Issue No: 202
13th June 2014
14th Shaban 1435 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
Washing the Ka’aba : A Sunnah of the Noble Prophet:
In the year 8 A.H. when the idol worshippers of Makkah surrendered to the Noble Prophet, he performed tawaf –circumambulation- of the Ka’aba. Together with Amiral Muminin Imam Ali bin Abi Talib a.s., they broke the big idols placed above the gate of Ka’aba. Then the Noble Prophet entered the Ka’aba and washed the walls with zamzam water. The walls had been decorated with pictures and idols.
Following this tradition an elaborate ceremony where the door of the Ka’aba is opened and the Ka’aba walls are washed with zamzam water takes place twice in a year, first in Sha’ban and then in the twelfth month; Dhul Hijjah.
Heart of a mumin:
The Ka’aba is sacred and revered as Baytullah; the ‘house’ of Allah.
Likewise the heart of a mumin too is honoured as per hadith of the Noble Prophet that, “The heart of a mumin is the ‘throne’ of Allah.” (Qalbul mumin ‘arshullah).
Breaking the idols and washing your heart:
The principal objective for destruction of the idols and washing by the Noble Prophet was essentially to rid the Ka’aba of all forms of idolatry and impurities that had corrupted the pristine message of Islam; submission to Allah SWT.
Reflect over this symbolic ritual of washing the Ka’aba which is being enacted annually in Sha’aban.
One wonders if yet today, there are any physical idols and images still present in the Ka’aba?
Is this applicable to me?
Following the prophetic practice of destroying the idols and washing the Ka’aba, does not the heart of a mumin, being revered as the ‘throne’ of Allah,need to be given a clean up in form of ‘spiritual ghusl’ so as to destroy the idols residing therein and cleanse it from the impure images defacing it?
Identify the idols:
What are these ‘idols’ and ‘images’ that have found home in one’s heart?
Are they not causing pollution to ones status of taqwa and acting as a barrier for ones nafs –self- to attain closeness to Allah SWT?
These idols and images are manifested in various forms such as love of the world, pride, ego, hate, ignorance, laziness, greed, selfishness, najis / haram food, unlawful gaze, disregarding hijab, gossip, backbiting, jealousy, unlawful desires, prohibited sounds of music, lying, addiction to soap operas, unlawful gaze, disregarding hijab and many other acts of sins.
When then, is a day for washing and cleansing the heart of a mumin?
Tonight we will be observing the night of 15th of Sha’baan, also known as Laylatul Bara-ah, the night of acquiring acquittal /exemption of sins.
Our fifth Imam Muhammad Al Baaqir a.s. described the fifteenth night of Sh’aban as the most excellent night after Laylatul Qadr. During this night Allah SWT bestows His bounty on His people and forgives them out of His Grace and Mercy. Indeed it is an occasion of great blessing.
Muslims around the world congregate in mosques and hold all night vigils to pray for safety, increase in sustenance, protection from calamities and to seek forgiveness of sins.
Why not utilise this great opportunity of Laylatul Bara-ah (Night of immunity), to undertake the ‘washing’ of one’s heart?
The washing cycle of this ‘spiritual washing machine’ for the heart of mumin includes performance of ghusl, spending the whole night in prayers, supplications, seeking istighfar, redressing the wrong doing, making amends in relationships, fasting and other deeds.
Will you take advantage of this washing night, the Laylatul Bara-ah?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat