Reasons why pilgrims get lost in Makkah

Reasons why pilgrims get lost in Makkah

MAKKAH – Old age, language problem, getting separated from the group are some of the reasons why pilgrims get lost in the Grand Mosque and the central area around it.

Makkah Arabic daily has put together a list of the top ten reasons. Usually, pilgrims try to find those who speak their language or police officers to ask for direction to their hotel. This becomes a real problem when a pilgrim is unable to communicate with authorities or when he or she is unaware of the name or location of his or her hotel.

“You also need to take into account the age of pilgrims and their social and cultural backgrounds,” said supervisor of Turkish pilgrims Ahmad Halabi, who stressed that the Saudi Ministry of Haj pays special attention to lost pilgrims and make sure that they reach their destination.

He cited a number of reasons and factors why pilgrims get lost, which include old age. Elderly pilgrims find it difficult to remember the doors through which they entered the Grand Mosque. “The Grand Mosque is big and the streets and roads around it are confusing. Some insist on leaving their hotels alone and refuse to stay with the group. That’s when most of the accidents happen,” Halabi said.

“Some pilgrims refuse to carry wrist bands, which contain their names and location,” he said.
The Makkah Municipality is working to develop an indicative map of Makkah and major important sites in the city, he said.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Helpful advice for Pilgrims

Helpful advice for Pilgrims

Helpful advice for Pilgrims

Allaah, The Most Exalted, Says (what means): Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj.”  [Quran 2:197]
1)   Consciousness of Allaah
The best way to please Allaah is to watch for Him constantly and be conscious and fearful of Him in all your actions and speech.
2)   Correct ‘Aqeedah (Belief)
Every Muslim should understand that if his/her belief is not sound, the Hajj or any other act of worship is not accepted. So always try to correct your belief by asking scholars who will provide you with proofs from the Quran and Sunnah.
3)    Pure intention
Almighty Allaah does not accept what is not directed to Him alone. Therefore, you should always be sincere and have pure intention for Hajj.
4)   Correctness of rituals
No ritual is accepted unless it is made correctly, exactly as Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) performed it. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whoever adds something new to our religion that is not part of it, it is rejected.”[Al-Bukhaari]
5)   Patience
The difficulty of rituals requires every pilgrim to be patient and forgiving of others.
6)   Repentance
Do your best to make Hajj a chance of repentance for all your sins.  This repentance requires that you strive not to commit these sins again.
7)   Mercy
Do your best to help Muslims, avoid pushing or hurting them in all of the Hajj rituals, especially in Tawaaf, Sa`y, and pebble throwing, which are extremely crowded.
8)   Cleanliness
Cleanliness is a true sign of faith.  Therefore, you should always keep your heart, body, food, drink, and everything clean.  Also ask others to keep ritual and worship places as clean as possible.
Practical tips
1)   Money:
Do not worry about exchanging money.  You can do that very easily anywhere in Saudi Arabia.
2)   Small groups:
Close observation shows that people who move in large groups are prone to having either one or someone get lost, and/or missing some rituals or to perform them late which  may require a compensation either by slaughtering an animal, fasting or something else.
3)   Good company:
Be sure to choose good company during your entire journey, because they can help you avoid arguments and help you perform your Hajj correctly.
4)   To avoid getting lost:
It is recommended to arrange with your group in advance exactly where and when to meet and what to do in cases of being late, and what to do if someone gets lost. Following these procedures may help:
Arrange to meet in plain sight where there is a clear, colored sign or landmark.
Specify a range of time to meet for those who may be late for some reason, provided that this time does not affect the ritual to follow.
Be sure that everyone in your group is properly instructed and notified.
5)   Food:
Do not carry food from your homeland; almost everything is available there. Also, remember that your food may be taken from you at the airport.
To develop good eating habits, observe the following
Avoid eating big meals, (a) because this is not healthy, and (b) not helpful for performing rituals.
1)   The best foods to eat are fruits, and the best drinks are water and juice.  They are everywhere and inexpensive.
2)Put the remains of food in a plastic bag, and in a trash container.
6)   Medication:
Carry only medication that is essential for your health.  Other common medicines can be obtained from any drugstore.  You can get free first aid care in all ritual areas.
7)   Protection:
Beware of the high temperatures in all ritual areas.  Avoid being exposed to the sun for long periods of time.  Carry an umbrella and drink lots of liquid.
8)   Services for the handicapped:
Fothe weak, the sick, the handicapped and elderly people, there are special services provided.  Wheel chairs and on-shoulder-litters can be rented for those who need them.  Ask the authorities for these services inside Al-Masjid Al-Haraam.  Sometimes you may find them free, but usually they are not very expensive.  Take advantage of these services if you need them.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Preparing for Hajj & Umrah

Preparing for Hajj & Umrah

Every year, millions of Muslims make the journey of their lifetime. They come from all over the world for the sole purpose of fulfilling one of Allaah’s greatest commandments to mankind – the Hajj. Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was asked, ‘Which is the best deed?’ He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: ‘To believe in Allaah and His Messenger ( sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )).’ He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was then asked, ‘Which is the next (good deed)?’ He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: ‘To participate in Jihaad in Allaah’s cause.’ He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was then asked, ‘Which is the next?’He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: ‘To perform an accepted Hajj.” [Al-Bukhaari] For over 1400 years, believers have been making Hajj to the House of Allaah in Makkah. It is an obligation for each and every Muslim to perform Hajj at least once in his/her lifetime if he is physically and financially able.
Pre-Hajj preparations
Due to the importance of Hajj, preparations for it should not be taken lightly. Besides planning the actually logistics of the trip, the Muslim needs to prepare Islamically, physically, mentally, and financially for this great act of worship. Islamically, one of the most important preparations for this journey is acquiring the necessary knowledge for performing the rituals of Hajj and ‘Umrah correctly and in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). This means studying and learning about Islam, acquiring a high degree of Eemaan (faith) in order to deal with the emotional and physical demands of Hajj, and learning correctly the actual religious rituals and requirements from the beginning to the end of Hajj and ‘Umrah. Studying and learning about the Hajj can be accomplished in a variety of fashions, from reading books on the subject or using computer programs which utilize a multimedia format, to actually taking classes offered by Islamic centers on the rituals of Hajj and ‘Umrah. Furthermore, many travel groups that specialize in Hajj and ‘Umrah trips offer Hajj preparation classes as well as scholars and students of knowledge that help those going for Hajj perform the rituals of Hajj and ‘Umrah correctly.
In addition, it is important to mention that spiritually preparing for Hajj and ‘Umrah is also a lesson on how to follow the footsteps of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) who taught the Companions may Allaah be pleased with them – a lesson that can be transformed into other acts of worship. Preparing for Hajj is a spiritual experience with a period of self-reflection and a lesson in piety and humility. The pilgrim must focus on his sole intention of performing Hajj. That it is solely for the pleasure of Allaah and in accordance to His Commandment regarding this act of worship. The believer also needs to resolve any conflicts or differences between him and others and seek forgiveness for any acts of transgression. This stage of preparation should take place long before the actual departure for Hajj.
Other preparations that should be planned long before the actual trip are financial in nature. Simply, going to Hajj costs money. Furthermore the pilgrim must pay off any old debts (this includes any type of loans), household bills, and leave enough money to pay any living expenses likely that other members of his family not making Hajj might need. Finally it is important to complete one’s will (wasiyyah) before departing on Hajj.
Another important step in preparing for Hajj is the need to prepare physically for the event. Not only is Hajj a spiritual event, it also requires a lot of physical stamina from the participant. Hajj is not a picnic! Completing the rites of Hajj includes a lot of walking, mixing with many people, living in high temperatures (during summer), and exerting a great deal of effort. Another important step in preparing physically for Hajj is to make sure you are medically fit for the trip. Individuals with chronic health issues need to see their primary care physician in order to discuss any medical risks that need to be addressed prior to their Hajj experience.
Another recommendation is that these individuals also travel with a healthy caretaker in case any problems might arise during the actual Hajj. In addition, pilgrims must have the necessary vaccinations required by the Saudi Government for cholera and meningococcal meningitis. Because of these issues, it is also important to emphasize that one should complete Hajj and ‘Umrah as soon as one is able to both physically and financially. Some people wait until they are old to go for Hajj. This is wrong and makes Hajj more difficult than necessary for the participant and in many cases for his traveling companions. Performing Hajj as soon as possible corresponds to the Hadeeth narrated by ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him who said: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: ‘He who intended to perform Hajj should hasten to do so.’” [Abu Daawood]
The last pre-logistic preparation centers on preparing mentally for Hajj. This includes learning and accepting that the Hajj experience includes frustration, intense dessert heat (during summer), and various differences in culture and food. The pilgrim can expect to stand in long lines, be shoved and pushed by others while completing the necessary rituals, and be in an uncomfortable close proximity to members of the opposite sex.
One purpose of Hajj is for the individual to be tested. The individual will be tested on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Overall hajj summary and tips

Overall hajj summary and tips

Hajj has always been referred to as the trip of a life time. I always wondered why this trip to a barren land was so spectacular and such a life altering journey. Alhamdulillaah, I now know.
By the grace of Allaah Almighty, I was able to visit the holy cities, Makkah and Madeenah during 2006 – 2007 with my beloved wife and was able to perform Hajj.
It is a journey which I will remember for the rest of my life. I also hope that I will have opportunities to go back and visit the holy sites again.
Please don’t waste the opportunity to perform an obligation, one of the pillars of Islam. Remember Hajj removes all past sins and it is from the best of deeds. It is in the best days of the year, in the best place and time. Hajj increases wealth and not to do Hajj while being able to is a sign of miserliness. So make the decision to go and do the best you can to make it a successful Hajj.
Below is some general advice that may help my dear brothers and sisters in preparing to perform Hajj:
1)  Start planning early, start planning early and start planning early. Can’t stress how important this is. A good trip requires early planning, at least four months before the departure.
2)  Pilgrims need to understand that they are going to perform an obligatory worship, but will do so in an overall Islamic character. Don’t perform a voluntary act and destroy an obligation in the process. You will experience this first hand at Hajj.I also hope that Muslim governments and religious organizations will install programs to provide education and training necessary for the intending pilgrims before they leave their home countries.
3)  The intending pilgrims need to understand the kind of physical hardships they may go through and mentally prepare themselves to accept such difficulties.
4)  Start learning early about the rituals of Hajj.
5)  A Hajj guide will help acquaint you with the Hajj places, sites and rituals. Start memorizing some of the supplications in Arabic and understand their meanings.
6)  Make contacts with travel agents and other groups for Hajj travel. Obtain the required injections, cholera and meningitis, from your doctor. A health certificate with these injections is needed for a Hajj visa. Make sure you have a valid passport. Your group should be able to provide you with more information.
7)  Remember to budget for your Hajj trip. You will also need spending money, how much depends on how much you would like to spend.
8)  Your Luggage and Carry on should be kept to a minimum. I only took one Abaya (Men’s Islamic Dress) with me. I took several pieces of underwear, socks and shirts. I had one medium-size suitcase and a carry-on. If you plan to purchase a lot of items, buy an extra suitcase there. The prices are good. I first went to Madeenah, so I purchased my Ihraam and Money Belt from Madeenah. If your waist is a little larger than it should be, consider purchasing a money belt from your homeland to save time looking for one in Saudi.
9)  Suggested Books – Quran, Hajj Guides, Du’aa’ Books and general Islamic books that uplift you.
10) Learn how to pray Janaazah (funeral) prayer as there is always a funeral procession after the obligatory prayers in both Madeenah and Makkah. On my trip, there was only one time that there wasn’t a Janaazah prayer after prayer.
11)  Get a hold of a small Fortification Du’aa’ Book sold in most bookstores and start memorizing all the relevant Du’aa’s for your trip. You should know the Du’aa’ for when you travel, when you enter and leave the mosque, etc.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

The Prophet successful leadership and benevolence during Hajj

The Prophet’s successful leadership and benevolence during Hajj

Allaah, Almighty, gave the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) perfect moral values. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) therefore fulfilled all the requirements of ideal benevolence and successful leadership. People came to him with open hearts. They raced to perform the Hajj with him when they learned of his intention to perform this important pillar of Islam. Everyone wanted to accompany him and be under his banner. Thus, some one hundred thousand pilgrims performed the Hajj with him. [Muslim]
They all were desirous of following his example and of having first hand knowledge from him. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) left a profound impression on their souls. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gave them the best guidance and for them he was an exemplary leader. In fact, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was the greatest leader and inspirer the world had ever seen. Following are just a few examples in this regard:
i)  His modesty
Modesty is one of the attributes of good conduct for which Allaah rewards his servants. Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated, “Allaah will elevate those who worship Him in humility.” [Ibn Maajah] Modesty in fact, was an order from Allaah to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Allaah Says (what means): “And lower your wing to the believers who follow you.” [Quran, 26:215] Thus, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) obeyed Allaah, and attained an unsurpassable degree of modesty. This was seen during his Hajj on different occasions:
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) refused to receive any special treatment as he insisted on drinking from the same basin as everybody else, although people were dipping their hands into the water. “I don’t want it,” he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said when they offered to bring him clean water, “Give me some of the water that people are drinking.” [Al-Bukhaari]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) also allowed Usaamah Ibn Zayd may Allaah be pleased with him to ride behind him in public from ‘Arafah to Muzdalifah. [Muslim]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) stopped to listen to a woman from the public to answer her question. [Muslim]
ii)    His mercy
During the Hajj, the Prophet’s sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) mercy for the people can be seen on many occasions:
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered those who did not offer Hady to end their state of Ihraam completely; this would permit them to have sex with their wives, to be dressed in their normal clothes, and to wear perfume. This was an act of mercy for the nation and alleviation of their burden. [Muslim]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) combined Asr (afternoon) and Thuhr (noon) prayers at ‘Arafah, [Al-Bukhaari], and delayed his prayers when he per-formed Ifaadhah (moved) to Muzdalifah, [Al-Bukhaari], thereby making it easier for the people to perform the rituals. Indeed it would have been difficult for the pilgrims to dismount and unpack several times. In so doing, the pilgrims were able to halt their camels and put their belongings at the same spot where they spent the night.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gave permission to the weak to perform Ifaadhah, (to leave) from Muzdalifah ahead of the rest of the pilgrims at night, right after the moon had set. Thus, they were able to perform their rituals easily and comfortably on Slaughter Day before the others. [Al-Bukhaari]
At the time when pilgrims went to spend the night in Mina, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) permitted his uncle Al-‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him to stay in Makkah to continue providing people with drinking water. [At-Tirmithi]
Further, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) allowed shepherds to cast their Jimaar (pebbles) in one day instead of two after Slaughter Day. [Muslim]
Being merciful to his people, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) would sometimes perform the rituals in a less favorable manner than they should ideally be performed. For example, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) performed Tawaaf on his camel back and touched the Black Stone with a stick instead of kissing it or touching it with his hand. He did not perform Tawaaf or Sa’y on foot, which would have been better because he did not want people to be turned away or get hurt in his presence. [Muslim]
iii)  His magnanimity
The good deeds of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) as leader of the pilgrims during the Hajj were countless and evident for all around. Here are just few examples:
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was so generous in giving alms and charities, that he gave away the one hundred badanas (sacrificial camels)—including their meat, hides and coverings. [Muslim] He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) also donated in other charities on many occasions. [Al-Bukhaari]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was so kind to the weak that he mentioned them in his exhortations. [Ahmad]
Committed to saving his people, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) invoked Allaah at ‘Arafah and Muzdalifah, to accept them and to forgive them their sins. [Ahmad] When asked by a pilgrim to invoke Allaah on his behalf, he offered a general invocation and said, “may Allaah forgive you all.” [At-Tirmithi]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) spoke clearly and repeatedly to the pilgrims, giving them general information but without going into details. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) dealt with the fundamentals of Islam, explained the grave sins and clarified some principles so that people would better understand them. [Al-Bukhaari]
iv)  His patience
During his Hajj, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) showed all of the three types of patience simultaneously. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was most enduring in obeying Allaah’s commands and offering sacrifices. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) did it in complete relaxation, tranquility and submissiveness to Allaah. [Al-Bukhaari]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was a most religious, most knowledgeable and most observant of Allaah’s limits and never transgressed them. The patience and endurance he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) exhibited when he led the pilgrims without any sign of complaint or resentment is indeed commendable.
v) His responsibilities
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was keenon perfecting submission and surrender to Allaah, and on performing the Hajjrituals perfectly. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was the leader of thepilgrims and in charge of their general unity and welfare. Additionally, he wasthe educator and guide of these massive crowds, teaching them good and warningthem against evil. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was doing his utmost toconvey his message and to explain Islamic rulings in a perfectmanner.
vi)  His leniency
The Prophet’s sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) leniency during the Hajj is exemplified on different occasions:
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) took shelter in the shade and moved between the sacred sites on camel back. Had he done otherwise, it would have been difficult for the Muslims to follow his example. [Muslim]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) also appeared publicly during the Hajj, so pilgrims had no difficulty in following in his footsteps and asking his opinion about whatever problems they had. [Abu Daawood]
He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) made matters easier for pilgrims, and never asked them to do anything beyond their capacity, whether in performing the rituals or in leading them and shouldering the responsibility for them. [Al-Bukhaari]
Moreover, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) did not come near the Ka’bah after the Tawaaf of arrival until he had returned from ‘Arafah, [Abu Daawood], and settled in Mina on the Days of Tashreeq. This leniency is clearly shown when he did not go to Haram until he was ready to leave Makkah. [Al-Bukhaari]
Further, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered his companions may Allaah be pleased with them to be kind to themselves. Upon seeing a man walking and leading his badana (sacrificial camel), the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said to him “Ride on it.” “It is a badana (a camel intended as a ritual sacrifice),” the man replied.” “Ride on it, woe to you,” the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said (woe to you) on the second or third time. [Muslim]

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Haj inspectors go fully electronic

Haj inspectors go fully electronicimage source

Haj inspectors go fully electronic

MADINAH — The Directorate of Haj will issue iPads, instead of pen and paper, to its inspectors to record violations.
Director of Haj in Madinah Mohammad Al-Bijawi said the directorate has become 100 percent electronic.
“We no longer use paper to complete our procedures. We plan to expand the dependency on electronic processing over paper processing to Yanbu’s Prince Abdulmohsen Airport and Yanbu commercial port,” said Al-Bijawi.
He also said using iPads is cost efficient and it simplifies the process. “The directorate has an application specially designed for the purpose. The application has a database of all services available for pilgrims, including flight schedules and lists of hotels in Makkah and Madinah where the pilgrims stay,” said Al-Bijawi.
He said easy access to all of these information enables the inspector to check up on any violations committed by the service providers or pilgrims themselves
“The inspector can also record the location of the violation using GPS. The application has a document indexing all services available for the pilgrims,” said Al-Bijawi.
He added the document helps inspectors to guide lost pilgrims to their destinations.
“Now inspectors can focus on doing their work instead of following up with paperwork. The use of electronics will further expand in the future to better serve the pilgrims and to develop the services offered,” said Al-Bijawi.

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Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Madinah tranquility is incomparable

Madinah tranquility is incomparable

Madinah tranquility is incomparable

MADINAH: Pilgrims spend the most beautiful moments in the Prophet’s Mosque. Where they pray in Riyazul Jannah (garden from the gardens of paradise) and get to greet the Prophet, peace be upon him, said the Omani pilgrim, Ahmed Nasser.
“Such deeds give immense comfort and contentment to the pilgrim visiting the Prophet’s Mosque. It is a huge opportunity and a dream fulfilled,” he said.
The Omani pilgrim visited Quba Mosque, the Seven Mosques, Al-Jumah Mosque and Al-Ghamama Mosque.In addition to the Uhud battle site and other well-known historical sites in Madinah.
Nasser said that there is no city in the world like Madinah whereas Muslims feel peace and tranquility during their stay, and are sad to leave. “Madina is the dearest city to all Muslims around the world.”
The pilgrim faced no obstacles throughout his road trip that stared from Oman to the Kingdom so he praised the services provided by the Saudi government around the year for pilgrims as well as the Two Holy Mosques expansion projects.

Article by: www.arabnews.com

Quran majeed answered many unresolved queries

Quran majeed answered

Quran majeed answered many unresolved queries

I found in Quran the answers to those queries which I had failed to find in Christianity. Particularly, it was only Islam that provided satisfactory answer to the question relating to the birth of Christ
It was way back in 1989 when I, along with my sister, conducted a tour to some of the countries of the Middle East. During our stay in Bahrain, we were accorded a warm welcome. There I happened to meet some children and had a light chitchat with them. I put certain questions to them and they flung at me their innocent queries.
During the course of this interaction, they inquired about my religion. I told them, “I am a Christian.” I asked them, as to what was their religion. A wave of serenity took over them. They replied in one voice: Islam. Their enthusiastic answer really shook me from within. Then they started telling me about Islam. They were giving me information, much in piece with their age. The pitch of their voice would reveal that they were highly proud of Islam. This is how I paced toward Islam.
A very short interaction with a group of children ultimately led me to have long discourses about Islam with Muslim scholars. A great ripple had taken place in my thought. I made failing attempt to console myself that nothing had happened but I could not conceal this fact any longer from myself that at heart I had converted to Islam.
This I disclosed first to my family friend, Qunber Ali. The same Qunber Ali managed to take me to Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Till that time, I did not know much about Islam. From there, in the company of a Saudi family, I proceeded for Makkah for the performance of Umrah (sort of mini Haj).
There I made public for the first time that I had become Muslim.
Having embraced Islam, I felt as if I were born again. I found in Islam the answers to those queries which I had failed to find in Christianity. Particularly, it was only Islam that provided satisfactory answer to the question relating to the birth of Christ. For the first time I was convinced about the religion itself. I pray my family members might appreciate these facts. My family is the follower of that cult of Christianity, which is known as Jehovah’s Witness.
According to its creeds, only 144,000 men would finally qualify to enter into paradise. How come? It remained always a perplexing creed for me. I was surprised to know that the Bible was compiled by so many men, particularly about a volume scripted by King James. I wondered if a man compiles a directory and then ascribes it to God, but he does not fully comply with these directions.
During my stay in Saudi Arabia, I have had the opportunity to buy a cassette released by the erstwhile British pop-singer and the present Muslim preacher, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). I learned a lot from this as well.
When I returned to US, American media orchestrated heinous propaganda against Islam and the Muslims. Gossips were let loose on me, which really disturbed my peace of mind. Hollywood was hell-bent upon maligning the Muslims. They were being projected as terrorists. There are many things where there is consensus between Christianity and Islam, and the Qur’an presents Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) as a virtuous prophet. Then, I wondered, why Christian America levels baseless allegations against Muslims?
This made me gloomy. I made up my mind that I would do my best to dispel the wrong image of Muslims, portrayed by the American media. I had not the slightest idea that American media would not digest the news of my accepting Islam and raise such a great hue and cry.
It was virtually acting against all its tall and much-publicized claims about the freedom of expression and the freedom of conscience. So the hypocrisy of American society came to surface and lay uncovered before me. Islam unknotted many complications for me.
As a matter of fact, I came to think of myself as a complete human being, in the literal sense of the word. After becoming Muslim, I felt a tremendous change in me. I discarded all thing prohibited in Islam. This made things difficult for my family too. In short, the Jackson family tumbled altogether. Threatening letters poured in, which further intensified the worries of my family.
They would tell me that I had nurtured the animosity of American society and culture, by entering into the laps of Islam, you have deprived yourself of the right to live with others. We would make life unbearable for you in America so on, so forth.
But I confess that my family is broadminded. We have held all religions in esteem. Our parents have trained and groomed us in that way. Therefore, I may say that the Jackson family enjoys friendly relation with people belonging to almost all religions. This is the result of that training that I am being tolerated by them so far.
My brother Michael Jackson
On my way back to America, I brought a number of books from Saudi Arabia. Michael Jackson asked me himself for some of these books for study. Before this, his opinion was influenced by the propaganda of American media against Islam and the Muslims. He was not inimical toward Islam, but he was not favorably disposed toward Muslims either. But after reading these books, he would keep mum and not say anything against Muslims. I think perhaps this is the impact of the study of Islam that he diverted his business interests toward Muslim traders.
Courtesy: islamreligion.com

Delaying Hajj for no reason

Delaying Hajj for no reason

Delaying Hajj for no reason

What is the ruling on one who delaying Hajj for no reason when he has the means and is able to do it?

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah. Whoever is able to do Hajj and does not do the obligatory Hajj, delaying it for no reason, has committed a great evil and a major sin. What he has to do is to repent to Allaah from that and hasten to do Hajj, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allaah], then Allaah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:97] And the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establishing regular prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadaan, and performing Pilgrimage to the House (the Ka’bah).” (Saheeh – agreed upon. Al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16). And the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, when Jibreel (peace be upon him) asked him about Islam: “It means to testify that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to establish regular prayer, to pay zakaah, to fast Ramadaan, and to perform Pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to do so.” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh, 8, from the hadeeth of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him)). And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Article by: en.islamway.net

Rewards of ‘Umrah

Rewards of Umrah

Rewards of ‘Umrah

Is it permissible for me to perform ‘Umrah on my own behalf and on behalf of my deceased father and a number of my deceased relatives? What is the allowed number and what are the conditions & reward of this? Is the intention of doing so stipulated before travelling to the Sacred Places?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His Slave and Messenger.
If you mean assuming Ihraam for one ritual on behalf of yourself and on behalf of others, then this is not permissible because Ihraam is valid for only one person. If you mean sharing the reward of your ‘Umrah with them, then this is allowed by many scholars and there is no limit for the number.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen may Allaah have mercy upon him said:
There is no limit to how many people may share in the reward. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire Ummah (i.e. Islamic nation), and a man may offer a single sheep on behalf of himself and the members of his household, even if they are one hundred.
However, it is more appropriate and better to keep the reward for yourself and to strive hard in supplicating Allaah Almighty for those deceased individuals. If you would like to perform ‘Umrah on their behalf, you can go out to the nearest place from which you can assume Ihraam again – which is At-Tan‘eem – after doing the ‘Umrah that you offer on behalf of yourself, then assume Ihraam for performing ‘Umrah on behalf of whomever you want. You can repeat that in the same journey for as many times as you want.
No intention is stipulated for that before traveling. If it occurs to you to share the reward of your ‘Umrah with a deceased person, according to the opinion that allows that, or if it occurs to you to do Umrah on behalf of whomever you want after traveling, then there is nothing wrong with that at all. We have repeatedly pointed out such rulings in many fatwas.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Recommendations to Pilgrims and Visitors of the Holy Mosque

Recommendations to Pilgrims and Visitors of the Holy Mosque

We would like to offer certain recommendations to the pilgrims and visitors of the Holy Mosque in implementation of the Quranic verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety} [Quran 5:2]
These recommendations are also in line with the Prophetic Hadeeth in which the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Religion is Naseehah (sincere advice), to Allaah, His Book, and to the Muslim leaders and the Muslim public.”[Muslim]

Recommendations:

1-Fearing Allaah The Exalted in all conditions and cases. Piety is the source of all good morals and it is one of the Divine recommendations to His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):
·{O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul…} [Quran 4:1]
· {And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allaah…} [Quran 4:131]
In many of his Khutbahs (sermons) the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), used to command people to fear Allaah The Almighty.
Piety means doing what Allaah The Almighty has imposed on His slaves and keeping away from His prohibitions out of sincerity and love for Him. This should also be with the aim of winning the reward of Allaah. The Almighty and being saved from His punishment, in accordance with the way that Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), legislated for us.
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood may Allaah be pleased with him.Who was one of the senior scholars of the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said, “True piety and fear of Allaah The Almighty mean obeying Him without any form of disobedience, remembering Him without any form of forgetfulness, and thanking Him without any sign of ingratitude to Him.”
‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azeez may Allaah have mercy upon him said, “Piety cannot be obtained only through fasting all day and praying all night, and then committing sins in between, but piety can be obtained through keeping away from what Allaah The Almighty has prohibited and doing what He has made obligatory. Anything good after that is an additional good.”
The revered Tabi‘ee, Talq ibn Habeeb may Allaah have mercy upon him said, “Piety is to act in obedience to Allaah, on a light (guidance) from Allaah seeking the reward of Allaah, and to refrain from disobeying Allaah, on a light from Allaah, fearing His punishment.”
These are precious words and they mean that the Muslim has to learn his religious affairs and know what will make him sinful if he does not know it. In this way, the Muslim will worship Allaah The Almighty with insight. This is the practical application of the Two Testimonies of Faith (I bear witness that there is none truly worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).)
The first testimony of faith entails believing in Allaah The Almighty alone, and dedicating worship to Him alone, as well as doing everything for His sake alone, hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment.
The other testimony of faith entails believing that Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), is the Messenger of Allaah The Almighty to humankind and the Jinn, in addition to believing in his sayings, adhering to his Sharee‘ah and keeping away from whatever contradicts it. Those two testimonies form the foundation of the religion of Islam. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
·{Allaah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge – [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, The Exalted in Might, The Wise.} [Quran 3:18]
·{And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, The Entirely Merciful, The Especially Merciful.} [Quran 2:163]
·{Say, [O Muhammad], “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allaah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allaah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allaah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.}[Quran 7:158]
2-All pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Mosque, as well as all Muslims, are advised to observe the five daily prayers on time. Every Muslim must revere these prayers and perform them tranquilly, because they constitute the greatest pillar of Islam after the Two Testimonies of Faith. They represent the post of Islam and the first thing about which the Muslim will be reckoned. Whoever leaves the daily five prayers is a disbeliever. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
·{And establish prayer and give Zakaah and obey the Messenger – that you may receive mercy.} [Quran 24:56]
·{Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allaah, devoutly obedient.} [Quran 2:238]
·{Certainly will the believers have succeeded: * They who are during their prayer humbly submissive}[Quran 23:1-2]
·{And they who carefully maintain their prayers – * Those are the inheritors * Who will inherit al-Firdaws. They will abide therein eternally.}[Quran 23:9-11]
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said:
– “Between a man and disbelief and Shirk is the abandonment of prayer.”[Narrated by Muslim in the chapter of “Calling the One who leaves the prayer a disbeliever”]
– “That which differentiates us from the disbelievers and hypocrites is our performance of prayer. He who abandons it, becomes a disbeliever”[Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi, and Ibn Maajah]
– “Whoever observes prayer (punctually fulfilling its conditions), it will be light, evidence, and salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection; but whoever does not, it will not be for him light, evidence, or salvation; and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be associated with Qaaroon, Pharaoh, Haamaan, and Ubayy ibn Khalaf (a great enemy of Islam from among the Quraysh).” [Ahmad]
Some scholars interpreted this Hadeeth saying,
“The person who abandons prayer will be raised with such a foursome because his neglect of prayer may be due to his preoccupation with his property, his presidency, his work, or his trade. Hence, if he was preoccupied with his property, he will be resurrected with Qaaroon; if with his position as a leader, then he will be resurrected with Pharaoh; if with his work, then with Haamaan; and if with his trade, then with Ubayy ibn Khalaf, the trader among the disbelievers of Makkah.”

Article by: www.islamweb.net

An ‎Admonishment to the Ummah of Islam‎

During this great season, as Muslims around the world prepare to perform the Hajj. An act of worship that entails multiple obligations, we would like to address and admonish the pilgrims.

Will they return as they were before Hajj, without reforming their relationship with Allaah The Almighty in all their affairs, without adhering to the rulings of His Sharee’ah (Islamic law) in full? Will they return without worshipping Allaah The Almighty as He should be worshipped and supporting Him so that Allaah The Almighty would support them and restore their pride, glory, and unity, and grant them victory over their enemies and protection against their evils and scheming?
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): ‎ ‎

• {if you support Allaah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.} [Quran 47: ‎ ‎7]‎ ‎
• {Indeed, Allaah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.} [Quran 13:‎ ‎11] ‎

Today, the Ummah is witnessing and experiencing one of the hardest and most critical periods in its history. These are days when the Ummah is humiliated and its members are being slain and tortured all over the world. The only real and comprehensive solution to stop these tragedies is for the Ummah to return to the essence of its religion and to adhere to it completely.

Our Ummah is a righteous one, but it has been subjected to deceitful schemes, misguidance , nd somnolence by the enemies of the religion and their helpers. This has made many of the members of the Ummah lax and led to them committing different sins persistently, such that they do not even regard such sins as bringing the wrath of Allaah The Almighty.
The Ummah has been distracted from endeavoring to achieve reform and progress and to spread its sound ‘Aqeedah (creed) and its divine call all over the world.
Undoubtedly, if our Ummah made use of this great pillar and pilgrims applied the wisdom and lessons learned from Hajj – the most important of which is sincere repentance – after their return, the Islamic Ummah would achieve reform and regain its pride. It is not difficult for Allaah The Almighty to grant it victory and restore its leadership of the world in a few years.
The lessons and wisdom of Hajj start from the point of assuming the state of Ihraam (the sacral state):
• When assuming the state of Ihraam, we are reminded of abandoning the blight of the worldly life; and performing Ghusl (ritual bath) is to shed the past in which we have committed sins and fallen short of performing our obligations.
• We say “Labbayk Allaahuma Labbayk. (O Allaah, I answer Your call).” The broad meaning of this Talbiyah is that we go to Allaah The Almighty and obey Him in all aspects of life; we abide by the teachings of the religion that Allaah Chose for us and we love Allaah, are sincere to Him and worship Him alone without associating any partners with Him.
• Many meanings are inferred from saying the Takbeer, that is the words “Allaahu Akbar (Allaah is The Greatest).” Allaah The Almighty is the Greatest and we must keep His Good Pleasure as the greatest of all goals. We perform Tawaaf around the Ka’bah, stay at Mina, go to ‘Arafaat then Muzdalifah and return to Mina. We perform all the rites of Hajj just as we were ordered, in obedience to Allaah The Almighty and to establish our servitude in all aspects of our life: in our ‘Aqeedah, thoughts, values, concepts, deeds and conduct.
• When throwing the pebbles for three days, we remember our continuous war with the devil and that we must not succumb to his seduction and temptation. This also trains us to be wary of the devil and his helpers among humankind who spearhead his schemes to make people deviate. Such helpers have become corrupted and are still corrupting the Islamic Ummah and are keeping it away from its true religion and the orders of Sharee’ah through their different means.
• When slaughtering our sacrifices, we remember the example of the Prophets Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), may Allaah exalt their mention, when they did not hesitate to fulfill the orders of the Creator, glory be to Him.
• We shave our heads in ultimate submission to Allaah The Almighty and His orders and this is a statement of the obedience that we need to achieve all the days of our life.
• All the rites of Hajj, which clearly require us to exert efforts and endure various hardships, remind us of the act of worship that is the pinnacle of Islam, Jihaad, which has been weakened in the Ummah ever since it deviated from the essence of Islam in many matters. Should we not then train ourselves to aspire to reach this peak and strive against ourselves to achieve the most perfect type of Jihaad by obliging our souls to obey Allaah The Almighty, adhere to His orders and apply His legislation?
• All the rites of Hajj also remind us of a major duty, of which we are in dire need in this age of ours, which is calling to Allaah The Almighty and exerting efforts for the sake of that call.
Unfortunately, many people have forgotten this duty as if it never was an obligation upon them. During Hajj, we remember and reflect upon the story of the first one who called people to perform Hajj, the father of the prophets, Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention and we learn a lesson from the efforts and sacrifices that he offered for the sake of calling to Allaah The Almighty and establishing and spreading His religion.
All the wisdom and innumerable lessons learned from this great pillar are a call for change and for exerting efforts to do what satisfies Allaah The Almighty in all aspects of life. Hajj is a school, or rather a university, which educates the Ummah to do all that is beneficial for it and which elevates its status.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Their meat will not reach Allaah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.} [Quran 22: 37]
People said to Al-Hasan Al-Basry may Allaah have mercy upon him “The reward of an accepted Hajj is forgiveness!” He may Allaah have mercy upon him said, “The sign of this is that one would avoid the bad deeds that he used to do.”
Dear pilgrims,
Hajj is one of the greatest aspects of our religion, and Allaah The Almighty has favored you by performing this obligatory act of worship and you, Allaah willing, will be one of those who will return free of sins as on the day their mothers gave birth to them; just like a pure white page. Hence, dear brother and sister, do not tarnish this clean page with sins that you commit again and persist in doing them after you return from Hajj.
‎Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong} [Quran 16: 92]‎
Remember that one of the signs of having an accepted Hajj, which is what you hope for, is to become a better person who endeavors to perform all that is good and avoid all that is evil, to invite people to Allaah The Almighty according to your ability and to endeavor to develop the Ummah.
Be careful, review all your deeds in view of the Sharee’ah and scrutinize them closely so that you will not be among those who commit sins without feeling that they are doing so or without caring about it!
Be keen on keeping the pages white and pure; indeed, strive to increase their purity, so that you would be happy when you meet Allaah The Almighty and help our Ummah on the road to success, pride and victory.
‎Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):‎ ‎‎
• {And they will be called, “This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do.”} [Quran 7‎‎ ‎:43]‎
• ‎{Allaah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that – then those are the defiantly disobedient.} [Quran 24: 55]‎

Article by: www.islamweb.net