By Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia 

Virtues of the glorious month of Ramadaan have been relayed over the years, especially of the last ten days which is considered the most blessed.

One of the most virtuous acts of ibaadah is going in to the state of I’tikaaf as it is the renowned Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which is popular among many Muslims.

The act refers to the last ten days of Ramadaan in which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stayed in seclusion and avoided worldly interaction till the last night when the crescent of Shawwal was sighted.

It is narrated from Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (Ra) that “Rasoolullah (SAW) PERFORMED I’tikaaf during the first ten days of Ramadhaan. He then performed I’tikaaf for the middle ten days in a Turkish tent. He then placed his head out of the tent and said, “I performed I’tikaaf in the first ten days in search of the night of Qadr. I then performed I’tikaaf in the second ten days. An angel came to me and it was said that the night will be in the last ten nights. For this reason,those who are performing I’tikaaf with me should also do so during the last ten nights. I was shown this night but was later made to forget it. Indeed I saw myself prostrating in mud on the morning following this night. Therefore, seek it in the odd nights of the last ten days.” The narrator says that it rained during that night and the Masjid had a thatched roof. Water was dripping from it and I saw the effect of mud on the forehead of Rasoolullah SAW on the morning of the twenty first.”

Now, during the last ten days of the month many people from South Africa and the United Kingdom make the voyage to the third holiest site in the Muslim World… Masjidul Aqsa, the only place where all the Ambiyaah (AS) performed salaah together in a congregation led by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on the journey of Israh.

Radio Islam’s Mufti Yusuf Moosagie crossed over to Brother Feroz Laher from Houghton who is currently on his third visit to Masjidul Aqsa in Jerusalem.

Laher and his entourage made the journey through Addis Ababa for the first time after leaving Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon and reached Tel Aviv on Sunday morning at around 4am.

He says that words can’t describe the feeling once you enter the Haram of Masjidul Aqsa.

“One becomes lost for words, when you come to the Haram and you just enter the Haram of Masjidul Aqsa, there’s something so special about it, each year, the experience becomes more special than before.”

Laher says the city takes him back in time.

“I don’t think anywhere in the world you going to experience going back over a thousand years in time as you walking through the streets of the old city towards the Haram, something you won’t experience elsewhere.”

Laher says the compound is so big that when you look at the Dome Of The Rock, Masjid Qiblatain, Masjid Marwaan, they are all significant sites and knowing the history behind them makes it that more extraordinary.

He says there are around 50 to 75 people in Sunnat Itikaaf from South Africa.

“They are all in high spirits; and another growing trend which we’ve seen over the years as well, is that there’s more brothers from the United Kingdom who are coming to Masjidul Aqsa as well.”

Laher says that during the day they try to get as much rest as possible as the evenings prove to be quite short.

“Taraweeh salaah ends at around 11pm, Qiyaamul Layl starts at 1:30am and Sehri ends at 4am.”

He has sent special greetings back home and has urged all South Africans to make the journey to Masjidul Aqsa when the opportunity arises.

Twitter:@thedabhelia