In the spirit of inner reflection near the end of Ramadhan, I'd just like to dwell a little on matters of faith.
Soli commented on my previous post:
"All our lives we are reminded there is only two choices: Heaven or hell. I don't remember being taught by ustaz or ustazah that being kind is part of our human nature. But I heard this say many times: "Membuat kebaikan itu umpama sebutir padi. Balasannya ialah umpama sepohon pokok padi yang mempunyai tujuh dahan. Setiap dari dahan in menghasil kan tujuh ribu biji padi." Or something like that. So, everytime we do good deed we expect something in return."
Maybe it's a cultural attitude that lead to this interpretation of Islam. But why do we need to expect something in return, for something we should do because it's right? Being a reciprocal do-gooder is dangerous, because our faith hinges on the sheer promise of reward to come, rather than rational thought that certain things should be done because it's 'good', while others should be avoided because it's 'bad'.
Acting solely on the promise of reward and the threats of punishment, to me, only serves to polarise society. It's either 'us' or 'them'.
Soli also mentioned the reactions he/she received when the topic was raised in a discussion group. I do hope that all those people were wrong. I recall a comment I read recently, about how we should not do good in order to get to heaven, because only He knows whether we have done enough. Our deeds should be guided by the very fact that He has asked us to submit to him, and that we sincerely wish to seek His acceptance. Perhaps this is a better way to look at things eh?
Drive safe people. Eid Mubarak.
Posted by Najah Nasseri at 2003年11月24日 01:17 | TrackBackExpect the unexpected.
Give out of sincerity, the returns will be an un-expected one.
Selamat Hari Raya. 8-)
Hamdan, Shahanaz and Me.
i think a lot of ppl have the same thoughts.. but you write it down so well
Posted by: farah at 2003年11月24日 09:40good post. this reminds me of one of my favourite surahs of the Quran.. surah al-Lail (the Night). im trying to follow the following verses...
Quran 92:17-21
But those most devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it,-
Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification,
And have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,
But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High;
And soon will they attain (complete) satisfaction.
from http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/092.qmt.html
------------------
and regarding punishments and hell...
1. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When Allah created the creation He put down in his Book, which is with Him upon the Throne: Verily, My mercy predominates My wrath.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 4939
2. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: A man, who had never done any good deed, asked the members of his family to burn his dead body when he would die and to scatter half of its ashes over the land and the other half in the ocean. By Allah, if Allah finds him in His grip, He would torment him with a torment with which He did not afflict anyone among the people of the world; and when the man died, it was done to him as he had commanded (his family) to do. Allah commanded the land to collect (the ashes scattered on it) and the ocean to collect (ashes) contained in it. When Allah questioned him why he had done that, he said: My Lord, it is out of fear of You that I have done it and You are well aware of it, and Allah granted him pardon.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 4949
3. 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
There were brought some prisoners to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) among whom there was also a woman, who was searching (for someone) and when she found a child among the prisoners, she took hold of it, pressed it against her chest and provided it suck. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do you think this woman would ever afford to throw her child in the Fire? We said: By Allah, so far as it lies in her power, she would never throw the child in Fire. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Allah is more kind to His servants than this woman is to her child.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 4947
hadiths from http://hadith.al-islam.com/bayan/Tree.asp?Lang=eng&ID=951
selamat hari raya najah, and i hope you will forgive me if i did and wrote anything which may have offended you. take care.
Posted by: faren at 2003年11月24日 10:03Yes , my late grandma or Tok Chik who was living with me when I was a child began the teaching to me like the stories . These stories are based on Al-Quran and not being created from nowhere . Good things if we do will get "pahala" or bad things will get "dosa" or sin . Heaven , hell are all for the believers that differentiate with the other good people like Atheists or Freethinkers .
The world is not controlled by science eventhough science helps us to get closer to God the Al-Mighty .
If you curse an animal , say kicking a cat's head or even kill the cat with an iron rod behind the public , do you think we will get away with it without being hit back sooner or later by God .
"Good" or "bad" are different in certain cultures or people . Yes , the world is polarised indeed since Adam & Eve's days to the doom's day . It's like magnet or pairs , if the other ( bad ) is stronger in its influence this world will be worse or vice-versa.
Some people do not agree that certain teachings in Islam should not be in portraying the punishment or bad thing . I think , it should be both just in the case of other bad things in our life . Smoking by showing the destroyed lungs , accident by showing the death bodies or crunched head on the road , drug addicts by showing amputated limbs and so on . Pictures of shot bodies by death row squad , caning session in prison are some of worthwhile effort of a deterrent measures . Good to be scared to do bad things .
If we only look at good things or hear the good things , as human being we might be disillusioned and forgot what we do is actually wrong . There must be balance and Islam has shown us the right way . I agree that we must be sincere in what we do and up to Him to decide upon us . But to our children they must know from very young the fact that they will be rewarded and punished according to what they do , no doubt that this is crucial element in the religion . It's not malay culture but Hadith which says that even one takes a duri from the road is also a good action . Giving RM 1 to a needy with sincere heart is also seen by God .Lastly , Happy Aidilfitri and Islam is beautiful for all people from black to white .Wassalam .
This is indeed a good post, it epitomises the basic essence of what it should be, something we all forget. Faith should be unconditional, the submission to his will should not be questioned on the basis of "how much" and "what will I get for this.". We are mere mortals, our "self preservation" traits kick in only too frequently and we question it all with Why's.
A friend once explained to a Catholic, the basis of redemption in Islam is very much like a decending elevator ride. He said that it is a continuous effort, as a new born child you come to this world without sin, you tend to start in the middle. As you beribadah more, you go "up" and the vice versa. However because we are mere mortals, we tend to do more bad (either knowingly or not) than good, and as such the "elevator" descends. Ibadah is the only way to balance off the descending trend and offset it for the final journey "up".
It is just so selfish to only do something only when we know we will get something in return, where is the sincerity in that act. It only serves to diminish the value of the ibadah.
Posted by: Gabriel at 2003年11月24日 14:09Good post.
This reward thing was what turned me away from organised religion in my younger days. Everyone appeared to be good just so they can go to heaven. Hypocritical or what?
Very well-said! Btw,this is non-related, just want to wish Selamat hari Raya & maaf zahir batin. Enjoy!
Posted by: Lolyta at 2003年11月24日 23:33Why do we do something ? What is ibadah ? As muslim , we do something is no other for God the Al-Mighty and to get His blessing , we are advised to say Bismillah...unless you know in the first hand that the thing is forbidden , of course no Bismillah right . You don't say Bismillah if you want to steal something , it's a wrong thing .
And then in the teachings , there is the branck of Fiqh or Feqah which inform us about the law in the religion . God promised rewards and punishment and so we have the compulsory as wajib , bonus as sunat , fordbidden as haram and so on . It is clear stated and said about what one will get here and hereafter not only in Islam but also Christian . Other religions also preach people to do "good" things and these good things are sometimes universal . So I think and believe that in ibadah , by intention it should for God or Allah swt then only it is sincere or unhypocritical . All ibadah done not for Him is useless . That is in muslim teachings . Not for him in inclusive of showing off , following trend or people around us or culture .
We don't do something merely to get rewarded , but we should know about the rewards and punishment that is promised by God . In despair or challenging times be when our parents passed away or we are tested by sickness or cancer , to whom we pray and ask for ? To God and God knows what we have done before .
I certainly agree that we must be sincere in doing things for Him ,but in the teachings itself we are taught to know what He promised for us as He is mere excellenct . In the journey up there called Isra' Mikraj by Mohamed saw , Mohamed was brought to see Hell and explained what happened to those people there one by one . Ok for now , Selamat Hari Raya Aidil fitri to all and Najah and Maaf Zahir dan Batin .
how good is good, and how bad is bad?
Kita kembali selepas ini.....
Posted by: vlad at 2003年11月25日 12:55we do good because we want to, not because we can go to heaven or because my religion (or my family) says so. simple as that.
Posted by: lucia at 2003年11月25日 14:24