Harapan

Sahabatku,
Lihatlah langit biru tiada bertepi
Tinggi menjulang tanpa restriksi
Dalam lukisan tinta mega menampak laksmi
Bersama hembusan angin yang menghidupi

Tidakkah kau hendak TERBANG bebas di sana
Membumbung dalam gelayut HASRAT di jiwa
Mengawan bersama KEHENDAK dan CITA
Mengudara dengan kepak berjuta ASA

Perhatikan hamparan samudra
Melengkung di batas cakrawala leluasa
Memecah damai dalam gaduh debur bena
Mengusik guyub buih dan gelombang senantiasa

Tidakkah BAHTERA HIDUPmu ingin mengarungi
Berlayar menentang arus dengan penuh BERANI
Mengakrabi riak menghanyutkan dengan BAHA DURI
Mengintimi ombak menghantam dengan TUNGGANG HATI

Saksikan bumi membentang selesa
Membiarkan punggung dijejaki hingga luka
Berjenis langgam laku para puak warga
Tanpa sedak dan cekat nestapa

Tidakkah kakimu hendak menjelajahi
Mencecah dengan KESUNGGUHAN HATI
Menjejak MANTAP membekas BUDI PEKERTI
Memijak dalam kobar SEMANGAT berapi

Sahabatku,
Jangan diam, karena membuatmu terbuai
Jangan bergeming, kan menjadikanmu terlalai
Jangan membatu, kau kan terhempas berkali-kali
TERBANGlah tinggi melesatkan HARAPAN
ARUNGi samudra dengan GIGIH dan KONSISTEN
JEJAKi bumi tuk rengkuh MASYHUR yg menanti di depan

“Dan orang-orang yang bersungguh-sungguh di jalan Kami niscaya akan Kami tunjukkan kepada mereka jalan-jalan [menuju keridhaan] Kami. Dan sesungguhnya Allah akan bersama dengan orang-orang yang berbuat ihsan.” (QS 29: 69)

Rabbana walakal hamdu mil ussamaawaati wamil ul ardhi wamil umaa syi'ta min syai in ba'du. Ahluts tsanaa i walmajdi, ahaqqu maa qoolal 'abdu wa kulluna laka 'abdun, laa maani'a lima a'thoita, wallaa mu'thia limaa mana'ta, walaa yanfa'u dzal jaddi minkal jaddu.

Opportunity Cost

Opportunity Cost Story, sebuah narasi menggugah ttg meracik jalan sejarahmu
by @Strategi_Bisnis

Opportunity Cost adlh "biaya" yg hilang akibat kita salah mengambil keputusan. Hilangnya kesempatan, dan acap berbiaya mahal.

Contoh ada orang yg suka desain, tapi akhirnya milih jurusan akuntansi akibat "paksaan" ayahnya. Setelah lulus, dia tetap kursus desain.

4 thn kuliah akuntansi yg ia jalani dg ogah2an itu adlh "opportunity cost" yg mahal. Jk ia milih jurusan desain, 4 thn ia sdh ahli disitu.

Contoh lain. Ada si A yg kerja sdh 7 tahun, tp karirnya stuck, gaji stagnan. Temannya yg kerja di perushaan lain sudah jd GM.

7 thn stuck itu adlh "opportunity cost" yg mahal bagi dia. "Biaya kesempatan" yg hilang, sering tanpa disadari.

Contoh lain. Ada orang bisnis, sdh 3 tahun namun jalan ditempat. Penjualan segitu2 saja. Stagnan. Sementara rekannya sdh punya 5 cabang.

3 tahun itu mungkin adlh "opportunity cost" yg cukup mahal. 3 tahun yg berlalu tanpa jejak yg berarti.

Kuliah 4 thn di jurusan yg salah. Kerja 7 thn di tempat yg salah, dan karir stuck. Ini bentuk opportunity cost yg mahal.

Kadang ada yg bilang, yah namanya juga hidup min. Kadang jalannya berliku. Iya sih. Namun tetap saja itu "opportunity lost".

Opportunity cost muncul krn kita keliru mengambil keputusan. DECISION - ini elemen kunci yg suka dilupakan tp amat menentukan nasib hidup.

Reminder. Ada 2 keputusan krusial yg menentukan sejarah hidupmu : 1) pekerjaan apa yg anda pilih dan 2) dgn siapa anda menikah.

Membiarkan 7 thn kerja di tempat yg salah, dan menanggung opportunity cost yg amat mahal krn kita tdk berani mengambil keputusan.

Kalau saja "7 thn yg sia2" itu anda manfaatkan untk mengasah skill pd bidang yg anda cintais, betapa hebatnya anda sekarang.

Tapi anda tdk melakukan itu. Anda membiarkan terus berada pd tempat yg salah. Stuck. Opportunity lost yg sungguh teramat mahal.

Mungkin kita berkali2 terjebak "opportunity cost" krn kita tdk pernah tahu pasti apa arah hidup (life goals) yg ingin kita tuju.

Kita acap bimbang dan msuk jebakan opportunity cost, krn kita tdk tahu pasti apa visi & sasaran hidup yg ingin kita raih.

Atau mungkin ya tadi itu : kita tidak berani mengambil keputusan, meski sadar sudh terjebak dlm "opportunity lost".

Atau kita mungkn membiarkan kita terjebak dlm opportunity lost krn kita sendiri tdk yakin dg kemampuan diri kita sendiri.

Betapa seringnya kita menyia2kan kekuatan potensial yg ada dlm sekujur raga kita. We are our own enemy.

You are the master of your destiny. You are the captain of your soul.

Sekarang renungkan baik2  hidup kita saat ini : apakah kita sdh on the right track, atau diam2 sudah masuk dlm jebakan opportunity lost?

Dan jika merasa terjebak opportunity lost, apakah kita BERANI mengambil keputusan untk mengubahnya, dan yakin dgn keputusan itu?

Always remember this : you create your own history. You write your own storyline. The End

Holocaust

Desember 2006 lalu, Teheran menjadi tuan rumah penyelenggara Konferensi Kontroversional Holocaust yang diikuti oleh 300 cendikiawan asing dan 30 orang dari dalam negeri. Konferensi ini menuai pro dan kontra di kalangan internasional. Hingga PBB pun akan mengeluarkan resolusi mengecam pihak-pihak yang mengingkari holocaust. Ahamdi Nejad adalah presiden paling keras saat ini yang menafikan adanya holocaust.

Disebutkan, holocaust terjadi pada masa Perang Dunia II. Holocaust adalah aksi pembantaian yang dilakukan NAZI Jerman sebagai bentuk genosida (usaha pemusnahan suatu suku bangsa) terhadap bangsa Semit. Diyakini Adolf Hitler-lah pelopor utama anti-semit yang melakukan aksi holocaust ini.

Zionis mengklaim bahwa telah terjadi pembantaian besar-besaran enam juta warga Yahudi oleh NAZI. Barat pun melakukan rekayasa opini tentang kebenaran ‘mitos’ ini. Bahkan, tak ayal mereka yang menolak kebenaran holocaust pun kerap menjadi korban.

Holocaust menjadi penting bagi Zionis dan Israel sebagai suatu alat politik. Dari mitos holocaust ini Israel mendapat legitimasi dan dukungan Barat untuk menduduki tanah Palestina. Kejadian Holocaust membangkitkan rasa belas kasihan opini umum yang dimanfaatkan dengan baik oleh kaum Zionis untuk menggapai targetnya. Penyalahgunaan rasa belas kasihan tersebut adalah pembentukan Rezim Zionis Israel di bumi Palestina.

Bahkan, dalam rangka membangun kebenaran holocaust ini, Barat menganggap penelitian maupun sikap yang menentang holocaust (holocaust denial) ini sebagai tindakan kriminal. Maka tidak aneh, Gemar Rudolf yang mengungkapkan kebohongan holocaust dalam bukunya The Rudolf Report pun dijebloskan penjara.

Tak ada bukti yang kuat tentang kebenaran pembantaian enam juta warga Yahudi oleh NAZI ini. Direktur Adelaide Institute di Australia, Dr. Fredrick Toben mengatakan, Nazi pernah menggunakan gas Zyklon B di kamp tahanannya namun hal itu untuk mencegah meluasnya wabah yang saat itu menjangkiti para tahanan, dan bukan dalam pembantaian.

Pembentukan opini yang terjadi di Barat mengenai mitos holocaust ini telah membuat sengsara rakyat Palestina. Selama berpuluh-puluh tahun mitos ini terbangun, selama itu pula rakyat Palestina merasakan penyiksaan pihak Israel. Padahal sampai sekarang kebenaran adanya holocaust ini belum terbukti secara otentik. Memang terkesan aneh, jika saja mitos ini benar, kenapa Israel harus menjajah Palestina. (?)

Saya ingin menekankan satu sudut keberhasilan Barat dalam propaganda informasi. Umat Islam terkadang terjebak dengan propaganda yang dilakukan Barat. Sehingga wajar jika Barat berhasil melakukan hegemoni dunia. Berawal dari informasi, Barat berhasil menguasai dunia.

Kembali kepada konsep tabayyun, sebuah sikap kritis menerima informasi. Dan konfrontasi terhadap opini sesat adalah hal urgen. Firman Allah swt, “Hai orang-orang yang beriman, jika datang kepadamu orang fasik membawa suatu berita, maka periksalah dengan teliti (tabayyun), agar kamu tidak menimpakan suatu musibah kepada suatu kaum tanpa mengetahui keadaannya yang menyebabkan kamu menyesal atas perbuatanmu itu.” (QS. Al-Hujurat (49) : 6). Wallahu a’lam.

Risyan M Taufik

New Year's Resolutions

Every year, as Muslims, we try our hardest to be patient, eat well, pray regularly and make positive life changes during Ramadan. However, as the year progresses it often seems that we forget those promises to ourselves. Although it is not the Muslim new year, 2007 is a good time for Muslims to renew the resolutions they made during Ramadan. A list of resolutions should be written down so one can refer to them throughout the year. They should include spiritual, as well as physical and mental practices, for Allah encompasses all of our lives and not just the hours in which we pray. The following is a list of resolutions I often give consulting clients who ask me what they should do to better their spiritual, physical and mental lives:

1-Exercise:

"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close [to them]: I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way," (Qur'an 2:186)

As I perform more iridology readings and consultations, I am struck with the vitality I see in one certain group of people. This group includes smokers, people who eat junk food, people who have a family history of disease and people who have stressful lives. So what do they all have in common? Exercise! Their enthusiasm for joining a health club, swimming and sports teams, or their dedication to walking once a day, or taking a Tai Chi or Yoga class on a regular basis, has more than made up for their lack of dedication in other health areas. I do not recommend eating badly or smoking, for doing so will eventually catch up to you, but if you could change just ONE thing in your life it should be to exercise. Keep in mind that exercise can even be as simple as praying five times a day. Many people have compared the benefits of the Muslim prayer with those of yoga.

2. Drink Water:

"We made water essential for every life," (Qur'an 21:30)

Very few people drink the doctor-recommended eight to ten cups of water a day. Most people drink only three cups of water a day or less. Even worse, many people cancel out what they do drink by drinking coffee, green tea or sodas which cause dehydration in the body. One can solve many health problems simply by drinking eight to ten glasses a day.

3. Give up Bad Habits:

The Prophet said, "Allah has forbidden you ( 1 ) to be undutiful to your mothers (2) to withhold (what you should give) or (3) demand (what you do not deserve), and (4) to bury your daughters alive. And Allah has disliked that (A) you talk too much about others (B), ask too many questions (in religion), or (C) waste your property," (Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 73, Number 6).

Everyone seems to have a bad habit that harms his or her health. Drinking, smoking and overeating are the most popular. However, there are many other bad habits that are unhealthy as well, such as: drinking excess coffee or colas, eating junk food, harboring bad feelings for people, yelling, gossiping, stealing, lying, cheating, watching too much TV, gambling, and many others. Keep in mind that any activity that is forbidden in Islam is unhealthy. Also keep in mind that any activity that starts to become and addiction (such as television, coffee, a friend and even your job) is also unhealthy. Make a pledge to yourself to identify your addictions and stop them (in the case of alcohol or smoking) or at least reduce them to a healthier level (in the case of indulgent socializing, work and television).

4. Be Positive:

"Give Glad tidings to those who exercise patience when struck with adversity and say, 'indeed we belong to God and to him is our return' such ones receive blessings and Mercy of their lord, and such are the guided ones," (Qur'an 2:155).

Start cultivating a positive attitude. There is a mountain of physical and medical evidence now to support that a positive attitude can work miracles. One reason could be that a positive attitude influences the thymus gland, which in turn strengthens the immune system.

5. Start Using Tonic Foods:

"Ye people, eat of what is on earth, lawful and wholesome," (Qur'an 2:168).

Even if the rest of your diet is miserable, the addition of some simple "super foods" can supercharge it. Add some alfalfa sprouts to your salads often, use raw honey on your crackers or bread in the morning, eat sesame (found in Zaa'tar), sunflower and flax seeds regularly and start snacking on sheets of dried seaweed. All of the foods mentioned above contain a dense concentration of nutrients and serve the body in the same way vitamins do.

6. Sleep:

"Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then mounted He the Throne. He covereth the night with the day, which is in haste to follow it, and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command. His verily is all creation and commandment blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!" (Qur'an 7:54).

Allah created nighttime for a reason, but it is amazing how few people use that time to actually sleep. In fact, many research studies show that lack of sleep can exacerbate almost any health problem from hypoglycemia and diabetes to pain and mental illness. Even missing an hour of sleep on a regular basis can harm your health.

7. Pray More:

A man who was stung by a scorpion was brought to the Prophet [peace be upon him]. He said: Had he said the word: "I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created, "he would not have been stung, or he said, "It would not have harmed him," (Bukhari: Book 28, Number 3890).

" And when I sicken, God heals me," (26:80 Qur'an).

There are entire sects and groups of people who do not use conventional medicine at all, but, rather, use prayer as medicine. Even the Prophet himself used prayer alone as medicine in many instances. In addition, many new studies have found that prayer does have healing effects - for the prayer as well as the prayed for.

8. Keep Good Company:

"The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed," (Bukhari: Book 26, Number 3666).

In many cases in the Qur'an and Hadith it is mentioned that you do not actually have to perform a bad act to be affected by it. Muslims are encouraged to "hang out" with people they would like to emulate and not with those that are a bad influence on them. This influence, in fact, can come in many forms. Do you hang out with friends that drink, smoke or consume too much coffee? Does your office always have donuts available for breakfast and your local grocer always have goodies on sale? Start hanging out with people who have the good habits of eating well and start shopping in stores that offer healthier whole grain and organic foods. Reduce time spent with people or in places that are a bad influence.

9. Use Natural Healing:

"God never inflicts a disease unless he makes a cure for it..." (Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad related by Abu Hurairah)



The Prophet himself used natural healing in his community. In fact, Allah HAS created a cure for every disease - so go see a natural health care practitioner and get evaluated.

10. Laugh More, Yell Less:

Allah's Apostle said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger," (Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 73, Number 135).

Laughing, instead of yelling, has enormous healing potential. Tell jokes to your children, listen to comedy on radio or television, buy comedy tapes, and read the comics in the newspaper. Laughing has been found to have therapeutic qualities, as illustrated by Robin Williams in the film "Patch Williams". On the other hand, anger has been found to reduce immune system function.

Courtesy: Karima Burns, MH, ND

The best Greeting there could ever be

Did you wake up this morning and say "As-Salaamu Alaikum" to your spouse or your child? Or did you greet them with a "Good Morning" or even a casual "hi"?

Have we been teaching our children the importance of greeting each other with salaam? Or when we see them off to school, do we send them off with a 'bye', instead of "As-Salaamu Alaikum", the dua for peace and blessings?

For some of us, this may seem a minor issue. Or it may even be a 'progressive' issue. But, in our haste to 'adapt', we forget that saying "As-Salaamu Alaikum" is the best greeting there could ever be.


This was the practice and teaching of Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam), the best example for mankind. And it was Allaah Himself that prescribed the manner of greeting among Muslims as "As-Salaamu Alaikum" [not 'salaams' or 'good morning' or 'hey' or 'hi' or whatever]

"When those who believe in Our Ayaat (proofs, verses, signs, etc.) come to you, say: "Salaamun Alaikum" (peace be on you).. (Surah al-An'aam:54)

Ibn al-Qayyim says:
"Allaah, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islam should be 'As-Salaamu Alaikum', which is better than all the greetings of other nations which include impossible ideas or lies, such as saying, 'May you live for a thousand years,' or things that are not accurate, such as 'An'im sabaahan (Good morning),' or actions that are not right, such as bowing in greeting. Thus the greeting of salaam is better than all of these, because it has the meaning of safety which is life, without which nothing else can be achieved…" (Badaa'i' al-Fawaa'id)

"As-Salaamu Alaikum" is the best Dua

The word 'salaam' comes from the root 'salema', which implies to disassociate oneself from evil and harm. Thus, when we greet other Muslims, the greeting means: "No harm shall come to you from me (may no evil come to you, may no harm come to you)

And since As-Salaam is also one of the Beautiful Names of Allaah, the greeting of salaam also means, "May the blessing of His Name descend upon you, may Allah be with you, may Allah guide and protect you."

Subhaan Allaah! What a beautiful greeting!

Yet, it is utterly tragic to see that some of us have exchanged something so beautiful for something ugly, when we stopped saying Assalaamu Alaikum and started with 'Good Morning' or 'Hi'. It is especially sad to see some of our youth, who don't even know how to say the words clearly and properly. Some say 'Saakum", some just mumble something incomprehensible under their breath and some don't even bother to say anything at all! And if they are being really nice to you, they just might throw you a 'hey' from afar.

And even those of us who do say salaam, some of us are so stingy or hesitant in doing so. Although, at the time of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) the Sahaabah would compete with each other to see who could give salaams first. They would go to the market just to say salaam to people they knew and to the people they did not know.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "The best of the two persons is the one who begins with salaam." (Related by an-Nawawi)



BENEFITS OF "AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM"

1."As-Salaamu Alaikum" is a means of immense reward

A man passed by the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) while he was sitting with others, and said "As-salaamu 'alaykum." The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, "[He will have] ten hasanaat." Another man passed by and said "As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah)." The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, "[He will have] twenty hasanaat." Another man passed by and said "As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings)." The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, "[He will have] thirty hasanaat."


2."As-Salaamu Alaikum" is an aspect of Imaan

Once a man asked the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) about which aspect of Islam was best. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: "Feeding the hungry, and saying salaam to those you know and those you don't know." (Bukhaari and Muslim)


3. "As-Salaamu Alaikum" is a means of entering Jannah

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (the greeting of peace) among you." (Muslim)


4. "As-Salaamu Alaikum" gets rid of sins

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) also said, "When two Muslims meet (give salaam), and shake hands, they are forgiven their sins before they part (with each other)." (Abu Dawud)


5. "As-Salaamu Alaikum" is the greeting of the people of Jannah

"Then, those that feared their Lord shall be driven in companies into Paradise . When they draw near its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say to them: "Salaamun 'Alaikum" (Peace be upon you), you have done well. Enter and live in it for ever." (Surah Zumar:73)


6. Even Allaah says "As-Salaamu Alaikum"

Allah sends His Salaam upon the people who believe in Him, especially the prophets such as Nuh, Ibraheem, Ismaeel, Musa, etc.(Surah as-Saaffaat) as well as other pious people.
Jibreel came to house of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and Khadeeja was there. Jibreel said: "Allah sends his salaam to Khadeeja." The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "O Khadeeja, Allah is sending His salaams to you." She said, "Allah is As-Salaam. And upon you O Jibreel, be as-salaam and upon you Rasulullah be as-salaam." [Bukhaari]


It is obligatory to return the greeting of "As-Salaamu Alaikum"

"The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim: he should return his salaams, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation, and pray for mercy for him [say "Yar ha'mu kallaah"] when he sneezes." (Bukhaari, Muslim)

We should say "As-Salaamu Alaikum" when we enter our homes

"When you enter houses, greet (with peace) one another with a salutation from Allah, blessed and good. As such Allah makes clear to you His verses so that you understand." (Surah an-Nur: 61)


"As-Salaamu Alaikum" is also to be said at time of leaving

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "When one of you joins a gathering, he should greet those present; and when he leaves them he should salute them, because the first salutation is not better than the last one." (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)



Why would you want to give up something beautiful for something ugly??

It is sad to see that when it comes to the matters of Dunya, we strive our utmost to give our families and friends the best. Yet when it comes to greetings, we forget the most beautiful and comprehensive greeting "As-Salaamu Alaikum", which is also a prayer….a prayer of peace and blessing…of security and protection from all harm and all evil…..a blessing that Allaah Himself sends down to His beloved slaves……a greeting of the people of Jannah itself.


Important note: The head should never be bent or bowed as a sign of greeting. We bend our heads only to Allah. It must also be emphasized that other body gestures in any form or shape (for example, raising eyebrows, extending the arms, smiling, winking, etc.) cannot replace the beautiful greeting of "As-Salaamu Alaikum".

_Courtesy_AsmaSaiyed@aol. com._,_.___ By Asma bint Shameem

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