.:Pasaman Barat Mesir:.

Jakarta -Marjoko melalui puasa kali ini tanpa libur, dari pekerjaannya mencari batu. Bersama istrinya, ia membiarkan badannya terpanggang terik matahari, di lereng Gunung Wilis. Peluh terus meleleh, menguras tenaganya. Namun, Marjoko tak luluh. Ia tetap gagah, menghantamkan palu besi 5 kg, ke bongkahan batu yang keras. Perlahan, batu itu pun pecah.

"Kalau puasa begini istirahat jam 11. Nanti dilanjut lagi habis sholat dhuhur," kata Marjoko terengah.

"Hidup di desa yang kering begini, tak ada pilihan kerja lagi. Kalau tidak mencari batu, keluarga tidak makan," imbuh bapak empat anak yang kadang buruh nebang tebu, hingga ke Lampung.

Desa Sanan, Ngetos, Kabupaten Nganjuk, salah satu desa tandus yang berada di lereng Gunung Wilis. Musim kemarau begini, lahan pertanian tidak dapat diolah. Sawah dan ladang, mengalami satu kali musim panen dalam setahun, dengan mengandalkan air tadah hujan. Tanaman yang dapat tumbuh lebih lama singkong.

"Warga di sini sehari-hari masih makan nasi tiwul (singkong). Kalau tidak makan tiwul, beras tidak mencukupi," Marjoko menuturkan.

Saking gersangnya daerah itu, para suami dan para remajanya banyak yang merantau ke Surabaya. Sebagian besar, menjadi buruh bangunan dan pembantu rumah tangga. Marjoko sendiri, dua anak gadisnya juga berkerja sebagai pembantu rumah tangga di Surabaya.

Puasa tak menghalangi Marjoko dan Sunarti, sang istri, untuk menjalani pekerjaan berat ini. Suami istri itu, mulai berangkat mencari batu pukul enam pagi. Satu truk batu, dibeli oleh pemborong seharga Rp 70.000. Dari jumlah itu, Marjoko, masih menyisihkan Rp 30.000, untuk pemilik tanah tempat batu digali. Pendapatan bersih yang ia peroleh tinggal Rp 40.000.

"Satu truk saya kumpulkan selama empat sampai lima hari. Kalau dihitung dari tenaga dan pendapatan, ya ora sumbut (tidak sebading) mas. Tapi ya saya sudah bersyukur, habis mau bagaimana lagi," tandasnya.

"Kadang yo ngutang lho mas nek mboten cekap. Nopo maleh wulan poso ngateniki rego-rego podho mundak (kadang berutang kalau tidak cukup. Apalagi bulan puasa harga-harga naik)," Sunarti menimpali.

"Orang kecil seperti saya ini, yang diandalkan cuma otot sama keringet to mas. Mengandalkan jadi petani, lha wong sawah cuma setahun sekali. Lahan juga tidak luas," imbuh Marjoko.

Siang itu, lereng Gunung Wilis panasnya amat menyengat. Sawah dan lading, rumputnya menguning karena kering. Sumber air di belik-belik, (kubangan tempat menampung air) milik kampung mulai mengecil. Pohon-pohon jati daunnya juga berguguran. Beruntung, sebagian masyarakat masih dapat memanen singkong. Bahan makanan pokok, yang sampai hari ini masih di konsumsi kebanyakan masyarakat lereng Wilis.

Marjoko, bagian dari tandusnya lereng itu, di kala kemarau. Puasa hari pertama ia lalui dengan tetap bekerja keras. Puasa, tak meluruhkan jiwanya untuk menyerah tidak mengangkat palu besi. Marjoko tetap memecahkan bongkahan-bongkahan batu, dalam ujiaan panas dan dahaga. Puasa, telah dipahami Marjoko sebagai kewajiban yang harus dijalani. Dalam situasi dan kondisi apapun. Sedangkan memecah cadas-cadas yang keras, bagian dari jihadnya menghidupi keluarganya.

"Garis hidup saya ya seperti ini. Senajan kudu mikul watu (meski harus memikul batu), puasa itu sudah kewajiban yang harus dijalankan," kata Marjoko yakin.

*) Sunaryo Adhiatmoko, Al-Azhar Peduli Ummat

Istanbul -Di titik pertemuan Selat Bosphorus, Tanjung Tanduk Emas (Golden Horn) dan Laut Marmara, Istanbul, Turki, menjulang indah Istana Topkapi. Lambang kejayaan Dinasti Ottoman Turki dan museum penyimpan benda-benda Nabi Muhammad SAW.

Didirikan di atas tanah seluas 592.600–700.000 m². Istana Topkapi berfungsi selama 400 tahun sejak mulai dibangun pada tahun 1453 M.

Istana ini ialah istana 24 raja Dinasti Ottoman Turki yang sangat terkenal. Tak heran bila Istana Topkapi digunakan sebagai tempat tinggal para Sultan Ottoman selama 4 abad. Kemudian selama itu juga diadakan pembangunan dan pembaharuan sampai tahun 1850.

Diawali dengan keinginan Sultan Mehmed II untuk membangun sebuah istana sebagai pusat Kesultanan Ottoman. Sebagai catatan, Sultan Mehmed II menguasai Istanbul setelah menaklukannya dari tangan Kekaisaran Roma pada tahun 1453.

Dari sanalah Istana Topkapi mulai dibangun dan terus mengalami berbagai perubahan. Hingga suatu hari, masa pemerintahan Sultan Mehmed II berganti menjadi pemerintahan Sultan Abdul Mecid (1839-1860).

Sultan Abdul Mecid yang lebih memilih untuk tinggal di Istana Dolmabahce, Bosphorus menyebabkan Istana Topkapi terlantar.

Kemudian terjadilah sebuah perkembangan pada tahun 1923. Hal ini dilakukan oleh Pemerintah Turki yang merenovasi dan merubahnya menjadi museum. Tepatnya pada tanggal 3 April 1924 keluarlah putusan resmi pemerintah yang berisi bahwa Istana Topkapi telah berubah menjadi museum.

Di dalam Museum Istana Topkapi terdapat berbagai arsitektur dan benda-benda bersejarah lainnya. Seperti jubah, lukisan, senjata, perisai, baja, miniatur daerah kekuasaan Utsmani, kaligrafi dan benda-benda berharga lain yang dimiliki pada masa kekuasaan Turki-Utsmani.

Masih di seputaran Istana, juga ada peninggalan berharga, benda-benda yang pernah dipakai Nabi Muhammad SAW. Berbagai peninggalan itu ditempatkan di dalam suatu ruang khusus yang terpisah dari Istana Topkapi. Ruangan itu bernama Paviliun Relikui Suci.

Di dalamnya terdapat pedang, mantel, gigi (Nabi Muhammad SAW yang tanggal pada Perang Uhud), bakiak, bendera, cambuk, segenggam janggut, sajadah, tongkat, busur panah, sabuk, stempel dan berbagai benda lainnya. Selain itu, terdapat pula pedang-pedang milik ke-empat sahabat Nabi, Khulafaur Rasyidin (Abubakar As-Shidiq, Umar bin Khatab, Usman bin Affan dan Ali bin Abu Thalib).

Kemudian yang paling menakjubkan adalah cetakan telapak kaki kanan Nabi Muhammad SAW. Telapak kaki kanan itu tercetak saat peristiwa Mi'raj. Sedangkan telapak kaki kirinya kini tersimpan di Masjidil Aqsa, Jerusalem.

Terdapat pula beberapa surat buatan Nabi Muhammad SAW. Surat itu ditulis kepada Muqawqis (pemimpin Kaum Kopts) dan Musaylima (si Pembohong). Surat untuk Muqawqis ditulis di daun kurma dan ditemukan di Mesir pada tahun 1850.

Peninggalan bersejarah lainnya adalah manuskrip Al Quran pertama yang ditulis di atas lembaran kulit binatang. Itu terjadi sebelum Al Quran disatukan menjadi sebuah kitab utuh. Salah satu yang tersimpan di Topkapi ialah Surat Al Qadar. Selain itu, masih banyak peninggalan lainnya dari para tokoh yang berjasa dalam perkembangan Islam.

Satu lagi keunikan dari Topkapi, bila memasuki ruangan peninggalan ini kita dapat mendengar alunan 24 orang Hafiz (penghafal) Quran bergantian membaca Al Qur'an dengan syahdunya. Dan alunan bacaan ini terjadi tanpa berhenti 24 jam terus-menerus selama 407 tahun (dari tahun 1517-1924 M).

Istana ini sempat masuk dalam situs cagar budaya UNESCO PBB pada tahun 1985. Istana yang memiliki ribuan kamar dan ruang ini kini di bawah pengelolaan Departemen Budaya dan Pariwisata Turki, dengan penjagaan dari Militer Turki. (nwk/nwk)

Depok -Masjid Dian Al-Mahri memang fenomenal. Dari kejauhan, masjid ini terlihat megah berkilauan dengan 5 kubahnya yang berwarna emas. Ya, kelima kubah itu memang dilapis emas sungguhan, 24 karat.

Pendiri masjid ini, saudagar kayu asal Banten Hj Dian Djuriah Maimun Al Rasyid sengaja membeli tanah untuk mendirikan masjid di Kelurahan Meruyung, Kecamatan Limo, Kota Depok, Jawa Barat pada tahun 1996. Pada waktu itu harga tanah Rp 50 ribu sampai Rp 75 ribu per meter perseginya.

anah seluas 50 hektar ini akhirnya dibangun masjid pada tahun 2001 hingga selesai, diresmikan dan dibuka untuk umum pada 31 Desember 2006, bertepatan dengan Hari Raya Idul Adha 1427 H. Masjid ini berkubah 5 yang berlapiskan emas 24 karat dari Italia. 5 Kubah tersebut adalah perlambang rukun Islam.

Selain itu ada 6 menara setinggi 40 meter, yang melambangkan rukun Iman. Keenam pilar tersebut dibalut dengan batu granit abu–abu yang diimpor dari Italia dengan ornamen yang melingkar.

Tidak hanya kubah saja yang dilapisi dengan emas akan tetapi mimbar khatib pun dilapisi dengan emas 18 karat. Begitu pula dengan pagar di lantai dua masjid dan hiasan kaligrafi di langit–langit masjid serta mahkota pilar masjid yang berjumlah 168 dilapisi dengan bahan prado (sisa emas). Lampu gantung seberat 2,7 ton di tengah ruangan masjid yang terbuat dari kuningan dilapisi emas langsung didatangkan dari Italia.

Masjid ini mempunyai kapasitas daya tampung jamaah sebesar 20 ribu jamaah. Teras masjid berupa ruangan tertutup yang terdapat di ruangan inti masjid dapat menampung sekitar 8 ribu jamaah.

sumber:detik

Ramadhan punya makna tersendiri di hati umat Islam. Bulan ini adalah bulan rihlah ruhaniyah (wisata rohani). Umat Islam melepas belenggu materialisme dunia dengan menghidupkan dunia ruhiyah. Sebulan penuh umat Islam menjalani proses tadzkiyatun nafs (pembersihan jiwa). Sebulan penuh umat Islam melakukan riyadhatur ruhiyah (olah rohani).

Sebulan penuh umat Islam bagai ulat dalam kepompong Ramadhan. Diharapkan di akhir Ramadhan kondisi rohani mereka secantik kupu-kupu. “Hai orang-orang yang beriman, diwajibkan atas kamu berpuasa sebagaimana orang-orang sebelum kamu agar kamu bertakwa.” [QS. Al-Baqarah (2): 183]

Amal-amal apa saja yang bisa kita lakukan di bulan Ramadhan agar kita bisa memperoleh derajat takwa?

1. Berpuasa (Shiyam)

Amal yang utama di bulan Ramadhan tentu saja berpuasa. Hal ini diperintahkan Allah swt. dalam Al-Quran surat Al-Baqarah (2) ayat 183-187. Karena itu, agar puasa kita tidak sia-sia, perdalamlah wawasan kita tentang puasa yang benar dengan mengetahui dan menjaga rambu-rambunya. Sebab, puasa bukan sekadar tidak makan dan tidak minum. Tapi, ada rambu-rambu yang harus ditaati. Kata Rasulullah saw., “Barangsiapa berpuasa Ramadhan kemudian mengetahui rambu-rambunya dan memperhatikan apa yagn semestinya diperhatikan, maka hal itu akan menjadi pelebur dosa-dosa yang pernah dilakukan sebelumnya.” (HR. Ibnu Hibban dan Al-Baihaqi)

Jangan pernah tidak berpuasa sehari pun tanpa alasan yang dibenarkan syariat. Meninggalkan puasa tanpa uzur adalah dosa besar dan tidak bisa ditebus meskipun orang itu berpuasa sepanjang masa. “Barangsiapa tidak puasa pada bulan Ramadhan sekalipun sehari tanpa alasan rukhshah atau sakit, hal itu (merupakan dosa besar) yang tidak bisa ditebus bahkan seandainya ia berpuasa selama hidup,” begitu kata Rasulullah saw. (HR. At-Turmudzi)

Jauhi hal-hal yang dapat mengurangi dan menggugurkan nilai puasa Anda. Inti puasa adalah melatih kita menahan diri dari hal-hal yang tidak benar. Bila hal-hal itu tidak bisa ditinggalkan, maka nilai puasa kita akan berkurang kadarnya. Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Bukankah (hakikat) puasa itu sekadar meninggalkan makan dan minum, melainkan meninggalkan perbuatan sia-sia dan kata-kata bohong.” (HR. Ibnu Hibban dan Ibnu Khuzaimah). Rasulullah saw. juga berkata, “Barangsiapa yang selama berpuasa tidak juga meninggalkan kata-kata bohong bahkan mempraktikkanya, maka tidak ada nilainya bagi Allah apa yang ia sangkakan sebagai puasa, yaitu sekadar meninggalkan makan dan minum.” (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim).

Semua itu tidak akan bisa kita lakukan kecuali dengan bersungguh-sungguh dalam melaksankannya. Dengan begitu, puasa yang kita lakukan menghasilkan ganjaran dari Allah berupa ampunNya. Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Barangsiapa berpuasa Ramadhan dengan sepenuh iman dan kesungguhan, maka akan diampuni dosa-dosa yang pernah dilakukan.” (HR. Bukhari, Muslim, dan Abu Dawud)

Salah satu bentuk kesungguhan dalam berpuasa adalah, melakukan makan sahur sebelum tiba waktu subuh. Rasulullah saw. menerangkan, “Makanan sahur semuanya bernilai berkah, maka jangan Anda tinggalkan, meskipun hana dengan seteguk air. Alah dan para malaikat mengucapkan salam kepada orang-orang yang makan sahur.”

Selain sahur, menyegerakan berbuka ketika magrib tiba, juga bentuk kesungguhan kita dalam berpuasa. “Sesungguhnya termasuk hamba Allah yang paling dicintai olehNya ialah mereka yang menyegerakan berbuka puasa,” begitu kata Rasulullah saw. Rasulullah saw. memberi contoh bersegera berbuka puasa walaupun hanya dengan ruthab (kurma mengkal), tamar (kurma), atau seteguk air. (HR. Abu Dawud dan Ahmad).

Selama berpuasa, jangan lupa berdoa. Doa yang banyak. Sebab, doa orang yang berpuasa mustajab. Ini kata Rasulullah saw., “Ada tiga kelompok manusia yang doanya tidak ditolak oleh Allah. Yang pertama ialah doa orang-orang yang berpuasa sehingga mereka berbuka.” (HR. Ahmad dan Turmudzi)

2. Membaca Al-Qur’an (Tilawah)

Al-Qur’an diturunkan perama kali di bulan Ramadhan. Maka tak heran jika Rasulullah saw. lebih sering dan lebih banyak membaca Al-Qur’an di bulan Ramadhan dibandingkan di bulan-bulan lain. Imam Az-Zuhri berkata, “Apabila datang Ramadhan, maka kegiatan utama kita selain berpuasa adalah membaca Al-Qur’an.” Bacalah dengan tajwid yang baik dan tadabburi, pahami, dan amalkan isinya. Insya Allah, kita akan menjadi insan yang berkah.

Buat target. Jika di bulan-bulan lain kita khatam membaca Al-Qur’an dalam sebulan, maka di bulan Ramadhan kita bisa memasang target dua kali khatam. Lebih baik lagi jika ditambah dengan menghafal satu juz atau surat tertentu. Ini bisa dijadikan program unggulan bersama keluarga.

3. Memberikan makanan (Ith’amu ath-tha’am)

Amal Ramadhan yang juga dianjurkan Rasulullah saw. adalah memberikan santapan berbuka puasa kepada orang-orang yang berpuasa. “Barangsiapa memberi makanan berbuka kepada orang-orang yang berpuasa, maka ia mendapat pahala senilai pahala orang yang berpuasa itu tanpa mengurangi pahala orang yang berpuasa tersebut.” (HR. Turmudzi dan An-Nasa’i)

Sebenarnya memberi makan untuk orang berbuka hanyalah salah satu contoh bentuk kedermawanan yang ingin ditumbuhkan kepada kita. Masih banyak bentuk sedekah yang bisa kita lakukan jika kita punya kelebihan rezeki. Peduli dan sigap menolong orang lain adalah sifat yang ingin dilatih dari orang yang berpuasa.

4. Perhatikan kesehatan

Berpuasa adalah ibadah mahdhah. Tapi orang yang berpuasa juga sebenarnya adalah orang yang peduli dengan kesehatan. Makanya Rasulullah saw. berkata, “Berpuasalah kamu, maka kamu akan sehat.” Tak heran jika selama berpuasa Rasulullah saw. tetap memperhatikan kesehatan giginya dengan bersiwak, berobat dengan berbekam, dan memperhatikan penampilan, termasuk tidak berwajah cemberut.

5. Jaga keharmonisan keluarga

Puasa adalah ibadah yang khusus untuk Allah swt. Tapi, punya efek yang luas. Termasuk dalam mengharmoniskan hubungan keluarga. Jadi, berpuasa bukan berarti menjauh dari istri karena taqarrub kepada Allah sepanjang malam. Bukan juga tiada hari tanpa i’tikaf. Rasulullah saw. berpuasa, tapi juga memenuhi hak-hak keluarganya.

Dalam praktik keseharian, hanya di bulan Ramadhan kita bisa makan bersama secara komplit sekeluarga, baik ketika berbuka atau sahur. Di bulan lain hal ini sulit dilakukan. Keharmonisan keluarga juga bisa kita dapatkan dari shalat berjamaah dan tadarrus bersama.

6. Berdakwah

Selama Ramadhan kita punya kesempatan berdakwah yang luas. Karena, siapapun di bulan itu kondisi ruhiyahnya sedang baik sehingga siap menerima nasihat. Jadi, jangan sia-siakan kesempatan ini. Rasulullah saw. bersabda, barangsiapa menunjuki kebaikan, baginya pahala sebagaimana orang yang mengamalkannya tanpa mengurangi pahala orang yang mengamalkannya sedikitpun.

Jika mampu, jadilah pembicara di kultum ba’da sholat zhuhur, ashar, dan subuh di musholah atau masjid. Bisa juga menjadi penceramah di waktu tarawih. Jika tidak bisa berceramah, buat tulisan. Sebarkan ke orang-orang yang Anda temui. Jika tidak bisa, bisa mengambil artikel-artikel dari majalah, fotocopy, lalu sebarkan. Insya Allah, berkah.

Ini sebenarnya hanyalah langkah awal bagi kerja yang lebih serius lagi. Dengan melakukan hal-hal sederhana seperti di atas, sesungguhnya Anda sedang melatih diri untuk menjadi sosok yang bermanfaat bagi orang lain. Kata Rasulullah saw., mukmin yang baik adalah yang paling banyak manfaatnya bagi orang lain.

7. Shalat Tawawih (Qiyamul Ramadhan)

Ibadah sunnah yang khas di bulan Ramadhan adalah shalat tarawih (qiyamul ramadhan). Rasulullah saw., karena khawatir akan dianggap menjadi shalat wajib, melaksanakan shalat tarawih berjamaah bersama para sahabat tidak sepanjang Ramadhan. Ada yang meriwayatkan hanya tiga hari. Saat itu Rasulullah saw. melakukannya secara berjamaah sebanyak 11 rakaat dengan bacaan surat-surat yang panjang. Tapi, di saat kekhawatiran akan diwajibakannya shalat tarawih sudah tidak ada lagi, Umar bi Khattab menyebutkan jumlah rakaat shalat tarawih adalah 21 atau 23 rakaat (HR. Abdur Razzaq dan baihaqi).

Ibnu hajar Al-Asqalani Asy-Syafi’i berkata, “Beberapa riwayat yang sampai kepada kita tentang jumlah rakaat shalat tarawih menyiratkan ragam shalat sesuai dengan keadaan dan kemampuan masing-masing. Kadang ia mampu melaksanakan shalat 11 rakaat, kadang 21, dan terkadang 23 rakaat, tergantung semangat dan antusiasmenya masing-masing. Dahulu mereka shalat 11 rakaat dengan bacaan yang panjang sehingga mereka bertelekan dengan tongkat penyangga, sedangkan mereka shalat 21 atau 23 rakaat, mereka membaca bacaan-bacaan yang pendek dengan tetap memperhatikan masalah thuma’ninah sehingga tidak membuat mereka sulit.”

Jadi, silakan Anda qiyamul ramadhan sesuai dengan kadar kemampuan dan antusiasme Anda.

8. I’tikaf

Inilah amaliyah ramadhan yang selalu dilakukan Rasulullah saw. I’tikaf adalah berdiam diri di masjid dengan niat beribada kepada Allah swt. Abu Sa’id Al-khudri meriwayatkan bahwa Rasulullah saw. pernah beri’tikaf pada awal Ramadhan, pertengahan Ramadhan, dan paling sering di 10 hari terakhir bulan Ramadhan. Sayangnya, ibadah ini dianggap berat oleh kebanyakan orang Islam, jadi sedikit yang mengamalkannya. Hal ini dikomentari oleh Imam Az-Zuhri, “Aneh benar keadaan orang Islam, mereka meninggalkan i’tikaf padahal Rasulullah tidak pernah meninggalkannya sejak beliau datang ke Madinah sampai beliau wafat.”

Mudah-mudahan Anda bukan dari golongan yang kebanyakan itu.

9. Lailatul Qadar

Ada bulan Ramadhan ada satu malam yang istimewa: lailatul qadar, malam yang penuh berkah. Malam itu nilainya sama dengan seribu bulan. Rasulullah saw. amat menjaga-jaga untuk bida meraih lailatul qadar. Maka, Beliau menyuruh kita mencarinya di malam-malam ganjil pada 10 hari terakhir bulan Ramadhan. Kenapa? Karena, “Barangsiapa yang shalat pada malam lailatul qadar berdasarkan iman dan ihtissab, maka Allah akan mengampuni dosa-dosanya yang telah lalu.” Begitu kata Rasulullah saw. yang diriwayatkan oleh Bukhari dan Muslim. Bahkan, untuk mendapatkan malam penuh berkah itu, Rasulullah saw. mengajarkan kita sebuah doa, “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annii.” Ya Allah, Engkaulah Pemilik Ampunan dan Engkaulah Maha Pemberi Ampun. Ampunilah aku.

10. Umrah

Jika Anda punya rezeki cukup, pergilah umrah di bulan Ramadhan. Karena, pahalanya akan berlipat-lipat. Rasulullah saw. berkata kepada Ummu Sinan, seorang wanita Anshar, agar apabila datang bulan Ramadhan, hendaklah ia melakukan umrah, karena nilainya setara denagn haji bersama Rasulullah saw. (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim)

11. Zakat Fitrah

Zakat fitrah wajib dibayarkan sebelum hari Ramadhan berakhir oleh umat Islam, baik lelaki-perempuan, dewasa maupun anak-anak. Tujuannya untuk mensucikan orang yang melaksanakan puasa dan untuk membantu fakir miskin.

12. Perbanyaklah Taubat

Selama bulan Ramadhan Allah swt. membukakan pintu ampunan bagi hamba-hambanya dan setiap malam bulan Ramadhan Allah membebaskan banyak hambaNya dari api neraka. Karena itu, bulan Ramadhan adalah kesempatan emas bagi kita untuk bertaubat kembali ke fitrah kita.

Shaum atau puasa secara bahasa bermakna al-imsak atau menahan diri dari sesuatu seperti menahan diri dari makan atau berbicara. Makna shaum seperti ini dipakai dalam ayat ke-26 surat Maryam. “Maka makan dan minumlah kamu, wahai Maryam, dan tenangkanlah hatimu; dan jika kamu bertemu seseorang, maka katakanlah saya sedang berpuasa dan tidak mau berbicara dengan siapapun.”

Sedangkan secara istilah, shaum adalah menahan dari dari dua jalan syahwat, mulut dan kemaluan, dan hal-hal lain yang dapat membatalkan pahala puasa mulai dari terbit fajar sampai terbenam matahari.

Keutamaan Bulan Ramadhan

Dari Ibnu Mas’ud, Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Penghulunya bulan adalah bulan Ramadhan dan penghulunya hari adalah hari Jum’at.” (Thabrani)

Rasulullah saw. bersabda, ” Kalau saja manusia tahu apa yang terdapat pada bulan Ramadhan, pastilah mereka berharap Ramadhan itu selama satu tahun.” (Thabrani, Ibnu Khuzaimah, dan Baihaqi)

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a., Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Apabila datang bulan puasa, dibuka pintu-pintu surga dan ditutup pintu-pintu neraka.” (Bukhari dan Muslim)

Rasulullah saw. juga bersabda, “Apabila datang malam pertama bulan Ramadhan, para setan dan jin kafir akan dibelenggu. Semua pintu neraka ditutup sehingga tidak ada satu pintu pun yang terbuka; dan dibuka pintu-pintu surga sehingga tidak ada satu pun yang tertutup. Lalu terdengara suara seruan, “Wahai pencari kebaikan, datanglah! Wahai pencari kejahatan, kurangkanlah. Pada malam itu ada orang-orang yang dibebaskan dari neraka. Dan yang demikian itu terjadi pada setiap malam.” (Tirmidzi dan Ibnu Majah)
Keutamaan Puasa Ramadhan

Dari Abu Hurairah, Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Barangsiapa berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan karena iman dan penuh harap, akan diampuni dosa-dosanya yang telah lalu. Dan barangsiapa yang shalat malam pada bulan puasa, akan diampuni dosa-dosanya yang telah lalu.” (Bukhari dan Muslim)

Waktu Berpuasa

Ibadah puasa dimulai sejak masuknya fajar shadiq (waktu shalat Subuh) hingga terbenamnya matahari (masuk waktu shalat Maghrib). Allah menerangkan di dalam al-Qur’an dengan istilah benang putih dari benang hitam.

Doa Berbuka Puasa

Jika berbuka puasa, Rasullullah saw. membaca, “Allahumma laka shumtu wa ‘ala rizqika afthartu.” Artinya, ya Allah, untukmu aku berpuasa dan dengan rezeki yang engkau berikan kami berbuka. Dan Rasulullah saw. berbuka puasa dengan kurma. Jika tidak ada, cukup dengan air putih.

Sunnah-sunnah Dalam Berpuasa

Sebelum berpuasa, disunnahkan mandi besar dari junub, haidh, dan nifas. Bagi orang yang berpuasa, disunnahkan melambatkan makan sahur dan menyegerakan berbuka. Berdo’a sebelum berbuka.

Agar amalan puasa tidak rusak dan pahalanya tidak gugur, orang yang berpuasa disunnahkan menjaga anggota badan dari maksiat, meninggalkan obrolan yang tidak berguna, meninggalkan perkara syubhat dan membangkitkan syahwat.

Disunnahkan memperbanyak tilawah Al-Qur’an, memberi makan orang puasa untuk berbuka, dan memperbanyak sedekah. Di sepuluh hari terakhir, sangat dianjurkan beri’tikaf.

Yang Dibolehkan Tidak Berpuasa

1. Orang yang safar (dalam perjalanan). Tapi, ada ulama yang memberi syarat. Seseorang boleh tidak berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan dan menggantinya di bulan lain, jika safarnya menempuh lebih dari 89 km dan safarnya bukan untuk maksiat serta perjalanannya dimulai sebelum fajar. Namun Imam Hanbali membolehkan berbuka, walaupun safarnya dimulai pada siang hari. Alasan dibolehkannya berbuka adalah karena safar mengandung masyaqqah (kesusahan). Jika seseorang yang safar mengambil rukshah ini, ia wajib mengganti puasanya itu di hari lain sejumlah hari ia tidak berpuasa.

2. Orang yang sedang sakit. Sakit yang masuk dalam kategori ini adalah sakit yang dapat menghambat kelangsungan ibadah puasa dan berdampak pada keselamatan fisik jika dia tetap berpuasa. Untuk memutuskan dan menilainya, diperlukan pendapat dokter. Jika seseorang tidak berpuasa karena sakit, ia wajib mengganti puasa yang ditinggalkannya di bulan lain ketika ia sudah sehat.

3. Wanita hamil dan ibu yang menyusui. Wanita hamil atau ibu menyusui boleh tidak berpuasa, tapi harus menggantinya di hari lain. Jika dia tidak berpuasa karena takut dengan kondisi dirinya sendiri, maka hanya wajib bayar qadha’ saja. Tapi jika dia takut akan keselamatan janin atau bayinya, maka wajib bayar qadha’ dan fidyah berupa memberi makan sekali untuk satu orang miskin. Hal ini diqiyaskan dengan orang sakit dan dengan orang tua yang uzur.

4. Orang yang lanjut usia. Orang yang sudah lanjut usia dan tidak sanggup puasa lagi tidak wajib puasa, tapi wajib bayar fidyah dengan memberi makan seorang miskin sebanyak hari yang ditinggalkan.

5. Orang yang mengalami keletihan dan kehausan yang berlebihan. Jika kondisi itu dikhawatirkan mengganggu keselamatan jiwa dan akal, maka boleh berbuka dan wajib qadha’.

6. Orang yang dipaksa (ikrah) tidak berpuasa. Orang seperti ini boleh berbuka, tapi wajib mengqadha’.

Permasalahan Sekitar Puasa

1. Untuk puasa Ramadhan, wajib memasang niat berpuasa sebelum habis waktu sahur.

2. Saat berpuasa seorang suami boleh mencium isterinya, dengan syarat dapat menahan nafsu dan tidak merangsang syahwat.

3. Orang yang menunda mandi besar (janabah) setelah sahur atau setelah masuk waktu subuh, puasanya tetap sah. Begitu juga dengan orang yang berpuasa dan mendapat mimpi basah di siang hari, puasanya tetap sah.

4. Dilarang suami-istri berhubungan badan di siang hari ketika berpuasa. Hukuman bagi orang yang bersenggama di siang hari pada bulan Ramadhan adalah memerdekakan budak. Jika tidak mampu memerdekakan budak, suami-istri itu dihukum berpuasa dua bulan penuh secaara berturut-turut. Jika tidak mampu juga, mereka dihukum memberi makan 60 orang miskin sekali makan. Kalau perbuatannya berulang pada hari lain, maka hukumannya berlipat. Kecuali, pengulangannya dilakukan di hari yang sama.

5. Orang yang terlupa bahwa ia berpuasa kemudian makan dan minum, maka puasanya tetap sah. Setelah ingat, ia harus melanjutkan puasanya hingga waktu berbuka di hari itu juga.

6. Hanya muntah yang disengaja yang membatalkan puasa. Ada tiga perkara yang tidak membatalkan puasa: bekam, muntah (yang tidak disengaja), dan bermimpi (ihtilam). Sikat gigi atau membersihkan gigi dengan syiwak diperbolehkan. Hal ini biasa dilakukan oleh Rasulullah saw. Tapi, ada ulama yang memakruhkan menyikat gigi dengan pasta gigi setelah matahari condong ke Barat.

7. Orang yang mempunyai hutang puasa tahun sebelumnya, harus dibayar sebelum masuk Ramadhan yang akan berjalan. Jika belum juga ditunaikan, harus dibayar setelah Ramadhan yang tahun ini. Tapi, ada ulama berpendapat, selain harus diqadha’ juga diwajibkan memberi makan orang miskin.

8. Para ulama sepakat bahwa orang yang wafat dan punya utang puasa yang belum ditunaikan bukan karenakan kelalaian tapi disebabkan ada uzur syar’i seperti sakit atau musafir, tidak ada qadha yang harus ditanggung ahli warisnya. Tapi jika ada kelalaian, ada sebagian ulama mewajibkan qadha terhadap ahli warisnya dan sebagian lain mengatakan tidak.

9. Bagi mereka yang bekerja dengan fisik dan terkategori berat –seperti pekerja peleburan besi, buruh tambang, tukang sidang, atau yang lainnya– jika berpuasa menimbulkan kemudharatan terhadap jiwa mereka, boleh tidak berpuasa. Tapi, wajib mengqadha’. Jumhur ulama mensyaratkan orang-orang yang seperti ini wajib baginya untuk sahur dan berniat puasa, lalu berpuasa di hari itu. Kalau tidak sanggup, baru boleh berbuka. Berbuka menjadi wajib, kalau yakin kondisi ketidak sanggupan itu akan menimbulkan kemudharatan.

dakwatuna.com – Para ulama’ dan tokoh-tokoh ormas Islam diharapkan dapat menyatukan pandangan dalam penentuan 1 Ramadhan 1429 Hijriyah dan menahan diri dengan tidak mempublikasikan hasil hisab (perhitungan) atau rukyat (pemantauan bulan) yang dilakukan sebelum disepakati bersama dengan Departemen Agama sebagai perwakilan pemerintah.

“Hal itu diperlukan agar tidak menimbulkan kebingungan sekaligus untuk kebersamaan umat”

Para ulama memiliki kemungkinan untuk mendapatkan hasil yang berbeda dalam proses hisab dan rukyat guna menentukan 1 Ramadhan, menyusul perbedaan metodologi dan posisi bulan yang didapatkan dalam proses perhitungan.

Selama perbedaan tersebut tidak terlalu jauh, ulama dan tokoh ormas Islam sebaiknya ‘mengijma’kan’ -menyatukan- pendapatnya. Karena kesepakatan itu lebih baik dan bermanfaat bagi kebersamaan umat.

dakwatuna.com – “Wahai manusia, sungguh telah datang pada kalian bulan Allah dengan membawa berkah rahmat dan maghfirah. Bulan yang paling mulia di sisi Allah. Hari-harinya adalah hari-hari yang paling utama. Malam-malamnya adalah malam-malam yang paling utama. Jam demi jamnya adalah jam-jam yg paling utama.

Inilah bulan ketika kamu diundang menjadi tetamu Allah dan dimuliakan oleh-Nya. Di bulan ini nafas-nafasmu menjadi tasbih, tidurmu ibadah, amal-amalmu diterima dan doa-doamu diijabah. Bermohonlah kepada Allah Rabbmu dengan niat yang tulus dan hati yang suci agar Allah membimbingmu untuk melakukan shiyam dan membaca Kitab-Nya.

Celakalah orang yang tidak mendapat ampunan Allah di bulan yang agung ini. Kenanglah dengan rasa lapar dan hausmu, kelaparan dan kehausan di hari kiamat. Bersedekahlah kepada kaum fuqara dan masakin. Muliakanlah orang tuamu, sayangilah yang muda, sambungkanlah tali persaudaraanmu, jaga lidahmu, tahan pandanganmu dari apa yang tidak halal kamu memandangnya dan pendengaranmu dari apa yang tidak halal kamu mendengarnya. Kasihilah anak-anak yatim, niscaya dikasihi manusia anak-anak yatimmu.

Bertaubatlah kepada Allah dari dosa-dosamu. Angkatlah tangan-tanganmu untuk berdoa pada waktu shalatmu karena itulah saat-saat yang paling utama ketika Allah Azza wa Jalla memandang hamba-hamba-Nya dengan penuh kasih; Dia menjawab mereka ketika mereka menyeru-Nya, menyambut mereka ketika mereka memanggil-Nya dan mengabulkan doa mereka ketika mereka berdoa kepada-Nya.

Wahai manusia! Sesungguhnya diri-dirimu tergadai karena amal-amalmu, maka bebaskanlah dengan istighfar. Punggung-punggungmu berat karena beban (dosa)-mu, maka ringankanlah dengan memperpanjang sujudmu.

Ketahuilah, Allah Ta’ala bersumpah dengan segala kebesaran-Nya bahwa Dia tidak akan mengadzab orang-orang yang shalat dan sujud, dan tidak akan mengancam mereka dengan neraka pada hari manusia berdiri di hadapan Rabbal-alamin.

Wahai manusia, barangsiapa di antaramu memberi buka kepada orang-orang mukmin yang berpuasa di bulan ini, maka di sisi Allah nilainya sama dengan membebaskan seorang budak dan dia diberi ampunan atas dosa-dosa yang lalu.

(Seorang sahabat bertanya, “Ya Rasulullah, tidaklah kami semua mampu berbuat demikian.” Rasulullah meneruskan khotbahnya, “Jagalah dirimu dari api neraka walau pun hanya dengan sebiji kurma. Jagalah dirimu dari api neraka walau pun hanya dengan seteguk air.”)

Wahai manusia, siapa yang membaguskan akhlaknya di bulan ini, ia akan berhasil melewati Sirathal Mustaqim pada hari ketika kaki-kaki tergelincir. Siapa yang meringankan pekerjaan orang-orang yang dimiliki tangan kanannya (pegawai atau pembantu) di bulan ini, Allah akan meringankan pemeriksaan-Nya di hari kiamat. Barangsiapa menahan kejelekannya di bulan ini, Allah akan menahan murka-Nya pada hari ia berjumpa dengan-Nya.

Barangsiapa memuliakan anak yatim di bulan ini, Allah akan memuliakanya pada hari ia berjumpa dengan-Nya. Barangsiapa menyambungkan tali persaudaraan (silaturahmi) di bulan ini, Allah akan menghubungkan dia dengan rahmat-Nya pada hari ia berjumpa dengan-Nya. Barangsiapa memutuskan kekeluargaan di bulan ini, Allah akan memutuskan rahmat-Nya pada hari ia berjumpa dengan-Nya.

Barangsiapa melakukan shalat sunat di bulan ini, Allah akan menuliskan baginya kebebasan dari api neraka. Barangsiapa melakukan shalat fardu baginya ganjaran seperti melakukan 70 shalat fardu di bulan lain.

Barangsiapa memperbanyak shalawat kepadaku di bulan ini, Allah akan memberatkan timbangannya pada hari ketika timbangan meringan. Barangsiapa di bulan ini membaca satu ayat Al-Quran, ganjarannya sama seperti mengkhatam Al-Quran pada bulan-bulan yang lain.

Wahai manusia! Sesungguhnya pintu-pintu surga dibukakan bagimu, maka mintalah kepada Tuhanmu agar tidak pernah menutupkannya bagimu. Pintu-pintu neraka tertutup, maka mohonlah kepada Rabbmu untuk tidak akan pernah dibukakan bagimu. Setan-setan terbelenggu, maka mintalah agar ia tak lagi pernah menguasaimu.”

(Aku –Ali bin Abi Thalib yang meriwayatkan hadits ini– berdiri dan berkata, “Ya Rasulullah, apa amal yang paling utama di bulan ini?” Jawab Nabi, “Ya Abal Hasan, amal yang paling utama di bulan ini adalah menjaga diri dari apa yang diharamkan Allah”.)

Ramadhan berasal dari akar kata ر م ﺿ , yang berarti panas yang menyengat atau kekeringan, khususnya pada tanah. Bangsa Babylonia yang budayanya pernah sangat dominan di utara Jazirah Arab menggunakan luni-solar calendar (penghitungan tahun berdasarkan bulan dan matahari sekaligus). Bulan ke sembilan selalu jatuh pada musim panas yang sangat menyengat. Sejak pagi hingga petang batu-batu gunung dan pasir gurun terpanggang oleh segatan matahari musim panas yang waktu siangnya lebih panjang daripada waktu malamnya. Di malam hari panas di bebatuan dan pasir sedikir reda, tapi sebelum dingin betul sudah berjumpa dengan pagi hari. Demikian terjadi berulang-ulang, sehingga setelah beberapa pekan terjadi akumulasi panas yang menghanguskan. Hari-hari itu disebut bulan Ramadhan, bulan dengan panas yang menghanguskan.

Setelah umat Islam mengembangkan kalender berbasis bulan, yang rata-rata 11 hari lebih pendek dari kalender berbasis matahari, bulan Ramadhan tak lagi selalu bertepatan dengan musim panas. Orang lebih memahami 'panas'nya Ramadhan secara metaphoric (kiasan). Karena di hari-hari Ramadhan orang berpuasa, tenggorokan terasa panas karena kehausan. Atau, diharapkan dengan ibadah-ibadah Ramadhan maka dosa-dosa terdahulu menjadi hangus terbakar dan seusai Ramadhan orang yang berpuasa tak lagi berdosa. Wallahu `alam.

Dari akar kata tersebut kata Ramadhan digunakan untuk mengindikasikan adanya sensasi panas saat seseorang kehausan. Pendapat lain mengatakan bahwa kata Ramadhan digunakan karena pada bulan itu dosa-dosa dihapuskan oleh perbuatan baik sebagaimana matahari membakar tanah. Namun kata ramadan tidak dapat disamakan artinya dengan ramadhan. Ramadan dalam bahasa arab artinya orang yang sakit mata mau buta. Lebih lanjut lagi hal itu dikiaskan dengan dimanfaatkannya momen Ramadhan oleh para penganut Islam yang serius untuk mencairkan, menata ulang dan memperbaharui kekuatan fisik, spiritual dan tingkah lakunya, sebagaimana panas merepresentasikan sesuatu yang dapat mencairkan materi

sumber:wiki

by : Sayuti Lubis

(30 juli 2009).Siang menjelang sore di kota cairo,lebih tepatnya di rabea adawiyah (kantor PPMI)tak seperti biasanya.walaupun terik matahari begitu panas,mahasiswa indonesia mesir berbondong - bondong menghadiri acara debat kandidat capres dan cawapres PPMI.
Acara dimulai sebelum shalat asyar.Kalau capres dan cawapres Indonesia ada tiga pasang,disini hanya dua pasang.
Muhammad Taufiq dan Muhammad Syadid yang membawa jargon " masisir berprestasi, aman dan dinamis " dan rivalnya Rasyid Satari dan Rezki Matumona,lc mengusung jargon " berfikir, bertindak nyata " dengan PD memasuki ruangan yang telah disediakan.Menghadirkan dua debator handal, Talqis Nurdianto (mantan presiden) dan saudari Fashiha lubis.Acara berjalan lancar,pertanyaan- pertayaan yang dilontarkan kedua debator kadang membuat kedua kandidat serius sambil senyum untuk menjawabnya.Capres Taufiq yang berasal dari Padang mengatakan akan mengoptimalkan Fushul taqwiyah,Hp online 24 jam,mengoptimal kan posko keamanan,berdialoq dengan pemerintah RI, berusaha mengusulkan pembuatan UU perlindungan warga Indonesia di luarnegri. Dan banyak lagi program - program yang diusung pasangan Taufik dan Syadid. Mudah - mudahan bukan hanya janji tapi bisa di buktikan. tak mau kalah, pasangan Rasyid yang menggandeng cawapres dari padang juga (Rezki) berusaha menjawab pertanyaan yang dilontarkan debator. Untuk meningkatkan keamanan mahasiswa Indonesia di Mesir,pasangan Rasyid dan Rezki akan mensinerjikan beladiri.Ketika ketua WIHDAH menanyakan masalah rokok, saudara Rezki mengingatkan kepada peserta yang hadir akan akibat dari merokok,dan berharap jangan sampai mengganggu orang lain.
Ba'da magrib acara debat sudah selesai. Rencananya tanggal 1 Agustus akan diadakan debat kandidat di Daearah (Zaqziq, Tafahna, Mansuro). Mudah - mudahan siapapun yang menang dalam pemilihan 11 agustus mendatang bisa membawa aspirasi seluruh mahasiswa.amin....

Oleh : bujangsetia.blogspot.com.



Lapau Uwo Pulin agak langang dari hari-hari biasonyo. Ajo Tondeh, Pak Osu, Kudun, Malin Kacindin sarato Uncu Labai indak nampak batang iduangnyo. Manuruik kaba dari Uwo, urang-urang tu pulang kampuang dan ado pulo nan pai ziarah ka kubua kaluarganyo di Tunggua Hitam. “Biaso, kalau manjalang bulan puaso ko kan paralu awak baziarah ka kubua urang gaek awak surang-surang,” kato Uwo Pulin manjawek tanyo dari Angah Piyan nan baru sajo sampai di lapau tu. “Iyolah! Itu paralu. Awak indak hanyo mamintak maaf ka kaluarga nan masih iduik, tapi juo paralu ka arwah kaluarga awak nan lah labiah daulu. Apolai kalau itu urangtuo awak nan lah mandaului. Karano, salamo-lamo iduik, awak juo ka sampai di sinan. Kan bantuak itu ndak Tan?” Baleh Angah mampaiyokan ka Tan Baro.

Tan Baro cuma maangguak tando sapaham jo pandapek kawannyo tu. Pandangan matonyo taruih juo ka surek kaba nan sadang dibaconyo. Ciek kato indak dilampaui mambaconyo.

“Apo barita kini ko? Agak sarius bana Tan Baro mambaco nampak dek ambo,” Angah batanyo sasudah mancurahan saparo kopi ka piriang tadah nan baru sajo diidangkan dek urang punyo lapau tu.

“Nan angek bana indak ado doh. Cuma ado nan manarik dek ambo, yaitu nasib urang-urang nan dikubuakan di Tunggua Hitam,” jawek Tan Baro.

“Baa tu?” Angah manyasak.

“Buruak bana nasibnyo nampak dek ambo,” jawek Tan Baro baliak.

“Yo, baa tu?” Angah samakin panasaran.

“Cubo bayangkan dek Angah, lah mati, lah jadi tulang jo tangkurak dan bahkan lah jadi tanah lo liak di dalam kubua, kanai gusur juo lai. Padohal, katiko iduik, banyak pulo nan tiok sabanta kanai gusur dek Satpol pe-pe, ulah manggaleh di sumbarang tampek,” kato Tan Baro jo suaro nan agak lambek.

“Ah, nan ka iyo-iyo se lah, Tan? Maso iyo urang dalam kubua diusie atau digusur juo. Apo salahnyo?” Udin Kuriak nan dari tadi cuma sabagai pandanga, sato juo batanyo.

“Nan salah indak urang nan dalam kubua tu doh, tapi kaluarganyo. Seyo, kontrak atau pajak kubua tu indak dibayia, mako tapasolah tulang jo tangkuraknyo jadi korban,” jawek Tan Baro.

“Katalaluan bana kalau bantuak itu mah. Maso iyo urang dalam kubua digusur juo. Dima lataknyo manusiawi awak?” Udin mangecek baliak.

“Kato pamarentah, itu aturan!” Baleh Tan Baro.
“Aturan tu nan mambuek kan manusia ndak? Kalau manusia, ambo raso masih bisa diubah. Kalau indak diubah, tantu samakin rumik dan samakin bedo manusia-manusia di nagari ko dibueknyo. Sudahlah katiko iduik marasai, tibo di liang kubua diusie-digusur pulo,” kasudahannyo Angah Piyan mangaluakan pandapeknyo. Nampak inyo agak emosi.

“Kalau itu kajadiannyo, yo rumik awak manjadi pauni nagari ko mah,” Kari Garejoh lah sato pulo mangecek.

“Kalau nan bantuak Kari ko maningga, ndak paralu bana kubua doh,” salo Uwo Pulin.

“Baa tu?” Tanyo Udin.

“Ambauan se ka dalam lawik tu, bia dimakan hiu,” baleh Uwo.

Kari nan dipagarahan bantuak itu hanyo bisa galak masam se. Maklum, namonyo di lapau tantulah ado garah jo kucindan dan itu disadari bana dek Kari. Apolai salamo ko inyo tamasuak urang nan suko mampagarahan kawan-kawannyo di lapau tu. Espe St.Soeleman



TITIAN BATAKUAK

Kamari bedo parasaan Sabai Nan Aluih kutiko inyo didatangi dek urang padusi mandukuang anak ketek mintak sidakah. Indak kadiagiah sidakah, Sabai maraso badoso, maraso manjadi urang nan indak namuah manoloang urang susah. Kok ka diagiah sidakah, Sabai tahu bana, anak ketek nan didukuang padusi tu bukan anak padusi tu doh. Lah tigo kali Sabai basobok jo padusi tu, satiok basobok balain-lain anak ketek nan dibaonyo. Kutiko Sabai sadang tabedo tu, datang Mangkutak.

"Baa kok tamanuang aciak mancaliak urang padusi tu pai? Lai aciak agiah sidakah? Kan ibo awak dek anaknyo ndak ciak, " kato Mangkutak.

"Nan jadi persoalan dek Ai bukan maagiah sidakah atau indak. Tapi padusi tu sangajo mambao anak ketek, supayo Ai ibo. Kalau Ai ibo, Ai tantu musti maagiah sidakah. Ai marasoan, padusi tu sangajo manjadian anak ketek tu sebagai alat untuk manguras raso ibo Ai. Itu nan indak satuju Ai," jawek Sabai.

"Iyo baitu caro urang mangumpuakan kepeang kini ciak. Cubo aciak bayangkan. Kutiko Istano Basa nan di Padang Siminyak tu lah jadi abu dek tabaka ditembak patuih, kabanyo sado urang Minang tasentak. Maraso kahilangan kebanggaan. Kutiko tu langsuang diputuskan dek pamarentah untuk mambangun baliak istano basa tu," kato Mangkutak.

"Baa mako musti? Kan pitih sangaik diparaluan dek urang Minang nan manjadi korban gampo? Rumah sikola, musajik, rumah rakyat runtuah, jalan rangkah, ado nan mati, ado nan tatimbun. Kan itu nan musti awak dauluan daripado mambangun Istana tu?" kato Sabai.

"Itu batua ciak. Batua bana pikiran aciak tu. Dauluan urang nan menderita daripado mambuek bangunan mewah nan indak jaleh gunonyo dek urang banyak," kato Mangkutak. "Tapi ciak, pamarentah labiah mamaraluan mangumpua pitih untuak mambangun istana rajo tu. Tahu aciak sababnyo?" tanyo Mangkutak.

"Apo tu sababnyo?" tanyo Sabai.

"Saroman padusi nan mambao anak ketek tadi tulah. Kalau emosi awak tapanciang, lupo awak bahaso padusi tu lah mangicuah awak. Awak agiah sidakah, padohal anak nan nyo bao tu anak urang nan diseonyo. Mambangun Istano Basa baitu pulo. Tapanciang emosi urang Minang, aka ilang, langsuang manyumbang baratuih juta. Samantaro Istano Basa tu isinyo kicuah se sajak dulu," kato Mangkutak.

"Kicuah baa?" tanyo Sabai tagagau.

"Lai ka mungkin dek aciak, boto wisky dikecek an benda sejarah? Padohal boto wisky tu mungkin tatingga di Istano tu dek pareman nan mabuak-mabuak di sinan. O, banyak lai ciak kok waden caritokan sadonyo. Kini baitulah, cubo aciak pikie, jo pikiran sehat, jo pikiran waras. Apo bana paralunyo mambangun baliak istano rajo tu capek-capek. Saroman urang Minang ko ka cilako bisuak pagi, kalau indak dibangun istano kini-kini," kato Mangkutak.

"Manuruik analisa Ai, kalau memang baitu kandak pamarentah tantu ado udang di baliak batu. Sagalo urang Minang lah tapakiak mintak bantuan dek gampo, tapi nan pamarentah basikareh nak mambangun istano basa salakeh-lakehnyo. Ado apo?" kato Sabai sambia mamiciak-miciak kaniangnyo.

"Jaan jaan iko samacam titian barakuak ndak ciak?" kato Mangkutak.

"Titian barakuak baa?" tanyo Sabai.

"Kalau pamarentah basikareh juo nak mambangun baliak istano rajo tu samantaro masyarakat Minang ko sadang maluluang panjang kadinginan, indak cukuik makan dek karano sagalo harato bando abih dek gampo, tantu masyarakat indak puas jo caro karajo pamarentah. Pamarentah tu manuruik urang banyak ko adolah gubernur. Kalau tajadi katidakpuasan tu, tantu gubernur ko akan dibanci urang, indak ka namuah urang mamatuhi aturannyo lai doh," kato Mangkutak.

"O, jadi ado urang lain nan sadang mancubo manjatuahan gubernur, baitu? Itu nan waang mukasuik jo titian barakuak?" tanyo Sabai. Mangkutak maangguak.

"Ciek lai ciak. Kalau gubernur basikareh nak mambangun baliak istano basa tu, tantu persoalan tanah musti capek disalasaian. Kalau tanah bamasalah, tantu dibuek aka supayo baa sagalo tanah nan ado di sinan dapek disalasaian. Samantaro, tanah nan sakaliliang istano tu lah dipajua balian jo sertifikat palasu. Jadi, soal tanah nan alah dilego tu tatimbun dek usaho gubernur manyalasaian tanah tu," kato Mangkutak.

"Iyo, iyo. Saroman iklan minyak pelumas pertamina di tipi tumah Mang. Kita untung bangsa untung! Ha, ha," kato Sabai sambia galak gadang.(wisran hadi)

oleh : ADI MANSAH ALFARUQ

Sudah menjadi sunnatullah jika di setiap masa akan tumbuh pemuda-pemuda yang kelak dibimbing seorang ulama pembaharu (mujaddid). Senantiasa melakukan berbagai bentuk pembaharuan dalam mencairkan kebekuan yang ada pada masa tersebut. Berbagai bentuk kebekuan itu antara lain: kebekuan pemikiran, kebekuan pergerakan, kebekuan kepemimpinan dan lain-lain.
Sepanjang gerakan pembaharuan yang dilakukan berada pada koridor atau rambu-rambu syariat dan untuk kemuliaan islam (izzatul islam), hal tersebut perlu mendapat dukungan kaum muslimin. Tetapi sebaliknya, jika gerakan tersebut telah keluar dari koridor syariat serta bertentangan dengan Alquran dan Assunnah, seluruh kaum muslimin hendaknya berdiri dalam satu barisan menentang arus gerakan tersebut.
Salah satu elemen pendukung pembaharuan yang sangat potensial adalah para pemuda. Selain usia muda merupakan fase berkumpulnya kekuatan (potensi) yang maksimal, mereka juga merupakan orang-orang yang dikenal memiliki idealisme tinggi, tidak memiliki beban dan sangat objektif dalam menyuarakan setiap aspirasi, meski harus diakui adanya kelemahan terutama kematangan berpikir dan minimnya pengalaman.
Islam menempatkan pemuda pada tatanan yang sangat strategis dalam melakukan berbagai perubahan menuju kejayaan umat.


“Kami ceritakan kisah mereka kepadamu (Muhammad) dengan sebenarnya. Sesungguhnya mereka itu adalah pemuda-pemuda yang beriman kepada Tuhan mereka dan Kami tambahkan kepada mereka petunjuk.”
(QS. Al-Kahfi/18 : 13)

Ayat ini mengisahkan para pemuda ashabul kahfi (penghuni gua) yang lari menjauhi kaumnya untuk menyelamatkan aqidahnya dan tidak mau mengikuti arus kesesatan karena mereka tegar memegang prinsip kebenaran.

“Demi Allah, sesungguhnya aku akan melakukan tipu daya terhadap berhala-berhalamu sesudah kamu pergi meninggalkannya.
Maka Ibrahim membuat berhala-berhala itu hancur berpotong-potong, kecuali yang terbesar (induk) dari patung-patung yang lain; agar mereka kembali (untuk bertanya) kepadanya.
Mereka berkata, "Siapakah yang melakukan perbuatan ini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami, sesungguhnya dia termasuk orang-orang yang lalim."
Mereka berkata: "Kami dengar ada seorang pemuda yang mencela berhala-berhala ini yang bernama Ibrahim."
(QS. Al-Anbiyaa/21:57- 60)

Kisah Nabiyullah Ibrahim as adalah kisah yang sangat agung karena dapat dipetik begitu banyak pelajaran (ibrah).
Seorang pemuda dengan kecerdasan dan keberaniannya menghancurkan seluruh berhala yang ada pada saat itu.
Yang menjadi pertanyaan, apakah berhala-berhala tersebut masih ada di zaman modern sekarang ini? Bagaimana jika seseorang yang terlalu membanggakan kemampuan logika akalnya sampai mengkultuskan hingga mempertuhankan hasil buatan pemikiran logika akalnya? Apakah itu berhala juga? Apakah jahiliyah hanya terjadi pada masa Rosulullah SAW?
Jahiliyah kaum Quraisy bukan mereka tidak percaya kepada Allah SWT tapi karena mereka telalu mengkultuskan Latta dan Hujja yang merupakan orang saleh pada masa itu, yang setelah meninggal dunia dibuat patungnya.
Pada masa Nabi Nuh juga diketahui bahwa Wadd, Suwa’, Yaguts, Ya’uq, dan Nasr adalah nama-nama orang saleh. Ketika mereka meniggal, syetan memberikan ilham kepada masyarakat setempat agar mereka membuat patung-patung dengan nama-nama itu.
Pada mulanya tidak disembah tapi lama-kelamaan akhirnya menjadi sembahan. Lalu, bagaimana hukum hasil buatan manusia melalui akal pikirannya yang terbatas, apakah ada persamaannya dengan berhala?

“Apakah hukum Jahiliyah yang mereka kehendaki?
dan (hukum) siapakah yang lebih baik daripada (hukum) Allah bagi orang-orang yang meyakini (agamanya)?”
(QS. Al-Ma’idah/5: 50)

Islam memang memberikan perhatian yang begitu besar kepada pemuda. Para sahabat usianya lebih muda, bahkan ada yang jauh lebih muda dari Nabi Muhammad SAW, tetapi Beliau tidak segan-segan memberi tugas atau kepercayaan kepada sahabatnya.
Usama bin Zaid diberikan kepercayaan menjadi Panglima Perang di usianya yang baru sekitar 16 tahun. Ia merupakan satu-satunya Panglima Perang termuda sampai saat ini.
Realita yang terjadi saat ini, di Palestina, peranan pemuda menjadi sangat penting sebagai penggerak perjuangan melawan penjajah zionis Israel demi mempertahankan Al Aqsha yang merupakan simbol eksintensi ummat Islam di seluruh dunia.
Pemuda jualah yang menjadi salah satu pilar penopang aktivitas dan kemakmuran sebuah masjid. Bisa dibayangkan, bagaimana kondisi dan nasib sebuah masjid tanpa aktivitas pemudanya.
Masa depan masjid itu menjadi suram, karena salah satu tolok ukur bagaimana keadaan masjid pada lima, sepuluh, dua puluh atau tiga puluh tahun mendatang tergantung pada kondisi pemuda masjidnya di masa sekarang.
Tentunya sebagian kecil dari banyak kisah peranan pemuda yang tangguh dalam islam memberikan hikmah dan ibrah bagi kita semua, serta menggugah semangat para pemuda untuk bekerja keras lagi menuju perbaikan ummat demi tercapainya kejayaan dan kemuliaan islam (izzatul islam).

Wallahu a’lam Bish-showwab...

Oleh : Adi Mansah Alfaruq


Aku tak mau putus asa
Seperti matahari terbenam
Aku tidak akan menyerah
Seperti pasir yang terbawa ombak

Semangatku terus berkobar
Meski begitu banyak panah tajam
Menusuk pikiran dan jiwaku
Meski telah berjuta kali
Ku tenggelam ke dasar kegagalan

Bila ku terjatuh
Ku akan bangkit lagi
Bila jiwaku runtuh
Akan kubangun kembali
Dengan pondasi-pondasi yang terkuat
Dengan semangat yang tak terkalahkan

Kini
Kujalani hari dengan sepenuh hati
Tak ada alasan untuk berhenti
Atau berlari dari rintangan
Karena ku tahu
Masa depan tak mungkin cerah
Apabila aku mudah menyerah

A Difficult but Fulfilling Process



AMuslim's every act is an ibadah (servitude to Allah). What else could be more rewarding than helping create and welcoming a new servant of Allah on earth? Nine months may not be that much, but for a baby in the womb it brings the end of an extraordinary stage of his journey. It is a journey through which an impure 'spurting fluid' (al-Qur'an 86:6) is fashioned in the safe lodging of mother's womb (al-Qur'an 23:12-14) and grows bigger and bigger to become a 'human being'. As the human being is not meant to be confined in a tiny space, he needs a wider physical world in order to go through the process of 'test and tribulation' for which he is destined.



The Birth



The birth of a baby is a mixture of anxiety, excitement and expectation. For mothers it is a fulfilling experience. Allah has given in them unusual resilience strength and courage to bear the burden and discomfort. A new life in their lap is a dream coming true for both the parents. It is the ultimate experience for a couple of 'togetherness", both working in unison to bring a new creature into the world.

Although parenthood is a matter of preparedness from the time one plans to marry, birth initiates the 'real world' experience of parenting. Labor is a traumatic and painful physical, as well as psychological, experience for a woman. For many husbands it may be hard to watch their beloved one in pain, but their presence has soothing effect on their partners. It reduces anxiety and provides a feeling of security to wives when most needed. The shared experience creates deeper bond between the couple in their common goal to serve Allah.



Islamic Customs on Birth of a Child



The comfort and safety of the baby suddenly shatters in the new unknown world. The new born (al-mawlood, pl-mawalid) cries out. The Sunnah of the Prophet teaches that when a baby is born he needs to be cleansed and dressed. A male adult, father or some one close in the family, should recite adhan (ritual call for collective prayer) in the right ear and iqamah (ritual announcement for starting the prayer) in the left ear. In the world of spirit man declared his instinctive readiness to accept Allah as his Lord (al-Qur'an 7:172). The first sound to reach a baby's ear should thus be the declaration of Allah's greatness, so that the sound always reverberates in his memory and settled in his soul. It is mentioned in a hadith that devil runs away by the sound of the adhan.

The mother of the faithful Ayesha (RA) mentioned, "I saw the prophet give adhan in the ear of al-Hussein ibn Ali when his mother, Fatima, gave birth to him". (Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi).

When a child was born in a family, Ayesha (RA) would not ask whether it was a boy or girl, rather she would ask "is it complete and sound?" so, if she was told that it was, she would say, "all praise and thanks for Allah, Lord of all creation". (Bukhari)

It is an excellent practice to give a bit of small chewed date to the baby, so that he starts his life with sweetness.

Ayesha (RA) said "new born children used to be brought to Allah's messenger and he would supplicate for blessing for them and rub a chewed date upon his palate" (Muslim, Abu Dawud).

Muslims parents have instinctive dua (supplication) for their new-born. The supplication by Mariam's (AS) in this regard is unique mother (al-Qur'an 3:36).

Arrival of a child in a family is a glad tiding that needs to be conveyed and shared (al-Qur'an 3:39, 37:101).



Islamic Customs in the first Week of a Child



"Every child is held in pledge for his aqiqa which is sacrificed for him on his seventh day and he is named on it and his head is shaved" (Ahmad and Abu Dawud).

Names should be linked with his father (al-Qur'an 33:5). Names have to be meaningful. Praiseworthy names are those which mean slaves of Allah or His attributes, the Prophets and the pious people.

"The most beloved of your names in the eye of Allah, the Mighty and Magnificent, are Abdullah and Abdur Rahman" (Muslim).

Names should not be such which are disapproved or forbidden by the Prophet.

Whoever has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice then let him sacrifice two sheep for a boy and a single sheep for a girl. (Abu Dawud and Nasa'i)

With the child there is aqiqa, so spill blood for him and remove the harm from him (Bukhari, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

When al-Hasan was born, he (messenger) said to her (Fatima): shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver to the poor. So, she shaved off his hair, weighed it and its weight was a dirham or a part of dirham. (Ahmad and al-Baihaqi)

The fitrah (the natural way) is five: circumcision, shaving the private parts, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails and plucking hair from the armpits (Bukhari, Muslim) Circumcision is better on the 7th day.

Sons and Daughters to be Treated Equally



The gender of a child should not bother parents. After all, it is divine will. Sons and daughters must be treated equally. In pre-Islamic Arab and some other societies, daughters were the symbol of embarrassment and were treated in shameful manner to the extent that some Arab fathers buried them alive. It is an irony that many societies even today do not welcome the birth of daughters in the same way they do with sons.

Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood he and I will stay on the Day of Resurrection - and he interlaced his fingers (Muslim). Prophet's behavior with his daughter Fatima was exemplary.



The Demand from the Newborn Babies



The demand from the newborn babies is continuous and tremendous. Mothers should be in the forefront in making sure that the baby is clean, well-fed, loved and protected. Breast-milk is the perfect food for human babies. The physical touch of the baby with the mother during breastfeeding creates exhilarated relationship between the two. This is the root of life-long love between a mother and a child.

Newborn babies are fully dependent on adults. The only way they can communicate is crying when they are hungry or uncomfortable and smiling when they are happy. Their hands and feet participate in their action. Babies like to be rocked and talked to. The excellent practice for parents is to recite the Qur'an for them.



What about other Children?



A newborn baby naturally gets all the attention in a family. Older brothers and sisters can feel a little bit left out. The youngest one, who had probably so far monopolized parental attention, can be confused or jealous. Parents have to be sensitive on this. It is just a matter of time when things settle down and the brothers and sisters learn to accommodate themselves to create a lifelong relationship.

Passing on the Trust of Faith



Holding a baby in the arms is one of the most emotionally fulfilling experiences in life. Watching a baby grow and thrive is most rewarding. Getting to know a new born baby in the first few days and weeks is also a thrilling experience which reaches far beyond just caring for his daily needs. The baby learns about his parents, the family and the surroundings. It is an unforgettable time for the whole family watching a tiny person making sense of the world around him. In this process parents also get more matured and responsible in life. It is an interactive dynamic process.

Children are a source of vigor to the heart, joy to the souls and pleasure to the eyes. Wealth and children are adornments to human beings (al-Qur'an 18:47) which allure them toward worldly life. Many forget the role of proper upbringing their children because of the intense love for them. Parents are for the protection and physical care of their children. Time is the invaluable gift parents can give to their children. On top of everything, Muslim parents are in obligation to pass on the amanah (Trust) of faith to their children from the very young and tender age, so that they can grow with balanced Muslim personality. Only then they can bear witness to the Truth before mankind in the future.

Parenting



That man can have nothing but what he strives for; that (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight; then will he be rewarded with a reward complete. (al-Qur'an 53:39-41)



Parenthood



Parenthood is a creative struggle to accommodate a new-comer in a world where everything needs to be shared in the family. It is a journey through new experience that leads to more maturity and accountability of the parents. The journey is a one-way traffic, full of bends, curves, ups and downs. But it is the sense of consciousness that makes parenting a lively and challenging enterprise. Positive parenting requires a determined effort.

Parenthood is an historic journey that brings in challenge and reward in one's life. At the start of a journey every parent is expected to know two essential things. Where is his destination and how is he going to reach there? Confusion or lack of planning in this process will end up with tragic consequences.

Parenthood could be the most pleasurable and worthwhile engagement in life. But preparation is fundamental for that pleasure. 'If you fail to prepare; prepare to fail'. A teacher, who wants to succeed in providing the curriculum in a disciplined and safe environment, spends time to prepare a lesson plan. Likewise, a parent's long-term plan is absolutely vital for the development of a child's physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual life. We all do some planning in our life subconsciously, but tend to ignore that in our future investment, in bringing up our children. Those who plan for efficient parenthood are rewarded at the end.

The importance of nurturing children, i.e., positive parenting, cannot be over emphasized. The plants in the nursery and the children at the home and school 'nursery' have striking similarities. The culmination of a plant is a healthy tree with flowers and fruits. Parental care here does not simply mean providing children with good food, dress and shelter. It includes proper education and the inculcation of good behavior and attitude toward human beings and other creation. Those who create havoc in the society and become menace to humanity are generally known to have unfavorable upbringing.

Parenting - Islamic Perspective



Islam wants all human beings to grow up as emissaries of Allah on earth. In that respect, parenting in Islam is a divine responsibility. Parental duty is at the heart of Muslim life. For a sound and healthy continuity of Islamic civilizational legacy every parent has to transfer the spirit and message of Islam to his offspring. If an individual parent cannot cope with this great and demanding task for some reason, the community has to create such network that nobody in the Muslim Nation falls through the net and joins the hapless mob of disconcerted and lapsed 'Muslims'. It also tells of the immense obligation of the guardians of a household. In fact, every one in a Muslim family is jointly responsible according to his role in the house.

Islam's spirit dictates Muslim life in a way that Muslims are prepared even to die for others, rather to live selfishly for oneself. Here lies the root historic reason of Islam's lightning success of winning people's heart in its hey days. Self-centered nature and the concept of 'individualism' has very little to do in a caring and compassionate society. These are departures from basic human qualities and make a society avaricious and dangerously competitive. They are the features of materialistic societies where human beings vie with each other to endure and triumph. (al-Qur'an 3:14).

This gives rise to the rule of the 'survival of the fittest' which makes some super rich and powerful at the cost of the majority. In contrast, Islam advocates for social responsibility, without of course endangering personal creativity and innovation.

It is a balancing act, like walking in the tight rope. Losing balance due to callousness and indifference brings him down to bottomless pit. Only a full consciousness of what Allah has demanded from man can save him from that fate, i.e., a hellish life in this world and eternal hell in the hereafter. All these are great tests of real life. Excessive love for children should not fool the parents in their divinely ordained responsibilities. Disproportionate love for or apathy to the children is the recipe for misfortune. Those who are blessed with children should always weigh out whether their children would emancipate them from or throw them into hell fire. (al-Qur'an 66:6)

There is no room for complacency in parental responsibility. There is also no room for compromise with the basic principles of Islam. Of course, most parents do make little compromises in a real life of living in Jahiliyah (ignorance). But they must be forthcoming and honest with their children. If parents fail in sticking to ideal Islamic solutions for some reasons, they must openly admit them and clarify to the children so that they understand the context. However, they must keep on trying to improve their lot.

Muslims in the past played that pivotal role in the world even where they were insignificant in number, the tiny minority. They were the pioneers in passing on the spirit and message of Islam to their own children on one hand and to the children of Adam on the other. Like a loving mother Islam deals with people's heart with sensitivity. Once that is conquered society brings out its natural transformation.

Parenting in non-Muslim Environment



Many million Muslims now live in the West in the midst of a culture, often alien to Islamic values. For centuries the world view of the two civilizations, Islamic and western, had difficulties in adjusting with each other. With the decline of religious influence in the West and intellectual stagnation in the Muslim world, the gap has widened. Many Muslims coming from disadvantaged positions and settling in affluent western cities, are finding themselves like 'fish out of water'. Revert Muslims have their specific disadvantages and are finding their life not less difficult in their own homeland.

A highly educated immigrant Muslim professional once told me in a voice filled with resentment and resignation about his two university-going children. His resentment emanated from a long-time observation of the 'unsocial behavior' of his own children and the children of his friends. What is wrong with these young people? The father mentioned that they never came and talked to the family friends, mostly from his country of origin, on their own. Whenever there was any family guest their abode would be their small rooms. He mentioned that he has adjusted himself to the apathy and indifference of his children toward their own 'root'. At the end of the discussion, he sounded a bit philosophical, "we are a displaced people with our roots neither here nor there. Our children are like uprooted plants struggling to survive in a pot".

I am not sure whether his observation is accurate. Even if it is, don't the plants survive in the hostile environment, if proper care is taken? As far as human beings are concerned, they are not only capable of adaptation but also able to influence events in extreme difficulties, if they really want. Of course, not every body or every nation can manage to survive and sustain in unfriendly environment. What matters is the physical and intellectual fitness and stamina.

Here comes the enormous responsibility of the Muslim parents in the western society. They have the twin tasks or mission, which they need to take on board. Or else, they will face the severe consequences in future. On the one hand, they have to quickly improve their adaptability in the new environment of the West without compromising the basic Islamic principles, and on the other, they have to undertake great burdens of raising their children in the prophetic model.

The goal of Islam is to create a world where man is liberated from the clutches of Jahiliyah (ignorance). That includes the liberation of mind before anything. Islam challenges human mind and intellect to come clean with objectivity so that it can think fresh. Contrary to common perception today, Islam promotes intellectual exercise on any area of knowledge, from aesthetics to zoology. Islam's assertive character encourages Muslims to take a pro-active role in the intellectual and social enterprise. It urges Muslims to participate, interact, engage and influence in society's common good. It has an ultimate target of leading humanity toward full submission of Allah.

Muslim Personality



Monks at Night and Knights by Day In the decisive battles against the Romans during the time of Caliph Umar (RA), the Muslim soldiers, although always outnumbered by the enemy, proved mysteriously indomitable and strong-willed opponents. The Roman commanders were baffled as to how could the once barbaric and irregular desert army display such vigor and chivalry against a battle hardened regular Roman army. They sent some informers to see how the Muslim soldiers spend their time, especially at night. As wining and womanizing were the common practices of the conquering army, the generals were perplexed and frightened to hear that Muslims were like 'monks at night and knights by day'

Such was the characteristics of the first generation of Muslims who, within a few decades conquered the land beyond Arabia and brought out an extraordinary social revolution in the history of mankind. They made the mountains move, rivers give way in their search for human liberation and, above all, human hearts surrender to one Allah. They were the first "Qur'anic generation", They were the people despised by the then two super powers, the Persians in the east and the Romans in the west, to the extent that neither of them even felt like to take them over.

A Unique World They created a world where a young woman could travel alone between the two distant places of Arabia without any fear for her chastity. They were the people who offered their last sip of water to their fellow Muslim brothers who they thought were more needful. They created a society where sinners, smallest in number a society can think of, rushed to the prophet to be punished in the world rather than suffering from fire in the hereafter. They are the pride for mankind and the role models for Muslims till the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Exalted, lovingly mentions about them, "Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him". (al-Qur'an 9:100)

Sacrifice for the Humanity They were the people who deserved this glad tiding from Allah, not because they were the 'chosen' people, but they earned it through their sweat and blood, firm belief and action, loyalty to Allah and His messenger (pbuh), passion for the Hereafter and maximization of the worldly tools. They made a conscious decision to serve humanity in their physical and spiritual need. They preferred to die for others, rather than to live for their own selves. They were the people who challenged the existing order of the Quraish aristocracy, Arab arrogance and super-power haughtiness of the Persians and the Romans. When success kissed their feet in their missions they used to prostrate before their Lord, as their success was not for their narrow self-interest but for humanity, and above all for the pleasure of Allah.

Love and Compassion their features and characteristics are mentioned in many verses of the Qur'an. (al-Qur'an 48:29) Like compassionate physicians they lovingly cured the diseases of human souls, showing no sympathy for the disease itself. The contrasting nature of their character created in them a consummate personality that pulled everyone towards them except those who were bent on evil. Their glowing face and appearance displayed their tranquil heart and spiritual fulfillment.

Knowledge and Conviction the Muslim personality is rooted in knowledge and conviction - the knowledge that elevated human being to a status higher than other creatures, including angels, knowledge about the world, the creation, about himself, his surroundings. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has emphasized so much on knowledge that one wonders how a Muslim could be so stooped in ignorance as we are today. Knowledge widens horizon, gives conviction and creates tranquility in mind. Conviction moves forward a man for action, gives steadfastness, patience, perseverance, dedication and consistent commitment in life.

All-Embracing Quality the Muslim personality thus has an inner reservoir of strength emanated from Allah's treasure and it has its external manifestations. It is like a strong big tree that has a strong root in the soil and wide branches spread in the sky. Muslims are the people who watch each moment of their life and ask themselves whether they are using their time meaningfully. They utilize their time in self-assured and confident manner to enjoin good and forbid evils. They use their eyes, ears and other senses to observe, learn and educate themselves every moment of the day. They use their knowledge and develop their skills to make sound judgments, honor truth and do justice to all, including themselves. They harness the material and spiritual benefits from each moment's existence through consciousness and feeling of gratitude to the Kind and Merciful Creator.

Muslims are ever vigilant of what is happening around them and the wider world. They read the signs of Allah in nature and learn by looking closely at the technological development of the world and its impact on human life. Muslims are not only fully aware of modern man's latest gadgets, such as internet, mobile telephones and other high-tech tools, but can effectively utilize them for the benefit of mankind. The hall mark of Muslim personality today is to shape their life in the image of the companions of Prophet (peace be upon him), rather than to pander to the whims and fancies of people engrossed in Jahiliyah (ignorance).

A Distinct Attitude



A Muslim thus has a distinct attitude toward life. This dictates his moral character and external manners. His personality shines through his look and behavior. In fact, they become imbedded in his nature. Everything he does has characteristic features of an emissary of Allah on earth. As he is conscious of his assignment in the world he illuminates himself with the light of virtue and good manners. The prophet's emphatic call upon Muslims to attain and exercise good manners is a weighty one. Here are some of the examples of what he said on this;

Usama bin Shareek narrates: We were sitting in the presence of Allah's messenger so quietly as if birds were perched on our heads. Nobody had the courage to open his mouth. In the meanwhile a person came and asked the prophet, "among Allah's slaves who is the dearest to Him?" The prophet replied; "One who has the best moral character". (Ibn Hibban)

The prophet was asked, "Which Muslim has the perfect faith"? He answered, "he who has the best moral character".(Tirmidhi)

Abdullah ibn Amr narrates: I have heard the prophet saying, "should I not tell you who among you is the most likeable person to me and who will be the nearest to me on the Day of the Judgement"? He repeated this question two or three times. The people requested him to tell them about that person. He said, "he who among you has the best moral character". (Ahmad)

The Prophet has said, "I have been sent only for the purpose of perfecting good morals". (al-Muatta)

The Prophet has also mentioned, "my Lord has taught me good manners and He has mannered me well". (al-Sam'ani)

Best Training with best Trainer Building a Muslim personality needs constant and conscious training and practice. It is not merely a collection of do's and don'ts. Effective training requires competent trainers with excellent qualities on whom people can put their trust and confidence in. A trainer possessing exemplary character can infuse emotional attachment to the learning process. Who else other than the Prophet himself possesses this perfect character? The Prophet is the perfect example, the role model, of the good moral character to be emulated till the end of the Day. Allah, the Merciful Himself, has testified his perfect character in the Qur'an. (al-Qur'an 33:21, 9:129) Abdullah ibn Amr says: The messenger of Allah was neither ill-mannered nor rude. He used to say that the best among you are those who are best in their moral character. (Bukhari)

Rights of Allah and Creation



Religion is a contract between a servant and his Creator. In Islam this contract entails two types of relationship - one between man and Allah, and the other, between man and the creation. This relationship has the essential rights and responsibilities. A Muslim life is essentially a life of continuous effort, struggle, to implement Allah's divine will on earth. A servant's success or failure depends on effective dissemination of that will. He only makes effort to the best he can. Whether he succeeds or fails in the world is immaterial to him. His ultimate gain lies in the Hereafter. That does not mean that he carries his job with lethargy and inefficiency.

The Present Challenge Muslims in the West have probably little chance in the near future to see Islam shaping the life of the western society. Given the extent of Jahiliyah (ignorance) in the western psyche and the weaknesses of the Muslim community it is a near impossible, an arduous and mountainous, job. However, if the Muslim parents become cautious of their present obligations to their children and can focus on a challenging future, there is definitely hope in the new generation of Muslim youth.

But, time is running fast. The Muslims are now running a great risk of being ghettoized or assimilated in the melting pot of a universal neo-Jahiliyah (ignorance). Here comes the crucial role of the Muslim parents who simply can not afford to ignore their obligation toward their sons and daughters. To a Muslim every moment is a gift from Allah and as such a test. The Prophet has mentioned, "He whose two days are equal is a sure loser". (Sunan Daylami)



Features of a Muslim



What are then the features of a Muslim? Among the endless but coherent list, mentioned in the Qur'an and Ahadith (traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him)), there are some the Muslim parents can easily remember and instill in their children. A simple acronym, FEATURES, may prove a useful checklist.

F for Friendliness

E for Efficiency

A for Adaptability

T for Trustworthiness

U for Uncompromising (in principles of Islam)

R for Reliability

E for Expertise

S for Sociability

Ingredients of a Blessed Family



Family, the bedrock of human civilization, is a sacred institution and as such it needs to be universally preserved. It should not only be defended robustly, but promoted with passion and conviction. In the midst of global 'anti-family' crusade by a powerful group in the developed countries the challenge has become all the more important. The promotion or rejection of family values is linked to the perception of life on earth and the role of man and woman in human destiny. Those who have firm belief in divine revelation can not conceive of weakening the family structure. Happy family brings a sense of belonging, anchor and root that build balanced personality to contribute in the society. Unhappy family creates disaffection, pain and frustration that give rise to broken personality, full of confusion. Distortion in family leads towards 'distorted personality' who could turn to be dangers to society and even to humanity. Unhappy and distorted families have their own root causes.

What are the ingredients of a blessed family?

Love

Love is at the core of family life. It is the gel that produces a rock-solid relationship among the members. Love emanates from heart. Hearts join and create the fountain of love between people. Love is imbedded in human nature and a gift from Allah. Human history has exceptional stories on love affairs. Love for one's own children is obvious. But love between husband and wife, the two grown up people, needs nurturing. Pure physical attraction can not create love or maintain it for long. Attraction before marriage that gives rise to the romance of 'boy-friend, girl-friend' relationship in the modern West most often fails in the test and ends up in changed relationship. People looking for a 'family life' can contribute to permanent love. They have the best chance to succeed in their relationship. An Islamic vision of life in the family makes love exceptionally rewarding. This needs Allah's special blessing without which men and women could be in the pit of fire (al-Qur'an 8:63). Love should not be blind, except for Islam. Islam demands unconditional love for Allah and His messenger, above anything else, including one's life. (al-Qur'an 9:24). Love between parents transmits to children. Children growing up in a family where parents lack minimum level of love may grow up with emptiness. Love has external manifestation and that is natural. This should not be so ostentatious that it creates public indecency. Ostentatious love in public is not consistent with Islamic and human decency and as such deplorable.



Kindness, Care and Compassion



These tender feelings are at the heart of family and social life. Allah, "Most Gracious, Most Merciful" (al-Qur'an 1:2), has created man out of His love and mercy and demands from us the same. Have mercy on those in the land, so that the One in Heaven will have mercy on you. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi) Allah is kind and He loves kindness in all affairs. (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim). He who is deprived of leniency is deprived of goodness. (Muslim) When Allah, the Exalted, wills some good towards the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them. (al-Musnad, Sahih al-Jaami). Allah loves kindness and rewards it in such away that He does not reward for harshness or anything else. (Sahih Muslim) Children deprived of kindness and compassion in their childhood are punished for no fault of their own. Parental indifferences and ill temper kill their childhood and may rob them of their future happiness.

Respect



One who does not respect the elders and show kindness to the young ones is not among us. Human beings are the manifestation of divine will, with Allah's 'spirit in each of them, and as such deserve due respect. Every human being grows up with certain traits of personality. Even the twin brothers or sisters have unique characteristics. Respect for an individual is a natural demand that brings reciprocity. We all learn from each other, even from a tiny baby. Every one has opinion on different aspects of life. Respect for opinion and the freedom of expression give rise to motivation and creativity. Of course, the formulation and expression of opinions depend on family and social environment. Positive encouragement is essential to achieve these. Even though family members live under the same roof, every one has a world of his own that needs to be respected. As children grow older, they need to learn the etiquette of a Muslim house. Islam teaches decency, and family is the first institution where they should learn them. Islam requires members of the household to seek permission when entering into another person's room. Parents, of course, need to know what is happening in their children's world, but they should do this with full honesty and without being intrusive and insensitive.



Consultation



Allah has commanded believers to conduct their affairs and settle their differences in consultation (al-Qur'an 3:159, 42:38). It is illuminating that Allah discussed with His angels about His plan to create man on earth. This is mentioned in the Qur'an. Consultation is the prophetic way of life, which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) practiced in his domestic and public life. In order to teach the Muslim Nation of the importance of consultation he even decided to go against his own opinion in the battle of Uhud. Consultation produces confidence, trust, interest, mutual respect and team spirit in the family. It enhances creativity and responsible outlook among members of the family. It gives a sense of ownership in everybody's mind, which is essential for any venture to succeed. It helps cure the disease of arrogance and egotism. It is the pillar of successful Islamic social life. Consultation in a family creates lively and dynamic environment. However, consultation needs diligence and relevance. Loyalty has relational aspect and a wider meaning. The minimum requirement in a family is that husband and wife must be loyal to each other in their marital relationship. Infidelity is a grave sin, punishable in harshest manner. While fidelity is rewarding in both the worlds, infidelity brings suspicion, mental torture, frustration and a 'hellish' atmosphere in this world and a real Hell in the Hereafter. In the wider sense, a family blends together through loyalty and trust among its members. In the history of mankind, family loyalty extended to tribal loyalty and created kingdoms and civilizations. 'Asabiya' (or tribal loyalty) was at the heart of pre-Islamic Arab features. Islam refined its dynamic and powerful features with a view to creating a 'global Muslim Nation'. Its potent force held sway and created an unparalleled civilization. Ibn Khaldun, al-Muqaddimah. Compromise and Sacrifice Family is about generations of close knit people living together, with shared space and other material resources. Sharing itself needs compromise and sacrifice.

Sacrifice has many dimensions. Proper spending of time and wealth for the family is also sacrifice and in Islam this is treated as worship. Sacrificing one's opinion for wider benefit is also difficult for many. Sacrifice starts from the conscious understanding of what it means. It is an inescapable phenomenon in the world of creating human destiny, in Islamic work. Sacrifice is linked to self-surrender to Allah and the fullest conviction for Islam. It is an essential Islamic training that builds an individual's character and personality in order that he plays a meaningful role on earth. Sacrifice of the last Prophet (peace be upon him) and his blessed companions, in the wake of insurmountable barrier, was the stepping stone for the ascendancy of Islam. The history of mankind teaches one single message, e.g., sacrifice is at the core of victory.

Justice



Justice is at the heart of Allah's creative design. The creation of Heaven and Hell is because of this unfulfilled justice on earth. The Arabic words, 'Qist' and 'Adl', are very wider indeed. Justice is inter-twined with Truth. Maintaining proper balance between rights and responsibilities is also justice. Justice in the family does not necessarily mean equal share in everything for every one. In real world, Justice means equitable and balanced dealings. Most importantly, dealings in the family should not be seen as unjust, especially by the children. We may not be fully aware, children are keen observers of what happens around them and what their parents say or do. It becomes all the more important that parents become extra cautious in their behavior and dealings. Family is a mini-state and justice established there has impact on the society. Openness and Transparency When parents are open and transparent in their affairs; they have tremendous positive effect on the children. This may sometimes put parents on the spot, but this is what it should be. Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) personal and family life was in the full glare of history. If parents attempt to hide some of their bad habits from their children, they have serious negative consequences on the children's personality. Muslim parents cannot play the role of Jekyll and Hyde.



Islamic Ethos



Establishment of an Islamic ethos in the house is the parental responsibility. Children do contribute to that, according to their age and maturity. When rituals and spirit of Islam are consciously cultivated and practiced in a family, they create a dynamic and happy environment where each member guards the other from evil. This gives rise to a positive learning atmosphere in the society.



Supplication



Supplication for children by the parents is rewarding. Allah likes this. This is a prophetic practice. It creates love and respect for each other. The Qur'an and Hadith (traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) books contain many supplications of this nature.

The Patriarchal Family



Secondly, the family in Islam is a patriarchal family and the patriarch, that is to say, the head of the family, carries a tremendous burden of responsibility. Along with this responsibility he carries the burden of leadership. He acts as a fulcrum around which the life of the family revolves and all the talk about the superiority of men over women is nonsense unless it refers to this leadership role and the responsibility role. It is absolutely essential. Even in the case of the universe, of the cosmos, Allah has said to us in His Holy Book: "But if there were more than two Lords in the universe, one of these Lords would have contested the power of the other and fought to ride over him." In other words, it is impossible to have a management, to have an organization, to have a going concern such as the family without somebody assuming the role of leadership and responsibility. And this is really all that Allah has meant us to achieve and to understand when he established for us the leadership, the family as a patriarchal institution because our Islamic legislation without apology does regard the family as a patriarchal institution. The ship without a captain cannot run for long, nor does the ship without a rudder. Allah has blessed us by imposing this leadership, by vesting the patriarch of the family with it and demanding its fulfillment, in fact, making the question of fulfillment a question of law. A father who is not fulfilling his role as a responsible leader is a father that can be sued under the law, under the Islamic legislation, and he can be sued by any member of the Muslim Nation because the Nation and the Islamic Legislation regard this role as constitutive, it is a public role.



The Social Features



A third advantage which the Islamic family has is the fact that the family is made out of a cement which is social and therefore begins long before the marriage, but the special relationship that we refer to as the love relationship is supposed to begin and to grow only after marriage and not before. Before marriage, there is social affinity between the two families of the couple. After marriage, one enters upon this relationship with a determination to make it grow and, therefore the chances of a love relationship between husband and wife growing and becoming more secure and stronger are better under the Islamic system. In our society, marriage is regarded as the beginning not the consummation; it is not something that is practically finished on the wedding day.

It is something that begins on the wedding day, and has all the future in which to flower and become greater. The determination with which this is entered into by the Muslim spouses allows ample room for adjustment because the commitment has already been made and therefore a Muslim who enters into marriage is determined to make that marriage work, determined to make the love relationship between the two spouses grow, and is therefore more ready for the adjustment that family life demands. If this relationship has grown to its apex before marriage and marriage is looked upon as a consummation of that movement, then the consequence is that the desire to adjust, the preparation to make the necessary sacrifices and adjustments, would be all the more because the interest in it would be on the wane rather than on the increase.



Arranged Marriages



A fourth advantage is the advantage that we talk about in arranged marriages. Arranged marriages are really the coming together of two families. Of course, the individuals are involved, and as we said earlier it is possible for such a marriage to succeed because from the standpoint of the marriage the love relationship begins after and not before the wedding. But then, the relationship between the two families is something that has been cultivated for some time, and so we speak of the Muslim marriage not as a marriage of two individuals but as a marriage of two families. And the two families with all their resources, their human resources, their economic resources, their wisdom resources are at the service of the newly-married couple and there is no doubt that nobody in the world needs more advice, more economic assistance and more support than the newly-married couple and this is provided for them from both sides of the marriage if it is truly a Muslim marriage, that is to say a marriage of the two families.

Marriage: A Civil Contract



Marriage is a civil contract between two equal parties, between two equal families, not just between two individuals. It is a civil contract that requires the consent of the two parties. The two parties may include outside of the Islamic Legislation requirements, anything that may lead to their happiness and mutually agreeable to both of them. Once the marriage has taken place and the contract has been signed and agreed upon, witnessed not only by the individual spouses, but also by their guardians and their elders, then it becomes a legal and binding document. Now, this creates a constitution for the marriage. Now consider its fate, and the home as a state. It has internal affairs and it has external affairs, it has public security affairs and it has police affairs and jail affairs, sometimes. It has educational affairs and it has propaganda affairs, and public information. All the ministries of government, all the functions of the ministries of government are there to be per- formed in the family, in the home unit.

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