THE CALIPHATE

The caliph was often known as Amir al-Mu'minin, or "Commander of the Believers". Muhammad established his capital in Medina, and after he died it remained the capital for the Rashidun period. The first caliph to be called Amir al-Mu'minin was Abu Bakr Siddique, followed by Umar ibn al-Khattāb, the second of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs. Uthman ibn Affan and Ali ibn Abi Talib also were called by the same title.

After the first four caliphs, the Caliphate was claimed by dynasties such as the Umayyads, the Abbasids, and the Ottomans, and for relatively short periods by other, competing dynasties in al-Andalus, North Africa, and Egypt. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk officially abolished the last Caliphate, the Ottoman Empire, and founded the Republic of Turkey, in 1924. The Kings of Morocco still label themselves with the title Amir al-Mu'minin for the Moroccans, but lay no claim to the Caliphate.

Abu Bakr, the first successor of Muhammad, nominated Umar as his successor on his deathbed, and there was consensus in the Muslim community to his choice. Umar Ibn Khattab, the second caliph, was killed by a servant. His successor, Uthman Ibn Affan, was elected by a council of electors (Majlis), but was soon perceived by some to be ruling as a "king" rather than an elected leader. Uthman was killed by members of a disaffected group. Ali then took control but was not universally accepted as caliph by the governors of Egypt, and later by some of his own guard. He faced two major rebellions and was assassinated after a tumultuous rule of only five years.

Muawiyah, a relative of Uthman and governor (Wali) of Syria, became one of Ali's challengers and after Ali's death managed to overcome the other claimants to the Caliphate. Muawiyah transformed the caliphate into a hereditary office, thus founding the Umayyad dynasty. Under the Umayyads, the Caliphate grew rapidly in territory. Islamic rule expanded westward across North Africa and into Hispania and eastward through Persia and ultimately to the ancient lands of Indus Valley, in modern day Pakistan. This made it one of the largest unitary states in history and one of the few states to ever extend direct rule over three continents (Africa, Europe, and Asia).

Source: Wikipedia English, 17 February 2011

DOA BUAT USTADZ ABU BAKAR BA'ASYIR

Hari ini berbagai media elektronik, terutama televisi, menyiarkan penangkapan Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir oleh Detasemen 88 Kepolisian Republik Indonesia di daerah Banjar Patoman (dekat Ciamis), dalam perjalanan pulang (ke Solo) setelah Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir memberikan pengajian.

Sebagai muslim kita tentu menyesalkan penangkapan Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, karena beliau sudah sepuh (lanjut usia), dan sudah terlalu sering dituduh sebagai teroris. Penangkapan ini tentu amat disayangkan, karena akan mencemarkan nama baik Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. Kalaupun ada pandangan Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir yang terlalu kritis terhadap fenomena nasional dan global, namun hal ini tentulah tidak serta merta menjadikan beliau seorang teroris.

Perbedaan pandangan tentang sesuatu, sesungguhnya dapat diselesaikan dengan diskusi. Perspektif sosiologis mengajarkan, bahwa diskusi yang penuh kesabaran akan menghasilkan kondisi saling percaya, dan saling mencerahkan, dalam suasana yang egaliter (setara atau equal) dan emansipatoris (membebaskan). Banyak sosiolog percaya, bahwa persoalan terorisme di Indonesia dapat diantisipasi dengan pencerahan tentang perdamaian, demokratis, dan kesejahteraan.

Oleh karena saat ini telah terlanjur terjadi penangkapan terhadap Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, sebagai muslim kita hanya dapat mendoakan agar Allah SWT berkenan melimpahkan kesehatan dan kesabaran kepada Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. Selanjutnya diharapkan Kepolisian Republik Indonesia dapat membebaskan Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, agar beliau dapat menjalankan ibadah puasa Ramadhan dengan baik.

Untuk masa-masa selanjutnya, diharapkan terjadi hubungan dan komunikasi yang harmonis antara Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir dengan Kepolisian Republik Indonesia, sehingga keduanya dapat bekerjasama memajukan dan mensejahterakan masyarakat yang berada di wilayah Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia, yang berdasarkan Pancasila dan Undang-Undang Dasar Tahun 1945.

Sudah saatnya tidak ada lagi tradisi menangkap ulama (ustadz atau habib) sebagaimana terjadi di masa lalu. Contoh: (1) Buya Hamka dipenjarakan oleh Orde Lama, dan (2) Habib Husein Al Habsyi dipenjarakan oleh Orde Baru.

InsyaAllah... Bangsa Indonesia menjadi bangsa besar yang diridhai Allah SWT. Amiiinnn....

THE LAST SERMON

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) have companions, that in Arabic called "sahabah". This form is plural, and the singular is "sahabiy" (for masculin), and sahabiyyah (for feminine). Although Islam is regarded as the youngest of all revealed religions, it is not a new religion. Islam is a continuation of the first religion of God to man, purged, and purified, time after time, from all human adulterations, and restored to its original purity.
There were more than two hundred thousand companions of The Prophet Muhammad, and one hundred thousand are believed to have witnessed the last sermon of The Prophet Muhammad delivered after making his last pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca.
The Prophet Muhammad said, "Islam is based on five pillars: (1) testifying that there is no god worthy to be worshipped but God (Allah), and that Muhammad is the messenger of God and His servant; (2) performing the prayer; (3) paying the zakat or obligatory charity; (4) fasting the month of Ramadhan; and (5) performing hajj (yearly pilgrimage)."
Abu Bakr As Siddiq was an early person to convert to Islam, and a senior companion of The Prophet Muhammad. When The Prophet Muhammad died, Abu Bakr As Siddiq said, "If anyone amongst you used to worship The Prophet Muhammad, then The Prophet Muhammad is dead. But, if anyone of you used to worship God (Allah), then God is alive and shall never die."
All prophet from Adam (The First Prophet) to Muhammad (The Last Prophet) came to preach the same religion, which continued to grow and grow until it reached perfection at the hand of The Prophet Muhammad.
After The Prophet Muhammad's death, the leader of the Islamic group in Medina met in a hall or house called "saqifah", to discuss whom they would support as their new leader. All agrre that Abu Bakr As Siddiq became the new leader, or the first moslem caliph, who was given the title "Khalifatul Rasul" (Arabic), or "The Successor of Messenger of God". Abu Bakr As Siddiq's acceptance proved to be a milestone in The Prophet Muhammad mission.

UNCHANGE REVELATION

The West Civilization since 14th Century until now, had killed millions moslem people, and destruction many village, country, state, and region of moslem. Ancient colonialism and imperialism since 14th Century until 19th Century, and modern colonialism and imperialism since 19th Century until now, was evidences about the worst of The West Civilization. Phenomenons of Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq (include Abu Ghraib scandal), and Guantanamo was evidences about the worst of The West Civilization.
The West Civilization has fallen to build humanity in the world, when they killed millions moslem people in the world.
Now, the world need Islam to build humanity, with Islamic values, as the ultimate values from God (Allah) to peoples in the world (universe). Most people know that Islamic values were base on The Holy Qur'an, which is the holy book on Islam. The Holy Qur'an is a human guidance book to live and life in the world. Moslems grant a very high place of honor to The Holy Qur'an in their mind, hearts, lives, and life. Moslems hold to a very exalted view of The Holy Qur'an.
The Holy Qur'an was given to The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from God. This revelation from God has remained the same, word for word, never changing through all intervening centuries of copying and transmission. The Holy Qur'an exist exactly as it had been revealed to The Prophet Muhammad, not a word and not a dot of it has been changed. It is available in its original text and the word of God has been preserved for all time to come. The Holy Qur'an has been preserved both in memory and in writing.
After The Prophet Muhammad died (633 AD), the fear that portions of these teachings of God would be lost, due to battle and the death of The Prophet Muhammad companions, motivated early moslem rulers to begin the compilation of the revelations that The Prophet Muhammad have received. The end result of this compilation, began by Caliph Abu Bakr and finished by Caliph Uthman (644 - 656 AD), is said to be The Holy Qur'an in its present form.