Ramadhan Kareem

Ramadhan kareem buat Mama, Abah, Mar dan Irah serta teman-teman tercinta. Bulan ini bulan keampunan dari Tuhan, namun tidak lengkap jika masih ada dosa tersisa sesama insan. *pilu*

Minta maaf zahir batin dari lubuk hati buat Mama, Abah dan famili serta teman-teman yang dikasihi. Please forgive me. May Allah forgive me, and each and everyone of us. Allahumma ameen.



Muhammad Bakhtiar wrote:

Salam,

Rombongan dari Pulau Pinang berangkat pada pukul 8:30 pagi dan sampai di Chepir pada pukul 10:15 pagi. Setelah tiba, dijamu kopi o dan ada sahabat yang membawa karipap, bengkang, nasi lemak dan roti canai Kg Melayu. Selesai breakfast, punggah barang dari dua buah lori Exacmust yang membawa 300 bungkusan makanan, hamper, baju-baju yang masih baru yang belum dipakai, air mineral, kotak buah kurma dsbnya. Tauke Exacmust, Saudara Khir juga turut serta bersama ayahanda Cikgu Ismail Pachee. Selesai urusan logistic, kami pergi ke masjid berdekatan untuk menunaikan solat Jumaat. Selesai solat Jumaat, kami pulang ke markas dan terkejut makanan dah tersedia dan hairan tukang masak ni tak pi solat Jumaat ke, rasa bersalah pulak kerana mereka terpaksa menyediakan makanan tengahari untuk rombongan kami. Kami bersangka baik, mungkin mereka pulang awal daripada kami. Lunch special, nasi dengan gulai ikan talang masin, ikan talapia bakar (manis sungguh ikan ni, tak hanyiar pulak), ulam-ulaman, kerabu, walaupun simple tetapi kawan-kawan tak bagi chan, ada yang tambah sampai empat kali. Orang kampung puas tengok orang pekan makan sekenyang-kenyangnya. Selapas makan, perut terasa berat, namun dikerah semua orang supaya menunaikan tanggungjawab menjalankan program masuk kampung memberi bantuan dengan dipecah kepada 8 kumpulan mengikut kampung-kampung di sekitar Chepir seperti Kampung Radek, Lubuk Tualang, Kg Jelutong, Bendang Man, Kg Belimbing, Charok Sireh dan ada yang kampung-kampung lain yang saya tak ingat nama. Mereka pergi dengan seorang wakil membawa rakan-rakan kita masuk kampung pergi rumah ke rumah.

Disinilah sahabat2 kita bertemu dengan mereka yang benar-benar miskin.

Keadaan rumah begitu memilukan, belum diamati kisah kehidupan mereka yang perit, janda beranak lapan, janda beranak enam, memang common di sini, rumah berdindingkan kain dan buluh adalah biasa. Kebanyakan penduduk disini ialah penoreh getah atau pesawah, dan mereka yang membuat kerja kampung. 100% penduduk Chepir ialah Melayu dan mereka bercakap pelet Patani sedikit-sedikit macam Kelantan. Mereka tak kata "hang" sebaliknya menggunakan "mu", macam Kelantan, tak kata "ayak" tapi "aer". Remaja yang turut serta terkejut tak pernah mereka melihat keadaan yang begitu teruk dan melarat seperti ini di Pulau Pinang. Ini satu pengajaran buat mereka, bahawa mereka patut bersyukur dengan keadaan yang ada. Saya rasa adik Mujahid, anak Dr.Razif yang paling muda yang turut serta bersama abangnya Mukhlis, entah apa yang diceritakan kepada ibu-ayahnya. Setelah selesai menghulurkan bantuan dan kepenatan, semua pulang semula ke markaz membawa bermacam-macam cerita. Maka duduklah mereka sambil menikmati biskut kering dan air mineral membuka cerita masing-masing. Kemudian seorang-seorang bapa angkat menjemput anak angkat mereka pulang ke rumah masing-masing, kita bagi satu hamper untuk satu keluarga angkat.

Kami berkumpul semula di Masjid untuk menunaikan solat maghrib/Isya.

Setelah selesai solat, kami dihidangkan dengan nasi hujan panas, kurma ayam dan daging kicap. Kenduri ini juga disponsor oleh kita untuk meraikan orang kampung chepir. Ramai yang juga datang malam tu untuk mendengar ceramah oleh Ustaz Asri yang didatangkan khas dari Penang. Wakil Imam berucap menyatakan kekecewaannya kerana doktor-doktor yang sepatutnya datang membuat pemeriksaan kesihatan orang kampung tidak dapat turut serta. Sebelum Ustaz Asri berucap, saya dipanggil untuk membuat ucapan. Saya sentuh juga ketidakadilan yang berlaku di negara ini, apabila saya menyebut kisah janda anak lapan yang menduduki rumah berdinding kain dan saya mengatakan suatu kehairanan dimana sebuah negara yang mempunyai bangunan yang tertinggi di dunia (sehingga September lepas) kita masih mempunyai mereka yang hidup melarat. Dimanakah perseimbangan kemajuan ekonomi? Saya rasa tok Imam tak senang duduk bila saya berkata demikian, kerana tok imam risau dari mula lagi, dengan kehadiran dua SB. Tok Imam takut hilang jawatan. Inilah apa yang Abu Urwah katakan iaitu menakutkan orang. Dia bertambah takut apabila Ustaz Asri tibai depa yang organize buat rumah terbuka deepavali atas nama perpaduan.

Ustaz Asri tak sempat bermalam di Chepir kerana ada seorang tetamu yang datang dari Syria ada dirumahnya. Tapi Ustaz Asri tertarik dengan usaha kita dan menyatakan dia akan turut serta datang membantu untuk tahun
hadapan.

Kesokan hari, semua ahli KRJ datang menunaikan solat subuh di masjid kecuali akhawat yang bangun awal tapi tak sampai hati mengejutkan bapa angkat. Pakcik-pakcik yang turut serta tidak kelihatan di masjid, rupa-rupanya tertidur kerana bersembang hingga pukul 3 pagi dengan bapa angkat.

Selepas sarapan, kami meneruskan lagi menyalurkan bantuan di kampung-kampung yang berdekatan. Setelah selesai tugas, kami berkelah di Lata Mengkuang, satu tempat peranginan yang terdekat dengan Chepir. Kami dijamu dengan nasi yang dibakar macam bakar lemang dalam buluh (special), dengan ayam kampung bakar, ayam masak lemak, daging bakar, air asam dan sambal. Maka makanlah sepuas-puasnya. Setelah makan, remaja kita tak sabar lagi untuk terjun sungai termasuk pakcik-pakcik yang memakai kain pelikat. Air sejuk sungguh dan deras.

Kami pulang sekitar pukul 3:30 petang, singgah di rumah Pak Long Mat, tuan rumah markaz kami, terima kasih kepada dia dan rakan-rakan lain, Pak Lang Mansor yang cukup pandai mengurut, baguih punya!

Begitulah sedikit pengalaman dua hari di Chepir.

Terima kasih kepada penyumbang-penyumbang, Alhamdulillah telah disempurnakan sumbangan anda, dan Insyaallah, Allah memberkati sumbangan anda yang dapat meringankan sedikit beban mereka yang terdiri golongan faqir miskin.

Terima ksih daun keladi, tahun depan tolong bagi lagi!


----- Original Message -----
From: Roha Hassan

Assalamualaikum wbt....

Sekadar menyambung coretan akh Bakhtiar sebagai perkongsian. Bagi KRJ Pulau Pinang, apabila dipelawa oleh akh Bakhtiar untuk bekerjasama dengan Persatuan Baitun Nur untuk bersama di dalam program ini, kami menganggap ia satu peluang untuk berbakti, menimba pengalaman dan bereakrasi. Terima kasih untuk akh Baktiar dan semua penyumbang.

Manakan tidak di dalam debaran menanti kehadiran Ramadhan, kami dan sekumpulan remaja berpeluang menziarahi saudara seagama yang memerlukan. Berkesempatan berkenalan dan melihat sendiri penderitaan yang mereka alami. Selain dari itu menimba pengalaman bergaul dengan masyarakat kampung yang rata2 hidup dengan menoreh getah, menanam padi (masih secara tradisional), berkebun dan lain-lain "kerja kampung".

Bonus setelah penat masuk kampung keluar kampung, memanjat bukit, melewati batas bendang dan menyusuri sungai ialah menikmati keindahan alam ciptaan Tuhan di persekitaran serta menjamu selera dengan masakan hasil kampung seperti ikan segar dan ulam-ulaman yang berkhasiat. Kerbau yang "montel-montel", burung bangau yang putih bersih, kehijauan flaura yang menghisi desa, bersulam airmata penerima sumbangan, airmata keinsafan bergenang di mata anak-anak remaja, kanak-kanak berlari ceria dengan muka dan pakaian yang comot, orang-orang tua yang terbaring keseorangan di sudut rumah yang kelam dan usang, ucapan syukur seorang tua yang sudah lama tidak melihat "RM50", rumah-rumah berdinding plastik dan kain atau berlantaikan buluh memberikan banyak pengajaran kepada aktivis dan ahli KRJ Pulau Pinang yang turut serta dalam projek ini.

Semua ini adalah satu tarbiyyah yang berlainan dan istimewa untuk para remaja selain daripada apa diperolehi dengan membaca buku dan menghadiri kuliah. Ia sesuatu yang praktikal di dalam melatih diri menyantuni ahli masyarakat tanpa mengira usia, latarbelakang dan taraf hidup.

Program ini secara umumnya terbahagi kepada 3 bahagian utama:
1. Sumbangan kepada fakir miskin
2. Program keluarga angkat
3. Menikmati keindahan alam di Lata Mengkuang dan seluruh desa

InsyaAllah akan "attach"kan gambar-gambar dan coretan pengalaman para remaja yang turut serta sebagai perkongsian dengan I & A.


Roha Hassan
Pengarah KRJPP
juga SU Penaja Persatuan Baitun Nur

“Umar, are you sleeping?” he asked in a whispered murmur.

“No!” I answered.

The day had been long and relentless. It was already so late. I was getting ready to sleep, mindful that the day ahead wouldn't be any less arduous. Twenty or thirty minutes passed by in silence.

“Umar, are you sleeping?”

“No!” I answered a second time.

It became quiet once again. I didn’t grasp the urgency in his voice but remained silent anyway. Half an hour passed by again.

“Umar, are you sleeping?”

This time, I didn’t respond at all. I pretended to sleep so as not to bother him. Waiting for a reply and hearing none, he presumed that I had finally fallen asleep. He arose in the still of the night, without making a sound, alone, beside his companion whom he thought was in a deep slumber, and started to perform the night prayer. For God only, oblivious to my attentive gaze, hidden from anyone’s sight.



It is Ustadh Umar Al-Tilmisani, an old time student and traveling companion of Imam Hasan Al-Banna who provides us with this story. The attitude of his master was enough to move him to tears. It exemplified the personality of Imam Hasan Al-Banna: light-giving faith, a deep spirituality, personal discipline, gentle and soft with his fellow human beings. Ustadh Umar al-Tilmisani wrote it and said it again and again, as I had heard stories of this kind from my father, Dr. Saïd Ramadan, his son-in-law and my mother, Wafa al-Bannâ , his eldest daughter.

The secret of Imam Hasan Al-Banna was the quality of his faith and the intensity of his relationship with God. Anyone who had ever been in contact with him perceived and experienced this. He lived as had the first Sahaba - following the path of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him).

From the age of twelve, his destiny had been mapped out through the study and dhikr circles of the Husafiya tariqa. There he learnt the importance of being with God, of remembering him with all his heart and soul, permanently. He also learnt the true criteria to success: faith, humility, effort and personal discipline. Within the core of his education, he had a very deep understanding of jihad al-nafs: to exist for God, alongside God, to reform one’s heart, purify one’s intentions, make time for the Most High before wanting to act in His name. The Sufi masters of the Husafiya tariqa were very strict in this regard - they were always concerned to never deviate from the authentic traditions of ahl al-sunna wal-jama’ah and keeping away from heterodoxy. All that really counted for them were the written references of the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the example of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him), and of the devoted companions (may God be pleased with them). Imam Hasan Al-Banna never forgot this teaching and his entire allegiance to the cause was founded on the same fundamental principles: the Qu’ran is our book, the Sunnah our wisdom, and it is only these basic principles which will awaken our conscience, nurture our heart and intensify our dhikr.

Some years later, Imam Hasan Al-Banna would make a meticulous compilation of all the written texts, uniquely taken from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, which had a spiritual virtue, particularly when it came to the exercise of purifying the heart, of dhikr and meditation. This compilation, otherwise known as Risalat al-Ma’thurat , was the core of spiritual education for all members of the Muslim Brotherhood. They were asked to read it, memorize it if possible, and recite it with fervour and concentration twice a day, morning and evening. At a very young age, and especially during the years of intense Islamic activity in the social and economic spheres, Imam Hasan Al-Banna had understood that there was no future for Muslims if they did not recapture what was essential to their hearts, their personal striving, their conscience and memory.

The world is a trap and sometimes temptation can, in subtle ways, assail those who are engaged in Islamic activities such as da’wah, education, solidarity and lectures. Drowning in Islamic commitments, activities and projects, what eventually happens is that they forget what is absolutely essential: to give one’s time to be with God, to get to know Him while being intimately attached to tawhid, to remember him (dhikr), to purify one's heart (tazkiya al-nafs), to feed the conscience of these works (al-muhasaba ), to be attached to the Qur’an, to pray, to fast and to do the invocations. This is necessary every day, and in particular at night.

Al-Ma’thurat is comprised of texts from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, which are essential on many levels. Each one of them is strong and precise, with a spiritual function as were the hadith of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him). Their daily reading guides Muslims and protects them. It involves discipline and fortitude, attention and awakening, faith which illuminates and a conscience which directs everyday practice and action. In this light, Risalat al-Ma’thurat is a teaching, and we understand that Imam Hasan Al-Banna was a mentor (murabbi) who started by fortifying one’s faith and dhikr in order to guide one’s intelligence. This is the spirit of any understanding (al-fahm), which became the first fundamental principle of all of his teachings (al-ta’alim).

I would like here to thank our brothers and sisters of Awakening Publications for their efforts in publishing the book that you, the reader, hold in your hands, and its accompanying CD/cassette. The current translation is also of a very high standard and something that should be commended. Awakening are giving the Muslim community in the United Kingdom and the United States, and all English speaking Muslims in other parts of the world, the opportunity to call upon and remember God and his Prophet (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him) through the authentic texts and Muslim traditions. It also gives one the possibility to get to know a man, Imam Hasan A-Banna, concerning whom there have been many rumours and lies. He was a man who surrendered and sacrificed his life for God. Those who heard him, changed. Those who accompanied him loved him. Those who remember him are still moved. Assassinated and taken back by God at the age of forty-two, he left a teaching and a methodology which is simple and luminous: if you want to be loved by God, follow His Prophet (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him), and if God loves you and protects you... then have no fear!

God is with those who persevere and who are patient.

Tariq Ramadan, February 2001, Geneva, Switzerland.

Bismillah wa alhamdu lillah, alhamdu lillahi wa kafa, wassolaatu wassalamu 'ala 'ibadihi allazina astofa, wa 'ala aalihi wa as-haabihi ahli as-sidqi walwafa.

Usah Terpedaya dengan Buaian Rasa

Manis itu satu rasa. Manis itu juga satu perasaan. Bagi seorang mukmin kemanisan itu meresap di hatinya tatkala dia mengingati, mengenali dan menghampiri Tuhan .. tatkala dia sabar menghadapi ujian dan tatkala dia melakukan ibadah, khalwah dan to'ah kepada Allah.

Namun sedarkah kita, bahawa kemanisan yang mendorong kita melakukan ibadah ini mampu untuk menjadi senjata ampuh bagi syaitan? Bahkan, ia mampu untuk memperdaya kita sehingga syirik kepada Allah s.w.t., moga Allah s.w.t. jauhkan.

Bagaimana sebenarnya syaitan menipu kita dengan manisnya amal? Bolegkah perkara seperti ini terjadi? Kes ini antara sedar dan tidak sering berlaku, terutama buat mereka yang perihatin dengan keadaan hatinya. Bagi kebanyakan insan mukmin ada period masa naik dan turun imannya. Tika iman turun, itu lah masa terbaik untuk syaitan menyerang. Pada kebiasannya, domain masa turunnya iman tersebut merupakan domain masa yang sama bagi lesapnya atau kurangnya rasa kemanisan dalam beribadah.

Contohnya, semasa balik dari kelas atau kerja maka kita berdepan dengan pilihan, samada hendak solat terlebih dahulu, atau hendak buat kerja-kerja lain yang kurang penting. Maka pada masa pergelutan antara iman dan syaitan itu, syaitan mula mengeluarkan bisikannya yang bisa membunuh iman, "Alah, buat la kerja dulu, sebab sekarang ni kalau solat pun tak rasa khushu', nanti mungkin lepas setengah jam dah rehat rehat sikit baru rasa khushu' .. baru best solat." Diri kita pun akhirnya tewas, terpedaya dengan buaian rasa .. tewas dengan syaitan yang memperdaya, bersama senjata ampuhnya .. perasaan manis dalam 'ibadah.

Situasi ini menjadi lebih kronik apabila iman berada dalam keadaan yang tidak sihat. Maka dengan mudah syaitan memperkotak-katikkan kita dengan buaian rasa ini. Sehingga amalan amalan sunat mahupun yang fardhu, boleh disambil-lewakan kerana pada masa tersebut kita tidak 'rasa' kesan atau manis nya dari beramal. Atau perkara yang haram dan makruh kita kerjakan, sebab kita 'rasa' amalan tersebut tidak memberi kesan yang negatif kepada kita.

Sekali lagi diulang .. situasi ini menjadi lebih kronik apabila iman berada dalam keadaan yang tidak sihat. Maka dengan mudah syaitan memperkotak-katikkan kita dengan buaian rasa ini. Sehingga amalan amalan sunat mahupun yang fardhu, boleh disambil-lewakan kerana pada masa tersebut kita tidak 'rasa' kesan atau manis nya dari beramal. Atau perkara yang haram dan makruh kita kerjakan, sebab kita 'rasa' amalan tersebut tidak memberi kesan yang negatif kepada kita.

Nah persoalan uatamanya sekarang, pada waktu tersebut, "Siapa sebenarnya yang kita sembah?". Jika kita tangguhkan sesuatu ibadah kerna pada saat itu kurang rasa manisnya amal, maka adakah yang kita sembah itu Allah atau manisnya amal? Jika kita kerjakan maksiah kerana pada saat itu tidak rasanya impak membuat dosa kepada hati kita, maka adakah yang kita sembah saat itu Allah atau buaian rasa hati? Berhati-hati sahabat semua, sesungguhnya buaian rasa itu bisa menjadi asbab syirik kita kepada Allah, moga Allah jauhkan.

Salah satu langkah bagi menangkis serangan syaitan ini adalah dengan sentiasa membuat pilihan berpandukan kepada pilihan syara'. Ini merupakan langkah yang paling selamatn insha Allah. Ini kerana maqasid (objektif) as-shari'ah adalah bagi memenuhi maqasid as-shaari' (pembuat shara' -- iaitu Allah s.w.t.). Maka setiap gerak hati dan pilihan yang kita lakukan yang mengikut kepada pilihan shari'ah, dalam masa yang sama juga merupakan pilihan (yang disukai) Allahu 'azza wa jall.

Contohnya, jikapun buaian rasa kita tidak merasai manis dalam melakukan solat pada saat itu, namun mengikut shari'ah solat di awal waktu itulah yang terbaik, maka kita gagahkan juga diri kita untuk lakukan solat pada waktu itu. Jikapun pada detik yang lain, kita merasai seperti tidak ada apa-apa jika kita berbual kosong dengan yang bukan mahram atau tidak ada apa-apa jika kita melihat kepada yang bukan mahram kerana kita tidak merasakan impak yang negatif pada hati kita, maka kita nilai dan ingat balik, bahawa dari segi shara' perkara tersebut adalah haram dan tidak boleh dilakukan, maka langsung kita tinggalkan.

Justeru, beringatlah kita akan perkara ini, dan saling kita ingatkan sesama kita, insha Allah. Jika perkara ini difahamai dengan kefahaman yang sebenarnya insha Allah merupakan satu tapak yang kuat dalam meneguhkan kaki kita dalam ibadah kepada Allah s.w.t., dan satu lagi langkah yang indah dalam menghampiri Allah s.w.t.

Usah kita terpedaya dengan buaian rasa. Usah kita terjatuh ke lubang yang sama. Allahu a'lam.

Selamat datang kembali kekasih hati .. Ramadhan fi albi

Sabda RasuluLlah S.A.W. :

“Ramadhan telah datang kepada kamu yang merupakan bulan berkat dan Allah S.W.T telah mewajibkan puasa dalam bulan ini. Semua pintu syurga dibuka dan semua pintu neraka ditutup serta dibelenggu syaitan. Ia mempunyai satu malam yang lebih baik dari seribu bulan dan sesiapa yang tidak bertemu dengannya ia sangat rugi.”

Ibn Rejab berkata: Hadis ini sebagai ucapan tahniah kepada manusia dengan kedatangan Ramadhan. Bagaimana orang beriman tidak bergembira dengan terbukanya pintu syurga? Dan bagaimana orang berdosa tidak gembira dengan tertutupnya pintu neraka? Dan bagaimana pula orang berakal tidak mendapat berita gembira dengan terbelenggunya syaitan?

Sayyidina Ali r.a apabila masuk Ramadhan beliau terus mengadap mihrabnya dengan tangisan orang yang sedih seraya berkata:

Maksudnya: “Wahai dunia, samada engkau datang kepada ku atau lari daripadaku, aku tetap telah menceraikan engkau dengan talak tiga dan tidak mungkin lagi aku kembali kepadamu, ini kerana sebenarnya umur engkau terlalu pendek, urusan engkau terlalu hina dan bahaya engkau terlalu besar. Oh! Alangkah sedikitnya bekalanku, tetapi perjalananku masih terlalu jauh dan rumit”

Mahathir's full speech

October 22, 2003

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad at the opening of the tenth session of the Islamic Summit conference at Putrajaya Convention Centre on October 16.

Alhamdulillah, All Praise be to Allah, by whose Grace and Blessings we, the leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Conference countries are gathered here today to confer and hopefully to plot a course for the future of Islam and the Muslim ummah worldwide.

2. On behalf of the Government and the people of many races and religions of Malaysia, may I extend a warm welcome to all and everyone to this Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital.

3. It is indeed a great honour for Malaysia to host this Session and to assume the Chairmanship of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). I thank the members for their confidence in Malaysia's Chairmanship.

4. May I also take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to the State of Qatar, in particular His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa AI-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, for his outstanding stewardship of our Organisation over the past three years.

5. As host, Malaysia is gratified at the high level of participation from member countries. This clearly demonstrates our continued and abiding faith in, and commitment to our Organisation and our collective wish and determination to strengthen our role for the dignity and benefit of the ummah.

6. I would also like to welcome the leaders and representatives of the many countries who wish to become observers at this meeting because of their substantial Muslim population. Whether they are Muslims or not, their presence at this meeting will help towards greater understanding of Islam and the Muslims, thus helping to disprove the perception of Islam as a religion of backwardness and terror.

7. The whole world is looking at us. Certainly 1.3 billion Muslims, one-sixth of the world's population are placing their hopes in us, in this meeting, even though they may be cynical about our will and capacity to even decide to restore the honour of Islam and the Muslims, much less to free their brothers and sisters from the oppression and humiliation from which they suffer today.

8. I will not enumerate the instances of our humiliation and oppression, nor will I once again condemn our detractors and oppressors. It would be an exercise in futility because they are not going to change their attitudes just because we condemn them. If we are to recover our dignity and that of Islam, our religion, it is we who must decide, it is we who must act.

9. To begin with, the Governments of all the Muslim countries can close ranks and have a common stand if not on all issues, at least on some major ones, such as on Palestine. We are all Muslims. We are all oppressed. We are all being humiliated. But we who have been raised by Allah above our fellow Muslims to rule our countries have never really tried to act in concert in order to exhibit at our level the brotherhood and unity that Islam enjoins upon us.

10. But not only are our Governments divided, the Muslim ummah is also divided, and divided again and again. Over the last 1400 years the interpreters of Islam, the learned ones, the ulamas have interpreted and reinterpreted the single Islamic religion brought by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, so differently that now we have a thousand religions which are often so much at odds with one another that we often fight and kill each other.

11. From being a single ummah we have allowed ourselves to be divided into numerous sects, mazhabs and tarikats, each more concerned with claiming to be the true Islam than our oneness as the Islamic ummah. We fail to notice that our detractors and enemies do not care whether we are true Muslims or not. To them we are all Muslims, followers of a religion and a Prophet whom they declare promotes terrorism, and we are all their sworn enemies. They will attack and kill us, invade our lands, bring down our Governments whether we are Sunnis or Syiahs, Alawait or Druze or whatever. And we aid and abet them by attacking and weakening each other, and sometimes by doing their bidding, acting as their proxies to attack fellow Muslims. We try to bring down our Governments through violence, succeeding to weaken and impoverish our countries.

12. We ignore entirely and we continue to ignore the Islamic injunction to unite and to be brothers to each other, we the Governments of the Islamic countries and the ummah.


13. But this is not all that we ignore about the teachings of Islam. We are enjoined to Read, Iqraq i.e. to acquire knowledge. The early Muslims took this to mean translating and studying the works of the Greeks and other scholars before Islam. And these Muslim scholars added to the body of knowledge through their own studies.

14. The early Muslims produced great mathematicians and scientists, scholars, physicians and astronomers etc. and they excelled in all the fields of knowledge of their times, besides studying and practising their own religion of Islam. As a result the Muslims were able to develop and extract wealth from their lands and through their world trade, able to strengthen their defences, protect their people and give them the Islamic way of life, Addin, as prescribed by Islam. At the time the Europeans of the Middle Ages were still superstitious and backward, the enlightened Muslims had already built a great Muslim civilisation, respected and powerful, more than able to compete with the rest of the world and able to protect the ummah from foreign aggression. The Europeans had to kneel at the feet of Muslim scholars in order to access their own scholastic heritage.

15. The Muslims were lead by great leaders like Abdul Rahman III, AI-Mansur, Salah El Din AI Ayubi and others who took to the battlefields at the head of their forces to protect Muslim land and the ummah.

16. But halfway through the building of the great Islamic civilisation came new interpreters of Islam who taught that acquisition of knowledge by Muslims meant only the study of Islamic theology. The study of science, medicine etc. was discouraged.

17. Intellectually the Muslims began to regress. With intellectual regression the great Muslim civilisation began to falter and wither. But for the emergence of the Ottoman warriors, Muslim civilisation would have disappeared with the fall of Granada in 1492.

18. The early successes of the Ottomans were not accompanied by an intellectual renaissance. Instead they became more and more preoccupied with minor issues such as whether tight trousers and peak caps were Islamic, whether printing machines should be allowed or electricity used to light mosques. The Industrial Revolution was totally missed by the Muslims. And the regression continued until the British and French instigated rebellion against Turkish rule brought about the downfall of the Ottomans, the last Muslim world power and replaced it with European colonies and not independent states as promised. It was only after World War II that these colonies became independent.

19. Apart from the new nation-states we also accepted the western democratic system. This also divided us because of the political parties and groups that we form, some of which claim Islam for themselves, reject the Islam of other parties and refuse to accept the results of the practice of democracy if they fail to gain power for themselves. They resort to violence, thus destabilising and weakening Muslim countries.

20. With all these developments over the centuries the ummah and the Muslim civilisation became so weak that at one time there was not a single Muslim country which was not colonised or hegemonised by the Europeans. But regaining independence did not help to strengthen the Muslims. Their states were weak and badly administered, constantly in a state of turmoil. The Europeans could do what they liked with Muslim territories. It is not surprising that they should excise Muslim land to create the state of Israel to solve their Jewish problem. Divided, the Muslims could do nothing effective to stop the Balfour and Zionist transgression.

21. Some would have us believe that, despite all these, our life is better than that of our detractors. Some believe that poverty is Islamic, sufferings and being oppressed are Islamic. This world is not for us. Ours are the joys of heaven in the afterlife. All that we have to do is to perform certain rituals, wear certain garments and put up a certain appearance. Our weakness, our backwardness and our inability to help our brothers and sisters who are being oppressed are part of the Will of Allah, the sufferings that we must endure before enjoying heaven in the hereafter. We must accept this fate that befalls us. We need not do anything. We can do nothing against the Will of Allah.

22. But is it true that it is the Will of Allah and that we can and should do nothing? Allah has said in Surah Ar-Ra'd verse 11 that He will not change the fate of a community until the community has tried to change its fate itself.

23. The early Muslims were as oppressed as we are presently. But after their sincere and determined efforts to help themselves in accordance with the teachings of Islam, Allah had helped them to defeat their enemies and to create a great and powerful Muslim civilisation. But what effort have we made especially with the resources that He has endowed us with.



24. We are now 1.3 billion strong. We have the biggest oil reserve in the world. We have great wealth. We are not as ignorant as the Jahilliah who embraced Islam. We are familiar with the workings of the world's economy and finances. We control 57 out of the 180 countries in the world. Our votes can make or break international organisations. Yet we seem more helpless than the small number of Jahilliah converts who accepted the Prophet as their leader. Why? Is it because of Allah's will or is it because we have interpreted our religion wrongly, or failed to abide by the correct teachings of our religion, or done the wrong things?

25. We are enjoined by our religion to prepare for the defence of the ummah. Unfortunately we stress not defence but the weapons of the time of the Prophet. Those weapons and horses cannot help to defend us any more. We need guns and rockets, bombs and warplanes, tanks and warships for our defence. But because we discouraged the learning of science and mathematics etc. as giving no merit for the akhirat, today we have no capacity to produce our own weapons for our defence. We have to buy our weapons from our detractors and enemies. This is what comes from the superficial interpretation of the Quran, stressing not the substance of the Prophet's sunnah and the Quran's injunctions but rather the form, the manner and the means used in the 1st Century of the Hijrah. And it is the same with the other teachings of Islam. We are more concerned with the forms rather than the substance of the words of Allah and adhering only to the literal interpretation of the traditions of the Prophet.

26. We may want to recreate the first century of the Hijrah, the way of life in those times, in order to practise what we think to be the true Islamic way of life. But we will not be allowed to do so. Our detractors and enemies will take advantage of the resulting backwardness and weakness in order to dominate us. Islam is not just for the 7th Century A.D. Islam is for all times. And times have changed. Whether we like it or not we have to change, not by changing our religion but by applying its teachings in the context of a world that is radically different from that of the first century of the Hijrah. Islam is not wrong but the interpretations by our scholars, who are not prophets even though they may be very learned can be wrong. We have a need to go back to the fundamental teachings of Islam to find out whether we are indeed believing in and practising the Islam that the Prophet preached. It cannot be that we are all practising the correct and true Islam when our beliefs are so different from one another.

27. Today we, the whole Muslim ummah are treated with contempt and dishonour. Our religion is denigrated. Our holy places desecrated. Our countries are occupied. Our people starved and killed.

28. None of our countries are truly independent. We are under pressure to conform to our oppressors’ wishes about how we should behave, how we should govern our lands, how we should think even.

29. Today if they want to raid our country, kill our people, destroy our villages and towns, there is nothing substantial that we can do. Is it Islam which has caused all these? Or is it that we have failed to do our duty according to our religion?

30. Our only reaction is to become more and more angry. Angry people cannot think properly. And so we find some of our people reacting irrationally. They launch their own attacks, killing just about anybody including fellow Muslims to vent their anger and frustration. Their Governments can do nothing to stop them. The enemy retaliates and puts more pressure on the Governments. And the Governments have no choice but to give in, to accept the directions of the enemy, literally to give up their independence of action.

31. With this their people and the ummah become angrier and turn against their own Governments. Every attempt at a peaceful solution is sabotaged by more indiscriminate attacks calculated to anger the enemy and prevent any peaceful settlement. But the attacks solve nothing. The Muslims simply get more oppressed.

32. There is a feeling of hopelessness among the Muslim countries and their people. They feel that they can do nothing right. They believe that things can only get worse. The Muslims will forever be oppressed and dominated by the Europeans and the Jews. They will forever be poor, backward and weak. Some believe, as I have said, this is the Will of Allah, that the proper state of the Muslims is to be poor and oppressed in this world.

33. But is it true that we should do and can do nothing for ourselves? Is it true that 1.3 billion people can exert no power to save themselves from the humiliation and oppression inflicted upon them by a much smaller enemy? Can they only lash back blindly in anger? Is there no other way than to ask our young people to blow themselves up and kill people and invite the massacre of more of our own people?



34. It cannot be that there is no other way. 1.3 billion Muslims cannot be defeated by a few million Jews. There must be a way. And we can only find a way if we stop to think, to assess our weaknesses and our strength, to plan, to strategise and then to counter attack. As Muslims we must seek guidance from the Al-Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet. Surely the 23 years’ struggle of the Prophet can provide us with some guidance as to what we can and should do.

35. We know he and his early followers were oppressed by the Qhuraish. Did he launch retaliatory strikes? No. He was prepared to make strategic retreats. He sent his early followers to a Christian country and he himself later migrated to Madinah. There he gathered followers, built up his defence capability and ensured the security of his people. At Hudaibiyah he was prepared to accept an unfair treaty, against the wishes of his companions and followers. During the peace that followed he consolidated his strength and eventually he was able to enter Mecca and claim it for Islam. Even then he did not seek revenge. And the peoples of Mecca accepted Islam and many became his most powerful supporters, defending the Muslims against all their enemies.

36. That briefly is the story of the struggle of the Prophet. We talk so much about following the sunnah of the Prophet. We quote the instances and the traditions profusely. But we actually ignore all of them.

37. If we use the faculty to think that Allah has given us then we should know that we are acting irrationally. We fight without any objective, without any goal other than to hurt the enemy because they hurt us. Naively we expect them to surrender. We sacrifice lives unnecessarily, achieving nothing other than to attract more massive retaliation and humiliation.

38. It is surety time that we pause to think. But will this be wasting time? For well over half a century we have fought over Palestine. What have we achieved? Nothing. We are worse off than before. If we had paused to think then we could have devised a plan, a strategy that can win us final victory. Pausing and thinking calmly is not a waste of time. We have a need to make a strategic retreat and to calmly assess our situation.

39. We are actually very strong. 1.3 billion people cannot be simply wiped out. The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule this world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them.

40. We may not be able to do that. We may not be able to unite all the 1.3 billion Muslims. We may not be able to get all the Muslim Governments to act in concert. But even if we can get a third of the ummah and a third of the Muslim states to act together, we can already do something. Remember that the Prophet did not have many followers when he went to Madinah. But he united the Ansars and the Muhajirins and eventually he became strong enough to defend Islam.

41. Apart from the partial unity that we need, we must take stock of our assets. I have already mentioned our numbers and our oil wealth. In today's world we wield a lot of political, economic and financial clout, enough to make up for our weakness in military terms.

42. We also know that not all non-Muslims are against us. Some are welldisposed towards us. Some even see our enemies as their enemies. Even among the Jews there are many who do not approve of what the Israelis are doing.

43. We must not antagonise everyone. We must win their hearts and minds. We must win them to our side not by begging for help from them but by the honourable way that we struggle to help ourselves. We must not strengthen the enemy by pushing everyone into their camps through irresponsible and unIslamic acts. Remember Salah El Din and the way he fought against the so called Crusaders, King Richard of England in particular. Remember the considerateness of the Prophet to the enemies of Islam. We must do the same. It is winning the struggle that is important, not angry retaliation, not revenge.

44. We must build up our strength in every field, not just in armed might. Our countries must be stable and well administered, must be economically and financially strong, industrially competent and technologically advanced. This will take time, but it can be done and it will be time well spent. We are enjoined by our religion to be patient. Innallahamaasabirin. Obviously there is virtue in being patient.

45. But the defence of the ummah, the counter attack need not start only after we have put our houses in order. Even today we have sufficient assets to deploy against our detractors. It remains for us to identify them and to work out how to make use of them to stop the carnage caused by the enemy. This is entirely possible if we stop to think, to plan, to strategise and to take the first few critical steps. Even these few steps can yield positive results.


46. We know that the Jahilliah Arabs were given to feuding, to killing each other simply because they were from different tribes. The Prophet preached the brotherhood of Islam to them and they were able to overcome their hatred for each other, become united and helped towards the establishment of the great Muslim civilisation. Can we say that what the Jahilliah (the ignorant) could do we, the modern Muslims cannot do? If not all at least some of us can do. If not the renaissance of our great civilisation, at least ensuring the security of the ummah.

47. To do the things that are suggested will not even require all of us to give up our differences with each other. We need only to call a truce so we can act together in tackling only certain problems of common interests, the Palestine problem for example.

48. In any struggle, in any war, nothing is more important than concerted and coordinated action. A degree of discipline is all that is needed. The Prophet lost in Jabal Uhud because his forces broke rank. We know that, yet we are unwilling to discipline ourselves and to give up our irregular and uncoordinated actions. We need to be brave but not foolhardy. We need to think not just of our reward in the afterlife but also of the worldly results of our mission.

49. The Quran tells us that when the enemy sues for peace we must react positively. True the treaty offered is not favourable to us. But we can negotiate. The Prophet did, at Hudaibiyah. And in the end he triumphed.

50. I am aware that all these ideas will not be popular. Those who are angry would want to reject it out of hand. They would even want to silence anyone who makes or supports this line of action. They would want to send more young men and women to make the supreme sacrifice. But where will all these lead to? Certainly not victory. Over the past 50 years of fighting in Palestine we have not achieved any result. We have in fact worsened our situation.


51. The enemy will probably welcome these proposals and we will conclude that the promoters are working for the enemy. But think. We are up against a people who think. They survived 2000 years of pogroms not by hitting back, but by thinking. They invented and successfully promoted Socialism, Communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong, so they may enjoy equal rights with others. With these they have now gained control of the most powerful countries and they, this tiny community, have become a world power. We cannot fight them through brawn alone. We must use our brains also.

52. Of late because of their power and their apparent success they have become arrogant. And arrogant people, like angry people will make mistakes, will forget to think.

53. They are already beginning to make mistakes. And they will make more mistakes. There may be windows of opportunity for us now and in the future. We must seize these opportunities.

54. But to do so we must get our acts right. Rhetoric is good. It helps us to expose the wrongs perpetrated against us, perhaps win us some sympathy and support. It may strengthen our spirit, our will and resolve, to face the enemy.

55. We can and we should pray to Allah S.W.T. for in the end it is He who will determine whether we succeed or fail. We need His blessings and His help in our endeavours,

56. But it is how we act and what we do which will determine whether He would help us and give us victory or not. He has already said so in the Quran. Again Surah Ar-Ra'd verse 11.

57. As I said at the beginning, the whole world is looking at us, the whole Muslim ummah is placing their hopes in this conference of the leaders of Islamic nations. They expect us not just to vent our frustrations and anger, through words and gestures; not just to pray for Allah's blessings. They expect us to do something, to act. We cannot say we cannot do anything, we the leaders of the Muslim nations. We cannot say we cannot unite even when faced with the destruction of our religion and the ummah.

58. We know we can. There are many things that we can do. There are many resources that we have at our disposal. What is needed is merely-the will to do it, As Muslims, we must be grateful for the guidance of our religion, we must do what needs to be done, willingly and with determination. Allah has not raised us, the leaders, above the others so we may enjoy power for ourselves only. The power we wield is for our people, for the ummah, for Islam. We must have the will to make use of this power judiciously, prudently, concertedly. Insyaallah we will triumph in the end.


59. I pray to Allah that this 10th Conference of the OIC in Putrajaya, Malaysia will give a new and positive direction to us, will be blessed with success by Him, Almighty Allah, Arahman, Arahirn.

Prime Minister's Office
Putrajaya

www.pmo.gov.my

Bismillah walhamdu lillah allazi laa ilaaha siwaah wassolaatu wassalaamu 'ala rasulillah wa 'ala aalihi wa ashaabihi wa man waalaah.

Meresapnya Sebuah Racun Cinta

Cinta mampu untuk menjadi sebuah ubat atau racun bagi seseorang insan. Ini tersangat jelas tika Rasulullah s.a.w menerangkan secara explicit penyakit yang bisa melemahkan umat Islam pada zaman kehidupan kita ini, racun cinta yang bisa meresap dalam jiwa dan mematikan segala cell iman di dalamnya -- itulah penyakit wahn, yang akar umbi nya adalah cinta dunia.

Ramai manusia yang melihat minum arak sebagai salah satu kabaair (dosa besar) dan mencemuh mereka yang terlibat dengan perbuatan ini. Konsumpsi arak membahayakan kerana ia menjadikan akal kita tidak mampu untuk berfikir secara waras dan melahirkan amalan-amalan yang tidak sepatutnya. Namun ramai manusia yang tidak nampak bahawa cinta dunia jauh lebih memudaratkan dari meminum arak. Kerana mabuk dari konsumpsi arak hanya seketika, mungkin kesannya selama beberapa jam, tetapi mereka yang mabuk dengan dunia kesannya berpanjangan dan acapkali mabuk itu hilang hanya apabila sakaratul maut berkunjung datang.

Ada apa dengan dunia?

Guru yang agung, nabi Muhammad s.a.w. memberikan realiti nilai dunia ini dengan mengatakan bahawa jika pada pandangan Allah jalla wa 'ala nilai dunia ini lebih berat dari satu sayap seekor nyamuk nescaya tentulah orang-orang yang tidak beriman Allah hentikan nikmat dunia bagi mereka.

Dunia sendiri berasal dari perkataan daana iaitu membawa maksud sesuatu yang rendah. Memang nilaian dunia ini begitu sedikit dan finite berbanding dengan kehidupan akhirat yang kekal dan infinite. Bahkan seorang ulama' tasawwuf pernah katakan bahawa sebenarnya bukanlah sesuatu yang memeranjatkan jika seseorang itu sanggup untuk berzuhud dan menolak segala nikmat dunia kerana baginya ganjaran yang berganda lebih besar di akhirat, namun yang sepatutnya lebih memeranjatkan adalah mereka yang memilih untuk mengaut sebanyaknya harta di dunia sedangkan ia hanya sementara dan tidak kekal.

Kaca mata apa yang perlu dipakai untuk melihat dunia?

Jika seseorang hendak melihat kepada sarang labah-labah, terpesona dan mengkagumi keindahannya, menghayati dan meneliti ke'kompleks'kannya, lantas menjalankan kajian dan memusatkan perhatian hanya kepada sarang labah-labah semata-mata -- tanpa mengambil kira dan melihat kepada yang membuat sarang tersebut iaitu si labah-labah, maka tentulah tidak lengkap kefahaman dan penelitian individu tersebut. Menjadi satu fakta bahawa di sebalik setiap sarang labah-labah ada labah-labah di sebaliknya, walaupun labah-labah tersebut tidak kelihatan semasa kita terjumpa sarang tersebut.


Wa lillahi mathalul a'la. Dan bagi Allah adalah perumpamaan yang tertinggi. Dunia ini jika hanya diteliti dengan apa yang terlihat oleh mata kasar, tanpa memikirkan mengenai Pencipta dunia maka adalah satu pemerhatian yang tidak lengkap dan cetek. Perlu disedari pada setiap saat dan ketika, walau di mana jua kita berada bahawa jika di sebalik setiap sarang labah-labah ada labah-labah di sebaliknya, walaupun labah-labah tersebut tidak kelihatan semasa kita terjumpa sarang tersebut, maka apatah lagi dunia dan segala ciptaan di dalam dan luarnya yang jauh lebih kompleks dan mempesonakan, tentulah ada Penciptanya. Ini lah yang perlu ada di jiwa dan minda, setiap saat dan setiap ketika.

Mereka yang terdahulu

Memang tidak dinafikan bahawa wujud pada zaman Rasulullah s.a.w. personaliti sahabat-sahabat yang kaya, namun yang perlu lebih diingat adalah majoriti sahabat-sahabat r.a. merupakan mereka yang miskin. Saidina Ali r.a. mengatakan bahawa jadikan dunia ini di tangan dan bukannya di hati. Ulama menerangkan kata-kata Imam Ali ini bahawa para sahabat dahulu yang mempunyai harta, mereka letakkan harta mereka di tangan agar mudah diberi kepada yang memerlukan, dan bukannya di hati yang mana jika hendak diberi payah kerana terlekat dengan cinta dunia yang sudah berakar umbi di hati.

Rasulullah s.a.w. sendiri hidup dalam keadaan yang apabila baginda balik ke rumah, ditanya kepada isterinya apakah ada makanan .. jika ada baginda makan, jika tiada maka baginda berpuasa s.a.w. Perabut rumahnya yang tiada melainkan selimut yang diperbuat dari kulit kambing dan tilam yang diperbuat dari pelepah kurma.

Tradisi ini diwarisi oleh sahabat baginda yang rapat Abu Bakr as-siddiq r.a., yang dahulu sebelum Islam berada, namun selepas Islam diberikan seluruh hartanya ke jalan Allah. Pernah satu ketika sehinggakan pakaian Abu Bakr hanyalah dari kulit kambing dan butang nya diperbuat dari duri. Telah ditambah dalam riwayat yang lain bahawa malaikat pada waktu tersebut turun ke bumi dengan berpakaian dari kulit kambing dan hanya berbutang kan duri sebagai pernghormatan kepada Abu Bakr r.a.

Umar al-Faruq r.a. tatkala bertandang ke rumah Gabenor Syam, Abu Ubaidah al-Jarrah, dilihat makanan yang ada di rumahnya hanya kerak-kerak roti sahaja, di rumahnya tiada kebendaan, maka menangislah Umar melihatkan kehidupan Gabenor Syam.

Umar r.a. sendiri tika memasuki dan menawan Palestin, pakaiannya bertampal-tampal. Pada waktu itu juga, perjalanan beliau ke Palestin bersama temannya, separuh berjalan dan separuh menaiki kuda kerana kuda tunggangan hanya satu manakala mereka berdua, maka mereka bergilir-gilir berkongsi menaiki kuda tersebut. Ini tercatat dalam buku sejarah, sehinggakan apabila tiba saat untuk memasuki Palestin ramai yang menyangka teman Umar sebagai khalifah Umar kerana pada waktu itu giliran temannya di atas kuda manakala Umar berjalan dengan baju yang tertampal-tampal di sampingnya.

Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz, pernah meminta isterinya satu dirham agar dapat dibeli anggur kegemarannya. Khalifah yang di bawahnya satu empayar menghampiri dua pertiga dunia meminta isterinya untuk wang satu dirham! Dan lebih memeranjatkan, isterinya menjawab bahawa dia sendiri tidak ada wang satu dirham! Subhanaaka ya Rabb.

Sememangnya, para sahabat Rasulullah s.a.w. setelah baginda s.a.w. wafat, sentiasa menangis apabila diberikan peringatan oleh sahabatnya yang lain mengenai cinta dunia yang meresap ke dalam hati. Ada yang menangis dari malam sehingga ke pagi tika diingatkan dengan perkara ini.

Di manakah air mata kita? Adakah telah gelapnya jiwa, matinya hati? Adakah kemabukan dunia masih tidak hilang dari fikiran kita? Bagi yang air mata sudah membasahi pipi, adakah hanya cukup dengan tangisan?

Allahumma la 'aysha illa 'aysha al-aakhirah.

Ihya' Fiqh Ad-Dakwah - Siri Al-Awaiq 4

(al-awaiq adalah buku karangan Muhammad Ahmad Ar Rasyid. Antara buku di dalam siri² Fiqh Dakwah. Dalam siri ini ada 4 buah buku, pertama Muntalaq (Langkah Bermula) 2. al-awaiq (Hambatan Dakwah) 3. Ar Raqaaiq (Pelembut Hati) 4. Al Masaar (Perjalanan). Buku-buku ini perlu dibaca secara berperingkat untuk mendapat kefahaman yang jelas. Setakat ini di Malaysia muntalaq, al- awaiq dan ar raqaaiq sudah ada (ini setakat pengetahuan ana la) dan al Masaar ana tak jumpa lagi terjemahan melayunya)

RANTAI-RANTAI KEAIBAN.

Seorang yang benar, yang menyerahkan dirinya kepada Allah akan menyedari – sejak langkahnya yang pertama- bahawa dia sedang berhijrah kepada Allah semata-mata. Dia sedang berlari kepada-Nya. Dia sentiasa tergesa-gesa dan amat merindui-Nya.

Di awal-awal lariannya lagi beliau telah menyedari bahawa, betapa tingginya anak tangga yang perlu didaki dan bertingkat-tingkat. Beliau sentiasa meningkat naik dengan meyakini bahawa kedudukan syurga yang tinggi memerlukan kepada niat keazaman yang tinggi juga. Beliau juga menyedari betapa perlunya dalam perjalanannya itu dihindari perkara-perkara kotor yang boleh mencampuri kejernihan hatinya dan mengurangkan kesuciannya.

Beliau sentiasa ingin memperbaiki unsur-unsur keimanannya setiap kali beliau menyedari terdapat kecacatan. Beliau sentiasa berazam untuk melakukannya. Ketika beliau berusaha memperbaiki kecacatan unsur keimanannya: beliau sedar betapa perlunya kejernihan jiwa dan betapa perlunya beliau menampung dan menjahit keretakan unsur keimanannya dengan segala kebaikan yang telah di kurniakan oleh Allah kepadanya sebelumnya. Beliau juga berjaga-jaga agar tidak sampai dimalukan oleh orang yang tidak dikenali lantas beliau sentiasa berazam untuk perkara itu juga. Begitulah seterusnya beliau sentiasa menguatkan keazamannya . Kali ketiga memerlukan keempat kalinya, begitulah keadaannya dengan sentiasa meningkat sehingga tercapai tujuannya.

Sebaliknya mereka yang membiarkan jiwanya bercampur dengan kekotoran dosa sesungguhnya telah melakukan kesilapan kerana beliau tidak akan mampu berusaha memperbaiki kekurangannya dengan berada di tempat yang jauh dalam keadaan jiwa bercampur kekotoran. Beliau tidak akan merasai puas apabila meminum minuman yang bercampur kekotoran yang tidak jernih.

• Setiap Yang Kurang Memerlukan Propaganda.

Para ulama telah membuat perumpamaan dengan membandingkan seseorang yang telah cukup sempurna unsur-unsur keimanannya, umpama bulan purnama pada malam ke empat belas. Lihatlah betapa ia bulat tidak bujur atau bersegi.

Para penyair memuji keindahan bulan purnama sehingga penuh tulisan-tulisan mereka dengan menceritakan kemegahannya, sedangkan ia diam membisu. Yang meninggikannya ialah kehaibatan ketenangannya, tidak seseorangpun melupai keindahannya. Orang yang merasai nikmat melihatnya diam-diam juga merasainya jika menceritaknnya.

Mereka berkata; perbandingan seseorang yang mempunyai keaiban seumpama bulan gerhana, ia akan keluar dari kebiasaannya yang diam dan tenang dan memerlukan kepada paluan gendang, pujian kanak-kanak dan meniupkan semangat golongan tua agar menggerakkan mereka memarahi ikan paus yang telah menelan bulan dan menghapuskan keindahannya.

Menyempurnakan Diri Dengan Diam.

Oleh itu para salaf sentiasa memberi nasihat supaya : sempurnakan kesempurnaan.

Abu Bakar r.a. telah mengutuskan surat kepada Khalid al-Walid dengan merentasi padang pasir setelah beliau berjaya menjatuhkan Iraq yang berbunyi:

( Hendaklah kamu memandang kacil wahai Abu Sulaiman niat dan habuan, maka sempurnakanlah, nescaya Allah akan menyempurnakan untuk kamu. Janganlah perasaan ujub memasuki jiwa kamu kerana ia akan menjadikan kamu rugi dan hina, jauhilah diri kamu daripada menunjuk-nunjuk dengan amalan, sesungguhnya Allahlah yang memberi kemenangan dan Dialah yang akan memberi pembalasan..)

Beliau meminta daripadanya agar menyempurnakan kesempurnaan dirinya dengan diam-diam tanpa memberhentikan perjalanannya sehinggalah menjadi umpama bulan purnama..

Kemudian Ahmad bin Hanbal mewarisi sifat ini daripada Khalid dan beliau tidak pernah berhenti melangkah menuju kesempurnaan sehinggalah sahabatnya seorang ahli al-Hadis yang bernama Ibrahim al-Harbi berkata:

Aku telah bersahabat dengannya dua puluh tahun, di musim panas dan sejuk, siang dan malam, aku tidak dapati pada dirinya setiap hari, melainkan lebih baik daripada semalamnya.

Beliau tidak tahu berhenti, lebih-lebih lagi tertinggal dan mundur kebelakang tetapi beliau sentiasa meningkat dan segera menyempurnakan dirinya.

(Bersambung)

Dari Ukht Haridah

.. cinta manusia, pedih .. menyakitkan,
cinta Allah, tiada kan kecewa ..



Mengemis Kasih

Tuhan
dulu aku pernah menagih simpati
kepada manusia yang alpa jua buta
lalu terheretlah aku di lorong gelisah
luka hati yang berdarah
kini jadi kian parah

Semalam sudah sampai ke penghujungnya
kisah seribu duka
ku harap sudah berlalu
tak ingin lagi
ku ulangi kembali
gerak dosa yang menghiris hati

Tuhan
dosaku menggunung tinggi
tapi rahmatMu melangit luas
harga selautan syukurku
hanyalah setitis
nikmatMu di bumi

Tuhan
walau taubat sering ku mungkir
namun pengampunanMu tak pernah bertepi
bila selangkah ku rapat padaMu
seribu langkah Kau rapat padaku

Tuhan
dulu aku pernah menagih simpati
kepada manusia yang alpa jua buta
lalu terheretlah aku di lorong gelisah
luka hati yang berdarah
kini jadi kian parah

semalam sudah sampai ke penghujungnya
kisah seribu duka
ku harap sudah berlalu
tak ingin lagi
ku ulangi kembali
gerak dosa yang menghiris hati

Tuhan
dosaku menggunung tinggi
tapi rahmatMu melangit luas
harga selautan syukurku
hanyalah setitis
nikmatMu di bumi

Tuhan
walau taubat sering ku mungkir
namun pengampunanMu tak pernah bertepi
bila selangkah ku rapat padaMu
seribu langkah Kau rapat padaku

The Zikr

.. and Allah does not forsaken me ..
.. manusia datang dan pergi ..
.. namun Allah tetap di sisi.

SubhanAllah hamdan lillah wa laa ilaaha illa Allah wa Allahu akbar.

Indeed, Allah is soooooooooooo Merciful. I could never thank Him enough. I could never thank Him enough. I could never ever be able to thank Him enough. Subhaanaka ya Rabb!

If we come to Him walking, He comes to us running, subhanahu wa ta'aala.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "

Dari mailing list KISAS

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah,

Akhir-akhir ini banyak ujian kematian di kalangan sahabat2 yang diturunkan Allah kepada kita.

Terkini, seorang ukhti kenalan NS dalam tanzim IMIJ - dikhabarkan telah kembali ke rahmatullah pada hari semlam.Sama2 kita kirimkan doa dan Fatihah untuk ruhnya.

Beliau yang berusia 25(mgkn 26 tahun, ana kurg pasti) tahun meninggal dunia kerana menghidap penyakit barah payu dara. Beliau yang baru mendirikan rumah tangga (lebih kurang setahun usia perkahwinan) meninggalkan seorang suami yang sabar menjaga beliau ketika sakit. Allahyarhamah merupakan mantan SU HEWI PMRAM.

Moga2 kita mengambil iktibar dari ujian ini. Mudah-mudahan rohnya ditempatkan di maqam orang2 yang Allah redhai. Amin.

#1. Muslimat, jaga kesihatan diri antunna.Buat pemeriksaan kesihatan selalu. Jaga pemakanan dan berdoalah agar dijauhi dr penyakit yg tak disangka2.
#2. Hargai insan yang kita kasihi sementara hayat masih masih ada. Sesungguhnya Allah menyintai mereka yang berkasih sayang hanya semata-mata keranaNya.

Wassalam.

The 99 (100-1) Club

Are you part of the 99 club? Wondering what we're talking about? Well, here's the story that goes along with the question.

Long ago, there lived a King. This King should have been content with his life, given all the riches and luxuries he had. However, this was not the case! The King always found himself wondering why he just never seemed content with his life. Sure, he had the attention of everyone wherever he went, attended fancy dinners and parties, but somehow, he still felt something was lacking and he couldn't put his finger on it.

One day, the King had woken up earlier than usual and decided to stroll around his palace. He entered his huge living room and came to a stop when he heard someone happily singing away...following this singing...he saw
that one of the servants was singing and had a very content look on his face. This fascinated the King and he summoned this man to his chambers.

The man, his servant, entered the King's chambers as ordered. The King asked why he was so happy? To this the man replied: "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but I make enough of a living to keep my wife and
children happy. We don't need too much, a roof over our head and warm food to fill our tummy. My wife and children our my inspiration, they are content with whatever little I bring home. I am happy because my family
is happy." Hearing this, the King dismissed the servant and summoned his Personal Assistant to his chambers.

The King related his personal anguish about his feelings and then related the story of the servant to his Personal Assistant, hoping that somehow, he will be able to come up with some reasoning that here was a King who could have anything he wished for at a snap of his fingers and yet was not contended, whereas, his servant, having so little was extremely contended.

The Personal Assistant listened attentively and come to a conclusion. He said "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club." "The 99 Club? and what exactly is that?" the King inquired.
To which the Assistant replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, you will have to do the following... place 99 Gold Coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep, you will then understand what The 99 Club is."

That very same evening, the King arranged for 99 Gold coins to be placed in bag at the servant's doorstep. Although he was slightly hesitant and he thought he should have put 100 Gold Coins in the bag, but since his
assistant had advised him to put 99 that is what he did.

The servant was just stepping out of his house when he saw a bag at his doorstep. Wondering about its contents, he took it into his house and opened the bag. When he opened the bag he let out a great big shout of
joy...Gold Coins...so many of them. He could hardly believe it. He called his wife to show her the coins and they were besides themselves. He then took the bag to a table and emptied it out and began to count the coins.
Doing so, he realized that there were 99 coins and he thought it was an odd number so he counted again, and again and again only to come to the same conclusion...99 Gold Coins.

He began to wonder, what could have happened to that last 1 coin? For no one would leave 99 coins. He began to search his entire house, looked around his backyard for hours, not wanting to lose out on that one coin.
Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to make up for that 1 Gold coin to make his entire collection an even 100 Gold Coins.

He got up the next morning, in an extremely horrible mood, shouting at the children and his wife for his delay, not realizing that he had spent most of the night up conjuring ways of working hard so that he had enough
money to buy himself that gold coin. He went to work as usual only not in his usual best mood, singing happily and whistling all day. He didn't even seem to notice that the King was watching him as he grumpily did his
daily errands.

Seeing the man's attitude change so drastically, the King was puzzled. He promptly summoned his assistant to his chambers. The King related his thoughts about the servant and once again, his assistant listened. The
King could not believe that the servant who until yesterday had been singing away and was happy and content with his life had taken a sudden change of attitude, even though he should have been happier after receiving the gold coins.

To this the assistant replied "Ah but your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club."

He explained: "The 99 Club is just a name given to those people who have everything but yet are never content, therefore they are always working hard and striving for that extra 1 to round it out to 100! We have so much
to be thankful for and we can live with very little in our lives, but the minute we are given something bigger and better, we want even more! We are not the same happy contented person we used to be, we want more and more and by wanting more and more we don't realize the price we pay for it. We lose our sleep, our happiness; we hurt the people around us just as a price to pay for our growing needs and desires. That is what joining The 99 Club is all about."

Hearing this the King decided that from that day onwards, he was going to start appreciating all the little things in life. Striving for more is always good, but lets not strive so hard and for so much that we lose all those near and dear to our heart, we shouldn't compromise our happiness for moments of luxuries!

The Path to Ramadan
A Weekend of Learning and Worship

Conducted by Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf and Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar, this program will review the basic requirements and sunnahs of purification (taharah), prayer (salah), and fasting (saum). During these sessions, the benefits of Ramadan, preparing for the month of Ramadan, and maximizing our spiritual progress during this great month will also be addressed.

This is an incredible opportunity to greet the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions (radiallahu anhum) were known to avidly prepare for this month. This preparation allowed them to experience Ramadan to the fullest and to reach new pinnacles of Iman. Insha’Allah, this program will prepare us to benefit from all that Ramadan has to offer.

This program is open to both brothers and sisters. A special overnight program will be held for brothers and sisters, in separate locations, on Friday night.

Event Date: Friday, October 10, Maghrib to 10 pm
Saturday, October 11, Dhuhr (1:30 pm) to Isha

Location: Muslim Education Center (MEC)
8601 N. Menard
Morton Grove, IL 60053

Register Online!

For more information please contact brother Kashif Karim at (847) 452-7339.
Suggested dontation of $5 to help cover expenses.

http://madrasaprogram.com/events.htm



2003 COURSES

How We Live With the Quran & Sunnah

This class will treat the primary scriptural sources of Islam—the Qur’an, Hadith, and Sunnah—and how Muslims integrate them into the creedal and behavioral patterns of their lives. We will discuss the difference between Hadith (Prophetic Tradition), the Sunnah (the Prophetic model of belief and behavior), and Athar (the oral Traditions of the Companions) as well as the variant opinions of Muslim scholarship on their definition, scope, and application. We will also examine fundamental historical questions regarding how these sources were compiled, authenticated, and gave rise to a variety of related traditional sciences. One especially important facet of that historical development is that of various methodologies regarding their interpretation, application, and elaboration. In this light, we will compare how Muslims utilize their revelatory sources with the way that Christians and Jews use their scriptures, drawing particular attention to the “scripturalism” that tends to dominate the American sociology of religion and often makes it difficult for Americans to understand the way that Muslims interpret their revelation. Ultimately, one of our primary objectives will be to examine how Muslim-Americans, today, should live with the Qur’an and Sunnah in the context of modern society and how these sources—and especially that of the Prophetic Sunnah—are meant to interact harmoniously with the dynamics of local culture and the realities of continued social change, which is one of the highest priorities in Islamic Law. In this regard, we will also consider how our scriptural sources are essential to the formation of a viable Muslim-American identity and culture.

http://www.nawawi.org/courses/class_Quran_Sunnah.html



Join us at Rutgers University for the

Third North American Student Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement
Friday, October 10-12th 2003


VENUE ANNOUNCEMENT!

The conference is being held at:

Ramada Inn & Conference Center
999 US Route 1 South
North Brunswick, NJ

Over 900 supporters of the conference and growing! + Check out the growing list of speakers and workshops! + More endorsers added!

CALL TO THE CONFERENCE:

Following in the path set by the first two conferences of the student/community Palestine solidarity movement, we are proud to announce that the third North American conference will be held from October 10-12, 2003 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Divestment movements have sprouted across the country, International Solidarity Movement activists have traveled to Palestine, and at campuses and in communities throughout the United States, organizers have taken action, rallied, demonstrated, spoken and educated--to bring the truth about Palestine to a broad audience and build a mass movement for action.

The Third Conference will seek to build on our successes, analyze our tactics and develop strategies, skills and knowledge for the future. We will engage in educational sessions and workshops, activist skill-sharings and trainings, collective decision-making, public speaking events, rallies and direct action; we will come together as a movement to build unity and action, recognize and act upon diverse voices, and encourage collective involvement and expression. We will celebrate Palestinian resistance and work to build our own voices of resistance; we will strategize for divestment from Israeli apartheid. As Israel continues its oppression and occupation of Palestinian people and Palestinian land, we will raise our voices to demand an end and call for meaningful peace with justice in Palestine. As a solidarity movement, we will work to act in full support of and solidarity with the Palestinian national liberation movement. At a time when Palestine and the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people are under attack by forces of Zionism and imperialism, it is imperative that we come together to build a student movement that unites with our brothers and sisters in Palestine to uphold Palestinian rights and Palestinian liberation.

We look to the purposes of the conference as enabling people to work with others to learn and put into practice how to run a group, teaching and strategizing ways which groups can go about a divestment campaign, empowering people and communities, including recognizing and building diversity, recognizing and building on successes, dealing with and handling opposition, and strategizing for media and community outreach, as well as becoming educated about the right of return, the history of the occupation and the resistance, and the fight for full equality under law and the end of Israeli apartheid and discrimination, as well as other relevant political/historical topics.

Any organizations that believe divestment from Israeli apartheid is a necessary and worthwhile strategy, that stand for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, the full right of return for all Palestinian refugees to their homes and homeland, and full equality under law and the abolition of Israeli apartheid; and that reject racism and all forms of oppression are welcome to be part of the organizing process for the Third Conference! Please email proposals@njsolidarity.org to become a part of the organizing process. Get involved in organizing the Third Conference--bring your experiences, strategies and ideas to the table to work towards building a mass movement for divestment from Israeli apartheid and for justice in Palestine! For more information, please write us at info@njsolidarity.org

http://www.divestmentconference.com/index2.html

KUTEMU CINTANYA DI RAMALLAH

“Apabila kamu menghampiri sebuah kota untuk berperang, jemputlah warga kota itu untuk berdamai. Kalau warga kota itu menyambut untuk berdamai, maka semua rakyat di dalamnya diperhambakan kepada kamu. Kalau warga kota itu enggan menyerah, malah sebaliknya memerangi kamu, maka hendaklah kamu mengepung kota itu. Apabila tuhan meyerahkan kota itu kepada kamu, maka hendaklah kamu pancung semua orang lelaki, wanita, kanak-kanak dan binatang serta rampasan dalam kota itu menjadi milik kamu. Begitu juga hendaklah kamu lakukan dengan semua kota yang jauh daripada kamu. Jangan biarkan seorang pun tinggal di dalamnya.”
Tasthniah Sah {17-10}{20}.

“ Israel bedebah! Celaka ke atas Yahweh! Ramallah bergegar lagi. Hujan darah menitis lagi di sana. Jentolak Israel memusnahkan 73 rumah di kem pelarian Gaza awal pagi tadi. Kebanyakan penduduk masih tidur, menyebabkan beratus-ratus orang hilang tempat tinggal. Saban hari kita disogokkan dengan peristiwa kekejaman Yahudi Laknatullah, tapi apa tindakan kita? Ke mana hilangnya suara-suara yang ingin membela intifada’ Palestin? Aku benci dengan dunia yang buta, pekak dan terus bisu! Kewajipanku menuntut ilmu di bumi yang kupijak ini serasa sia-sia. Aku mencari ilmu di sini sedangkan insan-insan durjana itu enak menjarah dan memamah jasad-jasad saudaraku di Ramallah, Jenin, Semenanjung Gaza. Serasa dayusnya aku kerana tidak kembali pulang, berjuang bersama-sama saudaraku di sana. Membenamkan kezaliman Zionis yang bertebaran liar di bumi Quds. Hingga sekarang, aku masih buntu mencari jawapan. Adakah masih perlu aku bersenang- lenang di sini sedangkan saudaraku di Palestin disembelih Zionis saban hari. Pengecutkah aku? Pengkhianat agamakah aku, Fathi?”

Aku? Entahlah! Aku sendiri masih keliru. Malah, semakin keliru dengan pergolakan hati yang dicetus gadis bermata jeli itu.

Ah gadis itu! Satu-satunya perawan yang berjaya mengocak sentimenku. Semangatnya bisa menandingi kekuatan seorang insan bernama Adam. Malah aku sendiri kagum dan terbias dengan roh jihad yang subur dalam jiwanya. Kekentalan semangat dan keyakinannya itu menimbulkan suatu kesedaran baru dalam diriku.

Betapa di sekeliling masyarakat Muslim, amat kurang pemuda pemudi berjiwa waja seperti gadis Palestin ini.

Malah aku sendiri mengakui aku turut tersenarai sebagai pemuda yang masih bebal semangat jihad. Perkenalan singkat, lewat demostrasi dan ceramah jalanan membela perjuangan intifada’ Palestin memaksaku mengenalinya lebih dekat. Ayat Akhras…Seorang gadis yang acap kali menghuni lensa kameraku. Kisahnya dan penulisan sejarahnya tentang Yahudi acap kali menghiasi laman lidah editor majalah kecil Lambaian Quds.

Seawal usia tugasku sebagai jurugambar di syarikat majalah ini masih banyak yang perlu dipelajari dan diperbaiki. Tambahan pula, selama ini aku tidak pernah ambil pusing dengan perkembangan di Tebing Barat apatah lagi tentang perpecahan dan pergolakan dunia Arab. Lantas aku seperti rusa masuk kampung tatkala ditawarkan tugas sebagai jurugambar di majalah Lambaian Quds ini.

“Di Parlimen Israel, ada tergantung peta Negara Raya Israel yang memanjang dari Sungai Nil ke Sungai Furat. Ertinya termasuklah Mesir dan Iraq. Semuanya mereka rencanakan dalam konferensi Zionis pertama di Switzerland pada 1897 di bawah kendalian Theodore Hertzl. Bumi anbiya’ bakal dinodai.” Kulihat bola matanya sayup memandangku. Ada geletar di hujung bicaranya.

“Oh, ya kah?” Aku mengerutkan dahi.

“Pada tahun 1948, bumi Isra’ dan Mikraj diperkosa Yahudi. 800 000 orang Palestin diusir dari tanah air sendiri. Apabila Israel menawan Semenanjung Sinai pada tahun 1973, mendiang Perdana Menteri Wanita Pertama Israel, Golda Maer dengan angkuhnya berkata: Saya dapat mencium bau datuk nenek saya beribu batu! Beliau bermaksud Kota Mekah dan Madinah di Jazirah Arab yang menghadap kepadanya. Oh! Selagi warga dunia hanya berpeluk tubuh dan tunduk pada kuasa veto Amerika dan Yahudi, sifir keganasan dan kekejaman akan terus dihitung.” Dia tunduk. Ada memanik putih di tubir matanya.

Aku mula serba salah tika kulihat Akhras menyapu birai matanya yang digenangi air jernih. “ Fathi…Diriku merindukan kedamaian di bumi Quds.” Lantas dia pun berlalu.

Sekitar tahun 1905 hingga 1271, Perang Salib dilancarkan. Perang ini tercetus atas desakan Yahudi. Realitinya, Perang Salib bertujuan melindungi orang-orang Kristian yang melawat Baitul Maqdis dan mendirikan pemerintahan Kristian di Palestin, tetapi hakikatnya peperangan tersebut bertujuan melaksanakan kepentingan orang-orang Yahudi. Mereka telah menjadikan suruhan orang-orang Kristian Eropah sebagai alat mereka.

Muktamar Maskoni Keempat yang diadakan oleh pihak Gereja Katholik pada tahun 1215 Masihi memutuskan supaya orang-orang Yahudi diberi suatu penempatan khusus supaya tidak menggunakan orang-orang Kristian sebagai alat mereka lagi. Keputusan ini diambil sebagai reaksi terhadap kegiatan murabin (pemakan bunga} orang-orang Yahudi. Namun keputusan ini tidak dapat dilaksanakan dengan berkesan kerana pengaruh kuasa orang-orang Yahudi segenap bidang keagamaan, kerajaan dan rakyat.

Pada tahun 1275 Masihi, Raja Edward I telah mengeluarkan perintah mengharamkan orang-orang Yahudi daripada mengenakan bunga. Pada tahun 1306, Perancis pula mengusir orang-orang Yahudi dari negerinya. Diikuti oleh Belgium pada tahun 1370, Slovakia pada tahun 1380, Austri pada tahun 1420, Sepanyol pada tahun 1492, Lithopia pada tahun 1495, Itali pada tahun 1498 dan Bavaria pada tahun 1551. Akibatnya seperti yang disebut dalam Encyclopaedia Britannica “Semua itu menyebabkan orang-orang Yahudi berhijrah ke Timur, khususnya ke Empayar Turki dan Polonia.”

“Ariel Syaron menyambut baik Pelan Damai Tajaan Amerika setelah berkali-kali berdolak dalik. Bush ketawa, Collin Powell tersengih. Ah! Aku tidak percaya dengan manusia-manusia topengan iblis itu. Pasti ada muslihat di sebalik sesuatu yang direncanakan mereka. Israel tidak pernah setuju dengan resolusi, konfrontasi mahupun semua bentuk rundingan damai di meja-meja bulat. Aku bimbang segala-galanya akan musnah seperti Perjanjian Oslo pada tahun 1993. Pelan Damai ini mungkin akan dikoyak carik oleh manusia-manusia durjana itu seperti hancurnya Proses Damai 1994 antara Israel-Jordon-Palestin.” Rona merah menyelubungi wajah ayunya. Semangatnya mula berkobar. Benci dan jijiknya dia pada Yahudi Laknatullah yang menghancurkan bangsa dan tanahairnya.

“Kau terlalu pesimis. Mungkin sudah terbuka hati pemimpin-pemimpin dunia itu untuk melihat dunia kembali damai dan tenang daripada gegak gempita bom, roket dan senjata. Atau mereka jua mahu hujan darah tidak menitis lagi membasahi Quds. Bersangka baik mungkin akan memberi pulangan yang baik jua pada kita” Aku mengheretnya mencari opsyen yang lebih positif.

“Ah Fathi! Kau jua sudah dipukau sihir iblis-iblis itu? Sudah termakankah dikau dengan kata-kata manis mereka? Sudah hancur lumatkah mereka kulum iman dan roh jihadmu? Sedarlah dari lenamu. Mereka tidak kenal erti damai. Malah sejarah sudah membuktikannya. Israel tidak pernah puas menodai Quds. Hanya kerana Pelan Damai tajaan Amerika ini pandanganmu sudah kabur?” Nada bicaranya mula meninggi. Ternyata bicaraku meningkah ra’yunya. Aku keliru. Semakin keliru.

“Demi sesungguhnya engkau ( wahai Muhammad ) akan dapati manusia yang keras permusuhannya terhadap orang-orang beriman ialah orang-orang yahudi dan orang-orang musyrik.” ( Al-Maidah:82 }

Orang-orang Yahudi merancang dan membiayai gerakan pemberontakan di Perancis pada tahun 1789. Pertubuhan Freemason di Timur Raya Perancis mempunyai jaringan sulit operasi Yahudi yang terdiri daripada orang-orang Perancis seperti Marquis Miravo, Routsheld dan Rousoe. Matlamat rancangan revolusi Perancis oleh sekumpulan Yahudi daripada tokoh-tokoh murabin Yahudi ialah supaya kuasa sulit mereka dapat menguasai kerajaan diikuti revolusi-revolusi lain di seluruh Eropah.

Menurut Sir Walter Scot, kebanyakan pemimpin revolusi Perancis sebenarnya terdiri daripada orang-orang asing dan orang-orang Yahudi. Contohnya Manuel Yahudi yang mengangkat dirinya sebagai pendakwa raya Komon di Paris. Beliau bertanggungjawab menyumbat ribuan orang ke dalam penjara Paris. Di tangannya sahaja lebih lapan ribu orang menjadi mangsa penyembelihannya. Bersama-sama perancang Yahudi yang berpusat di Gereja Yaakabat, Manuel menuntut supaya lebih banyak darah yang mengalir. Pemimpin-pemimpin revolusi yang lain seperti Robesbear, Danton dan Mara tidak mampu berbuat apa-apa kerana mereka hanyalah boneka Yahudi.

Setelah itu mereka melantik Napoleon Bonaparte sebagai agen mereka untuk menghapuskan semua mahkota dan raja-raja Eropah. Rancangan ini dikenali sebagai “Siri Peperangan Napoleon.” Tetapi Napoleon akhirnya mendedahkan rancangan Yahudi itu lantas apabila dia menyerang Rusia dan Jerman ketika musim sejuk, Yahudi menghentikan bantuan kewangan dan persenjataan kepadanya. Maka berakhirlah pemerintahan Napoleon.

Pada tahun 1814, Napoleon ingin berhenti dari takhtanya di Paris tetapi dibuang negeri ke Pulau Alpa. Akhirnya beliau meninggal akibat serangan sakit jantung. Begitulah keterlibatan Yahudi ketika Revolusi Perancis yang penuh dengan tipu daya dan helah. Lantas, apakah kita tidak mahu mengambil iktibar daripada sejarah?

Emosinya pasti memuncak saat berbicara tentang kekejaman Yahudi di bumi Quds. Benarlah! Dia terlalu jelek dan benci dengan bangsa algojo yang menyembelih saudara-saudaranya di Palestin. Atau sebetulnya aku harus mengakui saudara-saudaraku jua yang ditindas di sana. Ya! Saudara seIslam, seaqidah denganku. Lantas aku teringat bicara parah antaraku dengannya tentang laungan jihad di bumi Palestin. Ah! Tutur nista seawal usia perkenalanku dengannya menimbulkan bibit-bibit perbalahan antara kami. Lantas kini, aku mengakui kehebatan hujahnya dan kejengkelan bicaraku. Oh! Jahilnya kau Fathi!

“Kau hanyalah seorang pelajar. Sementelah pula seorang wanita. Matlamatmu ke sini semata-mata untuk menuntut ilmu. Mengapa harus melibatkan diri ke kancah politik? Adakah dengan berdemostrasi menuntut keadilan dan hak rakyat Palestin di jalanan mampu menghentikan peperangan yang meletus di Tebing Barat?” Hujahku menitir laju.

“Politik? Isu Palestin ini kau anggap politik, Fathi? Ah! Dangkal sekali hujahmu. Palestin tanah tumpah darahku. Watan yang harus aku pertahankan haknya. Lihat di sekelilingmu. Walaupun sahabat-sahabat ini bukan berasal dari bumi Quds, tapi mereka bukan pengecut sepertimu! Daripada diam membisu atau hanya memandang lesu sahaja saudara seagama disembelih Zionis, kami berani bangkit bersuara lantang supaya dunia mendengar cemuhan dan rasa tidak kepuasanhati kami terhadap kekejaman Israel yang terus-terusan menodai Palestin.” Suaranya bergetar. Peluh merenek di dahi gadis itu.

“Aku bukan bodoh. Kenapa perlu susahkan diri? Aku bukan bangsa Arab. Di bumi ini aku sudah dikurniakan kehidupan yang aman dan bahagia. Bebas dari sebarang bentuk pencabulan hak asasi. Mungkin segala yang berlaku di dunia Arab hari ini berpunca daripada bangsa Arab sendiri. Lantas, bangsamu yang mencari masalah, bangsamu jualah yang menyelesaikannya.” Bicaraku mengundang padah. Kata-kataku umpama menyiram minyak ke marakan api yang membahang. Mukanya mula merona merah.

“Fathi! Isu Palestin adalah tanggungjawab sejagat, tanggungjawab yang tidak hanya terbeban di bahu bangsa Arab atau rakyat Palestin semata. Umat Islam umpama suatu binaan yang terpasak kukuh dengan tunjang aqidah dan syariat yang satu. Mungkinkah kau sudah lupa, Fathi? Badar, Khandak, Fathu Makkah menyaksikan kemenangan berputik hasil daripada kesatuan dan perpaduan antara mujahidin Islam. Sejarah membuktikan yang kegemilangan Islam di zaman pemerintahan Rasulullah dan para sahabat berasaskan thabat jiwa dan semangat kesatuan yang jitu.” Hujahnya mula memancing hatiku. Ada kebenaran yang tercetus pada kata-katanya. Aku terpana.

“Apakah kau rela menyaksikan tanah barakah itu terus-terusan dinodai Yahudi laknatullah itu? Apakah kau rela saudara-saudara seagamamu disembelih bangsa laknatullah itu? Apakah kau mahu sejarah Shabra dan Shatila berulang kembali? Nasib kita, umat Islam tidak pernah berubah. Kita ditindas dan ditekan di mana-mana.

Mungkinkah kerana ruhul Islam sudah lupus dari jiwa? Fikirkanlah Fathi. Aku tidak mahu kau jua hanyut seperti pemimpin-pemimpin Islam yang tidak mampu berbuat apa-apa untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini. Apakah kau jua mahu digelar kerbau yang sudah dicucuk hidungnya? Mengia dan membenarkan saja kuasa veto itu berbuat sesuka hati mereka? Berlagak seolah-olah Polis Dunia yang kebal diri?” Gadis itu memandang tepat ke bola mataku. Aku kaget. Diam.

“Lantas, aku harus mengangkat senjata melawan mereka dengan kudratku yang sekecil cuma ini?” Bicaraku pecah. Dia tersenyum.

“Jihad tidak semestinya dengan senjata. Yang penting adalah niat kita kerana Allah, demi membela agama tercinta. Namun Perang Badar sudah membuktikannya. Apalah maknanya kuantiti tanpa kualiti. Sekali kau pertaruhkan nyawa dan ragamu untuk Islam, segunung ganjaran menantimu.”

“Kau tak takut matikah?” Dungukah soalanku itu? Huh!

“Untuk apa takut? Ajal maut di tangan Tuhan.” Selanya tenang. Ah! Perawan yang satu ini…

“Sesungguhnya masyarakat manusia hari ini penuh sesak dengan pemuda-pemuda tetapi pemuda-pemuda ini hanyalah yang kosong, hanyut dan terbiar. Pemuda yang tiada peribadi, bersikap seperti kera; pemuda yang tiada punya akhlak, yang lebih dekat dengan binatang; pemuda yang dijadikan tentera oleh kuasa jahat dan zalim, disusun oleh golongan kufur dan syaitan; pemuda pondan yang tiada kebaikan pada mereka. Tetapi keberkatan datang bersama pemuda yang tinggi cita-citanya.”
( Fathi Yakan }

Syeikh Yusuf Al-Qardhawi dalam ulasannya tentang kekalahan Arab dalam melawan Israel pada tahun 1967 menyatakan sebab pokok kepada kekalahan ini, jua sebab yang sama yang telah membawa kepada kehilangan Andalusia dan Palestin ialah melupakan Allah SWT dan meninggalkan Islam sebagai satu kesatuan aqidah, syariat, akhlaq, pemikiran dan perasaan.

Selain itu, tandusnya semangat berkorban dan keinginan kepada syahid serta tumbuh suburnya penyakit al-wahn dalam jiwa pemuda-pemuda Islam. Mereka juga turut melupai akan pertolongan Allah ketika melangkah ke medan perang. Tiada lagi kedengaran pesanan taqwa daripada pimpinan tentera seperti yang pernah dipesan oleh Khalid Ibnu Walid kepada tentera-tenteranya di medan Yarmuk. “Hari ini adalah satu hari daripada hari-hari Allah yang tidak harus ada unsur-unsur keangkuhan dan kederhakaan, tetapi seluruh jiwa raga harus tulus berjihad pada jalan Allah.” Umar Al-Khatab juga pernah berpesan kepada panglimanya,”Kita hanya mungkin menang dengan sebab kederhakaan musuh-musuh terhadap Allah dan ketaatan kita kepada-Nya. Andai kita sudah sama-sama berbuat maksiat, maka mereka mengatasi kita dari segi kekuatan.”

“Hai orang-orang yang beriman! Kalau kamu menolong agama Allah, nescaya Allah akan menolong kamu dan mengukuhkan tegakmu.” { Muhammad : 7 }

“Aku sayangkan kau, Akhras.” Nah! Aku tidak mampu berselindung di balik tirai keegoanku lagi. Lantas bicara yang begitu, meluncur laju dari kerongkongku.

“Aku benar-benar ikhlas menyatakannya.” Redup mataku bertemu hening matanya. Biar sepasang mata ini yang berbicara supaya gadis itu tahu yang aku ikhlas menyintainya.

Dia tunduk lalu menghadiahiku sekuntum senyum. Oh! Mungkinkah? Aku menanti jawapannya penuh debar, penuh pengharapan. Hatiku hancur luluh tika dia berlalu meninggalkanku tertanya-tanya sendirian. Aku terpana. Ah! Akhras…tidakkah ada ruang di hatimu untukku?

Dalam Protokol Zionis Pertama : Politik tidak sedikitpun bersesuaian dengan akhlak, dan pemerintahan yang terikat dengan akhlak bukanlah politikus yang baik. Tujuan menghalalkan cara. Maka kita hendaklah meletakkan perencanaan kita tanpa menoleh apakah ia baik atau berakhlak. Apa yang penting ialah sejauh mana kepentingan dan faedahnya.

Dalam Protokol Zionis Ketiga : Kita perlu memerintah beberapa puak dengan mengeksploitasikan perasaan hasad dengan menyalakan permusuhan mereka dengan kesempitan hidup dan kemiskinan. Perasaan ini ialah wasilah kita yang membolehkan kita menghapuskan setiap mereka yang menyekat tujuan kita.


Assalamualaikum wbt…

Saudara Fathi Nuruddin, sahabat seperjuangan landasan sufiah ini.

Niat suci Fathi , amat kufahami. Bukan tujuan diri ini untuk menyinggung perasaan Fathi tempoh hari apatah lagi melukai atau mencalari hati seorang sahabat sepertimu. Maaf. Aku tidak mampu menyatakan jawapanku di hadapanmu. Lantas, marsum ini kuutusi.

Cintaku kepada syahid melebihi kasih kepada insani. Aku tidak mahu tenggelam dalam cinta manusia yang hanya bermusim dan tidak pasti. Tidak akan sekali-kali kuabaikan cinta agung untuk Ilahi. Aku mendambakan pertemuan dengan-Nya, Fathi. Kemaruk aku menanti saatnya, kini ada di depan mata.

Aku tidak layak untukmu. Malah aku anak yatim yang berdagang di bumi orang. Bukalah ruang hatimu untuk gadis yang lebih mulia berbandingku.

Fathi, semalam aku bermimpi Qubbah Al-Sakhra’. Mungkinkah aku sudah ketemu cinta di sana?

Salam perjuangan,

Ayat Akhras…
17 Januari 2003
9 Ogos 2003…


Pilu mengepung kalbu. Dadaku sesak seolah-olah ditindih sesuatu. Aku sedang menyaksikan keruntuhan sebuah tamadun Islam. Bumi yang pernah dibebaskan oleh Sallahuddin Al-Ayubi dalam Perang Hittin tanggal 1187. Tiba-tiba mataku berkaca. Pecah lalu berderai membasahi tanah barakah itu. Tanah yang sentiasa disirami air darah rakyat Palestin, saudara-saudara seagamaku. Aku dicengkam pilu. Hatiku digigit rasa keharuan yang menebal. Ya Allah….

Aku merakam segala penderitaan, jerih payah perjuangan rakyat Palestin yang inginkan kedamaian menjernih di bumi Quds ini. Kameraku tidak pernah menipu malah kebenaran lebih bercahaya di hujung lensanya. Aku menawarkan diri sewaktu Lambaian Quds ingin menghantar koresponden ke Palestin. Biarlah kupertaruhkan nyawa demi mencari sebuah kebenaran yang hakiki. Akan kutunjukkan pada dunia. Nah! Inilah bangsa yang meminggirkan kemanusiaan.

Seminggu di Ramallah, kebenaran dan penderitaan terakam. Namun resah masih menjerat hati. Oh ya! Aku tidak beritahu kalian lagikah, aku turut memijak bumi Isra’ Mikraj ini demi kembali mencari kepastian. Ingin aku nyatakan pada kalian, aku sudah ketemu cintanya di sini. Ya, di Ramallah ini. Walaupun aku pasti yang aku tidak mungkin menatap wajah ayu bermata jeli itu lagi, namun aku telah ketemu perjuangannya di sini. Tiupan bayu intifada’ di bumi Palestin ini serasa mengganti hempusan pawana cintanya yang pernah membelai hatiku suatu masa dulu. Benarlah! Cinta kekasih agung itu lebih hebat daripada kasih makhluk. Lantas, serasa aku jua mengimpikan tautan kasih dengan cinta hakiki itu!

Nukilan :
Ghafirah bt. Idris
28 Mei 2003
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa

The Black Cloud

Lose yourself,
Lose yourself in this love.
When you lose yourself in this love,
you will find everything.

Lose yourself,
Lose yourself.
Do not fear this loss,
For you will rise from the earth
and embrace the endless heavens.

Lose yourself,
Lose yourself.
Escape from this earthly form,
For this body is a chain
and you are its prisoner.
Smash through the prison wall
and walk outside with the kings and princes.

Lose yourself,
Lose yourself at the foot of the glorious King.
When you lose yourself
before the King
you will become the King.

Lose yourself,
Lose yourself.
Escape from the black cloud
that surrounds you.
Then you will see your own light
as radiant as the full moon.

Now enter that silence.
This is the surest way
to lose yourself....

What is your life about, anyway? -
Nothing but a struggle to be someone,
Nothing but a running from your own silence.

-- Version by Jonathan Star
"Rumi - In the Arms of the Beloved "
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997

as ukhti sarah said ..

Let's Have a Break ..

.. and i say .. "this is like a kit-kat .. it's a break .. but it gives you energy (intellectually)" ..
.. and you say .. "yeah right!" :)

Q: Daddy, why did we have to attack Iraq?

A: Because they had weapons of mass destruction.

Q: But the inspectors didn't find any weapons of mass destruction.

A: That's because the Iraqis were hiding them.

Q: And that's why we invaded Iraq?

A: Yep. Invasions always work better than inspections.

Q: But after we invaded them, we STILL didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, did we?

A: That's because the weapons are so well hidden. Don't worry, we'll find something, probably right before the 2004 election.

Q: Why did Iraq want all those weapons of mass destruction?

A: To use them in a war, silly.

Q: I'm confused. If they had all those weapons that they planned to use in a war, then why didn't they use any of those weapons when we went to war with them?

A: Well, obviously they didn't want anyone to know they had those weapons, so they chose to die by the thousands rather than defend themselves.

Q: That doesn't make sense. Why would they choose to die if they had all those big weapons with which they could have fought back?

A: It's a different culture. It's not supposed to make sense.

Q: I don't know about you, but I don't think they had any of those weapons our government said they did.

A: Well, you know, it doesn't matter whether or not they had those weapons. We had another good reason to invade them anyway.

Q: And what was that?

A: Even if Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator, which is another good reason to invade another country.

Q: Why? What does a cruel dictator do that makes it OK to invade his country?

A: Well, for one thing, he tortured his own people.

Q: Kind of like what they do in China?

A: Don't go comparing China to Iraq. China is a good economic competitor, where millions of people work for slave wages in sweatshops to make U.S. corporations richer.

Q: So if a country lets its people be exploited for American corporate gain, it's a good country, even if that country tortures people?

A: Right.

Q: Why were people in Iraq being tortured?

A: For political crimes, mostly, like criticizing the government. People who criticized the government in Iraq were sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Isn't that exactly what happens in China?

A: I told you, China is different.

Q: What's the difference between China and Iraq?

A: Well, for one thing, Iraq was ruled by the Ba'ath party, while China is Communist.

Q: Didn't you once tell me Communists were bad?

A: No, just Cuban Communists are bad.

Q: How are the Cuban Communists bad?

A: Well, for one thing, people who criticize the government in Cuba are sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Like in Iraq?

A: Exactly.

Q: And like in China, too?

A: I told you, China's a good economic competitor. Cuba, on the other hand, is not.

Q: How come Cuba isn't a good economic competitor?

A: Well, you see, back in the early 1960s, our government passed some laws that made it illegal for Americans to trade or do any business with Cuba until they stopped being Communists and started being capitalists like us.

Q: But if we got rid of those laws, opened up trade with Cuba, and started doing business with them, wouldn't that help the Cubans become capitalists?

A: Don't be a smart-ass.

Q: I didn't think I was being one.

A: Well, anyway, they also don't have freedom of religion in Cuba.

Q: Kind of like China and the Falun Gong movement?

A: I told you, stop saying bad things about China. Anyway, Saddam Hussein came to power through a military coup, so he's not really a legitimate leader anyway.

Q: What's a military coup?

A: That's when a military general takes over the government of a country by force, instead of holding free elections like we do in the United States.

Q: Didn't the ruler of Pakistan come to power by a military coup?

A: You mean General Pervez Musharraf? Uh, yeah, he did, but Pakistan is our friend.

Q: Why is Pakistan our friend if their leader is illegitimate?

A: I never said Pervez Musharraf was illegitimate.

Q: Didn't you just say a military general who comes to power by forcibly overthrowing the legitimate government of a nation is an illegitimate leader?

A: Only Saddam Hussein. Pervez Musharraf is our friend, because he helped us invade Afghanistan.

Q: Why did we invade Afghanistan?

A: Because of what they did to us on September 11th.

Q: What did Afghanistan do to us on September 11th?

A: Well, on September 11th, nineteen men - fifteen of them Saudi Arabians - hijacked four airplanes and flew three of them into buildings, killing over 3,000 Americans.

Q: So how did Afghanistan figure into all that?

A: Afghanistan was where those bad men trained, under the oppressive rule of the Taliban.

Q: Aren't the Taliban those bad radical Islamics who chopped off people's heads and hands?

A: Yes, that's exactly who they were. Not only did they chop off people's heads and hands, but they oppressed women, too.

Q: Didn't the Bush administration give the Taliban 43 million dollars back in May of 2001?

A: Yes, but that money was a reward because they did such a good job fighting drugs.

Q: Fighting drugs?

A: Yes, the Taliban were very helpful in stopping people from growing opium poppies.

Q: How did they do such a good job?

A: Simple. If people were caught growing opium poppies, the Taliban would have their hands and heads cut off.

Q: So, when the Taliban cut off people's heads and hands for growing flowers, that was OK, but not if they cut people's heads and hands off for other reasons?

A: Yes. It's OK with us if radical Islamic fundamentalists cut off people's hands for growing flowers, but it's cruel if they cut off people's hands for stealing bread.

Q: Don't they also cut off people's hands and heads in Saudi Arabia?

A: That's different. Afghanistan was ruled by a tyrannical patriarchy that oppressed women and forced them to wear burqas whenever they were in public, with death by stoning as the penalty for women who did not comply.

Q: Don't Saudi women have to wear burqas in public, too?

A: No, Saudi women merely wear a traditional Islamic body covering.

Q: What's the difference?

A: The traditional Islamic covering worn by Saudi women is a modest yet fashionable garment that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers. The burqa, on the other hand, is an evil tool of patriarchal oppression that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers.

Q: It sounds like the same thing with a different name.

A: Now, don't go comparing Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are our friends.

Q: But I thought you said 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11th were from Saudi Arabia.

A: Yes, but they trained in Afghanistan.

Q: Who trained them?

A: A very bad man named Osama bin Laden.

Q: Was he from Afghanistan?

A: Uh, no, he was from Saudi Arabia too. But he was a bad man, a very bad man.

Q: I seem to recall he was our friend once.

A: Only when we helped him and the mujahadeen repel the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

Q: Who are the Soviets? Was that the Evil Communist Empire Ronald Reagan talked about?

A: There are no more Soviets. The Soviet Union broke up in 1990 or thereabouts, and now they have elections and capitalism like us. We call them Russians now.

Q: So the Soviets - I mean, the Russians - are now our friends?

A: Well, not really. You see, they were our friends for many years after they stopped being Soviets, but then they decided not to support our invasion of Iraq, so we're mad at them now. We're also mad at the French and the Germans because they didn't help us invade Iraq either.

Q: So the French and Germans are evil, too?

A: Not exactly evil, but just bad enough that we had to rename French fries and French toast to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast.

Q: Do we always rename foods whenever another country doesn't do what we want them to do?

A: No, we just do that to our friends. Our enemies, we invade.

Q: But wasn't Iraq one of our friends back in the 1980s?

A: Well, yeah. For a while.

Q: Was Saddam Hussein ruler of Iraq back then?

A: Yes, but at the time he was fighting against Iran, which made him our friend, temporarily.

Q: Why did that make him our friend?

A: Because at that time, Iran was our enemy.

Q: Isn't that when he gassed the Kurds?

A: Yeah, but since he was fighting against Iran at the time, we looked the other way, to show him we were his friend.

Q: So anyone who fights against one of our enemies automatically becomes our friend?

A: Most of the time, yes.

Q: And anyone who fights against one of our friends is automatically an enemy?

A: Sometimes that's true, too. However, if American corporations can profit by selling weapons to both sides at the same time, all the better.

Q: Why?

A: Because war is good for the economy, which means war is good for America. Also, since God is on America's side, anyone who opposes war is a godless unAmerican Communist. Do you understand now why we attacked Iraq?

Q: I think so. We attacked them because God wanted us to, right?

A: Yes.

Q: But how did we know God wanted us to attack Iraq?

A: Well, you see, God personally speaks to George W. Bush and tells him what to do.

Q: So basically, what you're saying is that we attacked Iraq because George W. Bush hears voices in his head?

A. Yes! You finally understand how the world works. Now close your eyes, make yourself comfortable, and go to sleep. Good night.

Q: Good night, Daddy.