Simple but full of meanings..
Source : 15Malaysia.com
'Common Mistakes' during holy month
www.thenational.ae
By Rym Ghazal
Sleeping all day, watching too much television and breaking the fast with a cigarette are among the “most common mistakes” that diminish the value of Ramadan for many Muslims, Dubai’s Islamic affairs body says.
As part of its Ramadan package, the website of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department lists 14 examples of behaviour that are typical of many Muslim households during the holy month.
Extravagant iftar tables and the amount of time they demand from the women are at the top of the list.
Even families with modest incomes are expected to produce several dishes that include fresh ingredients, meat and a large choice of desserts and fruit, all beautifully presented.
“A mistake typically committed by women is to waste too much time in food preparation,” it says.
“They focus on making an extravagant quantity and presentation of food and drinks and end up spending their entire day in the kitchen ... forgetting to spend time in prayer and contemplation.”
Six of the 14 mistakes specifically concern women, mainly reminding them to devote more time to prayer and to refrain from wearing too much perfume and make-up and from mixing with men when they join their families at the mosque.
“Such behaviour may distract others from worship,” it says.
Religious authorities have several times expressed concern about what they have described as seemingly diminished piety among women. Over the past year there have been campaigns to recruit female Emiratis and train them as religious advisers for other women.There has also been an unprecedented effort to recruit and train women as muftis, with the same responsibilities as their male counterparts.
According to the department, among the complaints commonly heard about women is that they “use too many excuses to get out of their religious obligations”.
“Women should not overuse the excuse of menstruation and miss out on all kinds of worship and prayers that should be made during Ramadan,” it says.
Menstruating women are exempt from daily prayers, but not from other forms of worship.Sloth also features prominently. Habits such as sleeping all day and watching popular Ramadan programmes on television all evening – a habit for many households during the holy month – were particularly highlighted.
“It is unfortunate that many Muslims end up with these distractions, losing reward and benefit for their fast,” says the department.
Forgetting to make duaa (prayer) as the fast is broken, taking too long breaking the fast or breaking it with a cigarette were not condoned, especially the last.
“This is a very major mistake,” it says. “Ramadan should be taken as an opportunity to quit this habit permanently.”
According to some jurists, tobacco products are completely forbidden for Muslims because of their harm to health.
Last year, the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments issued an unprecedented fatwa that said smoking in a public place was also forbidden because second-hand smoke was harmful to others.However, one of the most popular activities during Ramadan is to gather after iftar to smoke shisha well into the night.The air inside many iftar tents resembles a cloud of smoke in the hours leading up to sohour as many establishments allow shisha, cigars, pipes and cigarettes.
Other mistakes listed include the tendency for fasting Muslims to focus only on abstaining from food, drink and sexual contact, but continuing to indulge in gossip, slander and cursing, which can render the fast void.
Parents are also reminded to allow their children to fast once they reach puberty. Many parents discourage their prepubescent offspring from joining in the rituals and traditions of Ramadan.
Shoppers are not left off the list, which reminds Muslims to avoid spending too long in the shops, especially during the last 10 days of Ramadan, which are considered to be the holiest. Many people go shopping in preparation for Eid, buying new things for themselves and others, including expensive items such as cars and houses.Instead, says the department, they should spend more time in worship and devotion, following in the footstep of the Prophet Mohammed.
“This is how to make the most of the month of Ramadan.”
Harapan Ramadhan
Ku Mengharapkan RamadhanKali Ini Penuh MaknaAgar dapat KulaluiDengan SempurnaSelangkah Demi SelangkahSetahun Sudah Pun BerlaluMasa Yang Pantas BerlaluHingga Tak Terasa Ku BeradaDi Bulan Ramadhan SemulaPuasa Satu AmalanSebagaimana Yang Diperintah NyaMoga Dapat Ku LenturkanNafsu Yang Selalu Membelenggu DiriTiada Henti-HentiTak Ingin Ku Biarkan Ramadhan Berlalu SajaTuhan Pimpinlah Daku Yang LemahMengharungiSegalanya Dengan SabarKita Memohon Pada Tuhan DiberikanKekuatanKu Merayu Pada Tuhan Diterima AmalanSelangkah Demi Selangkah...DenganRahmatMu Oh Tuhanku...Ku Tempuh Jua
AirAsia X Sees Mutual Benefit in Links with UAE’s Budget Airlines
(I should have posted this article earlier. It's the talk of the month among malaysian in UAE. Heard its gonna start flying to Abu Dhabi this november. Finally, balik kampung wouldn't be so much cheaper starting next year. Yieehaa! )
Source : Khaleejtimes.com
by Bruce Stanley
06/08/09
Source : Khaleejtimes.comby Bruce Stanley
06/08/09
DUBAI — Long-distance budget carrier AirAsia X considers low-cost airlines based in the Gulf to be its allies, not rivals, as it prepares to launch flights in October between Malaysia and the UAE, the company’s chief said on Wednesday.
Local low-cost carriers such as Air Arabia and flydubai can supply AirAsia X with passenger traffic from cities they serve in the region. In turn, AirAsia X can provide traffic to these UAE-based carriers from the long-haul flights it plans to operate to Abu Dhabi International Airport, AirAsia X Chief Executive Officer Azran Osman-Rani said in a telephone interview.
After starting service to Abu Dhabi from Kuala Lumpur this fall, AirAsia X plans next year to make Abu Dhabi a regional hub for onward flights to cities in Europe, Africa, and central Asia. Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Bhd., which owns part of AirAsia X, confirmed these plans on Tuesday.
“We welcome them,” said Mohammed Al Bulooki, Vice President for airline marketing and aeronautical revenue at Abu Dhabi Airport Company. Al Balooki added that his company, which operates the Abu Dhabi International Airport, had yet to receive a formal letter of intent from AirAsia X.
Osman-Rani believes that Sharjah-based Air Arabia and Dubai’s flydubai can be de facto feeder airlines for AirAsia X in Abu Dhabi, just as Europe’s no-frills Ryanair and easyjet fill this role for AirAsia X’s flights to and from London. Without such complimentary traffic in the Middle East, AirAsia X would be unable to tap markets in Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region, he said.
AirAsia X selected Abu Dhabi as a destination and a hub partly because of the emirate’s commitment to develop its airport as an international gateway. Abu Dhabi also offers a better customer catchment area than Sharjah, and airline competition in Abu Dhabi is less intensive than in Dubai, Osman-Rani said.
Both Emirates Airline and Malaysia Airlines fly between Dubai and KualaLumpur, whereas in Abu Dhabi, AirAsia X will have to compete only with Etihad Airways, he said.
AirAsia X, launched in January 2007, posted its first monthly profit in December 2008. For the first half of 2009, Osman-Rani said that the carrier has managed “to keep our heads above water, which is more than you can say about a lot of other airlines.”
AirAsia X is owned partly by Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd., one of the most successful no-frills carriers flying short, regional routes.
Local low-cost carriers such as Air Arabia and flydubai can supply AirAsia X with passenger traffic from cities they serve in the region. In turn, AirAsia X can provide traffic to these UAE-based carriers from the long-haul flights it plans to operate to Abu Dhabi International Airport, AirAsia X Chief Executive Officer Azran Osman-Rani said in a telephone interview.
After starting service to Abu Dhabi from Kuala Lumpur this fall, AirAsia X plans next year to make Abu Dhabi a regional hub for onward flights to cities in Europe, Africa, and central Asia. Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Bhd., which owns part of AirAsia X, confirmed these plans on Tuesday.
“We welcome them,” said Mohammed Al Bulooki, Vice President for airline marketing and aeronautical revenue at Abu Dhabi Airport Company. Al Balooki added that his company, which operates the Abu Dhabi International Airport, had yet to receive a formal letter of intent from AirAsia X.
Osman-Rani believes that Sharjah-based Air Arabia and Dubai’s flydubai can be de facto feeder airlines for AirAsia X in Abu Dhabi, just as Europe’s no-frills Ryanair and easyjet fill this role for AirAsia X’s flights to and from London. Without such complimentary traffic in the Middle East, AirAsia X would be unable to tap markets in Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region, he said.
AirAsia X selected Abu Dhabi as a destination and a hub partly because of the emirate’s commitment to develop its airport as an international gateway. Abu Dhabi also offers a better customer catchment area than Sharjah, and airline competition in Abu Dhabi is less intensive than in Dubai, Osman-Rani said.
Both Emirates Airline and Malaysia Airlines fly between Dubai and KualaLumpur, whereas in Abu Dhabi, AirAsia X will have to compete only with Etihad Airways, he said.
AirAsia X, launched in January 2007, posted its first monthly profit in December 2008. For the first half of 2009, Osman-Rani said that the carrier has managed “to keep our heads above water, which is more than you can say about a lot of other airlines.”
AirAsia X is owned partly by Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd., one of the most successful no-frills carriers flying short, regional routes.
Da'wah through Comedy
I never thought that Islam can be spread through comedy.
This person, Azhar Usman really opened my mind to be creative in spreading Islam.
Bil hikmah means a lot to people, and i think this guys touches the hearts of non muslim with his islamic comedy..
By the way, if we think that his method was not according to islamic principle, i think we should asked ourself several questions,
Wallahu a'lam
This person, Azhar Usman really opened my mind to be creative in spreading Islam.
Bil hikmah means a lot to people, and i think this guys touches the hearts of non muslim with his islamic comedy..
By the way, if we think that his method was not according to islamic principle, i think we should asked ourself several questions,
"Do we have an effort to spread the islamic message to non muslim?
"Any initiative we made to our non muslim colleague to make them understand the true teachings of Islam?
" Any of non muslim guys have been conveted to Muslims through our da'wah efforts?
"Do we really take any action to spread Islam to people around us, regardless of his/her religion?
Wallahu a'lam
Ramadhan : Bersediakah kita ?
Minggu lepas saya sempat menghadiri jemputan daripada Kedutaan Malaysia di Abu Dhabi untuk mengadakan majlis memperingati nisfu syaaban.
Saya diminta untuk mengimami solat maghrib, memimpin bacaan yasin dan memberi sedikit tazkirah berkenaan nisfu syaaban.
Alhamdulillah, ini merupakan satu 'milestone dakwah' dalam kehidupan saya kerana inilah kali pertama tazkirah saya berkumandang di kedutaan embassy abu dhabi. Sesungguhnya kesyukuran dipanjatkan kepada Allah Taala atas peluang yang diberikan. Mudah-mudahan itu bukan kali pertama dan terakhir tazkirah berkumandang di kedutaan Malaysia di sini.
Nisfu syaaban signal kepada Ramadhan
Ramai umat islam menyambut nisfu syaaban dengan mengadakan ibadah-ibadah sunat yang tertentu seperti solat raghaib, bacaan yasin 3 kali (diselangi dengan doa-doa tertentu), berkumpul di malam nisfu syaaban dan sebagainya. Amalan ini sangat popular khususnya di kalangan penduduk nusantara, dan juga sebahagian di Yaman.
Antara hadis shahih yang boleh kita pegang dalam perihal nisfu syaaban,
“Allah melihat kepada hamba-hamba-Nya pada malam Nisfu Syaaban, maka Dia ampuni semua hamba-hambaNya kecuali musyrik (orang yang syirik) dan yang bermusuh (orang benci membenci)"
(Riwayat Ibn Hibban, al-Bazzar dan lain-lain).
Persoalannya, seperti mana seorang ayah dan ibu membuat persiapan untuk menyambut kegembiraan (baca : anak) dalam keluarga, adakah kita sudah membuat persiapan yang secukupnya untuk menyambut kegembiraan (baca : ramadhan) untuk kita yang hanya datang setahun sekali??
Madrasah Ramadhan mendidik jiwa
Acapkali kita mendengar Firman Allah ini setiap kali datang ramadhan,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَHai orang orang yang beriman, diwajibkan atas kamu berpuasa sebagaimana diwajibkan ke atas orang orang sebelum kamu, agar kamu bertaqwa.(al-baqarah, 183)
Juga, hadis daripada nabi s.a.w. ,
مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيْمَاناً وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِSesiapa yang menghidupkan bulan Ramadan dengan penuh keimanan dan mengharapkan ganjaran pahala daripada Allah, maka diampunkan bagi-nya dosa-dosa yang telah lalu."
(riwayat Bukhari & Muslim)
Bulan ramadhan inilah menjadi bulan muhasabah bagi kita menghitung perbuatan diri masing-masing. Jadikanlah madrasah tahunan ramadhan ini sebagai satu medan untuk memperbaiki segala amalan yang kita lakukan. Sebagaimana sebuah kilang memerlukan 'shutdown operation' untuk melakukan 'maintenance' kepada setiap peralatan yang terdapat di dalam kilang tersebut, begitu jua lah konsep yang kita boleh terapkan apabila tibanya ramadhan dalam kehidupan. Biarlah ramadhan menjadi bulan 'maintenance' untuk kita membersihkan daki- daki kekotoran penyakit rohani dan jasmani yang melekat pada kita.
Sabda rasulullah s.a.w.
Sabda rasulullah s.a.w.
رَمَضَانَ اَوَلُّهُ رَحْمَةٌ اَوْسَطَهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ
Pada ramadhan itu, di awalnya rahmat, dipertengahannya keampunan dan di akhirnya dijauhkan dari api neraka.
Persiapan menyambut ramadhan
Jadikanlah syaaban kita ini bulan persediaan untuk menyambut ramadhan. Persiapan yang dimaksudkan itu termasuklah :
i. Persiapan Ruhiyyah - Bepuasa sunat, solat sunat, qiamullail, membaca Al-Quran, zikrullah dsb.
ii. Persiapan Fikriyyah - mengulangkaji perihal puasa, memahami feqah puasa, mengulangkaji surah-surah yang telah dihafal
iii.Persiapan Jasmaniyah - menjaga kesihatan badan, mengatur masa tidur dan rehat yang secukupnya.
iv.Persiapan mental - bertekad untuk menjauhkan diri dari dosa, berniat untuk beramal soleh di bulan ramadhan, memasak tekad untuk melakukan ketaatan di bulan ramadhan
v.Persiapan material- bersedia untukmemperbanyakkan infaqke jalan perjuangan islam, melangsaikan zakat.
Mudah-mudahan ramadhan tahun ini akan meningkatkan amal islami, menaiktaraf keazaman untuk perjuangan islam, membersihkan kekotoran jiwa dan menjana kekuatan taqwa dan iltizam untuk lebih dekat pada Allah Taala.
Jadikanlah syaaban kita ini bulan persediaan untuk menyambut ramadhan. Persiapan yang dimaksudkan itu termasuklah :
i. Persiapan Ruhiyyah - Bepuasa sunat, solat sunat, qiamullail, membaca Al-Quran, zikrullah dsb.
ii. Persiapan Fikriyyah - mengulangkaji perihal puasa, memahami feqah puasa, mengulangkaji surah-surah yang telah dihafal
iii.Persiapan Jasmaniyah - menjaga kesihatan badan, mengatur masa tidur dan rehat yang secukupnya.
iv.Persiapan mental - bertekad untuk menjauhkan diri dari dosa, berniat untuk beramal soleh di bulan ramadhan, memasak tekad untuk melakukan ketaatan di bulan ramadhan
v.Persiapan material- bersedia untukmemperbanyakkan infaqke jalan perjuangan islam, melangsaikan zakat.
Mudah-mudahan ramadhan tahun ini akan meningkatkan amal islami, menaiktaraf keazaman untuk perjuangan islam, membersihkan kekotoran jiwa dan menjana kekuatan taqwa dan iltizam untuk lebih dekat pada Allah Taala.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانٍ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ
“Ya Allah berkatilah hidup kami di bulan Rajab dan Sya'ban dan sampaikanlah usia kami hingga bulan ramadhan”.
“Ya Allah berkatilah hidup kami di bulan Rajab dan Sya'ban dan sampaikanlah usia kami hingga bulan ramadhan”.
Catatan Abu Umar
11 August 2009 / 20 syaaban 1430
Abu Dhabi
11 August 2009 / 20 syaaban 1430
Abu Dhabi
face off
Lama dah tak masukkan entri dalam blog ini.
Sibuk? buat buat sibuk ada lah..
bukan apa, cuma mood untuk masukkan entri dalam blog dah kurang.
untuk naikkan kembali semangat, saya buat 'web surgery' kepada penampilan blog.
harap matlamat asal berblogging tidak luntur daripada sanubari.
Sibuk? buat buat sibuk ada lah..
bukan apa, cuma mood untuk masukkan entri dalam blog dah kurang.
untuk naikkan kembali semangat, saya buat 'web surgery' kepada penampilan blog.
harap matlamat asal berblogging tidak luntur daripada sanubari.
