A program at IMU

For more details, please visit this blog.

Wassalamualaikum =)

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Prelude: Money And Riba' (Usury)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

Taking this short time that I have to pray to all of us, may Allah Almighty bless us all and accept our every sacrifice throughout life.

Insya Allah, I am planning to utilize this very rare but great opportunity being with family at home to come up with another difficult but factual, heavy but important article on Money and Riba' (Usury).

Please pray for me and may Allah return all the prayers that we make in the path of Him the All-Knowing.

"Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labor hard" (94:7)

Eid Mubarak everyone ;-)

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullah =)

Regards,
Ibnu Hanaffi

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Line 17: Exam And Its Lesson

This is copied from my Facebook Note- Ibnu Hanaffi
____________

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

1. It is an exam season in IMU now. I believe it is so in other places too. It is few final months of the year anyway.

2. Today I want to talk about you. (You say: Me?) And I reply: Yes, you ;-)

3. Imagine this. Exam was near. You knew you had to study to score. Then somebody gave you some targetted questions (more commonly known as spot questions) for the exam. The lecturer said you need it to excel. So you studied on that. Only that.

4. During the exam, all spotted ones came out. Not a single one was missed. BIG QUESTION: What do you feel?

5. Of course. You are right. You needed an additional buccal muscle to hold your huge smile. It felt so awesome and you shouted yeah! yabedabedu. I so love exam was what you uttered. And you didn't care when people call you insane while reading a sad news from NST while still smiling. Because you felt like the entire world was yours.

6. Wait though. What if it was the opposite? Everything was such a blur. You didn't know what will come out so you studied at random. You knew it was time-consuming and you intended to study all, but you ended covering only almost a third quarter of the whole syllabus. Worse, some of that were even forgotten as time passed.

7. Don't care. D-day finally came. You looked at the questions paper and.. ops? You looked again and brushed your eyes. Ops?

8. Ops? Yes, most of them were the other 1 quarter. And you were so depressed that even all other easy questions were awfully perceived as difficult. You were in emotional turmoil and entered a phase known as 'blank.'

9. Exam ended. You felt like flying and kicking and flyingkicking the door (not the lecturers please, there were innocent). So no flying colors this time around. No good results. No hope. Nothing. And you could not turn back time. It was not a  Doraemon's world. You were in total regret and repent. Arghh!

10. Comparison: In a way, life is the same. Guides are given i.e Al-Quran and As-sunnah. They were sent down to guide us to excel DURING the life in the hereafter, the same way we need resource to use DURING the exam. It may be difficult and of course it is difficult, but again, remember, it's not only now, it's more importantly, in the Hereafter.

11. Take that feeling and imagine. When you were one day resurrected, you find out you have nothing and you have breached the guidelines? The same regret maybe? No, it'll be worse. You can resit exam, you can repeat, or at least life must go on. But in the Hereafter? Can imagine the feeling?

12. Given the situation, would you rather consider to live at 'random' and just take a few part of Islam that suits you while forsaking the others? Are you weak enough to let 'random' people decide what world is to you? Let them decide what is success by definition? You sure?

13. Do you not believe that He already prepares us a manual book that explains all? Every single thing? (16:89) Imagine the good feeling. Imagine you feel that during The Day of Resurrection. Maybe recall is a better word. You used to taste what success was like. So can you feel?

14. It's ok. It's a choice. Consider life in the Hereafter. The feelings DURING the day. The same way we believe there are at least 2 conditions DURING exams.

15. It definitely will come. And there is no turning back. Two options: to LIVE and SUFFER or to LIVE and PROSPER. And in the Hereafter, it lasts forever. Not that forever. The other forever. Forever in the absence of death. In a time that is infinite- which means no more time, no more end. And certainly, it will come.

16. So are we prepared for the real 'EXAM' in the Hereafter?. Go grab the Quran now. Live with it now, if you haven't. Allah will always be there. To those who disbelieve, just wait when the day comes. He has 'something' for you.

17. "..............Taste you the Penalty of the Fire, the which you used to reject as false." (32:20)

Wallahuaklam.

 

P/S:

1. The pronoun 'You' used in this article is strictly addressed to all readers. I as the author automatically become the first reader, so it applies to me first, and then you.

2. It is Line 17 because it has 17 lines and the Quranic verse in the 17th point inspires this writing.

Take care all. May Allah bless us all.

-

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A Short One: Playing Our Game

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

I have posted the article below as a note on my Facebook, but decided today to put it here as well, for 2 reasons.

1. So that I can reach those who I reach not via Facebook (not yet friends =p)

2. To keep a good archive for future reference (which, for some reasons, are more convenient here than Facebook)

I am taking this short time before I sleep tonight to share a thing I believe is important for all of us as Muslim, not only so that we can answer questions by our non-Muslim friends, but more importantly to help forming a strong wall against numerous attacks by non-Muslim enemies, and most important of all, as a self-protection, so that we hold true to Islam, with a strong faith insya Allah.

Allah says in Surah Al-An-'Am (6:125) which means: "Those whom Allah (in His plan) wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam, those whom He wills to leave straying, He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies, thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe."

Questions about prohibition of pork consumption, women must wear hijab, poligamy and many more are one of many ways enemies use to actually make fun of us and to pose logical but manipulated queries to create our own suspicions against Islam. No doubt though that some are very sincere to understand and seek truth, either way, we have to be careful on how to respond.

All the time, we can answer directly to the questions asked by giving 1001 reasons, logical explanations, scientific proofs and so on. For example, we don't eat pork because scientifically it can cause many diseases and pigs are filthy animals- that answer, of course makes sense.

But please beware of their games. We will never win unless we present our own game and not deceived into playing their games instead. Justifications based upon logical and scientific evidence alone, will hardly, if ever possible, put us on the winning side- because that's their game and their expertness, so they have the advantage to 'win.'

What is our game instead? Here: What ever the questions may be about, the first compulsory answer we must never forget is this- that I am a Muslim, I believe in Allah who says so, so I listen, Allah instructs so, so I follow. Aside from this answer, then only we can proceed with an 'optional' second response, which is based on logical and scientific reasoning.

You may ask why? Here are at least 2 answers why. Feel free to explore more.

First, let's take pork consumption for instance, reasoning that pork predisposes to disease and pigs are filthy are already invalid by now. Which means, if we use that reason for not eating pork, it means that we will agree to eating porks provided that it is no longer filthy and provides health benefit instead.

Mind you, across the world, there are many 'clean farms' with 'clean pigs' nowadays. Also, genetic engineering now has come up with pigs whose meats not only safe to consume but are rich in Omega3 which helps reduce risk of getting heart disease.

Having said that, would we then agree to consume pork just because our justification is now unjustified?

That is why we stick to the one that change not, until forever, the revelation from Allah, that He says eating pork is unlawful (haram) so it remains so until forever. Enemies out there have advantages in Science and technology so much that they can easily manipulate facts, even to the point of changing the nature (created by Allah by 'default'), just to prove that our Quran is wrong.

Allah already warns in Surah An-Nisa' (4:119) which means: "I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah. Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, has a surety suffered a loss that is manifest."

The second reason is based on a lecture by Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi, an American Muslim author and Islamic educator whom shared his one of many experiences.

In University, he befriended a very intelligent guy whom of course will not believe things easily unless there are strong and sufficient reasons to convince him to do so.

Yasir Qhadi had a 3-year conversation and casual debate with this friend of him about why Muslim women must wear hijab. With Allah's permission, he (Yasir Qhadi) successfully convinced this guy until he himself admitted that it would've been appropriate if all women (not only Muslim) around the world wear hijab. Unfortunately, he only was convinced with the wearing of hijab, not at all convinced it's because Allah says so.

The point here is that no matter what answers we give to respond to people's inquiries about do's and don'ts in Islam, our job is not to convince them based on their game (logical explanation alone) but more importantly is so that they (and us) know that it is so and so because it is a guidance and way of life prescribed by Allah in the Holy book of Quran.

Remember, in doing dakwah (invite others to the way of Allah), the ultimate aim is to do no other but to admit (with a total submission) that Allah is our Almighty God, One and Only- therefore we must follow everything He asks us to do and stay away from what He prohibits.

Wallahu'aklam. Good night all and please share with your friends and help enlighten them.

P/S: Allah, more than 1400 years ago (via Al-Quran), already described how is it if someone has HYPOXIA. Kindly refer to the first verse I include above. Praise be upon Allah.

Read more "A Short One: Playing Our Game"

A Pearl for Women

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

GLOBALIZATION

1.    When the term globalization was coined in around 1960s, electronic world has staged yet another virtual battle with real impacts. It is virtual because our portals to the whole world now are arguably mostly through the screens of laptops and PCs, whereby whatever message they bring across, they affect the way we think and we behave- forming, in reality, our very own thoughts and behavior nowadays.

2.    We are affected in the sense that we continuously receive a kind of invisible pressure that defines what world is to us. This is disguised under the name modernization and oneness, hence the word globalization, where we live without real boundaries, where every single thing slowly surfaces with a ‘global description’ that provides a global standard or global guideline. The classic example is whereby in some parts of the world, homosexuality is considered a human right.

3.    Killing thousands of Jews and having prejudice against them are regarded as unjust and anti-Semitic, while murdering innocent children  and women in Palestine is an act of heroism against terrorism- what a beautiful definition.

4.    This happens when advantaged people are given the mandate to define the world. What gives them the mandate? Power, money and control, to name a few. How do they get them? Knowledge, of course. They even control how we perceive knowledge and they are the ones known to possess and produce many knowledge we call syllabus at schools or policies in Politics, or facts in Science and theories in Philosophies and Economics.

5.    The consequence is simple- manipulation. Yes unless we know what is the real reference and resource material we should rely on, we are endlessly letting ourselves being fooled and manipulated. No reference would be fair and applicable to mankind, unless it does not come from mankind. Nor should it come from those of lower status and intelligence than mankind, hence why never will it come from animals, never mind plants.

6.    Who then? No other but God. Allah the Almighty. Here comes the miracle. A book complete of every single thing we need in our life. Al-Quranul Kareem. The biggest miracle for the people of Muhammad (peace be upon Him) prevailing all others given to prophets before Him, as this is the only miracle that lasts forever until the Day of Judgment. And it possesses all criteria required to be accepted as a reference to mankind.

7.    Allah explains about the Quran in the book itself in Surah An-Nahlu, (16:89) telling us that Al-Quran explains everything. “We have sent down the book, explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy and Glad Tidings to Muslims.”

8.    Having said that, why would we ever allow people with hidden interests to define what world is to us? Are we so weak that we submit ourselves to mankind rather than to God? How do we define modesty and chastity then? Has God not given us the guidelines?

Be Solehah and Pious..

ISLAMIC FASHION FESTIVAL (IFF)

9.    Islam is a name that should be copyrighted and as it belongs to the Owner and Creator, it is Him that has all the rights to correctly define what it means and what it constitutes.

10.    If designing fashions is given to Non-Muslims whom understand not Islam, moreover supported by Muslims themselves whom may hardly refer to the correct Islamic teachings, from Al-Quran and Sunnah, then the word Islamic in IFF is an utter abuse. Not only that it falsely portrays the true identity of Islam, it is an act of ignoring the authority of God whom knows best about His creation.

11.    “It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.” Surah Al-Ahzab (33:36)

12.    I personally doubt that Non-Muslims especially who oppose Islam will misinterpret Islam due to IFF. I have more confidence that they know Islam even better than our own Muslims and therefore may happily end up with a grin on their face, as a sign of relief, that even Muslims now join them for their standardized world of fashion. Even Muslims forsake Islam.

13.    Do we then realize? In Surah An-Nisa (4:140) Allah says, “Already has He sent you Word in the Book, that when you hear the Signs of Allah held in defiance and ridicule, you are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme: if you did, you would be like them. For Allah will collect the hypocrites and those who defy faith- all in Hell.”

OUR MODUS OPERANDI

14.    Does Islam degrade women and oppress them? To get away with all the propaganda and threat coming to us from left, right, back, front and center, we firstly have to grab the understanding and therefore answer that question. Women in Islam are highly valued and protected. Their beauty is so priceless that it is hidden by their chastity and modesty.

15.    Let’s go back to the past time of history- briefly.

16.    In Babylonian Civilization, women were degraded and denied all rights under Babylonian Law. If a man murdered a woman, his wife will be put to death instead. In Greek Civilization, there is this one mythology about an imaginary woman by the name Pandora who was regarded as a misfortune to mankind. So the Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. So prostitution was therefore a common practice because women were mere tools and had no values.

17.    Next, the Egyptians considered women evil, and a sign of devil. Before Islam came, a girl born was buried alive. They brought shames to the family. And the Romans were once allowed to take his wife’s life while prostitution and nudity were common practices.

18.    All the above have one thing in common. They were great civilizations with victories and glories, yet they degraded women? Clearly to them, that women oppressed, was a pride expressed.

19.    What does Islam promote instead? Islam, by all means, uplifts the status of women and acknowledges their presence with high regard. Without a mother’s blessings, one may be denied Paradise. And the fact that women are asked to cover themselves properly is to do no other but protect themselves. Who said so? Not me, none else but Allah in His Holy Book of Quran.

20.    “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not MOLESTED. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59)

21.    Please watch this interesting video on a funny answer by Ahmad Deedat about women in Islam.

22.    My beloved sisters, Islam provides you a means to protect yourselves through your clothing, would you not then ponder? Want to know something? According to The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention), 95,136 women have been raped in United States in that year alone. In other country like France even, a girl is raped during day time and people just walk and pass by- some even enjoy looking at it.

EXCLUSIVES FOR EVES

23.    Do we not think that the above could have been avoided if women understand the meaning of modesty and chastity in the first place (and dress properly)? Know you please that sexy that you define as beauty may be a thing that invites you to troubles.

24.    Stop torturing the eyes of men when you are not meant for them. Men only deserve you through marriage, the same way you deserve them. Know please that Allah created you as the biggest test to men, so it is your job to protect yourselves and be a good lady instead.

25.    “Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons…..” said Allah in Surah Ali Imran (3:14) and women is mentioned as the first thing that allures man, a big test for the Adams.

26.    Allah is fair, above anything else. He created men and women with their own uniqueness. Don’t you think that in a way, the above verse implies how women are mentally stronger as compared to men? Furthermore, Allah admonishes men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty FIRST, before He instructs women to do the same.  Refer Surah An-Nur (24:30-31)

27.    Day by day, more and more people post warnings especially for women as mentioned in Quranul Kareem for their misdeeds. I hope you can all take it this way- that people do that because they love you. They care about you. They want you to always be on the right path. I sometimes envy you for getting as much intention. But I have to accept that I too have responsibility as a man towards women, especially my mother, sisters, future wife and all other sisters, hence why a reminder for women is a reminder for the responsible gentlemen as well.

28.    Narrated by Muslim that Prophet Muhammad S.A.W has once said that, “The world is in abundance of ornament and decorations, but the best one is a woman who is loyal and pious.”

Wallahuaklam

May He lead us to the only Path..

Read more "A Pearl for Women"

Today I Cried. Yes Today.

Yes Today.

I had it all out. All released. It was life-changing. And it happened to me. Why is this heart touched very rarely? Perhaps because that's what that makes it special. It seldom looms. It is seasonal.

I tried my best to treat him well, not so much because I was benefiting from him, but perhaps because we are somehow like-minded. Today he spilt it all out (or maybe not all) and I was touched. I looked at his eyes and I knew he held back tears.

I was stronger. I know I should not let go. Maybe not until I am alone.

Dear brother, I sometimes question, when will you pay back all my kindness towards you? Today I realized, that it's not about me, it's you. You have done so much more than I ever thought you did.

I cried and I won't stop praying for you. Because when I cry, I know I should not complain of small eyes while I know they are people who are blind. I cried knowing that I did mistakes and friendship and fraternity make me know whom I am and where I come from. They make me know you!

You may not be in my family. We may not share the same blood. But we share the same aspirations. I never knew you were alone, because you always smiled and that disguised everything. All your sufferings and challenges. All of which I would cry upon if I ever knew.

I will not stop praying and praying for you. You make me know, and you make me thankful.

I love you brother, and my prayers will always be with you. You make me cry and the tears give my heart eyes to see and it makes me smile. And I will always do.

Take care, don't want to lose you..

Today I cried and yes, today.

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Eksklusif: Dia Gadis Pilihan Hatiku

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

1. Islam menggariskan empat kriteria untuk diambil kira dalam memilih pasangan sebagai isteri. Daripada keempat-empatnya iaitu paras rupa, agama, keturunan dan harta, agamalah perkara pertama dan utama.

2. Mana-manapun lelaki sepertiku jarang-jarang menilai kaum Hawa dari aspek selain kecantikan, tutur bicara dan tingkah laku. Namun tidaklah padaku hal yang demikian menjadi masalah kerana hakikatnya, penghayatan agama seseorang terlalu abstrak untuk diujikaji. Menariknya, penghayatan agama sebenarnya apabila diterjemahkan dalam bentuk yang boleh dilihat masih lagi merujuk kepada perkara yang sama- kecantikan, tutur bicara dan tingkah laku (tidak lupa juga penampilan seperti cara berpakaian).

3. Aku tidak selalu jatuh hati pada insan bergelar wanita, mungkin dulu ya, tapi setelah pengalaman bercinta (ini betul-betul, bukan cobaan) dalam tempoh 2006-2009 berakhir dengan perpisahan, banyak pengajaran yang telah membuka mataku. Mujurlah hubungan kami terbatas dek Laut China Selatan yang tak sanggup aku renangi, kerana sekurang-kurangnya, aku berpeluang merasai dan melayan naluri biasa seorang remaja yang mahu disayangi, tapi dalam masa yang sama  bunga cinta kami mekar tanpa pernah kami berjumpa melainkan sekali, apabila cinta mula berputik pada tahun 2006, seawal sesi perkenalan pertama.

4. Padaku, Allah cukup berhikmah dalam memberi pengajaran. Aku dijauhkan daripada berlebih-lebihan dalam pergaulan dengannya, tetapi masih ada sedikit ruang di mana hatiku disuntik dengan indahnya cinta manusia, sehinggalah Allah menariknya kembali, supaya aku faham bahawa sebenarnya itulah yang terbaik. Mungkin dia bukan milikku, tetapi hubungan persahabatan kami tidak pernah putus, malah bertambah baik, alhamdulillah. Sungguh, cinta itu lebih indah setelah ini semua berlaku, kerana cinta kini ditakrifkan dengan akal yang lebih matang dan berusia.

5. Mungkin hanya sejak kebelakangan ini, hatiku disentuh lagi. Dia ini bukanlah seorang yang calang-calang padaku. Cukup lain daripada yang lain. Kehadirannya mengajar aku perbezaan antara wanita yang kelihatan menggoda dan wanita yang bila dipandang, sejuk mata memandang.

6. Ada hadnya, betul sekali. Tetapi dia cukup istimewa. Orang kata kalau sudah terpalit rasa berkenan, di mana-mana pun terfikir tentangnya. Indahnya akhlak dia sehingga bila diingati rasa bersalah timbul di hati. Sekaligus menjadi motivasi untuk terus berdoa dan berharap dia dapat menjadi pendamping hidup pada suatu hari, atau sekurang-kurangnya seseorang sepertinya. Juga motivasi untuk memperbaik diri, sebelum kelak tiba masa melangkah ke fasa hidup seterusnya, gerbang perkahwinan (alamak, lama lagi sebenarnya, jangan gatal Ibnu Hanaffi!)

7. “Perempuan-perempuan yang keji untuk lelaki-lelaki yang keji, dan lelaki-lelaki yang keji untuk perempuan perempuan yang keji (pula),sedangkan perempuan-perempuan yang baik untuk lelaki-lelaki yang baik, dan lelaki-lelaki yang baik untuk perempuan perempuan yang baik (pula). Mereka itu bersih dari apa yang dituduhkan orang. Mereka memperoleh ampunan dan rezeki yang mulia (syurga).” (24:26)

8. Sebenarnya, artikel yang aku rancang lebih kepada pendapatku tentang pendekatan dakwah yang ku pegang. Tapi mungkin kerana tajuk seperti di atas lebih menarik dan sebenarnya ada kaitan dengan artikel ni, maka kumulakan begitu.

9. Begini kisahnya. Sekali lagi, insan istimewa ini menjadi rujukan. Aku harap ia adalah satu persamaan denganku. Inilah yang buat ku kagum padanya. Padaku, dalam dia menjaga identitinya sebagai muslimah solehah, dia tidak kulihat kekok menjalankan tanggungjawab ukhuwah sesama manusia. Aku amat berharap orang di sekelilingnya tersentuh dengan akhlaknya hanya kerana bergaul dengannya. Bukan senang ingin menjadi ikan yang tidak masin sepertinya, walaupun dia di dalam lautan natrium klorida. Sebetulnya begitu, kerana hormatku lebih besar kepada ikan-ikan yang tawar di lautan masin, sedikit sahaja mungkin hormat kepada ikan tawar di sungai yang tawar.

10. Inilah padaku, pendekatan dakwah yang sebenar- iaitu yakin dan kuat dalam membawa identiti Islam kepada yang bukan Islam, atau yang Islam tapi hanya separuh masak- inilah usaha yang bukan mudah, tapi besar impaknya. 

11. Aku tersentuh dengan artikel oleh Muhammad Jihad dalam Bahagian Kata Dua, Majalah Solusi Isu 24 (2010) yang sekurang-kurangnya tidak membuat aku rasa keseorangan. Benarlah katanya bahawa dalam dakwah, jangan kutuk tapi pujuk. Pendekatan hitam putih atau regimented (itu boleh ini tak boleh) bukan lagi caranya. Malah tidak pernah menjadi caranya. Rasulullah S.A.W sendiri dalam menyampaikan Islam (walaupun orang pertama) gah berani berdakwah dan banyak benar insan yang terkesan dek akhlak baginda yang masya Allah sangat tinggi dan berhikmah. 

12. Inilah yang kulihat masih kurang pada orang banyak yang mungkin juga termasuklah aku. Realitinya siapa pun kita sekarang tidak pernah menjamin siapa kita besok dan seterusnya, tidak pernah pula pasti siapa kita semasa kita mati nanti. Sebab itu amat bahaya untuk orang yang terlalu yakin akan terus kekal imannya sehinggakan orang lain dicelanya- atau mungkin jika tidak dicela, tidak diendahkan kerana dianggap masuk kategori ‘tiada harapan.’

13. Pertama, siapa kita untuk menghukum? Kedua, harapanku begini. Jikalah aku mampu mengubah walaupun seorang menjadi lebih baik daripada sebelumnya, itu adalah supaya suatu hari kelak, jika aku berubah ke arah jalan yang salah, mungkin dia yang berubah kerana pertolonganku ini yang akan menarikku kembali ke jalan yang diredhai. Nauzubillah, tapi inilah padaku antara contoh terbaik untuk menggambarkan bagaimana hidup ini ibarat roda.

14. Ketiga, lihat dan kajilah latar belakang. Ini ialah sebahagian daripada konsep adil dalam Islam. Adil ialah meletakkan sesuatu di tempat yang sepatutnya. Maka jika tidak adil, lawannya ialah zalim. Kita maklum bahawa Allah melarang keras kita menzalimi diri sendiri. Dan ingatlah tidak semestinya melakukan perkara yang buruk itu sahaja dikira zalim, tetapi tidak melakukan perkara yang baik juga adalah zalim, cuma sebutan zalim dalam situasi ini mungkin perlu diringankan sedikit kerana ia merujuk kepada mendatangkan keburukan kepada diri sendiri (bukan zalim dalam erti kata kejam).

15. Keadaan inilah yang aku gambarkan sebagai dinamik kejadian manusia. Sebab itu padaku jika ingin membenci, jangan benci tuan empunya badan, tapi bencilah sifat atau akhlak yang buruk, dengan satu keyakinan bahawa akhlak dan sifat itu boleh diubah atau dibuang. Juga dengan keyakinan bahawa sifat dan akhlak buruk itu boleh juga berjangkit pada kita pula. Yakinlah yang manusia berubah, supaya datang kemahuan dakwah penuh berhikmah. Ibaratnya, jika benci pada perisian Windows Vista OS, janganlah benci pada laptop Acer (artikel ini ditaip menggunakan Acer =p), sebab mungkin suatu hari, Windows Vista OS itu akan diganti dengan Windows 7 OS pula. hehe Faham ke? =p

16. Latar belakang individulah yang ku rasa perkara paling sukar untuk dikaji dan difahami terutamanya dalam usaha menyampaikan dakwah. Cukup sukar masya Allah. Dan sebab sukarlah ramai yang tak buat. Walaupun sebetulnya, persoalan sebenar bukanlah susah atau senang, tetapi adakah perlu atau tidak. Perlu, perlu sangat-sangat. Walaupun takkan habis. Tapi bagaimana caranya. Padaku, sekali lagi, pendekatan yang terbaik ialah mendekati masyarakat. Bukannya membenarkan apa yang mereka lakukan, tetapi fahami dan cari punca kenapa mereka lakukannya. Mereka bukannya orang yang keliru dalam memilih cara hidup sebenar (belum pilih), tetapi mereka orang yang telah memilih jalan, tetapi jalannya salah. Ibarat peti sejuk yang penuh. Jika mahu gantikan isinya, tidak boleh terus disumbat, harus dibuang dulu yang sedia ada. Keadaannya sungguh lain dengan peti sejuk yang masih kosong tanpa isi.

17. Begitulah situasinya. Sebab itu, kurasakan eloklah jika didampingi orang yang tidak Islamik cara hidupnya, supaya kita menjadi contoh yang baik, dan dalam masa yang sama, dakwah yang halus berjalan walaupun mungkin secara tidak langsung, bukan juga secara paksaan. Aku khuatir, entah-entah ada dalam kalangan kita hidup dalam cara hidup Islam pun hanya kerana itu satu kebiasaan, dan bukannya pilihan. Maka berhati-hatilah kita semua untuk memperbetulkan balik keadaan. Bukan, bukan satu kebetulan bahawa berbanding segelintir (atau mungkin ramai) saudara lama, saudara baru (muallaf) biasanya lebih bersemangat mempelajari Islam, kerana mereka tidak mengikut sahaja, mereka membuat pilihan. Islam itu pilihan mereka. Maka, berjalanlah di bumi Allah untuk memahami ciptaannya, kerana melalui ciptaan, kita memahami Penciptanya. Jangan mudah melabel, tetapi berdoalah kepada Allah semoga jikapun bukan kita, mereka-mereka yang ‘jauh’ ini kembali dekat melalui inspirasi yang terpancar oleh kumpulan da’ie yang jelas identiti Islamnya, tetapi prihatin terhadap mereka yang bukan dari golongan mereka.

18. Amat kuharapkan agar aku tidak disalahfahami. Berdamping dengan ulamak dan bijak pandai adalah amalan yang sangat baik, benar sekali, tetapi janganlah sampai menjadi alasan untuk kita membiarkan insan lain terkapai-kapai, seolah-olah syurga itu terlalu sempit dan hanya muat untuk kita seorang sahaja, padahal nikmat Allah banyaknya tidak akan terbayang dek pancaindera kita, apatah lagi Allah itu Maha Kaya dan tidak terbatas rahmat dan balasan baiknya.

19. “Maka tidak seorang pun mengetahui apa yang disembunyikan untuk mereka yakni (bermacam-macam nikmat) yang menyenangkan hati sebagai balasan terhadap apa yang mereka kerjakan.” (32:17)

20. Tidak juga aku kata perlu menghalalkan yang haram atau mengharamkan yang halal hanya untuk tujuan mendekati masyarakat, tetapi aku lebih menekankan kepada bagaimana kita mendepani perkara-perkara sebegini, lebih-lebih lagi bila ia sudah berlaku (It is not only a matter of what you say about it, it is instead also a matter of how you deal with it). Setiap yang berlaku, jika salah, ambil pengajaran, jika betul buat pedoman. Seterusnya, terus maju ke hadapan dan dekati orang ramai dengan mulakan melalui pergaulan yang baik, untuk membuka pintu perkenalan, supaya kita memulakan langkah untuk memahami, sebelum kita difahami. Ingatlah, biarlah mungkin hasilnya bukan sekarang, padahal bagi orang yang beriman, dia akan yakin bahawa dakwah itu satu proses! Proses yang paaaaaanjannnnnnnnng. <--- lebih panjang daripada ini semestinya =p.

21. Maaflah jika terlalu panjang artikel ini. Sebab itu saya ambil pendekatan untuk nomborkan setiap perenggan, supaya jika hanya baca sebahagian, boleh tahu di mana nak sambung bila saudara atau saudari singgah lagi di sini. 

22. Akhir sekali insya Allah, adalah berkaitan dengan situasi sebenar dunia sekarang dari kaca mataku sendiri. Aku yakin hampir semua orang pernah menonton, atau sekurang-kurangnya mendengar tentang The Arrivals. Cukup panjang jika mahu dijelaskan komenku tentangnya. Namun satu perkara yang padaku mesti diceritakan di sini ialah kepentingan untuk kita sedar strategi musuh untuk melawan pihak musuh. Taktik halus yang digunakan golongan yang bertentangan dengan umat Islam memang cukup bijak. Tapi aku percaya, ia tidak mudah. Mereka sudah lama mengkaji Islam dan umatnya. Inilah yang mungkin tidak difahami oleh sebahagian kita. Sebut sahaja musuh Islam, kita terus lari dan jauhkan diri daripada mereka. Padahal yang jahat letaknya pada niat dan perbuatan mereka. Habis tu apa yang tak jahatnya?

23. Senang sahaja. Nilai dan sikap. Inilah persepsi yang perlu diperbetulkan. Sejahat manapun orang kafir ini, mereka dianugerahkan akal oleh Allah dan jika kita percaya bahawa akal mereka itupun adalah kurniaan Allah, kenapa tidak kita mengkajinya? Dekatkan diri kita dengan mereka, sebagaimana mereka mendekati kita. Dekati di sini bermakna kita kaji. Malah, banyak nilai-nilai positif ini dicedok daripada Islam dan Al-Quran, maka kenapa kita tidak mengkajinya?

24. Itulah padaku antara cara yang terbaik untuk menentang musuh Islam- memahami mereka, kerana mereka pun sudah faham dan cukup masak tentang kita. Contohnya, cukup bijak mereka apabila tahu bahawa Islam itu kuat bila umatnya meletakkan sandaran kekuatan pada yang kekal, iaitulah Allah. Maka apa yang mereka lakukan? Tukar sandaran itu.

25. Daripada bergantung kepada Allah, kita kini bergantung kepada hiburan. Kita bergantung kepada wang. Kita bergantung kepada makanan. Apa bezanya makanan, hiburan dan wang berbanding Allah? Pertama, mereka tidak kekal. Kedua, siapa yang memonopoli industri hiburan, industri makanan dan juga mencipta wang? Mereka. Apa signifikannya? Signifikannya ialah apabila kita tidak lagi boleh hidup tanpa hiburan, makanan dan wang kerana terlampau bergantung kepadanya, musuh Islam ini boleh menarik semuanya dalam sekelip mata dan hanya akan memberikannya semula selepas kita ikut kehendak mereka. Logikkah? Jangan gundah. Percayalah pada Allah. Kerana mereka pun (musuh Islam) sebenarnya bergantung kepada ciptaan mereka, tetapi dengan syarat kita sedar dan tidak bersama-sama mereka.

26.     "Dan berpegang teguhlah kamu pada tali (agama) Allah..." (4:103) kerana itulah yang pasti kekal. ;-)

27. Ayuhlah kita semua berfikir sejenak dan merangka strategi yang lebih baik dan jangan sesekali ambil jalan mudah. Ingatlah, jalan ini pasti getir, tapi kita tak boleh mengalah. Kita tak boleh biarkan umat Islam terus menjadi buih di lautan. Sebaliknya kita mahu menjadi tsunami yang kuat dan padu. Orang kafir hebat dan petah menyampaikan hujah dan propaganda, janganlah kita cari alasan untuk tidak banyak bercakap kerana ingin kurangkan dosa daripada perkataan kononnya, padahal sebaiknya padaku, ialah menambah ilmu dan menyampaikan, supaya setiap perkataan, biarlah sikit atau banyak, yang lebih penting ialah isi dan manfaat daripadanya. Letaklah sesuatu di tempat yang sepatutnya. Begitu cara kita melawan mereka, jangan pasif!

28. Kata Saidina Ali, “Kebenaran yang tidak tersusun (terancang) akan kalah oleh kebatilan yang tersusun.” Renung-renungkanlah. Kejayaan tidak datang dengan mudah.

29. Wahai muslimah solehah yang memberikanku inspirasi, ku bertasbih kepada Allah (alamak, pengaruh KCB? =p) atas kewujudanmu di muka bumi ini. Ku hanya mampu berharap, tetapi Allah lebih tahu apa yang terbaik untukku dan juga untukmu. Semoga engkau kekal begitu, malah insya Allah bertambah baik lagi.

30. “Cinta itu,” kata Prof. Dr. Abdul Halim Abu Syuqqah dalam Tahrirul Ma’rah fi ‘Ashrir Risalah, “Adalah perasaan yang baik dengan kebaikan tujuan, jika tujuannya adalah menikah.”

Wallahuaklam. Ibnu Hanaffi mengundur diri. (^_^)V

Read more "Eksklusif: Dia Gadis Pilihan Hatiku"

Atrium- An Issue

Assalamualaikum all.

1. This post is to explain what is the real situation we are in now for especially those in the committee of Malay Cultural Week 2010, in response to your dissatisfaction over what had happened.

2. First of all, apart from this post, below are two other things. Number one, is the copy of letter I already passed to May Kuan at IMU Student Service Department. Second, is a poem I wrote just for the sake of doing it, nothing else, entitled 'Bila Atrium Mengaum'- which in English is translated as 'When Atrium Roars.'

3. There is nothing much that we can do after all. The Executive Dean has made a final decision, and even if we ask for grace period (so that the unexpected policy will not be effective too soon) it was never my expectation that actually the 'grace period' has long been granted and they had tolerated too much with noises students made at atrium in the past.

4. The climax was a quick knee-jerk reaction from the higher administrators in response to the terrible noise created on Friday until all that is left for us now is only the choice we already took this morning for MCW Opening Ceremony. No more events with musical performance at atrium, of any kind, for who ever and what ever society, and the best alternative, right after that is the IMU Driveway, with some kind of smaller makeshift stage. 

5. We can never run away from the fact that IMU is itself a very small place with limited spaces and cramp it all-kinda building. To make matter worse, as time passes, IMU is having more students, and therefore lecturers and staffs, leading to a more cramped timetable which, according to May Kuan, results in more classes and lectures, with many of them taking place even during lunch break!  She concluded that the reason for not letting any cars or transports into IMU Driveway is merely because it has been the ultimate aim of IMU President himself that IMU Driveway should be made a place for students to have musical performances or any similar events instead.

6. At first I was thinking of continuing several events which not at all involve any musics at atrium so that I can prove the worth of fighting over this issue. Things changed though. Based on my observation just now, I bet it is never that bad to have an event at such a place. On one hand, the turnouts were surprisingly satisfactory and somehow I felt that the place was a lot more comfortable in the sense that people who were there, they were there for the performance, and not for SSD or even CSU plus Dental clinics. Arguably though, I'd say we continue with this change and adjust accordingly- it is good to get out of comfort zone at times- hence my take to 'clash' with atrium and 'befriend' IMU Driveway ;-)

7. Maybe it's too long to dwell on further on this topic. I leave it for you guys to discuss and I am at all time ready to listen and speak out if it needs be, for the sake of doing the right thing, and for the sake of learning.

Thank you all for reading, may Allah bless us all ameen~

The Committee

Malay Cultural Week 2010

International Medical University (IMU)

___________________________________________________________________

Prof Victor Lim

Executive Dean

Faculty of Medicine and Health

International Medical University (IMU)                               27 September 2010

Dear Sir,

REQUEST TO RECONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW IMU POLICY

The above matter is referred.

2. The Malay Cultural Week (MCW) 2010, like the IMU Cup, is a huge annual celebration conducted by Malay Cultural Society (MCS) that involves many daunting tasks, hard works and time-consuming preparations. However, due to problems caused by some other programs previously, we are now tremendously affected by the new IMU policy of not allowing any musical performance at atrium.

3. We whole-heartedly respect the decision made by the administration but here are the reasons why we request for reconsideration. First, our program was approved many weeks before this new IMU policy came into effect. We therefore sincerely believe that we deserve some tolerance from your side to continue with performance at atrium or otherwise the whole preparation we made will be futile and worth not the time spent because this performance is a significant part of the event. We hence suggest that only event proposal made afterwards should then be entitled to the new IMU policy.

4. Apart from that, we were informed that the problem arose before because too many noises were made and to make matter worse, it was even before lunch break. We on the other hand, already consider this right from the moment we start planning for MCW, so our musical performances will not only be taking place during lunch hour, they also do not involve any loud and hard noises because we only promote traditional and cultural songs, which by right are all soft songs and which is why we believe the Chinese Singing Competition that took place at atrium last time was never an issue.  

5. We on behalf of all students however still feel obligated to apologize for the troubles made though it was not ours and we do understand the kind of inconvenience people especially from CSU and SSD had faced. But we rather consider this unexpected result as a knee-jerk reaction towards us thus we really feel that it is more than just and fair if we are given the chance to continue with our initial plan instead.

6. It is also worth noting that we received the news about the new policy on last Friday, despite our beginning of event on Monday the week after (today) which by any logical thinking, left us with not much of a choice. Therefore again, we really hope you would reconsider, maybe only for this time.

Thank you very much for your time and we appreciate them all with sincerest gratitude on behalf of the committee and all MCW participants.

Yours Sincerely,

……………………………………

(MOHD AMIRUL ASYRAF MOHD HANAFFI)

Assistant Project Director

Malay Cultural Week 2010

____________________________________________________________________

Matahari terbit manakan berdentum,

Tapi zarah cahayanya yang bercantum,

Lalu gelap jadi cerah,

Mata pun dah merah,

Satu malam tak beradu pun,

Bila fikirkan atrium tak lagi mengaum,

Biar bukan mudah,

Mudah biar terbiar,

Kerana hanya susah,

Bagi aura mengaum,

Dan susah daripada mudah,

Bikin atrium mengaum,

Kerana tiada apa sudah,

Selain tekad berubah,

Pelan asal jadi sejarah,

Tapi itu yang buat gah,

Kerana lemah jadi gagah,

Walaupun atrium tak mengaum,

Akhirannya semua habis pulun,

Untuk melihat biji buah

Semua masak dan habis ranum,

Biar sejarah mengajar santun,

Dalam susah ada untung,

Boleh belajar nilai agung,

Tanpa marah atau lompong,

Walau pasrah tapi kekal ‘strong,’

Akhirnya semua kata disulami santun,

Tamat dengan kalimah assalamualaikum 

Bila Atrium Mengaum

Ibnu Hanaffi 

(5. 33pm, 27 September 2010)

Read more "Atrium- An Issue"

The Day I Die (1990-????)

Death is permanent. It surely happens to all souls that feel lives. But in this post of ‘The Day I die,’ I on the contrary, will talk only about the days I have lived and to be lived, as I believe, it is my responsibility to do so when I am still alive, because the baton (to share about my autobiography) will be passed to someone else when I am already dead (obviously dead body can’t post on blog =p). After all, the best judgment is one that people make instead of us, and the best judgment is one that is made once we are dead. ;-)

A smooth and lovely sound of drizzling broke the silence of the dawn of the first day of Syawal this year, Friday, 10 September 2010. The day was just like the way it was in all other previous years except that the color of my ‘Baju Melayu’ (Malay custom garment for male) this year is turquoise. The normal routine was followed, breakfast, Raya Prayer and Takbir at the mosque, then ‘apology session’ with parents and family, plus not to forget visits to houses of relatives and friends. Everything was fine until near afternoon.

I had an unusual stomachache and it lasted even until after Friday prayer. It worsened and until we reached grandma’s abode, I could hold it no more. I vomited and was weakened badly throughout the day. At night, mom helped me eat and she spoon fed me haha and no it was not a funny part of the story until after I recovered and think back about it. Only 2 days later, I was back to normal, but skinnier of course. Sigh~ What a Raya it was.

The whole thing reminded me of where I come from and how I lived my previous life. There are too many things to write about my own tiny little world, but I better start writing about some of them so that whatever lessons it could give, it will remain that way even after I died- the same concept used to describe eternal beauty in Sonnet 18. ;-)

When I was 5, our family had a visit to state museum but something happened to me (which I bet remains a mystery until now) that I couldn’t even walk (half-paralyzed, if you will). I think that was when my dad realized that I need some kind of nurturing physically. Here comes another character, my eldest brother, Along (Ridzwan Hanaffi, on Facebook). We both are different in a way that he has everything that a real sportsman needs. His track record was excellent. Since in primary school, he was the champions in events namely cross country tournaments and long-runs, captains of soccer and futsal teams, bla bla bla you name it, and he had it all. All of which were inherited from my dad, a once takraw player who had experience playing even in Singapore back then in those P.Ramlee days. I, of course was quite the opposite.

Consequently, my dad brought me into the school’s football team, being a coach himself, and I was a captain too. I struggled hard in this new life endeavor and secured a number of commendable achievements I will remember all my life. Then it took me few years until I was enrolled to the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), where I got to know my real talent.  I was in Form 3 (2005) when I had to decide between a debating team or a soccer team (after nearly 3 years in both teams), and yes I chose the former.

The real journey then began. My encounter with a group of legends (in both intellect and oratory skill) changed my life significantly. Cutting this short, some of them are still around now and never fail to become great inspirations while some others have gone earlier leaving behind a never-ending admiration unto them and exemplary achievements to be proud of. I feel so lucky to be in the MCKK debate coaching family now, and yet, there are many things to do to prove my worth being part of them. May Allah bless us all and assist us along the way, to maintain the legacy of intellectuality and charisma.

Long ago I shot my bow
Where it fell I didn’t know
Much later in a huge great oak
I picked it up still unbroke

- Al-Fatihah to the late (Arwah) Adlan Benan Omar (1973- 2008)-

I am whom I was and will always be me. I was hospitalized 2 times in the past, with one same reason- lack of rest. One was in 2005, when I was busy with debate training and the other in 2008, while having PLKN (National Service) training in Selangor, also because of a packed and hectic schedule plus continuous hard work. My other problem (according to my mom) is bad diet. I eat very little, or even if a lot, usually not enough to support my heavy-duty lifestyle. 

But I never want to stop. Once again as always, I am physically challenged. It helps me explore my limits and it makes me satisfied though at times I failed and fell. Ups and downs in life, they are true friends, true teachers.

Looking forward, I believe the future that lies ahead of me is even tougher and challenging. Now, my focus is to get a real grip as a medical student while polishing on other life-long skills by holding a position in Muslim Society (MSOC), a student’s association in International Medical University (IMU) Bukit Jalil. And next year, everything will be accelerated. A whole new debating team will be established to battle on behalf of our prestigious college, the king of schools, the school of kings.

By midyear in 2011, the post (MSOC’s President) will be handed over to a new one, and to keep a momentum of hard work and mind-squeezing lifestyle, I plan to challenge myself by joining the IMU English debating club. By right, that should also provide me some added values to coach the MCKK debating teams. If everything goes well then, I always pray to Allah the Almighty God, that in everything I do, I am sincere at it, and before I die, I truly hope that I can benefit many people, be it by directly helping them, or by being an inspiration to them, the same way some people have been to me.

One day, the day I die, I hope I have fulfilled all my promises and may I die with peace, faith and pride.

Amiin~

 

Read more "The Day I Die (1990-????)"