The Value of a Human

Words from a western thinker,

"I'll get more by giving more of myself and my time".

Words from a Muslim thinker,

"Seorang fasiq (pembuat dosa) yang pemurah (penderma) lebih baik dari seorang abid (ahli ibadah) yang bakhil".

I quote those two because to signify the importance of contributing to the people and its goodness. The value of a human increases as he or she give more contributions to the people. The more beneficial someone is to the people, the greater he or she is. It is important to note that, no matter how brilliant or intelligent or rich someone is, it is nothing if he or she choose to care only about the matter of him or herself, preferring to live life only for his sake.

That's the problem with Muslims today. The fact that Ummah is in terrible condition and needs immediate cure does not open some of the Muslim's hearts to care and work for Islam to develop the Ummah. Instead, many choose to be on their own and not mingling with people while indulging in the business 'yang tak ke mana'. Are not we created to worship Allah? And it is our responsible to also enjoin other people to worship Him.

"The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise [9:71]."

"The ayaah which Allah revealed fifteen hundred years ago. It indicates how Allah put women on the highest level of intellectual and social status that any woman or nation or race has ever known. Islam has stated that women are fully human, and are legally competent and independent. (from: Mohamad Ali-Hashimi). "

It shows that being someone beneficial to the ummah and to work for Allah's cause is a responsible work for everyone and that women are not excluded from this. To contribute, does not mean you have to go to the battlefield and fight only, there are other ways that we, especially women can do. For me, the first and important thing that we can do is strengthening the ukhuwwah, the bond among us Muslimah. One of the ways is by attending any gatherings that will lead to 'the remembrance of Allah'. I emphasise this because gatherings can also involved things haraam such as the mixing freely of men and women, and maybe the reason for the gathering should be because of something not allowed by the syariat. The strong ukhuwah is essential as it is one of the aspects that strengthen the ummah besides faith in Allah and material. So, you actually help the ummah if you choose to get closer to your own sisters in Islam by attending such gatherings.

To be someone who bring sunshine to the ummah can also be done through charity work. As we have money, it is wonderful if we can spend some of it for the work of Islam. For example, donating money to the musolla. The amount is not matter, as long as we try our very best to donate. During the time when Prophet Ibrahim was about to be burnt in the fire due to the tyranny of Namrud who ordered those, the birds flew and carried in their beak water to put out the fire. When asked why they did those while it was obvious that was not within the realm of their capabilities to put out the fire with the little amount of water that they can carry in their beak, the birds answered,

"I am afraid that Allah will asked me what am I doing when this happened. At least I know what am I going to answer Him."

See? Even the small birds realised the responsibility to work for Allah's cause. And we, human, who are ordered to do this work should know better and do better.

Living thousands years of life will mean nothing at all if we choose to sit in our cosy house, living in a comfortable circle and enjoying the pleasure of our life without not only just thinking about the sufferings of others (our brothers and sisters in faith) but also works towards the change of it. The value of a human does not lie in how intelligent, rich and beautiful he or she is, but how his existence is necessary to others. We can have lots of great thinkers, but how many actually go outside and walk their talk. You can also be an 'abid' for thousand years, but it is more meaningful and better if your time is also spent to call people towards righteousness.

Rasulullah SAW is the greatest example of individual that reflects the characteristics of one who worked with all his soul and physical capability to develop the ummah. One of the greatest companions, Umar Al-Khatab spent every seconds of his time of his life thinking about the ummah even in his sleep.

Remember that,

"Apakah sebaik-baik amalan itu?"

"Sebaik-baik amalan itu adalah amalan yang membawa manfaat kepada orang lain."

Wallahu'alam

Segalanya tentang Niat/Intentions

C/P article by Dr Juanda Jaya
Assalamualaikum...

ADAKAH rahsia yang tersimpan di antara diri kita dengan Allah Taala? Menyembunyikan amal kebaikan dari pengetahuan orang lain. Sungguh berat untuk dilakukan kerana lumrahnya manusia memang suka kepada puji-pujian. Berbeza jika seseorang itu melakukan kejahatan, dia akan bersusah-payah menyembunyikan kejahatannya itu daripada pandangan manusia.

Bersyukurlah kerana Allah SWT menghijab segala aib kita daripada mata manusia. Apakah rahsia yang anda sembunyikan itu? Jika ia suatu kejahatan, maka banyakkanlah istighfar, kalau rahsia itu adalah amal ibadat yang ikhlas, maka bersyukurlah kerana Allah SWT menunjukkan diri anda.

Al-Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid menukilkan dalam kitabnya Silsilah A’mal al-Qulub: “Imam al-Mawardi menghasilkan penulisan yang banyak dalam bidang tafsir al-Quran, fiqah dan cabang ilmu lainnya. Namun tiada satu pun karyanya yang diterbitkan semasa hidupnya, melainkan ketika saat akhir hayatnya. Beliau berkata kepada sahabatnya “Semua buku itu adalah hasil karyaku, aku berwasiat kepadamu jika aku sedang menghadapi nazak, letakkanlah telapak tanganmu pada telapak tanganku. Jika aku menggenggamnya ketahuilah bahawa tidak ada satu pun daripada hasil tulisanku itu diterima oleh Allah Taala. Bawalah buku-buku itu ke sungai Tigris dan campakkanlah ia semua ke dalamnya. Sebaliknya, jika aku membuka tanganku, maka ketahuilah bahawa semuanya diterima Allah Taala sebagaimana yang kudambakan dari-Nya.” Ternyata Imam al-Mawardi membuka tangannya dan sesuai dengan wasiatnya buku beliau telah diterbitkan.

Cukuplah hanya Allah SWT yang tahu segala amal baik yang dilakukan. Ini bukan bermakna kita tidak boleh menghebahkan amal berkenaan. Ia tidak salah jika diniatkan untuk memberi teladan kepada orang lain dan supaya syiar Islam dapat dijadikan contoh manusia seluruhnya.

Tetapi bagaimana dengan risiko sifat riak yang merosakkan amal?

Jika kita tidak mahu terjebak oleh penyakit berbahaya ini, sebaiknya kembalilah mengulang kaji pelajaran ikhlas yang pernah membuat Saidina Abu Hurairah RA amat tertekan ketika menyebut tentang hadis Rasulullah SAW berikut ini. Dikatakan bahawa beliau kerap menangis kerana takut ketika membacakannya.

Sabda Rasululllah SAW yang bermaksud: “Sesungguhnya orang yang pertama kali diputuskan hukumannya pada hari kiamat kelak ialah seorang lelaki yang mati syahid, dia akan dihadapkan kepada Allah SWT, kemudian Allah SWT mengingatkannya akan nikmat yang pernah dianugerahkan kepadanya sewaktu di dunia dulu, maka dia pun kembali mengingatinya, kemudian Allah Taala bertanya “Apa yang engkau lakukan dengan nikmat yang Aku anugerahkan kepadamu? Ia menjawab “Nikmat itu saya pergunakan untuk berperang kerana membela agamaMu sehingga aku mati syahid. Allah SWT berfirman “Engkau dusta! Engkau telah berperang dengan tujuan supaya disebut sebagai orang yang berani (pahlawan) dan perkara itu telahpun diperkatakan orang sebegitu ke atas mu.” Kemudian dia diheret di atas mukanya dan dicampakkan ke dalam neraka.

Kemudian dihadapkan pula seorang yang alim, dia mengajar ramai manusia dan banyak membaca al-Quran. Allah SWT bertanya “Apakah yang engkau telah lakukan dengan nikmat-ku itu? Ia berkata “Aku belajar ilmu dan mengajarkannya kepada orang lain dan banyak membaca al-Quran demi keredaan-Mu. Allah berfirman “Engkau dusta! Sebenarnya engkau belajar dan mengajarkan ilmu supaya disebut sebagai orang alim, dan engkau membaca Al-Quran supaya mendapat gelaran Qari’ dan semua itu telahpun disebut orang sebegitu kepadamu.” Orang itu kemudian diheret dan dihumban ke dalam neraka.

Kemudian dihadapkan pula orang yang dermawan yang diluaskan rezekinya oleh Allah Taala dengan pelbagai macam harta benda. Kemudian Allah bertanya “Apa yang engkau telah lakukan ke atas nikmatKu? Ia menjawab “Tiada satu jalan pun yang Engkau suruh supaya diberikan derma kepadanya kecuali saya telah dermakan harta saya di sana. Allah SWT berfirman “Engkau dusta! Engkau menderma supaya disebut sebagai orang yang dermawan dan ia telahpun disebut orang begitu kepadamu. Kemudian ia diheret ke neraka.” Hadis riwayat Imam Muslim

Bolehkah kita terhindar daripada niat yang lain selain untuk Allah SWT? Betapa ruginya jika amal itu bagai debu yang berterbangan. Firman Allah Taala yang bermaksud ”Dan kami tunjukkan segala amal yang mereka kerjakan, lalu kami jadikan amal itu bagaikan debu yang berterbangan.” (Surah Al-Furqan: Ayat 23)

Hasutan syaitan ke atas orang yang beramal tidak akan berhenti. Adakalanya kita berasa malas melakukan ibadat kerana ada bisikan yang mengatakan “Untuk apa beramal jika hati tidak ikhlas, tentu tidak diterima oleh Allah”.

oleh: Dr. Juanda Jaya

Tarbiyyah

"Tarbiyyah Islam ialah pendidikan yang telah melahirkan sebaik-baik umat untuk manusia. Tarbiyah ini telah dihapuskan di negara-negara Arab dan Islam dalam beberapa kurun kebelakangan ini, kerana beberapa faktor. Antaranya ialah serangan musuh-musuh Islam, selain daripada kejahilan umat Islam sendiri serta ketakjuban mereka terhadap teori pendidikan barat. Tetapi dengan kelebihan dan kurniaan Allah Taala, beberapa orang ulamak di negara Arab dan Islam telah menyedari betapa merbahayanya konspirasi musuh itu, lalu mereka mengadakan beberapa siri nadwah dan muktamar serta mengarang buku-buku yang amat bermanfaat, bertujuan menetapkan dasar pemikiran tarbiyah di negara kita serta membebaskannya daripada pengaruh pemikiran penjajah."

Once, I complained to a friend that I am tired of learning all the educational and linguistic theory invented by the humans . I couldn't see the rational of learning about all those for I was assured that I do not even realise or even care about what approach to be applied when I will be in teaching career. And studying about those is still okay, the part that I dislike is when doing the assignments: everything needs to be justified and critical. I would say a very intelligent people who posses higher order thinking skills will excel in this course without the need to study hard. Because the more critical are you, the greater marks you will get for the exam/assignments. And this course is not really about drilling and memorizing facts. And definitely, just like other courses you need the understandings of all the theories.

That's the reason for me to dislike studying if viewed from the pessimisit mind of mine. Hehe. But if viewed from the perspective of me having the opportunity to learn how education is viewed Islamically, I tend to be bias towards what I learnt formally now. The influence of the other education sometimes penetrate my mind deep into the fact that the words of God is the first thing that complement everything (But it's true!). I was having this perception that what I learnt now is something that I shouldn;t learn. Yes, it sounds extreme that I was only interested to learn everything Islamic-based.

However, I was absolutely wrong. And I know it myself even when I was having that kind of perception.

I came across few articles. One says that the reality of today demands for an individual who possess knowledge not only on one side, but also the opposite site meaning that knowledge itself is changing through time but that does not mean we also need to change the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah to suit for the current time. That is the mistake. Islam is about practising it completely wholeheartedly and absolutely any changes to it cannot be tolerated. In my own opinion as someone who is learning so little, what people can change is the approach. Not the content. When I relate this to teaching, I realised that what I have been learning all this while is the approach, not the content. And the approach is vary that it is impossible for teachers to stick to only one approach, if they want the outcomes of learning to be achieved successfully.

So, how does this relate to 'tarbiyyah Islamiyyah' and 'what I am learning now?'

What I am learning now is the suggestions of what skills or approach that I can implement in my future classroom. When I learn about tarbiyyah, I realised that the same method that I kept mentioning in my assignment is also applicable to it. People are different that expecting the same approach to work on these differnet people is totally not within the realms of possibility. For example, in teaching, it is always expected that students come into the classroom with their own prior knowledge, that they are not an empty vessel to be filled in. So, the responsibility of the teachers it to help students and scaffold them so that they will move forward to the next level of learning. This is my understanding on how expectations can change the students. However, in terms of 'tarbiyyah', it is the same case. We should expect that the Mad'u already have or perhaps been informed about what this 'thing' is all about. And unfortunately, most of the information they got from people are negative. Therefore, we should not let this negative perceptions surrounds them, in any way we can as long as it is not against the syariat. And I personally believe that, it is not wrong to let loose some of the approach that most people tend to stick into by adopting rare approaches as long as it is assured that the end product is satisfactory.

Whether I like it or not, I shuld appreciate this chance to learn about how education is viewed from both sides. Sometimes, not everything from the Western cannot be applied into the Muslim way or system of life, it is just that the Westerners give them a new name and claim that its theirs, despite that Islam has introduced those concept thousand years ago.

Harapan

Janganlah lemah wahai jiwa
Kuatkan semangat dan tekad
Cetuskan keazaman
Tinggalkan angan-angan yang tak pasti
Yang remeh-temeh bukan keutamaan
Sekadar mainan penghalang cita-cita
Janganlah kerdil wahai jiwa
Jangan rendahkan dirimu dengan perkara-perkara hina
Tujuan kita
Tegakkan kalimah Lailahaillallah
Di atas muka bumi ini
Kerana redha Mu Allah yang kami damba

*semoga madrasah Ramadhan akan berjaya membentuk jiwa seorang pejuang yang hanya takut dan berharap kepada yang Mencipta. Amin

Kejatuhan Andalusia - Penting!

Esok puasa. Tetamu yang dinanti-nanti bakal berkunjung ziarah. Seperti yang telah ditakdirkan Allah, banyak peristiwa-peristiwa besar yang terjadi dalam bulan Ramadhan. Peristiwa paling besar ke atas kita semua pastinya peristiwa turunnya wahyu pertama di Gua Hira'. Malahan banyak sekali perang-perang besar Islam yang terjadi di bulan Al-Quran ini. Ini bicara Allah kepada kita akan betapa puasa itu bukanlah alasan untuk menjalani hari-hari di bulan Ramadhan dalam kadar produktiviti yang lebih kurang berbanding hari-hari biasa. Sebenarnya saya tertarik dengan peristiwa pembukaan kota Andalus yang terjadi juga di bulan Ramadhan yang diketuai oleh Tariq Ziyad yang tidak silap berusia 17 tahun ketika itu pada tahun 92 Hijrah. Saya juga tertarik dengan peristiwa di sebalik kejatuhan kota Andalus. Di masa itu tentera-tentera salib mencari-cari peluang untuk mendapatkan kembali Andalusia. Bagi memastikan sejauh mana mereka berpeluang untuk menawan kembali kota idaman mereka, dihantar seorang utusan untuk meninjau-ninjau keadaan di kota Andalus.

Pada kali pertama kedatangan utusan itu, dia mendapati seorang anak kecil di Andalus menangis. Lantas dia bertanya:

"Mengapa kamu menangis wahai anak kecil?"

Anak itu menjawab, "Aku sedang cuba memanah seekor burung, tapi sasaranku tidak mengena. Aku kecewa dengan ketidakupayaan memanahku."

Lalu, utusan itu menyimpulkan itu bukanlah masa yang sesuai untuk menyerang Islam di Andalus memandangkan anak kecil sendiri sudah punya semangat dan kekuatan.

Di tahun seterusnya, utusan itu dihantar lagi ke sana. Kali ini dia bertemu dengan seorang anak kecil yang menangis. Lantas seperti biasa, dia bertanya:

"Mengapa kamu menangis wahai anak kecil?"

Anak itu menjawab, "Aku sedih sekali. Aku masih tidak dapat hafal syair-syair." Syair-syair yang dimaksudkan adalah syair puji-pujian terhadap Allah.

Lalu, utusan itu menyimpulkan itu bukan juga masanya lagi untuk menyerang Andalus kerana pemikiran umat Islam yang meletakkan Allah sebagai keutamaan lebih dari segala keutamaan dalam kehidupan.

Dan pada tahun-tahun berikutnya, utusan dihantar lagi. Bertemu lagi dengan seorang anak kecil. Lalu, dia bertanya:

"Mengapa kamu menangis wahai anak kecil?"

Anak itu menjawab, "Aku sedih begini kerana putus cinta.

Lalu, kali ini dia benar-benar yakin itulah masa paling sesuai untuk menyerang kota Andalus kerana perang saraf yang dilancarkan mereka nampaknya berjaya. Mungkin dia melihat umat Islam di Andalus mula lemah dari segi pemikiran dan spiritual. Berbanding tahun-tahun lalu, di mana anak-anak kecil menangis kerana Allah, tahun tersebut mula nampak kepesongan umat Islam.

Jadi, Andalus pun diserang tahun itu setelah bertahun-tahun di bawah pemerintahan Islam hingga jadilah Sepanyol yang kita kenali sekarang.

Saya ingin memetik kata-kata dari sebuah blog, lebih kurang begini,

"Jangan harap ingin dirikan negara Islam sekiranya kita masih tidak mendengar anak-anak kecil sesama mereka berbicara tentang kebesaran Allah, (instead, Power Rangers, Naruto etc.)

jangan harap ingin dirikan negara Islam sekiranya kita masih tidak bertemu orang-orang muda sesama mereka berbicara tentang kebesaran Allah, (instead, mungkin Artis, Gadget terbaru etc.)

jangan harap ingin dirikan negara Islam sekiranya kita masih tidak bertemu orang-orang tua sesama mereka berbicara tentang kebesaran Allah, (instead, mungkin politik, bola etc.)

Menegakkan Islam dalam diri sendiri pun sangat susah (seriously!). Apatah lagi ingin Islam itu tertegak di luar. Jadi perlunya kita menegakkan Islam dalam diri dahulu yang memang sangat-sangat susah. Nah, inilah peluangnya. Ramadhan yang memberi peluang untuk kita menjadi orang-orang bertaqwa. Rujuk (2:128).

Wallahu'alam.

Why penguin?

Besides its cuteness, there are lots of reasons which contributes to my liking towards penguin . Yesterday, attending an event organised by akhawat of Sydney City, "Ramadan Awareness Day" at Zetland Mosque, added to my enthusiasm towards this special creature. During the event, there was a short slideshow about the fasting animals which was taken from the Islamonline.net. I am amazed with the fact that penguins actually fast.

So here is the article,

"Penguin is one of the sea birds that live in the cold regions. In fact, there are 17 species of these birds in the entire world. Only one of these species inhabits the North Pole territories while the remaining species are distributed widely in the Southern Hemisphere, extending along south Australia, Africa and America.

These species differ totally in their way of laying and hatching eggs. As for those living in the Southern Hemisphere, they spend the winter therein. With the coming of spring, they return in groups to their native land in the North Pole, covering (a distance of) hundreds of miles until they reach their destination and proper location for reproduction. Upon arriving there, they start immediately building their nests out of stone pieces. Following three weeks from their arrival, they will have completed building these nests and the process of procreation. In the usual course of things, the female lays two white eggs mixed with blue color. The male penguin undertakes the task of brooding eggs instead of the female penguin, which is engrossed in seeking food in the deep-water seas. On the other hand, the male penguin goes on in a state of fasting for two weeks until the chicks (the young penguins) develop. When this happens, the male penguin rushes at maximum speed into the sea to drink some of the seawater and to eat from Allah’s provisions. It eats this food in a state of merriment whereas the female penguin (the mother) comes back in order to feed the flourishing young penguins.

Unlike all species of penguins, there is another kind called "the Emperor" which does not build nests for the young. Actually, it spends winter in the North Frozen Zone wherein it lays its eggs; the mother lays the eggs, not on snow, but on its hind feet. Sometimes, the male penguin (the father) may relieve her and they remain in a state of fasting throughout the winter season.
With the advent of spring, the ice melts and the eggs are incubated reproducing those young penguins. The secret behind this strict kind of fasting is that the (penguin’s) eggs require this specific degree of coldness. Practically, when the young penguins grow up, they start observing fasting through abstaining from food until their down falls out and their bodies are covered with feathers. At this very moment, they rush into water declaring the end of this fasting through having food and drink.

As for the old penguins, they also observe fasting for another period that is sufficient to replace their old feathers with another which is more glowing and flourishing. They throw themselves into the sea merrily as if they imitate the human beings when they wear new clothes on the coming of the `Eid that comes after fasting in Ramadan or as if the human beings imitate these wondrous creatures. More accurately, we can say, "It is a recurring Sunnah in Allah's creation." Allah, Most High, says, […That is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing]."

Subhanallah. So cute, isnt it? Well, I don't want to be bias. There are actually other animals that fast such as snails, other species of birds etc. You can google on them if you want to know more :p

Ok. Ramadhan Kareem everyone. I would like to ask for forgiveness for every wrong that I've done. May this becoming Ramadhan is better than the previous ones.

Allahuma balighna Ramadhan. Ya Allah, sampaikan kepada kami Ramadhan.

Kawan Lama

Di suatu hari di pengakhiran musim sejuk yang semakin kurang dingin, terjadi perbualan virtual ala-ala begini,

Dia: Farah!!! Salam
Aku: Salam.
Dia: Apa khabar? Dah lama ye tak ym.
Aku: Haah. Baik.Alhamdulillah. You? Apa kabar jasmani dan rohani?
Dia: Jasmani sihat alhamdulillah. Rohani tak berapa sihat.

Kemudian, itu terjustify dengan sekeping gambarnya yang ku lihat di profilenya. Sedang menikmati sesuatu yang ‘keburukannya lebih banyak dari kebaikan’. Saat itu hati mengucap panjang dan sedih akan dirinya yang begitu. Lagi pula, kemungkaran sama sekali tidak boleh diredhai. Aku benci apabila aku terpaksa men'kerangbusuk'kan muka sendiri terhadap perkara-perkara yang salah kerana takut hati manusia itu terguris. Dalam erti kata lain, malu menegakkan kebenaran. Oh, kadang-kadang itu sering terjadi. Padahal konsepnya adalah biarlah seisi dunia membenci kita, asalkan Allah sama sekali tidak membenci kita.

Kawan ku tadi itu. Bukan aku prejudis terhadap dia. Ini bukan soal prejudis. Ataupun merasakan aku ini lebih baik. Ini bukan tentang perasan baik. Ini soal yang benar tetap benar. Yang salah, harus tidak patut ada toleransi terhadapnya. Cuma di sudut hatiku hanya berharap Tuhan beri dia petunjuk. Kerana doa itu sahaja yang aku mampu. Dalam hati, aku sentiasa berharap Tuhan akan menemukan dia dengan seorang penjual minyak wangi kerana dia tidak layak diciptakan untuk terus hidup dalam kebusukan lumpur-lumpur itu.

Saat banyak rakan-rakan di alam sekitarku bertransformasi ke arah kebaikan, kadang-kadang aku terlupa yang ada juga saudara-saudaraku berjalan ke arah yang bertentangan.

Kisah di atas salah satu kisah daripada beberapa kisah mereka yang aku kenali memilih arah berlawanan itu.

"Let’s go another round, I will follow you down and out".

In pursuit of happiness

Long time ago which was few months back, I attended a talk organised by the Affinity Club and Student Life. The talk was about 'in pursuit of happiness". It was interesting and such an eye-opener indeed. One muslim representative, Saddiq Ansari, who never fails to amaze the audiences, talked about how human will never be able to fulfill his nafs, desire. Human's desire has no end to satisfy it. Like women who never stop buying clothes and so do like men who are always attracted by the beauty of other women even though they already have spouses. Unfortunately, we will never have enough resources to satisfy our needs. This ephemeral life never allow us to do so as the saying goes, 'hidup ini adalah ladang untuk akhirat'. As the vicegerent of earth, Allah has provided us the earth to be used to opt for his mercy and keredhaan, pleasure. By instilling in our mind that this life is temporary and does not deserve the fulfillment of our own nafs' satisfactions, we are the most happiest person in the world. This life is all about contributing as much as possible to the humanity for the sake of obeying Allah's rule. If we live for ourselves, then we will in the hereafter forever. In surah Az-Zuhkruf, Allah has mentioned about the fact that all kinds of relationship in this world will not be permanent ones in the hereafter except the relationships among those who fear him, and is based on taqwa and love for Allah. That is why the sahabah listed one of the three things that makes the worldly life pleasant and beautiful to them is the brotherhood relationship among them besides Al-Quran and the Qiyamulail. In fact, the sweetness of iman is attained when someone loves Allah and the prophet (pbuh) more than anything else, and when he or she will love only for Allah's sake, and he or she hates to turn to the old ways (kufr) like the way they hate being thrown into the hell. Therefore, how assured are we that we love Allah more than anything else when the love or the liking is not abided by the syariat? Young people should research more about this as we have came to a phase in this era where there is a mixture of true and false. This causes confusions that e.g. Allah's command in the Quran like 'La Takrabbu Zina' is taken literally in its meaning despite that simple things that can lead to such a thing is also considered as takrabbu zina. Therefore, the fact that our nafs can never be satisfied is enough to make us realize that it is always the best decision to follow the path as outlined by the Creator in the Al-Furqan. The promised jannah is the place where all our desires that are not satisfied due to the limited resources that the wordly life can provide, are fulfilled and pleased there.

To live life to the fullest is to live life in accordance with the Quran. That is a true happiness and what differs Islam than other religion is the fact that worshipping and getting closer to God in order to show love towards Him is not merely something to be felt mentally or spiritually, it is also involves something practical such as the 5 times daily prayers. That was one of the points in the talk that strikes me and something that I never think of before. Meaning that to love Allah requires actions, not only words. This leads me into thinking that, loving the Creator is easy to be uttered, but what makes it difficult is to actually practise what He asks us to do as outlined in the Quran . Even the Prophet also said that to love him, is to follow his sunnah. And how many actually really follow those two?

So, a self-note, let's walk the talk. No use at all writing here is the amal is not equal to it.