ISRA' AND MI'RAJ: THE MIRACULOUS NIGHT JOURNEY

The Isra' and Mi'raj refer to two parts of an miraculous journey that Prophet Muhammad took in one night from Makka (Mecca) to Jerusalem and then an ascension to the heavens.

Isra' is an Arabic word referring to Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey from Makka to Jerusalem - specifically to the site of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem - as referred to in Surah Al-Israa in the Quran.

It is believed to have been followed by the Mi'raj, his ascension to heaven. According to some of the Hadith scholars this journey is believed to have taken place just over a year before Prophet Muhammad migrated to from Makka to Madina, on the 27th of Rajab.

Following is the translation of the first verse of chapter 17, Al-Israa, from the Quran that refers to this journey, followed by a detailed explanation of the verse by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makka) to the farther Mosque (in Jerusalem) - whose surroundings We have blessed - that We might show him some of Our signs¹. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Quran 17:1)

The Quran here only mentions that the Prophet was taken from the Ka'bah to the mosque in Jerusalem, and specifies that the purpose of the journey was such that God might "show him some of His signs". Beyond this, The Quran does not concern itself with any detail.

However, according to Hadith reports, Gabriel took the Prophet at night from the Ka'bah to the mosque in Jerusalem on a buraq.² On reaching Jerusalem the Prophet along with other Prophets offered Prayers.³ Gabriel then took him to the heavens and the Prophet met several great Prophets in different heavenly spheres.⁴ Finally, he reached the highest point in the heavens and was graced with an experience of the Divine Presence. On that occasion the Prophet received a number of directives including that Prayers were obligatory five times a day.⁵ Thereafter, the Prophet returned from the heavens to Jerusalem, and from there to the Holy Mosque in Makka. Numerous reports on the subject reveal that the Prophet was also enabled on this occasion to observe Heaven and Hell.⁶

It may be recalled that according to authentic reports when the Prophet narrated the incidents of this extraordinary journey the following day to the people in Makka, the unbelievers found the whole narration utterly amusing.⁷ In fact, even the faith of some Muslims was shaken because of the highly extraordinary nature of the account.⁸

The details of the event provided by the Hadith supplement the Quranic account. There is no reason, however, to reject all this supplementary information on the grounds that it is opposed to the Quran. Nevertheless, if someone is not quite convinced and hence does not accept some of the details concerning the Ascension mentioned in the Hadith as true, he should not be considered an unbeliever. On the contrary, if someone were to clearly deny any part of the account categorically mentioned in the Quran, he would be deemed to have gone beyond the fold of Islam.

What was the nature of this journey? Did it take place when the Prophet was asleep or when he was awake? Did he actually undertake a journey in the physical sense or did he have a spiritual vision while remaining in his own place? These questions, in our view, have been resolved by the text of the Quran itself. The opening statement: "Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque to the farther Mosque..." (verse 1) itself indicates that it was an extraordinary event which took place by dint of the infinite power of God. For quite obviously, to be able to perceive the kind of things mentioned in connection with the event, either in a dream or by means of intuition, is not so wondrous that it should be prefaced by the statement: "Holy is He Who carried His servant by night..."; a statement which amounts to proclaiming that God was free from every imperfection and flaw. Such a statement would make absolutely no sense if the purpose of it was merely to affirm that God had the power to enable man to have either visions in the course of a dream, or to receive information intuitively. In our view, the words of the experience or a dream vision, was an actual journey, and the observation in question was a visual observation. All was contingent upon God's will that truths be revealed to the Prophet in this fashion.

Now, let us consider the matter carefully. The Quran tells us, in clear terms, that the Prophet, went from Makka to Jerusalem and then returned to Makka during the night (obviously, without the use of anything resembling an aircraft), owing to God's power. Now, if we believe this to be possible, what justification can there be to reject as inherently impossible the additional details of the event mentioned in the traditional sources? Statements declaring certain acts to be possible and others to be beyond the range of possibility are understandable if these acts are deemed to have been performed by creatures in exercise of the natural powers with which they are endowed.

However, when it is clearly stated that it is God Who did something out of His power, any doubts about the possibility of these acts can be entertained only by those who do not believe God to be all-powerful.

Those who reject the Hadith as such raise several objections against the traditions concerning this incident. It seems that only two of these objections are worth of any consideration.

First, it is claimed that the contents of the traditions relating to the Ascension imply that God is confined to a particular place. For had that not been the case, it is argued there would have been no need to transport the Prophet in order for him to experience the presence of God. Second, it is questionable whether the Prophet was enabled to observe Heaven and Hell and to see people being chastised for their sins even though they had not yet been judged by God. How is it that people were subjected to punishment even before the coming of that Day when all will be judged?

Both these objections, however, carry little substance. The first objection is to be rejected on the grounds that although the Creator is infinite and transcends both time and place, yet in dealing with His creatures He has to have recourse to the means which are finite and are circumscribed by time-space limitations. This is because of the inherent limitations of man. Hence when God speaks to His creatures, He employs, of necessity, the same means of communication which can be comprehensible to the latter even though His Own speech transcends the means employed in the speech. In like fashion, when God wants to show someone the signs of His vast kingdom, He takes him to certain places and enables him to observe whatever he is required to observe. For it is beyond the power of man to view the universe in the manner God can. While God does not stand in need of visiting a certain place in order to observe something that exists there, man does need to do so. The same holds true of having a direct encounter with the Creator. Although God is not confined to a particular place, man needs to experience His presence at a defined place where the effulgence of His Being might be focused. For it is beyond man's power to encounter God in His limitlessness.

Let us now consider the second objection. That too is fallacious for the simple reason that the objects shown to the Prophet represented, in symbolic form, certain truths. For instance, a mischievous statement has allegorically been represented by a fat ox that could not return via the small hole through which it had come.⁹ Or the other allegory relating to those who indulge in fornication - that they prefer to eat rotten meat when fresh, clean meat is available to them.¹⁰ The same holds true for the punishments to which sinners will be subjected in the Next Life - they are anticipatory representations of the sufferings to which they will be subjected in the Life to Come. The main point which needs to be appreciated regarding the Ascension is that it belongs to a genre of experience through which each Prophet is enabled to observe - consonant with his standing and mission - aspects of God's dominion of the heavens and the earth. Once the material barriers to the normal vision of human beings are removed, it becomes possible to view physically, the realities which the Prophets are required to summon others to believe in as part of faith in the Unseen. This is done in order to distinguish the Prophets from mere speculative philosophers. For a philosopher's contentions are based on speculative reason and hence are essentially conjectural. Were a philosopher to recognize his true position - the position of a philosopher - he would shrink from testifying to the truth of his contentions. In contrast, what the Prophets say is based on their direct knowledge and observation. They can testify before others with full conviction that whatever they expound are realities which they themselves have directly perceived.

Notes:

1. This is a reference to the event known as Mi'raj (Ascension) and Isra' (Night Journey). According to most traditions - and especially the authentic ones - this event took place one year before Hijrah. Detailed reports about it are found in the works of Hadith and Sirah and have been narrated from as many as twenty-five Companions. The most exhaustive reports are those from Anas ibn Malik, Malik ibn Sa'sa'ah, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari and Abu Hurayrah. Some other details have been narrated by 'Umar, 'Ali, 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, 'Abd Allah ibn Abbas, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, and 'A'ishah among other Companions of the Prophet.

2. Buraq was the name of the heavenly steed on which the Prophet rode on his nocturnal journey from Makka to Jerusalem, and then to the heavens.

3. Al-Nasa'i, Sunan, K. al-Salah, 'Bab Fard al-Salah wa Dhikr Ikhtilaf al-Naqilin...' 

4. See al-Nasa'i, Sunan, K. al-Salah, 'Bab Fard al-Salah'.

5. Al-Bukhari, K. Manaqib al -Ansar, 'Bab al-Mi'raj; K. al-Tawhid, 'Bab Kallama Musa Taklima'.

6. Al-Bukhari, K. al_Salah, 'Bab Kayfa Furidat al-Salah fi al-Isra' and Ibn Hisham, Sirah, vol. I, p. 404.

7. Muslim, K, al-Iman, 'Bab Dhikr al-Masih ibn Maryam'.

8. See Ibn Hisham, Sirah, vol. I, p.398 and al-Qurtubi, comments on verse 1 of the surah.

9. See Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, comments on Bani Isra'il 17:1.

10. Loc.cit; see also Ibn Hisham, vol. 1 p. 406.

    
Source: Islamicity 

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD - AGAIN?!

The international media erupts, and the Americans cheered, at the news of the death of Osama bin Laden, as announced by President Obama in a televised announcement heard round the world on 1st May 2011. It is as though they have heard the news for the first time.

The truth is that, this is not the first time that Osama was reported or believed to be dead. According to the following articles, Osama was reportedly pronounced dead at least nine times!

When Obama pronounced Osama Bin Laden dead in a televised announcement heard round the world last night, he was at least the ninth major head of state or high-ranking government official to have done so.

Given Bin Laden’s documented kidney problems and consequent need for dialysis, government officials, heads of state and counterterrorism experts have repeatedly opined that Osama Bin Laden has in fact been dead for some time. These assertions are based on Bin Laden’s failing health in late 2001 and visible signs of his deteriorating condition, as well as actual reports of his death from the same time frame.

In July of 2001, Osama Bin Laden was flown to the American Hospital in Dubai for kidney treatment. According to French intelligence sources, he was there met by the local CIA attache. When the agent bragged about his encounter to friends later, he was promptly recalled to Washington.

On the eve of September 11, Osama Bin Laden was staying in a Pakistani military hospital under the watchful eye of Pakistan’s ISI, the Pakistani equivalent of the CIA with deep ties to the American intelligence community (Note: watch the video here)

Osama Bin Laden in December 2001

In October 2001, Bin Laden appeared in a videotape wearing army fatigues and Islamic headdress, looking visibly pale and gaunt. In December of 2001, another videotape was released, this time showing a seriously ill Bin Laden who was seemingly unable to move his left arm.

Then on December 26, 2001, Fox News reported on a Pakistan Observer story that the Afghan Taliban had officially pronounced Osama Bin Laden dead earlier that month. According to the report, he was buried less than 24 hours later in an unmarked grave in accordance with Wahabbist Sunni practices.

What followed was a string of pronouncements from officials affirming what was already obvious: supposedly living in caves and bunkers in the mountainous pass between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Osama would have been deprived of the dialysis equipment that he required to live.

On January 18, 2002, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced quite bluntly: “I think now, frankly, he is dead.”

On July 17, 2002, the then-head of counter-terrorism at the FBI, Dale Watson, told a conference of law enforcement officials that “I personally think he [Bin Laden] is probably not with us anymore,” before carefully adding that “I have no evidence to support that.”

In October 2002, Afghan President Hamid Karzai told CNN that “I would come to believe that [Bin Laden] probably is dead.”

In November 2005, Senator Harry Reid revealed that he was told Osama may have died in the Pakistani earthquake of October that year.

In September 2006, French intelligence leaked a report suggesting Osama had died in Pakistan.

On November 2, 2007, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto told Al-Jazeera’s David Frost that Omar Sheikh had killed Osama Bin Laden.

In March 2009, former US foreign intelligence officer and professor of international relations at Boston University Angelo Codevilla stated: “All the evidence suggests Elvis Presley is more alive today than Osama Bin Laden.”

In May 2009, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari confirmed that his “counterparts in the American intelligence agencies” hadn’t heard anything from Bin Laden in seven years and confirmed “I don’t think he’s alive.”

Now in 2011, President Obama has added himself to the mix of people in positions of authority who have pronounced Osama Bin Laden dead. Some might charge that none of the previous reports had any credibility, but as it is now emerging that Osama’s body was buried at sea less than 12 hours after his death with no opportunity for any independent corroboration of his identity, the same question of credibility has to be leveled at this latest charge. To this point, the only evidence we have been provided that Osama Bin Laden was killed yesterday are some images on TV of a burning compound and the word of the man currently occupying the oval office.

But given that an informed consensus has formed around the opinion that Bin Laden died long ago due to kidney failure, will the people of America hold their President to the highest standard in presenting evidence that the person killed was actually Osama Bin Laden, and that he actually died in the way described, or will this pronouncement go unquestioned like so many other deaths in the never ending war of terror?

[Sources: Prison Planet and The Corbett Report. Emphasis mine.]

What do we make of all this? Is Osama really dead? Or was he dead sometime ago? As evident in the above bolded paragraph - which reported he was buried at sea - we definitely have no way of knowing now. By the time others come to their senses and call for an international independent inquiry, he (the body said to be Osama's) may never be recovered. Burying the body at sea would simply dispose all evidence.

True, American officials have confirmed through DNA fingerprinting that it is Osama. But with so many reports of his previous death (as the above article shows), can we really believe it? And since he is the "most wanted man who have killed thousands," surely his dead body would be splashed all over the international media and American authorities would gladly allow an independent corroboration of his identity. Why was there no ground burial which, with exhumation, would make such independent corroboration possible? The sea burial was reportedly undertaken in a hurry. All too convenient it seems!

There is also the question of why, with its enormous resources, advanced technology and military might, were the American authorities unable to capture Osama since 9-11? Compare that to how fast they were able to capture and execute Saddam Hussein! Probably the many reports (for example here, here and here) that Osama is a an American/CIA agent are true after all. Read also Osama bin Laden: A dead nemesis perpetuated by the US government.

And Al-Qaeda? Does it really exist?  A quote from one article:

"The truth is, there is no Islamic army or terrorist group called Al Qaida. And any informed intelligence officer knows this. But there is a propaganda campaign to make the public believe in the presence of an identified entity representing the 'devil' only in order to drive the TV watcher to accept a unified international leadership for a war against terrorism. The country behind this propaganda is the US . . ."

One last, and amusing, note about Al-Qaeda from the same above-quoted article:

"Ana raicha Al Qaeda" is colloquial for "I'm going to the toilet". A very common and widespread use of the word "Al-Qaeda" in different Arab countries in the public language is for the toilet bowl. This name comes from the Arabic verb "Qa'ada" which mean "to sit", pertinently, on the "Toilet Bowl". In most Arabs homes there are two kinds of toilets: "Al-Qaeda" also called the "Hamam Franji" or foreign toilet, and "Hamam Arabi" or "Arab toilet" which is a hole in the ground. Lest we forget it, the potty used by small children is called "Ma Qa'adia" or "Little Qaeda".

So, if you were forming a terrorist group, would you call yourself, "The Toilet"? 

Yes indeed, why would a notorious terrorist group which reportedly killed thousands of people and which struck fear in everyone, call itself "The Toilet"?!

BLOG PERKAUMAN MENGHINA MELAYU

Terbaca posting berikut dari blog Taiping Mali tentang wujudnya satu blog yang menghina Melayu:

Fw: BLOG PERKAUMAN DAN MENGHINA...
------ SMS ------
From: +60194126667
Received: Apr 5, 2011 3:49 PM
Subject: BLOG PERKAUMAN DAN MENGHINA...

BLOG PERKAUMAN DAN MENGHINA PEMIMPIN MELAYU Diatas tindakan penulis blog alfanso sivaji yg mengguna platform template anshul dudeja yang telah menghina pemimpin dan orang melayu dan memadankan gambar pemimpin melayu dengan binatang serta kata-kata menghina POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA. Mengikut blog ada dipaparkan gambar dan simbul lucah. Dengan ini bagi Perkasa Daerah Lms mengangap tindakan penulis blog ini biadap dan tersangat kurang ajar dan sekali lagi Perkasa Daerah Lms memberi amaran kpd penulis blok ini supaya jangan cuba membakar perasaan orang melayu yang telah banyak berkorban hak demi menjaga kepentingan semua kaum dan jangan sampai orang melayu hilang sabar dan mengambil tindakan sendiri sehinga melampaui batas undang-undang negara. Drp: Othman Mohd TPPD Lms. 

[ Sumber: Taiping Mali ] 

Blog berkenaan bernama Alfanso Sivaji's dan ia boleh dilayari di sini.

Berikut dipaparkan beberapa gambar dari blog tersebut yang jelas berbau perkauman dan menghina Melayu:

U.M.P.O (United Malays Pariah Organization)

Kencing UMNO 1Malaysia

UMNO Melayu Pariah

Buta Melayu

Sementara hampir semua blog, terutama blog pro-kerajaan, terlalu sibuk dengan pendedahan video seks Anwar Ibrahim, nampaknya kita lupa atau terlepas pandang musuh-musuh Melayu-Islam yang menikam kita dari pelbagai penjuru.

Berapa blog yang melaporkan tentang isu Kalimah Allah dalam Bible? Yang dilihat hanya blog-blog seperti SatD, Dinturtle dan On Da Street yang bekerja keras untuk memastikan isu tersebut tidak dilupai.

Benar, blog memainkan peranan mendedahkan penyelewengan pemimpin, namun janganlah kita orang Melayu lalai dengan usaha bersepadu pihak-pihak chauvinist bukan-Melayu yang menghina Melayu secara berterusan.

SEJARAH “APRIL FOOL”: TRAGEDI PENYEMBELIHAN UMAT ISLAM SEPANYOL

Hari ini adalah hari April Fool atau, jika diterjemahkan secara harfiah, April Trick (Tipu Daya April). Tetapi berapa banyakkah di kalangan kita, terutama orang Islam, tahu tentang rahsia pahit di sebalik hari ini?

 

Menurut kajian, pada abad ke-8 Masihi, orang Islam berjaya menubuhkan satu Empayar di Sepanyol yang mempelopori era Zaman Keemasan Tamadun Islam. Orang-orang Kristian, menerusi kajian teliti mereka, mendapati bahawa faktor utama Islam berkembang dengan pesat dan berjaya menubuhkan Empayar di Sepanyol adalah kerana ketaqwaan (kesolehan) kaum Muslimin. Jadi, orang Kristian bertindak melemahkan iman mereka dahulu dengan jalan serangan pemikiran dan budaya. Mereka memperkenalkan arak dan lain-lain minuman keras, rokok, muzik, tarian dan pergaulan bebas kepada generasi muda Muslim, dan memastikan semua ini tersedia ada secara meluas dan bebas.

 

Penyerahan diri Sultan Granada Muhammad XII

Taktik ini membuahkan hasil yang berkesan, dan iman kaum Muslim di Sepanyol mulai menjadi lemah, terutama di kalangan generasi muda. Kesan jangka panjangnya adalah orang Kristian Katolik barat berjaya menakluk seluruh Sepanyol dan mengakhiri kekuasaan Islam yang telah bertahan selama lebih dari 800 tahun. Grenada, yang merupakan benteng terakhir umat Islam, jatuh pada 1 April 1487. Penyerahan diri tentera Islam Granada telah dilakukan oleh Sultan Muhammad XII kepada Raja Sepanyol Ferdinand dan Ratu Isabella (lihat gambar sebelah).

Tarikh 1 April ini dirayakan sehingga sekarang sebagai hari "Tipu Daya April", di mana orang-orang Kristian dengan mudah berjaya menipu orang Islam sehingga jatuhnya sebuah Empayar Islam di Sepanyol yang sering kita megahkan. Mulai dari hari itulah orang Kristian memanggil orang Islam "orang bodoh yang mudah tertipu." Mereka menganggap bukan saja tentera Islam di Granada sebagai orang bodoh yang mudah tertipu, tetapi juga menggunapakai perkataan "bodoh" itu ke atas seluruh ummah Islam. (Ingat, perkataan "fool" juga bermakna bodoh).

Apa yang terjadi pada tarikh 1 April itu? Berikut dipaparkan sedutan satu artikel yang menjelaskan tragedi tersebut, untuk renungan dan pengajaran umat Islam di negara ini:

April Fool – Mengungkap Tragedi Penyembelihan Umat Islam Sepanyol

 

Pada setiap tanggal 1 April, ada sahaja orang (terutama anak-anak muda) yang merayakan hari tersebut dengan membuat pelbagai kejutan atau sesuatu aneh yang di luar jangkaan. April Fools Day, demikian orang Barat menyebut hari tanggal 1 April. Namun, tahukah anda jika perayaan tersebut sesungguhnya berasal dari sejarah pembantaian tentera Salib terhadap kaum Muslim Sepanyol yang memang didahului dengan upaya penipuan? Inilah sejarahnya yang disalin kembali sebahagiannya dari buku “Valentine Day, Natal, Happy New Year, April Mop, Halloween: So What?” (Rizki Ridyasmara, Pustaka Alkautsar, 2005).

Sejarah April Fool

Perayaan April Fool yang selalu diakhiri dengan kegembiraan dan kepuasan itu sesungguhnya berasal dari satu tragedi besar yang sangat menyedihkan dan memilukan. The April’s Fool Day berasal dari satu episod sejarah Muslim Sepanyol pada tahun 1487 atau bersamaan dengan 892 H. Sebelum mengungkap tragedi tersebut, ada baiknya kita melihat sejarah Sepanyol dahulu ketika masih di bawah kekuasaan Islam.

Sejak dibebaskan Islam pada abad ke-8 M oleh Panglima Thariq bin Ziyad, Sepanyol tumbuh menjadi satu negeri yang makmur secara beransur-ansur. Pasukan Islam tidak setakat berhenti di Sepanyol, namun terus melakukan pembebasan di negeri-negeri sekitarnya menuju Perancis. Perancis Selatan dengan mudah dibebaskan. Kota Carcassone, Nimes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Poitou, Tours, dan sebagainya jatuh. Walau sangat kuat, pasukan Islam masih memberikan toleransi kepada suku Goth dan Navaro di daerah sebelah Barat yang terletak di pergunungan.

Islam telah menerangi Sepanyol. Ini kerana sikap para penguasa Islam begitu baik dan rendah hati, maka banyak orang-orang Sepanyol yang kemudian dengan tulus dan ikhlas memeluk Islam. Muslim Sepanyol bukan hanya beragama Islam, namun mereka sungguh-sungguh mengamalkan kehidupan secara Islami. Mereka tidak hanya membaca Al-Quran, tetapi juga bertingkah laku berdasarkan Al-Quran. Mereka selalu berkata untuk tidak minum khamar, bergaul bebas, dan segala macam hal yang dilarang oleh Islam. Keadaan seperti itu berlangsung hampir enam abad lamanya.

Selama itu pula kaum kafir yang masih ada di sekeliling Sepanyol tanpa kenal lelah terus berupaya membersihkan Islam dari Sepanyol, namun mereka selalu gagal. Mereka telah mencuba beberapa kali tapi selalu tidak berhasil. Dikirimlah sejumlah perisik untuk mempelajari kelemahan umat Islam di Sepanyol. Akhirnya perisik itu menemukan cara untuk menaklukkan Islam di Sepanyol, yakni yang pertama adalah harus melemahkan iman mereka dahulu dengan jalan serangan pemikiran dan budaya.

Maka mulailah secara diam-diam mereka mengirim alkohol dan rokok secara percuma ke dalam wilayah Sepanyol. Muzik diperdengarkan untuk membujuk kaum mudanya agar lebih suka bernyanyi dan menari berbanding membaca Al-Quran. Mereka juga mengirim sejumlah ulama palsu yang kerjanya adalah untuk menyemarakkan perpecahan di dalam tubuh umat Islam Sepanyol. Lama-kelamaan upaya ini membuahkan hasil.

Akhirnya Sepanyol jatuh dan berjaya dikuasai pasukan Salib. Penyerangan oleh pasukan Salib benar-benar dilakukan dengan kejam tanpa mengenal peri kemanusiaan. Tidak hanya pasukan Islam yang dibantai, tetapi juga rakyat biasa, wanita, anak-anak kecil, orang-orang tua, semuanya dibantai dengan sadis dan kejam.

Satu persatu daerah di Sepanyol ditakluki. Granada adalah daerah terakhir yang ditaklukkan. Penduduk Islam di Sepanyol (juga disebut orang Moor) terpaksa berlindung di dalam rumah untuk menyelamatkan diri. Tentera-tentera Kristian terus mengejar mereka.

Ketika jalan-jalan mulai sepi, yang tinggal adalah ribuan mayat yang bergelimpangan dan bermandikan aliran darah. Tentera Salib mengetahui bahawa banyak Muslim Granada yang masih bersembunyi di rumah-rumah. Dengan lantang tentera Salib itu meneriakkan pengumuman, bahawa para Muslim Granada boleh keluar dari rumah dengan aman dan dibenarkan berlayar keluar dari Sepanyol dengan membawa barang-barang keperluan mereka. “Kapal-kapal yang akan membawa kalian keluar dari Sepanyol sudah kami persiapkan di pelabuhan. Kami menjamin keselamatan kalian jika ingin keluar dari Sepanyol, setelah ini maka kami tidak lagi memberikan jaminan!” demikian bujuk tentera Salib.

Orang-orang Islam masih curiga dengan tawaran ini. Beberapa dari orang Islam dibenarkan melihat sendiri kapal-kapal penumpang yang sudah dipersiapkan di pelabuhan. Setelah benar-benar melihat ada kapal yang sudah dipersiapkan, maka mereka segera bersiap untuk meninggalkan Granada bersama-sama menuju ke kapal-kapal tersebut. Mereka pun bersiap untuk berlayar.

Keesokan harinya, ribuan penduduk Muslim Granada yang keluar dari rumah-rumahnya dengan membawa seluruh barang-barang keperluannya beriringan jalan menuju pelabuhan. Beberapa orang Islam yang tidak mempercayai tentera Salib bertahan dan terus bersembunyi di rumah-rumahnya. Setelah ribuan umat Islam Sepanyol berkumpul di pelabuhan, dengan cepat tentera Salib menggeledah rumah-rumah yang telah ditinggalkan penghuninya. Lidah api terlihat menjilat-jilat angkasa ketika para tentera Salib itu membakar rumah-rumah tersebut bersama orang-orang Islam yang masih bertahan di dalamnya.

Manakala ribuan umat Islam yang berada di pelabuhan berasa terkejut ketika tentera Salib juga membakar kapal-kapal yang dikatakan akan mengangkut mereka keluar dari Sepanyol. Kapal-kapal itu dengan cepat tenggelam. Ribuan umat Islam tidak boleh berbuat apa-apa kerana sama sekali tidak bersenjata. Mereka juga kebanyakan terdiri dari para perempuan dan anak-anak yang masih kecil. Lalu tentera Salib segera mengepung mereka dengan pedang yang terhunus.

Dengan satu teriakan dari pemimpinnya, ribuan tentera Salib itu segera membunuh umat Islam Sepanyol tanpa perasaan belas kasihan. Jerit tangis dan takbir membahana. Dengan buas tentera Salib terus membunuh orang awam yang sama sekali tidak berdaya.

Seluruh Muslim Sepanyol di pelabuhan itu habis dibunuh dengan kejam. Darah menggenang di mana-mana. Laut yang biru telah berubah menjadi merah kehitam-hitaman. Tragedi ini bertepatan dengan tanggal 1 April. Inilah yang kemudian diperingati oleh dunia Kristian pada setiap tanggal 1 April sebagai “The Aprils Fool Day”.

Bagi umat Islam April Fool tentu merupakan tragedi yang sangat menyedihkan. Hari dimana ribuan saudara seimannya disembelih dan dibantai oleh tentera Salib di Granada, Sepanyol. Sebab itu, adalah sangat tidak layak jika ada orang Islam yang ikut-ikutan merayakan tradisi ini. Sebab dengan merayakan April Fool, sesungguhnya orang-orang Islam itu ikut bergembira dan tertawa atas tragedi tersebut. Siapa pun orang Islam yang turut merayakan April Fool, maka ia sesungguhnya tengah merayakan ulang tahun pembunuhan beramai-ramai terhadap ribuan saudara-saudaranya di Granada, Sepanyol, beberapa abad silam.

 

[ Sumber: Hizbut Tahrir ]

Selepas membaca artikel di atas, sanggupkah kita orang Islam menipu daya orang Islam lain, kemudian ikut bergembira dan tertawa, walaupun kita biasanya hanya bergurau dan tidak berniat buruk?

 

Antara katakunci-katakunci yang boleh diambil dari tragedi 1 April yang menyayat hati ini termasuklah tipu daya, berbohong, mungkir janji, melemahkan iman melalui budaya bukan Islam.

 

Bolehkah kita kaitkan tragedi April Fool ini dengan keadaan umat Islam di negara kita sekarang? Sama-samalah kita renungi...

SELAMAT HARI RAYA - SAMBUTLAH DENGAN TAKBIR DAN TAHMID

KEPADA RAKAN-RAKAN BLOGGER DAN MUSLIMIN & MUSLIMAT

Umat Islam digalakkan menyambut hari raya "Aidilfitri dan "Aidiladha" dengan takbir dan tahmid sebagai bersyukur kepada Allah pada hari baik dan bulan baik tersebut. Allah berfirman:

 " ... Dan supaya kamu cukupkan bilangan puasa (sebulan Ramadhan) dan supaya kamu membesarkan Allah (dengan takbir dan tahmid) kerana mendapat pertunjuk-Nya dan supaya kamu bersyukur."  (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 185)

"Hari Raya Aidil Fitri" yang juga terkenal dengan nama "Hari Raya Puasa" disyariatkan oleh Allah Taala untuk umat Islam merayakannya dengan penuh kesyukuran dan dengan pelbagai jenis amal bakti yang diredhaiNya. Kalimah 'Id' (hari raya) dalam bahasa Arab berasal dari perkataan 'Aud' ertinya yang berulang-ulang. Yakni peristiwa yang berulang-ulang pada tiap-tiap tahun yang membawa rahmat dan menggembirakan umat Islam.

Kemuliaan "Hari Raya Aidil Fitri" diterangkan di dalam Al-Qur'an seperti yang tertera di atas dan juga diterangkan di dalam hadith-hadith berikut:

Dari Abu Umamah r.a., dari Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. sabdanya: " Barang siapa mengerjakan amal ibadat pada malam hari raya (Aidilfitri dan Aidiladha) dengan mengharapkan keredhaan Allah semata-mata, hatinya tidak akan mati (pada hari kiamat) sebagaimana matinya hati (orang-orang yang kufur ingkar) pada hari itu."  (Riwayat Ibn Majah)

Hadith ini menggambarkan bahawa pada hari kiamat kelak, orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh, hatinya hidup (bahagia dan gembira) kerana berjaya mendapat balasan yang baik dan keredhaan Allah Azza wa Jalla.

Sebaliknya orang-orang yang kufur ingkar, hatinya mati (hampa dan kecewa) pada hari itu, kerana dimurkai Allah dan ditimpakan dengan seburuk-buruk balasan.

" Barang siapa menghayati malam hari raya Aidilfitri dan malam hari raya Aidiladha dengan amal ibadat, sedang ia mengharapkan keredhaan Allah semata-mata, hatinya tidak akan mati (pada hari kiamat) sebagaimana matinya hati (orang yang kufur ingkar) pada hari itu."  (Riwayat Tabrani)

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a., dari Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., sabdanya: " Hiasilah hari-hari raya kamu dengan takbir."  (Riwayat Tabrani)

Dari Anas r.a., dari Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., sabdanya: " Hiasilah kedua-dua hari raya (Aidilfitri dan Aidiladha) dengan tahlil, takbir, tahmid dan taqdis."  (Riwayat Abu Nu'aim)

Menurut huraian ulama' rahimahullah, takbir hari raya - Aidilfitri dan Aidiladha - hukumnya sunat dan lafaznya yang lengkap adalah seperti berikut:

Takbir Raya

Allah Maha Besar, Allah Maha Besar, Allah Maha Besar, tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah dan Allah jualah yang Maha Besar, Allah Maha Besar dan bagi Allah jualah segala pujian.

Allah Maha Besar dengan segala kebesaran-Nya, segala puji tertentu bagi Allah tidak terhingga banyaknya, Maha Suci Allah pada tiap-tiap pagi dan petangnya. Tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah dan kami tidak menyembah melainkan Dia semata-mata dengan mengikhlaskan ibadat kepadanya walaupun dibenci oleh orang-orang kafir.

Tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah Maha Esa, amatlah benar dan tepat janji-Nya, ia telah memenangkan hambanya (Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.), ia juga telah menguatkan tentera-Nya dan Dialah jua yang telah mengalahkan musuh-musuh Islam yang bergabung dan berbagai-bagai golongan, tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah dan Allah Maha Besar, Allah Maha Besar dan bagi Allah segala pujian.

[Sumber: Islam Grid]

GEREJA AMERIKA MERANCANG HARI MEMBAKAR QURAN, DENMARK TELAH LAMA MEMBAKARNYA, ORANG IRAN BERAMAI-RAMAI MEMBACANYA.

Di Amerika, gereja  Dove World Church di Gainesville, Florida, merancang Hari Membakar Quran Antarabangsa (International Burn A Quran Day) pada 11 September  (sempena peristiwa 9-11 di New York pada tahun 2001).  Rancangan ini telah mendapat liputan luas dari media antarabangsa. Berikut adalah petikan dari satu laporan:

The ironically named Dove World Church — whose pastor, Terry Jones, has written a book called “Islam Is Of The Devil,” which is also emblazoned on a sign outside the institution — is planning to host “International Burn A Quran Day” on September 11. But the radical church ran into a new roadblock yesterday as Gainesville city officials “denied a burn permit” for the church for the event, effectively telling them doing so would be illegal. The church, undeterred, sent out an e-mail to supporters promising to hold the burning event anyway:

Gainesville officials denied a burn permit for a church that plans to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The Gainesville church, the Dove World Outreach Center, has a history of inflammatory comments and campaigns against Islam and remained defiant despite the burn permit denial.

In an e-mail sent out Wednesday, the church said, “City of Gainesville denies burn permit – BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS.”

Under the city’s fire protection ordinances, the open burning of books is not allowed. The city’s fire chief, Gene Prince, told a local news station that the “church will be fined if it holds the book burning.” Mayor Craig Lowe, who has in the past referred to the church as a “tiny fringe group and an embarrassment to our community,” told The Gainesville Sun that he supports the officials’ in denying the book burning. “Based upon the law and the ordinances that have been set forward by the city of Gainesville, I support and respect the decision,” he said.

[Sumber: Think Progress]. [Laman web Dove World Church di sini].

Rujuk juga blog Just Read dan The Flying Kick mengenai rancangan ini.

Walau pun ramai menentang rancangan ini, ramai juga menyokongnya:

As of this writing, nearly 500 people have clicked “like” on the event’s webpage, which also features Photoshop images premised on the nuking of Iran and Mecca. One of these shows Mecca’s Grand Mosque full of pilgrims, with the simple tag: “Nuke It.”

[Baca seterusnya di sini]

Petikan di atas merujuk kepada reaksi menyokong rancangan ini di dalam  laman Facebook Dove World Church. Jelas komen-komen yang disiarkan di dalam facebook ini menunjukkan bukan saja lebih dari 500 yang menekan butang "Like"  (menyokong), tetapi juga betapa bencinya mereka terhadap Islam. Ada juga komen-komen yang memaparkan gambar Kaabah yang dibakar (lihat gambar sebelah kanan) dan gambar Kaabah dengan banner "holy shit" dan najis terletak di atasnya (gambar sebelah kiri). Banyak lagi gambar-gambar yang dengan terang menghina Islam. Bacalah komen-komen di link laman facebook Dove World Church yang di beri. Sangat menyakitkan hati!

Denmark, seperti orang Islam sedia maklum, telah lama membakar Quran, malah menghinanya dengan teruk. Lihat sajalah gambar-gambar di bawah:

Inilah yang berlaku di Denmark. Kiri: Membakar Quran. Tengah: Memijak Quran. Kanan: Menembak Quran.

Di Iran pula, umat Islam beramai-ramai membaca Quran. Gambar-gambar di bawah menunjukkan umat Islam di Iran membaca Quran di bulan Ramadhan.

Ya, kita sedia maklum mereka penganut Syiah tetapi mereka juga membaca Quran seperti kita. Kalau lihat saja bilangannya, malu juga rasanya.

Kapada orang Islam PAS dan UMNO, apa reaksi mereka? Tidakkah mereka bersama mahu membantah rancangan gereja Dove World Church dan apa yang berlaku berterusan di Denmark? Memandangkan penghinaan ke atas umat Islam di Malaysia yang semakin tidak terkawal, senario manakah yang mahu kita pilih: Amerika, Denmark, atau Iran? Apa yang berlaku di Amerika dan Denmark akan berlaku di Malaysia jika kita umat Islam tidak bersatu.

LAILATUL QADR: THE NIGHT OF POWER

Imagine this. What if your boss told you that if you worked on one specific day, the company would give you 81 years worth of pay? What if you could earn the same amount of money for 81 years of work with just one night of labor? Would you agree to this bargain?

Allah, praised and glorified, has promised His believers an even better deal. Muslims can attain the same amount of blessings and rewards in one night of worship, as they would if they worshiped 1000 regular months. That’s over 81 years. That’s the blessing of Lailatul Qadr.

Lailatul Qadr, translated as the Night of Power, is the greatest night of the year. During this period, Muslims should spend their nights in worship and seek forgiveness, reward, and blessings of Allah.

What Should We Do During Laylatul Qadr?

Here are some recommended things that we should do during Laylatul Qadr.
 

1. Qiyamul Layl: Translated roughly as “Standing for Prayer at Night.” During any other time of the year outside of Ramadan, this prayer is the same as Tahajjud. However, during Ramadan, the Taraweeh prayer replaces Tahajjud, and Qiyamul Layl is a separate prayer Muslims can make at night. It is highly recommended that we make this prayer during Lailatul Qadr.

2. Doa: Roughly translated as “supplication”, this is an informal prayer in which the Muslim asks Allah for anything he or she may need or want. There is no specific method of making doa, but it is preferred that the Muslim requests blessings upon Prophet Mohammad (peace be up on him), prays for his/her parents, and asks Allah for forgiveness. Allah loves it when His slaves ask Him for things, so asking during Lailatul Qadr is especially beneficial. 

3. Leaving the mundane: Muslims should decrease their involvement in worldly actions during Lailatul Qadr. While it’s okay to eat, drink and sleep during the Night of Power, they should refrain from sexual relations and frivolous activities like watching TV or common gossip. 

What Does The Quran Say About Laylatul Qadr?

Lailatul Qadr is only directly referenced in one chapter of the Quran. This is chapter 97 which goes by the name Al-Qadr, meaning “The Power.” Though this is a short chapter, it is very profound when we consider the meaning behind the words.

Verily We have sent it down in The Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr)

And what will explain Lailatul Qadr to you?

Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months

Therein descend the Angels and the Spirit with the permission of their Lord, with every matter.

Peace therein, until the coming of dawn.

Now, let’s look at this chapter in depth. The following information is based on Ibn Kathir’s explanation of the Quran.

“Verily We have sent it down in the Night of Power.”

“It” in this verse refers to the Quran. Allah tells us that the Quran was sent down during Lailatul Qadr. And we know from previous verses in the Quran, that the Quran was sent down during the month of Ramadan.

Chapter 44, verse 1-4  state: Ha-Mim. By the manifest Book that makes things clear. We sent it down on a blessed night. Verily, We are ever warning. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter with wisdom.

So from this verse, we know that the Quran was sent not just during the month of Ramadan, but specifically during Lailatul Qadr.

“And what will explain Lailatul Qadr to you? Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months.”

Allah explains the Night of Power as only He can. He tells us that Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months during which there is no Night of Power. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) stated that whoever is deprived of good on Laylatul Qadr is truly deprived. Our prophet has also stated that whoever stands (prays) during Laylatul Qadr expecting the reward of Allah, will be forgiven their previous sins.

“Therein descend the Angels and the Spirit with the permission of their Lord, with every matter.”

Because of the magnificent blessings of this night, the Angels descend from Heaven. They come down in great numbers with the blessings and mercy of Allah. They visit the believers worshiping Allah whether they are reciting Quran, making dhikr (remembrance) or performing prayer.

“The Spirit” in this verse refers to the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel). We can see how important Lailatul Qadr is if the highest ranking angel of all is descending upon the earth. Angel Jibreel is the one who visited Prophet Muhammad with the first verses of the Quran.

The phrase “with every matter” means that during this night, the matters of life and death, the provisions of every human, is decided during this night. (See the verses from Chapter 44 above.) Truly, what a blessed night to seek the mercy of Allah!

“Peace therein, until the coming of dawn.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has stated:

“Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled.”

With the gates of Hell closed and the devils locked up, Lailatul Qadr is full of peace for the Muslims until the dawn. The Angels give the worshippers tidings of peace until the dawn. All of it is good and there is no evil until the coming of dawn.
 

When Is Lailatul Qadr?
 
The question everyone has is: “When is the Night of Power? Which night is Lailatul Qadr?”

We already know from the Quranic verses above, that Lailatul Qadr occurs during the month of Ramadan. A narrative from Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the prophet’s wife, states: “when the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stay up at night, wake his family and tie his lower garment tight.”

So now we know that Lailatul Qadr is during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

There is a statement from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that reveals more evidence. He stated:

“Verily I saw Lailatul Qadr, and I was caused to forget it, and indeed it is during the last ten (nights). It is during an odd night and I saw myself as if I were prostrating in mud and water.”

This shows that the Night of Power occurs during the odd numbered nights during the last ten days of Ramadan.

It was recorded that after he made this statement, Prophet Muhammad led his companions in prayer. While they were praying, it began to rain, and after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came up from prostration, his forehead was covered in mud and water. One narration states this occurred on the twenty-first nght.

However, another narration states that Lailatul Qadr may occur during another night.

“Seek it in the last ten (nights) of Ramadan. In the ninth it still remains, in the seventh it still remains, in the fifth it still remains.”

Yet another narration from the companion Ubay Ibn Ka’b states otherwise. When informed that another Ibn Mas’ud (another companion of our prophet) said whoever stands for prayer during the entire year will catch Lailatul Qadr, Ubay responded: “May Allah have mercy upon him. Indeed he knows that it is during the month of Ramadan and that it is the twenty-seventh night.”

And then the companion Abu Hurayrah reported that Prophet Muhammad stated:

“Verily, it is during the twenty-seventh or the twenty-ninth night. And verily, the angels who are on the earth during that night are more numerous than the number of pebbles.”

And Ubaidah Ibn Samit reported that Prophet Muhammad said:

“Seek it in Ramadan in the last ten nights. For verily, it is during the odd nights, the twenty-first, or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth, or the twenty-seventh, or the twenty-ninth, or during the last night.”

So, we can see that while there is ample evidence that Lailatul Qadr occurs during the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, there’s no absolute evidence of the exact night. What is for the Muslim then, is to spend each of the last ten nights involved in worship, hoping to catch the Night of Power.

Several scholars believe that the Night of Power moves about during the last ten nights from year to year, and is not necessarily the same night every year. There appears to be sound evidence for this theory. This gives us even more reason to seek Lailatul Qadr during each of the last ten nights, instead of just focusing on one particular day.

This night is also a good time to increase our understanding of Islam. This is a good time to learn Quran or memorize a new doa. Even if you only know the basics of Islamic beliefs, you should take advantage of Lailatul Qadr.

And Allah knows best.

[Source: Islamic Learning Materials]

Video:

Laylatul-Qadr (The Night of Power)