3.37. HAJ: PILGRIMAGE OF A LIFETIME

God says

And perform the pilgrimage [Haj] and the pious visit [Umrah to Mecca] in the Honour of God …. Q.2:196

Hence pilgrimage to the House [of worship] is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it…. Q.3:97


Prophet said

Ibn Omar reported that a man came to the Prophet and asked: What makes the pilgrimage compulsory? He replied, “means and conveyance” -- H: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah.

‘Hasten to perform pilgrimage which is obligatory, for none among you will know what will happen (tomorrow)’ -- H: Ahmed. N: Ibn Abbas.

Ibn Abbas reported that a women of Khashama (tribe) came to the Prophet and enquired whether she could do Pilgrimage on behalf of her father who was (too weak) and old to even sit on a conveyance. The Prophet replied “Yes” -- Bukhari and Muslim.

‘He who came intentionally to visit my grave will sit in my neighborhood on the day of Resurrection’ - Shu’ab Al-Iman

‘No woman shall make a journey to the destination of one day and night except with a “Mahram” (i.e., with whom marriage is prohibited in Islam)’ – H: Bukhari and Muslim

3.36. THE NIGHT OF MAJESTY

God says

It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was [first] bestowed from on high as guidance unto man a self-evident proof of guidance and as the standard by which to discern true from the false…. Q.2:185

From on high have We bestowed this (Qur’an) on the Night of Destiny*. And what would make you conceive what is the Night of Destiny? The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months: in hosts descend in it the angles, bearing divine inspiration by their Sustainer’s permission; (that night is Peace until the rise of Dawn. -- Q.97:1-5
* or: “of Almightyness” or “of Majesty”-- thus describing the night on which the Prophet received his first revelation. On the basis of several Traditions it may be assumed that it was one of last ten nights- probably the twenty seventh of the month of Ramadan.


Prophet said

Bibi Ayesha related that she asked: O Prophet of God! If I recognize the Night of Majesty, what should I do? The Prophet said, “Utter Frequently: ALLAHUMMA INNAKA ‘AFOOWUN, TUHIBBUL‘AFWA, F’AFU ANNI (O God! Thou are Oft-Forgiving, loving forgiveness, please forgive me)” - H: Ahmed, Ibn Majah, Tirmizi. (Authentic)

Please always remember to use the honorifics:
After name or title of the Prophet say: “Sal-lal- lahu ‘Alaihi wa Sal-lam”;
(peace and blessings be upon him)
After the name or the title of every prophet (nabi) and apostle (rasul) say:
“ ‘Alai hissalaam” (peace be upon him or them)
After the name of their family member, as well as a companion, say:
“Radi Allahu ‘Anhu—or ‘Anha—or ‘Anhum ”
(may God be pleased with him--or her--or them)
And for others, say: “Rahmat-Allah-e-‘Alaih”
(God’s mercy be upon him)

3.35. FASTING: SELF-DENIAL & SELF-DISCIPLINE

God says

O you who believe! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you that you might remain conscious of God: *-- Q.2:183
*As the Qur'an points out fasting has been widely practiced at all times of man’s religious history. The extreme rigor and the long duration of Islamic fast – which is incumbent on every healthy adult, man or woman -- fulfills, in addition to the general aim of spiritual purification, a threefold purpose: (1) to commemorate the beginning of the Qur’anic revelation which took place in the month of Ramazan about 13 years before Prophet migrated to Medina; (2) to provide an exacting exercise of self-discipline; and (3) to make everyone realize, through his or her own experience, how it feels to be hungry and thirsty, and thus to gain a true appreciation of the needs of the poor.


Prophet said

“Observing fast is like holding a shield. The day any of you observe fast, he should neither speak evil nor revile. If, then, anyone rebukes him or quarrels he should say: I am fasting.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

“He who does not give up telling a lie and acting according to it, God does not require him to give up his eating and drinking”-- H: Bukhari. N: Abu hurairah.

“…it is a month of endurance (i.e.,‘Sabr’) and reward of endurance is Paradise’”

“It is a month of mutual sympathy, and a month in which the livelihood of a believer is increased…”-- H: Shu’ab Al-Iman. N: Salman Al-Farisi.

“Observe fast and break (after sun-set); stand up (for prayer at night) and also sleep; because there is surely your duty towards your body, duty towards your eyes, duty towards your wife, and duty towards your neighbour.” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abdullah-b-Amr-b-Aas

3.34. FASTING: OBLIGATORY

God says

O you who have attained to faith! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you might remain conscious of God: [fasting] during a certain number of days. But if any of you is ill, or on a journey, [shall fast instead for the same] number of days later; and [in such cases] it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person.” -- Q.2:183,184


Prophet said

‘O people! A great moment of blessing is approaching the month in which comes a night better than one thousand months. God has ordained fasts for you and standing in prayer at night optional. He who drew close to God by any noble deed in this month of fasting is like a person who performed an obligatory act in other months. And he who performed an obligatory act in this month of fasting is like one who performed seventy obligatory deeds in other months.’ -- H: Shu’ab Al-Imran. N: Salman Al-Farisi.

‘Every good action of man shall be multiplied ten times or even upto seven hundred times, “Except fasting” the Almighty God said, “Because it is for Me and I shall Myself compensate it. He (or she) gave up passion, and gave up food for Me…” ’ --Bukhari and Muslim. Nar: Abu Hurairah.