Nafsiya Reflections: House of Security

The blessed days of Dhul Hijjah are finally here, as this Hijri year comes to an end. Our hearts are with those going to Hajj praying that with their trip comes ease and the blessings of Allah (swt), may He (swt) accept their deeds. Many are excited to watch the live broadcast of Hajj on TV. We may also be anticipating the sacrifice for the day of Eid. But a lot of the times... these blessed days pass without us realizing how valuable these days are.

Prophet Muhammad saw said,

«مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ  ‏.‏ يَعْنِي أَيَّامَ الْعَشْرِ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏ وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَىْءٍ»

"There is no virtue more to the liking of Allah on any day than in these days, that is, the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah. They (the Companions ((ra))) asked: Messenger of Allah, not even the struggle in the path of Allah (Jihad) ? He (saw) said: (Yes), not even the struggle in the path of Allah, except a man who goes out (in the path of Allah) with his life and property, and does not return with any of them."

Why was Prophet Ibrahim (as) mentioned during Hajj and Eid? The rights of Hajj were actually ordained by Prophet Ibrahim (as) and it was his son that was going to be sacrificed. However, there is also a lot to learn from him (as). He (as) is a reminder for us in these blessed days that no matter the difficulties we face in this life, we should always handle them just as he (as) did, with bravery, steadfastness and utter trust in Allah (swt). Some examples are when he (as) was thrown into the fire by none other than his very own father, being ordered to abandon his wife and only child in the middle of a desert in Makkah, and being tested with sacrificing his son in the name of Allah (swt). He (as) was the pinnacle example of having true faith. He (as) later built the Kaabah with his son Ismail (as), making it a home for all Muslims to gather.

These acts of sincerity, acts of steadfastness, truly represent the faith of a believer; how we should be facing this world. As we stand shoulder to shoulder, praying together, walking around the Kaabah, we should be reminded of what this blessed place represents.

[إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ‎*‏ فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ]

"Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. * In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe." [Ali Imran: 96-97]

This house was meant to serve us as a place for safety. A place we can worship Allah (swt) without fearing anyone. It is a place we gather as one. A sad reality for the Ummah today is if one speaks words other than intended, he is silenced, to say the least. The place where the Muslims gathered with our dear prophet Muhammad (saw), after opening Makkah. The Sahabah (ra) protected the Kaábah with all they had. It was the representation of Islam, of our faith, our Qiblah.

It is not the reality we witness today. Yes, these blessed days are the most virtuous days to perform righteous acts, fast, reciting the Quran, but there is more than that! We must be working to establish our abolished Khilafah, caliphate on the method of prophethood. The state that protected not only the Kaabah and Masjid Al-Aqsa, but was a shield for us, giving us security. The Ummah is being thrown into the fire all over the world, we are being forced to abandon homes, our loved ones, but what are we sacrificing for Allah (swt)?! Are we working to bring back His (swt) state? Or have we abandoned the trust (Amanah) of Rasool Allah (saw)?

We can sit back, watching the Hujaj (Pilgrims), watching how they are standing together as one, one body, no matter where they came from, from all corners of the Earth, united as one... If we are watching this, and it does not cross our minds, that the state Rasool Allah (saw) built has been taken from us, then we have truly lost who we are as an Ummah. We are working... We are changing the world... We are waking this Ummah from its slumber. It has been sleeping for way too long. It is waking up, and there is nothing that will stand in its way. We will stand together once again, not only in Hajj, but all over the Muslim lands. We will stand as one as Prophet Ibrahim (as) and Prophet Ismail (as) built the Kabbah as a home for all Muslims to gather safely, we too shall build what was once destroyed with the help of Allah (swt). It will be our house of security.

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