Sheikhul Al-Azhar: Islam Hadhari merangkumi ajaran dunia dan akhirat

KUALA LUMPUR: Sheikhul Al-Azhar, Dr Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi berkata konsep Islam Hadhari adalah satu konsep yang merangkumi semua aspek dalam ajaran Islam yang menekankan kepentingan kehidupan di dunia dan juga akhirat.

Konsep itu bukan sesuatu yang baru kerana prinsip-prinsip yang ditekankan adalah mencakupi kehendak Islam untuk diamalkan pengikutnya, katanya dalam Bahasa Arab dan diterjemahkan oleh Yang Dipertua Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad.

Sheikhul Al-Azhar itu berkata demikian ketika menjawab pertanyaan pemberita mengenai wujudnya segelintir graduan Universiti Al-Azhar yang menolak konsep itu.

Sheikh Muhammad sebelum itu menghadiri Multaqa Sedunia Alumni Al-Azhar 2008, di sini yang dirasmikan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dalam jawapannya itu, Sheikh Muhammad antara lain berkata Universiti Al-Azhar sentiasa berpegang kepada kesederhanaan yang menjadi pegangan universiti terulung itu dan pengajiannya turut merangkumi kajian semua mazhab dalam Islam termasuk Syiah.

"Agama Islam adalah agama para nabi dan rasul dan apabila ia dihayati maka ini akan memberi kesejahteraan kepada dunia dan pengajaran Islam sebagai agama tidak hanya melihat kepada kehidupan di akhirat tetapi juga di dunia.

"Pegangan (universiti) Al-Azhar dalam hal ini bahawa sesiapa juga yang mengucap dua kalimah syahadah dan mengamalkan ajaran Islam, maka Al-Azhar menerima mereka sebagai saudara seagama," katanya.

Beliau berkata orang Islam yang kuat akan lebih dikasihi dan disukai Allah S.W.T daripada orang beriman yang lemah di mana kekuatan itu bermaksud bukan saja kekuatan jasad tetapi juga kekuatan iman serta yang berkaitan dengan kehidupan di muka bumi.

Ketika ditanya mengenai pendirian Universiti Al-Azhar terhadap tindakan golongan ekstremis Islam yang sanggup meletupkan diri sendiri, Sheikh Muhammad berkata mereka yang meletupkan dirinya di kalangan musuh yang cuba memporak-perandakan negara dan masyarakat, apabila mati dianggap syahid.

"Tetapi mereka yang meletupkan diri di kalangan wanita dan kanak-kanak di tempat awam dan menyebabkan ramai orang yang tidak berdosa menjadi mangsa, itu amat bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam," katanya. BERNAMA

Feb 20, 2008: Tolak Islam Hadhari, kembali kepada Islam sebenar - Presiden PAS - Presiden PAS, Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang berkata Islam Hadhari adalah satu konsep mengelirukan dan menggugat akidah umat Islam Malaysia.
"Niat dan matlamat sebenar Islam Hadhari menjadi keliru sejak awal lagi. Namanya yang bermaksud Islam Bertamadun menggambarkan seolah-olah ia adalah Islam yang baharu yang lebih bertamadun daripada Islam al-Quran yang asal. Ia tambah mengelirukan kerana mempunyai rukun yang tidak sama dengan rukun Islam asal," kata Ustaz Abdul Hadi dalam satu kenyataannya semalam.

Malaysia’s election contest kicks into new gear with promises of fuel price cuts, jobs

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysian politicians began unofficially campaigning for general elections, with an opposition party vowing Friday to slash fuel prices and the government wooing rural voters with promises of jobs.

Election campaigning will officially start Feb. 24, but many politicians are wasting no time after the Election Commission announced Thursday that elections would be held March 8.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak visited northeastern Kelantan, the only one of Malaysia's 13 states ruled by the opposition, and pledged big improvements if the National Front coalition wrests control of Kelantan from the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.

"If the National Front is given the mandate, the people of Kelantan would not have to migrate to other states in search of jobs, as is the case now," the national news agency Bernama quoted Najib as saying in a speech to more than 3,000 people.

The Islamic Party has led Kelantan since 1990, but federal government officials say the predominantly rural state seems ripe for change. Kelantan's poverty rate of 10.6 percent in 2004 was nearly double the national figure, according to government statistics.

Economic issues are a core focus for both the government and its political rivals. Over... [here's the AP report]

Feb 17, 2008: Rawat Umno dulu - Mursyidul Am PAS, Menteri Besar Kelantan, Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat menyarankan Umno dan BN supaya merawat diri sendiri dan tidak perlu merawat Kelantan, kerana di sana sudah ada doktor dan hospital tersendiri dan rakyat Kelantan sihat belaka.

Najib to lead Barisan charge

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak will lead the Barisan Nasional election machinery in the polls at the national level. In announcing this, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the election machinery was ready and could be mobilized immediately.

He said the state operations would be led by their respective state BN chiefs.

"The activities we carry out will go on smoothly through perfect co-ordination.

"We will carry out all campaigns as planned by BN. I will meet the state liaison chiefs to discuss the list of candidates soon."

Asked about the biggest challenge for BN in this general election, Abdullah said the election itself was a big challenge. We will not take anything lightly -- be it small or big."

He denied there was any outstanding issue to be attended to. "We have no problems facing the opposition."

No change to BN seat division: The Barisan Nasional decided yesterday to maintain the status quo in the allocation of seats among component parties. BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said no one raised any objections.

Malaysian polls: anything possible, except new govt

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's March 8 election is likely to shape the course of economic and social policy over the next five years, even if it doesn't deliver a new government.

The ruling coalition has governed in various forms since independence in 1957, telling voters it is the only group that represents all major races and can keep the peace between them.

The Barisan Nasional coalition portrays opposition parties are racially divided and a threat to stability, but even the opposition admits it is too weak to challenge for power.

Instead, elections boil down to a battle over public policy and reputations, but there can still be a surprising number of political casualties.

Here are some possible scenarios: 1. THE PM'S WORST NIGHTMARE, 2. OPPOSITION, ISLAMISTS LOSE GROUND, 3. ANWAR IBRAHIM: COMEBACK OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE? - reuters.com

The ruling coalition will win; but maybe not by enough for the prime minister: ETHNIC strife, rising prices and sagging approval ratings are poor portents of electoral success. So this week's dissolution of parliament by Malaysia's prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, more than a year before its term expires, suggests his strategists have some tricks up their sleeves. Or perhaps they reckon the going is unlikely to improve, and may worsen if America suffers a recession. The Election Commission has set March 8th as the date of the ballot.

No one expects Mr Badawi to repeat his storming debut in 2004, when he led the ruling coalition to a 90% sweep of 219 seats in Parliament. Defeat is unthinkable: the coalition has won every election since independence in 1957. But party officials are braced for a dip in support and the opposition smells blood. Mr Badawi, who replaced long-time leader Mahathir Mohamad, said this week that he would be content with a two-thirds majority. Anything less, say analysts, and party rivals might pounce. […here Snap! It’s an election – economist.com, and …here: Malaysia's Vote to Test New Era of Democracy – wallstreet.com]

Malaysia to go to polls on March 8

Polling is on March 8: MALAYSIA'S 12th general election will take place on March 8, a Saturday coinciding with the school holidays; the Election Commission said today a day after parliament was dissolved. “The EC has fixed the nomination date for February 24 (a Sunday –ed.) and polling will be on March 8 (a Saturday –ed.)," EC chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman told a press conference. The nomination date is the deadline by which all election candidates must register with the commission.

ELECTION 2008: 13-day campaign period adequate, says EC chairman

Anwar Factor clearly influences the timing of the polls

Anwar says early Malaysian election 'shameful': Leading Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday it was "shameful" that the government was holding snap elections before he is allowed to stand for office.

"It is unprecedented that you would call elections after three and half years with a more than two-thirds majority. The only reason you can give is to deny me an opportunity to participate in the elections," Anwar told reporters in Hong Kong.

"It is shameful that Prime Minister Abdullah would choose to call the elections (now)," Anwar added at a press conference organised by the Asian Human Rights Commission. MORE HERE, in his own words here

Anwar’s party condemns Malaysia polls timing: Malaysian political dissident Anwar Ibrahim's party on Wednesday condemned the government's decision to hold snap polls before he is eligible to stand for office in April.

"I think this is clearly the reason why the government is in such a rush to have elections at such short notice," said Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar's Keadilan party.

"Whatever the government says about Anwar not being a factor in setting the election date... that is clearly not true as the announcement today shows," Tian told a press conference. MORE HERE

Recent Developments - updated Feb 14, 2008 >1>2

COMMENT BY NST: They (the opposition) have always predicted and even claimed to be prepared for a snap election. But when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the dissolution of the parliament yesterday, the opposition was caught off-guard.

Badawi pooh-poohs Anwar’s charges: 'Forgotten' Anwar no longer a factor - "Forget Anwar Ibrahim. He is nothing." That was the straight reply from Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when asked if BN would have had a daunting prospect of facing PKR's de facto leader in the coming elections.

Related News Analysis - updated Feb 15, 2008 >1>2

Abdullah jangan sombong kepada Anwar: Sekiranya Abdullah berhajat untuk mempertahankan dirinya maka beliau memerlukan seseorang pada ketika itu. Satu-satu orang yang boleh diajak untuk menjadi benteng kepadanya ialah Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar masih relevan untuk dijadikan rakan kongsi atau pun cagaran untuk Abdullah mempertahankan dirinya daripada serangan hendap oleh pihak Najib.

ANTARA KITA: Anwar Ibrahim masih dalam ingatan rakyat dan masih relevan - Badawi cannot dismiss Anwar Ibrahim as a non factor in the 2008 elections. This election is very much about Anwar Ibrahim, his ideas and vision for Malaysia. Specifically, it will be about corruption, abuse of power, the mismanagement of the Malaysian economy, public safety and personal security, and the leadership of our country. Although he cannot stand for elections until the end of April, 2008, Anwar has been vigoriously campaigning against the Badawi-led administration.

M’sian premier Badawi dissolves parliament for election

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dissolved parliament Wednesday to pave the way for snap elections which are expected to see the ruling coalition's majority eroded.

Abdullah's popularity has plummeted as the nation is beset by mounting racial tensions, unprecedented street protests, and anger over rising fuel and food prices, and high crime rates.

Announcing that the king had consented to dissolve parliament, Abdullah indicated he did not expect a repeat of the 2004 landslide when the Barisan Nasional coalition seized some 90 percent of parliamentary seats.

"2004 was a special election and it was extraordinary. I pray that BN will get at least two-thirds of the votes in the upcoming election," he told a press conference.

"I hope voters will understand the issues affecting our country objectively," he said, adding that the Election Commission would decide on the polling date.

MORE AFP REPORTS HERE, and Bloomberg’s here

ELECTION 2008: Early March polling date expected after Parliament dissolution

Ijtiba - This is God’s bounty; He gives to whom He likes

Ijtiba is the way of God’s selection, and is a matter completely of His grace. A great many people have reached the goal by this way. The prophets have all followed the way of ijtiba; their companions have also reached the goal by the same way and by following in their footsteps.

The devotions of the people of ijtiba are in fact a thanksgiving on reaching the goal. The Prophet (SAW) was asked as to why he exerted so much in devotion, when all his shortcomings, past as well as future, had been forgiven by God. He replied: Should I not be thankful to the Lord!

The path of ijtiba is the path in which we are transported. In this path we are carried swiftly, and brought to the farthest end.

My sheikh used to say: We people live on God’s grace. And to be sure, if we did not have God’s grace, we would not have started from where others end. This is God’s bounty, He gives to whom He likes, and He is the Lord of great bounties.

Thanks a lot!