Hajj and our relationship with Allah (SWT)

They say that change in anything begins with ones own heart. So everything I say today will be towards me at first and hopefully it will encourage and promote change in all of us insha’Allah. Consider this khudbah like therapy :).

Every breath we take is a gift from Allah, imagine how small a gift a breath can be, and then compare that to the gift of being invited to hajj. But remember, Allah will not just invite you himself, Allah helps those who help themselves, so you must make an effort in trying to get there and Allah will guide you the rest of the way insha’Allah.

The hajj chapter in Malcolm X’s autobiography is a good read if you want to get the feel of brotherhood and unity at Hajj. He was one of the very first American Muslims to go there and look at how many go now masha’Allah. He also describes how hajj had changed his life and how it brought him to the true islam.

Change in a person doesn’t happen because of hajj. Hajj is just supposed to reinforce the iman of a person. Change happens in a person’s heart, his connection to Allah has been upgraded from dial up to broadband. The internet doesn’t change, just like anyone’s iman. Its been there from the beginning, since we have been born. We all just need it to be unlocked. Its like being on instant messenger all the time because of broadband connection. Hajj allows us to unlock that potential iman and let us be on the Islamic path 24/7 just like AIM.

Aim has always been there, just like Iman. Its just waiting for you to sign on. God is waiting for you to sign on, God is waiting for you at hajj. Insha’Allah.

Relationships, at our ages Alhumdulillah, we are blessed with so many types of relationships. We build our relations with our peers and our teachers (especially you science majors). We test our relations with our parents everyday, our bonds are tested with every person through trials and tribulations of the spirit and mind. Small disagreements, problems are thrown our way to test our patience and the strength of our relations with others on this planet. Use these tests as an opportunity to boost the strength of your relation with another. Just like each Chemistry or physics test is a great (yet very difficult) opportunity to boost your grade in that class, the problems and times of struggles are our opportunity as people to boost imaan and inner bonding strength with others.

But, one thing I have lacked, and maybe some of you have as well, is a good relation with the lord. We are taught from young to fear Allah and to know the power he bestows upon all. One thing we are not taught, which can only be acquired through time and patience with our religion is to love Allah. To know Allah, is to understand the beauty, the power, everything that is amazing about him. And the best way to do that is to establish a wonderful relationship with Allah just as we would with anyone else. Just as we would talk to our friends and family, I believe a good session of just talking with Allah is just as importantly needed. Conversations, open heart discussions and even the occasional extra prayer to remind Allah of how we are here to serve him are the best ways to gain perspective and to establish a nice relation with our creator. Once we learn to love Allah, we can eventually learn to love ourselves and hopefully other people insha’Allah. Its amazing to see how much love can take us so far in this world and it all begins with love of our creator and our beneficient.

Love the creator and love him for the blessings he has given us in this temporary life. For it is our love of him and not the love of his creations which will include us all in heaven for the after life.

Oh Allah, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.

I ask YOU now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day with and w attitude and plenty of gratitude

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

Let me continue to see sin through YOUR eyes and acknowledge it as evil.

And when I sin, let me repent, and receive YOUR forgiveness.

Continue to pursue me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong so that I may help the weak.

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I make DUA for those that are lost and can’t find their way.

I make DUA for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I make DUA for those who don’t know YOU intimately.

I make DUA for those that don’t believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that Allah changes people and Allah changes things.

I make DUA for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households.

I make DUA for peace, love, and joy in their homes that they care out of debt and all their needs are met.

I make DUA that every eye that reads this, every ear that hears this, knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than Allah.

I make DUA that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them every ear that hears this, and every mouth that confesses it willingly.

This is my DUA. INSHA-ALLAH. AMEEN.

Wa Aqeema Salat