A story on reading the Qur’an

I received an interesting story from my e-mail box about reading the Qur’an without understanding a single of Arabic word.  I decided to post it in this blog to share the story with others.  The story goes…

Why do we read Quran, even if we can’t understand a single Arabic word?

This is a beautiful story of an Old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur’an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.  

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Qur’an just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur’an do?”  

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”  

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.  

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!” 

“So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”  The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.  

“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Qur’an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be Changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.”  

Time Out: Chicken run

A salesman was driving down a country road when he noticed that there was a three-legged chicken running alongside his car.

He stepped on the pedal but at 80km/h, the chicken was still keeping up.  After about 2km, the chicken scurried into a barn behind an old farm house.  The curious salesman, drove up to the farm and knocked on the door.  When the farmer answered, the salesman told him what he had seen.

The farmer said that he was geneticist and had developed this breed because he, his wife and his son each like a drumstick when they have chicken.  This way they only have to kill one chicken.  

“That’s the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever heard,” the salesman said.  “How do they taste?”

“I don’t know,” the farmer said.  “We’ve never caught one.”

-spotted by Johan Ling

(Extracted from: The New Paper, 25 Aug 2007)  

Moral of the Story: Don’t interfere with God’s affair.

The Four Natures of Man

According to Imam Ghazali in his book, “Ihya Ulum-Id-Din, the book of religious learnings.”, in every physical body of each individual Man, there is a Soul.  The Soul is the king, governing the body and the different organs are its servants to carry out its orders and commands.  Acting like a mirror, the Soul reflects human’s Evils and Virtures that are within the nature of Man.  Imam Ghazali further explained that a Man has four natures rooted inside him, centred in the Soul.  They are Beastly nature, Animal nature, Devilish nature and Angelic nature.  

Beastly nature consists of anger, enmity, hatred, rebuke, attack on others and etc.  Obeying the dictates of anger, Man aquires heinous conducts such as naughtiness, pride, love of power, self-praise, jokes, contempt for others, oppression and so on.  When Man keeps anger under control, he gains heroism, kindness, patience, silence, and etc.  

Animal nature is sexual passion that becomes strong.  A Man with only the nature of a lower animal, exhibits behaviour of animal such as the pig, having sexual passion  or the dog, becoming gready.  By following these behaviours solely, Man acquires the evils of impurity, shamelessness, meaness, miserlines, hatred and other bad habits.  Hence, when he becomes free from sexual passion and anger, he acquires virtues such as  pardon, contentment, self-satisfaction, asceticism, piety, God-fear, and shame.

Delivish nature includes deceit, fraud and conspiracy.  A Man with only the nature of devil, becomes a devil.  Obeying the devil, Man acquires evil conducts such as deceit, deception, treachery and fraud.  Hence, when Man manages to controls the evils, he is endowed with devine qualities such as wisdom, knowledge, certain faith, knowledge of the natures of all things.

Angelic nature is devine service, worship of God and doing good to all.  Man has got in him the devine Soul and he likes to be free from servitude and meanness.  Hence, When Man has got more of the devine qualities in him, he becomes a truly wise man.

The above illustrations about the nature of Man by Imam Ghazali, make sense and help to explain the different behaviours found in Man.  It is no doubt that Man needs all of the above four natures in order to live and survive on this Earth.  To my understanding they are essential elements in life.  However, too much of Beastly, Animal, and Devilish nature within Man, will cause destructions to the physical body and soul of Man. 

According to the Islamic teaching on this matter, (that I find it is very logical) Man needs to control the Beastly nature of anger and the Devilish nature that exist naturally within him.  Islaam teaches Muslims to control these natures through performing Ibadah, the act of good deeds, i.e. doing good to ownself and others.  Likewise, the physical body of Man needs good food to stay healthy, the soul of Man needs good deeds to be healthy and to have strong Imaan.  

Similarly, Man has to free himself from the Animal nature of sexual passion and greed, allowing the Angelic nature to occupy the major portion of the soul so that, it will be the leader to guide the other three natures, ruling them to project outwardly the qualities of a Good Soul.  When a Man achieve this, he is easily identified and recognised as an outstanding  person with Good manners and Fine qualities. 

   

Man and his Soul

It has been more than a month since Mas Selamat escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre.  He is still at large and the search continues.  What can be described of such a Muslim who plotted to crash a hijacked jet into Changi Airport?  What was he thinking, wanting to commit such an evil act.  He should have known that destruction is against the concept of Islam.  

Anything that is destructive is not from Islam.  It is not part of the Islamic teaching to kill, destroying public buildings and properties.    This is an injustice act frown by Islam.  According to Islam, injustice applies between man and God, between man and man, between man and his own self.

Mas Selamat attempted to perform public destruction.  There are all sort of people in the Airport, some who are not related to him; the civillians, women and children in general, while the majority are  related to him; notably the Muslims and fellow Singaporeans.  There are lots of Singaporeans at the airport.  Most of them working as airport staffs while others enjoy bringing their children for leisure, spending the day at the waving deck to watch airplanes taking off, or dining at one of the fastfood restaurants.   

What can be said to the irrational thinking of Mas Selamat and those people having similar thoughts like him?  One should read ”Islam; The concept of Religion and the Foundation of Ethics and Morality.” written by Professor Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas.  In this book, the Professor wrote that MAN is both BODY and SOUL.  Simultaneously, MAN is a PHYSICAL BEING and SPIRIT.  

Professor Naquib illustrated through his writings, that man has two souls analogous; the higher, rational soul and the lower, animal soul.  The rational soul must be the ”King” exerting its power over the animal soul to discern right from wrong and to choose between right and wrong.  Otherwise, the animal soul will be ”King” and cause the man to commit displeasing acts prohibited by God, creating Injustice.

According to Professor Naquib, Injustice is putting a thing in a place not its own.  When a man does an act of injustice, it means that such man has wronged his own soul, puttiing it at a place not its own, misusing it, making it to exceed or fall short of its real nature, causing it to deviate from what is right , to repudiate the truth and to suffer loss.  All that was done by a man who performed injustice entails a violation of his own Covenant with God, the Professor explained. 

Hence, the animal soul should be made to listen and submit to the rational soul.   To achieve this,  man needs to have faith and belief in God together with knowledge balance up harmoniously within him, in order to control the animal soul that exists within his human body.  Man must not allow the animal soul to get the better of him. Otherwise, he will ended up like Mas Selamat, having irrational thoughts and ending up doing injustice. 

As a Muslim, it is no doubt that Mas Selamat is well verse with information on Islam.  However, information is merely information.  It should be known that Information is not Knowledge.  Knowledge is understood information applied with wisdom.  Hence, when a person, Muslim or non-Muslim,  has lots of information on Islam, that does not mean that he has abundance of Knowledge about Islam.  A Muslim who is Knowledgeable is a person who thinks and act rationally.   

Those who accepted Islam and professed willingly and sincerely that there is Only One God and Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) is the Messenger of God are known as Muslims.  However, among them there are some who disobey God’s command in doing certain things, most of the time consciously while at other times unconsciously.  It should be noted  Muslims are merely Humans, just like the non-Muslims.  

Humans are not perfect beings.  Like other humans, Muslims cannot escape from being imperfect.  Hence, one should not evaluate Islam base on  the actions made by Muslims.  Hence, one should not assume Islam is bad and all Muslims are bad people, having evil thoughts just because some Muslims have such minds.  Hence, one should not conclude Islam is dangerous and all Muslims are dangerous people based on irrational behaviours of some irresponsible Muslims.   

All bad, irrational behaviours of Muslims are not from Islam.  By nature such behaviours are within all Human beings, Muslims or non-Muslims.  Islam tries to regulate Man’s ethical and moral conducts for the benefits of all Mankind.  Hence, if a Muslim disobey the teaching of Islam or doing certain acts that oppose to the teaching of Islam, the fault and limitation is not to be directed to Islam but towards those Muslims who are disobedient and irresponsible.  Hence, it should be noted that the action of Mas Selamat has nothing to do with the teaching of Islam. 

The Most Wanted Man in Singapore

Mas Selamat Kastari, the Singapore Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist leader who currently represents a clear danger to the public, is on the run.  Posters of the fugitive have been put up Islandwide to seek help from anyone who may have seen him.  Interpol had also issued an urgent global alert to its 186 countries last Friday, two days after his escaped  from the Whitley Road Dentention Centre.  

Mas Selamat had planned to attack various targets in Singapore.  In 2001, he had plotted to crash a hijacked jet into Changi Airport.  He was detained under the Singapore Internal Security Act in 2006.  The Media reported that he is still hiding in Singapore and the public has been alerted to keep a lookout for him since his escaped.

Anxiety had emerged among us, Singaporeans.  Most of us are now discussing the possibility that the fugitive has left the country.  “Yes probably. Perhaps by sampan (a small boat) !” said one of my friends. ”Or perhaps he had swam to the neighboring countries” another replied.  However, most of us still believe and very convince that the terrorist is still hiding in Singapore.   Worries, Worries, and more Worries…because Singapore’s most wanted man on the run, is a bomb maker!…so it was mentioned in the Straits Times dated 2nd March 2008.

Did Man make Religion and God?

Few months ago,  in mid 2007,  I visited a blog and responded to a comment made by an atheist about the existence of God.  This particular person had made the following statement.  

“Man made religion. Man made god. Man has always made religions and Man has always made gods.”

Since the blog was deleted by the author, I decided to post the comment that I had made in that blog, answering to the question posted by the particular person.  

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Allow me to comment on Fang’s statements with this little spare time I have here. Pardon me, this is going to be a long comment.

“Man made religion. Man made god. Man has always made religions and Man has always made gods.”

Fang, you were not wrong when you wrote the above statement. The Pagan Arabs did make their own Gods creating their own religion. So were the Greeks and Romans. The Pharoahs claimed themselves Gods!

However, Islam is not created by man and Muslims do not created Allah. Islam is the religion of One True God, Lord of the Universe. Islam literally means ‘Peace’ and it also means ‘Submission to the Law of God’. Islam is a way of life based upon a Code of Law that God decreed for mankind whom He created. The word ‘Islam’ for this way of life was chosen by God.

“Lo Religion with God (is) Islam (ie surrendering to God alone by worship and obedience)…..” (Surah Al-Imran, 3:19)

Fang, in answering your question below..

“If there was a creator how could you even presume to know their mindset? Seriously.”

Because you are serious to know, I am willing to answer your question. Just look around you, Fang. Signs on the existence of God are everywhere and our sense of reasoning tells what God wants us to do.

Everything we see around us has a maker. The carpenter is the maker of table and chairs. The bird is the maker of the nest on the tree. Hence, the trees, the birds, the ocean, the sky, the mountains, the wind, the stars, the moon, the sun and us, human beings must likewise have a maker.

Order and purpose cannot emerge by themselves. We cannot emerge on this earth by ourselves. There must be intelligence behind all these emergence. But intelligence is an attribute which cannot exist except with an essence. This essence then must be the essence of no other but God. God has essence and really exist. God cannot be just an abstract idea, or a fruit of man’s imagination only.

God is the creater of Man, this Universe and all the inhabitants in it. God is the creator of everything in the heavens and on the earth. God cannot be seen with the physical eye. However, one can see Him with the mind’s eye using the sense of reasoning when passing judgement on anything to see the truth.

Mankind has been endowed with the sense of reasoning by God. This is the difference between us, the humans, and animals. Man is able to think and ponder upon things and the happenings around him. Through reasoning, a man asks and reasons to himself.

Reason it to yourself Fang, why is it that a new-born baby knows exactly where to turn to, to satisfy his hunger? It is not possible for the baby to teach himself. His mother did not teach him. So who taught the new-born baby?

What about the soul? Every human being has a soul. You have a soul. I am sure you feel it in you and always find yourself trying to protect it, protecting your body that encases it, from getting hurt. So ask yourself, who gave you the knowledge of the soul being there? Who taught you to try and protect it always? Who put the soul in you? When the soul departs from the body, the body decays. So where did the soul go? Who made it so? Whose ‘created way’ (plan) is this?

What about the working of a man body? Man eats food and it goes down taking its known course automatically. Every part of our body has a function to perform, every part of our body performs its individual function diligently, without stopping and every part is dependent on another. When one part stops functioning, our body become ill.

Can you explain completely the working of the body? The doctor can say, “It stopped working because the heart did not beat anymore”. But the doctors cannot explain why the body should not work anymore when the heart stops beating, when the heart stop pumping blood and oxygen to various parts of the body? Perhaps they will answer, “The various parts must be nourished with oxygen so that they can work.” But we ask, “Why must they be nourished as such?”

Sometimes Science, medicine and doctors did heal our illness but it only happened WITH GOD’s HELP. Without the Will power of God, illness will not be cured. Since God is source of all existence, Science and Medicine exist through God’s will power.

You see Fang, signs of God are spread all over the Universe. In some places it is rocks and inanimate matter that provide a pointer to some profound reality. In such instances, it is one who has opened his mind to truth who will find it. If one is not receptive to instruction one will gain nothing from all the signs that are scattered throughout the world. One who remains open to instruction will look on the whole world as living proof of divine realities. One who goes through life with a closed mind, however, is like a beast who hears and sees all, but understand nothing.

So Fang, use your sense of reasoning to find the truth and please refrain yourself from making fun of Islam. I am challenging you that there is one true God to worship and that the Theory of Evolution in the creation of man and this Universe is a myth. Man and this Universe are created as planned by God. Not by chance.

A constantly changing and evolving process of us in mind and body from a child - teenage - adult -to old age, did taught us to be mature in thinking to learn about ourselves and the universe based on EVIDENCES in the form of SIGNS in nature; the mountains, the ocean, the sky, the human body highlighted above, will result to finding the TRUTH that there is a Creator, the One True God, if only you are serious about what you are seeking for.

Like Amanda, I am sorry too that you did not have the opportunity to experience the feeling of God in your heart.

I am not here to offend anybody, but as a Muslim it is my responsibility to share my knowledge for the benefits of mankind. May God guide us all. End.

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Indeed in every living human body there is a soul.  Without soul there is no life in the human body.    

The Soul and the stages of its age

In every living human being, there is a soul that governed the body.  The soul is always alive moving from one stage of age to another.  According to Imam Habib Abdullah Haddad in his book  ”Sabilul Iddikar Wal-I’Tibar” (The Reminder of Human Age), every human soul has five stages of age.  

The first stage is from the time Allah s.w.t. created Prophet Adam a.s. and provided him with pedigree, the ’seeds’ in the form of semen, at his bone of the hip (i.e. located around this area).   

”And (remember) when your Lord brought forth  from the children of Adam, from their loins, their seed, and made them testify of themselves (saying): Am I not your Lord?  They said: Yes, verily.  We testify.  (That was) lest you should say at the Day of Resurrection: Lo! Of this we were unaware; or lest you should say: (It is) only (that) our fathers ascribed partners to God of old and we were (their) seed after them.  Will You destroy us on account of that which those who follow falsehood did? - Thus We detail Our revelations, that perhaps they may return”

(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:172-174 ) 

This is an evidence that when God created Prophet Adam a.s., God created us all too.  All of us were in the form of Ruh (Spirit).  It is just a matter of time that we being transferred flesh and blood.  Hence, through our father we are being brought down into this world and through our mother, we are being delivered onto the face of this earth.

The second stage is from the time man is born until his death, that is, from the time he is being developed in his mother’s womb, delivered into this earth until his last breath on his death-bed.  

”Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then fashioned We the drop into a clot, then fashioned We the clot into a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump into bones, then clothed We the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation.  So blessed be God, the Best of creators.” 

(Surah Al-Mu’minum, 23: 12-14 )

“O people! If you are in doubt concerning the Resurrection, then lo! We have create you from dust, then from a drop of seed, then from a clot, then from a little lump of flesh shapely and shapeless, that We may make (it) clear for you.  And We cause what We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed time, and afterward We bring you forth as infants, then (give you growth) that you attain your full strength.  And among you there is he who dies (young), and among you there is he who is brought back to the most abject time of life, so that, after knowledge, he knows nothing.  And you (O Muhammad) see the earth barren, but when We send down water thereon, it does thrill and swell and put forth every lovely kind (of growth). That is because God, He is the Truth.  Lo! He quickens the dead, and lo! He is Able to do all things; and because the Hour will come, there is no doubt thereof; an because God will raise those who are in the graves. 

(Surah Al-Hajj, 22: 5-7 )

The third stage is the time when the soul of man moves on, leaving the physical human body into the world of Barzakh.

”And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in You from suggestions of the evil ones, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me, until, when death comes to one of them, he says: My Lord! Send me back, that day I do right in that which I have left behind! But nay! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is a barrier until the Day when they are raised.”

(Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:10 )

The fourth stage started when the trumpet is being blown and everybody is being resurrected from the graves.  It is the promised day. The Resurrection and Judgement Day. 

”They await but one shout, which will surprise them while they are disputing.  Then they cannot make bequest, nor can they return to their own folk.  And the Trumpet is blown and lo! From the graves they come to their Lord, crying: Woe upon us! Who has raised us from our place of sleep? This is that which the Beneficent did promise, and the Messengers spoke truth.   

(Surah Yassin, 36:51 )

The fourth stage will come to an end as soon as everybody is being judged and designated to the respective permanent resting place, that is, either to dwell in Hell or Paradise.  Thus, the fifth stage commence as soon as the members of Hell enter Hell and the members of Paradise enter Paradise for eternity.

“Lo! The guilty are immortal in Hell’s torment.  It is not relaxed for them, and they despair therein.  We wronged them not, but they it was who did the wrong.  And they cry: O master! Let your Lord make an end of us.  He says: Lo! Here you must remain.  We verily brought the Truth to you, but you were, most of you, averse to the Truth.”

(Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:74-78 )

”And those who disbelieve are driven into Hell in troops till, when they reach it and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say to them: Came there not to you Messengers of your own, reciting to you the revelations of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this your Day? They say: Yes, verily.  But the Word of punishment for disbelievers is fulfilled.  It is said (to them): Enter you the gates of Hell to dwell therein.  Thus evil is the journey’s end of the arrogant.

(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:71-72 )

”And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good works; for them are Gardens underneath which rivers flow; as often as they are entertained with food of the fruit thereof, they say: This is what was given us aforetime; and it is given to them in resemblance.  There for them are pure companions; there forever they abide.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:25 )

”And those who keep their duty to their Lord are driven to the Garden in troops till, when they reach it, and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say to them: Peace be to you! You are good, so enter you (the Garden of Delight!) to dwell therein; they say: Praise be to God, Who has fulfilled His promise to us and has made us inherit the land, sojourning in the Garden where we will! So bounteous is the wage of workers.

(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:73-74 ) 

In Memory…

On 6th February 1982, I received a bad news from Jakarta.  My father had a sudden heart attack at the airport.  He then passed away upon arrival at the hotel.  His body was flown back to Singapore on 9th February 1982 and was buried on the same day.  If my father were to be alive today, he would have been the same age as my eldest brother-in-law. 

 

A family photo 

My eldest brother-in-law, a father figure to me, was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on 6th February 2008.  He passed away on 9th February 2008 of Cancer at the age of 68.   He was first diagnosed with Prostate Cancer around this period, last year. 

Two beloved individuals in my life had passed away about the same date, twenty-six years apart.  Both were my father.  Allah, the All-Wise took back my natural father and replaced the vacant spot with a father figure, a brother-in-law whom I acquired through my marriage to my husband.  What a wonderful way on how Almighty Allah had handled my affair. 

Thank you Allah for the wonderful gift of fatherly love through my two fathers.  I love them both dearly.  I know and understand that Allah the All-wise, love them more, taking them back during the time when their souls are full of purity.  

Indeed, they are good souls full of Iman.  They were once, within the body of good men who were true Muslims, submitting to the Will of Allah (s.w.t.).  I know that they are now in good hands of Allah (s.w.t.).  May Allah’s blessing be upon them.  May the souls of my father and brother-in-law, rest in peace in the world of Barzakh, awaiting for Resurrection day.   Aameen.

Indeed we are here on this earth temporarily.  When it is time to move on to the next stage, our souls have to go, leaving our dead body behind to be buried six feet underneath the ground.   Thus, from clay our body was made off and to clay shall it be returned….. 

Time Out: The art of a deal

ROBERT, an art connoisseur, is in Italy for a holiday.  While walking in a less touristy part of town, he noticed a scrawny little kitten, in front of a deli, lapping up milk from a saucer.  He realised, with a shock, that the saucer is a very rare and precious piece of pottery.  He strolled into the store and offered 2 euros for the cat.”It’s not for sale,” said Anthony, the proprietor.

“Look,” Robert said, “that cat is dirty and undesireable, but I’m eccentric.  I like cats that way.  I’ll raise my offer to 10 euros.”

“It’s a deal,” Anthony said, and pocketed the money.

“For that sum, I’m sure you won’t mind throwing in the saucer,” Robert said, “The kitten seems so happy drinking from it.”

“No, I can’t” Anthony said firmly.  

“That’s my lucky saucer.  Because of that saucer, I’ve sold 34 cats so far this week.”

-Spotted by T Raymond

(Extracted from: The New Paper, 15 Aug 2007)  

Moral of the Story:  Honesty is the best Policy.

‘Aqiqa

According to the Islamic teaching, on the day a child is born, Adhan should be recited in his/her right ear and Iqama in his/her left ear.  ‘Aqiqa  should be conducted on the seventh day of his/her birth.  On the same day, a child should be named and the head shaved off.  Then the shorn hair should be weighed and an equal amount of silver (equal to the weight of the shorn hair) be given away as charity.

Narrated Samura,  Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) said, “Every boy is pawned against his ‘Aqiqa, to be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, his head to be shaved and he be given a name,” (Reported by Ahmad and Al-Arba’a, At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih). 

‘Aqiqa  is a term used for the sheep/sheeps to be slaughtered  when a baby is born to thank Almighty Allah for the gift of life.  Hence, the act of  ‘Aqiqa is an act of sacrificing one or two sheeps on the occasion of the birth of a child, as a token of gratitude to Allah (s.w.t).  The observance of ‘Aqiqa is Sunna (a supererogatory act).  

 Narrated Salman bin ‘Amir Ad-Dabbi:  I heard Allah’s Messenger saying, ” ‘Aqiqa is to be offered for a (newly born) boy, so slaughter (an animal) for him and relieve him of his suffering.” (Reported by Imam Al-Bukhari)

Majority of Muslim scholars agreed to the Hadith reported in Sahih At-Tirmidhi that the Prophet (s.a.w.) ordered two sheep for a male child and one sheep for a female child and that is his Sunna, the legal way of ‘Aqiqa.

Narrated ‘Aisah (r.a.): Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) ordered them that two equal sheep are to be slaughtered for a boy, and one for a girl (at their birth).  (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Below is the ‘Aqiqa ceremony on 23rd December 2007 for my new born niece, Liyana.  Happy Viewing!

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(To my dear cousins, Irman and Faridah, May the birth of Liyana brings more joy and laughter in your marriage.  Happy 11th Anniversary! May Allah s.w.t. bestow Liyana with good health, good knowledge, guidance, and protections against evils throughout her life.  May Liyana grow-up to be a fine individual; a good daughter to her parents and elders, a good sibling to her brother and sister, a good student throughout her life continuing to learn as she grows, applying her knowledge with full wisdom, a good citizen to her country and a good Muslim. Aameen.)

Eid-ul-Adha 2007 Celebration

Today Singaporean Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha 2007.  It had been a tiring day for me.  The whole morning I was at the Sultan Mosque for Ibadah Qurban.  And the other half day was spend visiting my relatives to distribute the Qurban meat from my slaughtered sheep.  I was totally exhausted by the time I reached home.  Nevertheless, I took the time to post the pictures taken at the Mosque to show the world a glimpse of Ibadah Qurban in Singapore.  Happy viewing!  Eid Mubarak!

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Misconceptions on Hajj

The lifestyle in Singapore is very competitive and demanding.  Generally, like any other Singaporeans, the Muslims in Singapore are extremely busy to excell in their career.   To perform Hajj has always been a challenge for many of them, even to those who already have enough saving for the Holy pilgrimage. 

I was a young adult, just turned 21, when I first blurted out expressing my desire to perform Hajj during that time to a group of friends.  They looked at me as if I was a weirdo.   Upon hearing my statement, most of them had advised me that I should put a hold on it until the age of retirement.   Back then, they had the idea that Hajj was for the older and mature Muslims.  According to them, Hajj might deprive chances to advance in career and at a young age, there were too much work obligations hence, retirement age was a perfect age to perform Hajj.  This notion for delaying Hajj pilgrimage is still common today. 

I felt disappointed to hear much discouragement from my friends.  I was unhappy to hear their views.   I thought their perceptions on Hajj were peculiar, especially on the part in which they have the idea that it would be a waste of money, efforts and time to perform Hajj at an early age.   According to them young people should enjoy life full of entertainments, leaving Hajj for their old age, believing that the holy rites of Hajj will automatically wipe out previous sins.  

At that time, in my thoughts why would one, want to perform Hajj at an age when the human body degenerates and might not be physically fit to undertake the rigors journey of Hajj.  I was then recalling the time when my grandaunt performed Hajj with difficulties.  She narrated that she had to engage people to carry her on a wooden chair-like carriage carried by four men on their shoulders during Tawaf due to her feeble legs.  And the worst part was when while performing the Ibadah she needed to go to answer the call of nature frequently due to bladder problem.

One possible reason to have such idea of wanting Hajj for old age is because at retirement age, the human body is unable to enjoy the lifestyle that the young people used to have thus, turning to religion for comfort and Hajj fits in perfectly.  Apart from this, inferiority complex has always been a problem within those with such thoughts.  They often claim that they have not reached the required level to perform Hajj.  According to them Hajj is a difficult Ibadah and need more time to improve themselves in order to achieve a certain level before performing it. 

Indeed, such perception and understanding about Hajj, believing that it is meant only for the older muslims (of which are supposedly according to those with such view, are more mature and learned Muslims), is not right.  Such thinking still manifests in the young minds of today’s generation.  The fact is, older muslims are normally more mature than the younger ones but, they may not be necessarily learned people, particularly in Islamic knowledge. 

Nevertheless, as the youngest among the group, I listened attentively to my friends’ suggestions and swallowed all of them out of courtesy.  However, there was one among them whom her statements simply cannot be forgotten.   I was told by this particular friend that a person who wants to perform Hajj must be able to recite the Qur’an fluently and beautifully.  Upon hearing this, I told myself that it was impossible for me to acquire such capabilities.  Unlike my mother, I do not have a beautiful voice to read out loud the Qur’an with rhythmic recitation.  

Back then, I had little knowledge and understanding about Hajj.  After hearing from my friends about it, I had the idea that Hajj was very difficult to perform with lots of supplications in Arabic to be memorized and felt that I was not ready yet.  I told myself I need to attend classes on Hajj. 

Hajj seems frightening to me too, most probably due to the fact that it being frequently expressed by many that while performing Hajj, one will be punished for all the previous sins.  Indeed I was then very naive and silly to believe such idea.  My mind was thinking of the time I hurt my father’s feelings, a day before his death, which to me it was a great sin and I thought that I would surely be punished in Makkah.  What a fool I was!   

It was from my mother that I learned, one should not wait for old age to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.   My mother performed her first Hajj with her brother in 1984 at the age of 40, utilizing the privilege air ticket given by her employer.  She paid only for the lodging package.  On the day of her departure bound for Makkah, I had wish for Hajj to be ordained to me during my prime time, at the age when my body is physically strong with an alert mind to endure the journey of the Hajj pilgrimage, just like my mother.  Al-Hamdulillah, Almighty Allah had granted my wish.

(The previous posts  pertaining to Hajj were written based on the Hajj/Ummrah courses that I attended, the knowledge gained through extensive reading on Hajj/Ummrah, and my real life experiences performing Ummrah 1997, Ummrah 2000 and Hajj 2005.   I had learned about Hajj from Ustaz Osman bin Jantan, Ustaz M.Salleh bin A.Hamid, Ustaz Shafee and Ustazah Mariam bte Rauf.    All the goodness derives out of these posts are from Allah, and all the errors are from my weakness.)

Hajj for a Mother

During Hajj 2005 registration in January 2004, I was thinking how wonderful it would be if my mother could join me to perform Hajj.   I had day-dream making supplications, standing side by side with my mother on the Arafah soil during Wuquf.   I wanted to have the memory of performing Hajj with her.

Few months before the registration, I had done Faraidh on the wealth that our father had left us; the proceedings from the sale of the three room HDB flat.  Since my siblings and I are all grown-up and have family of our own, living in our own home, it is time for the asset to be liquidized, turning it to cash and distributed to the respective beneficiary in accordance to the Syariah Law.

I had seen how my mother had struggled through life with and without my father around.  I wanted to give her something to remember that last forever and thought that a memory of Hajj performed with a daughter and a grandson would be a perfect gift.  I decided to spend the amount received from my father’s wealth to pay for my mother’s Hajj package. 

Initially, my mother did not want to accept my offer even though she was happy with my decision.  She thought I should keep the money for my own usage.   However, I was very persistence while my youngest sister was very supportive of the idea.  She encouraged my mother to join me performing the Hajj by giving her part of share to our mother so that the money could be used to spend during the Hajj journey. 

By the Grace of Allah, the Most High, my mother agreed to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.  Thanks, to Almighty Allah that I had a wonderful memory of my mother together with my son performing the holy rites at Makkah, Arafah, Mudzalifah and Mina.   I believed that she had achieved much satisfaction during the stay at the two holiest cities of Islam.  The big flood at Mina was her most unforgettable experience which until today, she always talk about.  

 

The road to perform Hajj

I was in my late 20s when I started saving for Hajj.  It was in the 90s that the saving was sufficient for my husband and I, to undertake the pilgrimage.  However, I encountered leave shortage.  This is  a common problem faced by many employed Muslim mothers living in Singapore.  Leave shortage usually cripple the intention to perform Hajj.  It takes time to accumulate sufficient numbers of leave or to win the confidence of the employer in order to have approvals for unpaid leave.  

A year after, when I managed to accumulate sufficient leave to perform Hajj, I thought I was ready to go to Makkah.  I was wrong again because I could not find suitable guardian to look after my two young daughters who were then still in primary school.  I was among those with children who wanted very much to perform Hajj, having sufficient funds and numbers of leave, but encountered problems to leave their young ones behind while undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage.  It was necessary to make certain arrangements with my closest relatives as guardians to the children and the agreement should not be a burden to them. 

I wanted very much to perform Hajj while physically able and strong.  Hence, when I could not meet the Hajj requirements, I decided to perform Ummrah instead.  Ummrah, similar to Hajj, is an alternative to perform ibadah in Masjidil Haram at Makkah.  Unlike Hajj that can only be done during Hajj season, Ummrah can be performed anytime throughout the year .  The difference between the two in term of the rites and rituals is that, in Ummarh, the pilgrims need not go to Arafah, Mudzalifah and Mina.  These places are only for performing Hajj.  

Al-Hamdullilah, I went for an Ummrah trip with my family on 27th Rejab, in November 1997.  I gained more knowledge about Islam during the trip.  However, few weeks after returning home from Makkah, I became sickly and always experience terrible throbbing pain on my head.  I went for thorough medical examinations on my body.  The doctors found that I was in perfect health.  They concluded that I was having a stressful life that led to severe migraine; which I found out later that the throbbing pain on my head was the work of Black Magic.  I was prescribed with painkiller by the neurologist and ended up in the hospital bed with Steven Johnson Syndrome, two weeks after consuming the tablets. 

I was hospitalized for half a month.  During the time of discharged from the hospital, my body was physically in bad condition caused by Steven Johnson Syndrome.  There were burnt marks all over my face and body.  I looked horrid and was not a pleasant sight to look at!  Internally, my organs were suffering several damages too.  My mouth was still recuperating from lesions, my liver was bloated, my bile was not doing a good job, and some of the nerves were not working well.  I was then very feeble with a pale, sickly face walking on a pair of wobbly legs aided by poor visions.  Even my arms could not endure heavy weight and my hand could not hold a pen firmly.  For several months I was unable to write. It was very depressing.  It took me about three years to be my normal self again, physically, thanks to Almighty Allah.  

By then I had stopped working doing Accounting job.   With the throbbing pain in my head and poor visions, I could not deal with numbers anymore.  I kept myself at home and drawn away from my friends and relatives, always giving excuses not to meet them.  I was depressed and constantly searching for internal peace and inner strength to continue with my life.  The Qur’an became my best companion.  When I was able to use spectacles again, I began reading the Hadiths Sahih Al-Bukhari and continue with the 10 volumes Tafsir ibn Kathir with much enthusiasm.  Just as I thought that my time was running up, I found the strength to move on with my life after performing Ummrah 2000 in the month of Ramadhan.    

I found much pleasure and satisfaction performing Ummrah in December 2000.  Unlike the Ramadhan in 1998 and 1999 which I had no physical capabilities to perform it, the December Ramadhan in 2000 was the best Ramadhan I ever performed in my life.   A kiss on a cheek given by a little Arab boy that caused me to wish for a third child while in the compound of Masjid Nabawi, was indeed a gift from Allah, the Most High.   In April 2002, I gave birth to my youngest child, a son whom my husband has been waiting for all these years.  I recovered miraculously, physically and emotionally, after his birth.  Allah is indeed the Greatest! 

By this time, my saving for Hajj was more than sufficient.  However, I had to wait a year more for my little baby to turn into a little toddler in order to bring him along with me for the Hajj pilgrimage.  I was not willing to postpone my intention to perform Hajj again even though noises were everywhere opposing my decision. Those remarks made by people around and near me did not deterred my heart even an inch.  I was not bothered with remarks such as ”You are wasting money”, ”You are crazy to bring a child to Makkah during Hajj”, “You will not be able to perform the Hajj rites properly”, “It is a waste of money and effort to bring along a child on a Hajj pilgrimage”. 

Even though the fear of experiencing natural disaster such as the Tsunami that happened few weeks before my departure to Makkah did make me worried, I was still very determined to proceed with the Hajj pilgrimage.  To me, all these things were challenges that gave me more reasons to perform Hajj with my son. With the help from Almighty Allah, I was able to prove to those who critized me that they were wrong to have such thoughts.   In January 2005, I performed Hajj with my husband, son, and mother.  I was tested with the Big Flood in Mina.  Indeed, Allah had caused my son to be the driving force that enabled me to perform Hajj 2005 completing it successfully with much satisfactions.  Al-Hamdullilah.   

  

About Hajj

”Hajj” literally means “to set out for a place”.  In Islam, “Hajj” means to set out for Makkah in a state of Ihram, during the months of Hajj (Syawal, Zulkaedah, Zulhijjah), with the intention to perform certain religious rites in accordance with the method taught by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam.  Hence, to perform Hajj is not to worship Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) .  Neither it is for worshiping Prophet Abraham (a.s.) even though, some of the rites are in part in memory of the trials and tribulations of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.), his wife, Siti Hajar, and his eldest son, Prophet Ishmael (a.s.).  Insteed, to perform Hajj, is an act of obedience in submitting to the command of Allah (s.w.t.), the Most Merciful, Most Loving, Master and Creator of this universe.  It is stated in the Qu’ran; 

“And Allah has made it wajib for mankind, for those who have the means, to perform the Hajj to the House.” (Surah Al-Imran, 3:97)

“And complete Hajj and Ummrah as a duty to Allah.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:196)

Hajj is a set of religious and devotional rites performed in Makkah that can only be done during the months of Hajj.  It is compulsory once in a lifetime to all Muslims, male and female who had attained the age of puberty and of sound mind, whose health and means permit to perform it.  

Having the means to perform the Hajj does not only confine to economical means but physical abilities too.  This means that, Muslims with physical disabilites are not obliged to perform Hajj unless they have the financial means to pay others to carry them.  Hence, Muslims should have financial means, physical abilities, a peaceful journey, travelling mode of transportations, as well as the availability of food and water throughout the pilgrimage trip. 

To have financial means include, the money to be paid for the Hajj travel package, the money to be used during Hajj, and the money to be left behind for the family at home to survive on, while away performing Hajj.  

To have physical abilities refers to the capability of a Muslim to perform Hajj in term of his/her physical strength, both in body and mind, to endure the rigorous journey.      

To have a peaceful journey refers to a trip that is safe, in which the route to Makkah is without any danger (such as war) on the life of the traveller.  In the case of a Muslim woman, she must have a companion who is her husband or her ‘mahram’ (such as brother or father) to accompany her. 

To have travelling mode of transportations refers to the vehicles to be used for the journey.  The person who intend to perform Hajj must have a vehicle to travel in.  It would not matter if the vehicle belongs to him/her or is rented. 

The route taken on the journey to Makkah must be one that passes towns where food and water is available. Hence, the countries that need to be passed through must not be experiencing famine.  Food and water must be available throughout the journey. 

The above are the general guidelines in determining the required means that make the Hajj compulsory on a Muslim.  There are several other required means, before the Hajj can be performed and they differs in many different countries due to the different types of environment, culture and practices. 

The first Hajj of a Muslim is the compulsory Hajj.  It is the one that is counted as the fulfillment of the duty to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.  All the other Hajj performances  after the first Hajj, are voluntary and cannot replace the compulsory Hajj. 

The Hajj Mabroor is the Hajj that is graced by Allah’s acceptance.  It is the kind of Hajj that has a lasting effect on the pilgrims who experience a deep spiritual transformation within themselves reconstructing their lives in the path of Allah (s.w.t).  Indeed, Hajj has been designed and ordained by Allah (s.w.t.) for Muslims to reform and earn high level spiritual rewards.