伊斯兰 ：基本的真理

For the benefit of those who wants to know Islam via Chinese



二十世紀的神話



在我们这个世紀裡，云云神話当中，有一个不管是無神論者或某些有神論者都相信的，便是 「不信主」跟科学与理性是同一陣線。这个神話推論下来的結果，使「不信主」变成正常的立場——一个因無須求證，而变成不伤腦筋的立場；相反的，「信主者」卻要費盡唇舌，辯明立場。因此，「信主者」也就處于辯護的地位。但是，「不信主」为何会变成正常的立場呢？我想，这好比被告与原告：被告不必證明自己無罪，只要推翻原告的證供；那「不信主者」亦只要指出「信主者」沒有真憑實據来支持他的信念，便已經足够了。



其實，这个缺乏反證的結論是誤導人思維的，因为找尋證據这个難題由原告一人負擔，而被告因为沒有主动要求什么，那就輕輕鬆鬆，不必解決什么難題了；縱使他亦有問題要解決，也絕与原告的不同。舉一个比喻：甲，乙兩个政治家（或經濟学家）在辯論通貨膨脹——一个影響大眾的問題。甲说：通貨膨脹的根源是由于石油價格暴漲。乙则不以为然，他看不出通貨膨脹和油價有什么關聯，認为甲沒法證明他的说法是对的。我们或許認同乙，但是我们總不会認为乙單單把甲的理論推翻就够了吧！为什么？因为通貨膨脹是關乎每一个人的問題，我们覺得那些政治家和經濟学家是有責任找出根源来，把問題解決。所以，「信主者」要找出的答案——造物主創造世界——不單只關乎他个人的信仰，而是跟通貨膨脹一样，影響每一个人，包括能提出答案的人，和推翻人家的答案的人。



問題癥結有个問題，大家都会問的，就是：「我们从哪裡来？」这当然牽涉到很多其他的問題，但首先讓我们研究一下大問題的癥結。「不信主者」对「人从哪裡来」这問題大概有三種反应，但每一種都缺乏理性分析，而且不符合科学，所以「不信主者」的自以为与理性和科学站在同一陣線上，根本不能成立：

（１）「不信主者」可能会说：「我不知道，也不爱管，我知道現今我在这儿，有权決定自己該做什么及不做什么，而我亦就是要这样做。」「我不知道....」，自承不知道一件事，自然是理性的行为，也合乎科学精神，但「不爱管」算哪一門呢？「不信主者」並不否定可能有造物主替他定了在現世要扮的角色，也不注意是否有造物主来裁判他的行为，決定他后世的路向，那是否等于造物主的存在与否对他毫無分別呢？这个态度自然不是理性的表現，因为死后究竟上天堂還是下地獄，可有很大的分別呀！不面对現實，不等于事實不存在，而現世沉迷物慾是不能抵償后世的懲罰的。

（２）「不信主者」可能会说：「我们或許是从無到有的。」对于这个反应，我要反問：「你这样说，到底是認为有这可能，還是確確實實斷言人是从虛無而来的呢？」如果你说是有可能的話，那你根本沒有排除我们是由造物主所創造的可能性；既然如此，你便应該決定有造物主還是沒有造物主，那个可能性比較高及合理。不過，如果你斷言世界萬物从虛無而来，你就要細心考慮以下兩点：　　第一：你怎么知道？



第二：你有證據嗎？我们看得出，證據你是沒有辦法拿出来的。沒有證據，怎可以算是合乎理性，合乎科学呢？世界萬物皆有其因，不会从虛無而来，这是非常合乎科学原则，合乎日常生活的規律的（註）。既然这样，那你又为什么欺騙自己，勉強自己相信你「不信主」的立場是科学化及有理性的呢？（註）如果問小孩子，他用的鉛筆是不是「咻」的一聲，出現在桌上？他一定会说：不是，是爸爸或媽媽買给他的。鉛筆不会憑空出現，一定是有人造了它；那么簡單的鉛筆都需要人造，何況是那么龐大複雜的宇宙？（此是站長舉的例子）（３）明白了上述兩个反应是如何缺乏理性后，「不信主者」現在唯一可选择的只有承認萬物有因。但由于他拒絕相信有一个超然的造物主，他会堅持这个萬物之因一定是在世上。



Source: islamhouse.com


To be continued...

Allah is our Concealer

Imam Malik said, “I knew a people who had no faults, and they preoccupied themselves with faults of others; God gave them faults. And I knew another people and God gave them faults, and they preoccupied themselves with purifying themselves, ignoring the faults of others; God purified their faults.”

We take care not to reveal our faults nor mistakes of our own, but why do we fail to ignore faults of others? Because we think we are perfect, and we make no mistakes?

Allah swt has promised that whoever covers up the faults of others, He will cover up his faults for him till the Day of Judgement; and whoever reveals the faults of others, Allah swt will expose his to people and on the Day of Judgement.

Na'udzubillah.

Ya Allah, You are the most perfect and free from all flaws! I seek refuge with You from being arrogant for I'm far from being perfect, or anywhere near to perfectness.

Be close to the one who is close to Him

Watch this and be inspired to aspire!



May Allah swt put us in a state that is most pleasing to Him, and do not take it away from us... ameen ameen ya robbal alameen...

Repentance and Taqwa

In one of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf's lecture, he said:

“Make tawbah. Open your hearts to the rahma of this deen. Ask Allah swt to make you vessels of its beauty. This religion is so stunningly beautiful that if it was shown to you in all of its ornaments, you would just have to weep. This religion is naked, but its garment is taqwa, and when Muslims don’t have taqwa, they expose the nakedness of the religion, stripping it of its ornament. Take this religion as a serious thing. It’s Allah’s commandments: ‘We told the people that went before you, and we’re telling you, be conscious of God.’“

Forgetting God

Quote:

"The definitive attribute of man is his ability to forget. The very word used in the Quran for ‘man’, insan, is related etymologically to the word nisyan or forgetfulness. Created not, as in Christianity, in a state of some ‘original sin’, but rather in a condition of grace, the human creature progressively loses his awareness of the immediate presence of God as he is initiated into the world. it is the function of religion to make us remember."

Unquote.

Patience

During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Qur'an. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with "patient perseverance and prayer." Indeed, Allah reminds us that many people before us have suffered and had their faith tested; so too will we be tried and tested in this life.

There are dozens upon dozens of verses that remind Muslims to be patient and trust in Allah during these times of trial. Among them:

"Seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble." (2:45)

"Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere." (2:153)

"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.' They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance." (2:155-157)

"Oh you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy. Vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other, and be pious, that you may prosper." (3:200)

"And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish." (11:115)

"Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah." (16:127)

"Patiently, then, persevere - for the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your faults, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning." (40:55)

"No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune." (41:35)

"Verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy." (103:2-3)

As Muslims, we should not let our emotions get the better of us. It is certainly difficult for a person to look at the tragedies of the world today and not feel helpless and sad. But believers are called to put their trust in their Lord, and not to fall into despair or hopelessness. We must continue to do what Allah has called us to do: put our trust in Him, perform good deeds, and stand as witnesses for justice and truth.

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West.But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, And the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers;To spend of your substance, out of love for Him,For your kin, for orphans, for the needy,for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves;To be steadfast in prayerAnd give in charity;To fulfill the contracts which you have made;And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversityAnd throughout all periods of panic.Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. (2:177)

Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.(94:5-6)

Human presumptuousness, insolence, arrogance, elevated self-worth, are around us everywhere. We have to fight it in our own hearts.

Indeed, the sin of Iblis (Satan) was his arrogant refusal to humble himself to the will of Allah. He believed himself of elevated status - better than any other creation - and he continues to whisper to us, encouraging our pride, arrogance, love of wealth and status. We must always remember that we are nothing - we have nothing - except what Allah blesses us with. We can do nothing of our own power.

If we are arrogant and proud in this life, Allah will put us in our place and teach us humility in the next life, by giving us a humiliating punishment. Better that we practice humility now, before Allah alone and among our fellow human beings. (Now that is scary isn't it?)

So why don't we act now, and continue our fight with Iblis and with our ego!

Lailatul- Bara'ah (Mid of Sha'ban)

Tonight, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, we are approaching the middle of Sha’ban; the blessed night in the blessed month of our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

A month when all deeds are raised to Allah through the door of Prophet s.a.w.(that’s why we are so encouraged to read as much selawat as possible. This, I’m guilty of not doing enough lip service to Prophet s.a.w). These deeds are directly taken down by Prophet s.a.w

This is it. Lailatul Bara’ah – 15th night of Sha’ban; when all deeds in this month shall be raised to Allah and rewarded from a hidden treasure that is reserved for Prophet s.a.w. Allah swt opens for the Ummah great rewards and blessings that shall be taken into account personally by His Beloved.

“O Allah, bless us in our Sha’ban and make us reach Ramadan! And enrich us with fasting and prayers in it, and make us from those who are the pious ones to You in it.”

May Allah swt grant us a good ending in this world and in the Hereafter, place us amongst those who were righteous and pious; and make us return to You in a state of tauhid, iman and islam.

O Believers! Make lots of du’a tonight, and have a blessed night! Amin amin ya robbal alamin!

Ramadan

In about 3 weeks, we are going to approach Ramadan, insya allah. Have you made any preparations for it in the month of Rejab or Sha’ban?

Ramadan is the month for the believers, in which Allah had multiplied the rewards in this month, freed us from the whisperings of Shaytan and from the gates of Hellfire. This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's Mercy, the middle of which brings His Forgiveness and the last of which brings freedom from Jahannam. And in this month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah(recite the Kalimah Tayyibah) and make much Istighfaar. And as for those two things without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah for entrance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from Jahannam.

Ramadan is a gift. It’s a spiritual wash. Let us cherish each Ramadan as though it’s our last. Through hunger, thirst and abstaining from pleasures, we are reminded of many things. We are reminded that in the end, our life is not actually all in our control. Regardless of whatever we do throughout the year to make ourselves feel as though we are in control of our own lives through pleasures and gifts, Allah swt reminds us that indeed we are not so. There is a Sovereign above who is the authority above us.

Lastly : For whatever action we do in Ramadan, its only motive should be the pleasure of Allah. We love Allah for what He made us, what He gave to us and what He does for us directly in our lives and that is why in return we do things to seek His pleasure.

You can visit this website to read the entire article.

We are in this world, but not of this world

Says Ustaz; when he delivered a talk on ‘This World and its relationship with the Hereafter’ at Pergas last Saturday.

It is a topic that Muslims would need it at times like these; when the world seemed to have contained so much for mankind, and at the same time, it could result in the downfall of mankind; the financial crisis, companies downsized and employees exit, families broke down because the breadwinner loses his job. And the list goes on…

What has the world got anything to do with the Muslims?

Ustaz also told us this before in his other classes: ‘Put the akirah on your head, and the dunya under your armpit’. So that when the akirah is not stable, the hand goes up to support it and drops the dunya. This is how insignificant the world means to the Muslim. Not that we do not cherish the world that Allah swt created for us, but we do not attach our hearts to it, sacrificing what is most precious and eternal for us: Akirah, or the Hereafter.

As much as we cherish and prepare for our Akirah, Muslims do not need to forsake this world. We do not need to renounce this world or seclude ourselves away from everybody and live in a cave.

Islam teaches us that we can enjoy this worldly life to the fullest, as long as we are always grateful. Allah swt gave us this world, so that we may prepare ourselves for the next. The time that we spent here is so insignificant to the time we will spent in the Akirah. Travellers of this world, we are; preparing ourselves with the provisions given by Allah swt for the next.

A Muslim’s primary focus should be to use every gift, time, health, wealth, every bestowals etc which Allah has given us in this world, to utilize in a beneficial way. He benefitted us, and we should benefit others too.

Allah has given Director Yasmin Ahmad the ability to draw people to her amazing works. That’s her gift, and she had utilized it in a fruitful way. She has returned to Allah swt in the month of Sha’ban. Al-fatihah.

And I shall leave you to enjoy his presentation slides and an advice from Prophet Muhammad s.a.w:
‘Work for your worldly needs, as though you are going to live forever, and strive for your Hereafter, as though you are going to die tomorrow’. (Hadith by Bukhari)

This World And The Hereafter(2)Slideshare

View more presentations from zhulkeflee.

The Blessings of Selawat

Send your peace and salutations to our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w as much as you can, continuously and consistently, and especially on Fridays.... That's because your selawats and salams go straight to Saiyidinna Muhammad s.a.w and he answers them directly!!!(though we can't hear) Subhana Allah!

O my beloved one,
O Habib,
O Rasulullah saw, intercede for me, grant me your intercession on the Day of Judgement! Ameen ameen!

Acceptance of God's will

Of all messengers, the most important figure in the Last Prophet's lineage is undoubtedly Abraham a.s. There are many reasons for this, but from the outset, the Quran points to this particular link with Abraham a.s through the insistent and continuous expression of pure monotheism, of human consciousness's adherence to the divine project, of the heart's access to His recognition and to His peace through self-giving. This is the meaning of the word Islam, which is too often translated quickly by the mere idea of submission but which also contains the twofold meaning of 'peace' and 'wholehearted self-giving'. Thus a Muslim is a human being who, throughout history - and even before the last Revelation - has wished to attain God's peace through the wholehearted gift of him or herself to the Being. In this sense, Abraham a.s was the deep and exemplary expression of the Muslim:

'He (God) has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion. It is the religion of your father Abraham. He has named you Muslims, both before and in this (revelation); so that the Messenger may be a witness for you(the new Muslim community), and you may be witnesses for humankind.' (Quran 18:110)

And as we all know Ishmael was given birth by Abraham's servant Hagar, and Isaac was given birth by Sarah, Abraham's first wife; and she told Abraham to send Hagar and the child away to a valley in the Arabian Peninsula called Bacca. Abraham a.s had to undergo another terrible trial of his son's sacrifice.

I would like to extract this part 'The Trial of Faith: Doubt and Trust' from the book by Tariq Ramadan on 'The Messenger':
'The whole Abrahamic experience unveils the essential dimension of faith in the One. Abraham, who is already very old and has only been blessed with a child, must undergo the trial of separation and abandonment, which will take Hagar and their child, Ishmael, very close to death. His faith is trust in God: he hears God's command - as does Hagar - and he answers it despite his suffering, never ceasing to invoke God and rely on Him. Hagar questioned Abraham about the reasons for such behaviour; finding it was God's command, she willingly submitted to it. She asked, then trusted, then accepted, and by doing so she traced the stepes of the profound 'active acceptance' of God's will: to question with one's mind, to understand with one's intelligence, and to submit with one's heart. In the course of those trials, beyond his human grief and infact through the very nature of that grief, Abraham develops a relationship with God based on faithfulness, reconciliation, peace and trust. God tries him but is always speaking to him, inspiring him and strewing his path with signs that calm and reassure him.

Masya allah! Truly, these are the people who have executed 'takwakkal and taqwa' in its truest and purest form.

It is so important for us to perform this act of 'active acceptance' of God's will wholeheartedly. This story inspired me and i hope it will do the same to you.

May Allah swt give us the strength and capability to perform this with ease and iman. ameen ameen.

Loving our Beloved

This video comes in 9 parts. You can view the remaining at:
http://www.sacredknowledge.co.uk/video/loving-the-beloved-by-shaykh-muhammad-al-yaqoubi.html

‘Aisha, The Daughter of Abu Bakr, The Mother of The Believers

In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Aisha, along with all the other wives of the Prophet, upon him be peace, are known as the Mothers of the Believers. This is based on the verse of Quran in which Allah describes the Messenger and his wives, saying, ‘The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers.’ Although she had no children of her own, she was known as Umm ‘Abdullah, the mother of Abdullah because of her closeness to her nephew ‘Abdullah bin Zubayr whose mother, ‘Asmâ, was ‘Aisha’s sister. May Allah be pleased with them all.

She was the daughter of the Prophet’s best friend, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. The Prophet’s servant, Anas, related that the Messenger, upon him be peace, was once asked, ‘who is the most beloved person to you?’ ‘’Aisha,’ he replied.’ He was then asked, ‘and from among the men?’‘Her father,’ he replied.As her grandfather also embraced Islam, the family of Abu Bakr was the only family to have four generations of Companions.

There are several features which distinguish her from the other wives of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them. She was the only wife that was not previously married and she was the only one upon whose bed the Messenger, upon him be peace, received revelation.

‘Aisha was born in a state of Islam, eight years before the Migration to Madina. She used to worship intensely, fasting the ‘perpetual fast’, that is, fasting every day except the feast days on which it is prohibited to fast. She had little concern for this temporal world or wealth. Whenever she received presents, she would either distribute among the wives of the Messenger, upon him be peace, as she did with a gift of gold coins from the Khalifa Mu’âwiyya or among the whole community as she did with a large gift from ‘Abdullah bin Zubayr.

She was very knowledgeable, eloquent and succinct in her speech. ‘Urwa said that he did not know anyone more knowledgeable about poetry than ‘Aisha. The ruler, Mu’âwiyya, once asked her to write some advice on which to base his system of government. She wrote:Whoever holds to the pleasure of people while angering Allah, Allah will leave him to them. Whoever holds to the pleasure of Allah while angering people, He will save him from their ploys.

Abû Musa said that there was no saying of the Messenger that was problematic to any one of us except that when we referred it to ‘Aisha she knew about it. Atâ said she was the most knowledgeable person in our community and always had the best and most learned opinion of all people. When Marwân used to relate hadith from her, he would say ‘the Truthful One, daughter of the Truthful One, the Beloved of the Beloved of Allah relayed to us …’ She related 1210 hadith.

She died in the month of Ramadan in the year 58H. Abû Hurairah led the prayers over her and her nephews buried her in the Baqî cemetery in Madina.

(Sources: Ibn Hajr, al-Isâba fi Tamyîz al-Sahâba, al-Qurtubi, al-Istiâb fi ma’rifatul ashâb and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-Lu’luwiyya)

Surah al-Ahzâb 33:6.

The Value of Shahadah

Masya allah... This speech is much needed in our times, of trials and tribulations; where Muslims renounce their faith. (May Allah swt continue to keep us in a state of iman when we return to Him.amin)

Staying faithful to our Creator

It was with much heartache that I heard from my friend that her friend's mother had renounced Islam and embraced Christianity. (O Allah, please keep all believing man and woman on the straight path.)

She also shared with me that most of the older generation Muslims found Islam to be an oppresive and restrictive religion, hence they never felt that Islam is the right religion for them.

All it takes is just some true understanding of what Islam is all about.

When I first heard about Islam, all I knew about it was the 'malays' can't do this and can't do that, or can't eat this nor can't eat that. And you are right, I thought Islam is only for the malays, just like Christianity for the Caucasians, Eurasians etc etc, and naturally all Chinese would be praying to the idols. But my perception opened up only when my ex colleague decides to speak to me about Islam through a fresh perceptive. From then on, my perception about Islam is no longer a one-sided story. All praises be to Allah! for opening the doors to me!

It is not hard to imagine how Allah swt is the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate and the Most Generous! He gives without hesitation! Not just to the Muslims, but to His entire Creation! Only mankind fails to comprehend His generousity and greatness. And no matter where you are, what you are doing, and which phase of your life you are going through, know and be comforted by the thought that Allah is always with us.

The Prophet s.a.w said:

There are one hundred parts of mercy. Allah has given only one part which is distributed among the jinn, humankind, animals and insects. It is because of this that they are kind to one another, show mercy to one another; it is because of it that a wild animal is kind to its young. But, Allah has kept ninety-nie parts of mercy with Him, which He will show to His servants on the Day of Resurrection. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Bliss!

So it was a day out for me and my mother. It's been a long time since we go out together.

She picked me up at the train station and we went straight to East Coast Park. She wanted to sit on the grass but didn't have any mats with her so i took out my prayer mat. She was delighted. But i was concerned if the area where she chose was clean. Nevertheless, we found a spot that was 'free from visible najis' and we laid the mat and sat down to enjoy the seabreeze.


We ordered a set lunch and 2 more other dishes(Oliver Twist and a Nippon Garden salad). There was a soup, a vegetable dish and a choice of steamed rice, brown rice or olive rice. And i ordered a tofu dish called 'Golden Oats'.

Top: Shanghai Tang(mushrooms with Caixin;red and yellow peppers) Bottom: Oats with mini tofu(deep fried) yummy!!!

Partially hidden: Nippon Garden salad. My favourite. And the winter melon soup; sedap!!!

Masya allah... pictures tell a thousand words right? The food was so delicious that it will be a pity not to finish them up. We took an hour to enjoy our food slowly. I could see that my mother was very very happy. She thanked me for the food and said that I made her day. And that's bliss! to know that i've made her day.

I'm not sure if that comment made by the waitress made her day too because she thought we were sisters. I told her she was my mum but she didn't believed it initially because....... she thought i was Malay. haha... I responded that i'm a chinese. And before i could say anything more to the waitress, my mum reiterated to her that i am a chinese muslim.

Now that's something amazing... perhaps she has, more or less accepted this fact and she dares to embrace the truth and speak up. Alhamdulillah.

It motivates me to do more. May Allah swt guides me along. amin.

A Nature Outing

I'm planning an outing with my mum to East Coast tomorrow.

And recently, masya allah, by the Grace and Mercy of my Lord, through the generousity and guidance of my teacher Ustaz Zhul, he gave us alot of notes on da'wah(call to Islam).You can click on this link for more information.

As what Ust has mentioned, it's not easy to da'wah to your family members. I remembered i tried that before to my mother and my brother. My mother was agitated, claiming that i was doing something which i am not capable at all. (i was only trying some reasoning like for eg; the trees, the universe, the flowers etc.. nothing big) And for my brother, I was trying to tell him too, about the possibility of having a Creator to sustain the Universe. But he wasn't quite interested.

Maybe East Coast could help.

May Allah swt bestow iman and hidayah upon my family and my friends. amin amin ya robbal alamin.

Guidance from the Holy Quran

I'm almost coming to the end of my Tajwid course. We have completed the textbook and Bro Shukor has started us on the Holy Quran.

Last 2 weeks, we were still in Juz amma, but last week, he gave us a challenging task. He started from Surah al-Baqarah. Masya allah! This is my first time reading from the front! And for 3 years, i've not taken the courage to begin from the front. ;)

So since i'm reading it, i think it's important for me to know the meaning as well...

In the name of Allah Most Merciful Most Compassionate

Alif Lam Mim. (1) This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah. (2) Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. (3)

And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter. (4) They are on (true guidance), from their Lord and it is these who will prosper. (5)

As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe. (6) Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing And on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur). (7)

Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" but they do not (really) believe. (8) Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not! (9) In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). (10)

When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth", they say: "Why, we only want to make peace!" (11) Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not. (12) When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe" they say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, buy they do not know. (13)

When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe" but when they are alone with their evil ones they say: "We are really with you we; (were) only jesting. (14) Allah will throw back their mockery on them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (to and fro). (15)

These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction. (16) Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see. (17) Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).

(Surah al-Baqara 2:1~17)

Hold on to your only HOPE: Allah

Each day in our Solat, we repeatedly make one humble request to Allah, our Creator and Sustainer: 'Guide us on the Straight Path.' (al-Fatiha : 4). It is only by seeking and staying on the Straight Path, that we can ever hope to attain true salvation and success. What then must we do to ensure that Allah accepts and grants our Prayer? The Quran explains: 'Whosoever holds on to Allah, he has already been guided onto a Straight Path. (Al-Imran :101)

How do we hold onto Allah (itisam billah) and develop a close attachment and a close relationship with Allah? Here are some reflection on the characteristics:

Being Thankful to Allah

First is being ever grateful and thankful to Allah for everything that you possess including your wealth, health, status, intellectual abilities and life. You should recognise that your very existence and your continuing sustenance are dependent on Allah. Whatever praise is due, therefore, it is due to Him alone, for nobody has the power or the resources to give you anything except by His will. His bounties and blessings are countless. Allah says:

"Is then, He who creates comparable to any that cannot create? Will you not, then, take heed?For should you try to count Allah's blessings, you could never compute them. Allah is, indeed, All Forgiving, All Compassionate; and Allah knows all that you keep secret as well as all that you bring into the open. "
(Surah an Nahl 17-19)

It is for this reason that Allah swt commanded the Prophet Ibrahim a.s to say: It is He who has created me, and so it is He who guides me; it is He who gives me to eat and drink, and whenever i am sick it is He who heals me; and it is He who makes me die and then will bring me to life. And upon Him, I pin my hope that He would forgive my sins on the Day of Judgement. (Surah ash-Shuara :77~82)

Nevertheless, keep praying to Allah.

“When my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the Prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me so that they may walk in the right way". (Surah al Baqara 2:186)

And the Prophet s.a.w said, “The worshipper is closest to his Lord while bowing down. So pray much then.”

Bringing up our Young

My teacher, Ust Zhul gave a lecture in Pergas yesterday. And the topic was 'Bringing up our Young as Muslims in the present age" Its Challenges and our responsibilities"

Isn't that a much desired and needy topic for Muslims nowadays?

Though i may not have kids now, but insya allah, hope that I could benefit much from the lecture and be able to put them into practice so that i may raise sensible and pious children in the near future. amin ya rabb!

Just a gist of what Ust said during the lecture: (you can visit his blog at the link above)

Ustaz began by telling us that he was aware of all that discussions that revolved around muslims; H1N1,facebook etc. These, he felt was less significant than the impending issues and concerns the ummah should discuss about. And especially so, the importance of the Development and Education of the Muslims.

To be a Muslim, you need nurturing. How are we going to nurture our young?

Do we send them to Montessori? The Montessori system is widely used in most pre schools. Do you want to send them there too?

Ustaz started off by quoting this verse from the Quran: (Surah al-Imran:102)
'And hold fast, all of you together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate. And remember Allah's favour unto you: how ye were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His grace; and (how) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, and He did save you from it. Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations unto you, that haply ye may be guided,'

Every Muslim is important to us. He talks about the youth in our current times. The dangers that they were in. The concern and education that they lacked.

du'a iftitah is often recited in our subuh prayers. (Surah al-Anam:162)

"Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds: "

Companies have their own 'vision' or 'mission statement'. Let us as Muslims develop this as our mission statement in our daily lives. We only have this chance of a lifetime. Since Allah swt has guided our hearts towards Islam, shouldn't we be cherishing what He has given us?

"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost. (all spiritual good)."

Hadith of Prophet s.a.w:

'Every child is born in a state of fitrah(pure innocence); it is the parent that will make him to be a Jew, or a Christian or a pagan.'

Hence, it is the amanah of a parent.

Hadith reported by al-Hakim:

'Open(speak or when starting to teach in the beginning) recite upon your children the words, 'Laa ilaa Ha il laalah' (There is no god except Allah)

Remember our Kalimatul Haqq.

Instead of singing,'Rockabye baby on the tree top', why not try to sing this 'lullabye of kalimah' to your baby.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w is our best Educator. Muslims must bear in mind this and not follow any other people of these modern times.

He also said:

Educate (nurture) your children upon 3 things: (Desired outcomes)

- To love your Prophet s.a.w

- To love the family members of his household

- Learn to recite the al-Quran(hadith narrated by Thabrani)

If you don't know the person, how do you love the person? How many of us know the Prophet, know the sirah of our Prophet s.a.w? Maulids are meant to remind/help us remember our Prophet. Do we know what is being read?

Prophet s.a.w said: 'Teach your children to obey Allah, and make them to be mindful(fear to ever)being disobedient towards Allah, instruct them to carry out the commandments, and to abstain from the forbidden, because this will preserve them and you from the Hell fire.' (hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas).

Allah swt teaches us through Luqman in al-Quran: (Surah Luqman:12~19)

We bestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqman: "Show (thy) gratitude to Allah." Any who is (so) grateful does so to the profit of his own soul: but if any is ungrateful verily Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise. (12) - Train our children to be grateful towards Allah swt. Nurture the feeling of thankfulness in our children.

Behold, Luqman said to his son admonishing him: "O my son! Join not in worship (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing." (13) - The sin of shirk must always be avoided. Do not join partners with Allah in worship.

And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. (14) - Show gratitude towards parents. Teach them to learn how to respect.(one sign of the Akirah:mothers/parents becoming slaves to their children)

"But if they strive to make the join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge obey them not; Yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration) and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): in the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did." (15) - Even if your parents are not muslims, you must still take care of them in their old age. Just remember, don't join them in worship other than Allah.

"O my son!" (said Luqman) "If there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finer mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them). (16) - Taqwa. If you possess this element, your children will follow.

"O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. (17) - Solat! This has been largely neglected. Destroy it, and you will destroy your faith. Prayers are the first thing to be accounted for. Train them to justice; patience (sabr). Inculcation programmes like observance of fasting in Ramadan, Hajj)

"And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster. (18) - Self esteem should not be overtrained till the ego gets 'boosted'. Humility must be inculcated. Respect other people. Be concerned of your shortcomings, and not others.

"And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass." (19) - Teach them to be gentle and moderate.(means of character; not the volume of the voice). This is the teaching of Adab.

Due to time limitations, this will continue at a later time. You can visit his blog for more notes.

Please forgive me.