Kelebihan ayat Kursi

AYAT 255 surah al-Baqarah disebut ayat Kursi kerana dalam ayat tersebut terdapat kata "kursi Allah" yang meliputi langit dan bumi. Kata kursi membawa erti takhta, singgahsana, tempat duduk, kekuasaan, pengetahuan dan simbol autoriti.

Itulah sebabnya ayat itu di sebut "ayat Kursi" yang melambangkan kekuasaan Allah SWT yang meliputi langit dan bumi. Ayat ini sepanjang zaman telah menghidupkan suasana keagamaan umat Islam dari semasa ke semasa. Ayat Kursi begitu popular hingga kaligrafi ayat ini sering terdapat di rumah kaum Muslim.

Ayat Kursi dinilai sebagai salah satu ayat yang termulia dalam al-Quran kerana di dalamnya terdapat 17 kata yang menunjuk kepada Allah SWT daripada 50 kata yang terdapat di dalamnya. Apabila dihayati, 17 kata yang menunjukkan nama Allah itu akan memberi kekuatan batin pembacanya.

Terdapat ulama yang mengatakan bahawa 50 kata adalah lambang 50 kali solat yang pernah diwajibkan Allah kepada Muhammad ketika mikraj dan 50 kali itu diringankan menjadi lima kali dengan 17 rakaat sehari semalam. Di sisi lain, perjalanan menuju Allah ditempuh oleh malaikat dalam 50 tahun menurut perhitungan manusia.

Ayat Kursi lebih agung jika dibandingkan dengan ayat-ayat lain. Dalam ayat Kursi terdapat sejumlah nama dan sifat Allah SWT yang melebihi ayat-ayat lain. Intipati nama dan sifat Allah SWT yang berjumlah 99 itu diungkapkan dalam satu ayat hanya pada ayat Kursi.

Dalam satu kisah disebutkan bahawa ketika para sahabat sedang bertukar fikiran tentang ayat-ayat yang paling mulia, Ali berkata kepada mereka: "Bagaimana pandangan kamu tentang ayat Kursi?" Ali kemudian berkata: "Rasulullah SAW berkata kepadaku 'hai Ali, penghulu sekalian manusia adalah Adam, penghulu bangsa Arab adalah Muhammad tanpa rasa sombong, kalam yang terbaik adalah al-Quran, penghulu al-Quran adalah al-Baqarah dan penghulu al-Baqarah adalah ayat Kursi'."

Terdapat beberapa hadis yang menjelaskan keutamaan ayat Kursi, misalnya yang diriwayatkan Ali bin Abi Talib. Hadis itu berbunyi: "Tidak dibaca ayat ini (ayat Kursi) dalam sebuah rumah kecuali syaitan-syaitan lari meninggalkannya selama 30 hari dan tukang sihir laki-laki dan wanita tidak akan memasukinya selama 40 hari."

Ali juga menceritakan bahawa ia pernah mendengar Nabi SAW berkhutbah di atas mimbar dan berkata: "… dan barang siapa yang membacanya pada saat tidurnya, Allah akan mengamankannya, tetangganya, tetangga dari tetangganya dan rumah-rumah yang ada sekitarnya."

Dalam hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Abu Bakar bin Mardawaih, Nabi SAW bersabda yang bermaksud: "Barang siapa yang membaca ayat Kursi setiap penghujung solat wajib, maka tidak ada yang mencegahnya masuk syurga kecuali kematian dan tidak ditetapkan padanya kecuali sebagai siddiq (benar atau jujur) dan abid (tekun beribadah)."

QPR sedia cabar kuasa EPL

PARK Ji-Sung Park menunjukkan jersi kelab barunya, QPR bersama Tony Fernandes (kanan) dan Mark Hughes selepas sidang akhbar mengumumkan penyertaan bekas pemain Manchester United itu ke Loftus Road di London, semalam. - AP

LONDON - Pembelian beberapa pemain termasuk yang terbaru bekas bintang Manchester United, Park Ji-Sung sudah cukup membayangkan cita-cita besar Queens Park Rangers (QPR) untuk memahat kukuh nama dalam Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL) menjelang musim baru Ogos ini.

Sekalipun pengerusinya, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes lebih selesa bersikap merendah diri apabila menyatakan beliau tidak berhajat meletakkan sebarang sasaran untuk diraih QPR bagi musim 2012/13, tetapi kerancakan pembelian pemain baru yang dilakukan kelab itu menunjukkan keseriusan mereka untuk bersaing.

Malah, kelab itu juga dalam perancangan untuk meninggalkan stadium lama di Loftus Road bagi membina sebuah stadium baru yang merupakan sebahagian daripada perancangan jangka panjang QPR.

Fernandes ketika ditemui media Malaysia di ibu kota England itu berkata, apa yang sedang diusahakannya bersama-sama pengurus Mark Hughes merupakan perancangan jangka panjang.

"Secara jujurnya saya tidak pula meletakkan sebarang sasaran yang perlu dilakar QPR dalam tempoh jangka pendek. Saya lebih senang untuk menyaksikan peningkatan kelab ini selangkah demi selangkah dan seterusnya menjadi sebuah kelab yang kukuh di liga perdana pada satu hari nanti," katanya.

Selain Ji-Sung, QPR turut membawa masuk bekas penjaga gol West Ham, Robert Green, penyerang Fulham, Andrew Johnson, Ryan Nelsen dari Tottenham Hotspur, Samba Diakite (Nancy) dan pemain pinjaman dari Manchester United, Fabio Da Silva.

Menurut Fernandes, beliau mahu QPR mencipta nama di pentas dunia secara perlahan-lahan seperti mana yang dilakukan oleh syarikat penerbangannya, Air Asia.

"Saya masih ingat dahulu seorang wartawan Utusan (Malaysia) pernah bertanya berapa lama saya mampu bertahan bersama Air Asia, tetapi nampaknya sehingga kini saya masih dengan syarikat penerbangan itu.

"Jadi begitu juga halnya saya dengan QPR, kalau boleh saya mahu melihat kelab ini berkembang maju dan muncul sebagai kelab yang disegani satu hari kelak," tegasnya.

Mengulas mengenai perlawanan pembukaan musim baru menentang Swansea, beliau berharap skuad Hughes itu tidak mengulangi kesilapan musim lepas apabila dibelasah 4-0 oleh Bolton dalam perlawanan pertama EPL.

Ditanya sama ada kehadiran Ji-Sung menjadikan QPR sebagai sebuah skuad lengkap, Fernandes memberitahu, penyertaan pemain kebangsaan Korea Selatan itu bukan bererti QPR akan menamatkan pemburuan untuk terus bersaing dalam pasaran perpindahan pemain.

"Kita akan cuba mendapatkan tiga atau empat lagi pemain baru dan saya menyerahkan sepenuhnya kepada Mark (Hughes) yang bekerja keras sehingga sanggup mengelilingi dunia bagi mendapatkan pemain-pemain yang berkualiti," ujarnya.

India beli koleksi berharga Gandhi RM3.5j

Koleksi berharga Gandhi termasuk surat dibeli RM3.5 juta hasil rundingan bersama ahli keluarga Kallenbach.

NEW DELHI - India telah membeli koleksi surat, akhbar dan gambar berkaitan tokoh kemerdekaan dan spiritual India, Mahatma Gandhi dengan nilai AS$1.1 juta (RM3.5 juta) bagi mengelakkan ia dilelong di Sotheby's di London.

Koleksi berharga itu diperoleh daripada ahli keluarga teman rapat beliau, Hermann Kallenbach.

Setiausaha bersama di Kementerian Kebudayaan, Sanjiv Mittal berkata, kesemua koleksi tersebut akan ditempatkan di Arkib Kebangsaan.

Sebelum ini, Sotheby's telah membuat anggaran sebelum jualan antara AS$500,000 (RM1.6 juta) dan AS$700,000 (RM2.2 juta) untuk keseluruhan koleksi itu.

Survival of the fiercest: Wildebeest takes on 18ft killer crocodile

As regular as the seasons themselves, herds of wildebeest make an annual migration across east Africa - following rainfall and the growth of new grass.

Exploiting this predictability, each year predators lay in wait until the migrating beasts come into their killing zone.

Day or night, death can come to the young, sick or simply unlucky members of the herd - swiftly from a single cheetah, or without mercy from a pride of lions or pack of hyenas.

Unsteady on his feet: The young wildebeest, already separated from the rest of the herd, is an easy target for the ever-watchful killers beneath the surface of the Mara River in Kenya

Under attack: An 18ft Nile crocodile has targeted the young beast and is using its teeth to injure its prey, as well as its weight and strength to drag it beneath the surface

Dance of death: The wildebeest tries to out-manoeuvre his attacker but has already been badly injured. At one point the crocodile's massive jaw span seems to be taking in the wildebeest's body

For this young male, the end came not on the plains but in one of Kenya's heaving rivers - delivered by one of nature's apex killing machines.

Like all in his herd, the doomed wildebeest was taking his chances crossing the Mara River in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.

Unfortunately for him, he walked straight into the path of an 18ft Nile crocodile - a species of predator so efficient that it has barely changed throughout evolution.

Dragged below: Exhausted and outweighed, the wildebeest eventually succumbs to the relentless onslaught

Horrific end: As more crocodiles join in the fight, the wildebeest is drowned and torn to pieces

The crocodile used its huge weight and strength to attack the beast as it was already caught off balance by the rushing water and uneven footing.

Its enormous jaw span virtually took in the entire wildebeest's body as the victim attempted in vain to escape the attack.

As more crocodiles joined in on the kill, the fight became hopeless.

At the end of the rainy season in east Africa, around May and June, wildebeest migrate to wetter areas in response to a lack of drinking water.

Circle of life: The majority of wildebeest would have safely forded the Mara River this year, but will have to take their chances with each migration

They travel hundreds of miles, crossing several rivers in a formation known as swarm intelligence - where they work together to cross the obstacle as safely as possible.

Casualities are inevitable, however, and this young male was estimated to be around five years old.

New Zealand photographer David Lloyd, 41, who captured the one-sided fight, said he was awe-struck by the sheer power of the killer.

He said: 'The crocodile is the largest in Africa. They're huge creatures that make many kills like this every year. The migration season really is feeding time for them.

'I estimate that the ones lurking in the river that day were between 15 and 18 feet. They're huge creatures.'

Can Di Matteo's new look Chelsea team pass the test as Barcelona lite?

For years they have been the heavyweights of the Barclays Premier League. With Didier Drogba bulldozing opposition defenders, Chelsea won three League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League in eight seasons.

Now they are tearing up the rule book and starting again. It’s time for a mini revolution at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are bringing in small, exciting players whom they hope can ape Barcelona’s tiki-taka passing style. Roman Abramovich and Roberto Di Matteo want pretty football - being efficient but unattractive to watch is no longer an option.

Viva la revolution: Chelsea's style will inevitably change next season

Out have gone much of the old guard. Drogba is in China with Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou has signed for Lille and Florent Malouda and Michael Essien could also leave.

In their places have arrived Eden Hazard from Lille and Marko Marin from Werder Bremen, with Oscar due to join from Internacional. All three are creative players to sit behind Fernando Torres, who needs service in a way Drogba did not.

You have been warned: Eden Hazard

Add Juan Mata and Ramires into the mix and you can see that Chelsea are thinking big by thinking small. They want to kill teams with passing, not strength.

The club are making sure their new signings are getting special treatment as they prepare for something of a culture shock at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed Abramovich’s personal bodyguards chaperone Hazard and Marin into training each day. They are important members of the Chelsea squad, part of the future for this team.

Di Matteo has been obsessive in his approach to the season, beginning his day at 8am and finishing long after the players have left the training ground.

It has echoes of the long hours Andre Villas-Boas used to put in but the atmosphere at the training ground is far more relaxed under the Italian.

He will experiment in pre-season, using Frank Lampard in the withdrawn role in which he excelled during the Champions League. He will sit in front of the back four alongside John Mikel Obi or Ramires.

Then come the little men. The plan is for Marin, Hazard and Mata to work behind Torres, providing the £50m striker with enough chances to finally kickstart his Chelsea career. The trio will have the licence to swap positions, making them difficult to mark and track.

Next in: Highly-rated young Oscar from Brazil is close to completing a £25m move

Oscar, set to be the latest addition to the revolution, can replace any of them. He will need to as Chelsea’s fixture list will pile up with the campaigns in the Premier League, Champions League, World Club Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

Di Matteo knows this is the start of another journey for Abramovich, reaching for the stars as the framework is put in place to carry on competing with other European heavyweights.

Only this time they will be heavyweights of a different kind. Chelsea have won the Champions League with defensive might, now they plan to mesmerise.

Emirate rise Is tiny Qatar taking over the world?

Laser show ... The Shard in London

LONDON’S newest landmark, the Shard, is more than Europe’s tallest building – it is a symbol of a dramatic shift in world power.

Owned by the tiny Gulf state of Qatar, the Shard is the tip of cash-rich Qatar’s investment iceberg in Britain.

With an income which makes Bob Diamond seem like a Big Issue seller, Qatar had enough cash to buy 20 per cent of Barclays while adding other blue chips to their portfolio.

In London alone, the Muslim emirate has been buying up everything from Chelsea Barracks to the new Olympic Village.

Qatar failed in its bid to stage the Olympics but it will be home to the World Cup in 2022. Its own teams haven’t made a mark on the world of soccer but sponsorship of Barcelona has made Qatar a global footie brand.

With billions in revenue from natural gas, Qatar’s ruling al-Thani family could have been just rich Arabs on a buying and bling spree.

Of course, like other rich Arabs in London, the Qataris go in for plenty of the “off with the chador” and foot down on the pedal of the Lamborghini but the tiny emirate punches above its weight in world politics. Britain used to “protect” the Persian Gulf state. Now the Emir helps our economy out in return for backing his foreign policy.

Qatar is tiny, with barely 200,000 “citizens”, serviced by swarms of migrant workers but it is really a family business.

Gulf star ... Barcelona's Lionel Messi

Any position of importance is held by a member of the ruling al-Thani clan.

From the start of the “Arab Spring”, they promoted democracy — admittedly abroad, but you have to start somewhere.

Last year their special forces blazed a trail for democracy in Libya and they are helping rebels in Syria.

But back home, the micro-state’s security services take a close interest in any sign of dissent. Six out of seven people are Third World migrant workers — many of them women — with no real rights.

Some are highly paid journalists at the Emir’s pet project, the Al Jazeera satellite television station, which broadcasts Qatar’s message around the world. With an average annual income of around one hundred thousand dollars a head, the native Qataris see little profit in promoting democracy at home which might put ideas in their servants’ heads.

Tiny ... Qatar

Abroad, the regime has been promoting Islamic parties in the new Middle Eastern democracies. Their cash subsidises the new Islamic political parties which have won elections in Egypt and Tunisia.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are the local giants, each with a claim on Qatar’s territory.

Fortunately for Qatar, the Saudis and the Ayatollahs are bitter rivals who would never accept the other one gobbling up the tiny emirate. But if they ever clash, then Qatar could find itself a highly inflammable frontline statelet.

To make matters more uncertain, America is Qatar’s protector but it is also determined to stop Iran getting “the bomb”. If Washington bombs Tehran’s nuclear projects, Iran could lash out at Qatar. The nation’s lavish investments here are insurance against a rainy day in the Gulf.

The gas will one day run out but it could explode in the ruling family’s face if the region’s big boys get into a scrap.