[Slideshare] tazdzkirah-ramadhan-2012 #part 2- standard to be attained in ramadhan - (29-july-2012)

TADZKIRAH RAMADHAN - 2012

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
MOST COMPASSIONATE,
MOST MERCIFUL.

SERIES OF TALK
For “MABUHAY CLUB”
“Lessons to learn from
the Divine program in
Ramadhan”
PART 2

29 JULY 2012 (SUNDAY)
9 RAMADHAN 1433 H
BY:
5 PM @ THE GALAXY
USTAZ ZHULKEFLEE HJ ISMAIL DARUL ARQAM SINGAPORE
SINGAPURA Muslim Converts Assn. Spore
GEYLANG, CHANGI ROAD
All Rights Reserved © Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

“O MANKIND! Worship (serve) your Sustainer, who has
created you and those who lived before you, so that you
might remain conscious of Him (TAQWA)“
(Qur’an: Baqarah: 2: 21)

All Rights Reserved© Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

“ (Allah) Who has made the earth a resting-place for
you and the sky a canopy, and has sent down water
from the sky and thereby brought forth fruits for your
sustenance: do not, then, claim that there is any power
that could rival Allah, when you know [that He is One].”


Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Tolib r.a. said:

“The foremost in religion is the acknowledgement of Him (Allah)”
Mankind’s existence is not accidental as though without purpose,
but humans by nature are capable of knowing meanings and purpose to
his life and his special place in nature.
Unlike animals, man’s reasoning faculty is summoned to reflect upon
the higher philosophical questions as to the meaning and purpose of life
which leads to the cognition of the existence of the Divine.
There is already and innate predisposition in him towards wanting to
serve (worship) someone or something.


Those who claimed to be “atheists” even are in reality serving or
worshipping their own Selves (their desires).

“Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire , and Allah
has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his
hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide
him after Allah? Then will you not be reminded?”
(Qur’an: Jathiya: 45: 24)
All Rights Reserved © Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2011)

7

“ Hallowed be He (Allah) in whose hand all dominion rests,
since He has the power to will anything: He Who created
death as well as life, so that He might put you to a test [and
thus show] which of you is best in conduct, and [make you
realize that] He (Allah) alone is almighty, truly forgiving.”

(Qur’an: Surah al-Mulk: 67: 1-2)


“ Verily! We create man from a drop of mingled sperm, in
order to test him; so We gave him (gifts of) hearing,
sight. Verily! We have shown him the Way, whether he be
grateful (SHAAKIRAN) or ungrateful (KAFUURA) i.e.
disbelieving (rests on his will).”

(Qur’an: Al-Insan:76: 2-3)

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“ Then when (Solomon) saw it (the throne miraculously)
placed firmly before him, he said: "This is by the grace of
my Lord!― to test me whether I am grateful (ASHKURU),
or ungrateful (AKFUR)! And if any is grateful truly his
gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is
ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of All Needs, Supreme in
Honour!"

(Qur’an: Naml: 27: 40)

13

MANY DO NOT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE BEING TESTED
WITH MANY GOOD FAVOURS IN LIFE – FOR ALL THESE
(GOOD THINGS) COMES FROM THE WILL OF ALLAH.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM IS, SO THAT THEY SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL ( SHAKUR - )

14

MANY DO NOT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE BEING TESTED
WITH MANY GOOD FAVOURS IN LIFE – FOR ALL THESE
(GOOD THINGS) COMES FROM THE WILL OF ALLAH.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM IS, SO THAT THEY SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL ( SHAKUR - )

“And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly):
"If ye are grateful (SHAKAR-TUM), I will add more (favours)
unto you; but if ye show ingratitude (KAFAR-TUM), truly My
punishment is terrible indeed."
(Qur’an: Ibrahim:14: 7)

15

ON
S LESS
PREVIOU

“So remember Me; I will remember you.
(WASH-KU-RU-LI) And be grateful to Me and
(WA-LAA-TAK-FU-RUUN) do not deny Me.”


ON
S LESS
PREVIOU IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
MOST COMPASSIONATE,
MOST MERCIFUL.


“Allah wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer
hardship; but [He desires] that you complete the number [of days required],
and that you extol Allah for His having guided you aright , and that you
render your thanks [unto Him] – TASH-KURUN – (SHAKUR).”


ON
S LESS
PREVIOU

“Praise belongs to Allah who guided us to His praise, and placed us
among the people of praise, that we might be among the thankful
(MINASH-SHAA-KI-REEN) for His beneficence, and that He might
recompense us for that with the recompense of the good-doers! “


CRITERIA

1. Acknowledge and extol praises of
The key to
the true giver, Allah Who alone is
succeed in this test as well God, the Bestower of all favours.
as to deserve achieving 2. Learn the value of what is given,
further increase of do not take for granted any of

bestowals from Allah. these favours.

3. Reciprocate with gratitude.
yet how does one become
Utilize what is given in
grateful? What are the
accordance to what may please
important criteria? the Giver (i.e. do not abuse the
gift), so as not to cause His wrath
to befall us.

 Allah is the source of every bestowals and favours . He , high and
exalted , is “As-Swomad “ - “the Eternal Absolute unto
Whom every creations depend on, whereas He alone, depends on
no one.”. Allah is the only God (Divine) without any partner nor
associates.
 Thus, to acknowledge Allah’s Absolute Oneness (TAUHEED) is the
first requirement for SHAKUR (Gratefulness). And to admit others
as being the Divine (SHIRK) Is the ultimate ungratefulness; the
greatest injustice (ZULM).


“And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his
son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not
associate [anything] with Allah (SHIRK). Indeed,
association [with him] is great injustice (ZULM - ‘AZEEM).“
(Qur’an: Luqman: 31: 13)
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 After acknowledging Allah , the way to be grateful is to express
praises of Him as the Giver of these favours upon us. Yet
whatever praise we utter based on our own limitations, it would
be deficient because we lack the true knowledge of Allah.
 Thus we find that in the Opening Surah (AL-FATEHAH), after
teaching us to begin by invoking in Holy Names (BASMALAH), it
continues with the appropriate manner of extolling Praises of
Him (HAMDALAH) Who is the Lord, Sustainer, Cherisher of the
worlds.


 And when we reflect, Muslims recite this Surah minimum
seventeen times daily, surely to teach us that to become grateful
towards Allah should be placed as one of the highest virtue to be
inculcated.
 In the noble disposition (AKHLAQ AL-KAREEMA) of our Prophet
s.a.a.w. we learnt that the ultimate reason for his untiring striving
in devotion towards Allah when all his sins, even future sins have
been forgiven, yet his response was :


 And when we reflect, Muslims recite this Surah minimum
seventeen times daily, surely to teach us that to become grateful
towards Allah should be placed as one of the highest virtue to be
inculcated.
 In the noble disposition (AKHLAQ AL-KAREEMA) of our Prophet
s.a.a.w. we learnt that the ultimate reason for his untiring striving
in devotion towards Allah when all his sins, even future sins have
been forgiven, yet his response was :
“... that I may become the most grateful slave (of Allah)”


 Acknowledging with appreciation requires us to speak about it.
Therefore make mention of all these significant favours to others.
 Human beings need to communicate and express elation regarding
whatever goodness we encounter. This is natural, and Allah expects
this from His servants to express such gratefulness of Him. Thus :

“But the bounty (favours) of the Lord - rehearse
and proclaim!”
(Qur’an: Dhuha: 93: 11)

 Appreciating the gifts, bestowals or favours, indeed can be the
criteria (measure) as to whether one is grateful, or just being
nonchalant (unappreciative) and thus ungrateful. This therefore
requires knowledge and constant reflections of its significance.
 Allah, the Most Gracious, has given us so abundant of bestowals.
Many we are not even aware of, that we tend to take for granted.
 In fact Allah s.w.t. challenges us and reminds us regarding this, to
make us to ponder upon His infinite generosity bestowed upon us
all so abundantly.
 “Count these favours if you can!”


“For, should you try to count Allah's blessings, you could
never compute them! Behold, Allah is indeed much-
forgiving, a dispenser of grace;”
(Qur’an: An-Nahlu: 16: 18)


“So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?”
(Qur’an: Ar-Rahman: 55: 13)


 And in the Qur’an, Allah reminds us to be constantly engaged in
remembering Him and to be consider with appreciation, the many of
these favours and blessings.
 Instead, we humans, like to complain of things that we want but has
not yet been given – whereas much has already been accorded to us.
 Such rudeness, thankless arrogance. Who do we think we are?

 Therefore we have to work on and “strive to like what we have,
before trying have what we like.”


 And in utilizing the gifts or bestowals, certainly there are expectations
of the Giver attached to all these gifts.
 In Islam, our tests are also in this regard to the favours granted to us.

 No doubt, we have the freedom on how to utilize them, yet it can
either be that we are “using” them or “abusing” them.
 Thus Allah s.w.t. provided us the knowledge and rules as guidance.
Compliance to them is “submission and obedience (TA-’AH)”.
 And “sincerity (IKHLAS) “ in TA-’AH is to “be truly grateful ” to Allah.


 Being grateful towards Allah requires the ADAB in acknowledging
or showing gratitude also towards those through whom Allah’s
favour was granted upon us. This is as mentioned:

“He is not grateful to Allah those who is not able
to show gratefulness towards fellow man, “
(Hadith reported by Tirmidzi)


“And whoever brings to you goodness (MA’-RUFA), you are to
return with equivalent (the favour). If you are unable, then pray
(DU’A) for him (earnestly and sincerely) until you are
satisfied (that with your DU’A) you have returned the equivalent.“
(Hadith reported by Bukhary))


SHAKUR - GRATEFULNESS


 The attestation of – the TAUHEED - Allah SWT is the only God, Who
alone is ROBB (Lord, Sustainer and Cherisher) of the worlds - is
manifested in a practical manner, globally - in a Muslim’s life.
 The most important reminder that ‘Fasting’ is the commandment
from Allah, our Creator and Sustainer – Who Alone is God – is an
important lesson. Food, or drink, procreative needs and other
factors, though important, are not what truly sustains us.
 With this consciousness, throughout the daily fasting, our still being
sustained, is a glaring testament of rebutting the false ideology of
the worldly – materialist – agnostics – atheist – godless.


 It begins with our resolve and intention ….

 Then, - our refraining what has been forbidden by Allah throughout
its days and nights; honoring this sacred month and many other
symbols stipulated by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad s.a.a.w.
etc. - is itself the practical acknowledgement, of our glorification and
our praising of Allah.
 Only with this conscious abstinence, struggling against our desires
with sincere intention as the motive – is one’s Fasting acceptable.
 This is because Al-Islam requires us to prove our belief through our
righteous deeds – and not merely “knowing”, but also “with sobriety,
thoughts, reflection, conviction, resolve and ambitions.”

 To many Muslims, Ramadhan seem to come and go every year
routinely. Indeed times pass us by swiftly, and we humans get caught
up in a race of sort …. And many failed to savor in the experience,
the opportunity to smell the fragrance, to benefit from each
bounties given.
 We allow ourselves to be dictated by habits and desires, numbing
our senses in the process; consuming more without adequate tasting
and appreciating; seeking after quantity in life and ignoring quality of
life and importantly the quality of living; etc. whereas, Allah has
created us better than animals. Alas, in this “rat race” today, many
have allowed themselves to become “rats”.

“O YOU who have attained to faith! Remain conscious
of Allah (TAQWA); and let every human being look to
what he sends ahead for the morrow! And [once
again]: Remain conscious of Allah (TAQWA), for Allah
is fully aware of all that you do; and be not like those
who are oblivious of Allah, and whom He therefore
causes to be oblivious of [what is good for] their own
selves: [for] it is they, they who are truly depraved! “
(Qur’an: Hashr: 59: 18-19)


“Not equal are those who are destined for the fire
and those who are destined for paradise: those who
are destined for paradise - it is they, they [alone]
who shall triumph [on Judgment Day]!”
(Qur’an: Hashr: 59: 20)


“LET IT NOT deceive thee that those who are bent on
denying the truth seem to be able to do as they please on
earth: it is [but] a brief enjoyment, with hell thereafter as
their goal - and how vile a resting-place! - whereas those
who remain conscious of their Sustainer shall have gardens
through which running waters flow, therein to abide: a
ready welcome from Allah. And that which is with Allah is
best for the truly virtuous.”
(Qur’an: Aali ‘Imran: 3: 197-198)


 So, do not repeat this error. Regard this Ramadhan as a Madrasah- a
university – where every moment, every experience, every opportunity
are in reality, lessons and tutorials from which we are being taught by.
 Relish the moment and do not be hasty and heedless.

 Learn to reflect, contemplate …. The hour of SAHUR … the QIYAM …
the ADAB in partaking meals … the soothing ADZAN with its profound
message … the eating and worshipping in congregation … the free
period for extra devotion which now suddenly becomes available … our
encounter with or re-engaging ourselves with the QUR’AN … the
consciousness of Allah’s SWT scrutiny over us throughout … the
practical experience of thirst and hunger, etc. … learn


 Also, when our taste-buds which has been numbed return to its
original functionality; when our body rid itself of unwanted fats and
toxicity; when our routine becomes manageable centering around
the notion or worship and servitude; when supplication becomes
intense; when the companionship with the Qur’an becomes
established; when the bond of Ukhuwah are strengthened; when
our hearts becomes soften with compassion towards others; when
our desires have been tamed and subjugated and under our control;
when we are granted taste of the sweetness of IIMAN (Faith) …..
Etc. All these are priceless lessons indeed.
 Be grateful to Allah SWT.


And they will say: "All praise is due to Allah, who
has guided us unto this; for we would certainly not
have found the right path unless Allah had guided
us! Indeed, our Sustainer's Messengers have told
us the truth!“
(Qur’an: A’-raf: 7: 43)


 With all these new-found or revitalized spiritual state (HAAL) as well
as its accompanying well-being (in our physical, material, social etc.)
which Ramadhan has inculcated and transformed us , insha-Allah,
we are given a priceless lease of life to be sustained until another
Ramadhan.
 Lessons learnt are to be applied throughout – and as Ramadhan
teaches us, our entire life can be fully a life of total submission and
obedience to Allah – so cherish the lesson and act upon it.
 This is not empty rhetoric or wild claim, but in Ramadhan many of us
would attain to, and experienced some degree of its reality.

 Although what we may have attained may not be perfect, yet the
greatest lesson here is that WE CAN attain to higher states of Islamic
religiosity with Allah’s guidance when our motive in striving follows
the template taught and engraved upon us in Ramadhan.
 So, utilize the new ‘SELF ’, the purified ‘SELF ’, the renewed you –
with being grateful by maintaining and cherishing its value, and
continue to display these in our life thenceforth.
 Yet, when we do not strive towards becoming grateful (SHAKUR), the
true desired outcome of the madrasah of Ramadhan would be lost.

Allaahu Musta-’an.

“My Sustainer (Lord)! ! Inspire me so that I may forever be
grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced
me and my parents, and that I may do what is right [in a manner]
that will please Thee; and include me, by Thy grace, among Thy
righteous servants (SwOLIHEEN)!” (Qur’an: Naml: 27: 19)


“O my Sustainer (Lord)! Inspire me so that I may forever
be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which
Thou hast graced me and my parents, and that I may
do what is right [in a manner] that will meet with Thy
goodly acceptance; and grant me righteousness in my
offspring [as well]. Verily, unto Thee have I turned in
repentance: for, verily, I am of those (MUSLIMEEN)
who have surrendered themselves unto Thee!””
(Qur’an: Ahqaf: 46: 15)


“And they will say: "All praise is due to Allah, who has
guided us unto this; for we would certainly not have
found the right path unless Allah had guided us! Indeed,
our Sustainer's messengers have told us the truth!"
(Qur’an: A’-raf: 7: 43)


“(May) Allah grant His Reward upon Muhammad, salutations
of Allah and Peace be upon him and his family, in accordance
with what he deserves (in Allah’s knowledge & estimation).”


All welcome to visit my web-blog:

http://an-naseehah.blogspot.com/
http://introductiontotauhid.blogspot.com/
http://oyoubelievers.blogspot.com/
http://al-amthaal.blogspot.com/
http://zhulkeflee-archive.blogspot.com/
http://criteriaforaholybook-quran.blogspot.com/
http://with-the-truthful.blogspot.com/
http ://muqaddam-nurul.blogspot.com/

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[Slideshare] tazdzkirah-ramadhan-2012 #part 2- standard to be attained in ramadhan - (29-july-2012)

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