The Only Reliable and True Friend:

A person came crying and weeping to Shaikh Shiblee Rahamatullahi alayh and said, 'O Shaikh, I have destroyed myself; make du'aa for me that may Allah take me away from this world. I have a big problem. Make du'aa that may Allah Ta’aalaa take me away from this world.’ 

The Shaikh said, 'Calm down, take it easy, what is the problem?' He replied, 'I had a very close friend, and I loved him very much. We were friends for a very long time. He sacrificed everything for me and I sacrificed everything for him. I had never thought that he will ever leave me but he has betrayed me and has left me. Now my heart is empty. I cannot survive without him. I love him so much that I want him back, and if I cannot have him back, then I want to die.’ 

The Shaikh soothed him and asked him to calm down saying, 'Look, there is no need to lose hope. Why do you want to die when there is a solution to your problem?' 

He quickly said, very happily, 'Tell me what is the solution, tell me quickly! Since he has left me I have not been eating, drinking or sleeping. There is no joy in my life. Please tell me quickly.’ 

The Shaikh replied, 'The only way to forget a friend who has left you is to make a new friend.’ 

He said, 'O Shaikh, after ten to fifteen years of loyal friendship, he has betrayed me and I am suffering. And you are telling me to make a new friend. I fear that if the same thing happens, then what will become of me.’ 

Shaikh Shiblee said, 'What if I find you a friend who will never betray you. In fact, if you are disloyal to him and after years of disloyalty, you go back to him saying O my friend! Forgive me. I want to be your friend again, he will immediately accept you again as a friend.’ 

He said, 'O Shaikh! Show me this friend! Who is this friend that is so loyal.’ 

The Shaikh replied, 'Turn to Allah and make friendship with Him.'

Significance of the First Ten Days of Zul Hijjah (or DhulHijjah) & Day of Arafah

 

 

 

What is Zulhijjah?

Zulhijjah (or Dhulhijjah) is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Literally, it means "hajj." Obviously, this name of the month indicates that the great annual worship of "hajj" is performed in this month, which gives it special significance.

 

Some specific merits and rules relevant to this month:

 

 

 

1. Allah has taken oath of ten nights in Surah Al-Fajr. According to the majority of the commentators of Qur’ãn, the nights are those of the (first) ten days of Zul Hijjah.

2. Abdullah Ibne ‘Abbãs radiyallahu anhu related that the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, “Good deeds performed on other days are not superior to those performed on these (first ten days of Zul Hijjah).” The Companions radiyallahu anhum inquired, “Not even Jihãd?” He replied, “Not even jihãd, except for that person who goes out putting himself and his wealth in danger and does not return with anything.” (Bukhãri)

3. Abdullah Ibne ‘Abbãs radiyallahu anhu narrated that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, “On no other days are good deeds more liked by Allah than on these ten days (i.e. The first ten days of Zul Hijjah).” The Sahãbah radiyallahu anhum asked, ” O Rasulullah ! Not even Jihãd in the Way of Allah?” Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam replied, “Not even Jihãd in the Way of Allah, except for that person who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with anything.” (Abu Dãwud, Tirmidhi, Ibne Mãjah)

4. Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu anhu related that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the (first) ten days of Zul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the worship of each of these nights is equal to the worship of Laylatul Qadr.” (Tirmidhi, Ibne Mãjah)

5. The mother of the believers, Hafsah radiyallahu anhaa reports that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam used to fast the (first) nine days of Zul Hijjah. (Nasã’i, Ahmad, Abu Dãwud)

6. Abdullah Ibne ‘Umar radiyallahu anhu related that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, “No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Zul Hijjah. So on these days increasingly read Subhãnallah, Lã ilãha illallãh, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar.” (Musnad Ahmad)

The 9th day of Zulhijjah

The 9th day of Zulhijjah is called 'Youmul - "Arafah' (The Day of 'Arafah). This is the date when the Hujjaj (Haji pilgrims, plural of Haajj) assemble on the plain of 'Arafat, six miles away from Makkah al-Mukarramah, where they perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of hajj, namely, the 'Wuqoof of'Arafat (the stay in 'Arafat).

The Fast of Youmul 'Arafah

For those not performing hajj, it is mustahabb (desirable) to fast on this day according to their own calendar. It sometimes occurs that 9th Zuihijjah falls on different days in different countries according to the sighting of the moon. In such cases, Muslims of each country should observe 'Youmul 'Arafah according to the lunar dates of their own country.

For example, if 'Youmul 'Arafah' is being observed in Saudi Arabia on Friday, and in Pakistan on Saturday, Pakistani Muslims should treat Saturday as 'Youmul 'Arafah' and should fast on that day if they desire to benefit from the fast of 'Youmul'Arafah'.

The fast of 'Youmul 'Arafah' has been emphasized by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as a mustahabb (desirable) act. 

 

Abu Qatada said "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about fasting the Day of 'Arafah. He said, 'It expiates the (sins of) past year and coming year." [Muslim]
 
Takbir-ut-tashriq

Beginning from the Fajr of the 9th Zulhijjah up to the 'Asr prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on each Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after every fardh Salaah in the following words:

 

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
La Ilaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar,
Allahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd.

(There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.)

According to authentic Islamic sources, it is obligatory on each Muslim male, to recite this Takbir after every fard salah. For women also, it is commendable though not obligatory. Whether you are performing salah with Jama'ah (collectively) or on your own (individually) makes no difference. You must recite the Takbir. However, male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice, while females should recite it in a low voice.

 

Also see this for detailed info on what to do on these special days (is based on Lataif wa Maarif of Imam Ibn Rajab) http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-to-do-on-blessed-days-of-dhu-l.html

HUBB-E-JAAH (LOVE FOR FAME) and IT'S REMEDY

HUBB-E-JAAH (LOVE FOR FAME)

The desire in one that others honour, respect and be submissive to oneself is termed ‘hubb-e-jaah’. Love and aspiration for becoming famous and being praised and respected by others (Hubb-e-jaah) is contemptible under Islamic law.

The Holy Qur'an has made the bounties of the Hereafter dependent on desisting from the love for being praised by others:

 “As for that Ultimate Abode (the Hereafter) We assign it to those who intend neither being high on earth nor to do mischief” – (28:83).

By declaring the love for being praised as unlawful and contemptible, the Holy Qur'an and hadith actually meant the love for mundane (worldly) position of importance and worldly profit as Haram.

 Imam Tirmidhi and Nasa'i have related on the authority of Sayyidina Ka'b ibn Malik R.A. that Holy Prophet SAWS once said that 'If two hungry wolves are let loose in a herd of goats, they would not do so much damage to the herd as two traits damage the faith of a man. One is the love for wealth and the other is the aspiration for being praised and respected'. (Tabrani from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, and Bazzar from Abu Hurairah).

Dailami has reproduced a narration on the authority of Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas R.A. with a weak chain of narrators that the love for praise and worldly status makes a man blind and deaf.

All these ahadith refer to the love that has mundane considerations, or for which one has to indulge in sin or negligence in the matter of faith. When this is not the case, aspiration for praise and high position is not contemptible.

It is reported in a hadith that Holy Prophet SAWS himself had made the following supplication:

 "Ya Allah, make me insignificant in my own sight, but make me great in the eyes of people". [Kanzul Ummal]

Here also the purpose of making great in the eyes of people is that people emulate him in his righteous deeds.

That is why Imam Malik has said that the one who is in fact virtuous and pious is required only to avoid making deliberate efforts to present himself as pious in the eyes of people, otherwise, if he loves to be praised by people, it is not contemptible.

Ibn 'Arabi has said that it is evident from the verse 26:84 that the desire for a righteous deed which results in people's praise is allowed.

Love for being praised is permissible under three conditions:

Imam Ghazzali has ruled that the love for being praised and the position of respect is permissible under three conditions.

One, when the object is not to proclaim oneself as superior to others and to degrade them, but for the benefit of the hereafter, so that others may be influenced to follow the example and try to emulate him.

Second, when the object is not to earn false praise against a trait one does not possess, and desire that people should eulogize him for something he does not have.

Third, when one does not have to indulge in a sin or negligence in the matter of faith in order to achieve it.

Diagnosing this disease:

It is difficult to diagnose the malady of love for fame. It is only unmasked and exposed when an incident occurs in which one is not honoured.

Nature of this disease:

Hubb-e-jaah is a quality which lies in one's imagination, hence its nature is transitory. It is extremely flimsy in that it is dependent on thoughts of others, for Jaah entails honour of one by others. The thoughts of others thus form the basis of Jaah (fame/reputation). If others divert their thoughts, one's Jaah is eliminated.

Hence, he who desires to be considered famous and honourable has to rely on the thoughts of others- thoughts which are not within the control of the one who desires the Jaah. But, Inspite of Hubb-e-Jaah being so flimsy in nature and temporary, man hankers after it.

Only such Jaah (fame) is detestable which has been acquired by one's desire and pursuit. Such Jaah is a calamity which destroys one's worldly life as well as one's life of the Hereafter. When man sees that the world acclaims him, he is overtaken by pride and vanity. These diseases finally destroy him. His Deen is thus destroyed. Many people have fallen into this trap and were utterly annihilated.

A famous person has many envious enemies who engage in conspiracies to harm and eliminate him. This then is the harm to one's worldly life. Thus, both Deen and Dunya suffer in the wake of Jaah.

On the other hand, Jaah which Allah Ta'ala bestows upon man without him requesting it, is a Ni’mat (bounty). Like man stands in need of wealth to a certain degree, so does he stand in need of Jaah to a certain degree. Such limited Jaah enables him to remain in safety and be protected against injustice and oppression. Such safety enables him to engage in the Ibaadat of Allah Ta'ala without fear and in peace. This amount of Jaah is therefore not harmful.

THE REMEDY:

Meditate on the futility of hubb-e-jaah. Neither the one who honours nor the one who is honoured will remain. All will perish. It is therefore childish to be delighted over such a transitory and illusionary attribute. Contemplating in this way will eliminate this malady.

(Extracted from Mariful Quran and Sheikh Thanwi's writings)