Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Today, my long lost friend came all the way from london to visit me. We went to the same secondary school but she left to New Zealand to get a PR there so that she can have a better chance for higher education there in the future without having to pay international student fee, since Malaysia cannot guarantee enough and fair places for non-bumiputra in local university. Since then, we only get to meet no more than 2 times and the last time was 10 years ago. We were best friends at school and her departure to NZ is quite bitter for me but that's for her own good.
Yet, ALLAH is Ar-Rahman and Al-Latif, today we finally met. She still looks ever stunning like she used to be, only that she used to be far taller than me but now we are only 5 inches difference. She has married and moved to London from NZ. Her husband is from Kuching and a PhD holder in Fire Engineering. I am so happy for her because he gives her a lot of freedom. We went to have a cup of tea to catch up each other's history, 10 year of history. Since today, the sun was so generous that the temperature for the first time this year shot up over 20C, we sat on grass and continued the history and talked about life in general. We went to my room and continued the conversation and this time about my conversion to Islam. I am so glad that she can accept me and most of the teaching of Islam. Her husband is a practicing Roman Catholic and she is a Buddhist. She is very aware of the similarity between Christianity and Islam. We chatted for a long time regarding Islamic teaching and cultural practice that blurs out the beauty of Islam. She totally agrees with it and I pray that ALLAH will give guidance for her and her husband to accept Islam as a way of life.
I wish to meet more of my high school friends in the future.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Lion Dance
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I was in my room when I heard this very familiar drumming, a rhythm I was so used to since I've grown up in a street with 3 Chinese temples and which held at least 3 major Chinese goddesses colourful processions annually. I quickly opened the curtain and saw a read lion dancing in front of the new Chinese restaurant just across the street. This is the first time I saw Lion Dance in UK. It is a very busy street and the dance is so small scale that it was performed by 2 Chinese ladies and a young man was playing the drum on the narrow pedestrian path at the restaurant's entrance. A crowd of people surrounded the area to watch the performance which for seems to amuse them but for the Chinese, this is how you earn blessing, prosperity, fortune and luck by playing Lion Dance at an opening of a new business. Later, when I walked pass the restaurant to the mosque for maghrib prayer, I saw the restaurant was filled with English customers, probably to get the best offer of the opening day. This is how people appreciate each other's difference rather than fight over it.
Here in the UK, it is a very, very multi-ethnic society, especially in big cities like, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. There has been a saying here that 'in every 4 people you met, there will be at least 1 Chinese'. As I'm a Chinese, I do not wish to say that Chinese is better but this is just to imply that Chinese is everywhere in the world. It is always easy to spot a China Town in any big city in the world. However, the point of this post is to say that multi-ethnicity in UK has never failed to attract the UK "non-bumiputra" to follow and practice the UK "bumiputra" culture yet still manage to maintain and practice theirs. Among the English culture (I am not talking about modern western culture) here are: wearing tie and suit to work; tea and biscuit culture; greeting random people on the street especially in the morning; giving way by a man to a woman when walking on a narrow path; man opens door for woman even the woman is behind him; if you open a self-closed door and notice someone is behind you, you hold the door and wait for that person to come; burping is very rude; give blessing to someone who sneezes; go to pub in the evening after work; have wine reception in every formal event; have lunch on the grass if the sun is out; etc. Some are good and some are bad but the "non-bumiputra" or the "non-English" who immigrated or grew up here did not stop following the "bumiputra" culture though the "bumiputra" has never imposed this to them. Many non-muslims non-bumiputra go to pub after work to socialise with friends and colleagues, many non-bumiputra respect women in the public (not sure at home), many non-bumiputra (even are not Christians) say 'bless you' when someone sneezes. I have seen in an occasion, a practicing Pakistani muslim brother wore a Scottish kilt during a winter fair (of course the socks are very thick and cover his awrah completely). He owns a halal grocery and he always wears tie and shirt at work yet when he goes to religious and cultural function, he wears shawar (Pakistani man attire), he speaks Urdu and follow some Pakistani culture that does not contradict with Islamic teaching.
Reflecting the situation here and the situation in Malaysia, it is as though the non-bumiputra in Malaysia must embrace the culture of bumiputra even if there are some which are not attractive for them to follow. It is as though the non-bumiputra do not want to learn the bumiputra culture. It is as though the government is not happy with the non-bumiputra who openly say that they want to retain their culture. It is as though if you refuse to embrace the bumiputra culture, you are not the citizen of Malaysia.
Going back to the Lion Dance, it was loud on the street but no one complained yet they appreciated it. No one boycotted the restaurant yet they filled it in. When we have mosque open day, the majority of the participants are English who open-mindedly visited us and wanted to learn more of other's culture. When English friends invited me over for tea and biscuit, I happily accepted their invitation. I really cannot understand why the paradigm and mind-set among some Malaysians are so intolerant, either for the non-bumiputra to accept the good culture of the bumiputra or for the bumiputra to accept what other non-bumiputra's culture as long as it doesn't harm the public.
Probably the major difference between the UK bumiputra and Malaysian bumiputra is that the former has done good publicity in making their culture appears to be more attractive to others. Keris and head-hunting aren't that attractive, I supposed. As many have proposed in Malaysia, can we just look beyond the race and culture as ALLAH has created all of us equal and it has also been constituted in the UN. Racism is not just against ALLAH's law but many countries' law. In addition, bumi or earth doesn't belong to anyone in particular, none of the thing in the world belongs to anyone anyway because they are all belong to ALLAH. Once you possessed enough that you need to survive, the excess should be shared among the poor and the needy, that's why we need to pay zakah.
And btw, the word 'ALLAH' is used in the Arabic and Indonesian bibles.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
I was in my room when I heard this very familiar drumming, a rhythm I was so used to since I've grown up in a street with 3 Chinese temples and which held at least 3 major Chinese goddesses colourful processions annually. I quickly opened the curtain and saw a read lion dancing in front of the new Chinese restaurant just across the street. This is the first time I saw Lion Dance in UK. It is a very busy street and the dance is so small scale that it was performed by 2 Chinese ladies and a young man was playing the drum on the narrow pedestrian path at the restaurant's entrance. A crowd of people surrounded the area to watch the performance which for seems to amuse them but for the Chinese, this is how you earn blessing, prosperity, fortune and luck by playing Lion Dance at an opening of a new business. Later, when I walked pass the restaurant to the mosque for maghrib prayer, I saw the restaurant was filled with English customers, probably to get the best offer of the opening day. This is how people appreciate each other's difference rather than fight over it.
Here in the UK, it is a very, very multi-ethnic society, especially in big cities like, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. There has been a saying here that 'in every 4 people you met, there will be at least 1 Chinese'. As I'm a Chinese, I do not wish to say that Chinese is better but this is just to imply that Chinese is everywhere in the world. It is always easy to spot a China Town in any big city in the world. However, the point of this post is to say that multi-ethnicity in UK has never failed to attract the UK "non-bumiputra" to follow and practice the UK "bumiputra" culture yet still manage to maintain and practice theirs. Among the English culture (I am not talking about modern western culture) here are: wearing tie and suit to work; tea and biscuit culture; greeting random people on the street especially in the morning; giving way by a man to a woman when walking on a narrow path; man opens door for woman even the woman is behind him; if you open a self-closed door and notice someone is behind you, you hold the door and wait for that person to come; burping is very rude; give blessing to someone who sneezes; go to pub in the evening after work; have wine reception in every formal event; have lunch on the grass if the sun is out; etc. Some are good and some are bad but the "non-bumiputra" or the "non-English" who immigrated or grew up here did not stop following the "bumiputra" culture though the "bumiputra" has never imposed this to them. Many non-muslims non-bumiputra go to pub after work to socialise with friends and colleagues, many non-bumiputra respect women in the public (not sure at home), many non-bumiputra (even are not Christians) say 'bless you' when someone sneezes. I have seen in an occasion, a practicing Pakistani muslim brother wore a Scottish kilt during a winter fair (of course the socks are very thick and cover his awrah completely). He owns a halal grocery and he always wears tie and shirt at work yet when he goes to religious and cultural function, he wears shawar (Pakistani man attire), he speaks Urdu and follow some Pakistani culture that does not contradict with Islamic teaching.
Reflecting the situation here and the situation in Malaysia, it is as though the non-bumiputra in Malaysia must embrace the culture of bumiputra even if there are some which are not attractive for them to follow. It is as though the non-bumiputra do not want to learn the bumiputra culture. It is as though the government is not happy with the non-bumiputra who openly say that they want to retain their culture. It is as though if you refuse to embrace the bumiputra culture, you are not the citizen of Malaysia.
Going back to the Lion Dance, it was loud on the street but no one complained yet they appreciated it. No one boycotted the restaurant yet they filled it in. When we have mosque open day, the majority of the participants are English who open-mindedly visited us and wanted to learn more of other's culture. When English friends invited me over for tea and biscuit, I happily accepted their invitation. I really cannot understand why the paradigm and mind-set among some Malaysians are so intolerant, either for the non-bumiputra to accept the good culture of the bumiputra or for the bumiputra to accept what other non-bumiputra's culture as long as it doesn't harm the public.
Probably the major difference between the UK bumiputra and Malaysian bumiputra is that the former has done good publicity in making their culture appears to be more attractive to others. Keris and head-hunting aren't that attractive, I supposed. As many have proposed in Malaysia, can we just look beyond the race and culture as ALLAH has created all of us equal and it has also been constituted in the UN. Racism is not just against ALLAH's law but many countries' law. In addition, bumi or earth doesn't belong to anyone in particular, none of the thing in the world belongs to anyone anyway because they are all belong to ALLAH. Once you possessed enough that you need to survive, the excess should be shared among the poor and the needy, that's why we need to pay zakah.
And btw, the word 'ALLAH' is used in the Arabic and Indonesian bibles.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Teachers in UK on strike
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Today, about 8000 schools in UK have no teachers to teach due to a strike over their salary, except those who still continue to give education to the innocent students who do not decide how much the teachers will be paid. Some students may well be happy when classes are cancelled. However, for those who truly want an education, they will be the group that will suffer the worst in this strike. Teachers' salary isn't that bad for a degree holder. Of course, with the salary one cannot enjoy a luxurious life style, yet it is enough to sustain in the UK.
As oil price and food price are rising drastically recently, will the teachers in Malaysia also go for a strike?
Wassalam.
Today, about 8000 schools in UK have no teachers to teach due to a strike over their salary, except those who still continue to give education to the innocent students who do not decide how much the teachers will be paid. Some students may well be happy when classes are cancelled. However, for those who truly want an education, they will be the group that will suffer the worst in this strike. Teachers' salary isn't that bad for a degree holder. Of course, with the salary one cannot enjoy a luxurious life style, yet it is enough to sustain in the UK.
As oil price and food price are rising drastically recently, will the teachers in Malaysia also go for a strike?
Wassalam.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A heart
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
The heart is the central of a human soul. Without it, a human has no soul. Dirty heart makes a person acts inhumanely, or worse to say, like an animal. Human can be achieve a rank higher than the angel and also a rank lower than the animal. Pure and clean heart is a measure to tell us what is right and wrong. It is sometime the instinct some people called when you think it is the right or wrong thing to do. A clean heart can easily weight out the wrong path. Many scholars believe that a clean heart is the central of learning because knowledge will only reside in a clean heart. That's why when we say we memorise something, we say we learn something by-heart. Imam Shafi'i said that
1. Avoid unnecessary talk or speech that will hurt others.
The food of the heart is remembrance of ALLAH. So, take care of that small piece of flesh in our body.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said that: "Surely there is in the body a small piece of flesh; if it is good, the whole body is good, and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted, and that is surely the heart."A good heart is like a good fire alarm. A very high quality fire alarm can detect smoke and heat before a fire starts. A better one can even connect straight to some devices to put off the fire or alert the fire station. However, it doesn't mean that a fire alarm once is installed will be working like it intended to be. You need to make sure that it is put in a correct way, test it consistently, maintain it, clean the sensor after a while, put in the right place, don't dirty it, damage it, cover it, etc. It's not easy but the reward is very high. You save yourself, your property and your family & friends from fire if you have a good fire alarm. With a good fire alarm doesn't mean that you cannot cook in your house or lit a scent stick. A really good one will be programmed in a way that certain amount of smoke and heat should not be a case of fire. This needs hard work and good engineering (education).~ Imam Bukhari
The heart is the central of a human soul. Without it, a human has no soul. Dirty heart makes a person acts inhumanely, or worse to say, like an animal. Human can be achieve a rank higher than the angel and also a rank lower than the animal. Pure and clean heart is a measure to tell us what is right and wrong. It is sometime the instinct some people called when you think it is the right or wrong thing to do. A clean heart can easily weight out the wrong path. Many scholars believe that a clean heart is the central of learning because knowledge will only reside in a clean heart. That's why when we say we memorise something, we say we learn something by-heart. Imam Shafi'i said that
“I complained to Wakee` (his teacher) about my bad memory, and he taught me that I should keep away from sin. He said that knowledge of ALLAH is light, and the light of ALLAH is not given to the sinner (whose heart is filthy).”How to maintain and take care of the heart? These are a few tips:
1. Avoid unnecessary talk or speech that will hurt others.
On the authority of Anas, the Prophet (saw) said: "The faith of a servant is not put right until his heart is put right, and his heart is not put right until his tongue is put right."~ Al-Musnad
On the authority of Ibn Umar: "Do not talk excessively without remembering Allah, because such excessive talk without the mention of Allah causes the heart to harden, and the person furthest from Allah is a person with a hard heart."~At-Tirmidhi
2. Avoid unrestrained glance.
It has been related that the Prophet (saw) once said words to the effect: "The glance is a poisoned arrow of shaytan. Whoever lowers his gaze for ALLAH, HE will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness which he will find in his heart on the day that he meets HIM."3. Avoid sinning and haram food. What we eat will certainly be part of our flesh and of course a heart is our flesh. If we eat halal and healthy food it can strengthen our memories. So, if we eat filthy and haram food, we are making the heart ill and lost its ability to make good judgement.~ At-Tabarani
The food of the heart is remembrance of ALLAH. So, take care of that small piece of flesh in our body.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Monday, April 21, 2008
ex-Highian
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I am an ex-Highian. What does that mean? I was a student of SMK (or back then SMB) Kuching High, or in English - Kuching High School, class of 98. After leaving the school for uni and start my career and then continue my study, I have since then lost contact with many of my friends there. Kuching High is a venue for me to learn and grow up. Those buddies at the schools are like my siblings. We grow up together, from Transition year to Form 5 - good six years of my early adolescence were spent in one of the most prestigious secondary schools at my home town. It is at least the most prestigious one for non-bumiputra because there is no way that a school like mine will have endless resources and funding from the government to those boarding schools in the country yet we still stand out among the rest of the students in my state where one of my friends was awarded the best student of whole Sarawak in 1998. We are called 'Bantuan' because we are not subsidised by the government, only a few percent of the budget is supported by the government. The rest is from school fees and sponsorships. We are lucky that this secondary school is funded by the Sarawakian Teochew Association. It is not a racist school as there are several Indians, Malays and Ibans in the school though 90% of the students are chinese from all dialect groups. It is open to everyone but due to the dominant Chinese population in this area and inside the school inself, the Chinese is still the majority.
This school promises a sense of Chinese-ness and cultures but at the same time offers the same national curriculum and not demanding tuition fees as expensive as the private Chinese schools which follows the Chinese curriculum. This school also gives me the opportunity to learn, not just learning in the classroom and extra-curriculum but more than that. We have the freedom to do a lot of things in the school, based on our creativity and courage. Clubs and societies are mainly managed by students, the teachers only sit there watching. We designed T-shirts, printed, sold; we wrote letters to companies, organised trips, booked buses; we published magazine, talked to shops managers for sponsorships, distributed it; we decided the programme we wanted for a camping trip, where, how, budget, etc. We didn't trouble teacher for a lot of things. That's what makes the sense of belongingness at the school. That's what makes us tied to each other so close. Because we basically build the school together with the teachers and the management side. We always took the task to raise money for the school because the government did not give us enough as what they give to other malay-populated schools and boarding schools.
That makes us such a strong bunch. Beside championing the league table of the state, we also have lots of students who achieved exceptional performance in academic and non-academic, national and international competitions. It proves to be right when I just being re-connected with my long-lost friends!
Surprisingly, two days ago, I received an email from a friend (she is very dear to me but then moved to New Zealand) from my other facebook account which I named it using my Chinese name. Through her, I found the rest of my ex-Highians. When I thought that they must have forgotten me since we have not communicated for nearly 10 years, they actually have been trying to look for me, especially when they were getting married. Ah! I missed their weddings. Some tried to phone my old Malaysian mobile number. I honestly cannot believe what is happening now. I felt like finding back my long-lost family.
Throughout my years in UK, actually some of them have been here too! We missed each other. We are so close yet so far, I just can't believe this. Alhamdulillah, I still manage to find one who I will meet this Saturday, inshaALLAH. She live in London and I was there last Saturday. The tube station where I got off to meet my friends when I visited London was just 2 stations away from her! Qadrullah, truly I submit to ALLAH's will and destiny. How much this has proved the will and power of ALLAH. I just talked to an ex-Highian and that she will being moving to Taiwan soon after her wedding. That is for good and we don't know if we can meet each other again.
My life on this world isn't that long but enough to let me open and close different chapters of my life. I thought the secondary school chapter is close but suddenly, it is open again. I thank ALLAH for this and thank HIM more that my friends still can accept me even I am not the same name and same faith again. Alhamdulillah.
Wassalam.
School song:
We are students of Kuching High;
We are builders of Malaysia;
Glory to our Kuching High;
Glory to our country.
Be sound in knowledge, be kind in nature;
We are students of the school;
Be healthy in mind, be healthy in body;
We are citizens of Malaysia.
Glory to our Kuching High;
Glory to our country.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Al-Fatihah...
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I have never seen in my real life how hard strong young men wept and cried over a death. Today I witnessed it and from no feeling of grief, I can hardly hold my tears. Most of the ladies have already been crying for quite a while when watching the body being put into a private ambulance to be sent off for burial. The crowd of brothers surrounding the ambulance at the mosque entrance have red eyes and watery eye-lids. They were hugging and comforting each other. There was a young brother in his early 20s standing alone quite far from the ambulance (about 2 houses away from the mosque entrance), his eyes were looking at the ambulance while tears dropping and he has to use his palm to cover his mouth from shouting.
Such a scene proved that the disease is such a respectable and much loved man. Moreover, the fact that many people were still at the mosque waiting to pray that jenazah prayer even though it was postponed, shows how much people like to bid farewell to him. Some even said that it is a sign of a righteous person if he or she passed away on Friday.
Today, at the khutbah, the khatib reminded us that charity should be done as soon as possible because we won't know if we will live another day to consume the money that we have saved or to give it out for another charity.
May we all die in Islam and given the privilege to reside in ALLAH's Paradise. Amin.
Ya Dhaljalali wal ikram, amitna ala dinnil islam.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Every soul shall taste of death, and you shall only be paid fully your reward on the resurrection day; then whoever is removed far away from the fire and is made to enter the garden he indeed has attained the object; and the life of this world is nothing but a provision of vanities.This is what ALLAH has promised and today after the Friday prayer, a jenazah prayer was performend at 3.30pm at the mosque for this Syrian brother who is also the manager of a halal grocery just opposite my house - Spice Gate. It was announced at the jumaah that it will be prayed at 2.45pm but postponed to 3.30pm. May ALLAH have mercy on him, forgive all his sins and place him with the righteous people in the Paradise.~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah Ali Imran (Chapter 3, Family of Imran) verse 185
I have never seen in my real life how hard strong young men wept and cried over a death. Today I witnessed it and from no feeling of grief, I can hardly hold my tears. Most of the ladies have already been crying for quite a while when watching the body being put into a private ambulance to be sent off for burial. The crowd of brothers surrounding the ambulance at the mosque entrance have red eyes and watery eye-lids. They were hugging and comforting each other. There was a young brother in his early 20s standing alone quite far from the ambulance (about 2 houses away from the mosque entrance), his eyes were looking at the ambulance while tears dropping and he has to use his palm to cover his mouth from shouting.
Such a scene proved that the disease is such a respectable and much loved man. Moreover, the fact that many people were still at the mosque waiting to pray that jenazah prayer even though it was postponed, shows how much people like to bid farewell to him. Some even said that it is a sign of a righteous person if he or she passed away on Friday.
Today, at the khutbah, the khatib reminded us that charity should be done as soon as possible because we won't know if we will live another day to consume the money that we have saved or to give it out for another charity.
May we all die in Islam and given the privilege to reside in ALLAH's Paradise. Amin.
Ya Dhaljalali wal ikram, amitna ala dinnil islam.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
CamERA 2008
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
We have a full-day conference today at the faculty. It's called CamERA 2008 though I am not sure what does ERA means, probably Educational Research Annual (or Association but unlikely). Anyway, it is a great opportunity every year to come to this conference and meet almost all the academic staff and phd students in the faculty.
Since early this year, the faculty has divided all the academic staff and research students into five different groups according to the areas of interest. I am under the Science, Technology & Mathematics Education group and my supervisor organises our own little Science Learning group which initially has nothing to do with this umbrella group cause we have been running our group long before the introduction of these five groups. I am also a member of another research group named Self-regulated Learning under the Psychology & Neuroscience in Education group led by Dr. David Whitebread. Reseach groups are very important not just as a form of support and motivation for phd students who are working independently (or alone) most of the time but also a place to learn and update ourselves with latest news and development in the respective research area. You will never know what you can learn from attending the meetings.
Today, at the conference, the parallel sessions were divided according to the umbrella groups, this is probably the only time in the year that each group manages to meet each other and get to know what others are doing. I met a Singaporean guy who has been doing quite a similar research as mine only with different focus, methods and location. It is good to get to talk to him and learn from him too. And also to speak broken English!
Anyway, I get to catch up with some other friends and exchanging words of encouragement is such an uplifting feeling to get on with my work.
Hope we all will be successful in our studies.
Wassalam.
We have a full-day conference today at the faculty. It's called CamERA 2008 though I am not sure what does ERA means, probably Educational Research Annual (or Association but unlikely). Anyway, it is a great opportunity every year to come to this conference and meet almost all the academic staff and phd students in the faculty.
Since early this year, the faculty has divided all the academic staff and research students into five different groups according to the areas of interest. I am under the Science, Technology & Mathematics Education group and my supervisor organises our own little Science Learning group which initially has nothing to do with this umbrella group cause we have been running our group long before the introduction of these five groups. I am also a member of another research group named Self-regulated Learning under the Psychology & Neuroscience in Education group led by Dr. David Whitebread. Reseach groups are very important not just as a form of support and motivation for phd students who are working independently (or alone) most of the time but also a place to learn and update ourselves with latest news and development in the respective research area. You will never know what you can learn from attending the meetings.
Today, at the conference, the parallel sessions were divided according to the umbrella groups, this is probably the only time in the year that each group manages to meet each other and get to know what others are doing. I met a Singaporean guy who has been doing quite a similar research as mine only with different focus, methods and location. It is good to get to talk to him and learn from him too. And also to speak broken English!
Anyway, I get to catch up with some other friends and exchanging words of encouragement is such an uplifting feeling to get on with my work.
Hope we all will be successful in our studies.
Wassalam.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Farewell to Shaykh Abdul Razzaq Balhawan
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
It is really sad for us today. It reminds me a lot of Rihla's final hours in Madinah. After finishing the teaching part, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq brought some refreshment for us as a gift for good. He has diabetes so he didn't have a lot but he never stopped offering us more juice and sweets. Fortunately we have prepared a set of pen & pencil engraved with his name on them as a gift for good to him. He refused to accept it and kept saying 'laa hawla wa laa quwata illa billahi' until Umm Hassan insisted that he finally took it and said that we have made him feel so shy. MashaALLAH, a very down to earth teacher.
His willingness to teach us is something that is not easy to get. Not that he is stingy in sharing knowledge but it is that he is too good that so many people are waiting for him to teach them. Some of his students follow him wherever he goes to read in front of him so that they may finish the Qur'an and receive a degree (ijazah) from him. The more students around him, the less each student will get to read from the Qur'an. Alhamdulillah, he kindly opened a class specially for the sisters. Though it's no more than 1 and a half hour daily, it is enough for us to read more than 2 pages a day including some lessons of the rules of tajwid. Of course, he gave full time for the brothers. Usually for a great teacher like him, those who want to learn from such a teacher will have to wait at the mosque. After the teacher finish leading Fajr prayer, then, the teaching begins. Usually from a crowd of brothers, each of them only manage to read 1 page a day. That's why I said that we are quite lucky, alhamdulillah.
If the mosque is willing, he will be invited to Cambridge again in Ramadhan. Before that, he will be judging the Qur'an recitation in Malaysia (but I won't be there). He said that he doesn't really like people singing the Qur'an because one will loose the tajwid rules, change the harakah, etc. thus change the meaning of the Qur'an which is completely haram as ALLAH asks us to read the Qur'an with 'tartil' (Surah al-Muazzammil, verse 7). It is fard al-ain to read the Qur'an according to rules (whether the person knows the rules or not). According to a hadith, it is recommended to read the Qur'an according to the rules and in our nature tone, or in another words not purposely beautifying the recitation with singing tone.
Anyway, I really am looking forward for his next visit to Cambridge, if I am still here. He said, for the next meeting, he will give us examinations. That give us about 4 months to practice.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
It is really sad for us today. It reminds me a lot of Rihla's final hours in Madinah. After finishing the teaching part, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq brought some refreshment for us as a gift for good. He has diabetes so he didn't have a lot but he never stopped offering us more juice and sweets. Fortunately we have prepared a set of pen & pencil engraved with his name on them as a gift for good to him. He refused to accept it and kept saying 'laa hawla wa laa quwata illa billahi' until Umm Hassan insisted that he finally took it and said that we have made him feel so shy. MashaALLAH, a very down to earth teacher.
His willingness to teach us is something that is not easy to get. Not that he is stingy in sharing knowledge but it is that he is too good that so many people are waiting for him to teach them. Some of his students follow him wherever he goes to read in front of him so that they may finish the Qur'an and receive a degree (ijazah) from him. The more students around him, the less each student will get to read from the Qur'an. Alhamdulillah, he kindly opened a class specially for the sisters. Though it's no more than 1 and a half hour daily, it is enough for us to read more than 2 pages a day including some lessons of the rules of tajwid. Of course, he gave full time for the brothers. Usually for a great teacher like him, those who want to learn from such a teacher will have to wait at the mosque. After the teacher finish leading Fajr prayer, then, the teaching begins. Usually from a crowd of brothers, each of them only manage to read 1 page a day. That's why I said that we are quite lucky, alhamdulillah.
If the mosque is willing, he will be invited to Cambridge again in Ramadhan. Before that, he will be judging the Qur'an recitation in Malaysia (but I won't be there). He said that he doesn't really like people singing the Qur'an because one will loose the tajwid rules, change the harakah, etc. thus change the meaning of the Qur'an which is completely haram as ALLAH asks us to read the Qur'an with 'tartil' (Surah al-Muazzammil, verse 7). It is fard al-ain to read the Qur'an according to rules (whether the person knows the rules or not). According to a hadith, it is recommended to read the Qur'an according to the rules and in our nature tone, or in another words not purposely beautifying the recitation with singing tone.
Anyway, I really am looking forward for his next visit to Cambridge, if I am still here. He said, for the next meeting, he will give us examinations. That give us about 4 months to practice.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Juzu' Amma
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Alhamdulillahi rabbilalamin, we managed to finish reading Juzu' Amma with Shaykh Abdur Razaq yesterday and now we moved to Juzu' Tabarak. He said after we have done nearly a month of tajwid lesson, most of us have avoided major error or 'lahn jaly' which includes the changes of harakah, tashkil and letters that may change the meaning of the Qur'an thus making it basically haram. However, we have not yet perfected our recitation so inevitably we sometimes still make minor errors or 'lahn khofy' which includes the little mistakes in makhroj and sifat that do not change the letters and meaning. For example when we read Surah al-Fatihah, the last verse, we say 'wa ladhdhoolin'. When making the stopping of 'dhod', there are 7 characteristics that we must pay attention and give right to or it will become an error in recitation. To say the sukun of 'dhod', one should not make whispering, no qalqalah, no stressing, instead it is a soft letter with the characteristic of lengthening, thick and take a bit of time to make sukun. However, if we can't make it a perfect 'dhod', as long as we don't change 'dhod' to 'zho' or 'da', that's is still acceptable.
Making 'lahn khofy' in reciting al-Fatihah in salah will not nullify one's salah but if making 'lahn jaly' and change the meaning completely, then it may result in one's salah not being accepted, according to the Shaykh. ALLAHU'alam. For example to say 'yaumi-ddin'. If the 'dal' is recited with whispering thus making it into 'ta', you literally change the meaning of 'Day of Judgement' into 'Day of the Fig'. Funny? But many people make this mistake. And another example is when saying 'Iyyaka na'budu wa...'. Some people tend to do 'duu', change from 1 harakah into 2 harakah because they think that the next 'wau' for 'wa' makes 'du' into 'duu'. Also in 'sirat', changing 'sod' into 'sin'. These are not right. May ALLAH help us in our recitation and accept our deeds.
This Tuesday will be our last lesson before Shaykh Abdur Razaq has to go back to Syria again. We feel quite sad today to realise the end of the course. Before we can say anything, the Shaykh said that he will miss us when he goes back. I nearly got into tear for what he said. Indeed he is such a sincere, pious, humble, giving and knowledgeable person. I, who used to be a teacher, can understand how this feeling is like. The last time he came was in Ramadhan and I studied with him and this time when he came, he asked of all his students who attended the classes back then. Who will not be touched by that? And now he will be leaving soon and he will most probably come back again in next Ramadhan if he lives long and the mosque here invites him again. He will not ask for payment but just travel expenses and accommodation, which basically is in the mosque. Such a simple and sincere person. I don't know if I will still be in Cambridge when he comes again but surely what he has taught us will, inshaALLAH, earn reward from ALLAH and I will try my best to embody his teaching and teach them in the future if possible. For sure, he has been given ijazah for tajwid and can be traced back directly to the the Prophet Muhammad (saw) through a chain of learnt scholars, but what he has taught me is way beyond tajwid and still is what the Prophet Muhammad (saw) has taught us.
May ALLAH preserve him, raise his rank among the righteous people and grant him Paradise. Amin.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Alhamdulillahi rabbilalamin, we managed to finish reading Juzu' Amma with Shaykh Abdur Razaq yesterday and now we moved to Juzu' Tabarak. He said after we have done nearly a month of tajwid lesson, most of us have avoided major error or 'lahn jaly' which includes the changes of harakah, tashkil and letters that may change the meaning of the Qur'an thus making it basically haram. However, we have not yet perfected our recitation so inevitably we sometimes still make minor errors or 'lahn khofy' which includes the little mistakes in makhroj and sifat that do not change the letters and meaning. For example when we read Surah al-Fatihah, the last verse, we say 'wa ladhdhoolin'. When making the stopping of 'dhod', there are 7 characteristics that we must pay attention and give right to or it will become an error in recitation. To say the sukun of 'dhod', one should not make whispering, no qalqalah, no stressing, instead it is a soft letter with the characteristic of lengthening, thick and take a bit of time to make sukun. However, if we can't make it a perfect 'dhod', as long as we don't change 'dhod' to 'zho' or 'da', that's is still acceptable.
Making 'lahn khofy' in reciting al-Fatihah in salah will not nullify one's salah but if making 'lahn jaly' and change the meaning completely, then it may result in one's salah not being accepted, according to the Shaykh. ALLAHU'alam. For example to say 'yaumi-ddin'. If the 'dal' is recited with whispering thus making it into 'ta', you literally change the meaning of 'Day of Judgement' into 'Day of the Fig'. Funny? But many people make this mistake. And another example is when saying 'Iyyaka na'budu wa...'. Some people tend to do 'duu', change from 1 harakah into 2 harakah because they think that the next 'wau' for 'wa' makes 'du' into 'duu'. Also in 'sirat', changing 'sod' into 'sin'. These are not right. May ALLAH help us in our recitation and accept our deeds.
This Tuesday will be our last lesson before Shaykh Abdur Razaq has to go back to Syria again. We feel quite sad today to realise the end of the course. Before we can say anything, the Shaykh said that he will miss us when he goes back. I nearly got into tear for what he said. Indeed he is such a sincere, pious, humble, giving and knowledgeable person. I, who used to be a teacher, can understand how this feeling is like. The last time he came was in Ramadhan and I studied with him and this time when he came, he asked of all his students who attended the classes back then. Who will not be touched by that? And now he will be leaving soon and he will most probably come back again in next Ramadhan if he lives long and the mosque here invites him again. He will not ask for payment but just travel expenses and accommodation, which basically is in the mosque. Such a simple and sincere person. I don't know if I will still be in Cambridge when he comes again but surely what he has taught us will, inshaALLAH, earn reward from ALLAH and I will try my best to embody his teaching and teach them in the future if possible. For sure, he has been given ijazah for tajwid and can be traced back directly to the the Prophet Muhammad (saw) through a chain of learnt scholars, but what he has taught me is way beyond tajwid and still is what the Prophet Muhammad (saw) has taught us.
May ALLAH preserve him, raise his rank among the righteous people and grant him Paradise. Amin.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Tell your family before you convert
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
This news from Malaysia really got me writing. Our controversial PM of Malaysia asked all those who want to convert to make sure that their families are informed and then they can convert and register as a muslim! If this is the case, I am afraid that he will scare more people away from making this noble act. Not that it should be hidden from your family when you have converted, it is that your heart is ready to submit to ALLAH but you need time to think how to talk to your family. Considering to convert already has taken a lot of brain power to think and reflect, now you want them to also take up the pain to think of how to tell their families without getting chased out and cursed (if unfortunate)?
I understand that it is good to have the consent from the family because I think that is fairer to them but not many people can do that. For sure I can't and didn't. Conversion is not something that we can control (probably because he has not been through this process so he proposed this). Today I said that my heart really wants to submit to the All-Mighty One and Only None Other God - ALLAH, and want to follow the examples of the Messenger of God (saw), but wait! I have to stop that submission first and let my family know first before I can truly claim that I am a muslim. Is that what a conversion like? For sure, it is not true for me.
By imposing this regulation to have consent from the family before registration as a new muslim, it will only put off people from telling the authority. People just are not going to trouble themselves for a piece of consent letter from their family if they are not ready to tell them. Without the acknowledgment of the islamic authority (like a certificate), if the person passed away, it creates worse scenario than before this regulation because there is literally no black and white (only a shahadah taken in an old surau, let's say with two poor men as witnesses). There is simply no solid evidence of the conversion yet those friends who have been teaching this new convert know how much submission to ALLAH this person is and of course they would want his/her funeral done in the islamic way as well as any other dispute of will and wealth.
If you impose a regulation without any research or consultation from proper experts (I mean real expert, at least the mufti), you are only creating troubles. This is my PM who didn't do enough consultation with the proper experts in his coalition (the worse is consulted the wrong people) before naming the candidates for the pass election and caused terrible defeat. Read this piece of news.
Oh ALLAH, please save us from this mess and make all those who want to submit to YOU carry out their submission easily.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
This news from Malaysia really got me writing. Our controversial PM of Malaysia asked all those who want to convert to make sure that their families are informed and then they can convert and register as a muslim! If this is the case, I am afraid that he will scare more people away from making this noble act. Not that it should be hidden from your family when you have converted, it is that your heart is ready to submit to ALLAH but you need time to think how to talk to your family. Considering to convert already has taken a lot of brain power to think and reflect, now you want them to also take up the pain to think of how to tell their families without getting chased out and cursed (if unfortunate)?
I understand that it is good to have the consent from the family because I think that is fairer to them but not many people can do that. For sure I can't and didn't. Conversion is not something that we can control (probably because he has not been through this process so he proposed this). Today I said that my heart really wants to submit to the All-Mighty One and Only None Other God - ALLAH, and want to follow the examples of the Messenger of God (saw), but wait! I have to stop that submission first and let my family know first before I can truly claim that I am a muslim. Is that what a conversion like? For sure, it is not true for me.
By imposing this regulation to have consent from the family before registration as a new muslim, it will only put off people from telling the authority. People just are not going to trouble themselves for a piece of consent letter from their family if they are not ready to tell them. Without the acknowledgment of the islamic authority (like a certificate), if the person passed away, it creates worse scenario than before this regulation because there is literally no black and white (only a shahadah taken in an old surau, let's say with two poor men as witnesses). There is simply no solid evidence of the conversion yet those friends who have been teaching this new convert know how much submission to ALLAH this person is and of course they would want his/her funeral done in the islamic way as well as any other dispute of will and wealth.
If you impose a regulation without any research or consultation from proper experts (I mean real expert, at least the mufti), you are only creating troubles. This is my PM who didn't do enough consultation with the proper experts in his coalition (the worse is consulted the wrong people) before naming the candidates for the pass election and caused terrible defeat. Read this piece of news.
Oh ALLAH, please save us from this mess and make all those who want to submit to YOU carry out their submission easily.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Interest
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Now I have realised that my main interest is not in Physics education but Islamic education and contemporary politics. Looking at the time I have spent lately, I can divide it into time for my phd study, islamic study, reading political news & blogs and eat & sleep. And most of my time is for islamic study and following-up political movement, especially my country. This is very worrying me because I meant to do my phd at this time! I hope I will get back on track of my study soon. If my posting gets really not that frequent, pray that I am doing my phd than other stuff.
Wassalam.
Now I have realised that my main interest is not in Physics education but Islamic education and contemporary politics. Looking at the time I have spent lately, I can divide it into time for my phd study, islamic study, reading political news & blogs and eat & sleep. And most of my time is for islamic study and following-up political movement, especially my country. This is very worrying me because I meant to do my phd at this time! I hope I will get back on track of my study soon. If my posting gets really not that frequent, pray that I am doing my phd than other stuff.
By the time, Indeed men are in lost, except those who have faith and do righteous deeds and enjoin the Truth and patience.~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah al-'Asr (Chapter 103, The Time) verses 1-3
A song by Dawud Wharnsby Ali - Another Day:
Wassalam.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Fitna - Part III
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Finally a muslim scholar responded to the Fitna documentary by showing how the producer is so naive about Arabic language. When quoting the verses in the documentary, the producer also quoted the recitation of the verses in Arabic. For those who can understand the Arabic language, it is clear that some phrases were not translated and shown in the documentary which of course changed the real meaning of the verses from peaceful to violence. Watch these video and you will understand why there is no need to be angry toward ignorant people.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Finally a muslim scholar responded to the Fitna documentary by showing how the producer is so naive about Arabic language. When quoting the verses in the documentary, the producer also quoted the recitation of the verses in Arabic. For those who can understand the Arabic language, it is clear that some phrases were not translated and shown in the documentary which of course changed the real meaning of the verses from peaceful to violence. Watch these video and you will understand why there is no need to be angry toward ignorant people.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Who taught you that?
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in his talk during the Grand Mawlid asked:"Who taught you to say this du'a when you wake up in the morning? Who taught you to remind yourself at the moment you woke up 'what ALLAH is going to do with me'?"
There is no one but the beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw). He (saw) taught us everything. Sleeping, waking-up, brushing teeth, taking shower, cooking, eating, going to toilet, shopping, speaking, thinking, leading, helping, donating, learning, teaching, etc. name it, anything in our lives, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) has never stopped teaching us. The true submission (Islam) is following ALLAH's will in every single second of our lives, every single moment. And ALLAH's will for a perfect servant, human & beloved is, of course, the Prophet Muhammad (saw). If only we can follow each and every step of his (saw) sunnah...
In the Qur'an, ALLAH said that HE has sent down the Qur'an and the Light. According to some mufasirun, the Light means the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Shaykh Hamza Yusuf went on and said that we cannot read the Qur'an without the Light! We cannot read in darkness., no doubt. SubhanALLAH, how true indeed ALLAH's words are. If Qur'an was sent down to humans and no one is there to tell us how to read, understand and practice these revelations, it must be a waste of ink! No doubt that we say in our shahadah:"There is no god but ALLAH and Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of ALLAH". If he (saw) was not there to teach us the Qur'an, how on earth are we going to please ALLAH? No wonder ALLAH said in the Qur'an that:"If you love ALLAH, then follow me (Muhammad saw), and ALLAH will love you and forgive your sins".
Our whole life to please ALLAH is centred in the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) who has been inspired by ALLAH to be the best example and most importantly a mercy to all mankind.
ALLAHUmma solli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad wa sohbihi wassalam.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in his talk during the Grand Mawlid asked:"Who taught you to say this du'a when you wake up in the morning? Who taught you to remind yourself at the moment you woke up 'what ALLAH is going to do with me'?"
There is no one but the beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw). He (saw) taught us everything. Sleeping, waking-up, brushing teeth, taking shower, cooking, eating, going to toilet, shopping, speaking, thinking, leading, helping, donating, learning, teaching, etc. name it, anything in our lives, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) has never stopped teaching us. The true submission (Islam) is following ALLAH's will in every single second of our lives, every single moment. And ALLAH's will for a perfect servant, human & beloved is, of course, the Prophet Muhammad (saw). If only we can follow each and every step of his (saw) sunnah...
In the Qur'an, ALLAH said that HE has sent down the Qur'an and the Light. According to some mufasirun, the Light means the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Shaykh Hamza Yusuf went on and said that we cannot read the Qur'an without the Light! We cannot read in darkness., no doubt. SubhanALLAH, how true indeed ALLAH's words are. If Qur'an was sent down to humans and no one is there to tell us how to read, understand and practice these revelations, it must be a waste of ink! No doubt that we say in our shahadah:"There is no god but ALLAH and Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of ALLAH". If he (saw) was not there to teach us the Qur'an, how on earth are we going to please ALLAH? No wonder ALLAH said in the Qur'an that:"If you love ALLAH, then follow me (Muhammad saw), and ALLAH will love you and forgive your sins".
Our whole life to please ALLAH is centred in the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) who has been inspired by ALLAH to be the best example and most importantly a mercy to all mankind.
ALLAHUmma solli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad wa sohbihi wassalam.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
A short visit to Birmingham - I
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
This is my fourth visit to Birmingham. Whenever I go for a visit out of Cambridge, it is not for sight-seeing but more to visit people or events. As I have said before that I have been to London a few times but have never visited any spectacular tourism sights in London, this is the same as Birmingham. I know that there is an Underwater World in Birmingham but have never been there. I took this opportunity to attend the Grand Mawlid to visit friends in Birmingham. Thanks to Arwa and her family for letting me stay 2 nights at her house. Such a lovely family. May ALLAH reward them and help them especially her mum who is a single mother with 5 children and at the same time works full-time while doing a graduate degree part-time. MashaALLAH a very strong and capable muslimah who also helps the muslim community in Birmingham. I don't think there is any Arab muslimahs in Birmingham who doesn't know her mum.
Anyway, this visit was a fruitful one because beside visiting friends, I have the opportunity to attend 2 islamic events there. After jumaah, at the Amanah centre, there was a sale to raise money for Pals International and in the evening was the Grand Mawlid and a chance to meet a Rihla sister! I have bought a book, CD and dress at the sale and in the evening Arwa's mum drove us to the Grand Mawlid. It was packed! My friend who visits this mosque very frequently said that the attendance is far more than the Laylatul-Qadr, which usually has the highest attendance every year. MashaALLAH! This event brought together the muslims from all continents. This is a south-asian dominated mosque (mostly Pakistanis & Indians) and usually the Arabs will have their event in another mosque. That evening, the mosque was packed with everyone in Birmingham and I am sure there must be some others like me who came from outside of Birmingham.
After maghrib prayer, we still did not see Shaykh Hamza Yusuf or Imam Zaid Shakir. The organiser started the event with Quran recitation and burdah. Later, we saw Imam Zaid Shakir's wife entered the ladies section and knew that Imam Zaid Shakir was here. He gave a very motivated speech, as usual. Muslims are urged to embody the examples of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and how to face the ignorant and hard-hearted people who bash Islam. He quoted these verses to explain the characteristic of the Prophet (saw) in dealing with this type of people:
I will continue what Shaykh Hamza Yusuf said in the next post, inshaALLAH.
Wassalam.
This is my fourth visit to Birmingham. Whenever I go for a visit out of Cambridge, it is not for sight-seeing but more to visit people or events. As I have said before that I have been to London a few times but have never visited any spectacular tourism sights in London, this is the same as Birmingham. I know that there is an Underwater World in Birmingham but have never been there. I took this opportunity to attend the Grand Mawlid to visit friends in Birmingham. Thanks to Arwa and her family for letting me stay 2 nights at her house. Such a lovely family. May ALLAH reward them and help them especially her mum who is a single mother with 5 children and at the same time works full-time while doing a graduate degree part-time. MashaALLAH a very strong and capable muslimah who also helps the muslim community in Birmingham. I don't think there is any Arab muslimahs in Birmingham who doesn't know her mum.
Anyway, this visit was a fruitful one because beside visiting friends, I have the opportunity to attend 2 islamic events there. After jumaah, at the Amanah centre, there was a sale to raise money for Pals International and in the evening was the Grand Mawlid and a chance to meet a Rihla sister! I have bought a book, CD and dress at the sale and in the evening Arwa's mum drove us to the Grand Mawlid. It was packed! My friend who visits this mosque very frequently said that the attendance is far more than the Laylatul-Qadr, which usually has the highest attendance every year. MashaALLAH! This event brought together the muslims from all continents. This is a south-asian dominated mosque (mostly Pakistanis & Indians) and usually the Arabs will have their event in another mosque. That evening, the mosque was packed with everyone in Birmingham and I am sure there must be some others like me who came from outside of Birmingham.
After maghrib prayer, we still did not see Shaykh Hamza Yusuf or Imam Zaid Shakir. The organiser started the event with Quran recitation and burdah. Later, we saw Imam Zaid Shakir's wife entered the ladies section and knew that Imam Zaid Shakir was here. He gave a very motivated speech, as usual. Muslims are urged to embody the examples of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and how to face the ignorant and hard-hearted people who bash Islam. He quoted these verses to explain the characteristic of the Prophet (saw) in dealing with this type of people:
"And by the mercy of ALLAH, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pardon them, and ask forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in ALLAH, certainly, ALLAH loves those who put their trust (in HIM). If ALLAH helps you, none can overcome you; and if HE forsakes you, who is there after HIM that can help you And in ALLAH (Alone) let believers put their trust."Probably there is no need to be harsh to those who produced the Fitna movie. Maybe what we can do is pardon them, consult them, discuss with them, make a resolution together, be decisive with what both parties have agreed and finally trust in ALLAH that both parties will follow the resolution. ALLAHU'alam.~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah Ali Imran (Chapter 3, The Imran Family) verse 159-160
I will continue what Shaykh Hamza Yusuf said in the next post, inshaALLAH.
Wassalam.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Fitna - part II
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Found some really interesting responses toward the documentary Fitna. Below is a short slide show on many verses quoted in the Bible (both Old & New Testaments) which can be understood as promoting violence.
Geert Wilders is a Catholic and he can only quote 5 verses (not even full verse because he intentionally quoted half the verse so that it is out of the correct context) from the Qur'an while there are so many verses in the Bible that have crueler meanings like in killing women, infants, sucking babies, etc. I have no intention to condemn any religion because what is written in these holy books are words (hopefully all of these quoted in the Bible here) from ALLAH. Humans have limited ability to interpret and understand these verses thoroughly. Bible and Qur'an are not written in English or Danish. If you read the Bible or Qur'an in the language that is not as they have been revealed, no doubt that you will make mistakes in interpreting them or you will not fully understand the meaning because you don't have the access to the original texts. So, is the Bible promoting violence? Is yes, Geert Wilders should tear off half of the Bible as he has asked the muslim to do so. But, I am not going to ask anyone to do this, not even tearing off any useful and academic books, let alone holy books. Instead of preaching hatred and asking religious people to tear off their holy books, why not find a good teacher and study them properly?
The below video explains the real contexts of the verses quoted in Fitna. ALLAH will never command any human to kill other humans without rational reasons because HE created all of us, there is no right for us to take away anyone's soul except by ALLAH's will. Watch this video carefully and learn:
What Geert Wilders did is to quote these 5 verses out of the real context by taking just one verse and ignoring the verses before and after; and also taking just a part of the verses and ignoring the other part of the same verse which will give full meaning for that verse. Sometime this is also the trap that many muslims fall into when trying to interpret the Qur'an without learning from learned Islamic scholars who at least has memorised the whole Qur'an, thousands of hadith, studied the science of the Qur'an and have ijazah in learning the interpretation of the whole Qur'an.
Dear muslim brothers and sisters, let's pray for what Geert Wilders did will eventually give benefits for the muslims to make dawa, explain these verses well to the muslims and non-muslims, promote better understanding by picking up the non-muslims' curiosity about Islam thus learn Islam and finally come to Islam. Amin.
Let's not abandon them because we are not here to punish them but to help them for a better life in this World and the Hereafter.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
p/s: Islam is beautiful, so beautify it at least from our intention, saying and action. Indeed it is through the best example of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) that many came to Islam.
Found some really interesting responses toward the documentary Fitna. Below is a short slide show on many verses quoted in the Bible (both Old & New Testaments) which can be understood as promoting violence.
Geert Wilders is a Catholic and he can only quote 5 verses (not even full verse because he intentionally quoted half the verse so that it is out of the correct context) from the Qur'an while there are so many verses in the Bible that have crueler meanings like in killing women, infants, sucking babies, etc. I have no intention to condemn any religion because what is written in these holy books are words (hopefully all of these quoted in the Bible here) from ALLAH. Humans have limited ability to interpret and understand these verses thoroughly. Bible and Qur'an are not written in English or Danish. If you read the Bible or Qur'an in the language that is not as they have been revealed, no doubt that you will make mistakes in interpreting them or you will not fully understand the meaning because you don't have the access to the original texts. So, is the Bible promoting violence? Is yes, Geert Wilders should tear off half of the Bible as he has asked the muslim to do so. But, I am not going to ask anyone to do this, not even tearing off any useful and academic books, let alone holy books. Instead of preaching hatred and asking religious people to tear off their holy books, why not find a good teacher and study them properly?
The below video explains the real contexts of the verses quoted in Fitna. ALLAH will never command any human to kill other humans without rational reasons because HE created all of us, there is no right for us to take away anyone's soul except by ALLAH's will. Watch this video carefully and learn:
What Geert Wilders did is to quote these 5 verses out of the real context by taking just one verse and ignoring the verses before and after; and also taking just a part of the verses and ignoring the other part of the same verse which will give full meaning for that verse. Sometime this is also the trap that many muslims fall into when trying to interpret the Qur'an without learning from learned Islamic scholars who at least has memorised the whole Qur'an, thousands of hadith, studied the science of the Qur'an and have ijazah in learning the interpretation of the whole Qur'an.
Dear muslim brothers and sisters, let's pray for what Geert Wilders did will eventually give benefits for the muslims to make dawa, explain these verses well to the muslims and non-muslims, promote better understanding by picking up the non-muslims' curiosity about Islam thus learn Islam and finally come to Islam. Amin.
Let's not abandon them because we are not here to punish them but to help them for a better life in this World and the Hereafter.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
p/s: Islam is beautiful, so beautify it at least from our intention, saying and action. Indeed it is through the best example of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) that many came to Islam.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Fitna - who is spreading al-Fitnah?
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
As many muslims around the world have come to know the broadcasting of a 15-min documentary produced by a Dutch party's leader, Geert Wilders, called Fitna, hosted by LiveLeak.com, there have been up-roars in many muslim countries around the globe. The title of the film speaks for itself what is the intention of the film. Before I talk about the title, just look at the track record of the producer. He is clearly a great supporter of Israel, an enemy of Islam for his remarks, a follower of US policy and a very insecure person for his absent in parliament and special seat in the parliament due to safety reasons. He is also hunger of power as he left a party that he has joined for a long time and formed a new party using his name but then changed to a party that uses 'Freedom' as the name of the party. Clearly he needs to learn what does 'freedom' mean.
Al-fitnah has been interpreted with so many meanings, even the wikipedia has a say in this - "disagreement and division among people", or a "test of faith in times of trial". Ibn Kathir in interpreting Surah al-Baqarah verse 217 said that in the verse "Al-Fitnah is worse than killing", al-Fitnah means "trying to force the Muslims to revert from their religion and re-embrace Kufr after they had believed". Ibn Kathir also said that al-Fitnah can mean "what you (disbelievers) are committing" or "shirk or polytheism". In Surah al-Anfal verse 39, Ibn Kathir said that al-Fitnah is "Muslim is persecuted so that he abandons his religion"
In Surah Yunus verse 85, al-Fitnah is interpreted by Ibn Kathir as trial, trial from the wrongdoers, from those who denied the truth and covered it. In Surah al-Ankabut verse 10, al-Fitnah is a trial that "trial is leaving Islam if they are made to suffer for Allah".
Clearly al-Fitnah is a trial, temptation, persecution, torture and any other form of saying and action that can lead muslims into disbelieving after believing. Leading believers to disbelieving is a form of mischief or corruption. It is no wonder that many muslims call for the death of the documentary producer. But if we know that what he is spreading is al-Fitnah, we as muslims should try our best to prevent the al-Fitnah from spreading among the muslims. Since the documentary has been produced, killing the producer will not solve the problem, but by stopping the spread of the message of this documentary and trying to explain the fitnah that this documentary is trying to spread inshaALLAH can help stop the fitnah.
I am glad that no other channel is hosting this documentary and so muslims should stop spreading this documentary as it carries fitnah. If the producer kept spreading the fitnah, we have the responsibility to stop him because clearly in the Qur'an ALLAH has commanded us to stop the fitnah wherever we find it but if they stop spreading fitnah, we should cease.
I really hope that muslim scholars can provide interpretations of the below verses quoted in the documentary in a more contemporary and in-context method so that both muslims and non-muslims can truly understand the message sent down by the Most Merciful and Most Gracious Lord of All Mankind:
8: 60; 4: 56; 47: 4; 4: 89; 8: 39
The producer urges the muslims to tear off half of the Qur'an because he thinks that half of the Qur'an encourage terrorism but he only quoted 5 verses from more than 6000 verses of the whole Qur'an, which is less than 0.0008% and of course these 0.0008% of verses of the Qur'an do not permit terrorism. It is only in the hearts of those who have yet studied the real meanings of these verses, the stories behind the revelation of these verses and hadiths related to them that they think that these verses permit terrorism. If only they come to realise how Merciful ALLAH is and how the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is sent down as a mercy to all mankind...
So, please study the whole Qur'an, Arabic, Hadith, 'Ulum al-Qur'an, Asbab an-Nuzul before you make another documentary regarding any verse in the Qur'an, or you are just an ignorant politician.
To all muslim brothers and sisters, please let's not be emotional in facing this fitnah. I don't know if demanding the death of the producer or boycotting Danish products is a way out of this or is it the same as what the Zionists do to the Palestinians - collective punishment? This is because many Danish have expressed their apologies to the muslims and claimed that the politician doesn't represent their views. Read here. No matter what it is, let's fight evil with good as what the Prophet (saw) preached and turn this trial into a chance to make da'wa.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
As many muslims around the world have come to know the broadcasting of a 15-min documentary produced by a Dutch party's leader, Geert Wilders, called Fitna, hosted by LiveLeak.com, there have been up-roars in many muslim countries around the globe. The title of the film speaks for itself what is the intention of the film. Before I talk about the title, just look at the track record of the producer. He is clearly a great supporter of Israel, an enemy of Islam for his remarks, a follower of US policy and a very insecure person for his absent in parliament and special seat in the parliament due to safety reasons. He is also hunger of power as he left a party that he has joined for a long time and formed a new party using his name but then changed to a party that uses 'Freedom' as the name of the party. Clearly he needs to learn what does 'freedom' mean.
Al-fitnah has been interpreted with so many meanings, even the wikipedia has a say in this - "disagreement and division among people", or a "test of faith in times of trial". Ibn Kathir in interpreting Surah al-Baqarah verse 217 said that in the verse "Al-Fitnah is worse than killing", al-Fitnah means "trying to force the Muslims to revert from their religion and re-embrace Kufr after they had believed". Ibn Kathir also said that al-Fitnah can mean "what you (disbelievers) are committing" or "shirk or polytheism". In Surah al-Anfal verse 39, Ibn Kathir said that al-Fitnah is "Muslim is persecuted so that he abandons his religion"
In Surah Yunus verse 85, al-Fitnah is interpreted by Ibn Kathir as trial, trial from the wrongdoers, from those who denied the truth and covered it. In Surah al-Ankabut verse 10, al-Fitnah is a trial that "trial is leaving Islam if they are made to suffer for Allah".
Clearly al-Fitnah is a trial, temptation, persecution, torture and any other form of saying and action that can lead muslims into disbelieving after believing. Leading believers to disbelieving is a form of mischief or corruption. It is no wonder that many muslims call for the death of the documentary producer. But if we know that what he is spreading is al-Fitnah, we as muslims should try our best to prevent the al-Fitnah from spreading among the muslims. Since the documentary has been produced, killing the producer will not solve the problem, but by stopping the spread of the message of this documentary and trying to explain the fitnah that this documentary is trying to spread inshaALLAH can help stop the fitnah.
I am glad that no other channel is hosting this documentary and so muslims should stop spreading this documentary as it carries fitnah. If the producer kept spreading the fitnah, we have the responsibility to stop him because clearly in the Qur'an ALLAH has commanded us to stop the fitnah wherever we find it but if they stop spreading fitnah, we should cease.
I really hope that muslim scholars can provide interpretations of the below verses quoted in the documentary in a more contemporary and in-context method so that both muslims and non-muslims can truly understand the message sent down by the Most Merciful and Most Gracious Lord of All Mankind:
8: 60; 4: 56; 47: 4; 4: 89; 8: 39
The producer urges the muslims to tear off half of the Qur'an because he thinks that half of the Qur'an encourage terrorism but he only quoted 5 verses from more than 6000 verses of the whole Qur'an, which is less than 0.0008% and of course these 0.0008% of verses of the Qur'an do not permit terrorism. It is only in the hearts of those who have yet studied the real meanings of these verses, the stories behind the revelation of these verses and hadiths related to them that they think that these verses permit terrorism. If only they come to realise how Merciful ALLAH is and how the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is sent down as a mercy to all mankind...
So, please study the whole Qur'an, Arabic, Hadith, 'Ulum al-Qur'an, Asbab an-Nuzul before you make another documentary regarding any verse in the Qur'an, or you are just an ignorant politician.
To all muslim brothers and sisters, please let's not be emotional in facing this fitnah. I don't know if demanding the death of the producer or boycotting Danish products is a way out of this or is it the same as what the Zionists do to the Palestinians - collective punishment? This is because many Danish have expressed their apologies to the muslims and claimed that the politician doesn't represent their views. Read here. No matter what it is, let's fight evil with good as what the Prophet (saw) preached and turn this trial into a chance to make da'wa.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
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