Friends

Friendship is to be treasured and cherished. Everyone has friends. For some reason or another, some become our close friends. Some others even become our intimate friends, friends whom we can confide in, friends who keep our secrets and our trust.

A life void of friendship, is a very lonely place. The times we spend with friends enrich our lives. It brings us fond memories. It puts a smile on our face, a laughter in our hearts. It helps fill up an empty soul.

Time and distance may loosen the strength of a friendship but it can never break it a part. How many times have we attended reunions, meeting friends we have not seen or heard of for years, even decades, and without fail the old ties are rekindled, always. We reminisce, our faces light and inevitably laughter erupts. Old friendships are strengthened. The bond that was loosening is tightened once again.

Treasure every friend, save guard every friendship. After all every friendship does matter.

In The Name of God

Everything is done in the name of God. The good, the bad and the ugly. Man in his desire to be always right, lays claim that all that he does is in the name of God. No matter how ludicrous or bigoted it may seem.

Islam is blind to colour, race, creed and status. The only thing of value to man when he meets his Lord is his faith and taqwa. Flowing forth from this faith and taqwa are his actions, actions that are in keeping with the commands of God. Anything that is contradictory is detached from faith and taqwa.

No amount of spinning, by anyone, will change that fact. Truth stands clear from falsehood, just as day from night. For does not Allah SWT say in the Quran:

"And say: "Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." Al Isra (17):81

The attitude and deeds of some Muslims portray precisely this detached actions. At the same breath they claim to be fighting for the cause of Islam, 'protectors of the faith', if you will. From the bombing and killing of innocent humans to the harsh maltreatment of women, from hijacking ships to taking innocent hostages, from honour killings to tribal prejudices, from religious intolerance to racially skewed Islam, and many more. All these perpetrators shout out loud, "For Islam. In the name of God!'

How far from the truth have they strayed, if only they open their eyes and mind, they will surely know. Again Allah SWT reminds us:

"And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is)." Al Baqarah(2):42

Allah SWT words in the Quran are explicit when it deals with faith and taqwa, truth verses falsehood, justice and equality, and deeds and actions. It baffles the mind, then, that these self proclaiming 'protectors of the faith' act as they do. They have eyes but do not see, ears but do not listen, brains but do not ponder and hearts but do not understand. In reality they are 'destroyers of the faith'. Not only are they groping along a wrong path but more alarmingly, they are tarnishing the image of Islam and muslims the world over.

It is thus our responsibility to seek knowledge of Islam and practice the faith to the best of our capabilities, forever invoking Allah SWT to guide and bless us. For verily the life of a true muslim is in itself a source inspiration for mankind.

The life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW was, is and forever will be a beacon of light, a source of inspiration and guidance for all mankind. Did not the prophet's companions emulate him and achieve success in this world and the hereafter and earn the pleasure of Allah SWT. The lives of these companions themselves are a source of inspiration for us. And so it is too with the lives of numerous heroes of Islam through the ages.

Let us then make this effort to improve ourselves in the sight of Allah SWT, getting closer to Him, forever striving to gain His pleasure. It is never too late, we must never give up for our sake. This we must do 'For Islam' and 'In The Name of God.'

Ramadhan 1430

Ramadhan, the blessed month, the month of forgiveness for man, the month of emancipation from the fire of hell. Indeed a great month for every human being, if only we knew.

So very often we are caught up with our worldly pursuits to realize that there are more important things in life. We should in this blessed month at least devote more time and emphasis in enhancing our relationship with Allah SWT and with our fellow brethren. When else can we find a month in which the rewards of our deeds are multiplied by leaps and bounds? When else is there a month where in our supplications are sure to answered?

But alas, many of us have been so caught up in our mere worldly pursuits, that the arrival of this blessed month of Ramadhan brings no benefit. Many of us just abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset but do nothing more. Regular prayers are neglected, the Quran remains unread, language and behaviour unbecoming of muslims persist.

And then there among us who view Ramadhan as a month of business, a time merely to make money. There is nothing wrong to do business during Ramadhan, but if it causes us to neglect our duties to Allah SWT, there can be no benefit from doing such business.

Let us look into ourselves. Where do we stand? Let us devote more of our time and energy to bring us closer to Allah SWT. So that at the end of Ramadhan we at least say, 'We have made effort and done our best.'

For after all, that is all Allah SWT ask of us, that "We have made effort and tried our best."

Lets pray that Allah SWT accepts our deeds during this Ramadhan and He is pleased with us.

Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

The War Is Not over?

I cannot but read in anguish at the declaration, "The war is not over. There is still more work to be done.", in reference to Iraq (and Afghanistan). Over 4000 American soldiers have been killed during this self proclaimed 'war on terror'. These are the figures of the american casualties we read in the press. But more importantly, how many innocent Iraqis and Afghans have been killed and maimed for life? The american casualties are minuscule compared to the casualties on the Iraqi and Afghan side.

It is almost impossible to know the actual number of Iraqis and Afghans killed to date. In 2004, a study published in Lancet, estimates 98ooo excess Iraqi deaths and a second study published in 2006 puts the estimates at 650000 excess Iraqi deaths.

The USA has the audacity to proclaim their right to fight this war. A war that was from the very onset planned and staged in the demented psyche of the neoconservatives of the Bush administration. A war that was not initiated by any party but the US. A unilateral war by the US on a country that was no threat to the west let alone to rest of the world. A war that was begun on the pretext of a lie. A war that is continuing based on a fallacy. A war that is killing tens of thousand of innocent people. A war that is destroying a nation. An illegal war perpetuated by the strong over the weak. A war of 'Might is Right'.

And how has the self righteous International Community responded? Miserably to say the least. They have been cowed into supporting this terrible injustice. It seems that the International Community is a cohort of the US after all. The impotence of the UN is not unexpected. After all it is controlled by the US and it's allies. What more can be expected from the UN other than recycled rhetoric.

It is truly disgusting to reflect on this. How truth and justice is derailed, to serve the whims and fancies of the powerful. Even more shameful is the total apathy, and hypocrisy in fact, of the majority of muslim heads of state. They are a total disgrace to the muslim community. Most of them are in their present position due to US patronage. They are indebted to the US for their survival and therefore behave like 'obedient dogs'.

All hope is not lost, it cannot be lost. As long as we believe in fighting for truth and justice, in whatever manner we chose, there is hope.

Where have all the good men gone?

During the Isya prayer on one night, while the imam was reciting verses of the Quran, a member of the congregration began to weep. In fact he was literally sobbing. Evidently the verses of the Quran the imam read had touched his heart.

And there I was in the same congregation, listening to the very same verses without any such impact. Not knowing Arabic was an excuse. In a sense it was the 'Presence of body but not of mind and soul'. How then can this 'weak' mind and soul defend one against the onslaught and lure of worldly gain at the expanse of success in the hereafter? This is the question we must all ask ourselves.

Often we hear people quoting the popular Quranic verse, exhorting us to seek the good of this world and the good of the hereafter. And indeed that is what we must truly and sincerely do. But in our present situation we are more often than not seeking the good of this world at the expense of the hereafter. We are well aware of the benefits of this world. That is why many strive for this world day and night. But alas, the value of the hereafter is not appreciated and as a result it is very often pushed aside.

Let us continously make effort to improve ourselves for a better life in the world and especially in the here after.

Our Masjids

Masjids (mosques) are holy places, in the sense it is connected to God and Islam. Does that mean masjids are only for prayers and religious discourses? It would seem obvious that the role of the masjids are much more than that. However most masjids are nowadays used for our daily prayers and such religious discourses at night. At most other times the masjids are empty.

Sometimes the situation is even worse. The people entrusted with the responsibility of looking after the masjid only open the masjid at prayer time. At other times the masjid is locked. Not only the door to the main prayer hall, but even the main gate into the compound!

As such nowadays, our masjids are a far cry from what they use to be during the time of our beloved Prophet and his companions.

The masjid is the epicentre of the muslim community. In all early muslim communities the masjid always occupied the central position. Everything else was built around it. Now it has been pushed to the sidelines. What is more important now is form rather than function, the tallest, the biggest, the highest and what have you. 

We muslims must reignite the very substance and role of the masjid. Masjids are social centres, centres of obtaining and disseminating knowledge, youth centres and centres that propagate our religion. Masjids must have areas for gatherings, games and community activities, so that the whole community regardless of age can actively be part of it.

Masjids must be managed by persons truly dedicated to this course. People who are able and will think out of the box. People who are willing to embrace this paradigm shift.

Until and unless this occurs, the sorry state of our masjids will continue.

Ramadhan

Dalam sekelip mata rasanya, Ramadhan akan muncul kembali. Membawa bersamanya barakah Allah SWT yang tak terkira nilainya. Bulan yang paling mulia diturunkan Al Quran dan di berikan 1 malam yang lebih baik dari seribu bulan. Bulan Ramadhan bulan kemulian.

Semoga Allah SWT temukan kita semua dengan bulan mulia ini. Bersama-samalah kita tanamkan tekat untuk memperbaiki nilai amalan kita pada bulan Ramadhan ini. Dengan penuh harapan atas limpah kurniaNya.

Ayuh marilah kita merebut segala kemulian yang bakal datang bersama Ramadhan. Tingkatkan amalan saleh, istiqamah dalam semua perbuatan, nyalakan kehidupan kita dengan jiwa Ramadhan.

Semoga Allah SWT menerima kita sebagai hambanya yang bertaqwa.

Of Motivators, Ustads and the Gift of the Gab 3

GIFT OF THE GAB

This gift of the gab, is after all a gift from God to all of us. To be used for the benefit of all. As all gifts from God are suppose to be.

Unfortunately, time and again our greed for power, glory and worldly riches seduces us to abuse and misuse this gift. The consequence of which can be devastating. The spoken word can penetrate the heart and soul, causing hurt and leave lasting scars. Hurt and scars which are much more difficult to heal than physical ones.

Every now and then, we get carried away in awe at our own self professed prowess of this gift. At other times we say more that what we should say or say things that we should not have said. Once uttered, it can't be withdrawn, no matter how hard we try. As they say 'Nasi Dah Jadi Bubur' (The rice has become porridge).  

If only we are mature enough, patient enough and responsible enough with what we say, surely much heartache, misery and hurt can be avoided. But alas man is a slave to his own ego.

It is at times like these, that we would be well advised to heed our beloved Prophet Muhammad's advice: "God has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one boasts over another, or oppresses another."(Muslim)

Let us all pause awhile, ponder and take stock of what we have said and the things we have done. Let us learn from our past, so as not to repeat it in our future. 

If only we are wise enough to learn............