ICSFP
Hajj Rituals
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may His peace and
blessings be upon Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets.
"Pilgrimage is due on well-known months. So, whoever decides to make the
pilgrimage, (let him/her remember that) there should be no obscenity or
wickedness or angry argument on the pilgrimage." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 197] It was
reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "O People! Allah has made it
binding on you to perform Hajj. You should therefore perform it." [Muslim]
As Hajj season approaches, many of us prepare to embark on this journey of a
lifetime, unlike any other. While some Muslims are able to complete the Hajj
ritual more than once, many have only one opportunity to fulfill this duty
enjoined on us by Allah. Therefore, it is critical that we do our utmost to
perform the Hajj correctly according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon
him) and that our intention in so doing is solely to seek the Pleasure and
Acceptance of Allah, the Exalted. "The reward of a sinless Hajj (Hajj Mabrur) is
nothing short of Paradise." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim]
Tragically, many pilgrims commit grave errors or engage in innovative practices
when making Hajj. When we consider the expense, physical demands, time
sacrificed and the potential reward of an accepted Hajj, how could any of us be
careless while performing it? Many people may have good intentions, yet they
suffer from ignorance. Narrated Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him),
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There is no disease that Allah has sent
down, except that He also has sent down its cure." [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
Indeed, ignorance is a disease, and its cure is knowledge.
Please bear in mind the following points if you are intending to make Hajj:
- Hajj is required only of those who have the means to perform it. For
example, a Muslim without the financial means to do so or a woman without a
husband or a mahram (a male relative- brother, father, uncle, son who has
reached the age of puberty) to accompany her is not obligated to make Hajj.
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, No man should be in the company of a
woman alone. Unless the woman is accompanied by a mahram or her husband, she
should not undertake a journey. A man told the Prophet that his wife had gone
for Hajj while he had enrolled himself for a particular battle. The Prophet
(peace be upon him) told the man to accompany his wife on Hajj instead."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
- The expenses of your Hajj must come from lawful earnings. From an
authentic hadith, "Allah is pure, and He accepts only what is pure."
- Your intention in making the Pilgrimage must be to seek the Pleasure and
reward of Allah alone. Some people, we seek Allahs refuge from that, make
Hajj to show off or to be known as "Hajji" or "Hajja". In an authentic hadith
the Prophet (peace be upon him) says, "Allah Says, I am sufficient to
dispense with partners ascribed to Me. Anyone who associates someone with Me
in a deed, I will abandon both him and his act of association."
- Sincerely and ardently seek to educate yourself before setting out for
Hajj. Educating yourself will, Insha Allah, keep you from making a mistake
that could, Allah forbid, even invalidate your Hajj. The reward for a Hajj
Mabrur (sinless Hajj) is Paradise, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"He who makes a pilgrimage for Allah and does not indulge in sex or obscene
speech or commit acts of disobedience will return [from it] as pure as the day
on which his mother bore him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
- While on Hajj, beware of falling into innovations or committing grave
errors due to ignorance. Heed the following instructions from Allah, the Most
High:
"…if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and the
Messenger…" [Surah An-Nisa: 59]
"And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah…" [Surah
Ash-Shura: 10]
"…So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know." [Surah An-Nahl: 43]
Prophet Muhammad (may Allahs peace and blessings be upon him) also said,
"Learn from me your Hajj rituals." [Muslim]
- The following are a few recommended books on Hajj available in English:
· Verifying and Explaining Many Matters of Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah, In the light
of the Quran and Sunnah, by Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abdullah Bin Baz (Darussalam
Publishers)
· Hajj & Umrah From A to Z, by Mamdouh N. Mohamed (Dar Eshbelia Publishers)
· Hajj and Umrah According to Sunnah, by Maulana Mukhtar Ahmed Nadvi (Saheeh
International Publishers)
Letter from the Scholars: Demonstrating Our Love for the Messenger
How Islamic Workers Can Support & Defend the Prophet (peace be upon him)
Dr. Falih b. Muhammad b. Falih al-Sughayyir
Professor of the Prophetic Sunnah, Imam Muhammad b. Sa’ud University, Riyadh,
KSA
[
Continued from our previous issue]
One aspect of this love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) is for a Muslim to
teach his children to love Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions. He
should also make mention of this love when he is in the company of others.
We must become passionate when the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his Sunnah is
attacked. A Muslim is generally supposed to be patient, clement, and composed.
However, when his religion or his Prophet is attacked, he is not supposed to sit
back and bear it patiently. He must go forth and refute it objectively utilizing
all possible resources at his disposal.
Defense of the Sunnah is one way of showing love for the Prophet (peace be upon
him). This is done by giving preference to the commands of Allah and His
Messenger (peace be upon him) over the commands of anyone else. Allah says,
which means, “O you who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His
Messenger, but fear Allah: for Allah is He who hears and knows all things.”
[Surah Al-Hujurat: 1] Ibn ‘Abbas explains the words, “Put not yourselves forward
before Allah and His Messenger,” to mean not to say anything that runs contrary
to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Allah says that which means, “But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith until
they make you (Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them and find in their
souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest
conviction.” [Surah An-Nisa: 65]
The Companions considered presumption before Allah and His Messenger (peace be
upon him) to be a form of hypocrisy. Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri relates the following
in this regard, “We were with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) while he was
distributing property. A man approached him named Dhu Al-Khuwaysirah from the
tribe of Tamim and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Be fair.’
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Woe to you! Who else would be fair if I
were not fair? I would truly be at loss if I were not fair.’
‘Umar then spoke up and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Permit me to kill him and I
will smite his neck.’
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, ‘Leave him be.’”
It is the duty of every Muslim to come to the defense of the Prophet (peace be
upon him) whenever someone attacks his Sunnah or the facts of his biography. He
must do so in word, in deed, and in writing and with every means at his
disposal. The scholars among our pious predecessors carried out this duty they
compiled the Sunnah and explained it. However, the accusations and spreading of
doubts about the Sunnah continues unabated up to today. If anything, it has
grown far worse and more frequent. The enemies of Islam have lately stepped up
their efforts. It is the duty of all Muslims, especially the Islamic workers
among them to stand up against this attack.
We must disseminate knowledge of the virtues and good character of the Prophet
(peace be upon him). The following are some possible ways scholars and Islamic
workers can promote the Sunnah and defend it:
Writing books about the Prophet (peace be upon him) in all major languages and
for different target audiences.
Writing articles about different aspects of his life for publication in
magazines and newspapers.
Preparing radio and television programs focusing on the life of the Prophet
(peace be upon him) and his virtues.
Establishing websites on the Internet about his life, his Sunnah, and his
exemplary personality.
Offering Friday sermons on these topics.
Holding conferences, seminars, and conventions to address these concerns.
These are just some of the numerous means that may be employed to support and
defend our Prophet (peace be upon him). We ask Allah to bless us to love our
Prophet (peace be upon him) and help us defend him and implement and disseminate
his Sunnah.
Visitor’s Pen: Beautify Your Worship
An Islamic Studies teacher recently said something that had a positive impact
on me and I would like to share the idea with you.
If you were going to host someone prestigious like a president or a king, how
would you present yourself and how would you serve your guest? Would you wear
the oldest jeans you own and serve food on Styrofoam plates? I don’t think so. I
believe most people would try to look decent, if not formal and serve food on
nice serving platters, well-garnished. The point is that most of us would try to
dress things up for our guest. Keeping this in mind, ask yourself this question:
Is God less important than these people?
Now, you are probably saying, “How could she even think of posing such a
question!” But think about it, do you try to go that extra mile to “dress up”
your acts of worship?
Should we not present our acts of worship to God in the most pleasing way
possible? What better way than to garnish them with the ways of the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him)! By reciting supplications which the Prophet used
to recite during prayer, after cleansing for prayer, etc., we can, God willing,
further beautify these actions for Allah.
Umm ‘Aisha
True Expression of Belief
Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Al-Shaykh
Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His servant and
Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.
The Muslims are in desperate need to know about the Prophet’s life so they can
truly live according to the Sunnah and realize the true expression of their
belief in him. Belief is not something that we merely hope for; it is something
that must be firmly planted within our hearts and expressed in our actions. Let
us move forward with Allah’s blessings, and let us therein unite our hearts and
our voices to produce solutions that will benefit and guide the Muslims in these
distant lands. Dear brothers, at the same time we must be wary not to fall pray
to the lies being circulated by our enemies. Our religion is the religion of
mercy and goodness. It is not a religion of terror and affliction, as some would
have the world believe. It is the blessed religion, the religion of love, as
anyone who looks at it objectively will come to know.
Praise be to Allah who perfected His religion and completed his blessing for us.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Mu`âdh and Abû Mûsâ to Yemen, he said:
“Make things easy and do not make them difficult. Go to them with glad tidings,
not foreboding.” He also said: “This religion is easy and no one makes it
difficult without it overtaking them.”
My dear brothers, Allah in His mercy sent His Messengers to give to humanity
glad tidings and to warn them. They gave glad tidings to those who worked
righteousness and warnings to those who engaged in evil. In this way, Allah
established His proof against His servants. Allah calls them: “givers of glad
tidings and warners, so none will have an argument against Allah after the
Messengers.”
Allah who “creates what he pleases and chooses what He pleases” brought forth
Messengers from among humankind. He says: “And Allah has selected Messengers
from among the angels and from among humanity.” Allah selected them to call the
people and guide them to His religion. The first Messenger he selected was Noah
(peace be upon him). Allah says to Muhammad (peace be upon him): “I give
revelation to you as I had given it to Noah and the Prophets who came after
him.” Allah honored some of those Messengers above others. Allah says: “Those
Messengers, some We have preferred to others. Among them are those to whom We
spoke directly, and some of them we raised in station.”
Allah chose Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all)
to be at the forefront of these Messengers. From them he selected the two who
would be His friends: Abraham and Muhammad (peace be upon them both). Finally,
he chose Muhammad (peace be upon him) for the special honor of being His final
Messenger and the chief of all the Prophets. Allah says: “Muhammad is not the
father of any of your men, but he is Allah’s Messenger and the Seal of the
Prophets.” Allah sent him with a Message for all humanity, commanding him to
declare: “O humanity! I am the Messenger of Allah to you all.” Allah says to
him: “We did not send you except to all humanity as a giver of glad tidings and
a warner.” Allah sent him to everyone, to the Arabs and the non-Arabs, to
humanity as well as the Jinn. No prophet will come after him and no new
scripture will be sent.
Just as he is the last of the Prophets, the book that he came with is the last
of the scriptures and the community of faith that he established is the last and
best community of faith to reside upon the Earth.
Allah sent him as the answer to Abraham’s prayer. After Abraham erected the
House of Allah in Mecca, he called upon his Lord and said: “Our Lord! Send forth
to them a Messenger from among them who will recite to them Your signs and teach
them the Book and the Wisdom and purify them. Truly You are the Mighty, the
Wise.”
Allah answered his prayer by sending forth Muhammad from the progeny of
Abraham’s son Ishmael (peace be upon them all).
Allah sent him as a mercy to all the denizens of the Earth to remove from them
their errors and deviations. The reason for this was that after Jesus (peace be
upon him), the last Prophet of Israel, was taken up to his Lord, six hundred
years went by. During this long stretch of time, ignorance became widespread and
knowledge disappeared from sight. Truth became confused with falsehood and
people lived in a state of confusion between contending sects and factions. This
went on until Allah sent this noble Prophet to illuminate the world after it had
been covered with darkness and to unite the hearts of the people after they had
become divided. Allah declares: “I only sent you as a mercy to all the worlds.”
Through him, Allah brought mercy to everyone in the world. To the believer, He
brought success in this world and the Hereafter. To the unbeliever who submitted
to the rule of Islam, He brought security for his life, his property, and his
honor.
My respected brothers, this Prophet of ours has rights over us. The first of
these is to truly believe that he is Allah’s servant and Messenger sent to all
humanity to convey the Message of his Lord and to establish the proof of Allah
for us and against us. We are pleased with Allah as our Lord and with Islam as
our religion and with Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the Prophet and Messenger.
[Part 1 of a lecture given at a recent ICSFP conference]
Our Post-Hajj Duties
Those are the fortunate Muslims who were blesses with sound health, resources and time and performed
Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam this year. They have started returning their homes with an abundance of spiritual uplift, enriched discipline and inspirational elevation as they contributed their best to foster unity, strength and solidarity among the Muslims, who came from diversified domains of cultural heritage and belonged to different races, habits, color and creed. In spite of all this, their common goal was to achieve the appeasement and pleasure of their Lord, and to seek His guidance in augmenting their Faith, enlarging their commitment to the teachings of Islam with complete submission, and fortifying their sense unity and solidarity.
Here we are reminded by the teachings of the Holy Qur’an which says: “And remember that Ibrahim (pbuh) was tried by his Lord with certain commands (Kalimat), which he fulfilled: He said: “I will make thee an Imam (leader) to the Nations”. He pleaded: “And also Imams from my offspring!” the Lord answered: “But My Promise is not within the reach of evildoers.” (Al Baqarah/124)
Commentator’s say, in every thing Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) fulfilled Allah’s wish: he purified Allah’s House (from Shirk, idolatry); he built the sacred refuge of the Ka’bah; he submitted his will to Allah’s. he was promised the leadership of the world; he pleaded for his progeny, and his prayer was granted, with the limitation that if his progeny (family) was false to Allah, Allah’s promise did not reach the people who proved themselves false (or were misguided and corrupt).
There are the most significant lessons which must be followed and imbibed after performing
Hajj. A pilgrim should, on his return home, continue relentlessly and steadfastly to keep his heart clean of any
adulteration in his Faith (iman), he should be a model and pattern for others in discipline, honesty, mercy and harmony with others, should be careful in his worldly affairs like earning his livelihood; should do away with greeted and luxuries of life, temptations and must show love and mercy to poor, destitute and impoverish people, to please their Lord. Surah Al Tawbah (34) gives us full guidance: “O ye who believe! There are indeed many among the priest and anchorites, who in falsehood devour (eat way) the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty.”
Misuse of wealth, poverty and resources in frequently condemned in three ways: do not acquire anything wrongfully or on false pretences, do not hoard or amass wealth for its own sake but use it freely for good, whether for yourself or for your neighbors, and be particularly careful not waste it for idle purposes, but only so that it may fructify for the good of the people.
These principles were the guiding force for our Prophet’s reverent and devoted Companions (RAA). For example: Companion Abu Dhar Al-Ghifaari (RAA) was one of the most outspoken enemies of luxury and worldly temptations and a loyal friend of poverty and the poor people. He was an outspoken enemy of falsehood and a daring friend of truth in general.
Whenever he went, Abu Dhar (RAA) used to repeat “Give tidings (Warning) to the hoarders of gold and silver of the torture in the Hereafter with brands of fire.” (AL Qur’an). On of the first people to hear this warning was the governor of Syria, whom Abu Dhar advised to shun luxuries and live a life of simplicity, reminding him of the verses of the Holy Qur’an.
Special Days: Seize the Opportunity
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the universe, and His blessings and
greetings be upon the noblest of the Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet
Muhammed and upon his family and all his companions.
Certainly, from the blessings of Allah is His making holidays/seasons for His
righteous servants in which they strive hard in performing good deeds. From
amongst the greatest and noblest of these seasons is the (first) ten days of
(the last month of the Islamic calendar) Dhul-Hijjah. Regarding the saying of
Allah in the verse: "By the dawn and [by] the ten nights" [Al-Fajr: 1-2], Ibn
Katheer (Allah have mercy upon him) has stated, "the intent of these verses is
the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah." Also, according to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be
pleased with him), the verse: "…and mention the name of Allah on known [i.e.,
specific] days…" [Al-Hajj]) refers to the (first) ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).
Upon Ibn Abbass authority, the Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "There is
no deed done in any day better than these ten (days)." They (the Companions)
responded, "Not even Jihad?" He (peace be upon him) replied, "Not even jihad,
except for the man who leaves (home) sacrificing himself and his wealth, then
doesn’t return with anything (neither himself nor his wealth)." [Al-Bukhari]
Also, upon the authority of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There are no days that are greater with/to
Allah, the Glorified, nor good deeds more beloved to Him (in those days) than in
these ten days. So, increase yourselves in at-tahleel (saying: La Ilaha ila
Allah), at-takbeer (saying: Allahu Akbar) and at-tahmeed (saying: Alhamdu
Lillah)." [At-Tabarani in Al-Mujim Al-Kabeer] Ibn Hajr (Allah have mercy upon
him) has stated in Al-Fath (his famous commentary of Saheeh al-Bukhari), "The
apparent reason for the distinction/superiority of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
is the gathering of the main acts of worship in them. They are As-Salaah (the
prayers), As-Siyaam (Fasting), As-Sadaqah (charity) and Al-Hajj (the
pilgrimage), and this doesn’t occur at any other time."
It is recommended that one say repeatedly at-takbeer (Allahu Akbar) while on his
way to perform the (five obligatory) salaah. Also, one should increase
performance of the voluntary salaah, for this is the best of deeds which bring
one closer to Allah.
The Merits of these Days
"The Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) used to fast the ninth day of
Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Aashooraa (the tenth of Muharram, the first month of the
Islamic calendar) and three days from every month." [Ahmed, Abu Dawood and
An-Nasaee]
Al-Imam Al-Bukhari (Allah have mercy upon him) has said, "Ibn Umar and Abu
Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with them) used to go out to the marketplace during
these ten days saying Allahu Akbar, and so the people would say Allahu Akbar
emulating them." He also said, "Umar would say Allahu Akbar from inside his tent
(during the stay) at Mina, so the people in the masjid would hear him, and so,
say Allahu Akbar, and also the people in the market place, so that the whole of
Mina would tremor with takbeer." So, it is appropriate for us to enliven this
Sunnah which has fallen into neglect and is almost forgotten.
Fasting on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah is for the one who is not performing Hajj and
is based upon the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace be upon him) wherein he states
about the fasting of the day of Arafat, "Count on Allah to forgive and expiate
(the sins) of the past year and the next." [Muslim]
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Allah have mercy upon him) said regarding the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah
(the day of slaughtering), "The best of days to Allah is the day of sacrifice,
and that is the day of the Great Hajj." This is also related in the sunan of Abu
Dawood (Allah have mercy upon him) wherein the Prophet stated, "Certainly, the
greatest of days to Allah is the day of sacrifice then the day after it (11th)."
It is appropriate that we generally meet blessed occaions with sincere
repentance and the abandonment of sins. Certainly, sins are what prohibit man
from the bounties of his Lord. Also, one should generally meet the blessed
seasons with sincerity and determination to take full advantage of all that
pleases his Lord, the Noble and Glorious. "And those who strive for Us- We will
surely guide them to Our ways…" [Al-Ankabuut: 69].
O brothers and sisters in Islam! Be keen and seize this great opportunity before
it passes you by. Certainly, this life is merely days, and we are in the
dwelling of actions, and tomorrow is the dwelling of accountability and
recompense, Heaven and Hell. So, be of those whom Allah refers to in the verse:
"…Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear,
and they were to Us humbly submissive." [Al-Anbiya: 90].
Narrated Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that Allahs Messenger (peace
be upon him) said, "There is no day other than the day of Arafah when Allah
releases more of His slaves from Hell. Indeed, He draws near and proudly tells
His angels about the pilgrims. Then He asks, What do these slaves of Mine
seek? (So He forgives them.)"
[Reported by Muslim]
ICSFP Conference: Reviving the Islamic Spirit
Never have so many Arab and Muslim countries and organizations been as united
as they have been in condemning the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Regardless of their various ideologies and orientations, they have spoken out
strongly against those atrocities that took so many innocent lives. Many have
gone to varying lengths, openly and secretly, to help America in its all-out war
against what it calls “terrorism”. They did so under the principle that “you are
either with America or against America”. Nothing, however, is being done to put
an end to the attacks being orchestrated to make people hate Islam and the
Muslims. The most vicious of these attacks are those that target Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) and those that ridicule Islam. This campaign has
been growing in strength and ferocity day after day. Many important public
figures and thinkers in the United States, including many prominent religious
and political leaders, have joined the fray, supported by Jewish lobby groups.
What We Have to Do
We, the world’s Muslims, comprise over one and a quarter million people. That is
roughly 23 % of the world’s population. There are 54 Muslim countries covering
over 19 % of the Earth’s landmass. We are to be found in over 120 other
societies around the world. We have to make it known that we condemn these
baseless accusations being levied against the Prophet (peace be upon him), the
Muslims, and the religion of Islam. We must emphasize the facts that such
attacks are precisely what will bring about a “clash of civilizations”. This is
what some circles in the Western world want. They find support in the radical
Jewish right. They find an ideological framework in the theories of Samuel
Huntington, who, in his Clash of Civilizations, advocates inciting Western
decision makers against Islamic civilization, and in Francis Fukuyama’s The End
of History that praises Western civilization, declares its superiority, and
asserts its greater right to continue existing. Then there is the End of the Era
of Ideologies, wherein America’s ideology is declared superior to all others. It
is the responsibility of all Muslims to wake up and understand the threats and
challenges that face us today. We must not give in to the provocations of the
bigots who want us to react irrationally and give them the justification they
need to attack us while we are unprepared. It is also our responsibility to work
together in a spirit of cooperation to resist the vicious campaign being waged
against us. We must muster all of our skills and expertise to refute the
falsehoods being spread around and clarify the truth to the world. We must put
aside our differences to deal with this very real threat.
It is also imperative for us as Muslims to become stronger in our adherence to
Islam as found in the Qur’ân and Sunnah. We have to make it clear that there
will be no compromising our beliefs and our principles. In this way, those
waging their campaign against Islam will know how hopeless their efforts really
are. They will realize that they are bringing about the opposite of what they
are trying to achieve when they see that the Muslims only become stronger and
more united when their religion is attacked and their beliefs are threatened.
Therefore, the unity that we as Muslims much achieve today as scholars, leaders,
and citizens, must be grounded in the Qur’ân and the authentic Sunnah.
The onus is upon Arab and Islamic organizations to initiate an international
alliance against this hate campaign aimed at Islam and the Muslims. This
alliance must then call for an end to these poisonous campaigns that prevent
people from seeing the truth and that merely open the door to a world of
unjustifiable and uncontrollable bloodshed. It must also call for an end to the
calumnies being levied against Islam and the Prophet (peace be upon him). We
must demand this especially from the West’s leaders, who ironically are the ones
demanding that Muslim governments take responsibility for the actions of a few
Muslims who are not even living within their countries’ borders. It makes more
sense for the leaders of the West, especially those in America, to take action
to put an end to the slanders and calumnies coming from some of their own
Sunnah Revival: Supplications
Upon completion of wu’du (ritual cleansing before prayer), one may say: “Ash-hadu an Laa Ilaha Il-Allahu wahduhu laa shareeka lahu, wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammadab ‘abduhu wa rasulluh. Allahum-
ma aja’lnee min at-tawaabeena wa aja’lnee minal mutaTahireen.”
(“I testify that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, alone, having no partner; and I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. O Allah, make me of those who continually repent and who purify themselves.”) [At-Tirmidhi]
It is sunnah (the Prophet’s practice) to seek refuge in Allah from four things after the final tashahud during the prayer: “Allahumma innee a’udhu bika min ‘adhaabi jahannama wa min ‘adhaabil-qabri wa min fitnatilmahya wal-mamaati wa min fitnaltil-maseehid-dijjaal.”
(“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Hellfire, and from the punishment of the grave, and from the temptations of life and death, and from the seduction of the false messiah.”) [Muslim]
The Day of ‘Arafah
Abu Qatada reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of ‘Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it.” [Related by the group, except for al-Bukhari and as-Tirmidhi]
Abu Hurairah stated, “The Messenger of Allah forbade fasting on the day of ‘Arafah for one who is actually at ‘Arafah.” [Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
