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  • Town Council’s Default Bill Of $1688

    Town Council’s Default Bill Of $1688

    It’s really crazy to live in Singapore if you’re poor.

    ***

    Was shocked to chance upon this town council’s default bill of $1688 of which the penalty fee is $249 and legal charges a massive $721. The total penalty and legal fee is $970 – much more than the actual town council owed fee of $718 dating from Aug 2015 to Apr 2017. One can’t imagine the government allows a needy Singaporean family to be fleeced off by so much legal cost when their last GE’s slogan is “For you, with you…”?

    The family stays in a 3-room flat and suffers from under-employment. To avoid jail sentences for owed town council bill, the family has been slowly paying them off whenever they have the money. They also have to show the receipts to the town council whenever they have made payment. We also know of some who have to go to jail because of accumulated town council default – after the jail sentence they still have to pay their bill! Its a shame to see so many of our poor vulnerable families living like this – struggling to pay bills of all kinds while living in the world’s costliest city (for expats only as claimed by the government).

    The proposed sugar tax will simply add on to their living cost and deepen their misery. The recent 30% hike in water cost, existing 7% GST and a whole slew of increases for basic living usage imposed early this year will simply drive one to depression by just looking at the bills. Many in fact have avoided opening the bills every month and just throw them in some forgotten corner hoping that they will just evaporate into the thin air magically. Its no wonder many of us can’t avoid to go cashless the right way as we are already very cash-less before we hit the month end.

     

    Source: Gilbert Goh

  • Kenapa Kita Dilarang Duduk Atas Kubur? Ini Alasannya.

    Kenapa Kita Dilarang Duduk Atas Kubur? Ini Alasannya.

    Kubur menjadi tempat tinggal terakhir bagi manusia yang meninggal dunia. Di sana, jenazah akan memasuki fasa alam barzah dan menunggu hari kiamat tiba. Tidak ada yang tahu, bagaimana keadaan mayat saat berada di sana.Semuanya menjadi rahsia Allah. Pada waktu tertentu, biasanya keluarga akan mengunjungi kubur untuk menziarahi ahli keluarga yang telah meninggal dunia. Hal ini dilakukan untuk mendoakan atau sekadar membersihkan kawasan kubur saja. Namun dalam pelaksanaan aktiviti itu manusia sering kali melakukan hal yang salah atau dilarang.

    Salah satunya adalah menduduki atau melangkahi kuburan yang bukan milik keluarganya. Ternyata hal ini sangat dilarang oleh Rasulullah. Larangan duduk di atas kubur karena seperti itu termasuk menghinakan kubur. Dari hadits Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda,

    لَأَنْ يَجْلِسَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى جَمْرَةٍ فَتُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَهُ فَتَخْلُصَ إِلَى جِلْدِهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ عَلَى قَبْرٍ

    “Seandainya seseorang duduk di atas bara api sehingga membakar pakaiannya sampai kulitnya, itu lebih baik baginya dibandingkan duduk di atas kubur.” (H.R Muslim, no. 1612). Hadits ini menunjukkan bahwa duduk di atas kubur termasuk dosa besar karena ancaman yang keras seperti ini.

    Makhluk yang bernyawa pasti akan mengalami kematian. Tidak perlukan waktu lama, jasad tanpa nyawa ini harus dimakamkan di tempat terakhir mereka di kubur. Tidak ada lagi teman di sana. Sahabat sejati pergi, bahkan keluarga pun tidak mahu menemani. Bila waktu telah memanggil, maka teman sejati hanya tinggal amal. Berdasarkan pendapat majoriti Ulama, gambaran syurga dan neraka itu terjadi di barzakh, dan itu merupakan dalil penetapan adanya siksa kubur. Bagi mereka yang beriman dan bertakwa selama hidup, maka akan merasakan nikmat kubur. Namun jika sebaliknya yang dilakukan, maka mereka merasakan kubur seperti di neraka.

    Beruntung jika yang dirasakan oleh mayat ini adalah nikmat kubur. Namun begitu siksanya bagi mereka yang mendapatkan azab. Mereka merasakannya siang dalam malam. Seperti yang dijelaskan Allah dalam Alquran. Bagaimana laknatullah, Firaun disiksa oleh Allah pagi dan petang. “Maka Allah memeliharanya dari kejahatan tipu daya mereka, dan Fir’aun beserta kaumnya dikepung oleh azab yang amat buruk. Kepada mereka ditunjukkan neraka pada pagi dan petang, dan pada hari terjadinya kiamat, (dikatakan kepada malaikat), ‘Masukkanlah Fir’aun dan kaumnya ke dalam azab yang sangat keras.’” (QS. Al-Mu’min [40]: 45-46).

    Hal inilah yang mungkin juga dialami oleh saudara kita sesama muslim yang telah meninggal. Lalu kita dengan mudahnya ketika datang ke kubur mendudukinya atau bahkan melangkahinya. Rasulullah SAW bersabda yang artinya: “Janganlah kalian duduk di atas kubur dan jangan solat menghadap kepadanya,” (Diriwayatkan Muslim).

    Rasulullah juga bersabda, “Seandainya salah seorang dari kalian duduk di atas bara api kemudian bara api tersebut membakar pakaiannya dan mengenai kulitnya, itu lebih baik baginya daripada duduk di atas kuburan,” (Diriwayatkan Muslim). Berdasarkan hadist di atas, majoriti ulama menyatakan bahawa hukum duduk di atas kuburan adalah makruh. Tindakan ini dianggap sebagai sikap tidak hormat kepada si mayat. Sementara itu Imam Abu Zakariya Muhyiddin Yahya Ibnu Syaraf Al-Nawawi menegaskan bahawa tidak hanya duduk diatas kubur muslim yang dihukumkan makruh begitu juga memijaknya kecuali kerana adanya keperluan yang mendesak (hajat).

    Misalnya kerana tidak boleh sampai pada kubur yang dituju semasa melaksanakan ziarah kubur kecuali dengan melalui dan memijak kubur lain, maka hukumnya adalah boleh (tidak makruh) demikian juga duduk diatas kubur yang dianggap mayat yang ada didalam kuburan tersebut telah hancur dan tidak tersisa lagi, maka hukum duduk diatas kuburan yang semacam itu adalah boleh (tidak makruh). Imam Nawawi juga menyatakan bahwa bermalam dikubur adalah makruh kerana hal itu (bermalam dikuburan) dapat menyebabkan kekacauan. Imam Syihabuddin Ahmad Ibnu Ahmad Ibnu Salamah Al-Qulyubi juga menambahkan bahawa hukum buang air besar dan buang air kecil diatas kuburan orang muslim adalah haram. Saudara seiman, kita tidak pernah tahu apa yang sedang terjadi didalam kubur si mayat yang kita duduki atau pijak itu. Kita hanya tahu, bahawa kubur ini seperti rumah, menjadi tempat tinggal jenazah yang sudah wafat.

    Wallahua’lam

     

    Source: VM

  • Susu Ibu Dianggap “Tidak Halal”

    Susu Ibu Dianggap “Tidak Halal”

    Seorang ibu mengadu kakitangan sebuah hotel di Melaka menolak permintaannya membekukan susu badannya di peti sejuk dengan alasan ia ‘tidak halal’. Wanita bernama Chua yang menceritakan kejadian itu di laman Facebook bagi kumpulan ibu menyusu pada 18 Ogos lalu berkata, kakitangan lelaki di kaunter resepsi hotel itu menolak permintaannya walaupun selepas beliau menjelaskan susu ibu itu dihasilkan manusia.

    PELANGGAN ‘HALAL’ DAN ‘TIDAK HALAL’?

    “Saya tidak berputus asa dan cuba mendapatkan bantuan kakitangan lain untuk membekukan susu, tetapi hasilnya masih sama. Alasannya susu ibu tidak halal. Ketika itu, saya ada memberi penjelasan dan menerapkan pengetahuan mengenai susu ibu, tetapi tidak berjaya memujuk mereka. Susu ibu dihasilkan manusia, bukannya haiwan. Takkanlah pelanggan mereka juga perlu dibahagikan kepada halal dan tidak halal?” soalnya menerusi catatan itu sambil menambah beliau terpaksa membuang susu badannya dalam kejadian yang berlaku kira-kira pukul 9.00 malam itu. Cik Chua berkata, keadaan sebaliknya berlaku pada keesokan harinya apabila beliau menghantar susu badannya ke bilik VIP yang beroperasi pada waktu siang, di mana kakitangan wanita membantu beliau membekukannya.

    HOTEL MINTA MAAF

    Selang beberapa hari, beliau melalui satu lagi catatan di Facebook memaklumkan hotel itu sudah meminta maaf kepadanya, selepas rakannya membuat aduan kepada pihak pengurusan. Hotel itu katanya, turut memaklumkan mereka ada menawarkan perkhidmatan membekukan susu ibu kepada pelanggan, termasuk pada waktu malam tanpa membezakan ia halal atau tidak. Cik Chua berkata, hotel itu menjelaskan petugas lelaki di kaunter resepsi menolak permintaannya kerana tiada pengetahuan mengenai susu ibu dan tidak biasa dengan cara menguruskannya.

    “Mengimbau keadian itu, sebenarnya ia hanya kesilapan yang tidak disengajakan oleh segelintir kakitangan (lelaki) kerana mereka tiada pengetahuan mengenai susu ibu.” Beliau berharap orang ramai tidak akan menyalahkan hotel itu dan meminta pihak pengurusan tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap kakitangan terbabit, sebaliknya memberi pengetahuan mengenai susu ibu kepada mereka. Hotel itu tambahnya lagi, tidak memberi sebarang pampasan kepadanya dan beliau tidak mahu memperbesarkan kesilapan orang lain.

     

    Source: Berita Mediacorp

  • Hijabi Struggles

    Hijabi Struggles

    There are some hijabi struggles that are unavoidable and like to sporadically repeat themselves. Have you experienced any of it?

    1. Lost Pins.
    We don’t know where they go. We keep replacing them. But we always seem to run out.

    2. Being stabbed in the head by a pin.
    This happens to everyone at some point. There are those days when you’re in a time crunch and you need to get done. Or those days when your hand slips and the pin jabs you in the head.

    3. Storing your pins.
    Storing pins is always a mission.  It doesn’t remain organised forever. You can never find the pin we want to wear or your pins never remain in one place.

    4. When your neck is showing and you have run out of scarf or your hair has slipped out to play peekaboo from under your scarf.

    5. You have an event to attend, and the only scarf that matches is very scratchy… and you wear it anyway.

    6..Having to undo ur hijab style to make wudhu. Or worse, a wet hijab after wudhu

    7. Creased scarves and wishing you never had to iron another scarf again. There are few things we hate more than having to iron the creases out of our ever growing collection of hijabs.

    8. #thatawkwardmomentwhen you pass a mirror & realize your hijab is totally messed up.

    9. Storing crumbs in your hijab. Food and Hijab… enough said.

    10. The Inescapable Hijab Itch.
    When you head itches randomly under the scarf. We’ve all had it. It happensunannounced. There’s no way of avoiding it. And worse, you can’t get your fingers under your intricate scarf style to soothe the itch. Washing your hair regularly minimises this but it’s bound to happen at some point.

    11. Misplaced hijab cap or hijab bonnet.
    It happens at the worst of times. Usually when you’re in a time crunch.

     

    Source: Muslimah Lifestyle

  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat With Your Hands

    5 Reasons Why You Should Eat With Your Hands

    1) Helps prevent type 2 diabetes
    A new study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition found that people with type 2 diabetes were more likely to be fast eaters that used cutlery to eat, as compared to people without the condition. Eating with forks and spoons correlates with faster eating, which has been linked to blood-sugar imbalances in the body — contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes. If you suspect that you may be eating too quickly, ditch utensils and focus on your eating style — consciously slow it down and see how you feel. You may be surprised by how soon you get full with less food if you eat with your hands.

     

    2) Improved digestion
    We have some bacteria, known as normal flora, found on the palm and fingers of the hand. It is not harmful to humans, it in fact protects us from many damaging microbes in the environment. When you eat with your hands, the flora in the fingers is swallowed. It is beneficial for health and for various body parts such as the mouth, throat, and intestine, and it promotes healthy digestion in the gut. Handling food with your fingers releases digestive juices and enzymes. Also, millions of nerve endings in your fingers relay the message that you’re about to eat, including the temperature of the food, level of spiciness and texture of food, thereby prepping the stomach for digestion.

     

    3) Useful tool in preventing binge eating
    Binge eating is becoming a concern with more adults, but it can also occur in childhood. Binge eating seems to be related to the vicious cycle of restrictive dieting followed by a loss of control around food, and it contributes to further health problems. A study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology showed that families who ate by hand were more in touch with eating concepts, such as eating only when hungry and paying attention to fullness cues. The study found that parents were able to help their 8 to 12-year-old overweight children cut down on binge eating episodes by training them to eat by hand.

     

    4) It can help decrease overeating at restaurants
    People worldwide spend about 40% of their food budget on dining out. These meals tend to be higher in overall calories, raising concern that this practice is increasing our national waistline. While many health professionals advise people to try and cook more at home, one study showed that watchful eating at restaurants might help. The researchers found that middle-aged women who ate out and used their hands to pick on appetizers and dry food entrées at least three times a week were heedful while eating. This approach helped them reduce acid influx issues while still enjoying restaurant meals minus the feeling of heaviness.

     

    5) Sure-fire way to stay lean.
    Researchers studied over 1,600 middle-aged women in New Zealand found that those women who ate in response to hunger were more likely to be at a healthy weight than women who paid no mind to hunger cues when they ate. Many people multi-task while eating lunch, but two studies published in the journal Appetite found that when people ate by hand while simultaneously reading a newspaper or watching TV, they were less hungry at snack-time, and opted for a smaller snack. Researchers concluded that eating by hand promotes a sense of fullness and satiety as compared to eating with utensils.

     

    Source: Tribune