Dear fwens,

Untuk bacaan bersama...

How I came to Islam - by Yusuf Islam
From Musician to Muslim by Allah's Will

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All I have to say is all what you know already, to confirm what you already know, the message of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as given by God - the Religion of Truth. As human beings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top of creation. Man is created to be God's deputy on earth, and it is important to realize the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives a preparation for the next life. Anybody who misses this chance is not likely to be given another, to be brought back again and again, because it says in Qur'an Majeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, "O Lord, send us back and give us another chance." The Lord will say, "If I send you back you will do the same."

MY EARLY RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING

I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxury and the high life of show business. I was born in a Christian home, but we know that every child is born in his original nature - it is only his parents that turn him to this or that religion. I was given this religion (Christianity) and thought this way. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, so we had to make contact with Him through Jesus - he was in fact the door to God. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not swallow it all.

I looked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life. And when they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. I more or less believed it, because I had to have respect for the faith of my parents.

POP STAR

Gradually I became alienated from this religious upbringing. I started making music. I wanted to be a big star. All those things I saw in the films and on the media took hold of me, and perhaps I thought this was my God, the goal of making money. I had an uncle who had a beautiful car. "Well," I said, "he has it made. He has a lot of money." The people around me influenced me to think that this was it; this world was their God.

I decided then that this was the life for me; to make a lot of money, have a 'great life.' Now my examples were the pop stars. I started making songs, but deep down I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if I became rich I would help the needy. (It says in the Qur'an, we make a promise, but when we make something, we want to hold onto it and become greedy.)

So what happened was that I became very famous. I was still a teenager, my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated (with liquor and drugs).

IN HOSPITAL

After a year of financial success and 'high' living, I became very ill, contracted TB and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think: What was to happen to me? Was I just a body, and my goal in life was merely to satisfy this body? I realized now that this calamity was a blessing given to me by Allah, a chance to open my eyes - "Why am I here? Why am I in bed?" - and I started looking for some of the answers. At that time there was great interest in the Eastern mysticism. I began reading, and the first thing I began to become aware of was death, and that the soul moves on; it does not stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment. I started meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in 'peace and flower power,' and this was the general trend. But what I did believe in particular was that I was not just a body. This awareness came to me at the hospital.

One day when I was walking and I was caught in the rain, I began running to the shelter and then I realized, 'Wait a minute, my body is getting wet, my body is telling me I am getting wet.' This made me think of a saying that the body is like a donkey, and it has to be trained where it has to go. Otherwise, the donkey will lead you where it wants to go.

Then I realized I had a will, a God-given gift: follow the will of God. I was fascinated by the new terminology I was learning in the Eastern religion. By now I was fed up with Christianity. I started making music again and this time I started reflecting my own thoughts. I remember the lyric of one of my songs. It goes like this: "I wish I knew, I wish I knew what makes the Heaven, what makes the Hell. Do I get to know You in my bed or some dusty cell while others reach the big hotel?" and I knew I was on the Path.

I also wrote another song, "The Way to Find God Out." I became even more famous in the world of music. I really had a difficult time because I was getting rich and famous, and at the same time, I was sincerely searching for the Truth. Then I came to a stage where I decided that Buddhism is all right and noble, but I was not ready to leave the world. I was too attached to the world and was not prepared to become a monk and to isolate myself from society.

I tried Zen and Ching, numerology, tarot cards and astrology. I tried to look back into the Bible and could not find anything. At this time I did not know anything about Islam, and then, what I regarded as a miracle occurred. My brother had visited the mosque in Jerusalem and was greatly impressed that while on the one hand it throbbed with life (unlike the churches and synagogues which were empty), on the other hand, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility prevailed.

THE QUR'AN

When he came to London he brought back a translation of the Qur'an, which he gave to me. He did not become a Muslim, but he felt something in this religion, and thought I might find something in it also.

And when I received the book, a guidance that would explain everything to me - who I was; what was the purpose of life; what was the reality and what would be the reality; and where I came from - I realized that this was the true religion; religion not in the sense the West understands it, not the type for only your old age. In the West, whoever wishes to embrace a religion and make it his only way of life is deemed a fanatic. I was not a fanatic, I was at first confused between the body and the soul. Then I realized that the body and soul are not apart and you don't have to go to the mountain to be religious. We must follow the will of God. Then we can rise higher than the angels. The first thing I wanted to do now was to be a Muslim.

I realized that everything belongs to God, that slumber does not overtake Him. He created everything. At this point I began to lose the pride in me, because hereto I had thought the reason I was here was because of my own greatness. But I realized that I did not create myself, and the whole purpose of my being here was to submit to the teaching that has been perfected by the religion we know as Al-Islam. At this point I started discovering my faith. I felt I was a Muslim. On reading the Qur'an, I now realized that all the Prophets sent by God brought the same message. Why then were the Jews and Christians different? I know now how the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and that they had changed His Word. Even the Christians misunderstand God's Word and called Jesus the son of God. Everything made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect and reason, and not to worship the sun or moon but the One Who has created everything. The Qur'an asks man to reflect upon the sun and moon and God's creation in general. Do you realize how different the sun is from the moon? They are at varying distances from the earth, yet appear the same size to us; at times one seems to overlap the other.

Even when many of the astronauts go to space, they see the insignificant size of the earth and vastness of space. They become very religious, because they have seen the Signs of Allah.

When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt that the only answer for me was the Qur'an, and God had sent it to me, and I kept it a secret. But the Qur'an also speaks on different levels. I began to understand it on another level, where the Qur'an says,

"Those who believe do not take disbelievers for friends and the believers are brothers."

Thus at this point I wished to meet my Muslim brothers.

CONVERSION

Then I decided to journey to Jerusalem (as my brother had done). At Jerusalem, I went to the mosque and sat down. A man asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a Muslim. He asked what was my name. I told him, "Stevens." He was confused. I then joined the prayer, though not so successfully. Back in London, I met a sister called Nafisa. I told her I wanted to embrace Islam and she directed me to the New Regent Mosque. This was in 1977, about one and a half years after I received the Qur'an. Now I realized that I must get rid of my pride, get rid of Iblis, and face one direction. So on a Friday, after Jummah' I went to the Imam and declared my faith (the Kalimah) at this hands. You have before you someone who had achieved fame and fortune. But guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an. Now I realize I can get in direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion. As one Hindu lady told me, "You don't understand the Hindus. We believe in one God; we use these objects (idols) to merely concentrate." What she was saying was that in order to reach God, one has to create associates, that are idols for the purpose. But Islam removes all these barriers. The only thing that moves the believers from the disbelievers is the salat. This is the process of purification.

Finally I wish to say that everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah and pray that you gain some inspirations from my experiences. Furthermore, I would like to stress that I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur'an first and realized that no person is perfect. Islam is perfect, and if we imitate the conduct of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) we will be successful. May Allah give us guidance to follow the path of the ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Ameen!

-- Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)

Date: 27/10/09
Time: 11.56 am

Dear fwens,

Hi Nurul,

Sorry I did receive your email – I have had some other things to attend to.

I’ll rearrange your placement and let you know – at this stage another email will come out from me this week with some new offers.

Hi Nurul,

This is to confirm that you have been withdrawn from the January placement for the MidNorth division of General Practice/Pt Broughton pharmacy placement. I’ll allocate you a replacement placement at a later stage.

Geoff March BPharm PhD

Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice and Placement Co-ordinator

date: 17/09/2009
time: 3.16 pm

dear fwens,

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Terlanjur: Padah Melayan Cinta Monyet

“Apa yang dimaksud ‘terlanjur’ pada ayat ustaz tu?” Tanya seorang pembaca setia laman blog penulis.

“Usahlah ditanya, cukuplah kalimah tersebut menghantui kepala saya sejak kebelakangan ini” Penulis cuba meredakan hati yang sedikit risau melihat gelagat muda-mudi masa kini.

Mungkin para teman dan pembaca tertanya-tanya kenapa terlalu banyak mesej pesanan di yahoo messenger hingga memeningkan sesetengah sahabat-sahabat, tidak cukupkah sekali dihantar?

Penulis terpaksa berbuat sedemikian bagi menjawab banyak pertanyaan sama yang diajukan di dalam e-mail, bahkan yang terbaru betul-betul menguji kesabaran penulis. Apakah ini yang dikatakan darah muda yang berani memperlakukan perbuatan terkutuk ini?

Ada yang mengaku telah ditebuk oleh teman lelaki, terkapai-kapai mencari jalan pulang kepada-Nya.

Allahu Rabbi…!

Namun paling merisaukan penulis, penyakit kronik ini berlaku di kalangan anta anti yang mempunyai asas ilmu agama sebagai pendiding. Ingatkan cerah hingga ke petang, hujan pula dipertengahan.

Allah Taala berfirman yang bermaksud: “Dan (sebaliknya) sesiapa yang berada di dunia ini (dalam keadaan) buta (matahatinya), maka ia juga buta di akhirat dan lebih sesat lagi jalannya” al-Israa’ (17:72)

Ada yang berpendapat fatrah masa pertunangan adalah waktu untuk berkenal-kenalan, jadi apa salahnya untuk keluar bersama ke taman-taman rekreasi, pusat hiburan dan sebagainya. Ini adalah pandangan yang fasad dan tidak diiktiraf oleh agama. Mana tidak semua hujah atau dalil tersebut berbaur khayalan dan bayangan iblis bagi memuaskan nafsu semata-mata.

Pendirian penulis berkenaan dengan no couple sebelum kahwin sememangnya tetap tegar dari sekolah, universiti sehinggalah penulis akan merasai nikmat berkahwin itu sendiri. Mungkin penulis antara individu yang amat tajam dalam mengkritik individu yang bercinta hingga meleret-leret sebelum kahwin.

Terkadang terasa rimas dengan sikap sesetengah daripada kawan-kawan yang bercinta kononnya, sungguh mengajar erti kesabaran. Mabuknya melampau-lampau. Tunduk ego kelakian, dan lembik tengok para wanita.

Bahkan penulis sering beranggapan golongan yang bercinta sebelum kahwin ini kadang-kadang boleh menjadi munafik. Bagaimana pula? Kenapa tidak, semasa bercinta semuanya sikap yang baik-baik ditonjolkan, daripada cakap-cakap romantik, hadiah yang tidak pernah putus-putus, puji-pujian yang melangit dan sebagainya. Tetapi selepas kahwin, berapa ramai yang kekal dengan lakonan masa cinta tengah mekar subur sebelum ini, jarang sekali akan ketemu mereka yang masih ingat pada skrip yang pernah dihamburkan dulu.

Inilah salah satu puca perceraian yang tinggi di tanah air kerana pasangan berasa tertipu selepas belang sebenar pasangan mereka terdedah bilamana merasai sendiri bayangan rumahtangga yang sebenar.

TIADA MATLAMAT HIDUP JELAS

Bagi yang sudah terdedah dengan gaya hidup bebas, keluar bersama untuk dating, beriba dan bertepuk tampar bukanlah sesuatu yang pelik. Penulis terkedu mendengar kisah hidup masyarakat muda-mudi Malaysia yang sudah ala-ala barat. Masalah ber-couple dan membawa balik pasangan ke rumah sudah menjadi perkara biasa, yang hairannya ibu bapa sendiri yang merestui hubungan haram itu.

Belum cerita lagi tidur sekatil yang makin menjadi ‘biasa’. Maksiat? Dosa? Semunya tidak terasa dek kerana matlamat menghalalkan cara.

“Niat kami baik, bukan nak main-main pun, sampai masa kami kahwin la. Kamu sibuk kenapa? Macamlah baik sangat”

Biasa dengarkan ayat di atas?

Lain pula ceritanya dengan pasangan yang berkopiah dan bertu

dung litup, terkadang penulis tergelak keseorangan dengan lakonan wara’ mereka. Berhenti solat di masjid semasa keluar bersama, maklumlah alim dan wara’, miscall qiamullail, sms tazkirah dan sebagainya antara skrip murahan harian mereka.

Mabuk orang bercinta ni memang dahsyat. Mengapa mabuk, rindu dendam yang sama tidak diaplikasikan dalam bercinta dengan Allah Taala. Pelik bukan? Mulut kita mengaku cinta Allah Taala, sayang Rasul s.a.w, namun amalannya masih jauh daripada hakikat sebenar.

“Macam mana nak kenal peribadi bakal isteri kalau tak bergayut dulu” antara alasan yang pernah diberikan kepada penulis.

Teringat penulis cerita lama orang tua kita yang berkahwin dan hanya mengenal pasangan masing-masing pada hari perkahwinan. Bahagia mereka lebih daripada pasangan moden yang kenal sampai ke dalam kain sebelum di-Ijab dan Qabul.

Pastinya kenyatan ini dijawab kembali:

“Ala itu dulu, sekarang dunia sudah maju, takkan nak ikut cara datuk nenek kita zaman jepun dulu” Penulis terkedu mendengar ayat berapi ini.

SAY : “NO COUPLE”

Persoalan cinta sebelum kahwin ini merupakan tajuk yang panjang. Cinta tidak semestinya membawa kepada couple, namun bahkan cinta boleh menjadi wasilah kepada mungkar lain yang mungkin berlaku tanpa couple.

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Allah Taala berfirman yang bermaksud: “Dan orang orang yang berkata: “Ya Tuhan kami, anugrahkanlah kepada kami isteri-isteri kami dan keturunan kami sebagai penyenang hati (kami), dan jadikanlah kami imam bagi orang-orang yang bertakwa” al-Furqan (25:74)

Magnet jantina ini sebenarnya satu fitrah dalam kehidupan manusia. Hal ini bukanlah perkara baru bagi kehidupan pelajar ditambah lagi dengan faktor umur di alam kampus tarikan untuk berpasang pasangan merupakan perkara lumrah dan mendarah-daging dalam diri mereka.

Perkenalan di alam sekolah, kenal semasa kursus persediaan, kenal sebab sekelas atau satu universiti, kenal kerana pertukaran nota, bahkan kenal sewaktu sama-sama berprogram merupakan noktah pemulaan kepada eposid cinta remaja, mungkin cinta monyet.

Jadi bagi yang sudah bermula untuk mencari, semak balik niat anda. Bagi yang sudah tersasar jauh jadikan cinta Allah Taala benteng ampuh dalam mengawal karenah cinta anda yang bergelora. Akhirnya pesanan penulis kepada semua yang ingin dan tengah bercinta, jangan jadikan couple anda punca tawar hubungan suami isteri selepas kahwin.

Mengapa perlu mencari marah Allah Taala semata-mata mencari bahagia manusia yang tiada jaminan.

Jauhilah maksiat bercinta sebelum kahwin, sinonimnya cinta monyet ini.

“Ya Allah. Kami ingin belajar untuk mentaati perintah-Mu. Kami belajar untuk menjadi hamba-Mu yang soleh dan solehah. Kami seringkali jatuh dan bangun, jatuh dan bangun lagi, dan lagi. Semoga kami terus dipimpin oleh-Mu. Duhai Allah”

......................................................................................................................................................................

p.s: ingin mencapai apa yang Siti Zulaikha rasakan. Beralih dari cinta hamba ke cinta Pencipta. Amin.....Moga diri ini kuat. Terus ke hadapan. Tanpa berpaling ke kehidupan dulu.... Amin..Ya Rabbal alamin..

Bismillah

Allahummasolli' alamuhammad wa'alaalimuhammad………….


“Gempa di Padang jam 17.16, gempa susulan 17.58, esoknya gempa di Jambi jam 8.52. Coba lihat Al-Qur’an!” demikian bunyi pesan singkat yang beredar. Siapa pun yang membuka Al-Qur’an dengan tuntunan pesan singkat tersebut akan merasa kecil di hadapan Allah Swt. Demikian ayatayat Allah Swt tersebut:

17.16 (QS. Al Israa’ ayat 16): “Dan jika Kami hendak membinasakan suatu negeri, maka Kami perintahkan kepada orang-orang yang hidup mewah di negeri itu (supaya mentaati Allah) tetapi mereka melakukan kedurhakaan dalam negeri itu, maka sudah sepantasnya berlaku terhadapnya perkataan (ketentuan Kami), kemudian Kami hancurkan negeri itu sehancur-hancurnya.”

17.58 (QS. Al Israa’ ayat 58): “Tak ada suatu negeri pun (yang durhaka penduduknya) , melainkan Kami membinasakannya sebelum hari kiamat atau Kami azab (penduduknya) dengan azab yang sangat keras. Yang demikian itu telah tertulis di dalam kitab (Lauh Mahfuz).”

8.52 (QS. Al Anfaal: 52): (Keadaan mereka) serupa dengan keadaan Fir’aun dan pengikut-pengikutny a serta orang-orang sebelumnya. Mereka mengingkari ayat-ayat Allah, maka Allah menyiksa mereka disebabkan disebabkan dosa-dosanya. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuat lagi Amat Keras siksaan-Nya.”

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3 ayat Allah Swt di atas, yang ditunjukkan tepat dalam waktu kejadian tiga gempa kemarin di Sumatera, berbicara mengenai azab Allah berupa kehancuran dan kematian, dan kaitannya dengan hidup bermewah-mewah dan kedurhakaan, dan juga dengan keadaan Fir’aun dan pengikut-pengikutny a. Ini tentu sangat menarik.

sumber; eramuslim