Uncle Halim (English translation)

"Can you share with me why would you like to choose Islam as your religion?" I was asking the uncle in Chinese language, after we had settled his Islam registration procedure in Religion Office. I was being there with religion officers as their translator since uncle not well spoken in Malay language.

"Ever since I was a young man, I always ask about Islam with my Malay friends in the village. While now I'm getting older, age 60+.. Moreover I've become sick till admitted in hospital. So I don't want to hold my intention to be Muslim anymore." He added.

I was silent for a while.
Since I've started my blogging and dakwah journey in year 2008, there's quite a lot of circumstance involving reverted Muslim that I've deal with. But then till nowadays I still can't comprehend how guidance of God, Hidayah being gifted to the servants of Allah. Guidance to the truth is in the hand of Allah alone and no human being has any share in that, none of us may understand how Guidance works or even the main factor that cause someone to strive his life in becoming a Muslim.

The uncle who sat beside me has tattoo all over his body and arms, there's even smell of liquor from his mouth. However his mind is very clear and affirmative that he want to be a Muslim after I've asked a few questions.

Compared to the Chinese actors who casually good looking that always play as a "Reverted Muslim" role in Malaysian drama, wearing Jubah and recites Quran, hadith verses.. Ironically those actors not even Muslim in real life, they are solely playing the role as Mualaf without the spirit of Islam.

The matter of hidayah and heart is in the hand of Allah.
Those people whom we assume 'Islamic', often play a Mualaf in TV Drama don't end up to be a Muslim in real life.. While the uncle who accused as insane, running out of mind by his family members, is the one who declare with me that he would like to be a Muslim before the end of his life.

If Allah want to give guidance to whom He wills, none of us may stop it. All this while I'm just as a middle man who ease the process of syahadah process, while the greatest power of changing someone who lacks of knowledge about Islam into a Reverted Muslim who strive for their faith, is in the will of Allah

Guidance to the truth is in the hand of Allah alone and no human being has any share in that, as Allah said to His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):
"Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.”
[al-Qasas 28:56]
Uncle Halim bin Abdullah already back to rahmatullah after 6 months of recited shahadah.. May Allah bless him with jannah.

Uncle Halim

“Boleh ceritakan sikit kenapa kamu ingin memeluk Islam?” Saya tanya dalam bahasa mandarin kepada seorang uncle yang baru selesai melafaz syahadah di Pejabat Agama. Saya berada di sebelahnya sebagai penterjemah bahasa.

“Saya sejak muda lagi sudah teringin sangat masuk Islam, dulu saya selalu bertanya tentang Islam dengan kawan2 melayu di kampung cina.. Sekarang ni saya pun sudah tua, umur 60 lebih. Baru-baru ni saya jatuh sakit sampai masuk hospital.. Jadi saya tak mahu tangguh lagi niat saya menjadi orang Islam.” Uncle jawab.

Saya diam sebentar.
Semenjak aktif dalam dakwah dan blogging pada tahun 2008, berbagai ragam orang dan situasi pengislaman pernah saya jumpa. Tapi sehingga kini saya masih tak faham bagaimana hidayah taufik dikurniakan kepada hamba Allah.. Ia merupakan rahsia Allah, tiada seorang pun faham bagaimana caranya diberikan ataupun apakah penyebab yang mencetus niat seseorang begitu gigih menjadi Muslim.

Uncle yang berada di hadapan saya ini mempunyai tattoo penuh di lengan dan badannya, bau arak yang amat kuat dari mulutnya, namun pemikirannya sangat faham apa yang saya cuba tanya, kenapa ingin masuk Islam, sejak bila.. Uncle dapat jawab dengan sebaiknya.

"You pun faham macam mana masyarakat cina kita kan? Keluarga paling pantang melihat anak lelaki masuk lslam, kata kita ni lupa akar umbi, 'masuk Melayu' bagai.. Sekarang saya sudah lega lepas jadi Muslim, biar saja apa orang mahu cakap. " Uncle beritahu saya lagi.

Berbanding dengan artis cina yang handsome, segak.. sering berlakon sebagai ‘mualaf’ dalam drama, ayat quran dan hadis sering dibaca menurut skrip drama.. Pada hakikatnya ia hanya lakonan semata-mata, biarpun gaya dan pertuturan penuh ‘Islamic’, artis berikut tetap memilih status Non Muslim dalam realiti hidupnya.

Soal hidayah dan hati adalah urusan Allah.
Orang yang kita melihat dengan mata kasar bahawa beliau penuh potensi memeluk Islam, memakai jubah dan sering tertayang dalam skrin drama, akhirnya tidak menjadi Muslim jua.. Uncle yang dituduh sebagai gila, kurang siuman depan mata saya ini.. pula mampu menjawab dengan penuh sedar bahawa sebelum dia meninggal ingin kembali kepada Islam.

Sekiranya Allah kehendak mengurniakan hidayah taufik kepada seseorang hamba, tiada sesiapa pun dapat menghalangnya. Selama ini saya hanya mampu mempermudahkan proses pengislaman seseorang, namun kuasa menarik seseorang yang jahil kepada pangkal Muslim.. Ia tetap ketentuan daripada Allah SWT sahaja.

Allah SWT berfirman:

اِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِيْ مَنْ اَحْبَبْتَ وَلٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَهْدِيْ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ ۗ وَهُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِيْنَ
"Sesungguhnya engkau (wahai Muhammad) tidak berkuasa memberi hidayah petunjuk kepada sesiapa yang engkau kasihi (supaya ia menerima Islam), tetapi Allah jualah yang berkuasa memberi hidayah petunjuk kepada sesiapa yang dikehendakiNya (menurut undang-undang peraturanNya); dan Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang-orang yang (ada persediaan untuk) mendapat hidayah petunjuk (kepada memeluk Islam)."
(QS. Al-Qasas 28: Ayat 56)

Uncle Halim bin Abdullah telah kembali kepada rahmatullah 6 bulan selepas mengucap syahadah. Semoga Allah tempatkan Uncle Halim di syurga firdaus.