The entire life of believers in this world is for the purpose of worship. Allah, the Exalted, has created humans specifically for His worship. However, in addition to the general time for worship throughout the year, there are some special seasons of worship for believers. These special seasons of worship come with special rewards. Therefore, it is necessary for us to prepare ourselves specifically for worship during these special seasons. In order to attain success Hereafter, we should strive to perform more and more good deeds during these seasons of worship. It is important to welcome these special times through beautiful preparations.

We have entered the honoured month of Dhul-Hijjah in our calendar, which is esteemed in the sight of Allah. After the departure of Ramadan and we return to our regular busy schedule, it is inevitable that the spirit of worship loosens and our connection with Allah fades a bit. This is why this month should be taken as a chance to revive the spirit we gained during Ramadan. Let us see how we can do that:  

Self-Purification through Tawbah:

First and foremost, we must keep in mind that we have a special opportunity to purify ourselves on the beloved days of Allah. The more we immerse into self-purification, the higher the chance of our success in self-improvement. Instead of searching for faults and flaws in others, we should strive for self-improvement first. Those who have sincerely reflected upon themselves have forsaken the faults of others. It is necessary not to surrender ourselves to our desires but rather to control our desires firmly. We should protect ourselves as much as possible from all major and minor sins that are facilitated by Satan and our desires. We must remember that we may not be able to perform abundant good deeds, but we should strive to save ourselves from sins as much as possible because even small sins can lead us to Hellfire.

But as a human and by default, we are prone to committing sins. Therefore, we need to develop the habit of continuous repentance, or Tawbah. Repentance can be done at any time, but there are certain times when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) accepts the repentance of His servants more. Like Ramadan, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are also such special days when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) grants His servants the opportunity to repent and accepts their repentance.

Just as putting clean water in a glass with impurities will make the water impure, similarly, performing righteous deeds without repenting and carrying the impurity of sins in the heart will diminish their value. That is why it is necessary to purify the heart through repentance.

There are conditions for repentance. Sincere repentance will only occur when three characteristics are present:

1. The sin must be completely abandoned.

2. One must sincerely regret committing the sin.

3. Firm determination must be made to not repeat the sin in the future.

Repentance means to turn back or return. Due to the temptation of Satan and the self, humans commit many sins. But if one realizes their mistakes, feels remorse in their heart, turns back to Al-Ghaffar (the Forgiver), seeks His mercy, repents, and makes a firm resolution not to commit those sins again, that is repentance. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is greatly pleased with the repentance of His servants. When sincere repentance is done, Allah forgives all sins and transforms them into good deeds. Allah (Subhanahu waTa’ala) has also stated:

“But whoever repents, believes, and does righteousness, then they will be among the successful.” (Surah Al-Qasas: 67)

Time Consciousness:

In addition to repentance, we must also be careful about another valuable aspect that we are rapidly losing, which is the passing of time. If we can make the most out of our valuable time, it will be beneficial for both our worlds, by the permission of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has warned us about time and said, “There are two blessings in which many people incur loss: health and free time.” (Bukhari: 6412)

In order to increase self-purification and the quantity of good deeds, the less time spent online, the better. Facebook, in particular, is an excellent medium for wasting time. Perhaps there are some good things that happen here, such as giving or receiving religious knowledge, but in many cases, people unknowingly become busy with other matters. Sometimes, online activities may increase your knowledge, but they will not increase your deeds. It is better to allocate the majority ofyour time to beneficial activities and not become excessively involved in irrelevant matters.

Spending excessive time online can cause delays in performing prayers or cause one to lose focus during prayers. Even though you may desire it, perhaps a lot of worship is not done. However, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud was very conscious about this matter! He said, “I am not more regretful over any day that has passed from my life in which no good deeds were done.”

Therefore, if there is any necessity online, whether it be reading something, reciting Quran, or listening to a lecture, allocate specific time for it. Keep your efforts uninterrupted. The Helper is Allah, the Highest. Those who are sincere in His cause, He will surely guide them on His path. Indeed, Allah says, “And whoever strives for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” (Surah Al-Ankabut: 69)

About the author:

Sumaiya Rabeya is a researcher and content writer. She is the co-founder of a Malaysia-based media-production company. Sumaiya is also a community volunteer, actively working on various projects related to Islamic dawah, social engagement and women. Born in 1989, she graduated with a degree in Politics and International Relations and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Gender Studies. Moreover, she has been working as a media content writer for over a decade. As a Bengali young mother, she feels responsible in creatively contributing to society.

The post Embracing the Blessed Seasons: A Journey of Self-Purification and Worship appeared first on World Hijab Day.

This is a continuation from the last story about Dr. Khadijah’s pilgrimage story.

Upon arriving at the plains of Arafah, I was clearly exhausted. As we entered the huge, air–conditioned tent, I slept it off. But, how could anyone fall asleep on this blessed day? The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) described it as follows: “There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on Arafah), and then He reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Sahih Muslim)

I awoke from my slumber and called on Allah. I prayed for all of the people who had asked me to pray for them, and for myself. Together with the other pilgrims, I observed Dhuhr and Asr prayers. Then, we listened to and watched the khutbah (sermon) from Masjidun Nimrah via live  stream in our tent. We said, “Ameen.”

By sunset, we proceeded to Muzdalifah, halfway, by train and the other half, by foot. The walk was a bit more difficult than I had imagined it to be. I was tired so I got as much sleep as I could. After all, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) rested at Muzdalifah.

The other pilgrims and I spent the night within open camps, laying on flat mattresses and gazing at the night sky. It was a cool night, but due to the crowd, it was quite suffocating. My Syrian friends were still by my side.

After praying Isha, which was shortened and observed immediately after maghrib, we started picking up pebbles to be thrown at the Jamaraat in the next three days. Night was short as fajr prayer appeared around 3.30 a.m. and we set off to begin the Ram’y while the rest of the Muslim world celebrated Eid-ul-Adha on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Unfortunately, I did not dare to move closer to the Jamaratul Aqabah. As some people were rushing to “stone the devil,” the walkway became chaotic. I saw people throwing stones aggressively as though the devil himself was physically present!

I became very sick and spent the rest of that morning at the clinic while my Syrian friends helped me with the Ram’y (throwing of stones). The doctors checked my unborn baby and me. ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ we were fine.

After they were done with the Ram’y, my friends and their brother went to sort out the sacrifice. I left the clinic and followed other members of the group back to Mina, delaying my Tawaful Ifadah until the last day of Hajj.

Everyone returned to Mina later that day and came out of the state of ihram. The ladies freshened up, applied sweet fragrances and trimmed their hair. I was still feeling quite weak and spent most of the day, resting.

Allah knows that I tried to gather enough strength to complete my Ram’y for the remainder of Ayaamut-Tashreeq. But it was tough. I handed the remaining 42 pebbles to my friends and their brother helped me throw them on days 11 and 12.

I continued praising Allah until the 12th day of Dhul-Hijjah, just after Dhuhr. I wish I had stayed one more night at Mina, but my heart longed for home. My friends stayed, however, until the 13th, the last day of At-Tashreeq.

I carried my backpack and jumped on one of the buses toward Masjid-ul Haram. I performed my tawaaful ifaadah amidst a mammoth crowd. The ground and first floors were jam-packed so I had to move to the second floor, which meant that I’d have to walk around a larger circumference.

By the time I was done with the 7 circumambulations, I had run out of strength to perform the Sa’i, the walks between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa. Thus, I rented a wheelchair at a ridiculously high rate. I performed the Sa’i while sipping Zamzam water intermittently.

Finally, I completed the essential pillars of hajj, even though it felt less-than-stellar by the end.

I collected my baggage from the Hajj agency and was driven home. May Allah accept it and bless my friends who assisted me throughout the journey, Ameen. May He grant me the privilege to perform another one in my lifetime, Ameen.

Hajj is hard work; we are tested to our limits; but the believer in us endures and we learn patience. Do not delay the experience if you are financially capable and physically able. There is no such thing as the perfect timing and there is no guarantee of another year…another chance. Trust in Allah and go for it: “Call the people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path…” (Qu’ran 22:27-30).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dr. Khadijah Tijani is a Nigerian medical doctor, a creative blogger and a published author. She grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State and graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 2009. After five years of practice in Nigeria, she relocated to Saudi Arabia where she worked as a resident physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Known as “Doctor KT,” Tijani is a women’s health advocate and a prolific health blogger for her own blog, www.askdoctorkt.com. She also runs an online platform, known as “Breastfeeding Support Lounge,” where she supports mothers towards achieving their breastfeeding goals. Tijani is the published author of “Wholesome Motherhood,” “Nature’s Superfood,” and “The Stampede: Tales of Love, Trials and Faith.”

Twitter @askdoctorkt

Instagram @askdoctorkt@gmail.com

The post A DOCTOR’S PILGRIMAGE, ARAFAH ONWARDS appeared first on World Hijab Day.

As a medical doctor, working in the Holy city of Makkah, it was ironically more difficult to get a chance to perform Hajj. The only consolation was the fact that Umrah was literally like a walk in the park.

Imagine spending two years as a bona fide resident of the city, but not getting a chance to observe Hajj! The main reason being that we had to take turns, as healthcare professionals play a vital role in the successful hosting of pilgrims.

By the third year, I was certain that nothing was going to stop me, إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ (God willing in Arabic).

Well, two things almost stopped me:

Firstly, I was seven-months pregnant by the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah.

لْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, other than the fatigue, which was manageable, I spent 40 hours per week (plus 24-48 call hours) working at the hospital.

Secondly, while preparing the hajj rota, my boss asked me to choose between working and not working during Hajj. Without any hesitation, I declared that I would be going for Hajj.

“But you can work and save the money to buy things for your baby,” she urged.

Truly, the hajj bonus was a great temptation! If you work for the first 15 days of Dhul-Hijjah, 12 hours/day back-to-back, and stay on continuous standby in case of any disaster, your reward will be a whooping 150% bonus on top of Dhul-Hijjah salary! Mouth-watering, right?

Not to sound rude, I told my boss to give me time to think about it and discuss it with my husband. Of course, I had my mind made up and my husband was already aware of this. Actually, we would have performed Hajj together, but he could not that year. Besides, a woman is not required to be accompanied by a mahram if she lives in Makkah, but it’s advisable for her to move with a group. Even residents are required to have a Hajj permit to move freely around certain areas of Makkah during this time.

لْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, my career and pregnancy were blessings in themselves, but hajj is a reward comparable to that of fighting on a battlefield.

I asked myself, “What if I don’t make it ‘til next year? What if I leave Makkah and coming back becomes a big hassle?”

After exchanging hugs and kisses with my children and handing them over to the nanny, I assumed the state of ihram and left home just after maghrib prayer on the 8th night of Dhul-Hijjah 1439. A driver dropped me at the Hajj agency’s office in Aziziyyah, where we moved to Mina in batches.

I made the intention for “hajjul ifrad,” the easiest of the three types of Hajj. Then, I started chanting the talbiyah:

Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk. Labbayk lā shareeka laka labbayk. Inna al-ḥamda, wa n‘imata, Laka wal mulk. Lā shareeka lak: “Here I am, O’ Allah, here I am, here I am. You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty. You have no partner.”

Our group arrived at Mina that evening and I settled in the bed space that had been assigned to me. More than 20 other ladies and some children occupied that same tent. It was crowded, but cozy. Later that night, two ladies arrived from Riyadh and occupied the beds on my right. They were accompanied by their elder brother.

These Syrian sisters became my helpers for the entire Hajj period. They felt so sorry for me because I was pregnant and all by myself. I, on the other hand, felt it was just the perfect recipe for a soulful dialogue with my Lord. I had no regrets leaving everything behind – my home, my family and the juicy Hajj bonus. At that point, I was only interested in standing alone as a worshiper amidst hundreds of thousands of other worshippers. The solitude reminded me of the “Day of Judgment,” when it will be every human and jinn for themself, سبحان الله.

The first day of hajj (8th day of Dhul-Hijjah) is known as the day of “At-Tarwiyah.” In the olden days, pilgrims used to collect water in preparation for the journey ahead. But, life is much easier now. We had plenty of food and cold drinks to keep us nourished and hydrated. We also spent the day praising Allah and asking for His Mercy.

My Syrian sisters helped me get my meals from the dining area. I didn’t have to join the queue to use the bathroom. They would ask me to sit in the room until the crowd had cleared. When it was time to move to Arafah after fajr on the 9th, they walked with me, hand-in-hand. They held the umbrella above my head as the scorching sun melted the clouds. They slowed down for me, and stopped when I needed to rest. They asked me at intervals, if I was able to walk with my legs or if they should get me a wheelchair لْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ.

Stay tuned for Dr. Khadijah’s pilgrimage story continued in next week’s post.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Khadijah Tijani is a Nigerian medical doctor, a creative blogger and a published author. She grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State and graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 2009. After five years of practice in Nigeria, she relocated to Saudi Arabia where she worked as a resident physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Known as “Doctor KT,” Tijani is a women’s health advocate and a prolific health blogger for her own blog, www.askdoctorkt.com. She also runs an online platform, known as “Breastfeeding Support Lounge,” where she supports mothers towards achieving their breastfeeding goals. Tijani is the published author of “Wholesome Motherhood,” “Nature’s Superfood,” and “The Stampede: Tales of Love, Trials and Faith.”

Twitter @askdoctorkt

Instagram @askdoctorkt

The post PERFORMING HAJJ WHILE A DOCTOR IN MAKKAH appeared first on World Hijab Day.