Muslim's Manners & Duties

There are no intention for me to put this article on my blog, it’s only a sharing from what I have learnt and absorbed.

Said that without fulfilling these commitments, no individual or group can succeed. Muslims have to live by these values and should invite humanity to these principles. These principles are not limited to one race, tribe, or group, they are universal in their scope and application.

1. To worship Allah alone
2. To be respectful and kind to parents
3. To be good to relatives and to the poor
4. To be careful with money and not waste resources
5. To take good care of children

6. To steer clear of adultery and illicit relations

Sexual perversions bring the greatest harm to individuals and societies. Observing the proper rules in this matter lead to health, happiness, and a good, moral society. Muslims are committed to pure, clean, and socially responsible lifestyle. Islam teaches that one should not come even close to adultery or fornication. This means proper dress codes for males and females, proper behavior in mixed societies, and proper control on social relations and entertainment.

7. To respect every life and not to kill anyone unless in the pursuit of justice
8. To take care of the orphans
9. To fulfill promises and commitments
10. To be honest in business dealings and not cheat in weight or measurement
11. To do things with knowledge and not follow hearsay or act on half knowledge

These are the basic commitments of Muslims as individuals and as people. These are the principles of wisdom and the universal values of Islam. When they are followed, they bring justice, peace, and happiness in this world and they will indeed bring success and salvation in the Hereafter. Let us all try to make these our real commitments.
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* Excerpted, from: Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is President of the Fiqh Council of North America.

Bertemanlah tapi tidak untuk berbisnis

Tiba-tiba saja saya mendapatkan SMS dari teman yang sudah sekian lama tidak pernah berjumpa dan berniat sekali untuk bertemu dengan saya secepatnya. Pikiran panjang saya mulai bertanya apakah gerangan maksud dari “undangan” tersebut.

Sebelum mengiyakan undangan nya saya (sudah) berpikir dalam ttg hal tersebut. Seorang teman lama tiba-tiba menghubungi dan berusaha mengakrabi sambil membuka pembicaraan masa lalu yang sedemikian seru – saya sudah pasti dapat menebak – mengajak berbisnis, yg banyak orang katakan MLM, Multi Level Marketing.

“Undangan” semacam ini sudah sering saya dapatkan dari banyak teman. Saya sih senang2 saja untuk bertemu tapi klo pertemuan atau pertemanan dibumbui dengan bisnis itu dan semacamnya ..nggak deh !!

Jangan karena kawan lama, maka dengan mudah kita melangkah untuk memenuhi “undangan” tersebut. Pasang Panca Indera kita yg sudah terlatih dengan kehidupan keras Jakarta ini. Atau suasana yang penting menjadi terganggu karena adanya penawaran MLM. Sehingga pertemuan berubah menjadi ajang bisnis. Juga rapat, kelas, perkuliahan, dan banyak suasana dan kesempatan penting berubah jadi `pasar`. Tentu ini akan terasa sangat mengganggu kan?

Dari berbagai macam artikel yg saya baca, biasanya para distibutor “diwajibkan” untuk mencari calon pembeli atau Prospek menurut istilah mereka. Sering hal itu dilakukan dengan tidak pandang bulu dan suasana serta usia. Dan begitu sudah bertemu, ujung-ujungnya menawarkan suatu produk yang pada dasarnya tidak terlalu dibutuhkan.

A letter from Reiko

This letter sent (to my email) by Reiko Nakatsuchi who stays now in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Lina and I met in 1996 in Japan. She was one of the delegates from Indonesia staying Japan for "the Friendship for the 21st century" program. I joined them as one of the Japanese participants when they were staying in Tokyo. I still remember vividly how wonderful time we spent together. Not only intelligent, but also these Indonesians were such a nice and fun-loving people. Lina was especially affable and we quickly became friends. What I liked about Lina was that she was very warm, yet unconventional. I remember Lina and other girls wanted to color their hair to be brown, so I brought some hair coloring product and we all tried it on together.We were so excited about this, chatting and laughing together a lot. It was one of the greatest memories in my life.

About a half year later, I visited Lina and other friends in Indonesia. Again we spent a great time together. I remember Lina teased me about a guy who drove for us - Lina and I always liked to tease each other about cute guys!
Since then we haven't seen each other but we have kept in touch for almost 10 years. I am sure that we will see each other someday, and we will laugh a lot together without feeling the time we were apart.

Belajar Menerjemahkan Al Quran

Kelas dibuka tepat pk. 09.30 pagi yg sebelumnya diawali dgn registrasi. Begtu langkah masuk ke dalam kelas hati saya (terus terang) bergetar dan ada rasa minder ato “keder” klo orang Betawi bilang. Bagaimana tidak – mostly who joined this class were a “senior” one – aduh gimana ini. Saya asumsikan mereka itu adalah pribadi2 yg telah mahir membaca Quran dengan baik dan benar (berikut dgn tajwid nya) dan paham mana itu tanda dlammah, sukun dan kasrah.

Saya berangkat dari “ilmu” yang nol… sungguh malu dan merasa tidak ada apa2nya begitu melihat para “senior”masih semangat berdiskusi dan memberi masukan pada kelas. Minder deh, kok baru kali ini tergerak untuk belajar menerjemahkan Alqur’an.

Memang ternyata Metode Granada yg diperkenalkan oleh Ust. Solihin B. Ahmad, Lc ini sungguh sangat simple dan tidak ribet asalkan kita telah memahami benar mana akar katanya dengan cara kita harus buang dulu mana yang akhiran, sisipan dan awalan. Nah baru deh kita mendapatkan kata yang dimaksud. Setelah itu kita juga harus merujuk pada kamus Arab-Indonesia ( wah klo begini saya kalah ama my Mom, she is good at it)

Anyway, masih banyak sekali waktu yg saya harus tunaikan utk dapat menerjemahkan 1 ayat (dulu) deh Insya Allah. Kan kata banyak orang …better late than never …
Sebaiknya sedari dini kita sudah belajar/diajarkan bahasa asing selain bhs Inggris atau sejenisnya. Dan sudah bukan kebanggaaan lagi di jaman digital seperti sekarang ini klo hanya mengusasi 2 bahasa. Bangganya apabila di suatu saat nanti (kita lah ) yang bercakap dalam Chinese or Arabic tersebut ……subhanallah itu namanya.

So, let’s think ourselves …when we start to change our view …..

My sins block my dua

As I sit here alone, the tears rolling down my face
It is not salt, but pain that I taste

So I leave now to go stand before You
I am helpless and alone, what else can I do?

I have asked, I have begged but my sins block my du'a
I will come now still begging, forgive me O Allah

Forgive me and grant me what it is that I ask
For me it is impossible but for You a simple task

I try and I try but I do not succeed
But I understand and know it is because Your Words I do not heed

I hear, yes I hear but I do not always obey
Perhaps that is why I am destitute, isolated and why You have written that I will be alone this way

I have no to blame but the person in the mirror I see
No one else must pay for my sins, no one else, no one else, no one else but me

So I stand before You to again beg forgiveness because You said that I can
You have told us in Your Book that You are Ar-Rahman

I will ask, I will beg but my sins block my du'a
But I will keep asking, forgive me O Allah