PERMAI '08 : Permai di Hati

Sesampainya di Vila Taman Eden di Jalan Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, kami dapat merasa kedinginan bayu malam itu. Jam dah menunjukkan pukul 9.30 malam. Kalau ikutkan Slot I dah berlangsung setengah jalan. “Takpelah, asal dapat ikut bakinya…dari tak dapat langsung…”, kata hati cuba memujuk kekecewaan.

Sempat lagi bergambar walaupun dah terlambat mengikuti Slot I

Para AJK Program menyambut kami dengan mesra walaupun malam dah agak larut. Mereka memaklumkan bahawa Slot I baru saja bermula. Hati kami kembali antusias. Cepat-cepat kami menghantar bagasi-bagasi ke depan bilik yang telah ditetapkan untuk kami (masing-masing mendapat kamar berlainan supaya saling bercampur dengan wakil dari tempat lain). Timbul juga kebimbangan dalam hati kalau-kalau Ustaz Hasrizal kepenatan setelah melalui perjalanan dari Malaysia ke sini yang mana akan memberi kesan kepada kualiti penyampaiannya malam ini. Tak kurang bimbang juga bila melihatkan kondisi tubuh yang agak capek ni nak menerima segala input yang bakal disuapkan.

Akhirnya kami sampai ke ruang ceramah yang terletak di aras paling bawah bangunan tersebut. Kelihatan sosok itu sedang berbicara di hadapan lebih kurang 100 orang mahasiswa yang begitu fokus dengan perbicaraannya. Sambil mengambil tempat duduk, mindaku cuba menelan realiti yang berlaku di depanku. "Ustaz Hasrizal tengah bercakap depan mata ni...macam mimpi pulak...selalu tengok dalam internet je..." hatiku bercakap sendiri.

“Saya merasakan semacam satu amanah yang besar yang harus saya pikul bila melihat anda bersusah payah datang ke mari, dan ada yang sampai naik flight semata-mata nak ke program ini…” Ustaz Hasrizal meluahkan perasaannya. Terharu bila mendengar kata-kata itu terpacul dari mulut ustaz. Tiba-tiba saja jiwa ini membara dengan suatu semangat baru. Malam itu ustaz isikan dengan pengenalan kepada modul yang akan dibawakan sepanjang program Permai ’08 ini iaitu “7 Habits of Highly Effective Mukmin” yang mana diadaptasi dari buku motovasi tulisan Franklin Covey iaitu “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.

Sepanjang Slot I beliau menekankan tentang pentingnya ‘Paradigm Shift’ iaitu ‘Perubahan Cara Melihat”. Penekanan ini datang bila melihatkan keadaan umat Islam sekarang yang tidak lagi sesuai dengan apa yang digambarkan dalam Al-Quran. Kalau sifat-sifat orang Yahudi yang dijelaskan dalam Al-Quran (Al-Hajj) sangat bertepatan dengan sifat mereka sekarang, di manakah salahnya? Apakah Al-Quran yang tersalah menyifatkan atau Muslim itu sendiri yang tersalah menyifatkan dirinya? Jawapannya ada pada diri kita masing-masing.

Apakah kita bangga menjadi muslim di zaman ini? Memetik kata-kata Yusuf Islam “Saya bernasib baik kerana bertemu Islam sebelum bertemu seorang Muslim”, terasa hilang kesucian kalimah ‘Muslim’ itu. Tercemar kerana manusia-manusia yang telah digambarkan Rasulullah sebagai buih-buih di lautan, banyak tapi tak berguna dan tak signifikan sebagai seorang Muslim. Ustaz sendiri dari pemerhatiannya terhadap anak-anak muda Islam kini mendapati bahawa mereka mempejuangkan sesuatu yang tepat, tapi tak jelas. Buktinya, bila ditanyakan kepada mereka, kenapa berkecimpung dalam bidang dakwah? Jawapannya, demi mencapai keredhaan Allah. Tepat! Tapi apakah kita jelas jalan dan tujuannya? Pastikah kita sudah berada di jalan yang betul dan telah sampai di matlamat yang dituju?

Setelah merungkaikan permasalahan yang membuatkan kami tersedar akan kebingungan Muslim dalam perjuangannya, Ustaz mula mengungkap peran ‘7 habits’ yang bakal dijelaskan pada slot-slot akan datang melalui kepentingan akhlak dalam kehidupan seorang muslim. Habits yang boleh disamaertikan sebagai akhlak bermaksud sesuatu yang dilakukan tanpa memerlukan justifikasi akal. Sebagai contoh, kita melihat ada orang miskin yang cacat kakinya di tepi jalan, kita lantas merasa kasihan terhadap orang itu. Kita buka dompet dan melihat berapa yang ada. “Ada RM50, eh banyak sangat. Paling kecil pun RM10 je. Nanti nak balik takde duit kecil pulak. Selak-selak lagi rupenya ada lagi RM5. Kita pun ambillah RM5 tu dan menghulurkan kepada orang cacat tu. Maka yang baru saja berlaku belum boleh kita klasifikasikan sebagai akhlak kerana kita perlu berfikir sebelum melakukan tindakan tersebut.

Seterusnya ustaz masuk ke point cara melihat atau paradigma. Kita sedia maklum ada banyak deria yang boleh kita gunakan untuk melihat. Pernah dengar lagu ini:

Pandangan mata selalu menipu
Pandangan akal selalu tersalah
Pandangan nafsu selalu melulu
Pandangan hati itu yang hakiki
(Kalau hati itu bersih)

Ustaz memberikam contoh mudah yang sudah biasa kita dengar tapi jarang kita hayati. Kita gunakan deria-deria di atas untuk satu situasi yang sama. Katakanlah baru sampai sebuah kotak parsel yang berisi kuih-kuih raya dari Malaysia.

Kalau dengan pandangan MATA, kita akan lihat KUIH-KUIH RAYA YANG ENAK. Kalau dengan pandangan AKAL, kita akan lihat KUIH TAT NENAS YANG ELOK BUATANNYA. KITA FIKIR NI MESTI KUIH BELI NI SEBAB ADA LABEL HARGA KAT LUAR.
Kalau dengan pandangan NAFSU, KITA TERUS BEDAL, PASTU BARU TANYA, “SAPE PUNYE KUIH NI?”.
Kalau pandangan HATI, kita akan RASA TERHARU DAN SAYU MENGINGATKAN MAK DI KAMPUNG DAN SERTA-MERTA MENGALIRLAH AIRMATA TANPA KITA PAKSA-PAKSA.

Nampak tak? Jadi rasanya kitapun boleh nampak kesimpulannya. Gunakanlah mata hati anda.

Alhamdulillah, malam itu saja kami dah dapat banyak input bermanfaat yang disampaikan dengan bersahaja tetapi dengan cara yang cukup kena dengan jiwa remaja kami. Ustaz sering menyelangi slide-slidenya dengan tayangan video yang berkaitan dengan bahan yang disampaikan. Maka yang tinggi ambang rasa menariknya macam aku ni tetap mudah memberi tumpuan kerana keperlbagaian media yang dimanipulasi oleh ustaz. Mengantuk? Memang takdelah…makin tak sabar nak ikut slot-slot berikutnya esok!

IMAN NAILAH 2008
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

~akan datang : pengalaman di hari-hari berikutnya di Permai '08~

SAVE MALAY LITERATURE!

Malay lit under threat- A. Samad Said
Sources: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=20962 By: Bissme S.


National Laureate Abdul Samad Muhammad Said, better known as A. Samad Said, has 65 books to his credit, from short stories to poetry. His popular novels include Salina, Hujan Pagi, Cinta Fansuri and Langit Petang. The state of serious Malay literature in the country, however, makes the writer sad, angry, and frustrated. He tells Bissme S. he has given up all hope of it getting the recognition and support it deserves.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a Sasterawan Negara (National Laureate)?

To get real recognition, to have all your work accepted, especially in school. As a writer, you usually want your books to be accessible to students, who will be your audience in the future. There was recently a news report that two years from now, books by national laureates would not be included in the school curriculum.


What is your opinion on this matter?

Some clever guys in the Education Ministry have said Sasterawan Negara books shouldn’t be included in school because they are difficult. During my school days, we studied William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, John Buchan’s The 39 Steps and Lord Byron. They were hard. But we had good teachers as intermediaries ... to help us understand the text. When you are 18 or 19, you already know these famous literature figures. So you don’t agree with the move? I think what they are doing is insulting. Usman Awang, Keris Mas and Shanon Ahmad have been writing for almost 50 years. You cannot just say all the work of Sasterawan Negara are difficult. There are bound to be one or two books that are suitable. You can say my poem Al-Amin is very difficult. But I have another poem Kita Ini Tetamu Singgah, which has been made a song. That poem is easy. You must have teachers to help you understand the text, so you have some knowledge of good literature. When Anwar Ibrahim was the Education Minister, and then when he was Finance Minister, he took care of this. He respected literature. He remembered writers. He even sent me books ... good books ... to read. He would invite Sasterawan Negara to read poems and their work for his office functions. This is rarely done now. He even invited W.S. Rendra from Indonesia to read poems for his functions. He encouraged reading.Even in Tun (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad)’s time, he sent me books. He wrote "Samad, you should read this." They (Mahathir and Anwar) created situations where you love literature, where you loved writers.

Do you think these situations no longer exist?

Yes. It is very clear from what they are doing. Some people say you’re angry because you’ll get less in royalties when your books are not used in schools. I am 72 now. I don’t need a lot to survive on. I just need a small amount of money. I don’t even have a car. So I don’t have to worry about petrol and road tax. It is not about royalties. I don’t mind that they don’t want to use my books.



So you believe fewer youth will develop the reading habit as a result of the move?

Yes. With the help of the Education Ministry, this will happen. Just think of these students two decades from now. They are not exposed to good literature. If you start saying the work of Sasterawan Negara are difficult at school level, then don’t expect them to touch these books when they leave school. You are sending out a clear message - do not read the work of Sasterawan Negara. Everything should start in school. We are not creating a situation where people will read good literature. In America the students are studying To Kill A Mocking Bird, and in England they go for Lord Of The Flies. All are difficult books. If you want simple books, then just read ABC all the time.

Are you sad at the situation?

I used to be. But not anymore. I am angry now. They should be respecting Sasterawan Negara. But they are not. What is your hope for serious Malay literature? What changes would you like to see the government make? I don’t want to visualise anything anymore. I have no more hope. I will leave the situation the way it is. There is a small group of people in the ministry who are so clever, let them go on being clever. If they want it like that, let it be. I want to make them happy.

It appears that you have given up?

Yes. I have given up. I am sick of it. I don’t care any more. I am defeated. What is your view of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP)? They have no tongue. (Writers association) Gapena (Gabungan Penulis Nasional) has no tongue now. They have not shown any reaction to this school situation. Their silence shows that they agree with what the ministry is doing.

The last time we spoke, you said you were trying to get from DBP the copyright for your books so you can publish your own books. Did you succeed?

Not all. They have given me the rights to 12 books, but not to seven others ... the most important ones ... the ones I want.

DBP always says the work of Sasterawan Negara is difficult to sell. When you ask for your copyright, they don’t want to give it to you.

I think it is the right time to give me the rights to all my books. What is the point of keeping the copyright for my books if people are not interested in reading them?

Is it your opinion that we do not appreciate Malaysia’s literature figures?

I believe so. I have just returned from Korea after attending an Asia Africa Literary Festival. I was there for nine days. It was wonderful to see how they loved books and writers.There was a special segment on me on TV. I was so inspired that I have written 68 poems and will compile them into a book called Soneta Pohon Ginkgo (available in the market in April). My poems were recently translated into Bangla and launched in Bangladesh. It appears that I am beginning to be appreciated in other countries. So I don’t worry that my country doesn’t appreciate me.

Do you think the country will ever learn to appreciate you?

When you are no longer here, then they will appreciate you. They will sing praises of you. They will say we have lost a shinning star from the sky. They will say you are so good. They will say hilang tak dapat diganti. (what is lost cannot be replaced)

You constantly criticise DBP. But they gave you your first big break. They launched you into stardom by publishing your books. Some might say you are biting the hand that feeds you.

Yes. I bite the hand if I see the hand doesn’t really give me good things (laughs). It is wrong to say DBP gives me anything. The people give tax to the government and the government goes through DBP and then DBP gives the money to me. It is people’s money that published my books. If I owe anything to anyone, I owe to the people who paid taxes. I don’t owe DBP. It is their mission is to see what allocation they have and give the money to the authors who they think can give back to the country. The money is not from the DBP director’s own pocket. Some people think I might have grudges against DBP. But that is not the case.

What kind of roles do you like to see DBP play in promoting literature?

I don’t want to complain about DBP anymore. What is done is done. What I care about now is just give me back my copyright and I will be happy.

How do other Sasterawan Negara feel about the situation?

Maybe I am the only one who is not happy with what is happening. Maybe the others are happy. I should not represent them.

What do you think of your own writing and your own work?

I keep meeting people who ask me about the same book I wrote almost 50 years ago. I wrote it when I was 23. I’m going to be 73 in April and people are still taking about Salina (his first novel). It is as if they don’t know that I have written 65 books. I have gone into short stories, novels, essays, poems and plays. But people keep coming back with the same book. Yes they know me, it doesn’t necessarily mean they read my work. I believe they read my work only when they are in school. (Salina is a school textbook) Only those who want to be writers read all my books later.

How do you know people don’t read your other books?

I know when people read my work. When I ask questions about my books, they grope in the dark. Reading is not easy. Unless you have cultivated the habit, you will not read. Things are becoming easier with the existing graphic novels. Now they can see pictures only. The intellectual groups always complain that my books are difficult to read, my books are difficult to study.

So why don’t you make your books easy to read like popular fiction?

I am always moving up. I should not go down. They (readers) should also go up. If they don’t understand me, it doesn’t mean I am wrong. I am 72 and I have been through all sorts of experiences. I don’t just make a sentence. I care about every word I write, whether it is reasonable, whether it is beautiful. Schools must help them come to that level. Instead they just say the books are difficult, so let us run away from them.

You could write in English. Why don’t you write in that language?

People have in the past advised me to write in English, so I will get a bigger audience. But I want to create Malay literature. When I die, I want to leave behind a khazanah Melayu (Malay heritage). You can have my work in English after you translate it. A lot of writers in the world write in their mother tongue and have their work translated into English. Some say you see English as a colonial language and as a result dislike English and refuse to write in it. (feigning disapproval) Yes. I dislike the English language. Yes, I don’t like it that you write in English ... You have no alternative because English is the language of the world. Most of what I have read is also in English. As I said earlier, I want to create Malay literature.

So why haven’t we translated your work as well as that of other Sasterawan Negara in English so the books can be sold in the overseas market?

You should ask this question to DBP and the National Translation Institute. That is their work. I wonder what the function of the institute is if they don’t translate work. Do you think the media is supportive of serious Malay literature? They are not helping. Malay newspapers do not have a specific literary editor ... I don’t know about English language newspapers. As a result, good books get ignored. Bad books get advertised and supported. Good literary events don’t get reported.

Do you think you have come to a stage where critics are afraid to criticise your work and say what you have produced is the work of a genius?

We do not have good critics. I don’t worry about that. But there are people who still say I write rubbish. There have been arguments before this on why a book like Salina, in which I write about prostitutes in Singapore, should be promoted in school. They say the topic is not suitable for students. But in America students read To Kill A Mockingbird, which is about racial discrimination. They want to explain to students about racial discrimination.

How would you like to be remembered?

As an A. Samad Said who was always unhappy with what was happening around him. Why this unhappiness? I want different things. I dream of a caring society, where there is peace, where we respect each other, where we will always smile always, where we shake hands and hug each other. We don’t get that in Iraq or Pakistan or Indonesia, and we don’t get that in Afghanistan. But this is the world, This is not heaven. You get that only in heaven.

Some people believe this is zaman kejatuhan (the era of the downfall) of serious Malay literature. Do you agree?

I do not think literature has jatuh (fallen). There are still new young writers such as Faizal Tehrani and Nisah Harun who are writing serious literature. If I can fall down, they too can fall down. But I always tell them to continue to write no matter what. But there is no appreciation for what you have given them. I would say this is zaman kejatuhan penulis (the era of the downfall of writers).

Did you ever imagine that serious literature would be in the doldrums when you first started writing?

Never. When I started writing (in his 20s), I thought the writing scene would have a vibrant and marvellous future. But I was wrong. If they don’t want to read my books, what can I do? If they don’t want to read books, what can I do? They will be stupid because they don’t read.

In the current situation, how do you motivate yourself to write?

There are times when I want to give up writing altogether. But when I pray, I feel peaceful and I become inspired. Lately, I have been painting and drawing. I held an exhibition recently and sold 20 paintings. I got more than for what I write.

Seeing the present state of serious Malay literature, do you ever wish you could turn back the clock and had never chosen to be a writer?

I would still want to be a writer, even knowing this would be the ending. I will not change the fact that I am a writer. Writing is in my blood. What is your advice to budding writers who want to dabble in serious Malay literature? I have no more advice for writers. They no longer need my advice. They know Malay literature will not be supported.



~PLEASE SUPPORT MALAY LITERATURE! SAVE OUR HERITAGE!~

~IMAN NAILAH 2008~
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

NIAT

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

"Innama al'amaalu binniati, Wa innama likullimri immanawa. "
Potongan sabda Rasulullah s.a.w yang bermaksud: "Segala amal itu bergantung kepada niatnya, dan setiap orang hanya mendapati sesuai dengan niatnya."

Hadith riwayat Imam Bukhari dan Muslim ini menyedarkan kita, amalan zahir yang sesempurna manapun takkan bererti tanpa niat. Amalan yang nampak seperti ibadah, tanpa niat, tiada maknanya. Memang, solat, puasa, dan lain-lain ibadah kita biasa lakukan dengan niat. Dari kecil dah diajar lafaz niat solat dan sebagainya, tapi kite selalu tak mendalami niat tu dalam hati menyebabkan ibadah tu tak sesuci yang sepatutnya. Solat jadi tak khusyuk, puasa jadi meletihkan, infaq jadi bebanan. Sebab tu jugak kita tak boleh salahkan satu jaminan Allah yang berbunyi :

" Solat itu mencegah dari perbuatan keji dan mungkar."

Bila mana kita solat, tapi still buat maksiat, mendekati syubhat(antara halal dan haram) dan melakukan hal2 lagha(sia-sia). Kuncinya ialah niat, dan khusyuknya ada di dalam. Kuncinya dah hilang, macam mane nak masuk? So, tak terasalah kemanisan beribadah, tak berkesanlah pada hati.

Selain tu, niat jugak berpengaruh besar kepada kehidupan kita sehari2.

Manusia biasanya mengharapkan sesuatu atas setiap perkara yang mereka lakukan

Hadith Nabi s.a.w:
"Sesungguhnya Allah telah menetapkan nilai kebajikan dan kejahatan, kemudian Dia menjelaskannya. Maka barang siapa berniat mengerjakan kebajikan tetapi tidak dikerjakannya, Allah mencatatkannya sebagai suatu kebajikan yang sempurna. Jika ia berniat untuk berbuat kebaikan lalu ia mengerjakannya, Allah mencatatnya sebagai 10 sampai 700 kali kebajikan atau lebih banyak lagi. Jika ia berniat melakukan kejahatan, tetapi ia tidak mengerjakannya, Allah mencatatkan padanya satu kebajikan yang sempurna. Jika ia berniat melakukan kejahatan lalu dikerjakannya, Allah mencatatnya sebagai satu kejahatan,"

(H.R Bukhari dan Muslim)

Sungguh Allah Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Mengasihani kita semua, sedangkan niat buat baik pun dikira, dan niat jahat yang tak dilakukan pun diganjar pahala. Beza dengan manusia, kalau dapat tau orang nak meniru pun dah kutuk bukan main, tapi kalau diri sendiri buat, jadi tak salah pulak...

Niatlah dengan ikhlas sebelum memulakan hari yang baru, semuanya biarlah kerana Allah. Bangun tidur, mandi, gosok gigi, biar pakai baju pun kita niat dan baca bismillah. Kesannya, kita lebih banyak ingat pada Allah, insyaAllah Allah permudahkan urusan kita, dan dapat pula ganjaran pahala. Bukan susah nak kumpul pahala, senang lagi nak dapat dosa. Janganlah kita jadi orang yang bila buat pahala, sangatlah berkira, tapi tak sedar pun bila buat dosa.

Gunakanlah sisa masa kehidupan kita yang masih ada ni dengan melakukan lebih banyak amal kebajikan. Moga-moga dengan niat kebajikan kita, terselamat kita dari api neraka.

So now, ask urself...apa niat anda?

Semoga ini jadi peringatan buat diri. Wallahua'lam.


~IMAN NAILAH 2008~
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Our Bridge, My Boundary

It’s sad when you have a friend that you care about, but you can’t keep in touch with him.

It’s his birthday, you remember, you want to send an SMS or leave a comment at his friendster, but you just can’t.

It’s so complicated. You might say what’s the fuss, why hesitate? Why create a border when there’s always a bridge?

There’s already a boundary and I’m not making it. The bridge had once been used and it cause one of us falls into the river under the bridge. Should I keep on letting the one I care about to keep on drowning?

I pulled him back on the ground and ask him to keep standing on where he should but he said he can’t. He said it was his destiny to be where he wants to be.

So I made my decision to close the brigde and never let him enter my space again. It’s cruel, but it’s for his best. My best too, insyaAllah.

~IMAN NAILAH 2008~
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com

Relax Your Mind with Your Ear

I HOPE YOU DANCE
(played in the first tract of this blog sidebar mp3 player)

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your feel to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door close as I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance…
I hope you dance…

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean taking chances but they worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’

Don’t let some helping heart lead you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

This is a song introduced and recommended by a lovely sister (thx Ukht Khadijah!) not long ago. It was sung by Lee Ann Womack, an American country song singer. The song’s title would made you think this is just another typical love song, but spending sometime listening to the lyric made you realize it bring some thoughtful meanings. The title itself means hoping you would get up and put your best effort in life. By using the word ‘dance’, the song is referring to an act that needs courage, confidence, knowledge and also skill to be accomplished. Now just from the title you can see how deep the song’s approach is. The lyrics itself is full with words of motivation, encouragement, and advice that is so nicely written and arranged, making it grows easily in your mind and heart. But then what are lyrics without the music right? Combining country-music and ballads as its genre, it fits beautifully with the lyrics. The singer’s uniqueness in both voice and singing-style made it a memorable and extraordinary song. Enough with all the appraisal, why don’t you check it out yourself and see how it effects you.

An advice, you may felt overwhelmed by this review, but take a few minutes and listen to it for a few times because a song’s music is like the first impression, the appearance of a person while the lyrics are the person’s personality, the persona when you get to know them. So get to know both of them when you listen to this song!

~IMAN NAILAH 2008~
noradrenaline2001@yahoo.com