Don’t You Know How To Cook?
BURSTING over food not cooked to our taste is a sin that few escape. Extreme fury and anger, mostly with spouses, is expressed with rejecting food and refusing to eat, undermining this great blessing many are deprived of.
Yes, mistakes happen. The wife may have forgotten to add salt.
In such situations, we ought to be patient, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) was when his wives cooked food he didn’t like. He sat, and said nothing at all, nor did he eat from it.
Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never found fault with food. If he had inclination to eating it, he would eat; and if he disliked it, he would leave it. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Commentary from Riyad-us-Saliheen: “This Hadith throws light on the Prophet’s excellent manners which ought to be followed by all Muslims.
It is a deplorable state of affairs that when we find a dish a bit unsavory, we lose our temper and create quite a scene in the house.”
Another important aspect is not hurting someone’s feeling. He or she might have exerted so much effort in cooking that for us. Positive and encouraging statements are more helpful in correcting people than hurting their feelings.
Learning Hajj
THE Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Umrah is an expiation for the time between it and the previous Umrah, and an accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise.” (Al-Bukhari)
The person who intends to perform Umrah “clips his nails, trims his mustache, shaves his pubic hair, and plucks out the hair of his armpits. Then he performs Ghusl (complete bath), and the male pilgrim wears an Izar (lower garment worn at the waist like a bath towel) and a Rida’ (a garment worn over the shoulders) that are both clean and white.” (Note: Women may enter the state of Ihram in any clothing within the Shariah guidelines.
After completing this and while approaching one of the Meeqat (marked posts around Makkah for Hajj and Umrah), he should enter the state of Ihram which is “the intention to enter into one of the two sacred rituals, Al-Hajj or Al-‘Umrah.”
The state of Ihram has certain prohibitions; some of which are as follows:
• Wearing stitched clothing such as shirts, socks, hoods, and a thawb by men
• Applying perfume
• Shaving the hair or cutting it, even a little
• Clipping the nails of either the hands or feet.
• Having sexual intercourse with one’s spouse and the actions that precede it like kissing.
The pilgrim should then begin the Talbiyyah (answering of the command) and continue it until he reaches Masjid Al-Haraam. The Talbiyyah is to say: Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik, Labbaik Laa Shareeka Laka Labbaik. Innal-Hamda Wann-Ni’mata Laka Wal-Mulk, Laa Shareeka Lak.
The meaning of the wording for the Talbiyyah is: “I am here at Your service, O Allah; I am here at Your service. I am here at Your service; You have no partner; I am here at Your Service. Verily the Praise, and the Blessings are Yours, and also the Sovereignty. You have no partner.”
To Whom Do We Complain?
The ignorant among us complain to people about Allah, and this is the highest degree of ignorance. If one knew his Lord, he would never complain about Him; and if knew the (reality of) people, he would not complain to them.
One of the predecessors saw a man complaining to another man about his poverty and dire necessity, so he said to him, “O you! By Allah, you have done nothing but complain about He who has mercy for you, to someone who has no mercy for you.”
A poet said: When you complain to a son of Adam, verily you complain about the Most Merciful, to the one who does not have any pity.
On the contrary, a person who is profoundly knowledgeable about Allah complains to Allah alone, and never to the people. He complains about the causes because he knows the verses:
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (Qur’an, 42:30)
“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.” (Qur’an, 4:79)
“(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: ‘From where does this come to us?’ Say (to them), ‘It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds).’ And Allah has power over all things.” (Qur’an, 3:165)
The lowest of people complain about Allah to His creatures, while the highest of people complain about their own-selves to Allah.
Allahu-Akbar
50 Things To Be Done During Hajj
[..1] Smile in another Muslims face
[..2] Say Salam to strangers
[..3] Shake someone’s hand and ask about their health
[..4] Buy tea for someone
[..5] Offer to get someone’s groceries
[..6] Sit with a Hajj group from another country and ask about Islam in their village
[..7] Carry someone’s bags for them
[..8] Guide someone ill to the infirmary
[..9] Shun vain talk
[10] Recite talbiyah loudly, encouraging others
[11] On the days of Eid, walk through the tents reciting Talbiyah loudly reminding others
[12] Gather stones for people
[13] Offer to throw on behalf of unable Hajjis
[14] Guide people to the Jamarat
[15] Lower your gaze
[16] Remind people of the lives of the Sahaabah
[17] Read Qur’an with the Tafseer
[18] Do the authentic Dhikr of the morning and evening
[19] Make dua during your Sajdah
[20] Stand to the side of a gate and offer people water/tea as they leave
Udhiyah – Conditions And Purpose Of The Sacrifice
We would like to stress that udhiyah is one of the great rituals of Islam, in which we remember the Oneness of Allah, His Blessings upon us and the obedience of our father Ibrahim to his Lord, and in this act of udhiyah there is much goodness and blessing. So the Muslims must pay attention to its great importance. The following is a brief look at this important ritual. Udhiyah refers to the animal (camel, cattle or sheep) offered as a sacrifice, and it is an act of worship dedicated solely to gain Allah’s pleasure. Udhiyah takes place in the country in which the person offering the sacrifice lives, during the period from after the Eid prayer on the Day of Nahr or Eid Al-Adha until the last of the Days of Tashreeq (the 13th day of Dhu’l-Hijja), with the intention of offering sacrifice. Allah says: Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). (108:2)
He also says: Say (O Muhammad – peace be upon him ): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Aalamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (6:162)
“And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God Allah) so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islam)” (22:34)
Udhiyah is a confirmed Sunnah or Sunnah Muakkadah according to the majority of scholars (some scholars say that it is wajib or obligatory).
The basic principle is that it is required at the appointed time from one who is alive on behalf of himself and the members of his household, and he may include in the reward whoever he wishes, living or dead.
Conditions of Udhiyah
1) The animal should have reached the required age, which is six months for a lamb, one year for a goat, two years for a cow and five years for a camel.
2) It should be free of any faults, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said : “There are four that will not do for sacrifice: a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones.” (Sahih Al-Jami, no. 886). There are milder defects that do not disqualify an animal, but it is makrooh to sacrifice such animals, such as an animal with a horn or ear missing, or an animal with slits in its ears, etc. Udhiyah is an act of worship to Allah, and Allah is Good and accepts only that which is good. Whoever honors the rites of Allah, this has to do with the piety of the heart.
3) It is forbidden to sell it. If an animal has been selected for sacrifice, it is not permissible to sell it or give it away, except in exchange for one that is better. If an animal gives birth, its offspring should be sacrificed along with it. It is also permissible to ride it if necessary. The evidence for this is the report narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw a man leading his camel and told him, “Ride it.” He said, “It is for sacrifice.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Ride it” a second or third time.
Good Deeds In The Ten Days Of Dul Hajj
According to Abu Abbas that the Prophet (PBUH) said: No deeds during the year days are better than the deeds in the ten days of Dul Hajj. They said: Even Jihad in the way of Allah? The Prophet (PBUH) said: Even Jihad except a man goes for Jihad with his wealth and does not return back with any things. Narrated by Bukhary.
These are the days in which the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, falls and where delegates of Hajj come from different places to meet. Allah Almighty says in Sura Al Baqarah V:198: Then when you leave, Arafat, member Allah at the mash ar-il-Haram. And remember Him as He has guided you and verily, you were, before, of those who were astray.
And the best day among the 10 days of Dul Hajj is the day of Arafat. That is why the Prophet (PBUH) advises those who are not going for Hajj, to fast this day. According to Abu quatada that when the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting the day of Arafat He said: It clears the sins of current and previous years. Narrated by Muslim. The Prophet (PBUH) also said: Verily, there is no day where the number of people whom Allah will be free from Hell fire, is higher than the day of Arafat. Narrated by Muslim.
According to Abu Abbas that the Prophet (PBUH) said: That Allah Almighty took the pledge from the children of Adam on the day of Arafat and said to them: Am I not your Lord? They said yes we testify, lest you should say on the Day of Judgment. ?Verily we have been unaware of this? narrated by Ahmed. This indicates as if all people recognize their lord on this day and such recognition remains with them unless it is damaged by bad environment.
These days are seasons for purifying our selves and rectifying our conditions therefore, Muslims should not miss such opportunities.
Eid al-Adha Aur Hajj
A New Life After Hajj & Umrah
NO doubt, Hajj is a golden opportunity to have one’s sins forgiven, one’s soul purified, and one’s heart filled with faith and tranquility. The one who performs Hajj is supposed to be a model for others after returning. He or she is to recall throughout the year the matchless experiences gained in Hajj.
We should stress the fact that those whom Allah favored to perform Hajj and Umrah, should be thankful to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Who has chosen them from among His servants to perform these acts of worship, and they should implore Almighty Allah to accept their good deeds. That is very important, for it reflects their belief that being so favored by Allah to accomplish the task of traveling to the Sacred Land to perform Hajj and Umrah is a favor that deserves gratitude to Allah.
We also urge the pilgrim, after returning from the Sacred Land, to keep his mind and soul attached to Allah, remembering Him constantly because Almighty Allah says : “So when you have accomplished your Manasik, remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a more remembrance” (2: 200)
The new Hajji should be very keen to avoid evil and shameful deeds especially after Allah has obliterated them and forgave all his sins, as a reward of performing Hajj. This is based on the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but Paradise.”
The Prophet also said, “(The performance of) Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous one.” (Reported by Muslim)
Therefore, it is incumbent on every Hajji to be thankful and offer due gratitude to Allah for being chosen to perform those acts of worship.
We advice such a person, upon returning home, to be conscious of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) when performing all what Allah has commanded him to do of the other acts of worship such as Salah (Prayers), Zakah, Fasting, dutifulness to his parents, visiting kith and kin, being charitable and benevolent to Allah’s creatures, observing the etiquette of Islam, taking the morals of the Qur’an as a model and the like of what the Muslim should do.
The reason for all what we have said above is that the more Hajj is considered an honor and a blessing, the more it entails responsibility for what one will be asked on the Day of Judgment in case he errs after returning from Hajj.
The epitome of this is that the Hajj is a duty to be offered once in lifetime. So, the pilgrim should take that as a golden opportunity which he will make use of for the rest of his life, reminiscing about the sacred places and all rituals (of Hajj), for that will strengthen his faith and help him to obey Allah.