In Search of Sincerity

by Muhammad Alshareef

In one of the battles that the Muslims waged against the Romans, the Muslims - under the commandment of Maslamah( rahimahullah) - surrounded a city that had a tall and well-fortified wall. The siege went on for months.

Then one night, one of the Muslim soldiers came to General Maslamah and told him of a hole that he had accomplished to bore through the wall.
" It is only large enough for a slim soldier".
He knelt closer.
"Quickly, send with me someone who can squeeze through and fight the army on the inside until he has opened the gates for all of us to enter".

Maslamah sent out the news, and that night someone volunteered. In a sweeping assault the gate was opened and the Muslim were victorious.

Maslamah, overwhelmed with happiness, sent out the word that the soldier that entered the hole should come forward. No one showed. A day passed and the request was repeated. Another day, then another. No one arrived to take credit.

On the fourth day, a soldier approached Maslamah, his face wrapped in a scarf.
He said to him, "I have news of the soldier that entered the hole"
Maslamah sat up sharp, " Tell me who it is?"
"First, however" said the soldier,"he has three conditions before exposing himself, do you agree to this?"
"Off course" Maslamah said.
"The first is that you do not try to compensate him for what he did. The second is that you do not tell anyone who he is. And the third is that you shall not ask for his presence ever again. Do you agree to these conditions?"
"It is agreed" Maslamah said.
The soldier, uncovering his scarf said, " It is I, I went through the hole only for the sake of Allah"
Then, turning, he walked away.

After that day, Maslamah was often heard praying to Allah,
" O Allah, (on the Day of Resurrection) grant me companionship with the soldier of the hole"

Meneruskan Perjalanan

Ramadhan yang penuh barakah itu telah berlalu. Latihan spiritual itu telah tamat. Kini tiba masanya mengharungi perjuangan sengit menentang musuh di dalam diri sendiri.
Jiwa dan ruh yang telah melalui latihan di bulan suci itu seharusnya telah semakin merunduk kepada keagungan dan kebesaran Penciptanya.

Sesungguhnya perjuangan ini amat panjang dan memerlukan kesabaran. Kesabaran melakukan ketaatan dan kesabaran menjauhi larangan. Jalan yang harus dilalui sangat mengelirukan, jalan ke syurga kelihatan begitu sukar dan menyusahkan sedangkan jalan ke neraka amat indah, penuh dengan kenikmatan dan keselesaan.

Hanya kepadaNya harus dipohonkan agar diberikan mata hati yang mampu melihat jalan-jalan yang sebenarnya bakal membawa kebahagiaan yang hakiki.
Hanya kepadaNya harus dipohonkan agar diberikan kekuatan menempuh jalan sukar ini kerana Dia tidak menjanjikan kebahagiaan di sini, tetapi di sana nanti.

Di sini adalah tempat ujian. Secara lumrahnya, ujian itu akan melalui tempoh yang singkat, dan semakin tinggi markah yang ingin dicapai, semakin beratlah bentuk ujian itu. Oleh kerana ini adalah ujian, kita tidak berhak mempersoalkan mengapa begitu dan tidak begini, kita hanya perlu bersabar dan bersabar sehingga tamat ujian ini.

Dan akhirnya apabila selesai ujian, keputusan akan diumumkan, para pemenang akan disambut dan diraikan untuk mendapatkan ganjaran hadiahnya dengan ucapan,
"Salaamun alaikum bimasobartum.."
Sejahteralah atas kamu di atas kesabaranmu.

Sesungguhnya Allah beserta dengan orang-orang yang sabar.

Another Teary Farewell

As I stepped out of my last class today, I felt as if a heavy burden has been lifted off my shoulders. Another semester is over. I know my job is never ending, but the official job as a teacher to my students this semester has ended.
After giving them my farewell address, I invited them to speak up to the class. I honestly don't know what to expect from them, just any last words to me and their classmates.

I was pleasantly surprise to hear the words from them. I truly believe that they spoke from their hearts. Some of them spoke amidst tears flowing, their voices trembling, but what touched me most were the fact that the spontaneous words came out so beautiful. Beautiful words and sentences that can only came up from sincere hearts.

To all my students who spoke up today( and yesterday), thank you for your inspiring words. I am so proud of you. I hope now you understand the true meaning of sincerity. When you are sincere, beautiful things just came out naturally.
To those who choose to remain quiet, I believe some things are better left unsaid, the look on your face explained the unspoken words. My thanks to you too.
I have learned a lot from all of you.

To all my students, I wish you all the best. Be patient, be brave, be strong, you are here to be tested. Remember, just like the butterfly, you need to struggle hard to strengthen your wings so that you can fly.
May Allah guide you in this blessed journey of seeking knowledge to be a better person.
We might not be able to meet frequently in person, let us all meet in our prayers. And please remember my last request to all of you.

To all my students, if you feel the need to thank me, let me remind you again that the one who deserve the highest thanks and praises is HE, the One who created me and you. I won't be there for you all the time, but HE will.
Trust me. HE is The Most Merciful, HE is very close to you.

Ramadhan Yang Kudambakan

Telah berlalu lima belas hari dari bulan penuh barakah ini. Malam tadi sang rembulan purnama yang bersinar di sebalik lapisan awan tipis saolah-olah mengingatkan manusia bahawa ia akan terus beredar tanpa henti dan Ramadhan yang mulia ini akan berakhir.

Betapa ramainya manusia yang memenuhi rumah-rumah Allah, rukuk dan sujud memohon keampunan dan kasih sayang dariNya. Manusia soleh yang rendah hatinya begitu tekun mnghidupkan malam, menitiskan air mata di hadapan Rabbul Jalil, memohon belas kasihan dari yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang agar hidupnya tak sia-sia, amalannya diterima, dan dosanya diampunkan.

Manusia seperti ini ada di mana-mana, di siang harinya mereka mungkin berada di sebuah rumah usang di hujung perkampungan kecil, atau di tengah kota raya di ruang pejabatnya yang luas, atau di tengah sawah ladang yang menghijau melafazkan zikir sambil membanting tulang yang semakin lemah, atau di gedung perniagaan yang berdiri megah ia melafazkan lafaz syukur setiap saat, bahkan mungkin di dalam sebuah rumah yang dipenuhi dengan keriuhan anak-anak kecil si ibu melayani kenakalan anak-anak sambil beristighfar.

Namun ramai juga manusia yang tidak menyedari akan kehadiran bulan yang indah ini. Tidak menyadari bahawa pintu langit sedang terbuka, pintu neraka tertutup rapat, para malaikat bertebaran dan syaitan diikat. Perjalanan hidup mereka seperti biasa sahaja, tiada apa yang istimewa. Mungkin mereka berpuasa, menahan lapar dan dahaga sekadar untuk meneruskan kebiasaan setiap tahun. Di malam hari mengunjungi rumah Allah, rukuk dan sujud dalam keletihan, namun jiwanya kosong, hatinya tetap angkuh dan sombong, tetap beramal untuk menunjukkan bahawa dirinya seorang yang taat kepada perintah Allah meskipun hatinya tidak sabar menanti berakhirnya bulan yang meletihkan ini.

Ramadhan, sebuah bulan suci yang kesuciannya hanya disadari oleh jiwa yang tunduk kepadaNya, hanya disadari oleh hati yang ikhlas mencari keredhaanNya.


Ya Allah
Ya Rahmaan
Ya Rahiim
KepadaMu kuserahkan segala urusanku pada hari ini
Bimbinglah hatiku
Bimbinglah lisanku
Bimbinglah fikiranku
Bimbinglah setiap langkan kakiku
Bimbinglah mata hatiku
Agar sentiasa menyadari
Bahawa hidupku ini hanya sementara
Bahawa dunia ini hanya ujian
Sinarilah jalan hidupku
Agar tidak sesat dalam mencariMU
Amiin..ya Arhamarrahimin.