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.

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.

The Wise and the Patient.

Since we move to this house, i sent haziq to the masjid nearby for his quran. Alhamdulilah he enjoys his class even though none of the sheiks speak english and he doesnt speak much arabic either. But well, he'll pick up here and there i suppose.

When he first had his exam with this blue eyed sheikh, he told me he couldnt even look at the sheikh. The exam was one to one and face to face. And the sheikh would look at him above his glasses with deep piercing blue eyes. Eyes so blue that you can swim in it.

Haziq further describe this exam sheikh as someone who looks so wise. You can see wisdom in his eyes in his face in his smile and in his question. Even when he singles out haziq and ask him, "hal anta tafham?"( do you understand). It is as if only wisdom springs from his speech. The fact that he speaks arabic fusha (standard arabic) makes his speech beautiful. Masya Allah!

This sheikh we always refer as The wise sheikh.

And there is another one. He is the mudir of the centre. The kahuna. Haziq describes him as a very patient man. Haziq also said his feet is like those who is firm. He has firm and steadfast feet. How do you know this Haziq. I don't know, i just feel so.

Well perhaps the sheikh is.

He is the firm and patient sheikh - based on his feet.

As long as they are good description. Otherwise better to keep it to yourself.

I ask allah that the sheikhs are even better than what we think of them. And may their good characters rub on their students.

Having said that, we are not taksub to any of Allah's creation. Allow me to share this clip. The sheikh being address is Sheikh Uthaymeen rahimullah

Promising the Little One

Yesterday haziq promised Jack that he will play football this morning. I heard this promise and I saw how excited jack was at this thought.

Qadr Allah lover, myself and haziq went out last night to visit a sick friend and came back a bit late. Haziq was already feeling tired because he is not feeling so well and he just put on braces (yeah he has robot teeth now). Fajr now is also at 3 plus in the morning. He woke up groggy and went back to sleep.

Jack, despite waking up for fajr and sleeping back and would wake up a little later on other days, woke up before 7. He then tried to wake his abang up without much success. I went to his room and saw him leaning over Haziq desperately waking him up.

I asked what he was doing and he replied abang promised me that he will play football with me today. I explained to Jack that abang came home late last night so he is a bit tired.

Then Jack cried quietly and hugged me.

Oh Jack.

I distracted him with little conversation.

Later I quietly woke Haziq up ad when he did open his eyes, I reminded him of his promise to Jack. He woke up quickly. You should see Jack's face when he saw his abang.

They are playing ball outside as I type.

May they become the comfort of their eyes to each other as well as mine.

---

It is important that when you make a promise, to fulfill it. Do not even offer them sweet just to distract their attention but in actual fact you will not give him anything. This is lying and on top of that you are teaching your child how to lie also.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “My mother called me one day when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sitting in our house. She said, ‘Come here, and I will give you (something).’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘What do you want to give him?’ She said, ‘I will give him a date.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘If you had not given him something, you would have been lying.’”

Not that Haziq intended not to play with jack though. 

Haziq's Virgin Ride

My lover has been having his mid-life crisis and is into MTB riding.Which I do encourage because truthfully I would do it myself.



I have been persuading my lover to take Haziq along. Especially on the easier rides. He has an extra bike. Extra helmet. Extra tight pants.

After months of persuading, and only when the days are getting hotter, lover finally agreed to take Haziq today. It's easy on the road ride.

Haziq looked like an excited child this morning. I told him, don't fall.

He came back and told me he had a fall. His knees were bleeding and his left wrist was in pain. Qadr Allah.

All the uncles were teasing lover that how will justify to me that cycling would be good for Haziq seeing that he fell on his first ride. Heh heh none of my men need to justify to me after a small fall like this.

Fall? Ride again young man.

We don't baby our men sissies.

Cewah!

Taubat Sambal Belacan

Haziq was watching me slicing up chillies and putting it into my sardin cap ayam sandwich. Ooohh this green chillies are fiery, Haziq. Surely my tongue will be on fire. Yum yum i digged in.

Why do you do that? He asked. You know its hot, yet again and again you eat them. Oh i don't know. Chilly is attractively delicious. It makes bland food, fiery. And delicious food even better. And the thrill is when the tongue actually starts burning. Eating a bland chilly, is like eating grass.

Now Haziq, have you heard of taubah nasuha? This is what my ustazah said back in school and somehow, i can always remember it. Taubah nasuha against taubah sambal belacan.

She said, make taubah. But don't make taubah sambal belacan. Dah pedas makan sambal, taubat tak nak makan lagi. But soon after that, you cant just resist the fiery sin of sambal belacan. And there you go again and again and you know it. You repent but cant resist when its in font of you.

Having said that, if this happen to you, just like many of us, do not despair, continue to make tawbah for Allah loves the one who continuously repent and lets make the next repentance a taubah nasuha.

Surah tahrim 66:8

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and those who believe with him, their Light will run forward before them and with (their Records Books of deeds) in their right hands they will say: "Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirat (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things."

Tell the Truth and Be Punished?

Let's put a halt on my travel writing. Somehow I have lost the mojo to write. But something happen today with the kids, that I feel I must pen it down.

Jack doesn't follow me to send Sya to ngaji anymore. He wants to stay at home. Supposedly practicing his surah that I'll ask him later when I come back home.

But his memorisation is really bad today and I was not happy at all. Earlier, I caught Haziq playing computer games which I was already angry because the rule is no games on weekdays and just this week alone he has breached this rule twice. So I pulled the monitor out and now his monitor is sitting shamelessly in my room for I don't know when. Maybe tomorrow because I know he has homework.

Anyway back to Jack, somehow he confessed that today he was playing games when I was outside (and not practising his surah). I was already angry with Haziq and this was perhaps the second last straw on the camel's back.

I was angry, that I told him, I could't hear you recite any longer tonight and left.

I calmed down sometime later then a thought came to me, he was telling the truth. He didn't have to say it and I wouldn't know. I can guess but I still wouldn't know. So I could at least appreciate the honesty bit.

Which I did. I said thank you for telling the truth and being honest with me even though you know that you'll get into trouble. We hugged. he cried.

Aaahhh soon he will be as tall as me and will he be as sensitive with soft heart. I don't know.

I just pray that he will  become righteous. All of them.

What's Your Fear?

Haziq told me the thing he thought was the coolest thing he did was to pray in congregation with the boys in his group at the Central park, New York. While his mat salleh teacher stood by waiting for them.

He did well in the competition he entered, Masya Allah tabarakallah. Got second place for science quizzes and arts. Won two debates out of four and receive honorouble mention. Allahuma Bareek. But all these came out pale compared to what he told me.

I hope this doesn't come out like bragging to you. May Allah protect me. Praises all go to Allah, the One who bestow tawfeeq and hidayah to the young men to be steadfast . And Yes I am proud of them. And I am happy that this is the group that my son is with. May Allah increase their eemaan till the end.

I have been in this situation. In the western place. Surrounded by mat sallehs. Public place and not knowing where to pray and not very willing to openly pray in front of them.

Will they watch me? Will they target me? How will I react after that? In the train cabin in Europe crossing countries, I felt worried what if someone walked on me? In the park near Gare du Nord, Paris, how do I wear the telekung?

Many I know, resort to fitting rooms and even toilets. Store rooms. Also made self fatwa not to pray.

May Allah guide my son and his friends for not being afraid to pray in the land where Muslims are better known as terrorists, where Muslims are the one accused of flying planes onto buildings. Where Muslims are the general targets. I am not sure how Haziq really felt. I asked him did you not feel afraid, he said no.

Until the day that we fear Allah most above everything else, then only we will achieve true victory.

And this is what I wish for myself, my family and all of you.

When Haziq is Not Around

Haz\iq is not around for a week. He got selected, out of the last W0rld Sch0lar's cup round in Bangkok (HERE), to go for the summit of the game in Yale University, New Haven, the United States. He will later become a tourist in New York. He is having fun in the freezing cold weather, I am sure.

But Ibu is also finding herself with extra work in hand when he is not around. I find myself having to water the plants, wash the dishes by myself, angkat kain jemuran, fold his clothes. Bless him. Don't be too impress, he grumbles all the time.

Sya is taking up the dish washing but not in the full scale now.

Anak makin besar, kerja kurang sikit you (tapi kepala pening banyak).

Alhamdulillah.

Look at Our Food

I saw some food show or documentary (I can't remember) where the host is trying to show where food actually comes from. A chicken burger for example, comes from a chicken. The thighs and the breast pieces that they cut up nicely and sold in the food store actually comes from a chicken also. Slaughtered (or killed for them) and cut up to pieces. And if you have to start from scratch, there are wiggly yucky bits and stuff. Many were squirmish doing it. Some even look like they will vomit.

Like for real.

Anyway, I try my best to always point to the kids where their food comes from. Too bad I don't live in situation where there are much to be shown. I still try though to get them involved.

Like this is where you get buah cempedak, from a tree belakang rumah nenek, cut, mix with tepung and goreng and makan.
This is pokok tebu. It is Haziq's job to cut it into reasonable pices, peel off the skin (because makcik air tebu kata kalau tak buang kulit nanti mesin dia rosak) and send it to makcik air tebu.
This is coconut where you get the santan and i got to cook all the high cholesterol delicious food that you like.
This is daun kunyit.
This is kelapa muda petik rumah mak long. Tolong belah and ambik air dan isinya.
This is a cow. And this part where you get the rump. tenderloin. The ribs.

Haziq is also given a job to cut up the whole chicken to eatable pieces. Squirmish at first but getting a hang on it. Nak kena fine tune aje sikit insya Allah.

If you reflect on your food and go beyond the salivating part, you will come to realise how weak we are as human. None of us can produce our own food source even if you are the richest person in the world. You can buy food. You can buy ingredient but you have to get the source's ingredient from the earth.

The soil toiled. The sea fished. The fruits reaped. Can we produce any of these?

Sure there is some chemical "food" people produced, but those are not food. They are poison. And still they have to get the source from nature.

Reflect on your food, you will know that the One who creates you is Ar Rabb, the Provider and the Nurturer .  Food - we regard as an ordinary thing. Had Allah not provided the means for it, it was not in the power of man himself to have created the food on the earth in any way.

Allahu Akbar.

Abasa 80: 24-32

Then let man look at his food, (24)
We pour forth water in abundance, (25)
And We split the earth in clefts, (26)
And We cause therein the grain to grow, (27)
And grapes and clover plants (i.e. green fodder for the cattle), (28)
And olives and date-palms, (29)
And gardens, dense with many trees, (30)
And fruits and herbage. (31)
(To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle. (32)

Jack Sad When Abang is Not Here

Haziq is in Bangkok now. This year, we see him flying off to Dubai a few times and now to Bangkok for the final rendezvous this school year. He has been participating in several school debates, parliament style debate in Dubai, World Scholar's Cup Regional Round in Dubai. They were among the finals in the Dubai round and now they are in for Regional Round in Bangkok. Allahuma Bareek.

He participated in the same thing a few years ago. They didn't that well for that round though.

I hope the experience he gains from this will shape him to the best of character. May he become the leader of the muttaqun.

He left in the middle of the night when the kids were sleeping. So Jack woke up in the middle of the night finding his abang not in the bed. Cried, picked up abang's stuffed cat and his stuffed cat and walked to my room and slept next to me.

Weeee.. Ibu suka.

A brief introduction of what the World Scholar's Cup is all about.

Parenting Skills

If there is any in me. Allah musta'an.

Every Friday morning (which is the weekend over here), I will tell the children to clean up my little garden. Pull out the weeds, pick all the dried leaves, sweep and sometimes wash the steps. The have been doing it every Friday not whole heartedly I suppose. But this is what I call character building Insya Allah. And plus because I can.

Last friday Jack came snuggling beside me and complained and complained like he usually does. He complained to me about Haziq. That Haziq is always angry at him, that Haziq accused him of being slow and Haziq always take his job away when he was going to do this. Abang is always angry at me.

I always watch them when they are together supposedly working and Jackjack being the youngest and sometimes either clueless or just plain lazy is always working ever so slow. He would sometimes get so involved in his own imaginary world of fighting zombies and stuff, he would be playing by himself and sway his broom or brush everywhere.

He usually gets the easiest job which is to put the collected leaves in the plastic and put it near the bin. But he would spend his time "fighting" that the he forgot about his job. And usually he would rush when I am down there for inspection or when his abang and akak are nearly finished. Then he got panicked and complain even more.

So after he complained, I hugged him and said to him, maybe you are playing too much and not doing your job properly. He retorted, I am doing my job!" It's abang who always take my job away! So I told him today, you must quickly put the leaves away in the bin, so abang doesnt take your job away and he doesnt get angry. Of course he would say, "Abang will still be angry." Yeah he complains a lot. Peck in the cheek. A tickle. He was fine Insya Allah.

Then later, haziq came to me complaining about Jack. he was only playing. he never does his work. And when I told him to be quick, he got angry. Then because I cannot wait any longer, I had to finish his work for him, then he got angry.

Then I told him to be patient. he is only seven and very imaginative. Give him small task, and remnd him often because little kids need more reminders. Never finish his work for him. You can slightly punish him by leaving him when you are all done, or threaten him sometime before you are going to actually finish. But as the bigger one and also the leader you have to know his talents and his weaknesses and play with it. Gentle but stern. And in the end, you have me to report to. You have to instill team work and keep the team happy so that all of you achieve the same goal - i.e. please me (and a clean frontyard).

And remember Haziq, I had to deal with you when you are at that age.

This is all so funny I think. Their squabble. Their argument. But I need to skill to be somewhat fair and also not demotivating either. Otherwise I can easily say, O shaddap!

I pray that they are close with each other even after I am gone.

__________________

It is worth to note also, that no one has a fight with Sya. Sya diligently pull out weeds, cut off unwanted branches and throw things away. Allahuma Bareek.

Spoil Me

I was talking to Haziq about Mu'sab bin Umayr. The handsome young man of Quraysh.He was born in a rich family and was raised in a luxurious lifestyle. He wore only designer clothes, expensive perfumes and eat the finest of food. When he passed by, everyone will know that it was Mus'ab who just passed by just by the smell of the expensive perfume in the air.


Whenever prophet Muhammed (صلّی اللہ علیہ وآلہ واصحابہ وسلّم) talked of him, he said "There is nobody more handsome in Makkah than Mus‘ab. There is no person in the city better clothed and fed than Mus‘ab. There is no child brought up with more affection and love than him." 


But things turn to the opposite direction when he found the light of truth - Islam. His family discarded him and refused to do anything with him and left him a poor man. From riches to rags. But Mus'ab was steadfast. He held on to islam. He was a talented youngman with soft speech and charming personality. People get attracted to him when they speak to him. he was a also a fast learner. He was still in his young age, being send as a diplomat to Madinah to teach the people of Madinah about islam and to subsequently call people to islam.


I asked Haziq, how Haziq. How can a young man used to live in  luxury and raised a s a spoiled child,willing to throw all those and become poor and held on to this religion. This is what faith does to you. Steadfastness!


Because Mus'ab is a young man, I said to haziq also. This is what I want from young man liek you. Good speech. Diplomatic. And most importantly steadfast in religion! The bonus is he was handsome. His effort brought many people of Madinah into Islam. Masya Allah may Allah have mercy on Mus'ab and accept his shaheed.


Haziq was awed by this story. But then he said to me, "If you want me to be like Mus'ab, you must spoil me first."


hah! *Tarik telinga* You are spoil enough young man!


_________________________

This is a good article bringing in the perspective of the currrent youth nowadays.

Read

Big city, bright lights. Cars flash in fast lanes. Young Muslims are getting ready to hit the “night scene”. Branded shoes and designer clothes in place, clutching the latest mobile gizmos and sporting the trendiest watches, their perfume smells --- more than anything else – of money.


You can see them “hanging out” in groups, lolling in the bright lights of a megamall, lingering aimlessly in hypershops, buying a knick knack to drive away the boredom; even if it’s just for a second.


You can see them sipping cappucino at a Starbucks café …watching people go by, sharing a joke and laughing raucously; vacant eyes straying over to huge tv screens for the latest football score.


You can see them racing cars dangerously late into the night, music blasting from the stereos, startling passersby while they laugh in their faces. A standard sight.


Each time I see this all-too familiar scene, I find myself thinking of someone. Someone who lies buried in the blood-wet earth of ‘Uhud, feet covered by scented grass and his body covered only by a square woollen sheet that was not even sufficient to cover him completely. Someone who was his mother’s pampered son, he  wore the best clothes his rich mother’s money could buy, his perfume scented the streets he walked through. The talk of Makkan matrons and maidens in their plush salons, the toast of his peers in the city’s clubs, the most flamboyant young man of the Quraysh, who left a life of pleasuring the Self to gain the pleasure of Allaah: Mus’ab bin Umair bin Hashim bin Abd Munaf who was also known  as Mus’ab al Khair.


Mus’ab was only a youth when he heard of the new Prophet who had arisen among the Quraysh and his Message of monotheism; Makkah talked of very little else in those days. His curiosity piqued by all the talk, Mus’ab decided to approach the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on his own to determine the truth of his Message.


One night, instead of joining his friends in their customary revelry, Mus’ab made his way to the house of Al-Arqaam Ibn Al-Arqaam which came to be known as Daar al Arqaam  among the Muslims. It was here that the Prophet met with the growing band of Muslims, away from the eyes of the Quraysh. It was here that the Companions talked over the future of their faith,  heard and recited newly revealed portions of the Qur’aan and prayed behind the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam to Allaah.

That night, Mus'ab sat down among the gathering of the faithful and heard the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam recite verses of the Qur’aan. From that moment on he forgot for ever his life of luxury and indolence, in the ecstasy of discovering the key to eternal life.

Mus’ab’s path to the faith was not easy – his mother, Khunnas bint Maalik, a strong willed woman infamous for her sharp temper and sharper tongue – was his chief opponent. In order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with his mother, Mus’ab initially avoided telling her about his new faith. However, people found him frequenting Daar Al-Arqaam more than his usual haunts and saw him coming under the influence of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. It wasn’t long before news of his conversion reached his mother.
Reacting with the imperiousness of her nature, her pride in her lineage and her age-old allegiance to the gods, she commanded Mus’ab to return and repent to the gods he had abandoned in his “foolishness”; and when he refused, she had him shackled and imprisoned in a corner of the house.

Somehow, news of the first emigration of some Muslims to Abyssinia reached Mus’ab in his incarceration and his heart longed to join his brothers in the faith. Using his ingenuity, he managed to delude his mother and his guards and escaped to Abyssinia with other emigrants. Later, he returned to Makkah with them for a short while and emigrated a second time, this  time as the Prophet [SAW]’s chosen envoy to the new centre of faith: Yathrib.

When Mus’ab returned from Abyssinia, his mother sought to imprison him yet again. But this time he vowed that if she attempted that, he would kill all those who came to her aid to lock him up. She knew the intensity of his determination better than anyone else and so she bade him a final farewell, crying bitterly: Go away, I am no longer your mother.
At this, Mus’ab went close to her and said: O Mother, I am advising you and my heart is with you, please bear witness that there is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Enraged, she swore: By the stars, I will never enter your religion, to degrade my
status and weaken my senses!

But Mus’ab entered Islaam in the spirit of the Qur’aan when it says: udkhuloo fi silme kaafah [enter into Islaam completely]. He forsook every semblance of satisfaction of the Self for the sake of Allaah – his dress was tattered, his food was simple, the bare earth was his bed.

One day he went out to meet some Muslims while they were sitting around the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam, and when they saw him they lowered their heads and shed silent tears at the sight of the pampered youth of their memory , moving about in wornout patches held together by thorns, which barely covered him. After Mus’ab moved away from the gathering, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam recalled: I saw Mus’ab, and there was no youth in Makkah more petted by his parents than he. Then he
abandoned all that for the love of Allaah and His Prophet.

Recognizing Mus’ab’s noble manners and patience, the Prophet [SAW] commissioned him to instruct the people of Yathrib who had pledged their allegiance to the Prophet at ‘Aqabah, to call others to Islaam and to prepare the city for the eventual migration of the Prophet [SAW].

At that time, there were among the Companions men of sterling character and nerves of steel, men who were older and more experienced in the ways of the world; yet he [SAW] chose Mus’ab as his representative. And Mus’ab proved worthy of the Prophet’s choice many times over, dealing with detractors with patience and sagacity.

Mus’ab entered Yathrib as a guest of Sa’ad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went approached the citizens of Yathrib, explaining the message of Monotheism and reciting the Qur’aan. Once Musa’ab and Sa’ad were sitting near a well in an orchard of Banee Zafar, when they were approached by Usayd ibn Khudayr brandishing a spear in obvious rage. Sa’ad whispered to Mus’ab: This is a chieftain of his people. May Allaah place the truth in his heart.
Mus’ab replied calmly: If he sits down, I will speak to him.

Usayd was angry at the success of Mus’ab’s  mission and shouted angrily: Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive. At this, Musa’ab smiled and said softly: Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it; and if you dislike it we will stop telling you what you dislike and leave. Sticking his spear into the ground, Usayd sat down to hear them out. As Musa’ab began telling him about Islaam and
reciting portions of the Qur’aan to Usayd’s expression changed. The first words he uttered were : How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?
Mus’ab explained:  Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (shahadah), and perform prayers. Usayd testified that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger,  prayed two rakaats of salaah and was followed by another influential man: Sa’ad ibn Muaadh.

By the time the Prophet [SAW] emigrated, there was not a single household in Yathrib in which Mus’ab had not endeared himself and the Message of Islaam. In the subsequent pilgrimage, he led a company of 70 people went from Yathrib to pledge allegiance to the Prophet.

In a famous incident after the victory at Badr, the Muslims captured some Makkans and sought to ransom them. Mus’ab was passing by the ranks of  prisoners and stopped when saw his brother, Abu Azeez ibn Umayr  among them. However, instead of interceding on his behalf, he instructed his brother’s captor to bind him securely and to extract a large ransom for the prisoner, because “his mother is a very rich woman” When the brother sought to remind Mus’ab of his relationship, Mus’ab replied: I only recognize brotherhood of the faith, this man is my brother, not you!
At ‘Uhud, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam chose Mus’ab to bear the battle standard. In the melee that followed the archers descent from the hill where they were stationed, in violation of the Prophet [SAW]’s orders, the Makkans fought back fiercely. Taken unawares by the cavalry of the Quraysh attacking from the rear, the Muslim ranks scattered. Intent on harming the Prophet [SAW], the Makkans  searched for him while he was being guarded only by a handful of companions. Suddenly, someone shouted that the Prophet [SAW] was no more.

It was at this juncture that Mus’ab’s glorious life reached a fitting culmination: Ibrahim ibn Muhammad related from his father, who said: Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair carried the standard on the Day of Uhud. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he met Ibn Qaami'ah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus'ab said:And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him . He carried the standard with his left hand and leaned on it, when
his left hand was cut off, he leaned on the standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying: And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. Then a third soldier
struck Mus’ab with his spear, and the spear went through him.

After the battle, the Prophet and his companions came to the plain of ‘Uhud to bury the martyrs, some of whose bodies had been mutilated by the marauding women of the Qur’aysh. Pausing when he saw Mus'ab, the Prophet [SAW] recited: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Then he [SAW] looked at the remains of his companions in the battlefield and said: The Prophet of Allaah witnesses that you are martyrs to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.

There wasn’t enough material to serve as a shroud for Mus’ab. Khabbaab ibn Al-Arat narrated: We emigrated with the Prophet for Allaah’s cause, so our reward became due with Allaah. Some of us passed away without enjoying anything in this life of his reward, and of them was Mus'ab ibn 'Umair, who was martyred on the Day of Uhud. He did not leave behind anything except a sheet of shredded woollen cloth. If we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered, and if
we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. The Prophet [SAW] said to us: Cover his head with it and put lemon grass over his feet.

It was this memory of Mus’ab in his martyr’s grave, that caused companions like Abdur Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf to cry in fear of having no share in the Hereafter, because they had been granted a life of plenty and ease right here in this world. Once his servant brought him a meal to break his fast and ibn ‘Awf burst into tears, remembering Mus’ab who had passed away without tasting the good of this world, to the certainty of eternal pleasure in the Hereafter.
As night falls, I think of the shadows lengthening across ‘Uhud where the martyrs lie buried, when visitors drive off leaving the plain quiet,  dark and peaceful. I think of the graves of the shuhadaa, resplendent with the dazzling light of the truly fortunate: those who are pleasing to Allaah and are pleased with Him.
In the neon dazzle of malls, where countless young Muslims strive daily in the trivial pursuit of pleasure, we would do well to bear the memory of Mus’ab radiyy Allaahu anhu in mind. It may keep us from getting lost in the light.

Reading the Sahabah Stories

One of the intermittent things we did when we went for the umrah journey is that I read out aloud to them the story of the sahabahs. There were many idle times time to kill. There was waiting time at the immigration, at the restaraunt waiting for food, at the hotel in between solah time in haram or whenever.

I decided to bring a book about the sahabahs. The reason being was because I rarely could cover this topic in the halaqah. They have short chapters. They are not very academic because they are stories. So its the easiest and most effective especially that we were on the move.

The book I used - Portraits From the Lives of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam Volume 1 & 2 - Abdur Rahman Al Basha. I personally find this one the best book for sahabah.

Haziq particularly enjoyed it alot. I personally recommend you to read, discuss and go through the seeraah and the stories of the sahabah especially with your boys the budding teenagers. Boys usually need someone - a figure - that they can look up to and emulate. Boys like to hear and know about men - real men.

OK we have different biography that we can introduce them too. The highly successful people. We can talk to them about Steve Jobs, Bill gates, Nelson Mendela, Malcolm X, Company CEO or whoever. I have nothing against telling them about non muslim leader. There are things we can learn from all.

However, I personally would make more gravity on conveying the Muslim heroes more and the non muslims as supplement only. If we keep shoving them worldly personalities that are successful in the world only - then the only success they believe is the worldly one. The ultimate objective is the greatest success which is the afterlife.

Not that we cannot have both. Why not? We do ask for hasanat in this world and after. So have balance. And balance must beaccording to the ratio of life of the hereafter against life of the world. You are better in maths than me. Go figure.

Anyway, try different angles to what spark our boys' (and girls) interest. Leadership, battles, strategists, linguists, businessman, courage, steadfast, strength, knowledge and so forth.

I am not sure what spark Haziq really. he seem to like any battle stories. That is why he prefers the seeraah of Madeenah and the battles during Khalifah Abu Bakar and Umar. I personally prefer seerah in Makkah. But hey this is not about me.

You could identify the personality that suits your children most and slowly live it. The teenagers will relate to this I think. Sya and Jack just take take this as stories but Haziq is already at the age of thinking another layer deeper into their personalities.

I can't wait for the time that I put more gravity on Sya's teenage interest and I will share here Insya Allah.

learning about sahabah is crucial for they are the ones that Prophet salllahu alaihi salam said are the best of generations after him. They are real people who are also exposed to mistakes and sins. We can learn from their struggle and their strive and how they go through their life in the worship of Allah and Insya Allah we also can become like them.

They are described as "Monks by night and knights by day."

What drives their discipline? What are their understanding? What are their motivation? Do they breathe the same air? See the same sun? Shade under the same moon? Do they belong to the same world?

A loooonnnnngggg project to be done. Time? Where is my time? May Allah expand my time for Him.

Ihsan

Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah and his tawfiq and hidayah, Allah has allowed us to go to umrah his year. We got back safely last Friday Alhamdulillah.

When we came back from one of the solat jamaah in Haram, Haziq exclaimed, you know standing in the jamaah today when we raised our hands for takbiratul ihram and stood straight in a line, I felt that we were ready for war. In unity all of us. i felt so charged up.

I don't know whether this is the after effect of Lord of The Ring battle, or that we have been reading about the sahabah throughout our journey or the overwhelming feeling of being in the haram itself.

Indeed Haziq, to go to the masjid for you is already a jihad, to stand there is another jihad and the solah on its own is a battle of khushoo'.

In hadith Jibrael narrated by Umar radialllahu anhu,

in the conversation between Jibrael and Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam, Jibrael asked the Prophet,

“Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, ” It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.”

Have you, when you stand before your Lord in your prayers, feel that? That you are really standing before Him and that He is watching your every move. That He is in front of you inspecting you?

Unlike the commander of war who would inspect his lines of men, when Allah looks, He can see your heart and all the secrets you hide. He knows who you are standing for and who you fear. He knows whether your heart is saying what you make apparent. He knows your yearns and He knows your cries.

And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). (Al Mulk 67: 13)

And that He doesn't stop watching you after that.

He knows when you smile but it is hate that you feel in the heart. He knows your strive that you are fighting to follow His command. He can really see in your heart whether you are submitting to Him whole heartedly.

Your heart is exposed to Him. There is nothing, just nothing you can conceal! We are so weak Ya Rabb. Open to us Your Mervy Ya Rabb.

Lâ ilâha illa Anta Subhanaka. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers." (Al Anbiya 21: 87)

Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” (Al AaRaf 7: 23)

It means a world to Haziq too

Because I cannot afford to miss some of my classes, I sometimes sacrifice not going to Haziq's award ceremonies at school. Well, mostly sebab dia dah besar anyway, I think he can understand. Unlesslah dia buat performance sekolah like debating or give a talk or anything of that sort, then I'll go. So I usually skip his award ceremony, but I still go for Sya's and Jack's because it means a world to them.

Award ceremony sekolah Haziq tu bukannya best sangat pun. Call out the names laju-laju and kasi cert aje. So yeah, skip school for that?

Sometimes Haziq would give me a letter from his school, saying ada award ceremony. And I would ask, what day is it? And he would name the day and I would say, I have class Haziq. It's ok, he would say, you make me nervous anyway. I might fell off the stairs. *Laughters* Closed case.

So one day, the award ceremony was not on my school day and I asked him, should I go. And he said, well it doesn't matter pun. I told him, I will go anyway.

So I went. But that morning, the traffic was really bad. The ceremony was at 8:30, I managed to be there at maybe 8:50. The ceremony was still going on trailing to the finishing part. Went through the bad traffic but didn't get to view Haziq receiving the cert? Oh well Qadr Allah. I went up to him anyway to say congratulations.

And he said, "Wow! You came! I was looking for you when I was on stage but couldn't find you and i actually felt disappointed. All the while I was looking for black tudung and you are wearing green! No wonder!" He grinned proudly.

Oh!

Yes haziq I am not wearing black today.

Book Review

Haziq was asked to make a book review of any topic he wishes. This is what he wrote


Book Review

Title: The Holy Qur’aan

Author: Allah, the Lord of the Worlds

Genre: Comprehensive, covers every aspect thinkable

Why should we read it?
There are many benefits as to why. It is the book of which the words have been preservedfor more than 1,400 years, unedited. It is complete and perfect, and is a miracle both linguistically and intellectually. There are neither contradictions nor doubts in it. Its content include, but not limited to, how to greet people by giving the greeting of peace, stories of the great people of the past including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, the equality of woman, miracles of science, the demarcation of what is right and wrong, the limited world now and the never ending hereafter. It tells you how to worship the true Lord of the Worlds as He wants to be worshipped, without which human will be inventing their own ways to worship God or create their own God which always turns up to be a mere creation. It is the only book that can be read over and over again and each time with a refresh profound understanding. It gives contentment, peace, humility, love, fear and awe to His might. A universal book that can apply to all time periods and it has the solution for all of mankind’s problems - depression, discrimination, and inequality, political, financial, social, and moral. This is the book that gives guidance to mankind and in its pages contains the true salvation in this world and in the world after. Also, the Quran isn’t just a book, it is God’s speech, a discourse, in its original form, and should be treated likewise.




I pray that whoever reads it would be guided to pick the Quran and read the Great Book for themselves and may Allah guide them.



This is another book review he wrote.


Book Review

Title: October Sky

Author: Homer H. Hickam

Genre: Memoir

Why should we read it?
It is a book that can relate to teenagers or anyone that has experienced teenagehood very well. It is the story about a group of teenage boys living in a mining town, Coalwood, West Virginia in the 1950-60s, who against all odds from a rocket group and make rockets, the highest reaching 5 miles into the sky. It is a great read and very inspirational, and can be a good boost of morale or spirit anytime.

Kasi Ibu Encouragement Sikit

With rusty brain like mine, I do find learning difficult and memorisation hard to enter, very easy to leave the memory.

Haziq and I started memorising together because I made it into a friendly competition. I had a head start but he has now leapt so far from me. Allahuma Bareek. May Allah make him (and my children) among the people of the Quran. Those who memorise the words of Allah. Those who understand it and apply. And Quran will be for them and not against them in yaumul akhirah and that Quran will only increase their status in yaumul akhirah. And that Quran is their intercessor in yaumul akhirah.

Saying out loud, "Boleh ke Ibu ni Haziq?"

Ibu, he said, nenek yang umur 82 tahun pun can do it, Insya Allah you can. Allah al Musta'an!

Umm Saalih, A Grandmother Who Completed Memorizing the Qur‘aan at 82 yeas Old.

O Allah bless him.

Droplets of Sins

Haziq is being cheeky nowadays. Sometimes he would go around the uncles to shake their hands before we leave home and said to them, "Our sins are dropping from us now Insya Allah." He even made gesture like as if droplets of sins are dropping from their handshake.

May he apply what he knows.

Al-Bara' reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "No two Muslims meet and shake hands without being forgiven before they part." [Abu Dawud]