Tayammum

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

All praises to the God, we have the opportunity to perform Friday prayer service. I love Friday the most among all the days. This is the time where we are going to be separated from secular daily conducts as the evening marks the changing of the time for us in the Earth.

This post is about Tayammum. This is an alternative method for us to perform ablution if we have no water for e.g if we are in a dry desert or while we cannot touch the water because of injuries. This term refers to the act of wiping the dust basically from clean sand on some exposed body parts. Tayammum only involves the face and hands. I was fortunate to see this while my maternal grandfather was hit with an accident. He went up the hill to take clean soil in the form of stone and filtering it to be dusts to make him able to perform the salat service. Then he keeps the dust in the cloth and wrap it nicely to use it in the next time to come.

We also used clean dust to pray where we prostrate with our forehead on the dust just like the Shi'a Muslims using their namaz-e-turba but we do not use the dust in the form of stone. We constantly changing the dust once we use them. Sometimes, we were also mistaken as the Shi'a Muslims because some similarities in the angle of Sunnas performed while in fact we are the Orthodox Sunnah Muslims. We wrap the dust in a handkerchief and it is just a "sunnah" as some people from Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence always wiping their face with the hand after the salat service session ends. The way that the prophet s.a.w prayed in the mosque for e.g in the Quba' Mosque as according to Medina tradition is that he prayed with his companions on the clean dust as there was no paved floor in the mosque. Once we finished the prayer service, we will wipe our face after it is covered with the dust. And we gain a meritorious deed for practicing an angle of sunnah. We love Medina so much just like we love Holy Mecca...

Pillars of the Tayammum

Only two of them... First say, the intention for this act which means like... "I am performing the act of applying the dust to make me eligible to perform the salat services". 

Second, applying the face with the clean purified sand just like we do in the ablution for the face section no. 5.

Steps

1. I saw my maternal grandfather did it like this. He pour some of the clean sand on a clean tray until it covers the tray surface before leveling it.
2. He made two lines and divided the surface of the sand covered tray with his right hand's forefinger into four parts.
3. Then, face the quibla direction and say the prayer, "In the Name of the God the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate".

Apply the Dust for Face

4. Spread both of the palms and touch them on the sand in the tray. Use the first two parts above the others that we had drawn the line to divide them during the preparation.
5. Make sure to tap the hands a little bit by tapping the right forefinger on the left thumb and so do the left forefinger on the right thumb.
6. Apply the dust from the sand at the face from the top of the forehead to the left and right of the border of the ears and then bring both hands to both of the cheeks and this will end when the forefingers touching each other at the nose. It is like we make a half circle from the forehead to the nose.
7. We just perform the application of the dust once for the face, not like when we perform the water ablution.

Apply the Dust for Hands

8. Spread both of the palms and touch them on the sand in the tray, use the other two parts that we have not touch yet.
9. Put the left hand fingers under the right hand finger but leave behind the thumbs.
10. Rub the left hand until the elbow then turn the arm over and from the elbow continue to rub until it reaches the palm.
11. Then, bend both of the palms but do not let the thumb have any contact with other parts.
12. Rub the left palm of the thumb on the back of the right thumb.
13. Just do the same from 8-12 for the right hand. 

Anullation of Tayammum

1. Among things that annuls the Tayammum is one becoming a disbeliever. Because the reason why perform all of these is based on our Creed and our Path which come from the basis of Quran and the Sunnah. This also applies to other subject matters within our Divine Path.
2. All of those that annul the water ablution.
3. Once a person reaches a place equipped with water or cured from his or her injuries, it is an obligation to perform the water ablution to validate the prayer services and this convenience is annulled. 

Propagating the Sunnah

I think I had mixed the obligatory ones with the optional or sunnah ones. I am not good in explaining this in written form, hahaa. The best way is by looking at the way a person perform this. I learned these by imitating my late maternal grandfather, other teachers among our "people" and by memory while I was a little child. I am not learning these from any Islamic movement be they from Indian sub-continent, Saudi Arabia or from Egypt. I am just opening up my mental files by recalling what I have learned.

Among the Sunnah we call the people toward the God the Highest, the highest sentence and charity or virtues. We also have the approaches and angles when performing the da'awa. I know some people might come closer to me when they see me did not joining their movements' activities. I consider myself as a Muslim and I do not like fractions though I believe in the unity of brotherhood and sisterhood. While we practice, we also put before us the manner and practicing step by step. It is not favorable to make a person change his mind or his lifestyle only in a day. This has to do with psychology and states of mind which a person possess. It also involves the worldview that some ustads or those who speak with smattering Arabic call it as tasawwur. I love the approach of step by step and with manner. Try to approach people with manner and love. You'll receive manner and love as that is how you would love to be treated, right?   

If brothers and sisters find this as interesting, try to learn this with teachers and apply this in your life or try to practice them. If not interesting, it is up to everyone. One is subjected to his or her opinion and interest. I am just propagating the sunnah like others are doing but not forcing anyone to follow or to do so. Have a nice Saturday and make sure to fill it with litanies, remembrance or learning together with family members, friends, or the ones that we love : )

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Ablution

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

In Arabic, we have the term wudhu' which means ablution. In Persian basically we call this as aab dast while in Malay simply as ayer semahiyang. Before we perform our salat services, we have to be in good shape and pure condition. So, it is necessary for us to wash or expose the parts of our body which are generally exposed to dirt, smokes, smog or dust to the flowing water or water saved in the bottles.

There are about five  steps while we perform the ablution...

1. Intention

First of all we would say the prayer which means, "In the Name of the God the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate". Some scholars such as Imam al-Shafi'ie consider this as very important. Because this is good so I am following this suggestion.

And then say the intention maybe just mentally. No need to be so specific like reciting it in Arabic as it is outside of the salat services acts. We only recite everything in Arabic while performing salat services be they obligatory or optional. The intention proposed is like, "I am performing the ablution as a sacrifice to be closer to the God the Highest". The intention defines the purpose of our act and why we are doing so.

2. Wash Hands

Wash our hands maybe like making it wet so it would make us easier to wash other parts with already wet hands. This is optional.

3. Rinsing the Mouth

We may rinse it once, twice or thrice depends on the condition of our mouth. Rinsing the mouth is not mandatory as it is only optional. One may leave this without any sin or if he or she is fasting. 

4. Rinsing the Nostrils

It is not mandatory but optional. Usually we are doing like this when we are waking up for morning prayer services as to clear up our respiratory system. This also has spiritual meaning but I am not talking too deep about this. Once would be enough but it is not a sin to do it more than once up to thrice. As long as it is not wasting the water. Snuff the water

5. Washing the Face

For Shafi'ie school, one may say his intention while washing his or her face. Washing the face is obligatory. Wash the whole face with whole hands, from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from ear to ear. If one has beard at his face so he must also wash his beard. Once up to thrice depends on a person.

6. Wiping Head

Wipe our whole head once with wet hands. I just hold my head down the pipe and let the water flows until my whole hair turns wet. This is mandatory but it depends whether one would do it once, twice or thrice. Usually I am just doing it once as my head will be all wet.

7. Wiping Ears

Wipe the inner sides of the ears with forefingers and their outer sides with thumbs. Make sure the fingers are wet. This is optional part of ablution. If one is leaving it, no sin for that. The ablution is still going on.

8. Wash Feet

Washing two feet up to the ankles, once each or up to thrice for each. Begin with the right foot. This stage is obligatory.

The ablution is complete at the 8th stage. The person who has performed this may get ready to start his salat service or prayer service. The ablution is valid as long as it does not meets the matters that nullify it. He may pray as many prayer services as he wishes while it is valid. It will be more better for one to renew his ablution as often as possible but avoid from wasting the water. Doing everything as according to chronological order is preferable. Those who fail to keep the order but does it completely are not sinful. Their ablution is valid as long as he keeps the obligatory ones with him.

Supplication After Ablution

Once the ablution is complete, face the quibla direction and say the prayer preferably with hands a little bit raised or just point the forefinger of one's right hand to signify the Oneness of the God.  Recite...

أشهدُ أنْ لاإلهَ إلاالله وأشهدُ أنَّ محمدً عبدُه ورسولهُ أللهمَّ أجعلني مِنَ التوابين واجعلني من المتطهرين واجعلني مِنْ عبادِكَ الصالحينَ وصلَّى اللهُ على أهلهِ وسلَّم والحمدُللهِ ربِّ العالمينَ

The supplication means...

"I bear the witness that there are no gods except the God, and I bear the witness that Muhammad s.a.w is messenger of the God and His servant. Dear the God, please place me together among the people who seek Your forgiveness and make me person who is constant in cleanliness and make me a servant who strives in goodness and charity. And please be in contact with the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and with his family members and peace. All praises due only to the God the Lord of the universe, amin!".

One may say this supplication in whatever language that they use. It is not strictly in Arabic as we are not performing the formal salat service yet. Please respect the prayer, thank you.

Nullification of Ablution

Actually many things depending on a person and what is his school of jurisprudence. The general ones according to my school of jurisprudence are:

1. Natural discharges for e.g pissing, pooping, gas, and others.

2. Flow of blood or pus or such from any part of the body.

3. Throwing out.

4. Falling asleep which means sleeping soundly.

5. Losing sanity by taking drugs or intoxicating stuffs.

6. Losing sanity or go crazy.

7. Touching private parts with the palm of hands.

After the occurrence of any of these, the ablution must be renewed for another valid prayer. After natural discharges, water should be applied as toilet paper is not sufficient for the purpose of purity and worship. Some people also have to renew ablution or even perform ghusl if having the contact with some seafood for e.g squid, shrimp and others like Hanafi school of jurisprudence. That is why I am trying to avoid taking seafood. Some who follow the Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence would have to renew his or her ablution if they touched people of different gender. 

Benefit of Ablution

Some of them are...

1. Helping us to counter diseases.

2. Refreshing our physical body.

3. Tranquilizing our soul.

4. Removing our sins as according to hadiths of prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Daily Salat Times

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Basically, we pray five times daily prayer services. Whether in congregation which could be conducted in a mosque, a small mosque known as musalla or prayer rooms, or just anywhere as long as we do not disturb non-Muslims. One can also perform them alone if there are no Muslim community around or while working with non-Muslim majority. Just explain to them if they do not understand and if they do not want to listen or still do not understand. Just let them be. We can always perform the qadha' salat or substitution for the services that we were not able to perform due to certain restrictions. The Divine Path is very easy very flexible never make it a fuss... Most of non-Muslims that I found are actually tolerant to me because I am tolerable to them. 

Subh Prayer Service

We begin our day with the Fajr or Subh prayer service. It means morning prayer service. It occurs when the sun light could be seen from the East and we call that as Fajar Saadig. Some people might wake up earlier than that maybe around two hours or one and half hour before the morning time because they are going to perform fast for certain desires for e.g for the sake of memorizing the Quran, musing one self, getting strength to face the heavy day time or studying sciences, vanquishing evil selfishness, performing optional services and sacrifices which involves some rituals where only the God knows because that is the time they communicate with the God in private. Nowadays, we have calender which also indicate the prayer time so we could get ready as early as we can in this busy modern world. The reason why we look at the sun is not that because it is a powerful nature force or some kind of god or deity. But it is because we are determining the time as we live in the realm of time and space.

The prayer service for this time consists of two units of prayer or twice bows and twice prostrations. We begin the prayer service with intention as based from the sacred hadith which says that every deeds and acts we commit are based on our intentions. So, we say our intention for the prayer service whether mentally or maybe a little bit aloud as most of people in my country use to do as they are non-Arabic speakers. The intention means I perform the salat service in the morning two units as a sacrifice to be closer to the God. We recite the al-Fatiha recitation strictly in Classical Arabic based on the written scripture as it was orally revealed but those who are just learning to recite it may use their mother tongue. However, as long as they master the surat, it is an obligation for them to recite it in Arabic and to understand it in their mother tongue by mental. It is recited in every unit of prayer and is obligatory. We are advised to sleep early at night as to perform this prayer is obligatory. It has to do with self-discipline too.

Dzuhr Prayer Service

This occurs when the sun is a bit inclined to the west. It is few minutes after the mid day or afternoon. We check it with our shadow if we are in a huge open place.  It consists of four units with two tashahuds.

Usually this time is the break time in government offices in my country. I could see some people actually do not perform the salat service although they are Muslim and are given the chance and opportunity. Now, we are in peace. What happens if we are in war like in Palestine or in Syria and everywhere? Perhaps we would bring all sort of "religious notions" just to gain sympathy. This kind of attitude is actually the attitude of all of human-being and it lies in our selfish self no matter if we are Palestinian, Israeli, Syrian, Arabs, Pakistani, Sunnah Muslim, Shi'a Muslim or whatever we are. 

I always feel disgusting watching at over emphasizing in the TV or anywhere about Palestine or whatever it is. It is not that I am inhumane, supporting Israel government deeds or selfish but I view those who always talk about the issue like some kind of trend as selfish and inhumane. We never emphasize on simple basic matters like salat services, fasting, morality or adaab and other important things but emphasizing on petty matters; later we take advantage from that campaign or this campaign to promote business and trade with the portrayal of blood bath.

'Asr Prayer Service

The time is when we see the shadow of an object expands a little bigger than its normal size. This happens daily after few hours of Dzuhr prayer service. This prayer service contains of four units with two tashahuds. After this prayer, ones may perhaps go for exercises, relaxing or having some stroll or perhaps having some tea with friends, family or alone just to relax if one is free from any work or returning from the office.

Maghrib Prayer Service

We know that it is Maghrib when the round shape of sun sunken down into the sea or the earth or when the red cloud could be seen at the western sky or we call it as megha as in Sanskrit. The sun actually is appearing the west and that is why we call this time as Maghrib. 

This prayer service consists of three units with two tashahuds but only three times of bows and prostrations.  The time is very short so we always have to be careful with this prayer service time. Well, when talking about the sun sunken down into the Earth. I know some people might question that we believed that the Earth was flat. It is not likely so. We know the Earth is round but it is the way we see around us that makes it looks like flat. 

'Isha' Prayer Service

'Isha' occurs when the red clouds completely disappear from the western sky. It consists of four units, just like the Dzuhr and 'Asr prayer services.

Miscellaneous 

The time for the specific prayer services to end is about two or three minutes before the latter prayer service time. So, always be mindful and careful. After the prayer services, we have litanies from the simplest ones to the complicated ones depending on where we are or how busy we are. Some people are quite free or untied to busy jobs so they have more times to sit nicely and chanting litanies or even reciting the Quran. Some are not... So, maybe I would include them in Arabic script. I am afraid of tainting them when someone copied them and printing them down. There are several precaution acts that I have to take...Try to get the help of closest local Islamic center for the prayer service time, maybe they could help providing calender with prayer time or check them in the net as the time varies as according to geographical region. The Earth is round and it whirling in circles around the eye of the day.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin! 

Pillars of Islam

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Definition of Islam

I know many people had already talk about this. This is just a formality when introducing our Divine Path. Basically it refers to the submission and obedience toward the teachings of the God the Highest with all of our heart. This is word is mentioned in our scripture to describe ourselves. As for my personal experience, I am voluntarily a Muslim. I am not forced by my parents though they are Muslims. 

My parents just taught me on basic things like how to perform salat services, learning the Arabic alphabets to recite the simple Quranic verses. They sent me to mosque and also to religious schools, so I was taught about Islam and its practices by teachers in classes with classmates. After that, I also learned other religious traditions in depth including practices and step by step turning to them when I experienced life pressures as a little child who has no one to turn to for e.g friends, relatives as we live far from them nor siblings because my siblings are all sisters. It means that I did not only listening to people telling others about this religion is like this or like that. I recited their prayers, listening their sermon and sincerely learned their religious traditions. That is why I know what are their technical terminologies and I know their self disciplines... The same thing also happened when I return to my ancestral path which is this Divine Path. I don't know why I was not interested to be baptized as a Christian last time though I heard they offer money as some kind of tithe for newly convert into their popular "religions", but instead turning to the Sakya ascetic who offered me nothing except that I could only be initiated as a bald beggar with a beluam who may wander in deep forests if I choose to leave all the attachments as the tradition that I learned has to do with forest hermitage, hehe...

The evidence where the God used the word which is derived for the words Islam or Muslim to describe Himself is in the Surat al-Hashr verse 59:23 which means... "He is the God who is no one except Him, the King, the Holiest, the Bestower of Peace, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Most Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Supreme. Exalted the God from whatever they associate Him with!". So, the word Islam was derived from one of the Glorious Attributes of the God. Further, it is described by the God in the Glorious Quran as the Divine Path which had also been passed by our patriarch, Abraham a.s in Surat al-Baqarat which means..."When the God said to Abraham a.s, submit yourself! And he answered, "I have submitted myself to the Lord of the Universe 131 And he passed down with this speech sons and down to Jacob. Ibrahim passed down his will, "O my children, indeed the God has chosen for you the Divine Law, so never die unless if you are Muslims" 132 Were you present when Jacob was closer to the death when he asked his children, "What will you worship after I am gone?". They answered, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Isma'el, and Isaac. The Only God and we are Muslims 133".

Some people who only hold the Quran as the source of religion perhaps would ask what is the need for one to recite the testimony because maybe they studied too deep until they could not see simple things. The testimony of faith in the God and noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w as the slave and messenger of the God was mentioned by prophet Muhammad s.a.w himself in the Hadith Qudsi. It indicates that he is the universal prophet of this closing epoch and a sign of His Mercy in the form of the seal. Muhammad s.a.w is referred as the seal of prophethood in term of direct revelation through the emissary of the Archangel Gabriel a.s. The Archangel Gabriel a.s is of the highest ranking angel in the angelic hierarchy...

When we recite the testimony, it also means that we conclude our faith in all of the previous prophets and messengers of the God, mentioned in the Glorious Quran or those who are not clearly mentioned. Never be boastful with ourselves lest we will be trapped in Satan's wicked tricks... Humble down ourselves...

Pillars of Islam

Islam in one self is built with these five matters in the form of binding practices... They are self disciplines in the form of various penance acts or worship prescribed to develop both spiritual and physical strength. Normally, these five are just the minimal ones while one may add anything optional as according to both Quran and valid traditions... The matters are....

1. Testimonial of faith in the God and the prophethood of Muhammad s.a.w.

2. Daily five times prayer services.

3. Tithe

4. Fasting which is an obligation for a whole Ramadhan lunar month.

5. Pilgrimage in the month of Dzulhijja for those who are able to perform it.

1. Testimonial of Faith

This one is already mentioned in the Portal of the Divine Path section. This is the proclamation on the prophethood of prophet Muhammad s.a.w an also a testimony that we accept him as an appointed messenger of the God to transmit the Path of Abraham a.s. This part is an integral part in our daily salat services be they obligatory salats or optional salats. We recite these proclamations in the first and second tashahuds of salats.

2. Daily Five Times Prayer Services

This is a kind of worship act where literally means that we are in contact with the Creator. For us Muslims, we perform the salat services with the prescribed manners and prescribed times. Salat service combines chanting of litanies and glorification directed to the Lord of the universe, chanting of holy verses, meditation in the form of tranquility for moments, sitting, standing straight, bowing, prostration and several other worship acts which connects one self who perform it with awareness to his Creator. It is an act of worship which involves our speeches, verbal acts, mental and heart.

We begin the salat service with intention where we ask His permission to be connected to Him and then we would say our exaltation in respect to the Lord. It ends with salutation of peace to fellow human-being and other unseen beings such as angels. The time where we perform the obligatory salat services are known as Fajr, Dzuhr, 'Asr, Maghreb and 'Isha'. Time length and grid differ according to regions.

Anyway it does not take us long and is very flexible. If we could not perform this commandment in the mosque together with congregations, say if we are extremely busy; we still can perform it in our offices, maybe behind the walls, pillars and other clean places. Our direction of prayer around the world is the grand mosque in the Holy Mecca as it is mentioned in the scripture. The longest one when I perform when I am alone is around 15 minutes. Mostly it takes only 10 minutes and after that we can do our daily chores or go back to our works. Many people who think that it is difficult because they never perform it. For non-Muslims who wanted to understand the way Muslim meditate, why not consider to perform it and recite the words of salat services in your languages maybe alone at home. Maybe it could be an alternative for your mental training who knows. Just be positive.

3. Tithe

In Arabic, we call this as Zakat which means the purification. In our property, there are some portions that we actually had unintentionally grabbed from those unfortunate ones. So, we purify our properties with this act of paying the tithe to the unfortunate ones.

In some countries with Muslim majority, they have the council or a board to manage the tithe. We can also pay it directly to those unfortunate ones provided that we know how to calculate the portions and who can accept the tithe. I learned that in 17th century Catholic countries like France for e.g, they also practiced tithe but the priests had took opportunity to use the tithe for their own luxurious life.

The Islam that I understood urges a sane Muslim to know almost everything about his religion or at least the basis of the Path. The religion is not a monopoly of priestly groups or clerics. We have the responsibility to seek the knowledge because this is our Way of Life. Our Divine Path where we perform every acts with its guidance... Because of this, we know that tithe is an obligation for a Muslim who are fortunate and able to be paid with particular terms and conditions and only to certain people. Tithe is divided into two sub-divisions which are the fitrah tithe and the property tithe.

The fitrah tithe is in the form of staple foods according to regions with the specific measurement to those who are rightful to accept it. This is an obligation only in Ramadhan lunar month beginning from its first day towards the evening before 'Eid al-Fitri. 

The property tithe refers to the spending of ones property with specific calculation and certain conditions only to certain people. It could be paid annually or as according to the calculation on how long that certain property lay idle in our account or in the form of gold. Some that one needs to spend for others in the form of tithe are...

1. Staple foods as according to region, maybe wheat, barley, oat or rice for land lord.
2. Fruits such as dates, vines and others for those who possess farms.
3. Livestock for e.g cattle, sheep, camel or goat.
4. Business profits and those from estates.

Those who should accept the tithe are....

1. Extremely poor people.
2. Poor people.
3. The collectors of the tithe.
4. Freed slaves if there are any in this modern world.
5. The newly revert people.
6. Debtors.
7. People who serves the Lord and His Divine Path.
8. Stranded travelers.

There are also the notion of khums but it is omitted within mainstream four schools of jurisprudence as it is counted as obsolete. It is defined only as the spoils of war by four schools of jurisprudence. This is a custom of Muhammad s.a.w clan which was introduced by Abdul Mutallib who is an uncle of Muhammad s.a.w. In the Ja'afari jurisprudence which is prominent among the Shi'a Muslim brothers be they of Twelver or of Sevener, it also applies to the business profits. I guess around one fifth of seven listed matters being contributed to poor descendants of Fatima r.a or the Sayyids and Sharifs. There are terms and conditions for this too for these people to be eligible for the Khums as according to Ja'afari school of jurisprudence.

Usually for us and what I had been taught, we cannot touch anything whether from the Zakat or from Khums as there is no Khums anymore in our Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence. We can only accept whatever is donated by our people but since we're scattered everywhere and some had even feel ashamed of their origin so we just try to survive amidst the pressure of life. Some even leaving behind the Divine Path and forget everything about their ancestors, on the other hand turning to be non-Muslims... As for Zaydi tariqa Shi'a Muslim brothers, I am not sure what they say about Khums.

4. Fasting in Ramadan

It is an act of worship in the form of holding ones desire from eating, drinking, from sexual desires and others that invalidate one's fast beginning after the morning prayer service call with a specific intention and we can live like normal people after the call for evening prayer service which is at the time of Maghrib. This act of worship is an obligation for all sane Muslims who reached their puberty only in the lunar month of Ramadan. Many people would tell various stories about how they spend their Ramadan month, some are cooking special dishes, some are going to the mosque for each night to seize the opportunity in performing more penance, some believe that it is a spiritual training and not only a training for their mental and physical and others. It depends on individual but everyone knows this is an obligation. Discussions about this topic is very broad too and not explained only in this single sub-topic as this a brief introduction.

5. Pilgrimage in the Holy Mecca

At least once in our life time, we must perform the pilgrimage in our holy city, Mecca which is now a territory in Saudi Arabia. It is performed when we reach certain ability only in certain times and with certain conditions. The greater pilgrimage is performed during the Dzulhijja lunar month which is around November or December.

What we mean by reaching certain ability is:

1. Financially able to go for Mecca, to support the life while staying there for about a month as to perform acts of worship and to return to home.

2. Leaving sufficient financial support for family at home.

3. Certain that the journey is safe or making sure that it is safe for them to stay in Mecca while performing the pilgrimage.

The greater pilgrimage is known as Hajj, while the lesser one is known as 'Omra. 'Omra can be performed any time whenever ones feel comfortable. It is not as complicated as the greater pilgrimage.

As to say, these are the basis our Divine Path. All of these are the roots in all of our practices in daily life. They contain their own philosophies where only the God can perfectly conclude them for us. We have different books discussing these topics as well as various lectures explaining on the steps or the meanings behind these. Some people also experience differences when performing this whether it is of their first time or for many times in their life. Some people just performing all of these because everyone does these. Or because it is a norm in their countries. As for me, these are my identities. They are my roots and my souls. They possess their own significance once we learn them by experience because we are learning until our soul leaves our physical body. 
        
Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Study the "Shari'a" and Sunnah for Life

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

My cousin brother in-law, Suffiyan had just arrived at our house with maternal cousin sister, Naysa to attend their daughter's convocation ceremony. I am not sure where it is but I am proud to know that the girl is going to further her undergraduate studies in the United Kingdom (UK). She is a wonderful, diligent and quite a polite girl. They drive all the way from Perlis. I am sure it is a tiring journey. She said that she had a hard time studying technical courses for her diploma and her hairs fallen down which is scary for her. The same thing goes to her mother, Naysa. She studies for an undergraduate certificate in education methodology back there in Perlis at her 40s. She said she was deceived when she listens to her friends and she repents. She hates studying in the university, haha. I understood them. I am still in the torturing period of releasing myself from this post-graduate studies. I get some ideas to finish up the thesis from Azren. He came to see me and handing me his copy of thesis as a guide. We discussed a little. Thanks Azren only Allah blesses You for helping me while you are busy with your job and life.  

Regret for People's View

Brother Suffiyan managed to get to know me a little during the Friday prayer service and during Night prayer sessions in Zainal Abiddin Mosque. He is around his 40s and he just opened a fish farm. He works for himself as a fish dealer in the village. For Maghreb, my mother had suggested us to pray with brother Suffiyan there since he had never been to the metal mosque. Usually I would just pray at musallas closer to our neighborhood. If I have enough time I could walk to all three out of four musallas here which is counted as an act of ziyarat. My "real" life is quite hidden even to my own family members. As for cousins, for sure they too do not really know me well and I usually would never show my face to people around. We just arrived late at the mosque since there are many traffic lights and junctions to go through.

While in the car we just talked about how sorry our life is when we leave behind our "religion". We would rather choosing the "world" and misguided with the notions that it is the goal. Bro. Suffiyan said that last time he also thought that sending his children to madrasah would make them suffer and living like a beggar in the future. But it was in the contrary as he had seen many religious teachers who established humble madrasas could live happily without having to face anxiety. He regret it but it is already fated by Allah so we could just repair ourselves and get prepared to see Him. My mother said that I should also finished my studies in Shari'a stream and perhaps she should not put me in the religious school in Selangor which had caused me troubles but maybe shifting me to another private madrasah under reliable and specific teachers to guide me. She was busy paying attention to all of her children so she could not properly see what is my tendency, ability and the problems that I had to face while I was the only teenage boy at home. I know she loves me and she had tried all she can but this is also fated by Allah. I would never blame her nor anyone. I was also an immature young teenage. Anyone to be blamed is only myself. Not my mother nor anyone. For now I am actually memorizing, doing exercises with all of my Shari'a kitabs and trying to memorize the Quran while understanding it. When I face problems in these "studies" I would get the assistance of the authority of the kitabs and references. So, brothers and sisters. Don't only study in the website but please at least have some effort to see specific teachers. For ladies, please see female teachers so they could teach and assist you with jurisprudence for ladies. Be respectful to Shari'a field and its teachers just like we respect teachers from other fields.

Last few days, I recalled that I watched a program in Astro channel which I barely could remember its name and the channel name because there are currently two channels for Islamic information. The program featured Ustad Abu Hassan Din who talked about contemporary issues in our society. The issue is about Fardh al-Kifaya and Fardh al-'Ayin and how we differentiate them based on their importance.

Definitions of Fardhu al-'Ayin and Fardhu al-Kifaya

There are from what I understood as I had listened about these since I was a young child. Of course we learned about these and not simply appearing in our mind like from "no where". We perhaps forgotten about these and when we clear our mind only it comes out, hehe. 

Fardhu al'Ayin refers to individual tasks or responsibility. They are mostly related to our acts of worship and daily discipline of life. As a Muslim, we must have knowledge about these and we must perform these. It is an obligatory individual responsibility. If one leaves them, he is sinful according to the jurisprudence terms and jurisprudence refers to our structures of path based from the basis of Quran and Sunnah. Examples of these responsibilities are the salat services, tithe for the eight eligible receivers or seeking the knowledge as in general. So, basically it is something which is related to the obligation of every Muslim both male and female. 

Fardhu al-Kifaya refers to the obligation or a responsibility of some part of society in order to protect the interest of society. The whole of society will be sinful if nobody performs it or everyone neglecting it. What are the examples? It is divided into two types of field. Firstly, it is related to the earthly studies and jobs for example those related to living skills such as technology, medicinal knowledge or medical, business, management, administration, politics, financial, engineering and others. Secondly, it is related to heavenly one which is the studies and jobs related to the Quran, the Sunnah and the Shari'a. 

Framing the Issue

It looks like my European policy thesis now, hehe. In the program that I watched. It shows a conversation of three fathers who are discussing about their children future after their children finished their primary school period. One of them had said that one of a friend in their neighborhood is deciding to send his son to a seminary to memorize the Quran in Kedah state. They commented that the boy is pitiful to have such a backward father and they laughed. They said that the boy has no "certificate" and how could he find job to survive in this "modern" world? Then, one of those fathers interfered saying that what is so weird with the father's measure? He mentions about Fardhu al-Kifaya and Fardhu al-'Ayin and mentions that memorizing Quran is also a Fardhu al-Kifayah while most people only talk about having degrees in fields such as technology, nuclear, petro-bomb and etc. He said to those two laughing fathers: "You two who laughed to others if people asked you to be a praying leader in masjid when nobody could hold the position would be sweating hardly and you just recite simple surats". He further said: "What is wrong with memorizing Quran and having no "certificate" as in the form of paper? It is all about the mental image!" 

Jobs related to Shari'a: Quran and Sunnah traditionally was conducted by "poor" people because they are not supposed to ask for "material" gifts and live only according to moderate way of life. The job is not so popular in its name nor glamorous like the earthly ones. It is only known as the da'awa job. 

When I was studying in Shari'a streams, we as the students in the class were looked down upon by people who studied the earthly matters until many of us ran to secular studies, losing our faith in our own religion and not even finishing our Thanawi level and leaving behind our gateways to Higher Religious Council papers while it is our responsibility.  Those "knowledge" is actually still lingering within us though we're tested by Allah but we just never show it up to people other than we feel low-self esteem.

Nowadays, I feel quite funny when I saw some students in Islamic movements whether those recognized by the Islamic Center or those transnational movements' members talking about religious issues. Or perhaps wearing the turban with "tail" as it is "sunnah". I will explain what is the meaning of this statement later. It is not because I am a "secular" type of person but it is because I left the responsibility since the "studies" is looked down after the introduction of government policies in 1990s and we were the victims of political rantings among those politicians. When I asked those students (except brother Zaidi), they answered me they were almost being sent to this "religious school" or that "religious school" but it ends up they are in schools such as Maktab Rendah Sains Mara or Primary Science Institute because it is more promising in their future and it was their dreams, hehe. They still can be the da'ie by studying in circles around but Shari'a and jurisprudence is not like we snap our fingers. 

Say that I studied religion since my kindergarten time until I finished my high school, then I just started to study science or technology studies for example modern medical or engineering and start to learn explanations for complicated formulas when I am quite old because I begin to realize that religious studies is no more relevant in the future and I could only survive with "atomic" formula. Can I speak like a specific teacher in "Science"?  It is not wrong to talk about certain issues in Islam but there are also some high issues which could not be discussed by lay men among lay men because it will raise up debates among ignorants.

I just wanted everyone to know, what is our feeling as Shari'a students and I am also representing those non-recognized students in private madrasas in our state who studied Shari'a Islamiah. We had to sacrifice our "future". When we were "cast" into the Shari'a stream, it means that we are fated to hold the obligation by Allah but what happens to some of us who were punished by politicians and society perceptions around? Actually I still can survive living in the village and grating coconut like what the "leader" said to us in his speech broadcasted in the radio around 2001. I have my "religion" to guide me to a happy, less-stressful and peaceful life. Grating coconut is not a bad idea yet I can open up home stay and promote tourism in the village or selling the coconut milk in market while in I have many times to study kitabs, hehe. Those who live in the "modern" world facing fears for survival, having to pay bills, facing higher goods prices with limited salary, fear to be sacked especially nowadays the economy is flopping and so on. The world is also a temporary place for us and it is not our goal. We will have to die and "religion" is only for those who is living. What can we study after we die? hahaha...

Though many people including those in the Middle East are impressed to that 'old leader" but I would have to say sorry and having to disagree! I studied Political Science and International Relation though I was a Shari'a student. I had also experience being a Buddhist in certain points of my life in terms that I practiced Buddhism. The notion of Shari'a students are not at par with students in "Universities" is not practical anymore. I am a Shari'a student and I will continue my studies that I had stopped after I am finished with this thesis, Insha Allah. I had tried to study it again when I was 19 years old by taking the related papers for Shari'a in A-Level. Just after I returned from pilgrimage in Holy Mecca, I drew out from proper school and registered for A-Level with Shari'a papers at the Education Office in Jalan Semarak. But Allah had arranged me until this stage. I don't know how many fellow Shari'a stream students who turned to be like me but I believe many of us are in "secular" streams as the result of what happened in 1990s. One of my maternal nephew who studied with me in the early madrasah that I was sent is a plumber. If you people stumbled here please share your experience. I could also learn from your experiences besides with those who remained in the stream. Everything is in His boundless wisdom.     

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters who are blessed by Allah Azza wa Jalla. I am calling myself and also you who accidentally coming by as a fellow Muslim. If you love your children, start educate them with Quran and train them to memorize the glorious Quran. Then teach them with Nawawi Hadiths compilation as a basis for them because each hadith of the compilation is gravely useful for them to survive and enough for them to practice. No need for traditional memorization but only teach them in point forms including with the sources of narration. Important thing is on how it is being "nurtured" in their "heart" because it would shine out in their daily acts.     

Regarding young ustad like Ustad Don Danial Biyajid, I am proud to know that there are young educators like him as an example for others and he speaks English well. I had discussed with Azren and he loves the way on how the ustad taught people because we also talked about approaches of da'awa and its presentation to people around. I just used other term when talking with Azren but it is still referring da'awa. Those students from da'awa groups in my university are not really speaking in English. Maybe they thought that I am pretending not to speak Malay with them but I speak and think in "few languages" in real life. Some of those kids who speak in Kedah Malay, I still talked with them in "Hybrid Kedah Malay" because I am fluent in it as compared to "normal" Malay spoken in our capital. What is wrong speaking in English as a medium of da'awa? I am also starting to speak in Arabic again after I completed my fathers' lineage from 17th century down to now and tracing our clan name. Last time Arabic was only my written language and I love the language. 

I end up this post with a short Quranic verse meaning on what Allah says related to the da'awa works:

"And the people who works hard in Our courses, indeed We will lead them into Our ways and indeed God is with the good doers" (Surat al-'Ankabut verse 69). 

Allah will surely grant these people with happiness, His pleasure and assistance when they try to perform acts of charity. About the turban with tail, it actually refers to a faqih. I saw member in movement for example in Tabligh Jama'at lay men karkuns who wear the turban. Yea, it is a "Sunnah" but based from our understanding as "Shari'a" people and those of mission circle lineages. If you wear the "turban with tail" it shows that people can consult anything related to "jurisprudence" and "religion-life" from you or in the other word you are a faqih, hehe. It is not only Sunnah but it is also with significance. We can wear that and practicing the specific "Sunnah" but only until we reach certain level. That is why I am only wearing the skull cap and not turban. I am not trying to put people down. I believe that it is a good thing to practice Sunnah but we should also know their significance. It is not only about appearance and how we look like. People are taking religion easily and taking it at the "surface" because it is not respected by our own people : )

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin! 

Happy 'Aidul Adha 1433 and Happy New Year 1434

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Recently I have been really... really... really busy. So nice that I could write or speak in proper polite English. Usually I can't avoid to speak vulgar ones. It's just the way I talk with the people I was dealing with, haha. For sure that is not the characteristic of a member of the paradise. So, I would actually advise myself not to forget my responsibility and to remain "pure" like the lotus among the mud. The lotus can not leave the mud because it is surrounded with it and needs to cooperate with the mud to protect the balanced earth. 

First of all before I go further about what happened in this temporary earth and in the life of a slave of Allah. I would gladly wishing brothers and sisters happy 'Aiduladha and Happy Rossussanah 1434 H. It is our new moon and I think as always most people will recite the supplication and prayers in the masjid. Among all celebration, I actually in deep love with 'Aiduladha as its significance of Qurban or sacrifice to seek nearness to Allah warming my heart with the love to Him. I always remember and cherish my memory while in holy Mecca and those whom I had met during the pilgrimage season and high holy days there. It makes me realize who is my self and what I found is that I am nothing in this universe but He is full of Glory and full of Greatness. I am actually shedding my tears when the flashbacks come in my head hope nobody see it here, hehe :') 

Awareness on the Significance of Qurban and 'Aiduladha

This is only a summary of what I know about my faith, my ancestral tradition and my religion. I would like to call all brothers and sisters regardless denominations and schools of jurisprudence to keep the awareness about what is the significance of certain celebration and festival in our religion. I don't actually care whether brothers or sisters are from different schools of jurisprudence or from whatever denominations. We still profess the same prophet Muhammad s.a.w as our seal of prophethood, reciting the Quran and our faith is solely in Allah where we direct all of our hopes and dependance only to Him. 

Many young people are not really aware about the details of their religion but yet calling it as a "tariqa" of their life. I was also like that though I studied about Islam but that was only for examination papers. Not for "myself" to use it to perform pure livelihood in the way to seek His Glorious Holy Appearance in the hereafter. Nowadays I would question people but it seems that most of them do not understand it yet they think I am trying to put them down. I was not talking to them as a "second person" but I assume that I was talking to my another self when those questions come out. 

This has nothing to do with any mysticism. I beg those who accidentally stumbled by to please do not misunderstood me. I am tired people thinking that I am practicing mystical mysterious dzikr or whatever practices. I am just an ordinary Muslim man like brothers and sisters out there. I don't like people looking at me like a scary pathetic ghost and it makes me crying in my heart. I am a human and I live like other people watching TV, listening to radio and also typing in the computer now. Only Allah knows how I feel where I feel like I wanted to slap the face of "adik-adik" or kicking their ass when they approached me and asking me about some kind of turuq practices. Fortunately it is in the musalla or in the canteen so they were safe. Otherwise I will make sure they bleed their nose without they even realize it! I do pray for brothers of another "realm" but I do not do it for false practices. I am doing it for their benefit because I am always alone. I rarely made friend and as a responsibility of a fellow brother for them I reserved some "foods" and sprinkled them while walking to masjid early in the morning when everyone were asleep. I hate magics, sorcery and tricks! 

Sa'ie, Love of a Mother for Her Infant Son and Sufferings to Continue Survival

Briefly, 'Aiduladha is the peak of a series of high holidays. It is a tradition inherited from our father, Abraham and his son Ishmael. Well, this is according to our tradition's exegesis of Quran. An event that makes me feel touched was about the love of a mother to her son. Hagar as a mother had ran here and there at the Safa and Marwa seven rounds in order to find water after being left by Abraham a.s in the barren valley.  At that time infant Ishmael was around three years old as far as I could remember our elders recital of the chronicles in Arabic poetry form. I recalled everything that I heard when I was in Mecca, while in the Arafat desert and while traveling to Jeddah and Medina along the desert.

We imitated her deeds at the Safa and Marwa hills and I was almost dead with my mother there because so many people and they almost stepped me to death before a man helped me. My mother said that she does not care anymore if she dies, so I was so scared and I took her hand before someone hit me and I was the one who was down there. I never realize that I love my mother and I still have 'some' love in my heart that I thought had already gone after few sad incidents in my life. 

Hagar and Ismael a.s were sent down after Sarah a.s can't hold her jealousy and when Ishmael had teased her son, Ishaq a.s she just asked Abraham a.s to send them both away. That is normal I guess for women. I live with women and I am familiar with jealousy. My younger sister are always jealous to me when my mother gives me something but I actually never ask her anything. I always give everything that I have to others to avoid from "evil eyes". I hate to have issues with others but I just don't understand why they still love to find issues with me.

Back to the story, Abraham a.s just left both of Hagar and Ismael a.s with a prayer may the barren valley be blessed with sustenance which dearly brothers and sisters could read in the Quran Surat Ibrahim verse 37. These prayers were also pasted at the mihrab of our masjid here. Each time when I visit the masjid and pray there I would recite those prayers in my heart and looking at those verses. The valley is filled with metal hill. I am not talking without experience. I saw that the hills do no absorb the water when rain falls and it caused a big and ferocious flood in the Ajyad area.    

Qurban of Abraham and Ishmael a.s

It tells that once upon a time, father Abraham a.s came down to the Meccan valley to visit his wife, Hagar a.s and their son, Ishmael a.s. At that time, Ishmael was already a young man. While staying there, Abraham dreamed that he was slaughtering his son. The same dream happens few times so Abraham understood that the dream is a revelation of Allah (surat as-Saffat vs. 103-107). So, he told it to Ishmael and Ishmael agreed as it was a revelation and a commandment. Everybody at the ancient Jurhumite Arab village thought that Abraham had already losing his mind. 

Jamrat and Throwing Pebble Stones

A "man" appears to Hagar and told her everything. He said that Abraham a.s is going to murder his own son and claimed that it was a revelation. The man according to exegesis was a "satan" in the form of a human. When Hagar a.s heard the word "revelation", she just ignored the man and said that if so then let it be. She knows what Abraham a.s is doing. The "man" was disappointed so he leaves and "appear" to Abraham and Ishmael a.s. Three times the "man" appears to them while they were on their way to a hill to perform the "sacrifice" and commandment. At these three points where the "man" appears, they chased him away with pebble stones throwing. The points nowadays were known as jamrat and the act of these two prophets of Allah is imitated by Muslims all over the world during pilgrimage season. I recalled that we had thrown seven stones in each jamrat and the event happens in three days in Dzulhijja month. The spiritual and psychological significance of this actually is about how we deal with evil whispers. Whether we listens it and stay far from Allah or we just ignore it and be closer to Allah. 

Reward of Qurban and the Love of Allah Saves Everything

At the time when Abraham a.s almost hitting the neck of his son; his sword was directed to another point where he didn't really hit his son. But he hits a sheep. The reward of this sacrifice is what we could see today. Prophet Abraham a.s is blessed with the mercy to the universe for the end of the ages. It was through his prayers and sacrifices that his descents are blessed by Allah.

Other Version: Ishaq as the Subject

I have no time to slip the Old Testament but I am aware that the Children of Israel believe in Ishaq as the one who was sacrificed. I just read the Epistle of Barnabas which is the interpretation of the Old Testament by Jews who were the believers of Jesus a.s that stated this tradition of exegesis. For brothers information, since the end of September until now, our Jew friends are also in High Holy Days where they observed the Yom Kapparot for atonement where they would fast at that day and seeking forgiveness, New Moon of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot festival and Simchat Torah. To tell everyone the truth; I don't give a damn to any version of the narration or on the differences of gentiles and non-gentiles. Allah blesses everyone regardless they are of any lineage and worldly fame means nothing. 

What I care is the spirit to seek nearness to Allah or G-d or whatever it is spelled because I am referring to the Highest Authority of the Universe, the King. During High Holy Days while waiting for our prayer times, I usually would chat with brother Eidan who happened to be a fellow Hadrami Arab descent but of different religion. We just discussed and sharing our family traditions. He is a Jew since his mother is a Jew but we are connected with the same Muslim paternal lineage of Iraqi immigrant in Yemen who was known as the Migrant though of different clans and of different flows.

Basically, these people were known as high sufis of various tariqa and could be founded among Sunni or Shi'a groups of Muslims whether in Yemen, Africa or Indian sub-continent. Both of us are not registered with those associations because for me I just realized that after I made researches as I began to feel weird after comparing our selves with other locals, I made consultations on behalf of my father and his family and checking with the authority while for brother Eidan he is of different religion and already migrating to their holy land.

Anyway I am not going to be registered nor revealing it widely to other relatives of my father side though many elders actually aware about that and it was discarded from young people knowledge because of some conflicts between clans. Maybe they were shy or afraid to tell people because of consequences that our people faced since Abbasid era. They are no different to the Umayyad dynasty. That is normal when we are at the height of "power" and it turns us to be "blind". It takes away our conscience and that is one of the thing that our elders always said to us on what they are afraid of. I know several those who "still" use the title but they behaved not accordingly to the noble morality. Some of them are married to our cousins too. What for the name if the "spirit" is dim and Allah hates us. 

Wishing

Again wishing everyone Happy 'Aiduladha and Happy New Year 1434 H. To those who perform pilgrimage in holy shrine in Mecca and the Masjid an-Nabawi, you don't know how fortunate you are especially the areas are very tight with authority supervision. Take the opportunity to purify yourselves from worldly matters and always ask to officers around if you have problem in the manasik and confused with the flow of the worship in the pilgrimage rituals. Don't listen to self-claimed "ustads" or you might confuse yourselves. Make sure what kind of pilgrimage you are performing because you need to bolt it in your "intention" and revise neatly what is the important process before the day come. For those who perform Hajj al-Ifrad especially in the early groups who arrived in Jeddah, please please please don't mix with other pilgrims or else you will repeat my mistake. I performed tahallul before I finished everything with the obligatory pilgrimage because I listened to my mother who wants to follow her roommates in the moassasah (foundation) to perform 'umra. I regret it until today after I listened to the lecture on the mistakes in rituals. It is not easy to return and performing it again as to ask forgiveness from Allah through the rituals. Hajj mabrur, wa sa'yan mashkur. May your performed rituals lead you toward charity and chastity. May your efforts being followed with gratitude to Him.

Allahumma salli 'alaa aali Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad wa sahbihi ajma'in...

Sealed with prayer for mercy, peace and love, amin!              

Worship: The Qasar of Salat

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Banna Masjid, Yunnan China

Introduction

I found that it is frustrating when discussing this thing with people who don't understand because they never practice this and don't try to understand this. This is an angle of sunnah or prophetic traditions. I don't do anything without any basis from sunnah! Even some things that I perform before I didn't even realize were apart of prophetic traditions but it is not looking so puritanical because the practices were ingrained in ourselves so we may practice it according to our own consideration and creatively being suited according to necessities. 

Now let us study this. If this note is not so comprehensive than try to find a real-living teacher in front of us. Get advices from sharia teachers of your schools of jurisprudence. It is to make sure we do not leave our salat without any valid reason. I don't look like a decent person in the real life out here with sharban or jubah either, but I always make sure that I consult sharia teachers when it is related to daily life routines. I went to masjid and doing everything with the sincerity ingrained in heart and never try to show off my faith to others because it is my "precious treasure". I will try to separate the parts for this topic so we could understand this matter in detail.

So, as to begin I would like to talk about the Qasar Salat first. Firstly for myself. Secondly for brothers and sisters. Maybe there are many sites talking about this. But on my behalf, I would like to tell brothers and sisters. This is our heritage and traditions. We must be aware about ourselves. I learned about "self-awareness" through previous experiences and most of them are bitter periods. Knowledge is very important to save our selves from sufferings as ignorance is a root of sufferings. I don't have any intention to defame Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. I respect this figure may Allah bless him and I read his written books but I somehow found that those "mere followers" who talked in masjids including those who had some chat with me in my university are not fully aware about themselves. That is why they create sufferings on themselves and extend them to everyone around them through their acts which are rooted from their ignorance. Their adab and akhlak is not to the standard of sunnah which they always mention when they condemn others and confident on "their" stance. It will also bear out evil characteristics and personalities such as riyaa', takabbur and 'ujub. I found the same things also in groups and movements around us which makes me staying away from them without saying any word. Naudzubillahu min dzaalik we seek protection of Allah from those things may they never reach us, amin!

What is Qasar Salat?

Allah says as recorded in Surat an-Nisaa' verse 101 which means: "And when you walk on the earth thus there is no prevention for you to simplify your salats".

So, in Arabic qasar simply means short or simple. When it refers to salat, it means a simplified salat or a shortened salat. From four unit or prayer to two units of prayer.  

What prayer service consists of four units of bows and prostrations? They are:

1. Dzuhr or the mid day prayer service

2. 'Asr or the after noon prayer service     

3. 'Ishaa' or the night prayer service

When we simplify these prayer services, the number of units will be shortened to two units of bows and prostrations. This is what we call as the qasar of salat.

What about other two daily prayer services? They are:

1. Fajr or dawn prayer service

2. Maghrib or dusk prayer service

Both of these services have nothing changing in the number of units. For Fajr, we still have to perform it full which is two units and for Maghrib we must perform it three units. No simplification nor shortening of the units for these prayers! 

How Do We Perform Qasar Salats?

The manner to perform a simplified or shortened salat is the same with the manner we perform it in the normal way. The differences are the intention and number of units.

For example dear beloved brothers and sisters, the obligatory prayer service of 'Ishaa' when we perform it in normal manner, we may mentally state the intention: "I perform the Ishaa' prayer service four units only for Allah the Most Highest". For the qasar or the simplification of this salat, we may mentally state: "I perform the Ishaa' prayer service two units only dedicated to Allah the Most Highest".

What is the Ruling for Qasar Salat?

How Many Days a Person May Perform Salats in Qasar Form?

According to Hanbali madzhab, if a person who travels to an area and in his intention he wanted to simplify in the particular area or place for more than four days or up to 20 days, so he cannot simplify the daily obligatory salats. The Hanbali madzhab counts the arrival day and the departure day into the days for a person being considered as residing in a place or not. If a person does not have any intention to reside in the particular place he is traveling, then he may perform the obligatory in qasar form until he finish up with his matters or business there. There are many hadiths which shows that it is permissible. So, this has to do with terms as the act of worship is apart of the law of nature. When we talk about law, the involvement of linguistics could not be avoided. 

Ibnu Qayyim mentions that there is no explanation that mentions about whether Muhammad s.a.w performs the four units prayer services while he was traveling. Ibnu Qayyim mentions that Muhammad s.a.w always simplify his salats (while traveling). He also mentions that Umar, Ali, Ibnu Mas'ud, Ibnu Umar, Jabir and Imam Abu Hanifah decided that Qasar Salat is obligatory while traveling and with the intention not to reside in a certain place.       

Their decision perhaps based from a hadith which was collectively being narrated by a group of narrators from Ya'la bin Umaiyya who says that Umar al-Khattab had once asked Muhammad s.a.w about the simplification of salat and Muhammad s.a.w mentions: "It is the donation of Allah given to all of you, thus accept His gift!".

And one thing to mention, Qasar and Jama' of the salats are two different things but may be combined. Many people including previous me was confused about this. Why we were confused? Because we never bother to study this issue. Other thing I would like to mention, our paternal community were once the da'is representing Fatimid empire but they're from various branches and were equipped with the knowledge of at least two schools of jurisprudence. Due to their condition, they have to travel so when people don't see them really praying since it is because they have to perform jama' and qasar prayer services. Insha'Allah we will try to talk about this issue in more detail when we are free. I'm just posting this as a reminder so everyone will keep talking about this when seeing each other. Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Pilgrimage Lesson: Conditions for Hajj Pilgrimage

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Early this morning I just want to reflect in the conditions for pilgrimage. Brothers and sisters, I am sure everyone know pilgrimage to holy Mecca is one of the pillars of Islam. We must learn about this all of our life because it is a necessity for us. It is a mirror of the life of patriarch Ibrahim a.s and his son Isma'el a.s with our mother Hagar. 

For pilgrimage, we have two kinds of it. The first one is Hajj which is the major pilgrimage usually according to season and specifically in the month of Zulhijjah while the lesser one is known as 'Umrah which could be performed at any time of the year or together with Hajj.

What are Conditions for Hajj?

According to Hanbali Madzhab there are about seven conditions to perform Hajj with one addition for ladies. They are:

1. One must be a Muslim

A non-Muslim should not enter the area of Mecca and Medina. The testimony of faith with its complete condition is a pre-condition to be a Muslim. 

2. Maturity

A child who performs hajj will transfer the blessings to his parents as the efforts come from his parents that makes him perform the pilgrimage. When he reached his puberty, he must perform it again. His pilgrimage when he was a little kid is accepted but it was not sufficient because the blessings are for his parents. 

3. Sanity

One must be sane in order to perform the pilgrimage. If one is insane, it is not an obligation for him to continue with the pilgrimage.

4. Freedom

A man must be free from slavery to perform the pilgrimage.

5. Healthy

A person who is sick, bed-ridden and not well are not obliged to perform pilgrimage.

6. Financially supported for food and shelter

A person who perform pilgrimage needs money as a tool for plane ticket, food and accommodation. Also for plane and bus ticket to go to the places in order to perform the pilgrimage.

7. Perform Hajj on behalf of the old, sick and the dead

For these people, it is permissible for a person who had already performed pilgrimage for himself to perform it again for others who are in old, sick and already passed away. This condition is agreed by all four honorable imams. It is illegal or haram to perform hajj for others while one is still not performing it for himself. Some people also are taking the burden to perform hajj for others because they are paid specifically for this. No evidence in the Quran and Sunnah saying that it is haram. According to Shariah, everything is halal unless if it is proven haram. Principle of jurisprudence says that everything which leads to haram is haram. So, when I saw an Indian Muslim or Mamak in Penang sneezing in my fried noodle before he give it to me at a restaurant I did not take the noodle as it is haram and I might be infected with diseases for example meningitis. It is according to this principle so please avoid lower estimate us as unorthodox when our method of performing da'awa is unorthodox or not according to movements. Another example is when there is a necessity for one to take 'pork' because there is only pork to be consumed and other food is not there (I am not saying it as halal!!!), if one trying to avoid it and he dies, he will be counted as committing suicide.

8. Mahram to assist a woman to perform hajj

A woman need a mahram or a male company for her which is from her family member such as her younger brother, father, uncle, older brother, nephew, and etc. Mahram means a person who is forbidden to marry a woman because of family ties. Hajj of a group of women is accepted. Hajj performed by a woman is also accepted but she had violated this condition. 

Wishing
    

I wish my brother and friend, Azren a safe journey for 'umrah in holy Mecca. He will be departing at 15:00 today. I can't wait to listen to his experience too. Pilgrimage to Mecca is always in my heart although I had also committed errors because I was ignorant. Life experience is a good teacher too. I would like to thank the Lord for helping me going through the life sometimes I feel so weak and crying always to Him as I feel myself as a useless man. I wanted to establish relationship with society but for now I guess it is not the time yet. Every thing has its 'time', so do myself. Urm, I am also registering again to perform the Hajj pilgrimage simply to clear my sins of ignorance. Now I am also learning about it again and trying to pay the sentence. Already save a little for this and hoping to fine a suitable job just for me to get tool to work for Him. Urm other than that if the reader is a Shafi'ie madzhab follower, please check it with your school of jurisprudence. If you're from Hanafi madzhab also please check it with your teachers on the conditions.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love amin!