MIRROR l Dzul Hijjah - Issue #06 by MIRROR Magazine

Dzul Hijjah 1434 Issue #06

JOURNEY Labbaik Allahumma labbaik Labbaika la syarika laka labbaik Innal hamda wan ni'mata laka wal mulk la syarika lak

“ The believer is the mirror of his brother. The believer is the brother of a believer: he protects him from ruin and guards his back.” – Rasulullah s.a.w. (Narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a)

C REATIVE DIRECTOR Muhammad Syaiful Bin Sam'an syaiful@mirror-mag.com

EDITOR

Assalaamu'alaikuum.

Mohamed Yazid yazid@mirror-mag.com

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Alhamdulillah, All praises and thanks be to Allah s.w.t. With His permission and guidance, MIRROR is able to launch it's sixth and final issue for the year. How fast time flies, MasyaAllah.

Muhammad Ayyub Bin Abdul Kadir ayyub@mirror-mag.com

RELIGIOUS CONSULTANT Ustaz Achmed Fahdly dearustaz@mirror-mag.com

WRITER Fadhuli Taufek

CONTRIBUTORS ART DIRECTOR Nafisah Abu Bakar WRITERS Nisa' Tuzzakirah Nur Khairunnisa The Poets' Coffee: Faiz Johari, Hazrul Fitri, Irfan, Nurnina Syazwani

The theme for this issue is Journey, to comemorate the journey of the pilgrims. And with journey comes sacrifces, which comes hand in hand when Eidul Adha is mentioned. Speaking of journey, what a journey it has been for MIRROR. Alhamdulillah, we have managed to put up all the issues that we planned to have for our first year of publication. May Allah allow us to grow further and provide our readers with better and more beneficial content as we move along, Amin. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate one of our contributors, Irfan, for his achievement in clinching the first runner up prize for Darul Arqam's Al-Mawrid competition. Keep a look out for this award winning article entitled "A Spiritual Journey" in the pages to come!

Nasuha Darke Hasbullah Johari

To end this note, we would like to say thank you, to everyone who has been a part of this journey. A big thank you to our dear readers who have been supporting MIRROR and spreading the word. Thank you to our hardworking contributors, without whom this publication may not be what it is. Not forgetting our family and friends for their constant support. Thank you everyone, for keeping us in your du'a. Jazakumullah khairan kathiran.

Eid Mubarak dear readers!

General Enquiries: info@mirror-mag.com

Wassalam.

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Syaiful Sam'an Syaiful Sam'an

14 IN THIS ISSUE

08 14 20 39

THE LAST SERMON

A GREATER GOOD

DID YOU KNOW?

TRAVELOGUE: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Muharram Safar Rabi’ul Awwal Rabi’ul Akhir Jamadil Awwal Jamadil Akhir Rajab Sya’ban Ramadhan Syawwal Dzul Qa'dah Dzul Hijjah

The last month of the Islamic calendar. It means ‘the month of Hajj’. This name of the month indicates that the great annual worship of ‘Hajj’ is performed in this month. For this reason, it has a peculiar significance as compared to the other months of the year.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE MONTH OF DZUL HIJJAH 1. First Ten Days The first ten days of the month of Dzul Hijjah are among the most significant days in the Islamic year. Narrated Ibn Abbas r.a: The Prophet s.a.w said, “ No good deeds done on other days are superior t o those done on these (first ten days of Dzul Hijjah).” T hen some companions of the Prophet s.a.w said, “ Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself a nd his property in danger (for Allah's sake) a nd does not return with any of those things.” (Sahih Bukhari) 2. The Day of Arafah The 9th day of the month of Dzul Hijjah is The Day of Arafah. This is the day when the pilgrims assemble at the plain of Arafah, six miles away from Makkah Al-Mukkaramah, where they perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of Hajj, namely, the ‘Wuqoof of Arafah’ (the stay in Arafah). For those not performing Hajj, it is Mustahabb (desirable) to fast on this day. The fast on The Day of Arafah has been emphasized by the Rasulullah S.A.W as Mustahabb. Abu Qatada r.a. related that Rasulullah S.A.W said, "Fasting The Day of Arafah, 9th of Dzul Hijjah, expiates the sins for two years, one prior and one forthcoming." (Reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai' and Ibn Majah) 3. The Farewell Pilgrimage & The Last Sermon of Rasulullah S.A.W 9 Dzul Hijjah 10 AH (9 March 632), Rasulullah S.A.W undertook his farewell pilgrimage. This is one of the most significant historical events as it was the first and last pilgrimage made by Rasulullah S.A.W, as well as being the model for performing the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj. Rasulullah’s S.A.W final sermon was delivered on the same day, at Arafah, the most blessed day of the year. There were countless Muslims present with Rasulullah S.A.W during his last pilgrimage when he delivered his last Sermon. 5

Learning Arabic: The Talbiyah 6

Labbaik Allahumma labbaik, Labbaika la syarika laka labbaik, Innal hamda wan ni'mata laka wal mulk la syarika lak

Here I am at Your service O Allah, here I am. Here I am at Your service. Verily all praise, and all favours and all power are Yours alone. You have no partner.

The Last Sermon

9 Dzul Hijjah 10 AH (9 March 632) at Mount Arafah Prophet Muhammad S.A.W undertook his farewell pilgrimage. His farewell pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the most significant historical events in the minds of Muslims, for it was the first and last pilgrimage made by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, as well as being the model for performing the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj. Prophet Muhammad’s S.A.W final sermon was delivered during this day, the ninth day of Dzul Hijjah, the 12th month of the lunar year, at Arafah, the most blessed day of the year. There were countless Muslims present with the Prophet S.A.W during his last pilgrimage when he delivered his last Sermon. After praising and thanking Allah, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said: “O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE 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 riba (usury), therefore all riba obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no riba and that all the riba due to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived… Beware of Satan, for the 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, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Solah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. 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 except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves. Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray 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. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray. 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 directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.

A Greater Good written by Nisa' Tuzzakirah nzakrh.blogspot.sg

sac·ri·fice noun \ˈsa-krə-ˌfīs, also -fəs or -ˌfīz\ : an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. ** Eidul Adha is here once again, letting us observe and appreciate sacrifice as it is; of sheep and goats being slaughtered, relating back to the history of Prophet Ibrahim 'alayhi salaam, and the sacrifice he made. This story has been engraved beautifully in the Qur'an, where Allah subhanahu wata'ala mentioned in Surah As-Saffat, verse 102: “And, when he [his son] was old enough to walk with him, he said, 'O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so look to what you think!' He said, 'O my father! Do that which you are commanded, if Allah wills, you shall find me patient.'” Sacrificing requires one to let go of his possession, in order for another thing, that he believes to be worthy, to be done. Sacrificing requires one to take a leap of faith, for he does not know of the outcome, yet still hopes for the best. Sacrificing requires faith, of that everything will turn out alright. It requires a faith in Him so strong, that nothing is too precious to be sacrificed, if it is all for Him. This trial upon Ibrahim alayhi salaam was so great that Allah said in Surah As-Saffat, verse 106, “Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial.” We are all aware that Prophet Ibrahim alayhi salaam did not actually slaughter his own son, Ismail, as Allah presented Ibrahim alayhi salaam with a ram to sacrifice instead. Ibn al-Qayyim said regarding this, ”The purpose wasn't for Ibrahim to kill his son; rather it was to sacrifice him in his heart so that all of his love belonged to Allah alone.”

Sometimes, things do not turn out the way we want or hoped for it to be. Trying your best, yet failing at it. Sacrificing something so dear, yet getting nothing in return. This is where “faith” plays a part. In sacrificing something, faith does not actually lie on believing that the results would be of your liking, but instead having believing that whatever happens after you have tried, has been decreed by Allah and is the best for you. Just as Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an, in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 216 “...and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.'' Without making sacrifices, it would be impossible to achieve great things. Great things in life are not measured by the success you get out of the sacrifice you made, but by the good it pours into your life, be it seen or unseen, whether you realise it or not. Without making sacrifices, you might never know what good lies ahead, despite the cracks on the road that might trip you. Without making sacrifices, it would be impossible to achieve great heights in the eyes of Allah. Without sacrificing your sleep to wake up in the middle of the night to pray, without sacrificing your TV time to read the Qur'an, without sacrificing the worldly things that consume us every single day, it would be impossible to achieve great heights in His eyes. Without sacrifice, how would one's heart let all of its love be for Him, and Him alone? Sacrificing might come in many forms- but with one common intention of attaining His love in doing so, it will bring nothing but goodness, as He has promised in Surah Al-Anfal, verse 70. "If Allah knows of [any] good in your hearts, He will give you better than what was taken away from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." Verily, His promises are ever true.

And while within sacrifices is always a greater good, they can't always be seen with the bare eyes.

That within sacrifices, lies a greater good.

A Little More We as humans are creatures of habit. Our lives revolve around a routine with minimal disruptions. We stick to our comfort zones, since we have become used to them. Mediocrity sets in and any changes to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;normalcyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are perceived as difficult. Thus, Hajj is an act of worship that pushes us human beings from staying in that comfort zone; to break out of our routine. We have to travel miles to perform this worship. We are exposed to a different country and climate, being around different people from different cultures and backgrounds, and are donned in a completely different attire from our everyday clothing. All these in responding to the call of Allah s.w.t. So how do we implement this aspect of Hajj in our daily lives? In school, some of us settle for just borderline passes for our tests. Passing itself is considered an achievement. Why short change ourselves when we can do so much better? It is difficult to spend that precious time to revise on subjects we are poor on. While it may seem a chore, the extra time and effort could, not only improve our grades, but at the same time allow us to understand in depth about the knowledge. Academic knowledge alone is not enough. We still have to pursue and broaden our understanding of Islam. There is so much we can learn about our religion. Islam encompasses not just our faith but is a way of life. We learn not only how to conduct ourselves, but also how to treat the elderly, neighbours and even people of other faiths. Do we even understand what Halal is? Halal is more than just the symbol we see on food packaging and outlets. Have we even bothered to find out more? We are now in an environment where everyone is connected. We are equipped with smartphones and tablets. These devices function as mobile computers that tag with us wherever we go. With a few swipes on the screen, we can find out more about our religion. We can access websites, social media platforms, mobile apps that cover about it. In actuality, we do not bother to find out about all these. It is a waste we are letting such information pass by. We do not try hard enough to seek this knowledge. We are stuck in our comfort zones, contented with the knowledge that we already have. What it takes is just that little bit of effort to retrieve the information. We have to keep in mind that although information is readily available, we need to seek advice from a teacher to verify the information attained because in Islam, to attain knowledge is through a teacher. Without one, it is as though someone is learning from syaitan. This is also to ensure the lineage of the knowledge links back to Rasulullah S.A.W. When the hearts and minds are in the right place, Allah will open doors. Let us pray, Allah will open our hearts and minds and guide us through the straight path. Amin.

Ultimately Everybody's Journey... is from Allah, to Allah. "Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un." Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.

DID YOU KNOW

The 7 Instructions of the Prophet S.A.W Advice of the Messenger S.A.W to Abu Dhaar r.a. (Hadith 2166 Silsilah al-ahaadeeth as-saheehah) 20

1 Love the poor and be close to them.

2 Look at those below you, and not those above you.

3 Keep the ties of the womb even if others didn't want to.

4 Not to ask (beg) anyone for anything.

5 Speak the truth even if it was bitter.

6 Not to fear for the sake of Allah, the blame of the blamers

7 Frequently say "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" (There is no might or power except with Allah), for it is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.

meet

THE SHEEP Get to know the conditions they need to be in and the rules with regards to treating them.

Livestock Welfare In the weeks leading to Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims welcome the arrival of a special flock of animals. Livestock of lambs and sheep are transported to locations around the island waiting to be sacrificed in the name of Allah S.W.T. At these locations, the livestock are provided constant access to food, fresh water and shade. Since most of the livestock here are imported from Australia, the animals are cared in accordance to guidelines set by the Australian authorities. In Islam, animals must be treated with kindness and compassion. The well-being of the animals is as important as the slaughtering process. The livestock have to be fed and cared for adequately including the sick which has to be treated. Below are some of the Islamic slaughter rules which are designed to cause no pain and distress to the animals in the slaughtering process. a) The animals must not see other animals being killed. b) Knife must not be sharpened in the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence. c) The knife must be free of blemishes that might tear the wound. d) The animal must not be in an uncomfortable position. e) Slaughter the animal in such a way that its life departs quickly and it is not left to suffer. The ritual of Qurban is an expression of our appreciation to Allah s.w.t. for all His blessings bestowed upon us. We should also show compassion to the animals slaughtered in the Qurban ritual as they are a creation of Allah s.w.t too. 3 Things you ought to know about Qurban 1. Qurban has to be done on Eid-ul-Adha or during the three days after it. 2. Impaired animals cannot be slaughtered for the Qurban religious rite. 3. A cow can be sacrificed in the name of seven individuals.

FOOD

What is Halal ?

Eidul Adha, an occasion known to many as the day where Muslims would sacrifice sheep. Thus, what better time, for us to share with you what halal really is.

a. Animal should be slaughtered with a sharp object (knife) and the name of Allah is mentioned (Bismillah Allahu Akbar. [In the Name of Allah; Allah is the Greatest])

Halal is an Arabic word, which means permissible, allowed, or lawful. The term halal is not limited to just food, however, for this article, we are focusing on just that.

The animal has to be slaughtered with a sharp object (knife) and in a fast way so that the animal does not feel pain. b. Cut wind pipe, throat and vessels of neck

In the aspect of food, therefore, it means permissible food. So what then makes a food permissible for consumption? In the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 173 Allah s.w.t said, which means, “He has only forbidden to you carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” And in verse 3 of Surah Al-Maidah, “Prohibited to you are carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a headlong fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars…” From the verses above, Allah s.w.t has clearly indicated to us what the Muslims cannot consume. Those are therefore not halal. Allah made mention in the earlier verse, “…and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.” Also in the latter Allah mentioned, “…and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a headlong fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten …” These answer the misconceptions of the majority of people out there. “No pork no lard” is not equivalent to halal. Even if it’s chicken or duck or beef or lamb, it is still not halal for consumption if the slaughtering of the animal is not done in the name of Allah or the way the animal is slaughtered is not according to the Islamic law set by Allah s.w.t. Below, we discuss the method of slaughtering and its reasons. (Extracted from islamforhumanity.wordpress.com)

The ‘slaughtering’ is to be done by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord. c. Blood should be drained The blood has to be drained completely before the head is removed. The purpose is to drain out most of the blood, which would serve as a good culture medium for microorganisms. The spinal cord must not be cut because the nerve fibres to the heart could be damaged during the process causing cardiac arrest, stagnating the blood in the blood vessels. 2. Blood is a good medium for germs and bacteria Blood is a good medium for germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. Therefore the Muslim way of slaughtering is more hygienic as most of the blood containing germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. that are the cause of several diseases is eliminated. 3. Meat remains fresh for a longer time Meat slaughtered by Islamic way remains fresh for a longer time due to deficiency of blood in the meat as compared to other methods of slaughtering. 4. Animal does not feel pain The swift cutting of vessels of the neck disconnects the flow of blood to the nerve of the brain responsible for pain. Thus the animal does not feel pain. While dying, the animal struggles, writhes, shakes and kicks, not due to pain, but due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles deficient in blood and due to the flow of blood out of the body.

1. Islamic method of slaughtering animal May Allah grant us understanding. Amin. The Islamic mode of slaughtering an animal requires the following conditions to be met: 31

ISLAMIC CHIC

HIDDEN BEAUTY: A TUTORIAL by Nur Khairunnisa follow @Uhnisa on instagram

You will need 4 pins & 1 safety pin

Divide your shawl into 2 parts - 1 side is longer than the other

Take back part of the shorter one

And pin it to the other side 35

Do the same for the front part too, for neck coverage

Then take the longer one and twirl it (give some space) to your head

Secure both sides with pins 36

Twirl the end part...

and secure it with a safety pin

You are done! 37

Simply Stylish by Nasuha Darke Simplicity goes a very long way, and most importantly, you will not be a sight for sore eyes. It is a delicate balance; to wear more to cover- and to apply the universal tip- â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;less is moreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Outfit 1. When you are feeling hopeless or unsure about what colours to match, stick to classics. Black and white. Sharp, crisp and clean cut, this look gives you an empowering confidence to excel throughout the day! Outfit 2. It is all about the shades: a shade darker, a shade lighter. Having a basic colour of cream, we take a shade darker (camel pants, dark orange bag) and also a shade lighter (white sandals, light pink scarf) to pull off a subtle yet stylish getup. Outfit 3. A dual colour palette makes it easy to make your decisions when you are tight for time. Here, we go for an all gray bottom paired with an all blue top. The best thing with dressing in dual colours is that, you can easily finish off the look by adding an absolute contrast accessory. In this case, we prevail in simplicity with a dark blue belt. 38

TRAVELOGUE: A Spiritual Journey by Irfan

follow @feeamanillah on instagram

I searched for love and peace. I found Islam, and I found a curious traveller in myself through it. With Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will, I seem to thrive in solitude and the observance of strangers, and in no better place could I find solace and wisdom through it other than in mosques. Every mosque has its own serenity and tranquility to it. At least, just at least a congregational prayer with humility and sincerity of the heart, being submissive, with understanding and purpose; only Allah (Glorified and Exalted Be He) understands the wonders He brings with it, filling me each day. Hence this is my journey to each and every mosques there is in Singapore InsyaAllah. May Allah (Glorified and Exalted Be He) guide me in this lonesome yet purposeful journey with my ever-faithful Vespa.

I am only human I err and I yearn With every sin, on Qalb is a drop of blackness Hence fill me with fear, for I will be weighed in absolute fairness For all You gave and all You’ve taken away I pray once again to not let this heart astray The Signs are clear, the promise is true Yet our hearts go blind, true ones are few I want to be a man against anger and desire Islam: a remedy like water to fire Struggles bring me wisdom every each day The same way pleasures take it all away In hardships and solitude was I close to You I’d rather stay in that state of calmness, than be ‘happy’ being far away from You We create these sins from our very own hands But truly the best of those is the one who repents Self-blaming tears as I write this note to self That the condition of my surrounding is truly a reflection of myself.

travel with my faithful Vespa every random days in solitude, mosques-hopping and observing strangers, capturing moments and discovering life. Solitude isn’t loneliness. It is an act of being alone by choice. With His permission and guidance, in it are benefits His creations cannot give and most would not understand. Some strangers could randomly appear in your life as lessons, and others as inspirations. Some strangers appear like a passerby, from nowhere, and not more than a couple of minutes. They impart knowledge and life lessons, by exemplary speech and actions. Then they would go, expecting nothing but a returned gesture of peace through salaam, and leave you with absolute tears, awe and true understanding of life.

peace and love in its purest of forms again. I have dreams and plans, but surely Allah is the best of planners. I seek guidance from Allah swt in these baby steps I’m putting forward. “When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” Surah Ali Imran 3:159

True tears are tears for the sake of Allah swt; and true words are often disregarded, till it befalls the person. On this note, continues a stream of penned down thoughts of a spiritual journey in my shoes, as a growing young adult and a learning Muslim.

We subconsciously adapt to how the world works everyday, but we never really take a step back to understand what the world means. A loved one once told me, “It’s ultimately the effort that He sees, not the total amount of knowledge you got about a thing. The knowledge would come naturally.”. I am 20 years old, and I still have very little knowledge about Islam. But why should I wait till I have abundant knowledge and numerical ‘maturity’ to spread simple peace, love and righteousness between people. We tend to expect from people what we ourselves don’t give.

“Be in this life as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer.” Hadith Sahih Bukhari. In an age where dignity, humility, honour and modesty are ideals of the past, we of the modern world are reluctant to ask ourselves when we look at terrible things happening – “Why do they occur?” and if we ask with true sincerity, the answer will come back to us in no uncertain terms, that all of this is from ourselves. I want to change how people see the world, by firstly changing the condition of the inward, instead of attempting to rectify the outward. I want the world to see 40

“They plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” Surah Ali Imran 3:54 I learnt that Allah swt grants knowledge and provision in so many unexpected ways and forms, and at moments we least expect as long as we ask sincerely. And we often underestimate the weight of sincerity in Allah’s view.

We tend to seek too much of what life has to offer, while ignoring what lies ahead of us upon death. We tend to live for what is before our eyes. We run away from the harsh reality of death, and that we will indeed be responsible for all that we do in this life, for every atom weight of good and bad deeds. “Verily the death from which you flee will surely meet you,

than you will be sent back to (Allah), the All-Knower of the unseen and seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.” Al-Jumuah 62:8

and replace you with a people who would sin and then seek Allah’s forgiveness so He could forgive them.” Hadith Sahih Muslim

“And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare (in horror).” Surah Ibrahim 14:42

Questions of hypocrisy are thrown at self, after each and every single moment I busy myself with contemplation of beauty and materialism. My sins are certain, but will the opposite be accepted I fear. Every littlest of sins kills productivity and darkens the heart. It creates emptiness inside and disowns the heart of serenity and tranquility – the sweetness of iman. It stops the flow of His gift of knowledge. True enough, every shortcomings are from our own hands and every blessings are from Him and only Him alone.

Travel and embrace solitude. Look at His signs and creations. Humanity evolves through generations towards worldly gains that are before our eyes. When we were created, money, music, media and materialism weren’t here, so definitely it can’t be the purpose of our creation. Rather, it is the cause of our own destruction, as it is today. Everyday is a lesson. I am what I act. I am what i think and I am what I see. We tend to complain of the plights we are in without reminding ourselves of our past sins. I realized that we are truly what we feed the heart with. The larger the gap between our principles and our actions only increases the grief in one’s heart. Sometimes I sin and I found knowledge to repent. I realized that the knowledge is from the love and mercy of Allah swt while that sin is from my own stupidity and lack of control. “And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.” Al-Shura 42:30 “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, if you were a people who did not commit sin, Allah would take you away

“Surely there is in the body a small piece of flesh; if it is good, the whole body is good, and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted, and that is surely the heart.” Hadith Sahih Bukhari. Too often we call ourselves Muslims but we don’t really understand what it means to be one. I am saying this for myself first and foremost. We see the unspoken truth of gruesome violence, killings, open fornication, etc to the point where there is no shame in standing up for what destroys and divides us. Modesty and dignity especially; a slow demise. Having said these, if being different brings victory in all aspects and is better for me, then let me be that stranger. When we point a finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at us. We should change ourselves in order to change the world. 41

“Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange. So good tidings for the stranger.” Hadith Sahih Muslim. This heart we have, being human, is like a vessel, just waiting and wanting to be filled, and after a while I realize that all these years I have been filling it up with the wrong things. I filled it up with music, thinking it would heal me. I filled it up with romance, thinking it would fill me. But they never did, they left a void instead, because this heart wants more than something ephemeral. This heart wants something that will heal it permanently, it wants something that can fill it permanently and all that can only be found in the remembrance of God, because unlike anything else, God is sempiternal. Infinity. If true happiness is what this heart seeks, let it be known to self that what Allah has forbidden can never bring joy. “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28 “If you really trust in Allah as Allah should be trusted, He would sustain you as He sustains the birds. They go out in the morning hungry and come back to rest in the evening full.” Hadith Sahih Tirmidhi

Handsome is the man who lowers his gaze Humble is the man who sujoods and prays Wise is the man who limits his words Calm is the man who supplicates Through experiences, He gave thoughts and wisdom I thrive and I fail, in this very freedom What if I knew the time of my death? What would I do with the time I am left. What if my sins are written on my forehead for the world to see? Knowing people judge and how ashamed I would be What if I’m revealed the punishment of each sin? Who would I blame for where I’ve been Questions popped in this regular spot I sit I hear the adzaan, tears fell, I got lost in it Loved ones, the unfortunate and orphans randomly appear in my head Do I deserve this comfort if they are still in melancholy I said Sometimes we put ourselves in so much grief Not knowing there are greater ones seeking relief On this day I sincerely pray for you what I hope for myself May He remember me too and help me during my death What I am is a sign of where I am heading I seek your remembrance, hoping wellness in all paths I’m leading I write and write till there is nothing left For these words are reminders from self to self.

KHALID MOSQUE

Musollah MIRROR goes shopping~! Again! This time at the North and West side of the Island.

IMM Building

Woodlands Civic Centre

Location Ground floor staircase landing at rear exit to Toh Guan Road. There is a door in the building facing Toh Guan Road just beside the carpark exit.

Location Located at Level 1. Before entering the main entrance, enter door (Staircase 2) on the left that leads to the staircase and go straight. Prayer space is located at the extreme end. For bigger congregation, use the staircase and proceed to Level 2 to the same area.

2 Jurong East Street 21, Singapore 609601

Details Use the tap on the grass verge for ablution.

Jurong Point

900 South Woodlands Drive, Singapore 730900

Details A replica of a sajadah with foot-marks and qiblah indicates the prayer direction. Use nearby toilets for ablution

1 Jurong West Central 2, Singapore 648886 Location Musollah is located at Basement 2 Carpark. Use the escalator in front of 'Pets Station' and proceed to Basement 2 Carpark. Turn left and after two to three parking lots you should be able to see a room on your left. Details Ablution area is outside the room. The key to use the tap is in the musollah, hanging beside the door. Use remote control to switch on the air-conditioner. Please remember to switch it off after use. Sajadahs and telekungs are provided.

Lot One Shopper's Mall

21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, Singapore 689812 Location Take the main lift to Level 4. Upon exit, turn right and you'll see an alley. Walk straight in and turn right. There, you'll see a staircase entrance. Musollah is located at staircase landing between Level 3 and 4. Details Use nearby toilets for ablution.

Ikea Alexandra

317 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159965 Location There are 2 musollahs at the car park area. For males, the room is underneath the escalator. For females, the room is across the loading bay. Details Musollahs are equipped with ablution facility.

Queensway Shopping Centre 1 Queensway, Singapore 149053

Location Second floor near the toilet. Access through the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Exitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; door. Details Taps available for ablution.

listing courtesy of IslamicEvents.sg

WHAT’S GOING ON? Sharing with you a list of happenings going on around town.

Knowledge Forum : Calumny of the End Days in accordance of The Quran and Hadith

Janazah Management Fundamentals Course (Two days) Date/Time: Saturday, 19 October, 5 p.m to 10 p.m

Date/Time: Saturday, 19 October, After Isya' Prayer Language: Malay Place: Muhammadiyah Association, 14 Jalan Selamat Singapore 418534 Speaker: Ustaz Saifuddin Amin, Ustaz Nuzulul Qadar, Ustaz Muhammad Azri Azman Abu Hurairah recorded from the Prophet S.A.W : Time feels short, good deeds dwindled, miserly behaviour are rampant, vices profligates and too much tempestuousness. The companions asked, “O Rasullulah! What is this tempestuousness?” The Prophet S.A.W replied, “Killings”. It is beyond doubt; we are living in a time full of tempestuousness, vices and trials. Time becomes shorter and Qiamah is closer. In facing these catastrophes, what should the Muslim ummah do? What should be prepared to successfully face these trials? What have been thought from the Quran and Hadith about these? InsyaAllah these questions will be discussed in the forum. Come together with your family members and good friends to gain knowledge and build closer ties. 46

Place: Success Master Centre, Blk 135 Jurong Gateway Road #04-337 Singapore 600135 Language: Malay This Fardhu Kifayah course have been organised repeatedly by the facilitator to create awareness among the Muslim community in Singapore on how, why and what to do when there is death of family member(s) or friend(s). The course is guided with Powepoint presentation together with notes and practical such as bathing, shrouding and janazah prayers. In addition, recitation of Talqeen (text provided) and speech presentation will be taught. The course facilitator, Brother Md. Amir has conducted similar courses at PERTAPIS, PERGAS and other Muslim bodies. Please contact Brother Md. Amir at 8288 5742 or 97624321 for further enquiries. Course fees at only $55 inclusive of notes, evening meal and certificate of participation. For more details of the events listed, visit islamicevents.sg

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FROM ALL OF US AT MIRROR, WISHING OUR DEAR READERS EID MUBARAK!