ID :
339492
Sat, 08/30/2014 - 06:31
Auther :

From Architecture To The Hadith

From Hafizah Kamaruddin MADINAH, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- For Abdul Fattah Abdul Rahman, 25, changing courses from architecture studies at the International Islamic University in (UIAM) to Hadith studies at the Madinah University was an unexpected decision. The Selangor-born student made the decision when on a trip with his family to perform the umrah in Madinah and Makkah in 2008, he was given the opportunity to sit for a student-intake interview at the Madinah University. Despite the fact that he had no experience studying in a religious school in Malaysia, a year later he was offered a place at the Madinah University to study the hadith, he told Malaysian journalists when met as a mutawwif (guide) for Tabung Haji pilgrims visiting historical places, here on Friday. Tabung Haji is the Malaysian haj pilgrims fund board. Abdul Fattah said since he had no background in religious education, he had to sit for an Arabic language class for two years at the university' language centre before pursuing his studies in hadith. He said he liked studying here because of the calm and Islamic atmosphere, and hoped to continue his studies to a higher level to attain his ambition of becoming on authority on the hadith, something he said was lacking in Malaysia. Abdul Fattah said although Malaysia was known as a progressive Muslim country with capable religious experts, they were not good in communicating in English, resulting in them not being internationally recognised. He said this gap should be filled by young Malaysian Muslims who could speak English and pursued their studies in religion. He added that although some people felt that religious studies did not have a bright future in Malaysia, there were many opportunities for those with such qualifications, especially if they were conversant in English. "Not just as university lecturers within the country and overseas but also as professionals in other areas such as Islamic banking," he said. On being a mutawwif for the last four years, including for VIPs, Abdul Fattah said the Malaysian Students Association (Persada) would identify the Malaysian students who were interested in becoming a mutawwif. Those who were selected would be taught the best way to provide information on a historical place here based on credible information and not fiction. "We have to be honest in giving the information and we are often given briefings by the masters and doctorate students on the best way to provide that information," he said. He said during the haj season this year, 30 students of the Madinah University were acting as mutawwif for the pilgrims, and their duties had been fixed by Persada so as not to disrupt their studies. In the case of Ahmad Fitri Abdul Razak, 21, who was acting as a mutawwif for the first time, it was exciting acting as a guide giving information to Malaysian pilgrims. A student of Usuluddin at the Madinah University, this was the first time the Terengganu-born Ahmad Fitri was acting as a mutawwif for haj pilgrims although he had been one for umrah pilgrims since early this year. Terengganu is the state on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. He said only haj pilgrims from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Pakistan visited the historical sites during the haj season. Meanwhile, Khairiyah Mohd Sultan, 48, said she was affected by the information provided by the mutawwif as it gave her a clear depiction of life during the time of Prophet Mohamad. She said visiting the historical places gave the pilgrims a better idea of life then compared to those who had only read history books. "We can see how difficult it was for the Prophet Muhammad to spread Islam," she said, crying. Meanwhile, Rohaniah Saribini, 57, who had waited since 2007 to perform the haj, said the visits to the historical places made her understand the struggles of Prophet Muhammad and his comrades in fighting for Islam. "Seeing, listening and feeling the atmosphere in Madinah has a deep impact," she said. --BERNAMA

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