Freedom

Occupied Jerusalem: After having come back from his visit to the United States on 26 February 1997, the Israeli Premier Benyamin Netanyahu took a serious decision to build a new settlement on Abu Ghneim hill in Jerusalem, which action was described by the late King Hussein of Jordan as the last of its kind as told to him by the Israeli premier. This settlement is one in a continuing series of colonies built since the Israeli aggression began on 5 June 1967 and meant to encircle the city in an effort on their part to Judaize Jerusalem. Through this plan, Israel seeks to reinforce its capture of the city and isolate it from the other cities in order to impose new geographical and demographic facts to change the cultural and demographic features of the holy city.

The reinforcement of these procedures in the city must not make us forget the serious excavations under the Holy Mosque of Al-Aqsa, which came dangerously close to collapsing, especially with the continued Israeli attempts to rebuild their so-called third Temple (al-Haykal) on the ruins of Al-Aqsa. The following revealed hints and implications indicating this plan should not be forgotten:

1. The gift presented to the head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Maxim Soloum, on 29 December 1996, which was a silver statue of Jerusalem minus Al-Aqsa and replaced by the Temple.

2. Israeli TV broadcast a documentary showing that Al-Aqsa would soon collapse as the result of an earthquake which will strike the area within two years. Moreover, the excavations will help in this process, having already weakened its foundations, and because geologists have confirmed that the area is one of the most active for earthquakes to take place.

3. The publication of a new book in occupied Palestine entitled, The Daydreams, in which Israeli writers presented four hypotheses to destroy Al-Aqsa and rebuild their Temple.

4. Some extremist Israelis indicated that the birth of the Red Cow, as it was described in the Bible, in a colony near Haifa, was a Heavenly sign that the rebuilding of the third Temple in Jerusalem has come nearer. Although they consider it a miracle, they have to wait until the Cow becomes three years old, then they will start to build their Temple.

5. Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, the mayor of Um Al-Fahem, revealed that a Jewish attempt to enter Al-Marwani Mosque, located in the eastern basement of Al-Aqsa, was stopped through a gate in the south wall of Al-Aqsa in the last week of Ramadan.

6. In another escalation, the office of the premier allowed the Jews to pray in Al-Aqsa under the pretext that this has never been prohibited. In addition, this move was synchronized with the building of the new settlement on Abu Ghneim and the continued excavations under Al-Aqsa, which began with the Israeli occupation in 1967. In this context, a video prepared by Sheikh Ra’ed Salah and Najeh Bkeirat, the chief of the Islamic Heritage Committee, showed that several tunnels under Al-Aqsa were threatening to collapse its foundations. One of these tunnels starts in the southwest of Al-Aqsa along with the west wall, 4 metres away, at a height of 6-9 metres and a distance of 30 metres. It ends with small stones which have been recently built and could be removed easily. Consequently, it will be quite easy to enter the heart of the holy mosque. The largest tunnel lies under the so-called Single Door (al-Mefred), while the other two tunnels lie under the Double Door. Both of them lead to the eastern basement under Al-Aqsa. Therefore, the excavations on the western and southern sides of Al-Aqsa and Bab Al-Rahma Cemetery have led to the following:

i) The removal of more than 100 tombs and shrines of the Prophet’s Companions and Followers in the cemetery located west of Al-Aqsa.

ii) There were several cracks and collapses in the walls of Al-Aqsa, especially on the south wall, which the documentary tape revealed that the Jews were using it as a place to store their papers, including their hymns and carols, as part of their rituals. This means that they have started using it the same way they do the Wailing Wall (Al-Buraq), and they intend to change it into a place for their prayers as occurred with Al-Buraq wall previously.

iii) Changing the features of the area around the Mosque, in addition to the intensive building boom, which could be considered as part of building the third Temple. Moreover, the Israeli Archeology Authority is building a rest house (a bar) near the windows of Al-Aqsa Holy Mosque, and this bar could be a place for lovers and displaying vices openly.

Jewish Scenarios to Destroy Al-Aqsa and Build the Temple

A book entitled, The Daydreams, has been recently published in Palestine in which the writers adopted four possible scenarios concerning the future of Al-Aqsa. The first scenario calls for the building of 10 columns representing the Ten Commandments near the west wall of Al-Aqsa and its height would reach the yard of the Dome of the Rock. The second theory is quite similar to the first in that it calls for rebuilding the third Temple vertically near the west wall of the Mosque so it will be higher than the Mosque itself and will be connected to the internal yard of Al-Aqsa. The third adopts the notion of architectural transfer, which suggests digging a very deep spiral path around the Dome of the Rock which could be transferred outside the city in order to build the third Temple on its location. Finally, the fourth theory appeals for rebuilding the third Temple on the ruins of Al-Aqsa in general, and this theory has a lot of future imaginary concepts. We have mentioned in an article published in August of 1995 that there are seven various organizations preparing for the rebuilding of the third Temple. The first one has already prepared the geometric and architectural designs, the second has already prepared the special stones, the third has prepared the décor and interior designs, the fourth will prepare the special costumes to be worn in the Temple, and the fifth is collecting funds to finance the building. Meanwhile, Sheikh Ekremeh Sabri, one of the preachers of Al-Aqsa, mentioned in one of his orations on the second Friday of Ramadan that a Jewish organization had warned him that Al-Aqsa would soon be pulled down in order to build the third Temple.

The Declaration Concerning the Path under Al-Aqsa

The Israeli daily paper, Yediot Ahrenout, revealed in its 21 March 1997 issue that the Israeli forces had carried out new excavations under Al-Aqsa in order to find a path which had been the main entrance for the Temple 2,000 years ago. The Israeli sources indicated that this ancient path was discovered accidentally one week before during the excavations carried out by the city municipality under Al-Buraq yard near the western and southern walls of Al-Aqsa under the pretext of working on sewage networks.

Consequently, the municipality stopped the excavations at a depth of 4 metres and called some experts from the archeology department whose general director Amir Dury claimed that the underground discovered path belonged to the era of the second Temple, and it was one of the main roads crossing Jerusalem north-south adjacent to the west wall of Al-Aqsa.

The Birth of a Red Cow is Celebrated as a Sign of Rebuilding the Temple

The extremist Jews received the birth of a red cow as a holy sign that the rebuilding of the third Temple is imminent. This was confirmed by a group of Jewish rabbis when a red cow was born six month ago in a kibbutz for the extremists near Haifa because the cow has the characteristics of the holy cow mentioned in the Bible. According to the Old Testament, the red cow without any spots is essential for the purity of the Jewish rituals and so this cow will be slaughtered and burned, then its ashes will be turned to liquid to be used in a religious ceremony which should take place before the rebuilding of the third Temple in the place of Al-Aqsa. The extremists claimed that no red cow has been born since the second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, so the birth of the red cow has been considered a miracle which will enable them to enter the holy shrine in Jerusalem. However, they have to wait until this cow becomes three years old, at which time they can start rebuilding the third Temple. Yahuda Atzion, a member of the gang which attempted to blow up the Dome of the Rock in 1985, said that they had been waiting for this miracle from God for 2,000 years but they have already been granted a red cow by God.

Permission for the Jews to Pray in Al-Aqsa

In a reply letter which was sent recently by Sham’oun Stien, the legal consultant of the Israeli premier, to Yesrael Medad, the chief of the Temple Mount Group, he wrote that as far as he knows the Jews have the right to pray in the Temple Mount, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and they have never been forbidden to do so. Consequently, he addressed the chief of the city police forces, Major-General Ya’eir Yetshaky, to allow the Jews to perform prayers and rituals quietly and peacefully with the full coordination with the police forces in Jerusalem, as reported by Ha’aretz.

Source: http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/am/publish/article_31.shtml

Al Haram Al Sharif represents the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict because of its religious significance for Moslems and of the Jewish claims of their alleged Haykal (Temple of Solomon) believed to exist underneath Al Haram Al Sharif.

The holiness of Al Haram Al Sharif

The holiness of Al Haram Al Sharif is owing to its connection with Islamic Faith as the first Qibla (House of Worship) and its being the third mosque after Al Ka’ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and the Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra’a and Al Mi’raj (the night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Mohammed) as shown in the Holy Qur’an, Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Surah (S.) Bani Isra’il (Children of Israel), verse 1: "Glory to (God) Who did take His Servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (Al Ka’ba) to the Farthest Mosque (Al Masjidul Aqsa, Jerusalem) whose precincts We did bless-in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things) (1)." In addition, Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) says: "The saddles should not be prepared except for three mosques: Al Masjidul Haram (Al Ka’ba), the Prophet’s Mosque, and Al Masjidul Aqsa." Moreover, the Prophet replied when he was asked about the history of the building of Al Aqsa by saying: "It was built immediately after Al Masjidul Haram (2)." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) added: "The prayers at home are one-fold, at a local mosque is 25-fold, at a central mosque is 500-fold, and at Al Aqsa is 5,000-fold (3)."

History and Description

Al Aqsa was given as a name for the whole sacred Sanctuary or Al Haram Al Sharif, including the Dome of the Rock (4). This part of the city is 140 dunums (5) or 15% of the old city area, which is about 1 square kilometre (6). It is located in the southeast part of the city (7), and is surrounded by a wall with 11gates. Seven of the gates are open while the others are closed (8). Al Haram Al Sharif itself has 14 doors, and 10 of them are open while the others are closed. The open doors are (9):

- North Side: Al Asbat (Al Usoud), Hatteh, Sharaf Al Ahbia’ or Faisal.
- West Side: Al Ghawanmeh, Al Nather, Al Hadeed, Al Qattaneen, Al Mat-hereh, Al Selseleh and Al Magharbeh.

The closed doors are: Al Sakeeneh, Al Rahmeh, Al Tawbeh and Al Buraq (10).

Al Haram is connected with the other parts of the city through certain paths extending through the city (11). There are 25 drinking water wells in Al Haram, and 8 of them are in the Dome of the Rock, while the others are between Al Aqsa and the Rock where Al Aqsa’s "water fountain" is located (12). In addition, there are several water facilities called Asbeleh, plural of Sbeel, which are free drinking water fountains (13), namely Qaitby, Sha’lan, Qasem Basha and Bab Al Habs. The mosque has four minarets (14), namely Bab Al Magharbeh, Al Selseleh, Al Ghawanmeh, Al Asbat. There are also several domes, namely Al Selseleh, Al Mi’raj, Mehrab Al Nabi, Yousef, Suleiman and Al Nahawy, as well as some floors such as Al Karak, Ala’a El Deen Al Basri and Al Ushaq, also known as "the Lovers". These floors are used by the "Sufis" or mystics for prayers and for teaching during the summer months (17). There are several porches on the north and west sides such as (18) the one extending from Bab Hatteh to Bab Faisal, the one parallel to Bab Faisal, the two lower porches under the Deputation building in the northwest sector, two newly built porches above that area, the western porches extending from Bab Al Ghawanmeh to Bab Al Nather, the porch extending from Bab Al Nather to Bab Al Qattaneen, the one extending from Bab Al Qattaneen to Bab Al Selseleh, and the one extending from Bab Al Selseleh to Bab Al Magharbeh. There are also two sundials: the first is located in the western sector, which was made by Mr. Mohammed Taher Abu Al Sa’ud, and the second is located in the southern sector on the bridge of Al Aqsa, which was made by the engineer Rushdy Al Imam (19).

The Dome of the Rock

This building is located in the middle of Al Haram Al Sharif (20), and it was built by the Umayyad Caliph Abdel Malek Bin Marwan in 68-72 H (688-691 CE) (21). The dome of Al Selseleh had been built before as a model for the larger Rock (22). The Caliph made sure that the Islamic architecture was superior and more grand than the Christian churches in the city (23). The Mosque of the Dome of the Rock is situated on a hilly area covered with white marble (24), and it is called the yard or the dish of the Rock. It measures 219 yards northwest and 223.5 yards east-west with a height of 12 yards (25). There are flights of stone steps leading up to the Mosque. These steps are called Al Maraqi, towered by bridges called the Balances because it is believed that the balances of Doomsday will be held up there (26), and 9 of these Maraqi are around the Rock (27).

The Dome of the Rock is an octagon; 4 of its sides face the 4 directions, and the Rock is in the centre and is about 1.5 metres high. It measures 18 metres long by 13 metres wide, covered by a circular dome consisting of four circular fringes covered with marble squares with three marble columns between every two of them. They also carry 16 arches covered with white and black marble. The upper circular part of the Dome is covered with mosaic decorations of plants in harmonious colours, mainly green, blue and gold. The neck has some shells with 16 windows, made internally of glaze and externally of china or "qashany" blocks decorated with circular vents (see figure 1).

The neck is made of wood and lead and used to be covered with copper, however, now it is covered with gilded aluminum. The span between the two layers is 1 metre. The diameter is 20 metres and the height is 35 metres, towered by a 4.5 metre crescent. There is an octagon between the circular part of the building and the external octagon consisting of 8 supports covered with pied marble and 16 coloured marble columns–2 of them between every 2 supports that are towered by complexes covered with mosaics and a strip of Kufian calligraphy. There are also wooden and bronze inscriptions with gilded ornaments surrounded by frames of pied and colourful marble, especially white and gray. Externally, the building is covered with marble up to the midpoint of the octagon, while the upper part is covered with mosaics and images of plants. There are 7 curves at each side, 5 of them have open windows with coloured glaze and qashany blocks. Each side is 20 metres long and 12 metres high (28). Half of the lower part is covered with marble while the second half is covered with blue qashany squares inscribed with Surah Yaseen by the Ottoman sultan, Suleiman Al Qanouni in 1615 CE (29). The ceiling of the middle and external porches is flat and covered with wooden decorations leaning toward the external octagon and covered with lead sheets, but they are covered with silver aluminum sheets. The neck is covered with qashany decorations outside with a strip containing Surah Al Isra’a (the night journey), which was made in the 15th century. The neck had been covered with mosaics decorated with plant images (30). There are 40 columns, and 4 large external doors (31), namely David’s door or (Isra’fil), the Paradise door, Al Aqsa door and the west door facing Bab Al Qattaneen (32).

The person who enters through any door can see the whole interior of the building, especially the columns and the supports (33). The mosaic covers about 1,200 metres (34). The animated figures have not been inscribed, and they have been replaced by plants and natural landscapes in accordance with Islamic Faith, which gives more security, tranquility and lends itself to deep contemplation (35). There are 56 windows, 40 of them are transparent and 16 are opaque, and each one is towered by a holy Qur’anic verse.

The Rock

It is located under the Dome, in the middle of the mosque; it is a huge irregular rock measuring 17.7 metres north-south, 13.5 metres east-west, and 1.5 metres in height. It is surrounded by a wooden fence, and the prayer area for women with four doors is separated from the men’s prayer area by a crossed fence built by the Crusaders (37).

The Cave

There is a cave under the rock that is accessible from the south side by 11 steps. It has a square area measuring 4 x 4.5 metres and 3 metres high, with a ceiling opening of 1 metre. There is a marble-covered bridge over two columns next to "Maqam Al Khadr" and Bab Al Khaleel is located on the north side. The floor is covered with marble (38). The Dome of the Rock is an exquisite masterpiece of architecture, reflecting the grandeur and superiority of the Islamic State (39). In addition, it is the best example of the creativity of the Umayyad Islamic architects (40). It has been an attraction for several scholars and researchers ever since Creswell (41), the professor of architecture in Cairo University, said "the Dome of the Rock has a remarkable significance in the Islamic architecture because it is considered a dazzling and charming masterpiece of Islamic architecture that has attracted the attention of several scholars." He added, "This significance is not owing to its history, but rather it is one of the wonders Man has created so far because of its grandeur, beauty and splendour."

Preservation and Maintenance (42):

Unless this great building receives continuous preservation, it will not remain in such a beautiful and splendid condition. It has been exposed to various natural disasters, but it has been refurbished several times by the Abbasid Caliph Al Ma’moun during the period 216 H-831 CE and also by the Fatemides Caliph Al Taher during the period 243 H-1022 CE (43). The Dome was invaded and occupied by the Crusaders during the period 492 H-1022 CE, and they changed it to a church and Al Aqsa to stables (44). Saladin restored it during the period 580 H-1187 CE, and he removed the damage they had done. The Dome had also been refurbished by King Al Thaher Beibers during the period 661 H-1262 CE. Thereafter, King Mohammed Qalawoun did some renovations during the period 718 H-1318 CE, and then King Qatby added the copper doors of the west entrance, and finally the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman Al Qanouny added new tiles in 1542 CE (45).

Al Aqsa Mosque

Al Aqsa Mosque refers to the southern area of Al Haram Al Sharif, which is about 500 metres south of the Dome of the Rock (46). The interior is 80 metres long and 55 metres wide (47), with a dome in the centre of the ceiling. It also has 11 doors: 7 on the north side, 1 on the east side, 2 on the west side, and 1 on the south side (48). The Mosque was built by the Umayyad Caliph Abdel Malek Bin Marwan during the period 692-705 CE (49). This Mosque should not be confused with the mosque on the east side built by Omar Bin Al Khattab, the second Rightly-guided caliph, which was also a big mosque, able to accommodate about 3,000 people and covered with wood (50). Al Aqsa has 53 marble columns: 14 on the middle porch, 12 on the east porch, 8 under the dome, 11 on the eastern part of the dome, 7 in its western part, and 1 in Maqam Al Arba’een. It also has 49 stone pillars: 4 under the dome, 12 in the western porch, 4 in the eastern porch, 3 in the western part of the dome, and the others are in other places. These pillars are huge square supports, while the columns are smaller and cut from marble with a height of 5 metres and 43 centimetres in diameter in the upper part and 52 centimetres in the lower part. These columns are towered by stone arches with an opening of between 8.91 metres-9.17 metres with a height of 6.26 metres. The Mosque has 7 porches: 3 in the east, 3 in the west, and 1 in the middle (51). The dome is in the middle at a height of 17 metres, covered with mosaics that made it more splendid and charming. It has 2 layers: the interior has been explained previously while the external layer consists of wood plates covered with lead sheets. The space between them is 75 centimetres at the neck, 2.5 metres in the middle, and 3 metres at the upper part, towered by the Crescent. The neck is the cylindrical part between the dome itself and the arches upon which it lies. It is supported by 4 arches, each of them resting on 2 marble columns and a cylinder. Al Qibleh is under the dome in the extreme south and used to be called Mehrab Da’oud, but it was changed to Mehrab Omar, and there is another area called Mehrab Mu’awwiyya in a closet made of crossed steel. There is also Omar’s mosque, built by the Caliph Omar Bin Al Khattab. It is 30 metres long, 8 metres wide, with a Mehrab and 4 small columns; 2 of them are spiral. To the north, there is a large space called Maqam Azeez or Maqam Al Arba’een. Maqam Zakariya is 6 metres long and 5 metres wide. Finally, there is a women’s mosque consisting of 10 bridges built upon 9 well-built pillars (53). There is a large porch on the north side consisting of 7 bridges, each of them stands at one door. Moreover, there are 137 windows: 7 in the dome made of coloured glaze and slightly transparent, 42 in the middle porch, half of them overlooking the east porch while the others overlook the west porch. Half of these windows are transparent, 43 in the east side (24 of them made of coloured glass), 14 in the west side (2 are large and transparent while 12 are made of opaque glass), and finally 16 in the north side and 24 in the south side (22 of them are made of coloured glass) (54). There is an old building under the present one called the old mosque of Al Aqsa that is a large, long labyrinth consisting of chains of complexes lying upon huge pillars, both cylindrical and square, and another labyrinth called Suleiman’s stable under the paved area of the mosque (55).

Preservation and Maintenance

The Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja’fer Al Mansour visited Jerusalem in the middle of the 2nd century when he gave his orders to rebuild the Mosque. This task was carried out by his son Al Mahdy in 163 H. The Fatemides Caliph Al Thaher Le’ezaz DeenEllah added more sections during the period 426 H-1034 CE (56) when he made it narrower in the western and eastern sides by removing 4 porches and adding 7 doors on the north side along with other reformations. When the Crusaders invaded the city, they changed it to a storage area for their equipment and a stable for their horses (57). Saladin Al Ayyoubi restored it during the period 583 H-1187 CE, adding several reformations such as building his own pulpit (58), which was burned by the Jews in 1969 CE. The Ottoman caliphs added more reformations but without any radical changes in the Ayoubian design (59). Next, several reformations were done during the years 1925, 1938 and 1943 CE (1344, 1357 and 1363 H) by adding the eastern porch (60). After the ominous burning in 1969, the Jordanian Government started some reformations (61).

The Jewish Claims Regarding Al Haram Al Sharif

These claims began when the Prophet Da’oud "David" (peace be upon him) entered the city followed by his son Suleiman (peace be upon him). He built his mosque based on the model of Maliki Sadeq’s temple. Thereafter, the city became a holy place for the Hebraic tribes, especially after the Babylon Captivity in 586 BC. It also became the centre of the Jewish faith upon which several hymns and carols had been composed and called the Babylon Talmud, replacing the Talmud of Jerusalem (62). When Korusch became the king of Persia in 538 BC, he allowed the Jews to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild their assumed Haykal and the Wall (63), which was destroyed once more by the Roman emperor Titus in 70 CE. The Jews were scattered all over the world in their Diaspora (64). Consequently, Jerusalem became the focus of the Jewish Ideology when the Roman emperor Hadrian demolished the entire city in 131 CE and built a new city called "Elia Capitolina". He then allowed the Jews to visit the city once a year on 19 August (65).

Al Buraq Wall

This wall represents the southwest part of Al Haram Al Sharif, and it is 47 metres long and 17 metres high and is part of the Islamic Awqaf because it has been connected with Al Isra’a (the night journey), when Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) tied Al Buraq, the animal used to travel with on the journey, to this wall. It is called Kottel Me’marany in Hebrew, which is considered the external wall of the assumed Haykal, which had been demolished by Hadrian (66). It is also called the Wailing Wall because the Jews used to visit it and wail and lament their past glory and grandeur. The conflict between Muslims and Jews is over a part of this wall measuring 30 metres and a narrow path accessible only through the north side at Bab Al Selseleh. This door (Bab Al Selseleh) separates the path from a complex of Arab houses and Al Buraq mosque on the south side (67), which had been destroyed by the Jews when they occupied the city in 1967 (68). There is another wall with a separate door close to the residence of Haj Meen Al Husseini, which was confiscated and changed into a synagogue by the Israelis (69).

There have been several skirmishes and confrontations between the Palestinians and the Jews because of the Jewish transgression and arrogance. The most prominent incident was the revolution of Al Buraq in 1929. The Jews brought some tools and equipment to hold a service using the Horn on 23 September 1928, which provoked the Muslims, especially when the Jews put a curtain over the wall and refused to remove it. The police interfered using force, and a lot of Jews demonstrated on 15 August 1929, raising their flag and shouting "the wall is ours". Muslims demonstrated the following day, Friday, 16 August 1929, after prayers, and destroyed everything they had made. The situation became aggravated, and the skirmishes spread throughout the country on 29 August 1929 (70). The British mandate forces appointed a committee to investigate the case and decide the ownership of the wall in 1930 (71). The committee carried out several investigations resulting in the Islamic identity of the Wall, which was considered as a part of the Islamic property "Awqaf", including the pavement and Al Magharbeh area, as charitable possessions (72).

Israeli Procedures used to Control Al Haram Al Sharif

The Jews have been planning to control Al Haram Al Sharif since the time when Herzl said, in the first Zionistic conference in Basl in 1897, "If I ever control Jerusalem, I will definitely remove all the holy places except the Jewish ones" (73). This notion has been confirmed by the Jewish historian, Dr, Israel Aldad, when he said in an interview for the Times, "Israel must build The Temple in its original place". When he was asked how, he replied an earthquake might happen and change the whole area (74). Moreover, Israelis began these procedures as soon as they occupied the city on 5 June 1967 by doing the following:

1. The burning: Michael Rohan, an Australian tourist attempted to destroy Al Haram Al Sharif on 21 August 1969 by setting fire to the Mosque. His attempt resulted in the burning down of Saladin’s pulpit and 1,500 cubic metres of the southeast part of the Mosque (75). The total damage was estimated at about one third of the total area, which is about 4,400 cubic metres. The Israeli forces cut off the water supply and prevented the fire engines from arriving on time to extinguish the fire (76).

2. Repeated attempts by Jews to pray in the Mosque: The first attempt was on 18 August 1969 when 25 Jews broke into the Mosque to pray using their horns and reciting hymns, carols and some verses from the Bible, especially the Zionistic anthem Btar (77). The second attempt was on 28 December 1976 when an Israeli judge allowed some Jews, accompanied by a group of Israeli MPs, to pray in the Mosque. They belonged to the "Hatehya" movement, and when they visited Al Haram and tried to pray, they were stopped by the guards. They responded by hoisting the Israeli flag and reciting the Israeli national anthem (78).

3. Repeated attempts to bomb Al Aqsa: There have been several attempts to bomb Al Aqsa. For instance:

(a) The Israeli forces found a store of explosives near Al Aqsa, planted by the terrorist Me’air Kahana and his gangsters in May1980 (79).

(b) The Arab guards caught 49 Jews carrying explosives and arrested them, but they were released the following day on 11 March 1983.

(c) Three bombs, used by the Israeli army, were found inside a big pumpkin on 30 January 1984 (80).

(d) The Arab guards discovered a large amount of explosives hidden in the branches of a tree, planned to explode when Mr. Helmet Kohl, the German Chancellor, arrived to visit Al Haram in 1985 (81).

4. The armed break-in and shooting down of the worshippers:

(a) A group of extremist settlers from Keryat Arba’a, armed with weapons, broke into Al Aqsa through Bab Al Selseleh and skirmished with the guards.

(b) The Israeli soldier, Eli Jethman, broke into the mosque of the Dome of the Rock and shot down 2 guards, which led to the killing of 9 martyrs and 136 injuries (82).

(c) The worst massacre was on 8 October 1990 when the Israeli soldiers shot down 20 martyrs and injured 115 worshippers because a group belonging to the so-called Trustees of The Temple attempted to lay down the foundation stone for their assumed Haykal.

5. Excavations under Al Haram Al Sharif: There have been several attempts to destroy Al Aqsa and erect The Temple in its place, especially on the southern and western sides, and to demolish the Islamic buildings as well as the private houses. These excavations began in 1967 and passed through nine stages:

(a) The First Stage: Excavations began in 1967 and finished in 1968 and included 70 metres of the lower part of the southern wall and the women’s mosque, at a depth of 14 metres, which posed a great danger for the neighbouring houses and buildings. These excavations were financed by the Hebraic University and carried out by a team led by Professor Benjamin Meizar. However, they only found Umayyad, Roman and Byzantine ruins.

(b) The Second Stage: The excavations were completed in 1969 and included 80 metres of the wall of Al Haram Al Sharif. It began where the first stage left off and extended north until Bab Al Magharbeh. It ran under a lot of Islamic buildings such as the "Honourable Corner" and the Iman Al Shafi’I Centre. These buildings sustained cracks in the process and were removed on 14 June 1969. They found three Umayyad palaces.

(c) The Third Stage: The excavations began in 1970 and were finished in 1974. They were resumed in 1975 and lasted up till 1988 and included the area under the Legal Court, the oldest Islamic building in Jerusalem, passing through the area under 5 doors of Al Hara, namely Al Qattaneen, Ala’aedeen Al Basry, Al Mat-hereh, Al Selseleh and Al Hadeed, at length of 180 metres. It ran under a lot of houses, facilities and mosques, as well as Qaitby minaret, Souk Al Qattaneen and some schools at a depth of 10-14 metres and a length of 400 metres. This resulted in several buildings cracking such as the Ottoman mosque, Al Jawharia School, AlManjakia School and the lower part of the Islamic court, which was changed to a synagogue. The Israelis declared that they had discovered the path, measuring 500 metres, originally discovered by the German General Conrad Chek in March 1987. The Israelis made a tunnel between Bab Al Ghawanmeh and Al Mujahedeen Way or "the Passion Way" to reach the Roman canal. However, this attempt was stopped by Muslims and was thereafter closed.

(d) The Fourth and Fifth Stages: Excavations began in 1973 and continued till 1974 and included the area under the southeastern part of Al Aqsa at a length of 80 metres and penetrating the southern wall of Al Haram Al Sharif, which leads to the Mosque itself, at a depth of 20 metres. It ran under Omar’s Mosque, three doors of the lower porches and the southeast corridors, creating a very dangerous situation.

(e) The Sixth Stage: Excavations began in 1977 in the middle of the eastern wall, between Bab Al Saideh Mariam and the northeast corner, endangering the Islamic cemetery. In addition, the Jews confiscated a lot of land in order to establish the Israeli National Park.

(f) The Seventh Stage: These excavations were aimed at deepening the area of Al Buraq wall adjacent to the western wall to include several neighbouring buildings such as the old Islamic court, Al Tankaria School, the library of Al Khaledia and more than 35 houses inhabited by 250 Palestinians.

(g) The Eighth Stage: Excavations began in 1967 as a continuation of the fourth and fifth stages and included the area behind the walls and the southern area. Its purpose was to explore the burials of the kings of Israel in David’s city. The process caused a lot of cracks in the southern walls of Al Aqsa; this has been a controversial issue between Natoury Karta and the Ministry of Religions.

(h) The Ninth Stage: Excavations began on 21 August 1981, the 13th anniversary of the ominous burning crime mentioned above. Israeli forces began a new stage of excavations to re-open the tunnel discovered by the English Colonel Warren in 1876; this tunnel is located between Bab Al Selseleh and Bab Al Qattaneen, below Bab Al Mat-hereh. It ran the length of 25 metres and a width of 6 metres, up to Qaitby fountain. These excavations caused a lot of cracks, so the Islamic Department "Awqaf" interfered and stopped them by blocking the entrance with concrete on 29 August 1981. However, it was re-opened on 24 September 1996 on the eve of an Hebraic holiday.

Significant Dates in the History of Al Haram Al Sharif

636 CE: Jerusalem was conquered by Omar Bin Al Khattab, the second Rightly-guided Caliph, and he built his well-known mosque.
685 CE: The Umayyad Caliph Abdel Malek Bin Marwan began to build the Dome of the Rock.
691 CE: The building of the Dome of the Rock was completed.
693 CE: The Umayyad Caliph Abdel Malek Bin Marwan began to build Al Aqsa Mosque, which was completed by his son Al Waleed.
705 CE: Al Aqsa Mosque was completed.
15 July 1099: The Crusaders invaded Jerusalem and changed the Dome of the Rock to a church and Al Aqsa to a stable and they hoisted a cross over them.
2 October 1187: Saladin liberated the city and cleaned the dirt and filth off of Al Haram.
9 February 1924: The British General Allenby occupied the city and Al Haram was ruled by the British Mandate.
16 August 1929: The Revolution of Al Buraq broke out when the Palestinians defended the Wall against the Jews.
16 July 1948: The Israeli fighters raided Al Haram by dropping 65 bombs and hitting the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa.
7 June 1967: The Israeli forces occupied the city and Al Haram has been under the Israeli occupation ever since.
11 June 1967: The excavations were started under Al Haram Al Sharif.
15 August 1967: The chief rabbi of the Israeli army and his followers performed prayers in Al Haram Al Sharif.
21 August 1969: An Australian tourist by the name of Michael Rohan burned Al Aqsa urged by the extremist terrorist parties in the Israeli government.

Source: http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/am/publish/article_32.shtml

Kita prihatin terhadap keadaan Masjid Al-Aqsa yang retak dan terjejas akibat kerja-kerja penggalian sejarah di bawahnya oleh pihak berkuasa Israel.

Sesungguhnya perbuatan rejim Tel Aviv itu adalah tidak bermoral. Sudahlah ia menduduki Baitulmadis secara haram, kemudian melakukan kerja-kerja pembinaan di sekitarnya tanpa menghirau keadaan bangunan masjid ketiga mulia dalam Islam itu.

Perbuatan rejim Tel Aviv ini melanggar undang-undang antarabangsa yang menghalang mereka daripada mengubah identiti dan rupa bentuk Masjid Al-Aqsa.

Bagaimanapun, hakikatnya Rejim Tel Aviv tidak mempunyai nilai-nilai penghormatan pada hak pihak lain walaupun ia berupa tempat suci agama, apatah lagi ia telah diisytiharkan oleh badan dunia sebagai Tapak Warisan Sedunia.

Tindak-tanduk rejim Tel Aviv itu bukan saja menyinggung perasaan umat Islam tetapi menambah lagi api kemarahan sedia ada terhadapnya.

Sejak penubuhan negara Israel, kita sudah menyaksikan betapa polisi dan perbuatan itu, yang didukung oleh Amerika Syarikat (AS) menjadi punca akar kepada suasana tidak selamat berlaku pada hari ini, termasuk ancaman keganasan.

Dalam hal ini, Tel Aviv dan Washington tidak menyumbang secara berkesan kepada usaha menangani punca keganasan yang berkisar soal Palestin itu.

Adalah wajar bagi Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi selaku Pengerusi Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC) membuat kenyataan Isnin lalu meminta Israel lebih berhati-hati dalam hubungannya dengan Masjid Al-Aqsa.

Sesungguhnya OIC yang ditubuhkan pada 25 September 1969 pada mulanya pun ditubuhkan sebagai respons negara-negara Islam terhadap perbuatan membakar Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh anasir-anasir Zionis pada 21 Ogos 1969.

Kita juga berkongsi perhatian berat oleh Setiausaha Agung OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu yang menyatakan bahawa rejim Tel Aviv sedia melakukan percubaan untuk mengubah ciri-ciri Masjid Al-Aqsa itu.

Kita sedar bahawa di Israel terdapat gerakan yang mahu meyahudikan tapak-tapak Islam di Baitulmadis dengan melenyapkan sebarang mercu tanda budaya asal di situ, khususnya Masjid Al-Aqsa.

Terdapat di kalangan mereka mempunyai niat dan azam untuk membina semula Rumah Ibadat Raja Sulaiman yang didakwa mereka sebagai bangunan asal di tapak Masjid Al-Aqsa.

Untuk memenuhi tujuan itu, mereka telah membuat kajian sejarah yang membabitkan pencerobohan dan penggalian di bawah bangunan Masjid Al-Aqsa. Walaupun pada zahirnya ia ditampilkan sebagai suatu kajian ilmiah tetapi sebenarnya ia merupakan sebahagian daripada gerakan untuk menghapuskan tanda-tanda bersejarah Palestin dan Islam.

Dengan didorong oleh fanatisme agama Yahudi dan kerakusan politik Zionisme, usaha itu bertujuan untuk memusnahkan bukan saja Masjid Al-Aqsa tetapi identiti agama Islam dan rakyat Palestin.

Kajian sejarah dan arkeologi yang dilakukan oleh rejim Tel Aviv itu penuh kepalsuan sedangkan hakikatnya Palestin merupakan bumi yang sarat dengan khazanah silam meliputi pelbagai era di mana Islam merupakan ciri muktamad dan tidak boleh dipadam begitu saja.

Source: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2005&dt=1123&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_03.htm

When Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari wanted Mindanao to secede and become an Islamic state, a Mindanao-born theologian and sociologist was among the first to rise and argue that the southern Philippine island is never home to Muslims alone.

Catholic priest Estanislao Soria campaigned against the Moros’ takeover of the whole of Mindanao. "I vehemently disagreed with Mr. Misuari. I campaigned against the Moro movement," said Soria, who used to be popularly known as "Father Stan."

Soria did not want to argue without basis as he is an academic and theologian schooled in the Jesuit-run learning institutions.

He embarked on a historical and sociological research to back his arguments. In the back of mind, though, was the thought of the need to convert Muslims to Christianity. This also brought him to read Islamic writings, and, quite surprisingly, lead him to revert to Islam.

"As a linguist well-versed in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, I thought I can learn Arabic that easily. I also wanted to translate Arabic writings into English as well as translate Western ideologies like existentialism into Arabic but I realized it was difficult," he told IslamOnline.net.

Soria believed that making Western writings available in Arabic would lead Muslims in Mindanao to appreciate Christianity more than Islam. "I wanted to open their minds to Christianity because I had heard a lot of negative things about the Muslims. I told myself they have to be educated."

But in getting deep into his readings, Soria realized that persons considered as "Church fathers" such as Saint Thomas Aquinas, got their knowledge from Islamic readings and teachings; that many of the so-called Western ideologies and theologies have long been discussed in Islam.

"[My readings] enlightened me that Western civilization’s thoughts sprung from Islamic teachings. After reading more works of Islamic theologians, I strongly changed my views on Islam," he told IslamOnline.net.

Soria added, "I even realized that the Gospel of Barnabas is even more credible than the gospels of the four evangelists [included in the Christian Bible]." The Gospel of Barnabas is a work purporting to be a depiction of the life of Jesus by his disciple Barnabas. It is also considered to be pro-Islamic.

He, too, found out through his sociological research that most of the negative things said of the Filipino Muslims were untrue. "They were not what they were stereotyped to be."

In 2001, Soria, who had served as parish priest in various cities and towns in Metro Manila after taking his college and theology studies at Xavier University and Loyola School of Theology, both of the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University, reverted to Islam.

He has since been known as Muhammad Soria, but many, including his Muslim friends, still call him "Father Stan."

The 64-year-old Soria said his decision was met with condemnation and disgust by most of his relatives and former parishioners, an experience similar to what many of the Muslim reverts, locally known as Balik Islam, go through. This, however, did not deter him from leaving the priesthood after 14 years and embracing Islam.

Soria is getting used to Islam, which to him is not only a religion but a way of life.

He has gone on Hajj in Makkah five times already, being a member of the Islamic Da`wah Movement of the Philippines. He also married a 24-year-old woman last year after living a celibate life as a priest.

Soria said that if there is one thing that Muslims should learn from Christians, it is being organized. To him, having a structure would greatly help in spreading Islam as structure helped the Christians.

For example, he said, Muslims should put up universities all over the globe, as Catholic missionaries did with their universities. Also, "why can’t Islamic states produce preachers and do what the Christian missionaries did?" he asked.

He further said there is a need to "intellectualize Islam through rationality" because by doing so the teachings embodied in the Qur’an would be better appreciated by people totally new to it.

He is also ecstatic about the annual fast this Ramadan. He said he is again reminded of the sunrise to sundown fast’s "spiritual value" in contrast to the Christian’s dieting "which is too material or human."

Soria said, "In Islam, we are taught that if you discipline your body the Creator would grant your wish." Harmony between Filipino Muslims and Filipino Christians in this largely Christian nation, amid the stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists, is among the wishes he prays to be granted

By: Rexcel Sorza
Source: http://islamonline.net/english/journey/2005/11/jour01.shtml

triple_j menulis -

"Baru2 ini, saya mendapat email daripada seorang sahabat lelaki saya di malaysia, memberi saya petikan daripada Mastika keluaran terbaru. Petikan email tersebut membuat saya berfikir panjang tentang kehidupan yang bakal saya lalui beberapa bulan nanti. Petikan ini sama seperti yang saya dapat di email tersebut, tanpa sebarang editing. jadi maaf jika kualiti penulisannya kurang memuaskan.

—

you tau anna, recently dlm majalah mastika.ader satu artikel tuh.tajuk dia kalau tak silap ermmm "anak kita dah hilang dara".

sumary dia camnih, ader sorang penulis perempuan tuh dia lepak kat central market. sedang dia lepak duduk2 sambil tunggu teksi, dia terdengar conversation antara 3 malay girls. tanpa menoleh dia dengar perbualan tu tentang hilang dara.diaorg masing2 selamba cerita pasal exprience masing2. so si penulis nih pon toleh ler rupanya ketiga tiganya pakai tudung.

dia pon gi jumpa ler minah2 tadi saje kata nak buat survey ttg masalah dara tuh. diaorg kata: sekarang org dah tak kisah ada dara ke tidak kalau suka kawin ler. kita semua dah pernah buat.tapi pandai buat pandai simapan ler. org lelaki tuh bodoh sebenarnya….so masa kali pertama nanti kepit ler kuat2. diaorg mesti tak tahu punya. pas tuh buat2 lah menangis kononnya sedih ler kehilangan dara

si penulis ucap terima kasih & beredar ke klcc plak. dlm hati~ ermmm kalau yg bertudung pon dah hilang dara, kita tengok yg seksi nih plak tentu hancuss. dapat ler respond dari sorang minah seksi bersama pakwenya, tapi masa conversation tuh pakwe dia gi tempat lain kejap.

so si minah seksi tu lagi la selamba, seks biasalah kak.tapi pandai2lah jgn sampai bunting.kalau jodoh kawin dgn org lain, kita jgn ler bagitau, diaorg mana nak tahu .kata jek kita nih jenis suka sukan lasak , kalau tak percaya carik ler artikel yg mengatakan dara boleh hilang pasal tuh. tapi pandai pandai ler .

jgn plak tunjuk terer atas katil nanti dia suspect.tuh pakwe saya pon ingat dia yg pertama meneroka tubuh saya.sebenarnya masuk yg nih dah 3 pakwe yg dah rasa.semuanya tak tahu jadi buat apa nak risau ada dara ke tidak. hidup mesti sedap…..enjoy selagi boleh kak, sebelum kahwin, sebelum tua.

ermm lebih kurang mcm tuh ler criternya. so kalau kat sini , kat kl m’sia ni pon org melayu dah ramai yg rosak, mcm mana yg kat oversea eikk? u anna terkecuali ler…iye ker:)

—

Membaca email sahabat saya tu, saya pun mula terfikir..walaupun saya ada first hand account on this issues, dengan rakan2 saya di malaysia, saya sangka yang isu seks luar nikah di kalangan remaja Melayu / Islam telah berkurangan kalaupun tidak berakhir,terutama dengan pengenalan islam hadhari yang diwarwarkan oleh pm kita. tgk, mcm tu la jugak.

Lalu saya pun terfikir..kalau mcm ni la kehidupan yang akan saya lalui di malaysia, apa gunanya saya balik ke malaysia? baik duduk di negara kafir ni jugak! sama sahaja! Nama je negara islam!
"

By: triple j
Source: http://tranungkite.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1176

Saya selalu ditanya oleh rakan-rakan UMNO mengenai Dr Azhari. Pertanyaan tersebut adalah pertanyaan sinis dengan tujuan menepelak saya kononnya belajar tinggi tetapi akhirnya mati dengan sia-sia. Malah ada dikalangan mereka pula menambah sebagai mati katak, masuk neraka kerana membunuh orang yang tak berdosa.

Saya tak berhasrap untuk membuat analisis yang kompleks mengenai Dr Azahari Husin. Sebelum saya menjawab semua soalan berkaitan dengan Dr Azahari adalah lebih baik kita mengambil pendekatan yang matang dan profesional. Berfikir secara profesional dan matang adalah satu cara yang baik daripada kita terus terjerumus dengan berita dan maklumat propaganda yang akhirnya membodohkan minda kita sendiri.

Saya membaca meneliti peribadi Dr Azahari secara spotan sebelum dia dikatakan aktif dengan kumpulan Jamaah Islamiah (JI) yang ada kaitan dengan al-Qaeda. Memang tak banyak maklumat berhubung beliau dan kita pun kenal dia apabila akhbar memaparkan beliau sebagai orang yang dikehendaki kerana terlibat dengan kumpulan Jamaah Islamiah (JI). JI pun kita tak beberapa jelas, seperti mana juga kita tak berapa jelas dengan kumpulan KMN yang mana beberapa orang yang tak berdosa ditahan dibawah akta ISA.

Dia seorang pensyarah yang baik, dulu seorang pelajar Melayu MCKK yang berpontesi. Seorang abang yang bertanggungjawab dan mendidik adik-adiknya. Seorang suami yang boleh dikatakan baik untuk seorang isteri yang tak mendapat anak setelah berkahwin 12 tahun. Masyarakat sekeliling yang mengenalinya juga mengatakan dia seorang baik, tak dengar setakat ini ada yang memburuk-burukkannya dengan perangai yang sombong atau angkuh.

Tapi suasana berubah pada tahun 2002. Dia adalah pengganas antarabangsa yang dikehendaki. Pakar bom yang menjadi buruan polis dunia. Dia dikatakan kejam kerana membunuh manusia yang tak berdosa.

Saya menjadi pening dengan maklumat ini. Tuduhan kepada Dr Azahari Husin sebagai pengebom bersiri di Indonasia adalah tidak jelas. Kita tidak ditunjukkan dengan bukti dan maklumat jelas bahawa dia adalah perancangan dan penyebabnya.

Kita tidak mahu tertipu sebagai kita tertipu dengan isu perang ke atas Iraq. Kononnya Iraq mempunyai senjata permusnah. Akhbar, media massa dunia saban hari membawa cerita-cerita tentang Iraq dengan senjata pemusnahnya. Pakar senjata, penganalisis senjata dunia, gambar satelit dan macam-macam perkara yang kita sendiri pun tak terfikir ada alat secanggih itu boleh mengesan bumi Iraq. Tapi semuanya tipu belaka dan kita diperbodohkan oleh media massa barat dan Yahudi.

Di negara kitapun sama, banyak cerita-cerita lucu misalnya cerita Memali, Sauk, JI, KMN dan macam-macam lagi yang semuanya tak ada fakta yang boleh dipegang secara kukuh bagi mereka yang menggunakan akal fikiran. Akhirnya ramailah dikalangan mereka yang tidak disenangi telah ditahan di bawah ISA tanpa bicara yang adil dan saksama. Bukan mereka sahaja menderita tetapi anak dan isteri juga merana kerana keangkuhan pemimpin yang zalim untuk mengekalkan kuasa.

Dulu pun sama, saya telah membawa artikel tentang Tok Janggut. Sejauh mana kita kenal Tok Janggut. Banyak mana fakta kebenaran yang kita perolehi daripada buku sejarah yang sekarang ini menjadi mata pelajaran wajib? Kita telah dibutakan dengan sejarah kita sendiri akhirnya perjuangan orang terdahulu seperti Tok Janggut, Mat Kilau, Datok Bahaman, Tuan Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong dll menjadi kabur dan sia-sia. Kita hanya dibanggakan dengan UMNO kononnya UMNOlah maka kita merdeka. Sekali kita ditipu, maka sekali lagi minda kita makin jumud.

Kita mengakui bahawa Dr Azahari adalah seorang pakar bom, beliau banyak menghabiskan masa dan harta untuk membantu perjuangan masyarakat Islam yang di tindas di Maluku, Ambon, Selatan Thailand, Mindano, Afghanistan, Chechen dll. Kita disembunyikan dengan fakta bagaimana masyarakat Islam di Maluku yang dibunuh, mereka dibakar dan ada dikalangan mereka disembelih, tidak lain tidak bukan kerana mereka ini adalah orang-orang Islam. Sebagai seorang Islam memang terdetik dalam jiwa untuk membantu mereka, sebagaimana Salahudin Al Ayub yang datang membela seorang perempuan Islam yang permainkan.

Dr Azahari yang hidup senang lenang meninggalkan kemewahan dunia menjadi manusia buruan kerana menegakkan perjuangan dan maruah umat Islam.

Kita pula jangan terpedaya dengan sumber-sumber berita Yahudi yang cuba memburuk-buruk imej perjuang Islam dengan pengeboman di tempat-tempat awam. Ini semua permainan Amerika dan mereka telah mengenakan tekanan kepada kerajaan Indonasia membawa kepada pemburuan Dr Azahari Husin.

Perkara yang sama juga berlaku kepada Abu Bakar Basir pun dituduh mendalami semua ini, tetapi apabila tidak ada bukti yang jelas dan kerajaan Indonasia yang mendapat tekanan Amerika akhirnya mengurung beliau dengan tuduhan yang tidak jelas. Semua perjuang Islam digambarkan sebagai manusia yang tak ada berperi kemanusiaan membunuh orang sesuka hati. Itulah kehandak Amerika akhirnya kita dimanipulasi dengan maklumat yang jahat dan serong.

Kita tidak mahu tertipu sebagaimana terdedahnya penangkap 2 askar komando elit Amerika di Iraq dengan pakaian seperti Mujahidin yang mempunyai senjata dan bom yang banyak yang seolah-olah Mujahidin melancarkan serangan kepada penduduk awam.

Kita juga tidak mahu tertipu dengan pendedahan penyembelihan tahanan awam oleh kumpulan Jihad adalah lakonan dan mereka yang menyembelih memakai cincin emas dan terdapat banyak keraguannya.

Siapa sebenarnya yang mengebom tempat-tempat awam? Kita perlukan bukti yang jelas dan kukuh. Jangan sampai kita terperdaya dengan tipu helah musuh.

Saya masih ingat lagi semasa saya berbual dengan pakar saraf UMNO yang telah bersara setelah 22 tahun berkhidmat dengan UMNO untuk menatuhkan imej PAS.

Antara lain yang disebut, semasa pilihan raya Pemuda Lasak UMNO akan membakar markas-markas atau bendera UMNO. Bila masyarakat melihat perkara ini maka timbul simpati kepada UMNO dan rasa marah kepada PAS yang kertelaluan.

Bukan sahaja perkara yang besar, malah perkara yang kecil juga dititk beratkan dalam saraf jelas beliau. Misalnya zaman dahulu kepercayaan orang Melayu apabila ada biawak melintas menunjukkan alamat tidak baik. Orang-orang UMNO akan menangkap biawak untuk dilepaskan dalam ceramah-ceramah PAS yang akan memberikan kesan kepada orang atas pagar. Perkara ini berlaku di zaman era 60an.

Soalnya Dr Azahari mati atau tidak bukan soal penting tetapi yang perlu kita perjelaskan di sini imej buruk yang diberikan kepada Dr Azahari dan perjuang-perjuang Islam. Mula-mula kita diberitahu bahawa Dr Azahari meletupkan diri sendiri dalam serbuan yang disertai oleh 10 askar elit Indonasia yang dilatih khas oleh Amerika. Kemudian ada penafian tentang berita ini.

Apakah implikasi daripada berita tentang membunuh diri sendiri? Terdetik dalam diri kita bahawa ini satu perjuangan yang tak betul, bunuh diri sendiri. Secara halus jarum propaganda untuk memburuk imej Dr Azahari telah berjaya. Malah inilah yang digunakan oleh Yahudi untuk memburuk-buruk perjuang Islam, yang juga sama dilakukan oleh kerajaan Malaysia terhadap perjuang Islam di negara kita.

Saya ingin mengambil satu petikan dalam akhbar Harian Metro.
Berdasarkan laporan dipetik daripada laman web sebuah akhbar Indonesia, rumah sewa itu turut didakwa dihuni Abu Mujahid dan isterinya dikenali sebagai Lastari.

Bagaimanapun, penduduk setempat mendakwa Abu Mujahid dan isterinya menghilangkan diri tiga hari sebelum sambutan Aidilfitri lalu.

Hasil pemeriksaan terhadap rumah terbabit, polis menemui 40 butir peluru raifal M-16, 10 peluru pistol Colt .38mm, pisau belati dan beberapa dokumen penting dikaitkan dengan aktiviti pengganas.

Selain itu, polis Indonesia turut menemui buku berjudul Osama Bin Laden dan Imam Samudra Dari Bali ke Jateng selain beberapa buku berhubung teknik membuat senjata api.

Kalau baca aje berita ini kita mungkin merasa keraguan kerana Abu Mujahid menghilangkan diri tetapi meninggalkan banyak maklumat, termasuk panduan membuat senjata api.

Oleh kita tanganilah berita Dr Azahari ini dengan profesional dan matang jangan sampai minda kita dimasukkan dengan maklumat-maklumat ‘rubbish’

By: Abu Jihad /abujihad98@ yahoo.com
Source: http://tranungkite.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3512

ISLAM: ANTARA MELAYU DAN CINA
Oleh: Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

Kadang kala penggunaan istilah yang salah boleh membawa kesan yang sangat buruk kepada kefahaman orang lain terhadap sesuatu perkara. Lebih malang lagi jika ianya membabitkan kefahaman orang terhadap agama.Dalam pemerhatian saya, antara fahaman yang buruk yang membabitkan agama ialah menjadikan melayu nama ganti kepada Islam, dan cina sebagai ganti kepada kafir.Maka ada orang melayu yang menyatakan kepada orang yang baru menganut Islam "masuk melayu", atau kadang kala mereka sebut "bukan Islam, cina!!". Seakan-akan bagi mereka cina mewakili kafir, melayu mewakili Islam. Sehingga lebih buruk lagi apabila mereka melebel sepanjang hayat seorang bukan muslim yang berbangsa cina jika menganut Islam sebagai muallaf , lebih buruk dalam loghat utara `mat loh’.

Seakan-akan hanya melayu sahaja yang dapat jadi muslim sejati, adapun seorang cina walau macamana kuat pun Islamnya, dia tetap dianggap sebagai menumpang atau
`tidak asli’. Padahal banyak orang cina yang menganut Islam dan keislaman mereka begitu baik, dan berapa banyak pula orang melayu yang lahir dalam keluarga muslim, namun keislaman mereka harus dan wajar dipertikaikan.

Kain pelikat, baju melayu dan sampin bukan pakaian Nabi s.a.w. Namun orang melayu menganggap ianya pakaian berunsur agama, kerana ianya budaya melayu. Ya!Islam juga tidak menghalang budaya yang tidak menyanggahi nas-nasnya. Namun seketika dahulu orang melayu menganggap salah jika makan dengan `cop stick’, kerana ianya menyamai budaya orang cina. Walaupun tiada beza antara makan dengan cop stick dengan makan menggunakan sudu dan garpu Inggeris. Apa yang Nabi s.a.w. suruh ialah menyebut nama Allah, menggunakan tangan kanan dan makan bahagian yang sudah diperuntukkan, atau yang hampir. Ini seperti sabda Nabi s.a.w kepada `Umar bin Abi Salamah waktu dia hendak makan, ketika itu dia masih kecil: "Wahai budak! Sebutlah nama Allah, makan dengan tangan kananmu dan makan apa yang dekat denganmu". (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

Orang melayu akan suruh orang cina yang menganut Islam menukar nama mereka, lalu diganti dengan nama arab. Seakan nama seperti Ah Chong, Ah Seng, Lim, Koh,
mewakili kekufuran. Mungkin kerana tidak berbunyi arab, lalu orang melayu rasa janggal. Malangnya orang melayu tidak merasa janggal dengan nama Awang, Leman,
Seman dan yang seumpamanya yang semuanya bukan bahasa arab. Bahkan banyak nama melayu yang tidak ada makna pun dalam bahasa arab. Lebih daripada itu, ada yang maknanya buruk jika diterjemahkan ke dalam dalam bahasa arab. Pun tidak mengapa kerana itu nama-nama pilihan melayu. Apakah melayu itu Islam, Islam itu melayu!!. Nabi s.a.w sendiri tidak menyuruh mereka yang menganut Islam pada zaman baginda mengubah nama, melainkan nama-nama yang membawa makna yang tidak baik. Nama `Umar itu sejak zaman jahiliyyah lagi dan itulah namanya apabila dia menganut Islam. Demikian juga kebanyakan para sahabah yang lain. Saya tidak membantah orang cina yang ingin mengubah nama. Apatah lagi jika dengan mengubah nama itu menjadikan mereka kelihatan hampir dengan masyarakat Islam di seluruh peringkat. Namun mereka mesti diberi pilihan. Jika mengubah nama menjadikan orang cina yang non-muslim takut untuk menganut Islam, seakan terbuang dari keluarganya yang asal dan hilang hubungan kerabat, apa salahnya mereka kekal dengan nama asal?!!. Jika Awang boleh kekal, mengapa Ah Chong tidak?!!.

Anggapan yang men`seiras’kan Islam dengan watak melayu sangat buruk kesannya dalam banyak hal. Apatah lagi apabila watak bangsa melayu sekarang sebahagiannya bertentangan dengan Islam. Sementara banyak watak bangsa cina banyak padanya akhlak dan tabiat yang dipuji oleh Islam. Cumanya kelebihan yang tidak dapat dipertikaikan, ramai orang melayu bariktikad dengan akidah Islam berbanding dengan orang cina di Malaysia ini. Aqidah yang sahih adalah penyelamat utama kehidupan akhirat. Namun tidak boleh dinafikan, ramai melayu yang hanya bernama dengan nama seorang muslim,sedangkan keimanannya kepada Allah dan RasulNya kadang-kala telah lama musnah. Betapa banyak melayu melakukan syirik, mempersendakan hukum-hakam Allah dan sunnah RasulNya. Melayu jenis ini hanya bernama dengan nama muslim, tetapi tidak berada dalam daerah iman, atau dalam kata lain terbatal imannya. Orang cina pula, disebabkan fonomena sejarah,menjadikan majoriti mereka tidak menganut Islam. Seruan Islam mungkin tidak jelas sampai ke pengetahuan mereka. Ditambah lagi orang melayu yang menganut Islam ini tidak menyampaikan dakwah yang jelas. Sebaliknya dalam banyak hal mpertontonkan kepada mereka watak-watak yang menyanggahi Islam. Orang melayu boleh berbincang bermacam-macam perkara dengan orang cina,termasuk mengajak undi parti pilihan mereka. Namun mereka tidak mampu membincangkan mengenai kehebatan Islam, dan mengajak orang cina menganut agama pilihan mereka. Bahkan sikap-sikap melayu yang banyak tidak seiras dengan Islam telah menjadikan sebahagian besar orang cina salah faham terhadap Islam, atau merasa jelek untuk menganut Islam.

Sifat `tidak rajin’, kurang berusaha, berdendam kesumat dan seumpamanya adalah sifat-sifat yang diperangi oleh Islam. Malangnya, banyak sifat-sifat ini terlihat pada diri masyarakat melayu. Ramai pelajar melayu yang lemah serta ketinggalan dalam pelajaran dan ilmu pengetahuan. Jika mereka bersaing dengan pelajar cina, samada di sekolah atau universiti, dalam banyak keadaan pelajar melayu kecundang. Hinggakan dalam persoalan ilmu-ilmu Islam, orang melayu tidak berminat dengan ilmu Islam yang tulen. Mereka lebih minat cerita-cerita Israiliyyat,cerita dongeng, petua-petua yang tidak bersumberkan al-Quran dan al-Sunnah. Mereka lebih suka maklumat yang diperolehi secara mudah tanpa fikir dan kaji. Perpustakaan-perpustakaan awam dan buku-buku, nisbah orang melayu yang mengguna dan membaca masih lagi nipis. Lebih buruk lagi, dalam masa pelajar-pelajar cina berusaha dalam pelajaran mereka, pelajar-pelajar melayu ramai pula yang cuai. Namun begitu apabila hampir kepada tarikh peperiksaan sesetengah ibubapa melayu akan mencari kismis jampi atau air jampi ustaz untuk menghasilkan keputusan yang cemerlangan. Hasilnya, apabila keputusan peperiksaan keluar,pelajar yang berusaha tentu lebih cemerlang daripada yang hanya bergantung dengan air atau kismis jampi. Kalau orang cina yang belum Islam tersalah faham tentang Islam dengan menganggap perbuatan pelajar melayu yang bergantung dengan air yang dianggapnya agama Islam, lalu mendapat keputusan yang kurang baik daripadanya, tentu dia menolak Islam.

Islam tidak mengajar hanya berjampi untuk menjadi cerdik. Dalam hadith ada beberapa orang sahabah yang dido`akan oleh Nabi s.a.w. agar diberikan ilmu dan kepandaian. Antaranya tokoh sahabah yang masih muda Ibn `Abbas r.a.huma yang baginda doakan untuknya : "Ya Allah! Ajarkanlah dia al-Kitab (al-Quran).(Riwayat al-Bukhari). Ibn `Abbas benar-benar muncul sebagai tokoh ilmu pengetahuan, penafsir al-Quran dan sahabi yang alim yang menjadi rujukan umat. Namun Ibn `Abbas bukanlah seorang yang hanya menunggu hasilnya doa baginda datang bergolek, sebaliknya sejarah mencatatkan kesungguhan beliau dalam berusaha memperolehi ilmu. Selain daripada berkesempatan mengambil ilmu secara langsung daripada baginda s.a.w selama tiga puluh bulan. Kemudian baginda wafat ketika umur Ibn `Abbas tiga belas tahun. Beliau terus mengambil hadith daripada para sahabah seperti `Umar ibn Khattab, `Ali, Mu’az, bapanya sendiri iaitu `Abbas, `Abd al-Rahman bin `Auf, Abu Sufyan, Abu Zar,Ubai bin Ka’b, Zaid bin Thabit dan lain. Berguru al-Quran dengan Ubai bin Ka’b dan Zaid bin Thabit. (lihat: al-Zahabi, Siyar `Alam al-Nubala`, 3/332-337, cetakan: Maktabah al-Risalah, Beirut).

Ertinya terlaksananya kehendak Allah dengan peraturan yang Allah tentukan untuk alam ini, iaitu sebab musabab. Ilmu datang dengan usaha dan kesungguhan.Para ulama seperti al-Imam al-Bukhari (w. 256H),al-Imam al-Syafi`I (w. 204H), Ibn Taimiyyah (w. 728H) dan seumpama mereka mereka menjadi jaguh ilmu setelah bersungguh-sungguh untuk mendapatkannya. Ditanya al-Imam al-Syafi`i. Dalam Tawali al-Ta`nis bi Ma`ali Muhammad bin Idris karangan Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (w.852H ); kata Ibn Abi Hatim: "Aku mendengar al-Muzani (murid besar al-Imam al-Syafi`I) berkata: "Ditanya kepada al-Syafi`I: Bagaimana perasaan inginanmu terhadap ilmu?. Jawabnya: "Apabila aku mendengar satu perkataan yang belum pernah aku dengar, maka seluruh anggota inginkan jika mereka memiliki pendengaran agar dapat menikamati apa yang dinikmati oleh kedua telinga". Bagaimana halobamu terhadap ilmu?. Jawabnya: "Seperti haloba pengumpul harta yang begitu menjaganya dalam mencapai kelazatan hartanya". Bagaimana keadaan engkau mencari ilmu?. Jawabnya : "Seperti pencarian seorang wanita yang kehilangan anak tunggal". Demikianlah juga Syeikh al-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah yang disebut oleh muridnya al-Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (w. 751H) bahawa karangan gurunya mencapai 350 buku. Beliau dikatakan sentiasa mendampingi ilmu. Hidupnya dengan ilmu. Dalam Raudah al-Muhibbin Ibn al-Qayyim menyebut :"Syeikh kami (Ibn Taimiyyah) menceritakan kepadaku:"Apabila aku sakit, tabib menyatakan kepadaku :"Sesungguhnya mentelaahmu dan cakapmu dalam ilmu pengetahuan menambahkan sakitku". Jawabku:"Sesungguhnya aku tidak sabar untuk itu. Aku ingin menilai pandanganmu dengan ilmu perubatanmu; tidakkah jiwa apabila ia gembira dan suka maka tabiatnya menjadi kuat dan menolak penyakit?". Jawab dia: "Ya".
Aku berkata: "Sesungguhnya diriku bergembira dengan ilmu, maka tabiatnya menjadi kuat, lalu aku mendapati kerehatan".

Demikianlah para ulama yang cemerlang. Mereka tidak bergantung kepada air jampi atau pensel dan pemadam jampi sebelum memasuki peperiksaan. Juga tidak air
surah Yasin yang masyarakat melayu sering meminum airnya dengan melupakan kandungan ayatnya. Generasi lalu cemerlang kerana mementingkan ilmu dan ikhlas
kepada Allah dalam menuntutnya. Bukan hanya mementingkan sijil. Sikap mereka yang ikhlas terhadap ilmu dan berusaha agar benar-benar cemerlang dalam bidang yang diceburi membawa Islam gemilang dan terbina tamadun ilmunya.

Ramai anak melayu yang hanya mementingkan sijil tetapi tidak kualiti ilmunya. Akhirnya ramai yang mendapat sijil, namun tidak tertonjol kualitinya. Maka lahirlah golongan yang tiada sijil dan ada ilmu, dalam masa yang sama yang lebih malu ialah golongan yang ada sijil, tiada ilmu. Ini kerana mungkin mereka membaca sekadar untuk menjawab peperiksaan, apabila tamat peperiksaan ilmu pun hilang. Kalaulah air jampi benar-benar berfungsi tanpa perlukan kesungguhan ilmu tetapi akan betul dalam peperiksaan, maka itu tentu akan melahirkan lebih ramai pelajar lulus atau berjaya tanpa ilmu.

Kita kadang-kala patut memuji masyarakat cina. Ada anak-anak orang cina yang tidak tinggi persekolahan mereka, tetapi mempelajari sesuatu bidang dengan tekun sekali tanpa sijil. Mereka samada mewarisi ilmu ibubapa mereka, atau membelajarinya secara praktikal daripada orang lain. Maka ramai mekanik cina yang sijilnya tidak tinggi tetapi maju. Demikian juga kebanyakan taukeh-taukeh besar cina yang pakar dalam berbagai-bagai bidang peniagaan sekalipun tanpa sijil rasmi. Mereka terus mencari peningkatan. Tabiat kesungguhan ini adalah sesuatu yang disukai oleh agama. Agama menggalakkan agar kita sentiasa bergantung kepada Allah dan menambah ilmu. Firman Allah (maksudnya) "Katakanlah: Wahai tuhan! Tambahkan daku ilmu" (Surah Taha:113).

Walaupun ustaz melayu dan orang melayu selalu membaca hadith palsu "Tuntutlah ilmu walaupun ke negeri China" (Ini hadith yang palsu seperti yang disebut oleh para ulama. Lihat: Al-Jarrahi, Kasyf al-Khafa` 1/138, cetakan Dar Ihya al-Turath al-`Arabi, Beirut/ / Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Silsilah ad-Dha`ifah wa Al-Maudu`ah, 1/600, cetakan: Maktabah al-Ma`arif, Riyadh.). Orang cina tidak membaca hadith palsu ini, namun mereka bertungkus lumus menuntut ilmu. Budaya membaca di kalangan orang cina lebih kuat daripada orang melayu.

Islam agama yang hebat. Agama yang mengajar penganutnya amanah, dan tepat janji. Kalau seorang berniaga dia amanah dan tepat. Islam pentingkan kebersihan sehingga mensyaratkan kesucian dan kebersihan di dalam solat seorang muslim. Diharamkan perkara yang keji atau jelik. Diharamkan mendatangi isteri ketika haid. Diharamkan bangkai dan kekotoran. Ini semua membimbing seorang hidup muslim. Lihat firman-firman berikut :

Firman Allah dalam menggambarkan ciri-ciri mukmin sejati : (maksudnya) "Dan mereka yang menjaga amanah dan janjinya" (Surah al-Mu`minun:

Firman Allah tentang mengharamkan perkara-perkara yang jelik (maksudnya) : "Iaitu orang-orang yang mengikut Rasulullah (Muhammad s.a.w) Nabi yang Ummi, yang
mereka dapati tertulis (namanya dan sifat-sifatnya) di dalam Taurat dan Injil yang ada di sisi mereka. Ia menyuruh mereka dengan perkara-perkara yang baik, dan melarang mereka daripada melakukan perkara-perkara yang keji; dan ia menghalalkan bagi mereka segala benda yang baik, dan mengharamkan kepada mereka segala benda yang buruk; dan ia juga menghapuskan dari mereka beban-beban dan belenggu-belenggu yang ada pada pada mereka. Maka orang-orang yang beriman kepadanya, dan memuliakannya, juga menolongnya, serta mengikut nur (cahaya) yang diturunkan kepadanya (Al-Quran), mereka itulah orang-orang yang berjaya. (Surah al-`Araf :157)

Sabda RasululLah s.a.w : "Jauhilah neraka walaupun dengan (bersedekah) setengah biji tamar. Jika kamu tidak dapati, maka dengan perkataan yang baik".(Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim) Dalam perniagaan jika ruh dan semangat ini dibawa bersama, tentu orang melayu yang beragama Islam akan maju. Kedai atau perniagaannya tentunya bersih,barangannya terjamin halal, janjinya tepat, dan penampilannya di hadapan pelanggan memuaskan hati. Ini membawa keberkatan dan sekaligus dengan izin Allah kemajuan dalam perniagaannya. Malangnya, ramai melayu yang tidak mengambil ruh Islam dalam usahanya, sebaliknya ada yang percayakan kemunduran perniagaannya hanya kerana "buatan orang" atau "angkara dibomohkan". Saya tidak menolak wujudnya sihirnya. Al-Quran dan al-Sunnah mengakui kewujudannya dengan izin Allah. Namun setiap kali seseorang itu tidak laris atau bermasalah, dikaitkan dengan sihir yang sebahagian besarnya adalah dogengan bomoh, lalu dituduh orang itu dan ini. Beratus, mungkin beribu ringgit pulak terpaksa dibelanjakan untuk menaja jampi penangkis daripada bomoh-bomoh yang dianggap handal. Saya pernah ke sebuah kedai makan, lalu dia mengadu kepada saya bahawa kedainya kena sihir sehingga tidak laku. Saya secara kebetulan –alhamdulillah- mempunyai sedikit sebanyak pengetahuan mengenai sihir dan cara mengatasinya, mendapati tiada kesan-kesan boleh diangggap begitu. Sebaliknya, apa yang saya dapati,pengurusannya lembab, kurang bersih dan makanannya tidak enak. Dia melupakan ini semua lalu menuding jari ke pihak lain. Kalau benar ada bomoh yang hebat sehingga membangkrapkan peniagaan orang lain, suruh sahaja dia membangkrap barangan Amerika, tidak susah-susah kita nak boikot.

Bagaimana mungkin dalam keadaan seperti ini orang melayu ingin membawa Islam kepada orang cina yang belum muslim dan menceritakan Islam telah membentuk insan menjadi berkualiti. Sebaliknya, ramai peniaga cina jika dibandingkan dengan peniaga melayu lebih berkualiti pengurusannya dan menampilkan ciri-ciri yang boleh dibangga oleh pelanggan. Sehingga ramai orang melayu sendiri lebih percaya dalam banyak perkara kepada kualiti peniaga cina daripada bangsanya sendiri. Di mana `Abd al-Rahman bin `Auf , sahabi yang selalu dicanangkan sebagai contoh kepada umat Islam dalam perniagaan?!!. Mungkin orang cina yang majoritinya bukan muslim lebih menghayati watak tersebut daripada melayu.

Kebelakangan ini sudah agak ramai orang melayu yang terlibat dengan perniagaan dan menghasilkan keluaran sendiri. Namun jika kita perhatikan ianya masih dalam lingkungan yang sama. Kebanyakannya keluaran orang melayu masih berkaitan dengan ubat. Paling tidak dilupai ubat tenaga batin. Ada yang jual kismis jampi,kononnya dengan memakan akan jadi jadi cerdik dan bijak. Sebenarnya tiada satu hadith yang sahih pun yang menyebut demikian. Namun apa yang saya bimbang, orang akan menganggap orang melayu kebelakangan ini penuh dengan berbagai penyakit badan dan kelemahan akal. Dimanakah tanggungjawab fardu kifayah untuk memenuhi umat jika perniagaan kita masih sekitar "tenaga batin?!!".

Dalam ceramah agama, ada ramai juga ustaz-ustaz melayu masih lagi bermodalkan cerita dongeng dan kartun. Di samping riwayat Israiliyyat dan hadith-hadith palsu yang dibaca di dalam masjid dan surau, mereka menokok tambah kejadian-kejadian pelik untuk menarik perhatian pendengar. Cerita mayat jadi itu dan ini menjadi modal murahan. Dengan tidak dinafikan Allah mampu melakukan segala-galanya, namun sejarah menunjukkan Allah tidak bertindak kepada umat NabiNya yang akhir seperti mana kepada umat yang sebelumnya. Kalau Allah mahu, tentu mayat Abu Jahal, atau Abu Lahab terlebih dahulu akan menjadi contoh. Kedua-dua tokoh kekufuran itu, tidak juga mati terkejut, atau kerana penyakit misteri disebabkan kejahatan mereka. Sebaliknya kaum musliminlah yang berjihad dan menghapuskan keduanya di medan pertempuran. Islam meminta usaha, bukan menunggu tindakan Allah tanpa usaha. Firman Allah mengenai cabaran musyrikin terhadap Nabi s.a.w (maksudnya): Dan mereka berkata: "Kami tidak sekali-kali akan beriman kepadamu (wahai Muhammad), sehingga engkau memancarkan bagi kami matair dari bumi. Atau (sehingga) engkau mempunyai kebun dari pohon-pohon tamar dan anggur, kemudian engkau mengalirkan sungai-sungai dari celah-celahnya dengan aliran yang terpancar terus-menerus. Atau engkau gugurkan langit berkeping-keping ke atas kami, sebagaimana yang engkau katakan (akan berlaku); atau (sehingga) engkau bawakan Allah dan malaikat untuk kami menyaksikannya. Atau (sehingga) engkau mempunyai sebuah rumah terhias dari emas; atau (sehingga) engkau naik ke langit; dan kami tidak sekali-kali akan percaya tentang kenaikanmu ke langit sebelum engkau turunkan kepada kami sebuah kitab yang dapat kami membacanya. Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): "Maha Suci Tuhanku! Bukankah aku ini hanya seorang manusia yang menjadi Rasul?". Dan tiadalah yang menghalang orang-orang musyrik itu dari beriman ketika datang kepada mereka hidayah petunjuk,melainkan (keingkaran mereka tentang manusia menjadi Rasul, sehingga) mereka berkata dengan hairan: "Patutkah Allah mengutus seorang manusia menjadi Rasul?" (Surah al-Isra`: 90-94).

Demikian baginda s.a.w sendiri tidak mampu membuat apa yang dicabar tanpa keizinan Allah. Mereka meminta langit berkeping-keping turun ke atas kepada mereka, namun baginda menjawab "Aku hanya seorang insan yang diutuskan menjadi rasul". Allah s.w.t Yang Maha Bijaksana tidak pula memusnahkan kaum musyrikin dengan apa yang mereka minta, sebaliknya dijadikan kemusnahan mereka melalui sebab perjuangan golongan yang beriman. Apa yang pelik sesetengah ustaz atau penceramah agama itu membawa cerita yang jauh berbeza dengan tabiat sirah Nabi dan para sahabah. Kononya orang ini mayatnya jadi begini kerana tidak datang masjid, atau kerana terlalu kedekut dan seumpamanya. Yang ini pula tangannya lumpuh, atau berpenyakit badan kerana tidak mahu pergi haji. Mereka mengandaikan perkara yang tidak pasti.Boleh jadi seseorang yang sakit itu kifarah Allah ke atasnya kerana dosa tertentu. Namun boleh jadi juga di atas hikmah yang lain. Ramai orang salih juga sakit. Adapun cerita mayat jadi itu dan ini, kebanyakan andaian atau tokok tambah. Apa yang membimbangkan, ada media massa yang mengambil kesempatan lalu menjadikan tajuk-tajuk sebegini sebagai penarik pembaca setiap keluarannya. Sehingga seorang cina yang bukan muslim membaca dan berkata: "Teruknya orang melayu, mati macam-macam jadi. Kita orang cina melayu cakap kafir pun tak jadi ini macam. Kalau macam ini tak boleh masuk melayu punya agama laa. Bahaya! Nanti tuhan selalu marah punya, mati pun tak boleh senang".

Nyata, kadang-kala Islam melayu merosakkan kefahaman orang lain. Sepatutnya kesemua ustaz mengajar secara ilmiah dengan rujukan kitab-kitab muktabar. Bukan merekacipta, atau mengutip cerita-cerita di jalanan untuk popular. Jumlah orang melayu yang terlibat dengan dadah jauh lebih banyak daripada cina. Sehingga saya begitu pelik, jumlah orang melayu di Singapura lebih sedikit daripada orang cina, namun begitu, jumlah mereka yang terlibat dengan `benda haram’ itu tetap dipegang rekodnya oleh orang melayu. Bagaimana Islam hendak dikembangkan??!.

Banyak lagi kalau hendak diperkatakan. Sehinggakan saya terfikir, kalaulah melayu tidak memiliki aqidah Islam, tiada apa lagi yang istimewa untuk dibanggakan.Kalau orang cina mendapat aqidah Islam yang sahih, banyak perkara yang mereka miliki dapat membantu kekuatan Islam. Justeru itu menjadi tanggungjawab kita berusaha mengislamkan majoriti orang cina. Biar mereka kuasai negara ini, asalkan mereka mukmin yang beriman kepada seluruh ajaran Islam.Dengan sedar saya katakan setiap bangsa ada kekurangan dan kelebihan. Bukan tidak ada sifat-sifat melayu yang baik, banyak juga. Bukan tidak ada sifat-sifat cina yang buruk, ada. Namun orang melayu yang kebanyakan dianugerahkan Allah Islam, sepatutnya menonjolkan ciri-ciri yang baik lebih jelas dan nampak dibandingkan orang cina. Namun realiti menunjukkan sebaliknya.