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Friday Talks |
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170 |
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Grace of first ten days and the sacrifice 3
Written by: Sk. AbduRazzag Taher Farih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
04 Thel-Hejjah 1936
19 September 2015
Dearly beloved,
We live through some blessed days. Days which Allah (all praise be to Him) has made an oath with. That is because of its great honour and tremendous grace. For He use anything He creates for His oath. But, He only uses something with great status for His oath. This is in order to get the slaves’ attention to it. In this case, the are the first ten days of the month of Thel-Hejja. The are defined days. The messenger ppbu said: {There are no days greater in Allah’s sight, or deeds more love to Allah than deeds done on those ten days}.
Some of the advantages of those ten days is the fact that they include the day of Arafah. That is the ninth day of them. And it is this coming Wednesday. Listen to what the messenger ppbu said when he was asked about fasting the day of Arafa . That is for those who are not performing Hajj. Or those that Allah Had not enabled to do Hajj worship this year. The messenger ppbu said: {fasting the day of Arafa clears sins for the previous year and the following year}. This is a tremendous grace from the Almighty. A Muslim should make sure to benefit from those blessed day. Because whosoever takes care of his life with Allah’s obedience, then Allah will take care for his/her life after. Everyone shall fine what he/she does in advance in this life, kept for him or her in multiple folds with Allah. On the other hand, whosoever wastes away his life then his life after shall be a waste too. Losing his first life and losing the life after is the tremendous loss.
Dearly beloved, the sacrifice is the animal that is slaughtered. It can be a camel, a cow or a lamb on Eid day or one of the days known as Tashreeq days for the purpose of getting closer to God.
Allah says: {We have granted you the Kawther river in Paradise. Pray to your God and slaughter. For this who despises you is the one whose trace (or blood line) will discontinue} 108
Allah says: {
And the camels! We have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah. Therein you have much good. } 22:36. The messenger ppbu did practice the sacrifice and so did the Muslims after him, and they all have agreed and practiced that. Our scholars have differed on the obligation of sacrifice. Some have stated that is an obligation, which must be practised by every capable Muslim. The majority of scholars see that the sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah or practice of the prophet. Not practicing the sacrifice is despised or detested when one is capable to do so. It was reported that the messenger ppbu sacrificed two multi coloured, horned rams. He himself slaughtered them, while saying the name of Allah and saying takbeer. In another report, the messenger ppbu was reported saying: {O Allah, this is for me and for whoever does not slaughter a sacrifice in my nation}.It was reported that the messenger ppbu once did the Eid prayer, did the Eid khutbah, then he came down from his menber (podium), he said: {in the name of Allah, and Allah is the greatest (ÈÓã Çááå æÇááå ÃßÈÑ), this slaughter is on my behalf, and on behalf of whosoever does not do the sacrifice of my nation}.
Aesha also told us that the messenger ppbu ordered two rams for sacrifice, then he called on Aesah and said, get me the knife and sharpen it with a stone, then he slaughter one of the rams while saying: {in the name of Allah, O Allah accept this from Muhammad, and the clan of Muhammad and the nation of Muhammad}.
A requirement of the sacrifice is that it has to be after the Eid prayer. The messenger ppbu said: {This who slaughters before the Eid prayer then he slaughters form himself. And whosoever slaughters after Eid prayer then he has followed our practice (Sunnah) and has done his offering complete}. It is not permitted for a Muslim to slaughter a sacrifice before Eid prayer.
It is also a requirement of the sacrifice is that it must be good and free from imperfections. The messenger ppbu said: {there are four which should not be fit for a sacrifice: one-eyed animal, this with clear loss of an eye. And one with sickness that is clearly sick. And the limping with clearly visible ribs, and the one with a fractured or broken bone which does not have bone marrow to heal}. This hadeeth is enough to select a good sacrifice to donate to your God.
The messenger ppbu also said: {only slaughter mature sacrifices, unless if it gets hard for you to do so, so of the lam; slaughter a lamb}. Mature camel is that which completed five years of age and is in its sixth year. In cattle, mature is the one that is more than two years and is in its third. And in sheep, mature is any lamb that is one year old and is in its second. If it is difficult to find such age of animal then it is permissible to slaughter a lamb that is as young as six months old.
Now, what is the wisdom or what are the lessons of the sacrifice? The wisdom is that Allah has decreed or permitted this in order to provide for the poor on the day of Eid and the days to follow (Tashreeq day). Allah says: {You eat from it and feed the impoverished poor}. It was also decreed in memory of Prophet Abraham. Allah has in His wisdom and His will that Abraham sacrifice remains alive up to the day of resurrection within the descendants of Ismael among the nation of Muhammad ppbu.
You; whom Allah Has blessed you with money, and comfort in living in good and rightfully earned money (halal), do not deny yourself this goodness. Always remember that what you really own is what you give in this life of yours. In fact, that money that you save or keep and leave behind has never really belonged to you. It is an inheritance for those who survive you while the Almighty shall question you about it. So give in advance now for yourself. In addition, give in order to ease the difficulties for others so Allah will ease your difficulties in the day after. Do not forget your brothers in need, especially in Syria nowadays.
O people you are the poor who need Allah, and Allah is the Rich the extoller. If He so wishes He can get you to go and brings new creatures. And that is not hard to do for Allah.
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.
