Improving your acts of worship

The month of Dhul-Hijjah is a season of worship, and seasons of worship bring along blessings, benefits and opportunities to correct one's faith and make up for shortcoming. Every one of these special opportunities involves some kind of worship, which brings the slave closer to his Lord. And Allâh bestows His blessings and Favours on whom He wills. The fortunate person is he who makes good use of these special months, days, and hours, while worshiping Allâh.

If a Muslim continues to have the patience to do righteous deeds after Ramadaan, this is a sign that his (fasting) has been accepted by his Lord, the Most Generous, the Bestower of blessings. If he fails to do righteous deeds after Ramadaan, and follows the ways of the Shaytaan, this is a sign of humiliation, meanness, lowly status and being deprived of the help of Allah.

With Ramadaan just round the corner we should take this time to prepare ourselves for this spiritual journey. For it is the foolish who embark on a journey without any preparation.

The Prophet Muhammed sallalahu alayhe was salam said: "There aren't any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah Most High, than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)...."

From the Book 30 lessons for those who Fast: It contains the most pertinent Quranic verses, authentic hadiths, delightful poetry and touching advice. It is, therefore, a book for the righteous when they meet for pleasant converstions. It is also a a gift for the wayfarers when they break their journeys for rest, a treasure for those who share mutual love and respect, when they assemble for picnics...

If the prayer does not prevent us from obscene and evil deeds then it is necessary to carefully scrutinise the deficiency within it and to correct it. There is no escaping from correcting one's prayer and there is no fleeing from bringing about khushoo' within it. So let us look at the causes and let us strive to treat them with the cure, just as we treat our bodies for their diseases.

Zamzam water is the best and noblest of all waters, the highest in status, the dearest to people, the most precious and valuable to them. It was dug by Jibreel and is the water with which Allah quenched the thirst of Ismaa’eel.

From the wisdom of fasting is that: It is an act of worship done for Allah, in which the ‘abd (servant) draws closer to His Lord by abandoning the things that he loves and desires. So because of this, the truthfulness of his Faith and the completeness of his servitude to Allah become apparent, as well as his love for Allah and his longing for what Allah has prepared for him (of good).

After a long and hectic day at work, how difficult it is for a tired person to go out to the mosque and concentrate on his prayers to Allah, the Almighty. Snuggled up in a warm and cozy bed, how difficult it is to get up at the call of the Mu`azzin: Come to prayer! Come to success!"