It's up to God

Seeking the Rida of Allah

A cup of warm coffee, accompanied Ammar this morning. After several years of an artist's career, Ammar reflected on all of his brother's advice. He began to think, maybe this is the time to leave the work that had been cultivated and serve in the boarding school that was established by his ashes, namely Pondok Pesantren Al-Fathonah, according to his request.

A conversation between Ammar and Lutfi.

"Generic. Your brother has entered the age of twilight, abi wants you to continue this boarding school. You can, right?" lutfi Pinta.

"Abi ...! I do not want to obey Abi's request, but Abi knows for myself, I have always preferred the field of art, especially painting," replied Ammar.

"Abi doesn't know when death picks up. Abi also often said to you, about the hadith that explains about a painting or law displaying images of animate beings," said Abu Lutfi.

Ammar recalled the hadiths his ashes had once described with great contemplation.

In the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas radhiallahu’anhuma, he said: I heard the Prophet Shallallahu’alaihi Wasallam said, “Whoever in the world has ever drawn a picture (lived), , he will be required to blow the soul on the image on the day of the apocalypse, and he will not be able to do it.” (Bukhari and Muslim History)

Then another hadith from Rasulullah shallallahu ’alaihi wasallam, which is still in the narration of Bukhari and Muslim that he said,

“All the artisans (living beings) in hell, every picture he makes will be given a soul and will punish him in Hell.”

So the conclusion of the two hadiths above is that we should not draw anything that has an absolute spirit. As for images that do not have a spirit; such as trees, seas, mountains, and others, it is permissible to draw, as Ibn Abbas radhiallahu’anhuma said.

Then, Ammar saw the paintings in the room and remembered that many photos were displayed in his house. Ammar continued to ponder the hadith that had been conveyed by his brother about the ban on displaying photographs and paintings.

There are many hadiths that explain the prohibition of displaying animate images at home. As the Prophet of Allah salallahu 'alaihi wasallam said in the hadiths of Bukhari and Muslim history.

"Angels will not enter a house with a picture of a living creature in it."

From Jabir's friend radhiyallahu'anhu also explained in Tirmidhi's hadith that the Prophet forbade the existence of images in the house and he forbade to make pictures.

The Muslim chronicles say that from Ali ibn Abi Thalib radhiyallahu anhu, Prophet Muhammad salallahu' alaihi wasallam said, "Do not let any image, unless you remove it and neither does the exalted grave, unless you flatten it."

Hadith of Ibn Abbas radhiyallahu 'anhuma, he said, "That when the Prophet saw the picture in the (wall) of the Kaaba, he did not enter it and he ordered that all the pictures be removed. He saw the image of the Prophet Abraham and Ishmael' alaihimas greeting the arrow (to vote for fate), so he said, "May Allah destroy them, by Allah, they have never cast a vote of fate with an arrow." (SR.Ahmad)

Hadith of Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu, he said, "Jibril 'alaihis salam asks permission to the Prophet then the Prophet said, "Come in." Then Jibril answered, "How will I enter while in your house there is a curtain. You better remove the heads or you make them as Lazy used to lie down, because we angels do not enter the house in which there are pictures." (CHR. An-Nasai)

However, because his ambition with the world of painting is quite large, Ammar still kekeh want to realize his dream.

"But, Bi. My dream of becoming an artist is huge! My ability, it's in painting. I'm just asking for Abi's blessing and blessing, really!" abugn.

"Bi don't mean you can understand it now, but as your parents, abi can only advise and pray for the best" Lutfi said by showing a brochure to his second son.

"This is what, Abi?" ask Ammar who hasn't read the brochure. Now the brochure is in his hands.

Ammar began to read the brochure his brother had given him.

"Don't want me to go to college here? For what, Bi? I've made my own plans for my future" Ammar said with a slight annoyance. There was a rumble in his chest. There is a war within him, especially his heart and mind. On the one hand, Ammar wants to realize his dream. But on the other hand, Ammar did not want to fight his brother; fearing that God was angry. Because he does not want to be called an ungodly child because he does not obey his parents. Moreover, he knows, the intention of his ashes is very good because it is about science fiction.

"You think well, yes. Abi believes, someday, God will certainly soften your heart to be able to accept the reality that must be lived. The world is temporary, son. Just a stopping place. The afterlife is the real place to live" Lutfi said, closing the conversation that night.

Ammar becomes a dilemma, what to do? He also prayed istikharah to ask God for guidance about his life choices.

Istikharah Salat is a sunnah prayer that is done to ask for guidance to Allah by those who are among several options and feel hesitant to choose or when will decide something to eliminate anxiety, until the heart becomes steady and there is no disappointment in the future.

The conditions for choosing the right and best, indeed often put us into anxiety. If all choices feel equally good, so we are very confused to decide, then the prayer is the most appropriate answer in this condition.

In the context of worship, Istikharah is a sunnah prayer that is done 2 rakaat or 12 rakaat (6x salam) to ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala when faced with a number of options—can be two or several options—agar Allah gives instructions to choose the right and best.

As the Prophet of Allah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said in the narration of Al-Bukhari.

“If one of you intends in an affair, then do the prayer of two rakaat which is not obligatory prayer, then pray."

While still pondering the advice of his ashes, suddenly Ammar was surprised by the voice of Nadira who while waving his hands because Ammar was seen daydreaming.

"Generic. You daydreaming?" ask Nadira.

"Yes. How's it? What were we talking about?" ask Ammar who became dazed. Because before daydreaming, Ammar was talking to Nadira about Ali; his brother Ammar. Nadira accidentally met Ali somewhere and Ali also saw Nadira, then approached his sister-in-law. Ali tries to provoke Nadira into leaving Ammar; Ali still feels hurt by Ammar's ummah who suddenly enters into his life. More precisely, it has not been able to accept new people and is afraid that the general position will be replaced, even though he has died.

"Are you all right, are you? Is there a problem or something else you want to tell me?" nadira asked, holding Ammar's hand.

"I again thought of abi's advice about my work" replied Ammar listlessly.

"Emm, can I give you a little message?" nadira asked carefully, asking for permission to respond to the silence from her husband.

Ammar nodded, then sipped back the coffee that was no longer warm because it was left behind by his daydream a few minutes ago.

"As a wife, I can only support your decision and pray for the best. However, if I may suggest, it's good that you follow what Abi said. If you say the same to me, we in this world are sought after is a rida from God, not too ambition with a desire that might even backfire for life after death. I, too, am a Muslim, still learning a lot about jurisprudence, monotheism, and others. Hopefully we can continue to be better and better to be safe in the world and the hereafter," said Nadira, speaking carefully so as not to be impressed patronizing her husband. Because after all, her husband was her priest. The captain in a family.

"You also used to be in a dilemma to choose which college, university you choose or choice. Finally you chose the university of abi choice after the salat istikharah, right? So now you ask God for guidance and ask for forgiveness. I believe you will choose the best path in your life, according to Islamic law," Nadira added, smiling.

This morning, it became a reflection for Ammar and Nadira who are still learning to be the best creature of God.

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