My Hajj story :)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

No title... Don’t want to give it away :)

Many of us wait for specific and beloved seasons. We wait in anticipation for the blessed annual seasons that Allah grants us out of His Mercy. We wait ( for example) for one Ramadan to the next Ramadan; and one Eid to the next Eid. We all wait for Laylatul Qadr and the nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan and so on and so forth. All of these are blessed and in them is good. But there is one season that Allah has put within it everything that we want and everything we seek from all the other seasons. It is all within this one season.
This season is: The entire day of Jumu'ah. As the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said: "The best day in which the sun rises is the day of Jumu'ah." Allah has specifically reserved Jumu'ah for us and has given it this amazing virtue. The scholars have said that there is no single day in the entire year better than Jumu'ah; except the day of 'Arafa and the two Eids; Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha. It is even better than the days of Ramadan. The season we wait and anticipate and look forward to months in advance. And within Ramadan each one of us waits for it's last 10 blessed days and nights. Indeed , the day of Jumu'ah is better than the days of Ramadan! And this is day is literally at our fingertips, once a week, week in week out.. Allahu Akbar!


Prophetic traditions regarding Friday

The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said:
“Whoever takes a bath sets out early walks and does not ride then comes close to the imam and listens he will have for every step he takes, the reward of One year’s worth of Fasting and Prayer” Allahu Akbar!

We could possibly sum up the etiquettes that we need to attain this virtue into 10 practices. There are 5 etiquettes in preparation for the day of Jumu’ah; and five others during the day of Jumu’ah

Etiquettes in preparation for the day of Jumu’ah:

1. Bathing.
Some scholars have said it is an obligation to bathe because the messenger said: “The Friday bath is an obligation on every adult”.
2. Wearing ones best attire.
One should reserve their best clothes for the day of Jumu’ah and it would be most preferable if one wears white because this was the Prophetic practice and the Messenger peace and blessings be upon him loved white.
3. To wear incense (for the brothers).
One should perfume himself in preparation for Jumu’ah and this is indeed a general sunnah for all other days too.
4. Personal Hygeine.
Trimming ones nails, getting a haircut if necessary; and trimming hair which pertains to one’s personal hygiene.
5. Anointment.
To anoint oneself on the night before or the day of Jumu’ah (using cream and the like).
If one does these five then he has done the prophetic practices for preparing for the day of Jumu’ah.

Then he heads out to the Masjid for which there are also
five prophetic practices:
1. Walking.
If one is able to walk to the Masjid and it is close he should do so, and if it is not, one may take a ride and then walk from his car to the Masjid and God-Willing this too will be counted for him and he will earn the reward for it.
2. Come early to the mosque.
One should aim to enter the mosque prior to the imam climbing his pulpit for it is narrated that the Messenger peace be upon him said: “That at every door of the Masjid there are angels that register the names of everyone that enters, in order. Then once the imam climbs on his pulpit (to begin his sermon) they wrap up their scrolls and (enter and) sit to listen to the imam.”
3. Greeting the Masjid.
The Prophet peace be upon him advised us to not sit until we greet the Masjid by praying two rak’aat called “Tahiyet il Masjid”. Even if the imam has climbed the pulpit and has begun his sermon it is still recommended to pray the greeting prayer.
4. Pick a close spot to the Imam.
I (sheikh Mohammad As Saggaf) find it strange that someone would come early to the Masjid and then go pick a spot right at the back of the Masjid and lean against the wall at the back of the Masjid, when indeed it is the Prophetic practise to look for the closest spot to the imam.
5. Attentiveness to the sermon.
Some people, for example, fall asleep throughout the entire sermon; MashaAllah! The tranquillity of sleep falls upon them only during the time of the sermon. Sometimes you find many people asleep during the sermon. Unfortunately they lose an immense reward. So listening is important, as well as avoiding nullifying acts. Indeed, there are some common mistakes that people make that nullify their Jumu’ah.
Some people for example check their emails, play with their phones etc. The Messenger has indicated to us that even moving a pebble during the sermon invalidates ones Jumu’ah and whoever invalidates it there is no Jumu’ah for him. Likewise if someone tells a friend next to him to listen he has invalidated his Jumu’ah and whoever invalidates it there is no Jumu’ah for him.

Etiquettes for the day and night of Jumu’ah
(other than those dealing with the prayer)

1. Reading Surat Al-Kahf (the Cave).
The Messenger peace be upon him said: Whoever reads the chapter of the Cave on the day of Jumu’ah light will shine from him until the following Jumu’ah. It will also serve as a defence for us from the trials of the Dajjal, may Allah protect us from his trials and from the precursors of his trials.
2. Salawaat.
This is a personally requested etiquette by the beloved Prophet peace be upon him to us. He said: Send plenty of prayers upon me on the night and the day of Jumu’ah”. Indeed if we send one prayer upon the Prophet peace be upon him, Allah sends 10 prayers upon us, and prayer from Allah is Mercy.
3. Supplication and anticipation for the “Hour of Acceptance”!
The Prophet peace be upon him said to us: “There is an hour on the day of Jumu’ah, if a Muslim asks Allah in it, Allah will Most Surely! Give him!” And this hour is called the “Hour of Granting/Acceptance”. Most of the scholars and indeed some of the greatest Companions like: Imam Ali and Our Lady Fatima Al-Zahra may Allah be pleased with them said that this “Hour of Granting” is the final hour before sunset!
One of the most important things that one should be aware of while following the prophetic traditions is to realise on this day, the Day of Jumu’ah, the meaning of the love of Allah for us and our love to Allah which is the foundation for our following the Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
“Say: If you love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you”
(Surat Aal Imraan verse 31)
:)

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