Give back money gift ?

We finally gathered for Usrah session after almost 3 weeks off due to Eid celebration. Alhamdulillah. This time around, there were only 4 of us (Kak Kemon, Kak Adik, Hajar, and me myself). These charming ladies are regular attendees of our usrah. Actually the actual figure of Usrah members is around 10, but never did all of us were there at the same time. I really enjoy this Usrah group. U know it is one of tools of attaining Eman Rush from the little knowledge sharing by our naqibah, and also the right place to be with pious and Allah-oriented people, inshaAllah.

Kak Akmar (the naqibah) did touch on current hot issue in mainstream media, which is issue on Penangites returning back money gift (wang ihsan) given by state government of DAP. DAP has affirmed that they received money from kelab Lumba Kuda, which happens to be operating judi activities. I am aware about this issue but didn`t really give attention to it. Kak Akmar said that this issue, if we delve it by putting aside political issue, this is something that people has misconception on. Most of us think that every penny that comes from sources which is haram, then by hook or by crook we have to keep our hands off. But how true it is?

I read through shared notes from Zaharuddin.net. He stated that for poor-stricken people, it is MUBAH (Harus) for them to receive the money gift even if it comes from totally Haram sources based on multiple hadeeths. It is permissible for them also to return back the money to the state government, if they want to. But this action is unlikely to favor because there are evidences from Sunnah which allows them to take the money. Moreover, this action will most probably be followed suit by other people in other states who think that money received from Central Government or State Government would come from HARAM sources as well. We have to bear in mind that not only Penang government, but the Central Government does also receive income from duit judi and arak. No objection about that. So if all people have the same thinking as these golden group Penangites, they shall as well return whatever salary/ money received from government as the money must be coming from one of HARAM sources. But it is not a correct thing to do. Zaharuddin further said that harta that is mixed between HALAL and HARAM sources becomes MUBAH for laymen like us to accept gift, aid , jamuans that utilize this mixed harta. Since the government earns income both from HALAL and HARAM sources, then we as government servants can accept and use the money. According to Zaharuddin, the value or physical value of money is not HARAM, but what constitutes HARAM is the way of getting the money. The money contributors will be punished for obtaining the money in the HARAM way,but the money itself it it is to be distributed as charity to needy people does not become HARAM. Poor people receive the money as charity money, in a halal way, thus it is permitted for them to accept it

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The money can also be used for development purposes such as highway construction, or even erecting a masjid.

New Structure in Unit

Today is 18th Syawwal, however i felt like today is 2nd or 3rd day of raya. I am still suffering raya withdrawal syndrome in office haha..as for raya leave, i took almost 2 weeks off :)1 week before 1st Shawwal and another 3 days after shawwal.I took longer leave before raya because I wanna have more time breaking fast with my family members. To me, the best time as far as shawwal is concerned is during final days of fasting. To be specific, on the final day before raya, or raya eve. On that day, u will see people bustling around at the market buying raw ingredients for raya dishes.I joined the crowd as well, it feels good. And on raya night,it is awesome to go to the masjid, and join the jemaah reciting takbeer together. I think that was the peak time of raya.

Okay, coming back to my topic, I want to talk about updates from my office, or specifically my gen plan unit. One of my managers has proposed a weekly task log. Okay..what is it? Weekly task log is basically task entry system in which it is an Excel sheet which contains a table that has information of task items, deadlines and location of reference files. Every member of the unit would key into the Excel sheet the task for the day, or tasks received on that day, and they would specify either it is ad-hoc, KPI related or volunteer and declare the deadline as well as how long did he take to complete the tasks. The purpose is basically to keep record of all works/ tasks done and it would serve as evidence in the future for challenging our KPI results should we are not satisfied with it. Secondly, the task record is for the us to keep tracks of all tasks that we did, e.g the location where we put our files and when are we supposed to have particular tasks done. A little background to this project: my manager is not satisfied with current execution of balanced curve in which at the moment, every department should practice this curve. Instead, to him balanced curve system should be considered as a whole within TNB, not by department. All this while, due to balanced curve system, our department has been allocated a total number of people who should be getting PME, NI, EE or SEE. So u know this practice is totally unfair since it is like quota system. Even if you work so hardddd, u will be denied your entitlement to get EE or SEE just because there is not enough quota for yourself. Thus, u will be getting only ME. It is unfair actually. And to make thing worse, there can`t be a situation in which the whole unit getting EE for its members. This is another concern that my manager has. To him, this situation is possible, and indeed possible. I couldn`t agree more with him. Thus, this entry system is introduced by him with the purpose to be used as evidence to defend our entitlement of obtaining EE/SEE should we really deserve it.

Raya, Eid 1431 Hijrah

Raya came again..and this year I celebrated raya in my 25. Huh..I have reached (i mean this November) a quarter of century this year and inshaAllah if Allah keeps the day on, the figure would keep increasing. Alhamdulillah the raya or eid marks our success of going through 1 month of fasting during the daytime. The raya is supposed to be celebrated by those who sincerely observed the obligatory deed for the whole month.As usual, I had my raya celebration in Wakaf Bharu, Kelantan. I even took a loooong holiday, which I started on Monday, a week before Raya did come. I wanted to break fast with my family members.

To me, raya celebration for this year was not as splendid as previous year. I don`t know why but i found myself didn`t really enjoy it, except on 1st Shawal only. Even I barely missed Eid prayer!..but alhamdulillah, I managed to go to the mosque. So my theory is raya/eid is joyful for kids / teenagers. Once we hold title employee of a company, the eid celebration becomes less joyful. At least this is what i feel this year huhu..

However, there is one thing I like this year`s raya. It is the raya sermon at my kampung. Alhamdulilllah, the khatib did deliver the sermon in a beautiful way. The content was also inspiring and meaningful. I couldn`t recall what was the content;however one thing for sure, the sermon was free from politics, owh I`m sorry, not totally free, but with less than 4% content of influencing people to hate the other party like what they had previous year (or 2 years ago). Alhamdulillah. I know they have good reason to do so (bad-mouthing another party) since the deputy of state minister lives near the area, but they didn`t do it. That way is way better.