Ujian dan Mu'min

"Demi sesungguhnya! Kami akan menguji kamu dengan sedikit perasaan takut (kepada musuh) dan (dengan merasai) kelaparan, dan (dengan berlakunya) kekurangan dari harta benda dan jiwa serta hasil tanaman. Dan berilah khabar gembira kepada orang-orang yang sabar:
(Iaitu) orang-orang yang apabila mereka ditimpa oleh sesuatu kesusahan, mereka berkata: "Sesungguhnya kami adalah kepunyaan Allah dan kepada Allah jualah kami kembali."  [Al Baqarah 155-156]

*Rasulullah SAW bersabda "Aku takjub dengan perihal orang yang beriman.. Semuanya ada kebaikan.. Tidak ada suatu kebaikan pun kecuali ianya untuk orang yang beriman.. Apabila diberikan sesuatu nikmat, dia akan bersyukur.. Maka itu baik baginya.. Apabila diuji dengan suatu ujian, dia akan bersabar.. Maka itu juga baik baginya.."  Hadith ini diriwayatkan oleh Imam Muslim.

Moga Allah permudahkan -

Untuk abang UM tersayang, Thalhah Ajma'in, semoga cepat-cepat sembuh. Rindu ana pada enta. Walaupun baru kejap sama-sama berkonferens riang, dah rasa sayang. Ana doa moga enta cepat sembuh. Terima kasih kerana ambil berat dan care pada ana.

Untuk ex-schoolmate dari Al-Amin, ex-classmate dari DQ, ex-partner Setiausaha Biro Akademik, Jannah Radzi, moga enti terus kuat. Doa banyak-banyak, dan banyak-banyak sabar.
[Jannah Radzi dan keluarga dirompak di rumah mereka sebelum subuh, kerugian RM30ribu++. Sesiapa yang nak menyumbang boleh PM Facebook. I'll give you her account number. I'll post it too di Caliph14 dan Grup FCR. Terima kasih.]

* Tak dapat provide sanad betul, dengar masa khutbah, cari dah tak jumpa. Kthxbye.

Pluralist in Action

Assalamu'alaikum.

Pluralism. A philosophy that I've taken quite interested in. Because I think it's beautiful, and I think it's a transitional step to become a better person. Because from what I've seen and engaged, people with real pluralism in mind, they are really nice persons. These people - they act upon their belief. They are a bit like Muslims, where almost every step they take and things they do, they revolve around their principles. We may not realize it, but Islam is a very-very comprehensive and meticulous religion. Open up your Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Google, Safary or anything - and compare other religions with ours for good. You will be surprised by how our two main sources are preserved, and applied in our daily lives. Everything we do in our lives is an act of following the way of life of the greatest human on Earth - Prophet Muhammad. Peace and blessings be upon him.

But we are different in terms of faith. From one aspect, we feel relieved, calm, firm and assured by our faith because our physical proof which is the Quran is undeniably preserved and authentic - no doubt about it. And our creed comes with such a beautiful logic. It is like a nice person comes to our house, knocks politely, we feel safe, we like him and we invite him in. There's not an iota of doubt inviting him in. The same goes to our creed. Surah al Ikhlas in the Quran describes very well about our creed - that our God, Allah is the One and Only God. No father and son, independent, and nothing like Him. It follows the logic very well. It is our instinct to feel relief as we meet our purpose of life. We don't have vital conflicts to deal with - such as which one is greater? Jesus, the Father, or Holy Ghost? Nor we have any conflicting and contradicting premises between our scripture and our described creed such as Christians do. They have very much to deal, because the issues are fundamental - Original Sins, The Calling Eli Eli Lamma Sabatchani, who are the Sons of God, is there any other Alpha and Omega other than Jesus,  who are the real writers of important gospels and letters, does Christian's faith today is the real faith of Jesus or is it Pauline Christian, what about other sects that are dismissed especially during Council Of Nicea and many more. We can take another religions but it will be a very long list. While we Muslims, only have to deal with issues regarding misconceptions. So, it is a relief. Plus, we have a strong historical evidence and records following our stands, principles, and vital points of Islam.

Pluralists instead of referring to real physical records, evidences, and scriptures - they believe that truth lies everywhere. It is an entirely different context than we religious people (Read : Muslims, Christians, Hindus) usually believe. We believe that absolute truth is within our religion. Especially in Islam. We strongly believe that absolute truth is within Islam, and as for me, YES, I am confident that absolute truth lies in my religion. Is there any truth in any other religion? How can Muslims regard there is no truth in any other religion? Yes. We believe there have been some truths in other religion, as we believe Allah has sent thousands of messengers and prophets before Muhammad - two of them are Moses and Jesus(peace be upon them) which play a huge role in Judaism and Christianity. There is also possibility that Buddha and Hindu also originally a religion of Allah. But, as time passes by, we believe the essences are corrupted. And as Muhammad the last messenger of Allah, we believe it is a continuation and a completion of religion of Allah. Muhammad came and confirmed previous messages of previous prophets. We believe Muhammad did not create a new religion, but continued a legacy. In Quran for example, the proof that we believe there was a religion of God but carried different names - [2:62], Christians(Nasara), Jews(Yahudi - Haadu), Sabi'ins are example of it. The essence that should be in each of these old religions are belief in Allah, belief in the Day of Judgement, and the importance of good deeds. So if we take a verse from Chandogya Upanishad [6:1:2] "Ekam Evadvitiyam" which means "He is One without a Second" - yes, it is possible that once Hindu was also a religion of Allah. It is a normal perspective from any other religions that the absolute truth lies in theirs.

Islam, the last religion of Allah
Islam, is the last religion of Allah. A religion that will prevail to the end of time. The definition of Islam itself is sufficient to describe what does it really mean. Islam is not only a millah(religion) but it is the deen of Allah. Deen means 'way of life'. The word 'Islam' can be derived from three root words, 1. Aslama(to surrender) 2. Salima(pure, authentic) 3. Salam(peace). So, Islam means, "A way of life by submitting oneself to Allah in a pure and authentic way to attain inner peace and blessings". Why must I add 'pure and authentic' in the definition? To show you one of the differences between Islam and other religions. In Islam, everything we do have its sources. We worship Allah, the way Allah wants us to worship Him. Everything, is according to His wishes.

Pluralists believe that the truth may come from other religion as well - and none of these religions contain all the truth. They believe that everything in this world is inter-connected. Their main pillars are universal values - peace, human right, love, justice and many more. They acted on these values, and you can see that they are not biased to certain sides or groups. When you engage with them, you will learn to respect them. Because of how much efforts they have put to stand and act on what they believe. And I dare to say, although there is no actual pillar or reference to this belief, they hold it really firm. Truth can come from anyone, anywhere. In short, every religion is the same. Same in the context that it does not only bring people to the truth, but to the extent that details of each religion are not as important as the purpose of the religion itself. Contradictions are normal. When I first know about this philosophy, I was thinking, how can you live with all those contradictions in yourself? I mean, because they regard religions are all the same - and when they choose they want to live as a Muslim, they also think it's okay to wear cross or pray in a Gudwara to Satnam because nothing changes. Whoever God you worship, you will arrive to the truth. I myself don't understand how is this even possible. Such contradiction is unbearable.

Pluralism in Physics
But later, I come to understand the situation as I read a book "Isms and Oologies" by 'I don't remember who'.  The example is as follows. In physics, there are two 'contradicting' situations. Newtonian Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. In Newtonian Mechanics, everything can be predicted and calculated. You can know an object will travel to where, its speed and arrive when - you just need enough information. But in Quantum Mechanics as Michio Kaku describes, 'nothing is certain'. It's a probabilistic world. You can never be sure, NEVER. For instance, you can only know either the momentum of an electron or its position. You can never know both. Never. Regardless how advanced the technology is, you will never know. It's the uncertainty principle.  For example, a specific electron can be at two places at one time. That's the quantum world. It behaves that way. Another example, if you shoot an electron at a big hill, there's a chance that the exact electron will create a tunnel through the hill and be at the other side of the hill. When we bring this example to macroscopic level, it is impossible. Earth cannot be at two places at a particular time. When we throw a ball to a thick hard wall, there's no way the ball could make a hole to that wall and be on the other side and the wall return hole-less. You got the idea? Quantum Mechanics is usually used to deal with things at microscopic level ie electrons and protons, while Newtonian Mechanics is used to deal with things at macroscopic level ie planets and stars. Today's scientists use both to deal with different problems - although in real life it's contradicting, but they use both to solve problems from both worlds. That's what we call pluralist. Still, in this scientific community, there are other people who believe in the theory of eveything - a theory that describes literally everything. They believe one day, the 'truth' they want will be found in the theory of eveything. While pluralist is okay with contradictions, this kind of people (monism) believes that absolute truth is contained in one entity. This kind of people is really much alike with us religious people. They are in search for ToE and they are not satisfied until they are able to explain why are Quantum Mechanics and other mechanics are so different etc. Except for each of us Muslims, Christians, and Jews believes that the absolute truth was already found and is within our own religion. (Read : QM as for now can also be applied to some aspects at macroscopic level)

Ada Shrodinger's cat di situ. Haha

He's a magnificent pluralist
He is very nice. He smiles, treats people nicely, and an ardent advocate of peace. When you talk to him, you will come to know that he is a man of principle. As for now, he often posts at an FB group - a group with various people with various faiths and religions; United Religions Initiative. Here is the example of his posts in the group.
1.
They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego-cage of 'I,' 'me,' and 'mine' to be united with the Lord. Attain to this, and pass from death to immortality." (Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 2.71)

"Torah abides only with him who regards himself as nothing." (Judaism. Talmud, Sota 21b)

"O son of Man! If you love Me, turn away from yourself; and if you seek My pleasure, regard not your own; that you may die in Me and I may eternally live in you." (Baha'i' Faith. Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah, Arabic 7)

"The Man of the Way wins no fame,
The highest virtue wins no gain,
The Great Man has no self." (Taoism. Chuang Tzu 17)

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." (Christianity. Mark 8.34-36)

"In the evening do not expect [to live till] morning, and in the morning do not expect evening. Prepare as lone as you are in good health for sickness, and so long as you are alive for death." (Islam. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 40)

"He who has no thought of 'I' and 'mine' whatever toward his mind and body, he who grieves not for that which he has nott, he is, indeed, called a bhikku." (Buddhism. Dhammpada 367)

INNERWORK self-reflection for the week: "What does my faith/belief say about the Ego and Self-Denial?


2.‎"Every sacrifice is a boat to heaven." (Hinduism. Satapatha Brahmana 4.2.5.10)

"Lo! We have given you abundance; so pray to your Lord, and sacrifice." (Islam. Qur'an 108.1-2)

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Christianity. John 15.13)

"One must have the courage to face life as it is. to go through sorrows and always sacrifice oneself for the sake of others." (African Tradition. Kenyan-Kipsigis saying)

"A bodhisattva resolves, 'I should accept all sufferings for the sake of sentient beings, and enable them to escape from the abyss of immeasurable woes of birth and death... Why? Because I have set my mind on enlightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings; I do not seek the unexcelled way for my own sake.'" (Buddhism. Garland Sutra)

"Let all your deeds be done for the sake of Heaven." (Judaism. Mishnah, Abot 2.17)

Inner Work self-reflection & self-awareness guide for the week:
"WHAT SACRIFICE HAVE I MADE FOR THE OTHER? WHAT SACRIFICE HAS ANOTHER MADE FOR ME?"

To our Muslim brothers and sisters: Bayramiz Eidil Adha Mubarak Olsun!

To me, a person with this kind of paradigm is nice and kind. He takes good values from every faith, and appreciates it very well. This kind of person, you will have a hard time to start comparing which one is better, your religion or his ideology. You know why, unlike other religions, this philosophy ACCEPTS truth might come from anyone. So they are the kind of people who is very open-minded. For example, when you face people from another religion, it's easier(Read : not EASY) as you can start comparing, and they have 'something' to defend - something fixed - the religion itself. You know what are their weak spots, and you know how exactly they will react. But with pluralists, it's kind of like this "Yeah.. each person has its own opinions" without getting anywhere close to being challenged or provoked at all. And his life revolves around his values. One of the good things that I learned from him, is he really wishes he could stop 'religious-motivated violence'. As he views religion as something beautiful, he wants people to stop using religion as an excuse to do violence. Until now, I do not know, how to really deal with it. Care to give any ideas? The only thing that we Muslims have, is the real assurance of the Oneness of Allah, greatest example of Muhammad, and the outstanding Quran - which lead us to believe we are on the right track. And I know, they only rely on the beauties of their values.

He really is a nice person, and I pray to Allah so that one day, Allah will bless him His hidayah. Amin..

[Declaration of Global Ethics]
Their declaration.

Conclusion
There has been a major confusion to Muslims about how to regard this philosophy. Pluralism, is a philosophy that puts every religion as equal and each religion will bring you to the truth. We believe that Islam is the only way to the truth. We are taught by Prophet Muhammad, to respect another religion and faith, to treat people as nice and kind as possible even though they are people from different faiths, and to live Islam as our way of life. "Lakum diinukum waliya diin" Surah Al Kaafirun. They have their own ways of lives, we have our way of life too. We don't need to be the same as them. Pluralism instead is about lowering your 'fences' to let people in and accept them. Acceptance is the key word. Because the way they see, these fences and differences are the contributing factors to religious-motivated violence. We Muslims have no urgency to lower our fences or dissolve our limitations and prohibitions, because our beloved Prophet had taught us, that he also can live peacefully with the Jews at Madinah without 'lowering any fences'. It's the akhlaq of the prophet that we need to constantly embrace.

Freedom and Justice Party

You can also have a look at a new party in Egypt, Freedom and Justice Party - their vice president is a Coptic Christian. People say that this party is very closely related to Muslim Brotherhood, Al Ikhwan Al Muslimun - but IM says the party operates separately. :) Even a proponent of Daulah Islamiah can have a Coptic as their vice. Still, before the first meeting the Muslim members went to the mosque to pray together. What a view! Video


* This is a post ignited by my amazement towards my friend, a pluralist - May Allah bless him Hidayah! Amin.

Di Manakah Abi?

Dalam damai, teratak sepi menjelma pertanyaan menyentak hati.
Bermainlah pilu sang isteri, membelai pipi permata hati.

"Ummi, di manakah Abi?".
 Bergetarlah bibir mencari, perlukah ku kisahkan apa yang terjadi.
Pada si kecil yang ingin mengerti,
"Sayang Abi, kekasih Ummi pergi mencari cinta Ilahi".

"Tidurlah sayang, Ummi dodoikan bersama zikir mendamaikan.
 Bangunmu esok menjadi pejuang mujahid sepanjang zaman".
[Di Manakah Abi - Ar Raid]

"Apakah doa engkau?" tanya Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas kepada Abdullah bin Jahsy semasa perang Badar.

"Saya harap yang Berkuasa atas segala-galanya akan membenarkan saya menumbangkan ramai musuh. Hingga akhirnya saya bertemu dengan lawan yang amat kuat dan hebat. Saya akan bertempur dengannya bersungguh-sungguh. Kemudian saya akan dibunuh olehnya. Kedua-dua tangan saya dikerat. Telinga saya dipotong. Kemudian hidung saya dicabut, biji mata saya dicungkil."
"Agar nanti apabila ditanya Allah kemana hilangnya semua pancaindera saya, saya menjawab semuanya telang hilang semasa saya berjuang di jalan-Nya untuk membela Agama dan RasulNya. Lalu Allah membalas jawapanku dengan jawapan 'Sadaqta'(Engkau benar..)." [Doa Abdullah bin Jahsy semasa perang Badar]

Sa'ad mememui badan Abdullah bin Jahsy sesuai dengan doanya di akhir peperangan. Hidung dan telinganya digantungkan pada sebatang pokok dengan seutas tali.

Ya Allah, kau kurniakan untuk aku dan rakan-rakanku syahid, sebagaimana kau kurniakan kepada mereka-mereka yang terdahulu syahid. Jadikanlah kami pembela-pembela agamaMu. Amin.

Di akhir hari, kita hanyalah seorang hambaNya. Allah tidak memerlukan kita, tapi kitalah yang memerlukan Allah.

Picturesque 4 : Of Superbike and Baby Po

Of A Superbike

Kawasaki Ninja

On road, there are a few types of drivers. Along my years (only 5 years.. heh) of driving, I come to a conclusion that drivers of cool cars aren't the same with drivers of cool bikes. They aren't the same. Still, my conclusion only applies to my living area and its vicinity.

The above picture is one example of great bikes. And drivers of these kind of bikes really have set a very good example on road. Let me tell you a bit about how most of them behave on road.

Of Whys
1. During red light, bikers from 'golongan marhaen', rempit or any kind will ignore the red light, find a space, wait for a clear line and then accelerate. Especially when it is raining or on a very hot day. Most bikers will develop a kind of sharp sense knowing when the lights will turn color, the duration for each color, and few seconds of buffer between colors. If you can see at any time, you can see that they don't actually looking at the light in front of them. They will either look at the traffic light across them, or they will see reflection of colors from either signboards or poles from traffic light they can't see straight. So they can have a good guess when their light will turn green. And then, when the other light turns orange, even when their own light is still red, they will accelerate. Most of them will behave this way. BUT, for superbikers, they are different. Even when all bikes have gone ignoring the red light, you will find them still at their place. Relaxed and cool. I don't know the real reason behind this. Whether if they get a ticket it would be much more expensive than normal bike, wallahu a'lam. But, in term of obeying traffic, yes, they do set a very good example.

2. There was a time, at Youth Leadership Programe URI, I sit beside our van driver for the program. He said to me, the thing he's afraid the most on road was motorcyclists. Because of their unpredictable nature. Well, that's understandable. Often, when a motorcyclist sees a hole to slip in a tight traffic, he/she will try to slip as fast as possible. It is because their size is small, so, any hole will do. We call this 'cilok'. And often too, they forget to give signals. It's like if you draw any graph, their curve will not be very smooth and predictable. Still, a large portion of them gives signals. Same goes to superbikers. They respect the road, and they are respected.

3. Usually, when the light turns green, some motorcyclists will 'press' like heaven sampai yang terpacak-pacak. If not terpacak pun, it's like they are trying to lead and be the first of the horde that's just been released. And you know how cool are superbikers, they don't even get distracted by the other bikers. They just speed up normally, and with their own pace catching up with others. Although initially they are left out from the rest of the speeding bikers, those superbikers will end up un'chase'able by the early speeders. And the way you see how they behave from a spectator's view, so cool.

4. And the best is, they are so polite on road, yet they are so skillful. What does I mean is that they give way to people, they don't just cut people's way, during traffic jam especially, they are so skillful in 'mencelah' to the extend sometimes even when usual bikers are afraid to pass through some narrow slips between cars, they pass through it like nothing. And if they can't pass it, they will stay quiet and wait. On the contrary, some bikers even press in free gear to warn car drivers to make way for them. Some even hit the side mirrors. And most will honk 6 harakat or more.

5. And you know why they can drive so fast? One factor that I know is because of their attire. You know, when you are wearing something loose, and you ride your bike so fast, your shirt and your trousers are flapping so fast, it makes you feel cautious. But, when you wear tight driving jacket, the air doesn't make any of your parts flapping, so you kind of forget how fast you are and you just cruise along the road happily. But, it's a bit dangerous, it can be very deceiving.

Why do I say superbikers are different than expensive car drivers?

From what I've seen and experienced, most BMW and Mercedes drivers in the area of Damansara, PJ, Gombak - they really don't have any sense of giving signals. Most of them. The numbers can go up to 90 percent. Even when I'm driving car, they don't know how to give signals. I don't know why. It happens mostly to people with expensive cars. Proton, Innova, and other normal cars do give signals. But them? Entah. Perhaps I'm committing a fallacy of  generalization - but again, this situation only applies in my living area as far as I'm concerned.

If someone wants to compare drivers of great cars and bikes, I can say, they are not the same. One side have less sensitivities, less skillful, and a bit 'noob' on road (Noob in context of respecting road users), another side is more skillful, does a better job in setting example for other drivers.

Ini pun superb!

There are some things worth sharing here, so that new motorcyclists can take note.

1. If it is too windy, stop. I once drove along MRR2, where at that time, rain started to pour. Few of us motorcyclists still continued, so we sped up hoping to get past the raining cloud. So, in that cluster it was like around 100 km/h or more. Then, all of a sudden, a huge blast of wind passed. My cluster, at that time was in the middle lane, somehow was pushed to the right lane where the cars moved so fast. One of us was even almost hit a big lorry. That wind pushed us to the next lane while we were moving. It felt like your bike moved without you realizing. I never thought that wind could be so powerful. Since, I will always bend my body lower when  I'm speeding in rain in case of emergency.

2. For motorcyclists, it is dangerous if you are travelling when the road is wet and there are thunders dancing upon you. For cars, it is safe. But not for bikers. Because lightning can struck you while you are on bike. Once, when some bikers and I stopped under a fly over during a heavy downpour, a flash of lightning struck very near to us. At the same time, almost all of us under the fly-over felt the 'shock', the same feeling when you touched a leaked circuit - hot and numb. We talked about it, and we never knew that lightning have that kind of 'area-of-effect' (AOE). But then, I still suspended my conclusion, until after I watched River Monster, where in that episode, Jeremy Wade's cameraman was zapped by lightning, and he felt a little dizzy. The lightning didn't hit him directly, but the spot so near it made the cameraman went dizzy and fell. So, watch out if there any thunder festival up there. You might get stunned.


Baby Po
So, since baby Shrek, I've never found anything cuter. But, when Dragon Warrior Po came into action to search for his long-lost history, I found his 'smaller' version very intriguing and exciting. And seriously, I couldn't stand the cuteness. Let the picture tells the cuteness....So, I rank baby Po as the most cutest thing in history.

p/s 1 : There're so much reasons for people out there to continue living, why give up? :D
p/s 2 : I'm towards a healthier life. Just weeks ago, masa program, jadi Faci, seorang budak perempuan datang, 'abang akan jadi lagi hensem kalau kurus lagi skit'. *blushing* .. For that, I've been swimming 0.5 kilometers every day. So, keep motivating me! Haha.. Siapa-siapa nak ajar Butterfly Stroke boleh datang rumah.

Ouch.. It hurts.

Assalam.

Semalam, kami satu keluarga beriadah petang-petang main basketball. Memang selalu main. Selalunya game memang laju dan memenatkan, sebab semua main kecuali Ayaz dan Saif paling kecil - mereka buat hal sendiri.

Tapi sebab mereka pun dah membesar, hari ini pula nak join sekali. Jadi, dari game basketball bertukar ke game passing-passing bola dengan budak kecil dua orang itu. Kami semua melayan sekali. Naim, adik aku yang sekarang tengah belajar kat DQ rasa boring ambil nunchaku dia main sementara menunggu Ayaz dan Saif habis main.

Nunchaku dia macam ini lah.

Tengah-tengah duduk pusing-pusing libas-libas nunchaku dia, Bammmm...! Kena gigi dia. Tengok gigi dia bukan patah wholly, tapi gigi depan dia patah dua. Gigi arnab tu masih ada, cuma, pecah - kira gigi dia tinggal separuh. Haha. Agak comel. Kena appointment dengan doktor nak sambung balik gigi.

Dia nilah idola Naim dalam main nunchaku.

Ini pengaruh dalam Tae-Kwon-Do dulu. Tak hilang-hilang lagi.. Balisong. Ingat lagi masa dengan senior-senior dulu, pisau itu memang selalu kena basuh, sebab tak reti main, berdarah. So, kalau sape-sape risau, have this in your pocket - it will be quite handy. I have one. :)

A World Without Islam

Palestine has just been accepted as a new member of UNESCO. As a concern citizen of this world, I embrace the news happily. UNESCO is an agency within UN that deals with education, culture, and science. I see this success as a swift move for Palestine to be 'recognized' by the whole world. My friends posted a video in Facebook showing the reading of the voting results. The situation was so exhilarating, after one by one said "YES" supporting Palestine to be accepted. 107-14 was a big difference. I perked up when countries like China, France and Russia voted 'YES'. The moment the result was announced, crowds jumped and clapped celebrating Palestine as the new member. We are talking about delegates here, international representatives. One of the delegates even shouted out "Long Live Palestine!" in French. It's like a bully with a frightened kid, when the bully got punished, the kid will jump in joy happy to see the bully got what he deserved. Same situation.

The membership granting to Palestine brought a whole new level of benefits exposure to them. Therefore, UNESCO now is entitled to the protection of natural and cultural heritages in Palestine - though it will take time for Palestine to nominate their heritages to be included in the World Heritage List. Palestine therefore has brought their efforts to protect their homeland, including Al Aqsa to be internationally recognized. And it's good Alhamdulillah, because as I'm typing, Israel is doing all-out their unwelcome excavation in the vicinity of Al Aqsa. Wallahul musta'an.

AP journalist and reporter, Matt banged US spokeswoman with heavy questions.

Full transcript of the press

Not surprisingly, shortly after UNESCO announced Palestine as a UNESCO member, US cut its funding to UNESCO worth 60 million, which was one-fifth of UNESCO's whole funding. Both Israel and US proposed the idea that the acceptance of Palestine in the organization will interrupt the 'peace-process' between Israel and Palestine. They thought the step taken by Palestinians will make the peace process harder for both parties. Peace process? How long have you been 'peace-processing'? F*** you Israel! Thousands of children, old people, innocent men and women died, you still care about your peace-process? And you said the innocents who died were collateral damage? Thousands of lives were regarded as collateral damage? Again, f*** you Israel! .

The US spokeswoman even said "I think that the fundamental consequence for both sides is that we’re not getting closer to two states living side by side in peace and security". Living side by side in peace and security? Stop joking. Clearly, 159 countries disagreed with you, and still you said their actions were 'regrettable, premature, and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East'? What is that? I view your reasoning as flawed and distorted, as you acted only in favor of Israel. You failed to see US's interests in this, you just see how much more you can babysit Israel. You can do better than this US.

The events unfolding are getting more interesting. Palestine, Arab Springs, Muslims in the Western and their integration. And I think, it is a wise decision for me to start to know seriously about world politics. In which from the projectile of my decision, I bought a book, "A World without Islam". To me this book is very useful for anyone to understand the basic nature of conflicts happening to Middle east. And I recommend you to buy one, as it will broaden your way of viewing history and the philosophy behind it. And for you to know, Islam, is not as bad as it was portrayed in the media, in fact, better. :)

You'll understand international politics better, and you'll know who to blame. It's not the soldiers and US citizens, it's the policy makers.

So, let us join the world wide movement, in cause at least. BDS. Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel. This is our best option as a community. We hit them, and hit them hard. Start boycotting as hard as you can. Subsitute - McD, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Nestle. Spread the awareness. Spread the news. Spread love and care for Palestine, and for any part in the world who that is being oppressed.

Iraq Veterans against the War. I recommend you also to visit this site.

* I'm aware that I'm not portraying this issue the way a Muslim should address it, with two vulgar words for the record. I'm just getting emotional when it comes to this.

Dua sisi sehelai daun: HIMPUN dan DIALOG

Assalamu'alaikum.

HIMPUN
Aku seorang yang optimis. Mula-mula nak tulis opportunis, tapi tengok maksud dia kurang baik. Jadi, aku tukar jadi optimis. Yang aku maksudkan aku jarang untuk terus tak bersetuju dalam sesuatu perkara yang melibatkan perjuangan. Apa yang aku nampak, untuk setiap cabang dan jalan, ada orangnya. Aku ingat dulu aku usrah dengan ustaz Nazri yang jadi juri Akademi Quran masa di Darul Quran, walaupun dia ISMA, dia laksanakan tugas dia sebagai murabbi kami. Betul-betul dia tarbiyah kami, tanpa mengungkapkan sikit pun pasal jemaah-jemaah ini. Kami guna buku Maza Ya'ni. Sampai satu bahagian, dia tanya kami, bagaimana jalan nak sampai khilafah? Masing-masing kami memberikan pendapat. Macam-macam. Akhir sekali dia dengan muka selamba kata, kami semua ada betulnya. Bayangkan khilafah itu macam Darul Quran. Ada yang pergi DQ naik basikal, naik motor. Ada yang parents hantar. Ada yang naik KTM, nak kereta sendiri. Macam itulah umat Islam dalam perjuangan. Macam-macam method, macam-macam cara. Ada hikmah dia. Satu hari nanti, andai di KTM keretapi dia terbabas, andai jalan ada road block, andai si berbasikal di kejar anjing, akan ada juga yang sampai untuk memacakkan bendera tertegaknya khilafah. Boleh mengkritik - itulah asas pemacu untuk berjaya, tapi jangan menghalang laluan orang lain. Malam itu aku diajar untuk betul-betul berlapang dada. Dia memang murabbi yang sangat aku hormati.

Jadi, aku pun pergi ke HIMPUN dengan fikiran yang positif, dan mengharapkan sesuatu yang dapat beri impak yang signifikan kepada ummah. Aku pergi dengan kawan-kawan aku dari IIS. Kami pergi ke sana untuk melakukan survey - bertujuan untuk mendapat persepsi umum di samping menanam di dalam dada masyarakat sedikit sebanyak paradigma penyelesaian terbaik bermula dari diri sendiri. Sampai sahaja kami di sana, kami diperiksa oleh RELA untuk keselamatan. Aku dan Zul dari IMU solat dulu. Kami masuk ke stadium, disambut dengan banner-banner yang bersifat kemelayuan. Pendapat aku, kita patut berbangga dengan bangsa kita sendiri. Sebab itu 'trait' yang Allah bagi pada kita. Dan kita kena hargai. Jadi, aku tak ada masalah dengan banner-banner tertentu, bukan semua. Dan tugas kita bila wujud perbezaan - kita belajar. Ta'aarafu. Kemudian, bila aku tengok crowd, tak seramai yang dijangka. Aku pun fikir, biasalah benda macam ini. Kami mencari-cari Omar JAD untuk dapatkan borang survey. Lepas dapat - aku terus meluru(ceh macam semangat sangat je) untuk mencari mad'u-mad'u untuk disurvey dan di dakwah. Macam-macam orang yang aku jumpa, survey dan bawa dia berbual. Dari perokok ultra-Melayu berbibir hitam, orang muda berjubah putih berselendang hijau, wanita-wanita muda berseluar jeans berbaju ketat, kepada makcik dan pakcik yang hampir tidak larat untuk memanjat tangga stadium. Hampir semua lapisan ada - untuk berada di situ menunjukkan sokongan kepada pembelaan agama. Dalam sesi-sesi panjang temubual, sela-sela masa aku berhenti untuk mendengar ucapan-ucapan.

MUNSYID

Dalam temubual berborak punya style - aku membawa pendekatan yang diajar oleh Allah kepada umat Islam semasa perang Uhud. Pendekatan yang agak 'pahit'. Di mana terkorbannya Abdullah bin Jubair si ketua pemanah di puncak bukit Rummat ketika perang Uhud. Di saat sebelumnya, Abdullah terjerit-jerit menghalang sahabat-sahabat pemanah lain untuk turun ke medan perang bagi merebut ghanimah yang terbiar. Di saat orang kafir berpatah balik diketuai oleh Khalid al Walid untuk kembali mengalahkan Islam. Di kala Abdullah bin Jubair syahid dalam ketaatan, umat Islam kalah disebabkan segolongan mereka ingkar arahan. Lalu membantah sahabat nabi Abdullah bin Mas'ud; seorang sahabat yang utama dalam ilmu Al Qurannya - katanya masakan kita kalah disebabkan sahabat nabi sendiri ingkar arahan untuk mengejar ghanimah. Hal ini tidak mungkin terjadi kepada sahabat nabi. Ditegurnya oleh Allah -

| (Patutkah kamu melanggar perintah Rasulullah)? dan (kemudiannya) apabila kamu ditimpa kemalangan (dalam peperangan Uhud), yang kamu telahpun memenangi seperti itu sebanyak dua kali ganda (dengan menimpakan kemalangan kepada musuh dalam peperangan Badar), kamu berkata: "Dari mana datangnya (kemalangan) ini? "Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): "Kemalangan itu ialah dari kesalahan diri kamu sendiri". Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuasa atas tiap-tiap sesuatu. [Ali 'Imran 165]

Pendekatan apa? Self-correct paradigm. Apabila ditanya soalan ini, "Apakah faktor gejala murtad di Malaysia? Disebabkan oleh aqidah umat Islam lemah, atau gerakan Kristian, kelemahan akta kerajaan atau ada faktor lain?" hampir 100 peratus menjawab 'Salah gerakan Kristian'. Dari soalan ini, aku cuba untuk membawa yang ditanya menelusuri sirah, dan cuba membentangkan idea dan paradigma yang ingin aku terapkan, aku membuat perbandingan dua tiga idea dan pendekatan - seandainya dia tertarik dan terbuka, aku terus bercerita. Seandainya dia masih berkeras, aku biarkan. Aku amat yakin, kita akan kuat sekiranya aqidah kita kuat. Kita akan kuat, apabila hubungan dengan Allah kita kukuh. Kita bukan umat tahyul, yang mengabaikan sunnatullah dan mempercayai hanya dengan berdoa semua selesai. Kita umat Muslim Malaysia, umat yang dinamik dan maju. Cuma, paradigma 'defensif dan paranoid' itu perlu diubah.

Iya. Islam itu antara cirinya yang istimewanya ialah inqilabiyah - tertegak atas keruntuhan jahiliyah. Tapi, ini bukan aspek aplikasinya. Kita harus menjadi kuat melalui aqidah kita, bukan kuat atas lemahnya orang lain. Aku setuju diadakan HIMPUN. Namun, isi HIMPUN ternyata jauh dari sangkaan aku. Yang aku jangkakan ucapan-ucapannya akan berbaur motivasi dan urgency untuk memantapkan aqidah umat Islam, pergi menjadi ucapan "Hidup Melayu! Hidup Raja-raja!" dan memberi amaran kepada umat bukan Islam agar jangan menggugat umat Islam. Islam tak sepatutnya di'potray' sebegitu. Dunia sudah berubah. Zaman sudah berubah. Cara sebegitu tak sesuai lagi. Dakwah itu adalah bagaimana untuk mengetuk pintu hati. Apabila ucapan-ucapan lebih kepada perkauman dan teknikal, yang hadir tidak merasakan tanggungjawab untuk membuat pemantapan aqidah untuk diri sendiri mahupun merasakan tanggungjawab untuk memantapkan aqidah orang lain. Malah hadirin lebih leka, kerana 'blame' itu sudah dishiftkan kepada kerajaan dan gerakan Kristian. Sedih. Umat Islam hari ini, perlu bangun dari tidur. Isu Aqidah bukan isu mudah.

Bila aku balik malam itu, dalam KTM - teringat kisah Khabbab bin Arat. Kita selalu makan kebab kan? Nama kebab asal dari nama sahabat ini lah. Ceritanya? Khabbab ini sahabat nabi, seorang tukang besi. Dia diseksa sangat teruk ketika zaman Mekah dulu. Badannya disikat dengan sikat besi yang merah membara, disikat-sikat sehingga terkoyak daging-dagingnya. Itu baru bahagian belakang badan. Di bahagian hadapan, ditabur bara-bara. Sehingga bara-bara itu terpadam sendiri oleh air dan darah dari badan beliau sendiri. Betapa kuatnya ujian sahabat ini. Khabbab kerana tak tertahan perit seksaannya berjumpa Nabi Muhammad, untuk memohon doa membalas orang kafir dan menyelamatkannya. Nabi menjawab - adakah kamu tidak malu? Orang terdahulu ada yang badannya ditanam dan dibelah dua hidup-hidup. Seksaan mereka lebih dahsyat. Khabbab memilih untuk terus bersabar dan mempertahankan imannya. Tapi umat pada masa hari ini, dengan mudahnya mengalihkan tanggungjawab aqidah kepada pihak lain. Sedangkan ianya tanggungjawab kita.

Bro Hariz explain pada gadis-gadis Melayu terakhir. 

Berkongsi pandangan dengan seorang dari Hizbut Tahrir. 

Akhir - alhamdulillah. Aku seronok dengan Hasan Ali. Ucapan dia memang power. Dia memang politician yang sangat aku respek. Cara dia memandang satu-satu perkara. Cara dia menguruskan kebajikan tempat dia. Macam dia jaga tempat aku - Gombak. Selalulah ada pemberian hadiah untuk pelajar, ada TAWAS, ada futsal, ada kelas memasak, ada meriahkan masjid. Memang tip-top. Dia akhiri HIMPUN dengan Zikir dan doa, dan meminta sama-sama memantapkan aqidah. Alhamdulillah, aku seronok.

Suasana ketika Hasan Ali berdoa. Masya Allah..spiritual.

* Berborak dengan seorang Pakistanese. Tiba-tiba dia duduk sebelah dalam KTM, senyum seorang-seorang - tanya "You are Pakistanese?". Cis..aku sentiasa disalah erti. Bapak orang lah,suami orang lah, ini Pakistanese pulak. Nak gelak den.. Aku orang Melayu lah. Kami berborak panjang. Nama dia Rana Fayyaz, surprisingly nama adik dia Asif. Haha.. Dia pun kata akhir-akhir masa dia nak turun KTM, "I have a sister, looking forward to coming Malaysia" sambil senyum-senyum. Sengal. Pikir nak kahwin je.. Sebab abang dia buka bisnes sini, dan kahwin dengan orang Kelantan. Jadi, dia minat orang Kelantan. Dan aku pun orang Kelantan. Bila tanya bisnes apa, dia jawab 'Tuding'. Punyalah pikir tuding tu bahasa apa. Tengok-tengok tudung. Haha.

Bersama Nidzam. Ceit..baju Sharing Islam aku basuh masa tu. 

Dialog Harmoni - Sehari selepas HIMPUN
Kami kena ada di Masjid Shah Alam pukul 6.45 pagi. Jadi aku keluar rumah pukul 5.00 pagi. Sejuk jugak. Solat subuh di masjid sebelah UIA PJ, kemudian terus memecut ke Shah Alam. Tepat-tepat sampai pukul 6.45 which is not bad since that was the first time I went there by myself with my bike.

Nidzam dan adik comel sebelah kami. Kecil-kecil dah datang dialog..ganasss

Dialog Harmoni tersebut berlangsung di Perak, Soka Gakkai Malaysia. Di antara Studio Muallaf dan Soka Gakkai. Seronok. Yang mana, mereka bercakap dalam Bahasa Melayu. Jadi, rasa sangat seronok. Sedangkan panelis semua Cina - Muslim punya panelis Xifu Naser dan Dr Yamin Cheng. Buddhist punya panelis Madam Fung dan Mr Tan. Mereka bercakap dalam Bahasa Melayu, untuk saling memahami budaya dan agama sendiri.

Madam Fung dan Moderator Roby Zaid

Mr Tan, Xifu Naser, dan Dr Yamin. Smart mereka

Yang menariknya, jika dibuat perbandingan - suasana di HIMPUN terasa sangat defensif dan hostile, namun di Dialog lain pula suasananya. Suasananya open dan berlapang dada. Masing-masing menghormati agama masing-masing. Contohnya semasa pengenalan agama masing-masing, nampak cara presenting Islam dengan berkesan kepada non-Muslims. I cant help, because I'm a Muslim, and I am confident that Islam is the best way of life in any aspect I could mention and think - jadi, tujuan ke sana adalah untuk berkongsi dan belajar. Poin menarik dari Xifu - Islam bukan datang untuk convert semua orang jadi Muslim, itu adalah perkara mustahil dalam bidang manusia, tapi Allah letakkan tugas Muslim, Islam sebagai Rahmat seluruh alam. Rahmatan lil 'Alamiin. Biar mereka semua sejahtera di bawah naungan Islam.

Mereka menghormati kita sebagai Muslim. Mereka memahami 'nature' Islam yang murtad tidak dibolehkan. Perbincangan pada hari itu berkisar sekitar pembudayaan dan keagamaan. Ramai Cina Muslim hadir di situ juga setidaknya membuang paradigma masuk Islam bermakna masuk Melayu. Paradigma yang mengakar 'masuk Islam masuk Melayu' ini sangat parah, seperti yang diungkapkan oleh Sis Yap dari MACMA. Yang seronok juga, mereka menyambut budaya kita dengan memainkan piano lagu 'Bubur Ayam' dengan Sepaku Gelang.

Ada kata-kata dari Dr Yamin Cheng, mengenai banyaknya persamaan nilai dalam Buddha dan Islam. Persamaan nilai dalam Confucius dengan Islam. Aku setuju sedikit sebanyak. Masya Allah, ada seorang auntie Muslim berbangsa Cina dengan tegas mengatakan, "Past is the past. We do not bring our past into our present..If we were a Buddhist, and now we are a Muslim, we don't embrace our Buddhist past". Terkejut. Masya Allah, betapa dia benci untuk kembali ke zaman jahiliyah dia. Aku maklum, sesalan masa dahulu semasa belum memeluk Islam tentunya kuat dan dalam. Yang mana perasaan itu takkan difahami oleh mereka yang lahir dalam Islam. Mereka menghargai aqidah mereka lebih dari kita. Itu yang aku nampak dalam diri mereka yang revert.

Masa makan - aku makan dengan auntie dari MACMA. Nampaknya Malaysians masa sesi Q & A mesti ada yang nak jadi panelis tambahan. Kita kena belajar tanya soalan. Sebab orang lain pun nak tanya.

Want to know about this dialog? Usha link Nidzam - kamceng Shah Alam. Dia ini dah jadi aktivis tegar dah.

Kenapa tajuk aku dua sisi syiling? Kerana dalam dua-dua event ini, ada dua sifat yang tak boleh dipisahkan. Sifat terbuka, dan sifat defensif. Dalam diri kita, aku rasa kita kena pandai olah dua sifat ini untuk maju ke depan. Dalam aspek aqidah punya ancaman, iya - defensif lah. Contohnya, macam mana Palestin kena bom, macam mana kita nak asingkan diri dari jahiliyah, macam mana kita nak buang sifat-sifat yang buruk. Tapi kita perlu bersifat terbuka dalam bersosial dengan masyarakat. Bukan terbuka sehingga menggadaikan prinsip ikhtilat tidak, itu kena defensif, tapi terbuka untuk kita belajar dan mengajar. Da'wah - kita perlu membuka hati orang.

_______________________________________________________

1. Aku sokong tujuan asal HIMPUN. Aku sokong. Cuma, bila dah lari tujuan asal - aku jadi tak setuju. Dan aku harap impak positif dia pada Islam akan jadi lebih banyak dari impak negatif pada Islam.

One Litre of Tears

Dua minggu lepas Naim balik dari DQ. Tengah-tengah dia guna komputer, dia promote suruh tengok cerita One Litre of Tears. Dia kata sedih, dia menangis tengok. Sebelum ini pernah juga baca blog Syazana Zahidah few years back, cerita pasal siri ini juga. Suruh dia copy, nak tengok jauh mana sedih cerita itu. Kalau tak sedih boleh buat bahan kata hati dia terlebih lembut sikit-sikit nangis bila tengok cerita, tapi kalau cerita itu buat aku menangis juga, aku diam je lah. Takkan nak bahan adik sebab menangis tengok cerita tu sedangkan diri sendiri pun tengok tumpah juga air mata kejantanan.

Neurologist yang baik bersama si pesakit.

Cerita ini mengenai kisah hidup seorang pesakit Spinocerebellar Atrophy. Sakit bahagian neurologi, yang mana penyakit itu membuatkan si pesakit hilang keupayaan secara perlahan-perlahan dalam tempoh yang lama. Mula-mula dia selalu jatuh, gagap, tak boleh lari, tak boleh jalan dengan betul, susah nak makan dan sampai dia kena baring atas katil.

Jadi, sejak dua minggu lepas, bila ada masa terluang sahaja tengok sikit demi sikit. Ada sejam setengah jam kosong usha sikit. Tak skip, tengok betul-betul sebab nak tahu macam mana Naim boleh menangis. Tapi sikit-sikit lah. Mula-mula dah yakin dah cerita ini emo biasa je, tak sedih pun. Tapi last-last cis, sedih yang teramat sangat sampai mengalir air mata di pipi. Rasa bersyukur ada macam-macam nikmat Allah bagi. Kagum juga dengan heroin dia, Aya. Dan kagum dengan 'consistency' si Akou. Cerita-cerita macam ini boleh hidupkan hati yang mati. Jadi, aku mengalah. Cerita ini sedih. T.T Sangat menyayat jiwa.

Bukan dia seorang menangis 1 liter, aku masa ESQ dengan Asyraf Roslan pun menangis nak dekat dua liter tak bising pun. "Rasulullah s.a.w telah bersabda yang maksudnya: "Bacalah al-Quran dan menangislah, dan jika tidak boleh menangis buat-buatlah menangis" - Hadis riwayat At-Tabrani."  Buat-buat menangis, it helps. Menangis akan menghidupkan hati. Serius. Faillam tabku, fatabaakau = Tak boleh menangis, buat-buat menangis.

* Cerita OLOT based on a true story.

* Sebelum ini tak minat sangat. Lagi-lagi cerita penuh emosi lagu ni. Tapi, cerita ini penuh emosi dan pengajaran. Jadi, siapa yang belum tengok sila tengok. Dah tengok, tak apa. Tapi jangan cakap apa-apa, memang aku lambat bab meng'update' cerita-cerita emosi macam ni. Tak minat. Kalau ada One Litre of Tears siri kedua aku takkan tengok(ade ke? haha)

* Sedang mendraf post HIMPUN dan DIALOG HARMONI. :)

Siapa yang malas nak baca sinopsis, sila tengok trailer ini.

Who's going to pray for me?

It is usual that my mum and I will have a catch-up conversation to keep each other up to date in the car. She knows she has a busy son, and I know I like to talk to her about everything.

One day, when we were having the conversation, my mum expressed her uncomfortable feelings. She said that she was getting old, and soon will die. The way she told me - it was serious. Then I told her, just for the sake of comforting her - hell no son would want their parents die - to relax, because she had seven children, in which we all were taught to never skip prayers for our parents. I said, she was a good daughter, my dad was a good son - I'm sure insya Allah that Allah will repay those deeds with good children. If she dies, we are there to pray for her. I'm just saying to comfort her - death is inevitable, to say it's not her time yet is foolish, to tell her to think of something else other than death is unwise. The only option was to comfort her that her after-life will be as good as she can imagine.

But, suddenly the tide changed. My mum said, she was not worrying about who was going to pray for her, because she knew that her children will always pray for her. She said the only thing she was worrying when she thought of death was, "Who will be praying for us if she's not here anymore?". Speechless. I wanted to respond, but the words couldn't come out from my mouth. I couldn't think of anything else.

We often think that mum's prayers are powerful when they are angry - but we forget - it is because of mum's prayers that we are all blessed with good things. Good life, good results, good university, good food, good body, good friends, good family. When we do something wrong, we often think that we can repent anytime. After all, God never punish us badly for doing something wrong. But maybe we forget, we are forgiven in the reason of our mum's prayers to Allah for us. I don't think I can make it this far if it wasn't because of her prayers.

"Life is either for a person, or against him. It's hours and seconds, days and years pass him by. Leading him by his actions to the love and good pleasure of Allah until he is amongst people of Ultimate Success and the Garden of Paradise. Or they are against him, leading him by his actions to the Fires of Hell and to the Anger of the One, the Just Ruler[Allah]. Life, either it will make you laugh and rejoice for an hour over which you will cry for an eternity in the Hereafter. Or it will make you cry for an hour over which you will laugh and rejoice for an eternity in the Hereafter." Syeikh Muhammad Mukhtar, The Goodly Life

Funny thing - kami pernah pasang video ini dekat peserta program. In the end, most AJK yang nangis lebih-lebih. Hayati video ni..the feeling you will feel dalam hati, trust me - it is GENUINE.

United Religions Initiatives - Catatan Pengalaman

Assalamu'alaikum. Ini merupakan catatan peribadi saya mengenai pengalaman saya di Youth Leadership Program - United Religions Initiatives di Pearl International Hotel. Program bermula dari 4 hingga 6 September 2011. Kami dari IIS seramai 5 orang. 2 orang lelaki, saya dan Amirul Asyraf dari IMU. 3 orang wanita - Nisa dari Institut Profesional Baitulmal, Salasiah dan Hann dari API Universiti Malaya. Apa yang ditulis di sini hanya pendapat peribadi, tidak mewakili mana-mana individu dan organisasi.

Tahun lepas, saya mengikuti satu seminar mengenai ideologi dan falsafah dan saya secara peribadi telah tersangkut dan berminat untuk belajar mengenai satu ideologi; pluralisme. Ada beberapa istilah yang saya sangat berminat untuk mendalami dengan lebih lanjut - first-hand and on-field experience. Global ethics, sophea perennial, Parliament of World Religions. Saya mempunyai misi peribadi untuk mencari dan mempelajari elemen-elemen ini sepanjang berada di sana.

4 Sept, Selasa

"Assalamualaikum wbt. U guys smua pg pearl hotel hri ni kan? -amirul" mesej masuk. Saya terus "Ya Allah... is it today!??". Saya menyangkakan program tersebut hari Jumaat hingga Ahad. Careless. Terus, dapat mesej pukul 12 terus ambil baju-baju dan iron. Terus menelefon mak saya meminta izin dan memaklumkan saya akan ke program tersebut. Pukul 2 saya keluar rumah dan mengambil teksi. Sampai sahaja di hotel, saya mendekati auntie yang bertanggungjawab untuk mendaftarkan saya. Saya dipasangkan dengan seorang Buddhist - Vincent Leong dari Soka Gakkai Malaysia, yang mana saya menjadi sangat rapat dengan dia. Saya terlihat seorang doktor Melayu sedang duduk di lobi hotel. Bajunya agak menarik minat saya. Bajunya mempunyai pelbagai lambang-lambang keagamaan seperti Bahai, Jainism, Kristian, Islam dan macam-macam lagi. Dan saya "Oh.. isn't that the same as you wear a shirt with lambang salib on it only?". Tanpa mengetahui siapa dia, saya terus naik ke bilik dan berkenalan dengan roomate saya. Saya menjadi sangat rapat dengan dia. Mungkin sebab kami sebaya - wallahu a'lam. Soalan pertama mengenai Islam yang ditanya ialah "Do you mind if I am here while you are praying?". "Nope..I don't mind" saya membalas. "Can I watch you pray?" dia tanya balik. "Yeepp.. Also not a problem. You can pray also in this room. I don't mind. I'd like to know and watch also". Jadi, perkenalan kami bermula dengan baik. Alhamdulillah. Dia sembahyang sedikit sama sebagaimana orang Islam berzikir. Macam baca ma'thurat. Dia memegang buku kecil, dan mengulang-ulang zikir dalam bahasa Sanskrit. Dia mengamalkan Sutra Lotus. Malah dia meminta saya mengejutkannya selepas subuh. Selepas saya menunaikan solat Asar, kami berborak-borak sehingga pukul 5.45 petang. Kami kemudian bertolak ke Pure Life Society untuk memulakan aktiviti kami.

Sebahagian peserta lelaki. Ahmed di depan saya, Vincent berbaju hitam di sebelah saya, Jerrison di sebelah Vincent, Durai kamceng saya di depan Vincent, sebelah Durai ketua Indigenous people dari Filipina nama Lansky, sebelah Lansky bernama Viknes beragama Bahai.

Kami makan malam di sana. Makanan kami unik. Makanan orang Sikh. Universal. All veges. Tak ada daging, ayam, babi, ikan semua. Saya berminat dengan Pongal rice, tapi menahan tambah. Kena ingat - disiplin dalam hidup termasuk makan. Pengambilan kalori kena jaga. Saya solat di library bersama-sama Muslim lain. Mereka ajak solat di 'temple' tapi tak apa lah. Kalau 'Umar al Khattab pun menolak, apa lagi kami kan. No thanks. Kami memulakan slot kami, Ice Breaking. Terdapat seramai  30 orang peserta dari pelbagai negara mewakili agama-agama berbeza. Dari Australia, Filipina, India, UK, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia. Agama ada Islam, Kristian, Hindu, Buddha, Bahai, Indigenous People, Sikh. Selain kami berlima, ada seorang Muslim dari Australia. Namanya Ahmed, berasal dari Somalia. Kami dibahagikan dalam kumpulan untuk berbincang mengenai hopes and expectation sepanjang program ini. Apa yang kami mahu BELAJAR, DENGAR, LIHAT, RASA, dan BERI. Sebelum program berakhir, host memaklumkan mengenai Sacred Opening pada keesokan harinya dan meminta sesiapa yang sudi berkongsi prayer agama masing-masing untuk esok pagi. Saya terus menawarkan diri. Semangat untuk berkongsi Islam sangat kuat ketika itu. Kami terus ke hotel untuk beradu. Tapi, kerana malam masih awal, saya, Ahmed dan Vincent dan kawannya melepak bersama-sama sambil menyedut WiFi. Ahmed mempunyai karakter yang unik. Dia dengan selamba menyentuh, menampar, memegang tangan perempuan lain. Tapi bila ditanya mengapa arak diharamkan, dia menjawab secara muktamad arak tak ada manfaat. Langsung! Dalam Quran ada menyebut keburukan arak lebih banyak dari kebaikan. Tapi Ahmed sangat tegas dalam hal-hal sebegini. Pelik dan unik. Di akhir hari, saya memasang earphone mendengarkan ayat Quran sebagai teman sehingga tidur. Entah mengapa, hati saya sangat merindukan ibu bapa saya dan Rasulullah. Sangat sangat rindu. Juga menginginkan kawan-kawan FCR bersama-sama. Kamceng Nidzam dan Syazwan. Pelik.. 

5 Sept, Rabu

Saya bangun. Mandi. Kejut Vincent dan terus ke surau hotel untuk solat subuh. Membaca Quran dan Ma'thurat sebagai pembuka hari. Rasa bahagia membuka hari dengan Al Quran. Sebelum ini kita take for granted kita punya keselesaan mengamalkan aqidah. Saya merancang untuk membaca Al Fatihah, The Opening dan doa "Allahumma Nawwir Qulubana binuri hidayatika.....abadan abada" untuk Sacred Opening nanti. Amirul masuk sekali solat di surau. Saya tak tahu mengenai akhawat kerana tak ada nombor telefon mereka. Kemudian, saya balik ke bilik. Berhasrat nak tengok macam mana Vincent sembahyang. Kemudian, kami turun untuk breakfast di hotel. Seronok breakfast dengan foreigners. Kita perkenalkan makanan kita. Sambil itu kita baca doa sebelum makan. Kami sangat seronok makan bersama-sama. Selepas makan, saya dan Amirul naik untuk tengok keadaan tiga orang akhawat tersebut. Kesian. Ada yang sampai menangis ketakutan. Takut tergugat iman. Mereka dimaklumkan oleh professor-professor mereka agar berhati-hati. Dr Amir pernah dikenali sebagai free-thinker tegar. Well-known pluralist dalam kalangan Muslim academics. Pensyarah mereka juga mendakwa URI bernaung di bawah Freemason dan Zionist institutions. Wow.. A bit blunt isn't it? Saya reserve dakwaan itu. Ingin menunggu sedikit masa lagi sebelum merumuskan konklusi.

Mereka pemenang Amazing Race. 

Kemudian kami menaiki van untuk ke Pure Life Society(PLS). Aktiviti pertama pada hari itu ialah Sacred Opening. Dimulakan dengan doa pagi hari dari Sikh dalam punjabi, kemudian doa dalam English dari Bahai dibaca oleh Viknes,  kata-kata hikmah oleh Vincent. Tiba turn saya sebelum Vincent, saya memulakan "Assalamu'alaikum, and Morning. As this is the Sacred Opening, I wish to share with you a chapter from Quran, named Al Fatihah which means the Opening. As we Muslims recite this chapter every time we pray, to ask Allah to bless us for the rest of our life. Then I will end this chapter with another du'a". Saya membacakannya sambil memejamkan mata saya. Betul-betul di dalam hati memaknakan maksud al Fatihah. Dan saya berharap Allah memberi hidayah kepada mereka. Seorang wanita beragam Hindu di sebelah saya, Nivy dari Australia "That's very nice of you to recite the Quran. It's good, relieving. Plus, you have a good voice~ nice!". Saya tersenyum sambil *blushing* - membalas kembali dengan ucapan terima kasih. Ahmed mendekati saya, "You are hafz Quran?". "Yeepp.." saya membalas. "Masya Allah..you know, your du'a is good. Luckily they don't have any idea what does it mean.". Dia berkongsi mengenai pengalamannya di Australia menjadi Muslim yang menyambung ikatan dari aqidah-aqidah berbeza. Malah dia menjemput saya ke Australia.

Amirul, Chin Yi, dan K Rine.

Kami mengisi hari tersebut dengan beberapa bengkel dan LDK. Bagaimana kami ingin mengaplikasikan ilmu-ilmu, juga kami diperkenalkan dengan satu moto yang saya secara peribadinya tertarik "Leadership Through Service". Awal pagi, kami memulakan The Amazing Race. Kemudian kami dipecahkan dalam kumpulan secara berkala, untuk duduk di meja-meja dan berbincang mengenai isu yang ditetapkan di meja-meja tersebut. Antara isunya, "Leadership Through Service - a form of leadership?", "Are we called to serve our community?", "Sharing experience - what have you served?" dan macam-macam lagi. Sangat membantu memahami isu. Bercadang membawa balik beberapa contoh modul untuk dakwah. Ketika zohor, saya meminta izin untuk sembahyang bersama-sama rakan-rakan lain. Kami sembahyang di perpustakaan. Saya menjadi imam bermakmumkan Ahmed dan Amirul. Ahmed menyambung solat jama' asar. Kemudian Dr Amir Farid masuk. Doktor Melayu yang saya lihat pada hari pertama. Dia presiden INSAF(Inter-faith Spiritual Fellowship). Wow.. Kemudian dia hampar sejadah, dan solat. Bajunya masih berhias lambang-lambang agama lain. "I am very open at accepting differences regarding opinions, options, fiqh, and almost anything else - but this?" saya bermonolog. Hati saya panas. Terus keluar bilik.Adakah wujud toleransi dalam Islam mengenai hal-hal sebegini? Ketika itu, saya merasakan ada sedikit peluang untuk saya mencapai matlamat saya. Saya ingin menemui dan mempelajari elemen-elemen pluralistik, global ethics, kalau bernasib baik mungkin akan terkeluar sedikit mengenai Parliament of World Religions. Sedang merayau-rayau dalam library, terjumpa beberapa trofi dan sijil penghargaan dari Rotary Club dan Lion Club. Wow.. ini yang real. Bukti. Semua orang tahu yang Rotary Club is associated with Freemasonry. Bukan konspirasi punya teori. Sekarang saya tahu saya dalam situasi serius. Sebab itu penginapan dan semua yuran percuma - mereka ini tauke duit.

Selepas menunaikan solat 'Asar, beberapa dari peserta termasuk saya menawarkan diri untuk turut serta ikut ke Gurdwara Sikh di Shah Alam. Saya berniat dan berminat untuk mendalami lebih dalam mengenai Sikh. Untuk pengetahuan pembaca, pengasas Sikh - Guru Nanak pernah menjadi seorang Muslim. Untuk 'improvise' dia mengasaskan agama Sikh. Sebab itu penganut Sikh mendakwa guru Nanak pernah sampai ke Mekah, juga jika diperhatikan, tuhan mereka Allah. Sesampai saja kami di sana, kami diberikan headband untuk menutup kepala. Kami sampai pukul 7. Jadi, kami berlima bersama doktor Amir menuju ke surau untuk menunaikan solat maghrib. Selepas habis menunaikan solat maghrib, kami masuk ke Gurdwara untuk menyaksikan persembahan mereka. Dalam bahasa Punjabi - sedikit sama macam bahasa Urdu. Entah-entah sama. Entah. Semasa di dalam Gurdwara, saya ternampak gambar-gambar tergantung di dalam Gurdwara tersebut. Somehow, mereka pun ada imam - macam Syiah. Mereka punya imam ada 10. Dan Imam mereka sangat-sangat iras macam syeikh-syeikh kita - berjambang dan berserban. Kemudian, apabila mereka mula bersiap untuk sembahyang, kami keluar. Termasuk Ahmed. Kami berborak-borak di luar sementara menunggu sembahyang mereka selesai. Saya melihat beberapa peserta beragama Hindu dan Buddha turut serta dalam sembahyang mereka. Sikh menyentuh lantai, mereka turut sekali. "Wow.. what a tolerance. Gladly our Nabi had made it clear - Lakum diinukum waliya diin..". Sangat mudah kelihatan mereka berkira-kira dalam hal akidah. Pada saya, akidah ini adalah hal kebenaran. Absolute truth. Bukan perkara di mana kalau kau merasakan Hindu paling sesuai dengan diri kau, kau ambil Hindu, kalau Buddha sesuai kau ikut Buddha. Saya tidak memandang Islam hanya sebagai platform spiritual untuk sama-sama mencapai 'tujuan-tujuan' baik seperti keamanan dunia dan sebagainya. Mungkin agama mereka membenarkan hal-hal sebegini, wallahu a'lam. I will respect theirs anyhow. Kami kemudian dijemput makan. Kelihatan YB pun turut serta. Eceh.. Tanpa pasal, YB pun datang bersalam dengan kami. Sebab kami dari URI Conference, up lah sikit market kami di situ sebab performers pun dari URI. Kemudian saya berborak dengan performer tadi, namanya Jamel Kaur seorang wanita. Bertanya mengenai maksud lagu. Kemudian berbual dengan ibunya.. Ibunya kami panggil Auntie Jessie. Katanya Doktor Amir 'spiritual brother' dia. Dia juga mengatakan, suaminya seorang 'multi-faith person'. Multi-faith? Interesting.

Dari kanan gambar barisan bawah, Hann, Salasiah, Nisa, Puji. Belakang Hann, Nivy dari  Australia(dia yang puji saya baca Quran), Chin Yi, Krine, Rashmeen. Oh..saya ada di hujung meja dengan seorang auntie. Nampak? :)

Di hotel, selepas solat, saya dan Amirul keluar jalan-jalan ke bandar cari makan. Jumpa abang char kuey teow, borak-borak panjang dengan dia. Selepas makan, saya balik ke bilik. Saya, Amirul, Vincent, dan Jerrison berbincang sedikit mengenai fahaman pluralisme yang menular dalam kalangan manusia hari ini. Mereka juga tidak bersetuju - Alhamdulillah. Mereka mengatakan dalam Buddha juga - ada kelompok ajaran sesat seperti itu. Kami juga berbincang mengenai kepercayaan ghaib dalam Buddha. Terkejut, mereka lebih takut dengan hantu berbanding adik saya. Tak nak cakap langsung bila sebut pasal hantu. Mengikut kepercayaan mereka, hantu wujud dalam 'realm of negative karma'. Kalau seseorang itu karmanya sangat negatif, sama level dengan hantu, dia akan nampak hantu. Dalam agama Islam, faktor dia bukan itu. Saya mengatakan, bahawa saya dan ramai lagi rakan-rakan saya pernah terserempak dengan hantu - jin, bukan roh - di dalam hutan dan di sekolah. Sama ada baik, atau nakal, mereka semua pernah nampak. "In my religion, we believe those things exist. And our prophet has taught us ways to repel those things..". Alhasilnya, saya tidur dengan Vincent malam itu tak tutup lampu - sebab dia takut. Malam itu, kerinduan terhadap Rasulullah makin memuncak. Pasang nasyid Binnabil Huda dengan The Chosen One. Rindu. Allahumma Solli 'ala Muhammad.

6 Sept, Khamis 
Pagi seperti biasa. Selepas breakfast, kami menuju ke Pure Life Society. Kami memulakan hari kami dengan briefing mengenai service project - cat railing rumah anak yatim. Dalam pukul 10 - kami memulakan projek kami. Seronok. Sedang mengecat dan mengikis, kami belajar lagu-lagu tradisional bangsa-bangsa lain. Kami mengajar lagu "Buah Cempedak di luar pagar" dan "Rasa sayang". Selesai dalam pukul 12.30 tengahari. Saya mengambil masa untuk tidur sebentar. Bangun-bangun, saya melihat perempuan 3 orang itu sedang makan makanan luar. Tak tahan katanya makan vege sahaja. Kesian tengok. Kami terus menunaikan solat zohor - dan meneruskan dengan satu bengkel penutup.

Saya dan Lansky. - kikis jangan tak kikis!

Di majlis penutup - mereka menyerahkan sijil kepada setiap peserta. Dan menjemput kami untuk hadir ke SEAPAC Regional Assembly - "No thanks. gua sudah penat.. :)". Di akhir majlis, seorang fasilitator - Jamel Kaur menawarkan diri untuk membacakan doa. Dia memulakan dengan meminta sesiapa yang sudi memejamkan mata dan menghayati. Katanya doa ini universal. Universal? Yep - dia mengatakan doa yang dia akan bacakan ialah doa universal. Kemudian dia memulakannya.. Kami Muslim tidak turut serta, hanya melihat. Bersama kami seorang Kristian, Jerrison dan Vincent juga tidak turut serta. Pada awal doa - dia membaca morning prayer Sikh, saya mengingatinya sebab pada hari sebelumnya semasa Sacred Opening seorang Sikh juga membacakan doa sama seperti ini. Kemudian dia berpindah ke bahasa Sanskrit - yang mana saya tak mengenali doa itu. Jadi saya anggap itu doa orang Hindu. Kemudian dia membacakan doa Buddha - Lotus Sutra - "Jerrison, isn't this is your sutra?". "Ya...she read some of it". Kemudian dia membacakan ayat "Shamma Israelu adonai elahaino adna ehad" dan kemudian "Shalom..". Aik? Kemudian "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar..". Makin bertambah kehairanan saya. Ini bukan doa. Dia hanya membaca sedikit frasa dalam bahasa asal. Semakin jelas - saya melihat muka Dr Amir Farid - ingin melihat reaksi beliau terhadap doa 'universal' ini. Dia memandang saya - saya memandangnya kembali. Saya masih keliru dengan status beliau. Dan secara muktamad saya tidak setuju dengan amalan sebegini. Tidak sama sekali.

Sebahagian peserta sempat berposing. Yang lain suka berborak. Peliknya budaya peserta di sini, mereka mesti inquire something about us or our faith bila ada masa lapang.

Akhirnya - seorang reverend dari UK berucap. Memperkenalkan URI secara global, serta menceritakan serba sedikit mengenai Parliament of World Religions! Ketika saya mendengar perkataan tersebut, saya tersenyum seorang diri. Alhamdulillah.. Ini pintu masuk saya. Kemudian setiap daripada kami mendapat nota kecil mengenai global ethic. Alhamdulillah. Makin jelas. Ketika ingin berpisah, kami berborak-borak dan bertukar-tukar contact. Ramai yang nak berjabat tangan - tapi saya dan Amirul merapatkan dua tangan kami dan tunduk. Sebagai 'courtesy'. Cuma, yang saya masih tak faham, yang dah veteran pun mahu hulur tangan. Kata dah lama dalam inter-faith, tak faham-faham lagi. Siap kata - jangan jadi terlalu tradisional. Mesti 'lower the fence' antara agama. Idea ini sangat bahaya. Fence inilah yang membuatkan sesebuah agama itu satu agama. Yang mempunyai identiti dan batasan. Mempunyai sendi dan prinsip. Iya.. kami digalakkan bekerjasama dalam hal-hal kebaikan. Wa ta'awanu 'alal birri wat taqwa. Iya..kita mesti mengajak kepada kalimah yang sama. Kalimah apa? Bukan world peace. Bukan.. Alla na'buda illallah. Tuhan yang kita sembah hanya Allah. Dalam hal aqidah dan ketuhanan, tiada kompromi. Kami berpisah dengan hati yang terbuka dan terikat. Sudah bercambah rasa sayang pada mereka. Mereka baik-baik, mereka juga ignorant terhadap hakikat pluralisme. Malah, Jerrison dah pun jatuh cinta pada seorang wanita dari Indonesia. Comel.

Saya dan Amirul pulang dengan Vincent dan Jerrison naik bas dan LRT. Sempat berborak mengenai ikhtilat dalam Islam. Menerangkan macam mana nak sunting perempuan kalau dalam Islam, tak boleh bersentuh, tak boleh berdua, tak boleh dating sebelum nak kahwin tanpa mahram. Dan macam-macam. Jerrison akhirnya tanya, "You rasa saya ada peluang tak?". "I vote for yes!" saya kata padanya. Dalam Islam, Amirul kata, kalau dah jodoh tak ke mana. Jauh mana pun pergi, beza mana pun usia, tak ke mana. Saya menambah "If you are meant for her, you'll be with her". Hehe. Menggatal pulak masing-masing waktu itu. :D


Refleksi :
- Terasa solat itu sangat berharga. Quran bertambah sayang. Rasulullah semakin rindu. Kalau lah Rasulullah ada di sisi, semestinya dia dapat merungkai segala permasalahan di dunia ini. Tekad di dalam diri, aku lah pejuang Islam. Terngiang lirik Binnabil Huda - "Nahnu Jundul Huda". Kamilah tentera Hidayah(petunjuk). Di dalam surau, sangat aman rasa. Dekat dengan Allah. Aku buat perkara ini, untuk mengenal jahiliyah. Jahiliyah yang bernama pluralisme.

- Pluralisme barah yang sangat bahaya. No over-estimation. Ideologi yang halus dan nampak cantik. Harap kita dapat sama-sama menanam kesedaran dalam hal ini.

- Mereka di sana sangat bekerjasama. Indah nama - for a better world, better environment. Slogan mereka cantik, One God, One World, One Race. Sama-sama bekerjasama untuk tujuan yang baik. Cuma, ada sedikit racun di situ. Mereka menyamaratakan semua agama. Macam slogan malam kesenian mereka "A Night Emblazing Different Paths Towards Oneness". Saya ingin agar kita umat Islam bersatu. Usah bergaduh atas nama politik, jemaah dan khilaf cetek. Mereka semakin kuat. Syukur kita ada Allah di side kita, kita masih wujud dan hidup.

- Masyarakat pluralistik ideal. Saya ingin hidup dalam masyarakat seperti ini. Setiap aqidah mengenali dan menghormati perbezaan - tanpa menyama ratakan agama. Mereka tahu aku tak boleh sentuh perempuan bukan mahram, mereka hormat. Aku tahu mereka tak makan daging, aku tak masak makanan berdaging kalau mereka datang. Aku nak mereka hormat agama aku, bukan dissolve agama aku sebab nak capai tujuan 'a better world'. Aku percaya Islam itu sebaik-baik medium untuk menyembuhkan dunia ini. Sebab aku, orang Islam, aku percaya agama aku sahaja yang menyembah Allah dengan cara yang Allah mahu - cara yang sebenar-benarnya. Muktamad. Radhitu billahi Rabba, wa bil Islami diina, wa bi Muhammadinnabiyya wa rasuulaa.

- Islam itu agama terbaik. In every aspect. Bertambah yakin. Alhamduilllah, ya Allah. Terima kasih kerana menganugerahkan Iman dan Islam. Amin. Allahumma Solli 'ala Muhammad. Sangat merindui Rasulullah..

- Wallahu a'lam. I look forward to sharing and discussing.