Seeds of Health

If you are a Muslim and wish to buy a "halal" soap at a big supermarket like Tesco, Giant or Carrefour, chances are that you won't find it or would have some difficulties locating it. This is because most soap brands contain glycerine, which is chemically derived from animal fats.

Last week I went to a large supermarket at Mutiara Damansara for my grocery requirement. One of the items that I wanted to buy was soap with the "halal" label, as the one left in my bathroom had dwindled down to an insignificant size.

As usual, I went to the toiletries section of the supermarket, to look for the soap. I selected each brand of soap one by one to look for the "halal" sign on the cover. I found to my disaapointment that all of them contained "glycerine" and there was no "halal" sign whenever the soap had glycerine as one of its components.

There was one brand of soap which was supposed to contain vegetable oil. But this brand  had no "halal" label on it and comparatively more expensive than the others. Therefore, I didn't buy it.  

I was about to give up when I instinctively bent down to reach for a brand of soap that was placed among a row at the lowest rung corner of the shelf. "Alhamdulillah," the soap had a "halal" logo sign on it and upon reading the ingredients written on the cover it did not mention "glycerine". The soap's brand was "Fruitale - Nutrient" and produced by Lam Soon Group of Companies. One pack contained 3 bars of soap and cost only RM1.98 and that was considered as cheap.

This brand of soap was placed at an insignficant part of the shelves - I wondered why. Was it because it was cheaper and therefore made less conspicous? I guess the supermarket people knew better

Some of you who may be wondering what the fuss is all about. Let me inform you about "glycerine". The Wikipedia defines it as a translucent, colorless, odorless, brittle, nearly tasteless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Gelatin is a protein produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen extracted from the bones, connective tissues, organs and some intestines of animals such as domesticated cattle, pigs and horses.

It was narrated by Abu Muhammad Al-Hassan Bin Ali Bin Abi Thalib, grandson of the Prophet (Prayers and Peace be upon him) who said,"I have memorised from the Prophet (PPBUH) who said,"Leave the things  that are doubtful to you to things that are not doubtful to you."" (From Termizi)

Thus, if glycerine is obtained from the animals, then it becomes a doubtful ingredients for the Muslims as it is very difficult to know what type of animal it was obtained from. Even if it comes from animals other then pigs, we don't know whether these animals were slaughtered in the correct Islamic way. As such, glycerine is doubtful unless we know from which source it was obtained.

Now, my question is, if the other brands of soap contained glycerine which comes from "halal" animal fat, then why didn't they put the "halal" logo on the packet? Makes one wonder, right?

We take our bath before a solat or wash our hands before a meal using soap. Now instead of cleaning our body and hands, we in fact rub the "haram" glycerine onto them. Now, does that make us clean? Think about it.

Pagi ini, Ahad 1 November 2009, saya ke masjid berdekatan dengan rumah saya di Taman Kosas Ampang untuk solat suboh berjemaah diikuti dengan mendengar ceramah yang disampaikan oleh Ustaz Safuan.

Apa yang disampaikan selain daripada perkara-perkara lain adalah mengenai dengan daging ayam "bandar" yang selalu kita makan.

Tidak berapa lama sebelum ini heboh juga kita mendengar berita mengenai dengan kisah ayam-ayam "bandar" yang tidak disembelih yang dijual di pasaraya dan kedai-kedai runcit.

Sekarang ini pula Ustaz itu mengatakan  bahawa kajian yang dibuat oleh seorang doktor ke atas makanan yang diberikan kepada ayam-ayam "bandar" menunjukkan bahawa 60% dari bahan makanan ayam itu mengandungi tepung yang diperbuat dari tulang binatang. Tepung tulang binatang ini diimport dari Thailand. Kajian seterusnya yang dibuat ke atas kilang itu menunjukkan bahawa kilang itu mengisar tulang-tulang daripada semua jenis binatang, termasuk tulang babi (khinzir). Maka Ustaz menasihatkan supaya janganlah memakan daging ayam "bandar", sebaliknya makanlah daging ayam kampung atau ayam organik.

Seterusnya, Ustaz itu mengatakan bahawa hormon yang dicampurkan ke makanan ayam untuk mempercepatkan ayam-ayam itu membesar juga merangsangkan sel kanser di badan manusia untuk membiak. Jawapan yang diberikan oleh pesakit-pesakit kanser ke atas soalan yang ditujukan kepada mereka mengenai dengan makanan kegemaran mereka adalah "ayam".

Ustaz itu juga mengatakan bahawa kebanyakan "fish ball" dan "fish cake" yang dijual di pasaran mengandungi "plasma" dari darah binatang yang telah dikumpulkan dan diproses setelah binatang-binatang itu disembelih. Oleh kerana memakan darah adalah haram dalam Islam, maka Ustaz itu menasihatkan supaya berhati-hati bila membeli "fish ball" atau "fish cake" di pasaran.

Apabila badan kita mengandungi benda-benda dari makanan-makanan yang haram, maka doa kita kepada Allah SWT tidak akan dikabulkan, seperti yang disebutkan di hadith berikut:-

Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a katanya, "Kemudian Nabi SAW menceritakan tentang seorang lelaki yang telah lama berjalan kerana jauhnya perjalanan yang ditempuhnya sehingga rambutnya kusut masai dan berdebu. Orang itu menadah tangannya ke langit dan berdoa:”Wahai Tuhanku! Wahai Tuhanku! “. Padahal makanannya dari barang yang haram, minumannya dari yang haram, pakaiannya dari yang haram dan dia diasuh dengan makanan yang haram. Maka bagaimanakah Allah akan memperkenankan doanya.” (Riwayat Muslim)

Assalamualaikum,

"Whereare you from?" or "where is your kampung?" is always the standard question asked by someone whom you have just met in a conversation.

The Wikipedia defines the term "kampung" as "a Malay hamlet or village in a Malay-speaking country" In other words, a kampung is defined today as a village in Brunei, Indonesia or Malaysia.

The Wikipedia continues to say that in Malaysia, a kampung is determined as a locality with 10,000 or fewer people. Since historical times, every Malay village came under the leadership of a penghulu (village chief),who has the power to hear civil matters in his village. A Malay village typically contains a "masjid" (mosque) or "surau" (Muslim chapel),stilt houses and paddy fields. Malay villagers practice the culture of helping one another as a community, which is better known as "jointbearing of burdens" (gotong royong), as well as being family-oriented (especially the concept of respecting one's family, particularly the parents and elders), courtesy and believing in God ("Tuhan") as paramount to everything else. It is common to see a "kubor" (Muslim cemetery) near the mosque, as all Muslims in the Malay village want to be prayed for, and to receive Allah's blessings in the afterlife.

Having said that, a kampung is therefore our origin, where we were born probably and also where we grew up and spent most of our early schooling years there. A kampung is also where our parents settle down for good.

Whenever we have the opportunity, a kampung is where we return to spend the time with our parents, relatives and friends, who grew up and played together with us in the kampung. There is no other preferable way to spend the time during the holidays than to "balik kampung" (return to our parents' house in the village) whether we were at college, university or working somewhere else at that time. A kampung can also be said to be the focul point for "silaturrahim"(maintaining close relationship amongst friends and relatives), where all the brothers, sisters and close relatives get together as often as possible, especially during festivals like the Aidil Fitri, Aidil Adha or marriage ceremonies of those very close to the family. For as long as one of the parents is still alive, the "spirit" of the "balik kampung" still remains, that is, the joy of looking forward to return to the kampung.

Now, back to the question of where my kampung is. You see, I was born in Singapore at the customs quarters at Kampung Bahru Road. Later on my parents rented a house in Kg. Bukit Kasita. I studied at the Radin Mas Primary School from Standard 1 to Standard 5.So it can be said that my kampung at that time was Kampung Bukit Kasita in Singapore.

In 1963, my late father was transferred to Johor Bahru in the state of Johor. At first, we were staying in the Government's quarters at Jalan Larkin. Later on, my late father bought a house at Jalan Kasawari in Larkin Lama. I continued my studies at Sekolah Rendah Temenggung Abdul Rahman. At the end of 1964, my class teacher, Mrs.Maniam recommended me to sit for an examination for selection to study at MCKK (Malay College Kuala Kangsar). I was one of the successful candidates to be selected, the other one being my classmate, Abdullah bin Abdul Hamid.

So whenever I was asked where my kampung was during my 5-year study period in MCKK, I would answer that it was Johor Bahru. Fellow Johoreans at MCKK thus thought that I was a pure Johorean.

In1970, I was given a scholarship to study for a diploma in BrightonTechnical College in the United Kingdom. Two years later, I went to London to study for my enginering degree at King's College (University of London). While I was there, whenever I was asked by any Malaysian friend about my kampung, I would say that it was in Johor Bahru.

While I was studyng in London, my late father was transferred to Lumut in Perak. Subsequently my late father bought a piece of land at Kampung Kurnia in Tronoh, Perak and built a house there. "It's going to be my retirement place." said my late father. So after that, Lumut and subsequently Tronoh in Perak became my kampung. In the meantime, my mother continued to stay in the house in Johor Bahru. So technically speaking, I had two kampungs at that time, one in Perak and the other one in Johor. It wasn't very long thereafter that the house in Johor Bahru was sold and therefore Kg. Kurnia at Tronoh in Perak became my latest kampung. 

My late father was born in Lubok Merbau in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. My late mother was born in Batu Berendam in Melaka. My late mum was a "baba nyonya" which explained the Chinese look in me. So by right I should have a kampung in Melaka too. But it was not to be that way for the story as was told by my late mum was that she was"disowned" by her parents when she married my late dad. She never returned to Melaka to meet her parents again after that except to visit her two elder brothers, Pak Long and Pak Ngah, who had also embraced Islam at the same time as her.

I still have some relatives residing in Melaka who are descendents from my late Pak Ngah. Until today, whenever I meet a nyonya-baba or baba-nyonya from Melaka, I wonder whether he or she is related to my late mother.:dry:

When we grew up, we got married and have children. We eventually establish our own kampung by buying a house of our own. We spend lesser and lesser time to "balik kampung" after both our parents had passed away.

Almost all of my brothers and sisters have committed themselves to have their own kampungs by buying a house at the place chosen by them. Therefore,during the holidays, their own childen visit them, just like they visited their own parents when their parents were still alive.

As for me, I do not have a house to settle down yet. All my life I had been travelling and working at different places and I was never at a place for more than 4 years. However, my wife and I are building a house in Dungun and most likely we will settle down in Dungun for good and call it our kampung.

So in the meantime, what shall I say if someone is to ask me where my kampung is?

Selain daripada Forum, laman ini juga menyediakan blog untuk ahli-ahli yang berminat untuk menulis mengenai dengan sesuatu perkara yang boleh memberikan munafaat kepada kita semua.

Seperti juga yang telah saya pesankan di Forum, ahli-ahli hendaklah menggunakan bahasa yang tidak menyakiti perasaan ahli-ahli yang lain semasa berbincang dan memberi pendapat di blog ini. Terima kasih.