THE WEEKLY TUESDAY’S LECTURE

Arrange the books neatly as a sign of respect for books

6 Sept - This week’s lecture focused on the topic of ‘How to Exalt Knowledge’ delivered by Ustaz Mohd Syakir. The tazkirah (reminder) session was given by Ustaz Mohd. Shukri Hanapi. As usual, the lecture started with the solo rendition of the nasyid ‘Sunnah Orang Berjuang’ by Ustaz Mohd Syakir.

For the tazkirah session, Ustaz Mohd. Shukri Hanapi took the opportunity once again to explain about the contents of the lyrics to the nasyid ‘Sunah Orang Berjuang’. However this time around he stressed and discussed in detail the meaning of Syahid (martyrdom).

According to him, based on Hadith narrated by Al-Turmizi from Abi Hurairah, Rasullullah SAW which bears the following interpretation "There are 5 types of martyrs, the first type is those who died of stomach pains, the second type is those who died from a stab wound, the third is the one who died drowning in water, the fourth is the one caught in the rubble of a land slide and the fifth is the one who died in a fi sabilillah (in Allah’s way) war."

He also said that there are three categories of Syahid which are as follows:-

1) Syahid Dunia (Worldly Martyrdom) – Those who died in a war against the kafir (disbelievers) to get the ghanimah (war booty) and not for the sake of exalting Allah swt.

2) Syahid Akhirat (Hereafter Martyrdom) – Such as mothers who died while delivering her child, drowned, burnt to death, while in search of knowledge and murdered while helping someone in great distress.

3) Syahid Dunia dan Akhirat (Worldly and Hereafter Martyrdoms) – Those who died in a war fought against the disbelievers to defend the highest stature of Islam. They do not need to be bathed or prayed to and wrapped in a white winding sheet with their clothes soaked in blood and buried.

For the lecture on “How to Exalt Knowledge” Ustaz Syakir mentioned that the simplest way to exalt knowledge is through “one’s mannerism with the books” such as:

i) Not to extend the legs and feet to the direction of the books;

ii) The tafsir (interpretation of the Quran) books are to be placed above all other books to exhibit respect;

iii) Not to place anything on the books;

iv) To respect fellow friends and the teachers teaching the knowledge;

v) Make the effort to win’s friend’s love and affection; and

vi) Not bored in seeking knowledge.

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