After some thought, I think I have a valid hypothesis as to why it seems like a "natural" impulse to resist what some non-Muslims would call a mindless, heartless, empty ritual, and this is absolutely wrong. After considering the spirit of Islam, and its general teachings, I have come to realize that salah isn't just an obligation. You see, Islam isn't just a religion - it's a deen, a way of life. It is a primordial deen, the deen on whose path Allah (SWT) guided Adam (AS) in. It was the deen of all the prophets and messengers. Islam literally means to be in a natural state peace by submitting oneself to Allah (SWT). A Muslim is something or someone who does just that. Therefore, practically everything we know and see is Muslim, like clouds in sky, the fish in the sea, the plants in the earth, and stars out yonder, etc. because they all follow the laws of Allah (SWT), what we now call the laws of nature, science, and mathematics. It is commonly understood that it was in this primordial sense that the words "Islam" and "Muslim" were understood back during the Prophet's (SAW) time. The 5 Pillars and 6 Articles of Faith are just legislation, the current form of the way God Almighty wants Islam to be. The spirit of Islam is what matters the most, the total submittal to God Almighty. The whole Universe was made to be Muslim, designed to be that way. It isn't a requirement, but a natural state of being. To be anything but Muslim would actually be detrimental to the transgressor. If a goldfish wanted and tried to live on the canopy of a mango tree in India, it wouldn't survive very long. That is because it wasn't designed to live on top of a mango tree, but in a stream, lake or pond. It's way of being Muslim is to live as a goldfish should live naturally, and to do otherwise would be dangerous for itself. By following its "Islam," it is going through its own 'ibadah, or worship of Allah (SWT). In Islam, 'ibadah consists of actions of the heart and actions of the limb, and simple things like abstaining from cheating from a test when tempted, or sharing dinner with friends, are considered acts of worship (unless they have some material/ulterior motive). However, a goldfish cannot choose to be a non-Muslim anymore the shell on the beach can choose to abandon Islam, because they all lack free will. They only two races of all Creation that have the free will to choose or reject Islam (as far as we know through the grace of Allah Almighty) are humans and jinni. And even then, our bodies are Muslim, at least as far as we let them. Our hearts beat in accordance to Allah's (SWT) will, are stomachs digest food in His accordance, our bones grow in His accordance, etc. It is basically our will that chose, our personalities, our identities. Even the nature of our soul is Muslim, but our soul's identity, actions, and desire may not be Muslim. However, everything, even our souls, were designed to be Muslim, just as the goldfish was designed. Some aspects of our being Muslim we just cannot refuse, like our Muslim need for food, water, shelter, oxygen, love, etc. Other parts, we can chose, and we often choose wrong. We choose to eat fast food when it clogs our arteries, we choose to drink alcohol when it messes up our brains and livers, we choose to stay up late when our bodies need sleep, and we choose to skip salah when our bodies, hearts, minds and souls all need to pray and worship God Almighty. That is right -  more then an obligation, salah is a human necessity, a necessity that makes its absence known on each and every atom of the human. It is how we are designed, just as we are designed to ingest food. Do we ever think of eating as just a ritualistic obligation? NO! Therefore, why is salah seen that way?

However, we just don't realize that salah is such an integral necessity. That is the trouble with free will. God Almighty knows what is best for us, subhanallah wa bihamdihi, and He gave us guidance that is for our own good. He didn't leave us in the dark. However, since we have the will to accept or reject, what appeals to us seems to be a favour, and what doesn't appeal to us appears to be a command. In truth, both are both favours and commands, for God Almighty commands us to be Muslim, commands us to live up to our potential and purpose, and to achieve success in our ultimate goals. God Almighty commands us to be Muslim and press forward to please Him and achieve paradise, He commands us to do what is best for US! All the detailed legislation in Islam, such as salah, wudhu, sawm, istinja', covering one's 'awrah, etc. are what is good for us, but we are too stupid and miserably ignorant to figure it out.

Here is what happens when we feel like skipping prayer. Our bodies, hearts, minds and souls are always looking for pleasure, looking for nourishment, looking for contentment. However, our conception of salah has been misconstrued by our human fallacies into something of a chore, of a bore, of a sort of weird series of motion. Some people pray only by actions of the body, but their minds are off somewhere else, thinking about school, work, television, etc. Some Muslims don't even know what they are saying when they pray in Arabic, nor are they curious. They miss the whole point of salah. Unfortunately, what they don't realize is that what we need when we are looking to do something else besides salah is, in fact, salah itself. Our minds are so messed up, that we don't know what we even want, and the benefits that are associated with a true, complete salah, we seek elsewhere, in a more materialistic place. We rather sleep in than pray Fajr, rather eat out for lunch than pray Zuhr, busy ourselves with mundane chores rather then pray 'Asr, go out and watch a movie with friends than pray Maghrib, and rather stay up and watch television than pray 'Isha'a. What were are looking for actually lies in salah - oh, if we only knew! We try to fill that gap with material things, because we are brought up to believe that all the solutions to our problems lie in materialistic things, that there is no room in the modern world for spiritual hocus pocus. What fools we are, to trust our own desires instead of the wisdom of Allah (SWT).

Truly, what we desire outside of salah can be acquired in the highest quality inside of salah. That is why when you chase after materialistic solutions, you are always left wanting. As the hadith says:

"...But if the son of Adam (AS) had one valley of money he would wish for the second. If he had two valleys, he would wish for the third. So, nothing except soil can fill up the bellies (hunger) of the son of Adam (AS) (i.e. dying and returning from the earth from whence we all came)..." (Musnad of Ahmad) 

We will never satisfy ourselves by the materialism prevalent all around us. Wallahi, the satisfaction of a completed salah for the sake of Allah (SWT) is indescribable, a feeling everyone should experience, a feeling that is so subtle and yet overwhelming, that one becomes addicted to it. The more you realize that feeling, the more you want of it, but this time, you want more not for yourself, but for Allah (SWT). The more you worship and love Him, the more you want to worship Him, because that is how we are designed, how we are meant to be. Natural 'ibadah is our natural state. Even outside of salah, things like zakat, sawm, hijab, du'a, etc. may at first seem like works that focus too on the material and not on the spiritual, mainly to Christians who have the false notion that Islam is a religion of only works. However, it is all about the experience, and when someone experiences Islam, they see all of it as a pile of treats. We Muslims want to do more and more. We love praying, giving charity, fasting, etc. At least, we should...but some Muslims in this day and age are getting secularized. Wallahi, the feeling you get after a complete, honest, intensive and focused salah - the mute silence of your mind, the adoration in your heart, the submissiveness of your will, the sense of fulfillment that you feel enveloping your body like a warm blanket on a cold, breezy night, the joy of accomplishing what your Lord Almighty has prescribed for you for your own benefit, the total and personal relationship and warm affinity you feel with Allah Almighty (the word "salah" literally means "hot connection"), even during du'a (personal prayers & supplications), the sense of atonement you receive that you know very well you don't deserve but God Almighty graces you with anyways (He is, afterall, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim), and the heartfelt confirmation of the reality of Islam, the reality of Allah (SWT) in our lives as our Sovereign Master, and the relief you have wash over you like a cool breeze on top of a hill, flowing up and across you after you realize that everything is now in Allah's (SWT) hands (so stop stressing out and take a chill pill) -  that feeling...once you experience that unmistakable experience, you will know salah is just what you really need, no sleep, an extra hour of television, hanging out time, etc. All those things aren't necessarily bad in themselves, but are only dangerous when Shaitan uses them as a distraction from your real goals. At times, you might mess up here and there, miss a prayer or two, but if you are a true musalli (one who performs salah), you feel so much sorrow and regret for your mishap that it will haunt you for the rest of your day.

The more we try to satisfy our need of prayer with materialistic things, the more that empty hole, that desire, that yearning, will grow, and left unabated, it will tear you up without you realizing it. It is only on the musalla (prayer mat) that we truly rediscover our purpose and passion, our love and our life, our relationship with Allah Almighty (SWT). That is why our deen is called Islam, peace through total submittal to God Almighty, and why our obligatory prayers are called salah, the warm intesive connection between us and Allah (SWT), of all words. Thank you Allah (SWT) for making me a part of this beautiful deen!

Kenapa?

Seperti biasa, yang aku ingat senin lalu mas kun briefing aku kalo Minggu harus datang. Dan selama hari2 biasa aku ngerjain apa yg disuruh oleh mas kun n setau aku cuma peta aja yang aku kerjain, dan semua sudah selesai, tinggal tunggu koreksi dan approval.

Dan sepulang dari DYC aku langsung liat HP ku yg Esia, ada sms dari mas kun kalo jem 2 musti datang. Wah ... udah jem 1 lewat n aku harus segera cabs. Pas mau cabut ... tau-tau malah disuruh nunggu dulu anak" yg lain datang.

Jadi bingung juga sih mana yg harus diutamakan. Secara aku bekerja di Pd Bambu so aku harusnya ngutamain Pd bambu, bukan menteng. Tapi menteng juga keadaannya sangat mendesak.

Kalo aku pergi ninggalin PB, ntar dianggap nggak care ama PB karena aku ngak mo jagain tempat secara disini nggak ada orang sama sekali.

Kalo Menteng aku tinggalin juga kesannya aku udah nggak profesional dalam kerjaan itu karena pekerjaan belum selesai total.

Bener kata mas kun, "Segala pekerjaan ada resikonya, kamu jadi pecundang, karena keadaan jadilah lebih dewasa."

Yah, kedua resiko diatas adalah resiko yang harus saya tanggung. Yang ada dipikiran saya saat ini adalah pengen cepet" selesein project yang di menteng, dan aku kembali bebas seperti sedia kala.

Aku juga sebetulnya salah karena aku nambah bebanku sendiri padahal belum waktunya.

Akhirnya saya kembali melakukan dosa lagi. Saya berbohong lagi dengan staff menteng n saya bilang kalo saya baru nyampe terminal kalideres, dan tujuannya mo ke kantor dulu untuk ambil laptop mas kun dan langsung pergi ke menteng. Padahal sebetulnya ini hanya mengulur waktu saya untuk menunggu anak" PB yang lain pulang. Karena kalo saya bilang begitu, pasti saya akan dipush untuk ke menteng.

Setelah bilang begitu saya merasa saya pengecut sekali, nggak berani bilang jujur. Saya cuma berani jujur dibelakang doang. Contohnya ya di blog ini.

Pusing aku. Yang pasti para pembaca, jangan sekali2 mengikuti apa yang saya lakukan diatas, ini sudah jelas dosa n salah.

Akhirnya saya cuma bisa berharap teman" PB cepat pulang, saya langsung berangkat, tas sudah siap, tinggal bawa n pergi.

Hidup berdampingan maka setiap orang pasti pernah bikin kesalahan. Salah besar maupun hal yang sepele. Begitulah kita semua harus berjiwa besar untuk memaafkan. Dan merendahkan hati untuk meminta maaf.

Salah. Kesalahan. Karena kita hidup tidak sendirian maka sering kali kesalahan itu menyangkut orang lain. Tidak jarang kita menyalahkan orang lain. Pernah dimarahin atasan di kantor? Sadari atau enggak, sering kali kita ngedumel dalam hati untuk membela diri. Merasa apa yang dilakukan sudah benar. Padahal pernahkah kita sadari bahwa kesalahan itu sebenarnya belum tentu salah atasan. Bisa jadi kita yang kerja nya asal-asalan atau tidak melakukan sesuai perintah. Begitu juga sebaliknya. Ketika seorang atasan memarahi pegawainya, pernahkah para atasan itu menyadari bahwa kesalahan itu belum tentu sepenuhnya salah pegawai tapi bisa jadi atasannya yang tidak memberikan perintah tugas dengan jelas, sehingga pegawai tidak cukup mengeti untuk mengerjakannya.

Aku pernah melihat di angkot, seorang ibu baru saja menjemput anaknya pulang sekolah. Di angkot, si ibu memarahi anaknya sampai-sampai, mau tidak mau, aku dan (tentu saja) seisi angkot mendengar si ibu marah. Bahkan si ibu sempat berbicara dengan logat betawinya, ke arah ku dan mengatakan "Ini anak, bego banget. Nilainya gak jauh-jauh dari angka 3, 4, 5. Di suruh belajar kagak mau." Aku hanya setengah tersenyum pahit, tidak tau mau merespon apa. Dalam hati, aku miris. Anak sendiri dikatain bego. Apalagi kata-kata bego nya dengan penekanan dan seakan sepenuh hati (walaupun rasanya sulit dipercaya kalau ia mengatakannya dengan sepenuh hati). Aku belum pernah merasakan gimana susahnya nanti mendidik anak. Tapi, mendengarnya saja aku udah gak tega. Ini tentu tidak lepas dari sebuah kesalahan. Menyalahkan. Si ibu menyalahkan anaknya yang 'bego', padahal pernahkah ibunya menyadari, mungkin ada yang salah dengan cara si ibu mendidik anak? Atau ada yang salah dengan hal-hal lainnya, seperti sistem pendidikan di sekolahnya. Entahlah, tapi melihat kejadian itu, aku menyadari bahwa kesalahan itu bisa jadi bukan karena satu pihak. Bisa dua atau bahkan lebih dari dua pihak. Aku percaya pada dasarnya semua orang itu baik dan bisa jadi benar.

Hal yang sederhana saja. Ketika menyetir mobil dalam jalanan yang padat, dan pintu samping mobil kebaret motor. Kita maki-maki pengendara motor itu setengah mati. Tidak peduli apa kita sedang berada pada jalur yang salah. Dalam hati, pengendara motor juga ngedumel "Ni mobil, blagu bener gak mau minggir." Begitulah yang terjadi. KIta sering kali, tanpa kita sadari menyalahkan orang lain. Tanpa melihat siapa sebenarnya yang benar-benar salah.

Banyak lagi kejadian yang gak kita sadari sebelumnya. Mungkin tidak ada habisnya kesalahan yang dibuat oleh orang lain. Tapi, ada baiknya kita meredamkan emosi, menghapus dendam, dan berhenti menyalahkan orang lain. Banyak mengingat kesalahan yang sebenarnya kitalah penyebabnya. Renungi saja. Berapa sebenarnya salah, khilaf dan dosa yang sudah kita buat. Kalau kita sudah sibuk menghitung2nya, maka kita tidak ada waktu lagi mngurusi kesalahan, kekhilafan, dan aib orang lain. Bukan kah itu hal yang baik? Setuju atau tidak, aku percaya, kita semua orang BAIK.

(taken from here)

n here...

PRABU Karna (Basukarna/ Adipati Karna) raja dari negara Awangga. Istrinya bernama Dewi Surtikanti. Karna berwatak prajurit. Juga ahli memanah seperti Arjuna. Ia memiliki senjata pusaka berwujud panah, bernama Kunta Druwasa dan busurnya bernama Wijayadanu. Sedangkan keris pusakanya bernama Kiai Kaladete. Karna bersaudara seibu dengan Pandawa, lain ayah. Karna putra Batara Surya dan Dewi Kunti.
Ia memihak pada Kurawa, karena pernah menerima kebaikan dari Prabu Kurupati (Duryudana).
Untuk itu ia bertekad membalas budi, meskipun perang Baratayuda harus berhadapan dengan Arjuna, adiknya.
Karna tidak menyukai watak Kurawa yang selalu mengumbar angkaramurka. Tetapi ia telah bersumpah ingin membalas budi baik Kurupati. Adipati Karna bersatu dengan Prabu Duryudana, sebab Kama berhutang budi kepada Prabu Duryudana di Astina, termasuk Surtikanti, istrinya Kama itu sebenamya pacamya (kekasihnya) Duryudana, tetapi direlakan menjadi istrinya Karna. Intinya, semua kemuliaan yang dimiliki Prabu Karna merupakan pemberian atau anugrah dari Prabu Duryudana. Karena itu walaupun Prabu Karma itu putra Dewi Kunti, dan Pandawa itu saudara satu ibu, akan tetapi Prabu Karna tetap bersatu serta merasa dan mengakui kalau Duryudana yang harus dibela dan dilindungi. Prabu Karna juga mengakui kalau Kunti itu ibu yang melahirkannya, serta Pandawa itu adalah saudaraya. Meski demikian Prabu Karna kukuh dengan sumpahnya membela yang memberi kemuliaan, yaitu Prabu Duryudana.
Disinilah kita dapat mengambil pelajaran, Katresnan atau Kewajiban, tapi kenyataannya Prabu Kama memilih kewajiban. Kenyatannya dalam lakon “Krena Duta”. Kama bertemu dengan Kresna (Sandi Tama Kawedar), Kresna membujuk Karna agar bersatu dengan Pandawa. Karna tidak mau. Dewi Kunti sendiri juga membujuk dan meminta Karna bersatu bersama Pandaiva, Karna juga tidak mau, tetap akan membela Duryudana.
Namun sesungguhnya Karna itu juga sayang terhadap Pandawa, Buktinya? Karna itu memiliki pusaka pembawaan dari lahir yaitu yang berujud anting-anting yang bernama “Pucunggul Maniking Surya”, serta Kawaca (Kere Waja atau Rumpi Baja). Karena kecintaannya terhadap Pandawa, Karna membuang pusaka kadewatan yang dibawanya sejak lahir sambil bekata : Hai, saudaraku para Pandawa. Ini pusaka milikku yang sangat sakti sudah aku lepas, dibuang. Aku tidak butuh kemenangan, Pandawa harus menang. Angkara murka harus lenyap.
Maka ia rela mati di dalam perang, agar bisa membalas budi, sekaligus dapat menjadi sarana lenyapnya angkara murka (kebatilan) yang terdapat dalam diri Kurawa.
Watak Karna yang tahu membalas budi dipuji oleh Sri Mangkunagara IV dalam Serat Tripama.

jadi, temen2 tercintah....

APAKAH YANG BENAR AKAN SELALU BENAR ?? DAN YANG SALAH AKAN SELALU SALAH ???

ditulis dalam keadaan marah dan murka....

-danu.prasd-

*themesongforthispost*

sujiwo tedjo - pada suatu ketika

Wong takon wosing dur angkoro
Antarane riko aku iki
Sumebar ron ronaning koro
Janji sabar, sabar sak wetoro wektu
Kolo mangsane, ni mas
Titi kolo mongso

Pamujiku dibiso
Sinudo kurban jiwanggo
Pamungkase kang dur angkoro
Titi kolo mongso

I’d had to go into town to collect a parcel from the post office. I hadn’t been expecting one so was a little confused when the office messenger gave me a pink slip from the post office telling me I had a package waiting. It turned out that the parcel that I’d given up on which my sister had posted at the end of February had finally surfaced.

Due to my immense stupidity I lost two pairs of glasses around Christmas, one of which was prescription dark glasses. I’d like to blame the effect of Larium on my short term memory but I suspect age, booze and lack of concentration were bigger contributors (one pair were lost during energetic dancing to celebrate the New Year, the other left in an internet cafe). As a result I decided to ask Ellen, my sister, to get a pair of “transition” glasses made up to the prescription I’d left with her. Being a kind and generous sister she did this and I overrode her suggestion that she send it registered post. A decision I later regretted. After waiting two months and visiting the post office repeatedly I lost all hope and went out and bought a pair of transition (reactalite, goes dark in sunshine) glasses here in Accra. Because Spec-Savers in the UK gave a free pair I’ve gone from having just one pair in February to four pairs now. I can afford to be as reckless with my spectacles as I like now

And I was able to give one of the new pairs an outing yesterday evening to celebrate Eid myself with a beer sitting on the roof of a bar while a live band played below, as I looked across to the central Mosque and chatted to Kim from the Peace Corp.

(Salah is the name locally used for the ceebrations around Eid)

Eid ul Fitr marks the end of the fasting period, and is essentially a Muslim festival recognising this. It is a period of rejoicing, yet keeping in mind of the achievements and the personal changes made during Ramadan.

Muslims follow the lunar calendar, so the months are based on the sighting of the new cresent of the moon. When the new cresent is visible to two or more people, Eid is effectively declared and the period of fasting terminates.

We begin celebrating this festival by first saying a special short prayer early in the morning.

The day then moves on to spending time with close family, meeting and greeting friends and relatives, and if you are south-east Asian - feasting on the traditional meal called Biryani!

I am celebrating Eid today, and it has been a good day so far.... You all are welcome to join in, to feast my moms wickedly tasty biryani - but if you can't, don't worry - I will think of each of you as I enjoy my meal!

Eid Mubarak!

Ini bukan kisah cinta.

Ini tentang sahabat saya yang begitu mengagumi seseorang tapi harus berbalik membencinya karena sang Idola jauh berbeda dibandingkan yang pernah ia sangka selama ini.

This is what happens when you are too much into someone.

Ada perasaan menyesal ketika segalanya ternyata tidak melulu soal kembang, pelangi, dan kicau burung.. tapi ada juga tanah kotor, lumpur, dan bau kentut yang tidak ada indah-indahnya itu.

"Katanya aku harus bisa maafin dia, La... Kata temenku itu, aku harus menerima kalau 'dia' sudah berubah... Katanya, Tuhan aja Pemaaf, masa aku nggak..." mata si Tat memerah. Kesal sekali, ternyata. "So what, kalau 'dia' sudah berubah. Aku nggak bisa maafin dia, La. OK. Mungkin soal maaf itu, aku sudah melakukannya. Tapi berhenti saja sampai di situ. Aku nggak mau bermanis-manis lagi seperti dulu. Aku takut jadi orang yang munafik, La... Mendingan aku menjauhi 'dia' aja daripada harus bicara manis padahal hatiku benci banget sama dia..."

Hm.

Lalu akhirnya, saya jadi berpikir.

Sepagian ini saya menerima beberapa sms dari teman-teman yang masuk ke dalam ponsel saya. Mengucapkan selamat merayakan Hari Raya Idul Fitri sekalian minta maaf atas segenap kesalahan, lahir dan batin. Ketika membuka blog teman-teman pun, ramai yang mengucapkan hal yang sama, berikut dengan permintaan maaf mereka.

Apakah maaf itu adalah just good habit?

Ataukah maaf itu karena we're sorry for things we done and said that hurted other people in the previous times?

Sampai batas mana orang bisa menyakiti kamu dan sejauh mana kamu bisa memaafkan kesalahan-kesalahan orang tersebut? Sampai sejauh mana kamu memberikan toleransi buat orang lain untuk mencabik hati kamu, meremuknya, meremasnya barangkali? Dan juga, sampai titik mana kamu bisa membuka pintu maafmu buat dia... without any hard feelings?

Seperti Tat yang tak bisa memaafkan lelaki aneh itu... is she wrong? Apakah dengan memutuskan untuk membenci seseorang yang telah menyakiti kita adalah salah?

Ya. Mudah saja untuk memberikan untaian kata-kata manis supaya Tat berhenti membenci 'orang itu'. But when it comes to you..... could you? Seriously... could you?

... dengan kondisi, hati kamu tercabik-cabik dengan sempurnanya.. Kamu dibuat kecewa dengan amat sangat karena sikap-sikapnya yang arogan dan munafik... Sok baik, sok sempurna, tapi 'plastik'. Saying not to do this, but doing that all the time... Dan memaki-maki kamu... Dan menghina kamu... Dan menuduh kamu sampai mata kamu memerah basah lalu kamu kehilangan segala kata-kata untuk melakukan self defense?

Bisakah kamu untuk tidak menjadi seperti sahabat saya?

Bisakah kamu memaafkan orang semacam itu ketika orang semacam itu tidak pernah menganggap segala attitude-nya bisa saja menyakitkan hati orang lain?

Ah...

Kalau kalian adalah termasuk manusia-manusia yang sangat pemaaf, maka beruntunglah kalian. Karena buat saya, orang-orang yang bisa memaafkan kesalahan orang lain, bisa memaafkan segala perilaku mereka yang telah mencabik-cabik hati... adalah orang-orang yang sungguh luar biasa hebat! Ya. You are amazing, guys!

Lantas... bagaimana dengan orang yang terlalu mendendam pada seseorang lalu tak bisa memaafkan kesalahan orang lain, seperti sahabat saya itu, si Tat?

Hm...

Sudahlah.

Kalau Tat tak bisa memaafkan orang semacam itu, biarlah dia melakukan apapun yang bisa ia lakukan untuk menghilangkan kesalnya. Saya tak bisa menasehatinya untuk menghilangkan kebencian itu, karena saya tahu, she's all grown and she knows all the consequences. Saya tidak merasakan kesalnya, jadi saya tak bisa menganggap semua keputusannya adalah salah atau benar.

I just wish that I would never be in her shoes.

Jadi saya tak perlu merasakan kebencian yang teramat dalam sampai tak termaafkan... :)

So.. so...

Can you really forgive someone?

Dan jika jawabannya adalah 'Ya', saya tanya satu hal lagi.

Is it forgotten?

Karena memaafkan kesalahan orang lain... mungkin jauh lebih mudah.... daripada ketika kita harus melupakan segala kesedihan, luka hati, dan sakit yang amat sangat perih, yang menjadi efek sampingnya...

...

Ah apapun itu...

Selamat berlebaran, Guys!

Maafin salah-salah Lala, yah... :)

Meski sering salah,
Tapi jangan sampai kita kalah....

Fiena (sekeluarga) mengucapkan :

MINAL AIDHIN WAL FAIDZIN
MOHON MAAF LAHIR BATHIN
Semoga Amal Ibadah QT Diterima Alloh SWT, dan dosa khilaf qt diampuni-Nya

AMIENN

Kalau saya renungkan sejenak, dulu saya tidak tahu apa itu software bajakan dan orisinil. Yang saya tahu, di sekolah kita memakai Windows dan diajari mengenai Microsoft Office. Jadi wajar kalau di setiap komputer ada windows dan microsoft office-nya. Saya sama sekali tidak tahu kalau software yang ada di komputer saya itu adalah bajakan dan menyalahi hukum. Nah, menurut saya dari sinilah dimulainya trend pembajakan itu. Sejak kita kecil, kita sudah disuapi dengan windows dan software-software bajakan lainnya. Kita sudah dibuat membutuhkan software-software tersebut. Diberi pengertian seolah-olah tidak ada software alternatif pengganti software ilegal tersebut.

Disinilah peran pemerintah yang seharusnya dapat mengurangi atau bahkan memberantas software ilegal malah membuat makin berkembangnya software bajakan di tanah air. Tingginya harga software asli yang tidak terjangkau kebanyakan kalangan masyarakat Indonesia telah menjadi satu alasan mutlak untuk menggunakan software bajakan. Yang harus dipertanyakan adalah mengapa pemerintah mendesain sistem pendidikan menggunakan software-software yang kita tahu sangat mahal harganya. Bukankah ada yang open source?

Coba bayangkan bila kita membeli komputer rakitan model terbaru. Harga komputernya saja sekitar 4 juta. Windows xp sekitar 1 juta, office 2007 home and student 800 ribu, belum lagi antivirus, dan software-software lainnya. Kita harus mengeluarkan uang tambahan 2 juta lebih! Bahkan ada juga sekolah yang menyertakan desain grafis di sekolahnya menggunakan adobe photoshop yang 1 lisensinya mencapai 6 juta! Padahal harga kebutuhan sehari-hari terus naik. mengapa tidak menggunakan Linux dan diajarkan OpenOffice.org yang tidak kalah powerfull dengan microsoft office? Mengapa harus menggunakan adobe photoshop kalau ada Gimp. Bila pendidikan berubah seperti itu, perusahaan-perusahaan pasti akan sedikit demi sedikit mengikuti ke arah yang sama karena kemampuan SDM yang berubah.

Memang untuk menjalankannya banyak kendala-kendala yang muncul seperti dana, pelatihan kembali untuk guru dan lainnya. Bahkan software-software yang digunakan di pemerintahan pun masih berbasiskan Windows, seperti software eSPT PPN 1107 yang digunakan untuk membuat form pajak dibuat dengan Visual Basic yang berbasiskan Windows. Mungkin pemerintah bisa mencoba membuatnya kembali dengan Gambas yang mirip dengan Visual Basic namun LEGAL. Inilah sedikit dari kendala yang akan dijumpai. Namun perlu di ingat bahwa untuk mencapai suatu kebaikan dibutuhkan usaha yang keras. Saya bukannya bermaksud sok baik dengan mengkritik pembajakan. Kalau boleh jujur sebenarnya saya juga masih menggunakan software bajakan. Namun setidaknya saya sedang berusaha beralih ke Open Source Software meskipun sulit karena keluarga saya memakai windows.Ini hanyalah sebatas pemikiran saya.

Baitul Aman is generally open from 10am to 10pm during Ramadan and is of course also available for those Muslims who wish to spend the night in the masjid during this sacred time.

Prayer times at Baitul Aman at this time are as follows:

FAJR (knock on the door to attend this prayer) - 6:15 am

ZUHR - 1:30 pm. Friday jumah - 1st jummah: khutbah at 1:30 pm in Bengali with prayer at 2:00pm; 2nd jummah: khutbah at 2:40 pm in English with prayer at 3:00 pm.

ASR - 5:30 pm

MAGHRIB - sunset (changeable, consult your prayer schedule)

ISHA - 9:00 pm

kita tak kan pernah berlari dari kenyataan bahwa kita manusia..

tempatnya salah dan lupa..

jika masih ada cinta di hatimu..

maka maafkanlah..

dewa 19

Mungkin kalimat yang senada sering kita dengar saat bulan puasa. Ta’jil merupakan persepsi kebanyakan orang Indonesia sebagai makanan ataupun kue istilah dalam Islam saat puasa ramadhan.

Hal yang patut kita cermati, ketika kita tidak mengerti arti ta’jil lalu dengan PeDenya berkata kalimat senada seperti yang diatas. Padahal, ta’jil merupakan bahasa Arab untuk asal kata “Menyegerakan” berbuka puasa. Jadi sangat lucu ketika kita mengucap “Jalan-jalan yuk, sambil cari ta’jil. Untung-untung kalau shoalt dimasjid dapat ta’jil gratis” karena mencari “menyegerakan (ta’jil)” di jalan, atau dimasjid.

Salah kaprah mengenai ta’jil ini berkembang luas di Indonesia. Yang tanpa perlu lagi mengetahui hakekat ta’jil itu sendiri. Banyak yang mengira, ta’jil merupakan jajanan yang dijual ataupun makanan yang disuguhkan ketika berbuka puasa. Karena pada hakekatnya ta’jil (menyegerakan) merupakan anjuran Rasulullah kepada kita “Menurut riwayat Tirmidzi dari hadits Abu Hurairah Radliyallaahu ’anhu bahwa Nabi Shallallaahu ’alaihi wa Sallam bersabda: "Allah ’Azza wa Jalla berfirman: Hamba-hamba-Ku yang paling Aku cintai adalah mereka yang paling menyegerakan berbuka."

Jadi jangan sampai kita salah kaprah mengira bahwa ta’jil itu adalah makanan berbuka puasa. Tetapi ta’jil adalah “menyegerakan” untuk berbuka puasa. Dengan begitu kita tidak lagi mencari atau membeli "menyegerakan" untuk berbuka puasa.

As salam alekum wa rehmatillahi wa barkatahu!

(May peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah (swt) be upon all of you)

“Purification of the Soul “

Daily Checklist for Introspection Self-examination and Self-Rectification

Answer the Following Questions and Improve /rectify your action accordingly

Did I pray five times today?

Did I read Holy Qura’an with understanding today?

Did I sincerely completed my duties and responsibilities today?

Did I Speak lies today?

Did I misbehave today?

Did I tease anyone today?

Did I make fun of someone or laugh at someone’s mistake today?

Did I show off today?

Did I behave arrogantly with anyone today?

Did I backbite today?

Did I get jealous today?

Did I get angry today?

Did I improve in any way today?

Did I waste any time today?

Did I feel proud or superior today?

Did I spend money extravagantly today?

Did I do my Hijab today?

Did I speak unnecessarily to any one of the opposite Sex today?

Did I see any vulgar/obscene movie/program today?

Did I disrespect my parents today?

Are my family members happy with me today?

Did I thank Allah for everything today?

Did I disobey any commandments of Allah today?

Did I ask forgiveness of Allah today?

Entah mengapa, tiba-tiba saya menemukan suatu kesalahan atau bahasa 'ai-ti'-nya bug :) Jikalau, kata/frase yang saya temukan, misalnya tertulis, 'Maaf, kata yang Anda cari tidak ditemukan' atau 'Sorry, no result found for BLABALABLA', maka saya maklum karena mungkin di dalam database-nya belum ada kata yang saya cari ;) Akan tetapi, disamping tulisan yang saya contohkan, 'No result ......", ada beberapa kalimat lagi dibawahnya. Saya kurang tau apa artinya. Konon, kata 'para ahli', itu sih kesalahan pada kode PHP. Whalah apalagi tu....? :) Poko'e gitu. Tunggu pembahasan mengenai PHP, OK...?

Silakan lihat sendiri gambarnya. Kira-kira, kebetulan atau emang betul...? Walaupun kamus.net sudah banyak yang memakai, tapi masih saja ada kesalahan yang 'agak fatal' :D. Ma dari itu,mari KAWAN...! Belajarlah dari kesalahan. Jangan sampai kita jatuh dua kali pada lubang yang sama. Lho... koq enggak nyambung ya... :D Ditunggu komentar dan koreksinya ya..., matur nuwun :)

]]> http://halalkitchen.wordpress.com/?p=51 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:44:14 +0000 halalkitchen http://halalkitchen.da.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/iftaar-menu-ideas/ As a Muslim I really look forward to the Holy Month of Ramadan where we fast the whole month from just before sunrise until the sun sets. No food or water is ingested throughout the whole day, so we must have a healthy suhoor (pre-fasting meal) and our iftaar (meal at the time of breaking the fast) must be light enough so that we can continue our prayers and worship through the night.

Here is one menu idea for an iftaar that I would like to share with you:

At the time of breaking the fast:

• Water
• Saudi dates
• peach smoothie

After the maghrib salah (sunset prayer):

• Yellow lentil soup  (I always serve soups since they warm and ease the stomach out of the fast and into eating again)
• Super-moist turkey meatloaf
• Creamed mashed potatoes
• Green salad with red onions, tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil and salt

Dessert:

• Assorted fruit
• light yogurt cake

This is simply one menu idea you can use to expound on, Insh'allah more to come. Remember, in Ramadan the point is not to eat to your fill but to eat to have enough energy to perform the daily salah, the extra ibadat and to simply give you the energy for all the other things you have to do in your day and evening.

Becalmed Baghdad counts war's cost

There have been dozens of bombings in the Karrada district of Baghdad. But there is one date Ali Hameed will never forget - 26 July 2007.

We have a bright future in Iraq. The cloud that was hanging over all of us has passed Ali Hameed

At six pm, a massive truck bomb exploded near his fish shop. Five members of his family were killed.

"We thought it was an earthquake because of the power of the explosion," he told me.

Ali spent several minutes helping the wounded in the street. Only later did he realise that his home nearby had been destroyed. The whole apartment block was flattened.

In total, more than 60 people were killed. Ali pulled the bodies of his daughter and his brother from the rubble.

But, despite everything that happened to his family, he does not come across as angry or full of hate.

"The situation now is getting better," he tells me.

"Life is gradually coming back to normal for us. People have started to question the purpose of fighting.

"We have a bright future in Iraq. The cloud that was hanging over all of us has passed."

The smell of grilled fish wafts out onto the road. It is full of people buying groceries, sitting in cafes, and standing around chatting.

There is a sudden bang and I instinctively flinch. But it is just a car backfiring. The locals do not even notice.

Future anguish

Across Baghdad, people are starting to feel more confident. There are still bombings and shootings almost every day. But there is no longer the constant fear.

Many of the children who have experienced trauma become very violent.... It will be a very violent generation Dr Haider Maliki

The drop in violence has allowed many to think more about its effects. One recent study found that 70% of children exposed to trauma in Iraq go on to develop psychological problems.

At a park in central Baghdad, two orphans are playing.

Salah is nine years old. He was found by the police after a bomb went off. Nobody knows what happened to his family.

Saif is seven. His parents were killed in an explosion.

"I want to tell them [the bombers] it's against God's law to kill people," he tells me. "I want to ask them: why did you kill my mother and father."

He says he wants to be a policeman when he grows up, so that he can find his parents' killers and send them to prison.

Salah barely talks at all. His shaking hands tell their own story.

Dr Haider Maliki deals with many similar cases at Baghdad's only child psychiatric ward. Flowers hang from the ceiling and the walls are brightly painted. They have tried to make it as friendly as possible for the children.

Dr Maliki thinks problems are being stored up for the future.

"Many of the children who have experienced trauma become very violent," he says. "They are violent towards their parents and they have no respect for their teachers. It will be a very violent generation."

Letting off steam

On the other side of the city, there is a very different scene. We watch as the stunt bikers of Baghdad take to the streets.

Bike enthusiasts make the most of a relatively safer Baghdad

At dusk, more than a hundred people gather on motorbikes. It is an anarchic sight as they race around performing skids, jumps and wheelies for the crowd.

The police keep moving them on, but they always find another venue for their impromptu displays.

The young men are ecstatic - almost intoxicated by the mix of testosterone and petrol fumes.

At one point, the bikers are joined by a man driving a minibus who skids his vehicle wildly around the empty car park.

After all the violence of recent years, young people in Baghdad clearly need to let off a lot of steam.

In the name of Allah; Most-gracious, Most-merciful.

All good therein is from Allah and there are no shortcomings but my own.

Sometimes Abu Jahl would come to listen to Allah's Messenger (sws.) recite the Quran, then he would leave without believing in it, nor taking heed to its warnings. He would harm Allah's Messenger (sws.) in speech, he would take every opportunity to obstruct the Message of Allah, and then he would go around arrogantly boasting about what he did. Allah revealed about him:

"So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this, the Qur'an, in the Message of Muhammad sws.) nor prayed!" (75:31)

He, moreover wanted to debar the Prophet (sws.) from praying in the Noble Sanctuary. it happened once that the Prophet (sws.) was praying within the area of the Sacred House, when Abu Jahl proceeded threateningly and uttering abusive language. The Prophet (sws.) admonished him severely to which Abu Jahl answered back rudely claiming that he was the mightiest in Makkah; Allah then revealed:

"Then, let him call upon his council (of helpers)" (96:17)

...Notwithstanding thid reproach, Abu Jahl would never wake up to himself nor did he realize his foolish practices.

On the contrary, he was determined to go to extremes, and swore he would dust the Messenger (sws.)'s face and step on his neck. No sooner had he proceeded to fulfill his wicked intention than he was seen turning back shielding himself with his hands (as if something horrible was in his pursuit).

His companions asked him what the matter was. He said: " I perceived a ditch of burning fire and some wings flying." Later on, the Messenger (sws.) commented saying:

"If he had proceeded further, the angels would have plucked off his limbs one after another." (Sahih Muslim, Description of the Hypocrites, no. 38) 

This is an excerpt from the Book: Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum (The Sealed Nectar) By Sheikh Safi Ur Rehman al Mubarakpuri. The book was awarded First-Prize by the Muslim World League at a worldwide competition for the Biography of the Holy Prophet (sws.) held at Makkah Al Mukarramah in 1399AH / 1979.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Such is the fate of those that rebel against Allah (swt.) and His Messenger (sws.), those that belie His Signs and continually disbelieve. The mere thought of what is to await us sinners in the Hereafter, is quite unimaginable, indeed. Another great reason to turn to Allah, Most-high, and repent while we still can. Take care, Fi Amanillah.

Shahraiz. T

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2248259520728793557&hl=tr]

Remember the day when you prepared really well for an exam, and were confident that you would pass the exam with flying colours.
The teachers around you were confident that you would come first again in the class.
And then when you sat for the exam and got your question paper, you saw that you had missed one topic and the highest marks question is on that topic.
You sit and think, and get worried on how to handle the question, when you see the student next to you is answering the question.
And then you decide that you would copy the answer from him.
You become hesitant, as you do not want the teacher to see you do this act.
You then go ahead to see the other student’s paper, when your name is shouted out.
You look at the teacher who is looking at you in disbelief.
She cannot believe that a student she trusted so much, who had done so many good things in the class, who had a perfect record, was actually cheating in the exam.
You are caught, and expelled from this exam after which you have to stand in front of a committee who will decide your fate.

Here all your past achievements will not be of any use.
Just that one act changed everything.

O ye who believe!
Just because you give in charity, and go for Hajj every year, and fast every Ramadan, and read the Qur’an
everyday, are you praying your Salaah in time?
Are you even praying your 5 obligatory Salaah?
Are you thinking that you would be spared on the Day of Resurrection because of all the good deeds you did?

“The first thing which the servant will be questioned about on the Day of Resurrection will be his salah. If it is in order, then he shall have prospered and succeeded, while if it is impaired, then he shall have failed and be ruined.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi]

Do you still think that this one act of you not praying your Salaah everyday will be overlooked?

"Between a person and kufr and shirk stands the abandonment of prayer.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2766. Classed as saheeh by Ibn Maajah, 1078, and by al-Albaani)

Such a defined line between a person and kufr… And how easily we are able to cross to the other side...
Subhanallah!

Al-Bukhaari (520) narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.”

Allah swt has set Salaah as one of the main pillars of Islam.

Through Salaah, you show your obedience to Allah swt at least 5 times a day.

Salaah is something which keeps you away from the wickedness and the evil.

"And enjoin As‑Salaah (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [i.e. the Salaah prayers)]” [Ta-Ha 20:132]

If none of these things affect you, then remember this:

Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing). (Aale Imran 3:185)

The choice, my brothers and sisters, now is entirely yours…

Wassalam

Word meanings:http://alqadar.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/arabic-islamic-dictionary/

Usahku menepis rasa
Rindu yang mendera jiwa
Kau buat aku tersiksa

Lemahku lemah
Tak berdaya

Reff:
Salahkah bila
Ku tak henti mengharapkannya
[hooww woouuu...]
Meskipun akhirnya
Ku tahu dia hanya membuatku terluka

Back to Reff:

.::.