1. “ Towards becoming Muslims - and its challenges.” - preliminary reflections Part 2: Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail @ Masjid Sultan Annex, Singapore 1st Rabi’u thani 1430AH 28 th March 2009 ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

2. BRIEF RECAP OF THE TOPIC COVERED IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSION

6. So far, our discussion was regarding: PERSONAL/INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE IN TRAVERSING PATH FROM BEING A MUSLIM مُسْلِم TOWARDS BEING ULTIMATELY A MUT-TAQEE – مُتَّقِى ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

7. TO CONTINUE ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

12. SO, NOT EVERY MUSLIM IS A MU’MEEN .... WHAT MORE, TO BEING A MUH-SEEN , MUKHLIS ... MUT-TAQEE . THUS “ HOW HAVE WE LEARNT ISLAM ”? “ WHAT HAS BEEN OUR EDUCATION”? “ HAVE WE LEARNED HOW TO LEARN”? ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

19. ISLAM IS NOT A MECHANICAL CONSTRUCT! يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمۡ لِمَا يُحۡيِيڪُمۡ‌ۖ ( Qur’an: Anfal: 8: 24 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

20. ISLAM IS NOT A MECHANICAL CONSTRUCT! O ye who believe! Give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; ( Qur’an: Anfal: 8: 24 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

21. REVISITING OUR BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM What is “Islam” ? What or who are “Muslims” ? ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

23. ISLAM IS NOT A MECHANICAL CONSTRUCT! أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ كَلِمَةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ تُؤۡتِىٓ أُڪُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَا‌ۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَڪَّرُونَ ( Qur’an: Ibrahim: 14: 24-25 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

24. ISLAM IS NOT A MECHANICAL CONSTRUCT! ” Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable?― a goodly Word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens― It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition ; ( Qur’an: Ibrahim: 14: 24-25 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

25. COMPONENTS OF A TREE Roots Sprout Trunk Leaves Layers of Bark Grow towards sunlight & Power to break rocks Fruits ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail seed

27. Our du’a رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغۡ قُلُوبَنَا بَعۡدَ إِذۡ هَدَيۡتَنَا وَهَبۡ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةً‌ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡوَهَّابُ ( Qur’an : Aali ‘Imran : 3 : 8 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

28. Our du’a “ Our Lord ! Let not our hearts swerve from the truth after You have guided us; and bestow upon us the gift of Thy Grace (Mercy): verily, You are the (true) giver of Gifts (bestowals).” ( Qur’an : Aali ‘Imran : 3 : 8 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

29. Our du’a رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ( Qur’an : al-Furqan: 25: 74 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

30. Our du’a “ Our Lord ! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes, and cause us to be foremost amongst those who are conscious of Thee! (as ‘al- mut-taqqin’).” ( Qur’an : al-Furqan: 25: 74 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

31. Our du’a رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَا‌ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرً۬ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَا‌ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ‌ۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآ‌ۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَٮٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ ( Qur’an : al-Baqarah : 286 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail

32. Our du’a “ Our Lord ! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; Our Lord ! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us : Our Lord ! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, And grant us forgiveness, Have Mercy on us. You are our protector : Help us against the unbelievers.” ( Qur’an : al-Baqarah : 286 ) ©2009ZhulkefleeHjIsmail