PESANAN DARI AL-IMAM AL-HAFIZ AL-BAIHAQI

dipetik oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهُ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ : " اللّهمّ أنْتَ الأوَّل فليْسَ قَبْلكَ شَيْءٌ ، وأنْتَ الآخِر فليس بَعْدَك شيءٌ ، وأنْت الظاهِر فليْس فَوقَكَ شيءٌ ، وأنْت البَاطِنُ فَليس دُونَك شَيءٌ " رَوَاهُ مسلمٌ*

وقَال الحافِظ البَيْهقِي الشَّافعي الأشْعَري ما نصه* : استدلَّ بعْضُ أصحابِنَا في نَفْيِ المَكَان عنْه ـ أي عَنِ الله ـ بقول النَّبيّ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلّم " أنْتَ الظَاهِرُ فليس فَوقَك شيءٌ ، وأنْت البَاطنُ فليس دُونَكَ شيءٌ " وإذا لَمْ يَكنْ فوقَه شَيءٌ، ولا دُونَه شيءٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ في مَكَانٍ....

* Sahih Muslim : bab zikir, doa, taubat dan istighfar : bacaan ketika hendak tidur

* Kitab Al-Asma Wa As-Sifat : bab Arasy dan Kursi ( muka surat 400 )

KATAKAN TIDAK PADA 'CLAIM' - ABANG K

oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

Semalam, aku menghadiri MAT ( Mesyuarat Anak-Anak Tempatan ) di 'negeri Johor' yang berlangsung sejak waktu dhuha hingga maghrib. Sungguh panjang mesyuarat untuk kali ini. Tapi tak mengapalah, setahun sekali. Ramai juga rakan taulan yang hadir. Cuma tidak semeriah yang diharapkan.

Antara agenda yang menarik di akhir mesyuarat ialah, usul yang dibentang oleh Abang K tentang masalah fikrah maddiyah ( kebendaan dan materialistik ) di kalangan umat Islam yang mewajarkan cacamerba budaya claim. Ramai juga yang menyokong usul yang diketengahkan. Mungkin ada yang menarik perhatian mereka. Entahlah. Tapi, aku cuma memerhati.

Abang K mencontohkan budaya mengclaim ini bertujuan menggarap masalah sebenar di kalangan adik-adiknya. Menurut Abang K, inilah tuaian sebenar dari fikrah maddiyah yang tidak dibendung dari awal. Namun aku percaya, Abang K bukan bermaksud mencela orang yang mengclaim, tetapi fikrah maddiyah itu sahaja. Kerana mungkin sahaja orang yang membudaya claim, ada cara membelanjakannya dengan lebih berbudaya serta berhemat. Sangka baik sahajalah. Tetapi Abang K tetap tegas menyelar fikrah maddiyah. Itu hal mesyuarat semalam lah.

Biarkan semalam. Lupakan cerita tadi. Aku nak cerita hal hari ini. Lebih kurang macam Abang K ceritakan. Tentang gelagat manusia sentiasa memikirkan apa yang akan dia perolehi, bila membuat sesuatu. Hal ini adalah sangat subjektif. Tetapi boleh dinilai dengan sederhana.

Baik. Hari ini manusia berlumba menuntut hak, memikirkan apa yang akan diperolehi dengan melakukan sesuatu, meminta bermacam perkara dan memikirkan apa yang harus orang lain tunaikan untuk dirinya. ( Macam Abang K jer aku ni. Tak lah. )

Sebagai contoh, ramai orang lelaki salah pola pemikirannya sebelum ke alam perkahwinan. Mereka meletakkan asas yang silap sebelum berumahtangga. Antara kesilapan yang ketara ialah, sentiasa memikirkan apa yang bakal diperolehi dari seorang wanita berstatus isteri selepas berkahwin. Sebab itu, biasa sahaja kedengaran sang teruna berkata "bila dah kahwin senang sikit. Ada orang cucikan baju, masakkan, layan, buatkan air, selimutkan dan...". inilah cara manusia semata-mata memikirkan apa yang akan diperolehi. Asik berfikir untuk menuntut hak, memiliki hak tanpa memikirkan bagaimana dia harus menunaikan dan memberikan hak.

Bukankah lebih manis kalau seorang lelaki berkata " bagaimana aku akan mencucikan baju untuknya, membuat air, melayan, masakkan dan...". Bukankah lebih molek kalau seorang teruna berfikir untuk memberikan kasih sayang yang terbaik, layanan serta penghargaan yang terhebat di pasaran daripada sibuk memikirkan apa yang akan diperolehi sebagai balasan duniawi semata.

Contoh lain, ramai wanita sudah mula menuntut hak sana sini. Malangnya, hak yang patut mereka tunaikan, terabai begitu sahaja tanpa memikirkan bagaimana mereka dapat menunaikan hak-hak orang lain dengan sempurna. Kadang-kadang, hak yang patut ditunaikan, ditukar menjadi hak yang dituntut. Pelik kan? Misalnya, hak menutup aurat. Ia adalah hak yang mesti ditunaikan, tetapi ia ditukar kepada hak yang dituntut oleh wanita dengan slogan kebebasan, hak individu dan hak asasi manusia supaya mewajarkan pendedahan aurat. Inilah kesilapan yang sangat besar.

Jika kita sorot sejarah Nabi dan para sahabat, banyak contoh membuktikan pemikiran mereka tidak seperti kita. Setiap individu dilatih untuk memikirkan bagaimana untuk menunaikan hak-hak orang lain dengan sebaiknya. Semua itu adalah tuaian dari keyakinan kuat mereka tentang ganjaran dari Allah di akhirat.

Sebagai contoh, berapa ramai sahabat Nabi yang berkahwin lebih dari seorang tanpa melibatkan apa-apa perbalahan, penentangan atau pergaduhan kritikal. Jikapun ada riwayat tentang rasa sedikit cemburu isteri-isteri mereka, itu adalah lumrah biasa. Cuma tidaklah menjadi satu perkara yang besar. Ini kerana setiap individu mengenepikan nafsu, menghayati dan memahami hak, meyakini ganjaran akhirat, memikirkan bagaimana untuk menunaikan hak sebagai persediaan menghadap Allah di akhirat nanti.

Contoh lain ialah semangat para sahabat Nabi berkorban harta, nyawa dan keluarga tanpa mempersoalkan atau mengungkit sedikitpun apa yang mereka lakukan. Nah, lihat hasilnya. Ada yang dijamin syurga, malah riwayat jasa kebajikan mereka diceritakan hingga ke akhir zaman dalam banyak hadis. Lihatlah. Di dunia mereka dihargai dan diingati, di akhirat bertambah lagi ganjaran yang bakal diperolehi.

sekadar mengajak diri ini mencontohi sahabat Nabi.

DEEDS RECOMMENDED WHILE FASTING

dipetik oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

It is recommended (sunnah) to break ones fast quickly, after one is sure that the maghrib has begun. It is good to break one’s fast on dates, and if not available then by drinking water, and to say after breaking one’s fast:

اللّهُمّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وعَلَى رزقِكَ أفْطَرْتُ

which means: “O Allah, for Your sake I fasted, and with Your sustenance, I broke my fast”.

It was narrated from Abu Dawud that the Prophet used to say this supplication after breaking his fast. As well, it is good to delay suhur meal until a time close to the dawn, but to stop eating before the dawn.

Refraining from backbiting or cursing a Muslim and other sins, and the like is more emphasized while fasting. In committing some of sins, the reward of one’s fasting might be lessened or lost. If someone curses another, let him abstain from responding by a similar curse. Let him say, "I am fasting. I am fasting."

Paying the optional charity to the poor, reciting the Qur’an, staying in the mosque with the intention of itikaf, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan, praying the tarawih prayer, and inviting others to break their fast on food which you provided are all rewardable acts.

The month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for the person to gain a lot of reward; reward earned because of performing this obligation in worship and obedience to Allah, and by performing a lot of the sunnah deeds. Let the person not waste his time during this month.

RAMADHAN KAREEM......

THE OBLIGATION OF FASTING RAMADAN

dipetik oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

Fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligation and a great worship. It is among the best acts of obedience and greatest deeds, and one for which there is great reward. Imam al-Bukhariyy related the Qudsiyy hadith that the Prophet said Allah said:

كُلُّ حَسنةٍ بِعَشر أمْثالِها إلى سبْعِمائةِ ضعْفٍ إلا الصِيام فَإنَّهُ لِي وأنا أجِْزي به

which means: “ The reward of every good deed is multiplied ten up to seven-hundred times, except that of the Fasting; it is usually done in sincerity and will be multiplied by as many times as Allah wills.”

One of the doors of Paradise, named ar-Rayyan, is specified for those Muslims who used to fast in this world. On the Day of Judgment, it will be opened, and those who used to fast in obedience to Allah would be called to enter through that door. Then it would be closed and no others will enter through it.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar year. It is the best month of the year, as is the night of al-Qadr in Ramadan the best night of the year. Fasting became an obligation on the Muslims in the second year after the emigration. Prophet Muhammed fasted nine years of Ramadan after which he died.

The obligation of fasting Ramadan on the believers is known from the Qur’an and the hadith. It was explicitly stated in Verse #183 of Surat al-Baqarah:

يَا أيُّهَا الّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصّياَمُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ

which means: [ O believers, Fasting is an obligation upon you as it was obligated upon the [Muslims] before you so it would help you to reach piety.]

Fasting was an obligation on the nations before the
nation of Prophet Muhammad, however, fasting the month of Ramadan in particular is a specification only for the nation of Prophet Muhammad.

Moreover, Prophet Muhammad named Fasting (the month of Ramadan) as one of the five most important matters of Islam in the famous hadith known as Hadith Jibril related by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim. Angel Jibril came to the Prophet in the shape of a man with white clothes and asked him to inform him about Islam. In response, the Prophet said:

الإسلامُ أنْ تَشْهدَ أنْ لا إلَهَ إلا اللهُ وَأنَّ محَمَّدًا رَسولُ اللهِ وتُقِيمَُ الصَّلاةَ وتُؤتِي الزَّكَاةَ وتَصُومَ رمضانَ وتَحجَّ البيتَ إنِ استَطعْتَ إليهِ سَبيلا

which means: “Islam is to bear witness that no one is God except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing Prayer, paying Zakat, performing Pilgrimage if you are able, and Fasting the month of Ramadan.”

Consequently, renouncing the obligation of fasting the month of Ramadan, for the one who has learned of its obligation, is blasphemy because it entails belying Allah and the Prophet. The one who believes it is an obligation, however, does not perform this obligation (without a valid excuse) does not blaspheme--rather he is an enormous sinner.

*selamat menjalani ibadah puasa di bulan ramadhan...

WAHHABIES SAY, JEWS SAYS...

dipetik oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

Bissmillah, I ask Allah to make us among those who listen to the truth and accept it.

Warning against the deviant and straying people is an obligatory matter. In fact, if warning against the person who cheats the Muslims in articles of trade is obligatory, then it is more so to warn against the person who intrigues and perverts the Religion and belies Allah and the Messenger. Allah, taala, said in Surat Ali Imran, Ayah 104: which means: [Let there be among you a nation that invite to the good, command the lawful, and forbid the unlawful.]

Abu Aliyy ad-Daqqaq said: "The one who withholds the truth is a mute devil."

Look how Wahhabies and jews are related in their blasphemous beliefs.

TheJews say in their book "safar Youhanna al Is-hah" (4) number (9) jews say: "and praise to the one who is sitting on his throne al Haiyy.." So they believe Allah is in the sky sitting, wal iyazubillah.

The Wahhabies say in their book "Majmoo Al Fatawah" 4th book, p/374 for Ibn Taymiah and he is their imam as they call him the master of Islam!! they say: "Allah seats Muhammad the on the chair with Him"!!! Which is clear Kufur to say such. That is not Islam.

Jews say in the same book number 26-27: "God said, we will make human on our look and format".. Look like God!!

Wahhabies say in the book called “Ahl Al Iman fi khalq adam”.. Authored by Hamood bin Abdillah at-Tuwayjariyy.. Page 40: Wahhabies say: "Allah created humans looking like him (ala Surati wajhihi)" Auzubillah!! Allah said in Al Qur'an: [Nothing resembles Allah]..

Jews say in the same book page 4: "the lord is the father living in the sky"

Wahhabiah say in the book called "Rad al-Darmy ala bash-shar Al Mircy" and it is one of the their references p/82: Wahhaby author says: "Yes, He (Allah) is on his throne on top of the creations on the highest place"!! I seek refuge by Allah.

Where as, Ahlussunnah say:

Saidina Ali said: "Allah existed and there was no place and now he exists as he was" that is without a place because Allah does not need the place. Allah does not need any of his creations. He exists without place does not look like any of his creations. Although some translated the Qur'an in some verses alleging their meanings wrongfully saying that Allah sits on the throne, that’s impossible, because Allah existed before the throne and he was without any place.

This is a very few of what Al Wahhabiya say.

Al-Albaniyy (Big leader of the wahhabies ) says: it's Kufur for the Palestinians to stay in Palestine"!! Look at Al-Liwa' Newspaper date 7/7/93 and book: "Fatawi Al Albaniy" p/18... Why did he say that? Ask them.

After all This, it must be clear for the person with a sound mind, that such sayings are not from Islam, nor from sunnah, teachings of the Prophet.

Let one be obedient to Allah, by warning against the evil and not be a mute devil.

"KESELAMATAN DI HARI KEJADIAN"

coretan oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

Pejam celik, pejam celik.

Dahulu aku tidak memahami apa itu ‘jin toncit’. Kini, aku sudah mahir melukis ‘jin toncit’ dan membelek beberapa helaian yang penuh berselang ‘jin-jin toncit’ serta kawan-kawannya.

Sebelum ini, aku tidak mengetahui bagaimana keadaan hutan. Sekarang, aku adalah seorang pekebun mahir, pemilik beberapa bidang tanah yang berhutan, malah aku harus memelihara serta memuliharanya dengan baik.

Pernah aku tidak mengetahui apa itu makan angin. Hari ini, aku puas malah sudah bosan melihat orang-orang tua main cap-cap di hadapan mataku setiap sebelum dan selepas aku selesai makan. Perutku juga naik membuncit kerana kekenyangan dengan bermacam-macam jenis angin.

Suatu ketika, aku menyangka, mengenyit mata itu adalah isyarat untuk mengkelentong orang. Kali ini aku faham, sekali kenyit mata boleh menyebabkan betapa banyak objek bergegar lalu kelihatan nanti biji-biji jantung dan hati yang akan jatuh melepek bergolek-golek ke atas tanah meraih janji dan setia.

Saat kecil, aku suka makan nasi lemak 50 sen. Kini, nasi lemak semuanya mahal-mahal belaka. Ada yang sampai masuk surat khabar ceritanya. Ada juga bertanding harga.

Aku dahulu, aku sekarang. Untukku, ia keSELAMATan di HARI keJADIan.

AIR MATA

Air mata keinsafan
yang mengalir di malam sepi
inilah dia pelembut jiwa
bagi mendapat kasih Ilahi

Rintihan di pertiga malam
Dari seorang hamba yang dhaif
Kerana megenang segala dosa
Moga mandapat keampunan dari Ilahi

Setiap kekasih Allah
menempuhi jalan ini
Untuk mereka memiliki kejayaan
Ayuh bersama kita susuli
Perjalanan kekasih Allah
Agar kita tiada rugi
Dalam meniti hidup ini

Deraian air mata ini
Titisannya paling berharga
Buat menyimbah api neraka
Moga selamat di titian Sirot
bahagia menuju syurga abadi

Air mata keinsafan
yang mengalir di malam sepi
inilah dia pelembut jiwa
bagi mendapat kasih Ilahi

SYAITAN MENGAMBIL PELUANG TATKALA NABI BERHENTI SEJENAK MEMBACA WAHYU

olahan oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

Sangat benar bahawa Nabi itu menyampaikan wahyu yang disuruh oleh Allah untuk disampaikan. Ya Allah , aku bersaksi dengan penuh yakin bahawa para NabiMu telah menyampaikan.

Sangat salah, bila ada yang mendakwa, Nabi itu mendapat wahyu, kemudian diamalkan untuk dirinya sendiri. Kononnya itu adalah beza antara Nabi dan Rasul.

Dalam surah Al-Hajj ayat 52, Allah telah berfirman :

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَلا نَبِيٍّ إلَّا إذَا تَمَنَّى ألْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ فَيَنْسَخُ اللهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللهُ آيَاتِهِ...

Bermaksud : Tidaklah Kami ( Allah ) utus utusan dari kalangan sebelum kamu ( Wahai Muhammad ) sama ada Rasul ataupun Nabi, melainkan apabila utusan itu menyampaikan dakwah ( lalu ) syaitan menambah-nambah ( perkara batil ) terhadap wahyu yang disampaikan itu, lalu Allah menghapuskan segala apa yang ditambah-tambah oleh syaitan itu. Kemudian Allah mengukuhkan ayat-ayatnya ( wahyu tersebut ).

Dalam ayat ini, Allah menjelaskan bahawa :

Pertama : utusan Allah dengan tugas menyampaikan risalah dakwah merangkumi Nabi dan Rasul, kedua-duanya sekali. Tegasnya, Nabi juga menyampaikan, bukan dah dapat wahyu, sorok-sorok untuk amalan sendiri.

Kedua : ketika Nabi berdakwah, syaitan mengambil peluang dengan menambah-nambah ayat yang disampaikan oleh Nabi. Bukan syaitan mempergunakan lidah Rasulullah untuk berkata perkara batil. ‘Menambah-nambah’ dan ‘mempergunakan lidah’ adalah dua perkara berbeza.

Lanjutan : -

Diskusi pertama : Allah mengutus Nabi dan Rasul, kedua-duanya untuk tujuan mengajak manusia ke arah kebenaran. Nabi menerima wahyu dan menyampaikan. Rasul juga menerima wahyu dan menyampaikan. Nabi bukan menerima wahyu lalu mengamalkan untuk diri sendiri kerana Nabi dan Rasul, kedua-duanya bersifat tabligh, iaitu menyampaikan. Bukan dapat wahyu, sembunyi-sembunyikan wahyu untuk amalkannya seorang diri.

Maka adalah menjadi satu yang tuduhan berat bila seseorang mengatakan Nabi itu mendapat wahyu untuk diamalkan sendiri sahaja, sekaligus menuduh Nabi itu tidak menjalankan amanah sebagai seorang Nabi, iaitu tugas menyampaikan risalah tuhan.

Diskusi kedua : Ayat Quran di atas bukan bermaksud syaitan mempergunakan lidah Nabi untuk menyampaikan perkara-perkara mengarut, memuji berhala, atau mengajak perkara batil.

Perkataan تنمى dalam konteks ayat tadi beerti ‘berdakwah atau menyampaikan’. Ayat ini bermaksud, semasa berdakwah, ketika mana Rasulullah berhenti sebentar selepas membaca sesuatu ayat, syaitan mengambil peluang ini untuk menambah-nambah ayat dengan perkara-perkara yang batil, supaya didengari oleh golongan kafir yang sedang melihat Rasulullah menyampaikan wahyu. Syaitan ini bertujuan supaya orang kafir menyangka bahawa tambahan yang mereka buat itu juga ayat dari Allah. Padahal, Rasulullah langsung tidak menyebut demikian.

Al-Fakhrurazi pernah menyebut, sesiapa yang berkata, syaitan telah menggunakan lidah Rasulullah dengan memuji berhala Latta, Uzza dan Manat, maka dia telah jatuh kafir. Kerana adalah mustahil Allah memberi kemampuan kepada syaitan untuk bercakap dengan menggunakan lidah Rasulullah, lalu Rasulullah memuji berhala!!

Untuk lebih jelas lagi, pada suatu hari, Rasulullah menyampaikan surah An Najm. Tatkala tiba ayat 19 dan 20, Rasulullah telah berhenti sejenak. Maka syaitan pun mengambil peluang ini untuk menokok tambah.

Allah berfirman ( ayat 19 dan 20 surah An Najm ) :

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الَّلاتَ وَالْعُزَّى . وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَََ الأُخْرَى .

Selepas membaca ayat inilah, Rasulullah berhenti sejenak lalu syaitan menambah dengan ayat yang bermaksud “Itulah sembahan yang mulia. Dan syafaat merekalah yang diharap-harapkan”. Ayat syaitan ini adalah pujian kepada berhala Latta, Manat dan Uzza. Sejurus mendengar tambahan ayat oleh syaitan tadi, golongan musyrikin bersorak gembira lalu berkata “tidak pernah sebelum ini Muhammad memuji kebaikan tuhan-tuhan kita!”.

Melihat tindakan golongan musyrik, Jibril pun memberitahu Rasulullah bahawa ayat tambahan syaitan itu bukan dari Quran. Rasulullah menjadi sedih dengan kejadian tersebut lalu Allah menurunkan ayat 52 surah Al-Haj tadi :

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَلا نَبِيٍّ إلَّا إذَا تَمَنَّى ألْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ فَيَنْسَخُ اللهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللهُ آيَاتِهِ...

Ini untuk menyejukkan hati baginda serta membuktikan bahawa tambahan ayat yang dibuat oleh syaitan tadi bukanlah wahyu dari Allah dan Allah mengukuhkan wahyu-wahyunya. Ini semua adalah ujian untuk membezakan antara orang yang benar-benar menerima Islam dengan orang yang mengikut ayat tambahan yang dibuat oleh syaitan tadi.

TAZKIRAH

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ

الله الّذي كَيَّف الكَيْف فلا كَيْفَ له وأيَّنَ الأيْنَ فلا أيْنَ له فهو موجودٌ بِلا مكانٍ ولا يجري عليه زَمَان

كَانَ اللهُ ولا مَكان وهو الآنَ على ما عليه كَان

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

فَلا تَضْرِبُوا لِلَّهِ الأمْثَالَ

مَن زعم أنَّ إلهَنَا محدودٌ فقد جَهِل الخالقَ المَعبودَ

إنَّ اللهَ خلق العرشَ إظهَارًا لقُدرتِه ولم يتّخذْهُ مكانًا لذاتهِ

تعَالَى اللهُ عن الحدودَ والغَاياتِ والأرْكان والأعْضاء والأدَوَاتِ ولا تَحوِيهِ الجهاتُ الستُّ ( فوق وتحت ويمين وشمال وخلف وأمام ) كسَاءِر المبتَدَعات ومَن وصف اللهَ بمعنًى مِن معَانِى البَشَر فقد كَفَرَ

مَن زعم أنّ الله في شيء أو من شيء أو على شيء فقََدْ أشرَكَ. إذْ لَو كانَ على شيء لَكان محمُولا ، ولو كان في شيء لكان محصورًا ، ولو كان من شيء لَكَان مُحْدَثا – أى مَخلوقًا -

Israelis want Palestinian ethnic cleansing

dipetik oleh : ALEXANDARICAIRO

On August 20, Israeli forces seized Mahmoud al-Ramhi, Hamas secretary and the fourth-highest ranking official in the Palestinian legislature.

Two days later, an Israeli court charged Abd al-Aziz Dweik, the speaker of parliament, with membership in an outlawed organisation - the Islamist movement and governing party, Hamas.

To date, Israel has detained 30 Hamas politicians and five cabinet ministers, including Nasser Shaer, the deputy prime minister.

Thirty other senior and mid-level members of Hamas were also seized on June 29 as part of an Israeli campaign against the Islamist movement following the capture of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit by fighters on the border of the Gaza Strip on June 25.

Ahmed Bahar, the former deputy and acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), considers the kidnapping of the parliamentarians as well as an alleged assassination attempt against Ismail Haniya, the prime minister, part of a conspiracy to undermine the Hamas-led Palestinian government (PG).

Aljazeera.net: In pursuing its policy of detaining Hamas and government officials, what message is the Israeli government sending the Palestinian people?

Ahmed Bahar: The main message is that they want to undermine the Palestinian political regime at both levels: The government and the PLC.

They also want to humiliate Dweik, who they have put in a small dirty cell, as well as the Arabs and Muslims and all those who sympathise with them.

Despite strong condemnations and continuous contact with a lot of parliaments and parliamentarians, they are pursuing their policy as they clearly don't want a PG or a PLC.

The coincidence of the imprisonment of Dweik with the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Ismail Haniya shows that there is a previously manipulated plan to undermine the Palestinian regime.

What is the Palestinian government doing to secure the release of its officials in Israel jails?

We've conducted many demonstrations inside the country and abroad. We've called for demonstrations in Gaza and Ramallah, invited consuls and ambassadors, called human rights and Red Cross activists and so on.

We've sent more than 80 letters to Arab, Asian and European parliaments in order to keep them abreast of the crimes of the Zionist state. We've organised a sit-in last week and many Arab speakers of parliaments spoke with us by telephone as well as some European parliamentarians.

We've sent letters to Arab foreign ministers but regrettably, they have discussed neither the letter nor any other Palestinian issue.

We really feel deep sorrow for the Arab and Islamic silence toward the Palestinian issues.

Do you fear being seized by Israeli forces?

Yes, of course. The occupation troops may imprison or assassinate me because they want to disrupt the work of the PLC completely. If they take me away from the scene and remove second deputy speaker Hasan Khoraisha [not a member of Hamas] as well, the PLC will be formed by the second majority party and they can do whatsoever they want in the PLC and the government also.

Does the absence of about one-third of the PLC members affect it?

Of course. The absence of about 40 members from the Change and Reform bloc, a Hamas bloc in the PLC, affects the work of the parliament. But I assert that the performance of the parliament will continue regularly despite the absence of those members.

We are sure that the Israelis are implementing a well-constructed plan in order to undermine the work of the PLC as well as toppling the PG.

But I want to tell them that if they want to undermine stability in the Palestinian political arena this time, they themselves will bear the responsibility for the instability and disorder that will surely follow and affect all the Middle East.

A big part of this plot is implemented by local Palestinian hands beside the Israeli and the American hands. In addition, Arab silence is considered a supportive factor for this conspiracy.

But I am sure that the national and international position against Hamas's victory in the PLC proves that Hamas is on the right way. Hamas has adopted real democracy; however, they adopt the false democracy. Hamas will continue in its path.

How has Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, reacted to these developments?

In fact, Mr Abbas sometimes adopts ambiguous positions. He issues decrees that hinder the work of the PG. For example, he has the ability to help alleviate the financial siege on the PA as he has the authority on the Palestinian Investment Fund and the Monetary Palestinian Fund which have billions of US dollars in their coffers.

He can facilitate the transfer of funds collected by the PG or the Arab League as the US and EU currently refuse to transfer monies except under his control. He doesn't act positively.

We should all be united against the Israeli siege on Palestine, but sometimes and unfortunately, we feel that his positions harm that national goal.

Israel has maintained a siege and crackdown on Palestinian territories after fighters in the Gaza Strip infiltrated southern Israel and captured an Israeli soldier. Are you working towards getting this siege lifted?

We have two bitter choices ahead of us: Either patience and vigilance, or submission.

But I think that we won't submit or make any change in our stance as this will be considered betraying the Palestinian voters who elected us and our political platform of national resistance to Israeli occupation.

Our people who live in Palestine and practised resistance by their hands and lived long years under the Israeli occupation recognise clearly what such a programme means. We are determined to follow this path.

Why won't you return Gilad Shalit to the Israelis?

Our key demands - the freeing of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails – have not been met.

Some Palestinian observers believe Israel will exchange the PLC officials for the safe return of Shalit. Do you see this as likely?

At first, I want to say that the Palestinian fighters captured the Israeli soldier from a tank; however, the Palestinian PLC members and ministers were kidnapped from their homes.

Their issue isn't related to Shalit at all, but it is a kind of pressure on the Palestinian people to abdicate their principles.

Secondly, different mediators – such as our Egyptian brothers - spoke about the release of the soldier. I hope to reach a satisfactory deal. But, I say that any satisfactory and acceptable deal for Palestinians is to release a reasonable number of the prisoners in return of the Israeli soldier. I myself suggest the release of all the prisoners in the Israeli jails. Then, there will be no need for kidnappings of any Israelis.

Ismail Haniya has proposed dissolving the Palestinian Authority. Will this help in lifting the siege?

The PM asked only for discussing the gains of the existence of the PA in its current form, not for the dissolution of it. He has put the issue up for debate: How can we face this siege and whether this step would be a successful solution to the crisis or not.

We believe the only solution is to form a national unity government; and we have started the discussion with other political parties in that regard.

But Abbas has said that George Bush, the US president, will not deal with any Palestinian government which contains members of Hamas.

I want to say to those who support the removal of Hamas from the government that Israel will one day want them out as well. If the Israelis want Hamas out today and place Fatah in power, tomorrow they will turn around and fight Fatah.

They themselves nominated Arafat for the Noble Prize, and then at the end they killed him.

I want all sides to know clearly that the Israelis want ethnic cleansing for all Palestinians.