WITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION.....

HARD COVER

PAGE IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM

FINAL PRODUCT

With a little imagination, effort and time.... stamps mounted on an invitation card.

I find that Singapore stamps are very interesting: in terms of colour, a story-like what is happening in Singapore such as festivals, sports, hobbies, landscape, infrastructure, etc.

The lavendar colour of the S$2 Revenue stamp blends well with the portrait which is in monotone (though that is not the reason lah). Well, it is an indicator, a nation with good governance and a strong economy. This is my country and this is the National Anthem:

MAJULAH SINGAPURA!

TREADING THE MIDDLE PATH SAVES ONE FROM DESTRUCTION

'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) say:

"Whoever transforms all of his concerns into one concern only - concern for the Hereafter - Allah will satisfy his demands and needs in this life. As for he who devotes his concerns to worldly matters, Allah will not care in which valley he perishes."

There are two factors that help one lead a happy life:

1. Moderation in anger.

2. Moderation in fulfilling one's desires.

One has to be moderate in fulfilling his desires, lest his desires and lusts increase to the point of constantly seeking to be satisfied, an outcome that will lead to his destruction. The same can be said about anger, for it too can lead to destruction.

What is required in all affairs is moderation. Strength, when in excess, makes violence and killing easy. And yet if there is a shortage of it, one will not be able to defend oneself against transgressors. But when one uses strength moderately, he can display the qualities of patience, bravery, and wisdom, each in its proper place and time. The same goes for desire; if there is too much of it, then wickedness and licentiousness will prevail; if there is too little of it, then one will become weak. However, if it is present in due moderation, one will achieve both chastity and satisfaction.

"Upon you is to follow the guidance of moderation."

"Thus We have made you a middle nation, so that you may bear witness over all humanity, and the Messenger (Muhammad) shall in turn bear witness over you". Surah 2 - Al-Baqarah (143)


ADDENDUM

Attention is drawn to the historic phenomenon that nations which attain ascendancy and supremacy usually display arrogance and conceit, and look down upon other weaker nations. Today's domineering vain-glorious civilization, which has encompassed both east and west, is a vivid living example - a culture of decadence and gross injustice thriving on the great achievements and glory of a genius elite who have split the atom and made inroads into outer space. When the Muslims were a leading nation, however, and at the height of their achievement, they were overwhelmed by a sense of submission to God and a need for His support and guidance. They have always sought God's forgiveness and looked up to His grace, praying:

Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes,
Our Lord, do not lay upon us a burden such as You had laid upon those before us,
Our Lord, do not burden us with more than what we can bear.
Pardon us, forgive us our sins, and have mercy upon us.
You are our Lord,
Grant us victory over the unbelievers.

Surah 2 - Al - Baqarah (286)

SHARING IS CARING ........

Specially for MiSsSweEt,

Thank you for your participation and comments: "PAUSE TO REFLECT" posted on Wednesday, 10 November 2010.

I agree with your first paragraph. Behind calamities there is a "hikmah" - blessing, which we cannot see, but it will surface later on, with patience and prayers. And when this happens, the feeling is "nikmat" - a good, sweet feeling, which ALLAH bequeath on His "umat".

I tried to reply on the comment page but unsuccessful. In this connection, your comments will take notice by all readers. Thank you for starting the ball rolling.

With all best wishes

AISHAH SAID

PAUSE TO REFLECT....

WHEN SOMEONE REALLY REALLY HURTS OUR FEELINGS: TAKE HEED PROPHET MUHAMMAD (BPUH) SAID:

"Don't curse others and don't hit others with your hand. If someone were to curse you regarding something that he knows about you, don't curse him regarding something that you know about him. And don't disparage any kind of good deed, even if that deed consisted of pouring some water from your bucket into the container of the one who seeks drink."

DO NOT DELAY WHEN IT COMES TO DOING GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS DEEDS

A STORY....

At-Tanookhi gave the account of a governor in Bagdad who usurped the wealth of an old lady in his province. He took away all of her rights and confiscated her property. She went to him, wept before him, and complained of his oppression and wrongdoing. He was neither regretful nor ashamed of what he had done. In a fit of anger, she said, "I will pray against you." He laughed at her in mockery and said, "Then you should pray in th last third of the night." His arrogance had made him say this to her. She went away, and in accordance with the governor's mock-advice she was steadfast in praying during the last third of the night. It was only a matter of days before he was violently removed from office. As a reward for his tyranny, his properties were seized and he was publicly whipped. After the whipping, the old lady passed by him and said, "You did well! You advised me to pray in the last third of the night and I found the results to be most favourable."

The last third of the night is a very precious time in our lives.
Why? During this time, Allah, the Exalted, says:

"Is there someone who is asking, and I will give to him.
Is there someone who is seeking forgiveness, and I will forgive him.
Is there someone who is supplicating, and I will answer him."

An Arab poet said:

"How often do we ask Allah, when we become afflicted?
But when our troubles leave us, we forget Him,
When in the ocean, we invoke Him to save our ship,
When we return safely to land, we disobey Him,
We fly in the sky in safety and comfort
And we don't fall because our protector is ALLAH."

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL ADHA"

"A LIFE-TIME LEARNING".... AL QURAN

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said, "Indeed Allah (SWT) desires that the Quran be recited in the manner it was revealed."

EXCERPT from: SURAH 56 - Al-Waqi'ah

Those who, in this life, enjoyed reading and studying the Qur'an, shall derive even more enjoyment from doing so in the hereafter. Believers shall be fully and generously rewarded for their deeds and efforts in this life. They will be guests of their Lord in the auspicious company of angels and prophets. They will enjoy more than kings and emperors here on earth could ever dream of.

BELAJAR AL QUR'AN DAN MENGAJARKANNYA

Rasulullah s.a.w. telah mengatakan: "Yang sebaik-baik kamu ialah orang yang mempelajari dan mengajarkannya." Dalam hadist lain Rasulullah mengatakan: "Sesungguhnya seseorang yang berpagi-pagi pergi mempelajari ayat-ayat dalam Kitabullah lebih baik yang seperti itu, daripada mengerjakan sembahyang sunat seratus rakaat." Dari hadist yang dirawayatkan oleh Ibnu Abbas, Rasulullah juga mengatakan: "Siapa-siapa yang mempelajari Kitabullah, kemudian diamalkan isi yang terkandung di dalamnya, Allah akan menunjukinya dari kesesatan dan akan dipeliharanya pada hari kiamat dari siksa yang berat."

Belajar Al Qur'an itu merupakan kewajiban yang utama bagi setiap mu'min, begitu juga mengajarkannya. Belajar Al Qur'an itu hendaklah dari semenjak kecil, sebaiknya dari semenjak berumur 5 atau 6 tahun, sebab umur 7 tahun sudah disuruh mengerjakan sembahyang. Rasulullah sudah mengatakan: "Suruhlah anak-anakmu mengerjakan sembahyang, bila sudah berumur 7 tahun dan pukullah (marahilah) bila dia tidak mengerjakan sembahyang kalau sudah berumur 10 tahun."

Menjadikan anak-anak dapat belajar Al Qur'an mulai semenjak kecil itu adalah kewajiban orang tuanya masing-masing. Berdosalah orang tua yang mempunyai anak-anak tetapi anak-anaknya tidak pandai membaca Al Qur'an. Rasulullah s.a.w. mengatakan: "Tidak ada suatu keuntungan bagi seorang yang telah menjadikan anaknya pandai membaca Al Qur'an , kecuali baginya nanti pada hari kiamat akan diberikan suatu mahkota dari dalam syurga."

Pada tingkat pertama ini, yaitu tingkat mempelajari membaca Al Qur'an dengan baik, hendaknya sudah merata dilaksanakan, sehingga tidak ada lagi orang yang buta huruf Al Qur'an di kalangan masyarakat Islam. Di tiap-tiap rumah tangga orang Islam hendaknya diaktifkan benar-benar pemberantasan buta huruf Al Qur'an, sehingga setiap muslim yang menjadi keluarga rumah tangga itu sudah pandai semuanya membaca Al Qur'an dengan baik. BATAS UNTUK MEMPELAJARI AL QUR'AN ITU HANYA BILA SESEORANG SUDAH DI HANTAR KE LUBANG KUBUR.

Jadi tidak ada alasan untuk tidak mempelajari Al Qur'an, kerana tua, kerana dewasa dan sebagainya. Dalam tingkatan pertama sekedar pandai membaca Al Qur'an dengan baik, hal ini berlaku bagi anak-anak, orang dewasa mahupun orang tua, semuanya berkewajiban untuk mempelajarinya.

Sesudah itu, barulah menginjak ke tingkat yang kedua, yaitu mempelajari arti dan maksud yang terkandung di dalamnya. Dengan demikian, Al Qur'an itu betul betul menjadi pelajaran, petunjuk dan peraturan bagi setiap muslim dalam mencapai kebahagian hidup yang diridhai Allah.

INSYAALLAH!

I'M BACK! HORMAT: JANGAN SAMPAI MENGHINA DIRI

ISLAM menggalakkan umatnya menghormati para ulama, orang- orang yang soleh iaitu orang-orang yang mendapat kelebihan daripada Allah SWT.

Rasulullah SAW melarang perbuatan menghormati orang-orang yang sombong dan takbur. Orang yang takbur tidak wajar dihormati. Sesuai dengan amaran baginda: "Barangsiapa yang suka dan mengharap orang lain bangun menghormati dirinya, bererti dia telah menempah tempat duduknya di dalam neraka."

Menghormati dan memuliakan ulama dan orang yang soleh adalah wajar, kerana para ulama dan pewaris perjuangan para nabi. Sebagai menghargai jasa dan sumbangan mereka kepada agama, wajarlah penghormatan itu kepada mereka. Para ulama dan orang-orang yang soleh tidak pernah mengharap supaya diri mereka disanjung dan dihormati, kerana ia bercanggah dengan sifat tawaduk yang ada pada diri mereka. Apa yang dilakukan oleh para ulama adalah kewajiban yang mesti dilaksanakan terhadap agama. Lantaran khidmat para ulama yang ikhlas itu, orang ramai dengan senang hati menghormati mereka tanpa didorong ataupun dirancang oleh mana-mana pihak. Hormat semata-mata kerana rasa sayang terhadap orang yang sewajarnya dimuliakan.

Individu bagaimanakah yang harus dihormati dan yang ditegah menghormatinya. Hendak menghormati orang-orang yang soleh, tidak perlu sebarang usaha dan protokol. Hormat kepada seorang yang telah menabur bakti kepada agama, berlaku secara spontan. Sifat tawaduk adalah antara ciri-ciri orang yang soleh. Jika ada orang bangun menghormati kehadirannya, orang yang soleh itu pasti tidak merasa gembira dengan penghormatan itu, kerana ia bukan suatu keperluan.

Sebaliknya orang yang soleh itu akan sentiasa menawarkan bantuan terhadap orang lain yang memerlukan. Semestinya orang yang soleh dan para ulama itu berperanan sebagai pengajar ataupun jurunasihat dengan ikhlas. Orang yang soleh semestinya bersifat tawaduk, mereka sentiasa terbuka untuk menerima teguran. Kerana sebagai manusia mereka juga tidak sunyi daripada kelemahan. Kemungkinan berlaku kesilapan ataupun kesalahan di luar kesedaran mereka.

Inilah cara hidup orang soleh yang sentiasa merendah diri terhadap saudara mereka, tidak terbuka hati untuk mengharapkan penghormatan ataupun sanjungan daripada orang lain. Seperkara lagi yang diperlu difahami, walaupun Islam menggalakkan supaya menghormati orang alim dan orang-orang yang soleh, namum dalam perkara hormat menghormati itu ada batasannya. Hormat sesama manusia hendaklah penuh waspada, jangan melampaui batas yang digariskan oleh syariat.