Makkah Al-Mukarramah

Allah’s Apostle said, “Umra is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise.”

I haven’t had the time to blog lately nor am I likely to over the coming weeks so I thought I would just post up some photographs of last week’s trip to Makkah Al-Mukarramah for your enjoyment.

I don’t think they need much of an introduction so here’s the slideshow:

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There is still a lot of demolition and building work going on around the Haram. The sa’y extension is completed and now looks considerably wider easing some of the congestion there. The area in the middle of the sa’y strip for wheelchairs is also wider. There is now a bridge over the sa’y strip where you can stand and watch the pilgrims walking between Safa and Marwa.

Outside of the Haram on the sa’y side there are many tower blocks that have been demolished and it is very dusty. New tower blocks will be built in their place. This demolition does mean that although some hotels are very close to the Haram, visitors are having to take a longer more roundabout walk from their hotels to the Masjid as they have to make deviations to get around the demolition work.

The Abraj Towers look to be almost complete – the shopping mall has been open for well over a year although not everything inside is complete. The finishing touch of a huge clock atop the tower is halfway to completion.

What do I get from fasting?

O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa
Surah Al Baqarah (2:183)

 

For Muslims, fasting is not just for Ramadan but there are other times when it is recommended for us to fast, such as on Mondays and Thursdays, on the middle three days of the lunar month, on the day of Arafat and indeed others.

But, what does the muslim get out of fasting apart from feeling hungry and looking forward to breaking the fast and hoping for Allah’s reward for having done this as an act of obedience to Him?

The reason Allah subhanahu wa Ta’ala gives us in the Holy Qur’an for fasting is, “…so that you may attain Taqwa…”. This act of servitude and obedience to Allah is the ultimate way of increasing our God consciousness.

We also appreciate food and drink far more when we are fasting, we appreciate this baraka (huge blessing) that Allah subhanahu wa Ta’ala has bestowed upon us. Usually we chase after the fine foods and want to try something new, maybe we even get bored of certain foods but after a full day of fasting when not a morsel of food nor a drop of water is consumed, we realise how special all foods are. That first mouthful of water at the breaking of the fast tastes better than any water ever tasted. The ordinary becomes special.

This is also a time when we feel a spiritual connection with those far less fortunate than ourselves. Those whom Allah has tested with difficulty… (and indeed we are tested with ease) …we can begin to understand their suffering, resolve to be less selfish with our wealth and give more in future. When we feel the empty groaning of the stomach and we think ahead to the delights that await us at maghrib we remember how blessed we are that we will have something to break the fast on.

A nice article on the benefits of Ramadan here although it applies to fasting on any day since fasting should not only be for Ramadan.

The Prophet Muhammad, salla Llahu alaihi wassallam said:

Verily there is a gate in Paradise which is called ‘al-Rayyan’. Those who fasted will enter it on the Day of Judgement, and none shall enter it except them. It will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’ They will come forward and none shall enter it except them. When they have entered, the gate will be closed and none shall enter it except them. (Bukhari & Muslim)

Lunar eclipse in Saudi Arabia

I was somewhat surprised to hear the lively hum of prayer from the masjids all around us at around 10:30 yesterday evening. Isha prayer is performed in the masjid at around 7pm so this was well after isha. It was only when I heard the unusual call to prayer, “As-salaatu jaami’ah” coming from the tv (from the Masjid An Nabawi in Madinah) that I came to realise that the reason for all these extra prayers was that there was a lunar eclipse yesterday evening. The imams were all leading Salatul Khusuf – the eclipse prayer.

I went to watch some of the eclipse but found it was rather cloudy here in Riyadh so the view of the moon was sporadic so I decided to hurry up and pray the Khusuf salaah by myself rather than waste more time waiting for the moon to become more visible.

Some information about how and why muslims have a prayer especially for times of eclipse:

When the sun was eclipsed at the time of the Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), he went out rushing nervously to the mosque, dragging his cloak behind him, and led the people in prayer. He told them that the eclipse was one of the signs of Allaah, with which Allaah makes His slaves afraid, and that it may be the cause of punishment coming upon the people. He commanded them to do that which could prevent the punishment, so he commanded them to pray when an eclipse happens, and to make du’aa’, seek His forgiveness, give charity, free slaves and do other righteous deeds so that the punishment would go away and not befall the people. So the eclipse is a reminder to people, making them afraid so that they will turn back to Allaah and pay attention to Him. source

“The sun and the moon are two signs of Allah; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone’s birth. So when you see them, glorify and supplicate Allah, observe the Prayer, give alms. O Ummah of Muhammad, none is more indignant than Allah when His servant or maid commits fornication. O people of Muhammad, by Allah, if you knew what I know, you would weep much and laugh little. O Allah, witness, I informed them.”  source

The death of Ibrahim (son of the Prophet sallAllahu alaihi wassallam) coincided with a solar eclipse. People from ancient times believed that solar and lunar eclipses might be caused by the death of some important person. The people of Madinah began attributing the eclipse to the death of the Prophet’s son, Ibrahim. Greatly displeased by this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gathered the people and addressed them, saying:

“Eclipses of the sun and the moon are not caused by the death of any human being; they are two of Allah’s signs. When you see the eclipse, you should show gratefulness to Almighty Allah and offer prayer to Him.”(Al-Bukhari) source

I found this article about the eclipse prayer, it’s method, reason and benefits particularly useful.

Fasting Ashura

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura‘ (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year”

Today is the 10th Muharram or the day of Ashura, the day that the Bani Israa’il were delivered from the tyranny of Firawn and a day which is sunnah for Muslims to fast. Although this is also the day on which Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) the grandson of the prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was martyred in the Battle of Karbala, our fasting on this day has no significance with that event:

Fasting the Day of `Ashura’ is not to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). We deeply respect Imam Hussain’s martyrdom,we honor his glorious act of sacrifice for the sake of Islam. He gave us a great example of truth, courage and piety. But we also feel pain and grief in our hearts for his assassination at the hand of some hypocrites who took Islam as a pretext to commit their crime. They fought and killed Allah’s Messenger’s beloved and blessed grandson and his family. This was the most heinous and shameful crime that was committed for the sake of political power. This tragic event took place in the year 61 AH or 680 CE. However, the tradition of `Ashura’ fasting is very ancient and it goes back to a long time before Imam Hussain. [...]

It is reported in the Sahih of Imam Al-Bukhari and other authentic collections of hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the hijrah).

It was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (kiswah) of the Ka`bah. Quraysh also used to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1489 and 1760)

After the hijrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,“We have more claim to Musa than you.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari,hadith 1865) [...]

Ibn`Abbas also quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Musnad Ahmad ibnHanbal, hadith2002)

There is a great reward in fasting the day of `Ashura’. There are many hadiths that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory.

Source of information

Charity in Islam

Today is blog action day against poverty so let us look at the importance of charity in Islam and how Allah has made it incumbent upon us all to help those less well off than ourselves. Below are some verses from the Qur’an and some ahadith which illustrate the importance of charity.

Charity in The Qur’an

* In the Qur’an, Allah swt, informs us of the rights of the poor upon the wealth of others:

Verily, the Muttaqûn (pious) will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise) (15) [...] And in their properties there was the right of the the beggar who asks, and the poor who does not ask the others. (19) Qur’an 51:15-19

* If the poor have a right on on our wealth then it follows quite logically that there should be a punishment for those who are able but do not give:

But as for him who will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: “I wish that I had not been given my Record! (25) [...] (It will be said): “Seize him and fetter him; (30) Then throw him in the blazing Fire. (31) “Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!” (32) Verily, He used not to believe in Allâh, the Most Great, (33) And urged not on the feeding of Al-Miskin (the poor). (34) Qur’an 69: 25-34

Every person is a pledge for what he has earned, (38) Except those on the Right, (i.e. the pious true believers of Islâmic Monotheism); (39) In Gardens (Paradise) they will ask one another, (40) About Al-Mujrimûn (polytheists, criminals, disbelievers), (And they will say to them): (41) “What has caused you to enter Hell?” (42) They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer the Salât (prayers) (43) “Nor we used to feed Al-Miskin (the poor); (44) Qur’an 74:38-44

* And of course those who freely give, will be rewarded:

Verily, the Abrâr (the pious and righteous) shall drink of a cup (of wine) mixed with (water from a spring in Paradise called) Kâfûr. (5) A spring wherefrom the slaves of Allâh will drink, causing it to gush forth abundantly. (6) They (are those who) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. (7) And they give food, inspite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin[] (the poor), the orphan, and the captive, (8) (Saying): “We feed you seeking Allâh’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. (9) Qur’an 76:5-8

* The sanctity of the human life:

Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g. by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by Allâh by committing the major sins) in the land! (Qur’an 5:32)

Charity in the Hadith

On the authority of Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, The Messenger of Allah, the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

Every person’s every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take in prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity. (Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 26).

The prophet (PBUH) said: ‘Seven (types of) people will be covered with Allah’s shade on a day when there is no shade but His Shade, (from among them) a man who gives a charity hiding it, that (even) his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent’

The generosity of A’isha, may Allah be pleased with her:

She was given a gift of one hundred thousand dirhams. She was fasting when she received the money and she distributed the entire amount to the poor and the needy even though she had no provisions in her house. Shortly after, a maidservant said to her: “Could you buy meat for a dirham with which to break your fast?” “If I had remembered, I would have done so,” she said. *

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “The most beloved deed before Allah is that which continuous, even if it is little.”

This kind of continuous charity is called sadaqa jariya; not only is it the best form of charity in the eyes of Allah, it is also the most beneficial kind of charity for those who are in need of it. Immediate issues must be addressed – food and water given to the starving but contributing to building wells, planting crops, building irrigation systems and establishing schools are the things which will benefit the people in the long run to help them out of their poverty.

Tag: When in the masjid

Ammena came up with this tag and is asking about the mosque or prayer area and is asking for 3 hadith to be posted on this subject. 

She says,

Having spent a considerable amount of time at the masjid this month, masha’allah, reciting with my sisters and praying with my community I have realised a few things about people and how they pray [...] I got thinking yesterday, yes my mind does tend to wander!! about a blog post.. ‘if I could post ahadith around this masjid, what would they be?’ .. just 3… and im going to make it into a tag post [...] 

Sooooo, here goes…

The immediate things that I notice when I go to any masjid or prayer room (musalla) in this country are shoes. Yes shoes! Shoe racks or shelves are always provided, I have never been to a masjid where they are not provided yet there is always a pile of shoes in the immediate entrance into the praying room for everyone to trip over. It’s an even bigger problem for mothers who wish to take the stroller with baby in, into the prayer room (I am referring to prayer rooms that have a corridor along the side where the stroller can sit and not dirty the carpets). Why can people not remove their shoes and place them on the shelf? I’m sure it would be far easier to find their shoes after prayer if they did this as the shoes get kicked around by people trying to step over them or wade through them. So, this reminds me of the hadith of ‘removing the harm’ from the public right of way: 

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.

&

In Muslim, it is reported on the authority of  `Aishah  (May Allah be pleased with her) that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who declares the Glory of Allah, praises Allah, declares Allah to be One, glorifies Allah, and seeks forgiveness from Allah, and removes stone, or thorn, or bone from people’s path, and enjoins good and forbids evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty, will walk that day having rescued himself from Hell”.

The next thing I have noticed after my Jumu’ah prayer experience last week is the lateness of those coming to pray Jumu’ah prayer. As you know, I arrived at the mosque and found the ladies entrance locked so I had to resort to sitting outside the mosque for the duration of the prayer and khutbah whilst I waited for my husband. In that half hour I observed the men coming for prayer. We arrived just as the imam was arriving so it was only minutes before he began his khutbah and the carpark, even at that time, was almost empty. As I sat on the step to the ladies entrance I saw the carpark slowly filling and men walking from nearby villas, 5 minutes walk away. Many men were arriving towards the end of the khutbah and there seemed to be a rush as the iqama for the actual salah was called. Do they not know about the reward for arriving early in the mosque on a Friday? Please read:

Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 51:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, “When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba.”

Lastly, I was at the Eid prayer just over a week ago and had the pleasure of praying in congregation and then sitting for the khutbah and joining in the du’a that the imam made in the second part of his khutbah. I was most disappointed to hear the two ladies next to me talking virtually non-stop throughout the khutbah and even the du’a and there were many other ladies in the room also chatting instead listening and benefitting not only from the words of the imam but from the reward of listening:

Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 56:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) said,

“When the Imam is delivering the Khutba, and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have done an evil act.”

I tag, in no particular order: OmLujain, Umalmujahid, UmmK, Redwan,  Nabbu,  UmmHibaat (again… just to heap the pressure on a bit more ) UmmAdam and Brandy.

Rules as follows:

• Link back to the person who tagged you.
• List 3 hadith you’d like to pin up in your masjid and why.
• Tag some of your fellow bloggers by linking to them in your post and don’t forget to post a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been tagged.

Acceptance of du’a at iftar

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) it is related that the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه و سلم   ) said,

“Whatever is prayed for at the time of breaking the fast is granted and never refused.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Use the last minutes of ‘Asr time whilst waiting for maghrib wisely; use those moments to supplicate to Allah ( عز و جل ) for protection from the hell-fire, for the guidance of those close to us who are not Muslim, and for other things important to us.

Fasting is Mine…

 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه و سلم ), who said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says:

Fasting is Mine and it is I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah’s estimation than the smell of musk.

Hadith Qudsi, related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim, Malik, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah).

(Hadith Qudsi are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) as revealed to him by the Almighty Allah. Hadith Qudsi (or Sacred Hadith) are so named because, unlike the majority of Hadith which are Prophetic Hadith, their authority (Sanad) is traced back not to the Prophet but to the Almighty.)*

The devils are chained…

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” (Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123)

Three people…

The Prophet said: “Three people will not have their supplications rejected: a fasting person until he breaks his fast, a just ruler, and an oppressed person.” (Tirmidhi)