Siapakah Musuh dan Sahabat Iblis

Hari ini saya ingin berkongsi dengan pembaca blog SKSC yang setia mengenai musuh dan sahabat iblis.Sebelum saya bahaskan mengenai Musuh dan Sahabat Iblis terlebih dahulu saya mahu rakan-rakan dan sahabat saya alihkan dahulu perhatian dan pemikiran mengenai perkara-perkara lain.Buanglah jauh-jauh hal dunia serta lapangkan fikiran kita ini untuk menghayati tazkirah yang saya susun ini.Sebagai pendidik inilah tugas saya untuk menyampaikan ilmu kepada yang dahagakan ilmu.Percayalah rakan-rakan saya,bahawa kehidupan yang kita hadapi adalah amat singkat seumpama jarak siang dengan malam.Hari ini kita hidup dan besok mungkin kita akan mati..jadi adakah kita telah mempersiapkan diri dengan amalan yang mampu dibawa untuk dipersembahkan kehadrat Illahi Rabbu Jalil.Kalau belum???? masih ada ruang untuk kita melaksanakan tugas kita sebelum menghadap Allah s.w.t.

Nabi bersabda:Beramallah kamu seolah-olah kamu akan mati besok dan bekerjalah kamu seolah-olah kamu akan hidup seribu tahun.

Beginilah kehidupan kita sebagai manusia..yang hidup akan pasti mati,termasuklah saya dan semua pembaca akan menemui nasib yang sama seperti saudara-saudara kita yang telah meninggalkan kita..Persoalannya disini mampukah kita menghadapi siksaan kubur yang telah disediakan untuk kita yang berdosa ini."Ya Allah jauhkanlah kami dari Fitnah Kubur dan Azab Kubur..Wahai Tuhan Yang Maha Penyanyang".Oleh itu sahabat-sahabat saya marilah sama-sama kita kembali kepada Ajaran Allah yang sebenar serta sentiasa meminta ampun kepada Allah.Mudah-mudahan kita terdiri dari orang yang beruntung didunia dan diakhirat.





Dalam meniti maya pada ini seharusnya rakan-rakan saya berhati-hati dan sentiasa berwaspada dengan kehidupan sehari-harian.Kenalilah saiapa sahabat dan siapa musuh kita........musuh dan sahabat yang saya maksudkan ialah Iblis.
Siapakah Musuh Iblis?

Suatu masa Rasulullah s.a.w pernah menyoal iblis katanya:

"Wahai iblis, berapa banyakkah musuh-musuhmu dan umatku" Jawab iblis : "Lima belas orang" iaitu :

1. Anda sendiri wahai Muhammad
2. Kepala Negara (Imam) yang adil
3. Orang kaya yang rendah hati
4. Pedagang yang jujur
5. Orang alim yang sembahyangnya amat khusyuk
6. Orang beriman yang suka memberi nasihat
7. Orang beriman yang pengasih
8. Orang yang bertaubat dan tetap atas taubatnya itu
9. Orang yang tidak mahu membuat sesuatu yang haram
10. Orang beriman sentiasa berwuduk
11. Orang beriman banyak bersedekah
12. Orang beriman yang berakhlak mulia
13. Orang beriman yang bermanfaat kepada orang ramai
14. Orang yang mengamalkan dan terus menerus membaca Al-Quran
15. Orang yang menegakkan ibadat pada waktu malam sedangkan orang lain sedang tidur

Siapakah Sahabat Iblis?




Rasulullah s.a.w bertanya lagi : "Berapa banyakkah kawan-kawanmu dari umatku?"
Jawab iblis: "Sepuluh orang" iaitu:
1. Hakim yang tidak adil
2. Orang kaya yang sombong
3. Pedagang yang tidak jujur
4. Peminum arak
5. Penghasut / pendengki kepada orang yang mendapat kebaikan
6. Orang beramal kerana ingin nama
7. Orang yang makan harta anak yatim
8. Orang yang mempermudahkan solat
9. Orang yang tidak mahu berzakat
10. Orang yang suka termenung (duduk mengelamun / berangan-angan)

Jadi sebelum saya akhiri tazkirah ini pesanan saya untuk diri saya dan rakan-rakan pembaca Kuatkan amal ibadah untuk diri sendiri dan keluarga,sentiasa memohon keampunan dari ALLAH,jauhi dari menjadi sahabat iblis serta sentiasa bertakwa kepada Allah.
Sekian apa yang baik dari Allah dan yang kurang itu adalah kelemahan saya sendiri.Wallahua'lam bissaawab.

Ustaz Mohd Suffian MN
Waktu 2.33am

seterusnya..

Ayat Al-Quran sebagai benteng pertahanan diri.

Ada lima jenis benteng pertahanan diri, keluarga dan harta benda yang boleh diamalkan seperti berikut;
i. Al-Muawwizat

ii. Ayatul Kursi

iii. Ayat 1 hingga 9 Surah Yaasin

iv. Ayat Berkubu

v. Ayat Penggerak

1.0 AL-MUAWWIZAT (PELINDUNG-PELINDUNG)

BACAAN

Al-Muawwizat iaitu;

1. Surah Al-Ikhlas

2. Surah Al-Falaq

3. Surah An-Naas

CARA

1. Lunjurkan kaki ke arah Qiblat

2. Mengangkat dua tangan seperti berdoa

3. Baca ayat-ayat Muawwizat sehingga selesai (tidak termasuk membaca Surah Al-Fatihah)

4. Tarik nafas kemudian tiup pada tapak tangan sehingga habis nafas

5. Tarik sikit nafas kemudian tahan nafas sambil menyapu tapak tangan keseluruh anggota badan yang boleh dicapai kecuali anggota sulit.

6. Lakukan sekali sebelum tidur & selepas solat subuh setiap hari

2.0AYATUL KURSI



Terjemahan;

Allah, tidak ada Tuhan (yang berhak disembah) melainkan Dia Yang Hidup kekal lagi terus menerus mengurus (makhluk-Nya), tidak mengantuk dan tidak tidur. Kepunyaan-Nya apa yang di langit dan di bumi. Tiada yang dapat memberi syafaat di sisi Allah tanpa izin-Nya. Allah mengetahui apa-apa yang di hadapan mereka dan di belakang mereka, dan mereka tidak mengetahui apa-apa dari ilmu Allah melainkan apa yang dikehendaki-Nya. Kursi Allah meliputi langit dan bumi. Dan Allah tidak merasa berat memelihara keduanya, dan Allah Maha Tinggi lagi Maha Besar.

(Surah Al-Baqarah ayat 255)

CARA

1. Baca Ayatul Kursi dengan 9 wakaf

2. Untuk melindungi diri sendiri: selepas baca ayatul kursi tiup disekeliling mengikut pergerakan tawaf kaabah, dengan niat melindung diri.

3. Untuk melindungi rumah: baca ayatul kursi sambil berjalan mengelilingi rumah (mengikut pergerakan seperti tawaf kaabah). Berjalan sama ada didalam atau diluar rumah.

3.0 AYAT 1 HINGGA 9 DALAM SURAH YAASIN





Terjemahan:

(1) Yaa Siin. (2) Demi Al Qur'an yang penuh hikmah, (3) sesungguhnya kamu salah seorang dari rasul-rasul, (4) (yang berada) di atas jalan yang lurus, (5) (sebagai wahyu) yang diturunkan oleh Yang Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Penyayang, (6) agar kamu memberi peringatan kepada kaum yang bapak-bapak mereka belum pernah diberi peringatan, karena itu mereka lalai.(7) Sesungguhnya telah pasti berlaku perkataan (ketentuan Allah) terhadap kebanyakan mereka, karena mereka tidak beriman. (8) Sesungguhnya Kami telah memasang belenggu di leher mereka, lalu tangan mereka (diangkat) ke dagu, maka karena itu mereka tertengadah. (9) Dan Kami adakan di hadapan mereka dinding dan di belakang mereka dinding (pula), dan Kami tutup (mata) mereka sehingga mereka tidak dapat melihat.

CARA
1. Untuk memegar diri, keluarga dan harta benda

2. Berdiri disatu penjuru rumah (katakan dihadapan rumah sebelah kanan) sambil menghadap penjuru rumah satu lagi iaitu dikiri rumah. Baca surah Al-fatihah diikuti Surah Yaasin ayat 1~9. Sambil baca, sambil berjalan menuju kepenjuru rumah satu lagi. (Ikut arah Tawaf Kaabah). Baca kombinasi ini di setiap penjuru iaitu sampai bertemu penjuru yang mula-mula. Jumlahnya 4 kali. Akhir sekali baca kombinasi ini sambil mengisyarat mendinding keseluruhan bumbung rumah.

4.0 AYAT BERKUBU


Maksudnya;
Aku berlindung dengan Allah daripada syaitan yang direjam. Aku berkubu dengan kubu Tiada Tuhan yang disembah melainkan Allah dan nabi Muhamad RasululLah.

CARA

1. Berdiri menghadap kiblat (ke arah barat). Baca ayat ini kemudian tiup sehingga habis nafas ke hadapan sambil menoleh kanan ke kiri.

2. Pusing ke arah kiri (sekarang berdiri ke arah selatan), Baca ayat ini kemudian tiup sehingga habis nafas ke hadapan sambil menoleh kanan ke kiri.

3. Lakukan perkara yang sama untuk arah timur dan utara

4. Berpaling semula ke arah kiblat, baca lagi kemudian tiup kebawah sehingga habis nafas. Baca lagi kemudian tiup kearah atas sehingga habis nafas

5. Akhir sekali (bacaan yang ke-7), baca ayat ini kemudian tarik nafas dan tahan nafas seberapa lama yang boleh kemudian hembus.

5.0 AYAT PENGERAK



Maksudnya;
Dengan nama Allah, yang tidak memberikan mudarat sesuatu dibumi juga dilangit dan Dia maha mendengar lagi maha mengetahui.

CARA
1. Bila hendak pergi kesesuatu tempat yang berisiko atau merbahaya, atau bermusafir atau balik kampung atau hendak membuat sesuatu perkerjaan yang berisiko atau pulang kerumah daripada melakukan sesuatu perkerjaan yang berisiko, maka baca ayat ini tujuh kali.

2. Jika bacaan tersekat-sekat atau ada gangguan ketika membaca ayat ini, berehat dahulu. Setelah berehat baca lagi sehingga tujuh kali bacaan lancar baru teruskan perjalanan atau perkerjaan tersebut.

Terima kasih kepada darussyifa diatas artikel ini.
sumber ini dipetik dari: http://www.darussyifa.org/pertahanandiri2.php
tanpa sebarang ubahsuai bagi mengurangkan budaya plagiat.

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Ibadah Qurban dan Aqiqah

Kedua-dua ibadah ini adalah antara amalan mulia dan penting dalam Islam kerana amat besar fadhilatnya, tetapi malangnya masih ramai orang yang samar-samar atau kabur kefahaman menerka mengenainya, sehinggakan ada yang memandang ringan walaupun mempunyai kemampuan tetapi tidak mahu melakukan penyembelihan qorban dan aqiqah ini. Semoga dengan penjelasan yang serba sedikit ini dapat membantu kefahaman kita semua tentang ibadat Qurban serta Aqiqah serta keinginan untuk sama-sama mencari pahala kedua ibadah ini akan meningkat.Apakah sebenarnya qurban dan aqiqah itu? Apakah hukum melakukannya? Berapa kali kita dituntut melakukan qurban sepanjang hayat kita? Apakah syarat-syarat binatang yang dikorbankan? Apakah perbezaan antara qurban dan aqiqah? Bolehkah seekor lembu dikongsi sebahagian untuk qurban dan sebahaian untuk aqiqah? Apakah hikmah atau faedah yang bakal diperolehi kerana melakukan kedua-dua ibadah itu?
Demikianlah antara masalah yang akan cuba kita kupas serta perjelaskan dibahagian ini dan disamping itu akan dijelaskan beberapa perkara berkaitan dengan ibadah kurban dan aqiqah, semoga memberi kefahaman yang jelas hingga kita dapat menghayatinya dengan penuh keimanan kerana menjunjung perintah Allah s.w.t. dan mendapat fadhilat daripada amalan yang akan kita lakukan ini.

PENYEMBELIHAN QURBAN
Qurban ialah penyembelihan binatang qurban yang dilakukan pada Hari Raya Haji (selepas solat 'Idil Adhha) dan hari-hari Tasyriq iaitu ,11,12 dan 13 Zulhijjah kerana beribadah kepada Allah s.w.t. , iaitu sebagai menghidupkan syariat Nabi Allah Ibrahim a.s. yang kemudiannya disyariatkan kepada Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Firman Allah s.w.t. yang bermaksud:
"Dan telah Kami jadikan unta-unta itu sebahagian daripada syi'ar Allah, kamu memperolehi kebaikan yang banyak daripadanya, maka sebutlah nama Allah ketika kamu menyembelihnya dalam keadaan berdiri (dan telah diikat). Kemudian apabila telah roboh (mati), maka makanlah sebahagiannya dan beri makanlah orang yang rela dengan apa yang ada padanya (yang tidak meminta-minta) dan orang yang meminta. Demikianlah Kami telah menundukkan unta-unta itu kepada kamu, mudah-mudahan kamu bersyukur." (surah al-Haj:36)
"Maka dirikanlah solat kerana Tuhanmu dan berqurbanlah." (Surah al-Kauthar:2)
Daripada Aisyah r.a Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. telah bersabda yang bermaksud: "Tiada suatu amalan yang dilakukan oleh manusia pada Hari Raya Qurban, yang lebih dicintai Allah selain daripada menyembelih haiwan qurban. Sesungguhnya haiwan qurban itu pada hari kiamat kelak akan datang berserta dengan tanduk-tanduknya, bulu-bulunya dan kuku-kukunya, dan sesungguhnya sebelum darah qurban itu menyentuh tanah, ia (pahalanya) telah diterima disisi Allah, maka beruntunglah kamu semua dengan (pahala) qurban itu." (Riwayat al-Tarmuzi, Ibnu Majah dan al-Hakim)
Zaid bin Arqam berkata: "Mereka telah bertanya, Wahai Rasullullah, apakah Udhhiyah (Qurban) itu? Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. menjawab: "Ia sunnah bagi bapa kamu Nabi Ibrahim." Mereka bertanya lagi: Apakah ia untuk kita? Rasulullah s.a.w. menjawab: "Dengan tiap-tiap helai bulu satu kebaikan." Mereka bertanya: "maka bulu yang halus pula? Rasullullah s.a.w bersabda yang bermaksud "Dengan tiap-tiap helai bulu yang halus itu satu kebaikan." (Riwayat Ahmad dan Ibnu Majah)
HUKUM BERQURBAN
Hukumnya Sunnat Muakkad (Sunnat yang dikuatkan) atas orang yang memenuhi syarat-syarat seperti berikut:
1. Islam
2. Merdeka (Bukan hamba)
3. Baligh lagi berakal
4. Mampu untuk berqurban
Sabda Rasullullah s.a.w yang bermaksud:
"Aku disuruh berqurban dan ia sunnat bagi kau." (Riwayat al-Turmuzi).
"Telah diwajibkan kepada ku qurban dan tidak wajib bagi kamu." (Riwayat Daruqutni)
Walaupun hukum berqurban itu sunnat tetapi ia boleh bertukar menjadi wajib jika dinazarkan. Sabda Rasullullah s.a.w yang bermaksud: "Sesiapa yang bernazar untuk melakukan taat kepada Allah, maka hendaklah dia melakukannya." (Sila Rujuk: Fiqh al-Sunnah)
PERLAKSANAAN QURBAN
• Binatang yang diqurbankan daripada jenis unta, lembu atau kerbau, kambing biasa yang berumur dua tahun, jika biri-biri telah berumur satu tahun atau telah gugur giginya sesudah enam bulan meskipun belum cukup satu tahun.
• Binatang itu disyaratkan tidak cacat, tidak buta sebelah atau kedua-duanya, kakinya tidak pincang, tidak terlalu kurus, tidak terpotong lidahnya, tidak mengandung atau baru melahirkan anak, tidak berpenyakit atau berkudis. Binatang yang hendak disembelih itu mestilah sihat sehingga kita sayang kepadanya.
• Waktu menyembelihnya sesudah terbit matahari pada Hari Raya Haji dan sesudah selesai solat 'Id dan dua khutbah pendek, tetapi afdhalnya ialah ketika matahari naik segalah pada Hari Raya Hhaji sehingga tiga hari sesuadah Hari Raya Haji (hari-hari Tastriq iaitu 11,12 dan 13 Zulhijjah)
• Daging qurban sunnat, orang yang berkorban disunnatkan memakan sedikit daging qurbannya. Pembahagian daging qurban sunnat terdapat tiga cara yang utamanya adalah mengikut urutan sepererti berikut:
I. Lebih utama orang yang berqurban mengambil hati binatang qurbannya dan baki seluruh dagingnya disedekahkan
II. Orang yang berqurban itu mengambil satu pertiga daripada jumlah daging qurban, dua pertiga lagi disedekahkannya.
III. Orang yang berqurban mengambil satu pertiga daripada jumlah daging, satu pertiga lagi disedekahkan kepada fakir miskin dan satu pertiga lagi dihadiahkan kepada orang yang mampu. Sabda Rasullullah s.a.w: "Makanlah oleh kamu sedekahkanlah dan simpanlah."
HIKMAH DAN FADHILAT
• Menghidupkan sunnah Nabi Allah Ibrahim a.s.
• Mendidik jiwa kearah takwa dan mendekatkan diri kepada Allah s.w.t.
• Mengikis sifat tamak dan mewujudkan sifat murah hati mahu berbelanja harta kejalan Allah s.w.t.
• Menghapuskan dosa dan mengharap keredhaan Allah s.w.t.
• Menjalinkan hubungan kasih sayang sesama manusia terutama antara golongan berada dengan golongan yang kurang bernasib baik.
• Akan memperolehi kenderaan atau tunggangan ketika meniti titian al-Sirat al-Mustaqim diakhirat kelak. Sabda Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. yang bermaksud: "Muliakanlah qurban kamu kerana ia menjadi tunggangan kamu dititian pada hari kiamat."
AQIQAH UNTUK ANAK
Aqiqah pengertian dari segi bahasa ialah rambut dikepala kanak-kanak. Sementara pengertian aqiqah dari segi syara ialah binatang yang disembelih pada hari mencukur rambut bayi. Aqiqah sebagai ibadah yang telah disyariatkan oleh Allah s.w.t. sebagaimana penjelasan Rasulullah s.a.w. dengan sabdanya yang bermaksud: "Setiap anak yang lahir itu terpelihara dengan aqiqahnya yang disembelih untuknya pada hari ketujuh (daripada hari kelahirannya), dicukur dan diberi nama." (Riwayat Abu Dawud, al-Turmuzi dan Ibnu Majah)
Ibnu Majah menerangkan maksud "... terpelihara dengan aqiqahnya..." (pada mafhum hadis diatas) adalah bahawa aqiqah itu sebagai sebab yang melepaskan kanak-kanak tersebut daripada gangguan syaitan yang cuba menghilangkan daripadanya melakukan kebaikan.
Daripada Salman bin Amir al-Dhabley, bahawa Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. bersabda yang bermaksud: "Untuk anak lelaki itu aqiqahnya. Tumpahkan atasnya darah dan hilangkanlah daripadanya kekotoran dan najis." (Riwayat Abu Daqud, al-Turmuzi dan Ibnu Majah).
Menurut Imam Ahmad bin Hambal, bahawa apabila seseorang kanak-kanak itu mati dalam keadaan belum diaqiqahkan lagi, maka anak itu tidak dapat mensyafaatkan kedua-dua orang tuanya diakhirat kelak.
HUKUM AQIQAH
1. Hukum aqiqah itu adalah sama dengan ibadah qurban iaitu Sunnat Muakkad kecuali dinazarkan menjadi wajib.
2. Penyembelihan aqiqah ialah pada hari ketujuh dari kelahiran bayi atau pada hari ke empat belas atau ke dua puluh satu. Jika tidak dapat maka bila-bila masa selagi anak itu belum baligh.
3. Jika anak telah baligh, maka gugur tuntutan atas walinya dan sunnat bagi dirinya (individu yang berkenaan) mengaqiqahkan untuk dirinya sendiri. Hal ini berdasarkan hadis dari Ahmad, Abu Dawud dan al-Tabrani, bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. pernah mengaqiqahkan dirinya sendiri sesudah Baginda s.a.w. diangkat menjadi Rasul.
4. Anak zina, aqiqahnya sunnat atas ibunya kerana nafkah hidup anak zina itu tanggungan ibunya bukan bapanya. Demikian pendapat Syaikh Ibnu Hajar dan Syaikh Ramli, manakala Khatib Syarbini pula berpendapat, adalah tidak sunnat bagi ibu mengaqiqahkan anak zinanya meskipun si ibu memberi nafkah kepadanya.
5. Anak lelai disembelihkan dua ekor kambing (tetapi sah sekiranya seekor) dan perempuan memadai dengan seekor kambing. Diriwayatkan daripada Aisyah, bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. memerintahkan para sahabat agar menyembelih aqiqah untuk anak lelaki dua ekor kambing yang umurnya sama dan untuk anak perempuan seekor kambing. (Riwayat al-Turmuzi). Daripada Ibnu Abbas r.a. pula menyatakan. bahawa Rasullullah s.a.w. menyembelih aqiqah untuk Hasan dan Husin masing-masing dengan seekor kambing. (Riwayat Abu Dawud)


HUKUM-HUKUM YANG LAIN BERKAITAN DENGAN QURBAN DAN AQIQAH
o Jika menyembelih qurban sendiri hendaklah berniat: "Aku jadikan binatang ini qurban untuk diriku kerana Allah Ta'ala" dan seumpamanya, atau jika penyembelihan aqiqah berniat : "Aku jadikan penyembelihan binatang ini sebagai aqiqah untuk anakku kerana Allah Ta'ala."
o Jika untuk tolong kepada orang lain maka hendaklah berakad iaitu dengan dua cara:
1) Secara wakil, maka orang yang mewakilkan berkata: "Aku wakilkan atas diriku untuk menghasilkan penyembelihan qurban untuk diriku (atau aqiqah untuk anak ku...)." Orang yang menerima wakil menjawab: "Aku terima sebagai wakil untuk menghasilkan penyembelihan qurban untukmu (atau aqiqah untuk anakmu...)." (PERINGATAN: Orang yang menerima wakil hendaklah melaksanakan penyembelihan dan tidak boleh diserahkan tanggungjawab menyembelih kepada orang lain).
2) Secara menyerahkan tanggungan dengan berkata: "Saya meletakkan atas zimmah tanggungan tuan untuk menghasilkan penyembelihan qurban untuk ku (atau aqiqah untuk anakku)." (PERINGATAN: Penerima jika tidak dapat menyempurnakan tanggungjawab yang diterima, boleh diserahkan kepada orang lain untuk menyempurnakan penyembelihan untuk orang-orang yang berakad tadi).
o Daging qurban sunnat disedekahkan kepada fakir miskin atau dihadiahkan kepada orang yang mampu dalam bentuk masih mentah tetapi aqiqah sunnat dimasak dengan masakan jenis manis seperti kurma, kicap dan sebagainya.
o Binatang unta, lembu atau kerbau boleh dikongsi sebhagian untuk qurban dan sebahagian untuk aqiqah.
o Disunnatkan tulang-tulang binatang qurban itu tidak dipatahkan atau dipecahkan sama ada oleh orang yang mengaqiqahkan atau yang memakannya. Cuma hendaklah diceraikan pada setiap persendian tulang. Sekiranya dipecahkan juga maka tidaklah pula makruh, tetapi khilaf aula (yakni bersalahan dengan yang utama).
o Daging aqiqah atau qurban atau mana-mana bahagian dari binatang (seperti kulit, tulang dan sebagainya) tidak boleh dijadikan upah kepada orang yang menyembelih dan orang-orang yang menguruskan pemotongan. Upah untuk mereka jika diperlukan, maka hendaklah diberi dalam bentuk wang atau harta benda yang lainnya.
o Orang kafir tidak boleh diberi makan daging aiqah atau daging qurban, sekiranya telah diberi umpamanya sekilo, maka wajib diganti dengan daging yang lain untuk memenuhi daging yang kurang itu.
o Daging atau mana-mana bahagian dari binatang qurban nazar atau aqiqah, haram dimakan atau diambil oleh orang yang melakukannya.


QURBAN DAN AQIQAH BERAMAI-RAMAI

Sekarang ini ada pihak tertentu seperti Masjid, Surau atau badan kebajikan dan orang perseorangan menganjurkan majlis Qurban dan Aqiqah secara beramai-ramai. Pada dasarnya amalan ini baik demi menggalakkan masyarakat Islam melakukan kedua-dua ibadah yang sangat dituntut dalam Islam (Sunnat Muakkad). Namun yang demikian, beberapa syarat berikut ini hendaklah dipatuhi:
1.Pengurusan hendaklah dilakukan dengan betul, dengan penuh amanah dan tanggungjawab.
2.Harga yang dikenakan hendaklah dinyatakan termasuk kos pengurusan (Penyembelihan, kenderaan, upah menyembelih, melapah dan sebagainya jika memerlukan upah).
3.Hendaklah diadakan aqad atau ijab dan qabul antara orang yang melakukan qurban atau aqiqah dengan pihak pelaksana (AJK Qurban/ Aqiqah atau AJK Masjid/ Surau/ Badan Kebajikan/ Orang perseorangan).

Semoga sama-sama kita dapat menunaikan ibadah tersebut.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha

Ustaz Mohd Suffian MN

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Daging Qurban kepada orang kafir?

Hidangan majlis tu ialah daging kambing akikah, boleh ke daging ibadah akikah tu diberi makan kepada orang kafir? bagaimana pula dengan daging ibadah korban
Jawapan

Aqiqah disebut dalam hadith :-

مع الغلام عقيقة فأريقوا عنه دماً وأميطوا عنه الأذى

Ertinya : " Bersama bayi yang lahir itu aqiqah, maka kerna itu mengalirkanlah darah (sembelihan) untuknya, dan jauhkan baginya segala kesakitan (godaan syaitan) ( Riwayat Al-Bukhari)

كلُّ غُلامٍ رَهينٌ بعَقيقته، تُذبَحُ عنه يومَ سابعِه ويُسمَّى فيه ويُحلق رأسُه".

ُErtinya : "Setiap anak perlu dipajakkan (terhutang) dengan aqiqah, disembelih untuknya pada hari ketujuh umurnya, dan diberi nama dan dicukur rambut kepalanya" ( Riwayat Ashabus Sunan )

Aqiqah itu pula dari sudut bahasanya adalah 'tolakan', iaitu tolakan dari gangguan dan godaan Syaitan.

Berkenaan beri kepada non muslim, saya dapati tiada dalil mahupun pendapat ulama yang meletakkan syarat bahawa si penerima adalah orang Islam sahaja. Justeru...wallahu a'lam.. saya kira ianya adalah harus.

Cuma sudah tentu yang lebih baik adalah penerima dari kalangan orang Islam kerana diharapkan adalah sipenerima memahami lalu mendoakan si kanak-kanak tadi apabila menerima hidangan hasil aqiqah itu. Jika beri pada bukan Islam, manalah mereka faham aqiqiah tu apa ..:)

Falsafah 'aqiqah adalah sebagai tanda kesyukuran bagi anugerah cahaya mata yang dikurniakan oleh Allah SWT. Justeru ia lebih baik di kongsi sesama Islam. Ini kerana ia juga seumpama satu peringatan kpd yg lain untuk beraqiqah juga untuk anak mereka (jika belum). Non-Muslim tiada peruntukan aqiqah..

Sebagai tambahan info ; Kebanyakkan ulama menggalakkan daging dari hasil sembelihan itu dimasak terlebih dahulu sebelum di edarkan kepada faqir miskin, jiran tetangga walaupun mereka kaya.

Bagaimanapun, menurut satu pandangan :-

" Daging aqiqah dan korban haram diberi kepada bukan Islam kerana korban dan aqiqah merupakan amal ibadah kepada Allah. Ia bertujuan untuk bertaqarrub kepada Allah. Ini ada disebut dalam Fatwa Syeikh Ahmad al Fatthani.

Tapi kalau bukan Islam nak beli satu bahagian daripada daging lembu itu untuk kegunaan peribadi, bukannya utk korban, maka harus hukumnya menurut Syeikh Daud al fatthani dalam Furu'ul masaa'il. "

Komen saya :

Ada benarnya, ini salah satu ijtihad yang sangat boleh dipegang. Bagaimanapun, ia tidak qat'ie dan ia masih dalam kategori perkara furu'/cabang.

Jika hujjah utama oleh beberapa ulama terulung tempatan di atas adalah "ia hal taqarrub"..maka anda boleh berhujjah bahawa hal taqarrub itu adalah terhenti di ketika niatnya, sembelihan dan hidangan dibuat..adapun hal ehwal mengedarkannya tidak lagi termasuk dalam hal yang menjadi syarat kepada taqarrub itu. Ia lebih kepada hal kemasyaratan sahaja.

Seperti solat.. ia adalah hal taqarrub kpd Allah..maka ada rukun dan syaratnya untuk memenuhi taqarrub yang disasarakan demikian juga solat di tempat yang suci adalah syarat sah utk taqarrub solat ini, tapi samada sejadah itu dibeli dari kedai non muslim atau tidak.. maka ia tidak memberi kesan kpd ibadah solat...ia cuma kurang digalakkan sahaja.

Dan mengedarkannya daging aqiqah kpd muslim sahaja, bukanlah menjadi syarat sah aqiqah dalam semua mazhab (kecuali jika saya tersilap, iaitu ada mazhab yg menajdikannya syarat sah aqiqah).

Malah jika seseorang bersedeqah kepada seorang bukan Islam di ditemuinya di keadaan yang amat memerlukan. Adakah tiada pahala baginya??? Ini tidak benar sama sekali, derma dan kebaikan yang dilakukan oleh Umat Islam adalah bersifat 'taqarrub' kepada Allah, dan ia pasti diterima walaupun penerima bantuan itu seorang kafir. Cuma, jika ada dua peminta antara Muslim dan kafir, sudah tentu lebih besar pahalanya diberikan kepada si Muslim. Bagaimanapun, ia tidak menjadikan hukum HARAM untuk diberi kepada si bukan Islam.

Justeru ia kekal isu yang sangat furu' dan bebas memilih dalam kedua-dua fatwa ulama. wallahu ''lam.
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Syafaat Di Hari Kiamat

Diriwayatkan daripada Abdullah bin Amru r.a, sesungguhnya Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda:

"Puasa dan al-Quran akan memberi syafaat kepada seseorang hamba pada hari kiamat." (Hadis riwayat Imam Ahmad).
Pengajaran Yang Boleh Diambil Dari Hadis:

baca dan fahami

1- Di antara kelebihan ibadat puasa ialah ia akan memberi syafaat kepada orang yang berpuasa pada hari kiamat kelak apabila umat Islam menunaikannya secara sempurna dengan meninggalkan makan, minum, hawa nafsu, bercakap dengan percakapan yang diharamkan, melihat kepada benda yang diharamkan dan mencari rezeki melalui cara diharamkan.



2- Kelebihan bacaan Al-Quran di mana ia akan memberi syafaat kepada orang yang membacanya pada hari kiamat kelak.

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Haji merupakan perlakuan ibadah umat islam yang mempunyai banyak simbolik yang dikemukakan kepada manusia dalam bentuk penonjolan diri, demostrasi atau perisytiharan, bukan menuntut sesuatu yang bersifat kebendaaan atau keduniaan,
tetapi demontrasi untuk menyatakan tauhid dengan slogan dan laungan kalimah suci, Allahhu Akhbar, Allah Maha Besar, berulang-ulang kali dengan keyakinan dan ketaqwaan, pengakuan yang jelas dan tegas sekalipun kufur atau musyrikin tidak menyenanginya.

Pengisytiharan tauhid yang jelas dan laungan yang tegas dilakukan serentak menyebut nama Allah, "Labayk Allah Humma Labbyk, Labbaykka La Syarikalak Labbayk, Innal Hamda Wa al- Ni'mata Laka wa al-Mulk, La Syarikalak", dilaungkan bukan kerana sesuatu kekurangan, tetapi penyataan sesuatu ibadah dalam bentuk demontrasi menentang syirik, kezaliman dan kesesatan yang dilakukan oleh manusia yang tidak mentauhidkan Allah.

Sikap dan pendirian yang tegas dalam perkara 'ubudiah yang menjadi ajaran para anbia' sejak zaman-berzaman perlu diisytihar dengan jelas supaya sekali-kali jangan terlibat dengan syirik atau tanghut.

Sebaliknya hendaklah mengabdikan diri semata-mata kerana Allah - diri, pemikiran, fizikal, harta benda dan nawaitunya hanya semata untuk Allah. Segala bentuk kesesatan, syirik atau penyembahan system yang menuju ke arah taghut wajib dijauhi.

Islam tidak menuntut sikap bertindak balas terhadap pihak yang memsongkan akidah, tetapi bersikap Islam, kebaikan dan keamanan. Bagaimanapun, jika mereka sering dan terus berusaha menyelewengkan manusia daripada mentauhidkan Allah maka diwujudkan suatu amalan ibadah dalam bentuk demonstrasi terang-terangan bagi melawan kerja-kerja mereka yang sesat sekalipun orang-orang musyrikin, golongan kuffar dan munafiqun tidak menyenanginya.

Haji adalah merupakan salah satu dari hukum Islam yang lima yang wajib ditunaikan oleh setiap Muslim, lelaki dan perempuan apabila cukup syarat-syaratnya. Menurut jumhur ulama', fardhu haji mula diwajibkan pada tahun ke enam Hijrah kerana pada tahun itulah turunnya wahyu Allah yang bermaksud:

"Dan tunai atau sempurnakanlah ibadat haji dan umrah kerana Allah"
(Surah Al- Baqarah ayat 196)

Dalam pada itu Ibnul Qaiyim menguatkan pendapat bahawa mulai diwajibkan haji itu ialah pada tahun ke sembilan atau ke sepuluh Hijrah. Sesiapa yang menafikan hukum wajib haji itu maka bererti kufur dan murtadlah ia dan terkeluar dari Agama Islam.

Sebagaimana firman Allah yang bermaksud:-

"Dan menjadi kewajipanlah bagi manusia terhadap Allah untuk mengunjungi rumah itu bagi yang sanggup berjalan diantara mereka. Dan barang siapa yang mengingkarinya, maka sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kaya (tidak memerlukan sesuatu) dari sekalian alam"
(Surah Ali Imran ayat 97)

Dari segi sejarah, ibadah haji ialah syariat yang dibawa oleh junjungan Nabi kita Muhammad S.A.W. sebagai membaharui dan menyambung ajaran Nabi Allah Ibrahim A.S. Ibadat haji mula diwajibkan ke atas umat Islam pada tahun ke-6 Hijrah, mengikut haul yang mashur iaitu dengan turunnya ayat 97 surah Al-Imran yang bermaksud :

" Dan Allah Taala mewajibkan manusia mengerjakan ibadat haji dengan mengunjungi Baitullah iaitu sesiapa yang mampu dan berkuasa sampai kepada-Nya dan sesiapa yang kufur dan ingkar kewajipan haji itu, maka sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kaya dan tidak berhajatkan sesuatu pun daripada sekelian makhluk".

Pada tahun tersebut Rasulullah S.A.W. bersama-sama lebih kurang 1500 orang telah berangkat ke Makkah untuk menunaikan fardhu haji tetapi tidak dapat mengerjakannya kerana telah dihalang oleh kaum Quraisy sehinggalah mewujudkan satu perjanjian yang dinamakan perjanjian Hudaibiah.

Perjanjian itu membuka jalan bagi perkembangan Islam di mana pada tahun berikutnya ( Tahun ke-7 Hijrah ), Rasulullah telah mengerjakan Umrah bersama-sama 2000 orang umat Islam. Pada tahun ke-9 Hijrah barulah ibadat Haji dapat dikerjakan di mana Rasulullah S.A.W. mengarahkan Saidina Abu Bakar Al-Siddiq mengetuai 300 orang umat Islam mengerjakan haji.

RASULLULLAH S.A.W MENUNAIKAN HAJI

Nabi kita Muhammad S.A.W telah menunaikan fardhu haji sekali sahaja semasa hayatnya. Haji itu dinamakan "Hijjatul Wada'/ Hijjatul Balagh/ Hijjatul Islam atau Hijjatuttamam Wal Kamal kerana selepas haji itu tidak berapa lama kemudian baginda pun wafat. Baginda telah berangkat ke Madinatul Munawwarah pada hari Sabtu, 25 Zulkaedah tahun 10 Hijrah bersama isteri dan sahabat-sahabatnya seramai lebih 90,000 orang Islam.

Baginda telah menyempurnakan amalan-amalan sunat Ihram, memakai ihram dan berniat ihram di Zulhulaifah, sekarang dikenali dengan nama Bir Ali, 10 km daripada Madinah dan baginda sampai di Makkah pada 04 Zulhijjah setelah mengambil masa 9 hari dalam perjalanan. Baginda berangkat ke Mina pada 08 Zulhijjah dan bermalam di situ.

Kemudian ke Arafah untuk berwukuf pada 09 Zulhijjah yang jatuhnya pada hari Jumaat. Rasulullah S.A.W telah menyempurnakan semua rukun dan wajib haji hingga 13 Zulhijjah. Dan pada 14 Zulhijjah, Rasulullah S.A.W telah berangkat meninggalkan Makkah Al-Mukarramah menuju balik ke Madinah Al-Munawwarah.

PERISTIWA SEMASA HIJJATUL WADA'

Di masa wukuf terdapat beberapa peristiwa penting yang boleh dijadikan pegangan dan panduan umat Islam telah berlaku, di antara ialah seperti berikut :

1. Rasulullah S.A.W minum susu di atas unta supaya dilihat oleh orang ramai bahawa hari itu tiada puasa atau tidak sunat berpuasa pada hari wukuf.
2. Seorang Sahabat jatuh dari binatang tunganggannya lalu mati, Rasulullah S.A.W. menyuruh supaya mayat itu dikafankan dengan 2 kain ihram dan tidak membenarkan kepalanya ditutup atau diwangikan jasad dan kafannya. Sabda Baginda pada ketika itu bahawa " Sahabat itu akan dibangkitkan pada hari kiamat di dalam keadaan berihram dan bertalbiah".
3. Rasulullah S.A.W. menjawab soalan seorang ahli Najdi yang bertanyakan " Apakah itu Haji ?". Sabdanya yang bermaksud " Haji itu berhenti di Arafah". Siapa tiba di Arafah sebelum naik fajar 10 Zulhijjah maka ia telah melaksanakan haji.
4. Turunnya ayat suci Al-Quranul Karim surah Al-Maidah yang bermaksud :

" Pada hari ini aku telah sempurnakan bagi kamu agama kamu dan aku telah cukupkan nikmatku ke atas kamu dan aku telah redha Islam itu menjadi agama untuk kami"

Daripada sejarah dan peristiwa ringkas itu cubalah kita teliti betapa Rasulullah S.A.W telah menyempurnakan haji dengan pengorbanan Baginda bersama sahabat-sahabat yang berjalan dari Madinah Al-Munawwarah ke Makkah Al-Mukarramah selama 9 hari berbanding pada hari ini kita menaiki kapal terbang yang boleh sampai ke Tanah Suci kurang daripada 9 jam. Ini perkara yang perlu direnungkan apabila kita menghadapi sebarang kesusahan di tanah Suci kelak.

MENUJU KE JALAN ALLAH
Kita hendaklah sentiasa bersyukur ke hadrat Allah SWT yang telah memberikan taufik dan hidayah-Nya kepada kita sehingga dengan berbekalkan iman yang teguh kita telah dapat mencari penentuan hidup yang diredhai Allah. Kita juga harus bersyukur kerana kita telah dan dipilih oleh Allah menjadi tetamu-Nya dengan mengunjungi Baitullah bagi menunaikan fardhu haji. Insya-Allah. Mudah-mudahan Ibadat Haji yang akan dikerjakan menjadi satu ibadat yang boleh memberikan satu pengajaran dan pedoman bagi meningkatkan iman dan amal kita seterusnya bagi menuju jalan yang diredhai Allah untuk kebahagiaan kita di dunia dan akhirat.

PENGGUNAAN HARTA
Menunaikan fardhu haji diwajibkan kepada mereka yang berkuasa sampai kepada-Nya, yakni mereka yang mempunyai kemampuan dalam semua aspek, khasnya kemampuan perbelanjaan di mana aspek tersebut jika digunakan bagi tujuan menyampaikan diri ke Tanah Suci untuk menunaikan fardhu haji adalah menepati kehendak kegunaan harta yang sebaik-baiknya.

IBADAH HAJI BEKALAN UNTUK AKHIRAT
Ibadat haji selain daripada berfungsi mensucikan dosa-dosa, ia juga merupakan bekalan yang tepat menuju akhirat setelah sekian lama kita hidup di dunia yang fana ini. Sesungguhnya mereka sanggup berkorban harta benda, wang dan jiwa raga untuk memperhambakan diri dengan sebenar-benarnya kepada Allah, mereka tergolong dalam golongan yang mendapat petunjuk dan hidayah serta ketinggian martabat iman di sisi Allah.

PENGORBANAN HAJI
Setiap ibadat yang sempurna memerlukan pengorbanan dari segi tenaga, masa, wang dan perasaan yang perlu dicurahkan. Ibadat haji khususnya bukan sahaja mengorbankan tenaga, masa dan perbelanjaan yang banyak yang dikumpulkan bertahun-tahun, bahkan ia berkehendakkan seseorang itu menanggung perpisahan dengan keluarga, sanak saudara, sahabat handai, harta kekayaan dan kampung halaman serta menahan kemahuan-kemahuan nafsu semasa dalam ihram. Ia juga merupakan satu pengorbanan yang luarbiasa dari kelaziman menunaikan ibadt-ibadat lain dalam hidup kita sepanjang tahun, umpamanya sembahyang lima waktu boleh dilakukan dalam rumah sendiri, di bilik berkipas atau berhawa dingin, begitu juga puasa boleh berbaring-baring malah tidur pun boleh di bilik yang selesa dengan tidak perlu keluar rumah.

Ibadat haji tidak memungkinkan seseorang itu mencapai kehendak ibadatnya dengan begitu mudah, kita perlu menghadirkan diri kita ke Tanah Suci dengan keadaan yang luar dari kebiasaan. Dalam ertikata lain, kita mesti keluar dari kelaziman dan kesenangan yang diterima selama ini, di mana keadaan di Tanah Suci tidak memberi peluang untuk kita menikmati keselesaan seperti di negara sendiri. Kita terpaksa berkhemah di Arafah dan Mina dengan pakaian putih di atas padang pasir memperkata dan membisikkan sesuatu kepada Allah bagi memohon keampunan dan keredhaan sebelum kembali kepada-Nya. Ibadat haji merupakan kemuncak pengorbanan seseorang hamba kepada Allah sudah tentu mempunyai kelebihan dan ganjaran yang banyak serta hikmah yang besar.

Firman Allah dalam surah Al-Haj ayat 27 hingga 29, maksudnya: "Dan serulah manusia supaya mereka mengerjakan haji, nescaya mereka akan mendatangimu dengan berjalan kaki dan menunggang kenderaan berjenis-jenis unta yang kurus. Mereka datang dari seluruh pelusuk rantau yang jauh supaya mereka menyaksikan pelbagai perkara yang mendatangkan faedah bagi mereka, serta mereka dapat mengingati dengan menyebut nama Allah pada hari-hari yang tertentu dengan sebab Allah telah mengurniakan mereka binatang-binatang ternakan untuk dijadikan qurban.

Dengan yang demikian makanlah darinya (daging qurban itu) dan berilah makan kepada orang yang susah lagi fakir, (kemudian hendaklah membersihkan diri mereka, dan hendaklah mereka menyempurnakankan nazar-nazar mereka dan hendaklah mereka tawaf akan Baitullah (Kaabah) yang tua sejarahnya itu)".

Dalam ayat tersebut Allah memerintahkan supaya haji itu hendaklah disempurnakan sekalipun dengan berjalan kaki atau berkenderaan menunggang unta yang kurus dengan sebab jauhnya berjalan. tah ada balasannya, balasan bagi haji ada dinyatakan dalam banyak hadis Rasulullah SAW.Di antara hadisnya dari Abu Hurairah, maksudnya: "Barangsiapa menunaikan haji ke Baitullah, sedangkan ia tiada melakukan persetubuhan dan perkara-perkara yang dilarang, maka bersihlah ia dari dosanya seperti pada hari ia dilahirkan oleh ibunya".

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Allah Only One

It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah is the personal name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when compared with the word god which can be made plural, gods, or feminine, goddess. It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic.
The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with God. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his contemporaries about Allah; the answer came directly from God Himself in the form of a short chapter of the Quran, which is considered the essence of the unity or the motto of monotheism. This is chapter 112 which reads:

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Say (O Muhammad) He is God the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone."

Some non-Muslims allege that God in Islam is a stern and cruel God who demands to be obeyed fully. He is not loving and kind. Nothing can be farther from truth than this allegation. It is enough to know that, with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the Quran begins with the verse: "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate." In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) we are told that "God is more loving and kinder than a mother to her dear child."

But God is also Just. Hence evildoers and sinners must have their share of punishment and the virtuous, His bounties and favors. Actually God's attribute of Mercy has full manifestation in His attribute of Justice. People suffering throughout their lives for His sake and people oppressing and exploiting other people all their lives should not receive similar treatment from their Lord. Expecting similar treatment for them will amount to negating the very belief in the accountability of man in the Hereafter and thereby negating all the incentives for a moral and virtuous life in this world. The following Quranic verses are very clear and straightforward in this respect:

"Verily, for the Righteous are gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord. Shall We then treat the people of Faith like the people of Sin? What is the matter with you? How judge you?" (68:34-36)

Islam rejects characterizing God in any human form or depicting Him as favoring certain individuals or nations on the basis of wealth, power or race. He created the human beings as equals. They may distinguish themselves and get His favor through virtue and piety only.

The concept that God rested in the seventh day of creation, that God wrestled with one of His soldiers, that God is an envious plotter against mankind, or that God is incarnate in any human being are considered blasphemy from the Islamic point of view.

The unique usage of Allah as a personal name of God is a reflection of Islam's emphasis on the purity of the belief in God which is the essence of the message of all God's messengers. Because of this, Islam considers associating any deity or personality with God as a deadly sin which God will never forgive, despite the fact He may forgive all other sins.



[Note that what is meant above applies ONLY to those people who die in a state wherein they are associating others with God. The repentance of those who yet live is acceptable to God if He wills. - MSA of USC]

The Creator must be of a different nature from the things created because if he is of the same nature as they are, he will be temporal and will therefore need a maker. It follows that nothing is like Him. If the maker is not temporal, then he must be eternal. But if he is eternal, he cannot be caused, and if nothing outside him causes him to continue to exist, which means that he must be self-sufficient. And if the does not depend on anything for the continuance of his own existence, then this existence can have no end. The Creator is therefore eternal and everlasting: "He is the First and the Last."

He is Self-Sufficient or Self-Subsistent or, to use a Quranic term, Al-Qayyum. The Creator does not create only in the sense of bringing things into being, He also preserves them and takes them out of existence and is the ultimate cause of whatever happens to them.

"God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth." (39:62, 63)

"No creature is there crawling on the earth, but its provision rests on God. He knows its lodging place and it repository." (11:6)


God's Attributes

If the Creator is Eternal and Everlasting, then His attributes must also be eternal and everlasting. He should not lose any of His attributes nor acquire new ones. If this is so, then His attributes are absolute. Can there be more than one Creator with such absolute attributes? Can there be for example, two absolutely powerful Creators? A moment's thought shows that this is not feasible.

The Quran summarizes this argument in the following verses:

"God has not taken to Himself any son, nor is there any god with Him: For then each god would have taken of that which he created and some of them would have risen up over others." (23:91)

And Why, were there gods in earth and heaven other than God, they (heaven and earth) would surely go to ruin." (21:22)

The Oneness of God

The Quran reminds us of the falsity of all alleged gods. To the worshippers of man-made objects, it asks:

"Do you worship what you have carved yourself?" (37:95)

"Or have you taken unto you others beside Him to be your protectors, even such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?" (13:16)

To the worshippers of heavenly bodies it cites the story of Abraham:

"When night outspread over him he saw a star and said, 'This is my Lord.' But when it set he said, 'I love not the setters.' When he saw the moon rising, he said, 'This is my Lord.' But when it set he said, 'If my Lord does not guide me I shall surely be of the people gone astray.' When he saw the sun rising, he said, 'This is my Lord; this is greater.' But when it set he said, 'O my people, surely I quit that which you associate, I have turned my face to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth; a man of pure faith, I am not of the idolaters.'" (6:76-79)

The Believer's Attitude

In order to be a Muslim, i.e., to surrender oneself to God, it is necessary to believe in the oneness of God, in the sense of His being the only Creator, Preserver, Nourisher, etc. But this belief - later on called "Tawhid Ar-Rububiyyah" - is not enough. Many of the idolaters knew and believed that only the Supreme God could do all this, but that was not enough to make them Muslims. To tawhid ar-rububiyyah one must add tawhid al'uluhiyyah, i.e., one acknowledges the fact that is God alone Who deserves to be worshipped, and thus abstains from worshipping any other thing or being.

Having achieved this knowledge of the one true God, man should constantly have faith in Him, and should allow nothing to induce him to deny truth.

When faith enters a person's heart, it causes certain mental states which result in certain actions. Taken together these mental states and actions are the proof for the true faith. The Prophet said, "Faith is that which resides firmly in the heart and which is proved by deeds." Foremost among those mental states is the feeling of gratitude towards God which could be said to be the essence of 'ibada' (worship).

The feeling of gratitude is so important that a non-believer is called 'kafir' which means 'one who denies a truth' and also 'one who is ungrateful.'

A believer loves, and is grateful to God for the bounties He bestowed upon him, but being aware of the fact that his good deeds, whether mental or physical, are far from being commensurate with Divine favors, he is always anxious lest God should punish him, here or in the Hereafter. He, therefore, fears Him, surrenders himself to Him and serves Him with great humility. One cannot be in such a mental state without being almost all the time mindful of God. Remembering God is thus the life force of faith, without which it fades and withers away.

The Quran tries to promote this feeling of gratitude by repeating the attributes of God very frequently. We find most of these attributes mentioned together in the following verses of the Quran:

"He is God; there is no god but He, He is the Knower of the unseen and the visible; He is the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. He is God, there is no God but He. He is the King, the All-Holy, the All-Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the All-Preserver, the All-Mighty, the All-Compeller, the All-Sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is God the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (59:22-24)

"There is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber seizes Him not, neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is after them, and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills. His throne comprises the heavens and earth; the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is the All-High, the All-Glorious." (2:255)

"People of the Book, go not beyond the bounds in your religion, and say not as to God but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not, 'Three.' Refrain; better is it for you. God is only one God. Glory be to Him - (He is) above having a son." (4:171)

Source : III&E Brochure Series; No. 2
(published by The Institute of Islamic Information and Education (III&E))
http://www.allah.org/

seterusnya..

ISLAM

Articles of Faith

1. Unity of God
The Islamic creed is that THERE IS NO GOD SAVE ALLAH AND THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS PROPHET. (LA ILAAHA ILLA-ALLAH MUHAMMADUR- RASOOLILLAH). Muslims believe that Allah is ONE. He was neither begotten nor does He beget. He has no Partner. He is the Beginning and He is the End. He is Omniscient and Omnipresent.

The Quraan says that He is closer to man than his jugular vein yet He cannot be encompassed by human intellect.

See the following verses of the Quraan:

II:115 II:163 II:255 VI:101 VII:7 XXIII:91-92
XXXVII:4-5 XXXVIII:65-68
CXII:1-4

Imam Ali says in a supplication:

"Oh God, verily I ask Thee by Thy Name, in the name of Allah, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate, O the Possessor of Majesty and Splendour, the Living, the Self-subsistent, the Eternal, there is no God other than Thou, Oh He of Whom no one knows what He is, or how He is, or Where He is, or in respect of what He is, And yet, we know that He is."

2. Justice of God
Allah is Just. In XCV:8, the Quraan says "Is not Allah the most conclusive of all judges?"

Again in XXI:47 "And we have provided a Just balance for the Day of Judgement. No soul shall be dealt with unjustly in any way. (Any good deed or evil deed) though it be as small as a grain of the mustard seed, will be brought forth by Us (in testimony). We suffice as the best of reckoners."

The Sunni School of thought subscribes to the view that nothing is good or evil per se. What God commanded us to do became good by virtue of His command. What he forbade became evil.

The Shias believe that there is intrinsic good or evil in things. God commanded us to do the good things and forbade the evil. God acts according to a purpose or design. Human reason cannot comprehend this design or purpose in its entirety though man must always strive to understand as much as he can.

Compulsion or Freedom?
The various schools of thought are divided.

1. Mutazzilas believe that man is totally free and God exercises no power over his action. Those who subscribe to this view are also known as Qadariyyas.

2. Mujabbira school of thought believe that man has no freedom and is only a tool in the hands of God.

3. The Asharia school of thought to which most Sunnis subscribe believe that though man has no free will, he will earn the reward of his good deeds. The Sunni scholar Al-Ghazzalli sums up this doctrine as follows: "No act of any individual, even though it be done purely for his benefit, is independent of the will of Allah for its existence. There does not occur in either the physical or the extra-terrestrial world the twinkle of an eye, the hint of a thought, or the most sudden glance except by the Decree of Allah, of His Power, Desire, and Will. This includes evil and good, benefit and harm, success and failures, sin and righteousness, obedience and disobedience, polytheism and true belief."

4. The Shias believe that there is neither total compulsion nor total freedom. The true position is the one in-between. They maintain that Allah has fore-knowledge of human action but does not compel man to any particular course of action.

See Quraan:

II:284 IV:79 VI:17 IX:51 X:107 XI:6
XI:56 XXVII:62 XXX:60 XXXIX:52-54 XLII:30

3. PROPHETHOOD
God created mankind to serve Him (LI:56). He endowed man with faculties and freedom of action and out of His Grace (LUTF) and Justice sent Prophets to instruct and guide mankind. No nation or community was left without such guidance. (X:47 and XVI:36).

Some of these prophets were sent with Divine Revelation, scripture and miracles. The first Prophet was Adam and the last was Muhammad, the Seal of Prophets (XXX:40).

While Quraan mentions only twenty-five most prominent of the prophets it also states that there were many more whose names have not been revealed in the Quraan. (XL:78). Muslims believe that there have been 124,000 prophets. Amongst those specifically mentioned are Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, Ezekiel, David, Solomon, Jonah, Zachariah, John the Baptist, Jesus and Muhammad.

Five of these prophets brought new codes of law. These were Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. These are called the "ulu l-azm" prophets meaning those of great constancy.

Quraan mentions five divine books.

1. The Book of Abraham, sometimes referred as the Booklet (LXXXVII:19).

2. The Psalms given to David (IV:63 and XVII:55).

3. The Torah granted to Moses (II:87, III:3 & 4, VI:91 & 154).

4. The Evangel or the Gospel revealed to Jesus (V:46).

5. The Quraan revealed to Muhammad.

A Muslim must believe in all the Holy Books. (II:4 & 285). He must also believe in all the prophets. (IV:152).

The Shiahs also believe that all the prophets were infallible and sinless. Not all the Sunnis subscribe to this belief.

4. Resurrection
The world will come to an end on the Day of the Rising (Qiyamah), the day of final human accountability. All men will be resurrected and presented before God Who will decide their fate according to their deeds. The good will be rewarded with paradise (jannah) and the evil will be punished with hell (jahannam). (XXII:6-9 & 1-2; III:185; VI:62). The dominant factor in the administration of His Justice by Allah will be His Mercy (VI:12).

5. Imaamah
Only the Shiahs believe in the institution of Imaamah. Literally "imaam" means a leader. In Shiah belief an Imaam is the person appointed by God and introduced by the Prophet and then by each preceding Imaam by explicit designation (nass) to lead the Muslim community, interpret and protect the religion and the law (shariah), and guide the community in all affairs.

An Imaam is first and foremost the Representative of God and the successor of the Prophet. He must be sinless and possess divine knowledge of both the exoteric and the esoteric meaning of the verses of the Quraan.

There are many Shiah sects e.g. the Zaidis, the Ismailis etc. The principal sect is the Twelvers (Ithnasharis).

(NOTE: In these Notes, unless specifically stated otherwise, references to the Shiahs and Shiah beliefs, should be construed as references to the Shiah Ithnasheriyya school of thought.)

The Twelvers believe that the Prophet was succeeded by twelve Imaams. These are:

1. Ali ibne Abu TalibDied 40 A.H./659 A.D
He was the Prophet`s son-in-law, having married his daughter Fatimah.
2. Hassan ibne Ali Died 50 A.H./669 A.D.
3. Hussain ibne Ali Died 61 A.H./680 A.D.
4. Ali ibne Hussain Died 95 A.H./712 A.D.
5. Muhammad ibne Ali Died 114 A.H./732 A.D.
6. Ja'far ibne Muhammad Died 148 A.H./765 A.D.
7. Musa ibne Ja'far Died 183 A.H./799 A.D.
8. Ali ibne Musa Died 203 A.H./817 A.D.
9. Muhammad ibne Ali Died 220 A.H./835 A.D.
10. Ali ibne Muhammad Died 254 A.H./868 A.D.
11. Hassan ibne Ali Died 260 A.H./872 A.D.
12. Muhammad ibne Hassan Born 256 A.H./868 A.D.

On the death of his father in 260 A.H. the twelfth Imam went into occultation (Gaybah), appearing only to a few leading Shiahs. Until 329 A.H./939 A.D. he performed the functions of the Imaam through representatives appointed by himself. He then went into major occultation which will continue until the day God grants him permission to manifest himself.

The Sunni View
The Sunnis use the term Imaam synonymously with the term khalifah. A khalifah may be elected, or nominated by his predecessor, or selected by a committee, or may acquire power through military force. A khalifah need not be sinless. It is lawful for a person of inferior qualities to be made a khalifah while persons of superior qualities are present.

Development Of Jurisprudence And Theology

A. The Shiah School
During their life time the Imaams remained the chief exponents of the shariah, the Islamic law. Many of the Imaams, when the political atmosphere permitted, held theological classes and also taught other sciences.

Since the major occultation of the twelfth Imaam the Shias have, as commanded not only by him but also most of the preceding Imaams, sought guidance from mujtahids and followed the institution of taqleed.

Taqleed literally means to follow or to imitate someone. In Islamic jurisprudence it means to follow a mujtahid in matters pertaining to law. (XXI:7 and IX:124)

Taqleed applies only to matters of shariah. There is no taqleed in matters of beliefs (the articles of faith). A Muslim must seek to attain conviction of their truth through reflection and rational examination.

A mujtahid must be a person learned in all the Islamic sciences. At any given time there would normally be a number of persons qualified as mujtahids and it is not uncommon to have two members of the same family in taqleed of two different mujtahids.

Any muslim can address any question of law to any mujtahid, whether or not he is in the taqleed of that mujtahid and the mujtahid would issue a fatwaa giving his opinion on that subject. This would invariably be by way of a statement of the law which in the opinion of the mujtahid is the correct legal position. The fatwaa would be binding on all the persons in the taqleed of that mujtahid.

A mujtahid is so called because he does ijtehaad which term means to strive for deriving the laws of the shariah from its sources which are:

1. the Quraan;

2. the sunnah which mean the traditions (ahadees) and the practice of the Prophet and the Imaams;

3. reasoning (aql);

4. consensus of the mujtahids (ijmaa).

B. The Sunni School
The ruling khalifah invariably assumed the mantle of the chief exponent of the shariah.

For nearly a hundred years following the death of the Prophet the State retained absolute control over authentication, collection and publication of the sayings (ahadees) of the Prophet. A few unscrupulous khalifahs did not hesitate to use this power to legitimise their misdeeds by arranging to have apocryphal ahadees produced.

After the Banu Abbas came into power in 132 A.H. (750 A.D.), the formation of the Sunni community was formalised.

Although there are many sects and sub-sects in the sunni school of thought, the four main sects are-

1. The Hanafis, founded by Imaam Abu Hanifa an-Nu'maan ibne Thabit (died 150 A.H./769 A.D.). He is a scholar greatly respected not only by his followers but also the other sunnis.

2. The Malikis, founded by Imaam Abu Abdullah Malik ibne Anas (died 179 A.H./797 A.D).

3. The Shafeis, founded by Imaam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibne Idris al- Shafei (died 204 A.H/819 A.D.)

4. The Hanbalis, founded by Imaam Ahmed ibne Muhammad ibne Hanbal (died 241 A.H./855 A.D.)

Although there are many irreconcilable differences in the four Sunni schools, in the main, however, they agree on the fundamental bases of their doctrines and laws. Each claims to have derived them from the following four sources:

1. The Quraan;
2. The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and at times the Sunnah of the first four khalifahs;

3. The Ijmaa (consensus among the companions of the Prophet or of the religious leaders or among the followers);

4. The Qiyas (deduction of legal prescriptions from the Quraan and the sunnah through rational analogy).

The extent of the acceptance of the theological and legal doctrines of any of the above four sunni schools depended largely on the inclination of the ruler of the time. For example, although Abu Hanifa himself did not gain great popularity with the khalifah, his successor Abu Yusuf became a powerful figure in the court and held office of the Chief Kadhi.

The khalifah, however, always continued to remain the final arbiter in the exposition of the law and the jurists were relegated to an advisory role.

Since the abolition of the institution of khilafah following the fall of the Ottoman Empire the sunni schools have not developed as fast as they need to so as to keep pace with the social, economic, political and scientific development. Some Sunni sects have recognized the need for ijtehaad, a few appear to concentrate on ijmaa as the main instrument for reform.

In addition to their differences in jurisprudence, the Sunnis and the Shiahs hold divergent theological views on various aspects of the articles of beliefs e.g. human freedom of action and the Justice of God (both discussed above), whether God has a corporeal form. Some sunni sects believe in anthropomorphism.

The Shiahs and the Sunnis, however, agree on the following fundamental beliefs:

1. That Allah is One and has no partners;
2. That Muhammad is the last Prophet of God;
3. That there will be Resurrection and Judgement.

Acts of Worship
The Arabic term used for Acts of worship is Ibaadah. This does not mean worship. It means service. To serve God in the manner in which He has commanded his creatures to serve Him is Ibaadah. The term would include all acts of piety as well as the mandatory acts of worship.

The mandatory acts of worship accepted by both the Sunnis and the Shiahs are:

1. Salaah (The Daily Prayers)
Every Muslim, from the time he or she attains puberty must perform the salaah. Except for a woman in menstruation, no person is excused from this act of worship.

Before a person begins his salaah he must perform the ritual ablution in the prescribed form. The object is symbolic preparation for the salaah and not, as often believed, cleanliness. A person has to be clean to perform the ablution (wudhoo). Then he stands facing Mecca and declares his intention to pray for gaining proximity to Allah. With this declaration he enters the formal state of salaah in which he remains until the completion of his prayers.

A salaah consists of a number of units called rakaahs. Each unit (rakaah) consists of

1. recitation of the opening chapter and one other chapter of the Quraan while in the standing position,

2. the bowing down (rukoo) and glorifying God in that position and

3. two prostrations each called a sajdaah in which again God is glorified. Then the second rakaah would commence.

The morning prayers to be performed between the dawn and sunrise have two rakaahs, the mid-day prayers four rakaahs, the sunset three and the evening four.

The prayers are ended by affirmation that Allah is One and has no partners and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Salutations are offered to the Prophet, all the righteous souls and all who are engaged in prayers.

Salaah is regarded as not only a ritual act of worship but a communion with the Maker. It is the most important form of ibaadah and sickness (other than insanity), age or infirmity is no excuse for not performing prayers.

Lapsed prayers constitute a debt to God and are a first charge on a muslim's time and conscience. In the event of a person having died without having said any of his lapsed prayers, the eldest son, or if the deceased is not survived by a son, his heir must say or pay someone to say the lapsed prayers of the deceased.

Seyyid Hossein Nasr writes in his Ideals and Realities of Islam:

" In the canonical prayers man stands before God as the representative of all creatures. He prays for and in the name of all beings."

Amongst the many sayings of the Prophet on the subject are:

" Salaah is the spiritual ascension of the faithful where he communes with Allah."

" The good deeds wipe out the evil deeds of a man. The salaah and patience (sabr) are the best of deeds."

Salaah is a spiritual activity where the person performing it is totally immersed, mentally and physically, in the remembrance of God. (XXIX:45, XXII:34 & 35, XXVII:1-3, XX:6-7 and 14, IX:71, LXXIV:38-48, VI:71 & 72, XV:98 & 99, XI:114 & 225).

2. Saum (Fasting).
The second act of worship is fasting in the month of Ramadhaan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. This is obligatory upon every mature muslim except the sick, the traveller, a woman during her menstruation period and those infirm by age.

Fasting involves refraining from eating, drinking and sexual activity from the beginning of the nautical dawn to sunset. But these are not the sole objectives. Fasting is a conscious obedience of Allah's command. It is the human being's struggle to dedicate a whole month to activities which please his Maker. "It is the means", says Nasr, "by which man pulls the reins of his animal desires and realizes that he is more than an animal."

Fasting also begins with a declaration of intent to fast for the attainment of proximity to Allah. (II:184, 185, 187)

It is incumbent upon a muslim to know why he prays and why he fasts. Imaam Ali says, "One who knows not why he prays or why he fasts, his prayers and fasts are little more than meaningless physical exertions, hunger and thirst."

3. Hajj (Pilgrimage To Mecca).
Every Muslim who has attained puberty and has sufficient means not only to undertake a journey to Mecca but also for the subsistence of his dependants during his absence, must once in his life time perform pilgrimage.

Kaaba is the edifice which was presented to God as a gift by His Prophets Abraham and Ishmael.

The rites for the pilgrimage begin on the 8th of the eleventh month and culminate into the Idd of Sacrifice on the 10th. (II:158, 196-203; III:97; V:3; XXII 26:33).

A muslim's journey to the House of God, and there seeking his Maker's forgiveness through expression of repentance and the performance of all the rituals attending pilgrimage, is a spiritual experience so overwhelming that the pilgrim's very soul appears to undergo a purification.

The pilgrimage has another philosophical aspect.

In the Quraan, like in the Old Testament, there is the story of Abraham having been commanded to sacrifice his son. The Quraan, however, states that the son was Ishmael.

The father communicates the message to the young lad who had just attained puberty. The lad exhorts the father to comply with the divine command adding, "God willing, you shall find me amongst the patient ones."

Unbeknown to the mother, the father and the son travel to the planes of Arafaa, a short distance from Mecca. There they spend the night in prayers. The following afternoon they travel to the town of Meena where the sacrifice was to take place. They spend the night on the outskirts of the town. The following morning they enter Meena.

On the way to the appointed place, the Satan tries thrice to lure them into abandoning the enterprise, but each time the father and the son chase him away by throwing pebbles at him.

When they get to the place of sacrifice, the father blindfolds his son saying that he did not wish the lad to see the anguish on the father's face. He then blindfolds himself for, as he reasoned, how could any father watch his son die ?

God saves Ishmael by substituting a ram and sends His salutations to Abraham for his act of obedience. God also promises Abraham to immortalize the event. (II:125-127; III:96-97; XXXVII:101-111).

The mother, on learning what had happened, screams and falls unconscious at the thought of what might have happened had Allah not intervened to save her beloved son. Shortly afterwards she dies and is buried close to Kaaba. Her burial place is treated as being included in the hallowed ground around which the pilgrim circumambulates.

Every pilgrim takes the same route which Abraham and Ishmael had taken. He too spends the first night, as they did, in Arafaa and the second night outside Meena. He too symbolically stones the satan at the three places in Meena.

While of-course the visit to the House of Allah has its own great spirituality, the pilgrim also must reflect upon the rituals which appear to enshrine family values, parents' love for their off-spring, the vanquishing of the satan, the one within man's heart, by symbolically stoning him and above all the willingness to make sacrifices for the pleasure of God.

4. Zakah. (The Wealth Tax).
Zakah, which literally means purity or purification, is a wealth tax of a small percentage (usually 2.5%) for the benefit of the needy in the society. It is regarded as a debt to God and must be distributed for the pleasure of Allah to the less fortunate amongst one's relatives, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarers, and the beggars, and for the freeing of slaves. (II: 2-3, II-43, II:177, IX:11, XXII:41, IX:71, III:91, XIV:91, XXIV:22, XXVI:9, XIV:35-37, XXII:26)

There are innumerable traditions of the Prophet insisting upon zakah being paid by every muslim. Imaam Ja'far Sadiq said that the one who does not give zakah can not expect his salaah to be accepted by Allah.

The Doctrine Of Five Pillars:
Many Sunni theologians, instead of enumerating the Articles of Faith and Acts of Worship separately, state that belief in God and the Prophet as affirmed in the creed (the Kalemah), together with the foregoing four acts of worship constitute the Five Pillars of Faith.

The Shiahs list the five Articles of Faith as the roots of religion (Usool-e-Deen) and the Acts of Worship as the branches of religion (Furoo-e-Deen).

In addition to the above acts of worship the Shiahs believe in the following acts of worship (The sunnis regard them as mandatory acts of piety):

5. Jihad Struggle Or Striving:
There are two kinds of jihad, the major jihad and the minor jihad.

The Major Jihad: (Jihad Al-Akbar)
This is the struggle against one's inner self (nafs) to subjugate and control one's passions and carnal desires. The base self (nafs-e-ammara) must be controlled by the conscience (nafs-e-lawwama), and only when one succeeds in this struggle does one attain the perfect self, the self at peace with itself (nafs-e-mutmainna). To those who attain this state, the God says:

" O the soul at peace, return to your Lord, pleased with His good pleasure AND enter into the company of My true servants. Enter the Garden !." (LXXXIX:27-30).

The Minor Jihad (Jihad Al-Asghar)
This means to struggle for Islam. Not for extension of boundaries, not for personal glory, not for the glory of any tribe, community or nation, but for the defence of Islam and the protection of its values. Such a struggle can take many forms, through the use of pen, through the use of tongue or through the use of the sword. This last form is often referred to in the Quraan as Qitaal (warfare).

In the Shiah theology, a general qitaal can be declared only by an Imaam. A mujtahid has no authority to summon Muslims to a jihad involving qitaal.

6. Amr Bi L-Ma'Aroof (Directing Others Towards Good).
It is an act of worship for a Muslim to advise and direct others to the doing of good deeds for the pleasure of Allah.

7. Nahy 'An Al Munkir (Directing Others Away From Evil).
Similarly it is the duty of every Muslim to advise others against committing sins. (III:103, 109, 113; VII:199; IX:71, 112; XXII:41; XXI:17.)

8. Khums (The One-Fifth Tax)
Only the Shiahs believe in this additional tax and they regard it as a major obligation of every Shiah Muslim. It was instituted by God as a token of regard for the Prophet and his family. (VII:1:41; XXXIII:27; LIX:6-9).

It is a 20% tax on all earnings after deduction of house-hold and commercial expenses.

Khums is paid to the mujtahid and is divided into two equal portions. One half of all receipts of khums by the mujtahid is the portion belonging to the Imaam in occultation and the mujtahid spends this portion in educational, social and economic projects for the betterment of the Shiah community. First priority is accorded to the community from which the khums was received. The second half is distributed amongst the poor and deserving descendants of the Prophet (the sayyids) each of whom may receive only up to a year's subsistence.

Other Acts Of Piety

Theocentricity:
Islam does not have the concept of secularism. All human activities must be either in accordance of the law (the shariah) or the prescribed code of conduct. An act which accords with either is an act of piety.

A muslim's must consider his life on this earth as a journey from his Maker to his Maker and must strive to gain the pleasure of his Maker. "Give glad tidings to the steadfast who say........`We are from Allah and to Him we return'. Such are they upon whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly guided." (II:155-157).

The purpose of every creation, other than humans) is to serve mankind (XXXI:20; XLV:13; LXVII:5). Man, who has been created of the best structure (XCV:4), must serve none other than Allah.(LI:56-58). It will be beneath the dignity and status of man to worship any being, thing or power other than Allah.

The doctrine of the Unity of God is not just an article of faith. It is an important factor in man's comprehension of himself and his raison d'etre. God the One, the Indivisible must be his sole Guide in his journey on this earth.

The sixth Imaam explaining the Unity of God said, " The true ibaadah is for the human being to ensure that the essence of the unity of God lies between his intent and his deed.

The Prophet has said, "Man's every action must incline towards Allah".

The Islamic ethical code is too vast and extensive to permit a full discussion in this course. We shall, therefore, confine ourselves to a cursory glance at a few aspects of the code of conduct.

Pursuit of Knowledge:
Islam regards ignorance as impure (najasah) and the acquisition of knowledge as a great act of piety. "One who has knowledge can never be equal to the one who is ignorant" (XXXIX:9).

The Prophet has said:

"It is the duty of every muslim male and every muslim female to seek knowledge".

"Seek knowledge even if you have to travel as far as China for it."

"Sitting an hour in a learned gathering is better than a thousand nights spent in performance of (optional) salaah, and better than engaging in a battle for the sake of God on thousand occasions. If one leaves one's house with the intention of gaining knowledge, for every step that he takes God shall bestow upon him the reward reserved for a prophet."

Parents:
Respect for, and obedience and kindness to, parents are enjoined upon Muslims. Obedience is, however, excused where the parents require injustice to be perpetrated. (XVII:23, XXIX:8, XXXI:14, XLVI:15-18).

The Prophet has said:

"It is an act of worship to look at either parent with affection and kindness".

"Allah is pleased when one has pleased his parents, and Allah is angry when one has angered either parent".

"Paradise lies under the feet of your mother".

Charity:
Quraan enjoins the spending of one's wealth in the cause of Allah, for the poor, the needy, the freeing of slaves, the curing of the sick and other good causes. Charity is a precondition to the attainment of piety. (II:195, 215, 245, 254, 261, 262-273; III:92; XXXVI:47; LVII:10, 11; LXIV:15-18)

There are innumerable traditions of the Prophet and the Imaams on the merits of charity. In one of these it is said, "If you have nothing to give, give a kind word or even just an affectionate smile."

Dissemination of knowledge by a scholar is an act of charity. So is the visiting of a sick.

Caring for the bereaved is also a great act of piety. There is a tradition which requires the extended family or the community to feed the immediate family of the deceased for at least three days after the death has occurred and to offer them solace and comfort.

Resisting Oppression:
Imaam Ali has said:

" To suffer oppression passively is as bad as to commit oppression".

"He who makes no effort to alleviate the suffering of an oppressed one is an oppressor".

Justice:
A muslim is required to act with justice in all his dealings with other human beings and in all circumstances. (IV:58, 105, 135; VII:29; XVI:90).

In IV:135 the Quraan says:

"O You who believe, be staunch in justice.......though it may be against your interests, or the interests of your parents or near relatives, and whether you are dealing with a rich person or a poor person. Remember Allah is nearer to them both in compassion. Therefore do not follow your low desires."

Lewdness And Indecencies:
These are totally forbidden. (XVI:90)

Idle Chatter, Slander and Infringement of Privacy:
These are totally forbidden. (XLIX:11 & 12)

The Freeing of Slaves:
This is not only an act of piety but is also prescribed as the primary penalty for certain wilful acts or omissions e.g. failure to fast or repay a lapsed fast, infringement of any regulation required to be observed during pilgrimage etc.

Liberation of slaves was also highly recommended as an atonement for various sins.

Ill treatment of slaves and servants is also forbidden.

It is highly recommended that zakaah and other alms be spent for liberating slaves. (XXIV:33; IX:60; II:177; XC:12, 13).

Reasoning And Reflection:
"Will they not reflect and ponder on the Quraan or are there locks on their intellect ?" (XLVII:24)

"Say unto them, O Muhammad: I exhort you unto one thing only. That you awake for Allah's sake, by two or singly, and then reflect." (XXXIV:46)

"In the creation of heavens and earth and in the difference between night and day are tokens for men of understanding. These are those who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and then cry out): Our Lord! Thou hast not created this in vain. Glory be to Thee !" (III:190-191).

The eighth Imaam has said:

"Worship does not lie in engaging oneself in saying prayers endlessly or in fasting copiously, but in engaging oneself in the contemplation of the works of Allah."

The Prophet has said, "Allah has endowed man with the most precious gift, the reason. The slumber of a man of reason is better than the movement of the ignorant."

Other Good Deeds:

1. Respect for the elders.

2. Respect for teachers and scholars.
The Fourth Imaam has said, " Your teacher has the following rights. Firstly, total respect from you. Secondly that you listen attentively when he speaks. Thirdly, that you never raise your voice in his presence".

3. Hospitality.

4. The keeping of promises, adhering to contracts and covenants, and repayment of debts. All these are mandatory. In V:1 God says, " O you who believe, fulfil your undertakings".

5. The forgiving of any debt owed to one by a person unable to repay.

Women in Islam
Islam does not accept that the first woman was created of any inferior composition (IV:1) or that it was Eve who fell to the promptings of Satan in disobeying God. Both were equally to blame. (VII:20-21).

Women play an important role and are equal partners of men.

"The women are raiment (comfort, embellishment and protection) for you and you are raiment for them." (II:187; IV:1).

As a daughter, she is to be shown greater affection than a son. The Prophet commands that a daughter must receive twice as much love and affection as a son.

As a wife, the woman has no obligation to provide for her husband or the children out her income or wealth. The husband has this responsibility. What a woman earns, or receives by way of inheritance or gift, is her own property over which she has sole control.

It is injustice for the husband to require the wife to do the house-hold chores. It is for the parties to agree on the division of labour.

The wife, however, is under a duty to obey the lawful and just commands of her husband.

As a mother the woman occupies a unique position. She is placed upon an almost divine pedestal. She must be obeyed (save where obedience would lead to injustice), revered and her feelings never hurt. The Prophet has said that while both parents must be obeyed and respected, the father's place is three rungs below that of the mother.

The woman is the pivot of the family, and Islam holds the family as being the most important unit of the society. From the moment of conception to birth and up to the attainment of puberty, it is the mother who shapes the mind, the thinking and the behaviour of that future member of the society. The Prophet repeatedly emphasised the importance of the upbringing of children and the role of the mother.

He is reported to have said:

"It is better to bring up your children so that they have good manners and morals than to spend your wealth for the pleasure of Allah."

There are also several traditions of the Prophet and the Imaams about the treatment and conduct of pregnant mothers.

Dress
The Quraan commands both men and women to `lower their gaze and be modest'.

The women have been further commanded `not to display their ornaments except what appears thereof and to wear their head-coverings over their bosom and not to display their ornaments except to their husband (and other members of their family within the prohibited degree of marriage e.g. a son, father, brother, uncles excluding uncles by marriage etc.)'. (XXIV:30 & 31).

Again in XXXIII:59 God says:

"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments. This will be more proper. They will be known and will therefore not be given trouble."

The above verses have been interpreted by some jurists as requiring a veiled face and body and others as requiring a scarf over the head to conceal the hair (an essential ornament) and the rest of the body, except the face, the hands and the feet, to be covered by a loose fitting outer garment. In different cultures different forms of women`s dress, or veil or "purdah" have evolved.

The Quraanic object clearly appears to be protection of women from molestation and disrespect, and not their treatment as inferior beings.

Marriage
Marriage is a solemn contract between a man and a woman, each giving his or her consent freely and without any duress, to become life partners and enjoy the rights conferred and fulfil the obligations imposed by the shariah.

The basic requirements are free consent, the mahr (dowry) and the recitation of the marriage formula (the aqd) in the prescribed form and perfect Arabic. The mahr is the giving or a promise to give any sum of money to the bride and/or to fulfil any condition or obligation that the bride may impose.

The parties may recite the aqd themselves or appoint agents to do so on their behalf.

According to some Shiah jurists the bride may, in the mahr, confer upon herself a right to divorce, or provide for the division of property of property in the event of divorce or any other condition to reserve for herself any right or benefit which under the shariah she would not normally enjoy.

The relationship between husband and wife must be founded upon love and mutual tolerance:

"And of His (God's) signs is that He has created for you mates from amongst yourselves so that you might find comfort and solace in them, and He has ordained between you love and mercy." (XXX:21)

There are many traditions and sayings on thios subject. Two are given below:

1. May Allah bless the man who lays the foundation of his relations with his wifeon goodness. (Imaam Ja'far Sadiq)
2. A man must honour and love his wife. (The Prophet)

Temporary Marriages (Mutaa):
The Shiah law also permits temporary marriages. It has the same rights and obligations as a permanent marriage except that the marriage will terminate by effluxion of time, and, if the parties so agree, the relationship may be for companionship only without consummation.

Polygamy:
A marriage with up to four wives is permitted. There are, however, strict conditions as to equal and just treatment of all the wives.

Divorce
Islam permits divorce where the marriage has irreparably broken down. But first there must be a process of reconciliation in which the elders of the two families as well as of the community must strive to get the parties to reconcile.

The Prophet has said that of all the permissible things divorce is the most detestable to Allah.

Political Science
Sovereignty belongs to God. The ruler, whether a king or an elected or nominated representative, can only rule as His vicegerent and in accordance with His laws. (XLII:38; XXII:41).

When Imaam Ali was finally elected the khalifah he endeavoured to establish an Islamic government but alas he was not permitted to rule for long.

However, during the five years of Ali's reign he wrote several letters to his Governors and Commanders restating the principles of governance in Islam. These letters and instructions have been compiled into a book called `Nahjul Balaagah', English translations of which are available. The most famous of these documents is Ali's letter to his Governor in Egypt, Maalik Ashtar, which deals with a variety of subjects including administration, judiciary, treatment of non-muslims, the army and the conduct of a ruler or his representative. In the preamble of the letter Ali says:

"This is what Allah's servant Ali has ordered Malik ibne al-Harith al-Ashtar when he appointed him Governor of Egypt, for the collection of its (Egypt's) revenues, fighting against its enemies, seeking the good of its people and making its cities properous."

The Quraan & Modern Science
The French author Maurice Bucaille has written a book entitled `La Bible, le Coran et la Science', which has been translated into English. In this book the author writes:

"The relationship between the Qur'an and science is a priori a surprise, especially when it turns out to be one of harmony and not of discord........The totally erroneous statements made about Islam in the West are sometimes the result of ignorance and some times of systematic denigration."

The author then proceeds to take various scientific subjects and give Quraanic references which fully accord with the modern scientific conclusions. While it is not proposed to deal with the subject in any detail in this course, it might be interesting to give here a few of the scientific subjects dealt with by Bucaille and the corresponding Quraanic verses cited by him:

The sky: (L:6; XIII:2; XLV:13; X:5).
The Planets: (XXIV:35; XXXVII:6).
Celestial organization: (XXXVI:40; XXXV:13; LI:47).
Conquest of space: (LV:33; XV:14 & 15).
The earth: (II:22; XX:53 & 54).
The water cycle: (XXX:48; VII:57; XXV:48 & 49).
Origin of life in water: (XXI:30; XX:53).
Vegetable and animal reproduction: (XX:53; XII:3; LIII:45 & 46).
Animal communities: (VI:38).
Bees: (XVI:68 & 69).
Spiders: (XXIX:41).
Human reproduction: (LXXXII: 6-8; XVI:4; LXXV:37; XXIII:13; XXII:5; XXIII:14; LIII:45 & 46; XXXV:11).

Islamic Jurisprudence
This too is a subject beyond the scope of this course. The main sources of Islamic Jurisprudence are the Quraan and the sunnah, and encompasses inheritance, marriage, divorce, paternity, waqfs (trusts), contracts, penal laws, evidence and procedure.

Islamic Culture ?
Culture has been defined as "the totality of socially transmitted behaviour patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought characteristic of a community or a population. It is the set of shared beliefs, attitudes, values, and behavioral patterns of a group or organisation." (Readers Digest Universal Dictionary)

Religion on the other hand is "the expression of man's belief in and reverence for God or gods who created the Universe and Govern it."

It is as naive to think that any religion encompasses the totality of culture as it is to think that any culture is solely the product of a religion.

Islam like many other religions claims to be universal accommodating within its fold the cultures of all its adherents provided that the bounds of the religious laws are not transgressed.

Islam has broad parameters of rules and regulations and within these parameters an African can remain as much a Muslim as a Pakistani or a Bangladeshi or an English-man or Scots-man or an American or Chinese or any individual from any country anywhere in the world.

Nevertheless there is a difference of opinion on whether Islam has its own distinct culture. Scholars are divided on whether there is a central cultural theme in Islam.

Some vehemently argue that there is such a central theme.

Others maintain that because of the universality of Islam it is wrong to insist upon a common cultural theme.

This latter school of thought argue that culture is an historical heritage of a nation, people or society in the fields of art, architecture, dress, cuisine, language, literature and other cultural norms and pursuits. Islam, on the other hand, consists of beliefs, acts of worship, a code of conduct and jurisprudence. So long as the culture of a society lies within the parameters of Islamic beliefs, acts of worship, code of conduct and the shariah, that culture would be acceptable in Islam. Many an artist, architect, poet, author and chef has, upon acceptance of Islam, adjusted himself/herself so as conform to the Islamic requirements.

Muslims in Great Britain
There is a substantial muslim community in Great Britain and at times there occur conflicts between them and other communities.

It is wrong to link racism with religion. Racism is an attitude of hostility based upon racial prejudice. This is often exploited by unscrupulous politicians and community leaders for their own ends.

Unfortunately, both the victims and the perpetrators of racial prejudice tend to foster the image of it being the result of the diversity in religious beliefs. This often rallies support for the victim community and provides the perpetrators with the mantle of defending their faith.

At the same time there is amongst the indigenous population a fear, nurtured by irresponsible media, that Islam poses a threat to their community.

If a solution is not found, and found soon, the muslim communities could be driven to extreme ethnicity with the future generation growing up as pariahs in their own country.

Consideration must be given to promoting a better understanding of Islam in the indigenous population. For this both the communities will need to strive hard.

Islam is a tolerant religion. It accepts Christianity and Judaism as sister faiths and respects other religions as well. The Muslims are enjoined to respect churches, synagogues and other places of worship.

There is a need to ensure that each side is enriched by the values of the religion of the other through amicable inter-action without anyone from either side losing his identity.

To ensure harmony efforts must be made to create a community of British muslims rather than a community, or a number of communities, of muslims in Britain.

[NOTE: ANY STUDENT WISHING TO DISCUSS ANY ASPECT OF THIS COURSE WITH THE TUTOR SHOULD PLEASE CONTACT BASHIR RAHIM.]

Contributed by Br. Maqbul Hussein Rahim, 100530.1344@compuserve.com.

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