What Have You Prepared For It?

Haziq and some of his fellow friends in the masjid will be participating for a  musabaqah (musabaqah means competition. can be used for any competition not necessarily Quran related) of quran memorisation sometime sometime in December.

I am slightly baffle though because up till now, the exact date of the competition is not announced. December break is coming and I do wish to take a break somewhere, but we can't plan anything much. I keep pressing Haziq but Haziq said none of them can tell him exactly when.

Since none of them speak english, I assumed its Haziq's not so good arabic is the problem here. However Haziq denies it.

The other day, one of the boys asked one of the sheikhs

When is the competition O Sheikh?

To this the sheikh replied, "What have you prepared for it?"



It's a joke, in case you can't see it.

Just a reminder, there is hadith of when there was a man who kept asking Prophet Muhamad sallallahu alaihi wasalam while he was giving a talk, "Mata sa'ah? Mata sa'ah? Mata sa'ah? When is the Hour? When is the Hour? When is the Hour? (The Hour means yaumul akhirah). Prophet sallalalhu alaihi wasalam replied, "What have you prepared for it?

Get it? get it?

Listening

Among the things that I love chatting with Haziq is about the time he spends in the masjid reciting to his sheikhs. His blue-eyed sheikh is really Masya Allah. I've blogged about him once but since I am on my Ipad, I can't figure out how to link the post.

Updated : This is the link. THE WISE and THE PATIENT

Haziq would say, when he got to the masjid, greet his teachers and all, he would then show his sheikh which page does he intend to read. The sheikh would take a look, close the mushaf and ask Haziq to recite and intermittently Haziq will make mistakes and blue-eyed sheikh would coreect him without the need to refer to the mushaf at all. Masya Allah.

Sometimes, blue-eyed sheikh gets a little tired. He would doze off while Haziq is still reading. But when Haziq make mistakes, he would raise his head and correct them. Haziq did deliberately make mistakes and lo and behold (to test his theory), blue-eyed sheikh will correct them. Masya Allah.

At other times, blue-eyed sheikh would read his own pages while listening to Haziq and perhaps three other boys reading. And he can still correct each of them when they make mistakes. Super masya Allah!

On a similar note but totally different standard, my teacher is trying to train my class to become Quran teachers ourselves (please pray for me ikhlas). Part of the training is, we have to listen to each other reading. Identify the memorisation mistakes and also tajweed, record them and correctly correct them. I would get flabbergasted with the recording while listening. First of all its difficult to identify their mistakes. The ladies in my class are already good in their reading. Occasionally they do make mistakes here and there but most of the time, i need to really listen to them and still not find any.

To top this, i usually get very sleepy when I listen to them. You'll find me dozing off only waking up when they have probably finished. Needless to say, I didn't find any mistakes in their reading. :P

May Allah bless all quran teachers around the world.

What to Memorise First

After some observation among the children whom I have met, I am concern to just how much they know from the Quran. Many 10-12 year olds I talk to are not fluent in their basic three quls and some have not even memorised it. I asked them, if you have not memorised these short surahs, what do you read for your solah then?

I am not sure whether some of us expat parents realise this, but our children are not living in Malaysia where you probably would just leave it for the kindergarten school teachers to teach them basic surahs and basic du'a. Not in this country. Not when you are abroad.

Allahu Mustaan.

As expat, learning the deen falls heavily on us. HEAVILY.

I am making a list of what I believe the kids should have memorised by heart. It maybe my opinion only. P

In this order

Al Fatihah 
This should be memorised by age 5. You can stretch it to before 7 but seriously it should be before that because by 7 the child should be formally taught how to pray already. Having memorised al fatihah, would make the teaching process smoother Insya Allah.

The three quls
anytime before seven years old.

I cannot stress to you the importance of having these simple surahs as soon as possible. Not only these surahs are short, so kids can easily have this surah read in their prayers, but these surahs are so important in our daily like, from morning to before you go to sleep.

I am trying to cultivate the reciting of morning and evening adzkar to my K@FA kids and was surprised many have not memorised them yet.

Ayatul Kursi
I know this ayah is slightly long but it is such an important ayah in our life, I would personally make them memorise this before they reach seven also.

In the meantime, for me, I would casually make the daily du'a as daily routine. When repeated often, they would memorise this without much effort Insya Allah.

And of course even before seven, we would encourage the children to follow our solah. Ifthey have memorised al fatihah and some surahs, they can begin reciting them in solah.

Recitation in solah
I personally teach them the shortest ones. The one ruku'. the one in sujud. the one in between two sujuds. Then move to tashahud. and the last one Istiftah.

These should be tested and repeated often. Even when they are nine or ten, you must always ask them to repeat because I have caught my children reading tashahud for instance wrongly.

Again I am encouraging you to get your children to memorise the quran. The early surahs in Juzz amma is short and would it be easy for them Insya Allah.

But baby steps first. And I ask you in the name of Allah, if you have not already, take the responsibility in your hands. And take it seriously.

We are all answerable.

Feeling Secure?

I was talking to my Japanese Muslim friend sometime after the devastating Tsunami in Japan 2011 happen. She was from the very same are that the Tsunami struck. her parents escaped the tsunami. She said, the area already has a very high wall to protect them from Tsunami.

JAPAN PREPARED WELL FOR TSUNAMI

In this article it says:

"An 1896 tsunami killed over 10,000 people in these villages, in some cases eradicating entire towns. In part because of that event, Japan's northern coastline is perhaps the best protected area in the world against tsunamis. Ten-meter high walls defend many towns. Road signs mark the beginning and end of inundation areas determined as such by sophisticated computer simulations. Evacuation routes are well-signed, and vertical evacuation is available in areas distant from high ground. Green belts designed to dissipate tsunami energy line most of the coast."

According to my friend, they always feel safe that they have the wall. No tsunami can ever get them. Really 10m wall is very high.

On the very day, the initial report of tsunami, the wave was about 3.5m high but it developed into a bigger tsunami after completely engulfing the towns. Watching the video is truly heart wrenching. Who can challenge Allah's force.

I read this ayah in surah Mulk and find it very chilling.

AL Mulk 67: 16-17

Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake?Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning.

Human feel very secure. And confident and probably arrogant.

Just think Titanic. Challenger. Wallahu alam.

I am not saying all disasters are an immediate punishment. This is Allah's work. I am saying that we put our effort to have a sound protection for our abode and we rely on Allah to protect us from harm.

We are doing the story of Prophet Saleh alaihi salam. And the same theme happen here. Allah asks

Shuara 26: 146-152

Will you be left secure in that which you have here? (146) "In gardens and springs. (147) And green crops (fields) and date-palms with soft spadix. (148) "And you hew out in the mountains, houses, with great skill. (149) "So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. (150) "And follow not the command of Al-Musrifûn [i.e. their chiefs, leaders who were polytheists, criminals and sinners], (151) "Who make mischief in the land, and reform not." (152)

Allah reminded the people of Thamud on the blessings that Allah has given them, along with skills of making houses by boring the mountain. We have similar blessings as well.

What we need to do next is fear Allah and obey our  Prophet sallalahu alaihi wasalam.

Seriously my mind is everywhere.

Wait for Ibu

I came back quite late yesterday at about 9 at night after going out of the house since early morning. I came back home, famish! I hope my lover and and the kids spared some of the good parts of the grill they bought for dinner.

Lover kept smsing when am i going to get home because none of them had dinner yet. I was a bit not happy because its late, and they still not eating yet? I mean, do I have to do everything around here?

Why have they not eaten, i asked as i entered the kitchen.

They wanted to eat together with you. 

Awwww

Sukaaaaa

Tak jadi marah.

Preserving the Quran

When you say a person is doing tahfiz or the person is a hafizul Quran, you would understand that the person is memorising the Quran or he has already memorise the Quran in its entirety.

Hifz (حفظ) literally means preserving or maintaining. And that is exactly what a person who is memorising the quran is doing. Not merely memorising, but rather preserving the quran.

Allah says in surah Hijr 15: 9 (check out the arabic word for the meaning guard)

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).

So many Muslims all over the world are preserving the Quran by memorising it that would probably make it impossible for one to destroy the Quran or corrupt it in total (except in the end of times). Perhaps this is one way that Allah guards His Book. Allah knows best.

Let us be among these people who rush to preserve the Quran and be among those in Allah's plan to guard His words. Not for fame. Not for praises. But to be Allah's agents. His slave who only seek Allah's pleasure.

The other day I received a message that is most pleasing Alhamdulillah.

I’m always amazed at the statement of al-Hasan al-Basri where he says that the hafidh of the Qur’an is not just preserving the Qur’an through his hifdh. No, rather the Qur’an is what is preserving him/her.

The more we surround ourselves with the Qur’an and busy ourselves in its recital and memorisation, the more Allah preserves us and protects us through it.

When we think about how, at times, thousands of Angels descended with just one Surah (e.g. Al-An’am) or one verse, it is no surprise then to know that Angels surround, protect, and walk alongside the huffadh (the one who memorises) of Qur’an who spend their days in the company of this Book. It is no surprise if – due to their continuous recital – they find their life blossoming, their affairs being taken care of, their illnesses being removed, their heart being settled in peace, things working out for them and so on. When you preserve the Qur’an, realise that the Qur’an preserves you tonnes more.

Not to say they won't be inflicted with difficulties (in fact as you can probably observe they are tested with tremendous tests), but when tests do come, Quran, along with his Eemaan, with Allah's leave, will preserve the person.

Preserve Allah and Allah will preserve you.

May Allah make us from amongst the people of Qur’an, and die upon Islam.

'Attaar

In the Arabic culture of old, the spice seller called the 'Attaar, was seen as somewhat a player due to much interaction with women, who were the majority of his customers.

One such 'Attaar was riding into a marketplace on his mule, carrying his product with him, and true enough, he was swarmed by women even before he get to where he was going. They crowded him and his animal, asking him about prices and product.

Unfortunately none of them were attractive, in fact they were all far from it.

Without descending from his mule, he said

واذا الوحوش حشرات

And when the wild beasts were gathered (Takweer : 5)

A woman heard him, and without missing a beat said,

وضرب لنا مثلا نسىي خلقه

And he presents us an example and forgets his own creation (Yaseen :78)

-Al adkhiyah, ibn al Jawzi

Stand Up for What is Right

Sometime a couple of years ago, Haziq and some of his friends were into pen tapping frenzy. Its merely tapping the pen onto anything to make rhythm of sound. Its quite catchy.

Three of them including Haziq decided to participate in a talent show routine. After sometime practising they got themselves a new member.

Now this new member is a loud-bullying type of person. Somehow something happen between him and another member that I called Ahmad al Yemeni. Than this new a member whom i now called Abdullah al diktatori, with all this assumed power kick al yemeni out of the team a few days before the contest.

Haziq al Malizi and another chap Farz al Seyloni was stumped but because they did nitbwant confrontation with al diktatori they kept their mouth shut went on practising. 

Al Yemeni did ask Haziq to  get him back in the team but he didnt know what to do, so left it at that.

They contested and got second place.

Then i had a real adult conversation with hadith. 

The bad people are strong now, because those who are on the right are not bothered and just weak. While you are the majority, you still could not stand against al diktatori because both of you want to avoid confrontation.

But he is so argumentative.

True. And you allowed your friend be kicked out. There is a difference between hating argument and standing up for the wronged ones.

Just look around you now, we are weak because for a long time we allowed oppressors to reign. Trust me, its dark now but its only getting darker for the result in the future is our cowardice now. 

 فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ

Then take admonition o you with eyes (to see)

Unfortunately standing up for the truth requires alot of hardship but there is honour in that.

Stand up for the truth even if you are the only one doing so.

Love Others as You Love Yourself

We went through this hadith which is the 13th hadith in the Imam Nawawi's collection of 40 hadith. We learned and recapped briefly on how much the ansar were helping the muhaijireen particularly during the early immigration to Madinah.

Who would not be at awe on how much they will go to help. Sharing houses is perhaps most basic thing that they will do willingly, but some also offered half of their wealth and offered one of their wives. Almost unthinkable. 

Then i was going through surah al Hashr: 59 and came to this ayat 8-11

(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say)

And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful. 

And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful. 

I stopped short at

وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ

And

 وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا  

The first one Allah says there is no jealousy in the breasts of the ansar over the muhajireen. And the second one is they (ansar) asking from allah not to put hatred in their hearts.

Subhanallah! This is something I may find very difficult to do. To really help someone and go all out for it and not to mention, on top of that to have no ill feeling towards them.

I clearly am far away.

May Allah Increase You in Knowledge

I learned about someone's helper this last few days. Even though a tad too late but Alhamdulillah, whatever that Allah has planned, is always good.

My friend's helper for six years is leaving. She has been a very good helper. She is the only Indonesian helper I know who can speak Kelantan fluently. This she gained after six year stint with her Kelantanese host.

With a heavy heart on both my friend and the helper, she asked to quit because she has become even more wary about the issue of mahram. That a woman shouldn't be travelling without mahram.

On her free time, she likes watching HUDA TV. HUDA TV is an islamic channel where you get to watch Islamic programmes of various topics. The quality is to be reckoned with. She has been picking up a lot of knowledge from it. She is learning the deen and she is picking up english as well. Masya Allah. She is further assisted by my friend's children who use english generously at home.

Out of her thirst of learning, she bought the Sahih Bukhari collection of hadith (The abridged one) and has read it cover to cover. Masya Allah I am simply impressed.

I met her the other day and talked to her. Yes she can speak reasonable english. I am just not sure if she can understand my BM because I don't do Kelantan language and my attempt on Indonesian language is laughable. So we speak rojak. Masya Allah I enjoyed talking to her. I encouraged her to learn when she gets home. I gave her some good lins that she can continue to listen to when she gets back. I am just not sure whether she will have access to the internet though. I also encourage her to teach. Her little knowledge on english could be helpful to the Indonesians especially the children. Teach what you can. She said she is not good enough. Make du'a that Allah opens up your way and if it's good for you, Allah will open a way.

I just love seeing people who love to improve themselves. It is so heart warming. An example of my new friend here, in six years  she has gained knowledge of languages and her deen too. And all through self taught by the will of Allah.

I invited some people over for a friend's farewell yesterday. She came as well (with my friend of course). I gave her some books in english and encouraged her to learn. The look in her eyes when she got those books is akin to a child given an IPAD nowadays.

*LOVES*

 May Allah increase her in knowledge that is beneficial.