Issue no: 164
21st June 2013
11th Shabaan 1434 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
The door of Ka’aba is opened:
At the commencement of month of Sha’ban, the door of the holy Ka’aba in Masjidul Haram, Makka, is opened. The Saudi Kingdom authorities and Religious Chiefs enter the Ka’aba where an elaborate ceremony for washing the Ka’aba with zamzam water takes place.
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 the Ka’aba is washed 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 wherein he stated that,”The heart of a mumin is the ‘throne’ of Allah.” (Qalbul mumin ‘arshullah).
Defiling sacred icons:
Would the thought of desecrating the Ka’aba, Baytullah, ever occur in the mind of a muslim?
Without any hesitation, the immediate response to this question would definitely be a resounding NO.
Likewise would it be befitting for a muslim to cause harm to the ‘arshullah; the heart of a believer? How does one cause harm to the ‘arshullah?
Wash your heart:
In following the prophetic practice of washing the Ka’aba, reflect over this symbolic ritual being enacted annually in Sha’aban.
Does not the heart of a mumin:- the ‘throne’ of Allah need to be given a ‘spiritual ghusl’ to cleanse it from the idols residing in the heart?
Identify the idols:
What are these idols that have found home in our hearts? Are they not causing pollution to our taqwa and acting as a barrier for our nafs –selves- to attain closeness to Allah SWT?
These idols are manifested in various forms such as love of the world, pride, ego, hate, ignorance, laziness, greed, selfishness, najis / haram food, gossip, backbiting, jealousy, unlawful desires, prohibited sounds of music, addiction to soap operas, unlawful gaze, disregarding hijab and many other acts of sins.
Prepare to wash your heart:
The night of Fifteenth Sh’aban, also known as Laylatul Bara-ah (Night of immunity), is a great opportunity for one to undertake the ‘washing’ of one’s heart.
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.
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 and other deeds.
Will you take advantage of this Laylatul Bara-ah, the washing night?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat