#How to Perform Umrah

[amsonscouk]

How to Perform Umrah: Step-by-Step Guidelines for Pilgrims | Amsons

Learn how to perform Umrah with our detailed, step-by-step guidelines. This comprehensive guide provides essential tips and instructions to help you complete your spiritual journey smoothly.

Website: https://www.amsons.co.uk/blog/how-to-perform-umrah-guidline/

[nuktaguidance]

Steps to Perform Umrah

How to Perform Umrah Steps to Perform Umrah Umrah guidance in Videos Umrah consists of four essential practices: Steps to Perform Umrah: Enter Ihram, Tawaf around Kaaba, Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, Trim hair, Exit Ihram. Ihram: Before reaching the Miqat, you change into the Ihram garments, perform two rak’ahs of salah, and make your niyyah (intention). As you approach the Miqat, you start…

[umrah-service]

Understand the Importance of performing the act of Sa'i' through packages for Umrah. Click here to Read more.

[julaibib]

Assalamualaikum brother. I would like so ask for advice.

I'm a Muslim sister, I've been on umrah two times Alhamdulillah. On both those journeys I've felt myself come closer to Allah (swt). Before them, I struggled to understand just how much Allah (swt) loves us, and how merciful he is. Now, Id like to believe that my tawakkul is much higher and my faith in Allah (swt) is much stronger. I can truly testify that he is my lord and there is no other, and Muhammad (saw) is his messenger.

And despite that, after committing a sin, I still feel incredible guilt and anxiety. My stomach churns and my head gets too loud. After fixing and working on my tawakkul, I want to better my perception of Allah (swt). Currently, I have trouble remembering that my lord sees everything, that he is always witnessing my actions. Is there any way to keep those thoughts in mind?

I want to keep myself away from sin as much as I can, yet its very difficult and even if I stay away, I relapse and go back. It hurts my heart and leaves me feeling hopeless, afraid that my lord will not forgive me. What should I do?

Thank you for your time and understanding brother. May Allah (swt) grant our entire ummah paradise, and may we all neighbor the beloved prophet (saw), peace be upon him.

These are beautiful feelings of faith that you felt, you taste the sweetness of faith, but one of the most important concepts that a Muslim must know is that he must fall into sin, he will never be an angel and he is not required to remain an angel, this does not mean that he should deliberately fall into sin, but he must try to stay away from sins as much as possible. But if he falls into sin, he must hasten to repent, because the accepted repentance is what will bring back to you all the beautiful feelings such as trust and faith and others. So it is beautiful to regret the sin because this is from repentance, but regret should not turn into a state of despair and severe distress.

Remember that the path to Paradise is difficult and requires effort and patience. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths (i.e. Allah’s religion — Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinoon (good-doers)” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:69].

You should quickly to perform righteous acts of worship because they erase sins. “Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds” [Hood 11:114]

[asma-al-husna]

Allah’s name Al-Witr— The One and Unique—is not mentioned in the Quran, but occurs in a narration of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Al-Witr is the One, the Unique and Only. He is unique in His essence in all His attributes and there is nothing equal to Him in any way!

The One, Odd-numbered, and Unique

Witr comes from the root waw-taa-raa, which points to three meanings. The first meaning is to be odd (numbered), one and single. and the second is to be in succession. A third meaning is to deprive.

This root appears three times in the Quran in three derived forms. Examples of these forms are yatirakum (“will deprive you”), tatraa (“in succession”) and wal-watri (“and the odd”).

Linguistically witr means that which is odd-numbered, unever, not uniform or equable. Allah’s name Al-Witr is related in meaning to His beautiful names Al-Ahad and Al-Waahid. All indicate that Allah ‘azza wa jall is one, only and unique in His essence, all His powers, knowledge and abilities.

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah is witr (single, odd) and loves what is witr. So perform witr prayer. O followers of Quran, observe witr (prayer). [At-Tirmidhee, Abu Dawud]

Examples of Witr in Worship

In Islam the ways we worship are indicated to the finest details in the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. An example is the number of times we are ought to carry out certain acts of worship, of which some are in witr (odd numbers) only.

Examples are the tawaaf (circulation) around the ka’bah, which is prescribed to be done seven times as well as the times Muslims go between Safaa and Marwaa as Hajj and Umrah ritual.

According to some ahadeeth the Night of Decree (laylatul qadr) is to be found in the last ten nights of Ramadhan, in the odd-numbered nights.

Another example is the amount of days which is sunnah to fast as one of the ways of the Prophet to fast was on ayaam ul beed – the white days – which are three days in the middle of each month.

The most known example regarding witr is the Witr prayer, which is a strongly recommended prayer of an odd-numbered rakaat to be prayed in the time after the ‘Esha prayer and before the Fajr prayer.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Keep reminding yourself of the uniqueness of Al-Witr.

The fact Allah ‘azza wa jall is one and unique in all He does, knows and gives is something we know, but sometimes forget to live by in our daily lives. Remind yourself each day Allah is the only one who can give you Paradise, so put Him first and not what people think or want of you or even what your ego (nafs) whispers to you!

2. Pray the Witr prayer. The Witr prayer is one of the greatest acts of worship that draw one closer to Allah. The majority of the scholars say is one of the confirmed sunan (a sunnah mu’akkadah) which you as a Muslim should observe regularly and not neglect. Imam Ahmad raheemahullah even said: Whoever neglects Witr is a bad man whose testimony should not be accepted. The Prophet said: Allah has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is Witr; Allah has enjoined it for you during the time between ‘Esha prayer until dawn begins. [At-Tirmidhee, saheeh] Ask Allah Al-Witr to enable you to pray this prayer regularly.

3. Be unique.

As true Muslims we all share our belief in Allah Al-Witr alone, but this doesn’t mean we should not strive to be unique in our actions! Do your best to perform as many good deeds as you can, be creative and set up your own projects on the path of Islam and for the pleasure of Al-Witr and by the will of Allah, leave an unique legacy in this world which will count for you in the Herefter inshaa’Allah.

4. Know the meaning of tawheed and live by it.

Studying the meaning of tawheedullaah (the Oneness of Allah), its types and how to live by them is the most important branch of Islamic knowledge. Part of this knowledge are knowing the names and attributes of Allah ‘azza wa jall. At least spend one day a week of which you read from a trustworthy book about tawheed and its types and make sure to convey this knowledge to your children and family inshaa’Allah!

O Allah, Al-Witr, we know that you are one, single and unique. Help us to remind ourselves of Your oneness and turn to You only for all our needs and make us of those who consistently pray the Witr prayer. Increase our knowledge of tawheed and its types, aid us to live by them, and enable us to leave a unique legacy of ongoing good deeds for those who come after us until the day of judgement, ameen!

[lightgriffinsect]

the “Islam is oppressive towards women because period blood is impure” argument will never not send me to the floor.

jaan. sit down.

The first thing you need to know is that in Islam, coming into contact with human waste makes you impure— not as in gross, impure as in you must perform Wudu, the ritual of washing your body with clean water, before performing any religious practice. When you have performed Wudu, you are in a state of purity and can pray, touch the Quran, fast, perform Umrah/Hajj, you name it.

Some things nullify your Wudu, making you impure again. You cannot perform any of the aforementioned religious practices until you re-enter a state of purity, by performing Wudu once more. You cannot even enter a masjid until you are pure again.

There are different ways that your state of purity becomes void. Indeed, one such way is that you come into contact with human waste. This includes piss, crap, and of course, period blood, or the shed lining of the uterus.

Do not come at me with “sweating and exhaling carbon dioxide count as producing waste” I will block you. Those are not included for obvious reasons. Sweat, let alone one’s breath, is not considered on the same level of impure as urine or feces. This is common sense.

Period blood does make you impure. Just like how peeing makes you impure, pooping makes you impure. Did you know that even farting will nullify your Wudu? How about sleeping?

(The logic behind the sleeping one is that you may not necessarily have released waste or passed gas in your sleep, but you don’t know for sure, so there is always a chance that you have. It is best to play it safe and assume you are impure after sleeping and perform Wudu again.)

Period blood is the same kind of impurity as pee or poop. It’s natural, but it is still impure. You’re not allowed to perform any religious practice after coming into contact with these until you have made Wudu. It’s that simple. Women are not inherently impure, but urinating and defecating will make anyone impure. Period blood is merely an additional waste product women have to look out for.

The only difference is that when a woman is on her period, for those few consecutive days, she will be in a constant state of impurity. This is because shedding the uterine lining is a constant process that takes multiple days. So even if we perform Wudu, our period will continue to flow until the uterus is done shedding its lining. So for those few days, we simply avoid praying, fasting, touching the Quran, going to the masjid, or any other religious practice.

Yes, this is the major reason. Another reason women cannot perform religious acts is because Allah (SWT) wants to make His religion easy for His followers. He (SWT) knows His creation best, which is why He mandates this time off of prayers and fasting for women. We are often in pain during periods, and in Islam you are not obligated to perform anything that puts a strain on you or can hurt you physically.

There is no obligation on women to compensate for any prayers they miss while on their period. For Ramadan, we are given the option to make up the days of fasting that we miss after Ramadan is over. If I remember correctly, the only deadline is the beginning of the next Ramadan. (I may be incorrect about this, though, so if anyone has a definite answer I would appreciate being educated.) This further illustrates how Allah’s wisdom makes His faith easier on women, because of the unique challenges we face.

Lastly, periods are not a taboo subject in Islam. We are encouraged to pursue science and learn more about ourselves and our world, why would discussing periods be taboo? That is an unfortunate cultural norm that Muslims in many countries have confused with their Islamic beliefs. Discussing periods would be the same as discussing one’s digestive or excretory health. Obviously there are times when it’s not appropriate, but it must not be avoided.

Again, it’s just waste. It’s nothing to be afraid of. Islam does not teach humans, especially women, to be afraid of talking about our bodily functions. Certain countries’ cultures do.

It is absolutely haraam to declare something is haraam or forbidden in Islam when it is not. But Christians in the West don’t get the same flack for not following their religion perfectly that Muslims do.

thanks for attending my lecture! as always, don’t forget to eat your greens! from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

[abuhusna]

"Don’t Just Marry – Marry for Jannah: A Journey Together in Faith"

In Islam, marriage is more than a mere contract; it is a sacred bond that should lead both spouses closer to Allah, helping each other in matters of the deen. Allah commands us in the Qur’an:

"And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought." 

(Surah Ar-Rum, 30:21)

This tranquility is only achieved when both partners strive to follow Allah’s commandments, live according to the Sunnah, and adhere to the understanding of the righteous Salaf (the early generations of Islam). Marrying a person who merely carries the label of "Muslim" without true understanding or commitment to their deen can lead to neglect of the true purpose of worship.

True worship is not just about performing acts like prayer, fasting, and Zakat in a robotic manner without understanding, intention, or sincerity.** The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "Indeed, actions are [judged] by intentions, and every person will receive what they intended..." (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1).

Why Marry a Practicing Muslim:

- Prayer: Your spouse should not only pray, but know the purpose and khushu’ (humility and concentration) behind each salah.

- Fasting: They should fast with understanding, striving to attain taqwa (God-consciousness) as Allah mentions in the Qur’an: 

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)

- Zakat: It’s not enough to give Zakat. They must know its rulings and how it purifies wealth, fulfilling Allah’s command with sincerity: 

"Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase, and invoke [Allah's blessings] upon them..." (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:103)

- Hajj and Umrah: The desire to complete these pillars of Islam with the right understanding, not out of mere tradition, is a sign of yearning for Allah’s pleasure.

Avoiding Ignorance in Marriage:

The Salaf emphasized the importance of knowledge and acting upon it. Marriage to someone who only performs outward acts of worship but lacks understanding can result in neglecting the essence of the deen. Such an attitude risks turning into the mindset of “monkey see, monkey do,” blindly following rituals without heart or purpose.

Marry with Purpose:

Marriage should be a partnership where both spouses help each other through the trials of life and strive to reach Jannah together. As Allah commands:

"And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression."

(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:2)

Your spouse should be the one to hold your hand, **not only through the joys of this world but also through the challenges**, reminding each other to remain firm on the path of Allah. Aim for a spouse who **pushes you closer to Allah**, and in return, you do the same for them.

"Don’t just marry for the sake of it – marry with the goal of supporting each other through the thicks and thins of this dunya until you meet in Jannah, bi’ithnillah."

[serein-koo7]

Bangladesh relief work for flood affected people

More than 16 people are reported to be death in this current flood in Bangladesh.😔After all the bad news we have good news that people of all walks of life are coming to send help to the flood affected people. In one day, more than 1 crore 26 lakh taka has been received as donation in Dhaka which is only from one place of the country. People are donating money, clothes, food and every other necessary things from different side of the country and these are being sent to the flood affected places directly. Even a small boy who was saving money for performing Umrah donated his entire savings. We have come a long way. One after one danger is coming in our loving country Bangladesh. And these give us more hopes for better days. The more danger comes, the more united we are. The people of this country have now learned to work together, so no matter how worse the danger gets we all know how to face it all together. They can no longer be held captive. I have no more worries about this country. Alhamdulillah. Our future is on the safe hands, our Gen-Z is on the right track.🫂 Keep us in your prayers.����

[everyonewooeverywhere]

Good morning my love!! 💗💗

(Jongho @ Yeosang is basically me to you if we met irl)

Good morning!! I'm really excited because my time of month is finally done so I can perform Umrah today!!! Vibrating actually I'm so happy akdgskxbskdbsj

How are you feeling lovely? How was your day?

good morning angel 💗💗

(they are us 😔)

aw that’s so exciting love! i’m so happy for you ☺️

my day was pretty good! i went to the mall with some friends and got out of the house today which was nice. i’m back home now and i think i’m gonna write for a bit~

sending you lots of love and hope you have a wonderful day!! 💗

[wordofprophet]

Hajj 2024 is going to Start Everyone dreams to perform Hajj

And Hajj is Obligatory Every year Millions of Muslims perform Hajj

Lets Know what Hajj actually is. And How to perform Hajj

Hajj is the One of the Islam Pillars

Perform Tawaf by making 7 Rounds around Kaaba

Drink Zam Zam

Walk from Safa to Marwah 7 times

Shaving the Hair Umrah completes

Travel to Arafah Make Dua and Climb the mountain of Arafah

Travel to Muzdalifah and spend a night

Collect Stones for next Arkan

Travel to Mina (The city of Tents)

Throwing Stones on Pillars of Shaitan in Jamarat

Sacrificing an Animal and Distribute to Needy

Finally Travel to Madina (Masjid al Nabawi)

. . .

#hajj#dhulhijjah#dayofarafah#makkah#masjidalharam#allahﷻ#sacrifice#clocktower#dua#blessed#days#arafah#islamic#IslamicReminders#islamicposts#muslimummah#DoGoodDeeds#fast#deeds#deen#makkah#madinah#islam#dhulhijjah2024#islam#Muslims#Ummah#eiduladha#kaaba#ramadan#eidmubarak

[amsonscouk]

https://www.amsons.co.uk/blog/how-to-perform-umrah-guidline/

How to Perform Umrah: Step-by-Step Guidelines | Amsons

Learn how to perform Umrah with our detailed, step-by-step guidelines. This comprehensive guide provides essential tips and instructions to ensure a smooth and fulfilling spiritual journey.

[mchiti]

New York Times wrote a piece on Ghali 😭😭❤️ Mashallah khoya ❤️

Ghali recently turned 30 and has, he says, been using 2023 to recalibrate. In “Pare,” he sings, “Sometimes you have to be reborn, to leave behind things that I then destroy because they don’t destroy me.” He is deepening his knowledge about Islam and during Ramadan traveled to Saudi Arabia for the first time, making Umrah with his mother; he included Mediterranea in his prayers.

He is quick to note, though, that he has always believed in God. What is different is that after feeling for years he had to “suffocate my origins, traditions, beliefs to integrate into a society that does not accept you for who you are,” he is sharing them much more publicly. He wishes there had been even a single famous Italian doing the same when he was a child: “Some days would have been much better.”

In July, he traveled to Tunisia for the first time since the start of the pandemic. In the early-morning hours before he left, still awake after performing at another rapper’s concert in Milan, he scrolled through his long-ignored direct messages on Instagram. He was stunned at all the messages he had received over the previous several months from Tunisians begging for his help to fund the crossing. In a surreal twist, among the DMs was one from the young man who played the protagonist in the video for “Mamma.”

Speaking from a cafe in Tunisia perched above the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, Ghali said, “Despite all the bad news that comes, despite how dangerous it is, people are crossing more and more and are asking me to help them.”

Ghali said the argument he hears all the time — that, because they are not fleeing war, North Africans have no legitimate reason to leave — misses the point entirely.

“In Tunisia, you learn at a very young age that you can’t dream,” he said. “They disabuse you of dreaming right away. What does a person do, a person who is resigned to have no more dreams here, who maybe even stops dreaming? If in Italy, you can dream, then for a young Tunisian who wants to do something in life, they leave to at least dream, to have the right to dream.”

[hajjumrahhub]

Umrah Duas – A Guide to Umrah {Package} Duas

Many pilgrims carry little booklets and chant specific du'as for every circle of the tawaf and sa’ee when they go for Umrah via All Inclusive Umrah Packages. Unlike popular perception, every round of these ceremonies does not have a specific du'a attached to it.

"In tawaf, there is no particular dhikr that was told from the Prophet (PBUH), that he ⷺ either enjoined, said, or taught," claims Shaikh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah. Instead, the believer may offer any du'a from the Qur'an and Sunnah while performing tawaf. There is no evidence for the precise du'a that many individuals mention saying should be recited beneath mizabs (downspouts) and similar objects. (Al-Fatawa, Majmu' 26/122)

Notwithstanding, the Prophet (PBUH) made prayers several times throughout Umrah, giving us examples to follow. Here is not an entire list of du'as from the Qur'an and Sunnah; you are free to make any kind of du'a during Umrah, including private ones for loved ones. Furthermore, you are not obliged to repeat your prayers only in Arabic. It is important to comprehend the significance of the du'as you recite rather than just reciting them.

Hopefully, the following list will act as a useful guide and enhance the significance of your Umrah experience. However, the following list of duas that the Prophet Muhammad PBUH prayed at different times and that one can recite during umrah

When you set out on your journey, say a dua?

To enter the holy areas of Makkah, one must first prepare spiritually. It is advised to recite the Du'a al-Safar before departing the house to ask Allah for protection, direction, and support on your journey.

Prayer for the initial glimpse of Kabba

According to reports, the Prophet (SAW) offered some prayers when he first saw the Kaaba:

Saying the dua before entering Haram

Reciting the Tasbeeh, Tahleel, and Takbeer prayers is advised. It is advised to chant Tasbeeh, or Subhan Allah, before entering ihram (glory be to Allah). Takbeer, or Allahu Akbar (Allah is Most Great), and Tahleel, or La ilaha ill Allah (there is no creator except Allah). Bring the right foot first as you reach Masjid Al-Haram to conduct Umrah and say the following dua:

Du'a for Declaring Your Intent to Perform Umrah

After entering the Ihram state, recite two Sunnat-ul Ihram rakahs. Next, state some Arabic or translation words that you intend to conduct Umrah:

Recite the Talbiyah after Ihram

Start reciting the Talbiyah as soon as entering Ihram for the Hajj or Umrah. You should recite the Talbiyah as often as you can while traveling. It is advised to read it in every situation, whether you are standing, sitting, walking, driving, lying down, experiencing small or severe impurities, or going through menstruation. Umrah travelers should stop right before the start of the Umrah Tawaf. Three or more Talbiyahs should be performed, according to advice.

Given how frequently it is recited, you must comprehend its deep significance to deepen our relationship with Allah SWT. Insha'Allah, this will add a lovely richness to our dialogue with Him. As you approach Masjid Al Haram, say the du'a. Recite du'a and put the right foot first as you visit Masjid Al Haram to undertake Umrah.

Saying the Tawaaf dua

The term "tawaf" describes the act of walking counterclockwise in rounds around the Kaaba. One tawaf consists of seven complete rounds, each starting and finishing at the Hajar al Aswad (The Black Stone). Read dua when you face the black stone to make the purpose of the tawaf.

The Prophet PBUH would recite the dua when He (SAW) passed in front of the black stone and the Yemeni corner.

The sunnah is to proceed to Maqam-e-Ibrahim after performing the tawaf, pray two quick rak'ahs behind it, and then stand up right away after reciting the tasleem to make place for others, especially for those who wish to offer the two rak'ahs after tawaf. You need to say Dua while sipping Zamzam.

Praying for Sa'ii

Sa'ii is traversing the two hills, Safa and Marwah, seven times back and forth. When you ascend the Safa Mountain for the first time, you can say the following phrase from the Holy Qur'an:

Saying the Dua as you exit the Masjid-al-Haram

As you exit Masjid Al Haram after this lovely trip, you may read du'a.

Halaq 

Pilgrims must shave or clip their hair after the Saeeh (Halaq or Qasar) within the Haram.

If not shaven, the hair should be clipped to a minimum of one inch or more.

For shorter hair than one inch, it must be shaved.

However, this isn't the preferable solution.

Women may create a ponytail and trim up to an inch from the bottom. They are not permitted to shave their head.

Conclusion

When you repeat du'as, keep in mind the purpose of your journey: to seek Allah SWT's blessings and mercy for all of humanity as well as the fulfillment of our own particular prayers. Hopefully, your Umrah journey reflects the principles of Islam and brings you spiritual growth, harmony, and tranquility. Get ready to embark on the sacred journey by selecting the finest December Umrah packages from New York available to you.

[i-asifeq]

Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone)

The picture above shows the Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone), which is set in the eastern corner of the Ka’bah. Tawaf is started and ended by facing this sacred stone. Throughout the ages, innumerable people including many of the Prophets (upon him be peace), the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) himself, the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with him), pious personalities and millions of Muslims who have performed Hajj and Umrah have placed their blessed lips on it.

The Hajar al-Aswad was brought from Jannah and presented to Ebrahim (upon him be peace) to be placed on the corner of the Ka’bah. Ibn ‘ Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“The Black Stone came down from Paradise and it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam turned it black.” [Tirmidhi]

Du’as are accepted at the Hajar al-Aswad and on the Day of Judgement it will testify in favour of all those who kissed it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“By Allah! On the Day of Qiyaamah, Allah will present the Hajar al-Aswad in such a manner that it will have two eyes and a tongue to testify to the Imaan (faith) of all those who kissed it.” [Tirmidhi]

When the Quraysh demolished the Holy Ka’bah in order to reconstruct it, a dispute arose when the building reached the level of the Black Stone. They differed on the issue of who was eligible to restore the Black Stone to its original place. A civil war was about to break out. Banu Abdu’d-Dar brought a bowl full of blood and all of the tribes inserted their hands in it, which meant that they had made up their minds to fight one another. But Abu Umayya Ibn al-Mugheera , their elder, asked Quraysh to agree on the judgement of the first person to come through the Bani Shaibah gate and they all agreed on this suggestion. The first to come through this gate was the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). This was five years before his mission. He put the Black Stone in the middle of a piece of cloth, and asked a representative of each tribe to hold one of the edges of the cloth and raise it close to its place. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) picked it up with his own noble hands and restored it to its original place. This was how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) prevented a war from breaking out among the Quraysh by a supreme demonstration of wisdom.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), while leaning against the Ka’bah said:“The Hajr al-Aswad and al-Maqam (Ebrahim) are two jewels from the jewels of Paradise. Had Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) not concealed their radiance, they would illuminate everything between the East and the West.” [Tirmidhi]

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once kissed the Hajar al-Aswad and said, “I know well that you are just a stone that can do neither good nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) kiss you, I would not have done so.” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) made the statement because there were many people who were newly converted to Islam and he did not want them to get the impression that Muslims also revered stones as the Arabs revered and worshipped stone idols during the Period of Ignorance. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) made it clear that he was following the Sunnah practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and that although the stone is blessed, it can do neither harm nor good.

The Hajar al-Aswad was stolen from the Ka’bah around 930 CE by Qarmatian warriors who were an Ismaeeli Shia sect. They sacked Makkah, desecrating the Well of Zamzam with Muslim corpses and carried the Black Stone away to their base in Ihsaa, in medieval Bahrain. According to the historian Al-Juwayni, the Stone was returned in around 952 CE and restored to its original location.

The Hajar al-Aswad was originally a complete stone but due to various historical incidents now consists of eight pieces of varying sizes affixed to a large stone and encased in a silver frame. The silver frame was first made by Abdullah bin Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) and replaced by later Khalifas as the need arose.

Six (additional) pieces are claimed to be in Istanbul, Turkey. One is displayed in the mihrab of the Blue Mosque, one above the entrance of the tomb of Sulaiman the Magnificent and four in the Sokullu Sehit Mehmet Pasa Camii masjid (one over the mihrab, one below the lower pulpit, another is above the upper pulpit and the last is over the entrance door). The authenticity of these additional pieces has been questioned, although the Turks did rule over what is now Saudi Arabia for many years and hold many historical Islamic relics. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows best.

Note that when kissing the Hajar al-Aswad, one should neither push people nor harm anyone because while kissing the Hajar al-Aswad is Sunnah, causing harm to people is a forbidden act (haram). When the area is crowded, it will suffice to merely point towards the Hajar al-Aswad with one’s hand or a stick while reciting the Takbeer and then to kiss the hand or stick. Although the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) kissed the Hajar al-Aswad directly, he also pointed towards it when the area was crowded, it is therefore clear that both kissing it and pointing towards it are Sunnah.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah– Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri

[asma-al-husna]

Allah’s name Al-Witr— The One and Unique—is not mentioned in the Quran, but occurs in a narration of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Al-Witr is the One, the Unique and Only. He is unique in His essence in all His attributes and there is nothing equal to Him in any way!

The One, Odd-numbered, and Unique

Witr comes from the root waw-taa-raa, which points to three meanings. The first meaning is to be odd (numbered), one and single.  and the second is to be in succession. A third meaning is to deprive.

This root appears three times in the Quran in three derived forms. Examples of these forms are yatirakum (“will deprive you”), tatraa (“in succession”) and wal-watri (“and the odd”).

Linguistically witr means that which is odd-numbered,  unever, not uniform or equable. Allah’s name Al-Witr is related in meaning to His beautiful names Al-Ahad and Al-Waahid.  All indicate that Allah ‘azza wa jall is one, only and unique in His essence, all His powers, knowledge and abilities.

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah is witr (single, odd) and loves what is witr. So perform witr prayer. O followers of Quran, observe witr (prayer). [At-Tirmidhee, Abu Dawud]

Examples of Witr in Worship

In Islam the ways we worship are indicated to the finest details in the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. An example is the number of times we are ought to carry out certain acts of worship, of which some are in witr (odd numbers) only.

Examples  are the tawaaf (circulation) around the ka’bah, which is prescribed to be done seven times as well as the times Muslims go between Safaa and Marwaa as Hajj and Umrah ritual.

According to some ahadeeth the Night of Decree (laylatul qadr) is to be found in the last ten nights of Ramadhan, in the odd-numbered nights.

Another example is the amount of days which is sunnah to fast as one of the ways of the Prophet to fast was on ayaam ul beed – the white days – which are three days in the middle of each month.

The most known example regarding witr is the Witr prayer, which is a strongly recommended prayer of an odd-numbered rakaat to be prayed in the time after the ‘Esha prayer and before the Fajr prayer.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Keep reminding yourself of the uniqueness of Al-Witr.
The fact Allah ‘azza wa jall is one and unique in all He does, knows and gives is something we know, but sometimes forget to live by in our daily lives. Remind yourself each day Allah is the only one who can give you Paradise, so put Him first and not what people think or want of you or even what your ego (nafs) whispers to you!

2. Pray the Witr prayer. The Witr prayer is one of the greatest acts of worship that draw one closer to Allah. The majority of the scholars say is one of the confirmed sunan (a sunnah mu’akkadah) which you as a Muslim should observe regularly and not neglect. Imam Ahmad raheemahullah even said: Whoever neglects Witr is a bad man whose testimony should not be accepted. The Prophet said: Allah has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is Witr; Allah has enjoined it for you during the time between ‘Esha prayer until dawn begins. [At-Tirmidhee, saheeh] Ask Allah Al-Witr to enable you to pray this prayer regularly.

3. Be unique.
As true Muslims we all share our belief in Allah Al-Witr alone, but this doesn’t mean we should not strive to be unique in our actions! Do your best to perform as many good deeds as you can, be creative and set up your own projects on the path of Islam and for the pleasure of Al-Witr and by the will of Allah, leave an unique legacy in this world which will count for you in the Herefter inshaa’Allah.

4. Know the meaning of tawheed and live by it.
Studying the meaning of tawheedullaah (the Oneness of Allah), its types and how to live by them is the most important branch of Islamic knowledge. Part of this knowledge are knowing the names and attributes of Allah ‘azza wa jall. At least spend one day a week of which you read from a trustworthy book about tawheed and its types and make sure to convey this knowledge to your children and family inshaa’Allah!

O Allah, Al-Witr, we know that you are one, single and unique. Help us to remind ourselves of Your oneness and turn to You only for all our needs and make us of those who consistently pray the Witr prayer. Increase our knowledge of tawheed and its types, aid us to live by them, and enable us to leave a unique legacy of ongoing good deeds for those who come after us until the day of judgement, ameen!

[nooranitravel]

Essential Checklist for Umrah in August

Umrah, the holy journey to Mecca, is a significant task for Muslims wanting spiritual renewal and connection to Allah. Muslims can accomplish the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca at any time for 12 months. They are required to make careful planning for the pilgrimage, whether they perform it at any time of the year. So, in this case, planning Umrah in August requires careful consideration of various factors, including weather conditions, travel plans, and personal preparations. In this article, we provide an important plan to help visitors through the difficulties of performing Umrah during the month of August.

A comprehensive checklist for performing an Umrah trip in August is below:

Weather-Appropriate Clothing:

Packing comfortable clothing is an important component of an essential checklist for Umrah. You must bring your attire for the pilgrimage according to weather conditions in Mecca and Medina. If you want to perform a holy journey during summer, packing breathable and light clothing is suitable. During summer, the temperatures in Mecca can range between 40 to 49 °C. Packing light and breathable attire is advantageous for departing during this time. The summer typically lasts from May to September in mostly part of Saudi Arabia. So, if you travel to Mecca during August, bring light and breathable clothing for Umrah. During this month, the temperatures in Mecca can range between from 29 to 43 °C.

2. Comfortable Footwear:

It's important to have the right shoes for your Umrah trip. Pilgrims should pick shoes that fit well and aren't too tight or too open. Women can wear closed shoes, but men can't. But sandals or shoes with open toes are also fine.

3. Travel Documentation:

Pilgrims must bring the required travel documents for Umrah. These documents may include:

A valid passport and its photocopies

Visa

Non-refundable flight tickets

Accommodation booking confirmation documents

Passport size photographs

Travel itinerary

Travel insurance

4. Financial Planning:

Going to Mecca, the holy city, is every Muslim's dream vacation. The beautiful act of worship is called Umrah. The trip is one of the most important things Muslims will ever do. So, they need to plan and get ready for it in many ways, such as mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. You must bring enough cash and debit cards when you pack for Umrah. It is important for travellers to bring enough local currency (Saudi Riyals) before embarking the religious travel to Mecca. This consideration will protect you from any financial issues during the pilgrimage.

5. Electronic Devices and Connectivity:

Make sure that all of your electronics, like smartphones and cameras, are in good shape. Bring the chargers and plugs you need with you. Having a solid communication plan with foreign talking and internet choices will help you stay in touch with family and friends.

6. Personal Hygiene Items:

Pilgrims must bring personal hygiene items when packing for Umrah in August. These items include the following:

Toothpaste and toothbrush

Soaps and shampoos

Sunscreen lotions (for protecting from scorching heat)

Towels

Other Items

You must bring a reusable water bottle to avoid dehydration during the pilgrimage when performing Umrah during August.

Carrying a first aid bag, which includes suggested medicines is essential.

Conclusion:

When you do Umrah in August, there are some difficulties and chances that you might not have had before. By following this important checklist, travellers can concentrate on the spiritual meaning of their trip instead of the details of how they will get there. If you travel to Mecca for Umrah as a lady, knowing about your checklist for Umrah is essential. If you want to acquire the authentic knowledge, read this: The Ultimate Umrah Checklist for Ladies: Everything You Need to Know  Even though it may be hot in Mecca during August, visitors can still experience the life-changing power of Umrah in the greatest month if they plan and prepare well. Everyone who goes on this holy trip should experience a lot of spiritual growth and grow closer to Allah.