Saudi Arafah or Local Dhu'l-Hijjah 9?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

I asked one of my teachers as whether to follow Saudi Arabia or local moonsighting which would make Dhu'l-Hijjah 9 to fall a day later locally. He said, "I don't know. SubhanAllah it's a difficult time we live."

There is a proverb in Arabic: “Saying I don't know is half of the knowledge.”

Imam Malik ibn Anas was one of the most respected scholars of fiqh who ever lived. Once a man came to imam Malik from a very far distance and he asked him 40 questions. Imam Malik only answered four of them and for the rest of the 36 questions he replied, “I don't know.” The man was surprised and asked Imam Malik “What should I tell people about these 36 questions for which you said (I don't know)?” Imam Malik replied that the man should tell the people that Malik says: “I don't know,” “I don't know,” “I don't know.” Imam Malik said this 3 times.

Not all questions have an answer. Imam Malik said, “The shield of the scholar is, ‘I don’t know’, so If he leaves it down, his attacker will strike him.”

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked a question about a verse from the Book of Allah and he said in reply,

“Which earth will carry me? Which sky will shade me? If I say about an ayah from the Book of Allah other than what Allah, the Perfect and Most High, intended.” [At-Tabari 1:78]

Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said,

“Whoever is given a judgment not based upon knowledge, his sin falls upon the one who gave him the judgment.”

Sulaiman added,

“One who gives advice to his brother while knowing what is better lies elsewhere, he has betrayed him.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 24, Number 3657]

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al' As: I heard Allah's Apostle saying,

"Allah does not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the (religious learned men) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray." [Sahih Bukhari]

SubhanAllah, for so many days people have been talking, debating, asking, watching videos, on this issue of the beginning of Dhu'l-Hijjah and Day of Arafah. And it will be repeated for Eid-Adha, tashriq days, next Ramadhan and Eid-Fitr, and the cycle will continue year after year (it happened before), Allah knows, till when.

We really don't need to spend this inordinate amount of time on this issue. This time could have been spent and better spent in the worship of Allah...do more dhikr, tasbih (Subhanallah), tahmid (Alhamdulillah), takbir (Allahu Akbar), tahlil (Laa ilaha Illallah), istighfar (Astaghfirullah hal adzim), salawat (Allahumma salli ala Muhammad), reciting Qur'an, etc.

Allah makes religion easy for the believers.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُۥ جَزَآءً ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا ﴿٨٨

But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease." (88)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:88]

Of course, we do need to do a little bit of homework if we don't know what to do in matters of worship but make sure that the one we are consulting is a reputable scholar.

Just go with that as our guide.

وَٱللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٥٦ ...

... and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:255]

May Allah grant us a sound understanding of His religion and accept our worship and deeds. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Let's Recite Surah Kahf Today -- Materialism, The Fitnah of Our Time

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The great fitnah of our time is materialism. What Dajjal will do is make the dunya look better. Someone who only believe in the world now, should pay attention to the Story of the Cave in Surah Al-Kahf.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧﴾ وَإِنَّا لَجَـٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا ﴿٨﴾ أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا ﴿٩

Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. (7) And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground. (8) Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? (9)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:7-9]

You and I one day are going to be reduced to dust and the earth will be entirely gone. This is what is going to happen to this beautified world.

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46]

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٢٧

Everyone upon the earth will perish, (26) And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor. (27) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (28)

[Qur'an, 55:26-28]

Have a blessed Friday.

May Allah grant us good in this life and the next and enable us to do deeds that are most pleasing to Him. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Pray 'Isha and Fajr at the Masjid

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Congregational prayer at the masjid is one of the major symbols of Islam, the most emphasized of the sunnas of the beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and his joy in this world. Group prayer is a cornerstone of the life of Muslim community. It help build a strong community and strengthen your own relationship with Allah by going to His house.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “If people knew the reward in praying Fajr and Isha in congregation, they would go to the mosque even if they had to crawl.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said, "No prayer (salat) is more burdensome upon the hypocrites than the dawn (fajr) prayer and the night (`isha) prayer." [Bukhari]

He, Allah bless him and give him peace, also said, “Prayer in congregation is superior to prayer alone by twenty seven degrees.” [Bukhari & Muslim, from Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him)]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The most burdensome of prayers for the hypocrites are ‘Isha’ and Fajr. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl. I was thinking of ordering that the call to prayer be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would set out with some men carrying bundles of wood and go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down with them inside.”

Uthman bin `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: “One who performs Isha’ prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night. And one who performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat the whole night.” [Muslim]

In another narration, he narrated that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying: “He who attends Isha’ in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night; and he who attends `Isha’ and Fajr prayers in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for the whole night.” [Tirmidhi]

Think about it: every day you can earn such tremendous reward just by praying at the masjid. Consistent good deeds like this are beloved to Allah. So strive to pray at the masjid. If you can't pray all the five prayers at the masjid, then at the very minimum, pray 'Isha and Fajr at the masjid. If the masjid is close, there is no excuse.

If the masjid is far, make plans to move closer to the masjid in the near future. And if you are planning to move, find a home that is close to a masjid.

May Allah grant us tawfiq. Ameen.

Extracted from Islamqa.com

I offer all the obligatory prayers in the mosque, praise be to Allaah, except for Fajr, which I pray at home. Is that permissible?.

Praise be to Allaah.

You should note that Allaah has blessed you by enabling you to offer the prayers in the mosque with the congregation, to stand before Allaah in His house and establish this great ritual of Islam and to do that which Allaah has enjoined upon you. There is nothing that is more beloved to Allaah than fulfilment of what He has enjoined. We have already discussed the obligation of praying in congregation in question no. 8918.

With regard to what you say about praying Fajr in your house, this is a sin for which you must repent to Allaah, and it is a problem from which you are suffering and we ask Allaah to help you to overcome it. That is because the evidence which indicates that it is obligatory to pray in congregation does not apply only to some prayers and not others, rather it is general in meaning and applies to all the prayers, the first of which is Fajr, about which you are asking.

How can you feel comfortable about not praying Fajr in congregation and depriving yourself of complete light on the Day of Resurrection? Abu Dawood (561), al-Tirmidhi (223) and Ibn Maajah (781) narrated from Buraydah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Give glad tidings to those who walk to the mosques in the dark, of perfect light on the Day of Resurrection.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb.

How can you feel comfortable about not praying Fajr in congregation and depriving yourself of meeting the angels and their testifying for you before your Lord? Al-Bukhaari (555) and Muslim (632) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Angels come to you in succession, night and day, and they meet at Fajr prayer and ‘Asr prayer, then those who stayed among you overnight ascend and [Allaah] asks them – although He knows better about them – ‘How did you leave My slaves?’ and they say, ‘We left them when they were praying and we came to them when they were praying.’”

How can you feel comfortable about not praying Fajr in congregation and depriving yourself of the reward of spending half the night in prayer? Muslim narrated in his Saheeh (656) that ‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whoever prays ‘Isha’ in congregation, it is as if he spent half the night in prayer, and whoever prays Fajr in congregation, it is as if he spent the whole night in prayer.”

According to a report narrated by Abu Dawood (555) and al-Tirmidhi (221): “Whoever prays ‘Isha’ in congregation, it is as if he spent half the night in prayer, and whoever prays ‘Isha’ and Fajr in congregation, it is as if he spent the (whole) night in prayer.”

How can you feel comfortable about not praying Fajr in congregation and depriving yourself of the protection of Allaah? It was narrated that Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays Fajr with the congregation will be under the protection of Allaah, and whoever violates this protection of Allaah, Allaah will throw him into the Fire on his face.” Al-Haythami said in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id: This was narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer in a hadeeth; this is its wording and its men are the men of saheeh; it was also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb.

The origin of this hadeeth is in Saheeh Muslim, in the chapter entitled The virtue of praying ‘Isha’ and Fajr in congregation (657). “Whoever violates the protection of Allaah,” means by harming and offending the believer who prayed Fajr in congregation.

How can you feel comfortable about not praying Fajr in congregation when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has told us that feeling that it is too burdensome to pray Fajr in congregation is the sign of the hypocrites? Al-Bukhaari (657) and Muslim (651) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The most burdensome of prayers for the hypocrites are ‘Isha’ and Fajr. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl. I was thinking of ordering that the call to prayer be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would set out with some men carrying bundles of wood and go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down with them inside.”

‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “When we noticed that a man was not present at Fajr and ‘Isha’ prayer, we would think badly of him.” Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, 764, and elsewhere; he classed it as saheeh according to the conditions of the two shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim), and al-Dhahabi and al-Albaani agreed with him.

The Muslim who is keen to attend the prayers in congregation, as you describe yourself, would not feel comfortable, in sha Allaah, to miss praying Fajr in congregation, after hearing what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said about that.

May Allaah help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Prepare for Divine Mercy on 9th Dhu'l-Hijjah -- The Best Day of the Year (Day of Arafah)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We are approaching the climax of the magnificent ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which is the Day of `Arafah (9th Dhu’l-Hijjah).

It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allah’s Favor was completed. It was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah (verse) in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Ma’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafah on a Friday.” {Bukhari & Muslim]

On this day there is an immense outpouring of Divine mercy and bounty and it is considered by many scholars to be the best day of the year.

On this day Allah descends to the nearest heaven in a manner that suits His Majesty, and He is proud of His slaves on the earth and says to those in heaven, “Look at My servants. They have come from far and near, with hair disheveled and faces covered with dust, to seek My mercy, even though they have not seen My chastisement. Far more people are freed from the Hellfire on the Day of Arafah than on any other day.” (Abu Ya’la, Ibn Khzayma, al-Bazzar and Ibn Hibban)

It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there: It was narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’” [Muslim]

It has also been narrated that anyone who has an atom’s weight of faith in their heart will be forgiven by Allah on this day, whether or not they actually stand at `Arafah. [Abū Dāūd]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught those not on Ḥajj to fast on this day with the promise that this would wipe away the wrongdoings of the previous year and the wrongdoings of the year to come. [Muslim, Aḥmad, Abū Dāūd and al-Nasā’ī]

What is meant by the wrongdoings of the coming year being wiped out? The scholars mention that it is either protection from falling into them in the coming year or that if we fall into them, we will be forgiven. The wrongdoings mentioned are “minor” sins between a person and Allah, not cases where one person has wronged another. This is an immense gift from Allah to the Ummah of His Beloved (Allah bless him and grant him peace). There is no day better in the sight of Allah than the Day of Arafah.

We should turn to Allah to ask for forgiveness and for our needs to be answered, especially in the afternoon of this day. In doing so we imitate the people standing at `Arafah, to whom forgiveness is guaranteed, and we ask Allah to give to us what He is giving to them. As the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The one who imitates a people is one of them.”[Abū Dāūd and Aḥmad]

We should apportion some time to recite the Qur’ān. It has been narrated that whoever reads Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ one thousand times will be given whatever they ask for. [al-Hindī in Kanz al-`Ummā]

We should also bestow prayers upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), and spend time in other forms of remembrance, particularly tahlīl, or proclaiming the oneness of Allah. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The best prayer is the prayer of the Day of `Arafah. The best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is:

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هَو عَلَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِيرٍ

Lā ilāha ill’Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahu’l-mulku wa lahu’l-ḥamdu wa `alā kulli shayin qadīr

“There is no god but Allah, alone, He has no partners. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.” [al-Tirmidhī]

Another narration contains the following addition to the previous prayer:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ في قَلْبي نُوراً و في سَمْعِي نوراً و في بَصَري نوراً ، اللَّهُمَّ اشْرِحْ لي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لي أَمْرِي

Allāhumma’j`al fī qalbī nūran wa fī sam`ī nūran wa fī baṣarī nūran. Allāhumma’shraḥ lī ṣadrī wa yassir lī amrī

“O Allah, place light in my heart, my hearing and my sight. O Allah, My Lord bring tranquillity to my heart and give me ease in my affair.” [al-Bayhaqī]

Sayyidunā `Alī (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the supplication that the Prophet made most on the Day of `Arafah was:

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الحَمْدُ كَالَّذي نَقُولُ وخَيْراً مِمَّا نَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صَلاتِي ونُسُكِي ومَحْيَايَ ومَمَاتِي وإِلَيْكَ مَآبِي ولَكَ رَبِّ تُرَاثِي اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَبْرِ ووَسْوَسَةِ الصَّدْرِ وشَتَاتِ الأَمْرِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِن شَرِّ ما تَهُبُّ بِهِ الرِّيحُ

Allāhumma laka’l-ḥamdu kalladhī naqūlu wa kharyan mimmā naqūlu. Allāhumma laka ṣalātī wa nusukī wa maḥyāya mamātī wa ilayka ma`ābi wa laka rabbi turāthī. Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika min `adhābi’l-qabri wa waswasati’l-ṣadri wa shatāt al-amri. Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika min sharri mā tahubbu bihi arrīḥ

“O Allah, to You belongs all praise, as we praise You and better than that. O Allah, my prayer, worship, life and death are for You, and to You is my return. Everything I possess, my Lord, returns to You. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, the whispering of the devil and from my affairs being in disarray. O Allah I seek refuge in You from the evil which the wind carries” [al-Tirmidhī]

May Allah accept our worship and good deeds and forgive all our sins and shortcomings. May Allah grant the pilgrims an accepted hajj, make them remember to make du'a for us, and grant us the opportunity to perform hajj next year. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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The Day of Arafah: Important for Hajjis and Non-Hajjis

Action With Patience

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Each one of us has faced, is facing and will face more trials in this life. No one is exempted from this.

Allah Almighty has forewarned,

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ ﴿٤

Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. (4)

[Qur'an, Al-Balad 90:4]

You just have to face it. But how?

If you pay attention to the Islamic calendar, this is the hajj season where millions of people from all over the world are doing the Sa'ee, running between al-Safaa’ and al-Marwah as part of their hajj rites. This should remind us of the trial of Hajar, a mother who was patient in the face of adversity. She didn’t just sit down, cry and moan, feeling sorry for herself, but trusted her Lord and got into action.

Trials are a way to purify us. They ease our burden on the Day of Judgment, if we respond to them with patience.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.

[Bukhari].

Trials are also to remind us of our purpose in life. If we are distant from Allah Almighty, the test is usually to bring us close to Him. The test should make one realizes that he has no one at all, but Allah.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ ﴿٥

Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? (5)

[Qur'an, Al-Balad 90:5]

If you are close to Allah Almighty, it is a test of your resilience. Can you maintain and sustain the good actions when times are trying and the cloud is changing? Some people lose it when times are difficult, and the Qur'an mention this kind of people.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١١

And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss. (11)

[Qur'an, Al-Hajj 22:11]

Tests are also out of Allah’s love. His beloved Messengerﷺ was the most tested. The Prophet ﷺ said:

When Allah loves a servant, He tests him.

[Tirmidhi].

In a hadith qudsi (a hadith relating the words of Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty tells Jibril to delay the response to the supplication of a servant because Allah Almighty loves hearing his voice [Tabarani].

Trials don't have to be hardship. Sometimes the greatest trial is ease. If you don't know this, at the level of faith this is problematic. When everything is okay, you may feel that you have no need for Allah. If you say this, that is disbelief. On the other hand, if you do not feel that desperate need of Allah in all your states, you are deficient in faith because that is not how a believer is.

True believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, their heart quakes and when Qur'an is recited to them, it increases them in faith and they put trust in Allah. Outwardly, they establish the prayers and they spend of what Allah has provided them.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely - (2) The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (3)

[Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:2-3]

Allah makes it clear that not all believers are the same -- there are limitless ranks.

أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤

Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision. (4)

[Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:4]

In these trying times, in fact all times are trying, we can't survive without Faith (Iman) in Islam. We should knock at every opportunity that Allah open for us to increase our iman. Don't let the first 10 days of Dhu'l-Hijjah pass you by without doing more good deeds and the recommended acts of worship.

May Allah enable us to do righteous deeds and make us of those who are patient. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam