Recently I was informed by a friend about ‘Sajak Kematian’ and the issues that arises from it. Sajak Kematian is actually video of a pantomime act that try to depict alam barzakh or the life-after-death as generally understood by Muslims in particular during the questioning period right after a person is entombed in his grave.

I searched the internet about this issue and I found out that it was initially brought forth by TV3 Buletin Utama. The news reported about a protest made by some parents, who seem offended with the fact that their child was ‘forced’ to see the video by the school which they are attending. The parents state that the video is too horrific thus unsuitable for consumption of children.

At the time when pornography can be acquired easily. And when students regardless of age are reported to be addicted to porn. Parents seem to make loud protest against ‘Sajak Kematian’ instead of the porn issue. Thus voicing against religious-inclined subject rather than sheer immorality. Aren’t they a bit wayward and misguided in setting their priorities?

Out of curiosity I logged on to youtube and watch the video my self.

The video shows the situation of a dead person within the confine of his own grave. The body is coiled by a huge serpent and writhes in agony, punished for questions he unable to answer. For me, the video is indeed horrific. Horrific in the sense that it inculcates fear in my heart, so chilling that I fear for my own safety in the afterlife. Will I suffer the same fate or be free of it?

The question now is whether primary school children (age between 7-8 years old) should be ‘forced’ to watch such video?

Children during that age can be considered still as having clean souls and I am sure that all of them have not yet attained adulthood (baligh) by which they are still unable to determine good and wrong on their own unless rightly guided by adults.

At this stage, children should be inculcated with the good and rosy side of religion and faith. Stories of benevolence and practical aspects of the faith should be told. It is not wrong to expose them to the fearful reality of the afterlife but being children there is a high possibility that it be misunderstood, unless it can be thoroughly explained. I am of the opinion that the main aim in children religious education is to teach them religious obedience by promoting sincerity in faith rather than compelling them to abide the rules of religion by fear. Sincerity lasts throughout lifetime but fear ceases when the subject is forgotten. That is my liberalist view of course.

Upon further discussion with my best friend (my wife), I realized that in the Quran dwells two aspects that are ancaman and berita gembira. The concept of threat and good news form the base of the Quran. We are obliged to accept Islam thus the scripture as a whole and not to take one part and discard another as we see fit (Al-Baqarah: 208). And this applies to Muslim and Mukmin regardless of age. Children not excluded.

To some extent fear of should be introduced to children during their early years as during this period their brain is like a sponge and can absorbed everything, good or bad. Education coupled with their pristine heart makes it easy for them to develop future attitude. A good education will nurture goodness vice versa.

I marvel the fact children are more likely able to grasp knowledge and understanding about religion, God, dosa and pahala compared to adults. Perhaps their untainted mind facilitates that understanding. For instance, my wife’s niece, Qistina (6 years old) surprisingly has a good understanding of the basic concept of faith (Akidah). If she is warned with dosa (sin) for behaving badly she will retaliate by saying “Nana budak lagi. Takpe buat dosa. Tak masuk neraka”.  Yes, she knows how to twist things. And it shows that she understand the concept that for you will be accountable for the things that you have done. And that trait of accountability is somewhat scarce nowadays in both children and adults, especially adults (emphasis added).

To say that children will develop psychological illness after watching such video seems to be a bit overrated. I am sure that the ustaz or ustazah will discuss and elaborate the matter in the way that the children will be able to understand the subject matter. If the children still don’t understand they can always go back home to ask their parents. Parents are obliged to answer, to clarify… unless they themselves do not know how to answer.

All in all, there is nothing wrong to have the video ‘Sajak Kematian’ to be watched, either by children or adults. For children, they must be supervised when watching it. Instead, to adults, I recommend that this video as a must see. See it and ask yourself, “Am I afraid?” If you do then rejoice as at that moment you still have time to set things right, to taubat before all is over.

Click HERE for the news clip.

Click HERE for the Sajak Kematian Video.

Dah naik bulu ketiak ke telinga bila menonton Buletin Utama yang memang “Yang Terutama” dalam membodek, memfitnah, membohong dan lain-lain “mem” yang sama erti dengannya.

Merujuk entri aku yang terdahulu tentang TV3 (sila klik disini), memang aku kesal kerana mereka masih dengan “polisi dan pekeliling” kerja untuk mencari salah dan menghebahkan kapada rakyat cerita yang tak benar tentang negeri-negeri bawah kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat. Cerita tentang BN dan UMNO nampak seperti parti malaikat yang langsung tiada salahnya.

“UMNOlah yang membantu saya, terima kasih kerajaan…“, kata mereka. Tapi kata aku, “Ptuiii… langsung tak adil. Makan haram kalau aku kerja di TV3!“.

Tengok sahaja masa Protes Sejuta Rakyat apabila sebuah band rock yang “terlanjur” perbuatan mereka, maka TV3 mengutuk dengan temu-ramahnya yang berat sebelah, semuanya dituding jari kepada Pakatan Rakyat. Ya!, memang salah penganjur. Dan mereka meminta maaf, malah dikritik oleh geng Pakatan Rakyat sendiri seperti PAS dan sebahagian orang PKR. Bukan macam BN atau UMNO, bila ada yang berlaku seperti kes ini, maka alasan yang diberi adalah – “kita akan buat siasatan lanjut“. Alih-alih tak dengar pun cerita. TV3 senyap. Simpan kebenaran.

Cerita terbaru adalah pasal cerita fitnah mengenai Menteri Besar Kedah pada Buletin Utama, 10 Julai 2008. Kononnya menuduh MB Kedah itu mengamalkan perbelanjaan yang mewah dan membazir dalam pengurusan dalam pentadbiran Negeri Kedah. Bukti yang kononnya disabitkan ialah apabila MB Kedah dilihat menaiki pesawat khas dalam satu penerbangan.

Tapi cerita dari Bernama pula berbeza apabila cerita penerbangan tersebut adalah sebuah penerbangan rombongan di-Raja Kedah untuk berlepas ke Brunei bagi mengundang Sultan Brunei hadir di sambutan Jubli Emas Sultan Kedah.

Apa punyai “tahi” berita dari TV3. Jelas-jelas memperbodohkan penonton. Lebih teruk dari berita dari RTM. Lebih hangit daripada biasa. Macam itupun nak buat cerita. Tak kaji ke?, atau memang orang TV3 ni tak tahu nak mencari berita. Keji, hina, haram, fitnah, kotor, najis, penipu dan yang buruk-buruk letak ketepi, janji cerita itu gempak dan meletup. Itulah TV3!.

Pada April 9, Buletin Utama TV3 telah memaparkan interview khas dengan ibu Sufiah Yusof, Halimahton yang kini menetap di United Kingdom anak-anaknya yang lain. Kepada mereka yang terlepas menonton berita pada hari tue, here’s a recap of it.

After seeing the video, what I can say is that even though Pn. Halimahton looked very composed, deep inside her heart, she must be missing her daughter very much and hoping that dia akan pulang ke pangkal jalan. I just read the Yusof Family Official Blog and realized that the media has been really manipulating the story of Sufiah terutamanya in her younger years, about her dad, about her education and her early life. Go read about it yourself and you’ll learn that it is really nothing to the extend mentioned in the media. Just click on the link above.

Anyway…I decided to dedicate this lovely poem to Pn. Halimahton which I feel is longing for her daughter to contact her.

A MOTHER’S LOVE

A Mother’s love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

My mum says she knows Pn. Halimahton as she too was from Muar. According to her, they studied together. Since next month is mother’s day on the 11th, mummy….the poem is of course also dedicated to you for your never ending love, care and support.

3rd Feb at Pavilion KL – besh2! hujan perform tu.. dtg awal sket. so adala event (contest, sort of..).. mcm2 ada. me also dpt hamper converse and CDs. jeles? haha.. time dia random panggil org tu, aku pon tampil la ke depan. saper x mau hamper converse kn? and then syaratnya nyanyi lagu feveret band.. aku bantai pagi yang gelap dpn2 crowd tu. even lirik silap, x sgka drg sumer excited dgr aku nyanyi.. ngeh3!

antara yg perform ari tu, najwa and reza salleh.. 3rd barula hujan. paling depan siot akuuu.. below ni aku ada record video hujan using N93i (adik aku nyer)..

aku scandal..

kuala lumpur..

ahmoi chantek..

lonely soldier boy..

pagi yang gelap and empayarmu..