University of Life: December 2011

The Remembrance

Prophet Muhammad once said,

"Remember Allah in prosperity, He will remember you in adversity." (Sunan Tarmizi)

It has become a norm for many people; when we are happy, easy, have no worries, we tend to forget the most important thing in our lives. The same goes to me. Zikrullah or the remembrance of Allah. It's not simply by reciting prayers, praising the Lord, and say thanks to Him, but it's more than that.

My primitive understanding of "Zikrullah" once was to takbir, tahmid, tasbih, and et cetera. But I came to a realisation that it was not enough to that extent. The concept of Zikrullah that I understood was not comprehensive (syumul)! I already knew that the common grasp of the concept of "Zikrullah" is the remembrance of Allah and supported by many hadith, but I was thinking that I'm not doing any different from what a priest do; to remember God and to praise Him.

I contemplated upon myself; what else is not complete?

Then, I was struck by a thought; my mind said to me: Zikrullah is to remember Allah, to do what I should do, and to be sincere in whatever I do...or simply said: Taqwa. Zikrullah is not simply said, but it must be proven. Everyone can say everything. Even when the Pharaoh in the end of his life, beseeched Allah to spare his life; but nothing he proved worthy of Allah's mercy.

That to demonstrate Zikrullah is not only by words. The definition of Iman itself is enough to enlighten the whole concepts in Islam. "by Heart, by Words, and by Practice." that's Iman and that's Zikrullah.

Allah said in the Quran (At-Talaq : 2-3) or what's knowned as "1000 dinar verse" :

"...and whoever have taqwa to Allah, He will make for him a way out."

"And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His affairs. Allah has already set everything a (decreed) extent."

...when eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them...

...when our perils past, shall our gratitude sleep?...

"A calamity that makes you turn to Allah

is better than a blessing that makes you forget the remembrance of Allah."

Fear of Losing

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There was one word I learnt from my junior H during the last MARA program.

"KIASU"

or in other word "fear of losing" (wikipedia). Before this, I thought it brings the meaning of excessively hardworking, nerd, or similar to that, but it's proven that I was wrong. I was actually stunned inside my heart when I heart the meaning.

I reflected it upon myself. I always wanted to be someone who win. I always wanted to have things that I wanted. I always wanted to succeed in everything. I worked hard towards my goal. And because of that, I was actually training myself to become someone who is fear of losing. I ever experienced a situation of losing before, it felt like my heart bursting and my veins jam-packed with the gushing extracellular fluids trying to drive themselves out of my body (hyperbolically). Since childhood I was educating myself to become a winner, even the teenage me can't even imagine myself competed public speaking in the state level when I was just 5 years old.

But, that was a long time ago. The 'current' me is not an outspoken person, but rather a silent kind. I cannot accept defeat before, but the 'current' me now thinks that there's no value in winning everything; in fact, the most important thing is the values or meanings of something that I get in my life.

Well, there's no trouble in being Kiasu; and also there's no trouble in being non-Kiasu. Never disparage good manners (eg being kiasu) of other people, because you too will find yourself in hatred of derogation. Above all, what's more important is to get to understand and value everyone and everything that happens in our lives better. And to put simply, "Appreciate and you will be appreciated."

Allah said in the Quran (An-Najm 54: 24-25) :

"Shall Man have whatever he wishes?

(No!) But to Allah belong the last (the hereafter) and the first (the world)."