Why We Go For Hajj and Umrah

The Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) bring his wife, Hajira (Hagar) and their child, Ismail. from Palestine to Arabia to protect them from the jealousy of Ibrahim’s first wife Sarah. that was the start of hajj and umrah.

God Tests His People:

Allah told the Prophet Ibrahim to leave them on their own, and he did it unwantedly according to the instruction and he also provides them some supplies of food and water. Whereas the supplies quickly ran out in a few days Hajira and Ismail were suffering from hunger and dehydration due to lack of water. In her desperation and searching of water, bibi Hajira ran up and down two hills called Safa and Marwa trying to find something.

Eventually, she tired and collapsed beside Ismail and prayed to Allah for help and deliverance. Meanwhile, the prophet Ismail struck his foot on the ground and the spring of water came out suddenly and now they both saved.

History of Hajj and Umrah:

The Prophet Ibrahim came back after some time from Palestine to check on his family. He was very happy to see them running a profitable well zam zam. Allah told Ibrahim to build a shrine for me and only dedicated to him. Ibrahim and Is’mail constructed a small stone structure the khana Kaaba. which was to be the gathering place for all who wished to strengthen their faith in Allah.

As the years passed Ismail was blessed with Prophethood. He gave the nomads of the desert the message of surrender to Allah. After many centuries, Mecca became a thriving city just because of the reliable water source, the well of Zam Zam.

Idolism in Arab:

Gradually, the people began to adopt polytheistic ideas, and worship spirits and many different gods. The people of mecca used the shrine of prophet Ibrahim to store idols only at that time. After many years, Allah told the Prophet Muhammed that he should restore the Kaaba to the worship of Allah only.

In the year 628, the Prophet Muhammed set out on a journey with 1400 of his followers. This was the first pilgrimage(Hajj) in Islam and would re-establish the religious traditions of the Prophet Ibrahim.

HOW IMPORTANT PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL PURITY IN ISLAM

WHAT IS PURITY:

Islam always advises us  to clean yourself both physically and spiritually or mentally purity  because its fundamental of faith.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (?) said,

“The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs the ablution.” A person from Hadaramout asked Abu Huraira, “What is ‘Hadath’?” Abu Huraira replied, ” ‘Hadath’ means the passing of wind.” (SOURCE : SUNNAH.COM)

Wu?u? (Arabic: ??????? al-wu?u’ [w?’d?u??]) procedure for cleansing parts of your body, a type of ritual purity, or ablution.its involves washing the hands, mouth, nostrils, arms, head and feet with water and is an important part of ritual purity in Islam.

according to the Islamic laws which tell us about ghusl it is an act of purifying oneself from the ritual impurity (najasat) caused by sexual intercourse. Discharge of semen or blood and by touching the dead body.

Tattoos Against Purity

mostly Sunni Muslims believe tattooing is a sin, because it involves changing the natural creation of God. Inflicting unnecessary pain in the process whereas Some Shafi’i scholars such as Amjad Rasheed argue that tattooing causes impurity. Prophet Muhammad prohibited tattoos on body.

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah has cursed such a lady as lengthens (her or someone else’s) hair artificially or gets it lengthened, and also a lady who tattoos (herself or someone else) or gets herself tattooed”.

Cleanliness is an important part of Islam, including Qur’anic verses that teach how to achieve ritual cleanliness. Keeping oral hygiene through cleaning the teeth with the use of a form of toothbrush. on the other hand miswak is considered sunnah, the way of Prophet Muhammad.

only in the Islam which has a large part of worship Hajj and Umrah dedicated to cleanliness and hygiene. Ritual and physical purity as well as mentally purity are prerequisites for Prayer. We must properly understand it before going into the details of prayer.The Prophet said: “Purity is half of faith.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Mental Health Benefits of Practicing Islam

Najwa Awad is a psychotherapist and fellow at the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research who is passionate about helping Muslims heal, grow, and thrive after adversity. She has a private practice, Amanah Family Counseling, in which she provides online and in-person counseling to children, adults, and families. Najwa also enjoys giving workshops to destigmatize mental illness, address current mental health issues within the community, and promote psychological health from an Islamic perspective.

Islam provides a general framework on life, and within its teachings, one can find many recommendations that promote mental health. Although these tenants are inherently acts of worship, the secondary benefits of maintaining one’s wellness through these actions are supported by modern-day research. As a psychotherapist, I can attest to the importance of spirituality on mental health, and in this article will discuss three important connections between Islamic practices and mental wellness.

1. Connection & Love to the Ultimate Provider

The greatest need human beings have after their basic necessities are met is love and connection. Healthy attachment is essential to growth, meeting one’s full potential and building meaningful relationships with others. Some people are blessed with an understanding of healthy attachment with loved ones; however many individuals go through life feeling disconnected to others. In the absence of healthy attachments, humans tend to be at greater risk for isolation, low self-esteem, unstable mood.1

In my clinical practice, I’ve found that those who have a healthy and loving attachment to Allah can be phenomenally resilient during times of hardship. When others have let them down or stressors are too much, they have firm faith that Allah has their best interest at heart and will carry them through. Let’s examine some aspects of how a relationship with Allah is different than any other type of relationship a person can have:

An Ever-Present Connection

Humans in their most beloved relationships can struggle to communicate and understand each other’s needs, but Allah tells us in the Quran that He understands our thoughts and experiences in a way nobody else can apprehend. This connection, of knowing someone is with you and understands you no matter what can be a great starting place for emotional security.

“And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.” (Quran, 50:16)

“…When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him”. [Al- Bukhari]

An Ever-Abundant Relationship

As humans, we can expect consistent and equal reciprocity from others at best, as most human beings do not have the capacity to give more than they receive over long periods of time without resentment or burnout. Allah tells us that He will not just meet us where we are at in effort, but will always surpass our undertakings to become closer to Him:

“Allah the Almighty said: I am as My servant thinks I am (1). I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a cubit, and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed…” [Al-Bukhārī] 

Divine Love 

Allah tells the believer in the Quran that He loves them and that there is no greater bond than when serving Him. For Muslims, this love, attachment, and privilege can feel overwhelmingly satisfying.

“Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran, 3:31)

“….So whoever disbelieves in false gods and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Quran, 2:256)

2. Sense of Self & identity

In a world in which many people demonstrate a personality ethic instead of a character ethic, meaning individuals care more about how their personalities appear to others instead of actually internalizing those characteristics2, the Quran does an excellent job of highlighting important characteristics for both worldly and spiritual success. Allah outlines these characteristics throughout the Quran and a few examples include:

“… Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (Quran, 5:42)

“…And Allah loves the steadfast. (Quran, 3:146)

“Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Quran, 3:134)

Why are knowing and embodying positive characteristics important for mental health? Understanding who you are or want to be can contribute to a strong sense of self; something psychotherapists like myself work on with clients in session to increase self-esteem, life purpose, and healthy relationships. Falling back on core healthy characteristics during times of hardship can also be guided in how one handles interpersonal conflict, difficult feelings, and ethical uncertainties.

3. Islam Promotes a Healthy Way of Life

Muslims follow the tenants of Islam out of conviction, but there are many mental health benefits in following an Islamic lifestyle. Below are a few of the many acts of worship that have been demonstrated to have mental health benefits in the scientific literature:

Zakat: Almsgiving is one of the pillars of Islam. Research shows that giving charity increases happiness equivalent to the happiness correlated with doubling one’s income. Read More

Fasting: Fasting is another pillar of Islam that has been demonstrated to have medical benefits 4, and mental health benefits 5. Psychologically, fasting can increase discipline and goal oriented thinking. It also increases consciousness of God and can help one relate more to those who have less than them.

Prayer: Another pillar of Islam that has benefits beyond spirituality are the five daily prayers. The physical movements of prayer are good for the body and psychologically there are mental health benefits to consistently connecting to a Higher Power throughout the day 6. Reciting the Quran, which can be a part of the prayer, also has shown to have some psychological benefits.

Hajj: The Hajj Arabic: حَجّ‎ Ḥaǧǧ "pilgrimage") is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.

Pilgrims can also go to Mecca to perform the rituals at other times of the year. This is sometimes called the "lesser pilgrimage", or 'Umrah (Arabic: عُمرَة‎) However, even if they choose to perform the Umrah, they are still obligated to perform the Hajj at some other point in their lifetime if they have the means to do so, because Umrah is not a substitute for Hajj.

Mindfulness: Mindfulness is typically associated with Buddhism, but is actually a very important topic in Islam 8. While mindfulness has more recently emerged in clinical research as having mental health benefits 9, this is a practice that has been discussed (albeit a little different than mainstream mindfulness) by Muslim scholars hundreds of years ago.

There are many aspects of practicing Islam that promote good mental health, and this article just scratches the surface of how spirituality can increase resiliency. I’ve found in my psychotherapy practice that spirituality can be very effective in decreasing risk factors as well as facilitating coping. While these Islamic principles are first and foremost acts of worship, the secondary benefits towards mental health are evident throughout the scientific literature.

source:whyislam.org

Get Special Offers on Umrah packages in December

Millions of Muslims living in different parts of the world make their journey to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform their Umrah every year. This Islamic pilgrimage is often referred to as the ‘lesser pilgrimage’ or the ‘minor pilgrimage’. The ‘greater pilgrimage’ is Hajj, which is also one of Islam’s five pillars and an obligation for every Muslim. Performing Umrah is not compulsory for Muslims. However, it is highly recommended, as it is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The greater pilgrimage is performed in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, while the lesser pilgrimage can be performed at any time during the year.

For Muslims living in countries that are faced with extreme winters, the opportunities for Umrah December packages offer can help them escape the chilly weather of their home country and make their journey to the holy city of Makkah. The climate of this city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would be highly pleasant for them during this time of the year, which offers them great comfort while performing their lesser pilgrimage. Visiting all the places of great importance in and around the holy city after performing their Umrah can also be a pleasure for them in the month of December.

In the last week of December, most of the educational institutions and commercial establishments are closed for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Muslims belonging to the working class can book Umrah packages in December for this time of the year and benefit from these holidays. They can visit the holy city of Makkah along with their family members for accomplishing their lesser pilgrimage. It would be a wonderful idea to take their children along with them as they can be introduced to Umrah and its rituals at an early age. This would help them in the later years when they perform the lesser pilgrimage as adults.

December is also a wonderful time for discounts. Many of the tour operators that specialize in the Islamic religious tours of Hajj and Umrah offer special discounts on packages for the lesser pilgrimage in the month of December. The best deals for December Umrah packages are being offered by most of the tour operators currently. This would be an excellent opportunity for prospective pilgrims to save more on their packages. Savings thus made can be utilized by the pilgrims to buy souvenirs from the local markets or to explore interesting places after performing the lesser pilgrimage.

While the climate of Makkah in the month of December may be extremely pleasant for the pilgrims coming from countries facing a chilly climate with extreme cold and snowfall, there are many from tropical countries who avoid visiting the holy city in December. The reason for this is that the weather may be too cold for them. This reduces crowds of pilgrims in this month to some extent, resulting in a drop of hotel room rates. Muslims who go for high-end packages in this month can get accommodations in any of the 5-star hotels located close to the Masjid al-Haram without any hassles.

Upon booking one of the cheap Umrah packages, the prospective pilgrims can reduce the costs involved in their pilgrimage to a great extent.

source: safeenarahman.wordpress.com

Signs of Weak Iman (Faith) And Ways to Increase Your Faith

Signs of Weak Iman (Faith)

The most important thing in any religion is the firm belief of its followers towards their Lord. Every religion wants its followers to be strong believers and act upon the commandments of the religion wholeheartedly. Faith helps to shape the perception of a person related to life, Hence, if the foundation of faith is weak, it is quite natural to expect the faith of believer to falter and shake in life-related the way he/ she sees life and things happening in it. 





Faith is directly connected with the heart. Allah Almighty has warned us against the heart that is hardened, closed, sick, blind and sealed. The spiritual health of our hearts determines the strength of our faith. When our faith is weak, we can see it in our actions. When the faith of believers is weak, they are more likely to fall into sins until they are completely numb to their awful nature. Religion Islam commands its followers to pay proper attention to the elements of faith and not weaken the faith by staying unfamiliar with them. We need to know the symptoms of weak faith so that we can work to cure them.  

Signs of Weak Iman (Faith).  

Below mentioned are some of the symptoms of weak faith that we should know about so that we can overcome them for making our faith strong. 

• Being arrogant about sins shows a lack of faith and a Muslim should avoid it by keeping quiet on if the sin is committed and seeking forgiveness from Allah Almighty. Muslims should seek forgiveness and repent on their sins. 
• Who do not repent over their sins, are the ones who need to think over the kind of faith they have because sins without any regret or repentance represent weak faith.
• Those who have a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran, neglecting the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), always being late for the Salah are the signs of weak faith of the believer. Therefore, we should recite the Quran by heart and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in order to strengthen our faith.
• Missing attention, focus and the presence of heart and mind during Salah is another sign of weak faith. Muslim should counter it by standing in prayer with all the focus on it and nothing else.
• If the hearts of Muslims become hard that do not move on any kind of calamity or that are insensitive to the difficulties of people, then it surely is a sign of weak faith. Being Muslims we need to consider it for improvement.
• The verses of the Holy Quran cannot fail to affect a true believer whose faith is strong. But for those with weak faith will notice their hearts unmoved with the message of the Noble Quran.
• The ones who have weak faith will be more inclined towards taking revenge and will also lack patience. Hence, the absence of forgiveness and the lack of patience in the character and attitude of a person is another sign that shows a person growing weaker in faith.
• Muslim is to avoid even the slightest inclinations of arrogance and stay away from them by adopting the crib of humility. Being humble is the only counter to arrogance and one can achieve humility if one thinks of others as equals and realize that Allah Almighty is the only Supreme in the whole Universe.
• Religion Islam teaches its followers to be selfless, to prefer the ease and facilitation of others over one’s own self, thus, those who show greed in terms of worldly possessions and their own personal liking over the general well-being are the ones who exhibit signs of weak faith. 

In a nutshell, a Muslim believer mends his or her actions and tries performing them with the right intentions in the right way so that they resemble and represent someone with a stronger faith. May Almighty Allah strengthen our faith! Ameen.