Light Upon Light, by Aida Msr

🌺 ❛𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 {𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹 | 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱}.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗻-𝗡𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝟰:𝟭𝟮𝟱】

{Khalil} in Arabic has a deep meaning. It is said that it comes from the word {takhallala} which is when love intermingles with the heart. What it means is that Prophet Ibrahim alayhi as-salaam loved Allah so much, that the love penetrated his heart until they became inseparable.

This was the level of imaan of Prophet Ibrahim, so much so that he was willing to sacrifice what was dearest to him when Allah tested him.

In many ways, we too are tested similarly in this dunya. We’re tested whether we’re willing to let go of our bad habits / character / lifestyle that gets in the way between our relationship with our Rabb.

To the ones celebrating Eid today, remember that we’re still in the blessed 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah. It is the LAST best day of the entire year, in which good deeds are the most superior and beloved to Allah. So end the day with khayr because actions are judged by their endings.

May Allah grant the hujjaj Hajj mabrur, accept the khayr we did from all of us, and ultimately make us those who love Him, and are loved by Him. Eid Mubarak. Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum — may Allah accept from us and from you.

Some countries are celebrating Eid, while some are still witnessing the day of Arafah. To the non-hujjaj who are still benefiting the day of Arafah, ponder on these statements:

🌺 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗵. 𝗛𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁?❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝟭𝟯𝟰𝟴】

Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali’s rahimahullah commented (with some adjustments):

🌿 ❛The day of Arafah is a day of being free from the Fire, and so within it, Allah frees from the Fire the one who stands at Arafah, as well as he who did not stand therein from the Muslims of varying lands.

🌿 So due to that, the day which follows it became a day of Eid for all the Muslims in all of their regions — [either] those who witnessed the season [of Hajj] from amongst them, as well as those who did not witness it — because of their partaking in being free [from the Fire] and attaining forgiveness on the day of Arafah.❜ 【Lata'if al-Ma'arif pg. 370】

In short, the ones who are not physically in the plain of Arafah still has equal chance to be chosen by Allah to be freed from the Fire. We all collectively celebrate Eid the next day because of our partaking in seeking Allah’s forgiveness and His protection from the Fire, regardless where we are.

The day of Arafah is THE day in which Allah sets free the most servants from the Hellfire in the entire year. And depending on where we are, we may have just a few hours left before the day ends. So utilise these last few moments by seeking Allah’s Forgiveness and asking Him freedom from the Fire.

Seal the day of Arafah with istighfar and sincere tawbah, while assuming only good of Allah, the One Who Loves to Forgive.

⭐ 𝟯 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗵

For us Malaysians, tomorrow will be the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah), which begins from Fajr until Maghrib — approximately 12 hours. It’s highly recommended to fast on the day of Arafah for the non-hujjaj. Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿.❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝟭𝟭𝟲𝟮𝗯】

Just 1 day of fasting earns us an expiation of 2 years worth of sins. To see a glimpse of how valuable this day is, divide those 2 years with the 12 hours of fasting, and we’ll get:

𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 = 𝟭 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Subhana Allah. It’s not even by the hour, rather by the minute! Literally every single minute that goes by on the day of Arafah is precious in value. So do not skip fasting on the day of Arafah if we’re able to fast.

As for those who cannot fast due to valid reasons, then have the sincere intention that you wanted to fast on that day, because Allah rewards His servants according to their intention.

Besides fasting, focus also on 2 more voluntary ibaadat (ref: At-Tirmidhi 3585 | Graded fair by Sh. al-Albani rahimahullah):

🌿 (𝟭) 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 — it is the best day to make du’a!

🌿 (𝟮) 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁-𝘁𝗮𝗵𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 — i.e. laa ilaaha illa Allah, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-Mulk wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shayin qadeer.

And did you know that the day of Arafah is the same day when Allah took the covenant from Bani Adam? Way back before we even came into this world, Allah took the covenant of Tawheed from every single one of us on the Day of Arafah.

So when the day of Arafah comes again, and as we recite at-tahleel, it is as though we’re renewing that contract with Allah, declaring that we worship no one but Him.

Indeed, the day of Arafah is a day of many virtues and rewards that Allah preserves only for this occasion.

The day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, is close at hand. And it’s one of the most important days for the believers. Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗵…❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗵𝗶 𝟯𝟱𝟴𝟱 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵. 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵】

Imam an-Nawawi rahimahullah said (with slight adjustments): ❛This is the best day in the year for supplicating. Thus, it befits a person to fully devote his efforts in making dhikr, du’a, and reciting the Qur’an, and he should supplicate with the different kinds of supplications, and read the different kinds of dhikr.

He should supplicate for: 🌿 himself, 🌿 his parents, 🌿 relatives, 🌿 teachers, 🌿 companions, friends, loved ones, and anyone else who was good to him, 🌿 as well as all the Muslims.

And let him be fully cautious from falling short in any of these, as this day cannot be made up.❜ 【Kitab al-Adhkar, Imam an-Nawawi rahimahullah】

On the day of Arafah, ask Allah for whatever you want! But focus more on seeking Allah’s forgiveness and being freed from the Hellfire, because there is no day in which Allah frees His servants from the Hellfire more than the day of Arafah. Include also the following, which Rasulullah ﷺ said is the BEST du’a on that day:

🌺 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁 (𝗶.𝗲. 𝗱𝘂’𝗮) 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲:

🌿 𝗟𝗮𝗮 𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗮𝗵𝗮 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗮𝗵𝗱𝗮𝗵𝘂 𝗹𝗮𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵; 𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗸, 𝘄𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗱, 𝘄𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝘄𝗮 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗮 𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘆’𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗿.

(𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀; 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀).❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗵𝗶 𝟯𝟱𝟴𝟱 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵. 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵】

The Prophet that comes to mind when we think of Hajj is Ibrahim alayhi as-salaam, who left behind some of the greatest legacies and lessons we all benefit until today. One of those incredible life lessons was his lack of need of people’s validation.

🌺 ❛𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗺𝗮’𝗶𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 [𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗮’𝗯𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴]: 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 [𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲] 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝘀. 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆, 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝗮𝗾𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝟮:𝟭𝟮𝟳】

Prophet Ibrahim was so purely motivated by Allah’s Command that he never needed validation from anyone.

He didn’t need to see the numbers of people coming to the Ka’bah afterwards. Didn’t need someone patting him on the back.

His heart was pure — qalbun saleem.

And this is something that we need to check for ourselves. Riyaa (showing off), which is basically doing deeds for the sight of people rather than the Sight of Allah, is a spiritual disease. The opposite of riyaa is ikhlaas. And a person can start transitioning from ikhlaas to riyaa when he starts seeking people’s approval for actions that he did for Allah:

— that ‘maa shaa Allah, good job!’ — that ‘like’ on social media

So now when he starts doing good deeds, the first thing he’s conscious of is: “Who’s watching me, and who’s going to tell me I’m doing a good job.” Instead of: “Allah is watching me, and I’m hoping for His Reward.”

From the seerah of Prophet Ibrahim is that we learn to cut all these things off from the roots.

Remember that Allah’s Reward is infinitely greater, His acceptance of good deeds is infinitely more honourable, and qalbun saleem paves our way to His Jannah, bi idhnillah.

🌺 ❛[𝗢 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵] 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗾𝗮𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗺.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝘀𝗵-𝗦𝗵𝘂’𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝟮𝟲:𝟴𝟳-𝟴𝟵】

May Allah make the desire for His rida our primary desire, and keep our deeds sincerely for His sake.

🌺 ❛…𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱…❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗹 𝟳𝟯:𝟮𝟬】

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says that His compensation is (1) far better and (2) far greater than all the temporary joy, relaxation and satisfaction in this dunya combined. Sheikh as-Sa’di rahimahullah wrote in his tafseer:

🌿 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝟳𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝘆𝘀.❜

All praise is due to Allah, Who has made some months, days and nights better than others — when His compensations are multiplied to many more times. And the first 10 blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah are amongst those days.

May Allah make us among those who will rejoice in the fruits of our efforts in the akhirah.

We know the hadith in which Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗷𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗱, 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝟵𝟲𝟵】

Jihaad fi sabil-lillah is one of the greatest acts of worship in the Sight of Allah. From this hadith, I learned from my teacher that there are several tiers in jihaad; the higher the tier, the greater the reward.

And the greatest tier of jihaad, as mentioned in this hadith, is when a believer died as a shaheed, and his wealth that he brought / used for the sake of Allah was confiscated by the enemies.

This highest tier of jihaad is the only act of worship that surpasses the superiority of doing good deeds in the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah.

What it means is that any good deed we do in these days EXCEEDS all other tiers of jihaad. Allah is giving us, who are sitting comfortably in our homes, a chance to compete with the mujaahid in the battlefields.

This is an immense blessing from Allah that comes once a year, and the duration of which is only 10 days. May Allah grant us tawfeeq to utilize these remaining blessed days to the best of our capability, and accept from all of us.

Scholars said that sins done in any of the sacred months outweigh sins committed outside those months, and Dhul-Hijjah is one of the sacred months. So strive to avoid anything that will deprive us of Allah’s Blessings in this season of obedience.

🌿 ❛𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵’𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆, 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

𝗔 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀. 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀. 𝗦𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.❜

— Sheikh Dr. Muhammad ibn Ghalib al-Umari

The hujjaj will be doing the best ibaadah that one can do in these blessed days, but what about those who can’t go for Hajj? Are we deprived of its blessings and virtues?

No, because the Rabb of the Ka’bah is the same Rabb Who we all worship. So here are some recommendations. Bismillah!

🌿 𝗙𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗵 — our daily salaah, our relationship with our parents and family, etc. Always get our obligatory ibaadat covered first.

🌿 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗳𝗮𝗿 — Dhul-Hijjah is the last month of the hijri year, and it’s a great reminder for us to take stock of our shortcomings and sins. Be honest and ask ourselves: Am I happy with the ibaadat I did this year?

🌿 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟵 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵 (don’t fast on the 10th – that’s the day of Eid).

🌿 If we have difficulties to fast on any of these days, then at least 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵 because of its immense reward: For just one day of fasting, Allah will expiate our sins of 2 years — the past, and the coming year. 【Sahih Muslim 1162b】

🌿 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 even as we walk, or idling at home. It doesn’t take much, just a simple mindfulness while we do the remembrance of Allah. And the best adhkaar in the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are: 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗹 (𝗟𝗮𝗮 𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗮𝗵𝗮 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵), 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗿 (𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂 𝗔𝗸𝗯𝗮𝗿), 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗲𝗱 (𝗔𝗹𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵). 【𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝟱𝟰𝟮𝟯】

🌿 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗵 such as optional salaah, reciting the Qur’an, giving in charity, making supplications, and other good deeds.

Remember that good deeds done in these 10 days are more superior and more beloved to Allah than any other day in the entire year.

Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 {𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 | 𝗵𝘂𝗯𝗯} 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 (𝗶.𝗲. 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵).❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗵 𝟭𝟳𝟮𝟳 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵】

There’s another similar narration from Rasulullah ﷺ, but with a different wording:

🌺 ❛𝗡𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 {𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥 | 𝗮𝗳𝗱𝗮𝗹} 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 [𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵].❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝟵𝟲𝟵】

Rasulullah ﷺ described doing good deeds on these days as {afdal} i.e. more important, more superior. From this, scholars derived the following:

🌿 (1) That doing fard (obligatory) ibaadah during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah is more superior than doing fard on any other days — so they are the best days to start fixing the quality of our obligatory ibaadat, eg. praying the 5 daily prayers with khushoo and at their earliest prescribed times.

🌿 (2) That doing sunnah (voluntary) ibaadah during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah is superior to doing sunnah ibaadah on any other days. But it’s super important to emphasize that sunnah ibaadah never surpasses the superiority of fard ibaadah. Don’t neglect the fard in favour of voluntary acts of worship, eg. observing sunnah fasts while neglecting the daily prayers.

The good deeds mentioned in both ahadith are general, encompassing all types of acts of worship. So, ALL good deeds we do during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are not only more beloved to Allah, but also superior to doing them on any other days. And this is truly from the Rahmah of our Rabb, walhamdulillah.

🌺 ❛𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 [𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲].❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝗮𝗾𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝟮:𝟭𝟲𝟱】

The believers’ love for Allah surpasses everything else. They love what Allah loves and therefore strive to do that which will earn the love of their Rabb. With this in mind, ponder upon this hadith in which Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 (𝗶.𝗲. 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗵𝘂𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗵).❜

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗵𝘂𝗺 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱: ❛𝗢 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗝𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵?❜

𝗛𝗲 ﷺ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱: ❛𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗝𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 (𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗱).❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗵 𝟭𝟳𝟮𝟳 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵】

And those best days are upon us — the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, where we don’t typically see people exerting themselves the way they do in Ramadan. But now that we know Allah loves the good deeds done in these first 10 days, we too should love to strive and increase our ibaadat on these days as well. When Allah gives us a season of Mercy, we need to capitalise on it as much as we can.

May Allah make us those who love Him, and be loved by Him.

As the ocean engulf Fir’aun, he said: ❛𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻!❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗬𝘂𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝟭𝟬:𝟵𝟬】

The angel Jibril was there when Fir’aun said those words. He informed Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam what he did at that moment:

🌺 ❛𝗢 𝗠𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱, 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 [𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗱] 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺.❜ 【𝗔𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗵𝗶 𝟯𝟭𝟬𝟳 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿】

Jibril was afraid that Fir’aun, the worst human being to ever walk on this planet, would be forgiven by Allah the Most Merciful. But Fir’aun’s last words meant nothing to Allah. He subhanahu wa ta’ala says:

🌺 ❛𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀, “𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁!” 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗻-𝗡𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝟰:𝟭𝟴】

🌺 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 ﷺ 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱: ❛𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗮𝘁 (𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵).❜ 【𝗔𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗵𝗶 𝟯𝟱𝟯𝟳 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿】

There are so many lessons we can derive from Fir’aun’s last moments, two of them:

🌿 1. That Allah’s Rahmah encompasses everything. If Jibril himself feared that Allah would forgive the most wicked person, the one who claimed divinity for himself, then what does that say about Allah’s Rahmah for us?

A man was with Yahya ibn Muadh rahimahullah and recited in his presence the aayah: ❛And speak to him (Fir’aun) with gentle speech.❜ 【Surah Ta-Ha 20:44】 Yahya began to weep. He then said: ❛𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯, 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀, “𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱”, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱?❜ 【𝗧𝗮𝗳𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗶, 𝟭/𝟮𝟳】

🌿 2. That repentance delayed may be denied. False hope is one's worst friend. Some believe that Allah will continue to give them so-and-so years to do whatever they want, drink whatever they want, indulge in whatever haraam they want, before they decide to make tawbah. How often do we give excuses to Allah that I will pray / wear the hijaab / quit haraam relationships / etc after XYZ? Those X,Y, and Z circumstances are not guaranteed — we can’t even guarantee that we’ll be here tomorrow. What is guaranteed is our standing in front of our Creator one day, with our book of deeds.

So don’t delay repentance. Know that Allah is more happy, more pleased when a believer returns to Allah with tawbah, than a man who is reunited with his camel and provisions in a barren desert.

My advice for us today is to not abandon the good habits we’ve developed in Ramadan. Don’t allow ourselves to regress so much that we abandon the goods deeds we did entirely. Allah says:

🌺 ❛𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 (𝟭) 𝘀𝗮𝘆: 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 (𝟮) 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 (𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗾𝗮𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗵), 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱 [𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴]: 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲! 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗙𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝟰𝟭:𝟯𝟬】

Scholars mentioned that this blessed moment, where the angels descend and convey glad tidings, will be at the time of one’s death. Those glad tidings are:

🌿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗶.𝗲. 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗵,

🌿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝗶.𝗲. 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱

🌿 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

And these glad tidings are only for those who have fulfilled the 2 conditions mentioned in the aayah:

(𝟭) 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗮𝗻 + (𝟮) 𝗜𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗾𝗮𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗵

When we’re steadfast and committed to this Deen, Allah will take care OF us and will take care of everything FOR us even after our death. So be steadfast no matter what month of the year it is for the Rabb of Ramadan is the same Rabb we worship in every season.

As we move away from Ramadan, perhaps we've started to disengage from some nawafil (voluntarily) acts of worship. So let these amazing ahadith motivate us to guard our sunnah prayers:

🌺 𝟭. 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆) 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: ❛The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Judgment will be his prayer. If it’s complete, then the voluntary [prayers] will also be recorded for him [as an increase for him]. If it’s not [complete], then 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀: 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀…❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗵 𝟭𝟰𝟮𝟲】

🌺 𝟮. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀

Rasulullah ﷺ said: ❛Make frequent sujood [in prayers] before Allah, for you will not perform one sujood to Allah, but 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝟰𝟴𝟴】

🌺 𝟯. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 ﷺ

Rabi’ah ibn Ka’b radiya Allahu anhu said: ❛I used to stay overnight with Rasulullah and bring him water for wudoo and whatever he required. He ﷺ said to me: Ask [for anything you like]. 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱: 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵. 𝗛𝗲 ﷺ 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱: 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗷𝗼𝗼𝗱 [𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀] 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹.❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝟰𝟴𝟵】

🌺 𝟰. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗸𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗿 / 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗵 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀

Rasulullah ﷺ said: ❛When any one of you observes prayer in the mosque, he should 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 [𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵] 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲.❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝟳𝟳𝟴】

🌺 𝟱. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵

Rasulullah ﷺ said that Allah said: ❛…And the most beloved things with which My servant comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him (i.e. obligatory deeds); 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗹 (𝗶.𝗲. 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀) 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺…❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝟲𝟱𝟬𝟮】

So safeguard your nawafil prayers. Start with at least the 2 raka’aat before Fajr, then work our way up to the rest of the voluntary prayers. May Allah help us remain consistent in guarding our salaah, both the fard and the nawafil.

The good we did yesterday doesn’t excuse the evil we do today.

The angel, Jibril, descended on Laylatul-Qadr and that night has passed. But Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala HIMSELF descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every single night that He may answer our supplications. Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗺? 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺? 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺?❜ 【𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝟭𝟭𝟰𝟱】

Remember that a believer’s ultimate goal is to be ibadur-Rahman, and not merely ibadur-Ramadan.

🌺 ❛𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 (𝗶.𝗲. 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵) 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗿 𝟭𝟱:𝟵𝟵】

Want the amazing reward equivalent to fasting for one entire year? Just fast 6 days in the month of Shawwal. Rasulullah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

🌺 ❛𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟲 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘄𝘄𝗮𝗹, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 [𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱] 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿.❜ 【𝗥𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘀-𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝟭𝟮𝟱𝟰 (𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺)】

So if every single year we fast the 6 days of Shawwal after completing our Ramadan fast, then it would be as if we’re fasting throughout our entire lifetime. Our fasting in Shawwal also makes up for any deficiency in our Ramadan fasts. Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali rahimahullah wrote:

🌿 ❛…𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘄𝘄𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮’𝗯𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹-𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗯 [𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹] 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀.❜ 【𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗮’𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝗮’𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳 | 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗵𝗮𝗵 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴】

One may combine the intention for the Shawwal fast together with the voluntary Monday and Thursday fasts, or the voluntary 3 white days (the 13th, 14th, 15th of the monthly Hijri calendar).

🌺 ❛𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 [𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗵𝗶 𝘄𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗺] 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 [𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁], 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 [𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁]. 【𝗤𝟱𝟯:𝟭𝟳】

And this is a manner from the mannerisms of visiting.

A guest should not look around the house of his host excessively, much less ask excessively about that which does not concern him.

Do not ask about that which does not concern you, and this is from the perfection of your Islam.❜

— Sheikh Dr. Muhammad ibn Ghalib al-Umari hafidhahullah

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May Allah bless the sheikh for writing this. When we’re invited to someone’s house, show courtesy by not wandering around to other rooms / areas, or looking around his house excessively. Do not annoy people by trying to pry into their private lives. Rasulullah ﷺ said:

🌺 ❛𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺.❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗵𝗶 𝟮𝟯𝟭𝟴 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵. 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵】

From this hadith, we learn that from the perfection of our Islam is to mind our own business. Whoever wants for his Islam to be beautiful, for his imaan to increase, for his religion to be perfect, then let him pay attention to this hadith. Instead of being a busybody, thank the host, make du’a for aafiyah (well-being) for everyone, and leave that which does not concern us.

Another etiquette of visiting is mentioned in the Quran, where Allah says:

🌺 ❛𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 [𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲]. 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 [𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱] 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸. 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵…❜ 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝗵𝘇𝗮𝗯 𝟯𝟯:𝟱𝟯】

When Rasulullah ﷺ married Zaynab bint Jahsh radiya Allahu anha, he invited people to a meal. Guests began to disperse after eating, except for 3 who remained, sitting and talking for a prolonged period. They didn’t realize that their staying caused inconvenience and annoyance to Rasulullah ﷺ. He ﷺ was too shy to ask them to leave, so instead Allah commanded them — and to us all — to not do this.

So let us all step up as better Muslims. Arrive on time, and don’t overstay our welcome. Our presence should not be so burdensome that the hosts feel obliged to continue serving us. Be respectful and considerate of people’s time and energy.