‘Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them.’
The ending of the above verse is a warning from Allah ﷻ to emphasize the sanctity of these months with the instruction of not engaging in sins during them. Engaging in sins in any month, at any time is wrong but Allah ﷻ made sins during these months severe. Likewise, righteous deeds have more reward so a person should choose which group they want to belong and strive towards attaining it.
Ibn Kathir رَحِمَهُ ٱللّٰهُ writes in His Tafsir of Suratul Tawbah vs 36 that Qatadah رَحِمَهُ ٱللّٰهُ explained the phrase ‘so do not wrong yourself during them’ He said: ‘Injustice (injustice in this context refers to committing a wrongdoing against yourself by sinning) during the Sacred Months is worse and graver than injustice in other months. Verily, injustice is always wrong, but Allah ﷻ makes things graver than others as He will.’ He added ‘Allah ﷻ has chosen some of His creation above others. He chose Messengers from angels and from men. He also chose His Speech above all speech, the Masajid above other areas of the earth, Ramadan and the Sacred Months above all months, Friday above the other days and Laylatul-Qadr (The night of Qadr) above all night. Therefore, sanctify what Allah ﷻ has sanctified, for doing so is the practice of people of understanding and comprehension.’
How can we sanctify these months? By doing what we are commanded and refraining from SINS.
The Prophet ﷺ informs us of the 4 Sacred Months: It was narrated from Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه, from the Prophet ﷺ : “The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah ﷻ created the heavens and the earth. The year is twelve months, out of which four are sacred: three are in succession Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumaada (Ath-Thaniyah) and Sha‘baan.” Sahih Bukhari.
Allah choose these months to be sacred and we should maximise them by engaging in good deeds in them. It is from the mercy of Almighty Allah ﷻ that we have seasons to earn more rewards for acts of worship. So, capitalizing on these months should be our goals.
Moreover, there are historical reasons why the Arabs in the period of jahiliyyah (ignorance) considered these months to be sacred before it was confirmed by Allah ﷻ in the Qur’an. It was sacred to the Arabs due to the Hajj pilgrimage and they refrained from fighting in them. This was to allow pilgrims perform Hajj and Umrah with ease. Dhul-Qadah, the month before Hajj was made sacred because they avoided fighting during that month. Dhul-Hijjah because it is the month of Hajj during which Hajj rituals were performed. Muharram the month after Dhul-Hijjah was made sacred so that the pilgrims can return safely after engaging in Hajj. Rajab which is in the middle of the lunar year was made sacred so that those coming from the farthest area of Arabia are able to perform Umrah and visit The House (Kabah) and then return to their areas safely.
Besides, when the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from the tribe of Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib were boycotted by the Quraysh in Makkah. They resorted to withdraw and live in Shib-e Abu Talib (the valley of Abu Talib) He ﷺ used to go to the Kabah and preach during the Sacred Months to the Pilgrims because violence was considered sacrilege during them. The Muslims were also allowed more freedom in their movements during them. This shows the reverence the Arabs had for this month in the pre-Islamic era. If the Arabs can give reverence to what is due before they became Muslims, we as Muslims should revere it further by refraining from sins and intensifying acts of worship during them. This should be our goal in these month and May Almighty Allahﷻ make us obedient slaves who obey His command and worship Him.
A very short video emphasising the superiority of engaging in righteous actions in the Sacred Months. 🙂
PS: we are still in a sacred month (Dhul-Hijjah) and another (Muharram) is coming in few days.
I hope you have learnt something new from this post about the Sacred months in Islam? Is there any other information you know about the Sacred months? If you do I’d love to hear your thought in the comment section below.
A bit on what gave birth to this post you are reading. I decided to write this because I was on a search to identify what defined me. I have defined myself with different labels, but I noticed that they left me at one point in my life – the labels were temporary: they left me. We define ourselves with labels and titles. That was how the search began. To identify how and what I should allow define me and this story follows….
As Muslims we are blessed to have a way we should live our life, because we have a life manual. We have a guide to follow to be successful, to be achievers… name it. We have answers to many life questions. All we need to do is to search the right sources and we will find the answer glaring in front of our faces. We have a guide to follow on how we should live our life. To anyone reading, for any question you have always go back to the Qur’an and Sunnah as your source or ask learned people you trust. We should treasure this gift of Iman (faith) and take measures to preserve it. As Muslims we should always pray to live and die as a Muslim. Pray that you do not lose your connection with Allah ﷻ, because this life will be meaningless without it. Without knowing your purpose you will be on the search for an unending self-discovery.
What defines you? I have come to realize that it is up we as individuals to choose what defines us. As human beings, we have perceptions of ourselves. How we want to be seen and viewed by the outside world. Many of us have or still define ourselves based on our accomplishment, status, appearance what we do. etc. but now, I choose not to. And I want you to do the same. What happens when we get stripped of the so-called labels we attach to our names? How will you see yourself?
Over to you, I’m asking you what defines you?
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Before you answer, let’s have a glance over a Hadith about Mother of the Believers – Khadijah raḍyAllāhu ‘anha.
Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reported: The Angel Jubriel came to the Prophet ﷺ, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, here is Khadijah coming to you with a dish of stew, food and drink. When she arrives before you, greet her with peace on behalf of her Lord and myself. Give her glad tidings of a palace in Paradise made of reeds, wherein there will be no turbulence, nor fatigue.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3610, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2432]
Anytime I come across this Hadith I adore her more. As it makes me reflect on how I can elevate my status in the sight of my Rabb – Allah. Why did she have this lofty status you may ask? Why did she receive Salam from Allah ﷻ and Angel Jubriel? Why was she given glad tidings of Jannah on earth? She sought and gained her status with Allah and we should emulate her in this regard. Before the coming of Islam she was a woman of nobility, from a noble lineage and had a high status in the society. Her status in the society changed when the message of Islam began to be propagated. She raḍyAllāhu ‘anha stood with the Prophet. Used all she had for Islam. She raḍyAllāhu ‘anha lost her worldly status but secured her place in Jannah.
This leads me to an ayah of the Qur’an in Suratul Hujurat:
“Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Qur’an 49:13)
What earned Mother Khadijah raḍyAllāhu ‘anha status with Allah ﷻ was her righteousness. Her piety. All of this elevated her rank in Jannah. So, we should earn our honour with Allah on account of Taqwa. We should seek our status with Him.
What should we take from this? When you define and assess your self based on your Taqwa, you will commit to working on it. You will seek to develop this personal relationship and seek your status with Allah by engaging in righteous deeds.
Any worldly title you have is a means for you to attain Taqwa. E.g My role as a daughter, a student, etc is to attain Taqwa. I am using the so-called labels as resources to earn my status with Allah. By doing this you will naturally conform and behave in accordance with attaining Taqwa in all you do.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about that for which people are admitted into Paradise the most, so he said: “Taqwa of Allah, and good character.” And he was asked about that for which people are admitted into the Fire the most, and he said: “The mouth and the private parts.” (Tirmidhi
I hope that now since you know what you should allow to define you, you can work on it.
POINT OF REFLECTION: Ask yourself what do you need to do, to strengthen your relationship with Allah? Does your acts of Ibadah make you have Taqwa? Are you conscious of Allah in your dealings?
Abu Hurayrah said: “Some people asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘Who is the most honourable among people?’ He replied, “The most honourable among them with Allah is the one who has the most Taqwa…” [Sahih Bukhari]
—
PS: Ramadan is less than 50 days. Prepare for it – RAMADAN PREP
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Till next time Fi Ammanillah!#
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Another #TrueLifeStory to remind you never to trust your abilities. Many of us have gone through the academic phase of life. It is important that we are cautious in our strive to excel. To not lose focus of the real thing.
I’m Sid and here’s a bit of my life and how I learnt about detachment.
Scoring high marks in university was my thing. I was someone who always worked hard, read and helped others to understand what we were taught in uni. But something happened that changed my perspective with my academics. I had some setbacks, or we’ll call it realizing moments. This was a uni module assignment that was challenging in the beginning for me. I have heard how difficult it was to pass the module, and maybe it affected my approach subconsciously. We were given a formative and I scored high marks unexpectedly. I kept wondering how this happened. Fast forward to the final assignment. I ensured I did my best, crossed my I and T’s.
Unfortunately, when I saw my result I was shattered. I was like no, no, no, this can’t be my result. I was not ready to accept what I saw. I cried so hard. I did not fail. But I was expecting something so high. And this is a problem that happens when you place so many expectations on yourself. This is what happens when you trust your abilities without Allah. When you tie your camel, but do not put your Trust in Allahﷻ.
To be honest it was a challenging module, and I know I did well compared to so many people, but this is the danger of having high expectations. I was so hurt, sent an email to ask if it could be remarked with a response of NO.
I cried my eyes out. Words of solace were not comforting. I just wanted to be alone. To speak and be by myself. I believed so much in my ability, in my intelligence and when it did not help me, I got disheartened. It was sometimes later that I calmed down. There was a lot I learnt from this life experience and looking back I would say, I was happy to learn this lesson at this point of my life. Sometimes you need to break to heal and that was what I was going through. I needed this experience to remold me. To be submissive. And humble to Allahﷻ. To recognise the gifts He bestowed upon me and use it in the right way – to please Him.
Most especially I had to acknowledge that Almighty Allahﷻ rewards us for our effort, not always through results. Though, this is something I have always looked at in the deen aspect. I never really applied it to my other spheres of life. As you know, you might be doing something without seeing the reward, but knowing that Almighty Allahﷻ is going to reward you for your effort and not the result is reassuring. It also made me try to not depend on myself when I am doing uni work. I now don’t try to expect so much. I now take it easy on myself. I don’t feel overwhelmed.
It was a very hard lesson and it made me realize that failures and setbacks are for us to learn lessons. We have to learn lessons from ourselves. Really hard ones! And this is something that can happen to anyone reading. Take it easy and manage how you deal with expectations. Then I wasn’t learning so much about the deen and it just shows you how my mindset was so closed that there were people who would score less but they would be grateful. I lacked the gratitude mindset and it really made me hurt, pained and was extremely disheartening. To anyone reading I implore you, not to let your grades to define you – I was trying to define myself by my grades and that made it affect me so much. I needed to learn how to detach myself from my grades. I am this… not what my grades say. (I say to myself now)
I am still going to strive to get the highest marks possible, but I have to know that it is up to Almighty Allahﷻ. While I put the effort and hope that He rewards me.
Anytime, I think about this incidence, I laugh at myself and express gratitude that I was able to extract lessons from it because it has nurtured me, helped me to grow, in the way I define myself. And I hope anyone reading this, maybe you are going through a similar situation. Take it easy on yourself and put them in the hands of Allahﷻ. I am not saying you won’t be hurt or disappointed, but your reaction will be managed. Also, take lessons from yourself. Your life situation. Learn lessons from whatever situations you are in.
After reading Sid’s story I will like to expand on 3 points
Importance of tie your Camel and put your Trust in Allah.
This is a popular hadith and we know it from our lips. But how many of us have actually implemented it in our lives? It is important that we trust Allah more than our abilities. He is Al-Khaliq (The Creator) who created all that is in existence. He Created the Camel that you are tying, and He is the only one who can preserve it. This reminds me of a saying of Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah the Most High have mercy on Him) that I came across. he said: “from the weakness of your yaqin (certainty) is that what is in your hand is more reliable than what is in the Hand of Allah”. This is a powerful statement. Applying this means that we should depend and rely on Allah than what we have. Ask yourself: how well have you tied your camel? How is your trust in Allah?
Detachment.
The whole story sums up detachment. I’ve also done a bit explanation on detachment here. We get attached to things and people because they give us a sense of security. Love. A sense of belonging. Meaning. And certainty. Many of us have been getting it all wrong “Detachment is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you.” (Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه) Don’t allow what you have to own you. As Human beings we long to have things and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem starts when you begin to tie yourself what you have. The only object of our attachment should be our Rabb – Allahﷻ. For He creates all that we see. All that we want. All that we possess. When you attach yourself to Allah, you will feel at peace within yourself, see life as temporary. Strive to please Him with what you do. The way to begin to attach yourself to Allah is to seek to know Him. (Learn His Names and Attributes). You can’t get attached to who you don’t know.
What defines you? (Coming soon in another post In Sha Allah)
The world we are in treats people based on their intellect. The education system grades is centered on intelligence. Certain professions are attributed to be for only the ‘intelligent’.
Being called ‘smart’ ‘sensible’ ‘intelligent’ is something we all crave for, and aspire to have these titles added to our names. But this is a temporary title, and it will fade away with time whether we like it or not 😦
The Prophet ﷺ informs us of the most intelligent person. We can aspire and strive to be like this person regardless of our worldly status, our social status, irrespective of people’s opinion of us. I am sure you are wondering what is the attribute of this person and what does the person do that makes him/her intelligent?
This question was put forward by a man to the Prophet ﷺ: ‘Who is the most intelligent of people?’ He ﷺ replied: ‘The one who remembers death most often and the one who is well prepared to meet it; these are the wise; honorable in this life and dignified in the Hereafter’. Another narration reads slightly ‘Those who remember death the most frequently and those who prepare for death in the best manner, before they pass away. These are from the intelligent ones.’”(Ibn Majah, Tabarni).
“Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction” Qur’an 4:78
Death is a topic we don’t like to talk about. It’s a discussion that is usually brushed aside. We don’t like to think about it because we are busy pursuing the fleeting life, amassing wealth and status. Look around you and see if there is someone that has been living in eternity? Sadly, some even pray against it. This is one thing that is guaranteed to happen. Allah ﷻ says: “Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection… And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.” Qur’an 3:185 Therefore, Death is an inevitable reality. No one can escape from it because this life is temporary. We will all die ONEDAY.
“Remembering death is not an invitation for depression and grief, nor is it gloomy, bleak advice favoring pessimism and passiveness. It is just a reminder of an absolute fact, a fact that we all tend to forget while immersed in this transient, falsely embellished world and cheated by its charming coquetries. We are all one breath away from death. We usually do not remember that and we do not like to be reminded, either. Nevertheless, it is an inescapable fact”
Amira Ayad, Healing Body and Soul.
Another aspect I would like to touch upon is that death is not an end in itself. It is the beginning of another journey. We all want to go to Jannah, but without dying we can’t get to Jannah. No one can change the time of their death. The best thing to do in a situation you cannot change is to accept and prepare yourself by making the best of the situation. In another Hadith the Prophet ﷺ informs us to pray as if it’s your last prayer: “When you stand for your prayer, pray as if you are saying farewell. (Ibn Majah) By praying as if it is your last prayer you will gradually learn not to be scared of death knowing that you can die anytime.
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You may be wondering why do I have to remember death to be an intelligent person?
Remembering death forces us to reflect on the purpose of our creation and this involves preparing for it by abstaining from prohibitions and increasing good deeds. Accepting that life is temporary and thread it cautiously.
Remembering death also make a person reflect on what they have prepared for tomorrow (hereafter). If death comes are we ready to die? The thought of leaving this world makes one fearful but truth be told we are in this world for a short period and by remembering death we are conscious of our actions. So, an intelligent and wise person will have it at the back of their mind they can leave this world anytime. Strive to please His Rabb to be among the successful ones.
Remembering death is a journey towards detachment. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Remember (death) often the destroyer of pleasures” (Tirmidh̄i 2307) This results in the urge to prepare for the eternal life (hereafter) by performing good deeds. By doing this we gradually learn to be unattached to the false worldly desires
I am sure you are wondering how to implement this Hadith?
Attend funerals. This is an environment that opens your eye to be reminded that life is short and temporary. Besides, there are rewards for attending the (janazah) funerals of a Muslim. Abu Huraira s رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ said “Whoever follows the funeral of Muslim, in faith and seeking reward, and he remains with it until the prayer is offered and the burial ceremony is finished, then he will return with two great rewards. Each reward is like the size of mount Uhud. Whoever offers the funeral prayer and returns before the burial, then he will return with one great reward.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Visit graveyards. Similar to the above but different in the sense that, you do not need to visit the graveyard during a funeral. My first visit to the graveyard was unusual. I have always heard or saw it in movies/documentary. But actually going there was deep. Seeing how people were buried in 6 meters, so small. Everyone had the same grave space signifying equality. Taking no worldly possession with them. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un ‘Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return.
(These are just 2 I can think of, feel free to add to it in the comment section)
POINT OF REFLECTION.
Don’t wait for a certain time to act upon this Hadith.
“Remembering death is not about denying the joy of living, on the contrary, it is about enjoying the freedom of flowing with life, knowing that it is a temporary residence”
Amira Ayad,Healing Body and Soul
We are constantly reminded when we hear of people dying. Death is inevitable. It can come to anyone, at any time. Irrespective of whether you are young or old, sick or healthy, rich or poor. No one can escape it. It is a reality that will catch up with us sooner or later. And the best thing we can do is to PREPARE. ‘But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.’Qur’an 63:11 – when the time of death comes, no one will be granted respite. (use as a quote) May Almighty Allah make it easy to implement this Hadith, make us die upon the faith and allow us to be reunited in Jannah where death is inexistence.
If you’ve enjoyed reading, share with someone you know will benefit and don’t forget to subscribe too.
Share with the intention to be rewarded by Allahﷻ. Sharing is caring:)
Till next time Fi Ammanillah! 🙂
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A heart-felt letter to remind you of what matters most. Get in the right mood by being in a comfortable space before reading.
“And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and colours. Surely in this are signs for those of ˹sound˺ knowledge.” ( Qur’an 30:22)
‘You are a unique entity among creation: nothing is exactly similar to you, nor are you exactly similar to anything, because the creator had brought diversity to the creation’ (Anonymous)
It’s a new Gregorian calendar year and everyone is on the move to make the year as eventful as possible. Dreams and goals from last year have been pushed forward and everyone wants to achieve so much. New businesses here and there (if you are like me without a business you may feel you are lagging behind, but you’re not!) Marketers are capitalizing on the change people want to see in themselves and so many emails and posters are flying around on how to make this the year one of immeasurable breakthrough. People are money driven, result oriented and in all honesty, I can tell that people are trying to work on themselves (personal development) Who doesn’t? But the way to go through it matters and that is what this letter seeks to address. I hope you are in a right and comfortable mood to keep reading.
I am here to tell you and me to Calm Down. Take a deep breathe. And relax. Take it easy on yourself… one step at a time.
Calm Down. Take a deep breathe. And relax. Take it easy on yourself… one step at a time.
Investing in yourself in a prudent manner is a wise advice I can give to anyone reading. Investing in yourself does not cover finances alone – it includes anything you do to be a better person fi dunya wa aakhira: read books, listen to podcasts, use free tools out there before paying, widen your horizon by trying out new things and talking to people, keep learning… (The list is endless you can add to it by commenting. You never know who it may help.) Be careful and cautious of what you engage in and do not look for quick fixes. I want you to know and accept that the effect of change takes time but begins gradually. If you are a goal setter, set holistic goals to achieve them. And as you do all that do not lose hold of your priority.
As Muslims we must build our relationship with Allah in the journey of our personal development. Because without Him, we can’t grow. We can’t develop. We can’t achieve all our dreams, goals and aspirations. WE ARE IN NEED OF HIM TO GROW AND BE OUR TRUE SELF.
Remember this life is a means to an end. The end we all want to attain is JANNAH. So, use this life, set your goals, aspirations and make all you have as resources to get to the end.
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Here’s a short excerpt from a dear sister’s book.
“On the journey of being you, you must know that Allah comes first. You will never reach your full potential without the assistance of Allah. You will falter in your efforts of being your best-self when your heart is void of Allah. So to be your best self, you have to give importance to the Best.”
Kulsoom Kazim in Be You.
I love the wordings so much that I can’t do any analysis. It sums up perfectly and passes a compelling message to us.
To myself before anyone reading this 🌟🌟
In your personal development journey make sure you develop your relationship with Him – Allah!. Know Him. Seek His closeness and you will find yourself more. pic.twitter.com/E05L9zBjQp
In being you, know that you must work on yourself. Don’t say “this is the way I am” when you know you have a negative trait. Continuously work on yourself and your mindset. Mindsets are very important and can serve as a barrier to limit us, thinking that we are incapable. Read about perspective of a Muslim here: PERSPECTIVE OF A MUSLIM
I’m keeping this really brief and I hope it makes you reflect and take things easy as you aspire to be a better person.
Here are some of the things you can do to build your relationship with Allah in your journey of personal development:
Find and Clarify your Whys. This is an important step to be done in anything you want to embark on. Ensure that whatever you are doing transcends beyond worldly reasons and that it is serving a greater purpose. Make your goals meaningful to you and that you want it to lead you to your End Goal – Jannah!. Be clear. Precise. And Intentional in what you do and why you do them. A practical way to get started is to preferably get a journal, write things you do and ask yourself why you do them. To aid anyone who wants to practice this I’ll be vulnerable to share one of my Whys. Why do you write? I write to teach, to inspire. To improve myself as a Muslim and carry others along in the journey. To earn Allah’s love. Make people see the beauty of Islam and aspire and really practice it. The value of my intention means that if it is right and sincere, Allah will accept it as an act of Ibadah! And I will be rewarded. Also, attaining Allah’s love is what I seek. (I typed it up strait from my journal, and I hope you will engage in some exercise too. If anyone needs some help with clarifying their whys you can send a private message here or here and I may be able to help)
Learn and practice detachment. As we pursue the dunya it may enter our heart, and this is not what we want as Muslims. Learn how to inculcate detachment as you grow. Simply put, “Detachment is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you.” (Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه) Hold materialistic things in your hand, not in your heart. They are temporary things and I implore you not to fill you heart with what is transience as it does not last. Whatever you have (be it intellect, materialism, appearance etc) is a gift from Allah. Know that it can be taken. In Sha Allah I hope to cover this topic in detail sometime.
Have a secret good deed between you and Allah ﷻ.
As you practice detachment, detach from result. When I learnt this, I must say it was challenging to implement, but Alhamdulillah, I am able to practice it more. What this means is that you don’t worry about the result of an action, rather you put in your best. It is a beautiful aspect of our deen to know that Allah rewards us for effort not result. Putting in your best effort is important to achieve anything. The result depends on Allah ﷻ. Don’t misinterpret this to not doing your best as you must put the work to be rewarded by Allah. Remember the Hadith on Tawakkul: tie your camel and put your trust in Allah. (Paraphrased: (Tirmidhi 2517) The two elements are intertwined, and you must have both. Do your best, use all you have and don’t forget that you must rely on your Rabb. Your Creator – Allah ﷻ.
Improve your personal relationship with Allah. Ask yourself, what can I do to improve in my religious obligations. Maybe you want to pray all your prayer at the right time, pray more nawafil, recite more Qur’an, pray Taajjud, fast more, give charity, reflect more etc. Write an action plan and begin to implement them
PS: Ramadan is less than 99 days. Prepare for it – RAMADAN PREP
If you’ve enjoyed reading, share with someone you know will benefit and don’t forget to subscribe too.
Share with the intention to be rewarded by Allahﷻ. Sharing is caring:)
Till next time Fi Ammanillah!
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“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.” (Qur’an, 2:185)
Allah ﷻ has given us the gift of ease in every step of this beautiful religion. Let’s have a look at one vital example. A condition of Salah is that a person performs wudu (ablution). Now we know that Tayammum is an option in some circumstances. How did tayammum come as an alternative?
During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, He ﷺ went on an expedition with his beloved wife Aisha رضي الله عنهما realised her necklace was missing and told the Prophet ﷺ about it. The Prophet ﷺ relieved her and stopped the entire army. They all began to search for the necklace and night fell upon them still searching. They waited in that place till morning. However, the companions complained to her father, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, that his daughter made them stop in a water-less place and were wondering how they would perform ablution for Fajr. Side note: We see here that they were not complaining about waiting, but due to the inability to fulfil a command of Allah.
Fajr time came and the companions panicked and were worried about how they’ll fulfill their salah. Then the verses of Tayammum was revealed:
“O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favour upon you that you may be grateful.”(5:6)
The ending of the above verse emphasizes that Allah ﷻ made this religion one of ease. Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه, reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the religion is easy, and no one burdens himself in religion but that it overwhelms him. Follow the right course, seek closeness to Allah, give glad tidings, and seek help for worship in the morning and evening and a part of the night.” (Bukhari 39)
From the ease of the religion is in obligatory worship: we pray 5 times a day, yet they are equal to 50 in reward. We fast compulsory during Ramadan with the reward for fasting an entire year (with Shawwal added.) Despite the obligation of fasting, the ills and travellers have concession to repay it later so as not to inconvenience them. Giving Zakah is only 2.5% and is only compulsory for those who are able, and Hajj for people able to have sufficient means and capability to make the journey. From this we see that the obligations in Islam are easy and achievable. Allah ﷻ does not overburden us in fulfilling His commands.
This is not to say we should not strive to do more Ibadah, but we should maintain and try to perfect the minimum before increasing our acts of Ibadah. ‘Indeed, you will not attain this matter (Islam) with exaggeration, and the best of your religion is ease.’ (Musnad Imam Ahmed) Therefore, do not thread the part of exaggeration so as not to wear yourself out, as the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently even if they are little.
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Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه, reported: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ said, “O people, beware of exaggeration in religion, for those who came before you were ruined by exaggeration in religion.” (Ibn Majah 3029)
Seek a balanced way and fulfill the obligation as the way to exerting what we do as the way to come closer to Allah ﷻ is through what He has obligated upon us. “My servant does not grow closer to me with anything more beloved to me than the duties I have imposed upon him. My servant continues to grow closer to me with extra good works until I love him…” (Bukhāri 6137)
In addition to the above verses there are various ahadith that are in line with ease in Islam.
The extraction below is adapted from the book: The Journey to Allah by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
“Some examples of the ease that resulted through his ﷺ blessings is that the one who prays Isha in congregation, it is as if he has prayed half the night, and the one who prays Fajr in congregation, it is as if he has prayed the whole night. Hence, the night prayer is recorded for him while he lies asleep on his bed, and more so if he goes to sleep in a state of purity and remains in the remembrance of Allah until his eyes close.
Whoever fasts three days of every month it is as if he has fasted the whole month [Bukhari 3418 and Muslim 1159/2729]. Hence he is regarded to be fasting the remaining days of the month in the record of Allah even though he is eating and the one who is eating and grateful has the reward of the one who is patiently fasting.” [Tirmidhi 2486 and Ibn Majah 1765]
Whoever has the intention of waking up to pray by night but is overcome by sleep will have the reward of the night prayer recorded for him and that sleep of his would be a charity from Allah. [Abu Dawud 1314 and ibn Majah 1344]
Abu’l-Darda’ said, ‘Excellent indeed is the sleep of the intelligent and their breaking of fast! Look how they outstrip the night vigil and the fasting of the obtuse! [Abu Nu’aym, vol. 1, p. 211.] It is for this reason that the authentic hadith mentions, “It is well possible that one who prays by night gets nothing from it save weariness and a person fasting gets nothing from it, save hunger and thirst.” Recorded by Tabarani and Ahmad.”
It is vital to always have it at the back of our minds that Allah has simplified Islam for so there’s no need to over complicate it. May Allah ﷻ enable us to be consistent in our acts of Ibadah, Amin.
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*Dedicated to any sister out there struggling to abide by the Islamic guideline for dress code, read the story of a sister who was once in your shoes. She narrates how she overcame her ‘old’ lifestyle and shares how she adapted to the Islamic dress code. Enjoy reading 😊 …
Hey there, I’m Eesha. I’d love you to read my story on how I got to start dressing modestly.
This is a continuous journey and I pray to continuously improve with my character as well.
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Dressing in line with Islam was not something I was brought up with. Reminiscing on my childhood and teen years I could remember how many skirts I had – barely one☹. I never cared that much because I never knew that much. I would still wear the Hijab amidst this. My tops could be short-handed and I was fine with it. What was important for me then was covering my hair. I never acknowledged that the hijab was more than a head covering and did what I was doing telling myself after all I am better than so and so… I cover my hair. Anyone who sees me would know I am a Muslim, and that it is my identity! As, I grew older I got exposed to life, saw people dressing modestly and was wondering how they managed to do it.
There was a time I was determined to change. I purchased skirt of different types, but never felt comfortable wearing them. Then I went back…😭 never clear as to my why and not having a good support system (there is always someone to blame, so sad)
Environments are very important in life and this changed me greatly. I changed my environment which made me appreciate the modest dressing obligated upon us. Though, not a fully Islamic environment but it was one I needed to kick start my dressing journey. I saw people adorning the abayas, the skirt flowing and felt I could be like this. I would go to the Masjid wearing my trousers and before entering I would put on my abaya (this was not ideal) I would be in Uni and once it’s prayer time I would be looking for something to tie around my waist down… This was not good. I began to realise and acknowledge I needed to do something about it.
I started getting convinced on the need to dress modestly as I would feel like a hypocrite when I dressed modestly and removed it. I started making dua 🤲🏼… my environment was affecting me positively. My new friend started donning the Hijab in couple of days and I used this to motivate myself.
I remember when I started, I kept it secret. I never told anyone except my new friend. I went back to Uni so I was alone, away from families, no pressure that I wanted.
I purchased different long skirts and began to wear them gradually. Sometimes, I felt uncomfortable, feeling unable to rock the way I wanted. But because I knew the reason why I was dressing modestly, I was able to maintain wearing it.😌 I felt different to the people around me most most of the time. Had some issues with self-esteem (Alhamdulillah, I’ve worked on that). It was difficult sometimes and tbh I cried many times. Dua, dua dua was all I had, and listening to reminders which emphasised the importance of modest dressing… and that was how it all started, one step at a time. I began to feel comfortable in dressing modestly, added some abayas to my wardrobe… began to wear socks, and cover my awrah… There were sometimes I would feel hot, but I reminded myself of the purpose of covering up and it keeps me going Alhamdulillah.
Forward to now, I feel comfortable, liberated, able to define which party of my body is visible. 🙂
PURPOSE OF SHARING THIS STORY
Women love fashion and there is nothing wrong in adorning yourself with beautification as long as it is done in the right space.🌸 “Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty”. Dressing modestly is important when you are in front of your non-mahram (and some mahrams too). In the public domain we should be conscious of the kind of attention we are bringing upon us, it may be intended or unintended.
The journey to dressing modestly is a veryyyyyy personal one. Almost every sister can relate because they have gone through this phase in one form or the other. Islam has prescribed certain guidelines on how a female should dress. Undeniably, the society we live in has continuously made it challenging. The media has flooded images of how a female should look like and this is contrary to the conditions of Hijab. It is not easy when they make us judge our values and we have to change the narrative. It is up to we Muslims to stand up to our religion, reclaim this right, support, and encourage one another. To any female in this phase, it is worth speaking to someone who will assist you in this journey, with sincerity, conviction, dua and supportive friends. In Sha Allah you will go through the phase successfully. Though, not everyone struggles but it is not an understatement to say majority of the sisters struggle with getting to terms on dressing the correct way. It is easy to avoid many pressures by simply saying and living as a Muslim. If you choose to live as a Muslim, you will be free from consumerism and commodification. Feel comfortable in dressing to please Allah and not having to worry too much about looks!
It is important that we know why we are wearing the Hijab. It is more than a piece of cloth to be draped over the head. The main reason why females wear the Hijabis because it is a command from Allah ﷻ. A command from Allah ﷻ is an obligation and should not be taken lightly. I am not downplaying the difficulties females face wearing the Hijab, but we need to know that Allah knows what is best for us than our own selves. If you are living in a place where it is difficult to abide by the Hijab, wear it to the best of your ability and know that Almighty Allah ﷻ will reward you for it. “Be mindful of Allah and he will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find him before you. If you ask, ask from Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah…” (Tirmidhi 2516) To anyone struggling, be mindful of Allah ﷻ, supplicate to Him, seek His help, Ask Him to strengthen you to begin to don the Hijab and by His will you will find it easy. The way we appear is a fraction of Islam, whether we accept it or not. We all represent Islam; we are all vicegerent of Allah ﷻ on earth. People see us and see Islam in us, so we should be good ambassadors of Islam by following the tenets of our religion.
KEEP LEARNING.
Knowledge gets rid of ignorance. Islam has placed so much emphasis on seeking knowledge as it is the foundation of good actions. The Prophet ﷺ tells us: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.”(Ibn Mājah) and “Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.” (Muslim).Knowledge must be combined with action upon learning. Know that it is not all about intentions as actions justify intentions. Do not wait until you feel you have reached a certain level of taqwa (piety). There is no perfect moment to begin to fulfill the obligation, my dear sisters! Start donning your Hijab and it will assist you to reach a higher level of piety, adding to your conviction. We all know that there are certain conditions to be met before praying Salah – females cannot pray Salah without a proper head and body covering. The awrah must be properly covered to pray, whether you are in the Masjid or in your home. Is it not then somewhat contradictory to dress to pray in a certain way and to go out in a different way? We are all on a journey to dressing and improving ourselves and we should keep trying.
HAVE GOOD COMPANY.
Surround yourself with good, practicing Muslims of your sex and gender. Human like companionship and we want to feel supported when we are making changes. Control your circle of friends, who you surround yourself with, as we see a reflection of ourselves in them. The Prophet tells us: “A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.” (Tirmidhi 2378) Having good friends who you can count on will make you feel more comfortable and take continuous steps to improve yourself. No one is saying you should change your friends 360ο but start gradually, if you feel you need to. You are the only one who knows whether you need to change some of your company. Get closer to people who you feel are doing well in the deen, make dua that Almighty Allah ﷻ brings and surround you with righteous friends. (Good company include online friends). I once heard from a podcast where the speaker mentioned that he wanted to be close with a person and he madedua to have that friend in his life – this is something you can do to! Know that by changing your company you change your environment too – giving you a conducive environment where you feel supported.
Let me know what you’ve learnt in the comment section below
POINT OF REFLECTION: Surprisingly, I can’t pinpoint out something for reflection. Let me know what stuck out to you from reading this story👇🏽
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Be like a Bee that only lands on sweet things and skips the filthy. Don’t be like the fly that lands on only the wounds.
Re-read that quote again and continue. You will notice that the bee sees the filthy but skips it. So, do we as humans. We notice the good and bad in people, but the question is are you like the bee? What do you focus on? There is a saying that, what you focus on grows!
Be like the bee that only lands on sweet things by seeing the good in people. Know that everyone has something good in them no matter how bad you think they are. Be gentle like the bee when it lands on flowers, it does not destroy it. Be gentle like the bee in your interaction with others.
“Verily, gentleness is not in anything but that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything but that it disgraces it.” Musnad Ahmad 24417
Being a Muslim involves looking at the world in a very different way.
The Prophet ﷺ tells us:
‘Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him’.
A Muslim view this world as a means to fulfilling his/her purpose of creation; ‘And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.’ (Qur’an 51:56)
A Muslim sees this life as a test. This lens is different from the one who sees life one for purely enjoyment. ‘He is the One˺ Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds’. (Qur’an 67:2) ‘…the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.’ (Qur’an 3:185)
A Muslim learns to be optimistic and positive. ‘I am just as my slave thinks I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him’ [Sahih Bukhari 7405]
To be patient. Patient in times of adversity. And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.’ (Qur’an 2:155)
To be grateful. Grateful in prosperity.‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more.But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’ (Qur’an 14:7)
To live as a stranger/traveler “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path.” [Sahih Bukhari 6053]
To have an unconditional trust in Allah beyond your ability. Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, reported: A man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?’ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.” Sunan Tirmidhi 2517. This highlights the importance of putting your best effort in whatever you do because you cannot control the result. You can only manage the process. So, learn to focus on efforts and detach from results. Your intentions is something you can control. Work on it!
To see things as a means of earning reward and preparing for the hereafter.
Why is this so? Because life is a temporary abode, we are in this world to prepare for the eternal life. In this life we engage in actions as a means of getting closer to Allah ﷻ and prepare for the hereafter.
The way to attain this mindset and view this world differently comes from Knowing Him – Allah ﷻ!
How else do you think a Muslim should view the world? Share in the comment below.
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‘And to Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them’ (Qur’an 7:180)
This post is based on a webinar I attended. It is supplemented by other readings.
What is DUA?
“Dua is a whispering conversation with Allah ﷻ, our Creator, Lord and Sustainer. We ask Him because only He can give. He has Power over everything, whilst we have none. His knowledge encompasses everything, whilst we know little. He is the Lord and we are His slaves.”
I AM NEAR, A guide to Du’a: Supplications from the Qur’an and Authentic Hadith by Ummah Welfare Trust Dhul Qa’dah 1440/July 2019.
Dua is also called the weapon of a believer. Thus, just like in this world a weapon is only as good as the person using it. So, a dua is as good as the person making it. We should learn how to make dua properly to be able to have a meaningful conversation with Allah. ﷻ
Etiquette of making dua can be classified into 3 dimensions
1. HEART: certain feelings and sentiment should arise in our heart when we make dua.
2. SPACE AND TIME: you can make dua wherever you are but there are places and moments where dua will be accepted more and we should make the best of the propitious moment.
3. TONGUE: how do you supplicate to Allah ﷻ? How would you earn Allah’s pleasure through your supplication?
We’ll go through each dimension
1. HEART – What should you feel in your heart?
Conviction. A level of conviction that Allah ﷻ is listening. He is As Sameer (The All Hearing) Al Aleem (The All Knowing) So ask wholeheartedly. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Make dua to Allah whilst you are certain of a response, because Allah does not accept a dua from a heedless heart’ (Tirmidhi)
Sincerity- Ikhlas. Believing that Allah ﷻ is the only one who can help and you won’t turn your hand of need to anyone but Him.
Trust. Trust that Allah ﷻ will respond to your dua’s, the way you don’t rely on your own abilities. Do not be impatient. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said ‘The dua of everyone of you is accepted as long as he does not grow impatient and says : ‘I made dua but it was not accepted’” (Muslim)
2. SPACE and TIME – When should you make your dua?
In Solitude. Preferably be alone by yourself. This brings the element of sincerity as people are not seeing you. There is less chance of your actions being for show-off. A moment between you and your Rabb – Allah ﷻ.
During Blessed times. Such as the middle of the night. When traveling, between Adhan and Iqamah, between Asr and Magrib on Friday. When fasting (especially before your break) when completing a good deed, when it’s raining. etc. (Feel free to add to it in the comment section below so that others may benefit.)
TIMES WHEN DUA ARE ACCEPTED!
Face the Qiblah. Performing wudu and facing the Qiblah are not necessary but recommended and praiseworthy.
3.TONGUE – How do you use your tongue to make your request?
Praise Allah. ﷻ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is none who likes to be praised more than Allah does.” (Bukhari). The Messenger of Allah once heard a person making du’a’ during prayer. He did not glorify Allah nor invoke salawat upon the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: He was too hasty. He called him and said: When one of you makes dua, he should start off with praising and glorifying His Lord , and should then invoke salawat on the Prophet. He should then make du’a’ for whatever he wishes.’ (Abu Dāwüd)
Send salawat upon the Prophet. ﷺ A narration from Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه, goes thus: “Du’a is suspended between heaven and earth and none of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet ﷺ Tirmidhi (486)
Seek forgiveness. Allah is Al-Ghafur (The Most Forgiving) and he loves to forgive. Ibn Rajab (Rahimullah) said: ‘People! Your hearts are essentially pure, but they have been stained with splashes of sins. So splash on them in turn the tears of your eyes and you will find your hearts purified!
Using Allah’s Names.To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call on Him by them’ (Qur’an 7:180). The name should be in Arabic not the translation. Relevant Names can also be called upon for specific requests. Such as ‘Ya Tawwab (O Acceptor of repentance) accept my repentance’. Also, remove the ‘al’ when invoking Allah with His Names; so you would say Ya Razzaq not Ya Al-Razzaq’.
Making the request. When you ask, make your dua in Arabic if you can (not compulsory). You can request using the Qur’anic and hadith dua’s. When you are making your request do not over-do it on the details for you do not know if what you are asking for is good for you. Ask Allah ﷻ in general terms because He alone knows what is good for you. Express your dire need of Allah ﷻ with humility and desperation, express your weakness as we are weak and in need of Allah ﷻ for everything. Ask wholeheartedly and sincerely!
Repeat your request. Repeatedly asking is a means of showing Allah ﷻ your desperation for Him.
Be patient for dua are answered in 3 ways: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, ﷺ said, “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet said, “Allah has even more.” Musnad Ahmad 10749 So, do not be in a haste that you give up.
GUIDE FOR MAKING DUA!
Know that there is a difference between a dua that is accepted and a dua that is responded to. Every time we supplicate to Allah ﷻ it is accepted but it may not be responded to, explaining why we do not always get what we want. The blessed times are when duas are likely to be accepted and responded to!
Feel free to include anything you’ve learnt about Etiquette of making dua. You never know who it will help. Share this post with others you feel will benefit from it!
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Ramadan is an important month in the Islamic calendar. It is a month of mandatory fasting “Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwaa.” (Quran, 2:183) Fasting in this month is one of the articles of Islam.
The Reward for Ramadan is unknown to human “(Allah ﷻ said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.” (Bukhari)
You might be reading this and wondering why the topic Ramadan Prep as we are not nearing the month of Shaban. Answer – It was narrated from some of the Sahabas (companions) that they used to make dua (supplicate) to Almighty Allah for six (6) month that they would live to witness Ramadan and they would pray for five (5) months afterwards that He ﷻ would accept it from them. (Source Islamqa) This an act that we can revive together. No need to wait for Shaban to start preparing okay!
Straight to the discussion, how can we prepare for Ramadan?
Make dua (supplicate) that Almighty Allah ﷻ accepts your last year’s Ramadan. Act of worship requires acceptance from Allah. Hence, the need to complete your act of worship with dua.
Make dua that Almighty Allah ﷻ keeps you alive to witness the next Ramadan. So many people have died between last year Ramadan and now – allowing us to witness limitation in the human ability. Supplicate that Almighty Allah ﷻ increase your lifespan with the intention to do good.
Pay off your Last year Ramadan if you are still owing.
Make an action plan. Review your last year Ramadan and things you planned to do after Ramadan.
The aim is to turn good deeds into habit that you will be able to stick to and incorporate in your lifestyle.
To do this it is recommended that you get a journal/ notebook where you write things down. By writing things down, you are more likely to follow it as you can always review it.
Write down some actions you developed in Ramadan and why you want to incorporate them in your lifestyle. For example, if one of your actions was to pray Tahajjud (night prayer), identify whether you have committed to it and whether you have stuck to the habit post Ramadan.
Take active steps to materialize your action. Using the example of Tahajjud above, what will you do to ensure that you are able to wake up for Taajjud? It may be by sleeping earlier, making dua that Almighty Allah ﷻ makes it possible for you to wake up, make wudu before going to bed and have the intention to wake up for Tahajjud. To avoid overwhelming yourself you may want to start by waking up once a week and gradually increase your capability as you become more consistent.
You can pick one Barakah action and implement it in your life.
Some tasks you can complete in preparing for Ramadan.
Write down what else you can do to prepare for Ramadan.
After writing your to-do list then write actions to implement what you have written.
Set some goals around improving/adding to your daily prayers that can be accomplished by the end of Ramadan. Such as praying all your nawafil prayers after Salah, reciting Qur’an before or after Salah.
Try to supplicate often, Almighty Allah ﷻ loves to hear from us, especially in the last hours of the night. Narrated Abu Huraira (Radiallahu anhu): Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” [Bukhari]
We should aim to be better after every Ramadan in our lives, as it comes to purify us. Cleanse us. And make us conscious of our relationship with Allah ﷻ. We should use it as an opportunity to review our lives and measure whether we have improved in an aspect of the deen as we grow. Think realistically on how Ramadan is benefitting you, rather than how you are only acting in that month!
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