“Perhatikan olehmu sekalian, sesungguhnya perdagangan itu di dunia ini adalah sembilan dari sepuluh pintu rezeki” ( HR Ahmad ).
Kawan aku. Mai besembang dengan aku pasai MLM. Aku terus terang kurang minat sikit MLM ni atas alasan aku sendiri. Tapi aku tak bantah, aku setuju bahawa MLM memang cabang perniagaan. Cuma aku ada alasan tersendiri untuk belum lagi ke arah MLM. Jadi, kawan aku tadini keluarkan hadis kat atas.
Aku sengih.
Aku tanya balik, lagi satu pintu rezeki tu datang dari mana?
Dia jawab, makan gaji la - macam hang!
Aku tanya balik, kalau makan gaji tu satu dalam sepuluh pintu rezeki, habistu orang fakir miskin dan kurang upaya yang pintu rezekinya sepanjang masa mengharapkan duit zakat & fitrah tu… temasuk dalam sembilan tadi ka?
Dia tak sengih, tak masam. Tatau nak jawab camana kot?
Aku tanya balik, apa alasan hang kata makan gaji macam aku ni bukan beniaga?
Dia jawab, ya la.. aku tadak risiko macam orang meniaga. Tadak untung, tadak rugi. Meniaga mesti ada untung ada rugi. Rajin lebih, untung lebih, dok saja, untung kurang, silap-silap rugi. Aku yang makan gaji ni katanya malas pun dapat duit, rajin pun dapat duit.
Aku cakap kat dia balik, kalau macam tu, makan gaji lagi untung dari meniaga!
Aku nampak muka dia dah semacam serabut sikit. Aku pun teruskan petanyaan aku balik, ada ka hang jumpak hadis atau mana-mana hujah yang mengatakan satu lagi pintu rezeki yang last tu adalah makan gaji? Dia kata tadak.
Aku kata kat dia, aku pun tak jumpak. Aku tanya jugak tok-tok alim sekeliling aku ni, depa pun kata tadak.
Jadi, sapa yang kata makan gaji tu bukan salah satu cabang perniagaan yang termasuk dalam sembilan dari sepuluh pintu rezeki tu? Dia kata tatau. Aku kata, aku pun tatau.
Aku pebetoi kerusi bagi ruang pelayan kedai letak jus tembikai depan aku. Sembang ngan orang MLM ni selalunya depa belanja. Kalau aku, teh o suam saja.
Aku sambung balik tanya. Konsultan yang dok nasihat orang tu beniaga ka makan gaji? Dia kata beniaga. Ok. Aku tanya lagi, orang bayaq kat dia macamana? Ikut la, kadang-kadang “manhour”, kadang-kadang “manday”, kadang-kadang kontrak. Ikut syarat la, katanya.
Aku sedut jus tembikai pelan-pelan. Manis. Sedap. Free.
La ni, aku sambung, kata la aku jadi konsultan hang, kontrak aku ngan hang cakap hang kena bayaq kat aku bulan-bulan sekian-sekian banyak. Aku meniaga atau makan gaji dengan hang? Dia jawab, aku meniaga la. Sebab aku konsultan.
Aku konsultan, aku tak dikira makan gaji. Tapi kalau aku kerja bawah dia, aku makan gaji.
Ok, hujah dia kata makan gaji tak untung tak rugi. Hujah aku kata, makan gaji pasti untung, tak akan rugi. Macamana? Untung makan gaji?
Aku katakan makan gaji ni jugak cabang perniagaan sebab aku menjual skill dan pengetahuan aku pada syarikat dengan kontrak pembayaran yang telah dipersetujui oleh kedua-dua pihak. Gaji bulanan. Untungnya aku ialah bilamana syarikat membayar bonus. Untungnya aku, balik rumah pukul lima tepat, lepak dengan family, borak ngan kawan-kawan. Esok pagi start kerja pukul lapan. Hujung minggu Sabtu Ahad, buat la apa yang aku nak buat.
Cukup bulan gaji dapat.
Ya la, tapi gaji dok banyak tu saja, katanya. Aku jawab balik, gaji banyak tu sebab hang dok banyak tu! Macam meniaga yang hang faham. Kalau hang dok jual kat lima orang pelanggan saja, sampai bila-bila hang dok dapat banyak tu. Nak untung lebih sikit, keluar modal sikit tambah produk untuk tambah pelanggan.
Sama macam makan gaji, kalau aku tak tambah ilmu, tak tambah skill, camana nak naik gaji? Appraisal pun skor cukup-cukup makan, sapa nak bagi lebih? Pi ambik sijil profesional, ambik diploma, ijazah, master. Jual la skill dan pengetahuan aku kat syarikat-syarikat lain pulak dengan gaji lebih tinggi.
Sapa kata gaji aku dok banyak tu saja?
Dia diam.
Aku sambung, aku balik rumah, aku happy. Gaji tak cukup, aku keluar modal tambah skill, lompat syarikat lain kalau syarikat sekarang tak iktiraf skill aku untuk dinaikkan gaji.
Tapi la ni susah cari kerja, katanya cepat.
Awat, sekarang ni senang dapat bisnes? Pintas aku balik.
Dia diam balik.
Bezanya antara aku dengan hang ialah, meniaga aku ni rugi tak banyak, meniaga hang tak tentu lagi balik modal!
Tapi, dia pintas lagi, kalau tiba-tiba kena buang kerja? Nak makan apa?
Aku jawab balik, habis tu meniaga yang tiba-tiba kena kencing tu? Habis semua simpanan pinjam kulu kilir buat modal hangus semua? Hang nak buat apa? Yang pastinya hang boleh mai makan biskut lagi ngan aku sebab aku ada KWSP, ada saving, dan pampasan dari majikan.
Dia resah.
Aku sengih. Aku cakap terus terang kat dia. Aku meniaga jugak. Customer aku sekarang adalah syarikat yang aku kerja sekarang. Kontrak aku dengan dia adalah selama syarikat ni ada. Perjanjian pembayaran mengikut bulan. Kontrak menjanjikan pertambahan pembayaran kepada khidmat aku setiap tahun berdasarkan appraisal. Aku ‘rugi’ kalau bonus aku dapat sikit, atau tak dapat lansung. Tapi yang pastinya, modal aku tetiap bulan dapat balik dengan sedikit margin keuntungan.
Aku sambung lagi. Aku nak kelam kabut buat dua tiga kerja dalam satu masa ni untuk apa? Tambah pendapatan? Apa lagi yang aku nak? Kaya? Untuk apa? Balik kerja serabut kelam kabut nak kena cari downline pulak. Nak maintain lagi. Silap gaya tak jalan downline aku, dok nak kena cari sponsor lagi untuk depa. Kalau dah bejaya, dok nak kena attend seminar bagi motivasi pulak satu Malaysia - family semua tatau nak jadi apa. Kalau aku tak kerja, memang aku buat benda ni, sebab aku tadak sumber pendapatan. Tapi sekarang aku meniaga - makan gaji, dan keuntungan yang aku dapat ni cukup untuk menjadikan aku lebih hebat dari kaya; aku dah senang!
Aku hirup sampai habis jus tembikai depan aku.
Aku sambung balik. Kaya tak semestinya hang akan senang. Tapi kalau hang senang, hang dah tak perlu jadi kaya!
Aku sengin. Dia sengih.. kami sembang bab Zinadane tanduk dada pemain Itali pulak lepas tu…
matkeri
http://www.jahilgoblog.net
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Businessman and Fisherman
Businessman and Fisherman
What do you really hope to achieve in life? Read this story and you
may find that what you are always hoping to achieve, you may be
already have it.
There was once an American businessman who was sitting by the beach in a small Mexican village. As he sat, he saw a Mexican fisherman rowing a small boat towards the shore and noticed that the fisherman has caught a quite number of big fishes that is known to be a delicacy.
The American was really impressed and ask the fisherman, "How long does it take you to catch so many fishes?"
The fisherman reply; "Oh, just a short while."
"Then why don't you stay longer at sea and you could catch even more? The businessman was astonished.
The fisherman simply does not agree, "This is enough to feed my whole family?" he says.
The businessman then asked: "So, what do you do for the rest of the day then?"
The fisherman reply; "Well, I usually wake up early in the morning, go out to sea and catch a few fishes, then I would go back and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I will take a nap with my wife, and evening comes, I will join my buddies in the village for a drink, we played guitar, sing and dance throughout the night. My day was ever so complete and carefree."
The businessman does not agree with his way of life and offered a
suggestion to the fisherman.
"I am a PhD holder graduated from Harvard University, specialises in business management. I could help you to become a more successful person.
From now on, you have to spend more time at sea and try to catch as many fishes as possible. And when you have save enough money, you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fishes. As you go on, you will be able to afford to buy more boats, recruit more fishermen and lead a team of your own. Soon you will be able to set-up your own company, your very own production plant for canned food and do direct selling to your distributors.At that time, you will have moved out of this village and to Mexico city, and then expand your operation to LA, and finally to New York city, where you can set-up your HQ to manage all your other branches."
The fisherman asks, "So, how long would that take? "
The businessman reply: "About 15 to 20 years"
The fisherman continued, "And after that?"
The businessman laugh heartily, "After that, you can live like a king
in your own house, and when the time is right, you can go public and float your shares in the Stock Exchange, by then you will be rich, your income will be coming in by the millions!!"
The fisherman ask, "And after that?"
The businessman says "After that, you can finally retire, you can move to a house by the fishing village, wake up early in the morning and catch a few fishes, then return home to play with the kids, have a nice afternoon nap with your wife, and when evening comes, you can join your buddies for a drink, play the guitar, sing and dance throughout the night!! "
The fisherman was puzzled, "Isn't that what I am doing now??"
So, what does one really hope to achieve in life, do we really need to work so hard in life ? What do you hope to accomplish in the end ?
What do you really hope to achieve in life? Read this story and you
may find that what you are always hoping to achieve, you may be
already have it.
There was once an American businessman who was sitting by the beach in a small Mexican village. As he sat, he saw a Mexican fisherman rowing a small boat towards the shore and noticed that the fisherman has caught a quite number of big fishes that is known to be a delicacy.
The American was really impressed and ask the fisherman, "How long does it take you to catch so many fishes?"
The fisherman reply; "Oh, just a short while."
"Then why don't you stay longer at sea and you could catch even more? The businessman was astonished.
The fisherman simply does not agree, "This is enough to feed my whole family?" he says.
The businessman then asked: "So, what do you do for the rest of the day then?"
The fisherman reply; "Well, I usually wake up early in the morning, go out to sea and catch a few fishes, then I would go back and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I will take a nap with my wife, and evening comes, I will join my buddies in the village for a drink, we played guitar, sing and dance throughout the night. My day was ever so complete and carefree."
The businessman does not agree with his way of life and offered a
suggestion to the fisherman.
"I am a PhD holder graduated from Harvard University, specialises in business management. I could help you to become a more successful person.
From now on, you have to spend more time at sea and try to catch as many fishes as possible. And when you have save enough money, you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fishes. As you go on, you will be able to afford to buy more boats, recruit more fishermen and lead a team of your own. Soon you will be able to set-up your own company, your very own production plant for canned food and do direct selling to your distributors.At that time, you will have moved out of this village and to Mexico city, and then expand your operation to LA, and finally to New York city, where you can set-up your HQ to manage all your other branches."
The fisherman asks, "So, how long would that take? "
The businessman reply: "About 15 to 20 years"
The fisherman continued, "And after that?"
The businessman laugh heartily, "After that, you can live like a king
in your own house, and when the time is right, you can go public and float your shares in the Stock Exchange, by then you will be rich, your income will be coming in by the millions!!"
The fisherman ask, "And after that?"
The businessman says "After that, you can finally retire, you can move to a house by the fishing village, wake up early in the morning and catch a few fishes, then return home to play with the kids, have a nice afternoon nap with your wife, and when evening comes, you can join your buddies for a drink, play the guitar, sing and dance throughout the night!! "
The fisherman was puzzled, "Isn't that what I am doing now??"
So, what does one really hope to achieve in life, do we really need to work so hard in life ? What do you hope to accomplish in the end ?
Lawak sekejap
Samy Vellu was visiting India when he fell and broke his jaw. He was unable to speak.
Being the great leader, he continued his grand tour. On the last week of his visit,
the RTM crew was present for his press conference. Although unable to speak,
Samy insisted on sending a message home to his Cabinet colleagues.
Samy caught a chicken and showed it to the camera. Next he took a goat and
showed it to the camera. Finally he took a bag and displayed it in front of the camera.
Dr. Ling was the first to see the video clip. He said, "Samy is telling us that India has
insufficient food because he showed us a chicken and a goat and he wants Malaysia
to donate bags of rice.
Dr Mahathir watched silently then said, "No lah....what Samy is trying to say is that
"HE IS COMING BACK".
The whole cabinet was puzzled and look to the old man for an explanation.
Dr Mahathir reasoned, "AYAM KAMBING BAG." "I am coming back"
Being the great leader, he continued his grand tour. On the last week of his visit,
the RTM crew was present for his press conference. Although unable to speak,
Samy insisted on sending a message home to his Cabinet colleagues.
Samy caught a chicken and showed it to the camera. Next he took a goat and
showed it to the camera. Finally he took a bag and displayed it in front of the camera.
Dr. Ling was the first to see the video clip. He said, "Samy is telling us that India has
insufficient food because he showed us a chicken and a goat and he wants Malaysia
to donate bags of rice.
Dr Mahathir watched silently then said, "No lah....what Samy is trying to say is that
"HE IS COMING BACK".
The whole cabinet was puzzled and look to the old man for an explanation.
Dr Mahathir reasoned, "AYAM KAMBING BAG." "I am coming back"
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Tony Fernandes Interview with WSJ
WSJA(5/29) AIRASIA FOUNDER LIKES WORKERS TO SPEAK UP
(From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA)
Malaysian Tony Fernandes founded AirAsia, Asia 's first low-cost carrier, in
2001 and expanded the company by setting up joint-venture airlines in
Thailand and Indonesia. Mr. Fernandes, 42 years old, graduated from the
University of London in 1987 with a finance degree and in 1992 moved back to
Malaysia, where he became managing director of Warner Music Malaysia, and
later, vice-president of Warner's Southeast Asian operations. He quit in
2001 to start AirAsia.
One of Malaysia 's most outspoken business executives, Mr. Fernandes not
only has strong ideas on the way airlines should be run, but also how
Southeast Asia 's top-down corporate culture should change. He spoke to
reporter Cris Prystay about his style.
WSJ: What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
Mr. Fernandes: My first job was a waiter in London at the Cavendish Hotel. I
was 17. I learned that working was hard and you had to be professional, even
as a waiter. You had other colleagues. If my performance was poor, it let
down the whole team.
My first [career] job was as an accountant at an auditor in London . It was
mind-blowingly boring. I was a junior auditor and was photocopying and
adding up rows of columns. The big lesson there: make sure you go into a job
that you enjoy. Otherwise, you don't give any value to your employer, and
you certainly don't add any value to your own mind.
WSJ: Who gave you the best business advice?
Mr. Fernandes: It was probably Stephen Shrimpton (the former chief executive
officer of Warner Music International) at Warner. I was a man in a rush. I
was 28 when I became the managing director of Warner Music Malaysia, and I
wanted to be the regional MD. I wanted to take over the world.
One night, Steve talked to me outside the Sheraton Hotel in Hong Kong for
three hours. He told me there's no need to rush and that it's about
developing my own personality and making sure I'm ready for the next job. I
see that now: No matter how bright someone is at 25, there's nothing like
experience. He slowed me down, and made me understand that you need to take
time -- to understand the business better, to understand your people better.
WSJ: What's the one thing you wish every new hire knew?
Mr. Fernandes: Humility -- and knowing what the real world is like. The new
generation is coming in pretty soft. A lot of these young guys haven't lived
through a recession. There are plenty of jobs out there and they think, "I
can always walk into another job." The hunger and determination to do their
best is sometimes not there.
WSJ: Is there a difference between the management culture in Asia and the
West?
Mr. Fernandes: The management culture here is very top-down. There's less
creativity and fewer people who are willing to speak out. They're more
implementers than doers. There's less freedom of speech, and that impacts
the business world. Even when they know things are not right, they won't
speak out. They just do what they're told to do.
WSJ: What's the biggest management challenge you face?
Mr. Fernandes: To get people to think. At AirAsia, we want 4,000 brains
working for us. My biggest challenge is to get people to talk, to express
themselves, to get people to challenge me and say "Tony, you're talking
rubbish." That's what I want, not people who say "Yes, sir." The senior
management doesn't have all the answers. I want the guy on the ramp to have
the confidence to tell me what's wrong.
WSJ: What are you doing to clear that hurdle?
Mr. Fernandes: We have no offices. We dress down. You wear a suit, and you
put distance between you and your staff. We're on a first-name basis. I go
around the office, around the check-in desks, the planes constantly, talking
to people. Fifty percent of my job is managing people in the company. You
get people to open up to you by just asking them to do it, and then
responding to them. You don't send a memo, or do some "speak up" incentive
program. It's got to be from the heart.
WSJ: What was the most satisfying decision you've made as a manager?
Mr. Fernandes: Once a month, I carry bags with the ramp boys, or I'm cabin
crew, or at the check-in. I do this to get close to the operation. I also
want to know my people. When I first started this, I met all these bright
kids at the check-in or carrying bags. We were starting this cadet pilot
program, and I said, "Let's open it up to anyone. Let some of these kids
apply." They have the brains, but they just didn't have the money to get the
education. Out of the first batch of 19 cadets, 11 came from within the
company. Some of these boys got the highest marks ever in the flying
academy. There was one kid who joined us to carry bags, and 18 months later
he was a First Officer of a 737. Can you imagine what that does for the
motivation in the company? Everyone talks about developing human capital,
but we did it.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 28, 2006 17:30 ET (21:30 GMT )
Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
(From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA)
Malaysian Tony Fernandes founded AirAsia, Asia 's first low-cost carrier, in
2001 and expanded the company by setting up joint-venture airlines in
Thailand and Indonesia. Mr. Fernandes, 42 years old, graduated from the
University of London in 1987 with a finance degree and in 1992 moved back to
Malaysia, where he became managing director of Warner Music Malaysia, and
later, vice-president of Warner's Southeast Asian operations. He quit in
2001 to start AirAsia.
One of Malaysia 's most outspoken business executives, Mr. Fernandes not
only has strong ideas on the way airlines should be run, but also how
Southeast Asia 's top-down corporate culture should change. He spoke to
reporter Cris Prystay about his style.
WSJ: What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
Mr. Fernandes: My first job was a waiter in London at the Cavendish Hotel. I
was 17. I learned that working was hard and you had to be professional, even
as a waiter. You had other colleagues. If my performance was poor, it let
down the whole team.
My first [career] job was as an accountant at an auditor in London . It was
mind-blowingly boring. I was a junior auditor and was photocopying and
adding up rows of columns. The big lesson there: make sure you go into a job
that you enjoy. Otherwise, you don't give any value to your employer, and
you certainly don't add any value to your own mind.
WSJ: Who gave you the best business advice?
Mr. Fernandes: It was probably Stephen Shrimpton (the former chief executive
officer of Warner Music International) at Warner. I was a man in a rush. I
was 28 when I became the managing director of Warner Music Malaysia, and I
wanted to be the regional MD. I wanted to take over the world.
One night, Steve talked to me outside the Sheraton Hotel in Hong Kong for
three hours. He told me there's no need to rush and that it's about
developing my own personality and making sure I'm ready for the next job. I
see that now: No matter how bright someone is at 25, there's nothing like
experience. He slowed me down, and made me understand that you need to take
time -- to understand the business better, to understand your people better.
WSJ: What's the one thing you wish every new hire knew?
Mr. Fernandes: Humility -- and knowing what the real world is like. The new
generation is coming in pretty soft. A lot of these young guys haven't lived
through a recession. There are plenty of jobs out there and they think, "I
can always walk into another job." The hunger and determination to do their
best is sometimes not there.
WSJ: Is there a difference between the management culture in Asia and the
West?
Mr. Fernandes: The management culture here is very top-down. There's less
creativity and fewer people who are willing to speak out. They're more
implementers than doers. There's less freedom of speech, and that impacts
the business world. Even when they know things are not right, they won't
speak out. They just do what they're told to do.
WSJ: What's the biggest management challenge you face?
Mr. Fernandes: To get people to think. At AirAsia, we want 4,000 brains
working for us. My biggest challenge is to get people to talk, to express
themselves, to get people to challenge me and say "Tony, you're talking
rubbish." That's what I want, not people who say "Yes, sir." The senior
management doesn't have all the answers. I want the guy on the ramp to have
the confidence to tell me what's wrong.
WSJ: What are you doing to clear that hurdle?
Mr. Fernandes: We have no offices. We dress down. You wear a suit, and you
put distance between you and your staff. We're on a first-name basis. I go
around the office, around the check-in desks, the planes constantly, talking
to people. Fifty percent of my job is managing people in the company. You
get people to open up to you by just asking them to do it, and then
responding to them. You don't send a memo, or do some "speak up" incentive
program. It's got to be from the heart.
WSJ: What was the most satisfying decision you've made as a manager?
Mr. Fernandes: Once a month, I carry bags with the ramp boys, or I'm cabin
crew, or at the check-in. I do this to get close to the operation. I also
want to know my people. When I first started this, I met all these bright
kids at the check-in or carrying bags. We were starting this cadet pilot
program, and I said, "Let's open it up to anyone. Let some of these kids
apply." They have the brains, but they just didn't have the money to get the
education. Out of the first batch of 19 cadets, 11 came from within the
company. Some of these boys got the highest marks ever in the flying
academy. There was one kid who joined us to carry bags, and 18 months later
he was a First Officer of a 737. Can you imagine what that does for the
motivation in the company? Everyone talks about developing human capital,
but we did it.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 28, 2006 17:30 ET (21:30 GMT )
Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi: Sunni and Shi'ah
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi:
We have seen all over the world how all the religious groups and sects
try to reconcile their differences; the Jews are trying to have common
ground with the Christians, so they claim innocence to what the
history records of the Jews' responsibility in crucifying Jesus. The
same happens among the Christians as they are trying to bring together
all the Christian denominations around the world.
Amidst all these amiable gestures, where do we Muslims stand? Why do
we kindle the fire of disagreement? What is the reason for all this
argument about Shi`ah as if they are not Muslims? Let it be known to
all that the Shi`ah are Muslims who believe in the Oneness of Allah
and the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Yes, there is no doubt that the Shi`ah have their beliefs and dogmas
which we condemn as heresy but this doesn't make them non-Muslims. We
should try to make use of what we have in common for the benefit of
all Muslims. No one can deny that all Muslims, Sunni and Shi`ah,
condemn the Zionists and what they do against our brethren in
Palestine. We maintain the same view concerning the persecution of
Muslims in many parts of the world. This means that we have many
things in common, which should be the pivot of our interaction. All
Muslims should be alert against the schemes and plots planned by the
enemies of Islam. They are the ones that want us to disagree and fight
each other. Now they resort to another scheme by filling our minds
with hatred against one another under the name of belief. We should
not give them this chance.
It is important for the Sunnis to concentrate on the points of
agreement, not difference, when having dialogues with the Shiites,
especially that the points of agreement are on the fundamental issues
of religion, while the points of difference have to do with the minor
ones.
Points of Agreement
1. They believe in Almighty Allah, the Day of Judgment, Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as the Seal of Prophets who
was sent by Almighty Allah (to mankind and jinn) to complete the
Heavenly Messages sent before him. Believing in all that Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent with is part of
having faith in all the Heavenly Books and all Allah's Messengers
(peace and blessings be upon them). Allah Almighty says: (The
Messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his
Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels
and His scriptures and His messengers—we make no distinction between
any of His messengers—and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant
us)Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying) (Al-Baqarah
2: 285). These are the pillars of faith on which both groups agree on.
2. They believe in the Glorious Qur'an as Allah's illuminating Book
that guides to the right path. Allah Almighty says: (We have, without
doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from
corruption)) (Al-Hijr 15: 9). [Message in this verse refers to the
Glorious Qur'an.] There is no difference between the Sunnis and
Shiites concerning the Qur'an being Almighty Allah's word. It is on
this Book that religious scholars depend in holding comparative
dialogues with people of other religions, concluding juristic
opinions, guidance, etc. Allah Almighty says: (So judge between them
by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but
beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which
Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that
Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! And truly
most men are rebellious. Is it a judgment of the time of (pagan)
ignorance that they are seeking? Who is better than Allah for judgment
to a people who have certainty (in their belief)?) (Al-Ma'idah 5:
49-50)
According to this verse, Allah Almighty warned the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) against succumbing to the desires of the People
of the Book or other misled people when it came to judging between
them, lest they might cause him to deviate from some part of what
Allah revealed to him. This indicates that all that Allah has revealed
should be followed by Muslims.
3. Both groups also agree that Muslims are to abide by the Five
Pillars of Islam, i.e., to testify that there is no god but Allah and
that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His Messenger, to
perform the specified prayers, to give zakah, to observe fast in the
month Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage. The difference in opinion
between the two groups regarding some rulings pertaining to these
pillars is something that is quite normal. It is like the scholarly
difference in opinion among the Sunni schools themselves, such as the
Hanbali, Hanifi, and Maliki schools.
Relevant books on the different juristic points of view, like Nail
Al-Awtar by Imam Ash-Shawakani (may Allah have mercy upon him), refer
to eminent scholars of jurisprudence from among the Sunnis and Shiites
on equal footing. Reading one of these books, one does not feel that
there is a crucial difference between the Shiite schools and the Sunni
ones. This does not apply only to the acts of worship, it includes
also transactions.
It is true that the Shiites do not recognize the Sunni reference books
on the Prophetic hadiths, such as Al-Muwatta' by Imam Malik, Imam
Ahmad's Musnad, Sahih Al-Bukhari, SahihMuslim, Sunnan Abu Dawud, Sunan
Ibn Majah, Sunnan Ad-Daramy. However, most of the authentic hadiths
referred to in these books were also regarded as authentic by the
Shiites through one of two ways: regarding them as Prophetic hadiths
reported by other chains of reporters agreed upon among them as
trustworthy, or regarding them as points of view (not Prophetic
hadiths) peculiar to their Shiite imams.
Anyway, the most important point to be taken into account is that
there is a great deal of agreement between the Sunni jurisprudence and
the Shiite one. This is because both depend on the same sources, the
Qur'an and the Sunnah, and also because their aims in conducting
research on religion are similar, that is, establishing Allah's
justice and mercy among people.
Furthermore, if we are to make serious researches on the Sunni
opinions, we will find that some Shiite views that seem eccentric to
us have been also adopted by some Sunni scholars.
We have seen all over the world how all the religious groups and sects
try to reconcile their differences; the Jews are trying to have common
ground with the Christians, so they claim innocence to what the
history records of the Jews' responsibility in crucifying Jesus. The
same happens among the Christians as they are trying to bring together
all the Christian denominations around the world.
Amidst all these amiable gestures, where do we Muslims stand? Why do
we kindle the fire of disagreement? What is the reason for all this
argument about Shi`ah as if they are not Muslims? Let it be known to
all that the Shi`ah are Muslims who believe in the Oneness of Allah
and the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Yes, there is no doubt that the Shi`ah have their beliefs and dogmas
which we condemn as heresy but this doesn't make them non-Muslims. We
should try to make use of what we have in common for the benefit of
all Muslims. No one can deny that all Muslims, Sunni and Shi`ah,
condemn the Zionists and what they do against our brethren in
Palestine. We maintain the same view concerning the persecution of
Muslims in many parts of the world. This means that we have many
things in common, which should be the pivot of our interaction. All
Muslims should be alert against the schemes and plots planned by the
enemies of Islam. They are the ones that want us to disagree and fight
each other. Now they resort to another scheme by filling our minds
with hatred against one another under the name of belief. We should
not give them this chance.
It is important for the Sunnis to concentrate on the points of
agreement, not difference, when having dialogues with the Shiites,
especially that the points of agreement are on the fundamental issues
of religion, while the points of difference have to do with the minor
ones.
Points of Agreement
1. They believe in Almighty Allah, the Day of Judgment, Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as the Seal of Prophets who
was sent by Almighty Allah (to mankind and jinn) to complete the
Heavenly Messages sent before him. Believing in all that Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent with is part of
having faith in all the Heavenly Books and all Allah's Messengers
(peace and blessings be upon them). Allah Almighty says: (The
Messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his
Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels
and His scriptures and His messengers—we make no distinction between
any of His messengers—and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant
us)Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying) (Al-Baqarah
2: 285). These are the pillars of faith on which both groups agree on.
2. They believe in the Glorious Qur'an as Allah's illuminating Book
that guides to the right path. Allah Almighty says: (We have, without
doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from
corruption)) (Al-Hijr 15: 9). [Message in this verse refers to the
Glorious Qur'an.] There is no difference between the Sunnis and
Shiites concerning the Qur'an being Almighty Allah's word. It is on
this Book that religious scholars depend in holding comparative
dialogues with people of other religions, concluding juristic
opinions, guidance, etc. Allah Almighty says: (So judge between them
by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but
beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which
Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that
Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! And truly
most men are rebellious. Is it a judgment of the time of (pagan)
ignorance that they are seeking? Who is better than Allah for judgment
to a people who have certainty (in their belief)?) (Al-Ma'idah 5:
49-50)
According to this verse, Allah Almighty warned the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) against succumbing to the desires of the People
of the Book or other misled people when it came to judging between
them, lest they might cause him to deviate from some part of what
Allah revealed to him. This indicates that all that Allah has revealed
should be followed by Muslims.
3. Both groups also agree that Muslims are to abide by the Five
Pillars of Islam, i.e., to testify that there is no god but Allah and
that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His Messenger, to
perform the specified prayers, to give zakah, to observe fast in the
month Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage. The difference in opinion
between the two groups regarding some rulings pertaining to these
pillars is something that is quite normal. It is like the scholarly
difference in opinion among the Sunni schools themselves, such as the
Hanbali, Hanifi, and Maliki schools.
Relevant books on the different juristic points of view, like Nail
Al-Awtar by Imam Ash-Shawakani (may Allah have mercy upon him), refer
to eminent scholars of jurisprudence from among the Sunnis and Shiites
on equal footing. Reading one of these books, one does not feel that
there is a crucial difference between the Shiite schools and the Sunni
ones. This does not apply only to the acts of worship, it includes
also transactions.
It is true that the Shiites do not recognize the Sunni reference books
on the Prophetic hadiths, such as Al-Muwatta' by Imam Malik, Imam
Ahmad's Musnad, Sahih Al-Bukhari, SahihMuslim, Sunnan Abu Dawud, Sunan
Ibn Majah, Sunnan Ad-Daramy. However, most of the authentic hadiths
referred to in these books were also regarded as authentic by the
Shiites through one of two ways: regarding them as Prophetic hadiths
reported by other chains of reporters agreed upon among them as
trustworthy, or regarding them as points of view (not Prophetic
hadiths) peculiar to their Shiite imams.
Anyway, the most important point to be taken into account is that
there is a great deal of agreement between the Sunni jurisprudence and
the Shiite one. This is because both depend on the same sources, the
Qur'an and the Sunnah, and also because their aims in conducting
research on religion are similar, that is, establishing Allah's
justice and mercy among people.
Furthermore, if we are to make serious researches on the Sunni
opinions, we will find that some Shiite views that seem eccentric to
us have been also adopted by some Sunni scholars.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
HAMAS : Pesanan Buat Umat Islam di Malaysia
(Ini adalah pesanan Dr Khalil al-Haya mewakili HAMAS di Palestin untuk umat Islam di Malaysia. Beliau telah berada di Malaysia pada tarikh 11 Mei-17 Mei 2006 untuk siri kempen "Bersama Menyokong Rakyat Palestin dan kerajaan HAMAS". Pesanan ini telah diterjemahkan oleh Maszlee Malik di atas permintaan Dr Khalil)
Alhamdulillah, Allah telah memilih kami yang berada di Palestin untuk berjihad. Kami telah dipilih untuk menjadi barisan hadapan kepada umat Islam. Kami telah dipilih oleh Allah SWT untuk mengorbankan jiwa, nyawa, harta, anak-anak kami untuk menentang musuh Allah dan mempertahankan Masjid al-Aqsa. Kami juga telah dipilih oleh Allah SWT untuk mewakili umat Islam di seluruh dunia untuk menjadi benteng pertahanan kepada al-Aqsa, kiblat pertama umat Islam dan juga masjid ketiga suci mereka. Kami juga telah dipilih oleh Allah untuk menjadikan mati syahid sebagai impian utama kehidupan kami berbanding kehidupan dunia. Selama lebih daripada 60 tahun, kami hidup di medan pertempuran. Selama waktu itu jugalah kami dijajah, dizalimi, diseksa, dibunuh dan juga diperangi. Mengapa?, hanya kerana kami mengucapkan La Ilaha Ila Allah, dan kerana kami mempertahankan bumi serta masjid kami.
Pelbagai bentuk kesengsaraan telah rakyat Palestin lalui. Pengusiran dari rumah, kampung halaman, dan juga tanah watan. Dibunuh, diseksa, ditembak, dibom, dibantai, disembelih dan apa-apa lagi perbuatan tidak bertamadun yang boleh diungkapkan, telah kami lalui. Generasi berganti generasi, umat Islam di Palestin tetap sabar dan komited untuk terus kekal dan mempertahankan tanah air mereka. Ianya adalah jihad, ianya adalah kemuliaan, ianya adalah bukti yang ingin kami bawa sebagai mahar ke syurga nanti. Semoga Allah menerima pengorbanan kami ini.
Ketika di waktu awal penjajahan, kami, saudara anda dari gerakan Islam telah menjadi barisan utama perjuangan. Selepas beberapa waktu, gerakan Islam telah dibantai penjajah. Pembantaian itu walau bagaimanapun tidak cukup untuk melemahkan kami. Sehinggalah di zaman Jamal Abdul Naser, sepertimana saudara-saudara kita di Mesir dibantai, kami juga turut menerima kesannya. Semenjak tarikh tersebut,gerakan Islam terpaksa kembali ke bawah tanah. Kmai telah menumpukan usaha untuk pembinaan semula struktur perjuangan. Usaha pendidikan, dakwah, tarbiyyah dan kebajikan telah menjadi agenda utama kami. Kami laluinya dengan penuh kesabaran dan ketabahan. Sehinggalah di pertengahan 80'an. Apabila arus sekular telah mula jemu dengan perjuangan. Ketika arus sekular yang asalnya memandu perjuangan rakyat Palestin telah mula lesu. Kami mula memunculkan diri sebagai peneraju perjuangan rakyat Palestin. Perjuangan kami berbeza dengan perjuangan sebelum ini. Perjuangan kami adalah berteraskan
Islam dan kami membawa mesej ummah. Perjuangan kami bukan hanya sekadar ingin memerdekakan sekeping tanah, tetapi untuk memandu kebangkitan umat Islam semula dan meninggikan syiar Islam di muka bumi ini.
HAMAS, semenjak hari pertama penubuhannya telah menjadikan jihad sebagai jalan utama untuk memerdekakan bumi Palestin. HAMAS juga telah menjadikan Islam sebagai landasan perjuangannya. HAMAS juga telah memberikan nyawa ahli-ahli mereka untuk tujuan tersebut. HAMAS juga telah berjanji dengan rakyat Palestin dan juga kepada umat Islam untuk terus komited dengan perjuangan mereka. HAMAS juga berjanji untuk memerdekakan masjid al-Aqsa walaupun terpaksa berjuang dengan kuku dan gigi sahaja. Itulah janji kami.
Selepas hampir 20 tahun berjuang, Allah memberikan hasilnya kepada perjuangan HAMAS. Kami diberi kepercayaan oleh rakyat untuk memerintah mereka. Kemenangan ini, walaupun indah, namun ianya merupakan ujian yang getir bagi kami. Kemenangan tersebut merupakan era baru perjuangan HAMAS. Kami terpaksa menambahkan satu lagi ruang di dalam perjuangan kami, iaitu ruangan politik pemerintahan. Semakin bertambahnya beban, semakin tingginya perngorbanan.
Buat umat Islam di Malaysia, andalah saudara kami yang paling hampir di Malaysia. Hati-hati kita telah diikat dengan fikrah dan aqidah yang sama. Kita telah dihimpunkan di dalam ikatan kerohanian yang jitu. Kita telah ditakdirkan untuk bersama di dalam perjuangan dengan manhaj yang sama. Kami adalah wakil anda di Palestin. Kemenangan kami adalah kemenangan anda. Pemerintahan kami adalah pemerintahan anda. Kerajaan HAMAS adalah kerajaan umat Islam dan hadiah buat perjuangan pecinta Islam di seluruh dunia. Tidakkah anda sedar perkara ini?, jika anda tidak sedarkan perkara ini siapakah lagi yang akan menyedarinya???
Umat Islam di Malaysia sekelian, menjadi pemerintah bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah. Apatah lagi memerintah di dalam fasa penjajahan dan peperangan. Apatah lagi jika pemerintahn itu hanyalah memerintah sebuah negara yang tidak berdaulat dan dinafikan kedaulatannya. Apatah lagi apabila memerintah sebuah negara yang menjadi sasaran keganasan penjajah Zionis yang didokongi oleh kuasa besar dunia yang zalim. Apatah lagi pemerintahan tersebut adalah mewarisi pemerintahan sebelumnya yang meninggalkan beban hutang sebanyak USD 3 billion di dalam akaun kerajaan. Inilah realiti kerajaan yang kami terajui. Inilah juga realiti kerajaan yang diterajui oleh HAMAS di Palestin. Inilah realiti kerajaan yang mewakili anda semua di seluruh dunia.
Sehingga kini, para pegawai kerajaan, termasuk para menteri, tidak menerima gaji semenjak 3 bulan yang lalu. Tahap pengangguran telah mencaai 31% di Gaza dan Tebing Barat. Bekalan makanan dan petrol semakin berkurangan. Ubat-ubatan di hospital semakin kehabisan. Baru-baru ini, tiga orang bayi telah meninggal di hospital di Gaza kerana ketiadaan ubat-ubatan yang mencukupi. Pelajar-pelajar tidak akan dapat menduduki peperiksaan kerana kehabisan kertas di sekolah-sekolah di Gaza dan Tebing Barat. Hatta, persidangan parlimen (Majlis Legaslatif) kami di Gaza hampir-hampir dibatalkan kerana kekurangan kertas.
Mengapa ini semua?, ianya adalah kerana keberkesanan tekanan yang dikenakan ke atas rakyat Palestin oleh rejim Zionis, AS dan juga EU. Tekanan yang dikenakan hanya semata-mata rakyat Palestin telah memilih calon yang mereka inginkan di dalam pilihanraya yang lalu. Tekanan yang dikenakan kerana kami enggan menurut ugutan mereka supaya mengiktiraf penjajahan Zionis. Tekanan juga dikenakan kerana kami ingin mempertahankan diri kami daripada dibunuh oleh pihak penjajah. Sampai bilakah tekanan ini akan berakhir?
Wang hasil kutipan cukai kami yang berjumlah USD 55 juta sebulan tidak pernah dipulangkan kepada rakyat Palestin.Rejim Zionis telah mengambilnya dari kami dan tidak pernah dipaksa untuk memulangkannya kepada kami. Mengapa tiada kuasa yang memaksa rejim Zionis untuk memulangkannya. Mereka juga telah menutup laluan udara, darat dan laut kepada tanah Palestin. Ekonomi kami berada di tangan rejim Zionis kerana perjanjian gila dan bodoh yang telah dipersetujui oleh kerajaan sebelum ini. Walau bagaimanapun, kami tidak mengharapkan itu semua.
Kami yakin, saudara-saudara seislam kami masih dapat membantu kami. Kami yakin saudara seaqidah kami akan dapat menampung keperluan rakyat Palestin dan mencukupinya. Kami yakin juga, saudara seaqidah kami di seluruh dunia akan dapat membuatkan kami terus hidup dan tidak bergantung kepada bantuan-bantuan daripada negara-negara bukan Islam, apatah lagi dari rejim Zionis. Persoalannya, di manakah saudara-saudara kami? Di manakah mereka di kala kami memerlukan mereka?
Wahai umat Islam di Malaysia. Kami mengharapkan agar anda mengepalai kempen untuk menyelamatkan kerajaan HAMAS di bumi Malaysia ini. Kami hanya mempunyai dua pilihan. Pertamanya, tunduk kepada tekanan AS dan EU lantas mengiktiraf Israel demi menghilangkan kesengsaraan rakyat. Pilihan yang kedua adalah teruskan berjuang dan tidak sekali-kali tunduk kepada tekanan. Kami telah memilih pilihan yang kedua. Kami akan terus berjuang ke titisan darah terakhir kami. Kami tidak akan sekali-kali mengiktiraf penjajah. Kami tidak akan sekali-kali tunduk kepada tekanan. Malangnya rakyat hanya boleh bertahan selama enam bulan. Tiap-tiap hari, rakyat mengadakan perarakan menyokong kerajaan dan menggesa agar kerajaan HAMAS tidak tunduk kepada tekanan. Kami yakin, rakyat akan terus menyokong, tetapi sampai bila?, perut mereka akan kosong. Kami tidak akan membiarkan rakyat kami kelaparan dan sakit tanpa rawatan. Kami perlukan bantuan anda untuk melakukannya. Mahukah anda melihat kerajaan
HAMAS di Palestin membiarkan rakyatnya kelaparan?
Umat Islam di Malaysia sekelian,
Kami akan terus berjuang. Kami akan terus tetap dalam perjuangan sehinggalah setiap daripada kami akan gugur syahid. Kami akan terus memastikan prinsip Islam akan terus dijulang. Namun kami memerlukan sokongan dan bantuan anda.
Jikalau kami gugur syahid, dan anda sekelian terus diam membisu dan hanya menyaksikan sahaja, nantikan hari pembalasan. Kami akan tuntut dari Allah di atas kelembapan anda semua. Kami tidak akan redha terhadap kelesuan dan kebisuan anda semua. Kai tidak akan memaafkannya.
Umat Islam di Malaysia,
Kami mengharapkan agar anda bersikap pro-aktif. Kami mengharapkan agar anda menyumbang USD 1 (RM 3.60) setahun sahaja untuk menanggung kesengsaraan rakyat Palestin.
Kami juga mengharapkan agar anda melobi kerajaan anda yang menjadi pengerusi OIC untuk melakukan sesuatu.
Kami juga berharap dari anda untuk melakukan kempen kesedaran, dan libatkan masyarakat Malaysia, termasuk pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan Islam untuk turut membantu rakyat Palestin.
Kami juga inign melihat anda menjadi juara di peringkat antarabangsa di dalam kempen kesedaran ini.
Banjiri media anda dengan isu Palestin dan al-Aqsa. Halakan mereka untuk menyokong perjuangan rakyat Palestin.
Kepalailah usaha serantau untuk tujuan tersebut, andalah harapan kami.
Dan akhir sekali, kami mengharapkan agar anda tidak melupakan kami di dalam doa-doa anda sekelian. Berdoalah agar kami thabat di dalam perjuangan. Berdoalah agar kami tetap di dalam perjuangan kami. Berdoalah agar kami dikurniakan mati syahid. Berdoalah juga, agar kita dapat bersama-sama bersolat di dalam Masjid al-Aqsa satu hari nanti, di mana pada waktu itu, bendera Islam akan berkibar dan syariat Allah akan berdaulat sekali lagi di atas muka bumi ini...
Allah Akbar!!!
Saudaramu,
Khalil Ismail al-Haya
Ketua Whip HAMAS di Majlis Legaslatif Palestin,
Kuala Lumpur,
14 Mei 2006.
Alhamdulillah, Allah telah memilih kami yang berada di Palestin untuk berjihad. Kami telah dipilih untuk menjadi barisan hadapan kepada umat Islam. Kami telah dipilih oleh Allah SWT untuk mengorbankan jiwa, nyawa, harta, anak-anak kami untuk menentang musuh Allah dan mempertahankan Masjid al-Aqsa. Kami juga telah dipilih oleh Allah SWT untuk mewakili umat Islam di seluruh dunia untuk menjadi benteng pertahanan kepada al-Aqsa, kiblat pertama umat Islam dan juga masjid ketiga suci mereka. Kami juga telah dipilih oleh Allah untuk menjadikan mati syahid sebagai impian utama kehidupan kami berbanding kehidupan dunia. Selama lebih daripada 60 tahun, kami hidup di medan pertempuran. Selama waktu itu jugalah kami dijajah, dizalimi, diseksa, dibunuh dan juga diperangi. Mengapa?, hanya kerana kami mengucapkan La Ilaha Ila Allah, dan kerana kami mempertahankan bumi serta masjid kami.
Pelbagai bentuk kesengsaraan telah rakyat Palestin lalui. Pengusiran dari rumah, kampung halaman, dan juga tanah watan. Dibunuh, diseksa, ditembak, dibom, dibantai, disembelih dan apa-apa lagi perbuatan tidak bertamadun yang boleh diungkapkan, telah kami lalui. Generasi berganti generasi, umat Islam di Palestin tetap sabar dan komited untuk terus kekal dan mempertahankan tanah air mereka. Ianya adalah jihad, ianya adalah kemuliaan, ianya adalah bukti yang ingin kami bawa sebagai mahar ke syurga nanti. Semoga Allah menerima pengorbanan kami ini.
Ketika di waktu awal penjajahan, kami, saudara anda dari gerakan Islam telah menjadi barisan utama perjuangan. Selepas beberapa waktu, gerakan Islam telah dibantai penjajah. Pembantaian itu walau bagaimanapun tidak cukup untuk melemahkan kami. Sehinggalah di zaman Jamal Abdul Naser, sepertimana saudara-saudara kita di Mesir dibantai, kami juga turut menerima kesannya. Semenjak tarikh tersebut,gerakan Islam terpaksa kembali ke bawah tanah. Kmai telah menumpukan usaha untuk pembinaan semula struktur perjuangan. Usaha pendidikan, dakwah, tarbiyyah dan kebajikan telah menjadi agenda utama kami. Kami laluinya dengan penuh kesabaran dan ketabahan. Sehinggalah di pertengahan 80'an. Apabila arus sekular telah mula jemu dengan perjuangan. Ketika arus sekular yang asalnya memandu perjuangan rakyat Palestin telah mula lesu. Kami mula memunculkan diri sebagai peneraju perjuangan rakyat Palestin. Perjuangan kami berbeza dengan perjuangan sebelum ini. Perjuangan kami adalah berteraskan
Islam dan kami membawa mesej ummah. Perjuangan kami bukan hanya sekadar ingin memerdekakan sekeping tanah, tetapi untuk memandu kebangkitan umat Islam semula dan meninggikan syiar Islam di muka bumi ini.
HAMAS, semenjak hari pertama penubuhannya telah menjadikan jihad sebagai jalan utama untuk memerdekakan bumi Palestin. HAMAS juga telah menjadikan Islam sebagai landasan perjuangannya. HAMAS juga telah memberikan nyawa ahli-ahli mereka untuk tujuan tersebut. HAMAS juga telah berjanji dengan rakyat Palestin dan juga kepada umat Islam untuk terus komited dengan perjuangan mereka. HAMAS juga berjanji untuk memerdekakan masjid al-Aqsa walaupun terpaksa berjuang dengan kuku dan gigi sahaja. Itulah janji kami.
Selepas hampir 20 tahun berjuang, Allah memberikan hasilnya kepada perjuangan HAMAS. Kami diberi kepercayaan oleh rakyat untuk memerintah mereka. Kemenangan ini, walaupun indah, namun ianya merupakan ujian yang getir bagi kami. Kemenangan tersebut merupakan era baru perjuangan HAMAS. Kami terpaksa menambahkan satu lagi ruang di dalam perjuangan kami, iaitu ruangan politik pemerintahan. Semakin bertambahnya beban, semakin tingginya perngorbanan.
Buat umat Islam di Malaysia, andalah saudara kami yang paling hampir di Malaysia. Hati-hati kita telah diikat dengan fikrah dan aqidah yang sama. Kita telah dihimpunkan di dalam ikatan kerohanian yang jitu. Kita telah ditakdirkan untuk bersama di dalam perjuangan dengan manhaj yang sama. Kami adalah wakil anda di Palestin. Kemenangan kami adalah kemenangan anda. Pemerintahan kami adalah pemerintahan anda. Kerajaan HAMAS adalah kerajaan umat Islam dan hadiah buat perjuangan pecinta Islam di seluruh dunia. Tidakkah anda sedar perkara ini?, jika anda tidak sedarkan perkara ini siapakah lagi yang akan menyedarinya???
Umat Islam di Malaysia sekelian, menjadi pemerintah bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah. Apatah lagi memerintah di dalam fasa penjajahan dan peperangan. Apatah lagi jika pemerintahn itu hanyalah memerintah sebuah negara yang tidak berdaulat dan dinafikan kedaulatannya. Apatah lagi apabila memerintah sebuah negara yang menjadi sasaran keganasan penjajah Zionis yang didokongi oleh kuasa besar dunia yang zalim. Apatah lagi pemerintahan tersebut adalah mewarisi pemerintahan sebelumnya yang meninggalkan beban hutang sebanyak USD 3 billion di dalam akaun kerajaan. Inilah realiti kerajaan yang kami terajui. Inilah juga realiti kerajaan yang diterajui oleh HAMAS di Palestin. Inilah realiti kerajaan yang mewakili anda semua di seluruh dunia.
Sehingga kini, para pegawai kerajaan, termasuk para menteri, tidak menerima gaji semenjak 3 bulan yang lalu. Tahap pengangguran telah mencaai 31% di Gaza dan Tebing Barat. Bekalan makanan dan petrol semakin berkurangan. Ubat-ubatan di hospital semakin kehabisan. Baru-baru ini, tiga orang bayi telah meninggal di hospital di Gaza kerana ketiadaan ubat-ubatan yang mencukupi. Pelajar-pelajar tidak akan dapat menduduki peperiksaan kerana kehabisan kertas di sekolah-sekolah di Gaza dan Tebing Barat. Hatta, persidangan parlimen (Majlis Legaslatif) kami di Gaza hampir-hampir dibatalkan kerana kekurangan kertas.
Mengapa ini semua?, ianya adalah kerana keberkesanan tekanan yang dikenakan ke atas rakyat Palestin oleh rejim Zionis, AS dan juga EU. Tekanan yang dikenakan hanya semata-mata rakyat Palestin telah memilih calon yang mereka inginkan di dalam pilihanraya yang lalu. Tekanan yang dikenakan kerana kami enggan menurut ugutan mereka supaya mengiktiraf penjajahan Zionis. Tekanan juga dikenakan kerana kami ingin mempertahankan diri kami daripada dibunuh oleh pihak penjajah. Sampai bilakah tekanan ini akan berakhir?
Wang hasil kutipan cukai kami yang berjumlah USD 55 juta sebulan tidak pernah dipulangkan kepada rakyat Palestin.Rejim Zionis telah mengambilnya dari kami dan tidak pernah dipaksa untuk memulangkannya kepada kami. Mengapa tiada kuasa yang memaksa rejim Zionis untuk memulangkannya. Mereka juga telah menutup laluan udara, darat dan laut kepada tanah Palestin. Ekonomi kami berada di tangan rejim Zionis kerana perjanjian gila dan bodoh yang telah dipersetujui oleh kerajaan sebelum ini. Walau bagaimanapun, kami tidak mengharapkan itu semua.
Kami yakin, saudara-saudara seislam kami masih dapat membantu kami. Kami yakin saudara seaqidah kami akan dapat menampung keperluan rakyat Palestin dan mencukupinya. Kami yakin juga, saudara seaqidah kami di seluruh dunia akan dapat membuatkan kami terus hidup dan tidak bergantung kepada bantuan-bantuan daripada negara-negara bukan Islam, apatah lagi dari rejim Zionis. Persoalannya, di manakah saudara-saudara kami? Di manakah mereka di kala kami memerlukan mereka?
Wahai umat Islam di Malaysia. Kami mengharapkan agar anda mengepalai kempen untuk menyelamatkan kerajaan HAMAS di bumi Malaysia ini. Kami hanya mempunyai dua pilihan. Pertamanya, tunduk kepada tekanan AS dan EU lantas mengiktiraf Israel demi menghilangkan kesengsaraan rakyat. Pilihan yang kedua adalah teruskan berjuang dan tidak sekali-kali tunduk kepada tekanan. Kami telah memilih pilihan yang kedua. Kami akan terus berjuang ke titisan darah terakhir kami. Kami tidak akan sekali-kali mengiktiraf penjajah. Kami tidak akan sekali-kali tunduk kepada tekanan. Malangnya rakyat hanya boleh bertahan selama enam bulan. Tiap-tiap hari, rakyat mengadakan perarakan menyokong kerajaan dan menggesa agar kerajaan HAMAS tidak tunduk kepada tekanan. Kami yakin, rakyat akan terus menyokong, tetapi sampai bila?, perut mereka akan kosong. Kami tidak akan membiarkan rakyat kami kelaparan dan sakit tanpa rawatan. Kami perlukan bantuan anda untuk melakukannya. Mahukah anda melihat kerajaan
HAMAS di Palestin membiarkan rakyatnya kelaparan?
Umat Islam di Malaysia sekelian,
Kami akan terus berjuang. Kami akan terus tetap dalam perjuangan sehinggalah setiap daripada kami akan gugur syahid. Kami akan terus memastikan prinsip Islam akan terus dijulang. Namun kami memerlukan sokongan dan bantuan anda.
Jikalau kami gugur syahid, dan anda sekelian terus diam membisu dan hanya menyaksikan sahaja, nantikan hari pembalasan. Kami akan tuntut dari Allah di atas kelembapan anda semua. Kami tidak akan redha terhadap kelesuan dan kebisuan anda semua. Kai tidak akan memaafkannya.
Umat Islam di Malaysia,
Kami mengharapkan agar anda bersikap pro-aktif. Kami mengharapkan agar anda menyumbang USD 1 (RM 3.60) setahun sahaja untuk menanggung kesengsaraan rakyat Palestin.
Kami juga mengharapkan agar anda melobi kerajaan anda yang menjadi pengerusi OIC untuk melakukan sesuatu.
Kami juga berharap dari anda untuk melakukan kempen kesedaran, dan libatkan masyarakat Malaysia, termasuk pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan Islam untuk turut membantu rakyat Palestin.
Kami juga inign melihat anda menjadi juara di peringkat antarabangsa di dalam kempen kesedaran ini.
Banjiri media anda dengan isu Palestin dan al-Aqsa. Halakan mereka untuk menyokong perjuangan rakyat Palestin.
Kepalailah usaha serantau untuk tujuan tersebut, andalah harapan kami.
Dan akhir sekali, kami mengharapkan agar anda tidak melupakan kami di dalam doa-doa anda sekelian. Berdoalah agar kami thabat di dalam perjuangan. Berdoalah agar kami tetap di dalam perjuangan kami. Berdoalah agar kami dikurniakan mati syahid. Berdoalah juga, agar kita dapat bersama-sama bersolat di dalam Masjid al-Aqsa satu hari nanti, di mana pada waktu itu, bendera Islam akan berkibar dan syariat Allah akan berdaulat sekali lagi di atas muka bumi ini...
Allah Akbar!!!
Saudaramu,
Khalil Ismail al-Haya
Ketua Whip HAMAS di Majlis Legaslatif Palestin,
Kuala Lumpur,
14 Mei 2006.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
JAMAAH ITU KEPERLUAN, UMMAH ITU TUJUAN
Artikel yang baik dr ust hasrizal jamil bagi menjawab pemikiran ummah centric ustaz maszlee malik.
"SAYA kena sertai semua kumpulan. Kalau ikut satu sahaja, nanti jadi Jamaah Centric!", kata seorang siswa.
"Lebih baik aku bebas. Tak terikat dengan mana-mana kumpulan. Mana-mana ada kelas pengajian, aku akan pergi. Ini baru Ummah Centric", komen seorang pelajar pula.
Kebelakangan ini, isu Jamaah Centric Vs. Ummah Centric hangat diperbincangkan oleh masyarakat kita. Hal ini lebih ketara dilihat berlaku di kalangan masyarakat pelajar yang lebih dekat kepada sumber gagasan idea ini iaitu al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik, seorang pensyarah di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa. Pelbagai bentuk maklum balas yang timbul, sama ada dalam bentuk perkataan dan tulisan, mahu pun tindak tanduk yang mencetuskan satu senario di kampus hari ini.
Di peringkat awal, saya mengambil lontaran idea ini sebagai sesuatu yang wajar diberikan persetujuan, sekurang-kurangnya pada isi-isi utama yang diketengahkan melalui artikel di Majalah I. Pada saya, idea awal di bawah kerangka pemikiran Ummah Centric mempunyai tujuan yang harmoni iaitu ke arah keterbukaan pemikiran semua individu yang terlibat di dalam gerakan Islam untuk meraikan perbezaan pandangan sesama mereka, menuju kepada kepentingan makro iaitu maslahah Ummah sejagat. Saya boleh bersetuju di peringkat ini.
Akan tetapi, selepas menonton VCD ceramah Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik di rumah Kapten Hafiz Firdaus, saya menjadi keliru dan penerimaan saya terhadap idea tersebut terganggu. Saya menontonnya buat kali yang kedua, dan keserabutan fikiran saya akibatnya, makin ketara. Saya terpaksa mengambil masa yang panjang untuk menyusun cabang-cabang fikiran saya dan akhirnya, menulislah yang boleh menjadi cara terbaik untuk saya strukturkan kefahaman saya terhadap gagasan Ummah Centric yang dikemukakan oleh al-Fadhil ustaz.
Tambahan pula, Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik adalah rakan sepengajian saya. Kami saling mengenali semenjak 1993 dan saya menghormatinya sebagai seorang rakan yang ilmuan. Maka saya berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mengenengahkan analisa ini dengan tatasusila peribahasa Melayu kita, "seperti menarik rambut di dalam tepung; rambut tak putus, tepung tak tumpah". Mudah-mudahan apa yang saya tulis ini benar-benar dapat dibaca dengan bahasa dakwah dan diskusi ilmiah tanpa ada sebarang persepsi peribadi serta prejudis yang menyalahi kebenaran.
MERAIKAN PERBEZAAN
Keterbukaan kumpulan-kumpulan Islam untuk bertolak ansur terhadap perbezaan sesama mereka, adalah suatu tuntutan yang memang tidak dapat dinafikan. Ia menjadi kunci kepada sejauh mana mereka boleh memberi kesan yang berbekas di tengah masyarakat, dan sejauh mana masyarakat boleh memberikan kepercayaan untuk suara Islam memimpin arus perdana.
Saya percaya, keupayaan untuk bekerjasama di antara kumpulan-kumpulan Islam ini sudah pun terlaksana di peringkat pemimpin, malah menjadi pendekatan 'rasmi' bagi hubungan diplomatik antara kumpulan. Walau bagaimana pun, impian pemimpin untuk mewujudkan keharmonian antara kumpulan Islam di peringkat akar umbi, tidak semudah melakarkannya di atas kertas. Pergeseran berlaku dari semasa ke semasa, walaupun masing-masing sedar yang fenomena malang itu menjadi bahan ketawa golongan Islam liberal yang sinis.
Malah kadang-kadang kumpulan Islam ini menerima padah sehingga menjadi seperti Pak Pandir yang menang bersorak, tetapi kampungnya tergadai. Kumpulan Islam tumbang di kampus-kampus, dan berleluasalah maksiat dan hedonisma sebagai budaya kampus hari ini. Tiada lagi amar makruf dan nahi munkar, hasil kesalahan sendiri yang mempertaruhkan kampung, semata-mata mahu memenangkan ayam laga masing-masing.
Saya kira, mungkin inilah latar belakang kepada timbulnya idea Ummah Centric oleh al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik. Beliau yang bertugas sebagai pensyarah universiti dan setiap harinya adalah bersama masyarakat kampus, tentu mahu melihat kepada penyelesaian fenomena yang merugikan ini. Saya suka untuk bersama dengan beliau di dalam niat yang murni itu.
Namun, tembakan peluru yang tidak menepati sasaran, akan hanya menghasilkan satu antara dua. Sama ada kita bazirkan peluru, atau paling malang, ada pihak lain yang tidak bersalah terbunuh akibat peluru sesat itu tadi. Ketika kita mahu merawat TAASUB ahli kumpulan kepada idea kumpulannya, yang tersinggung bukanlah SIKAP dan PEMIKIRAN TAASUB tersebut, tetapi konsep berkumpulan dan berJAMAAH itu yang menjadi mangsa peluru sesat berkenaan.
Lantas timbul idea Jamaah vs. Ummah. Apakah kepentingan Jamaah secara default bertentangan dengan kepentingan Ummah? Apakah yang boleh wujud hanyalah Ummah, manakala Jamaah pula menjadi batu penghalang kepada gagasan Ummah? Mengapa mesti Jamaah VERSUS Ummah? Mengapa tidak Jamaah DAN Ummah? Inilah yang cuba saya fikirkan, bahawa apakah ada kontra di antara kedua-duanya, lantas perlu memilih satu antara dua, atau saya perlu lari dari dua pilihan itu, dan sebaliknya berfikir di luar kotak?
Pertamanya, saya perlu memasang pasak, bahawa berjemaah itu bukan sahaja tuntutan Syariat, malah ia sebenarnya adalah Sunnatullah. Allah SWT telah menetapkan fitrah manusia yang berhajatkan kepada hidup berkumpulan. Sendirian itu sunyi, lantas Adam memerlukan kepada Hawwa. Sekumpulan itu sukar, lantas manusia berkumpul-kumpulan dan saling bertukar hasil untuk memenuhi keperluan hidup masing-masing. Kumpulan nelayan perlukan kepada kumpulan petani. Kedua-dua kumpulan itu perlu pula kepada kumpulan penternak, lantas hasil keperluan itu, timbulnya kumpulan peniaga yang konsep asalnya adalah untuk saling membantu mengisi keperluan sesama kita.
Itu adalah fitrah manusia yang perlukan Jamaah untuk mengisi keperluan hidupnya.
Islam sebagai agama fitrah, menjadikan konsep berjemaah itu sebagai kerangka teras ajarannya. Peranan manusia sebagai Khalifah adalah untuk mengimarahkan 'hablun minannaas'. Kita saling berkhidmat di antara satu sama lain, kerana kita khalifah kepada Allah yang mahukan kita bersyukur kepada-Nya dengan melakukan kebaikan sesama manusia. Manakala kita sebagai hamba Allah, Islam mengajar kita menegakkan ibadah dan syiar agama-Nya secara berjamaah. Kita dituntut solat berjamaah, dan hidup bermasyarakat.
Hal ini terjadi secara harmoni, kerana ia fitrah manusia.
Fitrah manusia memang mahu hidup berkumpulan. Sama ada mereka mahu berkumpul kerana bersepakat di atas satu idea dan agenda, atau pun mereka berkumpul kerana bersepakat menolak satu idea dan agenda. Dari satu kumpulan, mereka lari ke satu 'perkumpulan' yang lain. Seorang manusia memang sebahagian daripada kumpulannya.
Bukan sahaja di dalam hal ehwal agama, keperluan manusia kepada kumpulan juga merentasi semua itu, malah bagi sesiapa sahaja yang 'kenal' manusia, akan sampai kepada kesimpulan yang sama.
John C. Maxwell, seorang tokoh Leadership Training pernah menulis di dalam bukunya, EQUIPPING 101, bahawa, "one is too small a number to achieve greatness". Tidak ada kejayaan yang dicapai secara bersendirian hatta Lone Ranger juga sentiasa di sisinya ada Tonto!
Jika di dalam soal kehidupan dan keperluannya, manusia hidup secara berjamaah, maka apatah lagi untuk urusan-urusan menegakkan agama Allah.
Suatu kesilapan, seandainya ada di kalangan kita yang beranggapan bahawa tanggungjawab mereka hanyalah menambah ilmu dan mengajak kepada kebaikan. Kita tidak hanya dituntut melaksanakan perkara-perkara yang baik, malah kita juga diperintahkan oleh Allah supaya menjauhi larangan-Nya. Amar makruf tidak mungkin dapat dipisahkan daripada nahi munkar. Para Rasul dan kita semua diperintah bukan sahaja mengajak manusia kepada mengabdikan diri kepada Allah, bahkan kita juga bertanggungjawab memastikan diri dan manusia lain terhindar daripada Taghut, iaitu segala sesuatu yang berlawanan dengan Allah, Tuhan yang al-Haq.
Apabila kita bertanggungjawab terhadap dakwah, kita perlu akur kepada tabiat jalan dakwah itu, sebagaimana Luqman memberikan tanggapan yang realistik kepada anaknya, ketika menjelaskan tentang kewajipan dakwah. Ia bukan senang sentiasa, malah sentiasa dicemburui dan ditentang oleh manusia lain.
Firman Allah SWT:
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"Wahai anak kesayanganku, dirikanlah Solat, dan suruhlah berbuat kebaikan, serta laranglah daripada melakukan perbuatan yang mungkar, dan bersabarlah atas segala bala bencana yang menimpamu. Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu adalah dari perkara-perkara yang dikehendaki diambil berat melakukannya."
Realiti dakwah memang begitu.
Oleh kerana dakwah mempunyai tabiat yang sedemikian rupa, maka ia sekali lagi memerlukan kepada manusia yang memelihara fitrah diri mereka, iaitu melakukannya secara berjamaah. Mereka perlu merancang, membuat keputusan, melaksanakannya dan teguh terhadap kesan dakwah itu, secara berjamaah. Dalam erti kata yang lain, keperluan dakwah kepada Jamaah bukan sahaja datang dari perintah Allah yang Maha Mengerti akan hakikat manusia yang diCiptakan-Nya, malah melakukan dakwah secara berjamaah adalah fitrah.
Jika sudah bosan membaca tentang faedah bekerja secara berjamaah dari buah fikiran sesama Muslim, mari kita renungkan kepada pandangan John C Maxwell yang cuba menjelaskan kepada 'jamaah'nya di gereja, ahli korporat di pejabat, malah ahli bagi sebuah keluarga, mengapa kita mesti berjamaah:
1. Teams involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas and energy than would an individual.
2. Teams maximize a leader's potential and minimize her weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses are more exposed in individuals.
3. Teams provide multiple perspective on how to meet a need and reach a goal, thus devising several alternatives for each situation.
4. Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. This fosters genuine humility and authentic community.
5. Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal.
6. Teams can simply do more than an individual.
Tegasnya, di antara sudut kesempurnaan ciptaan Allah terhadap manusia, terletak kepada kepatuhannya memelihara fitrah, bahawa manusia hidup berjamaah.
UMMAH CENTRIC VS. JAMAAH CENTRIC: PELURU YANG TERLEPAS SASAR
Ketika idea ini dikemukakan oleh al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee Malik di melalui artikelnya di Majalah I, saya lihat hala tujunya menjurus kepada sasaran yang betul. Apa yang banyak ditegaskan melalui artikel itu adalah soal membetulkan pemikiran agar tidak terbelenggu oleh kepentingan Jamaah. Sebaliknya semua orang mesti sedar bahawa dirinya dan jamaahnya adalah sebahagian daripada Ummah. Maka keperluan dan kehendak Ummahlah yang sepatutnya diberikan keutamaan. Dengan itu kita akan berhenti bergeseran sesama Jamaah, atas roh Ummah yang menjadi pegangan.
Akan tetapi, apabila idea tersebut dicanaikan melalui ceramah yang disampaikannya di kediaman al-Fadhil al-Akh Hafiz Firdaus, saya berubah pandangan. Saya cuba meletakkan diri saya di tempat pelajar yang mendengar ceramah tersebut, dan saya menjadi keliru. Subjek yang menjadi sasaran dan kritik bukan lagi pada permasalahan SIKAP TAASUB setiap kumpulan terhadap kumpulan lain, tetapi kepada konsep berjamaah itu sendiri.
Mungkin al-Fadhil Maszlee tidak bermaksud demikian, tetapi kesan ceramahnya menyebabkan pelajar sinis dan memandang rendah kepada semua kumpulan Islam yang wujud di kampus malah di tengah masyarakat. Ketawa sinis penceramah dan peserta terhadap beberapa senario Jamaah, ternyata mengheret perkumpulan Islam untuk berasa amat tersinggung, seolah-olah Jamaah dan kumpulan Islam, adalah pelakon drama komedi yang lawaknya lucu tetapi menyusahkan orang ramai.
Saya kira, isteri dan anak-anak kepada tahanan ISA, keluarga pendakwah yang terbunuh di Memali malah al-Syahid Sayyid Qutb yang hilang nyawa di tali gantung, terpaksa menempuh segala kesusahan hidup itu akan amat terguris hati mereka kerana impression yang terhasil dari ceramah tersebut ialah, pengorbanan selama ini, hanyalah bagi menjayakan drama lucu Jamaah Centric mereka!
Saya teringat kepada kisah seorang artis Hollywood yang terpilih untuk menjadi pengacara sebuah program anugerah. Lawak jenakanya sangat menghiburkan dan dia telah berjaya menghidupkan program tersebut sehingga beroleh pelbagai komen positif media dan rakan. Tetapi apabila beliau bertanyakan pandangan ayahnya, beliau menjawab, "YOU HURT TOO MANY PEOPLE!". Ya, lawak yang sinis selalunya menghiris.
Apabila manusia yang fitrah perlu kepada Jamaah untuk merealisasikan keperluan dan tujuan hidupnya, maka mereka perlu kepada disiplin dan adab berjamaah. Soal komitmen (intima'), disiplin bekerja, dan kerahsiaan organisasi (sirr), adalah hasil pelajaran ahli gerakan Islam daripada dakwah pertama oleh Rasulullah SAW. Ia bukan idea-idea budak kampus. Namun, kelakuan-kelakuan mikro oleh pelajar di kampus, menjadi bahan sanggahan konsep Amal Jama'ie yang makro. Kerana mahu menyindir anak kecil di padang, ibu di rumah turut terkena.
Perbalahan antara perkumpulan Islam bukanlah berpunca daripada konsep Amal Jama'ie. Ia adalah masalah SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR.
Sepatutnya Ummah Centric dan Jamaah Centric memfokuskan pembetulan mereka kepada persoalan SIKAP itu tadi. SIKAP yang ada pada semua kumpulan Islam, dan bukannya menyalahkan Jamaah. Jangan kerana marahkan nyamuk, habis kelambu dibakar.
SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR yang saya sebutkan tadi, bukan sahaja mencetuskan pelbagai masalah di kalangan pendukung gerakan Islam, malah ia mencakupi seluruh aspek kehidupan kita termasuklah kepada persoalan berMAZHAB. Mungkin artikel PAKSI ISLAM: SYAKHSIAH ATAU HUJAH? yang pernah saya tulis, boleh menjelaskan secara panjang lebar tentang hal ini.
Jika SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR yang berpenyakit itu tidak diperbetulkan, ia hanya mengundang kepada bercambahnya masalah asal yang ingin dihapuskan.
Misalnya, isu MAZHAB. Kita cuba merawat penyakit Taasub kepada Mazhab yang banyak menimbulkan masalah kepada Ummah. Tetapi yang kita perbetulkan adalah maklumat tentang mazhab, dan bukannya SIKAP. Lantas, daripada sekumpulan manusia yang obses dengan al-Imam al-Syafi'e, timbul pula sekumpulan manusia yang obses dengan al-Imam Ibn Taimiyah. Daripada wujud hanya satu kumpulan manusia taasub, muncul pula dua kumpulan manusia taasub yang berlaga sesama sendiri.
Mengapa hal ini boleh terjadi? Pada kiraan saya, masalah bukan terletak pada MAZHAB, sebaliknya pada SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR yang salah. Mereka yang meninggalkan mazhab, beralih kepada al-Imam Ibn Taimiyah dengan membawa gerabak SIKAP yang sama. Taasub lawan Taasub, Islam Liberal juga yang akhirnya tersenyum gembira!
Apabila al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee Malik mengolah ceramah Ummah Centricnya seperti yang saya tonton melalui VCD tersebut, ia menjatuhkan maruah semua kumpulan Islam yang ada. Akibatnya, masyarakat pelajar akan lari daripada semua kumpulan Islam tersebut, dan berkumpul mengelilingi Ustaz Maszlee. Mereka lari dari semua Jamaah untuk berkumpul membentuk 'Jamaah' baru. Walaupun kumpulan bebas-jamaah ini tiada nama, namun watak dan cara berfikir mereka akan membuat pusingan yang sama iaitu taasub menolak Jamaah-jamaah lain, sehingga tanpa disedari membentuk satu kumpulan yang tidak berjamaah secara taasub. Maka daripada tiga, empat atau lima pergeseran, bertambah pula menjadi enam pergeseran.
Mengapa semua itu terjadi? Puncanya terletak pada peluru yang hilang sasar. Ummah itu rumah, Jamaah itu kelambu, sedangkan yang mengganggu ahli rumah tersebut adalah nyamuk. Maka nyamuklah yang sepatutnya dibanteras.
Nyamuk yang mengganggu Ummah adalah SIKAP NEGATIF dan CARA BERFIKIR yang salah.
Ada nyamuk jamaah yang menyalahgunakan nas untuk membuat justifikasi terhadap kebenaran jamaahnya. Namun, bukan Jamaah yang salah, bukan nas yang lemah, tetapi nyamuk yang buat perangai. Dr Izzat Khalil al-Azizi ketika memberikan nasihatnya kepada gerakan-gerakan Islam melalui buku Nasaa'ih wa Taujihaat al-Mufakkireen wa Ulama' a-Islaam li al-Jamaa'aat wa al-Ahzaab al-Islaamiyyah terbitan al-Maktabah al-Islaamiyyah, Jordan, telah mengambil pendekatan yang realistik.
Beliau menyeru kepada semua gerakan Islam agar berSIKAP terbuka (infitaah) terhadap sesama gerakan Islam dan tidak menyempitkan pemahaman Jamaah di dalam nas Hadith sebagai merujuk kepada Jamaah masing-masing. Hal ini juga selaras dengan seruan Sheikh Solah Abd al-Fattah al-Khalidi yang mesra dengan pelajar Malaysia di Jordan, yang sebahagiannya adalah saya dan al-Fadhil Maszlee Malik sendiri.
SIKAP yang sepatutnya diperbetulkan, dan bukannya konsep Jamaah.
Ada nyamuk jamaah yang tidak memanipulasi nas, sebaliknya mencubit gigit rakan-rakan gerakan Islamnya yang lain, lebih dari gigitannya terhadap musuh sebenar. Entiti diri sebagai sebuah NGO dan badan berdaftar sepatutnya menjadi pendekatan yang mengkayakan pengalaman sesama gerakan Islam, dan bukannya menjadi hujah untuk menyindir rakan yang 'ditolak pendaftarannya' kerana sering derita menanggung risiko dakwah.
"Itulah engkau, buat lagi kerja macam tu, kan dah kena tindakan. Tengok aku, aku join NGO, dakwah dapat buat, risiko tak dapat. Baru selamat!", ujar ahli NGO kepada sebuah kumpulan yang tiada nombor pendaftaran.
Semua ini adalah sikap-sikap yang sepatutnya menjadi sasaran pembetulan oleh gagasan 'Ummah Centric vs. Jamaah Centric'.
Kumpulan-kumpulan Islam di kampus sewajarnya mengajak sokongan melalui pembuktian upaya dirinya, berbanding sandaran terhadap kelemahan kumpulan lain. Sikap yang lebih pro aktif, sihat dan meletakkan mesej Islam sebagai keutamaan adalah jaminan kepada keharmonian kumpulan mikro manusia sebagai Jamaah, dan kumpulan makro manusia sebagai Ummah.
Lebih menghairankan saya ialah apabila Ummah Centric dituduh sebagai cetusan fahaman Wahhabiyyah, manakala Jamaah Centric dikaitkan dengan pengaruh kesufian. Aduh, apa kena mengenanya Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab dan jalan sufi itu dengan KANSER SIKAP kita?
Saya masih ingat kepada satu siri talk show yang dikendalikan oleh Oprah Winfrey. Isu kali itu adalah tentang Racism. Menariknya ialah, ramai Black American meletakkan mind setting mereka bahawa jika mereka tidak mendapat pekerjaan atau mengalami kegagalan tertentu, maka puncanya adalah kerana mereka Black! Walhal mereka memang tidak layak untuk jawatan tersebut.
Ada juga orang Islam di Eropah yang menganggap bahawa mereka dipinggirkan oleh masyarakat kerana Islamnya mereka. Sedangkan mereka sendiri yang hidup berkelompok dan enggan berinteraksi dengan persekitaran.
Nasib kita macam ini sebab kita bumiputera. Pada hal kita yang malas berusaha.
Dia itu Ummah Centric, sebab dia Wahabi.
Yang ini pula Jamaah Centric, sebab dia Sufi.
Saya hampir lumpuh kewarasan diri akibat karenah pemikiran yang seperti ini!
Berjamaahlah, kecemerlangan itu kuncinya pada berjamaah. Simenkan satu Jamaah dengan satu jamaah yang lain dengan simen ukhuwwah dan pemikiran yang God-Centered. Hasil gabungan semua itulah nanti yang akan membentuk Ummah.
Kuncinya adalah pada meletakkan ALLAH sebagai matlamat. Tanpa God-Centered, sama ada kita akan menjadi self-centered, atau larut sebagai social-centered.
Jamaah itu keperluan, Ummah itu tujuan. Mestikah ada pertembungan?
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"Tegakkanlah pendirian agama, dan janganlah kamu berpecah belah atau berselisihan pada dasarnya" [al-Quran 42: 13]
"SAYA kena sertai semua kumpulan. Kalau ikut satu sahaja, nanti jadi Jamaah Centric!", kata seorang siswa.
"Lebih baik aku bebas. Tak terikat dengan mana-mana kumpulan. Mana-mana ada kelas pengajian, aku akan pergi. Ini baru Ummah Centric", komen seorang pelajar pula.
Kebelakangan ini, isu Jamaah Centric Vs. Ummah Centric hangat diperbincangkan oleh masyarakat kita. Hal ini lebih ketara dilihat berlaku di kalangan masyarakat pelajar yang lebih dekat kepada sumber gagasan idea ini iaitu al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik, seorang pensyarah di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa. Pelbagai bentuk maklum balas yang timbul, sama ada dalam bentuk perkataan dan tulisan, mahu pun tindak tanduk yang mencetuskan satu senario di kampus hari ini.
Di peringkat awal, saya mengambil lontaran idea ini sebagai sesuatu yang wajar diberikan persetujuan, sekurang-kurangnya pada isi-isi utama yang diketengahkan melalui artikel di Majalah I. Pada saya, idea awal di bawah kerangka pemikiran Ummah Centric mempunyai tujuan yang harmoni iaitu ke arah keterbukaan pemikiran semua individu yang terlibat di dalam gerakan Islam untuk meraikan perbezaan pandangan sesama mereka, menuju kepada kepentingan makro iaitu maslahah Ummah sejagat. Saya boleh bersetuju di peringkat ini.
Akan tetapi, selepas menonton VCD ceramah Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik di rumah Kapten Hafiz Firdaus, saya menjadi keliru dan penerimaan saya terhadap idea tersebut terganggu. Saya menontonnya buat kali yang kedua, dan keserabutan fikiran saya akibatnya, makin ketara. Saya terpaksa mengambil masa yang panjang untuk menyusun cabang-cabang fikiran saya dan akhirnya, menulislah yang boleh menjadi cara terbaik untuk saya strukturkan kefahaman saya terhadap gagasan Ummah Centric yang dikemukakan oleh al-Fadhil ustaz.
Tambahan pula, Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik adalah rakan sepengajian saya. Kami saling mengenali semenjak 1993 dan saya menghormatinya sebagai seorang rakan yang ilmuan. Maka saya berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mengenengahkan analisa ini dengan tatasusila peribahasa Melayu kita, "seperti menarik rambut di dalam tepung; rambut tak putus, tepung tak tumpah". Mudah-mudahan apa yang saya tulis ini benar-benar dapat dibaca dengan bahasa dakwah dan diskusi ilmiah tanpa ada sebarang persepsi peribadi serta prejudis yang menyalahi kebenaran.
MERAIKAN PERBEZAAN
Keterbukaan kumpulan-kumpulan Islam untuk bertolak ansur terhadap perbezaan sesama mereka, adalah suatu tuntutan yang memang tidak dapat dinafikan. Ia menjadi kunci kepada sejauh mana mereka boleh memberi kesan yang berbekas di tengah masyarakat, dan sejauh mana masyarakat boleh memberikan kepercayaan untuk suara Islam memimpin arus perdana.
Saya percaya, keupayaan untuk bekerjasama di antara kumpulan-kumpulan Islam ini sudah pun terlaksana di peringkat pemimpin, malah menjadi pendekatan 'rasmi' bagi hubungan diplomatik antara kumpulan. Walau bagaimana pun, impian pemimpin untuk mewujudkan keharmonian antara kumpulan Islam di peringkat akar umbi, tidak semudah melakarkannya di atas kertas. Pergeseran berlaku dari semasa ke semasa, walaupun masing-masing sedar yang fenomena malang itu menjadi bahan ketawa golongan Islam liberal yang sinis.
Malah kadang-kadang kumpulan Islam ini menerima padah sehingga menjadi seperti Pak Pandir yang menang bersorak, tetapi kampungnya tergadai. Kumpulan Islam tumbang di kampus-kampus, dan berleluasalah maksiat dan hedonisma sebagai budaya kampus hari ini. Tiada lagi amar makruf dan nahi munkar, hasil kesalahan sendiri yang mempertaruhkan kampung, semata-mata mahu memenangkan ayam laga masing-masing.
Saya kira, mungkin inilah latar belakang kepada timbulnya idea Ummah Centric oleh al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee bin Malik. Beliau yang bertugas sebagai pensyarah universiti dan setiap harinya adalah bersama masyarakat kampus, tentu mahu melihat kepada penyelesaian fenomena yang merugikan ini. Saya suka untuk bersama dengan beliau di dalam niat yang murni itu.
Namun, tembakan peluru yang tidak menepati sasaran, akan hanya menghasilkan satu antara dua. Sama ada kita bazirkan peluru, atau paling malang, ada pihak lain yang tidak bersalah terbunuh akibat peluru sesat itu tadi. Ketika kita mahu merawat TAASUB ahli kumpulan kepada idea kumpulannya, yang tersinggung bukanlah SIKAP dan PEMIKIRAN TAASUB tersebut, tetapi konsep berkumpulan dan berJAMAAH itu yang menjadi mangsa peluru sesat berkenaan.
Lantas timbul idea Jamaah vs. Ummah. Apakah kepentingan Jamaah secara default bertentangan dengan kepentingan Ummah? Apakah yang boleh wujud hanyalah Ummah, manakala Jamaah pula menjadi batu penghalang kepada gagasan Ummah? Mengapa mesti Jamaah VERSUS Ummah? Mengapa tidak Jamaah DAN Ummah? Inilah yang cuba saya fikirkan, bahawa apakah ada kontra di antara kedua-duanya, lantas perlu memilih satu antara dua, atau saya perlu lari dari dua pilihan itu, dan sebaliknya berfikir di luar kotak?
Pertamanya, saya perlu memasang pasak, bahawa berjemaah itu bukan sahaja tuntutan Syariat, malah ia sebenarnya adalah Sunnatullah. Allah SWT telah menetapkan fitrah manusia yang berhajatkan kepada hidup berkumpulan. Sendirian itu sunyi, lantas Adam memerlukan kepada Hawwa. Sekumpulan itu sukar, lantas manusia berkumpul-kumpulan dan saling bertukar hasil untuk memenuhi keperluan hidup masing-masing. Kumpulan nelayan perlukan kepada kumpulan petani. Kedua-dua kumpulan itu perlu pula kepada kumpulan penternak, lantas hasil keperluan itu, timbulnya kumpulan peniaga yang konsep asalnya adalah untuk saling membantu mengisi keperluan sesama kita.
Itu adalah fitrah manusia yang perlukan Jamaah untuk mengisi keperluan hidupnya.
Islam sebagai agama fitrah, menjadikan konsep berjemaah itu sebagai kerangka teras ajarannya. Peranan manusia sebagai Khalifah adalah untuk mengimarahkan 'hablun minannaas'. Kita saling berkhidmat di antara satu sama lain, kerana kita khalifah kepada Allah yang mahukan kita bersyukur kepada-Nya dengan melakukan kebaikan sesama manusia. Manakala kita sebagai hamba Allah, Islam mengajar kita menegakkan ibadah dan syiar agama-Nya secara berjamaah. Kita dituntut solat berjamaah, dan hidup bermasyarakat.
Hal ini terjadi secara harmoni, kerana ia fitrah manusia.
Fitrah manusia memang mahu hidup berkumpulan. Sama ada mereka mahu berkumpul kerana bersepakat di atas satu idea dan agenda, atau pun mereka berkumpul kerana bersepakat menolak satu idea dan agenda. Dari satu kumpulan, mereka lari ke satu 'perkumpulan' yang lain. Seorang manusia memang sebahagian daripada kumpulannya.
Bukan sahaja di dalam hal ehwal agama, keperluan manusia kepada kumpulan juga merentasi semua itu, malah bagi sesiapa sahaja yang 'kenal' manusia, akan sampai kepada kesimpulan yang sama.
John C. Maxwell, seorang tokoh Leadership Training pernah menulis di dalam bukunya, EQUIPPING 101, bahawa, "one is too small a number to achieve greatness". Tidak ada kejayaan yang dicapai secara bersendirian hatta Lone Ranger juga sentiasa di sisinya ada Tonto!
Jika di dalam soal kehidupan dan keperluannya, manusia hidup secara berjamaah, maka apatah lagi untuk urusan-urusan menegakkan agama Allah.
Suatu kesilapan, seandainya ada di kalangan kita yang beranggapan bahawa tanggungjawab mereka hanyalah menambah ilmu dan mengajak kepada kebaikan. Kita tidak hanya dituntut melaksanakan perkara-perkara yang baik, malah kita juga diperintahkan oleh Allah supaya menjauhi larangan-Nya. Amar makruf tidak mungkin dapat dipisahkan daripada nahi munkar. Para Rasul dan kita semua diperintah bukan sahaja mengajak manusia kepada mengabdikan diri kepada Allah, bahkan kita juga bertanggungjawab memastikan diri dan manusia lain terhindar daripada Taghut, iaitu segala sesuatu yang berlawanan dengan Allah, Tuhan yang al-Haq.
Apabila kita bertanggungjawab terhadap dakwah, kita perlu akur kepada tabiat jalan dakwah itu, sebagaimana Luqman memberikan tanggapan yang realistik kepada anaknya, ketika menjelaskan tentang kewajipan dakwah. Ia bukan senang sentiasa, malah sentiasa dicemburui dan ditentang oleh manusia lain.
Firman Allah SWT:
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"Wahai anak kesayanganku, dirikanlah Solat, dan suruhlah berbuat kebaikan, serta laranglah daripada melakukan perbuatan yang mungkar, dan bersabarlah atas segala bala bencana yang menimpamu. Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu adalah dari perkara-perkara yang dikehendaki diambil berat melakukannya."
Realiti dakwah memang begitu.
Oleh kerana dakwah mempunyai tabiat yang sedemikian rupa, maka ia sekali lagi memerlukan kepada manusia yang memelihara fitrah diri mereka, iaitu melakukannya secara berjamaah. Mereka perlu merancang, membuat keputusan, melaksanakannya dan teguh terhadap kesan dakwah itu, secara berjamaah. Dalam erti kata yang lain, keperluan dakwah kepada Jamaah bukan sahaja datang dari perintah Allah yang Maha Mengerti akan hakikat manusia yang diCiptakan-Nya, malah melakukan dakwah secara berjamaah adalah fitrah.
Jika sudah bosan membaca tentang faedah bekerja secara berjamaah dari buah fikiran sesama Muslim, mari kita renungkan kepada pandangan John C Maxwell yang cuba menjelaskan kepada 'jamaah'nya di gereja, ahli korporat di pejabat, malah ahli bagi sebuah keluarga, mengapa kita mesti berjamaah:
1. Teams involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas and energy than would an individual.
2. Teams maximize a leader's potential and minimize her weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses are more exposed in individuals.
3. Teams provide multiple perspective on how to meet a need and reach a goal, thus devising several alternatives for each situation.
4. Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. This fosters genuine humility and authentic community.
5. Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal.
6. Teams can simply do more than an individual.
Tegasnya, di antara sudut kesempurnaan ciptaan Allah terhadap manusia, terletak kepada kepatuhannya memelihara fitrah, bahawa manusia hidup berjamaah.
UMMAH CENTRIC VS. JAMAAH CENTRIC: PELURU YANG TERLEPAS SASAR
Ketika idea ini dikemukakan oleh al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee Malik di melalui artikelnya di Majalah I, saya lihat hala tujunya menjurus kepada sasaran yang betul. Apa yang banyak ditegaskan melalui artikel itu adalah soal membetulkan pemikiran agar tidak terbelenggu oleh kepentingan Jamaah. Sebaliknya semua orang mesti sedar bahawa dirinya dan jamaahnya adalah sebahagian daripada Ummah. Maka keperluan dan kehendak Ummahlah yang sepatutnya diberikan keutamaan. Dengan itu kita akan berhenti bergeseran sesama Jamaah, atas roh Ummah yang menjadi pegangan.
Akan tetapi, apabila idea tersebut dicanaikan melalui ceramah yang disampaikannya di kediaman al-Fadhil al-Akh Hafiz Firdaus, saya berubah pandangan. Saya cuba meletakkan diri saya di tempat pelajar yang mendengar ceramah tersebut, dan saya menjadi keliru. Subjek yang menjadi sasaran dan kritik bukan lagi pada permasalahan SIKAP TAASUB setiap kumpulan terhadap kumpulan lain, tetapi kepada konsep berjamaah itu sendiri.
Mungkin al-Fadhil Maszlee tidak bermaksud demikian, tetapi kesan ceramahnya menyebabkan pelajar sinis dan memandang rendah kepada semua kumpulan Islam yang wujud di kampus malah di tengah masyarakat. Ketawa sinis penceramah dan peserta terhadap beberapa senario Jamaah, ternyata mengheret perkumpulan Islam untuk berasa amat tersinggung, seolah-olah Jamaah dan kumpulan Islam, adalah pelakon drama komedi yang lawaknya lucu tetapi menyusahkan orang ramai.
Saya kira, isteri dan anak-anak kepada tahanan ISA, keluarga pendakwah yang terbunuh di Memali malah al-Syahid Sayyid Qutb yang hilang nyawa di tali gantung, terpaksa menempuh segala kesusahan hidup itu akan amat terguris hati mereka kerana impression yang terhasil dari ceramah tersebut ialah, pengorbanan selama ini, hanyalah bagi menjayakan drama lucu Jamaah Centric mereka!
Saya teringat kepada kisah seorang artis Hollywood yang terpilih untuk menjadi pengacara sebuah program anugerah. Lawak jenakanya sangat menghiburkan dan dia telah berjaya menghidupkan program tersebut sehingga beroleh pelbagai komen positif media dan rakan. Tetapi apabila beliau bertanyakan pandangan ayahnya, beliau menjawab, "YOU HURT TOO MANY PEOPLE!". Ya, lawak yang sinis selalunya menghiris.
Apabila manusia yang fitrah perlu kepada Jamaah untuk merealisasikan keperluan dan tujuan hidupnya, maka mereka perlu kepada disiplin dan adab berjamaah. Soal komitmen (intima'), disiplin bekerja, dan kerahsiaan organisasi (sirr), adalah hasil pelajaran ahli gerakan Islam daripada dakwah pertama oleh Rasulullah SAW. Ia bukan idea-idea budak kampus. Namun, kelakuan-kelakuan mikro oleh pelajar di kampus, menjadi bahan sanggahan konsep Amal Jama'ie yang makro. Kerana mahu menyindir anak kecil di padang, ibu di rumah turut terkena.
Perbalahan antara perkumpulan Islam bukanlah berpunca daripada konsep Amal Jama'ie. Ia adalah masalah SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR.
Sepatutnya Ummah Centric dan Jamaah Centric memfokuskan pembetulan mereka kepada persoalan SIKAP itu tadi. SIKAP yang ada pada semua kumpulan Islam, dan bukannya menyalahkan Jamaah. Jangan kerana marahkan nyamuk, habis kelambu dibakar.
SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR yang saya sebutkan tadi, bukan sahaja mencetuskan pelbagai masalah di kalangan pendukung gerakan Islam, malah ia mencakupi seluruh aspek kehidupan kita termasuklah kepada persoalan berMAZHAB. Mungkin artikel PAKSI ISLAM: SYAKHSIAH ATAU HUJAH? yang pernah saya tulis, boleh menjelaskan secara panjang lebar tentang hal ini.
Jika SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR yang berpenyakit itu tidak diperbetulkan, ia hanya mengundang kepada bercambahnya masalah asal yang ingin dihapuskan.
Misalnya, isu MAZHAB. Kita cuba merawat penyakit Taasub kepada Mazhab yang banyak menimbulkan masalah kepada Ummah. Tetapi yang kita perbetulkan adalah maklumat tentang mazhab, dan bukannya SIKAP. Lantas, daripada sekumpulan manusia yang obses dengan al-Imam al-Syafi'e, timbul pula sekumpulan manusia yang obses dengan al-Imam Ibn Taimiyah. Daripada wujud hanya satu kumpulan manusia taasub, muncul pula dua kumpulan manusia taasub yang berlaga sesama sendiri.
Mengapa hal ini boleh terjadi? Pada kiraan saya, masalah bukan terletak pada MAZHAB, sebaliknya pada SIKAP dan CARA BERFIKIR yang salah. Mereka yang meninggalkan mazhab, beralih kepada al-Imam Ibn Taimiyah dengan membawa gerabak SIKAP yang sama. Taasub lawan Taasub, Islam Liberal juga yang akhirnya tersenyum gembira!
Apabila al-Fadhil al-Ustaz Maszlee Malik mengolah ceramah Ummah Centricnya seperti yang saya tonton melalui VCD tersebut, ia menjatuhkan maruah semua kumpulan Islam yang ada. Akibatnya, masyarakat pelajar akan lari daripada semua kumpulan Islam tersebut, dan berkumpul mengelilingi Ustaz Maszlee. Mereka lari dari semua Jamaah untuk berkumpul membentuk 'Jamaah' baru. Walaupun kumpulan bebas-jamaah ini tiada nama, namun watak dan cara berfikir mereka akan membuat pusingan yang sama iaitu taasub menolak Jamaah-jamaah lain, sehingga tanpa disedari membentuk satu kumpulan yang tidak berjamaah secara taasub. Maka daripada tiga, empat atau lima pergeseran, bertambah pula menjadi enam pergeseran.
Mengapa semua itu terjadi? Puncanya terletak pada peluru yang hilang sasar. Ummah itu rumah, Jamaah itu kelambu, sedangkan yang mengganggu ahli rumah tersebut adalah nyamuk. Maka nyamuklah yang sepatutnya dibanteras.
Nyamuk yang mengganggu Ummah adalah SIKAP NEGATIF dan CARA BERFIKIR yang salah.
Ada nyamuk jamaah yang menyalahgunakan nas untuk membuat justifikasi terhadap kebenaran jamaahnya. Namun, bukan Jamaah yang salah, bukan nas yang lemah, tetapi nyamuk yang buat perangai. Dr Izzat Khalil al-Azizi ketika memberikan nasihatnya kepada gerakan-gerakan Islam melalui buku Nasaa'ih wa Taujihaat al-Mufakkireen wa Ulama' a-Islaam li al-Jamaa'aat wa al-Ahzaab al-Islaamiyyah terbitan al-Maktabah al-Islaamiyyah, Jordan, telah mengambil pendekatan yang realistik.
Beliau menyeru kepada semua gerakan Islam agar berSIKAP terbuka (infitaah) terhadap sesama gerakan Islam dan tidak menyempitkan pemahaman Jamaah di dalam nas Hadith sebagai merujuk kepada Jamaah masing-masing. Hal ini juga selaras dengan seruan Sheikh Solah Abd al-Fattah al-Khalidi yang mesra dengan pelajar Malaysia di Jordan, yang sebahagiannya adalah saya dan al-Fadhil Maszlee Malik sendiri.
SIKAP yang sepatutnya diperbetulkan, dan bukannya konsep Jamaah.
Ada nyamuk jamaah yang tidak memanipulasi nas, sebaliknya mencubit gigit rakan-rakan gerakan Islamnya yang lain, lebih dari gigitannya terhadap musuh sebenar. Entiti diri sebagai sebuah NGO dan badan berdaftar sepatutnya menjadi pendekatan yang mengkayakan pengalaman sesama gerakan Islam, dan bukannya menjadi hujah untuk menyindir rakan yang 'ditolak pendaftarannya' kerana sering derita menanggung risiko dakwah.
"Itulah engkau, buat lagi kerja macam tu, kan dah kena tindakan. Tengok aku, aku join NGO, dakwah dapat buat, risiko tak dapat. Baru selamat!", ujar ahli NGO kepada sebuah kumpulan yang tiada nombor pendaftaran.
Semua ini adalah sikap-sikap yang sepatutnya menjadi sasaran pembetulan oleh gagasan 'Ummah Centric vs. Jamaah Centric'.
Kumpulan-kumpulan Islam di kampus sewajarnya mengajak sokongan melalui pembuktian upaya dirinya, berbanding sandaran terhadap kelemahan kumpulan lain. Sikap yang lebih pro aktif, sihat dan meletakkan mesej Islam sebagai keutamaan adalah jaminan kepada keharmonian kumpulan mikro manusia sebagai Jamaah, dan kumpulan makro manusia sebagai Ummah.
Lebih menghairankan saya ialah apabila Ummah Centric dituduh sebagai cetusan fahaman Wahhabiyyah, manakala Jamaah Centric dikaitkan dengan pengaruh kesufian. Aduh, apa kena mengenanya Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab dan jalan sufi itu dengan KANSER SIKAP kita?
Saya masih ingat kepada satu siri talk show yang dikendalikan oleh Oprah Winfrey. Isu kali itu adalah tentang Racism. Menariknya ialah, ramai Black American meletakkan mind setting mereka bahawa jika mereka tidak mendapat pekerjaan atau mengalami kegagalan tertentu, maka puncanya adalah kerana mereka Black! Walhal mereka memang tidak layak untuk jawatan tersebut.
Ada juga orang Islam di Eropah yang menganggap bahawa mereka dipinggirkan oleh masyarakat kerana Islamnya mereka. Sedangkan mereka sendiri yang hidup berkelompok dan enggan berinteraksi dengan persekitaran.
Nasib kita macam ini sebab kita bumiputera. Pada hal kita yang malas berusaha.
Dia itu Ummah Centric, sebab dia Wahabi.
Yang ini pula Jamaah Centric, sebab dia Sufi.
Saya hampir lumpuh kewarasan diri akibat karenah pemikiran yang seperti ini!
Berjamaahlah, kecemerlangan itu kuncinya pada berjamaah. Simenkan satu Jamaah dengan satu jamaah yang lain dengan simen ukhuwwah dan pemikiran yang God-Centered. Hasil gabungan semua itulah nanti yang akan membentuk Ummah.
Kuncinya adalah pada meletakkan ALLAH sebagai matlamat. Tanpa God-Centered, sama ada kita akan menjadi self-centered, atau larut sebagai social-centered.
Jamaah itu keperluan, Ummah itu tujuan. Mestikah ada pertembungan?
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"Tegakkanlah pendirian agama, dan janganlah kamu berpecah belah atau berselisihan pada dasarnya" [al-Quran 42: 13]
Friday, March 31, 2006
Islamic Banking Financing Rate not competitive ?
from http://www.zaharuddin.com/
Recent development has seen banking industries thrusting ahead with the introduction of varieties of new products offering appealing features. On the contrary however, a random survey reveals that some people are not very pleased with the performance of Islamic Banks. One critical aspect in particular highlighted :
• The high profit rate charged by Islamic Bank for their financing product as compared to the interest rate charged by Conventional Bank. This factor is claimed to be the crucial factor leading to customers repelling from taking up financing from Islamic Bank.
This article will respond to the above-mentioned critic. To begin, lets look at the following facts:-
a) Islamic Bank is a profit driven company offering Shariah approved financial services and products and is not a welfare institution where services are rendered for free.
b) Islamic Bank is obligated to fulfill its duty to investors who are not merely subsidizing the institution and who like any other investor yearn for good return in investment.
c) Islamic Bank needs to pay the salary of its staff competitively with the market, which means that profit making is vital to enable the salary payment. Staff is fundamental in driving the Bank towards efficiency and competitiveness.
d) Islamic Bank has to cover the operational costs of its premises, tools and equipments. Therefore, how would an Islamic Bank survive, develop and expand if they are expected to provide its services for free or at a very low price ?
Surely, based on the above facts, it is clear that the nature of an Islamic Bank is actually similar to other business institutions. The following explanations answer the issue of why the Islamic Banks’ Financing rate is averagely higher than the Conventional.
1) The priceless value of Halal
A Muslim entrepreneur once told me about his experience in London where the price of a slaughtered chicken is much higher than the one, which is not being slaughtered and that Muslims consistently kept buying the expensive slaughtered chicken in order to ensure that their food are halal.
The above analogy shows that even though the Islamic Banks’ products are quite expensive (for some products only). However these are priced as such considering that these products have gone through the Shariah screening process and verified as halal.
On the other hand, although Muslim nowadays are very much concern of not eating pork (khinzir) or non-slaughtered chickens and etc, there are those that seems to pay less attention to their income, whether it is coming from halal sources or not and not hesitant to use the not halal income to purchase their daily foodstuff which according to Shariah is prohibited, similar to the prohibition of eating non-slaughtered chicken.
2) The Professional Shariah Screening and Auditing.
The Islamic Bank essentials requires Shariah screening and approval for its products and activities. This is an additional Shariah benchmarking and thus an additional cost, considering the time and expertise involved. One must realize that this Shariah approved products are priceless in value and cannot be valued by any amount of money and that Shariah approved financial products have been acknowledged as not only beneficial to mankind but also socially ethical products.
3) The highly potential players in the market.
Islamic Banks are highly potential players in the market. This is well acknowledged by Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz in her statement at Putrajaya on 22nd June 2005.
“..Since 2000, the domestic Islamic Banking industry has been growing at an average rate of 18% per annum in terms of assets. As at end-2004, total assets of the Islamic Banking sector increased to RM 94.6 billion, accounting for 10.5% of the total assets in the banking system. The market share of Islamic deposits and financing also increased to 11.2% and 11.3% respectively.”
Deliberating her point, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Zeti adds that: “Bank Negara Malaysia, in charting the next stage of development for the Islamic Banking industry; envisage that the relative significance of their market share will increase to 20% by the year 2010.”
Thus, as the small players continue to grow, the financing rates offered may be averagely higher than those of the large and well-established players. This situation is equitable to the prices offered by retail seller and hypermarket, whereby retail seller’s price is higher as compared to hypermarket prices.
4) Lastly, it is important to understand that the financing rate charged by the Islamic Banks today is actually low and competitive to the rate offered by the Conventional Banks. Furthermore, if one detailed out the calculations, it may reveal that Islamic Banks are actually offering comparatively lower rate, for example when comparing between Interest rate offered by Conventional Banks in their Home loan products and profit rate from the Home Financing-i under Bai’ Bithaman Ajil (BBA) concept by Islamic Banks. One will learn that, Home-Financing-i offers fixed selling prices and the contractual profit rate (under this concept) will never change from the beginning of the payment period to the last settlement by the customer.
On the other hand, the home loan offered by Conventional banks are seemingly very attractive as the rate charged in the first year is relatively low. However, the rate for the remaining years will fluctuate as it is dependence on the Base Lending Rate (BLR) in the market. For example if the current BLR is 6 %, therefore the rate is equal to 6.25 % as the rate is equal to BLR + 0.25 %. What if BLR rises to 11 % or higher as has happened in the past Malaysian economic crisis ?
On the contrary, this will not occur in Islamic Banks’ because the selling price has already been fixed and agreed in the contractual agreement by both parties. The Islamic Banks’ profit rate does not have any relation to the BLR rate, thus it will not increase. In fact, it may even be reduced if the Islamic Banks were to provide rebate (ibra’).
We can now see competitive profit rate from Islamic Banks as the Islamic market reaches critical mass such as Car Financing-i under Al-Ijarah Thumma Al-Bai’ (AITAB) concept whereby customers are offered 2.5 % for the imported cars, which is very competitive if not better than the current interest rate offered by Conventional Banks.
In conclusion, considerations and supports from all are essentially needed to enable Islamic Banks to reach and go beyond the target set up by government. If we are willing to make the sacrifice today, we will not regret to see that our future generations will be able to enjoy competitive Islamic Banking products with very competitive pricing besides the assurance and guarantee that it is halal.
from http://www.zaharuddin.com/
Recent development has seen banking industries thrusting ahead with the introduction of varieties of new products offering appealing features. On the contrary however, a random survey reveals that some people are not very pleased with the performance of Islamic Banks. One critical aspect in particular highlighted :
• The high profit rate charged by Islamic Bank for their financing product as compared to the interest rate charged by Conventional Bank. This factor is claimed to be the crucial factor leading to customers repelling from taking up financing from Islamic Bank.
This article will respond to the above-mentioned critic. To begin, lets look at the following facts:-
a) Islamic Bank is a profit driven company offering Shariah approved financial services and products and is not a welfare institution where services are rendered for free.
b) Islamic Bank is obligated to fulfill its duty to investors who are not merely subsidizing the institution and who like any other investor yearn for good return in investment.
c) Islamic Bank needs to pay the salary of its staff competitively with the market, which means that profit making is vital to enable the salary payment. Staff is fundamental in driving the Bank towards efficiency and competitiveness.
d) Islamic Bank has to cover the operational costs of its premises, tools and equipments. Therefore, how would an Islamic Bank survive, develop and expand if they are expected to provide its services for free or at a very low price ?
Surely, based on the above facts, it is clear that the nature of an Islamic Bank is actually similar to other business institutions. The following explanations answer the issue of why the Islamic Banks’ Financing rate is averagely higher than the Conventional.
1) The priceless value of Halal
A Muslim entrepreneur once told me about his experience in London where the price of a slaughtered chicken is much higher than the one, which is not being slaughtered and that Muslims consistently kept buying the expensive slaughtered chicken in order to ensure that their food are halal.
The above analogy shows that even though the Islamic Banks’ products are quite expensive (for some products only). However these are priced as such considering that these products have gone through the Shariah screening process and verified as halal.
On the other hand, although Muslim nowadays are very much concern of not eating pork (khinzir) or non-slaughtered chickens and etc, there are those that seems to pay less attention to their income, whether it is coming from halal sources or not and not hesitant to use the not halal income to purchase their daily foodstuff which according to Shariah is prohibited, similar to the prohibition of eating non-slaughtered chicken.
2) The Professional Shariah Screening and Auditing.
The Islamic Bank essentials requires Shariah screening and approval for its products and activities. This is an additional Shariah benchmarking and thus an additional cost, considering the time and expertise involved. One must realize that this Shariah approved products are priceless in value and cannot be valued by any amount of money and that Shariah approved financial products have been acknowledged as not only beneficial to mankind but also socially ethical products.
3) The highly potential players in the market.
Islamic Banks are highly potential players in the market. This is well acknowledged by Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz in her statement at Putrajaya on 22nd June 2005.
“..Since 2000, the domestic Islamic Banking industry has been growing at an average rate of 18% per annum in terms of assets. As at end-2004, total assets of the Islamic Banking sector increased to RM 94.6 billion, accounting for 10.5% of the total assets in the banking system. The market share of Islamic deposits and financing also increased to 11.2% and 11.3% respectively.”
Deliberating her point, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Zeti adds that: “Bank Negara Malaysia, in charting the next stage of development for the Islamic Banking industry; envisage that the relative significance of their market share will increase to 20% by the year 2010.”
Thus, as the small players continue to grow, the financing rates offered may be averagely higher than those of the large and well-established players. This situation is equitable to the prices offered by retail seller and hypermarket, whereby retail seller’s price is higher as compared to hypermarket prices.
4) Lastly, it is important to understand that the financing rate charged by the Islamic Banks today is actually low and competitive to the rate offered by the Conventional Banks. Furthermore, if one detailed out the calculations, it may reveal that Islamic Banks are actually offering comparatively lower rate, for example when comparing between Interest rate offered by Conventional Banks in their Home loan products and profit rate from the Home Financing-i under Bai’ Bithaman Ajil (BBA) concept by Islamic Banks. One will learn that, Home-Financing-i offers fixed selling prices and the contractual profit rate (under this concept) will never change from the beginning of the payment period to the last settlement by the customer.
On the other hand, the home loan offered by Conventional banks are seemingly very attractive as the rate charged in the first year is relatively low. However, the rate for the remaining years will fluctuate as it is dependence on the Base Lending Rate (BLR) in the market. For example if the current BLR is 6 %, therefore the rate is equal to 6.25 % as the rate is equal to BLR + 0.25 %. What if BLR rises to 11 % or higher as has happened in the past Malaysian economic crisis ?
On the contrary, this will not occur in Islamic Banks’ because the selling price has already been fixed and agreed in the contractual agreement by both parties. The Islamic Banks’ profit rate does not have any relation to the BLR rate, thus it will not increase. In fact, it may even be reduced if the Islamic Banks were to provide rebate (ibra’).
We can now see competitive profit rate from Islamic Banks as the Islamic market reaches critical mass such as Car Financing-i under Al-Ijarah Thumma Al-Bai’ (AITAB) concept whereby customers are offered 2.5 % for the imported cars, which is very competitive if not better than the current interest rate offered by Conventional Banks.
In conclusion, considerations and supports from all are essentially needed to enable Islamic Banks to reach and go beyond the target set up by government. If we are willing to make the sacrifice today, we will not regret to see that our future generations will be able to enjoy competitive Islamic Banking products with very competitive pricing besides the assurance and guarantee that it is halal.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
sermon by Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al at the Al-Murabit Mosque in Damascus.
Following are excerpts from an address given by Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al at the Al-Murabit Mosque in Damascus. The address was delivered following the Friday sermon at the mosque and was aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 3, 2006.
Subject: "You will be defeated"
Khaled Mash'al: We apologize to our Prophet Muhammad, but we say to him: Oh Prophet of Allah, do not be saddened, your nation will be victorious.
We say to this West, which does not act reasonably, and does not learn its lessons: By Allah, you will be defeated. You will be defeated in Palestine, and your defeat there has already begun. True, it is Israel that is being defeated there, but when Israel is defeated, its path is defeated, those who call to support it are defeated, and the cowards who hide behind it and support it are defeated. Israel will be defeated, and so will whoever supported or supports it.
America will be defeated in Iraq. Wherever the [Islamic] nation is targeted, its enemies will be defeated, Allah willing. The nation of Muhammad is gaining victory in Palestine. The nation of Muhammad is gaining victory in Iraq, and it will be victorious in all Arab and Muslim lands. "Their multitudes will be defeated and turn their backs [and flee]." These fools will be defeated, the wheel of time will turn, and times of victory and glory will be upon our nation, and the West will be full of remorse, when it is too late.
They think that history has ended with them. They do not know that the law of Allah cannot be changed or replaced. "You shall not find a substitute for the law of Allah. You shall not find any change to the law of Allah." Today, the Arab and Islamic nation is rising and awakening, and it will reach its peak, Allah willing. It will be victorious. It will link the present to the past. It will open up the horizons of the future. It will regain the leadership of the world. Allah willing, the day is not far off.
Don't you see that every act of deceit they contrive is being turned against them by Allah? Don't you see that they make every effort to defeat us militarily, but fail to do so? Israel and the occupation forces in Iraq are supplied with the entire Western military arsenal, yet they fail and are defeated.
Don't you see that they believe they are capable of using democracy to deceive the people, but then democracy is turned against them? Don't you see that they are spending their money in efforts to block the way of Allah, to thwart Hamas, to defeat it, and to help those whom they want, but [this plot] is turned against them? They are not acting reasonably.
They do not understand the Arab or Muslim mentality, which rejects the foreigner. Our Arab forefathers, before the advent of Islam, rejected the aggressors and the foreigners.
I bring good tidings to our beloved Prophet Muhammad: Allah's promise and the Prophet's prophecy of our victory in Palestine over the Jews and over the oppressive Zionists has begun to come true.
I say to the [European countries]: Hurry up and apologize to our nation, because if you do not, you will regret it. This is because our nation is progressing and is victorious. Do not leave a black mark in the collective memory of the nation, because our nation will not forgive you.
Tomorrow, our nation will sit on the throne of the world. This is not a figment of the imagination, but a fact. Tomorrow we will lead the world, Allah willing. Apologize today, before remorse will do you no good. Our nation is moving forwards, and it is in your interest to respect a victorious nation.
Our nation will be victorious. When it reaches the leadership of the world, and controls its own will decisions, then it will prevent this overt interference [in our affairs], and its pillaging of natural resources, and will prevent these recurring offenses against our land, against our nation, and against our holy places - then you will regret it.
The Western countries must stop the fools. Are these reasonable people? They allow offenses against Allah and the prophets. They are not offending only Muhammad, but all the prophets. But when an historian among them talks about the Holocaust, it is the sin of all sins. If anybody criticizes the Jews, this constitutes anti-Semitism. By law, they hold their own people accountable [for that]. The West, which waved the slogans of liberty after the French Revolution, three centuries ago, does not respect its own principles or slogans today. It violates them.
This victory, which was clearly evident in the elections, conveys a message to Israel, to America, and to all the oppressors around the world: You have no way of overcoming us. If you want war, we are ready. If you want democracy, we are ready. Whatever you want - we are ready. You will not defeat us. The time of defeat is over. Defeat within six days, defeat within hours, the defeat of armies - all this is over.
Today, you are fighting the army of Allah. You are fighting against peoples, for whom death for the sake of Allah, and for the sake of honor and glory, is preferable to life. You are fighting a nation that doest not tire, even after a 1,000 years of fighting. Today, you are facing peoples filled with faith, with the love of Allah, the love of Allah's Prophet, with bravery, glory, and pride - a nation that knows its way, a nation that knows what it is, a nation that respects itself. How can you possibly defeat us?
There is a chasm between you and our defeat. You will be the ones to be defeated, Allah willing. The time of defeat is gone, and the day of victory has come, Allah willing. Wherever you turn, you will fail.
Crowd: Death to Israel. Death to Israel. Death to America.
Khaled Mash'al: Before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded. Allah willing, before they die, they will experience humiliation and degradation every day. America will be of no avail to them. Their generals will be of no avail to them. The last of their generals has been forgotten. Allah has made him disappear. He's over. Gone is that Sharon, behind whose back they would hide and find shelter, and with whom they would feel relatively secure. Today they have frail leaders, who don't even know where our Lord placed them.
Allah willing, we will make them lose their eyesight, we will make them lose their brains.
Their weapons will be of no avail to them. Their nuclear weapons will be of no use to them. They thought that they had hegemony over the region with their nuclear weapons, but suddenly Pakistan popped up with Islamic nuclear weapons, and they are afraid of Iran and several Arab countries have some chemical weapons.
Israel has begun to sense that its superiority has come to an end. Its army, which has superior conventional weapons - the air force, the armored corps, and the missiles - there are no longer wars in which these are used.
The Arabs have said: We don't want [conventional] wars, thank you very much. Leave the war to the peoples. Today, the Israeli weapons are of no use against the peoples. We have imposed a new equation in the war. In this equation, our tools are stronger. That is why we will defeat them, Allah willing.
"If you fight them, they will turn their backs on you, and will not be victorious." But the problem is that we need to fight them first. If we sleep at home, how are we to beat them?! "If you fight them..." - that is a divine promise... "If" - It is conditional: "If you fight them, they will turn their backs on you and will not be victorious." And indeed, when we began to fight, and we armed ourselves with a will to fight, we defeated them.
That is why Allah Akbar [Allah is greater]. We say that every day - Allah Akbar. Yes, Allah is greater than America. Allah is greater than the oppressors. Allah is greater than the superpowers. Allah is greater than the tyranny of the oppressing world, and Allah is greater than Israel. Since Allah is greater, and He supports us, we will be victorious.
By Allah, I know that all Arab leaders - and I have met many of them - deep inside want the resistance in Palestine to be victorious, and want Palestine to be liberated. Perhaps the need for flattery and for diplomacy, and the American hegemony force other things on them, but in their hearts they are happy when we are victorious.
If before the Hamas victory, there were several military wings, each with a few hundred or a few thousand fighters, under the rule of Hamas, if you continue to besiege us, to starve our people, to ignore our rights, and if you continue your occupation, your aggression, and your assassinations, we, the Hamas, will declare a general call to arms. We will place the entire Palestinian people at the disposal of the resistance and its weapons.
Crowd: Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised.
Khaled Mash'al: Be careful not to drive our people into a corner - Occupation, aggression, assassinations, 9,000 male and female prisoners, preventing aid, imposing a siege, causing starvation - and on top of all this, you don't want to recognize democracy and its results.
The German [Chancellor Angela] Merkel pops up and says: Democracy and success in the elections are not sufficient for Hamas to gain legitimacy. To hell with you all. How are we supposed to gain legitimacy? When you said we had the legitimacy of resistance, you called it terrorism. Now, we say we have the legitimacy of democracy, but you deny it. In that case, you yourself are not legitimate, because you emerged through democracy. This is the logic of a frail and defeatist person.
Brothers and sister, there is confusion in the Western world, and in the American administration. Allah has come to them from where they did not expect him. That is the grace of Allah. That is why we do not fear them. We do not fear their threats.
Today they give us an ultimatum: Recognize Israel. Wonderful! The murderer is not required by anyone to recognize the rights of his victim, but the victim is required to recognize the rights of his murderer, and to sing his praises.
Hamas has a vision. Hamas has a plan. Hamas can manage the political battle, just like it managed the military battle, but in a different language, with different tools, and recognizing Israel is not one of them. Nor is giving up the rights, giving up the right to resistance, and nor is giving up the weapons of the resistance.
Nevertheless, we want to deal with politics, but there is a difference between the politics of the weak and defeatists, which we will constantly repeat - the kind of politics that does not impress the enemy and so it does nothing, because, like in the market, products that are praised too much become cheap. If we continue to praise our products, constantly saying: "We love peace," "We have given up the option of war," "Peace is our strategic option," "For God's sake, Israel, give us a few scraps of land" - By Allah, we will be degraded in the eyes of our enemies.
We will conduct our politics in the language of victory. We will conduct our policy in a confident language. We will conduct our politics in the language of those who are steadfast and sure of
themselves. Besides, by Allah, after the people has elected us, and has bestowed upon us all this power, we will disrespect its rights?
The people has given us a deposit, and has empowered us to liberate its land, to restore Jerusalem and its holy places. It has empowered us to release 9,000 male and female prisoners. It has empowered us to stop the aggression, to liberate the land, and to restore its rights. The people has empowered us to bring back 5.5 million Palestinian refugees and displaced people to their homeland. After all this, Hamas - in order to please America and the European Union, and in order for the pressure on us to stop, and in order for their highnesses to allow us to establish a government... We are not trying to please them.
I say to America, Europe, and the West: It is in your interests to change your relations and policies regarding the Arab and Islamic nation and the Palestinian cause. Because we are winning, it is in your interests to deal with the victors, not the losers.
Israel will be defeated and will be of no use to you. The Arabs will be victorious. The Muslims will be victorious. Palestine will be victorious. Change your policy soon, if you want to protect your interests, and maintain healthy relations with the East.
Following are excerpts from an address given by Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al at the Al-Murabit Mosque in Damascus. The address was delivered following the Friday sermon at the mosque and was aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 3, 2006.
Subject: "You will be defeated"
Khaled Mash'al: We apologize to our Prophet Muhammad, but we say to him: Oh Prophet of Allah, do not be saddened, your nation will be victorious.
We say to this West, which does not act reasonably, and does not learn its lessons: By Allah, you will be defeated. You will be defeated in Palestine, and your defeat there has already begun. True, it is Israel that is being defeated there, but when Israel is defeated, its path is defeated, those who call to support it are defeated, and the cowards who hide behind it and support it are defeated. Israel will be defeated, and so will whoever supported or supports it.
America will be defeated in Iraq. Wherever the [Islamic] nation is targeted, its enemies will be defeated, Allah willing. The nation of Muhammad is gaining victory in Palestine. The nation of Muhammad is gaining victory in Iraq, and it will be victorious in all Arab and Muslim lands. "Their multitudes will be defeated and turn their backs [and flee]." These fools will be defeated, the wheel of time will turn, and times of victory and glory will be upon our nation, and the West will be full of remorse, when it is too late.
They think that history has ended with them. They do not know that the law of Allah cannot be changed or replaced. "You shall not find a substitute for the law of Allah. You shall not find any change to the law of Allah." Today, the Arab and Islamic nation is rising and awakening, and it will reach its peak, Allah willing. It will be victorious. It will link the present to the past. It will open up the horizons of the future. It will regain the leadership of the world. Allah willing, the day is not far off.
Don't you see that every act of deceit they contrive is being turned against them by Allah? Don't you see that they make every effort to defeat us militarily, but fail to do so? Israel and the occupation forces in Iraq are supplied with the entire Western military arsenal, yet they fail and are defeated.
Don't you see that they believe they are capable of using democracy to deceive the people, but then democracy is turned against them? Don't you see that they are spending their money in efforts to block the way of Allah, to thwart Hamas, to defeat it, and to help those whom they want, but [this plot] is turned against them? They are not acting reasonably.
They do not understand the Arab or Muslim mentality, which rejects the foreigner. Our Arab forefathers, before the advent of Islam, rejected the aggressors and the foreigners.
I bring good tidings to our beloved Prophet Muhammad: Allah's promise and the Prophet's prophecy of our victory in Palestine over the Jews and over the oppressive Zionists has begun to come true.
I say to the [European countries]: Hurry up and apologize to our nation, because if you do not, you will regret it. This is because our nation is progressing and is victorious. Do not leave a black mark in the collective memory of the nation, because our nation will not forgive you.
Tomorrow, our nation will sit on the throne of the world. This is not a figment of the imagination, but a fact. Tomorrow we will lead the world, Allah willing. Apologize today, before remorse will do you no good. Our nation is moving forwards, and it is in your interest to respect a victorious nation.
Our nation will be victorious. When it reaches the leadership of the world, and controls its own will decisions, then it will prevent this overt interference [in our affairs], and its pillaging of natural resources, and will prevent these recurring offenses against our land, against our nation, and against our holy places - then you will regret it.
The Western countries must stop the fools. Are these reasonable people? They allow offenses against Allah and the prophets. They are not offending only Muhammad, but all the prophets. But when an historian among them talks about the Holocaust, it is the sin of all sins. If anybody criticizes the Jews, this constitutes anti-Semitism. By law, they hold their own people accountable [for that]. The West, which waved the slogans of liberty after the French Revolution, three centuries ago, does not respect its own principles or slogans today. It violates them.
This victory, which was clearly evident in the elections, conveys a message to Israel, to America, and to all the oppressors around the world: You have no way of overcoming us. If you want war, we are ready. If you want democracy, we are ready. Whatever you want - we are ready. You will not defeat us. The time of defeat is over. Defeat within six days, defeat within hours, the defeat of armies - all this is over.
Today, you are fighting the army of Allah. You are fighting against peoples, for whom death for the sake of Allah, and for the sake of honor and glory, is preferable to life. You are fighting a nation that doest not tire, even after a 1,000 years of fighting. Today, you are facing peoples filled with faith, with the love of Allah, the love of Allah's Prophet, with bravery, glory, and pride - a nation that knows its way, a nation that knows what it is, a nation that respects itself. How can you possibly defeat us?
There is a chasm between you and our defeat. You will be the ones to be defeated, Allah willing. The time of defeat is gone, and the day of victory has come, Allah willing. Wherever you turn, you will fail.
Crowd: Death to Israel. Death to Israel. Death to America.
Khaled Mash'al: Before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded. Allah willing, before they die, they will experience humiliation and degradation every day. America will be of no avail to them. Their generals will be of no avail to them. The last of their generals has been forgotten. Allah has made him disappear. He's over. Gone is that Sharon, behind whose back they would hide and find shelter, and with whom they would feel relatively secure. Today they have frail leaders, who don't even know where our Lord placed them.
Allah willing, we will make them lose their eyesight, we will make them lose their brains.
Their weapons will be of no avail to them. Their nuclear weapons will be of no use to them. They thought that they had hegemony over the region with their nuclear weapons, but suddenly Pakistan popped up with Islamic nuclear weapons, and they are afraid of Iran and several Arab countries have some chemical weapons.
Israel has begun to sense that its superiority has come to an end. Its army, which has superior conventional weapons - the air force, the armored corps, and the missiles - there are no longer wars in which these are used.
The Arabs have said: We don't want [conventional] wars, thank you very much. Leave the war to the peoples. Today, the Israeli weapons are of no use against the peoples. We have imposed a new equation in the war. In this equation, our tools are stronger. That is why we will defeat them, Allah willing.
"If you fight them, they will turn their backs on you, and will not be victorious." But the problem is that we need to fight them first. If we sleep at home, how are we to beat them?! "If you fight them..." - that is a divine promise... "If" - It is conditional: "If you fight them, they will turn their backs on you and will not be victorious." And indeed, when we began to fight, and we armed ourselves with a will to fight, we defeated them.
That is why Allah Akbar [Allah is greater]. We say that every day - Allah Akbar. Yes, Allah is greater than America. Allah is greater than the oppressors. Allah is greater than the superpowers. Allah is greater than the tyranny of the oppressing world, and Allah is greater than Israel. Since Allah is greater, and He supports us, we will be victorious.
By Allah, I know that all Arab leaders - and I have met many of them - deep inside want the resistance in Palestine to be victorious, and want Palestine to be liberated. Perhaps the need for flattery and for diplomacy, and the American hegemony force other things on them, but in their hearts they are happy when we are victorious.
If before the Hamas victory, there were several military wings, each with a few hundred or a few thousand fighters, under the rule of Hamas, if you continue to besiege us, to starve our people, to ignore our rights, and if you continue your occupation, your aggression, and your assassinations, we, the Hamas, will declare a general call to arms. We will place the entire Palestinian people at the disposal of the resistance and its weapons.
Crowd: Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised. Allah akbar, Allah be praised.
Khaled Mash'al: Be careful not to drive our people into a corner - Occupation, aggression, assassinations, 9,000 male and female prisoners, preventing aid, imposing a siege, causing starvation - and on top of all this, you don't want to recognize democracy and its results.
The German [Chancellor Angela] Merkel pops up and says: Democracy and success in the elections are not sufficient for Hamas to gain legitimacy. To hell with you all. How are we supposed to gain legitimacy? When you said we had the legitimacy of resistance, you called it terrorism. Now, we say we have the legitimacy of democracy, but you deny it. In that case, you yourself are not legitimate, because you emerged through democracy. This is the logic of a frail and defeatist person.
Brothers and sister, there is confusion in the Western world, and in the American administration. Allah has come to them from where they did not expect him. That is the grace of Allah. That is why we do not fear them. We do not fear their threats.
Today they give us an ultimatum: Recognize Israel. Wonderful! The murderer is not required by anyone to recognize the rights of his victim, but the victim is required to recognize the rights of his murderer, and to sing his praises.
Hamas has a vision. Hamas has a plan. Hamas can manage the political battle, just like it managed the military battle, but in a different language, with different tools, and recognizing Israel is not one of them. Nor is giving up the rights, giving up the right to resistance, and nor is giving up the weapons of the resistance.
Nevertheless, we want to deal with politics, but there is a difference between the politics of the weak and defeatists, which we will constantly repeat - the kind of politics that does not impress the enemy and so it does nothing, because, like in the market, products that are praised too much become cheap. If we continue to praise our products, constantly saying: "We love peace," "We have given up the option of war," "Peace is our strategic option," "For God's sake, Israel, give us a few scraps of land" - By Allah, we will be degraded in the eyes of our enemies.
We will conduct our politics in the language of victory. We will conduct our policy in a confident language. We will conduct our politics in the language of those who are steadfast and sure of
themselves. Besides, by Allah, after the people has elected us, and has bestowed upon us all this power, we will disrespect its rights?
The people has given us a deposit, and has empowered us to liberate its land, to restore Jerusalem and its holy places. It has empowered us to release 9,000 male and female prisoners. It has empowered us to stop the aggression, to liberate the land, and to restore its rights. The people has empowered us to bring back 5.5 million Palestinian refugees and displaced people to their homeland. After all this, Hamas - in order to please America and the European Union, and in order for the pressure on us to stop, and in order for their highnesses to allow us to establish a government... We are not trying to please them.
I say to America, Europe, and the West: It is in your interests to change your relations and policies regarding the Arab and Islamic nation and the Palestinian cause. Because we are winning, it is in your interests to deal with the victors, not the losers.
Israel will be defeated and will be of no use to you. The Arabs will be victorious. The Muslims will be victorious. Palestine will be victorious. Change your policy soon, if you want to protect your interests, and maintain healthy relations with the East.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Can Muslims work with/for non-Muslim Government?
interesting article from http://www.jelas.org/ - ( jelas.org is the official site for ALKIS's writers)
There is no straight forward answer. However, there are evidence to suggest that this question has touched in the Koran. The bold instance is the whole of surah Yoosef (surah no 12), in particular verse no 55. The verse narrates that when Egypt was forecasted to have a seven-years long draught, the Prophet Yoosef (Joseph) offered himself to be the state treasurer. The king who was only identified by the holy Koran as al-‘Azeez, appointed Joseph to what his wished for. The second evidence is in surah Ghafir (surah no. 40) from verse 28 to 45. It was about a man who is believed as one of Fir’aun (Pharaoh) ministers or senior advisors. Others in the opinion that he was Pharaoh’s nephew. He did not only question Pharaoh’s conducts when to face with Prophet Moses, but also came out with very polite, knowledgeable and highly professional advice. The story about Pharaoh and the man wraps up at verse no. 45 with a decree that in the day judgement he escapes from the hellfire.
The third evidence is hidden in verse no 25 surah al-Fath (surah no. 48). Apparently, this verse is to advise Prophet Muhammad to refrain from entering Mecca in the 9th of the Hegira. By abiding Allah’s command, the Prophet who was defying opinions of most his companions who wished for attacking the Meccans who obstructed their way to the holy land, the Prophet signed a seized fire agreement with the disbelievers, known as the Treaty of Under the Tree. The wisdom of Allah’s ordains in this verse was only apprehended after the Conquest of Mecca a year later. It has been found that, prior to the incident a number of the Meccans, among which were still serving the pre-Islam Meccan regime but embraced Islam secretly. Among whom was Khaled bin al-Walid who later served as the Prophet’s army general. Not only that, Khaled has been the greatest Moslem army general ever known.
In the middle-age the history repeated. It was about Harun al-din al-Hamadani, born a Jew, embraced Islam during his teenage and served Hulagu regime. He served the government until the Hulagu’s grand-son era, Mahmood Ghazan who became moslem and expand the Islam Empire.
Although the four separate incidents address four different circumstances, one thing is common. That is these gentlemen who served the non-Moslem regimes discharged their duties nobly, consciously and undoubtedly highly professional.
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