No time for learning Qur’an

No time for learning Qur’an

I don’t have time. I wish there was more than 24 hours in a day. We all complain that there is no time. There is no time to exercise, no time for learning Qur’an, no time to take a carefree walk, no time to sit down and read the Holy Qur’an with deep thought and reflection, and absolutely no time to practice and memorize verses of the Qur’an.

The sharp truth is: there is time. You do have time.

Where is all the time going?

We are blind to our time-eating, time-wasting habits. We underestimate how much time we waste on idle, unproductive, useless habits.

What are the things that are stealing our time away from us after we get back from work or school?

Work or school or college takes up a big chunk of our day. For most people that is 8 to 9 hours. That leaves you with a remaining 16 to 15 hours to accomplish your personal and spiritual goals, to have fun, rest, spend time with family, socialize, shop, and of course sleep.

Here are some places where you can find that lost time that we are all looking for.

Sleep

Research has shown that by the time you reach 70 years old, you would have slept for around 8,477 days. That is 23 years of your life asleep. In no way, do I advise you to go without sleep or even sharply reduce your sleeping hours.

We all need sleep, as Allah has said in the Qur’an, “And made your sleep [a means for] rest.” (chapter 78, verse 9)

The key here is to not oversleep, especially on weekends, holidays, and vacations. Also, a healthy adult needs no more than 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day. If you are sleeping around 10 to 12 hours a day, that is basically just throwing your time away.

The trick is to calculate how you can add in some time for Qur’an. For example, you can stay in bed for an extra half an hour than normal, to read some Qur’an before sleeping. Or, you can wake up half an hour earlier than normal and before rushing off to work, you can read Qur’an for half an hour. That simple change gives you 3 hours and a half each week dedicated to reading the Qur’an.

Another easy way to read Qur’an is to read just four pages after each of the five obligatory prayers. At the end of the day, you will be surprised that you have read an entire section or juz’ of the Qur’an, which is about 20 pages.

Mobile Phones and

Social Media Apps

According to research, in the year 2017, the average person spent 2 hours and 51 minutes each day on a mobile phone. That’s almost 3 hours every day, 21 hours every week, 84 hours every month. Imagine what could have been accomplished in this time!

Be aware of the time robbers. When you have to check an important message on your phone from a co-worker, check the message, reply to it, and put it down.

Often times, we reply to the important message but then waste half an hour going through the different posts on various social media apps, looking at photos, or reading posts of our friends and celebrities.

Set aside no more than 30 minutes in the evening to follow the different social media feeds, otherwise, resist the temptation to use those apps at all. Use your mobile phone positively, to help you accomplish your Qur’an learning goals. There are plenty of good apps, such as Quran Companion, Memorize, and iQuran Lite.

In the car

In your lifetime by the time you are 70 years old, you will have spent 1,099 days in a car. That is three years of your life sitting in a car, probably on your mobile phone. For school and college students who don’t drive yet, and for women in KSA, and others who may ride with someone else or take a bus to work, being in the car is the golden time to memorize Qur’an. Some people have memorized the entire Qur’an, only in car rides. Always carry with you a small Qur’an when you are a passenger in the car, to study and revise the Qur’an.

Media- TV- YouTube

Research has shown that an average American watches television or YouTube or other forms of media for 5 hours every day. The numbers are not much better for Saudi Arabia, as Saudis are the world’s top per capita users of YouTube. According to a report in CBC News, Saudis account for an astounding 190 million YouTube views each day, that’s a rough average of more than six views per citizen per day. Often times, viewers are seeking entertainment, which again is a sheer waste of time.

Advice when it comes to media:

• Do not watch idle TV shows and the popular soap operas.

• Do not gorge on YouTube, find a balance.

• Never subscribe to Netflix.

• Do not watch junk, and always put a time limit.

• If you do want to unwind and watch something on YouTube, make smart choices. Watch videos that help you learn a new skill, or tips that can build your self-confidence. Watch something that will help you grow, intellectually or spiritually.

There are excellent YouTube programs that are enjoyable and can help you understand and appreciate the Qur’an better. The programs Amazed by the Qur’an and also Qur’an Weekly, both by Nouman Ali Khan, shed light on the meanings of the verses of the Qur’an and life lessons we can learn from the verses. As for beautiful recitations of the Qur’an, you can click on Awesome Qur’an and listen to the chapter of the Qur’an that you are memorizing.

We cannot continue using the excuse “I don’t have time” because we do have time; it is just a matter of prioritizing what we want to do with that time.

When the Muslims were great, they were great because they were connected to the Book of Allah and because they worked diligently to learn the religion and also sciences of the world. They were spiritual leaders and also leaders in education, medicine, mathematics, economics, and other fields.

Look to the example the companion, Abdullah ibn Mubarak, who learned from 4,000 teachers during his lifetime and he had to go to them to study. He said, “I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge.”

The people before us were devoted to the Qur’an. Some would read the entire Qur’an every month, others in ten days, others every week. They would read Qur’an in good times and in bad times and even when they were busy.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

The Muslim golden age

The Muslim golden age

There was a time in the history of the world where Islam stood in a position that was above all. The Islamic Empire was the most magnificent and powerful in the world. It produced the greatest scholars, rulers, scientists, architects, and citizens that flourished in all areas of life.

It wasn’t until much later that we strayed from our teachings and the result of that is what made us a misunderstood nation that is lagging behind.

Today we journey back to dig in the history of the Golden Era of Muslims. Modern day Muslims may not realize how many things; objects and concepts alike, were actually brought into existence by our ancestors whose heritage we are supposed to be carrying. But over the course of thousands of years, the original names were lost and benefitting from that, Europeans who were good at adapting saw the chance and gladly took it, they took the discoveries and inventions and evolved into the successful, developed nation that they are now. In the past, Muslims ruled over Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and much of Central Asia.

Education was made compulsory on all men and women by Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), as he said, “Seek knowledge even if it is in China.”

In those times China was considered the farthest geographic state recorded. When the prophet said this, he tried to encourage the Muslims to try everything that was in their power to acquire knowledge. Following his teachings, centers of learning were founded in Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, and Cordoba. These centers of learning and study later served as models for European universities.

Allah instructs His servants to contemplate, to look at the wonders in the universe and to try to understand.

“And on the Earth are signs for the certain in faith. And in yourselves. Then will you not see?” (Qur’an, chapter 51, verse 20-21)

The Muslims of that time had a thirst for knowledge and curiosity of what Allah had hidden for them on the Earth and in all of space and time. That led the Muslim scientists to establish that the world was round in the 9th century. The early expeditioners learned how to navigate by looking at the stars. The use of navigation tools and weather forecasting was the expertise of the Muslims. By studying the stars, they would make calendars and decide on the times of prayers.

Modern medicine also has its roots planted in that golden era. In fact, Muslim doctors established the world’s first hospital, which originally was adjacent to the mosques. Also, there were hospital caravans that brought medical care to the people in villages, which evolved into the units that today we call ambulances.

Al-Khwarizmi was given the title of the “father of algebra”. The word algebra came from one of his books. Al-Khwarizmi was the one who introduced the concept of “0” in mathematics and started using it for calculations.

Ibn Sina commonly known as Avicenna is still the most famous and influential scientist in medicine. The Canon of Medicine was his most celebrated book that contained the summary of all the medical knowledge of his time. His book was primarily used as a text book in medical universities for 500 years after he had originally written it. His work on optics was phenomenal and way ahead of its time. He had written a total of 450 books, unfortunately only 240 of these books survived. He was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and much more.

Muslims believe that only Allah can create something alive, so they turned to shapes and patterns found in nature, and recreated them using geometry. This brilliant art of geometric shapes and arabesque patterns was used decorate a wide range of objects from every day items such as plates and candle sticks to large scale places like mosques and castles.

Arabesque is a method of art that uses basic tools like rulers and compasses to create symmetric abstract art, which is then commonly used to decorate mosques, pottery and textiles.

Calligraphy is the art of writing beautifully which came into being because the Muslims thought that the word of God when written must be as beautiful as can be made. For this reason, they would only let the most professional calligraphers to write God’s name and verses from the Holy Qur’an in buildings and different places. Calligraphy is now taught in universities as a subject.

The contributions of Muslims to all the areas of the world are innumerable, we owe so much to them, that I could not possibly mention all of them here. This is just the tip of the iceberg. But it gives me pride to say that we are people of such a beautiful, rich, and intelligent heritage. We had pride, glory, and respect.

What happened to us? And what can we do to earn our name and place in this world back?

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

5 Star Ramadan Umrah Packages 2018 with flights from UK

Perform 5 star Umrah in Ramadan 2018 from UK

Every single Muslim continuously has the wish to visit Makkah and Medina at least once in the entire life duration for Hajj, as well as Umrah in Ramadan. But, this is the pilgrimage needs lots of planning, or else the trip, which have need of you to keep you cool and perform it with whole peace of mind will turn out to be a hurt in the neck.

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, “When the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) returned after performing Hajj (major pilgrimage), he asked Umm Sinaan Al-Ansaariyyah,‘Why did you not perform Hajj?’ She replied, ‘The father of so-and-so [i.e., her husband] had two camels and he went on pilgrimage on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land.’ The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said [to her]:‘An ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Ramadan is akin to Hajj with me [in terms of reward].’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] According to another narration, he told her: “When Ramadan comes, do ‘Umrah as [the reward for] it then is equivalent to Hajj."

Likewise, it was reported by Umm Ma‘qil, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ), said to her, "Perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan, as it is equal to ‎Hajj."‎[Abu Daawood] Similar Hadeeths were also narrated on the authority of Jaabir, Anas, Abu Hurayrah and Wahb ibn Khanbash, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Ibn Battaal commented on the aforementioned Hadeeths, saying:

The sentence that ‘Umrah “then is equivalent to Hajj", proves that the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ), was actually encouraging her to perform a voluntary Hajj, as the whole Ummah (Muslim nation) has unanimously agreed that the ‘Umrah can never be a substitute for the obligatory Hajj. Moreover, what he,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ), meant is that they are like each other in reward, but virtues cannot truly be perceived through analogy; and Allah The Almighty bestows His Bounty upon whom He Wills. 

Benefits and rulings [derived from these Hadeeths]:

1-The mercy and bounty bestowed by Allah The Almighty upon His slaves is great, as He granted them huge rewards in return for small good deeds; so, we praise Him abundantly for that.

2-The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ), was keen on ensuring the welfare of his Ummah and would ask after those under his rule. Just as he was the sincerest confidant to all people, any slave whom Allah The Almighty puts in charge of subjects should treat them leniently, advise them, check on their conditions and serve their worldly and religious benefits.

3-‘Umrah done during the month of Ramadan cannot be a substitute for the obligatory Hajj, i.e., they are equal in reward, but the former does not replace the latter as a fulfillment of the obligation that is unanimously agreed upon by the scholars.

4-The reward of good deeds increases in proportion to the virtue of the time they are performed in, as well as one’s heartfelt devotion and dedication.

5-This Hadeeth is similar to the narration that says, “The Chapter Al-Ikhlaas (Purification) equals one third of the Quran”; it indicates that it is equivalent in terms of the reward of recitation, not that reciting it could, or should, substitute actually reciting [that much or] the whole of the Quran.

6-The ‘Umrah here is considered equal to the Hajj in reward, when it is performed during the month of Ramadan, which is a great season for good deeds. Hence, whoever performs it then, enjoys the virtue of the place [i.e., the Sacred Mosque in Makkah] and time [i.e., Ramadan]; this is also the case with one who performs Hajj, as he is also in the same holy place and in a blessed time [i.e., months of Hajj].

In addition, doing ‘Umrah in the month of Ramadan ‎is more difficult. That is because one may be fasting while performing it or break his fast due to the traveling involved, and then have to make up for it. This is not the case when one performs ‘Umrah during any other month. The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ), said to ‘Aa‘ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, once, when he ordered her to perform ‘Umrah, "It [i.e., its reward] is according to your effort”, or, as per another narration, “according to your expenditure."[Muslim]

7-This great reward is granted to whoever performs the ‘Umrah during the month of Ramadan, even if he [or she] returns immediately thereafter and does not prolong his [or her] stay in Makkah.

8-These Hadeeths do not mean that it is recommended for one to perform ‘Umrah many times in the month of Ramadan or in a single day of it. This practice, which has become common today, differs from the Sunnah and traditions of the honorable Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, as it was not reported that any of them used to perform many ‘Umrahs during the same journey to Makkah.

9-Whoever performs ‘Umrah in Ramadan and intends to stay at the Holy Mosque during the whole month or its last ten nights, should guard himself against committing any prohibition, because evil deeds are more sacrilegious in Makkah than in any other place, not to mention, during the month of Ramadan.

10-Whoever takes his family to stay at the Holy Mosque during the month of Ramadan, should take care that they, too, do not fall into committing any forbidden act; otherwise, he may return with sins that exceed the reward he came to earn, due to his negligence towards his wife and children.

11-If one entered the state of Ihraam (ritual consecration) with the intention of performing ‘Umrah and reached Makkah while fasting, he has the choice of either breaking his fast to be able to do it immediately or waiting to do it until after sunset. It is better for him to break his fast during the daytime and perform ‘Umrah upon arrival, since doing ‘Umrah right after reaching Makkah, is what the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ), did.

British haj travel Ltd offer huge range of Hajj and Umrah Packages, Like Easter Umrah packages, December Umrah packages, 5 star urmah packages, Ramadan Umrah packages, VIP Umrah packages, Deluxe Umrah packages, Economy Umrah packages and many more.

source: islamweb.net

Economy Umrah Packages 2018 for UK Citizen

Economy Umrah Package 7 Nights

5 STAR UMRAH PACKAGE 2018-2019

Location: Makkah

Price: From £370

Economy Umrah Package 7 Night 1 Jan 2018 – 16 May 2018
Makkah Hotel:	Anjum Hotel	BB	4 Night
Madinah Hotel:	Crowne Plaza	BB	3 Night
Meal Visa:	B&B Umrah Visa
Transport: Flight:	On Reques On Request