MORE ABOUT MALAY
HISTORY 3-2014
Male volunteers congregate in the mosques to offer their prayers and reflect upon the sermons that are read out. This day, which is set aside to observe the ethics and practices of the Muslim community, serves as a reminder to share one’s wealth with the less fortunate.
Masjidil Haram in Mecca
Masjidil Aqsa in Jurussalam
The first revelation was the first five verses of Surah (chapter) Al-Alaq which preaches on the importance of seeking knowledge.
The first revelation is indeed significant occasion in Islamic history. The Prophet’s remarkable journey begun on this historical day.
Muslims will spend some time after Iftar (the breaking of fast) to read and reflect on the teachings of Holy Scripture that guides millions of Muslims all over the world.
Why is the revelation of Quran important?
Muslim treat the Quran as book of life serving as a manual. While we are busy seeking for guidance, inspiration, peace and de-stressor elsewhere, we fail to realise that this Holy Book has it else.
Islam is a religion way forward in all aspects. If you feel you have benefitted fasting from dawn till dusk you will know it. If you feel that Ramadhan, the holy month when Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, has not bring you an inch closer to the Almight Creator Allah Ta’ala, you have the answer just this second.
Understanding this religion is as much as loving it. Not learning about it, and from it will certainly notches up ignorance (and vice versae).
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Muslims are
instructed to
pray 5 times
a day.
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To have faith
in the words
and revelations
of prophet
Muhammad.
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Strive to be good
Muslim and
Muslimah.
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Always refer to 2 sources as our daily guide. Guard our hearts, lips and hands.
The Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, called Hari Raya Aidilfitri, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims. Hari Raya literally means ‘celebration day’, and Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the day that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of dawn-to-sunset fasting.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is considered one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims, the other being Hari Raya Haji – the festival of Abraham’s sacrifice.
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.
What is Ramadan?
During Ramadan
Muslims all over the world abstain from:
Eating
Drinking
Smoking
Sex
i. to purify the soul
ii. refocus attention on God
iii. practice self-sacrifice
iv. to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance
The Day of Hari Raya Celebration
Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other.
Muslims in Malaysia to visit the grave of their loved ones. During this visit, they will clean the grave, perform the recital of the Yasin — a chapter (surah) from the Qur’an and also the tahlil or prayers for the deceased. All these are done in hope that their loved ones are blessed by Allah and they are spared from the punishment in the grave.
After that, Muslims are going to visit their relatives or serve visitors if they held open house.
Children will be given token sums of money, also known as duit raya from their parents and elders.
The younger members of a family approach their elders (parents and grandparents) to seek forgiveness, to “salam” (Muslim equivalent of handshake), then kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect.
During the night, there are celebrations with sparklers and firecrackers.
Hari Raya Haji (which means “great day of the haj” in Malay), also known as Aidiladha (alternatively spelt as Eid al-Adha or Eid Adha) or the Great Day of Sacrifice, is a Muslim festival that falls on the 10th day of Zulhijjah (the 12th month in the Islamic calendar). The festival marks the end of the haj, which is the Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It also commemorates the willingness of the Islamic prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail in an act of obedience to Allah (God). One of the main rituals of the festival is the korban, which involves the sacrificial slaughtering of livestock.
What is Hari Raya Haji?
Hari Raya Haji is celebrated to mark the end of the Muslim pilgrimage known as the haj. According to the fifth pillar of Islam, all able-bodied Muslims who can afford to do so are obliged to undertake this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
The festival also commemorates the story of Ibrahim and his son Ismail, both of whom were said to have been guided by Allah to build the Kaaba: a square stone building in the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca that is considered by Muslims to be their most holy site. It is in the direction of the Kabaa that all Muslims face during prayers.
According to the story found in the Quran, Allah one day commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of his obedience. Just as Ibrahim was about to carry out this command, Allah intervened to stop him and allowed for the sacrifice of a sheep in place of his son. Ibrahim’s exemplary act of sacrifice and obedience to Allah is commemorated during Hari Raya Haji through the ritual of korban, which involves the sacrificial offering of livestock.
During Hari Raya Haji
Unlike during Ramadan when all Muslims are required to fast daily from sunrise to sunset for an entire month, fasting for Hari Raya Haji is usually done on the eve of the festival (known as Wukuf) and is not compulsory. On the day of the festival, Muslims first gather in mosques for congregational prayers before carrying out the korban ritual
Fasting and prayers
Korban ritual
The korban is one of the most significant rituals of Hari Raya Haji. The ritual is considered a sunnah maukad (non-compulsory but strongly recommended obligation) and can be done individually or as a group. Muslims who can afford it are encouraged to perform the korban.
The sacrifice ritual begins by facing the animal to be sacrificed in the direction of the Kabaa and uttering a prayer. The jugular vein at the animal’s throat is then slit quickly to ensure a quick death, usually within a minute. The animal is then cleaned and its meat carved up for distribution.
As the korban signifies a sacrifice of anything valuable, livestock such as sheep, goats or cows are usually chosen as the offering. The person who sacrifices the animal keeps one third of the meat, while the remaining two thirds are shared with friends, neighbours and the poor and needy.
What is Israk & Mikraj?
The Israk and Mikraj refer to, two parts of an miraculous journey that Prophet Muhammad took in one night from Makka to Jerusalem and then an ascension to the heavens.
'Israk'
The journey from Masjidil Haram in Mecca to Masjidil Aqsa in Jurussalam.
'Mikraj'
The journey from Masjidil Aqsa on earth to the Arash of Allah.
How to celebrate?
Muslims celebrate this night on 27 Rejab every year by offering optional prayers during this night, and in many Muslim countries, by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ISRAK MIKRAJ
This is the occasion of Al Quran’s first revelation to Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in the holy month of Ramadhan in the year 610 AD. The event of Allah revealing the first line of the Quran through the angel Jibrail to Muhammad is celebrated and remembered by Muslim worldwide as one of the most important event in the Islamic historical timeline. More importantly, on this day, Muslim bring themselves together to appreciate the significant role of Quran in their lives.
