e-Portfolio of SEM 3

Assalamualaikum, hello guys, today I would like to share about the usrah session held in this third semester, last semester for my foundation. For our usrah group, we were led by a Naqibah named Aqilla Hanim who was a knowledgeable and friendly friend. 

FIRST MEETING

Without wasting time, I would like to tell you a little bit about what I got in our first usrah meeting. Our usrah is held online as most of our group members are not on campus. Before we held the usrah for the first time, Aqilla prepared a form for us to fill out to facilitate the introduction session. For the first session, we were called to introduce ourselves, but we did not get to know all the members of the group members as we don’t have enough time, but Insha Allah we will definitely meet again in the future. After the ice breaking session, Aqilla presented us with a slide on acquisition of wisdom from worship. The point I got through this discussion is first, we must be setting the right niyyah (intention) in doing something, besides that, we also need to apply the right amal which is practices that are pleasing to Allah SWT and lastly, we must internalize ihsan which is positive virtual because Allah SWT loves people who do good deeds. After that, we were given a briefing on our usrah assessment for this semester.

SECOND MEETING

For the second meeting, we were presented with topics related to wisdom from worship. This time, Aqilla opened the opportunity for us to speak by opening the opportunity for us to read the verses of the Quran related to the point presented. The point that I found through the usrah meeting this time, first relates to the wisdom from salah worship which doing the right salah can forbid us from indecency and evil. In addition, Sawn, fasting in the month of Ramadan also benefits us where fasting refrains from hunger and thirst and refrains from committing evil that teaches us patience and piety to Allah SWT by doing deeds that please Allah SWT. In addition, Zakat can also teach us to be grateful for the blessings that Allah has given us in addition to training ourselves to be a generous person to others. Finally, the Hajj worship teaches us a lot to be patient by training ourselves to avoid doing things that Allah SWT is angry with and increase the number of acts of worship to Allah SWT. This can bring one closer to Allah SWT which leads to peace in the soul.

THIRD MEETING

For the third meeting, we were instructed to talk about the assigned group members to discuss our respective titles and assignments for the role play assignment using posters. Our group took the topic of preparation for salah, and I was tasked to find a point about the condition for acceptance of salah. The following is a poster we prepared:

FOURTH MEETING

For the fourth meeting, we were exposed a bit to an interesting topic related to sihir and santau. Aqilla shared about the practice practiced when affected by santau/sihir by Ustaz Kassim Elias who is a victim who was affected by santau by others. The following are some of the surahs that he practiced:

1) Surah Taubah verse 51

2) Surah Hud verses 6 & 56

3) Surah Yunus verse 107

4) Surah al-Ankabut verse 60

5) Surah Faatir verse 2

6) Surah Az-Zumar verse 38

For daily practice, we can practice a simpler practice by reading:

1) al-Fatihah 7 times

2) Surah Hud verse 56

3) Surah Taubah verses 128 to 129

Apart from that, Allayarham Ustaz Harun Din also encouraged us to practice the following practices:

1) Ayat Baqarah 1-5

2) Ayat Kursi

3) The last 3 verses of Baqarah (verses 284-286)

Technically, this practice is the ma'surat readings that can protect us from evil. Apart from that, Aqilla also shared with us about the devil where they are divided into two, who are around and who are in our blood. We are encouraged to read the Quran in all places in our homes, including in the kitchen. In addition, we are also advised to recite al-Fatihah, Surah an-Nas, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and al-Khaafirun along with the ayat kursi and apply it all over the body.

FIFTH AND SIXTH MEETING

For fifth and sixth meetings, we had to postpone our meetings because many members of our group were unable to attend due to tests.

SEVENTH MEETING

For the seventh meeting, we were shared with three videos related to sin and prayer where through this video I got a little reminder about sin. If we commit many sins, we must ask for forgiveness from Allah SWT even though the sins are so many that we feel frustrated with ourselves. We should not give up asking Allah SWT for forgiveness because Allah SWT is all-Forgiving. Allah SWT is close to us when we are close to Allah SWT and Allah SWT will answer our prayers if we do what Allah SWT likes. We also need to be earnest and confident when praying to Allah SWT. After we finished watching the three videos, we were instructed to complete the assessment given to us, namely the e-portfolio.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, although the usrah for this semester is very short, but I got a lot of info and lessons through this usrah. There are many feelings I would like to express but I can only express that I am very happy to meet my groupmates who are very friendly and very responsive aside from the fact that we are students of different courses. I will never forget all the hardships and joys we felt together during this semester. I really hope that usrah like this is continued to give me the opportunity to get to know friends face to face who can further strengthen our relationship. Through this usrah, I also got many lessons such as always keeping my heart and myself from evil so that it can make it easier for us to seek the knowledge of Allah SWT which creates a desire in me to always change for the better and not give up. That's all, thank you for reading. Have a nice day, everyone !!

e-Portfolio of Sem 2

Assalamualaikum warahmatuallahi wabarakatuh, today I would like to share about my experience and knowledge about usrah for sem 2 session 2021, namely usrah 51 and 52. My usrah, usrah 51 combined with usrah 52 makes our group members at least 40 students in our usrah. Our usrah is led by madam Asmiza Binti Shamshi or we called her as madam Mimi. The usrah session should actually be made as soon as we enter this 2nd semester but had to be postponed first.

FIRST MEETING

 So, at our first usrah meeting, madam mimi suggested us to do ice breaking to get to know more about other friends considering we each have different course. Based on my experience, I found madam is a person who really understands the situation of her students and really likes to chat and share her experiences with students. Madam is also good at capturing the hearts of her students by being loving to her students. In this meeting I also found many of my friends who are very committed in giving a very good response to the question of madam.

SECOND MEETING

 For the second meeting, we were exposed to the topic of kindness, sincerity and manners which we all know these things but we still forget about these things that cause us to easily neglect the things of the world. We should be sincere in doing all things because of Allah SWT so that our hearts are always in a state that always remembers Allah SWT this makes us far from evil, be kind to all creatures of Allah. We are also reminded not to be arrogant in helping others because if we always help others, Allah will surely help us. Every thing we do every day must have the right manners where this manners have been taught by the Qur'an and Sunnah so that people always tolerant of others in addition to doing work for yourself.

THIRD MEETING

For the third week meeting, many of our friends who could not attend usrah because there was a physic test during usrah caused us to have to use the whatsapps platform as a platform to communicate so that people who could not attend could still read the info given in usrah. I think if we use the whatsapp platform as our meeting place it becomes a bit boring, but in fact this method is more popular than students, especially students who are quite shy to speak, but at this time we can express our opinions more easily and clearly. Many students gave a response to the discussion of the topic this time which is arkanul iman specific to believe in Allah SWT, angels and al-quran. Through usrah this time, I can input on why people still commit sins even though they believe in the presence of god and angels. Humans are always being forgetful and should be reminded at all times of the basic things such as the pillars of faith and the pillars of Islam, therefore we need to keep listening to religious knowledge even though we have known about it so that we are always aware of the presence of Allah and the angels who are always watching us. This can keep us from committing destructive vices such as stealing, supposedly we remember if others do not See us commit the sin, it does not matter, we need to remember that Allah always sees us and knows every thing from the smallest things because god is omnipotent knowing all things and omnipotent. We also need to constantly read the Qur'an and translations to increase our knowledge of religion, in addition to giving warnings and lessons to us to always do the commandments of Allah and stay away from the prohibitions.

 FOURTH MEETING

For the fourth week of the meeting, we discussed the topic of believing in the prophets, the Day of Judgment and qada and qadar where I got a lot of knowledge about the prophet that Allah sent the Injil to him that is, the Prophet Isa. I also have a question about the Prophet Isa should we equate the Prophet Isa with Jesus who is considered by Christians to be a god? From usrah this time, I find many opinions on this matter, some agree and some do not, but some agree that what he named is different in each religion and interpreted in different ways. Madam also said that the same person but for Muslims we call the prophet Isa which is the better one. I believe that everything is in fact Allah has arranged for us what is best for us. Therefore, we should not stop praying to Allah because Allah loves His servants who like to ask for help from him. We also need to always think well of Allah's plan that Allah has arranged for the best for us. We also need to always believe in the Day of Judgment where doomsday will definitely happen. Only we do not know when the date, the time of the Judgement Day will occur which makes us always continue to do good and follow the command of Allah.

 FIFTH MEETING

For this fifth usrah meeting, we held a usrah at noon where the topic this time was related to courtesy and eschatology. Ihsan means we perform worship as if Allah sees us which this matter creates sincerity in ourselves when worshiping Allah and does not arise a sense of ripples When performing worship to Allah in addition to avoiding ourselves from doing things that Allah does not like. While eschatology is meant by the signs of the Judgement Day that are getting closer to us as humans begin to develop tall buildings, children begin to disobey their parents and people commit many sins such as throwing away babies. Through this discussion, I was able to remind myself of the nearness of the Day of Judgment which evokes a sense of self-realization.

 SIXTH MEETING

For the sixth meeting, we discussed manners with neighbours, parents and manners When seeking knowledge. Through this usrah, I get a lot of info and reminders about manners with parents where we need to always do parental instructions as long as it does not violate Islamic Shariah and treat parents with good treatment. We are also advised to always pray for the best for our parents and cherish them while they are still alive. Madam also told about the story of madam, where this story gave me a lot of awareness to always prioritize parents over personal needs, where for a while madam wanted to buy something for madam's mother and at that time, Allah helped madam which is greater than madam do to her mother. In addition, we are also advised to be civilized with neighbours, for example if we have cooked extra foods, we are encouraged to share with neighbours to strengthen human relationships. We are also required to be civilized when seeking knowledge where we are required to always sincerely study simply because of God so that our knowledge is always a blessing and not rippling with the knowledge we have and diligently teach others about the knowledge we get. We should also read the study prayer before starting learning so that we can remember and use that knowledge for good things.

 SEVENTH MEETING

 For our seventh meeting, we discussed about manners with the current environment through usrah this time, I can remind myself to always take care of the environment and our ecosystem as mentioned by the Prophet in the hadith which the Prophet stressed to us to always maintain the cleanliness of the environment unlike feces in shady places. Madam also advised us to always maintain the cleanliness of public toilets that will be used by others. During our usrah, there was a friend of mine who expressed her feelings of unbearable loneliness that sounded disappointed with herself. Through this activity, I was impressed with my wife and friends who never stopped giving words of encouragement to my friend. At this time there was also a friend of mine who asked a question about the state of her family at home which at this time made me realize that there are many people who are more difficult for those related to my current situation that I feel grateful for what I have now. Madam also gives a lot of advice to my friends which makes me think that madam is very good at giving words of encouragement and advice to students and do the best to understand the students. Madam also told about the story of her friend who made my heart very sad to hear it. I also found that madam sounded very sad when she told us about her friend’s story.

 ROLE PLAY ASSIGNMENT

For our assignment group role play, we are the first group and we choose to make posters and slides. We divided the task equally where 2 people made posters, 2 people made slides and 3 people presented them as we have a large group of members which is 7 people. We agree to divide the task by drawing using the wheel on google so that it is fair. I was assigned to prepare the poster as below. It took me three days to complete it as I was not good at producing posters. I was able to complete the poster with the help of my friend, Nik Umairah who was also assigned to complete the poster. I also feel very happy to finish up my assignment!!!

 

                                       THE POSTER THAT MY FRIEND HAS MADE. So beautiful!!

                               THE POSTER FOR ROLE PLAY THAT I HAVE MADE

CONCLUSION

Through this usrah, I can feel the bitter sweetness with my friends and madam Mimi who made me determined to transform myself into a human being who is useful to others and change for the better than now while trying to get Allah's blessings. I also hope I can feel again the pleasure I felt during this usrah and do not forget the purpose of my life which is to worship Allah. I also find that this life is like a wheel, there is part of the sadness and happiness, yet we should always be grateful for the trials and tribulations that Allah has given because it is the best thing for us to grow up to be a good believers.