Author: Martin H. Manser
Publisher: Bloomsburry
ISBN: 978-0-7136-7759-1

Do you know the difference between continuance, continuation and continuity? Or another word between artist and artiste? Or the difference between specially, especially and specialty? or maybe you ‘re confuse which word should use Muslim or Moslem?

If you are curious about what their differences in meaning or usage, then this book will really help you. Martin H. Manser, Language trainer and consultant and authored many English books has made this book as a fast way guide to correct your English in spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage. This book presents in A-Z style dictionary. But believe me this book is extraordinary. I believe you never read dictionary from A to Z but I am sure you will enjoy reading this book in A to Z style. The explanations are clear, reasonable, and cover both UK and US usage. The guide will solve all your spelling, usage and punctuation difficulties, as well as covering all the latest buzzwords and jargon. There are plenty of sensible examples for each entry, plus useful lists of collective nouns, foreign words and phrases, I highly recommend this book. I bought sixth edition of this book from Borders bookstore Singapore, price SGD23

Score 5 out of 5

I copy below from the cover of the book:

From the author:

Our language is changing faster than ever before, thanks to the influence of the media, e-mail, the Internet and text messaging. Modern communications are breaking down distinctions between formal and informal English, raising ever more questions as to how to speak and write correctly.

This fully updated edition of the bestselling “Good Word Guide” offers information and advice on spelling, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, confusables and the latest buzzwords, and provides clear, straightforward answers to everyday language problems.

From other reviewer:

“. ‘This intelligent guide is an essential addition to the bookshelves of all readers and writers’ – “Good Book Guide”

‘ An entertaining and instructive guide.. countless examples of contemporary usage’
Yorkshire post

Want to get to know the author?
http://martinmanser.com/M/default.aspx

Lately, I am trying to diminish questioning why did this infertility happen to me? Why me? I realize it doesn’t really help at all. I believe Allah gave me this life of temptation coz He really loves me. He wants me to cry in Du’a. He wants me to always call His Name, He wants me to be patient and all of that He wants me to stay grounded in Him, Ihlas with what Allah wants me to become.

Trying to know what Allah wants me to become with this infertility, I open the Holy Quran and google the literature about infertility in Qur’an. From my googling literature, I summarized at least there are four things that we can grasp from Quran in facing infertility:

1. Nothing happens except as willed by Allah (s.w.t.). Referring to the bestowal of children and infertility or barrenness

The Qur’an [Qur'an 42:49-50] states, In translation:

To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills (and plans). He bestows (children) male or female according to His will (and plan).

Milik Allah-lah kerajaan langit dan bumi; Dia menciptakan Apa yang Dia kehendaki, memberikan anak perempuan kepada siapa yang dia kehendaki, dan memberikan anak laki-laki kepada yang siapa yang Dia Kehendaki

Or He bestows both males and females, the He leaves barren whom He wills; for He is full of Knowledge and Power.”

Atau Dia menganugrahkan jenis laki-laki dan perempuan, dan menjadikan mandul siapa yang Dia kehendaki. Dia Maha Mengetahui, Maha Kuasa.

2. Ask, Hope And Patience

Ask:

AlQur’an 40:60 states in translation:

And your Lord says: “Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): But those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell in humiliation!”
Dan Tuhanmu berfirman,” Berdoalah kepadaKu, niscaya Aku akan perkenankan bagimu. Sesungguhnya orang yang sombong tidak mau menyembahKu akan masuk neraka jahanam dalam keadaan hina dina“

AlQur’an 27:62 in translation:

“Is it not He who responds to the distressed one when he calls Him

Bukankan Dia(Allah) yang memperkenankan (doa) orang yang dalam kesulitan apabila ia berdoa kepadaNya

Hope

Allah has promised to answer our every prayer to Him, even if delayed. He has also promised us a reward for every prayer in the hereafter. Also, know that what Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) grants may not necessarily be what we desire but what we are given is the best for us, as Allah is All-Aware of what the future holds.

AlQur’an 2:216 in translation:

“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows, and you do not know.”

.. Dan boleh jadi kamu tidak menyenangi sesuatu, padahal itu baik bagimu, dan boleh jadi kamu menyukai sesuatu, padahal itu tidak baik bagimu. Allah mengetahui, sedang kamu tidak mengetahui.’

Patience

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) works in mysterious ways indeed. One of the functions of creating man and woman was procreation, for the preservation and continuity of the human race. This is also one of the reasons why we as humans naturally desire to have children, to such an extent that every one of us actually yearns for parenthood at some point in our lives. Children are a blessing from Allah in this dunya just as wealth or status

Quran 63: 9 states in translation :

“O you who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.”
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Janganlah harta bendamu dan anak-anakmu melalaikan kamu dari mengingat Allah. Dan barang siapa yang berbuat demikian, maka mereka itulah orang-orang yang rugi“

Allah has promised to not burden us with more than our souls can bear and there is relief in these words of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) because this is not only a promise but also a constant reminder that the burden can be dealt with and it can be overcome, InshaAllah. Indeed, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is All Just.

Quran 23: 62 states in translation:

“On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear: before Us is a record which clearly shows the truth: they will never be wronged.”
Dan Kami tidak membebani seseorang melainkan menurut kesanggupannya dan pada Kami ada suatu catatan yan menuturkan dengan sebenarnya dan mereka tidak didzalimi(dirugikan)

Alqur’an 16:96 states in translation:

“And those who are patient, We will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.”

.. Dan Kami pasti akan memberikan balasan kepada orang yang sabar dengan pahala yang lebih baik dari apa yang telah mereka kerjakan.

Alqur’an 16:42 states in translation:

(They are) those who remained patient (in this world for Allâh’s sake), and put their trust in their Lord (Allâh Alone)

(Yaitu) orang yang sabar dan hanya kepada Tuhan mereka bertawakkal

3. There is Relief After Every Hardship

From the immense blessings and mercy of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is also that after every hardship there is relief, even if not in the form we asked of Him, for Allah (Tabaarak wa Ta’ala)

Al Qur’an 94:5-6 in translation:

“So verily with every difficulty there is relief: Verily with every difficulty there is relief. ”
Maka sesungguhnya bersama kesulitan ada kemudahan. Sesungguhnya bersama kesulitan ada kemudahan

4. Ibrahim and Zakariya were the model:

There are two main stories of infertility which we can draw and learn from Quran. The first model is from Ibrahim s.a.w. and his wife Sarah:

And his wife was standing (there) and she laughed:

Al Qur’an 11:71-73 in translation:

But We gave her glad tidings of Isaac and after him, of Jacob.” She said “Alas for me! Shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my husband here, is an old man? That indeed would be a wonderful thing!” They said: “Dost thou wonder at Allah’s decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, O ye people of the house! For He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of Glory

Dan istrinya berdiri lalu dia tersenyum, Maka kami sampaikan kepadanya kabar gembira tentang kelahiran Ishak dan setelah Ishak (akan lahir) Yakub

Dia (istrinya) berkata “sungguh ajaib, mungkinkan aku melahirkan anak padahal aku sudah tua dan suamiku ini sudah sangat tua? Ini benar-benar sesuatu yang ajaib

Mereka(para malaikat) berkata,”Mengapa engkau merasa heran dengan ketetapan Allah? Itu adalah rahmah dan berkah Allah, dicurahkan kepada kamu ahlul bait! Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Terpuji, Maha Pengasih.

The second story of infertility is from Zakariya and his wife :

Qur’an 3:38-40 in translation :

Thus did Zakariya pray to his Lord, saying:

“O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer!

While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: “Allah doth give thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet, of the (goodly) company of the righteous.” He said: “O my Lord! How shall I have son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?” “Thus,” was the answer, “Doth Allah accomplish what He willeth.”

Disanalah Zakariya berdoa kepada Tuhannya, Dia Berkata:

“Ya Tuhanku! Berilah aku keturunan yang baik dari sisimu. Sesungguhnya Engkau Maha Mendengar doa”

Kemudian para malaikat memanggilnya, ketika berdiri melaksanakan sholat di mihrab“ Allah menyampaikan kabar gembira kepadamu dengan kelahiran Yahya, yang membenarkan sebuah kalimat firman dari Allah, panutan, berkemampuan menahan diri dari hawa nafsu dan seorang nabi yang sholeh.“

Qur’an 19:2-4 in translation:

(This is) a recital of the Mercy of thy Lord to His servant Zakariya.Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret, Praying: “O my Lord! infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with grey: but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to Thee

Yang dibacakan ini adalah penjelasan tentang rahmat Tuhanmu kepada hambaNya Zakariya. Ketika dia berdoa kepada Tuhannya dengan suara yang lembut:“ Ya Tuhanku! Sungguh tulangku telah lemah dan kepalaku telah dipenuhi dengan uban dan aku belum pernah kecewa dalam berdoa kepadaMu, YaTuhanku

Qur’an 21:89-90 in translation:

“And (remember) Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: “O my Lord! leave me not without offspring, though thou art the best of inheritors.

” So We listened to him: and We granted him Yahya: We cured his wife’s (Barrenness) for him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works; they used to call on Us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before Us.

Dan Ingatlah kisah Zakariya, ketika dia berdoa kepada Tuhannya,” Ya Tuhanku, janganlah engkau biarkan aku hidup seorang diri tanpa keturunan dan Engkaulah ahli waris yang baik

Maka Kami kabulkan doanya dan Kami anugrahkan kepadanya Yahya, dan kami jadikan istrinya dapat mengandung. Sungguh mereka selalu bersegera dalam mengerjakan kebaikan dan mereka berdoa kepada Kami dengan penuh harap dan cemas. Dan mereka orang-orang yang khusyuk kepada Kami.

Forgive me not putting the Arabic holy Qur’an. All that is right and true comes from Allah, Lord of all the Worlds. Only the mistakes are mine.

resource:

http://www.islamset.com/bioethics/obstet/infert.html

http://islamic-world.net/sister/health.htm

The meaning of the Holy Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali

AlQur’an dan Terjemahannya by DEPAG RI