Jumu'ah Journal Edition June 14, 2024
JUMU'AH JOURNAL
8 Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH / 14 June 2024
EID AL ADHA INFORMATION
The Day of Arafat will be on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
Eid Al Adha will be on Sunday, June 16, in sha Allah.
Please follow ISCK's announcement for the Eid prayer information.
Iftar at Masjid Bilal
Are you fasting on the Day of Arafat? Join us at Masjid Bilal to break your fast! Iftar will be sponsored by Brother Ahmad Saleh, in sha Allah.
May Allah accept our fast and all our efforts.
Udhiya Meat Collection/Distribution
Masjid Bilal will be accepting and distributing udhiya meat if you need help doing so.
- Udhiya meat must be in small plastic bags.
- Each bag should weigh 1-2 pounds only.
The times for accepting and distributing the udhiya meat will be limited to these dates and times:
- Sunday to Wednesday (June 16-19)
- 15 minutes before and after Asr prayer.
- 15 minutes before and after Maghreb prayer.
Qurbani with ICNA Relief
Book your Qurbani through ICNA Relief and put your mind at ease knowing that the distribution of meat is done locally.
Visit: Qurbani - ICNA Relief USA
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
For the Khateeb on Jumu'ah, June 14, 2024, please click HERE.
Lexington Family Halaqa
This Saturday, the Lexington Family Halaqa group will not meet in observance of Arafat Day.
IMAM'S CORNER
The Virtues of Dhul Hijjah (Part 2)
:
Say: "In the Grace of Allh, and in His Mercy let them rejoice." That is far better than whatever (wealth) they amass. (Quran 10:58)
Allah Almighty, in His Grace and Mercy, made some days more auspicious than others (just as He gives special status to selected people and places in His creation). The Ninth and Tenth days of Dhul Hijjah (this Saturday and Sunday respectively) have a significant place in the hearts of Muslims wherever they may be, as they have been given special virtue and preference in the Islamic calendar - even over and above the rest of the first ten (blessed) days of the month.
Each one of these two days has been called the greatest day of the year by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), - on separate occasions of course. These two days are known respectively as the Day of Arafat (9th) and the Day of Sacrifice (yawm al-naHr / ) or Eid al-Adha (10th).
Muslims, whether they are at Hajj or not, celebrate these two days in their own unique way. The non-pilgrims are encouraged to fast the Day of Arafah as a means of glorifying Allah Almighty AND, at the same time, of standing in spiritual solidarity with the pilgrims. The reward from Allah (SWT) is the expiation of the sins of the past year and the present/coming year, as stated in a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The (optional but highly recommended) fast of the 9th may also offset the sadness and regret true believers may feel for not being able to be physically present at the Hajj. However, the celebration is mutual, as Allah also praises the pilgrims (Hujjaj) for their endeavors and sets them and others free on this day from the Fire of Jahannam (Hell):
( ) : : .
Jabir (RAA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) said, No day is better to Allah than the day of Arafah. Allah descends to the lowest heaven and He boasts to the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) about the inhabitants of the earth (at Arafat), saying: Look at My servants, appearing disheveled and dusty, and sacrificing (for My pleasure). They came from every mountain pass hoping for My mercy, (even if) they do not see My punishment. There is no other day on which more (people) are saved from Hellfire than the day of Arafah. (Ibn Hibban)
It is for this particular reason that Shaytan, the Devil, flees and tries to hide, and is most humiliated, as in a Hadith reported by Imams Malik, Ahmad and Ibn Majah (RA).
Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim also report that a Jewish man addressed Umar ibn al-Khattab (RAA) during his caliphate and said that there is an ayah in the Holy Quran, had it been revealed to the Jews, they would celebrate annually the day on which it was revealed. When Umar was told which ayah, he indicated that we Muslims do in fact celebrate this day (but in our special way). The ayah, or part thereof, that he was referring to is:
Today, I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen for you Islm as your way. (Quran 5:3)
Ibn Abbas (RAA) added; It was revealed on a day of (double) Eid: Friday and the Day of Arafah in the year 10AH and a few weeks before the demise of our beloved Prophet (SAW).
When the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) migrated to the city of Madinah, he told the Muslims there, as reported by Anas (RAA/may Allah be pleased with him) in Musnad Ahmad, that: Allah has given them Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as a better alternative than the two days that they had been celebrating before Islam."
Allah had replaced the days of play and entertainment (only) with days of joy, gratitude, remembrance of Him and (most significantly) forgiveness, by prescribing extra acts of worship. Holidays in the Islamic calendar are after all, in essence, true holy days! All praise be to Allah.
For us Muslims, the days of Eid - which also include, on a weekly basis, Friday - are days of joy and celebration or glorification and dhikr (remembrance): for the blessings bestowed by Allah. That is mainly for enacting or completing certain extraordinary rituals, and for having attained the pleasure of the Almighty, and His rewards and forgiveness (in sha Allah).
Friday/al-Jumah is the best day of the week, and in the year - according to some traditions (ahadeeth) of the Prophet of Allah (SAW). It is a day of thanksgiving for having been able to accomplish the five daily prayers (salah) for that week - salah being the greatest pillar of Islam. It is celebrated by, among other things, donning ones best clothes, reciting Surat al-Kahf (Chapter 18 of the Gloriuos Qur'aan) and emphatically attending the Jumah sermon (khutbah / ) and prayers in the masjid. It is the most important duty for a Muslim in the week and cannot be overlooked except under extreme circumstances. May Allah give us Divine help and success in being heedful of this huge obligation and protect us from rejection and disbelief (kufr / ).
Eid al-Fitr comes at the completion of the fast of Ramadan (and perhaps for many, too, the execution of zakah during that month) and with it extra prayers (like Taraweeh) and charity (zakat al-fitr), as well as magnifying the praises of Allah (takbeer). All Muslim undoubtedly recognize the merit and virtue of this special month, al-Hamdu lillah - all praises be to Allah.
Eid al-Adha or the Day of Sacrifice - the GREATER of the two Eids (but often ignored by some Muslims) - coincides with the climax of the Hajj, yet another of the 5 pillars of Islam, and the completion of its main component: standing in worship on the plains of Arafat. This act is a pre-enactment of standing for our reckoning on the Day of Resurrection, may Allah protect us and grant us entry into Paradise without any accounting.
This most auspicious day in the calendar year, the 10th, is also celebrated in an extraordinary way by the pilgrims, who are indeed the special guests of the Most Loving and Merciful (Duyoof al-RaHman / ). There is a particular sense of accomplishment of the main prescribed rituals like stoning the devil, sacrificing their animals, removing their ihram and circumambulating the Kabah (tawaaf) and walking (say) between the mounts of Safa and Marwah. This follows the standing in submission and surrender on the previous day on the plains of Arafat followed in the evening by doing the same in Muzdalifah.
For those who are not at Hajj, the day is commemorated by sacrificing an animal (udhiyah/qurbani) - this in addition to remembering Allah (dhikr) and extolling His praises (takbeer), as well as establishing additional community prayers in the morning (Salat al-Eid). Indeed the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said that those who have the means to sacrifice an animal and choose not to do so, should not bother to come to the place of Eid prayer (or celebrate Eid).
And thus it is: the day of Eid is a celebration of our relationship with, and surrender to, Allah (SWT). Al-Hasan al-Basri (RA) said; Every day in which Allah is not disobeyed is an Eid; every day that a believer spends obeying Allah, remembering Him and thanking Him is an Eid''.
Ibn Rajab (RA) comments: Every day that the Muslims spend (in submission to Allah) in this world, will be a day of Eid for them in the Hereafter. He goes on to explain that, just as the other pillars of Islam are only considered complete by specific acts of worship or celebration, so too the shahadah(declaration of faith): when it is followed up by fulfilling its requirements and establishing its tangible conditions, then and only then is ones faith perfected. The true believers, he concludes, strive consistently to achieve this, and therefore every day for them is an Eid in this world and (will be) in the next."
The teachings of Islam forbid fasting on the two days of Eid. The three days that follow Eid al-Adha, known as ayyaam (days of) al-Tashreeq, are also days of celebration and dhikr, and Muslims should not fast during this time - as a reward for their efforts in the 10 days before. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
( ) : : .
Nubayshah al-Hudhali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) said: The days of al-Tashreeq are the days to eat and drink, and of remembering Allah, glorified and exalted be He. (Muslim)
Muslims around the world and the pilgrims (al-Hujjaj) in Mina during these days are encouraged to continue to enjoy the meat of the animals they sacrificed and persist in glorifying and thanking Allah. The Hujjaj (pilgrims) in particular would be celebrating the end of the most important event of their life, and would be fulfilling the spiritual needs of their bodies and souls as well as experiencing the completion of Allahs favor upon them.
For the pilgrims, as the chosen delegation (wafd / ) to Allah representing the rest of the _ummah_and as His special guests, it is not befitting that He (SWT) denies them His grace and hospitality, as suggested by al-Imam Sufyan ibn Uyaynah (RA). Their reward is for both worlds, and they are encouraged to keep praying for it as they prepare to return to their homes, and in anticipation of Allahs acceptance. Thus, the cycle starts all over again as they, and the rest of the Muslims, are instructed by Allah to constantly seek the bounties of this world and the Hereafter.
We actually have in our tradition a beautiful _duaa_to help us seek out the abundant favors and blessings of Allah, one that is most comprehensive and one that the Prophet (SAW) himself repeated often and included with his other prayers. According to our scholars, the best of both worlds are embedded in this supplication, including knowledge, worship and pure means of sustenance, as well as Heaven (al-Jannah) and Allahs pleasure.
The supplication is in the Quran, at the conclusion of the passage on Hajj in Surat al-Baqarah, profound and worthy in itself of intense reflection and continuous repetition:
"Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good, and in the Hereafter that which is good, and protect us from the torment of the Fire!" (2:201)
Ameen, O Lord of the Universe!
Have a blessed Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha! May you and your family be blessed by Allah Almighty with goodness and righteousness. May Allah accept all our good deeds and forgive us for the bad ones. May He keep us on the path of guidance and steadfastness all year long. All praises are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His last prophet and messenger.
Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah
1541 Russell Cave Rd, Lexington
United States of America
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