Reflections Of A Muslimah

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

It's been more then a month since I last posted. I think this is the longest I've been away from blogger. There isn't a specific reason that I stopped posting, it just happened unintentionally. But it wasn't just blogger, some of my favourite websites that I'd visit either slowed down in their activity or shutdown and I got 'over' the internet in many ways. I don't surf the Web like I used too. I've been busy with quite a few things, working on assignments, going to the Gym, catching up with Friends, hanging out with the neices, seeking ilm, etc. Subhanallah, it is so easy to get distracted with the dunya.

I'm doing the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wasallam at this little centre where the Sisters usually gather. As Muslims we might be aware of the Prophet Sallalahu alayhi wasallam, but do we know the itty bitty details of his life? Learning the Seerah is of great importance and every Muslim should do it in his or her lifetime. Secondly it makes us love him more and we are required to love him more then our ownself and everything that is in this World, including our own Parents. Studying Seerah is also Ibaada.

So I am more then a bit busy. I also have to study for my exams and finish a few assignments. Insha'Allah my creative juices will start flowing again and when I have more time on my hands I will get back to writing.

But as Muslims, if we ever get the chance to seek Ilm, we should do it. We give so much importance to secular education and other worldly things, like wealth and Jobs, etc, that we forget about the akhira. We will take nothing to our graves from this World except for our good deeds and our worship. And this is the harsh truth that we often forget.

Allah subhanna wa ta'ala says in the Qu'ran:

The reason I say this is because this is prevalent in the Muslim Ummah today and many times, we sacrifice our akhira for this dunya and we compromise our deen for Worldly benefits.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the month of Dhul Hijjah has started. The virtues and reward in these few days is innumerable and yet, it is sad to see so many Muslims unaware of what they are missing out on. This month is full of blessings and we should take advantage of it.

These are a few ahadith which talk about the benefits of these days and what we as Muslims should do:

Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?" He said, "Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah's sake] and returns with neither of them." [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa'i]

Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no day more honorable in Allaah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest : Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days]." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh]

Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr]." [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it." [This is related by "the group," except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]

May Allah subhanna wa ta'ala keep us on the straight path. Ameen.