Sand and Stone

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert.

During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

“TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath.

The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

“TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied: “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. (qasis.com)

Disposing of Scripture

Every religion and society has great respect for its Holy Scriptures no matter how old or new they may look.

The Sikhs, Jews and Christians all have a certain respect for their Holy Scriptures but the respect and love the Muslims hold for their Holy Script is greatly different.

The Last Revelation: The Holy Qur’an is not just an ordinary scripture, but rather it’s the Holy book that moulds an individuals life into an obedient servant of Allah.

Every single word and verse within it is sanctified and cannot be touched without ritual cleanliness.

Our respect of the Holy Qur’an and the realisation of its sanctity decreases as society deteriorates, due to non-islamic influences and propaganda.

Qur’ans and Islamic literature are left lying on the top shelves of our homes, unread for months or even years and gradually they start to become very dusty.

They are classed as OLD though we rarely touched them until the time comes when they are removed.

Without any realisation of their sanctity, like other unwanted items, we tend to discard them away which is totally incorrect.

We must always remember, in Islam, when something is sanctified, then its sanctity will always remain.

Regarding disposing of unwanted religious and Islamic literature the great classical Hanafi Jurist Allamah Haskafi states:

“Those books that are no longer wanted: One should wipe away the names of Allah, his Angels and His Messengers and burn the rest.

There is nothing wrong with casting them into a flowing river as they are (i.e without wiping the names away) or burying them and burning them (excluding the Qur’an, see below), is advised.

Thus, if one decides to get rid of religious literature, the right thing would be to bury them by wrapping them in something pure first, in a place where people would not walk very rarely.

Similarly, it would be permitted to tie the books and papers with something heavy and cast them into a flowing river.

You may also burn them, but in this case, only after erasing the names of Allah, his Angels and his Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them all).

As far the old and unusable Qur’ans are concerned, it is not permitted to burn them unless there is no other way to dispose them.

Allamah ibn Abidin, a great Hanafi Scholar states,

“If a copy of the Qur’an becomes old and it is difficult to read it, it should NOT be burnt in fire.”

This is also the view of Imam Mohammed (Student of Imam Abu Hanifah). It is best to bury them after wrapping them into something pure and clean.

The conclusion is, there are two methods of disposing an unusable Qur’an and Islamic literature:

(1) Wrapping them in a piece of cloth or something pure and burying them respectfully in a place where people normally do not walk upon.

(2) Fastening the items to something heavy such as a stone and placing it respectfully in flowing river.

If the above-mentioned two methods are not possible to implement, only then will it be permitted to burn the Holy Scriptures and then bury the resulting ash or drop the ash in a flowing river.

Words of Wisdom

"Know that you have three friends

The first of them is your wealth, which you shall lose at the time of death.

The second of them is your family, who shall leave you once you are in your grave.

The third of them are your actions, which shall never depart from you.

So befriend that which will accompany you in your grave, and be intimate with it.

The intelligent one is he who knows Allah, His commands and His prohibitions."

[Ibn 'Ata' Allah (Taj al-'arus al-hawi li tahdhib al-nufus, 32).]

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men". (anonymous)

"Yesterday is a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

I never saw anyone as just as the world.

As long as you pursue the world it will pursue you, but when you turn away from it and seek God, it will leave you alone and its glamor shall no longer fascinate you". [Al Hujwiri]

Philisophy in a Jar

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.

When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2″ diameter.He then asked the students if the jar was full ?

They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar.

He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full ?

They agreed that yes, it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is your life.

The rocks are the important things - your faith, your beliefs, your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost,you would be nearly destroyed.

The pebbles are the other things in life that matter,but on a smaller scale.The pebbles represent things like your job,your house,your car etc.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff. If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first,there is no room for the rocks.

The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff,material things,you will never have room for the things that are truly most important.Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life.

Play with your children. Spend quality time with your spouse. There willalways be time to go to work, clean the house, fix the car etc.

” Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. The rest is just pebbles and sand.”

Two Blessings – Good Health and Free-Time

TIM E IS LIKE A SWORD. CUT IT BEFORE IT CUTS YOU - IMAM SHAFIEE RAHMTULLAHI ALAYHI

All praises to the Lord of the Worlds who has out of His infinite mercy blessed us with endless blessings.

Glad-tidings to the servant of the Almighty who is showered with countless bounties day in and day out.

Most unfortunate is he who does not recognise these blessings and bounties and is not thankful for them.

The Prophet states in a Hadith:

“There are two blessings in which most people are in great loss:

1) Good health and

2) Free time.”

How true the Prophet is.

Many of us have had or have good health and free-time.

However how many of us can answer with a true heart that we used these two blessings the way that they are meant to be used or have showed appreciation towards the Almighty the way we should have?

The Almighty has not given us this good health to waste, He has given health and time to us for a purpose; that we worship him the way He is meant to be worshipped, to spread His religion and to call people towards Islam; and to help Humanity who are in dire need of help.

Then again, how many of us have put this good health to use?

How many of us have worshipped Allah the way he is meant to be worshipped?

How many of us have helped the religion of Islam?

How many of us have thanked Almighty Allah for the good health that he has blessed us with?

These are all questions that we should ponder upon. As the saying goes, “The only time you realise the value of a gift is when you lose it.”

By the time we realise the value of these special gifts bestowed upon us, we would probably have lost them by then. Then no matter how much regret we have, they will never come back.

Think about our free time.

How many hours are spent sitting in front of the television?

How many hours are wasted merely listening or watching a game of football?

Imagine how much we could have worshipped the Creator and attained his pleasure and high status in the hereafter. Have we no value for this time?

A saying of Imam Shafi'ee Rahmatullahi Alayhi: “Time is like a sword, cut it before it cuts you.”

He is trying to say that don't waste your time. Every second that passes by will never come back.

We have to put all this time into good use. The Prophet has said in a Hadith:

Take advantage of five conditions before five others:

1) Youth before old age.

2) Good health before sickness.

3) Free time before you become occupied.

4) Wealth before poverty.

5) Life before death.

This free time of ours should be spent in the remembrance of the Almighty.

On the Day of Judgement, the people of heaven will only have one regret; they will regret all the free time they wasted in the world.

The reason for this regret will be that they could have achieved a higher status in Paradise if they didn't waste their free time.

May Allah Taa'la give us the ability to spend our free time worshipping the Almighty Allah. Ameen (Inter-Islam)

Three Old Men

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them.

She said I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat;

Is the man of the house home?, they asked.

No, she said. He’s out.

Then we cannot come in, they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

Go tell them I am home and invite them in!

The woman went out and invited the men in.

We do not go into a House together, they replied.

Why is that? she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: ;His name is Wealth,; he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, He is Success, and I am Love.

Then he added, Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.

The woman went in and told her husband what was said.

Her husband was overjoyed.

Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!

His wife disagreed. My dear, why don’t we invite Success?

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house.

She jumped in with her own suggestion: Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!

Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice, said the husband to his wife.

Go out and invite Love to be our guest.

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, Which one of you is Love?

Please come in and be our guest.

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him.

Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?

The old men replied together: If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!

A rich King who had four wives

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife.

She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him.

Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom.

However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short.

He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.”

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

No way!”, replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word.

Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

No!”, replied the 3rd wife. “Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!”

His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!”, replied the 2nd wife.

“At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.”

Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.”

The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives: Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul.

Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen, and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity

Words of Wisdom

If someone gave you a beautiful, expensive new hat, wouldn’t you be grateful for the generous gift?

But shouldn’t you be even more grateful for the One Who gave you the head to put that hat on. [Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak]

Ibn Al-Qayyim:Every gulp of air that goes out in a cause other than the cause of Allah will turn to sorrow and regret on the Day of Judgment.

A sign that Allah despises you is when you find yourself wasting your time with trivial matters; in this way you miss your chance of going to Heaven.

And a sign that Allah likes you is when you find yourself fulfilling more duties than you have time for.The devil makes work for idle thumbs.

If you want to know whether Allah is pleased with you, then think: Are you busy or idle?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." [ Marianne Willamson]

The Value of Words

By Khalid Baig

"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or keep quiet." [Bukhari]

Famous companion, Sayyidna Muaz ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, once asked the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, "Tell me about an act that will cause me to enter Paradise and be protected from the Fire."

"You have indeed asked something profound," responded the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, "But it will be easy on whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him. Establish regular Salat, pay Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj."

Then he asked "Shall I not tell you about the doors of good: fast is a shield (against sins and against Hell-fire), charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire; and the midnight Salat (the voluntary Tahajjud Salat)."

Then he recited this verse: "Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them." [As-Sajda 32:16]

Then he continued: "Shall I tell you about the beginning, the mainstay and the high point of this? The beginning is (acceptance of) Islam; It's mainstay is Salat; it's highest point is Jihad."

Then the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, asked: "Shall I tell you about the thing on which all this depends?"

He, then held his tongue and said "Guard this." Sayyidna Muaz ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, asked: "Shall we be questioned about our utterances?"

On this the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Most people will be thrown into Hell---face down---because of the transgressions of their tongues."

The ability to speak and express themselves separates human beings from animals. The proper use of this great gift---or its absence---separates the good and successful people from the bad and unsuccessful ones.

Sayyidna Mu'adh's question was about eternal success. In response, the hadith mentions both mandatory and voluntary good deeds that cover a person's entire life.

But then we are reminded that the outcome of all these depends upon guarding our tongue. In other words carelessness with the tongue can poke holes in all of our good deeds.

Another hadith highlights the same issue in a different way: "Every morning all the limbs of a person plead with his tongue: 'Fear Allah for our sake, for our fate is tied to yours. If you follow the straight path so shall we. And if you go astray so shall we.'"

Yet another hadith reminds us about the far reaching consequences of the words we utter.

"Sometimes a person says something good but he does not realize how far will his words go. Yet it earns him the pleasure of Allah till the day he will meet Him. On the other hand sometimes a person says something bad, although he does not realize how far his words will go. Yet it earns him the wrath of Allah till the day he will meet Him." [Tirmizi, Ibn Maja, Muwwata Imam Malik].

The pre-Islamic Arab society was a very vocal society.

While reading and writing were not that common, people did pride themselves in their facility with words---both prose and poetry.

A person commanded respect based on his command over words.

Using power of words only, they could sink reputations, start wars, and impact life in a similar fashion as modern media has come to demonstrate on a much larger scale. Then, as now, it was raw power like the power of the beasts of the Jungle.

Islam tamed this beast.

It reminded us that each and every word we utter is being recorded by the angels and one day we will have to stand accountable for all this record.

It reminded that a person's greatness lies not in how powerful he is with words but in how careful is he with them.

It reminded that it is better to keep silent than to say something bad. And it is better to say something good than to keep quiet.

The social revolution it engendered was unprecedented.

It produced a people who truly understood the value of words and who were as pious with them as they had been powerful.

Their silence was the silence of quiet reflection. And they spoke only when they could improve the silence.

Is it any wonder that even their extempore statements were pearls of wisdom.

Today, everywhere there are schools that can teach one how to read, write, and speak a language.

But their students would never learn how to civilize this raw power; to use it only in promoting truth and spreading virtue; to never use it for promoting falsehood or spreading evil.

There is a lot of unlearning we have to do if we want to get out of this. It is a costly mistake for a believer to think that talk is cheap; that you can say whatever is expedient without any concern for any consequences beyond the immediate ones.

Such attitudes, prevalent today, lead to all kinds of sins: vain pursuits, gossip, dishonesty, insincerity, arrogance, belittling others, backbiting, spreading scandals and corruption, telling lies.

Each of these has been clearly defined as a deadly sin by the Qur'an and Hadith.

The treatment for each of these sins begins with learning the Islamically responsible use of the tongue.

Then there are secondary problems caused in turn by these. In fact most of the problems in the family, in the society, and even between countries are either created or augmented by the irresponsible use of the tongue.

Modern communication technologies have made it possible for messages to be transmitted instantaneously all over the globe.

But as the world marvels at these achievements, it continues to confuse the speed of a message with its quality and value.

We pride ourselves on the ability to spread trash around the world at the speed of light.

Witness the rubbish that continues to dominate the Internet alone. We are amazed by the sophisticated techniques of telling lies in a convincing manner.

Witness the modern mainstream media machine and its hold on our thoughts and actions.

The "information age" is begging for the moral guidance of Islam.

Nikmat kehidupan di sebalik amalan bersyukur

Oleh Wan Marzuki Wan Ramli

ALLAH memberi kenikmatan hidup tidak terhingga kepada manusia dan seluruh makhluk di alam ini.

Nikmat itu tidak mampu dihitung satu persatu biarpun manusia berusaha menghitungnya.Firman Allah bermaksud: "Dan jika kamu menghitung nikmat Allah (yang dilimpahkan kepada kamu), tidaklah kamu akan dapat menghitungnya satu persatu, sesungguhnya Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Pengasih." (Surah an-Nahl, ayat 18).

Sesiapa bersyukur, dia berasakan kekayaan, kekuatan, kepandaian dan sebarang kelebihan dimiliki hanya sebagai ujian daripada Allah.

Perkataan syukur dan perkataan yang berasal dari kalimah itu disebut 77 kali dalam al-Quran sebagai memberi peringatan supaya manusia tidak lalai menunaikan tanggungjawab sebagai hamba-Nya.

Bersyukur dapat menghindarkan sifat lupa diri, bongkak, ujub dan tamak yang mudah menguasai diri orang yang dilalaikan dengan kenikmatan dunia.

Sifat itu membawa kehancuran kehidupan manusia yang berasakan apa dinikmati adalah hasil usahanya.

Sebab itu, kalimah syukur kerap digandingkan dengan kalimah zikr (ingat) yang memberi peringatan supaya manusia terus istiqamah, tetap mengikuti jalan diredai dan tidak mudah lupa diri serta kufur dengan nikmat diperoleh.

Nabi Sulaiman sentiasa mengingati dan mengucapkan syukur dengan kelebihan dikurniakan Allah kepadanya.

Keupayaannya memerintah manusia dan seluruh makhluk lain adalah anugerah istimewa diberikan Allah kepadanya.

Jelas betapa pentingnya kita bersyukur dan sentiasa istiqamah dalam mengabdikan diri dan beribadat kepada Allah.

Keimanan perlu sentiasa utuh tidak kira ketika kesenangan mahupun berdepan dengan cubaan berat.

Firman Allah bermaksud: "Kata Sulaiman: "Ini adalah anugerah daripada Tuhanku untuk menguji diriku sama ada aku bersyukur kepada-Nya atau aku ingkar. Dan sesiapa kufur (ingkar), sesungguhnya Tuhanku Maha Kaya Lagi Maha Pemurah." (Surah an-Naml, ayat 40).

Amalan bersyukur pada hakikatnya adalah manifestasi untuk menyatakan terima kasih yang tidak terhingga kepada Allah Yang Maha Pemurah dan Maha Pengasih.

Tanpa izin Allah, pasti kita tidak akan dapat meneguk walau setitik air atau merasai nikmat biarpun sedetik.

Sesiapa tiada dalam hatinya perasaan bersyukur, itulah tanda hatinya telah mati.

Dia bakal menempuh kehidupan lebih sukar pada masa akan datang dan akhirat nanti.

Allah menarik balik nikmat kepada orang yang tidak bersyukur secara nyata mahupun tidak nyata.

Banyak umat terdahulu yang menerima pembalasan dibinasakan hidup mereka disebabkan tidak bersyukur dan ingkar perintah Allah.

Nasib menimpa penduduk Saba ditimpa banjir besar dan sikap angkuh Qarun yang ditelan bumi bersama-sama harta kekayaan adalah pengajaran yang patut dijadikan pedoman kepada umat terkemudian.

Saba adalah kabilah Arab yang tinggal di Yaman sekarang ini.

Mereka mendirikan kerajaan yang terkenal dengan nama kerajaan Sabaiyyah dengan Marib sebagai kotanya.

Kerajaan Sabaiyyah membangun dan rakyat dapat menikmati kehidupan aman, sejahtera dan mewah hasil pembinaan Ampangan Marib.

Kemewahan dan kenikmatan dilimpahi Allah menyebabkan kaum Saba lupa diri dan ingkar seruan Rasul, lalu Allah timpakan azab banjir besar atau ‘sailul arim’ akibat pecahnya Ampangan Marib seperti dijelaskan Allah dalam surah Saba, ayat 16.

Qarun menerima pembalasan disebabkan perasaan angkuh memiliki kemewahan dan kekayaan di dunia.

Hendaklah jangan kita berasakan apa diperoleh di dunia ini adalah semata-mata hasil usaha sendiri dan menolak hakikat kurniaan Allah.

Qarun pada asalnya beriman kepada Allah dan menjadi pengikut setia Nabi Musa.

Namun, selepas memperoleh kekayaan, dia tidak bersyukur.

Dia menolak permintaan Musa supaya mengeluarkan zakat dan sedekah kepada kaumnya daripada hasil kekayaan itu.

Qarun derhaka kepada Allah kerana mengaku kekayaan dimiliki itu adalah hasil usahanya sendiri.

Cerita keangkuhan Qarun disebut dalam beberapa ayat surah al-Qashash.

Sebahagian daripada ayat 76 surah itu bermaksud: “Sesungguhnya Qarun itu termasuk kaum Musa, tetapi dia melakukan aniaya kepada mereka, dan Kami berikan kepadanya kekayaan, kuncinya berat dipikul oleh sekumpulan orang yang kuat"

Jelas betapa pentingnya kita bersyukur dan sentiasa istiqamah dalam mengabdikan diri dan beribadat kepada Allah.

Keimanan perlu sentiasa utuh tidak kira ketika senang mahupun berdepan dengan cubaan berat. (Petikan dari Berita Harian)

World problems rooted in disregard for religious principles by West, Zionists

"Tehran, Dec 14, IRNA President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Thursday said that the world problems, clashes and genocide is rooted in the noncompliance of Zionists and some Western powers with religious principles.

According to a report released by the Presidential Office Media Department, the president made the remark in a meeting with Jewish rabbis who attended the two-day international conference on holocaust in Tehran, dubbed `Holocaust: A Global Vision' (December 11-12).

The president called on followers of divine faiths to establish a united front to confront the crimes committed against humanity and aiming to prevent prosperous human life. Ahmadinejad added that such a front should include intellectuals and scientists believing in various religions, including Judaism, to stand up to Zionism.

The chief executive called for the need to solve the problems facing the world, including the Palestinian issue, through dialogue and the necessity for peace and paying attention to the prophets' instructions.

"Just as the fake Zionist regime was established by big powers based on lies, it should either pack up and leave or hold a free referendum to establish a government based on the will of the Palestinian nation in which all Palestinians, including Jews, Christians and Muslims will be given the chance to vote," he added.

Turning to the great controversies in the performance of and the slogans given by some of the so-called Western advocates of human rights and freedom, including those of the Zionist regime, he said, "While this fake regime has set up a large prison in the occupied territories of Palestine for their Muslim, Jewish and Christian residents, they lay claims on human rights and freedom."

The president referred to the opposition of faithful Jews, believing in the instructions of Prophet Moses (PBUH), to the crimes and stance of the world Zionism, Ahmadinejad said that vigilant and just human beings will not blame the Jews for the crimes committed by the fake Zionist regime and its supporters in the occupied territories, including genocide of defenseless and oppressed women and children.

He pointed to the growing vigilance of world nations on seeking justice and worshipping God and said that the day promised by all prophets when peace, brotherhood and justice are expected to be established is approaching.

A number of the rabbis thanked Ahmadinejad for his courageous opposition to the Zionist regime's crimes and hegemonic stance as well as his urge to restore the rights of Palestinian people. Meanwhile, they said that President Ahmadinejad is considered as a friend and supporter of Jews and underlined that the crimes of world Zionism in various world regions, particularly in Palestine, are condemned by the Jews.

The rabbis further said that according to the instructions of Judaism, the establishment of the Zionist regime in Palestine is illegal.

"The genocide of Jews during the World War II aimed to justify the formation of the Zionist regime," they concluded.

On Religious Tolerance

By Khalid Baig

While on his deathbed, Sayyidna Umar ibn al-Khattab, Radi-Allahu unhu, dictated a long Will consisting of instructions for the next Khalifah.

Here is the last sentence of that historic document:

“I instruct you on behalf of the people who have been given protection in the name of Allah and His Prophet . [That is the dhimmis or the non-Muslim minorities within the Islamic state].

Our covenant to them must be fulfilled, we must fight to protect them, and they must not be burdened beyond their capabilities.”

At that time Sayyidna Umar was lying in pain because of the wounds inflicted on him by a non-Muslim who had stabbed him with a dagger soaked in poison while he was leading the fajr prayer.

It should also be remembered that he was the head of a vast empire ranging from Egypt to Persia.

From normal rulers of his time or ours, we could have expected vengeance and swift reaction. (The enlightened rulers of today have sent bombers even on suspicion of murder conspiracy).

From a very forgiving head of state we could have expected an attempt to forget and forgive --- and that would be considered noble. But a command to protect the minorities and take care of them?

What is even more remarkable is that for Muslim historians the entire affair was just natural.

After all it was the Khalifah himself who had established the standards by writing the guarantees for the protection of life, property and religion in decree after decree as Muslims opened land after land during his rule.

The pattern established here was followed for centuries throughout the Muslim world.

Of course, Sayyidna Umar was simply following what he learnt from the Prophet Muhammad himself.

That the protection of life, property and religious freedom of minorities is the religious duty of the Islamic state.

That he personally would be demanding justice in the hereafter on behalf of a dhimmi who had been wronged by a Muslim.

That there is no compulsion in religion and that Muslims must be just to friends and foe alike.

The result of these teachings was a Muslim rule that set the gold standard for religious tolerance in a world that was not used to the idea.

Not only that the Muslim history is so remarkably free of the inquisitions, persecutions, witch hunts, and holocausts that tarnish history of other civilizations, it protected its minorities from persecution by others as well.

It protected Jews from Christians and Eastern Christians from Roman Catholics.

In Spain under the Umayyads and in Baghdad under the Abbasid Khalifahs, Christians and Jews enjoyed a freedom of religion that they did not allow each other or anyone else.

This exemplary tolerance is built into Islamic teachings.

The entire message of Islam is that this life is a test and we have the option of choosing the path to hell or to heaven.

Messengers were sent to inform about the choices and to warn about the consequences.

They were not sent to forcibly put the people on the right path.

The job of the Muslims is the same. They must deliver the message of Islam to the humanity as they have received it.

They are neither to change it to make it attractive, nor to coerce others to accept it. In addition, the results in the hereafter will depend upon faith.

For all good acts are meaningless in the absence of the proper faith. And faith is an affair of the heart. It simply cannot be imposed.

It is not an idea that followers of other religions have shared with Islam.

The result is, Muslim experience in the area of tolerance has been exactly opposite of the rest of the world.

As Marmaduke Pickthall noted: “It was not until the Western nations broke away from their religious law that they became more tolerant, and it was only when the Muslims fell away from their religious law that they declined in tolerance.”

The path that the Western world took to provide harmony in society was to banish religion from the public square.

For this achievement, it thinks that it has earned lecturing rights over the issue.

So it may be good to remember that while it has indeed made huge progress in the area of tolerance during the last century (which should be appreciated), it has a long way to go before it can reach the standards established by Islam.

First, while Muslim Personal Law is not recognized in the West, the Personal Law of non-Muslim minorities has always been recognized in the Muslim world.

Second, while throughout Europe and America, Muslims are not permitted to make the call to prayer (Adhan) on loud speakers, church bells ring freely in the Muslim world.

Third, the wide spread anti-Islamic prejudice in the Western media is both a cause and a consequence of the underlying intolerance.

Fourth, hate crimes are a fact of life in the West. As just one small indication, nearly two-dozen incidents of vandalism have taken place against Mosques in the peaceful USA during the last seven years, not to mention hundreds of attacks against individuals.

Fifth, the will to admit this state of affairs is also not sufficiently strong. Again here is just one indication: In 1999 two resolutions were floated in the US Senate and House, titled “A resolution supporting religious tolerance toward Muslims.”

While the Senate resolution passed, the House resolution was gutted under pressure from several Jewish and Christian groups.

The situation of the rest of the “international community” is not much different. With this background, extortions to display tolerance become a vehicle for imposing one's own intolerance.

Recently some people declared that the demolition of Buddhist statues in a country with no Buddhist minority violated Islam's teachings on religious tolerance.

They forgot that religious tolerance means accommodation to religious minorities; it does not mean undermining the majority.

Here the issue of religious freedom had been turned on its head. For the real question to ask was, why the Muslims in Afghanistan must endure the statues they abhor?

For Muslims religious tolerance is not about political posturing. It is a serious religious obligation. They must be a force against all intolerance, even that which is promoted in the guise of tolerance.

Christmas a time for bridge building

By: Abdul Malik Mujahid

IslamiCity

Treating Christmas with Respect

Christmas is an annual Christian religious holiday commemorating the birth of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him.

For many Muslims who do not even celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, it becomes an issue of what stand they should take.

There have been a number of legitimate criticisms of the holiday from Muslims and non-Muslims based on theological and cultural considerations.

However, this cannot be used to disregard the holiday as merely an exercise in ancient pagan practices, for instance, or excessive consumerism.

Muslims have to remember that for practicing Christians, Christmas really is about Jesus.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was so accommodating of Christians that according to the two earliest Islamic historians, Ibn e Saad and Ibn Hisham, the Prophet even allowed a delegation of 60 Byzantine Christians from Najran in Yemen to worship in his own mosque in Madinah.

Lead by their bishop (Usquf), they had come to discuss a number of issues with him. When time of their prayer came, they asked the Prophet's permission to perform this in the mosque.

He answered, "conduct your service here in the mosque. It is a place consecrated to God"

God expects us to stay away from mocking the religious beliefs of others, no matter how much we disagree with them.

He says in the Quran: "And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides God, lest they insult God wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do" (Quran, 6:108).

We also have to remember that even if for many nominal Christians, the celebration is not really about participating in religious traditions, Christmas is a time for families to get together.

In a number of cases it is the only time of year families get together, either because family members are scattered in different parts of the country or the world, because of communication and relationship problems, or because in America today, the family unit is becoming weaker and weaker.

Christmas is a great time to relate to our neighbors. We should not forget though, that "relating" does not mean "preaching".

Dawa cannot be made in a rude manner.

Allah says in the Quran: "Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful advice, and reason with them by ways that are the best and most gracious: because your Lord knows best, (those) who have strayed from His Path, and those who receive guidance " (Quran, 16:125).

In particular, when dealing with Jews and Christians, Allah says: "Do not argue with the People of the Book unless it is in the politest manner, except for those of them who do wrong. Say: 'We believe in what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to you. Our God and your God is [the same] One, and we are Muslims before Him'" (Quran, 29:46).

This may not be an occasion to emphasis the differences as much as the commonality of our beliefs, unless someone is really asking you about them.

A starting point for a discussion about Christmas could be the Islamic belief in all Books revealed by Allah and all Prophets sent by Him.

In this discussion, special emphasis could be made on Prophet Jesus. Non-Muslims are often surprised to discover that Muslims also believe in this noble Prophet and his great mother Mary (peace be upon her).

Remember that respect does not mean compromise. This article is not asking you to compromise anything.

You have freedom of religion given by God to believe in what you believe in.

But in a world where conflict is increasing, a Muslim should be a bridge- builder and a peacemaker.

It was due to the Muslim practice of Islamic ideals of respect and tolerance that the key of the holiest Christian Shrine in Jerusalem, the church of the Holy Sepulcher, remains entrusted with a Muslim family, as it has been for over 1400 years.

These are the lessons which need to be learned by those extremists who attack Christians during their worship in Nigeria and those extremists who burn Masjids in the USA.

Abdul Malik Mujahid, is the President and Director of Sound Vision Foundation Inc. He is an Imam in the Chicago area and the Chairperson of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).

Drink warm water after meal - it can make you healthier

Do you know that drinking cold water after meal is one of the causes of colon cancer?.

This was according to an email sent to me, though in that article no scientific finding was offered to support such claim.

Nevertheless I thought it is still an interesting claim that we should share with our readers. It may seem just a simple act of drinking water after meal yet we would not know for sure what this simple and innocence act could do to our health.

Even Islam teaches us the proper manner of drinking and eating.

There are many collections of 'sunnah' (traditions) of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) outlining the conduct of the Last Messenger (peace be upon him) in many aspects of everday life including the manner of drinking and eating.

For example in a hadith it stated that: 'Allah's messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to breathe three times in the course of a drink.(Bukhari, Muslim).

Another hadith stated that: 'The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade that a man should drink standing.(Muslim)'.

It is also said tha: 'The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade breathing or blowing into a vessel.(Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)'.

So read on it could save your life.

The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals...not cold water.

For those who like to drink cold water, it s indeed nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal.

However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed.

It will slow down the digestion.

Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food.

It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer.

It is therefore best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal".

The Sound of Azaan Constantly Echoes Around the Globe

By Zuhair Girach

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest

Ashadu an La illaha illAllah

I witness/declare that there is no illah (god) but Allah

Ashadu an La illaha illAllah

I witness that there is no illah but Allah

Ashadu anna Muhammad ar Rasool Allah

I witness that Muhammad is Rasul (Messenger) of Allah

Ashadu anna Muhammad ar Rasool Allah

I witness that Muhammad is Rasul of Allah

Hayya 'alas Salat

Come towards the Salat

Hayya 'alas Salat

Come towards the Salat

Hayya 'alal Falah

Come towards the Success

Hayya 'alal Falah

Come towards the Success

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest

La illaha illaAllah

There is no illah but Allah

Let us begin with Indonesia right on the eastern side of the earth's central land mass.

Indonesia consists of numerous small islands, the principle ones amongst them being Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Saibil, all of which are well known.

It is the largest country in the world, with 180 million inhabitants. The number of non-Muslims here is negligible.

As soon as dawn breaks on the eastern side of Saibil, at approximately 5:30 am local time, Fajar Adhan begins.

Thousands of Muazzins in eastern Indonesia commence proclaiming the Tawheed (oneness) of the Almighty, Omnipotent and Omniscient Allah and Risaalat (Universal Apostleship) of the Prophet Muhammad .

The process then continues and advances towards the Western Islands of Indonesia.

The time difference between the eastern and western islands of Indonesia is one and a half hours. So one and a half hours after the Adhan has been completed in Saibil, it echoes in Jakarta on Java island. Sumatra then follows suit.

Before this auspicious process of calling Adhan ends in Indonesia, it has already begun in Malaysia.

Burma is next in line, and within an hour of its commencement in Jakarta, it reaches Dacca, the capital city of Bangladesh.

No sooner the calling of Adhan ends in Bangladesh, it has already prevailed in western India, from Calcutta to Srinagar.

It then advances towards Bombay and the environment of entire India resounds with this august proclamation.

Srinagar and Sialkot (a city in north Pakistan) have the same timing for Adhan.

The time difference between Sialkot, Kota, Karachi and Gowadar (a city in Baluchistan, a province of Pakistan) is forty minutes, and within this time, Fajar Adhan is heard throughout Pakistan. Before it ends there, however, it has already begun in Afghanistan and Muscat.

The time difference between Muscat and Baghdad is one hour. Adhan resounds during this one hour In the environments of Hijaaz-e-Muqaddas (Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah), Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.

The time difference between Baghdad and Alexandria in Egypt is again one hour. Adhan continues to resound in Syria, Egypt, Somalia and Sudan during this hour.

Alexandria and Istanbul are situated on the same geographical longitude. The time difference between eastern and western Turkey is one and a half hours, and during this time it is echoed with the call to prayer.

Alexandria and Tripoli (capital of Libya) are located at a hour difference from one another.

The process of calling Adhan thus continues throughout the whole of Africa. Therefore, the proclamation of the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad that had begun in the eastern islands of Indonesia reaches the Eastern Shore of the Atlantic ocean after nine and a half hours.

Prior to the Adhan reaching the shores of the Atlantic, the process of Zohar Adhan has already commenced in eastern Indonesia, and before it reaches Dacca, Asar Adhan has started.

This has hardly reached Jakarta one and half hours later.

Then the time of Maghrib becomes due, and no sooner has Maghrib time reached Sumatra, then the time for calling Isha Adhan has commenced in Saibil!

When the Muezzins of Indonesia are calling out Fajar Adhan, the Muezzins in Africa are calling out the Adhan for Isha.

There is not a single moment when few thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Muezzins around the world are not proclaiming the Oneness of Almighty Allah and the Apostleship of the noble Prophet on the surface of this earth!

Insha Allah this universal and continuous calling of the Adhan shall not cease until the Day of the Judgment.

The Road to Paradise

By Khalid Baig

A new advertising slogan from an international beverage company makes its case in just three words: "Obey Your Thirst."

Although these words are meant to produce an impulsive reaction rather than reflection, it would be good, and immensely more refreshing and rewarding if, for a change, we did the exact opposite.

For, this is the battle cry of the pop culture. That is why the ad never explains why we must obey our thirst.

In fact, this has been the central obsession of Jahiliya societies throughout history: Eat, drink, and be merry because tomorrow we die.

Do whatever pleases you. You live only once so make the most of it. Obey your desires.

Today’s society has taken this old obsession to unbelievably new heights (or depths).

Ad men make a living out of provoking thirsts of all kinds.

It has been developed into both a scientific discipline and an art form.

The best available technologies, talents and resources of all kinds are used to promote one message: Indulge your desires.

If this unprecedented pursuit could produce happiness, these would have been the happiest times in the entire history of mankind.

It is no secret that it is not so.

If there were a Misery Index to gauge the despair and gloom of individuals and communities, we would find that it is also at an all time high.

This road has never led to true happiness. And it never will.

Actually, this road leads straight into eternal hell.

The warnings are posted all along this road and have also been communicated to us by messengers of Allah.

That is why the Prophets are called Nazeer (warner).

The entire mission of the Last Messenger of Allah was to warn us about the road that leads to Hell and show us the path that leads to Paradise.

His teachings remain with us so we can avoid the peril.

He informed us: "The Fire has been surrounded by lusts and desires and the Paradise by hardships." [Bukhari, Muslim].

Another hadith explains this further.

According to that, when Allah created the Garden, He asked Angle Jibreel (Gabriel) to go and take a look at it.

So he went and looked at the Paradise and at all that Allah had prepared for its inhabitants.

Then he said: "O My Lord! By Your Honor, No one who hears about this place would stay away from it."

Then Allah surrounded the Paradise by difficulties and hardships and asked Jibreel again to go and take another look. Jibreel went again and after looking at it came back and said: "O My Lord! By Your Honor, I am afraid now that no one will be able to enter it." Then after Allah created the Hell, He asked Jibreel to go and take a look. When Jibreel came back he said: "O My Lord! By Your Honor, no one who hears about it will ever enter it."

Then Allah surrounded the Hell by all kinds of lusts and desires and asked Jibreel to take another look. This time after looking at it Jibreel said: "O My Lord! By Your Honor, I am afraid that no one will be able to avoid it."

These ahadith beautifully capture the test of life.

The path to hell is a slippery downhill slope. It looks attractive and promises instant satisfaction.

It makes us feel good just like the drug addicts feel good when they go on a high, oblivious of the ruin that awaits them.

This is the path of hedonism, consumerism, and materialism.

It promises "liberation" from all norms, moral values, obligations, and higher authority, so we can become slaves of our own desires.

This is the path to eternal doom and gloom.

On the other hand, the path to paradise is most definitely uphill.

It requires sacrifice and self control; patience and perseverance; obedience and submission to our Creator; hard work and firm commitment.

It requires giving up instant satisfaction so we can get eternal satisfaction.

It is paved with stumbling blocks and hardships. But should we choose our destination simply on the basis of how easy it is to get there?

Although hell is a greater horror than the worst horror all human minds put together can ever imagine, it is easier to avoid, as we have been told about paths leading to it and given the freedom of choice to avoid those paths.

Although paradise is a greater treasure than all human minds put together could ever imagine, the journey to paradise is easier than the journey to treasure islands found in fables where the seekers have to find the path on their own.

Here we have been shown the path and taught through Prophetic example how to travel on that path.

Yes, the lure of worldly pleasures is always great.

That is by design or there would be no test. But then this is a fair test.

We have been given the capability to shun the temporary pleasures and embrace the temporary pains by remembering the eternal ones.

All it takes is belief, commitment, and seeking help from Allah and we can overcome the roadblocks.

Our success lies not in obeying our thirsts but in controlling them in obedience to Allah.

Our goal is not to maximize our pleasures here, but to reach the house of eternal pleasures.

Once we embrace this perspective, it brings joy to this life as well, but it is a materially different kind of joy than one finds in obeying one’s basal desires.

The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "The coolness of my eyes lies in offering Salat."

On the other hand, the Qur’an tells us that Salat is a burden except on those who have fear of Allah in their hearts.

Clearly, what brings joy to a healthy person may not bring joy to a sick person.

The joy righteousness brings to this life is the joy of the person who is awake and alert.

In contrast the pleasure brought by satisfying our lusts is like the "pleasure" of a drunkard who has fallen in a sewer. He may be sound asleep but can anyone who knows the reality of his situation envy him?

Obeying our thirsts means falling asleep in that unseemly place.

Let us heed the wake-up call from the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "I have not seen anything as dreadful as the Fire whose evader is asleep and anything as desirable as Paradise whose seeker is asleep." [Tirmidhi] (Original article posted at Albalagh website)

Punca rezeki diperoleh penentu keberkatan

Oleh Ahmad Tarmizi Zakaria

ISLAM sangat mengambil berat persoalan berkaitan sumber atau punca yang membawa kepada rezeki yang diperolehi.

Bahkan, kita juga diingatkan supaya sentiasa berhati-hati agar rezeki yang diperolehi datangnya dari sumber yang bersih, elok dan halal.

Sebagai manusia yang benar-benar beriman kepada Allah SWT dan Rasul-Nya, kita diwajibkan bergiat dan berjuang dalam kehidupan untuk mencari rezeki yang halal bagi keperluan diri, keluarga dan lainnya yang ada di muka bumi ini menurut bakat dan kebolehan masing-masing agar semua rezeki yang kita perolehi itu menerusi hasil yang kita usahakan.

Firman Allah SWT yang bermaksud :

"Kemudian selepas selesai sembahyang, maka bertebaranlah kamu di muka bumi untuk menjalankan urusan masing-masing dan carilah apa yang kamu hajati daripada limpah kurnia Allah serta ingatlah Allah banyak-banyak dalam segala keadaan supaya kamu berjaya (di dunia dan di akhirat)." (Surah al-Jumu'ah : 10).

Harta yang banyak, tetapi tidak ada keberkatan padanya tidak membawa apa-apa erti, malah boleh menjadikan seseorang itu sentiasa berasa tidak cukup sehingga sanggup menerima rasuah, penyelewengan dan sebagainya.

Sebaliknya, harta yang sedikit tetapi berkat akan membawa ketenangan dan mempunyai kesan yang baik dalam segenap kehidupan.

Semua jenis pekerjaan yang kita ceburi di dunia ini sama ada berkhidmat dengan kerajaan mahu pun swasta atau sebagai peniaga, petani, nelayan, buruh dan sebagainya hendaklah memastikan rezeki yang diperolehi itu betul-betul halal dan tidak terkeluar dari landasan syariat Islam yang sebenar seperti tidak ada unsur penipuan, penindasan, rampasan, khianat, riba, rasuah dan sebagainya.

Seseorang yang memiliki harta yang banyak, tempat tinggal yang besar dan cantik, dikelilingi anak dan isteri serta segala kemewahan yang dimiliki belum tentu hidupnya tenteram dan bahagia.

Sering kali berasa resah dan gelisah takut kalau segala yang dimiliki itu akan lenyap atau hilang daripadanya.

Ia berpunca daripada keberkatan yang dicabut oleh Allah SWT kerana kelalaian sendiri yang tidak mengikut lunas syariat ditetapkan dalam mencari harta atau rezeki.

Keberkatan daripada Allah SWT amat penting dalam kehidupan sesebuah keluarga.

Oleh itu, seseorang itu perlu memastikan agar rezeki yang dibawa balik ke rumah untuk isteri dan anak adalah dari sumber halal.

Setiap sen dari sumber haram menyebabkan musnahnya keberkatan di rumah.

Setiap wang yang haram masuk ke dalam perut anak kita sebenarnya menyumbatkan api neraka ke dalam perut mereka dan Allah SWT mencabut keberkatan dari anak itu.

Ia dapat dilihat pada zaman ini iaitu berapa ramai anak yang diharapkan menjadi manusia baik tetapi akhirnya menjadi racun kepada ibu bapa dan masyarakat.

Oleh itu, kita hendaklah berhati-hati dalam mencari rezeki agar jangan sampai kita terjebak kepada perkara haram.

Sabda Rasulullah SAW yang bermaksud:

“Tidak akan memasuki Syurga daging yang tumbuh daripada yang haram, api Neraka lebih utama baginya."

Rasulullah SAW dalam sebuah hadis lain bersabda bermaksud:

"Tiada makanan yang lebih baik dimakan seseorang manusia melainkan apa yang diperolehi dengan titik peluhnya sendiri. Sesungguhnya Nabi Daud memperoleh rezekinya dengan titik peluhnya sendiri." (Riwayat Bukhari)

Dalam hal ini, Islam amat menitikberatkan bentuk atau cara rezeki itu diperolehi.

Umumnya, bentuk atau cara mendapat rezeki dan kaedah menggunakannya hendaklah menepati panduan syarak.

Para peniaga atau ahli korporat perlu diingatkan supaya tidak melakukan kezaliman kepada oranglain.

Namun, falsafah yang sering digunapakai adalah siapa yang kuat akan dapat memiliki semuanya.

Perkara ini tidak seharusnya berlaku kerana sebagai seorang Islam, setiap gerak langkah kita adalah tertakluk kepada hukum-hakam syariat.

Mengapa mesti menzalimi orang lain apabila kita ingin mendapatkan sesuatu keuntungan atau sebagainya.

Manusia sering kali hilang pertimbangan apabila perut atau lebih tepat lagi nafsu menjadi matlamat.

Mereka ini akhirnya akan hilang maruah diri, terbabit dalam rasuah, pecah amanah dan sebagainya hingga membawa kepada tindakan 'menyembah' sesama makhluk dan bukan menyembah Allah SWT. (Artikel dipetik dari Berita Harian)

Rona-rona Dalam Penghidupan

Kehidupan dan penghidupan

Suatu pertalian dan ikatan

Yang tidak bisa dilaraikan

Seperti juga anggota dengan badan.

Disana pasti tergambar dan terpapar

Wajah-wajah lara dan ceria

Yang menjadi ragam kehidupan

Atau rona-rona dalam penghidupan.

Bahawa lara itu adalah kehidupan

Betapa ceria itu ialah penghidupan

Penghidupan adalah satu pencarian

Demikian kehidupan suatu perjalanan.

Dimana pun jua kaki melangkah

Tiada selalunya terasa indah

Kerana melangkah itu adalah usaha

Betapa indah itu anuggerah.

Bahawa anuggerah itu adalah nikmat

Sedangkan usaha itu ialah keringat

Keringat adalah lakaran tenaga dan saraf

Dimana nikmati itu ialah Keiamanan.

Keimanan,

Pelita dalam kehidupan

Betapa Keimanan juga

Cahaya dalam penghidupan

Kehidupan rumpun dalam penghidupan

Penaka dua wajah berjalan seiringan

Memutar roda malam memburu siang

Demikian siang mengajar malam.

Sesungguhnya nikmat dan Keimanan

Adalah suatu bekalan

Pada meniti jalannya kehidupan

Dan, setelah berakhirnya saat kehidupan.

m.s sofian

Brunei 28 Mac 2006

Istighfar: Seeking Forgiveness from Allah

By Khalid Baig

"Truly, Allah loves those who repent, and He loves those who cleanse themselves." [Al-Baqarah 2:222].

"O Allah! Make me among those who, when they commit an act of virtue, feel good, and when they commit a mistake, they seek forgiveness." [Ibn Majah]

Tauba (repentance) and istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) are among the most meritorious acts of virtue for the believers. Tauba means feeling remorse for our actions or omissions. Istighfar means expressing that remorse in words and begging Allah for forgiveness.

The act for which we perform tauba and istighfar is not necessarily a sin, or an act of disobedience to Allah; it also includes our shortcomings.

As we realize Allah's immense favors to us, all of our thankfulness and devotion clearly appears to be inadequate. As we realize the grandeur of Allah, Most High, our acts of worship and obedience clearly are seen to be insufficient.

The higher a person is on the scale of taqwa, piety and God consciousness, the greater is this sense of inadequacy. Consequently the greater is his practice of istighfar.

That is why all the prophets, alayhimu salam, preached and practices tauba and istighfar. We do not have to invent any sins---inherited or personal--- to explain their repentance. In fact all the prophets were free of sin, as Allah appointed them as role models for humanity and Allah did not send defective role models.

The leader of all the prophets was Prophet Muhammad a fact which was also symbolized in his leading of all the prophets in Salat (prayer) in Jerusalem during Isra. And what did the prayer leader of the prophets use to do after every prayer?

He used to say "astaghfirullah" (I seek Allah's forgiveness) three times!

This is the istighfar that comes out of the highest level of God consciousness! He taught us to perform istighfar profusely, as he himself practiced. The Companions have reported that he used to do istighfar hundreds of times during the course of a day.

Istighfar is also a means of enhancing that consciousness of Allah and strengthening our relationship with Him. We turn to no one except Allah in repentance.

We confess our deepest errors, shortcomings, failures, and sins to Him and Him alone.

(In contrast, Christianity made a fatal mistake when it instituted confession to priests. As Martin Luther (1537) observed, "What torture, rascality, and idolatry such confession has produced is more than can be related.")

We seek His forgiveness, knowing that He alone has knowledge about all our deeds and thoughts and He alone can forgive us and save us from the consequences of our actions.

Istighfar, thus, is a most intimate conversation with Allah. And during that conversation we are at our humblest. We can see why tauba and istighfar are the essence of our servitude and submission to Allah!

We need istighfar to constantly purify and cleanse our heart.

We are not born in sin, but we are born in weakness.

We are prone to fall prey to the many temptations that are part of our test in this life. And when we do fall and commit a sin, it produces a dark spot in our heart.

A famous hadith, reported by Abu Huraira, Radi-Allahu unhu, describes this process. When a person shows remorse and repents, that dark spot is removed. Otherwise it will stay there and grow with each additional sin.

A time may come when his heart is full of darkness because of un-repented sins. We can see this gradual darkness of the heart as people advance in their sinful behavior.

In the beginning they have a lot of inhibitions.

They commit the wrong hesitatingly and feel bad about it.

If they do not turn back, they get used to it, so it just feels normal. T

hen a stage comes when vice becomes virtue and virtue vice. They defend and advocate evil and shun good.

Today, unfortunately, we see so many examples of this all around us.

In the "everything goes" post-modern world, good and evil do not mean anything anymore.

Then there is a whole crop of misguided psychologists who are ready to assure you that the only guilt you should feel is for feeling guilty in the first place!

Is it any wonder that in the English language the word sin is now normally used to describe things that are delicious, attractive, fun, and highly desirable?

That this darkness of the heart should be considered enlightenment only completes the inversion.

But there is hope for those who seek hope.

No matter how corrupt we might have become, we can always make a U-turn.

We can repent and seek forgiveness from our Beneficent and Merciful Creator Who is always ready to forgive those who turn to Him in sincerity.

"O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. For Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Az-Zumr, 39:53]

Further a hadith declares: "When a person has repented from a sin, it is as if he had never committed that sin."

The Prophet Muhammad has taught us many words of repentance and it is good if we learn, understand, and use them.

Of these one has been mentioned as syedul-istighfar.

A hadith explains its extra ordinary significance: "If a believer says this with complete faith and sincerity in the morning and dies before that evening, he will enter paradise. If he says it during the night and dies before the morning, he will enter paradise."

This powerful dua is our daily pledge of allegiance.

We will do well to memorize it in Arabic and never let a day or night go by without saying it with full consciousness:

"O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no God except You. You created me and I am Your slave. To the best of my ability, I will abide by my covenant and pledge to You. I seek Your protection from the evil of my own creation. I acknowledge Your favors to me and I admit my sins. So please forgive me for no one can forgive sins except You."

TAKZIAH

LIMBARUH HIJAU 2 DESIMBER 2006: Presiden dan seluruh anggota Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP) turut bersedih besama keluarga-keluarga dan sahabat handai atas kemabalinya ke rahmatullah Yang Mulia Awang Haji Matzin bin Omar, Pengerusi Tetap NDP.

Sebagai tanda penghormatan kepada Allahyarham, Presiden NDP, Ayahnda Yasin Affandy telah menghistiharkan hari in hari bergabung NDP. Markas NDP di Limbaruh Hijau dan di Belait ditutup sementara hari ini dan semua mesyuarat-mesyuarat yang telah dijadualkan pada hari ini dibatalkan.

Presiden juga mengeluarkan arahan mengibarkan bendera Sang Setia di Limbaruh Hijau dan di Belait setengah tiang sebagai penghormatan akhir kepada Pengerus Tetap NDP yang telah kembali ke rahmatullah.

Allahyarham telah kembali ke rahmatullah pada pukul 6.00 petang Kemarin. NDP melihat Allahyarham sebagai seorang tokoh pemimpin NDP yang berjasa kepada parti walaupuin beliau hanya memeggang jawatan tersebut dalam masa yang singkat.

Kejayaan NDP mengadakan Kongres Agoong pertama dibawah pimpinan beliau selaku Pengarah Jawatanuasa Penitia Kongres Agong dan selajur mempengerusikan acara yang bersejarah itu adalah bukti kokoh kepimpinan beliau tersebut.

Seluruh anggota NDP memanjatkan doa kehadrat Allah SWT memohon agar segala jasa baik dan pengorbanan hartabenda, masa dan tenaga yang Allahyarham curahkan dengan ikhlas kepada NDP sebagai sebuah parti politik yang bertersakan Islam dengan niat untuk menjadikan negara Brunei sebuah negara yang bertersuan menjadi negara Melayu, Islam Beraja, aman, makmur dan sejahtera serta sentiasa mendapat keampunan Allah akan dibalas dengan ganjaran yang lumayan, amin.

Dan kita juga memanjatkan doa agar roh allahyarham akan dicucuri rahmat melimpah ruah dan ditempatkan dikalangan roh-roh orang yang salih, amin.