"O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy. If you falter after receiving the clear-cut message, then keep in mind that Allah is Mighty, Wise. Are they waiting for Allah to come down to them in the shadow of clouds, along with the angels, and make His decision known? Ultimately all matters will be presented to Allah for decision" (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)
InshaAllah, "Hijrah" might be the best solution for me to start fresh. Considering making "Hijrah" and there is no better "Hijrah" than "Hijrah" Fisabililah....
It is natural that in our day-to-day affairs Muslims are confronted with important issues requiring decision making. This is sometimes accompanied by much thinking, anxiety and worry before one is able to decide one way or another, if at all! It is in regard to these types of situations that the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) recommended a voluntary prayer for a person to employ which will enable them to seek from Allah (SWT) (the best decider) guidance in reaching the proper decision over a particular matter as in one of the Hadith Qudsi, The Prophet s.a.w said that Allah, The Most High said:
“O My servants! I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. O My servants! All of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance from Me and I shall guide you. O My servants! All of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food from Me and I shall feed you. O My servants! All of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me and I shall clothe you. O My servants! You commit sins by night and day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants! You will never attain harming Me, so as to harm Me, nor will you ever attain benefiting Me, so as to benefit Me. O My servants! Were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man amongst you it would not increase My Kingdom in anything. O My servants! Were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the wickedest heart of any one man amongst you it would not decrease My Kingdom in anything. O My servants! Were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to gather in one place and make a request of Me, and I were to give everyone what he requested, it would not decrease what I have any more than a needle decreases the sea when put into it. O My servants! It is only your deeds that I charge you with and then recompense you for them. So whoever finds good then let him praise Allah. Whoever finds other than that, should blame no one but himself.”
[Sahih Muslim]
Allah (swt) says:
"...It is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye may love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth and ye know not." (Qur'an 2:216)
Indeed the essence of this prayer is to test someone's trust in Allah, hence, the need to abide by the guidance of Allah whether it means pursuing or abandoning the intended undertaking. Allah also says:
"...and if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is Allah for him. For verily Allah surely accomplishes His purpose: Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion." (Qur'an 65:3)
May Allah guide me to a path that is beneficial to my Deen. The best of Hijrah is the Hijrah for the sake of Allah.
"La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah'' (There is no power and strength except with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)
This might be my shortest ever blog post. Writing is never among my favourite and its definitely is not my expertise too. Only starting this year I start to buy a lot of Islamic book and what I have purchased so far exceeded what I have spent on book throughout my life after becoming a Muslim.
I started to get interested to learn about the religion that I choose way back I reverted in 2005 and writing is not at the back of mind then until recently one of my Sifu recommend me to write a book. A BOOK??? Serious ah? To read a book is ok for me but to write A BOOK???
WRITE A BOOK???? SERIOUS AH???
It took me nearly 2 month to consider his advice and after numerous istiqarah (Guidance) prayer then only I decided to start it but another problem arise, WHAT KIND OF BOOK SHOULD I WRITE??? I can't write like JK Rowling or Stephen King and neither can I write like Dr Asri or Dr Zaharuddin so what I should write? Novel? Comic? Or Islamic book?
To write a novel I need to have a very strong imagination but I lack of that for me to write something that can call novel with approximately few hundred pages!!! Comic lagilah because is not easy to make people laugh by reading and judging by my post you knew I cant really make people laugh by writing. Islamic book? Who want to read an Islamic book written by a Muslim Revert who is not a Ustaz or Scholar and to write an Islamic book someone need an extensively knowledge and understanding about the religion because is a big responsibility..
I have decided and discussing with one of my Sifu. Is might easy for those who are used to write but is not easy for someone like me who dont really like to write but I really pray to Allah The Almight to make it easier for me to complete this task and InshaAllah I do my best to complete it and hopefully all of you will make a doa for me as well. As mention in my Facebook that my source of motivation is none other that this beautiful verse in the Quran in which Allah says;
"If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely" [Ali Imran 3:160]
"La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah'' (There is no power and strength except with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)
How can a Chinese have their wedding in Masjid? They cant even enter Masjid so how can they do that? Where is the religious officer? You look at the banner and it stated there "WELCOME TO WEDDING CEREMONY of NG KUAN BENG & GOH YEE MEI, 18 DECEMBER 2011 - MASJID UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA"
Well I didnt lie right? In real fact Not Yet Muslim is allow & encourage to visit and enter Masjid for them to understand Islam better. What they need to do is just that wear a proper attire to respect the place of worship and InshaAllah (God Willing) you will be bring around and brief by a volunteer about Islam and function of Masjid. Ok coming back to the topic, how can a Chinese have their wedding in a Masjid?
As my previous post, is a solemnization ceremony of Brother Ng Kuan Beng & Yee Mei. Both reverted to Islam well before they knew each other and is Allah that bring them together. Islamic solemnization or Akad Nikah is very simple. We do not need a big group to bring all the gift, well if you have it then is ok but if you do not have it also ok. Is just a local culture and this couple choose the Islamic way which is simple & easy without burdening themselves and anyone. Alhamdulilah is a wise choice.. That is how simple Islam is.
Preparation for the solemnization ceremony. Me & Adam Eh (on my right) is the witness for their akad nikah.
The couple invited their family member to attend and Alhamdulilah all of them attended. Yee Mei's parents and some relative flew all the way from Sarawak for their wedding & that is the first time Kuan Beng met his future parents in law. Me & Adam Eh is the witness for their ceremony and before the start of the ceremony I have asked the Ustaz can the witness says "TAK SAH" (Not Valid) in which he replied of course yes and Kuan Beng smile while stare at me with a message "You better dont do this brother. Just say SAH even I have not finish my sentences" and I get his message.
Practicing the sentences before the real one took place(Yee Mei on left side of the photo)
I can felt the kan cheong-ness of Kuan Beng and also Yee Mei which make me kan cheong (nervous) also. Macam saya pula yang nak nikah. Nanti bini saya marah susah. Let me explain why before my wife get angry. I am nervous too because I hope everything went well and if everything went well, he automatically resume the duty of her parents to look after Yee Mei and he need to really take good care of her which I believe both of them will work hard together gether to built a happy marriages and family, InshaAllah...
SAHHHHHH......
One breath he completed his line and with One Gold Dinar, they are officially husband & wife...Allahuakbar...Alhamdulilah...
1st time holding each other hand
After they are confirm as husband and wife, Kuan Beng went over to Yee Mei and pass her the Gold Dinar and they hold each other hand for the very first time (they never touch/hold each other hand before as told by them and Islamically that is the correct way) and you can see they still feel shy but is ok because practice more will make them feel more comfortable and better and no more "shy shy Ain Valerie".....
The newly wed....Alhamdulilah....
Family photo after the ceremony.... All look happy and cheerful...
New Muslim brother with the King & Queen of the day.. Just for one day and lifetime (KB say one enough so who say Muslim man like to marry four?)
Nurul Izzah and friend with them
In the same time after the ceremony, we proceed to the hall for some refreshment and we took the opportunity to share Islam with the attendees too. In the wedding gift packs, we are giving out some flyer explaining Islam and Kuan Beng & Yee Mei knew that this is a very good platform for dawah therefore the ask us to bring some dawah material and we also distributing free books on Islam to everyone - Yes everyone including Muslim & Not Yet Muslim. I would like to suggest next time for a Muslim wedding ceremony instead of giving out cups or souvenir, we can give out some books on Islam to the audiences. You will be happy because they came and also you will get good deeds from Allah for your effort in spreading Islam. If you need volunteer to do that during your ceremony, MRM is always ready to serve Islam. Contact us..
Malaysia Reverted Muslim (MRM) family photo(Sitting from left :Jenny, Hajar, June, Ina, Mie with Adlishah Sih[Adam Sih's wife & daughter], Irma & Emily Aishah "Abajie" [Romel's wife & daughter] , Middle Row from left : Ain Valerie 'Meow', Yee Mei, Kuan Beng, Romel Perreira, Standing from left : Adam Sih. Alex Chai, Adam Eh, Me with Aiman. Aimi doing her own business and you will know what she doing soon)
Of course in any ceremony they will hired an emcee and if they have budget they will hired entertainers too so for Kuan Beng & Yee Mei solemnization ceremony, we in MRM sponsored them and is a "Halal Entertainment"... Present to you Double Ai tag team:
Aiman Wong Khai Jien & Aimi Wong Syuen Nie as the emcee, singer & DJ for the day.. Free of charge... Real ISLAMIC HALAL ENTERTAINMENT....
p/s Want to know more about Islam, please feel free to contact me or just click "LIKE" MRM page.
InshaAllah kurang 4 jam dari sekarang, upacara pernikahan Ng Kuan Beng & Yee Mei akan berlangsung. Semua rakan rakan tumpang gembira dan mendoakan kebahagian mereka berdua dan semoga dikurniakan zuriat yang taat serta bertaqwa kepada Allah dan berbahagia ke Syurga Firdaus.. Ini adalah pernikah kedua di antara ahli MRM tahun ini dan InshaAllah lebih banyak akan menyusul tahun hadapan. Ingatlah pesan dan nasihat dari Nabi Muhammad s.a.w apabila baginda pernah ditanya tentang ciri-ciri isteri yang baik. Baginda menjawab:
“Wanita yang membahagiakan (suaminya) jika dipandang, mentaatinya jika diperintahkan dan tidak menyelisihi berkenaan dirinya dan hartanya dengan apa yang tidak disukai (oleh suami).” [Shahih Sunan al-Nasa’e, no: 3231]
Bagi suami pula ingatlah firman Allah di dalam Quran yang bermaksud;
"Dan bergaullah kamu dengan mereka (para isteri) dengan cara baik. Kemudian jika kamu (merasai) benci kepada mereka (disebabkan tingkah lakunya, janganlah kamu terburu-buru menceraikannya), kerana boleh jadi kamu bencikan sesuatu, sedang Allah hendak menjadikan pada apa yang kamu benci itu kebaikan yang banyak (untuk kamu)" [an-Nisaa 4:19]
Serta juga peringatan dari Rasulullah s.a.w apabila ditanya oleh Mu'awiyah bin Haidah radiallahhuanh, 'Wahai Rasululllah, apakah hak isteri salah seorang antara kami?' Baginda sallallahu alaihi wasallam bersabda:
"Memberinya makan apabila engkau makan, memberinya pakaian apabila engkau berpakaian, janganlah memukul wajahnya, janganlah mencaci maki menghinanya) dan janganlah pisahkan ranjang dengannya kecuali di dalam rumah". [HR Ahmad (IV.446-447). Ibn Majah (1850). Abu Daud (2142). Hadis Hasan dan disahihkan oleh al-Albani]
"Ingatlah aku berwasiat agar kamu berbuat baik terhadap kaum wanita kerana mereka ibarat tawanan di tangan kamu! Kamu tidak berhak menguasai apa pun dari mereka selain itu kecuali mereka melakukan perbuatan keji yang nyata. Jika mereka melakukannya maka pisahlah ranjang (tempat tidur) kamu dengan mereka dan pukullah mereka dengan pukulan yang tidak menyakitkan. Jika mereka patuh kepada kamu, maka janganlah mencari-cari alasan untuk menyakiti mereka. Ketahuilah bahawa kamu punya hak yang wajib dipenuhi oleh isteri kamu dan mereka juga punya hak yang wajib kamu penuhi. Adapun hak kamu yang wajib mereka tunaikan adalah tidak membiarkan siapa pun yang kamu benci menginjak rumah kamu dan tidak mengizinkan sesiapapun yang kamu benci masuk ke dalam rumah kamu. Ketahuilah bahawa hak mereka yang wajib kamu penuhi adalah berbuat baik kepada mereka dalam hal pemberian pakaian dan makanan mereka". [HR ibn Majah (1851) dan at-Tirmizi]
Dan suami mestilah sentiasa berbuat baik kepada isteri;
"Berbuat baiklah kepada kaum wanita. Sesungguhnya mereka dijadikan dari tulang yang bengkok. Yang paling bengkok dari tulang rusuk adalah bahagian atasnya. Jika engkau berusaha meluruskannya maka engkau akan mematahkannya, jika engkau biarkan maka ia akan tetap bengkok. Maka dari itu berbuat baiklah kepada kaum wanita". [HR al-Bukhari. Muslim at Tirmizi (1/223), ad-Darimi (2/148)]
Ingatlah, lelaki yang beriman adalah mereka yang melayan isterinya dengan baik dan sentiasa mendoakan kebaikan untuk mereka sebagaimana sabda Nabi Muhammad s.a.w;
"Orang mukmin yang paling sempurna imannya adalah yang paling baik akhlaknya. Dan yang terbaik di antara kamu adalah yang paling baik terhadap isteri kamu". [HR at-Tirmizi (1X/325) Ahmad (2/250,472). Ibn Hibban (1311,1926), al-Baghawi (1X/180) dalam Syarah Sunnah.]
"Sebaik-baik kamu adalah yang paling baik pada isterinya. Dan aku adalah yang paling baik antara kamu kepada isteriku". [HR Hakim, disetujui oleh az-Zahabi. Diriwayatkan oleh at-Tahawi dalam "Al-Musykil". (111/211)
Saya mewakili Malaysia Reverted Muslim (MRM) mengucapkan tahniah sekali lagi kepada Bro Kuan Beng dan juga Yee Mei dan kami sentiasa akan mendoakan yang terbaik untuk kalian berdua dan juga berdoa kepada Allah semoga ahli keluarga kita yang masih belum Islam dikurniakan hidayah olehNya.. Amin...
Dari kanan - Kuan Beng, Adam Sih (3 slot kosong), Sheikh Abdulbary & Me (tiada kekosongan)
I met my friend few days ago and he was shocked when he saw I grew my beard. Well let me clarified this that I didn’t go to any hair grow centre to grow my beard or did I put any seed to grow it. Then how can I have beard if you didn’t grew it some might ask. I didn’t grew it because it came out by itself and what I do is that I didn’t cut it. (wink wink)
Here are the dialogue between me & my friend:
Friend : ‘Yo (with a surprise tone)… You want to become Pak Haji ah? Very Malay la you. I told you already before that you are not a Chinese anymore? Very ‘Yok Shuin’ (ugly) la your beard..!!’
Me : ‘Hahaha…. Firstly let me clarified that to become a Haji you do not have to grow your beard. You just have to go for Hajj and you will become Haji. Secondly, I am still a Chinese and more Chinese than you’
Friend : ‘How can you say you are more Chinese than me?’
Me : ‘What religion do you profess ah?’
Friend : ‘Me? I am Buddhist and I worship any God that I saw. You ah no more Chinese in you la… (with a very sarcastic tone)
Me : ‘Oic. So you also worship Tu Di Gong, Kuan Gong & during Chinese New Year you worship Cai Sen (God of Prosperity) also la ya’
Friend : ‘Ya la.. I worship them also if I saw or pass by it’
Me : ‘You look at those Gods that you worship, all of them also have beard and if you look back to China history you will found out that most of the Emperors, the High Ranking Officers and others also have beard. So who is less Chinese now? You or me?’
Friend : ‘But your one very ‘Yok Shuin’ (ugly) la… Theirs is nicer’
Me : ‘But they have beards right and where is your if you claim you are Chinese and must strictly follow Chinese culture and tradition? I am more Chinese now after becoming a Muslim than you leh’
After that he diverted the topic and asks me other question about Islam. Maybe he realized that he created a trap that he himself fall into it but the truth is a race as found in Britannica Encyclopedia as below;
“race, the idea that the human species is divided into distinct groups on the basis of inherited physical and behavioral differences. Genetic studies in the late 20th century refuted the existence of biogenetically distinct races, and scholars now argue that “races” are cultural interventions reflecting specific attitudes and beliefs that were imposed on different populations in the wake of western European conquests beginning in the 15th century”
So from the definition you know that one doesn’t change their race when becoming a Muslim because race & religion are two different topic altogether.Now let me share with you the “culture of beard” among the God’s of the Chinese & people from different faith and some reason why some have kept their beards and some not. As for a Muslim there is few view on growing a beard and mostly grew their beard to follow and feel closer to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In a hadith, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says;
‘Clip your moustaches and lengthen your beards and do not follow these People of the Book’.
(Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hambal, vol. 5 p. 264)
Also the fatwa from Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi;
"We see that there are three views on shaving the beard. First, shaving beard is prohibited. This is the view of Ibn Taimyiah. Second: it is Makruh (reprehensible), that is `Iyad’s view. The Third view is that there is no problem in shaving the beard. This view is held by many contemporary scholars.
Whichever view that someone is holding to, we need to respect their view. Agree to disagree as long as the opinions is based on authentic hadith. Here is some of the photo that I mentioned earlier;
Kuan Gong
God Of Land (Tu Di Gong)
The God of Camellia – Bai Juyi
God Of Dream - Zhou Gong
God of Chrysanthemum - Tao Yuanming
God Of Thunder
God of Tree Peony – Li Bai
God Of Prosperity - Cai Sen (Love By Chinese especially during Chinese New Year)
Confucius
Founder of Taoism - Lao Tze
Taoist in Hubei, China
Wudang Kungfu Taoism - Master Wan Daoke
Qin Shi Huang - First Emperor of China
Justice Bao - Bao Qin Tian
If you look at the photo of all the Gods believe by majority of Chinese you will found all of them have beard. Who is more Chinese now? Hmmm..... Now I will share with you the photo of people from other faith and why they have beards.
Jesus (As shown in the some churches)
Orthodox Christian
One might question why does Orthodox Christian priests wear beards? and why does the long beards of Orthodox priests makes differences with the Roman Catholics?
Here are the few reasons:
1. Long beards wearing’s tradition among Orthodox Christian priests and monks comes after Christ
Jesus (peace be upon him) himself had a beard as it was normal and considered proper for a man to wear long beard. The fact that Jesus (pbuh) had a long beard himself can clearly be observed on all Orthodox Christian icons.
2. Long beards priest wearing comes as a natural tradition from the Old Testament’s times and the tradition of early Church If one reads thoroughfully the old testament, he will find out that even from Moses and Aaron and onwards the tradition is the same. All the Godly man and the priests had their long beards unshaved as a mark for their belongship and dedication to God. To generalize the long beards wearing is according to ancient old testamential ancient tradition.
Modern Day Jewish Rabbi
The long beards tradition as an ancient Jewish religion (Old testamental) tradition can still be clearly observed in Jewish rabbis (nowdays the jewish priests), who still wears their beards long, like for example you can see in the picture aboved
Hindu Holy Man, Sadhu at the shrine of Tirupparankunram, Tamil Nadu, India
Jack Passion - Two Time Worldwide Beard Champion Greek Gods Family Tree
If you notice in the Greek Gods Family Tree, you will found majority of them kept their beard too. By looking at the picture you can immediately differentiate which is man and which is woman easily right? Can you imagine a lion without all his beard just like this?
Now I would like to ask why they felt is ok for their Gods to have beard or is fine for people from others faith grew their beard but when it come to Muslim they accused us as extremist or even terrorist?
Kekadang saya secara peribadi merasakan bahawa firman Allah di dalam Quran yang bermaksud;
"Serulah ke jalan Tuhanmu (wahai Muhammad) dengan hikmat kebijaksanaan dan nasihat pengajaran yang baik, dan berbahaslah dengan mereka (yang engkau serukan itu) dengan cara yang lebih baik; sesungguhnya Tuhanmu Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang sesat dari jalanNya, dan Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang-orang yang mendapat hidayah petunjuk." (Al-Nahl 16:125)
Menyeru kita berdakwah kepada mereka secara hikmah adalah dengan berlemah lembut akan tetapi adakah hikmah bermakna lemah lembut sahaja? Hikmah juga boleh bermaksud bijaksana iaitu berdakwah dan penggunaan mengikut situasi. Ada yang mengatakan bahawa Sheikh Ahmad Deedat tidak ada berhikmah kerana lebih kepada provokasi dan menghentam tetapi kita juga harus melihat di mana beliau berada ketika kejadian dan juga apa majlis tersebut.
Kebiasaanya beliau berada di negara Barat yang terbiasa dengan soalan provokasi dan beliau BERDEBAT dan bukan berbincang. Di dalam perdebatan sudah tentu memerlukan penggunaan intonasi suara yang sesuai dan tidak boleh terlalu lembut dan itulah hikmah (bijaksana) yang saya maksud.
Sering kali Muslim bersedia menjawab soalan yang dikemukan oleh Belum Islam dan sikap terlalu defensive ini menampakkan Islam seolah olah lemah tetapi bukanlah maksud saya menyeru saudara semua menyerang dengan perkataan yang kurang elok dan kesat sebagaimana kebiasaannya pihak lain sering gunakan apabila menyerang Islam seperti Allah mempunyai anak (naudzubillah), Quran ditulis oleh syaitan, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w itu adalah pedophile, Muslim pengganas, diskriminasi wanita dan sebagainya.
Pernahkah Muslim menyerang pihak yang lain dengan cara dan perkataan yang mereka sering kali gunakan? Wallahualam setakat yang diketahui jarang saya jumpa. Bukankah sudah tiba masanya kita pula yang bertanya kepada mereka apa pemahaman mereka tentang agama mereka? Apa penyelesaian agama mereka tentang isu poligami? Kenapa agama mereka menganjurkan keganasan kerana mereka juga menceroboh secara terang terangan ke negara lain dan menyeksa banduan di Guantanamo Bay? Agama mereka disebarkan melalui paksaan sebagaimana diakui oleh KETUA AGAMA mereka sendiri di dalam beberapa insiden dan ianya memang terjadi? Holocaust dilakukan oleh Hitler yang beragama apa ya?
Rasa rasanya apa jawapan mereka? Sedarkah mereka bahawa soalan yang mereka sering kali tanya juga terjadi di dalam agama mereka dan mereka tiada penyelesaian? Apabila kita bertanya banyak tentang agama mereka, kita pula akan dituduh agresif dan pengganas dan memasukkan unsur politik di dalam komen mereka tetapi apabila mereka menuduh Islam dengan pelbagai macam tuduhan tak pula mereka terfikir diri mereka sebagai agresif dan pengganas?
Rata rata Muslim bersedia menerangkan Islam kepada orang ramai sebaik mungkin tetapi pada masa yang sama tidaklah bermaksud kita lemah sehingga mengikut telunjuk mereka. Benarlah kata Rasulullah s.a.w di dalam satu hadis yang bermaksud;
"Kamu akan mengikuti perilaku orang-orang sebelum kamu sejengkal demi sejengkal dan sehasta demi sehasta, sehingga kalau mereka masuk ke lubang biawak pun kamu ikut memasukinya. Para sahabat lantas bertanya, “Siapa ‘mereka’ yang baginda maksudkan itu, ya Rasulullah?” Beliau menjawab, “Orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani.” (HR. Bukhari)
Selain itu juga Allah juga telah mengingatkan kita kepada golongan ini di dalam Quran:
"Orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani tidak sekali-kali akan bersetuju atau suka kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) sehingga engkau menurut agama mereka (yang telah terpesong itu). Katakanlah (kepada mereka): "Sesungguhnya petunjuk Allah (agama Islam itulah petunjuk yang benar". Dan demi sesungguhnya jika engkau menurut kehendak hawa nafsu mereka sesudah datangnya (wahyu yang memberi) pengetahuan kepadamu (tentang kebenaran), maka tiadalah engkau akan peroleh dari Allah (sesuatupun) yang dapat mengawal dan memberi pertolongan kepada mu" (Al-Baqarah 2:120)
Percayalah bahawa mereka tidak akan sesekali redha dengan apa yang kita ingin lakukan walaupun tidak kena mengena dengan mereka sehingga umat Islam mengikuti telunjuk mereka. Mereka akan mencampuri urusan kehidupan umat Islam walaupun umat Islam tidak pernah mencampuri urusan mereka. Apabila kita menghormati hak mereka untuk percaya kepada apa ynag mereka ingin percaya dan merayakan apa yang mereka ingin rayakan masih mereka tidak akan berpuas hati kerana syaitan akan sentiasa menghasut mereka memaksa kita bersama sama dengan mereka sehingga kita jatuh ke dalam kekufuran. Apabila mereka tidak dapat menjawab soalan yang dikemukakan kerana kita ingin memahami agama mereka dengan lebih dekat mereka akan bertindak agresif dan mengelak untuk menjawab soalan lanjut dengan memberikan alasan kami bukan sami, kami bukan ulamak, kami bukan paderi kami bukan scholar dan sebagainya sedangkan permintaan telah dibuat agar mereka bertanya tetapi mereka seolah olah seseorang yang sedang lena dibuai mimpi tidak mahu dikejutkan dari alam khayalan mereka.
Andai soalan yang sama ditujukan kepada umat Islam sudah tentu jawapan yang berbeza kerana kita dianjurkan untuk mencari ilmu dan kami sentiasa akan bertanya kepada yang lebih arif apabila kami tidak tahu kerana kami mahukan kebenaran dan tidak mahu menjadi pengikut buta sahaja. Malu bertanya sesat jalan dan andai tersesat jalan di dunia masih berpeluang kembali ke jalan yang sebenar akan tetapi andai tersesat di dalam beragama maka parah jadinya. Kita begitu berhati hati apabila sesuatu berkenaan dunia seperti makanan, membeli rumah dan sebagainya sehingga kita sanggup bertanya dan membuat kajian tetapi kenapa kita boleh bersikap acuh tak acuh di dalam bab agama yang melibatkan kehidupan abadi kita di akhirat nanti?
Rasanya sudah tiba masanya umat Islam "menyerang" pihak lawan untuk mendapatkan kebenaran. Menyerang bukan bererti bersikap kasar tetapi apa kata kita bertukar posisi dari yang menjawab soalan kepada kita pula yang bertanya mereka pula yang menjawab..!!!
"Attacking is the best form of defending. If you attack you will have a chance to score a goal & win the game but if you defending throughout the game you will have a highest chance to lost or maybe draw the game. LETS PLAY ATTACKING and remove our defensive mind"
“Assalamualaikum brother. Christmas is around the corner. I am in dilemma. My friends and family are Christian but I am not sure what to do. Can I wish them Merry Christmas, exchange gifts & celebrate Christmas with my friends and family? I believe a lot of our Muslim Reverts brothers & sister are facing the same situation like me. Hope you can share with me what should I do. Thanks”
Answer ;
Alhamdulilah (All Praise To Allah). This is not the 1st question that I had received from reverts but in fact some born Muslims also facing the same dilemma. For sure I am not a scholar to give ruling regarding this matter but we need to look at the fatwa (Islamic Ruling) by the scholar and not to decide by ourselves. A lot has been discussed by the scholar on the issue can a Muslim celebrate or wish Merry Christmas to our Christian's friend. Now lets us look into 2 questions here.
A) CAN MUSLIM WISH MERRY CHRISTMAS?
When it comes to wishing Merry Christmas, scholar differs in this matter. A group of classical scholar says it is Haram (Forbidden) to wish but some contemporaries scholars ruled that it is Harus (Permissible). Now let’s have a look at the ruling of the scholars pertaining to this matter.
1st Fatwa – It is haram to wish Merry Christmas
Some scholars like Ibn Qayyim says;
'As for congratulating the unbelievers for their rituals, it is forbidden according to the agreement of all scholars- like: congratulating them for their feasts and fast by expressing good wishes: happy feast or enjoy your feast… etc. If the Muslim who says this does not become a disbeliever himself, he, at least, commits a sin as this is the same as congratulating him for his belief in the trinity, which is a greater sin and much more disliked by Almighty Allah than congratulating him for drinking alcohol or killing a soul or committing fornication or adultery…etc'.
“Why do you condemn the celebration of the what Christians think is birth of the son of God (Allah)? We should be teaching respect for other peoples and religions. Yet with such condemnation and calling it falsehood, it makes it difficult for rational, honest, and respectful persons to communicate.”
His answer to this question was;
“You seem to have misinterpreted the condemnation of celebration of Christmas as a matter of disrespect for Christians. In reality, it is out of respect for Allah and Jesus and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them. It is an integral part of our faith to reject celebrations that have not been prescribed and/or that have a basis in falsehood, as inevitably they lead to misguidance and alterations in faith, as has happened with Christianity. There is nothing "radical" or "fringe" about this. It is our basic right to protect our faith and practice from distortion and falsehood. Surely no one has a right to condemn us for this.”
2nd Fatwa – Harus (Permissible) to wish Merry Christmas
The European Council For Fatwa and Research headed ruled that it is permissible. In the fatwa, they says;
Indeed the permissibility of congratulating non-Muslims on their festive days becomes more of an obligation if they offer their greetings on Islamic festive occasions, as we are commanded to return good treatment with similar treatment, and to return the greeting with a better one or at least with the same greeting. Allah Almighty says:
“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or at least return it equally…”
(An-Nisa' 4: 86)
Now we have 2 fatwa here. One mentioned that it is Haram while another mentioned it is Harus. Respect one another when it came to this issue. If we are holding on to the opinion that it is Haram, please respect others who are holding on to the opinion that it is Harus and vice versa. Whichever that you felt more confident and comfortable, follow it but golden rule is to respect each other view and do not condemn others for not following the view that you are holding on to.
We have to put in mind that we must be realistic and understand the surrounding. Base on the above 2 fatwa, which are the one that is more practical in a multi-racial country like Malaysia? If you would like to wish them, maybe you can change the wishing to the following greetings;
- > May Allah Guide All Of Us
- > Peace Be Upon Him Who Follow The Right Path
Even in your greetings, it would be a good idea if you slotted this verses of the Quran in;
Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah ." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]."
[Ali Imran 3:64]
B) CAN WE EXCHANGE GIFT?
Once again, scholars differ in this issue as well. Some scholar ruled that it is Haram. Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Similarly it is forbidden for the Muslims to imitate the kuffaar by holding parties on these occasions, or exchanging gifts, or distributing sweets or other foods, or taking time off work and so on, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in his book Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem Mukhaalifat Ashaab al-Jaheem:
Imitating them on some of their festivals implies that one is happy with the falsehood they are following, and that could make them (the non-Muslims) take this opportunity to mislead those who are weak in faith. End quote.
Those who do any of these things are sinning, whether they do it to go along with them, or to be friendly towards them, or because they feel too shy (to refuse to join in) or any other reason, because it is a kind of compromising the religion of Allah to please others, and it is a means of lifting the spirits of the kuffaar and making them proud of their religion,
[End quote from Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 3/44]
Another group of scholar ruled that it is permissible to exchange gift during Christmas. European Council for Fatwa and Research issued a fatwa;
There is also no objection to accepting gifts and presents from them, and to return their gifts in kind, on condition that these gifts are not unlawful in themselves, such as being alcohol or pork. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted the gift of the King of Egypt and several others (See: At-Tahawi'sSharhMushkil Al-Athar).
My personal suggestion is that, if you would like to exchange gift during Chrismas among your offices colleagues, friends of family, take this opportunity to share with them what is Islam is all about and also Islam point of view about Jesus (pbuh). Books like Jesus Christ in Islam by Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, The Choice – Islam & Christianity by Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, Crucifixion or Crucifiction by Sheikh Ahmed Deedat and many more that you can purchase in bookstores.
Again, you might be holding on to a different opinion but please respect each other opinion when it come to this issues. Always have the mind-set of doing dakwah to them in all situations. Take advantage of the opportunity presented to us.
C) CAN WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?
Well some of you might ask wishing or celebrating Christmas is not shirk (associate partner with Allah) right and do not become too strict and well my answer for that will be for you to consider this;
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation. That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.
[Maryam 19:88-92]
"Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He begets not nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him."
[Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)
It is not proper for a Muslim to celebrate or wish them but that doesnt mean that we didnt respect their right to celebrate. They have the right to believe what they want to believe and to celebrate what they want to celebrate but is also equally important for them to respect our right not to celebrate or wish them. Obviously there will be some quarters disagree but that is individual choice and most important is to respect each other view. Whatever view you are holding to just please respecting other people who holding to a different view.
Some will use the argument that lot of Muslim are celebrating it to justified is ok to celebrate it and might also point out that some leader also wishing and celebrate it so it should be ok but as mention earlier is up to individual to decide which view they would like to subscribe to. Islam is built on facts and evidences and not base on the practices of the majority. If someone would like to know more on the reason, please read the fatwa below and if you need more detail please feel free to drop your question in the comment box and InshaAllah I will try to look for the answer for you.
When it come to this question, it seems like all scholars holding on to the same view that it is Haram to celebrate Christmas. It a consensus among all the world scholars.
CONCLUSION
It is very important for everyone, Muslim & Non-Muslim alike to respect each other principle. We can co-exist without compromising our core principle. If someone holding on to the opinion of not wishing Merry Christmas, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t respect you as a person. Each religion have it own DO & DON’Ts and do not force upon others on such issue. When a Muslim doesn’t attending Christmas celebration, is doesn’t implicate that they disrespect.
Well some might says Islam is the stumbling block to national unity and I would like to says that Islam is not the stumbling block for national unity but it is merely that the fact we failed to accept the differences and the principle of others. National unity can be achieved by understanding each other religion principle and not merely by celebrating religious festivities together. To work on the common ground of nation building instead of sacrificing each other core believes. To understand and to accommodate is the key. Diversity is not an excuse to be divided but rather than it is something that we should appreciate because all of us are the creations of Allah SWT;
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
