Importance of knowledge for being a Muslim

In this first part of a few series of article, I will endeavored to portray Islam in its entire perspective. The purpose is to provide Muslims and particularly non-Muslims with a brief treatise giving a lucid, comprehensive and all-embracing view of Islam. It is the duty of us as muslim to invite our non muslim neighbours to Islam. It’s then their role to reflect, contemplate and further search for the truth and choose to embrace Islam as a way of life or not.

In order to set a guideline for the discussion, I’ll attempt to summarize Abu A’la Maududi’s rahimahullah (rh) book entitled “Fundamentals of Islam” chapter by chapter.

In the first chapter, Maududi’s (rh) stressed that being a muslim is not a racial asset which we automatically inherit from our parents and clings to us mechanically whether we bother about it or not. Being a muslim requires that one person makes an effort to be a muslim. The person must take an extra effort to really understand what does it take and what does it mean by being a muslim – that is, to submit to the Creator’s Will.

Islam comes from knowledge and putting them into practice. It is impossible to become a muslim while remain a muslim if in a state of ignorance. A person becomes a muslim by accepting Islam through a deliberate and conscious decision and act accordingly. Therefore, the differences between a muslim and a disbeliever or kafir is not because of a name or a dress or to which ethnicity the person is from, the real difference is of knowledge.

The person is considered kafir because the person does not know what relation has God with him and what relation he has with God and what is the right path for him or her to lead the life in the world in accordance with the wish of God. If the person is a born muslim yet does not submit to God but instead pursuing other ways of life, what difference between the person and the disbeliever? How do one differentiate then? A person is considered muslim in a real sense when the person knows what Islam stand for and affirms his or her faith with full consciousness. Unless the muslim acquires the knowledge and learn the complete teaching of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and act according to it, the person can’t really claim that they’re muslim in a real sense.

A muslimah wears a hijab because of her knowledge that wearing a hijab, pleases Allah.

A muslim lowers down his gaze, not because of “it’s my custom”. No, because the person know such act pleases Allah.

A muslim, decided not to celebrate Valentine – because deep in the person’s hears it pleases Allah.

A muslim or muslimah avoid smoking because of the knowledge that anything that an act that purposely harms his or her body, angers Allah.

A muslim or muslimah supports hudud because of the knowledge that hudud is small part of a bigger system that Allah has prescribed for His slaves.

Thus, this is how a true muslim behaves. For any action, the person will think whether such act pleases or anger Allah the Almighty. A muslim will pursue any actions that pleases Allah. A muslim will avoid from any behaviour or position that may lead to Allah’s anger.

To know this, one must then has the right tool to help the person steer to the right direction. What is that tool? Knowledge.

Many of us are expert in our profession (especially in the age of Facebook everyone seems to be the jack of all trades) but when it comes to Islam, people tend to take Islamic knowledge for granted and assume that whatever knowledge we learned during our primary or secondary school is enough. We spend a great deal of time for our profession but probably less when it comes to iman. Why is it then we behave in such manner when Iman is more precious than life? We spend years and work long after office hours for our profession but when it comes to Islam we spend less than 1/10th of our time to learn more about it?

We don’t have to learn 10-12 years continuously and reading volumes of books all night long but it is enough to spend one or two hours every day to learn about aqidah and Islam as a way of life. Learn about the essence of Quran and why it is being revealed. Learn about the mission of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and what wrong he wanted to abolished and what right he wanted to established. Learn what Allah has ordained for us as muslims in His syariat.

In this day and age, one can easily spend 1 hour either to listen from various international muslim speakers in Youtube such as Ahmad Deedat rahimahullah, Dr Zakir Naik, Bilal Philips, Yasir Qadhi, Nouman Ali Khan, Suhaib Webb, Yusuf Estes, Khalid Yasin, Hussein Yee etc. For those who wishes to listen to Islamic lectures about aqidah in local flavour they can listen to Maulana Asri, Dr Abdul Basit, Abdullah Yasin etc.

Not much time is required to attain this knowledge. If Iman and living on the true path is really important, then spending not more than 1 hour in a day to learn about Islam is the least we can do.

Respect Others?

It was a very calm morning as school holidays has just started. I left home later than usual to head to work as I do not have to send the children off to school. Nevertheless I arrived early at my clinic because of the light traffic. As I turned into the staff car park, I saw an angry Chinese man talking from beside his car to my colleague, who is an IKRAM activist. I did not hear the conversation as I was still in my car but I can see from his body language that ‘things are not good’. As I stepped off my car, my colleague has already moved her car to another parking space. She approached me with an unpleasant look from her face saying that she has just been scolded (I mean this literally) by a Dentist Specialist about parking her car in his parking space. He even asked her ‘who are you?’ I am Jusa C (highly ranked government personnel) with a disrespecting manner.

Allahuakbar! Astaghfirullah…

I felt angry although I wasn’t directly involved in this incident because of the way he treated my colleague. She has made a mistake, true, but for whatever reason it is wrong to scold someone in that way.

I don’t mean to generalize this person to all Chinese community in this country but I stand to defend what ISMA has loudly spoken about and has been heavily criticized of in the last few weeks. There are figures that are ungrateful and disrespectful and look down unto others that we need to ‘remind’ them of their rightful place. The car park is such a small piece of land that he claimed to be his designated parking space and yet we as Malays are still ‘shy’ or not bold enough to claim that this land is rightfully ours. If there is no compromise or tolerance in a car parking space, should there be compromise in a blessed and peaceful land?

Islam is the most tolerant religion with high professional values and respect towards others IF someone is sincere in discovering its fundamentals. Muslims live their lives for the sake of pleasing Allah and not other human beings. Respect towards others and good attitude (akhlak) form a strong percentage of the religion and determines a person’s fate in the life of the hereafter. If people disregards others and treat others with cruelty, that person is hindered from entering Paradise. However, a good system has its check and balance meaning if we are provoked and downgraded, we have the right to defend ourselves. However, when we defend ourselves, we are labeled as extremists.

I can only conclude in saying that the war against Islam has taken a turn from swords and missiles which can be materialized into a more discrete manner. Muslims must be careful as to not become the victims of poor morality and low socio-economic value. Islam is not meant to be understood by logic alone or merely feelings and instinct. On the other hand, Muslims must also be careful as to not become the tools that others use to destroy our own religion.

Let’s put on our thinking caps and may Allah guide us to the truth.

Our Aqidah

It is never too late to learn about Islam and the most proper way to get to know about Islam is to first learn about its very fundamental- the principle of Islamic belief.

In that spirit, let us all begin a lesson on Aqidah Islamiyah (or The Islamic Creed) based on a book of the same name that was authored by none other than the highly respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq.

Islam, as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), consists of Iman (faith) and Amal (deeds).

In the simplest terms, Iman is the principles upon which Shariah law and amal are derived.

Consistent with the meaning of the word Islam, which is ‘to submit’, the essence of Iman calls for all Muslims to solidly believe in the following six articles of faith:

First and foremost is to believe in Allah including His Exalted Names, Supreme Attributes and most importantly, The Oneness of Allah.

Secondly, is to believe in the realm of the unseen especially the Angels of Allah besides recognizing the existence of Iblis, Jinn and the concept of Ruh (soul).

Thirdly, is to believe in the Books of Allah that will guide Muslims in distinguishing between good and bad, between truth and falsehood, between permissible and forbidden as prescribed in Islam.

Fourthly, is to believe in the Prophets who were chosen to convey the divine message and guidance to mankind.

Fifthly, is to believe in the afterlife and all of its elements such as the Day of Resurrection, judgment, punishment and rewards that is either heaven or hell.

Finally, is to believe in the divine destiny (qada’ and qadar) in that everything in this world occurs as predetermined by Allah.

These are the essence of iman in Islam. It is fixed and remains so until the end of time. On this very same note, the principles of Islamic Law, which serves to fulfil the objective of the articles of faith, are also applicable and relevant for all times and places. A Muslim shall never proclaim that some parts of the Islamic Law, such as hudud, are no longer appropriate in this era, or that its implementation must wait for a more suitable time.

“O you, who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.” (An Nisa’, 4:136)

With this set of belief firmly nurtured in the heart of a Muslim, what comes next is all about the responsibility in practicing it and upholding it. It is all about synchronizing one’s actions, and conscience, with one’s belief.

For example, a Muslim is required to perform salat (prayers), and never to miss it regardless of circumstances, as salat has been prescribed as a fardhu (obligation) upon all Muslims. Here, salat becomes the deed that manifests one’s iman.

And to perform the salat as exactly as how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed it is also a manifestation of one’s iman. So a Muslim shall not do it in other ways such as praying without covering the aurat. Or, a female Muslim prays as the imam to a mixed-gender congregation.

These are just some of the examples on how Islam is really about the faith and the ensuing deeds. A Muslim cannot just profess to have faith but abandon the deeds that are binding to it. And the deeds must also be true as exemplified by the Prophet, and not an innovation. We will discuss more on this later on.

In the next part of this series, we will share the wisdom of Allah in fixing the principles of iman and also the methodology used by the Prophet in nurturing iman to the people.

May Allah guides and blesses us all with Islam.

MY PART TIME JOB..

Evening all.. this night i was sitting at my study desk.Then i was thinking to write about my part time job. I was doing my time job at SHELL petrol station near my house..I have started my part time job since after SPM, due to waiting for my result SPM.. I have decided to do a part time job because of several reasons.. at least i got money for shopping my stuff..sound interested right?.. I still remember when I was first time enter to the petrol station.. I was rigid to facing a lot of people/customer. My post as a cashier so I have to set amount of fuel for customer needed. Sometimes i meet a nice people but sometimes hmmmm what i supposed to call them....maybe no manners people. This happens real to me.... The first is when one men enter to the station to fill the fuel for his car. Then he enters inside to pay. I was telling him " Morning sir. Which pump your car sir?..and how much for your fuel?.. I was shocked while he answers my question.. He answers me with high-pitched voice "How come 50 ringgit for filling the motorcycle".. then he just goes but I still confounded what actually he means. Try to think everybody..I ask a different question but he answers me  different answer..So what's supposed I do..just quiet and wait while seeing until he reach into his car then i set the amount 50 ringgit that he give for the fuel. That the bad memories i still remember till now.

                                                              Shell Petrol Station

There are supposed many more things happens but I don't have the exact memories in my mind to share.. Just want to share with all of you in a little bit experience..so have fun!..bye..

Friendship...

Hai all. This is my first blog that i have written. Today i want to write about friendship. Everybody in the world has a friend. Don't tell me that have a person who don't have even one of friend. But actually there maybe have some people like that outside there...Who knows.Firstly, what is friendship?. Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between two or more people. Friendship also known as a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association. As a friend we must take note this important thing in our daily life. As a student we need partners to help us lead in a many things due to a several things. At the University life we must survive to do all things due to we stay far away from our family. So that if any  things happen that we cannot handle ourselves w must have a friend who can stand together in the trouble. That's the reason we must take care of our friendship with friends. Secondly, i want to write about the key that we can keep to stay longer with our friends.Reciprocity is the key.  Why i said that?.. This is because friends are often those who cross paths with regularity, our friends tend to be classmates, coworkers in people we run into many things. That's not surprising that bond form between us is like siblings. We eat together, play together, laugh together, all things together. Take all this important thing and enjoy with your friends. I attached a few pictures that you can see to get a  new spirit get closer with friends. That's all from me bye..

                                                                     
                                                          Find a happiness with friends...

                                                                    Do all things together...

                                                                 Friends like balloons..that right...
                                     

                                                          So cute... pinky promise....

Sharing

Salam and a good day,after this post,i want to share with you guys all about the software or tutorial to you what and how can you do the best thing that u doesn't know in IT world.Thats all,TQ!

First time

Salam and a very good day to you.This time i will tell u a story that you could not believe it.Yesterday,i go to some friend house.i just go for a visit and along the visit to their house,some of them are asking me,, " Why do you want to do that thing? " That thing is not good for you.


He said to me like that. So,i ask them so why you dont follow me do the "bad" thing like you said?. Ask me,they said i dont do it unless u give me a reward or some kind of good thing to say why i should do this kind of thing.The first thing i said to them is if you do this,you all can obtain some kind of hot stuff that you should't get in this world.Their attention attract to what i said.Then,they ask

" Are you serios?"

Yes,come and join me.Then,to do a short story telling,he follow me and they do what i am doing.During the activities,they ask me what the prize are you talking about?.Then,i tell them just ask what are you wanted and later it will rise soon.After that,they ask something and a few second the reward are rise from the untruth "LIFE".They ask money to the "Creator" and on the spot ALLAH give him money.Because of his "AMAL",The creator give him on the spot what they want.The eldest of this dean say,when you have a problem,you have to ask the creator of make you trouble then after that,The creator will solved it for you. This is my experience i see in my eyes.Hope,we all together have it in this life... ~PEACE~