bismillahirrahmanirrahim, subhanallah, amma ba’d,

assalamualaikum warahmatullah to all,

as of today, let’s talk about us muslims and the things that we seem to be taking for granted. how much do we understand the implication of embracing Islam in all aspects of our lives? i guess many can utter that Islam is ad-deen, meaning a way of life but not all of us know the real meaning behind it. it’s a cliche in today’s  world. a cliche that brings no real meaning to one’s heart that is clouded by his own ignorance. blind when he sees. i so hope that all of us are at least loved by Allah enough to be pardoned from being one of those who have hearts but don’t understand with them, those who have eyes but don’t see with them, and those who have ears but listen not with them. blind indeed many muslims are as i speak today.

dear valued readers,

there will always be a group of us who will rise up to injustice and there will always be amongst us a group that strives to deliver the message of Islam to the world, muslims and non-muslims alike. how much do you think is the price of our religious brotherhood if we can only think of finding differences between ourselves. common grounds seem to falter and break just because of small disputes or clashes of ideas. blinded by our differences i say we are. even as i’m writing now and while you are reading this, differences in opinions and views will not cease to arise. does that mean that we forgo our brotherhood which is of a much bigger importance just because of our small disagreement. blind indeed we are.

alas, humans’ desires are always endless, without horizon some can say. if and only if we can channel that trait to our hearts and minds, i personally think then we will be able to save our pitiful souls. ironic at times when i ponder and reflect on the matters happening around me, wars here and there, israelis killing palestinians and otherwise. they share a common blood running in their veins from our beloved prophet abraham and all mankind from adam and eve peace be upon all of them. yet, we fight and so true are Allah’s words in suratul baqarah, verse 36: “Then the Satan made them slip therefrom (Paradise), and got them out from that in which they were, We said: ‘Go you down, all, with enmity between yourselves. On Earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment for a time.’”

okay, that’s a macroscopic view. let’s scale down by a number of degrees to ourselves and our surroundings. how much as of today you look into the mirror and see only yourself and no one else in the reflection? of course if you’re alone, you’ll be only looking back at you yourself. try for once, look at yourself from another perspective. look at you and trace back through the history of your own self, stop not there but go farther beyond your ancestry to the days you think Allah created our father Adam of earth, still soulless. Imagine ok. now, question ourselves: what have i done so far that creates enmity between my brothers and me? i was once made of earth and Allah honoured me above Allah’s angels. my, oh my, aren’t we too arrogant that we dare to go against Allah’s order: “The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islam), so make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.”, suratul hujurat, verse 10. if we think we are right, the other part also does. look back at the ayah, remember above all our differences, we remain intact, inseparable by a bond much holier and purer than ourselves. remember that Allah ask us to clear our disputes because of the mere differences we have and put Allah first in mind, fearing Allah enough to conquer our ego and hope for the best as much for our brothers as we hope for ourselves. you do not believe till you love for your brother what you love for yourself.

i call upon all of us to ponder upon the message i’m trying to convey today and start to think more deeply while we are living our lives and interacting with others, lest we may cause trouble and therefore, invite Allah’s anger upon us. Oh Allah, grant us your love and redho for we seek nothing else except for your affection. grant us iman for only then we can see with the eyes you gave us and be blind not.

wallahua’lam. ma’assalamah. till next time.

Thanks to Redhuan for providing me this link. I saw this video in one of the UCC Muslim Cultural Society program here in Cork – GAZA’S PLIGHT AND ENDING OF WARS night. This song entitled “Long Live Palestine” by a rapper from UK, Lowkey. This is one of the most eloquent song for GAZA that I’ve ever heard.

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oleh Abu Anas Fathurrahman bin Dawoed
BA Syariah, Universiti Islam Madinah
Guru Agama, Madrasah Wak Tanjong al-Islamiah

Pendahuluan
Isu perbezaan pendapat merupakan sunnatullah yang tidak dapat dielakkan, ianya adalah suatu realiti yang berpunca dari kepelbagaian tahap minda atau keupayaan mental, perbezaan bahasa dan latar belakang, begitu juga dengan persepsi seseorang yang berbeza terhadap sesebuah dalil atau nas. Kesemuanya ini secara tidak langsung menimbulkan kepelbagaian serta percambahan pandangan dan pendapat.

Salah satu tanda kebesaran Allah ialah mencipta makhluk dengan keunikannya tersendiri. Setiap makhluk yang diciptakan dengan keunikannya menunjukkan tanda kebesaran Allah. Oleh yang demikian, tidak hairanlah mengapa perbezaan ini boleh berlaku sejak dari zaman sahabat sehinggalah ke hari ini. Al-Imam ash-Shaatibi di dalam kitabnya al-I’tisom menyebut:

“Sesungguhnya perbezaan pendapat yang terjadi pada zaman sahabat hingga ke hari ini berlaku pada masalah-masalah ijtihadiyyah. Pertama kali ianya berlaku pada zaman khulafa’ ar-Raasyidin dan sahabat-sahabat yang lain, lalu berterusan sehingga zaman para taabiin dan mereka tidak saling mencela di antara satu sama lain” (al-I’tisom 2/191)

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cantiknya ciptaan Allah ni

2 point yang ana ingin ketengahkan disini.

1. Cantiknya Ciptaan Allah SWT ini di perlbagai perspektif, buka lah dimana2 sudut, pasti tiada kecacatan.

2. mengambil diri kita sebagai seorang cameraman, bijaknya dan cantiknya itu boleh diambil sebagai pengajaran untuk kita berfikir sekritis begini. Ana mengharapkan antum semua tiada mengambil sikap memandang rendah terhadap mereka yang bukan islam tetapi berjaya dalam bidang mereka dan cara mereka perlulah diambil sebagai rujukan selagi mana ia tidak bercanggah dengan agama Islam. janganlah kita bermain sikap label melabel dengan label ‘kafir”jahiliyyah’ dan sebagainya tanpa melihat dulu sesuatu hasil kerja seseorang itu.

‘Seek first to understand, than to be understood’

wallahualam

Manfaatkan Kepakaran
oleh : azree_mh*

Pernah satu ketika saya diminta untuk menjadi Program Manager untuk satu program besar di UIAM. Saya yang kebiasaannya hanya menjadi Ketua Biro sahaja berfikir banyak kali sebelum menerima jawatan tersebut.

Bukan apa, satu lagi yang saya boleh buat adalah saya boleh memilih sesiapa sahaja untuk menjadi Ketua Biro dan untuk menjadi ahli jawatankuasa. Memang saya rasa betul-betul berkuasa masa itu. Huhu.

“Macam belum layak je aku jadi Program Manager.” Kata saya cuba menduga sama ada dia memang betul-betul ingin memilih saya atau masih ada calon yang lain.

“Kalau kau tak jadi hari ini, nanti akan datang kalau ada orang minta kau jadi Program Manager alasan ini juga kau akan bagi.” Read the rest of this entry »