MATRIC NUMBER : 257456

PROGRAMME : BAR - Foundation in Arabic Language (UY0000015)

BIRTH DATE : 12 September 2007 / 30 Sha'baan 1428H

AGE : 18 years old

NICKNAME : Syu @ Adah @ Nurin

HOMETOWN : Tawau, Sabah

SECTION : Usrah 60

PHONE NUMBER : 010-944 7482

E-MAIL : syuhadahbbb07@gmail.com

HOBBIES : Singing, cooking, listening to music, watching drama and drawing

AMBITION : Teacher

Today, I met my usrah members for the first time. We introduced ourselves to each other and get to know each other's name.

So, what did we learn today? We learnt about Adab of Seeking Knowledge and Al-Quran as the Book of Guidance. They are mainly about "adab".

Today is the second week of usrah.

The topic of this week's usrah is hadith Jibril and pillars of Islam.

Today is the third usrah session. (And also my birthday ☺️)

So today, we are doing revision about the pillars of Iman which we have learnt during kindergarten and primary school. We've also did a revision on this topic during high school.

But this week, we only discussed three out of six pillars of Iman.

Today's usrah lesson is a continuation of last week's lesson, the other three pillars of Iman.

The fifth week <3

This week, we learnt about Ihsan and Eschatology, and the Truth Behind the Judgement Day.

So, what is Ihsan?

Ihsan is a part of a trilogy of Islam. It's the highest level among this trio, above Islam (submission) & Iman (faith). Ihsan means doing good beautifully in order to perfecting your life. Ihsan is more than just worship. It's about being excellent in everything.

We need to know about the key elements of Ihsan if we want to practise Ihsan in our daily life. The key elements are:

- Worship Like You See God: Even if you don't see Him, know He sees you.

- Go Above & Beyond: Do more than the minimum required.

- Treat Others Excellently: Be kinder than just "fair."

So, how to practise Ihsan in our daily life?

- Recognize God's Favors: Be grateful for what you have.

- Be Kind to Creation: Treat animals and the environment well.

Eschatology (The Afterlife):

- Belief in the End: This world will end, and we'll be judged.

- Reward & Punishment: Good deeds lead to Paradise; bad to Hell.

- Why It's Important: Motivates ethical behavior; provides justice.

Ihsan and eschatology are closely related to each other. Do you want to know the connection between Ihsan and Eschatology?

- Ihsan = Paradise: Doing good excellently leads to God's pleasure and Paradise.

- Constant Awareness: A Muhsin (person striving for Ihsan) always feels like they are being watched by Allah Almighty, so they would try their best to do good deeds.

To sum up, we can conclude that Ihsan is striving for excellence in all aspects of life, with awareness of God. This path leads to Paradise.

We shared our insights on this topic first, " What kind of adab (manners) of seeking knowledge that you've heard before during your high school days?" At that time, I've learnt about many manners of seeking knowledge that I've never heard before such as, "We need to respect the pens and books in order to gain knowledge even better."

Then, we got into our lecture session!

What I learnt today:

The main purpose of seeking knowledge is to fulfill our responsibility as a Muslim. Seeking knowledge can bring us closer to our Creator, Allah Almighty.

There are two types of adab in seeking knowledge; outward manners and inward manners.

Outward manners: Refers to our actions, what we do to seek and gain new knowledge. For examples, repeating and reviewing our lessons, taking notes during lectures and asking bravely for answer to your questions.

Inward manners: Refers to manners in our hearts, inside ourselves, what we feel, what we think, our feelings and many more. Some examples of inward manners are intentions, goals in academic performance, and consistency in studying and doing revision.

I learnt about the purpose of Al-Quran as the Book of Guidance, which is to find the position of oneself as a creation of Allah SWT with responsibilities. I also got to know about the differences between Al-Quran and the other books too.

We were also being told about the contents of the Quran. There are so many of them. Some of them are sirah (stories of the prophets) and signs of creators.

Then, we learn about the adab of the Quran:

• To have wudhu when reciting

• Sit in a respectful manner

• Use a miswak

• Pronounce every letter correctly

• Place the Quran on a raised position

• Don’t let a day go by without looking at the pages of the Quran

• Don’t interrupt another’s reading

• Recite in a melodious tone

• Recite calmly and not fast

• Begin with Ta’awudh & Tasmiyah

• Use ‘itr before

• Close the Quran when not reading

• Handle the Quran with care & respect

• Do not place other books on top of the Quran

Last but not least, we got to know that the best way to learn from the Quran, which is trying to look for reliable translations and social media channels of English and Arabic scholars to be compared to local scholars.

The hadith explains to us about the messages from the Messenger of Allah SWT. He said:

"Islam is to testify that :-

• there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah,

• to perform prayers, to give zakaah,

• to fast in Ramadaan,

• and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so."

The hadith also explains to us some of definitions of the things that are important in Islam, the Hour, and it's signs.

Then, we learnt about the Hadith of Jibril (Gabriel) and its significance in Islam:

Definition: The Hadith of Jibril is a significant hadith where the Prophet Muhammad explained the concepts of faith (Iman), Islam, and excellence (Ihsan). It also covers the signs of the Hour (end times).

Comprehensive Insights: This hadith provides deep insights into the fundamental aspects of faith, worship, and the unseen realms.

Jibril's Role as a Teacher: Jibril acted as a teacher in this context. He asked questions that the companions already knew the answers to. This method was used to teach others, as he came to question and educate, not to learn himself.

Knowledge and Confirmation: Jibril was knowledgeable, and after the Prophet Muhammad clarified matters, Jibril would confirm the truth of what was said, indicating his role in verifying the teachings.

Hadith Jibril & Adab of Seeking Knowledge

Hadith Jibril highlights proper etiquette and manners in the pursuit of knowledge:

Polite Treatment of Teachers: A teacher should be treated with politeness, similar to how Jibril (peace be upon him) respectfully sat before the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to learn from him.

Refer to Knowledgeable People/Scholars: Seek guidance and knowledge from those who are knowledgeable and scholars in matters of religion. - Arabic Text: الرُّجوع إلى أهل العلم في أمور الدين (Refer to the people of knowledge in matters of religion).

Don't Be Afraid/Shy/Hesitate to Ask: It is important not to be afraid, shy, or hesitant when asking questions to gain knowledge.

Don't Be Afraid to Say "I Do Not Know": One should not be afraid to admit when they do not know something, as acknowledging ignorance is the first step towards learning.

After that, we study about the Pillars of Islam (which we have been taught since kindergarten). Five Pillars of Islam are the fundamental tenets of the Muslim faith.

These pillars are depicted as columns supporting a structure:

Declaration of Faith (Shahadah): Declaring that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.

Obligatory Prayer (Salah): Performing ritual prayers five times a day, facing the Kaaba in Mecca.

Compulsory Giving (Zakat): Giving a portion of one's wealth to charity.

Fasting in the Month of Ramadan (Sawm): Abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj): Making a pilgrimage to Mecca, if physically and financially able, to perform a set of rituals.

Last lesson is about importance of Pillars of Islam, their effects on individuals and the community:

- Strengthen bond with Allah

- Strengthen bond with others

- refining souls and avoiding major sins

- Make us the real servants of Allah

1. Belief in Allah (God):

This is the first and most crucial element upon which Islamic faith is established.

Dalil: Quran emphasizes Allah's oneness, creation, and sustenance of the universe.

Application to this Belief:

To fulfill this pillar, one must accept the oneness of Allah, recognizing that there is only one God worthy of worship, with no partners or offspring. We can strengthen our belief in Allah through:

- Regular five daily prayers

- Quranic reflection

- Observing the natural world's order

- Believe in the way Allah is described in the Quran and Sunnah.

2. Belief in the Malaikah

This belief refers to accepting the existence of angels as spiritual beings created by Allah to carry out His commands and fulfil various roles, including recording deeds, delivering messages, and praising Allah.

Dalil: Angels are created by Allah from light. They record deeds, deliver revelations, and praise Allah.

Application to this Belief:

We must remember that unseen angels witness our actions, encouraging righteous behaviour; eventually we'll afraid to do wrong things that can lead to sin as we know that the Malaikah is always there to write our deeds and wrongdoings.

3. Belief in Kutub:

We affirming the divine origin of the scriptures revealed by Allah to His messengers, including the Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, and al Quran, as sources of guidance and wisdom for humanity.

Dalil: Allah revealed holy books to prophets for guidance.

Application to this Belief:

We need to study and follow the teachings of these books, especially the Quran, so we can live our life following the Shariah.

The first one is called the 369 Game. And guess what? I won that game! (That was unexpected because I thought I'm going to lose. 😌)

The second game is the famous MAFIA GAME! And I was killed during the game because they thought I'm one of the mafia. (I'm a CITIZEN. 😭) But it was a really fun game. Also, there's too much plot twists when we played this game 🥹.

Prayer Shaped The Noble Character in the Life of Teenagers

Group 3 members consists of:-

• Ain

• Qistina

• Uzma

• Nurin (me)

• Anis

• Aisyah

4. Belief in Rasul and Anbiya' (The Messengers and the Prophets)

This belief refers to an action of believing in all Messengers (Rasul) and Prophets (Anbiya), which is the key in Islam.

What is the meaning of this belief?

- Same Message: All prophets brought the same core message: worship God alone (Tawhid).

- Truthful & Trustworthy: All prophets were honest and reliable.

- Follow Muhammad (PBUH): As the final prophet, we follow his teachings.

So, why do we need prophets in our life as a living in this Earth?

- Guide to God: Show us how to worship God properly.

- Purpose of Life: Explain why we're here (to worship God).

- The Right Path: Lead to Paradise.

- No Excuses: So people can't claim ignorance on Judgment Day.

- Unseen World: Tell us about angels, etc.

- Good Examples: Show us how to live morally.

As we all know, Muhammad (PBUH) is very special. What's so special about him?

- Sent to Everyone: For all people and jinn (spirits).

- Fear of Enemies: God helped him by making his enemies afraid.

- Prayer Anywhere: The whole earth can be used for prayer.

- Intercession: He can intercede (ask God for mercy) for believers.

As a Muslim, it is understandable we want to live like a prophet to follow the sunnah. To be like a prophet, we need to:

- Be Grateful: Thank God and people.

- Be Tolerant: Be understanding of others.

- Seek Forgiveness: Always ask for God's forgiveness.

- Be Simple: Don't be extravagant.

- Treat Everyone Equally: No race is better than another.

- Be Moderate: Avoid extremes in religion.

- Be Patient: Endure hardships.

- Be Humble: Don't be arrogant.

- Reflect: Check yourself and strive to be better.

- Be Kind: Treat others with compassion.

5. Belief in the Hereafter

This shows that belief in the Hereafter (life after death) is vital.

• It means:

- End of the World: The world will end on the Last Day (Qiyamah).

- Resurrection & Judgment: People will be resurrected, judged by God.

- Record of Deeds: Everyone's actions will be reviewed.

- Rewards & Punishment: Good people get rewarded; bad people get punished.

- Paradise & Hell: The final destinations.

Have you ever wonder why we need to believe in the Hereafter? Is it that important? Of course, it is!

- Fundamental to Islam: A key part of the religion.

- All Prophets Taught It: Every prophet emphasized it.

- Influences Behavior: Makes people think about the consequences of their actions.

There are so many benefits of believing in the qiyamah. Want to know how it can affect us in our life?

- Know Allah Better: Understand Allah's greatness.

- Love Meeting Allah: Look forward to Paradise.

- Fear Allah: Be aware of accountability.

- Do Good: Motivates good actions.

- Be Patient: Helps during hard times.

6. Belief in Qada and Qadar

We should know that belief in Qada (Divine Decree) and Qadar (Predestination) is essential in Islam.

So, what is Qada and Qadar?

• Qada (Divine Decree/Judgement): This refers to Allah's execution and ordainment of events as they happen.

• Qadar (Predestination): This shows Allah's prior knowledge and perfect planning of everything. That means that all of our fates and destinies are all written down since the beginning.

There are four pillars (components) of Belef in Qada and Qadar, which are:

- Allah's Knowledge: He knows everything, always.

- Written Record: Everything is written in a preserved tablet.

- Allah's Will: Nothing happens without His permission.

- Allah's Creation: He creates everything, including good and bad.

Of couse, there would be benefits in our life if we believe in Qada and Qadar.

- Inner Peace: Acceptance and contentment.

- Present Focus: Concentrate on what you're doing now.

- Strong Will: Motivates you to do good.

- Humility: Reduces arrogance.

- Trust in Allah: Rely on Him after doing your best.

- Good Character: Reduces jealousy and encourages good behavior.

The key concepts of our lesson today are:

- Eschatology: Study of the "end times" and the world's end.

- Signs of Qiyamah: Indicators the end is near. Know them to strengthen your faith.

We need to know that there three types of signs of Qiyamah, which are:

- Minor Signs: Some already happened; others haven't.

- Major Signs: Bigger events than the minor signs.

- Final Signs: The last things to occur before the Qiyamah starts.

There are too many minor signs of qiyamah, and some them have happened. Some minor signs are:

- Coming of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): He was the last Prophet.

- Tall Buildings: People competing to build high structures.

- Arabia Becomes Green: Desert areas becoming fertile again.

- Euphrates Gold: River reveals gold.

There are some informations that we need to know about Dajjal.

- Abilities: Controls rain, vegetation, has trials (fitnah).

- Power: Reject him, you suffer; believe, you prosper.

- Limitations: Can't enter Mecca and Medina (protected by angels).

- Description: With powers to bring hardship to people.

Imam Mahdi will come to us to bring Islam to the top. What we must know about Imam Mahdi are:

- Descendant of Prophet: From Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) family.

- Fills Earth with Justice: Rules fairly for seven years.

- Name is Similar to Prophet's: And his father's name too.

- Features: High forehead, hooked nose.

For our information, there are so many different views and opinions from scholars on the exact order of the major signs of qiyamah.

Some of the major signs of qiyamah are:

- Landslides: Three big ones from East, West and Arabia.

- Smoke (Dukhan): Real smoke or hardship. Believers get a cold; disbelievers suffer.

- Ya'juj & Ma'juj: Descendants of Adam (AS). They will break through a barrier, cause chaos, then die.

- Beast of the Earth (Dabbah): It will appear at some point.

- Gentle Wind: A wind will come from Yemen. It will take the souls of true believers. The worst humans will be left behind on earth.

In brief, we can conclude that this is about what Muslims believe will happen before the end of the world, with warnings and descriptions based on Islamic texts.

• I gain more knowledge about Islam. Some of the topics discussed during the usrah are something that I've already learnt from schools before, but in usrah sessions, I got to learn about it in a more detailed and thorough way. There are some key points and additional information of the topics that still amaze me every time I think about them.

• I met many wonderful people during usrah. They were so friendly and rich in humours. I was so surprised by their bright, cheerful, and energetic personality. Each of them has their own charms and aura that attract people.

• I got the opportunity to see and hear many different insights and point of views of other people. I finally can understand why they feel and think that way, why they had those kinds of opinions. I got to understand them through their explanations on each of their views on each topics discussed every week.

1. Invite seniors or alumni so new students can gain more helpful guidance and help.

2. Celebrate active members for every session through gifts, awards or certificates as a recognition and appreciation so other members would be motivated to do better in usrah.

3. Use project timelines and task checklists as a structured planning as this can help the naqibah to manage the sessions and lead the group easier.

4. Provide a better venue for usrah as it is a bit tiring and bothersome when a student has a class before or after the usrah session and their class venues are far away from the usrah venue.