Bismillahirrahmanirrahim…

A good reminder between your wants and your needs.

What you want is not neccessarily what you need.

What you need is more important then what you want.

Your wants, sometimes can support other peoples’ need.

Think about it.

THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER

by Bint Abdul Khaliq

A little girl is trying to sleep. She has not had supper. The pavement is cold and hard. She ignores this and pretends she is asleep in a warm bed. She imagines herself pulling the covers closer until the stiff cardboard in her hands reminds her of the harsh reality. Her tummy rumbles restlessly. She will have to search the bins tomorrow, even though she hates it. Her empty tummy forces her to stoop to that level. People move past her, many not even aware of the tiny figure hidden in the shadows. Some laugh at her. She doesn�t care. She needs a place to sleep tonight.

A little girl is trying to sleep. She has not had supper. She is very angry. Going to bed without supper would teach them! Her parents were angry too. A ten-year-old child demanding a cell phone�this they felt was going a tad overboard. Why couldn�t she play with her multitude of expensive doll houses and trendy gadgets? It is this argument that ends with the little girl stomping off to bed without any supper.

A little girl is awakened by the sound of birds. A hand smoothes her hair�or rather grabs it. She is jerked upright and sworn at. Filthy street kids…didn�t they know better than taking up place on a public pavement? Giving the town a bad name! She doesn�t flinch. She has become immune to abuse. No one likes her. No one ever will. She still has to live, she still has to sleep and eat. A will to survive burns inside her. She will not give up..

A little girl is awakened by the sound of birds. A hand smoothes her hair. Her mother plants a kiss on forehead. How is her little girl? Not at all happy. Mother smiles�they were too harsh on her the night before. She was mature enough, after all, and she did make them awfully proud of her in school. What model would you like to have sweetie? An excited little girl hugs her parents while they bask in the feeling of her approval. No one could accuse them of being bad parents. The little girl smiles inside. She knew she would get her way. She always did.

A little girl crosses the road, clutching her stomach. She stares at the cell phone store in front of her. Why would people waste money on phones when they could buy food? She would never understand. She passes a smartly dressed little girl holding on to her doting parents. She feels only contempt towards them…She catches the little girl�s eyes for a moment, hoping to stir some pity within her. Perhaps she would feel sorry for her�

A little girl crosses the road. She is very happy. She has just managed to convince her parents to get he the best cell phone on the market! She smiles inwardly. She always got what she wanted. She passes a smelly, scraggly-looking girl. They locked eyes for a moment. She immediately felt such contempt towards the pathetic figure staring at her. There was such desperation in those sad eyes. For a moment she felt guilty�then she turned away in disgust and gazed lovingly at her new cell phone�

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “One who strives to help the widows and the poor is like the one who fights in the way of Allah.” The narrator said: I think that he (PBUH) added also: “I shall regard him as the one who stands up (for prayer) without rest and as the one who observes fasts continuously“.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Narrated Ash-sha’bi: The clerk of Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba narrated, “Muawiya wrote to Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba: Write to me something which you have heard from the Prophet (p.b.u.h) .” So Al-Mughira wrote: I heard the Prophet saying, “Allah has hated for you three things:

1. Vain talks, (useless talk) that you talk too much or about others.

2. Wasting of wealth (by extravagance)

3. And asking too many questions (in disputed religious matters) or asking others for something (except in great need). (See Hadith No. 591, Vol. Ill)
[Al-Bukhari Volume 2, Book 24, Number 555]

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah

I finished reading the book “Kami Pilih Islam” a few days ago and bookmarked a few stories that made an impact on my thoughts and soul. This was an old book I found whilst going through boxes when we move house. So old that I wasn’t even born yet when this book was published. Heck my parents weren’t married yet when this book was published!
That old! Indeed. 1976. No offense to 1976-ers babies!

A bit about the book, it was originally written in English entitled “Islam Our Choice”, then it was translated to Arabic “Limaza Aslamna”. The editor of the book first read it in Arabic while he was in Mekah. It caught his immense interest and decided to translate the book into Indonesian so that the Indonesian public could read it.

It consists of a collection of revert stories from great thinkers, philosophers, editors, politicians, ministers, etc etc.Some were okay, some were dry, some were text book. But a number caught my attention and the story below was one of them.

For some reason, I felt the connection in this story. I know, weird. But im cute-weird this way.

Have a read =) Who knows you might feel the vibe like I did.

The Room

Bismillahirrahmannirrahim.

In carrying out our lives, day in day out, we tend to forget that whatever we do, there are those who are watching over us, there are those who are recording every single thought that crosses our minds, every single word that is spoken by our mouths, every single action done by our hands and feet.

But because we cannot see them, we have a tendency to be ignorant, forgetful and careless with what we do and think.

Insya-Allah, may this story helps us in reminding of our situation and our goal.

Who are we? We are Muslims.

What is our goal in life? To achieve Jannah.

Khalas.

Author Unknown

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in a room. There were no distinguishing features, save for the one wall covered with small indexcard files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “People I Have Liked.” I opened it and began fliping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then, without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalogue system of my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory could not match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.” The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright wierd. “Books I Have Read“, “Lies I Have Told“, “Comfort I Have Given“, “Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in Anger“, “Things I Have Muttered Under my Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer that I’d hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 30 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To“, I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yeards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed not so much of the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to files marked “Lustful Thoughts” and “Things I’ve said and done with my boyfriend”, I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the files out only an inch, not willing to test it’s size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at it’s detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to detroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. It’s size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to it’s slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.

The title was “People I Have Taught about Allah.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on it’s handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

Ness: Kebanyakkan manusia menganggap bahawa tugas mereka hanyalah untuk beribadah. Tetapi manusia lupa bahawa Allah menjadi kan mereka untuk dua perkara, bukan sahaha untuk beribadah (51:56), tetapi untuk menjadi khalifah(2:30) di bumi Allah.

Salah satu tanggunggjawab menjadi khalifah ialah untuk menyebarkan Islam dan memberi peringatan kepada manusia.

Di dalam Kitabullah, Allah tidak cakap bahawa memberi peringatan (iaitu dakwah) kepada manusia hanyalah kerja “uztaz” atau “uztazah”. Saya mencabar awak semua untuk tampil kehadapan dengan dakwaan bahawa dakwah hanyalah untuk mereka yang mempunyai sarjana dalam syariah atau tetakluk hanya kepada cikgu-cikgu agama.

Saya memberi kamu dalil yang teguh di dalam Al-Quran:

Al Mudatththir: 1-5

Wahai orang yang berselimut! Bangunlah serta berilah peringatan dan amaran (kepada umat manusia). Dan Tuhanmu, maka ucaplah dan ingatlah kebesaranNya! Dan pakaianmu, maka hendaklah engkau bersihkan. Dan segala kejahatan, maka hendaklah engkau jauhi.

(Berselimut di sini bukan bermaksud orang yang sedang berselimut, tetapi adalah menjadi satu analogi bahawa orang yang berselimut sedang dibuai mimpi dan berada di dalam ke tidak sedaran dan lalai)

Bismillahirrahmannirrahim

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah.

This is a story about a pearl necklace which I came across a few days ago. It’s a bit lengthy but insya-Allah, the lesson behind is worth the time. Perhpas you’ve come across it in forward emails, but let’s refresh your memories!

Qazi Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Abdul Baqi Ansari is an illustrious personality of Islamic History. He was the most pious person of his time. Even after the lapse of nine centuries, his exemplary life is a source of guidance to Muslims. His biographers tell a number of tales of his honesty and reliability but the one that affected his whole life is full of strange and unique events. He has narrated this story in his own words and it adorns the pages of history books.

“In the middle of the 5th century Hijri, I was a student of the Holy Quran and Hadith in Makkah. During that period, I once became jobless and my means of income came to an end. I managed, somehow, to subsist for a few days but soon it became hard to obtain even two square meals. My studies were discontinued and I had to sell a few of my books to support myself. I was at the edge of starvation but my feelings of self-respect did not allow me to borrow or beg from anybody.

One day, I was hungry, as usual. I went to the Holy Ka’bah to pray to Almighty Allah to save me from my sad plight. On my way back, I saw a velvet cloth pouch lying near the road edge. I picked it up. It was nicely sewn and neatly tied with a silk cord. I looked around to find its owner but the road was deserted and nobody was in sight. I carried the pouch to my house.

I was curious to know the contents of the small bag. As I untied the cord, a very precious necklace of pearls slipped into my hand. The luster of the spotless pearls almost lit my room. The pearls of different sizes were nicely put together in a string of crimson colored silk. It was a radiant beauty and I was thrilled to hold the valuable ornament. For a moment, I altogether forgot the hungry and pitiable state in which I was. My thoughts went to the unfortunate owner who had lost the precious jewelry. He must be unhappy and very worried due to his great loss. The course of action which I instantly decided on was to look for the owner and give him back his necklace to relieve him of this mental suffering. It never came to my mind to keep it wrongfully in my possession. So I set out to search for him. Leaving the bag behind, I went straight to the place were it was found.

RIAK MEMUSNAHKAN PAHALA

Syidad bin Ausi berkata, “Suatu hari saya melihat Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. sedang menangis, lalu saya pun bertanya Baginda s.a.w.: “Ya Rasulullah, mengapa anda menangis?”

Sabda Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.:”Ya Syidad, aku menangis kerana khuatir terhadap umatku akan perbuatan syirik, ketahuilah bahawa mereka itu tidak menyembah berhala tetapi mereka berlaku riak dengan amalan perbuatan mereka.“

Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda lagi, “Para malaikat penjaga akan naik membawa amal perbuatan para hamba dari puasanya, solatnya, dermanya dan sebagainya. Para malaikat itu mempunyai suara seperti suara lebah dan mempunyai sinar matahari dan bersama mereka itu 3,000 malaikat dan mereka membawa ke langit ketujuh.”

Malaikat yang diserahi ke langit berkata kepada para malaikat penjaga, “Berdirilah kamu semua dan pukulkanlah amal perbuatan ini ke muka pemiliknya dan semua anggotanya dan tutuplah hatinya, sungguh saya menghalangi sampainya kepada Tuhan saya setiap amal perbuatan yang tidak dikehendaki untuk Tuhan selain daripada Allah (membuat sesuatu amal bukan kerana Allah s.w.t.).” “

Berlaku riak di kalangan ahli fiqh adalah kerana inginkan ketinggian supaya mereka menjadi sebutan. Di kalangan para ulama pula untuk menjadi popular di kota dan di kalangan umum.

Allah s.w.t. telah memerintahkan agar saya tidak membiarkan amalnya melewati saya akan sampai selain kepada saya.”

Malaikat penjaga membawa amal orang-orang soleh dan kemudian dibawa oleh malaikat di langit sehingga terbuka semua aling-aling dan sampai kepada Allah s.w.t. Mereka berhenti di hariban Allah s.w.t. dan memberikan persaksian terhadap amal orang tersebut yang betul-betul soleh dan ikhlas kerana Allah s.w.t.

Kemudian Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud, “Kamu semua adalah para malaikat Hafazdah (malaikat penjaga) pada amal-amal perbuatan hamba-Ku, sedang Aku-lah yang mengawasi dan mengetahui hatinya, bahawa sesungguhnya dia menghendaki amal ini bukan untuk-Ku, laknat para malaikat dan laknat segala sesuatu di langit.

Ness: Sedih sebab khuatir tidak ada satu pun amalan diterima oleh Allah sepanjang hayatnya sebab hati ada rasa riya’ walaupun hanya sedetik. Wahai Tuhan yang boleh membolak balik hati, tetapkan lah hati kami agar sentiasa beriman kepada Mu.