Al-Asr

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Follow the Messenger

‘Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”‘ (Qur’an 3:31)

Dhul Hijjah

Assalamu ‘alaykum!

In sha’ Allah you are in good health and high Imaan.

By the grace of Allah the ten greatest days of the year have descended upon us.

We are in the sacred Islamic month Dhul Hijjah and millions of Muslims worldwide have gathered in the Holy Land to perform Hajj (5th pillar of Islam). Hajj is an obligatory act of worship for those who are able. The aim of Hajj is to be completely in service to Allah only. Believe me, there is no journey as incredible and uplifting as the Hajj.

Rasool Allah (Muhammad SAW) said, ‘Learn from me your rituals of Hajj’ (Narrated in Hadith Muslim).

As the journey goes, its rituals are symbolic of the testing times when Prophet Ibraheem (may Allah’s peace be upon him) proved the strength of his faith in Allah.

“Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoking Allah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah all the time, again and again).”(Qur’an 11:75)

For his sincere servitude, Ibrahim was known as Khalil Allah;…”And Allah did take Ibrahim (Abraham) as a Khalil (an intimate friend)!“(Qur’an 4:125).

The message that Rasool Allah (SAW) and Ibraheem (AS) lived and propagated was one and the same (Islamic monotheism.)

Today Hajjis set foot on the same land as Rasool Allah (SAW) and the sahabah (RA) did after Ibraheem (AS),  may Allah be pleased with them all.

Briefly, for Hajjis:

• On the 8th Dhul Hijjah the day is spent in Mina.
• The 9th is spent in the planes of Arafat and is the Greatest Day. Here is the Hajj. There is no day as special as this day. Allah answers du’a. So ask of Him. The night is spent in Muzdalifah for some rest.
• On the 10th Dhul Hijjah is the jamarat (stoning of the 3 stone pillars).  This is symbolic of the time when Ibrahim (AS) was resolute in fulfilling Allah’s commands; despite the devils’ plots to deter him, Ibrahim’s faith was unshakeable and he expressed great devotion to Allah. This is an act of worship and not literally stoning the devil. Each pebble thrown wipes away sins. Also the hady (Sacrifice) may be carried out (it is Eid-ul-Adha). The Hajjis cut/shave (for men) their hair and can exit ihram.
• Stoning at jamarat continues on 11th and 12th Dhul Hijjah. After this the Hajjis return to Makkah to complete the farewell Tawaf.

 

For those not performing Hajj:

Rasool Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged Muslims to give charity, to increase ibaadah & dhikr (worship and remembrance of Allah) and to fast the 9th Dhul Hijjah (The Day of Arafat). Also the Qurbani (hady) is sunnah on Eid.

There are many virtues of the 1st 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. The Takbeer should be recited frequently: “Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahi’l-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise).”

Let’s strive to utilise these rewarding days.

May Allah bless the Messengers and accept us. Ameen.

Heedless

“O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most Generous?’ (Qur’an 82:6)

Answerer of Prayers

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” (Qur’an 2:186)

Al-Ikhlaas

Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad (السيد الذي يصمد إليه في الحاجات) [Allah the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)].He begets not, nor was He begotten.And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (Qur’an 112:1-4)

Kalamullah

 

Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). (Qur’an 15:9)

Love you both

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.” Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance.” (Qur’an 17:23-25)

One…

 

‘And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – Allah), La ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.’ (Qur’an, 2:163)