Tazkirah - my notes

It seems that there were few events that have been weighing the mind of many religious teachers(ustazs/ustazahs) during the last few days of fasting month (Ramadhan in 2012).
picture from I love Islam.com

On the night following the second day of Ramadhan after Isya Prayer, someone was said to be arrested for giving Tazkirah in AlRahman Mosque, a mosque in close vicinity of University Malaya .

Then there was a recent call for the need to curtail the tazkirah activity...

There are also Muslim who wrote pages to Imam and teacher complaining that tazkirah is unneccessary since there is already Terawih prayer during the Ramadhan.

An ustaz gave a Tazkirah on this subject matter in musolla DarusSalam in my Taman Bukit Teratai, Cheras the other night.

Verse 29 suratul Insan (076:029). Indeed, this is a reminder(tazkirah); so let anyone who so wishes, adopt a way to his lord.

Tazkirah is a command from Allah...
As AlQuran is guidance for human being, anyone who aim for Allah Pleasure and anyone who believe Allah's promise needs Tazkirah.
Verse 9 to 12 of Suratul A'la (087:009 -087:012)
009 :so extend advice/reminder (to people), if advice/reminder is useful
010 :the one who fears will observe the advice/reminder
011 :it will be avoided by the most wretched/unfortunate one
012 :who will enter the biggest fire

From above we can see that tazkirah is obligatory and useful for those who believe and fear Allah. It was said that Prophet's friends asked for Tazkirah .. One of Prophet's miracle is that he knew his friends strength and weakness, their character.. even their walking style ..as told that during mikhraj.. when the Prophet asked Gabriel whether the sound he heard is the sound that came from the sound of his friend, Bilal walking.

The ayah 011 and 012 are self-explanatory.

So going back to the incident at the AlRahman Mosque above.. can you imagine what will happen to the one who reported the Tazkirah and the one who actually arrested the ustaz who gave the tazkirah.

Verse 21 surah Alghasiyah 088:021 So continue to give tazkirah, for you are a tazkirah giver.
It seems that Allah has declared the prophet is a giver of Tazkirah.

Verse 11 of Surah Albaqorah (002:119) Surely, we have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of good tidings and a warner and you will not be asked about the people of Hell.

Verse 2 of Surah AlAnkabut (029:002) Do people think that they will be left ( at ease) only on their saying "we believe"; and they not be put to any test?
From all the argument above, I guess that in all probability, that IT IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT for a Muslim to avoid or detest Tazkirah.

Have a good day

Lessons from events before Israa’

Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). 017.001 Al-Israa’

This notes is what I managed to record from one Saturday morning tazkirah (admonition)by Ustaz (teacher in Arabic) Sharir Long in Masjid Ubudiah , Kg. Tasik Ampang.

Israa’ is the journey of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Mecca and Jerusalem.

Before the journey, Allah’s Apostle undergo a form of surgery as rarrated Abu Dhar:Allah's Apostle (pbuh) said, " While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zam-zam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it.

The teacher specifically read the Arabic form of the hadith and translate the last part to be… the wisdom was poured into the heart and faith was coated around the heart before he closed the chest.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) informed us in a very famous tradition, commonly quoted with reference to halal and haram, about the importance of the heart .
The hadith in full :- Bukhary, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 49: Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's Apostle (pbuh) saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.

The importance of heart is outlined by the following verses from Al-Quran
“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, 026.088 Asy-Syu’ara’

Except him who comes to Allah with a heart free (from evil). 026.089 Asy-Syu’ara’
Having said that the teacher told us that the Messenger (pbuh) has to have his heart cleansed, his heart was filled with wisdom(hikmah) and coated with belief (iman) to start his journey to meet Allah in his Mikraj. Similarly, we have to do the same, purify our heart and seek for knowledge or wisdom (hikmah) and Iman in our journey on this earth.

He said the way to purify the heart has been clearly outlined in verse 31 from suratunNur (24)
..And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.
024:031AnNur

The above verse called for Taubatan Nasuha which means true or sincere repentance; repentance that mends life; such repentance that one never returns to such sin after one repents of it .
Taubatan Nasuha as was outlined by Imam Nawawi:-
1. Stopped from committing the sin
2. Regretted for committing the sin.
3. Determined not to repeat the sin.
4. If anything to do with human being.. to ask for human being forgiveness.

While 1, 2 and 3 are between man and his Creator, to do 4 correctly one have to tell/narrate/detail what exactly were his sins that he want to be forgiven by that particular human being ;( .

The teacher said “Imam Nawawi died when he was 46 years old; he was too busy searching for/teaching knowledge to even get married, while the Muslims now are too busy getting married to search for knowledge” ;) .

To stress the importance of sincere repentance the teacher gave us few more Quranic verses for good measures.
O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance: In the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow,- the Day that Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, while they say, “Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for Thou hast power over all things.” 066.008 AtTahrim

Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped. 039.054 AzZummar.

If only thou couldst see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Lord, (saying:) “Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard: Now then send us back (to the world): we will work righteousness: for we do indeed (now) believe.” 032.012 AsSajada..

The last verse signify that it is pertinent that we prepare ourselves while we are in this world.. The teacher even quote the Malay saying “before the rice has become porridge” ;) before bombarding us with more Quranic verses
O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy 002.208 Al-Baqarah

Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near! 002.214 Al-Baqarah

“Prosper will be those who purify their soul. Lost will be those who defile their soul” he stressed to the congregation. Taking the cue from the story that Gabriel poured knowledge and Hikmah into the Messenger’s heart before coating it with faith before undertaking the journey (israk), we should filled our heart with knowledge while we are our journey to meet HIM.

To further elaborate the importance of knowledge the teacher quote Saidina Ali’s saying
‘those who want to succeed in this life, he should have the knowledge, those who want to succeed in the hereafter, he should have the knowledge, those who want to succeed in this life and the hereafter, he should have knowledge’

From a saying of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)"Whoever Allah wants good for, HE gives him fiqh (understanding) of the Deen".

He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding. 002.269 Al-Baqarah

To know more about virtues of seeking knowledge mentioned in Sunnah, please go here
The teacher was saying that we are here(on this world) as guests of Allah.

To stress the point create a story that if he visit to the Imam’s house.. he will have to follow the Imam’s house rules and procedures.
“Should the Imam want me to seat on the floor by sitting himself on the floor instead of sitting on his nice and comfortable chair, then I will have to follow suit. Should the Imam only asked his wife to bring in a cup of tea for me, then I will have to drink tea for breakfast.. it would be very impolite for me to ask the Imam to bring me the Nasi Lemak, the nice fragrance of which has been whiffed /brought in from his kitchen”

As guests of Allah, we have to follow the Allah’s rules and procedures.
He quoted this verse
O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy. 002.208 Al-Baqarah

Then he dropped a hint quoting
And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). 017.036 Al –Israa’

Then he talked about the current issue then: “the use of video tapes to accuse one of sexual transgression”, followed by a rather brief history of blasphemous accusation of Messenger’s wife and the related verses from Al-Quran.
Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you; On the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous. 024.011 AnNur

Why did not the believers – men and women – when ye heard of the affair,- put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, “This (charge) is an obvious lie”? 024.012 AnNur

Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, (stand forth) themselves as liars! 024.013 AnNur

Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, in this world and the Hereafter, a grievous penalty would have seized you in that ye rushed glibly into this affair 024.014 AnNur

He mentioned solemnly that he was rather unhappy about the use of tapes to accuse someone of sexual transgression.. because if we believe that the accused are guilty based on videotapes alone.. then we believed liars in the sight of Allah and we ourselves may fall in Kufr..

He sends down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to its measure: But the torrent bears away to foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so, from that (ore) which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils therewith, there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by parables) show forth Truth and Vanity. For the scum disappears like forth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus doth Allah set forth parables. 013.017 Ar-Ra’d

Expounding that we must take care of our Iman (belief), the teacher quote ..
Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again) and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way. 004.137 AnNisaa

Due to lack of time he quoted a hadith from Bukhari which meant +-“Wealth is not due to plenty of money, but wealth is calm and collected soul”.

But when I met him after the tazkirah he quoted another hadith from Bukhari which meant +-“Those who slander will not go to the heaven”.

Have a good and nice month of Syaaban .

N.B. Ustaz Sharir Long.. is a former teacher and former banker who gave up the professions to seek pleasure of Allah. He is the Chairman (co-founder) of Tahfiz Mutmainnah in Sungai Petani , Kedah. He can be reached at 019 473 6060
Tahfiz Mutmainnah adalah Wakil Zakat Perlis(Ruj. MAIPs.003/20JLD2 (016)
The picture is from Mr. Google

SilaturRahim (Familial relationship) Part 1

Allah the Exalted had said to the womb: +-"I Am ArRahman and thou womb (rahim), I will curtail my blessing against people who break up family relations and I'll continue my blessing to people who keep family relations”.

Mr Yahoo's picture from http://syafiqahmohmad.blogspot.com

Abul Laits (narrated by sanad of'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa ra) said: +-"At one time we were together the evening of Arafat suddenly Messenger of Allah said:" Do not sit with us those who terminate familial relationships, so get out of our midst.

But no one except the one who sit behind the Messenger of Allah, stand up and moved out, but soon he was back and was then asked by the Messenger of Allah: "Why do you, because no one stood up except you?"

He said, "O Messenger of Allah, when I heard what you have said, I immediately went to the home of my auntie that broke relationship with me.

She asked me: "Why did you come and your arrival is very strange?".

"So I tell her what I heard from you, then she read istighfar for Allah to forgive me and I read istighfar for Allah to forgive her."

Rasul s.a.w. said: "Well done! you can sit down now because mercy is not coming down for a tribe if any of them decide on terminating a family relationship."

Abul Laits said: "This hadith is a proof that terminating the familial relationship is a grave sin that can hinder mercy from him and his friends who are with him. So it's the duty of every Muslim to repent of the termination of the family ties and to istighfar to Allah for forgiveness and immediately work to improve the family ties to seek blessings of Allah and keep oneself away from the hell fire."

Abul-laits (narrated by sanad of Yahya bin Salim) said: "Long ago, in Mecca, there is a good man from Khurasan that ordinary people entrust all their property to. Then there was a businessman who entrusted him a sum of ten thousand dinars and he went away on his business.

Shortly after, the businessman came back to Mecca and found out that the man he have entrusted his money is dead.

So the businessman asked his family and his children on the money.

They replied: "We are not aware of anything as he does not tell us anything”.

Then the man asked the scholars of Muslim jurists." I gave a person ten thousand dinars, and now the person is dead and I asked his families and their children, they did not know anything about it, then how do you think? "

The scholar answered:" We expect that he maybe the occupant of the Garden, so late night this evening, you go and call his name at the inside of Zamzam well it and say: "Hello so and so, I am the one who entrusted you the money... "

So the advice is implemented and the businessman called the name of the person three times, but did not get any answers. Then he went back to the scholars who told him.

They said: 'Inna wa inna lillahi ilaihi raji'un, we are afraid lest your friend is occupant of the Fire, and now you go to Birhut in Yaman, there is a well, if you call late at night: " Hello so and so, I am the one who entrusted you the money.... " and when he implemented the advice and called only once have he received answer from the man.

The businessman asked:" Poor you, why are you here, but you're a good person then? "

The man said," I have a family in Khurasan, but I sever the familial relationship with them until death overcome me, then God punish me for that and put me here, as for your money it is still there and I did not entrust the money to anyone, even to my children, your money is buried beneath my home. You can asked permission to enter my house, then you go and dig the site I have shown you, then you will get your money in full . "

So he went and asked permission from the children to dig up a designated place and found that all his property was still intact.

There was another story similar to the above. The entrusted man that went to Mecca and studied there for umpteen years and did not bother to keep his relationship to his older sister in Patani, Thailand.

The storyline for this Patani man was almost the same as the man from Khurasan but have a better ending.. because the businessman went back to the well and asked him whether he can do anything to help. The man told the businessman that he has some money buried beside businessman’s money.

Can the businessman go to visit his sister in Patani, give her his money, relate his current difficulty, ask her forgiveness on not going back to her for many years? the man asked.

The businessman granted and performed all that was requested, got the sister’s forgiveness and came back to find that the entrusted man did not answer to the call inside the Birkut well. He visited the Zamzam well and gladly found out that his entrusted friend answered his call indicating that he was forgiven and now a dweller of the garden.

Have a nice Friday and exhilarating weekend.

Halal Sustenance

Photo from Google

O ye who believe! ...... And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise. AlQuran 9:28.

Some years ago I was called to pay respect (a ziarah) to a family friend’s sister who passed way that morning. When I reached the house, I met the husband of the deceased, a new convert/ revert. After a few courteous exchanges, he recounted to me that his wife passed away due to breast cancer. For more than 2 years (when the cancer got really bad), he have not heard any ooh, ahh or anything of that sort from his wife.. not a word of complain or a sigh of pain.

That early morning during the heavy bout of pain, she asked the husband about an old man.. The following were the approximate conversation between the couple..

“What old man?” was all the very sad husband could muster.

“Oh, that old man that wore a long white robe and white turban and came to visit me just before Subuh (dawn).

“What did he want or said to you” the husband queried

“ Oh nothing. He said he wanted to invite me to his place”

The husband said he searched high and low for the old man to the point that he nearly missed to be at his wife bedside when she drew her last breath on this earth..

“You see” the husband continued in very sad tone “ I am a new revert (muallaf was his exact word) .. if not maybe I would have known that she is going to see Her Maker very soon.”.

A few months later, her mother died of stomach or colon cancer. I was not around to pay her my last respect.

On that particular weekend, I was back in KL and I made it a point to stop by and have breakfast at a small road-side stall that belonged to the deceased father / husband. It was rather early, there were not that many customers and the old man stopped at my table to talk to me. He recounted the two recent deaths of his daughter and his wife. After some nice words of condolence from me and some religious word/messages from the old man.. I did manage to frankly converse with him.

“I have a rather personal question to ask.. so if Pak Cik (Uncle) do not feel like answering .. please do not say anything”... Me and my big mouth starting to pry.

The Old man said “ Please ask.. I would answer if I can” .

I relate what has transpired between me and his son-in-law when I pay my last respect to his late daughter and said” I believed your daughter and wife were very good Muslimah.. it is rather puzzling to me that they passed away in the manner that they did.. You see.. I heard that Allah in his Grace/Mercy may inflict terrible pain to take away the sin of his servants.. sometimes He took away the bad/cancerous part of our body to cleanse our sin or the meat that grew from our bad sustenance(rezeki).. To have two deaths from cancer in a family spells something is not very right... is it the food ?( the moment I realised that those words have left my lips.. I started to wish that I was thousand meters in the sub-surface together with those drilling bits that were used to drill my exploration wells.. . my!... do I have to hit some raw nerves.. me and my super big mouth.

"I believed you are right, son! " the old man interjected, leaving me with my mouth gaping a huge “O”.

“Some years ago, I opened a reasonably good restaurant in an upcoming town J Jaya.. selling the normal mamak-fare and serve no liquor. There were two other restaurants nearby which serve liquor. Every time a non- muslim customer or group of customers stopped by at my restaurant he or they will ask if I sell liquor. On my negative response, he or they will go over to the other two restaurants. This continued for three months. J Jaya was a new thriving township, the number of people there then were not that many.. thus I have suffered some financial loss that if allowed to continue might have forced me to close shop within the next two or three months. When I finally succumbed to the pressure and started selling liquors, those who sneered at me for not selling liquor earlier became my staunch supporters bringing their friends and families to my restaurant. Within a few weeks, I started to recover most of my previous losses" he told me in a rather firm voice.

“Those were the money that I used to provide my family , I have since sold the restaurant, (after I have bequeathed the right to sell liquor) on hearing that my late daughter has contracted breast cancer. My late wife’s cancer was detected almost immediately after I sold the restaurant. I then opened this roadside stall close to my house, although I did not make 1/4 of the money I used to make on that restaurant, I am happy that at least I know the money is halal” he continued.

"I have regretted my previous actions and has since really repented (taubat nasuha). .. but it is too late.. I have already lost the two ladies that I loved very much” he lamented.

“ Now that you have repented, maybe you should keep the story of you selling liquor in your restaurant to yourself.. Allah might have forgiven you on that issue, recounting it over and over might undo your repentance. You might be late with your repentance with respect to the two ladies but Allah has more or less cleanse them both, preparing them for a meeting with Him .. I am sure they have been amply rewarded for their patience and perseverance (sabar). My Allah bless them both and guide us to the right path” I quickly chipped in.

The old man said “Ameen” and quickly moved away to serve his other customers.