Global Oppression & Inhumane Crimes Against Muslims: Some Reminders, and Guidelines regarding Etiquettes, Mindsets and Attitudes for Believers in Allah and the Last Day

Here are some important reminders from the Qur’an and Sunnah to strengthen our iman in these trying times of fitan and calamity. May Allah grant us the strength of Sabr, and to act in accordance to what Pleases Him in facing these difficult times of division and misinformation.

 

Summary:

1. Yes, we should feel hurt

2. ONE Muslim's life and honor are more sacred and beloved than Makkah, the blessed month of Dzulhijjah AND the Day of Eid

3. Allah loves our fellow brothers and sisters even more than a mother loves her infant..

4. Allah is not Unaware of the acts of these oppressors

5. Those who were killed: Look on the bright side of what their Lord prepared for them for their patience and iman

6. It’s a fact: Disbelievers will continue to spend resources to oppress the believers. But they will fail - guaranteed. Don’t fear their meager means, fear Allah!

7. Do not lose hope, do not despair. Remember: If Allah wills, He can Destroy & Replace every single one of them

8. The Solution is Clear: Turn back to Allah, the Source of all Help and Success

9. Never forget: Eventually, you will die too. Ultimately you are still responsible - and will be questioned - for your actions on the Day of Judgment

10. Do not act based on emotions – Act in accordance to the guidelines that Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have specified.  There is no obedience by committing disobedience!

11. Do not perform deeds which might result in disobedience

12. The Prophet ﷺ was sent as a mercy, not to curse

13. If you can't say something that Pleases Allah, then just shut up

14. Be careful what news you spread in these times of massive misinformation and irrational emotional responses

15. Provide financial support and aid within your capacity: Every atom's weight of good deed counts!

16. Never underestimate the power of du'aa

17. Making du'aa for them benefits you too

18. When will the Help of Allah come?!

19. Do not be sad or lose hope: Allah guarantees victory in for those believers!

20. Remember the End in Mind: Never lose sight of the Big Picture

 

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ

“Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is mindful” (Surah Qaf 50:37)

Bismillah...

1. Yes, we should feel hurt

 

عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى ‏"

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The believers in their mutual love, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body aches because of sleeplessness and fever". (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

 

2. ONE Muslim's life and honor are more sacred and beloved than Makkah, the blessed month of Dzulhijjah AND the Day of Eid..

قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ ‏"‏ أَلاَ أَىُّ شَهْرٍ تَعْلَمُونَهُ أَعْظَمُ حُرْمَةً ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا أَلاَ شَهْرُنَا هَذَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَلاَ أَىُّ بَلَدٍ تَعْلَمُونَهُ أَعْظَمُ حُرْمَةً ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا أَلاَ بَلَدُنَا هَذَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَلاَ أَىُّ يَوْمٍ تَعْلَمُونَهُ أَعْظَمُ حُرْمَةً ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا أَلاَ يَوْمُنَا هَذَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَدْ حَرَّمَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ، إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا، كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا

During his Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ asked his companions, "Which month (of the year) do you think is most sacred?" The people said, "This current month of ours (the month of Dzulhijjah)."

He ﷺ said, "Which town (country) do you think is the most sacred?" They said, "This city of ours (Makkah)."

He said, "Which day do you think is the most sacred?" The people said, "This day of ours (Eid Al-Adha)"

Then he said, "Allah has made your blood, your property and your honor as sacred as this day of yours in this town of yours, in this month of yours” (Al-Bukhari)

 

3. Allah loves our fellow brothers and sisters even more than a mother loves her infant child..

 

Let us never forget, seventeen times a day every day (in fact, 34 times if you count the basmallah), we remind ourselves that Allah is - الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ - “The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful”

 

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَدِمَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِسَبْىٍ فَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ السَّبْىِ تَبْتَغِي إِذَا وَجَدَتْ صَبِيًّا فِي السَّبْىِ أَخَذَتْهُ فَأَلْصَقَتْهُ بِبَطْنِهَا وَأَرْضَعَتْهُ فَقَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَتَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةَ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا لاَ وَاللَّهِ وَهِيَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ لاَ تَطْرَحَهُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَلَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا ‏"

'Umar b. Khattab reported that there were brought some prisoners to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) amongst whom there was also a woman, who was searching (for someone) and when she found an infant amongst the prisoners, she took hold of it, pressed it against her chest for breastfeeding and suckled her infant. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked his companions:

“Do you think this woman would ever afford to throw her child in the Fire?”

We said: “By Allah, as long as it is within her capability, she would never throw the child in Fire!”

Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

الَلَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا ‏

“Allah is more merciful and compassionate to His slaves than this woman is to her infant child” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

 

4. Allah is not Unaware

 

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّـهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ

“Do not think that Allah is unaware of that which the oppressors and criminals do: verily, He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.” (Ibrahim 14:42-43)

 

5. Those who were killed: Look on the bright side of what their Lord prepared for them for their patience and iman

 

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ ﴿١٦٩﴾ فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿١٧٠﴾ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّـهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٧١﴾ الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّـهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

“And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead.

Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision: Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

They receive good tidings of favor from Allah and bounty and [of the fact] that Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost - Those [believers] who responded to Allah and the Messenger after injury had struck them. For those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward” (Surah Ali Imran 3:169-172)

 

6. It’s a fact: Disbelievers will continue to spend resources to oppress the believers. But they will fail - guaranteed. Don’t fear their meager means, fear Allah!

 

Listen to this guarantee from Allah:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ فَسَيُنْفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ

“Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be defeated. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:36)

Yes, they have nuclear weapons, massive resources to control the media, huge international support. The Creator who created all this and willed for this injustice to happen is NOT unaware, and He can snatch it away in an instant.

 

How many times has Allah granted victory to His righteous slaves even though they were severely outnumbered? When the huge army of Jalut (Goliath) swamed and attacked, the army of the believers, headed by King Talut (Saul) and Daud (David) confidently put their trust in their Lord and said:

كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةٍ كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّـبِرِينَ

“How often has a small group overcome a mighty host by the Will of Allah! And Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient).” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:249)

 

إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

“It is only Shaitan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his supporters and friends, so do not fear them, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers!” (Surah Ali Imran 3:175)

 

7. Do not lose hope, do not despair. Remember: If Allah wills, He can Destroy & Replace every single one of them in an instant!

 

نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَا أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا

“It is We Who created them, and We have made them strong in built. And when We will, We can replace them with others like them with a complete replacement!” (Surah Al-Insan, 76:28)

 

وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ هِيَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةً مِنْ قَرْيَتِكَ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَتْكَ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ

“And many a town have We destroyed which were stronger than your town (Makkah) - And there was none to help them.” (Surah Muhammad 47:13)

 

8. The Solution is Clear: Turn back to Allah, the Source of all Help and Success

This calamity is a result of us, collectively as an ummah, obsessing over dunya, abandoning our religion, and forgetting our hereafter.  

 

 

 عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يُوشِكُ الأُمَمُ أَنْ تَدَاعَى عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا تَدَاعَى الأَكَلَةُ إِلَى قَصْعَتِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ وَمِنْ قِلَّةٍ نَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ قَالَ ‏"‏ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ كَثِيرٌ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ غُثَاءٌ كَغُثَاءِ السَّيْلِ وَلَيَنْزِعَنَّ اللَّهُ مِنْ صُدُورِ عَدُوِّكُمُ الْمَهَابَةَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَيَقْذِفَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمُ الْوَهَنَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا الْوَهَنُ قَالَ ‏"‏ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَكَرَاهِيَةُ الْمَوْتِ ‏"

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There will come a time when nations will soon gather and summon one another to attack you, just as people when eating invite others to share their feast.”

Someone asked: “Will that be because of our small numbers at that time?”

He replied: “No, in fact you will be many in number, at that time! But you will be of no substance: like the scum and rubbish like those carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the hearts of your enemy and place al-wahn (weakness) into your hearts.”

Someone asked: “What is wahn?”.

Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: “Love of this dunya and hatred for death.” (Abu Daud)

 

The Prophet ﷺ also said,

إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ بِالْعِينَةِ وَأَخَذْتُمْ أَذْنَابَ الْبَقَرِ وَرَضِيتُمْ بِالزَّرْعِ وَتَرَكْتُمُ الْجِهَادَ سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ذُلاًّ لاَ يَنْزِعُهُ حَتَّى تَرْجِعُوا إِلَى دِينِكُمْ

“(When you become obsessed over this worldly life) and abandon struggling for the sake of Allah, Allah will disgrace you and will not withdraw it until you return to your religion.” (Abu Daud)

 

9. Never forget: Eventually, you will die too. Ultimately you are still responsible - and will be questioned - for your actions on the Day of Judgment

 

..And it’s only then will TRUE justice be served, and TRUE success and failure will be made apparent:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception” (Surah Ali Imran 3:185)

 

10. Do not act based on emotions – Act in accordance to the guidelines that Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have specified.  There is no obedience by committing disobedience!

 

When Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet ﷺ passed away in his infancy, the Prophet ﷺ was in tears from his sadness. The companion, Abdurrahman bin Awf asked, “O Messenger of Allah – even you are crying?” Then he wept even more and said,

يَا ابْنَ عَوْفٍ إِنَّهَا رَحْمَةٌ ‏‏. إِنَّ الْعَيْنَ تَدْمَعُ، وَالْقَلْبَ يَحْزَنُ، وَلاَ نَقُولُ إِلاَّ مَا يَرْضَى رَبُّنَا، وَإِنَّا بِفِرَاقِكَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ لَمَحْزُونُونَ

"The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim ! Indeed we are grieved by your separation” (Al-Bukhari)

 

This statement of the Prophet ﷺ teaches us a very important lesson in akhlaq of how we should respond as Muslims. Yes, our heart saddens and bleeds for the oppression against our brothers and sisters. Yes, this massacres and crimes against humanity are unacceptable, even by the lowest of civil standards.

But at the same time, we must behave rationally, control our emotions to say and act in accordance to what Allah is pleased with, and not transgress our limits.

 

لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ

“True strength is not the one who overcomes others by his physical strength (i.e. wrestling others); true strength is the one who controls himself when he is in anger” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

 

The phrase, “do ANYTHING, as long as you DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT” is not applicable for Muslims. Because if that “something” is something Haram and ends up being an act of disobedience to Allah – then this is falsehood: There is no such thing as “obeying Allah by disobeying Him”.

 

فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّـهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ

“(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (i.e. the Qur’an and Sunnah), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:59)

 

11. Do not perform deeds which might result in disobedience

With the flood of information and “call to action” on the internet today, it can be difficult to distinguish right from wrong, especially when these emotional outcries are so loud and viral. Some of these viral messages call to things which are haram or contain elements of vulgarity which do not befit the Muslim character. Consult the people of knowledge!

فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“And Ask the people of knowledge, if you don’t know” (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:7)

 

Or, when in doubt, just don’t act on it. Stick to what you KNOW.

دَعْ مَا يُرِيبُك إلَى مَا لَا يُرِيبُك

"Leave behind what makes you doubt, and instead, stick to what does not give you doubt" (An-Nasa'i, At-Tirmidzi).

 

12. The Prophet ﷺ was sent as a mercy, not to curse

The companions once requested the Prophet ﷺ to invoke the curse (la’nah) of Allah upon the disbelieving idol-worshippers (mushrikun). He responded by saying:

 

 إِنِّي لَمْ أُبْعَثْ لَعَّانًا وَإِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ رَحْمَةً

“Verily, I have not been sent as an invoker of curse; rather, I have been sent as a Mercy” (Muslim)

 

Note: Yes, there are exceptions to this general case. Again, consult the people of knowledge, not just cursing out of emotion.

 

13. If you can't say something that Pleases Allah, then just shut up

‏ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا، أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say what is good, or just keep quiet!” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

 

Note: Silence is not “doing nothing”. To refrain yourself from saying something harmful or from making things worse, seeking the pleasure of Allah, is a very active act of taqwa. And Allah is Not unaware of that!

 

أَنَا زَعِيمٌ بِبَيْتٍ فِي رَبَضِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُحِقًّا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي وَسَطِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْكَذِبَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَازِحًا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ حَسَّنَ خُلُقَهُ

“I guarantee a house at the edge of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right,

a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking,

and a house in the highest part of Paradise for the one with good akhlaq and conduct” (Abu Daud)

 

14. Be careful what news you spread in these times of massive misinformation and irrational emotional responses

 

 بِحَسْبِ الْمَرْءِ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ ‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating every single thing he hears." (Muslim)

 

15. Provide financial support and aid within your capacity: Every atom's weight of good deed counts!

 

Identify trustworthy organizations that are channeling funds to offer any form of aid (e.g. medical supplies, food) to our brothers and sisters. Every cent counts!

 

لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ

“Do not consider any of your good deeds as insignificant, even if it is that you meet your brother with a cheerful face.” (Muslim)

 

 

اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ

"Save yourselves from the Hellfire, even if it is by giving half a date in charity" (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

 

 

16. Never underestimate the power of du'aa

 

ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُمُ الصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ وَالإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ يَرْفَعُهَا اللَّهُ فَوْقَ الْغَمَامِ وَيَفْتَحُ لَهَا أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ وَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ وَعِزَّتِي لأَنْصُرَنَّكَ وَلَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

There are three people whose du’aa (supplication) are not rejected:

1. The fasting person until he breaks his fast;

2. The just leader; and

3. The supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises the du’aa up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: “I swear by My might, I shall surely Help you, even if it should be after a while.’” (At-Tirmidzi, ibn Majah)

 

By the way: Don't ever fall into the trap of belittling du'aa (e.g. "Just" make du'aa?) - If you do so, this is in fact, belittling Allah Himself - as the All-Powerful, Creator and Lord of the Universe - na'udzubillah.. this is borderline shirik, a far greater sin than your compassion for the victims.

Again: you cannot obey Allah by disobeying Allah!

 

Know, dear Muslim, that your du’aa is 100% guaranteed to be responded – even if Allah may delay His Help, or grant victory and success in the akhirah (which is what matters most).

 

Continuously make du’aa for them, such as the Qunoot Nazilah taught by the Prophet ﷺ in Sahih Al-Bukhari:

 

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ َالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ في غزة، اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَكَ عَلَى اليهود، وَاجْعَلْهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سِنِينَ كَسِنِي يُوسُفَ

"O Allah! Save the weak and the helpless people among the faithful believers in Gaza.

O Allah! Be hard and sever on the evil Zionist regime and let them suffer from famine years like that of the time of Yusuf."

 

 

17. Making du'aa for them benefits you too

 

.. So make lots of it!

Make it a habit: every time you hear, see, or read about tragic news of what is happening out there in the media, put in the effort to make intentional du’aa from your heart for Allah to help them, alleviate their suffering, grant and reward their patience, and recompense them with something far greater in the Hereafter.

 

دَعْوَةُ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ، عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ كُلَّمَا دَعَا لأَخِيهِ بِخَيْرٍ، قَالَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ: آمِينَ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ

“The du’aa (supplication) of a Muslim for his brother at his back (in his absence) is mustajab (responded to);

As long as He is making a du’aa of goodness for his brother, an angel commissioned (by Allah) will be by his side, and (will also make du’aa) and say:

“Ameen, and May it be granted for you too!”

(Narrated by Muslim)

 

 

18. When will the Help of Allah come?!

 

During the early days of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ and his companions faced mass oppression from the disbelievers of Quraysh, completely denied of their freedom to practice their religion: even though they were a small minority in the community and did not harm the rest of the Quraysh in any way.

One companion, Khabbab bin Al-Aratt was so severely tortured that he had visible holes in his back from being tortured by the Quraysh, who used to make him lie down on burning hot coals. Out of desperation, he asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Will you not ask the help of Allah?!”

The Prophet ﷺ set up straight with signs of anger appearing on his face as it turned red, and responded:

انَ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيهِ، فَيُجَاءُ بِالْمِنْشَارِ، فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ، مَا دُونَ لَحْمِهِ مِنْ عَظْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَاللَّهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، لاَ يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ أَوِ الذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

“Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him give up his religion. His body would be combed with iron combs that would remove his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him abandon his religion. By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep,

But you (people) are impatient and hasty.” (Al-Bukhari)

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ ۖ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ

“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When will the Help of Allah come?"

Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:214)

 

19. Do not be sad or lose hope: Allah guarantees victory in for those believers!

 

وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

"So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers." (Ali Imran 3:139)

 

We know in the hadith that we will gain victory eventually. When will that be? We don’t know. We know it’s coming. The question is: what are we doing today to be part of that victory? How are we educating ourselves and our children to be the people who will be fighting alongside Prophet Isa, against Dajjal and his supporters?

.. And even if we don’t earn physical victory in this dunia in our lifetime, know that the true victory – the TRUE SUCCESS – is Paradise.

 

20. Remember the End in Mind: Never lose sight of the Big Picture

 

There was once a quote that says, “Do you cry for Masjid Al-Aqsa, yet you abandon praying Fajr in your own mosque?”

We need to stop being reactive noise-making Muslims who are only emotionally reacting to evil situations when our ummah is oppressed. We need to step up, to be proactive in becoming people of righteousness. Play our part in da’wah, to spread the beautiful message of Allah, in the beautiful manners (akhlaq) that He prescribed, regardless of the circumstances.

Whether or not oppression takes place, one thing is for sure: We will all return to Allah, and we will all be called to account for our deeds.

 

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

“And fear the Day when you will return to Allah. Then, every person shall be repaid for what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:281)

 

 

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ َالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ في غزة، اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَكَ عَلَى اليهود، وَاجْعَلْهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سِنِينَ كَسِنِي يُوسُفَ

"O Allah! Save the weak and the helpless people among the faithful believers in Gaza.

O Allah! Be hard and sever on the evil Zionist regime and let them suffer from famine years like that of the time of Yusuf."

 

Amin

“Agar Kamu Bersyukur” - Renungan hikmah Hari Raya

Pada penghujung bulan Ramadan, padai saat hampir-hampir nak raya, umat Islam di Malaysia diuji dengan PKP. Dan kita dapat lihat, ramai di kalangan rakyat yang tidak berpuas hati; malah ada pula golongan-golongan yang mendesak rakyat untuk bangkit dan protes terhadap kerajaan dan pihak berkuasa sebagai tunjuk perasaan tidak puas hati.

Jika direnungkan di dalam Al-Qur’an berkenaan dengan ayat-ayat tentang Ramadhan dan berpuasa, Allah simpulkan dengan berikut:

يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“Allah menghendaki kemudahan untukmu, dan Dia tidaklah menghendaki kesukaran untukmu. Dan juga supaya kamu cukupkan bilangan puasa (sebulan Ramadan), dan supaya kamu memembesarkan (bertakbir kepada) Allah atas petunjuk-Nya yang di-Kurniakan kepadamu,
agar kamu BERSYUKUR.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)

Agar Kamu Bersyukur: Itulah matlamat kesimpulan ibadah sepanjang Ramadhan. Jadi mereka yang menyemarakkan semangat orang ramai untuk meluahkan perasaan “tidak puas hati” itu bukan sahaja direct bertentangan dengan apa yang disebutkan oleh Allah dalam Al-Qur’an, malah mengajak manusia untuk bertindak sebalik matlamat Hari Raya sama sekali.

Realitinya, kalau kita fikirkan secara matang dan objektif, kalau kita pandang nikmat-nikmat dunia yang ada di sekeliling kita - seperti kesihatan kita, keselamatan, makanan kita - kita jauh lagi banyak alasan untuk bersyukur kepada Allah. Tidakkah kita lihat kesusahan yang ramai umat Islam - termasuk saudara saudari kita di Gaza, Syria dan Yaman - hadapi setiap hari?

Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda,
مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ مُعَافًى فِي جَسَدِهِ آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا
"Barangsiapa di antara kamu yang bangun tidur, dalam keadaan ada kesihatan pada tubuh badannya, ada keselamatan pada badannya dan dirinya, dan mempunyai makanan secukupnya untuk HARI tersebut, maka seakan-akan dia telah memiliki nikmat seluruh dunia dan seisinya” (HR At-Tirmidzi, ibn Majah)

Menarik kalau dilihat hadith ini, dari perspektif dunia sekarang pada abad ke-21. Penyelidikan tentang kadar kemiskinan dunia sekarang menunjukkan: Kalau anda mempunyai makanan dalam peti sejuk, pakaian di atas belakang tubuh, bumbung atas kepala, dan tempat tinggal untuk tidur, maka anda lebih kaya daripada 75% daripada penduduk dunia.

Fakta: Kebarangkalian besar, anda yang membaca post Facebook saya ini sekarang, tergolong antara 25% yang paling kaya di dunia. Syabas!

Jadi, mengapa kita terlalu mudah berasa tidak puas hati dan tidak bersyukur bila Allah uji kita dengan ditarik sedikit daripada nikmat dunia - yang barangkali tidak dirasai oleh majoriti populasi dunia ni, baikpun di luar musim COVID-199?

Boleh jadi, kita ada penyakit mental iaitu “entitlement mindset” dengan Allah. Sebab Allah bagi kita semua kenikmatan ni tanpa kita minta, kita rasa seolah-olah Allah mesti bagi kita. Kita lupa diri sendiri - lupa siapa Rabb, dan siapa hamba.

Atau boleh jadi, sebab kita dah terlalu berharap kepada sesuatu di dunia. Naluri manusia ni, bila dah banyak banyak buat pelaburan dalam satu perkara, memang dia terasa berat nak tinggalkan. Mungkin begitulah perasaan sesetengah golongan - mereka dah banyak buat persediaan, dah banyak spend duit, jadi bila last minute dapat berita tak best, dia rasa kerugian yang besar.

Renungkan nasihat yang diberikan kepada seorang khalifah Bani Umayyah, Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik. Beliau bertanya kepada penasihatnya, “wahai Abu Hazim, mengapa kita begitu membenci kematian?”

لأنكم عمرتم دنياكم وخربتم آخرتكم، فأنتم تكرهون أن تنتقلوا من العمران إلى الخراب‏
“Kerana kamu terlalu ghairah mendirikan duniamu dan kamu mengabaikan akhiratmu.
Maka kamu benci untuk meninggalkan sesuatu yang kamu dah berusaha dirikan, kepada sesuatu yang kamu telah abaikan”

Mantap, nasihat Abu Hazim ni. Siapa yang banyak spend duit dan masa bersiap untuk Raya, dan - QaddarAllahu wa mashaa faal - terhalang disebabkan PKP atau perkara lain yang berbangkit, maka akan kecewa besar, bila plan tak jadi.  

Sebaliknya, bagi seorang mukmin yang dah banyak menginfaq-kan hartanya dan usaha and ibadah untuk melaburkan akhiratnya, maka dia akan lebih tenang dalam hidup ini, kerana dia tahu, sekali-kali tidak akan kecewa, kerana Kiamat itu pasti, dan Allah sekali-kali tidak akan memungkiri Janji-Nya.
Mereka yang telah berusaha mendirikan akhiratnya - sepanjang bulan Ramadhan - mengenali nikmat dan ganjaran yang Allah telah sediakan untuk hamba-Nya yang soleh, terutama sekali mereka yang telah bersungguh-sungguh beribadah sepanjang bulan keberkatan ini, dan optimis berharap dapat memperoleh Laylatul Qadar, dan telah merasai kenikmatan dan kemanisan dalam ibadah mereka - dalam berdoa, dalam solat, dalam sujud, dalam bacaan Qur’an mereka. Diingatkan tentang sabda Nabi ﷺ,

وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ وَفَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ
"Bagi mereka yang berpuasa, terdapat dua kegembiraan: Kegembiraan ketika waktu berbuka puasa, dan kegembiraan ketika bertemu dengan Rabb-nya” (Al-Bukhari)

.. Maka oleh itu, mereka bersyukur tatkala Hari Raya.
Sebab kalau Allah menerima amal soleh mereka, mereka tahu: Ada kegembiraan yang lagi BEST bakal menanti mereka, insha Allah!

Disebabkan itu, Mu’alla bin Al-Fadhl berkata, “para salafus soleh akan berdoa selama 6 bulan selepas Ramadhan, agar Allah menerima amal soleh mereka pada bulan Ramadhan”

Jadi persoalannya adalah, di mana kita lebih banyak melaburkan usaha, masa, harta dan pengharapan kita?

Memang tidak dinafikan, PKP dan wabak COVID-19 mendatangkan banyak kesusahan kepada kita. Oleh itu, terus berdoa, semoga Allah permudahkan urusan semua yang dibebani dan diuji, terutama mereka yang dijangkiti virus ini, frontliners yang bersusah payah merawat pesakit, mereka yang dibebani dengan kekangan ekonomi dan kehilangan pekerjaan.. Semoga Allah terus mengurniakan kesabaran, membalas kesabaran kalian semua, menggantikan yang lebih baik di dunia dan lebih-lebih lagi di akhirat.

Kejadian-kejadian kebelakangan ini sepatutnya membuatkan kita sedar: Dunia pasti mengecewakan. Bila kita terlalu berharap dengan dunia, maka sudah pasti kita akan kecewa. Bila kita berharap dengan Allah, takkan kecewa. Gerenti.

تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْكُمْ
"Semoga Allah menerima daripada kami, dan daripadamu" 🤲🏽

Best Ramadan Ever Alhamdulillah

 

Alhamdulillah, in hindsight this has been one of the best Ramadan ever, as the first Ramadan since our team of brothers started The Barakah Effect

In spite of the crazy daily schedule and struggling with my increasingly difficult full-time day job, Alhamdulillah the team managed to consistently keep the podcast alive, with 2 live episodes (alongside our scheduled weekly releases).

Just these alone completely elevated my personal experience throughout Ramadan. It has always been our intention since day 1 for #thebarakaheffect to be a community of like-minded individuals to learn from each other: our life-hacks, tips and tricks, lessons learnt, and pitfalls to avoid - on how we can make the best in our lives - so we can make the best of our lives, given the constraints of time and resources that all of us face every day.

And Alhamdulillah, for me, it really fulfilled that objective. Learning from the brothers, bringing together their experiences from different lenses, brought a deeper perspective of "what we should do", that "we really CAN do more", and even bitter-but-needed realizations that "by the way, that's not the most efficient or productive way of doing things".

One thing I really enjoyed was how my tadabbur (personal reflection and contemplation of the meanings) of the Qur'an throughout Ramadan had a different profound experience this time around since we started the podcast. Recitations of the Qur'an almost feels like an adventure: an exciting discovery of "how I can apply this in my life", especially in the context of future podcast discussions and topics, giving it a much needed sense of renewal to the relationship with the Qur'an.

If that alone was the benefit of the podcast - with zero views, listens or followers - it would have sufficed as a huge benefit. But we made a conscious decision to make these discussions public - because we have always felt that "if I can benefit from it, I'm pretty sure someone else will. So let's love for others what we love for ourselves."
We always remind ourselves, keep our niyyah pure: Don't pay too much attention to the number of views, likes, shares, or subscribers. That is irrelevant. Don't look at the results; look at the efforts. If we can help ONE person become 1% better - and if Allah adds His Barakah to enhance that 1% - then that will be better than the whole dunya and everything in it. 

And despite the innumerable doubts that we used to have, Alhamdulillah by His Grace and His Mercy, ever since we launched back in February, the podcast has opened up many doors of khayr as we are able to connect with many like-minded individuals and organizations (such as Qalby APP , the Mindset Kitchen podcast, IT Learning Academy ), and we received numerous personal heart-warming testimonials of how our discussions have been able to benefit others. These affirmations mean a lot to us, and we appreciate every single one of them. And we do certainly welcome your constructive feedback on how we can improve ("it's too long" is by far the most common comment we received so far. Can't argue with you there.. working on it! Miskeen 🤣)

May Allah keep the team steadfast, ikhlas, and continue improving our craft - and may Allah accept and grant His Barakah to all of our good deeds, Ramadan and beyond.

❤️ Rindu Keluarga Tercinta pada Hari Raya? 😰 - Penawar hati bagi mereka yang terpisah

Pada Hari Raya Aidilfitri tahun ini, disebabkan perlaksanaan PKP yang baru berkuatkuasa ini, barangkali ramai di kalangan kita yang lagi sekali, tidak berpeluang untuk meluangkan masa bersama ahli keluarga tercinta, قَدَّرَ اللَّهُ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ

Saya diingatkan dengan satu hadith sebagai motivasi kepada kita semua. Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:

أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْت

"Engkau akan bersama dengan orang yang engkau cintai" (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Inilah janji Allah kepada semua yang beriman kepada-Nya dan Hari Akhir - kita akan dihimpunkan semula dengan semua yang kita cintai. Allah berfirman:

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ

"Dan orang-oranng yang beriman, dan zuriat mereka yang mengikuti mereka dalam iman, Kami himpunkan mereka bersama zuriat mereka, 

dan Kami tiada mengurangi sedikitpun dari pahala amal mereka." (Surah At-Tur 52:21)

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ﴿٧﴾ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾ وَيَنْقَلِبُ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا

"Adapun mereka yang menerima kitab amalannya dengan tangan kanannya, maka dia akan diperiksa dengan pemeriksaan yang mudah, 

dan dia akan kembali kepada keluarganya dengan gembira." (Surah Al-Inshiqaq 84:7-9)

Masha Allah - alangkah indahnya janji Allah bagi orang mukmin!   

Cuma, harapan ini hanyalah bagi mereka yang beriman dan mati di atasnya.

Maka menjadi satu dorongan kepada kita untuk bersungguh-sungguh lagi dalam mengerjakan amal soleh, saling mengingati dan tolong-menolong ke arah kebaikan dan taqwa, agar mudah-mudahan dihimpunkan semula bersemua semua di sebaik-baik tempat di Syurga.

Tapi yang lagi best dan bagi semangat lagi, himpunan ni bukan terhad kepada ahli keluarga sahaja - malah termasuk semua orang yang kita cinta demi Allah, termasuk sahabat-sahabat kita yang kita sayangi, yang turut terpisah semenjak pandemik COVID19 ini. Malah, termasuk Rasulullah ﷺ sendiri!

Anas bin Malik, apabila mendengar kata-kata Rasulullah, أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ (engkau akan bersama dengan orang yang engkau cintai) dia berkata,

"Kami tidak pernah merasai begitu gembira sehingga setelah mendengar kata-kata Rasulullah ﷺ ini!

Maka, aku pun mencintai Rasulullah ﷺ, Abu Bakar dan Umar, dan aku mengharapkan moga-moga aku dapat dihimpunkan bersama mereka, walaupun amalan-amalanku tidaklah setaraf dengan mereka!" (HR Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Seorang sahabat pernah berkata kepada Rasulullah ﷺ, 

"Wahai Rasulullah ﷺ, sesungguhnya, aku lebih mencintaimu lebih daripada diriku sendiri, ahli keluargaku dan anak-anakku! Apabila aku pulang ke rumah, aku terus ingat kepadamu dan aku tak bersabar untuk bertemu denganmu.

Tetapi apabila aku terfikir tentang kematianku, dan kematianmu pada masa akan datang, aku tahu bahawasanya engkau akan masuk ke syurga dan diangkat ke darjat bersama para Nabi-nabi yang lain. Dan aku takut aku tidak akan dapat menumpaimu di syurga kelak.."

Mendengar kata-kata sahabat ini, Rasulullah ﷺ terdiam. Kemudian malaikat Jibril menurunkan wahyu Allah di dalam Surah an-Nisa, ayat 69:

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَآءِ وَالصَّـلِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقاً 

"Dan barangsiapa yang taat Allah dan Rasul(Nya), mereka itu akan bersama-sama dengan orang-orang yang dianugerahi nikmat oleh Allah, yaitu: Nabi-nabi, para siddiqin, orang-orang yang mati syahid, dan orang-orang soleh. Dan mereka itulah sebaik-baik teman!"

(HR Ahmad Shakir yang dinilai Sahih lighayrihi)

Hadith-hadith & Ayat Al-Qur'an ini menunjukkan juga betapa pentingnya kita untuk berkawan dengan orang-orang soleh, agar kita dapat peroleh kecintaan demi Allah. 

Kerana hadith ini juga membawa maksud sebaliknya: Sayang kepada seorang fasiq atau pelaku dosa juga boleh mengakibatkan kita dihimpunkan bersama mereka pada Hari Kiamat. Boleh jadi, kalau kita sayang kawan kita yang huha atau selebriti idaman kita atas kemaksiatan dan amalan-amalan dosa mereka, mungkinkah itu menjadi dasar "perhimpunan" kita pada hari kiamat?

Sebaliknya, atas Rahmat Allah, Dia membenarkan orang-orang soleh di Syurga untuk memberi syafaat kepada orang yang beriman yang diazab di neraka, meskipun sekecil-kecil iman. Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda, 

"Orang-orang beriman di syurga akan mengadu, 

"Ya Allah! Selamatkanlah saudara-saudara kami - mereka solat bersama kami, puasa bersama kami, dan melakukan amal soleh bersama kami!"

Dan Allah akan berfirman, "pergilah - dan barangsiapa yang kau kenali dan jumpa di neraka, mereka yang ada iman sebesar satu zarah"

Dan Allah akan mengharamkan neraka daripada menyentuh mereka" (HR Al-Bukhari)

Ibn Al-Jauzi pernah berkata kepada sahabat-sahabatnya,

إن لم تجدوني في الجنة بينكم فاسألوا عني وقولوا : يا ربنا عبدك فلان كان يذكرنا بك

“Jika kalian tidak menjumpaiku di syurga, maka tanyakanlah tentang aku kepada Allah. 

Ucapkan: "Wahai Rabb kami, hambaMu fulan, dulu dia pernah mengingatkan kami untuk mengingat Engkau.”

Kemudian beliau menangis.

Semoga Allah menghimpunkan bersama ahli keluarga kita, Rasul-Nya, Abu Bakar, Umar dan hamba-hamba-Nya yang soleh, serta mengikhlaskan kecintaan kita kepada mereka agar ianya hanya Demi Allah. 🤲🏼

Du’aa: Ask Allah for a Good Ending (Husnul Khatimah)

 

Among some of the most important du’aa we should be asking Allah for this Ramadhan is to have a good ending; to depart this world in a state of Him being Pleased with us.
The magicians of Fir’aun – when they saw the mu’jizaat (the signs of Allah) of Prophet Musa – they fell into prostration, in true iman and repentance to Allah. And despite the severe death threats of mutilation and being crucified by Fir’aun, they stood firm in belief, and make the following du’aa for patience and a good end; a du’aa which we all can also continuously make:

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
“Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims (in submission to You!)” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:126)

Likewise, we can also make the Du’aa of Yusuf (alayhissalam):

فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ
“Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim (in submission to you) and join me with the righteous." (Surah Yusuf 12:101)

The context of this du’aa is inspiring. Yusuf made this du’aa at the very end of the surah, after his dream came from of his parents and brothers making sujood (prostration) to him out of respect. This was after enduring a lifetime of patience and righteous deeds: of being oppressed by members of his own household, of being sold off as a slave, of refusing zina out of taqwa of Allah despite no one else being present, of being oppressively thrown into jail (and still giving da’wah there!), and finally, being appointed as Al-Aziz (minister) of Egypt, carried out his duties with absolute justice and transformative leadership – to the extent that a calamity-stricken country enduring SEVEN long years of drought was managed so well that they have so much abundance that they could afford to give charity to other neighboring nations!

YET – in spite of a LIFETIME of righteousness – he made du’aa to Allah, “تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ”, “cause me to die in a state of submission to Allah, and enjoin me among the righteous”.
Amazing!

And here’s another amazing du’aa that we should be making constantly. Umm Salamah (wife of Rasulullah ﷺ ) narrated that: the du’aa (supplication) the Prophet ﷺ said most frequently was:

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
“O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion”

So Umm Salamah said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate (this du’aa) so frequently?”  The Prophet ﷺ said,

يَا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ آدَمِيٌّ إِلاَّ وَقَلْبُهُ بَيْنَ أُصْبُعَيْنِ مِنْ أَصَابِعِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَقَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَزَاغَ
“O Umm Salamah! Verily, there is no human being except that his heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomsoever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He causes to deviate.” (At-Tirmidzi who graded it hasan)

Notice: This du’aa wasn’t just “taught” by the Prophet ﷺ. He HIMSELF made this du’aa all the time. The one who is forgiven his past and future sins, the one guaranteed the highest level of paradise. The one whom, of all human beings in existence, would be the most immune to his heart falling into deviation.

What about you and I?!

Finally, we should also ask Allah to make us die amongst the martyrs (syuhada). Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  said:

مَنْ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ الشَّهَادَةَ بِصِدْقٍ بَلَّغَهُ اللَّهُ مَنَازِلَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَإِنْ مَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ
“Whomsoever asks Allah to be granted syahadah (martyrdom, to die as a syahid) sincerely in his heart,
Allah will grant him the rank among the syuhada’ (martyrs) even if he died on his death bed.” (Muslim)

Among the du’aa we can make is the du’aa that was made by Umar ibn Al-Khattab:

اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي شَهَادَةً فِي سَبِيلِكَ
“Oh Allah, grant me syahadah (to die as a syahid) in Your Path” (Al-Bukhari)
When Umar made this du’aa, he also made an addition: “and cause me to die in the city of your Messenger ﷺ”. Which was something which the companions considered to be strange at the time. How could he be martyred – murdered – in the city of Madinah, which was the stronghold of the Muslim nation, and at the time, already included vast nations such as Persia and Egypt. Yet, Allah honored Umar and granted it to him, when he was murdered by Abu Lu’lu’ah.

It is interesting to reflect, though, that the Prophet ﷺ himself died on his deathbed. So did the best man after him ﷺ, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. And in fact, the sword of Allah himself, Khalid bin Al-Walid, died on his deathbed at home despite years seeking martyrdom.
Yet out of His Mercy, if you sincerely ask Him, you will still get that reward!

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ خَيْرَ أَعْمَالِنَا خَوَاتِمَهَا، وخَيْرَ أَعْمَارِنَا أَوَاخِرَهَا، وخَيْرَ أَيَّامِنَا يَوْمَ نَلْقَاكَ
"Oh Allah, make the best of our deeds their endings,
and the best of our lives at their end,
and the best of our days when we meet You"

Amin, ya Rabb 🤲🏽
#TheBarakahEffect #husnulkhatimah #goodending #gooddeath #ramadan2021 #ramadan #LaylatulQadr #Duaa

🤲🏽 Perbanyakkan Doa pada bulan Ramadhan: 10 peringatan penting tentang Doa 🤲🏽

Alhamdulillah, antara ibadah yang amat digalakkan pada bulan Ramadhan – lebih-lebih lagi pada 10 hari terakhir ini – adalah amalan Doa kepada Allah.

Sebagai persiapan dan motivasi untuk mengukukuhkan lagi ibadah doa kita untuk hari-hari yang tersisa ini, bersama-sama ini, dihimpunkan sepuluh peringatan penting seputar doa, daripada hadith-hadith sahih Nabi ﷺ:

1. Doa adalah ibadah yang paling mulia di sisi Allah
2. Waktu yang paling afdal untuk berdoa adalah ketika sujud
3. Doa seorang yang berpuasa adalah mustajab - perbanyakkan doa pada waktu siang juga!
4. Jangan lupa berdoa pada waktu sahur!
5. Latih untuk menghadirkan minda dan hati kita ketika doa
6. Doa pendek-pendek sahaja? Tadahal. Malah lagi bagus, sebenarnya!
7. Prioriti: Utamakan berdoa untuk diri sendiri terlebih dahulu…
8. … Tetapi jangan lupa berdoa untuk orang lain juga!
9. Husnu Dzon terhadap Allah: Bersikap optimis bahawasanya Allah pasti akan kabulkan doa kita
10. Rilek, bang - Bersabar untuk doa dikabulkan & jangan tergesa-gesa

Allah berfirman:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
"Dan apabila hamba-hamba-Ku bertanya kepadamu tentang Aku, maka (jawablah), bahwasanya Aku adalah dekat: Aku mengabulkan permohonan orang yang berdoa apabila ia memohon kepada-Ku..”

Menarik bila diperhatikan susunan ayat ini di dalam surah al-Baqarah: Allah berfirman tentang jaminan-Nya untuk memakbulkan Doa para hamba-Nya, di pertengahan ayat-ayat seputar bulan Ramadhan dan ibadah puasa (ayat 183-187). Menunjukkan pentingnya peranan doa pada bulan ini! 

📕📗📘📙📓📔📒📚

1. Doa adalah ibadah yang paling mulia di sisi Allah

Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:
لَيْسَ شَىْءٌ أَكْرَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ
“Tiada amalan yang lebih mulia di sisi Allah melainkan doa.” (HR At-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim)
Doa adalah antara amalan yang paling mudah, tapi pada masa yang sama juga antara amalan yang paling dicintai oleh Allah. Kita boleh berdoa pada bila-bila masa sahaja, di mana sahaja (kecuali di tandas!), dengan menggunakan apa sahaja bahasa yang mudah untuk kita. Maka ringankanlah lidah kita untuk sentiasa memohon kepadanya, kerana

Allah berfirman:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
Dan Tuhanmu berfirman: “Berdoalah kepadaKu nescaya akan Aku perkenankan bagimu!
Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang menyombongkan diri dari menyembahKu akan masuk neraka Jahannam dalam keadaan hina dina.” (Surah Ghafir:60)

Di dalam tafsirnya, Al-Munawi berkata, "Jika seseorang itu tidak berdoa dan memohon dan meminta-minta kepada Allah, maka Allah akan murka terhadapnya, kerana sama ada dia telah berputus asa daripada rahmat Allah, atau dia terlalu angkuh untuk memohon daripada-Nya: kedua-duanya ini mendatangkan kemurkaan Allah.
Allah mencintai seseorang yang sentiasa meminta-minta-Nya; manakala untuk seseorang yang TIDAK meminta-Nya, maka Allah membencinya."

2. Waktu yang paling afdal untuk berdoa adalah ketika sujud

Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:
أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ
“Saat di mana seorang hamba itu paling rapat dengan Tuhannya ketika ia sedang sujud; maka perbanyakkanlah doa (ketika sujud)” (HR Muslim)

Gunakanlah peluang-peluang kita ketika solat terawih dan qiamullayl. Malah, latih juga diri kita untuk berdoa dalam sujud ketika solat fardhu!

3. Doa seorang yang berpuasa adalah mustajab
Kita sering mendengar galakkan untuk berdoa pada waktu malam – tetapi antara rahmat Allah yang kita selalu lupa adalah bahawasanya antara doa mustajab adalah doa seseorang yang SEDANG BERPUASA – dan ini berlaku sepanjang-panjang hari. Jadi, perbanyakkan doa pada waktu siang juga! Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:

ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُمُ الصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ وَالإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ يَرْفَعُهَا اللَّهُ فَوْقَ الْغَمَامِ وَيَفْتَحُ لَهَا أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ وَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ وَعِزَّتِي لأَنْصُرَنَّكَ وَلَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ ‏
Tiga orang yang doanya tidak tertolak:
Orang yang sedang berpuasa sehingga berbuka, pemimpin yang adil, dan doa orang yang dizalimi/teraniaya.
Allah mengangkatnya ke langit, dibukakan baginya pintu-pintu langit, dan Allah berfirman:
“Demi keagungan-Ku, pasti Aku akan menolongmu meski setelah seketika” (HR ibn Majah dan At-Tirmidzi yang menilainya sebagai hadith hasan)

4. Jangan lupa berdoa pada waktu sahur!
Waktu sahur – yakni, sepertiga malam yang terakhir – adalah antara waktu yang paling afdhal untuk berdoa kepada Allah. Jadi, perbanyakkanlah juga doa-doa anda pada waktu ini. Gunakan waktu sahur untuk “seludup” doa-doa pada waktu tersebut!

Abu Hurairah meriwayatkan, Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:
يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ
“Tuhan yang Maha Berkat dan Maha Tinggi turun setiap malam ke langit dunia sewaktu masa berbaki sepertiga malam terakhir dan berfirman:
Barangsiapa yang berdoa kepada-Ku, nescaya Aku perkenankan baginya?
Barangsiapa yang meminta kepada-Ku nescaya aku akan memberikan (apa yang dipinta) kepadanya?
Barangsiapa yang meminta pengampunan daripada-Ku, nescaya Aku akan mengampuninya?” (HR Al-Bukhari)

5. Latih untuk menghadirkan minda dan hati kita ketika doa

Yang paling penting ketika doa adalah kita BERDOA - bukan "baca doa".
Zaman-zaman Grab ni, mungkin kita dah terlalu terbiasa dengan subcon dan outsource semua benda.. Sampai doa pun kita dah outsource kat imam. Manakala kita yang tidak fasih berbahasa Arab ni, hati kita lalai.
Jangan jatuh dalam perangkap ni! Pastikan bila kita berdoa, kita benar-benar hadirkan hati dan minda kita untuk ikhlas dalam benar-benar memohon daripada Allah, mengabdikan diri dan merealisasikan tawhid kita kepada Allah, mengenali-Nya sebagai Yang Maha Mendengar (السميع), Maha Mengurniakan Rezeki (الرزاق) Yang Maha Memberi (الوهاب), Yang Maha Memakbulkan Doa (المجيب), Yang Maha Kaya (الغني), Yang Maha Berkuasa (القدير), Yang Maha mengurniakan Kejayaan (الفتاح), Yang Maha Pengampun (الغفور)!

Pastikan doa-doa kita bukanlah sekadar mengulang-ulang kata-kata yang kosong semata-mata!

ادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَنْتُمْ مُوقِنُونَ بِالإِجَابَةِ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءً مِنْ قَلْبٍ غَافِلٍ لاَهٍ
“Berdoalah kepada Allah dalam keadaan kamu YAKIN ianya akan diperkenankan;
Dan ketahuilah, bahawasanya Allah tidak akan memperkenankan doa daripada hati yang lalai” (HR At-Tirmidzi)

6. Doa pendek-pendek sahaja? Tadahal. Malah lagi bagus, sebenarnya!

Daripada A’isyah yang meriwayatkan:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَحِبُّ الْجَوَامِعَ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ وَيَدَعُ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ
“Rasulullah amat menyukai doa-doa yang pendek dan komprehensif (mendalam dan penuh maksud), dan dia meninggalkan segala jenis doa yang lain” (HR Abu Daud, dinilai sahih oleh Al-Albani)

Mungkin ada di kalangan kita yang tidak menghafal doa-doa yang panjang, dan hanya mampu menghafal doa-doa yang lebih ringkas. Ini bukanlah menjadi masalah, malah Nabi ﷺ lebih menyukai doa-doa yang pendek tetapi komprehensif dan penuh makna. Malah kalau dilihatkan, kebanyakan antara doa-doa ma’thur daripada hadith-hadith sahih Nabi ﷺ amatlah ringkas dan mudah dihafal.
Jadi, perbanyakkan mengulang-ulangi sahaja doa-doa ringkas yang anda sukai! Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda,

خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا
“Lakukanlah amalan yang mudah untukmu, kerana sesungguhnya Allah tidak akan bosan sehinggalah kamu bosan.” (Al-Bukhari)

وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ أَدْوَمُهَا إِلَى اللَّهِ، وَإِنْ قَلَّ
“Dan amalan yang paling dicintai oleh Allah adalah amalan yang BERTERUSAN, walaupun kecil” (Al-Bukhari)

7. Prioriti: Utamakan berdoa untuk diri sendiri terlebih dahulu…

عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا ذَكَرَ أَحَدًا فَدَعَا لَهُ بَدَأَ بِنَفْسِهِ
“Daripada Ubayy bin Ka’ab, bahawa apabila Rasulullah ﷺ menyebut (mendoakan untuk) seseorang (lain), dia akan berdoa untuk dirinya sendiri terlebih dahulu.” (HR At-Tirmidzi)

8. …Tetapi kemudian, jangan lupa berdoa untuk orang lain juga!

Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:
دَعْوَةُ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ كُلَّمَا دَعَا لأَخِيهِ بِخَيْرٍ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ آمِينَ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ
“Doa seseorang Muslim untuk saudaranya di belakangnya (tanpa pengetahuannya, adalah doa) mustajab, selagi mana dia mendoakan kebaikan untuk saudaranya; salah satu daripada Malaikat akan sentiasa ada bersamanya dan mendoakan “Amin, semoga diperkenankan untuk kamu juga” (HR Muslim)

Dalam syarahan hadith ini, Imam An-Nawawi berkata:
و كان بعض السلف إذا أراد أن يدعو لنفسه يدعوا لأخيه المسلم بتلك الدعوة لأنها تستجاب ويخسل له مثلها
“Sebahagian daripada para salaf, apabila mereka menginginkan sesuatu untuk diri mereka sendiri, mereka akan mendoakannya untuk saudara muslim dengan apa yang diinginkannya itu, kerana ianya mustajab dan akan dikurniakan yang sama bagi dirinya juga.”

Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahUllah) berkata: "Tidak ada satu solat pun yang aku tunaikan setelah kematian shaikh-ku, Hammad, kecuali aku akan memohon keampunan untuknya, bersama-sama untuk kedua ibu bapaku. Dan sesungguhnya, aku berdoa memohon keampunan untuk sesiapa sahaja yang aku pernah peroleh ilmu daripadanya, atau sesiapa yang aku sampaikan ilmu kepadanya"

9. Husnu Dzon terhadap Allah: Bersikap optimis bahawasanya Allah pasti akan kabulkan doa kita

Sabda Rasulullah ﷺ:
مَا عَلَى الأَرْضِ مُسْلِمٌ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ بِدَعْوَةٍ إِلاَّ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ إِيَّاهَا أَوْ صَرَفَ عَنْهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ مِثْلَهَا مَا لَمْ يَدْعُ بِمَأْثَمٍ أَوْ قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ
“Tiada seorang Muslim di atas muka bumi ini yang berdoa kepada Allah, melainkan
Allah akan memperkenankan doanya; atau
Allah akan menjauhkannya daripada kejahatan yang setaraf dengan doanya,
selagi dia tidak berdoa untuk melakukan dosa atau berdu’a untuk menghancurkan hubungan kekeluargaan (silatur-rahim).
Seorang (sahabat) berkata, “Kalau begitu, kami akan banyakkan doa kami!”
Rasulullah ﷺ menjawab, “اللَّهُ أَكْثَرُ”
“Allah lebih banyak (daripada segala yang kau boleh minta – jadi minta sahaja)!” (HR at-Tirmidzi)

Malah, Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا
“Sesungguhnya, Tuhanmu – maha berkat dan Maha Tinggi – berasa malu (segan) dengan hamba-Nya, ketika hamba-Nya mengangkat kedua tangannya (dalam berdoa) tetapi dia pulang dengan tangan kosong (dan tidak dikabulkan doanya)” (HR Abu Daud, dinilai “sahih” oleh Al-Albani)

10. Rilek, bang - Bersabar untuk doa dikabulkan & jangan tergesa-gesa
Merujuk kepada hadith di atas, yakinlah, Allah PASTI akan kurniakan doa kita – akan tetapi mengikut hikmah-Nya, dan Rahmat-Nya mengenali kita lebih daripada diri kita sendiri. Jadi, letakkanlah tawakkal kita kepada Allah, bahawa Allah mendegar, dan apa yang Allah kurniakan, pasti yang terbaik untuk diri kita, dunia dan akhirat. Janganlah terburu-buru dan mula mempersoalkan takdir dan hikmah Allah bila kita rasa kita tidak dapat apa yang kita mohon, seolah-olah kita berinteraksi dengan “entitlement mindset”

Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda:
يُسْتَجَابُ لأَحَدِكُمْ مَا لَمْ يَعْجَلْ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ دَعَوْتُ رَبِّي فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِبْ لِي
“Setiap satu daripada doa kamu akan dimakbulkan, selagi mana dia tidak tergesa-gesa dan berkata: “Aku sudah berdoa kepada Tuhanku, tetapi masih tidak dimakbulkan!”” (HR Muslim)

Ayuh sahabat-sahabat – kita perbanyakkan doa kita kepada Allah! Semoga Allah jadikan kita semua di kalangan hamba-hamba-Nya yang ikhlas dan sentiasa berdoa kepada-Nya.

-أبو معاوية-

“Imam baca lama sangat” 😫 Renungan: Sikap kita terhadap Al-Qur’an

Pernah sekali, imam di masjid tempatan kami membaca Al-Qur’an dengan cukup indah pada waktu subuh. Lepas selesai solat, salah seorang daripada AJK masjid terus tegur: “Apasal baca lama sangat?!”

Ayat “lama sangat” ni antara aduan dan komplen yang sering didengari pada bulan Ramadhan, terutama sekali dengan solat tarawih. 

Saya teringat satu peristiwa pada zaman Rasulullah ﷺ, Ketika beliau mengimami Solat Qiyam Ramadhan (atau lebih kita kenali dengan istilah “solat tarawih”). Pada satu malam beliau mengimamkan para sahabat sehingga habis sepertiga malam. Bayangkan, kalaulah malam tu jangkamasa 9 jam, maknanya 3 jam dia solat. (Lebih kurang jangkamasa cerita Avengers Endgame atau Lord of the Rings lah).

Tapi bukan setakat tu. Yang lagi best, dua malam seterusnya, Rasulullah ﷺ mengimamkan para sahabat untuk Qiyam sehingga SEPARUH malam habis. Sampai tengah malam.. lebih daripada 4 jam (Lagi lama daripada LOTR extended edition). 

Wow! Lamanya! 😱 

Apa respons para sahabat?

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ نَفَّلْتَنَا بَقِيَّةَ لَيْلَتِنَا هَذِهِ

“Wahai Rasulullah! Alangkah baiknya kalau engkau tambah lagi untuk kami (seluruh) malam yang masih tersisa ini!”

Lihat sini. Punyalah hebat cinta mereka terhadap Al-Qur’an – lepas lebih daripada 4 jam solat, mereka tetap tidak rasa puas, jemu, penat atau letih. Bahkan, dalam kerinduan mereka terhadap kalam Allah ini, mereka mintak lagi untuk EXTEND. “Solat je lah sampai akhir malam. Best kot!” 

Barangkali perasaan mereka ni lebih asyik lagi daripada seorang gamer yang ketagih: lepas berjam-jam layan pun masih tak puas. Kadangkala sampai lapar dan haus tak terasa… boleh abaikan terus, tadahal. Keep playing (ya, sebagai ex-gamer kipas-susah-mati, saya mengaku, memang kenal sangat perasaan tu 😅). 

Setelah para sahabat melaungkan hasrat mereka nak lagi, Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda, sepertimana yang kita sedia maklum, pahala untuk solat tarawih bersama imam sehingga dia selesai:

إِنَّهُ مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الْإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ كُتِبَ لَهُ قِيَامُ لَيْلَةٍ

“Sesungguhnya barangsiapa berdiri (mengerjakan solat tarawih) bersama imam sehingga imam selesai, 

maka dituliskan baginya (pahala seolah-olah) qiyam seluruh malam” (HR At-Tirmidzi, yang menilainya sebagai hasan sahih)

Rasulullah ﷺ memberi jaminan pahala seluruh malam, yang menjadi motivasi kepada para sahabat untuk menenangkan kegelisahan dan kerinduan mereka “nak lagi”. 

SubhanAllah! Melihat keadaan kita sekarang, kalau tarawih lebih dari 40 minit pun kita terasa “lama gila weh”. Siap boleh sound imam 😂

Agaknya apa respons kita kalau kita solat belakang Rasulullah ﷺ sehingga sepertiga malam? (Tak payah cakap la separuh malam.. GG 🤣)

Nak tengok Avengers Endgame ok je. Tak puas. Saya ingat, waktu cerita tu keluar wayang pada bulan Ramadhan tahun 2019, rakan sepejabat saya cakap “nak tengok lagi malam ni”. Dulu waktu zaman Lord of the Rings, punyalah syok, lepas keluar wayang je, semua pakat nak cari DVD “Extended Edition”. Saya sendiri pun, waktu zaman-zaman jahil time student dulu, bila pergi konsert/gig, boleh je nak berdiri berjam-jam nak tunggu favorite band naik pentas. Kadang-kadang terpaksa layan je opening band yang tak best. Sanggup nak dengar band feveret. Balik tengah malam. Layannn…

Tak pernah pula complain, “lama sangat”.

Manakala dengan Al-Qur’an, baca kejap je terasa “lama”, bosan dan mengantuk. Inilah satu-satunya bulan yang Allah Kurniakan kepada kita sebagai HADIAH untuk kita mengeratkan semula hubungan kita dengan kalam-Nya, tetapi malang sekali kita pula yang mengadu “bosan”. 

Tempat-tempat solat tarawih dengan kelajuan turbo pula yang menjadi tarikan popular orang ramai. “Lagi laju, lagi best”⚡.

Uthman bin Affan (radhiAllahu anhu) berkata:

لَوْ طَهَرَتْ قُلُوْبُكُمْ مَا شَبَعَتْ مِنْ كَلَامِ رَبِّكُمْ

"Kalaulah hati kamu benar-benar bersih, nescaya ianya tidak akan rasa bosan / jemu dengan kalam Tuhan-mu (Al-Qur'an)"

Renungkan kata-kata Uthman. Adakah sikap kita menunjukkan simtom penyakit dalam jiwa kita? 🤢

Sahabat-sahabat sekalian.. peringatan yang amat penting untuk kita, terutama sekali untuk saya sendiri, kerana yang menulis ini juga tidak terlepas daripada penyakit hati ini 😰…

Cinta terhadap al-Qur’an untuk perlu dipupuk, dilatih, disemai dalam jiwa. Dia bukan datang “automatik”. Ia bukan “entitlement” yang Allah beri kepada semua manusia. Kita kena USAHA – kena bukti kepada diri kita dan kepada Allah – yang kita ada kemahuan yang IKHLAS untuk membentuk cinta terhadap kalam-Nya. 

Tetapi percayalah – letakkanlah tawakkal kepada Tuhanmu – kalau kita usaha, nescaya Allah akan memudahkan jalan kita, dan membuka pintu yang lebih besar. Yang penting kita kena konsisten, sabar dan istiqamah. 

Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda, “Apabila hamba-Ku mendekatkan diri dengan-Ku dengan sejengkal, maka Aku mendekat kepadanya sehasta. Jika ia mendekat kepadaKu sehasta maka Aku mendekat kepadanya sedepa. Jika ia datang kepadaKu dengan berjalan maka Aku datang kepadanya dengan berlari” (Al-Bukhari)

Gunakanlah Ramadhan ini untuk melatih diri kita mengubah sikap kita terhadap Al-Qur’an – sebagai peluang untuk jatuh cinta terhadap kalam Allah. Untuk jadikan Al-Qur’an sebagai pedoman, sebagai penghias hati kita, sebagai jalan untuk kita mengenali dan mendekatkan diri kepada Rabb kita, yang Maha Pengasih, Penyayang – lebih Sayang kepada kita melebihi ibu kita sendiri – yang mewahyukan Kitab-Nya kepada KITA untuk membimbing kita kepada kepada syurga-Nya, yang Dia Cipta untuk KITA. 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“Wahai manusia, sesungguhnya telah datang kepadamu nasihat dari Tuhanmu dan penawar bagi penyakit-penyakit (yang berada) dalam dada, 

dan petunjuk serta rahmat bagi orang-orang yang beriman.” 

(Surah Yunus, ayat 57)

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلِ القُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي وَنُورَ صَدْرِي وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي 

"Ya Allah jadikanlah Al Qur'an sebagai penyejuk hati kami, cahaya yang menyinari dada kami, pelipur duka kami dan penghapus kesedihan kami"  

Amin, ya rabb.. 🤲🏼

It's a wrap! #TSP2021 #BeSteadfast

 

Alhamdulillah 

الحمد لله الذي بنعمته تتم الصالحات
With that, we end The Straight Path Convention  2021, "Be Steadfast".
Alhamdulillah I am very grateful once again to be given the opportunity to contribute to this event once again, and to interact with these amazing people, Masha Allah.
Some say "you're always the MC", but I never take that for granted; I take every opportunity as if it were my last and give it my highest level of professional commitment to play my part to the extent of my abilities, for the event to be a success.

This year's convention - the first time ever done online - was an interesting learning experience for me, personally, too.

With Emcee-ing from home, comes the typical challenge of #WorkingFromHome - in two of the talks, my 3-year old boi was screaming "nak abah" and in one instance, I had to calm him down and slowly put him to sleep and tuck him into bed, *just in time* for Q&A. (Sounds like another typical day at the virtual office, innit? 🤣).
But Alhamdulillah for the great ni'mah of our families, and Alhamdulillah all crises were successfully averted without disruptions to the event😅.

I really enjoyed the Q&A format for this online convention - there was a lot more closeness to the shuyukh / speakers to have great personal dialogues with them. TSP forums typically have all the speakers gathered in one sitting, where we address the collected questions and randomly assigned which speaker should assign them. With this convention, the questions were a lot more focused and related to the topics, and there was a lot more human touch and connection in the one-on-one approach.

One of the things I remind myself to do as MC is to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere to the shuyukh and speakers, to make them feel like they have established a genuine connection with us. I always believed that these short interactions  plays an important role in facilitating the success of the event, when they are comfortable to impart their knowledge to us, and leaves a memorable mark on them for years to come 😊.

For those of you who tuned it, please do share your feedback and thoughts on what you thought of the event, and on my own personal performance as Emcee in the spirit of continuous improvement.

May Allah accept from the organizers and the team who made this first-time online event a success. Allahumma barik.

Exercise in the morning: A Keystone Habit routine that transformed my life

 

In his book “The Power of Habit”, Charles Duhigg talks about how certain types of habits – especially good ones – are so important that they can trigger and open up opportunities for other subsequent other habits to go along with it, akin to a snowball effect that eventually builds up to be an avalanche of other things to come. These are called “Keystone habits”: they start a process that, in the author's words, "over time, transforms everything":

“Keystone habits explain how Michael Phelps became Olympic champion and why some college students outperform their peers. They describe why some people, after years of trying, suddenly lose forty pounds while becoming more productive at work and still getting home in time for dinner with their kids” (End Quote).

Of all keystone habits, the author writes, “for many people, exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change”.

And that’s exactly what happened to me.

For the past 5 years, exercise has been a part of my daily morning routine after Subuh prayers, almost every day of the week. Whether on business trip, offshore, vacation (even while on umrah trip), during MCO lockdown or throughout Ramadhan – I make it a priority commitment to remain consistent at it.

Little did I know, that this little routine has been a keystone habit that transformed my life in many ways. This is how:

1. Kickstart the day with a positive outlook & feeling of awesomeness – Exercising and working out often involves “challenging your personal limits”; and there is something infinitely satisfying about confronting those limits head-on: to beat your personal best times, break through your max reps, increase more weights, and/or higher distance. You start your day knowing that you’re just *that bit* better than yesterday, and you subconsciously convince yourself with just that bit more empowerment: if I can defeat my own procrastination, physical limitations, and excuses, I can handle anything easier than that!

And this kind of self-confidence makes me more motivated, focused and productive at work, and at the same time, a much more effective father and husband at home.

2. One achievement ticked off the box – Even if my day ahead turns out to be one of those sluggish, unproductive or stressful days, at the end, I still have this one “win” to celebrate with respect to my personal development. In the long run, these accumulated daily achievements (especially when we witness the results later) does wonders for improving our mental and emotional health.

Looking back, there's an empowering sense of development, almost like there is a video game RPG-like sense of "level up" progression. From "not even able to do 2 pushups" to be able to whip out a full set of one-handed pushups. From not being able to do a single Pull-up (a task I considered "impossible") to be doing full sets of them, there is a genuine sense of personal growth.

3. Improved hydration – Many of us underestimate the importance of hydration. In his book “Superlife”, author Darin Olien says, “A lack of water causes histamine production to increase, suppressing immune activity in the bone marrow, which is where we produce the white blood cells that digest and destroy cancer cells. Water deficit is the primary cause of many other disease symptoms too. Chronic pain, digestive distress, migraines, depression—all may be attributed at least partly to a lack of cellular hydration. The same is true for all the degenerative diseases.” (End Quote)

For me, exercise facilitates a much-improved hydration in my day-to-day life, especially during a busy work schedule when we “forget” to drink water. A typical intensive workout can easily get me to drinking over 2 litres of water by the end; a good chunk of our daily recommended intake, ticked off first thing in the morning!

4. Learning – every time I exercise, I make it a point to listen to a good podcast or lecture, which gives me a boost of inspiration and knowledge to kickstart the day. Admittedly, it isn’t the easiest or most conducive method of learning during intensive workouts, but I am still able to pick up a thing or two, or at least discover a trail that leads me down a deeper learning trail for later. Starting your day off with enlightenment always brings an empowering sense of purpose throughout the rest of the day.

It is also worth noting that in the long run, exercise apparently INCREASES your brain’s capacity for learning. In his book “Spark: How exercise will improve the performance of your brain”, author Dr. John Ratey writes:
“Exercise improves learning on three levels: first, it optimizes your mindset to improve alertness, attention, and motivation; second, it prepares and encourages nerve cells to bind to one another, which is the cellular basis for logging in new information; and third, it spurs the development of new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus”. (End Quote)

5. Eat better – as the saying goes, “You can’t out-exercise a bad diet”. As I’ve learnt in my years of obesity, without good eating habits, exercise alone – lots and lots of running – becomes virtually useless. With that newfound knowledge, exercise now kind of pushes me to be disciplined at eating better, knowing that bad eating habits can completely derail our exercise efforts.

6. Enjoy our food – interestingly, it works the other way around too: Exercise also enables me to enjoy food better. First of all, less feeling of “guilt” when that odd Oreo finds its way in. Just seeing that “calorie counter” (albeit an arguably inaccurate one) on our heart-rate monitor watches at the end of our workout, it brings a sense of satisfaction, knowing that you have some “buffer” to handle those sneaky little snacks. Also, after doing an intensive resistance training at the gym or a bodyweight workout, there’s a feeling of “hope” that your body will put those calories and protein to good use.

7. Improved sleep – last but not least, good exercise allows for a better quality sleep.

There are lots of other amazing benefits, I’m sure, but these alone are so amazing it’s changed my life, as an obese guy who struggled to fit into XL clothing.

If I can do it, so can you.

“If exercise could be packaged in a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation!” (Dr. Robert Butler, former director, National Institute of Aging)

Let’s take care of this amanah – the only place we will ever call home – to be the best that it can be.
Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Your body has a right over you” (Muslim)

And what better time than the mornings? These are the times of barakah, as our Prophet used to supplicate:

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لأُمَّتِي فِي بُكُورِهَا
“Oh Allah, bless my ummah (i.e. grant them barakah) in their mornings” (Abu Daud)

#TheBarakahEffect #KeystoneHabits #Exercise #morningroutine

Do people value your abilities, your rank, or you as a human being? - An existential perspective of self-worth

"Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates and customers" (Robin Sharma)

You can judge a lot about a person by what people say about him when he departs. Or when one's rank, status, and authority are gone. 

In recent conversations with both my parents, they shared with us their observations that many high-ranking retired officials and “clients” tend to live with an entitlement mindset to expect people to respect them after retirement, and unfortunately how many of them still carry over their tendencies of arrogance and pride. Because they were some Dato or Tan Sri, they expect people to appoint them as some board director, chairman at the masjid, or community leader. 

Unfortunately, because they have been so mean with others throughout their career - especially those who have been serving as “clients” or “officials” who gave people a hard time - now nobody wants them around. All those people they stabbed and bridges they burnt to meet their KPI, get their promotion, win their projects, or to “look good in front of the VIPs”: now, the consequences are now catching up with them. 

So, when they retired from their rank, they retired from being relevant. 

I contrast that with the inspiring example of my grandfather, Mohamed Ali who passed away in 2013. It’s funny that I recall that back when we were little kids, well into his retirement years in his 70s, I remember accompanying him in the streets of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and as kids, it used to annoy us that virtually every few minutes, some random person will meet him with genuine excitement and initiate conversations with him. 

One time, when he left his hometown to come to KL to spend time with us for some time, the people grew concerned of his absence at praying at the local masjid, to the extent that the Sultan of Kelantan (who was also his ex-student) out of concern one day asked the people after Subuh jemaah prayers, “mana cikgu saya?” (Where is my teacher?)

Now, I look back in amazement at the genuine love people had for him, despite being retired long ago! They weren’t paying respects to a teacher; they were greeting a man they loved and admired! Even after he passed away, many people would randomly approach my mother and proudly tell her that he/she was his ex-student. Amazing.

In the book "Enjoy your life", author Dr. Muhammad Al-Arifi narrates his personal observations of a police officer who was once greatly loved and respected while he was in office, but was completely abandoned by his friends and colleagues after retirement:

"I thought about comparing his situation while the man was working, (and now) that he had retired. What was it about him that had attracted the people then? I realised that the man did not win people over by his manners, kindness and good treatment of others. Rather, he had only attracted them by means of his status, position and the fact that he was well-connected. 

When he lost his position, he also lost the love people had for him.

Therefore, learn a lesson from this man. Deal with the people so skilfully that they love you for who you are and what you say, and for your smile, gentleness and generosity. They will love the fact that you overlook their faults and stand by them at times of hardship. Do not allow their hearts to be attached merely to your status and your purse!" (End Quote)

Do not place your self-worth on your job. Like all things in life, your job can come and go - an indeed, the recent economic turbulence due to COVID-19 proved it. 

The more important existential question is to ask yourself: what is your value to others as a human being? 

If we strip away all the superficial things about us:

- Our job title/position/authority

- Our money, bank account, clothings, houses and assets

- Our fame, following, social media accounts

- Our race and family lineage

- Our physical appearance

What is my value as a person? What is my worth in the sight of others? Do I still matter?

What efforts have I consciously done – or am I doing right now – to invest in others for their trust, respect, or love?

Think about how you are living your life today, and ask yourself: What will people - especially the good, righteous ones - say about me when I go?

A funeral procession passed in front of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the people praised the deceased man and spoke highly of him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "وَجَبَتْ" - "confirmed".

Then another funeral procession passed by and the people condemned this deceased man and spoke ill of him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, وَجَبَتْ "confirmed"

The people asked Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! You said it has been affirmed for both?" 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said,

 

شَهَادَةُ الْقَوْمِ، الْمُؤْمِنُونَ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ

"The testimony of the people (is accepted), for the believers are the witnesses of Allah on Earth." (Al-Bukhari)

An Arab poet said,

“O son of Adam, when you came into this world, you were crying and people around you were smiling in happiness.

Live your live such that, when you leave this world, you are smiling in happiness, and people around you are crying”

#YourLegacy #TheBarakahEffect