“O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security:
and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.
French 35:
Et (rappelle-toi) quand Abraham dit:
‹Ô mon Seigneur, fais de cette cité un lieu sûr, et préserve-moi
ainsi que mes enfants de l’adoration des idoles.
Spanish 35:
Y cuando Abraham dijo: “¡Señor! ¡Que esté segura esta ciudad!
¡Y evita que yo y mis hijos sirvamos a los ídolos!
Indonesian 35:
Dan (ingatlah), ketika Ibrahim berkata: “Ya Tuhanku,
jadikanlah negeri ini (Mekah), negeri yang aman, dan jauhkanlah aku beserta
anak cucuku daripada menyembah berhala-berhala.
Melayu 35:
Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Ibrahim berdoa dengan berkata:
Wahai Tuhanku! jadikanlah negeri Mekah ini negeri
yang aman dan jauhkanlah daku dan anak-anakku dari
perbuatan menyembah berhala.
German 35:
“Und damals sagte Abraham:
“”Mein Herr, mache diese Stadt zu einer Stätte des Friedens
und bewahre mich und meine Kinder davor, die Götzen anzubeten;
Bosnian 35:
A kada Ibrahim reče: “Gospodaru moj, učini ovaj grad sigurnim i sačuvaj
mene i sinove moje da se klanjamo kumirima,
Urdu 35:
اورجس وقت ابراھیم نے کہا اے میرے رب !
اس شہر کوامن والا کر دے اور مجھے اور میری اولاد کو بت پرستی سے بچا
And when Abraham said: My Lord! Make safe this territory, and preserve me and my sons from serving idols. (35)
My Lord! Lo! they have led many of mankind astray. But who so followeth me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeyeth me – Still Thou art Forgiving, Merciful. (36)
Our Lord! Lo! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful. (37)
Our Lord! Lo! Thou knowest that which we hide and that which we proclaim. Nothing in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah. (38)
Praise be to Allah Who hath given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac! Lo! my Lord is indeed the Hearer of Prayer. (39)
My Lord! Make me to establish proper worship, and some of my posterity (also); our Lord! and accept my prayer. (40)
Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the day when the account is cast. (41)
SUMMARY OF THE TAFSEER, AND BACKGROUND OF THESE SUPPLICATIONS BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI
He leaves her and his infant son Ismail……………a son that had been born after long years of prayer and yearning. He leaves them in the arid desert with nothing but rocks and sand. He looks at the bag of dates and the water, and what he feels in his heart he does not bring to his lips. She asks him, “why are you leaving me here?” she looks around the arid desert and the hard rocks spread all around her without any indication of human life.
His heart is full, he remains silent, and nothing must leave his lips that would seem like a complaint to the decree and command of Allah Subhanawataala.
“Is this a command from Allah?” She asks. He remains silent in assent. “Then He will take care of us,” she says in submission to her Lord.
After he leaves with a heavy heart he climbs to a nearby hill and duas flow out of his heart, admitting to his lord but not verbalizing the sadness, which he is hiding in his heart at the separation from his wife and his precious child.
He then sets an example for all generations to come by supplicating from his heart in all earnestness and humility, for the protection and benefit of his child, and family, for the place where he is leaving them to become a place of worship, and for it to flourish and always have the protection of Allah, and to give protection to him and his progeny from worshiping idols.
As the supplications leave his lips they disperse into the winds, and are forever available to the believer if he or she so wants to make his connection with their Lord. His prayer for his children, which he had in his old age, is prefaced with gratefulness to His Lord………….
This month the pilgrims will remember this remarkable sacrifice and struggle by walking and sometimes running in her footsteps as she had, looking for water for her infant son…….and will remember her struggle, her saee.
In this month of Hajj, five million Muslims will walk in the footsteps of one woman, a mother, a wife and a momin who even in the desolation of the desert did not give up hope and faith in Allah.She struggled to find water for her child.
She was resourceful, independent and brave and in complete obedience to Allah. A beacon of light for all women.
These were the beginnings of Mecca stemming from the obedience of Ibrahim AS and our mother Hajar (RA). It is his duas and her duas and struggle that today Mecca is what it is, a Center of worship for the Believers, and bustling with trade and commerce.
Yusuf Ali 18 The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day: No power have they over aught that they have earned: that is the straying far, far (from the goal).
The following is my understanding of this ayah after listening to Dr.Farhat Hashmi’s tafseer, all mistakes are from me and every thing good and correct is from Allah Subhanawataala.
GOOD DEEDS: WITH OR WITHOUT TAWHEED?
Why do we do good deeds? There are so many people in the world Muslim and non-Muslim doing beautiful work for humanity, green activism, social work, and standing up for the rights of others.
Why are they doing it?
The answer to that question actually lies in depths of their hearts. Analytically speaking a person does a good deed for three overt reasons:
For himself or herself, meaning doing it makes him or her” feel good” that feeling of goodness can be teased out into subcategories of he feels satisfied and vindicated that what he felt was right has been accomplished, his desire to do good has been successfully accomplished. In this his intention is to please himself i.e. His or her Nafs, which then means that the sorts of rewards that would satisfy him would be a feeling of self aggrandizement, and a development of a holier than thou attitude, examples of this are found in CEOs of large companies who excel in their work, human rights workers who lie down in the streets and stop traffic and people who picket for a cause.These good acts satisfy their egos, their Nafs and self satisfaction sets in.
The second reason is to do good deeds to show others and thus reap rewards from others, excelling in social work, community service and collecting accolades from people, and being elevated to a higher status. If I was to guess, Gandhi and Sister Teresa belong to the first two groups, but only Allah knows the state of the hearts.
The only intention for doing good is neither to show other people, nor to satisfy ones own Nafs is to do it for the sake of Allah and only Allah alone. The precursor of this is emaan and the action of doing good deeds is one of the component of emaan.
WHAT IS THE DEFINATION OF EMAAN?
Unflinching belief of Tawheed in the heart
Declaration of Tawheed by the tongue
Confirmation of Tawheed by ones action.
What is tawheed?
Continuous sincere affirmation of the Oneness of God.
The act of good deed done with the intention of purely pleasing our Creator falls under the third subgroup of emaan.
THE SOURCES FOR REAPING REWARDS
Thus the reward reaped will be from three different sources dependant on the intention with which we performed the good deed.
If we performed the good deed because we “felt” it was the right thing to do and it felt good to support that cause then we seek the reward from feeding our Nafs with more of it and it spills into the second group sometimes when we get accolades from others for doing it.
If we perform the good deed to bring the attention of the world or a loved one towards us and get into the good books of someone then we should expect rewards from those whose attention we sought and those for whose attention we performed the good deed
Allah Subhanawataala states in this ayah that those who have done good works for others will feel deep regret)” hasarat” on the Day of Judgment because there will be no reward for them on the Day of Judgment. One gets reward from the person for who one performs the task, not someone else.
We need to do some serious soul searching for each action that we do. Is it the confirmation of our Tawheed or is for the other two reasons mentioned above and then be ready to be accountable on the Day of Judgment.
We did send apostles before thee, and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).
In french:
Et Nous avons certes envoyé avant toi des messagers, et leur avons donné des épouses et des descendants. Et il n’appartient pas à un Messager d’apporter un miracle, si ce n’est qu’avec la permission d’Allah. Chaque échéance a son terme prescrit.
Whether We shall show thee (within thy life-time) part of what we promised them or take to ourselves thy soul (before it is all accomplished),- thy duty is to make (the Message) reach them: it is our part to call them to account.
In French:
Que Nous te fassions voir une partie de ce dont Nous les menaçons, ou que Nous te fassions mourir (avant cela), ton devoir est seulement la communication du message, et le règlement de compte sera à Nous.
BACKGROUND: These ayahs have three main messages: Taqdeer, Dua, and the deliverance of the Message of Tawheed with the understanding that all accountability is by Allah.
TAFSEER BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI
Allah Subhanawataala has the main book or the Mother of all books; The Luh Mahfooz He Subhanawataaala can change it or confirm it. E.g. He changed some of the rules for Rasoolallah’s Ummah compared to past rules brought by His messengers.
He can increase or decrease changes in His book (Luh Mahfooz) as He deems fit.
Which book is mentioned here? (ayah 39) Is this the Na’ama Aamaal or the Taqdeer? Because He has the mother of all Books. This give us the span of Allah’s power. He has rules for all times and All Ummahs.
Hadith:
Taqdeer is changed with dua.
In another hadith:
We know that the power is Dua is immense, the Dua may be rising and a calamity may be descending, thus if the dua is strong, then when it meets the rising Dua, there is a tussle for power of implementation, thus which ever is stronger, prevails. If the Dua is strong, the calamity is turned around and if the Dua is weak or in adequately made then calamity prevails.
Allah Subhanawataala has the original book and he can make whatever changes he wants to. (Dua is asking Allah Subhanawataala to change one’s taqdeer and dua does affect taqdeer) .
Hadith:
Sila Rahmi increases life
Hadith:
Sins decrease our Rizq, we may be about to get something but we do disobedience and He turns His face away.
Everything is with Allah we need to ask Him by making Dua to change our Taqdeer.
Sadaqa is rad-e Bala, it pushes calamities away.
Thus Allah Subhanawataala’s message to Prophet Muhammad is:
If We (Allah Subhanawataala) show you (Prophet Muhammad pbuh) that azaab (Punishment) which we have promised the disbelievers inyour lifetime or do it after you die, in both case your (Prophet Muhammad pbuh) responsibility is to give the message and Ours (Allah Subhanawataala) is to check accountability.
ADVICE FOR A DAEE: DO NOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW!
Thus a Daee must continue her work, no matter what the results and whether the environment is advantageous or not, do not wait for times to become advantageous, just continue to give the message and leave the results to Allah Subhanawataala.
Allah Subhanawataala reiterates this message in Surah Ghashiya (88)
21
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ
Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish.
22
لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
Thou art not one to manage (men’s) affairs.
23
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ
But if any turn away and reject Allah,-
24
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَ
Allah will punish him with a mighty Punishment.
End tafseer
My humble take on this:
Our Taqdeer is written in His book (Luh Mahfooz) but if he so wishes he can change it
How and why would Allah Subhanawataala change our taqdeer? Only if we make sincere Dua, which reflects the etiquette, respect and full protocol and adaab of Dua.
Calamities in this life can be warded off with Dua and Sadaqa
The disobedience of Allah causes Him to turn away from us. This may be reflected in the decrease in our Rizq in this dunya.
Allah’s Azaab (Punishment) is promised to those who deny the existence and Unity of God Almighty and He will and can show it at anytime.
The instructions to the Messenger (pbuh) and all those who come after him (Pbuh) is to give the Message of Allah to ……….go ahead and GIVE the message without waiting or hesitating even if they do not see an immediate effect, or if times are difficult or unfriendly.
Allah Subhanawataala Himself will do the accountability of the actions of each one of us after we received His message.
WHAT IS THE DEGREE OF YOUR DESIRE FOR HAJJ E MABROOR?
II EVALUATE YOUR DESIRES:
WHAT DO YOU WORRY ABOUT LEAVING BEHIND?
WHAT BODILY DISCOMFORTS DO YOUR WORRY ABOUT?
WHAT OTHER THINGS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR PLAN WITH HAJJ?
HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO CHANGE?
III EVALUATE YOUR SPIRITUAL PREPARATION
HOW OFTEN ARE YOU RECITING THE QURAN?
ARE YOU READING THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET?
HAVE YOU READ YOUR HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF MECCA AND MEDINA AND WHAT HAPPENED WHERE?
HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR SPIRIT TO ALLAH AND ENTREATED HIM TO INVITE YOU FOR HAJJ?
HAVE YOU READ THE DESCRIPTION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S HAJJ AND LAST SPEECH AT ARAFAH?
IV EVALUATE YOUR PHYSICAL PREPARATION
ARE YOU EXERCISING YOUR BODY TO BUILD STAMINA FOR IBADAH?
ARE YOU EXERCISING YOUR MUJAHIDA TO CONTROL YOUR NAFS (LESS EATING, LESS SLEEPING, LESS TALKING, LESS SOCIALIZING)
ARE YOU DOING ANY NAFIL FASTS ON MONDAY AND/OR THURSDAYS TO BUILD YOUR INNER SPIRITUALITY AND CONTROL YOUR NAFS
HAVE YOU PRACTICED TO FOCUS ON PRAYER AND RECITATION WHILE IN A NOISY ATMOSPHERE?
V EVALUATE YOUR EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION
* HAVE YOU STUDIED AND IMPROVED ON YOUR NAMAAZ E NABVI?
* HAVE YOU LEARNED TO PRAY NAMAZ E JANAZAH?
* DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PRAY NAMAZ E TASBEEH (OPTIONAL)
* HAVE YOU MEMORIZED EXTRA SURAHS TO RECITE IN PRAYER IN THE HARAMAIN?
* DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PRAY QAZA E UMARI?
* HAVE YOU FAMILIARIZED YOURSELF WITH THE MANASAK OF THE HAJJ?
* DO YOU KNOW WHAT INVALIDATES THE HAJJ?
* DO YOU KNOW WHAT MANASAK CAN BE MADE UP AND WHICH CANNOT?
* HAVE YOU MADE A LIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED YOU TO PRAY FOR THEM
* HAVE YOU MADE A LIST OF WHAT YOU WANT TO PRAY FOR?
* DO YOU KNOW THE THIRD KALIMA, RABBANA ATAIYNA FID DUNYA AND THE DUA FOR SAFA AND MARWAH?
* ARE YOU MEMORIZING A NEW DUA EACH DAY THAT YOU WANT TO ASK ALLAH FOR (MASNOON OR FROM THE QURAN?)
ARE YOU PRACTICING PATIENCE NOW?
ARE YOU PRACTICING WEARING HIJAB AND PROPER CLOTHES FOR PRAYER?
ARE YOU PRACTICING PRAYING EACH PRAYER ON TIME?
ARE YOU PRACTICING SPENDING TIME IN RECITATION OF THE QURAN AND/OR HADITH?
VI EVALUATE YOUR LOGISTICAL PREPARATION
DO YOU HAVE COMFORTABLE, WASHABLE CLOTHES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE EXTRA CARE AND WHICH COVER THE AWRAH?
DO YOU HAVE TOILETRIES WITH NO FRAGRANCE?
DO YOU HAVE A SLEEPING BAG FOR ARAFAH AND MUZDALIFA?
DO YOU HAVE A SMALL SEPARATE BAG FOR MINA?
DO YOU HAVE A SMALL BACK BAG FOR SHOES, OR READING MATERIAL AND A WATER BOTTLE, WHILE IN TAWAF OR SAAII?
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE MAP OF THE LAYOUT OF THE KAABA AND KNOW THE NAMES OF THE DOORS?
DO YOU HAVE A LIST (FOR YOURSELF AND GIFTS) OF WHAT YOU WANT TO BUY AT HAJJ?
DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT AND DOCUMENTS IN A PLASTIC BAG OR COVER TO TAKE WITH YOU?
DO YOU KNOW THE CONVERSION RATE FROM DOLLARS TO SAUDI RIYAL?
HAVE YOU DISCUSSED WITH YOUR MAHRAM, YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND HIS?
HAVE YOU SHARED YOUR PREPARATIONS WITH HIM?
HAVE YOU MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PEOPLE YOU ARE LEAVING BEHIND?
DO YOU HAVE A WILL?
DO YOUR CHILDREN HAVE GUARDIANS IN EVENT OF AN UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCE
HAVE YOU MADE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU NEED TO APPROACH TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS OR GIVE FORGIVENESS?
HAVE YOU PAID YOUR DEBTS THAT ARE DUE?
WHO IS YOUR BUDDY WHILE IN THE HARAM (IT IS NOT POSSIBLE MOST OF THE TIME FOR YOUR MAHRAM TO BE YOUR BUDDY AS THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE SEPARATED AFTER TAWAF AND SOMETIMES IN TAWAF.
Inshallah you will do well, even if you are not perfectly prepared, but try and be as prepared as possible, then Hajj becomes the true spiritual journey you have imagined it to be!
The Unbelievers say: “No messengers art thou.” Say: “Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah, and such as have knowledge of the Book.” (43)
TAFSEER BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI 13:43
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is commanded by Allah to say to those who deny that he is Allah; s Messenger that “ Allah’s witness is enough for me and he who has the ilm (knowledge) of the book”
Who has the ilm (knowledge) of the book? What is the book that is being referred here?
Thus if the Book being Luh- e- Mahfooz then it is Allah who has the knowledge and is being referred here. If the book is Torah and Injeel then the reference is to the Ulema of these Books and if the book is the Quran then the reference is to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Thus the people in the above categories are witness to Prophet Muhammad’s Prophet hood.
In Surah Al Imran ayah 18 Allah Subhanawataala says:
There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah His angels and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise. (18) The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will): nor did the people of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. (19)
The people of knowledge know who is Allah’s Messengers. No one who has knowledge of the book would deny that Prophet Muhammad pbuh is the Messenger of God.
People can deny the Messenger only on the basis of ignorance or their obstinate ego.
MY TAKE:
Obstinacy is the brother of arrogance. It is that characteristic which prevents us from softening our heart towards something that we know from the inner precincts of our heart to be true. but one denies it because of arrogance ( A disease of the heart) and the whispered encouragement of the Shaytaan to dig our heels in and oppose it.
Thus we sometimes end up denying the truth while knowing it with our inner being to be the truth. (May Allah Subhanawataala protect us from this trait).
island in the day, ocean in the night:The Quran: 055.010: It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures: 055.013 : Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
Have you ever seen death at close quarters and know that in some action done in the past you may have contributed to it?
And so it is………..
I am in khalwah on the beach; it is the remotest point of the island, where pieces of land submerge into the sea with the change of tides. Thus you may have left your shoes and bike at a safe place on the beach and walked till the sands ended. Hours later as you head back you see that you are separated from where you left your shoes and bike by a flowing river of water, waist deep. As you walk through the swirling water rushing with a force of determination to meet its destination in the salt-water lagoon, you have a new respect for the power of Allah who created this force, and are humbled by the thought that we human beings were sent as stewards on this earth (Ashraf ul Makhlooqaat)
Th force of the water separating the small islands
I am walking with my eyes on Allah’s creation in the sand where the water meets the shore. It is amazing to see what has been left behind by the tides. The ocean with its huge arm reclaims its possessions, giving them a just burial, in its depths, and also sometimes spits out on the beach the reminders of the cruelty of man to animals through their thoughtless and sometimes senseless and selfish actions.
On the sand as I walk I see the shells, the crabs, both live and dead, the sandpipers who watch me with the corner of the eye and keep on eating the small animals hiding in the sand in their shells. As the warm water touches my feet I am reminded that soon this part of the land will be reclaimed by the ocean.
“Don’t the birds go out hungry in the morning and come back with their stomach full and satiated and know that their Lord will provide for them?”
It is Asar time and the birds are waiting to start dinner. There is no evidence of gluttony and of breaking rank to start eating before it is dinnertime for all. My approach is a signal; they all rise to the sky gracefully in a large C, well distanced from each other, organized in flight.
After I pass they alight back on the sand in a graceful swoop and again start their vigil for when the fishing is to begin for the Maghrib meal before night falls. I sneak a peak and find them grooming themselves…………wudu at the hour before Maghrib?
029.060 YUSUFALI: How many are the creatures that carry not their own sustenance? It is Allah who feeds (both) them and you: for He hears and knows (all things).
The birds take off in an organized graceful flight
042.029 YUSUFALI: And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the living creatures that He has scattered through them: and He has power to gather them together when He wills.
As I look back down again at the sands I see a piece of seaweed tangled with something glistening in the sun, and I recognize a piece of clear plastic bag, As I attempt to disengage it from the seaweed, I realize that its mouth has been tightened shut with almost a self made knot caused by twisting on itself.
In it lies a beautiful shell, the animal in it half extruding as if to find a breath of the fresh sea air, perhaps perplexed why it can still feel the sun but not the air. I touch it from the outside of the clear plastic bag, the kind that we often use for sandwiches or in which the newspaper is delivered, or an expensive scarf is usually placed in this type of a clear plastic to retain the newness of the gift. I realize that something is very wrong, and a shot of guilt pierces my heart.
I touch the plastic, and without a doubt I realize that the sea animal inside is dead! Dead as dead can be! Dead not as in by providing food for someone higher on the food chain, dead not because of age or injury, but dead in the prime of life, glowing in its beauty, its shell pink and healthy. Why? I think. My brain trying to refute the evidence before me. only because of the vanity and style of life of us women, men and children who inhabit this earth and use and toss things with a sense of Ghafala, unaware of the effect of our “innocent” acts on others.
Dead! unbeknownst to its murderers, who innocently are yet buying more plastic for their food, their clothes, their travel and then tossing it the trash can, thinking that this non biodegradable product that survives longer than a hundred years, will somehow disappear without causing harm.
A blue plastic bag spat out by the ocean onto the shore
Plastic, the essence of a fast life on the run (to earn more money). An essential part of an affluent society obsessed with germs, leaving in its wake a trail of blood and silent tears.
In its wake is the blood of many sea creatures, some fishes who swallow the bright pieces of plastic and asphyxiate, some turtles who choke, and some get caught in it. As they continue to die silently removing one more living being that was in tasbeeh of Allah, the hands of men and women who were sent on earth as stewards of all living things are being stained with blood. The blood on the hands of humans is not only of their own kind, but of the creation of God that unlike us is continuously in tasbeeh and remembrance of God twenty four seven.
I stare at my hands and I do not see any blood, but I see countless plastic bags that I have tossed into the trash. I look out at the ocean, a silent witness and I know that like Lady Macbeth, all the water of the ocean cannot wash the blood from the hands of men, women and children who commit murder everyday without being aware of it (Ghafala).
How do you and I atone for it? Death by asphyxiation, by our own hands, slowly squeezing the life from this sea animal, who even in its last moments remains in the remembrance of God.
Death by Asphyxiation in a plastic bag
003.083 YUSUFALI: Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah?-while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (Accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back.
Every one knows that Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. And performing Hajj is one of the obligations that Allaah has put upon His believing slaves if they have the means. But how many of us really pay attention to this command?
Now I am not talking about those of us who are sick, or financially unable to afford it. I am talking about those of us who have a steady job, a good enough income, Alhamdulillaah. And we have health and the physical and other means to go for Hajj.
But we just don’t think about it.
Sure we have all that money saved up but we are either saving it for that trip to Disney Land or that vacation to Hawaii. Perhaps it is for a bigger house or a fancier car. Or we are just so busy in our jobs and day to day lives that even the thought of going to Hajj doesn’t cross our minds.
Although Allaah tells us in the Qur’aan that Hajj is fardh on every Muslim once in lifetime, provided they are able to perform it.
“And Hajj to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses; and whoever disbelieves [i.e., denies Hajj, then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (Surah Aale-Imraan:97)
And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said during a Khutbah: “O people! Hajj has been made incumbent upon you, so perform Hajj.” (Muslim)
From this we can conclude that hajj is obligatory on whoever has the (physical, financial, and circumstantial) ability to reach the sacred precincts of the Kaa’bah in Makkah.
But somehow, we don’t realize that delaying Hajj for no specific reason is so wrong.
The Ulama tell us that those who have the ability to go for Hajj but delay it for no specific reason, are concurring a major sin. That’s right…a major sin!
In fact, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I was about to send envoys to the towns to check on all those who have the means to make Hajj but do not perform it, in order to demand them to pay Jizyah; they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims”.
Subhaan Allaah! What strong words and we didn’t even think it was such a big deal.
Ibn Qudaamah said: “If a person is obliged to do Hajj and is able to do it, he must do it straight away and it is not permissible for him to delay it.” (al-Mughni)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about Hajj and whether one can delay it. He replied: ”The correct view is that it must be done straight away and it is not permissible for a person who is able to go on Hajj to the Sacred House of Allaah to delay it. The same applies to all the duties enjoined by sharee’ah: if there is no set time or reason, they must be done immediately.” (Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen)
But come to think of it, why would one want to delay it anyway?
Wouldn’t you want to have your sins…and I mean, ALL your sins forgiven?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever performs Hajj to this house – Kaa’bah- and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he, or she, will come out as the day he, or she, was born – pure and free from sins.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Just imagine! Pure and free from sin…as the day you were born!
Wouldn’t you want to be free from Hell Fire?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ”There is no day on which Allah sets free more slaves from Hell than He does on the Day of `Arafah.” [Muslim].
Sure, it is a rigorous journey. But isn’t Jannah worth it?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The reward of Hajj Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Jannah.” [Bukhaari, Muslim].
And don’t think spending for Hajj will decrease your wealth or make you poor in any way. For not only does Hajj wipe away sins, but it also gets rid of poverty.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron and gold and silver.” (Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i, saheeh by al-Albaani)
And you don’t have to worry about anything when you go there, because you are Allaah’s guest and He will take care of you. Imagine…Allaah’s guest! What more could one want?!!
Hajj is the perfection of faith and true surrender to the Almighty. It isa reminder of the purpose of life and man’s ultimate end.It is a stage in which you can develop yourself spiritually. It is a time when you forget your home, your comfort, your families…your wealth, your friends, relatives and everything you possess, purely for the sake of Allaah. It is the time when you train yourself for absolute and complete surrender to the Divine Command of the Almighty. It is a perfect chance to earn Jannah.
So surely, that trip to Disney Land can wait, that house can be bought next year, that vacation can be postponed.
Make the intention for hajj now. And don’t just make the intention. Do something about it. Ask your boss for time off for Hajj. Work out your finances and other arrangements. And make lots of dua to Almighty. Surely He will make a way out for you if you are sincere. And even if you have been for hajj some years ago, go ahead and repeat your Hajj.
Because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin….” (Tirmidhi)
So plan for Hajj today. Don’t delay it any further. There is still time for you to make it this year.
Go for Hajj to earn the pleasure of your Lord, and come back with all your sins forgiven.
“Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord, and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.” (Surah Hadeed:21)
Note: “The definition of being able to go for Hajj is: a person should be physically healthy; he should have the means of traveling to the Sacred House of Allaah by plane, car or riding-beast, or have the money to pay for transportation; and he should have sufficient provision (food) for the journey there and back. This should be over and above what he needs to cover the costs of expenses for those whom he is obliged to spend on until he comes back from his Hajj.” (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
In case of debt: “Whoever owes a debt and is being asked to repay it in the sense that his creditors will not let him go for Hajj until after he has paid off the debt should not go for Hajj, because he is not able to. But if they are not asking him to repay and he know
“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron and gold and silver.” (Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i, saheeh by al-Albaani)
“The one who fights for the sake of Allaah and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or ‘Umrah are all guests of Allaah. He called them and they responded; they ask of Him and He will give them.” (Ibn Maajah– hasan by al-Albaani.
And imagine the reward for all this? Nothing but Jannah.
Also, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) encouraged us to go for Hajj as quickly as we can and fulfill this duty and not delay it. He (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Hasten to do Hajj – meaning the obligatory Hajj – for none of you knows what will happen to him.” (Ahmad- hasan by al-Albaani)
So hasten to the ‘maghfirah’ of your Lord…rush to seek His Bounty, His Mercy, His Pleasure….and race to a Jannah whose width is as wide as the heavens and the earth. For you never know what is in store for us. We are alive today but we may not be here tomorrow. We might be healthy today, but we be sick tomorrow.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Take benefit of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness,your wealth before your poverty,your free-time before your preoccupation, and your life before your death.”(Hakim-saheeh)
Have you ever thought what it is like to pray in al-Haram…with the Kaa’bah right in front of your very eyes?This is where the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) sat, walked, prayed. This where the Sahabah were. What a magnificent place to be in! And you can multiply your good deeds there. And Tawaaf and Saa’ee cannot be done anywhere in the world except here.
Hajj is the perfection of faith and true surrender to the Almighty. It isa reminder of the purpose of life and man’s ultimate end.It is a stage in which you can develop yourself spiritually. It is a time when you forget your home, your comfort, your families…your wealth, your friends, relatives and everything you possess, purely for the sake of Allaah. It is the time when you train yourself for absolute and complete surrender to the Divine Command of the Almighty. It is a perfect chance to earn Jannah.
So surely, that trip to Disney Land can wait, that house can be bought next year, that vacation can be postponed.
Make the intention for hajj now. And don’t just make the intention. Do something about it. Ask your boss for time off for Hajj. Work out your finances and other arrangements. And make lots of dua to Almighty. Surely He will make a way out for you if you are sincere. And even if you have been for hajj some years ago, go ahead and repeat your Hajj. Because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin….” (Tirmidhi)
So plan for Hajj today. Don’t delay it any further. There is still time for you to make it this year.
Go for Hajj to earn the pleasure of your Lord, and come back with all your sins forgiven.
“Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord, and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.” (Surah Hadeed:21)
Note: “The definition of being able to go for Hajj is: a person should be physically healthy; he should have the means of traveling to the Sacred House of Allaah by plane, car or riding-beast, or have the money to pay for transportation; and he should have sufficient provision (food) for the journey there and back. This should be over and above what he needs to cover the costs of expenses for those whom he is obliged to spend on until he comes back from his Hajj.” (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
In case of debt: “Whoever owes a debt and is being asked to repay it in the sense that his creditors will not let him go for Hajj until after he has paid off the debt should not go for Hajj, because he is not able to. But if they are not asking him to repay and he knows that they don’t mind, then he may go for Hajj and his Hajj will be valid. It is also permissible to go for Hajj if there is no set time limit for repayment of the debt and he is allowed to repay when it is easy for him. Hajj may be a good thing that may lead to his paying off the debt.” (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “One prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers anywhere else.” (Ibn Maajah, Ahmad, Saheeh)
Muslim women Nurses of The Red Crescent equivalent to the Red Cross in the West: courtesy of:http://www.flickr.com/photos/27529953@N04/3081335899/
GUEST AUTHOR: Dr. Kaukab Siddique
Hadith Studies demonstrate that:
ALL WOMEN, INCLUDING YOUNG SINGLE WOMEN, ARE URGED BY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (peace be on him) TO TAKE PART IN ALL GOOD WORKS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Question: I am studying Islam but can’t find anything in the Koran or the Traditions to support the place of women outside the home. Is it not true that Islam wants to restrict women to having children and cooking food? [U, from London, England]
ANSWER BY Dr. KAUKAB SIDDIQUE:
Asalaam o Alaikum Sister U, I have no idea why you can’t find the relevant texts. There is no need for any argument or interpretation on this issue. Here is a clear text from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I have put the Prophet’s words in capitals:
“Ismail narrates from Ayyub who narrates from Hafsa: She said: We used to forbid our never married maidens from going out. A woman came and stayed at the mansion of the Bani Khalaf. She narrated that her sister was married to a companion of the messenger of Allah (peace be on him) who was with the messenger of Allah (pbuh) in 12-armed expeditions. Her sister was with him in six of these expeditions. She (the sister) said: We used to bandage the wounded and take care of the sick. She (the sister) asked the messenger of Allah (pbuh): Is there any harm if one of us does not go forth if she does not have an outer covering (jilbab)?
He (the Prophet, pbuh) said: “LET HER FEMALE FRIEND GIVE HER OF HER OUTER COVERINGS and SHE SHOULD TAKE PART IN THE GOOD WORKS and CALLS TO ALLAH (supplications) OF THE BELIEVERS.” When Umm Atiyya (Allah be pleased with her) came, I (Hafsa) questioned her about it. Umm Attiya said: Let my father be sacrificed for him. (Whenever the Prophet’s (pbuh) name was mentioned, she used to say so.) I asked: Have you heard the messenger of Allah (peace be on him) say so? She replied: Yes. By my father, he (the Prophet, pbuh) told us: LET THE UNMARRIED MAIDENS AND THE YOUNG VIRGINS WHO STAY HIDDEN AND THE MENSTRUATING ONES GO FORTH TO TAKE PART IN THE GOOD DEEDS AND CALLS TO ALLAH (supplications) OF THE MUSLIMS. ONLY, THE MENSTRUATING ONES SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ACTUAL PRAYER AREA. I (Hafsa) asked (Umm Attiya): Even the menstruating women? She replied: Don’t they (the menstruating women) go to Arafat and such and such places? [Hadith in Bukhari's Sahih, kitab al-Manasik.]
ANALYSIS by Dr. Kaukab Siddique:
Muslims, by definition, are one nation and one community. However, for this community to become real, Muslims must learn to respect each other and to work together for good causes, starting at the basic level of man and woman.
Decency and modesty are important in Islam but this virtue must not be a cloistered virtue. To achieve real virtue, one must practice virtue within the community.
The hadith (above) begins by mentioning Hafsa’s mistaken notion that single women must not go out into community activities. Then along came a woman who talked about her sister who had participated in six armed expeditions (ghazwaat). Although she was part of the ambulance brigade, she did go forth to the battlefield. Hafsa got this narration confirmed by Umm Attiya (Allah be pleased with her) one of the greatest female companions of the Prophet (pbuh).
Note that the Prophet did not accept the excuse of lack of adequate clothing. Friends can always share dresses. The essential thing is to be part of the struggle. There is no indication whatever that the Prophet (pbuh) would want women to be secluded or separated from the men. Decent dress and modest attitude is all that is needed. TAQWA (God-conscious behavior) is the key.
The biggest surprise for Hafsa was the Prophet’s urging that even menstruating women go forth. No mosque or gathering place is holier than the ground of Arafat, and menstruating women can and do go there. They should stay away from actual formal prayer. (Another aspect often forgotten is that in those days it was difficult to stop the blood flow and the place of prayer would be have blood on it.)
HOW MANY WOMEN ARE NEEDED FOR WITNESSING?
Note also that this hadith in a number of ways contradicts the idea that reporting or witnessing by ONE MUSLIM WOMAN is not valid. Ismail accepted from Ayyub (both males) a narration from ONE WOMAN Hafsa and Imam Bukhari unhesitatingly placed it in his Sahih. The second part of the narration is again from one woman Umm Attiya (Allah be pleased with her).
CRITIQUE of DR. MUSHSIN KHAN’S TRANSLATION: Dr. Khan’s translation of Bukhari in 9 volumes has this hadith in volume 2 on page 418 and it is numbered 714. The translator has made a number of errors.
Firstly he adds the words “On Ids” and “for Id prayer” at the beginning and end of the first sentence narrated by Hafsa. If any expert in Arabic can point out where these additions of Dr. Khan are available in the text, please let me know.
Secondly, he mentions the “menstruating ones” only once, leaving out the first reference as given in my translation. Again see the Arabic.
Thirdly, he DOES NOT KNOW THAT HAFSA HERE IS NOT THE DAUGHTER of Umar Ibn al-Khattab (r.a.) and the wife of the Prophet (pbuh). Dr. Khan mistakenly puts (radi Allahu unha) in front of her name. He should study the Tabqat of Ibn Saad to find out who was this narrator. If she had been the illustrious wife of the Prophet and custodian of the Qur’an, she would not have had to ask Umm Attiya (r.a.).
Fourthly, Dr. Khan blunders by translating jilbab as “veil” and his translation come out, as “She should cover herself with the veil of her companion.” (Is that physically possible?) Most early scholars of Islam agree that jilbab is the outer garment or covering.
Some close Saudi associates of Dr. Khan have issued a summary of Sahih Bukhari from which this hadith has been omitted.
Masjid Quds in Capetown, South Africa :
Photo taken from behind the engraved glass balustrade on the balcony of the womens prayer mezzanine, looking down at the men's prayer section.
A truly beautiful Masjed with truly good people in it. My Bhabi's father took Shahada there.
