The Heroes Conference 2012

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamualaikum wbt.

1. Just last Tuesday (13th of November), I attended a conference in the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) with a friend from UiTM Shah Alam, Ammar.

2. The following will be some brief notes (in my own words) on several points I managed to write on some random papers I brought.

3. Firstly, during the time of companions, there was no gap between acquiring knowledge and practicing it.

 

4. Separating knowledge and actions is an act of the hypocrites (may Allah protect us).

5. This is very essential as many people nowadays only do 'fatwa shopping' due to easy access of knowledge we have nowadays.

6. The problem is when we either don't practice it, quarrel with others without deep knowledge about it, or even to an extent that we role-play as an  'alim (a scholar) with it (may Allah protect us ameen).

7. The companions speak more through their character. This means that, even without saying much, the fact that they behave in the best of akhlak is a subtle and effective form of preaching to people around them.

8. When we make efforts to see the pious and knowledgeable amongst us to pray for us, it is good that we also make efforts to pray for ourselves.

9. Quran is a book of revelation that has transformed a society. It is time to reflect how much have we responded to the call of Quran and be touched or moved by the message that it carries.

10. Prophets sent down by Allah reminded their people and children over and over again about the danger (and the need to avoid) the sin of shirk i.e associating partners with Allah.

11. We also have other characters who practice the same advice like Luqman to his son.

12. Verily, avoiding shirk is the central theme of Quran and message of Islam.

13. There is no God worthy of worship except Allah SWT!

14.  In grave, the martyr (shaheed) will not be asked questions. A gift, huge enough if we understand how difficult is the phase of life in grave (may Allah make it easy for us ameen).

15.  During the time of Nabi SAW, even the two great superpowers namely the Roman and Persian did not rule (and were not able or not interested to rule) the Arabs.

16. But Nabi SAW, with the permission of Allah SWT has transformed the Arabic society which was known to be very aggressive and rough to the most loving one. He has changed the people who were the lowest of the low!

17. Verily he SAW is the true mercy from Allah SWT alhamdulillah, through whom we enjoy Islam and eeman until today.

18. One critical disease that befalls the ummah nowadays as described and prophesized by Nabi SAW is Wahn, which means to love dunya (this temporary world) but hate death (the gate to an eternal life).

19. Lastly, there is a profound ayah (verse or sign) in Surah An-Nisa':136 when Allah SWT says, "O you who believe, believe!"

20. It's like telling an already eating person to eat!
 

21. That is to emphasize that  even for the believers, Allah still remind them to believe! This means to believe as a true believer. Subhanallah, what a wonderful advice and dhikr for us!

22. Lastly let me end by doing two things.

23. First, I would like to share an article in Malay language I composed sometime ago with regard to being a hero. It's here.

24. Secondly, I shall end this one by typing down here what I wrote down as a note during the conference.

25. "Darkness does not exist. It's only a state when light is absent. Ignorance may as well not exist. It's only a state when knowledge is absent.

Seek knowledge. Practice it. The world will then be bright, with light, that's right!"

26. Thanks for your time guys. Take care and have your blessed weekends.
 

27. Wallahuaklam. Wassalamualaikum wbt.

P/S: Prayers for the people of Gaza! 

With Sheikh Imran Hosein early in the morning at IIUM. I thought he was one of the speakers but no, he wasn't.