- Situated in Alor Setar.
- Opened in 1912, built with the Moorish traditional architecture. It is a mosque with numerous arches and columns, black domes and imposing minarets. It is one of the most beautiful mosques in the state. Hosted the annual state's Koran reading competition.
The design was inspired by the vision of the late Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin II. Masjid Zahir is located in central Alor Star, and is the official mosque for the state as well as the main mosque for the local Muslims. Its main hall (prayer hall), measuring 3,844 sq ft, is surrounded by wide verandahs with four mezzanine areas, each topped by a dome. The main dome is situated in the north-east of the building. The five large domes symbolise the five Islamic principles. Key Tips Touted as one of the most beautiful mosques in South East Asia, its architecture was inspired by Masjid Azizi in Sumatra, Indonesia.
This is the first of a five part series dwells into several aspects relating to halal including what it means, what is halal certification and why it is important for Muslims in the country to tackle issues relating to halal.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- On and off Muslims in the nation are startled by claims that the Halal status for some of the products that they consume were doubtful, and the immediate reaction is Muslim consumers become more circumspect in buying the related products.
Many deliberate on the issue and quick to point fingers at those entrusted with the enforcement of Halal.
However, they fail to reflect on themselves, their Achilles heel in making the right choice when buying.
Previously there has been reports that the halal status of certain bread and sausages, toothpaste and cutleries, were ambiguous. There were also reports that several healthcare products were not halal as the capsules contained gelatin from pigs.
NO ONE QUESTIONS
And when the dust settles down, some of the Muslim consumers go back to their old ways. The concern over halal status wanes and they carry on consuming anything that pleases their palate even at outlets that do not exhibit the halal logo or certificate.
They purchase whatever that attracts their attention without taking the time to read the product label, its contents or the details of the manufacturer.
"When I was studying overseas, I was very careful when purchasing food products. Back in Malaysia, I just buy anything, more over don't tell me that Malaysian products are not halal," replied Nor a private sector employee when asked on her views on halal.
"When it is written halal, then it definitely has to be halal?" noted a makcik who sells sweets and snacks to school children.
Among the makcik's items that is in high demand is the yogurt flavoured coloured powder in elongated plastic packets. The product from the Philippines has the 'halal' word printed on it.
The attitude of Nor and the makcik is probably the reflection of the attitude of a considerable portion of Muslims in the country. Whether they don't know or they don't bother to know, at the end many end up cheated!
MANY SEE IT AS TRIFLE
According to Saimah Mukhtar, the Halal Hub director for the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), it is surprising that at present many find the halal issue a trivial matter.
"In non-Muslim eateries, they just paste the halal label or employ Muslim waitress or cashiers wearing headscarf to entice Muslim customers.
"The same happens when a trader wears a white skull cap, consumers immediately assume that the person is a Muslim and buy from him without any reservation.
"This is the attitude of some Muslims who see issues relating to halal as a trivial matter," she told Bernama in an interview recently.
She also touched on some Muslims who patronise non-Muslim eateries just because of the "pork free" or "alcohol free" labels.
"This is confusing. Just because pork or alcohol is not served it doesn't mean the food there is halal," explained Saimah.
She also pointed out that some Muslim consumers do not give serious consideration to the `thoyiban' aspect like nutrition, cleanliness, quality and safety.
There are also cases of Muslims frequenting non-Muslim eateries just because the food there is tasty but the halal status is ambiguous.
Amri Abdullah, Assistant Director, of the Monitoring and Enforcement branch of Jakim's Halal Hub Division told Bernama that during an operation at an eatery he asked a Muslim customer why he patronises the place, the customer brazenly replied "the food is good ustaz" though fully aware that the restaurant is operated by a non-Muslim.
DALIL HALAL
Other than a healthy lifestyle, food is considered as an important factor in maintaining good physical and mental health.
As for Muslims, the choice of food is not restricted to its nutricious value only.
This is because Islam has its own standards relating to food and diet that is 'halalan thoyiban' (halal, good and safe).
This has been emphasised through the words of Allah SWT and the traditions of the Prophet.
Among the words of Allah SWT is the Sura Al Baqarah verse 168: "O ye people! Eat of what is on Earth, Lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy."
In Sura al-Nahl verses 114-115 it is mentioned:
"So eat of the sustenance which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good; and be grateful for the favours of Allah, if it is He Whom ye serve. He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, not transgressing due limits, - then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful)".
HOW HALAL CAN HELP
The halal status on food has great influence on the development of a Muslim personality.
As stated by the Prophet (the hadith of al-Tarmizi), which means "All flesh that grow on things or food that is haram thus the hell is greater for them."
This means any of the non-Halal food eaten by a Muslim will be part of their blood and flesh and will impact on their character development.
Therefore, the good and bad character of a Muslim is highly dependent on whether the food entering his stomach is halal or haram.
WHAT HALAL MEANS
Halal originates from the Arabic word that means 'permissible' or 'allowed' by the laws based on Islamic teachings.
Jakim outlines that the laws encompasses Islamic laws from the Syafie laws or any of the Maliki, Hambali or Hanafi laws that has been agreed upon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Halalan Thoyiban concept is not limited to being free from pork or other contaminants but takes into consideration wider aspects in whatever is consumed or used.
This includes the way it is obtained which must be through halal means and not by stealing, robbing or illicit means and includes the processing and storing methods. The whole Halal process starts from the field and goes right up to the dinner table.
THE DEFINITION UNDER TRADE DESCRIPTION ACT
Apart from this, the 'Halal' definition is also described under the Trade Description Act (APD) 1972.
According to the Trade Description Order (Use of Expression Halal) 1975, the 'Halal' definition covers things not made of, or containing any part or substance from animals which are forbidden to be consumed by Muslims, according to Islamic laws.
It also means that anything halal should not contain any substances that is declared as filth according to Islamic Laws.
At the same time it is not prepared, processed or manufactured using equipment which are not free from filthy substances as directed by Islamic Laws.
THE IMPACT OF THE WORDINGS
The order also outlines regulations during preparation, processing or storage, where it should not come into contact or be in close proximity with any food or substance declared as being filth according to Islamic law.
The 'Halal' definition under Trade Description Act Order (Use of Expression Halal) has a number of implication that the consumers and manufactures may not be aware of.
According to Saimah, it has a big impact even though at present there is no law that makes it mandatory for the products or industries to use the term halal whether in logo or the word.
She gave example of the many different symbols that can be construed as halal including the word halal (romanised or Jawi), Quranic verses, the term Allah, Muhammad or Bismillah, the picture of Kaabah, woman with headscarf, and men with songkok.
"When the industry, premises or any of the parties use such wordings, and if is proven that they are actually not halal, action can be taken with fines up to RM250,000 can be imposed," she said.
Source : BERNAMA
Allahu Akbar!!
ADAB MENDENGAR AZAN
Kematian itu pasti menjelma. Hanya masa Dan waktunya
Yang tidak Kita ketahui.Coba Kita amati.. Mengapa
Kebanyakan orang yg nazak, hampir ajal tidak dapat
Berkata apa-apa.. Lidahnya kelu, keras Dan hanya mimik
Mukanya yang menahan kesakitan ' sakaratulmaut' .
Diriwayatkan sebuah hadis yg bermaksud: 'Hendaklah
Kamu mendiamkan diri ketika azan, jika tidak Allah
Akan kelukan lidahnya ketika maut menghampirinya. '
Ini jelas menunjukkan, Kita disarankan agar mendiamkan
Diri, jangan berkata apa-apa pun sewaktu azan
Berkumandang . Sebagai orang beragama Islam Kita wajib
Menghormati azan Banyak fadhilatnya . Jika lagu
Kebangsaan Kita diajar agar berdiri tegak Dan diamkan Diri.
Mengapa ketika azan Kita tidak boleh mendiamkan diri?
Lantas siapa yang berbicara ketika azan, Allah
Akan kelukan lidahnya ketika nazak . Kita takut dengan
Kelunya lidah Kita semasa ajal hampir tiba maka Kita
Tidak dapat mengucap kalimah 'Lailahaillallah. .' yang
Mana sesiapa yang dapat mengucapkan kalimah ini ketika
Nyawanya akan dicabut Allah dgn izinNya menjanjikan
Syurga untuk mereka. Dari itu marilah kita sama-sama
menghormati azan dan mohon kepada Allah supaya lidah
ini tidak kelu semasa nyawa kita sedang dicabut.
'Ya Allah! Anugerahkanlah kematian kami dengan kematian
yang baik lagi mulia, lancarkan lidah kami mengucap kalimah 'Lailahaillallah. .'
semasa sakaratul maut menghampiri kami... Amin... amin.. amin Yarobbala'lamin. .'
Sesuatu yang tak pernah terjangkau di akal fikiran ku ini.
Subhanallah. ..
Ketahuilah bahawa pada setiap waktu, ribuan bilal di merata dunia akan mengalunkan azan,
mengakui 'Bahawa Allah Saja Yang Patut Disembah,
dan Nabi Muhammad Adalah Rasul Allah.'Diawali dengan Indonesia yang terletak dibahagian timur dengan ratusan kepulauan-nya dan jumlah
penduduknya sebanyak 180 juta.
Sebaik masuk waktu Subuh, Azan mulai berkumandang dari kawasan ini dengan ribuan Bilal yang akan melaungkan
Ke-Agungan Allah S..W.T Dan Nabi Muhammad S.A.W.
Proses ini akan bergerak kearah barat kepulauan Indonesia .
Perbedaan waktu antara timur dan barat Indonesia adalah 1-1/2 jam.Belum alunan
Azan merata Indonesia selesai, dimulai pula di Malaysia .
Berikutnya di-Burma dan dalam waktu satu jam selepas Azan dialunkan di-Jakarta,
tiba giliran Dacca di Bangladesh.
Berikutnya alunanannya akan kedengaran di Calcutta dan terus ke Srinagar dibarat India .
Perbedaan waktu dikota-kota Pakistan adalah 40 menit jadi dalam jangka waktu ini,
Azan akan berkumandang diseluruh Pakistan.Belum berakhir
di-Pakistan,
Azan akan bermula pula di Afghanistan dan Muscat.Perbedaan waktu antara Muscat dan Baghdad adalah satu jam.
Dalam jangka waktu
ini, Azan akan berterusan dilaungkan di UAE, Makkah, Madinah, Yaman , Kuwait dan Iraq .
Proses ini berterusan setiap detik sehingga ke pantai timur Atlantik.
Jarak masa Azan mula dialunkankan di Indonesia sehingga ke pantai timur Atlantik
adalah 9-1/2 jam.Belumpun Azan Subuh berkumandang di pantai Timur Atlantik, Azan Zuhur kini sudah mula dilaungkan di Indonesia.
Ini berterusan
bagi setiap waktu sembahyang, tidak putus-putus.
Subhanallah, begitu hebat dan agungnya Islam!
Kalaulah setiap kawasan boleh memasang pengeras suara, akan bergetar satu dunia dengan alunan Azan yang tidak putus-putus.
Allahu Akhbar!
Kita boleh mengirimkan ribuan 'jokes' dan ' surat berantai' melalui
e-mail tetapi bila mengirimkan yang berkaitan dengan ibadah seringkali
berfikir 2 atau 3 kali......FIKIRKAN LAH, tepuk dadamu tanya imanmu.
Every Friday afternoon, after the Jumma prayers, the Imam and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out "PATH TO PARADISE" and other Islamic literature.
This particular and fortunate Friday afternoon, as the time came for the Imam and his son to go to the streets with their booklets, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready!'
His dad asked, 'Ready for what' 'Dad, it's time we go out and distribute these Islamic books.' Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.' The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to hell, even though it's raining?'
Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.' Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go Please' His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the booklets. Be careful son.' 'Thanks, Dad!' And with that, he was off and out into the rain.
This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a pamphlet or a booklet. After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone- chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST BOOKLET.
He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a booklet to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered.. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally, he turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch! He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.
Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU and I came to give you my very last booklet which will tell you all about God, the real purpose of creation, and how to achieve His pleasure.' With that, he handed her his last booklet and turned to leave.. She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'
Next week on Friday afternoon after Jumma prayers, the Imam was giving some lectures. As he concludes the lectures, he asked, 'Does anybody have questions or want to say anything?'
Slowly, in the back row among the ladies, an elderly lady's voice was heard over the speaker. 'No one in this gathering knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Friday I was not a Muslim, and thought I could be. My husband died few years ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.. Last Friday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, i was contemplating suicide as i had no hope left. So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home.. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me.
I thought, I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away. I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly..... I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.
When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU!' Then he gave me this booklet, Path To Paradise that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this book. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more. You see? I am now a Happy Vicegerent of the One True God. Since the address of your congregation was stamped on the back of this booklet, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell.'
There was not a dry eye in the mosque. The shouts of TAKBIR...ALLAH AKBAR.. rented the air. Imam-Dad descended from the pulpit to the front row where the little angel was seated.... He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Probably no jama'at has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a father that was more filled with love and honor for his son... Except for One. This very one...
