If one misses the Namaz-e-Shab one can perform its Qaza during the day. If one has missed Namaz-e-Shab there is great merit in performing its Qaza. Thus there is a tradition from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) in Tafseer Ali Ibne Ibrahim Qummi that a person said to Imam (a.s.): May I be sacrificed on you, sometimes I miss Namaz-e-Shab for one, two or three months and I perform it during the day, is such a thing allowed?
Imam (a.s.) said: By Allah! This action is the cause of the vision of your eyes. And he repeated this sentence thrice.
Ishaq bin Ammar has related from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that he quoted his father who quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that when a person performs the Qaza of Namaz-e-Shab the Almighty Allah expresses pride before the Angels and says; O Angels! See he is performing the Qaza of that which I have not made obligatory on him. Be witness that I have given him salvation. (Beharul Anwaar Vol. 87 Pg. 202)
If while one is offering the Namaz-e-Shab and the dawn appears, for example the dawn has appeared after performing four rakats one should perform the rest of the prayer without recommended rituals. However if one has not prayed four rakats, one should complete the two rakats, then offer two rakats of the Nafila of the Morning Prayer, then two rakats obligatory Morning Prayer, and after this he should recite the Qaza of the rest of the Namaz-e-Shab. Or if he has not even begun reciting the Namaz-e-Shab and the dawn has arrived one should recite two rakats of Nafila of the Morning Prayer and then two rakats of Obligatory Morning Prayer. And after the Morning Prayer he should recite the Qaza of Namaz-e-Shab.
If one offers the Namaz-e-Shab after the Morning Azan and before Sunrise one must neither recite it with the intention of Qaza nor the intention of Adaa (in time), rather one should recite it with the intention of 'whatever is applicable'.
It means that one should make an intention that one is praying the Namaz-e-Shab for gaining the proximity to Allah. (Qurbatan Elallah).
Saturday, 25 February 2012
By praying Salatul-Layl one’s livelihood is increased, one passes easily through “Sakaraat” (great and grueling pain a dying person suffers at the time of death) and finds happiness in “Barzakh” (the Spiritual world where the departed souls stay either in happiness or misery, until the Day of Resurrection).
Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) quotes Imam Ali (as) as saying that the Prophet (saws) said that a person who prays Salatul-Layl gets the following twenty four kinds of benefits:
1) Secures Allah’s pleasure.
2) Makes friendship with Angels.
3) Is the Sunnat of the Prophets (a.s.)
4) Provides the means to pursue knowledge.
5) Constitutes the root of our faith.
6) Keeps one physically fit.
7) Drives Shaytan away.
8) Protects one from enemies.
9) Serves as a means of acceptance of one’s Duas and good deeds.
10) Increases one’s livelihood.
11) Intercedes with the Angel of Death.
12) Lights up the grave.
13) Provides comfortable bedding in the grave.
14) Helps answering with ease the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave.
15) Gives companionship in the grave.
16) Provides shelter on the Day of Judgment.
17) Crowns one on the Day of Reckoning.
18) Clothes one on the Day of Resurrection.
19) Provides one with light on the Day of Judgment.
20) Forms a barrier against the fire of Hell.
21) Gets Allah’s pardon on the Day of Judgment.
22) Increases the weight of good deeds on the scale.
23) Helps one crossing the Bridge of “Siraat” without any difficulty.
24) Forms the key to the Paradise.
Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) quotes Imam Ali (as) as saying that the Prophet (saws) said that a person who prays Salatul-Layl gets the following twenty four kinds of benefits:
1) Secures Allah’s pleasure.
2) Makes friendship with Angels.
3) Is the Sunnat of the Prophets (a.s.)
4) Provides the means to pursue knowledge.
5) Constitutes the root of our faith.
6) Keeps one physically fit.
7) Drives Shaytan away.
8) Protects one from enemies.
9) Serves as a means of acceptance of one’s Duas and good deeds.
10) Increases one’s livelihood.
11) Intercedes with the Angel of Death.
12) Lights up the grave.
13) Provides comfortable bedding in the grave.
14) Helps answering with ease the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave.
15) Gives companionship in the grave.
16) Provides shelter on the Day of Judgment.
17) Crowns one on the Day of Reckoning.
18) Clothes one on the Day of Resurrection.
19) Provides one with light on the Day of Judgment.
20) Forms a barrier against the fire of Hell.
21) Gets Allah’s pardon on the Day of Judgment.
22) Increases the weight of good deeds on the scale.
23) Helps one crossing the Bridge of “Siraat” without any difficulty.
24) Forms the key to the Paradise.
Namaz -e- shab ( tahajjud )
TIME (WAQT) The time for praying Salatul-Layl is from midnight (midnight is reckoned as the time which is exactly half the time between sunset and the actual dawn) to the time of Adhan for Fajr prayers. However, it can be prayed at anytime after Isha prayers but it is better to pray during the last part of the night near to the time of Fajr prayers. If it is not possible to pray after midnight or before Fajr, then it can be prayed in the morning or any part of the day with the niyyah (intention) of Qadha. It is better to pray with the niyyah of Qadha during the day time than to pray in the early part of the night.
Salatul-Layl is made up of Eleven Rak’ats.
Ø The first eight Rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.
Ø The next two Rak’ats are prayed with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Shaf’a'.
'
Ø The remaining one Rak’at is prayed with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Witr.'
In the last one Rak’at, Qunoot is recited before Rukuu and the Salat is completed as usual with Tashahud and Salaam.
The last one Rak’at is prayed as follows:
Hold Tasbih in the right hand if required ,for keeping count of the dhikr mentioned below to be recited.
Make Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram.
Recite:
Surah Al-Hamd;
Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad - three times;
Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbil Falaq - once;
Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbin Naas - once.
Note: If one does not know the last two Surahs mentioned above, then it is sufficient to recite Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad, three times.
Say Takbir and raise both hands for Qunoot.:-
You may recite any Dua. However, it is recommended to recite the following Dua :-
Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ
Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ
Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab'
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ
wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab'
وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ
wa maa fihinna wa maa baynahunna
وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ
wa Rabbul 'Arshil ‘Azim
رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ
Wal Hamdul lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamin
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great
Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth
And Who is the Sustainer of all the things in them, and between them,
And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)
And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.
Then, while holding the Tasbih in the right hand, raise the left hand and pray for forgiveness of forty [40] or
more Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat who are either dead or living in the following manner:
Allaahummagh Firli… (Name)
اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل...
O Allah, forgive … giving the names of Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat. (In each case saying, Allahummagh Firli …….) U may include Ulamaa names
Continuing with the Qunoot, while still raising the left hand, recite the following Istighfar seventy [70] times:
Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him
Still continuing further while raising the left hand, recite the following Dua seven [7] times:
Haadhaa Maqaamul 'Aaidhi Bika Minannaar
هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]
Continuing yet further while still raising the left hand, recite three hundred [300] times: -
Al-'Afwa (I ask for) forgiveness اَلْعَفْوَ
Following this, the following should be said once:-
" Rabbigfirli warhamni wa tubalaiyyi,Innaka tawwaburrahim"
“Lord, please forgive me and have mercy upon me and turn back towards me. Verily You are the Oft-Turning back, Most Merciful”
Finally, complete the Salat in the normal way by going to Rukuu’ followed by Sajdah, Tashahud and Salaam, ending Salatul-Layl.
As a 'Ta’kibaat' after the Salat, recite:-
Ø Tasbih of Syeda Fatemah Zahra (a.s.), 34 times Allahu Akbar; 33 times Al-Hamdu Lillah 33 times Subhanallah,
Ø followed by Sajdah of Shukr. (reciting 5 times 'Subbuhun quddusun Rabil Malaekatil wa ruhi')
Ø Next, recite Ayatul Kursi.
Ø Finally, for the second time, perform Sajdah of Shukr (reciting 5 times Subbuhun quddusun Rabil Malaekatil wa ruhi), completing the Salat.
Ø Dua Hazeen /grief
Salatul-Layl is made up of Eleven Rak’ats.
Ø The first eight Rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.
Ø The next two Rak’ats are prayed with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Shaf’a'.
'
Ø The remaining one Rak’at is prayed with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Witr.'
In the last one Rak’at, Qunoot is recited before Rukuu and the Salat is completed as usual with Tashahud and Salaam.
The last one Rak’at is prayed as follows:
Hold Tasbih in the right hand if required ,for keeping count of the dhikr mentioned below to be recited.
Make Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram.
Recite:
Surah Al-Hamd;
Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad - three times;
Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbil Falaq - once;
Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbin Naas - once.
Note: If one does not know the last two Surahs mentioned above, then it is sufficient to recite Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad, three times.
Say Takbir and raise both hands for Qunoot.:-
You may recite any Dua. However, it is recommended to recite the following Dua :-
Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ
Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ
Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab'
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ
wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab'
وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ
wa maa fihinna wa maa baynahunna
وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ
wa Rabbul 'Arshil ‘Azim
رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ
Wal Hamdul lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamin
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great
Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth
And Who is the Sustainer of all the things in them, and between them,
And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)
And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.
Then, while holding the Tasbih in the right hand, raise the left hand and pray for forgiveness of forty [40] or
more Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat who are either dead or living in the following manner:
Allaahummagh Firli… (Name)
اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل...
O Allah, forgive … giving the names of Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat. (In each case saying, Allahummagh Firli …….) U may include Ulamaa names
Continuing with the Qunoot, while still raising the left hand, recite the following Istighfar seventy [70] times:
Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him
Still continuing further while raising the left hand, recite the following Dua seven [7] times:
Haadhaa Maqaamul 'Aaidhi Bika Minannaar
هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]
Continuing yet further while still raising the left hand, recite three hundred [300] times: -
Al-'Afwa (I ask for) forgiveness اَلْعَفْوَ
Following this, the following should be said once:-
" Rabbigfirli warhamni wa tubalaiyyi,Innaka tawwaburrahim"
“Lord, please forgive me and have mercy upon me and turn back towards me. Verily You are the Oft-Turning back, Most Merciful”
Finally, complete the Salat in the normal way by going to Rukuu’ followed by Sajdah, Tashahud and Salaam, ending Salatul-Layl.
As a 'Ta’kibaat' after the Salat, recite:-
Ø Tasbih of Syeda Fatemah Zahra (a.s.), 34 times Allahu Akbar; 33 times Al-Hamdu Lillah 33 times Subhanallah,
Ø followed by Sajdah of Shukr. (reciting 5 times 'Subbuhun quddusun Rabil Malaekatil wa ruhi')
Ø Next, recite Ayatul Kursi.
Ø Finally, for the second time, perform Sajdah of Shukr (reciting 5 times Subbuhun quddusun Rabil Malaekatil wa ruhi), completing the Salat.
Ø Dua Hazeen /grief
Friday, 13 January 2012
Prayer of FATIMA (s.a) [ English nawha ] !
oh people of the world, listen, listen to what the holy prophet (pbuh) has said "Oh Fatima every eye shall be weeping on the day of judgement, except the eye which has shed tears over the tragedy of hussain for surely that eye shall be laughing and shall be given the glad tidings of the bounties and comforts of paradise."
On the day that Hussain was born
the Prophet took him in his arms
he looked at him with grace
but tears came rolling down his face
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Fatima saw this sight, that left her in a fright
Father why do you cry
tell me please tell me why
The Prophet replied my love
the tyrants will kill Hussain
He'll cry out for help many times
yet they will continue with their crimes
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
The tyrants will leave Hussain thirsty
with horses they will trample his body
His companions will not be spared
on spears they will carry their holy heads
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
After the tragic death of Hussain
the oppressors will parade Zainab
they'll take her through Kufa and Shaam
the mighty daughter of MY IMAAM
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Fatima began to weep, felt an ache very deep
Father will I be there? Father will you be there?
The prophet replied my dear
Hussain will be all alone
neither you nor Ali nor Hassan
nor me My Daughter, there'll be no one
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Sorrow grief and despair, darkness pain filled the air
Father how can this be? who will cry, who will plea?
The Prophet consoled Fatima
and wiped the tears off Her face
oh My Daughter don't fear
Allah will bring a nation called the Shia
Fatima looked up high, raised Her hands in the sky
those who mourn My Hussain, God keep them safe give them no pain
We are the prayer of Fatima, daughter of the prophet of Allah
We will never stop remembering Hussain
till the last day, you'll hear his name
everywhere we go every step we take
we'll remember in this world why we came
as a prayer of Fatima, our mission we will fulfill
from every corner of this world you will hear
" Hussain Hussain (x5) "
This voice and poetry came from you Fatima
"ADEEYA SAANIA MAHUM" wish for this Fatima
when your lovers hear this noha Ya Fatima
May their hearts at that time cry out loud ...
YA HUSSAIN (x5)
On the day that Hussain was born
the Prophet took him in his arms
he looked at him with grace
but tears came rolling down his face
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Fatima saw this sight, that left her in a fright
Father why do you cry
tell me please tell me why
The Prophet replied my love
the tyrants will kill Hussain
He'll cry out for help many times
yet they will continue with their crimes
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
The tyrants will leave Hussain thirsty
with horses they will trample his body
His companions will not be spared
on spears they will carry their holy heads
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
After the tragic death of Hussain
the oppressors will parade Zainab
they'll take her through Kufa and Shaam
the mighty daughter of MY IMAAM
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Fatima began to weep, felt an ache very deep
Father will I be there? Father will you be there?
The prophet replied my dear
Hussain will be all alone
neither you nor Ali nor Hassan
nor me My Daughter, there'll be no one
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Sorrow grief and despair, darkness pain filled the air
Father how can this be? who will cry, who will plea?
The Prophet consoled Fatima
and wiped the tears off Her face
oh My Daughter don't fear
Allah will bring a nation called the Shia
Fatima looked up high, raised Her hands in the sky
those who mourn My Hussain, God keep them safe give them no pain
We are the prayer of Fatima, daughter of the prophet of Allah
We will never stop remembering Hussain
till the last day, you'll hear his name
everywhere we go every step we take
we'll remember in this world why we came
as a prayer of Fatima, our mission we will fulfill
from every corner of this world you will hear
" Hussain Hussain (x5) "
This voice and poetry came from you Fatima
"ADEEYA SAANIA MAHUM" wish for this Fatima
when your lovers hear this noha Ya Fatima
May their hearts at that time cry out loud ...
YA HUSSAIN (x5)
Why Arbaeen ? Significance of Arbaeen and the performance of the Ziyarat of Arbaeen !
Arba'een (Arabic: اربعين, "forty") or Chehelom (Persian: چهلم "the fortieth [day]"), is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which over 10 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq. As it is known by Persian-speaking and Urdu-speaking Muslims in Central and South Asia, Arba'een is a Shia Muslim religious observation that occurs 40 days after the Day of Ashura, it is observed all over the world. It commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad which falls on the 20th day of the month of Safar. Husayn and 72 supporters died in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE), killed by Yazid I's army. Chelom is also observed 40 days after the death of a family member or loved one. Forty days is the usual length of the time of mourning in many Islamic cultures.
Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.) includes the performance of Ziyarat-e-Arba’een as one of the five marks for a believer, in addition to reciting 51 raka of sala, audible recitation of Bismillah, wearing a ring on one’s right hand, and doing sajda on dust. (This hadith has been narrated by Sheikh Tusi in the book Tahthib).
Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat of Arba’een and the observance of Arba’een (40 days of mourning)?
Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models. Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Kerbala to perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer. So does making ziyarat while not in Kerbala give one the same benefits? Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) far from Kerbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Kerbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhamed al-Baqir (a.s.) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussain (a.s.) for forty mornings, rising red and setting red. As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,
“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him ...”
By performing the Ziyarat of Arba’een, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,
I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mold our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussain (a.s.) for a period of forty days and then move on?
Our Prophet has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.” Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days. Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people traveled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….
Reciting particular duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well.
The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Duaa is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased. (Duas.org)
It is reported from Imam Ja'fer Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (a). Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promises a visit from the 12th Imam (ajtf).
Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een and commemorate the Arba’een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussain (a.s.), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s.), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!
Refs:
A’maal of Muharram and Safar (Tayyiba Publishers)
Kerbala and Beyond by Yasin T. Al-Jabouri
The Miracle of Ziyarat-e-Ashoora
Commentary on Ziyarat Ashura, translated by Saleem Bhimji from the work of Ali Asghar Azizi Tehrani
Kitab al-Irshad, translated by IKA Howard, authored by Sheikh Al-Mufeed
Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.) includes the performance of Ziyarat-e-Arba’een as one of the five marks for a believer, in addition to reciting 51 raka of sala, audible recitation of Bismillah, wearing a ring on one’s right hand, and doing sajda on dust. (This hadith has been narrated by Sheikh Tusi in the book Tahthib).
Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat of Arba’een and the observance of Arba’een (40 days of mourning)?
Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models. Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Kerbala to perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer. So does making ziyarat while not in Kerbala give one the same benefits? Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) far from Kerbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Kerbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhamed al-Baqir (a.s.) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussain (a.s.) for forty mornings, rising red and setting red. As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,
“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him ...”
By performing the Ziyarat of Arba’een, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,
I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mold our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussain (a.s.) for a period of forty days and then move on?
Our Prophet has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.” Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days. Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people traveled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….
Reciting particular duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well.
The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Duaa is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased. (Duas.org)
It is reported from Imam Ja'fer Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (a). Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promises a visit from the 12th Imam (ajtf).
Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een and commemorate the Arba’een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussain (a.s.), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s.), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!
Refs:
A’maal of Muharram and Safar (Tayyiba Publishers)
Kerbala and Beyond by Yasin T. Al-Jabouri
The Miracle of Ziyarat-e-Ashoora
Commentary on Ziyarat Ashura, translated by Saleem Bhimji from the work of Ali Asghar Azizi Tehrani
Kitab al-Irshad, translated by IKA Howard, authored by Sheikh Al-Mufeed
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
BIBI FATIMA MASOOMA E QOM {HISTORY AND HER LIFE } !
Hazrat Masooma e Qom Was Born On 1st Zqaad, 173 A.H. In Madina e Munawwara. Her Real Name Was Fatima Kubra_sa Because She Was Eldest Among Her Four Sisters And Her Other Sisters Were Also Named Fatima. Her Famous Title
of All Her Titles Is Masooma_saBcause She Was A Very Pious Lady And This Title Was Gifted To Her By Her Holy Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
Janab e Masooma e Qom Was Only 10 Years Old When Her Father Imam Moosa Kazim Was Martyred In The PrisonOf Baghdad. Now She Had Only Her oly Brother To Look Up To. This Major Grief Made Her Very Weak And She Carried The Strenght To Be Alive Only For Her Brother Sake.Imam Ali Raza And Fatima Masooma_sa Were Born From The Same Mother And That Was Why The Bond Between Them Were So Strong.
After The Death Of Her Holy Father, Now Imam Ali Raza_as Was Charged The Responsibilities Of Imamat, But The Cruel Abbasside Kings Like Haroon Rasheed (l.a) And His Son Were Not Going To Let The Imam_as Live Peacefully. After The Death Of Haroon Rasheed (la),Mamoon Rasheed Came To The Power. His WayOf Ruling Was Completly Same As His Father,s And Imam Ali Raza_as Was Now Forced To Leave His Whole Family In Madinah For The Journey To Khurasan Iran.
For Almost A Year Hazrat Masooma_sa Put Up With The Seperation Of Her Brother But After A Year Of Sufferig His Seperation, She Could'nt Stand It Longer And Decided To Leave Madinah And Reunion With Her Brother Imam Ali Raza_as. Hazrat Masooma_sa Left Madinah For The Journey To Marw Aliong With Her Five Brothers, Fazal, Jafar, Haadi, Qasim And Zaid, His Nephews And Some Servants Were Also With Her.
Together They Went Through Many Difficulties That Occured In Their Way. Very Soon They Reached Sawa, A Place Where There Were Many Enemies Of Ahl e Bayt_as And Therefore The Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Was Attacked By These Enimies Of Sawa And Totally 23 Men Which Among Them Were The Brothers And The Nephews Of Hazrat Masooma Was Martyred.After This Tragedy, Hazrat Masooma_sa Became Very Ill And Weak. When The Leader In Qum, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra, Who Was A Shia And A Good Hearted Man, Heard About This Tragedy, He Immidiatly Sent His Men To Bring Hazrat Msooma_sa To Qum.
Qum Was The City Where Lovers Of Ahl e Bayt_as Were Settled. When Hazrat Masooma's_sa Carvan Was Directed To Qum And When She Approached The City, She Observed That Everyone Was Dresses In Black And Black Banners Were Visible Everywhere. Observing This Sad Atmosphere, Hazrat Masooma_sa Ordered Her Servant Lady To Ask Someone Who Could Tell Them About What Had Happened? Janab e Masoomaa_sa Thought And Was Almost Sure That May Be A Great Leader Of This City Had Died.
When Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Stopped Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Himself Came To Offer His Salutation. When The Reason Behind The Black Dressed People And The Sadness InThe Atmosphere Were Asked? Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra At First Stood Quiet With His Head Bent Down But When Hazrat Masooma_sa Insisted Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Begaan To Cry At First And Offered His Condolences At The Death Of His Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
On Hearing These Words Hazrat Masoomaa_sa Lammed Her Head And Cried So Much That She Became Unconcious. The Servant Laadies Stopped The Caravan And The Partition Was Arranged By Moos Ibn e Khazraj_ra, So That The Doctor Could Examine Her. In Between Hazrat Moosa_ra Sometimes Gained Her Conciousness And Then Cried For Her Brother Lamenting " O' Ghareeb Ul Watan" Where Are You My Brother? nd Then She Was Unconcious Again.
She Was So Deeply Hurt By This Grief That After Her Arrival In Qum She Was Only Alive For 17 Days. At Her Death The WomenOf Qum Commited Ghusl And Kafan and The Grave Was Also Dug By The Women And No MenWere Allowed inHer Funeral.At The Time Of Burying The Body Suddenly And Miraculously Two VielCoverd Horsemen Were Sighted. They Approached The Funeral Ceremony And One Of Them Carried The Holy Body Of Hazrat Masooma_sa And Handed It Over To The Other Who Had Stepped Inside The Grave.
When The Funeral Prayers Were Conducted The Two Mysterios Horse men Were Disappeared. It s Reported That These Veil Covered Horsemen Were Imam Ali Raza_as And Imam Muhammad Taqi_asWho Miraculously Had Come To Bury The Body Of Masooma e Qum_sa. After Burring Hazrat Masoom_sa, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj Arranged A Canvas Over The Grave Of Masooma e Qum_sa. Thereafter Zainab Bint e Imam Muhammad Taqi_as Arraanged The Tomb Of The Grave. In413 A.H This Tomb Was Painted. In 529 A.H Na Tomb Was Made.
In 592 A.H The Tomb Was Rebuilt .In 1203 A.H The Area Around The Holy Shrine Of Masooma e Qum_sa Was Renewed. In1218 A.H The Holy Tomb Was Rebuilt And Gold Plated With 12000 Golden Bars. In 1275 A.H The Grave Was Surrounded By A Silvery Zari.Hazrat Masooma_sa as Burried in the Holy City Of Qum And Every Year This Shrine Is Visited By Millions Of Millions Of Her Lovers All Around The World.May Allah Give All The Shia Muslims The Opportunity To Pilgrimage To Iran To Visit These Sacred Places. Ameen !
of All Her Titles Is Masooma_saBcause She Was A Very Pious Lady And This Title Was Gifted To Her By Her Holy Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
Janab e Masooma e Qom Was Only 10 Years Old When Her Father Imam Moosa Kazim Was Martyred In The PrisonOf Baghdad. Now She Had Only Her oly Brother To Look Up To. This Major Grief Made Her Very Weak And She Carried The Strenght To Be Alive Only For Her Brother Sake.Imam Ali Raza And Fatima Masooma_sa Were Born From The Same Mother And That Was Why The Bond Between Them Were So Strong.
After The Death Of Her Holy Father, Now Imam Ali Raza_as Was Charged The Responsibilities Of Imamat, But The Cruel Abbasside Kings Like Haroon Rasheed (l.a) And His Son Were Not Going To Let The Imam_as Live Peacefully. After The Death Of Haroon Rasheed (la),Mamoon Rasheed Came To The Power. His WayOf Ruling Was Completly Same As His Father,s And Imam Ali Raza_as Was Now Forced To Leave His Whole Family In Madinah For The Journey To Khurasan Iran.
For Almost A Year Hazrat Masooma_sa Put Up With The Seperation Of Her Brother But After A Year Of Sufferig His Seperation, She Could'nt Stand It Longer And Decided To Leave Madinah And Reunion With Her Brother Imam Ali Raza_as. Hazrat Masooma_sa Left Madinah For The Journey To Marw Aliong With Her Five Brothers, Fazal, Jafar, Haadi, Qasim And Zaid, His Nephews And Some Servants Were Also With Her.
Together They Went Through Many Difficulties That Occured In Their Way. Very Soon They Reached Sawa, A Place Where There Were Many Enemies Of Ahl e Bayt_as And Therefore The Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Was Attacked By These Enimies Of Sawa And Totally 23 Men Which Among Them Were The Brothers And The Nephews Of Hazrat Masooma Was Martyred.After This Tragedy, Hazrat Masooma_sa Became Very Ill And Weak. When The Leader In Qum, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra, Who Was A Shia And A Good Hearted Man, Heard About This Tragedy, He Immidiatly Sent His Men To Bring Hazrat Msooma_sa To Qum.
Qum Was The City Where Lovers Of Ahl e Bayt_as Were Settled. When Hazrat Masooma's_sa Carvan Was Directed To Qum And When She Approached The City, She Observed That Everyone Was Dresses In Black And Black Banners Were Visible Everywhere. Observing This Sad Atmosphere, Hazrat Masooma_sa Ordered Her Servant Lady To Ask Someone Who Could Tell Them About What Had Happened? Janab e Masoomaa_sa Thought And Was Almost Sure That May Be A Great Leader Of This City Had Died.
When Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Stopped Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Himself Came To Offer His Salutation. When The Reason Behind The Black Dressed People And The Sadness InThe Atmosphere Were Asked? Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra At First Stood Quiet With His Head Bent Down But When Hazrat Masooma_sa Insisted Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Begaan To Cry At First And Offered His Condolences At The Death Of His Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
On Hearing These Words Hazrat Masoomaa_sa Lammed Her Head And Cried So Much That She Became Unconcious. The Servant Laadies Stopped The Caravan And The Partition Was Arranged By Moos Ibn e Khazraj_ra, So That The Doctor Could Examine Her. In Between Hazrat Moosa_ra Sometimes Gained Her Conciousness And Then Cried For Her Brother Lamenting " O' Ghareeb Ul Watan" Where Are You My Brother? nd Then She Was Unconcious Again.
She Was So Deeply Hurt By This Grief That After Her Arrival In Qum She Was Only Alive For 17 Days. At Her Death The WomenOf Qum Commited Ghusl And Kafan and The Grave Was Also Dug By The Women And No MenWere Allowed inHer Funeral.At The Time Of Burying The Body Suddenly And Miraculously Two VielCoverd Horsemen Were Sighted. They Approached The Funeral Ceremony And One Of Them Carried The Holy Body Of Hazrat Masooma_sa And Handed It Over To The Other Who Had Stepped Inside The Grave.
When The Funeral Prayers Were Conducted The Two Mysterios Horse men Were Disappeared. It s Reported That These Veil Covered Horsemen Were Imam Ali Raza_as And Imam Muhammad Taqi_asWho Miraculously Had Come To Bury The Body Of Masooma e Qum_sa. After Burring Hazrat Masoom_sa, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj Arranged A Canvas Over The Grave Of Masooma e Qum_sa. Thereafter Zainab Bint e Imam Muhammad Taqi_as Arraanged The Tomb Of The Grave. In413 A.H This Tomb Was Painted. In 529 A.H Na Tomb Was Made.
In 592 A.H The Tomb Was Rebuilt .In 1203 A.H The Area Around The Holy Shrine Of Masooma e Qum_sa Was Renewed. In1218 A.H The Holy Tomb Was Rebuilt And Gold Plated With 12000 Golden Bars. In 1275 A.H The Grave Was Surrounded By A Silvery Zari.Hazrat Masooma_sa as Burried in the Holy City Of Qum And Every Year This Shrine Is Visited By Millions Of Millions Of Her Lovers All Around The World.May Allah Give All The Shia Muslims The Opportunity To Pilgrimage To Iran To Visit These Sacred Places. Ameen !
Saturday, 31 December 2011
The 5 Signs of a Believer !
Every existWence is coupled with signs. These signs are a reflection of its essence. Often times, we follow the signs to reach the existence; other times we start with the existence and seek the signs. The faith of a Muslim is no different and is accompanied by specific signs.
The Qur'an and the narrations of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) point out a variety of signs that we Muslims should not only learn, but also incorporate into our everyday lives. This article will focus on the following narration that lists five signs of the believer: Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) says, "[t]he signs of the believer are five: praying fifty-one Rak'at [including mandatory and optional prayers], Ziyarat al-Arba'een, wearing a ring in the right hand, prostration on dirt, and saying 'Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem' in a raised voice." (Wasa'il ush-Shi'a)
At first glance, one can easily infer that some of the reasons behind these acts being considered signs of a believer include that in some cases they are considered from the Mustahibbaat, and in others cases pay tribute to a representative of Allah.
However, we shall examine these signs from a different perspective and hopefully reach a common intersecting point.
Praying 51 Rak'at
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) says "Prayers is the ascension of the believer." (Safinat al-Bihar) The person who is in love with Allah and wants to reach Allah will seek the path to Him, and prayer is that path. Prayers include speaking to Allah. Prayers include supplications. Prayers include deepening our beliefs. When prayer is all that and more, the believers will surely want to fulfill their obligatory duties – but they will not stop there as they will want to take advantage of every opportunity to communicate with Allah, and the optional prayer is exactly that: opportunity.
It is the optional prayer that should be the main focus of our examination, as it is already obvious that praying the five mandatory prayers is part of the circle of Islam. For the sake of completeness, the 34 optional Rak'ats are: 2 Rak'ats before Fajr, 8 Rak'ats before Duhr, 8 Rak'ats before Asr, 4 Rak'ats after Maghrib, and 2 Rak'ats from a seated position (thus considered as one) after Isha, and 11 Rak'ats (8 Nafila, 2 Shafa', 1 Witr) for Salat al-Layl. Along with the 17 Rak'ats of the five mandatory prayers, the total becomes 51 – the count referred to by Imam Hasan al-Askari.
The optional prayers have been emphasized by our Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) on numerous occasions, and for the sake of example, consider that Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) asked Lady Zainab (peace be upon her) to remember him in her night prayers. His emphasis on the night prayers is worth analyzing.
This alone shows the importance of these optional prayers and a true believer will not let this opportunity slip by. But optional prayers go further than that. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was struck by Ibn Muljim (may Allah remove His mercy from him) on the 19th of Ramadan while the Imam was praying the Nafila of Fajr. When one considers that our beloved Imam was martyred while he was praying the optional prayers, those who love Imam Ali would find it only logical to be like him and follow his ways. It is truly a sign of faith when the person wants to love Allah the way the Imam does, and the optional prayers help reinforce his/her love for the Imam and ultimately for Allah.
Ziyarat al-Arba'een
According to history, the 20th of Safar is the day Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) visited Imam Hussain – the first Ziyarat (Misbah al-Mutahajjid). It is also the day that the caravan of the Ahlul Bayt returned to Karbala from Damascus. The person who follows the path of Imam Hussain will want to be part of that caravan. The 20th of Safar was emphasized by the Ahlul Bayt due to the tragedy of "returning to Karbala" after the massacre. Visiting Imam Hussain on Arba'een follows in the footsteps of Lady Zainab and Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him). It is a commemoration of the tragedy. Who else will want to bother with the Ziyarat other than those who understand the status of Imam Hussain and the meanings of his revolution – who else other than those who love Imam Hussain, the Prophet, and the Ahlul Bayt? And those who love the Prophet and his holy household are those who love Allah. And whoever loves them follows them. That is the path of every true believer and Imam Hasan al-Askari emphasizes that. It is important to realize that the term "visiting" is not limited to being physically there (although it the best realization of visitation); rather, narrations from the Ahlul Bayt allow the believers to do Ziyarat from a distance. Also, one should not limit the Ziyarat to only one day of the year. In fact, Ziyarat al-Arba'een is to be recited on the 20th of Safar and on other days of the year, independent of whether the believer is physically at Karbala or not. When done regularly, the connection with Imam Hussain and the Ahlul Bayt deepens as the sign of belief shines.
Ring on Right Hand
Symbols are common in today's world and can be seen in many different political, academic, cultural, professional and other kinds of organizations. During the Battle of Siffin, Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah remove His mercy from him) set a trend by putting his ring on his left hand and falsely claimed that Imam Ali not be the Imam and the Caliph. The followers of the Umayyid dynasty made it a symbol of remembering that incident by wearing rings on their left hands. Thus, wearing the ring in the right hand goes beyond blessings and rewards. It has become a symbol of following Imam Ali. It is a revolution against those who hate our Imam. And clearly, those who hate and do not follow the Imam have gone astray. On numerous occasions, the Prophet said, "Oh Ali! Only believers will love you and only hypocrites will hate you." (Sahih al-Tirmidhi).
Prostration on Dirt
The true believer understands that they are nothing without Allah and their pride and ego is to be put aside when connecting with Allah. When the person puts their head on dirt, they are in a position of humility before Allah. Prostration on dirt goes even further as it represents the beginning and end of this life. We began from clay and we will end up buried in dirt. True believers always remember their genesis and their destination. The prostration on dirt is a reminder of that. But the significance of prostration goes even further: when this dirt comes from the holy city of Karbala, then the prostration on dirt takes the believer to a much higher level. It becomes a form of remembering the tragedy of Karbala. It serves as a reminder of how Imam Hussain was left on the blazing desert sands of Karbala for three days. It reminds us of how Shimr (may Allah remove His mercy from him) slaughtered Imam Hussain from the back of his neck while his was on the ground. Indeed, prostration on dirt is a connection between us and Imam Hussain, the Ahlul Bayt and ultimately Allah.
The Basmala
Finally, the topic of saying "Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem" (the Basmala) It is enough to quote the following narration by Imam Ali that ties the Basmala to him: "Know that all the secrets in the divine books are in the Qur'an. All that is in the Qur'an is in al-Fatiha. All that is in al-Fatiha is in the Basmala. All that is in the Basmala is in the 'Baa' [of 'Bism']. All that is in the 'Baa' is in the dot under the 'Baa'. And I am the dot under the 'Baa'." (Yanabee al-Mawadda)
The Intersection Point
The completion of the religion of Islam was the Wilaya of Imam Ali and his successors. From the above discussion, it is clear that these signs listed by Imam Hasan al-Askari, in one way or another, lead us back to our infallible Imams. These signs are a source of blessings and they are signs of followers of Prophet Mohammad and his holy family.
In order to be included among those followers, we should start incorporating these signs into our lives. Wear a ring in the right hand – it is such a simple task to make a habit of. Start to pray the optional prayers – the Ghufayla prayer and Salat al-Layl is a great place to begin. Prostrate on a Turba from Karbala, as it is widely practiced by the followers of the Ahlul Bayt, and so is the loud recitation of the Basmala. On the day of Arba'een, the number of visitors to Karbala has exceeded 10 million people and Insh'Allah will continue to increase. We should be putting in the effort not to miss out on these great blessings. Along the way, we should always remember our Imams, especially Imam Ali and Imam Hussain, both of whom these five signs seem to remind us of the most. Let us hold tight onto these signs and let us do our best to be among the true believers, in this world and the Hereafter.
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