Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Check The Two Wolves Within Us

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

K'ab bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

 

Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "Two hungry wolves sent in the midst of a flock of sheep are no more destructive to them than a man's greed for wealth and fame is to his Deen." [At-Tirmidhi]

 ما ذئبان جائعان أرسلا في غنم بأفسد لها من حرص المرء على المال والشرف، لدينه

A wolf will cause havoc wherever it goes and every farmer knows this. Unlike the lion, the wolf destroys more than it can eat. That is why they have shepherd dogs to guard their flock of sheep against the wolf. 

Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said imagine not one but two wolves were to be let loose on an unprotected flocks of sheep. How much damage would that cause, how many sheep would be left alive after the attack? The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, a man's eagerness for wealth and desire to be famous are more destructive to his Deen than those two wolves to that flock of sheep. This is the imagery that our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave, just like those two wolves will wreak havoc in a flock. 

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said we all have two wolves within us that if we let them go unchecked, they will destroy our Deen. He asked us to be conscious of these two animalistic tendencies for they will destroy us worse than a flock of sheep is destroyed when they are defenseless against a pack of wolves. 

1) Eagerness to have more and more wealth

The love of money is something that is ingrained in all of us. But when we allow that love to overpower us and go unchecked, it will lead to disaster.  

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,

وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا ﴿٢٠

And you love wealth with immense love. (20)  [Quran, Al Fajr 89:20]

Ibn Rajab said that if the penalty of greed is to make a person so busy in this world, to a point that he neglected the next world, it would be enough of a crime. In other words, even if you earn halal and spent on halal but all you did was earn, earn and earn that it killed your time, this would be enough of a crime for the pursuit of wealth. Why? Because wealth is only temporary pleasure. When we spend our time in temporary pleasure, it will come at the expense of permanent pleasure, which is the hereafter. 

That is why the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, O son of Adam, what do you really have except food that when you eat it, you will then go to the restroom, and defecated or the clothes that when you wear them after a while they will wear off, or the good deeds and the charity that you spend forth, and that is the only thing of your wealth that you will actually have permanently.

The first problem that happens when we have an unchecked desire for wealth is that we end up spending an inordinate amount of time in obtaining wealth at the expense of spending time in ibadah , Quran and dhikr, in servicing mankind and accruing the greatest wealth, which is the wealth of the hereafter. 

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala reminds us in Surah al Kahf ayat 46,

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46) [Quran, Al Kahf 18:46]

Another problem that happens is that when we priortize wealth is that in the pursuit of wealth, we start justifying any means to obtain wealth -- illegal and unethical haram means. This is, without a doubt, one of the worst effects of loving this world. When we become so blind in our love of wealth, and we don't mind cheating, stealing, embezzling, lying, defrauding, don't mind inflicting pain on others, being unethical, then we have opened up the door to destruction to ourselves.

As well, eating haram wealth is the number one cause that du'a is not answered. Any flesh that is nourished by haram has no right to go to Jannah. How can Jannah accept you when Allah says that He only accepts the pure he only accepts that which is good that which is for you. 

2) Eager to become well known, to be in the limelight, to be accepted by people

This is done by obtaining positions of power and by doing things so that people know you and talk about you. 

The true believer understands that being in the limelight is a huge responsibility. It's not something you aim for directly. The true believer understands stepping up to positions of power is a huge amount responsibility. So, they are shy and hesitant to take such positions. They have to be coaxed and pushed into taking it. They don't want to jump in and be the ones that are in charge or in the forefront because they have to answer to all. 

But when a person desires to be famous, to have power or to have control, then this will lead to a major disaster, and that disaster is your ego becomes more important than the cause you have been entrusted. Your ego, your fame, your prestige takes priority over the responsibility that has been handed to you. We see this time and time again, not just in politicians, but at some level, politics get involved in our own corporations, in our jobs, in our own extended families, even in our own Islamic organizations. We want to be the ones that everybody is speaking about and be put on a pedestal. Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, when that becomes your goal, when the goal is not to fulfill the trust, when the goal is not to do a good job, but the goal is your ratings, reviews, and what people will say, then you have opened up another door of destruction. 

When you prioritize your ego, you are willing to harm other people in that process. This is what happens time and time again with many powerful people, kings and politicians that when they get to that power, they become intoxicated. Even if we are not kings and politicians, every one of us at some level have something that we are in charge of and have some aspect that we have to interact and mingle with others. If our ego becomes the most important thing, then we will be willing to speak bad about others unjustly, take the rights of others unjustly, expose the faults of others, or do so many other sins. Why? Because we feel by doing that we will have our ego, our prestige and our fame is being put into the limelight, and we will do so at the expense of others. This is the door of destruction of our Deen.

The mere desiring of wealth or the desire to do something effective is in and of itself is not bad. Both these desires if you channel them and control them, they are permissible. Though they are dangerous, there is also good.

When our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would choose somebody to be on a delegation, he would choose the one whose prestige and whose fame was known and utilized them.  So in and of itself, wealth and fame is not evil in and of themselves, but it is what you do with them, and it is your prioritization of them. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be wealthy but don't make that your overwhelming desire don't make that the end goal. Wealth is a means to the greater goal, which is the Hereafter. If that is your goal and you want to live a comfortable life to invest for the Hereafter, then there's nothing wrong with having the goal for money. And if you want to be effective and you want to do something for the sake of Islam, and you understand that in order to do so there must also be a positive reputation, then there's nothing wrong with wanting to have fame. If your intention is not your ego but to benefit the people, then this is permissible. 

Wealth and fame are neither haram nor sinful nor evil, they are neutral, but generally speaking wealth and fame corrupt more than they guide so we are being warned. We are being cautioned that if you enter this arena, if you are going to make lots of money or if you're going to be famous, be careful you monitor your intentions and don't make these desires to become like wolves. If we keep them in check, we can utilize both of these for the sake of the Deen. But if we let them go, then they shall destroy us and destroy our religion in the process.

May Allah subhana wa Ta'ala bless me and you and may He make us of those who recite and understand the Quran, and apply it throughout our life.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all. Wassalaam

Dua Nikmat Yang Paling Besar

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم  

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

 📍 Dua nikmat yang paling besar selain Iman yang kita ambil begitu saja (take for granted)  dan kurang bersyukur

1) Makanan
2) Keamanan dan keselamatan

Allah berfirman dalam Surah Quraysh ayat 4:

 ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ ﴿٤

Tuhan yang memberi mereka penghidupan: menyelamatkan mereka dari kelaparan, dan mengamankan mereka dari ketakutan.(4) [Quran, Quraysh 106:4] 

Allah mengingatkan orang Quraysh yang Allah yang memberi mereka makanan melawan kelaparan, dan memberi mereka keselamatan daripada ketakutan. Ayat itu secara komprehensif merangkup semua yang diperlukan agar orang Quraish dapat hidup bahagia dan damai di dunia.

Ayat ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ  (Yang memberi mereka makanan untuk melawan kelaparan) menunjukkan bahawa mereka disediakan sepanjang tahun dengan setiap jenis buah dan makanan. Keselamatan yang disebut di وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ (dan memberi mereka keselamatan daripada ketakutan) termasuk keselamatan dari musuh dan perompak (yang, kerana menghormati mereka sebagai penjaga Ka'bah, melepaskan mereka dari serangan mereka), dan itu juga termasuk keselamatan dari hukuman di akhirat (bagi mereka yang menunaikannya syarat-syarat keimanan yang diperlukan).

Ibn Kathir mengatakan bahawa barangsiapa menyembah Allah menurut perintah yang diberikan dalam ayat ini, Allah akan memberinya keselamatan, bukan hanya dalam hal ini dunia, tetapi juga keselamatan dari hukuman di akhirat. Dan sesiapa sahaja menyimpang dari perintah ini, Dia akan melucutkannya dari kedua-dua jenis keselamatan dan keselamatan seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam ayat berikut:

 وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَ‌ٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿١١٢

Dan (berhubung dengan hal kaum yang kufur ingkar) Allah memberikan satu contoh: Sebuah negeri yang aman damai dan tenteram, yang didatangi rezekinya yang mewah dari tiap-tiap tempat, kemudian penduduknya kufur akan nikmat-nikmat Allah itu, maka Allah merasakannya kelaparan dan ketakutan yang meliputi keseluruhannya disebabkan apa yang mereka telah lakukan. [Quran, An-Nahl 16:112]  

Bersyukurlah sebab kita masih ada makanan untuk di meja.

Bersyukurlah sebab kita masih ada rumah, terlindung dari gejala2 luar yang tak baik

Bersyukurlah kita sebab dapat tinggal di negara yang aman, tiada peperangan

Sedangkan sebahgian pelusuk dunia, ramai yang kelaparan, ramai yang di usir dari rumah dan negara sendiri, ramai yang tertindas, terancam, dalam ketakutan, tiada kesudahan.

Datangya COVID-19 pandemic adalah satu cara untuk memberi kesedaran kepada yang lalai dan yang tidak bersyukur -- bagaimana rasanya hidup dalam ketakutan, tanpa kebebasan.

Allah beri kita makanan untuk memberi kita tenaga dan kesihatan untuk kita beribadah kepadaNya. Allah beri kita keselamatan untuk kita bolih beribadah dengan aman. Adakah kita beryukur? Bersyukur bukan sekadar menyebut Alhamdulillah. Ianya mesti di susuli dengan action -- kita buat apa yang di suruh, dan jangan buat apa yang di larang.

Pertama solat jangan tinggal -- solat adalah perkara pertama yang akan di tanya di akhirat nanti. Kalau dah solat, tambah dengan solat sunnah. Perbaiki solat -- tiada solat yang perfect.

Quran jangan tinggal -- Quran saja lah teman di dunia ini yang dapat menemani kita di kubur nanti. Kalau tak pernah baca Quran atau jarang2 baca Quran, mula sekarang. Kalau dah tiap hari baca Quran, tingkatkan bacaan, quantity dan quality, sampai bolih baca satu hingga dua juz tiap hari dengan faham maknanya.

Banyak memberi dari meminta dan mengambil -- tangan yang memberi lebih baik dari tangan yang meminta

Banyak menolong dan mengasihani makhluk Allah -- dan Yang Maha Pengasihani akan tunjuk kasih sayangNya kepada kita

Buat orang sekeliling kita happy -- kebahgian itu akan datang di akhirat nanti membahgiakan kita. 

هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنُ ﴿٦٠

"Bukankah tidak ada balasan bagi amal yang baik - melainkan balasan yang baik juga" -- Quran, Ar-Rahman 55:60 

Selalu senyum dan tunjuk riang -- senyum itu adalah sedekah, dapat menghilangkan duka orang lain 

Banyak bersedekah -- satu2 pelaburan yang sangat beruntung dan business yang tak pernah rugi. Allah akan membalasnya dengan berlipat kali ganda, 10 kali hingga 700 kali ganda atau lebih

Banyak berdu'a -- du'a adalah senjata orang Islam

Jangan buang masa -- Demi Masa! (1) Sesungguhnya manusia itu dalam kerugian - (2)Kecuali orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh, dan mereka pula berpesan-pesan dengan kebenaran serta berpesan-pesan dengan sabar. (3) -- Quran, Al Asr 103:1-3

Jaga kebersihan di dalam rumah dan di luar sana

Jaga environment -- binatang, pokok, pengairan, hutan2 adalah penting untuk hidup kita.  Jangan buang sampah sana sini.

Jadi consumer yang bertanggung jawab, jangan belanja berlebihan -- banyak pakai, banyak buang. Akibat environment jadi kucar kacir

Jangan membazir -- hidup secukupnya dan moderate. 

كُلُوا۟ مِن ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَءَاتُوا۟ حَقَّهُۥ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿١٤١

Dan janganlah kamu melampau (pada apa-apa jua yang kamu makan atau belanjakan); sesungguhnya Allah tidak suka kepada orang-orang yang melampau. Quran, Al-An'am 6:141

Bersihkan hati -- untuk kebahgian kita bila mengadap Allah nanti

 يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّـهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾

Hari yang padanya harta benda dan anak-pinak tidak dapat memberikan pertolongan sesuatu apapun, (88) "Kecuali (harta benda dan anak-pinak) orang-orang yang datang mengadap Allah dengan hati yang selamat sejahtera (dari syirik dan penyakit munafik); (89)  [Quran, Ash-Shu'ara 26:88-89]

Semoga Allah kurniakan kita hati yang bersih. Aameen.

Rumah Yang Lapang -- Quran Di Baca Di dalamnya

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

 🌹🌹 Istiqamah membaca al Quran tiap hari

😡Rumah yang tidak ada bacaan al Quran penuh dengan syaitan.

😁Rumah yang ada bacaan al Quran penuh dengan malaikat.

Abu Hurayrah berkata, “Rumah yang di dalamnya terdapat bacaan al-Quran, maka keluarga serta kerabatnya akan bertambah dan keberkahan serta kebaikan akan memenuhi ahli rumah tersebut. Malaikat akan turun memenuhi rumah itu, dan syaitan akan keluar darinya.

Sebaliknya rumah yang tidak dibacakan Al Quran, maka akan diliputi oleh kesempitan dan ketidakberkahan, malaikat akan keluar dari rumah itu, dan syaitan akan memenuhi rumah itu.


😇Otak manusia yang tidak bekerja adalah tempat syaitan bekerja.

Demikian juga hati yang kosong dari kalamullah akan banyak dipengaruhi oleh syaitan.

Dari Abdullah bin Abbas berkata bahwa Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam bersabda,

“Sesungguhnya seorang yang tidak ada sedikitpun Al Quran dalam hatinya adalah saperti rumah yang kosong. (Tirmidhi) 

Allahu 'a'lam

Adakah Rumah Anda Seperti Kubur?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

Rumah2 yang tidak ada penghuninya yang mendirikan solat sunnah dan membaca al-Quran di ibaratkan kubur yang sunyi dimana syaitan serta iblis akan menguasainya.

Jadi janganlah cepat pergi setelah solat fard tiap hari. Sambunglah dengan solat sunnah.

Daripada Abu Hurayrah bahawa Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam telah bersabda,

 “Janganlah kamu menjadikan rumahmu itu seperti kubur (tidak pernah kamu solat sunnah atau pun membaca al-Quran dan ibadat lain di dalamnya). Sesungguhnya syaitan akan lari dan menjauhkan diri daripada mana2 rumah yang dibaca di dalamnya surah al-Baqarah”.
 
(Hadith Riwayat Muslim)

Syaitan dan iblis takut mendengar ayat2 Quran yang dibaca oleh seseorang lebih2 lagi surah al-Baqarah. Amalkan membaca Surah al-Baqarah dengan bertaddabur dan mengamalkan ajarannya. Jika kita ada habit khatam Quran sebulan sekali, automatic kita ada habit baca al-Baqarah sebulan sekali.

Allahu 'a'lam

Your Woman -- A Crown or Sandals? (Wanitamu -- Mahkota Atau Selipar?)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

A man at a wedding stood up and said, "A woman is like slippers that you choose and replace to suit a man's feet. The guests turned their eyes to a scholar who was also present at the wedding and was asked about what was said by the man. So the scholar said, "Yes, it is true what he said if he feels that he is a foot - then the woman is slippers to him. But if a man feels he is a king, then the woman is a crown to him.

Seorang lelaki di satu majlis perkahwinan berdiri dan berkata, "Seorang wanita itu seperti selipar yang anda pilih dan ganti sesuai dengan kaki seorang lelaki. Para tetamu mengalihkan pandangan ke seorang ulama' yang juga hadir di majlis itu dan ditanya tentang apa yang telah dikatakan oleh lelaki itu. Maka ulama' itu berkata, "Ya, betul apa yang dia katakan jika dia merasa bahawa dia adalah kaki - maka wanita itu adalah selipar kepadanya. Tetapi jika seorang lelaki itu merasakan dia adalah raja, maka wanita itu adalah mahkota baginya."

.... وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ  ....

... And live with them (wives) in kindness...

... Dan bergaulah kamu dengan mereka (isteri-isteri kamu itu) dengan cara yang baik... 

[Quran, An-Nisa 4:19]

Abu Hurairah narrated that The Messenger of Allah said:

“The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character among them. And the best of you are those who are best to your women.” [At-Tirmidhi]

 أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَخِيَارُكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ لِنِسَائِهِمْ خُلُقًا

 

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet said: 

 

"The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives." [Ibn Majah]

 

خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لأَهْلِهِ وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لأَهْلِي

  

"Sesungguhnya orang yang paling baik antara kamu semua adalah orang yang paling baik terhadap isterinya dan aku adalah orang yang terbaik antara kamu semua (dalam membuat kebaikan) terhadap isteriku." 

 

May Allah guide us. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all. 

Wassalaam