Changing our objectives this Ramadan

Changing our objectives this Ramadan

Each Ramadan is a new opportunity to gain rewards from Allah.

How can we maximize our Ramadan this year; or how can we benefit most from this holy month?

Should our objectives for Ramadan mainly be increasing our worship, from prayers to reading Qur’an to voluntary night prayers to giving charity to the remembrance of Allah? That is indeed praiseworthy and we know that the rewards for such good deeds will be multiplied up to 700 times in Ramadan. Alternatively, should our focus this Ramadan be on trying to quit bad habits and discontinue the sins we are committing, whether openly in public or in the privacy of our homes? Or does it mean both increasing our acts of worship and staying away from sins?

The majority of people concentrate on performing more prayers, reading more Qur’an, and donating more in Ramadan. On the other side, they fail to pinpoint the sins they may be committing and they fall short in staying away from these sins and fulfilling the requirements needed to seek repentance and forgiveness from Allah.

It is not easy to avoid falling into sin, and many of us are unaware of the gravity of the matter. The sins we may partake in cannot be lumped into one category. The forms and shapes of sins vary. To free ourselves from sin requires a great deal of self-evaluation and looking inwards, because some sins are hidden from the eyes of the people and they silently creep up on us. The diseases of the heart are considered sins, yet they are unseen by others, such as envy, jealousy, arrogance, hypocrisy, or having rancor in our hearts for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.

The diseases of the heart are particularly dangerous because they are serious sins, yet they may linger in our hearts unchecked if we do not try our best to rid ourselves of them. We must immediately turn to Allah and make a sincere and honest repentance from these sins. It requires that we search deeply within ourselves, because sometimes we may commit these sins without even being conscious of them. If you are unaware of this underlying disease of the heart, then it is harder to treat. By constantly checking and analyzing our internal mental and emotional state, we can correct these mistakes before they take hold of our hearts.

There is a second category of sins which is manifested in the physical limbs of your body. These sins are more obvious, such as lying, stealing, backbiting, looking at that which is unlawful in Islam, eating impermissible foods.

Among the greatest ways a believer can come closer to Allah is to avoid committing acts which Allah has forbidden us to do. It may be relatively easy for a believer to pray, fast, perform the pilgrimage, give in charity, but it is more difficult to battle the whisperings of evil, for example and hold one’s tongue from lying or backbiting or gossiping.

The devout believer must beware of falling into sins in Ramadan and maintain this all year long. The worshiper avoids looking at inappropriate scenes, dealing with usury and interest, slandering, backbiting, and defaming people in the community.

It is relatively easy to fast from food and drink, but it requires more effort to be able to fast from the sins of the tongue. That is also a type of fasting, as Maryam, may Allah be pleased with her, was ordered to fast from speaking.

Allah prescribed silence for Maryam, as mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verse.

{ So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.} (Chapter 19, verse 26)

Fasting from idle talk, spreading rumors, and attacking people’s honor and dignity is an essential part of fasting which we tend to overlook.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent.” (Sahih Bukhari)

It is easy to abstain from food and drink during the fast. However, the objective of fasting in Ramadan is not simply to give up food and drink, it is to purify the soul, cleanse the heart, create a higher level of mental awareness of Allah, and to refine our character. The true challenge when fasting is the struggle to overcome one’s inner desires, whims, and impulses.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him said, “Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst.” (Ahmad)

In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” (Sahih Bukhari)

This is the essence of Ramadan, and this is what we are missing. True fasting differentiates the devout believer who is sincerely seeking the pleasure of Allah from the average person who is hoping to gain the admiration of people and their praise and approval. True fasting distinguishes sincere worship of Allah from merely fasting as a habit or cultural practice.

The great scholar, Ibn Taymiyyah, said that a good person and a bad person can both do good deeds, but it is only a pious person who can stay away from sins. A sinful person may be quick to do good deeds, but still takes interest on money, eats prohibited foods, and looks at what is impermissible. Fear of
Allah is what stops a devout, pious person from sinning.

Staying away from sins should be our primary objective this Ramadan. To accomplish this we need to first identify which sins we have become accustomed to committing. Be honest with yourself. Once we have determined the sins we want to quit, we can make a sincere repentance to Allah.

Repentance is more than simply repeating the phrase, “O Allah, forgive me.” Repentance is feeling a sense of remorse, hating to go back to the sin, being determined not to fall into the sin again, and of course asking Allah for forgiveness. When a believer’s repentance is accepted by Allah, the believer becomes free of sin, like a new born baby.

Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant when he turns penitently towards Him than one of you would be on finding his lost camel.” (Muslim)
Therefore, our objectives this Ramadan, in addition to reading the entire Qur’an, praying until late at night, and giving in charity, is to break away from the sins we have been committing and sincerely turn and repent to Allah.

Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)         Ramadan Umrah Package (16 Night)

Ramadan Umrah Package (21 Night)         All Umrah packages 2017

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Ramadan Umrah Packages 2017 is the best Umrah package deals -- British haj travel

Ramadan Umrah Packages 2017 is the best Umrah package deals

Umrah is not mandatory religious practice in Islam as Hajj but it also brings lots of rewards promised by Allah. It has been a continuous practice from the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and is being practiced from that time onward. With the passage of time, the number of Muslims performed Umrah has been increased significantly. Though, it can be performed any time in the year but the strength of pilgrimage increase tenfold in the month of Holy Ramadan. Prophet Mohammad narrated in many occasions that the reward of Umrah increase as much as of hajj. Ramadan is such a month in Islam that makes Muslims to earn the blessings of Allah.

Scheduling your Ramadan Umrah Package was not that ease as this is today. All you have to hire a Umrah travelling agent so make all necessary adjustments so as to give you maximum comfort. Your peace of mind concerning your visit, stay and transportation belongs to the agent you are going to hire for your holy journey of Makkah and Madina. He can either make you troublesome or free from hassle. Ramadan Umrah packages 2017 are there for you so that you can choose a suitable package to make your trip possible.

Ranges of Umrah package are offered for Ramadan 2017, from cheap to 5 stars packages are provided because of meeting your need. No matter you ask for cost effective visit or you want to spend more to buy maximum luxury. Not only cheap or luxury Umrah packages are there but some average packages are also being offered so as to attain a mean of two extremes. Most of the Muslim brothers who can't afford much are advised to go with cheap Ramadan Umrah Packages as to make their dreams come true while visiting holy places of Makkah and Madina.

One thing you must have to keep in your mind ahead of selecting traveling agent for your Umrah package in Ramadan 2017 that you must choose a reliable and trustworthy agent or company. It has been observed that most of the times you are not being served the services you paid. You pay high for your comfort but do not given the luxury you deserve. There is a way to find out a reliable the trustworthy that can make full of comfort arrangement for you. This is really important for you do that you can perform your religious duties with high devotions. Eventfully, your devotion with your religious duties will surely help you attain what you want. Schedule your Ramadan Umrah package for this holy Ramadan 2017 with us because we completely understand the needs of our customers for Umrah visit.

Why Chose British haj travel for Umrah in Ramadan

There are so many tour operators and travel agencies in UK that are offering Umrah in Ramadan. But our Packages 2017 stands most prominent and most outstanding because of British haj travel is well-known for its services every year for Hajj and Umrah, Pilgrims feel the comfort and ease at every step during their whole sacred journey. With most excellent of airline services with cheap flight tickets to the top of accommodation in city Makkah and Madina, most excellent and neat and clean hotels near Holy Kaaba and finest hotels near Masjid-e-Nabwi speaks of our high quality service better than the rest. Beside Hotels, transportation, food in city Makkah and Medina we provide our customers with best guide and Muaalim to assist you at each and every step. With an ease of Umrah visa and ticketing to travel and other requirements, British haj travel serves its precious clients to the best till the end.

Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)         Ramadan Umrah Package (16 Night)

Ramadan Umrah Package (21 Night)         All Umrah packages 2017

Source: kaabahtours.co.uk

Islam growing faster than any other religion

Islam growing faster than any other religion

According to a recent BBC News report, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. If trends continue, Islam will overtake Christianity by 2070, becoming the world’s largest religion, as stated by research published by the US-based Pew Research Center.

In 2010, Indonesia had the largest Muslim population in the world, with 205 million Muslims.

It is estimated that by 2050, India will have the largest Muslim population in the world, reaching 311 million Muslim.

The Christian population in the United Kingdom and France will drop below 50%, and 10% of the people in Europe are forecast to be Muslim in 2050.

In the US, 1 in 50 people are expected to be Muslim by 2050.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Ramadan Umrah packages 2017 From United Kingdom --British haj travel

Ramadan Umrah packages 2017 From United Kingdom --British haj travel

British haj travel is proud to offer its highly professional services to all Muslims in the United Kingdom. Owing to the significance of performing Ramadan umrah packages 2017 and finding the right balance between extortionate prices due to the peak season, British haj travel has already designed suitable Umrah packages for the enthusiastic pilgrims. Our motto is to accomplish your dreams by yielding the best value for your hard-earned money. Our proficient team ensures that their assistance accompany you during the beautiful journey of Umrah so nothing goes awry.

Significance of performing Umrah in Ramadan

Umrah is spiritual journey of one's lifetime whereby people seek forgiveness from the Almighty Allah for their all-time misdeeds. Umrah can be performed regardless of the time constraints at any given time of the year. As a matter of fact, it is highly recommended to perform Ramadan umrah packages 2017 since you are rewarded 70 times more than any other Islamic month. Prophet (PBUH) stated that;

"When the month of Ramadan arrives, go for 'umrah, because `Umrah in Ramadan is like accompanying me on Hajj"

Thus, it increases the faith to visit Makkah and Madina in the most blessed month of Islamic calendar to earn the greatest virtue.

Avail Ramadan Umrah Package in lowest price possible

Our team is maintaining its global network so efficiently to facilitate you in your purest journey by making it stress-free from the beginning till the end. Pilgrims may chose to depart from the largest airport of London i.e. Heathrow for direct flights to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia. We have undoubtedly committed ourselves to bring ease and comfort in your virtuous trip so we can further assist you in booking flights from any of your nearest airport whether it be Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow. In addition to this, our crafted packages can be more customized according to you needs and requirements.

You may book Umrah package deals for first, second, or third ashra of Ramadan for wide-ranging five stars to economical umrah packages. Once you intend to perform Umrah, rest will be taken care of by our experienced agents by offering you with the best deals. Let our agents serve you in visa processing, booking the cheapest flight, suitable accommodation, comfort during fasting, best sehar and iftar deals, transportation facility between Makkah, Madina and much more. It is considered to be our foremost duty to prove ourselves as "the best pick of the season".

Cheap Flight and Accommodation Options for Umrah in Ramadan 2017

An experience for over a decade has enabled British haj travel to hunt where the ducks are. Everybody wishes to feel like home while travelling anywhere in the world that would be a plus point in your trip and Saudi Arabia is no exception to that. We negotiate the deals with the top notch service providers to match your needs and ensure the affordability factor for all pilgrims. Just as all over the world, hotel and accommodation places are enriched with the modern amenities of life and are located in the close proximity of Makkah and Madina.

British haj travel assist you to book with us in advance which further relieves the stress during the trip. Our team is well-aware of all the quirks of nearby accommodation places, therefore, guarantee as smooth as possible stay to the pilgrims of Umrah.

3-5 star economy hotels 3-5 stars deluxe hotels or even more luxurious hotels are available based on budget preferences.

Mövenpick hotel & residences Royal Dal al eman, Fairmont Makkah, Hilton Hotel, Al Safwah Royale Orchid, Hotel Pullman Zamzam Makkah, Swissotel Makkah, Royal Dar Al Eiman are among the names of the five star luxury accommodation places with impeccable service.

Once you are under the assistance of British haj travel, our agents will make your stay possible in the immediate vicinity of Khana Kaaba in Makkah. Furthermore, it is advised to book well ahead for Ramadan Umrah Package 2017 in order to grab and go with the hassle-free trip. If you have missed to book in advance under any given circumstances, our agents are just a call away for the last minute bookings.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights      Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights

Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)         Ramadan Offer 2017      Hajj packages 2017

source: travelhouseuk.co.uk

Authorities finalize Ramadan preparations

Government agencies and private companies have finalized their Ramadan preparations.

Makkah Police have put in place an elaborate security arrangement for the safety of visitors to the Grand Mosque.

Its priorities include maintaining a smooth traffic flow and managing the crowd.

Makkah Traffic Department Director Col. Bassim Al-Badry said the Traffic Department also has started its Ramadan plans.

“We set up nine parking lots around the city for local private vehicles and public buses transporting pilgrims and worshipers,” he said.

The local parking lots are: Al-Shuhada, Kudai, Al-Rusaifah, Rabwat Mina, Prince Miteb Street, the Jamrat, Daqam Al-Wabar, Al-Zahir.

There are five parking areas for vehicles coming from outside Makkah. These are Al-Sharaie, Taif road, Madinah road, A-Laith road and Al-Shumaisi police checkpoint.

Al-Badry said there are drop off stations around the Grand Mosque for pilgrims and visitors.

There are also inspection points in the areas surrounding the Grand Mosque to ensure that the vehicles that drive by do not park in the area and obstruct the pedestrian traffic.

Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has instructed that worshipers will not be allowed to offer non-obligatory prayers in the mataf (circumambulation) area till the end of Ramadan.

He has also said that Iftar meals will be not allowed inside the mataf.
The Emir ordered to clear the mataaf area in order to allow pilgrims performing circumambulation to complete their Umrah without hindrance.

Worshipers and pilgrims will be allowed to pray the five obligatory prayers inside the mataaf.

The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has made available enough electric scooters for elderly, weak and sick pilgrims.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

The concept of tolerance in Islam

The cconcept of tolerance in Islam

Tolerance means ‘’to bear.’’ As a concept, it refers to respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of cultures, forms of expression and ways of being human. In Arabic, it is called tasamuh. Words like hilm (forbearance) or ‘afw (forgiveness) or saf-h (overlooking) also convey the meaning of tolerance. In Persian and Urdu, we use the word rawadari which is derived from rawa meaning acceptable or bearable anddashtan meaning “to hold”. Thus it means to hold something acceptable or bearable.

Intolerance has become the culture of the day. It is causing death, genocide, violence, religious persecution as well as confrontations at different levels. Sometimes it is racial and ethnic, sometimes it is religious and ideological, and sometimes it is political and social. Whatever may be the reason, intolerance is painful in each situation. How can we solve the problem of intolerance? How can we bring tolerance in the world today? I have tried to discuss these issues from an Islamic point of view.

Tolerance is a basic principle of Islam. It is a religious and moral duty. It does not mean concession. It does not mean lack of principles, or lack of seriousness about one’s principles. Sometimes it is advocated that people are tolerant of things that they do not care about. But this is not the case in Islam. Tolerance, according to Islam, does not mean that we do not believe that Islam is the final edition of divine faith and is superior to other faiths and ideologies as such. It does not mean that we do not present the message of Islam to all Mankind.

 

The UNESCO principles on tolerance read as follows: “Consistent with respect for human rights, the practice of tolerance does not mean toleration of social injustices or the abandonment or weakening of one’s convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one’s own convictions and accepts that others adhere to theirs. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are. It also means that one’s views are not to be imposed on others.’’ The preamble of the Indian Constitution vows Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and opportunity; and calls for promoting among all Indians Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual.

 

Thus tolerance comes from our recognition of:

 

A.   The dignity of the human beings,

B.   The basic equality of all human beings,

C.   Universal human rights

D.   Fundamental freedom of thought, conscience and belief.

The Qur’an speaks about the basic dignity of all human beings regardless of their race, colour, language or ethnicity. The Shari’ah recognizes the right to life, property, family honour and conscience of all people. From the very beginning, freedom of religion has been guaranteed by Islam. It prohibits coercion in matters of faith and belief. The Qur’an says: “There is no compulsion in religion.” In matters of religion coercion is not permitted and by implication it is accepted that in matters like culture and other worldly practices also the use of force and undue influence is prohibited. In Surah al-Shura, Allah says to the Prophet (pbuh): ‘’If they turn away, we have not sent you as a guard over them. Your duty is but to convey (the message).’’ In Sura al-Nahl, Allah further reveals to the Prophet (pbuh) the method to be followed while preaching the Message of Allah: “Invite [all] to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful graciousness. Your Lord knows best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.’’

Allah further addressing Mankind saids: “Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and beware [of evil]: if you do turn back, know then that, it is our Messenger’s duty to proclaim [the message] in the clearest manner.”

The Holy Qur’an further says addressing the Prophet (pbuh): ‘’Say: ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger: but if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and you for that placed on you. If you obey Him, you shall be on right guidance. The Messenger’s duty is only to preach the clear [message].’’

Thus we see that the verses mentioned above give an injunction not to coerce people, present the message to them in a decent and clear way, invite them to the truth and do your best in presenting and conveying the message of Allah to humanity, while it is totally up to them to accept or to reject it. Allah revealed to the Prophet (pbuh): “And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord, so whosoever wants let him believe and whosoever wants let him deny.”

Here the question arises: if Allah gives us the choice to believe or not to believe and prohibits the Prophet (pbuh) not to use force or coercion against non-believers, why did He punish the people of Prophet Nuh, the Thmud, the Lut and the people of Prophet Shu’aib and the Pharaoh and his followers? The answer is found in the Qur’an itself. Those people were not punished simply because of their disbelief but because of their oppression of the righteous and because they stopped others to come to the way of Allah. Ibn Taymiyah, the great scholar, opined: “States may live long inspite of their people’s disbelief (kufr), but they cannot live long when their people become oppressors.’’

Islam permits coercion and use of force only against those who fight Islam and Muslims. Allah says, ‘’Fight in the cause of Allah those who attack you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.’’ The purpose of jihad is not to convert people to Islam. The Qur’an says, ‘’La ikraha fi al-din” which means that there is no compulsion in religion. The real purpose of jihad is to remove injustice, oppression and stop aggression. Muslims are allowed to keep good relations with non-Muslims. The Qur’an says, ‘’Allah does not forbid you that you show kindness and deal justly with those who did not fight you in your religion and did not drive you out from your homes.”

Islam may tolerate anything but it teaches zero tolerance for injustice, oppression and violation of the rights of other human beings. Allah says, “And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated? Men, women, and children, whose cry is: ‘Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors, and raise for us from your side one who will protect, and raise for us from your side one who will help.”

Islam teaches tolerance at all levels: between family members, between husband and wife, between parent and child, between groups and nations. The Qur’an says, ‘’O Mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes so that you might [affectionately] come to know one another. Surely, the most honoured among you, in the sight of Allah, is the one who is the best in conduct.’’ The best conduct in Islam is to treat human beings with dignity, equality, fraternity and justice.

Thus tolerance is the need of the hour today as it was yesterday. We must emphasise the need for this virtue among us and in the world. We must foster tolerance through deliberate policies and efforts. Our focus should be multiethnic. We should teach our children respect of each other irrespective of caste, creed, gender, nationality and ethnicity. Tolerance is the cordial knot which binds the family, society and keep the nation intact. Disrespect gives rise to persons like Vibhishan who may change the course of a nation. We should inculcate in our children the quality of tolerance, forbearance, and forgiveness because the family is the first school of citizenship. A child learns the lesson of life in the manner it suckles in the lap of its mother. This always affects its mind, behaviour and culture. Only a healthy and cultured family can make a healthy and cultured nation which is necessary to establish peace, prosperity and security in the world which is the object of the UN. Society cannot be governed by law alone. Law has a relation with society. It suffers if society is rigid and intolerant.

source:milligazette.com

Islam -- A true religion of peace, tranquility & intellect: a moderate Islamic interpretation

Islam -- A true religion of peace, tranquility & intellect: a moderate Islamic interpretation

Terrorism has surfaced as the biggest menace of the current times, particularly in past few decades. Unfortunately and unjustly, Islam and Muslims are deemed by most of the world population to be the root causes of this upsurge of terrorism all across the world.

There is no doubt that this is far from accurate. However, a considerable majority of the world's population still blames Islam and Muslims. This is mostly because of the “bad press” deliberately being created against Muslim by the big guns of world media.

The best way to authenticate or reject this claim for a common person is to see what the actual teachings of Islam are. Is it really a religion that promotes violence and terrorism, or is the reality totally opposite to this misconception? One convenient way of observing and analyzing all this is to learn what the Holy Qur'an, the religious Scripture of Muslims, has to say about this.

Meanings of "Islam:"

Let us start our conversation with the fact that the word “Islam” is derived from “salaam”, a word meaning peace. It also relates a person submitting himself to the will of The Mightiest in order to seek eternal peace and tranquility. The crux of this observation is that the very origins of Islam are inclined towards peace and harmony.

Islam prohibits violence and promotes peace and justice:

As mentioned earlier, the Quran -- the holy words of none other than Allah Almighty -- can best bear the witness for Islam’s inclination towards peace, justice, and harmony amongst human beings while negating and discouraging violence, terrorism, and injustice.

This becomes very evident if one vows to read the Qur'an and apply it on personal basis. Doing so in modern times is much more convenient as people can read the Qur'an online. Listed below are a few verses that support the claim that Islam is a true religion of peace and tranquility.

• "O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." (Surah 4, Verse 135).
• "God advocates justice, charity, and regarding the relatives. And He forbids evil, vice, and transgression. He enlightens you, that you may take heed." (Surah 16, Verse 90).
• "And if ye do punish them, punish them no worse than they punished you: but if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient." (Surah 16, Verse 126).

These are just a few references from the Holy Qur'an. You may find many more of them that promote nothing else but peace and justice.

Historical evidences favoring the peace-loving attitude Of Muslims:

The peace-loving attitude and behavior of Muslims is not a myth. It is an absolute historical truth that is very evident from their deeds when they were in command of different areas of the world where multiple religions were practiced:

• Muslims ruled Spain for about eight centuries. No significance evidence is found that suggests Muslims used force or unnecessary means to oppress non-Muslims living there.
• India is another place that was once ruled by Muslims for a period of over 1,000 years. Currently, about 80% of the population is comprised of non-Muslims. If Muslims had used force to convert people from other religions, the stats would have been quite different.
• Arabia had been under Muslim influence for 1,400 years. Yet there are about 14 million Coptic Christians found in that region. Had Islam used the sword for its propagation, the situation would have been very different.

Islam believes in nothing but the sword of intellect:

As mentioned earlier, the best way to find the truth about teachings of Islam with regard to its propagation can be seen easily from the content of the Qur'an. All you need to do is search the Qur'an online and see countless verses verifying this claim. The only sword Islam believes in, as far as propagation of the religion is concerned, is of logic and intellect:

• "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error” [Al-Qur'an 2:256].
• "Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” [Al-Qur'an 16:125]

source:religioustolerance.org

How does your family welcome Ramadan ?

How does your family welcome Ramadan ?

Ramadan is like a special guest who only comes once a year and is beloved by Muslims all over the world. It is the month which brings countless blessings, and in which we can earn the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord.

As adults, parents, teachers, and leaders in the community, we want our children to be just as happy and excited about Ramadan as we are, and more. How can we involve them in welcoming the month of Ramadan, and in becoming dedicated to observe the fast and prayers throughout the whole month?

Due to the television and Internet, our children see all the festivities and happiness that surround the non-Muslim holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, and others. They see the lit up homes, the decorations, wrapped gifts, and celebrations, but we do not partake in those holidays. That is all the reason why we need to make the coming of Ramadan and Eid a happy occasion for our children. We should bring about a lot of hype and excitement surrounding Ramadan.

Creating an uplifting ambiance in the home will give the children something to look forward to, and will make Ramadan dear to their hearts, without of course neglecting to teach them the significance of fasting and worship.

Clinical psychologist, Haleh Banani, said, “The objective is to develop a positive association with Ramadan for our kids, in order to increase their spirituality. It’s about creating a certain atmosphere in the home. With a little time and effort, we can make Ramadan special for the kids.”

We have compiled a number of ways and fun ideas that different families have adopted for welcoming Ramadan. Let us know, which is your favorite? We would also like to hear the special ways our readers celebrate Ramadan with their families.

1. Decorating the home is a sure way of getting the kids enthusiastic about Ramadan. You can use lights both inside and outside of the home. Hang lanterns and signs of “Ramadan Kareem” that you can find at the store, or order on-line, or your kids can make. Supply them with some art and crafts materials and you will be surprised how creative they can be.

2. Designate a small, coffee table in the corner of your living room and decorate it with special Ramadan items. Cover the table in a red table cloth with the Islamic artistic patterns on it. Adorn the table with the things that make Ramadan so special. Lay out the Holy Qur’an on a decorative wooden book-holder; also put a fancy bowl of dates, an Arabic coffee pot, crystal coffee cups, some supplication booklets, and candles.

3. Use a Ramadan calendar. Print out a calendar for each child and hang it up on the wall, so young children can mark and count all the days they were able to fast. Promise them a reward at the end of the month for fasting a certain number of days.

4. During Ramadan, start something new with your family, such as learning a Hadith a day. Each day, read a saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with a brief commentary on the lessons that can be learned from the Hadith. Some sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are really like short stories that children will love, for example the following story.

Prophet Muhammad said, “A person visited his brother in another town and Allah sent an angel to wait for him on his way.  The angel said, ‘Where do you intend to go?’ The man answered, ‘I intend to go to my brother in this town.’ The angel said, ‘Have you done any favor to him, the repayment of which you intend to get?’ He said: ‘No, I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.’ Thereupon the angel said, ‘I am a messenger to you from Allah to inform you that Allah loves you as you love your brother.’” (Sunan Abu Dawud)

5. Play some Ramadan songs in the home so the kids will anticipate the approaching Ramadan. Beautiful songs to help your children get into the Ramadan spirit are: Ramadan Moon by Yusuf Islam and Ramadan by Maher Zain.

6. Another activity that you can prepare now to implement in Ramadan is the good deeds bucket. Write down on small pieces of paper one good deed on each paper, such as help mom in the kitchen, read 5 pages of the Holy Qur’an, serve food to the neighbors, pray a voluntary prayer, call my grandparents. Fold up each paper and put the bunch of papers in a pretty basket or bucket. Each day of Ramadan, the kids have to pick a random paper, like a raffle, and they must do whatever good deed they picked.

7. Involve your kids in searching for delicious recipes for soups, meals, or desserts that they would like you to make during Ramadan. And better yet, let them help you cook soups and bake sweets during Ramadan.

8. Invite your child’s friends over before Ramadan and give them a brief talk on the importance of Ramadan, and how our good deeds are multiplied up to seventy times more in Ramadan. Encourage them to read Qur’an daily because it is the month that the Qur’an was first revealed. When your child is having fun around friends, he/she will be more receptive of the lesson you would like to give. Give them an activity to do, such as making Ramadan greetings cards or making paper lanterns.

9. Create iftar bags with your children. In each bag, you can put fresh fruit, a bundle of dates, juice, laban, lentils, some tea bags, and sugar. Go with your children to a poverty stricken neighborhood, and pass out the iftar bags.

10. Teach your children that Ramadan is also the month of charity. Before Ramadan starts, give each child a large bag and ask them to go to their rooms and fill their bags with toys, story books, and clothes that are in good condition to give to the poor. Make it into a competition, so the children will want to give more than their siblings. You can you’re your children’s donations to refugee camps overseas or give them to poor families in your town.

11. Have your children fill out a gratitude chart, in which they list all the blessings they are thankful to Allah for: family, a home, delicious food, chocolate, friends, toys, health, eyesight, the beautiful sky, and the list goes on and on. They can color it and hang it in their rooms or the living room. It helps remind them to be grateful to Allah for what they have.

12. Set Ramadan goals. Discuss with your children what they would like to accomplish in Ramadan. It could be memorizing verses of the Qur’an, reading the entire Qur’an in the month of Ramadan, praying fajr on time, and praying the nighttime voluntary prayers. Ramadan is the perfect time to stop bad habits, such as saying bad words, backbiting, hitting, or lying. Use Ramadan as the time to refine our character.

With only one week left for Ramadan, now is the time to set the tone for a month of greater happiness and closeness to Allah.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights      Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights

Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)         Ramadan Offer 2017

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Ramadan in Madinah: A Pilgrim's Ramadan in the Holy Land by British hajj travel

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A Pilgrim's Ramadan in the Holy Land by British hajj travel

Four years ago, my parents and I went on Umrah (minor pilgrimage) to the holy cities during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Challenges included the larger-than-usual crowd coupled with the scorching temperatures of the Middle East.

I was thoroughly excited to be in Saudi Arabia again. Having lived there 17 years ago, my childhood memories came flashing back. During those joyous years, I remember having mixed emotions each time we departed from Madinah.

I never really understood why I felt that way. Despite being more attached to Mecca, I had never felt the same sentiments when leaving that city. After being away from the holy cities for 13 years, I wasn’t sure what to expect on this trip.

Madinah

The air in Madinah had a certain kind of calmness, something I never remarked as a child. In Madinah, if you complain about the weather, you are told not to utter such words since you are in the city of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Such is the culture of the locals in Madinah – soft-spoken, kind, and constantly trying to maintain some of the characteristics of our beloved Prophet (pbuh) out of love and respect.

During iftar time, people arrange several lanes of plastic sheets outside Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) and scatter on these an abundance of dates, laban (a local yoghurt drink), bread, juice and other food items. Even as you walk toward the mosque, people are standing with various boxes of food, which they simply give away to anyone. I have only ever observed such generosity here.

The beauty about visiting the holy cities in Ramadan is that one is truly devoted to worship. One can walk to the mosque and back five times a day for the daily prayers, and also for additional qiyam ul-lail prayers late at night. Each time I walked to the mosque in the sizzling temperatures, with dry mouths and bodies drenched in sweat, I saw hundreds of other people doing the same thing purely for the sake of Allah. I found this atmosphere absolutely incredible. How often do we get to experience this kind of devotion?

But a few things have changed since the 90s when I was a child. In those days, we were able to go near the shrine of the Prophet (pbuh) as a family, and women had equal access to pay their respects. Now the scene has changed – women are only allowed in at restricted times during the day.

Though I was disappointed by this, I do like the fact that women are first briefed on the etiquette of visiting the Prophet’s (pbuh) shrine in a language they understand. Sadly, the entire process is rushed and I didn’t really get to indulge in this moment of being in such proximity in what I thought was the greatest gift to mankind.

The minute I finished my prayers by the Riaz ul-Janna (a site known as the ‘gateway to heaven’), I was asked to leave by the women in charge. Even though I wanted to pray more and let the moment sink in, there just wasn’t enough time to appreciate what I had just experienced.

This isn’t the only change that has occurred. I remember taking a tour of Madinah before we migrated to Canada in 1996. During this tour, we visited many mosques, but one stood out the most. It was an outdoor mosque and I remember praying on the grass on bamboo mats. It was such a beautiful experience.

Unfortunately, this monument has been closed down due to visitors who supposedly do acts of bid’ah (acts of worship that are not grounded in the Qur‘an or hadith). The Saudi government is strict about preventing this, and their reaction is to close down or destroy many historically significant sites.

Despite this, there are still plenty of things to see in Madinah. The mountainous site of the Battle of Uhud, Masjid Quba (the first mosque in the history of Islam), and all the significant mosques where the Prophet (pbuh) once prayed are still open to visitors.

Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque), Mecca

I had always enjoyed visiting Mecca. As a child, I was especially fascinated by the Kaaba,  the centre point of Masjid al–Haram, so it’s no wonder that I couldn’t contain my excitement to see this magnificent monument again.

I gathered my thoughts to make a du’a upon my first look at the Kaaba, as I’ve been told that such a du’a is always fulfilled. So I began to put my wishlist into one sentence as we entered the doors closest to the Kaaba. I was still trying to formulate my du’a when my mom nudged me to look up. As I set my eyes on it, my mind was wiped clean and I could no longer utter my wishes. I felt so grateful to Allah (swt) for bringing me there after many years of reminiscing.

Then, we began our tawaf (circumambulation around the Kaaba) seven times. While doing this, I noticed the diverse range of pilgrims coming from various parts of the world to this holy site. No matter our race, language or status, we all became equal as we truly are in the eyes of Allah. What a beautiful sight!

The mountains of Safa and Marwa also have a special place in my heart. When I was a child, a section of the mountain was open to the public. I used to climb up the top with other kids for a small break and sip zamzam, the natural spring water that runs between these two mountains. Like many other things, this has also changed to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims.

In Ramadan, it’s almost impossible to find a place inside the Grand Mosque unless you stay there virtually the whole day. Going for prayers was like walking through a human sea. Like us, people would find a spot on the streets outside to break their fast and pray.

As hectic as this trip was, I had never enjoyed Ramadan more. Cutting myself off from the rest of the world and dedicating myself to worship was best experienced in these two sacred cities. The spirit of giving, the power of du’a and the magic of having your simple desires fulfilled during your stay can only be felt there.

I pray that we all get a chance to visit Mecca and Madinah at least once in our lives. Whether you go in Ramadan or not, you will feel peace from within and I believe your du’a there will certainly be answered. May Allah grant us all this opportunity soon.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights      Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights

Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)         Ramadan Offer 2017

source: aquila-style.com