Dhul-Hijjah

So the following is some information about these blessed 10 days that are soon coming to an end, from a sister's halaqa (amazing halaqa btw, mashaAllaah).

It's Importance:

• It is the month of Hajj - one of the 5 pillars of Islam!

    Hajj is centered around the story of Hajar (radhiAllaahu anha), who was Ibrahim (alayhi salaam)'s second wife and the mother of Ismael (alayhi salaam). It was through her and Ismael  (alayhi salaam) that the city of Makkah was formed and the well of ZamZam discovered. Many actions performed during Hajj are re-enactments of what she did throughout her test from Allaah t'Aala.

• It is the month of Eid-ul-Adha

On this day we offer qurbani (sacrifice) in order to appreciate and understand Ibrahim (alayhi salaam)'s test from Allaah to sacrifice his son, Ismael (alayhi salaam). We are meant to develop true love for Allaah - which should be above everyone.

• Its first 10 days are the BEST DAYS of this world - even better than the days of Ramadhan!

Ibn 'Abbaas (radhiAllaahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even Jihaad for the sake of Allaah?" He (peace be upon him) said, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." --Reported by al-Bukhari, 2/457)

• It's 9th day is the Day of Arafat - Day of Forgiveness

Aa'isha (radhiAllaahu anha) narrated that our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than on the day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels saying, 'What do these people (the Hajis) want?'" --Sahih Muslim

 

 

 

 

What We Should do to MAXIMIZE the Benefits:

• Perform Hajj or Umrah!
• Fast - Especially on the 9th (Day of Arafat)

When the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) was asked about the fasting on the Day of Arafat, he said: "It expiates the sins of the previous year and that of the following year." --Sahih Muslim

• Extra Salaah - Tahajjud, salaat-ul istighfar, salaat-ul shukr

• Khatm-ul-Qur'aan - Or at least read more than you normally do; Look up the english version of Surah Al-Hajj.

• Dhikr

• Sincere Du'a and Repentance

• Qurbani/Sacrifice - Share your qurbani with friends, family, and for extra bonus points give some to the poor/orphans.

• Attend the Eid Prayer! - Perform the Sunnah of  'Eid as well such as not eating anything until after the prayer.

• Good Deeds in General - Smile, give sadaqa, reconcile with family memebers and old friends, forgive others. If you can't seem to do any good deeds for some reason, make du'a to Allaah, and at least ABSTAIN FROM SINNING.

 

May Allaah accept our repentance and reward all those performing Hajj. *Ameen*

Major Sins (Al-Kaba'ir) ..

"If you avoid the major (part) of what you have been forbidden (to do), We will cancel out for you your (other) evil deeds and will admit you (to Paradise) with a noble entry."

                                                           -- al-Nisa 4:31

"Avoid the seven noxious things"- and after having said this, the Propeht (Peace be upon him) mentioned: "associating anything with Allaah; magic; killing one whom Allaah has declared inviolate without a just case, consuming the property of an orphan, devouring usury, turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet."

 --Bukhari and Muslim

There is some dispute amongst the scholars in whether it is 7 major sins or 70.

The scholars who say there are 70 major sins, do so on the basis that crimes such as those which call for a prescribed punishment (Hadd; plural, Hudud), such as theft, fornication or adultery (Zina), and murder; those prohibited acts for which a warning of a severe punishment in the hereafter is given in the Qur'aan or the tradition; and also those deeds which are cursed by our Prophet (peace be upon him), are all considered major sins.

The 70 Major Sins Are:

01. Associating anything with Allaah 
02. Murder 
03. Practising magic 
04. Not Praying 
05. Not paying Zakat 
06. Not fasting on a Day of Ramadhan without excuse 
07. Not performing Hajj, while being able to do so 
08. Disrespect to parents 
09. Abandoning relatives 
10. Fornication and Adultery 
11. Homosexuality(sodomy) 
12. Interest(Riba) 
13. Wrongfully consuming the property of an orphan 
14. Lying about Allaah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) 
15. Running away from the battlefield 
16. A leader's deceiving his people and being unjust to them 
17. Pride and arrogance 
18. Bearing false witness 
19. Drinking Khamr (wine) 
20. Gambling 
21. Slandering chaste women 
22. Stealing from the spoils of war 
23. Stealing 
24. Highway Robbery 
25. Taking false oath 
26. Oppression 
27. Illegal gain 
28. Consuming wealth acquired unlawfully 
29. Committing suicide 
30. Frequent lying 
31. Judging unjustly 
32. Giving and Accepting bribes 
33. Woman's imitating man and man's imitating woman 
34. Being cuckold 
35. Marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for the husband 
36. Not protecting oneself from urine 
37. Showing-off 
38. Learning knowledge of the religion for the sake of this world and concealing that knowledge 
39. Bertrayal of trust 
40. Recounting favours 
41. Denying Allaah's Decree 
42. Listening (to) people's private conversations 
43. Carrying tales 
44. Cursing 
45. Breaking contracts 
46. Believing in fortune-tellers and astrologers 
47. A woman's bad conduct towards her husband 
48. Making statues and pictures 
49. Lamenting, wailing, tearing the clothing, and doing other things of this sort when an affliction befalls 
50. Treating others unjustly 
51. Overbearing conduct toward the wife, the servant, the weak, and animals 
52. Offending one's neighbour 
53. Offending and abusing Muslims 
54. Offending people and having an arrogant attitude toward them 
55. Trailing one's garment in pride 
56. Men's wearing silk and gold 
57. A slave's running away from his master 
58. Slaughtering an animal which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah 
59. To knowingly ascribe one's paternity to a father other than one's own 
60. Arguing and disputing violently 
61. Witholding excess water 
62. Giving short weight or measure 
63. Feeling secure from Allaah's Plan 
64. Offending Allaah's righteous friends 
65. Not praying in congregation but praying alone without an excuse 
66. Persistently missing Friday Prayers without any excuse 
67. Unsurping the rights of the heir through bequests 
68. Deceiving and plotting evil 
69. Spying for the enemy of the Muslims 
70. Cursing or insulting any of the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon them all)

Unfamiliar Time..

It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basrî that he said, “If a man from amongst the Salaf were to be sent forth today, he would not recognize anything from Islam.” He put his hand on his cheek and added, “Except this prayer (salâh).” Then he said, “But by Allâh, this does not apply to the person who lives in this unfamiliar time, never having seen the Righteous Predecessors, but who sees [instead] the innovator calling to his bid’ah, and the follower of worldly wealth calling to his materialism, but Allâh protects him from all this and makes his heart love and aspire to those Righteous Predecessors, asking about their way, searching and trying to follow in their footsteps, and adhering to their path. Such is a person who will be recompensed with an immense and great reward. So be you all like this, by Allâh’s permission”.

--Ibn Waddâh, Al-Bida’ Vol. 1 p190.

Do you think your heart is dead?

 

 

 

 

" Do you think your heart is dead? Is it too broken this time? Every winter the flowers crumble and the trees die. And every spring, He gives them life again. Can not the One who gives life to the dead land, give life to your dead heart? "

 

 -- Yasmin Mogahed

Crown to the Parents..

The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recited the Qur'aan, learned and acted according to it, his parents will be given a crown to wear on the Day of Resurrection that it's light will be like the light of the sun. They will also be clothed in two garments of which there is nothing like in this world. The 2 parents will say, 'Why are we being dressed like this?' So it will be said, 'Due to your son/daughter taking hold of the Qur'aan.'"

 

 

--Reported by Al-Haakim who said it is Sahih according to the conditions of Imaam Muslim. Graded hasan by Albaani in Sahih ut-Targheeb.

The Night of Power..

There is a night in the month of Ramadhan which is better than a thousand months (83 years, 4 months). This night is called Laylatul-Qadr. The Revelation of the Qur'aan started in the month of Ramadhan and specifically on Laylatul-Qadr. The Night of Power is a night of blessings that has been blessed by Allaah.


The Prophet (peace be upon him) described the morning after Laylatul-Qadr so that the Muslim may know which day it is. He (peace be upon him) also advised what is most appropriate to recite during this blessed night.


'Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) reported that she asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), "O Messenger of Allaah! If I knew which night is the night of power (Laylatul-Qadr), what should I say during it?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised her to recite: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhhibul 'afwa fa' fu 'annee."

O Allaah! You are forgiving, and You love forgiveness. So forgive me.

--Reported as Saheeh in Tirmidhi, hadith no.3513. Also recorded in Ahmad and Ibn Majah.

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Ubayy (radhiAllaahu anhu) said, that he (peace be upon him) said:

"On the morning following Laylatul-Qadr, the sun rises not having any rays as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up."

--Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah

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Ibn 'Abbas (radhiAllaahu anhu) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Laylatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold. The sun rises on its morning being feeble and red."

--Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Bazzaar with a Hasan Isnad.

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Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu) said:

"We were discussing Laylatul-Qadr in the presence of Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon him) so he said, 'Which of you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a plate?'."

--Muslim

Religion is Easy..

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Religion is very easy and whoever ovberburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights."

--Sahih Bukhari