Accomodation Tips during Hajj and Umrah

Accomodation Tips during Hajj and Umrah

1. Hajj and Umrah is a supreme religious experience. It is however, also physically rigorous and emotionally taxing. Pilgrims are therefore advised to prepare themselves physically and mentally so as to face the difficulties that are likely to confront.
2. 
   Each pilgrim is entitled to only two baggages such as one suite case and one carry on bag. You are sharing accommodation with some one else respect each other rights and give respect of his & her right and to accommodate each other space for himself and his baggage. This translates into very limited space availability during stay in hotels, transportation and in tents.
    
3. Hotels in Saudi Arabia classify as Star as per the Saudi Government rating to the Hotels industry therefore do not compare with the USA or Europe Standards.
   
   Each Pilgrim will be provided with a single mattress space in Mina Tents, however you will be getting Sofa Bed for his/her comfort, each pilgrims will be getting one bed sheet, one light blanket and he/she is advised to bring towel for his personal use.
    
4. The measurement of most of accommodation is not more than 300 meter ; it's recommended that most of the time to reach some place is the shortest possible route on foot.
    
5. Pilgrims should try to use the lift judiciously, avoiding use at the same time and similarly those on the near floors such as first and second floors may resort to possible use of stairs.
    
6. Do not over crowd the lift. It is a safety hazard.
    
7. It's recommended that you should not use the hotel phone it will cost you more than you expecting. After you check in inform relative or love one your Room # and main phone #.
    
8. The refrigerator is to be shared by all the pilgrims. Therefore, Pilgrims are requested to use it optimally.
   
   Pilgrims should not leave their room / building with food being cooked. It is observed that this could lead to fire and is a serious safety threat. This applicable only if you using own cooking or making tea.
    
9. Pilgrims should remember their hotel location and phone numbers, main landmark nearby and the nearest gate of Haram Sharif. If they miss their buddy, they can reach by the above information. In case they cannot, they may contact the nearest police post.
    
10. Pilgrims must strictly follow the departure time schedule from Madinah to Makkah and also from Makkah to Mina, Mina to Arafat, Muzdalifa, and back to airport Makkah to Jeddah airport. 

Sporce: go-makkah.com

Countdown to Haj 2016 begins

arabnews.com

Countdown to Haj 2016 begins

RIYADH: Domestic pilgrims from some parts of the Kingdom will leave for Makkah on Thursday.

The Ministry of Health has advised them to take care of personal hygiene and ensure that they have all the needed vaccinations and carry medicines with them, in case of need.

More than 300,000 Saudis are expected to join the foreign pilgrims this year.

According to the General Directorate of Passports, until Tuesday, 1,310,408 pilgrims had entered the Kingdom.

The directorate said 1,233,029 pilgrims arrived by air, 64,656 over land, and 12,723 by sea.

This year, Saudi pilgrims were able to obtain permits to perform the Haj through online applications; payments were made according to the package chosen by the pilgrims.

The directorate had warned people not to attempt to do the pilgrimage without a permit given by the authorities.

Most of the pilgrims from distant places such as Dammam and Riyadh chose to leave for the pilgrimage on Thursday so that they can join Friday prayers.

Seventy-seven Haj operators from 200 companies work to serve pilgrims.

Tthe Haj and Umrah Ministry earlier advised people to deal only with registered companies.

Offers for Haj came out in three packages ranging from SR3,000 to SR11,980; SR5,892 to SR11,890; SR3,000 to SR5,250 and the most economical fare (“moyassur“) SR3,000.

 arabnews.com

Mohammed Saraff, a pilgrim from Riyadh, said he paid SR9,250, which includes full board and lodging in Makkah, Mina and internal transport between the Haj ritual sites.

“I only have to pay for the sacrificial lamb and the bus transport to and from Makkah,” he said.

A pilgrim from the Eastern Province said he will be starting the pilgrimage on Thursday, since it is a long journey from Dammam, while another from Jeddah said that he will start his pilgrimage on Saturday.

The “meeqat” points include Dhul Hulayfah, 9 km from Madinah; Juhfah, 190 km to the northwest of Makkah; Qarn Al-Manazil, 90 km to the east of Makkah; Dhat Irq, 85 km northeast of Makkah; Yalamlam, 50 km southeast of Makkah and Taif.

The famous Ayesha Mosque near Makkah is also considered as “meeqat” point that helps pilgrims perform Umrah again once they complete the obligatory pilgrimage.

Dr. Nazreen Sherbini, specialist in infectious diseases and influenza, said that in addition to vaccination against meningitis, it is advisable to take a flu shot before the pilgrims depart for Makkah.

“Pilgrims should wear a protective mask that covers the nose and their mouth in crowded places, and follow the basic health etiquette while sneezing or coughing,” Sherbini said, warning that they should keep away from people who have incessant coughing, sneezing and a body temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius, and runny nose.

Sherbini said that all pilgrims should have taken the vaccination in time as advised by the doctors.

The flu vaccine helps prevent all types of flu, she said, adding that pilgrims do not require antibiotics for seasonal flu.

She said more liquids help the patients recover soon, except for those who suffer from renal, respiratory and cardiac diseases.

Source: arabnews.com

Preparations for the big day

arabnews.com

Preparations for the big day

IN this life people are usually aware of two kinds of journeys; those made to earn a livelihood and those undertaken for pleasure and sightseeing. The Haj however is unique from these journeys, since it is made solely for the purpose of pleasing Allah, the Exalted. For over 1,400 years, Muslim from around the world, men and women had been traveling to the Holy city of Makkah.

Haj is a trip of lifetime; it is only required once from a Muslim and it is only the first one that counts as the fulfillment of the obligation.

All other performances of Haj are voluntary and cannot replace the compulsory Haj. Therefore, it is imperative that it is performed sincerely and correctly for the first time.

Though Haj can be quite a journey, a little preparation and planning will, Insha’Allah make your journey much easier. This planning should not be limited to the logistics, but should also include spiritual, financial, physical and mental preparations. Following are a few points to help you prepare for your Haj:

1. Purify your creed (Aqeedah) from all aspects of Shirk, major or minor. No deed is acceptable to Allah however noble it is, without such purification: “If you associate (with Allah), your deeds will be ruined and verily you will be among the losers.” (Qur’an, 39: 65)

2. Devote your Haj purely and sincerely for Allah. This is a spiritual preparation; the acceptance and reward of your Haj largely depends on your intention and piety.

3. Acquire thorough knowledge about the rites of Haj and Umrah from start to finish, because knowledge differentiates right from wrong. Haj education can be sought through various means, reading books which explain in detail the subject, computer programs which precisely demonstrate the rituals of Haj using the multimedia format, attending regular Haj classes offered by Islamic centers, etc.

4. Use Halal means to support your journey. “Allah is pure and He does not accept but pure only.” (Saheeh Muslim) Take everything what you will require (do not depend on others or ask them to fulfill your needs). Make sure you have enough money to suffice yourself during the journey and secure the needs of your family members whom you may leave behind.

Nowadays, people try their best to take along all things of comfort for Haj. They take all kinds of precautions but the best precaution is piety, fear of Allah and righteousness. Allah says: “Take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety). So fear Me, O men of understanding!” (Qur’an, 2:197)

5. At the end of this verse, Allah orders us to be righteous and fear Him, this is for two major reasons, one because the Haji need piety before going to Haj. He should remind himself to fear Allah because he will face many difficulties and hardships, which he should accept and endure, in order to please His Lord. The second reason is that Haj itself is a means to achieve Taqwa, the Haji increases in faith by obeying Allah and his Messenger (peace be upon him) all throughout his Haj.

6. The intense exertion coupled with harsh desert climate of Makkah can take serious toll on your body. Therefore, be sure to carry along vaccines and drugs. Avoid all unnecessary hardships and take adequate precautions to avoid problems.

7. The journey of Haj involves a great deal of physical activities and thus you must be fully prepared to face this physical challenge. The experts recommend that people who intend to perform Haj must initiate a walking routine one or two months prior to the journey. This will increase physical stamina and help the Haji to keep up with the long walks and long standings. Indeed, Haj involves a lot of labor and struggle but the reward for this great act is also great in amount.

8. Also from the preparations for Haj is the mental preparations. Know that the Haji (pilgrim) is bound to experience intense heat, pushing, standing in long lines, uncomfortable lodging, etc. due to the large crowd of people trying to accommodate in a particularly small area.

9. Relieve yourself from any injustice, which you may have inflicted upon others. Fulfill any obligation, which you owe to other before the journey. Prepare a Waseeyah (will) before you depart and make peace with those with whom you have a dispute, pay your debts, and advise your family not to be extravagant, Allah says: “… and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance…” (Qur’an, 7:31)

10. Accompany the knowledgeable and righteous Muslims and stay away from the innovators. Keep away from all prohibited acts, men should not shave their beard for the Haj and it is prohibited for them to wear gold.

11. Safeguard your tongue from all vain talk, backbiting, arguing and complaining. This is against the morals of Islam in general and especially against the rules of Haj. Such talks and actions will make one’s Haj incomplete and reduce the reward. Haj is a long journey and one is likely to behave immorally, therefore guard and control yourself from any misconduct: “So during Haj there should not be obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling.” (Qur’an, 2:197) Remember, Shaytan is at his best to cause mischief!

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Source: arabnews.com

HAJJ AS WORSHIP

HAJJ AS WORSHIP

Hajj is to of leave one's relatives, wealth, and all the secular comforts. It is to enduring difficulties and hardships for Allah’s sake.

"And proclaim among people the pilgrimage; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path.”
Holy Qur'an (22:27)
Hajj is a form of worship, where physical and spiritual factors intertwine.   

It is, therefore, a physical form of worship in which the worshipper gives of himself physically and goes through hardships in the way of Allah, Showing his complete servitude to Allah and his independence from any power other than Him. This neat target of Hajj is the goal of any worship in Islam as a whole and it has to be for the sake of Allah uniquely. It is the absolute purpose of man's worship. Man's conscience completely awakens and man is rendered, purified and cleansed of all evil and vice, provided sincerity of intention is involved.

For this target, Hajj has been determined as one of the five Islamic pillars and the Holy Our'an regards it as Allah's right over His servants:

“…it is the duly of mankind towards Allah to make the pilgrimage to the House, whoever can afford the way there;...”

Holy Qur'an (3:97)

Hajj is a basic pillar of religion, and a backbone of faith. Traditions and texts reported from the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his pure ancestry have all pointed  to the importance of Hajj.

It is reported that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"Prayer was not ordained, Hajj and Tawaf were not made incumbent on the faithful, and rites were not conveyed to man, but to remember Allah.”
And he (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said:

" Those who perform Hajj and Umrah are the guests of Allah. Allah grants them whatever what they ask Him, accepts their prayers, and compensates them for their expenditures and good deeds.”

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq is reported to have said:

"So long as the Ka’ ba is secure, so is the religion”

And he also said:

"If one should leave off Hajj, when he is capable of performing it, with no legitimate excuse, then he has neglected an Islamic rite.”

Islam gives Hajj a primordial consideration. It even offers Islamic states the ability to send a number of Muslims to Mecca, even forcibly. The main purpose is to ensure the freshness as well as dynamism of the Islamic rites. When the pilgrims cannot attend the journey, the Islamic state is responsible for paying the traveling expenses to Mecca to allow them perform their rites.

Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq is reported to have said:

"Should all the people abandon Hajj, the governor can oblige them to perform it. Should they stop performing hajj to the tomb of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ,the governor is authorized to order them to do so, if they are penniless, he should pay them from the treasury.”
It was reported from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq

"If anyone of you had amounts of gold as huge as Abu-Qubais (a mountain in Arabia) and spent it in the way of Allah, its reward would never be equal to the reward of Hajj (from Allah), A dirham disbursed by the hajj is worth 2000 dirhams in the way of Allah.”

He is also reported to have said:

"Hajj is the jihad (holy struggle for the sake of Allah) of the weak.”

Moreover, He said:"He who is not prevented from the Hajj by an obvious necessity, a tyrannical ruler or a disease which confines him (or her) at home and dies without having performed the Hajj, might as well die a Jew or a Christian.”

Source: go-makkah.com

Why do Muslims go to the Mecca? Is there something inside the Hajj?

Why do Muslims go to the Mecca? Is there something inside the Hajj?

It's because they revive the sunnah(way of or teaching of)Mohammad(PBUH) and the command of Allah .

Millions of muslims every year performs Hajj.Why Hajj?

We Muslims feel honoured and proud to be the slaves of Allaah, the One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him; He is our Lord and we have no Lord besides Him. Hence we respond to the commands of our Lord with the utmost humility and submit to His commands.

If a Muslim does Hajj in the manner required by his Lord, then Allaah has promised to forgive him his sins and admit him to Paradise, on condition that he does not spoil this action by committing any major action that would invalidate it and earn the anger of Allaah. 

Ther are innumerable reasons for muslims to perform hajj having both spiritual benefits as well as fulfillment of Allah's command.

Perhaps in no other spiritual or religious event is unity this more evident than in the Hajj in Mecca, during which millions of Muslims set aside all differences of race, caste, economic status, nationality, and even sect as they unite in the holy pilgrimage, each donning the simple two-piece white garb of the non-attached traveler, allowing nearly no apparent difference whatsoever between men as they stand together in the Divine Presence of their Creator. 

During the Hajj in Mecca, Muslims honor the Holy Ka’ba originally built by Adam (as) as the first House of God when he awakened upon the earth, rebuilt by Abraham and Ishmael (as)centuries later, and finally purified by the Prophet Muhammad (saws) in the seventh century of the idolatry that had desecrated it.

During the Hajj in Mecca, one cannot but be reminded of the life beyond, the life eternal, when the world and all it contains has fallen away, and all that matters is the eternal destiny of the human soul,continually maintain focus on Eternity, on the Divine Presence of God, rather than allowing yourself to become overtaken by dunya, the world of form and appearances that continually seeks to distract us and lead us into heedlessness, unconsciousness and loss of purpose. Use the Five Daily Prayers as an opportunity to continually reaffirm your focus and direction in life. Tune in to the power of the present moment.

Finally, Muslims go to the Mecca for hajj to realize our true divine destiny and purpose, to become what God Almighty created humanity for — awakened and enlightened spiritual deputies of the One, perfected servants in creation, open, clear, transparent, purified of selfishness, living exemplars of goodness, beauty, light, compassion and love.

Source: quora.com

Devotion in Hajj

Devotion in Hajj

Hajj is a journey full of symbolism, for it represents the soul’s journey towards the Almighty. All its aspects are replete with profound meanings about life. when performing Hajj we decipher that each rite and stage reveals and embodies our strong devotion to Allah.

" So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." (Surah Al-Kahf : 110)

And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, and that is the right religion. (Surah Al-Bayyina : 5)

So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only.  Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya' (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): " We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever. (Surah Az-Zumar :2,3)

In Islam, devotion and loyalty in worship means to worship only for the sake of Allah’s love and his veneration in the hope of gaining his reward and satisfaction. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. (Surah Al-Fath : 29).

Thus, any kind of worship whether by performing Hajj or any other act of worship is not accepted unless it is solely performed for Allah’s sake. Thus, Hajj pilgrims must be faithful and loyal to the Almighty. They must not make from their Hajj trip a touristic or commercial one.

Moreover, pilgrims must be sincere in their intentions. One should not seek to be called “HAJJI” and avoid talking much about his/her Hajj trip intending to let others know about his/her performance of Hajj.

Pilgrims should avoid speaking about the hardships they encountered during their trip too. Such behaviour will discourage those who still have not performed Hajj.

Furthermore, Hajj is not a trip to gain fame. Pilgrims should strictly refrain from such kind of behaviour and talk. It must consolidate our faith and reinforce our loyalty and devotion to the Almighty. It has to be considered as an act that increases our love to the hereafter and decreases the love of the worldly pleasure.

"Whoever performs Hajj for the Pleasure of Allah and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from it (free from sin) as the day on which his mother gave birth to him." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Source: go-makkah.com

Over six million pilgrims performing Umrah

Over six million pilgrims performing Umrah

JEDDAH – A record number of more than six million pilgrims will perform Umrah by the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which witnesses the peak Umrah season of the year.

As of Tuesday, a total of 5,888,986 pilgrims arrived in the holy city of Makkah from all over the world, according to the statistical report of the Information Center at the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The holy city will witness huge influx of Umrah pilgrims during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

“The number of Umrah pilgrims will exceed six million over the coming days.
The ministry, in cooperation and coordination with the concerned agencies, has made elaborate arrangements to cope with the unprecedented rush of pilgrims as well as to enable them to perform their rituals in ease and comfort,” the center said in a press statement adding that it has so far rendered 43,000 services to the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Tarek Al-Abdul Jabbar, assistant president of the Airports, made an inspection tour of the Haj and Umrah terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Monday.

Accompanied by Abdullah Al-Reemi, director general of KAIA, and other senior airport officials, he reviewed the arrangements and facilities being made for the pilgrims. It is noteworthy that there are around 7,000 officials and employees, representing 27 public and private sectors, engaged in serving the pilgrims at the 14 departure and arrival lounges at the airport.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Islam improved my life as a woman

Islam improved my life as a woman

Diana Beatty, or Masooma Amtullah, is in Colorado. She had a bad stereotype images of Muslims. But when she came into contact with Muslims and began reading Qur’an, she says, she completely changed.

I am a 23-year-old college student, studying physics and training to become a teacher. I am a native of Colorado, US. I converted nearly three years ago now.

My father and brother are electricians. I have only one sibling, my brother, who is 27 and is married with two young children. My mother is a legal secretary for the county attorney’s office. My father is an alcoholic and smokes a lot and his habits make the household very stressful and unhappy at times because he tends to be very selfish and angry. My mother is bitter about him often and lives in a loveless marriage, I think. But to most appearances they are an ideal family. They keep dogs at the house, and that along with the alcohol makes visiting difficult but I try to go when I can.

In college I met a Muslim for the first time. Only after meeting some Muslims did I slowly come to realize how ignorant I was about Islam and Muslims; a lot of what I had learned growing up was quite erroneous, but for the most part I just never heard anything at all about it.

I became curious about the religion because the good manners of the Muslims I met appealed to me, as well as the sincerity and worship aspect of the Muslim prayer. The idea of a religion which guided us in every aspect of life was something I had been looking for. I was raised Christian and at the time of meeting the Muslims was quite religious and studying the bible seriously. But the questions the Bible left unanswered for me, the Qur’an answered.

At first I did not like to read Qur’an, but the Muslims I knew, I took them as my example of what a Muslim is like and saw that the stereotype I had been raised with just didn’t fit. I wondered how I knew Bible was right and Qur’an was wrong, especially when so much was similar between them, they seemed to originate from the same source. I could not believe my Bible study teacher when he said something very negative about Qur’an. Nor could I believe that these Muslims who were in general far more religious and worshipping of God than the Christians would go to hell for sure, as I was taught.

As I continued my study, I was able to read the Bible in a new light and see contradictions and even errors and scientific fallacies that before I had dismissed as due to my failure to understand the Word of God. But these errors and contradictions were absent in Qur’an. And what Qur’an said about God and our purpose and all these things I found more logical and easier to understand, and I knew that I believed God would provide us with a religion that we could understand and that was fair.

It was a difficult time but over a period of several months I studied the two religions and Islam won out, I became convinced that it was the true religion that Allah had sent for us and so I reverted. At that time I still was not sure about everything, I still was not sure about hijab in particular, and I did not know anything like how to pray etc. but in time I started to learn.

It was very difficult to conclude that everyone I had ever known, my teachers, my parents, my grandparents, my friends, my preachers, were all wrong. It was hard to decide to go against my family and do something I knew they would hate and would not understand. I was terrified to make the wrong choice, but Christianity teaches if you do not believe Jesus (peace be upon him) died for your sins then you go to hell, so I was afraid of being misled. I was afraid that my peers and coworkers and bosses would react negatively and even that I might be disowned from my family.

My mother complained about my Islamic dress, that seems to bother them more than anything, and she will send Christian religious literature to me, etc. When I first put on hijab she cried for literally a week and was so hurt, she wrote me a letter saying it was a slap in the face and I was abandoning how they raised me and trying to be an Arab. They convinced themselves that I was doing it only for my Muslim husband (I ended up marrying a Muslim man) and so they didn’t like him and wished for our relationship to end. I was told by family members that I was going to hell. It was not hard to give up the non-halal food, the alcohol, to start praying, to wear hijab (after some initial difficulty), the only thing that was really hard was hurting my family and being constantly pushed by them.

In this process, I did lose a few who just could not handle the change but most of my friends did not really mind. Nor did I have any problem obtaining multiple jobs of my choice in hijab. I am generally not discriminated against at all on the college campus, although you do have to get used to stares and a more formal relationship with coworkers. I find most respect me a great deal for doing what I believe. It is only my family who has a great difficulty, because it is their daughter. Well, and men never know what to think when I decline to shake their hand.

It is difficult to describe to someone who has never felt it how Islam can change and improve one’s life. But Islam changed me totally.

I have no doubt about our purpose in this world and that I am following the right path, I have a certainty I never knew before, and peace that goes with it. God’s plan makes much more sense to me and I feel I have an idea where I belong. Plus, through Islam, it is rarely an ambiguous question if something is right or wrong, unlike my Christian friends who often doubt if they are doing the right thing. I finally have a hold on the things that really matter and am not lost anymore. I didn’t even really know I was lost before, but when I found Islam and looked back it was so clear to me that I had been searching for years. Alhamdolillah, I was guided. Islam also improved my life as a woman in that I find good Muslim men treat women with so much more respect than is found in American society that I am raised in. I feel special to be a woman.

As a woman I earlier found myself faced with incredible responsibility of working full time and raising a family and cooking and cleaning and never fitting in fully to any of those roles. As a Muslim woman I feel freer to look at myself and choose the path which truly suits my nature and have others accept that, and I feel like a woman and it feels good; like coming home. Reverting to Islam feels like coming home.

Articel by: arabnews.com

Preparedness to deal with Umrah rush reviewed

Preparedness to deal with Umrah rush reviewed

JEDDAH: The Cabinet during its weekly meeting on Monday was briefed on plans prepared by various government and private agencies to serve those performing Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, which outlines the commitment of the leadership to provide top quality services.

The Cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the 23rd annual meeting of the region’s governors and decisions taken to improve service delivery and enhance security for citizens throughout the country.

Essam bin Saad bin Saeed, acting minister of culture and information, said the Cabinet also hailed the announcement of the National Transformation Program 2020, part of Vision 2030, for outlining concrete plans to achieve sustainable economic growth in the country.

Saeed said that the Cabinet welcomed the decision by the United Nations to delete the names of the countries involved in a coalition, to restore the legitimate government in Yemen, from a list accusing them of causing the deaths of children in that country. The initial UN report was “not based on accurate and reliable information about the coalition’s efforts,” he said.

The Cabinet announced several decisions, including tasking the General Authority of Civil Aviation to assist in forming a board of directors for Saudi Arabian Airlines, with a president appointed by the prime minister.

The board should consist of four people representing the government and five from the private sector for a period of three years, renewable once. The chairman of the board has to be appointed by the head of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs.

The Cabinet decided to approve the protocol amending the Marrakesh Agreement on the establishment of the World Trade Organization, and authorized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sign the document.

The Cabinet further authorized the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to sign a draft executive cooperation pact with Jordan, under the auspices of the Saudi-Jordanian Joint Committee.

The Cabinet also approved the regulations around the 2.5 percent annual tax on undeveloped land in the Kingdom. The most prominent features of the rules include the definition of undeveloped lands as all vacant land dedicated to residential use or commercial residential use within urban boundaries.

The application of fees, to be collected by the Housing Ministry, would be “in stages” outlined as: On undeveloped land of 10,000 square meters and more; developed land belonging to one owner of no more than 10,000 square meters; and developed land belonging to one owner of no more than 5,000 square meters. The ministry would be responsible for penalyzing tax evaders.

Source: arabnews.com

Ramadan and self-development

Ramadan and self-development

RAMADAN, a very special month, has come again. It is the right time to start planning for your self-development. As an individual looking to be successful in the future, perhaps now is the best time for you to start questioning yourself and to ask what is important to you and what you want in life. Here are some tips which will help you with your self-development in Ramadan:

Get into a dialogue with your heart. There are many times when the heart actually protests against our wrongdoings, but we ignore it. Now is the time for you to be true to yourself and consult the heart when in doubt. Do not feel scared to admit your ego and crush your deeply-rooted arrogance.

Spend some time alone every day for deep contemplation. This is a very good way of doing self-reflection. Think of what has gone wrong in your life or why you have not been happy despite all that you have. Come up with some resolutions to improve yourself and leave your old bad habits and attitudes. Then pray for strength. When your intention is sincere, divine help will follow.

Mend broken relationships. The concept of solidarity, brotherhood and kinship is passionately emphasized. If you have not been on good terms with a friend or a family member, honor Ramadan with reconciliation and by patching up broken hearts through soothing words of apology or loving gestures. Remember, apologizing does not mean losing and the reward of building human relationship is immense. Be kind and exercise patience.

Patience is crucial for success in anything you do. Whether it is work or calamity, patience has to always be there as the most powerful tool. When angered, restrain yourself and think before blurting out any word.
Remember, every success starts with a single step and every step starts with intention. May you become successful with the blessings of this Ramadan!

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

30% increase in Umrah pilgrims seen by 2020

30% increase in Umrah pilgrims seen by 2020

JEDDAH: The National Transformation Program of 2020, one of the initiatives of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision, stated that the annual increase of Haj pilgrims to the Kingdom stands at 13 percent. However, annually increasing in Umrah visitors will be 30 percent.

According to the National Transformation Program, whose details were announced Tuesday at a news conference, the number of Haj pilgrims from both inside and outside the Kingdom, is expected to go up by 2020 to 2.5 million, an annual increase of up to 13 percent. The number of pilgrims last year, was estimated at 1.5 million.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Hatem Alqadi, said the annual increase in pilgrims will be open to all Muslims from all over the globe, adding that the work will be the same, and the mechanism of housing and feeding the pilgrims will be pursued by the ministry based on contracts with companies and institutions that provide pilgrim services, including transportation.

He said the ministry will be working throughout the year and has much experience in supporting pilgrims and those visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

He added that by 2020, 15 million Umrah visitors will reach the Kingdom, a 30 percent increase over the current 6 million, according to Al-Watan.

Source: arabnews.com

Dammam-Riyadh train trip in only 3 hours, 40 minutes

Dammam-Riyadh train trip in only 3 hours, 40 minutes

RIYADH: Beginning June 1, the Riyadh-Dammam train outing will be abbreviated by 50 minutes for travelers' benefit.

Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih, president of the Saudi Railways Organization, said on Thursday an express prepare would be begun amongst Dammam and Riyadh, which would lessen the voyage time from 4 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes.

He said the train would leave Dammam at 9:15 a.m. for Riyadh and the train from Riyadh to Dammam at 1:10 p.m. He said arrangements were in progress to set up dry ports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Sudair.

He said that the train venture had gotten to be well known as a result of its cost, accommodation and solace. "Consistently we see the train is filled to 90 limit."

The ‘Heart of Islam’ beckons tourists from all over the world

The ‘Heart of Islam’ beckons tourists from all over the world

THE Saudi ‘Vision 2030’ is based on three pillars, of which the first one is the Kingdom’s status as the heart of the Arab and Islamic world. While unveiling the Vision, Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, emphasized that the Kingdom will do its utmost to ensure that Muslims from around the world can visit the Holy Sites. “We recognize that Allah the Almighty has bestowed on our land a gift more precious than oil. Our Kingdom is the Land of the Two Holy Mosques, the most sacred sites on earth, and the direction of the Kaaba (Qibla) to which more than a billion Muslims turn at prayer,” he said while asserting “Our vision is a tolerant country with Islam as its constitution and moderation as its method.”

Underlining the essence of the Vision 2030, the Deputy Crown Prince said: “Our nation is the core of the Arab and Islamic worlds and represents the heart of Islam. We are confident that, God willing, we will build a brighter future, one based on the bedrock of Islamic principles. We will continue to excel in performing our duties towards pilgrims to the fullest and promote our deep-rooted national identity.”

The principles of Islam will be the driving force for the Kingdom to realize its great Vision. The values of moderation, tolerance, excellence, discipline, equity, and transparency will be the bedrock of its success. In this scenario, religious tourism attains top priority in the Vision 2030 as the Kingdom has the privilege to serve the Two Holy Mosques, the pilgrims and all visitors to the blessed holy sites. In serving Umrah pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has assumed a prominent place in the world and has become synonymous with hospitality and a warm welcome to all Muslims.

In the last decade, the number of Umrah visitors entering the country from abroad has tripled, reaching eight million people. The Vision envisages enriching pilgrims’ spiritual journeys and cultural experiences while in the Kingdom. The Kingdom’s priorities in the Vision with regard to attracting religious tourists include setting up of more world-class museums, preparing new tourist and historical sites and cultural venues, and improving the pilgrimage experience within the Kingdom in its capacity as a treasure trove of Islamic heritage, and historical sites. The Vision aims to increase the Kingdom’s capacity to welcome 30 million Umrah pilgrims in place of the current annual figure of 8 million.

The highlight of religious tourism in the Vision will be augmented by the ambitious initiative of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH). Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of SCTH, recently said that the Post Umrah Program is a key part of ‘The Kingdom is destination of Muslims’ initiative. He said the program aims at enabling Umrah performers to see the country’s landmarks, historical sites, tourist attractions and shopping centers. They might also opt to make cultural, medical, educational and shopping tours, visit exhibitions and attend conferences after having completed Umrah, he said. “We want to link a Muslim to his roots — religiously, culturally and emotionally,” he said, adding, that it is never just an economic or financial project. He cited the procedure of automatic conversion of an Umrah visa to a tourist one, which was once subject to discussion with several agencies. Non-Umrah visa holders could also avail themselves of the opportunity to join the Post Umrah Program.

Khaled Almaeena, Saudi Gazette’s Editor at Large and managing partner of QUARTZ Communications, said that the Vision can turn into reality with its implementation takes its course at the hands of qualified and right people.
Pilgrims from all over the world have to get a chance to see the vast treasure of ancient Islamic historic and heritage sites across the Kingdom.
The Vision will be a golden opportunity to project and display the richness of Islamic culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia in front of the Muslims from every nook and corner of the world. “It is unfortunate that many historic and heritage sites have been removed. However, the serious efforts being made by SCTH to preserve the remaining ones are extremely commendable. Apart from highlighting the cultural treasures, the Vision will also provide an added economic value for the Kingdom, which is keen on reducing the dependence on oil and diversifying its sources of revenue.”

MadinahOn his part, Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, chairman and managing director of Eram Group & ITL World, congratulated the great visionaries of the Kingdom for formulating the Vision 2030, since it would be beneficial not only for the Saudi citizens but also to the expatriates as well. He specially thanked Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, the architect of the Vision and the National Transformation Program (NTP). “In my humble point of view, change is inevitable in every 15 to 20 years in all sectors. The proper understanding of the real pulse of the people and economy plays a key role while formulating the concept of revamping. Focusing on non oil revenue is highly recommended and a special thrust on post Umrah tourism is indeed a very good idea,” he said while underscoring that the blend of traditional values with a modern and global outlook is ideal for the Kingdom’s tourism.
Ahmed also stressed the need to create awareness globally about the Kingdom’s Islamic archeological treasures and rich tradition, most of which are among the unexplored areas. The proposed World’s best Islamic museum in Riyadh is significant in this respect. “Saudi Arabia’s road, rail and air connectivity are a big plus point. The tourism expense such as transportation, recreation, food & beverage, restaurants and hotels is minimum compared to other tourism destinations in Middle East, which is an added value for the Kingdom’s religious tourism sector.

Ahmed noted that Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University is the largest university for women in the world, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) boasts of having the fastest growing research and citation records in the world, which are unaware to most of the world unfortunately. Educational voyage, MICE and Experience Saudi are the other areas, which can give importance in regard to tourism sector. Also sports tourism is another area, which Kingdom can focus.

In the implementation stage, consulting and opinion gathering with the other stakeholders like tourism operators and travel agents are very important to understand the real pulse of the foreign travelers. Conducting seminars even in other countries through Saudi embassies are also needed to create awareness. Ahmed suggested of appointing an official spokesman for the Pilgrim tourism updates. Authorized travel agents can also propagate with the marketing collaterals to their customers, he said. “No doubt Saudi Arabia is the world Muslims’ destination besides its role as a peace maker. Being an owner of a travel management company I extend my wholehearted support to the country which gave me all good blessings,” he added.

Mohammed Alungal, president of Al-Abeer Group, congratulated Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for his bold and excellent initiative to come out with the Vision 2030, which will bring about remarkable positive changes in all spheres of Saudi life, benefitting both Saudis and expatriates. “The Vision’s thrust on tapping full potential of religious tourism will be a great service to the Islamic Ummah as a whole. Pilgrims from various parts of the world can benefit from the positive merits of tourism in the Kingdom unlike many other Muslim countries. Muslim tourists who prefer destinations such as Dubai are not in a position to enjoy this religious aspect of tourism,” he said while emphasizing that the Vision will unearth the huge non-oil economic potential of Saudi Arabia, which sits on the world’s largest oil reserve. Alungal sees bright future for health and medical tourism in the Kingdom. He also called for a thrust in the higher education sector and opening of off campuses of world-class universities. “The proposed Green Card will be a boost for many expatriate investors to pump their investments into the Kingdom’s vital sectors,” he said adding that he wants to grab the Green Card whenever it started issuing for the expatriates.

Khalid Al-Dabbagh, who served at Saudi Aramco and Royal Commission in Yanbu for more than three decades, said that the Vision 2030 has been instrumental in shifting the priorities of Saudi people who hitherto had the assumption that oil is everything in their life. Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and exporter, is now going to sell part of its stake so as to ensure the Saudi citizens’ participation, besides ensuring more transparency in its overall functioning, and of course, it is a fabulous initiative, Al-Dabbagh said. The entire Saudi nation appreciates the bold initiative of Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for presenting this excellent blueprint. “The Vision is now the talk of the entire nation, and everywhere — on streets, markets, offices, city squares, as well as on television and social media — the Vision is the hot topic of discourse,” he said noting that Saudis in all corners of the globe also talking about the prospect of a shining future of the Kingdom, to be brought about by the Vision 2030. “Now we are preparing ourselves to take up Vision 2030, besides preparing our kids to embrace it.” According to Al-Dabbagh, Muslims all over the world would be the beneficiaries of this great initiative. “The pilgrims from all over the world can benefit from the benefits of religious tourism and post Umrah program. It shows the visitors what the birthplace of Islam keeps in its trove for them.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Rings fastening the Kiswa to the base of Kaaba get gold coating

Rings fastening the Kiswa to the base of Kaaba get gold coating

MAKKAH — The General Administration for Projects in the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has started gilding (coating with 24 carat gold) the stainless steel rings fastening the Kiswa to the base of the Holy Kaaba.

In line with the directives of Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, general president for the affairs of the two holy mosques, the project is being carried out in cooperation with a specialist national company.

Sultan Al-Qurashi, director general of projects, said the stainless steel rings were cleaned and polished. They were then coated with 24 carat gold in three stages and with a thickness of 5 microns.

Eleven rings are being installed on the northern side of the Holy Kaaba.

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 Source: saudigazette

Finding yourself in the Holy Qur’an

Finding yourself in the Holy Qur’an

Just like the Holy Books before it, the Qur’an was sent down by God through an angel to the prophet to give the message of God to mankind. The message given to mankind is for their own salvation and ultimately for their happiness in the both worlds, this transient world and in the Hereafter.

When reading the Qur’an, Muslims should try to be attuned to the message from Allah. Our hearts and minds should be present as we read the verses of the Qur’an.

We have been commanded to think, to reflect, and to ponder on what we read. Reading hastily and absent mindedly will take away from the benefits that we can otherwise achieve if we read with contemplation.

When reading the Holy Qur’an, ask yourself, “Which of the verses of the Qur’an best describe me?”

Search through the Qur’an to find yourself.

When coming across the verses that describe the believers, evaluate yourself to see if you measure up to those believers who have been promised the gardens, with rivers flowing beneath them.

Take for example these verses from the third chapter in the Qur’an. If you find yourself lacking in these praiseworthy qualities, use these verses as a reminder to yourself for some spiritual and personal growth.

{And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people-and Allah loves the doers of good.} (Chapter 3, verses 133-134)

A Muslim needs to hold himself/herself to higher standards to live up to this verse. To be able to give in hardship and in ease, to restrain my anger, not lose my temper, and to forgive and pardon those who have hurt me; that is not easy. However, if I am able to do that, then I can consider myself one of the believers praised by Allah in the Qur’an.

Keep reading the Holy Qur’an; read it every day to find the verses that best describe you.

One of my teachers, a teacher of the Holy Qur’an, who has spent his whole life learning and teaching the Holy Qur’an, said that the verse in the Qur’an which he holds dearest to his heart is the following:

{Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in his cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a transaction [i.e. profit] that will never perish.}(Chapter 35, verse 29)

That transaction or profit which will never perish is a transaction between the believer and Allah, when the believers do good, Allah gives them ten-fold or one hundred-fold, with immeasurable generosity and rewards.

From after the dawn prayer until nightfall, this teacher listens to his students reciting the Holy Qur’an, and he corrects and teaches them, taking breaks only for prayer and meals. He has students all over the world from Jordan to Saudi Arabia to Czechoslovakia to the United States. For the past 23 years, he has devoted his life to teaching the Holy Qur’an and he found himself in this verse, as those who recite the Book of Allah.
 
When reading verses that describe people who are reprimanded by Allah, we must try our best not to make the same mistakes. Be honest with yourself, and beware of being one of these types of people as described in the Qur’an who sever the ties of blood relations, are miserly, those who backbite and slander, those who skip prayers, those who do not feed orphans and the poor, or those who cheat in business transactions.

One of the earlier scholars of the Holy Qur’an, Al-Ahnaf bin Qays, wanted to find out who he was; which type of people mentioned in the Holy Qur’an did he resemble?

He spent several nights reading the Holy Qur’an with deep concentration.
He read about a group of people described in this verse, {They used to sleep but little of the night. And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness.}(Chapter 51, verses 17-18)

The believers described in this verse stay up most of the night in prayer, prostration, supplication, and remembrance of Allah. Al-Ahnaf bin Qays was very humble; he did not think that he was included in such a high rank as these pious worshipers, so he kept searching.

He came across these verses of the Holy Qur’an, which describe the state of the heart of the disbelievers, {Indeed, they when it was said to them, “There is no deity but Allah” were arrogant. And were saying, “Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet?”} (Chapter 37, verses 35-36)

Since he believed in Allah and he believed in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he knew that he was not one of the people described in the verses above.

Afterwards, Al-Ahnaf kept turning the pages of the Qur’an, searching for the group that he belonged to until he stopped at this verse, {And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Chapter 9, verse 102)

Thereupon, Al-Ahnaf said, “I am of these people.”
He was a righteous man; he feared Allah and was steadfast in his worship of Allah. He acknowledged that he was not perfect, that he had sins, but he was optimistic and hopeful for the mercy and forgiveness of Allah.

How about you? Which verses of the Holy Qur’an best describe you?

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Source: saudigazette

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

An Urgent Message to My Muslim Sisters in Ramadan

An Urgent Message to My Muslim Sisters in Ramadan

Dear Muslim sisters everywhere,
I wish all goodness for every Muslim woman on earth, and I ask Allaah The Almighty to make you and us all to witness the month of Ramadan, accept our acts of obedience in it, and assist us during it. I am writing this especially for you, my sister, and wish to highlight some thoughts and ideas within it that could be of benefit to you during this blessed month.

Firstly, you should be delighted at the advent of Ramadan and display this happiness, for the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would give glad tidings of its advent to his Companions. It is quite okay for you to contact your relatives and neighbors to congratulate them on this occasion and remind them of the rights of Allaah that they should observe in Ramadan. The purpose of doing so is to fill the hearts and souls of our neighbors and relatives with happiness, so as to accustom them to loving the occasions of goodness and to performing the Sharee‘ah obligations and voluntary acts with pleasure and love.

Fill your home with happiness as you await Ramadan and make the children feel that they are about to receive a dear guest. Ask them to clean their rooms before fasting, so that such tasks will not prevent them from performing acts of worship. Show optimism and activity for the advent of that month, even if you are tired or sick. Beware of using the same statements as some other women do, such as saying that Ramadan is the month of suffering and hard work because they have to cook a lot, wash the dishes and do other tasks. If the children hear such statements, these ideas will be inculcated in their hearts, and they will continue to have this concept for the rest of their lives.

Ramadan is the month of generosity, openhandedness, goodness and blessings. Try to instill the love of such morals in the hearts of your children, and repeat them frequently until they dominate their thoughts and then, their hearts. Always describe Ramadan as the month of goodness and worship in which the Quran was revealed. It is also the month of forgiveness, charity and Zakaah (obligatory charity) in which Allaah The Almighty honors His slaves and showers them with His bounty. Thus, we should adopt these morals, and the wealthy in particular should check the condition of the poor and treat them generously. Let every son and daughter give charity to the poor and needy people out of his/her own purse, and empty their wardrobes to pick the good clothes that they no longer use or need and give these things to those who deserve them as a gift or present, not as charity, to avoid hurting their feelings.

Ramadan is the month of affection, love and psychological and inner purity. Hence, teach your children that it is obligatory to purify their hearts, and that there should be no quarrels, fighting, disputes or severing the ties of kinship in it. In Ramadan, friends, relatives and neighbors visit one another, ties of kinship are maintained and people are reconciled. Also, in it there is no cheating, deception, lying, backbiting, tale-bearing, falsehood, calumny or saying anything but good and permissible words, because Allaah The Almighty has no need for a fasting person to abstain from eating and drinking if he does not abstain from saying false things and working accordingly.

Ramadan is the Month of Worship

Buy a prayer rug for every boy and girl and provide the girls with head covers. Perfume the carpets and head covers so that their appearance and scent is alluring and attractive. Take the children with you when you perform the prayers, and the boys who are old enough to go to the mosque should accompany their father, and those who are not old enough should stand beside you until they are all used to performing the prayers and feeling and appreciating the meaning of worship in Ramadan.

Ramadan is the Month of the Quran

We should remind ourselves of this and try to inculcate it in our children’s hearts. Ramadan is the month in which the revelation began; hence, the Quran has a special significance in this month and there should be keenness on reciting, studying, learning and applying it. Prepare a Mus’haf (copy of the Quran) for every member of the household: Mus’hafs for adults and small parts for the youngsters. It is preferable that a session for recitation is held where the household, old and young, sit and each recites part of the Quran. It would be beneficial if they gathered to make a complete and collective recitation of the Quran. Ask each of them about the amount he recites daily and motivate and encourage them with gifts in order to recite the Quran frequently and fill the house with the remembrance of Allaah The Almighty.

Ramadan is Not the Month of Eating and Drinking

Ramadan is a time that should be used in worship. Therefore, do not waste it in preparing many types of food, drinks, appetizers and grilled and fried dishes. If you are not careful, you will spend your Ramadan in the kitchen. I do not mean thereby that you should not care about the food, but I mean that it should not be your and your family’s main concern. Everyone should know that a little food is sufficient, so that we can dedicate most of our time to worshiping Allaah The Almighty. It is very important to organize your time. It will be very useful if you do not allow the time of cooking and preparing food to override the time of Thikr (mentioning Allaah), prayers and recitation of the Quran. At the same time, nothing should override the time of cooking so as not to leave those who fast feeling hungry afterwards.

I am not one of those who like gatherings in Ramadan; however, if it is necessary, you should prepare a planned program. Tell each of the attendees to bring with her the best thing she learnt or heard about fasting, Taraaweeh prayers, voluntary acts of worship, Zakaah, I‘tikaaf (seclusion) and all that is related to Ramadan. There is no harm in specifying a particular topic to search or discuss, but of course it should be a topic pertaining to Thikr, so that the gathering will not turn into a session of tale-bearing, backbiting and distraction. It is also possible to prepare a quiz that is made up of questions about Fiqh (jurisprudence), creed or any other information that the Muslim woman needs in her religion like the rulings of purity, prayers, fasting, the children’s upbringing or taking care of the house, husband and family.

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Article by: islamweb.net

Amazing Qur’an — a sea of treasure

Amazing Qur’an — a sea of treasure

One thing which surprises non-Muslims who are examining the book very closely is that the Qur’an does not appear to them to be what they expected.

What they assume is that they have an old book, which came 14 centuries ago from the Arabian desert; and they expect that the book should look something like that — an old book from the desert. And then they find out that it does not resemble what they expected at all.

Additionally, one of the first things that some people assume is that because it is an old book which comes from the desert, it should talk about the desert. Well the Qur’an does talk about the desert — some of its imagery describes the desert; but it also talks about the sea — what it’s like to be in a storm on the sea.

Merchant marine

Some years ago, the story came to us in Toronto about a man who was in the merchant marine and made his living on the sea. A Muslim gave him a translation of the Qur’an to read. The merchant marine knew nothing about the history of Islam but was interested in reading the Qur’an.

When he finished reading it, he brought it back to the Muslim and asked, “Who was this Muhammad (peace be upon him), was he a sailor?”

He was impressed at how accurately the Qur’an describes a storm on a sea. When he was told, “No as a matter of fact, Muhammad lived in the desert,” that was enough for him. He embraced Islam on the spot.

He was so impressed with the Qur’an’s description because he had been in a storm on the sea, and he knew that whoever had written that description had also been in a storm on the sea.

The verses in reference was: “Or (they are) like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds — darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand (therein), he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light — for him there is no light. (Qur’an, 24:40)

The description of “…a wave, over it a wave, over it clouds” was not what someone imagining a storm on a sea to be like would have written; rather, it was written by someone who knew what a storm on the sea was like.

This is one example of how the Qur’an is not tied to certain place and time. Certainly, the scientific ideas expressed in it also do not seem to originate from the desert 14 centuries ago.

The smallest thing

Many centuries before the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), there was a well-known theory of atomism advanced by the Greek philosopher, Democritus. He and the people who came after him assumed that matter consists of tiny, indestructible, indivisible particles called atoms.

The Arabs too, used to deal in the same concept; in fact, the Arabic word dharrah commonly referred to the smallest particle known to man. Now, modern science has discovered that this smallest unit of matter (i.e., the atom, which has all of the same properties as its element) can be split into its component parts.

This is a new idea, a development of the last century. Yet, interestingly enough, this information had already been documented in the Qur’an, which states: “He (i.e., God) is aware of an atom’s weight in the heavens and on the earth and even anything smaller than that...” (Qur’an, 34:3)

Undoubtedly, 14 centuries ago that statement would have looked unusual, even to an Arab. For him, the atom was the smallest thing there was. Indeed, this is proof, that the Qur’an is not outdated.

Honey

Another example of what one might expect to find in an “old book” that touches upon the subject of health or medicine is outdated remedies or cures. The Prophet (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) gave advice about health and hygiene, which are found in his Prophetic Traditions, and until today this advice is compelling and proven in the field of medicine.

The Qur’an is a divine revelation and so are the prophetic traditions. The Qur’an sheds light on some remedies as do the prophetic traditions; unlike medical journals of today, there is no information that is outdated in the Qur’an and the prophetic traditions.

In summary, the Qur’an mentions one item that can be used as a treatment, which is not in dispute by anyone. It states that in honey there is healing. And certainly, I do not think that there is anyone who will argue with that!

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 Article by: www.arabnews.com