OUR WORLD

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

“Our World”…I fall in love with this song. The lyric is so meaningful for me, also for those who have the deep insight on that. I feel the peace and love when listening to the chorus and now I found myself can’t stop from singing this song everyday. 

Every morning on every news flash
I hear the sorrow of the world
It seems like everybody’s lost and
Scared trying to make sense of it all
And as I travel to and fro, so many faces pass me by
I see lonely hearts living lonely lives just biding their time
And while we call ourselves civilized, many people living empty lives
As they drone their way through day and night

Chorus

 I pray for our world, I pray for every child
I pray for our world to be filled with smiles
Like the colors of a rainbow and not just black and white
I pray for our world to be filled with light
I pray for all of us, to choose the path that’s right
Believe in Allah every day of our lives

In the evening on the TV news, I see images of war.
I see brother killing brother with no consequence at all.
And while those who claim to be leaders, sell us tales of deceit.
But Allah alone know in their hearts what they reveal and conceal.
And while we call ourselves civilized,
We go on killing human lives
Too caught up in our own web of lies

Chorus

Every mother, every father, every daughter, every son
Don’t you see, that the answer lies only with the ONE 

 By: Zain Bhikha

Album: Our World

Surat Cinta dari manusia malam

Message: Ditujukan kepada :
Insan yang tersia-sia malamnya

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh

Wahai orang-orang yang terpejam matanya,

Perkenankanlah kami, manusia-manusia malam menuliskan sebuah surat cinta kepadamu.Seperti halnya cinta kami pada waktu malam-malam yang kami sibuk di sepertiga terakhir.

Atau seperti cinta kami pada keagungan dan rahsianya yang penuh pesona. Kami tahu dirimu

bersusah payah lepas tengah hari berharap intan dan mutiara dunia. Namun kami tak perlu bersusah payah, sebab malam-malam kami berhiaskan intan dan mutiara dari syurga.

Wahai orang-orang yang terlelap,

Sungguh nikmat malam-malammu. Gelapnya yang pekat membuat matamu tak mampu melihat tenaga cahaya yang tersembunyi
di baliknya. Sunyi senyapnya membuat dirimu hanyut tak menghiraukan seruan cinta.
Dinginnya yang merasuk semakin membuat dirimu terlena, menikmati tidurmu di atas pembaringan yang empuk, bermesraan dengan bantal dan gulingmu, bergeliat manja dibalik selimutmu yang demikian hangatnya.  Aduhai kau sangat menikmatinya.Wahai orang-orang yang terlena,

Ketahuilah, kami tidak seperti dirimu!! Yang setiap malam terpejam matanya, yang terlelap pulas tak terkira. Atau yang terlena
oleh suasananya yang begitu menggoda. Kami tidak seperti dirimu!! Kami adalah para perindu kamar di syurga. Tak
pernahkah kau dengar Sang Insan Kamil, Rasulullah SAW bersabda :
“Sesungguhnya di syurga itu ada kamar yang sisi luarnya terlihat dari dalam dan sisi dalamnya terlihat dari luar. Disediakan untuk mereka yang memberi makan orang-orang yang memerlukannya, menyebarkan salam serta mendirikan solat pada saat manusia terlelap dalam tidur malam.” Sudahkah kau dengar tadi? Ya, sebuah kamar yang menakjubkan untuk kami dan orang-orang yang mendirikan solat pada saat manusia-manusia yang lain tertutup mata dan hatinya.

Wahai orang-orang yang keluarganya hampa cinta,

Kau pasti pernah mendengar namaku disebut. Aku Abu Hurairah, Periwayat Hadist.Kerinduanku akan sepertiga malam adalah hal yang tak terperi. Penghujung malam adalah kenikmatanku terbesar. Tapi tahukah
kau? Kenikmatan itu tidak serta merta kukecap sendiri. Kubagi malam-malamku yang penuh syahdu itu menjadi tiga. Satu
untukku, satu untuk istriku tercinta dan satu lagi untuk pelayan yang aku kasihi. Jika salah satu dari kami selesai mendirikan solat, maka kami bersegera membangunkan yang lain untuk menikmati bagiannya. Subhanallah, tak tergerakkah dirimu? Pedulikah kau pada keluargamu? Adakah kebaikan yang kau inginkan dari mereka? Sekedar untuk membangunkan orang-orang yang paling
dekat denganmu, keluargamu?

Lain lagi dengan aku, Nuruddin Mahmud Zanki. Sejarah mencatatku sebagai Sang Penakluk kesombongan pasukan salib. Suatu kali seorang ulama tersohor Ibnu Katsir mengomentari diriku, katanya, “Nuruddin itu sudah
asyik dengan solat malam, banyak berpuasa dan berjihad dengan akidah yang benar.” Kemenangan demi kemenangan aku
raih bersama pasukanku. Bahkan pasukan musuh itu terlibat dalam sebuah perbincangan seru.  Kata mereka, “Nuruddin Mahmud Zanki menang bukan kerana pasukannya yang banyak. Tetapi lebih kerana dia mempunyai rahsia bersama Tuhan.” Aku tersenyum, mereka memang benar. Kemenangan yang kuraih adalah kerana do’a dan solat-solat
malamku yang penuh kekhusyu’an.Tahukah kau dengan orang yang selalu setia mendampingiku? Dialah Isteriku tercinta, Khatun binti Atabik. Dia adalah istri solehah di mataku, terlebih di mata Allah. Malam-malam kami adalah malam penuh kemesraan dalam bingkai Tuhan. Gemerisik dedaunan dan desahan angin seakan menjadi pernak-pernik kami saat mendung di mata kami jatuh berderai dalam sujud kami yang panjang.

Kuceritakan padamu suatu hari ada kejadian yang membuat belahan jiwaku itu tampak murung. Kutanyakan padanya apa gerangan yang membuatnya resah. Ya Allah, ternyata dia tertidur, tidak bangun pada malam itu, sehingga kehilangan kesempatan untuk beribadah.

Astaghfirullaah, aku menyesal telah membuat dia kecewa. Segera setelah peristiwa itu kubayar saja penyesalanku dengan
mengangkat seorang pegawai khusus untuknya. Pegawai itu kuperintahkan untuk menabuh genderang agar kami terbangun di
sepertiga malamnya.

Wahai orang-orang yang terbuai,

Kau pasti mengenalku dalam kisah pembebasan Al Aqsa, rumah Allah yang diberkati.Akulah pengukir tinta emas itu, seorang Panglima Perang, Shalahuddin Al-Ayyubi.

Orang-orang yang hidup di zamanku mengenalku tak lebih dari seorang Panglima yang selalu menjaga solat berjama’ah. Kesenanganku adalah mendengarkan bacaan Al- Qur’an yang indah dan syahdu. Malam-malamku adalah saat yang paling kutunggu. Saat-saat dimana aku bercengkerama dengan Tuhanku. Sedangkan siang hariku adalah perjuangan-perjuangan
nyata, pengejawantahan cintaku pada-Nya  Wahai orang-orang yang masih saja
terlena,Pernahkah kau mendengar kisah penaklukan Konstantinopel? Akulah orang dibalik penaklukan itu, Sultan Muhammad Al Fatih. Namun tahukah kau bahwa sehari sebelum penaklukan itu, aku telah memerintahkan kepada pasukanku untuk berpuasa pada siang harinya. Dan saat malam tiba, kami laksanakan solat malam dan munajat penuh harap akan pertolongan- Nya. Jika Allah memberikan kematian kepada kami pada siang hari disaat kami berjuang, maka kesyahidan itulah harapan kami terbesar. Biarlah siang hari kami berada di ujung kematian, namun sebelum itu, di ujung malamnya Allah temukan kami berada dalam kehidupan. Kehidupan dengan menghidupi malam kami.Wahai orang-orang yang gelap mata dan hatinya,

Pernahkah kau dengar kisah Penduduk Basrah yang kekeringan? Mereka sangat merindukan air yang keluar dari celah-celah awan. Sebab terik matahari terasa sangat menyengat, padang pasir pun semakin kering dan tandus. Suatu hari mereka sepakat untuk mengadakan Solat Istisqa yang langsung dipimpin oleh seorang ulama di masa itu. Ada wajah-wajah besar yang turut serta di sana, Malik bin Dinar, Atha’ As-Sulami, Tsabit Al- Bunani. Solat dimulai, dua rakaat pun usai. Harapan terbesar mereka adalah hujan-hujan yang penuh berkah. Namun waktu terus beranjak siang, matahari kian meninggi, tak ada tanda-tanda hujan akan turun. Mendung tak datang, langit membisu, tetap cerah dan biru. Dalam hati mereka bertanya-tanya, adakah dosa-dosa yang
kami lakukan sehingga air hujan itu tertahan di langit? Padahal kami semua adalah orang-orang terbaik di negeri ini? Solat demi solat Istisqa didirikan, namun hujan tak kunjung datang. Hingga suatu malam, Malik bin Dinar dan Tsabit Al Bunani terjaga di sebuah masjid. Saat malam itulah, aku,Maimun, seorang pelayan, berwajah kuyu, berkulit hitam dan berpakaian
usang, datang ke masjid itu. Langkahku menuju mihrab, kuniatkan untuk solat Istisqa sendirian, dua orang terpandang itu mengamati gerak gerikku. Setelah solat, dengan penuh kekhusyu’an kutengadahkan tanganku ke langit, seraya berdo’a :
“Tuhanku, betapa banyak hamba-hamba- Mu yang berkali-kali datang kepada-Mu memohon sesuatu yang sebenarnya tidak
mengurangi sedikit pun kekuasaan-Mu. Apakah ini kerana apa yang ada pada-Mu sudah habis? Ataukah perbendaharaan kekuasaan-Mu telah hilang?Tuhanku, aku bersumpah atas nama-Mu dengan kecintaan-Mu kepadaku agar Engkau berkenan memberi kami hujan secepatnya.” Lalu apa gerangan yang terjadi? Angin langsung datang bergemuruh dengan cepat, mendung tebal di atas langit. Langit seakan runtuh mendengar do’a seorang pelayan ini. Do’aku dikabulkan oleh Tuhan, hujan turun dengan derasnya, membasahi bumi yang tandus yang sudah lama merindukannya. Malik bin Dinar dan Tsabit Al Bunani pun terhairan dan kau pasti juga hairan bukan? Aku, seorang budak miskin harta, yang hitam pekat, mungkin lebih pekat dari malam-malam yang kulalui. Hanya manusia biasa, tapi aku menjadi sangat luar biasa kerana do’aku yang makbul dan malam-malam yang kupenuhi dengan
tangisan dan taqarrub pada-Nya.

 Wahai orang-orang yang masih saja
terpejam,Penghujung malam adalah detik-detik termahal bagiku, Imam Nawawi. “Suatu hari muridku menanyakan kepadaku, bagaimana aku boleh menciptakan berbagai karya yang banyak?Bila aku beristirahat, bagaimana aku mengatur tidurku?” Lalu kujelaskan padanya, “Jika aku mengantuk, maka aku hentikan solatku dan aku bersandar pada buku- bukuku sejenak. Selang beberapa waktu jika telah segar kembali, aku lanjutkan
ibadahku.” Aku tahu kau pasti berfikir bahwa hal ini sangat sulit dijangkau oleh akal sihatmu. Tapi lihatlah, aku telah melakukannya, dan sekarang kau boleh menikmati karya-karyaku.

Wahai orang-orang yang tergoda,

Begitu kuatkah syaitan mengikat tengkuk lehermu saat kau tertidur pulas? Ya, sangat kuat, tiga ikatan di tengkuk lehermu! Dia
lalu menepuk setiap ikatan itu sambil berkata, “Hai manusia, engkau masih punya malam panjang, kerana itu tidurlah!.”

Hei, sedarlah, sedarlah, jangan kau dengarkan dia, itu tipu muslihatnya! Syaitan itu berbohong kepadamu. Maka bangunlah, bangkitlah, kerahkan kekuatanmu untuk menangkal godaannya.

Sebutlah nama Allah, maka akan lepas ikatan yang pertama. Kemudian, berwudhulah, maka akan lepas ikatan yang kedua. Dan yang terakhir, solatlah, solat seperti kami, maka akan lepaslah semua ikatan-ikatan itu. Wahai orang-orang yang masih terlelap,
Masihkah kau menikmati malam-malammu dengan kepulasan? Masihkah? Adakah tergerak hatimu untuk bangkit, bersegera,
mendekat kepada-Nya, bercengkerama dengan-Nya, memohon keampunan-Nya, meski hanya 2 rakaat? Tidakkah kau tahu, bahwa Allah turun ke langit bumi pada 1/3 malam yang pertama telah berlalu. Tidakkah kau tahu, bahwa Dia berkata, “Akulah Raja, Akulah Raja, siapa yang memohon kepada-Ku akan Kukabulkan,siapa yang meminta kepada-Ku akan Kuberi, dan siapa yang memohon ampun kepada-Ku akan Ku ampuni. Dia terus berkata demikian, hingga fajar merekah.”

Wahai orang-orang yang terbujuk rayu dunia,

Bagi kami, manusia-manusia malam, dunia ini sungguh tak ada ertinya. Malamlah yang memberi kami kehidupan sesungguhnya.
Sebab malam bagi kami adalah malam-malam yang penuh cinta, sarat makna. Masihkah kau terlelap? Apakah kau
menginginkan kehidupan sesungguhnya? Maka ikutilah jejak kami, manusia-manusia malam. Kelak kau akan temukan
cahaya di sana, di waktu sepertiga malam. Namun jika kau masih ingin terlelap, menikmati tidurmu di atas pembaringan yang empuk, bermesraan dengan bantal dan gulingmu, bergeliat manja di balik selimutmu yang demikian hangatnya, maka surat cinta
kami ini sungguh tak berarti apa-apa bagimu. Semoga Allah mempertemukan kita di sana, di syurga-Nya, mendapati dirimu dan diri kami dalam kamar-kamar yang sisi luarnya terlihat dari dalam dan sisi dalamnya terlihat dari luar.Semoga…

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullaahi
wabarakaatuh,

Manusia-Manusia Malam

Semoga kisah orang-orang besar itu
menjadi penyemangat kita untuk
mengikuti jejak
MEREKA

The tears of finding truth

                                                                  

                         The following story occurred on the Internet through one of the chat programs (Freetel) in January 1999. It is a real dialogue between a Christian and a Muslim. The story centers on Derek’s realization of today’s Christianity and his subsequent conversion to lslam. This Christian-Muslim dialogue has been edited for readability and for the clarity of its message.

                   

ABDULLAH: Hello there! How are you man?

 

 DEREK:  Hello! Well, how are you?

 

 ABDULLAH: I’m fine and you?

 DEREK:  I’m fine thanks.

 

 ABDULLAH: Where are you from?

 DEREK:  I’m from L.A. (Los Angeles).

 

 ABDULLAH: The land of Hollywood!

 DEREK:  Well that’s right. Have you ever been to L.A.?

 

 ABDULLAH: No, never. Why are you calling yourself the Black Magic?

 DEREK:  It’s just a nickname, man!

 

 ABDULLAH: I see.

 

 DEREK:  Where are you from? Are you an Arab?

 

 ABDULLAH: Yes, I am from Saudi Arabia but I’m in Qatar now. What is your name?

 

 DEREK:  My name is Derek. What’s your name?

 

 ABDULLAH: My name is Abdullah.

 

 DEREK:  What does Abdullah mean?

 

 ABDULLAH: Abdullah means the servant of Allah and it is the function of each individual on the face of the earth to serve llah according to what Allah wants from us. By the way, Allah is the proper name of God.

 

 DEREK:  How do we know what God or Allah wants from us?

 

 ABDULLAH: All of this is outlined in the Qur’an and the Sunnah (Ways of Prophet Muhammad; his sayings, actions and approvals). These are the two major sources of guidance in lslam. Could you please tell me more about yourself? How old are you?

 

DEREK:       I am 19 years old, black and very  interested in knowing more about lslam. First of all, what should a person do or believe in to become a Muslim? 

 

ABDULLAH: Very easy, you just say that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, and you become Muslim, 

 

DEREK:      You mean Muhammad is his apostle? But as a Christian or non-Muslim, this sentence is not enough to make it clear to me. 

 

ABDULLAH: Ok Allah sent Muhammad as His last Prophet and Messenger and revealed the Qur’an to him as the final revelation to mankind. Allah said that He perfected His religion and called it lslam (see Qur’an 5:3). Islam means peaceful submission to the Will of Allah. 

 

DEREK:          I see. 

 

ABDULLAH: Yes, and unfortunately most Christians don’t know or they deny that the coming of Prophet Muhammad is foretold in their scriptures (See Deuternomy 18:18; 21: 21; Psalms 1 18:22-23; Isiah 42:1-13; Habakuk 3:3-4; Matthew 21:42-43; John 14:12-17,15:26,27; 1:5-16). Muslim theologians have stated that the person who is described by Jesus to come after him (in the above verses) is Mohammed (peace be upon him).

 

DEREK: OK Fine, but why was there a need for another prophet after Jesus and another revelation after the Bible?

 

 ABDULLAH: All of the Prophets came to teach their peoples the Oneness of God. In the case of Jesus, he was only sent as a Messenger to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (see Matt. 15:24). What happened was that all of these prophets were not well received by the majority of the people. For instance, they started tampering with the teachings of Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them (see Qur’an 2:79). That is why Allah sent Muhammad with the last Message, (i.e., the Qur’an), to bring all of mankind back to the belief in and worship of One God, without partners or intermediaries.

 

DEREK: Is the Qur’an similar to the Bible? I mean, what is it composed of? 

 

ABDULLAH: The Qur’an came as the last code emphasizing the same pure monotheistic teachings of Jesus peace be upon him, defending all the previous pure teachings of monotheistic beliefs and clarifying who Jesus was and who his mother was, showing that they were no more than great people.

 

 DEREK: OK then, how-can we be sure that the Qur’an has remained the same since the time of Prophet Muhammad?

 

 ABDULLAH: Allah Himself has guaranteed that He would guard the Qur’an from corruption (see Qur’an 15:9). Hence, the real and pure words of Allah are found in the Qur’an, which was revealed in Arabic, the language of Mohammed’s people. Since then, not an iota has changed. This is unlike what has happened in the other religions. For example, if you look at the Bible, you find a lot of versions; the name Bible itself is indicative of those changes because Bible means a collection of books from different writers.

 

DEREK:  But didn’t God call it the Bible?

 

ABDULLAH: God calls the Scripture revealed to Jesus “Injeel” in the Qur’an for which the closest name in the Bible would be the word Gospel. The Bible was written may years after the time of Jesus in a language that was alien to Jesus; it was Latin Vulgate, a language that he never spoke. Isn’t this strange? Interestingly, most of what was written in the New Testament was authored by Paul, who, according to James, the brother of Jesus in the Bible, had a polluted mind because he changed and contradicted most of the teachings of Jesus.

 

DEREK: I think you know more about Christianity than the Pope does.

 

ABDULLAH: You are wrong by saying that I know more than the Pope. I have simply investigated the Bible with an inquiring mind, which is something that all Christians should do.

 

DEREK:  Is there any English version of the Holy Qur’an?

 

ABDULLAH: There are many translations of the meanings of the Qur’an.

The Qur’an was revealed in Arabic which means that the words of ALLAH are in Arabic. The translations are the words of human beings relating to the meanings of the Qur’an to the non-Arabic speaking masses.

 

DEREK: How does the Qur’an define God to mankind or how does the Muslim perceive God?

 

ABDULLAH: GOD is the One and Only True GOD, and the Creator of all. He does not beget nor is He begotten. He is unlike His creation in every respect. He is the All-knowing, The Powerful, The Merciful, The Irresistible, and The King of kings.

 

DEREK: But it is somehow difficult for me to perceive God as being the same as His creatures.

 

ABDULLAH: You are absolutely right to have difficulty perceiving this because human beings have a limited capacity. This is why ALLAH sent revelations to His Prophets and Messengers to tell us who He is. So if you want to know who God is, just read the Qur’an.

 

DEREK: Christians believe that Jesus was sent for the salvation of all mankind. If this is not true, then the foundation of Christianity is faulty. Right? What do you think?

 

ABDULLAH: That’s correct. The Christians of today are following what Paul taught and also tend to follow what the priests tell them to do instead of following what Jesus said.

 

 DEREK: Kindly explain the concept of salvation through the crucifixion of Jesus.

 

 ABDULLAH: In Christianity, the Doctrine of Original Sin is the reason that there is a need for salvation through Jesus’ crucifixion. However, this doctrine was invented by Paul and it is strongly negated in the Old Testament (see Ezekial 18:20, Jeremiah 31:30, Deut. 24:16). This doctrine is an attempt to escape the responsibility of righteousness with the belief that punishment is given to someone else to release us from our burden of sins (see Ephesians 1:7, Romans 4:25, 10:9, Corinthians 15:21) In the Qur’an, every soul is responsible for its own deeds, good or bad (see 74:38,41:46, 3:25, 6:154).

 

 DEREK:  What about the crucifixion itself?

 

 ABDULLAH: The Bible says Jesus cried out in a loud voice beseeching God for help on the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46) Does that sound like Jesus to you?

 

 DEREK: No, then what about Jesus’ appearance to his disciples after the crucifixion?

 

 ABDULLAH: Jesus didn’t die on the cross nor was he resurrected. If he were resurrected, then he would have come to his disciples in a spiritual body. As shown in Luke 24:36-43, he met them with his physical body after the event of his alleged crucifixion. In the Qur’an, it says that Jesus was not crucified, but it was someone else who was made to look like him (see 4:157,158).

 

 DEREK: How did the story of the crucifixion of Jesus get into the Bible then?

 

 ABDULLAH: Once again, Paul was responsible (see Timothy 2:8 and Romans 5:10).

 

 DEREK: Well, I, very deep in my heart, believe that God can never look like his creation nor does he do what they do. What I believe is that God is the perfect one who is very much different from everything we see or touch. In other words, I think the writer can never look like his book.

 

 ABDULLAH: You are right. There is nothing comparable to Allah (see Qur’an 112:4). The prophets came with a very clear message to worship God alone, without any partners or intercessors. However, Paul took pagan beliefs and practices from the Romans and mixed them with the teachings of Jesus. Consequently, Paul was mostly responsible for elevating Jesus to the status of Son of God (see Acts 9:20) and God.

 DEREK: Yes. Now I remember. The first Commandment is, ” Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord.”

 

 ABDULLAH: You’re right. That’s in Mark 12:29. Moreover, the Qur’an confirms that God is One: “Say He is Allah, the One and Only (God).” (Qur’an 112:1)

 

 DEREK: What you are saying makes perfect sense. This is just incredible! You mean that for almost 2000 years what the Christians have been following is wrong?

 

 ABDULLAH: Yes, especially their misunderstanding of who Jesus was.

 DEREK: Oh my God! I’ve been deceived! Really, I feel religiously raped. I have been fooled simply because I followed blindly the religion that I was born with and didn’t take care to investigate it thoroughly. But still inside me there is something holding me back from accepting lslam, even though lslam is clearly the True Religion.

 

 ABDULLAH: Your last comment shows that you are a Muslim not a Christian and if you really love God and His Messenger Jesus, you will follow lslam and Prophet Muhammad. Break this barrier inside you and come back to the way of your ancestors. You are now free because you are looking for the Truth and our great prophet Jesus told us that we should look for the Truth and the Truth will set us free. So, you will be a free man as soon as you accept It. Be strong enough to accept lslam as the Truth, without any hesitation on your part and you will taste real freedom and real happiness that you have never tasted before.

 

 DEREK: Frankly, I am concerned about the negative way lslam and Muslims are shown in the media. In the West, there is a stigma attached to being a Muslim and I’m not sure I’m ready to live with that stigma.

 

 ABDULLAH: This is why I have chosen to tell people about the right picture of lslam.

 

 DEREK:  Then, what is the right picture of lslam?

 

 ABDULLAH: The right picture of lslam is conveyed in the Qur’an, which is exemplified by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The reality is that it is not fair to judge a religion by the actions of its followers alone because there are good and bad followers in every religion. The correct thing to do is to judge a religion by its documented revelation from God and the prophet who brought that revelation.

 

 DEREK: I see. I agree with you, but I’m still concerned about the reaction of my family and friends if they know that I am a Muslim.

 

 ABDULLAH: On Judgement Day, no one will be able to help you, not even your father, mother or any of your friends (see Qur’an 31:33). So, if you believe that lslam is the True religion, you should embrace it and live your life to please the One Who created you. Be an illuminating torch for them. Do not delay your coming to lslam. If you die before becoming a Muslim, then it’s too late (see Qur’an 2:132, 3:102, 3:85). So grab this opportunity now. You can only remedy this pain inside you by becoming a Muslim and being able in the future, God willing, to come and perform pilgrimage (Hajj).

 

 DEREK: You are very wise man, I want to say that when I sometimes see on the satellite, especially in the season of Hajj, people of different colors and different races sitting side by side and praying to God, I feel pain deep inside my heart and I feel something urging me to talk with someone to know more about that great religion that can gather all the races in the same place. Thanks to you, I have found that person. So please help me become a Muslim!

 

   ABDULLAH: Brother let us take it step by step. First, enter lslam by saying: I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH. AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS PROPHET AND MESSENGER. Let us say this again, I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS PROPHET AND MESSENGERS. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS PROPHET AND MESSENGER.

 DEREK: I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH. I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND LAST MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT EISA IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER.

 

 ABDULLAH: By the way, Jesus’ name is not Jesus. It is a Latinized name. His real name is Eisa. Now you will say the same thing in Arabic, the language of the Qur’an. I will transliterate for you. ASH’HADU AN LA’ILAHA ILLA ALLAH WAASH’HADU ANNA MUHAMMMADAN RASOOLULLAH WA ASH’HADU ANNA EISA ABDULLAHI WA RASOOLUHU.

 

DEREK: ASHADU AN LA ILAHA ILLALLAH WA ASHADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN RASULULLAH WA ASHADU ANNA EISA ABDULLAH1 WA RASOOLUHU.

 

ABDULLAH: Brother, say ALLAH is the greatest because you are a Muslim now. You are not a Christian anymore. You are in the House of lslam. If I were with you, I would hug you as my brother in lslam. How do you feel now? A burden has been removed from you and you feel like you are so light, isn’t this right?

DEREK: If you were with me now, you would have seen my tears reaching my neck. You are a great brother. I feel that I have just come to life; this is exactly how I feel from now. I don’t have to listen the silly words of the priests in the church, who knowingly or unknowingly lead people astray. I hope to be a good servant of ALLAH.

 

ABDULLAH: You know what came out of you was disbelief and it was replaced by belief. You are so clean now, because when someone embraces Islam sincerely, Allah forgives all of his past sins. So, go to the Islamic center that has Muslims from all over the world and announce your lslam there, and continue to learn more about lslam from them. In addition, find a book on prayer in lslam and practice it. This is essential. Now after you are through with me, you must take a shower to purify yourself from previous wrong beliefs. Remember to stay away from bad company and be with righteous Muslim people. Also, beware of those so-called Muslims who call to nationalistic ideas or racial thoughts, which are rejected in lslam. I love you as a brother in lslam and I hope one day I will see you and hear your voice.

DEREK: I will for sure do what you have asked. And tomorrow I will go to the Islamic center. Thank you for showing me the Truth. I will do my best to meet people who know about lslam for sure. May God help you guide more and more people to the true word of God. There is no God but ALLAH and Muhammad is his Apostle… Well it is as difficult for me as it is for you to leave you.

 

 ABDULLAH: Well brother, you will not leave me for a long time. I will soon be with you through my supplications. God willing. Pray for me, brother.

 DEREK: Well, I thank you, I love you although I do not know you yet. But it is enough for me to remember that one day, a very dear man has picked me up from the mud of life. Please teach me another Islamic word in Arabic so as to make use of it in the Islamic center.

 

 ABDULLAH: Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu and Astaghfirullah.

 DEREK:  What do they mean?

 

 ABDULLAH: May the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you. This is used as a greeting to all Muslims. The last word means, Allah forgive me. Well, I have to leave you now but be sure it will not be for long.

 

 DEREK: Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu and Astaghfirullah for being astray from the Truth all those years. May God bless you. You have occupied a great place in my heart and I will never forget you. Bye and talk to you later. Your brother in lslam, Derek, but I will call myself Eisa from now on.

 

 ABDULLAH: OK Eisa. I will leave you some final words of inspiration. Certainly, the ultimate goal of every individual is to be in Paradise forever. This reward of Paradise is too great to not have a price. That price is true faith, which is proven obedience to Allah and following the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). THIS IS THE ROAD TO PARADISE. Let’s stay in touch! Assalamu Alaikum!

 DEREK: O.K. Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu.

 

Seruan Kubur

Kubur Setiap Hari Menyeru Manusia Sebanyak Lima Kali …..

1. Aku rumah yang terpencil,maka kamu akan senang dengan selalu membaca Al-Quran
2. Aku rumah yang gelap,maka terangilah aku dengan selalu solat malam.
3. Aku rumah penuh dengan tanah dan debu, bawalah amal soleh yang menjadi  hamparan.
4. Aku rumah ular berbisa,maka bawalahamalan Bismillah sebagai penawar.
5. Aku rumah pertanyaan Munkar dan Nakir,maka banyaklah bacaan “Laailahaillallah, Muhammadar Rasulullah”, supaya kamu dapat jawapan kepadanya

memorizing Al-Quran

From Abdur-Rahman Abdul Khaaliq’s “Al-Qawaaid adh-Dhahabiyyah lil-Hifdh il-Quran il-Adheem”

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Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem

My Brother and Sister Muslim – there is no doubt that you know of excellence of memorising the Quran and the excellence of teaching it. The Messenger of Allaah (sas) said: “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’aan and teaches it.”

Presented to you are some rules which will assist in memorising the Qur’aan, may Allaah benefit us by them.

The First Rule: Ikhlaas – (Sincerity)

The purification of ones intention and correcting ones desire is obligatory. It is likewise for making ones concern with and memorisation of the Quran for the s ake of Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted, and for gaining success with His Paradis e and obtaining His pleasure.

Also for obtaining those mighty rewards which are reserved for those who recited the Quran and memorised it. Allaah the Exalted said:

So worship Allaah, making the Deen sincerely for Him. Is it not to Allaah that s incere worship is due? [Zumar 39:2-3]

He also said:

Say: I have been commanded that I worship Allaah making the Deen sincerely for H im. [Zumar 39:11]

And the Messenger of Allaah (sas) said: “Allaah the Exalted said: I am so self-s ufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus, he who does an acti on for someone elses sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.” [Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Therefore, there is no reward for the one who recited the Quran and memorised it to show off and to be heard of. There is also no doubt that the one who recited the Quran desiring by it the world and seeking some sort of worldy reward for i t is sinful.

The Second Rule: Correction of ones Pronunciation and Recitation

The first step in memorising the Quran after that of Ikhlaas is the obligation o f correcting the pronunciation of the Quran. This does not occur except by liste ning to a good reciter or a precise memoriser of the Quran. The Quran is not lea rned except by acquiring it (from another). Thus, the Messenger (sas) who is the most eloquent of the arabs in speech, took it from Jibreel (as) orally. The Mes senger (sas) himself used to recited the Quran to Jibreel once in every year and in the year that he died he recited it to him twice. [Reported by Bukhaaree]

Likewise, the Messenger taught it to the Companions (ra) orally and those who ca me after them heard it from the Companions and so on for each generation after t hem.

Taking the Quran from a good reciter is obligatory. Likewise, correcting ones re citation firstly and not depending on oneself in its recitation even if one is k nowledgeable of the Arabic language and of its principles, is also obligatory. T his is because in the Quran there are many verses which occur in a way that is o pposed to what is well known in the rules of the Arabic language.

The Third Rule: Specifying a Daily Limit for Memorisation

It is necessary for the one desiring to memorise the Quran that he sets himself a daily limit for memorising. a number of verses for example, perhaps a page or two pages or even an eighth of a juz (one thirtieth of the Quran). So he begins, after he has corrected his recitation and set his daily limit, to learn by freq uent repetition. It is also necessary that this repetition is done melodiously a nd this is so that a person follows the Sunnah firstly and that it the memorisat ion is made firm and strong secondly. Melodious recitation is pleasing to ones h earing and also assists in memorisation. Furthermore, the tongue will always ret urn to a specific tone (of voice) and as a result of this it will become familia r with any mistake whenever the balance in ones recitation and familiar tone bec omes disordered or imbalanced. The reciter will know therefore, that his tongue will not comply with him when he makes a mistake and that if the tone is wrong o r out of tune, his memorisation will return to him.

All of this is because reciting the Quran and beautifying it with ones voice is a matter which has been commanded. It is not permissible to oppose this command due to the saying of the Messenger (sas): “Whoever does not beautify the Quran ( recite it melodiously) he is not of us.” [Bukhaaree]

The Fourth Rule: Not Surpassing One’s Daily Limit until You Have Perfected its Memorisation.

It is not permissible for the memoriser to move to a new portion of the Quran un til after he has perfected the memorisation of his previous limit. This is so th at whatever he has memorised is firmly established in his mind. There is no doub t that amongst those things which aid the memoriser is his occupation with what he has memorised through the hours of the day and night. This occurs by reciting it in the silent prayers, and if he is the imaam then in the loud prayers. Also in the superogatory prayers (nawaafil) and in the times when one is waiting for the obligatory prayers. By this method the memorisation will become a lot easie r. In this way it is possible for a person to practise it even if he is occupied with other matters and this is because he does not simply sit at a specific tim e for memorising the Quran. Thus the night will not arrive except with those ver ses memorised and firmly established in the mind. And if there is something whic h has occuppied the memoriser during this day, he should not move onto his next portion of the Quran, rather he should continue on the second day with what he h ad started with the day before until the memorisation becomes perfected.

The Fifth Rule: Memorise Using the Same Copy (Mushaf) of the Quran

Among the things which aid the memorisation is that the memoriser should keep fo r himself a specific mushaf (copy of the Quran) which he should never change. Th is is because a person memorises using the sight just as he memorises using the hearing. The script and form of the verses and their places in the mushaf leave an imprint in the mind when they are recited and looked at frequently. If the me moriser was to change his mushaf from which he memorises or if he was to memoris e from a number of different copies the places of the verses would be in differe nt places and also the script may also be different. This makes the memorisation difficult for him. Therefore it is obligatory for the one memorisng the Quran t hat he does so from a single script and mushaf and he should never replace it.

The Sixth Rule: Understanding is the Way to Memorising

Among the things which greatly aid the process of memorisation is understanding the verses that one has memorised and knowing their relationship and link, one t o another. This is why it is necessary for the memoriser to read the tafseer (ex planation) of those verses which he desires to memorise and that he knows their connection, one with another. Also, that he brings this to mind when he is recit ing. This makes it easier for him to memorise the verses. Having said this, it i s also necessary that he does not depend on knowing the meaning of the verses al one in memorising them. Rather the repetition of these verses should be the foun dation. This should be done until the tongue can recite the verses even if the m ind is occupied with other than the meaning of these verses. This is sign that t he verses are firmly established in the mind. As for the one who relies upon the meaning alone then he will forget often and his recitation will be disjointed d ue to his mind being scattered and occupied with other things. This occurs frequ ently, especially when the recitation is long.

The Seventh Rule: Do not move on from a Complete Surah until you have connected the first part of it to the last

After one surah from among the surahs of the Quran has been completed it is desi rable for the memoriser that he does not move onto another surah except after ha ving perfected its memorisation and connecting its first part to its last so tha t his tongue can flow in reciting it, from its beginning to its end. He should b e able to recite it without having to think or go through trouble in remembering the verses. Rather it is a must that the memorisation (and recitation) of these verses is like (flowing) water and that the memoriser recites these verses with out hesitation, even if his mind is occupied with more than one thing, away from m the meaning of these verses. It should be as a person recites Surah Faatihah w ithout any difficulty or having to think about it. This occurs by repeating thes e verses frequently and reciting them often. However the memorisation of every s urah of the Quran will not be like that of Surah Faatihah except rarely but the intent and desire should be to try to make it as such. Therefore, it is necessar y that when a surah is completed it is firmly established in the mind, with its beginning connected to its end and that the memoriser does not move onto another surah until he has memorised it with precision.

The Eighth Rule: Reciting to Others

It is necessary for the memoriser not to depend on himself for his memorisation. Rather he should test his memorisation by reciting the verses or surah in quest ion to somebody else, or he should recite them by following the mushaf. And how excellent this would be if a person had with him a precise memoriser (who would test his memorisation). This is so that the memoriser becomes aware of the possi bility of his being forgetful or confused in his recitation (without knowing it) . Many individuals amongst us who memorise a surah make mistakes and a person ma y not realise that until he looks into the mushaf. Furhtermore, the one who des ires to memorise may not realise by himself at which place he makes an error in his recitation despite the fact that he may be reciting from a mushaf. For this reason making others listen to his recitation of what he has memorised from the Quran is a means of perceiving and knowing these errors and being constantly awa re of them.

DEAR TRUTH SEEKER

No one is compelled to accept the truth, but it is certainly a shame upon the human intellect when a man is not even interested in finding out what the truth is!

Islam teaches that our Creator has given human beings the faculty of reason. Therefore, it is incumbent upon them to reason things out objectively and systematically for themselves to ponder, to question and to reflect.

Nobody should press you to make a hasty decision to accept any of the teachings of Islam, for Islam teaches that human beings should be given the freedom to choose. Even when a person is faced with the truth, there is no compulsion upon him to embrace it.

But before you begin to form an opinion about Islam, ask yourself whether your existing knowledge about it is thorough enough. Ask yourself whether that knowledge has been obtained through third party sources who themselves have probably been exposed to only random glimpses of Islamic writings and have yet to reason out on Islam objectively and systematically themselves.

Is it fair enough that one should form an opinion about the taste of a particular dish just by a mere hearsay from others who may themselves have not necessarily tasted the dish yet?

Similarly you should find out for yourself about Islam from reliable sources and not only taste it, but rather digest it very well before you form an opinion of it. That would be an intellectual approach to the truth.

In making your next move to the truth, Islam continually reassures you that your rights to freedom of choice and freedom to use that God-given faculty of thought and reason will be respected, for everyone has that individual will. No one else can take away that will and force you to submit to the true way of your Creator, you have to find out and make that decision yourself!

May your intellectual journey towards the truth be a pleasant and fruitful one… Amen

 

SOURCE: ISLAMWORLD

Lembaran Baru

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

 

Semoga Allah membuka lembaran baru bg perjuangan di medan jihad ini dgn seribu rahmat dan kasih-Nya.Dan mengurniakan kita kekuatan utk terus teguh berdiri dlm lorong dakwah ini.

Saya juga berharap agar kita sama2 diberi peluang utk memperbaiki setiap inci kehidupan yg lalu.Semoga BARAKAH sentiasa mengiringi utk hari esok dan seterusnya

 

6 th July 2007- back to campus