Grounded

Welcome back to Road to Hajj — your practical companion for the blessed days of Hajj.

In today’s episode, we explore 8 Dhul-Hijjah, also known as Yawm at-Tarwiyah — the Day of Preparation. While it might sound unfamiliar to some, it’s one of the key transitional days leading into the main Hajj rites.

🗓️ What is the Day of Tarwiyah?

“Tarwiyah” comes from the root word rawā, which means to prepare water or to reflect deeply.

Historically:

* Hujjaj would spend this day collecting and preparing water, food, and provisions before heading out for the challenging days of Hajj.

* It’s a day of practical readiness but also spiritual reflection, especially in honour of Prophet Ibrāhīm’s dream where he was shown to sacrifice his son — a pivotal moment in the Hajj story.

🕋 What Should You Do on This Day?

If you’re doing:

* Hajj Ifrād or Hajj Qirān

You’re already in Ihrām, so there’s no need to re-enter.

* Hajj Tamattuʿ

This is the day you re-enter the state of Ihrām, from wherever you are — no need to return to Miqāt. You can make niyyah right from your hotel room and start your Hajj journey.

⛺ Do You Go to Mina?

* It’s Sunnah to go to Mina on this day.

* However, due to logistics, not all Hajj groups go to Mina on the 8th. Some may head straight to ʿArafah on the 9th.

* If your group is going to Mina, it becomes your base camp for the days to come.

🎒 What Should You Pack?

Most essentials are provided in modern Hajj packages, but here’s a minimalist list for what you should bring in a small daypack (~10L):

* A refillable water bottle (hydration is key!)

* A power bank (charging stations are rare)

* Your Muṣḥaf for tilawah

* Books of duʿā’ or dhikr (keep yourself spiritually grounded)

* A sibḥah (for tasbīḥ counting)

* A thin spare Ihrām cloth — useful if the one you’re wearing gets wet or dusty

💭 Spiritual Reflection

The Day of Tarwiyah also carries a symbolic meaning:

* It’s believed to be the day Prophet Ibrāhīm received the dream to sacrifice his son.

* He pondered (rawā) over its meaning before deciding to act on it the next day.

* For us, it’s a day to ponder our own intentions — to spiritually prepare for the greatest day of the year: ʿArafah.

Welcome to Road to Hajj, a practical podcast series designed to help pilgrims—especially those travelling from Australia—navigate their journey to the House of Allah. This is not an academic deep dive, but a step-by-step companion for anyone wanting to be better prepared, both spiritually and practically, for the days of Hajj.

📌

Episode Summary

In this opening episode, Ustadh Azizi breaks down the three types of Hajj that Muslims may perform:

* Hajj Ifrād (إفراد) – “The solo Hajj”

* Intention: Only Hajj.

* Enter Makkah already in Ihrām.

* Perform Hajj without Umrah beforehand.

* No penalty (دم) required.

* Favoured by Shāfiʿī and Mālikī schools for its purity and effort.

* Hajj Tamattuʿ (تمتع) – “The enjoyable Hajj”

* Intention: Umrah first, then Hajj.

* Perform Umrah and exit Ihrām.

* Enjoy normal life until re-entering Ihrām for Hajj on 8th Dhul-Hijjah.

* Most common type among international pilgrims today.

* Encouraged by Hanbalī scholars and also recommended by the Prophet ﷺ.

* Hajj Qirān (قران) – “The combined Hajj”

* Intention: Umrah and Hajj together.

* Perform both acts while remaining continuously in Ihrām.

* Requires more endurance and a sacrificial offering (دم).

* Practised by the Prophet ﷺ during his Farewell Hajj.

* Favoured by the Ḥanafī school.

🧳

Which Hajj Should I Choose?

* Most pilgrims from Australia will perform Tamattuʿ.

* Airlines like Emirates or Qatar will announce the Miqāt (Ihrām entry point) ~40 minutes before Jeddah.

* Be ready to change into Ihrām garments at the airport and make niyyah before crossing Miqāt in the air.

💡

Scholarly Opinions

* Ḥanafīs: Qirān is superior because the Prophet ﷺ performed it.

* Ḥanbalīs: Tamattuʿ is best—more accessible and encouraged by the Prophet ﷺ.

* Shāfiʿīs & Mālikīs: Ifrād is preferred—pure Hajj with no infringements or penalties.

Here’s a smooth, podcast-style version of your transcript with a clear structure, natural flow, and a catchy title:

🎙️ BeQuranic | Tajweed Tuesday – The People of the Left (Ashab al-Shimal)

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and welcome back to BeQuranic.

It’s week 4, and today is Tuesday – which means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesday! We’re continuing with our journey through Surah al-Waqi‘ah this term, and today we’re reading Ayat 41 to 56, which focus on the third category of people mentioned in this Surah: Ashab al-Shimal — the people of the left.

Just a quick reminder before we dive into the ayat:

We’re now in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah — the best ten days of the year. So let’s increase our acts of worship, reduce our distractions, and make the most of this window of opportunity.

That means:

* More Qur’an reading

* More dhikr

* More salah

* And if you’re able, more fasting

Especially on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm ‘Arafah.

Fasting on this day wipes away the sins of the previous year and the coming year — two years of forgiveness for just one day of fasting.

And if you’re not fasting — for example, if you’re unable due to health or it’s that time of the month — you can still earn reward by feeding others who are fasting. Even something simple like a date or a glass of water counts, and Rasulullah ﷺ promised that the reward of feeding a fasting person is equal to the fast itself, without diminishing the reward of the one who fasted.

Alright — now let’s recite Ayat 41 to 56 together.

And remember, when you’re reading:

* Smooth out each verse.

* Focus on one ayah at a time.

* Don’t rush — the goal is quality, not speed.

* Once you’re comfortable, link the ayahs together and keep the fluency going.

Pro tip: Every time you revise, start from the beginning — ayah by ayah — so it all flows naturally by the end of the week.

Alright — that’s all for today’s Tajweed Tuesday. I’ll see you again on Thursday for Tafsir Thursday, where we explore the lessons behind these ayat — what they tell us, how they challenge us, and how we can live them.

Until then, keep practising — and may Allah bless your Qur’an journey.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

In this special session, I walk a group of youth through the meaning, rituals, and spiritual significance of Hajj—starting with a mock Hajj and ending with a powerful reminder about the sincerity of our journey to Allah.

💫 In this episode:

* Why Hajj matters: its origins in the call of Prophet Ibrahim (as), the sacred months, and the spiritual and historic…

Khutbah at Iqro’ Centre Jumuah Prayer

Today happens to be the fifth Friday of the month — normally a week off from delivering the khutbah. But when I dropped by Iqro’ Centre this afternoon aand the imam, a dear friend of mine, saw me in the prayer hall, he asked if I could give the sermon. And honestly, how could I say no?

So here it is: lessons from the life of Prophet Ibrahim, drawn from verses 124 to 129 of Surah al-Baqarah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and welcome back to BeQuranic.

Today is Thursday, the 2nd of Dhul-Hijjah, 1446. That means we’ve officially entered the best 10 days of the year — the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Just as the last 10 nights of Ramadan are the most sacred nights — containing Laylatul Qadr — the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are t…

Great! Here’s a refined and structured version of your Tajweed Tuesday + Ayat of the Week script for BeQuranic – Week 3 of Term 2, 2025 (covering Surah Al-Wāqiʿah, verses 27–40). This version improves clarity, flow, and consistency, while keeping your teaching voice and intent intact.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to BeQuranic. Today is Tuesday, and that means it’s Tajweed Tuesday.

Apologies—we didn’t get a chance to upload Ayat of the Week earlier, so in today’s session, we’ll combine both. We’ll recite this week’s portion of Surah Al-Wāqiʿah, and then break down the Tajweed rules within it.

Recitation Tip

When you’re practicing:

✅ Focus on smooth articulation

✅ Pause after each ayah and correct your mistakes

✅ Don’t rush – Tajweed is about beautifying the Qur’an, not racing through it

Wrap-Up

That’s all for this week’s Tajweed Tuesday! Keep practicing these ayat from Surah Al-Wāqiʿah (27–40) and try to observe the Tajweed rules we’ve just gone through.

🎧 Don’t forget to join us again on Thursday for Tafsir Thursday, where we explore the practical lessons from this portion of the surah—how to be more Qur’anic in our actions, speech, and goals.

Until then — keep reciting, keep reflecting.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Welcome back to BeQuranic.

Today is Thursday, which means it’s time for Tafsir Thursday — where we reflect on how to live the Qur’an in practical, everyday ways. At BeQuranic, we’re not diving into academic depth or technical tafsir debates. Instead, we focus on action:

BeQuranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work,…

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to Be Qur’anic!

It’s Tuesday, and that means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesday, where we break down the recitation and pronunciation rules from the Ayat of the Week.

This is Week 2 of Term 2, and we’re continuing with Surah al-Wāqiʿah, focusing on verses 10 to 26. Don’t worry — although that’s 16 ayat, the verses are short and rhythmically structured, which makes them ideal for learning Tajweed.

Let’s begin with Isti‘ādhah:

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

This is not part of the Qur’an but an instruction from Allah — “When you recite the Qur’an, seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān.” So make sure we recite it with presence and proper tajweed, not rushed.

Key Tajweed Highlights

1. Al-Madd (Elongation)

We notice several types of madd in these verses:

* Madd Aṣlī (natural elongation): e.g., Was-sābiqūna — stretch it for two counts.

* Madd Muttasil : Look for wavy signs — these must be stretched to 4 counts.

2. Gunnah (Nasalisation)

Whenever you see nun mushaddadah or meem mushaddadah, like in:

* Muqarrabūn or Waḥūrun ‘īn

There’s wājib al-ghunnah — nasal sound for two counts.

Pinch your nose slightly — you should feel it vibrate.

3. Idghām (Merging)

For tanwīn or nūn sākinah followed by letters of Yarmalūn, you’ll often get:

* Idghām bighunnah (merging with nasalisation), e.g. ‘alā sururin mawḍūnah

* If it’s followed by a non-Yarmalūn letter like sīn, we get ikhfā’ (partial hiding), as in qīlan salāman.

4. Ikhfā’ (Partial nasal concealment)

Found when nūn sākinah or tanwīn is followed by certain letters (like zāy, sīn, ṭā).

Example:

* Yanzifūn — here, nūn is hidden and flows into the sound of zāy with ghunnah.

5. Qalqalah (Bounce or echo)

Letters like qāf, ṭā, bā, jīm, dāl when sākina produce a light bounce.

E.g., lā yuqaddarūn — give the qāf a light bounce.

Important Letter-Specific Reminders

* Raw (ر) should be heavy (tafkhīm) when it has a fatḥah or ḍammah, and light (tarqīq) when it has a kasrah.

* Ṣād (ص) is a heavy letter. Don’t round your lips. The heaviness comes from lifting the back of your tongue, not your lips.

* Ḍād (ض) — sides of the tongue should press against upper molars. Avoid turning it into a “dal”.

* ‘Ayn (ع) — constrict the middle of your throat, not the top or bottom.

* Hamzah (ء) — is a glottal stop, don’t stretch or squeeze it.

Common Symbols

* A small circle above a letter means don’t pronounce it — it’s a silent or dropped letter.

* A wavy line (tilde shape) means long madd — usually 4 to 6 counts.

* A small alif means elongation for 2 counts — usually madd aṣlī.

Practice Advice

Don’t rush through all 16 ayat at once. If you’re just starting, take it one ayah at a time:

* Smooth out each word.

* Pay attention to the makhraj (point of articulation).

* Use a mirror or record yourself to check your pronunciation.

* Once you’re confident, try reciting the entire section with correct tajweed.

For example, start with:

Was-sābiqūna as-sābiqūn. Ulā’ikal muqarrabūn…

— repeat until you’re flowing smoothly with the right pace and rules.

That’s it for Tajweed Tuesday!

Keep practising the ayat, and take note of these Tajweed points as you recite.

See you on Thursday, inshaAllah, for Tafsir Thursday, where we’ll explore the meanings behind these powerful verses from Surah al-Wāqiʿah.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to Be Qur’anic.

Today we’re continuing with our Ayat of the Week for Term 2 of 2025, where we’re diving into the powerful and reflective verses of Surah al-Wāqiʿah.

This week, we’ll be reciting from ayah 10 to ayah 26. That might sound like a lot—16 ayat—but don’t worry. Surah al-Wāqiʿah is known for its short, rhythmic verses, which makes it easy to recite and reflect upon.

Let’s begin, as always, with istiʿādhah — seeking protection from Shayṭān — and then proceed to the recitation.

🎙️ (Recite ayat 10–26 here in clear, paced tajwīd)

That concludes our recitation for this week.

We’ll continue the journey on:

* Tuesday with Tajweed Tuesday, where we’ll break down the key tajwīd rules from these verses,

* And then on Thursday, we’ll explore their meanings and practical lessons in Tafsir Thursday.

Until then, keep reviewing the verses and reflect on their meanings as you recite. Try to connect with the themes of Jannah, reward, and the descriptions of the righteous mentioned here.

See you Tuesday, inshaAllah.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.