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I’tikaf – The Spiritual Retreat

The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) is reported to have said:

“The persons who seclude himself (for I’tikaf) in true faith and hope (of reward from Allah), all of his previous sins shall be forgiven.” (Kanzul Ummal, Hadith 24007)

The meaning of Itikaf is to seclude oneself in the Masjid with the express niyyah (intention) of Itikaf.

Allah has indeed in his perfect wisdom created humanity in a unique way. He has made it such that from time to time His creation needs a rest. We rest at night to give our bodies time to recover. Birds retire to their nests, horses to their stables, bees to their hives, etc. However, there comes a time when more intensive rest or retreat is required. Sometimes due to a person’s physical condition, he is admitted into the hospital’s intensive care unit allowing his or her body time to recover.

Likewise, the soul also needs to recover from the hustle and bustle of the world, the spiritual pollution caused by evil elements of society, the rat race of wanting, desiring, and acquiring more of this world, and the distractions that have diverted our mind, heart, and soul from the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala and His Beloved Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Intensive Care Unit(ICU) for the soul is the Musjid and Itikaf is the facility within this ICU to allow the soul to not only recover but be spiritually rejuvenated!

Itikaf is indeed a Spiritual Retreat!
Inside each and every human being, a constant battle rages. It is like a battle between two wolves. One of the wolves is evil. It is full of hate, lust, and greed. His fangs drip with bitterness and strife. The other wolf is a good one. He is full of love, compassion, and honesty. He never betrays his brother.

These two wolves are constantly at war. Which wolf is going to win the battle?

The answer is quite obvious…. Whichever one you feed.

Our soul is being bombarded by forces of good and evil. We need to feed it good so that it overpowers the evil….and Itikaf is indeed an excellent opportunity to achieve this.

Since the life of the transient world keeps us busy for the whole year with studies, work, social functions, business, traveling, and other such things that cause us to be negligent of our souls and the next life, we may sometimes think that these things are the sole purpose in life and thus, we end up forgetting our true goal – Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him). Thus, it is for this reason that I’tikaf is referred to as “The spring of life in a world struck with the drought of the negligence of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him).”

The period of I’tikaf is the best time to force one’s self to sit and think and reflect on the self and the world around; the period of the I’tikaf is the best time to forget the worries of the transient world and to return to nurturing the soul and linking oneself with the Creator of the soul; the period of the I’tikaf is the best time to return back to Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) in true repentance for our sins committed through the year and to give our souls the spiritual strength desperately needed to live a spiritual and pure life in this challenging world.

How To Attain ‘Al-Khushoo’ In Our Prayers

How is it possible for us to gain ‘Al-Khushoo’ (Humility) in and outside of the prayer and during the recitation of the ‘Quran’?

‘Al-Khushoo’ is the essence and core of the prayer. And it means the presence and attendance of the heart! And that the heart of the person who is praying does not wander left and right.

However … if the person senses something that will divert him away from (this) Al-Khushoo’ then he must seek refuge with Allah from the Outcast Shaytaan just as the *Prophet*…[sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam ]instructed us to do!

And there is no doubt that the ‘Shaytaan’ is extremely assiduous in spoiling all acts of worship, especially the ‘Salah’ which is the most superior act of worship after the Two Testimonies.

Thus, the ‘Shaytaan’ comes to the ‘Musalli’ (Praying individual) and says …or whispers Remember this and that and he causes him to indulge in thoughts and ideas that are of no benefit and which leave his head soon as he concludes from the prayer…

Therefore it is upon a person that he strives with the… utmost ambition to devote himself towards Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and if he feels anything from these misgivings and devilish insinuations to seek refuge with Allah from the Outcast ‘Shaytaan’ whether he is Raki’ (bowing), in the ‘Tashahhud’, sitting, or standing or in any position from his prayer.

Lastly, the greatest means that will aid one in attaining Al-Khushoo’ in the prayer is … that he Visualizes himself standing in front of Allah and that he is confiding in his Lord ALLAH {Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.}

{‘In Shaa Allah’}

[Source:-Footnotes:*Muslim( 2203).*Bukhari #608 and *Muslim #291 ]

Etiquette In The Month Of Ramadan

Respect for the Month of Ramadan
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said, The person who serves his parents according to the best of his abilities in the month of Ramadaan, Allah looks at him with special Mercy and takes the responsibility of forgiving him upon Himself. The wife who remains busy in Ramadaan pleasing her husband will be granted the companionship of Hazrat Mariam and  Hazrat Aasiya (Radiallahu Taala Anhuma) in Paradise. Once, in the city of Bukhara, the son of a fire worshiper was eating in the market of Muslims during the month of Ramadaan. Upon seeing him, his father slapped him on the face and expressed great disappointment. The son said, O my Father! You also eat all day long during the month of Ramadaan. The father replied, I do not fast at all and do eat but I do it in secret at home. I do not eat in front of the Muslims out of respect for this month. Sometime later, the fire worshiper died and a pious resident of Bukhara saw in his dream that the fire worshiper was walking in Paradise. He asked him, You were a fire worshiper, how did you get into Paradise? The fire worshiper replied It is true that I was a fire worshipper but, close to the time of death,  Allah Taala granted me the guidance to accept Islam. This is the blessing of respecting the month of Ramadaan that I died as a Muslim and Allah Taala granted me Paradise as a result of respecting Ramadaan and accepting Islam. [Nuzhatul Majaalis]

Subhaanallah! When a fire worshiper who respected the month of Ramadan was granted faith and Paradise by Allah Taala, if we Muslims respect the month of Ramadan and do not violate its sanctity, then we will definitely be deserving of the Grace of the Almighty, Insha Allah.

On the Day of Judgement, a person will be brought in such a state that the angels will be beating him mercilessly. He will seek support from Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) who will ask the angels, What is his sin? Why are you beating him so much? The angels will reply, He obtained the month of Ramadaan but still continued to disobey Allah Taala. Rasoolullah(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) will be about to intercede for him when a voice will state, O My
Beloved! The petitioner against him is the month of Ramadan.Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) will say, I am disgusted with those people whom Ramadaan petitions against.

Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, The person who safeguards three things is undoubtedly a Friend of Allah Taala, and know that the person who forsakes these three is an enemy of Allah Taala. These three things are fasting, Namaaz(Prayer), and compulsory bathing (Ghusl-e-Janaabat). The Paradise of Allah Taala longs for four kinds of people:
A person who fasts in the month of Ramadan.
A person who regularly recites the Holy Quran.
A person who safeguards his tongue.
A person who feeds his hungry neighbors.

On the Day of Judgement, when Allah Taala orders the people to rise from their graves, He will say to the Angel of Paradise, O Ridwan! Go and greet my bondsmen who used to fast, and used to go hungry and thirsty for My sake. Go with all the bounties of Paradise and present it to them.

Hazrat Ridwan (Alaihis Salaam) will call out, O workers of Paradise, bring large serving plates of Paradise, and bring food and drink equivalent to the grains of sand in the world, equal to the drops of rain, and equal to the stars in the sky and leaves on the trees. This will all be brought and placed in front of the people who used to fast. They will then be told, Eat as much as you please. This is the reward for the fasts that you observed in the world.

 

Problems, Problems, Problems…

PROBLEMS. . . how we hate them! The time and energy we waste, stewing  over problems instead of tackling them cheerfully and  constructively, recognising them as the growth points of  life and progress. Life can expose us to a series of problems. Problems evoke in us a great deal of emotional pain, such as sorrow, fear, anger, anxiety, sadness etc.  These are uncomfortable emotions. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life’s problems… it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its  meaning.

Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes success and failure. Problems are what cause us to grow mentally and  spiritually. Without growth, we’re doomed to stay as we have always been. Wise people learn not to dread problems, but to welcome, expect and tackle problems. Fearing the pain involved causes most to go to any lengths to avoid their problems and the suffering , attempting to escape from or even at times ignoring them by building out the most elaborate fantasies in which to live, sometimes to the total exclusion of reality. A little pain, perhaps, in facing a problem… a little patience, courage, thought and effort to  try and solve it – they’re preferable to burying it and risk becoming a neurotic cripple who may need  psychiatric treatment. In ignoring the problem, we stop  growth which we learn from the problems that life brings.  Therefore, we avoid real life for the replaced fantasy. When we stop the growth, we also stop the healing we could have attained if we faced our problems and pain with proper responses.

As Muslims, we are in direct communication with the Almighty  ALLAH. No matter how bad you perceive your situation and your lack of strength is, don’t give up!  Because, where your strength ends, the grace of ALLAH begins. So, cry your heart to none but ALLAH. Only ALLAH  TA’ALA can and will heal you in all possible ways! HE is the only One Who not only Hears and Knows all, but Who can change our situation and give us the patience to deal with
our difficulties. Allah, The Most Wise, says:

“Remember Me, and I shall remember you; be grateful to Me, and deny Me not.” (Qur’aan 2:152)

Blessed Is The Wealth Of A Muslim From Which He Gives To The Poor

[ALLAH’S Quran – 2:215] “They ask you as to what they should spend. Say: Whatever wealth you spend, it is for the parents and the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, and whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said:
[Bukhari, Book #24, Hadith #544] “Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Once the Prophet sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said, “The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) are the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you.” Somebody said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?” The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, “What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet (p.b.u.h) while he is not talking to you.” Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, “Where is the questioner?” It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, “Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, orphans, and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection.”