The Reader

Surah Qiyamah

May I invite my fellow muslims and muslimahs to listen to recitation of this surah and read the tafseer and ponder on every ayat in this surah.Then jot down what lessons can we learn from these surah...

Here is a link to what I wrote before.

 

Dakwah on Youtube

Lately I am spending more time watching and listening to great Islamic scholars and da'i on Youtube.Some of them are really world class and I hope to see more Malaysian da'i doing this to reach more young people in my country.Not many youngsters go to masjid to learn about Islam but most of them watch youtube in their smart phones and computers.

Islam is the world fastest growing religion and more Europeans are embracing Islam,Alhamdulilah.Herewith I attach the CNN's video.

Talking about da'i,it reminds me of one day I was having my lunch at a restaurant next to Masjidil Haraam in Makkah,Saudi Arabia.While having lunch I was browsing a book I just bought from a bookshop nearby.Then came an Arab gentleman and asked me whether I am a student.I told him I am a Haj pilgrim.He asked me about the book I was reading and I told him that I love to read and wanted to learn more about my religion Islam.Before he left me,he told me that he is going to Masjidil Haraam to du'a for me to become a da'i.I thanked him-jazakallahu khairan.This short conversation really motivated to do something on dakwah.Since then,I kept writing tazkirah every week at my blog,insyaAllah.Thank you Allah.Alhamudulilah.

All of us have different ability and capacity to do dakwah;let us spread the words of Allah even with one ayat.

Learning with a teacher..

From my experience in learning and coaching,one to one is the best!The photo on the right shows a participant of a lecture seeked clarification from the speaker.When I decided to re-learn to read Qur'an about 15 years ago,I engaged a teacher to come to my house and taught me and my family members.

Nowadays,muslims are very lucky where they hear and read Islamic lectures from the web.Some of world reknown Islamic scholars do give outstanding lectures in youtube.I do spent hours listening to them and to muslim converts who embraced Islamic based on their researchs on Islamic religion.This adds more 'yaqin' to my belief(iman),insyaAllah.

Most masjid in Malaysia have their own weekly series of kuliyyah(lectures).Donot stick with one masjid near your house  only.Please go to other masjid to listen to different speakers.No one is expert on everything.At the same time,please bring along a notebook to write what you have learnt from the teachers and do some reading at home.I have a few good Islamic books,a collection of hadiths and tafseer al-Qur'an for my reference at home.

A good mureed(student) selects his/her own teachers.Time is limited and we can't  be listening to every speaker.At the same time,get to know your teachers at personal level.You shall learn more.If I may quote Tan Sri Prof syed Naquib al-Attas,knowledge comes with the arrival of meaning.You shall know it when it touches your soul.InsyaAllah.

Last but not least,get close to your teacher to learn more and get the barakah of his teachings.InsyaAllah.

The photo below is my tasawuf teacher Dr Musa Fatullah Harun and me taken on 21/9/2003.After his lecture,we had a chat over a cup of morning coffee.His Ph D is on tarikat.

 

Great scholars of Islam

Here is a video on the life of Imam Nawawi-one of the great scholars of Islam.One of the many lessons I learnt from his life is that he did not waste time and put great efforts/time learning about Islam.How much efforts and time you and me my fellow muslims and muslimah to learn about Islam and get closer to Allah swt???

I know for sure that many of my friends read a few story books by great authors every year,if not every month.But how many of us read the great books by Imam Nawawi,Imam Al- Ghazali,Ibnu Taimiyyah etc?

This tazkirah is mainly for me who love buying books on Islam but they are collecting dusts...To my peers,we don't have much time left...

The Objective of Life

Ya Nabi Salam 'alaika...

Sesungguhnya Allah dan malaikatNya berselawat (memberi segala penghormatan dan kebaikan) kepada Nabi (Muhammad s.a.w); wahai orang-orang yang beriman berselawatlah kamu kepadanya serta ucapkanlah salam sejahtera dengan penghormatan yang sepenuhnya.

(Al-Ahzaab 33:56) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark 
Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

 

Let me share this writing from another website less we forget why we are on this planet earth:

Al-Sajdah (The Prostration)
Chapter 32: Verse 18

The Objective of Life
"Is then the one who believes equal to the man who is a transgressor and wicked? Not equal are they.”

When the lifestyle of one who is working solely for the material gains of this world is compared with that of a person who is striving for the everlasting rewards of the Hereafter, there is seemingly very little difference. In both cases, each person is seen to be striving to maintain a quality life.

It is clear that the non-believer, limited to himself and feeding upon his own desires cannot, compare with the true Believer. The non-believer may find that all his worldly desires are fulfilled, but his accomplishments will only bring temporary satisfaction.

The true Believer on the other hand, may achieve worldly gains but he realises that true contentment will only come when the ultimate reward of Paradise and the pleasure of his Lord is achieved.

This understanding of life and its true objective is the secret of the believer's strength and support. This makes him the most powerful and resourceful person to walk upon the earth.

Start, then, to prepare for the Akhira today! Why waste your time and energy on what will perish when you can use the same to earn the delights and pleasures of the life to come? Everything you have must be put forward as an investment for that life, but you must keep in mind that the investment is not the objective. All that Allah has bestowed on you -body, mind, faculties and property -are valuables for investment, but the real objective is to earn the pleasure of Allah and the rewards of Janna.

Remember that your personal destiny and, therefore, the end of all your life's pursuits, lie in the Akhira, but the road to that destiny lies in Dunya, in this world. Indeed the achievements made during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, were the results of full participation in this world - neither withdrawing nor retiring from it - for the sake of the Life to Come. The Prophet and his Companions planned for this world as though they were going to stay here forever but equally they sought the rewards of the Hereafter as though death was close at hand. It is this delicate balance that you must strive to achieve in your approach to life.

Source:
"In The Early Hours" - Khurram Murad

Irada

Today is the first Friday of The New Year 2013.Let us make it the best Friday in term of our ibadah so that we can use it as a bench mark/model  for subsequent Fridays throughout the year.As muslims and muslimahs,let us ponder on what we had done last year in order to become a better muslim and muslimah in seeking the pleasure and redha from Allah?What are we today compared to a year ago?With every new year,many people make new year resolutions and most of us failed miserably when it come to be a better servant to Allah swt.

Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): "Tidak sama yang buruk dengan yang baik, walaupun banyaknya yang buruk itu menarik hatimu. Oleh itu bertaqwalah kepada Allah wahai orang-orang yang berakal fikiran, supaya kamu berjaya.

(Al-Maaidah 5:100) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

 

Let me share this short note.May Allah helps all of us,especially me,who is still very weak./Adib

Irada

To achieve the ultimate goal in life requires a sustained determination to do so, a willpower that is forever responsive and strong. In Quranic terminology this is called irada. Irada is basic to all our efforts. Without willing to do something you cannot do anything. Irada is the key to our self and character-development

Irada is very different from desire. You always hear people reflecting upon unfulfilled aspirations. One of the main reasons why aspirations and dreams remain unfulfilled is that they are no more than desires which faded to assume the status of irada. The Quran explains that one of the basic weaknesses in human nature which prevents our self-development is the weakness of will. [Ta Ha 20: 115]

Irada to change your life requires strength and consistency and is indeed the antithesis of doubt or hesitation. Once your irada is firmly in place, then you must have no doubts and you must not hesitate.

Now, what purpose should irada serve? The Quran (Al Isra 17:19) makes it clear that this willpower must be a firm resolve to seek the pleasure of Allah because this is the part of the bargain that you must deliver.

Compiled From:
"In the Early Hours" - Khurram Murad

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Morphology

This is a new subject for me.As I walked with my learned friend in Taman Botani,Putrajaya I told him about my fascination of the various types of tree branches, leaves and flowers.He mentioned one 'foreign' word to an old engineer like me- bio-morphology.Below is what I got from wikipedia:

"In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

This includes aspects of the outward appearance (shape, structure, colour, pattern)^[8] as well as the form and structure of the internal parts like bones and organs. This is in contrast to physiology, which deals primarily with function. Morphology is a branch of life science dealing with the study of gross structure of an organism or Taxon and its component parts."

Below is one example of various pine trees I saw at Taman Saujana Hijau.One of the ways for me to observe the details of the various patterns is to go near the trees and take photos.This I usually do while I go cycling or morning walk..

 

Another way to appreciate the beauty of Allah's creations is to sketch the details.The intricacy and minute details of the design and construction of the leaves,the trunks and the flowers made me exclaimed,"Oh My God!"Subhanallah.

Below is one ayat from Surah Al-Hasyr:

Dia lah Allah, Yang Menciptakan sekalian makhluk; Yang Mengadakan (dari tiada kepada ada); Yang Membentuk rupa (makhluk-makhlukNya menurut yang dikehendakiNya); bagiNyalah nama-nama yang sebaik-baiknya dan semulia-mulianya; bertasbih kepadaNya segala yang ada di langit dan di bumi; dan Dia lah Yang tiada bandingNya, lagi Maha Bijaksana.

(Al-Hasy-r 59:24) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark 
He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

 

 All the creations are the signs or ayats from Allah swt.Let me share with you a paragraph from the book entitled IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PROPHETS by Tariq Ramadan:

From the outset,the Quran presents itself as the mirror of the universe.The term that the first Western translators rendered as "verse"-referring to biblical vocabulary-literally means in Arabic,"sign"(ayat).Thus,the revealed Book,the written text,is made up of signs(ayat),just as the universe,like a text spread out before our eyes,is teeming with signs.When the heart's intelligence,and not only analytical intelligence,reads the Qur'an and the world,then the two texts address and echo one another,and each of them speaks of the other and of the One.The signs remind us of what it means to be born,to live,to think,to feel and to die.

Below are the first five ayats from Surah AlHadiid explaining the creations by Allah Al-Khaliq:

Segala yang ada di langit dan di bumi tetap mengucap tasbih kepada Allah; dan Dia lah Yang Maha Kuasa, lagi Maha Bijaksana.

(Al-Hadiid 57:1) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

Dia lah sahaja yang menguasai dan memiliki langit dan bumi; Ia menghidupkan dan mematikan; dan Ia Maha Kuasa atas tiap-tiap sesuatu.

(Al-Hadiid 57:2) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

Dia lah Yang Awal dan Yang Akhir; dan Yang Zahir serta Yang Batin; dan Dia lah Yang Maha Mengetahui akan tiap-tiap sesuatu.

(Al-Hadiid 57:3) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

Dia lah yang telah menciptakan langit dan bumi dalam enam masa, kemudian Ia bersemayam di atas Arasy; Ia mengetahui apa yang masuk ke bumi serta apa yang keluar daripadanya; dan apa yang diturunkan dari langit serta apa yang naik padanya. Dan Ia tetap bersama-sama kamu di mana sahaja kamu berada, dan Allah Maha Melihat akan apa yang kamu kerjakan.

(Al-Hadiid 57:4) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

Dia lah sahaja yang menguasai dan memiliki langit dan bumi; dan kepada Allah jualah dikembalikan segala urusan.

(Al-Hadiid 57:5) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

 Video: 

What stage is your soul?

This posting below is taken from Friday Nasiha.It reminds me of the last four ayat of surah Al-Fajr.Honestly,I don't know what is the maqam of my soul, but I am still struggling to go up to the next level and pray and hope my Lord Allahu Rabbul 'Alamin wil grant me at least mutmainnnah before I die,insyaAllah..

(Setelah menerangkan akibat orang-orang yang tidak menghiraukan akhirat, Tuhan menyatakan bahawa orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh akan disambut dengan kata-kata): "Wahai orang yang mempunyai jiwa yang sentiasa tenang tetap dengan kepercayaan dan bawaan baiknya! -

(Al-Fajr 89:27) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

"Kembalilah kepada Tuhanmu dengan keadaan engkau berpuas hati (dengan segala nikmat yang diberikan) lagi diredhai (di sisi Tuhanmu) ! -

(Al-Fajr 89:28) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

"Serta masuklah engkau dalam kumpulan hamba-hambaku yang berbahagia -

(Al-Fajr 89:29) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

"Dan masuklah ke dalam SyurgaKu! "

(Al-Fajr 89:30) | <Embed> | English Translation | Tambah Nota | Bookmark

Notes from Fridaynasiha.com

Stages of Soul
Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection) Chapter 75: Verse 2

"And I swear by the self-accusing human soul."

Self-training, or the training of the soul, has been accepted as an extremely important element of the Divine Religion. This training, according to some schools in Islam, has seven stages as alluded in the Quran:

1. If the soul lives only a life of ease in the swamp of carnal appetites, it is the evil-commanding soul (nafs al-ammarah).

2. If it falters time and again while following the way of the Religion to attain piety and righteousness, but each time that it falters it criticizes itself and turns to its Lord, then it is the self-accusing soul (nafs al-lawwamah).

3. The soul which always resists evil in devotion to God and is favoured with certain Divine gifts in proportion to its purity is called the soul receiving inspiration (nafs al-mulhimah).

4. When it reaches the point where it has a relation with its Lord in perfect devotion and sincerity, such that its consciousness is at rest, it is the soul at rest (nafs al-mutmainnah).

5. If it has reached the station where it abandons all its choices and is a representative of Divine will, it is the soul pleased with God (nafs ar-radiyah).

6. When its greatest aim is acquiring God's good pleasure and approval, such that it is always acting with this end in consideration of, "I am pleased with You, so be pleased with me," then it is the soul with which God is pleased (nafs al-mardiyyah).

7. Finally, the soul which has been perfectly purified of all sins and evil morals and has the capacity to be completely adorned with the full manifestations of Divine Qualities and Prophetic will-power and resolution is called the soul perfected or the soul pure (nafs az-zakiyyah or nafs as-safiyah).

Compiled From:
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English" - Ali Unal, pp. 1188

The charity,,

Let me share this subject matter with my fellow muslims ...and please be reminded of the last commentatry made by the great  'aim Yusuf al-Qaradawi.I have a copy of his book and it is worth every penny/sen.Allah has reminded us about the important time in surah Al- 'Asr and to my peers(as we don't have much time left),let us focus of doing more good deeds.insyaAllah.

 

Daily Obligation

One of the daily obligations which it is not permissible for a Muslim to either forget or neglect, is his obligation of service towards the society, assisting its individual members to accomplish their needs, and facilitating their affairs.

The Two Sheikhs have reported from Abu Musa, from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) who said: "'Upon every Muslim there is (an obligation of) charity." The Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! What then happens if he does not have the means?" He said, "He should do some (manual) work, so that he benefits himself and gives out (his surplus in) charity." They said, "What if he cannot work?" He said, "He should assist someone in dire need." They said, "And if he cannot?" He said, "Then let him command what is good." They said, "And if he cannot?" He said, "Then let him avoid evil, that indeed is charity."

This charity, or social levy, is an obligation each day upon every Muslim. Furthermore, it has been most reliably transmitted that this charitable duty is incumbent upon every single limb or organ of a Muslim each day. With such an injunction a Muslim turns out to be a spring from which flows goodness, welfare and peace to whoever and whatever is around him.

Compiled From:
"Time In The Life of a Muslim" - Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, p. 44

Note on photo: Taken at Masjid As-syakirin,KLCC.

Zalim

"Dan janganlah kamu cenderung kepada orang-orang yang berlaku zalim maka (kalau kamu berlaku demikian), api neraka akan membakar kamu, sedang kamu tidak ada sebarang penolong pun yang lain dari Allah. Kemudian (dengan sebab kecenderungan kamu itu) kamu tidak akan mendapat pertolongan. "
(  سورة هود  , Hud, Chapter #11, Verse #113)

Kebanyakan kita hanya melihat kezaliman orang lain,tapi apa hal dengan perbuatan kita sendiri?

Satu lagi kezaliman yang jarang kita sedari ialah kita menzalimi diri sendiri dengan perbuatan ingkar kita kepada perintah Allah swt.