Sabtu, 25 September 2010
Jumat, 24 September 2010
Laylat al-Qadr
Laylat al-Qadr is a holy night. All nights of Ramadan are holy nights but Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of this holy month. It is also the holiest night among all other holy nights throughout the entire year. It comes only once a year and Allah Almighty grants to His most praised, most respected and most beloved servant Sayyidina Muhammad (s) this holy night, the Night of Power. About this night, God, the Glorious and Exalted said:
In the name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful
Indeed We sent it [the Holy Quran] down on the Night of Power.
What will convey to you what the Night of Power is like!
Better is the Night of Power than a thousand months
in that Night the angels and the Spirit descend
by the permission of their Lord for every affair.
Peace it is, till the break of dawn.
[Quran, Chapter 97]
"Night of Power" is a very strange translation for "Laylat al-Qadr" but it attributes to it a good meaning: whoever may attain the blessings of this holy night should attain perfect power in his spiritual life. One can attain perfect power by means of this night because its value is more than one thousand months of worshipping. Every worship performed increases the spiritual power of people and in this night any worship is going to be valued as one thousand months of worshipping on any other night. It is condensed power. God, the Almighty, makes it a mighty night by placing in it such incredible power, making it a much mightier night than other nights. Allah Almighty says it is much more valuble than one thousand months of worshipping. That means Allah Almighty granted such huge power to that night.
It is just such a mighty night which is highly respected and given such a high value by the Lord Almighty. It is so mighty that it is said that it is the most mighty night, that Night of Power. Allah Almighty puts in it power for His servants to come closer to His Divine Presence. In a short time a that great power adorns worshippers in this night and they may be able to penetrate through the entire heavens and reach the Divine Presence.
People on this night are going to be on several different levels. No doubt we are on the lowest level, so we are hoping in this night to attain the honor and illumination granted in it. When we reach a higher level and as it is a holy night in the heavens as well, we will begin to sense something [of the great power being manifested] on this night. Whoever is at the highest spiritual level must be present for this night in the Divine Presence of the Lord.
That appearance will occur in a matter of seconds, perhaps within a single second. Perhaps one second is an enormous unit of time [in comparison] to that moment. It may be more than a second or much less, but it is an instant in time when an appearance from Divine Presence is manifested to creation. When that Divine Appearance manifests (Ar. tajalli), no one will remain standing throughout the heavens and the earth. Everything falls into prostration, throwing themselves down in prostration for that moment. That manifestation of Divine Power--that Divine Light--appears, and whoever is prepared and who has also been invited to attend that appearance sees it and falls in prostration. Everything in that moment falls in prostration (Ar. sajda): all animals--even ants, even elephants, even giraffes, even dogs--on that night they are not sleeping but are hurrying to make prostration on experiencing that divine manifestation. All trees-- even buildings--bow down in prostration and then rise up to their original positions. This is mentioned in Quran:
And unto Allah falleth prostrate whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening hours. (ar-R`ad, 15)
and
Hast thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while there are many unto whom the doom is justly due. He whom Allah scorneth, there is none to give him honour. Lo! Allah doeth what He will.(al-Hajj, 18)
In the name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful
Indeed We sent it [the Holy Quran] down on the Night of Power.
What will convey to you what the Night of Power is like!
Better is the Night of Power than a thousand months
in that Night the angels and the Spirit descend
by the permission of their Lord for every affair.
Peace it is, till the break of dawn.
[Quran, Chapter 97]
"Night of Power" is a very strange translation for "Laylat al-Qadr" but it attributes to it a good meaning: whoever may attain the blessings of this holy night should attain perfect power in his spiritual life. One can attain perfect power by means of this night because its value is more than one thousand months of worshipping. Every worship performed increases the spiritual power of people and in this night any worship is going to be valued as one thousand months of worshipping on any other night. It is condensed power. God, the Almighty, makes it a mighty night by placing in it such incredible power, making it a much mightier night than other nights. Allah Almighty says it is much more valuble than one thousand months of worshipping. That means Allah Almighty granted such huge power to that night.
It is just such a mighty night which is highly respected and given such a high value by the Lord Almighty. It is so mighty that it is said that it is the most mighty night, that Night of Power. Allah Almighty puts in it power for His servants to come closer to His Divine Presence. In a short time a that great power adorns worshippers in this night and they may be able to penetrate through the entire heavens and reach the Divine Presence.
People on this night are going to be on several different levels. No doubt we are on the lowest level, so we are hoping in this night to attain the honor and illumination granted in it. When we reach a higher level and as it is a holy night in the heavens as well, we will begin to sense something [of the great power being manifested] on this night. Whoever is at the highest spiritual level must be present for this night in the Divine Presence of the Lord.
That appearance will occur in a matter of seconds, perhaps within a single second. Perhaps one second is an enormous unit of time [in comparison] to that moment. It may be more than a second or much less, but it is an instant in time when an appearance from Divine Presence is manifested to creation. When that Divine Appearance manifests (Ar. tajalli), no one will remain standing throughout the heavens and the earth. Everything falls into prostration, throwing themselves down in prostration for that moment. That manifestation of Divine Power--that Divine Light--appears, and whoever is prepared and who has also been invited to attend that appearance sees it and falls in prostration. Everything in that moment falls in prostration (Ar. sajda): all animals--even ants, even elephants, even giraffes, even dogs--on that night they are not sleeping but are hurrying to make prostration on experiencing that divine manifestation. All trees-- even buildings--bow down in prostration and then rise up to their original positions. This is mentioned in Quran:
And unto Allah falleth prostrate whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening hours. (ar-R`ad, 15)
and
Hast thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while there are many unto whom the doom is justly due. He whom Allah scorneth, there is none to give him honour. Lo! Allah doeth what He will.(al-Hajj, 18)
Kamis, 23 September 2010
Ramadhan The Fasting Month
Ramadan, the fasting month, is an event of great importance to the Indonesian and the world's Muslim community. Being one of the five pillars of Islam, observance of the fasting month is the priority in the devout Muslim's life during this month. Fasting involves a change in the daily routine of the Muslim faithful and represents an expression of their deep belief in God.
Many Indonesians look forward to Ramadan as an opportunity to test and develop their inner, spiritual selves. The fasting regimen is rigorous. No eating, drinking or smoking is allowed after the first prayer in the morning until the opening of the fast in the evening. Prayer times change based on sunset and sunrise, so the exact timing is different every day. The morning prayer usually comes around four-thirty. Before this time, a Muslim family must rise and consume the last food or drink that they will have for the next fourteen hours. The opening of the fast, or Buka Puasa, occurs around 6 o'clock in the evening. At this time, all fasting Muslims will break the fast by drinking, eating and attending prayers.
Business people often note a loss of work efficiency during Ramadan. Secretaries may become forgetful. Drivers can be observed sleeping in the car. Employees may often leave the office early and arrive for work late. Lunch meetings are not scheduled and it may be difficult to contact Bapak or government officials. An important question for foreign professionals in Indonesia is: What is the proper behavior and attitude toward this widespread religious observance?
I spoke with Bapak Sumartono Sumarsidik and we discussed the best attitude for foreign professionals to take towards Ramadan and its effect on business. Pak Martono is one of the most astute observers of Western Indonesian relationships that I have encountered. He is, as you may be able to tell from his name, from Java, and has worked in cross-cultural work situations for all of his long and distinguished career.
Indonesians are not supposed to use the month of Ramadan as an excuse to avoid work responsibilities. The importance of this fasting month is to develop the inner self. The execution of normal work responsibilities should not be affected noted Pak Martono. It is true that in Indonesia, business is not affected as severely as it may be in other countries. Restaurants and entertainment establishments may appear closed or have reduced hours, but you do see people eating and drinking during the month, especially after the first few days. He continued, Indonesians don't usually impose their fasting on non-Muslims. Foreign businessmen should be able to continue on as they normally would. However, a polite, tolerant respect for those who are fasting is always appreciated.
Foreign professionals should realize that they are essentially guests in a predominately Muslim country. The majority of the Indonesians that they work with will be fasting. The most important thing is not to show intolerance or disrespect to the concept of the fasting month. Food and drink will probably not be set out in the office. At meetings, refreshments may not be served. A foreigner should try to be discrete in the consumption of food and drink. If possible, keep your tea and coffee in your office and don't walk around or bring it into meetings. Feel free to go out to lunch as normal, but don't invite a fasting Muslim to join you. Try to be observant of those around you.
Realistically, because of the change in the schedules of peoples lives, there is an effect on business. Although it shouldn't be used as an excuse to reduce activity, employees are often tired because of disruptions in their normal patterns of eating and sleeping. This often results in a loss of efficiency if nothing else. While no one should say I can't do that report or attend that meeting because I'm fasting, the lack of energy and enthusiasm is often obvious to the foreign professional. One must never say: Why don't you just eat something, then? or make comparisons to the type of fasting found in other religions. This is a serious, religious undertaking and the foreign professional needs to be tolerant and respectful of this fact.
For devout Muslims in Indonesia, the month of Ramadan is a time to face sacrifice, but along with that sacrifice, comes a sense of fulfillment. During the fasting month, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking or smoking from Subuh, the morning prayer at around four-thirty, until the call to Magrib, the prayer just after six in the evening. Because the stricture for the fast only goes until Magrib, Indonesians can look forward to an evening of food, drink and socializing. There are additional prayers and sermons in the mosques and a general up-beat atmosphere prevails. After having fulfilled their religious duty for the day, devout Muslims are allowed to enjoy that accomplishment and reflect on the meaning that it has for their lives.
I would like to address the social obligations imposed on the devout Muslim and foreign professional alike. For many reasons Buka Puasa, or the Breaking of the Fast, is a social and business event. There is a switch in emphasis that occurs during this month. Lunch meetings will no longer be held and the invitation to the Breaking of the Fast becomes the main social event of the day. This is conducted on several levels. For some, it simply means that the family is all together and they may celebrate their love and devotion. On another level, much business is conducted and many relationships are reaffirmed by invitations to Buka Puasa gatherings.
Many organizations have events scheduled for the Breaking of the Fast. Some Mosques, like Istiqal and Al-Azar have events every evening. Similarly, most businesses or government offices will organize some special events for employees, colleagues and clients. It is not unusual that a company or office will extend an invitation for a Western colleague, and perhaps his family, to attend one or more of these celebrations.
Knowing that such events are a good time to bridge the gap between Indonesian and West culture, I asked my good friend and advisor Pak Martono about the proper response toward such an invitation. He noted, If you receive an invitation to a Buka Puasa event, treat it as a sign of respect and acceptance. You must be careful in agreeing to or refusing such an invitation. Either response will have meaning to the Bapak who extended the invitation
If you or your family accept an invitation to a Buka Puasa, there are several things that you should observe and be aware of. Primarily, treat it as the honor that it is and not some sort of informal picnic although you should be prepared to sit on the floor during dinner. Floor seating is the traditional Indonesian method; it allows more people in and avoids the necessity of setting up tables. There are probably two different kinds of settings that you can expect -either a ceremony at an office or a ceremony at a Mosque.
After the Breaking of the Fast with a sweet drink and a small snack, those invited join in group prayer. Unless you are Muslim, you will not be expected to join in to the communal prayer session in the Mosque or Musholla. If this is the case, it is best that a foreigner stand or kneel in the back, observing a respectful attitude. Should you be invited to the main prayer area, perform whatever prayers are within you. Indonesia is a tolerant country religiously, but there is an assumption that everyone has a religion and prays to God. Regardless of personal beliefs, do nothing to disturb this assumption.
Food will not be served in the main prayer area so everyone will move to another area for dinner. Whether or not you were uncomfortable during the prayers, now is the time to relax a bit. The Breaking of the Fast is a time of fellowship. Remember all of the cultural rules that you have learned about respecting face and status, but this is a time to enjoy. You would not be invited unless you had a relationship with someone there. If things seem unusual or even uncomfortable, keep in mind that this is one of the seminal events in the Indonesian calendar. By your actions, you have earned enough respect to be included in Buka Puasa. This is an honor not to be taken lightly.
Many Indonesians look forward to Ramadan as an opportunity to test and develop their inner, spiritual selves. The fasting regimen is rigorous. No eating, drinking or smoking is allowed after the first prayer in the morning until the opening of the fast in the evening. Prayer times change based on sunset and sunrise, so the exact timing is different every day. The morning prayer usually comes around four-thirty. Before this time, a Muslim family must rise and consume the last food or drink that they will have for the next fourteen hours. The opening of the fast, or Buka Puasa, occurs around 6 o'clock in the evening. At this time, all fasting Muslims will break the fast by drinking, eating and attending prayers.
Business people often note a loss of work efficiency during Ramadan. Secretaries may become forgetful. Drivers can be observed sleeping in the car. Employees may often leave the office early and arrive for work late. Lunch meetings are not scheduled and it may be difficult to contact Bapak or government officials. An important question for foreign professionals in Indonesia is: What is the proper behavior and attitude toward this widespread religious observance?
I spoke with Bapak Sumartono Sumarsidik and we discussed the best attitude for foreign professionals to take towards Ramadan and its effect on business. Pak Martono is one of the most astute observers of Western Indonesian relationships that I have encountered. He is, as you may be able to tell from his name, from Java, and has worked in cross-cultural work situations for all of his long and distinguished career.
Indonesians are not supposed to use the month of Ramadan as an excuse to avoid work responsibilities. The importance of this fasting month is to develop the inner self. The execution of normal work responsibilities should not be affected noted Pak Martono. It is true that in Indonesia, business is not affected as severely as it may be in other countries. Restaurants and entertainment establishments may appear closed or have reduced hours, but you do see people eating and drinking during the month, especially after the first few days. He continued, Indonesians don't usually impose their fasting on non-Muslims. Foreign businessmen should be able to continue on as they normally would. However, a polite, tolerant respect for those who are fasting is always appreciated.
Foreign professionals should realize that they are essentially guests in a predominately Muslim country. The majority of the Indonesians that they work with will be fasting. The most important thing is not to show intolerance or disrespect to the concept of the fasting month. Food and drink will probably not be set out in the office. At meetings, refreshments may not be served. A foreigner should try to be discrete in the consumption of food and drink. If possible, keep your tea and coffee in your office and don't walk around or bring it into meetings. Feel free to go out to lunch as normal, but don't invite a fasting Muslim to join you. Try to be observant of those around you.
Realistically, because of the change in the schedules of peoples lives, there is an effect on business. Although it shouldn't be used as an excuse to reduce activity, employees are often tired because of disruptions in their normal patterns of eating and sleeping. This often results in a loss of efficiency if nothing else. While no one should say I can't do that report or attend that meeting because I'm fasting, the lack of energy and enthusiasm is often obvious to the foreign professional. One must never say: Why don't you just eat something, then? or make comparisons to the type of fasting found in other religions. This is a serious, religious undertaking and the foreign professional needs to be tolerant and respectful of this fact.
For devout Muslims in Indonesia, the month of Ramadan is a time to face sacrifice, but along with that sacrifice, comes a sense of fulfillment. During the fasting month, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking or smoking from Subuh, the morning prayer at around four-thirty, until the call to Magrib, the prayer just after six in the evening. Because the stricture for the fast only goes until Magrib, Indonesians can look forward to an evening of food, drink and socializing. There are additional prayers and sermons in the mosques and a general up-beat atmosphere prevails. After having fulfilled their religious duty for the day, devout Muslims are allowed to enjoy that accomplishment and reflect on the meaning that it has for their lives.
I would like to address the social obligations imposed on the devout Muslim and foreign professional alike. For many reasons Buka Puasa, or the Breaking of the Fast, is a social and business event. There is a switch in emphasis that occurs during this month. Lunch meetings will no longer be held and the invitation to the Breaking of the Fast becomes the main social event of the day. This is conducted on several levels. For some, it simply means that the family is all together and they may celebrate their love and devotion. On another level, much business is conducted and many relationships are reaffirmed by invitations to Buka Puasa gatherings.
Many organizations have events scheduled for the Breaking of the Fast. Some Mosques, like Istiqal and Al-Azar have events every evening. Similarly, most businesses or government offices will organize some special events for employees, colleagues and clients. It is not unusual that a company or office will extend an invitation for a Western colleague, and perhaps his family, to attend one or more of these celebrations.
Knowing that such events are a good time to bridge the gap between Indonesian and West culture, I asked my good friend and advisor Pak Martono about the proper response toward such an invitation. He noted, If you receive an invitation to a Buka Puasa event, treat it as a sign of respect and acceptance. You must be careful in agreeing to or refusing such an invitation. Either response will have meaning to the Bapak who extended the invitation
If you or your family accept an invitation to a Buka Puasa, there are several things that you should observe and be aware of. Primarily, treat it as the honor that it is and not some sort of informal picnic although you should be prepared to sit on the floor during dinner. Floor seating is the traditional Indonesian method; it allows more people in and avoids the necessity of setting up tables. There are probably two different kinds of settings that you can expect -either a ceremony at an office or a ceremony at a Mosque.
After the Breaking of the Fast with a sweet drink and a small snack, those invited join in group prayer. Unless you are Muslim, you will not be expected to join in to the communal prayer session in the Mosque or Musholla. If this is the case, it is best that a foreigner stand or kneel in the back, observing a respectful attitude. Should you be invited to the main prayer area, perform whatever prayers are within you. Indonesia is a tolerant country religiously, but there is an assumption that everyone has a religion and prays to God. Regardless of personal beliefs, do nothing to disturb this assumption.
Food will not be served in the main prayer area so everyone will move to another area for dinner. Whether or not you were uncomfortable during the prayers, now is the time to relax a bit. The Breaking of the Fast is a time of fellowship. Remember all of the cultural rules that you have learned about respecting face and status, but this is a time to enjoy. You would not be invited unless you had a relationship with someone there. If things seem unusual or even uncomfortable, keep in mind that this is one of the seminal events in the Indonesian calendar. By your actions, you have earned enough respect to be included in Buka Puasa. This is an honor not to be taken lightly.
Sabtu, 04 September 2010
Let's Forgive Each Other
To celebrate Idul Fitri day, I Afin Nurdiansyah Putra say Minal Aidzin Wal Faidzin inner and outer apologize. To all friends and teachers at the school I apologize for the mistake I've done over the years. Hopefully in the coming days we become holy people again and always be given His mercy.
Selasa, 31 Agustus 2010
Welcome To My Blog
Hello all, I'm Afin Nurdiansyah Putra. I'm sexteen years old from Cimahi, Indonesia. I like playing computer games,like Seal Online and Pokemon. This is my first blog. So I'm sorry if there are many mistake here. This blog is an task from my ICT teacher, Mrs. Rika. She asked me and my friends to make a blog which have a theme "Ramadhan". So I made this blog to get a good score in ICT task. Please enjoy my blog..
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