10 sure ways to love Allah

10 sure ways to love Allah

The most pleasing human emotion is love and the most beautiful form of love is to love Allah. We stay away from sin because we fear Allah and we fear the punishment of Hellfire, but we worship Allah and do good deeds and draw nearer to Allah because we love Allah and we hope for Paradise.

Love between the worshiper and the Creator feels so satisfying and it fills your heart, especially when you know that Allah loves you. Among the names and attributes of Allah is Al-Wadud, meaning The Most Loving, The Most Affectionate, The Beloved, The Loving-Kindness.

To love Allah is more than simply pronouncing your love of Allah; it is acting upon this love by obeying Him, worshiping Him, liking what He likes, and disliking what He dislikes.

Love must be nurtured in order for it to grow and for you to experience the fruits of this love.

It is a normal part of our human condition to experience highs and lows when it comes to the level of our worship. There are times when we feel the love of Allah is alive and ever present in our hearts and we take delight in our rituals of worship and calling upon Allah.

There are other times when we feel the love of Allah is there but is more subtle, and we may feel distanced from Allah and less motivated.

Even the scholars recognized that we need ways to help us intensify our love of Allah and to help us stay motivated, and they have listed effective steps of keeping the love of Allah alive in our hearts. If you are currently going through a slump, and you feel that you need a boost in your love of Allah, read on.

1. Reading the Holy Qur’an with understanding. The Holy Qur’an is a book of guidance, so we must not only read its verses, but comprehend what we read, contemplate on the meanings, and implement what we read. When reading the Qur’an, we can try to read the meanings, or watch videos of respectable scholars who explain the meanings of the verses.

2. Performing voluntary prayers. The prayer no doubt strengthens our connection with Allah, and more so the voluntary prayer because we stand for this prayer purely for the sake of Allah, even though it is not obligatory. It is a two-way love because Allah returns this love for the one who performs the voluntary prayers. It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a longer Hadith, “Allah the Mighty and Sublime said, ‘My servant draws not near to Me withanything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him.’” To increase our love for Allah and to be loved by Allah, we should start performing the sunnah prayers. As a quick review, the sunnah prayers are two rak’ah before fajr, four before dhuhr and two after it, two after maghrib, and two after ishaa.

3. Remembrance of Allah. Try to be in a constant state of remembering Allah, mentioning His name, praising Him, glorifying Him, thanking Him, and asking for forgiveness. Some people, simply by filling their waiting times throughout the day, say istighfar 500 times a day.

4. Remain humble. Humility is equivalent to submission to Allah. We should abandon selfishness and pride in our human power, and stand humbled, meek, and submissive as servants of Allah.

5. Give in charity from things that are dear to you. This really challenges your heart. When a clothes drive or toy drive comes around for the poor, do not give the worn out clothes you do not want, but give from your new, clean, and beautiful clothes. Have you heard how Aisha, Prophet Muhammad’s wife, used to give out the coins in charity to the poor? Aisha used to perfume the coins in musk before giving them in charity. When asked why she did this, she explained that the charity reaches Allah before it touches the hand of the person in need.

6. Remembering Allah’s Beautiful Names and Attributes. Learning the Names and Attributes of Allah will increase our love and awe towards Allah.

7. Performing the night prayers, qiyam ul layl. What truly sets apart the ordinary Muslim from a devout believer, who is close to Allah, is the ability to wake up before fajr and pray the qiyam prayers. This is a time full of blessings and rewards from Allah.

8. Keeping good company. The people you choose to surround yourself with influences your relationship with Allah, because some people draw you closer to Allah while others take you further away from Him.

9. Going against worldly desires. Preventing yourself from over indulging in worldly desires helps you live a healthy, balanced life, and keeps you in constant awareness of the transient nature of this world. For example, saving up money is good but greed and miserliness is frowned down upon. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying a delicious meal, gluttony and overeating is discouraged in Islam.

10. Gratitude towards Allah. We are immersed in countless blessings and gifts from Allah and we often neglect thanking Allah and expressing our gratefulness for what we have. The more we thank Allah and acknowledge His blessings, the more we feel the love of Allah, and the more Allah will give us. The verse in the Holy Qur’an says, {And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you (in favor); but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’}

source: saudigazette.com.sa

All ready to welcome Umrah 2017 pilgrims | British haj travel

All ready to welcome Umrah 2017 pilgrims | British haj travel

JEDDAH — Following the successful completion of Haj, Umrah packages 2017 have started arriving in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah announced on Thursday.

The current Haj season will come to an end on Oct. 5 (Muharram 15) when the last flight carrying foreign Haj pilgrims will leave King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

The ministry has issued directives to all its agencies, sectors and Umrah establishments to raise their level of readiness to provide the best services to Umrah pilgrims and visitors.

The ministry announced its preparations for the upcoming Umrah season during a recent meeting between Minister of Haj Muhammad Saleh Banten and key players in the Umrah sector.

The meeting focused on the readiness of all sectors of the ministry for this season, especially with an unprecedented rise in the number of Umrah pilgrims last season, which was put at 6.7 million.

Despite the large number of Umrah pilgrims, there was a considerable drop in the number of Umrah visa overstayers, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the number of Haj pilgrims who arrived in Madinah totaled 595,635, according to an update issued by the National Establishment for Guides in Madinah on Thursday.

It said 32,336 pilgrims arrived in Madinah on Wednesday while 21,691 left the holy city on the same day for their countries.

With this the number of foreign pilgrims who left Madinah after visiting the Prophet's Mosque after Haj totaled 333,137 as of Wednesday. The number of pilgrims who remained in Madinah until Wednesday evening, the last day of the month of Dul Hijjah, exceeded 262,422, compared to 157,176 pilgrims on the same day last season.

Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser made an inspection tour of Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah on Thursday to check on the smooth departure of pilgrim flights from the airport.

Types of Packages

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

VIP Umrah Packages     |     Golden Umrah Packages      |      Silver Umrah Packages

Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Cheap umrah package with Umrah flights In UK

Cheap umrah package with Umrah flights In UK

keeping in mind the comfort of the clients we design our services / packages as per customer expectations. We have unbeatable prices and services for  Cheap umrah package with Umrah flights In UK 2017-2018.

A very well known (ATOL & IATA) company in the industry of travel & tourism. Airleads has been serving thousands of pilgrims from last 16 years by providing the finest service with the unbeatable prices. We have highly experienced representatives who have delivered the best quality services to thousands of satisfied customers.

We would love to be a small part of your holy journeys and a memory of services that you would never forget. Kindly do give us a chance to serve you. We intends to provide the service and knowledge which a traveler seeks whilst on the pious journey of umrah, 

However we don’t only limit our services to the hotels infect we provide you the best tour for ziyaraats with the descriptions of holy places. Also We do not only beat the market price but we guarantee to beat the services with our experience and best customer service Alhamdulillah. Kindly Give us a chance to make your holy dream memorable.

Types of Packages

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

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

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

source: cheapesthajjandumrahpackages.co.uk

With 3 more days to go for Ramadan, Umrah package price soars

With 3 more days to go for Ramadan, Umrah package price soars

During the penultimate week of Ramadan, Umrah travel operators in the capital have increased their Umrah package from SR250 ($66.67) to SR300 from its pre-season price of SR80.

A leading hotelier in Makkah told Arab News that hotels are nearing 100 percent occupancy at the end of the holy month.
Domestic pilgrims have taken up 95 percent of Makkah central zone hotel reservations made, then canceled, by Qatari and international pilgrims, Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry member Saad Al-Qurashi was quoted as saying by Okaz newspaper. He said the number of Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan increased this year, reaching 300,000.
He said more than 85 percent of hotel rooms in the central zone around the Grand Mosque are occupied. “Makkah hotels are capable of accommodating the increasing numbers of visitors… the number of pilgrims is expected to reach 15 million, and it is planned to accommodate 30 million pilgrims and Umrah performers by 2030.”
This year, the peak season coincides with the summer holidays. A large number of vacationers, including Saudis, are expected to participate in the pilgrimage this year.
Meanwhile, hospital and health facilities in Makkah have treated 50,000 emergency cases during the first three weeks of the holy month. The Makkah Health Affairs General Directorate said the number of cases admitted to Makkah hospitals numbered more than 5,000 since the beginning of Ramadan. Besides hospital cases, more than 27,000 patients were seen at clinics, and more than 600 babies were delivered.

source: arabnews.com

British hajj travel is specialist of Hajj and Umrah Packages 2017

flickr

British hajj travel is specialist of Hajj and Umrah Packages 2017

You have been a devout Muslim all your life, and followed the four pillars of Islam religiously. Now, here is your opportunity to complete the fifth pillar, which has existed since the times of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and this pillar is ‘the hajj’. Billions have done this revered act of pilgrimage before you. If you have made an intention today, then the time has come for you now to embark on this self-purifying journey.

The hajj and Umrah packages allow you to stand before The Almighty Allah on the Arafat plains and ask for forgiveness of your sins. You can be with other Muslims from different parts of the world in Muzdalifah, and get to stone the devil in Mina. You would make Tawaf by going around the Kaabah and get to pray behind the imam in Madinah.

A number of packages are listed, ranging from the most elegant to the affordable ones. You can choose your own special Umrah packages and get the best deals to suit your budget. You would be provided with all the comfort and practical advice required for the completion of this wonderful journey.

Our cheap umrah packages are designed to give you complete freedom in order to perform this important task of your life. Allow us the good fortune to host your journey, as it would be our greatest honour to help you fulfil your pilgrimage.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights      Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights     Ramadan Offer 2017      Hajj packages 2017

source: homeandawayholidays.co.uk

Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Ramadan is the month of fasting, and it is also the month of Qur’an. It was during Ramadan that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

{The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} (Chapter 2, verse 185 of the Holy Qu’ran)

Eager to gain the rewards in this month, many of us rush to read the entire Qur’an and we compete to complete even more than once before the month is over. While dedicating your time to reading the Qur’an is no doubt praiseworthy, I call upon my Muslim brothers and sisters to take a slightly different approach this Ramadan.

Rather than hastily reading through, why not pick a certain chapter or chapters of the Qur’an and delve deeply into the meanings of the verses, the lessons to be learned, the context in which they were revealed during the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), studying the history, and also the implications the verses carry for our lives today? Rather than simply, we need to work hard to understand the Qur’an. Alternately, you can pick a certain topic and research it in-depth in the Holy Qur’an, for example stories of the prophets, or the description of Paradise. Another recommendation is to use the Qur’an as a blue print to develop your character. For example, study the verses which speak about patience or piety or the characteristics of a believer in general.

For a class which I offer the girls in our community, we picked Surah Al-Israa, the Chapter of the Night Journey, to explore the meanings of the verses, and we have learned a lot and greatly enjoyed the classes.

The Qur’an, the word of God, is a book of guidance for humanity. Students of the Qur’an never cease to be amazed by the wonders found in it.

Researchers have studied the numbers of times that certain words are repeated in the Qur’an which causes us to appreciate the Qur’an even more.

The word ‘day’ (yawm) is repeated in its singular form 365 times, while the plural and dual forms, ‘days’ (ayyam and yawmayn) together are repeated 30 times. The number of repetitions of the word ‘month’ (shahar) is 12.
The words ‘Paradise’ and ‘Hellfire’ are each repeated the same number of times, 77 times. The significance I draw from this is that the believer must live his/her life in a balance between fear of Allah and fear of the punishment, but also hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, and the yearning to enter Paradise.

The words, ‘world’ (dunya) and ‘Hereafter’ (akhira) are repeated an equal number of times, 115 times. Although there may not be great importance in the numbers, we should ponder on the importance of mentioning this world and the next world an equal amount of times in the Qur’an.

The ultimate priority in a believer’s life is worshiping Allah, but that does not mean we can neglect our duties and responsibilities of building and protecting this Earth. What comes to mind is the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

At the same time, we must not become so immersed in this world’s pleasures and problems that we neglect our worship. Neither work nor entertainment should blind us from dedicating enough time to the service of others and worshiping Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of becoming entranced by worldly affairs; he said, “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be spread out in front of you as it was spread out in front of those before you, and then you will vie for it as they vied for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them” (Riyad as-Salihin by Imam Nawawi)

Another finding in the Qur’an I marveled over is the reference to the land and sea. The word ‘land’ appears 13 times in the Qur’an and the word ‘sea’ 32 times, giving a total of 45 references. The number of total references to land and sea, 45, divided by the number of references to the sea in the Qur’an, 32, and multiplied by 100 is 71.1%. Extraordinarily, these figures represent the exact proportions of land and sea on the Earth.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Changing our objectives this Ramadan

Changing our objectives this Ramadan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ramadan Umrah Package (21 Night)         All Umrah packages 2017

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Sha’ban our gate to Ramadan

saudigazette.com.sa

Sha’ban our gate to Ramadan

Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Hijri or lunar calendar, and the month that precedes the holy month of Ramadan was the most beloved month to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Sha’ban is significant for many reasons. First of all, it is the time that Muslims start getting ready for the month of Ramadan.

It was in the middle of the month of Sha’ban when Allah ordered Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to change the Qiblah, the direction towards which Muslims face when they pray, from Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem to the Holy Ka’bah in Makkah.

Masjid Al-Aqsa had been the Qiblah for thirteen years in Makkah, and for nearly eighteen months after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Madinah.

Verses from the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), instructing him and all Muslims to turn towards the Ka’bah in Makkah when they pray. Most interpretations date this incident to the middle of the month of Sha’ban.

Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) show that it is recommended to fast during Sha’ban.

Anas bin Malik reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked: “Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasting of Ramadan?”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) replied, “Fasting of Sha’ban in honor of Ramadan.” (Tirmidhi)

Fasting in Sha’ban is like mental and physical training for fasting in Ramadan. We may experience difficulty when we start the fast in Ramadan, but if we started fasting a few days in Sha’ban, our bodies will get used to fasting and we will not feel so lethargic and weak when Ramadan comes.

Sha’ban is like an introduction to Ramadan and it has some things in common with Ramadan, such as fasting, reciting Qur’an, and giving in charity.

Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The Messenger of Allah used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’ban.” {Al-Bukhari and Muslim}.

Usamah ibn Zaid narrated, “I said to the Prophet,’ O Messenger of Allah! I did not see you fasting in any month as you do in the month of Sha’ban.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘People neglect this month which is between Rajab and Ramadan; in this month the actions of the people are presented to Allah, so I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.’” {Abu Dawood and An-Nasaa’i}

Though fasting is made obligatory in Ramadan, fasting in of Sha’ban is beneficial in a number of ways. Fasting in Sha’ban gives you a chance to start preparing for Ramadan.

In Sha’ban, many Muslim scholars and others used to consistently recite and read the Holy Quran along with fasting, which also helps in getting our routines of worship in place for the coming month of Ramadan.


If we begin increasing our acts of worship in Sha’ban, we will bear the enjoy the fruits of our efforts in the holy month of Ramadan.

Types of Packages

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

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights      Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights    Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)         Ramadan Offer 2017

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

The best greeting

source: saudigazette.com.sa

The best greeting

How many of us greet people we come across in a wedding hall let alone a public place? We tend to ignore most people and greet only those we know and sometimes that is bothersome too, how indifferent we have become towards our fellow humans!

Islam teaches us that we should greet one another and that it is our duty upon our fellow Muslims to greet each other. Let us examine how important it is to greet each other with the best greeting given to us in Islam, “Assalamu Alaykum” which literally means “Peace and blessings be upon you.”

Ibn al-Qayyim said in his book, Badaa’i’ al-Fawaa’id (144):

“Allah, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islam should be ‘al-salaamu alaykum’, which is better than all the greetings of other nations which include impossible ideas, such as saying, ‘May you live for a thousand years,’ or statements that are not accurate, or actions that are not right, such as prostrating in greeting one another.

Thus, the greeting of salam or peace is better than all of these, because it has the meaning of safety which is life, without which nothing else can be achieved. So, this takes precedence over all other aims or objectives. A person has two main aims in life: to keep himself safe from evil, and to get something good. Keeping safe from evil takes precedence over getting something good.”

Thus, our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) commanded us to greet our fellow Muslims whether we know them or not, so as to establish peace and a sense of brotherhood.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith, “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salam (greetings of peace) amongst yourselves.”

Furthermore, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three days, each of them turning away from the other if they meet. The better of them is the first one to say salam.”

This is evidence to show that we should not ignore our Muslim brothers or sisters when we come across them.

We should also be prompt to return someone’s greeting of peace.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: {And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it (in a like manner). Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.} (Chapter 4, verse 86)

We should try to be the better of the two, and initiate the greeting, hoping for Allah’s mercy and reward. We should also overlook the mistakes of others and make an excuse for the other person if they do not respond to your greeting. Perhaps they did not hear your salam.

This way, we will establish ties of brotherhood/ sisterhood, and will be greatly rewarded by Allah.

source:saudigazette.com.sa

Lessons learned from Israa and Miraj

saudigazette.com.sa

Lessons learned from Israa and Miraj

There are many life lessons to be learned from the miraculous night journey of Israa and Miraj. During the Israa, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was carried on a white animal that was smaller than a horse yet larger than a donkey and it had wings and was called Al-Buraq. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) rode Al-Buraq to Jerusalem, where he met the Prophets and led them in prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Miraj is the ascension of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Al-Buraq and with the company of Angel Jibreel to the Heavens.

If we look at when this night journey occurred, we will realize that this journey was a gift to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Israa and Miraj took place shortly after the year of grief, the year that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received two painful blows when he lost two of his closest supporters: his beloved wife, Khadija and his uncle, Abu Talib. It was also after the incident of Al-Taif when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) went to Taif to call people to the message of Islam but he was met with mockery and rejection, to the extent that the tribes released their children to throw stones at him (peace be upon him).

To lighten the Prophet’s burden and relieve his distress after these painful events, Allah invited the Prophet (peace be upon him) to the journey of Israa and Miraj, as if to show the Prophet (peace be upon him) and all believers that after pain comes relief and after suffering comes ease. And sometimes, it takes patience through difficult times before we can achieve inner peace and nearness to Allah.

As Muslims, we are also reminded of the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque in our faith. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited Al-Aqsa during his night journey and he prayed there with all the prophets of Allah. Al-Aqsa Mosque was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an as a blessed place. Jerusalem is a holy land, in its vicinity many prophets have lived and died, and were buried there. In several sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he encouraged Muslims to visit the three sacred mosques in Islam: the Holy Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. We must make it a priority to pray for those people in Palestine, to call for justice, to donate for their cause, and to visit Al Aqsa Mosque.

In Al Alqsa Mosque, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) met all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus may Allah’s peace be upon them all. It is a pillar of faith to believe in all the prophets and to love them. The seal of all the prophets is Muhammad (peace be upon him), and he led the prophets in prayer, which was a great honor for him. And on the Day of Judgment, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) will be given precedence over the other prophets as he will be the first to intercede for mankind. On the Day of Judgment, the believers will be worried and they will go to the prophets to ask them to intercede on their behalf. None of the prophets will accept this task, except Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said of his people, “So they will come to me, and I will ask my Lord’s permission to enter His presence and then I will be permitted. When I see Him I will fall down in prostration before Him, and He will leave me (in prostration) as long as He wills, and then He will say, ‘O Muhammad, lift up your head and speak, for you will be listened to, and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted, and ask (for anything) for it will be granted.’” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
That is why we make this supplication between every adhan and iqama for prayer: “O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the prayer to be offered, grant Muhammad the privilege (of intercession) and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position that You have promised.”

Another vital lesson to be drawn from the night journey is the significance of the five daily prayers in a believer’s life. The obligatory prayers were ordained by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he was in the Heavens and in close presence to Allah. This indicates that the prayer is in essence an elevation of the spirit. When we pray, we detach ourselves from this world and all of its troubles and pleasures. We focus on our Creator, draw near to Him, and pray to Him. It is imperative to get the message across to our youth that the prayer is no trivial matter and that when performed correctly and with concentration, it is an uplifting, comforting, spiritual experience.

Finally, when reading about Israa and Miraj, we learn yet again, what we probably already knew before, and that is the virtue of the Prophet’s best friend and confidant, Abu Bakr.

Some scholars said that the entire Israa and Miraj journey took about one third of the night. The following day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told the people what had happened. The disbelievers ridiculed the Prophet (peace be upon him). They went to Abu Bakr and said to him, “Look at what your companion is saying. He says he went to Jerusalem and came back in one night.”

Abu Bakr confidently responded, “If he said that, then he is speaking the truth.”

From this incident, Abu Bakr was given the title of As-Siddiq, because of how strongly he believed in the Prophet (peace be upon him). Part of our faith is to love Abu Bakr, one of the most faithful of companions.

The Israa and Miraj journey is full of signs to make our faith stronger and lessons that we continue to learn from to this day.

Types of Packages

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

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

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Umrah Package - Cheap offers for uk by British haj travel

flickr

Umrah Package - Cheap offers for uk by British haj travel

People, who travel for a Hajj or Umrah, are more likely to be worried about their travel planning, visa procedures, transportations and other support needs while going to Makkah and Madina. If you are worried about travel plan or tickets, visa procedures or accommodation, ziarats in Makkah and Madina; British haj travel is the best travel companion for you to get all inclusive Cheap Umrah package. From so many years, British haj travel is known for its reliability feature, providing ease and comfort for the pilgrims of Umrah and Hajj as well best price packages for 2017.

British haj travel being most reliable Hajj Umrah tour operator based in UK provides best Umrah services at lowest possible rates to the Muslims of UK. We assure our clients of best services including flights reservations along with complete Umrah deals. Our professional staff and agents will help you regarding best packages of your choice. Moreover, they will help you for all possible flights from London, Manchester, London, Glasgow and other cities of UK to Jeddah. Simultaneously, we provide best services including best airlines tickets, hotel accommodation in the closest vicinity of Holy Makkah and Madinah at the cheapest rate. Likewise, we offer transport facility from airport to your reserved destination.

It is very likely that pilgrims face problems if they going for Umrah for the first time. We are an experienced name in the aviation industry. We will guide you at each step about performing this sacred journey of Umrah. It is indeed our honour to serve our esteemed clients.

We have team of specialists and experts to provide enjoyable and fulfilling pilgrimages for Muslims, we have also made Umrah package 2017 that meet your needs and expectations.
We are working for more than a decade and we feel proud in honouring the respected guests of Allah Almighty. We claim to provide best Umrah services to our Muslim brothers and sisters in UK. We aim in providing the best Umrah package satisfying all the needs and requirements of our clients. Make your Holy journey of Umrah memorable by rendering Cheap Umrah Packages.

We are a registered company working under the profile of ATOL and AITA association. Those who are travelling for the first time, they need to be afraid because we follow the rules to make your Umrah journey as comfortable as per our commitment. We are pleased to offer a variety of departure points with roadmap for different locations with different dates.

Best Umrah Deals for Gruop or Family

Our group or family Umrah packages for December 2017 are crafted to cater every group with excellent care including smaller groups, larger ones, senior citizens, families travelling with small children. Likewise, we will provide accommodation in the closest proximity of Holy Makkah and Madinah along with best hotel facilities to make you feel home. Furthermore, we do not compromise over your comfort therefore we also provide transportation facilities in all 2017 Umrah packages in order to make travelling convenient and accessible for you. Many people desire to visit sacred places in Makkah and Madinah for Ziarat. We also cater their needs by providing the abovementioned transport facility. So, now you do no need to worry about logistical hurdles and travelling expenses. All you need to do is to pack your bags and we will take care of everything else.

To keep ahead of the travelling industry we are always lookout for the opportunities and we invest heavily in good, clean and standard hotels. This results in utterly guaranteed reservations and allows us to maintain a pricing policy.
In addition to this we are also ATOL protected and IATA accredited. We provide a secure and safe platform to invest your hard earn money for performing Umrah and Hajj. Umrah and Hajj are Ibadahs, investments that a person does for the life hereafter.

Our staff is a set of experts and professionals, available and approachable for you with our 24/7 customer service. We at British haj travel not only help our clients in the plan and arrangements for Umrah and Hajj but we also ensure your ease in Holy journey from home and throughout your stay in Makkah and Madina. Almost in all of our Umrah deals for 3, 4 and 5 package air conditioned transport is included.

Types of Packages

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

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

Source: cheapumrahpackage.net/

All Houses of Worship are Sacred

source: saudigazette.com.sa

All Houses of Worship are Sacred

Killing innocent people and spilling blood in a house of worship is in no way Islamic, and it goes against Islamic teachings and principles. At least 27 people were killed in a blast inside a church in the northern city of Tanta in Egypt. And in Alexandria, 18 civilians and four police officers were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Coptic church.

When ISIS claimed responsibility for these attacks, any clear thinker will draw the conclusion that ISIS does not represent Islam and Muslims. It causes one to question, what religion is ISIS really following? How does ISIS justify such heinous acts when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) granted protection to Christians living among Muslims? If ISIS was truly seeking to establish an Islamic state, religious minorities living among them would have been granted protection and religious freedom.

Our societies are in need of studying and reading more on the history of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him). In fact, both the Islamophobes and the extremists may be unaware of the covenant between Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Christians. Both the Islamophobes and the extremists falsely interject violence, hatred, and intolerance in the religion of Islam.

St. Catherine’s Monastery is located in the Sinai region in Egypt and it is believed to be the oldest working Christian monastery in the world. The monastery possesses a large collection of Christian manuscripts. One of the most precious documents of all is the copy of a letter given to Christian monks by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The original letter is found in Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.

In 628 AD, a delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and requested his protection.

He granted them protection and provided them with a letter which is called the “Charter of Privileges.” The privileges of protection ad safety for the monks were upheld by Muslims for centuries.  The letter reads:
“This is a message from Muhammad, son of Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation of (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant until the Last Day.”

As for the notion by some people that Islam approves of or even encourages attacking Christian civilians, the scholarsMuhammad Abdullah Al-Khatib and Dr. Abdus-Sattar F. Saeed issued the following statement: “Islam does not only prohibit assaulting non-Muslims who do not wrong us, Islam urges us to treat non-Muslims well and be just when dealing with them. It is prohibited to attack non-Muslims’ places of worship. Freedom of religion and belief is a right which Islam guarantees, as Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an, {Let there be no compulsion in religion.} (Chapter 2, verse 256).
To those who claim that Islam supports the perpetration of violence against people of other religions, they are overlooking Prophet Muhammad’s instructions to not kill any child, woman, elder, or sick person. Mutilation is prohibited. To uproot, burn, or cut down trees is prohibited.  Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.” (Sahih Bukhari)

It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Do not kill the monks in monasteries and do not kill those sitting in places of worship.”

It seems we need to re-learn the character of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his mercy, compassion, tolerance, generosity, devotion, and worship.
The Muslims in Egypt responded by gathering in mosques to donate blood for the injured survivors of the attacks in the churches.

Types of Packages

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

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

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Why Muslim Women Wear the Veil

flickr

Why Muslim Women Wear the Veil

In recent years, a small piece of cloth has managed to cause quite a stir.  The scarf or hijab that Muslim women wear on their heads is making headlines around the world.  Hijab is banned in French public schools and other European countries have adopted, or are drafting similar legislation.  In Australia, a radio presenter triggered both debate and outrage when he called for the face veil (niqab) to be banned from banks and post offices.  Even predominantly Muslim countries such as Turkey and Tunisia ban the hijab in certain government buildings.  When a small piece of fabric causes such controversy and conflict, wouldn’t it be easier to remove it?  Why then, under such circumstances, do Muslim women wear scarves?

There are a myriad of reasons why, but the easy, one sentence answer is, because they believe God has made it an obligation for believing women.  In the Quran God tells the believing men and women to lower their gaze and to dress modestly.  He (God) specifically addresses women when He asks them not to show off their adornment, except that which is apparent, and draw their veils over their bodies.  (Quran 24:30-31)

These verses of Quran are known as the verses of hijab and it is the consensus of Islamic scholars that they make the wearing of hijab mandatory.  Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar do enforce a dress code.  Women there are expected to cover their hair and wear some sort of loose fitting, full-length garment over their clothes.  However, for the majority of Muslim women around the world, to cover, or not to cover, is a freely made choice. God requires Muslim women to dress modestly and to wear the hijab in public and in the presence of men who are not close relatives.

Although the English word scarf and the Arabic term hijab have become interchangeable, it is worth noting that hijab is more than just a scarf.  It is a term that covers a variety of clothing including scarves, but also a variety of different dress styles from around the world.  Many have cultural connotations such as the Pakistani shalwar khamis or the Afghani burqa, but whenever a Muslim woman covers “her adornment”, she is said to be wearing hijab.

The literal meaning of hijab is to veil, to cover, or to screen.  Islam is known as a religion concerned with community cohesion and moral boundaries, and therefore hijab is a way of ensuring that the moral boundaries between unrelated men and women are respected.  In this sense, the term hijab encompasses more than a scarf and more then a dress code.  It is a term that denotes modest dressing and modest behaviour.  For instance, if a Muslim woman was wearing a scarf but at the same time using bad language, she would not be fulfilling the requirements of hijab.

The majority of Muslim women wear hijab, to obey God, and to be known as respectable women.  (Quran 33:59)  However, in the last 30 years hijab has emerged as a sign of Islamic consciousness.  Many women see wearing the hijab as indicative of their desire to be part of an Islamic revival, especially in countries where the practice of Islam is discouraged or even forbidden.

While those who seek to ban hijab refer to it as a symbol of gender based repression, the women who choose to don a scarf, or to wear hijab, in the broadest sense of the word, do so by making personal decisions and independent choices.  They view it as a right and not a burden.  Nor do these women regard hijab as a sign of oppression.  Women who wear hijab often describe themselves as being “set free” from society’s unrealistic fashion culture.

Hijab frees women from being thought of as sexual objects of desire or from being valued for their looks, or body shape rather then their minds and intellect.  No longer slaves to consumerism, hijab liberates women from the need to conform to unrealistic stereotypes and images dictated by the media.  Women wearing hijab have expressed that dressing modestly and covering their hair, minimises sexual harassment in the workplace. The aura of privacy created by hijab is indicative of the great value Islam places upon women.

Women who choose to wear hijab do not make the decision lightly.  In fact many women testify that they faced great animosity from their Muslim or non-Muslim families when they decided to cover.  Across the globe there are numerous instances of women having to defend their right to wear the hijab.

Hijab can be a symbol of piety and it can be a sign of great inner strength and fortitude.  A woman wearing hijab becomes a very visible sign of Islam.  While Muslim men can blend easily into any society, Muslim woman are often put on the line, and forced to defend not only their decision to cover, but also their religion.  Nevertheless, women who wear hijab insist that the advantages far outweigh any disadvantage conjured up by media bias or general ignorance.

Types of Packages

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

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

Source: islamreligion.com

Umrah Flights | British haj travel 2017 and 2018

flickr

Umrah Flights | British haj travel 2017 and 2018

In 2001, British haj travel Company was established to compete in the untapped religious market all over the world especially during Hajj and Umrah seasons. British haj travel is considered the largest carrier of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Hajj & Umrah flights operations are planned across different continents including Europe, Africa, and Asia. The group, NAS Holding, has extensive exposure and experience in the aviation industry. In the year 1431H, the governments of Senegal, Cameroon, and India awarded the Hajj contracts. These included extended dedicated Hajj & Umrah services from a total of 11 destinations within these 3 countries to Jeddah and Medina. The operations resulted in successfully uplifting of 40,000 pilgrims with 127 flights operated for each phase a total of 254 Hajj flights.The overall operation was described as a smooth operation with excellent customer experience.

Up until today, British haj travel Aviation continues to expand its operations into different countries across different regions. In 1436/2015 British haj travel has successfully uplifted over 101,000 pilgrims and operated 335 flights for each phase a total of 671 Hajj flights to 17 countries in Africa, India and Central Asia.

Types of Umrah Packages:

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

VIP Umrah 7 Nights  | Golden Umrah 7 Nights   |  Silver Umrah 7 Nights 

Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights  |  Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)

source: flynas.com