Why Islam is powerless nowadays?

By Dr Farrukh Saleem

The writer is an Islamabad-based freelance columnist. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com

Knowledge is power. Knowledge is 'possession of information, facts, ideas, truths and principles.' If knowledge is power then who has knowledge has power. If knowledge is information, facts and ideas then who possesses information, facts and idea possesses power.

Imagine, when the Vikings were busy plundering Europe Al Khwarizmi was busy producing mathematical knowledge (calculus of resolution and juxtaposition or hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala). Ibn Sina produced medical as well as philosophical knowledge. Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim had set up Dar al-Hikmah or the House of Knowledge. The Abbasids had set up a research institute called Bayt al-Hikma. Jabir ibn Hayyan was the first chemist to have produced sulphuric acid. Al Zahrawi became the 'Father of Modern Surgery'. Al Zarqali invented the astrolabe (historical astronomical instrument).

When we were producing knowledge we were powerful. We overpowered Spain. We overpowered Constantinople, Nimes (in France), North Africa, Cypress, Sardinia, Sicily (Italy), Egypt, Jerusalem, Syria, Walachia (Romania), Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Persia, Venice and Hungary (in that order). We occupied Sicily for 264 years. Our occupation of Spain lasted for 700 years.

Alas, we stopped producing knowledge a thousand years ago. Then, the Ummah's directors directed the Ummah to stop consuming knowledge produced by non-Muslims.

Now we are powerless, absolutely powerless. Powerless because we produce no knowledge. Powerless because we consider the consumption of knowledge produced by non-Muslims a sinful activity. Powerless because we have failed to diffuse knowledge. Powerless because we have failed to apply knowledge.

Just when we stopped producing knowledge they founded University of Bologna (founded 1088) followed by the University of Paris in 1150, University of Oxford 1167, University of Cambridge 1209, University of Salamanca (Spain) 1218, University of Montpellier (France) 1220, University of Naples 1222, University of Toulouse (France) 1229, University Complutense de Madrid 1293, University of Rome La Sapienze 1303, University of Pisa 1343, University of Vienna 1365, University of Leipzig (Germany) 1409, University of Catania 1434, University of Glasgow 1451, University of Copenhagen 1479 and University of Aberdeen 1494 (University of the Punjab was established in 1882 by the British Empire).

Fast forward to 2006. Question: Who has produced the most knowledge so far this year? Answer: Harvard University; founded 1636, the oldest institution of higher learning in the US (as measured by 'highly cited researchers', 'articles in science citation index', 'alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes' and 'articles indexed in major citation indices'). Next to Harvard is the University of Cambridge (formed 1209).

Imagine, of the top-100 universities on the face of the planet, 51 are based in the United States; less than five per cent of the world population with 51 per cent of the top-100 universities. Imagine, of the top 400 universities not a single -- not even one -- is in a Muslim-majority country. Amazingly, of the top 500 universities on the face of the planet six are based in Israel and two in India (Source: Academic Ranking of World Universities 2006; conducted by an institute run by the Ministry of Education and Shanghai Government; http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ranking2006.htm).

Why are we powerless? When was the last time we invented something? When and what was our last contribution to human civilisation? Is this also a Jewish conspiracy? Perhaps, an American one? Did the Jews stop us from producing knowledge? Did the Americans stop us from applying knowledge?


Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=28341

4 golongan lelaki yg akan ditarik masuk ke neraka oleh wanita

Di akhirat nanti ada 4 golongan lelaki yg akan ditarik
masuk ke neraka oleh wanita. Lelaki itu adalah mereka
yg tidak memberikan hak kpd wanita dan tidak menjaga
amanah itu. Mereka ialah:

1. Ayahnya

Apabila seseorang yg bergelar ayah tidak mempedulikan
anak2 perempuannya didunia. Dia tidak memberikan
segala keperluan agama seperti mengajar solat, mengaji
dan sebagainya Dia membiarkan anak2 perempuannya tidak
menutup aurat. Tidak cukup kalau dgn hanya memberi
kemewahan dunia sahaja. Maka dia akan ditarik ke
neraka oleh anaknya.

(p/s; Duhai lelaki yg bergelar ayah, bagaimanakah hal
keadaan anak perempuanmu sekarang?. Adakah kau
mengajarnya bersolat & saum?.. menutup aurat?..
pengetahuan agama?.. Jika tidak cukup salah satunya,
maka bersedialah utk menjadi bahan bakar neraka
jahannam.)

2. Suaminya

Apabila sang suami tidak mempedulikan tindak tanduk
isterinya. Bergaul! bebas di pejabat, memperhiaskan
diri bukan utk suami tapi utk pandangan kaum lelaki yg
bukan mahram. Apabila suami mendiam diri walaupun
seorang yg alim dimana solatnya tidak pernah
bertangguh, saumnya tidak tinggal, maka dia
akan turut ditarik oleh isterinya bersama-sama ke dlm
neraka.

(p/s; Duhai lelaki yg bergelar suami, bagaimanakah hal
keadaan isteri tercintamu sekarang?. Dimanakah dia?
Bagaimana akhlaknya? Jika tidak kau menjaganya
mengikut ketetapan syari'at, maka terimalah hakikat yg
kau akan
sehidup semati bersamanya di 'taman' neraka sana .)

3. Abang-abangnya

Apabila ayahnya sudah tiada, tanggungjawab menjaga
maruah wanita jatuh ke bahu abang-abangnya dan saudara
lelakinya. Jikalau mereka hanya mementingkan
keluarganya sahaja dan adiknya dibiar melencong dari
ajaran Islam, tunggulah tarikan adiknya di akhirat
kelak.

(p/s; Duhai lelaki yg mempunyai adik perempuan, jgn
hanya menjaga amalmu, dan jgn ingat kau terlepas...
kau juga akan dipertanggungjawabkan diakhirat
kelak... jika membiarkan adikmu bergelumang dgn
maksiat... dan tidak menutup aurat.)

4. Anak-anak lelakinya

Apabila seorang anak tidak menasihati seorang ibu
perihal kelakuan yg haram disisi Islam. bila ibu
membuat kemungkaran mengumpat, memfitnah, mengata
dan sebagainya... maka anak itu akan disoal dan
dipertanggungjawabkan di akhirat kelak.... dan nantikan
tarikan ibunya ke neraka.

(p/s; Duhai anak2 lelaki.... sayangilah ibumu....
nasihatilah dia jika tersalah atau terlupa.... krn ibu
juga insan biasa.... x lepas dr melakukan dosa...
selamatkanlah dia dr menjadi 'kayu api' neraka.... jika
tidak, kau juga akan ditarik menjadi penemannya.)
................................................
Lihatlah...... betapa hebatnya tarikan wanita bukan
sahaja di dunia malah diakhirat pun tarikannya begitu
hebat. Maka kaum lelaki yg bergelar ayah/suami/abang
atau anak harus memainkan peranan mereka..

Firman Allah S. W. T;

"Hai anak Adam, peliharalah diri kamu serta ahlimu
dari api neraka dimana bahan bakarnya ialah manusia,
jin dan batu-batu....."

The Life of Iranian President Ahmedi Nijad'

The Fox News TV (USA) asked the Iranian President Ahmedi Nijad;

'When you look into the mirror in the morning what do you say to yourself'?

He answered: I see the person in the mirror and tell him 'Remember,
you are no more than a small servant, ahead of you today is the heavy
responsibility, and that is to serve the Iranian nation'.

Ahmedi Nijad, the Iranian President who astonished many when he first
reached to the office of the Presidency by donating all the high valued
Iranian carpets to one of the mosques in Tehran by replacing them with the
low cost ordinary carpets.

He observed that there was a huge extravagant lounge for receiving and
welcoming the VIPs and he ordered it to be closed and asked the protocol
office to arrange for an ordinary room only with the wooden chairs.

On many instances he joins the cleaning staff of the municipality
for cleaning the streets in the area where his home and the Presidency are
located.

Under his authority whenever he appoints any minister to his post he
gets a signed document from him with many points, particularly
highlighting that he shall remain poor and that his personal and his
relatives accounts will be watched and the day he leaves the ministry
shall be with dignity, and therefore it is not lawful for him or his
relatives to take any advantage of his office.

First of all he declared himself for all the 'Big' wealth and the
property he owned was a Peugeot 504 car, model 1977, an old small
house inherited from his father 40-years ago in one of the poorest
zones in Tehran. His accounts with a zero balance and the only money
comes in to his a/c was from his salary from the university as a
lecturer with an amount of US$ 250 only.

For your information the President still lives in that same house. This is
all what he owns; the president of one of the world's important countries;
strategically, economically, politically and with regard to its oil and
defence.

He even doesn't take his personal salary with the argument that all the
wealth belongs to the nation and he is the safeguard over it.

One of the things that impressed the staff at the presidency is the bag
the President brings with him every day, which contains his breakfast;
some sandwiches or bread with olive oil and cheese prepared by his
wife and eats and enjoys it with all happiness.

One of the other things he changed was his personal carrier 'the
President's Aircraft' to a cargo aircraft in order to save the
spending from the public treasury and he ordered that he will be
flying with the ordinary airline in the economy class.

He organizes meetings every now and then with all the ministers to know
their activities and efficiency and he closed down the office of the
Manager of the president and any minister can enter to his office without
any permission. He also stopped the welcome ceremonies like the red
carpet, the photo session or any personal advertisement or respect of
any kind while visiting any place in the country.

Whenever he has to stay in any of the hotels he asks them to make sure not
to give him a room with any big bed because he doesn't like to sleep on
beds but rather likes to sleep on the floor on a simple mattress with a
blanket.

Refer to some of the photographs which also confirm the above.

The Iranian president is sleeping in the guest room of his house after
getting away from his special guards who follow him wherever he goes and
photo is taken by his small brother according to the Wifaq Newspaper which
published this photo and the next day the photo was published in most of
the world's newspapers and magazines and particularly the Americans.

During the prayer you can see that he is not sitting in the first row.

And the final photo is of his dining room where the president is busy eating his meal.

Kelebihan 10 Hari-hari Pertama di Bulan Zulhijjah

Oleh:Ustaz Halim http://inijalanku.wordpress.com/

Ramai dari kita yang telah maklum kelebihan 10 Malam-malam Terakhir Ramadhan. Tetapi adakah ramai dikalangan umat kita yang maklum kelebihan 10 Hari-hari Pertama dalam bulan Zulhijjah? Imam al Bukhari Rahimahullah meriwayatkan daripada Ibnu ‘Abbas r.a bahawa Nabi s.a.w bersabda, Tiada suatu hari pun, amalan kebaikan padanya mempunyai kelebihan melainkan pada hari-hari ini – iaitu 10 hari Zulhijjah. Para sahabat baginda bertanya, ‘Tidak juga Jihad pada jalan Allah (mengatasi kelebihan Hari-hari tersebut)? Ujar Baginda, Tidak juga Jihad di jalan Allah kecuali seorang yang keluar dengan jiwa raga dan hartanya dan tidak membawa pulang apa-apa pun (kerana habis disumbangkan untuk memenangkan agama Allah).

Imam Ahmad r.a. dari Ibnu Umar r.a. bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda, “Tiada suatu haripun, amalan kebaikan padanya mempunyai kelebihan melainkan pada hari-hari 10 Zulhijjah ini, oleh kerana itu perbanyakkanlah padanya tahlil (La Ilaha Illa Allah), takbir (Allah Akbar) dan tahmid (Alhamdu Lillah).

Ibnu Hibban di dam kitab Sahihnya meriwayatkan dari Jabir r.a. bahawa baginda s.a.w bersabda, “Seutama-utama hari adalah hari Arafah”.

Amalan yang dianjurkan padanya

1. Menunaikan ibadah haji dan umrah yang merupakan sebaik-baik amalan. Banyak hadis menyatakan kelebihan ibadah ini di antaranya : Sabda Nabi s.a.w.: “Satu umrah ke umrah yang lain menghapuskan (dosa) yang dilakukan di antara keduanya dan haji yang baik (diterima) tiada baginya balasan melainkan syurga”.

2. Berpuasa pada hari-hari tersebut atau sekadar kemampuannya – terutamanya pada hari Arafah. Tidak dinafikan bahawa puasa adalah di antara amalan yang terbaik dan ia adalah pilihan Allah seperti yang dinyatakan di dalam sebuah hadis qudsi, “Puasa itu adalah bagiKu dan Akulah yang membalasinya, dia meninggalkan keinginan nafsunya, makanan dan minumannya semata-mata keranaKu”.

Imam Muslim meriwayatkan dari Abi Qatadah r.a. bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda, Puasa pada hari Arafah, saya mengharap Allah akan menghapuskan (dosa) setahun yang lalu dan setahun yang mendatang.

3. Takbir (Allahu Akbar) dan berzikir padanya, firman Allah s.w.t yang bermaksud, (Dan supaya mereka menyebut nama Allah pada beberapa hari yang termaklum), hari-hari tersebut dijelaskan sebagai 10 hari di bulan Zulhijjah. Sebab itulah para ulama menyarankan supaya diperbanyakkan berzikir pada hari-hari tersebut sebagaimana mafhum hadis Ibnu Umar r.a. yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Ahmad, di antaranya, “Oleh kerana itu perbanyakkanlah padanya tahlil (La Ilaha Illa Allah), takbir (Allah Akbar) dan tahmid (Alhamdulillah)”.

4. Bertaubat dan meninggalkan segala maksiat dan dosa, semoga dengan amalan baik dapat mencapai keampunan dan rahmat Allah. Ini kerana maksiat adalah punca kepada jauh dan terhindarnya seorang hamba dari rahmat Allah manakala ketaatan pula adalah punca dekat dan kasihnya Allah kepadanya.

5. Memperbanyakkan amalan soleh terutama amalan sunat tambahan seperti solat sunat, berjihad, membaca al-Quran, menyeru kepada kebaikan, mencegah kemungkaran dan seumpamanya kerana semuanya akan digandakan pada hari-hari tersebut.

Amalan yang dikerjakan ketika itu walaupun kecil tetapi ia lebih disukai oleh Allah dibandingkan pada hari-hari lain. Begitu juga amalan yang besar seperti berjihad di jalan Allah yang dikategorikan di antara amalan yang terbaik, tidaklah mendapat kehebatan pahala pada hari-hari itu melainkan apabila kuda (kenderaan) yang ditungganginya terbunuh (binasa) dan darahnya keluar (dia cedera atau mati syahid).

6. Disyariatkan bertakbir pada beberapa hari yang mulia itu pada waktu siang atau malam terutama selepas menunaikan fardu solat lima waktu yang dikerjakan secara berjemaah.

Bagi mereka yang tidak menunaikan ibadah haji, takbir bermula dari waktu subuh hari Arafah (9 Zulhijjah) dan bagi yang menunaikannya takbir bermula pada waktu Zuhur hari raya haji (10 Zulhijjah), semuanya berakhir sehingga waktu Asar pada hari ke-13 Zulhijjah.

7. Disyariatkan amalan korban (menyembelih haiwan ternakan) pada hari raya haji dan hari-hari Tasyriq (11, 12 dan 13 Zulhijjah). Ia merupakan sunah Nabi Ibrahim a.s. setelah Allah s.w.t mengujinya dengan perintah menyembelih anaknya Ismail tetapi ditebus ujian itu dengan digantikan seekor haiwan untuk disembelih.

8. Imam Muslim meriwayatkan dari Ummu Salamah r.a bahawa Nabi s.a.w bersabda, Apabila kamu telah melihat anak bulan Zulhijjah dan ada di kalangan kamu yang ingin berkorban (sembelih haiwan ternakan), hendaklah dia menahan dirinya dari (memotong) rambut dan kukunya, dan di dalam riwayat lain : “Maka janganlah dia memotong rambut dan kukunya sehinggalah dia berkorban.

Perintah (sunat) ini berkemungkinan ada persamaan dengan hukum bagi mereka yang membawa haiwan ternakan (ketika mengerjakan haji) dari kampung mereka yang telah dijelaskan oleh Allah, maksudnya, (Dan janganlah kamu mencukur rambut kamu sehinggalah haiwan ternakan (yang dibawa untuk dihadiahkan dagingnya kepada penduduk Mekah) itu sampai ke tempatnya).

Larangan (memotong rambut dan kuku) ini pada zahirnya adalah khusus kepada pemunya haiwan korban tersebut sahaja dan tidak termasuk isteri dan anak-anaknya melainkan mereka juga mempunyai haiwan seumpamanya, dan tidak mengapa jika yang berkenaan membasuh dan menggosok kepalanya kemudian terjatuh beberapa helai rambutnya.

9. Setiap muslim hendaklah berusaha menunaikan solat hari raya secara berjemaah, mendengar khutbah oleh imam selepas solat tersebut supaya mendapat pengajaran daripadanya.

Sepatutnyalah kita mengetahui hikmat di sebalik perayaan ini. Ia merupakan hari menyatakan kesyukuran dengan melakukan kebaikan. Janganlah pula dilakukan padanya perkara yang mendatangkan kemurkaan Allah dengan mengerjakan maksiat, kesombongan, pertengkaran dan sebagainya yang boleh menjadi sebab kepada terhapusnya amalan kebaikan yang dikerjakannya sebelum itu.

10. Penuhilah hari-hari berkenaan dengan ketaatan kepada Allah, berzikir, bersyukur, menunaikan perintah-Nya, menjauhi larangan-Nya, mendekatkan diri kepada-Nya semoga mendapat rahmat dan keampunan-Nya.

I Am A Muslim!

WARNING: Robbery Tactic

Low Break Fluid Level Warning

November 19, 2007 04:47 PM Author: Chips

“Hey, brake awak sudah pecah, minyak keluar (your brake is broken and oil is coming out)!” Normally, a warning like that from another motorist would alarm you and you would immediately stop and jump out to look. But these days, that’s not such a wise idea, even if you are worried about the brakes leaking. This is because one of the tactics of robbers now is to use that warning to make you stop and get down – as this writer discovered this afternoon. Fortunately, however, I am not an average motorist who doesn’t know a lot about cars and whose first two thoughts were: “brake leaking… why didn’t the warning light come on?” and “two guys on a motorbike… be careful!”.

Fortunately, the second thought made me hesitate about getting down and in fact, even when they (two Indians on a motorbike) drew alongside me in the jam along Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur, I only wound down the window a bit to ask them what they were saying. As I stopped the car, I was still thinking about the absence of a warning light which would normally come on because a leak will drop the brake fluid level and the sensor (which most cars have) will pick it up.

As I pulled over, the two guys stopped their motorcycle in front of me and the tall pillion rider got down (which also struck me as suspicious because most people usually shout a warning and then go off). It could be that because they were both wearing dark blue shirts with a Shell logo, they expected that unsuspecting motorists would let their guard down thinking they were mechanics. Anyway as the tall guy was getting down, I noticed that in his hand was a small container (like an Eye-mo bottle) and that immediately stopped me from getting out. I immediately drove off and kept an eye in the mirror but didn’t see them following me.

I drove on looking for a spot with plenty of people so that I could check on the front wheel and turned into the carpark at Muzium Negara. I was still alert for the possibility that they followed me so I quickly ran to the front to check – no oil, nothing visibly wrong – and as I rushed back to the door, around the corner they came! I jumped in and they did a u-turn and went off.

So be alert for this tactic which may be a new one. They may not want to hijack the car and probably just want to steal things and that container may have soapy water or something that can burn your eyes and as you are blinded, they open the doors and steal whatever they can find. So whatever you do, don’t get down and don’t stop further along thinking it is safe. If it is a brake problem, just drive carefully till you get to somewhere that has security guards nearby. And it is best not to head straight for home because you never know if they may still be following you, determined to rob you (hopefully, you were an unlucky random choice).

While on the subject of modus operandi, as the police have warned, be alert when you are rammed from behind and don’t get down. Drive to a police station to make your report – you are not committing an offence if no one has been injured and you can tell the police you were suspicious of the car that rammed you. Also, do not think that if there is just one person in the car that rammed you, it is safe because there have been reported cases where another car comes up and stops ahead and two guys get out with parangs and do their nasty things. You also need to be alert for the possibility that if you are talking to one of them one one side from inside the car, it is not safe because the others can smash the glass on the other side and grab you.

Sadly, it’s a dangerous world we live in these days and being alert and staying calm enough to be able to recognise danger signs is critical.

Halaju Cahaya di dalam Al-Quran