The little crooked things we do...

Rasullah s.a.w last sermon

(Among the contents extracted from the last Sermon delivered by Rasulullah SAW on the Ninth Day of Zulhijjah 10 AH at the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafah)

In the Name of Allah Most Beneficient and Most Merciful

O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take this words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be repealed.

Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, as much as you have your rights over your women, they too have their rights over you. If they have fulfilled your rights then they too deserve the rights to be fed and clothed in kindness. Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and comitted helpers. And your rights over them are to disallow anyone you dislike into your houses and you are forbidden to commit adultery.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform the five daily prayers (Solah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, perform Zakat from your wealth, perform Hajj if you can afford to. Know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. (All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white) You are all equal. Nobody is more superior than the other except in piety and good action.

Remember, that one day you will appear before Allah and be accountable for every deed you have committed. So beware, do not ever be lead astrayed from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, No Prophet or Apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Therefore, O People, reason well, understand my words which I have conveyed to you. I leave behind two things; which if you hold to both strongly, forever, you will never be lead astrayed. That is - the QUR'AN and my SUNNAH (examples).

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me direcly. I bear witness O Allah that I have conveyed Your Message to Your people.

Taken from: Global Abjad Blog.

See the bold writing...well I don't know about other people but here are a few little crooked things that some of us follow, with the believe it's right. (some of it were the things my mom and dad learnt while attending the Haj course every week at the nearby mosque).

1. Women must wear the 'white telekung' to pray - it's certainly is Malaysian only believe. Where this believe root from was unknown since the Arabs certainly don't have this aversion to white only prayer clothes for woman. You know sometimes you came across a person who said that she can't pray because she didn't bring the telekong...hmmm. I don't know how she justified that...the sin because you don't have the right outfit or the sin of not praying. God certainly never said you can't pray with your everyday wear as long as it covers your aurat. The worse pathetic excuses I heard was..'I can't pray because there is no sejadah'...err are we expecting red carpet welcome during judgement day too?

2. Expecting the deceased family members to serve food - It's really wierd but somehow it became like the thing you must do. When a family lost their family member and people start visiting...why do we need to serve them food? That family just lost their loved ones and we are chasing them towards the kitchen. Isn't it better if we pay our respect and go home so that the family can continue with their grieve and recite to Quran instead of the recipe.

To make matter worse...just let say the family do serve you all this nice kuih-muih despite the grieving...some 'makcik' at the corner...eats it and make a comment the other few 'makcik' can hear...'ishh tak sedap la kuih ni' with other extra tidbits of new gossips she just learnt about the grieving family. (Talk about daftness and stupidity roll in one).

3. The non-muhrim or the dog - which is worst...holding a dog or holding you boyfriend/girlfriend's (in short not your mahram) hand. But all in the twisted matter...some of us has this big aversion to dog and some even came up with all this wierd judmental hukum when they saw a person touching a dog. But everthing is okay when they are holding their beloved hand strolling the supermarket. ( I've seen how a person who posted his picture holding a dog get bombarded by a person who despite all her 'religious sermon' posted all these cheek to cheek pictures of her and her boyfriend). Obviously holding a person who is not you mahram is 'haram' while holding the dog will be considered just as 'najis' (dirty). If you hold a dog all you need to do is clean yourself with water and mud. (samak). But you certainly can't do the same when you belong to the other category.

4. Arafah and Eid-Adha - when you are in Makkah performing the Haj, you are suppose to forget all about the 'worldly' things and your family...just God in you mind. Sitting in Arafah you are suppose to imagine..it's Mahsyar on Judgement day. Anyhow..in the advance of technology...that is not the case, we have people calling their family asking how was the 'Hari Raya' on Wukuf day...hello!, dedication to God remember...not the cow at home please...You can call home after you finish the Haj and the camel photograph session can wait too.