Feeling Secure?

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

JAPAN PREPARED WELL FOR TSUNAMI

In this article it says:

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

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

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

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

AL Mulk 67: 16-17

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

Human feel very secure. And confident and probably arrogant.

Just think Titanic. Challenger. Wallahu alam.

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

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

Shuara 26: 146-152

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

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

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

Seriously my mind is everywhere.

Wait for Ibu

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

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

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

They wanted to eat together with you. 

Awwww

Sukaaaaa

Tak jadi marah.

Preserving the Quran

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

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

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

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preserve Allah and Allah will preserve you.

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

'Attaar

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

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

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

Without descending from his mule, he said

واذا الوحوش حشرات

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

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

وضرب لنا مثلا نسىي خلقه

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

-Al adkhiyah, ibn al Jawzi

Stand Up for What is Right

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

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

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

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

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

They contested and got second place.

Then i had a real adult conversation with hadith. 

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

But he is so argumentative.

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

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

 فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ

Then take admonition o you with eyes (to see)

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

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

Love Others as You Love Yourself

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

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

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

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

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

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

I stopped short at

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

And

 وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا  

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

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

I clearly am far away.

May Allah Increase You in Knowledge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*LOVES*

 May Allah increase her in knowledge that is beneficial. 

It is in the History

Once upon a time, long long time ago, came a group of people in a desert area. They were searching for a precious jewel in this area as described in detail in their sacred book. In this area lived simple people of two different groups.

The new group were clever devious people. They were also merchants and experts in trade, jewel making and creating businesses. They worked hard in their business and they have fluorished in this new land. They even managed to control the trade of the area that even the locals were sidelined.

They used to give loans to the chief of the two local groups which the chief than would boast off their wealth to others. To ensure a strong anchor in this area, they conspired to spread mischief in this new land. Their approach: divide and conquer which was easy. Here in this land are two groups of locals who could never get along. The chiefs flaunt their wealth by the loans that they could easily provide. All they need to do is to ensure that the two local groups never reconcile and must never be able to meet eye to eye.

The new group of people would sit back and laughed at these local groups who are constantly at each other's throat. They are destroying each other in continuous war. The more the local groups are at war, the more the new group enjoyed their assumed power and wealth in this new country.

Once in a while, they would threaten the locals, "Once we find the jewel we are waiting for, be sure that we will destroy all of you!" The locals were always feeling inferior that this new group who is far wealthier has an upperhand above them.

After years of bloody, tiring war and destruction, the locals heard of a jewel found in another nearby land. Could it be, this is the jewel the new group has been talking about? What if we get to him first. And so they did.

The locals embraced islam at the hand of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam. The locals are the Aws and Khazraj, the two tribes that could not meet eye to eye. Under the guidance of Prophet Muhamamd salllahu alaihi wasalam and the unison of Islam, they came together as one. finally after long years of fighting, they found peace.

The Jews who were the new group of people who has been waiting for the jewel: Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasalam could not accept that this is the prophet that they have been waiting for. What? An Arab? How lowly!

This is now a problem because the Aws and Khazraj are not fighting anymore. They are united and strong and could eventually be stronger that them.

Then the jew plotted again. A man called Shas bin Qais an elderly of the Jews sent out his propaganda machinery. The media of the yesteryears. He sent out a young poet to sit among the arabs. To recite to them of the days of battle. To spark their memory by narrating scenes of their past conflicts and hostility and hatred among them. He recited to them verses that they used to compose satirising each other.

Slowly and surely the Aws and Khazraj remembered and hatred began to sow in their eyes. Past revenge has not been paid. Blood must shed! War must go on!

Little did they think, that this is a plot that when they began fighting again, the jews will enjoy their place and their expense and ensuring Islam dies together with the war.

Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam rebuked them,
"O Muslims! By Allah! Have you entered the state of ignorance while I am still among you, after Allah guided you to Islam, honoured you with it, by it He cuts the fetters of ignorance from your necks, and delivered you from disbelief and united your hearts?"

The Aws and Khazraj immediately realised they mistake and embraced each other and was sorry that they had allow shaytan to control their mind. They become more united and stronger after.

We, on the other had, has regressed and deep in the abyss of disunity. We have the jews controlling the Shams area inciting fights and most like trying best to make sure the different gorups of Palestinians not to unite. The Muslim world are so divided that it is easy to slaughter whomever they wished. The have chiefs who love the dunya and support those who kill their own brothers.

We can't tell truth from false with media. Sure we hate the wests that are continously destroying the muslims, but we also hate each other.

We have swallowed in all the propaganda that we can't tell who is right and wrong anymore.

While the one trying to be closer to Allah disunite because of differences, the others are becoming agnostic and hate anything Islam by the day. While some are trying to spread the truth, others destroyed it by making fool of the religion.

Meanwhile we watch the onslaught of the Muslims. Honour has left us.

Hasbinallahu wa ni'mal wakeel.

Defending Ibu

I invited some friends over for buka puasa at my place the other day. While the adults enjoyed their meal, hopefully, the kids dashed upstairs to play. Jack and his friends played Wii.

If you are familiar with Wii you will probably know that in Wii you can create characters that you would use to play and Wii would store your record and accumulated strength. You can design a look (using their options) to suit your Wii character.

My kids designed the characters for all of us and my character is called, surprise surprise, "Ibu" and my lover: "ayah" and them in their respective names. They added some fictional characters that they use sparingly.

Anyway the kids were playing Wii and somehow while they played, this character "Ibu" kept annoying this kid. Out of his annoyance the boy exclaimed, "What is this stupid woman doing?!!"

Zachary, totally unhappy that someone called his "Ibu" stupid stood up to the boy and said,

"Don't call my mother stupid! She is clever, intelligent, creative, beautiful, fun and very cute!"

Yeah i do teach him that I am beautiful! LOL! The rest are from him Allahuma Bareek!

This was reported to me by Mrs Fath via her daughter who was there.

Jack took offense that the boy was insulting me event hough the character was not me for real. Despite that, I ask Allah that he (and my children and yours) become among those who stands for the truth and among those who differentiate truth from falsehood the way that Allah is please with.

Sayang Jack.

The Land of the Prophets - The Lowest Point on earth

THE VICTORY OF BYZANTIUM

Surah Rum 30:1-4
Alif, Lam, Mim.
The Romans have been defeated in the lowest land, but after their defeat they will be victorious within three to nine years.
The affair is Allah's from beginning to end.
On that day, the believers will rejoice. (Qur'an, 30:1-4)

These verses were revealed around 620, almost 7 years after the Persians had severely defeated Christian Byzantium in 613-14. In fact, Byzantium had suffered such heavy losses that it seemed impossible for it even to survive, let alone be victorious again. Following their defeat of the Byzantines at Antioch in 613, the Persians seized control of Damascus, Cilicia, Tarsus, Armenia, and Jerusalem. The loss of Jerusalem in 614 was particularly traumatic for the Byzantines, for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was destroyed and the Persians seized the "True Cross," the symbol of Christianity. The emperor of Byzantinne at the time is Emperor Heraclius. He scrambled to regain strength and money to defend what was left. Gold, silver and bronze of statues are melted down to fund for the army. Many governors had revolted against Heraclius, and Byzantium was on the point of collapse. Mesopotamia, Cilicia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Armenia, which had earlier belonged to Byzantium, were invaded by the Persians.

Everyone was expecting Byzantium to be destroyed. But during this time, the first verses of Surat ar-Rum were revealed, announcing that Byzantium would triumph in 3 to 9 years. This predicted victory seemed so impossible that the Arab polytheists thought it would never come true.

In 622, Heraclius gained a number of victories over the Persians and conquered Armenia.177 In December 627, the two empires fought a decisive battle at Nineveh, some 50 kilometres east of the Tigris river, near Baghdad. This time too, the Byzantine army defeated the Persians. A few months later, the Persians had to sue for peace with Byzantium, which obliged them to return the territories they had taken from it.

The Byzantine victory was completed when Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persian ruler Khosrow II in 630, recaptured Jerusalem, and regained the "True Cross" for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.179 In the end, "the victory of the Romans" proclaimed by Allah in the Qur'an miraculously came true within the verses' stated "three to nine years" time frame.

An interesting geographical fact that could not have been known by anyone at that time: that the Romans had been defeated in the lowest region of Earth. This Arabic expression adna al-Ard is interpreted as "a nearby place" in many translations. However, this is not the literal meaning, but rather a figurative interpretation. The word adna, derived from the word dani (low), means “the lowest”. The word ard means “the world.” Therefore, adna al-ard means "the lowest place on Earth." The Dead Sea, one of the regions in which the Byzantines were defeated in 613-14, is the lowest region on Earth.

The Byzantines and the Persians actually fought at the Dead Sea basin, which is situated at the intersection point of the lands belonging to Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. At 399 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the "lowest" place on Earth's surface.


Also the day the the Romans won was the day that the Muslims won the Battle of Badr. The battle that is the pivot point for the Muslims onwards. And that is why in Surah Rum, Allah says the believers will rejoice. Not for the victory of the Romans but for their victory which was really against all odds.

Sadaqallahul Adzim
Indeed Allah has said the truth.


Do you know that Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. When we were in Jordan, most places are cold below 10 but after passing Mount Nebo and driving towards the Dead Sea, the temperature increases to 20+. The salinity at 31 which is 9 times the ocean. Is it the high salinity? the low level it is at?

Anyway just some info, dead sea is also losing its water. the river that goes into Dead Sea is drying up. Some naturally, some are diverted to farms and residential. Not to mention, Jordan is also facing water problem in general.

They are thinking of bringing pipleline of water from the Red sea into teh Dead Sea. from red to Dead. Would that affect the salinity and mineral contents it used to have? All the time they get freshwater from the river.

What impact would it give to the surrounding area if there is no Dead Sea. Tourism will be affected for sure. Weather also maybe, perhaps pulling the temperature of Jordan and Occupied Palestine lower.

Allah knows best.