Completion of a Great Task

I just read this verse from Tao Te Ching and it makes me happy understanding its truth and had myself in the same situation just recently. Here is the verse.

7. Complete
Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.
The sage place himself after and finds himself before,
Ignore his desire and finds himself content.
He is complete because he does not serve himself.


Rearing a Beautiful Magical Baby

It started back sometime in the year 2002/2003 when I had a divine message in the form of dream in which I was rearing a baby with a beautiful face. The magical thing about this baby was eventhough it was still a baby, he could recite a beautiful poem which contained a message of patriotism. And I supported his hand up during his expression. At that time, I didn't quite understand the meaning of that message. I thought I would start a family life and given a baby to look after.

Human body is a perfect form in which
Allah taugh us about organization

When I finally returned to Jawa, I came home with a made-up mind to take care my personal life and tried to change the lifestyle I used to have in which apart from the work I did for earning a living, most of my time was filled with social works since teenager. So much so that i didn't care much about starting a family life (though sometimes thought about it). So when I returned to Jawa, there was only one organization I was left with, being the vice leader of LTIS, it's an IT community within the students of Thariqah Shiddiqiyyah. I accepted the task because it wasn't very demanding as others.

However, Allah's wills held supreme on me. Instead of manisfesting my wish, I was destined to fulfill Allah's wills. When National Conference of Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah was about to be held for the second time in August 2006, my love life came to an end and my colleagues in LTIS appointed me to represent the organisation to attend the event. It was the initial point of reality coming true. Because from then on, instead of having a family life, I had a busy life rearing Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah as the vice of general secretary. This organisastion was indeed a baby, because compared to the other Islamic non government organization such as Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) or Muhammadiyah, it is very young at that time only about 5 - 6 years old.

I didn't realize the truth in the dream I had before until my great master told me on how Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah was indeed a magical baby. Because even though, it is young in term of age, but we had done so much to Indonesian community and particularly to the students of Thariqah Shiddiqiyyah. As facilitator, motivator and coordinator within Shiddiqiyyah community, Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah had helped to rebuild or restore many housings for the poor, given charity to the orphans and the poor as part of compulsary program in every event we held, supported the work of local and regional leaders to work more efficiently, established a communicateive headquarters where the community members can be served as effectively as we could, dedicated the patriotism program as part of faith following the saying of Rasulullah Muhammad SAW (loving your country is part of faith), and much more.

Of all my social works I had done so far, the task I received in this organization was the greatest of all. Not only in term of its national scope and to some extend international since we have a representative in Malaysia and Singapore but also the pledge in which I was sworn was taken from the Qur'anic verses and furthermore  one of its core missions is to help the studenst in upholding the good characters and eliminiting the bad characters of human being such as greed for they are against humanity. So I took this task to heart and asked for guidance to Allah through anything He allowed me to received them from.

During the rearing time, I learned more about my lower self, my higher consciousness, my life in relation to Allah. Because many times, I had to make choices between serving my lower self or community, between following my desire to one thing or let consciousness to lead me to do other things, between saving my monthly salary or supporting the expense of my social work, between joining my family activities or fulfilling community expectation, between meeting my other social work or fulfilling the work in this organization, between resting or going from one city to other city in executing the pledge I said during inauguration. Having all that struggling in the past five years and reading the above verse, I summed up, that's how I felt and what I experienced in the past five years and last weekend was the culminating of it, because I was appointed to be the leader of organizing committee for the National Conference of Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah from 27-30 Muharam 1433H / 23 - 26 December 2011M.


Completion of a Great Task

As Truth manifested Itself,
So is the great task is completed

Being an organization with its character is sufism where the union of faith and humanity is its soul, we had to
act in such a way that even though all the work we did seemed very common and worldly, I personally had to find the meaning behing the action to bring me closer to Allah. I don't want all that I had done, left me with nothingness and be a wasteful because the intention was all wrong.

From the beginning when they appointed me to take over the leader position from my male colleague, I had made myself clear that nothing I would do except to serve Allah alone at my best. It is because I know very well that this conference is very important in shaping up and strengthen the organization and the network within and without Thariqah Shiddiqiyyah to achieve its goal to help the students implementing the tree of Tawhiid in their life. So there I was, giving out my time, my thought and my self, all of me to make the event successful not only in term of fulfilling the needs of the participants but also the outcome of conference as an executable result not just a nice thought to have.

In giving out myself, I tried to anticipate the needs of participants so they wouldn't complain because the facilities they had was below their expectation. However when the registration started, we couldn't fulfill all of them. The conference's material had not been fully available because the 'foto-copier' couldn't finish them on time. The bag we ordered as part of the conference kit was made with different material and printed wrongly so they had to be reworked. The accommodation given to participants wasn't enough so we had to place them in another hotels different from the main hotel we used I.e. Yusro Hotel. And in the closing ceremony, we couldn't finish the result documents that should be brought back by the participants.

And after the event, we still had some debts to pay to the hotels because the total money received from participants wasn't enough to pay for all the cost incurred. So there we were sending information to our colleagues to help us closing the debts, even though the hotel is ours. In that situation, I got a call from one of the persons who was asked to help. She called because she wanted to find out how could the money they paid weren't enough. So I explained to her about the opening ceremony where we had to provide the tents, seats, video screen, the meals to the family of Shiddiqiyyah who didn't join the event but wanted to come for the opening ceremony.

And we had to settle the matter with the bag maker on the payment. Because even though we had given him the down payment, because the result was very different from the sample, we thought that he didn't deserve any additional payment as agreed. But then considering the worker that he had employed, we then decided to give him some more just to make it even with the common cost of the product he delivered.

I personally do not mind with all the questions and complaints, because from the beginning I had put their needs and expectation before me and did my best to organize the committee to fulfill their expectation at their best. Working on them before the event happened had helped me to prepare for all the complaints and questions. So when things didn't turn up as our wish, I could only apologize and make notes for the betterment of the next committee. That's why I opened myself to answer the question and collect all the complaints.

Did I feel vulnerable with all of them? No. Why not? Because I didn't serve my self and I didn't even try to self-defense my ego. I put aside my desire to free myself from the task. It was an assignment given to me, and all I could do was tried my best to execute it while asking guidance and help to Allah to make it successful and meaningful. The patriotism of that baby was beautifully reflected in the song we sang together during the closing ceremony of National Conference. I cried in humility and understanding its significant and my gratitude to Allah and to this earth mother, Indonesia as my country. The feeling in hearing the song "Indonesia Tanah Pusaka" will always be with me, wherever I am going.

I thanked Allah for allowing me to take part on this great task. The event ended beautifully with some remarks given by the Great Master on how to maintain the greatness of us as an organisation as well as as an individual in following the greatness of Great Prophet Muhammad SAW. I am happy because my time, my mind, my efforts, my financial support, all of me had been spent meaningfully. May they bring benefits to human being especially to those who take the path towards the state of proximity to Allah.

Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Astaghfirullah.

As I ended this article, my heart reminded me of a verse in Qur'an QS Ash Sharh (The Relief) 7 - 8 which I should follow: " So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing. "


اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Sami'na wa atho'na dalam berorganisasi

Bisa dibilang ada dua gaya kepemimpinan yang berkembang saat ini. Yaitu gaya memimpin demokratis yang saat ini banyak diagung-agungkan oleh mayoritas masyarakat sebagai bentuk mereka mengekspresikan pendapat dan berseberangan suara dengan pemimpin mereka. Dan yang lain adalah gaya kepemimpinan otoriter yang banyak digunakan oleh para 'tiran' untuk membungkam suara rakyat dan mengukuhkan kedudukan mereka. Yang menggunakan pola ini dengan modifikasi adalah gaya kepemimpinan militer; yang memang banyak digunakan oleh para tiran karena garis komando mereka yang tegas dari atas ke bawah.
Bagi mereka yang terbiasa dengan gaya demokratis, mendapatkan gaya kepemimpinan otoriter / militer sangatlah tidak mengenakkan hati. Seringkali hal itu menimbulkan penolakan keras dengan alasan bertentangan dengan hak asasi manusia dalam menyuarakan pendapat.

Pendapat seperti itu tidak bisa sepenuhnya disalahkan. Karena kenyataan yang terjadi di masyarakat dan dunia memang menunjukkan bahwa kekuasaan yang bersifat otoriter dan menggunakan kekuatan militer untuk mempertahankan kekuasaannya cenderung bersifat semena-mena dan menekan berkembangnya komunikasi yang bersifat natural antar anggota masyarakat.

Pada negara-negara yang menganut gaya kepemimpinan demokratis sendiri keberadaan militer jelas diperlukan dalam batas tertentu sebagai penjaga keamanan. Namun untuk menjaga agar tidak terjadi penyalah-gunaan kekuataan, ada aturan yang meletakkan loyalitas para anggotanya pada negara bukan pada individu tertentu. Toh yang seperti itu masih ada kemungkinan terjadi penyimpangan, karena tidak ada / kurangnya kontrol pada para petinggi militer dalam membedakan kepentingan negara dengan kepentingan pribadi kepala negaranya. Ambil contoh Suriah, Libya, Irak era Saddam Husein, Pakistan dan banyak negara di Afrika. Ini menjadikan pola kepemimpinan militer menjadi kurang populer di masyarakat sipil.
Dua gaya kepemimpinan yang saya sebutkan adalah dalam dalam kekuasaan negara yang bermuatan politik. Bagaimana dengan gaya kepemimpinan dalam suatu organisasi sosial keagamaan?


Kepemimpinan dalam Ormas Sosial Keagamaan

Dalam organisasi kemasyarakatan (ormas) yang bergerak dalam bidang sosial keagamaan yg alami, dua gaya kepemimpinan tersebut juga ada. Namun dalam penampilan yang sedikit berbeda. Ini tentu disebabkan oleh dasar hukum yang memberikan otoritas dalam pelaksanaan kepemimpinan tersebut.
Dalam lingkup organisasi yang saat ini saya sedang terlibat di dalamnya, gaya kepemimpinan yang banyak digunakan adalah gaya demokratis, dimana setiap masalah penting yang muncul diselesaikan secara bersama dan musyawarah. Praktis, hampir tiap bulan sekali kita ada rapat koordinasi untuk membahas agenda2 yang perlu disikapi dan diselesaikan melalui musyawarah pengurus.

Gaya kepemimpinan ini ada untung dan ruginya. Keuntungannya solusi terbaik bisa didapat dengan mengkombinasikan berbagai usulan dan ide dari para peserta musyawarah. Dan karena mendapat dukungan dari mayoritas peserta, maka kekuatan hukumnya menjadi jauh lebih kuat. Namun kelemahan dari gaya kepemimpinan ini, terutama apabila komponen organisasinya memiliki karakter yang kurang menjunjung tinggi etika berorganisasi adalah konflik antara pihak yang 'merasa' dikalahkan dengan pihak yang 'menganggap dirinya' dimenangkan. Seringkali ketika hawa telah menunggangi individu-individu yang terlibat, konflik ini berkembang menjadi perpecahan dan lebih jauh lagi menjadi kekerasan.

Kasus ini pernah terjadi pada organisasi Islam terbesar di Indonesia yaitu Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) di era tahun 90an. Ketika itu kepentingan politik sangat kental mewarnai Muktamar NU yang dilaksanakan di Jawa Barat. Sehingga memunculkan dua kubu NU blok Cipayung dan NU blok Jombang. Hingga kemudian dilakukan ishlah yang menghasilkan keputusan NU kembali ke Khittah tahun 1926 dimana NU menarik diri dalam percaturan politik nasional dan lebih fokus pada
pembinaan umat.

Yang memimpin dan yang dipimpin

Ala militer dalam Ormas

Gaya kepemimpinan ala militer dalan suatu ormas adalah sesuatu yang mungkin agak janggal diterima. Karena ormas sendiri sebagai organisasi massa lebih banyak mengusung prinsip musyawarah dibanding sistem komando ala militer. Tapi itu tidak berarti bahwa tidak ada organisasi yang menerapkan pola kepemimpinan seperti itu. Dan saya menjumpai satu organisasi yang menggunakan gaya kepemimpinan itu dan mendengar beberapa keluhan terkait dengan tata cara yang diterapkan di dalamnya. Bukan seauatu yang tabu untuk menyebutkan namanya, tapi untuk kebaikan semua pihak, saya tidak akan menyebutkan nama organisasi itu. Hanya mari kita belajar dari keberadaannya. Kebetulan ormas ini adalah ormas dengan latar belakang sosial keagamaan.

Di ormas ini instruksi pimpinan pusat sangat dijunjung tinggi. Apabila ada tindakan atau kebijaksanaan dari bawah yang tidak sesuai dan berbeda dengan pusat, maka tindakan tegas akan diambil untuk memutus mata rantai ketidak-disiplinan anggota. Secara internal, karena loyalitas anggotanya, organisasi ini menjadi kuat dan punya tingkat kedisiplinan paling baik dibanding ormas lainnya. Program-program kerja dilaksanakan secara serempak dan mengagumkan. Militansi anggotanya juga sungguh mengagumkan.

Namun bukan berarti tidak ada nada minor. Adanya biasanya muncul dari mereka yang merasa dirugikan dengan 'kewajiban' taat yang mesti dilakukan oleh para anggota. Karena itu mengurangi keluasan anggota untuk bergerak maupun berpartisipasi di ranah-ranah perjuangan di luar ormas tersebut.

 
Jalan Tengah itu namanya Bijaksana

Menghadapi dua gaya kepemimpinan tersebut, pilihannya bukanlah pada mana salah satu yang harus saya gunakan. Saya lebih suka memilih jalan tengah. Dimana kedua gaya pimpinan itu bisa saya terapkan dengan memperhatikan situasi dan kondisi yang berkembang.

Gaya demokratis akan saya gunakan apabila situasinya menuntut pilihan terbaik, kurun waktu yang relatif lebih longgar, partisipasi anggota berjalan secara aktif dan dinamis serta SDM yang ada memiliki motivasi dan emosi yang positif bagi perkembangan organisasi. Sedangkan gaya militer akan saya gunakan apabila kurun waktu relatif pendek, biasanya punya tingkat urgensi tinggi dan partisipasi SDM yang ada cenderung pasif.

Dalam Qur'an dua gaya kepemimpinan itu juga disebutkan terkait dengan kepemimpinan Rasulullah. Di satu sisi Beliau diperintahkan untuk bermusyawarah sebagai ciri demokrasi sebagaimana disebutkan dalam QS
  " Dan bermusyawarahlah dengan mereka dalam urusan itu, kemudian apabila kamu telah membulatkan tekad, maka bertawakal kepada Allah. Sesungguhnya Allah menyukai orang-orang yang bertawakkal kepadaNya ” [Ali-Imran : 159]

Di sisi lain para sahabat diperintah untuk taat sebagai ciri militer sebagaimana disebutkan dalam QS
“Apabila orang-orang mukmin diajak kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya agar Rasul memutuskan perkara diantara mereka, mereka berkata “Kami Mendengar dan Kami Taat” dan mereka orang-orang yang beruntung.” [An Nuur :51] Karena dua-duanya memang ada dan diakui serta diperintahkan, maka keindahan kita para pelaku organisasi adalah apabila mampu menerapkan kedua ayat tersebut sedemikian rupa sehingga diri kita bisa tumbuh dengan bijaksana.

آمِّينَ يَ رَ بَّلْ عَلَمِيّنْ

Kebahagiaan Derita

Memandang keindahan senja,
Dan menikmati kesegaran fajar,
Tak perlu takut akan datangnya malam,
Sabar adalah teman duduk.

Kebahagiaan menyambut berita kehamilan,
Dan senyum lelah bahagia selepas melahirkan,
Menghapus semua derita kepedihan melahirkan si jabang bayi,
Begitulah Engkau tetapkan bahagia di atas penderitaan.

Adanya persatuan menjadi sebab perpisahan,
Adanya awal menjadi sebab adanya akhir,
Namun dalam keabadianMu,
Semua sebab akibat lenyap di ke-Ahad-an.

Bahkan arang harus melalui derita panas tekanan,
Sebelum menjadi sebongkah berlian,
Juga kikir dan kikis demi kilau keindahan,
Itulah nilai derita di tangan Sang Pencipta.

Maka sabar mestilah mengiring syukur
Karena sesudah kesulitan ada kemudahan
Karena dibalik penderitaan ada kebahagiaan
Karena dalam kegelapan ada terang

Dalam kelanggengan syuhud,
Sujud dan syukur adalah wujud
Doa menjadi penghubung
Tetapnya cahayaMu menjadi yakinku
Powered by Telkomsel BlackBerry®

Penjara rasa

Sekali lagi
Aku terpenjara
Oleh pergolakan rasa

Kebebasan adalah berada di sisi yang sama dengan Sumber Cahaya

Di perhentian akal

Menahan kerinduan,
Yang tidak terkatakan.
Melawan keinginan,
Yang tidak terjelaskan.
Menentang dorongan,
Yang tidak terijinkan.
Menenangkan harapan,
Yang tidak tertahankan.

Kunanti tibanya masa,
Kala yaqin terbukti,
Episode bebas menyata,
Iman dan doa membumi.

Untuk sekali lagi
Terbebaskan dari penjara diri
Di terminal harmony jiwa
Melangkah dalam terang asa
Powered by Telkomsel BlackBerry®

Niat baik belum tentu diterima baik

Selama 5 (lima) hari mendampingi rombongan Ibu-ibu dalam acara di Lampung meninggalkan hikmah tersendiri dalam hati.

Saya sungguh tidak tahu dimana letak salahnya, sehingga hal-hal yang mestinya disyukuri malah menjadi sebuah gunjingan, hal-hal yang kecil dan tidak penting menjadi sesuatu yang besar hingga memicu kejengkelan. Seolah semua upaya dan niat baik tidak berbekas oleh sebuah hasutan akibat ketidak-senangan seseorang atas pengaturan yang ada.

Maka saya menyimpulkan perjalanan itu adalah perjalanan dimana apa yang tersimpan dalam dada dinampakkan. Dan mauidhoh hasanah yang disampaikan dalam dua kesemparan pun menerangkan hal itu. Bahwa pondasi bangunan hidup ini haruslah menggunakan pondasi takwa. Gerak hidup kita dalam bermasyarakat, berorganisasi juga harus menggunakan pondasi takwa. Agar kelelahan dan segala daya upaya yang telah kita keluarkan baik pikiran, dana maupun perasaan tidak menjadi sia-sia.

Meski berbeda, cari kesepahaman

Lagi-lagi saya mesti mengingat kalimat bijak dari Tao Te Ching untuk menyemangati diri supaya memakai selective hearing pada hal-hal yang positif saja dan mengabaikan energi negatif orang lain
70. Individuality
My words are easy to understand
And my action are easy to perform
Yet no other can understand or perform them.
My words have meaning; my action have reason;
Yet these cannot be known and I cannot be known.
We are each unique, and therefore valuable;
Though the sage wears coarse, his heart is jade.

Dalam usaha untuk membantu kelancaran perjalanan rombongan dan pelaksanaan acara, ada tindakan-tindakan dan perkataan-perkataan yang saya lakukan dan lontarkan dan itu cukup mudah dilakukan dan dipahami. Mungkin karena mudahnya Ibu-ibu itu beranggapan mereka juga bisa melakukannya hingga memberikan komentar dan penilaian negatif atas campur tangan saya selama persiapan acara. Tapi kenapa tidak mereka lakukan, jika mereka berpikir itu tanggung jawab mereka?!

Apa iya saya terlalu campur tangan hingga mereka seakan tidak punya kesempatan melakukan pekerjaan mereka?! Kalau memang begitu, mengapa mereka selalu datang terlambat pada saat koordinasi dan tidak segera mengambil alih ketika sudah di tempat agar saya bisa duduk manis menikmati kesibukan mereka bukannya saya yang dibuat sibuk selama pendampingan itu....

Jika pada saat acara terlaksana semua berjalan dengan baik hingga selesai dan mereka bisa kembali ke jawa dengan selamat namun, memberikan hasil evaluasi yang berisi penilaian negatif, maka biarlah saya berdoa dengan setulus hati:
Ilahi anta maksudi, Wa ridhoka matlubi.
Wahai Allah, Engkaulah yang kutuju. Dan keridhoanMulah yang kuharap.

Anticipating (so called) Bad Luck

Some time ago my sister asked me to find out her 'weton' in the internet based on her birth date. As I found hers, I checked mine as well and read the characteristic of my 'weton'.

First moment entering the world

What is 'weton'?
Weton is a shortened javanese word of wektu and katon; wektu means time and katon means visible. So weton means the first time of which we become visible or entering this visible world (birth day). It is an ancient numerology based on Islamic calendar combined with the javanese philosophy and inner knowledge. It is comparable to The Book of I-Ching from China.

According to it, weton is very important for any person because using this weton, the elders try to see the good and bad characters, the good and bad luck, the compatible spouse, the best timing to start something and so on. All this information is kept in what is called as 'weton'. And the book contained this information is called An Almanac of Betal Jemur Adamakna by Kangjeng Pangeran Harya Cakraningrat, derived from the Book of Adamakna written by ancient javanese scholar through inner practices.

About this book, I used to think of it as an absurd theory because I thought how come the characteristics of human being was decided based on a simple thing called 'weton'. However, as I learned more about the mystic world, opened my mind to see it from different perspective and understand it from a higher level of knowledge, find its comparison on lower level of knowledge, and most importantly see its foundation from the islamic knowledge taught by prophet Muhammad SAW, I found something interesting in it. I have to do this to avoid any action or beliefs that would classify me to be someone which follow something without knowledge (taqlid) or refuse something without knowledge (dzalim).

My observation found that this weton (birth day) is indeed important considering that prophet Muhammad SAW was born and died at the same day i.e. Monday and same date 12 Rabiul Awwal and that He SAW gave example by fasting in his birth day (monday fasting). And in Qur'an, Jesus said "And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." [QS 19:33].

In lower level of knowledge (based on visible world) the scholars have also classified creatures based on their similarity of the form and the structure called Morphology, or of their origin, physical and cultural development called Anthropology. That even in Islamic rule (fiqhul Islam) when Muslim want to pick an animal for sacrifice ritual (Qurban) or a woman for wife or a leader for congregation praying (jamaah) there are some guidelines given for the best selection.

The book itself, I know that most of javanese families, the the javanese kingdom such as Ngayogjakarta Hadinigrat kingdom in Yogjakarta and Kasuhunan kingdom in Surakarta to the remote areas in java have used the books, so there must be some truth in its content that the book had been used as their reference in regulating their life. It also means that somehow through time, its truth has been preserved by Allah in the way most of javanese people living their life.

Good and Bad is in the Mind of Humanbeing

Faith and Destiny
So there I was looking at myself and see if I ever experience or own the general characteristics mentioned in relation to my weton (birth day) or not. And I particularly was interested in reading the bad luck in relation to my weton (birth day). I was interested in it because I thought any normal person would never want to have bad luck. Everyone hates being a victim in their life, everyone wants the goods in their life. Anything but bad luck. And there I was reading my bad luck in relation to my birth day.

My faith and attitude about bad luck is I don't take bad luck, though I am aware of its existence. Through Self Knowledge, I learned to condition my self to accept all that is happening in my life with the eyes of a student of life. It means that nothing that ever happened, is happening and will happen to me manifest without the knowledge of Allah, The Master of Universe. As written in Qur'an "No kind of calamity can occur, except by the leave of Allah. and if any one believes in Allah, ((Allah)) guides his heart (aright). For Allah knows all things" [QS 64:11]

In taking Allah The Most Compassion and Most Graceful as the Master of my life, I can only trust and know that anything happen which may not be as my liking and expectation is given for my own benefits, for advancement of my life quality and teaching me His infinite knowledge and wisdom. There will certainly be something happened that isn't in accordance to my expectation. As His Words itself said that "... it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good." [QS 4.19]

With that knowledge I tried to manage my mind, heart and soul - the whole of me to submit to the wills of Allah and take the pearl of wisdom in disguise of what so called bad luck and turn it into a great blessing by Allah's guidance. So when I read the information of the possible bad luck that may occur to me in relation to this birthday, I tried to think how to anticipate them, seek wisdom and find ways to turn them into a great blessing. The two of so called bad luck are 1. easily cheated and 2. when lost something they hardly return.


Stay good
No one ever wants to be cheated in their life. For the nature of human being is having affinity to the truth, being true and loves anything that is true. And cheating is the devil's character that caused the first mankind Adam AS and his wife committed their first sin in heaven. So I'm sure not only myself but anybody will ever want to be cheated again and again. And there I was reading my bad luck that I was susceptible to being easily cheated. Of course denial arise inside but then I tried to reflect the information and compared it with my life experience to see its truth. In a way I had witnessed its truth in the past, but then something else also happened during that experience.

As I recalled I could clearly remember that I had all my good intention in the first place and along the way. In the middle of that episode of life things turned bad and eventually the truth revealed itself. At that moment I could only face the truth as the truth no matter how ugly, shameful and inglorious it may seem to others. I thanked Allah for His infinite guidance that the truth was finally revealed and had set me free of the falsehood. For at that time "Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." [QS 17:81]

How did I gain my balance back? By the grace of Allah, I stayed true to myself and stayed good, held fast to the words of Allah. One of the verse in The Book of Tao Te Ching said that:
   49. People
The sage does not distinguish between himself and the world;
The needs of other people are as his own.

He is good to those who are good;
He is also good to those who are not good,
Thereby he is good.

He trusts those who are trustworthy;
He also trusts those who are not trustworthy,
Thereby he is trustworthy.

The sage lives in harmony with the world,
And his mind is the world's mind.
So he nurtures the worlds of others
As a mother does her children.

Such wisdom is sufficient to motivate me in conquering my lower self and let the higher consciousness to guide me to gratefully accept what so called bad luck of being easily cheated. For Allah knows all.


Be the richest yet the poorest servant
Having the bad luck that when I lost something it would hardly return, I am aware of the unpleasant feeling it brought. I believe any normal human being do not like having the feeling of loss. When they want something, they will do anything to have it, own it, keep it, preserve it, anything to make it last and if possible accumulate them and make it bigger, more, more prosperous, more abundant. So after taking all your effort to collect them but in the end you have to loose it without a trace is something that is really horrid according to the mind and for certain our ego.

That feeling comes up because we have built out attachment to them and to some the attachment become so strong that we depend our happiness, peace and harmony of life to them. Once they dominate our feeling they become the refuge, the centre of our life. And then one day, Allah take them away from us - for it is their nature to be temporary -through any bad experience called calamity, that's when the feeling of loss bring us misery. We all are susceptible to this separation. Because there is nothing that comes from this temporary world will forever stay the same or eternal. In the end of our time in this world, when we die anything that we have collected, owned and accumulated from this world must stay here. The wealth, family, and friends we have must stay here when we go to the beyond.

Knowing how temporary this world is, I have to find something that can not be taken away from me that even the death can't separate us. Something that once it is given to me by Allah it will stay with me where ever I go, in which ever situation I am. Something that can give me protection, make me the richest person in the world and stay with me even in my darkest, lowest and ugliest situation. And to make it stay with me eternally, it must be attached to the Most Eternal that is Allah Subhaanahu Wa Taala.

The question is: what is it that makes me rich? Because if I think what makes me truly rich is something that attached to this temporary world, then I surely have built my foundation of life in a very shaky ground. That once they are taken away and certainly one day be taken away, my house of life will be tumbling down. That's when the feeling of loss, sad, anxiety, depressed, poor, heart-broken and helpless bombarded me. That's why I know I can't rely on things that is very temporary.

The Richest Servant of Allah

To make things last forever and stay with me forever, they must be attached to Allah, the Most Eternal. And when they are given to us, they come with the quality of Allah's attributes such as wisdom, light, knowledge, virtues thus become our characters. The best example has been given to us in the form of the best man ever prophet Muhammad SAW. He is the embodiment of the wealth given by Allah that can make any man become the richest person in the world. And yet prophet Muhammad had also wish being poor and took a lifestyle of the poor.

Knowing and aware that everything exists inside this earth, above the sky and in between belongs to Allah make us human being as the poorest creature. Never forget who owns all that I think as mine, help me to stay in balance when what once was given to me is taken away. All I can do is following the command of Allah that when calamity come the best virtue to be done is "inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji'un" [QS 2.156] - "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return". It also means all we once owned also belong to Allah, it shall be returned to Allah when the time for them to leave us come, hopefully with patience, gladness and submission.


Perfect Container 

In singularity, we become the perfect container

And where can we keep those wealth so that they will stay with us forever? That no one can ever steal them from us, nothing can take them away from us. As mentioned above that the best man ever is prophet Muhammad SAW. He didn't keep his wealth outside. He kept his wealth inside, in his heart, in his mind, in his soul - in his inner being. Prophet Muhammad SAW is the perfect man; His body is the perfect container to keep his wealth that "left no lock to be closed". [TTC no 27. Perfection]. Another saying from Aisyah RA, said that "Prophet Muhammad SAW was the walking Qur'an". He SAW is the embodiment of Quranic teaching. As I learn more about Qur'an, I try to manifest its teaching in me as well. Not only by oral but importantly inward and even further so the teaching can reach my sub-consciousness and soul and become my characters.

The guidance has been given by Allah in reading my bad luck. That's why when what was once given to me were lost or taken away somewhere or somehow along the way, I could let it go wholeheartedly. Because inside I still own another wealth that is much more lasting and the dearest to me and make me be the richest yet the poorest servant I am; it is the company of Allah. In His company, I receive the blessings from Allah, and Mercy [QS 2.157] in the form of wisdom and knowledge of the Divine and His guidance in the form of light and virtues.

Alhamdulillahi Robbil Alamiin
All Praise belong to Allah, The Master of Universe. 

Hijrah toward The Light

Next Sunday 27 November will be the new year of Islamic calendar which is called Hijriah taken from the arabic word hijrah. The islamic calendar was commenced in the period of caliph Umar bin Khattab RA (may Allah sanctify his soul) and counted backward from the day Prophet Muhammad SAW left Mecca to Madinah accompanied by his beloved companion Abu Bakr Ash Shiddiq RA. 

Having their own calendar, not all Muslim take great pride in using their own calendar or celebrating their new year. It is so different from the way they celebrate the new year of Gregorian calendar. You can take this comparison and see it in Islamic countries including Indonesia which has the highest islamic population in the world. Even I myself, used to take this new year for granted, being ignorant and care less in welcoming the new year of hijriah, till I was made conscious of its significance by my great spiritiual master. By then I look into the new year of hijriah with different perspective and feel grateful for the wisdom of Umar ibn Kattab RA who first commenced its usage and more importantly to Prophet Muhammad SAW and Abu Bakr as Shiddiq RA the actors of hijrah. 

The Dawn of Islam

The Beginning of Emerging Light

The history of Islam was started with years of struggling during period of Mecca (about 13 years). From the moment Islam being known in Mecca, Prophet Muhammad SAW and his followers had to endure the oppression of Quraisy tribes. So much hardship and threat were experienced that some of them had to die as martyr such as Sumayyah bint Khayyat RA. When the threat had become more severe, prophet Muhammad SAW gave permit to his followers to migrate to Abbysinia, now known as Ethiopia. Some of them were his daughter Ruqayya RA, his son-in-law Utsman ibn Affan RA and his cousin Ja'far ibn Abi Thalib RA.

Till there came the time for the prophet SAW to leave Mecca accompanied by Abu Bakr RA. In their migration there was a time when they hid themselves in the cave of Tsur. And they were protected by Allah using 'little and weak' creatures, spider and dove. It was told that the spider was forming its home right at the door of the cave and the dove built its nest in front of it as camouflage to the Quraisy ban. Their way of thinking was made in such a way that they thought it was impossible for the two persons to hide inside the cave where there was those two animals having their nests intact. Never they knew that in their weakness, these two little animals had been the media in which Allah had taught the prophet SAW.

There was divine wisdom for those who want to ponder and see beyond the appearance for they were the two great men with the highest rank in their proximity to Allah. In them the embodiment of Islamic teachings; and to protect the them Allah had given the web of a little creature such spider. This is to show that we, the Muslim as a whole community and society if we want to protect the integrity of what we believe to be true must also use the web (read: network).

A network can't be establish without a system to support it. That's why once the Prophet SAW arrived in Yatsrib (now Madinah) the first place he went to and built was mosque. Then from the mosque he started to organize the Muslim people and made agreement with the Jews and Christian community there. If we read through the history of Islam, never he SAW mentioned the naming of his ruling as Islamic country. Even in the Qur'an it was only said "baldatun thoyyibatun wa robbun ghofuur" a good land and a forgiving Lord (QS 34:15)

And in front of the spider web was a nest of doves. Dove as we know is the symbol of love and peace. So it was to say that in making the network he would use love and peace in facing anyone who opposed his main mission. This is in accordance to the Qur'an " So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him] " [QS 3;159] From that experience on the teaching of Islam spread to the whole world, thus Hijrah had been the dawn of Islam. 

Into the Light

From darkness into the Light

I remembered in my biology class long ago, it is mentioned that one of the signs of living creatures is their response towards the light. And we were given this laboratory practice to prove it by isolated a plant in an isolated box with a small hole. After a week we opened the box and saw that the plant growth toward the small hole from which the light came through. This is similar to human being both inward and outward. There is not any single human being likes to be in the dark because it isn't their innate nature All these vampire and underworld movies are just their mind creation.

Hijrah is a conscious act of human being in their love and tendency towards the light. Mecca under the sovereign of the one against the teaching of Islam in that culminating time before hijrah was in their darkest time and Yatsrib with their welcoming brotherhood of Anshar was a prospective light for prophet Muhammad SAW. Hijrah was then a sign given by Allah to be taken in the dire situation that he SAW had faced at that time for he SAW knew very well that " Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who disbelieve - their allies are Taghut. They take them out of the light into darknesses. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein [QS 2:257]

So it wasn't by mistake that by then prophet Muhammad SAW changed the name of Yatsrib to be Madinatul Munawwarah. For indeed that place had been the city where the light of hope, love, peace and strength came from. And it was by no mistake that the three great men involved in this history of mankind, Rasulullah Muhammad SAW, Abu Bakr ash Shiddiq RA and Umar ibn Khattab RA were honored to have their tombs in this city of light.

Taking the example given by Prophet Muhammad SAW, we then should do the same in anything when we intend to make the next move for the betterment of our self since the light of Islam has been given to us to see what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. We ask Allah's guidance and support along our way toward His Light in a prayer " And say, "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority. " [QS 17:81] and as Prophet SAW gave example through his action (al Hadist) the prayer taught to us before we started our journey is Bismillahi tawakkaltu 'alallah. Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah. In the name of Allah I rest my self to Allah for there is no power and strength save from Allah 

My deepest gratitude for them as their efforts had reached me and make me as I am.

All Praise belongs to Allah, The Master of Universe.
 

HAPPY NEW ISLAMIC YEAR 1433H.

MAY ALLAH BLESS OUR LIFE SPAN, KEEP US IN TRUE FAITH 

AND SHOWER US WITH A BLESSING PROSPERITY

Pendidikan Akhlak

Cahaya Ilmu dalam Al Qur'an

Malam ini (19 Dhulhijjah 1432H / 18 November 2011M) saya menghadiri acara Tasyakuran selesainya pelajaran siswa-siswi Madrasah Linailil Maqoshidul Quramil Mubiin angkatan ke-6 di Pesantren Majmaal Bahrain Shiddiqiyyah, Losari - Ploso Jombang. Acara ini bisa dikata hampir sama dengan prosesi wisuda mahasiswa yang telah menyelesaikan pendidikan mereka di institusi pendidikan formal umumnya. Diantara rangkaian acara wisuda tersebut ada bagian yang menarik dan agak berbeda dibanding prosesi wisuda yang banyak digunakan di lingkungan akademisi formal.

Perbedaan itu adalah pada tata cara pengukuhan yang dilakukan. Di institusi pendidikan yang umumnya dilakukan pengukuhan dilakukan dengan memindahkan tali kuncir yang berada pada topi dari set toga dari sebelah kiri ke kanan dilanjutkan dengan penerimaan ijazah yang dimasukkan dalam tabung tempat gulungan dokumen berwarna gelap. Hingga kini, meskipun saya pernah menjalani prosesi tersebut, saya tidak tahu persis makna dari gerakan tersebut apa. Ada yang bilang itu adalah tanda bahwa saya resmi mengantongi gelar sarjana dan telah menamatkan pendidikan. Tapi saya tidak ingat ketika menjalani itu saya merasakan sesuatu yang istimewa yang bisa saya kenang. Bahkan saya tidak ingat lagi apa pidato akademis yang disampaikan pada waktu acara wisuda saya saat itu.

Sungguh berbeda dengan malam ini, ketika saya menghadirkan diri saya lahir batin hadir untuk menangkap makna pengalaman hidup yang membuat saya harus tinggal di sana dan untuk sementara meninggalkan pekerjaan kantor di tempat saya biasa bekerja. Di acara wisuda yang saya hadiri malam ini pengukuhan dilakukan dengan cara sungkem kepada guru besar Pesantren Majmaal Bahrain Shiddiqiyyah yaitu Bpk. Kyai Moch Muchtar Mu'thi dan Ibu Nyai dilanjutkan penerimaan Ijazah dan buku induk yang berisi pelajaran pokok khas Shiddiqiyyah yang disusun khusus oleh Bpk. Kyai Moch Muchtar Mu'thi. Sungkem dilakukan dengan si murid bersimpuh di depan Sang Guru dan mencium tangan Beliau saat bersalaman.

Karena saya mengalami hal yang sama pula meski dalam status agak berbeda, bagi saya sungkem menunjukkan sikap patuh dan memuliakan kepada guru yang telah mengajarkan ilmu kepada murid. Sebuah perlambang rasa terima kasih pemberian cahaya penerang dalam menjalani kehidupan. Sehingga saya melihat ritual wisuda yang saya hadiri malam ini menjadi istimewa. Wisuda tidak hanya menjadi sekedar pesta tetapi sesuatu yang harus disyukuri. Wisuda adalah pelajaran akhlak bagi murid untuk mengukuhkan nilai kebaikan yang telah diterima selama ini. Wisuda menjadi pelajaran akhlak bagi murid untuk menata niat menjadikan cahaya ilmu yang telah diserap selama ini menjadi sesuatu yang bermanfaat dan menerangi melalui perilaku tawadhu (rendah hati) yang ditunjukkan dalam tindakan.

Apalagi dipertegas dengan lagu untuk para guru dan dosen yang telah mengajar mereka dari kecil:

          Terima kasihku kuucapkan
          Pada Guruku yang tulus
          Kan kuingat selalu nasehat Guruku
          Untuk bekalku nanti
          Setiap hariku dibimbingnya
          Agar tumbuhlah bakatku
          Kan ingat selalu nasehat Guruku
          Terima kasih kuucapkan. 

Dilanjutkan dengan mauidhoh hasanah dari Mursyid Thariqah Shiddiqiyyah yang sekaligus menjadi Guru Besar Madrasah Linailil Maqoshidul Quramil Mubiin terkait keutamaan sholat fajar yang menjadi rahasia awal mula perkembangan Islam dan Ilmu sehingga dalam Hadist Nabi yang diriwayatkan Siti Aisyah ra disebutkan bahwa dua rakaat sholat fajar lebih utama dibanding dunia dan segala isinya.

Jadilah acara wisuda yang saya hadiri malam ini sesuatu yang tidak hanya sakral dan mengandung nilai pendidikan akhlak tetapi juga mengandung pendidikan ilmu tasawuf dan ilmu hakikat.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Segala Puji hanya bagi Allah, Rabb segala alam.

Tidaklah Engkau ciptakan dan jadikan segala sesuatu dengan sia-sia.

Menjadi Abdi

Sering kali kita melihat status abdi sebagai sesuatu yang rendah dan minor. Orang lebih bercita-cita menjadi pengusaha sukses atau dokter atau insinyur atau pilot atau sekedar menjadi majikan bagi diri sendiri. Sangat jarang sekali kita dengar seseorang bercita-cita menjadi abdi atau pembantu atau pelayan. Karena mereka melihat pekerjaan dan status itu sebagai sesuatu yang proletariat (rakyat jelata) dan berkesan tidak menjanjikan masa depan yang penuh kemakmuran.

Namun dalam pendidikan di Shiddiqiyyah, cita-cita tertinggi yang hendak dituju Sang Mursyid adalah justru hamba (abdi) dengan sifat yang melekat pada pribadi tersebut yaitu bersyukur. Sehingga menjadilah priibadi tersebut sebagai abdan syakuro.

Ini tentunya sangat menarik untuk dikaji. Karena ternyata tidak semua orang bisa memiliki dan menjalankan perilaku seorang abdi, pembantu, pelayan, hamba. Sedangkan pada masa perkembangan ekonomi sekarang ini, jenis usaha yang banyak berkembang dan sangat menjanjikan justru adalah jenis usaha yang bergerak di sektor jasa (layanan). Dan mereka memiliki kriteria mereka sendiri sebagai standard mutu layanan yang diberikan agar bisa mempertahankan dan meningkatkan jumlah pelanggan atau penerima jasa (layanan) mereka. Tolok ukur semua standard layanan itu berpangkal dari satu pertanyaan kunci 'Puaskah pelanggan dengan layanan kita?'. Semua potensi yang dimiliki oleh penyedia jasa (baca: manusia) ditujukan pada pencapaian sebesar-besarnya atas pendapatan (baca: harta) dan pangsa pasar (baca: kekuasaan).

Bagaimana jika potensi yang sama dari gerak manusia tersebut diarahkan kepada sesuatu yang tidak menjanjikan ketiga hal tersebut? Adakah yang masih mau melakukan dan mengambil peran menjadi abdi? Mungkin akan sangat jarang sekali. Kalau toh ada, akan menjadi suatu keanehan di tengah mayoritas orang yang lebih mengejar tiga keuntungan duniawi tersebut. Karena itulah Allah menyebutkan 'amat sedikit sekali hamba-hambaKu yang bersyukur'.

Tapi seperti itulah halnya ketika kita berhadapat dengan organisasi yang bersifat sosial untuk pelayanan masyarakat dan nirlaba. Secara khusus kita bicara tentang organisasi-organisasi di Shiddiqiyyah. Sebagai organisasi sosial yang bernafaskan tasawuf, organisasi yang ada di lingkungan Shiddiqiyyah sama sekali tidak menjanjikan keuntungan duniawi (baca:harta). Malah sering kali para pengurusnya harus mengeluarkan biaya sendiri untuk bisa menghidupkan dan menjalankan fungsi sosial organisasi tersebut. Organisasi juga tidak menjanjikan kekuasaan. Karena sistem yang ada tidak memungkinkan seorang pengurus memegang jabatan seumur hidup mereka. Maka apa yang bisa mendorong seorang pengurus untuk memperjuangi diri mereka, mendorong diri mereka agar bangkit, bergerak dan memperjuangkan pelaksanaan visi dan misi organisasi tersebut?

Kalau bukan karena Allah yang Maha Perkasa, yang memberi dan memunculkan kesadaran pada para pengurusnya, tentu organisasi itu telah mati dan tidak berkembang. Karena sebuah cita-cita mulia suatu organisasi hanya bisa hidup melalui hidupnya para pengurusnya. Hidupnya para pengurus organisasi agar benar-benar sesuai dengan visi 'Manunggalnya Keimanan dan Kemanusiaan' tentulah gerak langkahnya dalam berorganisasi harus disandarkan pada Laa ilaaha illa Alloh.

Dalam melaksanakan pengabdian melalui organisasi kesadaran para pengurus perlu untuk dimunculkan. Yaitu kesadaran bahwa saat menjalankan fungsi organisasi mereka tidak sedang melayani manusia, tapi pada hakikatnya mereka sedang melayani Allah. Jika kesadaran itu muncul, maka mereka akan berusaha sekuat tenaga untuk memberikan yang terbaik. Karena upah peran serta kita dalam mengabdi melalui organisasi nilainya jauh lebih besar dari sekedar pendapatan dan pangsa pasar.

Dalam surat Al Maidah 35 disebutkan "Hai orang-orang yang beriman, bertakwalah kepada Allah dan carilah jalan yang mendekatkan diri kepadaNya dan berjihadlah pada jalanNya, supaya kamu mendapat keberuntungan". Dalam konteks pengabdian melalui organisasi bisa dikatakan organisasi-organisasi yang muncul di Shiddiqiyyah adalah jalan yang diberikan oleh Sang Guru untuk mendekatkan diri kepadaNya melalui penyampaian Kalimatullah kepada masyarakat. Para murid diajak dan diorganisasi agar bisa saling tolong menolong dalam menyampaikan kebaikan dan mestinya hal disambut para murid dengan gembira dan sungguh-sungguh agar mereka mendapat keberuntungan sebagaimana yang dijanjikan. Dan siapakah yang lebih benar janjinya dibanding Allah Pemilik segala perbendaharaan di langit dan di bumi?

Powered by Telkomsel Powered by Telkomsel BlackBerry®