Sunday, September 21, 2008

Gergasi ekonomi dunia ranap angkara riba

Lehman Brothers, AIG and Merrill Lynch ..........


Amalan mengaut faedah tanpa risiko nyata cetus ketidaktentuan sistem kewangan global

AYAT 279 surah al-Baqarah menegaskan maksudnya: "Oleh itu, kalau kamu tidak juga melakukan (perintah mengenai larangan riba itu), maka ketahuilah kamu: akan adanya peperangan dari Allah dan Rasul-Nya, (akibatnya kam
u tidak menemui selamat)."

Bukti kebenaran wujud peperangan Allah dan Rasul-Nya terhadap pengamal riba dalam minggu ini adalah kehancuran Lehman Brothers dan Federal Housing Authority sebagai dua gergasi pengamal riba dunia berasal dari Amerika Syarikat (AS). Dan dalam hitungan hari selepas itu, Selasa lalu, satu lagi gergasi kewangan dalam sektor insurans yang beroperasi di 130 negara dan mempuny
ai 116,000 pekerja tidak termasuk pekerja separuh masa, American International Group Inc (AIG) sedang berada dalam proses untuk tumbang dan tinggal nama.


Bagaimanapun, ada 'tangan-tangan' yang berusaha untuk menyelamatkan AIG kerana ia dikatakan mempunyai keutamaan global sehingga 'pertolongan sesat' yang mulanya akan diberikan sejumlah AS$85 bilion oleh US Federal Reserve (Fed) sudah menjadi AS$500 bilion gabungan ta'awun 'ala al-itsm wa al-'udwan (bertolong-tolongan dalam berbuat dosa dan pencerobohan) bank-bank pusat Eropah, Britain, Jepun, Switzerland dan Kanada di samping Fed sendiri yang menambahkan jaminannya menjadi AS$265 bilion..

Jumlah wang yang begitu banyak yakni AS$500 bilion itu diperuntukkan untuk menyelamatkan satu sistem yang dimusuhi Allah yang mana jika ia diperuntukkan untuk kesejahteraan sebenar manusia sejagat sudah p
asti akan lebih menguntungkan kepentingan kemanusiaan daripada kepentingan segelintir pengamal riba.

Penulis tertarik dengan komen yang dibuat oleh seorang profesor di Universiti New York, Nouriel Roubini terhadap 'double standard' kerajaan Amerika ke atas krisis Lehman Brothers dan AIG. Professor di Stern School of Business itu berkata, seperti dipetik Reuters, Khamis lalu: "�We're essentially continuing a system were profits
are privatized and � losses socialized."
Sistem ekonomi kapitalis sebagaimana disifatkan Roubini ini adalah sistem orang kufur nikmat yang dianugerahkan Allah Ta'ala. Orang kufur nikmat yang tamak dan kemaruk harta dunia. Mari kita perhatikan firman Allah yang bermaksud: "Sesungguhnya manusia itu dijadikan mempunyai tabiat resah gelisah (lagi bakhil kedekut); apabila dia ditimpa kesusahan, dia sangat resah gelisah; dan apabila dia beroleh kesenangan, dia sangat bakhil kedekut." (Surah al-Ma'arij: 19-21)

Firman Allah ini dijelaskan lagi dengan satu contoh dalam ayat yang lain maksudnya: "Dalam pada itu, apabila mereka naik bahtera (lalu menemui sesuatu bahaya di laut), mereka memohon pertolongan kepada Allah dengan doa yang tulu
s ikhlas kepada-Nya. Kemudian setelah Allah menyelamatkan mereka (naik) ke darat, mereka berlaku syirik kepada-Nya. (Akibat syirik itu) jadilah mereka orang yang kufur nikmat yang Kami berikan kepadanya, dan (menjadi) orang yang hanya bersuka ria di dunia; kemudian mereka akan mengetahui kelak akibat buruk apa yang mereka lakukan." (Surah al-'Ankabut: 65-66)

Inilah yang berlaku dalam krisis AIG hari ini. Ketika mereka dalam keadaan memperoleh keuntungan sejak penubuhannya pada 1919 di China, mereka senyap dan berfoya-foya dengannya tanpa menghiraukan kepentingan orang lain. Tapi, ketika berlaku krisis yang berp
unca daripada amalan riba yang diperangi Allah, mereka berteriak minta tolong sehingga seluruh dunia terkena kesannya termasuk mungkin insurans kereta anda dengan American International Assurance (AIA).

Pengalaman masyarakat antarabangsa moden membuktikan keburukan amalan riba sejak terjadinya krisis ekonomi 1929. Tapi mereka tidak serik-serik lagi kerana tujuan yang dicanangkan mereka belum wujud lagi. Tujuan yang akan membuat semua manusia menjadi hamba kepada segelintir manusia pimpinan Yahudi zionis seperti digariskan dalam protokol zionis dan pernah dikisahkan Shakespear dalam Merchant of Venice menerusi tokoh pengamal riba berbangsa Yahudi, Shelok.
Seorang pakar ilmu ekonomi, Prof G Haberler dari Universiti Harvard di AS menulis di dalam bukunya Kemakmuran dan Kemelesetan bahawa tiada suatu masalah yang menimbulkan perbezaan pendapat di kalangan pakar ekonomi selain masalah yang berkaitan dengan nilai wang faedah atau faedah bank. Masalah ini masih suatu persoalan yang belum mencapai sebarang penyelesaian sehingga sekarang, dan ketika berlakunya kemelesetan terbesar di seluruh dunia kapitalis pada 1929, maka sistem perekonomian kapitalis hampir tumbang untuk selama-lamanya akibat merebaknya wabak pengangguran.

Pelopor dan pemimpin pakar ekonomi moden, Lord J M Keynes mengkritik sistem ekonomi klasik dan mengisytiharkan sikap bertaubatnya ke atas sistem itu, sambil melancarkan serangan yang tidak mengenal ampun terhadap faedah bank. Pandangan ini diikuti oleh muridnya, Sir Roy Harrod yang menerbitkan sebuah buku bertajuk Ke Arah Suatu Sistem Ekonomi Yang Bergerak Dinamik. Dalam buku ini, Harrod bukan saja membela pandangan Keynes, malah menokok tambah lagi dengan jelas dan terang dan beliau menyatakan bahawa sistem ekonomi bebas itu tidak boleh kekal dan tahan lama selagi masih wujud suatu puak tuan punya modal yang terus menjalankan kegiatan memberi pinjaman wang melalui bank-bank di samping mengaut pendapatan yang dinamakan 'faedah' tanpa menghadapi sebarang risiko atau menjalankan suatu usaha dan pekerjaan yang membawa kebajikan. Puak itu menjadi beban yang terpaksa dipikul oleh penerima pinjaman yang terpaksa bekerja bertungkus-lumus menghadapi pelbagai bentuk risiko.

Oleh itu, Harrod berpendapat bahawa masyarakat perlu segera diselamatkan daripada pelbagai bentuk ancaman kejahatan yang ditimbulkan oleh puak minoriti ini dengan cara melakukan suatu usaha berkesan yang akhirnya melakukan larangan dan pengharaman kadar faedah. Dan pada ketika itu semua pemilik wang terpaksa melaburkan wang mereka melalui pelbagai cara yang produktif yang memberi faedah kepada masyarakat. (Rujuk al-Jammal, Ensklopedia Ekonomi Islam, ii/432-3) Al-Quran al-Karim begitu tegas dan lantang sekali menyatakan hukum haramnya riba. Ia yang diturunkan lebih 1,400 tahun yang lalu sudah mengisytiharkan perang terhadap pengamal riba dan pada hari ini masyarakat antarabangsa dilanda wabaknya seperti diberitakan dalam sebuah hadis Nabi Muhammad SAW maksudnya: "Akan tiba suatu zaman, tidak ada seorang juga pun kecuali ia terbabit dalam memakan harta riba. Kalau ia tidak memakan secara langsung, dia akan terkena juga debu-debunya." (Hadis riwayat Ibn Majah)

Maka pada akhirnya, tidak ada jalan penyelesaian agar kita terselamat daripada bencana perang terhadap riba yang diisytiharkan al-Quran di atas selain sambungan ayat pada permulaan tulisan ini iaitu maksudnya: "Dan jika kamu bertaubat, maka hak kamu (yang sebenarnya) ialah pokok asal harta kamu. (Dengan yang demikian) kamu tidak berlaku zalim kepada sesiapa, dan kamu juga tidak dizalimi oleh sesiapa." Mari kita hapuskan riba! Wallahu a'lam.

- Abdurrahman Haqqi

Thursday, September 11, 2008

INSEP Training Program by SHRDC

INSEP, or Industrial Skills Enhancement Program, organized by the Selangor Human Resource Development Center (SHRDC), is a training and development program aimed at producing competent graduate engineers.

The SHRDC was established in 1992 to tie a closer relationship between the private and the government sectors and work hand in hand to upgrade the skills and competency of the human capital, especially among fresh graduates.

The founding is a collaboration between the Selangor state government with a number of prominent engineering multinationals e.g. Matsushita, Denso, MEMC Electronics Materials, Motorola, NEC Semiconductors, Texas Instruments and Western Digital.

In the program, participants will undergo between 4 to 12 months of training with SHRDC (based in Shah Alam), then 4 to 6 months of on-the-job training (OJT) before they are hired for full time employment with any participating manufacturing or engineering company. During the training with SHRDC and with the designated company, all participants will also be given paid allowances.

Successful applicants will be absorbed to different industrial and technology functions that include: semiconductor, enterprise resource planning (ERP), IT security, printed circuit board (PCB) design, e-commerce, software engineering, embedded system, database, industrial automation and plastic molding.

To be eligible for the training program, candidates need to be Malaysian citizens holding any technical or IT degree with CGPA 2.5 and above. He or she must not be bonded with the government or any other employer/party.

To apply for the program, send your resume to insep@shrdc.org.my. Any inquiry please contact Marketing Department, SHRDC, No. 1A, 1st Floor, Block 2, Worldwide Business Park, Section 13, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor. Tel: 03-5513 3560.

Click here to know more about the Industrial Skills Enhancement Program (INSEP).

http://www.shrdc.org.my/insep.asp

companies participated in this program : motorola, intel, avago and many more..

Monday, September 08, 2008

The World's Most Reputable Company

Toyota is the world’s most reputable company for the year 2008, a study by Reputation Institute, a New York based research firm concluded.

The Japanese company is currently the world’s largest auto maker, ahead of General Motors, the company it overtook since the last two years. Apart from the Toyota brand itself, it also owns other best selling vehicle brands such as Lexus, Scion, and Daihatsu in the form of compact cars, sport utility vehicles and trucks.

Other than the automotive business, Toyota also provides financial services such as financing, equipment leasing and related financial products.

On the second position was Google, which breaks into the top spot for the first time. The world’s largest search engine, which has won numerous business awards in the recent years, came as a little surprise, with the company’s reputation and value rising up almost unstoppable.

Sweden’s IKEA, Italy’s Ferrero and America’s Johnson&Johnson came third, fourth and fifth respectively.

More than 600 largest companies were researched to find those with the best global reputation. Toyota, which is headquartered in Tokyo, Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, was ranked 6th in the last two years - 2006 and 2007. In July 2008, Toyota was named as the world’s 5th largest company in the world, behind Wal-Mart, Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP.

Friday, September 05, 2008

How To Negotiate Salary

Following are some of the tips you can use while (or before) negotiating your salary with prospective employers. They don’t guarantee you anything, but the least they do is getting yourself prepared.

1. Evaluate how much you are worth

Conduct an assessment on yourself - compare your skills, the demand of the skills in the job market, and find out the salaries of those in your job niche.

Take account both internal and external factors in evaluating your salary. Is your company a leader in the market (which can mean they’re already paying top salaries)? Are you currently lowly paid even though you’re being loyal with your company and stay for years (which can mean your chance of landing a job with top salary is higher)?

2. Compare salary and compensation plan

Compare the current salary and the new salary offered. Then go to the next level - study the overall compensation plan. The salary offered might be lower than you are expecting but there might be some elements in the benefits or perks that counter it. List the haves and the have-nots - e.g. share option, medical benefits, traveling entitlement, allowances, insurance scheme and so on. If they’re not satisfactory, go back to the negotiation table.

3. When asked about salary, try soliciting a range

Certain people react differently when asked about current salary at point-blank. If you’re put in a position to reveal how much you’re earning, get even by soliciting a range this new company can offer. That’s only fair, isn’t it? This is a pre-emptive strike that can determine if you should pursue your interest with the new company.

4. Use justification rather than confrontation

Rather than shamelessly hammering your fist and stating your demand, justify why you’re worth that salary. Use persuasion techniques effectively.

“Part of the job requires me to (do certain stuff). As my own experience tells me, there are only a handful of specialists in the market out there who have this expertise and I’m sure you’d agree. I’ve done my own analysis, and their salary is either at par or above than the salary figure I’m asking.”

5. Don’t give ultimatum too soon

Some people throw the “pay me, or leave me” ultimatum too soon thinking that the employer is desperate enough to get you on-board. Often times, this will result in a pissed off employer who would soon withdraw from the offer altogether. Rather, allow 2 or 3 rounds of salary negotiation, before you make up your mind.


-skorcareer

Overall 4% tax savings for employees

Employees in general can save about 4% in tax payment on their income pursuant to the tabling of the Budget 2009 last week by Prime Minister. Effective year of assessment 2008 (YA), expenses on allowance, benefits in kind and perquisites provided by employers would be given full deduction even though such benefits were not stipulated in the service contract of the employee. With this proposal, the schedular tax deduction (STD) for the monthly salary will mainly be based on the employees basic pay and not gross monthly income anymore.

Employees also enjoyed petrol and travel allowance between the home and work place of up to RM2,400 a year, adding that business travelling for official duties would also be eligible for higher benefits on the petrol and travelling allowance amounting to RM6,000 per year. Budget for 2009 also includes allowance or fees for parking, allowance or subsidies for childcare of up to RM2,400 a year, meal allowance and staff discounts of up to RM1,000 a year on company traded goods.




Thursday, September 04, 2008

Rahsia Bisnes Orang Cina

The Chinese are well known to have produced many extremely successful businessmen and entrepreneurs.

This country itself has a rich history of Chinese migrants and their families who were once reached the shore with little or no money but eventually topped the rich list and stamped their name in the history books. More importantly, they left a legacy that benefits many generations, and at many various levels. Loh Boon Siew, Lim Goh Tong, Robert Kuok are only a few examples in Malaysia.

In many parts of the world, including in the US, United Kingdom and others, the once small Chinese community grew and developed into densely populated Chinatowns. It’s true they say ‘just throw any china man, and soon the place will blossom with economy activities and the Chinese population’.

Ann Wan Seng, a Chinese Muslim, has compiled a series of ’secrets’, tips and the way the Chinese do business since 1996 and in 2004 decided to publish a book on it. The book, Rahsia Bisnes Orang Cina (The Business Secrets of the Chinese) is available in major bookstores nationwide. So far it is only available in Malay language.

Rahsia Bisnes Orang CinaWan Seng studied and observed various aspects, characters and traits that propel the Chinese people to succeed. Being a Chinese himself, as well as coming from a family who runs business has given him some sort of advantage to closely research and collect his findings. Throughout his work, Wan Seng gathered enough evidence to brush off some of the common misconceptions that associate the Chinese with business success.

For example, one preconceived notion is that the Chinese are born to be good entrepreneurs and businessmen. That is not a fact. Instead, they are born just the same like any other races. However, while everyone is born equal, the Chinese differentiate themselves from the rest with distinguished traits, characters, philosophy and ambition. For instance, most people believe that hard work is a key to success.

The Chinese believe in this too, but they are the ones who take it extra miles, further ahead of others. Where work is concerned, no one can be as hard working as the Chinese. It is a philosophy held on to like a religion. Complacency is not in their life dictionary. When other people work 10 hours per day, they work 14 to 16 hours per day. This small difference, after many years, would eventually enable them to attain astounding success, and often times, miles away from others.

What else are their traits and secrets? Read the book and you will know a thing or two. Retail price is only RM18.90.

20 Myths of Entrepreneurship


1. An entrepreneur is born and not made

2. Money is always the number one motivation for an entrepreneur

3. It takes a lot of money to start a business

4. A great business has the best business plan

5. An entrepreneur is destined for financial freedom

6. Being an entrepreneur always means being your own boss

7. Entrepreneurs always work longer hours

8. Money is the most important tool for a start up business

9. A person needs to have a business experience before starting one

10. A successful entrepreneur has the best product in the market

11. Young entrepreneurs have the highest rate of success

12. Starting a business is an answer to an unhappy job

13. One business failure and that’s the end for an entrepreneur

14. A good business idea means you can easily get financial help

15. A successful entrepreneur can be a successful salaried worker

16. A successful salaried worker can be a successful entrepreneur

17. All entrepreneurs have high degree of stress threshold

18. Most entrepreneurs are the gambling lots

19. An entrepreneur can be successful only in the location he is familiar with

20. An entrepreneur can be successful only in the field he is familiar with


taken from skorcareer website

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

40 Days of Haj Leave for Civil Servants



The Muslim civil servants in Malaysia are entitled for 40 days of special leave to perform haj (pilgrimage).

The heads of department can grant the 40 days leave for those who apply in advance. The haj leave is granted only once within the period of service, and entitlement is made available only for confirmed employees who have served a minimum 4 years period.

If the employee needs more than 40 days of leave, he or she can consume the annual leave entitlement, school holiday leave (for teachers and academic staff), or apply for unpaid leave.

The announcement was made by the Public Service Department (PSD) after a member of Parliament, Razali Ibrahim of BN-Muar urged the government to streamline a policy that allows the employees to take special leave to perform haj.

The current haj leave is in accordance to the Government Circular (Pekeliling) 4 released in 1984, which stated that leave to perform haj, with full salary is already provided for.


New Doctors Will Get RM6000 Salary

Malaysian doctors, particularly houseman officers (HO) will enjoy a new salary revision which will also see automatic grade promotion upon the completion of 2-year housemanship beginning 2010. The new salary scale will effectively convert into the doubling of the present salary scale.

From The Star news:
PUTRAJAYA: At least 2,000 graduate house officers in government hospitals will get an automatic promotion to grade UD44 upon completion of their two-year housemanship in 2010.

They will be getting at least RM6,000 including allowances every month, which is almost double what the present graduate house officers are getting on grade UD41.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the promotion exercise would cost RM1.7mil annually. He added that at least 7,000 doctors on grades UD41 and UD44, who were appointed before 2008, would also get their long overdue promotions. This would cost another RM9.8mil. He said many doctors had been stuck at UD41 for six to seven years and that they would be moved to the higher scale of UD44.
“Hopefully, this promotion exercise will indirectly encourage many doctors to remain in the civil service,” he said.
Dr Ismail denied allegations by certain parties that there were not enough opportunities for other races compared to Malays in the medical sector. He said that from 2000 to February this year, there were 2,085 specialists of whom 56% were Malays, Chinese (23.7%) and Indians (19.3% ). He said 55% of the specialists on grade UD48 were Malays, 23% Chinese and 18.2% Indians. As for UD54, it was 58% Malay, 21% Chinese and 16% Indian.
Of the specialists under special grade C, he said 51.1% were Malays and Chinese and Indians made up 24% each. As for those under special grade B, he said that 42% were Malays with the Chinese and Indians making up 24% and 34% respectively. - The Star.
While most doctors and the wannabe-doctors will welcome this news with open arms and tearful joy, few others are still reeling from the adverse psychological effect of being a health practitioner. I guess it is probably true that a doctor’s job (particularly housemanship officers) is the one of the most stressful jobs around.

Bad News
a suicidal doctor tried to take her own life by threatening to jump from the 6th floor of Alor Star Hospital.
Malaysian Salary - Doctor



There was drama at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here when a lady doctor sat on the ledge of the sixth floor and threatened to jump. It is learnt that the doctor, in her 20s, became distressed after an argument with a colleague at about 8am.
A security guard, who saw the doctor sitting on the ledge outside at 9.55am, called out to her to go back into the doctor’s restroom. Hospital security then summoned the police. A squad from the Fire and Rescue Department also sped there.
Police and firemen tried coaxing the doctor for nearly an hour, with other doctors also joining in the effort. By that time, a large crowd of onlookers had gathered.
Firemen tried to approach her on a sky lift, but the doctor threatened to jump. Officials said the distressed doctor, who was clad in jeans and a long-sleeved blouse, had a penknife and had told them that she wanted to “release tension.”
At about 11am, a policeman went up and handed the doctor a cell phone. The doctor then made a call and was talking to someone when a fireman came and grabbed her from behind.
Hospital director Dr Che Pah Ahmad said the doctor would be given counseling.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Islamic Economic Bringing Peace & Harmony

The whole world is particular about economy which is considered as the main source of life. Every nation and every country strive hard to strengthen their economic situation.When the economy of a country is strong, the country will advance in many other fields like industries, technologies and even military. The strong economy enables a country to take over another country.

Little wonder, economy is always the focus of all the world leaders. The muslim world are also in the race. They are also strengthening their economy. Many via the capitalist system introduced and supported by the Western countries and the Jews.

The muslim forget that Islam has its own economic system which is far better than the capitalist. Under islamic economy, God is the essence.

The capitalist’s main focus is profitability per se. The concept of love and care in undertaking business decision is almost non existing. Economy as an ibadah is unthinkable.

As such, capitalists will compete vigorously to increase their profits and minimize their losses even by stepping on others.

Unfortunately, many muslims are also in the same school of thought. Instead of taking God as the guidance, we try to compete with the capitalists on their own platform which is created by them to generate income for themselves.

The result? We always failed and face further diminution.

Muslims must reassess their economic focus and guidelines. Taqwa is the foundation upon which all business decisions and planning should be constructed.

The Islamic economic and financial systems are meant to protect human, and to promote love and care, peace and harmony here and the hereafter unity among all, bringing peace and harmony here and the hereafter.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

COMPARISON BETWEEN CHARGE CARDS AND CREDIT CARDS

Both charge cards and credit cards allow you to conduct cashless transactions, there are differences between these two types of payment cards. The main difference between charge cards and credit cards is on the required amount that is payable by the payment due date.


For conventional charge cards, you must settle the outstanding balance in full by the payment due date and there will be no interest charged. However, a late payment charge
will be imposed if you fail to do so. The late payment charge is usually between 3.0%
to 3.5% per month (or 36% to 42% per annum) of the outstanding balance.


For Islamic charge cards, a compensation fee will be imposed up to a certain maximum
amount allowed, normally RM70 per month and NO COMPOUND INTEREST. Issuers will usually cancel your charge card if you have defaulted on such repayments for a few months (period varies depending on the issuer’s internal policy).


As for credit cards, you may settle your outstanding balance in full by the due date, or
pay at least the minimum monthly repayment, which is usually 5% of the total outstanding
balance. While credit cards offer you a flexible way of paying your credit card debt, it can be
costly.COMPOUND INTEREST APPLY.

Credit card issuers usually impose a finance charge of about 18% per annum for the balances
that are unpaid and a late payment charge is imposed if you fail to pay at least the minimum
monthly repayment by the due date.

Conventional Charge Card : AMEX, Diner's Club.

Islamic Charge Card : HSBC Amanah,Alrajhi, Bank Islam Charge Card. (www.hsbcmanah.com,www.alrajhibank.com.my and www.bankislam.com.my)

check for my previous posts about tips and trick to use Credit card/charge card.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

It is the right time to save our electricity bill !

ecoVista Electricity Saver

The electrical system that supplies electricity to our homes and offices are NOT 100% efficient. When the system is not efficient, electricity would be WASTED. This means, we have been paying more than what we should.

The inefficiencies are due to many factors. Among the critically significant ones are :

  • Irregular electricity loadings (especially in and around urban and industrialized areas)
  • High frequency spikes (called electrical noise and harmonics distortion)
  • Poor performing parts from cheap electrical components due to industry-wide manufacturing cost-cutting initiatives.
  • Widespread use of reactive appliances (like most lightings, motors, TVs etc) that causes the Electricity Current to lag the Voltage, thus creating a phase shift and results in poorer Power generated (see diagram on the right).

Therefore, it is no surprise that your ordinary 36 Watts fluorescent light ACTUALLY consumes more than 70 Watts of Power to operate. That's about 100% WASTAGE! Something that we have been tolerating with over the years without even knowing it!

It's time to fight back with the latest micro-technology in auto-optimizing your entire household or office electrical system! Time to start saving some serious money by reducing or eliminating that wastage.

You have a choice to reduce your electricity bill by as much as 30% instantly with the ecoVista Electricity Optimizer. Choose to save now.

Do you know the consequences of not reacting to such wastage?
Right! You're wasting more electricity and thus wasting your hard-earned money. Secondly, thicker wires and better insulations are needed to withstand higher temperatures (because inefficiencies draw more electrical Current and more Current means higher wire temperature). Any compromise to this will cause serious potential FIRE HAZARD. Finally, electrical appliances' life-span would be dramatically reduced due to under or over powering of electrical devices.

With ecoVista Electricity Saver, we guarantee immediate savings to your electricity consumption.

Our electricity saver would reduce or eliminate electrical inefficiencies by auto sensing real-time the electricity waveform and reactance loads, then cleverly transforms (through our unique push-pull and filtration technology) and recycles "dirty" electricity into highly efficiency electricity.
The result : Immediate and Definite savings!

This is a propriety technology that was developed and perfected over the years that none could come close to matching its sterling performance.

Our Electricity Saver is tested and proven to deliver the guaranteed performance and safety by various international testing bodies. The internal components used are either UL or TUV certified and all of them carry the CE mark.

You get even more!

The Electricity Saver also comes with built-in rectifiers to stabilize the voltage and filters high frequency electrical noise, a powerful lightning arrestor and current surge protector. All these will give you a total peace of mind in protecting your household/office's sensitive electrical or electronic equipment. EcoVista Electricity Saver has proven on numerous occasions where it served as a vital second line of protection should your main circuit breaker in the distribution board failed to perform.

What this means is, if in an event where your circuit breakers failed to arrest a lightning strike or a power surge, then ecoVista Electricity Optimizer would immediately neutralize such threats and save the entire household/office electrical appliances. This feature alone could save you thousands of dollars and more importantly, all the hassle in managing the cataclysmic destruction.

The diagram above shows how ecoVista Electricity Optimizer instantly reduce electrical current consumption by 45%. By using a digital clamp meter, we can see that the household electrical current consumption is 8.2 Amps. Plug in the ecoVista Electricity Optimizer into any electrical socket and you'll see that the reading instantly reduces to only 4.5 Amps. That's an amazing 45% reduction!

This device is LEGAL to be used in all countries and is highly encouraged by most National Electricity Boards as it helps in reducing energy consumption and goes a long way in helping our environment.


worth to try??i think so. the price is RM 238. this company guarantees that you will be save by 30 % INSTANTLY when you use this device...hmm, sounds good, right?


take a look at this website : http://www.extramile.com.my

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Malaysian New Subsidy Plan

Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced the new petrol, diesel and gasoline price effective June 5, 2008.

New Plan :

Petrol --> RM2.70 (from RM1.92)

Diesel --> RM2.58 (from RM1.58)

  • RM625 annual cash rebate per vehicle, for owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc, as well as pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacities of up to 2,500cc.
  • Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities of up to 250cc will receive RM150.
  • Payment will be made via Money Order upon renewal of road tax, from July 1.
  • For owners of private vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2000cc, road tax will be reduced by RM200.
  • Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities above 250 cc will get RM50 reduction in road tax.


electricity rates also increased by 18% for homes and 26% for business users. The usage below 200kWh will not impact home user. 59% of Malaysian populations would still pay the same amount if the usage is less than 200kWh.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

WHY DO MUSLIMS PRAY FIVE TIMES A DAY?

The Catholic Christian Prime Minister of the island-State of St. Vincent in the Caribbean is reported (Trinidad Guardian, May 8th) to have entered into the Mt. St. Benedict Monastery in Trinidad for a spiritual retreat during which he will join the monks in praying "five times a day".

Even while a wicked godless white world-order is waging unjust war on Islam and Muslims, there are many people in the Caribbean who have defied the warmongers and have chosen to become Muslims, and their numbers are constantly increasing. When they become Muslims by proclaiming that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, they are taught, first of all, to pray 'five times a day'.

In this essay we enquire into the origin of 'five times' daily prayer and, in so doing, ponder over the implications of its abandonment, or its substitution with something else. We also describe those 'five times' of daily prayer. We feel certain that the monks in that monastery will find this subject quite interesting.

Prophet Muhammad, sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam, was forty years of age when Angel Gabriel appeared before him and informed him that he was a Prophet of the One God. He was himself unaware, prior to that event, of this status of his. And even though we know that he never worshipped the idols of Arabia that even his wife worshipped, we do not know if, or how, he prayed daily.

There were other Arabs, known as Hunafa, who also refused to worship idols. They worshipped One God, made the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to His Holy Temple in Makkah that Abraham, 'alaihi al-Salaam, had built, and sacrificed animals every year on the occasion of that pilgrimage in commemoration of Abraham's trial of sacrifice of his only son, Ishmael, 'alaihima al-Salaam.

Sometime after that first visit the Angel came one day and taught Muhammad, sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam, how to perform ablution before prayer. The hands were to be washed, then the mouth, nostrils and entire face, then the arms up to the elbows, then the wet hand was to be passed over the head, and finally the feet were to be washed.

Some eleven years later, after the Prophet had been summoned in a miraculous celestial journey by night from Makkah to Jerusalem and then into the heavens to the special Divine presence, and had received the Divine gift of 'five times daily prayer', Angel Gabriel came to him one day and led him in prayer five times during that day,

- once in the early morning (after dawn but before sunrise),

- once in the early afternoon (after the sun had crossed the zenith but before mid-afternoon),

- once in the later afternoon (but before the setting of the sun),

- once after the sun had set,

- and finally in the early hours of the night (after twilight had ended).

On each occasion that day he led the prayer at the earliest time possible. He then returned another day and again led the Prophet in the same five times prayer, but this time he chose the latest possible time for each prayer. The Angel then announced that these were the five times of compulsory prayer, and that each prayer was to be performed within the timeframe just established.
In addition to these compulsory prayers there are voluntary prayers that could be performed at any time, but best of all in the early hours of the morning before dawn.

Since there is but One God, and hence but one Truth, and only one true religion (i.e., the religion of 'Abraham' from whose name the name 'Brahma' appears to have originated) the implication is that whoever worships the One true God must pray these five times compulsory prayers every day. Anyone who does not perform the five times daily prayers lives an essentially pagan life since the compulsory prayer is the very foundation of the religious way of life.

When Jesus, the true Messiah, 'alaihi al-salaam, returns, he, also, will pray five times a day in the same way that Angel Gabriel taught Prophet Muhammad to pray, and in the same way that Muslims pray to this day (without chairs, benches, pews, etc.)

They stand barefooted before Allah Most High in prayer, then bow down, sit flat, and prostrate themselves with their faces on the earth. They do so 'five times a day', and will continue to do so Insha Allah in defiance of the godless world, and regardless of the price they already pay for that defiance.

And they do so with the absolute conviction that Truth must eventually triumph over its wicked godless enemies.

They also recite in every prayer the opening Surah of the Qur'an in which they ask to be guided on "the straight path - the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not the path of those who earn Thine anger, nor of those who go astray."

Those who are today waging unjust war on Islam and Muslims most certainly earn Allah's anger, and those who support such people, for whatever foolish reason, are certainly a people who have gone astray.

- Islamic Scholar ~ Imran Nazar Hosein

Khasiat Air ZamZam


AIR zamzam mempunyai banyak kelebihan dan keistimewaan berbanding air lain. Perkara ini diperakui oleh banyak kajian saintifik, termasuk sarjana Barat. Air zamzam mempunyai banyak khasiat dan kelebihan seperti sabda Nabi Muhammad SAW bermaksud: "Sebaik-baik air di permukaan bumi adalah air zamzam. Padanya ada makanan yang menyegarkan dan penawar bagi segala penyakit."

Ia juga mempunyai beberapa keistimewaan antaranya tidak pernah kering walaupun berjuta-juta manusia memanfaatkannya setiap hari, terutama pada musim haji. Air zamzam tidak akan kering hingga hari kiamat. Hal itu, adalah bukti keagungan dan kebesaran Allah.

Ulama sepakat bahawa sunat bagi orang yang mengerjakan ibadah haji dan umrah, minum air zamzam. Ini disebabkan Nabi Muhammad SAW minum air zamzam. Berdasarkan nas asy-Syafi'eyah, bahawa air zamzam itu sunat diminum dalam apa keadaan sekali pun. Hukum sunat itu tidak hanya khusus selepas mengerjakan tawaf, bahkan sunat diminum bagi setiap orang walaupun bukan pada waktu mengerjakan ibadah haji atau umrah.

Disebutkan dalam hadis, Jabir bin `Abdullah, katanya: "Aku pernah mendengar Rasulullah bersabda: "Air zamzam itu diminum untuk keperluan apa saja." (Hadis riwayat Ibnu Majah)

Dalam erti kata lain, jika meminumnya dengan maksud menghilangkan rasa haus, maka Allah akan menghilangkan rasa hausnya. Jika meminumnya untuk menghilangkan rasa lapar, maka Allah akan mengenyangkannya. Sekiranya, meminumnya untuk menyembuhkan penyakit, maka Allah akan menyembuhkan penyakitnya.

Diriwayatkan Rasulullah gemar meminumnya dan tangan Baginda yang mulia dan penuh barkah pernah dicelupkan ke dalam perigi zamzam. Rasulullah pernah bersabda: "Air zamzam itu diminum mengikut apa yang diniatkan atau dikehendaki. " (Hadis riwayat Jabir, lbnu Abbas, lbnu Umar dan Muawiyah)

Ahli ilmu meluaskan huraian mereka terhadap hadis di atas. Al-Munawa berkata: "Air zamzam adalah penghulu segala air, paling mulia, berharga dan disukai. "Allah memberi minum dan menolong putera kekasihnya, Nabi Ismail bin Nabi Ibrahim dengan air zamzam. Maka, pertolongan seperti itu juga boleh diperoleh oleh orang selepas baginda iaitu bagi sesiapa saja yang meminumnya dengan niat ikhlas, termasuk kita.

"Ramai ulama meminumnya kerana sesuatu hajat dan mereka berhasil memperolehnya."

Disebut pengarang kitab al-'Aqdus Sameen bahawa Ahmad bin Abdillah Asy-Syarifee, seorang khadam di Tanah Haram Makkah meminum air zamzam dengan niat dan tujuan untuk berubat daripada buta. Lalu, dengan izin Allah, beliau sembuh. Menurut pengarang kitab ini lagi, bahawa kejadian itu dikhabarkan sendiri gurunya, al-Fufti Abdul Rahman bin Abil Khair alFasi. Al-lmam an-Nawawi sebagai mengulas hadis di atas berkata: "Maknanya, barang siapa minum kerana sesuatu hajat, nescaya memperoleh hajatnya itu.

"Hal ini, dicuba ulama dan orang soleh bagi segala hajat mereka, sama ada hajat akhirat mahupun dunia. Alhamdulillah, semuanya memperolehnya. " (Lihat Tahzibul Asma Wal-Lughat 3/139).

Al-'Allamah lbnul Qayyim al-Jauziah pula berkata: "Saya dan juga orang lain mencuba berubat dengan air zamzam. "Saya berubat dengannya dalam banyak penyakit dan sembuh dengan izin Allah. Demikian juga saya menyaksikan orang yang menggantikan makanan biasa dengan air zamzam hampir setengah bulan atau lebih, tetapi tidak lapar. Bahkan dia juga tawaf bersama orang ramai, mampu menggauli isterinya dan berpuasa."

Al-'Allamah seterusnya berkata: "Sudah berlaku kepada diri saya sewaktu di Makkah, saya sakit. Pada masa itu, saya benar-benar ketiadaan ubat dan doktor. "Maka, saya pun berubat sendiri dengan al-Fatihah. Saya ambil air zamzam dan bacakan di atasnya berulang kali. Kemudian, saya minum lalu mendapati kesembuhan yang sempurna.

"Sejak itu saya melakukannya atas banyak penyakit dan semuanya memberi sebesar-besar manfaat." (Lihat Zadul Ma'ad 4/718)

Berkata pula Al-Hakim: "Bahawa Abu Bakar Muhammad bin Jaafar bercerita mengenai Ibnu Khuzaimah (Ibnu Khuzaimah ialah seorang ilmuwan besar), katanya: "Saya mendengar orang bertanya kepada lbnu Khuzaimah: "Daripada manakah tuan memperoleh ilmu?" Jawab lbnu Khuzaimah: "(Bukankah) Rasulullah pernah bersabda: "Air zamzam itu diminum mengikut apa yang diniatkan?" (Lihat Sairul A'Iam an-Nubala 14/370).

AI-Jalal as-Suyuti juga menceritakan mengenai dirinya, katanya: "Dengan memuji Allah, saya sudah musafir ke negeri Syam, Hijaz, Yaman, India dan Maghribi. "Apabila saya menunaikan haji, saya minum air zamzam bagi beberapa perkara yang berikut, antaranya: Agar saya mahir dalam ilmu fiqah hingga mencapai martabat Asy-Syeikh Sirajuddin al-Bulqini.

"Dalam ilmu hadis hingga saya mencapai martabat al-Hafiz lbnu Hajar. Ada pun, semua ini saya sebutkan demi mengingati nikmat Allah ke atas diri saya, bukannya untuk bermegah-megah.

"Apalah yang ada untuk dimegahkan di dunia ini, sedangkan saat kembali semakin dekat dan uban pun mulai subur." (Lihat Husnul Muhadharah 1/215 dan 2/296).

Jika diperhatikan dengan sehalus-halusnya keterangan di atas, maka nyata, yang amat mustahak itu adalah niat dan keimanan yang seikhlas- ikhlasnya untuk mengiringi perbuatan minum itu.

FAKTA Rahsia kelebihan air zamzam

• Boleh menyembuhkan pelbagai penyakit dengan izin Allah.
• Diberkati dan mengeyangkan peminumnya.
• Mampu menyempurnakan hajat peminumnya dengan izin Allah.
• Allah menjadikan air zamzam sebagai penyebab kepada pembangunan dan kemajuan bumi Makkah. Seterusnya, kewujudan Baitullah di bumi itu.
• Antara mata air syurga.
• Antara tanda kekuasaan Allah di bumi Makkah.
• Antara nikmat besar dan manfaat yang dapat dilihat di Tanah Haram Makkah.
• Ia keluar dari kawasan paling mulia di muka bumi ini.
• Air dipilih untuk membersihkan hati Rasulullah SAW beberapa kali.
• Minuman orang mulia (al-abrar).
• Menambah kekuatan badan.

Wallahua'lam

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

How Much Home Can You Afford?

Find Out How Much Home You Can Afford With a Simple Calculation

When the time is right to purchase a home, the first question you need to be able to answer is how of a home you can afford. Knowing the answer to this question will allow you to focus your search on homes within the correct price range even before applying for a mortgage.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

The most important factor that lenders use as a rule of thumb for how much you can borrow is the debt-to-income ratio. This ratio takes into account a mortgage payment plus your other personal debt you are carrying such as car loans, credit card debt and student loans. The ratio is expressed in a percentage of how much of your income is being used to make debt payments.

The typical guideline used by most lenders is a ratio of 36% as the upper limit. Ratios above this may carry a higher interest rate or be denied altogether.

Lenders also like to see that generally no more than 28% be dedicated to all housing expenses.

Calculating Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

The first thing you need to do is determine your gross monthly income. This is the income before taxes and other expenses are taken out. If you are married and will be applying for the loan jointly you should add together both incomes. Then take this number and multiply it by 0.36. For example, if you and your spouse have a combined gross monthly income of $7,000:

$7,000 x 0.36 = $2,520

This means that your total monthly debt payments should be no more than $2,520, mortgage payment included.

The next step is to determine your total non-mortgage debt payments such as monthly credit card or car payments. For this example we will assume your monthly debt payments come to $950. Computing the maximum mortgage payment:

$2,520 - $950 = $1,570

From this example we have determined that the most home you can reasonably afford is one with a mortgage payment of $1,590 which would include property taxes, insurance and possibly private mortgage insurance.

Remember, This is Only a Rule of Thumb

It is important to remember that just because the bank will lend up to that amount doesn’t mean that is what you can truly afford. This is simply a guideline you can use when shopping for a home so you are concentrating on homes that are within your price range. In reality your specific situation will dictate what type of home and mortgage payment will be best for you.


- taken from financial planning (about.com)

Friday, May 02, 2008

no articles for a few days

hi visitors,

i've been busy with my work and my study. i will update my blog after my final examination this weekend. :)

Friday, April 18, 2008

Tutup aurat tidak sekadar bertudung

Dipetik dari sumber lain :

SOALAN MENUTUP aurat untuk wanita-wanita Islam Muslimah adalah wajib tapi ramai yang masih tidak menutup aurat dengan sempurna sebagaimana yang dituntut Islam. Malah ada yang seakan-akan memperagakan fesyen seolah-olah mempersendakan hukum atau syariat Islam. Bolehkah ustaz memberikan nas-nas dari al-Quran ataupun rujukan hadis yang menjelaskan balasan bagi wanita Islam yang tidak menutup aurat.

JAWAPAN DALAM kamus Lisan al-Arab karangan Ibn Manzur menjelaskan makna tabarruj Lisan al-Arab, jld:3, hlm:33). Ini bermaksud apa sahaja perbuatan seorang wanita dalam menghiasi wajahnya serta tubuhnya supaya dilihat oleh orang lelaki dan ia termasuk juga memperagakan fesyen pakaian. ialah apabila seorang wanita menampakkan perhiasan serta kecantikannya kepada lelaki. (Ibnu Manzur,
Dalam persoalan ini anda boleh lihat adanya tiga kategori wanita. Yang pertama, menutup aurat dengan sempurna. Kedua, menutup aurat tetapi tidak sempurna dan ketiga, langsung tidak menutup aurat.
Kumpulan pertama menutup aurat dengan sempurna kerana dia sedar bahawa itu adalah perintah Allah SWT. Menyedari bahawa hukum menutup aurat itu wajib serta memahami cara yang betul dalam menutup aurat.
Kumpulan kedua menutup aurat, tetapi tidak sempurna. Kategori ini mutakhir ini cukup banyak.
Menutup aurat bukan sekadar melilit sehelai kain di atas kepala tetapi memelihara kecantikan diri daripada diperagakan kepada orang awam. Kadang-kadang kepala ditutup dengan tudung tetapi pada masa yang sama potongan tubuh badan dipertonton kepada orang.
Hakikatnya, pemahaman masyarakat wanita Muslim dalam persoalan menutup aurat masih cetek. Ungkapan "Daripada tak tutup langsung lebih baik tutup." Kata-kata ini, tampak baik, semacam positif, pada hakikatnya suatu yang dangkal.
Kenapa perlu dibandingkan dengan yang tidak menutup aurat? Kononnya yang menutup aurat walaupun tidak sempurna sudah kira baik… Kenapa tidak dibandingkan dengan yang lebih sempurna dalam menutup aurat?
Itulah manusia yang banyak sangat beralasan dalam urusan dunia dibandingkan dirinya denga yang lebih baik, manakala dalam urusan agama membandingkan dirinya dengan yang paling teruk.
Tidak salah berfesyen dalam bertudung tetapi sebelum dilihat kepada aspek fesyen, adalah lebih baik dilihat aspek hukum. Mungkin ada yang berpendapat bahawa pandangan saya agak jumud. Tetapi suka saya nyatakan bahawa takut saya pada Pencipta mengatasi keinginan nafsu manusia. Cuba lihat diri anda yang sempurna kejadiannya, cantik, rambut ikal mayang, sihat dan sebagainya.
Manusia itu sempurna tidak kira lelaki mahupun perempuan. Siapa yang menjadikan manusia berpasangan, ada lelaki ada perempuan? Jawapannya tidak lain tidak bukan ialah Allah SWT.
Dialah yang menjadikan rupa paras wanita dengan keayuan yang semula jadi, yang menjadi tarikan orang lelaki dan Dia jugalah yang memerintah agar kamu wahai wanita hendaklah menutup aurat.
Suruhan ini bukan daripada saya atau mana-mana ulama atau mufti, tetapi suruhan ini datangnya daripada Allah yang menjadikan kamu. Hairannya, manusia terima semua yang diberi oleh Pencipta seperti makan, minum, kesihatan, rezeki dan macam-macam lagi kalau mahu dihitung sudah pasti manusia tidak dapat menghitungnya nikmat tuhan, tetapi bila disuruh menutup aurat dia ingkar, suruh solat dia ingkar, suruh zakat dia ingkar dan banyak lagi keingkaran yang dilakukan oleh manusia.
Allah SWT berfirman yang bermaksud: Dan hendaklah kamu tetap diam di rumah kamu serta janganlah kamu mendedahkan diri seperti yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang jahiliah zaman dahulu; dan dirikanlah sembahyang serta berilah zakat; dan taatlah kamu kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Sesungguhnya Allah (perintahkan kamu dengan semuanya itu) hanyalah kerana hendak menghapuskan perkara-perkara yang mencemarkan diri kamu - Wahai 'AhlulBait'dan hendak membersihkan kamu sebersih-bersihnya (daripada segala perkara yang keji). (al-Ahzab: 33)
Seorang ahli tafsir mengulas ayat ini dengan berpendapat: "Tabarruj wanita bermakna dia (wanita) meletakkan penutup (kain selendang) atas kepalanya dan tidak mengikatnya sehingga boleh dilihat leher dan segala perhiasannya, termasuklah rantai dilehernya." (Ibn Kathir, jld: 3, hlm: 482-483).
Manakala Abu Ubaidah berpendapat: "Tabarruj bermaksud seorang wanita menampakkan kecantikannya yang memungkinkan orang lelaki ghairah."(Tafsir al-Alusiy, jld: 21, hlm: 8)
Ulasan ulama dalam ayat di atas serta kaitannya dengan perhiasan di zaman jahiliah. Maksudnya sebelum kedatangan Islam orang Arab perempuan memang sudah menutupi kepala mereka.
Setelah Islam menyinari bumi, dan lokasi sinaran itu ialah Mekah. Jadi masalah sosial juga berlegar dalam persoalan masyarakat hari itu.
Selepas turunnya ayat dari surah al-Ahzab ayat 33 yang bermaksud: Dan hendaklah kami tetap di rumahmu dan janganlah kamu berhias dan bertingkah laku seperti orang-orang Jahiliah yang dahulu dan terus dirikanlah solat, tunaikanlah zakat dan taatilah Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Sesungguhnya Allah bermaksud hendak menghapuskan perkara-perkara yang mencemarkan daripada kamu, hai 'ahl al-bait' dan membersihkan kamu sebersih-bersihnya.
Lantaran itu, wanita-wanita Islam segera menutup aurat dengan sempurna sehingga tidak mendedah rambut, leher dan segala perhiasan di leher mereka. Inilah perbezaan yan ketara antara wanita Islam zaman ini dengan wanita Islam di zaman Nabi SAW.
Generasi al-Quran ini cukup unik dan dinamik. Apabila sampai sahaja perintah Allah SWT melalui al-Quran, mereka segera menyahut tanpa sebarang bantahan dan alasan.
Sebagai balasannya, Allah SWT menjanjikan kebahagiaan hidup di dunia dan akhirat, yang pastinya di atas sifat tunduk dan patuh kepada perintah dan suruhan Allah SWT, mereka kelak akan dibalas dengan syurga yang tidak tergambar nikmatnya.
Hari ini macam-macam alasan diberi untuk melepaskan diri daripada perintah Allah SWT.
Dulu, zaman Nabi SAW, orang-orang Arab kuat nafsu, sebab itulah wanita zaman itu kena berkelubung, pakaian warna hitam, tutup muka dan sebagainya. Kalau betul apa yang didakwa, minta tolong kemukakan kes-kes rogol dan pencabulan yang ada pada masa itu. Itu di zaman jahiliah.
Wanita Melayu juga pada satu ketika dahulu, mungkin awal 1950an, perempuan-perempuannya berkelubung dengan kain batik, bila dengar suara lelaki lari menyorok, tidak mudah keluar rumah.
Maksudnya pergerakan dan perwatakan mereka dikawal oleh kedua-dua orang tua. Adakah pada awal tahun 1950 banyak kes rogol, pencabulan, buang anak, gugurkan janin, anak luar nikah, lari dari rumah, kanak-kanak hilang dan sebagainya?
Keruntuhan moral, budaya dan ancaman luaran yang menyebabkan segala macam bencana manusiawi yang tidak pernah berlaku di zaman jahiliah dan juga di awal kemerdekaan berlaku hari ini.
Dewasa ini orang pakai tudung sempurna pun tidak selamat, ini pula sengaja mendedahkan aurat semacam bersedia untuk dibaham.
Kecantikan seorang wanita terletak pada sejauh mana ketaatannya kepada Allah SWT. Adalah suatu yang salah kalau orang perempuan merasakan kaum lelaki akan tertawan dengan rupa parasnya semata-mata tanpa melihat kepada unsur-unsur keagamaan pada dirinya.
Jarang pembeli memilih kuih yang terdedah kepada lalat, asap dan kotoran. Biasanya pembeli akan memilih kuih tertutup dengan tudung saji. Kecantikan dan rupa paras yang Allah SWT berikan adalah untuk tontonan suami bukannya untuk orang lain. Dunia dipenuhi dengan perhiasan, maka sebaik-baik perhiasannya ialah wanita solehah.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Celebrating Valentine's Day : Shariah View

First of all, we'd like to shed light on the origin of this festival, known as "Valentine Day" or "Festival of Love":

The Festival of Love was one of the festivals of the pagan Romans, when paganism was the prevalent religion of the Romans more than seventeen centuries ago. In the pagan Roman concept, it was an expression of "spiritual love".

There were myths associated with this pagan festival of the Romans, which persisted with their Christian heirs. Among the most famous of these myths was the Roman belief that Romulus, the founder of Rome, was suckled one day by a she-wolf, which gave him strength and wisdom.

The Romans used to celebrate this event in mid-February each year with a big festival.

One of the rituals of this festival was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat. Two strong and muscular youths would daub the blood of the dog and goat onto their bodies, then they would wash the blood away with milk. After that there would be a great parade, with these two youths at its head, which would go about the streets. The two youths would have pieces of leather with which they would hit everyone who crossed their path. The Roman women would welcome these blows, because they believed that they could prevent or cure infertility.

The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival:

Saint Valentine is a name which is given to two of the ancient "martyrs" of the Christian Church. It was said that there were two of them, or that there was only one, who died in Rome as the result of the persecution of the Gothic leader Claudius, c. 296 CE. In 350 CE, a church was built in Rome on the site of the place where he died, to perpetuate his memory.

When the Romans embraced Christianity, they continued to celebrate the Feast of Love mentioned above, but they changed it from the pagan concept of "spiritual love" to another concept known as the "martyrs of love", represented by Saint Valentine who had advocated love and peace, for which cause he was martyred, according to their claims. It was also called the Feast of Lovers, and Saint Valentine was considered to be the patron saint of lovers.

One of their false beliefs connected with this festival was that the names of girls who had reached marriageable age would be written on small rolls of paper and placed in a dish on a table. Then the young men who wanted to get married would be called, and each of them would pick a piece of paper. He would put himself at the service of the girl whose name he had drawn for one year, so that they could find out about one another. Then they would get married, or they would repeat the same process again on the day of the festival in the following year.

The Christian clergy reacted against this tradition, which they considered to have a corrupting influence on the morals of young men and women. It was abolished in Italy, where it had been well-known, then it was revived in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when in some western countries there appeared shops which sold small books called "Valentine's books", which contained love poems, from which the one who wanted to send a greeting to his sweetheart could choose. They also contained suggestions for writing love letters.

The above quotation is excerpted, with slight modifications, from www.Islam-qa.com

As regards the Islamic stance on this festival, Dr. Su`ad Ibrahim Salih, professor of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) at Al-Azhar University, states the following:

Indeed, Islam is the religion of altruism, true love, and cooperation on that which is good and righteous. We implore Allah Almighty to gather us together under the umbrella of His All-encompassing Mercy, and to unite us together as one man. Allah Almighty says: (The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to Allah that haply ye may obtain mercy.) (Al-Hujurat 49: 10)

Focusing more on the question in point, I can say that there are forms of expressing love that are religiously acceptable, while there are others that are not religiously acceptable. Among the forms of love that are religiously acceptable are those that include the love for Prophets and Messengers. It stands to reason that the love for Allah, and His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) should have the top priority over all other forms of love.

Islam does recognize happy occasions that bring people closer to one another, and add spice to their lives. However, Islam goes against blindly imitating the West regarding a special occasion such as Valentine's Day. Hence, commemorating that special day known as the Valentine's Day is an innovation or bid`ah that has no religious backing. Every innovation of that kind is rejected, as far as Islam is concerned. Islam requires all Muslims to love one another all over the whole year, and reducing the whole year to a single day is totally rejected.

Hence, we Muslims ought not to follow in the footsteps of such innovations and superstitions that are common in what is known as the Valentine's Day. No doubt that there are many irreligious practices that occur on that day, and those practices are capable of dissuading people from the true meanings of love and altruism to the extent that the celebration is reduced to a moral decline.

Source : Islam Online