For you therein are benefits till a fixed time, and the place of their sacrifice is the Ancient House, (the Ka'bah)." Hajj (22:33)
[This article is an excerpt from a future book Insha'Allah. The copyright is reserved by the author and this Newsletter. We pray that he will finish this book soon. May the Almighty Lord protect him and reward him for his goodness. He gives success through His mercy to whomsoever of them that works righteousness, Ameen.]
After the
third time, the man mildly protested that he had indeed prayed Asr all these
times, and yet the Nabiy [Sallallahu
Alayhi (Waalhi) wa salam] sitting outside was telling him that he had
not. The Nabiy [Sallallahu Alayhi (Waalhi)
wa salam] then explained to him that the ritual actions during Salat each
take some time to perform, and in the time it was taking him to pray Asr, he
could not possibly have been performing his prayers with the devotion that it
requires. We often see Muslims performing sujood,
for example, by merely touching their forehead to the ground momentarily as if
the musalla was a hot plate, and they
barely straighten their backs before they repeat that quick sazdah
in a time that one can not even say a part of Subhana
Rabbiyal A’ala. The Nabiy [Sallallahu
Alayhi (Waalhi) wa salam] sometimes used to sit between sajdahs
for so long that the congregation behind him would think that he had forgotten
to perform the second sajdah!
If you would just think about the beauty of the declaration, “Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala” (Glory be to the Sustaining Lord the Most High), and imagine the feeling of love and submission that must come from the heart when you recite this, you would automatically find it lingering on your tongue and affecting your entire being. Salat is an enaction of the occasion of Me’raj when it was ordained on Muslims. It is a Mi’arij-ul-Mu’minuneen (Mi’arij of the believers), and we must perform it with Khushu (devotion).
Happy Eid Al-Adh'ha AL-Mubarak
The Eid Al-Adha,
the festival of sacrifice, a commemoration of Nabiy Ibrahim (Alayhi
AlSalam)'s willingness to sacrifice his own son Nabiy Ismail (Alayhi
AlSalam) at Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’Ala)'s command. Muslims all around the world celebrate this Holy
auspicious occasion of the Holy Eid-Al-Adh’ha Al-Mubarak. A brother from
Virginia wrote: Eid Mubarak to all Muslims. May Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala) accept your sacrifices, and may He shower His blessings and
Grace on you for the best of your deeds, and may He be well pleased with you and
you with Him, Ameen.
Please honor
us with your present.
Refreshments,
Recitation from the Glorious Qur’an, Welcome, Speech (Islamic Culture),
Closing Remarks and Dua’a/Praise.
Place:
Meeting Room, Williamson Library, 3837 Williamson Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012
Date:
Saturday, March 24 2001
Time:
1.00-4:30 p.m.
A large
number of requests, through phone calls, letters, and in person with their
prayers, support and substance. Also, the Center have been received from those
who are interested in the AL-KUFA
Newsletter, Dawah program, the Prayer
Time-Table and also from those who filled the Free Subscription /
Cancellation Form for the AL-KUFA
Newsletter. InShaAllah, the Center will continue the prayer time-table for each
month in the KCIK’s website. Please
share this newsletter as well as other material you receive from us, including
the Glorious Qur'an with others. Those who do not receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter may get it through KCIK’s website. If you receive more than one copy of this
newsletter via a duplicate mailing, you can help us correct this by informing
us. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you. May Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala) reward you and shower His blessings on all with His
protection, Ameen. Jazakum
Allah Khair.
Because of
the large numbers of letters that AL-KUFA
has received, we will acknowledge and publish only some of these letters each
time, and we are unable to include references due to space limitations. Our
purpose of publishing these letters is to (a) make a certain plea known to the
public in order that they might respond for the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala), (b) make us all aware of certain circumstances, or (c) to
share a joyous news as well as to make Dua'as and Prayers for those who are ill
or have lost a loved one, and also for the one they have lost. NOTE:
For those who are interested in announcing
the birth of a child, sponsorship of orphan/child,
graduation, wedding, death, or to publish matrimonial or employment interests,
please contact the Kufa Center of
Islamic Knowledge {you
must include a telephone number for matrimonial requests and please
include your full name in English as well as your complete address, telephone number,
and identification number with picture}.
Those who send letters and e-mails, please also provide the Center with your
telephone numbers. In addition, brothers and sisters who are requesting of
us various Islamic materials and messages, please provide us with a full name,
postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address. If this is to be sent to
an institution, please ensure that the institution will accept such material(s),
even if it is just the AL-KUFA
Newsletter. (Please informs us in this
case about the committed name and DC
number for ID). Please type your request(s) and sign the paper. InShaAllah,
we will continue sending this newsletter to whoever wishes to receive it. Also,
we request readers to let us know their new addresses when they relocate. Thank
you brothers and sisters, and may Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala) reward all of you.
The Center
received many letters from chaplains/inmates requesting copies of Qur’an,
videos, publications, cassette lectures. Also, the Center received donation from
our sister in Ohio of $100 [She wrote, “I did get the Qur'an. It is excellent
and I travel with it in my Purse, indeed Jazaaka Allahu Kheiran,], one prayer
rugs, 2 Qur'an, Islamic books and other useful material from a sister (her son
from Virginia brought them), five Scarfs [Veil (Hajab)] and one Islamic caps (Kufis)
for sisters from a family in Virginia, and Islamic books with English meaning
from two foundations. The Center gave five Glorious Qur'an and one Islamic caps (Kufis)
to Chaplain Gene for the Muslim inmates in the City Roanoke Jail and three
Glorious Qur'an to Chaplain Harold for the patients in Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, Salem, and one Qur’an for an individual. Brother in Virginia wrote:
May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)
accept your efforts and thoughtfulness toward the needy and the lonely isolated
prisoners, and may He reward you for the best of your deeds. Ameen to all. May Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala) bless and reward you all, give you courage and provide you
with resources to continue spreading the word of Almighty Lord, and keep us
steadfast in our good deeds, Ameen.
Also, we
encourage our readers and others to participate in our humanitarian programs,
and assist us with our need for scarfs and/or Veil (Hijab), especially for our
new Muslim sisters. May
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)
bless and reward you all, give you courage and provide you with resources to
continue spreading Islam, and keep us steadfast in our good deeds, Ameen.
Anyone who
is interested in the AL-KUFA
publication; including the AL-KUFA
Newsletter, InShaAllah, the Center will send to them. Please contact us. We are
happy to help. Please visit KCIK’s
website, and you will find many Islamic topics. Thank you for nice words and
Dua’as; may He reward for the same.
Prior to
Islam, the ignorant (Jahiliyya) people, used ‘Hajj’ and 'Umrah' as a part of
their worship vocabulary and these words found in a place the Arabic language.
The Glorious Qur'an also repeats the word Hajj, Umrah, Ka'bah and Makkah more
than thirty times. In Arabic, the word, Hajj means a resolve of magnificent
duty. Hajj also means visit to the revered place, or the pilgrimage to Makkah,
which is one of the basic manifestations of the Islamic faith, and a display of
unity of the Muslims throughout the world. The Glorious Qur'an says, "And
expend in the path of Allah and cast not yourself with your own hands into
perdition, and do good, for verily Allah loveth the beneficent one. He hath
chosen you and hath laid not upon you any hardship. What! Love ye not that Allah
should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, All Merciful" (2:159
& 22: 22 & 78).
Performing
Hajj is an ‘Ibadat’, an act of worship, and it is one
of the five pillars of Islam. No one should ignore it without good reasons. The
Glorious Qur'an says, "O Mankind! Worship ye (only) your Lord, Who created
you and those before you, happily ye may guard yourselves against evil. And
proclaim thou unto the people the Pilgrimage (Hajj)! They will come unto thee on
foot and on lean camel, from every remote (high) way! For you therein are
benefits till a fixed time, and the place of their sacrifice is the Ancient
House, (the Ka'bah)." 2:21 &22:27
& 33
Hajj is one
of the very oldest true and pure religious ritual, and it is performed during
Thul AlHijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta'Ala) says in Surah (3:197),
“Hajj is in the months well-known."
The people
in Hijaz at the time of ignorance (Jahiliyya) were committed idol
worshipping. Whatever they saw around themselves of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) 's creations with their own eyes, and some of their own making, they turned into objects of worship. The ignorant people believed that apart from the life of this world, there was no other life.
The
influence of idol worshipping grew to the point where idols were built in the
form of animals, plants, men, jinn, angels, stars, and stones, among other
things. They donated everything they had to their idols. The Glorious Qur'an
says, "And (remember O' Our Rasool Muhammad!) when We fixed for Ibrahim the
place for the House (Ka'bah), (saying): 'Associate thou not with Me ought, and
cleanse My House for those who make the circuits and stand in prayer and bow and
prostrate themselves (unto Me)." 22:26
The City of
Makkah, even prior to Islam, was a land that was tranquil and peaceful, free of
fear, and war, except for tribal skirmishes. People who lived there or in the
surrounding areas prohibited war during the four sacred months, Rajab, Thul
AlQadah, Thul AlHijjah and Muharram. Also,
it is reported the month of Safar was included in these months of prohibition.
There were treaties between clans to stop the oppression and to restore rights
of the weak and the oppressed. Also, during the life of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) such treaties were largely in effect. But in
today’s Jahiliyya, people’s self-desires, oppression and corruption rule
life everywhere. Moreover, unjust treatments continue in different forms such as
harassment, discrimination, abuse, torture and murder without reasons. Leaders
flaunt their power, ignoring the fact that the Almighty Lord is watching them.
In any society where such perversions prevail, the only solution is the supreme
symbol of brotherhood, fraternity, and solidarity that only Islamic can bring to
the world. The Glorious Qur'an says, "Verily the number of months with
Allah is twelve months in Allah's Book, (since) the Day He created the heavens
and the earth; of these (months) four are sacred; that is the established
religion, so be ye not unjust theirin unto yourselves, and fight ye the
polytheists all together, even as they fight you all together; and know ye that
Allah is with the pious ones." 9:36
The ignorant
people as well as Muslims recognized these four sacred months, and a general
amnesty was declared during these four months which have been designated as
being sacred by Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta'Ala). They also fiercely protected their trade and their caravans.
They opened their trade markets and freely exchanged merchandise. The Ka'bah
itself was a sacred place, the people of the City of Makkah took refuge in the Haram AlSharef’ when they feared for their
safety. The ignorant ones of today even ignores these basic principles of
humanity upheld by even the Jahiliyya of those times. The law of Islam injected
even more peace and safety and discipline in Makkak. The Glorious Qur'an says,
"Whosoever then undertaketh the pilgrimage therein, then let there be no
intercourse, nor bad language, nor quarreling during the pilgrimage; and
whatever of good ye do, Allah knoweth it; so make provision (for your journey)
and verily the best provision is piety; and fear Me O ye people of
understanding. That they may witness the advantages unto them, and mention the
Name of Allah during the appointed days over what He hath provided them of the
cattle quadrupeds (as sustenance). Then eat of them and feed the needy the poor.
Then lets them get cleansed and smarten themselves and fulfill their vows, and
let them circuit the Ancient House (the Ka'bah)" 2:197 & 22:28-29
During the
four sacred months, especially the month for Hajj, peace is the dominant theme.
This includes peace with Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta'Ala), with one's soul,
and with one another, with all living creatures. To disturb the peace of anyone
or any creature in any shape or form is strictly prohibited. Also, uprooting
trees and vegetation of the Holy Mosque is prohibited since they are within the
holy sanctity. The Glorious Qur'an says, "It shall be no guilt on your part
if ye seek bounty from your Lord (in trade during pilgrimage); then when ye
march from Arafat remember Allah near the Holy Monument, and remember Him as He
hath guided you, although ye were surely before this, of those who had gone
astray. Allah hath made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, a Sanctuary for mankind,
and the Sacred Month." 2:198
& 5:97
[Continued
from Vol.6, No.10, September 2000]
Islam also
denounces discrimination to all man-made distinctions of caste, color, creed,
community and position. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said, "The believers are equal to each
other." He also said: "Do not pride over your births and your tribal
or national superiority." The Glorious Qur'an says, "If they be needy,
Allah out of His gracious will make them free from want; and Allah is
All-Bounteous, All-Knowing." 24:32 [To Be Continued
InShaAllah]
In the fall
of the year 622 AD and during the month of Rabi Al-Awwal, Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta'Ala) gave His command to Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) to immigrate toward Medinah. After the demise of
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi
Waalihi Wasalam), the Muslims chose Muharram to be the first month of the
Hijrah Year, although this month does not coincide with his migration from
Makkah to Madinah.
The Islamic
calendar is based on the lunar year and it advances ten days every year. A lunar
year of twelve months contains 354 days and 11/30. This fraction adds up to 11
days in every cycle of 30 years, and these are inserted into the calendar by
establishing leap years. Thus, every period of 30 years has 11 leap years of 355
days. The cycle between two new moons contains 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes,
and 2.8 seconds. This defines one lunar month. The actual length of each lunar
month in the Islamic calendar depends on when the new moon is sighted. The
sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of the month and the sighting of
the next new moon marks the end of the previous one, and the beginning of a new
month. Each Hijrah month contains 29 or 30 days and occasionally 28 days.
Incidentally, in Islam according, each day begins at sunset, and ends at the
next with the week starting at sunset on Saturday.
These
twelve months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi Al-Awwal, Rabi Al Thani, Jamada Al
Awwal, Jumada Al Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Thul Al Qadah, and Thul
Al Hijjah. It is important to determine the first day of each month. Religious
leaders and scientists must use all available valid methods to make this
determination. O’
Lord grant the Muslims Your blessings, and grant to the people of the world
peace with Justice in this New Hijrah and for all years to come, Ameen.
Tauba
(Repentance)
[Continued
From Vol.6, No.10, September 2000]
Human
Individual should as far as possible being good and doing good or by being evil
and being evil in this, to return the evil with that which is best. The best, it
is a very comprehensive term to mean, as best as the individual deserves or the
situation demands. The Glorious Qur'an says, "And equals can not be the
good and the evil." 41:34 [To Be Continued InShaAllah]
O Lord, bless those worthy of Thy
response, and bestow Mercy on blessings Thy obedient and deserving creatures
whom Thou hast sown and authored!
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said, “Hasten in performing the (Fardh) Hajj,
for verily one never knows what will befall one.
The sincerity of supplication relieves worry and stress. Allah says in the Surah (43:32), "We Who did distribute among them their (even) their livelihood in the life of this world.''