12th Rabiuawal

Today marks the birth of our Master, Prophet of all Prophets, Muhammad s.a.w

The entire month of Rabiu'awal will be occupied with Maulids celebration everywhere... and the smell of briyani in every mosque... Hmmm

As much as I would love to visit more mosques to attend to their maulid sessions, I'm actually not quite familiar with other Maulid 'versions' except the Daiba'i (Al-Hafiz Shaikh Abdul Rahman bin Ali ad Daba'i). And so far, only the Nasqbandi tariqat group, which i'm more closely inclined towards that I have attended so far.

Usually, only the men will be involved in the reading of the Maulid. So women will usually follow and sing softly when there are 'choruses' (dzikir, salutations etc).

Since I can't read very well, I have always loved to read the translation of the arabic text available in the Daiba'i version. Here is an excerpt from the book:

In the name of God, most Gracious, Most Merciful

1)Verily We granted Thee a manifest victory(by the treaty of Meccan Quraysh), the door was opened for the spread of Islam throughout the world

2)That Allah may forgive you for your sins of the past and those to follow; fulfill His Favour to you and guide you on the straight path.

3)And that Allah may help you with a powerful(effective) help.

4)Now has come to you a Messenger from amongst you, it grieves him that you should perish (rush headlong to ruin); ardently anxious he watches over you: (and whenever any of you show signs of Faith) his (prophet's) kindness and mercy surround him and rejoice over him.

5)But if they turn away, Say: Allah sufficeth me: There is no god but He: in Him I trust - He is the Lord of the Throne, of Glory Supreme!

6)Verily Allah and His Angels (honour and) send blessings on the Prophet: "O ye who believe! Send your blessings and salutations on him with all respect.

O Allah, bestow blessings, grant peace and favour upon him and his family

In the name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful

1)All praise belong to Allah, who is Strong and Dominant

2)He demands His rights over His servants

3)He is the Resurrector and Inheritor(after all is gone), the Giver(of blessings) and Remover of our bereavement

4)He is the Knower of all beings be they in the current, transient or passed events

5)All the stars, those on the incline, those ascending and those withering say praises to Him

6)The articulate, the silent, the solid and the liquid are professing in the Unity of Allah

7)By His Justness, He moved the static and with His will, stopped the moving.

8){There is no god but Allah} the Wise, who showed His Wisdom through the wonders of His creations and miracles

9)In the orderly arrangement and assembly of His creations.

10)(He) created the brain, the pieces of bone, the upper arms, the veins, the flesh, the skin, the hair and the blood in petry and harmoniously overhapping

11)From the water that flows out and excretes separately from the spinal column (of the man) and chest (of the woman into the womb)

12){There is no god but Allah} the Generous One, who spreads over His creations a carpet of generosity and worldly talent and provisions

13)Descending every night to the lower heaven and calling out:"Is there anyone asking for forgiveness? Is there anyone seeking repentance?" (We seek repentance to Allah)

14)"Is there anyone seeking a favour; so that his request may be granted?"

15)Would it not be good if you see those who seve standing and crying in front(of your Lord)?

16)And (they) are standing in the state between remorse and repentance

17)And (they) fear for themselves and thus they reprimand themselves

18)And (they) run from their sins towards God

19)For (they) are the ones who continuously seek forgiveness till the light of dawn.

20)And they returned successfully having achieved their aims with the blessings of Allah, the Beloved, till not one man amongst them returned in despair.

21){There is no God but Allah} Glory to Allah, Exalted is He, who created the Light (Nur) of his Prophet Muhammad SAW from His Light (Nur) before He created Adam from clay.

22)Then God laid out His supreme creation in front of all the rest and said, "This is the leader amongst all the prophets, the most respectful of all chosen people and the most respectful amonst those loved."

O Allah, bestow blessings, grant peace and favour upon him and his family.

Random

I had been thinking of the Sacred Ka'bah since last year. I hope that Allah swt will invite me to his House for Hajj this year, 1430H.

I spent lesser on clothings and food, hoping to save more for my trip to the Sacred House. I kept convincing my husband to make his trip as well since we don't have any kids at the moment. But he was pretty reluctant. (if he doesn't want to go, i can't go). So i'm a bit sad about it. And to rub salt into the wound, i got to know from the Muis Hajj registration page that Hajj is only available in 1433H, which is 2012!!!

I am not sure when my time is up, and i think it is necessary to do the right things while i'm still alive. I want to perform Hajj!

Same goes for the deeds that i carry out during my lifetime. Are they considered good enough to guarantee my safety across the 'bridge(sirahtul mustaqim)' in the akirah? Am I doing it for the sake of Allah swt, or for the sake of 'showing off'?

What is the purpose of our life here, if we do not make use of our life to accumulate our good deeds for the assurance of Paradise in the Hereafter?

"It is He who has created death and life that He may test which of you is best in deed. "
(Surah al-Mulk 67:2)

Start, then, to prepare for the Akirah today! Why waste your time and energy on what will perish when you can use the same to earn the delights and pleasures of the life to come? Everything you have must be put forward as an investment for that life, but you must keep in mind that the investment is not the objective. All that Allah swt has bestowed on you - body, mind, faculties and property - are valuables for investment, but the real objective is to earn the pleasure of Allah and the rewards of Jannah (Paradise).

Remember that your personal destiny and, therefore, the end of all your life's pursuits, lie in the Akirah, but the road to that destiny lies in Dunya, in this world. Indeed the achievements made during the time of the Prophet were the results of full participation in this world - neither withdrawing nor retiring from it - for the sake of the Life to come. The Prophet s.a.w and his Companions planned for this world as though they were going to stay here forever but equally they sought the rewards of the Hereafter as though death was close at hand. It is this delicate balance that you must strive to achieve in your approach to life.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w said: This Din or way of life is easy. But if anyone overdoes it, it gets the better of him. So keep to the right course, approximate to perfection, rejoice and ask for help in the mornings, the evenings and some of the later part of the night. (Bukhari)

"When death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord, let me return, let me return to life, so that I may act righteously in whatever i have left behind.' Nay, it is but a meaningless word he utters; for, behind them now is the barrier of death until the day they shall be raised up. Then, when the Trumpet will be blown, no ties of kinship will remain between them that day, neither would anyone be able to take care of another. Then, they whose weight of good deeds is heavy in the balance will attain salvation. But, they whose weight is light in the balance, will have squandered their own lives. In Hell will they abide forever.
(Surah al-Muminun 23: 99-103)

Dala'il al Khayrat - How it began

Dala'il Al-Khayrat: The Story of a Text - By Adam Larson

“God and his angels bless the Prophet.O believers bless him and pray him peace as well”— Qur’an 33:56

The eminent scholar and mystic of fifteenth century Egypt, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, tells the story of an early mystic:
One night I fulfilled a number of blessings on the Prophet and I fell asleep. I was dwelling in a room, and lo, the Prophet came to me through the door, and the whole room was lit up. Then he moved towards me and said: “Give me the mouth that has blessed me so often that I may kiss it.” And my modesty would not let him kiss my mouth; so I turned away my face, and he kissed my cheek. Then I woke trembling from sleep and my wife who was by my side awoke, and lo, the house was fragrant with his scent, and the scent of musk from his kiss remained on my cheek about eight days. My wife noticed the scent every day.

This story beautifully illustrates the centrality of the Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and give him peace) to Islamic piety.

For hundreds of years Muslims have meditated on and lucidly expressed their deep love for the Chosen Prophet (God bless him and give him peace); they have collected and compiled every available account concerning him, produced immense commentaries detailing his every feature, from the length of his hair and the color of his complexion, to the way he walked, slept, and laughed, and have composed lyrical poetry giving voice to their immense longing for him. The Prophet (God bless him and give him peace) said, “The person nearest to me is the one who asks for blessings upon me the most.”

Throughout history Muslims have sought continual presence with the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace), manifesting their love for him by adhering to God’s command: “bless him and pray for peace upon him” (The Qur’an, Sura al-Ahzab . In the spirit of this command, Muslim scholars have produced prayer manuals of the utmost beauty and eloquence. These manuals most frequently consist of collections of prayers, supplications, and praise from the Qur’an and hadith, as well as original compositions. Of these prayer manuals, perhaps none have been more successful and widespread than Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli’s masterwork Dala’il al- Khayrat wa Shawariq al-Anwar fi Dhikr al-Salat ‘ala al- Nabi al-Mukhtar (The Guide to Blessings and the Advent of Light in Blessing the Chosen Prophet). Composed in Morocco in the fifteenth century, Dala’il al-Khayrat quickly spread throughout the Muslim world, from Turkey, to East Africa, to Sumatra.

Who was al-Jazuli? Why was Dala’il al-Khayrat so popular? How have Muslims interacted with and experienced the text, both as a performative act and as a physical object? By exploring these questions, it is hoped that the reader may gain a fuller understanding and greater appreciation of this extraordinary text, its author, and its inspiration.

The Context and Formation of Dala’il al-Khayrat: The Life of Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli

At the dawn of the fifteenth century, the Marinid dynasty had ruled Morocco for over one hundred and fifty years. The early Marinid period was marked by military campaigns and vigorous architectural activity. They built a variety of structures: new urban centers, zawiyas, fortresses, and mosques. However, their most marvelous architectural contributions were madrasas: four at Fez and one at Salé. In the oldest of these madrasas, Madrasat al-Saffarin in Fez, young Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli received instruction in the religious sciences. By the mid-fifteenth century, Moroccan society was in chaos. Corruption and immorality were rampant in both the cities and the countryside. Port cities along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts fell to the crusading Portuguese. Due to internal strife and foreign military pressure, the Marinid state began to fragment. Morocco was in need of religious reform and reorientation. It was precisely at this trying time that al-Jazuli introduced his remarkable work Dala’il al- Khayrat.

Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Bakr b. Sulayman al-Jazuli al-Samlali was born to a sharif [a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad] family in the southern Moroccan village of Tankarat in the early fifteenth century. He belonged to the Simlala, an important subtribe of the Sanhaja Berbers that lived on the Sus River plain between the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains. Little detail is known about his life. However, his biographer, Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Fasi (d.), mentions in his work Mumti’ al-Asma’ a number of anecdotes and pithy expressions, giving a glimpse into the religious world of early modern Morocco. As a young scholar al-Jazuli left his homeland of Jazula because inter-tribal conflicts made serious study impossible. He traveled to Fez and enrolled at Madrasat al-Saffarin, where his room is still shown to visitors. In Fez he memorized works of usul al-fiqh and Maliki law, such as Ibn al-Hajib’s Mukhtasr al-Far’i and Sahnun’s Al-Mudawwana al-Kubra. He also met the famous jurist and mystic Sheikh Ahmad Zarruq. As a youth he became known for his piety. Al-Fasi relates a stunning example of al-Jazuli’s detachment from worldly concerns: While he was attending the madrasa, he secluded himself in a house and no one else would enter. This news reached his father who thought the youth’s persistence in barring others from entering was because he was hiding wealth, so he set out to visit his son. He requested permission to enter his son’s house and was given leave. When he entered he saw written all over the walls: “Death, Death, Death ...” He understood what his son was up to. He reproached himself, saying, “Look where he is and look where we are!” Then he left his son and returned home.

Several accounts detail al-Jazuli’s inspiration in writing Dala’il al-Khayrat. According to al-Fasi, he collected Dala’il al-Khayrat from books in the Qarwiyyin library in Fez after witnessing a woman perform miracles (kharq al-’ada). When he inquired as to how she had attained this ability, she replied, “By sending blessings on the Prophet, may God bless him and give him peace.” Thenceforth al- Jazuli devoted himself to sending blessings on the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace).

Al-Manfaluti, Maliki mufti of nineteenth-century Medina, provides a different account in his work Manaqib Sidi al-Shaykh al-Jazuli: The reason for al-Jazuli’s writing Dala’il al-Khayrat … was that one day he was late for his prayers, even though it was his custom to seek the approval of God the Exalted by not delaying a prayer beyond the earliest possible time for its performance. When he arose to make his ablutions, however, he was unable to find anything with which to take water out of the well. This preoccupied him greatly and he was very annoyed. While he was in this state a young girl caught sight of him from a high place and said, “Who are you, uncle?” The sheikh then told her about himself, hoping that she would give him a bucket and thus ease his cares and worries. Instead the girl exclaimed, “You are the one whom people praise greatly, yet you are unable to take water from a well in order to purify yourself !” Then she came down from that high place and spat into the well while reciting the Name of the Lord of Creation. No sooner had she done so than water tasting as sweet as the sweetest sugar poured forth from the well until it spilled over the face of the earth as a miracle from the One who rolls up the scroll of time. The sheikh made his ablution and marveled at this splendid miracle. When he finished, he swore by God Almighty that the girl should reveal to him how she had acquired this great rank. “By making constant prayers on the Best of Creation (may God bless and preserve him) to the number of breaths and heartbeats (bi-’adad al-anfas wa al-daqa’iq),” she replied.

So al-Jazuli resolved at that moment to write a book about the excellence of prayers on behalf of the Chosen Prophet and to include in it many transmitted texts from the mine of prophecy and from those who have drowned in the sea of the effusion of God’s abundant generosity. All of this (which was due to what he perceived in this great miracle) would not have been possible had it not been for this girl, who was devoted to reciting prayers on the Adornment of the Last Day (zayn al-qiyama).

Al-Jazuli took the Shadhili tariqa from Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad Amghar al-Saghir (d.) of Ribat Tit-n- Fitr. After taking part in the resistance to the Portuguese at Tangier in , he went into seclusion (khalwa). Some historians claim that he worshiped in isolation for fourteen years; while others maintain that he traveled east for sometime, reciting Dala’il al-Khayrat twice each morning to the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace) in Medina.Upon his reemergence in , al-Jazuli established a zawiya at the Atlantic port city of Asafi. Al-Jazuli was “frequent in reciting litanies (awrad), observant of God most High in all his states, not exceeding the boundaries God established, and exerting himself in following the Book of God and the example of his Messenger (God bless him and give him peace).”

He founded the Shadhiliyya Jazuliyya order, with Dala’il al-Khayrat at its core, and over ,disciples received spiritual training (tarbiya) at his hands. Later writers describe the nature of al-Jazuli’s relationship with the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace): there mixed, in his person, “the two loves”—the love one feels for the Prophet due to religion, and the love one feels for one’s kinsfolk (mahabba al-diniyya wa al-tiniyya).

Al-Jazuli died in while prostrating during the morning prayer, the victim of poisoning. He was later buried at Riyadh al-’Arus in Marrakesh. Known in the local dialect as “Sidi Ben Sliman,” he is one of the seven patron saints of Marrakesh. He left Dala’il al-Khayrat as a testament to his immense love and longing for the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace): O God, I believed in Muhammad but did not see him; do not deprive me in the Gardens of his vision. Bestow his company upon me and cause me to die in his religion. Let me drink from his pool a quenching, pleasant, delightful drink after which we shall never thirst again. You are powerful over everything. O God, convey to the soul of Muhammad my greetings and peace. O God, as I believed in Muhammad but did not see him, do not deprive me in the Gardens of his vision.

From source:
http://sufi.forumup.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=281&mforum=sufi

Rights of a Palestine civilian

“Can Israel survive?”

This was the title of a article that was published in Time magazine.

And one reader wrote back in another issue:
“I propose that the US say, “Israel, we love and support you but not your unethical occupation of Palestinian territory. If you really recognize the right to the existence of a Palestinian state, prove it by getting out of the occupied territories and dismantling the remaining settlements. You might say, ‘Well, we did, in Gaza and look how that turned out!’ but the moral high ground would be yours- it is decidedly not after you kill more than 1000 Palestinians. And you would certainly have more worldwide sympathy and support as some Palestinians continue to bad-mouth your right to exist.

It wrote: 'Israel's Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, has promised a 'war to the bitter end.' But after 60 years of struggle to defend their existence against foreign threats and enemies within, many Israelis maybe wondering, where does that end lie? The threat posed by Hamas is only the most immediate of the many interlocking challenges facing Israel, some of which cast dark shadows over the long term viability of a democratic Jewish state.'

As much as any other nation on earth, Israel is based on a dream: the aspiration to establish a home for the Jews in the birth place of their ancestors. To a remarkable extent, that dream has been fulfilled, as Israek has grown into the most modern and democratic country in the Middle East and a dependable Ameriacan ally. A strong, confident Israel is in America's interest, but so is one that can find peace with its neighbors, cooperate with the Arabs to comtain common threats and, most important, reach a just and lasting solution with the Palestinians. But accomplishing all that will require Israel and its defenders to confront excruciating dilemmas: How do you make peace with those who don't seem to want it? How do you win a war when the other side believes time is on its side? And what would true security, in a hostile neighborhood populated with enemies, actually look like? As is always true in the Middle East, there are no easy ansers. But it's never been more vital that Israel start looking for them.

And Time reported: The most immediate challenge facing Israel is that posed by Hamas. Gaza's tradegy has for days been playing out on the world's TV sets. By 7 Jan, more than 700 Palestinians, many of them noncombatants, had been killed.

(From 2000, at least 6,000 Palestinians had been killed compared to the 1,000 odd Israelis. Can you tell who is innocent here?)

This is a bias report. Clearly, the Time correspondent is siding Israel. Against the people of Palestine. Against the civilians (innocent children and their families)

And this is a story of an innocent civilian, with his family:
Khaled Abed Rabu lost his 2 daughters Amal and Suwad on 7 Jan 09, the day Israeli tanks churned across the strawberry fields and knocked their way into a little park about 18m from their home. After the warning over the loudspeaker, Abed Rabu herded his wife, mother and 3 young daughters to the door and gave the children a white flag to wave. He saw 2 Israelis soldiers eating chocolate and potato chips beside their tank. Suddenly, a third Israeli soldier then popped out of the tank with an M-16 and fired a single shot. The next thing was, his 2 year old daughter was lying there with her insides spilling out. He started screaming at the soldiers, and then the soldier shot his 2 other girls. His wife fainted. His mother tried to drag Suwad inside the house, but the soldier shot his mother in the chest, shoulder and leg.

It was unclear whether the Israeli troops were under threat when they opened fire. Most of the residents there claimed that there were no Hamas fighters in the area at the time of the alleged incident. After the shootings, Abed Rabu said that he dragged his wounded children and mother into the doorway and shouted for help. The ambulance who was nearby, was driven by Samiyeh al-Sheikh said that he heard shots and screams coming from Abed Rabu's house. But when he tried to go toward them, the Israeli soldiers beat him up. Then, with a bulldozer, the soldiers backed the ambulance against my house and crushed it like sand.

He tried calling the Red Crescent, or friends with cars who could help his family reach a hospital. His daughter who was shot in the stomach was demanding for water. So for 2 hours, Abed Rabu was unable to summon help or move from the house despite pleading with the soldiers. Finally, his aged father picked up Samar in in his arms and stood in the doorway, risking or exchanging his life for his grandchildren. The soldiers finally relented and let them go. Even while walking, the soldiers did not lose grip on them as they fired at the dirt around their feet.

Abed Rabu walked and carried his daughters for more than a mile. But by the time they reached the hospital, the girls were dead. He sat alone beside his blasted home and cried out:
" I don't understand. I'm not Hamas. My girls weren't Hamas. Why did they do this to us?"

Isn't it sad?

Let us continue to pray for our Muslim brethen in Palestine and Gaza, may Allah swt have mercy and keep them safe from such terrorist acts against the civilians. amin.

Being a Muslim and its challenges

Ever since I got hold of the news that my teacher will be giving a talk at Darul Arqam this Friday, I didn’t cease my prayers to Allah swt, to aid him in his speech, to make smooth his speech so that the audience can hear him clearly.

I prayed more fervently for Ustaz than I prayed for myself.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… the days got nearer, I prayed harder. Thursday…. And finally Friday, 20 February arrived.

And I found myself thinking and thinking about the lecture that will take place at Darul Arqam, 8pm. I kept asking and asking Allah swt in my prayers for forgiveness and mercy. Because if Allah didn’t want the audience (which will be us) to reap the benefits of this lecture, He, the Al-Mighty could have got Ustaz to slur in his speech right?

By 8pm, the auditorium was already 98% filled. The good thing is, Darul has improved its PA system and the people who had to be seated outside would have the LCD screen and the audio audible to them. (my previous experience outside was quite bad).

Finally, about 8.20pm, Ustaz came into the auditorium on a wheelchair. Quickly, I recited ‘fatihah’ and then asked Allah swt for help.

After the introduction by the Head of Marketing/Communications of Darul, Ustaz briefly told the audience about what had happened to him 2 years ago. I am sure all of his students would be very happy for him that he is able to return and enlighten us with his talk. And so he opened the talk with a story with a light hearted joke that rocked the auditorium. It was a topic that Muslims needed badly at this time:
"Being a Muslim and its challlenges"

He talked about the importance of having taqwa and the true meaning of taqwa is the only criteria to be accessed in terms of nobility.
" O you who have attained to faith! Be conscious of Allah (taqwa) with a true conscious, and do not allow death to overtake you unless you are in a state of submission to Allah."

He told us the importance of knowing the verses that were contained in the Quran, directed to the Muslims. In it were lessons, guidance and teachings for the believers. He said that, if one truly has taqwa, one will be truly fearful towards Allah swt, and no thought of transgression would ever occur.

He also stressed the importance of learning Islam from the right sources. He mentioned that there was a surge of Islamic terms which portrayed Islam as being an orthodox religion, religion of raising jihadists, extremists etc. He also noted that Muslims themselves are 'going' towards the non Muslims Professors to learn about Islam. "Doesn't Islam has our own breed of scholars? Do we know who they are, and what did they contribute??"

It is indeed a shame, really. To think that our predesuccesors have contributed and sacrificed so much in the past. Islam's history has been so rich because of what they did. But now, we are doing nothing to preserve our religion. There are alot of things happening around us, and i believe people are aware of it so i don't want to go into details.

Ustaz had alot to cover that night but due to time constraint, he had to stop. It was a pity. But nevertheless, he didn't close the door on us. Anyone could visit his weblog for the entire powerpoint slides.

I really learnt alot of things that night. Now it's time to convert that theory into practical. Insya allah.

A visit to my teacher

I came across a device called the liptrainer at one of the fairs held in the Institute. According to the case studies presented by the Japanese salesguy, it has benefitted people who have snoring, eczema, sinus, down syndrome and even stroke patients! But I need to be convinced before I commit to buy the item which was quite pricey. But I’m thinking of this one person whom can benefit from this device, and that is my teacher, who has suffered a stroke almost 2 years ago.

As I hadn’t been well since my trip to Malaysia, I couldn’t arrange for a visit to my teacher’s place the week I returned back to Singapore. I wanted to pass him the device as soon as possible so that he could use it but just couldn’t find time in my hands to do so.

Finally, I got ‘clearance’ from my husband to visit my teacher after our Sunday class. Quickly I called Ustaz’s wife to ‘book for an appointment’. After several calls made, I finally got her permission to visit Ustaz. Alhamdulillah.

I got to Ustaz’s place ard 6.30pm after getting some groceries at a nearby supermarket.
He was already sitting at his usual armchair waiting for us. As soon as we got to our seats, I had noticed that he was in good spirits. Later I was told that he was so happy that we were coming because it has been a long time since his students came. I was feeling guilty. He was also looking much better nowadays. After exchanging questions of our wellbeing, he began asking me if I had been reading his blogs and which one was my favourite. I was actually following all of his blogs but only 3 blogs were often updated. Recently, Ustaz had created a new blog for his daughter. And this blog was only open to invitation to selected students of his. Alhamdulilah, I had this special privilege. Ustaz asked the development of my recitation and I told him I had stopped at surah al-Bayyinah because it was quite tough. So he told me to recite surah al-Qariah. I was so nervous and as usual, I didn’t quite do a good job.

We kept talking and talking despite being reminded by Ustaz’s wife to proceed to the dining area for our dinner. Alhamdulilah, even though the visit was planned at a short notice, she still managed to whip out so many dishes for us. During the dinner, she revealed to us that Ustaz will be conducting a talk at Darul Arqam this Friday, 20 Feb 09. Masya allah!!! I was really excited but yet a little worried about my teacher.

After our dinner and prayers, we continued talking. Ustaz shared a lot of things with us.
1. He completed the story of the student who could not find a place to slaughter a chicken where ‘no one can see him’.
2. He encouraged us to use the audio lessons on Quran recitation that he had took the effort to put it on his blog.
3. He also encouraged us to send blessings and salutations to our beloved Prophet saw and told us the ‘humongous’ benefits and rewards that we will reap from it.
4. He also reminded about our time in this dunya to perform good deeds for the preparation of the akhirah.
Listening to all his advice reminds me of the lessons that I attended with him. It makes me sad. Allah swt had almost took him away from us, and cut off all the channels of knowledge we could ever obtained from him.

But Allah swt is always the al-Compassionate, ar-Rahman, the al-Merciful, ar-Rahim. Although Ustaz is still experiencing the after-effects of the stroke, he continued to help so many people with the blogs that he created. The vast information that he has posted on his blogs are really fantastic. When you read them, you would not be able to imagine that all that was done by a stroke patient who had to perform all computer functions with only the help of the right hand, whereas I could write this post conveniently with the 2 hands that Allah swt has provided me with.

If it wasn’t because the next day was a working day, I wouldn’t want to leave the house. But of course, he had to rest after doing so much of the talking and sharing.

If Ustaz had done so much for his students, why shouldn’t we, as his students appreciate his work and blogs by reading it conscientiously. It is not put up there just for fun, but for the benefit of the weak ummah and one of them is ME.

After this visit, I told myself to buck up and insya allah try to do the things that he had advised us to carry out. And the first assignment I wanted to do is to get the book called ‘Dalail ul Khayrat’ and learn it as much as I can cope. Insya allah.

May Allah swt bestow upon me guidance and istiqamah. Amin.

Questions from Taiwan

A friend from Taiwan dropped by Singapore a couple of days ago.

12 years ago, through a primary school gathering with my mates, I got to know this friend. He tagged along with his friend, who was my primary school mate. While exchanging telephone numbers amongst my mates, he wrote down his number happily and managed to copy mine down. From then, that’s how we became friends. We almost went into a relationship but it couldn’t work because he was in States and I was here. Now that’s history.

Nevertheless, we still continued to keep in touch with each other.

So apparently, he didn’t quite noticed that I’ve changed when he came here for a visit about 4 years ago. I became a muslim and I wasn’t wearing clothes that would flaunt my figure publicly. It was a short visit and I didn’t had the chance to tell him about my conversion.

The truth had spoken on its own when I invited my primary school mates to my wedding reception. And a couple of months later, he asked me on MSN if I was married. That was when I told him about my conversion. And because, Thank God, he was not a local, he did not utter that golden question; “ So your husband is a Malay?”

We talked a bit about our past but both of us had moved on. He had a girlfriend then.

1 year plus later, he called me and told me that he is coming back for a few days and would like to meet up. Omigosh, it has been a long time since we met. I was hesitant yet looking forward to seeing him. He had never seen my ‘new look’ and I wasn’t sure if he would scream at me.

So on the day when we were supposed to meet for lunch, I texted him in the morning and told him to prepare himself for a new change. Then he asked: 难到你变得更火辣，还是把自己包得像个粽子吧。我便回答：不是啦。就是比较回教的装扮啦。

I could sensed that there would be understanding from him. I took half day and went straight to Kinokuniya to meet him. He was in the queue when I arrived in Kino and immediately he spotted me and waved me to meet him in the queue. I was shocked. He told me that he was more or less prepared since I pre-empt him about my new ‘dressing’. We started talking excitedly in Mandarin, and got everyone staring.

After that, we went Delifrance for lunch. He wasn’t picky and he understood that my diet was different from the others. The moment we sat down, he pestered me for more details into the reasons why I converted. Slowly I explained to him what happened and how I got into Islam.

He began asking me lots of question about Islam. I loved questions. And I would be most willing to share. Somehow, he had gone to churches before and had some knowledge of similarities between Christianity and Islam. I told him that Prophet Jesus (Isa a.s) prayed to God alone, and told his people to submit to One God.

He (Jesus) answered: ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’ ” (Mathew:15:24)

But when he was brought up to God and someone (close to his resemblance) replaced Jesus on the crufix, his message was diverted away from the straight path. Over the years, Christianity evolved from Paul. Why:

Jesus a.s. came for the Jews but Paul was interested to popularize this teaching amongst the Hellenized world (Romans and Greek). Scholars considered him to be a Hellenized Jew (i.e. a Jew strongly influenced by Greek culture and ways of life). He was not amongst the original disciples of Jesus. He was originally a persecutor but then later converted, claiming to have seen a ‘vision’.

The word “messiah” was later translated into Greek which is “Kristos” (which has the meaning of ‘the anointed’). And from this Greek word it was kept in use, even in English with the Latinized spelling “Christ”. From this we get the word “Christians”.

We are told that many years after Jesus time (circa 100 CE), at a place called Antioch, the remnant followers of Jesus, was ridiculed, persecuted and mocked by their enemies. These Greek people started to refer them (followers of the prophet Jesus a.s. at that time) as “these are Christians”, implying wrongly that they “worshipped Jesus” – whereas they were of the Judaic tradition that believed in monotheism (One God).

My friend didn’t deny the existence of one God. He knew that scientists can only prove THAT much of stuff, but most of it aren’t explainable by SCIENCE. But the issue he brought up was very tricky and he really got me thinking deep into my religion and my faith that intertwined together.

“how did you know its HIM up there? And not someone else?”

“how can you be so sure that the Quran is still true and accurate even after 1400years ago?”

“So you can only rely on your beliefs to know that God exists? Well I don’t need to see God, but I just need some proofs about the certainty of God.”

I’ve explained all to him but he just kept going on and on. Back and forth. Back and forth. Rephrasing and rephrasing.

I couldn’t convince him. Neither could I give him good answers. And I was upset. I have failed in my da’wah. I realized that I do not possess the qualities to be a muslim who can da’wah.

Is it because of my weak faith? Or my lack of knowledge and intelligence?

After sending him off, I began to question myself. Deep deep down my heart. If I believed in God, why couldn’t I be able to give good solid answers? If my Tauhid was strong, why couldn’t I convince him?

Instead of entertaining the Shaytan and his whisperings, I read all the books that I could find in the house. I went through all the materials in Chinese about tauhid (monotheism) on the internet. And I posted him a note about believing in God in Facebook. I hope he reads. And I fervently pray to Allah:

“Oh Allah! Please bestow the right guidance upon my friend. Amin.”

Post CNY update (Part 2)

Since gambling was out of the question (of course it never occured in our minds) we spent most of our time in the mall.

But guess what my dad suggested to me: 'Take down your scarf lah, and you can go in and have a look.' My face went blank. ???

Anyway, I 'psycho-ed' my hubby to buy tickets to the Outdoor Theme Park. He didn't like the idea of riding those scary machines that swing you 'up and down', or 'left and right'. I had to keep re-assuring him that; 'this looks harmless; and 'hey, that look harmless too'. Some of the rides were closed temporarily for maintenance and security checks. Some were closed because the weather was wet and misty so the rides had to be suspended. It was really such a disappointment. We bought tickets for UNLIMITED rides but we took LIMITED rides. Sigh.

And to further aggravate my sorrow, we went into the Indoor Theme Park. Now, this is for families with kids, or kids who don't qualify for Outdoor Theme Park. I joined my nieces and nephews for some kiddy rides. There was only one roller coaster ride inside that looked really fast and exciting, so all of us went to queue up. Guess what, my hubby didn't want to join us. Omigosh.

It was really fastt.. But i needed the adrenalin. Genting is too bored for me, so roller coaster rides has to be it.

I didn't get to fulfil my 'thirst' from the Theme Parks hence it wasn't a satisfying trip. And somehow, most of the 'activities' that my family and relatives engaged in were not in the 'legal' zones. Somehow, i think, the 'change' in me made me feel 'left out' and 'drifted away' from them.

Though i don't really like the 'change'. But i didn't regret the 'change' i had decided to make.

Praises be to Him. The One and Only in my heart.

Post CNY update

I haven’t been updating for a long time. And all the things which I wanted to post were stuck in my head for a very long time.

I think I will start from my trip to Malaysia, Genting Highlands during the recent Chinese New year period.

It has been donkey years since I went up to the Highlands with my parents and relatives. Man, this has really been donkey donkey years ago. I am not joking. When I was young, say about 5-6 years old, my parents will make a trip to the Highlands at least twice a year. And until now, the Genting Saga continues…

My husband really hated the idea of going up to the Highlands because it’s a place where it’s not blessed due to the fact that there are casinos everywhere. Gambling thoughts are prevalent in almost every visitor up there. I had a hard time convincing him to go because I wanted to go because my parents asked me to go and because it’s Chinese New Year and because my Auntie and her entire family (cousins and nephews and nieces) are also going too. And that makes the entire headcount to 17! And we are driving up as a convoy. Doesn’t that sound exciting? When I was a teenager, my dad loves to drive up with his friends as a convoy. And the total number of cars: 8 cars!

So my husband relented but I know that at the back of his mind, he isn’t really looking forward to the trip as much as I do. I could tell. As for me, I was looking forward to spending time with my family even though it has to be up in the Highlands where my parents might most probably visit the Casino more often than anything else.

So our schedule was planned way ahead of our subuh time. They wanted to get to the Customs as early as 5pm so that we won’t bum ourselves into any massive pre CNY jam.
Which means, we will have a problem with our prayers. But my cousin assured me that once I pass the S’pore and M’sia customs, we will get to the nearest petrol station. (my cousin understood our prayers obligations and he related that to everybody)

But we forgot one thing. In S’pore, the K.S.S is prevalent. And our PM should be proud of us. Because WE are UNITED in our thinking. Every Singaporean who wants to go M’sia and spend their CNY actually thinks the same way as we do. And guess what, just before we even got to Woodlands to meet my parents and the others, there was a traffic message up on the LED board: ‘MASSIVE JAM AT BKE AND CAUSEWAY’. My jaw dropped!
When we had gathered everyone at Woodlands to set off for the Causeway, it was really bad. Cars were simply not moving at all. And this goes on for 10minutes. Imagine me and my husband’s reaction. So my dad decided (he’s like the Head/Chief of the convoy) to u-turn and go by the other way. It was much better but we know we wouldn’t be able to get out from this sooner than an hour.

My parents asked about our prayers. So I told them that if such circumstances arise, give us 10mins of silence and we will pray at our seats. She was more than happy to switch off her Buddhism ‘dzikir’ on the audio player in the car. (initially, husband said that it would really looked weird to them if we were to pray in the car, with all that actions of takbir and stuff). I think they peeped on us but they kept their comments to themselves.

While waiting, my mum developed this urgency to visit the toilet. I think she was really really urgent. It was so bad that she almost wanted to do it in a bottle. I kept talking to her to distract her from thinking. But it got so worse when we were finally served by an auntie officer at the immigration counter. I guessed it’s the urgency that is driving her crazy because the officer took her own sweet time, and she was really checking us one by one. And my mum was so mad at her. Finally when we cleared the immigration, everyone rushed to the toilet. J
There was another jam leading to the M’sia customs. So the entire episode of ‘jamming’ took us about 3-4hours. If I was taking the driver’s seat, my legs would get cramps because of the clutching. Thank God my father spared me the agony.

There wasn’t a lot of stops along the way. We didn’t had breakfast before we left S’pore so we just snacked on the tidbits I brought.

And Gosh, I thought we were almost reaching when we got stuck in another jam again. This was the last stretch of road before we reached the ‘entrance’ of Highlands below the hills. 2 traffic accidents happened causing the jam.

Jam here, Jam there, everywhere Jam Jam.. Oh MacDonalds, had a farm… Ooops..

Alhamdulillah! Finally, we got up there 2 hours later. Thank God!
But the moment I got out of the car and into the hotel lobby, I sneezed non-stop. Oh dear! Please no! I was cold, my nose was blocked and my throat began to hurt. My husband and I quickly went to find the musollah to settle our prayers. Now we can combine our zuhr and asar prayers as travelers.

The night itself, I slept with a blocked nose.

But Alhamdulillah. Thank God I was sick.

Misunderstood

Right up till now, 4 years into my conversion, I still have people coming up to me, asking if I do celebrate Chinese New Year since I’m a ‘Malay’ now.

Umpteen times have I repeated myself, that I am and will always be a Chinese. Wearing a scarf doesn’t make me less of a Chinese and being a Muslim doesn’t contradict nor clash with my beliefs and practices.

My colleagues were exchanging CNY cards one week before. Those who understood ‘who I really am’ would not leave me out on this, whereas those who didn’t, I received none. Receiving CNY cards or not is actually a small matter. I don’t really bother if I don’t get a single card. What bothers me most is the one-sided perception that people have towards muslims like us, who are not amongst the majority Malays/Muslims. And it really bothers me because I think there’s a need to let them in on the truth about Islam being a universal religion, and not a religion for the Malays (no offence to the Malays are intended in this post). Thus, I could really understand the urgency felt by my teacher to spread the message of Islam (da’wah) to the public.

So back to what happened at my workplace. On the last working day before CNY, all of us went around to shake hands and wished everyone. My Malay/Muslim colleague wished me ‘Happy Holidays’. I was shocked! I corrected her and say: “You should wish me Happy Chinese New Year, and I should wish you Happy Holidays instead.” And she replied: “ oh yeah yeah. Sorry.”

Maybe it was just a slip of the tongue. Allah knows best.

I think I would rather they ask from the horse’s mouth than to assume that I’m a Malay and I have adopted the ‘Malay’ religion and culture. Seriously, I wouldn’t mind sharing with them if they are INTERESTED to find out more.

A different phase

In the name of Allah Most Compassionate Most Merciful

My good friend has given birth to a baby girl this morning. In the wee hours of Tuesday at 2.09am.

All Praises is to Allah swt!

She didn't want to know the sex of the baby, so I bet it must have been really exciting when the baby finally exited the womb of her mother and entered this world.

With the birth of her first child, she enters motherhood. Another phase of her life. I am so happy for her.

May Allah swt keep this baby safe, healthy and let her be pious and righteous and filial to her parents. Amin ya rabbal alamin!

A break

Chinese New Year is around the corner.

And I will be away. Taking a short break away from S'pore and away from work.

This blog will not be updated with posts for about 2 weeks.

I will keep everyone posted of any musings when i'm back.

Meanwhile, chill out, stay cool and remember Allah swt always.

And remember our Muslim brethen in Gaza and Palestine, and of course all around the world in your supplications to Allah.

Allah's Manifestation of His Signs

In the Name of Allah Most Compassionate Most Merciful

Alif Lam Ra. These are the Ayat of the Book of Wisdom. (1) It is a matter of wonderment to men that We have set Our inspiration to a man from among themselves? that he should warn mankind (of their danger), and give the good news to the Believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of Truth (but) say the Unbelievers: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!" (2) Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then He established Himself on the Throne (of authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will ye not receive admonition? (3) To Him will be your return― of all of you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who beginneth the process of Creation, and repeateth it, that He may reward with justice those who believe and work righteousness? but those who reject Him will have draughts of boiling fluids, and a Penalty grievous: because they did reject Him. (4) It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for it: that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). No wise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand. (5) Verily, in the alternation of the Night and the Day, and in all that Allah hath created in the heavens and the earth, are Signs for those who fear Him. (6) Those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present, and those who heed not Our Signs― (7) Their abode is the Fire because of the (evil) they earned. (8) Those who believe, and work righteousness their Lord will guide them because of their Faith: beneath them will flow rivers in Gardens of Bliss.

My 4th anniversary

Today is 10th of Muharram. Day of Ashura.

4 years ago, I had my conversion at Darul Arqam. Time seemed to pass so fast without realizing that it has been 4 years already.

As I began writing this, all those memories keep coming back, little by little. From the time I knew about Islam, to the time I took the decision to convert, and all that difficulties, obstacles and trials as a new Muslim.

When I looked back, I never realized that I’ve gone through all that by myself.

During my initial 2 years, it was really tough being all alone. Though I had my mentor with me for about a year, I really wished that we could spend more time learning together. But nevertheless, I’m really thankful for all that time he has forked out to teach me patiently. Jazakallah khairan, Mentor M. He may not be reading this anymore, but I hope he knows how I feel.

After he left for good, the trials became tougher. Faith was tested. Love was tested. No one could understand what I was going through. I almost gave up. It was : God’s Love vs Man’s Love. Which one is stronger in fight?

Anyhow, I’m glad and most thankful to Allah swt that I have survived another year as a Muslim. Surprised? I do not want to take my religion or faith for granted because God has the power to take it all away from me. I’m always praying to Allah for guiding me on the straight path, strengthening my faith, increasing my God consciousness (taqwa), obedience, sincerity and humility towards Him. And I shall pray to none except Allah.

And I hope, with this new Islamic year, and my new year resolutions:

1. to be a better Muslim, in the eyes of Allah and only for the sake of Allah’s pleasure.
2. to love our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. not just in writing or saying motion but literally carrying out that action by studying about Rasullulah saw in details. Carry out his sunnah and his exemplary behaviour and character upon all creations of Allah.
3. to have respect and love for all creations as Prophet saw did it with no bias judgement on colour, race or religion. (filled with guilt whenever I think about my lapses on this part)
4. to be an excellent wife to my husband and insya allah, an excellent mother to my children.
5. to be able to receive Allah swt invitation to visit the Sacred House in this year.

Insya allah, may Allah swt gives me the strength, remembrance and resolute to execute them out with ease.

And yesterday, Ustaz Feisal shared with the Sirah class a terrible episode of how the Day of Ashura was marked on the pages of history.

In the year 680 A.D., an event happened that was a turning point for what was to become the Shi'a Muslim community. Ustaz reiterated that although we are mostly Sunni Muslims, we should never forget or be ignorant of this part of history. Saiyidinna Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was brutally murdered during a battle against the ruling Caliph -- on the 10th day of Muharram ('Ashura). This took place in Karbala (modern-day Iraq), which is now an important pilgrimage site for Shi'a Muslims.

To cut the story short (because as how Ustaz elaborated the story for us, I was utterly sad and shocked at how the battle took on, I didn’t take much notes on this entire event. I can remember what happened but I'm not good with names so i can't share with all of you)

Shi'a Muslims observe the day in mourning for Hussein and in remembrance of his martyrdom. Re-enactments and plays are performed, attempting to relive the tragedy and keep the lessons of this event alive. Some Shi'a Muslims beat and flog themselves in parades on this day, to express their grief and to re-enact the pain that Hussein suffered.

It is a wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation and mouming ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidinna Hussain, R.A. As mentioned earlier, the event of Karbala is one of the most tragic events of our history, but the Holy Prophet, s.a.w, has forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The people of jahiliyyah (ignorance) used to mourn over their deceased through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet, s.a.w, stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying "Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon". A number of authentic Ahaadith are available on the subject. To quote only one of them:
"He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah." (Sahih Bukhari)

All the authentic jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning of this type is impermissible. Even Sayyidinna Hussain, R.A, shortly before his demise, had advised his beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab, Radi-Allahu anha, at not to mourn over his death in this manner. He said, "My dear sister! I swear upon you that in case I die you shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death." (Al-Kamil, ibn Kathir vol. 4 pg. 24)

It is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu, that this type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed person for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are held. Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the teachings of the Holy Prophet, s.a.w and his beloved grand child Sayyidinna Hussain, r.a.

So, Ashura is a religious observance marked every year by Muslims. The word 'ashura literally means "10th," as it is on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year. 'Ashura is an ancient observance that is now recognized for different reasons and in different ways among Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, local Jews observed a day of fasting at this time -- their Day of Atonement. The Prophet Muhammad learned of this tradition, and stated that the Muslims should also fast. He himself fasted for 2 days, and recommended that others do so as well. This fast is not required, simply recommended.

May Allah accept my sunnah prayers and fasting on this Day.
And keep me as a Muslim till the day I meet You on Judgement Day, ya Rabb!

Maal Hijrah 1430H

Assalamualaikum wr wb

Selamat Maal Hijrah 1430H to all Muslim bros and sisters, teachers and friends

It’s a new Islamic year again! I started off the new year by attending the Nasqbandi dzikir and du’a session for Muharram. Attending such sessions made me ponder a lot about the new year. And the dzikir and selawat sessions revive my ever-flutuating remembrance of the Lover and the Beloved.

In secular terms, new year means setting new resolutions. But some say, why set new year resolutions when you can’t fulfill them?

New year means new beginning.

New beginning means shedding the bad stuff and putting on your good behaviour.

May Allah swt grant all Muslims with increased taqwa and iman level all year round. Amin!

Certainty

On a clear, bright and sunny day....



Suddenly, this thought came to my mind:



Life is so uncertain but Death is.



Isn't it true?



2008 is coming to an end soon. In just one year, so many things have happened around the globe. Great Depression, stocks plummetted, big companies go bankrupt; while some were on the verge, economic crisis etc etc (just to name a few). Mankind can't really predict what's going to happen next.



That's why i felt that life is uncertain.



And why Death is more certain than Life.



Because you know death will surely come. But you don't know when. You can't avoid it because you know it will surely APPROACH you, you just don't know when is the time.



So.....



Life is uncertain. Death is.

Journey of Faith (part 3)

In the name of Allah most Compassionate most Merciful

Of Haj and Hardships
More substantial factual accounts about Haj pilgrimage in the Malay Archipelago started to appear in the 19th century. According to Michael Laffan in Islamic Nationhood and Colonial Indonesia, the first actualised account that mentions journey to Mecca is Munshi Abdullah’s Kisah Pelayaran Abdullah (The Story of Abdullah’s Voyage). Munshi Abdullah, whose literary contributions had earned him the title the father of modern Malay literature, made his journey in 1854. His Haj account stopped shortly before his death in Jeddah. There is also information that points to an even earlier Haj pilgrimage, made by Sayyid Muhammad bin Zainal al Idrus, a Trengganu ulama who is known as the father of Trengganu’s literature. Sayyid Muhammad went to Mecca around 1815 at the age of 20 and spent several years there pursuing his studies. Yet another account in the 19th century relates the story of Muhammad Yusof bin Ahmad better known as Tok Kenali Kelantan who went to Mecca in 1886 at the age of 18.

Two of these intellectuals, Munshi Abdullah and Tok Kenali, described a Haj journey that departs from the pompous-fleet-of-ship and entourage-full sailing found in Hikayat Hang Tuah and even Sultan Mansur’s Haj preparations. They wrote of hardships and gave readers a more realistic version of Haj, as if to warn them of its mental and physical exertions. Munshi Abdullah drew up a will before he left, accepting the fact that he might not survive the Haj.

In the actualised accounts, we learn of the many stops Haj pilgrims had to make. The pilgrims also waited for ships, which in turn waited for the right winds to depart. In the days of sailing ships, the Indian Ocean and the lands along its coast lay in wait for the ‘trade wind’. The phrase ‘trade wind’ is ancient and is derived from an old use of the word ‘trade’ to mean a fixed track. In navigation, it refers to any wind that follows a predictable course. As such winds are instrumental to merchant ships making long ocean voyages, the term evolved to mean in the 18th century as winds that favour trade. In the Indian Ocean, the monsoons are the famous trade winds. They are particularly beneficial to long distance merchants because they change direction at different seasons of the year. The northeast monsoon blows from October to March and the southwest monsoon from April to September. As the change in the monsoon winds take months, traders and pilgrims alike had to stay in the various ports of call for the right wind to carry them to their next stop.

Pilgrims would seek out trading ships to book their passage. As trading ships had their own destination, the pilgrims had to change ships to ensure that they boarded the right ship. Their journey would bring them to various ports in the Archipelago where ships would load up on water and other supplies. The last stop in the Archipelago was Aceh and here the pilgrims would wait for ships bound for India. From India, the pilgrims sailed on ships that would bring them to Hadhramaut, Yemen or directly to Jeddah. The perils of sailing for months were many. The ships could sink or be stranded in unknown islands. The pilgrims could be robed by pirates or even by the ships’ crew. They were vulnerable to diseases while both at sea and on land. Having set foot in Arabia, they could be attacked by the Bedouin tribes. In the Netherlands Indies, between 1853 and 1858, less than half of the pilgrims who went to Mecca made it back safely. This high attrition rate was attributed to mainly death at sea or being sold as slaves.

For Tok Kenali who went on his pilgrimage in 1886, he could only embark on his journey after securing contributions for the voyages’ fare. His friends in Kelantan gave him $50 and his mother topped it up with $22. The cost of his journey was $100. He set out from Kelantan in an ailing ship which had its sail broken in the middle of the ocean. As a result, a journey that was expected to take 3 months extended to 6 months. The delay also depleted the supply of fresh water onboard and Tok Kenali had to survive on salt laden seawater.

Haj and Arab shipping in Singapore
The rise of Hadhrami shipping in the Malay Archipelago in the mid 19th century boded well for pilgrims in this region. Hadhrami Arab shippers hailed from Yemen and competed successfully with the Europeans and Chinese in trade and shipping in the Indian Ocean. The Alsagoffs, a prominent Arab family in Singapore, established the firm Alsagoff & Co. in 1848 to conduct trade within the islands of the Archipelago using their own vessels.

In the 1850s, Sayyid Ahmad Alsagoff extended the realm of his family business by starting a profitable business of transporting pilgrims between Southeast Asia and Jeddah. Using Singapore as the base, the Alsagoffs’ position in the pilgrim trade was tremendously strengthened by the Dutch restriction on the flow of pilgrims from Indonesia. Pilgrims from the Netherlands Indies during the first half of the 19th century numbered a few hundreds only as the Dutch imposed a tax on prospective pilgrims. This is to discourage the return of religious fanatics who, the Dutch feared, would be groomed while performing the Haj and deepening Islamic knowledge in Mecca. Singapore, thus, became the hub of an expanding pilgrim trade from Southeast Asia partly because of this restriction, as many would bypass it by beginning their Haj from Singapore. This tax was removed in 1852.

When steamship arrived in the late half of the 19th century, the Arab shipping merchants capitalised on the speed and capacity of these vessels. By 1871, the Alsagoff-owned Singapore Steamship Company had ferried pilgrims to Jeddah by steamers steered by a European captain and a Chinese hand. Another Arab shipping merchant who ran steamer services for pilgrims was Syed Mohsen Al-Joofree. Towards the end of the 19th century, he was locked in fierce competition with 2 Dutch steamers for pilgrims. But his business flopped some time before his death in 1894.

Conclusion
By the early 20th century, the Haj had become a competitive business with serious investments by international shipping companies. The waves had been tamed by large steam-powered vessels custom-built to combine pilgrim and cargo transport. While the duration to get to Jeddah had improved tremendously, the well being and safety of Haj pilgrims still lagged behind. The number of pilgrims had swelled to a point where effective sanitation, hygiene, administration and guardianship of pilgrims could not adequately addressed by purely commercial concerns. The British and Dutch colonial governments introduced regulations to protect Haj pilgrims but tales of extreme overcrowding in pilgrim ships and of Haj pilgrims getting stranded without a return ticket after being manipulated by shipping agents and brokers continued to be heard. The comfort that Haj pilgrims experience today is a result of decades of reforms by various parties, helped by the advances of transportation. For a journey that is deeply spiritual, Haj pilgrimage in the Malay Archipelago cannot be divorced from its social and economic dimensions.

Journey of Faith (part 2)

In the name of Allah most Compassionate Most Merciful

Convergence of Human Waves
During the first 13 centuries of Islam, to embark for Haj was like attempting to run an endless marathon. The journey could take years as many pilgrims were poor and had to stop en route to work and save before setting out again. Before the first half of the 19th century, a vast majority of pilgrims took the overland route to Mecca, which proved to be more arduous than the sea route. There were 3 slow moving waves of pilgrims entering Mecca during the Haj season. The first arrived by an armada of ships that ploughed the vast Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea from these locations:
1. the sprinkled archipelagos of the East Indies
2. the great inverted triangle of the Indian subcontinent
3. the coast of East Africa and the horn of Africa

The next wave, slower than the first, trotted by foot or on horse/camel caravans, bringing pilgrims from the Middle East and North Africa. Even slower is the last wave, which trudged across Central Africa.

Pilgrims on all these waves braved hardships; the adventurous overland folks had to conquer harsh terrains, fought off raids by moving tribes or found themselves just plain lost. For their sea-faring counterparts, the spectre of diseases loomed or they risked their boats and hence live being overturned by ruthless waves.

Haj in Malay Traditional texts
Early records of Haj pilgrimage from the Malay archipelago showed that pilgrimage wa a private enterprise and confined to certain classes of individuals. Before the commercialisation of the Haj in the late 19th century that enabled en masse pilgrimage to Mecca, Haj incumbents either individually or in small groups made their own arrangements for Meca. Those who went were usually men of some standing in the community – either they had the resources or they had attained a relatively high level of Islamic education.

The Malay hikayat contain some of the earliest instances of Haj in this region. Hikayat Hang Tuah (possibly first written in the 16th century) records a Haj pilgrimage in the 15th century, undertaken by Hang Tuah, a great Malay warrior. While the authenticity of both this epic and the legendary hero is debatable, the detailed account of his deeds in the Holy Land is not too far from the rituals preached to Haj pilgrims. On this basis, there were claims that Hang Tuah’s pilgrimage in the 15th century leans more towards fact than fiction. Authenticity aside, the Haj journey in Hikayat Hang Tuah is useful for its insights on the route, ports of call, places traversed and the modes of transportation. The Hikyat records Hang Tuah as taking more than 2 months to reach Jeddah, leading a fleet of 42 ships and bringing with him 1,600 followers and 16 officials. The route he took is mapped as below:
a. from Malacca to Aceh – 5 days 5 nights
b. from Aceh to Pulau Dewa – 10 days
c. from Pulau Dewa to Bab Mokha (Mocha is in Yemen. The journey from Pulau Dewa to Jeddah took 2 months).

According to Hikayat Hang Tuah, Hang Tuah’s pilgrimage was coincidental for his ultimate quest was the quasi-mythical empire of Rome and his imperial mission was to establish ties with the king of Rome and purchase weaponry. On his way to Rome, Hang Tuah called at Mecca just at the time when the Haj season was about to begin, and so he joined the pilgrims there for Haj. This is unlike other Islamic kingdoms in Indonesia whose kings consciously planned missions to Mecca with the desire to be conferred the title “Sultan” by the Great Sheriff (Syarif Besar). Their actions could be prompted by the belief that only the Great Sheriff, with his control over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, had spiritual authority to bestow supernatural aura and power on Islamic kingdoms, although there was no such tradition in Mecca. In 1630s, competition between the king of Banten and the King of Mataram led each of the kingdoms to send holy missions to Mecca. The mission from Banten returned in 1626 while that from Mataram arrived home in 1641.

Journey of Faith( part 1)

In the name of Allah most Compassionate most Merciful

Today marks the celebration of Eidul-Adha. This day holds many significant events for Muslims and for the pilgrims.

Making the journey to Mecca to fulfil the obligation of the Haj is a long and cherished ambition for most Muslims. In heeding the call of the Ka’bah (House of God)in Mecca, where all Muslims turned to in their prayers, the Haj is not for the faint-hearted or the ill prepared. In Haj, the pursuit of spiritual upliftment transcends worldly wants and often requires stoicism in the face of hardships. Travelling in strange Arab lands and in close company of multitudes of strangers, hardships are never few. As an obligation, in fact, the Haj is not demanded on those who cannot canvass the strength and earnings to leave their routines and family dependants behind in order to complete the intense Haj rituals.

Extracted from an article in biblioasia (NLB)
Far flung devotees such as Muslims in Southeast Asia, just traversing parts of the globe to reach Mecca was once a severe test to their mettle.

Today, because of advance transportation, flights from anywhere in the world has diminished the distance to Mecca, making the trip to the Holy Land bearable. Surviving the journey to Mecca is almost a certainty and forms the least of the pilgrims’ worries. A return passage to their homeland at the end of the Haj is also guaranteed, as most pilgrims would have booked a two-way ticket. This was not the practice in the old days as it was the custom for pilgrims to book a one-way ticket to Jeddah. They booked their ticket home from Jeddah only after they had completed their haj. In the pre-flight days, many pilgrims, often due to the treachery of their motowwafs (local pilgrim guides), found themselves with no money for their return passage. In one instance, in 1897, the British Consul in Jeddah had to assist 106 pilgrims to make it back home. There were others however who were not so lucky. They became victims to shipping agents’ manipulation to secure cheap labour.

Just before the turn of the 20th century, in what was to become a big scandal in Singapore, the colonial government in Singapore uncovered a syndicate, which cunningly offered destitute pilgrims an advance on their return fares in exchange for the pilgrims; agreement to work in the shipping agent’s plantations. For pilgrims in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (and for most part of the world), hassle-free journeys only came about in the 1970s when flights became regular and affordable. Prior to that, malay pilgrims travelled to Mecca mainly by sea on sailing ships and later steamers. It would take months to reach the port at Jeddah where the vessels would congregate and spill their contents.

to be continued....

Time is not on our side

In the name of Allah most Compassionate most Merciful

"By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience."
(Surah al-Asr 103:1~3)

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh brothers and sisters in Islam

Do you feel that time is slipping through your hands like sand, or by the blink of your eye, it was Monday; another blink, comes Friday...

Time passes so quickly that I realised that I haven't been really making full use of it. How would i be able to answer to God, for the time He has given me throughout my lifetime?

With all the time i was given, did i seek knowledge with the intention to know Him and the religion better?

With all the time given, did i seek to carry out more ibadah so that He will be pleased with me? Who and what did i give my time to? Useless time spent in the malls, infront of the TV, or perhaps web-browsing?

Ya Allah, why do my heart get diverted away from You so easily? I seek refuge with you, O Rabb, from the whisperings and promptings of Shaitan and this dunya, nafs and hawa!

Ya Allah, please take me away from the depths of my past that will drown me and pull me away from Your Remembrance! For the past do me more harm than good and You are the most Compassionate most Merciful God, have mercy upon me!

I was getting really worried when I hadn't been sick for a long time. For I always hear, sickness is a way Allah swt blots/removes your sins. When I had fever at almost 39degress C, and my head was spinning and spinning, and not even my favourite food could tempt my poor appetite, I did not forget to thank Allah swt for making me sick. Alhamdulillah! I wished my fever won't go down so fast... and when i heard from my husband that fevers bring blessings, I had wished that it wouldn't go away the next day; for Prophet s.a.w had fevers, even when he was about to pass away.

Nevertheless, I recovered. Alhamdulillah. Well, now that i'm back to normal already, I still need to thank Allah for the good health that He bestowed upon me, for this body is on loan from Him, and I should(and everyone should) take good care of it. Don't destroy it.

Allah swt blessings and favours are upon all of US. MANKIND. REGARDLESS OF RACE. COLOUR. BACKGROUND. ENTIRE CREATION. PERIOD.

p.s: One of the signs of the Last Hour/Judgement Day is that TIME will pass very quickly. Indeed, this is happening already. and many other signs mentioned by Prophet s.a.w are also happening.

Take heed, even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed.

How much time do we have?