Thursday, October 27, 2011

Relevankah?

Assalamualaikum w.b.t,

Baru balik dari usrah, hadis yang kami bincang hari ini melibatkan 3 keadaan seorang Muslim dibenarkan dibunuh, 3 perkara itu ialah :
  •  Janda yang berzina
  • Orang yang membunuh orang lain tanpa sebab yang munasabah
  • Orang Muslim yang murtad

Dan pastilah topik yang paling menarik, yang akhir sekali, seorang akhwat mula berkongsi bual bicara dalam TV AlHijrah tentang soal murtad ni. Aku tak sempat tengok. Kalau menurut dia ada 3 panel, antaranya Dr Zaharudin, (Dr Z), Presiden (ke Pengerusi Majlis Peguam Muslim) (PMPM). Antara inti perbincangan Dr Z menyatakan pendirian beliau tentang isu murtad, beliau tidak menyalahkan pihak-pihak Kristian dalam menyebarkan agama mereka, kerana itu sebahagian dari dakwah mereka, yang beliau lebih tekankan adalah peranan Majlis Agama dalam menangani isu murtad, aku setuju.

Dalam perbincangan itu timbul pula isu umat Islam yang murtad disebabkan kemiskinan. Aku tak pasti apa yang Dr Z cakap, tapi akhwat ni menyuntik sentiment Majlis Agama (Baitulmal) tidak melakukan tugas mereka dengan berkesan bila menyangkut urusan pembahagian zakat fakir miskin. PMPM ada menyarankan bahawa masyarakat juga boleh main peranan seperti membawa fakir miskin ke pejabat zakat untuk memohon bantuan. Akhwat ni siap memperlekehkan cadangan PMPM itu, katanya tak lojik.

Aku dah tak boleh diam. Pantang jugak bila orang mula memperlekehkan Baitulmal. Aku mula buka mulut,
“Saya bercakap dari pengalaman, saya rasa Baitulmal KL sangat main peranan. Sejak kecil keluarga saya terima wang zakat, dari bantuan makanan bulanan, ke bantuan masuk U, semuanya kami dapat. Awal mula kami menerima bantuan zakat bila mak selalu beli barang kat satu kedai runcit ni. Agaknya pakcik itu boleh agak tahap ekonomi keluarga kami, dia pun bagi borang permohonan zakat, mak disuruh ke masjid, jumpa amil untuk mohon bantuan zakat. Dari situlah kami sekeluarga mula dapat bantuan lain. Memang lumrah, dengan kemiskinan, kebanyakan orang naïf, tak tahu apa bentuk bantuan yang boleh kita mintak. Kena ada ahli masyarakat yang tahu, tolong tunjukkan ke arah yang boleh kita lalui”

Point aku kat sini :

Janganlah kita memperlekehkan cadangan orang lain. Hanya kerana orang itu berbeza fahaman politik, kita memperkecilkan pandangan dan saranannya. Akhwat itu dari awal menyatakan PMPM itu pro-kerajaan, jadi apa pun yang keluar dari mulut PMPM, aku boleh agak dipandang ringan oleh akhwat ini. Aku memang join usrah, dan usrah ni bawah kelolaan IKRAM, yang aku tahu rata-rata orang kuatnya sangat tidak pro-kerajaan. Kalau ikutkan pendirian politik aku, memang dah lama angkat kaki, tapi aku ingat balik niat aku join usrah, untuk tambah ilmu agama yang tak seberapa ni. Memang kadang-kadang lebih 50% isu yang dibahas, mesti ada terselit unsur politik, tapi aku abaikan.

Ada juga dibahas isu HIMPUN, persoalannya kenapa slogan perjuangannya fokus pada bersatunya Melayu akan mendaulatkan Islam. Nanti apa perasaan Muslim dari bangsa lain? Cina Muslim, India Muslim? Kenapa nak memperkecilkan skop orang Islam di Malaysia dengan hanya melaungkan sepanduk Melayu? Aku faham, mungkin perjuangan ini kurang tepat kalau imej Islam jadi taruhan, tapi pernah tak akhwat-akhwat ni terfikir, mungkin salah satu sebab penganjur fokus pada Melayu adalah sebab di atas, pandangan sesama professional Melayu sudah diperlekehkan dari orang bawah, macam mana nak bersatu kalau masyarakat kita berfikir dengan berlandaskan fahaman politik, bukan secara objektif isu yang diperbahaskan. Mentang-mentang yang bagi pandangan bukan sehaluan politik, terus pandangannya dipandang remeh? Mungkin sebab itulah penganjur HIMPUN nak fokus pada orang Melayu dulu, tapi aku bukanlah menyokong HIMPUN, sebab aku pun tak pernah ambil tahu apa pucuk pangkal perjumpaan itu, jadi aku tak nak ulas lebih-lebih…

Point kedua, orang yang tidak pernah merasa, janganlah terlalu cepat menghukum pihak yang kita tak tahu tatakerja mereka. Contoh sini senang sangat. Kalau bab mengutuk Baitulmal tak adil, tak buat kerja dan sebagainya semua orang bersemangat nak bagi pendapat. Mereka ni orang-orang yang hanya memberi zakat, tapi tak pernah ambil tahu, bagaimana zakat itu diagihkan, bagaimana kakitangan Baitulmal berjalan kaki ke rumah-rumah memantau keluarga yang diberi bantuan zakat. Bagaimana ahli-ahli Puteri Umno buat roadshow bagi kesedaran pada masyarakat tentang bantuan yang boleh diminta. Mereka ini golongan yang hanya tahu menuding jari, padahal mereka golongan terpelajar. Ini yang buat aku risau, mereka orang berilmu tapi sering terbawa emosi saat berbahas soal macam ni. Takut nanti kata-kata mereka diambil oleh orang yang kurang arif, dan dianggap itulah kebenaran.  

Serius, aku akan terus hadiri usrah untuk ilmu agama, bab isu politik ni aku akan cuba abaikan. Tapi kalau isu yang aku rasa aku punya pengalaman untuk menjawab, aku akan jawab. Biarlah aku dilabel pro-kerajaan. Aku tahu tak ada kerajaan yang sempurna dalam dunia ni, dan aku tahu dengan cara mengutuk, isu itu tak akan ke mana. Biarlah orang lain sibuk berapi nak cakap siap betul, siapa salah, yang penting aku tahu pendirian aku, dan kalau boleh satu hari nanti aku akan cuba perbaiki keadaan, insyaAllah…

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

C28 - A picture from my childhood

Ya amppuuunnn....I totally forgot about this. I postponed it earlier because I was searching for my childhood photo. When my parents moved to SP, we have been transporting stuffs bit by bit, and somehow most of my childhood photo was either misplaced or lost. So when time passes by I kinda forgot about the whole thing :P

I still have the same cheek ;)
The rest of the challenge will be wrapped up soon, tungggguuuu..........

Mendadak Dangdut

Well......no. I am not into dangdut, despite I spent quite a fair bit of time watching Indo Pek nowadays, I still could not find it in my heart to like the soul of Indonesia's music, not a single beat.

Its actually a title of a movie I watched just now. I must admit, hands down, they made film waayyyy better than our local producers. Its a story of two sisters, Petris, the younger one is a pop rock star with an attitude, managed by her older sister, Yulia, very patient and seems to handle Petris very well. One fine day they were on the way to go back home after a radio show. As usual Yulia's boyfriend pick them up by driving Petris's car. She insist that Yulia drives back while Gary moves to the back. Yulia took a shortcut, and stumbled into a roadblock, just meters away from the police, Gary jumped out of car. Confused, the two sisters went ahead and stopped at the roadblock. Little did they know Gary left a bag with 5kg of heroins in it.

They were busted but somehow they managed to run away during a stop for a toilet break. They ran towards nearby 'slum' area, and what a run without a chase right? The running scene was real, those two can really run. Somehow they stumbled upon two people arguing on a dangdut show. Crowds were yelling but the female dangdut singer left the musician after her demand for payment rise has been rejected.

Yulia saw the opportunity, she talked Petris into singing dangdut, by this time both are fugitive with nothing on them, they are both tired, hungry and has no place to stay. So like it or not Petris agreed to play along. I can see that she was reeeaaaallllllyyyyy struggling to 'feel' dangdut. Masa sih penyanyi rock disuruh nyanyi dangdut, mana bisa dong, konflik tau ngak jiwanya..!!

In order to survive, Petris was transformed to a dangdut singer, the musician even took the effort to get help from a dangdut living legend to teach Petris how to sing dangdut. They blended in the society, from a superstar frequently made appearance in the MTV, Petris now struts her stuff in front of a group of people that she called 'preman'. Few incident happen that somehow changes Petris's view on the world and why dangdut sngers sang the way they are. The film portrays the street life of the low income group in Jakarta, their struggles and basically their fight for survival. Did Petris took a 180 and stick with dangdut? What about the drug trafficking charges? Would they continue living in the slum? While the storyline might be predictable, the way the stories were told makes a difference. At times it was hilarious and some other time I would be crying with them. I like it :)

* I wish we have producers in Malaysia that would make this kind of light movies and yet full of messages.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Orang tamak selalu rugi?


Total damage = RM 336
Here's the breakdown :
Jamie's Kitchen - hard cover = RM 25 (whatttt??)
Nigella Christmas - hard cover = RM 25 (another whattt???)
Spanish dictionary - hard cover = RM 15 (really??)
Window Treatment Design book = RM 10 (err......)
Various paperback novel + some hardcover novel = RM 8 x 22 books = RM 176 (you're kidding me???)
Kids boxset (4x3, Handy Manny, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) - hard cover = RM 70 (am running out of ???)
Some other stuffs = RM 3 x 5 = RM 15

Its still ongoing, go to Big Bad Wolf until this Sunday Oct 16. Honestly, I went berserk!! I was only quarter way through, but I was already carrying a box full of books. I ended up with the whole lot. This is considering I omitted looking further at cooking book section (guilt kicks in, as I keep on cooking the same dish, or worse I rarely cook nowadays) and they don't have my favorite John Grisham and Khaled Hosseini. I could not imagine the damage if those two writer's collection were there.

Most of the novel that I bought, I rarely know the writer, so I guess for RM 8 a book, I can afford to experiment ;)

p/s: this is not only for me, for my niece and nephew, my younger sis, my mom...(kenyataan bela diri!!)

Monday, October 3, 2011

List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter

Been tagged by Bro Faiz. Simple yet interesting ;) let see....

List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter
1. Traveler writer cum photographer. I know this job pays well, but you need to have the skill (photography) and the looks (definitely I don't have this..hehehe... :D ) So I guess I am no Denise Keller :P

2. Language teacher - another half cooked skill that I have :$

3. Personal caterer - given the freedom to set the menu and sometimes even pick the customer (memilih...hahahaha...)
Now tagging the fellow friends: Kak Tek, dieya, Kak Pah Maya, Aida & Kak Yong, jawab jangan tak jawab... ;)


*all pics credit to Pakcik Google

Saturday, October 1, 2011

An Epic Journey part 4

Salam all, 
This edition came much later than I had planned, but nonetheless, here it is :) we continue with ayat 4-5 of Surah Yusuf. At the pace I am going, we may be able to finish the whole surah mid next year... :P

[Of these stories mention] when Yusuf said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
He [Ya'qub] said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

Yusuf’s Lineage
His full name
Yusuf bin Ya’qub bin Ishaq bin Ibrahim (Khalil Allah)
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrate:
Upon the authority of Abu Hurayrah the Prophet was asked, “Who is the most honourable of people? ” He replied, “ the most honorable s the one with the most taqwa.” The questioner said, “I am not asking about that,” so the Prophet said, “the most honoured is Yusuf, who was a prophet, a son of a prophet, son of a prophet, son of Khalil Allah
In other narration :
Ibnu Umar narrates that the Prophet said of Yusuf:

He is the noble one, son of a noble one, son of a noble one:
Lesson:
10. In Arabic language, there a many ways to call the parents, but the most softest way is to add ‘tha’ at the end : Ya abati (O, my father)
11. Parents should be the children’s’ role model, the first they turn to when they have questions.

Respect for Parents
A muslim child should respect, appreciate and honour his parents at all times, Allah has mentioned kind treatment of parents alongside the command to worship him alone, which indicates the importance of honouring one’s parents and treating them well. Allah emphasises the status of parents and how they should be treated in many ayat:
Be good and dutiful
Allah says: and we have enjoined upon man, goodness to parents [Surah al-Ankabut, 29:8]
Shaykh a-Sa’di (RA) said: “be dutiful and kind to parents” means: treat them kindly in all ways in word and deed. [Tafsir al-Sa’di, p.524]
Acknowledge the high status of parents
The importance and high status that Islam has granted to parents is evident from the fact that Allah often mentions the command to worship Him and to be dutiful to one’s parents together, as in:
Surah Luqman,31:14-15

And We enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do 

Obey them, and ask forgiveness for them
Islam teaches a child to obey his parents, to do as they ask and to refrain from what they tell about him not to do, on condition that it does not contradict the teachings of Allah. Furthermore Allah commands us to supplicate for our parents and pray for forgiveness for them especially when they grow old and weak:

Surah al-Isra’ 17:23-24
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff", and do not repel them but speak to them but speak to them a noble word.

And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My lord, have mercy on them as they have brought me up [when I was] small." 

Shaykh a-Sa’di said: “this means, pray for mercy for them, while they are alive and after they die.” [Tafsir b. Sa’di, p.524]

Yahya bin Zakariyya
Allah has provided us with examples of his messengers and described how they treated their parents with kindness and compassion.

Surah Maryam 19: 12-15
[ Allah ] said, "O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah, And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.

Ibn Jarir al-Tabari said: “Here ‘And dutiful towards his parents’ meaning that he was quick to obey them, loving towards them, not disobedient, ‘and he was neither arrogant nor disobedient’- that he was not too proud to obey Allah or his parents; rather he was humble and submissive towards towards Allah and his parents, doing what he was commanded to and avoiding what was forbidden to him; he disobeyed neither his Lord not his parents. ” [Tafsir al-Tabari, 16/58]
Isa  bin Maryam (A.S)
Surah Maryam 19:30-32
[Isa] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. 

Dreams
There are 3 types of dreams:
1.      1.  Divine dreams
a.       True dreams
b.      Good dreams
2.      2. Satanic dreams
3.      3. Human dreams

Imam Muslim reported:
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said “There are three types of dreams: a righteous dream, which is glad tidings from Allah; the dream which causes sadness is from Satan; and a dream from the ramblings of the mind.”
1 a. Divine dream: True Dreams 
Prophetic Dreams
The dreams of the prophet were a form of revelation. Allah states that revelation was given to prophets in 3 ways.
Surah al-Shura 42:51
The story of Ibrahim (AS)
This clearly illustrates that prophetic dreams are a form of revelation as he acted immediately upon the instruction given in his dreams.

Surah al-Saffat 37:102-105
Al-Bukhari reports….
From A’ishah that : “Divine revelations began to come to Allah’s messenger in the form of righteous (true) dreams during his sleep. Whenever, he had a dream, it would come true like the daybreak.”
True dreams are a gift from Allah
Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet said, “True dreams are from Allah and bad dreams are from Shaytan.” [Al-Bukhari]
Al-Bukhari also reports…
…on the narration of Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet said, “When the day of resurrection approaches, the dream of a believer will hardly fail to come true.”
It is reported in Sahih Muslim…
Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet said, “Those of you with the truest dreams will be those who are most truthful in speech.” This hadith indicates that true dreams are related to human character; the more righteous the people are the truer their dream will be.


Are true dreams specific to the believers? No, for example the King’s dream later in this surah turns out to be a true dream as well.

Can the same true dream be shared by several people? Yes, refer to sahabah’s dream on azan.

We will be continuing with the other type of dream in the next part, till then, wassalam :)