[Lessons from BMT for the Muslims]
Having to recourse my BMT sure made me reminisce some interesting moments in BMT. One interesting moment (or perhaps moments) which I find memorable is PT, whereby the Fitness Instructor (FI) or the conducting sergeant would command,
FI: "Form 15 rows in front of me, MOVE!"
Trainees: MOVE!
FI: (Pointing to one row) "Reference Row, Reference Row Ready!"
Trainees (from Reference Row): READY! (while raising their right hands high)
FI: Class Ready!
Trainees: READY!
FI: Class Move Out! (I prefer my FI who'd say, "SPREAD!")
Trainees: SPREAD!
Lesson #1: Importance of 1 Commander/Leader and 1 Reference Row
Now, those who went throught NS, particularly BMT would understand this importance. Discipline, coordination, orderly, and keeping in line with one another, regardless of how far one has spread out. Obeying the commander/leader, with reference to the Reference Row.
Having to recourse my BMT sure made me reminisce some interesting moments in BMT. One interesting moment (or perhaps moments) which I find memorable is PT, whereby the Fitness Instructor (FI) or the conducting sergeant would command,
FI: "Form 15 rows in front of me, MOVE!"
Trainees: MOVE!
FI: (Pointing to one row) "Reference Row, Reference Row Ready!"
Trainees (from Reference Row): READY! (while raising their right hands high)
FI: Class Ready!
Trainees: READY!
FI: Class Move Out! (I prefer my FI who'd say, "SPREAD!")
Trainees: SPREAD!
Lesson #1: Importance of 1 Commander/Leader and 1 Reference Row
Now, those who went throught NS, particularly BMT would understand this importance. Discipline, coordination, orderly, and keeping in line with one another, regardless of how far one has spread out. Obeying the commander/leader, with reference to the Reference Row.
So how is this important and relevant for us Muslims?
The Prophet sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is definitely our leader, our imam, no doubt.
But who is our "Reference Row"?
Allah says in the Qur-aan:
"And the first to embrace Isl�m of the Muh�jir�n (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ans�r (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muh�jir�n) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). All�h is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success." (At-Tawbah 9:100)
Yes, the Sahaabah (Companions of the Prophet) ridwaanullaahi 'alayhim are our "Reference Row".
Allah also says in the Qur-aan:
"You [true believers in Isl�mic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'r�f (i.e. Isl�mic Monotheism and all that Isl�m has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Isl�m has forbidden), and you believe in All�h." (Aali Imran 3:110)
This verse is usually understood to be referring to us Muslims. However, it is specifically referring to the Sahaabah ridwaanullaahi 'alayhim because this verse was revealed to them, during their lifetime.
The hadeeth of Iftiraaq mentions of the splitting of the Muslims into 73 sects, 72 will be in Hellfire and only 1 will be in Jannah (Paradise), and it is "Al-Jamaa'ah". [Reported by Aboo Dawood, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad and others.] In one narration, the Prophet says, "that is, what my Companions and I are upon."
The hadeeth of al-Irbaad bin Sareeyah (hadeeth no. 28 in An-Nawaawee's 40 Hadeeths), in which the Prophet sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Adhere to my Sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly-guided Caliphs (Khulafaa'), and bite onto it (hold firmly onto it) with your jaws." [Reported by Aboo Dawood and At-Tirmidhee]
Hence, no matter how far out we've "moved" or "spread" from the times of the Sahaabah (in terms of years), as long as we make them our "Reference Row", we can be sure that we are in line with the teachings of the Prophet.
Lesson #2: Clean Reputation
Now, this lesson has nothing to do with the first one. However, I find it meaningful, and I thank Allah for the enlightenment.
Guys who've been through NS, remember those times of Area Cleaning? Remember how those windows get dirty easily, and it is especially irritating when bird faeces get on them? Don't you just feel like shooting down the birds?
But how do you know which bird left the faeces on your windows? Could it be the pigeons? It could have also been the crows. It could even be those cute little green birds or mynahs that we adore, that come occasionally.
So, would it be right to eliminate the pigeons for their "wrongdoing" when it could have been other birds?
You see, our name or reputation is like a clean window. Every now and then, some birds will come to dirty it. It does not matter which bird dirties it, what matters is to keep the window clean.
And.. if we truly maintain our good name and reputation, someone else might be cleaning the window for us out of appreciation, respect or gratitude for us.
Similarly for us Muslims. Islam is like a clean window. Every now and then, terrorists and their evil acts tarnish it. Disregard those conspiracy theories that it could have been the work of the Jews or others. As long as it is done in the name of Islam, it is our duty and responsibility as Muslims to keep the window clean.
And at times, we get non-Muslims to clean it for us. Like Karen Armstrong, who defended the purity of Islam from the dirty acts of the terrorists. She also defended Wahhabism/Salafiyyah from the misconceptions and accusations that it breeds terrorism (refer to The Wahhabi Myth).
The same goes to SM Goh Chok Tong, whom after his first visit to Saudi Arabia, said that it is wrong to jump onto the conclusion that Saudi Arabia breeds terrorism.
Wallaahu a'lam.
Allah says in the Qur-aan:
"And the first to embrace Isl�m of the Muh�jir�n (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ans�r (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muh�jir�n) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). All�h is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success." (At-Tawbah 9:100)
Yes, the Sahaabah (Companions of the Prophet) ridwaanullaahi 'alayhim are our "Reference Row".
Allah also says in the Qur-aan:
"You [true believers in Isl�mic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'r�f (i.e. Isl�mic Monotheism and all that Isl�m has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Isl�m has forbidden), and you believe in All�h." (Aali Imran 3:110)
This verse is usually understood to be referring to us Muslims. However, it is specifically referring to the Sahaabah ridwaanullaahi 'alayhim because this verse was revealed to them, during their lifetime.
The hadeeth of Iftiraaq mentions of the splitting of the Muslims into 73 sects, 72 will be in Hellfire and only 1 will be in Jannah (Paradise), and it is "Al-Jamaa'ah". [Reported by Aboo Dawood, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad and others.] In one narration, the Prophet says, "that is, what my Companions and I are upon."
The hadeeth of al-Irbaad bin Sareeyah (hadeeth no. 28 in An-Nawaawee's 40 Hadeeths), in which the Prophet sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Adhere to my Sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly-guided Caliphs (Khulafaa'), and bite onto it (hold firmly onto it) with your jaws." [Reported by Aboo Dawood and At-Tirmidhee]
Hence, no matter how far out we've "moved" or "spread" from the times of the Sahaabah (in terms of years), as long as we make them our "Reference Row", we can be sure that we are in line with the teachings of the Prophet.
Lesson #2: Clean Reputation
Now, this lesson has nothing to do with the first one. However, I find it meaningful, and I thank Allah for the enlightenment.
Guys who've been through NS, remember those times of Area Cleaning? Remember how those windows get dirty easily, and it is especially irritating when bird faeces get on them? Don't you just feel like shooting down the birds?
But how do you know which bird left the faeces on your windows? Could it be the pigeons? It could have also been the crows. It could even be those cute little green birds or mynahs that we adore, that come occasionally.
So, would it be right to eliminate the pigeons for their "wrongdoing" when it could have been other birds?
You see, our name or reputation is like a clean window. Every now and then, some birds will come to dirty it. It does not matter which bird dirties it, what matters is to keep the window clean.
And.. if we truly maintain our good name and reputation, someone else might be cleaning the window for us out of appreciation, respect or gratitude for us.
Similarly for us Muslims. Islam is like a clean window. Every now and then, terrorists and their evil acts tarnish it. Disregard those conspiracy theories that it could have been the work of the Jews or others. As long as it is done in the name of Islam, it is our duty and responsibility as Muslims to keep the window clean.
And at times, we get non-Muslims to clean it for us. Like Karen Armstrong, who defended the purity of Islam from the dirty acts of the terrorists. She also defended Wahhabism/Salafiyyah from the misconceptions and accusations that it breeds terrorism (refer to The Wahhabi Myth).
The same goes to SM Goh Chok Tong, whom after his first visit to Saudi Arabia, said that it is wrong to jump onto the conclusion that Saudi Arabia breeds terrorism.
Wallaahu a'lam.
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