Hajj - Articles|- Hajj Exemplifies Equality Before Allah: Holy Prophet Muhammad's Sermon at Arafah

This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in
the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafah' (in Makkah). Part of his beautiful
sermon is as below, in which he insistson rights of each other. After
praising, and thanking Allah Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
".......... O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether
after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen
to what Iam saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE
WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, and this city as
Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred
trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners.
Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed
meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds.
ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all
interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however,
is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.
Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the
interest due to Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib(Holy Prophet Muhammad's
uncle) shall henceforth be waived.
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope
that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware
of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your
women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have
taken them as your wivesonly under Allah's trust and with His
permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right
to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be
kind to them for they are yourpartners and committed helpers. And it
is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you
do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily
prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan , and give your
wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adamand Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a
non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white
has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority
over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is
a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one
brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to
a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not,
therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds.
So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am
gone.
O People, NO PROPHET OR APOSTLE WILL COME AFTER ME AND NO NEW FAITH
WILL BE BORN. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words
which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and
myAhlul Bayt, and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to meshall pass on my words toothers and those to
others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than
those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O ALLAH, that I have
conveyed your message to your people .........."
(1.) Prayer of Arafah (2.) Aa'maal of the day of Arafah
Hajj Exemplifies Equality Before Allah: Imam Hussain's Sermon at Mina
to scholars of religion
O people take lesson from the counsel God gave to His friends when He
rebuked the Rabbis bysaying: "Why do not the Rabbis and the doctors
ofLaw (scholars) forbid them from their (habit of) uttering sinful
words and eating things forbidden? Evil indeed are their works."
(5:63)
And God says: "Curses were pronounced on those among the Childrenof
Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son
of Mary: because theydisobeyed and persisted in excesses. Nor did they
(usually) forbid one another the iniquities which they committed: evil
indeed were the deeds which they did." (5:78-79)
God reproached them because they saw with their own eyes the
oppressors committing vile and corrupt acts, but did not stop them,
out of love for the favors they received from them as well as fear of
persecution and injury. However, God says: "Fear not men, but fear
Me." (5:44) And He says: "The believing men and women are friends and
protectors to each other; they enjoin the good andforbid the evil;
they perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and obey God and His
messenger. Upon them God shall have mercy; God is Almighty, All-wise."
(9:71)
God mentions the duty ofenjoining the good and forbidding the evil
(Al-Amr bil Maroof and Nahi un al-Munkir) before all other duties,
because He knows that if it is performed and is established in the
society all other duties, the easy and the difficult, will alsobecome
established. The reason for this is that Al-Amr bil Maroof and Nahi un
al-Munkir means summoning people to Islam, as well as resistance
against injustice, opposing and struggling against oppressors, and
endeavoring to ensure that public wealth and income derived from
warare distributed in accordance with the just laws of Islam, and that
taxes are collected, leviedand expended in due andproper form.
O scholars, who are celebrated and enjoy good repute on account of
your learning! You have achieved a good name in society because of
your good will. It is on account of God that men venerate you and
stand in awe of you, so that even powerful fear you and the weak honor
you,and those who are not subject to you and over whom you hold no
authority grant you favors they deny themselves. When the people do
not receive their due, they seek your intercession, and you walk in
the street with the majesty of kings and princes.
Have you not earned all this respect and prestige because of the
people's hopes that you will implement God's laws, even though in most
instances you have failed to do so?
You have taken lightly your duties as leaders. You have neglected the
rights of the oppressed and the lowly, but have assiduously pursued
what you regard as your personal rights. You havenot spent your money
or risked your life for the sake of the One Who gave you life, nor
have you fought against any group or tribe for the sake of God.
Nevertheless, you desire -and regard it as your due- that He should
grant you paradise, the company of the prophet, and security from
chastisement in the hereafter. You have such expectations of God, I
fear that the full weight of His wrath descend upon you, for although
itis by His might and glory that you have achieved high rank, you show
no respect to those who truly know God, while you yourselves enjoy
respect among God's creatures on His account.
(I am also afraid for you for another reason :) you see the covenant
enactedwith God being violated and trampled under foot,yet you show no
anxiety, when it comes to the covenants enacted with your fathers, you
becomegreatly disturbed and anxious if they are only violated in part,
but the pledges you have given to the most noble Messenger are a
matter of complete indifference to you.
The blind, the dumb, and chronically ill everywherelack protection in
towns and no mercy is shown them. But you neither behave in accordance
with your function and rank, nor you support or pay any regard to
those who do. You purchase your safety from the oppressive ruling
powerswith flattery cajolery, and compromise.
All these activities have been forbidden to you byGod, and He has,
more over, commanded you to forbid each other to engage in them, but
you pay no attention.
The calamity that has befallen you is greater than what has befallen
others, for true rank and degree of 'Ulama' has been taken away from
you. The administration of the country and the issuing of decrees and
ordinances should actually be trusted to religious scholars who are
guardians of God's ordinances concerning what is permitted and what is
forbidden. But your position has been usurped from you, for no other
reason than that you have abandoned the truth (al-Haqq), and have
disagreed about the nature of the Sunnah, despite the existence of
clear proofs.
Had you the forbearance to endure adversities andhardships for the
sake of God, then all proposed regulations (God's affairs) would be
brought to you for your approval and for you to issue; authority would
liein your hands. But you allowed the oppressors to take away your
functions and God's affairs (i.e. government) to fall into their
hands, sothat they administer them by resorting to ambiguities and
make arbitrariness and the satisfaction of lust their consistent
practice. What enabled them to gain control of government was your
fleeing in panicfrom (inevitable) death and your love of life, which
shall in all certainty depart from you. As a consequence of that
mentality, you have delivered the powerless masses into the clutches
of the oppressors. While some cringe like slaves under the yoke of
oppressors, and others have been reduced to destitution in regard to
their livelihood, the rulers run the affairs of the government in
accordance with their whims, earning ignominyand disgrace for
themselves with their licentiousness, following evil counselors, and
showing impudence toward God. One of their appointed spokesmen mounts
the pulpit (Minbar) in each city. The country is defenseless before
them, and their hands grab freely whatever they want of it.The people
are their slaves and are powerless to defend themselves. One of the
governors is a dictator by nature, malevolent and rancorous; another
represses to recognize either God or the Day of Resurrection! It is
not strange - how can one think it strange, that society is in the
clutches of a cunning oppressor whose tax collectors are oppressors
and whose governors feel no compassion or mercy towards the believers
under rule.
It is God who will judge concerning what is dispute among us and
deliver a decisive verdict concerning all that occursamong us.
O God! You know that everything we did was not prompted by rivalry for
political power, nor for a search for wealth and abundance; rather it
was done to demonstrateto men the shining principles and values of
Your religion, to reform the affairs of Your land, to protect and
secure the indisputable rights of Your oppressed servants, and to act
in accordance with the duties. You haveestablished the norms, laws,
and ordinances which You have decreed.
So (O scholars of religion!) You are to help us reach this goal, win
back our rights from those powers who have considered it acceptable to
wrong you and who have attempted to put out the light kindled by your
Prophet. God suffices us, upon Him do we rely, to Him do we return,
and to Him shall we return.

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Abu-d Dardaa - Biographies of the Companions (Sahabah)

Early in the morning, Abu-d Dardaa awoke and went straightto his idol
which he kept in the best part of his house. He greeted it and made
obeisance to it. Then he anointed it with the best perfume from his
large shop and put on it a new raiment of beautiful silk which a
merchant had brought to him the day before from Yemen.
When the sun was high in the sky he left his house for his shop. On
that day the streets and alleys of Yathrib were crowded with the
followers of Muhammad returning from Badr. With them were several
prisoners of war. Abu-d Dardaa surveyed the crowds and then went up to
a Khazraji youth and asked about the fate of Abdullahibn Rawahah.
"He was put through the most severe tests in the battle," "but he
emerged safely..."
Abu-d Dardaa was clearly anxious about his close friend, Abdullah ibn
Rawahah. Everyone in Yathrib knew the bond of brotherhood which
existed between the two men from the days of Jahiliyyah, before the
coming of Islam to Yathrib. When Islam came to the city, IbnRawahah
embraced it but Abu-d Dardaa rejected it. This however did not rupture
the relationship between the two. Abdullah kept on visiting Abu-d
Dardaa and tried to make him! see the virtues, the benefits and the
excellence of Islam. But with every passing day, while Abu-d Dardaa
remained a mushrik, Abdullah felt more sad and concerned.
Abu-d Dardaa arrived at his shopand sat cross-legged on a high chair.
He began trading-buying and selling and giving instructions to his
assistants unaware of what was going on at his house. For at that very
time, Abdullah ibn Rawahah hadgone to the house determined on a course
of action. There, he saw that the main gate was open. Umm ad-Dardaa
was in the courtyard and he said to her:
"As-salaamu alayki - Peace be unto you, servant of God."
"Wa alayka-s salaam - And unto you be peace, O brother of Abu-dDardaa."
"Where is Abu-d Dardaa?" he asked. "He has gone to his shop. It won't
be tong before he returns." "Would you allow me to come in?" "Make
yourself at home," she said and went aboutbusying herself with her
household chores and looking after her children.
Abdullah ibn Rawahah went to the room where Abu-d Dardaa kept his
idol. He took out an adz which he had brought with him and began
destroying the idol while saying:
"Isn't everything batil which is worshipped besides Allah?"
When the idol was completely smashed, he left the house. Abu-d
Dardaa's wife entered the room shortly afterwards and was aghast at
what she saw. She smote her cheeks in anguishand said: "You have
brought ruinto me, Ibn Rawahah." When Abu-d Dardaa returned home,
hesaw his wife sitting at the door of the room where he kept his idol.
She was weeping loudly and she looked absolutely terrified. "What's
wrong with you?" he asked.
"Your brother Abdullah ibn Rawahab visited us in your absence and did
with your idols what you see." Abu-d Dardaa looked at the broken idol
and was horrified. He was consumedwith anger and determined to take
revenge. Before long however his anger subsided and thoughts of
avenging the idol disappeared. Instead he reflected on what had
happenedand said to himself:
"If there was any good in this idol, he would have defended himself
against any injury."
He then went straight to Abdullah and together they went to the
Prophet, peace be on him. There he announced his acceptance of Islam.
He was the last person in his district to become a Muslim.
From this time onwards, Abu-d Dardaa devoted himself completely to
Islam. Belief in God and His Prophet animated every fibre of his
being. He deeply regretted every moment he had spent as a mushrik and
the opportunities he had lost to do good. He realized how much his
friends had learnt about siam in the preceding two or three years, how
much of the Quran they had memorized and the opportunities they had to
devote themselves to God and His Prophet. He made up his mind to
expend every effort, dayand night to try to make up for what he had
missed. Ibadah occupied his days and his nights.His search for
knowledge was restless. Much time he spent memorizing the words of the
Quran and trying to understand the profundity of its message. When he
saw that business and trade disturbed the sweetness of his ibadah and
kept him awayfrom the circles of knowledge, he reduced his involvement
without hesitation or regret. Someone asked him why he did this and he
replied:
"I was a merchant before my pledge to the Messenger of God, may God
bless him and grant him peace. When I became a Muslim, I wanted to
combine trade (tijarah) and worship (ibadah) but I did not achieve
what I desired. So I abandoned trade and inclined towards ibadah.
"By Him in whose hand is the soul of Abu-d Dardaa, what I want to have
is a shop near the door of the masjid so that I would not miss any
Salat with the congregation. Then I shall sell and buy and make a
modest profit every day."
"I am not saying," said Abu-d Dardaa to his questioner, "that Allah
Great and Majestic is He hasprohibited trade, but I want to be among
those whom neither trade nor selling distracts form the remembrance of
God ."
Abu-d Dardaa did not only become less involved in trade but he
abandoned his hitherto soft and luxurious life-style. He ate only what
was sufficient to keep him upright and he wore clothes that was simple
and sufficient to cover his body.
Once a group of Muslims came to spend the night with him. The night
was bitterly cold. He gave them hot food which they welcomed. He
himself then wentto sleep but he did not give them any blankets. They
becameanxious wondering how they were going to sleep on such a cold
night. Then one of them said: "I will go and talk to him.""Don't
bother him," said another.
However, the man went to Abu-d Dardaa and stood at the door of his
room. He saw Abu-d Dardaa lying down. His wife was sitting near to
him. They were both wearing light clothing which could not protect
them from the cold and they had no blankets. Abu-d Dardaa said to his
guest: "If there was anythingwe would have sent it to you."
During the caliphate of Umar, Umar wanted to appoint Abu-d Dardaa as a
governor in Syria. Abu-d Dardaa refused. Umar persisted and then Abu-d
Dardaasaid:
"If you are content that I should go to them to teach them the Book of
their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet and pray with them, I shall
go."
Umar agreed and Abu-d Dardaa left for Damascus. There he found the
people immersed in luxury and soft living. This appalled him. He
called the people to the masjid and spoke to them:
"O people of Damascus! You are my brethren in religion, neighbors who
live together andhelpers one to another against enemies. "O people of
Damascus!What is it that prevents you from being affectionate
towardsme and responding to my advicewhile I do not seek anything from
you. Is it right that I see your learned ones departing (from this
world) while the ignorant among you are not learning. I see that you
incline towards such things which Allahhas made you answerable for and
you abandon what He has commanded you to do.
"Is it reasonable that I see you gathering and hoarding what you do
not eat, and erecting buildings in which you do not live, and holding
out hopes for things you cannot attain.
"Peoples before you have amassed wealth, made great plans and had high
hopes. But it was not long before what they had amassed was destroyed,
their hopes dashed and their houses turned into graves. Such were the
people of Aad, O people of Damascus. They filled the earth with
possessions and children.
"Who is there who will purchasefrom me today the entire legacy of Aad
for two dirhams?"
The people wept and their sobs could be heard from outside the masjid.
From that day, Abu-d Dardaa began to frequent the meeting places of
the people of Damascus. He moved around in their market-places,
teaching, answering questions and trying to arouse anyone who had
become careless and insensitive.He used every opportunity and every
occasion to awaken people, to set them on the right path.
Once he passed a group of people crowding around a man. They began
insulting and beating the man. He came up to them and said: "What's
the matter?" "This is a man who hascommitted a grave sin," they
replied.
"What do you think you would do if he had fallen into a well?" asked
Abu-d Dardaa. "Wouldn't you try to get him out?""Certainly," they
said. "Don't insult him and don't beat him. Instead admonish him and
makehim aware of the consequences of what he had done. Then give
praise to God Who has preservedyou from falling into such a
sin.""Don't you hate him?" they asked Abu-d Dardaa.
"I only detest what he had done and if he abandons such practice, he
is my brother." The man began to cry and publicly announced his
repentance.
A youth once came up to Abu-d Dardaa and said: "Give me advice, O
companion of the Messenger of God," and Abu-d Dardaa said to him:
"My son, remember Allah in good times and He will remember you in
times of misfortune.
"My son, be knowledgeable, seekknowledge, be a good listener and do
not be ignorant for you will be ruined.
"My son, let the masjid be your house for indeed I heard the Messenger
of God say: The masjid is the house of every God-conscious person and
God Almighty has guaranteed serenity, comfort, mercy and staying on
the path leading to His pleasure, to those for whom masjids are their
houses."
On another occasion, there was a group of people sitting in the
street, chatting and looking at passers-by. Abu-d Dardaa came up to
them and said:
"My sons, the monastery of a Muslim man is his house in which he
controls himself and lowers his gaze. Beware of sitting in
market-places because this fritters away time in vain pursuits."
While Abu-d Dardaa was in Damascus, Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, its
governor, asked him to give his daughter in marriage to his
(Muawiyah's) son, Yazid. Abu-d Dardaa did not agree. Instead he gave
his daughter in marriage to a young man from among the poor whose
character and attachment to Islam pleased him. People heard about this
and began talking and asking: Why did Abu-d Dardaa refuse to let his
daughtermarry Yazid? The question was put to Abu-d Dardaa himself
andhe said: "I have only sought to do what is good for ad-Dardaa."
That was his daughter's name."How?" enquired the person.
"What would you think of ad-Dardaa if servants were to stand in her
presence serving her and if she were to find herself in palaces the
glamour ofwhich dazzled the eyes? What would become of her religion
then?"
While Abu-d Dardaa was still in Syria, the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab
came on an inspection tour of the region. One night he went to visit
Abu-d Dardaa at his home. There was no light in the house. Abu-d
Dardaa welcomed the Caliph andsat him down. The two men conversed in
the darkness. As they did so, Umar felt Abu-d Dardaa's "pillow" and
realized it was an animal's saddle. He touched the place where Abu-d
Dardaa lay and knew it was just small pebbles. He also felt the sheet
with which he covered himself and was astonished to find it so flimsy
that it couldn't possibly protect him from the cold of Damascus. Umar
asked him:
"Shouldn't I make things more comfortable for you? Shouldn't I send
something for you?"
"Do you remember, Umar," said Abu-d Dardaa, "a hadith which the
Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, told us?""What is it?"
asked Umar. "Did he not say: Let what is sufficient for anyone of you
in this world be like the provisions of a rider?""Yes," said Umar.
"And what have we done after this, O Umar?" asked Abu-d Dardaa.
Both men wept no doubt thinking about the vast riches that had come
the way of Muslims with the expansion of Islam and their preoccupation
with amassing wealth and worldly possessions. With deep sorrow and
sadness, both men continued to reflect on this situation until the
break of dawn.

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Tourist Places | - Top Tourist Attractions in Switzerland

Switzerland is known as The Land of the Alps, and rightfully so.
Bordered byFrance, Germany, Italy and Austria, Switzerland offers the
most breathtaking views of the panoramic Alps. Though small, it is
also one of the richest countries in the world, which is why there is
no wonder many tourists dream of a Swiss vacation.
There are plenty of Switzerland tourist attractions, but I have
compiled for you the top 10 tourist attractions in Switzerland. I hope
you will like it. If I have miss out some so please share it in
comment section. Thanks
The Chillon Castle
Located on the shore of Lake Geneva, the Chillon Castle is one of the
most famous castles in Switzerland. It also has three courtyards and
four great halls which offer magnificent views of the lake beyond.
Zermatt
Although there are many beautiful ski resorts in Switzerland, Zermatt
stands out as one of the top Switzerland tourist attractions because
it is located at the foot of famous peak of the SwissAlps.
Geneva Jet D'eau
This fountain in the heartof one of Switzerland's major cities is one
of the tallest fountains in the world, projecting water up to 140
meters high. Built in 1891, it is also considered one of the symbols
of the city of Geneva.
Swiss National Park
It is one of the Switzerland tourist attractions worth seeing. It is
also Switzerland's only national park, covering almost half the area
of the entire country. It is a sanctuary for various wildlife such as
elks, marmots and eagles, as well.
Swiss Transport Museum
Located in Lucerne, the Swiss Transport Museum is home to an exhibit
of locomotives, ships, aircraft, automobile and other modes of
transport and communication. You're sure to enjoy the Planetarium and
the IMAXtheatre, too.
Schilthorn and Piz Gloria.
The Schilthorn is a mountain in the Swiss Alps. The Piz Gloria is a
revolving restaurant on the top of this mountain that was the location
for the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."
The Tropical Alps
Believe it or not, you will find palm trees here! Ticino is very close
to Italy, and offers glaciers as well as palm trees. The culture is
rich and diversein this area, and is little known to those who don't
live in Switzerland.
Appenzellerland
This is the land home to Heidi. Here you will find all sorts of
walking trails and the largest Nordic fitness park in Switzerland. Cow
shows are popular, and the locals enjoy dressing up in traditional
costumes.
Zurich
You can't forget about the 2000 year old town rich in history. This is
the city of Switzerland is full with trendy cafes, international
boutiques, and the hustle and bustleof modern life.
Aletsch glacier
This is the longest and most breathtaking glacier in the Alps at 23 km
long. It is the easiest to access, and is the sight of the first
UNESCO World Heritage site. This glacier is found in the
western-southern part of Switzerland in the Aletschregion.

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Islamic Article |- A Brother Like That

Shuaib received an automobile from his brother as an Eid present. On
Eid day when Shuaib came out of his house, a street urchin was walking
around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Uncle?" he
asked. Shuaib nodded."My brother gave it to me for Eid." The boy
wasastounded.
"You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing?
Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going
to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what
the lad said jarred Shuaib all the waydown to his heels. "I wish," the
boy went on,"that I could be a brother like that." Shuaib looked at
the boyin astonishment, then impulsively he added,"Would you like to
take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'dlove that."
After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said,
"Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Shuaib smiled a
little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his
neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Shuaib was
wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked.
He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming
back, but he wasnot coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled
brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort ofsqueezed up
against himand pointed to the car.
"There it is, little brother, just like I told you upstairs. His
brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn't cost him a penny. And
some day I'mgonna give you one just like it...then you can see for
yourself all the prettythings in the Shop windows that I've been
trying to tell you about."
Shuaib got out and liftedthe boy to the front seat of his car. The
shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them
began a memorable ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the RasulAllah
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) meant when he had said: "love for your
brother what you love for yourself".