DHUL HIJJAH

DHUL HIJJAH

All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, the companions and all the Muslims. 

I bear witness that there is no one to be worshipped other than Allah alone and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His messenger.

Insha'Allah, I will be sharing this short note as a reminder with references from the Holy Qur'an and the Ahadith of the Prophet (ﷺ), to the best of my knowledge.

Dhul Hijjah is one of the holiest months in the Islamic Calendar. It is the month of Hajj, one of the five sacred pillars of Islam, the month in which Prophet Ibrahim (Alayhi Salam) made his sacrifice to Allah translating to the procession Eid al-Adha. 

FIRST TEN DAYS OF DHUL HIJJAH

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah (the 10 best days) are the most sacred days of the year, loved by Allah. Therefore, by giving to Islamic Relief, you can reap the rewards of this blessed month.

Allah says;

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ 

And [by] ten nights. (Surah Al-Fajr 89:2)

The noble Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explained the above Qur'an verse by saying:

"No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 969, Sunan Ibn Majah 1727 and Sunan Abi Dawud 2438).

Those who intended Qurbani must abide by some laws, as commanded by Allah and the Prophet (ﷺ).

Allah says;

وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 

.....And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice..... (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:196).

The Prophet (ﷺ) also laid emphasizes on the statement of Allah in some narrations of Ahadith. 

Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) reported the below Hadith directly from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ): 

If anyone has in his possession a Qurbani (sacrificial animal) to offer as a sacrifice (on Eid al-Adha), he should not get his hair cut and nails trimmed after he has entered the first days of Dhu'l Hijjah. (Sahih Muslim, 1977e).

THE QURBANI (SACRIFICE)

The Qurbani is the slaughtering of animal – a goat, sheep, camel or cow – during Eid al-Adha.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an that:

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ 

So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone]. (Surah Al-Kawthar 108:2)

and

لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 

Their meat will not reach Allāh, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:37).

QUALITIES OF QURBANI (SACRIFICE)

Qurbani is an act of worship most beloved to Allah during the days of Tashreek and it is important that one offers the best possible offering. Standards covers health, weight (meat yielded) and age.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik: 

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer two rams as sacrifices, and I also used to offer two rams. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5553).

QURBANI ANIMALS

The time for animal sacrifice starts from the 10th of Dhu'l Hijjah and ends by sunset on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Eligible qurbani must meet the minimum requirements, such as the age of the animal for Qurbani and their conditions.

Below are recommended Qurbanis:

🔹Sheep/Goat/Ram: should be at least one year in age (this is equivalent to one person’s Qurbani).

🔹Cows/Buffalo: should be two years in age (equivalent to seven people’s Qurbani).

🔹Camels: should be five years in age (equivalent to seven people’s Qurbani).

CONDITIONS OF QURBANI (SACRIFICE)

All animals must be healthy and free of disease, including the following conditions:

- They must not be excessively thin or lean.

- They must be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter.

- They must not be toothless, or missing over half their teeth.

- They must not be blind or one-eyed.

- They must not have a lame leg (unable to walk on it).

SLAUGHTERING THE QURBANI

For an animal to be accepted as Qurbani, it is essential that the slaughter is carried out humanely following Qurbani rules. 

Below are some of the rules that should be followed:

1) A sharp knife must be used to carry out the Qurbani – dull knives may inflict unnecessary pain and suffering.

2) Knives must not be sharpened in front of the sacrificial animal.

3) No animal should be slaughtered in front of another animal.

4) When the sacrifice is being made, the words “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” must be recited.

5) The animal should not to be skinned until the body is entirely cold.

It was narrated from Shaddad bin Aws that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 

“Allah has prescribed Al-Ihsan (proficiency) in all things. So if you kill, then kill well, and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” 

(Sunan Ibn Majah 3170, Sunan an-Nasa'i, 4414 and Sahih Muslim 1955a).

SUNNAH ACTS ON EID AL-ADHA

It is said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform some rites on the day of Eid al-Adha. These rites are also recommended for all Muslims too.

Below are some of the Prophet's acts;

▪️Make ghusl (take a shower or bath)

▪️Eat breakfast – the Prophet (ﷺ) ate dates before going out.

▪️Wear the best clothes you have.

▪️Apply fragrance/perfume.

▪️Say the general takbeerat after Fajr prayer (and other days of Tashreek).

▪️Walk to the Eid praying ground (if not too far)– follow a different route on the way back home.

▪️Perform Eid prayer in congregation. (where safe to do so and socially distanced).

▪️Connect with friends and family (where safe to do so in person/virtually).

▪️Exchange gifts.

O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.

BAITUL MA’MUR (THE FREQUENTED HOUSE)

Baitul Ma’mur (الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ), the “Frequented House”. The angels make Tawaf (circumambulation) to this House just like we humans make Hajj or Umrah to the Holy Ka’aba. The Ka’aba on earth is a replica of it. Angels perform prayer in the Bait-ul-Ma’mur.

Every single day, seventy thousand (70,000) angels visits it fo circumambulation. This will continue on until the Day of Resurrection.

The house itself is also mentioned in Qur'an.

Allah says;

وَٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْمَعْمُورِ 

“And by the Bait-ul-Ma'mur (the frequented House).”  Surah At-Tur 52:4.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also mentioned it in the narration of his journey to the heaven (Isra' wal Mira'aj).

"Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur (i.e. Allah’s House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave, they never return to it (but always a fresh batch of angels comes into it daily)."  Sahih Al-Bukhari 3207 and  Sahih Muslim 164.

He also said, Then the Bait-ul-Ma’mur was raised up to me. I said: O Gabriel! what is this? He replied: It is the Bait-ul-Ma’mur. Seventy thousand (70,000) angels enter into it daily and, after they come out, they never return again. Two vessels were then brought to me. The first one contained wine and the second one contained milk, and both of them were placed before me. I chose milk. It was said: You did right. Allah will guide rightly through you your Ummah on the natural course.......

And then he narrated the rest of the hadith to the end.”  Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 and  Sahih Muslim 164

SUMMARY

This indicates their great numbers (of angels) and that only Allah knows how many they are. Hence, we must believe in them generally and specifically as honored creation, not humans or Jinn, but as creatures created from light as related in numerous hadith.

It is a Masjid like the Kabah, above seven skies. The angels visit it, pray in it, and do Tawaf (circumambulation). Each day, a fresh batch of 70,000 angels comes to it. Till the Day of Judgement the same batch of angels will not get a chance to return to it again. Haven known how mighty and powerful the work force of Allah, how powerful must Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) be?

PROPHET NUH'S ARK

Safinat Nuh (سَفِينَةُ نُوحٍ). 

Other name: Al-Fulk (الفُلْك).

The size of the Ark was 300 cubits by 50-cubit.

Surah 29:15 of the Quran refers to it as a safina, an ordinary ship; surah 7:64 uses fulk, and surah 54:13 describes the Ark as "a thing of boards and nails.

The Ark was constructed three (3) different layers; wild and domesticated animals were lodged in the first part; Prophet Nuh and his followers occupied the second layer, and the third were occupied by different birds.

Whenever Prophet Nuh (Alayhi Salam) invites his people to Allah, they either run away from him or put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to listen to the truth. All in all, he realized overtime that his efforts were surely in vain.

Consequently, he became tired and sad; so he asked Allah (SWT) to destroy the non-believers.

As Quran says:

وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا 

And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.

إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا۟ عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا 

Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.

Surah Nuh 71:26-27

Allah (SWT) then accepted his prayer and asked him to build an Ark away from the sea with wood and tools. As non-believers saw these preparations, they mocked at him thinking he went mad. As Quran says:

وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ 

And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."

Surah Hud 11:37

Eventually when the Ark was built, Prophet Noah (AS) and his believers patiently waited for the command of Allah (SWT). Allah revealed to him that when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven at Prophet Noah's(AS) house, that would be the sign of the start of the flood, and the sign for Prophet Nuh (AS) to take action.

It was also said that the waves rose over the mountains by a height of eighty miles. Yet, this ship continued to move upon the water, sailing by the permission of Allah. It moved under His shade, His help, His protection and His blessing.

When the ship got to it's destination point, Allah commanded the rain to stop and the water to dry up. 

Allah say;

وَقِيلَ يَٰٓأَرۡضُ ٱبۡلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَٰسَمَآءُ أَقۡلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلۡمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ وَٱسۡتَوَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡجُودِىِّۖ وَقِيلَ بُعۡدًا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ 

And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and it [i.e., the ship] came to rest on the [mountain of] Jūdiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."

Surah Hud 11: 44.

It was said that the ark began its voyage at Kufa in central Iraq and sailed to Mecca, circling the Kaaba before finally traveling to Mount Judiyy in Turkey, which the above surah gave as its final resting place.

Qatadah, one of the Prophet's companion said;

"The ship rested upon it (Mount Judi) for a month before they (the people) came down from it.

Allah made Nuh's ship remain on Mount Judi in the land of Al-Jazirah, as a lesson and a sign.

He also added that the early generations of this Prophet Muhammad ummah saw the Ark".

According to The Observer newspaper, 16 January 1994, a team of scientists said that they had found Noah’s Ark on the Turkish-Iranian border, 32 kilometers from Mount Ararat, according to the leader of that team who did a six-year thorough investigation on the site.

The Turkish government was so convinced by the findings that, after years of intransigence, it had designated the site one of special archaeological interest and agreed to its excavation later.

PURPOSE OF LIFE.

Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and messenger.

Whomsoever Allah guides, none can lead him astray, and whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide. The truest of word is the Book of Allah and best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (ﷺ). 

Insha'Allah Ta'ala, we will be using this medium to remind ourselves of the purpose of our existence on earth and what is required of us from Allah.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

Allah answers this question in the Noble Quran:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ 

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

[Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]

A universal message for all mankind – all backgrounds, ethnicities and nationalities. The sole and only purpose of our existence is to worship Allah – our Creator, Sustainer and Provider.  

Allah created proofs of His existence within our own selves and all around us. He did not leave us alone to wander blindly guessing on how to worship Him. Throughout the ages, Allah sent Prophets to teach people how to worship him. However, previous Prophets were sent to a specific place and specific people.

But, Allah sent His final Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) with His final revelation (called the Qur'an) to all mankind…To pull mankind out of the depths of ignorance and anguish to the heights of knowledge, internal peace and everlasting contentment.

Achieving this true success requires placing the topmost priority on living one’s life in accordance with the teachings of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Allah also says;

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ 

O you who have believed, fear Allāh. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Aware of what you do.

[Surah Al-Hashr 59:18].

RESETTING OUR PRIORITIES.

What are our current priorities? 

To understand our priorities, we all need to answer the following questions:

1) How do we use our free time? 

2) How do we spend our money? 

3) What occupies our thoughts the most? 

4) How do we use our energy?

Genuinely reflecting on these questions will indicate the priority which we had set on fulfilling our life’s true mission. It is never too late to reset our priorities. 

Gaining knowledge is a key aspect of this even if we have been a Muslim all our life.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ 

........."Are those who know equal to those who do not know?".

[Surah Az-Zumar 39:9].

Oh Allah help us in remembering You, expressing gratitude to You and worshipping You in the best fashion. And make us among your close servants and among those foremost in faith and performing righteous deeds. Indeed Allah is All Hearing Answering. 

O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed.  For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.

LESSONS FROM SURAH YUSUF

Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness.

 Allah says;

لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ ايَاتٌ لِّلسَّايِلِينَ

Allah says that there are Ayat, lessons and wisdom to learn from the story of Yusuf and his brothers, for those who ask about their story and seek its knowledge. Surely, their story is unique and is worthy of being narrated.

We all know that Prophet Yusuf was one of the twelve (12) sons of Prophet Yaqoub [علیہ السلام]. His ten older brothers felt envious of the love and affection which their father has for him and his younger brother. Yusuf was the 11th child, while Benyamin (Benjamin) was the 12th child.

 The Qur'an says;

إِذْ قَالُواْ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَى أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلاَلٍ مُّبِينٍ

Now [Yusuf’s brothers] spoke [thus to one another:] “Truly, Yusuf and his brother [Benjamin] are dearer to our father than we, even though we are so many. Behold, our father is surely suffering from a clear misguidance!” [Q 12:8].

One day Yusuf had a dream and he narrates to his father, who immediately knew that Yusuf will be a prophet. His father warned him not to tell his brothers to avoid any harm.

 The Qur'an states that;

 قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لاَ تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَى إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُواْ لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

[Yaqoub] replied: “O my dear son! Do not relate your dream to your brothers lest [out of envy] they devise an evil scheme against you; verily, Satan is man’s open foe! [Q 12:5].

However, Yusuf's brothers felt jealous because of Yaqub's loving treatment towards him.

Out of hatred and envy, so they plotted against him, thrown him into a well along a caravan route. 

Parents need to be very careful when expressing their love towards their children. If they praise one, they should express some form of love or praise for the other children present, within the same time-frame and physical setting, in order to prevent envy from being born in their hearts.

 The Messenger of Allah [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم] said;

'Fear Allah and treat your children justly'.

[Sahih Al Bukhari, Muslim].

How perfect You are O Allaah, and I praise You. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.

Our Lord, give us good in this world and in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.

Oh Allah, do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes. Lord, do not burden us as You burdened those before us.

Oh Allah, do not burden us with more than we have strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so help us against the disbelievers.

Oh Allah, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us. Grant us Your mercy: You are the Ever Giving.

SIGNIFICANCE OF TAHAJJUD SALĀT

There are numerous Quranic āyāts and Hadiths from the Holy Prophet (pbuh) which highly recommend that believers perform the Late Night prayers (Tahajjud or Qiyamul-layl) regularly.

1. In verse 78 of Surah Al-Isra' (No. 17) Allah instructs the Holy Prophet (s) to establish prayers during the day time. But, Allah didn't stop there, He mentions in the following Āyat saying:

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا

And keep vigil for a part of the night, as a superogaroty prayer (additional acts of devotion) for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station. (Q 17:79)

This is the verse which gives the late night prayer its name by the word layl meaning, “the midnight prayer or Tahajjud,” and it also clarifies that this prayer is Nāwafil, i.e. a prayers which are beyond the call of duty. The verse also states that performing Tahajjud can raise a person to an exalted spiritual position known as maqam mahmūd – a status achieved by selected servants of Allah.

2. In verses 15 and 16 of Sūratul Dhāriyāt (No. 51) Allah (swt) promises that the Muttaqīn (pious) will be amid gardens and springs, receiving what their Lord has given them. Then, in the next ayats that follows, Allah further mentions some of their qualities, among them being:

كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ، وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

They used to sleep a little during the night, and at dawns they would plead for forgiveness. (Q 51: 17 & 18)

Sleeping is one of the necessities for good health and performance of a human being. Despite this, the devout and pious servants of Allah deprive themselves of sleep during this hours of night to be in intimate communion with their Lord. This devotion of servants is greatly liked by Allah (The All-Provider and Cherisher).

3. In Sūratus Sajdah (No. 32:16-17) below, Allah promises special reward for those who discard the comfort of their beds to say the Prayer of Tahajjud. He states:

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

Their sides abandon their beds to supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and spend out of what We have given them.

فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا اُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

None knows what has been hidden for them of comfort as a reward for what they used to do. (Q 32:16 & 17)

Commenting on verse 32:17, the Holy Prophet (s) says: There is no good deed which it's reward has not been mentioned in the Quran, except the Night Prayer. Almighty Allah did not specify the reward of Qiyamul-layl due to its greatness with Him.

The Quranic verses above instructs us that the Prayer should be said with fear and hope and one should be generous in spending from the wealth given to him by his Lord. As for the reward that follows the performer of Tahajjud, it is such that none besides Allah really knows its worth and greatness!

4. A number of verses (e.g. Q 52:49, 76:26) emphasize glorifying Allah for a long time in the late part of the night. For example:

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ 

And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars. (Q 52:49)

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا

And during the part of the night, prostrate to Him and glorify Him through the long night. (Q 76:26)

Thus, we all know that many long supplications and glorifications have been recommended for recitation during Tahajjud Salāt, some of which different scholars encourages.

5. In Sūratul Muzzammil (No. 73 verse 6), which was reveled in the early period of Islamic era in Makkah, Allah explains the reason for importance of Qiyamul-layl (late night prayers) and supplications. He says:

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْءًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا

Indeed the hours of night are strongest of tread and most upright in speech. (Q 73:6)

This could mean that acts of devotion late at night are most impressive on the mind. In the daytime numerous affairs occupy our time and minds. It is difficult at that time to have peace of mind for devoted and intimate worship. But at night when it is dark and silent, when the demands of the material world are at rest, a human being can acquire a tranquil state which allows him/her to get attuned with the Creator. It is at this time that the human being acquires a special state of mind and energy which is very conducive to increasing spirituality and strengthening connection with the Creator. That is why the friends (awliya’) of Allah, and those who seek nearness to Him always make the most use of the last part of the night. They purify their souls, enliven their hearts, strengthen their will, and perfect their sincerity, through worship at this special time.

Transcendent are You, O Allah, and praise be to You as You praise Yourself. I bear witness that there is no deity to be worshiped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.

PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE!

 

PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE!

In life, one of the most important choice you will need to make is who to marry. This choice is so important that if you miss it, you will suffer for long, if you get it right then you will enjoy forever. A bad marriage can affect every other area of your life.

For two people to come together to live in peace and harmony, they must agree spiritually, mentally and physically. Just like an elephant cannot marry an ant so also a believer cannot marry an unbeliever.

If an elephant marries an ant how would they live, if a goat marries a fish where would they meet? You must look for a sincere and righteous man or a sincere and righteous woman to marry, nothing can beat this. The devil's primary target is the family. He knows that everyone belongs to a family and he often can whisper evil thoughts into the family for the couple not to be together in marriage, then he will succeed in breaking the marriage and family ties and the nation down as a whole, and this is part of what we're witnessing all over the world presently. ALLAH has somebody for you but you must set your priorities right towards the choice you want and not people choosing for you.

What do you need in a woman? What do you need in a man?

Marriage is not about what you want, it is about who you need, that will make you better while you make him better. That is why you must know your purpose before you get married.

You must pray before you choose.

ALLAH knows the best person for you, it is only wise to seek Allah's will. It is very easy to know ALLAH's will when sex is not involved. The moment sex is involved and you want to know His will then He will blank you out by not answering you. Why? Because you have broken His first Law of NO SEX before marriage. If you have had sex in the past then you need to repent totally, then you can seek forgiveness from ALLAH and your marriage will not be hell on earth. Your marriage will be honourable.

Don't marry for sex, don't marry because you are of age, don't marry because you are getting old, don't marry because you are lonely, don't marry because you need someone to support you financially, don't marry because you mistakenly got pregnant, don't marry because you don't want to lose the person, don't marry because of family pressures, don't marry because you like the idea of marriage and admire every wedding gown you see, don't marry because all your friends are getting married. But get married because you want to fulfill what ALLAH has ordained on every slave of His. Get married because you want to be a help mate, but most of all, because you want to fulfil a purpose of having completed half of your religion, your deen. ALLAH will help you in choosing, please let's all continue to pray fervently to Allah for all we want.

He loves us so dearly and he will answer all our duas and supplications at the right time.