The driver pulled up in front of our hotel as the ithan of Asr echoed across Medinah. My son rolled our suitcases across the sidewalk into our hotel’s opulent marble lobby. Lining the edges of the lobby were cozy plush green couches trimmed in golden brocade. The brass handrail perched on the marble staircase glittered as the light passing through the crystals of the perpetually lit chandelier pinged off its surface. The smell of bokhoor (incense) filled the air as we plopped onto the couches while my husband checked us in. Our hotel was only two blocks from the gates of the Prophet’s Masjid. We got to our room on the 9th floor to find a beautiful view of the 9th floor of the hotel across the street.
What a change Medina had gone through over the years. It’s so sophisticated now. Gone are the quaint privately owned Dars. The Haram was now surrounded by towering hotels. Contrasts such as the Hilton next to an equally large Dar At Taqwa reflect the ever changing world we live in. It had been more than 17 years since I last had Iftar at this special place. I sat under the umbrellas as they closed slowly with the setting of the sun and the call of the Maghreb prayer. I was a tiny dot in the sea of fasting Muslims who sat waiting for the moment to plunge into a cup of dates, yoghurt, sweet breads, fruit, juices and other delicious foods which had been donated by various individuals and companies to the pilgrims who had gather and spread out across the massive marble courtyard that surrounds the Masjid. It was my destiny to wonder through gate 11. I passed row after row of women who had come to pray A’sha Prayer with their children and extended family members. I continued until I passed into the section at the front which is reserved for women without children. Bouncers, who had no other job but to enforce the statement on the sign scrutinized the line of sisters for any stowaway children. If you get there shortly after Maghreb you will find some spots open. We squeezed into a row and greeted the sisters around us. One was from Medina another from Egypt, yet another from Sudan. It was after Fajr prayer that I realized gate 11 was the location for the women who wanted to visit the Rawdahhttp://abdurrahman.org/umrah/rawdah-madina.html. The Rawdah is a special place located between the house of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and the pulpit where he gave his khutbahs. This special place is said to be a little piece of paradise where your duas will be answered. It is located in the men’s section and so they clear out the men three times a day (Fajr, Zuhr and after Taraweeah) and create a makeshift tunnel for the women to enter into the Rawdah. The Haram has hired several female guides speaking various languages to try to organize the gathering crowds of women. Their aim is to try to manage the sisters into groups according to language. I found the English and French speaking sisters were to collect around the sign for Africa. I took my seat and waited for our guide to explain what we were supposed to do. She gave a very informative lesson about Tawheed and then explained that if we wanted to pray in the Rawdah that we should do it first thing. The neeyah for prayer should be as for any nawafal prayer i.e. Doha, Salat Al Istikarah, Qiyyam etc. Your objective in the Rawdah is to make dua and to send your salams to the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم . We are not to pray to the Prophet but send our salams without involving shirk. Since the best time for dua is in sujud and salams to the Prophet are said in Tashahud, two rakats of prayer would encompass all that we would want to do in the Rawdah. The groups were of varying sizes and our guides tried their best to quail any stampedes which were always on the edge. All it needed was just one renegade sister making a quick dash to set a wave of sisters racing for Rawdah. The guides lined up continuously motioning us to remain calm. It’s understandable. Sisters, who have waited a life time to come to Medinah, are unable to control their emotions once they lay their eyes on the place where the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم is buried. As we waited for our turn I, looked up and saw through the spaces in the ceiling the famous green dome of the old Masjid. It was nearly invisible from outside. The old decorations on the pillars and the ceiling were traditional hand painted patterns. Except for the electric wires and fans which have been added to accommodate modern times, the old Masjid reminded me of traditional ones lost in time in Egypt. What a contrast to the fancy brass and marble decorations in the newer sections which also sport enormous domes which slide open so quietly that you are unaware they’ve moved until you feel that sweep of air as the heat rises towards the void in the ceiling. Opening the ceiling allows the air in the Masjid to freshen up. When our turn came, we entered semi-orderly into the Rawdah where the red carpet changes to green. In sujjud, if you have enough presence of mind, you make your duas for family, friends and Ummah. It was a special moment; the kind that stays with you for a lifetime. For a moment, an instant in time, I stood with a mix of women, a global representation of His slaves in a little piece of paradise calling upon my Rabb. Al hamdullilah for the blessing.
0 Comments
At the end of the Day, to HIM is our return. Success comes to those who strive hard and glad tidings is for the Muhsinoon who will be the dwellers of the best of the destinations without ANY DOUBT! 6/20/2016 A mother's advice to a successful Taraweeh Experience with CHILDREN! By Ayesha DesaiRead NowOne of my favourite aspects of Ramadaan is undoubtedly Taraweeh salaah. Here in the southern hemisphere, where we’re currently experiencing winter, to see people leave the warmth and comfort of their homes, venture out into the cold, and gather in the musjids in the stillness of the night....Standing shoulder to shoulder, united in takbeer, united in rukhu, united in sujood, listening to the melodious recital of the Quraan in Shah-rul-Quraan! Taraweeh truly reminds me of the Hadith of Nabi(saw) where he said, “A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.” The Prophet then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced (while saying that).
[Narrated by Abu Musa, Bukhari:626] For me, nowhere is this more visible than in congregational salaah. And whilst nowadays there is a definate shift towards masaajid being more inclusive of women, as women ourselves who wish to attend, we should also ensure we do our part to maintain this inclusivity. The musjid that we attend has a beautiful area dedicated to ladies. It is clean, well-maintained and very welcoming. That being said however, nothing is more distracting during Taraweeh salaah than hearing children misbehave. And before I’m chastized for saying this, let me clarify. I don’t mean a baby/ young child crying, I mean children really misbehaving! Running, screaming, fighting, jumping, singing ect… So I’ve put together a few tips to make Taraweeh more enjoyable for the mums, by ensuring their kids are appropriately respectful during the salaah, which will in turn ensure that female participation within the musjid is always welcomed. 1. Introduce your children to the musjid at an early age. In this manner, its never a ‘new/foreign’ space. Children, especially young babies are also incredibly sensitive to atmosphere, and so automatically attune to what’s acceptable. If children are only introduced to a musjid environment later, their excitement at being in a new area can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, which leads them to be loud and hyperactive. Personally, Little Man has been attending Taraweeh salaah with me, since he was 8months old. Little Miss began attending when she was just over a year old. 2. Speak to children about the etiquette of a musjid BEFORE you get there. This should not be a once off talk, but constant gentle reminders. ‘We use our whispering voice during salaah’ or ‘Remember people go to the musjid to pray salaah, not to run and shout’ ect. 3. Be well prepared! This has almost become a constant mummy-mantra for me. Take ‘quiet’ toys with to alleviate the boredom, and so the children are constructively occupied. My kids favorites include cars, legos, colouring-in books, and small sturdy puzzles. We have a little bag, called our ‘Musjid Bag’ filled with these. ( Fellow blogger Fatima at Jumbish has a fanstastic roll-up which would be stunning to take with to the musjid for Taraweeh. Find it here ) 4. Take a few snacks with. Little Miss’s current favourites include biscuits, peanuts, or any type of fruit. If at all possible, try to open packets, boxes ect at home, and de-can into a container that’s suitable for Little People. This prevents a pack of peanuts from flying all over the musallahs! Also, if you know that your children are going to very likely fall asleep during the salaah, take their blanket with. Trust me, nobody minds a little one sprawled out on the musallah asleep. Last year, Little Miss often fell asleep, and I would marvel at the sweetness of that sleep. Dreaming about beautiful, wonderful things whilst the Words of Allah were being recited. 5. And perhaps most importantly, be flexible. Whilst there is undoubtedly great rewards in performing the sunnah of Taraweeh salaah, know that if your children need you in that moment, it IS okay to delay your salaah, and sit with your child. Simply listening to recitation of Quraan, has great virtue as well! This is the month of Mercy, and Allah Ar-Rahmaan, the Most Merciful, judges our actions based on our intentions. INGREDIENTS
1 Kg Chicken Fillet - cubed 2 Tb Portuguese Spice 1 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp White Pepper 1 Tb Crushed Garlic 2 Tb Lemon Juice 1-2 Chopped Green Chillies 2 cups Boiled Spaghetti - chopped 2 rounds Feta Cheese - cubed small 1 bunch Fresh coriander WHITE SAUCE 30g Butter 40g Flour 30 ml Milk GARNISH 1 egg - beaten Corn Flour Breadcrumbs METHOD
Ramadan is the month where the doors of Jahannum are closed and the doors of Jannah are opened. Muslims all around the globe fast during this entire month hope of earning multiple rewards from Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). However, many students miss out their fasts with silly excuses such as “I cannot fast as my exams are coming up” or “I cannot study while I’m fasting”.
Know that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) will never let you down when you do anything for His sake. Know that He is watching over you and knows every little struggle you face. Know that He would never burden you more than what you can bear. And whenever you do something solely for His Sake – He will reward you with much more than you would have ever imagined. If you find studying difficult while fasting, don’t give up and continue fasting with the hope that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) will reward you abundantly. Also, during Ramadan, you need to divide time between Ibaadah (worship) and studies. Here are a few tips on how to study smart and worship hard during Ramadan: · Become a productive Muslim Productivity is an essential characteristic of a good Muslim. A good Muslim should avoid wasting his or her time and effort in things which do not benefit him or him. And that’s the key to stay productive during Ramadan. Avoid wasting time playing video games, and anything which brings you no benefit. Instead spend your time in Ibaadah, doing useful work and studying well. · Divide your time. Ramadan is a month where the rewards of the worship you do get multiplied, so you need to divide your time between your Ibaadah and studies to achieve the best out of Ramadan. · Make your own schedule or a timetable Make a schedule or a timetable regarding how you would spend your entire day. This would help you work better and smarter! Just make sure to follow your schedule strictly, Insha’Allah. · Create your own goals. Have short-term goals in Ramadan which will help you achieve your long-term dream – whether it relates to studies, Ibaadah or housework. Maintaining goals helps to remain productive throughout the month of Ramadan. And last but not the least – Try completing as much of your studies before Ramadan begins so you can spend more time doing Ibaadah! May Allah help us to make the best out of Ramadan and accept our deeds. Aameen. |