Allah says in His Book: 'It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning.' (s. 10, v. 5)
We see by this that the moon was created for the purpose that we may count the number of years, that we may determine when one year has passed, and the next is beginning.
But why should we count the years? Why should we count the passing of time?
Before the revelation of this verse, the years were not yet counted necessarily in the numerical fashion that we are accustomed to today. At least not yet on the basis of the changing stages of the moon. The Gregorian calendar, as we know it in the Christian and western world, is not based upon the changing stages of the moon. It is based upon the assumption that there are 356 days to the year, excepting leap year, when there will be an extra day.
The Lunar calendar was instilled into the Islamic calculations, because it is based upon the stages of the moon to account for the coming of a new month, and therefore the passing of a year.
For many years, it has been a tradition in the non-muslim world to celebrate the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new year. It has become such an established tradition as to surpass all religious celebration-almost a religious celebration in and of itself. But there are no religious ties to this date whatsoever. It is merely the attraction of the celebratory nature of this date that entices so many people worldwide to its notification and celebration. It has raised to such a status that almost all business and commerce comes to a halt worldwide for the day and perhaps continues on into the day following, such as to allow for recuperation from the parties of the previous night.
It has now come to a sad state that many Muslims worldwide are not only recognizing the passing of the new year (both in the Gregorian as well as the Hijjri calendars), but they have taken one step further to celebrating it, even if only in the sense that they exchange sentiments of congradulations and remembrances on the date of the first day of the first month of the new year.
By sheer coincidence of the closeness of the dates of the two calendar systems this year (the Gregorian and Hijjri), the passing of the old year into the next are very close together this year. And so it become even more confusing to many Muslims, in that they tend to opt to exchange sentiments of congradulations and remembrance at this time.
My dear brethren, many reputed scholars worldwide have announced and recognized this mistake that Muslims are falling into, issuing religious rulings (fatawa) to the effect to remind us that there is no evidence whatsoever that this occasion (the passing of the previous year and the beginning of the new) was something recognized and so celebrated by the prophet(SAAW) or his companions(ARA). In fact, all evidence points away from this, and suggests that it is not something acceptable to celebrate this marking of time. Allah Himself has told us in His Book that He has set up the moon and appointed it in stages in order that we may count and mark the passage of time- the passing of the years, one into the next.
Another grave mistake that many Muslims are entering into by their practice of recognition and celebration of this passage of an old year into the new by exchanging congradulations and remembrances is that they mention, in their greetings to one another, the mention of the assumption (presented in a format such as the one exchanging the greetings has firm knowledge of this statement) that the record that had been going on for the previous year is now being rolled up and sealed, only to be released later on the day of judgement.
This in and of itself is a great danger that the Muslim engages in, by appearing or assuming to know something of the unknown, which Allah Himself has already claimed as His reign alone. There is no evidence whatsoever in any Islamic literature that the record is rolled up and sealed at the completion of a year, and a new record begins with the new year. This claim gives impression that once that record is rolled up and sealed, there is no chance for redemption by seeking forgiveness for sins made during that time of which the record represents. This goes strongly and completely against the teachings of Islam. As long as this world is in existence, and as long as the person has life, then his/her record is still open and in the process of being recorded. Hence there is still chance of the person to do something right to offset the wrongs he has done any time in his/her past.
For us as Muslims, and in following the Hijjri calendar, we have a more important date to recognize with the passing of the new year. The first month of the Hijjri calendar is the month of Muharram. It is the month in which the first generation of Muslims, at the direction of their beloved prophet(SAAW), made their immigration from Makkah, where they were persecuted, to Madinah, where they found solace and recluse and protection and brotherhood. It is also the month in which the 'ashura' (the tenth) occurs. And yet, the prophet(SAAW) never did once celebrate the passing of the old year into the new by the coming of Muharram, nor did he advise his companions to do so either. He merely recognized the passing of time by the changing of the moons, and so noticed when one month changed into the next, and therefore continued on in his life and leading and teaching the new Muslims their religion.
As for Muharram itself, I have already mentioned that it is the marking of time when the Muslims first migrated to Madinah in bulk. And it is also the month during which we witness the 'ashura' (the tenth). This is an important date as well, perhaps at least as important as, if not more than, the coming of a new year.
It is reported that when the prophet(SAAW) migrated to Madinah, he came upon a community of Jews fasting on this occasion. Upon asking about the reason for their
fast, he was told that this was the date on which Moses(AS) led his people out from under the tyranny of slavery under Pharoh, and into freedom. Upon hearing this, Mohammed(SAAW) replied that they (i.e. the Muslims) were more of right and deserving to follow the ways of Moses(AS), and so he began to observe the fast of ashura (the tenth of Muharram), and directed his companions(ARA) to do so as well. At this time, the divine command for the fast of the month of Ramadhan had not yet been revealed, and so this was basically the only fast yet observed by the Muslims. And at this period of time, it was a mandatory fast that Mohammed(SAAW) directed his companions to observe. In order to differentiate themselves from the Jews, the prophet(SAAW) made order that they combine with the tenth either the day preceding (i.e. 9th) or the day following (i.e. the 11th). In other words, the fast of ashura then developed into a two-day fast, not simply one day of the tenth. Then, when the divine revelation later gave directive to the Muslims to fast the obligatory fast of the month of Ramadhan each year, the status of the fast of ashura was released from obligatory to a thing of voluntary nature, of which it remains to this date. Hence, the fast of the month of Ramadhan is an obligation each Muslim owes to Allah yearly, while the fast of ashura is a voluntary form of worship that renders great reward to those who practice it, yet no harm or punishment to those who do not practice it.
It is in this vein that I extend my greeting to all in remembrance of these important dates in our Muslim Hijjri calendar-the passage of the Eid Al-Adha, the coming of the new year by the end of the month of Dhul-Hijja and the beginning of Muharram, the month in which our pious predecessors migrated from their lives of religious persecution, and the recognition and remembrance of the first fast of the very first Muslims-the fast of ashura.
I heartily congradulate those who attended and completed their haj-may Allah mercifully accept from you and forgive you and me our sins. I congradulate all of my Muslim brethren on the passing of the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha, even though belated it may be. And I beckon to all to remember this important month in our Hijjri calendar-the advent of the month of Muharram-the occasion in which the first Muslims migrated from the state of religious persecution and humiliation to a state of religious freedom and expression.
Let's all remember this time not by greetings of a happy new year, but by worshipping Allah as He deserves and as our beloved prophet(SAAW) himself did, by observing the fast of ashura, praising Allah, giving thanks to Him, and humbling ourselves in hopes of attaining piety through the fast and remembrance of Him.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
THE ESSENCE OF THE HAJ
Many years ago before the advent of Islam, or Christianity, or even Judaism as we know of these religions today, Allah gave the command to His chosen prophet Ibrahim (AS): 'And proclaim to (among) the people of the haj (pilgrimage).' (Holy Quran, 22:27). He followed up this command with the reassuring promise that it (the call) will be answered by the response of people coming from far and wide, literally from the furthest corners and deepest valleys of the earth-walking and riding every possible beast available for travel. This, in a time and age when no such commodity or technological aid such as microphones and speakers existed. This, in a time and age in man's history when methods of determining the passage of time, in terms of months and years, had not yet been deciphered by man. This, in a time and age when there was not yet discovered such devices for providing comfort such as refrigeration for cooling water and preserving food, or air conditioning or even tents-all providing comfort and ease for today's pilgrims. This, at a time and age in which it took many months-even years-to pass over the land and through the hardships it took for the people to reach their destination of the sacred spot known as "Makkah'.
As a great honor of commemoration to Ibrahim (AS) and even greater honor to Allah, millions of people now answer this age-old call. The conveniences of modern travel and accommodation coupled with a major rise worldwide in the monetary station of people has enabled such masses of over 2 million pilgrims to attend the pilgrimage yearly.
This is no small feat, and something which we should not take lightly by forgetting to thank Allah for this great blessing.
Many hardships and tragic obstacles have scarred the pilgrimages of the past. But those associated with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and comfort of the pilgrims-the honored guests of the Most Merciful-have learned the hard lessons of those tragic events. And they have worked long and diligently in making the proper corrections to ensure the safety and comfort of all. Great strides have been taken in this direction by the Saudi Government:
As a precautionary method to preventing the wildfires that have previously taken over the tent city of Mina, gas and even electric cookers have been prohibited, and a system of bringing in food prepared outside or in assigned kitchens to the pilgrims has been established and enforced. Even the very tragic incidents of the stampedes at the jamarat areas (the sites where the pilgrims toss the stones in imitation of Ibrahim's stoning the devil when he was tempted by him) have been eliminated by the construction of multiple-level bridges and enforcement of one-way traffic for this procedure, as well as an enforced orderly admittance from the lanes of tents into the jamarat region.
Nowhere in the world will you witness any such gatherings of nearly 3 million pilgrims gathered at one spot, at one time, dressed in the same bland simple cloth, facing the same direction at one time, all praying essentially for one thing: forgiveness. All asking of One God for admittance into heaven by His Mercy. Pauper, beggar, king, businessman, lower laborer, all standing shoulder to shoulder on the same standing--none outshining the other in the sight of Allah by anything other than their piety held within the depths of their hearts.
Such a beautiful spot and time--the mountain of Mercy on the Day in which He lowers His vast Mercy on the masses!
To repeat the words the pilgrims so humbly and hopefully repeat: 'Labaik Allahumma labaik' (I am here, O Allah-I am here in answer to Your call).
Allah has extended the invitation, and the humble, hopeful pilgrims have answered. They have accepted Allah's invitation to be His honored guests. He is by sure the Most Generous and Beneficial! He has promised His Mercy and forgiveness for those who come to Him, and He never relinquishes on His promise. His only stipulation is that His slaves answer His call.
On this Day of Mercy-the Day of Arafat-we have many multitudes of yearning pilgrims answering His call.
May He shed His Everlasting Mercy upon us all!
As a great honor of commemoration to Ibrahim (AS) and even greater honor to Allah, millions of people now answer this age-old call. The conveniences of modern travel and accommodation coupled with a major rise worldwide in the monetary station of people has enabled such masses of over 2 million pilgrims to attend the pilgrimage yearly.
This is no small feat, and something which we should not take lightly by forgetting to thank Allah for this great blessing.
Many hardships and tragic obstacles have scarred the pilgrimages of the past. But those associated with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and comfort of the pilgrims-the honored guests of the Most Merciful-have learned the hard lessons of those tragic events. And they have worked long and diligently in making the proper corrections to ensure the safety and comfort of all. Great strides have been taken in this direction by the Saudi Government:
As a precautionary method to preventing the wildfires that have previously taken over the tent city of Mina, gas and even electric cookers have been prohibited, and a system of bringing in food prepared outside or in assigned kitchens to the pilgrims has been established and enforced. Even the very tragic incidents of the stampedes at the jamarat areas (the sites where the pilgrims toss the stones in imitation of Ibrahim's stoning the devil when he was tempted by him) have been eliminated by the construction of multiple-level bridges and enforcement of one-way traffic for this procedure, as well as an enforced orderly admittance from the lanes of tents into the jamarat region.
Nowhere in the world will you witness any such gatherings of nearly 3 million pilgrims gathered at one spot, at one time, dressed in the same bland simple cloth, facing the same direction at one time, all praying essentially for one thing: forgiveness. All asking of One God for admittance into heaven by His Mercy. Pauper, beggar, king, businessman, lower laborer, all standing shoulder to shoulder on the same standing--none outshining the other in the sight of Allah by anything other than their piety held within the depths of their hearts.
Such a beautiful spot and time--the mountain of Mercy on the Day in which He lowers His vast Mercy on the masses!
To repeat the words the pilgrims so humbly and hopefully repeat: 'Labaik Allahumma labaik' (I am here, O Allah-I am here in answer to Your call).
Allah has extended the invitation, and the humble, hopeful pilgrims have answered. They have accepted Allah's invitation to be His honored guests. He is by sure the Most Generous and Beneficial! He has promised His Mercy and forgiveness for those who come to Him, and He never relinquishes on His promise. His only stipulation is that His slaves answer His call.
On this Day of Mercy-the Day of Arafat-we have many multitudes of yearning pilgrims answering His call.
May He shed His Everlasting Mercy upon us all!
THE RECORDERS
We are told in the Qur'an that there are five things explicitly of which the knowledge is with Allah alone. As it says in His Book: 'Verily, Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things).' (s. 31, v. 34)
We are told also that Allah knows full well what is in our hearts, and that this knowledge is also for Allah alone.
However, out of His everlasting mercy for us-His creatures, and His truly Omniscient power over all things and all of creation, He has decreed that a small section of His creation is endowed with an eminently small morsel of His tremendous knowledge and insight. Glory be to Him, in whose Hand is the dominion over all! It is only for Him to decree for anything to be, and it is!
He has granted a portion of His powerful knowledge and insight of the world of the unknown and the unseen to a select group of angels. Of these angels, He has appointed two for every single soul as recorders of their deeds. And He knows full well that these angels are worthy of the grave responsibility not only of recording everything, but as well of delving into their charge's hearts and comprehending and then recording their intentions as well. For Allah has created the angels in differing fashion from mankind-whatever they have been appointed to do, they do so in the most perfect obedience to Allah's directive, and with the utmost dignity and without questioning or hesitance.
It says in His Book: '(Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one of the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).' (s. 50, v. 17-18).
Now, you may say-but what does that have to do with the unknown, or the unseen? What a person does or says has been publicized-at the very least to those constantly around him/her- i.e. the recording angels.
Yes, but Allah also tells us: 'And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him that his jugular vein.' (s. 50, v. 16)
Yet, still, this above-mentioned verse is referring the knowledge of that which is in our hearts to be with Allah.
But we have indication otherwise, in a hadith qudsi, of how Allah has decreed for the recording angels to have the insight and ability to know what is in the deepest depth of our hearts.
Narrated Abu Huraira (ARA), that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: Allah says:
" Whenever My slave intends to do a bad deed, (I say to the deeds-recording angels): Do not record it against him until he (actually) commits it. If he has done so, write it down exactly as one in his record book. But if he refrains from it for My sake, write down this as a virtue in his favor. And when he intends to do a good deed, but does not actually do it, write it as a virtue for him. And if he puts it into practice, write its reward equal to, from ten to seven hundred times (in his account). (Muslim, Bukhari, and Tirmidhi).
Glory be to Him the Most High, the Most Compassionate, certainly the Most Merciful!!
We see with the evidence of this hadith, that Allah's grand mercy and compassion reaches out to us in such an extent that we are not only rewarded for our deeds ten-fold, but we are even rewarded for merely thinking to do a good deed. As well, not only are we held accountable only one time for a bad deed-but we also receive recorded reward for merely thinking to do a bad deed without commencing to commit it. Glory be to Him-such compassion and mercy.
I pray that we can all find the inspiration to be had from these examples given here, that we may not only form our lives to performing more good deeds, but that we may also be blessed by His mercy and guidance to clear and purify our intentions as well.
May our scales of deeds weigh heavy towards the good.
We are told also that Allah knows full well what is in our hearts, and that this knowledge is also for Allah alone.
However, out of His everlasting mercy for us-His creatures, and His truly Omniscient power over all things and all of creation, He has decreed that a small section of His creation is endowed with an eminently small morsel of His tremendous knowledge and insight. Glory be to Him, in whose Hand is the dominion over all! It is only for Him to decree for anything to be, and it is!
He has granted a portion of His powerful knowledge and insight of the world of the unknown and the unseen to a select group of angels. Of these angels, He has appointed two for every single soul as recorders of their deeds. And He knows full well that these angels are worthy of the grave responsibility not only of recording everything, but as well of delving into their charge's hearts and comprehending and then recording their intentions as well. For Allah has created the angels in differing fashion from mankind-whatever they have been appointed to do, they do so in the most perfect obedience to Allah's directive, and with the utmost dignity and without questioning or hesitance.
It says in His Book: '(Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one of the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).' (s. 50, v. 17-18).
Now, you may say-but what does that have to do with the unknown, or the unseen? What a person does or says has been publicized-at the very least to those constantly around him/her- i.e. the recording angels.
Yes, but Allah also tells us: 'And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him that his jugular vein.' (s. 50, v. 16)
Yet, still, this above-mentioned verse is referring the knowledge of that which is in our hearts to be with Allah.
But we have indication otherwise, in a hadith qudsi, of how Allah has decreed for the recording angels to have the insight and ability to know what is in the deepest depth of our hearts.
Narrated Abu Huraira (ARA), that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: Allah says:
" Whenever My slave intends to do a bad deed, (I say to the deeds-recording angels): Do not record it against him until he (actually) commits it. If he has done so, write it down exactly as one in his record book. But if he refrains from it for My sake, write down this as a virtue in his favor. And when he intends to do a good deed, but does not actually do it, write it as a virtue for him. And if he puts it into practice, write its reward equal to, from ten to seven hundred times (in his account). (Muslim, Bukhari, and Tirmidhi).
Glory be to Him the Most High, the Most Compassionate, certainly the Most Merciful!!
We see with the evidence of this hadith, that Allah's grand mercy and compassion reaches out to us in such an extent that we are not only rewarded for our deeds ten-fold, but we are even rewarded for merely thinking to do a good deed. As well, not only are we held accountable only one time for a bad deed-but we also receive recorded reward for merely thinking to do a bad deed without commencing to commit it. Glory be to Him-such compassion and mercy.
I pray that we can all find the inspiration to be had from these examples given here, that we may not only form our lives to performing more good deeds, but that we may also be blessed by His mercy and guidance to clear and purify our intentions as well.
May our scales of deeds weigh heavy towards the good.
THE TIME PASSES
Allah the Almighty says (translation of the meaning): ' It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. Allah did not create this but in truth.' (Qur'an 10:5)
Through the usage of these signs that Allah has mercifully given us to mark and know the passage of the years, we have witnessed the passage of yet another year and another Ramadhan. So quickly it has come, and so quickly it has gone.
It seems like only yesterday that we were awaiting the sighting of the new moon to determine the beginning of the fast. And it seems not so long ago that we were witnessing the passage of the previous Ramadhan.
A month has come and gone-the holy month of Ramadhan. A year has come and gone. Many years have passed from each of our lives. And for each one of us, our time to end this earthly life is coming nearer. With the passage of every moment, we come closer. How much closer, none of us knows for sure. But it is without question that with each breath we take in and then release, we become closer at the end.
With the passage of this time, our records are updated with whatever we have done or not done in that time. Imagine if you yourself were to keep a written daily log of your own activities, speech, and comings and goings. What would you find if you were to re-open that daily log for review? What will be found is your record that Allah has commanded to be recorded? What – if anything – did you accomplish in this holy month of Ramadhan? What have you accomplished during this past year since last Ramadhan, or during the previous years?
Allah the Almighty has endowed us humans with the great honor and responsibility of being His vicegerents on this earth. It is our duty to Him that we take this position seriously to make the best out of the time He has granted us. It is our duty to ourselves that we not waste the time granted us on things truly unworthy of our precious time.
I ask again-what have you accomplished in this Ramadhan? Did you review the Qur'an? Did you learn something new? Did you learn the value of patience? Did you learn how the poor feel when they are hungry? Did you help someone out in need? Did you increase your prayers?
If you did any of these or similar acts, then I commend and congratulate you heartily. For that is in part of what Ramadhan is all about, to help return us on the right path towards pleasing Allah and coming closer to Him through the various acts of worship.
And if you did not accomplish any of those mentioned, but spent Ramadhan in the flimsy cares and worries of this life-only fasting in the physical sense without paying attention to your spiritual needs, then I pray for you that you will soon awaken to the starvation that your soul is going through.
For, there is much more to be gained from Ramadhan than the mere accomplishment of the physical fast.
The greatest gain one can find with Ramadhan is the nourishment and maturing of the soul. Feed it with the knowledge and inspiration found only in the Qur'an. Sustain it by your connection to the Creator through prayer. Help it towards maturity by the patience necessary to continue on through a month-long fast.
I bid farewell to this beloved month of ours with the supplication to Allah that He may graciously accept our meager efforts and forgive us our misgivings and mistakes. I pray that if we should not live to witness yet another Ramadhan that He will grant us His Merciful Pardon, for He is the Most Merciful and Gracious of those who grant pardon. I pray also that if He shall grant us a longer life to witness yet another Ramadhan, that He shall bless us with the health and stamina to worship Him as He deserves.
The moments come and go; they pass and add up to days. The days turn into weeks and months, which then turn into the passage of yet another year. The years pass us by, and before we know it, a lifetime has passed us by. And what do we have to show for it all?
May Allah have mercy upon us and grant us His pardon.
Through the usage of these signs that Allah has mercifully given us to mark and know the passage of the years, we have witnessed the passage of yet another year and another Ramadhan. So quickly it has come, and so quickly it has gone.
It seems like only yesterday that we were awaiting the sighting of the new moon to determine the beginning of the fast. And it seems not so long ago that we were witnessing the passage of the previous Ramadhan.
A month has come and gone-the holy month of Ramadhan. A year has come and gone. Many years have passed from each of our lives. And for each one of us, our time to end this earthly life is coming nearer. With the passage of every moment, we come closer. How much closer, none of us knows for sure. But it is without question that with each breath we take in and then release, we become closer at the end.
With the passage of this time, our records are updated with whatever we have done or not done in that time. Imagine if you yourself were to keep a written daily log of your own activities, speech, and comings and goings. What would you find if you were to re-open that daily log for review? What will be found is your record that Allah has commanded to be recorded? What – if anything – did you accomplish in this holy month of Ramadhan? What have you accomplished during this past year since last Ramadhan, or during the previous years?
Allah the Almighty has endowed us humans with the great honor and responsibility of being His vicegerents on this earth. It is our duty to Him that we take this position seriously to make the best out of the time He has granted us. It is our duty to ourselves that we not waste the time granted us on things truly unworthy of our precious time.
I ask again-what have you accomplished in this Ramadhan? Did you review the Qur'an? Did you learn something new? Did you learn the value of patience? Did you learn how the poor feel when they are hungry? Did you help someone out in need? Did you increase your prayers?
If you did any of these or similar acts, then I commend and congratulate you heartily. For that is in part of what Ramadhan is all about, to help return us on the right path towards pleasing Allah and coming closer to Him through the various acts of worship.
And if you did not accomplish any of those mentioned, but spent Ramadhan in the flimsy cares and worries of this life-only fasting in the physical sense without paying attention to your spiritual needs, then I pray for you that you will soon awaken to the starvation that your soul is going through.
For, there is much more to be gained from Ramadhan than the mere accomplishment of the physical fast.
The greatest gain one can find with Ramadhan is the nourishment and maturing of the soul. Feed it with the knowledge and inspiration found only in the Qur'an. Sustain it by your connection to the Creator through prayer. Help it towards maturity by the patience necessary to continue on through a month-long fast.
I bid farewell to this beloved month of ours with the supplication to Allah that He may graciously accept our meager efforts and forgive us our misgivings and mistakes. I pray that if we should not live to witness yet another Ramadhan that He will grant us His Merciful Pardon, for He is the Most Merciful and Gracious of those who grant pardon. I pray also that if He shall grant us a longer life to witness yet another Ramadhan, that He shall bless us with the health and stamina to worship Him as He deserves.
The moments come and go; they pass and add up to days. The days turn into weeks and months, which then turn into the passage of yet another year. The years pass us by, and before we know it, a lifetime has passed us by. And what do we have to show for it all?
May Allah have mercy upon us and grant us His pardon.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
SEEK THE BLESSINGS OF RAMADHAN
SEEK THE BLESSINGS OF RAMADHAN
Our beloved prophet Mohammed (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was promised by Allah that all of his(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) sins-past and future-were to be forgiven. It was he(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) who received the divine inspiration of the word of Allah-the message of merciful direction to mankind-what we know of as the Quran. He was the master teacher of our predecessors, the first generation of Muslims. And yet he(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was steadfast in his practice throughout the year and increasing in Ramadhan-of the standing for the night prayer and his review of the Quran recitation. He(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam), of all the people of this world, was perhaps in less need of it than others, and yet he still humbled himself to observe such forms of increased intense worship. Out of his own recognition of his own level as regards the Creator, and out of his desire to truthfully be a humble and thankful slave to the Creator.
Then what about us today? Why is it that we have become so pre-occupied with our daily lives that we have grown to ignore the necessities of our spiritual side?
Prophet Mohammed (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was a man, a human, and therefore had typical human needs, wants, and instincts as do we all. And yet, he overcame the weakness of his own humanity by seeking Allah's help and guidance to worship Him as He deserves. We have been told directly by Allah that we have in the messenger an excellent exempler. (s. 33, v. 21) We should then observe that example and follow it, if we are truly sincere in our desire to please Allah and reap great rewards.
The prophet(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) himself told us that although he devoted himself to Allah in various forms of worship such as fasting and prayer, that he did not do it to the extent of extremity by ignoring his own human needs and instincts. He (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) wisely instructed his companions to take the middle course in life by reminding them that he himself (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) takes on wives, sleeps, eats, drinks-enjoying the pleasure this life has to offer and attending to his own physical needs and inclinations. He(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) also instructed his companions to take and imitate of his practice that what they could.
When the holy month of Ramadhan came round, he (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was well known to increase his devotion and commitment to those (i.e. prayer and fasting) types of worship as well as other forms. A well-established tradition tells us that although he was quite generous year-round, he was at his height of generosity in Ramadhan, in the hopes of attaining more of Allah's pleasure and seeking His bounties.
We should then take heed of this fine example that our beloved prophet(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) has set for us, by following his way of increasing in the nightly standing for prayer, recitation of the Quran, increasing in acts of charity and kindness, practicing restraint from physical desires and even anger, and simply bringing ourselves closer to the Creator in many various ways.
Beware of being tempted by the simple and frivolous pastimes of this life that they should not take your time and attention away from that which is more important-worshipping Allah. Take full advantage of the promise of increase in rewards of good deeds during this blessed month.
May Allah accept our fasts and our worship, and may He shed His vast blessings down upon us to be of the guided. Ameen.
Our beloved prophet Mohammed (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was promised by Allah that all of his(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) sins-past and future-were to be forgiven. It was he(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) who received the divine inspiration of the word of Allah-the message of merciful direction to mankind-what we know of as the Quran. He was the master teacher of our predecessors, the first generation of Muslims. And yet he(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was steadfast in his practice throughout the year and increasing in Ramadhan-of the standing for the night prayer and his review of the Quran recitation. He(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam), of all the people of this world, was perhaps in less need of it than others, and yet he still humbled himself to observe such forms of increased intense worship. Out of his own recognition of his own level as regards the Creator, and out of his desire to truthfully be a humble and thankful slave to the Creator.
Then what about us today? Why is it that we have become so pre-occupied with our daily lives that we have grown to ignore the necessities of our spiritual side?
Prophet Mohammed (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was a man, a human, and therefore had typical human needs, wants, and instincts as do we all. And yet, he overcame the weakness of his own humanity by seeking Allah's help and guidance to worship Him as He deserves. We have been told directly by Allah that we have in the messenger an excellent exempler. (s. 33, v. 21) We should then observe that example and follow it, if we are truly sincere in our desire to please Allah and reap great rewards.
The prophet(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) himself told us that although he devoted himself to Allah in various forms of worship such as fasting and prayer, that he did not do it to the extent of extremity by ignoring his own human needs and instincts. He (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) wisely instructed his companions to take the middle course in life by reminding them that he himself (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) takes on wives, sleeps, eats, drinks-enjoying the pleasure this life has to offer and attending to his own physical needs and inclinations. He(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) also instructed his companions to take and imitate of his practice that what they could.
When the holy month of Ramadhan came round, he (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was well known to increase his devotion and commitment to those (i.e. prayer and fasting) types of worship as well as other forms. A well-established tradition tells us that although he was quite generous year-round, he was at his height of generosity in Ramadhan, in the hopes of attaining more of Allah's pleasure and seeking His bounties.
We should then take heed of this fine example that our beloved prophet(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) has set for us, by following his way of increasing in the nightly standing for prayer, recitation of the Quran, increasing in acts of charity and kindness, practicing restraint from physical desires and even anger, and simply bringing ourselves closer to the Creator in many various ways.
Beware of being tempted by the simple and frivolous pastimes of this life that they should not take your time and attention away from that which is more important-worshipping Allah. Take full advantage of the promise of increase in rewards of good deeds during this blessed month.
May Allah accept our fasts and our worship, and may He shed His vast blessings down upon us to be of the guided. Ameen.
MY RECENT ABSENCE HERE
Assalaamu alaikum, readers.
I haven't posted any new articles here for quite a while. Actually, my articles are only monthly. And, as I recall, I missed last month's.
This past summer has been rather strenuous. In late spring, I had news from my family that my father had been diagnosed with severe lung cancer. He went thru the treatments of chemo and radiation, and survived it all pretty well, considering his drastic weight loss before the regimen.
During that time, I was in hectic preparation for my youngest son's wedding in early July. The time was quite bitter-sweet to me, trying to be happy for my son beginning his new life, while all the time coming to realization that my father's life was coming to an end and I could not be there with him at the time.
The wedding went well, and I heard good news from my father and the rest of the family that he had completed his treatments, and was apparently on his way to recovery. So, did not make plans to travel to visit him at that time. After some travel myself nearer home after the wedding, I returned and contacted my family to enquire as to my father's health. Was reassured immediately that everything was OK, they were just waiting on the results from the latest test to reveal to them the condition of the cancer after the regimen of treatments.
After only two days passed, I could no longer wait for the rest of the week for the results of the tests, so called once more, only to find my father's condition drastically falling quickly. In just a period of two short days, he had dropped from the strong father I had heard on the telephone, to a weak old man, suffering from dehydration, because he could no longer force himself to drink properly. They had taken him to the cancer center where he had been treated, for emergency fluid infusions by IV.
We immediately made plans for me to travel at earliest possible date to visit him, which was a whole week away. With summer time coming to an end soon, airlines were fully booked both coming and going. Hard to get a flight at all, and impossible to get anything immediate.
I went to visit him, but he had died the morning before I traveled. I was only able to spend time with the rest of the family, and to be there for his funeral.
Surely, we come from Allah, and it is to Him that is our return.
So, my dear readers...no article for last month, as I was in no condition emotionally for writing at that time.
Now I resume my writing, and I will also be opening up a new blog to air out my personal thoughts on all this, as I feel I need that outlet.
Thankyou for your support, and your patience, and your loyalty in reading my work.
May Allah help and guide us all to that which is best.
Balqees.
I haven't posted any new articles here for quite a while. Actually, my articles are only monthly. And, as I recall, I missed last month's.
This past summer has been rather strenuous. In late spring, I had news from my family that my father had been diagnosed with severe lung cancer. He went thru the treatments of chemo and radiation, and survived it all pretty well, considering his drastic weight loss before the regimen.
During that time, I was in hectic preparation for my youngest son's wedding in early July. The time was quite bitter-sweet to me, trying to be happy for my son beginning his new life, while all the time coming to realization that my father's life was coming to an end and I could not be there with him at the time.
The wedding went well, and I heard good news from my father and the rest of the family that he had completed his treatments, and was apparently on his way to recovery. So, did not make plans to travel to visit him at that time. After some travel myself nearer home after the wedding, I returned and contacted my family to enquire as to my father's health. Was reassured immediately that everything was OK, they were just waiting on the results from the latest test to reveal to them the condition of the cancer after the regimen of treatments.
After only two days passed, I could no longer wait for the rest of the week for the results of the tests, so called once more, only to find my father's condition drastically falling quickly. In just a period of two short days, he had dropped from the strong father I had heard on the telephone, to a weak old man, suffering from dehydration, because he could no longer force himself to drink properly. They had taken him to the cancer center where he had been treated, for emergency fluid infusions by IV.
We immediately made plans for me to travel at earliest possible date to visit him, which was a whole week away. With summer time coming to an end soon, airlines were fully booked both coming and going. Hard to get a flight at all, and impossible to get anything immediate.
I went to visit him, but he had died the morning before I traveled. I was only able to spend time with the rest of the family, and to be there for his funeral.
Surely, we come from Allah, and it is to Him that is our return.
So, my dear readers...no article for last month, as I was in no condition emotionally for writing at that time.
Now I resume my writing, and I will also be opening up a new blog to air out my personal thoughts on all this, as I feel I need that outlet.
Thankyou for your support, and your patience, and your loyalty in reading my work.
May Allah help and guide us all to that which is best.
Balqees.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
THE BEST SUMMER
THE BEST SUMMER
Summer time is here and in full bloom. Some render it as the best season of the year. In much of the modern world, it is traditionally known to be the major school break of the year-a period of 2-3 months which marks the ending passage of one year and the rest before the next year/stage begins. And because of the large percentage of the population out on break, it is also a traditionally wide-celebrated time for weddings.
But one of the more widely-practiced activities of summer time world-wide seems to be that of 'inactivity', rather than activity. In other words, laziness, apathy, and hence non-achievement.
Following is a glimpse of some of the lyrics of a song by Nat King Cole which rated #6 on the charts in 1963:
'Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here'
This song evolved into a world-wide known jingle not only celebrating but even idolizing laziness, and equating laziness with summer time.
Is this the was that we Muslims should view our summer vacation time? Or any vacation time or other 'free' time throughout the year?
Without a doubt, we all-regardless of our religion or occupation or position in society-need a break from the routine and pressures of daily life in order to refresh ourselves for a return to the daily life renewed with the vigor needed to face the challenges that the life presents us with.
Just because our normal daily routine presents us with a change-sometimes a change which comes with it more free time on our hands-does not mean that we should carelessly let that time pass by us without putting it to some good use. In fact, for the Muslim, there is no such thing as 'free time'.
Allah the Almighty says (translation of the meaning): 'Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.' (s. 2, v. 156)
And:
'And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).' (s. 55, v. 56)
From these two verses alone, we find a great lesson to be had-that we do not own our own lives as we may assume, but even our very essence of our souls is for Allah. And we have been created by Him to worship Him Alone. Then how is it and why is it that so many of us are so often careless and mindless of this important fact of our relationship with Allah and our relationship with ourselves?
The prophet Mohammed(SAAW0 was quoted as saying: 'There are two blessings which many people lose: (they are) health and free time for doing good.' (Bukhari, v. VIII, The Book of Ar-Riqaq, pg. 282, #421)
He (SAAW) also said: 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.' (Bukhari, v. VIII, pg. 284, #425).
These two ahadith demonstrate to us the importance of timr.
Summer cannot always be here. Nor can any other time of the year remain for longer than it's assigned period. Time stops for no one. Once a moment of time is gone, it is gong forever.
Someone, ages ago, stated a formidable ideal, that time is money. And as we all know full well in this day and age, it is a basic necessity of this earthly life to have money or some other form of valuable in order to basically live day to day.
But is that all there is to all this? To merely struggle for the day to day existence of this worldly life?
For the Muslim, time is more precious and important than merely having the value of earthly money. Time is essentially an important factor of our eventual salvation and reward with the Creator. Bascially, time, and how we spend it, comes second only to our underlying faith.
For we are to be judged eventually on how we spent our time-in wasteful activities or perhaps in beneficial acts of worship or helping others.
Don't just kick back this summer on those hazy days, wasting your time away in daydreaming or simply lazily lying around, or perhaps even indulging in haram (prohibited) activities. Rather, organize yourself and your time towards benefiting yourself by tending to more acts of worship.
Remember that we have been created for worshipping Him, so let's focus our attentions and set our goals towards achieving just that-worshipping Him and Him Alone!
The best possible summer experience to be had is that which is void of wasted time-that from which you can draw memories of fulfilling achievement in worshipping the Creator and benefiting mankind.
We all tend to actively pursuit our careers or our education in seeking the benefits and riches that this life has to offer. It is now way past time that we should actively pursuit the goal of attaining salvation and a reserved spot in His heaven. And a beginning towards that is proper arrangement of time so as not to waste it, but rather to spend it in acts of worship for Him.
Summer time is here and in full bloom. Some render it as the best season of the year. In much of the modern world, it is traditionally known to be the major school break of the year-a period of 2-3 months which marks the ending passage of one year and the rest before the next year/stage begins. And because of the large percentage of the population out on break, it is also a traditionally wide-celebrated time for weddings.
But one of the more widely-practiced activities of summer time world-wide seems to be that of 'inactivity', rather than activity. In other words, laziness, apathy, and hence non-achievement.
Following is a glimpse of some of the lyrics of a song by Nat King Cole which rated #6 on the charts in 1963:
'Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here'
This song evolved into a world-wide known jingle not only celebrating but even idolizing laziness, and equating laziness with summer time.
Is this the was that we Muslims should view our summer vacation time? Or any vacation time or other 'free' time throughout the year?
Without a doubt, we all-regardless of our religion or occupation or position in society-need a break from the routine and pressures of daily life in order to refresh ourselves for a return to the daily life renewed with the vigor needed to face the challenges that the life presents us with.
Just because our normal daily routine presents us with a change-sometimes a change which comes with it more free time on our hands-does not mean that we should carelessly let that time pass by us without putting it to some good use. In fact, for the Muslim, there is no such thing as 'free time'.
Allah the Almighty says (translation of the meaning): 'Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.' (s. 2, v. 156)
And:
'And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).' (s. 55, v. 56)
From these two verses alone, we find a great lesson to be had-that we do not own our own lives as we may assume, but even our very essence of our souls is for Allah. And we have been created by Him to worship Him Alone. Then how is it and why is it that so many of us are so often careless and mindless of this important fact of our relationship with Allah and our relationship with ourselves?
The prophet Mohammed(SAAW0 was quoted as saying: 'There are two blessings which many people lose: (they are) health and free time for doing good.' (Bukhari, v. VIII, The Book of Ar-Riqaq, pg. 282, #421)
He (SAAW) also said: 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.' (Bukhari, v. VIII, pg. 284, #425).
These two ahadith demonstrate to us the importance of timr.
Summer cannot always be here. Nor can any other time of the year remain for longer than it's assigned period. Time stops for no one. Once a moment of time is gone, it is gong forever.
Someone, ages ago, stated a formidable ideal, that time is money. And as we all know full well in this day and age, it is a basic necessity of this earthly life to have money or some other form of valuable in order to basically live day to day.
But is that all there is to all this? To merely struggle for the day to day existence of this worldly life?
For the Muslim, time is more precious and important than merely having the value of earthly money. Time is essentially an important factor of our eventual salvation and reward with the Creator. Bascially, time, and how we spend it, comes second only to our underlying faith.
For we are to be judged eventually on how we spent our time-in wasteful activities or perhaps in beneficial acts of worship or helping others.
Don't just kick back this summer on those hazy days, wasting your time away in daydreaming or simply lazily lying around, or perhaps even indulging in haram (prohibited) activities. Rather, organize yourself and your time towards benefiting yourself by tending to more acts of worship.
Remember that we have been created for worshipping Him, so let's focus our attentions and set our goals towards achieving just that-worshipping Him and Him Alone!
The best possible summer experience to be had is that which is void of wasted time-that from which you can draw memories of fulfilling achievement in worshipping the Creator and benefiting mankind.
We all tend to actively pursuit our careers or our education in seeking the benefits and riches that this life has to offer. It is now way past time that we should actively pursuit the goal of attaining salvation and a reserved spot in His heaven. And a beginning towards that is proper arrangement of time so as not to waste it, but rather to spend it in acts of worship for Him.
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