LEARNING ISLAM

Even after enduring hunger all day long, why do many people gain nothing from fasting except hunger and thirst? This question is fundamental. In the Qur’an, the primary objective of fasting is explicitly stated not merely abstaining from food and drink, but attaining taqwa: يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” QS. Al-Baqarah: 183) This verse shows that fasting is an instrument, not the final goal. Hunger and thirst are only methods; the target is spiritual transformation: la‘allakum tattaqūn so that you may become people of taqwa. Let us use a simple analogy: elementary school. In school there are many rules: Arrive on time Wear a neat uniform Participate in ceremonies orderly Practice the 3S culture (Smile, Greet, Salute) Obey school regulations All t...

For a long time, many Muslims have associated khusyu with complete concentration, fully understanding every verse being recited, and cutting off all thoughts related to worldly matters. However, I personally question whether such a definition truly comes from Allah’s guidance (Al-Haqq) or is merely a human interpretation. Etymologically, the word khusyu derives from the root letters KHA – SHA – ‘AIN (خ - ش - ع). Through a reflective (tadabbur) approach to the verses, I classify the manifestation of khusyu into two dimensions: 1. Physical/External Dimension A state of outward submission and humility, as described in QS. Taha: 108: يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلدَّاعِيَ لَا عِوَجَ لَهُۥۖ وَخَشَعَتِ ٱلۡأَصۡوَاتُ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ فَلَا تَسۡمَعُ إِلَّا هَمۡسٗا “On that Day they will follow the caller without deviation, and all voices will be humbled before the Most Merciful; you will hear nothing but a whisper.” Here, khusyu describes a visible condition of lowered posture and subdued sou...

Correcting Misconceptions About Ramadan through a Qur'anic Perspective We live among "signs," and "signs" are even hidden within our very selves. Whether we are shopping, working, relaxing, or even seeking intimacy, we always use "signs". From childhood to adulthood, from elementary graduates to professors, and from the layperson to famous scholars, everyone speaks of and uses "signs," even though very few of us truly understand what a sign is, where it operates, or how it impacts human thought, action, and judgment in life. In fact, since the dawn of human civilization, the very first thing God taught mankind was "signs" (asma). Thus, signs represent knowledge that spans from the "primitive" to the modern, and today, they have entered the postmodern and metaverse eras. وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبُِٔونِي بِأَسۡمَآءِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ ...

The word Ikhlas is a term we use frequently in our daily conversations. For example, we often hear phrases like "one must be clean heart in worship" or "one must be clean heart in helping others ". We use this word almost every day when speaking with others. According to the KBBI (Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language), ikhlas means "clean-hearted". Therefore, the common human understanding of these daily phrases is that worship or helping others must be done "clean heart". This is the definition of ikhlas according to human standards. But what is the definition of ikhlas according to God? Variations of "Ikhlas" in the Qur'an Several verses in the Qur'an concerning ikhlas are often left untranslated or translated differently. • As "Sincere" : In QS. Al-A'raf: 29, the word mukhlishin is translated as "sincere/ikhlash" in the context of "devoting ketaatan (obedience) sincerely to Him"...

RECTIFYING MISCONCEPTIONS: THE VIRTUE OF RAMADAN IN A QUR’ANIC PERSPECTIVE Ramadan is a month consistently referred to as the month of forgiveness. Many Muslims hope that after undergoing fasting, night prayers, and other acts of worship, they will emerge from Ramadan as clean as a newborn baby. This is based on hadiths such as: "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith and sincerity will be released from his sins so that he becomes clean again, like a baby newly born from his mother’s womb." (HR. Bukhari and Muslim). However, a critical question arises: What if someone has committed major sins, such as corruption, oppression, or destroying nature? Is their fast still valid? Is their sin automatically erased? I will explain this honestly and in a balanced manner based on Qur’anic principles. In Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183, Allah SWT says: "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteo...

CORRECTING A MISCONCEPTION THE VIRTUE OF RAMADAN FROM A QUR'ANIC PERSPECTIVE The virtues of Ramadan often give birth to a skewed perception as if God’s forgiveness is "greater" during that month than in others. I wish to rectify this understanding by affirming that, from a Qur'anic perspective, God's forgiveness is absolute, not restricted by time, and independent of any calendar. Ramadan is not the time when God starts to forgive, but rather a momentum when humans are encouraged to return to a forgiveness that is always open. Within Islamic traditions, a well-known hadith of the Prophet states: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) This hadith is often understood as proof that Ramadan is "the" month of forgiveness. However, a critical question arises: Does this mean God’s forgiveness outside of Ramadan is lesser? To answer this, we must return t...

Islam, or surrendering oneself to God, is symbolized by thinking, acting, and judging in accordance with what God says. It is impossible to think without having a basis, to act without a form, and behavior as a manifestation of thought is reflected, among other things, in the etiquette of dress. What Islam teaches is certainly not trivial, such as how many beard hairs must grow to be called a "beard," or how many millimeters long a beard must be to be considered "long." Such trivialities are not regarded by Allah as acts of obedience. Allah does not look at the human physical form; He looks at our way of thinking. Thus, the primary focus begins with the mind and then action; piety (taqwa) towards Allah is the consciousness of always being under His supervision. يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ قَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ لِبَاسٗا يُوَٰرِي سَوۡءَٰتِكُمۡ وَرِيشٗاۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُونَ "O children of A...

Within Muslim societies, there is a widely held assumption that a darkened forehead often referred to as a mark of prostration, is an indicator of a person’s piety, particularly as a result of diligently performing prayer. But does the Qur’an truly associate piety and the quality of faith with a physical mark on the forehead? To address this question, the Qur’an itself provides a clear explanation, particularly in Surah Al-Fath [48]:29: مُّحَمَّدٞ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ تَرَىٰهُمۡ رُكَّعٗا سُجَّدٗا يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٗاۖ سِيمَاهُمۡ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِۚ وَمَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ كَزَرۡعٍ أَخۡرَجَ شَطَۡٔهُۥ فََٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسۡتَغۡلَظَ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعۡجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلۡكُفَّارَۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنۡهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٗ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمَۢا "Muhammad is t...

In the Qur'an, matters concerning human life consistently emphasize the command not to transgress limits. For example, in QS. Al-Ma’idah: 87 regarding what humans consume: يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُحَرِّمُواْ طَيِّبَٰتِ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡتَدُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ “O you who believe, do not forbid the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love those who transgress.” This verse shows that even in things that seem “good,” humans can still slip if they cross the limits that Allah has set. Or in QS. Al-Baqarah: 190 concerning warfare: وَقَٰتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡتَدُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love the transgressors.” Even in extreme conditions like war, boundaries remain. This means that no aspect of human l...

Generally, the word kitab is understood as a book. In the Arabic language, this understanding is indeed not incorrect. However, when the word kitab is used in the Al-Qur'an especially when referring to the Al-Qur'an itself its meaning is not as simple as a physical book. The Al-Qur'an was not sent down directly from heaven in the form of a book. So, what is the actual meaning of "kitab" intended by the Al-Qur'an? The Fundamental Meaning of the Word Kitab The word kitab is derived from the root words ka-ta-ba, which means to gather separate things and then arrange them into a complete system that possesses a structure, mechanism, and specific themes. From this, it can be understood that al-Kitab is not merely writing, but rather a concept of a system of general laws that govern: Existence (wujud). Growth/Development. Change. The relationship of cause and effect within the universe. Al-Kitab is the accumulation of various themes arranged in a single system...

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace and blessings be upon you all. Meeting again with me, Abu Musa. Today is Saturday, July 5, 2025, in the afternoon at Jami’ Baitul Falah Mosque. While waiting for my child’s practice session, I will review again the study about as-syaithan (Satan). Previously, we discussed two meanings of Satan: Satan in the form of individuals from among the jinn and humans. The evidences have been clearly discussed. Satan in the form of thoughts that oppose Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful). The evidences for this have also been clearly discussed. This afternoon I will discuss examples related to these meanings of Satan. 1. SATAN IN THE FORM OF INDIVIDUALS / CERTAIN PARTIES Regarding jinn individuals, I do not have the competence to discuss them because I have never had direct interaction with jinn. However, if there are people who have such experiences, that is what Allah refers to as satans from among the jinn. Allah informs this ...

As the month of Ramadan approaches, many preachers frequently cite the following Hadith: إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ "When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are shackled." (Narrated by Bukhari no. 1899 and Muslim no. 1079). In another narration: إِذَا كَانَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ "When Ramadan enters, the gates of mercy are opened, the gates of Gehenna are closed, and the devils are tied with chains. " (Narrated by Bukhari no. 3277 and Muslim no. 1079). Traditional Interpretations Some scholars interpret this Hadith literally (haqiqi): the opening of Heaven's gates and the shackling of devils are physical signs of Ramadan’s sanctity, preventing devils from hindering the believers. Consequently, the devils' influence decreases as t...