Transcending Time

Practicalities of tarbiyyah.

2012-01-27T21:25:00.003+11:00

Before tarbiyyah, I was a very avid reader of English books. I still read a lot nowadays but not to the extent that I did before. When I was in my early teens the type of books I usually read are fantasies but as I grew older my interests progress into a myriad of genre.

One particular genre that interest me a lot is self-help/motivational books. I've always been a glass half-full type of person which might be the driving force behind my interest there. We're getting off topic. Anyway, I was flipping one of my old self-help/motivational book and it struck me how very similar what these books are saying to what tarbiyyah is teaching me.

I was astounded. It was like a revelation.

When I stop to think of it for a bit, it actually made sense. I don't know why I was so surprised. Of course they would be similar. The aim of tarbiyyah and self-help books are quite similar (although in a slightly different context): to help us be the best we can and uncover all our potential.

Let me just give a simple example of the similarity between both. In the particular book I was talking about (its titled 'The Magic of Thinking Big'), there's a chapter called 'Manage Your Environment' which talked about how our environment affects and shapes us, etc. Reading through the chapter, I can only conclude that it is talking exactly about the importance of 'biah solehah'. I'm sure if I read all the other chapters I can find other things to link with what I have learned in tarbiyyah.

I don't know why but I find it amazing. I actually find it helpful to read back all my old self-help books, it helps me to see tarbiyyah in a diferrent, more practical light.

The main difference I find is that my resolve for tarbiyyah is much more long lasting that all the self-help/motivational books I have read before. May my resolve continue until my end, insyaAllah.

The Traditionalist Muslims

2011-12-11T16:28:00.001+11:00

I realise I have (unintentionally) been abandoning this blog.

It's not that I don't want to update but I seem to have lost my flair for writing.

Although because I have no intention of truly abandoning the art of blogging (I have been doing this for years), I shall attempt to share my opinion on a few things in an attempt to update this steadily dusty blog.

Since arriving in Malaysia, I am struck by how easy it is to fall complacent and be 'average'. In the sense that it is seemingly very easy to practice my beliefs here. There is no need bring around a compass or prayer mat. I can easily find a prayer room/mosque etc almost anywhere. In fact I challenge you to find a public place with no easily accessible prayer room in this country.

However, things are always not what they seem. I have come to (again) realise that there is too much mixing of ideologies with the pure teachings of the Qur'an. Why else would the average 'muslim' (some in name only) feel so disgusted at even the sight of a pig yet sees it as perfectly acceptable when they see a couple (both whom claim to be muslims) not yet married showing public displays of affection to each other.

Our islam has become traditional and inherited. How many of us are muslims because we truly want to be muslims?

I cry (well, my eyes becomes watery at the very least) easily these days at the mere sight of all these muslim youths especially those who are misguided and blinded into thinking that which is not islam is.

O Allah, guide us and protect us.

For the sake of Allah.

2011-11-07T13:28:00.000+11:00

I am always amazed and thankful at how much tarbiyyah has changed me. I used to think that if people change (especially if they 'seemingly' change to be better) then there must be an ulterior motive. It just seemed to me, at that time, impossible.

I have been proven wrong (alhamdulillah!).

There are still things I need to improve on of course (there always is) but the sheer amount of difference between myself in the past and myself now with tarbiyyah is amazing.

InsyaAllah, one day I'll share some of these changes but not today.

What I would like to do is drive home this point:

Yes, alhamdulillah. Praise be to Allah that He has sent me people to enlighten me and guide me to the true islam. However, I would like to remind myself and all who have also been tarbiyyah, that tarbiyyah is no guarantee that you are safe. Not if we don't constantly refresh our niat and do it sincerely for Allah.

It's easy enough to say that I'm doing so and so for the sake of Allah. But when a calamity comes and we are tested, will we still be able to say so? Will our actions reflect our words?

Wallahu'alam.

Talian peribadi denganNya

2011-10-19T21:58:00.000+11:00

Assalamu'alaykum,

Akhir-akhir ini, aku merasakan seolah-olah aku dihimpit dan ditimbun di bawah timbunan kerja-kerja (sama ada urusan D&T dan juga hal ehwal dunia) yang sungguh banyak.

Satu-satunya solusi yang aku temui (dan mungkin ianya solusi yang terbaik) ialah dengan doa.

Ya, doa. Sesuatu yang telah meringankan diriku. Sesuatu yang dapat merecharge-kan kembali imaan ku. Tak tahukah kamu yang doa ini seolah-olah suatu phone line peribadi menghubungkan kamu dengan Tuhanmu?

Tuhanmu yang Ar-Rahman dan Ar-Rahiim. Tuhanmu yang kasih dan sayangkan dirimu. Tuhanmu yang mahukan yang terbaik buatmu. Tuhanmu yang sentiasa dekat denganmu.

Dan sesungguhnya Kami telah menciptakan manusia dan mengetahui apa yang dibisikkan oleh hatinya, dan Kami lebih dekat kepadanya daripada urat lehernya,

Awesome kan Allah itu?

Aku ingin share satu tip denganmu untuk lebih feeling bila berdoa. Mungkin ia berkesan, mungkin tidak tapi sungguh personally ia amat membantu diriku. Jadi apa salahnya berkongsi bukan?

Kita kalau berdoa dah terbiasa berdoa dengan doa yang sama, yang kita sudah hafal dari sekolah dulu saaaampai sekarang. Tak ubah-ubah doa kita. Ya, tak dinafikan yang doa-doa itu cukup bagus dan mencakupi kesemua point-point penting yang kita ingin mohon dariNya.

Tapi aku merasakan yang bila kita berdoa ia perlu lebih personal dan intimate dari itu. Doa yang sama berulang-ulang setiap hari tampak sedikit impersonal. Seolah-olah kita sedang berbicara dengan seorang kenalan yang kita ada obligation untuk menegur bila berjumpa tapi selepas habis semua formalities (cth: Apa khabar? Sihat? Keluarga sihat?) kita pergi meninggalkannya tanpa merasa apa-apa ikatan dengannya.

Begitukah patut hubungan kita dengan Pencipta kita?

Bila berdoa, variasikan lah doamu. Hari-harimu tidak serupa bukan? Setiap hari pasti ada suatu kelainan. Berdoalah dengan lebih personal dan intimate.

Berceritalah dengan Allah suka duka harimu.
Berbual-bual dengannya tentang susah senangmu.
Bersyukurlah dengan setiap nikmat baru yang dianugerahkanNya untukmu.

Tambah lagi, adakah kita faham doa-doa rutin kita yang dalam bahasa Arab yang (majoriti antara) kita hanya tahu baca tanpa mengenal makna? Doalah dalam bahasa yang kamu fahami supaya lebih feel. Pasti kamu akan rasa lebih dekat hubunganmu denganNya bila kamu faham apa yang kamu bicarakan padaNya.

Berbicaralah dengan Allah seperti mana kamu berbicara dengan seorang sahabatmu yang sangat erat ikatannya denganmu. Takkan mungkin kamu akan berkata-kata sesuatu yang kamu sendiri tidak faham dan rasa kepada sahabatmu. Jadi seperti itu juga lah patut doamu dengan Allah.

Ya, Allah tahu isi hatimu tapi Dia juga tahu keperluanmu. Dia tahu kita memerlukan outlet yang diprovide melalui doa. Allah tidak rugi jika kita jauh dariNya. Tapi kalau kita yang lupakan Allah, maka kitalah yang kehilangan suatu nikmat yang besar tak terkata.

Wallahu'alam.
Moga bermanfaat.

Southern Gathering 2012 (it's back!)

2011-10-11T13:21:00.000+11:00

Assalamu'alaykum,

Being part of a team is an amazing experience. I am learning a lot alhamdulillah. =)

Now let's talk Southern Gathering. Calling all those of you who are flying to Australia or New Zealand in 2012!

What is this curiously named pre-departure program?

To put it simply, it's a place where you can get all your questions, curiosities, doubts, headaches and more, answered! We'll even give you answers to unasked questions. ;)

Brought to you especially by your lovely and awesome seniors all over the Land Down Under and the Land of the Kiwi. We're working hard to provide YOU the best, most enjoyable experience possible throughout a three days, 2 nights period.

(Wow, I feel like a commercial.)

So get ready with your questions and come join us at Southern Gathering '12!

Best of all, it's FREE! No seriously. You read that right! There is NO FEES. All you have to do is show up and we'll take care of the rest, insyaAllah.

Date and venue are to be confirmed. Further details will slowly be released on our FB page, so check it often:
http://www.facebook.com/southerngathering

See you there! =)
I'll gladly answer any questions or queries (if possible), just leave a comment.

P.S: A plus for sisters, you'll get to meet the owner of this humble blog. (Is this really a plus? Tehee~)

Janji Allah itu benar.

2011-10-07T13:05:00.000+11:00

Assalamu'alaykum,

Semalam aku baca ayat ini:

Aku betul-betul rasa seolah-olah ia kali pertama aku melihatnya walaupun hakikatnya tidak. Ayat ini bukan sesuatu yang asing buatku tapi baru semalam aku betul-betul feel dengannya.

Tersentap sangat.

Ini apa yang aku rasa, wallahu'alam. Allah memulakan ayatNya dengan menceritakan tentang tipu daya syaitan. Syaitan memang akan bagi janji-janji manis kat kita. Bisik macam-macam kat kita.

Kalau aku pergi daurah ni, tak sempat siapkan assignment.

Ala, ini homework usrah je. Aku banyak lagi homework uni/sekolah yang kena buat.

Banyaknya aku dah infaq, tak cukup lagi ke? Nanti nak bayar sewa, bil-bil macam mane?

Ah! Mad'u-mad'u aku ni, macam-macam betul. Biarlah korang! Korang yang tak nak, korang yang rugi.

Dan macam-macam lagi alasan kita. Kita nampak macam alasan-alasan kita betul-betul boleh dijadikan alasan. Tapi bila reflect balik, alasan-alasan itu hanyalah diri kita dilalaikan dengan keduniaan.

Inilah MO (Modus Operandi) syaitan!

Dia akan gunakan apa saja jalan untuk kita (especially kader-kader dakwah) takut dan lagi dasyat lagi benci (ya aku kata benci kerna sememangnya ini berlaku dikalangan kita) untuk memprioritikan tarbiyyah&dakwah (kedua-dua ini tak boleh dipisahkan) kita.

Kita lihat part kedua ayat di atas. Bila mana aku baca sambungan itu, aku terdiam dan menangis.

"...sedangkan Allah menjanjikan kamu dengan keampunan dan limpah kurnia dariNya..."

Ya Allah! Mengapa kita termakan dengan janji syaitan tapi lupa dengan janji Allah yang lebih mulia dan kekal? Siapa kita nak percaya? Pencipta kita yang nak terbaik buat kita atau musuh kita yang dah bersumpah untuk selamanya menyesatkan kita?

Aku tak tahu macam mana nak describe feeling ini tapi aku berharap sangat ikhwah akhwatku dapat rasa betapa BESARNYA ampunan, rahmat, kurniaan Ilahi buat kita ini. Kita ini yang hina kalau bukan kerna dimuliakan olehNya.

Ingat lagi kata-kata Saidina Umar Al-Khattab r.a?

"Kita adalah suatu kaum yang dimuliakan oleh Allah dengan Islam, maka apabila kita mencari kemuliaan yang selain daripada Islam, nescaya kita akan dihinakan oleh Allah."

Krisis-krisis ummah ini hanya akan selesai sekiranya kita kembali kepada Allah dan Ad-DinNya. Tak cukupkah Allah buat kita?

A glimpse of how it must feel.

2011-09-28T15:26:00.001+10:00

Yesterday, I had a dream. Or more appropriately, it should be a called a nightmare.

I dreamt I was in Palestine, the land of the Anbiya', the land of our oppressed but brave Palestinians brothers and sisters.

If you are aware of the Israel-Palestine conflict (and as a muslim, you should be), what and how an Apache looks like should be no stranger to you.

It was while walking through the streets of Gaza that when I was compelled to look up, I saw one after another Apache bearing Israel's flag of white and blue looming above in the skies quite menacingly. It is a horrifying sight to witness in person (and I was only dreaming!). If not for the knowledge that Allah is on our side, I do not think it is an easy thing to face each day. It is only then I realised this.

I woke up queasy and only just remembered about this later in the day.

Make du'a for them. Do what you can! Join the BDS movement. May Allah reward you for your efforts, insyaAllah.

Wallahu'alam.

A clean slate.

2011-09-26T17:04:00.001+10:00

*is in shock.

I just did something incredibly idiotic. I wanted to delete all my drafts but instead I accidentally deleted all my posts.

Oh well. This is meant to be. This might even be the push I needed to write more regularly. InsyaAllah I will!