Niagara Falls

Okay, I've seen enough words already up here (I know you have too!) So now let's give a break to your eyes. These are a few pictures from our recent 3-day khuruj to Niagara Falls. The masjid was just a few minutes away from the falls, so before we left for Rochester our 'amir, Br. Ifan, was kind enough to treat the kids to a chilly nice morning stroll over there. So pictures, it's time you do the rest of the talking.

Uthban, a hafiz in the making

Shish and the Somalis

at breakfast

the falls

the brotherhood

P/s: No matter how different we look, under the kalimah Lailahaillallah Muhammadurrasulullah, we are brothers. May our meeting and parting be solely for the sake of Allah swt..ameen.

seratus

Si cantik manis dah dapat adik! Hanis dah jadi kakak sekarang. Kakak kenalah jaga adik kan. ^^

P/s: Tiba-tiba rasa ingin dikerumuni oleh kanak-kanak. Haha. ^^"

jambatan pulau pinang?

Sebagai manusia, kita tidak boleh lari dari perubahan fasa kehidupan. Dan setiap perubahan fasa ini biasanya datang dengan tanggungjawab dan ekspektasi yang baru untuk dipenuhi. Sebagai contoh, saya mungkin akan meninggalkan fasa seorang pelajar tak lama lagi dan berpindah ke alam pekerjaan (tua dah). Kehidupan kita di detik ini bukanlah semata-mata untuk memikirkan bagaimana untuk menghadapi masa depan. Sebaliknya, detik ini juga perlu dihadapi dan digunakan dengan sebaiknya, kerana mungkin masa depan yang diharapkan itu tidak akan kunjung tiba. Tapi tak dinafikan, saya juga telah siap sedia dengan pelbagai perancangan di minda. Mungkin perkara yang paling menakutkan tentang masa depan adalah ketidakpastian. Tapi dari satu sudut, ketidakpastian inilah yang menambahkan perisa dan rencah kehidupan. Bagi kita umat Islam yang beriman dengan Lailahaillallah, ketidakpastian ini sepatutnya bukanlah satu masalah besar..kerana kita (sepatutnya) meyakini bahawa Allah swt telah menetapkan qada' dan qadar-Nya. Segala yang akan berlaku sudah digariskan di Lauh Mahfuz 50,000 tahun sebelum alam tercipta. Betapa telitinya ketetapan Allah swt sehinggakan tahap kepandaian atau ketidakpandaian seseorang pun telah dituliskan. Oleh itu, apa sahaja yang bakal dihadapi kelak, baik atau buruk, diyakini akan ada hikmahnya dengan syarat usaha yang terbaik dari si hamba telah dipersembahkan. Mungkin kita (saya) memahami perkara ini, tetapi untuk meyakini bahawa rezeki, jodoh telah ditetapkan bukanlah mudah.

Bak kata seseorang;

"Bila bercakap soal jodoh, ramai memilih untuk berusaha keras mencari walaupun sedar hakikat jodoh sudah ditentukan. Tapi bila bercakap soal hidayah, ramai pula memilih untuk menunggu biarpun sedar hidayah itu perlu dicari, bukannya jatuh ke riba."

Kebanyakan yang kita (saya) risaukan dan kejarkan di dunia ini sekarang adalah merupakan perkara-perkara yang telah pun ditetapkan oleh Allah swt. Satu perkara yang tidak ditetapkan tetapi jarang-jarang dirisau dan dikejarkan: hidayah. Hidayah itu bukan cuma untuk orang yang belum beriman. Orang yang (kononnya) sudah beriman juga perlukan hidayah, bahkan mungkin lebih lagi. Hidayah yang dimaksudkan adalah hidayah untuk memperbetul dan memperbaiki iman. Kerana takut-takut iman yang kita miliki sekarang ini tidak mengikut piawaian yang ditetapkan oleh Allah swt. Maka alangkah ruginya jika 'amalan yang menggunung tinggi (kalau ada lah) itu nanti ditolak kerana iman yang rosak. Na'uzubillah. Perjalanan kita masih panjang, bukan di sini, tapi selepas "di sini." Barzakh, Mahsyar, Sirat, Mizan adalah merupakan fasa-fasa yang kita akan tempuhi, dan fasa-fasa ini bukanlah pendek seperti fasa yang kita lalui di sini. Barzakh bukanlah seperti tidur di malam hari menunggu hari esok. Mahsyar bukanlah seperti berbaris menunggu nombor giliran di hospital. Sirat bukanlah seperti melintasi jambatan Pulau Pinang sambil menikmati pemandangan, dan Mizan bukanlah seperti menghadapi debaran keputusan SPM. Justeru itu, saya menyeru diri sendiri dan sahabat2 sekalian untuk memanjangkan perancangan yang kita usahakan, daripada 20-30 tahun akan datang kepada 500 tahun akan datang. Bagaimanakah keadaan kita ketika itu ditentukan dengan perancangan hari ini. Wallahua'lam.

P/s: Wah..rasa macam sebuah pencapaian menulis dalam Bahasa Ibunda. ^^

paranoia

I. killed. an. innocent. soul. today. It. was. awful. I don't want to have to do it again. I kept imagining that it will come and get me for what I did to it. -__-"

I'm sorry, little mouse.

who next?

To all the mothers and FUTURE mothers out there. =)

Let's sing along!

Who should I give my love to?

My respect and my honor to

Who should I pay good mind to?

After Allah

And Rasulullah

Comes your mother

Who next? Your mother

Who next? Your mother

And then your father

Cause who used to hold you

And clean you and clothes you

Who used to feed you?

And always be with you

When you were sick

Stay up all night

Holding you tight

That's right no other

Your mother (My mother)

Who should I take good care of?

Giving all my love

Who should I think the most of?

After Allah

And Rasulullah

Comes your mother

Who next? Your mother

Who next? Your mother

And then your father

Cause who used to hear you

Before you could talk

Who used to hold you?

Before you could walk

And when you fell who picked you up

Clean your cut

No one but your mother

My mother

Who should I stay right close to?

Listen most to

Never say no to

After Allah

And Rasulullah

Comes your mother

Who next? Your mother

Who next? Your mother

And then your father

Cause who used to hug you

And buy you new clothes

comb your hair

And blow your nose

And when you cry

Who wiped your tears?

Knows your fears

Who really cares?

My mother

Say Alhamdulillah

Thank you Allah

Thank you Allah

For my mother.

P/s: Now I miss my mom.

not a bedtime story

I remember reading an article in USA Today about how people in the US are preparing for the doomsday, aka the apocalypse. In a way, I'm really impressed by how determined some of them to prepare for the destruction to come, despite their confused understanding of what the doomsday really is. The kinds of preparation made include building up so-called anti-apocalypse underground bunkers for protection, storing up food supplies in one place in the hope to kind of "outlast" the catastrophic period, and brushing up on basic survival skills to increase chances of surviving. As much worry has this issue sparked in some of the groups, there are also others who just couldn't care less about it. I don't know exactly what they have in mind for being so "calm." Either they have given up altogether, realizing there's nothing significant they could do against it, or they have taken up the idea that we should enjoy the remaining bits of our life and forget about the negative thoughts. As great an effort they are making to preserve their survival on the face of the Earth, these people are missing the critical point that even the Earth won't survive the doomsday. In essence, the doomsday does not begin when the Earth is broken in half, or when the world's natural resources are completely depleted, or when the tyrant rulers wiped out an entire nation. Step back a little: Our very own doomsday begins when we die.

As for us Muslims, we believe that it's not the doomsday that we're preparing for, but it's actually what will happen afterwards that we should be concerned about. Perhaps one thing that we share in common with the non-Muslims is the belief that the last day will surely come and we've got to prepare for it somehow. But for us Muslims this 'somehow' has been clearly interpreted and clarified. How fortunate we are, not only have we been foretold about the imminent and inevitable coming of this day, but we've also been taught how exactly we should prepare for it in detail. Look around you at those non-Muslims. They are great people who live by high moral standards. They are very receptive, helpful, and friendly. Look how good their manners and characters are. How many humanitarian missions are led by the non-Muslims? Countless. They believe that as long as they utilize their life doing good, they'll end up good. But this is where Iman comes into play; A non-believer may give a mountain of gold in charity but will not receive anything in reward. But a believer may give a small date in charity and may receive a mountain of reward. Sometimes, when I think of it, it makes me feel very grateful for being a Muslim..and at the same time I feel sorry for them for being deprived of the truth. Those who live among the non-Muslims, you should be able to relate to this. Don't we feel sorry for them? So who will reach out to them and tell them the truth?

P/s: A white American accepted Islam at ICR just recently, and this brother's been coming to the masjid every single day to learn. Every time I peek a glance at him, I can see a noor of contentment on his face; the contentment of finally knowing the truth. =)

lowering the gaze

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Jawaab al-Kaafi (125): There are a number of benefits in lowering the gaze:

It is obedience to the command of Allaah, which brings happiness to man in this world and in the next. There is nothing more beneficial to a person in this world and in the next than obeying the commands of his Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, and those who are happy in this world and the next can only attain that happiness by obeying His commands, and those who are doomed in this world and in the next are only doomed because they ignore His commands.

It prevents the poisoned arrows (of the shaytaan), which may lead to his doom, from reaching his heart.

It creates a heart that is devoted to and focused on Allaah. Letting the gaze wander distracts the heart and keeps it far from Allaah. There is nothing more harmful to a person than letting his gaze wander, as it creates alienation between a person and his Lord.

It strengthens the heart and brings it peace, just as letting the gaze wander weakens it and makes it sad.

It brings light to the heart, just as letting the gaze wander brings darkness to it. Hence Allaah mentioned the verse of light immediately after the command to lower the gaze, as He says which translates as;

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts…” [al-Noor 24:30]

Then straight after that He says which translates as;

“Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp” [al-Noor 24:35]

i.e., the likeness of His light in the heart of His believing slave who obeys His commands and heeds His prohibitions. If the heart is enlightened blessings will come to it from all sides, but if it is darkened, calamity and evil will come to it from all places. Whatever exists of innovation, misguidance, following whims and desires, avoiding true guidance and turning away from the means of happiness and focusing on the means that lead to doom, that will be recognizable by means of the light that is in the heart. If that light is lost then one will left like a blind man stumbling in the darkness.

It generates true insight which can distinguish between truth and falsehood, sincerity and lies. Allaah rewards His slave for his good deeds with something similar and if he gives up something for the sake of Allaah, He will compensate him with something better than it. So if he lowers his gaze and refrains from looking at things that Allaah has forbidden, Allaah will compensate him with enlightenment; he will compensate him for restraining his gaze for the sake of Allaah, and will open to him the doors of knowledge, faith and true insight which he only attained by means of the light in his heart. The opposite of that is the blindness which Allaah attributed to the homosexuals, which is the opposite of insight. Allaah says which translates as;

“Verily, by your life (O Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly” [al-Hijr 15:72]

It creates a heart that is steadfast, brave and strong. Allaah will give him both insight and power and strength, as it says in the report: “The one who goes against his whims and desires, the shaytaan flees from his shadow.”

On the other hand, the one who follows his whims and desires will feel a sense of humiliation, indignity, worthlessness and insignificance, which is the punishment which Allaah has decreed for those who disobey Him as al-Hasan said: “Even if they ride the finest of mounts, the effect of sin will never depart from them. Allaah insists that the one who disobeys Him will be humiliated.”

Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, has connected strength to obedience to Him, and humiliation to disobedience to Him. Allaah says which translates as;

“But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and to the believers” [al-Munaafiqoon 63:8]

“So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:139].

Faith is both words and deeds, inward and outward. Allaah says which translates as;

“Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good deeds)” [Faatir 35:10]

It blocks the shaytaan from a means of entering his heart, for he may enter with looking, and penetrate the heart faster than the wind blowing through an empty space, and he may present to him the image that he looked at and make it attractive, like an idol to which his heart becomes devoted, then he encourages him and gives him hopes, and fans the flames of desire in his heart, adding the fuel of sin which could not have reached his heart without looking at that image. So his heart becomes inflamed and surrounded with fire on all sides, resulting in infatuation and frustration, and he is in the midst of it like a lamb in the oven. Hence the punishment for those whose desires were fuelled by haraam looking is that in al-Barzakh they are placed in an oven of fire.

It distracts one from thinking of what is in one’s best interests, so his affairs become neglected and he follows his whims and desires and neglects to remember his Lord. Allaah says which translates as;

“and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affair (deeds) has been lost” [al-Kahf 18:28]

Between the eyes and the heart there is a connection which means that the one is affected by the other, and if one of them becomes good, the other will also become good, and if one becomes corrupt the other will become corrupt. If the heart becomes corrupt the gaze will become corrupt, and if the gaze become corrupt the heart will become corrupt, and similarly if one is sound the other will also be sound.

And Allaah knows best.

Source: Islamqa.info

P/s: I know it's hard people, but we should at least try. Lets present our effort and may He guide us through.

not yet

...so I let the guest in. As any other host would have felt, I enjoyed the company of this guest, a lot. I tried my best to meet the expectations of a good host. But it turned out that my house wasn't ready after all. The guest helped out much with the cleaning though..and I was left with a smile. The door has been sealed again, for now. I guess it's time for me to get back to cleaning and mopping again..and perhaps some furnishing and decorating too this time. And hopefully I will not have to open the door again until I'm actually finished working.

I believe this is Him taking care of our hearts. ^^