Jannah: Muslim's Ultimate Destination

لُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

Every soul shall taste death, then to Us you shall all return

[29:57]

Death is inevitable. When Allah says your time is out, and your time is out, no matter when or where. Every single being will reach this inescapable fate, regardless of their age, health, background, social status or piety. However, death is also a reality which also most of us try to not keep in mind. As a Muslim, we believe death is not the end of our existence, but as a passage which takes us from this world to the hereafter that last forever. Speaking about death, most of us has that sense of impending doom, but it depend on how many goods that one has made during his lifetime. Everyone knows death is beyond escapable, then I have a question in mind, have I prepared? Imam Ali bin Abu Talib (a.s.) has beautifully described the preparation for death as follows:

 “Fulfilling the obligations, refraining from forbidden things, and acquiring noble character.”

Death shouldn't be a disaster. We need it, who want to live forever in this world btw? Immortality is OK but not here in this cruel world we're living. Death should make us reflect and ponder about the purpose of life, and what will become of us after death. Then here Allah has stated what is our real purpose of life in Quran:

“And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” 

[51:56]

I was so busy with the world and death is something that I forgot to prepare for. Faith there's ups and downs, Answer to that question. no I am not yet prepared. 

Let listen to these beautiful bytes of lyrics, a nasheed song from Nirwana:

Aku Tanpa CintaMu
Mirwana bersama Jay Jay
Lagu/Lirik : Mujahid Abdul Wahab


Telah ku mungkiri janjiku lagi
Walau seribu kali
Ku ulang sendiri
Aku takkan tempuh lagi

Apakah Kau terima cintaku lagi
Setelah ku berpaling
Dari pandanganMu
Yang kabur kerna jahilnya aku


Mengapa cintaMu tak pernah hadir
Subur dalam jiwaku
Agarku tetap bahagia
Tanpa cintaku tetaplah Kau di sana
Aku tanpa cintaMu
Bagai layang-layang terputus talinya

Telah ku mungkiri janjiku lagi

Walau seribu kali
Ku ulang sendiri
Aku takkan tempuh lagi
Apakah Kau terima cintaku lagi
Setelah ku berpaling
Dari pandanganMu
Yang kabur kerna jahilnya aku

Masihkah ada sekelumit belas
Mengemis kasihMu Tuhan
Untukku berpaut dan bersandar
Aku di sini kan tetap terus mencuba
Untuk beroleh cintaMu
Walau ranjaunya menusuk pedih

Wassalam wrt.

Yesterday in Simunjan

Sarawak, known as Bumi Kenyalang (Land of the Hornbills) is one of the two Malaysian states on the Island of Borneo, Kuching is the state administrative capital which has population of 700,000 and Miri is the second largest city in Sarawak wich has population of 350,000. 

Sarawak is unique, a melting pot to almost 40 sub-ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language, cultures and lifestyle. Generally, Sarawak has seven major ethnic groups namely Iban, Chinese, Malay, Melanau, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and "others". Several more minor ethnics which do not belong to any of these seven major ethnic groups are Kedayan, Javanese, Bugis, Murut and Indian.. Unlike Indonesia, the term Dayak is not officially used to address Sarawakian's native ethnicity.

It took about one and half hour flight from KLIA to Kuching International Airport, the heart of Sarawak. I should say the most boring two hours, no view, only sea through out the route. One night in Kuching, well I would suggest Waterfront is the best place to lepak, Surprisingly beer is cheaper here! Don't worry about where to stay in Kuching, they have variety choices of hotel from budget inn to grand Hilton.

DAY 1

We routed to Sri Aman by car. Sri Aman is also called Bandar Sri Aman, and was formerly known as Simanggang. Sri Aman means "town of peace" in the Malay Language. Located on the Lupar River, it is 193 kilometers, a three-hour drive, from Kuching. Sri Aman is famous with benak, or tidal bores, of the Batang Lupar River. It's like a midnight party, people hangout by the river to watch this phenomenon. 

DAY 2

We routed to Betong, another 3 hours drive deep down the state. Betong division is located between three main rivers, Batang Lupar, Batang Saribas and Batang Kelaka, covering an area of 4,180 km2. We spend one night here.

DAY 3

From Betong we headed to Simunjan, and here was the reason why we visited Sarawak. It's for Gawai Dayak, the closure day. Simunjan is a small district and town in the Simunjan division, located between Serian and Sri Aman. It borders Sebuyau and Samatahan and lies approximately 51.4 kilometres (32 mi) east-south-east of the state capital Kuching. Most of its inhabitants are made up of the Malay and the Iban people.

We stayed at long house in Kg Keniung, Our friend, Steele Coalson is staying here, The best thing about Iban People, they are happy-go-lucky and warming their guest with full hospitality. My advised, DO NOT DRINK LANGKAU TOO MUCH if you don't familiar with it because you'll end up getting wasted and you'll gain your memories back the next morning when you see pictures of you were dancing poco-poco with long house aunties. Steele also remind me not to mix langkau with tuak. Well I did both.

DAY 4

Back to Kuching and we have to greet sayonara to Sarawak. There are interesting places to be visited in Sarawak, but masa tidak mnegizinkan. Gayu guru gerai Nyamai, 

Thank You ALLAH

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
In the name of Allah The Most Merciful and The Most Beneficent.

وَعَسَى أنْ تَكْر هُوا شَيْئًا وَهُم خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ عَسَى أنْ تُحِبَّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرَّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

"But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not."  

[2:216]

I was a sailor and life is my arc. The more I travel, the further I've lost, the more I forgotten Him. An arrogant slave. Astaghfirullah. 

A gentle reminder through His trial. 

A wake up call to a sleeping soul. 

He has reason

for every musibah given

Thank You ALLAH

For everything!

Tuhan Jagakan Hafiz

Wangsa Melawati. Sept 6, 2014


Gerimis membadai menemani malam kelabu. Madah dewasa malam masih muda, kita anak remaja leka liburan dunia. Wahai anakanda permata hati bunda, pesan ibumu jangan dilupa, bahagia dunia tiada selamanya.

Indah irama malam ini bersama hujan. Setiap titisan mencurah, setitik keringat ayahanda. Wahai anakanda warisan budi keluarga  Ilmu diberi agar agamamu dibela. Kenapa musnah impian punah cita-cita?

Waktu silam bermain kembali di kotak minda. Allah, hamba ini buta menilai keji dan mulia. Sering lupa cinta untuk Dia. Agama mencukupi sekadar nama. Ingin hidup selamanya, terbang tinggi dengan nikmat kurniaan percuma.

Kini aku mahu pulang, tunjukkanlah aku jalan. Di mana nak mula? 

Allah, banyak dosa seorang hamba. Adakah ruang keampunan masih dibuka? Bagaimana jika sakaratul maut menjenguk di saat lena?

Aku menggigil. Ketakutan melanda hati. Jiwa kian rapuh. Air mata mengalir lagi dan lagi. Terasa kerdil dan hina di sisi Tuhan.

Maafkan Hafiz Ya Allah.

Maafkan Hafiz Ya Rasulullah.

Maafkan Hafiz ibu dan ayah.

Maafkan Hafiz adik abang serta saudara.

Maafkan Hafiz kenalan taulan dan teman.

Maafkan Hafiz wahai semua! Tuhan akan menjaga dia.

Hafiz pergi dulu.

Dear Allah, I was like a broken record that keep repeating the same Doa' over and over and over again. I won't give up hope.

Hafiz Al Muslim

Hijrah - The Battle of Iman in Modern Conception

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

In the name of Allah The Most Merciful and The Most Beneficent.

May the peace and blessin be with us.

I am probably not the right person to talk about religion or Islam in detail, so I try to make it simple as per my shallow understanding about Islam and this Arabic word, simple but has a great deep meaning representing a historical journey did by Rasulullah hundreds of years before.  - "Hijri/Hijrah" (Origin: Arabic). 

What is Hijrah? Literal meaning of Hijrah is the flight of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah to Madinah, for purposes of Islam and also to avoid more muslims being prosecuted by the Quraish people who opposed against Islam during the early stage of dakwah. In my simple understanding, it is a migration during that took place hundreds years ago.

There were great suffers and dangers for Hijrah Rasullah to happen. Despite the hardships, Allah returns them with rewards - in the form of Islamic brotherhood, prosper the Madinah, and they have a better life in there. Itulah kuasa ALLAH, no doubt. He works in His  mysterious way, no one knows what will happened in future except Him. 

It was a remarkable journey made by Rasulullah. 

Muslims around the world celebrate the Hijri New Year, everyone is focused on remembering and telling the story of Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Makkah to Madinah and the hardships he had to endure in the preparations and on the way. But now within a modern setting where we have cars, planes and internet, a trip in the desert on camel-back to reach a distant oasis with sword-wielding infidel thugs in pursuit becomes more of a folktale than a true-life experience rich with lessons we could all learn and practice until the end of time, no matter how modern or educated we are.Today, people immigrate to other countries to make a better living: find better jobs, education, or marriage opportunities, yet, by Islamic standards, the scope is much wider

The reasons behind the move have to comply with Islam. Seeking a better living for self and family is indeed a great cause and it is actually encouraged in Islam, but it becomes greater if one leaves a place where he is restricted in practicing Islam or pressured into destructive beliefs and habits, and migrates to a new place where he and his loved ones could enjoy more freedom to practice Islam in a more supportive environment.

In parallel, another dimension of Hijrah happens discreetly in the heart, and eventually reflects on one’s behavior and relationship with the rest of the world. This is the type of Hijrah mentioned in the Prophet’s statement: migrating “away from what God has forbidden” not just physically by moving to a new place, but also spiritually and ethically, by choosing good over evil and ethics over corruption, and pledging to withstand the tribulations of struggling to stay on that path for life.

So let's make a Hijrah, Together we're trying to be a better muslim. May be our hijrah this time worth us Jannah, Who knows la kan? I tried and it's not as easy as I once imagined but I will never stop trying. Hidayh tu kan milik ALLAH, why not if we have that azam utk berubah demi kebaikan sejagat.

Till then, Wassalam.

Hafiz Al-Muslim