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. 

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."

Allah Gives it Life

Among the joy of gardening must be to see a dead plant revived to life again.

Especially after witnessing many wilt to the increasing heat, or lack of maintenance, or pesticides or whatever that Allah wills.

Your effort : Good soil, placing it where it will receive right amount of sun depending the type of plant, right amount of water, fertilisers.

Whether it will live or otherwise, is entirely up to Allah. Until when it will live is up to Allah.

Al Fussilat 41:39
And among His Signs (in this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations). Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed! He is Able to do all things. (39) 

Ar Rum 30:50Look then at the effects (results) of Allâh’s Mercy, how He revives the earth after its death. Verily, that (Allâh) (Who revived the earth after its death) shall indeed raise the dead (on the Day of Resurrection), and He is Able to do all things. (50)

Meanwhile, since we do not know Allah's scheme of things, we put our effort and tawakkal.

I suppose the joy of gardening is seeing the fruits of Allah's plan. Thus seeing life in His signs. 

Get the Children to remember Allah Too

Are you among those who get to spend rush time with your kids in the morning? And also in the evening? Among those who get to send the kids to school? Or maybe has a short idle time with them in the midst of the rush hour? If you are, then you are the lucky fews may I suggest that you spend this time to teach them to remember Allah. That is making dzikir.

I cannot stress more on making dzikir particularly in the morning and evening. Subhanallah there is so much benefit in it. Reward. As a protection. A du'a. And Allah knows what other benefits He will give.

When i was younger, I was given the du'a mathurat. Coupled with jahil and laziness, I fellt that it was overwhelmingly too much and boring. Of course it was. I didn't know what i was reading. It was overwhelmingly ALOT! And reading is not making du'a. It is just reading.

Starting early, undoubtedly makes it a habit harder to break, Insya Allah.

First of all, may I suggest you turn off the radio for a while. Everything else is lesser a priority than remembrance of Allah. To tell you the truth, it was hard for me. But try disciplining yourself. Make the dzikir first. perhaps after a while, music even nasyid on radio will become noise. Ameen.

Break into small doable chunks. Try doing the three quls first. Three times. Do it together at first to encourage them. If the kids have not memorised it yet, do a separate exercise as well. But have a practice in the morning. Do this as much as you can everyday until it has become a part of you and them. It may take some time or it may not.

‘Abdullah Ibn Khubaib said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (S) said to me ‘Recite!’ I replied ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what shall I recite?’ he said ‘Recite:

[Al-Ikhlaas]

[Al-Falaq]

[An-Naas]

…in the evening and the morning three times for it will suffice you of all else.’

When all are comfortable, add ayatul Kursi. I find many kids do not know ayatul Kursi. At least in the Kafa class I am doing. If they have not. Have a separate exercise for this. Ayat Kursi is important. meanwhile practise it before sleeping and you read out loud in the morning. The repetition will help them Insya Allah.

Again, do this every morning together until they are independent. When they are, tell them to read quietly (not in the heart though) on their own. Once in while spot check on them. Sometimes their ayat kursi goes everywhere. He he.

Now you may have the three quls and ayat kursi. For myself I would prefer to the the dzikir "lailaha illallah 100 x, subhanallah.. 100X, astaghfirullah 100x but maybe it's a overwhelming for the kids. If not go ahead.

‘

None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things omnipotent.’ (one hundred times every day)

‘How perfect Allaah is and I praise Him.’ (one hundred times)

Otherwise start with the small easy du'a for them to memorise. I would choose a short one to build their confidence. Like this one for example.

‘

I am pleased with Allaah as a Lord, and Islaam as a religion and Muhammad as a Prophet.’ (three times)

‘O Allaah, grant my body health, O Allaah, grant my hearing health, O Allaah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times)

(ii)

‘O Allaah, I take refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I take refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times)

‘Allaah is Sufficient for me, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, upon Him I rely and He is Lord of the exalted throne.’ (seven times morning and evening)

You can check out some part of the Fortress of Muslim HERE. Go over the meaning and only move on when they are fairly good at it.

May Allah accept our deeds and May Allah make the earth as our witness. Imagine in Yaumul Akhirah when the earth will be allowed to speak and inform what has been going around her. Imagine the stones, the trees, the sand, the plastic (petroleum is from earth kan?) in your car speak for you and on your side. ya Rabb we are in need of your mercy.

The First Crack

Imagine this setting.


Sayidinna 'Umar before him becoming Muslim.


He was a fiery man and was known to be harsh with the Muslims. He beat up his slave upon knowing of her conversion. He was feared and respected in Makkah.


His matching rival was perhaps Abu Jahl himself, another staunch enemy of Islam.


So much so that prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam raised his hands and ask Allah,


"O Allah! Give strength to Islam through either of two men you lov more, "Umar al Khattab or Abu Jahl bin Hisham."


One night 'Umar al Khattab set out from his house and headed to the Kaabah. Lo and behold, he saw the Prophet Praying towards Kaabah. He thought this would be a great time to ambush the Prophet sallalhu alaihi salam. He sneaked behind the kiswah, the Kaaba's covering.


Kaabah at that time, would be generally dark. there are no lights like we see now in the area. It is not surprising, if one can sneaked behind the kiswah unnotied.


Umar came quite close to the Prophet such that he could hear the recitation of Prophet sallalahu alaihi wasalam. Prophet Muhammad sallalhu alihi wasalam was reciting Al Haqqah surah no 69. I have already put up the surah in my last two posts.


Umar thought the words are beautiful and the words were  poetic. He said to himself, this must be the words of a poet just like what the Quraysh has said. Then the Prophet sallalalhu alaihi wasalam said still reading surah Haqqah,

That this is verily the word of an honoured Messenger [i.e. Jibril (Gabriel) or Muhammad SAW which he has brought from Allâh]. (40) It is not the word of a poet, little is that you believe! (41) 

Shocked of this recitation which as if was responding to him, he said, "He must be a soothsayer/"


Then prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam continued his recitation in surah al Haqqah

Nor is it the word of a soothsayer (or a foreteller), little is that you remember! (42) This is the Revelation sent down from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (43)

And thus the kufr of darkness in his heart cracked.


Indeed Allah guides whom He wills.





I guess each one of us at one point of time in our life (except those who have remained steadfast since they are young) has a turning point or realigned point in our life. Allah gives plenty of opportunities for us to see this point, most of the time we ignored it and brush the whisper of our hearts.


Allah will continue to give His signs in various ways until we ourselves chose not to from our words, actions and most importantly our hearts. 

Allâh has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allâh's Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Al baqarah 2: 7

Indeed Allah will never lead anyone astray after he has shown them guidance.


At Tawbah 9: 115

and Allâh will never lead a people astray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them as to what they should avoid. Verily, Allâh is the All-Knower of everything. 

It's us who refuse to follow.


As Saf 61: 5

 So when they turned away (from the Path of Allâh), Allâh turned their hearts away (from the Right Path). And Allâh guides not the people who are Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allâh). (5) 

May Allah continuously give us His Tawfiq and Hidayah for us to be steadfast and make it easy for us to please Him the way He commands us to.

Reading the Hadith Cautiously

I am trying to make a habit to bring  a book when we go out together - me and the kids or when lover is around. So I could read a story to them while we wait for the food. We have not finished the sahabah book yet so I have been taking the book everywhere.

So we read about Abu Ayub al Ansari the other day.I didn't manage to finish the book when the appetizer came, but continued reading. While we were munching the Apple Bees delicious boneless buffalo wing in honey and barbeque sauce  and the celery dipped in the sour cream, I got to this part of the hadith.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah reported,

Once while Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were sitting, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam came to them and said,

“What has  caused you two to sit here?”

They replied, “By He who has sent you with the truth, nothing has brought us out of our houses except hunger.” The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said,

“By He who has sent me with the truth, nothing has brought me out other than this.”

So they went until they came to the house of a man from the Ansar (Abu Ayub al ansari), and the woman of the house received them. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said to her,

“Where is so and so?”

She replied, “He went to fetch some drinking water for us.” So the man came carrying his bucket and he said, “Welcome. Nothing has visited the servants better than a prophet who has visited me today.” Then he hang his bucket near a palm tree, and climbed it and returned to them with a cluster of dates. So the Prophet sallallah alaihi wasalam said

“Why you didn’t pick (some of them)?”

The man replied, “I wanted you to choose with your own eyes.” Then he took a blade (to slaughter a sheep) and the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said,

“Do not slaughter the one that gives milk.”

So he slaughtered a sheep for them that day and they all ate. Then the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said

“You will be asked about this on the day of Judgment. Hunger caused you to come out of your homes and you did not return until you had eaten this meal. So this is from the delights.”

We knew the hadith from our at Takathur lesson so I was feeling a bit jittery reading it. haziq was  also looking worried.I read the hadith real slow as I and we actually were worried for we were enjoying the ni'mah more than the Prophet and the sahabahs were in the hadith.

Let me share it with you. Here is the full at Takathur notes in my wordpress.

May Allah forgive our sins - the one we know and we don't know. May we feed ourselves with halal and attain it through halal means also.

___________

Anyway in case you are wondering who Abu Ayub al Ansari is, he is the sahabah from the ansar, that Prophet Muhammad stayed in his house in Madinah when he made hijrah before the masjid an nabawi was completed.

Here is a short story about this great sahabah.

Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb, known as Abu Ayyub Al Ansari, came from the Banu Najjar, and was a dear and close companion of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).

He enjoyed a great privilege many of the Ansar in Madinah dreamt of having.

When Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), reached Madinah after the Hijrah from Makkah, the Ansar of Madinah greeted him with great enthusiasm, love and longing. Their hearts betted for him and their eyes surrounded him with great admiration and love. They wanted to receive him with the most hospital reception they could give.

Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) entered Madinah on his camel. The chieftains of Madinah walked next to him, each and every one of them hoping to get the honor of Prophet Mohamed’s stay at his house. They stood in the way of the procession and addressed the Prophet saying " O Messenger of Allah, please do accept our hospitable accommodation, for we are influential people who are great in number and wealth. We can also guarantee your support and protection.”

Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) mildly urged them to get out of the way of the camel, for it was ordered by Allah to stop at a certain place.

The camel stopped at an open space in front of the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. But Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) did not get off the camel. After a few minutes, the camel started moving once again, however, it turned around, retraced its steps and kneeled in the same place where it stopped before. Abu Ayyub’s face shone with joy and satisfaction. He went out to Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and greeted him with great enthusiasm. He took the Prophet's baggage in his arms and carried them so close to his heart as if he was carrying the most precious treasure in the world.

It was not the first meeting between Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari. They had met before when the Madinah delegation journeyed to Makkah to take the oath of allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH).

Abu Ayyub's house had two floors. He prepared the upper floor for Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) to stay in. however Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) preferred to stay on the lower one.

Night came and Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) went to sleep. Abu Ayyub ascended to his room, but when he closed the door, he shook with regret and told his wife:

"Woe to us! What have we done? The messenger of God is below and we are higher than him! Can we walk on top of the messenger of God? Are we standing between him and the Revelation? If so, we are doomed."

They were extremely worried, and had no idea what to do. They got some peace of mind when they moved to the other side of the building where they were not above Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).

In the morning, Abu Ayyub said to the Prophet(PBUH):

"By God, we did not sleep all last night, neither myself nor Umm Ayyub."

"Why not, Abu Ayyub?" asked the Prophet.

Abu Ayyub told him how terrible they felt because he was staying below them.

"Don't worry, Abu Ayyub," said the Prophet. "We prefer the lower floor because we have a lot of visitors.”

"We submitted to the Prophet's wishes," Abu Ayyub related, "until one cold night, the roof was damaged and the water spilled on the upper floor. Umm Ayyub and I stared at the water. We only had one piece of velvet, which we used as a blanket. We used it to wipe the water fearing it would seep through to the Prophet. In the morning I went to him and said, 'I do not like to be above you,' and told him what had happened. He respected my wish and we exchanged floors."

The Prophet (PBUH) stayed in Abu Ayyub's house for about seven months until his mosque and his dwelling were built. Thus, he became the neighbor of Abu Ayyub.

Abu Ayyub loved Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) with all his heart and the Prophet also loved him dearly. There was no formality between them. The Prophet (PBUH) continued to regard Abu Ayyub's house as his own.

These are glimpses of Abu Ayyub's life during peacetime, but ever since the Quraish tribe began to fight against Islam, to raid Al-Madinah, the land of Hijrah, and to instigate tribes and organize armies to eliminate Islam, Abu Ayyub became a professional in warfare. He was in the front rows in Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq and the rest of the battles and wars. He devoted himself, his money, and property to Allah.

He did not stay away from any battle the Muslims fought from the time of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) till the time of Mu'awiyah unless he was engaged at the same time in another.

Even after Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) died, Abu Ayyub never turned his back on a battle that the Muslims were destined to fight in.

The slogan that he kept reciting to himself day and night, secretly and openly was that verse of the Qur’an “March forth, whether you are light or heavy”.

He never missed an expedition, except once. He refused to fight in an army, which was lead by a young Muslim assigned by the caliph. Abu Ayyub rejected this choice. This one and only mistake shook his innermost self, and he was always full of regrets as he repeated, “It is none of my concern whoever Ali appoints.” Ever since he made this mistake, he never missed a battle.

It sufficed him to live as a soldier in the Muslim army, fight under its slogan, and defend its sanctity.

The last battle Abu Ayyub took part in was the one prepared by Mu'awiyah and led by his son Yazid against Constantinople. Abu Ayyub at that time was a very old man, almost eighty years old. But that did not prevent him from joining the army and crossing the seas as a graze in the path of God. In this particular battle, he was wounded. The commander of the army went to check on him. He was breathing heavily as if his longing to meet Allah made him impatient with the few minutes left in his life. The commander, Yazid Ibn Mu’aawiyah, asked him, "Do you need anything, Abu Ayyub?"

I wonder if any of you can imagine what Abu Ayyub’s last wish was?

He asked Yazid to carry his body to the furthest point inside the enemy lands and bury him there, then to break through the enemy line until he reached his grave so that Abu Ayyub might hear the sound of the galloping Muslim horses clattering over it and realize that they have achieved victory. Do you think this is poetic verse? No, this not a poetic verse nor a whim of imagination. It really happened. It is a fact that the whole world witnessed one day, and stood there watching and listening, not believing that this could be true. Yazid carried out Abu Ayyub’s will to the fullest extent.

Finally, the body of this great warrior was buried in the heart of Constantinople — Istanbul nowadays.

taken from HERE.

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.

Something to Listen to.

Alhamdulillah for the advancement of technology. We can listen to lectures while we are at home.

I introduced to haziq mostly, to a speaker mainly famous in the States - Nouman Ali Khan. His target lecture are mostly for the young Muslims. And also the parents of the youth.

Among his lecture. Beware of trendsetters.



Go through his many lectures, perhaps you will something that you can share with your family.

Also for those with podcasts on their smart phones, perhaps you can consider his (and counterparts) lectures on tafsir. currently on Juz Amma and tabarrak. In your iphone for example, go to itunes-podcast-search for bayyinah podcast - and download them.
Also can be directly downloaded using ipod touch and ipad. With ipod classic though, you have to extract it from your computer after downloading it. Just click the link above to get it downloaded into the computer.

Some of the arabic lessons are a bit deep if you are not studying arabic yet. However it will still be beneficial Insya Allah.

I am also currently taking up tafseer of Suratul baqarah. Qadr Allah, I found this lecture which describes the hypocrites in a simple but effective manner. May we not be among those who are hypocrites.



May Allah preserve him.

So what are you currently listening to?

Precious Hours

I have been reading status on so many got stuck in terrible traffic going home from work in Malaysia (mostly in KL I reckon). Make full use of the precious hours nearing breaking fast time. You can definitely do the followings (not limited though) while you enjoy the traffic

1. evening adzkar (plural for dzikir)
- which would involve reading 3 quls 3 times and reciting ayatul kursi
- subhanallahhi wa bihamdih 100 x
- astaghfirullah 100x

and other du'a in the sunnah books. Perhaps you can make a mission to memorise one each day?

2. Have a quran CD with you. For those with iphone, ipod and the likes, this is the time to make full use of gadget. Put up the Iquranpro and blast on the quran.

Perhaps this is the month you would like to add new surahs in the memory bank.

3. Listen to Islamic lectures. Load them up in your mp3 players. Plenty of mp3s and podcasts around the net. Load them up Insya Allah.

Barulah our gadgets betul-betul work for us rather than against us.

I personally would not go for radio even how islamic the radio is unless there is a lecture going on. I just think nasheed is not apt for those precious moments af du'a being most accepted.

Listening to music during those times? Reflect and contemplate whether this is appropriate when Allah wants to accept our du'a and we have the music on.

4. Make loads of du'a. Have a list of du'a and organise your du'a. Remember that first of all the supplication of those who are fasting is always accepted. And even more when the breaking fast time is approaching.

Some tips. Read RAMADHAN DU'A THAT WORKS

If Allah wills that you spend these precious moments in Allah's remembrance, you could perhaps refrain from swearing and stress on the road. And imagine this, if you spend your time in Allah's remembrance, you are actually making your difficult times work FOR you rather than another wasted stress hour.

Why waste time watching people in other cars?

Lastly drive safely and make sure you have fuel in your tank lest your car got stalled in the middle of traffic incurring curses by other road patrons. To the other road patrons, sabar. Make du'a and ask Allah that the person will be relieved from his difficulties.

And if you are making du'a please brothers and sisters have me and my family in your du'a and that all of us are steadfast in this religion. Don't forget to make supplication for the ummah as well.

Kita Muda Hanya Sekali Aje Babe

Anda muda?
Bertenaga?
Mempunyai makan pakai yang cukup?
Masa yang ada hanya di luangkan dengan bersosial samada di social network atau borak-borak dengan rakan atau menonton TV?
Anda masih mempunyai nyawa?

Jika anda ada salah satu dari kriteria di atas, maka anda termasuk dalam kategori orang yang ada "advantage".

hadith of ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu reported in the mustadrak of Al-Haakim, musnad Imam Ahmad, and others, with an authentic chain of narration. In this hadith the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said to a man while he was advising him:

"Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death."

And if we put the end objective in life is to be in Jannah, where we can finally see Allah's face and have a totally pure blissful ending, the advantage we want to grab (as per hadith) mestilah perkara-perkara yang boleh bawak kita ke jannah.

This is in contrast to the more glamorous objective of "kita muda hanya sekali" and adding to it another phrase , "dah tua nanti kita taubatlah."

Muda hanya sekali. Cantik, kuat dan bertenaga juga hanya sementara. Yang sangat pasti ialah mati. Selepas itu berdiri di hadapan Allah yang akan bertanya apa yang kita sudah lakukan semasa kita muda, kuat, bertenaga, berwang.

Just think about it. really think about it. Because this answer among many others will determine your position of life after that. In the blissful paradise or doom to hell?

What we would answer to Allah is what we are living our life now.

May Allah assist us in living our life in worshiping Him alone.
_____________________

I am putting up a clip about a man, who has regrets in his past life of not doing what he could do when he was more able. But Alhamdulillah, Allah still give him life, and indeed, Masya Allah, he is taking the final advantage of his ability, to spread daawah. May Allah preserve him and erase all his past sins.



_____________________________

We had a small halaqah on this. Can be read HERE - TAKING CARE OF YOUR TIME.

I suppose this is my present to haziq who just turned 13 today. May Allah make him among the muttaqun.

Demo Masak-Memasak

Sometime before the exam, my tajweed approached me and asked, "Can you cook fried rice." I answered an affirmative yes. "Can you give me the recipe?" she asked. I answered, "Sure. I can give you now." She said, on the next class Insya Allah.

We departed, but then she turned around and asked, "Better still. can you show it to me?"

"You mean, cook it in front of you?"
"Yes please."
"Insya Allah after the exam"

So today was the day. All the nine of us in the class gathered in my teacher's kitchen, each cooking up something.
One Indonesian cooked mee goreng (mee kuning yang dia buat sendiri)
The other indonesian folded murtabak and fried it there.
Another Malaysian cooked up the fillings for popia and roll it up and spring it after frying it.
My British friend made cupcake. Which was a cheat. Cupcake is a universal food I told her. She must do Shepherd's pie and the likes. But she was excused because her cupcake was delicious. Not sweet and has soft glitters fairy like.
My Pakistani friend cooked up Briyani. I didn't know that it was that easy.
My indian friend made baked chicken Kurma.
My libyan teacher made Libyan salad. The Libyans, according to her, eat loads of chilies. So her salad has chilies and also cheese. What a combination : fried brinjal, tomato, olives, cheese and chilies. Entah-entah dia makan steak pun dengan chilly macam ada sesetengah orang tu.
Yours truly fried up fried ricelah. Apa lagi? An easy peasy cuisine that most of you make for breakfast because you had leftover rice, they thought was so hard to do. My teacher diligently copied everything i made. But I did tell her, in Asian cooking things are "agak-agak and campak-campak".

I enjoyed my time today. First of all this is not something often that we do. We don't gather every week for a morning coffee which I get tremendously restless if there are invites even if it is every week. But Alhamdulillah I don't get invited that much anymore even though, thanks to FB, I do know that morning coffee activities are still going on. LOL!

The other thing is we shared common interest and common goal - the deen and to improve our quran recitation and understanding. The thing that made us envy another is because her recitation has improved, Allahuma Bareek, and that we must catch up. But the envy made us love each other more and we are happy for each other. And when we spend time together, the conversation tend to revolve on our lessons and future undertakings. When we do talk about someone, we are careful that the conversation does not lead to gheebah. We are always cautious.

And I love that. I get tired going to places when there was so much talk and I go home forgetting my verses. The thing is, it is not even the others, it is me who talk too much.

Alhamdulillah for such beautiful companionship.

Anyway cerita pasal masak-masak and agak-agak, check out this video of Gordon ramsay's Great Escape in Malaysia. As vibrant as he is, I like to think I am more of nigella lawson kind of person. And nigella lawson does not swear.

Gordon Ramsay in Malaysia from Joseph Teo on Vimeo.

Meeting the Parents

We had parents-teacher's day at the K@Fa we are doing here. This was the follow up after the mid term exam we had last week.

Subhanallah i never did know the amount of work that needs to be put in the whole affair. To write the exam paper. To reconcile with other teacher who is also teaching the boys of the same level.

Oh by the way, we have separated the boys and the girls for each level except for the youngest ones. And only female teachers teach the girls and the men with the boys. And I enjoy it very much. Finally I can hear the girl's voice! They have been too quiet all these while. maybe drowned in the rowdy boys' voice or mainly too shy to speak. After we separated them, they can finally give answers or talk girls' things with me.

That reminds me, we were in the subject of seerah and I was leading them to the story of the marriage between prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam and Khadijah. How Khadijah was impress with prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam good manner, trustworthiness and kindness. And the girls were oohhhing and ahhing. Amboi cerita pasal kahwin terus suka. And they started telling me what kind of man they would like. "I like handsome man", said one girl. Amboi!

Wokey, anyway, I was saying, we had teacher's parents day. So I finally get to know the parents. So many came! Masya Allah! Even though many came, but the ones that i want to see most did not come. Qadr Allah. My heart was swelling with happiness for those who came.

I have never talked almost non stop for more than four hours! And that also because I think I was too passionate in talking to the parents and sharing K@FA's aspirations and my own personal aspiration for the children and the parents, I took my time talking to them. Kesian parents kena beratur tunggu giliran.

I met a few parents who shared with them their aspirations too. Allahumma Bareek. And among them there is one lady who said for a year she was worried about her children's deen and spent her time teaching them herself. When finally she heard of K@FA, she quickly enrolled her children. Masya Allah! I was surprised because, her daughter is really very clever and seem to be at ease in learning the deen. She did a good job! She definitely must never stop teaching the children! *LOVES*

And also, since I am teaching the younger groups (age : 5-8), I find may parents who are concern that their children are naughty in class. And dengann sifat kemelayuan, many parents would say, "marahkan aje anak saya. jangan takut-takut." and "Tell me if he is naughty." I lover tau. mana ada marah-marah ni. LOL.

I learned tremendous seeing other more expert teachers handling this day and things in general. I learned more about parents. *EXCITED*

I went back tired and famish. But I felt happy to the point of crying. Mungkin makcik sedikit kememeh minggu ini.

I pray that all these children will grow up righteous and become the leaders among the muttaqun.

Now now now I have to concentrate on my own exam coming up this Wednesday. Exam yang ni tak ada parents teachers day.

Hati ada Bunga

My lover is feeling stressed out at work lately. Understandably his project is at their tail of completion. Lots of handovers, disputes, possible V.O.s and whatnots. He has never been as stress as this I think. He doesn't show much, as in he doesn't come home sulking and got angry, but whenever we talked this would pop out. And also I sort of can tell because man has worry face and it shows here and there.

Anyway he said this to me, "Each time I got to work my head feels like bursting. But it all became better when I got home."

And see me? *Grin*

And see you. Peck on the forehead.


------------------------

Just a story to remind myself,

The Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam came to Khadijah on the first day of Revelation, anxious, trembling and shaking all over. He told her, "cover me! Cover me!" Then he said to Khadeejah, "O" khadeejah what is wrong with me? He told her what happened, then said, "I fear for myself." Khadeeja said, "No, rather be of good cheer, for by Allah, Allah will never fprsake you. By Allah, you unite relations, speak the truth, spend money on the needy, give money to the penniless, honour your guests and help those beset by difficulties."

She spoke to him in kind and sweet words of encouragement, filling him with confidence, tranquility and firm conviction. Throughout her life with him, Khadeeja supported him and helped him to bear the worst oppression and persecution that he faced in his mission. She endured with him every hardship and difficulty.

Ibn hashim in his seerah,

"Khadijah had faith, and believed in what he brought from Allah. In this way, Allah helped His Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam. Whenever he heard any distasteful words of rejection or disbelief that upset him, Allah would cause to put his spirits high and revived when he would come back to her. She would encourage him and advise him to be patient, believe in him and make it easier for him to bear whatever the people said or did. May Allah have mercy on her."

Khadeeja was one of the greatest woman in the world for all the virtues she had.

_______________________________________

And I am far from it.

Ingat! Laki balik aje rumah jangan bombard dengan bebelan dan komplen.

Palace of the World

The best palace I have visited so far in my life (not that I have visited many. But enough to make comparison I suppose) must be the one in Iran. This is just based on the permanent decoration they have for the castle. In Oman on the other hand, the castles and fortresses are a winer based on their defense and protection strategy. Read about Oman Palaces that I wrote HERE.While in Europe must be the sheer size of most castles.

But Iran's palaces must win for its deco, specifically for the palaces in tehran itself - Golestan Palace and Reza Pahlavi Palace (not the recent 70s one but the one which is build ages ago in the era of Qajar empire).

I was truly impressed on their mirror works on the inside wall and heavily patterned tiles on their outside wall. The reflection of the chandelier's light on the mirror is truly mesmerising.







It brought me to thinking if this is what you get in this world being the ruler, what would it be like in jannah. Teh best of palaces for those with taqwa!

Tremendous narration describe that the palaces in jannah being made by hollow pearls. They are sixty miles high and in some narration sixty miles wide (Bukhari). There will be lofty rooms, one above the other, under which river flows (Az Zumar 39:20)

When Jibreel send Allah's salaam and his salam to Khadijah in a hadith by Abu Hurayrah, Jibreel mentioned that Khadeejah will have a house in Paradise made of brocade in which there is no noise and no exhaustion.

Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam described the building of jannah as below,

Bricks of gold and silver, the mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and will never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade. (Hadith by Ahmad, Tirmidhee)

And the decorations of Jannah are describe as thrones woven with gold and precious stones of which is worth more than the whole world and everything in it.

And the palace as grandeur as it will be will be in the midst of beauty and splendour. The gates, the soil, the rivers, the river banks, the springs, the fragrance, the trees and fruits and the inhabitants.

Allah and the Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam has described Jannah to help us imagine what it would be like. To help us long for it and to help us work for it amdist the difficult life living in this world pleasing Allah.

Of all the description of jannah, the one that engulf me most, that made my heart skipped a beat and made me stop to ponder is from a hadith qudsi reported by Abu Hurayrah that Prophet Muhammad salllahu alaihi wasalam said

Allah said: "I have prepared for My righteous slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart can imagine. Nevermind what Allah has told you; what he has not told you is even greater." Then he (salllahu alaihi wasalam) recited "No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward of what they used to do. (as Sajda As 32: 17)"

May Allah accept our deeds and place us in the highest jannah. Ameen.

Living in the Mountain

If Allah permits it, perhaps I would be able to see more of how people live in the mountain areas around the world.

We saw Misfah Al Abreyeen in Oman. I wrote it HERE.



In Iran we saw two beautiful mountain areas where the residents have adapted themselves to the mountainous building in their own unique way. First there is Masouleh. It's near the town that is near to the caspian sea. It is in the forested mountainous area and thus to travel to it, one has to go through beautiful forest.

The unique thing about Masouleh is the houses. The terraced houses by the hill village is at least a millineum old. The houses are built as such that the roof of the houses below is the walking path for the people above.

The path are really confusing. Sometimes you think you are walking straight through wanting to go to the house you see at the end of the path, only to find yourself going downwards. You can miss the uphill path or downhill path without noticing it. Walking about in the village is a labyrinth that is pleasant to get yourself lost in.





And they have lived like that for a millineum old.

In further North, kandovan, we visited the mini kappadokya of Iran. Kappadokya is actually in Turkey. (I have been there. he he). Like Kappadokya, kandovan also have mountains formed by compressed volcanic ashes. But the best thing, is, unlike Kkappadokya, people stll live in the very same house they lived centuries ago. People have been boring the mountains to make lovely homes within it. Hard Rock Villages.

It is really amazing here. I went to one of the houses and experienced myself how the houses were naturally warmed when it is freezing outside. And they told me, that it is cooling in the hot summer.

The main livelihood is through sheep rearing and little business of honey (really good), walnuts and dairy products.





Mountains are a marvel to look at, to walk on and Insya Allah to live in.

Al Qaf 50: 7
And the earth! We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and have produced therein every kind of lovely growth (plants).

An Anbiya' 21: 31
And We have placed on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with them, and We placed therein broad highways for them to pass through, that they may be guided.

And mountains are big and solid and strong.

Al Isra' 17: 37
And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.

Subhanallah! One of Allah's greatest signs in His creation.

A Great Sahabah from Esfahan

We saw the oldest fire worshipping temple in Esfahan. Magians or majusi or Zorostrian is among the oldest religion in Iran. When Islam came, most people became Muslim except in the area of Yazd where people still practise this religion.

We cannot pass by the city of Esfahan without narrating the story of one of the greatest sahabahs - Salman al Farsi. When I first heard this hadith my heart swelled so much to learn the journey of one who seeks the truth.

Here goes..

Ibn Abbass RA once asked Salman al-Farsi RA about his story and Salman narrated his story to him.

I grew up in the town of Isfahan in Persia in the village of Jayyan. My father was the Dihqan or chief of the village. He was the richest person there and had the biggest house.

Since I was a child my father loved me, more than he loved any other. As time went by his love for me became so strong and overpowering that he feared to lose me or have anything happen to me. So he kept me at home, a veritable prisoner, in the same way that young girls were kept.

I became devoted to the Magian religion so much so that I attained the position of custodian of the fire which we worshipped. My duty was to see that the flames of the fire remained burning and that it did not go out for a single hour, day or night.

My father had a vast estate which yielded an abundant supply of crops. He himself looked after the estate and the harvest. One day he was very busy with his duties as dihqan in the village and he said to me:

“My son, as you see, I am too busy to go out to the estate now. Go and look after matters there for me today.”

On my way to the estate, I passed a Christian church and the voices at prayer attracted my attention. I did not know anything about Christianity or about the followers of any other religion throughout the time my father kept me in the house away from people. When I heard the voices of the Christians I entered the church to see what they were doing.

I was impressed by their manner of praying and felt drawn to their religion. “By God,” I said, “this is better than ours. I shall not leave them until the sun sets.”

I asked and was told that the Christian religion originated in Ash-Sham (Greater Syria). I did not go to my father’s estate that day and at night, I returned home.

My father met me and asked what I had done. I told him about my meeting with the Christians and how I was impressed by their religion. He was dismayed and said:

“My son, there is nothing good in that religion. Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better.”

“No, their religion is better than ours,” I insisted.

My father became upset and afraid that I would leave our religion. So he kept me locked up in the house and put a chain on my feet. I managed however to send a message to the Christians asking them to inform me of any caravan going to Syria. Before long they got in touch with me and told me that a caravan was headed for Syria. I managed to unfetter myself and in disguise accompanied the caravan to Syria.

There, I asked who was the leading person in the Christian religion and was directed to the bishop of the church. I went up to him and said:

“I want to become a Christian and would like to attach myself to your service, learn from you and pray with you.”

The bishop agreed and I entered the church in his service. I soon found out, however, that the man was corrupt. He would order his followers to give money in charity while holding out the promise of blessings to them. When they gave anything to spend in the way of God, however, he would hoard it for himself and not give anything to the poor or needy. In this way he amassed a vast quantity of gold. When the bishop died and the Christians gathered to bury him, I told them of his corrupt practices and, at their request, showed them where he kept their donations. When they saw the large jars filled with gold and silver they said.

“By God, we shall not bury him.” They nailed him on a cross and threw stones at him. I continued in the service of the person who replaced him. The new bishop was an ascetic who longed for the Hereafter and engaged in worship day and night. I was greatly devoted to him and spent a long time in his company.

It was not long before they found a man to replace him. I stayed with him, and found that there was none more ascetic than he, or more desirous of the Hereafter There wan none more persistent then he in worship, day and night. I formed a great affection for him, and lived with him for a long time. When he was on his deathbed, I asked him”

“Who do you recommend me to, and who do you advise me to go after you are gone?”

“‘Son,’ he said,’I know of nobody who lives as I did, except for a man in al Mawsil, his name is so and so, and he has not deviated or changed. Go to him.”
“So when the companion died, I went to the man in al mawsil. When I arrived, I presented myself to him, and told him my story. I said:
“My companion recommended, before he died, that I go to you, because you practice the correct way of life.”He answered: ‘Stay with me.’ So I lived with him, and found him to be a virtuous person. After a while, he also died. Before his death, I said to him: The time ordained for you by Allah has come, and you know my story. tell me, to whom do you recommend me?”
“Son,” he said,”the only man I know who lives as we have lived is in Nassibayn, and his name is so-and-so. Go to him.”

“After he had been buried, I went to his friend in Nassibayn, and told him my story, and how my companion in Mwsil had commended him to me. he told me to stay with him, and I found him to be as virtuous as his two companions. It was not long before he, too, died. When he was on his deathbed, i asked him to whom I should go. he told me that the only worthy person whom he knew lived in Ammuriyah.

“So I went to him, and managed to earn, while living with him, some cattle and wealth. he did not live long, either. As he lay on his deathbed, he said: Son I know of none alive who still holds on to the way of life that we have practiced. But the time is coming for a prophet to appear from among the arabs. he will be sent with the religion of Abraham, and will migrate from his land to a land of date palms betweent two bare mountains. There will be signs by which he can recognised. he will eat from something given as a gift, but not from charity. between his shoulder blades will be a ring indicating the seal of prophecy. If you are able to travel to those lands, go and join him.”

A group of Arab leaders from the Kalb tribe passed through Ammuriyah and I asked them to take me with them to the land of the Arabs in return for whatever money I had. They agreed and I paid them. When we reached Wadi al-Qura (a place between Madinah and Syria), they broke their agreement and sold me to a Jew.

I worked as a servant for him but eventually he sold me to a nephew of his belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah. This nephew took me with him to Yathrib, the city of palm groves, which is how the Christian at Ammuriyah had described it.

At that time the Prophet was inviting his people in Makkah to Islam but I did not hear anything about him then because of the harsh duties which slavery imposed upon me.

When the Prophet reached Yathrib after his hijrah from Makkah, I was in fact at the top of a palm tree belonging to my master doing some work. My master was sitting under the tree. A nephew of his came up and said:

“May God declare war on the Aws and the Khazraj (the two main Arab tribes of Yathrib). By God, they are now gathering at Quba to meet a man who has today come from Makkah and who claims he is a Prophet.”

I felt hot flushes as soon as I heard these words and I began to shiver so violently that I was afraid that I might fall on my master. I quickly got down from the tree and spoke to my master’s nephew.

“What did you say? Repeat the news for me.”

My master was very angry and gave me a terrible blow. “What does this matter to you’? Go back to what you were doing,” he shouted.

That evening, I took some dates that I had gathered and went to the place where the Prophet had alighted. I went up to him and said:

“I have heard that you are a righteous man and that you have companions with you who are strangers and are in need. Here is something from me as sadaqah. I see that you are more deserving of it than others.” The Prophet ordered his companions to eat but he himself did not eat of it.

I gathered some more dates and when the Prophet left Quba for Madinah I went to him and said: “I noticed that you did not eat of the sadaqah I gave. This however is a gift for you.” Of this gift of dates, both he and his companions ate.

That confirmed one of the signs told to Salman al-Farsi RA. He then went back. Then Salman brought food again and told the food that he gave last time was for charity this is now as a gift, this time the prophet ate the food with the companions.

Then Salman al-Farsi RA went to Muhammad SAWS and went around him and the prophet noticed that Salman was looking for something so the Prophet took off the cloth to show him what is between his shoulder blades.

When Salman saw the mark between his shoulders, he knew it was the Seal of Prophet hood, and Salman RA said when he saw it fell down in tears and began to kiss the prophets feet and made sujudd to him. Rasulullah SAWS immediately told him to stand up and asked Salman his story, and then told him to tell his companions the same story.

May Allah grant peace to Salman al farsi.

Perhaps you like to listen to audio lecture by Anwar Awlaki.

Eating in Iran

Breakfast food

What I can say. The food in Iran is just for me. Even the thought of the food makes me drool.

First of all, whoever runs a hotel or similar service which provides breakfast in Iran have it the easiest compared to those from malaysia for instance. The breakfast we had everyday was most importantly bread. The nan bread not the gardenia kind of bread. Also honey, cheese, butter and jam. Usually carrot jam or sour cherry jam. We would be served telur mata lembu with runny yolks.

No assortment of nasi lemak, mee goreng, waffle, pancake, creal, roti canai and so forth.

Jackjack was just in love with the eggs. To the extent when we actually go to a hotel that did not serve eggs, we would actually order some. And Subhanalllah the food helped us to not be hungry for quite sometime which was quite strange because we were in cold weather. Alhamdulillah.

Since we were served typically the same thing everyday, we expected the same thing again and again. Then when we got to Kandoven, the most Northern place that we went, we were served about the same thing but with a twist. Cewah! The honey they serve was straight from the honeycomb and the butter is just something that one would die for. Especially creamy and delicious. Both are the speciality of this town!

And the other food was superb! The kabab is out of the world. The yoghurt here, which is normally too sour for me in the arab side, is just nice, mildly sour, the tomato soup is perfect, the baklave which is melenting sweet in the arab side is just just perfect. What can I say? If you do go there, eat all you can. tee he he

Alhamdulillah for every daily thing that we do, there is always something we can point out to each other and as for myself to my kids. Perhaps there are some food that we might not favour. Knowing the sunnah will help us know how to react.

For example, the picture is perhaps the best roast chicken I ever had. The salad that comes with it (not in picture pun sangat superb. They use the oil dripping as the dressing). But the cauliflower (in the picture) was actually pickle. And I am not in favour on anything sour, what more pickle.

As good manners, we should not spill the food back onto our plate especially when the host is there. ell we were in restaurant but our Iranian driver was there. If there is still a need to take the food out, we must try to do it discreetly. Spilling food out in front of everyone is quite gross.

And most importantly not to criticise the food that you do not like.

Narrated by Abu Huraira:

The Prophet never criticized any food (presented him), but he would eat it if he liked it; otherwise, he would leave it (without expressing his dislike).

Bukhari : Volume 4 : Book 56 : Hadith 764

I was with an elderly lady who went with us from Esfahan. I was on my way to tehran while she wanted to stop halfway at Qom. We had lunch together. She doesn't speak english at all. We smiled a lot.

Anyway we were given this bowl of yoghurt each to dip into with our bread. They would also just eat the yoghurt by the spoonful. The yoghurt is ok not like the sour laban I had here. But I still cannot make myself eat plain yoghurt like I would with the commercial packed yoghurt that comes in variety of flavour. The lady asked me (I think) why I did not finish my yoghurt. I hope she understood that it is not the favourite of mine.

Anway I remebered a story when rasulullah sallallhu alaihi wasalam was presented with dhob (desert lizard). He left the food not eating it.

Book 21, Number 4791:

‘Abdullah b. ‘Abbas reported that Khalid b. Walid who is called the Sword of Allah had informed him that he visited Maimuna, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), in the company of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and she was the sister of his mother (that of Khalid) and that of ‘Ibn Abbas, and he found with her a roasted lizard which her sister Hufaida the daughter of al-Harith had brought from Najd, and she presented that lizard to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). It was rare that some food was presented to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) and it was not mentioned or named. While Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was about to stretch forth his hand towards the lizard, a woman from amongst the women present there informed the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) what they had presented to him. They said: Messenger of Allah, it is a lizard. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) withdrew his hand, whereupon Khalid b. Walid said: Messenger of Allah, is a lizard forbidden? There opon he said: No, but it is not found in the land of my people, and I feel that I have no liking for it. Khalid said: I then chewed and ate it, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was looking at me and he did not forbid (me to eat it).

Anyway just for extra knowledge, he did not prohibit eating the lizard either.

I, myself, find it hurtful, when people from other country, even though they are not used to our food, criticises it. Understandably some food do not suit a foreign's tongue, but criticising them is another matter altogether.

Anyway, when we try to follow the sunnah, Insya Allah there is ajr for that. What more, there is always good manners that we can exhibit to other people. Who are we to preach about Islam? Thus good manners from us supercedes everything, Insya Allah.

Everyday there is always something to point out on how we can apply the sunnah.

When Going Abroad

We are taking a winter break and will be travelling Insya Allah. I thought of putting down some reminders for them in their excitement. May we not bring back things that do not please Allah.

I thought of sharing this story with my children (taken from Ar Raheeq Al Makhtum; The Sealed Nectar).

The story is about Amr bin Luhai. He is the chief of the tribe Khuza'a. He was also known as one of the righteous person in Makkah in his time. Do read on.

-------------------------------------

Most of the Arabs had complied with the call of Prophet Ishmael alaihi salam, and professed the religion of his father Prophet Abraham alaihi salam. They had worshipped Allâh, professed His Oneness and followed His religion a long time until they forgot part of what they had been reminded of. However, they still maintained such fundamental beliefs such as monotheism as well as various other aspects of Abraham’s religion.

Until the time when a chief of Khuza‘a, namely ‘Amr bin Luhai, who was renowned for righteousness, charity, reverence and care for religion, and was granted unreserved love and obedience by his tribesmen.

One day, he came back from a trip to Syria where he saw people worship idols. This is a phenomenon he approved of and believed it to be righteous since Syria was the locus of Messengers and Scriptures.

And then he brought with him back an idol (Hubal) which he placed in the middle of Al-Ka‘bah and summoned people to worship it. Readily enough, paganism spread all over Makkah and, then, to Hijaz, people of Makkah being custodians of not only the Sacred House but the whole Haram as well. As a result of this, a great many idols, bearing different names, were introduced into the area. [Mukhtasar Seerat-ar-Rasool p.12]

An idol called ‘Manat’, for instance, was worshipped in a place known as Al-Mushallal near Qadid on the Red Sea. Another, ‘Al-Lat’ in Ta’if, a third, ‘Al-‘Uzza’ in the valley of Nakhlah, and so on and so forth. Polytheism prevailed and the number of idols increased everywhere in Hijaz.

It was even mentioned that ‘Amr bin Luhai, with the help of a jinn companion who told him that the idols of Noah’s folk – Wadd, Suwa‘, Yaguth, Ya‘uk and Nasr – were buried in Jeddah, dug them out and took them to Tihama. Upon pilgrimage time, the idols were distributed among the tribes to take back home. [Bukhari 1/222]

Every tribe, and house, had their own idols, and the Sacred House was also overcrowded with them. On the Prophet’s conquest of Makkah, 360 idols were found around Al-Ka‘bah. He broke them down and had them removed and burned up. [Mukhtasar Seerat-ar-Rasool p.13-54]

Polytheism and worship of idols became the most prominent feature of the religion of pre-Islam Arabs despite alleged profession of Abraham’s religion.

Listen to this: Traditions and ceremonies of the worship of their idols had been mostly created by ‘Amr bin Luhai, and were deemed as good innovations rather than deviations from Abraham’s religion.

I wrote down my lesons from this story in the other lollies' site. Read HERE.

Do share what are the lessons you derive from this story so we can help enrich one another.

First of Dzulhijjah already

Yesterday, i went to sent off some of my friends for hajj. Already? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was being sent off.

And as they were all getting themselves prepared and we talked or tried giving tips based on my own experience, I can't help feeling sayu throughout.

I remembered the times when I was told I am not accepted to go.
I remembered more the feeling of being told we can go later.
I can still remember the fajr prayer that I had, before we depart to Mina on the 7th Dzulhijjah.
And the silence as arafah hour was approaching.
I remembered the I-dont-care-if-lunch-is-late feeling when they served us lunch quite late while I want to run off in isolation armed with head and heart bursting with du'a.
And the final tawaf - tawaf wida' - when I cried and cried and cried in realisation that hajj is finally over.

Subhanallah. I cannot think about hajj but not drop a tear or feeling tight in the chest.

Alhamdulillah still I am allowed to go to another Dzulhijjah and experience the best ten days in Allah's sight. Grab this first ten days of Dzulhijjah like how you want to grab the last ten nights of Ramadhan.

Fast for nine days if you can. At least on the 9th Dzulhijjah.
If you can afford it, make qurban.
Say tahmeed (Alhamdulillah) as you cruise in the day. Takbir. Tahlil (lailahailallah. bukan buat tahlil arwah ya) and tasbih (Subhanallah. Bukan pegang tasbih)

Again, this sunnah is something that I see being practise alot here. As you do your grocery shopping, you can hear them doing the dzikir, made order and continue with their dzikir. Sometimes some men would recite the takbir (Takbir raya as you would call it). Of course I only realise this after I learn this. Otherwise what i can see is people mumbling or queue cutters or rude people. I guess you see what you choose to see.

May Allah grant the pilgrims hajj mabrur and May he make it easy for all of them.

What difficulties do you have?

We had a visit by Sister Mariah Ma the other day. for those of you who are not in the know, Sister mariah Mah is a muslimah from Singapore and is a very active philanthropist over there. She is involve with tremendous charity work. Her work mainly focuses on improving the Muslims brothers and sisters in China. She is also cited to be one of the 500 most influential muslims in the world 2009 due to her charity work in China. Masya Allah! Google the book up.

Do you know that there are about 30 Million Muslims in China? And do you know that the Malaysian population alone is about 28 Million people (latest stats Jul 2010). And another trvia is that there are 1.4 billion Muslims in the world.

Anyway Islam in China goes a looong way. Some said that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasalam has already send the risalah to china at the same time He (sallahu alaihi wasalam) sent the daawah to Emperor Heraclius of the Roman Empire and Chrosoe in Persia. And Allah knows best.

A more notable history is that during the time of Khalifah Uthman bin Affa radiallahu anhu, he sent an envoy led by one of the most prominent sahabahs, among the ten promised jannah, Saad bin Abi Waqas radiallahu anhu, to spread daawah of Islam in China. With the guidance of Allah, many embraced Islam and they have been Muslims for more than a thousand years.

However, many of our brothers and sisters of Islam in China are poor and many of them are deprived from the basic necessity that you and I are enjoying. Sister Mariah Mah shared with us some photos and many are living in very poor accommodation and some still live in caves.

Sister Mariah Mah work involve in providing water, rehabilitating masjids, mengimarahkan masjid, setting up madrasah and paying the teachers, setting up orphanages, giving scholarships and so on. Masya Allah.

She is calling for plenty of charity drives to help her to help our brothers and sisters in China. There are many ways you can help but one of the most interesting charity drive she is doing is, providing a tour service around the famous places in China of which all the profits go to the charity projects. If you are interested to go to China, but afraid of eating improper food and not knowing where to pray perhaps you can consider her services. The best part is, depending on the package, you can choose to go visit the Muslim community there. If you wish to volunteer to become a teacher, she would also welcome you with open arms.

Check this site out China Muslim SilaturrRahim. She also do a qurban project.

Anwyway when she was showing pictures of the condition of their living and the orphanage houses, I felt sad but not too sad. Because there are something even more sad than being poor. What saddens me is when she also said that many of them do not practise Islam anymore. Life is hard in china especially during the hardcore communist time.

Just proclaiming believing a religion may deem persecution and torture! Many of them had to smuggle themselves out to do hajj. Saving up so much money, smuggle themselves out and back in only to come back being discovered and death on them.

The imams who survived narrated that they had to hide to learn the quran when they were young. These are all risks to the families. Fear and death are looming on them all the time.

And after some time, what is left on them is just knowing Lailahhaillah, no pork, no alcohol and to say Bismillah when slaughtering animal. But because they are poor, slaughtering is a rare occasion anyway. The woman mostly don on hijab to distinguish themselves that they are muslims. But no more solah, no more fasting and other things.

And Subhanallah time is easier now, it is time to revive what is lost among our brothers. And Insya Allah that is what Sister Mariah Mah is doing. Many of those who Allah kept their heart firm with iman are coming out to spread Islam again.

I came across a hadith or saying of the salaf. i am not sure. once but I cannot find it anymore. So do correct me

"There will come a time when people only know Lailahha illallah and that is only because they heard the older people say so. What good would it be? It will make them enter jannah."

May Allah alleviate their difficulties.

The question to myself again, so what difficulties do you have Lollies?

Again do consider this charity tour programme if you are thinking of going abroad. I would.