The Month of Allah is coming
Jumuah Mubarak
Jumuah Mubarak to our dearbrothers and sisters!
A fresh beginning awaits us in the sacred month of Muharram which is set to come this weekend. It is one of the four holiest months and the start of the new Islamic year.
Muharram holds a special place. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) singled it out as"the month of Allah," a distinction no other month carries. This month invites us to draw nearer to Him, to fill our hearts with hope and renew our intentions to increase in devotion and worship, basking in His divine favor.
This is anopportune time to reflect deeply on our hearts, limbs, and the weight of our deeds upon the scales of destiny. With each passing of day and night, know that our time here on this earth is finite.
How would we rate our spiritual hijrah (migration) to become beloved to Allah the Exalted? Are we striving against our own desires and nafs (self-ego) to leave behind the forbidden, disliked, and even those of nobenefit?
Look no further than to our beloved Prophet as an example of the ready state that we should be in with our Rabb (Lord).
The Prophet would pray until his feet were swollen. It was said to him, Why do you do this when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins? He replied, "Shall I not be a grateful servant?"
Bukhari and Muslim
As we enter upon Muharram, let us show our gratitude by recommitting day in and out to improvingour states and hearts to become beloved to Allah:
"I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of good deeds that bring me closer to Your love.
Tirmidhi 3235
Fastingas a priority in Muharram
There are many beautiful actions that we can make to become closer to Allah the Exalted. One of which is fasting. The Messenger of Allah emphasized its value, saying that Muharram is the best month for fasting after Ramadan (Sahih Muslim 1163).
Fasting the Day of Ashura (10th ofMuharram) is a Sunnah.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I did not see the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as eager to fast a day and preferring it over others except for this day of Ashura and this month of Ramadan.
Bukhari and Muslim
It is also recommended to fast the day before and after it.
Ibn Hajar said, The fast of Ashura has three levels: the lowest is to fast one day, the next is to fast the ninth day along with it, and the next is to fast the ninth, tenth, and eleventh days. Allah knowsbest.
May the Most Merciful bless you abundantly in the days ahead. May your deeds on this Jumuah and throughout the coming Islamic year be a source of eternal reward.
Give them their 1st Quran
Be the reason for someone'shope and conviction in Islam.
Semester after semester, M.E.C.C.A. has been providing our New Muslims Program students with a gifted bookbag filled with essentials such as an English Quran and prayer rug. A value of $60 provided completely free.
We invite you to make a contributiontoday to profoundly transform lives and guide them towards a closer relationship with Allah.
As our beloved Prophet reminds us, the best day to give sadaqa is Friday.
Let your gift of charity bless you with the best in this life and the next. Ameen.
Jumuah Khutbah
Live from 1:00 to 1:30pm EST
Imam Kemal will be leading a khutbah (sermon) today and you are welcome to tune in with the link below.
Please be advised that this Zoom meeting is being hosted by Fairfield University. Consequently, there might be unforeseen technical difficulties or schedule changes that, regrettably, M.E.C.C.A. cannot address.
Quest for Meaning Workshop
In collaboration with Seek 2 Change, MECCA will be holding a free workshop on The Quest for Meaning: How to Attain and Live in Peace on Earth.
Transcending religiousand cultural boundaries, this workshop offers a universal message of harmony and unity for all of humanity.
This workshop is especially beneficial for converts as you will learn how to integrate peace with non-Muslim family members and friends. Be sure to invite them to join in with you!
Participantswill have the opportunity to explore practical meditation techniques tailored to increase mindfulness and cultivate a deep sense of inner tranquility.
Mark your calendars for July 27th, from 11 am to 1 pm EDT, as we gather on Zoom for this transformative experience.
M.E.C.C.A. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
Muslim Education and Converts Center of America (M.E.C.C.A.) is a non -profit organization
dedicated to providing educational and support services to Muslim and non-Muslim communities with
a special focus on new converts to Islam.
Muslim Education and Converts Center of America
[email protected]
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