NAME : Nur Adriana Batrisyia Binti Abdul Syukur

BIRTHDAY : 16 March 2006

MATRIC NUMBER : 244561

COURSE : FENG

BORN : Alor Setar, Kedah (Raised in Penang)

PREVIOUS SCHOOL : SMKA AL-IRSHAD

USRAH GROUP : 3 & 29

HOBBY : Playing Video games, join Taekwondo and listening to music especially Tay Tay.

   Furthermore, we need to keep in mind that we seek knowledge for good intention which is to become human or commodity and a good role model for society.  The knowledge that we had may be important and functions in the future. Besides, we need to bear in mind that when we are learning, we need to open our hearts and lower our ego in order to accept the knowledge. This informations make me realize that how important the manners are when seeking knowledge and I also believes that it gives some impact towards the other members of this usrah.

I'm back for another summary about our usrah. For our second session, we were discussing about the Hadith of Jibreel and surah Al-Baqarah ayah 284 until 286.

Based on the hadith, I learn a story about how Jibreel A.S asked 4 questions to Prophet Muhammad SAW. The questions are:

• What is Islam

  The answer is 5 pillars of Islam

• What is Iman

  It is the 6 pillars of faith

• What is The Hour

• What is the sign of the day of Judgement

In this story I'm able to know more about Islam and what we should know about the Day of Judgement. Besides, this hadith also teached me about adab when asking question from someone who is knowledgeable.

In conclusion, this session has help me to practice my adab when asking question and I'm able to understand more about Islam based from the hadith.

Our group was given the task to search the meaning of Ihsaan from surah Al Isra'. There are 2 types of Ihsaan from this surah which is Ihsaan towards family and Ihsan. Ihsaan is a concept in Islam that refers to the act of doing good or performing one's duties or any lawful task in the best possible way, with excellence and perfection. Some examples of Ihsan that can be applied is perform our 5 daily prayers, treating others with kindness and performing our Amanah such as in verse 34 from Surah Al-Isra' with the right intentions; do it for Allah, not for praise. It is important to instill Ihsaan in ourselves not for self-improvement, however, it also to strengthen the bonds between one another in society and bringing us closer to Allah.

On the other hand, eschatology is the knowledge of the End Times that a field of studies concerning future events that would happen in the End Time. Eschatology can influence one's Iman in both ways; both good and bad. Some may give up on doing good deeds while the others will continue to repent to Allah due to the fear of what's coming.

Overall, this group discussion can increase our understanding about Ihsaan and eschatology. Hence, it is important to know and learn it.

Our group consist of 5 members. We were assigned to do a poster about "Adab In Questioning". The poster above is the poster that my groups and I have created.

For this usrah session, we discussed about the Prophets, Hereafter and Qada' and Qadar. This session explain the meaning and why we are to believe in the Prophets, Hereafter and Qada' and Qadar.

1) Prophets

• It refers to a firm belief that Allah sent a Messengers to every nation and to call them to worship Allah alone without any partner.

• Prophets are necessary to convey Allah's instructions and guidance for mankind. Without this knowledge, we would be unable to answer the fundamental questions of our existence.

2) Hereafter

• Believing in life after death requires someone to belief that the life of this world and of all that is in it will come to an end on an appointed day. Everything will be annihilated. The day is called Al-Qiyamah. Those who demonstrate exceptional virtue will be rewarded, while those who did good deeds outweigh their transgressions will suffer the severe punishment.

• Belief in Hereafter is an essential part of the teachings of the Prophets and it is a condition of being a Muslim.

3) Qada' and Qadar

• Belief in pre-destination is one of the articles of faith in Islam. This belief led to contentment and satisfaction, even in the face of hardship and adversity. The technical meaning of Al-Qadar is Allah's complete knowledge that is written in the Safe Tablet, His Will exist before the existence of all things and His Creation of all things happen by His Command and Will.

• We must belief in Qada' and Qadar as it will gives you the will power and determination to go forward in the way of Allah ant teaches you to be modest, humble and content.

  
  

Overall, today session has given me a clear view about my faith and knowledge in the Prophets, Hereafter and Qada' and Qadar.

Assalamualaikum w.b.t everyone! Today is the first day of usrah in Sem 2. I'm excited and happy about this usrah because I'm able to meet new members and able to learn some very interesting information about USRAH.

Today we learned about Usrah, which means "family" in arabic. For your information, usrah has existed since the time of prophet Muhammad (SAW). It started after the second revelation when the Prophet gathered a small group of his closest companions at the house of Al Arqam bin Abi Al Arqam to share the message of Islam. Later, an Egyptian scholar named Imam Hassan Al Banna officially introduced the term Usrah, and since then, it has inspired Muslims worldwide to practice it in their communities.

According to Imam Hassan Al Banna,

Usrah has 4 fundamentals, which are:

• Taaruf : learned about usrah members background.

• Tafahhum : It means mutual understanding between usrah members. Usrah discussions help members understand each other's view and needs, thus strengthen the bonds.

• Taawun : Mutual help and cooperation among its members.

• Takaful : It means members are responsible for each other's well-being. They share each other's burdens, offering support in various ways.

Second topic that I learned is Ibadah. Ibadah is an Arabic word that means "worship" or "act of devotion". When we performed Ibadah, we must do it with full devotion. There are a few terms to have a precious Ibadah which are:

• Set right intentions - Right intentions make worship sincere and valuable to God. They help us focus and avoid distractions during worship. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Actions are only by intentions, and every person will have what he intended".

• Right amal - when we have right intentions, we must act accordingly. Each action must based on the Quran and the Sunnah.

• Ihsan - Ihsan is striving for excellence in faith and actions, worshipping God (Allah) as if you see Him, knowing He always sees you. This involves sincerity in worship, excellence in all deeds, and inner/outer purity, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Indeed, Allah has prescribed Ihsan in everything."

In conclusion, knowledge is very important as it could improve our Ibadah. Thus, we should seek it.

Today is the second Usrah for this sem. The topic that we learned today is about Ibadah and its Hikmah. The main purpose of our creation is to worship and serve Allah. It means that Ibada is obligatory upon all Muslims. As we performed Ibadah, we will also get the benefits. There are a few examples of Ibadah and its Hikmah:

1. Salah (prayers)

   • Salah is the second pillar of Islam and an essential act of worship performed 5 times daily.

   • It helps us prevent sins, as mentioned in Surah Al-Ankabut (29:45).

   • To make the prayers more effective, there are 3 ways to do it which are Ikhlas (Sincerity), Khawf (Fear of God's punishment) and Zikrullah (Remembrance of Allah).

   • Salah also strengthens the connection between a Muslim and Allah in terms of spiritual, mental and physically.

2. Sawm (fasting)

   • Allah stated int the Quran Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183) : "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (muttaqun)". This verse stated the obligation of fasting and highlight its purpose.

   • The hikmah of fasting is the feeling of empathy for the needy naturally occur by experience it with hunger and thirst.

   • Fasting can improve our health such as improved blood sugar control. This could prevent people from diabetes. Fasting also can lead to weight loss.

3. Zakah

   • Zakah often translated as "purification" or "growth" and it involves giving a specific potion of one's wealth to eligible recipients.

   • Based on Surah Al-Baqarah (2:43), the verse emphasizing its importance as a fundamental of worship.

   • One of the Hikmah of Zakah is purification of wealth as it is pure and source of prosperity.

   • Zakah is able to promote economic justice and reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.

   • The benefits of zakah is that it able to support the needy because Zakah funds can be used to support various community needs.

4. Hajj (pilgrimage)

   • Based on the Surah Al-Imran (3:97), it is clear that Hajj is a duty for those who have the istita'ah (means or ability) to undertake it.

   • One of its Hikmah is spiritual Purification as Hajj is a journey of spiritual cleansing, allowing pilgrims to seek forgiveness for their sins and renew their commitment to Allah.

   • From Hajj our sins can be forgiven as it is believed Hajj can be a means of forgiveness for past sins.

As conclusions, Ibadah, acts of worship in Islam, are a holistic way of life designed to strengthen our connection with God, purify our hearts, and cultivate righteous character, ultimately leading to a life pleasing to Him.

Today our Usrah was held virtually but it's still filled with knowledge. The Topic that we learned for this third meeting is how to prepare ourselves to gain Khusyu' in prayer. There are 3 ways to gain khusyu' in prayer:

1. TAHARAH

   • The body - there shouldn't be any najasah or impurity in our bodies.

   • The clothing - clothes should be free from any visible impurities. If they tainted with blood or najasah, it must be clean as stated in the Quran Surah Al-Muddassir (74:4).

   • The place - The area where we pray should also be clean. This involves removing any visible impurities and ensuring the space is free from anything that would distract or disrespect the act of worship. Hadith describe the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cleaning the mosque and encouraging his companions to do so.

2. HOW TO ATTAIN KHUSYU'

   • We must prepare in terms of mental and physical such as set right intentions and performed wudu with mindfulness.

   • Understand the meaning of the verses you recite in prayer.

   • Perform prayer with deliberation and focus on each posture and its meaning.

   • Imagine yourself standing before Allah, feeling His presence and His mercy. (Ihsan)

3. EFFECTS OF KHUSYU'

   • Focus and prepare

   • prepare for prayer

   • clean ourselves and brush our teeth

   • do not pray when food's ready

   • do not pray when you got the nature's calling

4. THINGS THAT HINDER KHUSYU'

   • Syubhat

   • Syahwat

In conclusions, in order to gain khusyu' in salah, we must prepare our hearts and minds by focusing on the meaning of the prayer, maintaining sincerity, and eliminating distractions both internally and externally.

For today session, we've learned about virtues of Khusyu' in Salah. Salah is a foundation of Muslim's life, a direct connection with Allah. Khusyu' in prayer is a state of deep humility, concentration, and devotion, where the heart and mind are fully immersed in the worship of Allah, free from distractions, as Allah mentions in Surah Taha, verse 14. Salah without khusyu' is acceptable but without khusyu' the reward will be reduced.

• LOYALTY - Loyalty comes from Khauf (fear of Allah), leading to total obedience to His commands. The angels did not rebel against any of His laws. If we find ourselves rebellious outside of salah, it may be time to reassess our prayer.

• STRUGGLE IN THE PATH OF ALLAH - Striving in the path of Allah is a fundamental part of life, as every aspect involves jihad. Through jihad, we develop patience and perseverance. If we can remain patient in our prayers, we will have the strength to overcome all challenges in life.

• HUMBLENESS - Surah Al-A'raf (7:55) teaches us the importance of humbleness, reminding us of our position as servants of Allah. We bow and prostrate only to Him, humbling ourselves without feeling superior to others. As Allah states, the only true distinction between people is their level of taqwa (piety).

• REFLECT - We should make reflection a daily habit, as it helps us continuously improve. Too often, we focus on comparing ourselves to others instead of reflecting on our own actions and behavior. By taking the time to reflect, we can grow and become better individuals.

• MODESTY - It means avoiding sinful behavior and desires. When we successfully preserve our aurah in Salah, control our voice, and speak softly without harsh words, we should be able to maintain the same conduct outside of Salah as well.

Today my group which is Group 1 has done our role play but before the role play begin, our Usrah group have learned about Virtues of Sawm (fasting).

Fasting has been a spiritual practice for centuries, long before Prophet Muhammad SAW was sent as the final messenger of Allah SWT. It’s not just a part of Islam—Jews and Christians also observe fasting. The Qur’an even mentions that Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus, Prophet Zakaria, and Maryam A.S. regularly fasted throughout their lives. Beyond these faiths, Hindus and Buddhists also fast as a way to strengthen their spirituality and reach a state of inner peace, known as "nibbana."

EFFECTS OF FASTING :

• Syukur - Fasting helps us appreciate the blessings we often take for granted, like food, water, and health. When we experience hunger and thirst, we realize how dependent we are on Allah's provisions. This awareness leads to deeper gratitude, making us more mindful of His mercy and generous in sharing with those in need.

• Sabr (patience) - Fasting is a powerful exercise in self-restraint. It teaches us to control our desires and endure difficulties with patience. Whether it’s resisting food, managing emotions, or handling challenges, fasting strengthens our ability to remain steadfast. This patience extends beyond Ramadan, helping us navigate life's hardships with resilience and trust in Allah’s plan.

PLAY ROLE

Group 1 decided to present a topic about Khusyu'. In this session, we explained about the importance of khusyu', hikmah, verse from the Quran that is related to khusyu' and a story about a companion of the Prophet that is related to Khusyu'.

Today Usrah we've learned about Virtues of Zakah. Zakah purifies and cleanses wealth from all forms of impurity and is considered a form of charity. It should be paid before the month of Ramadan. There are different types of zakah, including zakat fitrah (given during Ramadan) and zakat on wealth or business. The obligation of zakah is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:277).

1. EFFECTS OF ZAKAH

   • Social responsibility: Encourages humility, charity, and generosity.

   • Spiritual benefits: Strengthens faith and reliance on Allah.

2. DIIFFERENCES BETWEEN ZAKAH AND SADAQAH

   • Zakah is obligatory and has specific conditions.

   • Sadaqah is voluntary and has no conditions.

3. VIRTUES OF ZAKAH

   • Tawakkul (Trust in Allah):

     Helps believers trust in Allah’s divine plan. Recognizing that all sustenance comes from Allah and wealth is a trust given to us. Believing that giving to others will lead to receiving blessings in return.

   • Strengthening Brotherhood (Ukhwah): Reduces jealousy and envy among people.

     Strengthens relationships between individuals and the community.

   • Closeness to Allah:

     Strengthens faith and trust in Allah’s provision. Believers give wealth with the confidence that Allah will replace it with something better.

   • Impact on the Afterlife:

     Zakah has a significant effect on one’s fate in the Hereafter.