Supercomputer “K computer” Takes First Place in World

Achieves world’s best performance of 8.162 petaflops to lead TOP500 list

Tokyo, June 20, 2011

RIKEN and Fujitsu have taken first place on the 37th TOP500 list announced today at the 26th International Supercomputing Conference (ISC’11) held in Hamburg, Germany. This ranking is based on a performance measurement of the “K computer,”(*1) currently under their joint development.

The TOP500-ranked K computer system, currently in the configuration stage, has 672 computer racks equipped with a current total of 68,544 CPUs. This half-build system achieved the world’s best LINPACK benchmark performance of 8.162 petaflops (quadrillion floating-point operations per second), to place it at the head of the TOP500 list. In addition, the system has recorded high standards with a computing efficiency ratio of 93.0%. This is the first time since June 2004 that the Japanese supercomputer “Earth Simulator” has been ranked first on the TOP500 list.

1. Background

RIKEN and Fujitsu have been working together to develop the K computer, with the aim of beginning shared use by November 2012, as a part of the High-Performance Computing Infrastructure (HPCI) initiative led by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The K computer will be comprised of over 800 computer racks—each equipped with ultrafast and energy-efficient CPUs—that access into a network capable of an immense amount of interconnectivity. The supercomputer system brings together leading-edge technologies for high performance and high reliability.

To test the system’s performance at the configuration stage, the K computer’s processing speed was measured by the LINPACK benchmark program, placing it on the 37th TOP500 ranking of the world’s fastest supercomputers. The TOP500 ranking list began in 1993 and is updated twice a year in June and November.

2. Performance and Future Status of the K computer

The LINPACK benchmark program, running on the part of the system that employs 68,544 CPUs installed on the K computer being configured, recorded the world’s top performance of 8.162 petaflops. This gave it the number-one position on the TOP500 list. Moreover, for one of the world’s largest supercomputers, it achieved an extraordinarily high computing efficiency ratio of 93.0%. This achievement is made possible by the K computer’s integration of technologies, including its massive number of CPUs, the interconnectivity that links them together, and the software that is able to bring out the highest performance from the hardware.

When configuration of the K computer is complete in 2012, it is designed to achieve LINPACK performance of 10 petaflops. It will be widely used in a variety of computational science fields where it is expected to contribute to the generation of world-class research results. The K computer is a wholly made-in-Japan supercomputer, from the research and development of the processors, to system design and manufacturing. Use of the K computer is expected to have a groundbreaking impact in fields ranging from global climate research, meteorology, disaster prevention, and medicine, thereby contributing to the creation of a prosperous and secure society. RIKEN and Fujitsu will continue to work tirelessly toward completing the system’s deployment in 2012.

3. RIKEN and Fujitsu Comments

Ryoji Noyori, President, RIKEN
I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone, beginning with our colleagues at our development partner Fujitsu Limited, who worked so valiantly on the construction of the K computer even under the severe conditions following the Great East Japan Earthquake. It is wonderful to be able to share the joy of this moment with them. I very much believe that the strength and perseverance that was demonstrated during this project will also make possible the recovery of the devastated Tohoku region. As we move forward to complete this project by next June, we will maintain our firm commitment to the maintenance and operation of the system, and I hope to see wonderful results when we begin to make the world’s top performing supercomputer available to users around the world.

Michiyoshi Mazuka, Chairman and Representative Director, Fujitsu Limited
I am delighted that we were able to achieve this result, made possible through the tremendous efforts of all involved, despite the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake. In particular, I am sincerely grateful to our partners in the Tohoku region for their commitment to delivering a steady supply of components, even though they themselves were affected by the disaster. Bringing together hundreds of thousands of components to quickly launch such a massive-scale computing system—which would have been nearly impossible using conventional technologies—requires an incredible level of reliability. I believe that this reliability is truly the pinnacle of Japanese manufacturing. Without being too pleased with ourselves and losing sight of our goal, going forward we will proceed with the system’s deployment and, once complete, we look forward to contributing to the achievements that the K computer will make possible.

Supplementary Explanation

1. K computer

The K computer, which is being jointly developed by RIKEN and Fujitsu, is part of the High-Performance Computing Infrastructure (HPCI) initiativeled by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Configuration of the K computer began in the end of September 2010, with availability for shared use scheduled for 2012. The “K computer” is the nickname RIKEN has been using for the supercomputer of this project since July 2010. “K” comes from the Japanese Kanji letter “Kei” which means ten peta or 10 to the 16th power. The logo for the K computer based on the Japanese letter for Kei, was selected in October 2010. In its original sense, “Kei” expresses a large gateway, and it is hoped that the system will be a new gateway to computational science.

2. LINPACK

A program developed by J. Dongarra, Ph.D., of the University of Tennessee, for solving a system of linear equations using matrix computation. It is the benchmark program used to create the TOP500 list, which ranks the performance of the world’s supercomputers (announced in June and November of every year).

About RIKEN

The mission of RIKEN is to conduct comprehensive research in science and technology (excluding only the humanities and social sciences) as provided for under the "RIKEN Law," and to publicly disseminate the results of its scientific research and technological developments. RIKEN carries out high level experimental and research work in a wide range of fields, including physics, chemistry, medical science, biology, and engineering, covering the entire range from basic research to practical application. RIKEN was first organized in 1917 as a private research foundation, and reorganized in 2003 as an independent administrative institution under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of information and communication technology (ICT)-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in over 100 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$55 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. For more information, please see:www.fujitsu.com.

Press Contacts

RIKEN

　 Advanced Institute for Computational Science

　 Office for Research Communications

+81-78-940-5623, 5624

Fujitsu Limited
Public and Investor Relations Division

Inquiries

PFI - Taychi Copex n Opex kerajaan kpd swasta.

Falsafah PFI ialah kerajaan tidak akan menangung kerugian dlm apa jua keadaan.

Managing Service Performance ( Key Performance Indicator) - PFI

Transfer the responsibility of financing and managing capital investment services of government space, assets, and inventory to the private sector including the

• construction,
  
• management,
  
• maintenance,
  
• refurbishment and replacement of government assets and inventory

in return for lease charges that

• commensurate with the level, quality and timeliness of service provision
  

as well as an amount sufficient to ensure returns on investment

• where the asset and facilities will be transferred to the government at the expiry of the concession period

Question to be asks.....

• What KPI parameter to be monitor and measure? Down time, Up Time,
  
• What is the fundamental of KPI? Energy consumption, communication Efficiency
  
• What tool to be used for measuring performance? FMS.

The parameters to be monitor and measure.

• construction - development progress,project management
  
• management - coordinating with end user.
  
• maintenance - inventory, assets and space.
  
• refurbishment and replacement of government assets and inventory according to schedule
  

U.N. backs gay rights for first time ever ....

(AP) GENEVA - The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by African and Islamic countries.

The declaration was cautiously worded, expressing "grave concern" about abuses suffered by people because of their sexual orientation, and commissioning a global report on discrimination of gays. But activists called it a remarkable shift on an issue that has divided the global body for decades, and credited the Obama administration's push for gay rights at home and abroad with helping win support for the resolution.

"This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face around the world based solely on who they are and whom they love," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement.

Following tense negotiations, members of the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council narrowly voted in favor of the declaration put forward by South Africa, with 23 votes in favor and 19 against.

Backers included the United States, the European Union, Brazil and other Latin American countries. Those against included Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Pakistan. China, Burkina Faso and Zambia abstained, Kyrgyzstan didn't vote and Libya was earlier suspended from the rights body.

The resolution expressed "grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity."

More importantly, activists said, it also established a formal U.N. process to document human rights abuses against gays, including discriminatory laws and acts of violence. According to Amnesty International, consensual same-sex relations are illegal in 76 countries worldwide, while harassment and discrimination are common in many more.

"The Human Rights Council has taken a first bold step into territory previously considered off-limits," said Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT Rights program at Human Rights Watch. "We hope this groundbreaking step will spur greater efforts to address the horrible abuses perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity."

"Today's resolution breaks the silence that has been maintained for far too long," said John Fisher of the gay rights advocacy group ARC International. "It's clear that the resolution will serve as an entry point for further debate at the United Nations."

The opportunity to do so comes next spring. Friday's resolution called for a panel discussion "to have constructive, informed and transparent dialogue on the issue of discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against" gays, lesbians and transgender people.

The prospect of having their laws scrutinized in this way went too far for many of the council's 47-member states.

Speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Pakistan said the resolution had "nothing to do with fundamental human rights."

"We are seriously concerned at the attempt to introduce to the United Nations some notions that have no legal foundation," said Zamir Akram, Pakistan's envoy to the U.N. in Geneva.

Nigeria claimed the proposal went against the wishes of most Africans. A diplomat from the northwest African state of Mauritania called the resolution "an attempt to replace the natural rights of a human being with an unnatural right."

Indicating that Washington plans to keep up the pressure on this issue, Clinton said the U.S. "will continue to stand up for human rights wherever there is inequality and we will seek more commitments from countries to join this important resolution."

One of her senior diplomats, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Baer, told reporters the Obama administration had chosen what he described as a "course of progress" on gay rights, both domestically and internationally.

In March, the U.S. issued a nonbinding declaration in favor of gay rights that gained the support of more than 80 countries at the U.N. This has coincided with domestic efforts to end the ban on gays openly serving in the U.S. military and discrimination against gays in federal housing.

Asked what good the resolution would do for gays and lesbians in countries that opposed the resolution, Baer said it was a signal "that there are many people in the international community who stand with them, and who support them, and that change will come."

"It's a historic method of tyranny to make you feel that you are alone," he said. "One of the things that this resolution does for people everywhere, particularly LGBT people everywhere, is remind them that they are not alone."

(Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/17/501364/main20072040.shtml#ixzz1PmhLO49B)

Private Finance Initiative in Malaysia - The Concept and Philosophies.

by Ismail SYUHAIDA Md Yusof AMINAH, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Technology Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia.

a. Philosophies

PFI in Malaysia is defined as “involving the transfer of the responsibility of financing and managing capital investment and services of public sector assets to the private sector including the construction, management, maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of public sector assets, in return for lease charges that commensurate with the level, quality and timeliness of service provision as well as an amount sufficient to ensure returns on investment where the asset and facilities will be transferred to the public sector at the expiry of the concession period” (EPU, 2006). The level, quality and timeliness of service provision are assessed via the implementation of key performance indicators (KPIs).

Although the aforementioned definition of PFI conceptually demonstrates that PFI stands under the umbrella of concession based on Merna, and Smith (1993) who suggest concession as “an agreement based on granting a concession by a principal, usually a government, to a promoter, sometimes known as the concessionaire, who is responsible for the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of a facility, at no cost to the principal, a fully operational facility where during the concession period, the promoter owns and operates the facility and collects revenues in order to repay the financing and investment cost, maintain and operate the facility and make a margin of profit”, (Abdullah, 2006) in Yong, and Chew (2006) claims that PFI that Malaysia promoting today is a different animal from the concessions of the past. Nevertheless, the differences conferred are subjected merely on the implementation processes, not on the conceptual and philosophical of PFI.

In terms of the PFI evolution, PFI in Malaysia is rooted from the privatisation of the Forth Malaysia Plan (4MP) Incorporated Policy, the Fifth Malaysia Plan (5MP) Privatisation Policy 1985 and the Sixth Malaysia Plan (6MP) Privatisation Master Plan 1990 (Syuhaida and Aminah, 2007) before being streamlined as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP). Then, in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), PPP, the broader ownership structure of PFI (Yong, and Chew, 2006) is re-branded as PFI given that PFI is the most frequently used initiative of PPP (Khairuddin, 2007) that specifies a method in providing financial support for PPP (Infrastructure,2007). Based on the fact that PFI is originated from privatisation, PFI in Malaysia context is also perceived as the extension of the previous privatisation implementation (Abdullah, 2006) although theoretically privatisation focuses on the utility and transport sectors as well as on selected services of local governments whilst PFI serves wider economic sectors of utility and transport, education, health, office accommodation, housing, defense equipment and other types of public buildings and infrastructures (Khairuddin, 2007). Nevertheless, the terminology of “extension” here means that PFI continues in providing the on-going privatisation projects where the procurement method and financing tool (if any) of privatisation are concurrently changed to PFI during the transformation period. In addition, the most important is that the continuation of privatisation projects via PFI retransforms the private monopoly from initially public monopoly in the traditional procurement approach to the increased competition of private enterprise (Jomo,1995) especially the Bumiputera participation.

Having conferred the PFI as a procurement method which is referred to by many e.g. (Construction Industry Council, 1998; Duffield, 2001; Leiringer, 2003; Broadbent and Laughlin, 2000; Syuhaida and Aminah, 2008), procurement method as defined by (Duffield, 2001) is “a method selected to achieve the creation of, or improvement to, an infrastructure asset, which includes, but is not limited to, the arrangements adopted for the design, construction and commissioning of the asset”. It is apparent that there is a strong correlation between PFI as a procurement method and infrastructure asset as the mechanism created or improved by the procurement method, thus the deliberation on the features and characteristics of infrastructure provided via PFI is significant.

b. Concepts

PFI in Malaysia is currently preferred in delivering all kinds of work for the public sector although other countries around the globe have initiated the implementation for other individual’s, private sector’s and semi-government’s projects. Despite providing services of financing, constructing, managing, maintaining, refurbishing and replacing the public sector assets to the government as the client, PFI also provides the associated operational services at no cost to the government. In return, the private sector receives payment from the end-users, above the price that the public sector could have achieved the work, linked to its performance in meeting the agreed standards of provision (Syuhaida and Aminah, 2008). Therefore, in achieving these win-win situation advantages between the private concessionaire, government as well as the members of the public as the end-users, a detailed and transparent procurement process with competitive tenders that demonstrates value-for-money (VFM) is crucial in increasing the healthy competition among the Malaysian private enterprises.

In attracting the participation of private concessionaires especially Bumiputera, the fair allocation of risks to the party best able to manage and bear which is one of the fundamental features of the archetypical PFI has been revised. Most of the risks including the construction risks are borne by the government or other third parties e.g. EPF as the financier as the government came out with the idea of utilising the EPF in attracting private constructors undertaking public projects although under the pressure of curtailed expenditure. Nevertheless, given that the EPF refuses to expose themselves to any construction risks whilst at the same time provide financial assistance to the private enterprise in carrying out PFI projects, the status of whether the Malaysian employees’ money in the EPF will be used or vice versa is vague until the establishment of the PFI guidelines by the EPU.

The Danger of E- books by Richard Stallman

In an age where business dominates our governments and writes our laws, every technological advance offers business an opportunity to impose new restrictions on the public. Technologies that could have empowered us are used to chain us instead.

With printed books,

• You can buy one with cash, anonymously.
• Then you own it.
• You are not required to sign a license that restricts your use of it.
• The format is known, and no proprietary technology is needed to read the book.
• You can give, lend or sell the book to another.
• You can, physically, scan and copy the book, and it's sometimes lawful under copyright.
• Nobody has the power to destroy your book.

Contrast that with Amazon ebooks (fairly typical):

• Amazon requires users to identify themselves to get an ebook.
• In some countries, Amazon says the user does not own the ebook.
• Amazon requires the user to accept a restrictive license on use of the ebook.
• The format is secret, and only proprietary user-restricting software can read it at all.
• An ersatz “lending” is allowed for some books, for a limited time, but only by specifying by name another user of the same system. No giving or selling.
• To copy the ebook is impossible due to Digital Restrictions Management in the player. and prohibited by the license, which is more restrictive than copyright law.
• Amazon can remotely delete the ebook using a back door. It used this back door in 2009
to delete thousands of copies of George Orwell's 1984.

Even one of these infringements makes ebooks a step backward from printed books. We must reject ebooks until they respect our freedom.

The ebook companies say denying our traditional freedoms is necessary to continue to pay authors. The current copyright system does a lousy job of that; it is much better suited to supporting those companies. We can support authors better in other ways that don't require curtailing our freedom, and even legalize sharing. Two methods I've suggested are:

• To distribute tax funds to authors based on the cube root of each author's popularity.
• (See http://stallman.org/articles/internet-sharing-license.en.html.)
• To design players so users can send authors anonymous voluntary payments.

Ebooks need not attack our freedom, but they will if companies get to decide. It's up to us to stop
them. The fight has already started.

Copyright 2011 Richard Stallman. Released under Creative Commons Attribution Noderivs 3.0.

Laman UiTM Pulau Pinang Pula Digodam

Laman web Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) kampus cawangan Pulau Pinang digodam pagi ini(16 Jun 2011). Ia dilakukan oleh defacer yang sebelum ini telah mengodam 34 domain UiTM iaitu Syam92x dari h3x4 crew.

Laman utama ( homepage ) http://penang.uitm.my telah bertukar kepada ucapan ulang tahun ke 15 selain turut dimuatkan dengan lagu ucapan selamat hari jadi menggunakan suara latar watak Upin dan Ipin.

Agak melucukan juga kerana tindakan deface kali ini siap mempunyai ucapan terima kasih kepada seorang yang bernama Wan Anishah yang dipercayai pensyarah di UiTM cawangan tersebut kerana memberikan gred A untuk sebuah subjek kepada defacer berkenaan.

UiTM Pulau Pinang dijadual mengadakan sambutan penubuhannya pada hari ini dan esok.

Antara komen dalam laman web http://penang.uitm.edu.my/ ialah :

- Comment -
Happy Birthday UiTM Penang ke 15
sempena 15 thun, page ini sebagai hadiah
:p
BTW, pn wan anishah krn bgi dpt A dlm kos csc
harap kite jmpe lgi pada thun hadapan
byeeee…

Syam92x sebelum dilaporkan laman web Kenahack.com sebagai bertanggungjawab menggodam puluhan domain UiTM. Laman Kenahack.com menggelarkan Syam92x sebagai peminat laman Uitm Negara. Serangan ke atas laman UiTM Pulau Pinang ini dipercayai kali kedua dilakukan oleh defacer yang sama.

Selain itu, laman UiTM Kedah dan Sabah juga pernah menjadi mangsa. Selain itu, laman web rasmi Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM.edu.my) turut digodam.

Semalam, Portal Rasmi Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia (http://politeknik.gov.my/) turut menjadi mangsa godam.

(Sumber - http://kerangs.net)

Bilderberg Group

The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an annual, unofficial, invitation-only conference of approximately 120 to 140 guests from North America and Western Europe, most of whom are people of influence. About one-third are from government and politics, and two-thirds from finance, industry, labour, education and communications. Meetings are closed to the public and often feature future political leaders shortly before they become household names.^[1]

Because of its exclusivity and privacy, the Bilderberg group is frequently accused by conspiracy theorists from both extremes of the political spectrum of being an all-powerful secret society fixing the fate of the world behind closed doors for nefarious ends.^[1] Critics of Bilderberg conspiracy theories counter that it is nothing more than a policy discussion forum and social club, which only serves as a means to brainstorm, reach consensus, and create social cohesion within the power elite of North American and Western European nations, to better promote Atlantic free-market capitalism and its interests around the globe.^[1][2][3]

1. BBC News Online (7 June 2011). Bilderberg mystery: Why do people believe in cabals?. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
2. Berlet, Chip (September 2004). Interview: G. William Domhoff. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
3. Wilford, Hugh (September 2003). "CIA plot, socialist conspiracy, or new world order? the origins of the Bilderberg group, 1952-55". Diplomacy & Statecraft, Volume 14, Issue 3, pages 70 - 82. Retrieved 28 March 2011.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

KEUTAMAAN MEMBACA AL QURAN DI DALAM RUMAH

by Abang Nonki on Friday, June 3, 2011

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Allah SWT berfirman:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاء لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

”Wahai manusia, sesungguhnya telah datang kepadamu pelajaran dari Tuhanmu dan penyembuh bagi penyakit-penyakit yang ada di dada, dan rahmat bagi orang-orang mukmin.” (QS Yûnus [10]:57).

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاء وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلاَ يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إَلاَّ خَسَار

“Dan Kami turunkan dari Al-Qur’an suatu yang menjadi penawar dan rahmat bagi orang-orang yang beriman dan Al-Qur’an itu tidaklah menambah kepada orang-orang zalim selain kerugian.” (QS Al-Isrâ’ [17]:82)

Al-Qur’an menjadi penasihat, penawar hati yang sedang gelisah-gundah gulana, melapangkan dada yang terasa sempit dan menjernihkan fikiran yang sedang kacau. Ia menjadi petunjuk dan rahmat bagi manusia, sedangkan di akhirat kelak, ia akan menjadi syafa’at bagi para pembacanya.

Cahaya Al-Qur’an masuk ke dalam hati hamba yang beriman sehingga memberikan ketenangan dan ketenteraman. Cahaya Al-Qur’an menyinari rumah-rumah mereka. Lantunan ayat-ayat Al-Qur’an selalu menggema, menyelimuti sekitar rumah. Rasulullah SAW bersabda,”Sinarilah rumah-rumah kamu sekalian dengan bacaan Al-Qur’an.”

Rumah tampak terang benderang menurut pandangan Allah apabila di dalamnya selalu ada ayat-ayat suci Al-Qur’an yang di baca oleh penghuninya. Cahaya ini bukan berasal dari lampu penerangan rumah, tetapi cahaya ini berasal dari setiap huruf, kata, kalimat, dan ayat-ayat yang di baca. Lalu di tela’ah menjadi sinar yang menerangi hati, menjadi cahaya Ilahi, menerawang dalam setiap relung kehidupan.

Ia hadir pada hati yang sempit lalu menjadi lega, hati yang marah menjadi pemaaf, jiwa yang kikir menjadi dermawan, dan sebagainya. Al-Qur’an memiliki keutamaan yang luar biasa, dan karenanya layak jika Al-Qur’an dijadikan sebagai mukjizat terbesar yang diberikan-Nya kepada Nabi Muhammad SAW. Abu Hurairah r.a. menuturkan bahwa Rasulullah SAW. bersabda, “Keutamaan Al-Qur’an dibandingkan dengan segala perkataan laksana keutamaan Allah Yang Maha Pengasih dibandingkan dengan seluruh makhluk-Nya.”

Dalam sebuah keluarga, seorang ayah berkewajiban mengajarkan Al-Qur’an kepada putra-putrinya. Jika ia tidak mampu, hendaknya dititipkan kepada orang lain untuk diajarkan Al-Qur’an. Allah SWT . menaruh kepedulian yang sangat besar dengan mengampuni dosanya serta memberikan derajat yang mulia kepada para pengajar Al-Qur’an. Anas r.a. menuturkan bahwa Rasulullah SAW bersabda, ”Barang siapa mengajari anaknya membaca Al-Qur’an dengan melihat (pada kitab Al-Qur’an), maka diampuni dosanya yang telah lalu dan yang akan datang. Dan barang siapa mengajarinya membaca Al-Qur’an dengan hafalan, lalu setiap anak membaca satu ayat, maka Allah mengangkat satu derajat untuk ayahnya sehingga pada akhir Al-Qur’an yang dibaca.”

KEUTAMAAN MEMBACA AL QUR'AN

Pembaca Al-Qur’an akan memperoleh ketenangan dan rahmat Allah.

Dalam satu hadist diceritakan bahwa ada seorang laki-laki membaca surat Al-Kahfi, dan didekatnya ada seekor kuda tertambat dengan tali panjang. Sekonyong-konyong datang awan menyelubungi tempat orang itu, sehingga kuda tersebut berputar-putar ditambatannya lalu lari. Ketika hari telah pagi, orang itu mendatangi Nabi SAW. lalu diceritakannya kepada beliau peristiwa yang dialaminya itu. Sabda Nabi SAW., “Itulah ‘sakinah’ (para malaikat turun membawa ketenangan dan rahmat) bagi pembaca Al-Qur’an.” (Shahih Muslim: 765)

Orang yang membaca Al-Qur’an akan memperoleh perhatian dari Allah.

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a.,katanya dia mendengar Nabi SAW bersabda: “Allah tidak menaruh perhatian terhadap sesuatu, seperti perhatian-Nya terhadap Nabi ketika beliau melagukan Al-Qur’an dengan suaranya yang indah dan keras.” (Shahih Muslim: 764)

Orang yang membaca Al-Qur’an di ibaratkan jeruk yang rasanya manis.

Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Perumpamaan orang mukmin yang membaca Qur’an ialah seperti jeruk manis. Baunya harum dan rasanya manis. Dan perumpamaan orang mukmin yang tidak membaca Qur’an ialah seperti kurma, tidak berbau tetapi rasanya manis. Dan perumpamaan orang munafik yang membaca Qur’an ialah seperti kemangi, baunya harum tetapi rasanya pahit. Dan perumpamaan orang munafik yang tidak membaca Qur’an ialah seperti paria, tidak berbau dan rasanya pahit.” (Shahih Muslim: 766)

Mahir membaca Al-Qur’an akan memperoleh kemuliaan di akhirat.

Dari ‘Aisyah r.a.., katanya Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Orang (mukmin) yang mahir membaca Qur’an, maka kedudukannya di akhirat di temani para malaikat yang mulia. Dan orang yang membaca Qur’an, padahal dia gagap sehingga sulit baginya membaca, maka dia mendapat pahala ganda.” (Shahih Muslim: 767)

Disukai membaca Al-Qur’an di hadapan orang-orang pintar.

Dari Anas r.a., katanya Rasulullah SAW bersabda kepada Ubay bin Ka’ab r.a., sabdanya: “Sesungguhnya Allah menyuruhku supaya membacakan kepadamu: “Lam yakunil ladzina kafaru (Surat Al-Bayyinah).” Tanya Ubay, “Apakah Allah menyebut namaku kepada anda?” Jawab Rasulullah SAW: “Ya, Allah menyebut namamu.” Lalu Ubay menangis karenanya. (Shahih Muslim: 768)

Keutamaan menyimak bacaan Al-Qur’an dan menghayatinya.

Dari ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud r.a., Rasulullah SAW bersabda kepadanya; “Bacakanlah Qur’an kepada-ku!” Aku menjawab; “Bagaimana pula aku harus membacakan-nya kepada anda, sedangkan Qur’an itu sendiri diturunkan kepada anda.” Sabda beliau, “Aku ingin mendengarkannya dari orang lain.” Karena itu, kubacakan kepada beliau Surat An-Nisā’. Ketika bacaanku sampai kepada ayat: “Fakaifa idza ji’na min kulli ummatin bisyahidin wa ji’na bika haulai syahida.” [Maka bagaimanakah halnya orang kafir nanti, apabila Kami mendatangkan seseorang saksi (rasul) dari tiap-tiap umat dan Kami mendatangkan kamu (Muhammad) sebagai saksi atas mereka itu (sebagai umatmu).] (An-Nisā’ :41); Ketika itu aku mengarahkan pandanganku kepada beliau, maka kelihatan olehku air matanya mengalir.” (Shahih Muslim: 769)

Keutamaan membaca Al-Qur’an dalam shalat.

Dari ‘Abu Hurairah r.a., katanya Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Sukakah kamu, bila kamu pulang kerumahmu lantas kamu mendapati tiga ekor unta yang sedang bunting dan gemuk-gemuk?” Jawab kami, “Tentu, ya, Rasulullah!” Sabda beliau,“Membaca tiga ayat dalam shalat lebih bagus nilainya dari ketiga unta bunting itu.” (Shahih Muslim: 770)

Orang yang membaca Al-Qur’an memperoleh Syafa’at di akhirat kelak.

Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Bacalah Al-Qur’an, karena dia akan datang memberi syafa’at kepada pembacanya pada hari kiamat nanti. Bacalah Zahrawain, yakni surat Al-Baqarah dan ‘Ali ‘Imran, karena keduanya akan datang pada hari kiamat nanti, seperti dua tumpuk awan menanungi pembacanya, atau seperti dua kelompok burung yang sedang terbang dalam formasi hendak membela pembacanya. Bacalah Al-Baqarah, karena dengan membacanya beroleh berkat, dan dengan tidak membacanya beroleh penyesalan, dan pembacanya tidak dapat dikuasai (dikalahkan) oleh tukang-tukang sihir.” (Shahih Muslim: 771)

Keutamaan surat “Al-Fatihah” dan ayat penghabisan surat “Al-Baqarah”.

Dari Ibnu ‘Abbas r.a., katanya: “Pada suatu waktu, ketika Jibril sedang duduk di samping Rasulullah SAW, sekonyong-konyong kedengaran suatu bunyi seperti pintu sedang di bukakan orang. Lalu diangkatnya kepalanya, seraya berkata: “Nah! Inilah pintu langit dibukakan hari ini, dimana tidak pernah dibuka melainkan baru hari ini.” Dari pintu itu turun malaikat. Kata Jibril,” Inilah malaikat turun ke bumi. Dimana dia tidak pernah turun sebelumnya, melainkan baru hari ini.” Setelah malaikat itu memberi salam, lalu dia berkata, “Gembirakanlah ummatmu dengan dua cahaya yang kedua-duanya hanya diturunkan kepada-mu, dan tidak pernah diturunkan kepada para Nabi sebelum kamu, yaitu: Surat Al-Fatihah dan ayat-ayat penutup surat Al-Baqarah (ayat:284-286). Tidak satu huruf pun yang anda baca dari keduanya, melainkan akan diberikan pahalanya kepada anda.”

Sabda Rasulullah SAW: “Siapa yang membaca kedua ayat itu, yakni dua ayat terakhir surat Al-Baqarah, niscaya keduanya akan memeliharanya dari bencana.” (Shahih Muslim: 772-773)

Orang yang membaca surat “Al-Kahfi” akan terpelihara dari kejahatan Dajjal. Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Siapa yang menghafal sepuluh ayat dari awal surat “Al-Kahfi”, dia terpelihara dari bencana kejahatan Dajjal.”

Dari Abu Qatadah r.a. dengan sanad yang sama: “Begitu pula ayat-ayat penghabisan surat Al-Kahfi." (ayat 102-110)

Membaca surat “Al-Ikhlas” sama nilainya dengan membaca Sepertiga Qur’an.

Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Tidak sanggupkah kamu membaca sepertiga Qur’an dalam semalam?” Mereka balik bertanya, “Bagaimana cara membaca sepertiganya?” Jawab Nabi SAW., “Qul huallahu Ahad. (surat Al-Ikhlas) sama nilainya dengan sepertiga Al-Qur’an.” [Lihat Shahih Muslim: 777-780]

Keutamaan surat “Al-Falaq” dan surat “An-Nās” (Mu’awwidzatain)

Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Tahukah kamu beberapa ayat yang diturunkan Allah tadi malam, dan yang belum pernah ada bandingannya? Ayat-ayat itu ialah: Qul a’udzu birabbil falaq Qul a’udzu birabbinnas (Surat Al-Falaq dan Surat An-Nas).” (Shahih Muslim: 781)

Sungguh Al-Qur’an merupakan mukjizat luar biasa yang dapat memberikan ketenangan, ketenteraman, kedamaian sekaligus obat bagi setiap penyakit, yang bisa dilakukan oleh siapa saja yang mau membacanya, menghayati dan mengamalkan isinya dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Rasulullah SAW bersabda,”Barang siapa membaca Al-Qur’an, kemudian ia melihat ada seseorang yang diberi sesuatu yang melebihi keutamaan yang diberikan kepadanya, berarti ia menganggap remeh terhadap sesuatu yang dimuliakan oleh Allah.”

Dalam hadist lain, Rasulullah SAW bersabda, “Tidak bisa memberi syafa’at yang lebih utama kedudukannya menurut Allah daripada syafa’at Al-Qur’an.”

Demikianlah, semoga risalah singkat ini ada manfaatnya. Marilah kita jadikan rumah kita sebagai majelis ta’lim yang di dalamnya selalu dilantunkan ayat-ayat suci Al-Qur’an, agar dapat selalu menjadi obat dan penawar bagi hati kita dan agar cahaya rahmat-Nya selalu menyinari rumah kita yang pada gilirannya akan menghadirkan rasa ketenangan dan kedamaian bagi seluruh penghuninya.

Alhamdulillah, puji dan syukur kami panjatkan kehadirat Allah Azza wa Jalla. Shalawat dan salam semoga tercurah kepada junjungan kita Nabi Muhammad Saw.beserta keluarga dan shahabatnya.

ماً إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً

“Sesungguhnya Allah dan malaikat-malaikat-Nya bershalawat untuk Nabi. Hai orang-orang yang beriman, bershalawatlah kamu untuk Nabi dan ucapkanlah salam penghormatan kepadanya.”

(QS Al-Ahzab [33]:56)

[Dari Blog As Sunnah - Keluarga Madrasah Kita]