Ayyuhal Walad: Advice 2 - How to Accept Advice

   KakNgah writes.

   Today I went crazy and made two types of brownies. Peanut butter chocolate brownies (which only used 5 ingredients and is super sticky and fudgy) and banana brownies (which is definitely my favourite of the two because of the texture and taste). For the sake of preventing an overload of drool- well, perhaps not, but in order to be kind and nice to KakYong, I won't post the photos (besides they're not very good photos. I want a camera!). I promise I'll make them when you and Aiman come home! Hehe.

   I love baking because whatever disasters that I produce, I know that people will eat what I make. If they're good, people (which hereby refers to my own, kind family) will swoon over them (uh-huh.) and appreciate my efforts. Tomorrow I plan to make banana bread pudding! (Only because we have bananas, KakYong. Not because I really want to. Honest. Not.) Insya-Allah.

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Advice 2: How to Accept Advice

   My dear beloved child (I've changed it to this because it sounds better),

   Giving advice is easy- it is accepting advice that is difficult for it is a great bitter pill to be swallowed by those who often only follow their own desires or nafs. Nafs loves that which are forbidden, especially for those who often seek knowledge for the sake of getting recognition or a title and are always busy in pronouncing their greatness and collecting worldly wealth. These people believe that having this type of knowledge is enough to secure their safety and happiness without having to practice what they have learnt. They are those who have been influenced by i'tiqad and the way of thinking of the philosophers (here referring to secular-type of philosophers).

   Subhanallah! This is truly a confused way of thinking. Do they not know that a person who has gained knowledge but does not practice what he knows, will be even more heavily questioned compared to those who do not have knowledge during the Day of Judgement? Rasullullah pbuh said:

   "Those who will receive the heaviest of punishments are the knowledgeable ones who did not use their knowledge for the sake of Allah."

   It has been narrated by Al Junaid Al Baghdadi Qaddasallahu Sirrahu that a man who was known to have passed away came to him in a dream. The man asked Imam Al Junaid, "How are you, Abu al Qasim (referring to Imam Al Junaid Al Baghdadi), who answered," In truth, all empirical knowledge have disappeared, as have all spiritual knowledge. All that are beneficial no longer exists except a few numbers of rakaat that we manage to make in the night."

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   It seems that human beings are more often prone to chasing after worldly wealth. We chase after money, title, recognition and happiness- or what we think is happiness. We forget that in the end, nothing matters except what has been done in the name of Allah.

   "Al-ilm bila amalin kasshajarin bila samarin" : Knowledge without practice is like a tree that bears no fruit.

   I wonder if I'm such a tree. It's certainly a frightening thought. I would imagine that people who do not practice what they know to be right are like gnarled old trees on which no fruit grows and no leaves sprout. I do not want to be this kind of tree. I want to be a tree that grows and fruits and benefits those around it.

   What kind of tree would you like to be?

   p.s. I think I'd like to be an apple tree. Or perhaps one that grows peaches. Yes, that would definitely be lovely.

Kak Yong shares: Japanese Style Qasidah Burdah- by Ahmad Abu Hakeem Maeno

(source)

Rather than watch anime all day (hmm, who is that I wonder?), let's listen to the praising of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Isn't it wonderful how languages can be used to express such beautiful meanings? All languages come from Allah, and there in no language above the other. Arabic is of course the language of Al-Quran and our Prophet, and it is indeed unique compared to others.

And if we have time and means, learn other language too. The world will be opened for us...

Ayyuhal Walad: An Introduction & Advice 1 - Time Is Life Itself

 
   KakNgah is here.

   I have sadly been absent from this blog.

   It makes me feel guilty. Seeing that I used to bug KakYong and KakCik to post. Then I stopped.

   I have no good reasons. I am finally at home. I still have work to do, but I have time. Lots. Too much even. Too much that I do not spend in remembrance of Allah. This must change.

   I had lots to write about, but I didn't feel like doing it here. This is a place for sharing. Wait, aren't blogs usually for sharing? I mean that this is where I'd like to write about common, general stuff that relates to all three of us. KakYong, KakNgah, KakCik.

   KakYong said it's okay for me to write about my any of doings here, but I don't feel like it.

   Hmmm.

   KakYong has been doing a splendid job with her blog. She's been updating regularly (or quite) and they're all about such interesting happenings. If you read our blog because I once or regularly commented on your blog, do visit my older sister's blog. It's good. Trust me.

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   We have started a small usrah at home. Well, perhaps it is not much of an usrah. What we do is gather after Isya' and read Surah al-Mulk together. After that one of us will read from a book. It's simple, but I like it. I would like it even more if we were all doing it. 

   We have skipped these sessions for a few days now... I hope we go back to doing them soon.

   When I arrived home last week, and rejoined the sessions, I discovered that they've started on a new book titled "Ayyuhal Walad" by the Al Imam Hujjatul Islam: Abu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Ghazali.

   This is what the cover looks like:

Took this from here.
You can read a review of the book there.

   It is a simple but lovely book, full of useful advice for all who read it.

   The title means "Wahai Anakku Yang Tercinta" in Malay.

   It means "Oh My Beloved Child" in English.

   I have decided to share the contents here. I shall translate them into English. Proper credits go to the writer and publishers, but I feel that good knowledge should be shared with all. Insya-Allah. 

   I sincerely apologise if my translation lacks quality.

   May Allah reward the writer and all those who put effort into the production of this book.

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Advice 1: Time is Life Itself

Oh my beloved child,

Part of Rasulullah's advice to his ummah (people) is as follows:

A sign that Allah has turned from His slave is when that slave consistently carries out useless activities.  And if but one second of his life is used for other than the true purpose of his life (which is to worship Allah), so he will forever repent it (on the Day of Judgement) while those who have reached the age of forty and beyond and has yet to make good deeds overbalance that of his bad ones, so has he prepared himself to enter hellfire.

This is advice is sufficient enough for those who have 'ilm (knowledge).

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   We spend a lot of time doing useless things that do not contribute towards getting the blessings of Allah.

   We pray, but our hearts and minds is elsewhere.

   Outside of prayers, we do things that cannot be considered ibadah (acts of worship).

   I am one of these people.

   Me:   It's not easy to change.

   I:       Are you sure?

   Me:   It's not easy to be good.

   I:       Really?

   If that's the kind of attitude that I have, that Muslims have, how are we ever going to convince ourselves and others that Islam is the path of Truth?

   What do you think?