Gaza, Somalia: Humanity lives on by Ramzy Baroud on August 11, 2011

Salamuna'laik to all readers out there...Here an article I wanna to share to show of our awareness to what happen outside the country..Sharing d feeling of what the human of both country feels..

I remember how exhilarated I felt when I was told I was old enough to fast for the month of Ramadan. My feelings had little to do with abstention from food and drink between dawn and sunset each day. For a child, there is little joy in that. The meaning and implications for me were much greater. I believed that the occasion signaled I had now become a man. I wanted to share this news with all my brothers, friends and neighbors.

Three days into the fast, lethargy set it. The end seemed near. Although I fared well in my first attempt at fasting for an entire month, I had my weak and reprehensible moments. I hid in dark corners with my favorite snacks: a cucumber, a tomato, a loaf of pita bread. To be caught would be shameful and degrading, a regression back into childhood, a terrible example to my younger siblings, and a ripe topic of ridicule from my older brothers.

Ramadan in a Gaza refugee camp is an entirely different experience from Ramadan anywhere else. A malnourished population of impoverished refugees abstains from food and gives endless thanks for life’s fortunes. The irony didn’t escape me then, as it doesn’t escape me now. The Imam of our refugee camp’s Great Mosque would spend much time thanking Allah for his numerous gifts. Hands extended to the sky, and faces lowered to the ground, the faithful would repeat in impressive unison: ‘Amen’. Even as Israeli helicopters buzzed above their heads and military vehicles speed nearby, the faithful kept their faces lowered. Even as the smell of gunpowder and teargas poisoned the atmosphere, their hands stayed extended.

“Alhamdulilah,” said the Imam. Thanks to God. And the crowd repeated, “Amen.”

I tried to make sense of all this as I struggled with my hunger pains. I questioned the wisdom of the whole endeavor. At times, I even challenged my mother. Fasting herself, she had no room for a self-indulgent, sacrilegious eight-year-old. “We fast to feel the pain of others,” she said simply. Any child in a refugee camp could understand the meaning behind her words. Our refugee camp was rife with ‘others’ in pain. One of them was Umm Ali, a mother forced to take her children out of school and send them to work as cheap laborers in Israel. Another was Abu Musa, a construction worker in Tel Aviv who just about managed to feed his own children, but never managed to repair his decaying house.

Since my family was also a member of the ‘others’ club, I fasted. And like all the ‘others’, I thanked God with a lowered gaze and extended arms.

Years later, in 1999, I joined a group of journalists and peace activists on a trip to Iraq. The aim was to stand in solidarity with all those devastated by the US-led siege. According to modest UN estimates, hundreds of thousands of people - the majority of whom were children under the age of five – were killed as a result of the decades-long sanctions.

For this trip, we flew in from different countries and congregated in Jordan. I myself had flown in from the US. One delegation member arrived from Gaza with nearly $10,000 dollars, which he had collected from schools, mosques and the street. The Israelis didn’t allow him to haul boxes of medicine donated by Gaza hospitals, and the Iraqis didn’t allow him entry because his passport had been stamped in Hebrew letters. The young man left the money in trusted hands, asking them to purchase medicine for Iraqi children from Amman. As he turned back at the Jordan-Iraq border on the way back to Gaza, he asked me to convey the solidarity of Palestine and Gaza to the people of Iraq.

In this way, Gaza speaks. Gaza Feels. Gaza takes stances and Gaza conveys regards.

Expectedly, the Horn of Africa famine is now generating quite a stir in Gaza. Starving Somalis are also now the ‘others’ whose pain we are urged to feel. 11 million people are reeling under the encroaching famine, and tens of thousands have already died. Somalia is the epic center of the disaster. The hunger of its people shames humanity to its core. Stories from the region tell of the absolute horror experienced by whole generations. Yet scenes of mothers tenderly comforting their dying children also tell a different story. It is a story of love, one that no statistic can capture, no politician can override.

Gaza, itself under a harsh Israeli siege imposed since Hamas was elected to power in 2006, has been one of the first places to respond to calls for help.

During a recent Al Jazeera interview, the head of a Somalia-based charity mission decried the lack of support his people were receiving. He lambasted the world, particularly Arabs and Muslims. He seemed puzzled by the fact that little support is reaching the victims even during the holiest of Muslim periods. Then he spoke of the aid arriving from Gaza. The news anchor cut him off quickly at this point, and moved on to a ‘related topic’: aid sent by the Qatari government.

I wondered about it myself. Could Israel-besieged Gaza really be sending aid to famine-besieged Somalia?

Indeed.

One of multiple Gaza-led charity campaigns to aid Somalia is called "From Gaza: hand in hand to save the children of Somalia". According to Ma’an News Agency, this latest effort is led by the Arab Medical Union. "The campaign aimed to demonstrate the extent of physical cohesion between besieged Gaza and Somalia and that the Palestinian people are capable to support and stand with the Somali people," Ma'an reported on August 2. Palestinians in the West Bank are also mobilizing around help for Somalia. The doctor’ union has opened several bank accounts to accommodate donations.

My mother’s generation must be immensely proud. Their endless sermons about the ‘pain of others’ has registered well in the minds and hearts of their children. Somalis, too, I am certain, can fully appreciate the pain of Gaza.

Gaza. Somalia. Even in its darkest moment, humanity somehow lives on.

Ramzy Baroud (www.ramzybaroud.net) is an internationally-syndicated columnist and the editor of PalestineChronicle.com. His latest book is My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story (Pluto Press, London), available on Amazon.com.

The ‘unrewarded’ ‘good deeds’

Salamun a'laik...hye there,,brothers and sisters!! Alhamdulillah,, Allah still give me a chance to breathe well today and doing my work as usual...Yahhh,,while I read some articles from selective blogs,,I do met with this an amazing writing again by Mr. Roslan Hamid in his blog Lanh14...so,,do read it and practice make perfect everyone!!=D

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet 

Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection

The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)

1. By the declining day,

2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,

3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort 

one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.

***

* Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: “Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness.” - Darimi

I took leave to observe the first day of Ramadan at home in Melaka. Fasting was ‘easy’ at home. Even though I was ‘off’ on that day, I did my routine daily office job via the internet, I was so occupied with my work, I only realized it was ‘iftar’ time (breaking of the fast) after my youngest daughter who was 9 reminded me about it.

On the second day of Ramadan I had to go back to office, to attend my company’s important meeting in Kuala Lumpur. That journey was a real test for me. After alighting from the express bus at the ‘Terminal Bersepadu Selatan’/ Southern Integrated Terminal (TBS) in Bandar Tasik Selatan, I walked on the ‘sky bridge’ to fetch the LRT (light rail transit) at the farthest end of the station.

The walk was more than half a kilometer. While walking, I remembered what was said about Ramadan by an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) in his ‘tazkirah’ (short preaching) in the masjid near my house before the fasting month. A friend who is also an ‘ustaz’ told me the word ‘fasting month’ is not accurate to describe ‘Ramadan’ because the holy month is not about fasting only but about one's determination to get closer to Allah SWT and to secure His blessing and forgiveness including freedom from hellfire.

 

"Fasting is not just about abstaining from food and drinks," said the ‘ustaz’ during ‘tazkirah’ at the masjid. "We are also requested to 'fast' our tongues, eyes, ears and minds.

"If we only refrain ourselves from taking food and drinks, but 'free' our sights, hearings and tongues, then at the end of the day, we will be rewarded only with hunger, thirst and tiredness," said the ‘ustaz’.

He also said we had to 'fast' our stomach. It was true, during Ramadan, we had to refrain from eating and drinking during the day, but it would be of no value if during breaking of the fast, we took food that was forbidden (haram).

He said all the food that was laid on the desk had to be ‘halal’, and there were regulations when eating. For example fill only one third of the stomach with food, the next one third with drink and leave the rest empty for easier breathing as said by the Prophet.

A Muslim is ordered to eat and drink, making sure he takes care of the following: First, not to waste or exceed the right limit. Allah SWT says; "…and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance,…"(Quran 7:31).

Second, not to eat or drink what is harmful, especially if it is forbidden. Third, to eat and drink moderately. The Messenger of Allah SWT said; "Man has not filled a container worse than his stomach; he should be satisfied with a few bites to survive. However, if his appetite beats him, let it be a third (of his stomach space) for his food and a third for his drink and a third for his breath." (Ahmad).

Fourth, to try not to be fat, for the Prophet of Allah SWT described the people who would come after three blessed centuries, that fatness appears in them. Fatness appears when the human body takes more calories that it needs, that is, food entering the body is much greater than what is needed and excreted. (Rules For The Muslim Home, Sa'eed Muhammad Al-Deeb, IIPH).

Having the ‘words’ of the ‘ustaz’ on my mind, I walked with my head looking at the ground. I was afraid my eyes would catch sight of Kuala Lumpur girls. Yes it is Ramadan, but activities in Kuala Lumpur don't stop. The girls as usual, are in their 'best' when going out to work or shop.

When the train reached the station, I quickly entered it and had a seat near a Chinese girl. She was wearing a skirt. I tried hard not to notice her; my eyes fixed to the ground but when she pulled up her legs and crossed it, her legs ‘entered’ my vision. ‘Subhanallah’. Oooh God, I hope my reward for fasting would not be decreased by that incident! 

I looked up; in front of me there were three girls busily chatting; they must be Muslims I guessed based on their attires including the ‘tudungs’ (headcovers) they were wearing. Sadly, even they were putting on their ‘tudungs’, all were in short sleeved T-shirt and body clad jeans.

Their appearance and attires did not comply with the Islamic code of dressing even they were putting on ‘tudungs’; it was against the words of Allah, the Almighty: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as such) so as not to be molested.” (Qur’an 33:59)

Perhaps they were fasting and I too was fasting. They were hoping that Allah the Almighty would reward them for their fasting; but something had gone wrong; perhaps they were unaware of the Prophet warning: “Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst.”

My eyes too had seen ‘that haram things’; I was afraid that I would also fell into that group of men and women who would not be rewarded for their ‘good deeds’.

During Ramadan, one may abstain from food and drinks but one's eyes and ears are not spared from seeing and listening to 'haram' things. 

In reality many Muslims, me included, on so many occasions think we are doing ‘good deeds’ but in fact they contradict the teaching of Islam. For example many women think that by wearing the ‘tudung’ they were adhering to Islamic way of covering up but they do not realize when they purposely expose other parts of the bodies such as arms, legs and necks, they are acting or doing things that are against religious obligations.

Nowadays it is a familiar thing to see women especially youth to appear in tight fitting attires such as jeans and short sleeve T-shirts or even ‘baju kebaya’ with slits on their ‘sarung’ even though they are wearing ‘tudungs’. It is Ramadan, the holiest month of the year; but the girls still ‘dress to kill’.

Yes, they think they do ‘good deeds’ by wearing their ‘tudungs’, but don’t they realize they are actually ‘making fun’ of Islam? Am I harsh in saying that they were actually insulting Islam; a not so knowledgeable Muslim what’s more a non Muslim would have ideas that what they portray are dresses that comply in accordance to the Islamic teaching.

From KL I took the express bus back and by 5.00 pm that day, I had reached Melaka Sentral and while waiting at a roadside of the main road in front of Taman Cempaka for my son to fetch me, I had a good view of the busy and crowded bazaar Ramadan across the road.

There as sat on a railing, I saw many young girls in tight fitting attires rushing across the road after buying their requirements at the bazaar even though there was a pedestrian bridge not far away. Many were exposing their arms as they were wearing short sleeves T-shirts; some of the attires too tight and short; the irony of it almost all of the girls were putting on their ‘tudungs’!

On several occasions, when the girls crossed the roads, cars drivers honked their vehicles while youth on motorcycles went ‘wild’ with ‘wolf whistles’ and ‘lewd’ remarks.

It was Ramadan, the best time of year to get closer to Allah SWT, yet I was seeing ‘unbelieving things’ that could ‘jeopardize’ Allah SWT’s reward on my ‘puasa’.

Perhaps it is better for one to stay at home in order to observe Ramadan with a peaceful mind and do not fall into the category of “many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst!”

A critical thought as we enter Ramadan

The best article I ever read about Ramadhan written by the blogger of LANH 14. I am touched when read it..Let;s Brothers and Sisters we spend at least 10 minutes to digest this article for our Muhasabah togather...

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessing and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w

Reflection

Every self will taste death. You would be paid your wages in full on the Day of Rising. Anyone who is distanced from the Fire and admitted to the Garden has triumphed. The life of this world is just the enjoyment of delusion. - Qur'an, 3:185

***

PERHAPS as you are reading this article, you may already fasting. Almost everyone including non-Muslims knows that Ramadan is the month when Muslims abstain from taking food and drinks during the day. 

So Ramadan is about taking less food (because you can only eat after sunset ) but the irony of it, Ramadan is the month where some Malaysian Muslims spend so much money on it and it is the time of the year when one could have 'exotic food ' including ‘kuih’ (cakes) never found on any other time such as 'badak berendam', 'tahi itik' and 'tepung pelita'.

Ramadan teaches Muslims to be trift on their spending. But it is normal for a Malaysian Muslim family; me included, to spend more during Ramadan especially on food, clothing and decoration of the house.

A few days ago while driving my car, I heard an ‘ustaz’ (religious teacher) say in a radio programme, that one’s ‘puasa’ (fasting) in term of spiritual enhancement of the soul was considered a failure if one’s budget overshot the normal monthly expenditure.

He also jokingly said that if one’s weight dropped a lot at the end of Ramadan, he or she had succeeded in his/her ‘puasa’ but what would be said if one’s weight increased at the end of the holy month?

In recent days during my journey to work, I noticed tents were being erected on not so busy roads such as in front of shops lots; these premises were to be used by traders to sell their goods and products during Ramadan.

At some places, they called it ‘Bazar (Bazaar) Ramadan,’ others were kown as ‘Pasar (Market) Ramadan’, 'Karnival Ramafan' and ‘Gerai (Stall) Ramadan’. In these places, one could find almost all of ones needs including perhaps those ‘exotic food’ mentioned above.

What does the presence of this ‘Ramadan phenomenon’ suggest? Am I wrong in saying that Muslims are encouraged to spend more time and money in this ‘fiesta’ like a monthly occassion; unfortunately it is Ramadan, the best time of the year for Muslims to double or triple his good deeds as required by Islam?

In this holy month, one ‘sunat’ (optional) deed done would be rewarded like a ‘wajib’ or ‘fardu’ (obligatory) deed, and a ‘fardu’ deed would be rewarded 70 times or more than in other months.

Ramadan teaches us to feel the pangs of hunger of the poor people of the world. It has been reported that one person in the world dies every three seconds because of hunger. So wasting of food is criminal. But how is the situation in our country and other rich Muslim nations where the word ‘hunger’ seemed ‘quite unfamiliar’ to us, and seemingly  is happening in far faraway lands. In United Arab Emirates (UAE) it was reported that 500 tons of food are thrown away each year in the holy month of Ramadan!

The lavish meal of breaking fast or ‘iftar’, many say dishonor the spirit of the Muslim holy month - and create an immense a mount of waste. Muslims should be reminded to be moderate with food, and this call could be made by ‘imams’ during ‘tazkirah’ (short religious talk) while doing the optional mass ‘tarawih’ prayers in masjids (special night prayers perform only during Ramadan) or when giving ‘khutbah’ (sermons) on the first Friday prayer of Ramadan.

Then on the eve of Ramadan, some of our people go for projects that are not beneficial for the 'ummah' what's more in line with the teaching of Islam such as making the largest 'ketupat' (rice cook inside wrappings made from coconut leaves) in the world. It was reported that the Melaka State Constituency (Dun) of Sungai Rambai had craved that its name be in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for cooking that giant 'ketupat' which weighed 1,800 kilogramme and was 1.2 meters tall.

Imagine the wastage of time and resources just to project one's name - 630 kilogrammes of rice was cooked in 21 large pots from 3.00 p.m to 4.00 a.m. The projects was undertaken by 12 people and it took two days to prepare for the neccessary items and ground work. It was reported, the 'ketupat' was distributed to the people in that state constituency but tell me frankly who would want to comsume it?

Muslims should not be involved in such a wastage project, they should be reminded that they are accountable for five things before the coming of five. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Take benefit of five before five - your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free-time before your preoccupation,and your life before your death." (Hakim)

So to Muslims brothers and sisters, do not indulge in such empty, hollow and unbeneficial deeds, for Allah SWT says in Surah Al-Asr: "Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's cause)."

Regarding the wastage of food and gluttony during Ramadan, President of Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), SM Mohamed Idris, commented on the lavish spending of Muslims at Ramadan bazaars and the ‘merry iftars’ at restaurants and hotels. 

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to eat nutritious food during breaking fast and sahur (predawn meal) and prohibited from wasting. Unfortunately many tend to prepare many dishes or the easiest way is to buy food and drinks that are sold in abundance in Ramadan bazaars and markets that mushroom during the fasting month.

Mohamed Idris said there is too much of food being served, much of it is not eaten and wasted. This kind of wastage is forbidden in Islam and contradicts the concept of Ramadan.

Then each year during Ramadan, hotel and restaurant is flooded with Ramadan buffet advertisements inviting Muslims to break fast in their hotels. From a rate of as low as RM38++ to RM135++, an individual can eat and drink as much as they like, with a variety of selection, at times offering more than 120 appetizing buffet dishes and desserts.

The Ramadan buffets are also accompanied with live music and keroncong whilst customers enjoy their meal. This indirectly shifts their attention and deviates them from piety of fasting in this holy month.

Those enjoying the buffet style fast breaking will be attracted to the delicious smell and scrumptious looking food.

In fact their activated senses will induce them to take more than necessary.

Although gluttony is forbidden in Islam, there is nothing to prohibit Muslims from surrendering to their desire for food during breaking fast. Some would feel that it is necessary to eat a lot for their money’s worth.

As there is too much food put on their plate, many would not be able to finish it and finally the food is thrown

away.

Don’t Muslims realise that food is Allah SWT greatest gift for humans and that we will be questioned on Judgement Day, akhirat, on our wasting nature? asked Mohamed Idris.

Remember Allah SWT decree in Surah Al A’raaf, sentence 3, "Eat and drink, but not in excess. Allah does not like people who are superfluous". Whereas Surah Al Israa’, sentences 26 and 27 states, "And do not waste, as those who waste are the devil’s friends".

If we consider the amount of food wasted during Ramadan mainly at buffets in hotels, we will realise that the present followers have lost their love to each other. Whilst many can enjoy the best food for themselves and their families, they forget that there are still people of the same faith who suffer from poverty and hunger.

Besides wasting food, much time is wasted when breaking fast in hotels as they tend to eat a lot until they are too full and making it difficult for them to perform solat, especially solat tarawih in the masjid.

The atmosphere and practice of breaking fast in hotels as mentioned above does not reflect the effectiveness and

sacredness of the fasting that among others demands followers not to overeat, resulting in wastage.

Remember Nabi Muhamad SAW’s commandment, "Fight the yearning for food and withstand hunger and thirst as the reward is equivalent as jihad to Allah’s path. There is nothing greater to offer God than resisting hunger and thirst."

In relation to this and in the occasion of this good month, let us all return to true Islamic teachings and practices and not be influenced by wastefulness and guile.

Let it be known that Ramadan is a sacred month among all other months and Allah SWT wants all his followers to fulfil the month with obedience and taqarrub to Allah SWT. The continuous satiety of an individual’s life will fulfil and enhance the soul with obstinacy and extremity. We hope that Ramadan will help develop loving and caring Muslims.

In conclusion, please think about thorough consumption of food of your daily diet either in Ramadan or normal days. Proper cosumption including give to poor or needy people is the best amongst any sadqa (charity).