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Travel Vietnam 12 - 23rd December 2011

Vietnam: Hanoi - Sapa - Halong Bay- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City

Arrived Hanoi early morning and was stunned by the weather. I was expecting d heat of Indonesia, but was proved otherwise. It was just 20 degrees celcius cool, and that transported me back to the lovey time I spent in the cool Spring in Japan. :)

A warm welcome by the staffs of Essence made us feel right about d vacation. I felt there was some special calling to be heard of felt on the trip..

Do beware of the metered taxis though.. coz d metres fare is almost never fair! Always bargain a price, ask d hotels what amount is fair to be paid so u nvr get cheated. We took our very first cab from the train station to the hotel, something that cos about 60,000VD(vietnamese dong) , metred at 350,000VD. So beware.

We took a train, anight sleeper up to Sapa, a 9.30pm train that arrived about 5a.m. at Sapa. Take ur thick jackets and woolen socks n gloves.It gets really cold esp in the evenings...

Sapa can be beautifully defined for its weather;

Spring in the morning, Summer in the early afternoon, Autumn in the late afternoon, and inter in the bitter cold nights.

IT IS NOW OR NEVER!!!

The Historical Significance of ‘Ashura

 
The Historical Significance of ‘Ashura 
Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it." [Sahih Muslim]
Abu Qatada (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. [Sahih Muslim]
Abu Huraira (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim]
Alhamdulillah, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has blessed us to see another year. The first month of this year is Muharram. In this month is an excellent day—the day of ‘Ashura—which falls on the 10th of Muharram. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) recommended that we fast on this day, by his Sunnah. He also indicated how we should observe the fast of ‘Ashura.
Hakam ibn Al-Arat (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I went to Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh)… I said to him: Tell me about fasting on ‘Ashura. He said, "When you seen the new moon of Muharram count the (days) and (begin to) observe fast on the 9th." I said to him: "Is it how the Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed the fast?" He said, "Yes." [Sahih Muslim]
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said: "If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram (as well)." [Sahih Muslim]
(Note: What the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) meant was that he would also fast on the 9th as well as the 10th to which he was accustomed. We also should try fasting on the 9th and the 10th of Muharram.)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said: "It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it." The Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) responded: "We have more right, and we have closer connection with Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) than you have"; so Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim]
‘Ashura is a day of great historical significance. On this day: Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam ('Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise; Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) saved Sayyidina Nuh ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark; Allah extinguished the fire in which Sayyidina Ibrahim ('Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrod; And Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) spoke directly to Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments. On this same 10th of Muharram, Sayyidina Ayyub ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy); Sayyidina Yusuf ('Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya’qub ('Alaihis-Salaam); Sayyidina Yunus ('Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish; and the sea was divided as the nation of israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah’s army was destroyed. ‘Ashura is also the day when Sayyidina Dawud ('Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven; the kingdom of Sulaiman ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored; Sayyidina Isa ('Alaihis-Salaam) was raised to Jannah and Sayyidina al-Husayn (Radiyallahu 'anh) (the Holy Prophet’s, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, grandson) achieved the honor of Martyrdom.1
Worship Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as much as you can on ‘Ashura. Whoever fasts on this day is like one who fasts all his life. Whoever clothes a naked person Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will release him from a painful punishment. He who visits a sick person, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will grant him a reward that will not be decreased. Whoever places his hand on an orphan’s head, or feeds a hungry person or gives water to a thirsty man, Allah will feed him a feast from Paradise and will quench his thirst with Salsabil (a wine that does not intoxicate). And who ever takes a Ghusl on this day will enjoy excellent health and freedom from sickness and indolence. Whoever provides generously for his family on this day, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will be generous to him throughout this year. And whoever applies Kuhl to his eyes will never suffer from eye-sore again, inSha’Allah al-Aziz.2
O’ Allah! Bless us to perform good deeds and gain their reward on ‘Ashura. Make the new year one of unity, cooperation and success for Muslims in this city and around the world. Ameen.

1. These are mentioned as what scholars have determined as the specialties of that day in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilani.
2. These specialties are  mentioned in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilani.

Excerpt taken by site sunnah. org

Spiritual Practices on the Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)

Spiritual Practices on the Day of Ashura (10^th Muharram)

1.     Recite

"Hasbun Allahu wa ni'mal wakil, ni'mal Maula wa ni'man Nasir" [70 x],

2.     Recite

"Hasbun Allahu mil-al Mizan wa muntaha-l 'ilmi, wa mablaghal rida,

wa zinatal 'arshi, laa malja-a wa laa manja min Allahi illa ilaihi.

Subhan Allahi 'adada-sh-shaf`i wal 'arshi, wa 'adada kalimati

Rabbina-t taamma ti kulliha.
As-aluka-s Salamata bi Rahmatika Ya Arham Ar-Rahimin,

wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil 'Aliyyil 'Azhim.

Wa huwa hasbii wa ni'mal wakil,

ni'mal Mawla wa ni'man Nasir.

Wa Sallallahu 'ala Sayyidina
Muhammadin wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma'in." [7 x].

3.     Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas  (1000 x) on the 9^th and 10^th  of Muharram

(InshaAllah will bring happiness for the whole year)

4.     Whoever prays in 'Ashura four [4] sunnah rak'at on the day
of 'Ashura, where after the Fatihah in each rak'ah recites "Qul Huwa
Allahu Ahad" eleven [11] times, Allah will forgive his sins of
fifty years, and will build for him a pulpit from light.

(This is usually done during time of Duha on the day of 'Ashura. Make intention to pray 4 rak'at (like Zuhr, 'Asr, and 'Isha prayer with 1 salam) Sunnah Yaum al-'Ashura. After the Fatihah in each rak'ah, recite Al-Ikhlas 11 times)

Today is the 9th Muharram, tomoro the 10th. Please feel free to share this information with your contacts today. May our deed be accepted by Allah swt and He be pleased with us.

Wassalaam
zai