Virtues of Friday

Friday has many distinguishing features and virtues that Allaah has bestowed upon this day and not others. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Allaah led those who came before us away from Friday. The Jews had Saturday, and the Christians had Sunday. Then Allaah brought us and Allaah guided us to Friday. So there is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we will be dealt with before all others.”

Narrated by Muslim, 856. Al-Nawawi said: Al-Qaadi said: The apparent meaning is that it was obligatory for them to venerate Friday but this was not stated clearly; the matter was left to their own reasoning… But they did not manage to work it out and Allaah did not guide them to it. It was enjoined clearly upon this ummah, and was not left to their own reasoning, thus they were blessed with it …

It was narrated that Moosa enjoined Friday upon them and told them of its virtues, but they disputed with him and argued that Saturday was better, and it was said to him, ‘Let them be.’ Al-Qaadi said: if there had been a clear command, their arguing with him would not have been valid, rather it would have been said to him that they were going against the command. I say: it may be that that was clearly enjoined upon them but they disputed as to whether it was something they had to adhere to or they could change it to another day; they decided to change it to another day and they erred greatly thereby.

It comes as no surprise that Friday was specifically enjoined upon them and they went against that. Al-Haafiz said:

How can it be otherwise when they are the ones who said “We hear and we disobey”? It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam (peace be upon him) was created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown and on that day all of creation will swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?” He said, “Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets, peace be upon them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in his comments on Sunan Abi Dawood, 4/273; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 925.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise and on it he was expelled therefrom.” Narrated by Muslim, 1410. This hadeeth includes some of the reasons why Friday is regarded as special. Al-Nawawi said: Al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad said: The apparent meaning is that these virtues do not mean that Friday is regarded as special because Adam was expelled on a Friday and the Hour will begin on a Friday. Rather it is meant to explain what momentous events took place and will take place on this day, so that people will make the most of this day to do righteous deeds, so as to attain the mercy of Allaah and ward off His punishment. This is the view of al-Qaadi. Abu Bakr ibn al-‘Arabi said in his book al-Ahwadhi fi Sharh al-Tirmidhi: All of these events are good and add to the virtue of Friday.

The expulsion of Adam from Paradise is the reason why his offspring and the Messengers, the Prophets, the righteous and the awliya’ exist. He was not expelled from it as such, but rather it was for a purpose, then he will return to it. With regard to the Hour beginning on a Friday, the reason is so that the reward may be hastened for the Prophets, believers in truth, awliya’ and others, and their honour and high status may be made manifest.

This hadeeth points to the virtues of Friday and its high status in relation to the other days. It was narrated that Abu Lubaabah ibn ‘Abd al-Mundhir said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allaah. It is greater before Allaah than the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr. It has five characteristics: on this day Allaah created Adam, on it He sent Adam down to the earth, on it Allaah caused Adam to die, on it there is a time when a person does not ask Allaah for anything but He gives it to him, so long as he does not ask for anything haraam, and on it the Hour will begin. There is no angel who is close to Allaah, no heaven, no earth, no wind, no mountain and no sea that does not fear Friday.

” Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1084; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2279 Al-Sanadi said: “They fear Friday” means they fear the onset of the Hour. This indicates that all created beings are aware of the days and they know that the Day of Resurrection will come on a Friday.

The virtues of this day include the following:

1 – On it is Salaat al-Jumu’ah (Friday prayer), which is the best of prayer.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!”

[al-Jumu’ah 62:9] Muslim (233) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers and from one Jumu’ah to the next is an expiation for whatever sins come in between them, so long as one does not commit a major sin.”

2 – Praying Fajr in congregation on Fridays is the best prayer that the Muslim can pray during the week.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best prayer before Allaah is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1119 One of the special features of Fajr prayer on Friday is that it is Sunnah to recite Soorat al-Sajdah in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Insaan in the second.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite in Fajr prayer in Fridays Alif-Laam-Meem Tanzeel (Soorat al-Sajdah) in the first rak’ah and Hal ata ‘ala’l-insaan heenun min al-dahr lam yakun shay’an madhkooran (Soorat al-Insaan) in the second.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 851; Muslim, 880. Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said: It was said that the reason why these two soorahs are recited is because they mention the creation of Adam and what will happen on the Day of Resurrection, because that will come to pass on a Friday.

3 – Whoever dies during the day or night of Friday, Allaah will protect him from the trial of the grave.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim who dies during the day of Friday or the night of Friday but Allaah will protect him from the trial of the grave.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1074; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz, p. 49, 50

Retrieving Youth

Islam is not only a religion but it is a complete life system. We are not be able to know islam with out connection. So revive with us and say your friends to be a retrieving Youth. Work actively Insha Allah, Allah will give you the perfect result.

7 Reasons to Read the Glorious Quran

By: Shabir Ali



(1) Intimate:

It dares you to disprove it. How? It says that humans can not write a book like this even if they pooled all their resources together and got help also from the spirits. The Quran said this fourteen hundreds years ago and yet no one has been able to disprove it. Billions of books have been written - but not another one like the Quran.

(2) Incorruptible:

It is the only religious sacred writing which has been in circulation for such a long time and yet remains as pure as it was in the beginning. The Quran was kept intact. Nothing was added to it; nothing was changed in it; and nothing was taken away from it ever since it was completely revealed 1400 years ago.

(3) Unsurpassable:

The Quran is God's final revelation to humankind. God revealed the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David, the Gospel to Jesus, and finally the Quran to Muhammad. Peace be upon all of them. No other book will come from God to surpass his final revelation.

(4) Indisputable:

The Quran withstands the test of time and scrutiny. No one can dispute the truth of this book. It speaks about past history and turns out right. It speaks about the future in prophecies and it turns out right. It mentions details of physical phenomena which were not known to people at the time; yet later scientific discoveries confirm that the Quran was right all along. Every other book needs to be revised to accord with modern knowledge. The Quran alone is never contradicted by a modern discovery.

(5) Your Roadmap for Life and Afterlife:

The Quran is the best guidebook on how to structure your life. No other book presents such a comprehensive system involving all aspects of human life and endeavor. The Quran also points out the way to secure everlasting happiness in the afterlife. It is your roadmap showing how to get to paradise.

(6) God's Gift of Guidance:

God has not left you alone. You were made for a reason. God tells you why he made you, what he demands from you, and what he has in store for you. If you operate a machine contrary to it's manufacture specification you will ruin that machine. What about you? Do you have an owner's manual for you? The Quran is from your function for success lest you fail to function. It is a healing mercy from God. It satisfies the soul, and cleans the heart. It removes doubts and brings peace.

(7) Your Calling Card to Communicate with God:

Humans are social creatures. We love to communicate with other intelligent life. The Quran tells us how to communicate with the source of all intelligence and the source of all life- the One God. The Quran tells us who God is, by what name we should address God, and the way in which to communicate with God. Are these not seven sufficient reasons for reading the Quran?

Diet..oh...Diet

Pernah dengar nama Filippa Hamilton, supermodel blasteran Prancis-Swedia yang sejak usia 15 tahun menjadi model untuk designer Ralph Lauren?

Kalau belum pernah, lemme show you her pict... here we go!

Bagaimana pendapat orang-orang randomly tentang Filippa? Pastinya tidak jauh-jauh dari 'adorable', 'sexy', dan 'gorgeous'. Kata yang tidak pernah Anda dengar adalah 'gendut'.

Tapi mungkin Ralph Lauren management tidak sepaham dengan kita semua sebagai orang awam tentang Filippa. Gadis dengan tinggi 5'10" dan berat 120 pounds ini dipecat lantaran dituding terlalu gemuk sehingga tidak muat lagi untuk memakai sampel baju bikinan Lauren yang range size-nya 2-4. Pasti kaget dong, buat orang awam ukuran tubuh segitu tuh dah ideal banget! Tapi kok masih dianggap gendut ya? Terang aja si model gak terima dan balik menggugat Ralph Lauren (msnbc,2009).

Saya terus terang kaget pas membaca artikel tentang Filippa tersebut di tengah pelajaran Psikologi. Gimana nggak, lha wong saya yang size 8 aja santai... lha Filippa yang punya size 4 kok masih repot disuruh ngecilin badan...Wkakakakaka! Dipecat ya dipecat aja, toh rumah mode kan gak cuma Ralph Lauren.

Materi yang kita bahas di kelas psikologi kebetulan mengenai bulimia dan anorexia. Itu lho, diet ketat yang banyak dilakukan remaja-remaja Amerika untuk membuat tubuh mereka tampak tinggi dan skinny seperti model-model di televisi... Mereka tidak segan-segan untuk tidak makan selama 3 hari berturut-turut dan hanya mengonsumsi air. Ada juga yang memilih sebagai vegetarian tetapi dengan cara yang sangat strict seperti hanya mengonsumsi selada dan tomat tanpa kentang/nasi sebagai penyuplai utama karbohidrat. Semua itu dilakukan semata-mata untuk mendapatkan tubuh indah bak model. Gak masuk akal memang, tapi sebagian besar remaja putri Amerika menjadikan model sebagai panutan bentuk tubuh ideal. Jadi, orientasi mereka adalah SEKSI = SKINNY = KREMPENG.

Sebenarnya ini produk Amerika yang tidak sehat, tapi toh apa daya pengaruh media saat ini yang gencar menampilkan tubuh-tubuh model yang seksi dan skinny di majalah dan televisi secara langsung dan tidak langsung mempengaruhi pola pikir remaja putri. Bahkan sudah meluas tidak hanya di Amerika, tapi di seluruh dunia. Akhirnya gadis-gadis berpikir bahwa seksi adalah bagian dari kecantikan. Siapa sih yang gak ingin disebut seksi? Setiap wanita pastis senang kalo dilabeli predikat seksi (well, meski kriteria seksi untuk tiap orang pasti beda). Akhirnya berbagai cara yang tidak sehat pun rela dilakukan, mengikuti cara diet para model tersebut. Yaitu membiarkan diri mereka KELAPARAN selama 3 hari atau lebih!

Sampai di sini definisi diet sudah melenceng jauh. Diet dalam arti yang sebenarnya adalah berpantang makanan atau sesuatu demi kesehatan. Adapun diet yang dikenal oleh para wanita zaman sekarang adalah usaha untuk menurunkan berat badan agar terlihat lebih langsing dan singset (baca: seksi). Tanpa kita sadari, sebenarnya virus diet yang seperti ini tidak lain hanya melihat kecantikan seseorang dari fisik dan bukan hati.

Jauh dari itu, sebenarnya dalam agama kita yang mulia ini (Islam) sudah berulang kali mengajarkan kepada kita sebagai umatnya, bagaimana cara diet yang benar, wasilah-wasilah diet dan tujuan dari itu sendiri, sudah diterangkan dalam QS Al-A'raf : 31 Allah berfirman "Wakulu wasyrabu wala tusrifu". Orang yang melakukan diet biasanya disebabkan karena berat badan berlebihan, sedangkan kelebihan berat pada umumnya disebabkan oleh banyak makan-minum. Jadi, diet pada pandangan islam adalah mengkonsumsi makanan dan minuman secara tidak berlebihan, karena sesuatu yang berlebihan dapat membawa efek yang tidak baik, misalnya kelebihan makan bisa menyebabkan kegemukan dan kemalasan, kelebihan frekuensi untuk sikat gigi maka email semakin menipis, kelebihan duduk bisa sakit pinggang dan masih banyak lainnya.

Dalam sebuah hadist, Rasulullah telah berpesan bahwasanya volume perut dibagi menjadi 3 bagian, 1/3 untuk makanan, 1/3 untuk minuman, 1/3 untuk udara. Adapun tujuan diet dalam Islam adalah agar dengan tubuh yang ringan memudahkan seseorang untuk beribadah, seperti bangun tengah malam untuk menunaikan ibadah sunnah tapi itu merupakan salah satu wadah kita untuk mendekatkan diri pada sang pencipta, walaupun dalam hakekatnya kita hidup di dunia, dialah yang kita cari, akan tetapi tujuan kita hidup adalah untuk akhirat "aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka menyembahku". Dunia hanya tempat persinggahan sementara, sedangkan akhiratlah adanya kehidupan abadi selamanya.

Jadi sebenarnya diet itu bisa membawa berkah tersendiri bagi orang yang mempunyai niat dan nilai positif dalam melakukan tindakan tersebut. Islam yang dikenal sebagai agama universal, syamil mutakammil juga memberitahukan kepada kita bagaimana cara diet yang sehat. Diantaranya :

1. Puasa, agar dapat mencapai tujuan diet yang sehat, dianjurkan bagi seseorang untuk berpuasa, diimbangi dengan melaksanakan sahur. Tapi fenomena yang terjadi sekarang, banyak teman-teman akhwat ketika datang bulan ramadhan tidak mau sahur dengan alasan takut gemuk, akhirnya berimbas kepada sakit mag, pening-pening dan masih banyak lagi. Sehingga puasa yang seharusnya menyehatkan malah mendatangkan penyakit.

2. Olah raga, jika ada yang berpendapat bahwa olah raga tidak ada dalam Islam, maka itu adalah sangkaan yang salah. Bukankah Islam agama yang sangat memperhatikan hal olah tubuh? Buktinya dalam shalatpun semua anggota tubuh bergerak. Sebagai perbandingan coba kita lihat agama Yahudi dalam beribadah, mereka hanya menggerak-gerakkan kepala mereka saja, begitu juga dengan orang Nasrani hanya duduk dengan berpangku tangan. Banyak kita lihat para akhwat ketika sedang menjalani terapi berdiet, mereka hanya menghindari makanan yang berlemak dan minuman dingin saja, tapi tidak disertai dengan olah raga, ini merupakan salah satu bentu cara berdiet yang salah.

3. Tidak berlebih-lebihan dalam hal makan-minum, sebagaimana yang telah dijelaskan sebelumnya.

4. Jangan lupa meniatkan bahwa diet yang kita lakukan semata-mata untuk mencari ridha Ilahi. Semoga dengan diet yang kita lakukan menambah mizan kebaikan kita dan lebih mendekatkan diri kita kepada Allah.

5. Jaga hati agar selalu bersih, kalau ada yang bertanya: Apa hubungannya? jawaban: Ya, sangat berhubungan. Kondisi hati seseorang sangat mempengaruhi kesehatannya karena hati adalah sumber penyakit. Kalau hati baik, maka baiklah seluruh tubuh dan bila hati buruk, maka buruklah seluruh tubuh. Jadi, kondisi hati sangat mempengaruhi penampilan seseorang.

6. Memperbanyak minum air putih, air putih banyak sekali khasiatnya, terlebih untuk kesehatan badan dan otak. Seseorang yang sedang belajar dianjurkan banyak mengkonsumsi air putih, begitu juga halnya dengan orang yang sedang berdiet, dianjurkan memperbanyak minum air putih.

Jangan salah sangka lho, diet bukan hanya untuk kaum hawa, lelakipun dianjurkan untuk diet. Kalau kita kilas-balik Tarikh Islam, banyak tokoh-tokoh Islam atau ulama-ulama besar terdahulu tidak mau bertubuh gemuk, dengan alasan yang syar'i yakni agar mudah dalam beribadah. Hal semacam itulah yang perlu dan patut dijadikan contoh serta menjadikan suri tauladan bagi kita. Boleh saja kita berdiet, tapi jangan sampai menyiksa tubuh, berikan hak tubuh kita. Riset membuktikan bahwa diet berlebihan menyebabkan osteophorosis dan kemandulan. Penuhi zat-zat yang dibutuhkan oleh tubuh kita seperti: protein, lemak, karbohidrat, mineral, vitamin, seimbangkan.

Wallahu a'lam

To Be Better

Dalam setiap kebaikan, ada setitik kejahatan
Begitu pun sebaliknya
Dalam setiap kejahatan, pasti ada setitik kebaikan
Tidak ada yang sempurna di dunia ini
Tidak ada sesuatu yang benar seutuhnya
Tidak ada sesuatu yang salah seutuhnya
Kebenaran sejati datangnya hanya dari Allah

"Tidak ada kata SEMPURNA, yang ada hanyalah LEBIH BAIK" -(Baya Indrayana Inggas, YES USA 2009).

"Ambil selembar kertas kosong, tiap kali kita melakukan perbuatan tercela/dosa/khilaf bubuhkan satu titik di kertas itu. Mungkin awalnya hanya sebuah titik, tapi lihat sebulan atau dua bulan kemudian. Titik-titik itu berkembang menjadi noktah, menjadi noda, lama kelamaan kertas putih itu akan jadi hitam. Begitu pun sebaliknya, tiap kali kita melakukan kebaikan bubuhkan tanda hati di kertas itu. Lalu mari kita bandingkan, lebih banyak manakah antara kebaikan dan kejahatan yang kita lakukan?"- (Chi Aling)

Lalu bagaimanakah kita akan belajar menjadi lebih baik?

"Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes" -(Kahlil Gibran)

Hanya TAQWA yang akan menjadikan kita lebih baik di mata-Nya!

Apply Protection Prayer God Of Four Ugliness

There is a prayer taught by the Prophet shollallahu 'alaih wa sallam. It contains the request that God would protect us from the four evils. Prayer reads as follows: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge which is not useful, from a heart that does not khusyu ', the passion which is never satisfied, and of a prayer that is not granted." (Reported by Muslim, 4899)

Every Muslim would not want to get involved with all four kinds of evils mentioned in this prayer. First, science which is not useful. Science which is not helpful is all kinds of science that does not lead to the addition of one faith. Useless science is not just undermine faith that the longer person's faith is running low. While useful knowledge is knowledge that makes a person grow closer to God.

The next evil is to have a heart that does not khusyu '. This means the heart is not subject to God. Hearts are wild and do not rely on God in reaching peace. In fact, one of the believer's characteristics is when he remembers Allah, hearts will find a satisfaction.

Third, passion that never satiated. This is the next evil. Moreover, we are going through the darkest era in the history of Islam. In this age of so much calumny spread, so the bid to keep the passion emerging around us. Almost in all situations there is an opportunity to indulge passion. So in times like this is a very necessary self-control. Very necessary ability to satisfy desires in a manner appropriate and proportionate Shari'a. Islam did not come to kill the passion. Islam came to control the passion. Hence the need of gratification of lust is not switched off but is directed to comply with the rules of the Shari'a of Allah. And when this is done is not only a person free from sin, even he could get the reward from God for the fulfillment of passion in the appropriate laws of God.

Fourth, prayer that is not granted. This is definitely bad. Imagine, a Muslim praying to God but not granted. Clearly this is a disaster. And God himself guarantees that if someone asked something for God, Allah will grant. Certainly one condition: first, Asked only to God, not the Other; second, Fulfill all the commandments of God and third, Believe in truth to Allah SWT.

Adapted from: http://www.eramuslim.com/suara-langit/ringan-berbobot/doa-memohon-perlindungan-allah-dari-empat-keburukan.htm

A Note from Heeran

Alhamdulillah, bahasa Indonesia mulai diminati oleh siswi mancanegara. Memo di atas ditulis langsung oleh teman ana, Heeran, seorang gadis asal Korea yang sekarang sama-sama belajar di Elizabeth High School.

Ana kaget waktu tiba-tiba dia kasih ana memo bertuliskan "Selamat Pagi!". Spontan ana bertanya, "How did figure out Indonesian language?". Secara selama dua bulan di US belum pernah ada yang menyapa ana dengan bahasa Indonesia. Surprise banget waktu itu! ^_^

"I found it in my electric dictionary," terang Heeran sambil menunjuk kamus elektriknya.

Lalu dia kembali menulis kata-kata dalam Bahasa Indonesia, menjelaskan nama, asal negara, sekaligus warna kesukaannya.

"Wow! Wonderful! I'll keep it!".

Begitulah! Sampai sekarang ana masih menyimpan notes Bahasa Indonesia Heeran sambil terus berharap suatu saat nanti Bahasa Indonesia akan menjadi salah satu bahasa internasional. Pokoknya usaha terus mempromosikan Indonesia di Amerika tanpa harus kehilangan Asian Behavior kita!

Indonesia Raya merdeka merdeka! Hiduplah Indonesia Raya!