Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Richard Branson calls for break up of large GLCs


According to Virgin group founder Sir Richard Branson said Malaysia should break up and privatize large Government-linked companies to increase competition and attract foreign investors. He said a lot of the local companies were run by the Government and it would be better if they were privatized. -- Bernama
  
We can almost sure the view were not his but came from his Malaysian friends.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

How can a person know Allah is pleased with him?

How can a person know if his Lord is pleased with him?

Is there anything that will tell a person that his Lord is pleased with him?

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All the praise and thanks is due to Allah, Subhanahu wata`ala. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and his family.

1. Among the signs that the Lord is pleased with His slave is that He guides him doing good deeds and avoiding haram things.

This is confirmed by the words of Allah: “While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and bestows on them their piety” [Muhammad, 47:17] ; “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths (i.e. Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism)” [Al -‘Ankabut, 29:69]

But if a person is hindered from doing good deeds and avoiding haram things – which we seek refuge with Allah – then that is a sign that Allah is not pleased with him.

"But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."; He will say, "My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" ; (Allah) will say: "Like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allah's Mercy)." [Ta-Ha, 20:124-126]

2. Allah has also explained in His Book that the sign of His being pleased with His slave and of His guidance is that He opens his heart to true guidance and true faith. And the sign of misguidance and being far from the Straight Path is distress and constriction in the heart.

Allah says:

“And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam; and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky. Thus Allah puts the wrath on those who believe not” [Al-An’am, 6:125]

Ibn 'Abbas said, commenting on this verse: “And whomsoever Allah wills to guide…” means Allah opens his heart to Tawhid and belief therein.  [Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 2/175]

3. Another sign of Allah’s love for His slave and His being pleased with him is that He makes him beloved to His slaves.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“When Allah loves a person, He calls out to Jibreel: ‘Allah loves So and so,’ so Jibreel loves him. Then Jibreel calls out to the people of heaven, ‘Allah loves So and so, so love him.’ So the people of heaven love him and he finds acceptance on earth.”  [Narrated by Al-Bukhari (3209) and Muslim (2637)]

Al-Nawawi said: “and he finds acceptance on earth” means that people love him and are pleased to see him, so their hearts incline towards him. It says in another report: “and he finds love on earth.”

And Allah knows best.

[Via Islam QA (34829)]

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The murders in Banting and Crimebusters

The murders in Banting and general necessity of crime busters

MALAYSIANS mainly the Malays like me must be aghast to read about the gruesome murders of their fellow Malays, the cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others. This murder case surely rivals the infamous case of Mona Fandi than a decade ago.

Among the suspected perpetrators arrested are two Indian lawyers. The way of the killing were very brutal. It was unheard off in the past in our society. It happened many times in tht area. It needs a Bukit Aman team to uncover it.

Our society has changed so much, but without peace. So much so crimes like killing, rapes, robberies, throwing the young born, stealing, house breaking, breaching the laws are becoming common and reported regularly in the media.

Early morning Friday my son’s car was stolen in front of my house.Before puasa also a Honda Accord of my jiran was stolen. Several months ago my nieces' car was stolen. Two years ago MPV of my front jiran was stolen.

I am wondering what is happening to law and order. There is no peace anymore. The authorities particularly Ministry of Home affairs, the Police, the local authorities are not doing enough to fight the crime. They must revamp the existing monitoring system.

It is a real threat to internal security. Ways must be found to step up the crime busters.

People are becoming frustrated with the situation. They can only hope and pray that similar incidents do not happen to them and their families.

Even the hangman's noose which awaits convicted murderers does not seem to deter or stop this misguided people from heinous crimes.

One can only offer condolences to the families of the murdered victims.

The question is what is happening to the state of law and order. So much so as if there is no peace place anymore. The authorities particularly Ministry of Home affairs, the Police, the local authorities are not doing enough to fight the crime. They must revamp the monitoring system.

The Prime Minister must not only took care the interest of his family and friends; it is his job to look into the law and order of the country, providing safety to the general public and its citizens.

To whom the citizens rely their hope?

We can only hope that the policing system which will not leave any stone unturned in bringing the criminal perpetrators to justice as well as a providing public safety. This they must do for the sake of the real victims.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Images of the Blessings of the Grave

Images of the Blessings of the Grave

Who are pious what happens to them in their grave?

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due to Allah, the Lord of the al-'Alameen. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

The evidence indicates that the believer will be blessed in his grave until the Hour begins, then he will move by the grace and mercy of Allah to the blessings that will never cease or come to an end, which is the blessing of Paradise. We seek Allah to make us among its people of blessing.

These are some of the images of the blessings which are bestowed upon the believer in his grave:

1.   His grave is furnished from Paradise for him,

2.   He is clothed in garments from Paradise.

3.   A gate to Paradise is opened for him, and its breezes come to him, and he smells its fragrance and he feels delight in what he can see of its blessings.

4.   His grave is made wide and spacious for him.

5.   He is given the glad tidings of Allah’s pleasure and Paradise. Hence he longs for the Hour to begin.

It was narrated that Al-Bara’ Ibn ‘Azib (radiallahuanhu) said: “We went out with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was placed in the lahad, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) sat down and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still). In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, “Seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave”, two or three times. Then he said, “When the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and perfumes from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O good soul, come forth to forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure.’ Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the mouth of a water skin. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a fragrance like the finest musk on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this good soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is opened, and (the soul) is welcomed and accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allah, until they reach the seventh heaven. Then Allah says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyuun in the seventh heaven, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’ So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They say, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam).’ They say, ‘What did you do?’ He says, ‘I read the Book of Allah and I believed in it.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.’ Then there comes to him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see. Then there comes to him a man with a handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good fragrance, who says, ‘Receive the glad tidings that will bring you joy this day.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which brings glad tidings.’ He says, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.’…”

[Narrated by Ahmad, 17803; Abu Dawud, 4753; categorized as sahih by al-Albani in Ahkam al-Janaa’iz, p. 156]

6.  He will be happy when he sees what would have been his place in Hell, which Allah has replaced for him with a place in Paradise.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiallahuanhu)  said: I attended a funeral with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam). The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) said: “O people, this ummah will be tested in their graves. When a man is buried and his friends leave him, an angel with a hammer in his hand comes and sits by him and asks, ‘What do you say about this man?’ If he is a believer, he says, ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’ He says, ‘You have spoken the truth.’ Then a door to Hell is opened for him and he says, ‘This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in your Lord, but because you believed, this is your place.’ Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he wants to go there, but the angel says to him, ‘Calm down,’ and his grave is made wide and spacious for him.

But if he is a kafir or a hypocrite, (the angel) says to him, ‘What do you say about this man?’ He says, ‘I do not know, I heard the people saying something.’ The angel says, ‘You did not know and you did not follow those who knew and you were not guided.’ Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he says, ‘This would have been your position if you had believed in your Lord. But because you disbelieved, Allah has replaced it for you with this.’ Then a gate to Hell is opened for him, and he strikes him a blow with the hammer which is heard by all of Allah’s creation apart from the two races (of mankind and the jinn).” Some of the people said, “O Messenger of Allah, there is no one who would have an angel standing by him holding a hammer but he would dumbfounded.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm.” [Ibrahim 14:27]

[Narrated by Ahmad (10577) that is classified as sahih by al-Albani in his commentary on Kitab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi ‘Asim, 865]

7.    He will sleep the sleep of a bridegroom

8.   His grave will be illuminated for him

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (radiallahuanhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) said: “When the deceased (or he said: any one of you) is buried, two black and blue angels, one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakeer come to him. They say, ‘What did you say about this man?’ And he says what he used to say, that he is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’ They say, ‘We knew that you would say this.’ Then his grave is expanded, seventy cubits wide, and it is filled with light. He says, ‘Let me go back to my family and tell them.’ They say, ‘Sleep like a bridegroom whom no one will wake but his most beloved,’ until Allah raises him up. But if he was a hypocrite he says, ‘I heard the people saying something and I said likewise, I do not know.’ So they say, ‘We knew that you would say that.’ Then it is said to the earth, ‘Squeeze him,’ so it squeezes him until his ribs interlock. And he will remain like that, being tormented, until Allah raises him up.”

[Narrated by al-Tirmidzi, 1071. Classified as sahih by Shaykh al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 1391.]

With regard to his sleep being likened to the sleep of a bridegroom because he will be so happy and comfortable.  [Tuhfat al-Awadhi]

These are some of the blessings that the believer will enjoy in his grave.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allah ibn Baaz said:

Thus, the grave will be either one of the gardens of Paradise or one of the pits of Hell. The torment or blessing will happen to the body as well as the soul in the grave, and also in the Hereafter, in either Paradise or Hell.

Those who die by drowning or burning, or are eaten by wild animals, their souls will have their share of torment or blessing, and that will come to their bodies on land or in the sea, or in the bellies of the wild animals, as much as Allah wills. But most of the blessing or torment will come to their souls which remain, either in a state of blessing or a state of torment. The soul of the believer will go to Paradise; the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The soul of the believer is a bird which hangs from the trees of Paradise, eating their fruits; the soul of the kafir goes to Hell.”

[Majmu’ Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawi’ah li Samahat al-Shaikh al-‘Allamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allah ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him), p. 338.]

We ask Allah to make us among His people bestowed with blessings.

And Allah knows best.

[Via Islam Q&A (Fatwa No: 21713)]

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

The Murder of Dato Sosilawati Lawiya


Datuk Pathmanabhan A/L Nalliannen

According to the media this is the face of the brutal sadistic heartless fiend who said to be responsible for the deaths of Dato Sosilawati Lawiya the Novelle Visage millionaire owner and consequently her driver, lawyer and bank officer.

A number of people ranging from a South Indian millionaire who fell prey to this demon. This demon set up a clinic for his sister, bought several farms and lands which he used as bait to snare his other victims.

Patmanathan believed closely with Hindraf and a fund raiser for the operation of Hindraf. His brother Surrendran is reportedly involved.

We must seriously take heed of this; time to do away with this kind of people. We must avoid having anything to do with them, big and small! They are stink....

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Selamat Hari Raya

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

Bersempena dengan kedatangan Hari Raya Fitri ini, saya ingin mengucapkan kepada semua pengunjung “Taqabbalallah Minna wa Minkum” (semoga Allah menerima ibadah kita semua), Selamat Hari Raya.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Juma’at Pada Hari Raya?

Wajibkah Juma’at Pada Hari Raya?

Soalan: “Apakah benar jika hari raya berlaku pada Hari Juma’at maka sesiapa yang menunaikan Solat Hariraya tidak wajib lagi untuk dia menunaikan Solat Juma’at?

Jawapan Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin:

Para fuqaha (sarjana Fekah) berbeza pendapat dalam hal ini. Di kalangan ulama, terutama dalam Mazhab Hanbali menyatakan tidak wajib Juma’at untuk makmum yang sudah menghadiri solat Hariraya, kecuali imam.

Ini berdasarkan hadis Nabi (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) ketika hariraya berlaku pada Hari Juma'at :

“Telah berkumpul pada hari kamu ini dua hariraya, sesiapa yang mahu memadailah baginya solat hariraya bagi solat Juma’at (tidak wajib Juma’at), adapun kami (Nabi s.a.w) akan menunaikan Juma’at”

(Riwayat Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Ibn Majah. Dinilai sahih oleh al-Hakim dan dipersetujui oleh al-Zahabi. Al-Albani juga menyatakan sahih).

Berdasarkan hadis di atas, maka seseorang diberi pilihan sama ada hendak menunaikan solat Juma’at setelah menunaikan Solat Hariraya, atau berpada dengan solat berkenaan. Maka dengan itu dia wajib menunaikan Solat Zuhur. Terdapat pendapat di kalangan ulama bahawa Zuhur juga tidak wajib disebabkan Nabi s.a.w tidak pun menyebut hal ini dan Hari Juma’at yang diwajibkan adalah Solat Juma’at, maka apabila ia digugurkan tidak perlu mengganti apa-apa. Antara yang berpendapat tidak wajib diganti dengan Zuhur ialah al-Imam Syed Sabiq dalam Fiqh al-Sunnah (1/267, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr).

Apapun, hadis di atas dan beberapa riwayat yang lain, termasuk amalan pada zaman Umar, Abdullah ibn al-Zubair dan Ibn ‘Abbas menyebut perbuatan meninggalkan Juma’at pada hariraya itu “Betul dari segi sunnah” (lihat: Ibn Taimiyyah, al-Fatawa al-Kubra 2/366, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah).

Cumanya, mereka kebanyakannya berpendapat wajib Zuhur. Adapun imam hendaklah menunaikan Juma’at untuk mereka yang hendak menunaikan Juma’at, atau tidak menunaikan Solat Hariraya, maka wajib dia menunaikan Juma’at.

Dengan diakui ada perbezaan pendapat di kalangan sarjana hukum, namun saya cenderung kepada tidak wajib Juma’at bagi makmum yang sudah menunaikan solat Hariraya berdasarkan hadis di atas dan beberapa riwayat yang lain, juga sifat Islam itu sendiri yang meringankan apabila ada ruang kelonggaran. Apatahlagi, maksud perhimpunan kaum muslimin telah tertunai pada hari tersebut, maka perhimpunan solat hariraya sudah dapat memenuhi maksud perhimpunan solat Juma’at.

[Disiarkan Minda Tajdid pada Nov 25, 2009 dalam kategori Ibadah]