Category: Guest of the Merciful
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Thul-Hijjah Workshop
Once you’ve read On Hajj and Thul-Hijjah Part 1 and Part 2, your take home activities should include: 1) Whether traveling to Hajj this year or not, seek forgiveness from those you have wronged. 2) Return any borrowed items or owed money (amanas) to their rightful owners immediately. 3) Spend time alone to reflect on…
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Reflections on Haj
The conditions for an accepted towbah are, remorse, making amends and a sincere intention not to commit the sin again. Back-biting or similar offenses are best amended by making dua for the person, doing/giving sadaqa in their name or the like. Going up to a person and telling them you have been talking or talked…
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Dhul-Hijjah Preparation: amanas and towbah
Our second step in getting ready for Dhul Hijjah is returning all amanas to their owners. In fact it is a good idea to have a place close to the front door where you place all borrowed items that need to be returned, so they do not get mixed up with your things and you…
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The Prerequisite of Towbah: halal money
Soon we conclude the month of Dhul Qi`da and then comes the month of Dhul Hijjah, the month of haj. Before one goes on haj, one must repent from all wrong he has done, reconcile with all people and learn about the rites of haj. For those of us not going on haj, the Prophet…
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The Ummah’s Prescription: moving a step beyond mundane motherhood
Umrah’s Life Lessons #9: The Ummah’s Prescription: moving a step beyond mundane motherhood Muslim women amazed me on this trip. I was impressed by their eye for beauty. The head covers they wore for instance mesmerized me. The fabric, chosen with such care and love: swiss dot sparkles, flower print, eyelet, pure silk and airy…
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To teach: understand… experience… respect
Umrah’s Life Lessons #8: To teach: understand…experience…respect I do not regard myself as one living a pampered life. Yet my age is an advantage. With grown daughters I can always count on someone to help out at home, and with grown sons, there is someone to fall back on for an errand I simply can’t…
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Burning passion required to accomplish…anything worth accomplishing
Umrah’s Life Lessons #7: Burning passion required to accomplish…anything worth accomplishing I have always been the expert in child-rearing in the family, but in matters of prayer and Quran, my husband surpasses me by far. While I think of creative ways to enforce prayer, he would be calling them to stand with him and giving…
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Real life is raw, sans glamor… but naturally sweet
Umrah’s Life Lessons #6: Real life is raw, sans glamor… but naturally sweet Five years ago I went on a luxury haj. We could pray in the hotel, see the Kaba and have it count as jama’a with the Haram. We could make wudu after the athan and still make it to a decent place…