THE DREAM OF LIFE [ HARDSHIPS ]

THE DREAM OF LIFE

It was only a dream. For a moment, it overtakes met. Yet the suffering I feel in my nightmare is only an illusion. Temporary. Like the blink of an eye. But, why do I dream? Why do I have to feel that loss, fear, and sadness in my sleep?

On a greater scale, it's a a question that has been asked throughout time. And for many people, the answer to that question has determined their path to --- or away from --- faith. Faith in God, faith in life's purpose, faith in a higher order or a final destination has often all rested upon how this singular question has been answered. And so, to ask this question is to ask about life, in the most ultimate way.

Why do we suffer? Why do 'bad' things happen to 'good' people? How could there be a God if innocent children starve and criminals run free? How can there be an all-loving, all-powerful deity who would allow such misfortunes to happen?

And if God is indeed Just and Good, should only good things happen to good people and only bad things happen to bad people?

Well, the answer is: yes. Absolutely. Only good things do happen to good people. And only bad things happen to bad people. Why? Because God IS the Most Just and the Most Loving. And He has no deficiency in His knowledge or understanding.

The problem is that we do have deficiencies in knowledge and understanding.

See, to understand the statement "only good things happen to good people and only bad things happen to bad people", we must first define 'good' and 'bad'. And although there are as many definitions of good and bad as there are people, a comprehensive understanding exists. For example, most people would agree that to succeed in achieving my desired purpose or goal in a particular matter would be 'good'. While on the other hand, failing to achieve my intended purpose or aim would be bad. If my aim to gain weight because I am dangerously underweight, becoming heavier will be good. If, on the other hand, my aim is to lose weight because I am harmfully overweight, becoming heavier would be bad. The same event could be good or bad, depending on my intended purpose. So 'good' in my eyes rests on the achievement of my personal aim. And ultimate 'Good' rests on the achievement of my ultimate aim.

But what is my aim?

That brings us to the fundamental question of purpose as it relates to the greater Reality of existence. There are essentially two distinct worldviews when it comes to purpose in life. The first worldview holds that this life is the Reality, the final destination and ultimate goal of our endeavors. The second worldview holds that this life is only a bridge, a means that stands as nothing more than a glimpse in the context of God's infinite Reality.

For those in the first group, this life is everything. It is the End to which all action strive. For those in the second group, this life tends towards zero. Why? Because, in comparison to infinity, even the largest number becomes zero. Nothing. Like a fleeting dream,

These distinct worldviews directly affect the question of purpose. See, if one believes that this life is the Reality, the final destination, the goal of all endeavors, the purpose of life would be to maximize pleasure and gain in this life. In the paradigm, 'bad' things ARE in fact happening to 'good' people every single second. Within that paradigm, people reach the conclusion that there is not justice and therefore either there is no God or God is not Just (wa athu billah, I seek refuge in God). It's like a person who concludes that there must be no God because they had a bad dream. But why don't we give the experiences of our dreams much weight? After all, some dreams are horrifying to live through --- and very often do happen to 'good' people. In our dreams, do we not experience extreme terror or bliss? Yes. But why doesn't it matter?

Because put in context of our real life, it is nothing.

In the second world view (the Islamic paradigm) the purpose of creation is *not* maximizing pleasure and gain in a life that is nothing more than a dream. In that world view, life's purpose is defined by God who tells us: "I have not created jinn and humans (for any purpose) except to worship me." (Qur'an, 51:56)

It is important to note the special construction of this statement. It begins with a negation: 'I have not created jinn and humans (for any purpose) [...]'. First Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala (exalted is He) negates ALL other purposes before He states the one and only, singular purpose: 'except to worship Me'. This means that as a believer I know that there is no other purpose of my existence except to know, love and get closer to God. This is the one and only reason why I was created. And this is the most essential realization, as it defines everything else I do or believe. It defines all things around me, and everything I experience in life.

So returning to the meaning of 'good' and 'bad', we find that anything that brings us closer to our ultimate purpose is Good and anything that takes us away from our ultimate purpose is Bad, in an ultimate sense. In a relative sense, for those whose goal is this material world, worldly things define their 'good' and 'bad'. For them, things like gaining wealth, status, fame, or property is necessarily 'good'. Losing wealth, status, fame, or property is necessarily 'bad'. So in that paradigm, when an innocent person loves every material possession they own, this is a 'bad' thing happening to a 'good' person. But that is the illusion that comes as a result of a flawed worldview. When the lens itself is distorted, so too is the image seen through it.

For those of the second worldview, anything that brings us closer to our purpose of nearness to God's love is good; and anything that takes us away from God---my ultimate purpose. On the other hand, losing my job, all my wealth, and even falling ill, may in fact be the greatest blessing ever given to me if it brings me closer to God---my ultimate purpose. This is the Reality that is spoken about in the Qur'an when Allah (SWT) says:

"It may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, you know not." (Qur'an, 2:216)

As a believer, my criterion is no longer gain or loss in a material sense. My criterion is something higher. What I have or do not have in a worldly sense is only relevant in as much as it brings me closer or farther from my Aim: God. This dunya (life) becomes nothing more than that dream that I experience for a moment and then awaken from. Whether that dreams was good or bad for me, depends only on my state once I awaken.

And so on the ultimate scale there is perfect justice. God only gives good (nearness to Him) to good people, and bad (distance from Him) to bad people. The greatest good is nearness to God, in this life and the next. And it is only 'good' people who are blessed with this. That is why the Prophet (SAW) said: "Strange is the case of a believer, there is good for him in everything---and this is only for the believer. If a blessing reaches him, he is grateful to God, which is good for him, and if an adversity reaches him, he is patient which is good for him." (Muslim)

As this hadith (record of the sayings or actions of the Prophet (SAW)) explains, whether something is good or bad is not defined by how it appears externally. "Goodness", as explained by this hadith, is defined by the good internal state that it produces: patience and gratitude---both manifestations of peace with and nearness to God.

On the other hand, the greatest calamity is distance from God---in this life and the next. And it is only 'bad' people who are punished with this. What such 'distanced' people have, or do not have of wealth or status or property or fame is only an illusion---no more real or important than having, or not having, these things in the greatest dream, or the worst nightmare.

Of these illusions Allah (SWT) says: "Nor strain your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendor of the life of this world, through which We test them: but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring." (Qur'an, 20:131)

The enduring life is the one that begins once we awaken from this world. And it is in that awakening that we realize...

It was only a dream.

N / F : FROM 'RECLAIM YOUR HEART', BY YASMIN MOGAHED.

RABIATUL ADAWIYAH [ BAB 12 - KARAMAH ]

KARAMAH

Walaupun dalam serba kesengsaraan dan kedaifan, Rabiah tetap jua membesar bertunjangkan kecintaan dan pengabdian diri kepada Allah. Dengan zikir dan munajat serba ibadah yang berterusan itu ia memberi Rabiah cas-cas tenaga yang sangat kuat. Pada siangnya Rabiah diperhambakan oleh sepasang suami isteri yang zalim, tetapi malamnya dihiasi dengan perhambaan kepada tuan segala tuan, raja segala raja dan kekasih segala kekasih.

     Itulah sumber kekuatan dan motivasi malah insipirasi Rabiah. Tiada lain di hatinya melainkan Allah.

     Pada suatu malam, tuan kepada Rabiah berasa gelisah dan tidak boleh melelapkan mata. Puas dipejamkan matanya, namun mata yang dipinjamkan oleh Allah itu ingkar kepada tuannya. "Apa yang tidak kena pada diriku? Puas kucuba tidur namun mata ini tidak juga mahu lena, hati ini pula sudah beberapa hari tidak tenteram. Apakah maksudnya ini?"

     Si isteri yang kemudiannya terjaga, menyedari suaminya sedang termenung di hujung katil lalu menyapa, "Mengapa tidak tidur lagi? Ada apa-apa yang mengganggu?"

     Si suami hanya diam, seakan tidak mendengar pertanyaan isterinya itu.

     "Sudahlah, ayuh kita tidur. Hati sudah larut malam."

     "Saya rasa tidak sedap hati."

     Si isteri terkejut mendengar jawapan ringkas suaminya itu, lantas matanya yang separa tertutup tadi tidak semena-mena terbuka luas. "Maksud abang?"

     "Berkenaan hamba kita, Rabiah," jawab si suami itu lagi.

     "Mengapa dengannya?" Si isteri mahukan kepastian sekalipun sudah tahu maksud suaminya itu.

     "Sehari dua ini saya banyak perhatikan dirinya. Selain patuh kepada arahan kita walaupun kita banyak menyeksanya, saya perasan mulutnya sentiasa berkumat-kamit melafazkan zikir. Sejak dia bersama kita di rumah ini, dia tidak pernah meninggalkan solat kecuali sedang uzur."

     "Maksud abang, tekaan saya sebelum ini tepat?"

     "Itu yang menjadi kerisauan kepadaku. Sekiranya benar dirinya adalah wali Allah, nescaya kita sangat bersalah dan perlu memohon maaf di atas kelakuan kita kepadanya."

     Sedang asyik mereka berbincang, tiba-tiba mereka terdengar bunyi yang sangat pelik dari salah satu bilik di dalam rumah mereka.

     "Ada yang mahu merompak rumah kita agaknya," kata si isteri.

     "Bukan, ini bunyi suara orang. Bunyinya seakan-akan sedang meratap, sendu sungguh bunyinya."

     "Bunyi itu seperti datang dari bilik Rabiah."

     "Benar, ayuh kita siasat apa yang sedang berlaku."

     "Abang pergilah seorang diri, saya tidak mahu membuang masa dengan perkara-perkara sebegini."

     Tanpa menghiraukan isterinya, perlahan-lahan lelaki gemuk itu menuju ke bilik Rabiah. Dia mahu mengintai apa yang sedang berlaku di dalam bilik hamba mereka.

     Selepas beberapa lama di situ, majikan lelaki Rabiah kembali ke biliknya dengan keadaan terketar-ketar pada seluruh tubuhnya. Mukanya pucat seperti baru terserempak dengan malaikat maut. Selepas ditenangkan oleh isterinya, barulah dia boleh berkata-kata.

     "Apakah yang  berlaku? Kamu hanya membuatkan saya takut sehingga setengah mati dengan kelakuanmu tadi." Si isteri mula risau melihat perubahan pada suaminya.

     "Rabiah... Rabiah..." Kata-katanya tersekat dan bergetar alur lidahnya bagi mengucapkan kata. Memang benar sekiranya dikatakan dia terpana dengan perkara yang ajaib sebentar tadi.

     "Apakah yang kamu lihat di bilik hamba kita itu?" soal si isteri lembut, tidak mahu terus memberi tekanan kepada suaminya.

     "Semasa ke bilik Rabiah, saya melihat dia sedang sujud." Terhenti seketika, mengumpul tenaga, nafasnya turun naik dan dadanya berombak. Selepas menenangkan diri, dia kembali menyambung, "Rupa-rupanya Rabiah sedang bertahajud kepada Allah."

     "Celakalah kita wahai isteriku!" raung si suami.

     "Apa maksud kamu?" Kaget si isteri melihat aksi suaminya.

     "Tahukah kamu apa yang Rabiah sedang doakan dalam sujudnya tadi? Dengan deraian air mata suci yang mengalir kerana Allah dia berkata, 'Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku sentiasa mahu berbakti, berkhidmat dan bermunajat hanya kepada-Mu. Dan aku hanya bergembira sekiranya boleh berkhidmat kepada-Mu. Andainya ada kebebasan padaku bagi memilih, sudah pasti pilihannya adalah bermunajat kepada-Mu. Pilihan utamaku hanya di situ dan tidak lewa walaupun sesaat daripada mengingati, merindui dan melayari bahtera cinta-Mu bagi berzikir, bertasbih dan bermunajat kepada-Mu. Tetapi aku hairan mengapa aku kini dalam dakapan nafsu orang yang zalim, jahat dan tiada kenal erti kecintaan dan kasih sayang-Mu. Mengapa ya Allah... mengapa ya rahman... mengapa ya rahim'."

     Ada esak pilu di hujung suara yang mengiringi sendunya, sang perindu mengadu kepada kekasihnya dek kerana masa bersama yang sangat terbatas.

     Mendengar kata-kata suaminya itu, si isteri hampir pengsan. Ada getar yang maha dasyat menyerang dan menusuk sanubarinya. Dia meraung-raung kepedihan dan kejelikan mengenangkan perbuatan mereka kepada Rabiah selama ini.

     "Kita mestilah lakukan sesuatu," kata si isteri.

     "Saya amat menyesal sekarang. Apa sanggup Rabiah ampunkan kesalahan kita selama ini?" Si suami masih berkira-kira.

     "Baik kita cuba dahulu. Walaupun ada kemungkinan Rabiah tidak maafkan kita, paling kurang kita sudah mencuba," tambah si isteri itu lagi. "Lagipun saya yakin, Rabiah itu baik hatinya. Kita sahaja yang melayannya dengan cara yang tidak wajar."

     "Sepatutnya Rabiah itu kita anggap sebagai anak kerana kita juga sudah tua dan tidak mempunyai zuriat. Allah sudah hantar seorang anak sebaik malaikat namun kita sia-siakan. Kita memang buta."

     "Alangkah ruginya kita kerana melihat dia membesar di hadapan kita tanpa sedar kelebihannya dan kita tidak memanfaatkannya."

     "Saya sudah nekad, kita mesti bebaskan Rabiah. Tidak selayaknya dia memperhambakan dirinya kepada kita lagi. Kesilapan terbesar dalam hidup kita adalah memperhambakan Rabiah yang dibeli dengan harga enam dirham sahaja."

     Majikan lelaki Rabiah termenung panjang pada keesokan paginya, tergambar pada wajahnya lukisan resah dan gundah gulana. Apabila isterinya datang, si suami terus berkata, "Sebenarnya masih ada perkara yang saya lihat semalam di bilik Rabiah, namun tidak mampu diungkapkan."

     Si isteri terus memandang suaminya tanpa kelipan mata, bersedia mendengar apa sahaja yang bakal diluahkan oleh suaminya.

     Si suami tetap memakukan pandangannya nun jauh ke tengah padang pasir waktu duha itu, kemudian memulakan bicara, "Sebenarnya saya melihat perkara yang sangat ajaib di bilik Rabiah semalam."

     Dia berhenti sejenak, cuba mengingati dengan jelas apa yang dilihat semalam.

     "Bukankah Rabiah itu kita bekalkan sebuah lampu untuk kegunaannya pada malam hari?" beritahu si suami.

     "Benar," jawab si isteri yang masih tekun menghadap suaminya.

     "Aneh, lampu yang buruk itu mengeluarkan nyalaan yang begitu memukau. Ia seakan-akan hidup dan berinteraksi dengan saya. Lampu itu juga seolah-olah mahu memberitahu yang saya tidak layak berada di situ."

     Dia menyambung lagi, "Api itu tiba-tiba membesar, seolah-olah mahu menerkam dan membaham saya. Saya sangat terkejut sehingga hampir pengsan, namun saya gagahi juga untuk kembali ke bilik."

     Si isteri terpegun mendengar kata-kata suaminya lalu berkata dalam hati, 'Ya Allah, masih adakah cebisan keampunan-Mu untuk kami?'

N / F : DIPETIK DARIPADA BUKU SRIKANDI SRIKANDI YANG BENAR, OLEH ZAHIRUDDIN ZABIDI.

HURT BY OTHERS : HOW TO COPE AND HEAL [ HARDSHIPS ]

HURT BY OTHER : HOW TO COPE AND HEAL

When I was growing up, the world was a perfect place. The only problem was that it wasn't. I used to believe that everything could always be 'fair'. To me that meant no one should ever be wronged, and if they were, justice must be served. I fought hard for the way I believed things should be. However in my struggle, I overlooked a fundamental truth about this life. In my childish idealism, I failed to understand that this world is inherently imperfect. We, as humans, are inherently imperfect. So we will mess up. And in those mess-ups, we will inevitably hurt others, knowingly and unknowingly, intentionally and unintentionally. The world would not always be fair.

Does that mean we stop struggling against injustice, or give up on Truth? Of course not, but it means we must not hold this world --- and others --- to an unrealistic standard. But that's not always easy. How do we live in a world so flawed, where people let us down, and even our own family can break our heart? And perhaps, hardest of all, how do we learn to forgive when we have been wronged? How do we become strong, without being hard, and remain soft, without being weak? When do we hold on, and when can we let go? When does caring too much, become too much? And is there such a thing as loving more than we should?

To begin to find these answers, we have to first take a step outside our own lives. We need to examine whether we are the first or the last to feel pain or be wronged. We need to look at those who came before us, to study their struggles, and their triumphs. And we need to recognize that growth never comes without pain, and success is only a product of struggle. That struggle almost always includes withstanding and overcoming the harms inflicted by others.

Recalling the shining examples of our prophets will remind us that our pain is not isolated. Remember that Prophet Nuh (as) was abused by his people for 950 years. The Quran tells us: "Before them the People of Noah rejected (their apostle): they rejected Our servant, and said, 'Here is one possessed!', and he was driven out." (Qur'an, 54:9) Nuh was abused so much that he finally called on his Lord: "I am one overcome: do Thou then help (me)!" (Qur'an, 54:10)

Or we can call to mind how the Prophet (SAW) was pelted with stones, until he bled, and how the companions were beaten and starved. All of this harm was at the hands of others. Even the angels understood this aspect of human nature --- before we even came to be. When Allah told the angels that He would create humanity, their first question was about this harmful potential of humans. Allah tells us: "Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: 'I will create a vicegerent (humanity) on earth.' They said: 'Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?'" (Qur'an, 2:30)

This potential of humanity to commit horrific crimes against each other is a sad reality of this life. And yet many of us are so blessed. Most of us have not had to face the type of calamities that others have endured throughout time. Most of us will never have to watch as our families are tortured or killed. And yet, there are few of us who could say we have never been hurt, in one way or another, at the hands of someone else. So although most of us will never have to know the feeling of starving to death or standing helpless as our homes are destroyed, most of us will know what it means to cry from a wounded heart.

It is possible to avoid this? To some degree, I think it is. We can never avoid all pain, but by adjusting our expectations, our response, and our focus, we can avoid much devastation. For example, putting our entire trust, reliance, and hope in another person is unrealistic and just plain foolish. We have to remember that humans are fallible and therefore, our ultimate trust, reliance, and hope should only be put in Allah. Allah says: "...whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing all of things." (Qur'an, 2:256) Knowing that Allah is the only hand-hold that never breaks will save us from much unneeded disappointment.

Yet, this is not to say that we should not love or that we should love less. It is how we love that is important. Nothing should be our ultimate object of love, except Allah. Nothing should come before Allah in our hearts. And we should never come to a point where we love something, other than Allah, in such a way, that it would be impossible to continue life without it. This type of 'love' is not love, but actually worship and it causes nothing but pain.

But what happens when we've done all that and still we have been hurt or wronged by others --- as will also inevitably happen? How can we do what is the hardest? How can we learn to forgive? How can we learn to mend our scars and continue being good to people, even when they are not good to us?

In the story of Abu Bakr radi Allahu 'anhu (may Allah be pleased with him), is beautiful example of exactly that. After his daughter, 'Ayesha (r), was slandered in the way, Abu Bakr (r) found out that the man who began the rumor was Mistah, a cousin who Abu Bakr had been supporting financially. Naturally Abu Bakr withheld the charity he had been giving the slanderer. Soon after, Allah revealed the following ayah: "Let not those around you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want and those who migrated in the path of Allah. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Indeed Allah is oft-Forgiving, most Merciful." (Qur'an, 24:22) Upon hearing this ayah, Abu Bakr resolved that he did want Allah's forgiveness, and so he not only continued to give the man money, he gave him more.

This type of forgiveness is at the very heart of being a believer. In describing these believers, Allah says: "And who shun the more heinous sins and abominations; and who, whenever they are moved to anger, readily forgive." (Qur'an, 42:37)

The ability to readily forgive should be driven by an awareness of our own flaws and mistakes toward others. But most of all, our humility should be driven by the fact that we wrong Allah every single day of our lives, when we sin. Who are we compared to Allah? And yet, Allah, Master of the universe, forgives by day and by night. Who are we to withhold forgiveness? If we hope to be forgiven by Allah, how can we not forgive others? It is for this reason that the Prophet (SAW) teaches us: "Those who show no mercy to others will have no mercy shown to them by Allah." [Muslim]

This hope for Allah's mercy should motivate our own desire to forgive and to one day enter the only world that really is perfect.

N / F : FROM "RECLAIM YOUR HEART", BY YASMIN MOGAHED.

RABIATUL ADAWIYAH [ BAB 11 - NYARIS ]

NYARIS

Suatu hari Rabiah diarahkan oleh tuannya pergi ke pasar bagi membeli barang-barang keperluan rumah. Kedudukan pasar yang agak jauh dari rumah tuannya menyebabkan Rabiah perlu menempuhi jalan yang lama. Rabiah juga perlu melalui lorong-lorong sunyi yang jarang sekali dilalui orang ramai. Seperti biasa Rabiah hanya bertemankan zikir-zikir yang selalu meniti di bibirnya.

     Semasa dalam perjalanan pulang, tidak semena-mena hati Rabiah berdebar kencang. Dia perasan ada susuk tubuh lelaki yang sedang mengekorinya. "Ya Allah, apakah niat lelaki ini? Sekiranya baik niatnya, kamu permudahkan dan sekiranya sebaliknya, kumohon perlindungan daripadaMu." Rabiah bermonolog dalam hati.

     Rabiah kemudian mempercepatkan langkahnya, "Lebih baik saya cepat-cepat larikan diri kerana kawasan ini sunyi dan tidak ada orang lalu-lalang. Saya khuatir sekiranya lelaki ini bertindak di luar batasan."

     Namun semakin laju langkah Rabiah, semakin laju juga lelaki itu menghampiri.

     "Saya mesti lari sekuat hati. Sekiranya tidak, buruk akibatnya," getus hati Rabiah lagi.

     Tanpa diduga, "Ya Allah... sakitnya... Ya Allah." Rabiah mengaduh. Rupa-rupanya kakinya tersadung pada batu besar di tengah jalan. Barangan yang dibelinya habis bertaburan. Hatinya terus berdoa kepada Allah, "Wahai Tuhanku, aku sudah berusaha sedaya upaya bagi menghindarkan musibah ini. Kini aku hanya mampu bertawakal kepada-Mu."

     Rabiah membayangkan lelaki yang berniat jahat itu mahu mendapatkannya serta melakukan perkara yang terkutuk.

     Melihat Rabiah rebah terkulai, tanpa membuang masa lagi, lelaki tadi segera menghampiri Rabiah dan menerkam bagai harimau lapar. Sambil ketawa berdekah-dekah, dia berkata, "Ke mana lagi kamu mahu lari wahai si cantik manis? Saya hanya mahu berhibur denganmu sekejap sahaja. Apakah itu pun tidak boleh, janganlah bakhil dengan nikmat yang Tuhan anugerahkan kepadamu itu."

     Rabiah hanya membatukan diri tanpa jawapan. Dia sangat jelik dengan akhlak lelaki itu.

     Apabila lelaki itu sedia melakukan maksiat terkutuk itu pada Rabiah, tanpa diduga segerombolan manusia datang dari arah kampung berdekatan lalu mengepungnya.

     "Tangkap dan pukul lelaki yang cuba memperkosa budak perempuan ini!" laung seorang lelaki dengan perasaan yang marah. Rupa-rupanya dia ternampak apa yang berlaku tadi dan segera melaporkan kepada orang kampungnya. Mereka kemudian beramai-ramai pergi menyelamatkan Rabiah.

     Mereka lantas mengepung lelaki itu dan akhirnya lelaki itu gagal melarikan diri walaupun mencuba. Lelaki itu ketakutan lalu berkata dalam tangisan, "Maafkan saya, saya berjanji tidak melakukan perbuatan ini lagi."

     "Kamu sudah kami tangkap dan saksi perbuatan kamu juga cukup. Kamu dihadapkan ke mahkamah, dan biarlah hakim yang menentukan hukuman kamu berdasarkan undang-undang syarak. Walaupun kamu dihukum, namun taubat kamu kepada Allah tetap diterima. Maka bertaubatlah," kata ketua kampung itu.

     Seorang syeikh yang turut berada di situ segera berdiri di tengah-tengah orang ramai dan mula berpidato, "Allah mengharamkan persetubuhan luar nikah namun menghalalkan perhubungan dengan perkahwinan. Allah juga mengharamkan perbuatan yang zalim kerana ia mencabut hak seseorang insan ataupun makhluk tanpa rela. Apakah sanggup kamu semua bayangkan yang dinodai itu saudara perempuanmu, makcikmu malah emakmu sendiri? Bukankah gadis ini juga adalah anak, adik, kakak malah mungkin ibu kepada seseorang. Bertaubatlah kerana Allah itu maha pengampun lagi maha penyayang."

     Semua yang hadir tekun mendengar. Terdengar esak tangis lelaki tadi yang semakin kuat. Kelihatan dia benar-benar sudah insaf. Rabiah lantas memaafkan lelaki itu, namun lelaki itu tetap dihadapkan ke mahkamah supaya hakim yang bertanggungjawab mengadili perbuatannya.

     "Maafkan saya, saya berjanji berubah," kata lelaki itu kepada Rabiah.

     "Kemaafan saya secebis sahaja, mohonlah kemaafan daripada Allah yang maha pengampun. Sekiranya Allah sudah mengampunkan dosa kamu, nescaya tiada sebab untuk pintu kemaafan daripada makhluk-Nya ditutup."

     "Sungguh mulia akhlakmu. Terima kasih. Saya berjanji kepada Allah mahu berubah dan kembali ke jalan-Nya."

     Begitulah Rabiah, walau sejahat manapun orang lain padanya, dia pasti membalas semanis mungkin. Walaupun racun yang dihidang, nescaya madu yang dibalas.

     Rabiah cuba menggagahkan dirinya berjalan. Walaupu berjaya berdiri namun dia menanggung kesakitan yang berat kerana tangannya patah.

     "Nampaknya tangan adik ini patah, kita perlu merawatnya dengan segera," kata seorang pak cik.

     "Apakah yang boleh dilakukan bagi mengurangkan kesakitan ini? Sekiranya ada sesiapa yang boleh, sila hulurkan pertolongan kamu kepada saudari ini." Seorang lelaki menunjuk simpati.

     Seorang makcik membawa kain lalu membalut tangan Rabiah. Selesai dirawat, Rabiah terus bangun meminta diri. Walaupun masih sakit, dia tetap gagahkan diri pulang ke rumah tuannya.

     Mak cik itu bertanya dengan lembut, "Apakah mungkin kamu berjalan pulang dengan keadaan begini? Sekiranya perlu, izinkan kami mengiringi kamu hingga ke rumahmu."

     "Tidak mengapa, Allah menghantar kamu semua bagi menyelamatkan diri saya pun adalah nikmat yang tidak terbalas. Saya malu mahu meminta lagi kepada Allah," kata Rabiah.

     "Tetapi keadaanmu agak kritikal. Kesakitan akibat tulang tanganmu yang patah pasti membuat kamu payah bergerak," kata seorang pakcik lagi.

     Sambil tersenyum Rabiah berlalu pergi sambil terhenjut-henjut. "Kalian memang orang yang baik-baik. Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas diri kita semua. Mungkin dengan sakit ini, saya lebih mengingati Allah. Mungkin kejadian ini berlaku kerana saya sudah lalai daripada mengingati Allah."

     Setibanya di rumah, Rabiah sudah ditunggu oleh tuannya. Seperti biasa Rabiah pasti dilakukan di luar kewajaran. Dengan tangan yang baru patah, tekanan dan deraan daripada tuannya, ternyata Rabiah sangat kental dan sabar.

     "Adakah kamu melencong ke sana-sini dan baru sekarang kamu tiba?" tengking tuan kepada Rabiah. Dia menambah lagi, "Kamu akan dihukum supaya kelak menjadi peringatan buat dirimu."

     Rabiah hanya membisu.

     Si isteri mula mencanai api kemarahan suaminya. "Kamu ingat dengan tangan berbalut itu kami kasihankan kamu? Sekarang juga pergi sediakan makan malam kami!" Rabiah ditengking lagi.

     Rabiah hanya menurut tanpa membantah kerana dia tahu tiada guna membantah. Hanya menambah onar sahaja.

     Tanpa bertanyakan perihal sebenarnya, mereka berdua terus sahaja menghukum Rabiah, "Malam ini kamu tidak dibenarkan makan sama sekali!"

     Walaupun dihukum sebegitu, Rabiah tetap bahagia kerana dia menemui kekasihnya malam itu bagi mengadu nasib kepada yang maha mendengar.

     "Saya pelik dan kagum kepada Rabiah. Walaupun tangannya patah dan kita hukum pula dengan mencatukan makan malamnya, dia masih mampu tegak berdiri melakukan solat sunat, membaca Quran dan berzikir munajat kepada Allah sepanjang malam," bisik si isteri kepada suaminya.

     "Ya, saya juga perasan."

     "Sejak dia bekerja dengan kita, tidak pernah pula dia timbulkan masalah, melainkan meminta waktu bagi bersembahyang sahaja. Yang lain pasti dibuatnya tanpa banyak soal."

     "Apakah mungkin dia adalah seorang wali Allah?"

     "Apakah ada wali daripada kalangan wanita?"

     "Mungkin sahaja, wali itu bermaksud orang yang rapat dan dekat dengan Allah, tidak kira lelaki ataupun wanita."

     "Apakah ulama-ulama itu dikira sebagai wali Allah?"

     "Tidak semestinya kerana makam ulama itu boleh dicapai dengan banyaknya ilmu yang dipelajari, namun makam wali ini adalah suatu anugerah Allah kepada hamba-Nya yang terpilih sahaja."

     "Kerana keikhlasan dan ketekunan dalam pengabdian kepada Allah?"

     "Benar sekali. Bahkan sekiranya dilihat pada Rabiah, dia sering termenung seakan-akan mengingatkan kekasih yang tidak kunjung tiba. Sedangkan kita tahu dirinya tidak pernah ada kekasih hati yang bernama lelaki."

     "Sekiranya benar Rabiah itu adalah seorang wali Allah, maka celakalah kita nanti."

     "Mengapa?"

     "Bukankah doa para wali itu mustajab? Tidakkah terfikir olehmu sekiranya Rabiah mendoakan kecelakaan kita?"

     Kedua-duanya termenung kerana hati kecil masing-masing dirundum rasa gelisah memikirkan apa yang mereka bincangkan tadi ada benarnya.




N / F : DIPETIK DARIPADA BUKU SRIKANDI SRIKANDI YANG BENAR, OLEH ZAHIRUDDIN ZABIDI.