Teka teki

Three men go into a motel. The desk clerk said the room was $30, so each man paid $10 and went to the room. A while later, the desk clerk realized the room was only $25, so he sent the bellboy to the three guys'room with $5. On the way, the bellboy couldn't figure out how to split $5 evenly between 3 men, so he gave each man $1 and kept the other $2 for himself.

This meant that the 3 men each paid $9 for the room, which is a total of $27. Add to that the $2 the bellboy kept and the total is $29.


Where is the other dollar?

Imagining an American Ramadan

Maite Uranga
Life in Africa

Ramadan is in its second week as I write this. It is now the long middle of the month. During the first few days of Ramadan, everyone is excited because of the change, kind of like the start of the holiday season. People talk about who is fasting and who is not. The 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds who are fasting for the first time feel grown up. The little kids like it because after about two in the afternoon they can get away with everything because their parents and older siblings no longer have the energy to control them. The Koranic students who go from house to house begging for food get more food this month than during most others for the same reason soup kitchens have extra food around Thanksgiving.

I like it because it is refreshing to see a culture and people devoted to something without taking into account the financial implications or lost work hours. Do not misunderstand me: Ramadan is hard. I fasted for three days last year and was content to never do it again for the rest of my life. The middle two weeks of the month are painful because the end seems so far off. Despite this, I see the benefits that Ramadan provides and think it would be amazing to see what would happen in the United States if Americans fasted for even a week.

Americans always complain about lack of time for themselves and their families. This fasting period would allow everyone to slow downdramatically. After-school soccer practice, happy hour, ate afternoon classes and any other late afternoon or evening activities would be canceled for the duration of the fast. People would leave work or school around noon to go home. Because of low energy levels, no major activities could take place and families would sit around and talk to each other.

Malls, corporations, police services and grocery stores would cut their employees to the bare minimum. Most importantly, all this would be done without the guilt that many Americans have when they do take time for their families and themselves. All this was done in respect for God or some other force greater than themselves. It would be blasphemous to calculate the dollar value of lost work hours or worry about the effects of lost school hours. Families would get hours to themselves. People would have time to think. Life would slow down.

Realistically, of course, this would never happen. Long ago, most Christian religions abandoned the practice of fasting because it no longer fit within the Western cultural context. Simplified down from an extended fasting period, I think it would also be interesting to imagine if Americans adopted some form of the Muslim practice of praying five times a day.

When I first arrived in Mauritania I found the five-times-a-day prayer excessive. Five times a day, the mosques scream out over their microphones for people to stop what they are doing and pray.

The entire act of praying takes anywhere from five to 20 minutes. It was not this time that bothered me; it was the fact that meetings would stop at sundown for everyone to pray and then resume. I did not understand why they could not just wait five more minutes until the meeting was over to pray. As my life pace transitioned from American speed to Mauritanian speed, I began to
appreciate these daily interruptions in routine. The religious aspect is obviously very important. But because I am both an outsider to the religion and a former anthropology major, I see the
importance and benefits of the process.

Five times a day people stop whatever they are doing. They wash their face, hands and feet. The actual act of praying is similar to a stretching exercise. They start by standing up really straight, then bend at the waist for a few seconds, then go to a sitting position, bend at the waist again with their head to the ground and then stand up to repeat it between two and four times depending on which prayer it is. This is repeated 17 times throughout the day.

Yet again, this would give Americans the time that they so desperately want. They would stop everything they are doing, thereby realizing that what they are doing is not as vitally important
as they think. Then they would refresh themselves by washing their faces and hands and finally doing some stretches. For a minimum of five minutes a day, five times a day, no one could interrupt them, they could not answer the phone or respond to e-mails.

Most likely, I know, even this is too much for most Americans, including myself. Now I appreciate Ramadan afternoons and the call to the mosque.

*Maite Uranga graduated from Notre Dame in 2000 as an anthropology and government major. She is currently a Peace Corps volunteer in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

TEMAN HIDUP DAN MATIKU
Nukilan: Razli Azali



Sesungguhnya solatku, ibadah-ku, hidupku dan matiku hanya untuk Dia. Aku tidak hidup ke-rana manusia lain atau sebab-sebab lain. Matlamat hidupku cuma satu iaitu mencari keredhaan Allah SWT.” masih terngiang-ngiang kali-mat itu di telinga Adawiyah meski pun penuturnya sudah lama hilang dari pandangan matanya. Entah ke mana perginya Zahra’ dia tidak tahu. Yang pasti, Zahra’ sudah ber-hari-hari membiarkan dirinya ter-manggu-manggu sendirian.

“Ah... dunia. Jangan kau gang-gu fikiranku. Biarkan aku tenang-kan fikiranku di sini sendirian. Usah kau bayangi mindaku dengan per-kara-perkara yang sia-sia dan me-medihkan hatiku...” hati kecil Ada-wiyah berbicara sendiri.

Adawiyah melontar pandangan-nya pada meja tulis kecilnya di satu sudut bilik. Meja itu nampak kemas dihiasi dengan alas meja biru ber-corak bunga-bunga halus. Kelihatan buku-buku rujukannya teratur rapi bagaikan tak ada siapa yang per-nah mengusiknya. Di sudut meja berhampiran dengan jendela, dua kuntum mawar segar diletakkan di dalam sebuah vas kaca menghidup-kan lagi suasana. Harumannya ma-sih lagi berbaki walau pun sudah tiga hari mawar itu dipetik dari po-koknya. Namun bagi Adawiyah se-mua itu bagai tidak membawa apa-apa makna baginya. Hatinya kini bagaikan telah mati. Sepi.

Pandangan Adawiyah termati pada frem gambar yang baru dibe-linya bulan sudah. Frem itu cantik, khusus dibelinya untuk mengabadi-kan foto teman karibnya di situ. Zahra’, satu-satunya teman baik-nya. Dia melihat Zahra’ tersenyum manis kepadanya seolah-olah ingin menyatakan sesuatu.

“Kenapa Ada susah-susah beli frem ni semata-mata nak letak gambar Zahra’? Ingatkan tadi nak kasi hadiah kat Zahra’...” usik Zahra’ apabila Adawiyah menyata-kan niatnya membeli frem itu.

Adawiyah tersenyum simpul. Malu pula bila diusik begitu. “Mmm... ala, tak boleh ke? Kalau Ada letak gambar Zahra’ kat frem tu... boleh hari-hari Ada ingat pada Zahra’,” ujar Adawiyah malu-malu. Mukanya sudah merah.

Zahra’ senyum. “Amboi... sampai macam tu ke? Hebat sahabat Zahra’ ni ya. Kenapa, rindu kat Zahra’ ke?” Zahra’ mengusik lagi.

Muka Adawiyah makin merah. “Ala... Zahra’ ni teruklah... Bukan macam tu. Masalah rindu tak timbul sebenarnya. Kan bila Ada tengok gambar Zahra’ boleh timbulkan ingatan. Bolehlah Ada doakan un-tuk Zahra’ hari-hari, tak gitu?” jelas Adawiyah.

Zahra’ nampaknya puas hati. Terharu juga bila ada orang ingat nak doakan untuk kita. Alham-dulillah... getus hatinya.

“Ada, apa yang Ada nak doa-kan untuk Zahra’ ya?” Zahra’ se-ngaja ingin menguji hati Adawiyah. Dia tahu Adawiyah jujur.

Adawiyah merenung Zahra’ pe-nuh tanda tanya. Eh, ada maksud tersirat ke? Kemudian dia terse-nyum.

“Doa? Hm... bukan ke dulu Zahra’ cakap kalau nak doakan un-tuk sahabat jangan diberitahu tuan-nya? Nanti tak makbul,” tangkis Adawiyah. Mereka sama-sama ter-senyum.

Adawiyah menarik nafas pan-jang-panjang memenuhi ruang pa-ru-parunya. Zahra’... bila lagi kita akan dapat bertemu? Bila...? Ada-wiyah sedih. Rindunya pada Zahra’ membuatkan dia sering menyendiri. Bukan dia menyalahkan takdir. Dia tidak salahkan Allah kerana memi-sahkan dia dan sabahat karibnya itu. Biarlah perpisahan itu berlaku kerana dia yakin suatu ketika nanti dia akan bertemu juga dengan Zahra’. Cuma entah bila dan di mana. Memang itu yang selalu di-minta-mintanya selama ini. Namun, dia merasakan suatu kehilangan. Dia kehilangan teman untuk mem-bicarakan kekuasaan Allah SWT. Dia tidak ada kawan untuk mem-bincangkan soal dosa dan pahala. Dia tidak ada sahabat yang sudi berbicara dari hati ke hati. Dia benar-benar sendirian kini.

Ada, kenapa sedih sangat. Kan Allah ada temankan Ada di sini. Biarlah Zahra’ pergi. Lagi pun Ada kan boleh doakan untuk Zahra’. Doakan yang terbaik untuknya. Takkan lah Allah kejam sangat tak nak makbulkan doa Ada... Mintalah pada Allah, mudah-mudahan dapat bertemu kembali dengan Zahra’. Adawiyah memujuk hatinya yang pilu. Dia cuba untuk tersenyum. Senyumlah Ada. Jangan biarkan manusia lain menyedari kesusahan dan kesedihan hatimu. Jangan pula kau menjadi sebab kesedihan orang lain. Hiduplah ceria seperti dulu. Biarlah... hanya Allah yang menger-ti hati dan perasaanmu.

Zahra’ maafkan Ada kerana ter-lalu sedih. Baiklah, Ada akan jadi hamba Allah yang tabah, bisik hati kecil Adawiyah. Dia menatap wajah Zahra’ pada frem gambar tadi. Zahra’... bukan senang sebenarnya untuk menempuh dugaan seperti ini. Zahra’ mungkin tak merasainya kerana Zahra’ sendiri sedang sibuk dengan diri sendiri. Tapi Zahra’ ten-tu mengerti. Kita ini ibarat satu jiwa di dalam dua jasad. Ada risaukan Zahra’. Zahra’... tahukah bahawa Ada sentiasa berdoa agar Allah me-melihara dan merahmatimu? Ada tak berupaya untuk membantu Zahra’ bila Zahra’ berada terlalu jauh dari Ada. Hanya doa sahaja yang mampu Ada hulurkan sebagai tanda ukhuwwah kita. Dulu pernah Ada katakan kepada Zahra’ baha-wasanya ukhuwwah fillah ini tidak akan musnah walau apa jua yang berlaku sekali pun dan inilah bukti ukhuwwah kita.



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Angin petang menampar-nampar wajahnya. Desiran daun pokok kemboja menambah keindahan ira-ma alam. Haruman kemboja me-ngisi ruang alam membangkitkan rasa rindu pada Pencipta. Itulah alam ciptaanNya.

Adawiyah merenung jauh. Me-ngimbau masa silam yang telah berlalu. Masa silam yang berlalu yang dinamakan sebagai sejarah. Fikirannya melayang jauh entah ke berapa tahun yang lampau. Inga-tan yang masih segar diingatannya seolah-olah dirakam oleh pita vi-deo. Boleh diputar-putar tanpa ada yang tertinggal sedikit pun.

“Ada, Zahra’ harap ukhuwwah ini akan berkekalan hingga ke akhir hayat,” tutur Zahra’ penuh ikhlas.

Adawiyah membisu seribu ba-hasa. Dia hanya merenung jauh ke dalam hati Zahra’ mencari kebena-ran di sebalik kata-katanya. Benar-kah itu kata-kata Zahra’? Ya Allah... Aku bersyukur kepadaMu di atas kurniaanMu ini. Sekian lama aku menantikan kehadiran seorang sa-habat yang sudi dan ikhlas mem-bimbingku ke jalan-Mu. Setelah se-kian lama aku sendirian menempuh hidup di dunia yang fana’ ini. Dan selama enam belas tahun semenjak aku mula mengenal diri, aku me-rindukan suara seorang sahabat yang membicarakan soal dosa dan pahala, syurga dan neraka. Inilah kali pertama aku menemui seorang sahabat yang benar-benar ikhlas dan tulus hatinya menghulurkan ukhuwwah fillahnya kepadaku. Aku bersyukur kepadaMu ya Allah. Allah Tuhanku Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang. Alhamdulillah...

“Zahra’...” kata-kata Adawiyah termati seketika. Entah kenapa ha-tinya tiba-tiba menjadi sebak dan sayu. Sebenarnya dia tidak tahu bagaimana untuk melafazkan rasa syukurnya. Dia ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Zahra’ tetapi lidahnya kelu.

Zahra’ dapat mengecam peru-bahan Adawiyah yang mendadak itu. Dia memegang kedua-dua bahu sahabatnya itu erat-erat. “Kenapa?” tanyanya.

Adawiyah mengeluh lagi. Entah kali ke berapa. Dia membuang pan-dang jauh-jauh. Jauh ke tengah-tengah bandar kaku itu. Matanya terpaut pada dedaun kering yang berguguran. Dedaun kemboja itu seolah-olah akur pada aturanNya. Seperti yang pernah Zahra’ cerita-kan kepadanya, makhluk-makhluk Allah akan mati kalau mereka ber-henti berzikir kepadaNya. Kucing, ayam, pokok dan makhluk-makhluk Allah yang lain akan mati kalau mereka tidak berzikir kepada Allah. Fikiran Adawiyah makin menera-wang.

“Ada... kenapa tiba-tiba sahaja berubah ni. Ada apa-apa yang tak kena ke atau Zahra’ dah lukakan hati Ada?” Zahra’ memujuk penuh prihatin.

Ah. Bahagianya aku mendapat sahabat sepertimu, getus hati Ada-wiyah.

“Maafkan Ada. Hati Ada sedikit terusik tadi. Tapi bukan Zahra’ buat salah. Cuma... Ada takut kehila-ngan Zahra’,” ujar Adawiyah terus terang.

Zahra’ menghela nafas. Terha-ru. Ya Allah... andainya inilah kur-niaanMu kepada kami, Kau pan-jangkanlah usia persahabatan kami ini agar dengan persahabatan ini akan menjadi wasilah untuk kami mencapai cinta-Mu.

“Ada,” Zahra’ bersuara lembut. “Zahra’ juga tak mahu kehilangan sahabat sejati seperti Ada. Jadi... kita kenalah sama-sama berdoa moga-moga Allah panjangkan usia persahabatan kita ini. Bukan sahaja di dunia malah akan berterusan sampai di syurga nanti, insya Allah...”

Adawiyah tersenyum. Tenang jiwanya kini. Alangkah indahnya ke-damaian. Patutlah ada orang men-cipta nasyid Damai Nan Indah, rupa-rupanya memang kedamaian itu indah. Dan memang nasyid itulah yang menjadi kesukaan me-reka berdua. Bagaikan ada cahaya masuk ke hati tatkala mendengar alunan nasyid itu, Adawiyah me-ngakuinya.



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“Ada... Zahra’ susah hatilah.” luah Zahra’.

Adawiyah yang sedari tadi te-kun menulis nota kuliahnya meno-leh. Zahra’ masih dengan telekung solatnya. Agaknya baru selesai so-lat sunat dhuha. Zahra’ duduk di sisinya. Matanya nampak berkaca-kaca. Adawiyah dapat merasakan pergolakan hati teman karibnya itu. Begitulah selalunya. Walaupun Zahra’ tidak menyatakan apakah rasa hatinya namun Adawiyah yang mempunyai sentuhan hati yang tajam turut merasainya. Tidak ada perkara lain yang sering meng-ganggu perasaan Zahra’ selain dari memikirkan nasib di alam abadi. Adawiyah mengagumi Zahra’. Sejak pertama kali bersua hatinya mula mengagumi Zahra’. Meskipun Zahra’ dua tahun lebih dewasa da-rinya namun itu bukanlah peng-halang. Malah itulah yang makin mengikat hati mereka. Zahra’ per-nah berkata; jika kita bersahabat dengan orang yang lebih tua dari kita, kita akan mendapat ilmu dari-nya. Dan sekiranya kita bersahabat dengan orang yang lebih muda dari kita kita akan mendapat kasih sayang.

“Eh, ya ke? Tapi kenapa Ada tak sayang pun kat Zahra’?” usik Adawiyah. Zahra’ mencubit rakan mudanya itu. Nakal.

Adawiyah tersenyum.

“Ada... kenapa tersenyum ni? Zahra’ tengah sedih ni tau. Oh... Ada berangan ya.” Zahra’ geram-geram sayang.

Adawiyah ketawa. Dia menge-lak apabila Zahra’ cuba mencubit lengannya.

“Zahra’... apa benda lah yang Ada nak angan-angankan. Kita hi-dup ni tak boleh panjang angan-angan tau. Tak baik.”

“Okaylah ustazah... macam mana eh hadith tu Zahra’ dah lupa lah. Apa? Hidup ini singkat, maka... alah, lupalah.”

Adawiyah tertawa kecil me-nampakkan barisan giginya yang teratur bagai seutas rantai mutiara.

“Begini, hidup ini singkat sahaja maka janganlah dibazirkan ia de-ngan kedukaan dan angan-angan...” jelas Adawiyah. Zahra’ mengangguk-angguk. Dia mengu-lang hadith itu berkali-kali supaya lekat diingatannya.

“Ada, cakap Ada tu betul. Lagi pun buat apa Ada nak berangan lebih-lebih. Ada kan nak jadi ma-cam Rabiatul Adawiyah Basriyah, kan. Kenalah zuhud pada dunia. Jangan berangan lebih-lebih. Tak gitu?” usik Zahra’. Dia sendiri pula teringin untuk mencontohi Fatimah Az-Zahra’ puteri Rasulullah SAW. Ah... teringinnya menjadi orang-orang yang soleh. Ya Allah... am-punilah dosa-dosa aku dan Adawiyah dan Kau himpunkanlah kami dalam golongan muttaqin. Amin.



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Adawiyah memungut ketulan-ketu-lan tanah yang kering. Perlahan-lahan jari-jemari comelnya melerai ketulan tanah itu menjadi butir-butir pasir halus. Kemudian ditabur butir-butir pasir itu. Tiupan angin pagi dari arah timur menerbangkan sebahagian daripada pepasir itu ke arah barat. Mengenai baju kurung Adawiyah yang bersih.

Adawiyah menoleh ke kiri. Ke-mudian ke kanan. Ah... kawasan itu sunyi sepi bagai tak berpenghuni. Mana semua penghuni yang lain? Masih tidurkah mereka? Ah.. aku lupa pula. Astaghfirullah alazim... Kenapa cepat benar nyanyuknya aku ni.

Adawiyah menepuk-nepuk ta-ngannya yang berpasir. Kemudian jejari halusnya membetulkan tu-dung kepalanya. Memasukkan anak-anak rambutnya yang nakal mahu keluar dari taman larangan-nya. Adawiyah termenung lagi. Dia masih mengenangkan memori si-lam yang tak mungkin dapat dikejar lagi.

Zahra’... alangkah bagusnya kalau Zahra’ dapat mendengar kata hati Ada di kala ini. Ada kesepian dan tak ada kawan. Ada rindukan saat-saat kita bermuzakarah setiap kali selesai solat fardhu. Ada sen-tiasa menantikan deringan telefon pukul 5 pagi iaitu ketika Zahra’ me-ngejutkan Ada untuk solat tahajjud. Adawiyah tersenyum sendirian.

“Zahra’... macam mana rasanya mati ya?” tanya Adawiyah suatu ke-tika selepas mereka sama-sama menunaikan solat isya’ berjamaah.

“Ada, kenapa tanya macam tu. Zahra’ ni manalah ada pengalaman. Ada tunggulah Zahra’ mati dulu. Nanti Zahra’ datang dalam mimpi Ada bagi tahu macam mana rasa-nya mati. Boleh?” usik Zahra’ lalu ketawa kecil.

Adawiyah termenung. Memikir-kan kata-kata Zahra’ sebentar tadi. Isy, janganlah Zahra’ pergi dulu. Nanti siapa nak kawan denganku.

“Zahra’... Ada nak mati syahid,” ujar Adawiyah tiba-tiba. “Ada pun nak Zahra’ mati syahid juga. Boleh kita mati sama-sama kan.”

Zahra’ senyum manis. Sejuk hati Zahra’ mendengar tutur kata rakan karibnya itu. Mudah-muda-han...

“Ada...”

“Hmm...”

“Er... Ada...”

“Zahra’. Cakaplah. Apa dia?” desak Adawiyah.

Zahra’ diam seketika menyusun kalam. “Ada... kan bagus kalau kita betul-betul mati syahid. Taklah ke-na hisab dan diazab. Kita ni banyak dosa. Zahra’ lagi banyak dosa dari Ada sebab Zahra’ lagi tua...”

“Zahra’ janganlah cakap ma-cam tu. Ada pun apa kurangnya. Lagi teruk daripada Zahra’.”



Adawiyah menundukkan kepa-lanya merenung sejadah yang ter-bentang. Hatinya terasa sayu. Ge-run bila memikirkan azab kubur dan siksa neraka Allah. Perlahan-lahan manik-manik jernih gugur memba-sahi pipinya yang gebu.

Zahra’ terkejut melihat reaksi Adawiyah. Kenapa Ada menangis? “Ada, kenapa tiba-tiba aje mena-ngis?” Zahra’ menggenggam erat tangan Adawiyah.

Adawiyah tidak menjawab. Se-baliknya dia menyembamkan muka-nya ke ribaan Zahra’. Zahra’ mengusap-usap kepala sahabat ka-ribnya itu bagai ibu memujuk anak-nya.

“Zahra’...” tutur Ada apabila ta-ngisnya reda sedikit. “Ada nak mati bersama-sama dengan Zahra’. Ada tak nak kehilangan Zahra’. Kalau Zahra’ pergi dulu... siapa nak te-mankan Ada... tapi kalau Ada yang pergi dulu, siapa pula nak ambil tahu suka dan duka Zahra’... Ada tak nak rasa sedih dan Ada juga tak akan sanggup membiarkan Zahra’ hidup dalam kesedihan. Kalau bo-leh biarlah susah dan senang kita tanggung bersama-sama. Ada sela-lu minta pada Allah supaya, sekira-nya Allah mentakdirkan kesusahan atau kesedihan untuk Zahra’, biar-lah Ada menanggung sebahagian-nya. Lagi pun Ada tak ada apa-apa yang boleh Ada sumbangkan mela-inkan hati dan perasaan. Mungkin dengan cara itu Allah akan lebih meredhai hidup Ada,” panjang kali-mah Adawiyah menjelaskan rasa kalbunya.

Sekali lagi Zahra’ terharu. Ya Allah... kau ampunilah dosanya di atas kejujuran dan keikhlasannya ini.

“Ada, Zahra’ pun sebenarnya macam tu juga. Zahra’ nak dikubur-kan bersebelahan dengan kubur Ada supaya nanti boleh hari-hari Zahra’ ziarah Ada. Taklah Ada ke-sunyian, kan. Ada pun boleh te-mankan Zahra’. Boleh kita bermu-zakarah dan berbincang tentang globalisasi dan kekejaman Yahudi lagi,” kata-kata Zahra’ menghibur-kan hati Adawiyah.

Adawiyah mengangkat kepala-nya. Air mata yang berlinangan disapu dengan hujung lengan baju-nya. Dia mengorak senyum.

“Zahra’...”

“Ya.”

“Zahra’ mesti berjanji pada Ada.”

“Insya Allah... apa dia tu?”

“Zahra’ kena berjanji bahawasa nya kita mesti sama-sama tolong-menolong dakam meningkatkan iman masing-masing. Mesti saling tegur-menegur jika ada yang terla-lai. Supaya nanti kita akan jadi best friend di syurga pula.”

“Insya Allah, Ada...” janji Zahra’ penuh makna.



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“Ya Allah... Tuhanku Yang Maha pengampun. Kau cucurilah rahmat ke atas rohnya...” Adawiyah berdoa penuh pengharapan. Dia menyiram persemadian Allahyarhamah Fati-matuzzahra’ dengan air mawar yang dibuatnya sendiri khusus un-tuk arwah sahabatnya. Kemudian dia mengucup kitabullah dengan penuh keinsafan. Air matanya ber-linangan.

“Zahra’... kini Zahra’ yang per-gi dulu. Akan Ada doakan untuk Zahra’ supaya Allah hindarkan Zahra’ daripada fitnah alam bar-zakh. Zahra’... hadirlah dalam mim-pi Ada. Khabarkanlah kepada Ada bagaimana rasanya sakaratul maut agar Ada dapat lebih bersedia.

Ya Allah... janganlah Kau siksa arwah sahabatku ini kerana selama ini dialah wasilah untuk aku lebih mengenali diri-Mu. Dialah yang me-ngajarkan kepadaku hakikat kehi-dupan yang sebenar-benarnya. Ya Allah... tolonglah jangan siksa Zahra’. Ya Allah... kalau bukan ke-pada-Mu aku berharap, kepada siapa lagi harus aku merayu dan meminta pertolongan...” tangisan Adawiyah pecah lagi. Kali ini dia benar-benar menangis penuh kein-safan bagaikan tiada penghujung-nya.



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“Ada...” bangun. Kenapa meraung-raung ni?”

Adawiyah membuka matanya perlahan-lahan. Pandangannya ka-bur sahaja. Dia memandang sekeli-ling dan matanya tertumpu pada wajah yang amat dikenalinya. Zahra’? Benarkah itu Zahra’? Tapi... di mana aku?

“Ada... bangunlah. Ini Zahra’.”

Adawiyah keliru. Zahra’? betul-kah itu suara Zahra’? Tapi bukan-kah Zahra’ sudah meninggal dunia?

“Ada... ini Zahra’. Betul. Tak ti-pu. Zahra’ masih hidup lagi. Alham-dulillah...”

Adawiyah masih bingung. Zah-ra’ masih hidup? Dia cuba mengi-ngat kembali peristiwa yang berla-ku. Ah! Selepas mereka terlibat da-lam kemalangan jalanraya, Zahra’ koma sementara dia sendiri cedera parah. Dia diberitahu oleh doktor bahawa keadaan Zahra’ amat kriti-kal dan tiada harapan untuk pulih. Dia sangat sedih dengan berita ter-sebut dan itulah yang menyebab-kan fikirannya berfantasi jauh.

“Buku apa yang Ada baca ni?” Zahra’ mengambil buku yang me-nutupi dada Adawiyah. Liku-liku perjalanan di alam barzakh, Zahra’ membaca tajuk buku itu di dalam hatinya. Oh.. patutlah Adawiyah mengigau.

“Zahra’... doktor kata keadaan Zahra’ kritikal dan tak ada harapan untuk hidup lagi. Tapi mengapa...” Adawiyah mematikan kalimatnya dengan harapan Zahra’ mengerti maksudnya.

“Kuasa Allah, Ada...”

Nampaknya sangkaan Adawi-yah tidak meleset. Benar, Zahra’ memahami maksudnya.

“Berkat doa Ada juga. Kan Ada selalu minta pada Allah supaya be-rikan sebahagian daripada kesusa-han Zahra’ pada Ada. Nampaknya Allah makbulkan. Ada nak tahu... Sewaktu koma, Zahra’ mimpi yang baik-baik semuanya. Zahra’ mimpi jumpa Ada di syurga. Tapi tak tahulah betul ke tidak.”

Adawiyah bangkit perlahan-la-han. Zahra’ membantu. Bekas pem-bedahan di kaki kanan dan kirinya masih terasa ngilunya. Tulang kaki-nya patah teruk dan terpaksa di-ganti dengan tulang besi. Namun dia masih mampu bersyukur kerana masih diberi peluang untuk meng-hirup udara segar ciptaan Allah ber-sama-sama sahabat sejati tersa-yang.

“Ada... bila Ada dah sembuh nanti boleh kita berjihad lagi kan,” ujar Zahra’ sambil mengukir se-nyum.

“Zahra’, Ada... Ada sayangkan Zahra’ seperti... seperti Ada sa-yangkan diri Ada sendiri,” ucap Adawiyah dalam sedu sedan.

Zahra’ memeluk Adawiyah erat-erat. “Ada, semoga Allah juga me-ngasihi Ada sebagaimana Ada me-ngasihi Zahra’.”

Mereka menangis penuh ke-syahduan. Terasa kasih sayang dan rahmat Allah melimpah-limpah me-menuhi ruang langit dan bumi.

Polygamy has its benefits: speaker
by Amy Pate

Polygamy, often conceived as favorable only for men, is more beneficial for women. Such was the viewpoint expressed by Aminah Assilmi, director of the International Union of Muslim Women, in an April 13 lecture, part of Islamic Awareness Week.

Islamic Awareness Week, sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, is designed to raise awareness about sometimes controversial issues.

Assilmi is well aware that her position on polygamy is a minority position in the United States.

“A lot of people for a long time have thought polygamy was a rite of men,” she told the 60 or so audience members, with men asked to sit on one side of the room and women on the other.

Photo by Billy Kingsley
Aminah Assilmi compared Islam to a geode, uninteresting at first glance but filled with beauty on closer inspection, in an April 14 lecture on “Polygamy in Islam.”

“It’s not that every man has a right to four wives; it’s that every wife has a right to a co-wife,” she said.

Islam allows men to marry up to four women. However, husbands must treat each wife equally and be able to support them financially, Assilmi said.

“If I was a man, I’d run from it. As a woman I see the benefits of it,” Assilmi said, maintaining that polygamy can lighten the workload of wives and mothers.

In the United States, women are expected to have careers, be good mothers and wives, and be active in the community.

“Everything we’re expected to do really requires more people. The need for polygamy does exist. It serves a viable social function,” she said. “It’s certainly to the benefit of women.”

Assilmi cited the U.S. census to provide one rationale for polygamy — that women of marriagable age outnumber men by several million. This leaves women with four choices: to deprive themselves of romantic relationships; to seek them with other women; to fight over men; or to share.

The first three are not acceptable solutions within the framework of Islam. That leaves sharing. “This is the Islamic concept,” Assilmi said.

“A marriage relationship is the only place to gain physical gratification, the only place that is not detrimental to society.”

Polygamy can also be the answer to child care dilemmas, she said. “It takes more than two people to raise a child. Polygamy is one of the answers to that situation, too.”

Assilmi, who was raised as a Southern Baptist and converted to Islam in her 20s, has not always been supportive of polygamy. She started writing a book about it 25 years ago “to prove that polygamy was detrimental to society. What I found out was that polygamy was great.”

Polygamy can be a burden on men, she noted. “Most men will tell you that it’s impossible to keep one wife happy, let alone four.”

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/register/April19_99/polygamy.htm

Kesatlah air matamu,wahai wanita.

"Apabila hati terikat dengan Allah, kembalilah wanita dengan asal
fitrah kejadiannya, menyejukkan hati dan menjadi perhiasan kepada
dunia - si gadis dengan sifat sopan dan malu, anak yang taat kepada
ibu bapa, isteri yang menyerahkan kasih sayang, kesetiaan dan
ketaatan hanya pada suami."

Bait-bait kata itu aku tatapi dalam-dalam. Penuh penghayatan.
Kata-kata yang dinukilkan dalam sebuah majalah yang ku baca. Alangkah
indahnya jika aku bisa menjadi perhiasan dunia seperti yang dikatakan
itu. Ku bulatkan tekad di hatiku. Aku ingin menjadi seorang gadis
yang sopan, anak yang taat kepada ibu bapaku dan aku jua ingin
menjadi seorang isteri yang menyerahkan kasih sayang, kesetiaan dan
ketaatan hanya untuk suami, kerana Allah.

Menjadi seorang isteri..kepada insan yang disayangi...idaman
setiap wanita. Alhamdulillah, kesyukuran aku panjatkan ke hadrat
Ilahi atas nikmat yang dikurniakan kepadaku. Baru petang tadi, aku
sah menjadi seorang isteri setelah mengikat tali pertunangan 6 bulan
yang lalu. Suamiku, Muhammad Harris, alhamdulillah menepati ciri-ciri
seorang muslim yang baik. Aku berazam untuk menjadi isteri yang
sebaik mungkin kepadanya.

"Assalamualaikum," satu suara menyapa pendengaranku
membuatkan aku gugup seketika.
"Waalaikumusalam," jawabku sepatah. Serentak dengan itu, ku
lontarkan satu senyuman paling ikhlas dan paling manis untuk suamiku.
Dengan perlahan dia melangkah menghampiriku.

"Ain buat apa dalam bilik ni ? Puas abang cari Ain dekat luar
tadi. Rupanya kat sini buah hati abang ni bersembunyi. `' Aku
tersenyum mendengar bicaranya. Terasa panas pipiku ini. Inilah kali
pertama aku mendengar ucapan `abang' dari bibirnya. Dan itulah juga
pertama kali dia membahasakan diriku ini sebagai `buah hati' nya. Aku
sungguh senang mendengar ucapan itu. Perlahan-lahan ku dongakkan
wajahku dan aku memberanikan diri menatap pandangan matanya. Betapa
murninya sinaran cinta yang terpancar dari matanya, betapa indahnya
senyumannya, dan betapa bermaknanya renungannya itu. Aku tenggelam
dalam renungannya, seolah-olah hanya kami berdua di dunia ini.
Seketika aku tersedar kembali ke alam nyata.

"Ain baru je masuk. Nak mandi. Lagipun dah masuk Maghrib
kan ? `' ujarku.
`' Ha'ah dah maghrib. Ain mandi dulu. Nanti abang mandi dan kita
solat Maghrib sama-sama ye ? `'Dia tersenyum lagi. Senyum yang
menggugah hati kewanitaanku. Alangkah beruntungnya aku memilikimu,
suamiku.

Selesai solat Maghrib dan berdoa, dia berpusing mengadapku.
Dengan penuh kasih, kusalami dan kucium tangannya. Lama. Aku ingin
dia tahu betapa dalam kasih ini hanya untuknya. Dan aku dapat merasai
tangannya yang gagah itu mengusap kepalaku dengan lembut. Dengan
perlahan aku menatap wajahnya.

"Abang..." aku terdiam seketika. Terasa segan menyebut
kalimah itu dihadapannya. Tangan kami masih lagi saling berpautan.
Seakan tidak mahu dilepaskan. Erat terasa genggamannya.

"Ya sayang." Ahhh..bicaranya biarpun satu kalimah, amat
menyentuh perasaanku.
"Abang. terima kasih atas kesudian abang memilih Ain sebagai
isteri biarpun banyak kelemahan Ain. Ain insan yang lemah, masih
perlu banyak tunjuk ajar dari abang. Ain harap abang sudi pandu Ain.
Sama-sama kita melangkah hidup baru, menuju keredhaan Allah." Tutur
bicaraku ku susun satu persatu.

`'Ain, sepatutnya abang yang harus berterima kasih kerana Ain
sudi terima abang dalam hidup Ain. Abang sayangkan Ain. Abang juga
makhluk yang lemah, banyak kekurangan. Abang harap Ain boleh terima
abang seadanya. Kita sama-sama lalui hidup baru demi redhaNya."

`'Insya Allah abang..Ain sayangkan abang. `'
`'Abang juga sayangkan Ain. Sayang sepenuh hati abang.''
Dengan telekung yang masih tersarung, aku tenggelam dalam pelukan
suamiku.



Hari-hari yang mendatang aku lalui dengan penuh kesyukuran.
Suamiku, ternyata seorang yang cukup penyayang dan penyabar. Sebagai
wanita aku tidak dapat lari daripada rajuk dan tangis. Setiap kali
aku merajuk apabila dia pulang lewat, dia dengan penuh mesra
memujukku. Membelaiku. Membuatku rasa bersalah. Tak wajar kusambut
kepulangannya dengan wajah yang mencuka dan dengan tangisan. Bukankah
aku ingin menjadi perhiasan yang menyejukkan hati suami? Sedangkan
Khadijah dulu juga selalu ditinggalkan Rasulullah untuk berkhalwat di
Gua Hira'. Lalu, kucium tangannya, kupohon ampun dan maaf.
Kuhadiahkan senyuman untuknya. Katanya senyumku bila aku lepas
menangis, cantik! Ahhh..dia pandai mengambil hatiku. Aku semakin
sayang padanya. Nampaknya hatiku masih belum sepenuhnya terikat
dengan Allah. Lantaran itulah aku masih belum mampu menyerahkan
seluruh kasih sayang, kesetiaan dan ketaatan hanya untuk suami.

`' Isteri yang paling baik ialah apabila kamu memandangnya, kamu
merasa senang, apabila kamu menyuruh, dia taat dan apabila kamu
berpergian, dia menjaga maruahnya dan hartamu . `'

Aku teringat akan potongan hadis itu. Aku ingin merebut
gelaran isteri solehah. Aku ingin segala yang menyenangkan buat
suamiku. Tuturku ku lapis dengan sebaik mungkin agar tidak tercalar
hatinya dengan perkataanku. Kuhiaskan wajahku hanya untuk tatapannya
semata. Makan minumnya kujaga dengan sempurna. Biarpun aku jua sibuk
lantaran aku juga berkerjaya. Pernah sekali, aku mengalirkan air mata
lantaran aku terlalu penat menguruskan rumah tangga apabila kembali
dari kerja. Segalanya perlu aku uruskan. Aku terasa seperti dia tidak
memahami kepenatanku sedangkan kami sama-sama memerah keringat
mencari rezeki. Namun, aku teringat akan kisah Siti Fatimah, puteri
Rasulullah yang menangis kerana terlalu penat menguruskan rumah
tangga. Aku teringat akan besarnya pahala seorang isteri yang
menyiapkan segala keperluan suaminya. Hatiku menjadi sejuk sendiri. '
Ya Allah, aku lakukan segala ini ikhlas keranaMu. Aku ingin mengejar
redha suamiku demi untuk mengejar redhaMu. Berilah aku kekuatan, Ya
Allah.'

`' Ain baik, cantik. Abang sayang Ain. `' Ungkapan itu tidak
lekang dari bibirnya. Membuatkan aku terasa benar-benar dihargai.
Tidak sia-sia pengorbananku selama ini. Betapa bahagianya menjadi
isteri yang solehah.

Kehidupan yang ku lalui benar-benar bermakna, apatah lagi
dengan kehadiran 2 orang putera dan seorang puteri. Kehadiran mereka
melengkapkan kebahagiaanku. Kami gembira dan bersyukur kepada Allah
atas nikmat yang dikurniakan kepada kami.

Namun, pada suatu hari, aku telah dikejutkan dengan
permintaannya yang tidak terduga.

"Ain...abang ada sesuatu nak cakap dengan Ain."

"Apa dia abang?" tanyaku kembali. Aku menatap wajahnya dengan
penuh kasih.

`' Ain isteri yang baik. Abang cukup bahagia dengan Ain.
Abang bertuah punya Ain sebagai isteri," bicaranya terhenti setakat
itu.

Aku tersenyum. Namun benakku dihinggap persoalan. Takkan
hanya itu?

"Abang ada masalah ke?" Aku cuba meneka.

"Tidak Ain. Sebenarnya..," bicaranya terhenti lagi. Menambah
kehairanan dan mencambahkan kerisauan di hatiku. Entah apa yang ingin
diucapkannya.

"Ain..abang...abang nak minta izin Ain..untuk berkahwin
lagi," ujarnya perlahan namun sudah cukup untuk membuat aku
tersentak. Seketika aku kehilangan kata.

"A...Abang...nak kahwin lagi?" aku seakan tidak percaya
mendengar permintaannya itu. Ku sangka dia telah cukup bahagia
dengannku. Aku sangka aku telah memberikan seluruh kegembiraan
padanya. Aku sangka hatinya telah dipenuhi dengan limpahan kasih
sayangku seorang Rupanya aku silap. Kasihku masih kurang. Hatinya
masih punya ruang untuk insan selain aku.

Tanpa bicara, dia mengangguk.

`' Dengan siapa abang ? `' Aku bertanya. Aku tidak tahu dari
mana datang kekuatan untuk tidak mengalirkan air mata. Tapi..hatiku.
hanya Allah yang tahu betapa azab dan pedih hati ini.

`' Faizah. Ain kenal dia, kan ? `'

Ya, aku kenal dengan insan yang bernama Faizah itu. Juniorku
di universiti. Rakan satu jemaah. Suamiku aktif dalam jemaah dan aku
tahu Faizah juga aktif berjemaah. Orangnya aku kenali baik budi
pekerti, sopan tingkah laku, indah tutur kata dan ayu paras rupa.
Tidakku sangka, dalam diam suamiku menaruh hati pada Faizah.

" A..Abang..Apa salah Ain abang?" nada suaraku mula bergetar.
Aku cuba menahan air mataku daripada gugur. Aku menatap wajah Abang
Harris sedalam-dalamnya. Aku cuba mencari masih adakah cintanya
untukku.

"Ain tak salah apa-apa sayang. Ain baik. Cukup baik. Abang
sayang pada Ain."

"Tapi..Faizah. Abang juga sayang pada
Faizah..bermakna...sayang abang tidak sepenuh hati untuk Ain lagi."

"Ain...sayang abang pada Ain tidak berubah. Ain cinta pertama
abang. Abang rasa ini jalan terbaik. Tugasan dalam jemaah memerlukan
abang banyak berurusan dengan Faizah..Abang tak mahu wujud fitnah
antara kami. Lagipun..abang lelaki Ain. Abang berhak untuk berkahwin
lebih dari satu. `'

Bicara itu kurasakan amat tajam, mencalar hatiku. Merobek
jiwa ragaku. Aku mengasihinya sepenuh hatiku. Ketaatanku padanya
tidak pernah luntur. Kasih sayangku padanya tidak pernah pudar. Aku
telah cuba memberikan layanan yang terbaik untuknya. Tapi inikah
hadiahnya untukku? Sesungguhnya aku tidak menolak hukum Tuhan. Aku
tahu dia berhak. Namun, alangkah pedihnya hatiku ini mendengar ucapan
itu terbit dari bibirnya. Bibir insan yang amat ku kasihi.

Malam itu, tidurku berendam air mata. Dalam kesayuan, aku
memandang wajah Abang Harris penuh kasih. Nyenyak sekali tidurnya.
Sesekali terdetik dalam hatiku, bagaimana dia mampu melelapkan mata
semudah itu setelah hatiku ini digurisnya dengan sembilu. Tidak
fahamkah dia derita hati ini? Tak cukupkah selama ini pengorbananku
untuknya? Alangkah peritnya menahan kepedihan ini. Alangkah pedihnya!

Selama seminggu, aku menjadi pendiam apabila bersama
dengannya. Bukan aku sengaja tetapi aku tidak mampu membohongi hatiku
sendiri. Tugasku sebagai seorang isteri aku laksanakan sebaik
mungkin, tapi aku merasakan segalanya tawar. Aku melaksanakannya
tidak sepenuh hati. Oh Tuhan...ampuni daku. Aku sayang suamiku, tapi
aku terluka dengan permintaannya itu.

Apabila bertembung dua kehendak, kehendak mana yang harus
dituruti. Kehendak diri sendiri atau kehendak Dia ? Pastinya kehendak
Dia. Apa lagi yang aku ragukan? Pasti ada hikmah Allah yang
tersembunyi di sebalik ujian yang Dia turunkan buatku ini. Aku berasa
amat serba-salah berada dalam keadaan demikian. Aku rindukan suasana
yang dulu. Riang bergurau senda dengan suamiku. Kini, aku hanya
terhibur dengan keletah anak-anak. Senyumku untuk Abang Harris telah
tawar, tidak berperisa. Yang nyata, aku tidak mampu bertentang mata
dengannya lagi. Aku benar-benar terluka.

Namun, Abang Harris masih seperti dulu. Tidak jemu dia
memelukku setelah pulang dari kerja walau sambutan hambar. Tidak jemu
dia mencuri pandang merenung wajahku walau aku selalu melarikan
pandangan dari anak matanya. Tidak jemu ucapan kasihnya untukku. Aku
keliru. Benar-benar keliru. Adakah Abang Harris benar-benar tidak
berubah sayangnya padaku atau dia hanya sekadar ingin mengambil
hatiku untuk membolehkan dia berkahwin lagi?

`Oh Tuhan.berilah aku petunjukMu.' Dalam kegelapan malam, aku
bangkit sujud menyembahNya, mohon petunjuk dariNya. Aku mengkoreksi
kembali matlamat hidupku. Untuk apa segala pengorbananku selama ini
untuk suamiku ? Untuk mengejar cintanya atau untuk mengejar redha
Allah ? Ya Allah, seandainya ujian ini Engkau timpakan ke atasku
untuk menguji keimananku, aku rela Ya Allah. Aku rela.

Biarlah. Bukan cinta manusia yang kukejar. Aku hanya mengejar cinta
Allah. Cinta manusia hanya pemangkin. Bukankah aku telah berazam, aku
inginkan segala yang menyenangkan buat suamiku?

Dengan hati yang tercalar seguris luka, aku mengizinkan Abang Harris
berkahwin lagi. Dan, demi untuk mendidik hati ini, aku sendiri yang
menyampaikan hasrat Abang Harris itu kepada Faizah. Suamiku pada
mulanya agak terkejut apabila aku menawarkan diri untuk merisik
Faizah.

"Ain?..Ain serius?"

"Ya abang. Ain sendiri akan cakap pada Faizah. Ain lakukan ini semua
atas kerelaan hati Ain sendiri. Abang jangan risau.Ain jujur terhadap
abang. Ain tak akan khianati abang. Ain hanya mahu lihat abang
bahagia," ujarku dengan senyuman tawar. Aku masih perlu masa untuk
mengubat luka ini. Dan inilah satu caranya. Ibarat menyapu ubat luka.
Pedih, tetapi cepat sembuhnya.

Aku mengumpul kekuatan untuk menjemput Faizah datang ke rumahku.
Waktu itu, suamiku tiada di rumah dan dia telah memberi keizinan
untuk menerima kedatangan Faizah. Faizah dengan segala senang hati
menerima undanganku. Sememangnya aku bukanlah asing baginya. Malah
dia juga mesra dengan anak-anakku.

`' Izah..akak jemput Izah ke mari sebab ada hal yang akak nak
cakapkan, `' setelah aku merasakan cukup kuat, aku memulakan bicara.

`' Apa dia, Kak Ain. Cakaplah, `' lembut nada suaranya.

"Abang Harris ada pernah cakap apa-apa pada Faizah?"

"Maksud Kak Ain, Ustaz Harris?" Ada nada kehairanan pada suaranya.
Sememangnya kami memanggil rakan satu jemaah dengan panggilan Ustaz
dan Uztazah. Aku hanya mengangguk.

" Pernah dia cakap dia sukakan Izah?"

"Sukakan Izah? Isyyy..tak mungkinlah Kak Ain. Izah kenal Ustaz
Harris. Dia kan amat sayangkan akak. Takkanlah dia nak sukakan saya
pula. Kenapa Kak Ain tanya macam tu? Kak Ain ada dengar cerita dari
orang ke ni? `'

`' Tidak Izah. Tiada siapa yang membawa cerita..." Aku terdiam
seketika. "Izah, kalau Kak Ain cakap dia sukakan Izah dan nak ambil
Izah jadi isterinya, Izah suka?" Dengan amat berat hati, aku tuturkan
kalimah itu.

" Kak Ain!" jelas riak kejutan terpapar di wajahnya. `' Apa yang Kak
Ain cakap ni ? Jangan bergurau hal sebegini Kak Ain, `' kata Faizah
seakan tidak percaya. Mungkin kerana aku sendiri yang menutur ayat
itu. Isteri kepada Muhammad Harris sendiri merisik calon isteri kedua
suaminya.

"Tidak Izah. Akak tak bergurau..Izah sudi jadi saudara Kak Ain?"
ujarku lagi. Air mataku seolah ingin mengalir tapi tetap aku tahan.
Faizah memandang tepat ke wajahku.

"Kak Ain. Soal ini bukan kecil Kak Ain. Kak Ain pastikah yang..Ustaz
Harris...mahu. melamar saya?"

Dari nada suaranya, aku tahu Faizah jelas tidak tahu apa-apa. Faizah
gadis yang baik. Aku yakin dia tidak pernah menduga suamiku akan
membuat permintaan seperti ini. Lantas, aku menceritakan kepada
Faizah akan hasrat suamiku. Demi untuk memudahkan urusan jemaah,
untuk mengelakkan fitnah. Faizah termenung mendengar penjelasanku.

"Kak Ain...saya tidak tahu bagaimana Kak Ain boleh hadapi semuanya
ini dengan tabah. Saya kagum dengan semangat Kak Ain. Saya minta maaf
kak. Saya tak tahu ini akan berlaku. Saya tak pernah menyangka saya
menjadi punca hati Kak Ain terluka," ujarnya sebak. Matanya kulihat
berkaca-kaca.

"Izah.Kak Ain tahu kamu tak salah. Kak Ain juga tak salahkan Abang
Harris. Mungkin dia fikir ini jalan terbaik. Dan akak tahu, dia
berhak dan mampu untuk melaksanakannya. Mungkin ini ujian untuk
menguji keimanan Kak Ain."

"Kak.maafkan Izah." Dengan deraian air mata, Faizah meraihku ke dalam
pelukannya. Aku juga tidak mampu menahan sebak lagi. Air mataku
terhambur jua. Hati wanita. Biarpun bukan dia yang menerima kepedihan
ini, tetapi tersentuh jua hatinya dengan kelukaan yang ku alami.
Memang hanya wanita yang memahami hati wanita yang lain.

"Jadi.Izah setuju?" Soalku apabila tangisan kami telah reda.

`' Kak Ain..ini semua kejutan buat Izah. Izah tak tahu nak cakap.
Izah tak mahu lukakan hati Kak Ain."

"Soal Kak Ain..Izah jangan risau, hati Kak Ain.Insya Allah tahulah
akak mendidiknya. Yang penting akak mahu Abang Harris bahagia. Dan
akak sebenarnya gembira kerana Faizah pilihannya. Bukannya gadis lain
yang akak tak tahu hati budinya. Insya Allah Izah. Sepanjang Kak Ain
mengenali Abang Harris dan sepanjang akak hidup sebumbung dengannya,
dia seorang yang baik, seorang suami yang soleh, penyayang dan
penyabar. Selama ini akak gembira dengan dia. Dia seorang calon yang
baik buat Izah. `'

"Akak...Izah terharu dengan kebaikan hati akak. Tapi bagi Izah masa
dan Izah perlu tanya ibu bapa Izah dulu."

"Seeloknya begitulah. Kalau Izah setuju, Kak Ain akan cuba cakap pada
ibu bapa Izah."

Pertemuan kami petang itu berakhir. Aku berasa puas kerana telah
menyampaikan hasrat suamiku. `Ya Allah...inilah pengorbananku untuk
membahagiakan suamiku. Aku lakukan ini hanya semata-mata demi
redhaMu.'

Pada mulanya, keluarga Faizah agak keberatan untuk membenarkan Faizah
menjadi isteri kedua Abang Harris. Mereka khuatir Faizah akan terabai
dan bimbang jika dikata anak gadis mereka merampas suami orang.
Namun, aku yakinkan mereka akan kemampuan suamiku. Alhamdulillah,
keluarga Faizah juga adalah keluarga yang menitikberatkan ajaran
agama. Akhirnya, majlis pertunangan antara suamiku dan Faizah
diadakan jua.

"Ain...abang minta maaf sayang," ujar suamiku pada suatu hari,
beberapa minggu sebelum tarikh pernikahannya dengan Faizah.

"Kenapa?"

"Abang rasa serba salah. Abang tahu abang telah lukakan hati Ain.
Tapi..Ain sedikit pun tidak marahkan abang. Ain terima segalanya demi
untuk abang. Abang terharu. Abang..malu dengan Ain."

"Abang..syurga seorang isteri itu terletak di bawah tapak kaki
suaminya. Redha abang pada Ain Insya Allah, menjanjikan redha Allah
pada Ain. Itu yang Ain cari abang. Ain sayangkan abang. Ain mahu
abang gembira. Ain anggap ini semua ujian Allah abang. `'

`' Ain..Insya Allah abang tak akan sia-siakan pengorbanan Ain ini.
Abang bangga sayang. Abang bangga punya isteri seperti Ain. Ain
adalah cinta abang selamanya. Abang cintakan Ain."

"Tapi.abang harus ingat. Tanggungjawab abang akan jadi semakin berat.
Abang ada dua amanah yang perlu dijaga. Ain harap abang dapat
laksanakan tanggungjawab abang sebaik mungkin."

"Insya Allah abang akan cuba berlaku seadilnya." Dengan lembut dia
mengucup dahiku. Masih hangat seperti dulu. Aku tahu kasihnya padaku
tidak pernah luntur. Aku terasa air jernih yang hangat mula membasahi
pipiku. Cukuplah aku tahu, dia masih sayangkan aku seperti dulu
walaupun masanya bersamaku nanti akan terbatas.

Pada hari pertama pernikahan mereka, aku menjadi lemah. Tidak
bermaya. Aku tiada daya untuk bergembira. Hari itu sememangnya amat
perit bagiku walau aku telah bersedia untuk menghadapinya. Malam
pertama mereka disahkan sebagai suami isteri adalah malam pertama aku
ditinggalkan sendirian menganyam sepi. Aku sungguh sedih. Maha hebat
gelora perasaan yang ku alami. Aku tidak mampu lena walau sepicing
pun. Hatiku melayang terkenangkan Abang Harris dan Faizah. Pasti
mereka berdua bahagia menjadi pengantin baru. Bahagia melayari
kehidupan bersama, sedangkan aku ? Berendam air mata mengubat rasa
kesepian ini. Alhamdulillah. Aku punya anak-anak. Merekalah teman
bermainku.

Seminggu selepas itu, barulah Abang Harris pulang ke rumah. Aku
memelukknya seakan tidak mahu ku lepaskan. Seminggu berjauhan, terasa
seperti setahun. Alangkah rindunya hati ini. Sekali lagi air mata ku
rembeskan tanpa dapat ditahan.

`' Kenapa sayang abang menangis ni? Tak suka abang balik ke?" ujarnya
lembut.

"Ain rindu abang. Rindu sangat. `' Tangisku makin menjadi-jadi. Aku
mengeratkan pelukanku. Dan dia juga membalas dengan penuh kehangatan.

`' Abang pun rindu Ain. Abang rindu senyuman Ain. Boleh Ain senyum
pada abang ? `' Lembut tangannya memegang daguku dan mengangkat
wajahku.

`'Abang ada teman baru. Mungkinkah abang masih rindu pada Ain ? `'
Aku menduga keikhlasan bicaranya.

`' Teman baru tidak mungkin sama dengan yang lama. Kan abang dah
kata, sayang abang pada Ain masih seperti dulu. Tidak pernah berubah,
malah semakin sayang. Seminggu abang berjauhan dari Ain, tentulah
abang rindu. Rindu pada senyuman Ain, suara Ain, masakan Ain,
sentuhan Ain. Semuanya itu tiada di tempat lain, hanya pada Ain saja.
Senyumlah sayang, untuk abang. `'

Aku mengukir senyum penuh ikhlas. Aku yakin dengan kata-katanya. Aku
tahu sayangnya masih utuh buatku.

Kini, genap sebulan Faizah menjadi maduku. Aku melayannya seperti
adik sendiri. Hubungan kami yang dulunya baik bertambah mesra. Apa
tidaknya, kami berkongsi sesuatu yang amat dekat di hati. Dan,
Faizah, menyedari dirinya adalah orang baru dalam keluarga, sentiasa
berlapang dada menerima teguranku. Katanya, aku lebih mengenali Abang
Harris dan dia tidak perlu bersusah payah untuk cuba mengorek sendiri
apa yang disukai dan apa yang tidak disukai oleh Abang Harris. Aku,
sebagai kakak, juga sentiasa berpesan kepada Faizah supaya sentiasa
menghormati dan menjaga hati Abang Harris. Aku bersyukur, Faizah
tidak pernah mengongkong suamiku. Giliran kami dihormatinya.

Walaupun kini masa untuk aku bersama dengan suamiku terbatas, tetapi
aku dapat merasakan kebahagiaan yang semakin bertambah apabila kami
bersama. Benarlah, perpisahan sementara menjadikan kami semakin
rindu. Waktu bersama, kami manfaatkan sebaiknya. Alhamdulillah,
suamiku tidak pernah mengabaikan aku dan Faizah. Aku tidak merasa
kurang daripada kasih sayangnya malah aku merasakan sayangnya padaku
bertambah. Kepulangannya kini sentiasa bersama sekurang-kurangnya
sekuntum mawar merah. Dia menjadi semakin penyayang, semakin
romantik. Aku rasa aku harus berterima kasih pada Faizah kerana kata
suamiku, Faizahlah yang selalu mengingatkannya supaya jangan mensia-
siakan kasih sayangku padanya.

Memang aku tidak dapat menafikan, adakalanya aku digigit rindu
apabila dia pulang untuk bersama-sama dengan Faizah. Rindu itu, aku
ubati dengan zikrullah. Aku gunakan kesempatan ketiadaannya di rumah
dengan menghabiskan masa bersama Kekasih Yang Agung. Aku habiskan
masaku dengan mengalunkan ayat-ayatNya sebanyak mungkin. Sedikit demi
sedikit kesedihan yang ku alami mula pudar. Ia diganti dengan rasa
ketenangan. Aku tenang beribadat kepadaNya. Terasa diriku ini lebih
hampir dengan Maha Pencipta.

Soal anak-anak, aku tidak mempunyai masalah kerana sememangnya aku
mempunyai pembantu rumah setelah aku melahirkan anak kedua. Cuma,
sewaktu mula-mula dulu, mereka kerap juga bertanya kemana abah mereka
pergi, tak pulang ke rumah. Aku terangkan secara baik dengan mereka.
Mereka punyai ibu baru. Makcik Faizah. Abah perlu temankan Makcik
Faizah seperti abah temankan mama. Anak-anakku suka bila mengetahui
Faizah juga menjadi `ibu' mereka. Kata mereka, Makcik Izah baik.
Mereka suka ada dua ibu. Lebih dari orang lain. Ahhh.anak-anak kecil.
Apa yang kita terapkan itulah yang mereka terima. Aku tidak pernah
menunjukkan riak kesedihan bila mereka bertanya tentang Faizah.
Bagiku Faizah seperti adikku sendiri.

Kadang-kadang, bila memikirkan suamiku menyayangi seorang perempuan
lain selain aku, memang aku rasa cemburu, rasa terluka. Aku cemburu
mengingatkan belaian kasihnya itu dilimpahkan kepada orang lain. Aku
terluka kerana di hatinya ada orang lain yang menjadi penghuni.
Aisyah, isteri Rasulullah jua cemburukan Khadijah, insan yang telah
tiada. Inikan pula aku, manusia biasa. Tapi... ku kikis segala
perasaan itu. Cemburu itukan fitrah wanita, tanda sayangkan suami.
Tetapi cemburu itu tidak harus dilayan. Kelak hati sendiri yang
merana. Bagiku, kasih dan redha suami padaku itu yang penting, bukan
kasihnya pada orang lain. Selagi aku tahu, kasihnya masih utuh
buatku, aku sudah cukup bahagia. Dan aku yakin, ketaatan, kesetiaan
dan kasih sayang yang tidak berbelah bahagi kepadanya itulah kunci
kasihnya kepadaku. Aku ingin nafasku terhenti dalam keadaan redhanya
padaku, supaya nanti Allah jua meredhai aku. Kerana sabda Rasulullah
s.a.w

"Mana-mana wanita (isteri) yang meninggal dunia dalam keadaan
suaminya meredhainya, maka ia akan masuk ke dalam syurga." (Riwayat
at-Tirmizi, al-Hakim dan Ibnu Majah).

Sungguh bukan mudah aku melalui semuanya itu. Saban hari aku
berperang dengan perasaan. Perasaan sayang, luka, marah, geram,
cemburu semuanya bercampur aduk. Jiwaku sentiasa berperang antara
kewarasan akal dan emosi. Pedih hatiku hanya Tuhan yang tahu.
KepadaNyalah aku pohon kekuatan untuk menempuhi segala kepedihan itu.
KepadaNyalah aku pinta kerahmatan dan kasih sayang, semoga keresahan
hati ini kan berkurangan.

Namun, jika aku punya pilihan, pastinya aku tidak mahu bermadu.
Kerana ia sesungguhnya memeritkan. Perlukan ketabahan dan kesabaran.
Walau bagaimanapun, aku amat bersyukur kerana suamiku tidak pernah
mengabaikan tanggungjawabnya. Dan aku juga bersyukur kerana menjadi
intan terpilih untuk menerima ujian ini.

Arena Nordin
TJ, Bangi.

Keletihan Spiritual (Futur) dan Dosa

Ketaatan kepada pemimpin termasuk sebagian daripda iman. maka ia juga bisa bertambah dan berkurangan sebagaimananya hal iman. Sesungguhnya iman kadang bertambah dan kadang akan berkurang sebagaimana yang dikatakan oleh majoriti ahli hadis dan ahli fiqh. Oleh kerana iu, semua aktiviti dalam ruang lingkup iman juga bisa naik hingga sampai ke puncaknya, baik dalam aspek i'tiqad ataupun amaliah, dan bisa pula turun sampai lemah pada suatu saat. Orang yang berjaya adalah orang yang tidak bersikap berlebihan ketika tingkat imannya naik, dan tidak melampaui batas ketika imannya turun. Namun ia tetap mengikuti petunjuk sunnah Nabi saw, sebagaimana disabdakan oleh Rasulullah saw:

"Setiap amal mempunyai masa semangat (syirrah), dan setiap masa semangat terdapat pula masa turun semangat (fatrah) Barangsiapa yang masa lemah semangatnya masih berada pasa sunnahku, maka ia telah mendapat petunjuk".

Dalam riwayat yang lain, hadits itu berbunyi:
"Barangsiapa yang masa semangatnya berada pada sunnahku maka ia telah mendapat petunjuk."

segala bentuk ketaatan selalu mempunyai syirrah dan fatrah (masa naik dan turun). Berbagai bentuknya, terkadang dapat dilihat dan dirasakan oleh seorang Mukmin dan terkadang tidak. Selalu mengikat iman yang turun dan naik tersebut dengan sunnah Nabi saw tanpa menodainya dengan kehinaan dan kerendahan adalah suatu keindahan. Keindahan ini akan bertambah bila dilengkapi dengan menahan diri dari keinginan untuk lepas kendali sehingga menyebabkan kelengahan, egoisme dan pertengkaran yang akan mengakibatkan hilangnya pahala amal jamai'i. Bahkan bisa jadi akan menjadi penghalang untuk mendapat syurga bersama kelompok tersebut. Dua keindahan itu akan menjadi penghias, sehingga wajah seorang Mukmin yang bergabung dengan kelompok tersebut tampak bagaikan bulan purnama pada malam sempurnanya, sebagaimana dikatakan oleh rasulullah saw dalam sebuah hadis.

Oleh itu, 'pemeriksaan hati' harus dilakukan, agar seorang Mukin dapat mengetahui keadaan turun-naiknya iman, disamping agar dapat bersyukur kepada Allah swt bila imannya bertambah dan menyusuli bila ada kekurangan.

Al-Junaid berseru:

"Periksalah hal-hal yang bisa menodai hatimu".

Di sini al-Junaid menamakan semua hal yang membuat berkurangnya iman dengan 'noda'. Yakni hal yang mengeruhkan kejernihannya dan membuat hati merasa tenang kepada sesuatu yang tidak pada tempatnya. Itulah noda-noda yang menjerumuskan dan menipu. Ia hanya memberimu gambaran tetapi tidak memberi hakikat sama sekali. Ia mencampakkan ke bumi fatrah setelah syirrah. Ia telah mencuri identiti dirimu yang telah tergolong ke dalam 'kelompok yang bersatu hati'.

Kenalilah hal ini sebaik yang mungkin.

dari buku

hambatan-hambatan dakwah (robbani press)

Lessons in teamwork from an age-old fable

1. Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster. They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race. The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep. The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ. The hare woke up and realised that he'd lost the race. The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race. This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with.

2. But then recently, someone told me a more interesting version of this story. It continues. The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching. He realised that he'd lost the race only because he had been overconfident, careless and lax. If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles. The moral of the story? Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady. If you have two people in your organisation, one slow, methodical and reliable, and the other fast and still reliable at what he does, the fast and reliable chap will consistently climb the organisational ladder faster than the slow, methodical chap. It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable.

3. But the story doesn't end here. The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realised that there's no way he can beat the hare in a race theway it was currently formatted. He thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of kilometres on the other side of the river. The hare sat there wondering what to do. In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race. The moral of the story? First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency. In an organisation, if you are a good speaker, make sure you create opportunities to give presentations that enable the senior management to notice you. If your strength is analysis, make sure you do some sort of research, make a report and send it upstairs. Working to your strengths will not only get you noticed, but will also create opportunities for growth and advancement. The story still hasn't ended. \

4. The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together. Both realised that the last race could have been run much better. So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time. They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral of the story? It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team! and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well. Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership. There are more lessons to be learnt from this story. Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure. The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could. In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort. Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different. And sometimes it is appropriate to do both. The hare and the tortoise also learnt another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.

When Roberto Goizueta took over as CEO of Coca-Cola in the 1980s, he was faced with intense competition from Pepsi that was eating into Coke's growth. His executives were Pepsi-focussed and intent on increasing market share 0.1 per cent a time. Goizueta decided to stop competing against Pepsi and instead compete against the situation of 0.1 per cent growth. He asked his executives what was the average fluid intake of an American per day? The answer was 14 ounces. What was Coke's share of that? Two ounces. Goizueta said Coke needed a larger share of that market. The competition wasn't Pepsi. It was the water, tea, coffee, milk and fruit juices that went into the remaining 12 ounces. The public should reach for a Coke whenever they felt like drinking something. To this end, Coke put up vending machines at every street corner. Sales took a quantum jump and Pepsi has never quite caught up since. To sum up, the story of the hare and tortoise teaches us many things. Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady; work to your competencies; pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers; never give up when faced with failure; and finally, compete against the situation not against a rival.

Ramadan Challenges in History
11/14/2002 - Religious - Article Ref: IC0211-1786
By: Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick
IslamiCity* -



All praises to Allah, Lord of the worlds. He who revealed in His Glorious Quran, "Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may keep your duty to your Lord (having taqwa)," 2:185. And may blessings and-peace of Allah be upon His last Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah, forever.

Oh you who believe, Ramadan is a sacred month wherein Almighty Allah is constantly testing His creation and giving humanity the opportunity to achieve infinite, endless Bliss. Fasting is a complete purification and a means to developing the consciousness of Allah's presence. The consciousness of Allah, Taqwa, is a protection against the schemes of Shaitan, and the suffering of this world. Allah has informed us that, "Whoever keeps his duty to Allah (has taqwa), He ordains a way out for him and gives him sustenance from where he imagines not. And whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah attains His purpose. Allah has appointed a measure for everything." (65:2)

Many Muslims today have a misconception about fasting and the activities of a fasting person. They go into a state of semi-hibernation, spending most of their daylight hours in bed. If they fear Allah, they wake up for prayer, but then return to sleep immediately. This unnatural sleep makes them become lazy, dull witted and often cranky.

Ramadan is actually a time of increased activity wherein the believer, now lightened of the burdens of constant eating and drinking, should be more willing to strive and struggle for Allah. The Prophet passes through approximately nine Ramadan's after the Hijrah. They were filled with decisive events and left us a shining example of sacrifice and submission to Allah.

In the first year after the Hijrah, the Prophet sent Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib with thirty Muslim riders to Saif al Bahr to investigate three hundred riders from Quraish who had camped auspiciously in that area. The Muslims were about to engage the disbelievers, but they were separated by Majdy ibn Umar al-Juhany. The Hypocrites of Al-Madinah, hoping to oppose the unity of the Muslims, built their own masjid (called Masjid al-Direr). The Prophet ordered this masjid to be destroyed in Ramadan.

On the seventeenth of Ramadan, 3 A.H., Almighty Allah separated truth from falsehood at the Great Battle of Badr. The Prophet and 313 of his companions set out to intercept a caravan of their own goods that had been left in Makkah. It was led by Abu Sufyan, himself, and estimated at 60,000 dinars. They were met, instead, by a well equipped army of the nobility of Quraish, intent on putting out the light of Islam. Despite being outnumbered three to one and appearing weak and unseasoned, the Muslims defended their faith with a burning desire to protected the Prophet and meet their Lord through martyrdom. Allah gave them a decisive victory on this day of Ramadan, that would never to be forgotten.

In 6 A.H., Zaid ibn Haritha was sent to Wadi al-Qura at the head of a detachment to confront Fatimah bint Rabiah, the queen of that area. Fatimah had previously attacked a caravan led by Zaid and had succeeded in plundering its wealth. She was known to be the most protected woman in Arabia, as she hung fifty swords of her close relatives in her home. Fatimah was equally renowned for showing open hostility to Islam. She was killed in a battle against these Muslims in the month of Ramadan.

By Ramadan of 8 A H., the treaty of Hudaibiyya had been broken and the Muslim armies had engaged the Byzantines in the North. Muhammad felt the need to strike a fatal blow to disbelief in the Arabian Peninsula and conquer the city of Mecca. Allah had declared His Sanctuary a place of peace, security and religious sanctity. Now the time had come to purify the Kaabah of nakedness and abomination. The Prophet set out with an army having more armed men than Al-Madinah had ever seen before. People were swelling the army's ranks as it moved toward Makkah. The determination of the believers, guided by the Will of Allah, became so awesome that the city of Makkah was conquered without a battle, on - 20 Ramadan. This was one of the most important dates in Islamic history for after it, Islam was firmly entrenched in the Arabian Peninsula. During the same month and year, after smashing the idols of Makkah, detachments were sent to the major centers of polytheism and al-Lat, Manat and Suwa, some of the greatest idols of Arabia, were destroyed.

Such was the month of Ramadan in the time of the Prophet. It was a time of purification, enjoining the good, forbidding evil, and striving hard with one's life and wealth. After the death of the Prophet, Muslims carried on this tradition and Allah used the true believers to affect the course of history. Ramadan continued to be a time of great trials and crucial events.

Ninety-two years after the Hujrah, Islam had spread across North Africa, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Spain was under the tyrannical rule of King Roderic of the Visigoths. Roderic had forced his six million serfs and persecuted Jews to seek the aid of the Muslims of North Africa in order to be delivered. Musa ibn Husair, the Umayyad governor of North Africa, responded by sending his courageous general Tariq ibn Ziyad at the head of 12,000 Berber and Arab troops. In Ramadan of that year, they were confronted with a combined Visigoth army of 90,000 Christians led by Roderic, himself, who was seated on a throne of ivory silver, and precious gems and drawn by white mules. After burning his boats, Tariq preached to the Muslims warning them that and Paradise lay ahead of them and defeat and the sea to the rear. They burst with great enthusiasm and Allah manifested a clear victory over the forces of disbelief. Not only was Roderic and his forces completely annihilated, but Tariq and Musa succeeded in liberating whole of Spain, Sicily and of France. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of Al-Andalus where Muslims ruled for over 700 years.

In the year 682 A.H., Salahuddin al-Ayyubi, after battling with the Crusaders for years, finally drove them out of Syria and the whole of their occupied lands in the month of Ramadan. The Muslim world was then destined to meet one of its most frightening challenges.

In the seventh century A.H., the Mongols were sweeping across Asia destroying everything that lay in their path Genghis Khan called himself "the scourge of God sent to punish humanity for their sins." In 617 A.H. Samarkand, Ray, and Hamdan were put to the sword causing more than 700,000 people to be killed or made captive. In 656 A.H. Hulagu, the grandson of Genghis Khan, continued this destruction. Even Baghdad, the leading city of the Muslim world, was sacked. Some estimates say that as many as 1,800,000 Muslims were killed in this awesome carnage. The Christians were asked to eat pork and drink wine openly while the surviving Muslims were forced to participate in drinking bouts. Wine was sprinkled in the masjids and no Azan (call to prayer) was allowed. In the wake of such a horrible disaster and with the threat of the whole Muslim world; and then Europe being subjected to the same fate, Allah raised up from the Mamluks of Egypt, Saifuddin Qutz, who, united the Muslim army and met the Mongols at Ain Jalut on 26th Ramadan, 468 A.H. Although they were under great pressure, the Muslims with the help of Allah, cunning strategy and unflinching bravery, crushed the Mongol army and reversed this tidal wave of horror. The whole of the civilized world sighed in relief and stood in awe at the remarkable achievement of these noble sons of Islam.

This was the spirit of Ramadan that enabled our righteous forefathers to face seemingly impossible challenges. It was a time of intense activity, spending the day in the saddle and the night in prayer while calling upon Allah for His mercy and forgiveness.

Today, the Muslim world is faced with drought, military aggression, widespread corruption and tempting materialism. Surely we are in need of believers who can walk in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet, the illustrious Sahabah, Tariq ibn Ziyad, Qutuz, Salahuddin and the countless heroes of Islam. Surely we are in need of believers who are unafraid of the threats of the disbelievers, yet kind and humble to the believing people; Muslims whose fast is complete and not just a source of hunger and thirst.

May Allah raise up a generation of Muslims who can carry Islam to all corners of the globe in a manner that befits our age, and may He give us the strength and the success to lay the proper foundations for them. May Allah make us of those who carry out our Islam during Ramadan and after it, and may He not make us of those who say what they do not do. Surely Allah and His Angels invoke blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad. Oh you who believe send blessings and peace to him forever.

Source: The Message - Canada

Al-Jazari, the Mechanical Genius

By Prof. STS Al-Hassani, UMIST, Manchester, UK.

Al-Jazari was the most outstanding Mechanical Engineer of his time. His full name was Badi Al-Zaman AbulI-Ezz Ibn Ismail Ibn Al-Razzaz Al-Jazari and he lived in Diyar-Bakir (in Turkey) during the 6th century AH (12th century CE).

He was called Al-Jazari after the place of his birth, Al-Jazira, the area lying between the Tigris and the Euphrates in Iraq. Like his father before him he served Urtuq kings of Diyar-Bakir, from 570-597 AH (1174-1200 CE) as a Mechanical Engineer. In 1206 he completed an outstanding book on engineering entitled Al-Jami Bain Al-Ilm Wal-Amal Al-Nafi Fi Sinat at Al-Hiyal in Arabic. It was a compendium of theoretical and practical mechanics. Writes Sarton (1884-1956):This treatise is the most elaborate of its kind and may be considered the climax of this line of Muslim achievement. Sarton vol.2; page 510.

Al-Jazari's book is distinctive in its practical aspect because the author was a competent engineer and skilled craftsman. The book describes various devices in minute detail hence an invaluable contribution in the history of engineering. British charter engineer Donald Hill (1974) who has a special interest in Arab technology writes:

It is impossible to over emphasize the importance of Al-Jazari's work in the history of engineering, it provides a wealth of instructions for design, manufacture and assembly of machines.

Al-Jazari describes fifty mechanical devices in six different categories, including water clocks, hand washing device (wadu machine) and machines for raising water etc. Following the World of Islam Festival held in the United Kingdom in 1976 a tribute was paid to Al-Jazri when the london Science Museum showed a successfully reconstructed working model of his famous Water Clock."

Hill translated Al-Jazari's work in 1974, seven centuries and 68 years after it was completed by its author. Al-Jazari's book includes six main categories of machines and devices. Several of the machines, mechanisms and techniques that first appear in this treatise, later entering the vocabulary of European mechanical engineering, including double acting pumps with suction pipes and the use of a crank shaft in a machine, accurate calibration of orifices, lamination of timber to reduce warping, static balancing of wheels, use of paper models to establish a design, casting of metals in closed mould boxes with green sand etc. Al-Jazari also describes methods of construction and assembly in scrupulous detail of the fifty or so machines in it to enable future craftsmen to reconstruct them.

And he was successful in that, for many of his devices were constructed following his instructions. The work by al-Jazari is also unique in the way that other writers often fail to give sufficient details, because amongst others, they are not craftsmen themselves, or kept their secrets, or if they were craftsmen, they could have been illiterate. Al-Jazari in this respect was unique, and this gives his work immense value. His book, Hill states, is an absolute wealth of Islamic mechanical engineering.

In their paper in the charter Engineer of the I.Mech.E., Ludlow and Bahrani have raised the important point that it is more than likely that there is more on the subject in some of the thousands of Arabic manuscripts in the European and North American libraries which have been inspected closely, and obviously require looking into.

Hill, too, and constantly raises the two major issues with respect to the history of engineering in general, and that of fine technology in particular. He first states the fact that the field, which is absolutely immense, is yet totally unexplored.

The other issue is related to fine technology. One of his concluding points states that `it is hoped that, as research proceeds, firmer evidence for the transmission of Islamic fine technology into Europe can be provided.' Hill also offers some hints for such transmission. The most likely route being Spain. Such fine technology could have followed the same route as the astrolabe (itself part of this fine technology.) Apart from Spain, there was Sicily, another land of transfer, Byzantium, and Syria during the Crusades. And Hill is also right on a further account, that what will be seen in this work is just a fraction of the whole process, which, as with much else has hardly been explored.

SIGNS OF WEAK IMAAN:
1) Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.
2) Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran.
3) Feeling too lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salat
4) Neglecting the Sunnah.
5) Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things
and bothered and irritated most of the time.
6) Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quran, for
example when Allah warns us of punishments and His promise of glad
tidings.
7) Finding difficulty in remembering Allah and making dhikr.
8) Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.
9) Desiring status and wealth.
10) Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with wealth.
11) Ordering others to do good deeds when not practising them
ourselves.
12) Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.
13) Being concerned with whether something is haram or halal only;
and not avoiding makroo (not recommended) things.
14) Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the
mosque.
15) Not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.
16) Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.
17) Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and
yelling in funerals.
18) Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.
19) Becoming engrossed and very involved with dunya, worldly things,
i.e. feeling bad only when losing something in terms of material
wealth.
20) Becoming engrossed and obsessive about ourselves.

LISTED BELOW ARE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR IMAAN:
===========================================
1) Recite and ponder on the meanings of the Quran.
Tranquility then descends and our hearts become soft. To get optimum
benefit, remind yourself that Allah is speaking to you. People are
described in different categories in the Quran; think of which one
you find yourself in.
2) Realize the greatness of Allah. Everything is under His control.
There are signs in everything we see that points us to His
greatness. Everything happens according to His permission. Allah
keeps track and looks after everything, even a black ant on a black
rock on a black moonless night.
3) Make an effort to gain knowledge, for at least the basic things
in daily life e.g. how to make wudu properly. Know the meanings
behind Allah's names and attributes. People who have taqwa are those
who have knowledge.
4) Attend gatherings where Allah is remembered. In such gatherings
we are surrounded by angels.
5) We have to increase our good deeds. One good deed leads to
another good deed. Allah will make the way easy for someone who
gives charity and also make it easy for him or her to do good deeds.
Good deeds must be done continuously,
not in spurts.
6) We must fear the miserable end to our lives; the remembrance of
death is the destroyer of pleasures.
7) Remember the different levels of akhirah, for instance when we
are put in our graves, when we are judged, whether we will be in
paradise or hell.
8) Make dua, realize that we need Allah. Be humble. Don't covet
material things in this life.
9) Our love for Subhana Wa Ta'Ala must be shown in actions.
We must hope Allah will accept our prayers, and be in constant fear
that we do wrong. At night before going to sleep, we must think
about what good we did during that day.
10) Realize the effects of sins and disobedience - one's imaan is
increased with good deeds and our imaan is decreased by bad deeds.
Everything that happens is because Allah wanted it. When calamity
befalls us- it is also from Allah. It is a direct result of our
disobedience to Allah.

The Girl Who threw Her heart away .

This is A story
of a little girl .
the girl
who threw
her heart away

She's odd
Dull and Awkward
Peculiar and extremely weird,
So strange,
She's Alienated!

pushing her future
backwards .
She isolates herself
Faraway from norms
And standard

all the way
she walks
Through the pave
of continuous boredom,
Despair, Pain and hurt
There is no enjoyment
Nor was there any satisfaction
Though there were loads of hope ..
That she might change one day,
And give life a better look .

She's lonely
And always alone
She's nobody important
Only a being on her own

What she wears
What she says
The way she is
She's that
Of strangeness
Arcane nature

And that was
All she is
The way
people say
The way
people view
The girl who threw her heart away

Coz she is ..

The girl who threw her heart away .
So far away from the world,
Claiming to purify her soul ..
Tearing her world into pieces,
Hoping to join them together
For the everlasting happiness .
Forgetting her feelings
for God's pleasure
Sacrificing her dreams,
To fulfil His order ..

Coz this girl
Who threw her heart away
Means well
And was never of despair
Never felt alone
Nor missed life's splendour
For not living life
The way people do so

Enslaving herself in humility,
of grace and great modesty,
nevertheless her life seems hard
in the eyes of those
who thinks she's odd

coz this girl who threw her heart away
is keeping it in the most decent way
not in the jars of the worldly waste
but in a beautiful garden
preparing to face
the great, crucial day
where all man and woman
be gathered
to witness
the utmost greatness
of the Supreme Lord
Allah the Most Greatest!
The day
where the world shall see
that this girl
who threw her heart away
is all fine, happy and ok! :)


khaleel el-wafy
130802


=====
Nurin Mazaya Zulkifli

There is an unseen sweetness in
The stomach's emptiness…
We are lutes,
When the sound box is filled,
No music can come forth.
When the brain and the belly,
Are burning from fasting,
Every moment a new song rises,
Out of the fire.
The mists clear, and a new vitality makes you,
Spring up the steps before you.
Be empty…
And cry as a reed instrument,
Be empty…
And write secrets with a reed pen,
When satiated by food and drink,
An unsightly metal statue is seated where your spirit should be,
When fasting, good habits gather like helpful friends.
Fasting is Solomon's ring,
Don't give in to illusion,
And lose your power.
But even when all will and control have been lost,
They will return when you fast,
Like soldiers appearing out of the ground,
Or pennants flying in the breeze.
A table descends to your tents, the Lord's table,
Anticipate seeing it when fasting,
This table spread with a different food,
Far better than the broth of cabbages.

-Jalaluddin ar-Rumi-

Cetakan beribu Mushhaf al-Quran telah ada di zaman Rasullulah S.A.W?

Dan Muhammad bin Abdullah telah berjaya ketika
membentuk para sahabatnya r.a. menjadi gambaran2 yang
hidup dari keimanannya, ketika memakan makanan, ketika
berjalan di pasar, dan di mana baginda membentuk dari
tiap2 diri mereka menjadi seumpama sebuah al-Quran
yang merayap di atas muka bumi, dijadikan setiap
individu antara mereka contoh yang berbentuk Islam,
yang dapat dilihat oleh manusia, maka dengan
melihatnya, mereka dapat melihat Islam.

Sebenarnya NAS-NAS SEMATA TIDAK DAPAT MEMBUAT SESUATU.
Sebenarnya mushhaf semata tidak dapat melakukan apa2
sehingga dia dicanaikan dalam diri seseorang, dan
sesungguhnya DASAR2 ITU SENDIRINYA TIDAK AKAN HIDUP,
SEHINGGA DIA MERUPAKAN SUATU KELAKUAN.

Sebab itulah, maka Muhammad s.aw. telah menjadikan
MATLAMATNYA YANG UTAMA IALAH UNTUK MEMBENTUK MANUSIA2
MISALI, BUKAN SAJA untuk menyampaikan nasihat2; DAN
BAGINDA MENCATU TABIAT2, BUKAN SEMATA untuk memerindah
pidato2; dan BAGINDA MENDIRIKAN SATU UMAT, BUKAN saja
kerana mendirikan satu falsafah. Adapun PEMIKIRAN itu
sendiri AL-QURAN TELAH MENJAMIN KEWUJUDANNYA, dan
segala perilaku Muhammad s.a.w. itu ialah untuk
menukar pemikiran yang negatif, menjadi manusia2 yang
boleh dirasakan oleh tangan dan dilihat oleh mata.

Muhammad bin Abdullah s.aw. telah berjaya, ketika
baginda mencatu dari pemikiran Islam itu manusia2, dan
MENUKARKAN KEPERCAYAAN MEREKA DENGAN ISLAM MENJADI
AMALAN, DAN BAGINDA TELAH MENCETAK DARI MUSHHAF ITU
BERPULUH2 NASKAH, BAHKAN BERATUS2 DAN BERIBU. AKAN
TETAPI BAGINDA TIDAK MENCETAKNYA DENGAN TINTA DI ATAS
KERTAS, BAHKAN BAGINDA TELAH MENCETAKNYA DENGAN CAHAYA
DI ATAS LAPISAN2 HATI. Kemudian baginda telah
melepaskannya bermuamalah dengan manusia; mengambil
dan memberi, seraya berusaha dengan percakapan dan
perbuatan; APA DIA ISLAM YANG DIBAWA OLEH MUHAMMAD BIN
ABDULLAH SAW DARIPADA ALLAH S.WT.?

Rujukan: Diraasat Islamiah, fasal Kemenangan Muhammad,
Karya: Syed Qutb.

Terpegun sebentar hatiku,
Membaca pemikiran insan agung ini
Hakikat Islam Muhammad s.a.w.
Kurenung diri
Aku ingin cetakan cahaya ilahi
Dicanai dan dicetak di dalam hati
Tarbiyah Islami

The End of the West
The next clash of civilizations will not be between the West and the rest but between the United States and Europe—and Americans remain largely oblivious

by Charles A. Kupchan

.....


he American era appears to be alive and well. The U.S. economy is more than twice the size of the next biggest—Japan's—and the United States spends more on defense than the world's other major powers combined. China is regularly identified as America's next challenger, but it is decades away from entering the top ranks. The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington certainly punctured the sense of security that arose from the end of the Cold War and the triumph of the West, but they have done little to compromise U.S. hegemony. Indeed, they have reawakened America's appetite for global engagement. At least for the foreseeable future, the United States will continue to enjoy primacy, taking on Islamic terrorism even as it keeps a watchful eye on China.

That encapsulates the conventional wisdom—and it is woefully off the mark. Not only is American primacy far less durable than it appears, but it is already beginning to diminish. And the rising challenger is not China or the Islamic world but the European Union, an emerging polity that is in the process of marshaling the impressive resources and historical ambitions of Europe's separate nation-states.

The EU's annual economic output has reached about $8 trillion, compared with America's $10 trillion, and the euro will soon threaten the dollar's global dominance. Europe is strengthening its collective consciousness and character and forging a clearer sense of interests and values that are quite distinct from those of the United States. The EU's member states are debating the adoption of a Europe-wide constitution (a move favored by two thirds of the union's population), building armed forces capable of operating independently of the U.S. military, and striving to project a single voice in the diplomatic arena. As the EU fortifies its governmental institutions and takes in new members (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and at least four other countries are expected to join in 2004), it will become a formidable counterweight to the United States on the world stage. The transatlantic rivalry that has already begun will inevitably intensify. Centers of power by their nature compete for position, influence, and prestige.

The coming clash between the United States and the European Union will doubtless bear little resemblance to the all-consuming standoff of the Cold War. Although military confrontation remains a remote prospect, however, U.S.-EU competition will extend far beyond the realm of trade. The U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are destined to vie for control of the international monetary system. Washington and Brussels will just as likely lock horns over the Middle East. Europe will resist rather than backstop U.S. leadership, perhaps paralyzing the World Bank, the United Nations, and other institutions that since World War II have relied on transatlantic cooperation to function effectively. An ascendant EU will surely test its muscle against America, especially if the unilateralist bent in U.S. foreign policy continues. A once united West appears well on its way to separating into competing halves.

or the moment America remains largely oblivious to the challenges posed by a rising Europe. Policymakers in Washington tend to view the EU as at best an impressive trade bloc, and at worst a collection of feckless allies that regularly complain about America's heavy hand even as they do little to bear the burdens of common defense. Moreover, most American foreign-policy experts presume that were the EU to realize its full potential as a political and economic power, the geopolitical consequences would be minimal: amity among the Atlantic democracies has been a well-entrenched fact of life, an apparently unalterable product of shared history and values. That the EU and the United States might part ways would seem to border on the unthinkable.

These presumptions are dangerous illusions. To be sure, Europe is not a centralized federation, and its integration is proceeding in fits and starts. But political entities that take shape by stitching together previously separate states always emerge tentatively. The United States began as a loose confederation in 1781. After that formula proved too weak to sustain the Union, America opted for a tighter federation in 1789. It then took roughly a hundred years—not to mention a bloody civil war—for the Union to strengthen its governing bodies, nurture a national identity that transcended state loyalties, and project a geopolitical voice beyond its neighborhood. Europe has been working at political union for about five decades—and faces many hurdles in the years ahead. But the EU is already coming of age as a collective force; it is on, if not well ahead of, schedule.

History also provides ample warning of the trouble likely to accompany a division such as the one that the West is now starting to experience. Consider the fate of the Roman Empire after Diocletian decided, at the end of the third century, to split the realm into eastern and western halves, leading to the establishment of a second capital, in Byzantium—which Constantine elected to rename Constantinople in 324. Despite their shared heritage, Rome and Constantinople became rivals: a common religion fell prey to lasting disputes over authority and doctrine, and imperial unity gave way to bloodshed and the demise of Roman rule.

As Byzantium did with Rome when it separated from its former overseer, the EU is making a run at the United States. And just as the Byzantines and the Romans parted ways over values and interests, so have the Europeans and the Americans. The two sides of the Atlantic follow different social models. Despite recent deregulation across Europe, America's laissez-faire capitalism still contrasts sharply with Europe's more centralized approach. Whereas Americans decry the constraints on growth that stem from the European model, Europeans look askance at America's income inequalities, its consumerism, and its readiness to sacrifice social capital for material gain.

The two have also parted company on matters of statecraft. Americans still live by the rules of realpolitik, viewing military threat, coercion, and war as essential tools of diplomacy. In contrast, Europeans by and large have spent the past fifty years trying to tame international politics, setting aside guns in favor of the rule of law. On July 1, while the EU was celebrating the launch of the International Criminal Court, the Bush Administration was announcing its intention to withdraw U.S. forces from Bosnia unless they were granted immunity from the court's jurisdiction. Europeans see America's reliance on the use of force as simplistic, self-serving, and a product of its excessive power; Americans see the EU's firm commitment to multilateral institutions as naive, self-righteous, and a product of its military weakness.

Americans and Europeans still enjoy an affinity arising from historical ties and democratic traditions. But even this is wearing thin. As a multi-ethnic immigrant nation, America has begun to wonder about a Europe that remains hostile to immigrants despite its shrinking population, and that falls prey to bouts of intolerance and anti-Semitism. Europeans, in turn, take a dim view of an America wedded to gun ownership and capital punishment. At root, America and Europe are driven by different political cultures. And the cultural distance appears to be widening, not closing, putting the two sides of the Atlantic on diverging social paths.

As the EU continues to rise, its economic and political interests are likely to collide frequently with those of the United States, intensifying the ill will. Airbus recently surpassed Boeing as the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft, and Nokia is the top producer of cell phones; they are only two of many European companies that are now besting their U.S. competitors. In 2000 Britain and France each ranked ahead of the United States in the value of corporate international acquisitions. German companies have been expanding as well; in 1998 Bertelsmann bought Random House and Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler. Much of the investment capital that buoyed the U.S. economy in the 1990s has lately been heading to the other side of the Atlantic, enabling the euro to gain ground against the dollar and increasing the likelihood that the EU will soon enjoy substantial increases in productivity and growth.

These economic successes are impressive in their own right, but there is more to them than meets the eye. From the outset European economic integration has been a daring experiment aimed at politically binding together the Continent's long-warring nations. And the intended effects are now visible. Driving across the border from Germany to France is like driving from Virginia to Maryland: no passport control, no customs, no currency exchange. The EU in 1999 appointed its first foreign-policy chief, who has been busy overseeing the creation of the union's new military forces even as he pursues diplomatic agendas in the Balkans, the Middle East, and other trouble spots. And the union decided earlier this year to construct its own satellite network, called Galileo—a move that will reduce European reliance on U.S. technology. All these initiatives enjoy strong public support, with more than 70 percent of Europe's citizens favoring, for example, a single security policy for the EU as a whole.

Even if the EU makes good on its military plans, its defense capabilities will admittedly be modest compared with those of the United States. Its members are uninterested in projecting military power globally (not least for the costs associated with doing so). Accordingly, a division of labor is emerging, in which the EU manages Europe's security while U.S. forces focus on the rest of the world. This is not a recipe for a face-off between titans, but it does spell the end of Europe's deference to its American protector and the potential unraveling of NATO.

Britain's decision to enhance its leadership role in Europe is moving the EU more quickly toward self-reliance. London for years kept its distance from the Continent, but Prime Minister Tony Blair has altered course, orchestrating the EU's push on the defense front and working to take his country into the euro zone. "We must be wholehearted, not halfhearted, partners in Europe," Blair told Britons late last year, warning them that "Britain has no economic future outside Europe." Similarly, Germany's growing comfort with leadership is strengthening the union's political will. As part of its postwar policy of reassurance and reconciliation, Bonn for decades treaded lightly on diplomacy and defense. Since 1999, however, when the seat of government moved back to Berlin, symbolizing a renewed self-confidence, Germany has been actively guiding the EU's evolution, marking out a pathway for building a federal Europe.

This new enthusiasm for Europe's collective enterprise is partly a product of domestic politics. For most of the postwar era, politicians sold integration to their constituents by arguing that it offered the only way for Europe to escape its bloody past. But the younger generation of Europeans has lived through neither World War II nor the Cold War, and therefore has no past from which to escape. As a result, a new political discourse is emerging—one that sees integration as a vehicle for enhancing Europe's power and achieving, rather than checking, international ambitions.

The French used to be alone in looking to the EU as a counterpoise to America, but the other members have now joined in. Tony Blair has asserted, "Whatever its origin, Europe today is no longer just about peace. It is about projecting collective power." Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schröder called for a "more integrated and enlarged Europe" to offset U.S. hegemony. According to Romano Prodi, the President of the European Commission, the EU's executive body, one of the chief goals of the union is to create "a superpower on the European continent that stands equal to the United States." Göran Persson, the Prime Minister of Sweden, a country that long ago renounced power politics, recently remarked that the EU is "one of the few institutions we can develop as a balance to U.S. world domination."

The Bush Administration, like the Clinton Administration before it, has been none too pleased about Europe's growing assertiveness, but Washington's dismissive attitude toward the EU up to now has only strengthened Europe's resolve. Bush's penchant for unilateralism, in particular, has provoked European pique. As Bush backs away from the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, withdraws from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and distances the United States from a host of multilateral institutions, Europe grows ever more convinced that it must both challenge America and chart its own course.

After September 11 Europeans hoped that an America confronted with the threat of terrorism might rediscover the virtues of multilateralism. But soon Bush was unilaterally declaring Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an "axis of evil" and indicating that he intended to topple Saddam Hussein with or without the approval of U.S. allies. Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer then cautioned Washington that "alliance partners are not satellites." The Berliner Zeitung lamented that far from renouncing its go-it-alone ways, the United States had "used the opportunity to strengthen its selfish superpower position." "Never has a president of the United States been so foreign to us," the newspaper proclaimed in an editorial, "and never have German citizens been so skeptical about the policies of their most powerful of allies." With America and Europe squabbling over the sources of terrorism as well as how best to fight it, this new threat promises to exacerbate rather than repair the widening transatlantic divide.

he consequences of the growing rift between the United States and Europe are only just becoming apparent. The two sharply disagree on the Middle East: the EU opposes both America's steady support of Israel and its insistence on isolating, rather than engaging, Iraq and Iran. Trade disputes are heating up, especially over steel and agriculture. Despite America's defection from the Kyoto Protocol, the EU moved forward with more than a hundred countries participating, leaving Washington a lonely and, from all appearances, an environmentally irresponsible bystander. Last year EU member states took the lead in voting the United States off two UN commissions—payback for America's unilateral ways.

As Europe increasingly holds its own and the United States continues to shrug off compromise, the international institutions that have helped to promote peace and prosperity since World War II will inevitably falter. As the EU enlarges eastward, it will come to dominate the geopolitics of Eurasia, gradually replacing America as the arbiter of the globe's strategic heartland. As capital flows to Europe and a rising euro competes with the dollar as a reserve currency, the monetary stability of recent decades will give way to a self-interested jockeying more reminiscent of the 1930s. The order that has come with a single captain at the helm will be no more.

History is coming full circle. After breaking away from the British Empire, the United States came together as a unitary federation, emerged as a leading nation, and eventually eclipsed Europe's Great Powers. It is now Europe's turn to ascend and break away from an America that refuses to surrender its privileges of primacy.

Europe will inevitably rise up as America's principal competitor. Should Washington and Brussels begin to recognize the dangers of the growing gulf between them, they may be able to contain their budding rivalry. Should they fail, however, to prepare for life after Pax Americana, they will ensure that the coming clash of civilizations will be not between the West and the rest but within a West divided against itself.

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2002/11/kupchan.htm