Getting Caught in the Net of Fate

" The best human being is one that benefits humankind. "

[Muhammad SAW]

Yes, that word has caught me that I have no other way but submit myself to the Greater Cause of my life. And once again I have to give up my personal wish to serve humankind with the new position. I am appointed or promoted to be the general secretary of the Board of Central Leaders of Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah.

With this new position, my task is to manage the head office of Organisasi Shiddiqiyyah to actualize its missions; to protect the activity of the students of Thariqah Shiddiqiyyah, to uphold the righteous characters and eliminate the ignoble characters and greed as well as to make its students prosperous. It is such a difficult task and I know to do that there are some personal preference that I may have to give up. Not that it is requested, but this is just me looking at the situation, like I shouldn't laugh freely like a happy child or do some funny things just for the fun of it or speak my mind freely. They are in order to avoid giving people wrong ideas about the organization.


Personal Wish

At the end of my previous service as vice of general secretary I wished that I could start my personal goal to have a family life. But my wish had been taken away or at least had been postponed to unknown with things that happened along the way. The least I could think of right now is thanking the person who had wiped my dream away and left me with no choice but submit to the greater cause, that is to serve humankind.

I also marry women. So he who
does not follow my tradition in religion,
is not from me (not one of my followers)
[Muhammad SAW]

Now, I don't think having family life is included in the script of my life story at the moment. If it depends in me, then next time the proposal of marriage come along I should just forget about preference and let my great master to decide if the man who propose is good enough for me. I mean I had tried to place my preference up front, it didn't work. I had placed my preference behind, it still didn't work. Last chance is for me to let go of any preference and let them decide what they want of me and have my heart and mind shut off. I need to try and see if I can really do that. Nothing wrong with that for I need to practice harmony as in the verse of Tao Te Ching.

10. Harmony


Embracing the Way, you become embraced;
Breathing gently, you become newborn;
Clearing the mind, you become clear;
Nurturing your children, you become impartial;
Opening your heart, you become accepted;
Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.


Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
This is harmony.


Belief in Miracle

The other month when my friends asked me what I wished for, though I answered them laughingly it was indeed a serious one. That I wished of a husband. Because scientifically speaking my biological clock is reaching to a period where having a baby is getting difficult.Yes, I'm to be 40 this year.

The other bright prospect of this age is at the age of 40, Khadijah bint Khuwailid married a man named Muhammad bin Abdullah that later become the prophet which also happened at his age of 40. So I had two possibilities this year; one is my chance of having a baby is getting slim according to scientific theory and two is my chance of achieving a higher purpose in life.

Which one should I take? It will be very stupid to not taking both of the possibilities. If I don't take them, I will certainly become ungrateful servant of Allah.

"My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring.
Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
[QS 3:38]

Somehow in my having-no-other-choice-but-take-it situation, at the back of my mind and deep in my heart I still have another possibility. And that possibility is my faith to Allah in giving me something that is miraculously had been given to the wives of prophet Abraham AS and prophet Zachary AS that they both had their baby in their old age. My work is to see if my husband-to-be will also want it or not. I certainly have no thought of to be like Mary bint Joachim, the mother Jesus :) because that will be against the wills of Allah. That miracle is specifically designed for Jesus AS and Adam AS. [QS 3:59]


Why do I feel quite confident? Because I trust my fate to Allah and as I made my decision, I didn't serve myself. I serve a higher purpose in life. I mean I remember my friend's support on this topic. She said that if a banana tree had its offspring before death, why I wouldn't do the same. And if the wrongdoers had their descendant to continue their work, why I wouldn't do the same to continue the work. They're such a valid reason for me to not give up the hope in having a family life regardless the trouble I may face with the screaming, the diapers, the late night wake up etc, etc.



Anticipating the Unknown

To keep this wish on, I need someone with a lot of understanding and patience. But if Allah don't give me one, it will be my chance to learn improving my understanding and patience so that in times when he isn't very understanding and patience, I can be more understanding and patience in getting his uncaring behavior.

You know why I tell you this? Because my friends, my family, my situations have placed me in such a way that I almost forgot how to be a woman. I mean I remembered my last effort in trying to be a woman to a man that I loved, I ended up getting an insult and burned by his dragon. Under current situation, I can only thank him for giving up on me. It makes me easier to embrace my current fate.

And I can learn to look at someone else that will accept me as I am. Or I can try to hide my other existence and be a docile woman.... But that will be pretty difficult. It's like trying to be someone I'm not, which remind me of Mulan, a cartoon movie that I like very much. In its essence, she is very much like me.... Oh, or I can try to apply the higher wisdom in which the bravest heart appears meek [TTC 6. Following].

In honoring the Greater Cause of Life, one can't be someone she is not

And if things getting harder, I can practice the verse of reconciliation as given.

79. Reconciliation


When conflict is reconciled, some hard feelings remained;
This is dangerous.


The sage accept les than is due
And does not blame or punish;
For harmony seeks agreement
Where justice seeks payment.


The ancient said: "nature is impartial"
Therefore it serves those who serve all."

Hopefully the man that is destined to be my husband will give me a chance to be 'a woman'; such as giving me a chance to learn how to cook instead of punching computer keyboard or having him scolding me for burning food, giving me a chance to manage his house instead of reading books or getting his unpleasant comment on me being a lazy woman, giving me a chance to serve him instead of taking the leading role or having him sulking at my attitudes. Most importantly giving me a chance to keep on growing spiritually and intellectually while trying my best to perform my duty as his wife.

I know these requests need time to practice and to become a habit not to mention the other responsible to understand his nature. Yes, I am such a lousy woman when related with house work and certainly family life. My family and friends have spoiled my cooking skill that I don't have any confidence in doing it even though I had tried to minimize it by taking cooking class. Added to that, I also took sewing and embroidery classes and taught preschool for islamic kids. All were to get the feel of 'being a woman'. And that was many years ago. But I haven't taken beauty class hehehe,,, That is something I think as a waste of time, though it may attract men and get their attention. I'd rather read books; some of them were the muslim law of marriage, being a pious wife and how to prepare a pious children and some other woman empowerment books. So I am theoretically prepared but so out of practice hahaha... What a shame!

Anyway, I don't blame my family and friends. After all, we make a very good teamwork, I am the thinker and the leader while they are the operators and the followers.



Caught in the net of fate

So, here I am getting stuck with another leading assignment that hopefully will not take me further away from my womanly nature. I even have to talk tactfully to the general chairman, so that he will not give me the role as daily chairman for the organization. You know, in a company it will be like I'm to be the director and he is the trustee.

Do you know how I feel? It's the same as prophet Yunus AS got tossed out to sea water after the dices kept pointing at him to calm the sea storm. Because I have no reason to refuse the assignment. If I refuse, it means I run away from the battlefield. If I refuse, I will be an irresponsible person. If I refuse, I don't know who the replacement would be at the moment. If I refuse, I know I will be a very selfish person. If I refuse, I will have acted against my knowledge and wisdom. If I refuse, I will have rebelled to the wills of Allah. If I refuse, I will have turned away from following prophet Muhammad SAW. If I refuse, I don't serve humankind. If I refuse, I am leading myself to hell. So you see the more I think about this situation, the more I am getting caught up and drawn in the sea of Truth.

And it is He who subjected the sea for you
to eat from it tender meat and
to extract from it ornaments which you wear. [QS 16:14]

The other time, I was glad that my spiritual master had published a book under title 'By the grace of the Almighty Allah, Thariqah Shiddiqiyyah wherever whenever lives grows and flourishes wisely'. As if he knew something was about to happen and my idea was in accordance to his. That was my way of thinking when I talked with someone regarding a place to live. Because it isn't in the proximity of physical body we can be called a devotee. It is in the proximity of the spiritual feeling - where the essence of the teaching of thariqah is carried within - we can then serve humankind wherever and whenever we are situated.

So the book inspired me to think that if ever I have to be taken away from my current situation it will be again to serve higher purpose in life that is to benefits humankind in that particular area.

And if for some reason Allah doesn't allow me to have my own child, at least I have prepared other things to continue the good and righteous work. In the end of our time, the righteous heritage should be the one we shall leave behind. If I can't leave a righteous child or two, I can always leave the effect of the righteous deeds when I leave this world.

So what is this actually? This is not a lamentation of a desperate woman. This is a monologue of a woman who just pictured out her recent life and then consciously pushed back her personal wish to serve a higher purpose in life. Besides, if I have to lament on my current situation, it will only be to Allah following the saying of prophet Jacob AS 'I only complain of my sorrow and grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not' [QS 12:86].

Having all that beautiful pearls of life, I can only be grateful for this life and its contents that has been and will be given to me, that will include my getting-caught-up-in-the-net-of-fate situation.

May Allah strengthen me with His Knowledge, Wisdom and Guidance.

Love Before Time

Yesterday, a friend of mine told me an episode of her life story. At the end of it, she expressed her wonder, how in the world there was the kind of person and at the same time she laughed at her stupidity. Since I know her well, I then told her about a verse in Tao Te Ching to remind her that she shouldn't feel sorry for herself or hate the person. For everything was meant as a learning process in taking the wisdom of life. The verse of Tao Te Ching is this:


41. Following
When the great man learns the Way, he follows it with diligence; 
When the common man learns the Way, he follows it on occasion; 
When the mean man learns the Way, he laughs out loud; 
Those who do not laugh, do not learn at all. 


Therefore it is said: 
Who understands the Way seems foolish; 
Who progresses on the Way seems to fail; 
Who follows the Way seems to wander. 


For the finest harmony appears plain; 
The brightest truth appears coloured; 
The richest character appears incomplete; 
The bravest heart appears meek; 
The simplest nature appears inconstant. 


The square, perfected, has no corner; 
Music, perfected, has no melody; 
Love, perfected, has no climax; 
Art, perfected, has no meaning. 


The Way can be neither sensed nor known: 
It transmits sensation and transcends knowledge.


As she took the verse to heart, she then sent the translation of it in her wall while added a song of Coco Lee under title 'Love before Time'. It's a song that captured my heart because I heard it a week before when watching the ending of my favorit film 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon'. Here is the song for you :)

As I read through the lyric, I wondered myself if  'love before time' really existed. This thought kept followed me through the night till this morning as I did my prayer. Praise be to Allah, I found the answer to that question. Here's another pearl I received from the Almighty. And, thank you my dear friend for the inspiration :)


The Realm of Alastu

The realm where we don't exist physically

Long before we existed in this world physically, when we're taken from the loins of our parents. What there is just harmony and praises of Allah. And amongst all that, a promise was made as was said in the Quran 'And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." [QS 7:172]

Of this promise, I wasn't aware until my Self Knowledge teacher reminded me in his own way. That every human being had made a promise long time ago to themselves that they will be happy, at peace, in tranquility, in harmony, whatever state we name it. In its essence it was the same. Because when human being is in the state of witnessing and testifying the IT is truly their Lord, they will find happiness, peace, tranquility harmony and whatever state we name it.

Between our parents -
Where were we at that time?

That promise set us in such a way that by default, we then live the life in this world with a yearning for something we can't exactly point out. And all the while we thought something of this world can fulfill it. It won't. Because the yearning is the love that we have carried within before our time was created. The love that we have to our Lord and anything that attached to IT. The love that when we fail to discover it while living this life we may never understand the meaning of being a true human being.

And when people can't identify that feeling nor fulfill that yearning, they called that feeling as nothingness or emptiness. And the mind played their tricks in that situation. For the mind don't know such feeling. Because feeling isn't in the domain of the mind. The mind only know what the eyes can see, the ear can hear, the nose can smell, the palate can taste and the skin can touch. And feeling is something else. Even to comprehend the realm of Alastu mind find it as an absurd concept. Because it wasn't around when it happened. It is in the feeling that such realm is understood and felt its truth for the feeling of harmony, tranquility, peace or whatever we name it was there when that promise was made.


Tahajjud Prayer

Of all the prayers the first prayer, which isn't obligatory but highly suggested (sunnah muakkad) to do is the tahajjud prayer. It is as important as it is suggested in the Quran 'And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.' [QS 17:79]. Another translation given to the same verse is 'And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory'.

In the original arabic text it was said '... fatahajjad...' And it is translated as additional (worship) from the compulsory worship. But do you know that before the important event of Isra Mi'roj this prayer used to be obligatory prayer for him SAW as well as the previous prophets.

The importance of tahajjud prayers have been known amongst the Muslims who followed the best example of prophet Muhammad SAW. Here are some of them:

• Abu Umama al-Bahili (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, "Hold fast to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you, a way of drawing closer to your Lord, an expiation for wrong deeds, and a shield from sin." [Tirmidhi, and others] In some narrations, there is an addition, "And it repels sickness from the body."

• Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) said, "The virtues of night prayer over day prayer is like the virtue of secret charity over open charity." [Tabarani] The scholars explain that this refers to voluntary prayers.

Why do I tell you about tahajjud prayer? What does it have to do with the love before time? :)


Time Lapse

Talk about our life time, I think we all agree that we have the time before our birth, during our birth, after birth, while we are alive, during our death and after our death. Some of us may not know what actually happen to us before and during our birth as well as during and after our death though we see the physical evidence of those episodes of life through other human's experience.

We see the episode of before and during our birth through physical development that happen to those enter this world after us from nothingness up to being a baby delivered from their mother's womb. But one thing we never know for sure is what happen to the spiritual aspect. It is unknown to us. It is the same with the episode of during and after death; we see the evidence of the people who left this world ahead of us. Though we don't know for sure what happen to their spiritual aspect. It is through the news brought by the messengers of the Lord of all the Worlds that we knew and grasp that spiritual state in which we were and will be through.

And of all the life span we were, are and will be through, we have our 24-hours as our time in living this life. And that 24-hours is our forever time. It is also the miniature of our lifetime where the sun as the indicator of our existence while living in this world.

Have you not considered your Lord - how He extends the shadow, 
and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? 
Then We made the sun for it an indication.
Then We hold it in hand for a brief grasp.
[QS 25: 45-46]

So we have the midnight to dawn to morning to noon to evening and to night. In paralleling the two time lapses of our 24-hour and our lifetime, we have before our birth is the over midnight. During our birth is the dawn, our childhood is the morning, our adult life is the noon, our prime time is the afternoon, during our death is the evening and after death is the night. It is in this light that we as Muslim are having five times obligatory prayers in a day. For in each period of time lapse those who know and truly feel gratitude of this life can express their truest gratitude to their Lord.

Here I'd like to focus just on the time before our birth which is the midnight to dawn. The other periods of time, insha Allah I will explain it in other time. From the midnight to dawn is the time for tahajjud prayer. And it is the time in which our spiritual being had testified that indeed the IT which name ITself as Allah (innanii ana Allah) is truly our Lord [QS 20:14]. It is why this time is very important to anyone who wish to resurrect themselves to a praises station as His obedient servant.

Allah causes the night to enter the day
and causes the day to enter the night
[QS 22: 61]

This time is also very important for it is the source, the core, the beginning of our time that will help us to shape all the time that comes after that to its eternity. And at night is the time Allah has praised those who wake up for His remembrance, supplication, and to seek forgiveness and entreat Him, saying, "They forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid from them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do." [QS 32: 16-17] And at night is the time in which our spiritual being temporarily 'leave' our physical being in a state of sleeping. And at night is the time in which black magician work their black magic to the 'sleeping' ones. That much I can tell you the important of the night time. The rest you need to ponder upon it for it is the work of the heart to witness its truth not the mind.

And good tidings are those who understand the value of the time and fulfill it by worshiping Allah. For in their vigilance and worshipping Him, they again have expressed their testimony to their Lord while living their life. If they had done their testimony 'at night' before their birth, during their living time, won't they do the same 'at night' after their death?! For their spiritual as well as physical being have been conditioned to be in remembrance of their Lord both in days and nights. And that is a fulfilled "Love Before Time" .


True Friend

Since the film story and the song talked about the relationship of human being, I need to add this section for true friend is consider eternal.

Everyone in their life meet many people. Some they remember, some they forget, some they hate and become enemy. These people they come across in their life and the feeling that grew through the time are caused by the interest they have from their interaction. In our biology class we identify these interaction as symbiosis which differentiated in three categories.

The first is mutualism i.e. Any relationship between individuals of different species where both derive a benefit, the second is commensalism i.e. a relationship between two living organisms where one benefits and the other isn't significantly harmed or helped and the third one is parasitism i.e. A relationship where one member of association benefits while the other is harmed. Well, actually I just found the forth category called amensalism i.e. the relationship that exists where one species is inhibited or completely obliterated and one is unaffected. Though these description are describing the relationship between different species, I would also use that kind of interaction in term of interest between mankind. Afterall the end result that cause people to start loving, hating, ignoring or forgetting the other person is whether their interests are fulfilled or not.

A quote on friendship by some unknown person said "Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being a part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."

Of all that interaction we have with people that was meant to come into our life, the best one certainly the mutual interaction where both derived benefits from that relationship. But even to these kind of benefits to make it last forever, there are certain quality need to be added to that relationship. And I say that qualification should be higher and nobler than the humanly interest. And Allah had stated in the Quran '...And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.' [QS 5:2] The quality we need to give to create peace and harmony amongst people is that we need to cooperate in righteousness and piety, and not in sin and aggression.

In true friendship it is their true nature that we reach

So the one that we can call true friend are those with whom during our interaction with them can help us to do such things. At first the one that have different ideas may feel offended or even think what I said was totally wrong, because they didn't feel the peace and harmony. This is because they have been taken so far away from their true nature as human being. So it will take sometime for that person to see the truth on that kind of relationship.

The different between the two are so obvious that to make the relationship works require a lot of patience from both of them. To the piety one they need to be patience just like their patience to continually clean up their own heart from sin. And to the mean one they need to be patience to stay in the right path. For there is a saying to be in hell is very easy; all you need to do is being ignorant and indulge your lower self as much as you can to this worldly temptation for it is available now. But to be in paradise takes hard work; we need to be in conscious. For such situation the Quran has said it beautifully 'And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.' [QS 41:34]. And that was what Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien had done to Jen in the film :)

Mastering the Elements of Life

Our life is very real not an animated movie

Having too much watching action movie especially that which was related with martial arts sometimes made me wonder in understanding some fundamental knowledge about elements of life. The animation effects given to the action scenes particularly can be very deceiving. People can even think that the movie stars can really do that while in reality the actor or actress was replaced by the stunt man /woman. Or that the art of mastering the elements is done through that way either the steps or the result of it. The movie world is the world of fantasy, though there are some movies were made from true story.

When I watched movies particularly the avatars cartoon movie - though I understand the essence of it, my other part that have affinity to the truth wondered if it's truly like that. So there I was thinking and wondering and seeking answer to that question while taking the comparison of it in the Quranic story. Praise be to Allah that has revealed me the answer to that question and give me another pearl of wisdom to add on my beautiful necklace of life.


The Elements of Life

Following the verses in the Qur'an it is said "And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud." [QS 15: 28]

Man made pottery - as old as the age of mankind

Have we looked closely how a potter made a pottery?

They take the earth and mix it with the water to become mud. With only those two elements the pottery they make won't last long. It won't be able to contain the water. That's why they have to go to further process by giving them the fire in the furnace. Even after this process the pottery won't last long. They will instantly crack when it is introduced to water, they won't be able to contain water. So they have to go to another process; it is by giving them the wind (air) in the annealing chamber. When they come out of the annealing chamber that's when the pottery is able to contain water in it. They aren't the same as their origin and now they can be a useful vessel.

It is the same with us human being. Our physical figure is made of those elements of earth, water, fire and wind (air), with the most important elements are of the earth and water. As it is said in the Qur'an 'And it is He who has created from water a human being and made him [a relative by] lineage and marriage. And ever is your Lord competent [concerning creation].' [QS 25: 54] and in another verse is said 'And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.' [QS 23: 12]

The four elements of life

These four elements affect us in the form of attributes and characteristics. For example the fire element affect the anger and patience, the (wind) air element affect the happiness and sadness, the water element affect the flexibility and rigidity, the earth affect the stillness and motion and so on. All those attributes are potentially inherent. After we're given the Breath of Allah called soul, elanvital, spirit, living energy or whatever we name it, that's when we are alive and can do many things as we are now.

Did you notice my remark on water being placed inside the pottery and without the proper process, the pottery won't be able to contain it? It is in that light that people can understand the parable given in the Quran verse "And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed...." [QS 11: 7]


The Master of Elements

To the messengers of Allah, these elements of life had been conquered and they served them as their proof of the Truth and that they were truly the messengers of Allah sent to them. Their proof is what we know as the miracles.

So we have prophet Nuh (Noah) AS being the master of the earth following the verse 'And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people." [QS 11: 44] so the earth served him AS by swallowing the water to rest the ship after overflowing its 'oven'.

Strike with your staff the sea

And then we had prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) AS being the master of the fire following the verse 'Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."' [QS 21: 69] and the fire served him AS in following the command of Allah.

We also had prophet Musa (Moses) AS being the master of water as referred to the verse 'Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.' [QS 26: 63] and he AS found safety even under the great towering mass of water while taking his people to the other shore through the Red Sea.

And we also had Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) AS being the master of the wind as mentioned in the verse 'And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.' [QS 21: 81].

The embodiment of the Breath of Allah

The existence of the Breath of Allah is embodied in the prophet Isa (Jesus) AS as mentioned in the verse " .... and we gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit... "[QS 2: 87], for his birth was made through that and he AS showed proof of it when he AS raised Lazarus of Bethany from his death.

And the master of all elements of life is the great prophet Muhammad SAW for no man ever - not before and not even after - split the moon without mastering the elements of life as mentioned in the verse 'The Hour has come near, and the moon has split (in two).' [QS 54: 1].

Did they use certain martial steps to reveal that miracles like any movie scenarios? I don't think so :) Their secret lies in following the command of Allah that they believed wholeheartedly and worship Allah in their life. That is the difference between the Messengers of Allah from the magicians or witches who used the witchcrafts and follow the footstep of the accursed devils.

The hour has come near and the moon has split [QS 54:1]

To prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) AS, he was commanded to worship Allah through praying [QS 2: 125] to prophet Musa (Moses) AS, he was commanded to pray [QS 10: 87] to prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) AS, he was commanded to pray [QS 14: 40]. And certainly to prophet Nuh (Noah) AS [QS 71: 3] and the great prophet Muhammad SAW, they were commanded to pray. And to us, the followers of the great prophet Muhammad SAW we are also commanded to pray after confessing our beliefs and submission to Allah as our God and Muhammad SAW is His Messenger.


The Rage of Elements

The origin of the elements of life is neither good nor bad. They are as they are. They are in harmony with the Nature. However as things are happening in the universe and human being is guilt of charge for their disharmony by making destruction on this planet earth, these elements are following the command of their Master and can serve as a deadly weapon called calamity to mankind.

the rage of water element

Have we looked back to the history of human civilization how they were doomed? As the quranic verses told us about their doomed one after another, when they had shifted from the Way of Allah.

We read in the history, the people of prophet Nuh (Noah) AS. They were destroyed by the biggest flood that had ever happened on this planet earth. It was the rage of water element that was caused by the infidelity of mankind. [QS 26: 105-121]

There came the next generation, it was the people of Aad with their brother prophet Hud AS. Their infidelity has caused them to get cold hurricane [QS 41: 15-16 and 26: 123-139]. It was the rage of wind (air) element that was caused by the infidelity of mankind.

Then came another generation, the people of Tsamud with their brother prophet Salih AS. And they turned away from the Way of Allah and it caused them to be struck by the thunder in their city. That was the rage of fire element that was caused by the infidelity of mankind. [QS 11: 61-68 and 26: 141-158]

Then came another civilization. And after sometime again they turned away from the Way of Allah. This time it was the people of prophet Luth (Lot) AS in Sodom and Gomorah. Their infidelity was so great that the earthquake had turn their city upside down. Geographically scientist identified that great calamity as a fracture followed by folding of the earth plates. But in relation to the created and The Creator, it was the rage of earth element that was caused by the infidelity of mankind [QS 26: 160-174].

Sodom and Gomorah - the Wraths of God
and life is never the same anymore

All those calamities were indeed from Allah, for the time when it would happened was already informed to them to save and separate the right ones from the wrong ones. Such was the message about the calamity to those people just like one that was told to prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) AS and prophet Luth (Lot) AS by the angels during their visit [QS 15: 51-66].

In previous article prophet Muhammad SAW gave instruction to recite adzan and iqamah to the baby when they newly arrived in this world. And he said it was to protect them from umm al sibyan, the mother of the kids. What is the mother of the kids? She is the elements of life from which this physical being is made of. When they are in disharmony. The symptom is in the form of abnormal electrical activity inside the brain (fire), their foamy mouth (water) and uncontrollable motion (earth) and their heavy breathing / hyperventilation (wind), and the scientist said it was a kind of epilepsy disease. In truth adzan and iqamah recited to the baby is their first reminder to start ruling their own physical body to remember Allah, their Creator as well as to remind them of the praying and the true success they need to seek while living their life in this world.

Adzan and Iqamah for the baby

For us who live in the era after the great prophet Muhammad SAW, as Allah has stated in the Qur'an 'And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.' [QS 21: 107] thus we are saved from instant calamity regardless the infidelity made by mankind nowadays unlike the previous generation had. Such is the great blessing of the great prophet Muhammad SAW to the people nowadays. Nonetheless, the Nature is following the command of Allah we called the law of nature where it moves toward balancing itself when things are imbalance. That's why at The End of The Day there is always an explanation to all that happened to people, for Allah is The Most Knowing and The Wisest of All.


Mastering the Elements

Of all Muslims who pray, very few know about the hidden wisdom in the what they do. I will try to elaborate it further in another article insha Allah. But here I just want to say that the most unique and supreme act of devotion is in the form of shalat. I used the word shalat as its original arabic word instead of praying. Because there are two words in arabic for praying; one is ash-shalat and the other is ad-du'a. And they are distinctly different. Some people may think they're the same. But not for me.

The four basic postures of shalat

Shalat is a series of motion in worshiping Allah which is begun by takbiratul ihram (the sanctified glory) and ended by salam (peaceful greeting). And between the beginning and the ending there are some compulsory motions that without them, the shalat considered imperfect. Those motions are al-qiyam (stand erectly), ar-ruku' (bowing), as-sujud (prostrate) and at-tahiyyat (sitting).

Based on its characteristic and its motion, each of the motions carries its own symbol and meaning. Al-qiyam is the symbol of fire element, ar-ruku' is the symbol of the wind (air) element, as-sujud is the symbol of water element and at-tahiyyat is the symbol of earth element. These four elements that form our physical being are led to remember Allah, their Creator into these four motions as the symbol of us in submitting our four elements to the Court of Allah.

When we have been able to bring these four elements of our physical being into submission and outwardly they perform their devotion to Allah together with our mind and soul inwardly, we then have understood the meaning of Oneness (Tawhiid) and have been the master of our elements of life. That is when we truly understand why Allah said in the Quran "Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance." [QS 20: 14] and in another verse "It is You we worship and You we ask for help." [QS 1: 5]. Instead of 'I' the Qur'an used 'we' to worship Allah and ask for His help. It is the unification of our whole being; the four elements of our life combined with our mind and soul to worship Allah and to ask for His help. This is the essence of shalat.

It is You we worship and You we ask for help

In another verse it is said "... and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do." [QS 29: 45] So try to establish it. For in establishing it, you will know the meaning of 'hayya alal falaah' (let us succeed) in the call of praying (adzan). It is in accordance to the verse in Qur'an "Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive" [QS 23: 1-2]

It is in this light that I received my wisdom in taking the first lesson of thariqah by fasting four days in sequence, praying and reciting the remembrance (dzikr). They are to cleanse my four elements of life that have been tainted by the dirt of ignorance and at the same time awaken my fifth element to the remembrance of Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

May Allah keep us to be His humbly submissive servant.

Family Protection

When we talk about family protection what is the first thing that flying in your mind? Their welfare, right?! And what would be that?

What is it that matter the most to you and your family?

I searched through the internet and type the word family protection. And the top list that came out to tell me what is in the people mind when they talk about family protection is computer software to protect their family from unwanted information or internet virus that will harm their computer data. And the next one is insurance; from health insurance to financial insurance. This is the offering of the world to us to protect our family.

Is there something more?

What kind of life insurance have we prepared
for the Eternal Life?

Right, education. This is also important. The higher you study the higher you will be in climbing the society level, if there is really any. So you send your children to the best university in the hope that they will have better work, better salary and better future. Which is certainly nothing wrong with that. Parents usually place their hope and expectation in their children's future. And I don't blame them. If you think I sound sarcastic, it's only because you know it's true and you feel offended by my remarks :)

Is there more? I mean I would love to have people brainstormed their mind to see other words they got to tell me their priority in giving family protection to their family member. Because it will be an indication how far their love and care to them.

Those of you who happen to read this article, if you can take a moment and list down the words that related to family protection, that would be better. So when you go through this article you can understand better what I'm trying to say.

And if you don't have family, I mean as unmarried and no children or sister or brothers or parents, I would slightly change the question to be 'what is personal protection to you'? You can list down as well.

If you have list down in writings or in your mind, please proceed to read this article. Again this is only a reminder of something else that you may have forgotten or never thought about it before.


Personal and Family Protection

Those of you who considered yourselves have believed, I'd like to remind you on the command of Allah within the Qur'an in surah At Tahrim (66): 6 that said 'O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.'

Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire
whose fuels is people and stones

So what have you done to protect you and your family against that Fire whose fuel is people and stone? The Fire that no insurance of this world can help you to extinguish or get rid of it, the Fire that no financial benefit you gain from this world can help to cover you or your family.

This is something that indeed we need to care more for our life doesn't end when we leave this world. In fact when we leave this temporary world, we are entering the Eternal Life where that Fire does exist. That should be the one that we have to prepare from now if we so wish for their truest welfare.

To the wise ones, they should be concerned. Because in another verse surah Luqman (31): 33 Allah has reminded us 'O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.'


Care at the beginning

There is a verse in TTC with the same title to start with.

A river start with small spring

64a. Care at the Beginning

What lies still is easy to grasp
What lies far off is easy to anticipate
What lies brittle is easy to shatter
What lies small easy to disperse




Yet a tree broader than a man can embrace is born of a tiny shoot:
A dam greater than a river can overflow starts with a clod of earth:
A journey of a thousand miles begins at the spot under one's feet.


Therefore deal with things before they happen;
Create order before there is confusion.

In protecting our family, as a wise people we need to care from the beginning. For that matter, the great prophet Muhammad SAW as the best pattern had given us direction. Here are some best advices from the Quran and prophet Muhammad SAW in further explained the verses stated in the Quran; and is applicable for anyone who is single, is about to start family or has had family.


A. Choose the right soil and the right seed
In the Quran it has been stated that 'And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember.' [2: 221]

The right seed on the right soil is required
to let it grow well

The right soil and the right seed are when both of their hearts have turned to believe in Allah.

In hadist Rasulullah SAW mentioned that 'A woman may be married either for her possessions, her beauty, her reputation and her religion; for if you do marry other than a religious woman, may your hands be rubbed with dirt'. Another hadist stated 'He who marries a woman for her possessions and beauty loses both her beauty and her possessions (but) he who marries her for the sake of her faith will be blessed by God with her possessions and her beauty'.


B. Give the right nutrition

Within the Quran we have been told 'Then let mankind look at his food' [QS 80: 24] and 'Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allah , if it is [indeed] Him that you worship'. [QS 16: 114]

And prophet Muhammad SAW reminded us through his saying that anything unlawful that got into our stomach was the cause of Fire. The term lawful isn't limited to the kind of meal that enters into our stomach but it is also related with the way we earn them whether it is acquired righteously or not. The kind of lawful nutrition for mankind have been informed in detail within the Qur'anic verses. We can easily find them there. And we need to take heed that anything prohibited for us is for our own benefits. Though we are given the freedom to either follow it or not.



C. Cultivate righteously
In the Quran it has been stated that 'Your wives are a place of sowing of seed for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. And fear Allah and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.' [2: 223]

Come to your place of cultivation
and put forth righteousness

The righteous cultivation is as guided by Rasulullah SAW 'if one of you say when he comes upon his wife, "O God avert devil from me and avert devil from what You have granted us" Then should a child result, the devil shall not hurt him.'.

Following the book marriage by Abu Hamid al Ghazali RA on the guidance of cultivating the marriage life it was also explained When man near ejaculation, say to yourself without moving your lips: "Praise be to God Who has created humans out of fluid and made thereof relatives and in-laws, the thy Lord is omnipotent." The Messenger of God used to cover himself and lower his voice, saying to the woman, "Remain quiet".

Intimate relations are undesirable during the nights of the month: the first, the last and the middle. It is said that the devil is present during copulation on these nights and it is also said that the devils copulate during these nights. Let this be a thought for men of understanding.

Common people may not think deeper in this kind of action, but certainly the Messenger of Allah wouldn't say such thing if there is no wisdom behind the act of procreation.

For further reading under this section you can download the given link:
http://www.4shared.com/office/IIJcIMey/ghazali_marr.html

D. Water the seed with remembrance
When a baby is still inside the womb read to her/him the Quran and dzikr (remembrance) for their memory is in undergoing the process of development. It was said that when Fatimah Az Zahra RA, the daughter of Rasulullah SAW was about to deliver the baby, she requested Ummu Salamah RA and Zainab bint Jahsy RA, the wives of prophet Muhammad SAW to come and read Kursy verse and surah Al A'raaf 54 beside her.

In the Quran surah Al Baqarah (2): 238 Allah has said 'Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah , devoutly obedient'. We are reminded to maintain with care the (obligatory) prayers. Prophet Muhammad SAW said that 'A parable of prayers is like a river (water) that runs abundantly in front of each one of your house. He/she take bath in it five times every day' (Related by Muslim). In the world of elements, nothing can cool off the rage of Fire better than Water. It is understandably why we are commanded to pray in protecting ourselves from the Fire.

The remembrance of Allah is greater

Because the compulsory to pray fall to those who reach adolescence, the preparation needs to be done as early as possible to make it as a habit. So after the baby was born, the father should chant the prayer (adzan) in the right ear of the offspring and the second call (iqamah) in his left ear. As related that the Prophet said 'when a man has a child and chants the adhan in his right ear and the second call (iqama) in his left ear, he repels umm al sibyan (the mother of the kids) from him'. I will talk more about umm al sibyan in another article.

And as the baby grow up and reach puberty, command him to pray and if they refuse any parents should discipline them for their own shake and at the same time show the good example by doing the same. What's the point of discipline the kids when the parents showed otherwise?! The best advice is by setting up example.

As they get older this protection against Fire will be understood, well-maintained and kept alive. And it will help them to make their own right decision in their life. For it has clearly stated in the Qur'an 'Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.' [QS 29: 45]


Care at the End

Again a verse from Tao Te Ching  with the same title

64b. Care at the End

He who grasps, loses

He who acts, spoils;
He who grasps, loses.
People often fail on the verge of success;
Take care at the end as at the beginning,
So that you may avoid failure.


The sage desires no-desire,
Values no-value,
Learns no-learning,
And return to the places that people have forgotten;
He would help all people to become natural,
But then he would not be natural.

In executing this family protection program, there will come a time when people feel tired and bored in doing it. They feel life is too long and the problem of the world is as high as mountain. Worldly temptation is unbearable, and their senses and mind run wild wanted to enjoy the pleasure of the world while it is available. I have seen that and been through the same, so I know what it feels like :)
In such situation, I can only recall the reminder of Allah and the prophet Muhammad SAW:


A. Don't act

Woe to those who make show of their deed

Family protection is done through shalat (prayers). Many verses in the Quran when they tell about prayers they use the word 'aqimish sholat' which means establish prayers. To establish is distinctly different from doing prayers. And many people have mistaken the two.

In another verse in the Qur'an it is said that 'So woe to those who pray. Who are heedless of their prayer - Those who make show [of their deeds]. And withhold [simple] assistance.' [QS 107: 4-7]

In another way prophet Muhammad SAW had reminded us that there would come a time when people are doing prayers and fasting. But they had nothing but tiring and hungry. These are because they act on their worship not establish them.

To establish means your deed must be alive. In doing what you are doing try to put your body, mind and soul into it, understand why you do as what you do based on understanding and knowledge not jut following a script or someone else's instruction.

When you act, the result will be like any movie stars that they are being as a person in the movie or anything as the script told them but in reality they act differently. What a shame to do such thing to your Lord.


B. Don't grasp
Sometimes people when they are so passionate or desire something, they want to do something as much as they wish. And they want to get it as soon as possible. These are not advisable. It is better to take the middle path.

Little by little absorbing the Divine Order into our being
for the process of Sibghatullah to happen

Even Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an 'So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah ]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.' [QS 64: 16] and in another verse He said 'We have not sent down to you the Qur'an that you be distressed. But only as a reminder for those who fear [ Allah ]' [QS 20: 2-3]

And The Messenger of Allah also mentioned something that can be summarized to 'Pray and rest. Fast and break fast.' given to one of the companions when he wanted to pray all nights and fast all days.

Let your whole self seeps in the sweetness of worshiping Allah. For in that process of seeping in you will reach the level of ihsan that enable you to really enjoy any living activities as an act of devotion to Allah. It is a state in which you are worshipping Allah as if you see Him, if you can't He surely sees you.

C. Desire no desire, Value no value,  Learn no-learning
This is a difficult task indeed to those who attached themselves so much to this world, but it isn't impossible. It takes a bit of understanding to do that.

Desire no desire means when worshiping Allah, you can not do it because you want to. You have to find the needs inside of you as your driving force to do the worshiping earnestly. What is the different between needs and desire? The needs comes from our true nature (primordial) while desire comes from the mind and senses (newly created). The simple parable is in eating and drinking. The hunger and thirst are the driving force given to human being to eat and drink. So they seek food and drink to fulfill them. But when we have come to think the kind of meal or beverage we want to eat or drink, where the best place to get them, these driving forces have been manipulated and turn into desire. That's when people lost the touch with their true self. The driving force that we should find within us when we worship Allah is nothing else but submission. In the Qur'an it is said 'And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah)' [QS 2:45].

Do we have to suffocate first to understand
the value of no-value?

What has no value? The air that we breath has no value. It is abundance and ubiquitous. Yet it is the most valuable to any living being. Without it there won't be anything alive whatsoever. You are nothing and nothing is nothing. So value no value means understand that your breath is your clock while you are alive in this world. And while you do your worship take that breath as the fundamental and ultimate reason of your gratitude to Your Creator. Because without it, you don't even exist in this world.

Most of the time when we learn something, we use our memory (mind) to store the thing we have learned. This is commonly practiced in the educational institution. So much has been done that to some extend the students are only good at memorizing but bad in term of application, especially when the subjects taught is related with morale code and conducts. Moral code and conducts aren't newly created, the theory does. Those morale code and conducts are inherent in us as our true nature (fitrah), they do not need to be learned. They need to be reminded and awaken in our being. So learn no learning means to let your body and soul to be awakened and reminded in the form of practice.

D. Remember the forgotten place
What is the place that many people have forgotten? The very core of their being. People have been so involved with their mind and their problem that they have become restless. So much so that to seek tranquility, they rather go to other places as high as a mountain they could climb or as deep as the sea they could dive instead of going inside where tranquility resides. Or they have problem with being lonely or being caged, for they are so unfamiliar with their own heart.

Do you remember that place?
Do you remember how to go there?

Many people who have been jailed but have no ways of connected with their heart while they're there, ended up walking out of it with wounded and scar in their heart. The best example for my point on the need to connect with that forgotten place is the prophet Yusuf AS who had been through so much isolation in his earlier life inside the well and the prison.

In the Qur'an we are reminded to guard the middle prayer (sholat wustho) as stated 'Maintain with care (the obligatory) prayers and (in particular) the middle prayer and stand before Allah. devoutly obedient.' [QS 2:238] What is it actually? There are some interpretation given to that term. I rather follow the interpretation given by my inner teacher. Talk about you establish prayers and maintain it with care, what would be your middle one? Between your left and right, between your front and back, between your top and bottom. You have your heart.

That is the place where you also need to perform your prayer. And that is the place where the heedless has forgotten to guard when they pray.

E. Seek the company of the right people

It doesen't look good but is right

This is the interpretation of the verse 'he would help people to become natural'. Being in the company of a wise man is not only helping us to get in touch with our nature but also helping us to improve our quality of life. And preferably he also understands and supports us in executing the program of family protection.

There is a saying good is not always right. But right is always good. Somebody may have good intention but the way you do it isn't right or isn't done by the right person or isn't in the right moment, the end result will be no good. The best example for this is giving advice. However, the right intention done in the right way by the right person, the result will be right and good. Though during the process it may seem not good at all. The best example of that is cleaning toilet. So many people don't like it and feel awkward because it doesn't look good and to some is considered very degrading, but you know what? If no one clean it, it will get worse.

So, seek the company of the right people for they will hold the mirror for you and hold the light to let you see clearer in your journey of life.


Make it your last will


Many of us either as single or parents have forgotten about this important task in protecting our selves and family. So much so that even when we are about to leave this world and going into the world of Eternity our main concern is more on their material welfare and left the most important thing to show that we really care about their welfare not only physically but also spiritually.

I don't say it is wrong because even in the Qur'an we are reminded 'Prescribed for you when death approaches [any] one of you if he leaves wealth [is that he should make] a bequest for the parents and near relatives according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous.' [QS 2: 180]. It is also said 'And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.' [QS 4: 9]

However I would like to remind you or refresh your mind on another story about the instruction made by some great men for their children and/or descendant. In the Qur'an it is said 'And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims."' [QS 2: 132] and another story is from Luqman 'And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice." [QS 31: 13]

And you know what has been the last will of our great prophet Muhammad SAW? He SAW didn't leave much of worldly treasure to his only daughter Fatimah Az Zahra or to his wives. And his last instruction to Ali ibn Abi Thalib RA before his soul left his body was to maintain the prayers.

So make prayers as the instruction you leave for your family to protect them from a Fire whose fuels is made of people and stones.

Robbana aatina fid dunya hasanah wa fil aakhirati hasanah wa qinaa adzaaban naar

"Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good 

and in the Hereafter [that which is] good 

and protect us from the punishment of the Fire." 

[QS 2: 201]