Winter: The Best Season!

Source: eislam.co.za
Some ways to enjoy it!!!!

It is said that winter is a time when people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as ‘the Winter Blues’ or winterdepression. However, it is interesting to see how Muslims welcomewinter, as it is clear that they see it in a totally different light.
The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: “Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in.” [Hadith-Majma’ az-Zawa’id’ (3/203)]
‘Umar bin al-Khattab(RA) said: “Winter is the prize of the worshippers.”
You can increase your good deeds, take care of your obligations and earn the Pleasure of Allaah all at the same time! Here are some ways to would benefit from winter:

Fasting and praying

Winter is the best season for the believer because Allah makes worship easy for him. This is because in winter, the believer can fast during the day with ease without suffering from hunger and thirst. The days are short and cold, and he therefore doesn’t feel the hardship of fasting…
It is reported The Prophet Muhammad said: “Fasting in the winter is the easy prize.”
“And the meaning of it being an easy prize is that it is a prize obtained without any battle or effort or hardship. So, the owner of this prize has been given it as a favor without any effort on his part.”
We all know that making up the days of missed fasting is fardh (compulsory) on every adult Muslim man and woman and not doing so is a sin. So if we have missed a fast for a valid reason (travel, sickness etc) we need to “catch-up”.
Thus, we should hasten to fast the number of days we missed. And what better opportunity than this? How much easier could it get? The days are short and the weather is cool, so you don’t really get thirsty or even feel hungry.
Allaah, in his Infinite Mercy, is providing us with an easy opportunity to seek rewards from Him. So shouldn’t we take it up? Abu Hurayrah RA said to some people: “Shall I not point you to comfortable proceeds?” They asked, “And what is that O, Abu Hurayrah?” He replied, “Fasting in winter.”
As for praying at night in the winter due to its long nights, one can have his share of sleep and then get up to pray afterwards and recite all that he usually recites of the Qur’an while he has had enough sleep. So, he can combine between the sleep that he needs and the usual amount of recitation of the Qur’an that he completes in a day. So, he fulfills the interests of both his religion and the comfort of his body…
And it was narrated that Ibn Mas’ud said: “Welcome to winter! Blessings descend in it, its nights are long to pray in, and its days are short to fast in.” This is why Mu’adh(RA) wept on his deathbed and said: “I weep because I will miss the thirst I felt when I fasted, praying at night during the winter, and sitting knee to knee with the scholars during the gatherings of knowledge.””

Caring for the poor

The Prophet Muhammad said: “Whoever feeds a hungry believer will be fed by Allah on the Day of Judgement from the fruits of Paradise, and whoever quenches his thirst will have his thirst quenched from the Sealed Nectar, and whoever clothes him will be clothed from the green silk of Paradise.”
In many parts of the world there is so much difficulty associated withwinter. Extreme cold, poor heating, hunger etc. There is so much we can do such as:
· Organise some blankets for the poor and destitute
· Start a community soup kitchen
· Help elderly by offering them a lift in the cold
· Visiting the elderly and sick in our community
Try and involve our family and community in these activities. Buy some gloves and warm hats and take your kids along to distribute it to the needy. There is so much good we can do if we just put ourselves forward.

Remembering the realities of Hell

It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad said: “Hell complained to its Lord, saying: “Parts of me have consumed the other parts.” So, He allowed it two breaths of exhalation: one in winter and one in summer. As for its breath in winter, that is the bitter cold, and its breath in the summer is the extreme heat.”
Among the virtues of winter is that it reminds one of the extreme cold of Hell and pushes one to seek refuge from it and to do such noble actions that will ensure one is protected from Jahannam(Hell)

Spend Quality time with your family indoors

As it is cold we can enjoy quality time indoors with our family which we find generally difficult in these times as we are all “busy”! Plan and do such activities that will bond the family and bring us closer to Allaah. Read good Islamic books while cuddling under your cozy blanket, ask the kids to help you in household activities, spend more quality time with your spouse and kids. Be innovative and have fun within the confinements of Sharia.
So, these examples show that winter time is a special time that we should mark not by being down and inactive, but rather by being pro-active in reviving our energy in worship and servitude to Allah.
And actually, if you think about it, the winter is a big blessing from among the innumerable, uncountable blessings of Allaah. He is honoring us by the bounty of His Giving, His gracious Blessing and His great Favor, so that we may be able to pray at night, fast during the day and worship Him.

May Allaah, Most High enable us all to make better use of our winters. Ameen.

Zain Bhikha launches new CD – DO YOU KNOW WHAT ISLAM IS?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT ISLAM IS?
According to the touching lyrics of a song by one of South Africa’s much-loved Muslim artists, “It is a way of life for all, a complete way”.
This simple yet powerful message is echoed throughout Zain Bhikha’s latest album “A Way of Life”. The album, now available from www.zainbhikha.com and www.cdbaby.com , features some of his earliest songs that many South Africans know, love and possibly even grew up listening to. The beautiful renditions of “Eid-un Sa’Eid”, “A Way of Life”, “Give Thanks to Allah”, “25 Prophets” and more, are truly appealing – making it an ideal album for the family to listen to together.
25 traditional and uplifting songs capture the essence of Zain Bhikha and are a tribute to children of all ages around the world, with songs that re-affirm the oneness of God and that Islam is a way of life. The album also features 14 brand new songs, all voice-only with bonus drum versions as well
Zain Bhikha is one of the most successful Islamic singers today and has inspired fans the world over with his messages of hope and upliftment. As a singer, songwriter and through creative workshops and television, Zain serves as an ambassador for promoting positivity about his faith whilst simultaneously delivering messages of unity amongst nations.

About Zain Bhikha

Zain Bhikha was born in Pretoria in 1974 and began his music career at the tender age of 19. He is a world-renowned singer, philanthropist and businessman who has dedicated the last fifteen years to his music, his career and the community. To date, Zain has released several highly acclaimed albums and graced the stage in countries around the world with his melodious voice and as an ambassador for world peace. He also holds youth workshops worldwide and donates all proceeds from his music to charity. Five years into a blossoming career, in 1999 he met Yusuf Islam – formerly Cat Stevens, and collaborated on Yusuf’s album “A is for Allah”. He was subsequently signed to Islam’s record label “Mountain of Light”. Through this incredible partnership, Zain has had the privilege of working with unbelievable artists such as Dawud Wharnsby Ali and Native Deen. These men inspire Bhikha with the complete love and passion that they have for both music and the Muslim faith.

In 2009 Zain was honoured as one of the Top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world. A great achievement, it serves to illustrate the fervour with which he approaches his projects and his complete dedication to his faith, his community and his country. He is a force of nature determined to build positive outlooks and outcomes in the quest for tolerance amongst nations and a better future for children of the world.

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PRESS RELEASE – 13 OCTOBER 2010
Issued by: The Lime Envelope
On behalf of: Zain Bhikha Studios

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AQEEQAH, THE SACRIFICE FOR THE NEW BORN CHILD

Source: Radio Islam

When a boy or girl is born to a person, it is preferable to name the child on the seventh day and to make Aqeeqah. By making Aqeeqah, the child is safeguarded from all types of dangers and calamities.

The method of Aqeeqah is that if a boy is born, two goats or two sheep should be slaughtered. If a girl is born, one goat or one sheep should be slaughtered. Furthermore, the child’s head should be shaved, the hair should be weighed, and gold or silver equal to the weight of the hair should be given in charity. If one wishes, saffron could be applied to the child’s head.

My Dear Sister, Submit. For Your Baby’s Sake.

Hebah Ahmed – MuslimMatters.org

Disclaimer: This article is written for women who do not have the sole responsibility of supporting their families and are financially able to implement the advice contained within.

On TV and in movies, motherhood is about excitement, happiness, and pride. Pregnancy is special and fun, and babies are there to coo and act cute, be dressed up in all sorts of must-have outfits, and be shown off as the ultimate accessory. As always, these depictions are half truths at best.

Motherhood is about submission. And just like with Islam, submission is not just when it is convenient, compatible, or easy. The fruits of your labor take time to blossom. From the first day a woman gets that positive pregnancy test, the trials and tribulations begin. Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and heartburn characterize the first trimester. Thankfully in Allah’s Mercy He has promised in the Quran “With every hardship comes ease, with every hardship comes ease.” (94:6) So alas, the second trimester brings a period of ease and pleasure. She revels in her changing body and starts feeling the first movements of her child. She feels great after recovering from the morning sickness and starts to plan the future. Then the third trimester starts to threaten this bliss. By 37 weeks her discomfort reaches its peak, and she is ready for that time of ease again. She begins to look forward to the birth and wants to do anything to make it come sooner, not knowing what is about to come. She thinks the birth is the end but indeed it is only the beginning of a life long test of her will.

Ah, and then the birth. For a first time mom, the intensity of birthing overtakes her with a shock and awe far beyond any military campaign. She fights the power of birth until it finally hits her, the baby has to come out on way or another, and none of the options are appealing. When a woman realizes she cannot run away from her birthing time, nor does she really want to, will she be able to submit to Allah’s plan for her. The successful birther is the one who accepts the overwhelming intensity that accompanies the awesome process of bringing new life to the world, and she welcomes it. Birth is truly a right of passage for women and the extreme journey cannot be avoided, not with epidurals, c-sections, or doctors. When submission occurs in birth, a woman comes out of the experience with one of the highest levels of empowerment a human can feel. She feels joy and victory in her accomplishment and is prepared for the next journey that has just begun: parenthood.

The moment has finally arrived and she meets her child for the first time. Again, Allah has sanctioned a wonderful moment of ease and unadulterated joy after the hardships of birth. No woman can truly understand the intense emotional response her mind and body has to holding her new born baby until her time comes. Every aspect of the birthing journey becomes trivial and worth every moment with her new baby. After the initial joys, she suddenly becomes submersed in another wave of emotional intensity that threatens to overwhelm her. Again, submission is the key to accepting the instantaneous maternal extinct that Allah has created for her. Rather than fighting the feelings or trying to escape, she must submit and allow herself to cry, breath, share and finally accept the responsibility that has now been flung on to her.

Yes, motherhood is a responsibility. A HUGE responsibility, and as with most responsibilities, there is pleasure spiked with pain. Allah has just entrusted her with what could be the biggest test of her life. Each stage of parenting comes with its joys and conflicts, victories and failures. Without guidance from her Creator, she may feel lost and overwhelmed and try to chart her own path, which could lead to disaster. Submission to Allah’s will and His purpose for mothers is the key to surviving the many trials to come.
Allah and His Messenger (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) have made it very clear that one of the primary roles of a woman is as a mother and care provider for her children. The emotional well-being, physical health, and religious guidance of the child all rest primarily in the hands of the mother, with the most intense period being from conception through the earliest years of life. Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) responded when questioned about the most deserving of a person’s obedience and kind treatment with, “Your mother, and then your mother, and then your mother, and then your father.” Scholars have explained this 3-times maternal preference due to her role in carrying the child, giving birth to the child, and nourishing the child with her milk. The Quran sanctions 2 full years of breastfeeding as a right of the child on his/her mother (2:233). This is a religious obligation, not a choice, because of its unmatched benefits for the child. Of course the father has a huge responsibility as well, but his primary duty is to maintain the financial support for the family to enable the mother to perform her role more effectively.

Unfortunately, external influences have crept into the Muslim worldview, resulting in Muslim women struggling with their roles as mothers. Many women are told their worth and self-respect come from their degrees and careers. Rather than parents encouraging their daughters to attain degrees for the sake of knowledge, teaching their children, and future security, Muslim girls are told that they must postpone marriage and motherhood to pursue higher degrees and establish high power careers. Not only is this contradictory to the fitrah Allah created, it is also a disaster for marriages, children, and society as a whole. No alternative will ever take the place of the real thing. Daycares, nannies, grandparents, and breast pumps are inferior replacements for the mother. No other person will ever stress and worry over a child like the mother because Allah put that maternal instinct in her, specifically and only for her own child. For a woman who is raised to work, submitting to her role as a mother can be very difficult and sometimes impossible. The sudden shift in life purpose strikes at the root of her identity. Indeed if women focus on the goal, which is to please Allah and avoid His punishment, and to raise the most righteous, healthy children, submission becomes clear and simple. At first it is a struggle, but eventually the mother will cherish the serenity and peace that comes with obeying Allah and providing her child with the best. Isn’t every child worthy of the very best, not just a “good enough” alternative?

Many Muslim women make up excuses, claiming they are somehow exempt from this duty.

Excuse #1: “I am not the type of women who can stay home all day.” First of all, what type of woman is this, the stereotype of a shallow, lazy person who eats bon-bons and watches TV all day? Any woman who does this is not fulfilling her God-given responsibilities as a mother. Between breastfeeding, diaper changing, clothes washing, and cuddling and bonding with her child, she barely has time to rest. Then there is cooking healthy homemade foods, washing dishes, paying bills, and doing all the other chores that have are waiting in the background. In addition, there are her duties to Allah. She should pray, read Quran to increase her Islamic knowledge, and start researching and planning for her child’s upbringing. If these tasks are easy and quick for her, she has the time and opportunity to have play groups with other moms to enhance her child’s social skills, take walks and teach her child the names of Allah’s creations, and relax with friends over tea.

Excuse #2: “I will just work part time so I don’t lose my career.” The fallacy of this view is that motherhood is a full time job, not something part time that can be squeezed into a work schedule. Babies need to be breastfed every 2-4 hours for at least 6 months to 1 year. A child’s brain development is greatest from birth to 3 years of age, requiring constant stimulation and interaction. Bonding between the child and mother is a 24-hour process. Allah is indeed the Provider of provisions and He can reignite a career if He wills. So it is not better to please Allah and obey Him if a mother is worried about her future?

Excuse #3: “I will pump when I am at work.” Most working moms rarely make it past 6 months with pumping and breastfeeding. Pumping is an annoying, time intensive process that is not compatible with a busy work schedule. It also decreases milk production so eventually the child will have to be given formula. The plastic materials used in breast pumps and bottles have the potential to be hazardous to the baby; milk storage, transportation, and re-heating also become an issue. Crucial bonding during breastfeeding between the mother and baby is also compromised. Does a woman (or child) prefer a plastic alternative to her soft human touch?
Another often forgotten aspect of motherhood is the energy and strength needed to properly give her child their Islamic rights. When a mother is working, she grows tired and irritable and begins to resent her role as a mother. Most working moms cry every day on their way to work as they deal with the guilt of leaving their child. Motherhood begins to feel like an obstacle in the way of her goals, rather than her goal.

The key is for both men and women to value and respect motherhood in the way it should be. Society does the opposite, valuing financial and career accomplishments more than a well-raised child. What should be important is what Allah values more, not what society values. A support team around the mother should encourage her to the good of her child, not the good of her ego. Husbands should praise and shower the mother with gifts, constantly reminding her that she has the most important job in the world. The Muslim Ummah needs to revive the elevated status of the mother in order to get the Ummah back on track.

Just like with the birth, when a mother submits to her duty in its fullest, she will gain the ultimate validation from the results.

So my dear sister, submit! For your baby’s sake.

http://muslimmatters.org/2010/06/16/my-dear-sister-submit-for-your-babys-sake/

INVITATION: ‘Women Living Islam in the West: Striking the Balance’

“To work or not to work?” “Am I practicing on Islam or enslaved by culture?” “What are my ‘rights’ and what are my ‘responsibilities?’”

JOIN PROFESSOR TARIQ RAMADAN AS HE UNRAVELS THE ANSWERS TO THESE, AS WELL AS THE MANY OTHER ISSUES FACING MUSLIM WOMEN LIVING IN THE WEST.

VENUE: Visitors’ Complex, Durban Botanical Gardens

TIME: 6.00pm to 9.00pm

COST: R150 pp (includes a light meal)

PRE-REGISTRATION IS COMPULSORY.

CALL 076 871 7696 OR 076 871 7691 TO REGISTER.

(REGISTRATION CLOSES AS SOON AS CAPACITY IS REACHED)

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PROGRAMME 2: FOR YOUTH, FRIDAY 17TH JULY IN SHA ALLAH

‘From Darkness to Light:
What is the way Forward for Young Muslims Seeking Allah?’
PROFESSOR TARIQ RAMADAN SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IN A LIFE-CHANGING WORKSHOP FOR MUSLIM YOUTH.

(includes a community sneak preview of ‘New Muslim Cool’ the newly released, much-talked about American documentary, featuring Puerto Rican rapper, Hamza Perez’s ride through the streets, projects and jail cells of urban America, following his spiritual journey to some surprising places – where we can all see ourselves reflected in a world than never stops changing)

VENUE:  North Beach Conference Centre, John McIntyre Rd
TIME:    13 to 17 year olds:  3.00pm to 6.00pm
18 to 30 year olds:  7.00pm to 10.00pm
COST:   FREE*

* SEATING IS LIMITED TO 100 PEOPLE PER SESSION, AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAMME BY CALLING 076 871 7696 OR 076 871 7691. IF YOU DO NOT PRE-REGISTER, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER. UNFORTUNATELY, SMS-ED REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

PROGRAMME 3: FOR EVERYONE, SATURDAY & SUNDAY THE 17TH AND 18TH OF JULY
IN SHA ALLAH
‘In the Footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam’
PROFESSOR TARIQ RAMADAN DRAWS LESSONS FROM SELECTED INCIDENTS FROM THE LIFE OF RASULULLAH SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASSALLAM
A riveting weekend seminar for anyone interested in deriving knowledge from the Seerah, and deriving wisdom from that knowledge

VENUE: Senate Chamber, University of KZN, Westville

TIME: Saturday:  9.00am to 5.00pm
Sunday: 9.00am to 1.30pm
COST: R150 pp (includes lunch on Saturday & refreshments throughout)

PRE-REGISTRATION IS COMPULSORY.
CALL 076 871 7696 OR 076 871 7691 TO REGISTER.
(REGISTRATION CLOSES AS SOON AS CAPACITY IS REACHED)

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Please note that a wide selection of Professor Tariq Ramadan’s books will be available for sale at all of the above-mentioned programmes.