CHAPTER 1 THE INTRODUCTION OF USRAH

The Institution of Usrah in Sirah Nabawiyah

Usrah in arabic means family. The word usrah means a group of Afradul Muslimin which is an individual muslim, that is one who practice Islam and believes in Allah, helping each other out in better understanding of meaning of true Islam. Usrah is a platform for its member together in defining character building process which is build upon spirit of ukhuwah Islamiyah. Each group of usrah is lead by Naqib/Naqibah and is followed by members called mad'u in discussing matter of religion and current issues relate. Usrah is also as an act of education to nurture ukhuwah spirit as well in aligning 'fikrah' in society to develop 'amilin' the workers and not just 'mufakkirin' the thinker individual.

One of the way done by Prophet Muhammad SAW to educate early generation of  'sahaba' is by gather them in secret meeting in house of Al-Arqam Bin Abi Al-Arqam. The amount of people kept increasing which then Allah has commmand Rasulullah SAW to preach or spread the Islam avowedly as in surah Al-Hijr:94.

The downfall of Khilafah Islamiyah in year 1924 had stunt the usrah system. The Muslim started to loss its identity and Islam is becoming more forgotten and lost as day age. Fortunately with existance of As Syahid Imam Hassan Al-Banna (the founder of Ikhwanul Muslimin) had re-executed the usrah system. 

The Objectives of Usrah;

•           Increasing the spirit of Ukhuwah and to act as 'jemaah'
•            To increase the understanding of Islam and to be responsible muslim
•          To develop generation that truly understand Islam, practice Islam and prepare to fight   for it
•          to enhance and solidify faith of Islam practice of 'syumul'

Pillar of Usrah;

•        Ta’aruf (be acquainted)

In Usrah's group each person must getting know each other and need to be done continuously and love each other for the sake of Allah until he/she feel as if each person is like part of himself/herself. As in surah Hujurat:10

اِنَّمَا الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ اِخۡوَةٌ فَاَصۡلِحُوۡا بَيۡنَ اَخَوَيۡكُمۡ​وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ

Surely the believers are none but brothers unto one another, so set things right between your brothers, and have fear of Allah that you may be shown mercy.

• Tafahum (understanding)

Every muslim needs to understand and deeply connects with Islam by engaging you heart, your mind, your act and say to pleasing Allah only. Not only that, in peers or in Usrah, you need to understand each other and develop habits or culture of advicing each other towards goodness without intention of bringing each other down. As to what stated by Imam Hassan Al-Banna. ‘’Friend that is adviced to must be open and accept any advice with open heart. While the giver must not feel superior to that wrong doer person or change of heart.'' According to hadith Rasulullah SAW ‘’Islam is advice’’. We asked: ‘’To whom O Rasulullah?’’ Rasulullah SAW said ‘’For Allah, Holly Book, Prophet, leaders and to all Muslimin.’’ (AL-Muslimin)

•  Takaful (helping each other)

This pillar is to defend the fate of each other so that no one is left forgotten, left to died etc. Every member should concern about each other and care for one another. In hadith Rasulullah SAW; Whoever relieves a believer's distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the hereafter. Whoever conceals the faults of a muslim, Allah will conceals his fault in this life and the hereafter. (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim)

Manners of usrah;

•        Purify intention only for Allah SWT
•          Come to ceremony in punctual manner unless for good reason
•          Come to ceremony with whudu' on, dress properly, clean etc
•         Inform Naqib/Naqibah for any absent issues
•          Seat politely in ceremony like Zikrullah ceremony as angels are there too
•          Start ceremony with Al-Fatihah and end with 'Tasbih Kafarah' with Surah Al-Ikhlas
•          Ask for clarification or pop an questions if there is any

Usrah Activities;

•          Tazkirah
•          Problems sharing
•          Syllabus discussion
•          Iktikaf, Qiyamullail, wirid, iftar Jama’ie, jamaah prayer
•          infaq
•          Visiting

Core Values of usrah;

•       Affection and love as in surah maryam:96

                                     إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدّ
Indeed those who believes and done righteous deeds, the most Merciful will appoint them affection(heart).

•      Brotherhood Islam and us spirit as in surah Al-Anfal:72

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ  آمَنُوا  وَهَاجَرُوا  وَجَاهَدُوا  بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ  وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ  فِي سَبِيلِ  اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ  آوَوْا  وَنَصَرُوا  أُولَٰئِكَ  بَعْضُهُمْ  أَوْلِيَاءُ  بَعْضٍ  ۚ وَالَّذِينَ  آمَنُوا  وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُوا  مَا لَكُمْ  مِنْ وَلَايَتِهِمْ  مِنْ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ  يُهَاجِرُوا  ۚ  وَإِنِ اسْتَنْصَرُوكُمْ  فِي الدِّينِ  فَعَلَيْكُمُ  النَّصْرُ إِلَّا  عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ  وَبَيْنَهُمْ   مِيثَاقٌ  ۗ وَاللَّهُ  بِمَا  تَعْمَلُونَ  بَصِيرٌ           

Behold, as for those who have attained to faith, and who have forsaken the domain of evil and are striving hard, with their possessions and their lives, in God's cause, as well as those who shelter and succour [them] - these are [truly] the friends and protectors of one another. But as for those who have come to believe without having migrated [to your country]   - you are in no wise responsible for their protection until such a time as they migrate [to you]. Yet, if they ask you for succour against religious persecution, it is your duty to give [them] this succour - except against a people between whom and yourselves there is a covenant:  for God sees all that you do.

•      Knowledge culture as in Surah Al-Mujadalah:11

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

O you who have believed, when you are told, ''Spaced yourselves'', in assemblies, then make spaces; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told ''Arise'', the arise; Allah will raise those who believe among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is acquainted with what you do.

•      Advising culture as in Surah Al-Asr:3

                  إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ 
Except for those who have believed, and done righteous deeds and advice each other to truth and advice each other to patience.

•  Teamwork as in Surah As-Saff:4

                      إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفّاً كَأَنَّهُم بُنيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ

Verily Allah love those who fight in His way drown up in ranks, as though they were a structure well compacted.