Do'a

Salam to all,

Berbahagialah suatu masyarakat bila anggota-anggotanya sentiasa dapat merasakan dalam suka dan dukanya akan kehadiran Ilahi Yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang, tempat mereka meminta petunjuk bila jalan tidak nampak, sebaik-baiknya tempat berlindung dari segala macam bentuk kepayahan, iaitu masyarakat yang sentiasa memelihara erat hubungannya dengan Allah subhanawataala (swt), di mana zikir dan do'a menjadi salah satu tali penghubung yang kuat, di samping solat, zakat dan haji.

Namun ada pula rasanya di mana seruan tidak bersahut, do'a tidak berjawab? Mengapa gerangan permohonan kita tidak makbul, rintihan jiwa kita tidak didengarkan? Seakan-akan Allah swt. telah meninggalkan kita? Di mana gerangan letak sebabnya?... Untuk jawabnya, marilah kita perhatikan peringatan Rasulullah s.a.w.: "Wahai manusia! Sesungguhnya Allah swt. berfirman kepadamu: Anjurkanlah olehmu berbuat baik dan laranglah perbuatan yang munkar, agar jangan datang suatu sa'at, di mana kamu berdo'a tetapi Aku tidak menjawab do'amu; kamu meminta tetapi Aku tidak kabulkan; kamu memohon pertolongan tetapi Aku tidak memberimu pertolongan." 

Itulah jawabnya! Itulah yang menyebabkan pintu do'a tertutup. Bukan kerana melalaikan hubungan dengan Allah secara konvensional seperti solat, zakat dan sebagainya, akan tetapi kerana meremehkan hubungan sesama manusia, sebagai anggota masyarakat yang turut bertanggungjawab atas keselamatan hidup bermasyarakat itu sendiri. Yakni tugas: "Menegakkan kebajikan, membenteras kemunkaran" ("Amar Ma'ruf & Nahi Munkar"). Inilah identiti bagi keperibadian Umat Islam, iaitu sentiasa menjaga keselarasan hubungan dengan Allah dan hubungan dengan umat sesamanya. 

Semoga do'a kita sentiasa berjawab. Ameen...

(Petikan daripada penulisan Allahyarham Dr. Mohammad Natsir (1908-1993) (gambar di atas) pada 10 November 1984. Rujukan: Do'a dan dzikir rasulullah saw., Imam Hasan Al-Banna, Penerbit: Media Da'wah, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2006)

Nota: Ketika M. Natsir meninggal dunia, mantan Perdana Menteri Jepun Takeo Fukuda menyatakan, "berita duka tersebut terasa lebih dahsyat daripada jatuhnya bom atom di Hiroshima, kerana kita kehilangan pemimpin dunia dan pemikir besar dunia Islam."

Yuzita

Hajj

Above: Al-Haram Mosque and surrounding area at sunset, with every available space filled with Hajj worshippers (Photo © Sacredsites.com). Hajj is the pilgrimage to the "House of Allah subhanawataala (swt)" (i.e., Ka`abah - picture shown below) that is mandated once in a lifetime to those muslims who can afford it. Performance of the hajj-e-Mabroor (full of goodness) is the second best deed for a believing Muslim. The first is our struggle to live a life in the way of Allah (swt), i.e., exclusively for the sake of pleasing Allah (swt) only.

If hajj is done with careful and sincere efforts, as prescribed by Allah (swt) and His prophet, Muhammad (pbh), the past sins are wiped clean, just as a newborn baby. The reward is the closeness to and pleasure of Allah (swt). It is a new beginning for a Muslim after coming back from hajj, i.e., giving up old bad habits and reinvigorating and improving upon the remaining few good habits, the faith and the various beliefs. 

Since Hajj is a "training workshop", we need to ask ourselves after we come home: Have I become a better Muslim human being? Have I now become kinder, gentler person? If not then what should I do now? Perhaps my visit to the House of the Lord of the Universe is blessed with His mercy and forgiveness and I have returned with His favors and the best of these favors is the TAQWA in me? The TAQWA that I acquired in me will dictate that now I do my solat (prayer) better in quality (khusyu'), with punctuality, at its prescribed time and in manner taught by our prophet? Consequently, it will also improve my other deeds too (additional benefits of hajj), as Allah (swt) says in the Quran, "they should come here for their own benefits!"? I must reevaluate myself... 

Below: Kaabah is the first House of Worship for Allah (swt). It looks like a cube shaped building. Muslims from all over the world face towards Ka`abah when offering their prayers. The Ka`abah is also called Qibla, a symbol of Muslim unity (Quran 2:149-150). It is the center for guidance, peace and tranquility, security for the mankind and blessings from Allah (swt) (Quran 2:126, 3:97 & 5:97). Allahuakhbar! 

(Reference: A Manual of Hajj and Umrah by Riaz A. Akhtar, M.D., F.A.C.C., Publisher: Khatoons Inc., USA).

Yuzita