


www.iluvislam.com

In Witnessing the Signs of Allah, A Call to Repentance

While some have failed to abide by true love to him (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) this lunar month, by celebrating that which he did not command to be celebrated, they have forgotten that this great Prophet was one who, “Whenever he saw clouds or wind, his color would change.”This came to mind the other day, when the sky darkened and rain poured for a few short minutes in this dry land, much to our pleasure. But Rasulullah, sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam, was questioned by his own wife; “Messenger of Allah! When people see clouds they look delighted hoping that they would bring them rain, but when you see clouds, your face shows worry.’ He said to me: ‘Aishah! How can I be sure that it does not carry punishment? Some people were punished with wind. Others saw the punishment approaching, yet they said that it was rain-bearing clouds.’” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and Abu Dawud.)

For us, in recent days, we have seen the signs in their various creations. Earthquakes, floods, storms, tsunamis, and an eclipse.

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ

Say, “He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another.” Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand. (al-An’aam 6:65)

In a few seconds, hundreds of thousands are killed. Homes are destroyed. Families are separated. Surely, this does not happen by chance.

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالآيَاتِ إِلاَّ تَخْوِيفًا

“And We send not the signs except as a warning.” (al-Israa 17:59)
In these signs, there is a reminder, there is mercy; mercy from Allah, who is asking us to seek His forgiveness, for what our deeds have earned us.
Such should be the first response, for it is the best form of aid; serving as aid for our own souls and protecting our societies as a whole.

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness. (al-Rum 30:41)
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

"And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves." (al-Ankabut 29:40)

So in the midst of our busy lives, when we often forget to reflect as we survey the headlines bearing words describing the signs of Allah, this a call to myself before all to turn to the Creator admitting our wrong;

لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِين
"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." (al-Anbiyaa 21:87)

Through seeking forgiveness, Allah withholds his punishments and through it, the doors of sustenance are opened. It is for both; those who fear the harm of rain and those who desire it for their rain-thirsty lands.

For this repentance to be complete, we must cease from the wrong, regret it, be sincerely determined not to repeat the wrong and if we have transgressed the rights of others, then returning such rights is due or in some cases to seek their forgiveness.

When repentance is sincere, then Allah has promised;
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

"Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (al-Zumar 39:53)

So as fear of Allah’s wrath filled the heart of our beloved (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) so much that his face changed in color, although His Creator told him; “But Allah would not punish them while you, [O Muhammad], are among them.” Then, our hearts are more in need of fear, whilst not abandoning hope as we recite the remainder of the same verse; “and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.” (al-Anfal 8:33)

Oh Allah, we seek refuge with You from the snooze button

It’s 5:45 and your Fajr alarm has just begun ringing. You tried to be smart and set the alarm and your ringer as the same tone so you’d think that someone was calling you, because, of course, answering a call is much more exciting than trying to figure out how to snooze the alarm this early in the morning. But, you’re smarter than you thought, and caught on to the trick. The reverse psychology failed.
Well, the alarm’s been snoozed, and you begin dreaming that you actually got out of bed in time, made wudu with cold tap water for extra ajr, and prayed your salah, being sure to catch the two rak’aat Sunnah, because, as the Messenger of Allah, salAllahu alayhi wasSalam, said, they’re better than the entire world and everything in it.

Next time you look at the clock: 8:15 a.m.
Did I pray? Of course I did..I remember stumbling off of the bed and the really cold water in the tap.
And then you realize that you once more fell for the snooze button.
So what’s the solution? How do we prevent ourselves from falling for Shaytan’s tricks time and time again?
The snooze button often prevails in our lives, seeming to follow us around like the Staples truck with the big red “easy” button on the back. Except it’s only making things more difficult.

Now I’m not looking to provide a list of tips on how to wake up for Fajr. Although things like sleeping early and living a healthy lifestyle are important, I want to channel the frustration that is felt at 8:16 a.m. with the realization that another opportunity to please Al Wadud has been lost. Except this channel is a little different. It involves depth of mind, heart, and soul; the kinship of all major aspects related to human thought joining into one force that becomes the provocation to propel us into aspiring to understand the Magnificence and Ultimate Mercy of Our Creator. I like to call it tadabbur.

Allah created us as intelligent beings, with the ability to contemplate His signs and cultivate a closeness to the Source of Peace that none other can bring to the hearts. Contemplate over the Speech of Allah. Feel with every bit of flesh that He created within you the perfection of The Book, of His parables, of His Messengers. Salah is not an act of exercising the limbs, fasting is not the latest fad diet. Only when we see beyond the physical motions of deeds are we able to embody true enslavement to The Creator.

Allah says in the Qur’an time and time again, “afala ta’qilun“, will you not understand, and “afala yatadabbarun“, will you not ponder? He placed numerous signs in our surroundings for us to look at, ponder upon, and link back to the Grace and Perfection of Our Lord. Allah specifies several aspects of creation for us to look at:
Then contemplate (O man!) the memorials of Allah’s Mercy!- how He gives life to the earth after its death: verily the same will give life to the men who are dead: for He has power over all things. [30:50]

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. [2:164]
Do they not look at Allah’s creation, (even) among (inanimate) things,- How their (very) shadows turn round, from the right and the left, prostrating themselves to Allah, and that in the humblest manner? [16:48]

Part of tadabbur of the Qur’an is that we ourselves find this miraculous book to be a miracle. These are the words of Allah; no other can be more free from error or hold more conviction. Once we attain the ability to see the miraculous reality of this book ourselves, its recitation will strike our hearts as though Allah was reaching out to us from amidst darkness, making clear His light as a guide.

At the end of a trying day, when nothing but relaxation and tranquility is sought, make wudu, pray 2 rak’aat, and sit with the Qur’an. Let it be your companion, your guide to truth, faith, and Islam. Indeed, this is one sincere companion that will never forsake you, never judge you, and never harm you. Allow yourself to get lost in its flawless truth, and just think.

The love that matures in our hearts with this contemplation is unmatched; it becomes the fuel for every thought, every action, every belief. With this love, brothers and sisters, comes true refuge from the snooze button.

Nabi SAW terima perintah solat

NABI Adam a.s gembira apabila menoleh kepalanya ke kanan kerana menyaksikan kalangan zuriatnya, iaitu umat manusia melakukan amalan baik dan akhirnya melayakkan mereka masuk syurga.
Namun apabila baginda menoleh ke kiri, di dapati ada juga kalangan umat manusia yang diseksa dalam neraka akibat balasan amalan-amalan jahat yang mereka lakukan, Ini menyebabkan Nabi Adam sedih dan kecewa.

Demikianlah di sebalik makna perlakuan yang ditunjukkan oleh lelaki bertubuh sasa dan tinggi yang pertama ditemui oleh Nabi Muhammad sejurus memasuki langit pertama dalam perjalanan Mikraj untuk menemui Allah di singgahsana Sidratul Muntaha.
Baginda begitu gembira dapat bertemu dan mengenali manusia pertama ciptaan Allah itu yang kemudiannya menjadi bapa kepada seluruh manusia di muka bumi ini.
Selepas memberi salam kepada Nabi Adam, Nabi Muhammad kemudiannya dibawa naik ke langit kedua dan di situ baginda bertemu Nabi Yahya dan Nabi Isa. Diikuti langit ketiga, baginda bertemu Nabi Yusuf, langit kelima, Nabi Harun dan Musa di langit keenam.

Nabi Muhammad akan memberi salam dan mengakui kenabian kepada setiap nabi yang baginda temui.
Apabila tiba di langit ketujuh, Nabi Muhammad berpeluang menyaksikan Baitul Makmur, iaitu rumah ibadat, binaan sama seperti Kaabah bagi penghuni langit terutamanya para malaikat beribadah dan melakukan tawaf.
Sesetengah mengatakan terdapat hampir 70,000 malaikat yang melakukan tawaf di Baitul Makmur itu.

Ia dikatakan mempunyai kedudukan yang bertepatan dengan kedudukan Kaabah di bumi.
Di situ juga baginda melihat ada seorang lelaki yang wajahnya dikatakan hampir menyerupai Rasulullah sendiri.
Lalu baginda bertanya kepada Jibrail siapa lelaki berkenaan. Jibrail berkata: "Dialah nenek moyang kamu, Nabi Ibrahim."

Baginda sungguh gembira dengan pertemuan ini kerana dapat mengenali Nabi Ibrahim yang mempunyai sejarah kenabian sangat hebat terutama mampu mengalahkan Raja Namrud, berhijrah ke Palestin dan terpaksa meninggalkan isterinya Siti Hajar dan si anak Nabi Ismail. Dari situ ia menjadi titik permulaan pembukaan Kota Mekah dan mendirikan Kaabah seperti yang diperintahkan oleh Allah.
Sejurus pertemuan yang sungguh bermakna itu, baginda berjalan sehingga ke penghujung langit ketujuh.

Berubah bentuk

Di situ baginda melihat bagaimana malaikat Jibrail yang menyerupai manusia berubah kepada bentuk asalnya. Bentuk yang sama seperti yang baginda pernah temui buat pertama kali semasa berjalan ke pulang ke rumah dari Gua Hira'.

Kebenaran perkara ini tidak dapat disangkal. Ia benar-benar terjadi sebagaimana yang disebut dalam al-Quran, iaitu ayat 13 hingga 18 surah an-Najm yang bermaksud: Dan sesungguhnya Muhammad telah melihat Jibrail itu dalam rupanya yang asli iaitu berdekatan dengan Sidratul Muntaha, yang juga berdekatan dengan syurga al Makwa, (Muhammad melihat Jibrail) ketika di Sidratul Muntaha dilitupi oleh sesuatu yang melitupinya. Penglihatannya (Muhammad) tidak berpaling dari yang dilihatnya itu dan tidak (pula) melampauinya. Sesungguhnya dia telah melihat sebahagian tanda-tanda (kekuasaan) Tuhan-Nya yang paling besar.

Selain bagi mengesahkan pertemuan Nabi Muhammad dengan malaikat Jibrail pada rupanya yang asal, ayat ini juga sebagai mengesahkan mengenai pertemuan agung antara Nabi SAW dengan Allah Rabbul Jalil secara bersemuka.

Inilah keistimewaan Nabi Muhammad dapat bertemu dengan Allah dalam keadaan jaga dan bersemuka walaupun pertemuan tersebut tidak turut dihadiri oleh malaikat Jibrail.
Sebelum itu Jibrail telah meminta Nabi Muhammad mara ke hadapan iaitu memasuki Sidratul Muntaha, tempat sangat luar biasa yang tidak akan mampu terfikir oleh manusia biasa.

Apabila Nabi Muhammad turut mengajak malaikat Jibrail untuk bersama-sama dengan baginda, Jibrail berkata: "Kalau aku selangkah mara ke hadapan, maka aku akan hangus terbakar."
Lalu di hadapan Allah itu yang dikatakan jaraknya hanyalah 'dua busur panah' atau lebih dekat lagi dari itu, Nabi Muhammad diperintahkan sembahyang 50 waktu sehari semalam.
Iaitu ibadat menyembah-Nya untuk dilakukan oleh Nabi Muhammad dan seluruh umat baginda setiap hari.

Berbanding ibadat lain yang difardukan melalui turunnya wahyu yang disampaikan oleh malaikat Jibrail namun ibadat solat adalah perintah secara langsung daripada Allah.
Sebab itu di hari kiamat perkara pertama yang ditanyakan oleh Allah terhadap setiap individu umat Islam ialah mengenai perihal solatnya.
Segala amalan kebaikan dan kebajikan yang lain seolah-olah tidak bermakna jika seseorang itu mengabai dan meninggalkan solat secara sengaja.

Selepas pertemuan itu, Nabi Muhammad pun turun ke langit ke enam dan bertemu semula dengan Nabi Musa yang bertanyakan mengenai hasil pertemuan baginda dengan Allah.
"Apa yang Allah perintahkan untuk umat kamu wahai Muhammad," tanya Nabi Musa.
"Allah memerintahkan aku dan umatku supaya mendirikan solat 50 fardu waktu sehari semalam," jawab Nabi Muhammad.
Musa pun berkata lagi: "Kaum Israel pernah diperintahkan kurang daripada itu tetapi itupun mereka tidak mampu laksanakan. Kamu naiklah lagi dan minta Allah ringankan (kurang jumlah fardu) solat itu."

Sesetengah riwayat menceritakan baginda terpaksa berulang kali menemui Allah semula bagi tujuan untuk meringankan jumlah fardu solat itu. Sehinggalah akhirnya ditetapkan ibadat solat itu difardukan lima kali sehari tanpa boleh dikurangkan lagi.
Itupun Nabi Musa tetap menggesa Nabi Muhammad dikurangkan lagi lima waktu itu.
Lalu baginda pun berkata: "Aku rasa malu dengan tuhanku, namun aku reda dan aku menyerah diri."

Sepanjang mikraj itu juga Nabi Muhammad diperlihatkan dengan pelbagai kehidupan di alam akhirat, iaitu alam yang kekal bakal didiami oleh seluruh umat manusia.
Turut diperlihatkan ialah pelbagai gambaran bentuk pembalasan terhadap apa juga amalan yang dilakukan oleh manusia semasa hidup mereka di dunia.
Namun yang paling berkesan pada baginda yang diceritakan kepada para pengikutnya ialah mengenai gambaran syurga dan neraka.

Apa pun gambaran mengenai syurga dan neraka tersebut, namun yang jelas kedua-duanya wujud di akhirat sebagaimana yang disebut berkali-kali dalam al-Quran.
Namun itu pun masih tidak dapat dipercayai oleh sesetengah pihak.
Jadi apabila Nabi Muhammad telah melihatnya sendiri dengan mata kepala baginda, adakah kita masih tidak mempercayainya lagi?

Do You Understand Yourself? Psychology in the Light of Quran and Sunnah

If you are breathing and interacting with others you need psychology! You may think that psychology is just common sense and not really a necessity. But I beg to differ. Limiting beliefs and cultural taboos of “shrinks” may be hindering you from seeing the value of what this field has to offer. Now, I’m not suggesting for all of you to run out and make an appointment with the nearest therapist, but what I am asking from you is to have an open heart and an open mind while reading my articles.

If your cup is full or turned upside down you will not be able to receive any benefit. Knowledge of psychology can either simply enhance your life or completely transform it. In my practice, I have worked with many suicidal clients that had lost their will to live. Using psychology in the light of Quran and Sunnah, they not only choose to live, but they are living with purpose celebrating life, Alhamdulillah. Psychology can help you to understand yourself, which will affect every aspect of your life. By understanding yourself you will be much more capable of relating to others. That means having a better relationship with your spouse, raising your kids with ease and deliberateness, learning to be a better friend, and achieving success at school or work.

Learning psychology can help you to understand yourself on a whole new level. It’s absolutely fascinating to learn how your psyche works – what makes you tick, what motivates you, how to overcome fears and phobias. Once you know how your mind works, you can start programming yourself for success. You no longer have to stumble upon success – you can aspire, plan and achieve while putting your complete trust in Allah. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him (Surah Al-Imran 3:160).

You will no longer be at the mercy of other peoples’ approval or validation because you can learn to accept yourself and in accepting yourself you can accept others. In learning about behavior modification, you can learn how to motivate yourself and others to make that oh so necessary change; like shedding 20 pounds, giving up bad habits, forgiving others, controlling your anger and getting organized. Allah will never change the state of the people until they change themselves (Surah Al-Anfal 8:53).

If it’s not motivation you are lacking, you can learn to cope better with all of life’s challenges. Learning coping skills can be a matter of life or death. Thousands of people die due to heart attacks and strokes because they never learned to cope with the daily stresses. Your outlook on life can become optimistic by becoming aware of your internal conversation which is called self-talk and you can even reinvent yourself by vigilantly avoiding negative thoughts the way you would avoid a poisonous snake. The pursuit of happiness has to begin within. If you don’t like yourself, you can’t expect others to make you happy. Once you like yourself, you will be able to embrace the people around you and focus on giving to them on a deep, emotional level. Each one of these concepts I have mentioned requires an article to explain; however this is an introduction to the psychological material I will be covering insha’Allah. Consider this article as a preview of coming attractions!

When you start becoming happier with yourself, the first people who will notice the change will be your friends and family. Your relationships with them will improve significantly because you will no longer be consumed with your inadequacies. Learning to accept yourself with all your shortcomings and imperfections will make you less judgmental of others. You will be able to be more tolerant and respectful of people even if they are not your ideological clones. Many times we classify differences in others as flaws and we quickly dismiss them. This way of critically judging everyone prevents us from achieving a higher level of empathy and insight.

Many times in hearing different perspectives, we broaden our understanding and become more compassionate. This compassion is essential within families. Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) (Surah 2 Al-Baqarah:263). Genuine acceptance, sympathy and forgiveness creates an environment conducive to effective communication and conflict resolution. Learning the fine art of expressing your needs and resolving problems could drastically improve the quality of your family life.

As you nurture yourself and improve your family life, you will become more at peace, exuding happiness and confidence which will make you more appealing. But all the appeal in the world cannot compensate for a lack of interpersonal skills with your spouse. Having the skills to nurture this vital relationship and the diplomacy to resolve conflicts will transform your married life. He grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and whoever is granted wisdom is indeed given a great wealth (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:269). When you acquire the necessary tools and wisdom to nourish your relationship, serenity will descend and difficulties will become more manageable.

Having a strong and stable relationship with your spouse should be a prerequisite to having children because of the impact it has on their personalities and their lives. Not only do people lack the skills or role models in having an efficacious relationship, they also believe they can just improvise on parenting without any prior training or knowledge. Ask people of knowledge if you do not know (Surah Nahl 16:43). It’s disheartening to know that a person is required to take courses and seek training from experts in order to drive or hunt, but when it comes to becoming a parent and raising the future generation there are absolutely no criteria.

Seeking knowledge within psychology regarding effective parenting and applying the beautiful example of our beloved Prophet (peace and salam upon him) will enable us to have a map which will guide us in the rugged and unpredictable terrains of parenting.

Empowered with the knowledge of psychology within the Islamic framework will have you parenting with ease and deliberateness, while reaping the rewards of gratifying relationships. You will introspect and understand your emotions, which will enable you to be more accepting of yourself and others. Aspirations will be achieved with simple guidelines when accompanied with perseverance and trust in Allah. It is my hope that this article has wet your appetite for learning more about psychology in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, insha’Allah.

You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves. (Surah 3 Al-Imran 3:186)
Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity). (Surah 2 Al-Baqarah 2:263)
And besides Allah you have neither any Wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:107)
Produce your proof if you are truthful. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:111)
It is these who hasten in the good deeds, and they are foremost in them. (Mu’minun 23:18)

Question Yourself

When I began high school, I attended a local Friday night youth group halaqh. One night, the brother preparing the talk for the night handed out copies of an article with a series of self-reflective questions on it. The questions were very powerful, but as for what they were and what they asked, it seems just like a lost memory of my high school days.

Years later, an old friend from the youth group found his copy of the article while cleaning out his room. He showed it to me and I was blown away. Being older and more aware of Islam and myself, the questions on it hit home much harder.

I wondered where this list came from, so I gave it a Google search, inputing the questions from the list in quotations. It turns out the list is archived on Islaam.com; that list is actually an article entitled “Question Yourself” by Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaish translated for Hudaa Magazine back in 1995.

Read over the questions yourself and ask yourself how well you live Islam everyday in your own life, and ask Allah ‘azza wa jal to help you answer them better on a daily basis.

Dear Self,
Do you pray fajr (morning prayer) in the mosque in Jamaa`ah (gathering) every day?
Do you keep all prayers in the masjid in Jamaa`ah?
Did you read any portion of Allaah’s Book today?
Are you consistent in saying your thikr (words of remembrance) and praise of Allaah (T) and wird (regular daily dhikr) after every prayer?
Do you pray all the regular sunnah prayers (supererogatory prayers) before and after the fard prayers?

Were you humble and sincere in your prayers today, conscious of what you were reciting?
Did you reflect upon death and the grave?
Did you reflect upon the Last Day, its horrors and its perils?

Did you ask Allaah (three times) to let you into the Jennah? For, Anas, radhiallahu `anhu, reported that the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:
When someone asks Allaah (three times) to let him into the Jannah, the Jannah says: ‘O Allaah, let him into his Jannah?’ And when someone asks Allaah (three times) to shelter him from the Fire, the Fire says: ‘O Allaah, protect him from the Fire’.” [At-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa’ee, and al-Haakim; Saheeh al-Jaami` by al-Albaanee no. 6275]

Did you ask Allaah (three times) to protect you from the Hellfire?
Did you read any of the hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam?
Did you consider keeping away from evil companions?

Did you try to avoid excessive laughing and joking?
Did you cry today for fear of Allaah?
Did you say the morning and evening thikr?
Did you seek forgiveness for your sins from Allaah for today?

Did you sincerely ask Allaah (ta`ala) for the Shahaadah (martyrdom) today? For, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Whoever asks Allaah (ta`ala) for the Shahaadah with sincerity, Allaah will grant him the rank of martyrs, even if he dies in bed.” [Muslim and others]

Did you supplicate to Allaah to keep your heart firm upon His Deen?
Did you take advantage of the answerable periods (those during which supplications are answerable) to ask of Allaah?
Question Yourself

By Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaish
Translated by Imraan Husain
Hudaa October 1995
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=392

Please Fear Allah in the Friday Khutbah

How many times have you woken up on a Friday morning, taken a shower, dressed in your best clothing, went to work, read surat al Kahf, headed to the masjid, waited for the khateeb (the speaker) but as he starts his khutbah, only to feel disappointed? And as he is delivering his speech you start to look at your watch making dua that the khutbah ends? Or maybe you picked up your cell phone and sent a text to some of your friends saying how horrible the khutbah is? Well, you are not alone.

Our respected elders are the ones who have carried on their shoulders the responsibility of setting the foundations of our communities, but I think it is time for them to pass on the torch to the next Muslim generation. This issue is bigger than just a khutbah that is hard to understand or a khutbah you cannot relate to, rather its an issue of disconnection from the community.

Not too long ago, a brother gave a khutbah about the Muslim youth in our community and shed some light on how we should deal with the youth, how we can understand them and cater to their needs. Although the topic is perfect and super beneficial, the way it was delivered would have made you wish you overslept and never showed up for Jummah. The presentation wasn’t prepared properly, the information wasn’t correct, the examples given in the khutbah weren’t any where close to the reality in our high schools and colleges, and above all, the English was not clear or understandable.
Don’t get me wrong, I too have an accent and make a lot of sentence structure and grammar mistakes, so by no means am I making fun of those who have accents, rather I would like to discuss the need to change the “usual Jummah syndrome” that most people suffer from in our communities.

I have always wondered why Allah mandated the Muslims to sit down and listen without any sort of a distraction to the khutbah every week. Is it for us to be educated about our deen? Is it for us to be inspired and motivated? Is it for us to be spiritually reconnected with Allah. Perhaps it is for us Muslims of the same community to gather and interact socially. However, I feel that none of these wisdoms are displayed when I show up for the khutbah only to find out that those who are delivering it are some of the worst public speakers ever. My focus is shifted on how awful the khutbah is rather than focusing on the actual information being delivered.

Many communities suffer from this and so it becomes the duty of the next generation to take the lead. You must take action and be an element of change within your community. There are only a few Yasir Qadhis and Hamza Yusufs around us. They cannot give the khutbahs, lectures, and halaqat all over the Western hemisphere at the same time. Therefore I believe it is time for you and I, the average Abduallahs and average Aishas, to voice our opinions and respectfully disagree with those who appoint khateebs who aren’t very good at giving the khutbahs.

It is time for you and I to cause the change that needs to take place in order for our community to move forward. We, the second generation Muslims, should respectfully be able to have a dialogue with our elders and convince them that it’s time for them to pass the torch… and the khutbah rotation should be the first on our list.

So here are 10 things you can do to start this chain reaction of change inshaAllah:
Bismillah:
** One very important note that you must keep in mind is that if you think that this attempt of change will cause a bigger and more severe fitna within your community, then don’t start it.

1.Make dua and make sure that your intention of causing this change is for the sake of Allah and not for a personal gain. Also remember that if you are not involved in your community, your opinion may not weigh heavily so if you want to make a change in your community, then get involved now. Be an active member of the masjid and try to be on board with the committee that is in charge of the khutbahs.

2.Remember that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, ‘He is not of us, he who does not honor our elders.” (Tirmidhi).

3.While observing the proper manners of giving a naseehah, address this issue with the brothers who are in charge of the khutbah rotation and voice your opinion respectfully and suggest a few names whom you think should give the khutbahs and state your reasons why.

4.If all else fails then start a petition that is not online since most of our elders aren’t computer friendly and have it signed by as many people as possible then present it.

5.Print a 5-questions survey and stand outside the masjid’s door and ask people to fill the surveys. In those surveys ask simple and broad question such as, on a scale of 1 to 5 answer the following questions:
How did you like khutbah today?
Were you able to understand the Khateeb?
Was the topic relevant?
Would you recommend this khateeb to give another khutbah?

6.Use this survey to prove to whoever is in charge of the Khutbah rotation that their selection of such and such person is not the right decision.

7.Utilize those students who give Khutbahs at the universities and develop them in order for them to be able to give Khutbahs at the main masajids in the near future. In fact, talk to the Imams at the masajid and have them train such youngsters.

8.Come together with a few brothers and sisters to host a speaker who can teach a weekend course on how to prepare and give a khutbah. Then select 5 or 6 brothers whom you and your congregation think are suitable to give the khutbah to learn such information. If you cannot do this, then search online for organizations who have such services and work with others to sponsor those brothers to take this course.

9.Ask your congregation in the masjid to suggest few topics that they want to be educated about or topics that they find spiritually fit for a khutbah and collect them and pass them to the khateebs in place and ask them to address them.

10.Encourage, support, and invest in the high school students in your community to host a khutbah at their highschool. This will serve as a good training for an upcoming Khateeb inshaAllah.

If you have any more ideas, please post it in the comment section.
I hope this will be the spark of change that takes over our masajid for there are plenty of things that must change and I hope Allah gives me the tawfeeq to address them as we go.