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Saturday, 31 October 2009

The Pitfalls of Travel

The journey home today proved to be one of fits and starts, but in the end I made it. We were up at the prescribed hour, 04-00, and not surprisingly Ille had the breakfast and coffee ready in super quick time. The taxi also arrive on the dot of 5a.m. and by 05-30 we had said our good-byes and I was clear of security. The small turbo prop job taking us the 20minute hope to Helsinki was also prompt, but that was when we hit the first snag. The Pilot reported he had an indication of failure on his equipment, and had to head back to the stand but before arrival things got back to normal. An uneventful flight, transfer and loading into the Airbus 320 that was to bring us back to Heathrow and Herkko had done particularly well as I was in the front row of toe-rag class (row 6) and in an aisle seat, almost poll position you might say! Perfect you may think, but we were put on hold for 15 minutes, circling above Staines, then when we got to the 'stand' the damned 'air bridge' failed. So, we now had to disembark from the aft steps meaning those who might have got off first, myself included, now got off last. It was rapidly approaching 10.00 the time of my National Express and it seemed like 10,000 people at passport control, but in the end I made it with 5 minutes to spare. The driver was quick away, and after his safety announcement, let it be known that there had been a bad accident on the M3 and he would be taking an alternative route via Farnborough. This also didn't come to pass as the matrix had been cleared so we continued down the Motorway, only to find there had been another more recent crash which we got a grandstand view of and was not a pretty picture. However, we got to Poole on time, where I decided to hasten the last part of the journey by getting the train. ELEVEN QUID! Yes £11 Poole to Weymouth, makes you wonder why people aren't using the trains. Anyway, I was back on familiar soil, and after a lamb shoulder in JD's it was home. An early night for this lad, in the hope that predicted rain keeps at bay and I get some birding in tomorrow. So, till then, here are a few more photies from yesterday.

Ille with the roast nut girls

Looks like I've got to take 2 of them to dinner

Josephine's Chocolate Cafe

Look at that lump of 'Porter' chocolate cake!!

A drop more water with I think

Here are some of the outstanding photographs from Thursday when, in quite cold conditions, we walked along the sea wall overlooking the Gulf of Finland. Later we warmed up with soup in a Mexican restaurant.

Tallinn Old City

Male Goldeneye
Male Wigeon
Male Wigeon probably juvenile moulting

2 of the ferries that ply between Tallinn and Helsinki

Male Mallard

Friday, 30 October 2009

Good-bye Estonia (For Now)

It has been a fantastic 10 days, but tomorrow I'm up at 04-00 for a 5 'o' clock taxi ride to the airport. I've suggested a large coffee and no breakfast so I may just get away with the 'half dozen' with soldiers and get a bit of snap on the kite. 06-15 from Tallinn gets me to Helsinki at 06-50, the 08-00 should arrive Heathrow 09-10 and all being well I should get the 10-00 National Express and arrive Weymouth 14-50. This will be just in time for a lamb shoulder at JD Weatherspoon's before returning to the hacienda.

We have spent our last, sunny, day wandering the streets and alleyways of the olde town and spent more than a little time in Josephine's, the sister cafe to Chocolate de Pierre. Under duel ownership the fare is similar, but we stuck to hot chocolate, which i have waxed lyrical about before, but could not resist the temptation of a shared 'Porter' cube of rich chocolate cake - yum, yum. Then I remembered Andy Lindsay's bizarre idea of complimenting such delicacies with a drop of decent whiskey, and pain me as it does, i have to agree with him. Two large Tullamore Dews did the trick, and if this isn't the way to spend a Friday afternoon, prey enlighten me! After, we had to rendezvous with Herkko who had both checked me in and printed my boarding cards. Whoever came up with this idea deserves a kiss, as I used to benefit tremendously in my rig days, but now travelling is so much more important, it's an absolute boon.

So, looks like an early night, OK dear I'm on my way! Talk again Manana!

From your 'egg-bound' correspondent in Eastern Europe - Head Ööd

Thursday, 29 October 2009

Another 'First' and Maybe Another One to Come!

Any day I discover something 'new' is in my book a great day. Preferably a bird, but mammal, food, wine, music, everything is in the frame! A slow wake up to a possibly cold day, but by the look of it little prospect of rain. Reduced to just 4 eggs was a bonus to start with, and after we headed for the Tallinn harbour and sea wall. Before even catching a glimpse of the sea Greenfinch entered the log as an Estonian tick, as did Raven immediately we hit the foreshore. We were now out of the lee, and despite the wind speed being less than 20 knots, it was from the north east making for a cold day via wind chill. The beach was strewn with Hooded Crow, Black-headed Gull and L argentatus, but up ahead looked promising with good numbers of Duck not too far out to sea. These proved to be a few Mallard, a single Gadwall, dozens of Wigeon and hundreds of Goldeneye mostly males. However, that was as good as it got, and in some quarters the temperature was taking its toll so we decanted to a nearby Mexican restaurant where we met up with Herkko and had a bowl of soup.

After this short repast the 3 of us headed back to Ille's apartment where I had been promised a surprise. On arrival they both set about laying the table, and I have to admit to thinking "oh no not more food", It was, but only a small amount as they gave me a small taste of one of their Christmas treats, Lamprey! Caught in the river which forms the border between Russia, these elongated fish with that strange mouth sucker, is considered a delicacy and commands a price up there with caviar. Marinaded and immersed in a jar of aspic, Ille informed me that she keeps one jar strictly for herself on Christmas Day, which hereabouts is December 24th, and eats them in traditional style, with a tot or 2 of Ukraine vodka. This was the way we ate them this afternoon and I have to say, most enjoyable in addition to being a 'first'. During this treat I was also told about Vodka Socks. Yes, I was equally intrigued! Well, it seems if you get anything from diphtheria to an ingrowing toe nail, you immediately eliminate the local GP and stick ya woolies in a jar of Vodka. When they are completely soaked you slip them on and when you wake up in the morning, Hey Presto you attain the same status as Lazarus!

Well, that's it for today, unfortunately no photographs as I'm using Ille's laptop and have no idea how to downloat todays 'takings'  -  Manana.

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

BFB Revisited

It's easy to tell when you have to leave, just look out of the window and the rain has stopped, the sky is blue and there's a 'pager' message to say a Great Bustard has just landed down the road. Anyway, it is time to go and as I said yesterday we have had a most comfortable stay in what I would suggest will suit particularly all the 'birders' I know. I have learned that this is not classified a hotel, but more a retreat for quite, gentle people. Originally built as a 'quiet sanctuary' for a religious group the hospitality was extended to those pursuing such interests as yoga etc and now open to all comers. Strictly a none profit making concern, the reigns are still held by the 'fathers' but run under management. A few more photos follow to further emphasise the accommodation. Those wishing to make contact, it is Altmoisa, Kulalistemaja (

A last minute update:- Ille has just paid the bill, and the total cost for the 2 of us, breakfast, dinner, endless coffee and bike hire E201 for 3 days. Add to this a complimentary bottle of wine, and I think we have done very well.

One of 2 large suites, spacious while well appointed

The same room, different angle

8 other rooms comprise twin bed facilities

While there are 2 other rtooms with double beds

All walls were hand painted by the students at the Tartu Art College

Hoist by your own Petard
I have another 'follower' joined the readership. Previously described through these pages as Big Fat Billy, I had no idea he would join the ranks so had no fear of doing so. Last time similar utterance were made in Belize, there were threats of someone ending up in the lake. Jim the Medic must have passed on the 'link', so I now have to point out that I didn't know at the time how to spell Skinny, Good Looking, Effervescent Billy. These days he is more widely known as Billy Crumble, so dubbed after an outburst of song in Waldo's Night Club, El Salvador, when to the tune of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer he warbled "Rhubarb and Custard Crumble". It was funny at the time. If your 'logging on' old mate, all the very best to you and it would be fantastic to hook-up at some time - talk to the real Fat Kid!

So, here's a few memory jerkers for you son! Remember when your old dad used to take you on holiday with that little bucket and spade??

The Skinny Nipper - Chichen Itza, Mexico

Relaxing (again) in Belize

Belize / Guatemala border, first sighting of Oscillated Turkey

Mi Laddo - Twin Pyramids, Tikal - Guatemala

Chichicastenango - Guatemala, where Pagan meets Christianity

Two-toed Sloth - Nicaragua

Vulcan Arenal - Costa Rica

A bit of a cruise - Honduras

Three-wattled Bellbird - Costa Rica

Billy @ Panama Canal

Probably the most incredible engineering fete in the World?

Three-toed Sloth - Pipeline Road, Panama

Bet you never forget this day in Panama City with Charlie Anderson (bass player with the Ska band Selector) and family?

Monday, 26 October 2009

Estonian Language Unit One

The exceptional news this morning is that our suspicions of yesterday were confirmed as we placed a 'tick' against Great Snipe on the World List. Yesterdays sighting was brief, but there was just something about this bird in flight which wasn't Common. Fortunately, the hotel manager had introduced us to Kari, a birder from Finland, who agreed he had seen one or two in the marsh opposite the hotel and on our escorted visit early this morning, clinched it! Then came the bad news. We returned for a hearty breakfast, and the rain started At the time of writing (11-30 Estonian) it's still pissipertating (sic) down and looks nothing like clearing, but our plans are set, should we get lucky, the bikes, maps and directions are ready so we're ready to go.

So far the Estonian List has increased by 8 species* and this trip list is as follows:- (in Tallinn) Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird (en-Route to Altmoisa) Mute Swan, Jay (Haapsalu) Chaffinch, Barnacle Goose*, Goosander*, Gadwall*, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Wigeon*, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Goldeneye*, Tree Sparrow, Coot, Coal Tit, Waxwing* (Altmoisa) Fieldfare*, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Magpie and Great Snipe*.

Hooded Crow - Tallinn
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus argentatus) - Tallinn

While there is absolutely NO intention of bringing smut or profanities to these pages, here is one that we believe to be unmissable, in the surety that our readers will take it in good heart. In my endless endeavor to learn the Estonian language, I consulted my learned friend Dr 'Bomber' Harris of the Broadwey School of Foreign and Ancient Languages with a tongue twister I just couldn't manage. Trying to explain to Ille that I had spent 12 months in the Persian Gulf, she simply didn't understand this time span and so I was very kindly sent this link. I must point out this is not a spoof, as I have since proved it out here on the ground!

The rain abated just after noon so, with a little reluctance on my part, we took to the bikes. Visibility was less than a mile, but we were riding on a well made, flat road, hoping to make the village of Puise 8Km away, and occasionally walking to the foreshore. Almost immediately 3 Common Gulls flew over, and we located a small party of Siskin in a stand of Alders. The adjacent fields were alive with Common Snipe in company with a few Lapwings, while further up the road, Siskin were replaced by Mealy Redpoll but in greater numbers. A small group of Greylag Geese joined a few Teal on the sea as single Linnet, audible only, and a Golden Plover was seen flew above us. Later, a huge party of Corvids put to the air and it was soon apparent why. The massive shape of a young White-tailed Eagle hoved into view, and passed us at about half a mile. That was when the rain restarted and with about a 5Km peddle back, we made for home. Sharp ears picked up a less than familiar call, which was soon seen to be an adult male Black Redstart, and as we neared the hotel a flock of Starlings flew in for a final feed. So, now to dinner and finish our bottle of wine, hoping for a dry day tomorrow.

Golden Plover - near Puise

And finally my own contributions to the Double Entendres

Cricket Commontator at an England v West Indies test match 'This is the start of the second over, and the batsman's (Michael) Holding the bowler's (David) Willie'.

In the early days of colour televised snooker, the commentator enlightened some by announcing, 'for those of you watching in 'black & white' the blue is tight behind the green'.

From Badminton 'For those of you just joining us, we can tell you that Captain Mark Phillips, recently married to the Princess Anne, had a refusal at the first jump'.

Sunday, 25 October 2009

A Great Time Being Had By All

Please Note, a few Photographs have been added to yesterdays Post - Enjoy!

A drop of Grape Juice before the Gig

The violins take a bow

Then the Cellos
After a little Dvorak and Beethoven the 'conductor' takes his bow

Just to catch up on a few more photos, these are from the excellent musical evening at the Tallinn Concert Hall

There wasn't a hope in hell of getting a post on Saturday, it was a day filled to the brim and a great time we all had to boot. After a late and lazy start and an Ille cooked breakfast, described by her as what her father ate every morning of his life, we met Herkko and visited a local flea market where we picked up yet more hats - see them when I'm next in the 'field'. Both he and Helis, his lady, live close by so it was off to their place for and Italian main course, followed by chocolate pudding (like the old chocolate these Estonians) and a drop of Jameson's Irish Whiskey.

and the breakfast I hear you ask? 6 fried eggs, 10 rashers of bacon, marinaded mushrooms, enough fried spuds (Ille grown) to sink a Battle Wagon, 3 slices of toast, 2 glasses of her own Red Current cordial and 2 cups of coffee. No wonder her dear old dad was cut down in his prime at 97, how could anyone expect to live long eating like that??

Helis & Herkko at home

After we decided on a taxi home, but on the way side stepped for a nightcap at the recently opened Clazz Jazz Cafe. Superseding the recently defunct Guitar Safari it does have the same atmosphere without any of the Rock & Roll memorabilia. Despite the good intent it became apparent there was a 7 piece Cuban combo (Baila la Habana) playing at 22-30 so we decided to stay for just one number. Cinderella had departed long before we hit the night air, and without a single 'pumpkin', or a team of white mice in sight we had to walk home.

2 pints of Saku and a packet of crisps

Baila la Habana
DittoDittoSome people just like blowing their own trumpet

"and for the 2 ladies over in the corner, this ones just for you"

Despite the light drizzle it was a most pleasant walk back to Ille's place, and we decided on a few photies on the way.

A neat present for the biggest 'stirrer' in town

"Bagsy the soups ready"

As for today, most of it has been spent traveling to the coast on the Gulf of Riga. Tallinn to Haapsalu is 100 Km and took just under 2 hours on the coach. There we had a 2 hour 30 minute wait, so we set off on our first 'birding' sortie to the seashore. Most of what was seen could be put down to 'usual fair', but from the waters edge we saw a decent size skein of White-fronted Geese, and also in good numbers Gooseander, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Cormorant, Coot, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker. The highlight came as we walked back through the town where the calling of a dozen Waxwing alerted us to their presence. There was time to visit the Railway Museum before the bus arrived, and while Ille is making giant steps with her English tuition, I couldn't help laughing at the Spoonerism as she described it as the 'Stail Ration, he he. Just 35 minutes onward to Altmoisa and a 5 minute stroll to the hotel. Major restoration work was underway, but not surprisingly as the season was over several weeks ago. Mine hosts checked us in, showed us our room and suggested a walk along the planked area on marsh adjacent and on to the bird viewing platform. We clocked a Snipe and a few Fieldfare on the way, but apart from a lone Mute Swan and another group of Geese flying in it was all but barren. Back at the hotel dinner consisted of salmon for main course and very tasty home made ice cream for pudding. We were given a complimentary bottle of white and then made for some rest. That is where I'm going now. GOOD NIGHT!

Waxwings @ Haapsalu
At the Loco Shed

Double Entendres Continued

Mike Hallett discussing missed snooker shots on 'Sky Sports': 'Stephen Hendry jumps on Steve Davis's misses every chance he gets.'

Michael Buerk on watching Philippa Forrester cuddle up to a male astronomer for warmth during BBC1's UK eclipse coverage remarked: 'They seem cold out there.They're rubbing each other and he's only come in his shorts.'

Ken Brown commentating on golfer Nick Faldo and his caddie Fanny Sunneson lining-up shots at the Scottish Open: 'Some weeks Nick likes to use Fanny; other weeks he prefers to do it by himself.'


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Jumaat, Ogos 28, 2009

Inhaler - Dr. Gibril Haddad

Ini jawapan Syaikh Dr. Gibril Fouad Haddad berhubung penggunaan inhaler bagi yang berpuasa. Harap ada manfaatnya bagi sesiapa yang berhajat. Di akhirnya ada saranan atau jalan keluar yang beliau anjurkan untuk diamalkan oleh seseorang yang bergantung sepanjang waktu dengan penggunaan inhaler dan sebagainya tetapi masih ingin menunaikan puasa mengikut pendapat ulama yang berfatwa bahawa penggunaan tersebut tidak membatalkan puasa.

Several people have asked this: Do the fast break with bronchodilator inhalation medications? The medicine is aerosolized and is inhaled into the lungs, not swallowed into the stomach and have no nutritional value. Now there are mufti's in Pakistan who say that it breaks the fast. I think it is because they don't understand the concept of an inhaled medication. There are already fatwa's for allowing intramuscular antibiotic medications during fasting and why should this be any different. In other words, what constitutes the break of a fast in Fiqh? The reasoning about the inhalator would apply to cigarettes as well, over which there is consensus that they break the fast. The allowance of intramuscular and intraveinous medications is similar to the allowance of eyedrops, i.e. eyes and veins are not considered to be among the normal openings of the body (although, even in the latter perspective, certain tooth and gum medications have been allowed - an inhalator dispensation might go the same route, not sure). Contrariwise, it has also been replied that injections do break the fast if consisting in sedative, or glucose. About the inhaled bronchodilator medication; the issues are these:
  1. Since there is no "Nass" from the Quran and Sunnah in this matter, so it becomes an "Ijtihadi" matter. however, for proper Ijtihad, the Mujtahid also has to know the physical nature of the object under discussion. I can tell you without doubt that most Mufti's in Pakistan have very rudimentary and inadequate understanding of modern medical issues and so they err on the side of safety by declaring several new issues haram.
  2. For an asthmatic patient who has to use life long inhaled medications, this means that they will be denied the barakat of Ramadan forever. The issue of cigarettes is different because one, that is a bad (qabiha and in the opinion of several Shafie scholars, haram) habit and second, with clear health risks. so it should not be in the same category as an inhaled medication.
  3. Following the statement of Ibn-Abbas RAA when asked about, "Miswak taste in the mouth breaking the fast", he said, "does the taste of water in the mouth (for Wudu) break the fast? and if not, why should miswak do". So if the medicine goes straight to the lungs and into the blood stream and not the stomach and has no nutritional content whatsoever, why should the fast be nullified? Some knowledgeable scholars in Pakistan have allowed the inhaled medications based on personal ijtihad.
  1. Whether or not muftis anywhere - and not just in Pakistan - have "very rudimentary and inadequate understanding of modern medical issues" should not distract us from the fact that a foreign substance (jawhar) that is wilfully brought through the mouth from outside the body into the inside (jawf) of the body breaks the fast, whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form. You yourself have conceded that the medicine "is inhaled into the lungs" and the latter are an internal organ. Hence the response given by the Hanafi Fiqh teacher Shaykh Wahbi Sulayman Ghawji al-Albani in his book Arkan al-Islam (2:620) very clearly states that "the issue is the arrival of aerosol, and whatever liquid turns to aerosol, into the lungs, namely the internal organ. As soon as it arrives, the status is that of breaking the fast; if it does not arrive inside, then there is no iftar."
  2. The Hanbali fiqh scholar Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Shinqiti similarly noted that the bronchodilator vapor is essentially water being brought into the system and that there is Ijma` (Consensus) that even one drop of medicine dropped into the gullet breaks the fast, its being nutritive or not being meaningless. See the Arabic text here: http://www.ahlalhde eth.com/vb/ showthread. php?t=111963. The Sharia does not call for splitting hairs in order to be applied with clarity and peace of mind and, in this respect, the notion that something needs to be a nutrient to form a mufattir (fast-breaker) is an invented notion. I believe there is confusion or false qiyas here with the rule that a non-nutritive fast-breaking requires only qada' but not kaffara.Note that he also draws the comparison of vapor and aerosol being no different from cigarette smoke with respect to being a distinct substance brought into the body through one of its natural openings. More on this below.
  3. True, some Saudi scholars have allowed the inhaled medications for someone fasting based on their personal ijtihad, as has at least one pulmonary physician in Saudi Arabia. { See: http://www.jeddahbo ys.com/vb/ JB139216. html } {http://www.mktaba. org/vb/showthrea d.php?t=7685} & { http://www.okaz. com.sa/okaz/ osf/20060924/ Con2006092449901 .html}. Since such goes against the mainstream position, its supporters have provided the weakest reasoning and excuses, such as analogy with the water residue that may reach the stomach from wudu' and siwak; or the "non-nutritive needle inserted for a phlebotomy"! This was cited by the Mufti of Egypt, Shaykh Ali Gomaa, whose fatwa is that it *does* break the fast. See: http://mater90. jeeran.com/ archive/2008/ 8/661397. html. Those who say it does not break the fast apparently want every asthmatic to fast like everyone else as if they were not ill. But such is far from the mainstream position, rather it is, in fairness, a fringe position.
  4. At any rate, all this shows why it is far from clear exactly how those described as "erring on the side of precaution" are erring at all! Regardless, precaution is a reality and a priority in the Sharia, so it is by default better than erring on the side of incaution, let alone when there is no erring at all but a mainstream stance on the one hand and a fringe stance on the other as far as one can see.
  5. A very important misgiving is the notion that if one is too sick to fast, "they will be denied the barakat of Ramadan forever." On the contrary! Allah Most High has made it possible even for those who cannot fast in Ramadan due to sickness to get the full reward of those who fast - and more. How? Well, because actions are according to intentions, not according to results; and the medical inability to fast is a valid excuse not to, provided we follow the required course in such cases, namely, to give daily sadaqa as fidya for our fast. So, in addition to the reward of fasting, we also get an additional reward of sadaqa, plus we help our fellow man. This is exactly why, as the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, said, "Allah Most High LOVES that His dispensations (rukhas) be followed JUST AS HE LOVES that His strict requirements be followed." Yet many people tend to over-emphasize strictness and dismiss dispensation as uninformed or even irreligious.
  6. As for the cigarettes being bad there is no debate, but it is a completely separate issue. The pivot of proof in this particular discussion is wilful inhalation and this is why the comparison is extremely apt. This is something everybody understands. Even those who reject the haramness and even makruh aspect of cigarette smoking still agree that inhaling cigarette smoke constitutes a breach of the fast; and thus hardened Muslim smokers all over the world will refrain from smoking in Ramadan only because of that, not because of it being qabih, harmful or what not. Even Christians in Arab countries know this in Ramadan. If you walk into a flour mill and deliberately inhale a cloud of flour it will break the fast also; so will deliberately sniffing incense for that matter - lest the nutrition aspect is brought up again - and all this is mentioned in the books of fiqh.
  7. There is no doubt in my mind that an inhalator-dependent asthmatic who might die if deprived of the inhalator for too long, ails from an illness and has a valid excuse not to fast, even a lifelong excuse. I wonder if anyone denies this? Yet, so many people with valid and patent excuses not to fast, doubt the rahma granted by Allah and refuse His bounties in the form of reward for valid intentions, insisting that they must and will fast in order for those bounties to reach them, i.e. Allah Most High is unable to bless them otherwise - subhanAllah. So you will see diabetics, for example, rejecting their doctors' advice not to fast and going ahead at the risk of possibly fatal hypoglycemia. (See, e.g., http://www.al- inaam.com/ library/DFASTING .HTM) Allah Most High is not in need of such worshippers' misgivings about His dispensations, nor of their audacity with the gifts of health and life. And the saddest thing is to see doctors themselves deciding to be complicitous in this course, modifying the parameters of the Law in the name of ease or strictness (I am not sure which!), then gainsaying muftis for doing their job consciously and competently, just because the latter are not physicians! All this either shows a kind of hidden self-reliance and pride, or, at the very least, greater ignorance and misplaced piety than anything people accuse muftis of.
  8. A possible solution could be for those using the inhalator and insisting that they want to fast to go ahead and fast, but at the same time to meet the daily fidya requirements of those who are excused from fasting, thus bringing over precaution to their side and setting their mind at rest. This way they both get the pleasure and socialization of fasting as well as ensure that their worship is 100% correct inshaAllah and valid by the criteria of all schools, short of which the shubha remains and, with it, at best, the suspicion of an invalid fast.
And Allah Most High knows best.

GF Haddad

Khamis, Ogos 27, 2009

Penggunaan Inhaler Membatalkan Puasa

Penjelasan Dr. Yusuf bin 'Abdullah al-Ahmad

Rabu, Ogos 26, 2009

Haul Buya Maliki

Jumaat, Ogos 21, 2009

Ahlan Ya Ramadhan

Alhamdulillah, Ramadhan 1430H bakal menjelang menemui kita. Hadiah daripada Allah SWT buat umat kekasihNya Baginda Muhammad SAW. Cukuplah keistimewaannya pabila satu ibadah fardhu digandakan kepada 70 kali ganda berbanding bulan-bulan lain dan satu ibadah sunnat diberikan ganjaran fardhu. Allahu ... Allah, tok guru kawan dulu kata ganjaran fardhu tu teramatlah besar dan sekali-kali tidak boleh diatasi oleh yang sunnat (generally speakinglah tu, sebab kekadang ada amalan sunnat yang lebih utama berbanding hok wajib, contohnya memberi salam itu lebih utama daripada menjawab salam, tetapi tentang pahlonya lupo plak ese nok tanyo sebak hok beri itu sunnat dan hok jawab tu wajib. Senang cakap, kita serahlah kepada Yang Memberi Pahala tu nanti).

Tahun ni, biarlah kita perkemaskan ibadah-ibadah wajib dan sunnat kita. Jangan terawih sahaja tanpa menunaikan kefardhuan sholat 5 waktu. Bior kite ponteng terawih, jangan ponteng sholat subuh, gitulah kira-kiranya yeop. Ingat akan kata-kata Imam Ibnu Hajar al-`Asqalani rahimahUllah dalam "Fathul Bari" yang menukilkan kalam sebahagian pemuka agama sebagai berikut:-

من شغله الفرض عن النفل فهو معذور
ومن شغله النفل عن الفرض فهو مغرور
Sesiapa yang sibuk mengerjakan sesuatu yang fardhu tanpa melakukan yang sunnat, maka dia adalah orang yang diberikan keuzuran yakni kemaafan yakni excuse kerana tidak melakukan yang sunnat. Sesiapa yang sibuk mengerjakan yang sunnat tanpa mengerjakan yang fardhu, maka itulah dia orang yang tertipu.
Ingat tu, fardhu dijaga, sunnat dikejar, mudah-mudahan matinya nanti husnul khatimah. Jangan mengejar yang sunnat, hak fardhu berciciran. Apa-apa pun, kawan nak kongsi satu faedah yang disebut oleh al-Imam al-'Allaamah asy-Sayyid asy-Syarif al-Muhaddits Muhammad bin 'Ali Khird al-'Alawi al-Husaini at-Tarimi rahimahumUllah dalam karya beliau "al-Wasaailusy Syaafi`ah". Di halaman 474 dinyatakan:-

Daripada Sayyidina Ibnu 'Umar radiyAllahu `anhuma yang menyatakan bahawa Junjungan Nabi SAW bersabda: "Telah diturunkan kepadaku semalam akan satu surah yang ianya lebih kukasihi dari segala apa yang terbit matahari atasnya (yakni dunia dan segala isinya), dan disukai agar ianya dibaca pada awal malam bulan Ramadhan, maka kamu bacakanlah ia dan ajarkanlah ia kepada anak-anak kamu, insya-Allah mereka tidak akan menjadi papa.
Almarhum Syaikh Husin Kudri Martapura rahimahUllah pula dalam karya himpunan doa-doanya "Senjata Mukmin" pada halaman 92 menulis:-

Surah al-Fath: (Khasiatnya) barangsiapa membaca akan dia 3 kali pada malam permulaan timbul bulan Ramadhan, insya-Allah terpelihara ia di dalam setahunan itu daripada marabahaya dan diluaskan rezekinya.
Akhirul kalam, selamat beribadah, selamat berpuasa, selamat bertarawih dan moga dirahmati serta diberkati Allah SWT sentiasa. Jangan lupa agar saling doa mendoakan sesama umat dan jangan dilupakan al-faqir dalam doa kalian.

Surah al-Fath

Surah al-Fath (Kemenangan) diturunkan sekembalinya Junjungan Nabi Muhammad SAW dari Hudaibiyyah dalam bulan Dzul Qaedah tahun yang ke-6 hijrah. Dalam tertib al-Quran, ianya adalah surah yang ke-48 dengan 29 ayat (tanpa dikira basmalah). Surah ini dikategorikan sebagai surah Madaniyyah kerana ianya diturunkan setelah Baginda Nabi SAW berhijrah ke Madinah, walaupun sebenarnya ianya tidak diturunkan di Kota Madinah. Menurut riwayat, ianya diturunkan Allah SWT kepada Junjungan Nabi SAW di sebuah lembah yang dikenali sebagai Kura` al-Hamim yang termasuk dalam daerah Makkah, dan ada juga riwayat yang menyatakan bahawa ianya diturunkan di Dhajnaan, sebuah gunung yang tidak jauh dari Kota Makkah.

Antara kandungan surah yang mulia ini adalah berkenaan keutamaan Junjungan Nabi SAW serta sifat-sifat para sahabat baginda yang diredhai Allah sekaliannya. Diterangkan juga berkenaan kemenangan yang telah dianugerahkan kepada Junjungan SAW dan umat Islam dengan termeterainya Perjanjian Hudaibiyyah, di samping kemenangan lain yang bakal menyusul seperti Fathu Makkah (Pembukaan Kota Makkah) serta kemenangan atas Empayar Romawi dan Empayar Parsi. Mudah-mudahan dapat kita baca, kita amal, kita hayati dan kita petik ajaran-ajaran agung yang terkandung dalam surah yang mulia ini.

Syaikh 'Abdul Rauf bin 'Ali al-Fanshuri al-Jawi rahimahUllah dalam terjemahannya bagi Tafsir al-Baidhawi menulis sebagai berikut:
Ini surah al-Fath turunnya di Madinah iaitu 29 ayat, maka tersebut di dalam Baidhawi hadits: "Barangsiapa mengaji surah al-Fath, maka adalah ia seperti keadaan orang yang hadir serta Rasulullah tatkala mengalahkan Makkah.
سورة الفتح

Khamis, Ogos 20, 2009

Habib Ahmad bin Hamid al-Kaf

Habib Ahmad bin Hamid al-Kaf rahimahUllah dilahirkan di Kota Pekalongan, Jawa Tengah tetapi membesar di Kota Palembang. Sedari kecil beliau diasuh oleh waliyullah Habib Ahmad bin 'Abdullah bin Thalib al-'Aththas. Pada usia 7 tahun, beliau dihantar ke Hadhramaut untuk mendalami ilmu agamanya dengan para ulama di sana. Antara yang menjadi guru beliau adalah Shohibul Mawlid Simthud Durar, Habib 'Ali al-Habsyi rahimahUllah dan Habib 'Alwi bin 'Abdullah asy-Syahab rahimahUllah.

Habib Ahmad telah menjalani jalan tasawwuf dari kecil lagi dengan melakukan mujahadah dan riyadhah dengan disiplin yang tinggi. Beliau pulang ke Indonesia setelah menghabiskan masa 10 tahun belajar di Hadhramaut. Sekembalinya ke Indonesia, meskipun masih berusia muda, beliau telah terkenal sebagai seorang ulama yang zuhud dan khumul. Di Indonesia, beliau menjalankan kegiatan dakwah dan membuka majlis taklim di berbagai tempat Antara yang berkesempatan menjadi murid beliau adalah Habib Salim bin Ahmad BinJindan, Habib 'Alwi bin Ahmad Bahsin dan Habib Syaikhan al-Ghathmir yang akhirnya menjadi daie dan ulama yang terkenal. Ketinggian ilmunya Habib Ahmad turut mendapat pengiktirafan daripada waliyullah yang masyhur, Habib 'Alwi bin Muhammad al-Haddad @ Habib Kramat Empang Bogor rahimahUllah.

Selain berdakwah dan menyebarkan ilmu, beliau juga amat kuat melakukan amalan-amalan lain. Wirid sholawat beliau sahaja adalah 100,000 kali sehari. Adakah orang yang mengaku-ngaku mengikut sunnah dan menolak bid`ah ada bersholawat ke atas Shohibus Sunnah sebanyak itu. Ini belum lagi qiyam dan shiyamnya beliau ... Allahu ... Allah. Tatacara beliau menjalani kehidupan zuhud dengan menjauhi berlazat-lazat dengan nikmat duniawi yang sementara amat luar biasa sehingga beliau terkenal dengan kata-kata:-
Aku belum hendak bersenang-senang sebelum aku tahu:-
  1. Apakah aku akan mengucap kalimah tauhid di akhir hayatku?
  2. Apakah aku akan selamat dari siksa kubur?
  3. Apakah timbangan amalku akan lebih berat dari dosaku?
  4. Apakah aku akan selamat dari jembatan shirathal mustaqim?
Soalan-soalan inilah menyebabkan Habib Ahmad rahimahUllah tidak memandang kepada kenikmatan dunia yang sementara ini. Habib Ahmad al-Kaf menghembuskan nafas terakhir beliau di Kota Palembang pada 25 Jamadil Akhir 1375H / 25 Jun 1956 Masihi. Mudah-mudahan Allah sentiasa mencurahkan rahmat dan kasihsayangNya kepada beliau dan leluhur beliau serta sekalian muslimin dan muslimat. Moga kita mendapat keberkahan daripada beliau dan nenda beliau, Junjungan Nabi SAW .... al-Fatihah.

Sholawat dinisbahkan kepada Habib Ahmad bin Hamid al-Kaf

Ya Allah, limpahkanlah sholawat ke atas Junjungan Nabi Muhammad, sholawat yang dengan keberkatannya Engkau penuhkan hatiku dengan nur, kebaikan dan kegembiraan; Dan dengan keberkatannya Engkau rezekikan aku akan rezeki yang luas mencurah-curah; Limpahkanlah juga ke atas ahli keluarga dan para sahabat baginda beserta salam kesejahteraan sebanyak bilangannya segala sesuatu.

Selasa, Ogos 18, 2009

Puasa Selepas Nishfu - 3

Menyambung lagi keterangan para ulama kita berhubung puasa sunnat selepas Nishfu Sya'baan. Kali ini kawan ambik keterangan beberapa ulama yang masanya hampir dengan kita serta yang memiliki tempat yang khusus di sisi para Saadah Bani Alawi. Yang pertamanya dipetik dari "Irsyadul Anaam fi tarjamati arkanil Islam" karangan Mufti Betawi, Habib 'Utsman bin 'Abdullah bin 'Aqil BinYahya rahimahUllah. Pada halaman 29 Yang Mulia Habib menyatakan:-

Sebagi lagi HARAM memulakan puasa dari hari 16 bulan Sya'baan hingga akhirnya.
Dan yang keduanya, kita ambil dari karya al-Imam al-'Allaamah al-Muhaqqiq az-Zahid asy-Syaikh 'Abdullah bin Ahmad BaSaudan al-Kindi al-Hadhrami rahimahUllah yang berjodol "al-Anwarul Laami`ah wat Tatimmatul Wasi`ah lir Risaalatil Jaami`ah wat Tadzkiratin Naafi`ah" di mana pada halaman 415 dinyatakan bahawa tidak sah berpuasa (sunnat) pada nishfu terakhir bulan Sya'baan melainkan jika berbetulan dengan kebiasaan orang yang berpuasa tersebut atau disambungkan dengan puasa sebelumnya (yakni puasa sebelum nishfu yang terakhir tersebut). [Perincian bagi pengecualian haram berpuasa pada nishfu kedua bulan Sya'baan ini, ikhwah bolehlah baca dalam entri-entri yang lepas].

Kawan harap dengan ini terungkailah masalah berpuasa sunnat selepas nishfu yang kedua bulan Sya'baan. Inilah pandangan ulama kita asy-Syafi`iyyah, jadi sesiapa yang punya pandangan yang berbeza, ya mungkin ianya pendapat mazhab lain atau qawl lain yang bukan mu'tamad dalam Mazhab Syafi`i. Maka pengamal Mazhab Syafi`i kenalah beri perhatian mengenai perkara ini kerana ketentuan hukumnya dalam mazhab ini adalah HARAM menurut kebanyakan ulama Syafi`i, kalaulah tidak dikatakan semuanya.

Isnin, Ogos 17, 2009

Itsal ats-Tsawab

Tulisan Dr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti hafizahUllah berkenaan "hadiah pahala amalan" kepada orang mati. Tulisan ini merupakan jawapan beliau terhadap soalan seorang penyoal yang mempertikaikan pernyataan dalam karya terjemahan Syaikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller hafizahUllah "Reliance of the Traveller" bagi kitab fiqh Syafi`i "Umdatus Salik wa 'Uddatun Nasik" tulisan Syaikh Ahmad bin Naqib al-Mishri rahimahUllah. Kawan sungguh-sungguh rekemen agar kekawang boleh memilikinya (kalau di Kuching rasanya kat Azwa Books Centre masih ada senaskhah dua, kalau tak pun order je. Harganya tak mahal mana). Moga diambil manfaat dan faedah darinya. Lain-lain tulisan Dr. Afifi silalah baca kat Living Islam, tulisan-tulisan yang bermanfaat mengikut tradisi ilmu para ulama Syafi`i. Silalah tuan-tuan ambil manfaatnya, jangan malu-malu, ini betul-betul fiqh Syafi`i dan bukannya fiqh tandas (faham-faham ye, kalau tak faham buatlah search fiqh tandas kat YouTube).

The 'Amal of the Living for the Dead

“I read in the Reliance of the Traveller (p. 928)”

[which is a complete manual of Islam consisting, in the main part of the book, a translation together with a useful explanation in English of a beginner's level textbook on Shafi'i fiqh (but a post-Fard 'Ayn text), the 'Umdat al-Salik by Imam al-Naqib; while in the other parts of the book, there are various useful selections from medieval and also modern-but-reliable texts on a number of issues including the following mas'ala which past Muslims have accepted without question]

“that donating the reward of our worship to the dead is permissible. But where does it say this in a specific Shafiite fiqh reference?”

[Since the text that the Reliance refers to for this particular issue is a modern work called the Qada' al-'Ibadat written by a modern Shafi'i Mufti, which the questioner here, for reasons unknown to us, seems unwilling to accept the conclusions of this modern Shafi'i scholar.]

“Didn't the Qur'an say: "And that man can have nothing but what he does"? Is there an ahl tafsir who says that one can donate the reward of our worship to the dead? Can you please clarify this for me? Also what is established ruling in the Shafii school regarding donating the Fatihah, for example, to the dead?”

Al-hamdulillah al-'aliyy al-kabir yarfa'u l-mutawadi'in wa-yudhillu l-murtabin fa-salawat rabbi wa-salamuhu 'ala sayyid al-mutawadi'in yad'u ila husn al-zann wa 'ala alihi wa-sahbihi wa 'ala ahl l-thiqqa ila yawm al-haqiqa ajma'in.

Allahumma ftah 'alayna futuh al-'arifin, ma sha' Allah la quwwata illa billah, wa qul: Rabbi zidni 'ilman!

My dear questioner, if I were allowed only to give you a one-line answer, it would have been sufficient for me to say only this: be humble, and learn to trust your scholars! May Allah make it easy for us to open our hearts to make us accept and trust what we have not found "proof" of, what we have not seen and what had been veiled from us; for we have been unworthy of it, Ya Rabb! Whereas if one wanted to express the epitome of the following answer in verse, I would only have to compose this for you; so learn them so you may be guided [min bahr al-basit]:

ajru l-qirA'ati ya'tI l-mayta mu'taqadu # fI mA salaf wa-khalaf

wa-hum aqarrU bi-hi wa-ayatu n-nafI ma'nAhA 'adamu hudan # lA yaqbalUna wa-lam yaSghU siwA Haqqihi

[That the reward of the recitation reaches the dead is a point of belief, and both then and now, they have acknowledged this belief. Whereas the Qur'anic verse which (appears to) deny (this belief), its meaning is in fact loss of Guidance, since they can no longer receive, nor listen (to Guidance), save his own right.]

So what is there to clarify for you? Isn't the Qada' al-'Ibadat (a work of around 500 pages [in parts, reproduced in Keller, Reliance, 928-931 (w35.2)]) by Shaykh Nuh 'Ali Salman al-Qudat (may Allah protect him!), a Shafi'i mufti from Jordan, a good enough Shafi'iyya reference for you? Well, if you are finding it hard to follow his judgements then I doubt that the following medieval references will make any difference. If they will, then ask yourself what your intention was in the first place and ask that Allah purify your intentions.

Of the many "specific Shafiite fiqh reference", we only have to relate what is in the Fath al-Mu'in, a basic but important Shafi'iiyya textbook that is read widely, from East Africa to South East Asia. In fact, this is a medieval topos that appears usually in the subsection of the Bab of Wasiyya [bequests] (following the famous statement in Imam al-Nawawi's Minhaj: "wa-tanfa'u al-mayyita Sadaqatun wa-du'A'un min wArithin wa-ajnabiyyin"):

"The dead is benefited by charity [sadaqa] performed on his behalf whether by the heir [of the dead; warith; meaning his relation] or by others. Among them [i.e., the sadaqa] are: (1) to endow [waqf] a Qur'an and the like, or (2) to build a mosque, to dig a well, or to plant a tree whether by him while he was alive or by others on his behalf after his death, and [the dead is also benefited by] performing supplication [du'a'] on his behalf; and all of this is agreed by the Consensus of the Muslims [Ijma']. In a Sahih [rigorously authenticated Hadith], it is said that Allah raises the rank of a slave in Paradise by means of his son asking forgiveness [istighfar] for him. [This is the meaning of the well known Hadith of Abu Hurayra which is related by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, al-Bayhaqi and Ibn Abi Shayba.] As for the words of Allah the Most High: "wa-an laysa li-l-insAni illA mA sa'A" [That [each] man can have nothing [i.e., no right to a reward] save what he strives for] (al-Najm, 53:39), it is General ['Amm; a technical term used in Usul Fiqh to mean that this Qur'anic verse has a General meaning and that it may be subject to Takhsis [Specification of the General]; the point here is that the verse does not contain a Qarina [indication] that others might be prevented from helping him, and as it turns out, it is a verse] that has been Specified [Makhsus; i.e., it is being Takhsis] by that [rigorously authenticated Hadith and Ijma']. It is also said, that it [i.e., this verse] had been Abrogated [Mansukh]. The meaning of "the dead being benefited by sadaqa" [as opposed to "the dead being benefited by du'a'"] is, it is as though the dead himself is the one performing the sadaqa. [Imam] al-Shafi'i (may Allah be pleased with him!) said: "[Among] the abounding favour from Allah is that He will also reward those who perform sadaqa [on behalf of the dead]. For that reason, our jurists have said that it is [legally] recommended [i.e., the hukm shar'i is Mandub/Sunna] for the one [who wishes to perform sadaqa] to intend [instead] to perform sadaqa on behalf of his parents, for example, for Allah the Most High will reward both of his parents without this decreasing in any way, his own reward." [I'anat, 3:218-9].

(So, you should now correct the legal ruling found in your own statement from "donating the reward of our worship to the dead is permissible," to " is recommended!") From this single reference in the Fath al-Mu'in, most of your questions and suspicions have been answered for you; while this will be sufficient for those who understand.

In addition to what have been said above about the verse of Sura al-Najm, I hope you have noticed that your translation of the verse is inaccurate and it can easily be misinterpreted when read literally. The preposition "lam" used in this verse is what the grammarians called "lam li-l-istihqaq" or "a lam that is used to show that one has a right [Haqq] to possession". Thus the correct sense of this verse is not simply: "That mankind can have nothing save what he strives for", but "That [each] man can have nothing [i.e., meaning that he has no right to any reward] save what he strives for". So the meaning of the verse is actually: if a person did not act righteously, he or she does not deserve to be rewarded. What is denied for in that verse is the Haqq of that person, not the Haqq of another person and certainly, never the favour and mercy of Allah. So much so, that even when a person is neglectful and did not strive to do good in this world and therefore does not have a right to be rewarded in the next world, Allah may forgive him through His abounding Fadl and by His countless Rahma to whomsoever He sees fit. Indeed, as "yakhtaSSu bi-raHmatihi man yashA'u wa-Allahu dhU l-faDli l-'aZImi" [He selects anyone He wishes for His mercy; Allah's favour is boundless!] (Al 'Imran, 3:74). In order to illustrate this mute theological point, the scholars of Tawhid like to present the following example. Given Zayd who works for 'Umar: Zayd does not have a right and does not deserve to receive any payment from 'Umar except for the work Zayd has done for 'Umar. However, this does not mean that Zayd cannot receive any gifts from 'Umar or even receive help from another co-worker, Ahmad, for example, in the case when Zayd, for whatever reason, neglected to do the work for 'Umar; for then, it is no longer a question of Zayd's rights, but it is a case of the mercy of 'Umar and the charity of Ahmad. (But living on someone else's handouts is never satisfying and wouldn't it be better for us to aim to be 'rich' before the gift that have been given to us in this world, namely to be able to do 'amal, are 'denied' from us!)

What is more, never did Allah nor His Messenger prohibited the living from giving charity on behalf of the dead. Because if there was such a prohibition (for there is none), even if it be a Hadith which is Da'if and weak, those who prohibit and dislike this practice (such as the Mu'tazila) would have used it by now. (Despite the fact that Da'if Hadiths cannot be used to derive primary rulings in fiqh but can still be used for the fada'ils and illustrations.) Owing to the fact that our Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him!) never said anything against this practice (and on the contrary, there are numerous rigorously authenticated Hadiths that encourage it), no one has therefore the right to prohibit and deny others a practice which our jurists have deemed good, and indeed, to which the Umma has recorded a Consensus over the issue.

In fact, the verse which you quoted from Sura al-Najm (and others like it), turns out to be the scriptural proof that the Mu'tazila had used in defence of their position that the dead cannot benefit from our actions (or more precisely, to put it in a theological framework: the Mu'tazila believe that a person could not dedicate the reward of his or her 'amal to others (whether dead or alive), and if it is carried out, it will not reach them, nor will it benefit them). [cf. I'anat, 3:218-9; al-Zuhayli, Fiqh al-Islam, 3:2097]. (The point being, my brother, the Ahl Sunna will shy away from using this verse as a proof.)

As the Fath al-Mu'in makes clear, there is also the position maintained by some of our scholars (if the verse is to be read literally) that this verse had been Abrogated or Cancelled by another verse. (Hint: did you not read the verse that came before this one? This episode shows that we must be careful, not to quote the Qur'an out of its original and intended context.) The scholars of Tafsir have said: "This [verse] is also [found] in the Scriptures [Suhuf] of Ibrahim and Musa [may Allah send his peace upon them both!]...and it is said that that [i.e., the legal ruling apparent in this verse] is for the people of Ibrahim and Musa [may Allah send his peace upon them both!], while for this Umma, they can have what they have strived for and they can [also] have what others have strived for them." [al-Khazin, Tafsir, 4:199]. It was none other than Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with both of them!), the Imam of Tafsir among the Companions, who declared that this verse had been Abrogated by another verse: "The legal ruling [of this verse] has been Abrogated with respect to this [Umma's] Sacred Law [Shari'a] by the statement of Allah the Most High: "alHaqNA bi-him dhurriyyatahum" [We shall unite them [in Paradise] with their offspring] (al-Tur, 52:21), for, the offspring can be made to enter Paradise through the righteousness of [their] parents." [al-Khazin, Tafsir, 4:199]. Indeed, that is why in another Tafsir of the verse of al-Najm, some of our scholars have interpreted it to mean that the verse can be literally correct from the standpoint of Divine justice, but not from the standpoint of Divine mercy, which, again, is confirmed by what is in the verse of al-Tur. [al-Khazin, Tafsir, 4:199; cf. al-Zuhayli, Fiqh al-Islam, 3:2096]. And yet in another Tafsir according to al-Rabi' Ibn Anas, a Tabi'in Mufassir (may Allah be well pleased with him!), the verse is in fact a reference to non-Muslims. [al-Qurtubi, Tadhkira, 1:107]. The discussions arising from the verse of al-Najm is a famous topos among the Ahl al-Tafsir, and if you find yourself amongst those who have never heard of the various ta'wils and interpretations and tafsirs of it, to which our jurists have taken them for granted for more than a thousand years, then it is an indication that your company has no knowledge of this Fard Kifaya science. (I hope you will have understood the point of this exercise, namely that there is more than one reason why this verse should not be read literally on its own.)

In answer to your specific question of whether "is there an ahl tafsir who says that one can donate the reward of our worship to the dead?"; the answer is obviously yes, and even better, we can relate to you the statement of not any famous mufassir but a Shafi'i one, Imam al-Khazin (may Allah be pleased with him!):

"In the two Hadiths [i.e., he means the two rigorously authenticated Hadiths of 'A'isha (about the mother who died unexpectedly) on the one hand, and the moving Hadith of Ibn 'Abbas (about the meeting at Rawha'), on the other hand (may Allah be pleased with all of them!), both of which are related, among others, by Muslim, al-Bayhaqi and Ibn Abi Shayba], there is the legal proof [dalil] that sadaqa performed on behalf of the dead benefits the dead and its reward reaches them. This [ruling] is reached by the Ijma' of the scholars, and likewise, the scholars have [also] reached Ijma' on [the fact that] performing du'a' [for them] and settling the debt [of the deceased] reaches [them], owing to the [numerous] scriptural proofs [Nass] that has reached [us] regarding it." [al-Khazin, Tafsir, 4:199].

Going beyond the specific reference of Fiqh, let us look at what Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah be pleased with him!), one of the most famous Shafi'i jurists, had to say about this issue. In his Sharh to the Sahih Muslim, he makes it unequivocally clear, again, about the Consensus reached by the Muslims:

"Those who want to do good to their [dead] parents, then by all means, perform sadaqa on behalf of them. For sadaqa reaches the dead and the dead will use them. There is no disagreement [about this] among the Muslims and this is the right [opinion]." [al-Nawawi, Sharh Muslim, 1:80]. For those who want to disagree with what is being said, the Imam had only this to say: "as for those who say that the dead does not get any reward after their death, [let him know that] it is definitely a wrong and mistaken opinion [madhhab] which is clearly against the scriptural proofs of the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and against the Ijma' of the Umma. So do not pay attention to it and do not turn to it!" [ibid.]

As for your question: "what is [the] established ruling in the Shafii school regarding reciting the Fatihah, for example, to the dead?" If you had understood all that we have said so far, then the following is easier to understand (because it will be like relating a story to you for which there will be no thinking required on your part in that you only have to absorb it) and may you be benefited by it!

Unique to our school (for the other schools do not have an issue with this) is a famous disagreement over the matter of reciting the Qur'an on behalf of the dead because our Mujtahid Imam was reputed to have two conflicting Fatwas regarding it (to which Imam al-Nawawi reported one of them (that the reward does not reach the dead) as the Qawl Mashhur [Popular Position] of the school in the Sharh of Sahih Muslim as well as in the Adhkar) and over which, the Sultan al-'Ulama', 'Izz Ibn 'Abd al-Salam (may Allah be pleased with him!) was at the centre of this controversy after having single-handedly issued a Fatwa against this practice (to which he supposedly retracted his Fatwa and admitted his mistakes according to the testimony of his companions, albeit in a dream, as recorded by the trusted Maliki Mufassir and Muhaddith, Imam al-Qurtubi in his most popular work, the Tadhkira [al-Qurtubi, Tadhkira, 1:109, cf. al-Sha'rani, Mukhtasar, 25; and indeed, Imam al-Qurtubi himself interpreted the verse of al-Najm above (if read literally) as applicable only to bad deeds [sayyi'a] and not to good deeds; al-Qurtubi, Tadhkira, 1:108]). In the Adhkar, Imam al-Nawawi followed the opinion of the majority of the Muslims, thus going against the apparent [Zahir] meaning of the Qawl Mashhur which he himself reported in the Sharh to Sahih Muslim, and he held that the reward of the recitation reaches the dead especially if after the recitation, the reciter says a du'a donating the reward of his recitation to the deceased. [al-Nawawi, Adhkar, 150]. It was Imam al-Subki (may Allah be pleased with him!) who famously put the issue to rest for the Shafi'is by performing the necessary legal process of derivation [Istinbat] and set the Qawl Mu'tamad [Relied Upon Position] of our school concerning it as follows: that the reward of the recitation will reach the dead provided that the reciter wanted the reward of the recitation be transferred to the deceased, even if the reciter wished it after the recitation. And this, as the Fath al-Mu'in makes clear, is the legal position, "according to the three [other] schools, and is the choice of many of our jurists, and is made reliable by [Imam] al-Subki and others [in our school]." [I'anat, 3:221].

Later, Imam al-Bujayrimi, confirmed the Qawl Mu'tamad when commenting upon Imam al-Nawawi's reports (via Shaykh al-Islam Zakariyya al-Ansari):

"al-Nawawi: [reporting the Qawl Mashhur:] That its reward does not reach [the dead] (al-Bujayrimi: is a Qawl Da'if [Weak Position]). al-Nawawi: While some of our jurists say that it reaches [the dead] (al-Bujayrimi: is the Qawl Mu'tamad)." [al-Bujayrimi, Tajrid, 3:330].

As for the Qawl Mashhur that was one of the conflicting Fatwas of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah be well pleased with him!) reported by Imam al-Nawawi, this is understood by our jurists as referring to the case when the recitation did not meet one of the requirements that would enable its reward reach the dead because it lacked either: (a) the intention that the reward of the recitation is for the deceased; or (b) the du'a' wishing that the reward reach the deceased. In other words, in this particular case (and Ma-sha' Allah(!), just as in the case of the verse of Sura al-Najm above), the words of our Mujtahid Imam should not be read literally since, to put it simply, there was a 'story' behind them, as Shaykh al-Islam Zakariyya al-Ansari said:

"What [Imam al-Nawawi] said, that [the reward does not reach the dead] which belongs to the Qawl Mashhur of the school, is understood in terms of when the recitation is not done in the presence of the deceased and that the reciter did not intend that the reward of his recitation is for the deceased." [ibid.]

It should be noted here that the two towering figures of our school, Imams Ibn Hajar and al-Ramli (may Allah be pleased with both of them!) disagreed over the minor details concerning the 'conditions' of making the reward reach the dead. The latter is of the opinion that in the case when one is not in the presence of the deceased (such as not being at the grave), the reward can still reach the dead even when the recitation is not followed by a du'a' (while the opinion of the former is the more precautionary [Ihtiyat] position and that is to have both the niyya (before or during the recitation) as well as the du'a' (after the recitation) accompany the recitation).* Both are valid opinions within the school and both opinions are practiced today by the Shafi'i community (the Hadramawt, South East Asia, and East Africa Shafi'is following Imam al-Ramli, while the rest of the community is said to follow Imam Ibn Hajar), and this is reflected by the fact that later manuals of our school (such as the the Fath al-'Allam of Imam al-Jurdani, for instance), confirm both opinions. [See for example: al-Jurdani, Fath al-'Allam, 3:322-323].

*For students: It can be noticed here that when relating this legal ruling, we have been careful in not using the legal terminology of "shart" [i.e., the minimum condition required for a particular act to be valid] so that the inclusion or exclusion of the du'a' will therefore not be a matter of valid vs. invalid, but a case of what is more precautionary vs. what is more lenient.

The minimum du'a' is what Imam al-Nawawi has related in the Adhkar, and this is said after the recitation [al-Nawawi, 150]:

AllAhumma awSil thawAba mA qara'tuhu ilA "X"* [O Allah, send the reward of what I have recited to so-and-so!].

*In fact, according to our well-respected Faqih of Hadramawt, Sayyid Balfaqih (may Allah be pleased with him!), it would be preferable [Awla] to specify the name of the recipient, such as to say "X bin Y" or Zayd the son of Ahmad (and the hukm for not specifying the name would only be Khilaf al-Awla). [Ba'alawi, Bughya, 97].

You will have noticed by now that while some of our jurists have minor disagreements over the best method to send the reward of the Qur'anic recitation to the dead, these same jurists had already taken for granted that the reward of the recitation CAN reach the dead, and WILL reach the dead if the relevant conditions are fulfilled.

If after all this you are still uncomfortable with that modern reference found in the Reliance (perhaps sadly because that scholar is unknown to you), then I refer you to another contemporary scholar (perhaps, this time you are more comfortable with), Dr. Wahbah al-Zuhayli, who, in his work on khilaf [comparative fiqh] in the section concerning "Donating the reward of [our] actions to the dead", said:

"The scholars are agreed that the reward of [our] du'a', sadaqa and dedication reaches the dead on account of the previously mentioned [rigorously authenticated] Hadith [of Abu Hurayra]: "idhA mAta l-insAnu inqaTa'a 'amaluhu illA min thalAthin Sadaqatin jAriyyatin aw 'ilmin yuntafa'u bi-hi aw waladin SAliHin yad'u la-hu" [When a man dies, all but three of his deeds come to an end: (1) continuous works of sadaqa, (2) knowledge that people continue to benefit from, and (3) the du'a' of a pious offspring [meaning, the Muslims.]] (Related by Ahmad, al-Darimi, al-Bukhari (but in his Adab), Muslim, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, Ibn Khuzayma, Ibn Hibban, with only one variant). The majority [jumhur] of Ahl al-Sunna wa-l-Jama'ah say that a man can give the reward of his action to others whether it be [his] prayer or fast or sadaqa or recitation of the Qur'an, by saying [i.e., making a du'a':], "O' Allah, give the reward of what I do to so-and-so." [al-Zuhayli, Fiqh al-Islam, 3:2095-2096].

We have reached the end of what needs to be said concerning this issue. If you have not by now committed to memory the above poem that was composed for you, then let us summarize again all that we have said here by listening to Sayyid Ba'ashn, the author of the famous textbook, Bushra al-Karim, which is a commentary to Sayyid Bafadl's Muqaddima (may Allah be pleased with both of them):

"It has been established [tahqiq; by our jurists after the disagreements arising from the issue of donating the rewards of the Qur'anic recitation to the dead] that the dead can be benefited by the recitation [of the Qur'an by the living], through one of either three things: (1) that he intends that the recitation is on behalf of the dead, or (2) that his presence is near the dead [during the recitation], (3) or that his du'a' that the same reward of his recitation is for the dead, even if done after [the recitation]. Whereas, the du'a' and the sadaqa [on behalf of the dead] benefits them, without there being any disagreement [among the scholars about this]." [Ba'ashn, Bushra al-Karim, 2:39].

Now, all of the medieval Imams mentioned above, al-Nawawi, al-Khazin, al-Subki, Zakariyya al-Ansari, Ibn Hajar, al-Ramli, al-Bujayrimi, Ba'ashn, Balfaqih, al-Jurdani and the authors related to the Fath al-Mu'in are not only the foremost Shafi'iyya Imams and are among the well respected guardians and representatives of our Mujtahid Imam, but they are also well established jurists and mufassirs who lived in different times and places. So ask yourself now whether the Shari'a ruling in the end about this matter would have been any different from the modern reference you found in the Reliance? Whether you have personally seen the "proof" for it or not will in no way change the legal ruling that has already been fixed, set and understood by those who know. Ergo, (although we have given what you originally asked for) the question of whether you yourself should see or indeed need another reference or "proof" is irrelevant. It is actually a question of trust and in your particular case it becomes a question of you accepting the judgements and testimony of a living Shafi'i scholar regarding this issue. Is it not sad (and would it not be a tragedy for us all from now on) if those who do not know are unable to trust a living jurist and that he would rather in this case (until someone digs the dead references that will suit his pleasure) deprive himself of the immense benefit that this well known practice, a practice which is accepted by the Umma, brings to both the dead as well as the living amongst us, and especially for the sake of our own departed family members and of our loved ones? We will only know the extent of our folly and how our time have been wasted in the months and years of our arguing about the validity of it when we find ourselves needing that extra help and favour once we pass the point where we cannot anymore do things by ourselves. It is precisely then that we will be wishing those who are still alive to exercise their God given right; but by then it may only be wishful thinking on our part. Worse still, owing to our not thinking about the welfare of our own parents who have passed on to the other world and to our never showing this in front of our children, they might think it unlawful to make sadaqa for us once we are no longer in this world. What goes around comes around, and we ask that Allah save us from such a fate! Let us end with the du'a' that our Prophet had taught us to say for our Muslim brothers and sisters, always:

Allahumma ghfir li-hayyina wa-mayyitina!

[O Allah, forgive those of us who are alive and those who are dead amongst us!]

++Something extra and a fa'ida for us all at the end of the road++ Imam Ibn Hajar was asked about a man who passed by a graveyard and read one Fatiha and donated its reward to all of the members of the graveyard, whether (a: by subtraction), that one reward will be broken up equally and apportioned to all of them, or whether (b: by addition), every one of them will receive the same whole reward of a single Fatiha each. His answer was for the latter and for the reward to be added together, for it is the one worthy of the immeasurable mercy of Allah the Most High! [Ibn Hajar, Fatawa Kubra, 2:24; cf. Ba'alawi, Bughya, 97]. Subhanallah, so look, my dear questioner, at why we shouldn't restrict the Rahma of Allah, for we would deprive ourselves of this immense blessing!

Let us all say a Fatiha for the souls of all the scholars mentioned here, al-Fatiha!

al-fAtiHata ilA arwAHi mani jtama'nA hunA bi-sababihim, ajarakumu LlAhu l-fAtiHah!

The one in need of forgiveness,

Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti ©
17 Dhu l-Qa'da I 1424
10 January 2004

Select Bibliography:

Ba'alawi, Abd al-Rahman. Bughyat al-Mustarshidin fi Talkhis Fatawa ba'd al-Muta'akhkhirin. Bulaq, 1309 H.

Ba'ashn. Bushra al-Karim bi-Sharh Masa'il al-Ta'lim [a commentary on al-Muqaddima al-Hadramiyah]. 2 vols. Singapore: al-Haramayn, 1309 H.

al-Bakri. Hashiyat I'anat al-Talibin. 4 vols. Bulaq, 1300 H.

al-Bujayrimi. Hashiya al-Bujayrimi 'ala Sharh Manhaj al-Tullab [of Zakariyya al-Ansari; also known as al-Tajrid li-Naf' al-'Abid]. Edited by 'Abdullah Mahmud Muhammad 'Umar. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiya, 2000.

Ibn Hajar. al-Fatawa al-Kubra al-Fiqhiyah. 4 vols. Bulaq, 1308 H.

al-Jurdani. Fath al-'Allam bi-Sharh Murshid al-Anam fi al-Fiqh 'ala Madhhab al-Sadah al-Shafi'iyah. Edited by Muhammad al-Hajjar. 4 vols. Cairo: Dar al-Salam, 1990.

Keller, Nuh H. M. (ed.). Reliance of the Traveller [='Umdat al-Salik wa-'Uddat al-Nasik by Ibn al-Naqib]. Revised ed. Evanston, IL: Sunna, 1994.

al-Khazin, Tafsir al-Khazin al-Musamma Lubab al-Ta'wil fi Ma'ani al-Tanzil. 4 vols. Bulaq, 1328 H.

al-Nawawi. al-Adhkar al-Muntakhab min Kalam Sayyid al-Abrar. Beirut: al-Maktaba al-'Umawiyya, 1955.

al-Nawawi. al-Minhaj fi Sharh Sahih Muslim. Edited by Wahbah al-Zuhayli and 'Ali 'Abd al-Hamid Abu al-Khayr. 7 vols. Damascus: Dar al-Khayr, 1994.

al-Qurtubi. al-Tadhkira fi Ahwal al-Mawta wa-Umur al-Akhirah. Edited by Ahmad Hijazi al-Saqa. 2 vols. Cairo: Maktabat al-Kuliyyat al-Azhariyah, 1980.

al-Sha'rani. Mukhtasar Tadhkirah al-Qurtubi. Bulaq, 1307 H.

al-Zuhayli, Wahbah. Fiqh al-Islam wa-Adillatuh. 11 vols. 4th revised ed. Damascus: Dar al-Fikr, 1997.

Ahad, Ogos 16, 2009

Ilmuwan Melayu di Oxford

Dr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti, BA (Queen's), MA (Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), MSIEPM- also known as Syakh Afifi is KFAS Fellow in Islamic Studies at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Islamic Centre Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Theologu, University of Oxford, and holds a lectureship in World Religions at Worcester College. He is the first ever Malay to be appointed to such a position in the world famous University.

Dr. al-Akiti completed his DPhil in Medieval Arabic Philosophy from Oxford University as a Clarendon Scholar in 2008. His thesis identifies and systematically considers for the first time a group of philosophical writings, called the Madnun corpus, attributed to Islam's greatest theologian, al-Ghazali (d. 505 / 1111) - his discoveries are based on a painstaking survey of nearly 50 Medieval Arabic manuscripts. Besides acquanting scholars with this remarkable new body of source material, his three - volume study presents a critical edition of the most advanced and technical work of this corpus, the manual on metaphysics and natural philosophy called the Major Madnun.

Dr. al-Akiti, who comes from Malaysia, is trained as a theologian and philologist in both the Islamic and Western traditions: educated originally at the feet of the ulema of the Muslim world, he subsequently received a First Class degree in Scholastic Philosophy and History of Science from the Queen's University Belfast, where he was awarded various scholarships to read for his Masters and Doctoral degrees at Oxford. His areas of expertise are Islamic theology, philosophy and science.

In 2009, along with Professor Muhammad Abdel Haleem and the IIIT, Dr. al-Akiti was shortlisted for the Annual UK Muslim Awards, in one of its 15 coveted Awards for Excellence, the Allama Iqbal Award for Creativity in Islamic Thought.

Hok yang di ataih tu, kawan petik dari Wikipedia. Kawan dimaklumkan bahawa Dr. Afifi telah menghirup kemanisan ilmu-ilmu Islam di berbagai pondok dan pesantren di berbagai tempat seperti Indonesia dan Maghribi sebelum ke Britania Raya. Kekawang boleh baca karya beliau berjodol "Defending The Transgressed By Censuring The Reckless Against The Killing Of Civilians" dan lain-lain lagi di laman Living Islam. Mudah-mudahan Allah memberikan umur panjang kepada beliau yang bermanfaat bagi sekalian umat serta diberikan husnul khitam 'inda nuzulil himaam ...... bi hurmatil Fatihah.

Dr. Muhd Afifi al-Akiti di Sudut Pandang Astro Awani

Sabtu, Ogos 15, 2009

Syaikh Yusuf bin Ismail an-Nabhani

ٍٍImam al-Qadhi Yusuf bin Ismail bin Yusuf bin Ismail bin Muhammad Nashiruddin an-Nabhani dilahirkan pada tahun 12g5H / 1849M di Ijzim, Palestine. Beliau dilahirkan dalam keluarga yang amat mementingkan urusan dan ilmu agama. Ayahandanya adalah seorang ulama sholeh yang hafal al-Quran. Di antara wirid ayahandanya tersebut adalah mengkhatamkan al-Quran 3 kali khatam setiap minggu. [... Allahu ... Allah, mana muka yang menolak ulama kerana kononnya nak merujuk terus kepada al-Quran, cuba ditanya berapa kali khatam al-Quran seminggu?]

Di bawah asuhan ayahandanya, beliau telah menghafal al-Quran dengan baik. Dalam usia 17 tahun, beliau dihantar oleh ayahandanya ke Mesir untuk meneruskan pengajian di Universiti al-Azhar asy-Syarif yang masyhur. Di Mesir beliau belajar dengan ramai ulama terkemuka, antaranya Syaikhul Masyaikh Ustadzul Asaatidzah al-'Allaamah Syaikh Ibrahim as-Saqaa asy-Syafi`i, al-'Allaamah Syaikh Sayyid Muhammad ad-Damanhuri asy-Syafi`i, al-'Allaamah Syaikh Ibrahim az-Zurru al-Khalili asy-Syafi`i, al-'Allaamah Syaikh Ahmad al-Ajhuri adh-Dharir asy-Syafi`i, al-'Allaamah Syaikh Hasan al-'Adawi al-Maliki, al-'Allaamah Syaikh Sayyid 'Abdul Hadi Naja al-Ibyari, Syaikhul Azhar al-'Allaamah Syaikh Syamsuddin Muhammad al-Anbabi asy-Syafi`i, al-'Allaamah Syaikh 'Abdur Rahman asy-Syarbini asy-Syafi`i, al-'Allaamah Syaikh 'Abdul Qadir ar-Raafi`ie al-Hanafi ath-Tharablusi, al-'Allaamah Syaikh Yusuf al-Barqawi al-Hanbali dan ramai lagi untuk disenaraikan. Setelah tamat pengajian di al-Azhar dalam bidang Syariah, beliau kembali ke Ijzim. Di samping berdakwah dan mengajar, beliau tetap belajar kepada para ulama yang ada di merata tempat, antaranya dengan Syaikh Mahmud Effendi Hamzah.

Sepanjang kariernya, Syaikh Yusuf pernah menjawat jawatan-jawatan seperti Qadhi Besar atau Ketua Hakim di Ladhiqiyya, Palestine, Ketua Hakim bagi al-Quds, Palestine dan akhirnya menjadi Ketua Hakim Beirut, Lubnan sehinggalah bersara. Setelah bersara beliau menumpukan sepenuh masanya untuk beribadah dan menetap lama di negeri kekasihnya, Junjungan Nabi SAW, Kota Madinah al-Munawwarah. Dalam kesibukannya, beliau masih sempat untuk menulis dan karya tulisannya yang ilmiah dan berbobot amatlah banyak meliputi berbagai bidang ilmu termasuklah ilmu hadits, sirah Junjungan Nabi SAW, ilmu sanad dan tafsir. Daripada karangannya yang banyak itu, disenaraikan di sini 50 karya beliau seperti berikut:-
  1. الفتح الكبير في ضم الزيادة إلى الجامع الصغير
  2. منتخب الصحيحين
  3. وسائل الأصول إلى شمائل الرسول صلى الله عليه و سلم
  4. افضل الصلوات على سيد السادات صلى الله عليه و سلم
  5. الأحاديث الأربعين في وجوب طاعة أمير المؤمنين
  6. النظم البديع في مولد الشفيع صلى الله عليه و سلم
  7. الهمزية الألفية (طيبة الغراء) في مدح سيد الأنبياء
  8. الأحاديث الأربعين في فضائل سيد المرسلين
  9. الأحاديث الأربعين في أمثال أفصح العالمين
  10. قصيدة سعادة المعاد في موازنة بانت سعاد
  11. مثال نعله الشريف صلى الله عليه و سلم
  12. حجة الله على العالمين
  13. سعادة الدارين في الصلاة على سيد الكونين صلى الله عليه و سلم
  14. السابقات الجياد في مدح سيد العباد صلى الله عليه و سلم
  15. خلاصة الكلام في ترجيح دين الإسلام
  16. هادي المريد إلى طرق الأسانيد
  17. الفضائل المحمدية
  18. الورد الشافي على الأدعية و الأذكار النبوية
  19. المزدوجة الغراء في الإستغاثة بأسماء الله الحسنى
  20. نجوم المهتدين في معجزاته صلى الله عليه و سلم
  21. إرشاد الحيارى
  22. جامع الثناء على الله
  23. مفرج الكروب
  24. حزب الإستغاثات
  25. أحسان الوسائل في نظم أسماء النبي الكامل
  26. البرهان المسدد في إثبات نبوة سيدنا محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم
  27. دليل التجار إلى أخلاق أخيار
  28. المجموعة النبهانية في المدائح النبوية
  29. سبيل النجاة في حب في الله و البغض في الله
  30. القصيدة الرائية الكبرى
  31. الرائية الصغرى في ذم البدعة و مدح السنة الغراء
  32. جواهر البحار في فضائل النبي المختار صلى الله عليه و سلم
  33. تهذيب النفوس
  34. إتخاف المسلم
  35. جامع كرامات الأولياء
  36. العقود اللؤلؤية
  37. الدلالات الواضحات
  38. رياض الجنة في أذكار الكتاب و السنة
  39. الشرف المؤبد لآل محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم
  40. الأنوار المحمدية
  41. تفسير قرة العين
  42. شواهد الحق
  43. الأساليب البديعة في فضل الصحابة و إقناع الشيعة
  44. حسن الشرعية في مشروعية صلاة الظهر بعد الجمعة
  45. تنبيه الأفكار
  46. الرحمة المهداة في فضل الصلاة
  47. الأربعين من أحاديث سيد المرسلين صلى الله عليه و سلم
  48. الصلوات الألفية في الكمالات المحمدية
  49. البشائر الإيمانية في المبشرات المنامية
  50. الأسماء فيما لسيدنا محمد من الأسماء
Syaikh Yusuf juga terkenal dengan kuat beribadah dan ramai yang menyatakan bahawa beliau termasuk dalam kalangan wali Allah yang diberikan berbagai karamah. Kecintaan beliau kepada Junjungan Nabi SAW tidak boleh disangkal lagi, kerana beliau sungguh-sungguh mengamalkan sunnah-sunnah baginda serta sentiasalah beliau menyebut-nyebut akan Junjungan Nabi SAW pada lisannya dan dalam karangannya baik berupa sholawat maupun berbagai syair-syair pujian kepada Junjungan Nabi SAW. Manusia menyaksikan pada wajah beliau terpancar cahaya kesholehan. Syaikh Yusuf wafat di Beirut pada awal Ramadhan 1350H / 1932M setelah menghabiskan umurnya dalam ketaatan dan kecintaan kepada Allah SWT dan rasulNya SAW. Rahmat Allah ke atas beliau sentiasa dan moga ditempatkan dalam syurga yang penuh kenikmatan di samping kekasihnya Junjungan Nabi SAW. .... al-Fatihah.

Cuplikan Dari Ahsanul Wasa-il

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Thursday, August 7, 2014

On this issue Ann Coulter thinks like I think...

Ann Coulter's scathing indictment of American Christianity took the form of an attack on a doctor who left his home in the U.S. to become a missionary to Liberia and wound up catching the Ebola virus. I loved it! A true story: I was interested in planting a church in the inner city of a major southern metroplex a few years ago. I needed advice and some fundraising help from my denomination - whose name will go unmentioned - but suffice it to say that this multinational church denomination is famous for sending missionaries abroad, especially to Africa. Eventually during my conversation over lunch with the Missions Board Director, the topic of how much I needed to get started came up. When I asked how much it would cost to send a missionary to Africa, I was told a five figure sum could be given by the Board and the rest would have to be raised from the local church. I suggested I'd be interested in receiving a tenth of that amount. When he asked where I was interested in going, I replied, to the inner city. Unfortunately for me that did not strike him as a mission field and the conversation's tone changed a bit. While sympathetic to my desires, the Missions Director delicately stated that US inner cities were ineligible for missions status since, in so many words as he put it: it was the "territory" of the Black Churches of America. Ahem! Ah, well. That was that. A missionary to Africa can receive $30,000 from a major denomination but a missionary to Atlanta, not even a tenth of that. I was not entirely discouraged, but I did leave that denomination and temporarily laid aside my plans to preach and teach the Word of God. Abandoning the mission field in the city, I sought instead to become an educator - and found a position as a Christian school educator, in particular. As it turned out, the Lord was providentially closing doors and leading me to where He wanted me to be. And like a fish to water, it has been in the field of Christian education where I have found much satisfaction and peace. Yet every now and again, I look back at the fields of harvest in the city from time to time and wonder what might have been. When I see the collapse of the Black family in the city I wonder what good I could have done. Reading Ann Coulter's article caused me to remember what I saw at the time. America's soul was dying and it needed missionaries to the places where its soul was darkest: it's cities. Nothing against Africa, there are many fine Christians and churches there, but America needs all its Christian hands on deck, on its own shores. Ann is right, that doctor would have been of far greater use here in our towns and cities where diseases of the soul abound.

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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Post #1,111: Some observations about Top Chef: Las Vegas

Yes, this is my 1,111th post! Not as big as #666, #777 or #1,000, but it's an interesting enough milestone. And here I am wasting it on some observations I have about the series premiere of Top Chef Season 6, in Vega$!

1a. Number of chefs participating in Baltimore Restaurant Week: 1 (Jessie - doesn't she just look like she would know Duff Goldman?)

1b. Number of chefs who live and work, like, on the Chesapeake Bay and yet has never worked with shrimp (okay, prawns): 1 (again, Jessie)

1c. Number of Murliners: 3 (Jessie again, and brothers Bryan and Michael)

1d. Also from the MD-DC-VA area: the other Mike, from DC's Zaytinya.

2. Other locales well-represented: Seattle (2 chefs), Atlanta (3 chefs)

3. Hotties: Well, they keep putting Bryan and his brother Michael on screen over and over again. And NYC's Ash and Franco-Friscan Mattin (pron. "Mat-TEEN") are kind of cute. As for the women, expect to see a lot more of Ashley and the two Jennifers. No, the rest of the cast is definitely NOT unattractive, but these folks just jump out at me as the ones that'll make the guys and gals go gaga. Now can they cook?

4. Number of obligatory members of the LGBT community: definitely one (Ashe), maybe two (Preeti???) or three (Mattin?????)

5. Number of people cooking at the "molecular level": none so far (thank God)

6. Number of stupid new ideas, because it's like, you know, Vega$: two - that "gold chip for immunity" bullshit and that "This chip is worth $15,000!!!" thing.

7. Best looking dishes this show: the shrimp and grits and that donut thing.

8. Was the relay stupid? No, though Preeti shoulda spoken up before she belabored over those clams.

9. Most irritating thus far: Mike I. and that guy with the sideburns Eli.

10. Okay, how many of these people have tattoos? Just an observation, that's all.

Dan said...

The return of Top Chef is always welcome in this house. I can only take so much Hell's Kitchen and Chopped! Not sure if this will be the season where TC jumps the shark (immunity chips and $15K prizes!) but I enjoyed the premiere episode.

So far I'd have to say I'm not a fan of Jen C (if you tell us you can be a bitch in the kitchen you're probably, well, just a bitch) and the cocky, super sexist Mike I (another TV personality giving NJ a bad name). I do like the two brothers and can appreciate their competitive vibe but beardy Kevin Gillespie seems talented and humble and my fave so far.

Is it my imagination or were the Top Chef Masters far more humble and appealing than most of these up and comers who really haven't made a name for themselves.

Summer said...

I thought it was funny when one of the guys asked the blonde from Philly if she was the "pastry chef" and she said "No, I'm the CHEF". They didn't make anything out of it, but the stereotype was there.

Eve's voice annoyed me. She seemed kind of whiny. And I'm not really liking the French guy. I'd like to see Jessie stick around for awhile though. She's interesting.

John said...

I have never seen Hell's Kitchen, and I never intend to. Only seen one episode of TC:M but those chefs do indeed have a bit more class and humility overall. Like the bit where Michael Chiarello was really going inside himself to ignore little Dale yelping at him trying to start something.

theminx said...

Preeti and Ashley are the female members of the LGBT community. And I think Ash said he was the lone gay male. Mattin just wears that red scarf. :)


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All That Remains have shared both the cover art and a lyric video for ‘Stand Up‘ from their upcoming seventh studio album ‘A War You Cannot Win,’ which follows the disc ‘For We Are Many.’ The album drops on Nov. 6 via Razor & Tie. Just in time for Election Day, which is poignant in relation to the band, given politically informed frontman Phil Labonte’s recent public comments about the right to bear arms and Tom Morello.

‘A War You Cannot Win’ found ATR reuniting with longtime producer (and fellow Massachusetts metaller) Adam D of Killswitch Engage fame. He worked with the band on ‘Behind Silence and Solitude,’ ‘This Darkened Heart,’ ‘The Fall of Ideals’ and ‘For We Are Many.’

The record is also the result of an intense writing period that commenced when the band came off the road after a grueling, 18-month tour in support of ‘For We Are Many.’ No rest for ATR, that’s for sure.

The ominous cover art, featuring a mushroom cloud, barbed wire and a skull with gun crossbones, was created by P.R. Brown, who has worked with Slipknot.

The lyric video for first single ‘Stand Up’ was also made available. It’s essentially the song’s lyrics popping up as text on screen over images of the band and other creepy things. It’s dark and mysterious, yet easy to watch.

Fans can pre-order bundles including t-shirts, hoodies, posters, vinyl and more here.

So, ATR fans can enjoy the cover artwork and the lyric video, and look forward to a fall tour that’s set to be announced shortly. Fall 2012 will be all about All That Remains!

Watch All That Remains’ ‘Stand Up’ Lyric Video


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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Unnoticed, but Present - Backyard Birding

Well, I did not realize Bangalore - more specifically, my neighborhood - had so rich a variety of plumages.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found Wagtails, Sunbirds, Eagles, Kites (including Brahminy), Pheasants, Cuckoos, Grey/Blue  Tits, Munias, Parrots, Cormorants, Pond Herons, Egrets (Great and Little), Bee-Eaters, Prinias, Tailor Birds, Caucals, Crows, Doves, Pigeons, Mynas, Sparrows, Chickens, and many more.

We spotted all these birds within a radius of 50-200 meters from my home in Bangalore. I'm sure you can find a lot of these birds and many more in your own surroundings. Backyard birding is interesting indeed. Place a comment if you spot any of these.

Happy Birding! Enjoy God's creation.

PS: I've taken a break from birding but will get back to it very soon.

The picture is just for representation purposes: you may not find all those birds in your backyard.


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Monday, October 8, 2012

Who says we celebrate birthDAYs? I think it's more like a birthWEEK for the kids!

A fun celebration of my DD's 13th birthday!

For this page I used Dani Mogstad's (Design by Dani) super fun "Hootenanny" kit. Such a cheerful birthday kit!
For this page I want to say thanks to my friend Liz. This page is a lift of a super cute page she recently posted. If you'd like to see Liz's page, you can find it here.

1 comment:

  1. Barbara! I love your scraplift (and, I am impressed with all the frames you used -- I was using a template!). So cute, lots of great shots. Thanks for sharing this with me.


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Thursday, April 16, 2015

The Art of Baking

My sweet daughter is such a talented baker. We, along with our friends and neighbors, are lucky and are frequently treated with Lauren's delicious baking! Love it!

Created with Gennifer Bursett's Celebrate This kit at Pixels & Co.

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Just for fun - On 2/14 and 2/15, I took these pictures to show you the view of the path from the parking lot, compare it to the next day at the same spot. Under the drift of sand is a 4ft. snow fence and wood decking.

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Friday, 4 March 2005

Chris Rowan

Chris Rowan, originally uploaded by rache65.

Chris Rowan modelled the theory and practise of cooperative learning techniques through engaging teachers in a range of activities. Teachers then worked together to determine how they could be applied in different ways in their own classrooms. Chris linked practise to theory consistently throughout the workshop.

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Thursday, July 9, 2009

If we buy a vacation home

It will have stairs that look like this. I absolutely love them and I want them now. These stairs were featured in the Absolutely beautiful things blog. I just think these are so different and would make a beach house pop and it is different from the normal blues and whites you see in a beach house! love it

  1. So pretty! I've been dreaming of owning a beach house too. We must need a vacation! :)

  2. I agree, I am going away in a couple days to SC I can't wait!!

Blog Design by Delicious Design Studio


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Fabnit Youth Terry Cloth Wrist Bands - Closeout Sale

By: Fabnit
Item #: E16606
4.8 (5 Reviews)

  • This product is currently out of stock. Please check back at a later time.
  • Closeout items cannot be returned or exchanged.

Similar Items by Category: Baseball > Accessories

Product Description

Youth Fabnit Terry Cloth Wrist Bands

Made of comfy terrycloth.

There may be some slight dust/soiliing on this product.

Great for your youth athlete.

Due to color differences in monitors, the colors on this site are for reference only. Please contact Epic Sports if you have any color questions.

Customer Reviews

(Oklahoma) on June 30, 2015
5 Stars

Bought 50 pairs and had the numbers put on them and the Kid's went "CRAZY"!!! The parents also enjoyed them.

(Hawaii) on November 26, 2013
5 Stars

Great deal!

(Tennessee) on October 30, 2012
5 Stars

They do the job.

(California) on April 28, 2012
5 Stars

Simple but great product at a more than reasonable price. Epic Sports should be your 1st stop when looking for sports related items. Their closeout prices are great, but their regular prices are lower than you will find anywhere else. Great customer service and delivery times as well.

(Indiana) on February 7, 2013
4 Stars

These are sturdier than I expected and at .99 they are a much better deal than the local sports store which sells wrist bands that fall apart for about $2.50 a set. We use these for basketball. I will probably buy more. I bought blue and yellow.

Security Seal Customer Reviews See Epic Sports Reviews at Bizrate.com
©2017 Epic Sports, Inc. - Baseball Equipment - 888.269.2440 - Contact Sales - Affiliates - Privacy Policy - Site Map


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Home > Error Code > Frigidaire Gas Range F10 Error Code

Frigidaire Gas Range F10 Error Code

Gene // Dec 24, 2014 at 1:10 pm Hello Craig, It is not difficult to do it but, for more accurate advice I need the complete model number of the oven. All Electronic Oven Controls (EOC) have ability for self diagnosis. Any ideas? About Press Copyright Creators Advertise Developers +YouTube Terms Privacy Policy & Safety Send feedback Try something new! have a peek at this web-site

I can't help but worry there is a bigger issue, this time this was NOT relatively close to a self clean, which I have read can be a cause of electrical This feature is not available right now. The content in this area cannot be displayed because your browser has JavaScript disabled (or does not support it, not common). If in spite of everything it would not fix the problem, you can return it to AppliancePartsPros.com within 365 days. http://www.shopyourway.com/questions/1026889

Frigidaire Gas Range F10 Error Code

Gene. PDF Manual 477b7102-4757-44e0-8d1d-70baaa8a80b8.p... That error code stands for a shorted keypad and I would recommend performing a reset on your range. You can not check the EOC instrumentally.

  • Newer Frigidaire Range Fault Codes ( Some Kenmore ranges are built by Frigidaire EG:970.1234567, C970.1234567 or 790.1234567 ) Fault Code Likely Failure Condition/Cause Suggested Corrective Action F10 F11 F12 F13 Runaway
  • There is no a separate keypad in your range.
  • When I check the EOC it give a random number and goes back to OL on the tester.
  • Turn off power for 30 seconds then turn power on.
  • Keypad no longer responds to any commands.
  • Really Thanks Thanks, You save me a 176.00 plus technician Service.
  • His idea is easiest and least expensive.

So we were back to blaming the EOC. Any help would be great, thank you. The PF should be cleared and you should be able to operate the oven by touching one of the keypads to appropriate contact pads. Frigidaire Stove Keeps Beeping The burners work fine, oven cannot be used.

SamuraiRepairman 68,179 views 10:49 Troubleshooting Why Your Oven Won't Heat | PartSelect.com - Duration: 2:54. The correction for this problem is to replace the EOC. The part number for the oven relay board 316443920 You can order the part by clicking on the part number. Thanks, please let me know and I'll place an order.

Thanks again and merry Christmas! Kenmore Stove F11 Error Code You may want to start the troubleshooting from testing the temperature probe resistance. Loading... The new one should solve it.

Eoc Frigidaire Oven

Of course nothing that ran from the other controls would work, because of the disconnected ribbons. Use the "Search by the model number" link bellow to see if your range has a such part. Frigidaire Gas Range F10 Error Code If you would order the part from AppliancePartsPros.com by clocking on the part number I posted, you have nothing to loose. Frigidaire Range Error Codes The overlay part number is 316419103 If it happened while the oven was in cooking mode, start the troubleshooting from testing the temperature probe for continuity as described in the article

This error code means a shorted/faulty keypad. Check This Out Have a manual for Kitchen Ranges? Good luck. Michele // May 7, 2015 at 7:38 am Hi Gene, I have a Frigidaire Gallery series, gas stove, Model Number #FGGF3076KB . F11 Error Code Electrolux Range

Peter, you are the man. I managed to push them back into the cap, and we were able to reconnect it to the EOC board, but at least one of them broke off. I cleaned the contacts on the EOC after removing the key pad and voila! Source Keep me posted.

Service people suggest a whole new electronics module, unfortunately. Frigidaire Oven F10 Reset Any ideas? View Most Popular Kitchen Ranges Related Question After a power outage, what is causing my Frigidaire stove to beep and display an F11 code?

Most likely the problem is a faulty EOC.

I had the same exact issue, f11 error code on a frigidaire range oven. In this model the keypad is a part of the EOC. I suggest resetting your stove by either unplugging it or disconnecting the power at your home's circuit breaker for 3-5 minutes. Frigidaire Oven F10 Beeping F11 just appeared one day without us using it, without a power failure, etc -is this common?

I then received a 2nd f10 error and this time because I was only running my oven when I could babysit it, I want to say that my oven decided to Can you suggest a fix for this? Gene. http://bashprofile.net/error-code/f9-code-on-frigidaire-oven.html Otherwise check the oven temperature sensor (RTD sensor) as described earlier and replace if necessary.

Gene // Nov 30, 2014 at 4:31 pm Hello Martha, I will be more than glad to help you and your lovely mother!


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Bay County Court Facility
1230 Washington Avenue, Suite 715
Bay City, Michigan 48708-5737
Voice: (989) 895-4205

Probate Court, often called the "family court," became part of true Family Court effective January 1, 1998. This change in the court structure has been mandated by the legislature. Traditionally, probate court has been divided into two divisions: Juvenile and Estates. Effective in January, the juvenile division work will be handled by the same personnel but will be known as the Family Division of Circuit Court. Part of the family division work will continue to be juvenile delinquency and child abuse and neglect cases. Services for youth include probation and Intensive Probation for delinquents, a day-treatment program, and a gender-specific program for girls. The court also orders foster care for institutional commitment of juveniles and neglected children, through the Family Independence Agency. In addition, the Probate Judge will be assigned divorce, custody and paternity cases which overlap with the traditional juvenile caseload, to assure that one judge handles all family issues for one family. The Probate Court estates division will continue to handle the estates of deceased persons, guardianships and conservatorships for legally incapacitated persons, and mental illness cases. Part of its guardianship program includes the appointment of a Public Guardian to manage the affairs of people who are unable to tend to themselves and who have no family to do so. The Public Guardian services is provided through a contract with Catholic Family Services which began in 1998.

Probate & Juvenile Court Judge

Judge Jan Miner

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