Quotes of the Week: July 5 - July 12

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In order to love the Creator, we must know Him. His love must be all that resides in our hearts, for that will lead to a longing to meet Him. Love for anything else will cause pain and distance between Him and ourselves.

The best cleaning products for the heart are Istighfaar and the Quran. The best fragrance for the heart is Nafl (optional) deeds.

Make this Ramadan a memorable one. Make it a Ramadan you will remember for the rest of your life. Make it such that, inshallah, in Jannah, you will say it was this Ramadan in which Allah made you His wali, and from when your life changed forever.

People are often unreasonable and self-centred. Forgive them anyway.
 If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and Allah. It was never between you and them anyway.

Have a blessed week, inshallah.

Wasalaam!

Three Ahadith (2)

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

(1) Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (ra) has related: "Once, we were with the Prophet (saw) in a jihad, when he said: "There are some people still in Madinah who are with you in spirit wherever you march and whatever valley you traverse. It is only their indisposition that has kept them from being with you in person". According to another version, he (saw) said: "They are your partners in recompense".

(Muslim)

(2) Hazrat Ma'an bin Yazid ibn Akhnas (ra) grandson, father and grandfather respectively are the Companions of the Holy Prophet (saw). Hazrat Ma'an (ra) says: "My father set aside some dinars for charity and gave them to a person in the mosque. I went to that person and took back the money from him and brought the same to my father, who said: "I did not want to give these dinars to you". So, we went to the Holy Prophet (saw), and submitted the matter to him (saw). He (saw) said to my father: "Yazid, you have earned due reward for your intentions", and to me, he (saw) said: "Ma'an, you are entitled to what you have taken".

(Bukhari)

(3) Hazrat Sa'ad ibn abi Waqqas (ra), who is one of the ten who had been given the advance glad tidings of admission into Paradise, has said, "Once I was lying seriously ill and the Holy Prophet (saw) came to see me. This happened in the year when the Holy Prophet (saw) performed the Farewell Pilgrimage. I said to him: "Messenger of Allah (saw), you see my condition. I have considerable money and property and my sole heir is my daughter. Can I then give away two thirds of my assets in charity?" He said: "No". I then submitted: "One half, O Messenger of Allah (saw)? Again, he said, "No". I again submitted, "Well, then one third, O Messenger of Allah (saw)?" On which he said: "One third is sufficient, and one third is more than enough. It is better to leave your children better off than in poverty, forced to beg for their sustenance. Whatever you spend for the sake of Allah, even for a morsel of food that you put in the mouth of your wife, Allah will reward you."

 Then, I said: "Messenger of Allah (saw), I will be left behind when my companions depart". He said: "You will certainly not be left behind. Whatever you do seeking the pleasure of Allah, will raise your position in the society. I am sanguine that you will live long enough for the good of the Muslims and for punishing non-believers".

 Then he prayed to Allah, "O Allah, make the emigration of my companions complete and successful, and they may not retract". But the one to be pitied was Sa'ad ibn Khaulah (ra) who was left behind and died in Makkah, and the Messenger of Allah (saw) invoked mercy and compassion of Allah for him.

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Wasalaam!

Ramadan - Part Four

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Taraweeh

Taraweeh are the prayers that Muslims pray after Isha during Ramadan. They consist of 20 rakahs, and are sunnah muakkidah, meaning they are extremely emphasised. They are close to Fardh – a person will be accountable and sinful if they are missed without a valid excuse.

Men pray in congregation at the mosque, and women pray them at home. They are prayed in pairs of 2.

There was no set number of rakats in the time of the Prophet (saw), so after he passed away, the second khalifa, Hazrat Umar (ra) passed a consensus saying that the Muslims should pray 20 rakats. He did this because he was afraid that the Muslims would argue etc over this.

There are 4 conditions to Taraweeh salah:

1.   It must be performed in Jamaat for men

2.  It should be performed in the beginning part of the night

3.  The whole Quran should be completed throughout the course of the month – for those praying in Jamaat

4. It must be performed as 20 rakats.

It is extremely sad to see that many Muslims today carry out the first 3 conditions but not the last one. This is because they give in to their own desires and laziness. The Prophet (saw) has instructed us in the Ahadith to hold on tight to the Sunnah of the Khulafa e Rashideen – the rightly guided Khalifas of this Ummah. This is Hadith should be enough for us.

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to read Taraweeh in Jamat in the mosque. But then he was afraid that people would think it was compulsory, so he stopped doing that. Later after he (saw) had passed away, the second Khalifah (leader) Hazrat Umar (ra) decided to start praying Taraweeh in the mosque as a jamat again. Obviously, now everyone knew that it wasn’t compulsory but it was only Sunnah – highly emphasized. He also did it to bring unity to the Muslims.

Umrah in Ramadan

Performing umrah in Ramadan is like performing Hajj with the Prophet (saw). What a great achievement it would be for one of us to accompany the Prophet (saw) on Hajj! Think of standing beside him on the Plain of `Arafah. Imagine spending the night in his encampment in Muzdalifah and then getting up the next morning to go with him to Minâ. What would it be like to perform tawâf and sa`y alongside him. The apparent meaning of the hadîth is that our performing `umrah in Ramadan is really that significant. 

Going for Umrah in Ramadan is not compulsory on us – if we get the chance then we should go and if we don’t then it’s ok.

Itikaaf

Itikaaf is a period of retreat in a mosque for a certain number of hours or days. During this time a person will worship Allah while maintaining certain conditions. It is most common during the last ten days of Ramadan – but can be performed as an optional worship any time during the year. A person can eat and sleep etc during itikaaf but must spend as little time as possible doing these things, and he should not leave his place of Itikaaf except in severe circumstances.

Women should perform itikaaf in their homes in a room where they won’t be disturbed.

Sadaqatul Fitr

Abdullah ibn 'Umar (ra) narrates:

'Allah's Apostle SallAllahu 'alaihi wasallam enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley as Zakat ul-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the Eid prayer.'

Zakat ul Fitr and Sadaqatul Fitr are the same thing. Every Muslim has to give it and it should be given before the Eid prayer. Every member of the family has to pay it.

Sadaqat ul-Fitr establishes bonds of brotherhood and unity between the rich and poor of the ummah. Every person eligible to pay Sadaqat ul-Fitr should pay, not only for himself, but also for his dependents, such as his children.

Its rates are fixed by scholars according to the prevailing rates of wheat and dates in various Muslim countries. On such auspicious occasions as Ramadhan and Eid, Muslims are especially reminded of their obligations towards the poorer sections of society. Sadaqatul Fitr is approximately £3.00 per person.

Laylatul Qadr

Amongst the nights of Ramadan is one night called Laylatul Qadr. This night is famous for being great in blessings. There is a whole chapter of the Quran which is named after this night. It is called Surah Qadr. The translation is:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1.   We have sent down it (the Quran) down in the Night of Qadr.

2.  And what may let you know what the Night of Qadr is?

3.  The Night of Qadr is much better than one thousand months.

4. The angels and the Spirit descend in it, with the leave of your Lord, along with every command.

5.  Peace it is until the debut of dawn.

So, the Quran has described this night as being greater in blessings and spiritual virtue than a thousand months which in turn means that it is greater than 83 years and 4 months.

That person is so lucky and fortunate who gains the full blessings of this night by spending it in the worship of Allah, because he will have gained the reward of worship for 80 odd years – many of us cannot guarantee that we will live for this long. So, the granting of this night is a great favour and blessings for us Muslims.

Most narrations say that this night is among the odd last ten days of Ramadan.

Menstruation in Ramadan

When a woman is menstruating, she cannot pray namaz, Quran or fast. The fasts must be made up later. But she can still do zikr and make lots of dua – so she should do this a lot when menstruating. She should try not to eat or drink in front of a fasting person and she should try to help out with cooking etc for iftaar so that inshallah, she will get the reward of the ones who fasted. 

Developing spiritual habits in Ramadan

One of the main purposes of Ramadan is that whatever good habits and worship we do in this month, we carry it on after Ramadan. Make dua every day for Istiqamat. This means asking Allah for continuity and steadfastness in our worship – so that inshallah we remain firm upon it even after the month of Ramadan.

May Allah accept all our worship during this month of Ramadan, and make it the best Ramadan we have ever had - Ameen!

Wasalaam!

Ramadan - Part Three

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Things Which Do Not Break the Fast

·       If someone eats or drinks by mistake, his fast is not broken. However if he carries on eating, then it is broken.

·       Putting oil on the head or surma on the eyes or having a blood test – the fast is not broken.

·       Vomiting unintentionally – the fast is not broken

Those who can postpone their fasting

·       Someone who is ill and fears that if they fast, their illness will increase, he can break his fast or not fast at all but will have to do qadha of it later.

·       If you are a traveller and are not harmed by fasting, then

to fast is preferable, but you don’t fast, it’s ok but you have to do qadha of it later.

Fidyah (Compensation for Not Fasting)

Those people who are really old or really ill and are not capable of fasting, then they must pay the fidya (compensation). This means that for every day he misses, he must feed a poor person. Nowadays, you can do this through Islamic charities online, by selecting the fidya option when paying. E.g. on Islamic Relief the rate of fidya is £4 per fast missed.

Importance of Reading the Quran in Ramadan

The first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad saw in Ramadan as the Quran says:

“(It is) the month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was revealed as a guidance for mankind, clear proofs giving guidance, and the Criterion (for distinguishing right and wrong). So whoever of you witnesses this month, let him fast it.” [2:185]

Fasting softens our hearts and therefore makes it more receptive and humble  to the recitation of the Quran. This may be one of the wisdoms that links fasting and the Quran together. It is important to note that our relationship with the Qur'an in this month should not be limited to just the nightly Tarawih prayers, we must devote ourselves to studying the Qur'an outside of prayer as well.

We should try and complete recitation of the Quran at least 3 times in one year, and one of those 3 times should be during Ramadan.

Sehri

Ibn Umar (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said, “Verily Allah and His angels send mercy upon those who eat sehri”.

Look at the great favour of Allah that He is giving us reward just for eating! There are many Hadith which talk about the virtues of Sehri. Those people who miss Sehri out of laziness are extremely unfortunate – if we are really full from Iftar, then just have a drink for Sehri – at least we can be part of the blessings.

The word Sehri means to have food before Fajr. The best time to eat Sehri is an hour or two before Fajr – not too soon and not too near Fajr time.

Another virtue of Sehri, is mentioned in a Hadith where the Prophet (saw) said: “The difference between our fasting and that of the Jews and the Christians is the partaking of food at Sehri time – they do not”.

Another Hadith says: “Eat Sehri, because in it lies great blessings”.

Sehri provides strength for the fast during the day and worship as well. It is also a time of the day when Allah accepts duas, so we should try and make lots of dua at that time too – it’s also tahajjud time so there are added blessings!

Iftaar

The Prophet (saw) said, "The Sa-im ( the person who fasts) has two happy moments: when he breaks his fast he is happy, and when he meets his Lord he is happy because of his fast."

At Iftar time, we feel happy because we can finally eat, and also happy because we have completed one fast and we look forward to the reward of it.

Another Hadith regarding feeding people at Iftar time:

“...Whoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the Fire of Hell, and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who fasted, without that persons reward being decreased in the least”

Some of the companions said, “O messenger of Allah, not all of us possess the means where we can give a fasting person to break his fast.” The Prophet (saw) replied, “Allah grants the same reward to one who gives a fasting person to break his fast a date, a drink of water or a sip of milk.”

Iftar time is a time when duas are accepted. We should plan ahead especially with the cooking. Prepare ahead of time, so that at least 15 minutes before iftar time, we can make dua. Then try and break the fast with some dates and water, eat a little food, pray Maghrib salah and then sit and enjoy the main iftar meal. Let it not be that we are delaying our Maghrib, as Maghrib namaz should be read on time – it should not be delayed, even outside of Ramadan. Same with sehri – try and prepare early, so you have some time to make dua!

Preparing for Ramadan

8 Steps to Prepare for Ramadan:

1.        Create a Ramadan countdown – counting down for Ramadan whether done mentally or by keeping physical signs around the home will help create hype and buzz in your mind and amongst the people around you. When you and others are counting down to the same event, it becomes part of regular conversation and creates excitement.

2.        Seek knowledge about Ramadan – this will help you to ensure that you do things correctly and perfectly in Ramadan. It will create a hype as there are many motivational aspects and events in the month to look forward to. The more you know about Ramadan, the more you can apply hence multiplying the rewards.

3.        Make a Ramadan plan – be it reading the entire Quran, ensuring you read Taraweeh every night or inviting families over for Iftar; make a list of things you would like to achieve in the month and then how you plan on achieving these goals. It is important that your goals are realistic and it is better if your life doesn’t take a different road in this month, so that you may continue to do these deeds after Ramadan is finished. Knowing what you want to achieve in this month will help you to stay focused.

4.        Know your life – be aware if Ramadan affects anything during the actual month or shortly after it. People may have exams etc during the month, so plan for these events from now.

5.        Prepare spiritually – we all know that Ramadan is about fasting, praying namaz, reading Quran and giving in charity. Start these worships early; don’t expect to just click into it as soon as the first day of Ramadan starts. Start praying extra namaz from now, start reading and studying the Quran from now, get used to being generous and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) by fasting in Shaban.

6.       Prepare your mind – fasting is more than just to refrain from eating. Start working on your patience, be extra vigilant with your conversations, ensure you are not backbiting, slandering (telling a lie against someone verbally) or talking about useless things.

7.        Say “good riddance” to bad habits – know what bad habits you have and stop them from now, don’t wait for Ramadan to begin e.g. If you sleep late, start sleeping early. It might be easier said than done, but once you’ve commited yourself and purified your intentions – make sincere dua to be guided.

8.        Plan your life around your worship – everybody has different lives and different responsibilities, so each person should plan their prayers and worship around their own individual life.

Have a blessed and productive Ramadan, Insha Allah!

Wasalaam!

Dua for the End of a Gathering

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ

"O Allah, You are pure, I praise You and testify that there is none worthy of worship besides You. I seek forgiveness and pardon from You".

If there was good talk in the gathering, this dua will seal it, and if there was futile and vain talk, then this dua will recompense for it.

(Tirmidhi Targheeb)

Wasalaam!

Quotes of the Week: June 28 - July 5

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Keep yourself busy in remembering your faults so that you have no time left to remember the faults of others.

(Sufyan Thauri ra)

As we enter this blessed month of mercy, I give this advice to myself first, and to you all:

Don't let this Ramadan be just a holiday of rituals. Don't finish reading the Quran without it transforming you. Don't feed your body at Suhoor but starve your heart of Qiyaam. Don't reduce this downpour of mercy to just a month of sweets and lavish Iftars. Seek Him, you will find. Take a sincere step towards change, transformation, redemption. If you do, you will find Him in front of you. Find Him this month. He's been there all along - closer than your jugular vein. Look, and you'll find. Walk and you'll arrive.

Speak the truth even if you see your ruin or death in it, for surely, salvation and life lie alone in truth, and avoid falsehood even if it may hold out to you the promise of success and salvation, for at the end of falsehood, there is nothing but failure and frustration.

Not a day goes past without remembering the pain and separation but life goes on. People are forgotten and memories lost. We must train ourselves to have the courage to take the next step of life.

Have a blessed week and a blessed start to Ramadan, inshallah!

Wasalaam!

Ramadan - Part Two

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Who Must Fast In Ramadan?

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is Fardh (compulsory) on every single Muslim who is not a lunatic (mad) or immature (not reached age of puberty).  

Generally, it is compulsory for children to pray Salah at age of 10. The Hadith says: "Order your children to perform Salah when they are seven years old, and beat them (if they have neglected it) when reaching ten years old. And separate between your male and female children in bed."

So at the age of 10, when permission is given to beat them for missing Salah, children should be encouraged as much as possible to fast as well.

As long as there is no valid excuse, it is not permissible to stop fasting or miss any fasts.

What is a Qadha fast?

Making up the missed fasts of Ramadan – they have to be kept after Ramadan as soon as possible. You shouldn’t delay in keeping these missed fasts. It is a sin to delay in keeping these missed fasts without any reason.

When keeping the qadha fasts, it is not necessary to specify the date by saying, “I am keeping a qadha fast for so and so day”. The intention for Qadha and Kaffarah fasts has to be made before sehri time finishes – if you don’t, the fast will be counted as a nafl fast. There is no need to keep the qadha all at once but you can if you want.

What is a Kaffarah fast?

A Kaffarah fast is when you have to fast 60 days (2 months) in a row. If you don’t have the ability to do that then feed 60 people for 2 meals, or 1 person 2 meals for 60 days. Nowadays, people give the value of the food in money instead.

Kaffarah is not compulsory when a woman has her menstruation the same day she broke her fast, or if the person didn’t make an intention before they fasted. If a fast is missed during the 60, then they should be started all over again.

If a person did not fast in Ramadhaan, then only Qadhaa (make up) for the missed fasts is compulsory. For example, if one missed four fasts, then only four fasts will have to be kept. The person should also make Tawbah and repent.

Kaffaarah is only if one kept a fast and broke the fast without a valid excuse in Shari’ah.

Things Which Break the Fast

•   If incense sticks are burning, and a person went and sat near them and inhaled the smoke. The fast will break. In the same way, the fast breaks when smoking cigarettes or cigars etc.

• While rinsing the mouth, water went down the throat and the person knew that he was fasting. His fast will break and he will have to keep qadha of it later.

• If a person vomits intentionally, his fast will break if the vomit was full mouth – meaning he can’t keep it down.

•  A person ate a pebble, a piece of steel or another object which is not normally eaten. His fast will break and he will have to keep qadha.

• If he eats or drinks something that is normally consumed or is not normally consumed but is eaten for medicinal purposes, his fast will break and he will have to keep qadha and kaffarah.

• If a person has intercourse while fasting, the fast will break and he will have to do both qadha and kaffarah.

• If a person puts oil or ear drops into the ears, or nose drops into the nose, the fast will break and qadha has to be kept.  

• A person bleeds in his mouth, and then swallows it. If the blood could be tasted, the fast is broken, and he will have to keep qadha. If the blood could not be tasted, the fast is not broken.

• When a person is fasting, it is makrooh (disliked) that he should brush his teeth with toothpaste. If the toothpaste is swallowed, the fast is broken, and he will have to keep qadha. 

• If a person ate forgetfully while fasting, and then realised and carried on eating intentionally, his fast is broken and he will have to keep qadha.

• A person vomited unintentionally, and he thought his fast was broken so he started to eat. His fast is now broken, and he will have to keep qadha.

• If a person has Sehri too late or Iftar too early, the fast is broken, and qadha has to be kept.

Other Ramadan Rulings

• If a persons fast breaks in Ramadan, out of respect for others around him who are fasting, he should not eat or drink until Iftaar.

• If a woman is breastfeeding or is pregnant, then she can fast if she wants to. But if she feels that fasting will harm the baby, then she can miss the fasts but will have to keep qadha of them later. 

• If someone misses Sehri, whether on purpose or not, they will still have to fast. Sehri is not compulsory but is Sunnah.

(Source: Behishti Zewar and askimam.com)

And Allah knows best.

Wasalaam!