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Sunday, February 27, 2011

History of Middle East (Part 2)

After Muhammad had preached publicly for more than a decade, the opposition to him reached such a high pitch that, fearful for their safety, he sent some of his adherents to Ethiopia, where the Christian ruler extended protection to them, the memory of which has been cherished by Muslims ever since. But in Mecca the persecution worsened. Muhammad's followers were harassed, abused, and even tortured. At last, therefore, Muhammad sent seventy of his followers off to the northern town of Yathrib, which was later to be renamed Medina ("The City"). Later, in the early fall of 622, he learned of a plot to murder him and, with his closest friend, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, set off to join the emigrants.

In Mecca the plotters arrived at Muhammad's home to find that his cousin, 'Ali, had taken his place in bed. Enraged, the Meccans set a price on Muhammad's head and set off in pursuit. Muhammad and Abu Bakr, however, had taken refuge in a cave where, as they hid from their pursuers, a spider spun its web across the cave's mouth. When they saw that the web was unbroken, the Meccans passed by and Muhammad and Abu Bakr went on to Medina, where they were joyously welcomed by a throng of Medinans as well as the Meccans who had gone ahead to prepare the way.

This was the Hijrah - anglicized as Hegira - usually, but inaccurately, translated as "Flight" - from which the Muslim era is dated. In fact, the Hijrah was not a flight but a carefully planned migration which marks not only a break in history - the beginning of the Islamic era- but also, for Muhammad and the Muslims, a new way of life. Henceforth, the organizational principle of the community was not to be mere blood kinship, but the greater brotherhood of all Muslims. The men who accompanied Muhammad on the Hijrah were called the Muhajirun - "those that made the Hijrah" or the "Emigrants" - while those in Medina who became Muslims were called the Ansar or "Helpers."

Muhammad was well acquainted with the situation in Medina. Earlier, before the Hijrah, the city had sent envoys to Mecca asking Muhammad to mediate a dispute between two powerful tribes. What the envoys saw and heard had impressed them and they had invited Muhammad to settle in Medina. After the Hijrah, Muhammad's exceptional qualities so impressed the Medinans that the rival tribes and their allies temporarily closed ranks as, on March 15, 624, Muhammad and his supporters moved against the pagans of Mecca.



Photo: A colonnade of lofty arches surrounds the courtyard at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, after Mecca the second holiest city of Islam.

The first battle, which took place near Badr, now a small town southwest of Medina, had several important effects. In the first place, the Muslim forces, outnumbered three to one, routed the Meccans. Secondly, the discipline displayed by the Muslims brought home to the Meccans, perhaps for the first time, the abilities of the man they had driven from their city. Thirdly, one of the allied tribes which had pledged support to the Muslims in the Battle of Badr, but had then proved lukewarm when the fighting started, was expelled from Medina one month after the battle. Those who claimed to be allies of the Muslims, but tacitly opposed them, were thus served warning: membership in the community imposed the obligation of total support.

A year later the Meccans struck back. Assembling an army of three thousand men, they met the Muslims at Uhud, a ridge outside Medina. After an initial success the Muslims were driven back and the Prophet himself was wounded. As the Muslims were not completely defeated, the Meccans, with an army of ten thousand, attacked Medina again two years later but with quite different results. At the Battle of the Trench, also known as the Battle of the Confederates, the Muslims scored a signal victory by introducing a new defense. On the side of Medina from which attack was expected they dug a trench too deep for the Meccan cavalry to clear without exposing itself to the archers posted behind earthworks on the Medina side. After an inconclusive siege, the Meccans were forced to retire. Thereafter Medina was entirely in the hands of the Muslims.

The Constitution of Medina - under which the clans accepting Muhammad as the Prophet of God formed an alliance, or federation - dates from this period. It showed that the political consciousness of the Muslim community had reached an important point; its members defined themselves as a community separate from all others. The Constitution also defined the role of non-Muslims in the community. Jews, for example, were part of the community; they were dhimmis, that is, protected people, as long as they conformed to its laws. This established a precedent for the treatment of subject peoples during the later conquests. Christians and Jews, upon payment of a yearly tax, were allowed religious freedom and, while maintaining their status as non-Muslims, were associate members of the Muslim state. This status did not apply to polytheists, who could not be tolerated within a community that worshipped the One God.



Photo: The Ka'bah, spiritual axis of the Muslim world, stands in the courtyard of Mecca's Sacred Mosque.

Ibn Ishaq, one of the earliest biographers of the Prophet, says it was at about this time that Muhammad sent letters to the rulers of the earth - the King of Persia, the Emperor of Byzantium, the Negus of Abyssinia, and the Governor of Egypt among others - inviting them to submit to Islam. Nothing more fully illustrates the confidence of the small community, as its military power, despite the battle of the Trench, was still negligible. But its confidence was not misplaced. Muhammad so effectively built up a series of alliances among the tribes his early years with the Bedouins must have stood him in good stead here- that by 628 he and fifteen hundred followers were able to demand access to the Ka'bah during negotiations with the Meccans. This was a milestone in the history of the Muslims. Just a short time before, Muhammad had to leave the city of his birth in fear of his life. Now he was being treated by his former enemies as a leader in his own right. A year later, in 629, he reentered and, in effect, conquered Mecca without bloodshed and in a spirit of tolerance which established an ideal for future conquests. He also destroyed the idols in the Ka'bah, to put an end forever to pagan practices there. At the same time Muhammad won the allegiance of 'Amr ibn al-'As, the future conqueror of Egypt, and Khalid ibn al-Walid, the future "Sword of God," both of whom embraced Islam and joined Muhammad. Their conversion was especially noteworthy because these men had been among Muhammad's bitterest opponents only a short time before.

In one sense Muhammad's return to Mecca was the climax of his mission. In 632, just three years later, he was suddenly taken ill and on June 8 of that year, with his third wife 'Aishah in attendance, the Messenger of God "died with the heat of noon."



Photo: Devout Muslims from all over the world gather for the pilgrimage to Mecca, for nearly fourteen centuries one of the most impressive religious gatherings in the world.

The death of Muhammad was a profound loss. To his followers this simple man from Mecca was far more than a beloved friend, far more than a gifted administrator, far more than the revered leader who had forged a new state from clusters of warring tribes. Muhammad was also the exemplar of the teachings he had brought them from God: the teachings of the Quran, which, for centuries, have guided the thought and action, the faith and conduct, of innumerable men and women, and which ushered in a distinctive era in the history of mankind. His death, nevertheless, had little effect on the dynamic society he had created in Arabia, and no effect at all on his central mission: to transmit the Quran to the world. As Abu Bakr put it: "Whoever worshipped Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped God, let him know that God lives and dies not."

Prophet Ibrahim : The Father of the Prophets

The birth of a Great Prophet

Ibrahim was born in a house of idolaters, in the kingdom of Babylon. His father Aazar was a well known idol sculptor that his people worshipped. As a young child, Ibrahim used to watch his father sculpting these idols from stones or wood. When his father was done with them, Ibrahim would use them as toys, riding on their backs, and kicking them at times. Then after a while, he would see these same statues in the temple, and people prostrating in front of them! Ibrahim asked his father: "Why do you take these toys to the temple?" His father said: "They are statues that represent our gods. We worship them, we ask favors from them, and we offer them presents." Ibrahim's mind rejected this idea, and he felt a repulsion towards the idols.

In search for the Truth

Time went by, and Ibrahim became a young man. He still could not believe that his people were worshipping the statues. He laughed whenever he saw them entering the temple, lowering their heads, silently offering the statues the best of their food, crying and asking forgiveness from them. He started feeling angry towards his people, who could not realize that these are only stones that could neither benefit nor harm them. They could not be gods, they have no power. God is Greater than what his people were worshipping, Most Powerful, Most Magnificent. One could not find Him sitting on a table in a temple!

One night, Ibrahim went up to the mountain, leaned against a rock, and looked up to the sky. He saw a shining star, and told his people: "Could this be my Lord?" But when it set he said: "I don't like those that set." The star has disappeared, it could not be God. God is always present. Then he saw the moon rising in splendor and told them: "Could this be my Lord?" But it also set. At daybreak, he saw the sun rising and said: t "Could this be my Lord, this is bigger?" But when the sun set he said: "O my people I am free from all that you join as partners with Allah! I have turned my face towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah." Our Lord is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything. He has the power to make the stars rise and set. Ibrahim then heard Allah calling him: "O Ibrahim!" Ibrahim said trembling: "Here I am O my Lord!" "Submit to Me! Be a Muslim!" Ibrahim fell on the ground, prostrating and crying, he said: "I submit to the Lord of the universe!" Ibrahim kept prostrating until night came again. He got up and went back to his home, in t peace, full of conviction that Allah has guided him to the Truth.

Ibrahim invites his father to Islam

A new life started for Ibrahim. His mission now was to call his people to the Truth. He would start with his father who was the closest person to him, and whom he loved so much. He said to him in the softest and kindest voice: "O father! Why do you worship that which doesn't hear, doesn't see, and cannot avail you in anything? O father, I have got knowledge which you have not, so follow me. I will guide you to a straight path." His father replied angrily: "Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim? If you don't stop I will stone you. Get away from me before I punish you." Ibrahim said: "Peace be on you! I will ask forgiveness of my Lord for you."

Ibrahim confronts his people and rejects their idols

He left his father after he lost hope to convert him to the right path, and directed his efforts towards the people of the town, but they rejected his call and threatened him. By Allah, he said, I shall plot a plan to destroy their idols. He knew that a big celebration was coming soon, where everybody would leave town for a big feast on the riverbank. After making sure that nobody was left in town, Ibrahim went towards the temple armed with an ax. Statues of all shapes and sizes were sitting there adorned with decorations. Plates of food were offered to them, but the food was untouched. "Well, why don't you eat? The food is getting cold." He said to the statues, joking; then with his ax he destroyed all the statues except one, the biggest of them. He hung the ax around its neck and left.

How big was the shock when the people entered the temple! They gathered inside watching in awe their gods broken in pieces. They wondered who might have done this? Then they all remembered that the young Ibrahim was talking evil of their idols. They brought him to the temple and asked him: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods?" Ibrahim said: "No, this statue, the biggest of them has done it. Ask them if they can speak." "You know well that these idols don't speak!" They said impatiently. "Then how come you worship things that can neither speak nor see, nor even fend for themselves? Have you lost your minds?"

They kept silent for a while, for he got a point there. Their minds and their senses were telling them that the Truth is with Ibrahim, but their pride prevented them to accept it, and reject the idols they were worshipping for generations. This they thought would be total defeat. They started yelling at him and shouting: "Burn him! Burn him! Take revenge for your gods !"

The Miracle: Allah saves Ibrahim from the fire.

The decision to burn Ibrahim to death was affirmed by the priests and the king of Babylon, Nimrod. The news spread like a fire in the kingdom, and people were coming from all places to watch the execution. A huge pit was dug up and a large quantity of wood was piled up. Then the biggest fire people ever witnessed was lit. The fire flames were so high up in the sky that the birds could not fly over it for fear of being burned ! Ibrahim's hands and feet were chained, and he was put in a catapult to throw him into the fire. At that time, Angel Jibreel came to him and said: "O Ibrahim! Is there anything you wish for?" Ibrahim could have asked to be saved from the fire, to be taken away, but no, he said: "I only wish that Allah be pleased with me." The catapult was released, and Ibrahim was thrown in the heart of the fire. But Allah would not allow His Prophet to be killed, He ordered the fire: "O fire! Be coolness and safety for Ibrahim!" And the miracle happened. The fire obeyed and burned only his chains. Ibrahim came out from it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful, his face illuminated, and not a trace of smoke on his clothes. People watched in shock and said: "Amazing ! Ibrahim' s God has saved him from the fire!"

Ibrahim debates the Babylonian king, Nimrod

Ibrahim's notoriety grew bigger after this event and the king of Babylon felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was loosing power, because he was pretending that he was a god. He sent for Ibrahim. He wanted to debate with him and show his people that he, the king is indeed the god, and Ibrahim was a liar. He asked Ibrahim: What can your god do that I cannot?

-My Lord is He Who gives life and death." Ibrahim said
-I give life and death. I can bring a person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life." The king said proudly
-Well my Lord Allah makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?
The king was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own territory, in front of his own people! Ibrahim left him there speechless and went back to his important mission, calling people to worship the one and only God, Allah.

Allah blesses Ibrahim with a son to become a prophet

Only a woman named Sarah and a man named Lot believed in Allah, and followed Ibrahim. He realized that nobody else would listen to him, and decided to emigrate for the cause of Allah, and to spread His Message elsewhere. Before leaving, he tried once again to convert his father to Islam, but to no avail. Ibrahim said to his father and his people: "We are free of you and of whatever you worship besides Allah. We have rejected you and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred forever unless you believe in Allah and Him alone."

Ibrahim, Lot and Sarah started their long travel. They crossed Babylon, went through Syria and Palestine calling people to Allah, helping the poor and doing good deeds. By that time Ibrahim married Sarah. Their hope was to have children who would spread the Message of Allah after their death. As for Lot, he emigrated to the land of Sodom and settled there.

Time went by and no children were born to Sarah. She realized she was sterile. She accepted her fate and submitted to the will of Allah. Ibrahim and Sarah moved to Egypt where the king gave Sarah a woman to be her servant. The woman's name was Hajar. Sarah was seeing Ibrahim' s hair getting white, and it grieved her to see his chance of having any child slipping away. She offered Hajar her servant as a wife to her husband, and prayed Allah to bless Hajar and Ibrahim with a child. And so came Ismail, a baby boy born to Hajar. How unselfish Sarah was! For her, the need to have an offspring who would carry the Message after Ibrahim was greater than her pride. Fourteen years later Allah rewarded Sarah with a son, Ishaq in spite of her old age.

Young Ismail and his mother alone in the desert of Makkah

Ibrahim woke up one day and asked Hajar to prepare herself and baby Ismail for a long travel. Ibrahim and Hajar kept walking, crossed a fertile land followed by barren mountains till they arrived at the Arabian desert. Ibrahim brought Hajar to a high hill called al-Marwa, made her and her baby sit under a tree, placed a bag of dates and some water near her, and set out homeward. Hajar ran after him and said: "Are you going to leave us in this desert where there is no one to keep us company?" She repeated this many times but he would not look back at her. She asked: "Has Allah ordered you to do so?" He said yes. "Then He will not neglect us." She said. Ibrahim walked away until he got out of their sight, he raised his hands and prayed Allah: "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House, in order that they may offer prayers. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks."

Zamzam

Hajar went on nursing Ismail and drinking from the water until it was all used up. She became very thirsty and the child was crying. She left him on the al-Marwa hill and hurried to the nearest hill, as-Safa. She stood there and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She descended from as-Safa, crossed the valley running and reached al-Marwa hill. She stood and started looking but could see nobody. She kept running between as-Safa and al-Marwa seven times. When she reached al-Marwa for the last time, she was exhausted, she sat next to the baby. Then she heard a voice. She stood up and said: "O whoever you might be! Have you got something to help me?' She saw an angel, Angel Jibreel, digging the earth until water flowed ! She built a little basin around it. She scooped water with her hands, drank, filled her water-skin, and nursed her baby. The place from which water flowed was Zamzam. Muslims till this day drink from the holy water of Zamzam, and during Hajj they walk between as-Safa and al-Marwa seven times to commemorate this event.

Some Arabs traveling through Makkah saw birds flying around alMarwa. "They must be flying around water." They said. When they arrived at the water, they found Hajar and asked her: "Would you allow us to stay with you, and use the water from your well?" She agreed and was pleased by their company. The people sent for their families, settled there and became permanent residents. The whole valley became alive. Ismail grew up, learned Arabic, and later married a woman from amongst the Arabs.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim who had not seen his son since he was a baby, came back to Makkah to visit him. Upon arriving, he heard that Hajar had died, but Ismail was still living there. Ibrahim was yearning to see his son whom he loved and missed a lot. He saw Ismail under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw his father, Ismail rose up, hugged him and greeted him. It was the happiest moment for both father and son. But Allah wanted to put them to test, and it was a tough test indeed. During one night, Ibrahim had a dream. He came to Ismail and said: "O my son ! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you as a sacrifice to Allah, so what do you think?" They both realized that this was an order from Allah. Ismail said without hesitation: "Do what you are commanded, you shall find me very patient insha Allah." They had both submitted to the will of Allah. Ibrahim laid his son prostrate, put his forehead on the ground and directed a sharp knife towards his neck. At this very moment, Allah called him: "O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream! Thus do We reward the good doers !" A big sheep was sent down from heaven to be slaughtered instead of Ismail, which Ibrahim did, and they both had a big celebration that day. This event is celebrated every year by all Muslims. It is Eid al-Adha where we slaughter the sacrificial sheep.

Ibrahim and Ismail kept on calling people to worship Allah. At that time there was no place built for the worship of Allah. Ibrahim wished there could be such a place where people would be in peace, and concentrate solely for the worship of Allah. His wish was answered when Allah ordered him to build the Sacred House, the Ka'bah. Ibrahim said to Ismail: "O Ismail, Allah has given me an order, will you help me execute it?" "Yes I will." Ismail said. "Allah has ordered me to build a house here." He said, pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it. They went towards the place and started building the foundations of the Ka'bah Ismail brought the stones and Ibrahim built the walls, and when the walls became high, Ismail brought a large stone and put it in front of his father who stood over it and carried on building, while Ismail was handing him the stones. Both of them went on building and going around the Ka'bah, saying: "O our Lord accept this service from us." When they finished the building, Angel Jibreel descended from heaven and showed Ibrahim the rituals of Hajj. Then Ibrahim stepped on the stone and called on people: "O people obey your Lord." This large stone which Ibrahim stepped on is still there to this day near the Ka'bah. It is called Makam Ibrahim.

Thus ends the story of Ibrahim, the father of the prophets. From him descended all the prophets who came later, including Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. Ibrahim devoted all his life calling others to the True religion: Islam. Alone he stood against his people, his father, and even the mighty king of Babylon, and never flinched. Yet his method was always to gradually persuade them by bringing irrefutable proofs, that most often embarrassed those who refused to accept the Truth, but as Allah said: "Any whom Allah leaves to stray, there is none to guide !"

History of Middle East

In or about the year 570 the child who would be named Muhammad and who would become the Prophet of one of the world's great religions, Islam, was born into a family belonging to a clan of Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Mecca, a city in the Hijaz region of northwestern Arabia.

Originally the site of the Ka'bah, a shrine of ancient origins, Mecca had with the decline of southern Arabia (see Chapter l ) become an important center of sixth-century trade with such powers as the Sassanians, Byzantines, and Ethiopians. As a result the city was dominated by powerful merchant families among whom the men of Quraysh were preeminent.

Muhammad's father, 'Abd Allah ibn'Abd al-Muttalib, died before the boy was born; his mother, Aminah, died when he was six. The orphan was consigned to the care of his grandfather, the head of the clan of Hashim. After the death of his grandfather, Muhammad was raised by his uncle, Abu Talib. As was customary, Muhammad as a child was sent to live for a year or two with a Bedouin family. This custom, followed until recently by noble families of Mecca, Medina, Tayif, and other towns of the Hijaz, had important implications for Muhammad. In addition to enduring the hardships of desert life, he acquired a taste for the rich language so loved by the Arabs, whose speech was their proudest art, and learned the patience and forbearance of the herdsmen, whose life of solitude he first shared and then came to understand and appreciate.

About the year 590, Muhammad, then in his twenties, entered the service of a widow named Khadijah as a merchant actively engaged with trading caravans to the north. Sometime later Muhammad married Khadijah, by whom he had two sons - who did not survive - and four daughters.

During this period of his life Muhammad traveled widely. Then, in his forties he began to retire to meditate in a cave on Mount Hira outside of Mecca, where the first of the great events of Islam took place. One day, as he sat in the cave, he heard a voice, later identified as that of the Angel Gabriel, which ordered him to:

Recite: In the name of thy Lord who created, Created man from a clot of blood.

Three times Muhammad pleaded his inability to do so, but each time the command was repeated. Finally, Muhammad recited the words of what are now the first five verses of the 96th surah or chapter of the Quran - words which proclaim God the Creator of man and the Source of all knowledge.

At first Muhammad divulged his experience only to his wife and his immediate circle. But as more revelations enjoined him to proclaim the oneness of God universally, his following grew, at first among the poor and the slaves, but later also among the most prominent men of Mecca. The revelations he received at this time and those he did so later are all incorporated in the Quran, the Scripture of Islam.



Photo: The sun rises over Jabal al-Rahmah, the Mount of Mercy, where Muhammad in his farewell sermon told the assembled Muslims, "I have delivered God's message to you and left you with a clear command: the Book of God and the practice of His Prophet. If you hold fast to this you will never go astray."

Not everyone accepted God's message transmitted through Muhammad. Even in his own clan there were those who rejected his teachings, and many merchants actively opposed the message. The opposition, however, merely served to sharpen Muhammad's sense of mission and his understanding of exactly how Islam differed from paganism. The belief in the unity of God was paramount in Islam; from this all else followed. The verses of the Quran stress God's uniqueness, warn those who deny it of impending punishment, and proclaim His unbounded compassion to those who submit to His will. They affirm the Last Judgment, when God, the Judge, will weigh in the balance the faith and works of each man, rewarding the faithful and punishing the transgressor. Because the Quran rejected polytheism and emphasized man's moral responsibility, in powerful images, it presented a grave challenge to the worldly Meccans.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The First Step

Allah’s Greatest Gift

Brothers and sisters in Islam!



We all as Muslims sincerely believe that Islam is the greatest blessing that Allah has given us in this world. We find our hearts filled with gratitude to Him for including us in the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, and bestowing upon us this unique blessing. Allah Himself describes Islam as His most invaluable gift to His servants:

‘Today I have perfected your deen way of life for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have willed that Islam be the Way for you’ (Al-Ma’idah 5:3).

To be truly grateful for this greatest favour, you must therefore render to Allah His due. If you do not do so, you are undoubtedly an ungrateful person. And what ingratitude can be worse than to forget what you owe to your God.

How can we, you may ask, render these dues? Since Allah has been gracious enough to include you in the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, the best way of showing gratitude and there is no other way is to become totally committed followers of the Prophet. And, since He has made you a part of the Muslim Ummah, to become true Muslims. If you do not, the punishment for your ingratitude will be as great as the original gift was. May Allah save us all from this great punishment! Amin.

You will now ask: How can we become Muslims in the true sense of the word? This question I shall answer in considerable detail in my forthcoming addresses; but today I want to look at a point of fundamental importance, without which we cannot hope to discover true faith. This, you must understand, is the first essential step on your road to becoming a true Muslim.

Is Islam a Birthright?

But, first, think for a while: What does the word ‘Muslim’, which we all use so often, really mean? Can a person a Muslim simply because he is the son or grandson of a Muslim? Is a Muslim born a Muslim just as Malay’s son is Malay, or Chinese’s son is born Chinese, or an Indian’s son is born an Indian, or a Arab’s son is born Arab?

Are ‘Muslims’ a race, a nationality or a caste? Do Muslims belong to the Muslim Ummah like Indian belong to the Indian race? And, just as a Japanese is a Japanese because he is born in Japan, is a Muslim similarly a Muslim by being born in a Muslim country?

Your answer to these questions will surely be: No. A Muslim does not become truly a Muslim simply because he is born a Muslim. A Muslim is not a Muslim because he belongs to any particular race; he is a Muslim because he follows Islam. If he renounces Islam, he ceases to be a Muslim. Any person, whether a Malay or a Chinese, or an Indian, a white or a black, will, on accepting Islam, become a full member of the Muslim community; while a person born in a Muslim home may be expelled from the Muslim community if he gives up following Islam, even though he may be a descendant of the prophet, an Arab or a Malay.

Such will surely be your answer to my question. This establishes that the greatest gift of Allah which you enjoy that of being a Muslim is not something automatically inherited from your parents, which remains yours for life by right irrespective of your attitudes and behaviour. It is a gift which you must continually strive to deserve if you want to retain it; if you are indifferent to it, it may be taken away from you, God forbid.

No Mere Verbal Profession

You agree that we become Muslims only by accepting Islam. But what does acceptance of Islam mean? Does it mean that whoever makes a verbal profession ‘I am a Muslim’ or ‘I have accepted Islam’ becomes a true Muslim? Or does it mean that, just as a Malay worshipper may recite a few words of Quran without understanding them, a man who utters some Arabic phrases without knowing their meaning becomes a Muslim? What reply will you give to this question? You cannot, but answer that accepting Islam means that Muslims should consciously and deliberately accept what has been taught by the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, and act accordingly. People who do not so behave are not Muslims in the true sense.

Adapted from “The Fundamentals of Islam : Abu A’la Maududi “

Monday, February 21, 2011

Introducing Islam To non-Muslims

Introducing Islam To non-Muslims



I. Islam and Muslims.

The name of this religion is Islam, the root of which is Silm and Salam which means peace. Salam may also mean greeting one another with peace. One of the beautiful names of God is that He is the Peace. It means more than that: submission to the One God, and to live in peace with the Creator, within one's self, with other people and with the environment. Thus, Islam is a total system of living. A Muslim is supposed to live in peace and harmony with all these segments; hence, a Muslim is any person anywhere in the world whose obedience, allegiance, and loyalty are to God, the Lord of the Universe.

II. Muslims and Arabs.

The followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims are not to be confused with Arabs. Muslims may be Arabs, Turks, Persians, Indians, Pakistanis, Malaysians, Indonesians, Europeans, Africans, Americans, Chinese, or other nationalities.

An Arab could be a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew or an atheist. Any person who adopts the Arabic language is called an Arab. However, the language of the Qur'an (the Holy Book of Islam) is Arabic. Muslims all over the world try to learn Arabic so that they may be able to read the Qur'an and understand its meaning. They pray in the language of the Qur'an, namely Arabic. Supplications to God could be in any language.

While there are one billions Muslims in the world there are about 200 million Arabs. Among them, approximately ten percent are not Muslims. Thus Arab Muslims constitute only about twenty percent of the Muslim population of the world.

III. Allah the One and the Only God.

Allah is the name of the One and Only God. Allah has ninety-nine beautiful names, such as:

The Gracious, The Merciful, The Beneficent,
The Creator, The All-Knowing, The All-Wise,
The Lord of the Universe, The First, The Last, and others.

He is the Creator of all human beings. He is the God for the Christians, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Hindus, the atheists, and others. Muslims worship God whose name is Allah. They put their trust in Him and they seek His help and His guidance.

IV. Muhammad.

Muhammad was chosen by God to deliver His Message of Peace, namely Islam. He was born in 570 C.E. (Common Era) in Makkah, Arabia. He was entrusted with the Message of Islam when he was at the age of forty years. The revelation that he received is called the Qur'an, while the message is called Islam.

Muhammad is the very last Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and is still to the Christians, the Jews and the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, David, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham.

Muhammad is considered to be the summation and the culmination of all the prophets and messengers that came before him. He purified the previous messages from adulteration and completed the Message of God for all humanity. He was entrusted with the power of explaining, interpreting and living the teachings of the Qur'an.

V. Source of Islam.

The legal sources of Islam are the Qur'an and the Hadith. The Qur'an is the exact words of God; its authenticity, originality and totality are intact. The Hadith is the report of the sayings, deeds and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet's sayings and deeds are called Sunnah. The Seerah is the writings of followers of Muhammad about the life of the Prophet. Hence, it is the life history of the Prophet Muhammad which provides examples of daily living for Muslims.

Vl. Some Islamic Principles.

A. Oneness of God:

He is One and the Only One. He is not two in one or three in one. This means that Islam rejects the idea of trinity or such a unity of Cod which implies more than one God in one.

B. Oneness of mankind:

People are created equal in front of the Law of God. There is no superiority for one race over another. God made us of different colors, nationalities, languages and beliefs so as to test who is going to be better than others. No one can claim that he is better than others. It is only God Who knows who is better. It depends on piety and righteousness.

C. Oneness of Messengers and the Message:

Muslims believe that God sent different messengers throughout the history of mankind. All came with the same message and the same teachings. It was the people who misunderstood and misinterpreted them.

Muslims believe in Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ismail, Jacob, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. The Prophets of Christianity and Judaism are indeed the Prophets of Islam.

D. Angels and the Day of Judgement:

Muslims believe that there are unseen creatures such as angels created by God in the universe for special missions.

Muslims believe that there is a Day of Judgement when all people of the world throughout the history of mankind till the last day of life on earth, are to be brought for accounting, reward and punishment.

E. Innocence of Man at Birth:

Muslims believe that people are born free of. sin. It is only after they reach the age of puberty and it is only after they commit sins that are to be charged for their mistakes. No responsible for or can take the responsibility for the sins of others. However, the do. forgiveness through true repentance is always open.

F. State and Religion:

Muslims believe that Islam is a total and a complete way of life. It encompasses all aspect of life. As such, the teachings of Islam do not separate religion from politics. As a matter of fact, state and religion are under the obedience of Allah through the teachings of Islam. Hence, economic and social transactions, as we educational and political systems are also of the teachings of Islam.

VII. Practices of Islam.

God instructed the Muslims to practice they believe in. In Islam there are five pillars, namely:

A. Creed (Shahada):

The verbal commitment and pledge that there is only One God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, is considered to be Creed of Islam.

B. Prayers (Salat):

The performance of the five daily prayers required of Muslims.

C. Fasting (Saum):

Fasting is total abstinence from food, liquids and intimate intercourse (between married couples) from dawn to sunset during the Month of Ramadan.

D. Purifying Tax (Zakat):

This is an annual payment of a certain percentage of a Muslim's property which is distributed among the poor or other rightful beneficiaries.

E. Pilgrimage (Haul):

The performance of pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in a lifetime if means are available. Hajj is in part in memory of the trials and tribulations of Prophet Abraham, his wife Hagar and his eldest son Prophet Ishmael.

VIII. Other Related Aspects.

A. Calendar:

Islamic practices are based on the lunar calendar. However, Muslims also use the Gregorian calendar in their daily religious lives. Hence, the Islamic calendar includes both the Common Era and the migration (Higra) year of the Prophet of Islam from Makkah to Madinah in the year of 623 C.E.

B. Celebrations (Eid):

Muslims have two celebrations (Eid); namely, Eid of Sacrifice and Eid of Fast-Breaking. The Eid of Sacrifice is in remembrance of the sacrifice to be by Prophet Abraham of his son. The Eid of Fast-Breaking comes at the end of the month of fasting, Ramadan.

C. Diets:

Islam allows Muslims to eat everything which is good for the health. It restricts certain items such as pork and its by-products, alcohol and any narcotic or addictive drugs.

D. Place of Worship:

The place of worship is called Mosque or Masjid. There are three holy places of worship for the Muslims in the world. These are: Mosque of Kaaba in Makkah, Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in Madinah, and Masjid Aqsa, adjacent to Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

A Muslim may pray anywhere in the world whether in a Mosque, a house, an office, or outside. The whole world is a place of worship. It is preferable that Muslims pray in a congregation, however, he/she may pray individually anywhere.

E. Holiday:

The holy day of the Muslims is Friday. It is considered to be sacred and the Day of Judgement will take place on Friday. Muslims join together shortly after noon on Friday for the Friday congregational prayer in a Mosque. A leader (Imam) gives a sermon (Khutba) and leads the congregational prayer.

F. Distribution of Muslims in North America:

There are approximately five million Muslims in North America and are distributed in its major cities such as New York, Detroit, Boston, Toledo, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Cedar Rapids (Iowa), Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver, Windsor, Winnepeg, Calgary, and others.

C. Contributions in North America:

Muslims are now established in North America. Sears Tower and the John Hancock buildings in Chicago were designed by a Muslim chief architect, originally from Bangladesh. Muslims have established academic institutions, community centers and organizations, schools and places of worship. They live in peace and harmony among themselves and among other groups of people in the society. The rate of crime among Muslims is very minimal. Muslims in North America are highly educated and they have added to the success of American scientific and technological fields.

The Muslims of the early period of the Islamic era were pioneers in medicine, chemistry, physics, geography, navigation, arts, poetry, mathematics, algebra, logarithms, calculus, etc. They contributed to the Renaissance of Europe and world civilization.

IX. Non-Muslims.

Muslims are required to respect all those who are faithful and God conscious people, namely those who received messages. Christians and Jews are called People of the Book. Muslims are asked to call upon the People of the Book for common terms, namely, to worship One God, and to work together for the solutions of the many problems in the society.

Christians and Jews lived peacefully with Muslims throughout centuries in the Middle East and other Asian and African countries. The second Caliph Umar did not pray in the church in Jerusalem so as not to give the Muslims an excuse to take it over. Christians entrusted the Muslims, and as such the key of the Church in Jerusalem is still in the hands of the Muslims.

Jews fled from Spain during the Inquisition, and they were welcomed by the Muslims. They settled in the heart of the Islamic Caliphate. They enjoyed positions of power and authority.

Throughout the Muslim world, churches, synagogues and missionary schools were built within the Muslim neighborhoods. These places were protected by Muslims even during the contemporary crises in the Middle East.

http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/Intro_Islam.htm

Dari Isabella Kepada Taubat Nasuha



Bob Lokman, satu nama yang besar dalam arena seni tanahair khususnya penulisan lirik lagu. Siapa yang tidak tahu tentang lagu Isabella nyanyian kumpulan Search? Lagu tersebut begitu popular suatu ketika dulu. Ciptaan komposer M. Nasir dan liriknya hasil nukilan Bob Lokman.

Banyak lagi lagu-lagu popular terutamanya kategori rock yang mendapat sentuhan lirik daripada Bob Lokman.

Tetapi, itu dahulu. Diwaktu beliau dipuncak dalam arena seni dengan melalaikan jutaan peminat dengan karya-karya 'agung' beliau.


*Allahyarham Tok Kenali (Ada sama tak dgn pic Bob Lokman? :) moyang & cicitnya.


Kini, Bob Lokman telah bertaubat nasuha daripada gelombang hidup yang penuh dosa. Beliau menzahirkan kesungguhannya didalam menuju jalan Allah dengan menyertai jemaah Islam iaitu PAS hari ini dengan menyerahkan borang keahlian kepada Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Azizan Razak didalam program Himpunan 30,000 Pemuda PAS di Kota Sarang Semut, Alor Setar.


Ikuti luahan hati Bob Lokman dihadapan ribuan pemuda yang berhimpun hari ini.

Assalamualaikum.
ALHAMDULILLAH. Aku amat bersyukur kepada ALLAH kerana memberikan aku peluang untuk kembali ke ruangan ini setelah 2 tahun aku tercari-cari jawapan untuk sebuah kebenaran. Hampir sekali aku membenarkan kebatilan menjadi sebuah haq dalam aliran pemikiran. Hanya ALLAH yang berkuasa memberikan petunjuk diatas jalannya yang lurus.
Setelah aku melalui takabbur demi takabbur, ujub demi ujub, sum'ah demi sum'ah begitu juga kesenangan demi kesenangan, ketakutan demi ketakutan dan setelah 2 kali menghampiri sempadan kematian, akhirnya aku sedar segala yg aku lalui itu sepatutnya ia berlaku dengan penuh kesedaran bahawasa itu semua DEMI ALLAH.

Maka aku kembali mencari jalan yang benar bermula dengan TAUBAT NASUHA kepada setiap perlakuan yang SYIRIK kepada ALLAH. Betapa terlalu lama aku bertuhankan dunia demi menyelamatkan kehidupan dunia dari soal kelaparan hinggalah kepada kemewahan yang melupakan aku kepada tujuan ALLAH menjadikan manusia dan jin di muka bumi ini.

Mengapa aku terpengaruh untuk mengejar dunia yang memang telah diberitahu oleh Almarhum Ayah semasa aku kecil, bahawa dunia ini adalah bala, setan, iblis, yahudi dan nasara, adalah kerana dunia ini telah dibentuk acuannya oleh mereka yang bernafsu besar untuk menjadi hebat pada mata dunia. Bermulanya Malaysia ini dengan nafsu Tunku Abdul Rahman untuk membuktikan bahawa dia boleh melakukan lebih baik dari orang inggeris hinggalah sampai kezaman Mahathir yang bernafsu besar untuk menyatakan kepada bangsa lain di dunia bahawa orang melayu lebih hebat dari mereka. Maka aku pun terperangkap didalam kehendak nafsu besar pemimpin yang berbuat sesuatu kerana sesuatu yang aku kurang faham tetapi yang pastinya bukan KERANA ALLAH. Disambung pula oleh pemimpin selepasnya dengan niat "kerana mu Malaysia", "rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan" maka kita telah menyimpang jauh dari kehendak ALLAH menjadikan kita sebagai hambanya yang sepatutnya berbuat sesuatu "KERANA MU ALLAH" & 'ALLAH DIDAHULUKAN, TAQWA DIUTAMAKAN".



Kalau dahulu aku bersama-sama membenarkan kemungkaran dan aku berstatuskan munafiq, hari ini ALLAH telah memberikan aku hidayah dan menguasakan aku untuk beriktikad dengan AKIDAH "LA ILA HA ILLALLAH, MUHAMMADURASULULALLAH". Bersama dengan Ahlussunnahwaljamaah aku akan meneruskan sisa perjalanan mencari dan menyampaikan kebenaran kerana aku insaf ramai manusia tidak mahu menjadi jahat, tetapi kerana mahalnya harga nafsu yang perlu dibayar untuk dipuaskan, maka mereka terpaksa memilih jalan yang telah disediakan oleh yahudi dan nasara. Langkah demi langkah aku akan meninggalkan yang haram dan syubhat hingga aku dipertemukan dengan jalan yang benar sebagaimana permohonan aku ketika aku membacakan "IH DINAS SIRA TAL MUSTAQIM" didalam surah ALFATIHAH. Semoga langkah awal ini akan dipermudahkan oleh ALLAH untuk aku mencari teman yang sealiran dan mengajak seramai mungkin umat manusia kembali kepada ALLAH.

Kepada Ibu Bapa, Guru-Guru dan para sahabat, doakan semoga aku sentiasa beristiqamah diatas jalan yang benar dan sentiasa bermujahadah DEMI ALLAH. kepada Umat Malaysia, marilah kita sama-sama mencari perubahan kearah kebenaran dengan menyatakan "TIADA TUHAN MELAINKAN ALLAH" dengan menegah perkara yang boleh menjadikan kita SYIRIK kepada ALLAH.

Sekian dulu sebagai introduction untuk blog ini, hingga bertemu lagi dalam tulisan selepas ini, Assalamualaikum, Takbir- ALLAHUAKBAR.

Tambahnya lagi, "kesian dgn org2 melayu yg kaya dan pandai. Penat mereka berusaha di dunia, penat pula merangkak kalau dpt ke syurga atau lebih tenat pula kalau 'homestay'nya neraka. Tak salah kaya dan pandai, tapi mengapa menolak Ulama'. Bukan semua, tapi mereka yg derhaka. Bertaubatlah...! "

"Benarlah dunia ada ujian. Berkata benar ada ujian. Marah yg benar ada ujian. Berbuat baik ada ujian. Mengutuk pada yg patut ada ujian. Yg paling halus, pujian adalah ujian.

Susahnya melihat tanpa dosa, susahnya berkata tanpa dosa, susahnya berniaga tanpa dosa, susahnya bekerja tanpa dosa, susahnya berehat tanpa dosa, susahnya puasa tanpa dosa, susahnya sembahyang tanpa dosa, susahnya berdakwah tanpa dosa, susahnya merdeka tanpa dosa namun lebih susah bila ada rasa TIDAK PERNAH BERDOSA.."

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Ibadat Sembelihan Korban


Oleh Jami’ah Shukri

KETABAHAN Nabi Ibrahim yang taat melaksanakan perintah Allah supaya menyembelih anaknya, Nabi Ismail menjadi panduan dan teladan kepada umat Islam dalam melakukan ibadah korban. Mereka taat dan tabah melaksanakan perintah Allah walaupun terpaksa mengorbankan nyawa.

Kepatuhan kedua-duanya dibalas Allah apabila menukarkan Nabi Ismail kepada seekor kibas.

Selepas berabad lamanya kisah itu, ia terus menjadi amalan kepada umat Islam lain sebagai mengambil iktibar ke atas pengorbanan Nabi Ibrahim dan Ismail.

Apa yang lebih penting, ibadah korban pada zaman ini perlu juga dilihat dalam skop lebih luas.

Ibadah korban tidak sekadar dilihat dengan melakukan penyembelihan haiwan tertentu, malah penghayatannya sepatutnya lebih daripada itu.




Ia juga perlu dilihat sebagai manifestasi dalam menggalakkan umat Islam untuk melakukan pengorbanan dalam saja bentuk sama ada harta, wang ringgit atau keringat mengikut kemampuan masing-masing.

Malah, pada Aidiladha umat Islam sepatutnya menghayati erti korban itu sendiri dengan melakukan pengisian yang sewajarnya.



Pensyarah Kanan Jabatan Siasah Syariah, Akademi Pengajian Islam Universiti Malaya, Dr Sharifah Hayati Syed Ismail, berkata umat Islam tidak saja perlu mengambil iktibar di atas pengorbanan Nabi Ibrahim, isterinya, Siti Hajar dan Nabi Ismail, malah perlu diterjemahkan kepada pengertian pengorbanan lebih luas ke atas kehidupan seharian.

Beliau berkata, pada Aidiladha ini, umat Islam perlu mengingati serta meningkatkan tahap keimanan dan bertakwa kepada Allah dengan amalan mulia.

Pada Aidiladha ini kita juga perlu sentiasa mengingati bahawa rezeki dan harta dikurniakan oleh Allah itu perlu dikongsikan bersama dengan orang yang berhak menerimanya.




Di sini dinamakan pengorbanan dengan menggadaikan harta benda demi kepentingan umat Islam lain.

Seterusnya, menggalakkan kita membantu fakir miskin, iaitu dengan melakukan sedekah daging korban itu kepada mereka supaya kehidupan kita lebih diberkati.

“Dalam konteks masyarakat sekarang, khususnya di bandar, kesedaran ibadah korban itu semakin meningkat.

“Kita dapat lihat di masjid atau surau di bandar dikunjungi umat Islam untuk melaksanakan tanggungjawab itu.

“Kita dapati mereka juga sedar dan faham bahawa harta yang dicari itu perlu dikongsi bersama untuk mendapatkan keberkatan,” katanya yang mengakui dulu ibadah itu lebih meriah di Pantai Timur berbanding negeri lain.



Dengan wujudnya pelbagai agensi yang menguruskan ibadah korban juga menggalakkan orang ramai untuk melaksanakannya dengan lebih mudah.

Apa yang lebih penting, menerusi ibadah itu secara tidak langsung ia dapat menanamkan sikap tolong-menolong seperti menerusi pengagihan daging kepada fakir miskin, sekali gus ia pastinya akan mengeratkan hubungan lagi antara sesama ummah.

“Pada masa sama mereka dapat berkenal-kenalan antara imam, bilal dan masyarakat setempat. Mungkin pada hari biasa mereka terlalu sibuk dengan tugas, tetapi ketika ibadah itu dilakukan masing-masing dapat saling berhubungan. Inilah yang dikatakan luasnya makna ibadah korban itu,” katanya.

Justeru, katanya, umat Islam seharusnya mengambil kesempatan untuk menunaikan tanggungjawab melaksanakan ibadah itu sekiranya mereka benar-benar berkemampuan.

Beliau menambah, pengorbanan itu juga tidak seharusnya disempitkan pemahamannya dengan melakukan ibadah korban haiwan saja. Sebenarnya, setiap apa atau tugas yang kita lakukan di dunia ini turut dianggap pengorbanan.

Dalam konteks masyarakat pada keseluruhannya, pengorbanan itu amat luas iaitu berkorban menerusi kerjaya, antara sesama keluarga. Contohnya, isteri bekerja mereka berkorban terhadap keluarga, anak dan suami, juga terhadap kerjayanya.

Walau apa juga jenis bentuk pengorbanan itu, asas yang paling teras adalah berasakan kepada pengorbanan kepada Allah.




“Kalau kita melakukan sesuatu kerja dengan bertungkus-lumus dan tidak dikaitkan dengan Allah, ia tentunya tidak dinamakan suatu pengorbanan. Ia boleh disifatkan sebagai sia-sia tanpa mendapat sebarang balasan pahala,” kata Dr Sharifah Hayati.

Beliau berkata, banyak keistimewaan dan kelebihan ibadah korban seperti dalam hadis ada meriwayatkan bahawa setiap titisan pertama darah yang mengalir daripada tubuh haiwan korban itu akan dapat menghapuskan dosa lampau kecuali dosa besar seperti mensyirikkan Allah.

Ibadah korban itu adalah sebagai lambang untuk menghapuskan dosa dan menanamkan sifat ketakwaan umat Islam.

Amalan baik dengan ibadah korban itu akan menambah berat timbangan kita ketika kiraan selepas dibangkitkan di Padang Mahsyar. Malah, haiwan yang dikorbankan itu juga akan menjadi tunggangan kita ketika menuju ke Siratulmustakim.

Oleh itu, amalan berkenaan boleh dilakukan sebanyak mana yang mereka mahu selagi berkemampuan supaya mendapat balasan pahala yang berlipat kali ganda.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wee Soo Yen Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1432H


Penerima Anugerah Maulidur Rasul 2011, Wee Soo Yen (dua dari kanan)bersama keluarga, dari kiri, Wee Soo May (adik), Wee Hock Lim (ayah) and dan Soo Ah Khem (ibu)

Pelajar tingkatan empat, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bachok, Kelantan, Wee Soon Yen, 16, memberitahu dia tidak menyangka akan dipilih sebagai penerima anugerah pada sambutan tahun ini.

Pelajar cilik tersebut dipilih berdasarkan pencapaian akademiknya yang cemerlang, iaitu memperoleh 8A dalam peperiksaan Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) tahun 2010.

Selain itu, Wee juga merupakan satu-satunya pelajar bukan Islam yang mendapat A dalam mata pelajaran Bahasa Arab. Menurut Wee, minat untuk mempelajari Bahasa Arab mula timbul apabila dia memulakan sesi persekolahan menengah.“Saya mula berminat untuk mempelajarinya kerana ia merupakan satu bahasa baru kepada saya. Jadi saya menganggapnya sebagai satu cabaran untuk diri sendiri,” katanya.

Wee menambah, pada peringkat awal, ibunya tidak begitu menyokong tindakannya untuk mempelajari bahasa tersebut. “Bagaimanapun, saya berjanji kepadanya bahawa saya akan lulus subjek Bahasa Arab dan sejak itu, beliau membenarkan saya untuk menduduki peperiksaan Bahasa Arab,” katanya.

Pelajar bertubuh kecil itu juga memberitahu, dia akan memanfaatkan seluruh masa di sekolah bertanyakan kepada guru dan rakan-rakan jika mempunyai masalah kerana tidak mempunyai tempat rujukan di rumah.

Selain Wee, turut menerima anugerah pada sambutan tahun ini ialah Bekas Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Jabatan Pendidikan Islam dan Moral) Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia, Datuk Dangiran Mustapha yang juga merupakan Timbalan Pengerusi, Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pelajaran Malaysia.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Salahuddin Al-Ayubi



Salahuddin dibesarkan sama seperti anak-anak orang Kurd biasa (Poole, 1914). Pendidikannya juga seperti orang lain, belajar ilmu-ilmu sains di samping seni peperangan dan mempertahankan diri. Tiada siapapun yang menjangka sebelum ia menguasai Mesir dan menentang tentera Salib bahawa anak Kurd ini suatu hari nanti akan merampas kembali Palestin dan menjadi pembela akidah Islamiah yang hebat. Dan tiada siapa yang menyangka pencapaiannya demikian hebat sehingga menjadi contoh dan perangsang memerangi kekufuran sehingga ke hari ini.

Stanley Lane Poole (1914) seorang penulis Barat menyifatkan Salahuddin sebagai anak seorang governor yang memilliki kelebihan daripada orang lain tetapi tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda-tanda ia akan menjadi orang hebat pada masa depan. Akan tetapi ia menunjukkan akhlak yang mulia.

Walau bagaimana pun Allah telah mentakdirkannya untuk menjadi pemimpin besar pada zamannya dan Allah telah menyediakan dan memudahkan jalan-jalannya untuk bakal pemimpin agung itu. Ketika ia menjadi tentera Al-Malik Nuruddin, sultan Aleppo, ia diperintahkan untuk mara ke Mesir. Pada masa itu Mesir diperintah oleh sebuah kerajaan Syi’ah yang tidak bernaung di bawah khalifah. Kadi Bahauddin bin Shaddad, penasihat utama Salahuddin telah menulis bahawa Salahuddin sangat berat dan memaksa diri untuk pergi ke Mesir bagaikan orang yang hendak di bawa ke tempat pembunuhan (Kadi Bahauddin, 1234). Tetapi itulah sebenarnya apa yang dimaksudkan dengan firman Allah, “Boleh jadi kamu membenci sesuatu, padahal ia amat baik bagimu, dan boleh jadi kamu menyukai sesuatu, padahal ia amat buruk bagimu” (Al-Baqarah:216)

Pertukaran Hidup Salahuddin


Apabila Salahuddin menguasai Mesir, ia tiba-tiba berubah. Ia yakin bahawa Allah telah mempertanggungjawabkan kepadanya satu tugas yang amat berat yang tak mungkin dapat dilaksanakan jika ia tidak bersungguh-sungguh. Bahauddin telah menuliskan dalam catatannya bahawa Salahuddin sebaik-baik sahaja ia menjadi pemerintah Mesir, dunia dan kesenagannya telah lenyap dari pandangan matanya. Dengan hati yang rendah dan syukur kepada Allah ia telah menolak godaan-godaan dunia dan segala kesenangannya (Kadi Bahauddin,1234).

Bahkan Stanley Lane Poole(1914) telah menuliskan bahwa Salahuddin mengubah cara hidupnya kepada yang lebih keras. Ia bertambah wara’ dan menjalani hidup yang lebih berdisiplin dan sederhana. Ia mengenepikan corak hidup senang dan memilih corak hidup “Spartan” yang menjadi contoh kepada tenteranya. Ia menumpukan seluruh tenaganya untuk satu tujuan iaitu untuk membina kekuasaan Islam yang cukup kuat untuk menghalau orang kafir dari tanah air Islam. Salahuddin pernah berkata, “Ketika Allah menganugerahkan aku bumi Mesir, aku yakin Dia juga bermaksud Palestin untukku. Ini menyebabkan ia menjuarai perjuangan Islam. Sehubungan dengan ia telah menyerahkan dirinya untuk jalan jihad.

Semangat Jihadnya

Fikiran Salahuddin sentiasa tertumpu kepada jihad di jalan Allah. Kadi Bahauddin telah mencatatkan bahawa semangat Salahuddin yang berkobar-kobar untuk berjihad menentang tentera Salib telah menyebabkan jihad menjadi tajuk perbincangan yang paling digemarinya. Ia sentiasa meluahkan seluruh tenaganya untuk memperkuat pasukan tenteranya, mencari mujahid-mujahid dan senjata untuk tujuan berjihad. Jika ada sesiapa yang bercakap kepadanya berkenaan jihad ia akan memberikan sepenuh perhatian. Sehubungan dengan ini ia lebih banyak di dalam khemah perang daripada duduk di istana bersama sanak keluarga. Siapa sahaja yang menggalakkannya berjihad akan mendapat kepercayaannya.

Siapa sahaja yang memerhatikannya akan dapat melihat apabila ia telah memulakan jihat melawan tentera salib ia akan menumoukan seluruh perhatiannya kepada persiapan perang dan menaikkan semangat tenteranya. Dalam medan peperangan ia bagaikan seorang ibu yang garang kehilangan anak tunggal akibat dibunuh oleh tangan jahat. Ia akan bergerak dari satu hujung medan peperangan ke hujung yang lain untuk mengingatkan tenteranya supaya benar-benar berjihad di jalan Allah semata-mata. Ia juga akan pergi ke seluruh pelosok tanah air dengan mata yang berlinang mengajak manusia supaya bangkit membela Islam.

Ketika ia mengepung Acre ia hanya minum, itupun selepas dipaksa oleh doktor peribadinya tanpa makan. Doktor itu berkata bahawa Salahuddin hanya makan beberapa suap makanan semenjak hari Jumaat hingga Isnin kerena ia tidak mahu perhatiannya kepada peperangan terganggu. (Kadi Bahauddin, 1234)

Peperangan Hittin



Satu siri peperangan yang sengit telah berlaku antara tentera Salahuddin dengan tentera Salib di kawasan Tiberias di kaki bukit Hittin. Akhirnya pada 24 Rabiul-Akhir, 583 H, tentera Salib telah kalah teruk. Dalam peperangan ini Raja Kristian yang memerintah Palestin telah dapat di tawan beserta adiknya Reginald dari Chatillon. Pembesar-pembasar lain yang dapat ditawan ialah Joscelin dari Courtenay, Humphrey dari Toron dan beberapa orang ternama yang lain. Ramai juga tentera-tentera Salib berpangkat tinggi telah tertawan. Stanley Lane-Poole menceritakan bawaha dapat dilihat seorang tentera Islam telah membawa 30 orang tentera Kristian yang ditawannya sendiri diikat dengan tali khemah. Mayat-mayat tentera Kristian bertimbun-timbun seperti batu di atas batu di antara salib-salib yang patah, potongan tangan dan kaki dan kepala-kepala manusia berguling seperti buah tembikai. Dianggarkan 30,000 tentera Kristian telah mati dalam peperangan ini. Setahun selepas peperangan, timbunan tulang dapat dilihat memutih dari jauh.

Kecintaan Salahuddin kepada Islam

Peperangan Hittin telah menyerlahkan kecintaan Salahuddin kepada Islam. Stanley Lane-Poole menulis bahawa Salahuddin berkhemah di medan peperangan semasa peperanggan Hittin. Pada satu ketika setelah khemahnya didirikan diperintahkannya tawanan perang dibawa ke hadapannya. Maka dibawalah Raja Palestin dan Reginald dari Chatillon masuk ke khemahnya. Dipersilakan sang Raja duduk di dekatnya. Kemudian ia bangun pergi ke hadapan Reginald lalu berkata, “Dua kali aku telah bersumpah untuk membunuhnya. Pertama ketika ia bersumpah akan melanggar dua kota suci dan kedua ketika ia menyerang jamaah haji. Ketahuilah aku akan menuntut bela Muhammat atasnya”. Lalu ia menghunuskan pedangnya dan memenggal kepala Reginald. Mayatnya kemudian dibawa keluar oleh pengawal dari khemah.

Raja Palestin apabila melihat adiknya dipancung, ia mengeletar kerana menyangka gilirannya akan tiba. Tetapi Salahuddin menjamin tidak akan mengapa-apakannya sambil berkata, “Bukanlah kelaziman seorang raja membunuh raja yang lain, tetapi orang itu telah melanggar segala batas-batas, jadi terjadilah apa yang telah terjadi”.

Tindakan Salahuddin adalah disebabkan kebiadaban Reginald kepada Islam dan Nabi Muhammad. Kadi Bahauddin bin Shaddad, penasihat kepercayaan Salahuddin mencatatkan bila jamaah haji dari Palestin diserang dicederakan tanpa belas kasihan oleh Reginald, di antara tawanannya merayu supaya mereka dikasihani. Tetapi Reginald dengan angkuhnya mengatakan, “Mintalah kepada nabi kamu , Muhammad, untuk menyelematkan kamu”. Apabila ia mendapat berita ini ia telah berjanji akan membunuh Reginald dengan tangannya sendiri apabila ia dapat menangkapnya.

Menawan Baitul Muqaddis



Kemenangan peperangan Hittin telah membuka jalan mudah kepada Salahuddin untuk menawan Baitul Muqaddis. Kadi Bahauddin telah mencatatkan bahawa Salahuddin sangat-sangat berhajat untuk menawan baitul Muqaddis hinggakan bukitpun akan mengecut dari bebanan yang dibawa di dalam hatinya.

Pada hari Jumaat, 27 Rajab, 583H, iaitu pada hari Isra’ Mi’raj, Salahuddin telah memasuki banda suci tempat Rasulullah saw. naik ke langit. Dalam catatan Kadi Bahauddin ia menyatakan inilah kemengan atas kemengang. Ramai orang yang terdiri dari ulama, pembesar-pembesar, peniaga dan orang-prang biasa datang meraikan gembira kemenangan ini. Kemudiannya ramai lagi orang datang dari pantai dan hampir semua ulama-ulama dari Mesir dan Syria datang untuk mengucapkan tahniah kepada Salahuddin. Boleh dikatakan hampir semua pembesar-pembesar datang. Laungan “Allahhu Akbar” dan “Tiada tuhan melainkan Allah” telah memenuhi langit. Selepas 90 tahun kini sembahyang Jumaat telah diadakan semula di Baitul Muqaddid. Salib yang terpampang di ‘Dome of Rock’ telah diturunkan. Betapa hebatnya peristiwa ini tidak dapat digambarkan. Hanya Allah sahaja yang tahu betapa hebatnya hari itu.

Salahuddin yang Penyayang

Sifat penyayang dan belas kasihan Salahuddin semasa peperangan ini sangat jauh berbeza daripada kekejaman musuh Kristiannya. Ahli sejarah Kristian pun mengakui hal ini. Lane-Poole mengesahkan bahwa kebaikan hati Salahuddin telah mencegahnya daripada membalas dendam. Ia telah menuliskan yang Salahuddin telah menunjukkan ketiggian akhlaknya ketika orang-orang Kristian menyerah kalah. Tenteranya sangat bertanggungjawab, menjaga peraturan di setiap jalan, mencegah segala bentuk kekerasan hinggakan tiada kedengaran orang-orang Kristian dipersalah-lakukan. Semua jalan keluar-masuk ke Baitul Muqaddis di tangannya dan seorang yang amanah telah dilantik di pintu Nabi Daud untuk menerima wang tebusan daripada orang-orang Kristian yang ditawan.

Lane-Poole juga telah menuliskan bahawa Salahuddin telah mengatakan kepada pegawainya, “Adikku telah membuat infak, Padri besar pun telah benderma. Sekarang giliranku pula”. Lalu ia memerintahkan pegawainya mewartakan di jalan-jalan Jerusalem bahawa sesiapa yang tidak mampu membayar tebusan boleh dibebaskan. Maka berbondong-bondonglah orang keluar dari pintu St. Lazarus dari pagi hingga ke malam. Ini merupakan sedekah Salahuddin kepada orang miskin tanpa mengidar bilangan mereka.

Selanjutnya Lane-Poole menuliskan bagaimana pula tindak-tanduk tentera Kristian ketika menawan Baitul Muqaddis kali pertama pada tahun 1099. Telah tercatat dalam sejarah bahawa ketika Godfrey dan Tancred menunggang kuda di jalan-jalan Jerusalem jalan-jalan itu ‘tersumbat’ dengan mayat-mayat, orang-orang Islam yang tidak bersenjata disiksa, dibakar dan dipanah dari jarak dekat di atas bumbung dan menara rumah-rumah ibadah. Darah yang membasahi bumi yang mengalir dari pembunuhan orang-orang Islam secara beramai-ramai telah mencermarkan kesucian gereja di mana sebelumnya kasih sayang sentiasa diajarkan. Maka sangat bernasip baik orang-orang Kristian apabila mereka dilayan dengan baik oleh Salahuddin.

Lane-Poole juga menuliskan, jika hanya penaklukan Jerusalem sahaja yang diketahui mengenai Salahuddin, maka ia sudah cukup membuktikan dialah seorang penakluk yang paling penyantun dan baik hati di zamannya bahkan mungkin di sepanjang zaman.

Perang Salib Ketiga

Perang Salib pertama ialah kejatuhan Palestin kepada orang-orang Kristian pada tahun 1099 (490H) manakal yang kedua telah dimenangi oleh Salahuddin dalam peperangan Hittin pada tahun 583H (1187M) di mana beberapa hari kemudian ia telah menawan Baitul Muqaddis tanpa perlawanan. Kekalahan tentera Kristian ini telah menggegarkan seluruh dunia Kristian. Maka bantuan dari Eropah telah dicurahkan ke bumi Palestin. Hampir semua raja dan panglima perang dari dunia Kristian seperti Fredrick Barbossa raja Jerman, Richard The Lion raja England, Philips Augustus raja Perancis, Leopold dari Austria, Duke of Burgundy dan Count of Flanders telah bersekutu menyerang Salahuddin yang hanya dibantu oleh beberapa pembesarnya dan saudara maranya serta tentaranya untuk mempertahankan kehormatan Islam. Berkat pertolongan Allah mereka tidak dapat dikalahkan oleh tentera bersekutu yang besar itu.

Peperangan ini berlanjutan selama 5 tahun hingga menyebabkan kedua belah pihak menjadi lesu dan jemu. Akhirnya kedua belah pihak bersetuju untuk memuat perjanjian di Ramla pada tahun 588H. Perjanjian ini mengakui Salahuddin adalah pengusa Palestin seluruhnya kecuali bandar Acra diletakkan di bawah pemerintahan Kristian. Maka berakhirlah peperangan Salib ketiga.

Lane-Poole telah mencatatkan perjajian ini sebagai berakhirnya Perang Suci yang telah berlajutan selama 5 tahun. Sebelum kemenangan besar Hittin pada bulan Julai, 1187M, tiada satu inci pun tanah Palestin di dalam tangan orang-orang Islam. Selepas Perjanjian Ramla pada bulan September, 1192M, keseluruhanya menjadi milik meraka kecuali satu jalur kecil dari Tyre ke Jaffa. Salahuddin tidak ada rasa malu apapun dengan perjanjian ini walaupun sebahagian kecil tanah Palestin masih di tangan orang-orang Kristian. Atas seruan Pope, seluruh dunia Kristian telah mengangkat senjata. Raja England, Perancis, Sicily dan Austria serta Duke of Burgundy, Count of Flanders dan beratus-ratus lagi pembesar-pembesar telah bersekutu membantu Raja dan Putra Mahkota Palestin untuk mengembalikan kerajaan Jerusalem kepada pemerintahan Kristian. Walau bagaimana pun ada raja yang mati dan ada yang balik dan sebahagian pembesar-pembesar Kristian telah terkubur di Tanah Suci itu, tetapi Tanah Suci itu masih di dalam tangan Salahuddin.

Selanjutnya Lane-Poole mencatatkan, seluruh kekuatan dunia Kritian yang telah ditumpukan dalam peperangan Salib ketiga tidak mengoyangkan kekuatan Salahuddin. Tenteranya mungkin telah jemu dengan peperangan yang menyusahkan itu tetapi mereka tidak pernah undur apabila diseru untuk menjualkan jiwa raga mereka di jalan Tuhan. Tenteranya yang berada jauh di lembah Tigirs di Iraq mengeluh dengan tugas yang tidak henti-henti, tetapi ketaatan meraka yang tidak pernah berbelah bagi. Bahkan dalam peperangan Arsuf, tenteranya dari Mosil (sebuah tempat di Iraq) telah menunjukkan ketangkasan yang hebat. Dalam peperangan ini, Salahuddin memang boleh memberikan kepercayaan kepada tentra-tenteranya dari Mesir, Mesopotamia, Syria, Kurds, Turkmans, tanah Arab dan bahkan orang-orang Islam dari mana-mana sahaja. Walaupun mereka berlainan bangsa dan kaum tetapi Salahuddin telah dapat menyatukan mereka di atas jalan Tuhan daripada mula peperangan pada tahun 1187 hinggalah berakhirnya pada tahun 1192.

Lane-Poole juga menuliskan dalam peperangan ini Salahuddin sentiasa syura. Ia mempunyai majlis syura yang membuat keputusan-keputusan ketenteraan. Kadang-kadang majlis ini membatalkan keputusan Salahuddin sendiri. Dalam majlis ini tiada siapa yang mempunyai suara lebih berat tiada siapa yang lebih mempengaruhi fikiran Salahuddin. Semuanya sama sahaja. Dalam majlis itu ada adiknya, anak-anaknya, anak saudaranya, sahabat-sahabat lamanya, pembesar-pembesar tentera, kadi, bendahari dan setiausaha. Semuanya mempunyai sumbangan yang sama banyak dalam membuat keputusan. Pendeknya semuanya menyumbang dalam kepakaran masing-masing. Walau apa pun perbincangan dan perdebatan dalam majlis itu, mereka memberikan ketaatan mereka kepada Salahuddin.

Wafatnya Salahuddin
Pada hari Rabu, 27 Safar, 589H, pulanglah Salahuddin ke rahmatullah selepas berhempas pulas mengembalikan tanah air Islam pada usia 57 tahun. Bahauddin bin Shaddad, penasihat utama Salahuddin telah menulis mengenai hari-hari terakhir Salahuddin. Pada malam 27 Safar, 12 hari selepas ia jatuh sakit, ia telah menjadi sangat lemah. Syeikh Abu Ja’afar seorang yang wara’ telah diminta menemani Salahuddin di Istana supaya jika ia nazak, bacaan Qur’an dan syahadah boleh diperdengarkan kepadanya. Memang pada malam itu telah nampak tanda-tanda berakhirnya hayat Salahuddin. Syeikh Abu Jaafar telah duduk di tepi katilnya semenjak 3 hari yang lepas membacakan Qur’an. Dalam masa ini Salahuddin selalu pingsan dan sedar sebentar. Apabila Syeikh Au Jaafar membacakan ayat, “Dialah Allah, tiada tuhan melainkan Dia, Yang mengetahui yang ghaib dan yang nyata” (Al-Hasyr: 22), Salahuddin membuka matanya sambil senyum, mukanya berseri dan denga nada yang gembira ia berkata, “Memang benar”. Selepas ia mengucapkan kata-kata itu rohnya pun kembali ke rahmatullah. Masa ini ialah sebelum subuh, 27 Safar.

Seterusnya Bahauddin menceritakan Salahuddin tidak meninggalkan harta kecuali satu dinar dan 47 dirham ketika ia wafat. Tiada rumah-rumah, barang-barang, tanah, kebun dan harta-harta lain yang ditinggalkannya. Bahkan harta yang ditinggalkannya tidak cukup untuk kos pengkebumiannya. Keluarganya terpaksa meminjam wang untuk menanggung kos pengkebumian ini. Bahkan kain kafan pun diberikan oleh seorang menterinya.

Salahuddin yang Wara’

Bahauddin bin Shaddad, penasihat utama Salahuddin telah mencatatkan berkenaan kewarakan Salahuddin. Satu hari ia berkata bahawa ia telah lama tidak pergi sembahyang berjemaah. Ia memang suka sembahyang berjemaah, bahkan ketika sakitnya ia akan memaksa dirinya berdiri di belakang imam. Disebabkan sembahyang adalah ibadah utama yang diasaskan oleh Rasulullah saw, ia sentiasa mengerjakan sembahyang sunnat malam. Jika disebabkan hal tertentu ia tidak dapat sembahyang mala, ia akan menunaikannya ketika hampir subuh. Bahauddin melihatnya sentiasa sembahyang di belakang imam ketika sakitnya, kecuali tiga terakhir di mana ia telah tersangat lemah dan selalu pingsan. Tetapi ia tidak pernah tinggal sembahyang fardhu. Ia tidak pernah membayar zakat kerana ia tidak mempunyai harta yang cukup nisab. Ia sangat murah hati dan akan menyedekahkah apa yang ada padanya kepada fakir miskin dan kepada yang memerlukan hinggakan ketika wafatnya ia hanya memiliki 47 dirham wang perak dan satu dinar wang emas. Ia tidak meninggalkan harta.

Bahauddin juga mencatatkan bahawa Salahuddin tidak pernah meninggalkan puasa Ramadhan kecuali hanya sekali apabila dinasihatkan oleh Kadi Fadhil. Ketika sakitnya pun ia berpuasa sehinggalah doktor menasihatkannya dengan keras supaya berbuka. Lalu ia berbuka dengan hati yang berat sambil berkata, “Aku tak tahu bila ajal akan menemuiku”. Maka segera ia membayar fidyah.

Dalam catatan Bahauddin juga menunjukkan Salahuddin teringin sangat menunaikan haji ke Mekah tetapi ia tidak pernah berkesempatan. Pada tahun kewatannya, keinginannya menunaikan haji telah menjadi-jadi tetapi ditakdirkan.
Ia sangat gemar mendengar bacaan Qur’an. Dalam medan peperangan ia acap kali duduk mendegar bacaan Qur’an para pengawal yang dilawatnya sehingga 3 atau 4 juzu’ semalam. Ia mendengar dengan sepenuh hati dan perhatian sehingga air matanya membasahi dagunya. Ia juga gemar mendengar bacaan hadis Rasulullah saw. Ia akan memerintahkan orang-orang yang bersamanya duduk apabila hadis dibacakan. Apabila ulama hadis datang ke bandar, ia akan pergi mendengar kuliahnya. Kadang kadang ia sendiri membacakan hadis dengan mata yang berlinang. Dalam peperangan kadang-kadang ia berhenti di antara musuh-musuh yang datang untuk mendegarkan hadis-hadis dibacakan kepadanya. Ia juga sangat berpegang teguh kepada rukun iman hinggakan ia telah mengarahkan anaknya al-Malik al-Zahir membunuh Suhrawady yang membawa ajaran sesat.

Salahuddin sangat yakin dan percaya kepada pertolongan Allah. Ia biasa meletakkan segala harapannya kepada Allah terutama ketika dalam kesusahan. Pada satu ketika ia berada di Jerusalem yang pada masa itu seolah-olah tidak dapat bertahan lagi daripada kepungan tentera bersekutu Kristian. Walaupun keadaan sangat terdesak ia enggan untuk meninggalkan kota suci itu. Malam itu adalah malam Jumaat musim sejuk. Bahaauddin mencatatkan, “Hanya aku dan Salahuddin sahaja pada masa itu. Ia menghabiskan masa malam itu dengan bersembahyang dan munajat. Pada tengah malam saya minta supaya ia berehat tetapi jawanya, “Ku fikir kau mengantuk. Pergilah tidur sejenak”. Bila hampis subuh akupun bangun dan pergi mendapatkannya. Aku dapati ia sedang membasuh tangannya. “Aku tidak tidur semalam” katanya. Selepas sembahyang subuh aku berkata kepadanya, “Kau kena munajat kepada Allah memohon pertolongan-Nya”. Lalu ia bertanya, “Apa yang perlu ku lakukan?”

Aku menjawab, “Hari ini hari Jumaat. Engkau mandilah sebelum pergi ke masjid Aqsa. Keluarkanlah infaq dengan senyap-senyap. Apabila kau tiba di masjid, sembahyanglah dua rakaat selepas azan di tempat Rasulullah saw pernah sembahyang sebelum mi’raj dahulu. Aku pernah membaca hadis doa yang dibuat di tempat itu adalah mustajab. Oleh itu mustajab, kau bermunajadlah kepada Allah dengan ucapan “ Ya Tuhanku aku telah kehabisan segala bekalanku. Kini aku mohon pertolongan-Mu. Aku menyerahkan diriki kepada-Mu.

Aku yakin hanya Engkau sahaja yang boleh menolongku dalam keadaan yang genting ini”
Aku mengatakan kepadanya, “Aku sangat berharap Allah akan mengkabulkan doamu”. Lalu Salahuddin melakukan apa yang ku usulkan. Aku berada di sebelahnya ketika dahinya mencecah bumi sambil menangis hingga air matanya mambasahi janggutnya dan menitik ke tempat sembahyang. Aku tidak tahu apa yang didoakannya tetapi aku melihat tanda-tanda doanya dikabulkan sebelum hari itu berakhir. Perbalahan berlaku di antara musuh-musuh yang menatijahkan berita baik bagi kami beberapa hari kemudian. Akhirnya mereka membuka khemah-khemah mereka dan berangkat ke Ramla pada hari Isnin pagi”

Perangai Salahuddin

Siapa yang rapat dengannya mengatakan ia adalah seorang Islam yang taat kepada Allah, sangat peka kepada keadilan, pemurah, lembut hati, sabar dan tekun. Bahauddin bin bin Shaddad, penasihat utama Salahuddin telah mencatatkan ia telah memberikan masa untuk rakyat dua kali seminggu, iaitu pada hari Isnin dan Selasa. Pada masa ini ia disertai oleh pembesar-pembesar negara, ulama dan kadi. Semua orang boleh berjumpa dengannya. Ia sendiri akan membacakan aduan yang diterimanya dan mengucapkan untuk dituliskan oleh juru tulis tindakan yang perlu diambil dan terus ditandatanganinya pada masa itu juga. Ia tidak pernah membenarkan orang meninggalkannya selagi ia belum menyempurnakan hajat orang itu. Dalam masa yang sama ia sentiasa bertasbih kepada Allah.

Jika ada orang membuat aduan, ia akan mendegarkan dengan teliti dan kemudian memberikan keputusannya. Sauatu hari seorang lelaki telah membuat aduan berkenaan Taqiuddin, anak saudaranya sendiri. Dengan segera ia memanggil anak saudaranya itu dan meminta penjelasan. Dalam ketika yang lain ada orang yang membuat tuduhan kepada Salahuddin sendiri. Yang memerlukan penyiasatan. Walaupun tuduhan orang itu didapati tidak berasas, ia telah menghadiahkan orang itu sehelai jubah dan beberapa pemberian yang lain.

Ia adalah seorang yang mulia dan baik hati, lemah lembut, penyabar dan sangat benci kepada ketidak adilan. Ia sentiasa mengabaikan kesilapan-kesilapan pembantu-pembantu dan khadam-khadamnya. Jika mereka melakukan kesilapan yang memanaskan hatinya, ia tidak pernah menyebabkan kemarahannya menjatuhkan air muka mereka. Pada suatu ketika ia pernah meminta air minum, tetapi entah apa sebabnya air itu tidak diberikan kepadanya. Ia meminta sehingga lima kali lalu berkata, “Aku hampir mati kehausan”. Ia kemudian meminum air yang dibawakan kepadanya tanpa menunjukkan kemarahan. Dalam ketika yang lain ia hendak mandi selepas mengalami sakit yang agak lama. Didapatinya air yang disediakan agak panas, lalu ia meminta air sejuk. Sebanyak dua kali khadamnya menyebabkan air sejuk terpercik kepadanya. Disebabkan ia belum benar-benar sihat, ia merasa kesejukan tetapi ia hanya berkata kepada khadamnya, “Cakap sajalah kalau kau tak suka kepadaku”. Lalu khadam itu cepat-cepat minta maaf dan Salahuddin terus memaafkannya.

Bahauddin juga telah mencatatkan beberapa peristiwa yang menunjukkan sifat pemurah dan baik hati Salahuddin. Kadang-kadang kawasan yang baru ditawannya pun diberikannya kepada pengikutnya. Satu ketika ia telah berjaya menawan bandar ‘Amad. Lalu seorang perwira tentera, Qurrah Arslan, menyatakan keinginannya untuk memerintah bandar itu. Dengan senang hati ia memberikannya. Bahkan dalam beberapa ketika ia menjualkan hartanya semata-mata untuk membeli hadiah. Melihat betapa pemurahnya Salahuddin, bendaharinya selalu merahsiakan baki wang simpanan untuk digunakan semasa kecemasan. Jika ia tahu, ia akan menyedekahkan khazanah negara sehingga habis. Salahuddin pernah mengatakan ada orang baginya wang dan debu sama sahaja. “Aku tahu”, kata Bahauddin, “Ia mengatakan dirinya”.

Salahuddin tidak pernah membiarkan tetamunya meninggalkannya tanpa hadiah atau sebarang bentuk pemberian tanda penghargaan, walaupun tamunya itu seorang kafir. Raja Saida pernah melawat Salahuddin dan ia menyambutnya dengan tangat terbuka, melayannya dengan hormat dan mengambil kesempatan menerangkan Islam. Bahkan Salahuddin sentiasa mengirimkan ais dan buah-buahan kepada Richard the Lion, musuh ketatnya, ketika Raja inggeris itu sakit.

Hatinya memang sangat lembut hingga ia sangat mudah terkesan apabila melihat orang dalam kesusahan dan kesedihan. Suatu hari seorang perempuan Kristian datang mengadu kehilangan bayinya. Perempuan itu menangis dan meraung di depan Salahuddin sambil menceritakan bayinya dicuri dari khemahnya. Perempuan itu seterusnya mengatakan ia telah dimaklumkan hanya Salahuddin sahaja yang boleh mendapatkan bayi itu kembali. Hatinya tersentuh mendengar cerita perempuan itu lalu iapun turut menangis. Ia segera memerintahkan pegawai-pegawainya mencari bayi itu di pasar hamba-sahaya. Tidak lama kemudian bayi itu telah dapat dibawa kembali lalu dengan rasa gembira mendoakan kesejahteraan Salahuddin.

Bahauddin juga mencatatkan Salahuddin sangat kasihan belas kepada anak-anak yatim. Bila ia terjumpa anak-anak yatim ia akan menguruskan supaya ada orang menjadi penjaga anak itu. Kadang-kadang ia sendiri yang akan menjaga dan membesarkan anak yatim yang ditemuinya. Ia juga sangat kasihan melihat orang tua atau yang kurang upaya dan akan memberikan penjagaan yang khas kepada mereka apabila ia bertemu dengan orang sedemikian.

Kesungguhan dan Semangat

Ketika mengepung bandar Acre, Bahauddin mencatatkan bahawa Salahuddin mengidap sakit kuat yang mengebabkan beliau sangat susah untuk bangun. Meskipun demikian, ia keluar menunggang kudanya untuk memeriksa angkatan tenteranya. Bahauddin bertanya kepadanya bagaimana ia boleh menahan sakitnya. Maka Salahuddin menjawab, “Penyakit akan peninggalkanku apabila kamu menunggang kuda”.

Dalam ketika yang lain ia sebenarnya dalam keadaan yang lemah akibat sakit tetapi pergi memburu musuh sepanjang malam. “Apabila ia sakit”, kata Bahauddin, “Aku dan doktor akan bersamanya sepanjang malam. Ia tidak dapat tidur akibat menahan sakit, tetapi apabila pagi menjelang, ia akan menunggang kuda untuk melawan musuh. Ia menghantar anak-anaknya ke medan perang sebelum memerintahkan orang lain berbuat demikian. Aku dan doktornya bersamanya sepanjang hari menunggang kuda sehinggalah musuh berundur apabila senja menjelang. Ia hanya akan kembali ke khemah selepas memberikan arahan untuk kawalan keselamatan pada waktu malam”.

Dalam kesungguhan, semangat dan ketahanan rasanya tiada siapa yang boleh menandingi Salahuddin. Kadang-kadang ia sediri pergi ke kawasan perkhemahan tentera musuh bersama perisik-perisiknya sekali bahkan dua kali sehari. Ketika berperang ia sendiri akan pergi merempun celah-celah tentera musuh yang sedang mara. Ia sentiasa mengadakan pemeriksaan ke atas setiap tenteranya dan memberikan arahan kepada panglima-panglima tenteranya. Bahauddin ada mencatatkan satu kisah yang menunjukkan betama beraninya Salahuddin. Salahuddin diberitahu bahawa ia selalu mendengar bacaan hadis pada masa lapang bukannya ketika perang. Apabila mendengar perakara ini ia segera mengarahkan supaya hadis-hadis dibacakan kepadanya ketiak peperangan sedang berkecamuk dengan sengitnya.

Salahuddin tidak pernah gentar dengan ramainya tentera Salib yang datang untuk menentangnya. Dalam bebeerapa ketika, tentera Salib berjumah sehingga 600,000 orang, tetapi Salahuddin menghadapinya dengan tentera yang jauh lebih sedikit. Berkat pertolongan Allah ia menang, membunuh ramai musuh dan membawa ramai tawanan. Ketika mengepung Acre, pada satu petang lebih dari 70 kapal tentera musuh beserta senjata berat mendarat pada satu petang. Boleh dikatakan semua orang merasa gentar kecuali Salahuddin. Dalam satu peperangan yang sengit semasa kepungan ini, serangan mendadak besar-besaran dari musuh telah menyebabkan tentera Islam kelam kabut. Tentera musuh telah merempuh khemah-khemat tentera Islam bahkan telah sampai ke khamah Salahuddin dan mencabut benderanya. Tetapi Salahuddin bertahan dengan teguhnya dan berjaya mengatur tenteranya kembali sehingga ia berjaya membalikkan kekalahan menjadi kemenangan. Musuh telah kalah teruk dan berundur meninggalkan lebih kurang 7,000 mayat-mayat.

Bahauddin ada mencatatkan betapa besarnya cita-cita Salahuddin. Suati hari Salahuddin pernah berkata kepadanya, “Aku hendak beri tahu padamu apa yang ada dalam hatiku. Apabila Allah mentakdirkan seluruh tanah suci ini di bawah kekuasaanku, aku akan serahkan tanah-tanah kekuasaanku ini kepada anak-anakku, ku berikan arahan-arahanku yang terakhir lalu ku ucapkan selamat tinggal. Aku akan belayar untuk menaklukkan pulau-pulau dan tanah-tanah. Aku tak akan meletakkan senjata ku selagi masih ada orang-orang kafir di atas muka bumi atau jika ajalku sampai”.

Salahuddin sebagai ulama

Salahuddin memiliki asas pengetahuan agama yang kukuh. Ia juga mengetahui setiap suku-suku kaum Arab dan adat-adat mereka. Bahkan ia mengetahui sifat-sifat kuda Arab walaupun ia sebenarnya orang Kurd. Ia sangat gemar mengumpulkan pengeatahuan dan maklumat dari kawan-kawannya dan utusan-utusannya yang sentiasa berjalan dari satu penjuru ke satu penjuru negerinya. Di samping Qur’an ia juga banyak menghafal syair-syair Arab.

Lane-Poole juga ada menuliskan bahawa Salahuddin berpengetahuan yang dalam dan gemar untuk mendalami lagi bidang-bidang akidah, ilmu hadis serta sanad-sanad dan perawi-perawinya, syariah dan usul figh dan juga tafsir Qur’an

Rujukan:
Kadi Bahauddin bin Shaddad. 1234M,632H. Al-Nawadir-I-Sultania: Sirat Salahuddin (Bin Nawadir-I-Sultania). Mesir (diterbitkan 1317h):31, 32-33, 7,155
Poole S. L. 1914. Saladin. New York: 72, 99

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