I'm a writer, blogger, husband and father. Writing is my passion, and sharing beneficial knowledge and insights has been a pillar of my life for many years. I blog at dreamlife.wordpress.com.
With Hajj being only weeks away, I thought I’d share some historical pictures from Hajj and the Kabah – so that we can get a sense of what it was like before the modernisation and convenience of the 21st century. 1885 1938 1953 1941 -when there Masjid Al-Haram was flooded Unknown time … More Hajj in times of old
Hajj is on the horizon, and a common attitude among our communities is that it’s something you only do when you’re old. While you’re young, you want to live your life (i.e. “have fun”), and when you get older and settle down, you’ll make this journey, change to be a better Muslim, and live the … More “When I get older, insha-Allah”
If you’re going to spend the money to get customised number plates, what’s the point of choosing a message that’s redundant? Previous mysteries are available here.
One of the most important objectives of this blog is to share beneficial knowledge and advice – whether that comes from experts or just my own (or other people’s) experience. And with Ramadan completed, the months of Hajj have now begun. That means that for the many prospective hujjaaj who are going this year, things … More Leaving for Hajj soon?
Here in South Africa, it’s the 27th night of Ramadan – popularly referred to as ‘Laylatul Qadr’; even though there is absolutely NO certainty that the 27th night is indeed this auspicious occasion. ANY of the odd nights of the last 10 may be Laylatul Qadr – so it’s wiser to treat each odd night … More 27th Night Syndrome
Previous posts in this series: Parts 1 to 7 The certainty The Prophet s.a.w. reportedly* advised us to “Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures” – referring to death. It’s the only certainty we have in life – the fact that we will die; and it’s a fact that everyone accepts – even the atheists. Personally, … More Hajj Chronicles Part 8: Every soul shall taste it
Many times in life, we build expectations about how certain future events should be. We make our plans and get excited…and then things turn out totally differently. And when things don’t go the way we wanted, it’s easy to become disillusioned and feel like all is lost. Recently, it almost happened to me. You see: … More (D)ramadan
Following on from last year’s stories of the Prophets theme, Mufti Ismail Menk is back in South Africa this Ramadan (in Polokwane this time). The theme of his talks this year is seerah (the life of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w). You can find the videos and audios at Muslim Central If you know of any … More Mufti Menk 2012 Ramadan series
Although the Ramadan 2012 Early Bird Challenge focused intensely on specific areas of preparation, it’s also important to do more general planning for the month – such as outlining the kind of schedule you’d like to keep, along with listing other areas you want to work on and actions you’d like to take forward beyond … More Ramadan 2012 planning: Downloadable template and resources
Continuing from last time, we now look at a few other attractions in the city of Madinah. The Cave of Uhud Related to the Battle of Uhud is the Cave of Uhud, which is quite far from the battle site. The cave – which sits on the side of Mount Uhud – is where the … More Hajj Chronicles Part 7: Madinah attractions (Part 2 of 2)
slip-sliding away..... 