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.

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:

Source: AlJazeera English

Taraweeh at Masjid Amr – Sept. 8

Masjid Amr – Ramadan Night of 27th

On the night of the 27^th 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).

“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.

Today hardly anybody resorts to du’a for solutions to their problems. For most people du’a is a devotion which is the most difficult to practice. Even at the blessed places and in the blessed moments, a short while occupied by du’as will seem like hours. By and large, we find that the engagement in Salah or the recitation of the Qur’an is relatively easier than making du’a. This only reflects our distance from the Being of Allah, as du’a is the only act of worship which provides us with the opportunity to communicate with Allah in the manner we wish. Lack of concentration in this act of worship shows that the performance of other acts of worship are also customary and superficial, and lacking the true essence. If we truly enjoyed the Proximity of Allah, we would inevitably have found enjoyment in confiding in Him and beseeching Him. We would have always felt an eagerness to turn to Him, in open and in solitude.

Many of us make du’a half-heartedly, not convinced whether our demands will be answered or not. We should know that Allah always answers the du’as of people. However, it may not always seem so and many people, failing to experience the effects immediately, begin to feel dejected and put off. This, however, should not be the case, as Allah, the All-Hearing, undoubtedly hears and accepts the supplications of people, only that the du’as of some are answered immediately, whilst those of others are deferred for their own benefit.

One should keep in mind that the acceptance of du’as also depends on the expectations of a person. Allah deals with people in accordance with what they expect of Him. In one Hadeeth, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has related the following Statement of Allah: ‘I treat my servant as he expects of me…’ (Bukhari, Muslim)

The Ahadeeth also tell us that du’as (provided that their requisites have been fulfilled) are accepted invariably, but their acceptance is manifested in either of the three below-mentioned ways: Sometimes, Allah immediately answers them and blesses the seekers with what they have asked for; sometimes He substitutes what they have asked for with something that in His Knowledge was better for them; or alternatively, through the blessings of the du’a, He removes an impending calamity that was to befall them. At times, neither of the above may transpire, but on such occasions, the du’a is treasured for the Hereafter. These unanswered du’as will bear so much reward that a person, on the Day of Qiyamah, will wish that none of his du’as were accepted in the world (Kanzul ‘Ummal).

Abstaining from haram (clothing, food, income, etc.) is another essential requisite for the acceptance of du’a. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once made mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hands towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): “O Lord, O Lord,” then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “But his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be accepted?” (Muslim)

By keeping the following few points in mind concerning du’a, inshaAllah, one will benefit greatly. Firstly one should remember that du’a is an act of worship and should be given an independent status of its own. It should not remain a mere ritual.

Secondly, one should make du’a after performing all good deeds such as Salah, recitation of Qur’an, dhikr etc., and also fix a specific time especially for du’a. In du’a, one should adopt humility and ensure that one understands what is being asked. The time spent in du’a should be gradually lengthened. In the initial stages, the same du’as can be repeated over and over, and in the meantime more and more du’as should be memorized. An effort should be made to learn those du’as in particular which encompass the general need of all the Muslims.

Thirdly, when making du’a, a person should have a firm faith that he is asking from Allah the All-Powerful, and He is able to fulfill every need of ours. The chances of being cured from a fatal illness, for instance, may seem remote but it should be believed from the depths of the heart that Allah is able to cure any illness if He so wished. Dr. ‘Abdul Hay ‘Arifi (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say, ‘Does there exist any problem that cannot be solved through du’a?’, and then he would say ‘How can there, when du’a is a request made to Allah for the removal of problems and there is no problem on earth whose removal is beyond His ability.’

One should ask Allah for both worldly needs and those of the Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has instructed us to ask Allah for all our needs, however petty they may seem to be. The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that even if a person’s shoelaces break, he should ask Allah before embarking to obtain new ones.

Finally, one should not ask for anything unlawful. Many young people do not realize this and by asking for impermissible things incur the displeasure of Allah.

May Allah give us all the tawfeeq [ability/opportunity] to turn to Him for all our needs and may He fulfill all our lawful needs of this world and the Hereafter. Ameen!”

THE IMPORTANCE OF DU’AA

by Shaykh Muhammed Saleem Dhorat

© Islamic Da’wah Academy

Source: http://datruth.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/the-importance-of-duaa/

“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.

“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)

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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)