|
Friday Talks |
 |
|
146 |
|
Friday Talks |
|
|
146 |
|
|
|||
Grace of Arafa Day, and the sacrifice.
Written by: Omar Kadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
6 Thul-Hejjah 1431 h
12 November 2010 ac
Dear faithful,
We live those days, those virtuous days of Allah; the best days of all as far as Allah is concerned. Allah made it such that a deed during those days is unlike a deed done on other days. The messenger ppbu said: {No other deed is more loved to Allah than a good deed done during those ten days}. They said: Not even striving through fighting in the line of Allah (or Jihad). He said: {Not even Jihad through fighting in the line of Allah, except for a man who went out with his soul and his money and none of that came back}. The messenger ppbu also said: {No other days are greater with Allah (may He be praised) or no deeds are more loved to Allah than the deeds done during those ten days. Do plenty of God praising, glorifying and thanking}.
Grace of the ten days and the day of Arafa:
It was during these ten days that Allah brought down upon the messenger ppbu His verse: {Today I have completed your religion for you, and I have complemented my mercy upon you and I have with contentment accepted for you Islam as a faith}. A Jew heard this verse and he said: if this verse was received by us we would have made the day a celebrated day or feast. Ebn Abbas said: “the day this verse came down was in fact two feasts (or two Eids). It was a Friday and it was the day of Arafah”.
The messenger ppbu said: {the fasting of the day of Arafa in my expectation that Allah will clear sins for the year before it and the year which follows it}. Day of Arafah is the day that the enemy of Allah Ebleese (Satan) would not be seen smaller or more insignificant, and more despicable and most disgusted and more raged than he is on this day. That is because of all the blessings and mercies and goodness he sees. And it is because all the forgiveness of the major sins by Allah. The messenger ppbu said: {there is no other day that Allah spares and sets free more slaves from the doom of fire as He does on the day of Arafah. Allah comes closer and boasts with His slaves to angels; and He says: what do you think they want?} What a great and honorable scene when all those attending Hajj stand on that mountain lifting their hands in repentance and in humbleness and humiliation asking for forgiveness. And who is it that forgives sins other than Allah? Slaves of Allah, glorify this day, and take opportunity of time on this day by doing good deeds and doing a plenty of remembering and fasting and reciting of Quran.
Day of Eid (Feast day)
After the day of Arafah, next comes the day of sacrifice. It is another great day with Allah. Some scholars even think it is a greater day than the day of Arafah. The messenger ppbu said: {the greatest day with Allah is the day of sacrifice then the day of settling in Mena during Hajj}. Really; regardless which of the days is the greater; they are both two great and holy days. They fall amongst honorable days only fully appreciated by God fearing people; and only the unlucky ones who would miss out on the grace of those days. The messenger ppbu said: {Day of Arafa, and day of sacrifice, and the days of Tashreeq-days are our feast for us the people of Islam, and they are days of feasting with food and drink}.
The messenger’s practice of Sacrifice
Dear brothers and sisters in faith, one of the greatest rituals of Eid is the slaughter of the sacrifice in order to get closer to Allah through the shedding of its blood. Allah says: {and pray to your God and slaughter}. The sacrifice is part of the Islamic faith by an agreement of all Muslims. The slaughtering of donated sacrifices is part of the rituals in our faith. It was the costume of our father prophet Abraham and also of our prophet Muhammed ppbu. It is a requiement to be done on the time required from every living Muslim who is a mature individual on behalf of himself and on behalf of the people in his family. He may share its reward with whomever he wishes; living and dead. One man may sacrifice just one lamb on his and his family’s behalf regardless of how many are in his family, and regardless of the different levels of relationships. Abu Ayoob said: we used to sacrifice one lamb for the entire family, and now people started boasting about it and it is turning into a kind of show off.
Requirements of the sacrifice:
The sacrifice has a number of necessary conditions, they are:
1) It has to be one of the following classes of animals: lambs, cows or camels.
2) Must be of a mature age, in its second year or older.
3) Must not have any deficiencies like a visible disease or illness, or a visible limb, or a bad-eye (one-eyed), or sever weakness, and any similar or worst conditions than that. Remember that Allah is good and only accepts what is good.
4) The sacrifice must be owned by the one who is making the sacrifice or permission is granted by the owner. One can not make a sacrifice if the animal was stolen or forcibly taken etc.
5) Sacrifice by slaughter must happen on the time allowed. That is after the Eid prayer (10th day of the month of Thul-Hejja) and before sun down of the 13th day of the month of Thul-Hejja.
Remember that the sacrifice was the custom of your prophet, and it is a means of getting closer to your God. Do your sacrifice willingly, and sense the closeness to Allah, and make your intentions purely to Allah, and expect the reward from Allah. Stay away from boasting, and showing off, and do not seek selfishness.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
