Absolute Truth

Few months ago, there was a small reunion of my old friends. Alhamdullilah, I was able to attend that reunion. Everyone is updating the others of the latest stories of their lives. I just want to share a little story here.

One of my friends (a Nigerian guy) , he was the appointed as the Imam of one of the mosques in Makkah, the place where we lived. In one night, after Isha’ prayer, one of old people came to my friend and asked him: “Do you study Qur’an under an Egyptian Sheikh?” My friend replied: “No. But why do you ask?” The old man said: “Because when you recite the Qur’an, you take proper care of every single letter you pronounce. It sounds like how the recitation of Egyptian sheikhs.” My friend said with a smile: “As I told you, I didn’t study with an Egyptian. But the one who taught me studied with one of the famous Egyptian sheikhs.”

I really miss him…someone whom I used to see every day for more than three years. And now, it’s been five years and I’ve seen him or even heard his voice. Wait, the last statement is incorrect. I can hear his voice. And so are you, the following is his recitation of verse number 9 in Surat al Hijr.

There are more than 6000 verses in the Holy Qur'an, but why did I choose to share this verse here? Because it is related to our topic. “Verily, We, it is we who sent down the Qur’an and surely, we will guard it.” How? My friend’s recitation is a reflection of the recitation of our Sheikh. And our Sheikh’s recitation reflects the recitation of his Egyptian sheikh. And the chain continues so on and so forth, until it reaches the recitation of the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them), and to the recitation of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)...

The Beauty of Nature

"Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.

Those who remember Allah always, and in prayers standing, sitting and lying down on their sides, and think deeply in the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying: “Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation of the torment of Fire."

Al-‘Imran, 190-191

Farewell my student

“According to his teachers, he was a very naughty student, impolite, with no manners. But for last couple of weeks, he changed to a different person, always behaves in the class, never quarrel with his friends, and follows what the teachers say all the time. Lately, he went for the karate centralized grading and obtained the purple belt.

He participated in an event called fighterX and fought well for the very first time. Although he didn’t win anything, he showed an improvement in his skills. After he fought his last match, I praised him for his effort as he tried his best.

After the event finished, on the way back to the school, he was riding the bus with me. Then he said: “Remember sensei, I fought well and you praised me for that. I did my best for you. Today, I fought for you sensei. Remember that!” I said: “Very well. I will never forget it.” 

After two weeks, one of the school teachers called me. “…I am serious in what I am about to tell you. That student is not there anymore.” I asked:”What do you mean?” The teacher answered:”Last week, in the school trip to Batu Caves, he passed away after he was forced to climb the stairs.”

Everything happened so fast. I didn’t think that my last moment with him was in that bus. I didn’t know that our conversation in that bus was our last.

As time passed, everyone begin to forget about this student. Yet, after one month and a half, I received my text message from his mother. “Sensei, is there anything that my son didn’t pay to you?” Although it was a text message, I felt her sadness within those words. My reply was: “No ma’am. May he rest in peace. Thanks.”

This is a true story, and he was one of my sensei’s students.

Degradation of Generations

If you live long enough, then you can see this everywhere. As time passes, the human race goes from good to bad, and then from bad to worse. To illustrate this, compare yourself to your dad when he was at your age. Your dad will win the comparison. Compare any child nowadays to yourself when you were a child. You will win the comparison.

Alhamdulillah, I’ve many siblings and I am destined to be in the middle of them. I was in the middle point between two generations: My elder siblings’ generation 70-80’s and my younger siblings’ generation 90’s. Good for me, as I was brought up, I got influenced by the first group.

To illustrate more, I will use almost the same previous example. I compare myself to my eldest brother when he was at my age. At that time, he already finished his diploma, has a full time job and owns a car. But me, I am still in my final year of my degree, have a part time job, and use public transport. Tell me now who is better, who is more matured, who is more independent.

Again, when I compare my youngest sisters to myself when I was at her age, I see the huge difference. Even when I was at her age, I had to struggle and do something to get anything I want. I didn’t even have my own cell phone when I was in high school. I thought of it, why should I spend my money on a cell phone since it is prohibited in my school? Ten years later and here is my sister. She can get anything she wants within one day with the crying of one hour. She is still in primary school, but already had a blackberry, and all other things. I am not jealous of her. On the contrary, I am grateful that I was not spoon fed like her, which made her not grateful and appreciative for things around her.

It was narrated that the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said "The best of people are the people of my century, then the following century, then the following century." From here, generally speaking, you can see the degradation of the humankind as time passes. 

Speaking about my hobby and passion: Karate, I wish I was born in earlier generation. When I see my sensei, how superb he was when he was at my age, or my belt. In his times, people were different. They were tougher, more determinant, and had stronger willpower. However, mere wishes are useless if you do not work to materialize them. So, I will end up this post here and go for extra training!