Misconception In Islam

MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.

The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.

MISCONCEPTION #2: Islam oppresses women.

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."

MISCONCEPTION #3: Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths.

The Quran says: "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. 60:8)

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256)

Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the spread of Islam: ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism ..."

Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all peoples are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)

MISCONCEPTION #4: Muslims are barbaric, backward people.

Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet (pbuh), 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'.

The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.

MISCONCEPTION #5: Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.

While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the "founder" of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his own people, but Muhammad(pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him (pbuh) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him. "O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp."(33:45-6)

MISCONCEPTION #6: Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets.

Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be peace, and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows:

"Behold!" the Angel said, "God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is" (Quran 3:42-47)

Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u) into being without a father: "Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." (3:59) During his prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: " I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." (3:49) Neither Muhammad (pbuh) not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in One God brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.

In the Quran Jesus (u) is reported as saying that he came: "To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by Bukhari).

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Kaedah Mengingat Semasa Belajar

Tidak dinafikan sememangnya banyak kaedah mengingat yang diguna pakai dan ianya bergantung kepada penerimaan dan pemahaman seseorang individu. Bagi aku, satu kaedah mengingat yang paling berkesan dan masih kekal sehingga kini ialah "Cara Mengingat Warna Pelangi". Kredit kepada guru semasa di sekolah rendah yang menggunakan kaedah ini dan sekarang aku gunakan untuk anak-anak. Caranya ialah hafal ayat ini (mungkin ramai yang sudah tahu):

Muthu Jual Kacang Hijau Balik India Utara

Menariknya ayat tersebut ialah, ianya relevan dan mudah diterima pakai. Huraiannya seperti berikut:

M - Muthu (seorang berbangsa India)

J - Jual

K - Kacang (kebiasaan bagi orang India menjual kacang)

H - Hijau (ada bermacam jenis kacang antaranya Kacang Hijau)

B - Balik

I - India

U - Utara (kebiasaan bagi peniaga India ini akan balik ke negara asal mereka. Cth: India Utara)

Kaitannya dengan warna pelangi ialah :

M - Merah

J - Jingga

K - Kuning

H - Hijau

B - Biru

I - Indigo

U- Ungu

Mari kita lihat warna pelangi yang sebenar...





Kepada anak-anak, lepas ni kalau guru suruh warnakan gambar pelangi ikut urutan...nah, silakan!

Sumber Gambar: Wikipedia

DUN : Suka dengar lagu Pelangi Petang. Kesimpulannya, cubalah teknik-teknik yang sesuai supaya pembelajaran berlaku dalam suasana yang menggembirakan...contohnya menukar lirik lagu popular berdasarkan fakta dalam sesuatu mata pelajaran...tentu menarik!

Malaysiaku Permai #1 : Grand Kampar Hotel

Bidang kerja aku ini melibatkan aktiviti mesyuarat, kursus atau bengkel yang memerlukan aku dan rakan-rakan menginap di hotel. Sehingga kini entah berapa buah hotel telah aku pergi...dan setiap kali itu jugalah aku berhajat untuk membawa keluargaku ke sana terutama ke hotel yang benar-benar memberikan keselesaan.

Tambahan pula setiap kali pulang dari hotel-hotel berkenaan, anak-anak sering bertanyakan di mana aku tinggal dan bagaimana rupa bentuk sebuah hotel. Lantaran kesempatan yang ada maka tanggal 28 dan 29 Jun yang lalu, aku "berjaya" membawa keluargaku berehat di Grand Kampar Hotel...

Pahitnya Hempedu # 1: Pulangkan

Sepasang suami isteri meninggalkan anak untuk diasuh pembantu rumah semasa keluar bekerja. Anak tunggal pasangan ini, perempuan berusia tiga setengah tahun. Bersendirian di rumah dan kerap dibiarkan bermain di luar, tetapi pintu pagar tetap dikunci. Suatu hari dia terjumpa sebatang paku karat. Dia pun melakar simen tempat letak kereta ayahnya tetapi kerana diperbuat daripada marmar, lakaran tidak kelihatan. Dicubanya pada kereta baru ayahnya yang kebetulan menaiki kereta lama ke tempat kerja.Ya... kerana kereta itu bewarna gelap, lakarannya jelas. Apa lagi kanak-kanak ini pun melakarlah melahirkan kreativitinya. Penuh sebelah kanan dia beredar ke sebelah kiri kereta. Dilakarnya gambar ibu dan ayahnya, gambarnya sendiri, lukisan ayam, kucing dan sebagainya mengikut imaginasinya. Kejadian itu langsung tak disedari si pembantu rumah.

Pulang petang itu, terkejut badaklah pasangan itu melihat kereta yang baru setahun dibeli dengan bayaran ansuran, berbatik-batik. Si bapa yang belum pun masuk ke rumah terus menjerit,

"Siapa punya kerja ni?"

Pembantu rumah yang tersentak dengan jeritan itu berlari keluar. Dia juga beristighfar. Mukanya merah padam ketakutan tambah-tambah melihat wajah bengis tuannya. Sekali lagi diajukan pertanyaan keras kepadanya, dia terus mengatakan,

"Tak tahu... !"

"Duduk di rumah sepanjang hari tak tahu, apa kau buat?" herdik si isteri lagi. Si anak yang mendengar suara ayahnya, tiba-tiba berlari keluar dari bilik. Dengan penuh manja dia berkata,

"Ita buat ayahhh.. cantik kan?!" katanya menerkam ayahnya ingin bermanja seperti selalu.

Si ayah yang hilang sabar merentap ranting kecil pokok bunga raya di depannya, terus dipukul bertalu-talu tapak tangan anaknya. Si anak yang tak mengerti apa-apa terlolong-lolong dan menangis kesakitan sekaligus ketakutan. Puas memukul tapak tangan, si ayah memukul pula belakang tangan anaknya. Si ibu cuma mendiamkan diri, mungkin setuju dan berasa puas dengan hukuman yang dikenakan. Pembantu rumah melopong, tak tahu nak buat apa-apa. Si bapa cukup rakus memukul-mukul tangan kanan dan kemudian tangan kiri anaknya. Selepas si bapa masuk ke rumah dituruti si ibu, pembantu rumah menggendong anak kecil itu, membawanya ke bilik.

Dilihatnya tapak tangan dan belakang tangan si anak kecil luka-luka. Pembantu rumah memandikan anak kecil itu. Sambil menyiram air sambil dia menangis. Anak kecil itu pula terjerit-jerit menahan kepedihan sebaik luka-luka itu terkena air. Si pembantu rumah kemudian menidurkan anak kecil itu. Si bapa sengaja membiarkan anak itu tidur bersama pembantu rumah.

Keesokan harinya, kedua-dua belah tangan si anak bengkak. Pembantu rumah mengadu,

"Sapukan minyak gamat tu!" balas tuannya, bapa si anak. Pulang dari kerja, dia tidak melayan anak kecil itu yang menghabiskan masa di bilik pembantu. Si bapa konon mahu mengajar anaknya. Tiga hari berlalu, si ayah langsung tidak menjenguk anaknya sementara si ibu juga begitu tetapi setiap hari bertanya kepada pembantu rumah.

"Ita demam... " jawap pembantunya ringkas.

"Bagi minum panadol tu," balas si ibu. Sebelum si ibu masuk bilik tidur dia menjenguk bilik pembantunya. Apabila dilihat anaknya Ita dalam pelukan pembantu rumah, dia menutup semula pintu. Masuk hari keempat, pembantu rumah memberitahu tuannya bahawa suhu badan Ita terlalu panas.

"Petang nanti kita bawa ke klinik. Pukul 5.00 siap" kata majikannya itu.

Sampai waktunya si anak yang longlai dibawa ke klinik. Doktor mengarahnya ia dirujuk ke hospital kerana keadaannya serius. Setelah seminggu di wad pediatrik doktor memanggil bapa dan ibu kanak-kanak itu.

"Tiada pilihan.." katanya yang mencadangkan agar kedua-dua tangan kanak-kanak itu dipotong kerana gangren yang terjadi sudah terlalu teruk.

"Ia sudah bernanah, demi nyawanya kedua-dua tangannya perlu dipotong dari siku ke bawah" kata doktor.

Si bapa dan ibu bagaikan terkena halilintar mendengar kata-kata itu. Terasa diri tunggang terbalik, tapi apalah dapat dikatakan. Si ibu meraung merangkul si anak. Dengan berat hati dan lelehan air mata isterinya, si bapa terketar-ketar madandatangani surat kebenaran pembedahan selepas diberi penerangan terperinci tentang keadaan sebenar anaknya. Keluar dari bilik pembedahan, selepas ubat bius yang dikenakan habis, si anak menangis kesakitan. Dia juga terpinga-pinga melihat kedua-dua tangannya berbalut putih. Direnung muka ayah dan ibunya. Kemudian ke wajah pembantu rumah. Dia mengerutkan dahi melihat mereka semua menangis.Dalam seksaan menahan sakit, si anak yang keletah bersuara dalam linangan air mata.

"Abah.. Mama... Ita tak buat lagi. Ita tak mau ayah pukul. Ita tak mau jahat. Ita sayang abah.. sayang mama." katanya berulang kali membuatkan si ibu gagal menahan rasa.

"Abah.. bagilah balik tangan Ita. Buat apa ambil.. Ita janji tak buat lagi! Ita nak makan macam mana? Nak main macam mana? Ita janji tak conteng kereta lagi," katanya bertalu-talu. Bagaikan gugur jantung si ibu mendengar kata-kata anaknya. Meraung dia sekuat hati namun takdir yang sudah terjadi, tiada manusia dapat menahannya.

Sumber : Emel Rakan