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Easy ways to earn great rewards

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This does not mean that we are exempt from the obligation to perform the pilgrimage once in our lives, but it means that we can engage in rituals of worship that will earn us great rewards.

As we saw images of thousands of pilgrims flooding into Makkah and the white tents springing up in Mina, our hearts longed to be there. Some of us were unable to perform Haj this year, and we feel that we missed out on a great opportunity to earn rewards and to wipe out our sins.

For those who wish to win the rewards from Allah and attain His mercy and forgiveness but were unable to perform Haj, there are acts of worship that could be equal in rewards to the rewards for Haj. This does not mean that we are exempt from the obligation to perform the pilgrimage once in our lives, but it means that we can engage in rituals of worship that will earn us great rewards.

Forgive others so that Allah may forgive you. Holding rancor and hatred towards others who have wronged you is keeping you from being a better person.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting with a group of his companions in the mosque and he said, “A man will now enter [who is] from the people of Paradise.”

A certain companion walked in, a seemingly regular man. Later, it happened again, and then a third time, and each time this man was described by the Prophet (peace be upon him) as an inhabitant of Paradise.

Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Aaas  wanted to find out what was so special about this man, so he asked the man if he could stay at his house for three days. While staying with him, Abdullah watched him closely but he noticed that the man did not do anything out of the ordinary. So after three days, Abdullah told the man the reason why he requested to stay with him, and he asked him what it was that could be the reason why he was from the people of Paradise.

The man could not think of anything, but he said “Every night, before I go to sleep, I forgive whoever has wronged me. I remove any bad feelings towards anyone from my heart.”
Therefore, forgiving others can make us among the people of Paradise.

Praying Fajr in congregation and then dedicating your time for the remembrance of Allah until the sun rises can be equivalent to the reward for Haj.

Anas, the close companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays the Fajr prayer in congregation and then he remains sitting mentioning Allah until the sun rises, and then he prays two Rak’ahs, will receive the reward of one Hajj and one Umrah, complete, complete, complete.” (At-Tirmithi)

If we were unable to be among the pilgrims in Makkah this year, we can still be worshippers in the mosques in any city of the world, and we can anticipate great rewards from Allah. Going to the mosque to pray in congregation is highly rewarded, and walking to the mosque is even better. Do not leave the mosque as soon as Fajr prayer is over; sit in the mosque to mention Allah’s name and read the Qur’an and supplicate. How amazing would you feel if the angels were asking Allah to forgive you for your sins?

Abu Hurayrah, the well known transmitter of Hadith, reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The angels supplicate in favor of one of you so long as he remains in the place where he performed Salat [prayer] in a state of ablution. They [the angels] say, ‘O Allah forgive him, O Allah, have mercy on him.’” (Al-Bukhari)

Join a study group at your local mosque, whether it is to read the Qur’an or study its meanings or to study sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Whether you go to learn or to help someone else learn, your rewards will be as great as that of a pilgrim; just make sure that your intention is to seek the rewards from Allah.

Abu Umamah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever leaves for the mosque in the morning for no reason but to learn goodness or teach others, then he will have a reward as if he has completed the Haj pilgrimage.” (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr)

Many of us do not place much importance on the voluntary prayer, Al-Duha prayer, but if we understood how tremendous its rewards are, we would not miss it.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “None could observe Duha prayer regularly except a penitent.” (At-Tabarani)

A penitent person is someone who repents, who feels sorrow for wrong doings, and who seeks forgiveness from God.

As for the time to pray Al-Duha, it is from sunrise until shortly before noon. You can pray two Rak’aat, or four or six or more.

Donate to orphans, widows, and those in need. We should be giving charity and supporting those in need all year round, and especially in blessed times like Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah.
What are the deeds that would help us earn the pleasure of Allah?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) informs us in his Hadith in which he said, “The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit to people, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my Muslim brother in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month.” (At-Tabarani)

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Worshippers relish iftar experience in Prophet’s Mosque

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Worshippers relish iftar experience in Prophet’s Mosque

MADINAH — Iftar or breaking fast at the Prophet’s Mosque during Ramadan provides a unique spiritual experience not only for the people of Madinah but also for the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors who come to the holy city from the different corners of the Islamic world.

One cannot witness such an atmosphere of social cohesion and harmony with tens of thousands of people joining a community meal anywhere else in the world barring the Grand Mosque in Makkah. People of different walks of life and different nationalities sit together inside the Prophet’s Mosque and its courtyards to break their fast.

“You can see this marvelous scene by sunset every day of Ramadan,” said Abdul Raheem Al-Haddadi, the reporter working for Al-Madina Arabic daily. “I have noticed that people of different races, colors, and cultures sit shoulder to shoulder to break their fast, helping and caring for each other.”

He added: “The most striking feature of this huge iftar gathering is that everyone gives priority to those who sit beside them while taking food and drinks.”

Adnan Dabour, a Madinah resident, said in the past most people of the city went to the Prophet’s Mosque before Asr prayer to perform the prayer in congregation. They try to find a place in Rowdah Sharief, the holiest section of the mosque between the Prophet’s tomb and his pulpit. Only a small number of them went to mosques in their neighborhoods.

“This was a custom we had followed may be until 50 years ago,” Dabour said.
“Only a few foreign pilgrims visited the mosque during Ramadan in those times. We used to carry water and various types of dates and bread and special Madinah dishes to break fast with other worshippers at the Prophet’s Mosque.

“We still do this every year to feel and enjoy the greatness of Ramadan sitting in the vicinity of the Prophet’s Mosque where we pray Maghreb, Isha, and Taraweeh with Muslims from different parts of the world. It’s amazing that hundreds of thousands break their fasts in the mosque without facing any difficulty.”

Fayez Al-Ahmadi said for the last 20 years he has been breaking his Ramadan fast with some old friends at the Prophet’s Mosque, enjoying its spiritual ambiance. “I have made it a point that I should not miss this opportunity throughout Ramadan,” he said.

“This is a tradition we have inherited from our forefathers as we used to accompany them when we were children,” Al-Ahmadi said. “I am extremely happy to see the competition between the faithful to do good and engage in philanthropic activities seeking the reward of Allah.”

Dates, bread, yogurt, and water bottles are supplied in abundance to meet the requirements of the increasing number of worshippers who break their fast at the mosque. “You can see the massive arrangements for iftar inside and outside the mosque with worshippers filling all its corners.”

Abdulwahab Al-Baluchi said he has been witnessing these marvelous iftar gatherings at the Prophet’s Mosque for several years.

“Ever since we were children we used to go to the Prophet’s Mosque for breaking the Ramadan fast and our fathers and relatives used to carry with them yoghurt, dates, bread, tea, and Arabic coffee, and we prayed Asr, Maghreb, Isha and Taraweeh at the mosque,” he added.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

The Haj selfie: a sign of the times or should phone be left at home?

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hajj-selfie
The selfie – a photograph of oneself, typically taken with a smartphone, and usually shared on social media – has become a fixture of modern life.
However, when the hashtag #Hajjselfie went viral on Twitter last year before the Haj season even started, it sparked outrage among some religious leaders, who warned against the narcissism of taking snaps during the pilgrimage, which is one of Islam’s five pillars and should be performed at least once in a lifetime by all Muslims who can afford it.
Does the Haj selfie go against the spirituality that is a prerequisite for pilgrims, or is it simply a sign of the times? We talk to Muslims from around the world, some of whom have eagerly posed in Mecca for a self-portrait to document the completion of the Haj, and others who stuck to tradition and chose to leave their smartphones at home.

Dana Abusalhieh, Jordanian-Canadian, Lives in Dubai

Abusalhieh, who teaches English as second language, completed the Haj in 2006 and has been on several Umrahs – a non-­mandatory, lesser pilgrimage to Mecca that may be performed at any time of the year. The last of these was in December 2013, and she took several selfies during that trip.
“I have been to Haj long before selfies became a trend. I snapped a few pictures secretly on my Blackberry back then.
“I proudly take selfies when I go to Umrah with my parents now, but I don’t check in and share pictures live on social media. I just share them when the moment is right. Mainly, I think it’s good to share the experience once it’s over, as the time there should be used for spirituality only.
“I think sharing personal photos, selfies or otherwise, with friends who have not yet had the privilege of journeying to Mecca would help make the idea of the trip less intimidating and more inviting.”

Noor Al Khatib, Palestinian-Jordanian, Lives in Dubai

The regional business development manager performed her “seventh or eighth Haj” this year with her mother.
“Personally, I prefer not to take selfies in Haj. I am not a selfie or social-media person – I’m a private person by character. Each moment in Haj is sacred and I would rather reflect and pray.
“On the other hand, my mother, who lives in Jeddah, is a person who likes to take photos and share them with her family in the United States.
“For safety reasons, it’s not safe to use selfie sticks in the Haram. It’s crowded and you can harm people if you use your stick. Also, you can harm yourself while taking a selfie. No one will wait for you to take a selfie. And you can be pushed on the ground while you are smiling for a picture.”

Sabine Lenkeit, German, Lives in Germany

Lenkeit completed her Haj pilgrimage in 2009 and has been on two Umrahs, the first in 2008 and the second in April this year.
“I am not a fan of selfies. In my opinion, it is like showing off. I would never publish my pictures on a social network, because Haj is for Allah and the intention has to be clear. How can I expect to get the reward if my intention is to show off on Facebook?
“Of course, I told my experience to the people around me – the intention here is to motivate them to make this journey, too. But posting selfies is totally different, in my opinion. I can post a picture of the Kaaba, but why do I have to show myself to all those people? I sent some pictures only to my family to let them know that I was fine and happy.”

Rania Wreikat, Jordanian, Lives in Abu Dhabi

The marketing communication manager went on the pilgrimage last year.
“I am very active on social media, which is a great distraction, it is hard for me to resist it. I left my phone behind and chose to be offline during Haj so that I could focus – I only checked Facebook a few times from my mother’s phone to see who had sent me a message asking me to pray for them.
“I did take several pictures during Haj, but I tried not to overdo it as you want to concentrate on the pilgrimage duties and worship. There is also the privacy of other people that you need to take into consideration, since you’re mostly in an extremely crowded place.
“Having the company of my mother, who lives in Jordan, made me want to have the pictures as we aren’t together for most of the year. You also want to document the amazing steps that you completed and the sacredness of the trip – for the memories.
“I did post some selfies on Facebook once I returned home from Haj.”

Noha Safar, Jordanian, Lives in Jeddah

The ESL teacher was in Mecca last year.
“I took a few selfies during the main Haj rituals, such as on Mount Arafat and at the Jamarat [stoning of Satan].
“Not everyone has the opportunity to perform the Haj and I was just so happy to be there, I wanted to remember it, so I took pictures for the memories. Plus last year, there was the selfie trend.
“I think a selfie is the last thing to take away from the religious experience. It only takes a few seconds to do and an additional few seconds to post on Facebook.”

Abdelrahim Syed, Pakistani, Lives in Sharjah

The 37-year-old went on Haj with his mother and wife two years ago.
“I was worried about the ladies when they would stop in the middle of the Haj rituals to take a picture. It is an extremely crowded place and people are constantly moving, so to stop in the middle of all this to take a picture can be dangerous – you might get trampled. I would always tell them to hurry up.
“I understand why they want to take pictures – to record these memories and have tangible proof of this wonderful, sacred place we are in – but you only need one or two pictures for that, not dozens. For me, I took a picture at the very end, when I completed my Haj and was feeling euphoric.”
Mohammed Rashid, Emirati, Lives in Abu Dhabi
The computer engineer completed Haj last year.
“I was very annoyed by all of the people stopping to take selfies. It would really break my concentration when I was praying or trying to let the spirituality overtake me – having to move out of the way of people taking pictures and stopping suddenly to pose. What’s the point of all these pictures? To show off?
“I don’t need pictures to remind myself of the beauty of Haj or how lucky I was to be there, worshipping God as I was meant to do. This selfie thing is really too much these days.”
What the scholars say
Until a few years ago, pilgrims had to hand over their cameras and phones to security before entering the holy mosques in Mecca and Medina. Some, of course, managed to sneak them in and take a few photos to commemorate their Haj or Umrah.
These days, authorities have relaxed the rules to allow phones. Professional cameras, however, are still prohibited and selfie sticks are frowned upon.
“There are still those who will admonish pilgrims when there is excessive camera use,” says Rania Wreikat, who performed the Haj pilgrimage last year. Still, it is not uncommon to see people posing by the Kaaba and clicking away.
Last year was dubbed “The Year of the Selfie” after the star-studded selfie taken at the Oscars by host Ellen DeGeneres and when the tag #Hajjselfie went viral on social media before the start of that year’s Haj season. Consequently, some Muslim clerics spoke out against the encroaching trend.
Sheikh Taleb Al Shehi, who oversees the Friday sermons in the new mosque on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island, says taking selfies should depend on the person’s motivations. “People’s actions are judged according to their intention,” he says. “If their reason for taking this selfie is pure and to remember this holy place they have been lucky to visit, then where is the harm? But if they are being disrespectful to the worshippers around them and spending their entire time taking pictures rather than in prayer and remembrance of God, just to show off where they are, then that is the wrong intention.”
Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem, a popular scholar in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, echoes Al Shehi’s sentiments. “Photography without a legitimate reason is an issue of dispute among scholars,” he says. “However, despite this difference of opinion, there shouldn’t be any dispute when it comes to the real meaning of Haj and the essence behind it. It is based on sincerity and following the Sunnah. The Prophet, when he went for Haj, he said: ‘O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing off.’ ”
Ali Gomaa, Islamic scholar, jurist and the 18th Grand Mufti of Egypt from 2003 to 2013, once said in an interview on the CBC TV channel: “Those who photograph themselves through selfies with the Holy Kaaba for fun are being disrespectful and it displeases God.”

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Article by: thenational.ae