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Ghusl
(Bath) |
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Ghusl
means taking a bath. Besides being necessary for personal
hygiene, Ghusl (Bath) is necessary for purifying body before performing
any act of worship. Ghusl (Bath), performed in a specific manner, removes external
or internal impurities of all kind from the body. Ghusl (Bath) is not needed only for purification. Taking Ghusl
(Bath) is a Sunnah (Tradition of Muhammad
S). The Messenger of Allah,
Muhammad S had said that cleanliness
is half Iman (Faith). Tayammum
(Dry Wudu) could be performed for purification
in place of Ghusl (Bath), if water is not available, or a person is not able
to use it because of sickness or injury.
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| Gregorian (The Regular) Calendar |
Gregorian
calendar is the normal calendar that is used all over the world.
This calendar has 365 days divided into 12 months. Islamic calendar,
which is also known as the Hijrah calendar, has
355 days spread over 12 months. Islamic months have 29 or 30
days depending upon the sighting of the new moon. Months of
the Islamic calendar begin on the next day of the sighting of
the new moon.
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| Hadath Asghar (Minor Impurity) |
Hadath Asghar (Minor Impurity) is a kind of Najasah
Hukmiyah (Effective Impurity). It is caused
by passing wind, urine or stool. It is a minor problem that
is corrected by relatively minor measures without taking a bath.
Hadath Asghar (Minor Impurity)
is removed by performing Wudu (Ablution).
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| Hadath Akbar (Major Impurity) |
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Hadath Akbar (Major Impurity) is a kind of Najasah Hukmiyah
(Effective Impurity). It is caused by discharge of
semen or vaginal fluids because of sexual intercourse or wet
dream. It is a minor problem that cannot be corrected by relatively
minor measures without taking a bath. Hadath
Asghar (Minor Impurity) is removed
by taking a bath in the prescribed manner.
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| Surah (Chapter)
al-Hadid (Iron) |
Surah (Chapter)
al-Hadid (Iron) is the 57th
chapter of the Holy Qur-an. It is a Madani
Surah (Chapter) meaning that
this Surah (Chapter) was
revealed after the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S had migrated to Madinah.
Surah (Chapter) al-Hadid
(Iron) consists of twenty-nine Ayat
(Verses).This Surah (Chapter) asks mankind to
stay away from arrogance and pride and be humble. It also mentioned
that leaving the worldly affairs might not lead to salvation.
In Islam one has to seek the pleasures of Allah
(God) while enjoying His bounties.
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Hadith (Saying of Muhammad
S) |
Life
of our beloved Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S is an open book. His Sahabah
(Companions) faithfully recorded and followed what ever he
said or did. Plural of Hadith
is Ahadith, meaning Sayings
of Muhammad S. Whatever the Messenger of
Allah, Muhammad S said, did or approved
any action or practice of his Sahabah
(Companions), verbally or silently is known as Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S). Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S) provide us explanations
to many day-to-day phenomenon as well as a clear understanding
of the Qur-an. After the Holy Qur-an, Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S) provide the most valuable
source of Islamic knowledge. Following the Holy Qur-an
and Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad
S) is an essential part of Islamic faith. The Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S) were transmitted faithfully
to the next generation orally, they in turn passed the traditions
to the next generation and so on. Scholars decided to commit
the orally transmitted Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S) to writing. They even
evolved a very elaborate process to check the authenticity
of the entire chain of narrators. Several compilations of
authenticated Ahadith (Sayings
of Muhammad S) are currently available in
their original form. After the Holy Qur-an, Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S) play a very important
role in Islam. It is a duty of Muslims
to learn Islam from the Holy Qur-an
and Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad
S).
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| Hady
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Literal meaning of the word Hady is a gift.
In Islamic terminology, Hady is used for the gift
of sacrificial animals like camels, cows, sheep or goats, which
pilgrims offer as a sacrifice to Allah (God).
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| Hajar (Hagar)
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Hajar
(Hagar) was the mother of Isma’il A (Ishmael).
She was the second wife of Ibrahim A
(Abraham). Ibrahim A (Abraham) was earlier
married to Sarah when he lived in Sham.
He began delivering the Message of Allah (God)
when He appointed him as His Rasul (Messenger).
His people who used to worship stars and idols, fiercely resented
and opposed him; and forced him to leave his homeland. Ibrahim
A (Abraham) migrated to Filistin (Palestine) with his wife Sarah and nephew Lut
A (Lot). Ibrahim A (Abraham) moved further
to Misr (Egypt) with his wife while Lut A (Lot)
stayed back in Filistin (Palestine). When Ibrahim A (Abraham) and
Sarah did not have any child after many years
of their marriage, Sarah asked him to marry
Hajar (Hagar). She gave birth to Isma’il
A (Ishmael). Sarah did not feel comfortable
in living with Hajar (Hagar) and her son Isma’il
A (Ishmael). She asked Ibrahim A (Abraham)
to take Hajar (Hagar) and her son Isma’il
A (Ishmael) away from her. Ibrahim A
(Abraham) took them away on a long journey and left them in
a barren valley that did not have any water or vegetation,
to fulfil the wish of Allah (God). Isma’il
A (Ishmael) became thirsty when the meager supplies left by
Ibrahim A (Abraham) had finished. With
her infant son Isma’il A (Ishmael) in
her arms, Hajar (Hagar) began to look for water.
When she could not find water in the vicinity, she put her
son down and looked around for water. She climbed two small
hillocks and ran between in search of water. She could not
find any trace of water in that hostile environment. She prayed
to Allah (God) for help. Dejected, she returned
to her son without water. Hajar (Hagar) was
pleasantly shocked to see a spring of fresh water gushing
near the feet of Isma’il A (Ishmael).
She thanked Allah (God) and contained the water
with stones. It was the spring of Zamzam, which
continues to flow today. She settled near Zamzam.
Caravans traveling between Sham (Syria) and Yaman (Yemen) began stopping there. Hajar (Hagar)
and her son Isma’il A (Ishmael) served
those caravans. Slowly, several nomadic tribes also settled
down in that area. This was the beginning of the city of Makkah.
Hajar (Hagar) and her son Isma’il
A (Ishmael) were the first inhabitants of Makkah.
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Surah
(Chapter)
al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)
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Surah
(Chapter) al-Hajj (The
Pilgrimage) is the 22nd chapter of the Holy
Qur-an. It is a Madani Surah
(Chapter) meaning that this Surah
(Chapter) was revealed after the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad A had migrated to Madinah.
Surah (Chapter) al- Hajj
(The Pilgrimage) consists of seventy-eight
Ayat (Verses). This Surah
(Chapter) mainly talks about the significance of
Ka’bah and its pilgrimage. It explains that
faith, purity of intent and body, prayers and humbleness are
a part of the pilgrimage. Sharing resources with the less
fortunate and thanking Allah (God) for His bounties
are also important in life. Importance of fighting for defending
the Truth when attacked, is mentioned. Serving
Allah (God) and helping the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad A by being watchful
of the evil is also told in this chapter.
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Hajj (Pilgrimage
to the Ka’bah) |
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Literal meanings of Hajj are to set
out for a journey. The term Hajj
is normally used for the annual pilgrimage to the Ka’bah,
which every able-bodied adult male and female Muslim
must make, if they can afford the expenses and rigors of the
journey. Hajj (Pilgrimage to
the Ka’bah) rituals are carried out in five days
starting from the 8th day of Dhul
Hijjah and ending on the 12th day
of Dhul Hijjah. Dhul
Hijjah is the twelfth and the last month of
the Islamic calendar. Rituals of Hajj
(Pilgrimage to the Ka’bah) are carried out in Makkah,
‘Arafat, Mina and
Muzdalifah. Male pilgrims carry out Hajj
(Pilgrimage to the Ka’bah) in two pieces of
unstitched clothes, called Ihram.
Female pilgrims can perform Hajj (Pilgrimage
to the Ka’bah) in their regular Islamic clothes
with a scarf over their heads. Name of the 22nd
Surah (Chapter) of the Holy Qur-an
is Surah al-Hajj.
There are several types of Hajj (Pilgrimage
to the Ka’bah).
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Hajj al-Ifrad
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| Ifrad literally means isolated. This term is
used for a Hajj (Pilgrimage to the
Ka’bah) performed without ‘Umrah.
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Hajj al-Qiran |
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Qiran literally means accompanied. Hajj
al-Qiran is where Hajj
(Pilgrimage to the Ka’bah) is accompanied by ‘Umrah,
performed together with the same Ihram
(Special dress for Hajj), same Tawaf
(Walk around the Ka’bah) and Sa‘i (Running
between Safa and Marwah).
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| Hajj at-Tamattu’ |
It is a Hajj in which a pilgrim performs
‘Umrah and Hajj (Pilgrimage
to the Ka’bah) separately by doing Ihram
twice. After reaching Makkah, the pilgrim
performs ‘Umrah and removes Ihram.
The pilgrim puts on Ihram again and
performs Hajj (Pilgrimage to the
Ka’bah) at its appropriate time.
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