Majlis Syura Muslimun (MSM) North West

Jangan Pernah Berhenti

msmnorthwest — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:22:01 +0000

Maka kepadamu ansarAllah,

Andai kadangkala dalam perjalananmu,

Debu-debu jahiliyah mengaburi pandanganmu,

Sapulah dari matamu,

Dengan lembaran-lembaran suci Tuhanmu,

Dan teruskanlah perjalanan

Jangan pernah berhenti..

Andai kakimu sakit,

Tubuhmu longlai kepenatan,

Berteduh lah bersama saudaramu di persembunyianmu

Bersama tentera-tentera lain yang bergerak senyap

Lalu bertahmid dan berzikirlah bersama-sama,

Bantulah sesama kamu,

Untuk kembali bertenaga,

Kemudian bangunlah dan teruskan perjalananmu

Jangan pernah berhenti..

Seandainya dalam perjalanan yang jauh dan sukar itu,

Kalian digempur musuh

Dibenci dan disakiti

Katakanlah

“sodaq Allahu wa rasuluh”

Inilah jalan yang benar,

Kerana itu kamu merasa sukar

Maka lepaskan lah dirimu sedaya upaya

Dari cengkaman musuhmu yg nyata

Dan teruskan perjalananmu

Jangan pernah berhenti..

Allah menjual syurga kepada kita,

Dengan harga yang mahal,

Kebahagiaan dunia,

Kemewahan harta,

Kepentingan sendiri dan keluarga,

Kecintaan pada manusia,

Bayarlah dengan harga yang kau mampu..

Kelak syurga pasti milikmu..

Asalkan..bergeraklah kamu..

Jangan pernah berhenti..

sumber: sini

Open your ‘Lens’

msmnorthwest — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:56:39 +0000

O Allah,

take us in the best way,

guide us every single day,

keep us close to You,

until the end of time

credits: Sis Deyna Rashid

Eid Mubarak

msmnorthwest — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:55:53 +0000

Eid Mubarak to all from MSM Northwest

Taqabbalallhu minna wa minkum

Lets not forget our brothers and sisters in Palestine, shall we? Whisper some duaas in our nightly prayers.

And last but not least, lets ponder upon the story of Prophet Ibrahim a.s. and the real meaning of sacrifice:

Brothers and Sisters, all of us know the story of Ibrahim’s sacrifice and we say that it was a test by Allah (ta’ala). But do we really understand what Ibrahim went through? Do we appreciate what it was like to be Ibrahim? Can we grasp in thought what happened? Why is it that we regard Ibrahim as the father of faith? What was it that he achieved?

Ibrahim (saw) is distinguished in the Quran with the title of khalil-ul-Allah (the intimate friend of Allah). In surat an-Nisa, Allah says : “For Allah did take Ibrahim for (an intimate) friend ” (4:125)

He is also described in surat an-Nahl as a model : “Ibrahim was indeed a model. Devoutly obedient to Allah, and true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah ” (16:20).

Ibrahim was born among the star- and idol-worshipping people of Chaldea, in the home of Azar, his father, the idol-maker of the tribe. Ibrahim was among the kuffar, but not of them, like a spring of tawheed (monotheism) arising out of the swamp of shirk (polytheism). The Quran tells us in surat al-An`aam : ” Lo! Ibrahim said to his father Azar : Do you take idols for God? For I see you and your people in manifest error? ” (6:74).

From the revolt in the house of Azar, his father, Ibrahim went on to challenge the polytheism of his people. Indeed Ibrahim is know as history’s great idol- smasher, as the founder of monotheism and the crusher of ignorance.
There are numerous verses in the Quran which describe how Ibrahim argued against idol-worshippers, his rational arguments against sceptics and those who worshipped celestial bodies, how he deals with unbelievers, how he preaches to his people. For instance, in surat al-Baqara Allah says : “Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because God granted him power? Abraham said : ` My Lord is He who giveth life and death.’ He said : `I give life and death.’ Said Abraham : `But it is God that causeth the sun to rise from the East : Do then cause it to rise from the West.’ Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected Faith. Nor doth God give guidance to a people unjust.” (2:258)

In another example in surat al-Anbiya : We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his rectitude of conduct, and well were We acquainted with him. Behold! he said to his father and his people, `What are these images to which ye are (so assiduously) devoted?’ They said, `We found our fathers worshipping them.’ He said, ‘Indeed ye have been in manifest error — ye and your fathers.’ They said, ‘Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who jest?’ He said, `Nay, your Lord is the Lord of heavens and the earth, He who created them (from nothing) : I am a witness to this (truth). And by God, I have a plan for your idols — after ye go away and turn your backs.’ So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn (and address themselves) to it. They said, `Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety! ‘ They said, `We heard a youth talk of them : he is called Abraham.’ They said, `Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may bear witness.’ They said, `Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Abraham?’ He said, `Nay, this was done by — This is their biggest one! Ask them, if they speak intelligently!’ So they turned to themselves and said, ` Surely ye are the ones in the wrong!’ Then were they confounded with shame: (they said) `Thou knowest full well that these idols do not speak!’ (Abraham) said, Do ye then worship, besides God, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? Fie upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides God! Have ye no sense?’ They said, `Burn him and protect your gods, if ye do (anything at all)!’ (21:51-68)

As usual, when falsehood is defeated on intellectual grounds it resorts to plotting and oppression. The response of his people to his da`wa is given in surat al-Ankabut : “So naught was the answer of (Ibrahim’s) people except that they said : Slay him or burn him ” (29:24) Ibrahim could have given up his message and his beliefs to save himself from the fire of Nimrod. Nut he chose martyrdom. He chose to die for Allah’s message to live. He chose to step into the fire of ignorance and tyranny in order to save humanity from the fire of ignorance and tyranny. So he was cast into the fire.
But Allah had a different plan for Ibrahim and he was unhurt by the grace of Allah (ta’ala) : “But Allah did save him from the fire. Verily in this are signs for people who believe ” (29:24). Allah also says : “We said `O fire! Be cool and a means of safety for Ibrahim’ ” (21:69). his miracle did not refrain the idol-worshippers from continuing for very long years their plots, persecution, abuse, cruelty and isolation against Ibrahim but he remained uncompromising, unshakeable in his beliefs, patient in his suffering, gentle in his manners until he made his hijra (he migrated) to the lands of Aram nad Canaan.

He left the land of his fathers to become a stranger in the land of promise.

Brothers and Sisters, it was indeed a land of promise. A land where Ibrahim continued a lifetime of struggle, da`wa, movement, bearing alone the heavy responsibility of the mission of Tawheed (monotheism) in an age of darkness, oppression, prejudice and ignorance. Ibrahim did not have children. And through- out his century of prophethood and service of God, as Ibrahim grew older, his desire to have a son grew stronger. The Prophet Ibrahim desperately longed for a son but his wife Hajar was barren.

“O my Lord! Grant me a righteous son!” (37:100) was his call to Allah.

Against every expectation, Allah fullfilled his promise of making Ibrahim the seed of a great line of Prophets, the root of the great universal religions. “So we gave him the good news of a forbearing boy” (37:101).

Allah brought mercy to the agedness, loneliness, hopelessness and anguish of his trustworthy Messenger. For Ibrahim, Ismail was not just a son for a sonless father, he was the end of a life of waiting, the reward of a century of suffering, the fruit of his life, the hope after despair and the young boy of an old father.

Ismael being the promise of future generations was in some sense the whole world for Ibrahim.
So there was joy and rejoicing in Ibrahim’s house as Ismail was quickly growing under the sun of his father’s love.
But Allah decided that it was not to remain so.

Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim was to be tried once more. Ibrahim had a vision in which he was commanded by Allah to slaughter his only son.

Brothers and Sisters, why should Ibrahim, whose entire life was devoted to prophethood, to Jihaad, to removing ignorance, to laying the foundations of tawheed be tried once again?

Is it because man should not rest?
Is it because man should not be deceived by 100 years of Jihad and victories?
Is it because he should not think of himself without weakness?
Is it for the fact that whatever we fix our eyes upon in this world will blind us?
And finally, is it because the higher the spiritual height we reach, the greater is the danger of falling?

Brothers and Sisters, it is not possible to convey in words what it must have meant for Ibrahim to be commanded by Allah (ta’ala) to sacrifice his only son Ismail. The magnitude of the pain does not allow the imagination to enclose it. It inspires fear and trembling. How can Ibrahim take his beloved son, the fruit of his life, the joy of his heart, the meaning of his living and staying, his Ismail, and hold him on the ground, put a knife to his throat and kill him? If it were only the slaughter of Ibrahim at the hand of Ismail, how easy! But no! The young Ismail must die and the old and aged Ibrahim must remain! Ibrahim, the steel-like idol-smasher must have felt torn apart! Within him, there must have been a war, the greatest jihad. Which war? The war between God and Ismail! The difficulty of choice!

Who should Ibrahim choose?
Love of God or Love of self?
Prophethood or Fatherhood?
Loyalty to God or loyalty to family?
Faith or Emotion?
Truth or Reality?
Consciousness or Instinct?
Responsibility or Pleasure?
Duty or Right?
Tawheed (Monotheism) or Shirk (Polytheism)?
Advancing or Remaining?
To Become or To Be?
And finally, God or Ismail?
What should Ibrahim choose?

Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim did not choose immediately. He doubted and wavered under the crushing force of pain and anguish. Only after the third vision did he finally decide to carry out Allah’s command. This is reflected in the hajj ritual of stoning the three idols representing Iblis who tempted Ibrahim to disobey Allah. When a `truth’ enhances one’s earthly life, most people become seekers of truth. But when a truth opposes life and leads to problems, loss and dangers the seekers of truth are few in number. Iblis works wherever he finds traces of fear, weakness, doubt, despair, envy selfishness and even great affection towards someone or something. Iblis sometimes blows logical reasons, intellectual and religious justifications to achieve his ends.

For instance we may imagine that, under the powerful crush of his pain and distress, Ibrahim could have used many justifications. Perhaps the meaning of dhebh (slaughter) is just metaphorical and means kill your `ego’. Perhaps `Ismail’ might be a general noun and not Ibrahim’s son. Perhaps “slaughter Ismail” actually means “slaughter the love of Ismail”. Ibrahim could have also tried many interpretations of his vision.

But Ibrahim, khalil-ul-Allah, the intimate friend of God, had faith in Allah and he knew that Allah (ta’ala) demanded the sacrifice. Abraham’s conscience would make a mockery of all these logical justifications and reasons.
Ibrahim chose the Love of God over the Love of self, Prophethood over Fatherhood, Loyalty to God over Loyalty to family, Truth over Reality, Consciousness over Instinct, Responsibility over Pleasure, Duty over Right, Tawheed over Shirk. He preferred Advancing to Remaining. Ibrahim chose God and gave up Ismail.

Brothers and Sisters, in Mina, an amazing and frightening conversation between a father and a son took place.
Ibrahim said to Ismail : “O my Son, I see in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice. Now see what is your view? ” (37:102)
What frightening words for a child to hear!
Ismail could have kept silent. He could have asked Ibrahim to refrain.
But Ismail had also faith. He submitted to Allah’s will. Realising his father’s distress, Ismail gave him these comforting words : “O my father! Do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah so wills, patient and constant ” (37:102)

Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar!

Ibrahim had consulted his son who willingly offered himself to Allah’s command. The choice of Ibrahim was sacrifice. That of Ismail was self-sacrifice : Martyrdom.

This gave Ibrahim strength. Ibrahim tied his heart to God, he took the Ismail of his life in one hand and the knife of his faith in the other and he walked until he reached the place of sacrifice. Ibrahim was suffering while believing and at every moment it was possible for him to retract and turn back. Yet he layed Ismail on the ground, putting his face away from him to give strength to his crushed soul and paralysed hand. And so he slaughtered Ismail. But, by Allah’s grace, the knife did not cut. Ibrahim received a sheep and was called by Allah : ”O Ibrahim! You have confirmed the Vision Thus indeed do We reward those who do right This is indeed the manifest trial!” (37:104-105)

Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar!

Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim gained everything and kept Ismail. This means that the God of Ibrahim is not thirsty for blood like the Inca gods or Hindu godesses were thirsty of blood. It is the people, the servants of God who are hungry, and hungry of sheep meat. And, symbolically, the only blood shed in this story is the blood of Iblis.

Brothers and Sisters, this means that from the very beginning God did not want Ismail to be slaughtered. He wanted Ibrahim to be the slaughterer of Ismail. When he became so, the slaughter became useless. God, from the beginning, wanted Ismail to be the slaughter of God. And when it happened, his sacrifice became useless. Mankind has needs but God has no needs. He is Self-Sufficient. Allah (ta`ala) in His Wisdom raised Ibrahim to the highest peak of sacrificing his Ismail without sacrificing Ismail. Allah (ta`ala) promoted Ismail to the highest peak of being the great sacrifice of God without bringing any harm to him.

This event is not about the torment and torture of mankind but about the perfection of humanity, the freedom from the prison of instinct and selfishness and about the elevation of spirit. This momentous event also teaches us, through Ibrahim, that human life, Ismail’s, Ibrahim’s, everyone’s, acquires its meaning and value from God — The Source of Creation — and not from nature. It signifies that the good things in life, represented by Ismail, derive their value not from the mere fact that they exist and can be valued, enjoyed and delighted in, but from God, The Source of Creation Himself. Ibrahim was, in some sense, giving back Ismail to receive him again on the proper basis.

Brothers and Sisters, different people organise differently their loyalty to God, to the family and to the nation or the state. A secular mind owes and absolute duty to the nation (and the family) whereas a religious conscience owes absolute duty to God. For a secular mind Ibrahim was willing to MURDER Ismail but for a religious conscience he was willing to SACRIFICE Ismail. Ibrahim therefore instructs that we should owe absolute duty only to God and it is our relationship to God which ought to transcend and determine out relation to family/nation and not vice-versa.
Brothers and Sisters, there still is a lot to understand and discover about this momentus event. These are only a few possible meanings. Only a few, and just possible, because as Ibrahim taught us to be less complacent and more critical about having attained faith, we should be less complacent and more critical about having attained understanding.

Brothers and Sisters, the Ismail of Ibrahim was his son. But you, who is your Ismail? what is it?
Your degree? Your reputation? Your position? Your money? Your home? Your car? Your beloved? Your family? Your knowledge? Your title? Your dress? Your fame? Your soul? Your spirituality? Your Beauty? Your strength? Your career? How does one know?

Well, you know this yourself. One can only give its signs to you.
Whatever is in your eyes which holds the place of Ismail in the eyes of Ibrahim!
Whatever weakens you on the way of faith!
Whatever stops you in your movement!
Whatever brings doubt to your responsibility!
Whatever has enchained your freedom!
Whatever leads you to compromise and justification!
That very thing which deafens your ears before the Message of Truth!
Whatever calls you to remain with yourself!
Whatever causes you to flee from your duty!
Whoever or Whatever keeps you behind in order to remain with her/him or it !

Brothers and Sisters, these are the signs of our Ismail’s. Let us search for them in ourselves and let us slaughter them to move towards Allah (ta’ala) and to remove the real knife from the throat of oppressed Muslims from Bosnia to Kashmir, from somalia to Palestine.

Brothers and Sisters, let us revolt against the heartless worshippers that we have become.
Remember our Eid is not a Eid of victory. It is the Eid of sacrifice (adha).

source

Dzulhijjah

msmnorthwest — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:59:25 +0000

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said,“Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing.” (Al-Bukhari)

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah have been singled out especially for great merits and excellences like no other days in the Islamic calendar. Allah in His infinite wisdom and mercy has chosen to dispense infinite spiritual blessing and rewards. Thanks to the high status these days enjoy, Allah has made them worthy of making an oath by them, when He says (By the Daybreak, by the Ten Nights) (Al-Fajr 89:1–2). According to some Qur’an commentators or mufassirun, the ten nights mentioned here are none other than the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah; others, however, hold the view that these nights specifically refer to the last ten nights of Ramadan. Anyhow, no one denies the fact that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah possess tremendous blessings and excellence. This has been confirmed by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who is reported to have said, “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”

Based on this and similar traditions, scholars have stressed that the days and nights of Dhul-Hijjah must be set aside for intensive dedication to worship, increased preoccupation with virtuous acts, and contemplation. Virtue and contemplation go hand in hand in Islam. Works that are especially worthy of mentioning include reading the Qur’an; making dhikr and du`aa’; performing supererogatory prayers; sending benedictions on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); rendering acts of kindness and compassion; visiting the sick; counseling what is good and forbidding what is wrong; bringing peace, reconciliation, and harmony among people; helping those who are in distress or need, and so on. While all of these works are to be active concerns of all Muslims every single day of their life, these must certainly be multiplied in these days more than any other time.

Fasting is especially mentioned as a most meritorious act of devotion to be performed in the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah; this is true of those who are not performing Hajj. According to some traditions, by fasting these days, one is accorded a tremendous opportunity to gain repentance and forgiveness. If, however, a person cannot afford to fast all nine days, he may at least fast the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is known as the Day of `Arafah. However, it is also worth mentioning that while fasting the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah is recommended, it is forbidden to fast during the days of the `Eid. This prohibition is not limited to the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah; rather it extends also to the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth, for all of these are days of festivities and celebrations.

Finally, it is perhaps worth mentioning that the special merits and excellences associated with the days of Dhul-Hijjah are in no small measure due to the fact that they coincide with the performance of the greatest rites of Hajj. The foremost days of Hajj are the following: the day of tarwiyah, which falls on Dhul-Hijjah 8 and is the day the pilgrims resume ihram and proceed to Mina; the day of `Arafah, which is on the ninth, the day of the great ritual of standing on the plain of `Arafah; and the day of nahr, which falls on the tenth and is the day of sacrifice and stoning the Jamarat. The fact that the pilgrims are gathering in the sacred sites to perform the greatest rites of Hajj is itself a most significant event; it is, therefore, becoming of those who are not pilgrims to show spiritual and emotional solidarity with the pilgrims. Therefore, as the pilgrims are engaged in performing the great rites of Hajj, Muslims wherever they are, are also encouraged to partake something of the great spiritual feast and experience by performing such acts of virtue and devotion as they are capable of.

May Allah the Most Exalted and Glorious expose us to the wisdom of these rites and bless us all to participate in them with our whole bodies, minds, and souls. Ameen.

By Syeikh Ahmad Kutty (a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Source

PhotoGalore

msmnorthwest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:54:40 +0000

Nah, zaman sekarang ni, semua org pun nak ada camera yang besar2 tu. ape ke nama dia? DSLR? haa yang mcm tu lah. kali ini kite baca sama2 pandangan Islam ttg photography…

Q: Is photography allowed in Islam? Bearing in mind that it is not the same as painting or recreating a being, it’s rather a capture of image through light and lens.

A: With regard to this question, Photography as a medium of communication or for the simple, innocent retention of memories without the taint of reverence (shirk) does not fall under the category of forbidden Tasweer which means innovating the features of a person , while the only one who can do that is Allah.

One finds a number of traditions from the Prophet, (peace be upon him), condemning people who make Tasweer, which denotes painting or carving images or statues. It was closely associated with paganism or shirk. People were in the habit of carving images and statues for the sake of worship. Islam, therefore, declared Tasweer forbidden because of its close association with shirk (association of partners with Allah). One of the stated principles of the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence is that if anything directly leads to committing sin, it is likewise a sin. In other words, Tasweer was forbidden precisely for the reason that it was a means leading to shirk.

Photography Today?

The function of photography today does not fall under the above category. Even some of the scholars who had been once vehemently opposed to photography under the pretext that it was a form of forbidden Tasweer have later changed their position on it – as they allow even for their own pictures to be taken and published in newspapers, for videotaping lectures and for presentations. Whereas in the past, they would only allow it in exceptional cases such as passports, drivers’ licenses, etc. The change in their view of photography is based on their assessment of the role of photography.

Having said this, one must add a word of caution: To take pictures of leaders and heroes and hang them on the walls may not belong to the same category of permission. This may give rise to a feeling of reverence and hero worship, which was precisely the main thrust of the prohibition of Tasweer.

Therefore, one cannot make an unqualified statement to the effect that all photography is halal. It all depends on the use and function of it. If it is for educational purpose and has not been tainted with the motive of reverence and hero worship, there is nothing in the sources to prohibit it.

[This question has been answered by Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada]

source

Jom beramal dengan ilmu!

25 hours

msmnorthwest — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:03:35 +0000

Day Light Saving?

Daylight Saving Time (or summertime as it is called in many countries) is a way of getting more light out of the day by advancing clocks by one hour during the summer. During Daylight Saving Time, the sun appears to rise one hour later in the morning, when people are usually asleep anyway, and sets one hour later in the evening, seeming to stretch the day longer.

The reason DST works is because its saves energy due to less artificial light needed during the evening hours—clocks are set one hour ahead during the spring, and one hour back to standard time in the autumn. Many countries observe DST, and many do not.

Note: Between March–April through September–November, it is summer in the northern hemisphere, where many countries may observe DST, while in the southern hemisphere it is winter. During the rest of the year the opposite is true: it is winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern.

Benjamin Franklin first suggested Daylight Saving Time in 1784, but it was not until World War I, in 1916, when it was adopted by several counties in Europe that initially rejected the idea.

It is difficult to predict what will happen with Daylight Saving Time in the future. The daylight saving date in many countries may change from time to time due to special events or conditions.The United States, Canada and some other countries extended DST in 2007. The new start date is the second Sunday in March (previously the first Sunday in April) through to the first Sunday in November (previously the last Sunday in October).

In which direction does the clock move?

The clock moves ahead (thus, losing one hour) when DST starts, typically in the spring, and falls back one hour (thus, gaining one hour) when DST ends in the fall. To make it easier to remember which way the clock goes, keep in mind one of these sayings: “spring forward, fall back” or “spring ahead, fall behind.”

Is DST always one hour ahead of normal time?

Today it is almost always one hour ahead, but throughout history there have been several variants on this, such as half adjustment (30 minutes) or double adjustment (two hours), and adjustments of 20 and 40 minutes have also been used. A two-hour adjustment was used in several countries during the 1940s and elsewhere at times. A half adjustment was sometimes used in New Zealand in the first half of the 20th century. Sometimes DST is used for a longer period than just the summer, as it was in the United States during World War II. From February 3, 1942 to September 30, 1945 most of the United States had DST all year; it was called “War Time.”

source

Contemplate

msmnorthwest — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:51:53 +0000

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Bertakwalah kepada Allah dan hendaklah setiap orang memperhatikan apa yang telah diperbuatnya untuk hari esok (akhirat), dan bertakwalah kepada Allah. Sungguh, Allah Maha teliti terhadap apa yang kamu kerjakan [59:18]

At the end of the day we lay down in bed,

Staring at the ceiling in darkness of the room

Just before we settle in

Take our minds to where we begin

Today He let me open my eyes

And breathe the air I’m filling in

Looking at the sun

Shining as we run

Did I smile at the lady waiting for the bus?

Did I help the old man carry his bags?

Did I give my salaam to the neighbours below?

Did I teach another something that i know?

How were my prayers to Allah today?

Where was my Quran the whole day?

Was I thankful for everything i have?

Or was I too busy with the first half?

Salam Ukhuwwah

msmnorthwest — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:40:06 +0000

Tiap kali membaca doa rabitah ni mestikan terbayang insan-insan tersayang. Walaupun jauh di mata tapi tetap sentiasa dekat dihati. Walaupun tak pernah berjumpa mestikan terasa hangat kasih sayangnya.

Terasa betapa beratnya amanah yang telah dipertanggugjawabkan ke atas diri ini. Tetapi Dia Maha Mengetahui akan makhluk ciptaanNya. Tidak akan dibebankanNya dgn sesuatu yang kita tak mampu. Penyatuan antara hati-hati yang sentiasa mengingatiNya itu, mengutuhkan lagi ayunan langkah dalam mencari redhaNya.

YA ALLAH

sesungguhnya Engkau Maha mengetahui hati-hati ini

telah berkumpul kerana mengasihiMU,

bertemu untuk taat kepada-MU,

bersatu memikul beban dakwah-MU,

hati-hati ini telah mengikat janji setia untuk

mendaulat dan menyokong syariatMU,

maka eratkanlah YA ALLAH akan ikatannya…

Kekalkanlah kemesraan antara hati-hati ini

akan jalanNya yang sebenar,

Penuhilah hati ini dengan cahaya RabbaniMu

yang tidak kunjung malap,

Lapangkanlah hati-hati ini dengan

limpahan iman dan keyakinan

dan keindahan tawakkal kepadaMU,

Hidup suburkanlah hati-hati ini dengan

ma’rifat (pengetahuan sebenar) tentangMU,

Jika Engkau mentakdirkan mati,

maka matikanlah pemilik hati-hati ini

sebagai para syuhada dalam perjuangan agamaMU,

Engkaulah sebaik-baik sandaran

dan sebaik-baik penolong,

Ya Allah perkenankanlah permintaan ini

“AKU mengikut sangkaan hambaKU kepadaKu, Aku bersamanya (memberi rahmat dan membelanya)apabila dia mengingatiKu. jika mereka megingatiKu dalam dirinya nescaya Aku menyebutnya dalam diriKu. apabila mereka menyebut namaKU dalam kumpulan nescaya Aku menyebutnya dalam kumpulan yang lebih baik daripada mereka.jika mereka menghampiriKu sejengkal, Aku mendekati mereka sehasta. jika mereka menghampiriKu sehasta Aku mendekati mereka sedepa dan apabila mereka datang kepadaKu dalam keadaan berjalan, Aku datang kepada mereka berlari.”

(Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)

Must watch!

msmnorthwest — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:33:41 +0000

Register now! Book ur places!

Winter Retreat 2009!

msmnorthwest — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:55:30 +0000

calling all brothers n sisters!

an event not to be missed!

especially to our new coming brothers n sisters in September 09!

c u there!!

here’s some sneak peek for u!

Loch Lomond.. Subhanallah

Loch Lomond during Winter

And who wouldn't want to do this?! hehe

Any queries please do leave a comment for us!

For registration, please contact:

Brother Munzir: 07599427457

Sister Athirah: 07791430286

eid mubarak!

msmnorthwest — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:19:51 +0000

it’s a wonderful feeling
with the love in the room from the floor to the ceiling
its that time of year
Eid time is here
with the blessings from above
Allah sends his love
and everything’s okay
Eid Mubarak
its our holiday
Eid Mubarak, Eid Mubarak
it’s a wonderful day
Eid Mubarak, Eid Mubarak, Eid Mubarak
it’s a blessed day

from us here at MSM Northwest to the muslims all over the world!

Warm Welcome

msmnorthwest — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:51:39 +0000

Warm welcome to our dear brothers and sisters in Leeds!

See you there!!

Elegi Sepi

msmnorthwest — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:02:13 +0000

“Hiduplah sesuka hatimu, tapi ingat kau akan mati. Cintailah sesiapa sahaja sepuas hatimu,tapi ingat kau pasti akan berpisah. Lakukanlah apa sahaja yang kau mahu,tapi ingat kau akan dibalas dengan yang selayaknya”

Bulan sudah sayup-sayup sahaja menampakkan diri di langit malam gelap. Selesai sudah ia berputar mengelilingi bumi,menampakkan dirinya sedikit demi sedikit,dari hanya sekadar anak,hinggalah ia mengambang gagah,dan kini kembali menyepi. Taat dan patuh pada Tuhan buatkan ia tak mampu melawan walau sesaat perbezaan.

Dan hati kau juga sepi. Barangkali sesepi bulan yang kau cuba intai-intai dari jendela. Aduh, kalau sahaja kau mampu meminta malam ini tidak hadir,pasti kau akan lakukan. Tapi kau tiada kudrat atas semua itu. Berkeluh dan berhati sayu sahajalah kau malam ini.

Sangat perit rupanya perpisahan. Perit kerana ia menarik dari diri kau segala keindahan yang kau alami,ketika mula-mula berjumpa dahulu. Bila kau berpisah,kau sedar, nanti bukan hanya jasadmu yang terpisah,tapi lebih dari itu,segenap penjuru batinmu bakal merasakan pedihnya perpisahan itu.

Kau sudah boleh menjangka apa yang akan kau kenang selepas ini.

Kau pasti akan terkenang saat kau letih lelah lagi lapar,dia datang memberimu ubat sabar dan redha dengan yang sedikit. Juga saat kau sudah malas-culas berdampingan dengan Tuhan,dia datang menjanjikanmu janji-janji indah dan suntikan keseronokan untuk kembali merapati Tuhanmu. Dan tentu juga kau takkan mampu lupakan,saat kau ditimpa gering hati dan jiwa,diasak kasarnya nafsu haloba,dia datang membantu kau bersuci hati dan berhalus budi. Kau sudah rasa nikmat taqarrub. Kau sudah belajar rasa simpati dan kasihan belas.

Semuanya kerana pertemuan kau dan dia.

* * *

“Betul kau kena pergi?” kau lontar soalan yang kau sendiri tahu jawapannya.

“Tentu. Dah sampai masanya. Aku tak mampu elak.” Dia balas,tanpa sedikit pun nada kompromi.

“Tak boleh kita bersama sekejap sahaja lagi? Sehari dua hari lagi mungkin? Tak boleh?” Kau cuba mendesak halus.

“Kalau aku yang merancang pertemuan kita,tentu,aku ingin duduk lagi dengan kau. Tapi, ya, kau pun tahu kan bagaimana kita berjumpa? Bukan ketentuan kita kan?”

Kau tunduk perlahan-lahan ke bawah. Sudah tidak mungkin lagi perpisahan ini boleh dihalang. Dilambatkan sedikit pun mustahil nampaknya. Sukma kau sudah teramat hiba. Kau biarkan sahaja hiba itu meresap ke seluruh jasad,hingga matamu jelas merasainya. Dan ia titiskan airnya,mengalir perlahan di pipi.

“Memang tiada apa-apa yang mampu aku buat untuk bersama dengan kau lama sedikit?” kau cuba lagi mencari kepastian.

“Mungkin kau tak mampu menahan aku dari pergi,tapi kau tahu,sekurang-kurangnya,kita masih boleh berharap untuk berjumpa lagi di masa lain. Bukan begitu?” dia berikan sedikit harapan. Kau pun hampir terlupa itu. Terlupa kau masih boleh berharap untuk kembali bertemu jika panjang umurmu.

“Ya,moga-moga kata kau benar. Dan kalau kita tak lagi berjumpa selepas ini, tentu aku manusia paling kecewa. Kau dengar itu?” balasmu penuh harapan.

“Jika Tuhan berkehendak tiada yang boleh menghalang kita bertemu lagi. Aku faham perasaanmu.”

Kau cuba juga gagahkan diri menerima kenyataan.

“Kalau begitu,di sini titik perpisahan kita. Kau tetap mahu pergi,dan aku tunduk dengan keputusan ini. Cuma aku minta,mungkin,sebelum aku sunyi semula dari belaian kau, wasiatkanlah aku sesuatu, sebagai balasan buat jasa kau, boleh?” kau tanya sambil menahan air mata.

“Kau sudah jadi manusia lain sebelum aku mula-mula menemui kau. Aku wasiatkan kau,jangan kau jadi begini bila hanya kita sedang bersama. Kau jadilah begini selama-lamanya hingga kita bertemu semula. Aku janji, jika kita bertemu lagi dan kau masih begini, pertemuan itu pasti lebih indah dari ini. Jika benar cinta kau kepada aku,itu akan jadi buktinya.” Itu sahaja pesannya kepada engkau yang begitu menanti dan berharap.

“Itu sahaja?”

“Ya,cukup itu.” dia muktamadkan pesannya. “Maaflah, aku terpaksa pergi sekarang. Fajar sudah hampir menjelang.”

“Err…ya,tentu sekali,silakan. Moga kita berjumpa lagi.”

Dia perlahan-lahan berlalu pergi dari engkau. Dan kau lupa kau belum bertanya satu lagi perkara penting. Kau jeritkan dari jauh, “Nanti! Aku belum tahu namamu! Siapa namamu?”

Dia berhenti seketika. Menoleh ke belakang. Mengukir senyumnya.

“Namaku, Ramadhan.”

* * *

Sudah separuh masa yang diizinkan untuk dia bertandang sebagai tetamu kita pada kali ini. Masa semakin suntuk. Gunakan setiap detik untuk meraih yang tertinggi. Ayuh mencari Laitaul Qadr!

Moga-moga kita bersedia lebih sebelum ‘berpisah’…

Brat Mikrajovic

Mereka di Sana

msmnorthwest — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:30:33 +0000

Telah Lebih Setengah Abad Bendera itu Berkibar

Masih ingatkah kalian
1 April 1948
Saat turunnya Union Jack
untuk diganti dengan “Star of David”
Di atas tanah warisan para anbiya’

Tanah itu dulu pernah disinggahi
Nabi kita yang mulia
Dalam perjalanan menuju Sidratul Muntaha

Kunci kotanya pernah diserahkan
Kepada Umar Amirul Mukminin
Dari Penguasa Empayar Byzantium
Lalu diisytihar sebagai waqaf muslimin
Hiduplah segala bangsa
Rom, Kristian, Muslim dan Yahudi
Dalam aman bahagia

Masa berlalu
Dan pada millenium pertama
Bumi itu dijajah kembali
Sekali lagi oleh pemikul-pemikul Salib
Di atas pundak-pundak kuda
Bersahutanlah seruan sabil
Di medan Hittin
Salahuddin al-Ayyubi mengembalikan kota itu
Kemasyhuran kita bermula

Usaha mereka tidak terhenti
Dengan lagenda Richard “berhati singa”
Mereka merancang dan terus merancang
Akhirnya peluang datang
Apabila dunia Islam yang menjadi pewaris kota itu
Dikalahkan dengan runtuhnya kesatuan
Sebelum mereka dialahkan di medan perang
Dendam lama masih membara
Dengan pongah
Mereka injak pusara pahlawan berjasa
Berserulah mereka
Salladin!!!
Perang Salib telah tamat!!!

Episod duka itu tidak berakhir
Malah menjadi prolog kepada satu penderitaan berpanjangan
Kebencian dizahirkan
Dengan membina pakatan antarabangsa
Kota itu dikepung dari segala penjuru
Melalui satu pengisytiharan cuma
Datanglah waris-waris Bani Israel
Dari segenap tempat
Menduduki tanah itu dengan percuma

Setelah menang dalam peperangan Dunia
Ciptaan dan lakonan mereka
Mereka bersidang
Kononnya untuk mencari keadilan
Ke atas satu bangsa yang teraniaya
Kali ini waris-waris Bani Israel bukan sekadar
Diberikan pas percuma
Malah dianugerahkan sebuah Negara
Setelah penghuninya diusir
Dari tanah kelahiran mereka

Setengah abad sudah bendera itu berkibar
Setelah derita menjadi sebati
Setelah generasi silih berganti
Setelah Negara-negara bersaudara menyepi
Menyangka kebangkitan telah mati

Bercambahlah benih harapan
Dari darah syuhada
Yang terus menyuburkan jiwa-jiwa yang sedar
Slogan kemenangan berkumandang
Dari mehrab dan mimbar-mimbar

Para musuh kembali mengepung
Kali ini menggabungkan gergasi-gergasi dunia
Untuk menunjukkan sebuah kebangkitan
Yang dijulang oleh segelintir cuma
Daif kelihatan mereka
Tetapi tidak pada jiwa
Mereka terus berjuang meski
Di selang-seli tangisan anak-anak
Kerana perut minta diisi

Kemenangan bagi mereka sudah pasti
Syurga sedang menanti
Lalu mereka menyeru
Saudara-saudara mereka yang sedang diulit mimpi
Yang tidur kekenyangan
Hulurkanlah bantuan dari hartamu yang melimpah-ruah
Kelak kami akan bersaksi

Di hadapan Tuhan Rabbul Jalil
Ini saudara kami yang telah membantu kami
Dalam jihad membebaskan tanah suci
Mereka adalah sekutu kami dalam perjuangan ini
Ya Rabbi
Mereka adalah teman-teman kami dalam syurga abadi

Dengan wajah tunduk malu
Kita menilik diri
Apakah layak
Untuk bersama mereka nanti???

Dengan hanya beberapa ringgit
Yang dihulurkan dengan penuh hemat
(Apakah cukup) Unutuk membebaskan Masjid Al-Aqsa yang dikuasai???

Hafizi Mohd Nor

Mother vs Daughter

msmnorthwest — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:10:28 +0000

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

When our beloved Miss Editor told me that I need to write something for OUR blog, I kept on thinking, what should I write about? Life? There are tonnes of things that I can write about life. But something happened last Monday (if I’m not mistaken), whilst having our Sahur.

My Ibu, Ayah and I were sitting at the table just after Azan, and my mom was thinking what she should cook for Iftar later that evening. Suddenly I felt weird and blurted, “Ibu x boring ke masak hari-hari?”

I sort of wished I took it back. Because after saying that, then I thought, how ungrateful I am as a daughter.

My Ibu cooks everyday, I cook once a week, and only in the UK, but I whine when I have to cook.

My Ibu cleans the house, cleans my toilet, and my room. But when she asks me to clean my own toilet and my own room, I whined and complained.

My Ibu picks up my little sister everyday using our old car, under the hot blazing sun everyday. But when she asks me to help, I’ll only drive her there, without going out of the car to walk for 1 minute under the hot blazing sun. She didn’t complain.

My Ibu irons my Ayah’s shirt everyday for his work. I didn’t help because I told her that I don’t know how to (excuses!). She didn’t complain.

I left the house for usrah, daurah and all sorts of programmes, leaving all the housework undone, yet Ibu did not whine. She knows that all the programmes will do me benefit.

But I forgot. In the midst of my so-called geared-up tarbiyah, I forgot that righteousness towards parents is a virtue of a Muslim. A must-have criterion for those who want to achieve the 10 Muwasafat Tarbiyah. How can I consider myself to be good when everytime my Ibu asks me for a favour, I turned away, I whined, and I complained?

Astaghfirullahalazim…

Hmm… I guess, in a battle Mother vs Daughter, the Daughter will never win. Because Allah s.w.t has given the mother the glory even when the daughter is still in the womb.

O Allah, I pray for my Ibu, and all mothers in the world, the bounty that You have promised – a seat by Your side, and the magnificence of Jannah…ameen..

[note: I’m picking up my Ibu after this, not complaining, but with lots of love for her *wink*]

LittleMoon