Ramadan: The season of mercy

Ramadan: The season of mercy

There is no better time to start making positive changes in our lives than this blessed month.

Ramadan is a Muslim's recurring opportunity for spiritual enhancement and soul redemption. It is also an annual exercise in self-control and self-restraint, but above all, it is a physical manifestation of our total submission and obedience to Allaah Almighty. Because of this submission and obeying of His order, the Muslim fasts, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse during the days of Ramadan. This is the physical aspect of fasting. By nightfall, the spiritual aspects take over, because while eating, drinking, and sexual relationship between spouses are permitted during nighttime, the Muslim then engages in prayers that take him/her deep into the night. It is a well-balanced program that lifts the spirit, strengthens the resolve, and asserts Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism) as no other act of worship can.

The conduct of our Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and his companions may Allaah be pleased with him in Ramadan differs a lot than the way Muslims do today. They dedicated their days and nights for worship. Their lives revolved completely around the book of Allaah, the Quran. Reciting it in and out of prayers. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to review the whole Quran with Jibreel (Angel Gabriel) once every Ramadan. Imaam Al-Bukhaari may Allaah have mercy upon him narrated: “Jibreel used to repeat the recitation of the Quran with the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) once a year (in Ramadan) but he repeated it with him twice in the year he died." The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to stay in ‘I'tikaaf (seclusion in the Masjid) for ten days every year (during Ramadan) but in the year of his death, he stayed in ‘I’tikaaf for twenty days.”

Ramadan is the month of mercy and charity. The mere revelation of the Quran and the commission of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) to the Prophethood are among the greatest manifestations of Allaah's mercy. Allaah, The Most Exalted, asserts this in numerous verses of the Quran, such as (what means):

“And We have sent down to you the Book (i.e. the Quran) as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims." [Quran 16:89]

And (what means): “So there has [now] come to you clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and mercy.” [Quran 6:157]

And (what means): “And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge — as guidance and mercy to a people who believe.” [Quran 7:52]

And (what means): “And We send down of the Quran, that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.” [Quran 17:82]

And when Allaah Almighty referred to the commission of our beloved Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) He said (what means): “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Quran 21:107].
Moreover, when the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said describing himself and listing his attributes: "I am the Prophet of mercy." [Al-Bukhaari]

There is no question that our beloved Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) possessed the highest forms of moral and human attributes. Among human beings, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was the most generous, the most merciful, the most courageous, the 'most' and the 'best' of everything good in Islam, and as described by his wife 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her his morals were the Quran.

The question is: where does this leave us? Some people dismiss their shortcomings by saying: "I am not the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )", but where does it say that you have to be a prophet to be merciful, or to be generous, or to be anything for that matter? Granted, that no one can be compared to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) or even hope to partially attain his high levels and standards, but that should not be an excuse for not following his example and striving to be the best Muslims that we can be.

There are many Prophetic narrations that refer to the depravation of an individual from the very thing he deprives others from, or the rewards, in multiples, of that which he provides. Among these narrations are:

1. "Allaah will not be Merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind." [Al-Bukhaari]

2. "Allaah does not bestow His mercy except on the merciful among His slaves." [Al-Bukhaari]

3. "Every good deed will be rewarded tenfold, up to seven hundred times, and Allaah multiplies to whomever he wills." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

4. "Allaah Says: Spend O son of Aadam and I shall spend upon you." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

There is no better time to start making positive changes in our lives than this blessed month. In Ramadan, many good things occur: the rewards are multiplied, the devils are chained, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the gates of Paradise are opened. Every night of Ramadan, Allaah redeems believers from the pains of Hellfire. It is the month of mercy, repentance, and charity. Use it or loose it!

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Article by: islamweb.net

Jeddah airport gets ready for busy Umrah season

Jeddah airport gets ready for busy Umrah season

JEDDAH: At this important time, the managers and administration team at King Abdulaziz International Airport are getting ready for the busy Umrah season which will start from the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and will continue until the beginning of Shawal. Typically, the airport receives more than 4 million Umrah pilgrims who arrive on about 27,000 flights throughout the season.

Turki Al-Deeb, director of public relations and information at King Abdulaziz International Airport, said that since the beginning of this current Umrah season (from the middle of last Hijri month of Safar until last Friday), more than 2.4 million Umrah pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom on 18,148 flights, against 1.78 million people who left the Kingdom boarding 9,750 flights.

“The management of the Haj and Umrah complex at the airport have been working since the beginning of Rajab to recruit about 7,000 employees representing 27 government and public sectors in preparation for the peak days of arrival, given that the movement of Umrah pilgrims has now started to pick up and will continue during the last 10 days of Ramadan until the first days of Shawal,” said the director of public relations and media.

He said that the movement at the airport in general is streamlined and continues to flow easily around the clock despite the high density of arrivals and departures of pilgrims, adding that the workers and employees at the airport are using maximum efforts to provide the best services for worshipers and visitors.

He also confirmed the increasing numbers of Umrah pilgrims compared to the same period last year, expecting the total number of Umrah pilgrims coming through King Abdulaziz International Airport to reach more than 8 million by the end of the season.

He emphasized the fact that the procedures for the arrivals and departures are running smoothly in all lounges allocated for such services.

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 Article by: arabnews.com

Ramadan: The Season of Supplications

 

Ramadan: The Season of Supplications

The supplication of Yoonus (Jonah) may Allaah exalt his mention is one of those narrated on the authority of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) which was answered from Allaah The Almighty. The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "As for the supplication of Thun-Noon (Yoonus), therewith he supplicated Allaah while being inside the fish, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted You Are. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’ No Muslim supplicates Allaah with it in anything but Allaah responds to him." [At-Tirmithi]


The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said in another narration: "‘Should I not teach you something; if anyone supplicates Allaah therewith whenever he is stricken by distress or an adversity of this world, he will be guided to a way out of it?’ It was said, ‘Yes (tell us).’ He said: ‘It is the supplication of Thun-Noon." [Al-Haakim and An-Nasaa’i]

Allaah The Almighty has opened for you this gate of response to supplication, in order to rectify your states. If you have learned about the Quran, supplication, Thikr (remembrance of Allaah The Almighty), standing (in prayer), fasting and your heart has not yet responded to them, know that your inclination and worldly fortune have hindered you from hastening to compete in the race to realize them, perchance you would attain the forgiveness of Allaah The Almighty. If you have reached such a state and despaired of rectifying your own self with what you have learned, and instead find it too difficult for you to do, and find obstacles impeding you from performing acts of worship: then, that is the way you can get rid of such despair and difficulties.

It is most likely that this supplication, with the etiquette mentioned above, will be a means of eliminating distress, resolving the problems we are suffering from, and removing the adversity that has afflicted us, as mentioned by the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). It is incumbent upon one to hasten to Allaah The Almighty, sparing no time and no effort, and be in the best state in which his supplication may be accepted by Allaah The Almighty. If his supplication is accepted, our conditions will become rectified, both the soul and heart will hasten to respond to those deeds and acts of worship and the breast will be expanded (to the truth). In this way one's feet will be firmly established on the way to Allaah The Almighty, receiving light to their Lord, mercy will descend and our misery will be removed. Consequently, the man whose supplication is answered will have his gates opened for him, i.e. the gates of healing and guidance, mercy and response in compliance with His Saying (what means): {And your Lord Says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.} [Quran 40:60]

A believer should do his best to avoid despair and enter upon Allaah The Almighty. This will aid him in achieving what he has not obtained, keep him firm on what he has received, and receive much more of the mercy of Allaah The Almighty in realization of the Statement of Allaah (which means): {If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].} [Quran 14:7]

If you were certain that your supplication (by day while fasting), and at night (while standing in prayer), would surely receive an answer (from Allaah The Almighty), then, with which supplication would one supplicate his Lord?

Undoubtedly, you would like your Lord to boost your faith, strengthen your determination, aid you in remembering Him, give thanks to Him, and worship Him in a sound manner of worship. You would like Him to expand your breast with the Quran so that you would approach it, draw closer to Him , help you in your occupation, avert evil from you and save you from (the evil of) Satan, the whispers of your Self and evil inclinations. By means of supplicating him sincerely, you will achieve many other blessings in your property, children, soul, work and morals, in the matters between you and Allaah The Almighty, and in your dealings with people. This will remove adversity from you as well as from the Muslims. Ramadan is the season when those supplications are opened, and they are never rejected by day or night.

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 Article by: www.islamweb.net