Edinburgh...always in my heart.

Assalamualaikum wbt.

When I was 12, my mother took my family and I to Edinburgh, Scotland for two years while she studied in Heriot-Watt University. It was the most wonderful time of my life! I went to Tynecastle High School which was not very far from our apartment in Dalry Road. I made lots of friends, gathered new experiences with the 4 seasons and learned their culture. My best friend was Katrina Cooper whom I have lost contact because when we were to go back to Malaysia, she moved to England and didn't have her new address yet. I googled a few pictures which I remembered.

This is Dalry Road which I walk everyday to school for 2 years. So many sweet memories and I thank Allah for the opportunity of staying there. He has open the path of my mom's future to study there and brought us with her.

 Craigie's farm where my mom took us to eat all sorts of berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, peaches and many more. I remember my mom digging out potatoes!

My beloved high school! Tynecastle! Though today it has been moved to a new much bigger place quite close by. I had the most awesome 2 years of schooling here. I love the system, the teachers, the classmates, the 17 subjects and everything!!!

 Gorgie Farm is just across the road from my school and I go there almost everyday during my lunch hour of school. I just love the animals. I avoid the pigs, though! :D

 My mom likes to take us to Car Boot Sale on sunday. The books are so cheap! And so are many more items!

 Last but not least, along Princess Street is the most beautiful scenery I would always remember. How I wish I can go there again and walk along the gardens of Edinburgh Castle.

Baik sangka

Assalamualaikum wbt.

What's up, everybody? Last night I was on FB and one of my friends' status caught my eye. She was saying on how she has been smiling and giving good vibes towards a person for a few days but only to be scowled back and no smiles were return. She mentioned then that when she saw her again, she didn't smile or even look at her. She goes on saying that the person is so high-and-mighty and it sucks to be her because she ain't smiling no more!

Well, here's my 2 cents.

First of all, it was you who were smiling and being happy and positive. Keep it up! You can't expect everyone to feel the same as you! You should be lucky that you are a kind-hearted person who offer smiles to everyone you meet. MasyaAllah the rewards in the hereafter is so huge and you will be granted Jannah insyaAllah. Let us do it for the sake of Allah and certainly not for humans. Humans are so imperfect in so many ways. Futhermore, feel pity towards the person who couldn't smile back. Who wouldn't smile back. Take it as a challenge!
Say to yourself, " I'm gonna make her smile, no matter what!' Keep smiling. Keep offering Salaam. Think good of other people. They might be facing problems. We don't know,right?
Who are we to judge people,hmmm?

Bersangka baik. InsyaAllah. May Allah give us a good heart and grant us Jannah.

Kibir

Assalamualaikum,

Saya terpanggil pula untuk berkongsi pendapat tentang mereka yang baru setahun jagung merasa kebahagiaan duniawi. Sesungguhnya segala di dunia dan isinya adalah milik Allah SWT dan tidak perlulah mendabik dada dan berbangga diri. Walaupun dikurniakan nikmat yang tidak terhingga janganlah lupa bersyukur kepada Allah SWT dan sentiasalah berpijak di bumi yang nyata.

Perkataan kibir mengikut istilah bahasa Melayu, ertinya ialah sombong atau angkuh. Pengertian dalam bahasa moden ialah ego. Mengikut syariat Islam, erti kibir ialah membesarkan diri kerana merasakan diri mempunyai kelebihan dan keistimewaan sehingga lupa kepada Allah dan menderhakainya. Pengertian mengikut istilah syariat inilah yang akan dihuraikan di sini.
Sifat kibir atau sombong atau angkuh atau ego bermakna membesarkan diri kerana hati merasakan diri mempunyai kelebihan, keistimewaan dan kehebatan. Ia merupakan sifat batin (mazmumah) yang paling keji. Bahkan ia adalah sifat batin yang sangat jahat.
Dosa dan kesalahan pertama yang dilakukan oleh makhluk Allah terhadap Allah ialah sifat sombong. Iblis enggan sujud kepada Nabi Adam a.s. sewaktu Allah memerintahkannya. Dia membesarkan diri lantaran merasakan dirinya lebih utama dan lebih mulia daripada Nabi Adam a.s. Kejadiannya daripada api sedangkan Nabi Adam a.s. daripada tanah. Itu saja penyebab yang dia rasa dirinya lebih hebat dan istimewa.
Peristiwa kesombongan iblis ini Allah ceritakan dalam Al Quran, firman-Nya: “Dan (ingatlah) ketika Kami memerintahkan kepada malaikat: ‘Sujudlah kepada Ada.’ Dia (Iblis) enggan dan membesarkan dirinya. Maka sesungguhnya dia adalah dari golongan musyrik.” (Al Baqarah: 34)
Di sini Allah menceritakan bagaimana keengganan iblis untuk tunduk dan taat dengan arahan Allah. Bahkan ia membesarkan diri kerana merasa dirinya lebih hebat dan mulia daripada Nabi Adam a.s. Maka dia menjadi kafir dan menerima kutukan Allah dunia Akhirat. Allah keluarkan dia dari Syurga yang penuh nikmat dan menukar wajahnya menjadi seburuk-buruk rupa. Di sinilah bermula dendamnya kepada Nabi Adam a.s. dan anak cucu cicitnya yang tidak pernah padam sesaat pun. Jelas, daripada penyakit sombong ini akan lahirlah penyakitpenyakit batin yang lain seperti pemarah, pendendam dan hasad dengki.
Dari sini lahirlah buahnya di dalam tindakan lahir seperti kasar, keras, mengangkat-angkat diri, mengumpat dan menghina orang, menganiaya, penindasan, diskriminasi, penzaliman dan pembunuhan. Sebab itu sombong sangat dimurkai Allah SWT. Kesan daripada sifat sombong ini tercetus kerosakan dalam kehidupan masyarakat seperti hilang kasih sayang, pecah per-paduan, saling berdendam, hina-menghina, kata-mengata dan jatuh-menjatuhkan serta berbunuh-bunuhan. Itulah kemuncaknya. Sebab itu sifat sombong ini mesti dikikisbuangkan.
Sifat sombong ini hanya layak bagi Allah. Ia pakaian Tuhan maka makhluk tidak berhak memakainya. Allah SWT berfirman dalam Hadis Qudsi: “Sombong itu selendang-Ku dan keagungan adalah sarung-Ku. Barangsiapa merampas salah satu darinya, Aku lemparkan dia ke Neraka Jahannam.” (Riwayat Abu Daud)
Di antara ayat Quran yang sangat melarang kita memakai sifat kibir ini ialah: “Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang meyombongkan diri daripada menyembah-Ku, akan masuk ke Neraka Jahannam dalam keadaan hina dina.” (Al Mukmin: 60) “Janganlah kamu berjalan dengan menyombomgkan diri kerana sesungguhnya kamu sekali-kali tidak dapat menembus bumi dan ketinggianmu tidak akan melepasi gunung.” (Al Israk: 37) “Sesungguhnya Allah tidak suka kepada orang yang sombong.” (An Nahl: 23)
Sedangkan sifat-sifat dan nama-nama-Nya yang lain yang sebanyak 99 (Asmaul Husna) itu tidak salah untuk hamba-hamba-Nya memilikinya. Misalnya sifat Rahman, Rahim, Kaya, Kasih Sayang, Pemurah, Pemaaf, Alim dan lain-lain lagi. Ini dibenarkan bahkan diperintahkan supaya kita memilikinya. Oleh kerana sifat sombong ini menjadi punca tercetusnya penyakit-penyakit batin (mazmumah) yang lain sehingga melahirkan kejahatan-kejahatan lahiriah yang banyak di tengah kehidupan masyarakat, maka sombong ini sangat dikeji dan dimurkai Allah. Rasulullah SAW juga ada mengingatkan dalam Hadis baginda tentang bahayanya sifat sombong. “Tidak akan masuk Syurga orang yang di dalam hatinya terdapat sebesar biji sawi dari kesombongan.” (Riwayat Muslim)
Tidak akan masuk Syurga, ertinya ke Nerakalah jawabnya. Dengan membawa sikap sombong, di dunia lagi orang tidak suka dan tidak ada kedamaian jiwa. Di Akhirat terjun ke Neraka. Sebab itu sombong ini mesti dicabut sampai ke akar umbinya hingga tidak ada walaupun sebesar zarah, barulah kita selamat. Walhal mengikut kata Imam Al Ghazali, sifat sombong ini hampir-hampir mustahil dapat dibuang. Oleh itu kita mesti mengenal pasti lebih dahulu tanda-tanda penyakit ini dan sebab atau punca-punca penyakit supaya mudah mengubati atau mengikisnya.
TANDA-TANDA SIFAT SOMBONG
Langkah-langkah untuk mengenal pasti adanya penyakit ini ialah melalui pergaulan sesama manusia. Melalui pergaulan, akan dapat dikesan sifat sombong sama ada sombong yang keterlaluan, sederhana atau ringan.
Apakah tanda-tanda seseorang itu memiliki sifat sombong? Di antaranya:
1. Payah menerima pandangan orang lain sekalipun hatinya merasakan pandangan orang itu lebih baik daripadanya. Apatah lagi kalau pandangan itu datang daripada orang yang lebih rendah daripadanya sama ada rendah umur, pangkat atau lain-lain lagi.
2. Mudah marah atau emosional. Bila berlaku perbincangan dua hala, cepat tersinggung atau cepat naik darah kalau ada orang tersilap atau tersalah.
3. Memilih-milih kawan. Suka berkawan hanya dengan orang yang satu ‘level’ atau sama taraf dengannya. Manakala dengan orang bawahan atau lebih rendah kedudukannya, dia tidak suka bergaul atau bermesra, takut jatuh status atau darjat dirinya. Bahkan dengan orang yang sama level dengannya pun masih dipilih-pilih lagi. Yakni dia suka dengan orang yang mahu mendengar dan mentaati kata-katanya. Mereka inilah saja yang dia boleh bermesra, duduk sama atau semajlis dengannya.
4. Memandang hina pada golongan bawahan.
5. Dalam perbahasan atau perbincangan, selalunya dia suka meninggikan suara atau menguatkan suara lebih daripada yang diperlukan.
6. Dalam pergaulan dia suka kata-katanya didengari, diambil perhatian dan diikuti. Sebaliknya di pihaknya sendiri, susah untuk mendengar cakap atau nasihat orang lain serta tidak prihatin dengan cakap orang. Apatah lagi untuk mengikut cakap orang lain.
7. Dalam pergaulannya, dia saja yang memborong untuk bercakap dan tidak suka memberi peluang kepada orang lain bercakap. Kalau ada orang lain bercakap, dia suka memotong percakapan orang itu.
8. Kalau dia jadi pemimpin, dia memimpin dengan kasar dan keras terhadap pengikut-pengikutnya atau orang bawahannya. Ia membuat arahan tanpa timbang rasa dan tidak ada perikemanusiaan. Kalau dia menjadi pengikut, susah pula untuk taat dan patuh pada pemimpinnya.
9. Susah hendak memberi kemaafan kepada orang yang tersilap dengannya. Bahkan ditengking-tengking, diherdik, dikata-kata atau dihina-hina. Di belakangnya diumpat-umpat.
10. Kalau dia yang bersalah, susah dan berat hendak minta maaf. Rasa jatuh wibawa bila merendah diri meminta maaf. Bahkan dia tidak mengaku bersalah.
11. Dia suka dihormati. Tersinggung kalau tidak dihormati. Tetapi dia sendiri susah atau berat untuk menghormati orang lain.
12. Mudah berdendam dengan orang lain terutamanya bila orang itu tersilap.
13. Suka menzalimi orang sama ada secara kasar atau secara halus.
14. Kurang bermesra dengan orang kecuali terpaksa kerana perlukan orang itu atau kerana takutkan orang itu.
15. Suka memperkatakan keburukan orang seperti mengumpat, memfitnah serta membenci orang.
16. Kurang menghormati pemberian orang atau tidak menghargai pemberian orang lain.
17. Suka mengangkat-angkat diri atau menceritakan kelebihan diri.
18. Suka menghina dan menjatuhkan air muka orang di hadapan orang lain.
19. Kurang menghormati nikmat-nikmat Allah. Kalau ada makanan, berlaku pembaziran atau membuang makanan yang berlebihan. Kalau ada pakaian walaupun masih elok dipakai tetapi suka berganti dengan yang baru. Pakaian yang lama dibuang. Kalau ada duit lebih, suka beli barang yang tidak diperlukan. Semua itu lebih digemari daripada memberi nikmat yang berlebihan itu kepada orang lain.
20. Kalau berdiri, lebih suka bercekak pinggang (kerana membesarkan diri). Kalau bercakap, menepuk-nepuk meja dan suka mencemik. Kalau berjalan suka bergaya, menghentak-hentak kaki atau berjalan membusung dada.
21. Kurang memberi simpati atau kurang menolong orang lain melainkan ada tujuan-tujuan dunia atau kerana takut dengan orang itu.
22. Kurang minat menerima tetamu atau tidak suka jadi tetamu orang.
23. Tidak suka menyebut kelebihan-kelebihan orang lain kerana takut mencabar dirinya.
24. Kesalahan-kesalahan orang lain dibesar-besarkan sedangkan kesalahan sendiri didiamkan, disorokkan, buat-buat tidak tahu atau cuba mempertahankan diri supaya orang menganggap dia tidak bersalah.
25. Sangat tidak senang dengan kejayaan atau kebolehan orang lain.
26. Dia sangat tersinggung kalau ada orang memuji-muji atau menyebut kelebihan-kelebihan orang lain di hadapannya. Tetapi kalau dia dipuji, terserlah pada air mukanya rasa bangga dan senang hati.
Senarai tanda-tanda, riak-riak atau sikap-sikap di atas sudah cukup jelas untuk kita dapat mengenali sifat sombong ini. Bila sudah dikenal pasti ertinya memudahkan kita mengatasi atau mencabut sifat keji ini.
SEBAB-SEBAB SOMBONG
Sebelum mencabut sifat sombong yang keji ini perlu kita tahu kenapa sifat ini boleh berlaku. Ini juga merupakan faktor pem-bantu untuk memudahkan kita mengikis sifat ini. Macamlah jerawat yang ada di pipi. Kalau kita kenal tanda jerawat, kemudian tahu kenapa boleh timbul jerawat, barulah mudah untuk kita mengubat jerawat itu.
Faktor-faktor penyebab yang menjadikan seseorang itu memiliki sifat-sifat sombong, di antaranya ialah:
1. Memiliki kuasa, sama ada dia memiliki kuasa besar atau kecil. Kuasa besar itu seperti jadi raja, presiden, perdana menteri, gabenor dan lain-lain lagi. Kuasa kecil seperti jadi pegawai, D.O., penghulu, guru besar, guru-guru dan lain-lain lagi. Kuasa yang ada itu mendorongnya menjadi sombong.
2. Mempunyai ilmu pengetahuan sama ada pengetahuan tentang dunia atau pengetahuan tentang Akhirat. Sama ada pengetahuan di banyak bidang atau di satu bidang. Ini jadi pendorong seseorang itu menjadi sombong kerana dia rasa lebih pandai daripada orang lain.
3. Mempunyai harta kekayaan. Harta juga mendorong seseorang itu menjadi sombong.
4. Mempunyai kegagahan iaitu orang yang mempunyai kekuatan fizikal atau mempunyai kepandaian dalam mempertahankan diri seperti tinju, gusti, tae kwan do, silat dan lain-lain lagi. Ini juga mendorongnya menjadi sombong.
5. Keturunan. Ada orang jadi sombong kerana berketurunan bangsawan, berketurunan ulama dan lain-lain lagi, lantas merasa diri mulia serta memandang orang lain hina berbanding dengan dirinya.
6. Sebab-sebab yang lain seperti berwajah tampan dan cantik, disayangi oleh orang besar, disayangi suami, disayangi oleh ibu ayah dan lain-lain lagi. Ini juga pendorong menjadi sombong.
7. Bukan sebab-sebab yang di atas tadi, tapi mungkin dia orang miskin atau orang jahil atau orang hodoh atau orang cacat atau orang lemah sedangkan dia tetap sombong. Ini dikatakan bodoh sombong. Orang ini walaupun tidak ada sebab khusus untuk dia berlaku sombong tetapi oleh kerana benih sifat sombong yang semula jadi ada dalam diri itu tidak terdidik dan tidak cuba untuk dikikisbuangkan atau tidak dicabut, bahkan disuburkan, maka tetaplah dia dengan sikap sombongnya.
Golongan yang sombong di taraf ini bilamana tidak sedar atau tidak kenal dirinya yang sebenar, inilah yang jadi pendorong dia bersifat sombong. Kalau begitu ada golongan manusia yang sombongnya bersebab dan ada pula golongan manusia yang sombongnya tidak bersebab. Tetapi kebanyakan manusia itu sombongnya bersebab, seperti yang disebutkan di atas tadi. Bersebab atau tidak, sifat sombong tetap mesti dicabut dan dibuang. Jika tidak, ia akan memberi kesan yang buruk di tengah kehidupan masyarakat.
KESAN SIFAT SOMBONG
Di antara kesan sifat sombong ialah:
1. Orang benci kepadanya. Fitrah semula jadi manusia tidak suka kepada orang yang bersifat sombong ini. Hati yang benci-membenci tentulah tidak ada kasih sayang, akhirnya tidak wujud perpaduan. Ini bererti umat Islam tidak ada kekuatan. Risikonya, Islam menjadi lemah, lumpuh dan runtuh kerana tidak ada pautan hati antara satu sama lain. Ini sangat merugikan umat Islam dan Islam sendiri. Maknanya, apabila sifat sombong dimiliki bersama, semuanya bersalah dan berdosa sehingga menyebabkan tamadun roh dan tamadun material tidak dapat dibangunkan.
2. Mudah marah, di mana kebiasaannya kemarahan akan berakhir dengan perbalahan dan pergaduhan.
3. Bilamana wujud sifat sombong, lahirlah penyakit yang berikutnya iaitu mudah berdendam, hasad dengki dengan manusia, mudah hendak bertindak balas di atas kesilapan orang lain. Kadang-kadang belum tentu silapnya, dia telah gopoh-gapah bertindak. Mudah pula sakit hati terhadap kejayaan dan kebolehan orang lain sehingga berusaha se-daya upaya untuk merosakkan atau menjatuhkan orang itu. Akhirnya tentulah timbul permusuhan sesama manusia. Lebih besar dari itu, akan berakhir dengan peperangan dan pembunuhan bilamana berlaku tindak balas daripada orang lain atau golongan lain pula.
Kesombongan sangat membahayakan masyarakat manusia dan dunia seluruhnya. Lantaran ini Allah sangat murka dan Allah tempatkan mereka ini di Neraka bersama Firaun, Namrud, Hamman dan lain-lain orang yang zalim dan angkuh itu.
Memandangkan betapa merbahayanya penyakit ini maka usaha-usaha lahir mesti dibuat untuk membendungnya. Beberapa panduan dan kaedah diberi untuk mengikisbuang dan mengubatinya secepat mungkin secara serius supaya kita tidak terus mengidap penyakit yang mengerikan ini.
Di antara cara-caranya ialah:
1. Ada ilmu tentang sifat-sifat mazmumah.
Adanya ilmu ibarat ada cahaya yang mampu menyuluh sifat-sifat mazmumah di dalam diri itu termasuk sifat kibir atau sombong. Perlunya ilmu kerana ia merupakan sifat batiniah yang sesetengah orang payah mengesannya tetapi mudah pula dikesan oleh orang lain.
2. Bawa berfikir selalu tentang kejadian manusia.
Sedarkan hati kita bahawa soal kejadian manusia itu adalah sama. Yakni daripada tanah dan mati kembali ke tanah semula. Walau bagaimana hebat sekalipun seseorang itu, kejadiannya sama dengan orang lain. Kejadian yang pertama asalnya daripada tanah. Walaupun berdarjat, berpangkat, berkuasa, berharta, berilmu, sama ada yang alim atau tidak, yang kaya atau miskin, yang cantik atau buruk, namun mereka semuanya sama. Samasama berasal daripada tanah.
Lihatlah raja-raja besar seperti Firaun. Walau bagaimana hebatnya dia sehingga mengaku dirinya tuhan, di manakah dia sekarang? Bukankah dia tidak dapat mempertahankan kehebatannya, akhirnya mati dan kembali ke tanah! Jadi untuk apa dibangga-banggakan dengan kehebatan dan keistimewaan masing-masing. Sedangkan semuanya setaraf, yakni berasal daripada tanah dan akhirnya kembali ke tanah jua. Tidak mampu untuk memanjangkan umur sendiri.
3. Fikirkan dan sedarkan hati kita bahawa kejadian manusia yang kedua adalah daripada air mani yang hina.
Kalau diperlihatkan kepada manusia, amat jijik dan benci sekali untuk melihatnya. Ertinya, kejadian manusia itu tidak ada beza di antara satu sama lain, sama ada orang kaya, orang berilmu, pembesar atau lain-lain lagi, semuanya berasal daripada air mani yang hina. Kalaulah orang kaya berasal daripada intan, pembesar daripada emas, orang berilmu daripada berlian dan orang biasa berasal daripada air mani, boleh jugalah berbanggabangga. Ini tidak, semuanya berasal daripada benda yang sama iaitu air mani yang hina. Dari segi kejadian, tidak ada perbezaan apa-apa pun. Jadi untuk apa kita berbangga-bangga dengan keistimewaan diri pada orang lain?
4. Melihat respon orang lain terhadap kita.
Dalam pergaulan hidup, dapat dikesan respon orang lain kepada kita. Kalau kita sombong, semua orang akan benci. Anak isteri tidak suka, jiran-jiran meluat, kenalan renggang dan pengikut tidak suka. Apa pendapat kita? Adakah untung kita mempertahankan sikap begitu? Apalah indahnya! Bukankah kita dapat rasakan betapa buruk padahnya akibat mempertahankan penyakit keji dan jahat ini. Lebih-lebih lagi kerja kita tidak semua kita mampu uruskan sendiri. Lagi tinggi pangkat dan darjat, lagi banyak urusan kerja yang perlu dibereskan, dibantu oleh tenaga-tenaga orang lain sama ada secara langsung mahupun tidak langsung.
Oleh itu pertolongan, bantuan dan titik peluh orang lain tidak boleh kita lupakan. Kalau tidak ada mereka ertinya kita tidak jadi hebat dan kaya. Kalau begitu untuk apa kita rasa lebih istimewa?
Bilamana orang sudah benci, di waktu-waktu tertentu seperti waktu sakit atau waktu kematian atau kecemasan, masyarakat akan pulaukan. Atau lambat-lambatkan bantuan atau tidak beri bantuan supaya kita terasa susah lebih dahulu. Ini semua hasil dari mereka sakit hati dengan sifat sombong kita itu.
5. Ambil iktibar dari pengalaman hidup.
Apabila ada kelebihan, keistimewaan dan kehebatan, bolehkah bersifat sombong? Cuba fikirkan kejadian-kejadian yang berlaku dalam pengalaman hidup seharian. Apakah kita berkuasa mengelakkan diri daripada sakit? Apakah kita mampu melawan kuasa tentera Allah yang dihantar melalui bencana alam dan lain-lain lagi? Apakah anda mampu melawan kematian dengan kesombongan dan kekibiran itu? Tentu tidak! Kalau begitu kenapa kita merasakan lebih istimewa daripada orang lain? Walhal tidak ada keistimewaan apa-apa pun yang menjadi milik kita. Semua itu Allah pinjamkan sekejap. Jadi tidak ada apa-apa pun kehebatan kita jika dibandingkan dengan orang lain. Kadang-kadang Allah beri kita kelebihan ilmu, kekayaan, pangkat dan lain-lain, tapi dalam masa yang sama kitalah yang paling banyak mengidap sakit. Misalnya sakit jantung, kencing manis, darah tinggi dan lain-lain sehingga kelebihan dan keistimewaan-keistimewaan itu semuanya tidak ada erti apaapa lagi. Akhirnya, nikmat yang dikumpul-kumpulkan sekian lama, tidak dapat dinikmati sendiri tetapi dinikmati oleh orang lain. Oleh itu untuk apa dibangga-banggakan dengan kehebatan yang ada itu?
6. Ingat azab Allah untuk orang yang sombong.
Cubalah renungkan. Ingatkanlah di hati bahawa sombong ini sangat dimurkai oleh Allah. Kita dianggap sudah merampas pakaian-Nya. Akibatnya, kita akan dicampakkan ke Neraka yang panas apinya 70 kali ganda kekuatan api dunia dan dalamnya 70 ribu tahun perjalanan baru sampai ke dasarnya.
Ingatkan Neraka yang keseluruhannya api. Di atasnya api, di bawahnya api, di kiri api, di kanan api, di depan api, di belakang api yang memakan dan menghanguskan daging-daging dan tulang-belulang. Kemudian diganti lagi dengan tubuh yang baru dan diseksa lagi. Begitulah berulang-ulang berlaku sepanjang masa. Walhal di waktu itu kita dibelenggu kaki dan tangan serta dicemeti berterusan oleh malaikat Zabaniah. Bau Neraka yang busuk itu tidak dapat digambarkan. Kalaulah ditakdirkan bau itu tercium oleh penduduk dunia, akan matilah semua lantaran busuknya.
Perkara-perkara di atas tadi perlu difikir-fikirkan, direnung-renungkan dan diulang-ulang memikirkannya. Diingat selalu dalam hati hingga tidak dapat dilupakan lagi. Kesannya nanti akan timbul rasa malu dan takut untuk kita bersikap ego dengan Tuhan dan dengan manusia. Dengan cara-cara atau kaedah ini moga-moga membantu kita mudah untuk bermujahadah menumpaskan sombong ini. Harapan kita moga-moga Allah sentiasa memimpin kita agar menjadi hamba-hamba-Nya yang merendah diri.

c&P : Semoga kita mendapat manfaat dari artikel ini. InsyaAllah.

Salah while sitting because of painful knee

Assalamualaikum...

I hurt my knee last week while following steps of Zumba and masyaAllah it was painful !
I went to see a doctor and she said it was nothing serious Alhamdulillah but my ligament was swollen and needed to be rested. However, I still needed to pray but it was so painful and I couldn't bend my knees. That's when I realised I have to pray while sitting down. I felt a bit awkward at first and decided to look up Q&A's how to perform Salah while sitting down. Let's read together shall we?

How Should a Sick Person Perform Salat?
Question: How should a sick person perform salat?
ANSWERThere are different types of illnesses. A sick person who is unable to stand should perform salat sitting, and the one who is unable to sit should perform salat lying.

A hadith-i sharif says, "If a sick person is unable to perform salat standing, he should perform it sitting. If he is unable to perform it sitting, he should perform it lying on his back." The 191st verse of Surat Al-i Imran says (what means): "They remember [make dhikr] Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides." What is meant by the word dhikr in this verse is salat. It means, "One must perform salat standing if one is able. If one is unable to perform salat standing, then one must perform it sitting. If one is unable to perform it sitting, then one must perform it lying by gestures [ishaarah]." (Bahr-ur-Raiq)

Question: What is the method of performing salat by gestures (ishaarah)?
ANSWERPerforming salat by gestures means bending the top part of the body forward a little for ruku' and more than it for sajda. If one cannot bend the top part of one's body, then one can bend one's head. (İslam Ahlakı)
Question: Should a sick person who is able to bend his/her knees extend his/her legs toward the qibla when performing salat sitting?
ANSWEROne who is unable to bend one's knees should perform salat with one's legs toward the qibla. However, one who is able to bend them should sit with one's feet under one's hips or sit cross-legged or in a sitting position with one's knees upright and one's arms around them or in a position one likes according to one's state of health. It is makruh to stretch the legs toward the qibla without a valid excuse, but it is not makruh for a person who is unable to bend his/her knees.

Question: My waist and knees are painful. I am unable to bend and to do sajda as I cannot bend my knees. How should I perform salat? Is it permissible to perform it sitting on a chair?
ANSWERIf you are unable to bend your knees, you should perform salat by gestures sitting on the floor with your legs stretched toward the qibla. If you are unable to sit on the floor, you should perform salat on a bed facing the qibla without letting your legs hang down.

If you have to sit on a chair or in an armchair, then you should put another chair or a coffee table in front of you and put your feet on it. That is, you should perform salat with your legs toward the qibla. If you are able to bend your knees, then you should bend them and should not stretch them toward the qibla.

Question: How should a sick person who does not have the strength to stand perform salat?
ANSWERA person who cannot stand, or who will suffer harm or feel
dizzy if he/she stands, performs fard salats sitting. He/she bows for ruku’ and places his/her head on the floor for sajda. For a person who can stand for a little while by leaning on a wall, on a stick, or on a person, it is fard to say the takbir (of iftitah) while standing and to remain standing at least long enough for that. If one can sit by leaning on something, then it is not permissible for him/her to perform salat lying by gestures.

When performing a fard salat, it is makruh to lean on a wall or a stick without a valid excuse. It is not makruh if it is done due to a valid excuse.

If a pregnant woman or a sick person is able to stand up by leaning on something like a coffee table, she/he should perform salat by leaning on it, which is an alternative way.

Question: A sick relative of mine has to lie without moving until he recovers. He is unable to do ruku' and sajda, but he is able to stand. How should he perform salat?
ANSWERHe should perform salat standing or sitting by gestures. If he is unable to do so, then he should perform salat lying by gestures.

Question: How should a sick person who is unable to perform salat standing and sitting perform it?
ANSWERA sick person who is unable to sit on the floor even by leaning against something or by being held by someone else must perform it lying on his/her back. He/she must put a pillow under his/her head so that his/her face will be toward the qibla. Alternatively, he/she may lie on his/her right or left side. He/she must perform ruku' and sajda by way of the movements of the head. If he/she is unable to do ruku' and sajda by way of the movements of the head, then he/she is allowed to miss a salat and make it up when he/she recovers.

Question: If one is unable to put one's head on the floor due to a wound on one's forehead and nose or due to any other illness, how should one perform salat?
ANSWEROne must sit and perform salat by gestures. One should bend the top part of one's body forward a little for ruku' and lower than it for sajda.

Question: Suppose that a patient in the hospital is unable to face the qibla direction. What should he/she do? Is it permissible for him/her to stretch his/her legs toward the qibla during salat?
ANSWERIt is permissible for a patient who is unable to perform salat toward the qibla to perform it in any direction that his/her health condition permits.

He/she may stretch his/her legs in the direction of the qibla, but it is preferable to bend the knees if it is possible. He/she should place a pillow under his/her head so that he/she faces the qibla. Alternatively, he/she may lie on his/her right side or left side toward the qibla and perform salat by gestures. By choosing one of these alternatives, he/she should perform salat in a manner that suits his/her circumstances.

Question: If a patient is unable to stand much, should he/she say the opening takbir sitting?
ANSWERIf one is able to do sajda when sitting, it is fard for one to say the opening takbir standing if one can stand for a little time by leaning against something such as a wall. If one is unable to do sajda when sitting, then one says the opening takbir sitting.

Question: If one suffers from involuntary leakage of urine or involuntary wind-breaking when one performs salat standing and if urine or wind does not come out when one performs salat sitting, then must one perform salat sitting?
ANSWERYes, one must perform salat sitting in this case.

Question: Should a patient who is unable to sit perform salat standing by gestures?
ANSWERYes, he/she must perform salat standing by gestures.

Question: If a patient is able to perform salat lying by gestures, can he/she perform it lying on his/her right or left side?
ANSWERYes, he/she can. Lying on his/her right side is preferable to lying on his/her left side. Performing salat lying on his/her back by gestures is preferable to performing it lying on his/her right side by gestures.

Question: If one is unable to perform salat by gesturing with the head, is it permissible to make a sign by blinking the eye?
ANSWEROne is not allowed to make a sign by eyes, eyebrows, or the heart. This is the fatwa. According to Imam Abu Yusuf, it is permissible for a patient who is unable to gesture with his/her head to make a sign by blinking his/her eyes. According to Imam Zufar, it is permissible to gesture with his/her heart, too. (Radd-ul-Mukhtar, Halabi, Tahtawi)

A patient who is unable to make a sign with his/her head may make a sign with his/her eyes by following the qawl of Imam Abu Yusuf.

Question: I have undergone an operation in my brain, so I cannot turn my head to the right or to the left. How should I perform salat?
ANSWERYou do not have to turn your head to the right or to the left. If you can do sajda, then there is no pronlem. If you cannot do it, then you should perform salat sitting by gestures.

Question: Suppose that one missed salats in the past when in good health. Is it permissible for one to make them up sitting by gestures in a state of tayammum if one is ill?
ANSWERYes, it is permissible. (Radd-ul-Mukhtar)

Question: I have mycoses on the skin of my foot. Some liquid comes out during standing position in salat due to pressure. Is it permissible for me to perform salat sitting so that my wudu' will not break?
ANSWERYes, you must perform salat sitting. (Fatawa-i Hindiyya)
If you follow the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab, the liquid coming out will not break your wudu'.

Question: How should a bedridden person perform salat if it is not possible for him/her to perform wudu' or for someone else to help him/her perform wudu'?
ANSWERHe/she must do tayammum instead of wudu' and perform salat by gestures. (Maraqi al-Falah)

Question: Suppose that one has been racked with an incurable disease. One does not have the strength to do tayammum, and there is no one who will help one do it. How should one perform salat?
ANSWEROne must go to great lengths to perform salat as long as one is sane. Whoever feeds such a person and whoever serves him/her should help him/her perform tayammum. He/she is allowed to combine two salats if need be. He/she may perform salat lying by gestures. If he/she is unable to perform salat even by gestures, he/she is allowed to miss a salat.

Question: A relative of mine underwent pilonidal cyst surgery. The stitches are uncovered, and the doctors told him to protect his stitches from coming into contact with water. There is no dressing on the wound. How should he perform ghusl? If he puts a piece of cloth on the wound, can he wipe over it with a wet hand?
ANSWERYes, he can wipe over it.

Question: A patient I know has to lie in prone position for a month without moving. He is forbidden even from walking. He can stand, but he cannot do ruku' or sajda. How should he perform salat?
ANSWERHe should perform salat sitting by gestures. If he is unable to sit, then he should perform salat lying by gestures.

Question: Prosthesis has been implanted into my leg. It is not painful. How should I perform salat?
ANSWERIf you are unable to perform it standing, then you should perform it sitting.

Question: I suffer from low back pain, and I am also unable to bend my knees. How should I perform salat?
ANSWEROne who is unable to do sajda and who is unable to bend one's knees should perform salat sitting by gestures with one's legs toward the qibla. That is, one should bend the top part of one's body forward a little for ruku' and lower than it for sajda. This method is called performing salat by gestures. If one is able to bend one's knees, then one should not stretch one's legs toward the qibla.

Question: I will undergo an operation on my neck, so I will not be able to gesture with my head. How can I perform salat?
ANSWERAs you are physically strong, you will be able sit on the floor. You should bend the top part of your body forward a little for ruku' and more than it for sajda. Your being unable to move your head does not matter because you do not have to turn your head to the right and to the left. Turning your head to the right and to the left at the end of salat is sunnat, not fard or wajib. Saying the salam at the end of salat is wajib.

Question: Where should I put my hands when performing salat sitting by gestures?
ANSWERPut your hands on your knees in ruku'. Put them on your thighs in sajda. Fold your arms in qiyam. It will not harm your salat if you cannot place your hands in this method.

Question: Is it permissible to do tayammum while a person is receiving intravenous fluid?
ANSWERIt does not adversely affect tayammum.

Question: Is it permissible to combine two salats during the time of the earlier or later salat before one undergoes an operation?
ANSWEROf course, it is permissible and one has to combine them. One can combine them by following the Hanbali Madhhab. If one has a filled tooth in one's mouth, then one should follow the Maliki Madhhab when combining two salats.

Question: If the time for Salat al-Maghrib has started while a Hanafi who has been classified as a ma'dhur (excused) is performing Salat al-Asr, will his/her salat be valid because his/her wudu' has been nullified?
ANSWERIt will not be valid. He/she has to make that salat up. If such a Hanafi person follows the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab due to his/her udhr (excuse), the arrival of the time for the following salat will not break his/her wudu'.

Question: If a person is so ill that he cannot perform wudu' and his wife does not help him perform wudu', then can he do tayammum?
ANSWERYes, he can. It is not wajib for a wife and a husband to help each other do wudu', but it is advisable if they do. If a person who is unable to do wudu' cannot find a helper even in return for money, then he/she is allowed to do tayammum for salat.

Question: A relative of mine is a hermaphrodite. Should he/she perform salat in the way a woman does or in the way a man does? Who should wash his/her corpse? What is the ruling on men who have changed gender?
ANSWERA person who has both male and female reproductive organs or a person who has neither of it is called a khunsa. If one has both male and female reproductive organs, one is judged by the organ by which one urinates. This ruling is applicable when one is a child. If, when one grows up, hair grows on one's face and one experiences a wet dream like a man, then one is considered a male. If there is swelling of breasts and the other signs of female puberty, one is considered a female.

If one has no sign whether one is male or female or if one has both male and female characteristics equally, such a person is classified as khunsa-i mush-kil. To be on the safe side, such people should act as if they are female. They should perform salat in the same way as women do, and they, when they die, should be shrouded in the same way as women are done. They should be buried after they are made to do tayammum.

If a person who is considered a female undergoes an operation and during the operation if it is seen that she is a male, then such a person is considered a male. If a person who is considered a male undergoes an operation and during the operation if it is seen that he is a female, then such a person is considered a female. However, if a male undergoes an operation to change gender, he will not be considered a female after the operation. (Hidaya, Durar, Fatawa-i Hindiyya)

Question: Should a patient who is unable to perform salat and to fast give fidyah (ransom payment)?
ANSWERIf a severely ill patient or a very old person is unable to perform salat, he/she does not give fidyah [money] to the poor in lieu of salats, but he/she has to give fidyah to the poor in lieu of fasts.

Question: I am ill. Is it permissible for me to do tayammum for salat if I cannot wake up my wife to help me?
ANSWERYes, you can do tayammum for salat.

Question: It is very difficult for me to wear my prosthetic foot, and I am unable to stand without it. Is it permissible for me to perform salat sitting?
ANSWERIt is permissible to perform salat sitting as it is difficult for you to wear your prosthetic foot.

Question: Suppose that a person who is unable to do sajda is performing salat by gestures. Should he/she say the opening takbir while standing?
ANSWERNo, he/she should not. A person who is unable to do sajda does not start salat standing.

Question: If one cannot stand up from a sitting position, then should one perform salat sitting?
ANSWERIf one is able to do sajda when sitting, one must say the opening takbir standing and stand as much as one is able. Then one can continue salat sitting.

Question: There is a wound just above my right eyebrow. It bleeds during sajda. Is it permissible for me to do sajda by putting only the left portion of my forehead together with my nose?
ANSWERYes, it is permissible.

Question: What should a patient do if the time for a fard salat has expired when he/she wakes up from anesthesia?
ANSWERHe/she must combine two salats.

Question: In case of danger, is it permissible to perform salat sitting or by gestures?
ANSWERIf one fears the enemy or a predator or if one is ill and unable to stand or if one cannot find a dry place because everywhere is covered by mud, then one can perform salats by gestures. One does not have to make up those salats later. (Halabi)

Question: Should a schizophrenic person perform salat?
ANSWERIf his/her abnormal behavior is not continuous, he/she must perform salat when he/she is sane. He/she must make up the ones he/she missed.

Question: Is it permissible for a woman to follow the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab if she has vaginal discharge only once a day?
ANSWERYes, it is permissible.

Question: I will undergo an operation in sinusitis. A tampon will be placed into my nose. How should I perform wudu' and salat?
ANSWERIt is not fard (obligatory) to wash inside the nose in wudu', so there will be no problem in wudu'. The time for a fard salat may expire until you wake up from anesthesia, so you may have to follow the ruling of the Hanbali Madhhab. Let us suppose you will undergo the operation during the time for Salat az-Zuhr. Then you should combine Salat az-Zuhr with Salat al-Asr in the time of Salat az-Zuhr. If you undergo the operation before the time for Salat az-Zuhr, then you can combine Salat az-Zuhr with Salat al-Asr in the time of Salat al-Asr.

If you undergo the operation after you perform Salat al-Asr, then you can combine Salat al-Maghrib with Salat al-Isha in the time of Salat al-Isha.

If you follow the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab due to an excuse, then you can combine two salats by following it. In the Maliki Madhhab, it is permissible to combine two salats in case of illness.

Question: As the cut on my face bleeds, I cannot perform wudu'. Is there anything wrong with performing wudu' by following the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab?
ANSWERThere is nothing wrong with it. However, it is better to do wudu' after the application of an adhesive bandage. If there is no bleeding, then there is no need for following the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab. If there is bleeding, you can follow the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab.

Question: Suppose that a person very frequently vomits because of his/her disease. If he/she follows the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab, will vomiting not break his/her wudu'?
ANSWERNo, it will not break his/her wudu'.

Question: How should a sick person who is unable to leave his/her bed in hospital because of his/her illness perform salat?
ANSWERHe/she should perform salat lying on his/her right or left side if that is the qibla direction. If the qibla is in the direction toward which he/she stretches his/her legs, he/she should place a pillow under his/her head and perform salat by gestures, with his/her face toward the qibla direction. If the head board faces the qibla direction, then he/she should try to turn his/her head to the qibla direction as much as he/she can. Performing salat lying on one's right side is better than performing it lying on one's left side. Performing it lying on one's back is better than performing it lying on one's right side.

Question: How should a person who does not have either of his/her two arms place his/her hand during salat?
ANSWERHe/she should place it in the same way as he/she would do if he/she had two arms. For example, such a man should place his one arm under his navel during standing position.

Question: Is it permissible for a pregnant woman to perform salat sitting? If her gynecologist says, "You will have a miscarriage if you move, so lie continuously without standing up," is it permissible for her to do tayammum instead of wudu' lest she have a miscarriage?
ANSWERYes, it is permissible. If she has difficulty standing up in salat, she can put a coffee table at her right-hand side and left-hand side and stand up leaning against them. If she is unable to perform salat in this way, then she can perform it sitting. If she is unable to do sajda when performing salat sitting, then she can perform it by gestures.

Question: If wiping over the head in wudu' harms a Hanafi person or aggravates his/her illness, is it permissible for him/her not to wipe over his/her head in wudu'?
ANSWER
In the Shafi'i Madhhab, wiping over a very little portion of the head, even with a finger, is enough to carry out the obligatory duty. If a pious specialist says to a patient "Wiping over your head with a wet hand aggravates your illness" or if the patient's experience suggests that wiping it over with a wet hand will harm him/her, e.g., make pain severer, then it will be permissible for him/her to follow the ruling of the Shafi'i Madhhab and to wipe over a little portion of his/her head.

Question: If one, when performing salat standing, has involuntary discharge of urine or wind or if one's wound oozes discharge when one performs salat standing, should one perform salat sitting instead of standing if one does not have such a discharge when performing salat sitting?
ANSWERYes, one should perform salat sitting by gestures if one does not have it when performing salat sitting by gestures because it is wajib to stop the discharge (of urine, blood, wind, etc) by a bandage, a sticking plaster, medicine, or any way possible. (Se'adet-i Ebediyye)
Performing salat sitting by gestures, if it prevents the leakage of any of the abovementioned discharges, is preferable to performing it standing while the discharge is coming out. (Halabi)

If one's discharge comes out only when one is doing sajda, then one should not do sajda. If it comes out only when one is standing, then one should not stand and instead of it sit in a manner that stops the leakage and perform salat sitting by gestures. If one, in case of such discharges, follows the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab, then one's such excuses will not break one's wudu', and one will not have to perform salat sitting by gestures. For this reason, it is better for a person having such a discharge to perform salat by following the ruling of the Maliki Madhhab.

Question: Suppose that a person who is performing salat sitting by gestures with his legs stretched toward the qibla is sitting near the imam. His feet go beyond the feet of the imam. In this case, will his salat be valid?
ANSWERWhen a person is performing salat standing, what counts is the place where the feet are. If one's heels go beyond the heels of the imam, one's salat will not be valid. However, this ruling is not applicable when one is performing salat sitting by gestures. Then what counts is not where one's heels are, but where one's head is. If the head of one performing salat sitting by gestures does not go beyond the head of the imam or if one's head is in line with the head of the imam, then one's salat will be valid, even though one's legs go beyond the feet of the imam. (Ibn Abidin)
Question: If one is severely ill to the extent that one cannot perform salat even by gesturing with one's head, will one be exempted from performing salat?
ANSWERYes, if this health condition continues for more than a day, one will be exempted from salat. That is, the salats one missed are not fard on one, so one does not have to make them up.

Copy & Paste from  http://www.myreligionislam.com/detail.asp?Aid=6278

Groceries......

Assalamualaikum!

Hello again everyone!
I am back again! Hehehe I know, I know. Sometimes you hear from me, sometimes you don't. I have been thinking a lot about my household expenses. Money seems to be running like tap water. Now, here I am ready with a list of things to buy while waiting for my pay. I've figured it out. Apart from a little bit of cash ( saved for fuel and emergency) the remaining will be spent on bills and groceries. Here's what I'm thinking :

2 packs of rice                             detergent
spaghetti                                      toileteries
macaroni                                      cat food
biscuits                                         cat litter
tea
sugar
salt & spices
eggs
milk

Those are the main things. Oh yeah, and lemons. I want to start that half-a-lemon-per-day thingy. 15 lemons for a month.

It's never easy planning menu for a month for 4 kids. They eat a lot!! Can't blame them! They are growing up so fast. That's why the list I've prepared is to prepare mself buying in bulk!

Be humble no matter where you are from

Assalamualaikum wbt...

Hello again!

I'm back ! I am having a little disturbance with my the people I work with. It is so hard when you want Jannah so badly yet you know you have sinned a lot and want to repent and avoid sinning again. Even with the littlest sin, seem so hard to avoid. It's to ignore how hurting it could be when someone talk to rudely or start belittling you. Well guess what?

I'm learning to control my temper and write here instead. Recently, I have decided to join a Zumba class. I am so glad I did. The workout is superb and I get to make so many friends. I feel so thankful to Allah that made it possible. Stay positive guys! Aim for Jannah. (Oh, I forgot to mention that my Zumba class is for ladies only! No male allowed, please!) Remember our goal for Jannah, ladies! Cover our aurah from men!

Until next time!
 Wassalam..