Dust Is My Bed

In the name of Allah, Lord of this World and the Hereafter.

Today after Maghrib prayer, my roommate received a call from his parents. It was a sad news. Goodbyes are always sad, no matter to whom and when it happens. Especially when it involves eternal goodbye. Yes, my roommate's grandma just passed away. Innaa lillaah wa innaa ilaihi raaji'uun.


This reminds me of an Arabic song I have been listening to for the past two days. I put the song on repeat mode and it was the only song I have been listening to. I have no idea why - I didn't fully understanding the lyrics - yet the song makes my heart trembles in fear and melancholic whenever I listen to it. Surprisingly, I didn't bother to look for its lyrics because I can guess what the song is about. When dust becomes your bed, what else can you think of?

And today when I heard the news about my roommate's grandma, I just had this urge to look for the song's lyrics. My heart trembles even more looking at the lyric. Fear of Death and Allah, rush into my heart I almost burst into tears. It reminds me that the life of this world is but for a short time and not permanent. Our final abode is the Hereafter, after all.

It is a song by Mishary Al-Aradha, titled Farshi al-Turab or Dust Is My Bed.

Here is the Arabic lyric of the song:

فرشي التراب يضمني وهو غطائي
حولي الرمال تلفني بل من ورائي
واللحد يحكي ظلمة فيها ابتلائي
والنور خط كتابه أنسى لقائي
والأهل اين حنانهم باعوا وفائي
والصحب اين جموعهم تركوا اخائي
والمال اين هناءه صار ورائي
والاسم اين بريقه بين الثناءِ
هذي نهاية حالي فرشي الترابِ
والحب ودّع شوقه وبكى رثائي
والدمع جف مسيره بعد البكاء
والكون ضاق بوسعه ضاقت فضائي
فاللحد صار بجثتي أرضي سمائي
هذي نهاية حالي فرشي الترابِ
والخوف يملأ غربتي والحزن دائي
أرجو الثبات وإنه قسما دوائي
والرب أدعو مخلصا أنت رجائي
أبغي إلهي جنة فيها هنائي


And here is the English translation:

Dust is my bed, embracing me, and is my cover
The sands are around me, engulfing me from all directions
And the tomb recounts [the story of] the darkness of my calamity
And the light has destined that my pleasure is in meeting [Allah].

Where is the kindness of kin? They relinquished fidelity!
Where are the scores of friends? They dispensed with my brotherhood!
Where is the bliss of money? I left it behind
And where is the glory of fame and compliments?
That’s my end; dust is my bed.

The beloved bade farewell to his love, and cried my elegy
The tears flow dried out, after crying
The vast universe shrank, narrowing my space
The tomb to my corpse became both my land and my sky
That’s my end; dust is my bed.

Fear overwhelms my estrangement and sadness is my ailment
Hoping for steadfastness, which is – I swear – my remedy
Sincerely supplicating to the Lord; You are my Hope
Hoping – O Allah – for a Paradise, in which my Bliss shall be attained.


Try listening to this song, I hope you can feel as how I feel when I listen to it.

"Every soul shall have a taste of Death; and only on the Day of Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense ... for life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception."

[Ali 'Imran, QS 3:185]

"O Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from the deception of this world and I beseech Thy Mercy to grant me with Bliss and help me to live my life as a true Muslim, and have a good end."

Hubb ad-Dunya

Dengan nama Allah yang menjadikan kehidupan manusia sebagai ujian Iman.

Ada orang pernah memberitahu saya,

"Jika anda mahu berbicara dengan Allah, solatlah kerana solat itu adalah suatu bentuk doa paling agung kerana kita meletakkan diri paling rendah di hadapanNya. Solat itu tanda penyerahan diri menyeluruh kepada Tuhan. Jika mahu Allah berbicara dengan anda, bacalah al-Quran kerana al-Quran itu adalah Kalam Allah. Al-Quran itu adalah panduan hidup yang dirumus khusus buat setiap manusia."

Benar sekali kata-kata di atas. Bukan sekali saya dapat merasakan yang Allah sedang "berbicara" dengan saya pabila saya mengambil al-Quran, membaca lafaz Arabnya dan meneliti maknanya. Saya tidak fasih berbahasa Arab tetapi sekadar mampu memahami makna ayat pada sentence level dengan menggunakan perkataan yang saya fahami sebagai translation aid.

Tetapi, lain caranya bila Allah sedang "berbicara" kepada kita.

Di mana lainnya? Bagi saya, ayat tersebut terasa seolah-olah glossed dan fokus mata serta hati kan secara instinctive akan fokus padanya. Dan biasanya, ayat yang sedang dibacakan itu punya personal value kepada saya yang sedang membacanya. Kesannya, hati rasa tersentuh kerana merasakan Allah itu dekat dan sentiasa memerhati, lantas segala permasalahan yang sedang menyelubungi diri dan pemikiran dirasakan terungkai sedikit demi sedikit.

Inilah yang baru saya rasakan sebentar tadi. Perasaannya sama (malahan, kesannya kekadang lebih mendalam dan menyeluruh bergantung kepada keadaan hati) setiap kali Allah sedang "berbicara" kepada saya.

***********

Sejak sekian lama, hati saya selalu rasa resah setiap kali memikirkan masalah yang timbul semasa pembahagian harta pusaka. Mungkin kerana dari kecil saya pernah melihat sanak saudara bergaduh, benci membenci dan bercaci maki; lalu timbul rasa takut jika hal yang sama terjadi pada saya.

Sedari kecil sehingga sekarang, saya mencari penyebab musibah yang tidak pernah sunyi dari mana-mana keluarga yang  baru kematian saudara dan membincangkan tentang pembahagian harta pusaka. Saya sangat kecewa bila melihat dua insan yang related by blood boleh bergaduh hingga putus saudara hanya kerana harta yang tak seberapa. Apa puncanya?

Saya pernah membaca buku Purification of the Heart oleh Sheikh Hamza Yusuf yang membicarakan tentang pelbagai penyakit hati yang bersarang dalam hati manusia. Antara penyakit-penyakit tersebut adalah "kecintaan kepada dunia" dan "takut pada kemiskinan harta". Di kala membaca komentar Sheikh Hamza atas puisi Imam Mawlud ini, hati saya bergetar dengan rasa takut kerana inilah jawaban kepada persoalan saya. Ya, semuanya kerana kecintaan kepada dunia (hubb ad-dunya) dan takut miskin harta.

"Syaitan mengugut kamu dengan kemiskinan dan memujuk kamu berlaku tidak adil. Dan Allah menjanjikan kamu Maghfirah dan balasan (yang baik di Akhirat) dan Allah itu luas PengetahuanNya dan Mengetahui setiap sesuatu."
[al-Baqarah, QS 2:268]

***********

Dan baru-baru ini, keresahan sama muncul kembali bila ada pihak yang mempersoalkan tentang harta pusaka arwah mak saya. Secara jujurnya, saya langsung tidak kisah dengan harta pusaka arwah. Andai saya tidak menerima itu dapat mengelakkan sebarang pergaduhan maka saya redha. Tetapi, hati manusia yang dijangkiti penyakit hubb ad-dunya tidak pernah rasa cukup dan mereka sentiasa takut menjadi miskin. Pergaduhan dan pertelingkahan antara sanak saudara seolah-olah tidak dapat dielakkan.

Melihat semua ini, hati saya rasa bagai disentap kecewa. Kecewa dengan perpecahan keluarga. Sama seperti apa yang arwah mak rasa semasa pembahagian harta pusaka arwah nenek.


Ini menyebabkan fokus dan pemikiran saya baru-baru ini sedikit tersasar. Badan selalu rasa lemah dan Iman terasa susut. Tapi Maha Suci Allah yang sentiasa bersama hamba-hambaNya, di kala saya dalam keadaan yang lemah ini Dia telah "berbicara" kepada saya tentang masalah hati saya.

Sebentar tadi, saya membaca al-Quran sebagai rutin harian. Selesai membaca surah Waqiah sambungan bacaan semalam, saya rasa sangat bertenaga untuk menyambung bacaan surah seterusnya. Lalu saya teruskan dengan surah al-Hadid. Sampai pada ayat keempat, mata saya terpaku pada akhiran ayat yang berbunyi:

"... And Allah sees well all that ye do."
[al-Hadid, QS, 57:4]

Saya teruskan bacaan sehingga sampai pada ayat yang kedua puluh. Ayat itu kelihatan seolah-olah "timbul", glossed buat mata saya yang sedang membaca. Terasa seperti faham maksudnya ketika membaca (walaupun in reality, cuma faham beberapa perkataan sahaja). Selesai membaca lafaz ayat, saya teliti tafsirannya dan hampir menitis air mata pabila hati tersentuh membaca tafsiran Yusuf 'Ali dalam bahasa Inggeris:

"Know ye (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement - pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude:  how rain and growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow, then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong) and Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?"
[al-Hadid, QS 57:20]

Hati rasa lega dan senyuman mula terukir di bibir. Di kala hati resah dan fikiran berserabut memikirkan musibah hubb ad-dunya, datang peringatan serta jaminan Allah dari KalamNya. Sungguh, "bicara" Allah itu untuk manusia sekaliannya dan mempunyai personal value bertepatan dengan khusus waktunya.


Peringatan dari Allah yang saya dapat dari ayat di atas:
- Dunia ini hanyalah tempat persinggahan dan bersuka ria, ianya tidak kekal. Allah memberi perumpamaan tanaman hasilan hujan yang menggembirakan petani. Kegembiraanya hanya sementara dan akan lama-kelamaan hilang.
- Dunia ini penuh tipu daya dan merupakan pentas ujian Iman kita kepada Allah Ta'ala. Harta kekayaan dan anak-pinak yang Allah berikan kepada kita adalah serampang dua mata - ianya membantu menguatkan Iman bagi yang bersyukur dan mengingati Allah dan ianya melalaikan lagi menyesatkan manusia yang mencintai dunia.
- Akhirat adalah tujuan akhir yang lebih utama bagi semua manusia. Allah menjanjikan Maghfirah (keampunan) dan Mardhiah (keredhaan) bagi mereka yang mentaatiNya, manakala balasan 'azab disediakan bagi mereka yang lupa Allah kerana mencintai dunia.



Bukan tujuan penulisan ini untuk menyatakan kebencian kepada dunia. Rasululullah (s.a.w) melarang kita dari membenci dunia kerana Allah menciptakan dunia ini untuk mengajar hamba-hambaNya dan sebagai pentas menguji keImanan kita - sama ada kita mematuhi "kontrak perjanjian" kita denganNya semasa di alam ruh, ataupun kita mengingkari kontrak tersebut.


Cuma, saya kesal dengan insan yang membiarkan penyakit hati hubb ad-dunya menguasai diri, pemikiran dan perbuatan mereka. Harta kekayaan bukanlah segalanya. Berbaloikah kerana harta kekayaan yang tak seberapa dan tidak kekal ini sehingga kita sanggup menggadaikan pertalian silaturrahim yang sangat diberatkan oleh Rasulullah? Sedangkan sesama Muslim telah Rasulullah tekankan yang kita adalah bersaudara, inikan pula yang terhubung dengan pertalian darah. Harta dunia boleh dicari andai tidak mencukupi, tetapi putusnya silaturrahim mengundang 'azab di Akhirat kelak.

Jangan cintai dunia, ianya tidak kekal. Cintai saudara seagama, ianya membawa ke Syurga. :')

Akhir kalam, mari sama-sama ambil seminit dan fikirkan pesanan Nabi Isa (a.s) ini: "Dunia ini hanyalah jambatan; harungi ia untuk ke seberang, tetapi jangan cuba membina di atasnya."

Cukuplah Allah bagi kita semua.


Ini ingatan buat diriku sendiri dan sahabat sekalian yang sudi membaca.




"Wahai Tuhan yang mengamankan hati orang-orang yang takut! Amankanlah hati kami dari apa yang kami takuti. Dan janganlah Engkau biarkan hati kami ini tertawan dengan cantiknya hiasan dunia, ya Allah, sehinggakan kami lalai mengingatiMu dan lupa tujuan asal kami dibiarkan hidup di atas bumi yang fana' ini."

This Journey

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful.

Imagine this: You are on a journey. A long, arduous journey to return home. To return to your loved ones. The path before you is as far as your eyes can reach - yes, you cannot see the end of the road nor you know what awaits you there. But the path is a straight one and you know it can lead you home. Because your heart told you so. But there are entertainment and amusement everywhere around you - on your left, on your right, everywhere.

Are you distracted to stop by and have fun? Or should you just continue your journey home?


Imagine this: You are on this journey. This long, arduous journey to return home. To return to your loved ones. Yes, you are alone in this long, arduous journey but you have your communication devices to give your loved one a call or two to tell them how much you love and miss them.

But do you take some time to call?


Imagine this: You are still on this journey. This long, arduous journey to return home. You start your journey with nothing given to you.

What preparation have you made - are you well-equipped? Do you remember to get some presents for your loved ones?

Yes, by now you are feeling tired and somewhat lethargic from this long journey. The arduous path was indeed challenging. You fall many times. You bruised your face. You scarred your head every time you stumble.

Do you learn anything from your falls? Hasn't this arduous path taught you some lessons to improve and be better every single day?


By this point, you are already beaten up and tired on this long journey. There are times when you feel like giving up this whole journey home, don't you? But the thoughts to meet your loved ones and the wonderful feasts they promised you never failed to freshen you up and make you feel strong again.

Then why should you lose hope and grieve for these little bruises and scars?


This arduous journey may be a long one.
Or short.
All depends on you - you are the decision maker.


Yes, this JOURNEY is called LIFE and we are all treading on this straight path to return HOME - the HEREAFTER, where our loved ones await us. They are the Almighty Creator, ALLAH TA'ALA and our beloved Prophet, MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him).


My dear brothers and sisters,
We are but traveller in this world travelling on this long, arduous journey to return Home. To return to our Creator, Allah. To return to His and our beloved Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh). This world is only a place for play and amusement, yet our true Goal is the Hereafter. So don't be distracted by this world. Should we get distracted, immediately prostrate in repentance.

“Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.”
[Narrated by Bukhari]

"What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the Home in the Hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will ye not then understand?"
[Al-Maaidah, QS 6:32]

My dear brothers and sisters,
In our daily lives, struggling to continue on this long, arduous journey, do we spend some times to remember Allah and our beloved Prophet - our loved ones? Or are we too busy trying to satisfy many different people in our life that we forget to seek Allah's and Rasulullah's pleasure? If we say our life is busy and we can leave the remembrance for tomorrow, are we sure that tomorrow will be less busier? More importantly, do we even sure we have tomorrow? Take your time today and "tell" your Loved Ones how much you love them. Say zikrullah, and praise the prophet. Start today.

"Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and reject not Faith."
[Al-Baqarah, QS 2:152]

"Any of you from my Ummat, praise upon me (selawat) with a sincere heart;Allah will reward him with 10 praises, lift his position by 10 darajaat, write in his record 10 good deeds and erase from it 10 evil deeds."
[Narrated by Ahmad and Nasai, from Anas r.a.]

My brothers and sisters,
We were born into this world in one piece, adorned with nothing. And we will return to His side in one piece and we can bring nothing with us - not materials, not friends and family, not titles. The only thing we can bring with us is our good deeds, only if we were obedient to Allah during our lifetime. Fulfil all five obligations as Muslim ordained by Allah through the Prophet and have complete Faith in Allah. These are not only proof of our obedience, they are our saviour before Allah in the Hereafter.

Rasulullah (pbuh) said,
"I saw something amazing in my dream last night. I saw a man of my Ummat ... he was thirsty but was chased away every time he nears the well. Then came his Fast during Ramadhan and let him quench his thirst from the well ... he lost his way in pitch-black darkness, then came his Hajj and 'Umrah to show him the way out ... then he was stumbling and crawling on the bridge of Sirat almost fall into fire below, then came his Prayers giving strength to his legs to cross the bridge ... then he reached the paradise but no doors of Jannah was opened for him, the came his Shahaadataani unlocking all the doors until he can enter therein."
[Narrated by Abu Musa al-Madini]

"He who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; and He is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving."
[Al-Mulk, QS 67:2]

My brothers and sisters,
Have you ever take a minute to think, "why would Allah gives you a lifetime to serve in His Course?" He has all the Power to do anything He wants, and He created this world as a test to the Believers. Keep in mind that this life is a test of Faith, then ask yourself this question: "How do I pass with flying colours?" You know if you are to sit for an exam, you would revise your lessons time and again - to ensure you have better understanding, from one day to another, of the topic to be tested in the examination. It is mastery learning wherein you improve bit by bit everyday to be closer towards perfection. This is the reason why Allah gives you a lifetime: To improve yourself, your character and your deeds to please Him. Do not procrastinate until tomorrow. Do not procrastinate until old age to start being a good Muslim. Start today to do good deeds and be a good, obedient Muslim. Start today.

"God does not look at your bodies, or at your forms,
but looks at your hearts and your works."
[Narrated by Bukhari]

From Abu Hurairah r.a.,
"There are seven people who will receive Allah's protection on the Day when there is no other protection ... a young person who spends his youth to serve Allah." [Narrated by Bukhari]

My brothers and sisters,
Life in this world is never easy, though it seems pleasurable most of the time. Allah The Most High has reminded us many times in the Divine Book that life is but play and amusement, and that life serves as a test to assess our Faith. Most of the times, we think this life is being unfair to us. Life's adversities make you feel bitter from time to time, slowly forgetting and abandoning the true teachings of Islam brought by our beloved Prophet, who taught us to be good towards other Muslims and respect others despite their belief. Whenever trouble touches you, remember that Allah is always near. Be strong. Never sigh, never lose hope. Put your total faith in Allah. He is always near.

"A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer,and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah ..."
[Narrated by Muslim, from Abu Hurairah r.a.]

"So lose not heart, nor fall into despair;
for ye must gain mastery if you're true in Faith."
[Aali 'Imraan, QS 3:139]

Walk straight or deviate? The decision is in our hands

Remember my dear brothers and sisters, as this was written mainly as a reminder to myself, this life is but a journey adorned with amusement and play. Our aimed destination is one and only one: The Hereafter where we (hopefully) get to see our Loved Ones, Allah The Most High and beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Be steadfast and consistent in telling ourselves not to develop love or affection unto anything we see on this journey for they are all surreal and not meant for us to permanently have as we are, in this life, only strangers and travellers.

Yes, the straight Path is well-laid before us.

Will you walk straight on this path?

. . . or will you deviate and be led astray by the amusement around you?

The decision, my dear brothers and sisters, is in our hands.