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Turning To God

Let’s use the parable of an automobile as an example to the human condition. We all know what a car looks like and its functionalities. We uses road as a platform to get from one point to another. Automobile is a vehicle which we use to transport ourselves from point A to B. Religion is similar to an automobile.

This is the most important aspect of Islam. Most Muslim failed to realize the basic governing law of Islam in their daily life. The prophet once relates that a prayer is not completed without the recitation of Al-Fatihah during the course of prayer.

What is the message of AL-Fatihah, why it is so important and why million of Muslim failed to understand this message which I called as alignment with the almighty God.

Lets look at the re verses of Al-Fatihah,

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Praise is to God, Lord of the Universe,
the Compassionate, the Merciful,
and Sovereign of the Day of Judgment!
You alone we worship, and to you alone
we turn for help.
Guide us to the straight path,
the path of those whom you have favored,
not of those who have incurred your wrath,
Nor of those who have gone astray.
(Sura 1, trans: Dawood)

Submission

THE WAY OF THE FORCE- SUBMISSION

 

The first premise of Islam is the acknowledgement of a single entity or Godhood. This single entity may be called as Allah, or his various other names. The term Allah it self however have been misunderstood by the majority of the Moslem.
The concept of God is simple in reality. The first step is to understand and accept this one and singular force. The second step is to submit and be in alignment with this power.

The Real God Or an Imaginary God

THE PARADOX OF GODHOOD

The one god that Islam teaches is the one force that controls the entire known universe. The earth is but a grain of sand in the sea of the created and the known universe. We must not also forget the concept of multi universes or parallel universes. The vastness and the bigger world out here.

This self identity and the knowledge or awareness of the totality of the force or our position within the greater creation is what makes the closed mind Moslem open for rigidness and radicalism. The mode of awareness that the prophet preaches is in accordance to the mentality of the period within their tenure as a messenger.

21^st Century brings us closer to the extend of this single power or one central processing unit that govern this complex universes, as such the current rigidity of what most Moslem practices is irrelevant if compare to the reality of Godhood.

The age of scientific discovery have revealed some exciting, complex yet simple or fuzzy revelation to the order of the known universes. This discovery is no longer champion by the Moslem.

Islam and The World

There are no differences between Islam in the golden age and the Future. Islam will always remain the eternal religion send from heaven.  The mode of understanding however is the biggest hurdles that need to be address. As a Moslem, we must understand the basic concept of Islam and its practicality. The Confession alone does not make us Moslem. The confession must be understood and we must live our life according to its teaching and reality. This reality or the original concept of Godhood is the one thing that has been the major division and controlling structure within the hierarchical system that exist today. The learned scholar and the layman of Islam.

21^st Century opened the door to fingertip Information. Individual from all part of the planet are now able to assess Information regarding Islam based upon all the known sources.

The question is this;

1. Does the information tally with our behaviors?
2. How do we practiced Islam and lead our life?
3. The learned scholar of Islam, do they exist? The learned and the pretender?
4. Can Islam adapt in the 21^ST Century?

The Age Of Chivalry Islam Ways Of Peace and Love

Images from “ Sunan Kalijaga” Pt Tobali Indah Film 2004

 The scene above depict Sunan Kalijaga (One of Indonesia Muslim Saint) first encounter with one of the saint. In the first encounter Kalijaga was a thief similar to Robin Hood, whom steal to help the poor, the image that he carries was never changed even though later honoured as a saint. The final picture is his movie depiction as he ventured after finishing his religious teaching.
Similar to the story of the Buddha, Kalijaga was born in one of the aristocratic family in Indonesia. The pivotal turning point for Kalijaga is when he chooses the way of the heart. Seeing the condition of the mass poor around him, he was inclined to help the majority of the poor. Starting out as a thief he later encounter one of the saint whom later was depicted as asking him to wait by the river; Kali is another terminology for river.
As he became the disciple to one of the saint, and following the path of Sufism, he later emerges as a disciple whom finishes his way and later walks amidst the population spreading the message of unity and the gospel of Islam.

There is a various story regarding this saint, but the best scene that I would like to highlight is three. The three stories I see fitting for each Muslim to reflect upon their current surrounding and problem.

The first involved the government.

The second is in respond to the unbeliever and their way of life. Kalijaga walk into a village, the village was afflicted with draught, and the priest of the village was holding a ceremony to appease the gods, based upon their age old custom. This is going to be the third time they will sacrifice one of the village virgin to the gods in the hope that the Gods will be pleased and rain would fall on the village. This act also demands that some of the villager should commit self inflicted injuries to appease their God.

Kalijaga stood before the village priest and ask what they are doing? Upon hearing the situation , Kalijaga offer an alternative to remedy the situation. Observe that Kalijaga did not rebuke their ways and custom but only sought to remedy the situation. Kalijaga proceeded to perform a prayer of request. Soon afterward , rain began and the request was granted. Henceforth the villager began accepting the principle of one God and the message of Islam.

The third story is concerning a wife to a drunkard and a gambler. The wife has converted to Islam and was learning the basic of Islam from Kalijaga. It is related that in during the learning session the drunken husband approaches his wife in the presence of Kalijaga and started beating and dragging his wife home. It was related that Kalijaga only interfere when the Husband was about to murder his wife. Turning the intended weapon into a snake, the husband repented and began to mend his ways

As mention in all the three stories, the way of non interference, compassion love and the direct interference or grace from God is the pivotal aspect of gospel for Kalijaga. This is the aggregator mode which soon paved the ways for million of Muslim in Indonesia.

In a world dominated by warlord, animistic custom and violence, Kalijaga wondered and brought light, hope and order into the chaotic population of Indonesia.

This is the way of the early missionary. Armed with faith alone they wonder in the midst of idol worshipper.

Indonesia and majority of Nusantara ; i.e. Malaysia, Brunei, Southern Thailand and Philipine, experience conversion rate based upon the beauty, order and the light of the religion. It was never propagated thru swords. This is the message of Islam in the Nusantara.

Sadly nowadays, where order, justice and compassion have been spread among the population, the current state of Muslim in this region has stood at an alarming decaying and backward image. The progress has been slow and the real message of Islam has been clouded by paranormal, radical and extremism and somehow counters to progress.

May Allah Bestow His Blessing On Raden Mas Said (Sunan Kalijaga for his Works and Effort in His Way and his way of Love And Compassion -

 

Beauty Of Islam Or Our Altered Ego?

 

What comes to mind when people hear or think about Islam?

Is it beauty? Is it violence? Is it a backward religion? Is it a religion which constrict? Are the Muslim self egoistic people?

Where is our self image? Who are doing what and how? The revival of Islam?

The offline world and the real world?

What images does the hater of Islam portrayed our religion? Can we out wits them? Are we doing something and how?

This is just some of the issue that needs to be address by each individual Muslim in this Earth.

Can we just sit there and let our religion be dishonors? There need to be a systematic ways of addressing and solving this problem. Those in power and the real religion it self.

 

“Why do you stay in prison when the door is wide open?”

Mawlana Jalluddin Rumi, 13^th Century Sufi Poet

 

“Lord, show me things as they are

You show a thing as fair and in reality it is ugly

You show a thing as ugly and in truth it is beautiful

Show us everything just as it is

So that we will not fall into the snare

Prophet Muhammad Prayer.

To understand Islam we must trace back the history and the etiquette of the first community of Islam and the way the prophet free the mind of the various God of power controlling the mind.

How do we view the world, thru what lenses are we seeing? Are we seeing from shattered view? Violence world? World full of hatred? Hostile world?

How do we view the world also effect the way we behave. Who are our teacher and role model? The learned or the truth of Islam?

These divisions between the ways we understand our religion have shaped us into what we are today. Each of us Muslim must begin to question ourselves, the real meaning of Islam and the practical Islam.

Are we a follower of the real teaching of Islam or are we following the mere fancy and our imagination of what our mind tells us?

How do we value and judge the beauty of Islam? Imagine in the middle of the desert, devoid of rain and green vegetation, a rose grew and bloom. Its scent soon reaches to every part of the world.

In the midst of conflict and chaotic state of idolatries, Islam brings forth peace and loving kindness. This is the true essence of Islam.

The first group of people whom professes and witness the seal of the prophet hood was all among those whom are genuine at heart and seek the truth and the purity of obedient and submission to the one force

From one it grew to the companion, from a group of hidden knowledge it grew to a tremendous momentum, where history will sees the center of idolatries, Mecca, would soon be converted to a single house of worship.

Islam was never a violence religion or a religion of hostile, its teaching is the corner stone of peace and adaptation to the local custom and surrounding. Only in dire situation shall the permission be granted to shed blood.

Author Preface: Islam In The 21st Century

I was born a Muslim in 1970. Both of my parent practices Islam, so does my grand parent before me. As a child I was raise as a normal Muslim, learning to recite the Quran and perform the ritual Prayer. My Father attended Religious School before joining the British Military; my mother was a daughter of a religious teacher, used to teach recitation of Quran to me and my fellow friends in my Village.
I am proud of my parent whom guide me according to their religious background. Life is great in Malaysia until I pursue my study in California in the 90’. America opened me to the various available material on religion which is not available in my homeland.
Religion is not a topic of my interest in the beginning until I am inflicted with a psychological break down. I resorted to the life of austerity and began seeking for the meaning of life and the answer from God to my life question.
Conventional Islam does not seem to provide the desire answer that I seek. I began exploring other religion in search of my failure to communicate with God. I began to familiarize with Buddhism, Christianity, Zen, Hinduism, New age material and Sufism.
Still seeking the truth, the light presented itself when I went for a seclusion in Santa Cruz California, there I encounter one of the Sufi Movement and devoted my self as a disciple for the next 4 years. In 2001 I returned back to Malaysia to embarked on a business venture until the presence day.
I will always remember my first enlightenment experience, the story goes as follow.
I was listening to one of the recorded conversation between one of the master of Sufi and a new to be disciple, in one of the tape; a man approaches the master and requested to be accepted as a disciple. The master ask why does he wanted to became a disciple? The man answer that he loves God. The master ask; which god do you love? The man say God. The master asked again: Which God? The man say the one God for there is only one God. The master then say; you are only in love with the God of your mind! You are not in love with the real god!
Listening to the tape I began to understand the delusion that I have carried within my mind, God be Glorify, I have live out my entire life not understanding the delusion of my mind.

Malaysia, a majority Muslim population, and currently holding the chairmanship of Organization of Islamic Countries, I was quite shock as to the level of Islam understanding. Malaysia have both the Religious Court, namely Shariah Law and Civil Law. Muslims are subjected to both law. In manner pertaining to Islamic law, such as Fasting, Alcoholic beverages, and male and female relationship and matter pertaining to family law and inheritance.
Mosques is in every part of the Countries and most Muslim strive to be portray as a Muslim by the way they dress and so forth.
The practicality of Islam on etiquette and human relationship however is much more worse than the western countries.
I always seem to be in confusion as to the role of religion and their effect on Muslim daily life. It seem the basic understanding of Islam is not there or the cleric failed to provide the necessary Etiquettes and values.
Every Friday the mosque is packed with all the male population of the nation. Inside this place of worship people behave accordingly. They seem to respect the old, when passing in front they seem to request or indicated with their hand they are passing you to take a seat, and they will definitely shake hand with the person next.
This behavior however is easily forgotten the moment they step out of the mosque. Bad driving attitude, inconsiderate and other various misbehavior which does not reflect a true follower of this nice and once glorify Religion.
I always find it funny the way the mosque are crowded during the Friday prayer, the most visible indicator is the car crowding around the mosque. In all the cities that I have encountered, parking is done rampantly even to the point of blocking the main road. A two ways road will end up as a one lane since both side will be occupy by cars.
This is but the tips of the Iceberg that is clouding various other moral and etiquette that have been forgotten by Muslim in Malaysia.
The same might be said about the majority of Muslim out there especially in the developing nation and the nation under conflict.
The most mind boggling experience that I encounter is during the million man marches and demonstration held against the Embassy of  the nation that publish Muhammad as  a Cartoon character. Kuala Lumpur the capital of Malaysia was packed with Muslim from every walk of life. It was Friday and the organizer held the demonstration after Friday prayer. The saddest moment was when exiting the mosque. People kept pushing toward the exit and it was like a rush, I was caught in the middle and people started pushing and I got squeeze in between hundred of people rushing out and seeking their shoes (shoe cannot be worn inside the mosque)
I pity the older and the children that got squeeze, it took nearly half an hour or more to exit the mosque. At one point I yell at the crowd for pushing and reminded them that Islam does not teach this kind of pushing behavior, but my outburst felt into deaf ear.
It was a  sad moment and in the premise of the house of the Lord their children is behaving like a monkey, even a few minutes ago they are prostrating and glorifying God.
Countless other event and life experiences within the past few year in this dominant Muslim population have brought me to the understanding that Majority of Muslim here have not even grasp the basic tenet or teaching of Islam.
So the purpose of this book is for those that professes Islam to evaluate back and began a critical analysis of their daily life, and then they can truly say they are Muslim by practicality.
I would assume this book will receive possible attack and backlash from the majority of Muslim cleric. But the truth must be presented in a simple and straight forward argument so that we may say to our self;

To be continue;-

Please also refer to : http://1force.blogspot.com

Muslim Mind 21 Century

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”

Islam, Jew and Christian is a religion that shares the same ancestral roots. Islam recognizes Jesus Christ and the Prophet Moses. But in similarity there exist a dire conflict. Christianity may sees Jesus as the Son Of God, while Jewish may only recognize their religion based upon blood lineage and close order of submission to their God; i.e.; a favored race on earth.
While there exist major division and irreconcilable ground that separated this major religion, a common ground unite this three major religion.
The source is one, but interpretation remains a major division among this three major religion.
The rest of mankind across this planet watches as turmoil conflict and even war break across the land. Terrorism is the dominating factor that clouds the Muslim communities.
Some Muslim scholar concur with the act of terrorism, under the banner of self defense and the right to justice in a world dominated by injustice.
The title of this book is Muslim Mind In the 21^st Century, but in reality Islam is the religion of all ages. We cannot say that they is a set of Muslim Mind that must be relevant in the 21^st Century, but in actuality, this mind set is what all the  forefather of Islam speak of and what the Prophet of all ages conveyed to the children of God.

Some might ask, what is the relevancy of this book? This book does not seek to establish a new Muslim mind set, it is but to open the eyes of those whom professes Islam to the light of truth, and it is also as a guidance to those who see Islam as a strange religion.

As a Muslim it sadden me to see peoples view of Islam as a religion of Violence, terror and self interest. Delusion and following the religious elite remain the biggest stumbling block and chaotic Muslim mind. Instead of peace of mind it creates a chaotic mind set full of fear, hatred, vengeance and violent and often strange behavior in the majority of Muslim across the world.
A mind which refuses to accept the existence and the divine governance of a single God is the mind which spark violence, hatred and UN relentless prejudice.

One can easily argue undeniably, if a heart is not at peace, then it is prone to chaotic behavior out of fear. What does the Muslim fear if they submit to the one creator and the lords of all worlds? Is there a room for pure faith and trust in God? Or are the Muslim nowadays trust in their fear and undying statement from the so called intellectual of Islam?

The message of God is simple and complete, but why out of this simple truth, the follower of truth remain divided, at each other throat and bring chaos and destruction in the realm which they inhabited?
Is the message not complete? Or is it we have a million of Muslim whom like to be called a Muslim but they are not practicing the real Islam? Do they not heed the word of God, countless message of God in the Quran asked the believer to think and ponder at his creation? Are we the servant or the rebel?
21^st Century is the age of Information, each of us Muslim can assess this information and behave accordingly.
Practical Muslim or professing Muslim without Action? Action speak lauder than words.

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