Extra Rewards

[Lulua]

Assalaamu alaikum.

Sis Nida has done a wonderful job, mashaAllah, in relaying to us about the importance of the first ten days of dhul-hijja.

I was attending a lecture at a local mosque the other day, and the main topic of speach was this topic. And I would like to relay to all what I learned at that lecture.

And since sis Nida has already related to us the material from hadith backing this up, I will not repeat it...but rather I will simply relay to all the basic information that I have learned.

wa salaam..

Lulua...

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The lecturer began by asking us if we thought that Allah smiled. And no one answered. For we are not sure. But then she continued to relay to us several ahadith in which it is demonstrated that Allah does smile. He smiles at the impatience of his own slaves, and at their own assumption of their powers, while they are in truth very weak and incapable.

And then she began to remind us all of our duties, and reminding us that although most of us to attend to our basic duties (i.e. prayers, fasting, zakat, etc.)...yet we are terribly weak and frail in tending to those duties. In fact, we should look at ourselves and particularly our prayers...and we find that our prayers we perform today are the same (or perhaps even less) in reverence than which they were a year ago, 5 years ago, 15 years ago and so on. And in fact, we should have improved over time, yet we tend to slip and slide after time. And as we do so, we ourselves slip and slide in our rewards with Allah.

It is long past time that we begin to pay attention to our prayers, and seek humility and sincerety in our prayers, and concentrate simply on worshipping Allah, and not merely taking the physical steps of the prayers. How much longer shall we remain in this state of ignorance and forgetfulness in our duties to Allah and ourselves? Can we guarantee that we will live till tomorrow in order to do better? It is past time that we begin to improve upon ourselves and our manner of worship today. For another tomorrow may never come for ourselves. And then....it will be too late to make for anything not done right the first time.

With the beginning of this holy month of Dhul-Hijja, we have an excellent opportunity upon us for great reward. It has been reported that the importance of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja is something great indeed. And a comparison has been made of several points of important dates on the Islamic calendar. Of all the months, Ramadhan is the most important month. And of all the nights, laylat-ul-qidr (which occurs somewhere in the last ten days of Ramadhan) is the best of all the nights. And of all the days, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja are the best days of all the days. That means that...any good deed which is done is worth great reward above and beyond what it would normally receive. Somewhere from 10-700 times the worth of the normal deed. And so we are advised strongly to increase our good deeds and forms of worship during these important days.

It has been reported that the best thing that one can do during this time, is to perform the haj. And, if one cannot do that, then there are numerous other ways to achieve great reward and please Allah. For..it is obviously quite difficult if not impossible for all muslims to attend the haj yearly. However, there are other things which we can all do to achieve great reward in this life and the next, inshaAllah. First, there are the smaller acts, those of kindness and simple things to firm up relations between all during these days. Something as easy and simple as a smile or a pleasant look on the face when meeting others...recieves much greater reward during these days than it normally does. As well, when meeting muslims along the path or in going places, greeting one another and shaking hands (be sure not between the sexes!) is also a great way to attain great reward. All of these easy and quite 'everyday' acts go towards causing us great reward.

Now we come to matters of worship. First the prayer. Attend conscienciously to the mandatory prayers, and seeking great concentration and humility in the prayers, and sincerety. Imagine that Allah is in front of you, and that the hell fire is in back of you. And on the right and left is a great abiss that you would fall into if you make the wrong step along the way. and underneath your feet is the straight path (al-siraat-ul-mustaqeem). Keep on it...keep straight and firm and still...do not quiver or shake...but concentrate on your recitation and what the words of that recitation mean, and concentrate on worshipping Allah and complimenting Him. And ask of Him that which you need. For this life and the next. remember your sins and mistakes...and ask forgiveness. Above all things, simply block out all that is around you at the time of prayer, and in this manner you will achieve that level of sincerety and devotion which is required for the prayer.

Once you have been able to attend to your mandatory prayers in proper manner, then look to your voluntary prayers. And first and foremost are the 'regular voluntary' prayers. ... or the 'sunnan rawaatib', as it is called in Arabic. These are the voluntary prayers that are having some major connection to the mandatory prayers. and they are as follows: 2 rakas before the fajr prayer. These two rakaas are worth all the riches of this world. So do not miss them. Even if you are in travel. it has been reported that the prophet(SAAW) never missed these 2 rakas no matter what condition he was in...traveling, sick, whatever. Even if he was in a state in which he would combine and shorten the other prayers (that also means that there is no voluntary prayer prayed...only the mandatory ones)...still he would not miss the 2 voluntary prayers of the fajr. When he was ill and could not stand for the prayer...still he would not miss the 2 voluntary raka of the fajr prayer.

Four rakas before the dhuhr prayer, and 2 raka after it. The 4 rakas should be offered 2 raka at a time, with separation of the tasleem and beginning with new prayer for the second section of the 2 raka, completing 4 raka. And then to procede with 4 rakas for the dhuhr, and then 2 raka voluntary after that is finished.

Now we have accumulated 8 voluntary raka in addition to the mandatory prayers.

There is a possibility of praying 4 rakas (in 2 groups of 2 each) before the asr prayer, but this is not of the 'sunnan rawatib'. In other words, it is not an established tradition that the prophet(SAAW) daily observed himself. And so, it is something that although it is a possibility for us to observe, we are not recommended to make it a daily practice. In other words, it is something which we are allowed and recommended to observe only at times when we have ease in doing so. And the reward for observing these rakas before the asr prayer is that we are promised that the prophet(SAAW) will ask Allah to have mercy upon those who have observed this prayer at some time or another. So, if you do this only once in your lifetime, you are classified among those who have observed this prayer, and so you are entitled to the prophet(SAAW) to ask Allah to have mercy upon you. Such a great reward for doing this only once in your life. And each time that you do this, you will increase the amount that the prophet(SAAW) will ask for Allah's mercy for you. SubhanAllah. And Allah knows best.

Then you pray the asr prayer as described, and then no voluntary prayer is accepted after the asr. The next prayer is the maghreb, after which you should make 2 raka voluntary prayer. And then the Isha prayer, after which you should offer 2 voluntary rakaa.

Now we have completed one whole day of the prayers, and the number of the voluntary prayers (those associated with the mandatory prayers...sunnan rawaatib) are 12 rakaas in all (not including the rakaas of the mandatory prayers). It has been reported that anyone who observes these prayers daily (the 12 rakaa of voluntary in addition to the mandatory prayers)...is promised of having a home built for him/her in heaven. And...for those who do it daily, they are promised of such a home being built daily...each day...a home for each day that we observe this prayer manner!!

And then there are more prayers which we should also attend to...and that is mainly the witr prayer in the night, and the tahajjud prayers in the last portion of the night...the last third of the night. And you can do this easily by waking up before the fajr prayer time, in order to pray at least 2 rakaa to count as tahajjud, and then simply continue on for the fajr in it's time. We are assured that the prayers at this time of night are prayers which we are promised are heard and answered..and the reward for this is great indeed. And it is increased even so during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja.

[Lulua]

Other things that one can do to increase reward is to pay the zakat, give to charity, fast, and many such things. Even something as simple as visiting relatives, calling them, or somehow making connection between loved ones and family. All of these manners are great ways to receive great reward. Remember, that the reward for anything that you should do at this time is at least 10 fold...and perhaps even 700 times as great as at any other time!!

As for those women who wish to fast, but are prevented (because of their monthly time)...they can still receive the reward of the fast. And this is in the manner that they may prepare the breakfast for someone who is fasting. One young woman was found crying when the day of Arafat came along. She had known about the great reward for those who fast on this day...the promise that the sins of 2 years...the previous as well as the next to come...would be wiped out due to the fast on this day. such a great day indeed. And she was kept from fasting, because of this condition which Allah had written upon her at this time. And she was discouraged that this would happen to her at this time. And then the scholar reassured her that she could receive and even greater reward...even though she was unable to fast!! He asked her how many members in her family who were fasting that day. and she responded that there were 7 ppl of the family in the household who were fasting that day. He told her simply to prepare their breakfast...and she would reap the rewards of 7 fasts of Arafat (i.e. the promise of 14 years of forgiven sins!! rather than merely 2 if she were to fast on her own)...because she would prepare their meal to break the fast. For seven people. And all this...without decreasing in any way the reward for those fasting!! SubhanAllah...how great and merciful Allah truly is!!!

And it is us who are so forgetful and overlooking all of these simple manners of achieving great reward and seeking His pleasure.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters...that Allah has told us in His Book...that He wishes for us ease in our religion, and not difficulty. And so...He in His infinite wisdom...has given us great opportunity and great possibility of differentiation in enabling us to worship Him and seek great reward and pleasure from Him in this manner!! It is up to us to seek it and take of it that which we can do for ourselves. It is not necessary that we achieve all of that which is recommended, but rather to reach out and do that which is easy for us to accomplish, without creating great burdens on ourselves.

For those intending to attend the haj, they are recommended NOT to fast during these days...although they are encouraged of course to observe any and all of the other options of increasing worship. Although, during their stay in Mina as well as at Arafat, their prayers are to be shortened and at times combined. (not all the times, mind you...but some of the times). This is all in accordance with following the tradition of the prophet(SAAW) himself. For...it is recorded that in the year that he performed the haj, he did not fast any of the days of Dhul-Hijja. And so, we too, in observing his example, should not fast as well. Another point to keep in mind is that the haj is a strenuating experience...even in todays' world of conveniences and services offered. Still, it is quite strenuous and so we need all the strength that we can gain in order to perform our best and stand up to the physical exhaustion.

It is utterly important that we follow the example set for us by the prophet(SAAW) in his own practices. So important that we are told that it is better to follow the sunnah, rather than to perform increased acts of goodness. In other words, even if we are to perhaps decrease slightly in our intended forms of worship, still it is better that we follow the example of the prophet(SAAW), rather than to increase our forms of worship. This can many times lead to exhaustion in worship, and therefore open a door for Satan to convince us that we are tired of such worship, and therefore lead us towards coming away from worshipping altogether. But in following the methods of the prophet(SAAW), we are taking the middle course of worship, just as we are advised to do so by Allah.

Another point is that we should all begin, with the first day of dhul-hijja, to remember Allah much, and thank Him much. This is the whole lesson to be taken from the haj...to remember Allah much and thank Him much. And to do this, simply recite throughout the day at any time you recall it...'Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar, laa ilaha illa Allah' etc. And encourage your family and children to recite this as well.

As for those who are making the haj, the most important aspect of the haj is Arafat. It has been described as such : 'The haj IS Arafat'...meaning that without your presence at Arafat during the daylight hours...and until the sun sets on that day...then you are not a part of the haj for that year. Even if you can and do make it to the other events of the haj. If you are not present for the standing at Arafat...then you are not part of the haj. This is the basic requirement for the haj. If you make any mistakes throughout the haj or in any of the rites and rituals of the haj, there are recommended methods by which to mend those mistakes, and still have your haj accepted, inshaAllah. But...if you have not been present for the standing at Arafat and before the sun sets on that day...then there is no way to compensate for that. In order to be recorded in Allah's record as to have attended to the haj, then you have to wait until the next year rolls around, if you live for that long.

For those at the haj, and standing at Arafat, the best and most recommended supplication is to remember Allah much and thank Him much. This is the best loved thing unto Him. and Allah knows best. We are reassured that if we merely repeat such things throughout the day such as: 'alhamdulillah, allahu akbar, subhanAllah, laa illaha il-Allah, la hawla wala quwata illa billah,' etc...as well as 'astaghfurAllah'...then that is sufficient...and as Allah knows what is in our hearts, He will grant to us what we desire...merely by our presence at Arafat on that blessed day, and remembering Him much and seeking His pleasure in pure devotion to Him by remembering Him and thanking Him much.

And Allah knows best.

One more great point to make is that we must ensure that our intentions are pure for Allah in all that we do. For without such intention, then our rewards are drastically decreased, if we recieve such a reward at all. A case-in-point example: take for instance a thief who intends to burgularize a home. He waits for the opportune moment to do so...but ends up relinquishing on his intention of robbing the home. His reason is that the people are at home, and he cannot possibly get safely in and out without being caught. In such a case, he does not recieve a punishment for doing the crime...but on the other hand he would not receive a reward for leaving the crime. This is because he did not leave the crime out of fear of Allah, but rather for some other superficial reason. And the same can be applied and assumed of our worshipping Allah. If we do so merely for the sake of doing it, then our reward is minimal if anything at all. But...if we do so out of fear and love of Allah, then the reward is great indeed.

I have tried to relay to you here the most important tips of the lecture that I heard, and I hope that anyone else shall benefit as I have.

May Allah forgive me if I have made any mistakes, and may He reward those who will act upon the suggestions made in this post.

Lulua.