Posts Tagged Ramadan

Mt. Sinai – Eid Weekend

FINALLY UPLOADED! So to break it down: after a 7 hour drive from Cairo we arrived at the St. Catherine’s Monastery at the base of Mt. Sinai on the second to last day of Ramadan. The monastery is the oldest intact monastery in the world. It was granted protection by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and the original document is preserved inside the monastery. The site is holy to Jews, Christian, and Muslims alike as it is believed that the site at which Moses met God via the burning bush is located within the walls of the monastery. There is much to be learned from the text of the charter written by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) granting protection and rights to the monks and Christians of 7th century Egypt. Check out 800px-Saint_Catherine_SinaiDr. Aslam Abdullah’s article “Relations with Christians according to Muhammad (S)” which has the text of the charter.

After arriving at St. Catherine’s monastery around 5pm, exploring the area, breaking fast and eating dinner we all decided to take a nap before the planned midnight climb of Mt. Sinai. A lot of tourists visit the monastery, and climb Mt. Sinai during the night to view the sun rise from atop Mt. Sinai. We woke up around 1:30am, met our student group, and headed towards the road that leads up to Mt. Sinai. Along the road up to Mt. Sinai there are several rest stops where you can buy all your “favorite” drinks for hi-jacked prices: coca-cola, sprite, orange fanta, and of course, bebsi. You’ll also be sure to notice the many locals who attempt to sell you a camel ride up to the top of the mountain.

Personally, the climb up to Mt. Sinai was pretty epic. I’m glad it was night and I couldn’t see what we were climbing other than what was 10 feet ahead of us. Perhaps it was a bad idea to climb during Ramadan, but I was truly exhausted by the time we got to the top. I think around 3am, or more than half-way up, I got separated from everyone in our student group and from anyone else who was climbing up. If it wasn’t for the flashlight in my cellphone, it would’ve been nearly impossible to find my way to the top. At each of the rest stops it was amazing to look back down and see the dozens, if not hundreds, of lights (flashlights) of the people climbing the mountain.

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Sunrise atop Mt. Sinai

After finally arriving to the top around 4am, I looked around for the masjid someone had advised to make sure to pray in, and was relieved to find comfort from the chilling weather outside. The masjid is more like a small musalla, just a small room accommodating perhaps 10 people at most.

Watching the sun rise was a really good experience. I made sure to bring a sweater up with me, but it wasn’t enough. The locals rent out blankets, which nearly everyone decides to buy and find a good spot to sit and watch the sun rise. Its not until the way down, that you actually realize what a long trail you’ve climbed. I remember I kept thinking, subhanAllah how did Prophet Musa (pbuh) climbed this when there was no trail. It must have been nothing less than Divine inspiration.

My pix:

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Praying for Al-Aqsa Mosque

Ramadan may have come to pass but please remember to keep your brothers and sisters in Palestine and AROUND the world in your du’as! Never underestimate the power of du’a!

Source: AlJazeera English

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Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas

1st visit on class field trip

Taraweeh at Masjid Amr – Sept. 8

Masjid Amr – Ramadan Night of 27th

On the night of the 27th of Ramadan I decided to go to Masjid Amr ibn Al-Aas, despite having been warned that I wouldn’t find a spot to pray and that if I did go I should arrive well before Maghrib (another advice that, for some reason, I didn’t heed).

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Concluding Du’a and Reflection

Concluding Du’a:

“Oh Allah, forgive our sins, cover our faults, put our minds at rest, protect and enlighten our hearts, facilitate our tasks, let us achieve our goals, make up for our shortcomings, and protect us from whatever we are afraid of. Oh the One Who is always on the lookout to extend His Kindness!”

Importance of Du’a:

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” (Holy Qur’an 2:186)

Reflection (by Shaykh Muhammad Dhorat):

“Du’a is asking Allah for help or for the fulfillment of a particular need. It expresses a slave’s helplessness and dependence on Allah, the All-Powerful and Merciful. It is the channel through which one gets directly in touch with one’s Creator.

The purpose of man’s creation is worship and according to a Hadeeth, Du’a is the essence of worship’. (Tirmidhi) And according to another Hadeeth, Du’a is the worship’. (Tirmidhi)

Just as Salah [prayer], Sawm [fasting], Zakah [charity], Hajj [pilgrimage] etc. are acts of worship, du’a too is an act of worship. Therefore just as one takes out time to pray Salah or to recite the Qur’an or make dhikr, similarly, according equal importance to du’a, one should also take out sufficient time for the sake of du’a.

The objective behind every act of worship is the Recognition of Allah as the Creator and the All-Powerful, and that one acts according to His Will and not as one likes. A Servant of Allah accepts his weaknesses and recognizes his need for Allah. Out of all devotions, this humbleness and total submission is best expressed in du’a. Furthermore, other acts of worship can become a source of pride whilst du’a is an act which is usually free from any trace of pride.

Nowadays, du’a has become a mere ritual. It has become a routine practice which one is accustomed to perform at certain times of the day. People raise their hands for a few moments at the time of du’a, uttering a few words, some consciously, and some without even realizing what they are asking for.

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Day 28 (Friday)

Du’a/Supplication for Friday:

“Allah is sufficient for me for my religion. Allah is sufficient for my worldly matters. Allah is sufficient for everything that concerns my. Allah is sufficient to take care of anyone who causes aggression against me. Allah is sufficient for me against anyone who is jealous of me. Allah is sufficient for me against anybody who holds evil intentions against me. Allah is sufficient for me at the time of death. Allah is sufficient for me during the questioning (by angel) in the grave. Allah is sufficient for me when my actions are weighed in the balance on the Day of Judgment. Allah is sufficient for me when I have to pass over the Sirat Bridge (to heaven). Allah is enough for me as there is no god besides Him; on Him have I relied and to Him do I turn.” (Buraydah al-Aslami, Kashf al-Khafa #1134)

Commentary:

According to a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) whoever says this du’a after the Fajr salat/prayer, he will find Allah will suffice for his needs.

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Day 27 (Thursday)

Du’a/Supplication for Thursday:

“Oh Allah, make me from those who put their trust in You and You became sufficient for them, who sought guidance from You and You guided them, and who help from You and You helped them.” (Anas ibn Malik. Kanz al-Ummal #5106)

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Day 26 (Wednesday)

Du’a/Supplication for Wednesday:

“Oh Allah, comfort me in my desolation in the grave. Oh Allah, have mercy on me by dint of the Great Qur’an and make it my leader, light, guidance, and mercy. Oh Allah, make me remember whatever I forget from it. Teach me whatever part of it I do not understand. Endow me with its recitation during the hours of the day and the night. And make it an evidence for me, Oh Lord of the worlds.” (Composite: Abu Umamah al-Bahili. Kanz al-Ummal #2784; Abu Mansur al-Muzaffar’s Fada’il al-Quran as reported by Haifz Iraqi in Takhrij Ahadith al-Ibya)

Commentary:

This du’a should [also] be made at a completion of the recitation of the entire Qur’an.

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Day 25 (Tuesday)

Du’a/Supplication for Tuesday:

“Oh Allah, grant me profusely weeping eyes that comfort the heart with tears that flow out of Your fear–before the time comes when eyes will be shedding blood and teeth will become embers.” (Abdullah ibn Umar, Kanz al-Ummal #3661)

Commentary:

A believer is a soft-hearted person who sheds much tears here out of the fear of Allah. “Before the time” refers to the state of sinners/disbelievers in the Hereafter.

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Day 24 (Monday)

Du’a/Supplication for Monday:

“Oh Allah, put blessings, beauty, and calm in our land. Do not deprive me of the blessings of what You have given me and do not subject me to a trial in what You have withheld from me.” (Composite: Samurah ibn Jundub and Ubayy ibn Ka’b. Majma’ az-Zawa’id)

Commentary:

In other words my deprivations in this world should not become my tribulations.

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Ramadan Du’a-A-Day Series, Day 23 (Sunday)

Du’a/Supplication for Sunday:

“Oh Allah, forgive us. Have mercy on us. Be pleased with us. Accept from us. Admit us to Paradise and protect us from Hell. And set [a]right all [of] our affairs.” (Abu Umamah al-Bahili. Sunan Ibn Majah #3826)

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