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Hajj A Model For Life

The blessed days of Hajj are approaching, and Muslim pilgrims are traveling to the holy sites. The memories and spirituality of Hajj are really moving. Pilgrims cannot help but have tears in their eyes while observing this magnificent gathering that is heading to the House of Allah in total submission and devotion. The pilgrims supplicate humbly, asking Allah to wipe off their sins, accept their Hajj, and grant them happiness in this world and the hereafter.

But should all of these awe-inspiring feelings be restricted to a few days of Hajj? I always think of Hajj as a journey intended to guide us on how to lead our larger journey of life. It is the model after which Muslims should pattern their lives. This connection between Hajj and life is very important; after all, both of them are journeys that need special preparation and should have special goals.

Take, for example, the first steps pilgrims take in preparation for their Hajj journey. They pay off their debts and bathe themselves. The lesson here is that our lives should be based on purity and cleanliness. How beautiful life would be if each and every one of us tried to adhere to this principle? If only everyone tried to steer clear of anything that may taint their beliefs or blemish their relations with Allah. Of course, it may happen that Muslims commit a sin or succumb to Satan’s whispers, but once such a thing occurs, they hasten to “clean” and “wash” their spirits. Just as they wear pure and clean clothes for their Hajj journeys, they are keen to meet Allah after the journey of life with a pure and clean heart.

“Labbayk, Allahumma, labbayk. Here I am, O Allah, at Your service.” This eternal call, chanted by millions of pilgrims every year, gives us further inspiration. The pilgrims respond to Allah’s call with pleasure, paying no heed to the trouble they may undergo; they come to Him declaring in words and in deeds their submission to His commands, their unconditional obedience to His orders, their love of what He loves, and paying their honor to what He honors. This is the spirit that Muslims should keep throughout their entire lives. Labbayk, Allahumma, labbayk. This is not merely a ritual phrase to be uttered in Hajj and then forgotten afterward, rather, it is a motto for every Muslim, a way of life.

After hours, even longer days, and months of travel, pilgrims reach Makkah and cool their eyes with the sight of the holy sites. Throughout their observances of Hajj, in their movements from place to place, and from rite to rite, Muslims recall great scenes of sacrifice by their great forbears, such as Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his family, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his noble companions. These glorious scenes inspire us and motivate us to face the challenges of life with a bold heart as well as to rise up to our responsibility of working and sacrificing in defense of our religion and for the advancement of our Ummah.

Turning To Allah

Turning to Allah individually and collectively is the only way to safety, peace, and security both in this world and in the hereafter.

Umar ibn Al-Khattab – a companion of the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) and caliph (ra – may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We were lowly and weak then Allah made us mighty with Islam. So when we seek mightiness in other than Islam, Allah humiliates us and brings us low.”

Umar (ra) could see this in his time. Imagine how much clearer it has become since! Once the Romans captured the great Companion of the Prophet Muhammad(may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Hudhaifa (ra) and a number of other Muslims took them to their king. The king asked him to leave Islam and become Christian, but he refused. Then the king imprisoned him and tortured him but he still refused. Then the king didn’t feed him long enough and offered him pork and wine, but Hudhaifa (ra) refused them both. He preferred hunger and thirst to them.

Next, the king offered to marry him to his daughter and share his property with him if he would leave Islam and become a Christian. Still, Hudhaifa (ra) refused. Next, thee brought a huge vat of boiling water, threw one of the other Muslims in it, and cooked him alive while Hudhaifa (ra) watched. The King told him that either he leaves his religion or he will cook him too.

Hudhaifa (ra) began to cry and the king thought he had broken him. He asked him “What has made you cry?” Hudhaifa (ra) replied: “I was wishing that I had one hundred souls so I could offer them all in the path of Allah now as I die.” Hercules was shocked at his resolve and said, “Just come and kiss my head and I will let you go.” Hudhaifa (ra) said: “No, not unless you release all of the Muslims along with me.” Hercules said: “I give you that.” So, Hudhaifa (ra) kissed his head and all of the Muslim prisoners were released and they returned to Madinah.
When he returned, the Khalifa (caliph) Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) called him and asked him all about what happened which Hudhaifa (ra) told him all about. Then, Umar (ra) said: “I want to ask you two questions. First: Why didn’t you eat the pork and drink the wine when Allah has made it lawful for the one in necessity saying
{But whoever is driven by necessity in a critical situation…} (Al-Ma’idah: 3)

Hudhaifa (ra) said: “O commander of the faithful (Umar – ra), in order that they would have no chance to detract from Islam.” Umar (ra) was pleased with this answer. Then, Umar (ra) asked: “Why did you kiss Hercules the leader of the Romans?” Hudhaifa (ra) answered “When I placed my mouth on his head I did not kiss him. Rather, I spat on his head but he thought I kissed it. Umar (ra) was again pleased with Hudhaifa’s (ra) actions and he kissed Hudhaifa’s (ra) head in front of a crowd of people. Then he said: “It is upon every Muslim to kiss the head of  Hudhaifa (ra)!”.

The Soul Of Hajj

No annual event on the face of the earth, religious or non-religious, compares to Hajj in terms of the sheer number of participants, duration of the event, and the breadth of the agenda. In spite of this fact, it has always remained equally fascinating and mysterious to not only non-Muslims, who are barred from entering the holy city, but also to millions of Muslims, who had not performed Hajj.

What then is Hajj? In essence, Hajj is man’s evolution toward Allah; his return to Him. It is a symbolic demonstration of the philosophy of the creation of Adam, the first man. To further illustrate this, it may be stated that the performance of Hajj is a simultaneous show or exhibit of many things. It is a show of creation. It is a show of history. It is a show of unity. It is a show of Islamic ideology. It is a show of Ummah, the community of Muslims. That is why it is said in the Qur’an: “And proclaim unto mankind the Hajj. “… That they may witness things that are of benefit to them ….” (22:28)

Hajj is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for “…. those who can afford the expenses …” (3:97). It is not a tax on your wealth, but a duty. Thus, to qualify, you must be sane and wise to understand what you are getting into, and able-bodied to go through this task, and lastly, have the means or resources to perform Hajj.

The pillars of Hajj are five :

  1. Assuming Ihram
  2. Attendance at Arafat
  3. Tawaf of the Ka’ba
  4. Sa’i or running between the Safa and the Marwa (5) cutting or trimming of hair.
  5. Cutting or trimming of hair.

Others are not pillars, although some may require kaffara or a penalty, if not done. The person who puts on the Ihram or cloth for either Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) or Hajj (greater pilgrimage) is called a Muhrim.

Hajj and Umrah are performed in three ways — ifrad, tamattu, and qiran. Ifrad involves first performing Hajj and then Umrah.  Tamattu is when one first performs Umrah and then Hajj, both in the same year with some break in between the two.

Qiran is when one puts on the ‘Ihram with the intention of combining both Hajj and Umrah without any break in between the two.

The 10 etiquette of Hajj are:

  1. Requite all wrongdoings and seek forgiveness from all those who have a grudge against you.
  2. Make provision for Hajj from one’s lawful means.
  3. Learn the pillars of Hajj and its observance.
  4. Be kind and bear with others with patience, lest the reward is nullified.
  5. Observe the obligations of prayers and their rulings.
  6. Be generous, support the poor, and spend as much as he/she is able to.
  7. At the station of Arafat, remember the Day of Judgment.
  8. Should not miss visitation of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Mosque in Madina.
  9. After returning from Hajj, one should turn oneself toward praying for Akhirah (Hereafter).
  10. One should remember parents and other close relatives who have passed away with humble prayers and make-up for them if they could not fulfill their obligations of Hajj.

Paradise – Sexual Haven For Men?

First, we human beings have to remember that we have limited knowledge and perceptions. The things of the hereafter are beyond our understanding. That does not mean that Paradise and Hell are not physical. It is wrong to think that our next life will be only spiritual. We are told that we will be resurrected and re-created, but life in Paradise will be unlike life here. We will eat and drink but there will be no filth or dirt. Our bodies will not excrete wastes nor will they grow old.

Not only our physical bodies but also our psychology (or nature) will be different. The Qur’an tells us that there will be no vanities or hard feelings in Paradise. Those who are blessed enough to enter will have all they desire and there will be no jealousy.

Second, it is not important to understand exactly what Paradise and Hell will be like. It is important to know how to develop our relationship with God so that He will reward us with Paradise.

If we learn all the details of what life in Paradise will be like but fail to worship and serve God, then our knowledge is useless.

If a man in this world is allowed to have up to four wives (if he treats them equally), what is so wrong with him having more than that in the next life? Remember, our bodies and psychologies will be different and we cannot compare our life here with our life in the hereafter.

There is another Hadith that believes women in Paradise will have a higher status than even the houris. The believing women will say, “We shall have eternal life and will never die; we are the gentle ones who will never despair; we have settled down and shall never depart; we are contented and shall never be dissatisfied; blessed are we and blessed are our spouses…” (At-Tabarani, summarized in A Thematic Commentary on the Qur’an by Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali).

From that, we can judge that the believing women will not be dissatisfied if their husbands also have houris. Why should we judge life in Paradise by the standards of our lives here?

The Qur’an does tell us that we will be greeted with the word “Peace!” when we enter Paradise. We should not question God’s wisdom in making us in the nature we are now or in re-creating us in the nature we will have. We know that He is the Most Generous and Most Merciful, and we have no right to question what He chooses to give us in Paradise. Our focus should be on worshiping and serving Him, developing our relationship with Him so that we may hope for His generous reward of Paradise.

Concept Of Hereafter

Many people wonder how a person with a scientific and logical temperament, can lend any credence to the belief in life after death. People assume that anyone believing in the hereafter is doing so on the basis of blind belief.

This concept has been given to mankind by God in his book “Qur’an Kareem” which has more than a thousand verses containing scientific facts.  Some have been discovered by science and others will be discovered as science advances.

The concept of peace, human values, and good or bad are useless without the concept of the hereafter. One thing or act can be bad in the eyes of a person but could be good or beneficial for another one.

Every human being wants justice: Does human law provide justice to all humankind?

The people who do injustice should be punished: Can we punish a murderer of 100 people as compared to a murderer of a single person?

This life is a test for the hereafter:  If it is not, then why few people are wealthy and enjoying the luxuries of life, and why few are poor and don’t even have enough food to eat?  Life is a test for both of them.

Final justice on the day of judgment.  No human law can provide 100% justice to all humankind.  There will be definitely a day of judgment for final justice. We all are in the examination hall and we will be given results on the day of judgment.

When it is dead sure that there will be a day of judgment and life after death, one should follow the religion instead of passing life in his own style.

All religions basically exhort mankind to be righteous and eschew evil. but Islam goes beyond that. It guides us toward practical ways of achieving righteousness and eliminating evil from our individual ad collective lives. Islam takes into account human nature and the complexities of human society. Islam is Guidance from the creator himself. Therefore, Islam is also called The “Deen-ul-Fitrah” (the natural religion).

According to Muslims the only true religion on earth is ISLAM. Everyone has their own choice to find out the truth but one must not decide anything just by seeing the followers only.  Rather one must study sacred scripture to find out the truth.  ISLAM is for the whole of mankind so whoever accepts it and follows it will get successful. Accepting is not enough till we follow it in true spirit.

We should hurry to ask Allah (SWT) for forgiveness and start following true religion before the end of our life. Life is too short(who knows tomorrow we will get up from sleep or not!).

 

Earthquakes: Allah’s Wrath Or Geological Occurrence?

WHY do earthquakes occur? A student of geology will say they are a result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves. That’s the process of how earthquakes occur, but not an answer to why earthquakes occur.

A better-phrased question will be: Who causes earthquakes to occur and why? Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Say: ‘He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another.’” (Qur’an, 6:65)

Allah sends earthquakes as a punishment for some because of their sins and as a reminder or warning for others to repent and mend their ways. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And We sent not the signs except to warn…” (Qur’an, 17:59)

Just as Allah sends down blessings for His creation in the form of rain, good cultivation, and abundance of sustenance, He also sends down warnings and punishments in the form of earthquakes and tsunamis. Allah says:
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (Qur’an, 42:30)

The above verse is of particular importance. It shows that whatever calamity strikes us is a result of our wrong deeds. Moreover, Allah pardons a lot. Meaning, the punishment doesn’t come except when people have crossed all limits. The place where a calamity strikes may have both good and bad people. When sins rise in a community and punishment is sent down, it also affects the good people. While that calamity is a punishment for the sinners, it becomes a source of purification or a reminder for the good doers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allah from His torment and punishment.

An increase in the frequency of earthquakes is also a sign of the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men), earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you.” (Al-Bukhari, 2/17 no. 146)

The prophecy of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) seems ever approaching. Time is passing by quickly, though the day still has 24 hours. The religiously learned are fewer than in the past and the crime rate has increased multifold.

Never Forget To Pray To ALLAH

[Quran – 2:45] “And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones,”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said:

[Bukhari, Book #21, Hadith #263] “O Allah! I ask guidance from Your Knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You Know and I do not and You Know the unseen. O Allah! If You Know that This job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You Know that This job is harmful tome In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.”

Change Your Habits In Ramadan

Try These Proven Techniques For A Successful positive change in your habits during Ramadhaan and beyond!

1. Acknowledge and Identify your bad habits: The first step is to admit you need to change. If you are in a state of denial, you won’t recognize that you have a bad habit to change.

2. Pick a habit for this month: Prioritize your bad habits and focus on one for this month. If you are committed to changing at least one habit, you will see remarkable results, Allah-willing.

3. Realize that it’s in us to change: Don’t believe the old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” You can break a bad habit if you really want to. No one else can change your habits if you don’t want to.

4. Remember, Allah loves those who commit mistakes and repent: The Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them.”
(Hadith -Sahih Muslim)

5. Intention & Plan to change: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” A healthy process of change in character requires a gradual pace, which entails planning. Develop concrete milestones to measure your progress.

6. Replace a bad habit with a good one: Completely eliminating a habit is more challenging than replacing it with a more productive habit. Moreover, it’s crucial to replace the lost natural needs, such as the need to socialize and to be entertained with something healthy.
For instance, it’s easier to replace your addiction to TV with a physical workout or reading the Qur’an or a good Islamic book, etc. Interestingly, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the greatest ‘psychologist’ of humanity, illustrated this principle in these words:

“Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people.”
(Hadith-At-Tirmidhi).

Duaa

DU’A AT THE TIME OF DISTRESS
“Has -bi -yal-laa-hu wa ni’- mal wa-keel”.
Allah (SWT) is sufficient for me and He is the Best Helper.

DU’A BEFORE SLEEPING
“Allahumma bismika amuutu wa ahyaa”.
O Allah (SWT)! With your name, I die and I live.

DU’A AFTER WAKING UP
“Alhamdulillaahillazi ahyaanaa ba’da maa amaata-naa wa ilaihinnushuur”.
All praise to Allah (SWT), Who revived us to life after giving us death, and to him, we shall have to return.

DU’A IN THANKFULNESS
“Yaa rabbil lakal”hamdu kama yanbaghii lijalaali wajhika, wa’aziimi sultaanik.”
O my Lord, all praises be to You as it should be due to Your Might and the Greatness of Your Power.

DU’A IN APPRECIATION OF OTHER’S KINDNESS
“Jazaakallaahu khairaa.”
May Allah (SWT) return your kindness.

DU’A FOR PARENTS
“Rabbighfir lii wa liwaalidayya wa lilmu”miniina yauma yaquumul’hisaab, Rabbirhamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanii shaghiiraa.”
O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they have nourished me when I was young.

DU’A BEFORE STUDYING
“Allaahumma infa’nii bimaa ‘allamtanii wa’allimnii maa yanfa’unii.”
O my Lord, make useful for me what you hath thought me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

DU’A FOR KNOWLEDGE
“Rabbi Zid-Nee ‘iL-Maa”
My Lord, increase me in Knowledge.