Maulidur Rasul 1435H

Happy Maulidur Rasul 1435H Celebration to all Muslim in the world. Today, is the birthday celebration of our beloved and the last prophet, Nabi Muhammad (pbuh). The birth day of the prophet has been debated and there exist 2 opinions regarding whether it is on 9th Rabiulawal or 12th Rabiulawal, but it is apparent that Nabi Muhammad was born on Monday morning in the year of elephant. The year had been known as the year of elephant as Makkah at the time was attack by Abrahah, a warlord from Yaman who wants to destroy the Kaabah. War Elephants were the fearsome traits of Abrahah's army and none can stop them for reaching Kaabah. Nevertheless, the attack of Makkah ended up in failure when Allah sent a flock of bird named Ababil and hailed them with a small heated rock. The people of Makkah never witness an Elephant before, thus commemorate the event in the name of year. This is the year where Nabi Muhammad was born.

Nabi Muhammad receiving his first revelation as a Prophet on 17th Ramadhan 40 years later, sending by Allah through Angel Jibrail. And through the second revelation, he is elevated as Messenger and has a responsibility to spread the word of god, not only to the pagan Makkah, but to all people in the world. The propagation of Islam at that time is hard and met with many resistances by pagan in Makkah, and after 13 years, the time had finally comes of the Hijrah, where Prophet and the Muslims from Makkah migrated to Yathrib. Yathrib at the time is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society where the pagan consist of Aus and Khazraj tribes, and there were also Jews community of Qainuqa, Quraiza, and Nadhir tribes. Propagation of Islam in Yathrib is a successful one. The name Yathrib was change into Madinah Al-Munawarah (please use Makkah and Madinah to refer to these cities and not Mecca or Medina). After 23 years as a prophet, the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died in Madinah.

The birthday celebration of the Prophet, also known as Maulud Nabi, is to commemorate and as a remembrance for us to the Prophet Muhammad. As his followers, we need to have love and passion to him and what he has gone through for us today to receiving Islam. And there also several faction in Islam who against the celebration. But, for what? It is true that the Prophet himself does not celebrate it, but this is the symbolic gesture of love and compassion that we have and also a remembrance to our beloved prophet. If not, then on what day and at what time that we are going to specifically remembers our prophet history? Everyday? In form of what? It is true that one of the way of showing our love to our prophet is through implementing his way of life in our daily life, but it is not everyday that we can actually hears regarding our Prophet history except during his birthday.

And, this is a good opportunity for me to stated my dissatisfaction towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia especially towards their attitude of Islam's historical sites and artifact. Many of those places that had been commemorated in the hadith and even a very important places in Islam had been destroyed. Muslims had always been remembered of how the third holy land, the Masjid Al-Aqsa is badly treated by the Zionist, we have lost touched of our historical sites in Makkah and Madinah. A prime example is just like the picture below.

Yes, this is the house of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) where he lived in Makkah. Such important historical sites had been lost. Not to mention the Zam Zam well (which had been buried on the top), and also the three wells in Madinah located in the land of his companion where he love to drink the water (also been buried). And, also include is the place where Abu Bakar was first proclaim as the First Caliph of Islam. I'm feared if this continues, Islam will be nothing more that ritual religion and when we going to take a peek of our historical sites in Islam, we can no longer witness it. Perhaps, the last surviving historical sites in Islam would be the Prophet tomb itself. (And I don't know how long would it last.).

The Masjid Nabawi. The tomb of Prophet Muhammad located beneath the green dome

For now, I would say that many muslims nowadays have neither witness nor see how the tomb of our beloved prophet looks likes. Its so sad isn't it?

The sealed door to the Prophet Muhammad tomb. No one has ever entered the door for decades.
Here lies Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Khalifah Abu Bakr and Khalifah Umar

Cross section of how Prophet Muhammad tomb looks like

Happy Maulidur Rasul 1435H.

The word Allah ; Between Islam and Christian

The difference of opinions between the Catholic Church in Selangor and the State of Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor, JAIS) have entered a new chapter today after the Islamic Department have raided the Bible Society of Malaysia, where 300 copies of the Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia and iban were seized. The Church and the State's JAIS have been at odd especially regarding the question whether the Catholic Church in Malaysia could used the word 'Allah' to refer to the word God in the Malay translation of the Bible. The Catholic Church had contested this in court and won a High Court decision in 2009, upholding its constitutional rights to do so. Putrajaya later appealed the decision and successfully overturned the earlier decision when the Court of Appeal ruled in October 2013 that 'Allah was not integral to the Christian faith'.

HRH the Sultan of Selangor is the Head of Islam in Selangor

In the Federation, the power of Islamic Affairs are in the hand of the States. 9 of them which have hereditary rulers, also known as 'the Malay States' have separate Islamic Religious Councils and Departments, including having each Monarch as the State's Head of Islam. In the case of Selangor, the Sultan of Selangor, His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has also stated that the word 'Allah' are exclusive to Muslims and the other religions are prohibited to use it. One of the Catholic Priest in the State, Father Lawrence Andrew, openly against it and stated that all catholic churches in the State will used the word 'Allah' in their weekend services in Bahasa Malaysia, primarily attended by Sabahan and Sarawakian.

The question that usually arise is what authority that the Islamic Department has to prevent the other religion to use the word 'Allah'. The answer is simple, because the State Constitution has already been enacted about it by the previous BN government, and the State Islamic Council has the jurisdiction regarding the Islamic Affairs, as well as the other religious affairs in the State by the State's Selangor Non-Islamic Religion (Control of Propagation among Muslims) enactment 1988. Among the words and phrases that prohibits non-muslims to used in the State includes 'Allah', 'Nabi', 'Injil' and 'In Shaa Allah'.

JAIS, the Islamic religious affairs of Selangor

Personal opinion

It is more prudent for the other non-islamic religion to comply with the ruling regarding these issues. It is a sensitives issues I agreed and cannot be openly discussed. And among the Federation most prominent Ulama', among others Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat also against it (even though in favour of it earlier). And personally, I too feels there is the need to neglect the confusion between these two religions.

Nevertheless, I have in the past having professional discussion with one of my Iban friend regarding the matter, and both of us actually understand the problem that we face. But what he has stated also acted as the eye-opener for me, "Only those who doesn't read Al-Quran would have confused between the verses of Al-Quran and Al-Kitab". Previously, I too have been encouraged by one of the Ulama' in Malaysia to read an Al-Quran which have both Arabic and Malay Translation every time reading it, and now I see why.

Ijtimak Malaysia 2012

The Ijtimak Malaysia 2012 is held again where the last time it is held was in 2009. The word Ijtimak literally means assembly, but for the Elders from Nidzamuddin, the word Ijtimak refers to an assembly to unite the thoughts and concerns of the all Muslims to persuade and realize the Muslims of their responsibilities as the follower of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to their religion and as the Caliph of Allah in the face of the earth, propagating the word and teachings of Allah to the whole world. From 19 - 21st May 2012, the first session of Ijtimak Malaysia was held in Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

This year Ijtimak Malaysia 2012 is differs to that of 2009, where it will be separated into 13 sessions and will be held in 13 different places throughout Malaysia due to cost constraint and limited open-space area available. In 2009, it was centered in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan where almost 200,000 Muslims gather from all around the world and was attended by the Nidzamuddin's Elders such as Maulana Saad and Maulana Zubair.

The Ijtimak is held in the place as follows and up until this article was post, the event is still take place.

First session (19 - 21 May 2012)(ended)

Venue : Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling

Area : Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Jamaah formed : +/- 250 jamaahs.

Second session (22 - 24 May 2012)(ended)

Venue : Masjid Daerah Perak Tengah, Seri Iskandar

Area : Perak

Jamaah formed : *

Third session (25 - 27 May 2012)(ended)

Venue : Masjid Daerah Barat Daya, Balik Pulau

Area : Pulau Pinang

Jamaah formed : *

Fourth session (28 - 30 May 2012)(on-going)

Venue : Masjid An Nur, Pokok Sena, Kedah.

Area : Kedah & Perlis

Jamaah formed : *

Fifth session (31st May - 2nd June 2012)

Venue : Madrasah Darululoom Addeeniyyah, Kg. Apa Apa, Pasir Mas.

Area : Kelantan

Jamaah formed : *

Sixth session (3 - 5 June 2012)

Venue : Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Quran, Kubang Bujuk, Kuala Terengganu.

Area : Terengganu

Jamaah formed : *

Seventh session (6 - 8 June 2012)

Venue : Masjid Mat Kilau, Jalan Gambang, Kuantan

Area : Pahang

Jamaah formed : *

Eighth session (9 - 11 June 2012)

Venue : Masjid Tuanku Muhriz, Bandar Seri Jempol.

Area : Melaka & Negeri Sembilan

Jamaah formed : *

Ninth session (12 - 14 June 2012)

Venue : Madrasah Tahfiz Sinaran Baru, Kg. Sinaran Baru, Kempas Lama.

Area : Johor & Singapura

Jamaah formed : *

Tenth session (15 - 17 June 2012)

Venue : Surau Darul Muttaqin, Taman Lavender, Kuching.

Area : Sarawak (Kuching - Sibu)

Jamaah formed : *

Eleventh session (18 - 20 June 2012)

Venue : Masjid An-Na'im, Lutong, Miri.

Area : Sarawak (Bintulu - Miri) & Brunei Darussalam

Jamaah formed : *

Twelfth session (21 - 23 June 2012)

Venue : Masjid Hj. Akbar Khan, Kg. Bingkul, Beaufort.

Area : Sabah Western Coast

Jamaah formed : *

Thirteenth session (24 - 26 June 2012)

Venue : Masjid Nur Iman, Sapagaya, Lahad Datu

Area : Sabah Eastern Coast

Jamaah formed : *