“Reviving the Islamic Spirit” convention is an attempt by the youth to help overcome new challenges of communication and integration. The convention aims to promote stronger ties within the North American Society through reviving the Islamic tradition of education, tolerance and introspection, and across cultural lines through points of commonality and respect.

Furthermore, the convention will be a celebration of our identity and Islamic faith. To help attain these ideals, the convention will feature a wide range of voices from various parts of the world.

The convention showcases Islamic leadership from across the globe sharing a common platform before the widest cross section of our community. This program hopes to empower the youth across North America and inspire a true revival.

“A Unique Youth Effort”

www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com

The Islamic lunar calendar begins with the holy month of Muharram. Muharram is amongst the months which are classified under the term Ashhur-ul-Horom “sanctified months.” Allah has stated in the Glorious Qur’an “The number of months, according to Allah is twelve months (which is mentioned) in the book of Allah on the day in which We created the heavens and the earth. Amongst these twelve months, four are sanctified; that is the right religion. So do not wrong yourselves’ therein,” (9:3).

The four months according to authentic traditions are Muharram, Rajab, Zul Qadah, and Zul Hijjah. It has been reported that Rasulullah (saw), on the occasion of the last sermon (hajjat-ul-wada), addressed the Sahabah (ra) saying, “One year consists of twelve months, out of which four are sanctified. Three of them are in sequence: Zul Qadah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab. (Bukhari)

The eminent commentator (mufassir) Ibn Katheer has written in his commentary (tafseer), “Allah has declared these four months sanctified and has increased their sanctity. He declared a sin therein more severe and has increased the virtue and reward of good deeds as well” (Ibn Katheer, Vol.2): The scholars of Islam have stated that the actions performed in these months have a great effect on the person as to what they will do, throughout the remainder of the year.

FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM:

It has been reported by Ali (ra) that a man came to Rasulullah (saw) and asked, “0 Prophet of Allah! During which month should I fast after the month of Ramadan?” Rasulullah (saw) replied, “If you are to fast in any month other than the month of Ramadan, fast during the month of Muharram, because it is the month of Allah. There is a day in this month in which a whole nation was forgiven and wherein Allah will forgive another nation,” (Tirmidhi H. 683).

THE ORIGIN OF THE FAST OF A’ASHURA: (10th MUHARRAM).

The word A’ashura is derived from the Arabic word which means ten in the English language. It has been named A’ashura because it is observed on the 10th of Muhharram. According to numerous authentic traditions, fasting on the day of A’ashura was initially obligatory upon the Muslims. However, it was made optional when Allah commanded the Muslims to fast throughout the month of Ramadan.

It has been reported by A’isha (ra) that when the Rasulullah (saw) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of A’ashura and directed the people to fast on that day as well. However, when the fast of Ramadan was made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadan, and the fast of A’ashura was made optional (Abu Dawood).

Nevertheless, Ibn Abbas (ra) relates, when the Prophet of Allah (saw) was informed that the Jews fast on the 10th of Muharram, Rasulullah (saw) asked them, “Why do you fast on this day?” They said, “This is the day when Sayyidna Musa (as) and his followers miraculously crossed the Sea, while Pharaoh was drowned in its water.” Upon hearing this Rasulullah (S.A.W) stated, “We are more closer to Musa than you.” He then directed the Muslims to fast on the day of A’ashura(Abu Dawood).

In addition to fasting on the 10th of Muharram, we should also fast on either the 9th or the llth. As Rasulullah (S.A.W) was informed that the Jews also fast on the 10th of Muharram, he said, “If I will be alive next year, I will also fast on the 9th of this month” (Muslim H. 1917).

VIRTUES OF FASTING ON THE 10th OF MUHURRAM:

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (ra) relates that Rasulullah (saw) preferred the fast of A’ashura to the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramadan to the fast of A’ashura (Bukhari, Muslim).

Abu Qatadah (R.A) relates that Rasulullah (saw) said, “The fasting of the tenth of Muharram grants the forgiveness of one whole year,” (Tirmidhi H.683).

BEING GENEROUS TO ONES FAMILY ON THE DAY OF A’ASHURA:

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud relates that Rasulullah (saw) stated, “Whosoever is generous to one’s family on the day of A’ashura, Allah will be generous (provide barakah) towards that person throughout the entire year,”(Razeen).

According to these types of traditions, one should be more generous to his/her family by providing more for them on the day of A’ashura as compared to other days. Although these traditions (above-mentioned tradition) are not very authentic according to the scholars of hadith, many other eminent scholars like Imams Ibn Hibban and Bahiqi have accepted them as reliable.

by Shaykh Fayaz Tilly

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The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do not wear silk or Dibaja, and do not drink in silver or golden vessels, and do not eat in plates of such metals, for such things are for the unbelievers in this worldly life and for us in the Hereafter.” [Bukhari Book:65 No:337]

Narrated By Anas bin Malik : The Prophet(PBUH) said, “Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam).”  Sahih Bukhari Hadith No: 69

The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever.”

[Bukhari Book:71 No:670]

Say, “What is your opinion – if Allah were to take away your hearing and your sight and seal your hearts, then is there a God besides Allah who could restore it for you?” Observe how We explain the verses to them, yet they turn away![Ana`am 6:46]

Aisha asked Allah’s Apostle (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) about the plague.
He told me that it was a Punishment sent by Allah on whom he wished, and Allah made it a source of mercy for the believers, for if one in the time of an epidemic plague stays in his country patiently hoping for Allah’s Reward and believing that nothing will befall him except what Allah has written for him, he will get the reward of a martyr.”[Bukhari Book:56 No:680]

“We have not sent down to you the Qur’an that you be distressed. But only as a reminder for those who fear Allah. A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens” [Surah Taha 20:2-5]

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “He who utters a hundred times in a day these words: `La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli sha’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him; His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent),’ he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, hundred of his sins will be blotted out from his scroll, and he will be safeguarded against the devil on that day till the evening; and no one will exceed him in doing more excellent good deeds except someone who has recited these words more often than him. And he who utters: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection and His is the praise)’ one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah’s Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.” [Bukhari Book:64 No:265]

Anas ibn Malik (رضى الله عنه) said that when he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he said: “Coming upon you now is a man from the people of Paradise.” So a man came from the Ansar whose beard looked disarrayed by the water from Wudu (ablution)…

“Indeed, Allah is truly favorable to the people, but most of them are not thankful.”[10:60]

It was asked ‘O Allah’s Apostle! We know how to greet you; but how to send ‘Salat’ upon you?

He said, ‘Say: Allahumma Salli ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala Ali Muhammadin, kama sal-laita ‘ala all Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala all Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala all Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid.”

[Bukhari Book:75 No:368]

Rabbighfir lii wali-waalidayya walilmum-iniina yauma yaquumul hisaab

“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.” (14:41)

‎”Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs” [51:15]

By Allah, it is not poverty about which I fear for you, but I fear in your case that (the worldly) riches may be given to you as were given to those who had gone before you, and that you begin to vie with one another for them as they vied for them, and that they may destroy you as they destroyed them. [Al-Bukhari]

O son of Adam! It is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold the essentials) for a living. And begin (charity) with your dependents; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand. [Muslim]

If anyone gives as sadaqa (charity) the equivalent of a date from that (earning) earned honestly, for Allah accepts that which is lawful, the Lord would accept it with His Right Hand, and even if it is a date, it would foster in the Hand of the lord, as one of you fosters his colt, till it becomes bigger than a mountain.
[Al-Bukhari]

Nothing is more delighting to me than this that Uhud should be of gold for me, and no dinar is left with me out of it before three nights pass except a dinar which I would set aside for the repayment of debt upon me. [Al-Bukhari]

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being overcome by dept and from being overpowered by men (i.e. other people).” (Al-Bukhari, Hadith:6369)