July 28, 2013

Husnudzon

Bismillah...

Somehow this week (or last two weeks), Allah swt repeatedly taught me about husnudzon. That to have husnudzon amongst muslims is wajib (a must) even though how bad that person is. At first, everything seems contradictory... be cautious, but husnudzon. To be careful, yet ...

I didn't understand, at first.

Husnudzon is the lowermost stage of ukhuwwah. Ukhuwwah only happens between muslims. When there's faith, there's unity...and when there's unity...there's ukhuwwah.
What Allah SWT & Rasulullah SAW are trying to teach us is this: For those who have faith, they would try their best to have husnudzon to brothers of their own faith, even though they still bear marks of jahiliyyah (robbery, etc). Be cautious because Allah swt give us thought to think things through. Husnudzon is the matter of heart, who always try to make du'a for his brothers/sisters.

Yet, the test of husnudzon can be very hard. Complex in its sincerity. Take for example, a group of visiting delegations came to see an islamic school. They talked about how the children there are raised as their own, and instill in their head and hearts the good values of muslim. Alhamdulillah~ Then, after the briefing, a visitor was searching for his shoes. It's missing! The pupils there are of a poor background and since they're nearby ...

How? How do you feel husnudzon towards the host?
He (the host), expressed his regret. He said about since it's nearing their children's graduation, there's a lot of people (who set up camps, tables, etc) who entered the compound...and sometimes, it's beyond their monitor. The visitor waited ... for some admission. But it never came. The host never said, "if it's one of our children, we'd punished him accordingly." He never said it, this headmaster. Who smiles from his heart and who 'believes', who really 'believes' that he raised these children well. That despite their background and culture, they are the repentant kind, honest and loyal to Allah swt decree.

Ashamed. 
This self is ashamed when self hold those very thoughts (suudzon) against them.

He had faith.
Whatever caution that must've spring up from his heart (Wallahualam) he kept it to himself. He never said it, infront of his children or the visiting delegation, whether he felt disappointment, etc. Hence, any ill-bearing thoughts and feelings, he puts to a stop there. Even if later, logic points that any child is in the wrong, he already shows his faith, then its up to that child to fess up and admit, or for that child to repent 'on his own'. What strange psychology he did, and ... I found it, a very honorable one.

There's a story as such back in the time of prophet Musa a.s. Drought came and it hardly rain, so he gathered his people (the believers) and made du'a. Strangely, despite the attendance of collective 'soleh' people and his own du'a the rain didn't come. He reflected. Du'a is only granted to those who are of a good heart. Someone must've done a sin, that stopped the du'a from being granted, and so he addressed the issue to the people. Anybody who did that (any sin) should walk forward, admit it and be repented. Suddenly, the rain came, without anyone moving to do so. Why? Allah swt, explained, if one of His servant did a sin in secret and He hid it from people, should He show it when His servant repent in secret?

Husnudzon is sometimes the hardest to do, but for a muslim, whose ukhuwwah only Allah swt grant among the believers, should believe their own brothers/sisters. Reality might reflects negatively, yet Allah swt taught us. To have good opinion of our brothers and sisters, no matter how contradictory we 'felt', 'only' express our faith in them. Any ill-will, stop. Unless he did something that is dzalim in the eyes of Allah swt, then it's our duty to confront him.

HAve faith and make du'a. Allah swt will show a better way to approach truth.

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July 14, 2013

Retire to a Masjid for Remembrance of Allah (Itikaf)

Bismillah...

dusty parking space, there stood a skeleton of a Masjid. Patterned grillwork that meant to be  its windows, white ceilings, cemented floor, no tiles at sight. 

Yet, the place charmed me. 
You can hear the birds (their tasbih), feel the cold hard floor and the gentle breeze. Raw and honest, infront of Allah swt, I submitted to Him (prayer). Felt like all the layers are stripped away and its just the qolbu and Allah swt, talking.

After that, just stood there, taking in the tiny details of its structure. All the while, the birds still chirped their tasbih (to Allah swt). 
Why? 
Because the money needed to finish its construction is limited, yet its function (for prayer) still exists. How I felt nature were praying too. Prayed that one day this Masjid 'will' be built. How they offered their du'a, so that its walls would be erected, its pillars adorned with colour, its floor with soft carpets. 

My mind reflected back to UBD Masjid. How it must've been the same for it, too. How the construction workers, the future jemaah would have looked forward to it. How people prayed and make du'a for it, too. The sincerity, I can almost felt it's seeping from these pillars, cold floor and white ceilings. When it's fully built now, is the sincerity the same? or did the people just came in to feel the air-conditioner and talked about meaningless things, when it used to be where people and nature prayed fervently that one day, this place will be where the ummah would pour their hearts to Allah swt?

What about me?
This Islam, did I looked back on how Rasulullah SAW, the prophets before him had fought so that Islam would stand and reign supreme on His earth? Did I remembered how much blood was shed, tears spent, faith tested, money, body and soul laid out infront of Allah swt...saying, it's either we win or died from it? So that Kalimah Syahadah is on our hearts and lips.

How do you take care of one's sincerity?
when you forget when it seems that Islam had already won, that people are starting to take it for granted?
 How the birds would've wept to Rasulullah saw and Allah swt, "the ummah forgets. The ummah didn't reflect and give thanks for the nikmat You have given."

It's by reminding this self and others. Remember. Remember.
So that ikhlas came, not just from the walls of Masjid, but from the hearts of Mukmin. Protect it (your Qolbu), cleanse it always...so that when you entered its walls, recharged your iman...then, would you spread all over the earth and do good deeds. Spread the message and good-will. Show good akhlak, for those who truly longs for the Masjid stepped outside from its walls 'only' to benefit others. 

Narrated Aishah (RA), the wife of the Prophet (PBUH): “The Prophet (PBUH) used to practise Itikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practise Itikaf after him.”
(Hadith No. 2026, Book of Itikaf, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3).


More on ihtikaf -> http://www.quranandhadith.com/itikaf/

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July 08, 2013

Wrung out

Bismillah...

Heart at my throat...
what is the name for this sudden sadness?
at first I thought it's Ramadhan-related
now I know this heart is weeping for my brothers fighting out there

O Allah, beat the Batil (wrong) with Your Haq (right)!
Beat the Batil with Your Haq!
Beat the Batil with Your Haq!

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