Article: Winter – The Best Season

Assalamu Alaikum.

Best Season for what, you ask?

Worshipping Allah, of course.

[Okay, for me personally, summer has always been the best season for worshipping Allah as I find it much easier at this time. However, as I’ve always been a bit strange, you may safely ignore my opinion.]

Here’s an article about why winter* is the best season:

[Winter in the UAE is 20 degrees Celsius but that’s summer for those in Britain, so “winter” is a relative term.]

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http://iskandrani.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/the-best-season/

Winter: The Best Season

Abu  Sabaaya

It is said that winter is a time when people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as ‘the Winter Blues’ or winter depression. However, it is interesting to see how the early Muslims welcomed winter, as it is clear that they saw it in a totally different light.

Here are four ways that they would benefit from winter:

1 & 2 – Fasting and praying

It was reported by al-Haythami in ‘Majma’ az-Zawa’id’ (3/203) with a hasan chain that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) 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.”

And Ahmad reported in ‘az-Zuhd’ (p. 118) with an authentic chain that ‘Umar bin al-Khattab said: “Winter is the prize of the worshippers.”

Article: Fasting on Aashoora

Assalamu Alaikum.

Yes, more Muharram articles to whet your appetite.

Here’s a nice one about Aashoora:

[Note: The addition about this being the day that the ark of Nuh (alaihissalam) settled on Mount Judi is not authentic.]

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http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/books/80

Praise be to Allaah,

‘Aashooraa’ in History

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Moosa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Moosa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1865).

“This is a righteous day” – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] “This is a great day, on which Allaah saved Moosa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people.”

“Moosa fasted on this day” – a report narrated by Muslim adds: “… in thanksgiving to Allaah, so we fast on this day.”

According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “… so we fast on this day to venerate it.”

A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.”

“and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day” – according to another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari: “He said to his Companions: ‘You have more right to Moosa than they do, so fast on that day.”

The practice of fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was known even in the days of Jaahiliyyah, before the Prophet’s mission. It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The people of Jaahiliyyah used to fast on that day…”

Al-Qurtubi said: “Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibraaheem, upon whom be peace.”

Article: Virtues of the Month of Muharram

Assalamu Alaikum.

What is the first month of the Islamic New Year?

Everyone will probably say “Muharram” (I mean, it’s in the title!) which is the right answer.

Okay, next question: Who made it the first month of the Islamic New Year?

Hmmm….I can almost hear the deafening silence.

Okay, I’m not giving the answer away. To know more about this issue (and about the virtues of Muharram, of course), please read the following article:

Virtues of the Month of Muharram by Shaikh Abdullah As-Salloom

There’s also another article that you might want to read as well:

The Month of Muharram by Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen (rahimahullah)

Lecture: Day of Aashoora – Lessons, Fasting and Merits

Assalamu Alaikum.

Aashoora is the 10th of Muharram and is a special day.

By “special day”, I mean that it has some historical significance (Musa (alaihissalam). not Karbala) and there are some legislated deeds to be done therein (fasting, not whipping yourself and your little children like some highly deviant sects do, may Allah save us from such misguidance).

Here’s a lecture that gives us an insight into Aashoora:

Day of Aashoora – Lessons, Fasting and Merits by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh (rahimahullah) (Download):

Remember Ramadan Ramblings – Episode 3: Muharram – Our Fourth Chance

Assalamu Alaikum.

Yes, Ramadan was our 2nd chance and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah was the 3rd.

Now, we have yet another chance: Muharram.

You might wonder why I keep pointing to specific months as being 3rd or 4th chances when, in reality, a person can make a fresh start from…NOW.

Yes, that’s true. However, the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah and Muharram are what I call mini-goals and iman-boosting opportunities, because of their many virtues.

It is very difficult for a person to think about working hard for a lifetime. So we need to shorten that to working hard until the end of Ramadan, so that we can take it year by year. However, as Ramadan is still quite far away, we need to work towards another goal that is close by in order to keep ourselves motivated.

That’s what I’ve noticed about most people. They need deadlines. I’m like that too. I need a real tangible deadline so that I can get the adrenaline going.

So, let’s give ourselves yet another deadline to improve: Muharram.

And we’ll just keep doing this until Ramadan comes, insha-Allah.

Remember: The only way to actually “remember” Ramadan is to become our “Ramadan selves” and better in all the months.

PS. Question to all of you: Are you still asking Allah to accept your Ramadan? If not, then why not? The early generations did this for 6 months after Ramadan!