Challenges

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

It has been 4 months that I don't update this blog. Suddenly, I miss my blog and I want to write something here. Hello everyone. Hopefully, I'm not that late to wish you HAPPY NEW YEAR. How was this first two weeks? Was it nice?

I'm sure that there are a lot of stories happened in this two weeks.

Okay, talking about New Year, I think there are plenty of people who don't really have their new year's resolutions. Same goes to me. However, for this year, I set a resolution, only ONE resolution that I want to change within myself.

I think, by having a resolution, it will be more helpful since we know what are we going to achieve by the end of this year. Actually, I was thinking to have a resolution because this year, I'm getting older. Ya, I'm 20 years old this year T_T So, I think I have had enough of having fun, I need to be more focus because I want to be somebody someday. Insha Allah.

Talking about new year and new resolutions, I'm sure that they come with new challenges that we need to encounter throughout this year in order to achieve our aim. So, I would like to remind myself and you that all these challenges are not going to be beyond our capabilities as stated in Al-Quran. Allah says:

 Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."

(Surah Al-Baqarah : 286)

My friend share this ayah during our liqa'. She explained what Allah says in this verse. 

First, Allah start with "Allah does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity."

This means that Allah assures us that HE will never put us in a situation that we can't handle. NEVER. It is His promises. This ayah also give the strength and spirit to us especially when facing trouble because we know that Allah knows better when He decided to put us in that particular situation.  Reflecting to this, I learnt that we can never compare our challenges with others. Others' challenges might seem insignificant to us but only Allah knows how they feel. We, as a human, can never underestimate the other people's challenges because Allah has prepared different challenges for different people within our capability. 

Next, Allah says, "It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned."

This means that our challenges can make us stronger or weaker. The choice is in our hand. Allah will reward us with unlimited blessings if we choose to be stronger and encounter the challenges with an open heart. However, if we choose to blame the fate (indirectly we blame Allah for our shortcomings), then we have failed the test and we get what we give. In fact, when we face Allah someday, we are going to be asked about our own deeds. We are responsible in everything that we did in this life. We have our own kitab amalan and our abdomens will give their witnesses. 

Then, Allah teaches us a supplication that we must practice in our daily life since we will not escape from being tested everyday, "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred."

Allah teaches us this supplication, so that, when we can get the courage from Allah since the test is from Allah either to test our faith and prove our imaan. Allah teaches us to pray that He won't impose blame on us if we have forgotten or erred because Allah knows humans always forget and make mistakes due to the ignorance and forgetfulness. This also states that a mukmin will not purposely commit sins when he/she is conscious about the sinful act.  

"Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us." Allah also teaches us to pray that He does not burden us like which He laid upon those before us. It means that as a weak servant, we need His love and blessings to get through our difficulties. It also shows the ultimate worship to Allah in which we do not want to be at the bad state like our old ancestors which do shirk to Allah. We, as a  servant can never rely on other creatures, instead, we can only rely on Him. 

Next,  "And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us". This shows the guarantee to pass the test. We, as a human have a limited capability eventhough we have put the maximum efforts on it. One of Allah's blessings is that he forgives us and have mercy upon us. That is the greatest blessing ever.

Last but not least, "You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." This is the summary of this surah, aqeedah, and tasawwur's view, perception, and thought of the mukmin and it portrays the mukmin's condition in which they're always with God, The Almighty

Alhamdulillah, 

To sum up my entry today is that, as a human, challenges are inevitable in our daily life. However, the challenges are the things that makes us now and in the future. Imagine a life without challenges, it would be dull and boring. It's like we're watching a movie that the main character doesn't encounter any challenges in order to achieve his goal. It is going to be boring and it definitely doesn't make him a hero anyway.

So, people. We are the main characters in our own films. We're the heroes. Let's face the challenges with an open heart. May Allah bless us always. Amiin :)

References:

1. Tafsir fi Zilal, Syed Qutb, Tafsir Surah Al-Baqarah : 286

2. Reflection from my friend

Kerana Setiap Orang Punya Kisah Tersendiri

Assalamualaikum.

Dunia sememangnya menjadi pentas ujian bagi manusia untuk diuji sejauhmana tahap keimanan dan ketaqwaan mereka. Supaya nanti dapat dipilih siapa yang berjaya kembali ke kampung asal kita, syurga.

Kasihnya Allah, Dia ciptakan manusia dengan pelbagai kelengkapan bagi memudahkan kehidupan. Malah, segala gala yang ada di atas dunia seperti haiwan, tumbuhan, tanah dan sebagainya adalah untuk manusia sendiri. Namun, sayang seribu kali sayang, tak banyak yang menghargai nikmat Allah dan menjadi makhluk lupa diri dan paling banyak membantah.

Dia telah menciptakan manusia dari mani, ternyata dia menjadi pembantah yang nyata.

Dan hewan ternak telah diciptakan-Nya, untuk kamu padanya ada ( bulu ) yang menghangatkan dan berbagai manfaat, dan sebagiannya kamu makan. Dan kamu memperoleh keindahan padanya, ketika kamu melepaskannya ( ke tempat pengembalaan ). Dan ia mengangkut beban-bebanmu ke suatu negeri yang kamu tidak sanggup mencapainya, kecuali dengan susah payah. Sungguh, Tuhan Maha Pengasih, Maha Penyayang,

(Surah An-Nahl : 4-7)

Dalam hidup juga, Allah mencipta kebahagiaan dan kedukaan. Semua itu sebenarnya adalah sebagai pelengkap kehidupan. Hidup tanpa rasa sakit sangat tidak realistik. Seolah robot yang tiada perasaan. Pasti bosan dengan hidup yang statik begitu. Lalu, Allah yang Maha Mengetahui memberi ujian kepada manusia mengikut kemampuan masing-masing. Tidak sedikit pun Dia zalimi. Ujian itu juga adalah hadiah daripada Allah. Tanda Allah perasan akan kehadiran kita. Tanda Allah rindu dengan doa kita.

credit : google

Bila berbicara soal hidup, memang tidak akan pernah habis. Setiap dari kita ada cerita tersendiri yang mungkin tidak pernah dikongsi dengan semua orang. Namun, satu perkara yang sangat mengharukan bilamana ada yang sudi berkongsi cerita. Banyak sangat perkara yang dapat kita muhasabah apabila kita tahu tentang hidup seseorang. 

Benarlah ada yang yang mengatakan,

"Don't judge people, you never know what kind of battle they're fighting"

credit : google

Perkongsian bersama adik-adik dalam satu halaqah baru-baru ini memang sangat membuka mata saya. Betapa setiap manusia ada kisah sendiri. Dan bila kita duduk bersama orang lain, kita sedar bahawa ujian yang kita lalui tidak sesukar mana.

Apa yang dapat saya reflek terhadap diri ialah siapalah kita, makhluk hina lagi jahil yang hendak hukum orang lain? Sedangkan kita tidak pernah tahu apa yang menyebabkan dia menjadi dia sekarang. Kerana itulah Islam, agama yang sungguh indah sangat menekankan tentang akhlak dan hubungan dengan manusia. 

Dan setiap orang pula dianjurkan untuk saling mengenali (taaruf), memahami (tafahum) dan membantu (takaful). - 3 rukun usrah

Semoga Allah merahmati adik-adik saya dan memberikan yang terbaik untuk mereka.

Semoga Allah meringankan beban dalam setiap jiwa-jiwa kita.

Semoga setiap ujian yang kita lalui bukanlah menjauhkan tetapi mendekatkan kita kepada Sang Pencinta.

Kerana seorang mukmin itu ialah seorang yang ajaib!

 “Sungguh mengagumkan urusan seorang mukmin, setiap urusan mukmin adalah baik baginya, hal itu tidak dimiliki oleh siapapun, kecuali oleh seorang mukmin. Apabila mendapat kesenangan dia bersyukur, dan itu baik untuknya. Apabila mendapat kesusahan dia bersabar, dan itu baik untuknya” (Riwayat Muslim).

Blessed Guest : Ramadhan and Al-Quran

Assalamualaikum.

source: karangkraf

So, just now I listened to Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan's talk and I feel that I should share this with people.

We are getting near to Ramadhan and I guess everyone must be excited. :D

Bismillah.

First of all, Allah introduces Ramadhan as the month of which Al-Quran was revealed. Only then, Allah ordered the people to fast. How incredible is that when Allah started the verse by telling people that Ramadhan is the month where the Al - Quran was revealed. It shows that Ramadhan and Al-Quran are inseparable. 

Surah Al-Baqarah: 185,

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful."

Subhanallah!

Then, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan continued his lectures with Tafseer of Surah Al-Jumuah but he only focused on the first two verses. 

The first verse starts with:

''Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting (tasbeeh) Allah, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

1. Everything around us is doing tasbeeh, so they remind all us of Allah. If everything can do tasbeeh, why not us. Right?

2. Allah emphasizes on his attributes. Allah tells us that HE is 

i. The King (The Sovereign)

ii. The Ultimately Pure and Purifier (The Pure)

iii. The One Who is Respected and has Authority (The Exalted in Might)

iv. The Wise

Then, in the next verse, Allah says

"It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error-"

1. Allah gives honor to someone who is "Ummiyin" (someone who does not even know how to read and write.) So, what can we learn here is that EVERYONE deserve RESPECT and do not underestimate people.

2. The Messenger is among them. So, for sure they know how Prophet talks and communicates. When the Prophet recites the Quran, the people know that it is NOT from him. It is from another source.

Let's just relate it to our lives. We know our parents and siblings very well. We know how they communicate and talk. One day, our sibling recites poem from Shakespeare, we definitely know it isn't her words right? Same goes to the Prophet. Everyone knows that it is NOT his words. It's from Allah.

3. Let's see what the Prophet did.

i. Recite to them His verses

ii. Purify them

iii. Teaching them the Book

iv. Teaching them wisdom

Ok, now relate this to the first verse. What are the attributes of Allah?

i. The King

ii. The Ultimately Pure and Purifier

iii. The One Who is Respected and has Authority

iv. The Wise

Err, can you see the relation?

Ok, let me tell you.

i. Allah is the King, so what the Prophet does? Recite to them His Book. A King is known by his signs. So, the ultimate sign of Allah's existence is His Book. 

ii. Allah is the Ultimately Pure and Purifier and what Prophet does is purifying them. 

iii. Allah is The One who is Respected and Has Authority. So, the Prophet teaches them the Book which contains the law and constitutions from Allah. So, it shows that Allah has the authority and should be respected.

iv. Allah is the Wise and the Prophet teaches the people wisdom.

2 parts of purifications:

i. mind

ii. heart

How beautiful Islam is when Allah balances these two aspects of human as for Christianity, it focuses on the spiritual (heart) and Jews focuses on intellectual (mind). 

Subhanallah. I'm amazed with Al-Quran. Two miracle verses of Al-Quran. Ya Allah, Al-Quran is the greatest gift of Allah to us. Do not ever take it for granted. 

In the verse 2 of this Surah, Allah gives the formula to accomplish the Prophet's mission. Masha Allah. We have to believe in this formula because the condition of the Quraisy before Rasulullah is sent down was in clear error, but Allah elevates them by sending the Prophet who recites to them His verses and purifies them and teaches them the Book and the wisdom. Subhanallah. 

If this formula is proven effective before, then it is possible that this formula will work successfully if and only if each and everyone of us gives an effort to make it becomes reality. I totally believe in this formula.

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Addition from the talk. 

1. Everyone has their level of understanding. Do not expect people to understand everything. It's a process. It doesn't mean that when a person is a muslim, he/she must know everything. It's WE, who have to approach them and share this gift to them.

2. The Book (Al-Quran) is very beautiful, but sometimes we present it in a very ugly way. That's why some people see Ad-Deen as something that scares them, not something beautiful.

3. Ramadhan is around the corner. Let's start all over again! Set an intention that I WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT AL-QURAN. Insha Allah.