Saturday, May 7, 2011

Kursus Asas Haji - Siri 2/17

Sejarah & Pengenalan Tanah Suci

At first I didn't really understand why we need to have this topic on. Mainly what was covered initially was to show what's there in Makkah, its maps, how the name Saudi comes about, what's special about Makkah and more of history.   But then Ustaz Ibrahim made a really turn about, presenting a good connection of all this information to Hajj. It was really good. If you're interested to get his lecture, the committee handling this kursus at Masjid Negeri sells the recording of his 2-hr lecture for RM5.00. 

*************

Mengikut sejarah, dahulunya Saudi Arabia di kenali sebagai Semenanjung Tanah Arab.  Ianya terbahagi kepada 2 bahagian, Hijaz di kawasan pantai barat (Jeddah, Mekah) dan Najd di kawasan pantai timur (Riyadh).  Selepas pemberontakan melawan Kerajaan Turk Usmaniah (daripada keturunan Bani Hashim), tanah Hijaz kemudiannya dikuasai oleh Abdul Aziz Al-Soud yang kemudian telah menukar nama kepada Saudi - daripada nama Al-Soud. Mereka membuat perjanjian perkongsian dengan syarikat Aramco untuk menggali minyak di Saudi. 
Sedikit gambaran tentang Mekah: 
Nama Mekah bermaksud menghancurkan orang-orang yang takabbur, i.e. peristiwa tentera Abrahah dari Yemen yang dihancurkan di Muzdalifah, luar Mekah. 
Nama lain untuk Mekah juga,
  • Bakkah (nama taman Allah, ada yang menyebut rumah Allah berada di Bakkah)
  • Ummul Qura (ibu segala kampung2,menghimpun sekitarnya dan seluruh dunia)
  • Al-Balad (Negeri yang aman & makmur)
  • Al-Baladul Amin
  • Lembah tanpa tumbuhan
  • Al-Masjidil Haram 
Keistimewaan Mekah
Dari maksud sebuah hadis diriwayatkan oleh Abdullah bin 'Adi (maaf, nama ayahnya, tak berapa jelas/dapat), sewaktu baginda Rasulullah s.w.t hendak berhijrah ke Madinah, sedang baginda berdiri di hazrawah:  
"Demi Allah, sesungguhnya engkau (Mekah) sebaik-baik bumi Allah dan bumi Allah yang paling disayangi Allah. Kalau tidak aku dikeluarkan dari mu, aku tidak akan keluar". ...

Kawasan tanah haram (=tanah larangan Allah) adalah seluas lebih kurang 550 km persegi.  Orang kafir tidak boleh masuk  ke tanah haram,walaupun cuma dipagari oleh pintu gerbang dan tanda amaran sahaja. Allah yang menjaga melalui tentera Allah.  Allah yang akan halau kalau ada yang cuba masuk (selalunya tak dapat masuk, akan sesat atau terkeluar dengan sendirinya, tanpa dihalau oleh manusia).  Arafah adalah tanah halal. Tanah halal - tanah diluar kawasan Mekah.  Selepas pembukaan Mekah kepada Islam, sama2 sekali kafir tidak boleh masuk. 
Kenapa ianya diharamkan? Mengikut peristiwa, Nabi Adam a.s. merasa takut ketika Allah turunkannya di situ. Lalu Allah hantar para malaikat untuk menjaganya. Para Malaikat berada di tempat2 yang menjadi sempadan Tanah Haram dan Tanah Halal.  Terdapat batu sempadan yang besar di Arafah.  Di masjid Aisyah di Tanaim (miqat umrah), boleh dilihat batu sempadan yang dibina di tepi jalan berdekatan masjid.   Pergerakan haji dan umrah bermula dari tanah halal ke tanah haram. Oleh itu, penting untuk mengetahui peta kedudukan Mekah dan sempadan (bandar) di sekitarnya, i.e. Tanaim, Jaaranah, Wadi Naflah..

Perkara yang diLarang Semasa Berada di Tanah Haram
  1. Berperang
  2. Merosakkan tumbuhan yang tumbuh secara semulajadi - jangan dicabut tumbuh2an. Kecuali yang ditanam manusia, i.e. untuk jualan. Tapi bila berada di dalam ihram, walaupun di tanah halal, juga tak boleh cabut tumbuhan. 
  3. Memburu binatang buruan. Jangan disergah, buru, bunuh, sembelih binatang2, termasuk belalang, burung merpati dan arnab.
  4. Mengutip barang tercicir kecuali jika mahu diserahkan kepada tuannya kembali. Tidak boleh dijadikan milik kita barang yang tercicir. DiMasjidil Haram, di belakang bukit Safa ada tempat "Lost and Found Center"  - boleh hantar atau cari barang di situ.
    *NOTA*:  Ada satu kisah, seorang jemaah, terlupa nak pulangkan batu yang dikutip di Muzdalifah dan terbawa pulang. Lalu dicampak ke dalam perigi dirumahnya. Sejak itu, dia selalu susah hati, sampai tak boleh keluar rumah. Setahun 2 lepas tu, berlaku kemarau, batu tersebut "timbul" dipermukaan, tidak bercampur lumpur pun. Jemaah tersebut pun minta tolong dengan Tabung Haji minta dipulangkan kembali ke tanah haram. Selepas itu, barulah dia berasa tenang. 
Kelebihan di Mekah
  • Tempat kelahiran Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
  • Tempat kemuliaan, selamat, aman kepada semua
  • Tiada waktu larangan untuk solat sunat. Menggalakkan supaya umat yang berada di situ sentiasa beribadat.
  • Makkah terpelihara dari wabak taun dan fitnah dajjal. 
Air Zam-Zam adalah mukjizat Nabi Ismail a.s.  Allah s.w.t telah mengeringkannya selepas manusia engkar. Dengan kelahiran Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., keluarlah semula air zam-zam. 

Kaabah adalah tempat laluan orang Yemen nak berniaga ke Sham (and vice versa) suatu masa dahulu.  Binaan asalnya tiada atap dan ada 2 pintu.  Bentuk di hujungnya, yang mengadap Hijr Ismail adalah sedikit melengkung.  Binaan Quraisy tahun 18 sebelum Hijrah telah berlaku sedikit perubahan, ianya menjadi lebih pendek dari arah Hijr Ismail kerana kafir Quraisy kekurangan harta halal untuk membinanya. Mereka menaikkan pintu dan buat daun pintu. Kemudian tutup pintu belakang Kaabah dan meletakkan atap dan saluran air hujan.  Walaupun kafir, mereka tidak menggunakan sumber haram untuk membina Kaabah.  Hijr Ismail  adalah termasuk di dalam bangunan Kaabah (tiada binaan kerana tak cukup duit halal). Sebab itu, kita cuma boleh solat sunat sahaja di dalam Hijr Ismail. 

Tapak Ibrahim - ada kesan tapak kaki Nabi Ibrahim a.s., bukan kubur baginda. Ini adalah tempat Nabi Ibrahim a.s. berdiri semasa membina Kaabah.
  1. Membawa keluar batu, tanah dan pasir ke tanah halal. Bila mengutip batu di Muzdalifah, pastikan dipulang semula di tanah haram. Hanya air zam-zam disunatkan bawa keluar dari tanah haram. Ini kerana air itu sentiasa bertambah, jika tidak dibawa keluar, Mekah akan banjir. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Alif Says....

Me (to DH): Alif is a such a smart talker. Can never win with him if you try to argue.

Alif (menyampuk from behind):  I am? Do you want to know why?  That's because I use my brain! See.. 2 plus 1 is 4

DH and I:  what??? then  *laugh*
Alif:  eh .. 3!

A few minutes later...after the laugh has subsided

Me: Why do you say 4?
Alif:  Alif silap... eh no!  that was a joke actually!

He tried to cover up his mistake :-)
right after his big shoes run ... don't know what he's trying to express here


Kursus Asas Haji - Siri 1/17... Part 2

Disclaimer: *Note*
Catatan daripada ceramah oleh Ustaz Ibrahim Embong - 27/2/2011
Jika ada yang tersilap, harap ditegur .. maaf atas kealpaan di dalam membuat catatan.

Adab Ketika Sampai di Mekah

1. Jauhi dari segala perbuatan dan percakapan tidak baik..i.e., mencarut, cakap tak senonoh, bertengkar, maki-hamun
  • tetapkan niat ke Mekah dan tinggalkan hal-hal duniawi apabila tiba di Mekah. Kita adalah tetamu/rombongan undangan Allahu
  • banyak kes yang telah berlaku di musim-musim haji yang lepas. telah kurang sejak ditekankan semasa kursus
  • jangan berfikir nak ambil berkat tanah suci - nak baikkan dari sakit. Ada kes yang pergi ke Mekah tapi baru baik dari penyakit mental tetapi masih bergantung dengan ubat. Apabila ubat habis, mengamuk di dalam masjid. Mujur kes diserahkan kepada Tabung Haji untuk diselesaikan. 
2. Banyakkan ibadat di Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi. Pahala berganda-ganda. Timbulkan rasa mencintai masjid dengan berjemaah. Jarak jauh, jangan dijadikan masalah. Dekatkan hati dengan masjid. Didiklah anak2 juga untuk mencintai masjid dengan bersama-sama berjemaah di masjid. 

3. Elakkan dari berbelanja berlebih-lebihan. Belanja sekadar yang perlu sahaja. 


Adab Apabila Pulang dari Mengerjakan Haji
1. Sunat memberitahu tarikh kepulangan kepada kaum keluarga dan sahabat. 


2. Apabila sampai di kawasan tempat tinggal, singgahlah ke masjid kampung/kawasan untuk solat sunat 2 rakaat. Lakukan sebelum masuk ke rumah. 


3. Sunat mengadakan kenduri kesyukuran setelah balik dari  mengerjakan haji. Ini adalah berdasarkan amalan Rasulllah s.w.t. Baginda menyembelih unta setelah balik daripada musafir.  Sunat bagi saudara mara dan sahabat mengunjungi jemaah haji yang baru pulang. 


4. Kepada orang ramai, sunat memberi salam dan berjabat tangan dengan orang yang baru pulang dari menunaikan haji dan minta ia doa dari Allah.  Orang yang pergi mengerjakan haji kerana Allah, apabila pulang, adalah orang yang telah membersihkan diri, doa mereka makbul. 


5. Setelah balik, hendaklah berubah kepada baik, atau lebih baik segala amalannya.  Ubahlah cara hidup dan tinggalkanlah maksiat. Gelaran haji itu adalah gelaran yang mulia. 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Kursus Asas Haji - Siri 1/17... Part 1

*Note*
Catatan daripada ceramah oleh Ustaz Ibrahim Embong - 27/2/2011
Jika ada yang tersilap, harap ditegur .. maaf atas kealpaan di dalam membuat catatan.

Adab-adab Sebelum Pergi Menunaikan Haji


  1. Bertaubat, bayar hutang (individu - tak semestinya melunaskan semua hutang dengan institusi kewangan), buat wasiat, memohon maaf, meninggalkan perbelanjaan untuk orang yang tinggal.
    • buatlah wasiat atas hutang jangka masa panjang (hutang bank), i.e. pesan anak/waris apa hutang kita dan guna fund apa untuk membayarnya
    • wasiat tidak semestinya harta benda sahaja. Boleh juga buat wasiat kepada anak2 supaya mendirikan solat, menjaga keislaman, etc. 
    • wasiat untuk anak2 yang tinggal - tentang penjagaannya mereka
    • minta maaf atas apapun kesalahan dan memohon keredhaan daripada semua kenalan
    • tinggalkan nafkah pada yang wajib diberi nafkah; termasuk binatang2 peliharaan kita, jika ada
  2. Mendapatkan keredhaan ibubapa dan suami (walaupun pergi bersama)
  3. Perbelanjaan haji dari sumber yang halal. 
    • jika perbelanjaan bukan dari sumber yang halal, hajinya masih sah tetapi mungkin tidak mendapat restu dari Allah s.w.t. (haji mabrur?)
  4. Mempelajari ilmu ibadat haji dan yang berkaitan dengannya. 
    • ada yang pergi haji, membawa bersama barang perniagaan - samada pergi atau balik -sunat tidak membawanya untuk mengelakkan daripada konflik ketika dia tanah suci
    • Terdapat 3 peringkat kursus haji yang dijalankan oleh LUTH
      • 1. Kursus Asas Haji - memberi ilmu kepada bakal-bakal haji dan orang yang berminat mempelajari. Dibahagikan kepada 3 bahagian, Ibadat Haji, Pengurusan dan Kesihatan
      • 2. Kursus Haji Intensif - hanya untuk mereka yang disahkan (dan standby) pergi haji sahaja. 3 hari, tidak bermalam
      • 3. Kursus Haji Perdana - Ketika hendak berangkat, mungkin 1, 2, 3 atau 4 minggu sebelum di mana semua bakal jemaah setiap negeri dihimpun pada satu tempat selama sehari semalam untuk memberi pendedahan awal keadaan haji semasa di musim haji di tanah suci (supaya tidak terkena "culture shock" dan mengulang semula apa yang telah dipelajari sebelum ini)
  5. Sunat berjumpa saudara mara, jiran-jiran dan para sahabat (bakal jemaah)
    • Ini yang selalu diadakan dengan mengadakan kenduri, minta didoakan, bukanlah untuk bertujuan riak (menunjuk-nunjuk)
    • Rasulullah s.a.w. dahulu, sebelum bermusafir, akan berjumpa dengan para-para sahabat
  6. Sunat solat sunat safar apabila hendak keluar rumah
  7. Sunat naik kenderaan dengan kaki kanan dan membaca doa
  8. Sunat membanyakkan doa ketika di dalam perjalanan. 

Next:  Adab ketika sampai di Mekah dan Sesudah Pulang mengerjakan haji

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Kursus Asas Haji 2011 di Masjid Negeri Shah Alam, Selangor

Sharing the notes I took during the 1st class of the new Kursus Asas Haji by Tabung Haji for 2011 at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Shah or Masjid Negeri (Selangor). I had to attend alone, Aina was not very well and Azlin was away. So, this notes is dedicated for them who had missed this 1st class (and will miss the 2nd one as well).

This course used to be called "Kursus Haji Bersiri Tabung Haji", but beginning this year, it is called Kursus Asas Haji. There will be a total of 17 modules, run on weekly basis for 2 hours. It is now fully funded by attendees. RM100 per person for the whole 17 modules which will be used to pay for the food, the speaker and "infaq" to the mosque.  Here's the whole module plan:

1) Penerangan Ringkas Ibadah Haji dan Perkara Asas (27 Feb)
2) Sejarah & Pengenalan Tanah Suci  (6 Mar)
3) Syarat-syarat Wajib Haji dan Mahram (13 Mar)
4) Umrah (20 Mar)
5) Rukun Haji ~ 1 of 3  (27 Mar)
6) Rukun Haji ~ 2 of 3 (3 Apr)
7) Rukun Haji ~ 3 of 3 (10 Apr)
8) Wajib Haji ~ 1 of 3 (17 Apr)
9) Wajib Haji ~ 2 of 3 (24 Apr)
10) Wajib Haji ~ 3 of 3 (1 May ~ don't know if they're having class during labor day or not)
11) Jenis-jenis Haji
12) Toharah, Solat dan Aurat
13) Permasalahan Hukum
14) Ziarah Madinah
15) Kesihatan
16) Pengurusan Haji
17) Amali Ibadat

The speaker who will be delivering most of this topic is Ustaz Hj Ibrahim Embong, Mantan Pengurus Besar Bimbingan Haji, LUTH.

The course begins with Talbiah. There may be a 5 minutes break after an hour (@10am). But last week, he didn't take break at all. The 1st class basically covers all the "Adab-adab" Haji -- before, during and after Haji.... to be posted in the next series

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Penang International Airport in February 2011

Captured from inside an aircraft

Currently under major construction . Noisy, messy.. name it. 
There's lotsa food outlet:
  • Kenny Rogers Roaster at Arrival Hall (with free wifi - a fast one, nice and cozy setting)
  • Pinang Kopi tiam - just outside the airport. Menu like mamak shop menu when je
  • McDonald at Departure Hall - also has free wifi
  • Coffee Bean, opposite of McDonald, just beside departure gate
  • Dairy Farm(?) -- the one that sells sweet corn in cup, ice kimo and assorted waffle
  • Famous Amos - also at Departure Hall
  • I think there's something like food court at Arrival Hall (actually they've quite a number of food outlet at Arrival hall as well - I can't recall, there's nothing significant, I think)
  • there's a lot more 
All these outlets are outside at the hall - which is quite congested. Once you go inside, there's not much
Free wifi available all around the airport by CAMYD. I tried to get in via my mobile, not so friendly from mobile I guess. I didn't try to get in using laptop coz I decided to use the one at Kenny Rogers. The departure hall was pretty busy this evening (23 Feb 2011). 

Inside the domestic departure where all the gates are located seems pretty narrow. Unfortunately I couldn't capture the moment - it was too crowded. They've many stalls left and right.

Surau - it was at Arrival hall, behind Kenny Rogers. There's telekung available inside the surau with ablution facilities. The washroom would be kind of on the way to the surau. Another small surau would be inside the departure hall/gates? All the way at the end, near Gate 12&13.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

School Year - 2011

Aina ... back to Sek Men Tahfiz IQKL - she needs to "khatam" her quran before we can decide where she should go if the school academics has not improve much in preparation for her SPM in 2012.  So far, Aina has been giving positive comments. Probably because now she has made up her mind not to move. 

Anis ... we decided to keep her home... still. Found her a new transport to come home, through Kak Maz, my line dance instructor. It was convenient for mummy but not for Anis as now she comes home late everyday and has to go kind of stay inside the van for almost 1.5 before reaching home. The trips that has to be made up to Port Klang. As usual, she'll just sleep it off. She has indicated her intention to go back to hostel life in Form 3. 

Ahmad .. he asked and asked but was not granted.. to move school. He refused to give his reason but we decided to just let him finish his Year 6 as SRIIMDE.  Just one more year. Its too risky to move him to SRAI, together with Alif at the time when we dont even know the school's performance and programs. He has resigned to the facts that he has to stay on. Lotsa activities for him this year

Alif .. this guy is tricky. Panjang akal. School is no longer fun for him coz it's all studies, not enough time to play. Not like Salsabiila :)  For the last 1.5 months, there'll be one day a week when he comes up with excuse not to go to school. And when he made up his mind, nothing can change it. You can't even force him to do what you want. There'll be hell to pay. Anyway, I don't like to force him either. Just take something away from him if he doesn't go to school, like TV, games,etc... but no effects on him. He doesn't care. Being at home is good enough for him. Homely boy, this one. 

Friday, February 18, 2011

Alif in Year 1


Alif in his new school ...

Orientation day:
Excited .. orientation day 
And then.. 1st day of school in Jan....
He's smiling ... before school 

2nd Day ... in school

I'm sad... I wanna go home... 
Umi asked the HEM to help .. didn't work much though ... 
Getting "counselling" by HEM -- don't think he understands much :)


okay...Umi found out how to help him and ask this boy to please be friend with Alif, and make sure to take Alif with him when its time for break.
This is how I found him after school .. with his new friend.  Problem solved..


And on Friday ... before going home, again... another noodles session . 


But this time .. notice there's no more water bottle from home? He learnt to buy drinks from the stalls instead of carrying his water bottle from class coz Aiman didn't do it either...




Thursday, February 17, 2011

26 February 2011

I tried to update this blog from Ipad... but can only do title and tag and change font. The body is not writable. And whoom! the post was published. Empty... (intro je ni)

26 February will mark the busiest day, at least in the morning. I haven't decided yet whether I will make myself busy or not. As usual, Ahmad will have his UPSR/PSRA class. If I calculate correctly, this Saturday is for UPSR, then 26th will be for PSRA. Thus, he will need to be picked up at 1:30 pm. Then, possibly, possibly, Alif will have his sukan. I wrote possibly coz there's no words from the school yet. Unless if the letter sent went missing from his school bag. My gym friend - Zu who is one of the PTA told me. Just now, ICLS called me. Korean Intermediate class will begin that day as well. Which is fine, I'll have the class at the same time with Anis (she's taking Korean Beginner 2 - skipped Beginner 1, learnt on her own - proud of her!). Those 2 classes will be held at the same time and about the same time DH has to go on his out of country business trip... waa... camana nak manage ni?

Send Ahmad to school by 8am. Then go to Mydin from grocery. If Alif has his sports day, cancel Mydin, then send Alif to school -don't know the time table for this one yet. Then, pick up Anis at home and sent her to ICLS. Or bring back ALif from school, with the hope that his event is over (what if he wins?) - say sayonara to DH? and send Anis to ICLS and stay there till 1pm. Then pick up Ahmad at school at 1:30pm. By that time DH dah pergi. Or ditch the first Inter class and send Anis to ICLS and return home to spend more time with DH before he has to go and then go back to ICLS in the remaining time available and together with Anis wait till Ahmad finish his class then return home. Oh wait, ex-TI friends is doing some gathering for hi-tea at 3pm. Already said not going... but it looks like possible to go? Possible I'll be too tired by then...

anyway... going to Penang next week. G Hotel already fully booked. So, I'll be staying at Evergreen Laurel (?) .. maybe I can write about that hotel while I am there.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Blog Resolutions

I never believe in New Year's resolution.. coz it always stays that way. Most of the time. So to me, there's no such thing as making resolution during new year. I can make it anytime.. just that most of the time, it happens around new years's time. Coz that's about time when we're the most busy and also had more time at home since either we had to finish off leaves, or had to take leaves from work to take care of errands at home, mostly for the kids. I think I am rambling nonsense here.. sorry!

ok, anyway... in the past few months since my last update .. I always had ideas coming on, on what I should write and what I want to write on my blog but most of the time, it stays there on my head:) I guess that's what happen with many people ... but I figure I should have a list of reference that I can refer to anytime I get the mood to write on what i should write .. so, friends, if you read this entry, and feel that you had interest in the following topics, do vote in the comment. Then, i will give a priority to write that topic first :)

1) Hotels that I have been to while traveling for work or vacation-- this should include pictures of the rooms (if I took any), comment on the facilities that I tried and its surrounding. Any other useful info that I can remember
2) The airports in Malaysia that I've been to (state airport)- what's in that airport and some other probably useful information either for my reference if ever I had to go back there..
3) Alif's First Week in School
4) Aina's PMR experience with IQKL -- from before, during and while taking the results
5) Photobook? the ones that I have made - references and my experience
6) More on Alif's? He seems the one to have most event among the kids! -- his 6th birthday in Salsabiila, the Sports Day...
7) Line Dancing .. (ha ha - my passion)
8) My house renovation experience
9) Anis's book that I never make the time to read ..

This should be enough for now.. maybe will take me more than a year to write all these...