The Rastafarian Religion

The Rastafarian religion originated in Africa.! It is often associated
with the poorer black population of Jamaica.! It is not just a religion, but
also a way of life.! Rastafarians speak out against; poverty, oppression and
inequality...not just religious ideas but global problems.! Rastafarians will use
the Bible for guidance.
The prime basic belief of the Rastafarians is that Haile Selassie is
the living God for the black race.! Selassie, whose previous name was Ras
Tafari, was the black Emperor of Ethiopia.! Rastafarians say scriptures
prophesized him as the one with "the hair of whose head was like wool (the
matted hair of I black man), whose feet were like unto burning brass (I
black skin)".
Selassie was not a Rastafarian himself.! He was a devout Christian.! In fact,
no one is really sure what he thought of the whole Rastafarian movement.!
When a group of Rastas went to Ethiopia to honor him, an official of the
palace told them to go away!! This did not make the Rastas question their
belief, it only made it stronger. God is not supposed to know he is God.
When Haile Selassie was reported dead, Rastas would not believe it.! They
believed that it was a trick of the media to try and bring their faith down.!
Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie the first has trodden on to the
perfect flesh, and sits on the highest point of Mount Zion where He and
Empress Menen await the time of judgment.!
The Rastafarian name for God is Jah.!!!!!!!!!!
The Lion of Judah represents Haile Selassie, the Conqueror.! It represents
the King of Kings as a lion is the king of all beasts.! Selassie wore a Lion of
Judah ring that was given to Bob Marley at the time of Selassie's death.
Babylon is the Rastafarian term for the white political power structure that
has been holding the black race down for centuries.! In the past, Rasta sees
that the shackles of slavery held down blacks physically.! In the present,
Rasta feel that blacks are still held down through poverty, illiteracy,
inequality, and trickery by the white man.! The effort of Rasta is to try to
remind blacks of their heritage and have them stand up against this Babylon.
Ethiopia, specifically, Africa in general, is considered the Rastas' heaven on
earth.! There is no afterlife or hell, as Christianity believes.! Rasta's believe
that Jah will send the signal and help the blacks exodus back to Ethiopian,
their homeland.! Any news from Ethiopia was taken very seriously as a
warning to get ready to leave.! The belief stems from Marcus Garvey's
theme, "Back to Africa".! Although Selassie's death came before this was
possible, it did succeed in turning blacks desire to look towards Africa as
their roots.
One of the more obvious symbols of the Rastafarians is color.! These are
red, gold, and green.! These colors were taken from the Garvey movement.!
The color red stands for the Church Triumphant, which is the church of the
Rastas.! It also symbolizes the blood that martyrs have shed in the history
of the Rastas. The yellow represents the wealth of the homeland.! Green
represents the beauty and vegetation of Ethiopia, the Promised Land.!
Sometimes black is used to represent the color of Africans, to whom 98% of
the Jamaicans are descended
Ganja is used for religious purposes for Rastafarians.! Its use is written in
the Bible in Psalms 104:14, "He caused the grass for the cattle, and herb for
the service of man".! The use of this herb is very extensive among the
Rastas not only for spiritual purposes as in their Nyabingi celebration, but
also for medicinal purposes for colds and such.! The following are a few of
the many Biblical texts that Rasta embrace as reasons Jah, gave for the use
of the herb:
“ . . . thou shalt eat the herb of the field " (Genesis 3:18)
". . . eat every herb of the land " (Exodus 10:12)
"Better is a dinner of herb where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred
therewith" (Proverbs 15:17)
The true Rasta eats only I-tal food.! This is special food never touches
chemicals or is natural and not in cans.! This food is cooked, but served in
the rawest form possible; without salts, preservatives, or condiments.!
Rastas are therefore vegetarians.! Drinking preferences rest with anything
that is herbal, such as tea.! Liquor, milk, coffee, and soft drinks are viewed
as unnatural.! The term I-tal food is rapidly taking hold in the consumer
industry in Jamaica.
The dreadlocks on a Rasta's head symbolize the Rastas roots, contrasting
the straight, blond look of the white man and establishment.! It not only
shows their roots, but it is supported in the Bible: Leviticus 21:5, "They shall
not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner
of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh".! The way the hair grows
comes to represent the symbol of the Lion of Judah.! This has also come to
symbolize rebellion of the system and the "proper" way to wear hair.

Reggae History

Reggae music is musical genre which is a result of the evolution and development of several other musical genres and styles. Although it is strongly influenced by Afro-Caribbean music and American R&B, reggae music primarily originated from the progressive developments of rocksteady and ska back in the 1960s in Jamaica. Bob Marley, a popular reggae musician, said that the term reggae came from the Spanish term for “the king’s music”. Today, reggae music continues to be a significant influence on many other genres such as black music, soul music and chillout music.

The distinguishing characteristic of reggae music would be a heavy and back-beated rhythm. This means that the emphasis of the beat would be on the second and fourth beat in a 4/4 time. This backbeat is actually a general characteristic of most African-based musical compositions and cannot be found in traditional Asian or European music. Another characteristic of reggae music would be an emphasis on the third beat in 4/4 time done through a kick on the bass drum. As for its harmony, reggae music often has a simple one; sometimes an entire song would have just one or two chords. Because of the simple and repetitive chord structures of reggae music, it has been sometimes described to have a hypnotic effect to the listener.

The lyrics of reggae music could somewhat be difficult to understand, as they are typically English-based but have a distinct Jamaican dialect. The common themes of the song lyrics of reggae music are usually associated with various subjects including relationships, love, religion, peace, sexuality, injustice and poverty. There are also some reggae songs with lyrics that attempt to elevate the political awareness of the audience through criticizing materialism, or through informing listeners about controversial topics like Apartheid. Some common socio-political topics which are also used in reggae songs would be Black Nationalism, anti-colonialism, anti-racism and anti-capitalism. Most reggae lyrics also reflect the traditions and beliefs of Rastafarianism, which is a religion practiced by the most famous reggae musicians of the world.

Reggae music has several subgenres. Here are some of them.

1. Skinhead reggae

Skinhead reggae originated in the late 1960s, when several reggae artists started targeting their lyrics and music to skinheads. Its difference from rocksteady would be that it has a slightly faster beat which is done by the drummer making use of the hi-hat, lower mixing of the bass, heavy organ lines and the electronic double rhythm guitar stroke. Some skinhead reggae artists would include Toots & the Maytals, John Holt, and The Pioneers and Symarip.

2. Roots reggae

Roots reggae is a spiritual subgenre of reggae, with lyrics that are mainly about praising Jah or the God of Rastafarianism. Some of the other lyrical themes of roots reggae would include poverty as well as resistance to government oppression. Most of the songs of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh are under this subgenre.

3. Dub

This subgenre of reggae involves an extensive remixing of recorded material. It is also distinguished by the emphasis on the drum and the bass line. Two of the early proponents of dub music would be Mikey Dread and Augustus Pablo.

4. Lovers Rock

With lyrics that are often about love, lovers rock is a subgenre of reggae that originated back in the mid-1970s in South London. In many ways, it is similar to rhythm and blues.

5. Dancehall

This genre was developed back 1980 and has a style which is characterized by a DJ singing and rapping over raw and fast rhythms.

6. Reggaeton

Reggaeton is a combination of reggae and dancehall music, which gained popularity among young Latinos during the early 1990s.

Today, reggae music continues to be one of the more popular musical genres appreciated by a wide range of listeners throughout the world.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley was a hero figure, in the classic mythological sense. His departure from this planet came at a point when his vision of One World, One Love -- inspired by his belief in Rastafari -- was beginning to be heard and felt. The last Bob Marley and the Wailers tour in 1980 attracted the largest audiences at that time for any musical act in Europe.

Bob's story is that of an archetype, which is why it continues to have such a powerful and ever-growing resonance: it embodies political repression, metaphysical and artistic insights, gangland warfare and various periods of mystical wilderness. And his audience continues to widen: to westerners Bob's apocalyptic truths prove inspirational and life-changing; in the Third World his impact goes much further. Not just among Jamaicans, but also the Hopi Indians of New Mexico and the Maoris of New Zealand, in Indonesia and India, and especially in those parts of West Africa from wihch slaves were plucked and taken to the New World, Bob is seen as a redeemer figure returning to lead this.

In the clear Jamaican sunlight you can pick out the component parts of which the myth of Bob Marley is comprised: the sadness, the love, the understanding, the Godgiven talent. Those are facts. And although it is sometimes said that there are no facts in Jamaica, there is one more thing of which we can be certain: Bob Marley never wrote a bad song. He left behind the most remarkable body of recorded work. "The reservoir of music he has left behind is like an encyclopedia," says Judy Mowatt of the I-Threes. "When you need to refer to a certain situation or crisis, there will always be a Bob Marley song that will relate to it. Bob was a musical prophet."

The tiny Third World country of Jamaica has produced an artist who has transcended all categories, classes, and creeds through a combination of innate modesty and profound wisdom. Bob Marley, the Natural Mystic, may yet prove to be the most significant musical artist of the twentieth century.

Bob Marley gave the world brilliant and evocative music; his work stretched across nearly two decades and yet still remains timeless and universal. Bob Marley & the Wailers worked their way into the very fabric of our lives.

"He's taken his place alongside James Brown and Sly Stone as a pervasive influence on R & B", says the American critic Timothy White, author of the acclaimed Bob Marley biography CATCH A FIRE: THE LIFE OF BOB MARLEY. "His music was pure rock, in the sense that it was a public expression of a private truth."

It is important to consider the roots of this legend: the first superstar from the Third World, Bob Marley was one of the most charismatic and challenging performers of our time and his music could have been created from only one source: the street culture of Jamaica.

The days of slavery are a recent folk memory on the island. They have permeated the very essence of Jamaica's culture, from the plantation of the mid-nineteenth century to the popular music of our own times.

Although slavery was abolished in 1834, the Africans and their descendants developed their own culture with half-remembered African traditions mingled with the customs of the British.

This hybrid culture, of course, had parallels with the emerging black society in America. Jamaica, however, remained a rural community which, without the industrialisation of its northern neighbour, was more closely rooted to its African legacy.

By the start of the twentieth century that African heritage was given political expression by Marcus Garvey, a shrewd Jamaican preacher and entrepreneur who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The organisation advocated the creation of a new black state in Africa, free from white domination. As the first step in this dream, Garvey founded the Black Star Line, a steamship company which, in popular imagination at least, was to take the black population from America and the Caribbean back to their homeland of Africa.

A few years later, in 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia and took a new name, Haile Selassie, The Emperor claimed to be the 225th ruler in a line that stretched back to Menelik, the son of Solomon and Sheba.

The Marcus Garvey followers in Jamaica, consulting their New Testaments for a sign, believed Haile Selassie was the black king whom Garvey had prophesied would deliver the Negro race. It was the start of a new religion called Rastafari.

Fifteen years later, in Rhoden Hall to the north of Jamaica, Bob Marley was born. His mother was an eighteen-year-old black girl called Cedella Booker while his father was Captain Norval Marley, a 50-year-old white quartermaster attached to the British West Indian Regiment.

The couple married in 1944 and Robert Nesta Marley was born on February 6, 1945. Norval Marley's family, however, applied constant pressure and, although he provided financial support, the Captain seldom saw his son who grew up in the rural surroundings of St. Ann to the north of the island.

For country people in Jamaica, the capital Kingston was the city of their dreams, the land of opportunity. The reality was that Kingston had little work to offer, yet through the Fifties and Sixties, people flooded to the city. The newcomers, despite their rapid disillusion with the capital, seldom returned to the rural parishes. Instead, they squatted in the shanty towns that grew up in western Kingston, the most notorious of which was Trench town (so named because it was built over a ditch that drained the sewage of old Kingston.)

Bob Marley, barely into his teens, moved to Kingston in the late Fifties. Like many before them, Marley and his mother eventually settled in Trenchtown. His friends were other street youths, also impatient with their place in Jamaican society. One friend in particular was Neville O'Riley Livingston, known as Bunny, with whom Bob took his first hesitant musical steps.

The two youths were fascinated by the extraordinary music they could pick up from American radio stations. In particular there was one New Orleans station broadcasting the latest tunes by such artists as Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Curtis Mayfield and Brook Benton. Bob and Bunny also paid close attention to the black vocal groups, such as the Drifters, who were extremely popular in Jamaica.

When Bob quit school he seemed to have but one ambition: music. Although he took a job in a welding shop, Bob spent all his free time with Bunny, perfecting their vocal abilities. They were helped by one of Trench Town's famous residents, the singer Joe Higgs who held informal lessons for aspiring vocalists in the tenement yards. It was at one of those sessions that Bob and Bunny met Peter McIntosh, another youth with big musical ambitions.

In 1962 Bob Marley auditioned for a local music entrepreneur called Leslie Kong. Impressed by the quality of Bob's vocals, Kong took the young singer into the studio to cut some tracks, the first of which, called "Judge Not", was released on Beverley's label. It was Marley's first record. The other tunes -- including "Terror" and "One Cup of Coffee" -- received no airplay and attracted little attention. At the very least, however, they confirmed Marley's ambition to be a singer. By the following year Bob had decided the way forward was with a group. He linked up with Bunny and Peter to form The Wailing Wailers.

The new group had a mentor, a Rastafarian hand drummer called Alvin Patterson, who introduced the youths to Clement Dodd, a record producer in Kingston. In the summer of 1963 Dodd auditioned The Wailing Wailers and, pleased with the results, agreed to record the group.

It was the time of ska music, the hot new dance floor music with a pronounced back-beat. Its origins incorporated influences from Jamaica's African traditions but, more immediately, from the heady beats of New Orleans' rhythm & blues disseminated from American radio stations and the burgeoning sound systems on the streets of Kingston. Clement - Sir Coxsone - Dodd was one of the city's finest sound system men.

The Wailing Wailers released their first single, "Simmer Down", on the Coxsone label during the last weeks of 1963. By the following January it was number one in the Jamaican charts, a position it held for the next two months. The group -- Bob, Bunny and Peter together with Junior Braithwaite and two back-up singers, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith -- were big news.

"Simmer Down" caused a sensation in Jamaica and The Wailing Wailers began recording regularly for Coxsone Dodd's Studio One Company. The groups' music also found new themes, identifying with the Rude Boy street rebels in the Kingston slums. Jamaican music had found a tough, urban stance.

Over the next few years The Wailing Wailers put out some thirty sides that properly established the group.

Despite their popularity, the economics of keeping the group together proved too much and the three other members -- Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith -- quit. Bob's mother, Cedella, had remarried and moved to Delaware in the United States where she had saved sufficient money to send her son an air ticket. The intention was for Bob to start a new life. But before he moved to America, Bob met a young girl called Rita Anderson and, on February 10, 1966, they were married.

Marley's stay in America was short-lived. He worked just enough to finance his real ambition: music. In October 1966 Bob Marley, after eight months in America, returned to Jamaica. It was a formative period in his life. The Emperor Haile Selassie had made a state visit to Jamaica in April that year. By the time Bob re-settled in Kingston the Rastafarian movement had gained new credence.

Marley was increasingly drawn towards Rastafari. In 1967 Bob's music reflected his new beliefs. Gone were the Rude Boy anthems; in their place was a growing commitment to spiritual and social issues, the cornerstone of his real legacy.

Marley joined up with Bunny and Peter to re-form the group, now known as The Wailers. Rita, too, had started a singing career, having a big hit with "Pied Piper", a cover of an English pop song. Jamaican music, however, was changing. The bouncy ska beat had been replaced by a slower, more sensual rhythm called rock steady.

The Wailers new commitment to Rastafarianism brought them into conflict with Coxsone Dodd and, determined to control their own destiny, the group formed their own record label, Wail 'N' Soul. Despite a few early successes, however, the Wailers' business naivete proved too much and the label folded in late 1967.

The group survived, however, initially as songwriters for a company associated with the American singer Johnny Nash who, the following decade, was to have an international smash with Marley's "Stir It Up". The Wailers also met up with Lee Perry, whose production genius had transformed recording studio techniques into an art form.

The Perry/Wailers combination resulted in some of the finest music the band ever made. Such tracks as "Soul Rebel", "Duppy Conqueror", "400 Years" and "Small Axe" were not only classics, but they defined the future direction of reggae.

In 1970 Aston 'Family Man' Barrett and his brother Carlton (bass and drums respectively) joined the Wailers. They had been the rhythm nucleus of Perry's studio band, working with the Wailers on those ground-breaking sessions. They were also unchallenged as Jamaica's hardest rhythm section, a status that was to remain undiminished during the following decade. The band's reputation was, at the start of the Seventies, an extraordinary one throughout the Caribbean. But internationally the Wailers were still unknown.

In the summer of 1971 Bob accepted an invitation from Johnny Nash to accompany him to Sweden where the American singer had taken a filmscore commission. While in Europe Bob secured a recording contract with CBS which was also, of course, Nash's company. By the spring of 1972 the entire Wailers were in London, ostensibly promoting their CBS single "Reggae on Broadway". Instead they found themselves stranded in Britain.

As a last throw of the dice Bob Marley walked into the Basing Street Studios of Island Records and asked to see its founder Chris Blackwell. The company, of course, had been one of the prime movers behind the rise of Jamaican music in Britain; indeed Blackwell had launched Island in Jamaica during the late fifties.

By 1962, however, Blackwell had realised that, by re-locating Island to London, he could represent all his Jamaican rivals in Britain. The company was re-born in May, 1962, selling initially to Britain's Jamaican population centered mostly in London and Birmingham.

The hot ska rhythm, however, quickly became established as a burgeoning dance floor beat with the then growing Mod culture and, in 1964, Blackwell produced a worldwide smash with 'My Boy Lollipop', a pop/ska tune by the young Jamaican singer Millie.

Through the Sixties Island had grown to become a major source of Jamaican music, from ska and rock steady to reggae. The company had also embraced white rock music, with such bands and artists as Traffic, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Cat Stevens, Free and Fairport Convention so, when Bob Marley made his first moves with Island in 1971, he was connecting with the hottest independent in the world at that time.

Blackwell knew of Marley's Jamaican reputation. The group was offered a deal unique in Jamaican terms. The Wailers were advanced £4000 to make an album and, for the first time, a reggae band had access to the best recording facilities and were treated in much the same way as, say, their rock group contemporaries. Before this deal, it was considered that reggae sold only on singles and cheap compilation albums. The Wailers' first album "Catch A Fire" broke all the rules: it was beautifully packaged and heavily promoted. It was the start of a long climb to international fame and recognition.

Years later the acclaimed reggae dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, commenting on "Catch A Fire", wrote: "A whole new style of Jamaican music has come into being. It has a different character, a different sound. . . what I can only describe as International Reggae. It incorporates elements from popular music internationally: rock and soul, blues and funk. These elements facilitated a breakthrough on the international market."

Although "Catch A Fire" was not an immediate hit, it made a considerable impact on the media. Marley's hard dance rhythms, allied to his militant lyrical stance, came in complete contrast to the excesses of mainstream rock. Island also decided The Wailers should tour both Britain and America; again a complete novelty for a reggae band.

Marley and the band came to London in April 1973, embarking on a club tour which hardened The Wailers as a live group. After three months, however, the band returned to Jamaica and Bunny, disenchanted by life on the road, refused to play the American tour. His place was taken by Joe Higgs, The Wailers' original singing teacher.

The American tour drew packed houses and even included a weekend engagement playing support to the young Bruce Springsteen. Such was the demand that an autumn tour was also arranged with seventeen dates as support to Sly & The Family Stone, then the number one band in black American music.

Four shows into the tour, however, The Wailers were taken off the bill. It seems they had been too good; support bands should not detract from the main attraction. The Wailers nevertheless made their way to San Francisco where they broadcast a live concert for the pioneering rock radio station, KSAN.

The bulk of that session was finally made available in February 1991, when Island released the commemorative album, "Talkin' Blues".

In 1973 The Wailers also released their second Island album, "Burnin'", an LP that included new versions of some of the band's older songs: "Duppy Conqueror", for instance, "Small Axe" and "Put It On" -- together with such tracks as "Get Up Stand Up" and "I Shot The Sheriff". The latter, of course, was a massive worldwide hit for Eric Clapton the following year, even reaching number one in the U.S. singles' chart.

In 1974 Marley spent much time of his time in the studio working on the sessions that eventually provided "Natty Dread", an album that included such fiercely committed songs as "Talkin' Blues", "No Woman No Cry", "So Jah Seh", "Revolution", "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" and "Rebel Music (3 o'clock Roadblock)". By the start of the next year, however, Bunny and Peter had quit the group; they were later to embark on solo careers (as Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh) while the band was re-named Bob Marley & The Wailers.

"Natty Dread" was released in February 1975 and, by the summer, the band was on the road again. Bunny and Peter's missing harmonies were replaced by the I-Threes, the female trio comprising Bob's wife Rita together with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt. Among the concerts were two shows at the Lyceum Ballroom in London which, even now, are remembered as highlights of the decade.

The shows were recorded and the subsequent live album, together with the single "No Woman No Cry", both made the charts. Bob Marley & The Wailers were taking reggae into the mainstream. By November, when The Wailers returned to Jamaica to play a benefit concert with Stevie Wonder, they were obviously the country's greatest superstars.

"Rastaman Vibration", the follow-up album in 1976, cracked the American charts. It was, for many, the clearest exposition yet of Marley's music and beliefs, including such tracks as "Crazy Baldhead", "Johnny Was", "Who the Cap Fit" and, perhaps most significantly of all, "War", the lyrics of which were taken from a speech by Emperor Haile Selassie.

Its international success cemented Marley's growing political importance

in Jamaica, where his firm Rastafarian stance had found a strong resonance with the ghetto youth.

By way of thanking the people of Jamaica, Marley decided on a free concert, to be held at Kingston's National Heroes Park on December 5, 1976. The idea was to emphasise the need for peace in the slums of the city, where warring factions had brought turmoil and murder.

Just after the concert was announced, the government called an election for December 20. The campaign was a signal for renewed ghetto war and, on the eve of the concert, gunmen broke into Marley's house and shot him.

In the confusion the would-be assassins only wounded Marley, who was hastily taken to a safe haven in the hills surrounding Kingston. For a day he deliberated playing the concert and then, on December 5, he came on stage and played a brief set in defiance of the gunmen.

It was to be Marley's last appearance in Jamaica for nearly eighteen months. Immediately after the show he left the country and, during early 1977, lived in London where he recorded his next album, Exodus.

Released in the summer of that year, Exodus properly established the band's international status. The album remained on the UK charts for 56 straight weeks, and its three singles - "Exodus", "Waiting in Vain" and "Jammin" - were all massive sellers. The band also played a week of concerts at London's Rainbow Theatre; their last dates in the city during the seventies.

In 1978 the band capitalised on their chart success with "Kaya", an album which hit number four in the UK the week after release. That album saw Marley in a different mood; a collection of love songs and, of course, homages to the power of ganja. The album also provided two chart singles, "Satisfy My Soul" and the beautiful "Is This Love".

There were three more events in 1978, all of which were of extraordinary significance to Marley. In April, he returned to Jamaica to play the One Love Peace Concert in front of the Prime Minister Michael Manley and the Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga.

He was then invited to the United Nations in New York to receive the organisation's Medal of Peace. At the end of the year Bob also visited Africa for the first time, going initially to Kenya and then on to Ethiopia, spiritual home of Rastafari.

The band had earlier toured Europe and America, a series of shows that provided a second live album, "Babylon By Bus". The Wailers also broke new ground by playing in Australia, Japan and New Zealand: truly international style reggae.

"Survival", Bob Marley's ninth album for Island Records, was released in the summer of 1979. It included "Zimbabwe", a stirring anthem for the soon-to-be liberated Rhodesia, together with "So Much Trouble In The World", "Ambush In The Night" and "Africa Unite"; as the sleeve design, comprising the flags of the independent nations, indicated, "Survival" was an album of pan-African solidarity.

At the start of the following year -- a new decade -- Bob Marley & The Wailers flew to Gabon where they were to make their African debut. It was not an auspicious occasion, however, when the band discovered they were playing in front of the country's young elite. The group, nevertheless, was to make a quick return to Africa, this time at the official invitation to the government of liberated Zimbabwe to play at the country's Independence Ceremony in April, 1980. It was the greatest honour ever afforded the band, and one which underlined the Wailer's importance in the Third World.

The band's next album, "Uprising", was released in May 1980. It was an instant hit, with the single, "Could You Be Loved" a massive worldwide seller. Uprising also featured "Coming In From the Cold", "Work" and the extraordinary closing track, "Redemption Song".

The Wailers embarked on a major European tour, breaking festival records throughout the continent. The schedule included a 100,000-capacity crowd in Milan, the biggest show in the band's history. Bob Marley & The Wailers, quite simply, were the most important band on the road that year and the new Uprising album hit every chart in Europe. It was a period of maximum optimism and plans were being made for an American tour, in company with Stevie Wonder, that winter.

At the end of the European tour Marley and the band went to America. Bob played two shows at Madison Square Garden but, immediately afterwards, was taken seriously ill.

Three years earlier, in London, Bob hurt a toe while playing football. The wound had become cancerous and was belatedly treated in Miami, yet it continued to fester. By 1980 the cancer, in its most virulent form, had begun to spread through Marley's body.

He fought the disease for eight months, taking treatment at the clinic of Dr. Joseph Issels in Bavaria. Issels' treatment was controversial and non-toxic and, for a time anyway, Bob's condition seemed to stabilise.

Eventually, however, the battle proved too much. At the start of May, Bob Marley left Germany for his Jamaican home, a journey he did not complete.

He died in a Miami hospital on Monday May 11, 1981.

The previous month, Marley had been awarded Jamaica's Order Of Merit, the nation's third highest honour, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the country's culture.

On Thursday May 21, 1981, the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley O.M. was given an official funeral by the people of Jamaica. Following the service - attended by both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition - Marley's body was taken to his birthplace at Nine Mile, on the north of the island, where it now rests in a mausoleum. Bob Marley was 36-years-old. His legend, however, has conquered the years.

DICE merupakan perusahaan paling baru yang bergabung untuk pengembangan game ini. DICE mengatakan bahwa game ini sudah siap untuk gelombang baru pada konsol, contohnya Battlefield 3 yang sudah siap dengan engine Frostbite 2.

Eksekutif Produser DICE, Patrick Bach melalui CVG mengatakan "Jika nantinya Battlefield 3 bukan game yang paling menarik untuk game konsol tahun ini, tapi game ini akan menjadi game acuan untuk generasi game konsol berikutnya”.

Patrick Bach juga menambahkan bahwa walaupun Microsoft atau Sony telah merilis platform baru untuk Xbox 720 atau PlayStation 4, mesin Frostbite 2 akan dengan mudah diskalakan ke perangkat tersebut. Seperti yang dikatakan sebelumnya, DICE telah membuat teknologi yang siap untuk generasi konsol berikutnya.

"Kami sudah siap. Jika Microsoft atau Sony besok akan merilis konsol baru, skala mesin Frostbite 2 sudah siap pada platform terbaru mereka. Karena kami melihat tidak hanya pada teknologi PC untuk hari ini, tapi juga pada apa yang akan terjadi besok jika teknologi ini benar-benar dirilis."

Battlefield 3 sudah dibuatkan videonya yang menampilkan apa saja yang bisa dilakukan di game tersebut. Namun Kita masih harus menunggu untuk rilisnya, karena game ini dijadwalkan untuk muncul pada akhir tahun, yang diterbitkan oleh Electronic Arts

cara memunculkan foder yang terhiden firus

Langkah berikut adalah cara mudah merubah attribut dari file yang terHidden dengan hanya menggunakan perintah di Command Prompt yang tersedia di Windows XP. Dengan begitu, di mana dan kapanpun anda berada anda bisa memunculkan file yang ter-Hidden dengan mudah, tanpa harus anda tergantung pada script atau program tertentu. Lebih praktis dan tentu lebih efisien.

1. Buka Command Prompt dengan cara Klik Start Menu – Accessories – Command Prompt

2. Tampilan pertama pada command prompt akan tampak seperti ini :

“C:\Documents and Settings\Username>” tanpa tanda kutip, dimana username merupakan profiles anda di komputer tersebut.

3. Setelah itu masuk ke Folder dimana file-file yang terhidden anda tersimpan. Misal kalau anda menyimpan file-file yang terhidden di folder document pada drive D maka anda masukan perintah berikut ini : “cd /d d:\document” tanpa tanda kutip sehingga tampilan di command prompt akan tampak seperti ini : “D:\document>”

Tips : sebaiknya anda kumpulkan file-file dan folder anda yang terHidden dalam satu folder, sehingga anda bisa menghemat waktu dan tidak harus melakukan langkah ini pada setiap file atau folder yang terhidden.

4. Waktunya anda merubah file-file anda tersebut menjadi visible atau tidak terhidden lagi, dengan memasukan perintah berikut : (tanpa tanda kutip)

“attrib -r -a -s -h /s /d” dengan perintah ini, maka semua file dan folder didalam folder tersebut (folder document di langkah 3) akan kembali muncul, dan tidak terhidden lagi.

Ket : r = read only, a=archive, s=system, h=hidden, tanda minus (-) untuk menghilangkan attribut pada suatu file, anda bisa menggantinya dengan tanda plus (+), untuk menambahkan attribut pada suatu file.

Bagaimana? Mudah bukan. Jadi bila suatu waktu anda berkunjung ke rumah teman anda, dan anda diminta untuk memunculkan kembali file-filenya yang terhidden, anda bisa menolongnya dengan segera, tanpa perlu anda tergantung pada script atau program tertentu.

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bahaya di depan komputer

5 Jam per Hari di Depan PC, Bikin Cepat Mati
Temuan ini menambah bukti yang terus terkumpul seputar bahayanya berlama-lama duduk.
Rabu, 20 April 2011, 07:14 WIB

VIVAnews - Menurut penelitian, menghabiskan waktu lebih dari 5 jam per hari di depan komputer bisa merusak jantung dan menjurus ke kematian lebih cepat. Penyebabnya adalah posisi duduk, terutama duduk bersandar, yang merupakan posisi umum saat orang bekerja dengan komputer, bermain game, ataupun menonton televisi.

Penelitian tersebut dilakukan oleh Emmanuel Stamatakis, peneliti dari University College London, Inggris. Ia melakukan penelitian terhadap lebih dari 4.500 orang berusia di atas 35 tahun dan hasilnya dipublikasikan di Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Temuan ini menambah bukti-bukti yang terus terkumpul seputar bahayanya berlama-lama duduk. Padahal, kecenderungan yang terjadi saat ini adalah orang semakin banyak yang duduk di depan komputer saat bekerja di kantor.

“Orang yang menghabiskan waktu lebih dari 4 jam berturut-turut per hari di depan komputer memiliki peluang 125 persen lebih tinggi akan mengalami kematian terkait penyakit jantung dibanding mereka yang hanya menghabiskan waktu kurang dari 2 jam di depan layar,” kata Stamatakis, seperti dikutip dari Examiner, 20 April 2011.

Stamatakis menyebutkan, dari penelitian, mereka juga menemukan bahwa 48 persen orang yang menghabiskan waktu 4 jam di depan komputer berturut-turut juga berpeluang mengalami kematian lebih cepat akibat faktor lain di luar jantung.

Lebih lanjut, mereka yang menghabiskan lebih dari 5 jam di depan komputer per hari, risiko mati lebih cepatnya naik secara signifikan.

Sebelumnya, diperkirakan bahwa mereka yang menghabiskan waktu terlalu banyak di depan komputer, atau juga di depan televisi, merupakan orang yang malas berolahraga dan menyebabkan munculnya penyakit. Namun, dari data yang didapat, tidak demikian.

“Orang yang berolahraga secara reguler di waktu luang mereka juga memiliki peluang untuk mati lebih cepat,” kata Stamatakis.

Peneliti meyakini bahwa penyebabnya memang adalah duduk yang terlalu lama. Posisi tersebut diketahui menyebabkan penurunan 90 persen lipoprotein lipase dan enzim jantung yang sehat. Pembengkakan dan masalah metabolisme yang disebabkan oleh ketidakatifan dalam waktu panjang juga menjadi sumber permasalahan.

Akan tetapi, ada solusi bagi mereka yang terpaksa harus bekerja di depan komputer sepanjang hari. “Anda harus bangun setiap 20 menit dan berjalan kaki sejenak,” kata Stamatakis. “Itu akan menurunkan masalah-masalah tersebut dan mungkin akan meningkatkan peluang Anda untuk hidup lebih lama,” ucapnya. (sj)

Cara Unik Hentikan Cegukan

HAMPIR semua orang tampaknya pernah mengalami cegukan, tanpa memandang jenis kelamin atau usia. Cegukan adalah tiruan bunyi karena udara di kerongkongan tersendat seperti jika habis makan makanan kering lalu tidak minum sehingga udara di kerongkongan tersendat-sendat keluar.

Cegukan terjadi karena kontraksi disengaja pada otot diafragma yang membantu jalannya pernapasan. Suara khas cegukan muncul karena iritasi pada saraf diafragma yang mengganggu pergerakan napas.

Jika Anda tiba-tiba terserang cegukan, coba beberapa salah satu dari trik berikut ini seperti dikutip dari Times News Network, Senin (30/1):

1. Obat lezat sekaligus efektif untuk menghentikan cegukan adalah makan sesendok selai kacang.
2. Segera minum air di antara cegukan.
3. Kunyah satu sendok gula secara perlahan, ini juga bisa menghentikan cegukan.
4. Makan campuran sedikit garam dan yoghurt dalam sebuah mangkuk kecil.
5. Cara lain yang unik, isap es batu dengan perlahan di dalam mulut.
6. Gigit satu iris jahe.
7. Tertawa keras, ini merupakan cara menyenangkan untuk menghentikan cegukan.

Sumer

Mematikan Autoplay di Windows Vista / 7

Kita semua sudah mafhum bahwa salah satu cara penyebaran virus adalah dengan memanfaatkan fitur Autoplay yang secara default aktif di Windows anda. Ketika anda memasukkan CD atau Flashdisk yang telah terkontaminasi oleh virus, maka secara otomatis virus yang ada dalam Flashdisk/CD tersebut akan aktif dengan adanya fitur autoplay ini, akibatnya sudah bisa ditebak komputer andapun terserang virus.

Untuk menonaktifkan/disable fitur Autoplay di Windows XP anda bisa membacanya di Menonaktifkan “AutoPlay” untuk Mencegah Virus, Sedangkan untuk menonaktifkan /mendisable Autoplay di Windows Vista, ikutilah langkah-langkah berikut ini.

1. Cara pertama dan termudah adalah dengan mengakses [Control Panel] dan kemudian klik opsi “Play CDs or other media automatically”

Cara tercepat untuk menonaktifkan Autoplay adalah dengan menghilangkan tanda ceklist pada “Use AutoPlay for all media and devices”

2. Cara Kedua khusus bagi anda yang menggunakan Windows Vista versi Business dan Ultimate. Akses gpedit.mscmelalu box search pada start menu kemudian arahkan ke Windows Components\ Autoplay Policies dan kemudian rubah opsinya menjadi enable.

3. Cara Ketiga adalah dengan melalui menu registry. Silahkan gunakan Registry berikut ini.

• NonAktifkanAutoPlayAll.reg = untuk menonaktifkan AutoPlay pada semua Device
• NonAktifkanAutoPlayRemovable.reg = untuk menonaktifkan AutoPlay pada Removable Device (Flashdisk)

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Cerita tentang Dajjal dan segitiga bermuda

Cerita tentang Dajjal dan segitiga bermuda

Gw dulu pernah baca buku karangan muhammad isa dawud.itu adalah sebuah buku yang sangat fantastis menurut gw.jika buku ini dibaca oleh orang awam,maka mereka akan tahu fakta-fakta dan konspirasi-konspirasi dunia mengenai dajjal dan sebagainya.

Djajal ialah seorang manusia biasa.dia dilahirkan dari ayah dan ibu yang melakukan hubungan badan saat sang ibu sedang haid.maka dengan kuasa tuhan dilahirkan seorang dajjal,pada awal kelahiranny dia sudah menyengsarakan kedua orang tuanya.dajjal hanya bisa menangis seharian dan tidak mau meminum ASI sehingga ibunya sakit parah.

saat dia sudah besar,dia berkelana ke sebuah pulau disana dia hidup dengan seokor ular yang menemaninya,memberi makan dan kadang-kadang mengajaknya berbicara.makin hari dajjal semakin pintar,dia makin tahu banyak hal.dia berpikir bahawa dialah yang terhebat tidak ada yang bisa menandinginya.dia berpikir bahwa dialah tuhan.ular itupun berbicara kepadanya tentang kebenaran tuhan yang sesungguhnya..namun dajjal dengan angkuhnya menolak penjelasan tersebut.beberapa hari kemudian melalui perintah allah swt ular itupun kembali berbicara kepada dajjal tentang 2 pilihan yang akan diberikan.pertama jika dajjal meyakinin tuhan,maka ia akan diangkat jadi raja yg sangat terkenal dan kaya raya,namun jika dia tidak mau percaya pada tuhan maka dia akan ditangguhkan umurnya hingga kiamat nanti dengan segala risiko perbuatannya di dunia akhirat.

akhirnya dajjal pergi menjelajah ke jaman nabi musa,dia belajar tentang sihir dan berbagai hal.umurnya yang sangat tua,namun tidak merubah fisiknya inilah anugerah yang tuhan berikan kepada dajjal,namun anugerah itu disalahgunakannya.

lambat laun dia mengetahui cerita tentang iblis dan kehebatannya..dia pergi untuk mencari iblis,dia ingin bertemu untuk membuat suatu perjanjian..ya mereka berdua berpendapat bahwa mereka bisa menjadi tuhan dengan mengumpulkan segala kekuatan secara bersama-sama.akhirnya perjanjian itu dibuat.yang isinya pokoknya ialah bahwa iblis merupakan raja yang tak terlihat,sedang dajjal ialah raja yang terlihat.mereka membangun istana di segitiga bermuda dengan ilmu-ilmu teknik yang sangat mengagumkan.tiada orang di dunia yang mampu menyayingkan istana dajjal dan iblis.

segitiga bermuda adalah kawasan dimana bertemunya arus panas dan dingin,di dalam al-quran sudah diberitahukan bahwa setan suka dengan pertemuan anatara yang panas dan dingin,kawasan itu dibangun sebuah istana yang megah dengan prinsip-prinsip teknik fisika,kimia,sipil,dsb.istana ini terletak di dasar laut,namun para penghuninya disana mendapatkan oksigen dengan baik.walahu alam..mereka sungguh pintar…istana tersebut sangat megah dan penuh barang berkilauan,istana tersebut tidak mampu dideteksi oleh perangkat komunikasi.dialah otak yang merencanakan ini semua.seorang DAJJAL.ingatlah dajjal itu berumur sangat panjang,maka pengetahuannya sangatlah luas.

banyak sekali kita mendengar pesawat-pesawat hilang di daerah segitiga bermuda,sesungguhnya itu adalah perbuatan dajjal,para awak pesawat ditangkap untuk keperluan mereka ada yang dijadikan budak,dijadikan bahan penelitian,budak nafsu syahwat mereka,dsb.

Dalam istana dajjal mereka membuat susunan pemerintahan dengan strategi-strategi untuk menguasai dunia pada saatnya nanti mereka akan muncul ke permukaan,saat ini yang mereka lakukan masih tersembunyi dan mereka masih menyerang dengan paham-paham ideologi.mereka masih mencari pengikut-pengikut dajjal yang setia dan rela berkorban untuknya.mereka mempunyai bahasa senndiri yang sengaja mereka buat.bahasa tersebut campuran bahasa sangsekerta.para prajurit belajar semua bahasa di dunia untuk kepentingan dajjal.

perilaku Dajjal semakin hari semakin jadi,percayalah dan sadarlah teman-temanku.Teman saya dari SMA 8 Jakarta pernah bercerita bahwa ada beberapa organisasi yang mencoba untuk menyusup ke dalam Sekolah terbaik,universitas terbaik untuk mecari anggota baru menjadi pengikut iblis dan dajjal.tawarannya bukan main2,organisasi ini menjajikan uang tiap bulannya untuk kebutuhan mereka,segala urursan kuliahan akan dibiayai,dan syaratnya ialah mereka disuruh mengupas darahnya lalu berjanji atas nama iblis bahwa mereka “tidak mengakui adanya tuhan!”..wauw nauzubillah minzalik…teman saya yang mendapat tawaran tersebut,tentu menolak secara baik-baik.anda tahu bahwa teman yang mengajak untuk ikut organisasi tersebut sekarang berada dimana.Merka telah masuk dalam LSN(Lembaga Sandi Negara) tentunya nanti mereka akan menjadi BIN(Badan Intelijen Negara).ouh beberapa tahun kedepan negara kita akan dipenuhi orang2 yang menganut paham Dajjal,itu tandanya dajjal akan segera muncul jika posisinya semakin kuat dan menampakan diri di dunia.mereka sangat pintar dan mereka pun mencari anggota-anggota yang pintar juga.

kita lanjut lagi ke permasalahan Dajjal sesungguhnya…Dajjah sudah mampu membuat pesawat dengan kecepatan yang tinggi tanpa mengeluarkan suara dengan desain yang unik.iya itulah pesawat yang sering dilihat oleh penduduk dunia yang mereka pikir itu ialah UFO dari planet lain.Dajjal dengan sangat baik membuat kamuflasenya,,coba anda bayangkan sesungguhnya untuk dapat keluar dari galaksi kita ini membutuh waktu yang sangat panjang yaitu sekitar 780.000 tahun cahaya menuju galaksi andromeda yang merupakan tetangga galaksi bima sakti ,di dunia ini belum ada yang mampu membuat suatu kendaraan yang mampu mendekati cahaya.jika dunia sudah mampu maka tidak mustahil kita akan mampu keluar dari galaksi bima sakti.Faktanya apabila ada kehidupan diluar bumi mereka juga blum tentu mampu mengunjungi bumi.

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Rasulullah S.A.W. "Sesungguhnyakiamat itu tidak akan terjadi sebelum kamu melihat sepuluh tanda :-

• 1 Asap
• 2 Dajjal
• 3 Binatang melata di bumi
• 4 Terbitnya matahari sebelah barat
• 5 Turunnya Nabi Isa A.S
• 6 Keluarnya Yakjuj dan Makjuj
• 7 Gerhana di timur
• 8 Gerhana di barat
• 9 Gerhana di jazirah Arab
• 10 Keluarnya api dari kota Yamanmenghalau manusia ke tempat pengiringan mereka.

Dajjal maksudnya ialah bahayabesar yang tidak ada bahaya sepertinya sejak Nabi Adam A.S sampai harikiamat. Dajjal boleh membuat apa sahaja perkara-perkara yang luar biasa.Dia akan mendakwa dirinya Tuhan, sebelah matanya buta dan di antara keduamatanya tertulis perkataan 'Ini adalah orang kafir'.

Asap akan memenuhi timur danbarat, ia akan berlaku selama 40 hari. Apabila orang yang beriman terkenaasap itu, ia akan bersin seperti terkena selsema, sementara orang kafirpula keadaannya seperti orang mabuk, asap akan keluar dari hidung, telingadan dubur mereka.

Binatang melata yang dikenalisebagai Dabatul Ard ini akan keluar di kota Mekah dekat gunung Shafa, iaakan berbicara dengan kata-kata yang fasih dan jelas. Dabatul Ard ini akanmembawa tongkat Nabi Musa A.S dan cincin Nabi Sulaiman A.S.

Apabila binatang ini memukulkantongkatnya ke dahi orang yang beriman, maka akan tertulislah di dahi orangitu 'Ini adalah orang yang beriman'. Apabila tongkat itu dipukul ke dahiorang yang kafir, maka akan tertulislah 'Ini adalah orang kafir'.

Turunnya Nabi Isa. A.S di negeriSyam di menara putih, beliau akan membunuh dajjal. Kemudian Nabi Isa A.Sakan menjalankan syariat Nabi Muhammad S.A.W.

Yakjuj dan Makjuj pula akankeluar, mereka ini merupakan dua golongan. Satu golongan kecil dan satulagi golongan besar. Yakjuj dan Makjuj itu kini berada di belakang bendunganyang dibangunkan oleh Iskandar Zulqarnain. Apabila keluarnya mereka ini,bilangannya tidak terhitung banyaknya, sehingga kalau air laut Thahatiahdiminum nescaya tidak akan tinggal walau pun setitik.

Rasulullah S.A.W telah bersabda," Hari kiamat itu mempunyai tanda, bermulanya dengan tidak laris jualandi pasar, sedikit sahaja hujan dan begitu juga dengan tumbuh-tumbuhan.Ghibah menjadi-jadi di merata-rata, memakan riba, banyaknya anak-anak zina,orang kaya diagung-agungkan, orang-orang fasik akan bersuara lantang dimasjid, para ahli mungkar lebih banyak menonjol dari ahli haq"

Berkata Ali bin Abi Talib,Akan datag di suatu masa di mana Islam itu hanya akan tinggal namanya sahaja,agama hanya bentuk sahaja, Al-Qur'an hanya dijadikan bacaan sahaja, merekamendirikan masjid, sedangkan masjid itu sunyi dari zikir menyebut AsmaAllah. Orang-orang yang paling buruk pada zaman itu ialah para ulama, darimereka akan timbul fitnah dan fitnah itu akan kembali kepada mereka juga.Dan kesemua yang tersebut adalah tanda-tanda hari kiamat."

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W, "Apabilaharta orang kafir yang dihalalkan tanpa perang yang dijadikan pembahagianbergilir, amanat dijadikan seperti harta rampasan, zakat dijadikan sepertipinjaman, belajar lain daripada agama, orang lelaki taat kepada isterinya,menderhakai ibunya, lebih rapat dengan teman dan menjauhkan ayahnya, suara-suaralantang dalam masjid, pemimpin kaum dipilih dari orang yang fasik, oarngdimuliakan kerana ditakuti akan tindakan jahat dan aniayanya dan bukankerana takutkan Allah, maka kesemua itu adalah TANDA-TANDA KIAMAT

Sesungguhnya setiap makhluk hidup –apakah itu manusia, hewan, atau tumbuh-tumbuhan– memiliki tanda-tanda dari akhir kesudahan hidupnya di dunia. Tanda-tanda dekatnya kematian manusia adalah rambut beruban, tua, sakit, lemah. Begitu juga halnya dengan hewan, hampir sama dengan manusia. Sedangkan tumbuhan warna menguning, kering, jatuh, lalu hancur. Demikian juga alam semesta, memiliki tanda-tanda akhir masanya seperti kehancuran dan kerusakan.Saa’ah asalnya adalah sebagian malam atau siang. Dikatakan juga: Saa’at segala sesuatu berarti waktunya hilang dan habis. Dari makna ini, maka saa’ah atau kiamat mengandung dua macam, yaitu : Saa’ah khusus bagi setiap makhluk, seperti tanaman binatang dan manusia ketika mati; dan bagi sebuah umat jika datang ajalnya. Itu semua dikatakan telah datang saatnya. Saa’ah umum bagi dunia secara keseluruhan ketika ditiup sangkakala, maka hancurlah segala yang di langit dan di bumi.

Bagaimana dengan kiamat yang sebenarnya? Tentu saja lebih dahsyat, lebih besar, dan lebih mengerikan. Dan Alquran banyak menyebutkan tentang kejadian di hari kiamat. Terjadinya kiamat adalah hal yang gaib. Hanya Allah saja yang tahu. Tidak satu pun dari makhlukNya mengetahui kapan kiamat, baik para nabi maupun malaikat. Allah SWT. Berfirman, “Sesungguhnya Allah, hanya pada sisi-Nya sajalah pengetahuan tentang Hari Kiamat.” (Luqman 34).

Maka ketika ditanya tentang hal ini, Rasulullah saw. Mengembalikannya kepada Allah swt., “Kepada-Nyalah dikembalikan pengetahuan tentang hari kiamat.” (Fushilat: 47)

Allah merahasiakan terjadinya hari kiamat, dan menerangkan bahwa kiamat akan datang secara tiba-tiba. “Mereka menanyakan kepadamu tentang kiamat: ‘Bilakah terjadinya?’ Katakanlah: ‘Sesungguhnya pengetahuan tentang kiamat itu adalah pada sisi Tuhanku; tidak seorang pun yang dapat menjelaskan waktu kedatangannya selain Dia. Kiamat itu amat berat (huru-haranya bagi makhluk) yang di langit dan di bumi. Kiamat itu tidak akan datang kepadamu melainkan dengan tiba-tiba.’ Mereka bertanya kepadamu seakan-akan kamu benar-benar mengetahuinya. Katakanlah: ‘Sesungguhnya pengetahuan tentang hari kiamat itu adalah di sisi Allah, tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak mengetahui’.” (Al-A’raaf: 187)

Namun demikian, sesungguhnya Allah dengan rahmat-Nya telah menjadikan kiamat memiliki alamat yang menunjukkan ke arah itu dan tanda-tanda yang mengantarkannya. “Maka tidaklah yang mereka tunggu-tunggu melainkan hari kiamat (yaitu) kedatangannya kepada mereka dengan tiba-tiba, karena sesungguhnya telah datang tanda-tandanya. Maka apakah faedahnya bagi mereka kesadaran mereka itu apabila hari kiamat sudah datang?” (Muhammad: 18)

Yang mereka nanti-nanti tidak lain hanyalah kedatangan malaikat kepada mereka (untuk mencabut nyawa mereka), atau kedatangan Tuhanmu atau kedatangan sebagian tanda-tanda Tuhanmu. Pada hari datangnya sebagian tanda-tanda Tuhanmu tidaklah bermanfaat lagi iman seseorang bagi dirinya sendiri yang belum beriman sebelum itu, atau dia (belum) mengusahakan kebaikan dalam masa imannya. Katakanlah: ‘Tunggulah olehmu sesungguhnya kami pun menunggu (pula’).”(Al-An’am: 158)

Maka tanda-tanda kiamat adalah alamat kiamat yang menunjukkan akan terjadinya kiamat tersebut. Dan tanda-tanda kiamat ada dua: tanda-tanda kiamat besar dan tanda-tanda kiamat kecil.

Tanda kiamat kecil adalah tanda yang datang sebelum kiamat dengan waktu yang relatif lama, dan kejadiannya biasa, seperti dicabutnya ilmu, dominannya kebodohan, minum khamr, berlomba-lomba dalam membangun, dan lain-lain. Terkadang sebagiannya muncul menyertai tanda kiamat besar atau bahkan sesudahnya.

Tanda kiamat besar adalah perkara yang besar yang muncul mendekati kiamat yang kemunculannya tidak biasa terjadi, seperti muncul Dajjal, Nabi Isa a.s., Ya’juj dan Ma’juj, terbit matahari dari Barat, dan lain-lain.

Para ulama berbeda pendapat tentang permulaan yang muncul dari tanda kiamat besar. Tetapi Ibnu Hajar berkata, “Yang kuat dari sejumlah berita tanda-tanda kiamat, bahwa keluarnya Dajjal adalah awal dari tanda-tanda kiamat besar, dengan terjadinya perubahan secara menyeluruh di muka bumi. Dan diakhiri dengan wafatnya Isa a.s. Sedangkan terbitnya matahari dari Barat adalah awal dari tanda-tanda kiamat besar yang mengakibatkan perubahan kondisi langit. Dan berakhir dengan terjadinya kiamat.” Ibnu Hajar melanjutkan, ”Hikmah dari kejadian ini bahwa ketika terbit matahari dari barat, maka tertutuplah pintu taubat.” (Fathul Bari)

Tanda-tanda kiamat kecil terbagi menjadi dua: Pertama, kejadian sudah muncul dan sudah selesai; seperti diutusnya Rasulullah saw., terbunuhnya Utsman bin ‘Affan, terjadinya fitnah besar antara dua kelompok orang beriman. Kedua, kejadiannya sudah muncul tetapi belum selesai bahkan semakin bertambah; seperti tersia-siakannya amanah, terangkatnya ilmu, merebaknya perzinahan dan pembunuhan, banyaknya wanita dan lain-lain.

Di antara tanda-tanda kiamat kecil adalah:

1. Diutusnya Rasulullah saw

Jabir r.a. berkata, ”Adalah Rasulullah saw. jika beliau khutbah memerah matanya, suaranya keras, dan penuh dengan semangat seperti panglima perang, beliau bersabda, ‘(Hati-hatilah) dengan pagi dan sore kalian.’ Beliau melanjutkan, ‘Aku diutus dan hari Kiamat seperti ini.’ Rasulullah saw. mengibaratkan seperti dua jarinya antara telunjuk dan jari tengah. (HR Muslim)

2. Disia-siakannya amanat

Jabir r.a. berkata, tatkala Nabi saw. berada dalam suatu majelis sedang berbicara dengan sahabat, maka datanglah orang Arab Badui dan berkata, “Kapan terjadi Kiamat ?” Rasulullah saw. terus melanjutkan pembicaraannya. Sebagian sahabat berkata, “Rasulullah saw. mendengar apa yang ditanyakan tetapi tidak menyukai apa yang ditanyakannya.” Berkata sebagian yang lain, “Rasul saw. tidak mendengar.” Setelah Rasulullah saw. menyelesaikan perkataannya, beliau bertanya, “Mana yang bertanya tentang Kiamat?” Berkata lelaki Badui itu, ”Saya, wahai Rasulullah saw.” Rasulullah saw. Berkata, “Jika amanah disia-siakan, maka tunggulah kiamat.” Bertanya, “Bagaimana menyia-nyiakannya?” Rasulullah saw. Menjawab, “Jika urusan diserahkan kepada yang bukan ahlinya, maka tunggulah kiamat.” (HR Bukhari)

3. Penggembala menjadi kaya

Rasulullah saw. ditanya oleh Jibril tentang tanda-tanda kiamat, lalu beliau menjawab, “Seorang budak melahirkan majikannya, dan engkau melihat orang-orang yang tidak beralas kaki, telanjang, dan miskin, penggembala binatang berlomba-lomba saling tinggi dalam bangunan.” (HR Muslim)

4. Sungai Efrat berubah menjadi emas

Dari Abu Hurairah ra. bahwa Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Tidak akan terjadi kiamat sampai Sungai Eufrat menghasilkan gunung emas, manusia berebutan tentangnya. Dan setiap seratus 100 terbunuh 99 orang. Dan setiap orang dari mereka berkata, ”Barangkali akulah yang selamat.” (Muttafaqun ‘alaihi)

5. Baitul Maqdis dikuasai umat Islam

”Ada enam dari tanda-tanda kiamat: kematianku (Rasulullah saw.), dibukanya Baitul Maqdis, seorang lelaki diberi 1000 dinar, tapi dia membencinya, fitnah yang panasnya masuk pada setiap rumah muslim, kematian menjemput manusia seperti kematian pada kambing dan khianatnya bangsa Romawi, sampai 80 poin, dan setiap poin 12.000.” (HR Ahmad dan At-Tabrani dari Muadz).

6. Banyak terjadi pembunuhan

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a. bahwa Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Tiada akan terjadi kiamat, sehingga banyak terjadi haraj.. Sahabat bertanya apa itu haraj, ya Rasulullah?” Rasulullah saw. Menjawab, “Haraj adalah pembunuhan, pembunuhan.” (HR Muslim)

7. Munculnya kaum Khawarij

Dari Ali ra. berkata, saya mendengar Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Akan keluar di akhir zaman kelompok orang yang masih muda, bodoh, mereka mengatakan sesuatu dari firman Allah. Keimanan mereka hanya sampai di tenggorokan mereka. Mereka keluar dari agama seperti anak panah keluar dari busurnya. Di mana saja kamu jumpai, maka bunuhlah mereka. Siapa yang membunuhnya akan mendapat pahala di hari Kiamat.” (HR Bukhari).

8. Banyak polisi dan pembela kezhaliman

“Di akhir zaman banyak polisi di pagi hari melakukan sesuatu yang dimurkai Allah, dan di sore hari melakukan sesutu yang dibenci Allah. Hati-hatilah engkau jangan sampai menjadi teman mereka.” (HR At-Tabrani)

9. Perang antara Yahudi dan Umat Islam

Dari Abu Hurairah bahwa Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Tidak akan terjadi kiamat sehingga kaum muslimin berperang dengan yahudi. Maka kaum muslimin membunuh mereka sampai ada seorang yahudi bersembunyi di belakang batu-batuan dan pohon-pohonan. Dan berkatalah batu dan pohon, ‘Wahai muslim, wahai hamba Allah, ini yahudi di belakangku, kemari dan bunuhlah ia.’ Kecuali pohon Gharqad karena ia adalah pohon Yahudi.” (HR Muslim)

10. Dominannya Fitnah

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a. bahwa Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Tidak akan terjadi kiamat, sampai dominannya fitnah, banyaknya dusta dan berdekatannya pasar.” (HR Ahmad).

11. Sedikitnya ilmu

12. Merebaknya perzinahan

13. Banyaknya kaum wanita

Dari Anas bin Malik ra. bahwa Rasulullah saw. bersabda. “Sesungguhnya di antara tanda-tanda kiamat adalah ilmu diangkat, banyaknya kebodohan, banyaknya perzinahan, banyaknya orang yang minum khamr, sedikit kaum lelaki dan banyak kaum wanita, sampai pada 50 wanita hanya ada satu lelaki.” (HR Bukhari)

14. Bermewah-mewah dalam membangun masjid

Dari Anas ra. bahwa Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Diantara tanda kiamat adalah bahwa manusia saling membanggakan dalam keindahan masjid.” (HR Ahmad, An-Nasa’i dan Ibnu Hibban)

15. Menyebarnya riba dan harta haram

Dari Abu Hurairah ra. berkata, Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Akan datang pada manusia suatu waktu, setiap orang tanpa kecuali akan makan riba, orang yang tidak makan langsung, pasti terkena debu-debunya.” (HR Abu Dawud, Ibnu Majah dan Al-Baihaqi)

Dari Abu Hurairah ra. berkata, Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Akan datang pada manusia suatu saat di mana seseorang tidak peduli dari mana hartanya didapat, apakah dari yang halal atau yang haram.” (HR Ahmad dan Bukhari)

Tanda-Tanda Kiamat Besar

Sedangkan tanda-tanda kiamat besar yaitu kejadian sangat besar dimana kiamat sudah sangat dekat dan mayoritasnya belum muncul, seperti munculnya Imam Mahdi, Nabi Isa, Dajjal, Ya’juj dan Ma’juj.

Ayat-ayat dan hadits yang menyebutkan tanda-tanda kiamat besar di antaranya:

Hingga apabila dia telah sampai di antara dua buah gunung, dia mendapati di hadapan kedua bukit itu suatu kaum yang hampir tidak mengerti pembicaraan. Mereka berkata, “Hai Dzulqarnain, sesungguhnya Ya’juj dan Ma’juj itu orang-orang yang membuat kerusakan di muka bumi, maka dapatkah kami memberikan sesuatu pembayaran kepadamu, supaya kamu membuat dinding antara kami dan mereka?” Dzulqarnain berkata, “Apa yang telah dikuasakan oleh Tuhanku kepadaku terhadapnya adalah lebih baik, maka tolonglah aku dengan kekuatan (manusia dan alat-alat), agar aku membuatkan dinding antara kamu dan mereka.” (Al-Kahfi: 82)

“Dan apabila perkataan telah jatuh atas mereka, Kami keluarkan sejenis binatang melata dari bumi yang akan mengatakan kepada mereka, bahwa sesungguhnya manusia dahulu tidak yakin kepada ayat-ayat Kami.” (An-Naml: 82)

Dari Hudzaifah bin Usaid Al-Ghifari ra, berkata: Rasulullah saw. muncul di tengah-tengah kami pada saat kami saling mengingat-ingat. Rasulullah saw. bertanya, “Apa yang sedang kamu ingat-ingat?” Sahabat menjawab, “Kami mengingat hari kiamat.” Rasulullah saw. bersabda,”Kiamat tidak akan terjadi sebelum engkau melihat 10 tandanya.” Kemudian Rasulullah saw. menyebutkan: Dukhan (kabut asap), Dajjaal, binatang (pandai bicara), matahari terbit dari barat, turunnya Isa as. Ya’juj Ma’juj dan tiga gerhana, gerhana di timur, barat dan Jazirah Arab dan terakhir api yang keluar dari Yaman mengantar manusia ke Mahsyar. (HR Muslim)

Dari Abdullah bin Mas’ud ra. berkata, Rasulullah saw. bersabda, ”Hari tidak akan berakhir, dan tahun belum akan pergi sehingga bangsa Arab dipimpin oleh seorang dari keluargaku, namanya sama dengan namaku.” (HR Ahmad)

Perbedaan antara tanda-tanda kiamat kecil dan kiamat besar adalah :

1. Tanda-tanda kiamat kecil secara umum datang lebih dahulu dari tanda-tanda kiamat besar.
2. Tanda-tanda kiamat kecil sebagiannya sudah terjadi, sebagiannya sedang terjadi dan sebagiannya akan terjadi. Sedangkan tanda-tanda kiamat besar belum terjadi.
3. Tanda-Tanda Kiamat Kecil bersifat biasa dan tanda kiamat besar bersifat luar biasa.
4. Tanda kiamat kecil berupa peringatan agar manusia sadar dan bertaubat. Sedangkan kiamat besar jika sudah datang, maka tertutup pintu taubat.
5. Tanda-tanda kiamat besar jika muncul satu tanda, maka akan diikuti tanda-tanda yang lainnya. Dan yang pertama muncul adalah terbitnya matahari dari Barat .

Berkata Ali bin Abi Talib,
“Akan datang di suatu masa di mana Islam itu hanya akan tinggal namanya saja, agama hanya bentuk saja,
Al-Qur’an hanya dijadikan bacaan saja, mereka mendirikan masjid, sedangkan masjid itu sunyi dari zikir menyebut Asma Allah.
Orang-orang yang paling buruk pada zaman itu ialah para ulama, dari mereka akan timbul fitnah dan fitnah itu akan kembali kepada mereka juga.
Dan kesemua yang tersebut adalah tanda-tanda hari kiamat.”

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W,
“Apabila harta orang kafir yang dihalalkan tanpa perang yang dijadikan pembahagian bergilir, amanat dijadikan seperti harta rampasan, zakat dijadikan seperti pinjaman, belajar lain daripada agama, orang lelaki taat kepada isterinya, menderhakai ibunya, lebih rapat dengan teman dan menjauhkan ayahnya, suara-suara lantang dalam masjid, pemimpin kaum dipilih dari orang yang fasik, orang dimuliakan kerana ditakuti akan tindakan jahat dan aniayanya dan bukan kerana takutkan Allah, maka kesemua itu adalah Tanda - tanda kiamat

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