Current Needs Vs Future Generations

Salam.... today (28/5/10) is a Wesak Day for Malaysia. Thus, it is a public holiday. It does not matter much to me whether it is a PH or not, only that I do not have to rush my little kids to their kindergarden. It means that I can spare more time 'doing my own things' especially on the blessed day, Friday. As for my two eldest daughters, life/school is normal for them since there is no such PH for their school especially if it is a 'non-islamic' related celebration.

Last night, my wife and I talked about our children's future. Future involves uncertainty. When there is uncertainty, we are a little bit worried of what is going to take place. There are so many IF that crossed our mind. Alhamdulillah, Islam teach us to prepare, work hard, doa and tawakkal to Allah in things like these. With the understanding in mind, I felt a little bit relief. Just hope and pray that Allah will give me/us a long healthy life so that I could see through my kids development.

My worries about our kids' future are worsen when I watched the TV3 Nightline at 12 midnight - especially when Datuk Idris Jala predicted that our nation may become the next Greece by 2019 if nothing is being done now. Thanks to him and his colleagues for the effort and revealation but really, we as a nation must do something for the sake of our future generation. What frustrate me was many people just know how to talk only but very minimal in action. There are too much 'politiking' in our societies and nation....

I always believe in preparation or in management it is called 'planning'. I would like to anticipate what is going to happen in the near future based on the current situation and the history. We can also learn from other developed country so that we should not repeat the same mistake and we follow (or improvised) the good practices. As for my children, I want them to succeed not only in this world but the world thereafter. As a Muslim, the second world (akhirat) is much much more important. Nevertheless, they need to be moderately prepared for the present needs (dunia) or else they cannot stand the pressure (of hardship, etc) before they can steadily migrate to the next life (akhirat).

Throughout my life, I recall so many good poem, advice, 'kata-kata hikmah', hadith, etc that can be used to make our journey more interesting and beneficial. Here, let me recall some of the words:

1) Jika tanam padi rumput akan tumbuh tapi jika tanam rumput padi tidak akan tumbuh.
2) Dunia ini penjara bagi orang mukmin.
3) Ilmu itu dibina di atas lautan kepenatan
4) Siapa yang tak rasa/lalui, tak akan rasa/faham
5) Dunia ini tempat berkebun, akhirat itu tempat menuai
6) Ibubapa itu cermin bagi anak-anak
7) Ilmu yang sedikit tapi diamalkan lebih baik dari ilmu yang banyak tapi ditinggalkan
8) Nasihat Habib Hassan - 3 perkara yang mesti diamalkan : Ikhlas dalam melakukan sesuatu perkara, bersangka baik dengan Allah dan manusia, istiqomah.
9) Bila dapat kemuliaan/kebaikan hendaklah SYUKUR, jika mendapat kedukaan/kebrukan hendaklah SABAR.
10) Sifat kelamkabut itu sifat neraka tetapi sifat tenang itu sifat syurga. (bersambung)