Village of Two Religions

I was born in a village that has two religions, namely Islam and Christianity. My village is harmonious and peaceful, unlike what comes to mind most of you are "split". Tolerance is ingrained in my village. How neat is tolerance when the two religions celebrate the feast day, how when one of the residents is hit by a disaster, someone dies, a marriage or other events. 

You can imagine how sharp the differences in each area of ​​life, the style of thought, and the religious rituals that are indeed very different, but that difference is still one goal, namely "truth". Never imposing the will and understanding each other is the main thing why my village is still peaceful going hand in hand.

I am grateful to be born in a village with the background of two religions, different from other villages and I really love this homeland. My village teaches how we must be human beings who are good at carrying out self and tolerance is the main capital for the creation of the word "harmonious".

As far as any of these feet go, it feels like it's always longing to go home every time. I feel that I am the luckiest person raised with a provision of tolerance that is no less than an experience that others might not have. Learning to be a human who always loves the land of birth and love of the motherland, as exemplified by our example (Muslims) Rasulullah Muhammad SAW namely namely, "love Makkah as a place of birth and love Medina as a place of preaching". 

By: Ragil Mahaweni S.P.-Islamic Religious Education-Institute of Islamic Boarding Schools KH. Abdul Chalim, Pacet, Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia

The Story of Rain

Rainy surly, his fall was judged blindly. For arid it is called grace, but ice traders hurry to swear because hot is always a mainstay. Poetry flies and the poet goes berserk because the script is wet. rain is unbelievable! But the rain was confused because he was told by God. So who's the best? didn't he come down to save the well shattering and wet someone who was missing his lover? Ice traders and poets did not want to know, he was getting clogged with rain. The importance of rain is water. Who is willing to be banished from heaven? Once again, ice traders need clear skies, even though big stars are enjoying themselves on leave. He flirted quietly with the moon, then the eclipse was born from the fruit of their love.

Written by : Evhie Gothik

Intoxicating Togetherness

Later we are alone, Mas, hearing the sound of birds, rolling green grass, discussing each other, splashing water on the river, seeing stars covered with stars, we change the constellations that already exist with our names. Later we are alone, Mas, past the sandy road, running around and betting on who gets to nearer first, then run away with lightning, I'm slowing down. Then punish the losers who bet on your most shady eyes. We wait for the dusk to blaze with waiting for the coffee cup. Later we are alone, Mas, talking about our rotten whispers. Laughter over our jokes is the most addictive.


Written by : Evhie Gothik

What is Rafflesia?

Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. He was found in the Indonesian rainforest by an Indonesian guide who worked for Dr. Joseph Arnold in 1818, and was named after the name Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, expedition leader on a journey to explore Sumatra. One of the famous types of Rafflesia is Rafflesia Patma and Rafflesia Arnoldii which are taken from the name Dr. Joseph Arnold discovered the flower on a trip with Raffles. Both are recognized as Indonesia's endemic flora. It's so special, many researchers and tourists who are fans of flora who came to Indonesia to find this flower. The first type to be discovered is the Rafflesia patma, discovered by French naturalist Auguste Deschamps in 1797. Besides endemic, this flower has five features that are of concern to foreign tourists and researchers.

1. Unique shape 
2. Difficult to breed
3. Does not grow anywhere
4. Invite insects with a bad smell 
5. Still a mystery to world researchers

Research on rafflesia has been carried out since 1857. Dutch-era researchers tried to make rafflesia flowers can live outside their habitat. Rafflesia flower had bloomed in 1929, returned to bloom outside its habitat 81 years later in the Bogor Botanical Garden in July 2010. Many of its biological aspects are still a mystery so scarcity is still attached to this plant.

This rafflesia flower was first discovered in Bengkulu tropical forests, precisely on the Manna river, Lubuk Tapi, South Bengkulu. The discovery of this giant flower was first known to occur in 1818. Rafflesia Arnoldii was made into one of the 3 Indonesian National flowers (the other two were Moon Orchids and White Jasmine flowers). Because it was found in Bengkulu, Bengkulu was also known as The Land of Rafflesia.

An arnoldii rafflesia flower can grow to reach a diameter of 1 meter. But there are also those that reach a diameter of 1.05 meters, namely the flower rafflesia arnoldii found in Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra. No wonder the flower is called a giant flower. Because in addition to its large shape, its weight can also reach 11 kg. The Rafflesia Arnoldii flower buds are also very large. With the shape of a cabbage plant, these flower buds can reach 30-43 cm in diameter. The Rafflesia flower is the largest flower in the world.

Because it is a parasitic plant, the Rafflesia Arnoldii has no roots, leaves and stems like other flowers in general. But unfortunately, the age of this flower when blooming is relatively short. This flower is only around (5-7 days) then after it withers away and dies. Rafflesia Arnoldii has a very strong odor, like rotten meat. But this strong aroma actually attracts flies to invade it.

Your Soul Mate is Your Reflection

"Is that a mate according to Islam?"

Regarding matchmaking is the secret of God and only God knows this mystery. No human will ever be able to guess the secret of God. However, the thing we must know is that God has prepared a soul mate that is equal or in accordance with the quality of each human being. Therefore there is a saying that "Match is Your Reflection."

If we want to get a good soul mate, then make us good people. Because God has promised good women will get good men too, and vice versa. Vile women will get men who are cruel too. Allah SWT. say:

الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ أُولَئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ  

"Wicked women are for malevolent men, and men who are also cruel to women who are cruel (also), and good women are for good men, and men who good for good women. They (who are accused) are clean of what they accuse (those who accuse them). For them forgiveness and noble sustenance (heaven). " (QS. An-Nuur: 26)

Every human being is met with his soul mate at different ages. There were those who met their soul mates at a young age and there were those who were brought together at dusk. But this cannot be said that the soul mate comes too fast or comes too slowly, because once again the mate is the secret of Allah SWT. Then what are the signs from God that our soul mate is near or still far away?

Among the signs are:

1. Having faith and similar traits 
2. Feel the tranquility of the soul 
3. Can understand each other
4. Can provide motivation for each other 
5. Having morals and speech words that are worth motivation
6. Can forgive each other
7. Have stability in our hearts 
8. Stop us from looking for others
9. Always appear as is and modest
10. Acceptable by our family
11. Clever keep secrets 
12. Cannot lie and try to be honest
13. Always facilitate business in all matters
14.  Not caring and forgetting the past
15. Perform istikhoroh prayer and tawakal

Those are 15 matchmaking signs from God which are briefly discussed. Hopefully by reading this article we will increasingly understand the signs of a good soul mate from Allah Ta'ala and may we get the best match from Him.

I Want To Be A Human (Andrea Andriz.Episode 3)

A teenager sat in the front line and raised her hand. I invited her to speak and she began to say what was on her mind.

"Excuse me Riz. I have a question for you,Riz. Why do you always give help to us? You often gives clothes, gives money, gives new books. Doesn't you feel any loss for spending a lot of materials and giving it to us for free in many times, maybe monthly i think? "

One of the students at the foundation I visited in that afternoon asked. I became talkless for a moment felt amazed that there was a child who dared to actively ask in the midst of many people. I I was amazed and tried to use my brain to find the answer for that question. It's a bit difficult for me to compile words to answer that question because I was not one of those who is good at rhetoric.

"Very good question, Laila. Actually the reason why I do this is only one, Laila. I want to be human

"But haven't you become a human now?" Asked Laila

"Biologically, yes, I am a human if I see it from Biology. Humans are creatures with twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, which have extraordinary powers of creativity compared to other creatures".

"So why do you want to be human? You are a human being already, aren’t you? " He asked again.

"Laila, from the point of view of Biology I am indeed a human. But that's not what I want. What I want is to be able to become a human according to my Lord. "

"I don't understand" replied Laila briefly

Laila is still in the first grade of junior high school. Of course she had a problem while she tried to think about it. I had to found answers that are easier to understand.

"Actually, a human being cannot necessarily be called a human, Laila. Humans who can be called humans are human beings who can give goodness to other humans, and to this universe. Because humans were created to become caliphs on this earth. If there is a person who is reluctant to think about the condition of the earth and chooses to have fun just filling his stomach untill his stomach being distended, then he is indeed a biological human, but in God's eyes he is not human. " I tried to explain

"I understand now, Riz. And now i want to be a human, a human like you". Laila answered

I was so happy when my answer could be understood by Laila. She is always active in all of our visits. She asked about many things. I think she will be a great person later, and hopefully so.

That day was the day when my four friends and I visited the Al-Ikhlas Foundation. One of several foundations that we often visit together. me and my friends hope that with the assistance which we provide to them (the next generation of people who are in the midst of difficulties) can be useful in the future. Because we believe that most big people are born in difficult conditions and are able to make peace with the situation, always try to find a strategy for a better life. Children and adolescents are a small part of the nation's population, but they are determinants of the future

How Much is Your Salary Until You are Willing to Leave Your Prayer

 The first charity in the reckoning of a servant on the Day of Judgment is prayer and whoever is good (received) prayer, then good (received) also all other practices, and whoever is damaged (rejected) prayer, then damaged (rejected) also all other practices. (HR. Thabarani)

Prayer is a service that cannot be replaced with anything. However the situation is a person is still obliged to pray. Even if he can't do anything, while he is still breathing he is still obliged to pray.

Abdullah bin syaqiq r.a said: "None of the practices that left him were considered kufr by the companions other than prayer." (Narrated by Ibn Abi Syaibah, see Shahih at-Tharghib, 564)

Don't be too busy with your business so you forget what you were created for. Don't be complacent with world affairs so you forget the creator. Looking for rizki (work) is an obligation, but worship to God is far more important. Because humans are created to worship God. Allah says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

"And I did not create jinn and men but that they serve Me."(Q.S. Ad-Dzariyat: 56)

When God removes blessings from your work, then you will not get free time to worship Him.

From Abu Hurairah r.a., from the Prophet. he said: "Verily Allah the Exalted says:" O people take your time to worship Me, surely I will fill your chest with wealth (feeling sufficient and satisfied) and I will close your wickedness. If you do not do this, surely I will fulfill your hands (your days) with busyness (jobs) and I will not close your wickedness. "

Hadith Narrated by At-Tirmizi IV / 642 no.24, Ibn Majah II / 1376, Ahmad II / 358 no.861, and Hibban II / 19 no.393.

Hopefully we can always be istiqomah in worshiping and doing good.