Boycott Israel Goods between Reality and Rhetoric

Concern for the people of Palestine has been growing worldwide, not just alone in the Muslim world. It has risen dramatically considering the horrific events that have happened this year in the State of Palestine.

With the debate growing on how the masses can help, many intellectuals and political activists have said the best way is through boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS). The BDS campaign covers all Israeli products: It’s a broad tactic aimed to pressure the state itself to change. But it also reserves a special focus for companies that are actually involved in — and make hefty profits from occupation policies. These organizations may be forced to pay attention to the boycott very soon and they may not be the ones you’d expect!

1. Volvo

The automobile giant has been criticized by BDS campaigners for supplying equipment to bulldoze Palestinian homes. Interestingly enough, the Swedish automobile manufacturer also holds a 27% stake in Merkavim, whose buses are used to transport Palestinian prisoners to and from Israeli prisons.

2. Hewlett Packard

Hewlett Packard’s slogan is “If you’re going to do something, make it matter.” For Palestinians it definitely matters a lot. The tech giant owns EDS Israel, which supplies the computer systems for Israeli Defense Forces and produces hi-tech equipment like the Basel System, a biometric permit system that controls the movement of Palestinian workers through checkpoints in Gaza and the West Bank.

HP equipment is also used by Israeli prisons and the army. If that is not enough the company has also invested in the technological development of illegal settlements, taking part in the Smart City Project in the town of Ariel.

3. Intel

Intel operates plants in Kiriyat Gat, site of the former Palestinian villages of Iraq al-Manshiya and Faluja. According to Israeli historian Benny Morris it was in the 1948-49 war that the residents of these villages were expelled, in line with Israel’s strategic plans.

Intel, whose processors can be found in most of the world’s computers, has reportedly invested $2.7 billion to upgrade its Kiryat Gat plants where it is working on new chips that will make computers lighter and faster. That brings its total investments in Israel to about $10 billion, plus it has also benefited by more than $1 billion in the form of Israeli government grants.

4. Motorola

BDS supporters have targeted telecommunications giant Motorola for providing surveillance equipment around Israeli settlements, along the Israeli-built separation barrier and along the Israel-Gaza border. In addition to that, the American multinational has signed a $100 million deal this year with Israel for encrypted smartphones for its soldiers and security personnel.

5. McDonald’s

The largest fast food chain in the world has long been targeted by Pro-Palestinian groups for its longtime partnership with the Jewish United Fund. Through its Israel Commission, the Jewish United Fund “works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel; monitors and, when necessary, responds to media coverage of Israel”

6. Coca-Cola

The largest soft drinks manufacturer in the world that houses numerous carbonated drinks under its umbrella, including Sprite, Fanta and Schweppes amongst many others has been surrounded by many controversies over its supposed support of Israel. Amongst them include the fact that its Israeli subsidiary – Coca-Cola Israel owns dairy farms on occupied Israeli settlements of Shadmot Mechola in the Jordan Valley and a plant in the industrial zone of Katzerin on the occupied Golan Heights.

Back in the year 2009 the company hosted a special reception at the Coca-Cola world headquarters to honor Brigadier-General Ben-Eliezer. Eliezer is claimed by Pro-Palestinian groups to be a war criminal, during the Six-Day War his unit was responsible for the execution of over 300 Egyptian POWs. Under Sharon, Ben-Eliezer served as the Defense Minister presiding over the massacre at Jenin.

7. Danone

Close to 2 decades ago Danone opened its R&D facility in Israel – the Danone Institute. Not that surprisingly enough the French company also owns a 20% share of Israel’s second largest food company, the Strauss Group.

8. Estee Lauder

The American Conglomerate, home to big brands such DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, M.A.C, Clinique amongst many others has been targeted by BDS activists due to the pro-Israeli activities of its chairman, Ronald Lauder. Lauder is also the current president of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) – a quasi-governmental agency whose main function is to legitimize Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. In fact an American based group led a boycott in the country with their “Estée Slaughter” campaign.

9. Marks and Spencer

Since its beginning M&S has been linked inextricably to Zionism.  A book on M&S by Lord Marcus Sieff – long time Chairman of M&S – in it he cited that one of the fundamental objectives of M&S is to aid the economic development of Israel (Management: The Marks & Spencer Way, Weidenfield & Nicolson, 1990). As per an article in the Jerusalem Report dated 5/6/2000 M&S supports Israel with approximately $233 million in trade every year.

Furthermore in 1998 Sir Richard Greenbury the CEO of Marks & Spencer, received the Jubilee Award by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is the highest tribute ever awarded by the “State of Israel” in recognition of those individuals and organizations, that through their investments and trade relationships, have done the most to strengthen the Israeli economy.

10. Starbucks

The close relationship of this brand with the state of Israel has been doing the rounds for quite sometime. They escalated when Howard Schultz an active Zionist – the founder, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks was honored by the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah with “The Israel 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award” for his services to the Zionist state in “playing a key role in promoting close alliance between the United States and Israel”.

Starbucks proudly displayed the award on the company’s website under the section of ‘awards and accolades’ that the coffee giant has won, however, once the boycott started to bite, the award mysteriously disappeared from its website.

11. Nestle

The Swiss multinational has a good share of controversies and criticism surrounding its big brand name. For Pro-Palestinians activists one of the main problems they had with the food and beverage company was the fact that it bought 51% shares in Osem investments in the mid 90′s. Osem Investments is an Israel based company that is directly engaged in the production and distribution of food products in Israel and abroad.

Moreover in 1998, Peter Brabeck – the former CEO of Nestle received the Jubilee Award (the highest tribute offered by the state of Israel) in recognition of his company’s efforts to support the state of Israel.

There are still many more brands whose actions we still remain unaware of, but this is a start. So if you feel for the people of Palestine, please share this message and educate the masses.

Reference: menzene.com

A word from them

Rhetoric Boycott Campaign of Muslim Country

1. Starbucks

2. McD

Meanwhile in Western Countries

Then, Think twice!

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How To Get More Critical Analysis Into Your Essays

It is common for feedback on student writing to focus on the need to engage more critically with the source material. Typical comments from tutors are: ‘too descriptive’, or ‘not enough critical analysis’. This Study Guide gives ideas for how to improve the level of critical analysis you demonstrate in your writing. Other Study Guides you may find useful are: What is Critical Reading? Using Paragraphs and The Art of Editing.

What is critical writing?

The most characteristic features of critical writing are:

• a clear and confident refusal to accept the conclusions of other writers without evaluating the arguments and evidence that they provide;
• a balanced presentation of reasons why the conclusions of other writers may be accepted or may need to be treated with caution;
• a clear presentation of your own evidence and argument, leading to your conclusion; and
• a recognition of the limitations in your own evidence, argument, and conclusion.

What is descriptive writing?

The most characteristic features of descriptive writing are that it will describe something, but will not go beyond an account of what appears to be there. A certain amount of descriptive writing is needed to establish for example:

• the setting of the research;
• a general description of a piece of literature, or art;
• the list of measurements taken;
• the timing of the research;
• an account of the biographical details of a key figure in the discipline; or
• a brief summary of the history leading up to an event or decision.
• The difference between descriptive writing and critical writing

With descriptive writing you are not developing argument; you are merely setting the background within which an argument can be developed. You are representing the situation as it stands, without presenting any analysis or discussion.

Descriptive writing is relatively simple. There is also the trap that it can be easy to use many, many words from your word limit, simply providing description.

In providing only description, you are presenting but not transforming information; you are reporting ideas but not taking them forward in any way. An assignment using only descriptive writing would therefore gain few marks.

With critical writing you are participating in the academic debate. This is more challenging and risky. You need to weigh up the evidence and arguments of others, and to contribute your own. You will need to:

• consider the quality of the evidence and argument you have read;
• identify key positive and negative aspects you can comment upon;
• assess their relevance and usefulness to the debate that you are engaging in for your assignment; and
• identify how best they can be woven into the argument that you are developing.
• A much higher level of skill is clearly needed for critical writing than for descriptive writing, and this is reflected in the higher marks it is given.

Finding your academic voice

When you engage in critical writing you are developing your own academic voice within your subject. Wellington et al. (2005 p.84) offer some suggestions for distinguishing between the academic and the non-academic voice. They suggest that the academic voice will involve:

• “healthy scepticism … but not cynicism;
• confidence … but not ‘cockiness’ or arrogance;
• judgement which is critical … but not dismissive;
• opinions … without being opinionated;
• careful evaluation of published work … not serial shooting at random targets;
• being ‘fair’: assessing fairly the strengths and weaknesses of other people’s ideas and writing … without prejudice; and
• making judgements on the basis of considerable thought and all the available evidence … as opposed to assertions without reason.”
• Wellington J., Bathmaker A., Hunt C., McCulloch G. and Sikes P. (2005). Succeeding with your doctorate. London: Sage.

Try to get into the habit of writing critically, by making sure that you read critically, and that you include critique in your writing.

Stringing together of quotes

It can be tempting to string together quotes to support an argument, feeling that the more quotes you include, the stronger your argument. It is important, however, to remember that you also need to interpret the quotes to the reader, and to explain their relevance, discuss their validity, and show how they relate to other evidence.

Strategic use of paragraphs

There are several ways in which you can use the paragraph to enhance your critical writing.

You can use paragraphs to make a clear and visual separation between descriptive writing and critical analysis, by switching to a new paragraph when you move from description to critical writing, and vice versa. This can help in:

• emphasising to the reader that you are including both description and critical analysis, by providing a visual representation of their separation; and
• pushing you to produce the necessary critical writing, especially if you find that your description paragraphs are always longer, or more frequent, than your critical analysis paragraphs.

A paragraph break can provide a brief pause for your readers within a longer argument; giving them the opportunity to make sure they are keeping up with your reasoning.  Paragraphs that are overly long can require readers to hold too much in their mind at once, resulting in their having to re-read the material until they can identify the point you are making.

You can also use paragraphs to push yourself to include critical writing alongside descriptive writing or referencing, by considering each paragraph almost as an essay in miniature. Within each paragraph you would:

• introduce the point you want to make;
• make the point, with supporting evidence;
• reflect critically on the point.
• If it’s worth including, it’s worth telling us why

A certain amount of descriptive writing is essential, particularly in the earlier parts of the essay or assignment or dissertation. Beyond that, however, there is a danger that too much descriptive writing will use up valuable words from your word limit, and reduce the space you have for the critical writing that will get you higher marks.

A useful habit to get into is to make sure that, if you describe some evidence relevant to your argument, you need then to explain to the reader why it is relevant. The logic of your explanation contributes to the critical component of your writing.

So, a sentence or two might describe and reference the evidence, but this is not enough in itself. The next few sentences need to explain what this evidence contributes to the argument you are making. This may feel like duplication at first, or that you are explaining something that is obvious, but it is your responsibility to ensure that the relevance of the evidence is explained to the reader; you should not simply assume that the reader will be following the same logic as you, or will just work out the relevance of the quote or data you have described.

Line of argument

So far this Study Guide has considered the detail of what you write. The other key element in critical writing is the overall structure of your piece of writing. For maximum effectiveness, your writing needs to have a line, or lines of argument running through it from the Introduction to the Conclusion.

Just as you have used paragraphs on a micro scale to present your critical writing, so you need to consider the ordering of those paragraphs within the overall structure. The aim is to lead your readers carefully through the thread of your argument, to a well-supported conclusion.

Example of effective critical writing

The text below is an example of good critical writing, and is based on essay material supplied by University of Leicester’s School of Psychology.

The author refers to the available evidence, but also evaluates the validity of that evidence, and assesses what contribution it can realistically make to the debate.

There are a number of inherent methodological difficulties in evaluating treatment efficacy in this area, and this has contributed to controversy within the research literature surrounding treatment outcomes for this group of offenders (Marshall, 1997). Firstly, while there is no doubt that the primary criterion of treatment success is a reduction in the rate of re-offending (Marshall et al., 1999), reconviction data does not, in isolation, provide a realistic representation of actual levels of re-offending by this group. It is well established that there is a discrepancy between re-offending and reconviction rates: the latter underestimating the number of offences committed (Grubin, 1999). Indeed, a significant proportion of offences committed by offenders are either unreported, or do not result in the offender being convicted (Abel et al., 1987).

You can see how the author is considering the available evidence, but also the limitations on that evidence, and will be taking all of this into account in drawing conclusions.

Checklist for an overall review of your writing

It is always worth taking a critical look at your own writing before submitting it for assessment. The kinds of questions that might be useful to ask at that stage are:

What is the balance between descriptive and critical writing?

While a certain amount of description is necessary to set the context for your analysis, the main characteristic of academic writing is its critical element. A useful way to check this balance in your own writing is to use two coloured pens and to mark in the margin whether the lines are descriptive or critical. The balance will change at different points, but you need to make sure there is enough of the colour that represents critical writing.

Why should the reader be convinced by what I’ve just written?

Remember that, just as you are asking ‘Why should I believe what I’ve just read?’, the readers of your work will be asking the same question of your writing. A critical read through your own writing may reveal gaps in your logic, which you can rectify before you submit it for the critique of others.

Is my conclusion trailed and supported sufficiently well by my preceding analysis and argument?

Check out the conclusions that you have drawn, then locate and check the supporting evidence you provide earlier on. This is a good way of making sure you haven’t forgotten to include a crucial piece of evidence. It is also a way of checking that, when your reader comes to the end of your writing, the conclusions make sense, rather than being a surprise, or an unconvincing leap of logic.

Have I included any unsubstantiated statements?

Sometimes a generalised, sweeping statement can slip through: the kind of statement that might be acceptable on conversation, but not in academic writing. There are three main ways of dealing with such statements:

• present the evidence to support the statement
• re-phrase the statement to sound more cautious e.g.: ‘it could be argued …’ or ‘this suggests that …’
• remove the statement

*Source: University of Leicester, UK

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Musim Sejuk & Tips Kesihatan

Assalamu'alaikum Wbt,

Berikut beberapa tips kesihatan untuk musim sejuk khususnya buat mereka yang berada di benua Eropah. Namun, harus diingatkan sekiranya anda gagal untuk menjaga kesihatan dan mengambil langkah-langkah keselamatan, anda akan terdedah dengan pelbagai penyakit.

SELESEMA

Lebih daripada 100 virus yang boleh menyebabkan selesema. Virus mula membiak setelah masuk ke dalam badan melalui rongga hidung atau mulut.

Simptom :

- Sakit tekak

- Bersin

- Hidung berair

- Mata berair

- Demam

- Hidung tersumbat

- Batuk 

Rawatan :

- Mengambil ‘pain reliever'

- Elakkan diri dari melakukan aktiviti yang tidak perlu

- Rehat secukupnya

- Minum air dalam kuantiti yang banyak (terutamanya jus buah)

Tiada vaksin yang digunakan untuk merawat selesema, namun jika anda terus makan makanan berkhasiat, mendapat tidur yang cukup dan bersenam, sekurang-kurangnya ia dapat mengurangkan peluang anda daripada dijangkiti virus. Elakkan diri dari bersentuhan secara langsung dengan mereka yang mempunyai selesema dan basuh tangan anda dengan kerap.

INFLUENZA

Jangkitan pernafasan mudah jangkit. Influenza bukan sesuatu yang membahayakan untuk kebanyakan orang, namun di kalangan warga tua, influenza boleh menyebabkan masalah serius seperti Pneumonia.

Simptom :

- Demam

- Menggigil

- Batuk

- Sakit tekak

- Hidung berair

- Sakit belakang, kaki dan lengan

Simptom influenza dilihat sama seperti selesema, namun tanda-tanda ini lebih cenderung untuk menjadi lebih teruk dan bertahan lebih lama.

Rawatan :

- Rehat yang cukup (Bed-rest)

 - ‘pain reliever’

- Minum air dalam kuantiti yang banyak

*Antibiotik tidak berkesan terhadap virus influenza

HIPOTERMIA – Penurunan suhu badan

Walaupun hipotermia boleh berlaku kepada sesiapa, warga tua menghadapi risiko tertinggi kerana badan mereka tidak dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan perubahan suhu dengan cepat dan mereka mungkin tidak sedar bahawa mereka secara beransur-ansur semakin sejuk. Keadaan ini biasanya terjadi sepanjang masa.

Simptom :

- Kealpaan

- Mengantuk

- Pertuturan yang tidak jelas

- Nadi yang lemah

- Degupan jantung yang perlahan

- Pernafasan yang perlahan

Jika suhu badan di bawah 30OC, seseorang boleh berada dalam keadaan koma. Jika anda mendapati simptom-simptom tersebut ada pada rakan anda, ambil suhu badan rakan anda. Sekiranya kurang dari 35OC, bawa rakan anda terus ke hospital. Balut rakan anda yang sakit dengan selimut dan jika rakan anda sedang berjaga, beri sedikit makanan dan minuman hangat. Hal ini, adalah untuk mengelakkan pesakit kehilangan haba. Pesakit tidak dibenarkan mandi air panas, kerana ia boleh menyebabkan kejutan. Secara umumnya, jangan cuba untuk merawat hipotermia di rumah. Hipotermia perlu dirawat di hospital.

RADANG DINGIN – FROSTBITE

Bahagian badan yang sering terdedah/terjejas kepada radang dingin adalah kawasan muka (pipi, hidung, dagu dan dahi), telinga, pergelangan tangan, tangan dan kaki. Radang dingin akan menyebabkan kulit berwarna putih dan kaku serta kebas.

Rawatan :

- Panaskan bahagian badan yang terjejas secara beransur-ansur

- Balut bahagian badan dengan selimut, baju tebal, kot dan lain-lain

- Memakai pakaian yang berlapis-lapis dan tebal apabila hendak keluar rumah

- Jangan gosok bahagian badan yang terjejas kerana ia boleh merosakkan tisu-tisu

- Elakkan bermain dengan salji

Adaptation from PermaiJordan

P/s: The most essential is, remember 5 things before 5 things..

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DEMI QALAM..

Bismillah.

 الحمد لله الفاشي في الخلق امره وحمده الظاهر بالكرم مجده الباسط باجود يده الذي لا تنقص خزائنه ولا تزيده كثرة العطاء إلا جودا وكرما إنه هو العزيز الوهّاب، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، عبده ورسوله وامينه وصفيه وحبيبه وخيرته من خلقه وحافظ سره ومبلغ رسالاته، أفضل وأحسن وأجمل وأكمل وأزكى وأنمى وأطيب وأطهر، وعلى آله الطيبين الطاهرين، وصحبه المختار وعلى من تبعهم إلى يوم الدين. أما بعد..

Syukur kepada Allah SWT atas segala nikmat dan kurniaNya, kita masih lagi dipilih kalangan hambaNya yang sedar akan taklifan sebagai seorang hamba. Sebanyak-banyak selawat dan salam ke atas utusan akhir zaman, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w, ahli keluarganya dan para sahabatnya yang terpilih lagi setia menelusuri jalan-jalan nubuwwah serta mereka yang mengikuti jalan mereka itu sehingga hari kiamat.

Berbaki sehari untuk cukup setahun saya 'berhibernasi' dari dunia penulisan dalam blog ini. Banyak asbab musababnya; kekangan masa, tenaga serta taklifan yang kian meningkat. Entri terakhir (link) juga merupakan satu-satunya entri yang saya menulis usai bergelar graduan. Dari sudut lain, saya cuba untuk beralih kepada penulisan yang lebih ilmiah dan formal melalui penulisan dalam buku dan jurnal. Ada juga kalangan sahabat dan pembaca setia yang masih mengharap supaya blog ini terus aktif dengan pencerahan isu-isu semasa, apatah lagi kebanyakan tulisan di sini dianggap 'melawan arus semasa' oleh sesetengah pihak. Pro dan kontranya dalam penulisan di sini cukup banyak untuk diperhalusi kembali.

'Enlightenment' dari sebuah Jabal

Teringat kata-kata seorang murabbi, golongan alim Ulama' (sebenar-sebenarnya) seharusnya mengusahakan diri mereka dengan pelbagai ilmu dan thaqafah samada dengan menyambung pengajian kepada peringkat yang lebih tinggi mahupun penulisan. Bahkan, golongan ini tidak sepatutnya bersikap diam daripada membicarakan sesuatu isu, pada masa sama pihak yang tidak sepatutnya yang membicarakan isu tersebut, lalu berlakulah fitnah dalam kalangan masyarakat.

Di sini saya melihat peri pentingnya peranan ilmuan samada terdiri daripada para alim Ulama mahupun sarjanawan. Tanpa adanya inisiatif daripada mereka untuk membimbing ummah, maka ummah akan menjadi semakin jahil dan jauh terkebelakang. Justeru, sepatutnya golongan ulama dan ilmuan itu memanfaat dan memaksimumkan mekanisma yang sedia ada untuk membimbing masyarakat khususnya dalam isu-isu ummah.

Pancaroba alam maya

Cukup diakui, alam maya khususnya facebook kini menjadi pusat penyebaran fitnah walaupun tidak dinafikan akan adanya unsur-unsur 'al-birr wa al-taqwa' di sana. Malah, penangan facebook ini cukup kuat dalam mempengaruhi dan membentuk pemikiran masyarakat pada hari ini. Masih ingat lagi, bagaimana tumbangnya tirani Ben Ali di Tunisia, serta beberapa orang pemimpin negara Arab? Demikian hebatnya kuasa media pada hari ini, jatuh dan tumbangnya sesebuah kerajaan antaranya hanya bermodus operandikan TSL (Type, Like, Share) di facebook.

Sungguhpun demikian, sebagai seorang Muslim yang beriman kepada hari akhirat tidak sepatutnya kemaruk dalam menerima bulat-bulat apa juga sumber berita selagi mana ia tidak ditapis dengan 'tabayyun' terlebih dahulu. 

Allah memberi amaran kepada kita, (terjemahan): “Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, jika datang kepada kamu orang fasiq membawa suatu berita, maka periksalah dengan teliti supaya kamu tidak menimpakan suatu musibah kepada suatu kaum tanpa mengetahui keadaan yang sebenar sehingga menyebabkan kamu menyesal dengan tindakan tersebut.” (QS al-Hujurat 49: 6)

Sikap kebanyakan dalam kalangan kita, lebih suka untuk menyebarkan sesuatu berita tanpa mengambil kira ia benar atau salah asalkan ia memberi kelebihan kepada kita untuk menghukum pihak lain dengan sepuas-puasnya.  Allah SWT menempelak sikap sebegini:

Terjemahan: "Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, hendaklah kamu semua sentiasa menjadi orang-orang yang menegakkan keadilan kerana Allah, lagi menerangkan kebenaran dan jangan sekali-kali kebencian kamu terhadap sesuatu kaum itu mendorong kamu kepada tidak melakukan keadilan. Hendaklah kamu berlaku adil (kepada sesiapa jua) kerana sikap adil itu lebih hampir kepada takwa dan bertakwalah kepada Allah, sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui dengan mendalam akan apa yang kamu lakukan" (QS Al-Ma'idah:8)

Ditambahi pula dengan isu yang dimainkan dalam alam maya pada hari ini tidak selamat daripada unsur manipulasi dan propaganda pihak musuh. Malah, kebanyakkan perkara yang diberitakan, jauh beza dengan hakikat sebenar yang berlaku. Diingatkan, tiada suatu pun yang terlepas daripada perhitungan Allah SWT kelak biarpun hanya sekadar berfacebook, ini kerana jika ia menepati syariat maka diganjari pahala, sebaliknya maka dosa pun percuma di hujung jari.

Mereformasikan semula pemikiran

Tidak mudah bagi seseorang itu untuk membuat anjakan paradigma dalam pemikirannya khususnya golongan yang 'makannya disuap'. Di sini menunjukkan pentingnya untuk menjana fikrah-fikrah yang sahih menerusi pembacaan karya-karya ilmuan serta mendalami ilmu-ilmu asas agama melalui disiplin ilmu yang betul. 

Melalui proses tadi, maka akan lahirlah golongan yang disebut dalam al-Qur'an sebanyak 16 kali dengan nama Ulul Albab. Antara cirinya yang disebut al-Qur'an:

"Yang berusaha mendengar perkataan-perkataan yang sampai kepadanya lalu mereka memilih dan menurut akan yang sebaik-baiknya (pada segi hukum agama); mereka itulah orang-orang yang diberi hidayah petunjuk oleh Allah dan mereka itulah ulul albab" (QS Az-Zumar 39:18 )

"Adakah sama orang-orang yang mengetahui dengan orang-orang yang tidak mengetahui?" Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang dapat mengambil pelajaran dan peringatan hanyalah ulul albab." (Az-Zumar 39:9) 

Justeru, bebaskanlah pemikiran kita daripada karat-karat taksub dan lebih suka untuk menghukum daripada mencari solusi untuk mendamai. Malanglah bagi umat Islam yang masih menebal prejudis dan stigmatisnya kepada sesama umat Islam sementara golongan kuffar semakin hebat dalam menyiapkan senjata-senjata canggih untuk membunuh umat Islam. Dalam hal ini, mereka tidak akan bertanya fahaman apa yang dipegang melainkan semua menjadi sasaran. Bagi musuh Islam, selagi mana seorang Muslim itu beramal dengan ajaran Islam dengan penuh komited, maka selagi itu mereka menjadi ancaman yang perlu dihapuskan dengan kadar segera.

Dunia sarjana yang mencabar

Alam sarjana memang cukup mencabar. Segala keupayaan dalam diri perlu ditingkatkan sepenuhnya agar tidak kecundang di tengah jalan. Hal ini yang yang menjadi mimpi ngeri bagi lepasan-lepasan universiti untuk terus menyambung pengajian. Ironinya, mindset mahasiswa pada hari ini lebih kepada 2K (Kerja dan Kahwin) usai bergelar graduan. Ia bukanlah menjadi suatu 'dosa' selagi mana seseorang itu masih memposisikan dirinya dengan gerak kerja mengislahkan ummah. 

Cuma kebanyakannya lebih suka menjadi manusia biasa (normal person) daripada luar biasa. Orang biasa adalah sepertimana orang awam, belajar, bekerja, berkahwin, beranak, dan menunggu mati sementara isu-isu lain yang dirasakan tiada kaitan dengannya tidak hiraukan. Selagi mana perut dia kenyang, harta bertingkat-tingkat, hidup selesa sudah memadai. Golongan ini lebih sinonim dengan ungkapan, "kubur masing-masing". Adapun orang yang luar biasa, dia akan berusaha untuk memastikan masyarakatnya menjadi baik bukan sekadar keluarganya semata-mata atau sekadar memenuhi tuntutan manusiawi semata-mata. Di sini pentingnya untuk menginfaqkan diri dalam amal Islami di segenap peringkat.

Bagi menyambung pengajian pula, tidak terkecuali daripada fitnah, kerana ada  sahaja yang bermatlamatkan material yang lumayan dan pangkat tanpa dirasakan bersalah kepada tujuan asal menuntut ilmu itu sendiri. Lebih bahaya, ada golongan yang berlajar semata-mata untuk memperoleh pangkat Dr atau Profesor, untuk disalahgunakan atas kepentingan peribadi. Maka atas dasar itu, pentingnya bagi seorang pelajar melalukan dirinya dengan proses tazkiah dan tasfiyyah supaya tidak tergelincir ke lembah dosa dan noda.

Perihal ilmu yang berkat, Ulama menyebut:

"ilmu yang berkat itu bukan terletak kepada banyaknya ilmu yang dikuasai, akan tetapi ia terletak kepada sejauh mana ilmu itu dapat menjadikannya semakin mengenal ALlah SWT biarpun ilmu itu sedikit"


Sebelum disapa Izrail

Umumnya semua mengetahui walaupun lebih ramai yang tidak mengingati bahawa kita telah disahkan sebagai calon jenazah. Tidak sekadar itu, kita juga terpilih sebagai calon 'peperiksaan lisan' dengan Mungkar dan Nakir. Sementara belum mendapat 'surat tawaran' oleh Izrail a.k.a Malaikat Maut, maka perlulah untuk kita mempersiapkan diri dengan amal soleh. 

Kadang-kadang terasa sayu bila kita melihat rakan-rakan yang telah pergi dahulu (menyahut seruan Allah), sementara akaun-akaun mereka di facebook masih kelihatan (tidak dipadamkan). Jika seorang itu rajin menyampaikan sesuatu yang baik, maka tentunya ia dapat memberi saham kepada empunyanya dalam kubur. Atas konteks amal jariah, selagi mana ada orang yang memanfaatkan ilmu tersebut, maka selagi itu pahalanya berterusan. Demikian juga dengan penulis-penulis buku, blog dan sebagainya. Situasi yang sama juga bakal berlaku. 

Penulisan akhir yang bukan terakhir

Atas dasar ini saya ingin kembali berkongsi beberapa pandangan dengan para pembaca mudah-mudahan ia menjadi amal jariah kelak tanpa dinafikan mekanisma-mekanisma yang sedia ada. Cuma, buat masa ini terlalu banyak kekangan yang membataskan, demi memberi laluan kepada taklifan yang lebih utama khususnya dunia akademik dan ummah semasa. Berhubung dengan entri-entri yang lalu, jika ada konflik antara 'qawl qadim' dan 'qawl jadid' dalam penulisan saya, ambillah 'qawl jadid' atas dasar pekembangan dan percambahan ilmu. Sekadar respon buat yang tertanya-tanya. Bi'awnillah.

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Ekspo Buku Islam II - Putrajaya

http://ekspobukuislam.com/

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AWAS!!! VIRUS TIMELINE FB

Pastikan anda tidak menggunakan atau mencuba aplikasi 'REMOVE FACEBOOK TIMELINE' kerana ia adalah VIRUS.. Akaun Facebook anda akan 'lumpuh' seketika akibat infection tersebut. Ignore jika anda mendapati gambar seperti ini wujud dalam group atau wall anda..

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Apabila Buaya dan Kura-Kura Berukhwah..

Rupa & fizikal yang tersangat jauh bezanya bukan menjadi penghalang untuk mereka berukhwah.. Sebab wadah dan fikrah mereka sama, habitat sama dan kehendak sama. Dengan demikian wehdah (kesatuan) dapat dibentuk dengan baik. 

Kadang2 haiwan lebih baik dalam menunjukkan contoh berbanding manusia yang tidak habis fanatik dengan pandangannya sendiri. Maka tidak hairan Allah tamsilkan mereka lebih sesat dari haiwan.

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