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Tag: Syawal

  • Selamat Hari Raya From Amos Yee

    Selamat Hari Raya From Amos Yee

    So I was awake at around 8am (It’s a miracle) and I wondered why the fuck is my mother telling me to ‘hang my clothes nicely’ at 8am, she usually does it at 9:30 at night. So I inquired on the divergence of the constant variable, and apparently, she had a weekday off (fuck), because it was Hari Raya.

    Now apparently, Hari Raya comparatively to the Chinese towards Chinese New Year (At least the ones in Singapore) Hari Raya is a fucking big deal to Malays, with their meetings of extended families that reach the 100s, profuse amounts of Malay delectables (Like the Onde-Ondes I treasure),and there’s only 1-2 days of the national holiday, but you guys can extend the celebration to over a week.

    However, other than the Malays,the 13.3% (~0.718067 million (2013)), or other races compelled by neighbor pressure, typically no one else gives a fuck about the festival other than the fact that there is a work/school holiday. And also seeing what I had planned to do today, watching Attack On Titan and indulging in the 1st social gathering since I’d been released from prison (Yeah it actually took that long, I’m still a loner, I’m really just leading the life of a famous hermit), I didn’t even know.

    Now most people opine that the majority of prisoners in Singapore, are black, and from what I have observed(Which of course, isn’t empirically substantive), they’re right. And if they’re mostly Black, they’re mostly Malay, which means my cellmates were mostly Malay, which means that most of them, celebrated Hari Raya. And since I was in prison for 5 weeks (Or 3 weeks in prison, and 2 weeks in the worst fucking place ever), that is the only reason I’m giving a solitary shit about this festival.

    Now the benefits of being in prison while Malays are fasting a month before Hari Raya, is that their desires to be generous (Does that come from fasting?) and their resolute spirit to either eat less daily or engage in a full day hardcore fast (Which unlike me, they didn’t have the assistance of a mental stimulus fueled by unrelenting thoughts of suicide) while we were transitioning a move to the yard, they’d cover the food with a travel catalog and sneak the bread into my cell, so that my buddies and I could eat it later.

    My Muslim cellmates, would tell me how important the festival was to them. One of them, dictated when he wanted to reveal his crime of Awol (which is apparently really easy to pull off), based on the date of Hari Raya, because if he admits his crime early enough, he could have the chance to finish his sentence before the festive season, so he can celebrate it with his children and family.

    One of my fellas at IMH, who was intended to be discharged during Hari Raya, (and then subsequently be sent back after it was over, in the eyes of the family, there’s somehow an exception for tolerance to mental hysteria during Hari Raya) made the highly compelling argument that he was obligated to be released earlier, because he had to attain a suitable Hari Raya Baju.

    Now, due to genetics or food (Probably the latter), he’s really fucking fat, and shops in Geylang Serai do not have shirts of sizes up to 3XL, and the man was measured to need 5, so if he wants the Malay shirt, it has to be tailor-made, and since he was probably released only like a day or two before, he probably won’t be able to get it. I hope he doesn’t have to celebrate Hari Raya nude, Muhammad wouldn’t like that, which is unfortunate for Australian Muslims.

    So as I was in prison, frequently exposed to my Malay buddies’ love and desires to celebrate Hari Raya, I recalled that quote from Roger Ebert, which I can’t seem to remember and fucking find, so somebody if they can, please identify it and write it down on the comments section, but he said something along the lines of, there’s always something fascinating from the things that people derive great joy from. And thus from there, I too, started to develop a liking (Just a little), of this festival, of Hari Raya.

    And this shows that even if initially you don’t give a solitary shit about something, if you take the chance to open your mind(or be obligated to due to boredom in Prison) from other people’s different passions and hobbies, you can develop an interest to those yourself, or at least, enough to write a Facebook post about.
    And as I wander the world rife with fans of Twilight, Transformers, Justin Bieber and fucking K-pop, I resolve that though I might disagree with their preferences, and interests and tastes in general, I sure as hell won’t say that mine is somehow better, unless of course it concerns the existence of God, in which case, it’s pretty definitive.

    And for all my Muslim pals who are unfortunate enough to have to be in prison during Hari Raya, because once I went out from prison, I heard from their family members that instead of backdating their months in remand, they were instead sentenced to RTC. It feels absolutely horrible I know, even more so when you can’t even see the message I’m writing that’s directed to you, it’s quite futile on my part I know. Do be assured, that for most cordial Malay families, they’re probably hoping that you’re doing well in prison, or gossiping and viciously lambasting you for committing a crime, either way, they’re thinking about you, which means you’re more important than the family member who attends the festive gathering, only to then sit quietly in the corner of the house, attempting to hide his complete inability to talk to people by flipping back and forth, the windows on his phone (That was me, it was fucking depressing) .

    So fellow Malay friends, as I stay confined in my room staring at blood-spilled gore bursting from the entrails of exploding Titans, I’m glad people outside are experiencing the pleasures of social activities and food that took more than 5 minutes to prepare.
    Happy Hari Raya. I hope you enjoy it.

     

    Source: https://amosyee.wordpress.com

     

  • Beraya Solo Dengan Air Mata Syawal

    Beraya Solo Dengan Air Mata Syawal

    Lampu lap-lip di luar rumah Encik Rafi Hassan berkerdipan indah di malam hari, menyambut Lebaran yang bakal menjelang tidak lama lagi. Beberapa botol kuih Raya sudah pun tersaji.

    Bagaimanapun, setiap kali suara takbir bergema, sebak terasa di dadanya mengenangkan ibu bapa dan nenek yang sudah tiada.

    Anak tunggal dan bujang berusia 42 tahun itu sudah biasa hidup menyendiri. Yang dianggap teman penawar duka di rumah tiga biliknya di Tampines Street 41 ialah tiga kucing yang cukup manja lagi jinak, menyambut kedatangan penulis. Flat itu sudah dimilikinya sejak beliau berusia 29 tahun lagi.

    Namun, di ambang 1 Syawal, Encik Rafi, seorang penyelia di syarikat pelancongan, menanti peluang keemasan beraya di kampung ibu saudaranya di Senggarang, Batu Pahat. Sudah lama desa yang sudah dilengkapi dengan kemudahan tandas itu tidak dikunjunginya.

    Sebagaimana ceritanya dalam pertemuan lebih sejam baru-baru ini:

    “Mak cik saya selalu prihatin dan bertanya, ‘Rafi, kau beraya di mana?’ Saya pun terfikir seronok betul kalau saya balik kampung dan rasakan semangat gotong-royong di malam Raya! Lagipun di sana masih ada botol oren dan Sarsi macam zaman saya kanak-kanak dulu.

    “Saya akan tolong mengemas rumah, potong bahan memasak lauk-pauk Lebaran. Maklumlah saya ni suka memasak dan tak kekok di dapur. Cuma menganyam ketupat sahaja saya tak boleh diharap! Nak bakar kuih pun tak ada kesabaran. Pernah cuba bakar kuih tart, tapi semuanya ranap dan hangus!”

    Encik Rafi kehilangan ibunya yang bisu, Cik Aisa Bee Ismail, sewaktu usianya semuda 18 tahun. Ibunya, yang cekal dan bersemangat waja, menghidap tekanan darah tinggi dan meninggal dunia pada usia 47 tahun.

    Bapanya, Encik Hassan Bakar, yang menetap di rumah jagaan warga senja dan pesakit kronik pula pergi menyahut seruan Ilahi pada usia 64 tahun sekitar tiga tahun lalu.

    SUARA TAKBIR

    “Saya memang rindukan mak dan menitis air mata apabila mengenangkannya yang sudah lebih 20 tahun tiada. Ingat lagi saya tatkala ada mak cik panggil mak ‘si pekak’ di sekolah saya dulu. Saya mengamuk tak terima, bahkan sempat tarik baju mak cik tu, marah kerana mak saya dipersenda.

    “Kadang macam berat nak dengar suara takbir sebab pastinya kenangan bersama mak muncul di ruang minda. Sewaktu arwah ayah ada, sekurang-kurangnya saya terhibur juga walaupun beliau dirawat di rumah jagaan. Dapat bawa dia bersiar-siar pada Hari Raya pertama.

    “Terus terang saya katakan, hilang mood nak beraya selepas kehilangan kededuanya dan nenek saya. Tapi apabila difikirkan kembali saya tak harus biarkan kesedihan saya berterusan. Saya masih ada mak cik dan saudara-mara lain khususnya yang lebih tua untuk dikunjungi.

    “Kadangkala teman-teman pun undang saya ke rumah mereka. Cuma saya akui timbul sekelumit kesedihan apabila melihat orang lain beraya bersama isteri dan anak-anak mereka. Tapi, apabila fikirkan betapa saya sudah biasa hidup bersendiri dan bebas membuat pilihan baju, perhiasan rumah dan kuih-muih tanpa merujuk pada orang lain, kelegaan timbul serta-merta,” ceritanya.

    Ditanya tidakkah saudara-maranya mendesak agar beliau segera menamatkan zaman bujang, Encik Rafi, yang juga terlibat dalam bidang peragaan pakaian pengantin, bahkan pernah menyertai peraduan Senior Manhunt, menambah secara berseloroh:

    “Saya tak berkecil hati dengan soalan mak cik saya yang prihatin. Malahan, saya selalu bergurau dengan mereka. Saya kata, ‘Tak ada anak dara yang sanggup menikahi saya sebab mereka tak mampu sediakan hantaran $50,000 serba satu!’

    “Kalau sampai masanya, mak cik tinggal datang saja ke majlis ringkas saya di Pejabat Pendaftaran Pernikahan. Bakal isteri saya pun tak perlu susah payah. Tinggal bawa beg pakaian dan menetap di sini. Dah tak ada mak mentua garang pun yang akan mengawasi mereka sebab saya ni anak yatim.”

    Lawak jenaka menjadi penawar dukanya. Masanya sering disibukkan dengan tugas serta menyertai peraduan memperaga pakaian. Beliau juga pernah menerima tawaran mengacara di beberapa majlis rasmi dan berharap dapat mengendalikan bengkel etika keyakinan diri buat anak Melayu suatu hari nanti.

    Bagaimanapun, di sebalik senda guraunya itu, ada perkara bermain di fikirannya. Katanya mengakhiri perbualan kami:

    “Harapan saya pada Syawal nanti, dapatlah saya menikmati kemeriahan beraya di kampung dalam suasana yang berbeza daripada sambutan di Singapura.

    “Jerih payah saya berdikari dari usia muda menjadikan saya lebih cekal dan yakin meneruskan kehidupan saya tanpa mengira apa tanggapan orang terhadap diri saya atau status saya. Tak semestinya kita hidup membujang hidup kita kurang bahagia. Ada juga teman yang berumah tangga tapi tidak sehati sejiwa dengan pasangan mereka, lantas menjejas keceriaan beraya.

    “Saya belajar erti kerja keras dari bawah. Saya juga hargai erti persahabatan dan membantu orang mana yang termampu. Sungguhpun begitu, saya mengharapkan yang terbaik agar kesihatan saya terpelihara kerana baru-baru ini, doktor khuatir saya ada masalah jantung tersumbat apabila terasa mengah semacam. Tak pasti adakah saya perlu jalani pembedahan.”

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • 10 Tips To Get The Best Out Of The Blessed Last 10 Nights Of Ramadan

    10 Tips To Get The Best Out Of The Blessed Last 10 Nights Of Ramadan

    Rilek1Corner pl share. sumbody share with me kat whatsapp

    1. No matter how good or bad your Ramadan went, enter the last 10 Days well prepared, with pure intentions, full energy and a positive outlook.

    2. Listen to or read the Tafsir of Surah Al-Qadr to know about this amazing night, to switch that mode ON and to keep it remained ON for all the nights. It could fall on any of the last 10 nights.

    3. Choose the most comfortable place for worship in your home or Masjid. Avoid leaning on pillows & cushions while reciting Qur’an or Adhkaar so as to keep your back straight.

    4. Switch off your mobile phones, iPads and Laptops if possible.

    5. If you’re alone, recite the Qur’an in a loud beautiful voice so that your ears & heart remain involved with the recitation and you don’t feel drowsy. Plus it has an amazingly calming effect trust me!

    If you’re not alone then you can recite in a normal volume not to disturb others but can listen to a Qiraa-at in high volume using your earphone.

    6. Elongate your Sujood and make loads and loads of Du’aas in it. Cry hard and ask ALLAH everything you wish for in Dunya and Aakhirah.

    7. Raise your Du’aa – Remember it’s the night of decree and angels are precisely writing down whatever is gonna happen in your life for the next coming year, be specific in your Du’aas and ask for each and everything you need – Hajj, Job, Career, Spouse, Children, Home, whatever. Don’t play small in your Du’aas as you’re asking the KING OF ALL KINGS!

    8. Pray 2 Raka’ah Salatul Tawbah every single night and ask for forgiveness from ALLAH – Al-Ghaffar, Al-Ghafoor, Al-Tawwab and Al-’Afuww. Repent sincerely with full hope and firm resolve of not repeating those sins again.

    9. Memorize and keep asking the Du’aa of Lailatul Qadr: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).

    10. Ask ALLAH to grant you Lailatul Qadr and accept from you whatever ‘ibaadaat you did by His tawfeeq.

     

    Syaz

    [Reader Contribution]

  • Why A Devout Catholic Is Fasting During Ramadan

    Why A Devout Catholic Is Fasting During Ramadan

    As the executive director of Interfaith Worker Justice, a national organization that builds power with workers through faith-rooted organizing and advocacy, my faith and values are what ground me and call me to do this work. I’m Catholic and feel deeply connected to my faith, which has been a constant presence in my life, and is the core to who I am.

    I know that the joy, hope and love I feel within my faith is no different from the joy, hope and love others experience within their own faith tradition. I feel this way because we share a set of common core values, such as respect, dignity, dedication, sacrifice and love.

    It is because of these shared values that I’ve decided to join my Muslim friends as they fast from sunup to sundown during this holy month of Ramadan. I also join them in embracing the blessings one receives during such an important time of fasting, charity, prayer and introspection.

    Fasting during Ramadan is not just about fasting from food but also from the things that can take us away from being our best selves, such as gossip, insults, lies, negativity & disrespect for others. Ramadan helps us look inward by challenging and encouraging us to be better people, by being more conscious and aware of our place in the world and how we relate to those around us.

    In my Catholic tradition I have fasted many times and have seen the benefits of choosing to go without in order to focus on what’s inside. Fasting helps make space for other things to come into greater focus, such as a deeper connection with those less fortunate, a greater emphasis on my relationship with God and being more disciplined about the choices I make.

    Similarly, fasting during Ramadan is as much about filling ourselves with prayer, empathy and love as it is about fasting from the things that separate us from our true nature. It is through Ramadan’s intentional sacrifice of food that we are fed an abundant spiritual buffet.

    Ramadan also gives us an opportunity to be more charitable to others. But it’s more than just about giving alms to the poor — it’s about broadening our awareness and understanding of the systems that make and keep them poor. More importantly, it is about deepening our connection with those less fortunate.

    We practice real empathy and compassion by reaching out and seeking to understand why people struggle, and acting on it. “Why are they hungry?” “Why are they homeless?” By asking these questions we also challenge ourselves to think of what we can do: “How can I do the most good for the most people?” “How do I impact the real problem and make ongoing change happen?”

    Fasting and Prayer

    As someone once told me; “Fasting without prayer is just going hungry.” How true! Many Muslims pray fives times a day, and especially during Ramadan. Prayer feeds the soul and helps sustain the meaning behind the fast.

    Several years ago, I was walking through the Minneapolis airport and saw a young airport worker go into a corner and pull out a small rug to pray. He wasn’t trying to draw attention to himself, but he caught my eye anyway. I was moved by his act of devotion, discipline and love. I then asked myself, “Why don’t I do that?” “Is my faith enough of a priority that I go out of my way to pray to make room for it?” Inspired by the young Muslim man’s public display of faith and prayer, I began to pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy at 3 p.m everyday, regardless of where I was. Now I also include my morning prayers, Rosary and evening prayers each day. The young man’s powerful example has inspired and challenged me to deepen my own faith and be a better Catholic.

    It is through sharing experiences and practices that we discover we have more in common than we have differences. One of the many values that we have in common is a shared sense of respect for workers and the value of the work they produce. Across faith traditions, the teachings are clear: respect workers and treat them fairly, as we would want to be treated, or even better. Kind of sounds like a golden rule doesn’t it? For good reason, as we all do better when we all do better.

    So as I begin Ramadan in honor of the values that it represents, I am filled with humility and gratitude for this blessed opportunity to deepen my relationship with God and those around me. It will give me chance to turn down the noise and focus on what’s most important in my life and once again, help me to be a better Catholic.

     

    Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

  • Answers To Common Questions About Ramadan And Hari Raya

    Answers To Common Questions About Ramadan And Hari Raya

    “Really? Cannot eat at all?”

    It’s a common question asked of myself and my fellow fasting family and friends by non-Muslims during this period.

    Muslims the world over fast for the whole month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

    In Singapore, Ramadan started on the evening of Wednesday, June 17, with Muslims going through their first full day of fasting on Thursday.

    The next question is usually: “But can drink water, right?”

    While it is often the same questions asked on an annual basis, it’s better to ask than stay quiet.

    In the interest of clearing up a few things once and for all for my non-fasting friends, here are the answers to some of your fasting month questions.

    Why do you fast?

    Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam – anyone who is of age (generally determined by reaching puberty), and is not ill or in a situation which makes it difficult for them to complete their fast (eg strenuous work), must fast.

    For Muslims, fasting during the month of Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink.

    It’s also about abstaining from other things from sun rise to sundown – such as smoking and sex.

    We are encouraged to stay away from all kinds of temptation.

     

    But drinking water is okay, right?

    No, really, we can’t!

    Not water, or tea, or milk, nothing.

    Yes, in this weather, this means you can get really parched, but the idea is to tahan (take it) until about 7 in the evening, when we’re able to eat and drink again during the iftar, or breaking of fast.


    Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joining congregants of the newly upgraded Mujahidin Mosque in Commonwealth for a break fast, or iftar, session in 2014. ST FILE PHOTO

     

    So you can eat in the evening. When do you stop eating then?

    We generally stop eating and drinking at imsak​, which is about 10 minutes before the break of dawn, a practice of the Prophet Muhammad.

    We are encouraged to wake up in the early mornings – around 4 to 5am in Singapore – to eat something before imsak – this morning meal is called sahur.

    For some, it’s a couple of dates. For others, it can be a full meal of rice and other dishes.

    We eat again at sundown, which coincides with the time of the Maghrib prayer, one of the five prayers Muslims do every day.

     

    What happens if you accidentally eat or drink something during the day?

    It can happen, simply out of habit. This has happened to most Muslims I know. If it’s unintentional, we keep fasting.

     

    What happens if you feel dizzy, or ill? 

    Only those who are well enough to fast should do so. You are permitted to break your fast if you are unwell.

     

    So, do you have to “pay back” for the days you didn’t fast?

    Yes, we should pay back the missed days as soon as possible.

    It doesn’t have to be continuous but before the next Ramadan comes around.

    If one is unable to repay, or unable to fast for years, then he or she can pay fidyah​, a sum of money calculated using the number of days missed that will be donated to the poor.

     

    So do NSmen have to fast?

    Yes, if they are not ill. A guidebook from the voluntary welfare organisation Perdaus encourages fasting NSmen to drink lots of water and eat in the morning before sunup to help them through the day.

     

    Uh, should I not eat or drink in front of you?

    That’s entirely up to you! Food smells are certainly much more distracting on an empty stomach, so it would be nice if you didn’t.

    But dealing with temptation is a strong theme for us Muslims during Ramadhan. Just, you know, don’t tempt us on purpose, lah​.


    BH FILE PHOTO

    How about those countries where the sun sets at night, or sometimes not at all during the summer months?!

    I had the same question when I was a kid. Do they, like, never eat at all?

    They do but their fast is longer.

    Now that it’s summer and days can be very, very long in the northern hemisphere.

    Muslims in places like Reykjavik, Iceland, may fast for up to 21 hours a day, reports Quartz.

    However, some scholars say that for health reasons, Muslims in such places could follow the “morning to evening” timings for fasting.

     

    So, after Ramadan ends, you celebrate Hari Raya, which is Muslim New Year, right? 

    Actually, Hari Raya Puasa, or Aidilfitri, means ‘festival of breaking of fast’ in Arabic.

    We celebrate it right after Ramadan ends, during the next month in the Islamic calendar, Syawal.

    Muslims are not permitted to fast on Hari Raya Puasa.

    In Singapore and in some other countries, the celebrations continue for a month, with friends and family visiting each others’ houses in traditional garb, presenting both children and elders with ‘green packets’, and serving traditional Malay kuih, or cookies.

    It is all-encompassing as non-Muslims are invited over, too!


    BH FILE PHOTO

    Unlike Chinese custom, the younger members of the family generally stop receiving green packets after they’ve started working. Eating dishes like ketupat, rendang and ayam masak merah, however, is permitted no matter how old you are.

    Oh, and we do have a “Muslim New Year”, or more accurately Islamic New Year.

    It falls on the first day of the first month in the Islamic calendar, called Muharram. Our next New Year will be from sunset on Oct 13 to sunset of Oct 14.

     

    There’s another Hari Raya on my calendar. What’s the difference?

    That would be Hari Raya Haji, which marks the end of the annual Hajj, where millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage.

    On this day, those who are able are meant to sacrifice, or korban​, a goat, a cow or a sheep, with the meat being meant for your family, neighbours and the poor.

    No, you don’t have to go to butchery school! Your neighbourhood mosque will likely be able to conduct the sacrifice on your behalf. Some Muslims opt to pay for animals to be sacrificed in other, usually poorer countries, so the meat can be distributed to the needy there.

    The korban commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (the Quran doesn’t exactly say which son, but we believe it’s Ishmael, while Jews and Christians believe it’s Isaac).

    Don’t worry, the story has a happy ending – at the last minute, the sacrifice is stopped and Ibrahim (or Abraham as he is otherwise known)  is told by God that the deed has been fulfilled, as Ishmael has been replaced by a “great sacrifice”.

     

    Okay, why do both Hari Rayas keep occurring earlier every year? 

    Because we get more and more eager to celebrate?

    No. The real answer is that the dates are determined by the Islamic calendar, which has 12 months, but just 354 days.

    The months are shorter as they follow the lunar cycle – the first day of the month starts when the first crescent is spotted. That’s how the beginning of Ramadhan is determined as well.

    (The Islamic calendar is fully lunar, while the Chinese calendar is lunar-solar … that’s why Chinese New Year doesn’t move around as much as Hari Raya does.)

    Also, this is why some years you get a public holiday bonanza, with Hari Raya Puasa falling in the same week as Chinese New Year from 1996 to 1998, and Hari Raya Haji (Eid-ul Adha) falling two days after Christmas in 2007.

    Hopefully these answer the basics.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg