Bismillah
Alhamdulillah. Yesterday i was given the opportunity to see the field i'm taking being practised in real life. Though the three hour session seem short, i'm really glad to be able to attend it. Alhamdulillah, my network in Singapore is about to embark.
The topics discussed has relevancy to what i studied for the previous semester for the subject Wealth Management (Pengurusan Harta). The organisation that organised the seminar itself deals with wealth management for muslims in Singapore and the region.
Let us watch the video below first:
The speaker, Mr Sadali Rasban, started off the seminar with the videos above. Because he wanted us to see the different tools that can be used to manage our assets before we die. And the optimum usage of these tools for the benefit of our family and relatives.
We muslims have been stereotyped in our minds that our assets can only be distributed through faraidh. I agree with the speaker, that even the most jahil person about Islam, knows that when a relative dies, he or she will get a part of the person's assets.
But there are more ways to manage your wealth while you are alive. Some of them are hibah, waqaf, wasiat, joint tenancy and etc. Well, one might say that the asset through wasiat will not be legitimate until the death of the asset holder. True, but wasiat is made before one's death. So there is a planning as to who or where the asset shall be given to. If no wasiat is made, then the asset will be totally considered for faraidh.
Say, the situation is a man and his wife has no children, but they have a foster child. If the asset is given through faraidh fully, the foster child has no means to get the asset. What if the child is still incapable of financing himself/herself? It seems like an act of dhalim to the child. Here, hibah and wasiat can help the child in getting the asset of the foster father.
In any situation, the wife usually has the least share of the asset left by the late husband. What if the wife has to support her children who are still young? Joint tenancy can help the wife. Usual cases that happened is when the wife is forced to sell the house that the couple once shared, because the relatives said that the house is considered as an asset too and needs to be distributed through faraidh. If the late husband is in joint tenancy with his wife for the house, the relatives then have no business to force the wife and her children to sell the house.
There were more examples given by the speaker, but i only touched two of them.
All in all, i'm very pleased with the seminar. It was truly an enlightening one, especially since every statement is backed up by the Quran, hadiths and quotes from ulama'.
Alhamdulillah. There is a path that i can go through now. My choice is right, i'm sure.
Wallahu 'alam...
pathway
Berjalan Mencari Makna dalam Hidup
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Musibah
Bismillah
Setiap manusia tidak akan pernah terlepas dari musibah. Biarpun musibah itu kecil atau besar, ia tetap akan terjadi kepada sesiapa sahaja, yang besar, yang kecil, yang tua, yang muda, yang kaya, yang miskin.. Musibah umpama ujian Allah terhadap hambaNya, ujian keimanan hambaNya. Namun yang lebih utama, bukan siapa yang ditimpa musibah atau apa musibahnya, tetapi cara seseorang itu menangani musibah tersebut.
Alkisah, seorang syaikh sedang berjalan-jalan ke sebuah kampung kejiranan. Tiba-tiba syaikh itu ternampak temannya yang sedang menjerut lehernya ke pokok seolah-olah mahu membunuh diri. Syaikh itu pun bergegas ke arah temannya dan bertanya adakah dia mahu membunuh diri dan sebab dia berbuat begitu.
Temannya berkata ya kerana wanita yang dicintainya akan dinikahkan dengan seorang lelaki asing. Dia berputus asa kerana tidak berkesempatan untuk meminang wanita itu sebelum lelaki tersebut. Oleh itu, dia merasakan tiada gunanya hidup kerana tidak dapat bersama wanita itu.
Tiba-tiba syaikh itu meminta air dari temannya itu. Temannya berasa pelik dan sebal kerana syaikh itu telah mengganggunya dari perbuatannya yang hendak membunuh diri itu.
Setibanya di rumah temannya, syaikh itu pun diberi segelas air. Syaikh itu mulanya hendak minum air itu, tetapi kemudian mencampak gelas itu.
Temannya hairan dengan perbuatan syaikh itu tadi lalu bertanya mengapakah gelasnya dicampak. Syaikh itu lalu menjawab bahawa terdapat kotoran pada airnya. Lalu temannya berkata, kalau airnya kotor, tidak perlu mencampakkan cawannya sekali. Hanya perlu membuang air yang kotor dan menggantikan dengan air yang baru.
Lalu syaikh itu berkata, bukankah kehidupan juga begitu? Jikalau terdapat kesusahan, ditimpa musibah, ia umpama kotoran pada air itu. Oleh itu tidak perlu mensia-siakan kehidupan dengan membunuh diri kerana musibah itu, tetapi hanya menyelesaikannya sahaja.
Temannya terdiam lantas berfikir, dan syaikh itu pun beredar pergi.
Di sini kita lihat bahawa musibah yang melanda diri tidak bermaksud kehidupan harus disia-siakan. Kehidupan mesti diteruskan, tetapi musibah itu yang harus diselesaikan, biarpun ianya sukar.
Sebagaimana janji Allah, manusia tidak akan diuji melainkan sesuai dengan kemampuannya. Dan bagi setiap kesusahan, maka akan ada kesenangan.
Wallahu 'alam...
Setiap manusia tidak akan pernah terlepas dari musibah. Biarpun musibah itu kecil atau besar, ia tetap akan terjadi kepada sesiapa sahaja, yang besar, yang kecil, yang tua, yang muda, yang kaya, yang miskin.. Musibah umpama ujian Allah terhadap hambaNya, ujian keimanan hambaNya. Namun yang lebih utama, bukan siapa yang ditimpa musibah atau apa musibahnya, tetapi cara seseorang itu menangani musibah tersebut.
Alkisah, seorang syaikh sedang berjalan-jalan ke sebuah kampung kejiranan. Tiba-tiba syaikh itu ternampak temannya yang sedang menjerut lehernya ke pokok seolah-olah mahu membunuh diri. Syaikh itu pun bergegas ke arah temannya dan bertanya adakah dia mahu membunuh diri dan sebab dia berbuat begitu.
Temannya berkata ya kerana wanita yang dicintainya akan dinikahkan dengan seorang lelaki asing. Dia berputus asa kerana tidak berkesempatan untuk meminang wanita itu sebelum lelaki tersebut. Oleh itu, dia merasakan tiada gunanya hidup kerana tidak dapat bersama wanita itu.
Tiba-tiba syaikh itu meminta air dari temannya itu. Temannya berasa pelik dan sebal kerana syaikh itu telah mengganggunya dari perbuatannya yang hendak membunuh diri itu.
Setibanya di rumah temannya, syaikh itu pun diberi segelas air. Syaikh itu mulanya hendak minum air itu, tetapi kemudian mencampak gelas itu.
Temannya hairan dengan perbuatan syaikh itu tadi lalu bertanya mengapakah gelasnya dicampak. Syaikh itu lalu menjawab bahawa terdapat kotoran pada airnya. Lalu temannya berkata, kalau airnya kotor, tidak perlu mencampakkan cawannya sekali. Hanya perlu membuang air yang kotor dan menggantikan dengan air yang baru.
Lalu syaikh itu berkata, bukankah kehidupan juga begitu? Jikalau terdapat kesusahan, ditimpa musibah, ia umpama kotoran pada air itu. Oleh itu tidak perlu mensia-siakan kehidupan dengan membunuh diri kerana musibah itu, tetapi hanya menyelesaikannya sahaja.
Temannya terdiam lantas berfikir, dan syaikh itu pun beredar pergi.
Di sini kita lihat bahawa musibah yang melanda diri tidak bermaksud kehidupan harus disia-siakan. Kehidupan mesti diteruskan, tetapi musibah itu yang harus diselesaikan, biarpun ianya sukar.
Sebagaimana janji Allah, manusia tidak akan diuji melainkan sesuai dengan kemampuannya. Dan bagi setiap kesusahan, maka akan ada kesenangan.
Wallahu 'alam...
Friday, May 22, 2009
penasaran
Bismillah
Penasaran ketika ada.
Penasaran ketika tiada.
Penasaran di kala waktu sibuk.
Penasaran di kala waktu senggang.
Apakah maksud penasaran ini?
Mengapa resah datang bertandang?
Penasaran pada suatu yang tidak pasti.
Penasaran pada gelojak hati. Penasaran ketika ada.
Penasaran ketika tiada.
Penasaran di kala waktu sibuk.
Penasaran di kala waktu senggang.
Apakah maksud penasaran ini?
Mengapa resah datang bertandang?
aku jatuh cinta sama bujang
:: jika kau benar-benar ada, ingin ku ketemu denganmu ::
kisah kita bermula dengan si kambing
kau dikata malas bekerja
lalu kau tanya
untuk apa bekerja
kerja kuat untuk cari wang
wang diguna buat beli makan
makan kasi kuat - buat apa?
buat cari wang lagi
apa bedanya kau dan kambing?
kau bahagia dengan kesenangan orang lain
kau menegur penuh berhikmah
kau berani kerana benar
kau percaya pada Yang Esa
andai kau benar wujud di dunia
ingin ku ketemu dengan dirimu
tapi apakan daya
kau hanya imaginasi manusia
lalu kau hanya imamku
guruku
pendidik buatku
di alam fantasi
bujang adalah karakter dalam buku semata-mata. tiada kaitan dengan yang hidup mahupun yang sudah tiada. :)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
spin the yarn
Bismillah
After reading one of the articles at saifulislam.com, i believe that story-telling is a vital tool in helping a child's mind grow. Grow in a sense that the child is not limited in his imagination. I also feel that telling bedtime stories to your children is also a good way to bond with your children.
At the end of a tiring day, letting down your hair is what you will look for. Bedtime stories provides just the outlet one needs. When telling bedtime stories, you don't need to use your mind to cough up facts. You spin the yarn. You create the story the way you want it to be. And you might also induce your child to create the story together, just like in the movie 'bedtime stories'.
Also, when story-telling, one does not use the 'normal' voice. So the soothing voice one uses to tell the story is actually helping them and their child to relax.
It is not a common practice in our culture for parents to sit by their children's side when they are going to sleep. However, the act of story-telling is evident. It's just our mothers and fathers tell stories generally, and not at specific times. Just like my mom likes to compare the life of the past and present, i guess what she is doing is telling stories. Stories of her past.
I totally agree with what the writer wrote in his article. When a child asks the parents to sleep with him, it does not mean he does not want to sleep alone. He just wants company when he is going to sleep.
The writer has provide me with some insightful tips regarding parenting. May the knowledge helps me in the future, insyaAllah.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam
After reading one of the articles at saifulislam.com, i believe that story-telling is a vital tool in helping a child's mind grow. Grow in a sense that the child is not limited in his imagination. I also feel that telling bedtime stories to your children is also a good way to bond with your children.
At the end of a tiring day, letting down your hair is what you will look for. Bedtime stories provides just the outlet one needs. When telling bedtime stories, you don't need to use your mind to cough up facts. You spin the yarn. You create the story the way you want it to be. And you might also induce your child to create the story together, just like in the movie 'bedtime stories'.
Also, when story-telling, one does not use the 'normal' voice. So the soothing voice one uses to tell the story is actually helping them and their child to relax.
It is not a common practice in our culture for parents to sit by their children's side when they are going to sleep. However, the act of story-telling is evident. It's just our mothers and fathers tell stories generally, and not at specific times. Just like my mom likes to compare the life of the past and present, i guess what she is doing is telling stories. Stories of her past.
I totally agree with what the writer wrote in his article. When a child asks the parents to sleep with him, it does not mean he does not want to sleep alone. He just wants company when he is going to sleep.
The writer has provide me with some insightful tips regarding parenting. May the knowledge helps me in the future, insyaAllah.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam
inner solutions
Bismillah
An Australian professor came to UM about a month ago, just before the study break. He was invited to give a talk regarding finance in Islam. The talk is actually for master students doing their masters in finance. Since the number of students present were not convincing, my friends and i, along with my seniors were invited to 'fill up the places'.
The talk was good actually, if only i could understand it. My knowledge about finance is very limited currently. I've only taken about 3 introductory courses on it, and the matters that were discussed were above my level of understanding. I know, reading up coursework is not the only way to get knowledge, i should probably search on my own. Okay, i already have it in mind. The act of going to the library is the major hindrance.
However i did get one useful information. They were discussing why Islamic finance and banking is the perfect solution to solve some financial problems.
Take for example credit. Islam prohibits the use of credit if there is an increment to the principal sum that the person who borrows has to pay. Why? Because Islam promotes brotherhood. In the first place, why does he need a loan? If he really has an important agenda, like helping out his family, financing his studies and etc, then won't the increase in the sum makes it harder for him to pay back later?
Another example is corruption. Muslims who practise their faith diligently would not be succumbed to take money that is given illegally.
Conventional finance and banking only thinks of profit. As long as there will be profit, then that's the way to do it. Worldly possessions is the main objective.
Islamic finance and banking, on the other hand, taps the inner side of a person. Because in Islam, we believe that every action, good or bad, has its consequences. The belief will manifest in our daily actions, include in our muamalah.
So, muslims out there, never waver from your faith. Even if you are presented with wealth and possessions, remember that His rewards are better and eternal.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
Why is it Islam always is the best answer to all life's questions?
Why is Islam considered a way of life, and not merely a religion or a faith that one holds on to?
Why is Islam considered a way of life, and not merely a religion or a faith that one holds on to?
An Australian professor came to UM about a month ago, just before the study break. He was invited to give a talk regarding finance in Islam. The talk is actually for master students doing their masters in finance. Since the number of students present were not convincing, my friends and i, along with my seniors were invited to 'fill up the places'.
The talk was good actually, if only i could understand it. My knowledge about finance is very limited currently. I've only taken about 3 introductory courses on it, and the matters that were discussed were above my level of understanding. I know, reading up coursework is not the only way to get knowledge, i should probably search on my own. Okay, i already have it in mind. The act of going to the library is the major hindrance.
However i did get one useful information. They were discussing why Islamic finance and banking is the perfect solution to solve some financial problems.
Take for example credit. Islam prohibits the use of credit if there is an increment to the principal sum that the person who borrows has to pay. Why? Because Islam promotes brotherhood. In the first place, why does he need a loan? If he really has an important agenda, like helping out his family, financing his studies and etc, then won't the increase in the sum makes it harder for him to pay back later?
Another example is corruption. Muslims who practise their faith diligently would not be succumbed to take money that is given illegally.
Conventional finance and banking only thinks of profit. As long as there will be profit, then that's the way to do it. Worldly possessions is the main objective.
Islamic finance and banking, on the other hand, taps the inner side of a person. Because in Islam, we believe that every action, good or bad, has its consequences. The belief will manifest in our daily actions, include in our muamalah.
So, muslims out there, never waver from your faith. Even if you are presented with wealth and possessions, remember that His rewards are better and eternal.
Allah s.w.t has left among us two things that we will never go wrong if we hold onto these two: Al-Quran and Sunnah Rasulullah.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
the human age
Bismillah
While i was walking to the supermarket just now, i imagined meeting my ustaz along the way. My ustaz lives just a few blocks away from me, and i used to meet him quite frequently at around that time, most probably that is the time he is coming home from school/work.
What i really imagined was, my ustaz is surely getting older as i am. I mean, when i left school, i was only 17 years old, and now i'm close to 22 years. My ustaz probably was in his early 30s, and now maybe he is in his late 30s. In a span of 5 years, i left my teenage years, and has entered adulthood. (Sure, it's hard to swallow the fact but that is the truth.). Whereas my ustaz is still is in his 30s.
Which makes me think... Youth left us really early.
A child is two. Just learnt how to walk and talk. Give it five more years, and she is already in primary school.
A little girl of nine will bloom into a little lady of 14.
An energetic and happy go lucky youth of 16 is now a young man just entering adulthood, full of responsibilities.
All these in only 5 years.
However, as we get older, these 5 years seem shorter. A 40 year old man is going to be a 45 year old man. No major changes will happen. Sure, mentally better or more experiences, but no apparent physical changes.
Youth left us early, and age is catching up fast.
This is the time to reflect what we have done all our lives. The good and the bad. Whatever good we have done, keep continue to do it, and be better each time. As for the bad, repent and feel remorse over it and discontinue from the act. Keep your faith in Allah, for Allah is the ever-fulfilling, ever-forgiving.
By the way, another mathematical statement. If you are 16 and your mother 32, she is double your age. 10 years later, you are 26 and your mother 42. She is less than double your age. Why does it not double? Think...
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
p/s: the mathematical statement is not much to think about really. Just logic. :D
While i was walking to the supermarket just now, i imagined meeting my ustaz along the way. My ustaz lives just a few blocks away from me, and i used to meet him quite frequently at around that time, most probably that is the time he is coming home from school/work.
What i really imagined was, my ustaz is surely getting older as i am. I mean, when i left school, i was only 17 years old, and now i'm close to 22 years. My ustaz probably was in his early 30s, and now maybe he is in his late 30s. In a span of 5 years, i left my teenage years, and has entered adulthood. (Sure, it's hard to swallow the fact but that is the truth.). Whereas my ustaz is still is in his 30s.
Which makes me think... Youth left us really early.
A child is two. Just learnt how to walk and talk. Give it five more years, and she is already in primary school.
A little girl of nine will bloom into a little lady of 14.
An energetic and happy go lucky youth of 16 is now a young man just entering adulthood, full of responsibilities.
All these in only 5 years.
However, as we get older, these 5 years seem shorter. A 40 year old man is going to be a 45 year old man. No major changes will happen. Sure, mentally better or more experiences, but no apparent physical changes.
Youth left us early, and age is catching up fast.
This is the time to reflect what we have done all our lives. The good and the bad. Whatever good we have done, keep continue to do it, and be better each time. As for the bad, repent and feel remorse over it and discontinue from the act. Keep your faith in Allah, for Allah is the ever-fulfilling, ever-forgiving.
By the way, another mathematical statement. If you are 16 and your mother 32, she is double your age. 10 years later, you are 26 and your mother 42. She is less than double your age. Why does it not double? Think...
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
p/s: the mathematical statement is not much to think about really. Just logic. :D
Bisakah...
Bisakah aku jadi seperti Kak Laisa? Sungguh kau bukan cerminan wanita impian, namun semangat, kasih sayang dan pengorbanan yang kau berikan tiada galang gantinya. Janji-janji kau bukan sekadar kata-kata, tapi janji-janji kau sampai ke mati.
Tak sia-sia rasanya beli buku tempoh hari. Sekurang-kurangnya, dengan adanya buku, dan adanya aktiviti pembacaan, otak tak beku. Maklumlah, dua bulan cuti, kalau tak gunakan otak macam selalu, bila balik semester depan, gear nak start pun lambat.
Bile mule-mule bace, tak dapat nak tangkap maksud yang penulis nak sampaikan. Ye lah, bab awalnye, cerita tentang fizik. Pelik jugak, tajuknya bidadari syurga, kenape pulak masuk fizik kan?
Suke sangat buku nie. Penulis secara 'subtle' telah memasukkan nilai-nilai murni ke dalam karakter-karakter dalam buku, supaya diteladani oleh pembaca. Contohnya, solat malam. Buku yang santai, tapi sarat makna. Penulis pun banyak bermain dengan emosi, sampai menangis dibuatnya. There is something that i can relate with about the characters in the book.
Bile mule-mule bace, tak dapat nak tangkap maksud yang penulis nak sampaikan. Ye lah, bab awalnye, cerita tentang fizik. Pelik jugak, tajuknya bidadari syurga, kenape pulak masuk fizik kan?
Suke sangat buku nie. Penulis secara 'subtle' telah memasukkan nilai-nilai murni ke dalam karakter-karakter dalam buku, supaya diteladani oleh pembaca. Contohnya, solat malam. Buku yang santai, tapi sarat makna. Penulis pun banyak bermain dengan emosi, sampai menangis dibuatnya. There is something that i can relate with about the characters in the book.
Moga-moga pembaca seterusnya dapat kebaikan sebagaimana aku dapat. Sesungguhnya tiada apa yang bisa membahagiakan sebagaimana yang didapati dari pembacaan.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
Friday, May 8, 2009
random thoughts
Bismillah
Alhamdulillah, exams are over. Now is the time to do'a and tawakkal lillah for good results. Good may be an understatement. I meant, outstanding results for us all. InsyaAllah, we'll be seniors this coming July.
I don't know if i might sound like a deviant muslim (na'uzubillah) but my curious mind can't stop imagining life after death. Eternity sounds very far to me, and i felt as if i need to find a full stop to time. Every time my mind wanders over there, i felt scared. Scared of the unknown.
Anyway, i just bought a book, and something that the writer wrote makes me think.
We are all aware of the signs of Judgement Day, don't we? And one of them is al-Masih will come and fight against evil-doers. However there is no mention or description of al-Masih using weapons of mass destruction during this war. Whereas, we have weapons of mass destruction now. Nuclear bombs is one. Then, why during the end of time, humans fight with swords? Why do they not fight with those bombs instead?
When we compare the past and the present time, we can say that technologies have advanced so much. If we present the idea that humans can do inter-continental communication to people of the past, we surely will be dubbed as 'insane', 'out of mind' and etc. Yet, we achieved that, and more today.
If we look carefully, the civilisation of Man is like a cycle. We can say now that we are at the top of that cycle, because of the advancements of today. Yet, one day, we will go back to the bottom of the cycle. And that is when the end of time is near. Man will forget all the technologies that we are so proud of now. All the knowledge will cease during this time.
I know it sounds so random the way i write it. But i feel it is a matter to ponder upon, and reflect. May Allah guide us all.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
Alhamdulillah, exams are over. Now is the time to do'a and tawakkal lillah for good results. Good may be an understatement. I meant, outstanding results for us all. InsyaAllah, we'll be seniors this coming July.
I don't know if i might sound like a deviant muslim (na'uzubillah) but my curious mind can't stop imagining life after death. Eternity sounds very far to me, and i felt as if i need to find a full stop to time. Every time my mind wanders over there, i felt scared. Scared of the unknown.
Anyway, i just bought a book, and something that the writer wrote makes me think.
We are all aware of the signs of Judgement Day, don't we? And one of them is al-Masih will come and fight against evil-doers. However there is no mention or description of al-Masih using weapons of mass destruction during this war. Whereas, we have weapons of mass destruction now. Nuclear bombs is one. Then, why during the end of time, humans fight with swords? Why do they not fight with those bombs instead?
When we compare the past and the present time, we can say that technologies have advanced so much. If we present the idea that humans can do inter-continental communication to people of the past, we surely will be dubbed as 'insane', 'out of mind' and etc. Yet, we achieved that, and more today.
If we look carefully, the civilisation of Man is like a cycle. We can say now that we are at the top of that cycle, because of the advancements of today. Yet, one day, we will go back to the bottom of the cycle. And that is when the end of time is near. Man will forget all the technologies that we are so proud of now. All the knowledge will cease during this time.
I know it sounds so random the way i write it. But i feel it is a matter to ponder upon, and reflect. May Allah guide us all.
Wallahu 'ala wa 'alam...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)