Silly questions

As I am only a student of knowledge, I advice people to be critical of what has been written. Mistakes are unavoidable as we are human beings but I try my best not to mislead people. My writing is consistent with my view at the time of writing. People might change things, like Imam Shafie with his old and new rulings, and that is why we as reader need to question the validity of the writings, of the hadith used for example, or the sanity of the person who wrote the article. We cannot afford to be careless nowadays.

I noticed the quietness (inactiveness) of Malaysian (Malay especially) in asking question would probably stem from our culture. It is not a bad thing to be nice and thoughtful (in case the lecturer was in rush, or the question might be too difficult to answer), but it is not the way Islam taught us. Sometimes we wonder how could people believe in certain things which are obvious to us that they are wrong? Take Kahar, the Malay Prophet for example. Or Ayah Pin, Kerajaan Langit. The lack of questioning put us into belief that everything we heard about Islam must be right. Of course, the matter will be made worse if the teacher himself avoid answering the question by making up excuses like 'Siapa yang banyak bertanya lemahlah imanya.' or shouting 'Mangkuk' if the student persists in asking question. The story of Bani Israel in Surah Al-Baqarah was often quoted to show that too much question can be disastrous. While not denying the fact that there are questions that best left unanswered, other examples shown by the sahabat during Prophet time dictates the opposite.

Imagine asking Aishah, the mother of believers whether is it allowed for spouses to look at each other's private part. Aata r.a did this and he did not shy away from asking what we consider a sensitive question. Umm Sulaym was reported to have asked Rasulullah whether women need to take ghusl if they have wet dream, and she began her question by saying: 'Surely, Allah is not shy from the truth.'
Forwarding E-mails

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Jika datang kepada kamu seorang fasik membawa sesuatu berita, maka selidikilah (untuk menentukan) kebenarannya, supaya kamu tidak menimpakan sesuatu kaum dengan perkara yang tidak diingini dengan sebab kejahilan kamu (mengenainya) sehingga menjadikan kamu menyesali apa yang kamu telah lakukan. (Al-Hujarat:6)

Rasullullah bersabda: Memadailah seseorang itu dibebani dosa jika ia menceritakan setiap apa yang dia dengar. (Sahih Muslim)

My own experience taught me not to take things for granted of questioning the validity of e-mail that we received. I was (and hopefully still am) a stern opponent of forwarding e-mails that promote slander and fitnah. It is amazing how easy to find whether something is true or not, just by searching in google. Until one day, Allah probably wanted to show me how people can still make mistake despite their belief in certain things (as Allah only belongs the perfection). I received a forwarded email after 9/11 about the converting the flight number into wingding font. Sound familiar? I quickly did that and obviously I was stunned by the result. Shocked at the result and the 'co-incidence', I straight away forwarded the email to my classmate. How blessed I was to have such friends when one of them pointed out to me that the flight number was wrong in the first place and that email was just insensitive to the calamity that happens. May Allah continue to make him the divider between good and evil. I realized that I am not invincible from doing something which we are against. We blame the politician for the corruption as if we will never be corrupted. We backbite the unmarried couple who date without offering any help or solution. Did we not hear the verse of Quran cautioning those who think they are mukmin without having to stand trials like the one before them?

I am thankful to Allah for being here in Ireland, being exposed especially to other Muslims coming from all over the world. Those experiences have changed the way I think and behave. 10 years ago, one thing that came to my mind was a question, why do Muslims do things differently? One thing led to another, and to another, and to another. No doubt these questions will continue to revolutionize the way I am now. May Allah show us guidance.

I am encouraging myself especially, to continue questioning and not to take things at their face value - following the examples of the companions of the prophet. Asking question does not mean that we are rude, if it was done in the manner dictated by Rasulullah. We are responsible for ourselves, others can only try to persuade us.

@Peace

O My Son!!

When discussing what are our priorities in teaching our children, we cannot detach ourselves from the advices of Luqman to his son. Luqman gave few but worthy advices, and Allah has recorded all these in the Quran. If we are confused as to so many things to teach our children, then stick with his advices, Insya-Allah, they will be enough.

Why need the early start?

Why not? Don't we want our children to be included in the 7 groups that will be shaded in the day of judgement when there is no other shade apart from Shade of Allah (2nd group: Youth who are raised worshipping Allah)? Furthermore, look at the youth during early Islamic period.

- Alee accepted Islam when he was 10, Abdullah Ibn Umar & Abu Ubaydah was 13, Zaid Harithah was 15, and most of other companions were less than 30 years old.
- Sultan Muhammad II Al-Fatih, the conqueror of Constantinapole was 21 upon becoming the ruler of Uthmaniyah and was 24 when he conquered Constantinapole.
- Salahuddin al-Ayyubi aged 14 when he joined the army of Syrian ruler, Nuruddin, becoming commander-in-chief of Syrain army at 29 and capturing Jerusalem at 49.

And let us not forget, in the day of judgment, among the thing that will be asked is how we use our youth.

Surah Luqman 13-19

13. And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is great Zulm (wrong) indeed.
As of everything in Islam, Aqidah is the uppermost important topic to teach and master. This has been reminded again and again, and it is clear from this verse, it is the same with our children.

14. And we have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardsip, and his weaning is in 2 years - give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination.
15. But if they strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.
It is our duty to look after our parents, especially when they are old. Different to the situation where I am currently in, when sending money to the parents is considered excessive. Putting them in the nursing home is considered natural progression of life. Parents' duty of looking after us is considered our right as compare to their tender and unconditioned love. Forgive us O Allah and forgive our parents.

16. O My son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well-Aware (of its place).
If ask you to hide something very small, where would you place it? I could hide it under the pillow (soo typical, isn't it?) or in a security box. Or I can hide it in a place where I myself would not know, by going to the open field, close my eyes and throwing it to the sky and let it fall anywhere it was meant to. Yet, still Allah knowledge encompass all that happen. Nothing we can hide from Him.Concept of realising that Allah is All Watching, All Knower of what we do.And Allah will judge our deeds in the Hereafter

17. O my son! Perform As-Salah, enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (goodness) and forbid Al-Munkar (evil), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments.
Next is to teach our children on how to pray. Also included is for them to learn enjoing good and forbiding evil. My nephew would remind his father to go to Masjid when he hears the Azan (enjoining good), and his sister would not allow me to speak while I eat (forbiding evil). And when they grow up, the part of forbiding evil will become harder and harder to do if they try still, they will face stern opposition. That is when they need to have super patience. That Allah likes those who have patience, those who can keep their anger and not be reactive. My cousin, whenever his brother purposely tries to irritate him to make him angry, he would just walk away without any confrontation. And he was only 7 (I think) at that time. I asked him why didn't he answered back? He said - If he did that, then there will be a fight and physically, he won't win. So it's better for him to just walk away. Masya Allah, so small yet so mature. May Allah grant you a house in the outskirt of paradise as he has promised that for those who avoid worthless confrontation although he is right.

18. And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster.
When the children are successful at doing Salat, and giving advise to other people, it is important for them not be arrogant of their knowledge. Knowing that we are human being, and we will do mistakes in future. And those people whom we used to forbid evil, they might change and become better than us.

19. And be moderate in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the asses.
Teach our children to talk with humility. That it is better to keep quiet when there is nothing good to talk about. Rasullulah asked for one of his Sahabah, Thabit bin Qais who he has not seen for a long time. So other companions looked for Thabit and found him crying in his house. When asked, Thabit replied that it was an evil affair, for he used to raise his voice above the voice of the prophet and so all his good deeds had been annulled and he considered himself as one of the people of the Fire. The companions returned to the Prophet telling him the story. Rasulullah then, in reply said: Go back to him and say to him: You are not from the people of the Hell-Fire, but from the people of Paradise. (Bukhari). Thabit took the verse literally and felt it was directed to him. Subhanallah, how different is the Imaan of the companions compare to us...

@Peace

Martyrs who cannot go to paradise

My aunts bought their cars by cash, RM40,000!!. I was surprised, why would they 'waste' their money on car? Why not buy the cars by using monthly installment, it's not that there isn't any Islamic way of doing things. BUT, is it really 'waste of money'?

I was told recently of a way on how to get easy money. You buy a house, then re-mortgage. So let say you buy a 200,000 house in 2000. Then in 2005, you re-mortgage the house with value of 300,000 to your wife. Meaning that your wife need to find a new bank for funding, but the husband will get 300,000 in cash. After paying the original debt, then he is left with 50,000+. And same thing over and over again. You will get money, but your debt will increase. So at the end, if you are at your limit, then take an insurance that will cover your loan, so that when you die, nobody will need to pay the loan from your behalf. And for those who want to do this in an Islamic way, there is Islamic finance and Islamic takaful.

The Burden

It is sooo easy for us to be in debt, especially when we have credit card. Most of the money we earn is used to pay our debt. Want to buy 2000 euro TV? No problem, we can use credit card and pay the card next month. The debt WILL accumulate if we don't put a stop on it. That is how 'Ah Long' in Malaysia can make money, because people are desperate to borrow money. Like Salih Yacob song I heard when I was 15, 'Gali Lubang Tutup Lubang, Pinjam Wang Bayar Hutang'.

Of course, it doesn't end there. Do we realize that we might contribute to other people being in debt? We want thousands of ringgit for the dowry/hantaran. Not only it delays the marriage itself, some people have to borrow money to reach the amount needed. We still remember the money other people owe us 10 years ago although it was only RM50. Isn't it easy if we just forget the money and pardon the person? At least, we are not delayed if we are destined for paradise, Insya-Allah.

Whoever dies free from three things – arrogance, cheating and debt – will enter Paradise.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1572); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Dead with debts

Islam highlights the important of paying debt in that, if we die with millions of money and we have debt - not a single cent can be distributed until ALL the debts have been paid!

Rasulullah refused to pray for a muslim because he owed some money - not because he was not a muslim, but to show how important to repay our debts. The debts with Allah can be dealt directly with Allah, but debt with human being - we can only pay them with our good deeds in the hereafter.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) refrained from offering the funeral prayer for one who had died owing two dinars, until Abu Qataadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) promised to pay it off for him. When he saw him the following day and said, I have paid it off, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Now his skin has become cool for him.” Musnad Ahmad (3/629); classed as hasan by al-Nawawi in al-Khalaasah (2/931) and by Ibn Muflih in al-Adaab al-Shar’iyyah (1/104).

Martyred but cannot enter paradise

We all know that being martyred is the hope of many muslims. But do we know that there is one thing that will prevent them from entering paradise, even if they resurrected and martyred plenty of times?

We were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he raised his head towards the sky, then he put his palm on his forehead and said: “Subhaan-Allaah! What a strict issue has been revealed to me!” We remained silent and were afraid. The following morning I asked him, “O Messenger of Allaah, what is this strict issue that has been revealed?” He said, “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man were killed in battle for the sake of Allaah, then brought back to life, then killed and brought back to life again, then killed, and he owed a debt, he would not enter Paradise until his debt was paid off.” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i, 4367.

How heavy the burden of debt is!
How easy we are sucked into it!

When we have to borrow...

When we have to be in debt, then let us try to make it as small as possible. Let us try to have the sincere intention of paying back the debt, not hoping to die first and let others (or insurance company) be responsible for the debt. And don't forget, this ruling is only for halal debt. We haven't even touched yet the debt with interest....

The one who takes people’s wealth intending to pay it back, Allaah will pay it back for him, and the one who takes it intending to destroy it, Allaah will destroy him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2387).

Now, is it really waste of money to pay cash?

@Peace

You are the best person I have ever known!

Previously, I wrote something about backbiting. That we should not backbite. Backbite is the same as eating the flesh of our brothers and sisters. It is even more important to protect the person who was backbitten, knowing that if we cover our brothers' fault, then may Allah cover our fault in this world and hereafter. If we are unable to do anything to protect our brothers, then leaving the conversation is much better.

What if somebody say something good about you?

First of all, there is nothing wrong in praising other people for their kindness, as long as we are not exaggerating. Rasulullah showed the example by praising good deeds of certain sahabah to show others how praiseworthy their acts were. However, praising somebody too much is not advisable from Islamic point of view. We all have been praised in one way or another. We hope most of them are genuine, or so we think. That is the danger of being praised too much. Our mind may be blinded by the praises we receive that sometimes they cloud or interfere with our judgment.

Rasulullah equated too much praising to destroying oneself or cutting someone's throat. A man said, "O Rasulullah, there is no one better than him other than Rasulullah in such-and-such." The Prophet said to him, "Woe to you! You have cut your companion's throat. You have cut your companion's throat" - several times, then he said, "If any one of you insists in praising his brother, let him say: I think so-and-so is such-and-such, and Allah knows the exact truth, or I do not confirm anyone's good conduct before Allah, but I think him to be such-and-such. (Muslim)

We also learn from this hadith the importance of remembering Allah in eveything that we do, including praising other people.

If your are praised...

Some of the pious predecessors said: If a man is praised to his face, let him say, "O Allah, forgive me for what they do not know, do not hold me responsible for what they say, and make me better than what they think. (Fath al-Bari)

And remember the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah(Sunan Al-Tirmizi- hasan hadith), when he was asked to narrate a hadith that he understood fully. Abu Hurairah mentioned the hadith of 3 men - a man who learnt Quran by heart, a man who was killed for the sake of Allah and a man who had a lot of wealth. They were asked by Allah in the hereafter what they have done with the knowledge or wealth that they have. They all thought that they have done well, but they were wrong. They were sent to the Hellfire because they all want to be praised. The one who knows the Quran wanted to be known that he is knowledgeable, the one who spent the wealth for charity wanted to be known as charitable and the one who died for Allah sake wanted to be known as courageous. They were looking for praises from human being, and they got that, but not from Allah.

All praises belong to Allah.

@Peace.

Ke manakah perginya adab?

Dalam kita mengketengahkan ilmu-ilmu Islam, kita menumpukan pada aqidah pada mulanya. Memastikan bahawa aqidah seorang muslim adalah pada landasannya yg sebenar. Ada yang mengatakan Allah bersemayam di atas Arash, bukannya berada di mana-mana. Dalam keadaan lain pula, ada yang mudah mengatakan yang lain kafir, kerana seolahnya kita boleh membaca fikiran, apa yang sebenarnya dimaksudkan mereka. Dalam pada kita bergaduh dan bertengkar sesame Islam, kita lupa pada cabang utama lain dalam Islam, iaitu akhlak. Dalam surah Ta-Ha, ayat 43-44:

Pergilah kamu berdua kepada Firaun, sesungguhnya ia telah melampaui batas dalam kekufurannya. Kemudian hendaklah kamu berkata kepadanya, dengan kata-kata yang lemah lembut (layyina), semoga ia beringat atau takut.

Kalaulah Musa disuruh Allah utk berkata-kata secara elok dgn Firaun, apatah lagi kita utk berkata-kata buruk sesama muslim!!

Begitulah juga dalam cabangan Islam yang lain spt Ibadat, Sirah, Muamalat - dalam kita memperjuangkan kepercayaan kita, jgnlah lupa pada cabang yang akhir, iaitu Akhlak.
Tentu sekali akhlak yang baik atau jahat adalah subjektif, bergantung kepada empunya diri. Namun Islam menyediakan cara untuk melihat akhlak manakah yg dikira bersesuaian dengan Islam.

Berburuk sangka

Dalam surah al-Hujurat, ayat 12:

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, jauhilah kebanyakan daripada sangkaan, sesungguhnya sebahagian daripada sangkaan itu adalah dosa.

Mungkinlah ada antara buruk sangka kita yang betul, namun untuk menjaga keseluruhannya, maka eloklah kita kurangkan buruk sangka. Islam melarang org yang berburuk sangka, dan juga org yang berbuat sesuatu yang boleh mengundang buruk sangka. Dalam satu hadis yang agak panjang, diriwayatkan oleh Safiyyah, ringkasnya;

Bahawa suatu malam safiyyah (isteri Rasulullah) melawat Rasulullah di masjid. Dia pulang dgn diiringi oleh Rasulullah. Dlm perjalanan, 2 org Ansar tlh melintasi mereka, dan menyedari Rasulullah berjalan dgn seorang wanita, mereka cepat-cepat mengatur langkah. Rasulullah menyedari hal tersebut, lantas memanggil mereka sambil memberitahu bahawa yang bersamanya adalah Safiyyah, isteri baginda. 2 org Ansar tersebut mengatakan yang mereka tidak berburuk sangka. Rasulullah mengatakan yang baginda risau Syaitan akan mencampakkan sesuatu ke dalam hati mereka berdua. (Sahih Muslim Book 26: 5405)

Kerana Rasulullah menyedari akan kemungkinan fitnah yang mungkin timbul, maka baginda dgn cepatnya menutup pintu ke arah perkara tersebut. Oleh itu, memarahi org lain kerana berburuk sangka tanpa melihat kepada diri sendiri adalah tidak lengkap sama sekali.

Dalam melihat dan memandang rendah terhadap orang lain, kita mestilah beringat bahawa kesudahan kita telah ditentukan. Dalam Hadis 40 karangan Imam Nawawi, hadis no.4, Rasulullah bersabda:

“… ada seseorang di antara kalian yang mengerjakan amalan ahli syurga sehingga tidak ada jarak antara dirinya dan syurga kecuali sehasta saja. kemudian ia didahului oleh ketetapan Allah lalu ia melakukan perbuatan ahli neraka dan ia masuk neraka. Ada diantara kalian yang mengerjakan amalan ahli neraka sehingga tidak ada lagi jarak antara dirinya dan neraka kecuali sehasta saja. kemudian ia didahului oleh ketetapan Allah lalu ia melakukan perbuatan ahli surga dan ia masuk surga.” Sahih Bukhari 3208.

Semoga Allah mengampuni kita. Semoga kita sama-sama memperbaiki akhlak, di samping menyempurnakan aqidah, ibadat dan muamalat kita. Ibn Taymiyyah menyebut:

Yang menjadi ukuran ialah kesempuranaan pada akhirnya, bukan kekurangan pada permulaannya.

@Peace.

Writing an islamic will

Obligation

It is not rightful for a Muslim who has something to bequeath to sleep two consecutive nights without having his will written for him. (Bukhari)

The obligatory nature of writing a will only came to my attention during Global Peace & Unity Event 2008. It was further emphasized to me while preparing for hajj, I guess because there were lot of people died during the journey.


Why do we need a will?

Probably it was not that important when I was back in Malaysia, as whoever died in Malaysia as a muslim, automatically the wealth will be distributed according to the Islamic law of inheritance - or so I believe. It becomes more important while living in Ireland, as if you don't have any will when you die, the distribution of wealth will never be according to Islam.

It is clear that having a will (according to Islamic law) is a must when we are in a non-mislim country, but why must we have a will in an Islamic country?

Well, although we would like to think that the distribution of our wealth will be according to Islam, it does not happen all the time. In fact, based on my experience after my mother's death, nothing is there to secure an Islamic distribution, expecially when you are distributing the wealth manually. Alhamdulillah, my father took charge of the distribution and I am pleased with my family's willingness to expedite the process. Unless you are using somebody who know and have experience with Islamic law of inheritance, the process can be long and tiring - and easily mistakes can be done.

Moreover, the will acts as our last instruction to the living, on how to live the life. Imagine if we are going for a journey, we will live some provision for our family and we would want to say few things which we think will be important for the kids, especially when we know it is going to be a long time before we meet them again. If we are doing that for a relatively short journey in this life, why would not we want to leave pages and pages of advice when we know we are not coming back?

We have 1/3 of our wealth to be distributed to our like. We can take a passive role that the wealth will be distributed among the heir and hopefully they will spend it lawfully. Or we can take an active role by specifying which charity organization or specific person we want to give- to make sure that our deeds and charity will continue to benefit us even though we are not in this world anymore.

Knowing people will differ concerning whether to make talqin or not upon your death, or whether to organize a specific day remembering your death or not after your death, or whether to build a nice 'batu nesan' for you - easy way out. Put it in your will whatever you want, as long as it is not against the teaching, then the relatives will have to follow. Afraid to give dakwah to non-muslim that you know or giving advise to your relatives and friends - put it in your will your wishes. You will have no worries of them being offended as you are dead now. If Allah wills, they may change and you will have your part in it. But make sure that you don't do the opposite when people will just remember the bad thing you said to them till the day you meet them again.

While writing the will as well, we will be up-to-date on our wealth and debts. This will help in the calculation of our zakat every year. Writing a will as well will remind us of death that is due upon us at any time.

Legally binding

If you want to make it a legal document, then you will need to ask the knowledgeable - the lawyer. There are many books written about writing an Islamic will. In Malaysia, Amanah Raya Berhad (www.arb.com.my) can prepare a will for you for a small fee, if you don't much time to write one on your own. In the UK, 1stehical.com has provided some guidance on how to write a proper will online.

Whichever way you are thinking, start preparing as we never know when will it be our last word in this worldly life.

Be smart (by remembering death), write your will.

@Peace.