Reflections on the Meanings of Takbeer

Reflections on the Meanings of Takbeer

Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, La ilaaha illallaah, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa lillaahil-Hamd

(Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest. There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah. Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, to Him belongs all praise!)
Takbeer is one of the rituals of ‘Eed in Islam. It is a confirmed act of the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) to be done on ‘Eed Al-Fitr and ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha, and it is more obvious on ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha because it continues in the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah along with the days of At-Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Thul-Hijjah) in which saying Takbeer is prescribed in general, whereas it is prescribed on the day of ‘Arafah and the days of ‘Eed in particular.

Some formulas of Takbeer were authentically reported – most of them are close in structure, so it is preferable to reflect upon one formula to derive some actions that should take place in the heart of the Muslim when uttering this beautiful form of Thikr and glorification of Allaah The Almighty.
Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, La ilaaha illallaah, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa lillaahil-Hamd

(Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest. There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah. Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, to Him belongs all praise!)
Look at these words again and again, and you will find letters of light written with tranquility. They are three consecutive Takbeers like pearls in a necklace chosen from the noblest words and phrases. It is the word of monotheism and dedication followed by another Takbeer celebrating The One True God and by a third Takbeer mingled with gratitude and praise. They trip on the tongue sweeter than honey! When a Muslim sees the letters decorated in such a way, he feels comfortable, happy, and is exhausted no more. He hears a voice that motivates him to work. So, what about the content and meaning with which these letters address the heart? Does this inspire the soul to seek these meanings? Does this require the religious people to ardently strive for the good things and gifts reflected by these phrases?

Below are brief reflections on some of the meanings of Takbeer that Allaah The Almighty guided us to know by His favor, wishing they go deep in the hearts to awaken the ones overtaken by somnolence and activate the ones who have fallen prey to lethargy Thus, the heart travels by this Takbeer to Allaah The Almighty to obtain its share of love for Him and what He loves and enjoy drawing close to Him.

First reflection
 
Takbeer signifies worshiping Allaah The Almighty by celebrating His Name Al-Kabeer (The Grandest) and the implication of His being Grand. Allaah The Almighty loves His being and His perfect Attributes. He loves to be worshiped and mentioned by these Attributes and testify to the fact that their impacts and influences do exist. To do so, Allaah The Almighty ordained for His slaves to do all that helps to magnify these sublime attributes and glorify these beautiful Names although He is in no need for that.

Indeed, nobody can praise Allaah The Almighty as He should be praised, but He alone can duly praise Himself. It is the mercy of Allaah The Almighty to His slaves that He showed them how they could draw close to Him by remembering Him and granted them knowledge whereby they could recognize Him. As a result, Allaah The Almighty will bless them, show them mercy, and purify them. Otherwise, they will be like animals, or even worse. The fact that Allaah The Almighty is Grand necessitates drawing close to Him by means of this Name, which includes saying Takbeer. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And glorify Him with [grand] glorification."}[Quran 17:111]

Allaah The Almighty is described as being Grand and Superior, and this pertains to the nuances of grandness. So, Takbeer should be a means whereby the slave seeks to understand the Name of Allaah Al-Kabeer and realize the impact of this beautiful Name in terms of worshiping Allaah, believing in His Oneness, and loving Him.

The Name of Allaah The Almighty Al-Kabeer is always associated with His Name Al-‘Aliyy (the Most High) in the Quran. Highness and supremeness necessitate smallness in the perception of human senses. In other words, the higher a thing goes, the smaller it looks. Thus, it is more befitting that Highness of Allaah is associated with His Grandness. This denotes that Allaah possesses absolute Highness and absolute grandness, and therefore, this negates any possibility of comprehending His being and it cuts off all the means that lead to it. What belongs to Allaah The Almighty cannot be measured by the human perception, nor can His unique features be judged by the criteria of their features. He is Al-‘Aliyy (the Most High) in a way that is never subject to physical requirements, and He is Al-Kabeer (the Grandest) whose Grandness does not contradict the perfection of highness.

There is another beautiful point in the association of the two sublime Names, that is, grandness describes beings more frequently than highness. Highness may reflect the loftiness of being, of attributes, or the highness of actions; grandness, however, usually modifies the being. Thus, their association indicates the highness of being in His name Al-‘Aliyy, which is supported and highlighted by the description of grandness. Allaah The Almighty possesses absolute Highness of being over all His Creatures by virtue of this association.

Also, ponder on the context of the verses where this honorable Name (Al-Kabeer) is mentioned, and you will find that it occurs in the context of exalting Allaah The Almighty above every fault or imperfection committed by people regarding the right of Tawheed and worshiping Him without partner. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {[They will be told], "That is because, when Allaah was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgment is with Allaah, Al-‘Aliyy Al-Kabeer (the Most High and the Grand)."} [Quran 40:12] Allaah The Almighty is Al-Kabeer (The Grand), and none is grander than Him. His absolute grandness is evidence that He must be worshipped Alone, which is implied in saying Takbeer. Anything else is more entitled to belittlement or smallness. How does the heart become attached to such small things?
  
Easter umrah packages       Umrah packages 2016        hajj packages 2016

Ramadan umrah packages           December umrah packages 2016

Over 5 star Makkah & Madinah Hotels

Article by: www.britishhajtravel.com

Sublime Benefits and Objectives of Hajj

Sublime Benefits and Objectives of Hajj

Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam which was prescribed in the ninth year after the Hijrah (emigration) of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). It is out of the mercy of Allaah The Almighty towards His slaves that He has enjoined Hajj upon them at least once in a lifetime. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [due] to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.} [Quran 3:97]

Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) addressed them saying: “O people, Allaah has made Hajj obligatory for you; so perform Hajj.” Thereupon, Al-Aqra‘ ibn Haabis said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (is it to be performed) every year?” The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), remained silent, but the man repeated (these words) thrice, whereupon the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “If I were to say ‘yes’, it would become obligatory (for you to perform it every year) and you would not be able to do it.”Then he said: “Leave me with what I have left to you, for those who were before you were destroyed because of excessive questioning, and their opposition to their prophets.” [Saheeh Muslim and others]

The occasion of Hajj has many benefits and objectives spanning  ideological, personal, societal, moral and educational aspects. These include the following:

1- Deepening faith and strengthening piety:

There is no doubt that performing Hajj in the Sharee‘ah-prescribed manner strengthens faith and cleanses the self from its impurities. It rouses Islamic emotions with the purpose of realizing the greatness of Allaah The Almighty and feeling humble submission to Him where pilgrims actually live for a number of appointed days in the atmosphere of divine inspiration and in the places of the revelation of the Noble Quran. Thus, thousands of souls head in overwhelming spirituality towards greater, more tangible religious commitment, complete submission to Allaah The Exalted, sincere adherence to and fruitful interaction with His orders and prohibitions.

Allaah The Almighty referred to this great purpose and the useful positive meanings it encompasses in the verse in which He Says about a Hajj ritual (what means): {Their meat will not reach Allaah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.} [Quran 22:37]

2- Feeling the sacrifices of the first Muslims:

The heightened spirituality of the days of Hajj makes the Muslims recall the early days of Prophethood. A believer experiences first-hand the extent of the sacrifices of the Companions may Allaah be pleased with them and realizes the efforts of the first Muslims who established the basics of religion, adhered to the rulings and spread the virtues and merits of this religion. They endured the sufferings and trials they faced from their enemies and the sacrifices they offered in terms of their souls, money, families, times and interests. Due to these trials and sacrifices, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), warned against disparaging or abusing them. He said:"Allaah, Allaah! Fear Him with regard to my Companions! Do not revile them after me! Whoever loves them loves them with his love for me…" He also said in another narration:“If any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in the cause of Allaah) it would not be equal to even a handful or even half a handful of what was spent by one of them." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

3- Total obedience to Allaah The Almighty:

Performing the rituals of Hajj in spite of the variety of their forms, times and places and the difference in their utterances, numbers and contents instills in the souls of the pilgrims the value of obeying Allaah, the One and the Only. It teaches them to comply in totality with His orders, rulings and instructions even if they do not know the wisdom behind them or their material consequences.

Among the actions that prove this total submission to Allaah are performing Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah seven times, kissing the Black Stone, throwing the pebbles with known and appointed times and numbers, standing at ‘Arafaat and then heading at night towards Muzdalifah to stay the night therein.

Thus, the physical, intellectual and spiritual activities of man merge in a great and noble manner for him to get used to executing the orders of Allaah The Almighty and adhering to His instructions with truthfulness, sincerity, submission and humility without hesitation nor delay, even if the material benefits of this do not appear immediately.

‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him used to kiss the Black Stone and say, "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) kissing you, I would not have kissed you."[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Easter umrah packages 2016       Umrah packages 2016        hajj packages 2016

Ramadan umrah packages           December umrah packages 2016

Over 5 star Makkah & Madinah Hotels

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Your wife is your friend

 saudigazette

Your wife is your friend

Picture this; you are heading to your friend’s house to watch a soccer game. Before you reach, your friend gives you a call.

He says, “Bro, don’t forget to stop by the market and bring some chips and soft drinks!”

You reply, “Good thinking, right away man!”

You watched the soccer match and had a great time hanging out with your buddies. Now, you’re heading home, and guess what?

Your wife calls. You grudgingly answer and she says, “Baby, we need some bread, and butter so I can make you a sandwich to take to work tomorrow.”
You reply, “What? I just bought some bread 3 days ago, what is wrong with you? You are just wasting my money!”

Reading different articles and different studies show that the divorce rate is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. According to one particular study, 1 in 5 marriages in Saudi Arabia end in divorce.

The definition of marriage in Islam is: A contract that results in the man and woman living with each other and supporting each other within the limits of what has been laid down for them in terms of rights and obligations.

The scholar, Ibn Othaimeen, says, “It is a mutual contract between a man and a woman whose goal is for each to enjoy the other, building a pious family and a sound society.”

Webster’s definition of marriage is: the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.

In my opinion, if spouses treat one another with mutual respect and love, marriage is really living the dream; it is about helping one another to be a better person and to please the Creator.

Is marriage obligatory?

According to many Islamic scholars, marriage is recommended. However, for certain individuals it becomes wajib (obligatory). The general opinion is that if a person, male or female, fears that if he/she does not marry they will commit fornication, then marriage becomes obligatory. If a person has strong sexual urges then it becomes obligatory for that person to marry.
Marriage should not be put off or delayed, especially if one has the means to do so.

A man, however should not marry if he does not possess the means to maintain a wife and future family.

The general rule is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) enjoined people to marry.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “When one marries, they have fulfilled half of their religion, so let them fear God regarding the remaining half.” (narrated by Anas ibn Malik)

Islam greatly encourages marriage because it shields one from wrongful actions and upholds the family unit.

The wife has many rights which the husband is obligated to uphold.

Maintenance

The husband is responsible for the wife’s maintenance. This right has been established in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

It is inconsequential whether the wife is Muslim, non-Muslim, rich, poor, healthy or sick. It is the husband’s role to bear the financial responsibility of the family in a generous way so that his wife may be assured a decent living.

This entails the wife’s right to housing, clothing, food, and general care, like medication, hospital bills. He must provide for her, according to his means. The wife’s home must be adequate so as to ensure her privacy, comfort, and independence.

If a woman used to have a maid previously in her family, or if she is unable to attend to her household duties, it is the husband’s duty to provide her with a maid or domestic help if he can afford to do so.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best Muslim is one who is the best husband.”

Mahr

The wife is entitled to a marriage gift that is her own. This may be prompt or deferred depending on the agreement between the parties. A marriage is not valid without mahr, and it is for the wife, not her father or brother or anyone else. It does not have to be money or gold. It can be non-material. Mahr is a gift from the groom to the bride. This is the Islamic law, unlike some cultures whereby the bride’s parents pay the future husband to marry the daughter. This practice degrades women and is contrary to the spirit of Islam. There is no specification in the Qur’an as to what or how much the mahr has to be. It depends on the parties involved.

Non-material rights

A husband is commanded by the law of God to treat his wife with equity, respect her feelings and show kindness and consideration. The Prophet’s last sermon that he gave to the Muslim community before his death stressed kindness to women.

As for the husband’s rights; among the wife’s obligations is to contribute to the success and happiness of the marriage. She should be attentive to the comfort and wellbeing of her husband, and vice-versa of course.

The wife should be trustworthy and honest. She cannot deceive her husband by deliberately avoiding conceiving. She should not have any sexual intimacy with anyone other than her husband. She should not receive or entertain strange males in the house without his knowledge and consent. She should not accept gifts from other men without his approval. This is meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion, and gossip. She should not dispose of his belongings without his permission.

A wife should make herself attractive to her husband and be responsive to his advances. The wife should not refuse her husband without reason as this may lead to marital problems. The husband, of course, should take into account the wife’s health and consideration of circumstances.

The best description that I have ever read describing the closeness of husband and wife to each other is the description in the verse in the Qur’an which says: {they are your garments and you are their garments}. (Chapter 2, verse 187)
Indeed, spouses are like garments to each other because they provide one another with the protection, comfort, cover, support, and the adornment that garments provide to humans.

There is always time and room for fun in the marriage too.

Remember that our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) found the time to go out to the desert and race with his wife Aisha. She outran him but later after she had gained some weight, he outran her.

Remember that the Prophet (peace be upon him) took his wife to watch the young Ethiopians playing and dancing their folk dances.

Caring about your spouse’s emotions is just as important as taking care of the physical needs. The show of emotions is necessary to keep the marital bond away from rusting and disintegrating.

Easter umrah packages 2016       Umrah packages 2016        hajj packages 2016

Ramadan umrah packages           December umrah packages 2016

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa/

Effect of Hajj on Perfecting Tawheed

Effect of Hajj on Perfecting Tawheed

Every year, the Islamic Ummah (nation) lives this blessed season and these special days which combine between the honor of place and time. It is the occasion of Hajj to the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty. Pilgrims, the guests of Allaah, from all corners of the earth come together hoping to attain the Forgiveness and Pleasure of Allaah The Almighty. Their ears enjoy hearing the Talbiyah and their hearts feel tranquil and humble due to achieving goals and hopes. They head for the Ancient House of Allaah, the Ka‘bah, to which people’s hearts long for and return. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [mention] when We Made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security.} [Quran 2:125]

Hence, there should be a benefit from the universal congregation at this time and the proper means to found and perfect Tawheed of the pilgrims during their stay in this purified country that is established on a solid base of sound creed since it was unified by King ‘Abdul-‘Azeez until the present time. From that time until now, this land has judged according to Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) in the various affairs of life and carefully applies its teachings. It continually tries to unite Muslims and does its best to spread the sound creed via its various facilities whether they are related to Da‘wah (invitation to Islam), the media, education or culture.

Its effective role is clear during Hajj when Muslims come from all over the world, to know each other, love each other and study the matters of their religion. Undoubtedly, this gathering is a chance for Muslims to become closer to each other and remove the image of disunity and aversion. It is also a power that disappoints the Muslims' enemies. It is a meeting on the straight Path of Allaah The Almighty and His sound methodology. The knowledgeable person towards the way of Allaah The Almighty, guides people to the right path, and teaches them. On the other hand, the ignorant person seeks guidance and asks about whatever confuses him; whereas the person who has doubts asks about doubtful matters and seeks the clear answers that go along with the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) of Allaah The Almighty and the Sunnah (tradition) of His Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

The Hajj gathering is also a chance to remove the doubts and innovations in religion that are practiced by some Muslim sects that the pilgrim may not realize in his country. This is because steering away from religious innovations and adhering to the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), are among the main reasons for perfecting Tawheed and following the sound methodology which was approved by Allaah The Almighty for His slaves as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And, this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way.} [Quran, 6:153]

Therefore, pilgrims should offer a sincere Hajj for the sake of Allaah The Almighty in conformity with the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), without any increase or decrease or negligence. They should follow the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), who said: “Learn your rituals (of Hajj) from me.” They should not let any other matter distract them from their rituals. They should ask the people of knowledge about any difficult or confusing matter. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So ask the people of the message if you do not know.} [Quran 16:43]

There is no doubt that the scholars of this country have a leading role in advising people during the season of Hajj whether in terms of their rituals or morals, dealing with other people and inculcating the true creed in their souls. Despite the few days spent during Hajj in this country, pilgrims have a great chance to meet the scholars there and benefit from their Khutbahs (sermons), lectures and Fatwas (rulings).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – is considered the leader of the Islamic world and the caretaker of sound Islamic principles. Every year, it receives hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from within it and beyond its borders. It gathers all its material and human powers to organize the affairs of Hajj, serving the pilgrims of the Sacred House, facilitating their transportation and all other services so that they could so easily perform their Hajj without any annoying or distracting matters.

Pilgrims and residents of Saudi Arabia should benefit from the lessons, lectures and Fatwas of scholars there. They must adopt the sound creed of Tawheed and tolerant Islamic teachings and raise their children according to the correct Islamic upbringing away from deviation, extremism, or following the destructive streams and schools of thought which are propagated by the enemies of Islam.

Pilgrims should make the most of the school of Hajj in order to return to their homes carrying the correct message of this religion and its sound, pure creed and achieving the great goal of Hajj, which is to worship Allaah The Almighty Alone.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

‘God guides those who want to be guided’

‘God guides those who want to be guided’

Dr. Laurence Brown, a medical doctor, describes the event that eventually led him to explore religion and become convinced about Islam, not by mere intelligence, but a pure heart. This is the concluding part of his narrative:

IN the winter of 1990, when my second daughter was born, she was whisked from the birthing room to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she was diagnosed with a coarctation of the aorta (CoA).

This meaning a critical narrowing in the major vessel from the heart, she was a dusky gunmetal blue from the chest to the toes, for her body simply was not getting enough blood and her tissues were suffocating. When I learned of the diagnosis, I was shattered. Being a doctor, I understood this meant emergency thoracic surgery with a poor chance of long-term survival. A consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon was called from across town at the pediatric hospital in Washington, D.C., and upon his arrival I was asked to leave the intensive care unit, for I had become overly emotional. With no companion but my fears, and no other place of comfort to which to go while awaiting the result of the consultant’s examination, I went to the prayer room in the hospital and fell to my knees.

For the first time in my life I prayed with sincerity and commitment. Having spent my life as an atheist, this was the first time that I even partially recognized God. I say partially, for even in this time of panic I was not fully believing, and so prayed a rather skeptical prayer in which I promised God, if, that is, there was a God, that if He would save my daughter then I would seek and follow the religion most pleasing to Him. Ten to 15 minutes later, when I returned to the Neonatal ICU, I was shocked when the consultant told me that my daughter would be fine. And, true to his assessment, within the next two days her condition resolved without medicine or surgery, and she subsequently grew up a completely normal child.

Now, I know that there is a medical explanation for this. As I said, I am a doctor. So when the consultant explained about a patent ductus arteriosis, low oxygenation and eventual spontaneous resolution, I understood. I just didn’t buy it. More significantly, neither did the Intensivist — the Neonatal ICU specialist who made the diagnosis.

To this day I remember seeing him standing, blank-faced and speechless. But in the end, the consultant was right and the condition spontaneously reversed and my daughter, Hannah, left the hospital a normal baby in every respect. And here’s the rub — many who make promises to God in moments of panic find or invent excuses to escape their part of the bargain once the danger is past. As an atheist, it would have been easy to maintain my disbelief in God, assigning my daughter’s recovery to the doctor’s explanation rather than to God. But I couldn’t. We had cardiac ultrasound taken before and after, showing the stricture one day, gone the next, and all I could think of was that God had made good on His part of the deal, and I had to make good on mine. And even if there were an adequate medical explanation, that too was under the control of Almighty God, so by whatever means God chose to effect His decree, He had answered my prayer. Period. I did not then, and I do not now, accept any other explanation.

The next few years I tried to fulfill my side of the bargain, but failed. I studied Judaism and a number of sects of Christianity, but never felt that I had found the truth. Over time I attended a wide variety of Christian churches, spending the longest period of time in Roman Catholic congregation. However, I never embraced Christian faith. I never could, for the simple reason that I could not reconcile the biblical teachings of Jesus (peace be upon him) with the teachings of the various sects of Christianity. Eventually I just stayed home and read, and during this time I was introduced to the Holy Qur’an and Martin Lings’ biography of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), entitled Muhammad, His Life Based on the Earliest Sources.

During my years of study, I had encountered the Jewish scriptures referencing three prophets to follow Moses (peace be on them all). With John the Baptist and Jesus Christ being two, that left one according to the Old Testament, and in the New Testament Jesus Christ himself spoke of a final Prophet to follow. Not until I found the Holy Qur’an teaching the oneness of God, as both Moses and Jesus Christ (peace be upon them) had taught, did I begin to consider Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the predicted final Prophet, and not until I read the biography of Muhammad did I become convinced. And when I did become convinced, suddenly everything made sense. The continuity in the chain of prophethood and revelation, the Oneness of Almighty God, and the completion of revelation in the Holy Qur’an suddenly made perfect sense, and it was then that I became Muslim.

I would err greatly if I believed that I figured it out for myself. One lesson I have learned over the past 10 years as a Muslim is that there are a lot of people much more intelligent than I am, but who have not been able to figure out the truth of Islam. It is not a matter of intelligence but of enlightenment, for Allah has revealed that those who disbelieve will remain upon disbelief, even if warned, for in punishment for having denied Allah, Allah in turn has denied them the treasure of His truth.

As Allah teaches in the Holy Qur’an: “Indeed, those who disbelieve — it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them — they will not believe. God has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil.” (Qur’an, 2:6-7)

But, on the other hand, the good news is that “…whoever believes in God, He will guide his heart.” (Qur’an, 64:11)

The Almighty says: “…God chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back (to Him).” (Qur’an, 42:13)

And: “…And God guides whom He wills to a straight path.” (Qur’an, 24:46) So I thank God that He chose to guide me, and I attribute that guidance to one simple formula: Recognizing God, praying to God alone, sincerely promising to seek and follow His religion of truth, and then, once receiving His mercy of guidance, doing it.

Article by: www.arabnews.com

Hajj and Inner Peace

Hajj and Inner Peace

When Allaah The Almighty bestows upon a believing slave the blessing of calling him to perform the obligation of Hajj, this slave who loves Allaah The Exalted feels an overwhelming happiness, combined with awe and humble submission. He is conscious of the great responsibility that he should assume and the trust that must be discharged. He prostrates in humble submission and loves to praise and thank Allaah The Almighty for His great favor upon him, asking Allaah The Almighty to accept his Hajj and to help him safeguard it.

Hajj is a great responsibility before Allaah The Almighty; it requires sincerity, truthfulness in words and deeds, purity of the soul and inner peace.

Preparation for the journey of Hajj requires special behavior. The believing slave determines to travel to perform the obligation of Hajj being peaceful, chaste and pure with no impurity in his heart, overwhelmed by love for Allaah The Almighty, hoping to attain His mercy and seeking His pleasure.

The sincere slave who loves Allaah The Almighty starts his preparation for the Hajj journey with a peaceful mind; he purifies himself and elevates his heart, spirit and self to the highest levels of inner peace. He starts taking himself to account for his deeds, and to recall the incidents of his life, to take his actions towards himself and others into consideration. If he had ever abused or wronged someone, or was a reason for hurting someone, he should immediately seek the pardon of Allaah The Almighty first, and then ask for forgiveness from the one whom he wronged or hurt.

Complete forgiveness and perfect repentance depends upon the issue of preserving the rights of slaves. Allaah The Exalted quotes Nooh may Allaah exalt his mention as saying to his people (what means): {Worship Allaah, fear Him and obey me. Allaah will forgive you of your sins.} [Quran 71:3-4]

Allaah The Almighty does not Say "forgive all your sins", rather, He Says: {Forgive you of your sins}. That is to say that the forgiveness of some sins will remain suspended till the rights of slaves are fulfilled. Such sins are not pardoned by Allaah The Almighty except after fulfilling the rights of His slaves, or if they pardon orwaive them.

What is injustice? Many people mistakenly believe that a person may do whatever he wishes, then perform the obligation of Hajj and return as he was on the day he was delivered by his mother: without sin or error.

How can one allow himself to wrong others and become the cause of hurting or abusing them in any form whatsoever? Then, merely after performing the obligation of Hajj, he returns and feels as if he has not committed any mistakes. Where is the right of the people he wronged?

The Noble Quran denounced injustice in the strongest terms and threatened wrongdoers with painful torture. Moreover, just as it threatened wrongdoers, it promised those wronged, with victory and support.

In addition, it calmed them as it prohibited the public mention of evil, except by the one who has been wronged. Allaah The Exalted granted the right of public mention of evil to those who have been wronged because He knows the extent of the anguish and troubled feelings within the wronged person.

A wrongdoer is someone whose heart is afflicted with the disease of pride. He is selfish, arrogant and domineering to an unhealthy extent. He does not see anyone other than himself and is concerned only with achieving his own interests, even if the price is to transgress on the interests and rights of others and to hurt their humanity, dignity and pride. He is someone who has forgotten Allaah The Almighty, so Allaah The Almighty made him forget himself.

There are three types of injustice:

*   Injustice between man and Allaah The Almighty: it is injustice pertaining to the right of Allaah The Exalted. It is intended to mean disbelief, Shirk (polytheism) and hypocrisy with Allaah The Almighty. This type of injustice is considered great for Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice.} [Quran 31:13]

This type of injustice is not forgiven by Allaah The Almighty, because Allaah The Almighty forgives all the sins of whoever He wishes, except the sin of associating anything with Him.

*   Another type of injustice is between a man and himself: it is injustice towards the right of the human self, where the slave neglects and takes the obligations that Allaah The Almighty ordered him to fulfill lightly, such as being lazy when performing acts of worship. This is how man wrongs himself. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {among them is he who wrongs himself.}[Quran 35:32]

Allaah The Almighty forgives this kind of injustice to whom He wills.

*   Injustice between a man and people: it constitutes injustice towards the rights of others, such as unjustly consuming the rights of others, wronging them with a false testimony or wrongfully using power and authority to abuse and humiliate people.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Why ours is a different religion

image by:saudigazette

Why ours is a different religion

Islam is a religion without any mythology. Its teachings are simple and intelligible. It is free from superstitions and irrational beliefs. The oneness of God, the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the concept of life after death are the basic articles of its faith. They are based on reason and sound logic. All of the teachings of Islam flow from those basic beliefs and are simple and straightforward. There is no hierarchy of priests, no farfetched abstractions, no complicated rites or rituals.

Everybody may approach the Qur’an directly and translate its dictates into practice. Islam awakens in man the faculty of reason and exhorts him to use his intellect. It enjoins him to see things in the light of reality. The Qur’an advises him to seek knowledge and invoke God to expand his awareness: “Say ‘O, my Lord! Advance me in knowledge’.” (Qur’an, 20: 114)

God also says: “Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (Qur’an, 39: 9)

It is reported that the Prophet (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) said that: “He who leaves his home in search of knowledge (walks) in the path of God.” (At-Tirmidhi) and that, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah and Al-Baihaqi)

This is how Islam brings man out of the world of superstition and darkness and initiates him into the world of knowledge and light.

Again, Islam is a practical religion and does not allow indulgence in empty and futile theorizing. It says faith is not a mere profession of beliefs, but rather that it is the very mainspring of life. Righteous conduct must follow belief in God. Religion is something to be practiced and not an object of mere lip service. The Qur’an says: “Those who believe and act righteously, joy is for them, and a blissful home to return to.” (Qur’an, 13: 29)

The Prophet is also reported to have said: “God does not accept belief if it is not expressed in deeds, and does not accept deeds if they do not conform to belief.” (At-Tabarani)

Unity of matter and spirit

A unique feature of Islam is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit. It stands not for denial of life but for the fulfillment of life. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not ask man to avoid material things. It holds that spiritual elevation is to be achieved by living piously in the rough and tumble of life, not by renouncing the world. The Qur’an advises us to pray as follows:

“Our Lord! Give us something fine in this world as well as something fine in the Hereafter.” (Qur’an, 2:201)

But in making use of life luxuries, Islam advises man to be moderate and keep away from extravagance, God says: “…and eat and drink and be not extravagant; surely He does not love the extravagant.” (Qur’an 7:31)

On this aspect of moderation, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Observe fasting and break it (at the proper time) and stand in prayer and devotion (in the night) and have sleep, for your body has its right over you, and your eyes have rights over you, and your wife has a claim upon you and the person who pays a visit to you has a claim upon you.”

Thus, Islam does not admit any separation between “material” and “moral,” “mundane” and “spiritual” life, and enjoins man to devote all of his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy moral foundations. It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material resources for the good of man in the service of just ends and not by living a life of asceticism or by running away from the challenges of life.

The world has suffered at the hands of the one-sidedness of many other religions and ideologies. Some have laid emphasis on the spiritual side of life but have ignored its material and mundane aspects. They have looked upon the world as an illusion, a deception, and a trap. On the other hand, materialistic ideologies have totally ignored the spiritual and moral side of life and have dismissed it as fictitious and imaginary. Both of these attitudes have resulted in disaster, for they have robbed mankind of peace, contentment, and tranquility.

Even today, the imbalance is manifest in one or the other direction. The French scientist, Dr. De Brogbi rightly says: “The danger inherent in too intense a material civilization is to that civilization itself; it is the disequilibria which would result if a parallel development of the spiritual life were to fail to provide the needed balance.”

Christianity erred on one extreme, whereas modern western civilization, in both of its variants of secular capitalistic democracy and Marxist socialism has erred on the other. According to Lord Snell: “We have built a nobly-proportioned outer structure, but we have neglected the essential requirement of an inner order; we have carefully designed, decorated and made clean the outside of the cup; but the inside was full of extortion and excess; we used our increased knowledge and power to administer to the comforts of the body, but we left the spirit impoverished.”

Islam seeks to establish equilibrium between these two aspects of life — the material and the spiritual. It says that everything in the world is for man, but man was created to serve a higher purpose: the establishment of a moral and just order that will fulfill the will of God. Its teachings cater for the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of man. Islam enjoins man to purify his soul and to reform his daily life – both individual and collective — and to establish the supremacy of right over might and of virtue over vice. Thus Islam stands for the middle path and the goal of producing a moral man in the service of a just society.

Islam, a complete way of life

Islam is not a religion in the common and distorted sense, for it does not confine its scope to one’s private life. It is a complete way of life and is present in every field of human existence. Islam provides guidance for all aspects of life – individual and social, material and moral, economic and political, legal and cultural, and national and international. The Qur’an enjoins man to embrace Islam without any reservation and to follow God’s guidance in all areas of life.

In fact, it was an unfortunate day when the scope of religion was confined to the private life of man and its social and cultural role was reduced to naught, as has happened in this century. No other factor, perhaps, has been more important in causing the decline of religion in the modern age than its retreat into the realm of private life. In the words of a modern philosopher: “Religion asks us to separate things of God from those of Caesar. Such a judicial separation between the two means the degrading of both the secular and the sacred ... That religion is worth little if the conscience of its followers is not disturbed when war clouds are hanging over us all and industrial conflicts are threatening social peace. Religion has weakened man’s social conscience and moral sensitivity by separating the things of God from those of Caesar.”

Islam totally denounces this concept of religion and clearly states that its objectives are the purification of the soul and the reform and reconstruction of society. As we read in the Qur’an: “We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may observe right measure; and He revealed iron, wherein is mighty power and (many) uses for mankind, and that God may know him who helpeth Him and His messengers, though unseen. Lo! God is Strong, Almighty.” (Qur’an, 57: 25)

God also says: “The decision rests with God only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men know not.” (Qur’an, 12: 40)

Thus even a cursory study of the teachings of Islam shows that it is an all-embracing way of life and does not leave out any field of human existence to become a playground for the forces of evil.

Article by: islamreligion.com

Rulings of Fidyah (Expiation)

Rulings of Fidyah (Expiation)

It is out of the mercy of Allaah The Almighty bestowed upon this Ummah (nation) that He removed from its people the chains and yokes that were upon the previous nations before them: He lightened for them the burdens that were heavy on the others and made easy for them the matter of worship. He The Exalted, The Almighty Says (what means):

    {And Allaah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak.} [Quran 4:28]
    {He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.} [Quran 22:78]

For this reason, He The Almighty prescribed for the Muslims matters therewith to make up for the deficiency in their worship and expiate for the forbidden matters they commit during worship. From this perspective, Fidyah in Hajj has been made permissible under the Sharee‘ah.

Ransom is due on the one who is in the state of Ihraam (ritual consecration) if he does one of the following things:
1-       To commit one of the actions forbidden during Ihraam.
2-       To leave one of the obligatory acts of Hajj or ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).
3-       To perform Hajj At-Tamattu‘ or Al-Qiraan; and in both these cases, the slaughtered sacrificial animal is offered by way of gratitude and not of amendment.
4-       To miss Hajj or be prevented from performing it.

As for the expiation that is due because of committing a forbidden action, then this differs according to the magnitude of the forbidden act that is committed. These forbidden matters may be divided into four divisions with respect to the expiation:

1-       That for which there is no ransom, which is conducting or being party to a wedding contract. If the pilgrim (during his Hajj) contracts for marriage or a wedding contract is made on his behalf, then the contract is invalid according to the opinion of the majority of scholars, and whoever contracts the marriage has sinned by his act, but no expiation is due on him.

2-       That for which the expiation is intensified, which is to have sexual intercourse while in the state of Ihraam. If one has sexual intercourse with his wife before the first termination of Ihraam in Hajj, then he has sinned and his Hajj becomes invalid, and so does her Hajj if she accords with him. It is incumbent upon them to nevertheless continue with the rites of their Hajj and complete the remaining acts which are due upon them and compensate for their Hajj the next year. Moreover, an expiation is due upon each of them, that is, to slaughter a camel and distribute its flesh among the poor of the Sacred Sanctuary (Makkah). Intercourse is the only forbidden thing which invalidates Hajj, but if it occurs after the first termination of Ihraam, then the Hajj is not invalid and it is due upon whoever has done so to slaughter a sheep and distribute its flesh in the Sacred Sanctuary.

3-       That for which the expiation is the equivalent or what is equal to it, which is to kill game. Whoever kills an edible hunted animal during the state of Ihraam, one of the following three is due upon him:

First: the equivalent, which is that the pilgrim should slaughter animals including camels, cows or sheep, equivalent to the game that he has killed. For an ostrich, for example, is a slaughter of a camel; for an onager is a cow, for a deer is a sheep, and so on. Such ‘equivalent’ animals should be slaughtered and its flesh be distributed among the poor of the Sacred Sanctuary.

Second: feeding, which is to evaluate the equivalent of the game’s value and buy with its price foodstuff to be distributed to the poor and needy, at a rate of half a Saa‘ (double handful) each.

Third: fasting, which is to estimate the number of the needy to be fed according to the second case, and then that number of days. The evidence for that is taken from the following statement of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {O you who have believed, do not kill game while you are in the state of Ihraam. And whoever of you kills it intentionally - the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you as an offering [to Allaah] delivered to the Ka‘bah, or an expiation: the feeding of needy people or the equivalent of that in fasting, that he may taste the consequence of his deed. Allaah has pardoned what is past; but whoever returns [to violation], then Allaah will take retribution from him. And Allaah is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution.} [Quran 5:95]
4- That for which the expiation for that of an ailment. This includes shaving the head, cutting the nails, a man covering his head with what would stick to it, or wearing form-fitting sewn clothes, applying perfume, and a woman wearing a Niqaab and gloves.

If one in the state of Ihraam commits one of those forbidden things, he is given the freedom to choose to slaughter a sheep and distribute its flesh among the poor of the Sacred Sanctuary, or feed six needy persons at a rate of half a Saa‘ each, or fast for three days. This is called the expiation of ailment and is mentioned in the statement of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice.} [Quran 2:196]

It is noteworthy that if one in the state of Ihraam repeats the same forbidden thing several times before expiation, like cutting his nails more than once, for example, then only one ransom is due. However, if he commits different forbidden things, like cutting his hair and covering his head, for instance, then, an expiation for each is due. That does not include the penalty for killing game, according to which expiation for each hunted animal is due, even if they are of the same kind.

These are the rulings of expiation that ensue from committing one of the forbidden matters during the state of Ihraam. As for the ransom for leaving a duty, like the failure to assume Ihraam from the Meeqaat (designated points of assuming Ihraam), or the failure to combine both (some of the) night and day in the standing at ‘Arafah, or the failure to spend the night in Muzdalifah and Mina, or the failure to perform the Farewell Tawaaf, to the end of this series of the duties of Hajj, then the slaughtering of a sheep is due. If he cannot find it, then to observe fasting is something debatable as some scholars are of the opinion that he should observe ten days of fasting analogous to the case of not offering the slaughtered animal of Tamattu‘, while others do not make fast binding on such a person at all.

However, it is necessary to note that if a pilgrim has left one of the obligatory duties of Hajj, then an expiation is due on him regardless of whether he left it intentionally or forgetfully or ignorantly, for he has left a rite, unlike committing one of the things forbidden during the state of Ihraam which were previously mentioned, ignorantly, forgetfully or forcibly, in which case nothing is due on him according to the preponderant opinion, in view of the statement of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ): “[The sin committed by] mistake, forgetfulness, or under compulsion is removed from my Ummah.” [Ibn Maajah and others]

If a pilgrim is performing Hajj At-Tamattu‘ or Al-Qiraan, and is not living within the area of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, then it is due upon him to slaughter an animal, the least of which should be a sheep or one-seventh of a camel or one-seventh of a cow. That slaughtered animal is offered by way of gratitude. If he cannot find or afford it, then he should fast for three days during Hajj and seven days when he returns home, due to the statement of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {Whoever performs ‘Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. These are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haraam.} [Quran 2:196]

Expiation is also due on he who has missed Hajj after assuming Ihraam with the intention to perform it, or who was prevented from performing it by any of the impediments that detained him from reaching the Sacred Sanctuary. This matter has details which we have clarified in the rulings of missing or being prevented (from Hajj); and Allaah knows best.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Performing 'Umrah During the Hajj Months

Performing 'Umrah During the Hajj Months

Allaah Says (what means): {And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals}[Quran 2:196]

After mentioning what the person in the state of Ihraam (sacral state) who was prevented from performing (or completing) Hajj or 'Umrah, must do, Allaah mentioned what he should do when he is secure. Allaah mentioned the ruling of Tamattu` during the Hajj days, which means performing both 'Umrah and Hajj during the Hajj season [there are additional details in this regard which was explained by the Islamic jurists].

We will only discuss the part of the verse which states when the pilgrim who has completed the rites of Hajj, whether he commenced his state of Ihraam with the intention of performing both 'Umrah and Hajj (Qiraan Hajj) or performing 'Umrah and then Hajj after finishing the 'Umrah (Tamattu` Hajj). The person performing any of these two types must offer a sacrificial animal (as Hady). This sacrificial animal must be a sheep at least, according to the preponderant opinion of scholars. However, a camel or cow suffices for seven.
‘Imraan bin Husayn may Allaah be pleased with him said, “The verse of Tamattu` Hajj  (i.e. {then whoever performs 'Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj …}) was revealed in the Book of Allaah, and we performed Hajj accordingly withthe Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then nothing was revealed in the Quran prohibiting it, nor did the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) prohibit it until he died.”[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

This Hadeeth proves that Tamattu` Hajj, i.e. performing 'Umrah during the months of Hajj followed by Hajj is permissible.

It is noticed that the Arabic word “Tamattu`” that came in the verse was used in its linguistic meaning which is “benefiting”. The verse also referred to what the Islamic jurists call “Tamattu`” and “Qiraan”, which are two forms of Hajj in the Islamic Sharee‘ah (legislation) that invalidated the legislation of Jaahiliyyah (the pre Islamic era) in this regard.

According to the Islamic jurists, Tamattu` means that a pilgrim commences the state of Ihraam with the intention of performing 'Umrah only, during the Hajj season. Then, after finishing his 'Umrah and ending the state of Ihraam, he commences the state of Ihraam again and performs Hajj during the Hajj season of the same year before returning to his country. With regard to Qiraan Hajj, it means that a pilgrim commences the state of Ihraam with the intention of performing both 'Umrah and Hajj with one Ihraam (i.e. without terminating the state of Ihraam after finishing his 'Umrah).

Allaah Says (what means): {And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days].}[Quran 2:196] This sentence of the verse is conjoined to the sentence {whoever performs ‎‎'Umrah [during the‏Hajj months] followed by Hajj}. The meaning:

‎Whoever performs both 'Umrah and Hajj, must offer a ‎sacrificial animal. If he could not, then he has to fast ten days; ‎three days during Hajj and seven when he returns home
Scholars say that it is better for such a pilgrim to fast the ‎three days during the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah before the Day of ‘Arafah. However, scholars of Tafseer (exegesis) mentioned other opinions regarding the best time for fasting these three days.

Allaah made fasting a substitute for the sacrificial animal and a further concession and facilitation. That is why they were divided into two groups three days during Hajj and seven after returning home‎.

Allaah Says (what means): {Those are ten complete [days]}[Quran 2:196] Scholars interpreted this verse in different ways:

-  Some of them said that it is meant for stressing and confirming the meaning, the same as the verse in which Allaah says (what means): {or bird that flies with its wings …} [Quran 6:38] Also, the same as when the Arabs say, “I saw with my own eyes.” or “I heard with my own ears”.
-  Other scholars said that “complete” here means that these days must be completed and fulfilled. At-Tabari may Allaah have mercy upon him adopted this opinion.
-   Others said that “complete” here means that these days serve as a complete substitute for the sacrificial animal. 

Some scholars said:

Fasting was ordained partially (three days) during the Hajj to perform part of the worship immediately upon occurrence of its cause (inability to offer a sacrificial animal). The ten days were divided into two groups consisting of three days and seven days, because those two numbers ( three and seven) were used a lot for regulating other religious and jurisprudential matters.

 Allaah Says (what means): {This is for those whose family is not in the area of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam.}[Quran 2:196] The word “This” refers to the sacrificial animal or its substitute of fasting.

{“Those whose family is not in the area of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam”}i.e. those who are not residents of Makkah. The meaning of this part of the verse is:

Offering the sacrificial animal is obligatory upon those who are not residents of Makkah, because the permissibility of offering 'Umrah at the time of Hajj relieves them from travelling again to perform 'Umrah. However, this is not the case with the people of Makkah, who do not face any difficulty in making 'Umrah at any time.

Allaah concluded this verse saying (what means): {And fear Allaah and know that Allaah is Severe in penalty}[Quran 2:196]

Allaah commanded us to fear Him after stating the rulings of Hajj, which must include exertion and effort, in order to warn against negligence regarding them. Hence, the meaning of this part of the verse is:

Fear Allaah in all what He commanded and forbade. Allaah affirmed the observance of fearing Him when He Says (what means): {and know} in order to draw people’s attention to what He will say next, and affirming the fact that whoever violates His commands or commits whatever He has forbidden him from will thus be severely punished.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Hajj and Its Influence on Boosting Faith

Hajj and Its Influence on Boosting Faith

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is obligatory for every Muslim who has the physical and financial ability, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [due] to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.} [Quran 3:97]

The rituals of Hajj have a great influence on boosting faith, because it is an established fact that Faith (Eemaan) increases through good deeds and decreases through sins and misdeeds.

Hence, every Muslim, whether or not he has performed Hajj, should contemplate the sublime meanings of these rites to reap the fruits of increasing Faith and strengthening his trust in Allaah The Almighty.

Ihraam:

Why do men wear two pieces of white cloth, and avoid form-fitting clothes when they enter the state of Ihraam?

The clothes of Ihraam are similar to the shroud, so, they remind us of death so we can prepare ourselves for it.

These clothes also remind us of the Resurrection when we will be barefoot and naked without any dress or shroud.

These clothes also remind us of the Blessings of Allaah The Almighty upon us, as He Says (what means): {O children of Aadam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment….} [Quran 7:26]

This is the clothing in this world, but what about our clothing on the Day of Resurrection, when we will be naked? The answer is in the last part of the verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {But the clothing of righteousness - that is best.} [Quran 7:26]

Just as we leave the sewn clothes when we enter the state of Ihraam, we have to make all our good deeds fully devoted to Allaah The Almighty without associating anyone with Him.

Talbiyah: 

Talbiyah means saying “Labbayak Allaamumma Labbayk Labbayka La Shareek Laka Labbayk (Here I am at Your service O my Lord. Here I am. Here I am at Your service and under Your Command and You have no partners.)”

Talbiyah is an acknowledgment of servitude and absolute submission to the Mighty Lord.

Before Islam, the disbelievers used to perform Hajj and make Talbiyah but they used to add, “At Your service. You have no partner except the partner that You have. You own Him and whatever he owns.”

Tawaaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah):

When one performs Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah, he should remember that this is the first House of Allaah The Exalted on earth and that:

-      Whoever enters it shall be safe.

-      Allaah The Almighty made the House a place of return for the people and a place of security.

-      Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael), may Allaah exalt their mention, raised its foundations.

-      Hearts long for it and when they leave, they always wish to return.

-      ‘Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet, said, “The house Has a Lord, and He Will Protect it.”

-      The Quraysh used to live around it. They were polytheists and used to circumambulate it naked.

-      It is the birthplace of the call of Islam. 

Kissing the Black Stone: - The Black Stone is nothing but a stone, i.e., it can neither harm nor benefit. - Kissing this stone is an act of Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), but believing that it can benefit, harm, or do anything is an act of Shirk (polytheism). -  Fighting other people to reach it is a sin. Kissing the Black Stone is an act of the Sunnah for whoever can reach it without harming other people or intermixing with men (for women); however, kissing any other stone opens the doors of Shirk. The believer kisses the Black Stone while his heart is attached to Allaah The Almighty rather than the stone itself.
Drinking the water of Zamzam: This is a stressed act of the Sunnah, but when the believer drinks it, his heart should be attached to the blessing of Allaah The Almighty, along with the belief that Allaah The Almighty has endowed this water with the ability to cure diseases. Nevertheless, the believer always knows that Allaah The Almighty can cure him through any other water or medicine, and that He can also delay the recovery of a person even if he drinks the water of Zamzam.  These are some of the indications and meanings that are implied in the Quranic verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And if Allaah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent.} [Quran 6:17]
Hence, whoever attaches his heart to Allaah The Almighty alone has fulfilled true monotheism, which is the right of Allaah The Almighty over His slaves. Sa‘y (ritual running) between Mount As-Safa and Mount Al-Marwah: Pilgrims and those who perform ‘Umrah run between these two hills, to remember and to contemplate.
Near As-Safa, Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention left his wife and young child in a barren valley in obedience to Allaah The Almighty, but we, on the other hand, find it difficult to leave our sins!
The believing wife obeyed her Lord and then her husband regarding an issue that may have led to her death along with her baby.
The mother of Ismaa’eel may Allaah exalt his mention ran between As-Safa and Al-Marwah hoping that she would find some water for her baby who was about to die of thirst.
This demonstrates sheer faith when its sweetness penetrates the heart!  Standing at ‘Arafaat: This is the greatest pillar of Hajj and every pilgrim must stand at ‘Arafaat; otherwise, his Hajj will be invalid. The gathering of the pilgrims on ‘Arafaat reminds us of the Day of Assembly: {The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly} [Quran 64:9]
Whoever remembers the Day of Assembly should prepare himself well for it.
On the Day of ‘Arafah, the pilgrim may face difficulty in obtaining water. So, when he gets it, he should remember the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allaah has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allaah has forbidden them both to the disbelievers."} [Quran 7:50]
During the Farewell Pilgrimage, a man fell while he was riding his she-camel and making Talbiyah and he broke his neck. Thereupon, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Wash him with water and lotus leaves, and shroud him in his two garments, but do not apply perfume to him or cover his head, for he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection reciting Talbiyah.”
He died while making Talbiyah, which is an act of worship; hence, he will be resurrected while performing the same act of worship.
So what about those who die while committing sins?
This is a fact that many people have become heedless of, namely: there is no refuge and no place of safety from Allaah The Almighty but with Him.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

‘Wish I could stay at Grand Mosque forever’

MADINAH: Performing tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba was “a dream come true” for Algerian pilgrim Ahmed Al-Qairawani, who is in the Kingdom for the first time.
“It cannot be described in words. I cried once I entered the Grand Mosque and saw the sacred Kaaba, where pilgrims circumambulate around it raising their hands seeking Allah’s forgiveness,” he told Arab News.
“I saw the black stone and Abraham’s shrine for the first time. I wish to stay at the Grand Mosque for the rest of my life,” he said.
Al-Qairawani praised the expansion projects at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and in Madinah, including the mataf expansion.
He said the Kingdom’s role in serving pilgrims and providing them with all possible facilities, right from the entry to the country until departure is exemplary.
Speaking about what he did in Madinah, Al-Qairawani said that he visited the Prophet’s Mosque where he got the chance to greet him (peace be upon him) as well as he visited the King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Qur’an, Islamic mosques and other historical sites in the holy city.

Article by: arabnews.com

Faith is my life so wonderful and beautiful

Aminah Assilmi is a former Christian based in the US. She tried to convert Muslims to Christianity, but herself embraced Islam when she read the Qur’an and other books on Islam. In this concluding part of her narrative, she describes how her Shahadah proved a solid footing on the ladder to spiritual knowledge and closeness to God.

IN all this, the first light was my grandmother. She approved of my choice and joined me. What a surprise! I always knew she had a lot of wisdom, but this! She died soon after that. The day she pronounced Shahadah, all her misdeeds had been erased, while her good deeds were preserved. She died so soon after accepting Islam that I knew her ‘book’ was bound to be heavy on the good side. It fills me with such joy!
As my knowledge grew and I was better able to answer questions, many things changed. But, it was the changes made in me as a person that had the greatest impact. A few years after I went public with my Islam, my mother called me and said she did not know what this ‘Islam thing’ was, but she hoped I would stay with it.
She liked what it was doing for me. A couple of years after that she called again and asked what a person had to do to be a Muslim. I told her that all person had to do was know that there was only One God and Muhammad was His Messenger. Her response was: “Any fool knows that. But what do you have to do?” I repeated the same information and she said: “Well, OK. But let’s not tell your father just yet.”
Little did she know that he had gone through the same conversation a few weeks before that. My real father (the one who thought I should be killed) had done it almost two months earlier. Then, my sister, the mental health person, she told me that I was the most ‘liberated’ person she knew. Coming from her that was the greatest compliment I could have received.
Rather than try to tell you about how each person came to accept Islam, let me simply say that more members of my family continue to find Islam every year. I was especially happy when a dear friend, Brother Qaiser Imam, told me that my ex-husband took Shahadah. When Brother Qaiser asked him why, he said it was because he had been watching me for 16 years and he wanted his daughter to have what I had. He came and asked me to forgive him for all he had done. I had forgiven him long before that.
Now my oldest son, Whitney, has called, as I am writing this book, and announced that he also wants to become Muslim. He plans on taking the Shahadah as the ISNA Convention in a couple of weeks. For now, he is learning as much as he can. God is the most merciful.
Over the years, I have come to be known for my talks on Islam, and many listeners have chosen to be Muslim. My inner peace has continued to increase with my knowledge and confidence in the Wisdom of God. I know that God is not only my Creator but, my dearest friend. I know that God will always be there and will never reject me. For every step I take toward God, He takes 10 toward me. What a wonderful knowledge.
True, God has tested me, as was promised, and rewarded me far beyond what I could ever have hoped for. A few years ago, the doctors told me I had cancer and it was terminal. They explained that there was no cure, it was too far advanced, and proceeded to help prepare me for my death by explaining how the disease would progress. I had maybe one year left to live. I was concerned about my children, especially my youngest. Who would take care of him? Still I was not depressed. We must all die. I was confident that the pain I was experiencing contained blessings.
I remembered a good friend, Kareem Al-Misawi, who died of cancer when he was still in his 20’s. Shortly before he died, he told me that God was truly Merciful. This man was in unbelievable anguish and radiating with God’s love. He said: “God intends that I should enter heaven with a clean book.” His death experience gave me something to think about. He taught me of God’s love and mercy. This was something no one else had ever really discussed. God’s love!
I did not take me long to start being aware of His blessings. Friends who loved me came out of nowhere. Even more importantly, I learned how very important it was for me to share the Truth of Islam with everyone. It did not matter if people, Muslim or not, agreed with me or even liked me.
The only approval I needed was from God. The only love I needed was from God. Yet, I discovered more and more people, who for no apparent reason, loved me. I rejoiced, for I remembered reading that if God loves you, He causes others to love you. I am not worthy of all the love. That means it must be another gift from God. God is the Greatest!
There is no way to fully explain how my life changed. Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to God)! I am so very glad that I am a Muslim. Islam is my life. Islam is the beat of my heart. Islam is the blood that courses through my veins. Islam is my strength. Islam is my life so wonderful and beautiful. Without Islam, I am nothing, and should God ever turn His magnificent face from me, I could not survive.
“O God! let my heart have light, and my sight have light, and my hearing (senses) have light, and let me have light on my right, and let me have light on my left, and let me have light above me, and have light under me, and have light in front of me, and have light behind me; and let me have light.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Article by: arabnews.com