pohon kurma

Dari Ibnu Umar radiyallahu anhuma, ia berkata bahwa Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam bersabda: “Di antara pepohonan, ada yang daunnya tidak rontok. Sungguh, itu adalah pemisalan seorang muslim. Beritahukan kepadaku, pohon apakah itu?” Orang-orang menyebut pohon-pohon yang ada di lembah-lembah. Ibnu Umar mengatakan, “Terlintas dalam diriku bahwa itu adalah pohon kurma, tetapi aku malu (untuk mengatakannya).” Kemudian para sahabat mengatakan, “Beritahukan kepada kami, wahai Rasulullah.” Beliau menjawab, “Pohon kurma.” (HR. Al-Bukhari)

Ini Bagian Kalian dan Ini Hadiah Untukku

Disebutkan dalam hadits yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Bukhari dan Imam Muslim dalam Kitab Sahih keduanya, dari Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi: “Ketika Ibn Al-Lutbiyyah, orang yang dipekerjakan untuk mengumpulkan zakat, datang kepada Rasulullah (shallallahu alaihi wasalam), dia berkata: ‘Ini bagian kalian dan ini hadiah untukku’, lalu Rasulullah (shallallahu alaihi wasalam) berdiri, memuji dan menyanjung Allah kemudian bersabda: ‘Aku mempekerjakan beberapa orang di antara kalian untuk suatu pekerjaan yang Allah kuasakan kepadaku, kemudian seseorang di antaranya datang kepadaku dan berkata: ‘Ini bagian kalian dan ini hadiah untukku.’ Mengapa dia tidak duduk-duduk saja di rumah bapak atau ibunya dan menunggu sehingga hadiah itu datang kepadanya? Demi Allah, tidak satupun di antara kalian yang mengambil sesuatu tanpa hak, kecuali ia akan datang kepada Allah di hari kebangkitan dengan memikulnya. Aku tidak ingin melihat siapapun di antara kalian memikul unta yang merintih, atau sapi yang melenguh, atau domba yang mengembik ketika dia berjumpa dengan Allah.’ Kemudian Rasulullah mengangkat tangannya (tinggi-tinggi sehingga) ketiaknya yang putih terlihat, dan bersabda: ‘Wahai Allah, bukankah aku telah menyampaikannya?’”

hadits tersebut oleh para ulama dijadikan dalil dari haramnya bagi pekerja atau pegawai untuk mengambil atau menerima hadiah (alias suap) dari suatu pekerjaan yang (memang tugas yang harus) dilakukannya, padahal ia telah menerima upah atas pekerjaannya itu, sehingga yang demikian (menerima hadiah) itu termasuk pengkhianatan terhadap pemberi kerja.

Faidah hadits:

1. Diwajibkan bagi pegawai melaporkan hasil pekerjaan kepada si pemberi kerja
2. Disunnahkan untuk memuji dan menyanjung Allah sebelum berpidato atau berkhutbah
3. Adalah adab ketika memperingatkan manusia dari sebuah perbuatan buruk yaitu dengan tidak menyebutkan nama si pelaku
4. Dibolehkan mempekerjakan orang lain untuk membantu menyelesaikan suatu urusan yang dikuasakan kepada kita
5. Tidak boleh mengambil sesuatu sebagai hadiah bagi diri si pegawai di luar dari upah yang diberikan oleh si pemberi kerja
6. Ancaman terhadap orang yang mengambil sesuatu tanpa hak yaitu akan menghadap Allah dengan memikulnya
7. Disunnahkan berdoa kepada Allah dengan mengangkat tangan

Wallahu a’lam.

bad news always travel fast

Bertempat tinggal di United States of America, kaum imigran muslim harus pandai-pandai menjaga diri, jika tidak berbaur dengan masyarakat pada umumnya maka dengan tidak membuat masalah di lingkungan saja sudah cukup bagus. Stigma masyarakat yang liberal dan beberapa di antaranya fundamentalis kristen dengan segala sektenya, masih memandang buruk citra muslim, apalagi sejak peristiwa 9-11 sepuluh tahun yang lalu. Sayangnya kaum imigran muslim dari berbagai penjuru dunia ini tidak hanya membawa identitas muslimnya, namun juga membawa identitas kesukuan serta mazhab agama yang dianutnya. Dengan demikian, gesekan di antara sesama muslim pun dimungkinkan terjadi jika tidak bijaksana dalam bersikap. Dan ketika friksi itu memanas, maka yang dirugikan tentulah komunitas muslim sendiri.

Oleh karena menyadari bahwa berita buruk selalu mengembara lebih cepat, maka seruan kepada Islam yang satu didengungkan oleh berbagai kelompok muslim yang ada di Amerika Serikat. Mereka menyerukan kebaikan-kebaikan untuk bersama-sama membangun citra Islam yang baik di dunia barat, dengan berupaya menafikan semua perbedaan dan menguatkan semua persamaan. Persamaan yang dimaksud tentulah persamaan akidah dan ibadah. Segolongan umat menyerukan untuk menghidupkan kajian-kajian quran dan sunnah, tahfizh quran, pelayanan ibadah, dan gerakan sosial. Menghidupkan budaya nasehat menasehati sesama muslim dalam rangka menjaga persatuan dan kesatuan. Walaupun tak jadi heran, karena yang menyambut ajakan tersebut hanya segelintir orang saja.

[muslim in america, 02Aug2011]

masjid around Houston

I was sent by my company to take a short course for two weeks in Houston, TX, USA at the end of July 2011 to the first week of August 2011. As my habit when traveling is to find masjid nearby the place where I staying. I found that there are two masjid which are not far from hotel. First is Makkah Masjid which is laid on 3505 South Dairy Ashford Road. The masjid is in a commercial building, it’s interior is a spacious hall which can be divided into two temporary rooms for gentleman’s hall and ladies’ hall. I conduct my magrib prayer there. Some Pakistani have a chat in the corner. Many books laid on it shelf, are quranic books

The second masjid is Masjid Muhammadi which is laid on 11830 Corona Lane. The masjid is a big house with many function rooms. The prayer hall is also spacious too, divided into two hall, each for women and men. Compare to Makkah Masjid, Masjid Muhammadi is more simple with less ornament (or calligraphy). The library is set in the room next to prayer hall. I conduct my isya prayer there, and later for juma’a prayer and tarawih. A Bengali man recognise my face as a malay ethnic, as he was ever stayed for about 2 year in Malaysia. I went for tarawih at this masjid, because they conduct the prayer in sunnah way. In this masjid where I first became acquainted to my new friends, Yunus brothers.

There is the third masjid, Makki Masjid which is laid on 9651 Bissonnet St. Suite 306. I found this masjid when I met my relatives who went there looked for muslimah clothings. This masjid is simply a spacious prayer hall with the neighborhood of an arabic tailor store, a jerusalem art and book store, a tattooing store, and a not anymore active halal restaurant.

I was told that in America, muslim can only build their community and the worship place in the greater area out of the city central. And this policy applied also to the other communities, so that’s explain why the store next door to the islamic bookstore is a tattooing store.

[muslim in america, 05Aug2011]

it’s muslim clothing

My eyes lit up, seeing some faces of Indonesian in the second row of tarawih prayers in Masjid Muhammadi. Also their eyes sparkled as are trying to communicate with me from afar. After the congregation dispersed, I approach one of them and ask if he is really Indonesian people or may be from other nation with similar races. He introduced himself and his two brothers, also his friend. He came from Bandung, the family are already lived in Houston since 9/11. He can speak Indonesia fluently to communicate with his parent while his brothers are practicing. We chat a lot as introduction. I was questioning him for he was wearing gamis, if it were occasionally or usually.

He said that he only wear gamis for Ramadan, he proud with that. While for the women, wearing hijab is identically muslimah but what about with the men. Although it is permissible to wearing jeans or western clothing, gamis could distinguish you from other, it show your identity and proudness as a muslim. It is a way to introduce to other people that you’re a muslim.

[2 Ramadan 1432, for Yunus and two brothers Iman, Ahmad, and their friend Ibrahim]

muslim in China – 6

Idul Adha is one of muslim feasts that took place on the tenth day until the thirteenth day of month Dzulhijjah. After took a congregation prayer, wealthy people of muslim slaughter the cattles (such as cow, bull, sheep and goat) for their meat distributed to the poor and some are presented to the family. Among Chinese muslims, many events were held to celebrate the day. In an Arabic-language television shows covering other forms of events organized to celebrate Eid al-Adha, there was a celebration dinner to the accompaniment of dances from the countries of origin of Chinese muslims combined with middle eastern dance.

But the fact which makes me more amazed was the television channel I was watching: China Central Television (CCTV-العربية) that provide Arabic language broadcasting services to reach more than 300 million Arabic-speaking audiences. Even though my Arabic language skills are minimal, but I was feels more comfortable to watch Arabic-language after listening to mandarin conversations mixed with english all the day.

muslim in China – 5

Shopping at Ikea, Dalian was spending much time. We almost forgot to eat until our tummy were rumbling. But first, we need to find the Dalian Mosque in Beijing Street, near People’s Square, Dalian, and took day prayer there. The mosque was built in 1922. At the time of Cultural Revolution happened in China until 1979, all of worship building for any religion include this mosque did not operate.

In the courtyard there are several holes that had been prepared for the slaughter of the cattles. And there is  a wall inscribed with a verse of the Qur’an which reads: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”

你們當全體堅持真主的繩索，不要自己分裂。

We met Imam Hajj Yusuf as the master of the mosque, he invited us to come to the mosque at 9 a.m. in the next day for Idul Adha prayer. After had a light chat with him, we say goodbye to him, and went for late lunch at Alabo Dalian Minzu Restaurant which laid just the next building to the mosque. This restaurant managed by Chinese muslim, serving meals in mediteranian style. We feel very relieved and satisfied eating at this restaurant because it guarantees provided halal cuisine.

muslim in China – 4

It was a lucky for me that our generous Chinese friends understood muslim can not eat pork nor can drink alcoholic beverages. They took us to restaurants that muslims are the owner. Sometime they took us to Chinese restaurants that serve vegetarian meals or just don’t serve pork.

Although Muslim Cuisine Restaurant on Qianmen Street, Beijing (near Tian’anmen Square) served halal and very nice taste of Chinese food and Arab (阿拉伯) Dalian Minzu Restaurant, Dalian (near People’s Square) served halal and very nice taste of middle east food, they still provide wines, chinese liquor, and beer.

I did not know the reasons until then I found that many diners are not muslim, and these restaurants still have to survive. This issue is one of a matter of Islamic jurisprudence that is perhaps still likely to be understood as an emergency condition.

padlocks of love

There are a series of chained padlock on a place in one side of the Great Wall. On each padlock engraved the names and hopes. The people who put the lock there usually couples who expect their relationship established and timeless love as the Great Wall.

However for me as a muslim, it is such a false belief because of seek for hope to other than Allah, the Eternal Refuge.

muslim in China – 3

After took a shopping at the market of exotic, Tianjin Tanggu Yanghuo Market Pedestrian Streets, and find an original tea gift shop at the Xiugu Commercial Plaza, we went to Tanggu mosque which is laid on Zhongxin North Road to take a prayer. It was during festival, there were a lot of activity in the courtyard of the mosque. Spilled blood of slughtered livestocks, some cattles were still waiting to be slaughtered the next day. While the kitchen was busy preparing the celebration.

When the time for evening prayer come, we wait about 15 minutes for congregation. One by one came to take sunnah prayer and then came out. After a while, somebody echoed the prayer call in front of the mosque, a few people came in to the prayer hall. We conduct the evening prayer in congregation.

My chinese friend asked about the prayer procedure, “Is it the same at everywhere, the way you pray? Can you go to any mosque to do the prayer?” And I answered, “Yes, muslims are united by the same language and procedure to conduct the prayer, and you can go to any mosque to pray. Even if you could not find any mosque, as long as the place is clean enough and is not a toilet, sure you can pray there.”