RAMADHAN@ISDEV: THE WEEKLY TUESDAY’S LECTURE

A lecture on tajwid by Ustaz Mohd Shahir Akram Hassan

16 August - This week’s lecture focused on ‘Tajwid’ (rules of Quranic reading) delivered by Ustaz Shahir Akram Hassan while the Tazkirah was given by Ustaz Mohd Syakir. As usual, the lecture started with the solo rendition of the nasyid ‘Sunnah Orang Berjuang’ performed by Ustaz Mohd Syakir.

However this time around Ustaz Syakir took the opportunity to explain the meaning contained in the lyrics of the nasyid. The nasyid reminds its listener that it is part of the way of a Muslim to face the hardest of challenges when earnestly striving for the cause of Allah SWT. It also serves to remind Muslims that they are not allowed to easily give up before achieving the success as there lies within the deep conviction of these Muslims that Allah SWT has promised a precious reward for those who constantly strive for the sake of Allah SWT.

Adding to this, Professor Muhammd Syukri Salleh said that it was not only a matter of striving in Allah’s SWT cause that we cannot give up easily, but includes every deed in our daily lives that must be done with full of sincerity. The spirit to aim for the best and achieve success is also necessary ingredients for those who strive for the sake of Allah SWT. He disclosed the following three steps necessary to achieve success:-

• Discipline
• Procedure
• Quality

The Tazkirah delivered by Ustaz Syakir, thereafter, stressed on the importance of ‘Doa’ (Supplication). A Muslim is obliged to ask help from Allah SWT through doa not only in the most difficult of times but the doa to Allah SWT should ideally be done every minute. There is also the ingrained need to believe that sooner or later that the doa will definitely be answered by Allah SWT (as stated in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:186). However, if one feels that there are certain times that Allah SWT does not seem to hear and answer the doa, Imam Nawawi through his compilation of the 40 Hadith, set out the several reasons for this affliction which amongst others are as follows:-.

• A faithful believer who fails to fulfill the rights of Allah; and
• A faithful believer who believes in the existence of jannah (heavens) and nar (hell) but performs acts which indicates his beliefs as the exact opposite.

The main lecture of the day given by Ustaz Shahir then continued with the main topic on Tajwid. For this lesson, he had dedicated the time given to teach about the rulings on “Mad Badl” and “Mad Shibhi Badal”. The reason for the need to differentiate between these two rulings is because it will affect one’s reading of the Quranic text when faced with them. This is so in the event there is a need to waqf (stop) or to wasl (continue) the reading. However one is to take note that the general ruling for these Mad Badl and Mad Shibhi Badl is of two harakat (length of reading).

The lecture ended at 4.30 pm with the recitation of Tasbih Kiffarah and Surah Al-Asr followed by the congregational ‘Asr prayer.