Arab Regimes and the Betrayal of Palestine (w/ Farah El-Sharif) | The Chris Hedges Report Farah El-Sharif examines the forces that lead Muslim leaders to stand by and witness the slaughter of their own people in exchange for “petty crumbs” from Western powers and the Zionist state. Chris Hedges This interview is also available on podcast platforms and Rumble. Farah El-Sharif, writer, academic and Visiting Scholar at Stanford, is uncompromisingly blunt in her assessment of the Middle East. The decades of repression faced by an entire people have produced a fragmented society—culturally and through colonially imposed borders. To help understand why the Muslim world is so broken, corrupt and full of contradictions, El Sherif joins host Chris Hedges on this episode of The Chris Hedges Report. “The systemic repression that Muslim communities worldwide experience is inextricably linked to the interventionist, expansionist, supremacist American-Israeli Western project,” El Sharif says. Though the region has grown to have perceived independence from its former colonial states, El Sharif explains that the imperial agenda and the manufacturing of a Muslim menace continues. The psychological and physical damage runs so deep that many give in to their oppressors in hope of selfish prosperity, while others look at themselves as less than deserving of a dignified existence. The genocide in Gaza proves to be the most crucial litmus test, as the leaders of fellow Muslim countries stand by and witness the slaughter of their own people in exchange for “petty crumbs” from Western powers and the Zionist state. “A lot of Muslims even internalize this war on terror rhetoric and they themselves start being apologetic and say, Islam is peaceful, Islam is this, Islam is compatible with democracy, Islam is compatible with civility,” El Sharif explains. “I see that as a sign of decimated consciousness, not just double consciousness. They don't know their own faith, they don't know their own history, and so they start being apologetic about it, and that is a position of weakness.” Chris Hedges Producer: Max Jones Intro: Diego Ramos Crew: Diego Ramos, Sofia Menemenlis and Thomas Hedges Transcript: Diego Ramos Thanks for reading The Chris Hedges Report! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share Transcript Chris Hedges “The Muslim world has been tested with the weakest, most corrupt, and most hypocritical scholars and rulers because, as a community, our priorities have long been in the wrong place,” writes the Islamic scholar Farah El Sherif. “After being ravaged by colonialism, we no longer rallied behind the core characteristics of true leadership: Prophetic knowledge, principle, and integrity. We no longer valued what is just and true. We chased after the fickle mirages of autocratic power, wealth, charisma, and status. Thus was our downfall. As a result, we today see tightlipped, impotent Muslim rulers idly watch the river of blood as it flows from Gaza. We see compromised scholars betray the Qur’anic command for justice and bend their heads in humiliation and fear of worldly powers. Save for a few, most Muslim rulers and scholarly elites have chosen self-preservation and silence. The river of blood in Gaza is also a river of treachery and collusion. With leaders like these, it is no wonder the Muslim world is in the sorry state that it is in today.” “Palestinians could see from the very beginning that there is nothing ‘post’ about the postcolonial world order,” she continues. “They have ever since got less and less of their rights, lands, and dignity with each passing day. In the same era, the opium of nationalism spread like wildfire as the Muslim world was carved into colonially constructed nation states. The rest of the Muslim world enjoyed its false sense of ‘sovereignty’ and accepted its bridle, divorced from the lonesome plight of the Palestinian people, fooled into believing that the same system that gave birth to their ‘sovereign’ states could guarantee their safety and protection.” “What,” she asks, “is the Muslim body today if not diseased, aching, and wounded?” Joining me to discuss the state of the Muslim world , the connection between repressive Arab regimes and the so-called war on terror, how the genocide in Gaza exposes the moral rot within Arab ruling elites and the efforts by the west to manufacture a complaint form of Islam is Farah El Sherif. Farah received her PhD from Harvard University’s Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with a research focus on Islam in Africa and the Levant, the modern nation state and Muslim political movements. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at Stanford. You can find her work at sermonsatcourt.substack.com Farah, let's begin with the state of the Muslim world, the Arab world, which from the quotes that I pulled from the introduction, is you call it a diseased body, but it's also a created body by Western powers, propped up by Western powers. You grew up in Jordan. The Hashemite rulers of Jordan were imposed on the Jordanian people. Jordan didn't exist, of course, at the beginning, Transjordan, whatever you want to call it. They are from Saudi Arabia. The oil interests created the rulers of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And this has just been a kind of legacy, whether it's [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-] Sisi in Egypt or any other kind of pliant ruler. So let's talk about the state of the Arab world and let's talk about—and we were together in Jordan this summer—the failure on the part of Arab rulers to push back in any, with the exception of Yemen of course, push back in any meaningful way against the genocide of the Palestinian people and then in many cases actually collaborate with the Zionists to overcome the maritime blockade imposed by Yemen. Farah El-Sharif Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much, Chris, for having me and the generous introduction. Really, if you ask any person in Gaza, they will tell you that the thing that hurt them the most was not the American, German and Israeli bombs. It was the cowardice of kin. It was the collusion. It was the abandonment with this kind of Zionist campaign to exterminate them. That is what is the source of their true emotional and psychological scar. So to say that the Muslim community worldwide is stuck between a rock and a hard place is probably the understatement of the century. So if it isn't these bombs, quadcopters, drones that are shredding our bodies and burning our children alive, it's these colonially installed puppets that look towards this model of empire and salivate over it, competing in who gets to please it the most and who gets to bend over to be compliant towards it. So these security states have our people strangulated, whether it is through surveillance, repression or intimidation. And if it isn't the horrific Sednaya Prison that we've seen footage of and other sadistic torture dungeons under Assadist Syria, it is the hundreds of other unknown torture cells still operating in the West Bank, Egypt, Saudi, the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan, East Turkestan, and India, Kashmir, where political prisoners are detained by the hundreds and held under gruesome conditions, often without charge. So if it isn't that, it's the Israeli soldiers that relish in breaking the bones of Palestinian children prisoners. It's the [inaudible] concentration camp where Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya was abducted over a week ago with no word from him and where Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh of Al-Shifa Hospital was brutally raped and killed before him. It is the crude and sadistic Israeli parliamentarian urge to protect the so-called right to rape. If not that, it is the moral stain of Abu Ghraib. It is the Patriot Act that detains people like Dr. Aafia Siddiqui the rest of the Holy Land Five, and men like Abu Zubaydah, Guantanamo's so-called forever prisoner, or America's tortured guinea pig, who still resides in Guantanamo [Bay] since 2002, and who we forget is of Palestinian descent himself. So this, like you rightly pointed out, Chris, the systemic repression that Muslim communities worldwide experience is inextricably linked to the interventionist, expansionist, supremacist American Israeli Western project. In a twisted way, they kind of all work together like this Pharaoh behemoth protected by Orwellian buzzwords like liberal democracy or state sovereignty or the so-called rules-based order, which Gaza has exposed as nothing but a ruse-based order. So it is as if this entire ecosystem of repression feeds on injustice. And we've reached the abyss of the abyss of repression. And this world order is this Frankenstein-like world whose horrors have been unleashed primarily on innocents. So what the great African-American theologian James Cone called structural sin, we've reached an alarming level of that, of desensitization to atrocious mass violence. And what does all of this do? It kills and strangulates all of us, not just Muslims. It produces this endemic spiritual death which affects not only Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians, but humanity as a whole. So this pernicious web of carceral cancer is sustained by the politics of compliance to an empire which sees Muslims like me, Palestinians and Arabs as mere fodder for this monstrous system. Nowhere is this collusion more evident than things like basic human rights and civil liberties being eroded in the West. Look at the state of Muslims in Germany. Just last week, I think a senator from Florida, Randy Fine, tweeted essentially a final solution, a call for a final solution, saying that it's high time we dealt with this fundamentally dangerous culture, i.e. Islam, what I would say to that is what is fundamentally dangerous and broken of a culture is one that has normalized genocide, one that is okay with watching images of people being burned alive and moving on with their day. That is what is fundamentally broken and that is what is dangerous. So this manufacturing, decades of manufacturing the Muslim menace, this idea of the war on terror, or let's change that proposition and call it a war of terror, a war of state terror that has Muslim political prisoners locked up and exterminated. This same campaign also sustains and funds the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the ongoing land grab annexation and colonization of land in Syria and Lebanon. And so all of this is part of a campaign to dominate and redraw the Middle East straight out of a 21st century crusader-cum-Zionist colonial playbook. Except this campaign is more militarized, it's more advanced, it's more funded and supremacist than ever before. So I don't think that this is a controversial point, Chris, but I wrote this in my Substack that we are currently living in an age of Muslim internment, but we don't call it as such. We've reached a point where we have normalized the genocide and extermination of a people deemed to be bad wholesale according to the logic of the Judeo-Western Christian civilization. So, yes? Chris Hedges No, go ahead. Farah El-Sharif I was just gonna say that since World War II, we've primarily normalized seeing images of torture basically on Muslim bodies from Bosnia, Abu Ghraib, the Rab'a massacre at West Bank, and now in Gaza, the Rohingya, the Uighurs. So it's definitely a time where, a time of harrowing, sort of desensitization and dehumanization on a global systemic level. Chris Hedges Well, as you are well aware, the United States acted no differently from Israel, as Israel is, of course, the genocide is more pronounced, but the kinds of the torture, the tactics, the indiscriminate killing, the racist language, this was all part of the project, the imperial project in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Libya, in Syria. We have a kind of historical amnesia here in the United States. But certainly within the Muslim world, especially those people that have borne the brunt, mean, how many, what is it, one million Iraqis were killed because of our occupation of the country? They don't forget. They know. Farah El-Sharif No, absolutely, Chris, you're right. And I think that you talked about, with Dr. Gabor Maté, you talked about fragmented morality, but what we're seeing now in a lot of this knee-jerk geopolitical reactions to what's going on in the region, in the Middle East, is a kind of fragmented vision. And what you were saying about amnesia is absolutely true. So I'm trained as an intellectual historian where my job is to look at the long durée of ideas and look at the kind of the macro arc of where we're going as a human whole. And so I don't say this to be an alarmist. I'm probably the most anti-dogmatic person that you could talk to, but I say this not to kind of play the victim card that, we Muslims, we need help, we're so helpless, and then turn that victimization into furthering another kind of oppression or another kind of injustice. And we've seen that happen to many people who are oppressed or repressed, suddenly they become the tyrant. And I think that for Muslims and Islam, we're at a kind of a turning point, a testing kind of, Gaza has been kind of the litmus test for Western leadership to basically see if there truly are about the highest ideals of Western civilization protecting the right to liberty, the right to life, the right to freedom. And it is clear, it is exceedingly clear that these freedoms only extend to the in-kind group. They're only seen as worthy to Westerners, to white people. Whereas when it comes to these barbarians abroad, let's just decimate them, let's just destroy them. And this arrogant expansionist program is very reminiscent of the 18th and 19th century colonial brutal campaigns that I read about when it comes to the French in West Africa or the Dutch in Indonesia. And it's exactly all from the same colonial playbook, except now it is fattened up with this, like I said, this Orwellian cover of civility and democracy. And we should not forget that this campaign that we are seeing now is exactly out of [Benjamin] Netanyahu's kind of wet dream for the Middle East to take all of it, essentially. And in 1996, you know better than me about the Clean Break Policy that was designed to take out seven countries in five years—Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and then swallow the region whole. And for anybody to look at one regime change and to say that that's not part and parcel of this campaign. Even the War on Terror was cooked up in Tel Aviv in 1982 or even before in 1979 through the Jonathan Institute that Netanyahu himself founded. He said, we're done with the red threat now. Now is the green threat, that of Islamic terror. And so a lot of Muslims even internalize this war on terror rhetoric and they themselves start being apologetic and say, Islam is peaceful, Islam is this, Islam is compatible with democracy, if Islam is compatible with civility. And I see that as a sign of decimated consciousness, not just double consciousness. They don't know their own faith, they don't know their own history, and so they start being apologetic about it, and that is a position of weakness. Chris Hedges Well, that is, and you've written about this, there's a huge push to create this kind of quizzling form of Islam. That's what the Abraham Accords are. So, you know, we divide, and this is classic colonial rule, we divide, let's put it in commas, the natives into the “good natives” and the “bad natives.” Those who are willing to serve in our colonial police force, like the Palestinian Authority, which is currently attacking Jenin and has thrown Al Jazeera out of the West Bank, imagine, following of course Israel's example within Israel proper. Let's talk about that, the attempt to create divisions within the Muslim world and this insidious project—and the Abraham Accords I think epitomize that—to create quote unquote the good Muslim. Farah El-Sharif Yeah, I mean, it's a very archetypal story in a sense that in every struggle for liberation, there will always be the collaborators, the native informants, if you will, who kind of throw their people under the bus and scurry the favor of the powers that be and try to kind of gain favor in exchange for petty crumbs. But ultimately, history, scripture have shown us that it is a Faustian bargain. At the end of the day, these people who think that by cozying up with repressive forces of empire like Israel and the United States at the expense of the actual lives of the people they govern, they do that thinking that they're securing their reign or that they are getting political expediency or perhaps their son might become king next or some kind of delusional worldly fantasy like that. But the funny thing that you mentioned about the Abraham Accords and how they are singularly pernicious, Chris, is that they use this language of a kind of this prophetic authority. They invoke Abraham as the father of all three religions and hence give this kind of treacherous collusion, a kind of a prophetic theological tinge. And this is again, part and parcel of this Orwellian doublespeak where this time they have Muslim scholars, even here in America, Muslim scholars who defend that, who are in cahoots with the UAE and Saudi, who are mum about the genocide in Gaza. And so historically we've had Muslim scholars in the lead of anti-colonial resistance movements, today you see they're fully co-opted or they're in dungeon prisons like in Saudi. Right now, I read yesterday that every 25 hours, one person is executed under MBS in Saudi Arabia. The other day, just somebody I know was detained for around three months, a woman for wearing a kufiya, a Palestinian kufiya in the holy mosque of Mecca. So this is the kind of cancerous kind of relationship that I was referring to earlier. And the funny thing is, Chris, the irony about the Abraham Accords is that in the Islamic intellectual tradition, the Prophet Muhammad was asked about the Prophet Abraham and what he stood for. So one of his companions asked the Prophet, tell us about the Abrahamic scrolls. And you know what the Prophet said about that? He said, the prophet Abraham used to speak like this: “Oh you wretched, insolent, conceited king, I did not send you to this world to collect worldly benefits, rather I sent you to respond to the supplication of the oppressed on my behalf. To respond to the supplication of the oppressed on my behalf.” And this is the exact opposite of what the Abraham Accords, backed by the UAE and Saudi, Bahrain, Morocco, do. They actually strangulate the oppressed. They are actually all the people living under the rubble or starving or dying from the cold in Gaza were only able to get to that point because of the collusion and collaboration of Arab and Muslim normalizers. Chris Hedges Let's, for people who don't know what the Abraham Accords are, this is Jared Kushner's project under the Trump administration, explain what it's—I mean, in its rough description, it essentially normalizes relationships, diplomatic relationships between Israel and Saudi Arabia, at the expense of the Palestinians, of course. But talk about the Abraham Accords and why they are so pernicious. Farah El-Sharif Yeah, it was signed in 2020, like you correctly said, under the Trump administration. It was, you could say, Kushner's kind of vision, alongside Netanyahu, of course. And it was signed between the US, and people don't even realize that Palestine is not even part of this accord. They arrogantly cut out the people whose lives are affected primarily. This is about them, this is about Palestinians, and yet they weren't consulted, they weren't even present. And so this is part of this kind of effort to kind of enact this cultural change, to promote a kind of Islam that is a quietist Islam, that is just cultural, that is just cosmetic. Women in hijabs, great. Men who go to the mosque, great. This rote ritual type of Islam that is devoid of its true spiritual core, its prophetic calling, which is what? To speak a just word in the face of a tyrant. That is the greatest jihad we're taught in our tradition. It's only later, actually Saudi itself never signed this. There's an article, if you look it up, maybe one week before October 7th, MBS said, we're very close to signing peace with Israel. And so even now, after the Gaza genocide, that has not been a disqualifier for any of these Arab regimes to stop or take back those treaties. They still have kept their word on these accords, on these peace treaties, these trade routes. And so when we say that these Arab armies, these militaristic behemoths, they've only been fighting their own people. They haven't been defending the oppressed that need them in places like Gaza. And now because of these Gulf states coming into the picture, we are seeing a more cancerous kind of form of normalization on the state level where you see even ordinary journalists, Muslims going online say, you know, we need to coexist. We need to do that. We need to do this. But then how can you coexist with an entity that is essentially trying to basically decimate your entire religious character, your identity, your beliefs, your core scriptural commitments, let alone, your brethren's bodies and the right to exist. Chris Hedges Before we talk about, I think you would agree, kind of, to me, inexplicable silence on the part of most Muslim, many Muslim leaders over the genocide, let's talk about what these Arab regimes are actually doing in Jordan, in Egypt, in Saudi Arabia, the land bridge that was set up, the fleecing of Palestinians by Hala, the shooting down of the active assistance by the Jordanian, well, they say it was Jordanian, it was probably heavily American. When I was in Jordan, I was a little surprised to see so many American contractors and soldiers, not in uniform of course, in the hotel where I was at. But let's talk about what they're actively doing. They're not just passive, but the active support for the Zionist state in the midst of the genocide. Farah El-Sharif Yes, I mean, again, if we want to move away from having a fragmented vision and looking at specific states and how they approach Palestine, Palestine has been kind of a revealer and it's pointing us to the longer arc of history. I remind your listeners that these nation states were basically concocted out of a colonial kind of divide and conquer classic strategy after World War I, things like the McMahon policy or the Sykes-Picot [Agreement]. And so these states are cut from this kind of smelly leftovers of the French and the British empires. And people think that just when you declare independence or you're now you're sovereign, it doesn't actually mean that we are free or sovereign. On the contrary, it means that the level of control and coercion and repression has gone underground. It's more ambiguous. It's harder to locate. So that is why, for example, if you go to a protest in a place like a Jordanian university and you say something, you could get snatched up. Or in Egypt, you express solidarity with the Palestinians. People are afraid to do that because they think that that could be cause for them to basically disappear and go underground. So again, this ecosystem of fear not only surveils and kind of mutes people who are so-called not in, who are kind of not in the genocidal atmosphere, but I like what, there was an Egyptian taxi driver in the video that went kind of viral, he was, he rode with a gentleman from Gaza and when he found out that he was from Gaza, he started crying and he said, no, no, no, I won't take your money. And this is the least I could do not to take your money. Forgive us, forgive us for we are occupied too, he said. [POTENTIALLY PUT VIDEO HERE] https://www.instagram.com/doamuslims/reel/DCY5x7Uo3lS/ And I think that is the sentiment that all Arabs feel, but that they cannot say that we are also occupied. We are also under this thumb of this brutal repressive system, whereas Palestinians have had the courage to break free from that. So in a sense, Gaza, sometimes the Arabs say that it represents the most free place on earth because it broke out of that prison. And so a lot of these prisons that Arabs, Muslims have in these Muslim majority Arab countries are mental colonization. If you see a policeman on the street, perhaps they shrink and cower more. Even I, I grew up in Jordan, it's a police state. I remember my dad, God rest his soul, he was a veteran journalist like you, Chris, and he was the editor-in-chief of Jordan's oldest daily. I remember it very well that when we started talking about something slightly taboo or slightly dangerous, they would say, the walls can hear everything, or he would crack a joke and he'd say, you're the neighbor's daughter, you're not my daughter just to kind of joke like that. But these were the kinds of jokes that we... Not funny. You know, this is the kind of climate that we grew up in. And now to see it become in this form, where it's a form of insanity, where you have your own people, your next of blood and kin being kind of exterminated right next door. And not only that, you see the trade routes that goes and funds the occupation boxes and boxes of tomatoes and cucumbers and lettuce and produce that go to feed and sustain the settlers and the soldiers while Gaza starves. Chris Hedges Let me just make clear that this comes in this pipeline—UAE, Saudi Arabia through Jordan over the King Hussein Bridge. Farah El-Sharif Correct, correct, Chris. And so we should probably shed light on the plight of3, the journalist who merely conducted an investigative report about this trade route, this land lifeline for the occupation. And she is currently doing five years in jail and is paying very hefty penalties for so-called cybercrime. And it's kind of a warning for others that don't you dare expose complicity or collusion or collaboration because you'll end up in a cell or a ditch like her. So it's just, the nice thing about it, Chris, it's like there's no ambiguity anymore, that people can no longer say that we should give them the benefit of the doubt. They're doing their best. It's a tough neighborhood. I hate this cliche. I hear it all the time. And they're always kind of invoking that, it's a tough neighborhood. Politics are dirty. But it's being blown off with crystal clear clarity that this is one occupation. It's one system. The enemy is one. And so it's up to people and their moral clarity and moral courage to everyday shed a little bit of that fear because once they partake in it and once they accept it, they say, oh, generations of people who live in fear and I accept this. I think my generation and hopefully my children's generation will no longer accept that kind of degradation, denigration and fear-based rule. Chris Hedges Yeah, I'm glad you raised the plight of Hiba, who, as you know, I tried to visit. I filled out all the paperwork and then sat outside the prison, the women's prison in Amman all day and wasn't finally allowed in. How fragile are these regimes? Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, I sense they're very fragile. Farah El-Sharif Yeah, I mean, we forget that this nation state structure that was cooked up in the kitchen of people like [British army officer and archaeologist] T.E. Lawrence and Sykes-Picot, basically are constructs. They're recent constructs. And we think of them as something that is the status quo since time immemorial, but they're really not. They stand on very fickle ground as we saw that things can change overnight. And so it reminds me of the story of Pharaoh who in the Quranic scripture that we share with our Jewish and Christian brethren is that right before, when he got to the zenith of his power, right before he got to Moses, the sea split and swallowed him whole. He became kind of, until this day, a sign and a kind of a lesson and a symbol for what happens to people who think that they are invincible, for people think that they will live forever. And so God knows what the future brings, but this level of foundational rot, I don't think can hold much longer. Chris Hedges Let's talk about, you and I were in an event, it was a year ago in Toronto, we were talking about Palestine. And what struck me after we spoke is the number of young people who came up and asked me and probably you why the Muslim leaders, Muslim leadership didn't say what, what was not unequivocal in the condemnation of the genocide. And unequivocal in the condemnation of the apartheid state of Israel. And I want to ask you that question. How do you characterize the response of the Muslim leadership in the United States? Farah El-Sharif Yeah, I remember that Chris, and it was heartbreaking and it still is. And I thought about this a lot. And I think it's largely due to the fact that this war on terror rhetoric that kind of weeds out the bad from the so-called good Muslims, the good Muslims who are compliant, who don't support so-called radical, brutal acts of terror. So it's almost as if this colonial rhetoric has been internalized in the consciousness of Muslim scholars and leaders. And so that they say that when perhaps that if we stand with the oppressed, if we speak up for Gaza, the powers that be might think that I support Hamas or that I support this and that. So again, it's like this, not just decimated consciousness, like I said, it's more than that. It's kind of capitulating completely because you're saying that the vernacular of justice has to be removed from Islam for me to have a seat at the table, for me to gain proximity to power, maybe get the ear of Biden or get the ear of Trump. And I see this happening a lot that some Muslims are scurrying the favor of the right-wing kind of platform and thinking that, at least we meet on certain points regarding families and family values and whatnot. So to me, this just signals a huge crisis in our priorities. It signals a terrible misunderstanding of the true aim and kind of point of being a Muslim and that is standing firm in your own principles and ethics and higher morality that is tethered to the throne of God, that is tethered to the oneness, the true oneness of God. So other than oneness, what do we have? Multiplicity. And multiplicity signals, I'm afraid, I'm afraid of this commitment. What if I do this? What if I say that? And so that is in a sense, a kind of a hidden polytheism. And so when someone who has a position of authority and scholarship and people look up to them and then they lapse in that responsibility, the whole community is hurt. And the young people are like, where do I locate my Islam? Who am I? What does it mean? And so that is why I think, you know, we are in this place where it's too comfortable with our salaries, upgrading to our SUV and our nice respectable suburban life while our brethren overseas get killed, it's a complete lapse of leadership and collective morality. Chris Hedges Explain to me this conundrum of Muslims for Trump. Farah El-Sharif I think I get it. Chris Hedges It's kind of like it's kind of like Jews for Hitler. I mean, maybe not that extreme, but I mean. Farah El-Sharif Yeah. No, but I mean, that's where, you know, that gives you a window and how this destroyed kind of consciousness, this severe inferiority complex where you are willing to basically, you know, shut up and accept racist rhetoric about you and your people. And it's this amnesiac kind of just, you know, the Muslim ban, it's still ongoing. It's not like it ended under Biden. And so it saddens me that Muslims for Trump is even a thing because what you're buying into, you're buying into the very campaign that's going to probably deal the final blow. And already you can see how very vitriolic and toxic X [formerly known as Twitter] and platforms like that are and full-blown Islamophobia, xenophobia. And there's this like maybe a strong man appeal to people who think that, well, this is a leader and maybe these are remnants from autocratic nostalgia that I see bumper stickers in Amman for Saddam Hussein. I guess this idea that, okay, if this leader is strong and tells it like it is, and he doesn't mince his words, then he must have something charismatic or strong. Chris Hedges Well, but at least Saddam Hussein was an enemy to the Zionist state. I mean, I was in Ramallah this summer with Atef Abu Saif, and he said, if you go in these houses, you won't see a picture of [Former President of the Palestinian National Authority] Yasser Arafat, you'll see a picture of Saddam. But Trump has never done anything positive for Muslims. Farah El-Sharif No, it's baffling and it signals a dangerous level of kind of maybe collective insanity, but there are pockets of hope. I think that, I guess by and large, this election cycle was manic for everybody. And I think we've reached a point where this lesser of two evils conundrum has reached a point where it can no longer be replicated in future election cycles. People are sick of lesser of two evils. They just want no more evil, no more. They just want the good, the true, something other than an orange fascist in charge or a Black woman whose funded genocide. So this conundrum, really this strangulation, this choke hold that we're in, for me is a good thing because it signals that, okay, at least this Leviathan is probably taking its last breaths and that more sane, conscientious people with a moral conscience, with a real pulse, with a real concern for humanity, hopefully, will be the ones to come next and inherit this ailing world. Chris Hedges So where do you see us going in the months and years ahead and then to close, what do you tell young people, in particular young Muslims? I don't, for the foreseeable future, for me, it looks pretty dark. Farah El-Sharif Yeah, it's a hard question, but also it keeps me up at night. I think about this a lot. I've always been this intense girl that my family makes fun of me, that even as a younger kid, I was always brooding and thinking about the Muslim world, our affairs, our conditions. So I'd like to refer to a lecture that I was at when I was a student at Georgetown in 2008, my favorite Catholic theologian, gave the nostra aetate annual lecture at the time. He said something that really blew my mind. He said that in his comparing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, he said that Judaism rests on kind of tribal, hierarchical commitments. And so its natural culmination, its natural telos is this—the ethno-religious state of Israel. And that is its final conclusion. And then he went on to say that Christianity is beheld by the papacy and the institutionalization of the church. And that's its logical conclusion. When he talked about Islam, he said, Islam is in its essence universalist. And it is, it's tethered by this idea of oneness of man and Muhammad as a mercy to all of humankind, not just Muslims, but their final arc or their final culmination has not been decided yet. So I call on my fellow Muslims to take this opportunity of rampant moral rot, of decay and destruction in the systemic world order that we live in that has exposed itself as hypocritical, essentially anti-Muslim, brutal and completely inhumane to kind of lean in to their agency as Muslims that can perhaps bring about a brighter future, that can perhaps fulfill this untold role, a positive role collectively that Islam can offer the world. Because unless and until we remain shackled in our mental and spiritual colonized mentality, whether it is about how we know ourselves, how we know religion, how we conduct ourselves politically, we will never break free. And so we have the potential to do that. We have the potential to be like Malcolm. For me, he's the greatest American Muslim exemplar and courageous leader. We call him the great American Shaheed, the martyr of America, who he himself visited Gaza in 1964 and he said the spirit of Allah was strong in Gaza. So look to these people instead of trying to wait for your average Imam or your charismatic Sheikh to grow a backbone, you have plenty of exemplars within our tradition living and dead, including the people of Gaza themselves. There is a Quranic kind of pointer there that the oppressed shall become the teachers. They shall become the role models of faith, similarly to how in Christianity the meek shall inherit the earth. So the kind of fortitude that the people of Gaza have, let that not go in vain. The other day I saw a video, Chris, that I can't get out of my mind of a father holding the shroud of his child in the ambulance. And he was speaking so clairvoyantly, so prophetically that it gave me goosebumps all over. He's saying, Ya Netanyahu, Ya Arab, O Netanyahu, O you Arabs, O you colluders, everybody who failed us, Allah is only raising you so that he can tear you down. So don't think that this, what you see, all of this supremacy, this militarization, this ironclad power, this supremacy is going to be the name of the game forever. It's only this shocking in its dehumanization, this shocking in its genocidal bloodlust for it to, hopefully, wither away and usher in a different world, a better world. Chris Hedges Great, thank you Farah. I want to thank Diego [Ramos], Sofia [Menemenlis], Thomas [Hedges], and Max [Jones], who produced the show. You can find me at ChrisHedges.Substack.com. Photos Swarm of Insects in Front of Door (photo in thumbnail) (Original Caption) Locusts cover the doorstep of an Iranian home here, as the worst locust plague in 81 years brings threat of hunger and death to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. (Photo by © Bettmann/CORBIS/Bettmann Archive) TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT TOPSHOT - An aerial view shows the destruction caused by Israeli strikes in Wadi Gaza, in the central Gaza Strip, on November 28, 2023, amid a truce in battles between Israel and Hamas. Israel and Hamas embarked on November 28 on a two-day extension to a truce that has allowed Israeli hostages to be freed from Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. (Photo by Mahmud Hams / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images) King Hussein And Benjamin Netanyahu (L-R) Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Jordan's King Hussein, Pres. Bill Clinton & Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during Wye peace agreement signing ceremony handshakes at White House (bkgrd. L-R: Sandy Berger & VP Al Gore). (Photo by Dirck Halstead/Getty Images) Egypt's Military Chief Visits Moscow MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 13: Egypt's Minister of Defense, First Deputy Prime Minister and likely presidential candidate, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) in Novo-Ogaryovo residence on February 13, 2014 near Moscow, Russia. Egypt's Minister of Defense Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy are on a two-day official visit to meet with their Russian counterparts for bilateral discussions. (Photo by Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images) TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-GAZA TOPSHOT - A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. srael, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images) ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) flies over the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on November 3, 2023 amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT-SYRIA-CONFLICT TOPSHOT - An aerial photo shows people gathering at the Saydnaya prison in Damascus on December 9, 2024. Syrian rescuers searched the Sednaya jail, synonymous with the worst atrocities of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's rule, as people in the capital on December 9 gathered to celebrate a day after Assad fled while Islamist-led rebels swept into the capital, ending five decades of brutal rule over a country ravaged by one of the deadliest wars of the century. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP) (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images) Pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrate in Toronto to demand release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 5 : Pro-Palestinian protestors demanding release of Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, gather to protest against Israeli attacks in Gaza on January 5, 2025 at Queen's Park outside the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images) U.S. Soldiers Continue Work At Notorious Abu Ghraib Prison After Abuse Allegations ABU GHRAIB, IRAQ - MAY 10: U.S. soldiers maintain security at the Abu Ghraib prison May 10, 2004 in Abu Ghraib, Iraq. Allegations of abuse at the prison, notorious under the Saddam Hussein regime as a place of torture, lead to the suspension of the commanding officer Brigadier General Janis Karpinski and some 17 other soldiers. (Photo by Khampha Bouaphanh/Pool/Getty Images) James H. Cone Cone in 2009 | from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Cone Florida Stands with Israel Conference Randy Fine speaking at conference | Wikimedia Commons Oil Fires Burn In Iraq RUMAYLA, IRAQ - MARCH 27: U.S. Army Specialist Chad Morton, of George West, Texa,s stands next to a burning oil well at the Rumayla oil fields March 27, 2003 in Rumayla, Iraq. Several oil wells were set ablaze by retreating Iraqi troops in the Ramayla area, the second largest offshore oilfield in the country, near the Kuwaiti border. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Gabor Maté By Clare Day | Wikimedia Commons ISRAEL-VOTE-BARAK-NETANYAHU (FILES) Picture dated 02 July 1986 shows Labor party leader Ehud Barak (L) in a Major General uniform and Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Both men are running for the office of prime minister in 17 May 1999 Israeli general elections. (B & W ONLY) (Photo by GPO / AFP) (Photo by GPO/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-RELIGION-DEMONSTRATION TOPSHOT - Palestinian policemen stand opposite to demonstrators during a protest against a decision by the Palestinian Authority to grant a public land to the Russian church, in the West Bank city of Hebron, on February 4, 2017. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP) (Photo by HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images) Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishael By Guercino | Wikimedia Commons French President Macron Hosts Working Lunch With MBS, Crown Prince, Prime Minister Of Saudi Arabia PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: Emmanuel Macron (L) President of France, receives Mohammed Ben Salmane Bin Abdulaziz AL-SAOUD (R), Prince Hereditary, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the reception in the main courtyard of the Palais de l Elysee before their meeting on June 16, 2023 in Paris, France. Meeting, working dinner, between the President of the French Republic and the Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of his official visit to France, at the Elysee Palace. (Photo by Antoine Gyori - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) US officially moves Israel embassy to Jerusalem JERUSALEM - MAY 14: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY MANDATORY CREDIT - "ISRAEL PRESS OFFICE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) US President's daughter Ivanka Trump (left 3) Israel Prime Minister's wife Sara Netanyahu (left 2), Donald Trump's son-in-law and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner (R) and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) attend the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. (Photo by Israel Press Office /Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) TOPSHOT-JORDAN-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT TOPSHOT - Jordanian police officers surround protesters during a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians, in the town of Karameh on the border with Israel, on May 21, 2021. (Photo by Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP) (Photo by KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images) "Great March of Return" demonstrations in Gaza GAZA CITY, GAZA - JULY 13: A Palestinian uses slingshot during the "Great March of Return" demonstration with ''Fidelity to Khan Al-Ahmar'' near Israel-Gaza border at Al-Bureyc refugee camp in Gaza City, Gaza on July 13, 2018. (Photo by Hassan Jedi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha was arrested May 14 for an article alleging that Jordan allows regional companies to ship goods to Israel. (Screenshot: Al Ordon Al Yoom/YouTube) https://cpj.org/2024/06/palestinian-jordanian-journalist-hiba-abu-taha-sentenced-to-one-year-in-prison/ T. E. Lawrence. British archaeologist, military officer, and diplomat. Wikimeida Commons US-VOTE-POLITICS-TRUMP Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets local leaders of the Muslim community who endorsedd him onstage during a campaign rally at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, October 26, 2024. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP) (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images) Saddam Hussein Iraq leader Saddam Hussein during one-day visit to Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (Photo by Barry Iverson/Getty Images) Clinton Arafat Barak Peace Talks 373012 03: U.S. President Bill Clinton laughs with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak (L) and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (R) July 11, 2000 at Camp David during peace talks. (Photo by Cynthia Johnson/Liaison) Americans Go To The Polls In The 2024 Elections FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 2182486398, 2168330769) In this composite image, Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump. ***LEFT IMAGE*** CHUTE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 01: Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to supporters during a campaign event at Little Chute High School on November 1, 2024 in Little Chute, Wisconsin. The event is one of three Harris has scheduled today in the swing state where she is in a tight race with her opponent Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images). ***RIGHT IMAGE*** POTTERVILLE, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 29: Former U.S. President and current Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks about the economy, inflation, and manufacturing during a campaign event at Alro Steel on August 29, 2024 in Potterville, Michigan. Michigan is considered a key battleground state in the upcoming November Presidential election. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) Gegenveranstaltung zum Deutschen Katholikentag, Hans Küng (GERMANY OUT) Foto: Professor Hans Küng (52) bei Rede. Berlin (Berlin West), 07. 06. 1980. Der Kirchentag von Unten, die Gegenveranstaltung zum 86. Deutschen Katholikentag, findet in der Freien Universität (FUB) statt. Star der Diskussion im Auditorium Maximum war der Theologe Küng, dem die Bischofskonferenz im Dezember 1979 die kirchliche Lehrerlaubnis (Missio canonica) entzog. (Photo by Mehner/ullstein bild via Getty Images) Malcolm X Speaking at Rally Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X draws various reactions from the audience as he restates his theme of complete separation of whites and African Americans. The rally outdrew a Mississippi-Alabama Southern Relief Committee civil rights event six blocks away 10 to 1. https://youtu.be/Zb4BksXtv1Y

☆Tadabbur Kalamullah 8 Jamadil Awwal 1446H☆ لَّقَدۡ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ ٱلرُّءۡیَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ "Demi sesungguhnya! Allah tetap menyatakan benar RasulNya dalam perkara mimpi itu dengan kenyataan yang sebenar" [Surah al-Fatḥ 27] #al-Raghib al-Asfahani berkata: "Al-Ru’ya ialah apa yang dilihat dalam mimpi. #Antara mimpi yang menzahirkan rasa takjub ialah apabila mendengar seseorang itu pernah bermimpi melihat Rasulullah saw, kerana ia merupakan satu peristiwa yang pastinya diinginkan oleh setiap insan yang bergelar Muslim. Dan mimpi melihat Rasulullah saw adalah mimpi yang benar. #Sabda Rasulullah saw: مَنْ رَآنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ فَقَدْ رَآنِي فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لاَ يَتَمَثَّلُ بِي ‏ "Sesiapa yang melihatku di dalam mimpi, maka sememangnya dia melihatku, kerana sesungguhnya syaitan tidak dapat menyerupai rupaku" (HR al-Bukhari dan Muslim) #Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani berkata, hadis ini mengandungi isyarat bahawa, meskipun Allah swt membenarkan syaitan untuk menyerupai sesiapa sahaja yang dikehendaki, namun ia tetap terhalang dari menyerupai Nabi saw. Beberapa ulamak berpanjangan, yang dimaksudkan dalam hadith ini adalah apabila seseorang melihat Baginda saw dalam rupa yang sama seperti rupa asal Baginda saw. #Terdapat banyak riwayat tentang orang-orang soleh mimpi bertemu Rasulullah saw yang boleh kita ambil iktibar dan pengajaran: 1. Dikisahkan oleh Ishaq bin Ismail katanya: Aku mendengar Sufyan at-Thauri berkata: "Aku telah melihat Nabi saw dalam mimpiku, lalu aku bertanya: Wahai Rasulullah, apa pendapatmu tentang bawang merah dan bawang putih. Baginda menjawab: Para malaikat merasa terganggu dengan keduanya. (Lihat: al-Manamat) 2. Dikisahkan bahawa al-Muthanna bin Sa‘id al-Qasir telah menceritakan kepada kami, katanya: Aku mendengar Malik bin Anas (Imam Malik) berkata: "Tidak pernah aku melalui satu malam pun melainkan aku melihat Rasulullah saw dalam tidurku" (Lihat: Hilyah al-Auliya) 3. Al-Rabi‘ bin Sulaiman meriwayatkan: Aku mendengar Imam as-Syafi‘i berkata: Aku melihat Nabi saw dalam mimpi, sebelum aku mencapai usia dewasa. Baginda berkata kepadaku: Wahai anak muda. Aku menjawab, Labbaik, wahai Rasulullah. Baginda bertanya: Dari golongan manakah engkau? Aku menjawab: Dari golonganmu, wahai Rasulullah. Baginda berkata: Dekatkan dirimu kepadaku: Maka aku pun mendekat, lalu Baginda mengambil sedikit daripada air liurnya. Aku membuka mulutku, dan Baginda menyapukan air liurnya pada lidahku, mulutku, dan bibirku, sambil berkata: Teruskanlah, semoga Allah memberkatimu. (Lihat: Manaqib al-Syafi‘i. al-Baihaqi) 4. Syeikh Muhammad bin Abdul Malik Al-Zughbi pernah menceritakan kisahnya, lebih kurang 16 tahun yang lalu, bahawa beliau telah bermimpi bertemu Rasulullah saw sebanyak 47 kali. Pada suatu ketika, beliau merasakan Rasulullah saw menyentuh kepala dan belakangnya, dan beliau dapat merasai kesejukan jari-jemari baginda pada kepalanya dan belakangnya. Kisah ini diceritakannya dalam rancangan Muntada Fursan al-Sunnah li al-Intaj al-Islami. Syeikh Muhammad bin Abdul Malik Al-Zughbi merupakan  seorang pendakwah Islam terkenal dari Mesir. Beliau terlibat dalam Rabitah al-Alam al-Islami (Liga Muslim Sedunia) di Mekah, khususnya dalam bahagian Mukjizat Saintifik dalam Al-Quran dan Sunnah. #Ya Allah, kurniakanlah aku kesempatan untuk bertemu dengan RasulMu, Nabi Muhammad saw, dalam mimpiku. Jadikan pertemuan itu sebagai pendorong kecintaan dan ikutan terhadap sunnah Baginda. Ya Allah, limpahkanlah selawat dan salam kepada Nabi Muhammad, ahli keluarganya, dan para sahabatnya. Aamiiin. ♡Jelas bahawa mimpi bertemu Rasulullah saw termasuk dalam mimpi yang baik dan merupakan perkhabaran gembira buat seseorang. Ini menunjukkan bahawa terdapat keistimewaan dalam dirinya yang membolehkannya bertemu dengan insan yang paling mulia, sekiranya benar orang yang dijumpainya itu adalah Rasulullah saw berdasarkan sifat-sifat Baginda yang diceritakan dalam hadis dan sesuai dengannya. Oleh itu, secara umumnya, tidak menjadi masalah untuk seseorang menceritakan mimpinya bertemu Rasulullah saw. Bahkan Baginda saw sendiri membenarkan seseorang yang bermimpi sesuatu perkara yang baik untuk menceritakannya kepada orang lain♡ 🐊Ust naim Klik link ini untuk join: http://bit.ly/tadabburkalamullah Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/tadabburkalamullah

, *Kisah Ashabul Kahfi – Bukti Ketinggian Ilmu Imam Ali Bin Abithalib R.A* ashabul-kahfi-15 Dalam surat al-Kahfi, Allah SWT menceritakan tiga kisah masa lalu, yaitu kisah Ashabul Kahfi, kisah pertemuan nabi Musa as dan nabi Khidzir as serta kisah Dzulqarnain. Kisah Ashabul Kahfi mendapat perhatian lebih dengan digunakan sebagai nama surat dimana terdapat tiga kisah tersebut. Hal ini tentu bukan kebetulan semata, tapi karena kisah Ashabul Kahfi, seperti juga kisah dalam al-Quran lainnya, bukan merupakan kisah semata, tapi juga terdapat banyak pelajaran (ibrah) didalamnya. Ashabul Kahfi adalah nama sekelompok orang beriman yang hidup pada masa Raja Diqyanus di Romawi, beberapa ratus tahun sebelum diutusnya nabi Isa as. Mereka hidup ditengah masyarakat penyembah berhala dengan seorang raja yang dzalim. Ketika sang raja mengetahui ada sekelompok orang yang tidak menyembah berhala, maka sang raja marah lalu memanggil mereka dan memerintahkan mereka untuk mengikuti kepercayaan sang raja. Tapi Ashabul Kahfi menolak dan lari, dikejarlah mereka untuk dibunuh. Ketika mereka lari dari kejaran pasukan raja, sampailah mereka di mulut sebuah gua yang kemudian dipakai tempat persembunyian. Dengan izin Allah mereka kemudian ditidurkan selama 309 tahun di dalam gua, dan dibangkitkan kembali ketika masyarakat dan raja mereka sudah berganti menjadi masyarakat dan raja yang beriman kepada Allah SWT (Ibnu Katsir; Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Adzim; jilid:3 ; hal.67-71). Berikut adalah kisah Ashabul Kahfi (Penghuni Gua) yang ditafsir secara jelas jalan ceritanya… .. Penulis kitab Fadha’ilul Khamsah Minas Shihahis Sittah (jilid II, halaman 291-300), mengetengahkan suatu riwayat yang dikutip dari kitab Qishashul Anbiya. Riwayat tersebut berkaitan dengan tafsir ayat 10 Surah Al-Kahfi: “(Ingatlah) tatkala pemuda-pemuda itu mencari tempat berlindung ke dalam gua lalu mereka berdo’a: “Wahai Tuhan kami berikanlah rahmat kepada kami dari sisi-Mu dan sempurnakanlah bagi kami petunjuk yang lurus dalam urusan kami (ini)” (QS al-Kahfi:10) Dengan panjang lebar kitab Qishashul Anbiya mulai dari halaman 566 meriwayatkan sebagai berikut: Di kala Umar Ibnul Khattab memangku jabatan sebagai Amirul Mukminin, pernah datang kepadanya beberapa orang pendeta Yahudi. Mereka berkata kepada Khalifah: “Hai Khalifah Umar, anda adalah pemegang kekuasaan sesudah Muhammad dan sahabatnya, Abu Bakar. Kami hendak menanyakan beberapa masalah penting kepada anda. Jika anda dapat memberi jawaban kepada kami, barulah kami mau mengerti bahwa Islam merupakan agama yang benar dan Muhammad benar-benar seorang Nabi. Sebaliknya, jika anda tidak dapat memberi jawaban, berarti bahwa agama Islam itu bathil dan Muhammad bukan seorang Nabi.” “Silahkan bertanya tentang apa saja yang kalian inginkan,” sahut Khalifah Umar.ashabul-kahfi-132 “Jelaskan kepada kami tentang induk kunci (gembok) mengancing langit, apakah itu?” Tanya pendeta-pendeta itu, memulai pertanyaan-pertanya annya. “Terangkan kepada kami tentang adanya sebuah kuburan yang berjalan bersama penghuninya, apakah itu? Tunjukkan kepada kami tentang suatu makhluk yang dapat memberi peringatan kepada bangsanya, tetapi ia bukan manusia dan bukan jin! Terangkan kepada kami tentang lima jenis makhluk yang dapat berjalan di permukaan bumi, tetapi makhluk-makhluk itu tidak dilahirkan dari kandungan ibu atau atau induknya! Beritahukan kepada kami apa yang dikatakan oleh burung puyuh (gemak) di saat ia sedang berkicau! Apakah yang dikatakan oleh ayam jantan di kala ia sedang berkokok! Apakah yang dikatakan oleh kuda di saat ia sedang meringkik? Apakah yang dikatakan oleh katak di waktu ia sedang bersuara? Apakah yang dikatakan oleh keledai di saat ia sedang meringkik? Apakah yang dikatakan oleh burung pipit pada waktu ia sedang berkicau?” Khalifah Umar menundukkan kepala untuk berfikir sejenak, kemudian berkata: “Bagi Umar, jika ia menjawab ‘tidak tahu’ atas pertanyaan-pertanya an yang memang tidak diketahui jawabannya, itu bukan suatu hal yang memalukan!” Mendengar jawaban Khalifah Umar seperti itu, pendeta-pendeta Yahudi yang bertanya berdiri melonjak-lonjak kegirangan, sambil berkata: “Sekarang kami bersaksi bahwa Muhammad memang bukan seorang Nabi, dan agama Islam itu adalah bathil!” Salman Al-Farisi yang saat itu hadir, segera bangkit dan berkata kepada pendeta-pendeta Yahudi itu: “Kalian tunggu sebentar!” Ia cepat-cepat pergi ke rumah Ali bin Abi Thalib. Setelah bertemu, Salman berkata: “Ya Abal Hasan, selamatkanlahagama Islam!” Imam Ali r.a. bingung, lalu bertanya: “Mengapa?” Salman kemudian menceritakan apa yang sedang dihadapi oleh Khalifah Umar Ibnul Khattab. Imam Ali segera saja berangkat menuju ke rumah Khalifah Umar, berjalan lenggang memakai burdah (selembar kain penutup punggung atau leher) peninggalan Rasul Allah s.a.w. Ketika Umar melihat Ali bin Abi Thalib datang, ia bangun dari tempat duduk lalu buru-buru memeluknya, sambil berkata: “Ya Abal Hasan, tiap ada kesulitan besar, engkau selalu kupanggil!” Setelah berhadap-hadapan dengan para pendeta yang sedang menunggu-nunggu jawaban itu, Ali bin Abi Thalib herkata: “Silakan kalian bertanya tentang apa saja yang kalian inginkan. Rasul Allah s.a.w. sudah mengajarku seribu macam ilmu, dan tiap jenis dari ilmu-ilmu itu mempunyai seribu macam cabang ilmu!” Pendeta-pendeta Yahudi itu lalu mengulangi pertanyaan-pertanya an mereka. Sebelum menjawab, Ali bin Abi Thalib berkata: “Aku ingin mengajukan suatu syarat kepada kalian, yaitu jika ternyata aku nanti sudah menjawab pertanyaan-pertanya an kalian sesuai dengan yang ada di dalam Taurat, kalian supaya bersedia memeluk agama kami dan beriman!” “Ya baik!” jawab mereka.ashabul-kahfi-14 “Sekarang tanyakanlah satu demi satu,” kata Ali bin Abi Thalib. Mereka mulai bertanya: “Apakah induk kunci (gembok) yang mengancing pintu-pintu langit?” “Induk kunci itu,” jawab Ali bin Abi Thalib, “ialah syirik kepada Allah. Sebab semua hamba Allah, baik pria maupun wanita, jika ia bersyirik kepada Allah, amalnya tidak akan dapat naik sampai ke hadhirat Allah!” Para pendeta Yahudi bertanya lagi: “Anak kunci apakah yang dapat membuka pintu-pintu langit?” Ali bin Abi Thalib menjawab: “Anak kunci itu ialah kesaksian (syahadat) bahwa tiada tuhan selain Allah dan Muhammad adalah Rasul Allah!” Para pendeta Yahudi itu saling pandang di antara mereka, sambil berkata: “Orang itu benar juga!” Mereka bertanyalebih lanjut: “Terangkanlah kepada kami tentang adanya sebuah kuburan yang dapat berjalan bersama penghuninya! “ “Kuburan itu ialah ikan hiu (hut) yang menelan Nabi Yunus putera Matta,” jawab Ali bin Abi Thalib. “Nabi Yunus as. dibawa keliling ketujuh samudera!” Pendeta-pendeta itu meneruskan pertanyaannya lagi: “Jelaskan kepada kami tentang makhluk yang dapat memberi peringatan kepada bangsanya, tetapi makhluk itu bukan manusia dan bukan jin!” Ali bin Abi Thalib menjawab: “Makhluk itu ialah semut Nabi Sulaiman putera Nabi Dawud alaihimas salam. Semut itu berkata kepada kaumnya: “Hai para semut, masuklah ke dalam tempat kediaman kalian, agar tidak diinjak-injak oleh Sulaiman dan pasukan-nya dalam keadaan mereka tidak sadar!” Para pendeta Yahudi itu meneruskan pertanyaannya: “Beritahukan kepada kami tentang lima jenis makhluk yang berjalan di atas permukaan bumi, tetapi tidak satu pun di antara makhluk-makhluk itu yang dilahirkan dari kandungan ibunya atau induknya!” Ali bin Abi Thalib menjawab: “Lima makhluk itu ialah, pertama, Adam. Kedua, Hawa. Ketiga, Unta Nabi Shaleh. Keempat, Domba Nabi Ibrahim. Kelima, Tongkat Nabi Musa (yang menjelma menjadi seekor ular).” Dua di antara tiga orang pendeta Yahudi itu setelah mendengar jawaban-jawaban serta penjelasan yang diberikan oleh Imam Ali r.a. lalu mengatakan: “Kami bersaksi bahwa tiada tuhan selain Allah dan Muhammad adalah Rasul Allah!” Tetapi seorang pendeta lainnya, bangun berdiri sambil berkata kepada Ali bin Abi Thalib: “Hai Ali, hati teman-temanku sudah dihinggapi oleh sesuatu yang sama seperti iman dan keyakinan mengenai benarnya agama Islam. Sekarang masih ada satu hal lagi yang ingin kutanyakan kepada anda.” “Tanyakanlah apa saja yang kau inginkan,” sahut Imam Ali. “Coba terangkan kepadaku tentang sejumlah orang yang pada zaman dahulu sudah mati selama 309 tahun, kemudian dihidupkan kembali oleh Allah. Bagaimana hikayat tentang mereka itu?” Tanya pendeta tadi. Ali bin Ali Thalib menjawab: “Hai pendeta Yahudi, mereka itu ialah para penghuni gua. Hikayat tentang mereka itu sudah dikisahkan oleh Allah s.w.t. kepada Rasul-Nya. Jika engkau mau, akan kubacakan kisah mereka itu.” Pendeta Yahudi itu menyahut: “Aku sudah banyak mendengar tentang Qur’an kalian itu! Jika engkau memang benar-benar tahu, coba sebutkan nama-nama mereka, nama ayah-ayah mereka, nama kota mereka, nama raja mereka, nama anjing mereka, nama gunung serta gua mereka, dan semua kisah mereka dari awal sampai akhir!” Ali bin Abi Thalib kemudian membetulkan duduknya, menekuk lutut ke depan perut, lalu ditopangnya dengan burdah yang diikatkan ke pinggang. Lalu ia berkata: “Hai saudara Yahudi, Muhammad Rasul Allah s.a.w. kekasihku telah menceritakan kepadaku, bahwa kisah itu terjadi di negeri Romawi, di sebuah kota bernama Aphesus, atau disebut juga dengan nama Tharsus. Tetapi nama kota itu pada zaman dahulu ialah Aphesus (Ephese). Baru setelah Islam datang, kota itu berubah nama menjadi Tharsus (Tarse, sekarang terletak di dalam wilayah Turki). Penduduk negeri itu dahulunya mempunyai seorang raja yang baik. Setelah raja itu meninggal dunia, berita kematiannya didengar oleh seorang raja Persia bernama Diqyanius. Ia seorang raja kafir yang amat congkak dan dzalim. Ia datang menyerbu negeri itu dengan kekuatan pasukannya, dan akhirnya berhasil menguasai kota Aphesus. Olehnya kota itu dijadikan ibukota kerajaan, lalu dibangunlah sebuah Istana.”ashabul-kahfi-10 Baru sampai di situ, pendeta Yahudi yang bertanya itu berdiri, terus bertanya: “Jika engkau benar-benar tahu, coba terangkan kepadaku bentuk Istana itu, bagaimana serambi dan ruangan-ruangannya! “ Ali bin Abi Thalib menerangkan: “Hai saudara Yahudi, raja itu membangun istana yang sangat megah, terbuat dari batu marmar. Panjangnya satu farsakh (= kl 8 km) dan lebarnya pun satu farsakh. Pilar-pilarnya yang berjumlah seribu buah, semuanya terbuat dari emas, dan lampu-lampu yang berjumlah seribu buah, juga semuanya terbuat dari emas. Lampu-lampu itu bergelantungan pada rantai-rantai yang terbuat dari perak. Tiap malam apinya dinyalakan dengan sejenis minyak yang harum baunya. Di sebelah timur serambi dibuat lubang-lubang cahaya sebanyak seratus buah, demikian pula di sebelah baratnya. Sehingga matahari sejak mulai terbit sampai terbenam selalu dapat menerangi serambi. Raja itu pun membuat sebuah singgasana dari emas. Panjangnya 80 hasta dan lebarnya 40 hasta. Di sebelah kanannya tersedia 80 buah kursi, semuanya terbuat dari emas. Di situlah para hulubalang kerajaan duduk. Di sebelah kirinya juga disediakan 80 buah kursi terbuat dari emas, untuk duduk para pepatih dan penguasa-penguasa tinggi lainnya. Raja duduk di atas singgasana dengan mengenakan mahkota di atas kepala.” Sampai di situ pendeta yang bersangkutan berdiri lagi sambil berkata: “Jika engkau benar-benar tahu, coba terangkan kepadaku dari apakah mahkota itu dibuat?” “Hai saudara Yahudi,” kata Imam Ali menerangkan, “mahkota raja itu terbuat dari kepingan-kepingan emas, berkaki 9 buah, dan tiap kakinya bertaburan mutiara yang memantulkan cahaya laksana bintang-bintang menerangi kegelapan malam. Raja itu juga mempunyai 50 orang pelayan, terdiri dari anak-anak para hulubalang. Semuanya memakai selempang dan baju sutera berwarna merah. Celana mereka juga terbuat dari sutera berwarna hijau. Semuanya dihias dengan gelang-gelang kaki yang sangat indah. Masing-masing diberi tongkat terbuat dari emas. Mereka harus berdiri di belakang raja. Selain mereka, raja juga mengangkat 6 orang, terdiri dari anak-anak para cendekiawan, untuk dijadikan menteri-menteri atau pembantu-pembantuny a. Raja tidak mengambil suatu keputusan apa pun tanpa berunding lebih dulu dengan mereka. Enam orang pembantu itu selalu berada di kanan kiri raja, tiga orang berdiri di sebelah kanan dan yang tiga orang lainnya berdiri di sebelah kiri.” Pendeta yang bertanya itu berdiri lagi. Lalu berkata: “Hai Ali, jika yang kau katakan itu benar, coba sebutkan nama enam orang yang menjadi pembantu-pembantu raja itu!” Menanggapi hal itu, Imam Ali r.a. menjawab: “Kekasihku Muhammad Rasul Allah s.a.w. menceritakan kepadaku, bahwa tiga orang yang berdiri di sebelah kanan raja, masing-masing bernama Tamlikha, Miksalmina, dan Mikhaslimina. Adapun tiga orang pembantu yang berdiri di sebelah kiri, masing-masing bernama Martelius, Casitius dan Sidemius. Raja selalu berunding dengan mereka mengenai segala urusan. Tiap hari setelah raja duduk dalam serambi istana dikerumuni oleh semua hulubalang dan para punggawa, masuklah tiga orang pelayan menghadap raja. Seorang diantaranya membawa piala emas penuh berisi wewangian murni. Seorang lagi membawa piala perak penuh berisi air sari bunga. Sedang yang seorangnya lagi membawa seekor burung. Orang yang membawa burung ini kemudian mengeluarkan suara isyarat, lalu burung itu terbang di atas piala yang berisi air sari bunga. Burung itu berkecimpung di dalamnya dan setelah itu ia mengibas-ngibaskan sayap serta bulunya, sampai sari-bunga itu habis dipercikkan ke semua tempat sekitarnya. Kemudian si pembawa burung tadi mengeluarkan suara isyarat lagi. Burung itu terbang pula. Lalu hinggap di atas piala yang berisi wewangian murni. Sambil berkecimpung di dalamnya, burung itu mengibas-ngibaskan sayap dan bulunya, sampai wewangian murni yang ada dalam piala itu habis dipercikkan ke tempat sekitarnya. Pembawa burung itu memberi isyarat suara lagi. Burung itu lalu terbang dan hinggap di atas mahkota raja, sambil membentangkan kedua sayap yang harum semerbak di atas kepala raja. Demikianlah raja itu berada di atas singgasana kekuasaan selama tiga puluh tahun. Selama itu ia tidak pernah diserang penyakit apa pun, tidak pernah merasa pusing kepala, sakit perut, demam, berliur, berludah atau pun beringus. Setelah sang raja merasa diri sedemikian kuat dan sehat, ia mulai congkak, durhaka dan dzalim. Ia mengaku-aku diri sebagai “tuhan” dan tidak mau lagi mengakui adanya Allah s.w.t.ashabul-kahfi-11 Raja itu kemudian memanggil orang-orang terkemuka dari rakyatnya. Barang siapa yang taat dan patuh kepadanya,diberi pakaian dan berbagai macam hadiah lainnya. Tetapi barang siapa yang tidak mau taat atau tidak bersedia mengikuti kemauannya, ia akan segera dibunuh. Oleh sebab itu semua orang terpaksa mengiakan kemauannya. Dalam masa yang cukup lama, semua orang patuh kepada raja itu, sampai ia disembah dan dipuja. Mereka tidak lagi memuja dan menyembah Allah s.w.t. Pada suatu hari perayaan ulang-tahunnya, raja sedang duduk di atas singgasana mengenakan mahkota di atas kepala, tiba-tiba masuklah seorang hulubalang memberi tahu, bahwa ada balatentara asing masuk menyerbu ke dalam wilayah kerajaannya, dengan maksud hendak melancarkan peperangan terhadap raja. Demikian sedih dan bingungnya raja itu, sampai tanpa disadari mahkota yang sedang dipakainya jatuh dari kepala. Kemudian raja itu sendiri jatuh terpelanting dari atas singgasana. Salah seorang pembantu yang berdiri di sebelah kanan –seorang cerdas yang bernama Tamlikha– memperhatikan keadaan sang raja dengan sepenuh fikiran. Ia berfikir, lalu berkata di dalam hati: “Kalau Diqyanius itu benar-benar tuhan sebagaimana menurut pengakuannya, tentu ia tidak akan sedih, tidak tidur, tidak buang air kecil atau pun air besar. Itu semua bukanlah sifat-sifat Tuhan.” Enam orang pembantu raja itu tiap hari selalu mengadakan pertemuan di tempat salah seorang dari mereka secara bergiliran. Pada satu hari tibalah giliran Tamlikha menerima kunjungan lima orang temannya. Mereka berkumpul di rumah Tamlikha untuk makan dan minum, tetapi Tamlikha sendiri tidak ikut makan dan minum. Teman-temannya bertanya: “Hai Tamlikha, mengapa engkau tidak mau makan dan tidak mau minum?” “Teman-teman, ” sahut Tamlikha, “hatiku sedang dirisaukan oleh sesuatu yang membuatku tidak ingin makan dan tidak ingin minum, juga tidak ingin tidur.” Teman-temannya mengejar: “Apakah yang merisaukan hatimu, hai Tamlikha?” “Sudah lama aku memikirkan soal langit,” ujar Tamlikha menjelaskan. “Aku lalu bertanya pada diriku sendiri: ‘siapakah yang mengangkatnya ke atas sebagai atap yang senantiasa aman dan terpelihara, tanpa gantungan dari atas dan tanpa tiang yang menopangnya dari bawah? Siapakah yang menjalankan matahari dan bulan di langit itu? Siapakah yang menghias langit itu dengan bintang-bintang bertaburan?’ Kemudian kupikirkan juga bumi ini: ‘Siapakah yang membentang dan menghamparkan- nya di cakrawala? Siapakah yang menahannya dengan gunung-gunung raksasa agar tidak goyah, tidak goncang dan tidak miring?’ Aku juga lama sekali memikirkan diriku sendiri: ‘Siapakah yang mengeluarkan aku sebagai bayi dari perut ibuku? Siapakah yang memelihara hidupku dan memberi makan kepadaku? Semuanya itu pasti ada yang membuat, dan sudah tentu bukan Diqyanius’…” Teman-teman Tamlikha lalu bertekuk lutut di hadapannya. Dua kaki Tamlikha diciumi sambil berkata: “Hai Tamlikha dalam hati kami sekarang terasa sesuatu seperti yang ada di dalam hatimu. Oleh karena itu, baiklah engkau tunjukkan jalan keluar bagi kita semua!” “Saudara-saudara, ” jawab Tamlikha, “baik aku maupun kalian tidak menemukan akal selain harus lari meninggalkan raja yang dzalim itu, pergi kepada Raja pencipta langit dan bumi!” “Kami setuju dengan pendapatmu,” sahut teman-temannya. Tamlikha lalu berdiri, terus beranjak pergi untuk menjual buah kurma, dan akhirnya berhasil mendapat uang sebanyak 3 dirham. Uang itu kemudian diselipkan dalam kantong baju. Lalu berangkat berkendaraan kuda bersama-sama dengan lima orang temannya. Setelah berjalan 3 mil jauhnya dari kota, Tamlikha berkata kepada teman-temannya: “Saudara-saudara, kita sekarang sudah terlepas dari raja dunia dan dari kekuasaannya. Sekarang turunlah kalian dari kuda dan marilah kita berjalan kaki. Mudah-mudahan Allah akan memudahkan urusan kita serta memberikan jalan keluar.” Mereka turun dari kudanya masing-masing. Lalu berjalan kaki sejauh 7 farsakh, sampai kaki mereka bengkak berdarah karena tidak biasa berjalan kaki sejauh itu.ashabul-kahfi-12 Tiba-tiba datanglah seorang penggembala menyambut mereka. Kepada penggembala itu mereka bertanya: “Hai penggembala, apakah engkau mempunyai air minum atau susu?” “Aku mempunyai semua yang kalian inginkan,” sahut penggembala itu. “Tetapi kulihat wajah kalian semuanya seperti kaum bangsawan. Aku menduga kalian itu pasti melarikan diri. Coba beritahukan kepadaku bagaimana cerita perjalanan kalian itu!” “Ah…, susahnya orang ini,” jawab mereka. “Kami sudah memeluk suatu agama, kami tidak boleh berdusta. Apakah kami akan selamat jika kami mengatakan yang sebenarnya?” “Ya,” jawab penggembala itu. Tamlikha dan teman-temannya lalu menceritakan semua yang terjadi pada diri mereka. Mendengar cerita mereka, penggembala itu segera bertekuk lutut di depan mereka, dan sambil menciumi kaki mereka, ia berkata: “Dalam hatiku sekarang terasa sesuatu seperti yang ada dalam hati kalian. Kalian berhenti sajalah dahulu di sini. Aku hendak mengembalikan kambing-kambing itu kepada pemiliknya. Nanti aku akan segera kembali lagi kepada kalian.” Tamlikha bersama teman-temannya berhenti. Penggembala itu segera pergi untuk mengembalikan kambing-kambing gembalaannya. Tak lama kemudian ia datang lagi berjalan kaki, diikuti oleh seekor anjing miliknya.” Waktu cerita Imam Ali sampai di situ, pendeta Yahudi yang bertanya melonjak berdiri lagi sambil berkata: “Hai Ali, jika engkau benar-benar tahu, coba sebutkan apakah warna anjing itu dan siapakah namanya?” “Hai saudara Yahudi,” kata Ali bin Abi Thalib memberitahukan, “kekasihku Muhammad Rasul Allah s.a.w. menceritakan kepadaku, bahwa anjing itu berwarna kehitam-hitaman dan bernama Qithmir. Ketika enam orang pelarian itu melihat seekor anjing, masing-masing saling berkata kepada temannya: kita khawatir kalau-kalau anjing itu nantinya akan membongkar rahasia kita! Mereka minta kepada penggembala supaya anjing itu dihalau saja dengan batu. Anjing itu melihat kepada Tamlikha dan teman-temannya, lalu duduk di atas dua kaki belakang, menggeliat, dan mengucapkan kata-kata dengan lancar dan jelas sekali: “Hai orang-orang, mengapa kalian hendak mengusirku, padahal aku ini bersaksi tiada tuhan selain Allah, tak ada sekutu apa pun bagi-Nya. Biarlah aku menjaga kalian dari musuh, dan dengan berbuat demikian aku mendekatkan diriku kepada Allah s.w.t.” Anjing itu akhirnya dibiarkan saja. Mereka lalu pergi. Penggembala tadi mengajak mereka naik ke sebuah bukit. Lalu bersama mereka mendekati sebuah gua.” Pendeta Yahudi yang menanyakan kisah itu, bangun lagi dari tempat duduknya sambil berkata: “Apakah nama gunung itu dan apakah nama gua itu?!” Imam Ali menjelaskan: “Gunung itu bernama Naglus dan nama gua itu ialah Washid, atau di sebut juga dengan nama Kheram!” Ali bin Abi Thalib meneruskan ceritanya: secara tiba-tiba di depan gua itu tumbuh pepohonan berbuah dan memancur mata-air deras sekali. Mereka makan buah-buahan dan minum air yang tersedia di tempat itu. Setelah tiba waktu malam, mereka masuk berlindung di dalam gua. Sedang anjing yang sejak tadi mengikuti mereka, berjaga-jaga ndeprok sambil menjulurkan dua kaki depan untuk menghalang-halangi pintu gua. Kemudian Allah s.w.t. memerintahkan Malaikat maut supaya mencabut nyawa mereka. Kepada masing-masing orang dari mereka Allah s.w.t. mewakilkan dua Malaikat untuk membalik-balik tubuh mereka dari kanan ke kiri. Allah lalu memerintahkan matahari supaya pada saat terbit condong memancarkan sinarnya ke dalam gua dari arah kanan, dan pada saat hampir terbenam supaya sinarnya mulai meninggalkan mereka dari arah kiri. Suatu ketika waktu raja Diqyanius baru saja selesai berpesta ia bertanya tentang enam orang pembantunya. Ia mendapat jawaban, bahwa mereka itu melarikan diri. Raja Diqyanius sangat gusar. Bersama 80.000 pasukan berkuda ia cepat-cepat berangkat menyelusuri jejak enam orang pembantu yang melarikan diri. Ia naik ke atas bukit, kemudian mendekati gua. Ia melihat enam orang pembantunya yang melarikan diri itu sedang tidur berbaring di dalam gua. Ia tidak ragu-ragu dan memastikan bahwa enam orang itu benar-benar sedang tidur. Kepada para pengikutnya ia berkata: “Kalau aku hendak menghukum mereka, tidak akan kujatuhkan hukuman yang lebih berat dari perbuatan mereka yang telah menyiksa diri mereka sendiri di dalam gua. Panggillah tukang-tukang batu supaya mereka segera datang ke mari!” Setelah tukang-tukang batu itu tiba, mereka diperintahkan menutup rapat pintu gua dengan batu-batu dan jish (bahan semacam semen). Selesai dikerjakan, raja berkata kepada para pengikutnya: “Katakanlah kepada mereka yang ada di dalam gua, kalau benar-benar mereka itu tidak berdusta supaya minta tolong kepada Tuhan mereka yang ada di langit, agar mereka dikeluarkan dari tempat itu.” Dalam goa tertutup rapat itu, mereka tinggal selama 309 tahun. Setelah masa yang amat panjang itu lampau, Allah s.w.t. mengembalikan lagi nyawa mereka. Pada saat matahari sudah mulai memancarkan sinar, mereka merasa seakan-akan baru bangun dari tidurnya masing-masing. Yang seorang berkata kepada yang lainnya: “Malam tadi kami lupa beribadah kepada Allah, mari kita pergi ke mata air!” Setelah mereka berada di luar gua, tiba-tiba mereka lihat mata air itu sudah mengering kembali dan pepohonan yang ada pun sudah menjadi kering semuanya. Allah s.w.t. membuat mereka mulai merasa lapar. Mereka saling bertanya: “Siapakah di antara kita ini yang sanggup dan bersedia berangkat ke kota membawa uang untuk bisa mendapatkan makanan? Tetapi yang akan pergi ke kota nanti supaya hati-hati benar, jangan sampai membeli makanan yang dimasak dengan lemak-babi.” Tamlikha kemudian berkata: “Hai saudara-saudara, aku sajalah yang berangkat untuk mendapatkan makanan. Tetapi, hai penggembala, berikanlah bajumu kepadaku dan ambillah bajuku ini!” Setelah Tamlikha memakai baju penggembala, ia berangkat menuju ke kota. Sepanjang jalan ia melewati tempat-tempat yang sama sekali belum pernah dikenalnya, melalui jalan-jalan yang belum pernah diketahui. Setibanya dekat pintu gerbang kota, ia melihat bendera hijau berkibar di angkasa bertuliskan: “Tiada Tuhan selain Allah dan Isa adalah Roh Allah.” Tamlikha berhenti sejenak memandang bendera itu sambil mengusap-usap mata, lalu berkata seorang diri: “Kusangka aku ini masih tidur!” Setelah agak lama memandang dan mengamat-amati bendera, ia meneruskan perjalanan memasuki kota. Dilihatnya banyak orang sedang membaca Injil. Ia berpapasan dengan orang-orang yang belum pernah dikenal. Setibanya di sebuah pasar ia bertanya kepada seorang penjaja roti: “Hai tukang roti, apakah nama kota kalian ini?” “Aphesus,” sahut penjual roti itu. “Siapakah nama raja kalian?” tanya Tamlikha lagi. “Abdurrahman, ” jawab penjual roti. “Kalau yang kau katakan itu benar,” kata Tamlikha, “urusanku ini sungguh aneh sekali! Ambillah uang ini dan berilah makanan kepadaku!” Melihat uang itu, penjual roti keheran-heranan. Karena uang yang dibawa Tamlikha itu uang zaman lampau, yang ukurannya lebih besar dan lebih berat. Pendeta Yahudi yang bertanya itu kemudian berdiri lagi, lalu berkata kepada Ali bin Abi Thalib: “Hai Ali, kalau benar-benar engkau mengetahui, coba terangkan kepadaku berapa nilai uang lama itu dibanding dengan uang baru!” Imam Ali menerangkan: “Kekasihku Muhammad Rasul Allah s.a.w. menceritakan kepadaku, bahwa uang yang dibawa oleh Tamlikha dibanding dengan uang baru, ialah tiap dirham lama sama dengan sepuluh dan dua pertiga dirham baru!”ashabul-kahfi-16 Imam Ali kemudian melanjutkan ceritanya: Penjual Roti lalu berkata kepada Tamlikha: “Aduhai, alangkah beruntungnya aku! Rupanya engkau baru menemukan harta karun! Berikan sisa uang itu kepadaku! Kalau tidak, engkau akan ku hadapkan kepada raja!” “Aku tidak menemukan harta karun,” sangkal Tamlikha. “Uang ini ku dapat tiga hari yang lalu dari hasil penjualan buah kurma seharga tiga dirham! Aku kemudian meninggalkan kota karena orang-orang semuanya menyembah Diqyanius!” Penjual roti itu marah. Lalu berkata: “Apakah setelah engkau menemukan harta karun masih juga tidak rela menyerahkan sisa uangmu itu kepadaku? Lagi pula engkau telah menyebut-nyebut seorang raja durhaka yangmengaku diri sebagai tuhan, padahal raja itu sudah mati lebih dari 300 tahun yang silam! Apakah dengan begitu engkau hendak memperolok-olok aku?” Tamlikha lalu ditangkap. Kemudian dibawa pergi menghadap raja. Raja yang baru ini seorang yang dapat berfikir dan bersikap adil. Raja bertanya kepada orang-orang yang membawa Tamlikha: “Bagaimana cerita tentang orang ini?” “Dia menemukan harta karun,” jawab orang-orang yang membawanya. Kepada Tamlikha, raja berkata: “Engkau tak perlu takut! Nabi Isa a.s. memerintahkan supaya kami hanya memungut seperlima saja dari harta karun itu. Serahkanlah yang seperlima itu kepadaku, dan selanjutnya engkau akan selamat.” Tamlikha menjawab: “Baginda, aku sama sekali tidak menemukan harta karun! Aku adalah penduduk kota ini!” Raja bertanya sambil keheran-heranan: “Engkau penduduk kota ini?” “Ya. Benar,” sahut Tamlikha. “Adakah orang yang kau kenal?” tanya raja lagi. “Ya, ada,” jawab Tamlikha. “Coba sebutkan siapa namanya,” perintah raja. Tamlikha menyebut nama-nama kurang lebih 1000 orang, tetapi tak ada satu nama pun yang dikenal oleh raja atau oleh orang lain yang hadir mendengarkan. Mereka berkata: “Ah…, semua itu bukan nama orang-orang yang hidup di zaman kita sekarang. Tetapi, apakah engkau mempunyai rumah di kota ini?” “Ya, tuanku,” jawab Tamlikha. “Utuslah seorang menyertai aku!” Raja kemudian memerintahkan beberapa orang menyertai Tamlikha pergi. Oleh Tamlikha mereka diajak menuju ke sebuah rumah yang paling tinggi di kota itu. Setibanya di sana, Tamlikha berkata kepada orang yang mengantarkan: “Inilah rumahku!” Pintu rumah itu lalu diketuk. Keluarlah seorang lelaki yang sudah sangat lanjut usia. Sepasang alis di bawah keningnya sudah sedemikian putih dan mengkerut hampir menutupi mata karena sudah terlampau tua. Ia terperanjat ketakutan, lalu bertanya kepada orang-orang yang datang: “Kalian ada perlu apa?” Utusan raja yang menyertai Tamlikha menyahut: “Orang muda ini mengaku rumah ini adalah rumahnya!” Orang tua itu marah, memandang kepada Tamlikha. Sambil mengamat-amati ia bertanya: “Siapa namamu?” “Aku Tamlikha anak Filistin!” Orang tua itu lalu berkata: “Coba ulangi lagi!” Tamlikha menyebut lagi namanya. Tiba-tiba orang tua itu bertekuk lutut di depan kaki Tamlikha sambil berucap: “Ini adalah datukku! Demi Allah, ia salah seorang di antara orang-orang yang melarikan diri dari Diqyanius, raja durhaka.” Kemudian diteruskannya dengan suara haru: “Ia lari berlindung kepada Yang Maha Perkasa, Pencipta langit dan bumi. Nabi kita, Isa as., dahulu telah memberitahukan kisah mereka kepada kita dan mengatakan bahwa mereka itu akan hidup kembali!” Peristiwa yang terjadi di rumah orang tua itu kemudian di laporkan kepada raja. Dengan menunggang kuda, raja segera datang menuju ke tempat Tamlikha yang sedang berada di rumah orang tua tadi. Setelah melihat Tamlikha, raja segera turun dari kuda. Oleh raja Tamlikha diangkat ke atas pundak, sedangkan orang banyak beramai-ramai menciumi tangan dan kaki Tamlikha sambil bertanya-tanya: “Hai Tamlikha, bagaimana keadaan teman-temanmu? “ Kepada mereka Tamlikha memberi tahu, bahwa semua temannya masih berada di dalam gua. “Pada masa itu kota Aphesus diurus oleh dua orang bangsawan istana. Seorang beragama Islam dan seorang lainnya lagi beragama Nasrani. Dua orang bangsawan itu bersama pengikutnya masing-masing pergi membawa Tamlikha menuju ke gua,” demikian Imam Ali melanjutkan ceritanya. Teman-teman Tamlikha semuanya masih berada di dalam gua itu. Setibanya dekat gua, Tamlikha berkata kepada dua orang bangsawan dan para pengikut mereka: “Aku khawatir kalau sampai teman-temanku mendengar suara tapak kuda, atau gemerincingnya senjata. Mereka pasti menduga Diqyanius datang dan mereka bakal mati semua. Oleh karena itu kalian berhenti saja di sini. Biarlah aku sendiri yang akan menemui dan memberitahu mereka!” Semua berhenti menunggu dan Tamlikha masuk seorang diri ke dalam gua. Melihat Tamlikha datang, teman-temannya berdiri kegirangan, dan Tamlikha dipeluknya kuat-kuat. Kepada Tamlikha mereka berkata: “Puji dan syukur bagi Allah yang telah menyelamatkan dirimu dari Diqyanius!” Tamlikha menukas: “Ada urusan apa dengan Diqyanius? Tahukah kalian, sudah berapa lamakah kalian tinggal di sini?” “Kami tinggal sehari atau beberapa hari saja,” jawab mereka. “Tidak!” sangkal Tamlikha. “Kalian sudah tinggal di sini selama 309 tahun! Diqyanius sudah lama meninggal dunia! Generasi demi generasi sudah lewat silih berganti, dan penduduk kota itu sudah beriman kepada Allah yang Maha Agung! Mereka sekarang datang untuk bertemu dengan kalian!” Teman-teman Tamlikha menyahut: “Hai Tamlikha, apakah engkau hendak menjadikan kami ini orang-orang yang menggemparkan seluruh jagad?” “Lantas apa yang kalian inginkan?” Tamlikha balik bertanya. “Angkatlah tanganmu ke atas dan kami pun akan berbuat seperti itu juga,” jawab merekaMereka bertujuh semua mengangkat tangan ke atas, kemudian berdoa: “Ya Allah, dengan kebenaran yang telah Kau perlihatkan kepada kami tentang keanehan-keanehan yang kami alami sekarang ini, cabutlah kembali nyawa kami tanpa sepengetahuan orang lain!” Allah s.w.t. mengabulkan permohonan mereka. Lalu memerintahkan Malaikat maut mencabut kembali nyawa mereka. Kemudian Allah s.w.t. melenyapkan pintu gua tanpa bekas. Dua orang bangsawan yang menunggu-nunggu segera maju mendekati gua, berputar-putar selama tujuh hari untuk mencari-cari pintunya, tetapi tanpa hasil. Tak dapat ditemukan lubang atau jalan masuk lainnya ke dalam gua. Pada saat itu dua orang bangsawan tadi menjadi yakin tentang betapa hebatnya kekuasaan Allah s.w.t. Dua orang bangsawan itu memandang semua peristiwa yang dialami oleh para penghuni gua, sebagai peringatan yang diperlihatkan Allah kepada mereka. Bangsawan yang beragama Islam lalu berkata: “Mereka mati dalam keadaan memeluk agamaku! Akan ku dirikan sebuah tempat ibadah di pintu gua itu.” Sedang bangsawan yang beragama Nasrani berkata pula: “Mereka mati dalam keadaan memeluk agamaku! Akan ku dirikan sebuah biara di pintu gua itu.” Dua orang bangsawan itu bertengkar, dan setelah melalui pertikaian senjata, akhirnya bangsawan Nasrani terkalahkan oleh bangsawan yang beragama Islam. Dengan terjadinya peristiwa tersebut, maka Allah berfirman: Dan begitulah Kami menyerempakkan mereka, supaya mereka mengetahui bahawa janji Allah adalah benar, dan bahawa Saat itu tidak ada keraguan padanya. Apabila mereka berbalahan antara mereka dalam urusan mereka, maka mereka berkata, “Binalah di atas mereka satu bangunan; Pemelihara mereka sangat mengetahui mengenai mereka.” Berkata orang-orang yang menguasai atas urusan mereka, “Kami akan membina di atas mereka sebuah masjid.” Sampai di situ Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib berhenti menceritakan kisah para penghuni gua. Kemudian berkata kepada pendeta Yahudi yang menanyakan kisah itu: “Itulah, hai Yahudi, apa yang telah terjadi dalam kisah mereka. Demi Allah, sekarang aku hendak bertanya kepadamu, apakah semua yang ku ceritakan itu sesuai dengan apa yang tercantum dalam Taurat kalian?” Pendeta Yahudi itu menjawab: “Ya Abal Hasan, engkau tidak menambah dan tidak mengurangi, walau satu huruf pun! Sekarang engkau jangan menyebut diriku sebagai orang Yahudi, sebab aku telah bersaksi bahwa tiada tuhan selain Allah dan bahwa Muhammad adalah hamba Allah serta Rasul-Nya. Aku pun bersaksi juga, bahwa engkau orang yang paling berilmu di kalangan ummat ini!” Demikianlah hikayat tentang para penghuni gua (Ashhabul Kahfi), kutipan dari kitab Qishasul Anbiya yang tercantum dalam kitab Fadha ‘ilul Khamsah Minas Shihahis Sittah, tulisan As Sayyid Murtadha Al Huseiniy Al Faruz Aabaad, dalam menunjukkan banyaknya ilmu pengetahuan yang diperoleh Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib dari Rasul Allah s.a.w. *اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ* 🍃♥️🌹📚📚

Big Pharma’s Dirty Medical Journal Secret | The Daily Dose 10 shocking stories the media buried today. The Vigilant Fox #10 - Big Pharma is secretly “ghostwriting” articles in top medical and oncology journals to trick doctors into buying their drugs. Here’s how the scam works: First, pharma pays companies big money to ghostwrite studies that look legit. Then, they approach doctors, offering them prestige in exchange for slapping their names on these ghostwritten studies. Once published in top medical journals, these articles deceive other doctors into prescribing their drugs, believing the results are authentic. This scheme tricks doctors into promoting treatments based on false research, driving up drug sales while putting patients at risk. Watch Dr. Russell Blaylock explain. The “conspiracy theorists” were right again. Join 90K+ Substack readers and 1.2 million 𝕏 users who follow the work of Vigilant Fox. Subscribe to Vigilant News for exclusive stories you won’t find anywhere else. See More Revealing Stories Below: #9 - The Current CIA Director Visited Epstein’s Apartment Multiple Times Bill Burns has some explaining to do. “This is not a theory.” This really happened, says Michael Schellenberger. Burns met with Epstein multiple times in 2014, years after Epstein's conviction for s*x crimes. Surprise, surprise. Bill Gates also met with Epstein so many times that people have lost count. In a PBS interview, when questioned about his association with Epstein, Bill Gates looked uncomfortably “guilty,” Schellenberger observed. "Is there a lesson to be learned?" PBS asked. "Well, he's dead," Gates oddly answered. “So, in general, you always have to be careful.” Schellenberger says he's about 95% sure Epstein was running a s*x blackmail operation. And Bill Gates and the current CIA director held multiple meetings with this guy. #8 - Black Men Respond to Obama Telling “Brothas” to Vote for Kamala Harris @RobSmithOnline: “I am voting for DONALD TRUMP on November 5th! And NO amount of LECTURING or SHAMING is going to change that.” @VernonForGA: “Obama should be ashamed for berating, rebuking and scolding Black men, because they won’t vote for Madam Lock Up A Brother…” @thecjpearson: “My name is CJ Pearson. I’m 22 years old. And in 25 days, I’ll be joining millions of other young black men and voting for Donald J. Trump!” While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to this page for more daily news roundups. #7 - A massive UK study of 1.7 million kids has found that myocarditis and pericarditis only occurred in children who received COVID-19 injections. According to the study, “Zero cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were found in the unvaccinated group.” The study, led by Oxford University’s Professor Colm D Andrews., was released as a preprint in the MedRxiv journal. The researchers confirmed that, despite widespread vaccination efforts, "the virus did not put children at risk of death or the need for emergency care, hospitalization, or critical care." The study found that COVID-19 vaccines offered little long-term protection, as many children caught the virus just 14 to 15 weeks after getting the shot. The “conspiracy theorists” warned parents years ago that the COVID shots were all risk and no reward. Now, they've been proven true once again. #6 - Elon Musk introduces an army of Optimus robots, says people will be able to buy them to complete tasks. Credit: https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1844581889593471060 #5 - Tim Walz Crashes and Burns During Strahan Interview in Epically Bad Fashion #4 - Poll Finds Voters Are Far More Conservative Than They're Willing to Admit #3 - Dr. Fauci’s pet drug, Remdesivir, is tied to 63.9% of all military COVID-19 deaths. #2 - The Sheriff of one of Colorado's largest counties endorses Trump and says he is the only one who can stop the gangster invasion destroying the state. Clip: https://x.com/BehizyTweets/status/1844805181084488095 #1 - Kamala Harris reportedly had a C17 aircraft loaded with supplies for a Hurricane Helene photo-op, with no plan to send those supplies to Hurricane victims. This accusation comes from Aerial Recovery members Jonathan Howard and Charlie Keebaugh. “They [NC National Guard] had a C17, full of supplies just to take a photo op for Kamala… and they never sent the bird." Clip: https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1844533781065056564 Share BONUS #1 - Vaccines are the real cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and the government has been covering it up for decades, one doctor says. The term SIDS itself, according to @MidwesternDoc, is a euphemism used to cover up vaccine-related deaths. One disturbing study found that two-thirds of infants who died of SIDS had been vaccinated with the DPT vaccine prior to death. Of those, 6.5% died within 12 hours of vaccination, 13% within 24 hours, and 26% within three days. Dr. William Torch, the author of the study, concluded, “DPT vaccination may be a generally unrecognized major cause of sudden infant and early childhood death, and that the risks of immunization may outweigh its potential benefits.” @MidwesternDoc claims there is a century of evidence to suggest vaccines cause SIDS, but the government has continuously worked to suppress such findings. One of those efforts has been the removal of vaccine-related death classifications in the ICD system in 1979. This change made it impossible for doctors to officially attribute infant deaths to vaccines, further obscuring the true cause of SIDS. "The children who died from SIDS and their parents deserve recognition and justice," says @MidwesternDoc. "Infants cannot speak up for themselves. When you observe these vaccine injuries and the trauma they experience, it’s very apparent what happened." BONUS #2 - Five Surprising Cancer-Fighting Products From Nature BONUS #3 - How to Get Ivermectin, Z-Pak and More BONUS #4 - Local Official Collapses, Dies After Testifying About BioLab Fire in Georgia BONUS #5 - Whoopi Goldberg Loses Her Mind on “The View” After Trump Humiliates Her During Campaign Rally Thanks for reading! If you found this post helpful, please do me a favor and follow this page before you go. Check back on Sunday for the weekly news recap. Here’s what you missed yesterday. CBS Caught in HUGE Scandal as Kamala Harris Campaign CRUMBLES | The Daily Dose #10 - CBS Caught in HUGE Scandal as Kamala Harris Campaign CRUMBLES Read full story https://open.substack.com/pub/vigilantfox/p/big-pharmas-dirty-medical-journal

☆Tadabbur Kalamullah 9 Rabiul Akhir 1446H☆ إنَّ اللهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُوْرٌ "Sesungguhnya Allah benar-benar Maha Pemaaf lagi Maha Pengampun" [Surah al-hajj 60] #Berkata Syeikh Abdul Rahman as-Sa'di rahimahullah: "Dia Maha memaafkan orang-orang yang berbuat dosa, dengan tidak menyegerakan seksaan bagi mereka, serta mengampuni dosa-dosa mereka. Maka Allah menghapuskan dosa dan bekas-bekasnya dari diri mereka. Inilah sifat Allah swt yang tetap dan terus ada pada zat-Nya (Yang Maha Mulia), dan inilah perlakuanNya kepada hamba-hambaNya di setiap waktu, (iaitu) dengan pemaafan dan pengampunan…" #Hal ini bertepatan dengan Firman Allah swt : وَلَوۡ یُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهۡرِهَا مِن دَاۤبَّةࣲ وَلَـٰكِن یُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ إِلَىٰۤ أَجَلࣲ مُّسَمࣰّىۖ فَإِذَا جَاۤءَ أَجَلُهُمۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِیرَۢا "Dan kalaulah Allah mengirakan kesalahan manusia serta terus menyeksa mereka disebabkan amal-amal jahat yang mereka telah kerjakan, tentulah la tidak membiarkan tinggal di muka bumi sesuatu makhluk yang bergerak; akan tetapi (dia tidak bertindak dengan serta merta, bahkan) Ia memberi tempoh kepada mereka hingga ke suatu masa yang tertentu; kemudian apabila sampai tempoh mereka (maka Allah akan membalas masing-masing dengan adilnya), kerana sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa Melihat keadaan hamba-hambaNya" [Surah Fāṭir 45] #Tersebut dalam hadis Qudsi, bahwa Allah swt berfirman: "Seorang hamba melakukan perbuatan dosa, kemudian dia berdoa: "Ya Allah ampunilah dosaku". Maka Allah swt berfirman: "HambaKu telah berbuat dosa, sedang dia meyakini bahawa dia mempunyai Tuhan yang Maha mengampuni dan membalas perbuatan dosa". (Maka Allah mengampuni dosanya), kemudian hamba itu berbuat dosa lagi lalu berdoa: "Ya Tuhanku ampunilah dosaku" . Maka Allah swt berfirman: "HambaKu telah berbuat dosa, sedang dia meyakini bahawa dia mempunyai Tuhan yang Maha mengampuni dan membalas perbuatan dosa". (Maka Allah mengampuni dosanya), kemudian hamba itu berbuat dosa lagi lalu berdoa: "Ya Tuhanku ampunilah dosaku". Maka Allah swt berfirman: "HambaKu telah berbuat dosa, sedang dia meyakini bahawa dia mempunyai Tuhan yang Maha mengampuni dan membalas perbuatan dosa, berbuatlah sesukamu (wahai hambaKu), maka sungguh Aku telah mengampunimu" (HR al-Bukhari) Iaitu "selama kamu terus bertaubat, memohon dan kembali (kepadaKu)". #Berkata Imam Ibnu Rajab: العفو من أسماء الله تعالى وهو يتجاوز عن سيئات عباده الماحي لأثارهم عنهم وهو يحب العفو فيحب أن يعفو عن عباده ويحب من عباده أن يعفو بعضهم عن بعض فإذا عفا بعضهم عن بعض عاملهم بعفوه وعفوه أحب إليه من عقوبته "Al-‘Afuw merupakan sebahagian dari nama-nama Allah swt. Ia bermaksud Allah mengampunkan dosa-dosa para hambaNya serta memadam kesan-kesan dosa dari mereka. Allah suka kepada kemaafan dan Dia suka untuk memaafkan para hambaNya. Dia juga suka sekiranya hamba-hambaNya saling memaafkan sesama mereka. Sekiranya mereka saling bermaafan, Allah akan melayan mereka dengan sifat pemaafNya, dan memaafkan itu lebih Dia sukai berbanding memberikan hukuman" (Lihat: Lata’if al-Ma’arif) ♡Allah Tuhan Yang sentiasa bersedia memaafkan hambaNya, maka berdoa, bermunajat dan merayulah agar diampuni segala dosa dan kesalahan kita♡ 🐊Ust naim Klik link ini untuk join: http://bit.ly/tadabburkalamullah Facebook:    https://m.facebook.com/tadabburkalamullah