Aslamu alekum, dear sister.
As part of our efforts towards bettering and leveling up our spiritual journey to purify our souls, I invite you today to take part in a journey of a different kind.
Do you know what that journey is?
You’ve got it right, I am inviting your heart to travel to Makkah, even if your body is here. Let us live the spiritual journey the hujaj to the house of Allah are experiencing right now.
What are the main deeds they are performing now
Omrah.
Remembrance of Allah (swt), including takbeer and the recitation of Quran.
Visiting the Madina of our beloved Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Praying in Makkah
Praying in the rawdah as they send their salaams to the prophet (peace be upon him).
Drinking Zamzam water
Do you wish to be with them right now
I bet you do, right
I know that I, from the deepest part of my heart, want to be among one of them. May Allah make us among his visitors next year, Ameen.
If I tell you there’s a solution, would you believe me
A way that we can at least share some of the rewards these extraordinary people are getting.
Okay, I know you are eagerly waiting to know how to experience that heart connection with those hujaj in Makkah, and also share some of the rewards they are earning for their akhirah.
There’s good news for you, inshaa’Allah.
I’ll just take you back to a story that happened at the time of the prophet (peace be upon him).
In one of the difficult battles that faced the companions and the prophet (peace be upon him), the army was short in food, water, and all the main necessities required for their survival; it reached a point that they had to eat leaves to stop their hunger.
Can you imagine the difficulties they were facing…
إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ لَرِجَالاً مَا سِرْتُمْ مَسِيراً، وَلاَ قَطَعْتُمْ وَادِياً إِلاَّ كانُوا مَعكُم حَبَسَهُمُ الْمَرَضُ وَفِي روايَةِ: إِلاَّ شَركُوكُمْ في الأَجْر رَواهُ مُسْلِمٌ.
In those difficult times, the prophet told them: “There are some people in Medina. They are with you whenever you cover a distance or cross a valley. They have been detained by illness.” And in another narration “They shared with you the reward,” narrated by Muslim
That’s right. They were detained by a cause, let it be illness, not having the means to afford to go, age, just as you are feeling now, here (detained).
The amazing thing is that, just as those people in Madina earned the reward of not going to battle with the prophet (peace be upon him), you also can earn the reward of not traveling to Makkah, Inshaa’Allah.
How
I can see you were so moved hearing that Hadith, true? To be honest, I was as well, that’s why I want you to live the experience they are living now
Try to fill your day with as much ibadah and good deeds as you can. Don’t let the day pass you unless you have done the following:
1 : Remembrance of Allah (swt), especially takbeer.
2 : Pray on time and try to add sunnah prayers if you can. Remind yourself of the reward of those who pray sunnah and complete 12 Rakah in total a day.
Prophet peace be upon him said: “A house will be built in Heaven for one who prays 12 Rak’aat in a day and evening”
Imagine every day a house is built for you in Jannah! This is the best investment one should do, don’t you agree with me
3 : Recite Quran, even a few pages. If you can do a khatma in these blessed days, it will be more khair and you will earn great rewards, inshaa’Allah.
4 : Make lots of duaa, especially on the day of Afrah. Imagine how the hijaj are on that mountain begging Allah to forgive their sins and accept their hajj. And don’t forget your sisters and brothers everywhere on the globe.
5 : Fast as many days as you can during these blessed days.
6 : Give Sadaqah, charity, during this blessed month and be the one that will help someone who is in need.
7 : Remind yourself with this Hadith whenever you forget or get distracted. Remember that you are witnessing the best 10 days, as was narrated in the Hadith: “ ما من أيَّامٍ العملُ الصَّالحُ فيهنَّ أحبُّ إلى اللهِ من هذه الأيَّامِ العشرِ . قالوا : يا رسولَ اللهِ ولا الجهادُ في سبيلِ اللهِ ؟ فقال رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم : ولا الجهادُ في سبيلِ اللهِ إلَّا رجلًا خرج بنفسِه ومالِه فلم يرجِعْ من ذلك بشيءٍ
There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than on these days.” (Meaning: the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah). They (the Companions) said: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, except that of a man who went to Jihad with himself and his property, but did not return with any of them.”
May Allah (swt) accept all your good deeds and allow you to witness hajj in the years coming, Ameen 