Phew..!!... it has been over 3 months since my last postings. No excuses but total laziness. The last quarter months of the Gregorian calender of 2008 have been hectic if you may recall, apart from our daily chores.
Oct 1st. was the Muslim Eidul Fitr 1429H, followed by Hindu's Deepavali or Divali which fell on the 27 Oct. Then came the Eidul Hajj on the 8th.Dec. Yesterday, 22nd.Dec. was the Jewish Hanukkah, the beginning of the 8-day celebration of the Festival of Lights, similar to that of the Divali. A Jewish friend told me that Hanukkah is a Hebrew word meaning 'rededication' which commemorates their victory of their struggles where they rebuild the temples destroyed during their wars with the Greeks. Normally the candle will light and lasted for one day but miraculously it stayed alight for eight days, hence came the name. 25th Dec.will be Christmas and Boxing day aka St.Stephen's day on the following day. Monday 29th.Dec 2008 will be 1st.Muharram 1430H for the Muslims - a great event for all Muslims to ponder and to re-learn the message of Islam.
Whatever one's faith is, the basic teaching is about living peacefully. But everywhere, we hear of troubles, infighting with one another in the name of democracy and liberty. I have often questioned and seeking answers myself, but the more I think about it the more confused I become. At the home-front, my question is: Bukankah kita anak bangsa satu tubuh yang lahir dari ibu pertiwi yang satu. Kita yang santun sudah jadi bingit. Kita yang dulunya rukun kini saling mencurigai antara satu sama lain... Kenapa..!
Every time I have the chance to come home once if not twice every 2 years, memories of the past flashed. Like any 9~10 year-old kid back then, in our tiny village where almost 98% are of Javanese origin, I was excited, thrilled to see my fellow friends (most of them have gone forever now) joining the silat group - a favorite past-time for us kids and teenagers. Most of them will then join the Kuda-kepang group and the Barungan group. Only a few will stay on and become grandmasters themselves. There are many silat centers then. Those that demonstrates kebatinan & magic have a big following. However on my 3rd.night learning the basic steps, my late father found out. He was the masjid-type. He was furious to see me leaping and doing acrobatic moves. When the the tawak & gong beat stopped, he came to me and dragged me by the ears with a simple word: 'Go home!!'. That was it. The rest is history.
From that day on, you can only find me with the older folks at the masjid or at gatherings where the community supplicates to the Glorify Allah. Teachers after teachers have taught me the Quran. My last count was the 4th. - a frail old man whom my father have entrusted me to be a man. Many addressed him as Pak Kyai but he insisted only to be known as Pak Utih - may be its because of his white hair and a little white goatee. Sadly he passed away in the early 80s when I was already in London. Oh...bless his soul!!.. He has always been a gentle, humble and a pleasant man whom I have always regarded as my grandfather. Coincidently, my own grandfather (mum's dad) had his built & physique too. Teaching the Quran was his specialty, not the magic nor the silat. I owed him a lot.
Since his passing, the pesantren is now a shamble from its former glory. The pesantren was about 10 by 10 feet, enough for the 9 of us to be huddled together, learning religious lessons from him. We normally begin our lessons after the afternoon religious schools (compulsory in those days - under the late Cikgu Mohd Yasin). My mother told me since Pak Utih passed away, his two sons and the daughters have moved out of the village. I can still remember when we have to master the Quranic studies and recitals as well as the Zikirs. We have to help him and his family in their daily chores back then; while weekends we have to engage ourselves with the community, for eaxample; clearing the cemetery, making ourselves available in the gotong royong and not forgeting performing the daawah and the usrah too. I was there for about 4 years before I left to stay in a hostel to continue my 4th.Form. By the time I was in Form 5, I was accepted to further my religious studies in a Maahad in Johor Bharu. I opted to sit for my English studies though...otherwise I have been a full-pledge Ustadz..!!. . Regret???... I do'nt think so, for I am not a good person myself...!
I remembered too in between the time and years I was with Pak Utih, my father sent me to Pak Kyai Shamsudin (Mbah to me) - a close relative of my grandfather (my father side) who later became in-laws to my grand-mother on my mum's side, to learn more from him, but I remembered him saying to my father that its enough for the time being that I am to be with Pak Utih., for Pak Utih was his close colleague too. Years later after I have taken a wife, my father took me again to see Pak Kyai to introduce my wife, my late father & mother in-laws to him. Before the day ended, Mbah last words before his passing (in 1997) to me, is still engraved in my heart, among others:
'....Hold on to the Shahadatain. Live and die by it. Kekuatan dan kebahgiaan hanya ada pada agama Allah. Penglihatan melalui mata itu adalah panahan syaitan. Hidup semestinya berantaikan dengan doa yang mustajab dan perlakuan yang luhur sebagaimana Rasulullah yang mesti dicontohi.'
The Hajj pilgrims have just come home. Sacrifice is not about the drop of blood from the sacrificial animal. Allah does not need the blood to prove that we have obeyed HIS commandments..!.. It is the giving or parting of what we love most in this world. Have we carry out and fulfill the trusts given to us from our parents, our society and above all to HIM Al-Mighty. Many leaders entrusted by the people too have abused the trusts, I dare say. They became modern pharaohs, Qarun and tyrants with the powers they have. Oh, how I wish that our leaders are like Abu Bakar As-Siddiq & Umar Al-Khatab, when the former said on his appointment day: "Kalau kau lihat daku benar dalam tugasanku, maka bantulah daku. Kalau kalian lihat aku salah dan menyeleweng dari tugasanku, kalian tegurlah daku". While the latter said: "Ya, aku akan menegurmu dengan pedangku..!! Takbir..!!..
I have only one dream...to fulfill my father's wishes that his grandson or one of his offsprings to be a Hafiz..!! Inshaallah ayah..!!..
Oct 1st. was the Muslim Eidul Fitr 1429H, followed by Hindu's Deepavali or Divali which fell on the 27 Oct. Then came the Eidul Hajj on the 8th.Dec. Yesterday, 22nd.Dec. was the Jewish Hanukkah, the beginning of the 8-day celebration of the Festival of Lights, similar to that of the Divali. A Jewish friend told me that Hanukkah is a Hebrew word meaning 'rededication' which commemorates their victory of their struggles where they rebuild the temples destroyed during their wars with the Greeks. Normally the candle will light and lasted for one day but miraculously it stayed alight for eight days, hence came the name. 25th Dec.will be Christmas and Boxing day aka St.Stephen's day on the following day. Monday 29th.Dec 2008 will be 1st.Muharram 1430H for the Muslims - a great event for all Muslims to ponder and to re-learn the message of Islam.
Whatever one's faith is, the basic teaching is about living peacefully. But everywhere, we hear of troubles, infighting with one another in the name of democracy and liberty. I have often questioned and seeking answers myself, but the more I think about it the more confused I become. At the home-front, my question is: Bukankah kita anak bangsa satu tubuh yang lahir dari ibu pertiwi yang satu. Kita yang santun sudah jadi bingit. Kita yang dulunya rukun kini saling mencurigai antara satu sama lain... Kenapa..!
Every time I have the chance to come home once if not twice every 2 years, memories of the past flashed. Like any 9~10 year-old kid back then, in our tiny village where almost 98% are of Javanese origin, I was excited, thrilled to see my fellow friends (most of them have gone forever now) joining the silat group - a favorite past-time for us kids and teenagers. Most of them will then join the Kuda-kepang group and the Barungan group. Only a few will stay on and become grandmasters themselves. There are many silat centers then. Those that demonstrates kebatinan & magic have a big following. However on my 3rd.night learning the basic steps, my late father found out. He was the masjid-type. He was furious to see me leaping and doing acrobatic moves. When the the tawak & gong beat stopped, he came to me and dragged me by the ears with a simple word: 'Go home!!'. That was it. The rest is history.
From that day on, you can only find me with the older folks at the masjid or at gatherings where the community supplicates to the Glorify Allah. Teachers after teachers have taught me the Quran. My last count was the 4th. - a frail old man whom my father have entrusted me to be a man. Many addressed him as Pak Kyai but he insisted only to be known as Pak Utih - may be its because of his white hair and a little white goatee. Sadly he passed away in the early 80s when I was already in London. Oh...bless his soul!!.. He has always been a gentle, humble and a pleasant man whom I have always regarded as my grandfather. Coincidently, my own grandfather (mum's dad) had his built & physique too. Teaching the Quran was his specialty, not the magic nor the silat. I owed him a lot.
Since his passing, the pesantren is now a shamble from its former glory. The pesantren was about 10 by 10 feet, enough for the 9 of us to be huddled together, learning religious lessons from him. We normally begin our lessons after the afternoon religious schools (compulsory in those days - under the late Cikgu Mohd Yasin). My mother told me since Pak Utih passed away, his two sons and the daughters have moved out of the village. I can still remember when we have to master the Quranic studies and recitals as well as the Zikirs. We have to help him and his family in their daily chores back then; while weekends we have to engage ourselves with the community, for eaxample; clearing the cemetery, making ourselves available in the gotong royong and not forgeting performing the daawah and the usrah too. I was there for about 4 years before I left to stay in a hostel to continue my 4th.Form. By the time I was in Form 5, I was accepted to further my religious studies in a Maahad in Johor Bharu. I opted to sit for my English studies though...otherwise I have been a full-pledge Ustadz..!!. . Regret???... I do'nt think so, for I am not a good person myself...!
I remembered too in between the time and years I was with Pak Utih, my father sent me to Pak Kyai Shamsudin (Mbah to me) - a close relative of my grandfather (my father side) who later became in-laws to my grand-mother on my mum's side, to learn more from him, but I remembered him saying to my father that its enough for the time being that I am to be with Pak Utih., for Pak Utih was his close colleague too. Years later after I have taken a wife, my father took me again to see Pak Kyai to introduce my wife, my late father & mother in-laws to him. Before the day ended, Mbah last words before his passing (in 1997) to me, is still engraved in my heart, among others:
'....Hold on to the Shahadatain. Live and die by it. Kekuatan dan kebahgiaan hanya ada pada agama Allah. Penglihatan melalui mata itu adalah panahan syaitan. Hidup semestinya berantaikan dengan doa yang mustajab dan perlakuan yang luhur sebagaimana Rasulullah yang mesti dicontohi.'
The Hajj pilgrims have just come home. Sacrifice is not about the drop of blood from the sacrificial animal. Allah does not need the blood to prove that we have obeyed HIS commandments..!.. It is the giving or parting of what we love most in this world. Have we carry out and fulfill the trusts given to us from our parents, our society and above all to HIM Al-Mighty. Many leaders entrusted by the people too have abused the trusts, I dare say. They became modern pharaohs, Qarun and tyrants with the powers they have. Oh, how I wish that our leaders are like Abu Bakar As-Siddiq & Umar Al-Khatab, when the former said on his appointment day: "Kalau kau lihat daku benar dalam tugasanku, maka bantulah daku. Kalau kalian lihat aku salah dan menyeleweng dari tugasanku, kalian tegurlah daku". While the latter said: "Ya, aku akan menegurmu dengan pedangku..!! Takbir..!!..
I have only one dream...to fulfill my father's wishes that his grandson or one of his offsprings to be a Hafiz..!! Inshaallah ayah..!!..
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