How can a Muslim discipline himself?
4/3/2004 7:11:00 AM GMT
How can the Muslim discipline himself Islamically, especially if he has shortcomings with regard to his religious commitment, which Allaah knows best about? Answer : Praise be to Allaah. Acknowledging your shortcomings is one of the first steps in disciplining yourself. Whoever acknowledges that he has shortcomings has started on the path to self-discipline. This acknowledgement is one of the things that make us discipline ourselves and be persistent in doing so. This acknowledgement should not put you off disciplining yourself. It is a sign of Allaah’s care when a person tries to change himself and develop, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, Allaah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves”[al-Ra’d 13:11] So whoever tries to change for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will help him to change. Each person is individually responsible for his own self, and will be questioned individually, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allaah) as a slave.Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting.And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender)”[Maryam 19:93-95] Man cannot benefit from what he has been told about goodness unless he himself takes an interest in that. Do you not know the story of the wife of Nooh and the wife of Loot, who were members of the households of two Prophets, one of whom was one of the Messengers of strong will? Imagine how these Prophets strove to guide their wives and how much guidance these wives received, but there was no interest on their part, so it was said to both of them: “Enter the Fire along with those who enter!”[al-Tahreem 66:10 – interpretation of the meaning] Whereas the wife of Pharaoh – even though she was a member of the household of one of the greatest evildoers – is presented by Allaah as an example to those who believe because she disciplined herself. The ways in which a Muslim can discipline himself are as follows: 1- Worshipping Allaah, keeping in contact with Him and submitting to Him. That is done by paying attention to doing obligatory acts of worship well, and cleansing your heart of any attachment to anything other than Allaah.2- Reading Qur’aan a great deal, pondering its meanings and seeking to understand it.3- Reading useful religious books that describe the ways of treating and cleansing the heart, such as Mukhtasar Manhaaj al-Qaasideen, Tahdheeb Madaarij al-Saalikeen and so on; reading the biographies of the salaf and learning about their attitude and behaviour, such as Sifat al-Safwah by Ibn al-Jawzi and Ayna nahnu min Akhlaaq al-Salaf by Baha’ al-Deen ‘Aqeel and Naasir al-Jaleel.4- Attending educational programs such as classes and lectures.5- Making good use of your time and using it to do things that will be of benefit in both worldly and spiritual terms6- Not indulging too much in permissible things and not paying too much attention to them.7- Keeping company with righteous people and looking for righteous companions, who can help you to do good. Those who live alone will miss out on a lot of the characteristics of a good brother such as preferring others to oneself and being patient. 8- Trying to act on what you learn and put it into practice.9- Checking closely on yourself.10-Having confidence in yourself – whilst relying on Allaah – because the one who has no confidence cannot act.11-Despising yourself for not doing enough for the sake of Allaah. This does not contradict the things mentioned above. Man has to strive hard whilst still thinking that his efforts are not enough.12-Practising withdrawal or isolation as prescribed in sharee’ah. You should not mix with people all the time, rather you must have some time which you spend alone, in worship as prescribed in Islam. We ask Allaah to help us and you to discipline ourselves and submit to that which Allaah loves and is pleased with. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

Surah Al Haqqah

[44] Dan kalaulah (Nabi Muhammad yang menyampaikan Al-Quran itu) mengatakan atas nama Kami secara dusta (sebarang kata-kata rekaan).
[45] Sudah tentu Kami akan menyentapnya, dengan kekuasaan Kami.
[46] Kemudian sudah tentu Kami akan memutuskan tali jantungnya (supaya dia mati dengan serta-merta).
[47] Maka tidak ada seorangpun di antara kamu yang dapat menghalang (tindakan Kami itu) daripada menimpanya.

"Ya Allah, kami berlindung dengan mu, daripada mengatakan sesuatu yang tidak benar mengenaiMu dan deenMu ini."

Kurniakan kami hidayahMu, Ya Allah...

“Mak jaga diri baik-baik ye, jangan risau-risau sangat. Doa banyak-banyak kat Allah ye…Assalamualaikum…” Hayah meletakkan gagang telefon perlahan-lahan. Dengan wajah yang sugul, dia berjalan ke arah meja study nya.

Di pandang ke kiri dan kanan, teman sebiliknya tiada.
Di kala kekabutan minggu persediaan peperiksaan begini, semua orang masuk ke dalam “sarang” masing-masing. Ada yang berkhemah di surau, ada yang bersantai di bawah pokok, ada yang bermastatutin di rumah saudara seaqidah yang mampu berikan kekuatan, ataupun ada yang sibuk membuat diskusi pelajaran bersama rakan satu kursus.

Bertambah “tension” di kala kesepian keseorangan sebegini. Hayah melihat timbunan “lecture notes” dan buku teks di atas meja. Hayah menekupkan mukanya ke atas timbunan buku-bukunya. Air mata mengalir perlahan-lahan, dan kemudian jadi deras pula.

“Ya Allah, kenapa lah aku selalu keseorangan begini….” Hayah merasakan tiada tempat untuk mengadu masalahnya. Bukan setakat masalah dengan pelajaran kerana dia seorang sahaja yang mengambil kursus kejuruteraan Mekatronik. Tambahan pula, keluarganya di tanah air juga berantakan. Tiba-tiba, handsetnya berbunyi,

“Assalamualaikum, Hayah…. Ana dapat satu berita baik! Enti tak balik kan masa cuti musim panas nanti?” Aisyah menelefon Hayah.

“Er… kemungkinan besar tak balik” jawab Hayah perlahan. Tiba-tiba dia terbayangkan keluarganya. “Nak balik ke tak nak” hatinya berbelah bagi.

“Camni, ana dapat “tender” lah cam tu…. Untuk kerja kat satu sekolah Islam kat sini, jadi summer school crash course teachers budak-budak Grade 4-6. Pengetua tu suruh carikan 5 pelajar universiti lain, yang boleh ajar Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Literature.” Aisyah membuka cerita.

Hati Hayah ceria sedikit, Allah sedang membuka satu jalan untuknya mengatasi krisis kewangan yang dialaminya.

“Sekolah Islam tu kat mana? Berapa gaji?”

“Err.. tu lah masalahnya.. Sekolah tu kat country-side sket… Tapi tak pe, pengetua tu cakap.. by the way… nama pengetua tu Brother Umar… nama sekolah tu Darul Taqwa Islamic School… Gaji tak besar sangat lah kot…. Just $5 satu jam…” celoteh Aisyah.

Tiba-tiba, Hayah teringat, dia juga dapat tawaran kerja di suatu ladang strawberi, yang menawarkan gaji $15 satu jam. Hatinya berbelah bagi.

“Erm… Tengoklah dulu, Aisyah…. Nanti ana bagitau kemudian..”

“Hayah, baik enti buat keputusan cepat. Bukan senang dapat tawaran macam ni. Kita bukan sekadar bleh kongsi ilmu ngan budak2 kecik tu.. Tapi, insya-Allah kita ada peluang besar nak didik generasi muda Islam kat sini.. Secara tak langsung, kita boleh tarbiyah mereka!” Aisyah macam biasa, cakap penuh semangat.

“Hermm…. Iye lah tarbiyah mereka… Bagus… Tapi, diri sendiri pun tak cukup tarbiyah”.. Hayah menghela nafas panjang.

“Eh, apa maksud enti? Tarbiyah tu kan proses berterusan.. Mana pernah ada orang “graduate” dari tarbiyah ni…” Hayah tau, Aisyah nak mula berceramah panjang.

“Tak pe, tak pe. Ana nak sambung belajar ni…Nanti ana bagitau kemudian,” Hayah mula rasa rimas dengan Aisyah.

“Lagi satu ana nak bagitau, kalau nak mengajar kat sekolah tu, ada rumah guru disediakan, siap ada tandas dan dapur… tapi rumah guru tu cam kontena je… Tapi best la ana rasa” Aisyah macam tak mau berhenti bercakap.

“Ye.. ye.. ana setuju je lah.. apa-apa lah Aisyah ni…,” akhirnya Hayah ‘tersetuju’ dengan Aisyah.

“Alhamdulillah!!! Ana tau enti tak kan lepaska peluang ni! Janji ye kita kerja sama2!!” Aisyah sangat gembira.

“Er.. Ye lah…” Hayah tergagap-gagap perlahan.

“Oke la! Belajar betul2 ye Cikgu Hayah” Aisyah mula excited dengan bakal pekerjaan mereka.

“Ana doakan enti… Assalamualaikum”…… Hayah jawab salam dalam hatinya sahaja..

Kegelisahan dalam hati Hayah makin menjadi. Sejak panggilan telefon ibunya tempohari, yang menceritakan tentang keadaan keluarganya yang tidak tentu arah di rumah, Hayah terasa terpanggil untuk pulang ke tanah air, namun begitu, krisis kewangannya menyebabkan dia mengambil keputusan untuk kerja semasa cuti musim panas. Dia bertambah gelisah selepas mendapat panggilan Aisyah.

Hayah cuba untuk ulangkaji pelajaran, tapi tak mampu focus. Dia terasa marah. Marah dengan dirinya, marah dengan keluarganya, marah dengan Aisyah, marah dengan semua orang!

“Ah! Aisyah ni macam tak paham-paham! Tak boleh detect langsung ke yang aku ni ada masalah bertimbun.. Tarbiyah lah konon, hati aku ni tak de sape nak jenguk” Hayah berada di kemuncak kemarahannya. Last resort, Aisyah menjadi sasaran kemuncak kemarahannya.

Hari berganti hari, saat peperiksaan Hayah pun tiba. Ditakdirkan Allah, dia hanya ada satu peperiksaan sahaja kerana sepanjang semester telah disibukkan dengan pelbagai “assessment”.
Hayah mendapati soalan-soalan peperiksaannya sangat mudah untuk dijawab walaupun persediaannya terasa kurang baik.
Usai peperiksaan, sebaik sahaja melangkah keluar dari dewan peperiksaan, Hayah meng”turn-on”kan handphonenya. Tak sampat 3 saat, Aisyah menelefonnya…

“Assalamualaykum.. Macam mana Cikgu Hayah? Exam mesti mantap kan? Ana doakan enti dipermudahkan jawab exam… Kalau itu yang terbaik untuk Islam. Cam ni, ana dah tepon Brother Umar, dia suruh kita mula gi sekolah tu esok, supaya kita familiar dengan sekolah tu…” tak sempat Hayah nak menjawab salam, Aisyah bercakap bagaikan butiran peluru.

Hayah terasa rimas lagi dengan sikap “provocative” Aisyah. Dalam kebanyakan keadaan, dia hanya akur dengan Aisyah kerana malas nak bertelagah atau menjawab. Tapi kalau difikir secara rational, Aisyah memang selalu ajak Hayah buat kebaikan. Cuma caranya mengajak agak merimaskan Hayah. Hayah pun tak tahu, apa yang menyebabkan dia terus membiarkan dirinya “terpaksa” berdekatan dengan Aisyah.

“Suka hati entilah, Aisyah.. Ana ikut je” Hayah pun tak faham kenapa dia mudah akur dengan Aisyah walau hatinya rasa kurang senang.

“Hayah, jom gi kuar makan.. Ana belanja.. Celebrate enti dah abes pekse nih….”

“Er….. oke lah” sekali lagi Hayah gagal menolak Aisyah. “Isk! Apesal lah aku ni, kalau tak nak cakap je lah tak nak” bentak Hayah dalam hati.

“Yea!! Jom, jumpe kat restoran turki kebab tu ye lepas Zuhur…” Aisyah pun mengundur diri.

*********************************** to be continued ***********************