Showing posts with label invocations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label invocations. Show all posts

Sunday, March 31, 2024

'Itikaaf' Guidelines

 

In his Friday Sermon of 29 March 2024 ~18 Ramadan 1445 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius offers an exposition on 'Itikaaf’, the devotional Muslim practice of staying in a spiritual retreat at a Masjid or other secluded space in the last 10 days of the fasting month of Ramadan for pure worship of the Divine, far away from all material entanglements of everyday life. In this discourse, as true believers around the world prepare themselves to perform 'Itikaaf' in the final ten days of Ramadan, Hazrat Saheb (aba) offers practical guidance on 'Itikaaf'- related invocations and supplications and additional prayers in the seclusion of the meditative space. 


Read the Friday Sermon Below:   


Religion (Deen, Deen of Allah, Islam) came to bring balance and perfection to man in his life. Without religion, man loses his bearings and therefore will not be able to live a healthy life. It is religion that encourages marriage, family life and prayer.

 

The fact that we are being watched (by Allah, and His angels) and that we must one day be held accountable for our actions forces us to behave well and think twice before committing despicable acts. The religion of Islam advocates moderation and does not tolerate any extremes. On the one hand, there is the obligation of everyone to seek a lawful livelihood, and on the other hand one must engage in religious obligations every day. But during the year one should have a balance between worldly activities and spirituality. And this is where we note that the prophet (pbuh) dedicated the last ten days of each Ramadan to Itikaaf. It is narrated by Hazrat Aisha (ra) that after the death of the Prophet (pbuh), his wives also sat down for the ten days of Itikaaf (Bukhari).