beautiful trip to brisbane I

salam. i'd arrived at brisbane yesterday and would spend about 4 days here before my flight to malaysia on 27th. yup, it's exactly on the 1st aidiladha. that would definitely be my choice when the ticket is 400aud cheaper. today we were on a road trip to gold coast. a factory outlet at harbourtown is our 1st destination. thinking of how easy it is to buy things for ourselves but not for those who are really in need makes me kind of dissapointed. our nafs to spend money on ourselves is much greater than to help our brothers and sisters who are still uncertain of their next meal. isnt His rewards are so great to those who do sedekah?

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّاْئَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَـعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ وَسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, is that of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower (2:261)

our next stop is the pelican beach. a spectacular view indeed. subhanallah. to know The Creator we should look at His creations. we were having our late lunch while exploring the topic of ukhuwah islamiyyah.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُواْ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

The believers are but a brotherhood. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and have Taqwa of Allah that you may receive mercy (49:10)

Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in rows as if they were a solid structure (61:4)

And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's favor on you, for you were enemies of one another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided. (3:103)

ukhuwah is one of muslims' strengths. a lonely prey is definitely easier to be caught by a predator compared to when it's in a group. we wont be a true muslim if we only focus on our own ibadah while ignoring of those around us. He also emphasized the significance of spreading the truth to others:

Verily, man is in loss.Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience. (103: 2-3)

Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma`ruf (all that Islam orders) and forbidding Al-Munkar (all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful (3:104)

ukhuwah can be either our greatest weapon or weakest point. never let our desire or syaitan weaken the bonds between muslims as they'll certainly try to influence us through every possible way. among various ways to spice up our ukhuwah is to advice one another. one might say he cant advice others regarding something until he is prepared to practice it. then how long should he wait for himself to prepare? what if death meets him first? the past is something that we can never change and the future is still uncertain. then make full use of the present. then one might argue what's the use of practicing something when he's being forced and not sincere? sincerity is very difficult to achieve. it is like looking for a black ant on a black stone in the middle of the night. but the strategy is to put some sweetened condensed milk (as suggested by others;p ) to attract the ant. the milk symbolizes our effort and insyaAllah, may He makes it easier for us to achieve sincerity once we have taken the 1st step. we should never expect to feel it when we have not tried anything.

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do. Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. (61: 2-3)

then, let's walk the talk and talk the walk. insyaAllah, He is always looking at our efforts =)