Another lovely day

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahim,

Alhamdulillah, once again, Allah gives me chance to live in this beautiful world; today just a wonderful day to me. The sun shine just fine; not too warm, giving me inspirational to keep the pace of "Keep Your Head High, Move Forward, Work Harder". Today I got a personal trainer for my physical fitness. He has arranged for me a 2-weeks weight loss program and to reduce amount of fat. This is not only for my health today, but for the future. He emphasize that we need to develop our muscle strength from now on to reduce the effect of osteoporosis in old days.

So, the program started from yesterday evening which involved jogging and muscle workouts. This is my first time I felt so drained and extremely tired. What would you expect? A non-fit coach potato forced to do some crunches 5 sets non-stop? I find myself vomited. Glad I just ate some cookies; if I had a larger meal...may be all the ingested will come out. But, as for 2012 and for the theme, I try my best to fulfill all the workouts. I have to work harder. I promised myself.

Today (As I'm writing) is a holiday for Federal day (Hari Wilayah) applied to all citizen around Kuala Lumpur. Ah, what a lovely day. I thank Allah for giving me such opportunity to have a good friends that supported me whenever I needed. Okay, I'll stop here for now. I just planned to go to Putra World Trade Center for a Book Fare.

My achievement today:

1. Pray Subh Prayer with Sunnah Fajr (alhamdulillah; may Allah guide me to practice Sunnah)

2. Physical workouts

3. Filled my morning with benefits.

Alhamdulillah!

"Umat Islam Harus Bekerja Hari Ini Mesti Lebih Baik Dari Semalam"

Mata-ne,
(The Humble author)

Wassalam.

The Rawatib Sunnah Prayer

Bismillahirrahmaanirraahim;

Insya-Allah, in this entry I want to share my understanding based on a book which I bought it about 2 years ago! Since I’m not good enough in memorizing I decided to analyze one chapter of the book; with my understanding. This book is entitled ‘Panduan Lengkap Shalat Empat Mazhab’ or can be translated as ‘Concise Guide of Prayers According to the 4 Schools’ which is written by Syaikh Abdul Qadir Ar-Rahbawi. The version of the book may vary; but mine is published by Pustaka Al-Kautsar based in Jakarta.

The chapter that I would to analyze is under the title of: “Rawatib Sunnah Prayers”. Basically, sunnah rawatib is the prayer that are performed before or after a Fardhu Prayer (compulsory prayers); with some explanation that I’m about to discuss. Refer to page 275.

Sunnah Rawatib prayers can be categorized into 2; which is muakkad (strongly recommended, i.e. Rasulullah SAW performed the prayer so often) and ghair muakkad (not strongly recommended as in muakkad, i.e. Rasulullah SAW do perform the prayer but sometime, he did not).

Muakkad prayer: The strongest opinion is consists of 10 raka’at. This include;

• 2 raka’at before Subuh (Fajr prayer)
• 2 raka’at before Zuhr (Noon prayer)
• 2 raka’at after Zuhr
• 2 raka’at after Maghrib (dawn prayer)
• 2 raka’at after Isya’ (Night prayer)

So that’s all make 10 raka’at. Other than listed, are called Mustahabbah (which mean optional; do at your will and rewarded). Next, I would like to explain overall sunnah rawatib prayer that performed by our Prophet Salallahu 'Alaihi wassalam both muakkad and ghair muakkad.

1. Sunnah Fajr: This prayer is perform before the compulsory Subuh prayer. This prayer is the strongest recommended to every Muslim should not miss, because Rasulullah SAW continuously perform Sunnah Fajr throughout his life. [Remember: In Ibadah, we should follow the guidance from Allah and the Sunnah; because Allah is the one who hear our dua'; He is the one who accept our Ibadah; and we must do as His commanded upon us, not fabricating our own Ibadah.] From Ummul mukminin, Aishah radiallahuanha reported that, from Rasulullah SAW he said, {"Those two raka'at (sunnah fajr) is the more I love than that in the world and all that bear in it".} [Note: Please recheck the translation, I try my best to translate accurately] Hadith Riwayah Ahmad and Muslim.

2. Sunnah Zuhr: Four raka'at before the Zuhr prayer and four raka'at after. This is according to hadith from Ummu Habibah Radiallahuanha; reported that Rasulullah SAW said, {"Whoever that perform 4 raka'at prayer before Zuhr, and another 4 raka'at after; Allah will forbid those (who perform the prayer) from the hellfire"} Hadith Riwayah the five Imams. But as I mention earlier, the muakkad prayer is 2 raka'at before and another 2 after Zuhr. It means, this one is mustahhab (optional) but recommended to do 2 raka'at -Wallahu'alam. This fact can be referred to one of the hadith from Abdullah bin Umar Radiallahuanhuma, he said, "{I memorized from Nabi Salallahu 'Alayhi Wa salam the ten raka'at; two before Zuhr, two after it, 2 after Maghrib, 2 after Isya' and 2 before Subuh" }Hadith Riwayah Al-Bukhari and Ahmad. [Status: Sanad jayyid]. But Hanafiyyah school regarded 4 raka'at before the Zuhr prayer is Muakkad (Strongly recommended). It is up to you which one to choose. As long as we implement sunnah of our beloved Prophet SAW!

3. Sunnah Ashar: This prayer is ghair muakkad. (Can perform at will; and Rasulullah sometime did not perform) This is based from a hadith from Ibnu Umar, he said that Rasulullah SAW said, {"Allah will give blessings for those who perform 4 raka'at prayer before Ashar."} Hadith Riwayah Ahmad, Abu Dawood. [Status: Regarded as Hassan by At-tirmidzi]

4. Sunnah Maghrib: 2 raka'at after Maghrib are muakkad. One of the hadith from Abdullah bin Mughafal al-Muzani Radiallahu anhu, he said, Rasulullah SAW said, {"Do pray before Maghrib 2 raka'at, and 2 raka'at after maghrib for whoever willing to do so. Rasulullah mentioned that so that people would not misunderstand that it is sunnah muakkad"} Hadith Riwayah Asy-Syaikhani, Abu Dawood, and the lafzh (context) is from Abu Dawood.

5. Sunnah Isya': There is no objection among the School of thoughts that sunnah Isya' is muakkad; the 2 raka'at after Isya', but the number of raka'at that is not muakkad is still under debate. I simplify the opinions as listed:

• Hanafiyah: Mustahhab 4 raka'at before and after Isya'. Hanabilah also agreed with this except 2 raka'at after Isya' instead.
• Syafi'iyyah: Mustahhab 2 raka'at before and after Isya'.
• Malikiyyah: They regarded exclusively the sunnah fajr as raghibah (recommended), others are mandub (optional).

End note: I have wrote an entry which list out the hadith that I have searched; but it may some difference regarding the total raka'at which is muakkad whether 12 or 10. But for me, it does not matter. It is up to us to choose which one of the opinion, as long as we try our best to follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW. Allahumma Shalli 'Alaa Muhammad Wa 'Alaa Aalihii Muhammad.

That's all for this topic.

Aquulu qawli hazaa wa astaghfirullah lii walakum;

Wassalaamualaikum.

Today is a new day

Alhamdulillah, Allah swt gives me another opportunity to live in this world; to breath; to gasp the fresh air; to hear the chirping birds in the morning; to give me delicious food; Masya-Allah, what an endless nikma you gave to me. He gave me to straighten my path; to get back in track; to fulfill my ambitious dream; to get it right in all aspect of my life. Today is a big day for me yet a new day for me. To promise myself, I launched a program that aimed for: being a good person, a good friend and good students. All this is for myself. The theme for this year, 2012, I chose: "Keep Your Head High, Move Forward, Work Harder". I hope this may change my lifestyle and turn my self from a passive; pessimistic into an ambitious; workaholic, and enthusiastic person. May Allah guide me.

2011 has passed. With misery and my army had a big loss. But I have promised to myself to brace up, to wake from my ruined pass, whats happen just happen; passed has passed. 2012 is my glorious year for my life ever. From what I learned; those years that I have 'wasted' slowly wreck myself into the unimaginable failure. Thats why I wrote the poem entitle: "Is this the beginning of an end" just to express my regret the things that I've done. Alhamdulillah, I hope my plan work as planned. "we can plan, Allah will decide for us".

Today, I'm writing in a calm morning. The fajr was glitters with the rain drops. The weather is cool; not too hot; nor too cold; giving some motivational inspiration to work hard. Its just a wonderful day. What I promise to myself:

1. To get the 5 prayers done in a day; whatever it takes; the best is jamaa'ah.
2. To make less talkative; because the more you talk the higher possibility to make sin.
3. To be polite; upon everyone
4. To work harder; do not easily give up;
5. To do qiamullail as much as possible; to do the rawatib in every prayers (Insya-Allah)
6. To make an effort not to waste time;
7. To spend time less on social crap; i.e. facebook, etc.

As for now, these instructions I arranged to make myself follow just for today as a start. Further instructions will be announced to myself later. As for catalyzing my progress I bought 2 books from my favourite bookstore, MPH, titled: 'Happiness Genes and '60 quick tips for Getting Organized. I hope this program will continue and the progress will make me a better person and a good Muslim. Ganbate-neh!

Aquulu qawli haza, Wa astaghfirullah lii walakum;
Wassalaamualiakum warahmatullah hiwabarakaatuh.

Sincerely,
(Humble author)

Poem of the day

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF AN END?

After all these years,

I felt like my life is kind of a waste,

I felt like I betrayed myself;

Not to mention peoples around me,

I don’t know how this happening to me,

In everything I do,

I merely never succeed;

Why? Why? Please answer me, please!

If I could undo all the things that I’ve done,

I swear that; I’ll do whatever it takes,

But even my apologies;

Couldn’t repent my deeds, where should I go?

I’m a person with all glorious success, once,

But end up like this; I’m slowly fading away;

I’ve fell; just like the Spanish Saracen faced;

Could I survive this battle?

Why am I doing all wrong?

Why? Why?

It just like a looping tape; playing it over and over again;

Am I born to fail? Fail? What a wasted person…

Please, could someone out there answer me, please!

Help me!

Felt guilty every single time of my life?

When this suffering will come to an end?

This poem (I don't know, a modern poem) I made for myself to repent all my deeds in the past.