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Summer Is Here!

Ahh, good ole summer vacation! Time to chill, kick back, and relax huh? No more school and no more homework. That time of the year when you count down the days until school is out is upon us again. Some of us are fortunate enough to witness this time again, while others unfortunately did not make it and had their time come when they were to meet Allah, and in His Hand is all that is good.

The funny thing is, although we look forward to the end of school so much, it seems we are all bored to death within five, six, or maybe 15 days into summer vacation.

We either stare at the television for six hours straight or sleep for 14 hours a day. It seems many of us get into that mode: sleep, wake up, eat, watch TV, chat online, sleep, wake up…. etc. And don’t act like you guys don’t know what I am talking about.

So, to avoid yet another boring and wasted summer vacation, here are some ideas that maybe we can try. Because as Muslims, we want to, now more than ever, try and utilize our time as much as possible. One way to do that is to have some goals for yourself, both short-term and long-term.

Once, there were four young men chilling at the Ka’ba talking. By the way, look where the teenagers of the Prophet’s time would be, while the teenagers of our time are chilling at malls and movie theaters. Subhan Allah, how times have changed.

The youth of the early generations of Muslims had lofty long-term goals. They stuck to them and by the will and mercy of Allah, they were able to fulfill them. Some became great scholars while others became powerful leaders. Our youth, however, are chilling at malls and watching movies all day long.

If we want to be as successful as they were, we should have some long-term goals in our lives. Where do we want to be in 10, 20, or 50 years from now?

We also need some short-term goals as well, which is the point of this article. Since summer vacation is near, and we know that we are going to end up being bored to death, let’s set some goals to utilize our time and accomplish some things. Here are some ideas. Set your goals in three areas that we’ll call the Three E’s.

The first “E” is in your E-man (faith). Set some goals to work on your Iman. We consistently must watch our Iman-o-meter and make sure it’s at a high level.

This will better our relationship with Allah. How do we achieve that? By doing more worship; by praying all five times regularly and with concentration; and by making sincere Du’a. We can review the Qur’an we memorized and learn new Surahs with their meaning. We can commit ourselves to reading one page of the Qur’an every day in Arabic along with its meaning in the language we understand.

How about some fasting, charity, serving our parents, or praying late at night? The list is endless. Don’t overburden yourself in the starting step. The key is to be consistent. Choose some and stick to them. You can increase it slowly later on.

The second “E” is E-ducation. Increase your knowledge, both worldly and religious. Read beneficial books. There are a variety of books to choose from.

You could take up science books that reveal some interesting facts or guide you to do some cool projects. You could read history and Seerah.

The third “E” is E-xercise. It is important to take care of the body that Allah has blessed us with. Enroll yourself in some physical activity – be it sports, gymnasium, or aerobics. Keep your body fit and fine.

Lastly, have a good timetable to achieve these things. Without a timetable and good eating and sleeping habits, it will be difficult to do anything. How much can one achieve by sleeping all through the day and evening, while staying awake at night?

A good way to jump-start your activity is to form a group and have some “group goals”. Doing it together will help you and others. It would be like a competition as to how much every one of you is achieving in each of the three “E’s”. And together your group could also have a blast of Halaal fun. All the best for your summer!

– By Rashid Ridhwan

Allah, The Exalted, Commands: No Distinction Between Messengers

[Allah’s Quran – 2:136] Say, [O believers], “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said:
[Bukhari, Book #60, Hadith #128] “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever says that I am better than Jonah bin Matta, Is a liar.”

[Bukhari, Book #41, Hadith #594] “Narrated Abu Huraira: Two persons, a Muslim, and a Jew, quarreled. The Muslim said, “By Him Who gave Muhammad superiority over all the people! The Jew said, “By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the people!” At that, the Muslim raised his hand and slapped the Jew in the face. The Jew went to the Prophet and informed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim. The Prophet sent for the Muslim and asked him about it. The Muslim informed him of the event. The Prophet said, “Do not give me superiority over Moses, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will. be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah). I will not know whether (Moses) has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke.”

[Muslim, Book #030, Hadith#5854] “Abu Fluraira reported that two persons, one from amongst the Jews and the other from amongst the Muslims, fell into dispute and began to abuse one another. The Muslim said: By Him Who chose Muhammad (may peace be upon him) in the worlds. And the Jew said: By Him Who chose Moses in the worlds. Thereupon the Muslim lifted his hand and slapped at the face of the Jew. The Jew went to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and told him about his affair and the affair of the Muslim. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) laid: Don’t make me superior to Moses for mankind will swoon and I would be the ‘first to recover from it and Moses would be at that time seizing the side of the Throne and I do not know (whether) he would swoon and would recover before me or Allah would make an exception for him.”

Be In This World As A Stranger Or A Traveler

[Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 421] Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (Radi Allah Anhu): The Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good.”

[Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 425] Narrated Mujahid (Radi Allah Anhu): ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) said, “Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.” The sub-narrator added: Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.”

[Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 426] Narrated ‘Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu): The Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) drew a square and then drew a line in the middle of it and let it extend outside the square and then drew several small lines attached to that central line, and said, “This is the human being, and this, (the square) in his lease of life, encircles him from all sides (or has encircled him), and this (line), which is outside (the square), is his hope, and these small lines are the calamities and troubles (which may befall him), and if one misses him, an-other will snap (i.e. overtake) him, and if the other misses him, a third will snap (i.e. overtake) him.”

[Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 427] Narrated Anas bin Malik (Radi Allah Anhu): The Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) drew a few lines and said, “This is (man’s) hope, and this is the instant of his death, and while he is in this state (of hope), the nearer line (death) comes to Him.”

Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.

No Righteousness Until You Spend Out Of What You Love Most

[Allah’s Quran– 3:92] “By no means shall you attain to righteousness until you spend (benevolently) out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it.”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said :
[Hadith – Bukhari, Book #69, Hadith #515] “Narrated Anas bin Malik: Abu Talha had the largest number of date palms from amongst the Ansars of Medina. The dearest of his property to him was Bairuha garden which was facing the (Prophet’s) Mosque. Allah’s Apostle used to enter it and drink its good fresh water. When the Holy Verse:– ‘By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you spend (in charity) of that which you love.’ (3.92) was revealed, Abu Talha got up and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Allah says: By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you spend of that which you love,’ and the dearest of my property to me is the Bairuha garden and I want to give it in charity in Allah’s Cause, seeking to be rewarded by Allah for that. So you can spend it, O Allah’s Apostle, wherever Allah instructs you. ‘Allah’s Apostle said, “Good! That is a perishable (or profitable) wealth” (‘Abdullah is in doubt as to which word was used.) He said, “I have heard what you have said but in my opinion, you’d better give it to your kith and kin.” On that Abu Talha said, “I will do so, O Allah’s Apostle!” Abu Talha distributed that garden among his kith and kin and cousins.”

[Muslim, Book #005, Hadith #2185] “Anas b. Malik is reported as saying: Abu Talha was the one among the Ansar of Medina who possessed the largest property. Among his property he valued most was his garden known as Bairaha’ which was opposite the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) often visited it and he drank its sweet water. When this verse was revealed:” You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you Have” (iii. 91), Abu Talha got up and, going to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), said: Allah says in His Book:” You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love,” and the dearest of my property is Bairaha’ so I give it as Sadaqa to God from Whom I hope for reward for it and the treasure with Allah; so spend it, Messenger of Allah, on whatever purpose you deem it proper. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Bravo I that is profit earning property. I have heard what you have said, but I think you should spend it on your nearest relatives. So Abu Talha distributed it among the neatest relatives and his cousins on his father’s side.”

First 10 Days Of Dhul Hijjah

The first ten days are the great blessings from Allah to the Muslim Ummah. A Muslim should grasp this opportunity and worship Allah so he is rewarded, as Allah has given us many ways to worship him to gain His blessings.

Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days; meaning the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. They inquired: “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah unless one goes out for Jihad sacrificing both his life and property and returning with neither.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

In another Hadith, Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him), said: “There are no days during which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than these ten days. So recite more often the Tahleel (Laa Ilaaha Illallah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah). (Imam Ahmad) Jaabir reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best day is the Day of Arafah. There are no days during which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allaah than these ten days. So recite more often the Tahleel (Laa Ilaaha Illallah) Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah).”

Among the good deeds the Muslim should strive to do during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are:

· Performing Haj and Umrah: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Performing Umrah and following it with another expiates sins that are committed in between. And the perfect Hajj would be requited with nothing other than Jannah.”

· Observing fasting on all or some of these days, particularly on the Day of Arafah.
Abu Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Observing fasting on the Day of Arafat; I expect Allah to expiate the sins that were committed during the preceding year, and the sins that will be committed in the year after”. (Sahee Muslim)

· Reciting Takbeer, and Dhikr in these days – Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to go out to the marketplaces during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and recite out loud the Takbeer and people would repeat the after them. Ishaaq (may Allah bestow mercy upon him) reported that the jurists (may Allah bestow mercy upon them) used to recite during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd. It is recommended to recite them out loud in marketplaces, at homes, roads, mosques, and elsewhere.

· Accomplishing more good deeds of voluntary observances, such as Nawafil Salah, charity, Jihad, Qur’anic recitation, enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong, and the like; for the rewards of such observances are multiplied during these days. Offering the sacrificial animal during the day of sacrifice and the Days of Tashreeq i.e. 4 days. It is the sunnah of Ibraheem, may Allah exalt his mention, in commemoration of the occasion when Allah ransomed Ibraheem’s son with a large ram. It has been authentically confirmed that the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) sacrificed two black and white rams with horns with his own hands, invoked the name of Allah upon them, recited the Takbeer, and placed his foot on their sides when he slaughtered them. (Agreed upon).

It narrated from Abu Sa’id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “O Fatima come and stand by your sacrificial animal and witness it being slaughtered for surely, by the the first drop of blood, all your sins will be forgiven.” She asked: “O Rasullullah! Is this reward specifically for us, your family, or is it for us and the Muslims as well? He replied: “It is for us and for the Muslims.”(Al-Bazaar)

· Umm Salamah, (may Allah be pleased with her), said: When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah, and one of you wants to sacrifice an animal let him refrain from cutting or shaving his hair or clipping his fingernails, or toenails. In another version: Let him not cut his hair or his fingernails until he has slaughtered his sacrificial animal.

· The Muslims must make sure to observe the Eid prayer in its designated place and attend the Eid sermon. He should also know the purpose of Eid, and that it is a day of giving thanks and a chance to accomplish good deeds.

A Muslim should take advantage of these 10 days, do good deeds, and ask Allah to grant success and guidance to the right path and repentance and relinquish acts of disobedience and all sins.