The Meaning of Life

By Talk Islam

What we are doing here and where we gonna go?

It’s like we just woke up one morning and then it’s welcome to the show.

Don’t ask any questions! Just go with the flow!

Make as much money as you can and try your best not to get broke!

Copy everything you see on the TV from the hairstyles to the clothes and, don’t think too often just do exactly as you told!

And if you ever get confused then just turn towards the alcohol.

You still hear your thoughts?

Then just turn up the radio as you learn to live a lifestyle of drugs, sex, and rock and roll.

But in all honesty, I just need to know.

Is there more to the cycle than growing and getting old?

Living and dying just to leave behind happy home and a whole lot of property that somebody else is going to own.

I just really need to know before the caskets closed.

Cause I’m not willing to gamble with my soul nor am I ready to take any chances.

These are just simple life questions and I’m just searching for some answers.

Like what are we doing here and what is our purpose?

How did we get here and Who made us so perfect?

And what happens once we go or is this world all really worth it?

Questions we don’t answer because apparently we don’t really have to.

There is no purpose to this life and our existence is merely natural?

In that case, please let me ask you!

Did you create yourself or was it Somebody else Who had fashioned you?

Because you are being that impeccable, faultless, and unparalleled.

You are a product to supreme intelligence and I’m merely being rational.

For there isn’t a camera on this earth that can come close to the human eye nor a computer that can compete alongside the human mind.

And if the whole world was to come together, we wouldn’t be able to create a single fly.

So many sign, yet we still deny.

As science tries to justify that all this could come from none when it’s a simple sum; zero plus zero plus zero cannot possibly ever give you one.

So from where did all this order come?

For everything has its origins, a maker, a creator of its own.

I mean, the only reason you’re watching this video is because somebody had to press upload.

So you can believe in the big bang but I’d rather believe in He Who caused it to explode.

Allah, The Creator of everything along with every single soul.

The Ever living, The Master, The Only One Who is in control.

Unlike His creation, beyond our imagination, and no!

He is not a man nor has be any partners in association.

He’s on His own.

And no! He do not ever leave us alone.

Just like every manufacture, He left us with an instruction manual.

The Qur’an and Islam and I’m sorry to jump to conclusion, but it’s the only one possible.

The only definition of God as The One and Only, supreme being it’s logical.

A book with zero contradiction with miracles that are both scientific and historical.

All revealed over 1400 years ago.

Like the detail description of human embryo.

To the mountains as pegs holding firm the earth below.

And the two seas that don’t mix in a complete separate flow.

To the planets in orbit alternating night and day as they stay in float.

The expansion of the universe and the creation of everything from H2O.

To the stories of past and the preservation of Fir’aun.

To identify the lowest point in the land where Persian defeated Rome.

The gushing fluid that created man in the glands between the ribs and the backbone.

And not a word has changed, it’s still the same.

So please explain how all this was known over 1400 years ago.

To a man who couldn’t read or write, as he would recite whatever the angle spoke.

And if you still don’t believe, please try come up with something that is even close.

But you can’t.

So we took God as a mockery and His messenger as a joke.

Dismissed His scriptures as legends and tales of the ancient folk.

As we live life according to our whims, desires, and hopes.

Saying this life is the only home we will ever know.

We will live then die and simply turn to bones.

YOLO (You Only Live Once)

Correction: After the grass dies, the rain arrives and it re-grows and Allah promises to do the same thing to your very soul and bring you back from your very fingertips to your toes.

As the all Seeing Supreme Being watches us so close as we are surely being tested.

In our wealth, our health, ourself, and everything that we’ve been blessed with.

So believe for we will surely be resurrected and be brought back to Lord in account for every single deed.

As He hands us our books and orders us to “READ!”

From the bad to the good and everything in between.

You, yourself are sufficient for your own accountability.

So, don’t be mad at me!

You were the one thought he wouldn’t come back to Me.

I gave you a whole life long to search after Me.

But you were so busy chasing all that which was temporary.

So, read!

And glad tidings to all those who believe.

And if you disbelieve, READ!

And don’t let that day be the first day you find out what’s your life really means!

READ!

The Transcript was written from video published by Talk Islam.

To watch the video, please visit the followings links!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6gdhAGN-58 (English Subtitle)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbDm-zQQGA (Indonesian Subtitle)

When The Earth Smokes Cigarettes

Source: https://drawception.com/pub/
panels/2012/4-6/MXWydje1EP-6.png

Can you imagine that your lung is burned and broken? Can you find another way to breath? How if it is happened to our beloved earth? Those are simple questions that do not really need to answer. We just have to deeply think about it. That is what happens to our beloved earth nowadays. The smog covering the large number of our motherland nowadays, even it spread to some countries in South East Asia.

This smog disaster is believed to be caused by forest fire in some spots of Sumatra and Kalimantan. As we know, Sumatra and Kalimantan is the lung of the earth because large numbers of jungle is in these lands. Indonesia forest area reached 162 million hectares of forest land and the largest are in Papua (32.36 million hectares). There are other locations Indonesian forests in Kalimantan (28.23 million hectares), Sumatra (14.65 million hectares), Sulawesi (8.87 million hectares), Maluku and North Maluku (4.02 million hectares), Java (3.09 million hectares), as well as Bali and Nusa Tenggara (2.7 million hectares). So that we as Indonesian people have a big responsibility to keep it save. Ironically, the fact we found in the field is totally different with the efforts of environmental conservation as the resolution of broken world. We forget about that important job to handle the lung of the earth in order to producing clean air for the whole of its civilians. We even damage the biggest source of oxygen by burning the forest for our own benefit. So let us think a bit more idealist about what makes the earth feels like active smoker who has a serious disease in his or her lung, then think further to find a better solution to figure it out.

The cause of smog

pekanbaru.tribunnews.com/2015/10/23/

Our motherland is currently facing a long dry season that is strongly believed as an effect of el-nino. It could cause the rising of sensitivity towards the environment where the slightest spark could cause forest fires. Then, polemic came out whether it is caused by natural disaster or human error.

Actually, forest fire is a common phenomenon as the part of forest regeneration. Orthodox seeds with a hard seed coat can germinate burnt by fire. The seeds can grow after getting special treatment from the fire that stimulates its growth. But if the fire was triggered by human intervention, it will have a negative impact on the environment.

Unfortunately, the forest fire that happened currently is not such a natural phenomenon. The experts around the world observe and conclude that human touch is the most responsible cause of the smog disaster that suffering a millions of civilians living nears the sources of smog. The haze was caused by a fire which destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and land. The fire scorched more than 40,000 hectares of land in Jambi. A total of 33,000 hectares were burning peat land (Kompas, 9/9). Ministry of Environment and Forests (KLHK) noted, the area affected by fire in Central Kalimantan (Kalimantan) reached 26 664 hectares (kontan.co.id, 27/09). Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru station detects as many as 591 hot spots spread across seven provinces in Sumatra Island, namely Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, Lampung, Bangka Belitung and Riau Islands (harianterbit.com, 22/9).

Voices in the smoky haze

The smog disaster has also caused the health crisis. A total of 25.6 million people are exposed to the smoke, which are 22.6 million people in Sumatra and Kalimantan 3 million people. Tens of thousands of people sick. On 28 September, Riau recorded 44 871 inhabitants Acute Respiratory Infections contracted / ARI (Riau Online, 28/9). The number is still likely to rise. There are an additional total of tens of thousands of cases of ARI in Jambi, South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan and other areas. Even the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) recorded a death toll of five babies among the more than 15 babies were reportedly affected Upper Respiratory Infection (ARI) due to exposure to smoke forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan (antaranews.com, 9/10).

While Young lecturers and thousands of students at the University of Riau Friday morning held a peaceful demonstration demanding the settlement of the problem of smoke that continues to envelop Riau Province. These students take action in Cut Nyak Dien Pekanbaru siege amid thick smoke. In their claim, UR students and young lecturers demanded the government to arrest the owners of plantations and concession businesses which are large investors in Riau forest destroyers.

The Prophet SAW has solution

While the government are busy to figure out the smog as the effect of forest fire, our Honorable Prophet Muhammad SAW had given the way to prevent such a thing;

Prophet. He said:

 «المسلمون شركاء في ثلاث في الكلإ والماء والنار»

"Muslim associate in three cases namely pastures, water and fire (Abu Dawud and Ahmad)."

The word “pastures” here can be translated as plant. Then the bigger shape of plant is forest.

The smog is just an effect and forest fire is the cause. Then why don’t we try to prevent the cause? We all have a deal that preventing is much better than solving. So, we should know the basis problem of it.

The root of the problem is the system which is governing the land management. While the current policy of the government is giving the land ownership to the private companies, so that they can damage the land they owned as their will. If we take a look at the hadits above, the government would be better to go back to the Islamic system. The hadits shows that the government –as the leader of the nation– has responsibility to manage the use of land especially forest. Then there will be no other owners who can use it inconsequential. On the other hand, the government can conserve it effectively in order to give large benefit for the civilians.

The conclusion is, there must be solution by applying Islamic system. It does not matter how complex is the deal, Islam covering all aspects of life and serve a complete package of troubleshooting whether for the life we are living or the hereafter.

Why Must Sharia?

Islamic Sharia is Islamic law or regulations governing all aspects of Muslim life. In addition to containing the laws and rules, Islamic law also contains troubleshooting entire life. Then by some followers of Islam, Islamic law is a comprehensive guide and perfect all the problems of human life and the life of this world. There are some reasons why we – as moslem – have to apply sharia law.

First, applying sharia is the order of Allah SWT. Allah SWT says in surah Al Jatsiyah verse 18:

“Then We made you (Muhammad) is above the law (regulation) of the affair (religion), so follow the law and do not you follow the desires of people who are not knowledgeable”

From the verse above, we can see the obligation of applying sharia law. As a moslem, we absolutely in faith of the holly Qur’an and believe in the truth of sharia. However, many people in the world reject the islamic regulation because they are not knowledgeable, fall in the deep of lust and fear to the justice.

Second, secularism cannot solve the human’s problem. In fact, separation between human life and religion doen’t provide a justice. Disorder is everywhere because people are not satisfied with the current law. Secularism only produces a liberalism that does not emphasize human dignity. In the name of human right, liberalism destroy the morality of people such legaling homosexual, pornography, famale exploitation and so on. Essentially, if we analyze the conditions around us, then secularism is much more noticeable as the law of the jungle where the strong enslave the weak.

Third, Islam is a complete package which covering the whole aspects of human life. We – as moslem – believe that Islam contains of throubleshootings to the entire problems in the world and means that all of the problem can be solved by Islam. It is difficult to find the truth if we use another kind of law beside sharia. So if the problem occure in life, it is the best way to come back to Allah by applying Allah’s law.

To sum up, Islam – in context – is a religion which also means a rule or system in the world to live a life which is based on Al-Quran and al-Hadith. In Islam, there are three pillars that constitute the basics in practice the religion, namely: Faith, law and morality. Allah also said in surah Al-Baqarah verse 213:

"Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path."

From the verse, it can be concluded that the holly Qur’an is more than enough to solve the problem of human life. Islam is not only talk about the life after the death, but also the current life we are living. We should remember that Allah is everywhere, not only in the mosque.

The Dangers of Sekularism

Basically, secularism is a form of thinking in which the mundane separated in total with the values of religion. The most striking in practice of secularism is in a subdivision or government sectors where laws and regulations that be applied are the result of human thought which is limited, based on the actual problem or a long-term plan in the style of the human brain. While religion is only used as a right-handed (advisor), is no longer as the brain or the source of the problem-solving. Hugging and the value of a religious practice is intended merely spiritual formality that serves as a moral mask. Sekularism can cause several problems including the following:

First, the destruction of morality among the people because they think that religion is only to worship at the mosque. Whereas, religion is not restricted to the relationship between man and God, but also between man and man. This led to the exclusion of the value of religion in human social relations. The result is people will tend to resolve the problem with the human mind without being based on the moral doctrine of religion.

Second, the emergence of the people who made the world and material as the standard of success for a person. In fact, secularism has led people to become materialistic and love of the world. Worse yet, pious people are considered as old-fashioned, outdated and not inspiring. People have lost their faith to the right of their religion. The purpose of life turns into how to survive in the modern era without thinking about the day afterlife.

Next, secularism puts man in the position of God who has power to organize human life that are so complex. Unfortunately, man has no power as strong as God who can control the entire universe. However, many people who act like God with all of their charge or power. After all, human power will not be able to go beyond the power of God.

In conclude, we all recognize that secularism is really deviate from religion, especially Islam. Within Islam itself, the doctrine of Islam is believed to have covered all aspects of life and do not confirmed the separation of religion and worldly life problems. Islam also teaches tolerance, but it can not be used as a basis to accept secularism. Because the tolerance of Islam is to respect other people's beliefs without prejudice morality/aqeedah. Muhammad Fatkhu Arifin

One Man Unite Them All

“If no left out of the world except for one day, surely Allah will extend the day untill Allah send a man from my offspring. His name is same as my name and his father’s name is same as my father’s. He fullfilled the earth by justice as it has previously been filled by tyranny and harshness.”  (H.R. Abu Dawud)

The study of islamic nubuwah said that we are living next to the doom’s day. One of signs of the coming of dooms day is Al Malhamah Alkubra or it is known as Armageddon. It is a greatest war ever between Al Mahdi (helped by Yesus A.S.) against Dajjal the hardest test for moslem ever. Dajjal will appear after the risen of Al Mahdi, then Yesus A.S. will come to help Al Mahdi to defeat Dajjal.

The mission of Al Mahdi is to establish Daulah Islam or Islamic State which applying sharia law. In this section, world will occure the biggest slander. Al Mahdi will be suspected as a terorist and be hunt. It’ll be started after the fallen of Saudi Arabia’s King, where his three brothers fight to get the chair. None of them succed, then Al Mahdi will show up as a new power.

Who is Al Mahdi, actually? Based on the Hadits, Al Mahdi is the grandson of Rosulullah S.A.W. His name is Muhammad or Ahmad and his father’s name is Abdullah. His attitude is also same as Rosulullah S.A.W.

However, Islam is not only the religion who has concept about Al Mahdi. Some others religion also having concept about Al Mahdi, yet the real Al Mahdi based in Islamic nubuah is the man who will reject the baiat of moeslems because he think he can’t be a leader of whole moeslems in the world. But Allah will show His charge and give him capability only in a night.

The thing is, no one can guarantee that Al Mahdi will rise in our generation, yet there is no one can guarantee that it will not happen in our generation too. Just look around and see the fact!

Task 8

Smoking for Teenagers

Smoking is one of bad habit that has many disadvantages for people’s health. It is not only at risk for the smokers, but also the people around them. In Indonesia, more than 50% of the people are doing this kind of bad habit. Amazingly, most of them are teenagers under 18 years old. Smoking is really common among the teenagers, even it is such a popular habit for them. It causes the number of smoker always increase. There are several reasons for teenagers to do smoking. Those reasons are as follow.

First, teenager’s psychology is still in the lower stage of awareness. They are still looking for their self-identity no matter by a good or bad way. They love to try something new whether it is good or bad thing. While in this case, smoking is such an interesting habit to tried by the teenagers. They do not care about the risk to be a smoker in order to be an easy going and well-known person. So that teenagers are motivated to try to smoke just for their popularity.

Second, environment is one of vital things that can built teenagers’ character. Teenagers who have weak of self protection will be easy to be influenced by their environment. So if the environment is good, they will influenced by good habits. Whereas if the environment is bad, it will be a big probability for the teenagers to having smoking habit. That is why choosing a good environment for our teenagers is also important to avoid them from smoking habit.

Third, lack of parents’ control. Parents have a significant role in order to built a self-defense of teenagers. Then they will have a strong protection against their environment and reduce smoking habit. Yet in reality, most of teenagers’ parents are careless of controlling their daily activity. So their teenagers are free to choose their way to associate with their environment. The parents’ contributions are completely needed to built teenagers’ attitudes. A good parent should be a shelter for their teenagers.

Fourth, there is no specific rules for cigarettes distribution. It is easy to find the cigarettes seller everywhere and they sell it to everyone without any consideration whether the consumers are mature or underage. In fact, there is no prohibition for teenagers, especially teens under 18 years old to buy cigarettes. It sold freely among teenagers. Besides that, it cost is too cheap and accessible for teenagers. Even children under ten are allowed to buy it. This will provide a tremendous opportunity for the youth to get pack of cigarettes.

The last, but not least, consciously or not, smoking has become a culture in this country. It is not only among the teenagers who think that smoking is too common, but also adult people think that smoking habit among teenagers is familiar. It has been their daily life to seeing teenagers smoking. It feels like need more than a century to change this culture. That is why teenagers feel comfortable to smoke as if they are forced to do.

Those are several reasons why teenagers smoking. It is not only caused by internal factors of teenagers, but also external factors such environment and parents. However, It would be better if the cigarettes’ cost is increased, so it will be inaccessible for teenagers pocket. The most important is adults should not only give understanding about the dangerous of smoking, but also being model.

Muhammad SAW

Muhammad is the last and the greatest prophet. It is forbidden to draw His entire body, especially His face. However, it is allowed to describe His face, even His entire body. It can be proved by the book that created by Imam Tirmidzi with the title “Syama’ilul Muhammadiyah” and contents of hadits that describe Muhammad in detail. The descriptions of Muhammad are as follow.

Muhammad was born in Mecca 570M. He was born in place that included of the most under-developed region in the world at that time because it far from trade center, art and knowledge. He has been orphan since he was 6 years old and grown by the poor environment. In his early life, he was an unknowledgeable man, but he was a hard learner. So when He crowned to be prophet, he became a greatest man and the biggest conqueror in the world during the history.

Muhammad SAW has an ideal body, His height is not too tall and not too short. He has a bight skin. His skin neither white nor dark skin. It was very clean, so as if he created of silver. His hair is wavy and bushy. The tip of the ear leaf touching her hair down. He has no more than twenty strands of gray hair and beard.

His face is not too rounding. His face shines. His face is not like a sword, but as the moon. His eyes have deep black eyeballs. His eyelashes flicks. His eyebrows are curve and long and both of them almost fused. Between His eyebrows there are red veins when he was angry. His nose is pointed with the top of the glow. So people who do not carefully look at Him thought that he has a crooked nose. His cheek is flat and His mouth is wide. His front teeth seem tenuous. When He speaks, in between his front teeth seems like a light. When smiling, his teeth looked like snowflakes. He has bushy beard.

His shoulders are broad and between his shoulders there is a prophetic sign. It shaped like a curtain buttons. The way he walks is quiet and wide, like being down the slope. The palms and soles of his feet are thick.

The way he talks is clear and detailed. He never talks fast and in a hurry. Sometimes He repeats his words three times to be easily understood. He speaks as needed, and more often silent. His remarks are solid, detailed and clear. No more, no less, not rude and condescending. Always praise Allah SWT when He starts talking and ends the conversation.

Origin from poor family, Muhammad spread one of the biggest religion in the world, Islam. At the same time, He stood as the greatest leader ever. Now, it has been thirteen century after his conquer, but His influences are still strong.