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English / Understanding the Qur`aan

« pada: 28 April 2006, 15:02:05 »

Understanding the Qur`aan
The Context is Crucial
 
By Ayub A. Hamid
 
_____________________________ __________________
 
The Context is Crucial

Along with the language and grammar, context is a crucial determinant of the meaning. Whether it is the context of a word within a sentence, the sentence within a paragraph or a paragraph within a chapter, every context has a significant bearing on the meaning of a word. For example, see how the context determines the meaning of the word ‘duck’ in the following sentence:

While looking at the different cloth samples, he really liked one of them and exclaimed, ‘this duck is lovely’ and ordered 100 meters for his sewing shop. 

These crude examples are being used just to demonstrate the point that the context can have a major impact on the meaning of a word or sentence, hence it must be considered for deriving the meaning. When it comes to the Qur-aan, however, many people take its verses out of context and derive meanings from them that are not warranted when considered within the context. They think that because every word of the Qur-aan is true and valid, we should be able to apply it in every situation without considering its context. This is not the right approach. Considering the significance of the context and the widespread disregard for it, this point will be explained in greater detail.

The Holy Qur-aan was compiled in an order different from the order of the revelation on the instructions of its author, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. With every revelation, the Prophet, Ŝall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam was instructed as to the exact order and location of the newly revealed verses or Soorah. The Prophet, Ŝall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam would dictate to the scribes in that order and recite it in the daily Salaah in that order. Thus the Qur-aan is not a collection of unrelated miscellaneous verses that have been randomly assembled. Otherwise, it would have been compiled in the order of revelation. The specific order to the verses that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala Himself gave cannot be without purpose, wisdom and profound reason.

Keeping in view that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala Himself directed the compilation of verses in a certain order in a Soorah and Soorahs in a certain order in the Qur-aan, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala has Himself provided every verse and every Soorah its appropriate context. Thus, the context becomes even more important for the Qur-aan in determining the meaning of a verse of a group of verses than for a segment of any human literature. In fact, it is one of the most important factors in determining the intent and the meaning of any segment of the Holy Qur-aan for yet another reason. Context is one of the tools used for the miraculous brevity of the Qur-aan that amazed and mesmerized the Arabs with its literary excellence. The Holy Qur-aan uses context of the words, phrases and sentences in a very sophisticated manner to deliver a lot of meaning with fewest possible words by putting significant reliance on context to convey the message properly. Thus, to understand the Holy Qur-aan properly, its phrases and sentences should never be taken in isolation of its context. When deriving the meaning of a word, phrase or verse of the Qur-aan, the intended meaning must be put in context and reviewed to ensure that it fits properly with the verses before and the verses after to give a coherent message and that it appropriately relates to the subject mater being discussed at that point in the Qur-aan. It absolutely unacceptable to take any verse out of context and make it mean whatever one likes. A meaning derived without considering the context might be invalid.

Similarly, the author you rely on for helping you in the understanding of the Qur-aan must be conscious of the context of a verse or a Soorah. A Tafseer or translation composed with this perspective will explicitly indicate the relationship of parts of the Qur-aan to other parts.

Those who study the Qur-aan keeping the order and context in mind soon realize the fact that the order of the Qur-aan is in fact an order of miraculous coherence and flow. Every verse of the Qur-aan fits like a gem in its place. Every verse of a chapter is in profound relationship to the verse before and after it. In the same manner, every section and every Soorah has a strong relationship in meaning and theme to the section and the Soorah before it and after it. In turn, the Soorahs are divided into seven groups, each group with its own main theme. Within groups, each Soorah is paired with another Soorah that complements its central idea and presents it from a different angle. Every group has an evolutionary relationship to the other groups preceding and succeeding it. Each group starts with one or more Makkan Soorah(s) and ends with one or more Madani Soorah(s).

The description of relationships, coherence and flow of the verses, sections and Soorahs belongs in the detailed commentary and exegesis (Tafseer) of the Qur-aan. Amin Ahsan Islaahi has done a wonderful job in his Tafseer “Tadabburul Qur-aan” explaining these relationships. On the basis of his work, an overview of the arrangements of Soorahs (Chapter) into seven groups and relationships of Soorahs within first two groups will be presented in the next few paragraphs to show the reader a glimpse of the wisdom in the arrangement of the text of the Qur-aan. While reflecting on the relationships described below and on the other points already mentioned about this topic, think about how a series of revelations occurring over a 23 year period organized in a totally different order than the order of their revelation ended up to be an extremely meaningful and coherent whole. It is humanly impossible for a person to develop a thought in one way and arrange it in another way still making perfect sense, especially for an unlettered man going through the toughest circumstances a human can ever go through. This is another aspect of the Qur-aan that presents evidence that it is the Word of and revelation from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala.

 

 

“And you (O Muhammad!) were not able to recite a book before it (the Qur-aan), and nor were you able to

transcribe (write) with your hand. If it were so, the perpetrators of falsehood would have an excuse to doubt.”

(Al-Ănkaboot 29:48)
 
 
 
 
Next: Seven Groups of Soorahs of the Qur`aan
The First Group
 
Copyright © 2004-2006 Ayub A. Hamid

All rights reserved

This document may be used only with this copyright notice included. Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on internet forums, and include in not-for-profit publications subject to the following conditions: (1) Material used must be produced faithfully in full, without alteration or omission; (2) The author's subject title must remain unchanged, in whole or in part; (3) Material must be attributed to the author Ustaadz Ayub A. Hamid.

Note: The quotations of the Qur-aan provided in the above article is not a literal translation. Instead of  literal translation, it gives interpretive meanings of the verses, along with their contextual details. Please remember that any translation of the Holy Qur-aan is in fact only an _expression of the translator's understanding of  the Word of Allaah

Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, and hence cannot be equated with the Qur-aan itself. Only the original Arabic text can be called the Holy Qur`aan.

'Guidelines for Understanding the Qur`aan' series:
 
Part 1:      Prologue
Part 2:      Approaching the Qur`aan
Part 3-1:  The Qur`aan is in the Language of the Quraish
Part 3-2:  The Basic Rules of Grammar and Literature
 

2

OBrolan ummAT (OBAT) / soal jodoh

« pada: 28 April 2006, 00:52:53 »

apa bener?

saya denger: kalau tak salah

ada banyak akhwat yang gini:

* kalau masih dibawah 25 th : "siapa saya!"
* kalau 25 - 30 : "siapa dia?"
* kalau sudah diatas kepala 3 : "siapa saja!"

3

English / PUSH! When everything seems to go wrong just PUSH!

« pada: 27 April 2006, 01:27:10 »

Exercise your faith & trust!
 
 Al Baqarah 286 On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay  not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; our  Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against Faith."
 
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and Angle appeared. Angle told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.
 
The Angle explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down,his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
 
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind:
 
 "you have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved."
 
Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
 
"Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."
 
And that is what he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to God.
 
"God," he said, I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong?
Why am I failing?"
 
Angle responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve God and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.
Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it! Your task was to push.
 
And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard.
 
Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you havent moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done.
 
Now I, my friend, will now move the rock."

 ******************************
 
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect  to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.
 
When everything seems to go wrong just PUSH.!
 
When the job gets you down ... just PUSH!
When people don't react the way you think they should..just PUSH!
When your money looks "gone"; and the bills are due..just PUSH!
When people just don't understand you ... just PUSH.!

4

English / The story form ahadits:

« pada: 21 April 2006, 00:01:14 »

The story of the hairdresser of the daughter of Pharaoh is narrated as follows:

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:  The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra’), a beautiful fragrance came to me.  I said: O Jibreel, what is this beautiful fragrance? He said: This is the fragrance of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter and her children. I said: What is their story? He said: Whilst she was combing the hair of Pharaoh’s daughter one day, the iron comb fell from her hand and she said, ‘Bismillaah (in the name of Allaah).’ The daughter of Pharaoh said: ‘My father?’ She said: ‘No. My Lord and the Lord of your father is Allaah.’ She said: ‘I will tell him about that.’ She said: ‘Yes.’ So she told him and he summoned her and said: ‘O So and so, do you have a Lord other than me?’ She said: ‘Yes, my Lord and your Lord is Allaah.’ He ordered that a baqarah (lit. “cow”) made of copper be heated up, then he ordered that she and her children be thrown into it. She said: ‘I have a request to make of you.’ He said: ‘What is your request?’ She said: ‘I would like my bones and my children’s bones to be gathered together in one cloth and buried.’ He said: ‘This will be done for you.’ He ordered that her children be thrown into it in front of her, one by one, until they came to the last one who was an infant boy who was still being breastfed. It was as if she wavered because of him, but he said: ‘O mother, go ahead, for the punishment of this world is easier to bear than the punishment of the hereafter.’ So she went ahead.” Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Four infants spoke: ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), the companion of Jurayj, the witness of Yoosuf and the son of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter.

Narrated by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (1/309), al-Tabaraani (12280), Ibn Hibbaan (2903) and al-Haakim (2/496).

Al-Dhahabi said in al-‘Aluw (84): This hadeeth has a hasan isnaad. Ibn Katheer said in al-Tafseer (3/15): There is nothing wrong with its isnaad. Its isnaad was classed as saheeh by the scholar Ahmad Shaakir in his commentary on al-Musnad (4/295). Al-Arna’oot said in Takhreej al-Musnad (5/30-31, no. 2821): Its isnaad is hasan.

Thus it is clear that this story is saheeh and is proven from our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and it is not taken from Jewish or Christian sources.

With regard to the phrase “He ordered that a baqarah (lit. “cow”) made of copper be heated up”, Ibn al-Atheer said in al-Nihaayah (1/145): Al-Haafiz Abu Moosa said: It seems to me that this does not refer to something that was made in the shape of a cow, rather it may have been a vast pot or kettle, which they called a baqarah, taken from the word tabaqqur which means vastness, or it may have been something that could have held a whole cow because of its large size, so it was called thus.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

5

OBrolan ummAT (OBAT) / Yang Kembali ke I S L A M

« pada: 13 April 2006, 00:52:43 »

kisah seseorang yang masuk islam.

saya masukkan juga di lain tmpat dengan basa bule:
http://myquran.org/forum/index.php?topic=446.new#new

yang pake basa indo disini:

dear brother Leo,
you might wish to read the posting/journal of my brother  and friend Bambang..."mas Nono"..
 
Salam
Sis Mari

----- Original Message -----
From: Multiply
To: Maria Corazon Flaig
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 2:15 AM
Subject: Maria Flaig Masuk Islam

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   Maria Flaig Masuk Islam   Apr 5, '06 5:46 AM
for Bambang's network   
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Alhamdulillah, saudara alam maya saya bernama Maria Corazon Flaig asal Filipina telah menyatakan diri masuk agama Islam sebagai pilihannya pada minggu

kemarin, saya sangat terkejut dan bahagia karena bertambah lagi satu saudara baru.

Untuk Mbak Mari, Selamat Datang di dunia Islam, semoga indahnya berislam dapat engkau nikmati hingga akhir hayat nanti...

Bagi yang ingin ucapkan selamat kepada Maria Corazon Flaig alias Mbak Mari, silahkan langsung ke situs MP-nya melalui personal message....

Mari kita jaga kerukunan antar umat manusia, apapun keyakinannya, apapun sukunya, apapun bahasanya....


Salam Manis,

Nono
add reply unsubscribe


View replies:Chronological   Reverse   Threaded
   
add reply
ciput wrote today at 5:48 AM ET
Alhamdulillah Cak...   
   
add reply
kangbayu wrote today at 5:48 AM ET
Subhanallah, semoga bisa mendapat pembimbing yang baik supaya tidak salah jalan dan salah belajar.... =)   
   
add reply
iprillia wrote today at 5:50 AM ET
Mbak Maria yang tinggal di Jerman, kan Cak Nono?   
   
add reply
prajuritkecil wrote today at 5:53 AM ET
Barokallah...
Ahlan wa sahlan ya ukhti fillah
selamat datang kembali   
   
add reply
wib711 wrote today at 5:55 AM ET
kangbayu said
Subhanallah, semoga bisa mendapat pembimbing yang baik supaya tidak salah jalan dan salah belajar.... =)
Amien.....   
   
add reply
ciput wrote today at 6:00 AM ET
ini alamat mp-nya Maria alias Bella kalau mau kasih ucapan. Pls in English atau Tagalog, krn dia ga bisa bahasa Indonesia.   
   
add reply
dirgaa wrote today at 6:23 AM ET
ciput said
ini alamat mp-nya Maria alias Bella kalau mau kasih ucapan. Pls in English atau Tagalog, krn dia ga bisa bahasa Indonesia.
kok not found ya kang ciput?   
   
add reply
hady82 wrote today at 6:32 AM ET
Alhamdulilah....   
   
add reply
iprillia wrote today at 6:33 AM ET
Alhamdulillah..............   
   
add reply
bambangpriantono wrote today at 7:05 AM ET
iprillia said
Mbak Maria yang tinggal di Jerman, kan Cak Nono?
Yupe...liat aja situsnya   
   
add reply
ozetland wrote today at 7:24 AM ET
Alhamdullilah.....Subhanallah ...... mari kita beri dukungan....!   
   
add reply
indrayogi wrote today at 7:42 AM ET
Alhamdulillah, Subhanallah. Semoga selalu diberikan kekuatan untuk beristiqomah. Amin   
   
add reply
tianarief wrote today at 7:50 AM ET
alhamdulillah.    
   
add reply
okalaksana wrote today at 8:06 AM ET
kang dipost donk situsnya... (atau ane cari deh di kontak antum)   
   
add reply
nenden wrote today at 8:13 AM ET
alhamdulillah........   
   
editdeleteadd reply
bellafilipina wrote today at 9:04 AM ET, edited today at 9:04 AM ET
bambangpriantono said
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Alhamdulillah, saudara alam maya saya bernama Maria Corazon Flaig asal Filipina telah menyatakan diri masuk agama Islam sebagai pilihannya pada minggu

kemarin, saya sangat terkejut dan bahagia karena bertambah lagi satu saudara baru.
Asalamo Alaikum wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuh

***Subhanallah***Al hamdulellah*** ALLAHU AKBAR***

Terima Kasih:-)) Matur Nuwun..........to all my dear Indonesian Brothers and Sisters...

MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT MAS NONO
Loads of thanks........
MY INDONESIAN BROTHER.-)))))

MAY ALLAH BLESS US ALL WITH HIS UNDYING LOVE

***the right path has begun..I am on my way to A NEW LIFE***
let's hold the rope tight and never be ashtray----

Your Filipina sister,
sis Mari   
   
editdeleteadd reply
bellafilipina wrote today at 9:06 AM ET
ciput said
ini alamat mp-nya Maria alias Bella kalau mau kasih ucapan. Pls in English atau Tagalog, krn dia ga bisa bahasa Indonesia.
Wahhhhh Mas Ciput....what did u say??
please in english......if u can...and I know you can...

Salamat Kapatid....
Take good care..as always
SALAM

Sis mari   
   
add reply
ida22 wrote today at 9:30 AM ET
alhamdulillah.. :-))   
   
add reply
imazahra wrote today at 11:37 AM ET
Welcome to a new life sister Maria, hope Allah bless you and all of us, together in Islam :-) *hug Maria*   
   
add reply
aryan wrote today at 11:53 AM ET
alhamdulillah   
   
editdeleteadd reply
bellafilipina wrote today at 6:13 PM ET
imazahra said
Welcome to a new life sister Maria, hope Allah bless you and all of us, together in Islam :-) *hug Maria*
Terima kasih Sis FAtimah....
May allah bless you and everyone here...

I'm happy to see you..long time no see:D

Salam
Sis Mari   
   
editdeleteadd reply
bellafilipina wrote today at 6:14 PM ET
ida22 said
alhamdulillah.. :-))
Terima kasih Sis Ida

Salam   
   
editdeleteadd reply
bellafilipina wrote today at 6:15 PM ET
aryan said
alhamdulillah
Thank you Brother Aryan

Glad to see Msulim brothers and sisters passign by:D
Mas Nono is lucky to have you..
and my luck as well:D

SALAM   
   
add reply
bambangpriantono wrote today at 7:20 PM ET
bellafilipina said
Asalamo Alaikum wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuh

***Subhanallah***Al hamdulellah*** ALLAHU AKBAR***

Terima Kasih:-)) Matur Nuwun..........to all my dear Indonesian Brothers and Sisters...

MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT MAS NONO
Loads of thanks........
MY INDONESIAN BROTHER.-)))))

MAY ALLAH BLESS US ALL WITH HIS UNDYING LOVE

***the right path has begun..I am on my way to A NEW LIFE***
let's hold the rope tight and never be ashtray----

Your Filipina sister,
sis Mari
This is the most precious moment Mbak Mari...
Maraming Salamat for being my sister as well...)

with a new life as a Muslima....we support you wherever you are...))

Paalam na, Ate...
Nono   
   
add reply
mediasauna wrote today at 8:15 PM ET
Maraming Salamat apaan sih artinya?   
   Add a reply:

imanov wrote today at 1:48 PM ET
ilzaf said
Alhamdullillah.. si Maria Corazon Flaig Balik Islam

subhana-lLah! alhamdu li-lLah! Allahu akbar!

bertambah lagi seorang saudari.

dan benar belaka B A L I K islam, sesuai dengan sabda rasulu-lLah SAW setiap yang dilahirkan itu dalam fitrah (maxud dan arti fitrah disini ialah islam) hanya orang tuanya yang memajusi-, menashrani- dan meyahudi-kan, alhamdu li-lLah!

6

English / IKHLASH

« pada: 12 April 2006, 17:40:50 »

IKHLASH

Why we do something ?
 
Why is the purpose of doing something ?
 
What do we want out of that labour we do ?
 
What is this for ?
 
Your answer will tell you  your intention .......This intention is called Niyat or Niyyah .....This niyyat must be pure ..........and this  real intention is called sincerity ..............We name it  ikhlash  It is very important for all of us to attain IKHLASH in all our words and actions....
 
Our  Salat, Our Saum , Our Zakat, Our Hajj  ,Our Jihad, Our efforts of Tableegh , our efforts in learning the Deen ,all our actions may go in vain , may become zero at the balance , may become weightless and nothing on the day of judgment.......only and only because our Niyat was not pure.Our intention was not true. There was no IKHLASH and there was no intention of qualifying for the pleasure of Allah..........In short Pleasure of Allah ( Raza e ilaahi ) was not our goal .......therefore we would not get the reward and pleasure of Allah at all.......and except desperation there is nothing for us in end......
 
You are reading this email ......why ? If your intention is to get some points from this email so that you may argue and discuss the topic amongst your friends in order to let them know that you have a sound knowledge of Islam or IKHLASH.....so that people may say that A  is a very learned fellow........He knows so much........ By this knowledge you let down some of your friends..................If this is your intention then it is clear your niyyat is not pure and true........Your niyaat is not to learn something .You intention is not to learn and put into practice the same for your own self..........Your Intention is not to learn and follow it to get the pleasure of Allah swt.................. Your Intention is false..........You will get zero........You will not be able to receive the true blessings and barakah in your life because your niyyah is not pure........
 
I am writing this article for what ? for the reason that the reader would say what a nice article written by Khalid   ? If this is my niyat then all my effort is in vain. I am not going to get any reward from Allah swt ........If my Niyat is to get the pleasure and Riza of Allah swt .........so that some people learn and follow the advices given in it........may make me eligible of receiving rewards from Allah swt............only in that case I may say my niyat is pure............in that case also I may not sure whether it is accepted by Allah swt or not ?
 
In our Deen , IKHLASH ( Sincerity in actions ) is something very very important. Do you know your rewards would be identified and judged on the basis of your intention and niyat.
 
I ask you for what purpose you stand for Salat ? You go to mosque to offer prayers ? What is this for ?  All this exercise is to attain the pleasure of our rabb or to get some appreciation from the people  who see me going to mosque ?
 
You helped a boy get his admission - what was your Niyyah ?
 
You helped a old man reach his home safely - What was your Intention ?
 
So doing good actions is good .....
 
But.........
 
Merely doing good deeds is not good only.
 
We have to check with what intention we are doing the deeds....... If you are doing hard work only to get some lines or words of appreciation from some people then believe me you will get that one only . You will get some words of praise and compliments from some people but you cant claim to get the rewards from Allah swt......because there was no intention in your heart to attain the pleasure of your Rabb at the time of performing that deed.......
 
You wanted praises - you have already got it ........
you wanted appreciation from your friends  - you have got it .............
you wanted others to see that .-so they have seen it
you wanted the people to know -so the people have known it.
you wanted everything but you never wanted or wished to have the pleasure of Allah swt.........so you never get it ........never.....
 
Therefore obtaining IKHLASH is something which is of very high importance and infact the crux of all deeds and the actions. Without having good niyyat and IKHLASH, none can succeed and no action can have the noor of acceptance from Allah and there would be no barakah or rahmat from Allah swt in an action which is free from  ikhlash
 
Please have a look at the following message from the Prophet of Allah swt.

1 -Mahmood ibn Labeed reported that the Allah's Messenger said, "The thing that I fear most for you is the minor Shirk; Riyaa" (Ahmad in his Musnad)

2 -Aboo Sa`eed reported that the Messenger of Allah (saaw) came to us while we were discussing about Dajjaal and said, "Should I not inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjaal? It is the hidden Shirk; A person stands to pray, and he beautifies his prayer because he seeas the people looking at him." (Sunan Ibn Majah vol. 2, #3389)

3 -Aboo Moosaa al-Ash`aree reported that Allah's Messenger delivered a sermon to them one day and said, "O People! Fear this Shirk (meaning riyaa), for it is more inconspicous than the crawling of an ant." (Authenticated in Saheeh al Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, no. 33)

Aboo Hurayrah RA quoted Allah's Messenger (saaw) warning about a person's adoration of himself: "

There are three destructful things:

1    desires that are followed,

2    greediness that is obeyed, and

3    a person's self-admiration and conceit; and this is the worst of the three"

What keeps us away from IKHLASH or Sincerity ? It is Riya or disease to show off.

The Main and Prominent Symptoms that are indicative of riyaa are  The Love of Praise , the Fear of Criticism.

A person suffering from Riya has two main diseases :

The Love of Praise- As mentioned in a hadeeth of the first three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous). All three of these people desired the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore, of him becoming arrogant and boastful.

 Fear of Criticism  - For example, A man offering prayer in Masjid to avoid criticism of people that A does not offer Salat. A person keeping fast or preventing from eating only to avoid the criticism of his friends that A does not keep fasts during Ramadhaan.......

Aboo Moosaa related that a person came to the Prophet (saaw) and asked: "A person fights to defend his honor (i.e. to avoid criticism), another to prove his bravery (i.e. to be praised for it), and a third to show off (i.e. so that his position can be seen); of these three, which one fights in the way of Allah? " He (saaw) answered:

"Whoever fights to make the word of Allaah prevalent [I.e. to bring honor to Islaam, and to establish it in the land], he is the one who fights in the way of Allaah" (Saheeh al-Bukhari vol. 4 #65)

How to control Riya and start journey towards  ikhlash Here are few ways ..........
Before doing anything we should firstly seek knowledge (ilm) - our actions/deeds should be guided by knowledge so that we do them in accordance to the Shariah.
Do not care for what others say - do not make others believe that an action we did was good when it was not.
Al-Imam Ahmad said: Before you do anything, check your intention (niyyah) - ask yourself before performing an action: "Is it for the sake of Allah?"
Thinking about Akhirah, the Qabr , The Jannah -  The Jahannam - The Day of Judgement-
Do your good deeds hidden from the eyes of People ....such as the Salat al Tahajjud.........nobody sees you .......Only there is Allah swt and you .
Find out your own shortcomings and lapses.......Learn what are the faults in your self ..........note down that faults and try to remove or overcome those one by one.
Accompanying the Pious - Always look for pious company. A person cannot save his Deen unless and until he keeps a likewise pious company..........However pious one may be but if he mingles with all kind of people and does not maintain any distance with Tom Dick and Harry neither sits regularly with good friends with piety and virtue..........He is bound to spoil and lost his Deen anytime ...........he cannot retain his qualities unless and until he gets a conducive atmosphere..........

Knowledge of Riyaa` - What is riya ? Ask your elders , scholars and Virtous People ......and then try to avoid the causes of it..
Lastly there is the weapon of a Momin ......Dua ......make sincere duas to have IKHLASH in all your actions and deeds............
Du`aa  .The prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa salam) taught the specific du`aa for riyaa:
"Allahumma innaa na`oothu bika an-nushrika bika shay`an na`lamuhu, wa nastagfiruka limaa laa na`lamuh. [O Allaah, we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and ask your forgiveness for (the shirk that we may commit unknowingly"

Remember what Ibnu al-Qayyim said: Any action we do is subject to three defects:
Being conscious that others are observing our actions
Seeking a return (benefit/reward) for the action
Being satisfied with the action

Examples:
If we go to the masjid for the salah and we are early, arriving before the Imam and finding a place in the first saff, we should not be proud of ourselves and think of ourselves being better than others. We should praise Allah for enabling us to go to the masjid and for being able to perform the salah without any difficulties.
After every salah, we should tell ourselves that we could have performed it better and try to improve in our next salah.
 
Remember - ikhlashcannot coexist in a heart which  loves praise and commendation as a reward for his actions

I  conclude my reminder with a hadeeth and an Ayah
 
1. The Muslim ummah will be victorious, for the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, what translated means, "Allah only gives victory to this nation because of its weak ones, because of their du`aa', prayer and ikhlas." [At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib].

2. Allah said about some people who observe ikhlas, what translated means, "And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to the poor, the orphan, and the captive. (Saying), 'We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily, we fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislikeness to it).' So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadhratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient." [76:8-12]   

YOUR BROTHER IN ISLAM KHALID BIN UMAR

7

English / A L L A H

« pada: 12 April 2006, 17:03:09 »

The word "ALLAH" is made-up of the following two syllables: "AL" and "ILAH".
AL means THE;   
ILAH means GOD.

The two together simply means "THE GOD" (without partners).
When the above two syllables, which are the two units of pronunciations forming the word Allah, are combined and joined together the letter "I" is unpronounced, so... NOT al-Ilah but alLAH.

Recently, some Christian scholars have made great efforts to publish the sketches of the Statues of the Moon God from the period of the "Pagan Arabs" who had lived before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). None is denying that. The  Pagan Arabs had a "moon-god". But, they also had hundreds of other gods so why the "moon god". Their widely circulated and propagated argument is that the followers of Prophet Muhammad have Crescent Moon on their Mosques. 

The Arabic word for "Moon" is "QAMAR", as used in the heading (title) for Chapter 54 of the Qur'an. It is not to be found in this word "Allah" under study.

The most important question is since when and by whom? More than six centuries after the passing away of the Prophet of Islam, the Crescent Moon became  the symbol of the Ottoman Empire (founded in 1288). Look at the read flag of the modern day Turkey with the white Crescent, the historical seat of the Ottoman Empire. If Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), was truly preaching the worship of a "moon god" to his companions, he would have certainly placed the images of the "Crescent Moon" (or rather of the "Full Moon" to signify the greater glory), on the Mosques that he and his immediate followers had built in Madina and Mekkah.
The sketches of "moon gods" do not shake the beliefs of Muslims in their Allah.   

Muslims and Jews go by the Lunar Calendar. Christians go by the Solar. Does that translate Jews too have a moon  god like Muslims and Christians have a sun god?

8

English / Face or Feet?

« pada: 10 April 2006, 15:31:13 »

Once a Muslim scholar was flying to a country with an airplane. When the time for salah came, he went to the bathroom to make wudhu (ablution). Since, the bathrooms in airplanes are very small, he had to open the door to lift up his foot to the sink. An air hostess came to him and told him not to wash his feet in the sink because they are dirty. The scholar calmly asked the hostess "How many times do you wash your face?" The hostess replied "Usually once or twice." Then the scholar replied "I wash my feet five times a day for prayers. Therefore, my feet are cleaner than your face."

The purpose of this story is not to get a good laugh. However, it teaches us how regular we should be about prayers. It also shows us how to deal with non Muslim comments regarding wudhu.

9

OBrolan ummAT (OBAT) / PETITION

« pada: 10 April 2006, 15:24:53 »

PETITION To: ISNA


We, the undersigned, call for a postponement of the ratification of the proposed ISNA Halal standards until recognized Muslim scholars have addressed the issues of Shari’ah compliance within the context of the global food system, and the Muslim community has had a chance to weigh in with their own opinions and questions.

Such an endeavor requires more time for research and debate, but is essential to ensuring that the standards attain the input of scholars and are in alignment with the sentiments of the Muslim community in the United States in conjunction with the realities of the larger Muslim community.

These standards are highly problematic; they will allow the same very low quality meat that is now being offered in the Muslim community to be certified as halal.

Although certification is a very lucrative business, we are selling ourselves short; for the sake of a share in this market, we are selling our health, our children's health, and any dignity we have as Muslims in the eyes of the world when they see what we consider as 'halal': tortured, disease-infested animals raised on farms that employ modern-day slave laborers - all so that we can have access to a lucrative market and cheap food.

What is even worse than that is the Baraka of Allah most High that we will forfeit as a community because of the completely unwholesome food we are consuming; food raised in the most corrupt and pernicious ways.

By allowing our community to implicate us in these issues through this certification program, we are indirectly condoning and perpetuating the many manifestations of corruption and oppression in the world today.

The CONTENTS of this document are:
1. The ISNA Halal Certification Program objectives
2. Brief list of problems with the standards
3. Our request
4. FAQ
5. Quranic proofs related to food production and consumption


(1) The ISNA Halal Certification Program objectives:

i) To make Halal standards that will become law in the state of Illinois
ii) To activate Muslim leaders to establish halal as Muslim identity in North America
iii) Unifying National Halal Standards – ISNA will propose the National Halal Standards


(2) The STANDARDS for Halal slaughter being proposed by ISNA are problematic in many areas. A few examples are   described below:

ANIMAL TREATMENT AND FEED:

Animals are raised in the most unimaginably cruel and inhumane ways, living in fear and pain for most if not all of their lives

Livestock are castrated, dehorned, branded on the face, chickens are debeaked, all without anesthetic, and these are standard practices

They are raised in completely unnatural and unhygienic environments, wreaking ecological havoc on the surrounding communities

Even if animal feed is vegetarian it is made up of grains, among other synthetic supplements and additives, which is a diet given to ruminants to fatten them up as fast as possible

This makes the meat high in fat, cholesterol and Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Grass raised meat, which is not to be found in the conventional market, is low in fat and cholesterol but high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids

While millions of people die of starvation, 40-50% of the global grain is fed to animals

OUR HEALTH:

Sick and tumor-plagued animals are not only allowed to be sold as food, they are the norm

Over 25 million lbs per year of antibiotics are used for livestock because these corporate farms are sanctuaries for super-diseases

Pesticides in the meat are a serious health problem for the consumer

GMO’s (genetically modified organism) are in the animal feed. We do not yet know the effects of eating this meat, but large groups of specialists and consumers are warning against GMO’s in the food and this must be respected and thoroughly researched

HUMAN SLAUGHTER:

Most slaughterhouses are not equipped for humane slaughter of animals, which Islam requires

These standards do not address the fact that if these animals are not stunned, they have to be shackled alive, hung upside down by the back leg, which is grossly inhumane

FARMER / WORKER ABUSE:

Agriculture is one of the most exploitive and hazardous industries today in the US and worldwide

About 5 million U.S. farmers have been forced out of the market in ~60 yrs

About 300,000 acute pesticide poisonings annually in the US and 25 million globally

MNCs VS. LOCAL FOOD:

Many of ayahs of the Quran speak to the requirement of wholesome food, in addition to its being lawful. Moreover, the Quran addresses the immorality of aggression and corruption of the earth in relation to human activities that impact on the land

We have reached a peak in all recorded human history of corruption and aggression in the earth, and it is intimately intertwined with agriculture

One of the large MNCs (Multi-National Corporations) we are supporting with our buying power is Monsanto, which is taking over the seed market in many countries like India and now in Iraq thanks to US Order 81 that illegalizes Iraqi farmers from saving their seeds and requires them to buy patented seeds from Monsanto.

The answer to the problem is to do as the Muslims who emigrated to Madinah did, to create our own markets.


(3) IT IS OUR REQUEST:

To postpone the ratification of Halal standards until duty-bound, recognized Muslim scholars have properly addressed the issues of Shari’ah in an exhaustive way within the context of the current globalized and industrialized food system so that comprehensive and germane Shari’ah rulings can be researched, derived, and debated.

This label of halal is a serious matter of religion, encompassing the health and wellbeing of humanity and God’s creation

And you shall not say—by way of mere falsehoods that your tongues represent: Such and such is lawful and such and such is forbidden! So as to forge a lie against God. Indeed, those who forge lies against God shall not succeed. Small enjoyment have they in life, and then a most painful torment awaits them! (Soorat Al-Nahl, 16:116)

Note that this commandment is stated by Allah, Exalted and Most High, in direct relation to the commandment of our food consumption, strongly implicating the Muslim community’s need to be resolute in the social stand they take regarding lawful and wholesome food consumption.

So [stand firm in faith, O you who believe, and] eat from what God has provided you, [if it be] lawful and wholesome. Yet give thanks for the blessing of God, if, indeed, it is He alone whom you worship. Indeed, He has but forbidden you to [eat] carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which other than [the name of] God is invoked [at the time of slaughter]. But whoever is compelled [by circumstance to eat any of this]—without being rebellious and without being a willful transgressor—[will find] then [that] God is, indeed, all-forgiving, mercy-giving. (Soorat Al-Nahl, 16:114-15)

Any Halal standards should have the real consensus of the Muslim community


(4) FAQs

IS IT OUR POSITION THAT ALL INDUSTRIAL FOOD IS HARAM?

No. The issue is that the food is undoubtedly not tayyib/wholesome

Halal and haram are part of a spectrum of positions: obligatory, recommended, allowed, disliked, forbidden – and we should utilize the spectrum instead of just the two polar positions

In addition, halal and tayyib are intertwined as illustrated in the following:

a) It is haram to corrupt the things that life depends on; so in that respect it is haram to corrupt water. This does not necessarily mean that the polluted water is then haram to drink, but one who has any sense would seek out clean and wholesome water.

b) And so it is with food, the act of corrupting the food is haram. That does not mean the food itself is haram, or that we must stamp it haram, but we have to seek out tayyib/wholesome food.

c) The unwholesome, when it comes to food, is, in fact, questionable as to its permissibility—and requires Muslim jurists capable of forming independent positions to opine on it before it can be condoned.

We may not be responsible for the haram acts of corrupting the food, but we are responsible for leading Muslims to believe this food is tayyib. Moreover, leading Muslims and others to believe that corrupted food is halal raises serious concerns about the Shariah legitimacy of such a position, for it places Muslims in the position of supporting the corrupting entities with their purchases.

As Muslims, we are responsible for enjoining righteousness and prohibiting corruption – accepting food from and giving our money to some of the most corrupt organizations on the face of this earth (which is NO exaggeration) is enjoining corruption!

IF THE FOOD IS NOT TAYYIB THEN WHAT WILL WE EAT?

There are local farmers who are being squeezed out of their livelihood by the MNC’s; it would serve both our interests to create cooperative relationships with them

The organic market is the fastest growing market right now, at 20% per year. There is already a great demand and the supply is growing – we have no excuses.

One model could catalyze the formation of other models around the nation and the globe for Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

There is already a growing ‘local food’ movement. All we have to do is join forces with them and offer the invaluable solutions we have access to in the Quran so that our solutions are divinely inspired and not trial and error!

IS THIS UNREALISTIC AND IDEALISTIC?

Organic standards that were fought for are now being compromised by the corporate interests because it has become a profitable market

Local Food movements are now growing because this is a far more effective solution that hits the root of the problem. But they are struggling with, among other things, policies that favor the large, highly subsidized corporate farms

That the laws exempt religious food standards from federal and state policies puts us in a most advantageous position

We are not using the situation to the full benefit we can achieve from it; we have a great opportunity to become the real leaders in the increasingly critical issue of food consumption


(5) AYAHS of the Quran related to food [that are not given due attention]:

(Soorat Al-Nisaa’ 4:119) And I shall, most surely, lead them astray. Moreover, I shall, most surely, fill them with fancies. Thus, I shall command them: And they shall slit the ears of cattle [in false ritual]. And I shall command them: And they shall [seek unnatural] change [to] the creation of God. But whoever takes Satan as a patron, apart from God, has most surely suffered a manifest loss.

a) GMO’s maybe the most significant and obvious way that humans are now changing creation.

b) Raising animals in unnatural environments with unnatural feed is changing the creation of God

(Soorat Al-Baqarah 2:204-06) Now, there is among humanity, [the like of] one whose words about the life of this world please you. And he [openly] calls upon God to bear witness as to what is in his heart, though truly, he is most relentlessly contentious. For when he turns away [from you], he strives in the land to spread corruption therein and to destroy tillage and livestock— and God does not love corruption. Thus when it is said to him: Be [truly] God-fearing! arrogant pride carries him into [yet more] sin. Thus sufficient for him is Hell— and a most woeful cradle [it is]!

a) MNC’s, which are defined by law as a “person,” use media to create demand for their products, by using words and images about “the life of this world that will please you”—but what they are really doing is spreading corruption in the earth and destroying crops and livestock!

(Soorat Al-Nisaa’ 4:29) O you who believe! You shall not consume one another’s wealth by false means. But, rather, let there be [free] trade with consent among yourselves. And you shall not kill one another. Indeed, God is ever merciful to you.

Soorat Hood 11:85) And, O my people! You shall fill the measure and the balance with justice. And you shall not defraud the people of their [rightful] things. Nor shall you make mischief in the earth, sowing corruption [in it]. (

a) The Quran is telling us that we should not be supporting practices—even (or, perhaps, especially) if those practices are that of an entire industry—that are destroying millions of people globally – even if it goes by the nice name of Free Trade or the official-sounding acronyms of GATT, NAFTA, CAFTA and so on. The fact of the matter is that we are consuming other’s possessions wrongfully!


Sincerely,

The Undersigned

klick here, please
 
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ecohala1/petition-sign.html?
 

10

Kajian Quran dan Hadits / HADITS

« pada: 10 April 2006, 15:13:50 »

Manisnya Iman

Diriwayatkan dari Anas bin Malik radhiyallahu'anhu, dia berkata, "  Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallam bersabda, artinya,

"Ada tiga hal, yang jika tiga hal itu ada pada seseorang, maka dia akan merasakan manisnya iman. (Yaitu); Allah dan Rasul-Nya lebih dia cintai daripada selain keduanya; Mencintai seseorang, dia tidak mencintainya kecuali karena Allah; Benci untuk kembali kepada kekufuran setelah Allah menyelamatkan darinya, sebagaimana bencinya jika dicampakkan ke dalam api." (Muttafaq'alaih)

Rawi Hadits

Dia seorang sahabat Nabi yang mulia, Abu Hamzah Anas bin Malik bin an-Nadlar an-Najjari al-Khazraji radhiyallahu'anhu. Seorang imam, ahli baca al-Qur'an, mufti, muhaddits, riwayatul Islam dan sekaligus pelayan Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallam. Al-Imam adz-Dzahabi mengatakan, "Dia mendampingi Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallam dengan begitu sempurna, dan senantiasa menyertai Rasul semenjak beliau hijrah ke Madinah. Berkali-kali dia mengikuti perang beserta Nabi shallallahu'alaihi wasallam dan merupakan salah seorang yang ikut berbai'at di bawah pohon (bai'atul'aqabah)."

Anas radhiyallahu'anhu berkata, "Aku melayani Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallam selama sepuluh tahun, beliau tidak pernah memukulku, tidak pernah mencelaku dan tidak pernah bermuka masam di hadapanku." Rasulullah mendoakan Anas agar dikaruniai harta dan anak yang banyak dan doa beliau dikabulkan Allah. Disebutkan bahwa putra-putri Anas pada masa menjelang wafat mencapai lebih dari seratus orang. Beliau meninggal pada tahun 91 atau 92 hijriyah. Beliau adalah sahabat Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam yang paling akhir meninggal dunia, dan ketika beliau wafat, maka bersedihlah semua orang sehingga dikatakan, "Separuh ilmu telah pergi".

Makna Hadits

-Tiga hal, maksudnya adalah tiga ciri atau sifat.

-Jika tiga hal itu ada pada seseorang maka dia akan merasakan manisnya iman. Maksud ada pada dirinya yaitu secara utuh keseluruhannya. Maka artinya adalah ada tiga sifat yang jika tiga sifat itu ada pada seseorang maka orang tersebut akan merasakan manisnya iman. Dan yang dimaksud dengan manisnya iman adalah rasa nikmat ketika melakukan ketaatan kepada Allah, ketenangan hati dan lapangnya dada.

Al-Imam Ibnu Hajar al-Asqalani berkata, "Syaikh Abu Muhammad bin Abu Hamzah berkata, "Pengungkapan dengan lafal "manis" karena Allah subhanahu wata'ala mengumpamakan iman sebagaimana pohon, seperti di dalam firman-Nya, surat Ibrahim 24, "Tidakkah kamu perhatikan bagaimana Allah telah membuat perumpamaan kalimat yang baik seperti pohon yang baik."

Kalimat thayyibah (baik) adalah kalimatul ikhlash, kalimat tauhid, sedangkan pohon merupakan pokok dari keimanan, cabang-cabangnya adalah menjalankan perintah dan menjauhi larangan, daun-daunnya adalah segala amal kebaikan yang harus diperhatikan seorang mukmin, dan buahnya adalah segala macam bentuk ketaatan. Manisnya buah akan didapat ketika buah sudah matang, dan puncak dari rasa manis itu adalah bila buah telah masak total, maka ketika itulah akan terasa manisnya buah tersebut.

-Allah dan Rasul-Nya lebih dia cintai dari pada selain keduanya, artinya mencintai Allah subhanahu wata'ala dan Rasul-Nya melebihi cintanya kepada orang lain seperti orang tua, anak, diri sendiri dan semua orang.

-Mencintai seseorang, dia tidak mencintainya kecuali karena Allah. Maksudnya adalah hendaknya hubungan antara seorang muslim dengan saudaranya -muslim yang lain- dilandasi dengan iman kepada Allah subhanahu wata'ala dan amal shalih. Bertambahnya kecintaan bukan karena mendapatkan keuntungan materi dan berkurangnya cinta bukan karena tiadanya manfaat dunia yang diperoleh, namun ukurannya adalah iman dan amal shalih.

-Benci jika kembali kepada kekufuran, sebagaimana bencinya jika dilemparkan ke dalam api. Di dalam riwayat lain disebutkan, "Bahkan dilemparkan ke dalam api lebih dia sukai daripada kembali kepada kekufuran, setelah Allah menyelamatkan dia dari kekufuran itu." Ini maknanya lebih mendalam daripada riwayat di atas, karena riwayat di atas menunjukkan kesamaan tingkat di dalam membenci kekufuran dan membenci jika dibakar di dalam api.

Beberapa Faidah dan Hukum

  a.. Iman kepada Allah subhanahu wata'ala memiliki rasa manis yang tidak mungkin dinikmati, kecuali oleh orang-orang yang beriman dengan sebenarnya, yang disifati dengan ciri-ciri yang mengindikasikan sebagai ahlinya. Oleh karena itu, tidak semua orang yang menyatakan dirinya mukmin otomatis dapat merasakan manisnya iman itu.

  b.. Cinta Allah, kemudian disusul cinta Rasul-Nya shallallahu'alaihi wasallam merupakan ciri terpenting yang harus dimiliki oleh siapa saja yang ingin merasakan lezatnya iman. Cinta Allah dan cinta rasul-Nya tidak boleh diungguli oleh cinta kepada siapa pun selain keduanya. Bahkan cinta Allah dan Rasul-Nya merupakan parameter dan tolok ukur bagi kecintaan terhadap diri sendiri, orang tua, anak, dan seluruh manusia.

  Suatu ketika Umarradhiyallahu'anhuberkata kepada Nabi shallallahu'alaihi wasallam, "Wahai Rasulullah, sungguh engkau lebih aku cintai dari pada segala sesuatu apa pun, kecuali diriku." Maka Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda, "Tidak demikian, demi Dzat yang jiwaku berada di tangan-Nya, sehingga aku lebih engkau cintai dari pada dirimu sendiri." Maka Umar menjawab, "Demi Allah, sesungguhnya engkau sekarang lebih aku cintai dari pada diriku sendiri." Maka Nabi mejawab, "Sekarang hai Umar," (telah sempurna imanmu). Anas radhiyallahu'anhu juga meriwayatkan dari Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallam, beliau bersabda, artinya,
  "Tidak beriman salah seorang di antara kalian, sehingga aku lebih dia cintai dari pada orang tuanya, anaknya dan seluruh manusia." Dan konsekuensi dari cinta ini adalah memenuhi apa yang diperintahkan Allah dan Rasul serta menjauhi apa yang dilarang Allah dan Rasul dengan penuh rasa rela dan ketundukan yang utuh, sebagaimana firman Allah subhanahu wata'ala, artinya,  'Katakanlah, "Jika kamu (benar-benar) mencintai Allah, ikutilah aku, niscaya Allah mengasihi dan mengampuni dosa-dosamu". Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang.' (QS. 3:31)

  c.. Di antara sebab-sebab yang dapat mengantarkan seseorang memperoleh kecintaan Allah -setelah melakukan kewajiban- adalah sebagaimana yang disampaikan al-Imam Ibnul Qayyim, yaitu:

    a.. Membaca al-Qur'an dengan merenungkan dan memahami maknanya.
    b.. Mendekatkan diri kepada Allah subhanahu wata'ala dengan melakukan amalan sunnah.
    c.. Terus menerus berdzikir kepada Allah dalam segala kondisi, baik dengan hati, lisan atau perbuatan.
    d.. Mendahulukan apa yang dicintai Allah dibanding yang dicintai diri sendiri.
    e.. Berteman dengan orang-orang yang jujur mencintai Allah dan sesama muslim.
    f.. Menjauhi segala perkara yang dapat menghalangi antara hati dengan Allah.
  d.. Mencintai Nabi shallallahu'alaihi wasallam adalah merupakan tuntutan dari kecintaan terhadap Allah subhanahu wata'ala. Ia berada di atas kecintaan terhadap seluruh manusia. Di antara ciri-cirinya adalah:

    a.. Beriman bahwa beliau shallallahu'alaihi wasallam adalah utusan Allah, yang diutus kepada seluruh umat manusia, sebagai pemberi peringatan dan kabar gembira, sebagai penyeru ke jalan Allah dengan membawa cahaya yang terang benderang.
    b.. Bercita-cita untuk bertemu dengan beliau dan khawatir jika tidak dapat bertemu beliau.
    c.. Menjalankan perintah-perintah beliau dan menjauhi larangan beliau, karena orang yang mencintai seseorang, maka akan menaatinya. Jangan sampai tertipu dengan klaim dusta mencintai Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallamnamun tidak menjalankan perintahnya, bahkan menerjang larangannya.
    d.. Menolong sunnahnya, mengamalkan, menyebarkan, membela dan memperjuangkannya.
    e.. Banyak bershalawat dan bersalam kepada Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wasallam.
    f.. Berakhlaq dengan akhlaq beliau dan beradab dengan adab-adab beliau.
    g.. Mencintai sahabat-sahabat beliau dan membela mereka.
    h.. Mengkaji perjalanan hidup dan sirah beliau serta mengetahui keadaan dan berita-berita yang menyangkut beliau.

  e.. Selayaknya jalinan seorang muslim dengan muslim yang lain dibangun di atas landasan cinta kepada Allah subhanahu wata'ala. Karena jenis cinta seperti ini memiliki keutamaan yang amat besar, dan mendatangkan pahala yang banyak. Imam al-Bukhari dan imam Muslim meriwayatkan hadits Nabi shallallahu'alaihi wasallam tentang tujuh golongan yang akan dinaungi oleh Allah pada hari tidak ada naungan kecuali naungan-Nya. Salah satu di antaranya adalah, "Dua orang yang saling menyintai karena
Allah, berkumpul karena-Nya dan berpisah karena-Nya."

  f.. Saling mencintai karena Allah mempunyai hak-hak yang harus ditunaikan, di antaranya:

    a.. Membantu memenuhi kebutuhan saudaranya dan mau melakukan itu, sebagaimana di dalam hadits, "Sebaik-baik orang adalah yang paling memberi manfaat kepada orang lain."
    b.. Tidak membicarakan aib, meminta maaf ketika melakukan kesalahan, sebagaimana diri kita juga senang jika aib kita tidak dibicarakan, maka mereka pun demikian.
    c.. Tidak membenci, tidak iri dan dengki terhadap nikmat yang diberikan Allah kepada saudara kita.
    d.. Mendoakan saudara kita -tanpa sepengetahuannya- baik ketika dia masih hidup atau setelah meninggal dunia. Karena doa yang dilakukan tanpa sepengetahuan orang yang didoakan adalah mustajab, begitu pula bagi yang berdoa.
    e.. Bersegera mengucapkan salam jika bertemu, bertanya tentang kabar dan keadaanya, tidak bersikap sombong dan merasa tinggi.

  g.. Kekufuran adalah hal yang dibenci Allah. Maka seorang mukmin wajib membencinya sebagaimana benci jika dilemparkan ke dalam api, bahkan lebih benci lagi. Orang kafir juga dibenci oleh Allah, maka orang mukmin juga harus membencinya disebabkan oleh kekufurannya yang akan menggiring masuk neraka. Atas dasar ini maka bersikap loyal (berwala') kepada orang kafir adalah merupakan sebab dari kemurkaan Allah subhanahu wata'ala dan kemarahan-Nya. Di antara bentuk-bentuk sikap loyal kepada orang kafir adalah mencintai mereka, menolong mereka dalam rangka memerangi orang mukmin, bermudahanah (berbasa-basi, tidak mengingkari kesesatan dan kekeliruan mereka sehingga terkesan membenarkan-red), bersahabat atau mengambil mereka sebagai teman akrab dan mengangkat mereka menjadi orang kepercayaan serta orang dekat (bithanah). Padahal Allah subhanahu wata'ala telah berfirman, artinya,  'Janganlah orang-orang mu'min mengambil orang-orang kafir menjadi wali dengan meninggalkan orang-orang mu'min. Barangsiapa berbuat demikian, niscaya lepaslah ia dari pertolongan Allah kecuali karena (siasat) memelihara diri dari sesuatu yang ditakuti dari mereka. Dan Allah memperingatkan kamu terhadap diri (siksa)-Nya. Dan hanya kepada Allah kembali (mu).' (QS. 3:28)

  Diambil dan diterjemahkan oleh Abu Ahmad Taqiyuddin dari makalah Syaikh Nashir al-Syimali, dengan judul'halawatul iman'

Netter Al-Sofwa yang dimuliakan Allah Ta'ala, Menyampaikan Kebenaran adalah kewajiban setiap Muslim. Kesempatan kita saat ini untuk berdakwah adalah dengan menyampaikan "Artikel Manisnya Iman" kepada saudara-saudara kita yang belum mengetahuinya. Semoga Allah Ta'ala Membalas 'Amal Ibadah Kita. Aamiin

Waassalamu'alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakatuh

11

English / a revert story

« pada: 09 April 2006, 19:49:08 »

-------Maria wrote on Mar 25

Dear Brother Leo,
asalamo alaikum
I am very happy to inform you that
tomorrow, March 26, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.
here in g?tersloh..

I will finally enter and be converted in ISLAM
At last...and I know from my heart I am on the right path...

ALLAHU AKBAR

Your future sister,
Maria   

-------- imanov wrote on Mar 26
SUBHANA_LLAAH!
dearest sister maria, my true sister!
alhamdu li-lLah!
you are most welcome home!
may Allah bless you!

your brother
leo   
   

----imanov wrote on Mar 27
well,
why did i say welcome home?

coz:

Those who embrace Islam and become Muslims are referred to as Reverts,
not Converts, because all people are born Muslims!

----- imanov wrote on Mar 28
have a look at the site:
http://www.islam-guide.com/   
   
---- imanov wrote on Mar 28
i DO love you for the sake of Allah.

if you need anything, just let me know,
hoping that i can do somthing for my dear sister.

ok?   
   
bellafilipina wrote on Mar 29

> imanov said

>dearest sister maria, true sister!
>alhamdu li-lLah!
>you are mostwelcome home!
>may Allah bless you!
>your brother
>leo

Asalamo alaikum!!!

Dear Brother Leo,
I'm very glad of your reply and thank you so much for the help offerring..
Well what more could I say?? thanks for your support..
Will tell you if I need something and I have to lern more and more....

I am attending Quran lesson two times a week and
my Muslim friends here in G?tersloh are very supportive...
and I have met so many wondefful people...

I love you too for the sake of ALLAH
ALLAHUH AKBAR!!!
MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY:-)))

till next....

Your sister,
Maria   
   
--- imanov wrote on Mar 29
wa 'alaikumu-ssalam wa rahamatu-lLahi wa barakatuH
my dearest sister maria.
alhamdu li-lLah, alhamdu li-lLah, thanx Allah,
He has given me a new and a true sister!
remember dear, our lives are just like examinations,
everyday everysecond so hold tightly on Allah's rope!
ask Him, and only Him.

wa-ssalamu 'alaikum
your brother
leo
   
imanov wrote on Mar 31

i just send you an article: pls read it, honey.

WHO IS ALLAAH?

Allaah is the proper name applied to the true God who exists necessarily by Himself comprising all the excellent Divine names and attributes of perfection. Allaah is

One and Unique. He has no son, no partner, nor equal. He is the sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Every creature bears witness to His Oneness, Divinity,

.............
.. cut.......
............
This world is a difficult journey An obstacle to overcome, Especially in the place we live in, Not everyday is bright and fun.
The righteous salaf were as fearful of their good deeds being squandered, or not being accepted, as the present generation is certain that their neglect would be
forgiven. [Hasan Al-Basri]
   
   
--- imanov wrote on Mar 31
if you don't mind, would you please send me
your e-mail address so that i can send you some uplifting news or the like   
   
--- bellafilipina wrote on Apr 2
> imanov said
> if you don't mind, would you please send me your e-mail address
> so that i can send you some uplifting > news or the like
> Dear Brother Leo,

Asalamo Alaikum
thank you so much for the long message here, you are really very caring brother.
today, I commemorate my one week as Muslima, and up to now I was still wondering and as if it's a dream----I live in Peace..Islam is peace to my heart..to my life.

My family is very much christian, but when I called my brother in Singapore to informed him about my convertion..he was happy for me..he respected my decision..

Well, here is my email address

baybee-flaig@t-online.de

I wish you a blessed weekend!!!
your sister in Allah,
Maria   




--- maria flaig <baybee-flaig@t-online.de wrote:

 Wa Alaikum Salam
 
 My dear Brother Leo,
 
 May Allah bless you upon receiving this mail..
 thank you for the fw..and you know I printed and read already last
 two nites
 the first message you sent to me re: who is Allah (per multiply)
 
 I am learning like from Kindergarten...but I know will learn it real
 soon..especially the al fatiha..and al sura...
 
 Thank you as always
 Take good care
 
 Your Sister,
 Maria



bellafilipina said

I live in Peace..Islam is peace to my heart..to my life.
alhamdu li-lLah!

imanov said
we do thanx Allah for that my dear sis!
keep learning and be p a t i e n t.

imanov wrote:
bismi-lLah
alhamdu li-lLah
wa assalamu 'alaikum dearest sister in islam maria,

the most important thing is that you must have patience.

patience in all: learning, doing what you have to do and leaving what
are prohibit in islam.

may Allah guide us all always and show the right path besides that He
bombard with His blessing.

wa-ssalamu 'alaikum

you brother in islam

leo imanov

12

Dunia Dakwah Islam / (SIPILIS) sekularisme-liberalisme

« pada: 09 April 2006, 18:52:38 »

“Peringatan KH Khalil Ridwan”

Senin, 03 April 2006
KH Khalil Ridwan, pimpinan pesantren Husnayain mengklarifikasi tentang upaya infiltrasi paham sekularisme-liberalisme (SIPILIS) ke pondok pesantren. Baca Catatan Akhir Pekan Adian Husaini ke 142

Oleh: Adian Husaini

Pada tanggal 27 Maret 2006, Harian Republika memuat sebuah surat pembaca yang dikirim oleh KH A. Khalil Ridwan, seorang Ketua Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Surat ini sangat penting untuk diperhatikan, karena memberikan klarifikasi dan peringatan tentang upaya infiltrasi paham sekularisme-liberalisme ke pondok-pondok pesantren. Surat itu juga menyebutkan adanya sikap tegas dari pimpinan Badan Kerjasama Pondok Pesantren se-Indonesia (BKSPPI) yang memutus segala bentuk kerjasama dengan lembaga pengasong ide liberal ICIP (International Center for Islam and Pluralism) yang dipimpin Dr. M. Syafii Anwar. Tampaknya, selama ini,
kerjasama itu hanya dilakukan oleh ‘oknum’ BKSPPI saja.

Sebagai salah satu anggota Majlis Pimpinan BKSPPI, Kyai Khalil mengaku tidak tahu menahu tentang kerjasama tersebut, dan menyebut kerjasama itu sebagai “sebuah kecelakaan dan bencana yang sedang menimpa organisasi BKSPPI.” Ia juga menyatakan, kerjasama tersebut, “sangat berbahaya bagi ketahanan aqidah umat.”

Alhamdulillah, kata Kyai Khalil, KH.Didin Hafiduddin sebagai ketua Presidium MP BKSPPI telah mengadakan rapat yang dihadiri oleh pengurus BKSPPI, pada Hari Rabu 22 Shafar 1427. Hasilnya: Memutuskan semua kerjasama antara BKSPPI dengan ICIP dan membatalkan kerjasama menerbitkan majalah AL-WASATHIYAH. Selanjutnya BKSPPI, tidak bertanggung jawab apabila majalah tersebut masih terbit.

Kyai Khalil Ridwan mengimbau agar umat umat Islam dengan serius merapatkan barisan dan jangan mudah terbius oleh zukhrufalqoul (ucapan yang menipu) dari kalangan munafiqin yang mengasong-asongkan dagangan berupa syirik modern dalam bentuk faham atau aliran yang sudah diharamkan oleh MUI pada MUNAS 2005. Juga, khususnya kepada kalangan pondok Pesantren dan organisasi pondok pesantren, Kyai Betawi itu juga mengingatkan, agar mereka mewaspadai
kemungkinan adanya infiltran yang sengaja disusupkan di lingkungan masing-masing.

Demikian surat KH Khalil Ridwan di Harian Republika.

Peringatan KH Khalil, yang juga pimpinan pesantren Husnayain, sebenarnya menyiratkan satu beban kepedihan yang sangat mendalam. Betapa tidak, di tengah-tengah tekanan dan beban ekonomi yang sedang dililit oleh kalangan pondok pesantren, datanglah agen-agen LSM asing yang menawarkan program-program dan dana yang menggiurkan.

Tidak mudah untuk menolak hal semacam itu. Saat ini, “dagangan” yang laku dijual kepada Barat adalah menjual isu atau ide yang “mengobok-obok Islam”, seperti paham Pluralisme Agama, dekonstruksi konsep wahyu, kesetaraan gender, dekonstruksi syariah, dan sejenisnya. Isu-isu semisal “pemberantasan kemiskinan” dan “advokasi hukum” tidak begitu laku lagi dijual, sehingga LSM-LSM sejenis YLBHI pun tidak semakmur dulu, sebelum Perang Dingin berakhir. Simaklah sederetan nama LSM yang mendapat kucuran dana dari The Asia Foundation berikut ini:

    * Yayasan Desantara (Pluralisme agama, penerbit Majalah Syir’ah)
    * Lembaga Studi Agama dan Demokrasi (Elsad)  (Pluralisme Agama dan Demokrasi)
    * Fahmina Institute - (Pluralisme Gender equality)
    * Indonesia Center for Civic Education - Demokrasi
    * International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP) - (Pluralisme agama)
    * Indonesia Conference on Religion and Peace  (Pluralisme agama)
    * Institut Arus Informasi (ISAI)  (Pluralisme dan Jurnalisme)
    * Jaringan Islam Liberal (JIL)  (Liberalisasi Pemikiran)
    * Paramadina  (Pluralisme agama)
    * Pusat Studi Wanita UIN - (Gender equality)
    * Lembaga Kajian Agama dan Jender (LKAJ) - (Gender equality)
    * Lembaga Kajian Islam dan Sosial (LKiS)  (Penerbitan buku-buku pluralisme)
    * Lembaga Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Nahdhatul Ulama (Pluralisme Agama, dekontsruksi syariah)
    * Pusat Studi Agama dan Peradaban Muhammadiyah (Pluralisme Agama)

Daftar lembaga itu bisa diperpanjang lagi sampai tiga halaman. Isu-isu yang ditebarkan oleh  lembaga-lembaga tersebut juga tidak jauh-jauh seputar liberalisasi Islam. Seolah-olah, itulah isu utama yang sedang dihadapi umat Islam. Seolah-olah, umat Islam akan bangkit dan maju jika mengikuti agenda-agenda Barat tersebut.

Padahal, masalahnya sebenarnya tidak demikian. Memang tidak dapat dipungkiri terdapat banyak kelemahan internal di kalangan pondok pesantren sendiri. Tetapi, jika cara untuk memperbaikinya adalah dengan menyebarkan paham multikulturalisme dan pluralisme agama, adalah salah sama sekali.

Jika yang dipersoalkan adalah soal toleransi, maka kita dapat bertanya dengan sungguh-sungguh, sebenarnya, siapa yang selama ini tidak toleran?
Apa yang salah dengan pandangan keagamaan pesantren terhadap kaum non-Muslim? Selama ratusan tahun, pondok pesantren dan umat Islam di Indonesia sudah bersikap sangat toleran dan menghargai umat dan agama lain, tanpa meninggalkan keyakinan bahwa Islam adalah satu-satunya agama yang benar.

Workshop-workshop, pelatihan, dan sejenisnya tentang pluralisme dan multikulturalisme ala ICIP itu harusnya justru diberikan kepada pihak Barat, seperti George W. Bush dan kawan-kawannya, yang hingga kini jelas-jelas bersikap sangat tidak toleran terhadap Islam dan umat manusia, dengan memaksakan paham sekular-liberalnya untuk dipeluk umat manusia.

Mereka jelas-jelas tidak menghargai perbedaan, tidak bersikap ‘multikultural’, sebagaimana yang mereka gembar-gemborkan. Dengan pemaksaan ide “sekularisasi-liberalisasi” ala Barat kepada kaum Muslimin, Barat dan agen-agen liberalnya di Indonesia sebenarnya telah bersikap monolitik dan sama sekali tidak memberikan kesempatan kepada umat Islam untuk meyakini dan menjalankan ajaran-ajaran agamanya sendiri.

Mereka memaksakan  dengan segala kekuatan dana, politik, informasi paham mereka kepada umat Islam. Mereka juga tidak menghargai aspirasi keagamaan umat Islam. Hingga kini, AS dan Inggris tidak berani mengangkat seorang menteri Muslim-pun. Juga, mereka tidak mau memberi hari libur Idul Fithri dan Idul Adha kepada umat Islam. Padahal, Inggris mempunyai hari libur ‘Boxing Day’ dan libur Paskah dua hari.

Kita bisa membuktikan dalam sejarah, siapa yang sebenarnya lebih bersikap menghargai perbedaan dan keragaman: Islam atau Barat? Sayangnya, ada saja
sebagian dari kalangan kaum Muslim yang lebih suka menjadi corong paham-paham destruktif  semisal Pluralisme Agama.

Adalah musibah besar bagi umat Islam, jika yang menyebarkan paham syirik itu adalah dari kalangan ulama dan cendekiawan.

Sayyidina Umar bin Khathab pernah menyatakan dalam satu khutbahnya; “Yang paling aku khawatirkan akan menimpa kalian adalah perubahan zaman, tergelincirnya orang yang berilmu dari kebenaran, berargumentasinya orang-orang munafik dengan al-Quran, pemimpin yang sesat dan menyesatkan manusia dalam kondisi ketidaktahuan.” (Ibnul Jauzi, Sirah Umar, hal. 223)

Karena itu, para tokoh Islam, ulama, kyai, ustad, mubaligh, dan sebagainya, seyogyanya menyadari pentingnya memahami tantangan pemikiran dan aqidah Islam di zaman globalisasi ini. Dalam Kitab Ihya’ Ulumuddin, Imam Ghazali menyatakan, wajib hukumnya bagi para ulama untuk memahami pemikiran-pemikiran yang bathil, agar dapat menjelaskan dan menjaga aqidah umat. Sebab, para ulama itulah yang diamanahi untuk menjaga Islam. Dan pondok pesantren merupakan benteng-benteng terakhir pertahanan umat Islam di bidang aqidah.

Di masa lalu, para ulama Islam sangat memahami pemikiran-pemikiran yang berkembang di zaman itu. Imam al-Ghazali memahami masalah filsafat dengan baik dan memberikan kritik yang sangat tajam melalui bukunya Tahafut al-Falasifah. Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyah memberikan kritik yang sangat tajam terhadap kepercayaan agama Kristen melalui empat jilid bukunya, al-Jawab al-Shahih li-Man Baddala Din al-Masih. Dalam bidang Ilmu Kalam, begitu banyak ditemukan jawaban-jawaban yang sangat argumentatif terhadap pemikiran Mu’tazilah.

Para ulama, kyai, cendekiawan Muslim, khususnya yang saat ini memegang amanah memimpin pondok pesantren, seyogyanya meneladani jejak para ulama terdahulu. Disamping memiliki kualitas ketaqwaan yang tinggi, seyogyanya, pada kyai itu juga memahami benar hakekat dan jatidiri paham-paham yang destruktif terhadap para santrinya.

Di era globalisasi, hampir tidak mungkin membendung paham-paham itu tidak memasuki arena pondok pesantren, melalui media komunikasi yang ada, baik cetak maupun elektronik. Satu-satunya jalan untuk menangkalnya adalah memahami paham-paham destruktif itu dengan mendalam, sehingga para kyai atau ustad di pesantren dapat menjelaskan kepada para santri dan muridnya, apa dan bagaimana sebenarnya paham-paham yang bertentangan dengan aqidah Islam tersebut.

Peringatan KH Khalil Ridwan sangatlah penting untuk direnungkan secara mendalam. Sebab, jika orang yang berstatus kyai atau ulama justru termakan paham-paham yang bertentangan dengan aqidah Islam, maka akibatnya sangatlah fatal. Orang yang diamanahi menjaga agama dan mewarisi risalah kenabian, justru menjadi penghancur risalah itu sendiri.

Rasulullah saw sudah pernah mengingatkan; “Yang merusak umatku adalah orang alim yang durhaka dan ahli ibadah yang bodoh. Seburuk-buruk manusia yang
buruk adalah ulama yang buruk dan sebaik-baik manusia yang baik adalah ulama yang baik.” (HR Ad-Darimy).

Juga ada sabda beliau saw:“Termasuk diantara perkara yang aku khawatirkan atas umatku adalah tergelincirnya orang alim (dalam kesalahan) dan silat lidahnya orang
munafik tentang Al-Quran.” (HR Thabrani dan Ibn Hibban).

Menyambut imbauan dan peringatan KH Khalil Ridwan, kita berdoa dan berharap, mudah-mudahan para kyai dan pimpinan pondok pesantren, khususnya sekitar 2000 pesantren yang ada di lingkungan BKSPPI, tidak sampai kebobolan dan terinfiltrasi paham-paham syirik modern yang kini dijajakan dengan kemasan yang sangat menarik. Allahumma Amin. (Jakarta, 30 Maret 2006/hidayatullah.com).

Catatan Akhir Pekan (CAP) Adian Husaini adalah hasil kerjasama Radio Dakta 107 FM dan www.hidayatullah.com

13

English / Birthday and the like

« pada: 06 April 2006, 18:46:23 »

How Birthday Parties Began
 
Source: Posted by Rasheed Abu Imad Bin Ganton on http://www.calgaryislam.com/
Taken From: http://www.calgaryislam.com/
 
This was a forwarded message that I thought was interesting. Showing the pagan roots of this practice...

How Birthday Parties Started Around the world, friends and relatives hold birthday parties, give gifts to the one being honored, and wish "Happy birthday!" to the one whose birthday is being celebrated. But why? Where did this universal custom originate?

The World Book - Childcraft International says regarding "Holidays and Birthdays", "For thousands of years people all over the world have thought of a birthday as a very special day. Long ago, people believed that on a birthday a person could be helped by good spirits, or hurt by evil spirits. So, when a person had a birthday, friends and relatives gathered to protect him or her. And that's how birthday parties began."

"The idea of putting candles on birthday cakes goes back to ancient Greece. The Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Among them was one called Artemis." "Artemis was the goddess of the moon. The Greeks celebrated her birthday once each month by bringing special cakes to her temple. The cakes were round like a full moon. And, because the moon glows with light, the cakes were decorated with lighted candles."

The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born.

The Romans also subscribed to this idea. This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune.

This authority goes on: "More and more, though, people the world over attach a certain magic to their actual date of birth... We may wear a ring with our birthstone in it for good luck. And when we blow out the candles on our birthday cake, we are careful to keep what we wished a secret. If we tell, of course, our wish won't come true."

"In other words, many times one follows - THE OLD BIRTHDAY BELIEFS. one pays attention to the meanings of old-time birth symbols and indulges in OLD CELEBRATIONS. one does not take them seriously - mainly for fun.

Why do people say, "Happy birthday!" to each other? Says this authority, "For the good wishes of our friends and relatives are supposed to protect us from evil spirits."

Egyptians observed birthdays, but only for their rulers. They held parades, circuses, gladiatorial contests, and sumptuous feasts! The Romans staged parades and chariot races to celebrate birthdays; some of which were created for their gods. Mere mortals were not honored or even remembered on the day of their birth.

The birthday cake is only 200 years old! Cakes made from sweetened bread dough and coated with sugar, were the first birthday cakes and they originated in Germany.

It has been said that if the cake falls while baking, it is a sign of bad luck in the coming year. Coins, buttons, and rings were baked into cakes. The guest who receiving the slice with the coin was guaranteed riches in the future, the ring signified marriage.

In ancient times, people prayed over the flames of an open fire. They believed that the smoke carried their thoughts up to the gods. Today, the belief is, that if you blow out all your candles in one breath, your wish will come true.

All these customs and traditions connected with the observance of birthdays have to do with guessing the future, good wishes for the future, good luck charms against evil spirits, and the like. All the birthday rituals, games, and ceremonies are a form of well-wishing toward the birthday child, which are supposed to work their magic in the year ahead. But, as we have seen, the custom is totally PAGAN!

The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would to come to be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.

At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration (maybe this is how the tradition of birthday crowns began?). As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The first children's birthday parties occurred in Germany and were called Kinderfeste.

Should a Muslim have anything to do with ceremonies that trace back to pagan times, and pagan rituals? Should a true Muslim indulge himself or his or her children in pagan birthday parties, just because they seem so attractive, fun, and "innocent"?

 
These birthday celebrations, therefore originated from pagan belief. These also involve imitation of the Jews and Christians in their birthday celebrations. Warning us against following their ways and traditions, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : "You would follow the ways of those who came before you step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard's hole, you would enter it too." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?" He said, "Who else?" (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: "Whoever imitates a people is o?ne of them." (Abu Dawood)

In the Sunnah: Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came (to Madinah) and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He said, What are these two days? They said, We used to play (on these two days) during the Jahiliyyah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Allah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm ul-Duha (Eid al-Adha) and Yawm ul-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr)."  (Reported by Abu Dawood).

This indicates clearly that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) definitely forbade his ummah to celebrate the festivals of the kuffaar, and he strove to wipe them out by all possible means. The fact that the religion of the People of the Book is accepted does not mean that their festivals are approved of or should be preserved by the ummah, just as the rest of their kufr and sins are not approved of. Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to great lengths to command his ummah to be different from them in many issues that are mubaah (permitted) and in many ways of worship. This being different was to be a barrier in all aspects, because the more different you are, the less likely you are to do the acts of those who go astray.

The hadith "Every people has its festival, and this is our festival " implies exclusivity, that every people has its own festival, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers)" (al-Baqarah 2:148) and "To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way" (al-Maaidah 5:48). This implies that each nation has its own ways. The laam in li-kulli (for every, to each) implies exclusivity. So if the Jews have a festival and the Christians have a festival, it is just for them, and we should not have any part in it, just as we do not share their qiblah (direction of prayer) or their laws.
 
Wa Jaz?kum All?hu Khairan

Wa Bill?hi-t-Tawf?q
 
Akh?kum Fill?h,
 
Ab? Anas

14

Sarana & Prasarana / adzan di pc

« pada: 06 April 2006, 17:32:26 »

mo denger adzan setiap waktu shalat?

walaupun di kantor ataupun dimana anda berada

syaratnya cuman satu ada pc atau laptop

ini dia:

http://www.islamicfinder.org/athanDownload.php?lang=english

semoga bermanfaat.

15

Artikel / The Meaning Of Reliance - TAWAKKAL

« pada: 03 April 2006, 13:38:45 »

Bismi-lL?hi-r-Rahm?ni-r-Rah?m Al-Hamdu li-lL?hi Was-Sal?tu Was-Sal?mu 'Al? Ras?li-lL?h, Wa Ba'd:
 
As-Sal?mu 'Alaikum Wa Rahmatull?hi Wa Barak?tuh
 
The Meaning Of Reliance (Tawakkal) On Allaah
 
By: Shaikh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan
Source: "Haqeeqat-ut-Tawakkal ‘ala Allaah", (pg. 7-14)
Produced By: Al-Ibaanah.com
Taken From: http://www.al-ibaanah.com/
 
All praise be to Allaah, Lord of the all that exists, and may Allaah send His peace and praises on His Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, as well as on all of his family members and Companions, and those who follow his guidance, tread his methodology and adhere to his Sunnah until the Day of Recompense.

To Proceed: Relying on Allaah (Tawakkal) is one of the greatest forms of worship. Allaah says: “So upon Allaah, put your trust if you are truly believers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 23] So He made relying upon Allaah (Tawakkal) a condition for Eemaan (Faith).

Allaah said to His Prophet: “So when you have made a decision, then put your trust in Allaah.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 159]

So He ordered His Prophet to put his trust and reliance on Allaah.

Allaah says: “O Prophet! Allaah is sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.” [Surah Al-Anfaal: 64]

And He says: “And whoever is dutiful to Allaah, He makes a way out for him (from every difficulty). And He will provide for him from places he never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allaah, He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish His purpose. Indeed, Allaah has set a measure for all things.” [Surah At-Talaaq: 2-3]

And He says: “And whoever is dutiful to Allaah, He will make his matter easy for him. That is the Command of Allaah, which He has sent down to you. And whoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will expiate from him his sins and enlarge his reward.” [Surah At-Talaaq: 4-5]

Furthermore, Allaah has linked this reliance (Tawakkal) to worship (‘ibaadah), as occurs in His statement: “So worship Him and put your trust in Him.” [Surah Hood: 123]

Allaah orders us to put our trust in Him, and He praises those who do it. He also states in many verses of the Qur’aan that He loves those who put their reliance in Him. All of this indicates and shows the importance of putting one’s trust in Allaah.

Relying upon Allaah is from the actions of the heart – so it is an act of worship of the heart. Therefore, putting one’s trust in Allaah is not to be done with one’s limbs and body parts. Rather, it is found in the heart, just like fear (khawf), awe (khashyah), longing (raghbah), dreading (rahbah) and dutifulness (taqwaa) of Allaah – all of these are acts of worship of the heart.

The position of Tawakkal (reliance on Allaah) is as some of the scholars have stated: “The position of Tawakkal in the Religion is like that of the head on a body.”

So a person that does not have Tawakkal does not have Religion, just like a body that has no head. It is well known that if a body is missing its head, it will cease to live. This is the same case with the Religion – if it lacks Tawakkal, it lacks correctness – meaning that one will not have a correct religion.

Therefore, relying on Allaah has a great standing amongst the stations of servitude to Allaah. Allaah uses it to distinguish His believing servants from everyone else. So whoever doesn’t put his trust in Allaah at all is a disbeliever. And whoever puts his trust in Allaah and also on others besides Allaah (at the same time) is a polytheist. And as for the one who puts his trust in Allaah alone – he is a monotheistic believer whom Allaah loves and whose actions and statements He is pleased with. This is since he has established his actions and statements upon a correct foundation.

So what is the meaning of this Tawakkal (reliance on Allaah), which holds such importance and high position in the Religion?

The Meaning of Reliance (Tawakkal) on Allaah

Tawakkal on Allaah means: Entrusting one’s affairs to Him and relying on Him in all matters. Entrusting one’s affairs to Allaah entails not turning to someone else for support.

So reliance (Tawakkal) upon Allaah can be with regard to matters of Creed, such that the servant’s heart does not turn to anyone else besides Allaah. Therefore, he is always putting his reliance in Allaah, entrusting all of his affairs to Him.

The pagans did not fall into polytheism and disbelief except due to the fact that they put their reliance in other than Allaah, entrusted their affairs to other than Him, and believed in their hearts that someone besides Allaah was able to grant their requests, alleviate their worries and repel harms from them. So they relied on statues, idols, trees, stones, graves, shrines and the deceased. They put their trust in created beings to grant them things that only Allaah could do. So they began to ask them for help, offer sacrifices to them, make oaths to them, and direct various forms of worship to them. This is since they have relied on them apart from Allaah, thinking that they have the power to benefit them, harm them or grant their requests. Due to this, when they put their reliance in other than Allaah and directed their beliefs and worship to other than Him, they disbelieved in Him.

The foundation of Shirk is: Entrusting one’s affairs and putting one’s reliance on other than Allaah. This is why Allaah says: “So upon Allaah, put your trust if you are truly believers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 23]

The scholars say: The object of the verb here “upon Allaah” denotes limitedness. Thus the ayah means: “Put your trust in Allaah alone and not anyone else.” So Allaah has restricted Tawakkal to Himself alone apart from others. Upon Allaah” means not upon anyone else. The ayah continues: “…put your trust if you are truly believers.” Allaah has made Tawakkal (reliance on Allaah) here a sign of one’s Faith in Him and proof of one’s Tawheed.

As for the one who claims to be a believer and an adherent of Tawheed, but yet then goes on to put his trust in other than Allaah, such as stones, trees, statues, graves, the deceased, and so on, then this person’s claim is false. And he is not a believer since he has entrusted his affairs to someone besides Allaah.

Likewise, one can put his trust in Allaah in order to achieve his worldly needs, such as obtaining provision, preventing an enemy, and repelling harms and dangers from himself.

Therefore, relying upon Allaah can be in religious matters as well as worldly matters. So you should rely on Allaah in your Creed and your Tawheed. And put your trust in Allaah for fulfilling your needs even if your needs are of a worldly nature, such as eating, drinking, clothing and accomplishing some set goals. Put your reliance and trust in Allaah for all matters.

Reliance on Allaah is not limited to just matters of Creed and Tawheed. Rather, it even applies to worldly matters and seeking provision. When it comes to fulfilling any goal, do not rely on anyone besides Allaah. This is since all of the affairs are in the Hand of Allaah. The keys of the heavens and the earth are in His Hand, so we must put our trust and reliance in Him.

All of the needs and objectives of the servants lie in the Hand of Allaah. So how can a person put his trust and reliance in other than Allaah for his religious and worldly matters? No doubt this is from ignorance and turning away from Allaah. Therefore, relying on Allaah is one of the greatest stations of servitude.