The Month of Sha'ban

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All praise be to Allah - the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, Sha'ban, is finally upon us. First, we must continue to pray the dua which we started to pray in Rajab:

 O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan.
We should have hope in Allah that He accepts the second part of the dua for us, and allows us to reach the blessed month of Ramadan.

Apart from Ramadan, Sha'ban is the month where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) would fast the most.

Hazrat Aisha (ra) narrates, "The Prophet (saw) used to fast until we would say that he will never stop fasting and he would abandon fasting until we would say that he will never fast. I never saw the Prophet (saw) fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan and I did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban"
(Sahih Bukhari)

Another Hadith mentions, ".. The Prophet (saw) used to fast the whole month of Sha'ban except for a few days. When he (saw) was asked the reason for this, the Prophet (saw) replied, "It is a month which people generally neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which deeds are brought before the Lord of the Worlds. Therefore I like my deeds to be raised whilst I am fasting".
(Nasaai)

Hazrat Anas (ra) reports that the Prophet (saw) was asked, "Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?" He replied, "Fasts of Sha'ban in honour of Ramadan". 
(Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (saw) said, "Allah draws up a list of the persons who will die in the forthcoming year. Therefore I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting".
(Nasaai)

The month of Sha'ban should be valued in its entirety. We do not know if we will be alive this time next year to enjoy its blessings again, therefore we should make the most of it whilst we still have the chance. There are many people in their graves who would wish for a chance like ours. 

One of the main things that we should try and do is make up any missed (qadha) compulsory fasts or prayers that we have been unfortunate to miss. It doesn't matter how many we have - at least try and make a start, inshallah.

The 15th Night of Sha'ban

A blessed night in Sha'ban is the 15th night. A few Ahadith regarding this night are:

Hazrat Ali (ra) narrates that the Prophet (saw) said, "When it is the 15th of Sha'ban, then stand in worship at night and fast during the day. Because Allah descends in this night at sunset to the first heaven and says: "Is there any seeker of forgiveness that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance that I may sustain him? Is there anyone in affliction that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that and so on?" This continues until Fajr".
(Ibn Majah)

Hazrat Muadh ibn Jabal (ra) narrates that the Prophet (saw) said, "Allah looks upon all those created by Him on the middle night of Sha'ban and forgives all those created by Him, except the one who associates partners with Him or the one who has malice in his heart against another Muslim.

Subhanallah, this hadith is saying that:

•  Allah will forgive you if you were created by Him - which we all were!
• Allah will forgive you if you don't associate any partners with Him and believe and worship only Him
• Allah will forgive you if your heart is pure and clean towards another Muslim. 

There are many people who have some kind of hatred in their hearts for another person or people. This feeling of hatred is what will stop you from being forgiven by the Lord of the Worlds. This is why we should forgive everybody and encourage others to do the same, inshallah.

What should be done on this night?
1. Pray optional namaz (nafil salah)
2. Recite the Quran
3. Perform Dhikr 
4. Pray Durood Shareef
5. Make dua and supplicate to Allah for all your needs

What should not be done on this night?
1. Refrain from all activities that displease Allah
2. Refrain from cooking special meals or having special celebrations for this night
3. Try not to perform optional acts of worship collectively, but try to perform them alone

This night is meant for worshipping Allah in solitude. This is the time to enjoy direct contact with the Lord of the Universe, and to devote one's attention to Him and Him alone. These are the precious hours of the night in which nobody should intervene between one and His Lord, and one should turn to Allah with total concentration, not disturbed by anyone else.

On this night, if one does feel tired, then it will be better for him to go to sleep rather than start doing something which is sinful and will waste time.

The Fast of 15th Sha'ban
It is mustahab (preferable) to fast on the day following the night of the 15th. 

May Allah give us all the ability to make use of this blessed month, reap its rewards and may He allow us to reach the month of Ramadan in good health and Imaan - Ameen.

Wasalaam!

Quotes of the Week: 31st May - 7th June

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

"The servant has two standings in front of Allah. A standing in front of Him during the prayer and a standing in front of Him on the Day of meeting with Him. Whoever stood for the first standing, giving its due right, the other meeting will become easier for him. And whoever took this standing lightly and did not perform it with its due right, the other standing will be hard and severe for him"
(Ibn Qayyim ra)

"Hold fast to truthful companions, live with them closely for they are a charm at times of ease and an aid at times of difficulty. Stick to the truth even if the truth kills you, and do not involve yourself with issues that don't concern you. Do not ask about things which haven't taken place for indeed, that which has already taken place is enough to occupy you from it. Do not seek help or take affairs from someone who doesn't wish to see you succeed, and do not befriend the sinful lest you learn from his sins and evil. Keep away from your enemy and be cautious from even your friend, except for the truthful and trusted friend. And no one is trustworthy except him who fears Allah."
(Hazrat Umar Ibn Khattab ra)

"Don't let your happiness depend upon something you may lose one day.There is only One who is eternal and won't perish. In Him, you can find true and complete happiness. Your Lord, the Lord of Mankind, make Him your reason to smile and you will have eternal happiness, insha allah."

"Hate no one, no matter how much they've wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much, even if you've been given little. Keep in touch with the ones who have forgotten you. And forgive those who have wronged you, and do not stop praying for the best for those you love".
(Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib ra)

"Deeds without sincerity are like a traveller who carries in his water jug dirt. The carrying of it burdens him and it brings him no benefit".
(Ibn Qayyim ra)

"Tell me, o lost soul, what is it you are searching for? What is it you wish to seek? Have you looked into your heart, that hole through which light seeps? Quit looking around blindly, for what you are searching for is before your very eyes. Only when you allow yourself to see, will your senses melt in humbleness before that very Light".

"He has so many other creatures yet He never forgets me, but I only have one Creator yet I've forgotten Him countless times".
(As-Saadi ra)

"Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you".

" You are confined only by the walls you build yourselves".

"If light is in your heart, you will find your way home".
(Rumi)

"Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom".
(Hasan Basri ra)

"Your life is either an example or a warning".
(Al-Shareef ra)

Have a blessed week everyone!

Wasalaam!

Praying In Times Of Distress and Other Tips

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Allah has guaranteed the response of the dua of the one in distress, as He Himself has informed us of this guarantee. And the reason for this is that the one in distress will turn to Him in pure sincerity, cutting his hope off from all other sources. And sincerity to Him is the cause of gaining His protection, regardless of whether it comes from a Muslim, non-Muslim, evil or pious.

(Al-Qurtubi)

Three Things Which Make the Body Sick:

1. Talking too much

2. Sleeping too much

3. Eating too much

Four Things Which Destroy the Body:

1. Stress

2. Sadness

3. Hunger

4. Staying up too late

Three Things Which Increase Brightness of the Face and Happiness:

1. Fear of Allah

2. Honesty

3. Generosity

Four Things Which Bring Blessings:

1. Tahajjud Salah

2. Frequently asking forgiveness from Allah

3. Giving in charity

4. Dhikr at the start and end of the day

Four Things Prevent Blessings:

1. Sleeping through the morning

2. Lack of prayer

3. Laziness

4. Treason

Wasalaam!

Quotes of the Week: 25th May - 31st May

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

A few quotes etc that I've come across during the past week:

"Tears are prayers too. They travel to Allah when we can't speak".

Abdullah ibn al Harith (ra) said, "I have never seen anyone more in the habit of smiling than the Prophet Muhammad (saw)".

"When you're going through something hard and you're wondering where Allah is, just remember, the Teacher is always quiet during the test".

"Never forget your dialogue with Allah. It is your strength".

"A believer smiles in public and weeps in private".

"Travelers, it is late. Life's sun is going to set. During these brief days that you have strength, be quick and spare no effort of your wings." (Rumi)

"And He is with you, wherever you are" (Al-Quran)

"Life lessons from Umrah - find the calm centre in the midst of chaos".

"Allah provided for you when you weren't even able to speak and move in your mother's womb. Trust Him, He knows exactly what you need and when."

"O Allah, when I lose my hopes and plans, help me remember that Your love for me is greater than my disappointments, and Your plans for me are better than my dreams". 
(Hazrat Ali r.a) 

May Allah grant you a long life as His obedient servant and may He place you in His servitude alone. May Allah guide you to the right path of those who love Him and are loved by Him.
Know, my friends, that real advice should be sought in the Revelation and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). If you have attained advice from it, what need have you of my advice? And if not, then tell me what you have attained in these past years? 
(Imam Ghazali ra)

Indeed, when the heart dies, a man will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
(Ibn Qayyim ra)

Faith has two halves. One half is patience and the other is thankfulness.
(Imam Ghazali ra)

Beneficial knowledge is the one whose ray of light expands in the mind and uncovers the veil over the heart.
(Imam Ghazali ra)

Have a blessed week everyone, inshallah.

Wasalaam!

Indeed, Allah is with us

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Do not be sad, O Muslims. Indeed, Allah is with us.

During all these days of negative thoughts and actions, I always remember the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and his Sahabah (ra). The torture and humiliation they went through during their time spent in Makkah, in those early days of Islam - that was their test, and this is ours. Allah never abandoned them, and He will not abandon us.

When you reflect on the examples of the greatest people, you see that even their tests didn't last forever. It took only a moment of true firmness, trust, faith, sacrifice, and then they were saved. The fire was cooled for Ibrahim (as), the sea was split for Musa (as), and a lamb descended to replace Ismail (as), as soon as Ibrahim (as) made the right choice.

Just one moment of firmness, trust, faith and sacrifice, and their opening came.

Just one moment of firmness, trust, faith and sacrifice .. and your opening will also come.

A Few Thoughts

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Bismillahi Rahmanir Raheem

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

A few nights ago, a friend called me and asked me to go over the story of Hazrat Umar (r.a), and how he reverted to Islam. We discussed the story, and went over the part where the first verses of the Quran that he read were the opening lines of Surah Ta-Ha:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. Ta-Ha

2. We did not reveal the Quran to you to make you face hardship.

3. Rather to remind him who has the fear of Allah.

4. It being a revelation from the One Who created the earth, and high heavens.

5. The All Merciful has positioned Himself on the Throne.

6. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens, all that is on the earth and whatever lies between them and whatever lies beneath the soil.

7. If you pronounce the word aloud, then it makes no difference for He certainly knows the secret and what is even more hidden.

8. Such is Allah. There is no god but He. For Him are all the Beautiful Names.

It made me think. The verses that changed the heart of Hazrat Umar are the exact same ones in all copies of the Quran today. The verses that I'm reading in 2013 are the exact same verses that Hazrat Umar (r.a) read all those thousands of years ago in his sisters house, and they changed him in an instant.

It was this Quran that we have with us today and take for granted that changed these amazing men and women.

If you read about the state of the Arabs before the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), you'll see that they were idol worshippers and they put all their hopes and prayers to a statue that they made with their own hands. They were adulterers, alcoholics and murderers.

Then, through the same Quran and Sunnah that we have today, they became the people of Allah. Their names are still remembered today and will be remembered until the end of time. 

We have exactly what they had - the same words, verses and chapters. It's up to us to make use of it, and allow it to change our hearts just as it changed theirs. 

May Allah give us all the ability to become like the Sahabah (r.a) and Sahabiyaat (r.a)

Ameen.

Wasalaam!

The Month of Rajab

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

We all know that it's May at the moment. A month famous for being the middle month of spring. But by the looks of the weather, it's not living up to its reputation. May is also the month when the blossom trees are in full bloom, as is the exam season. 

But did you know that the current Islamic month is Rajab which is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. This month was regarded as one of the Sacred Months (Ashurul Haram), in which battles were not allowed in the days of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

The month of Rajab is one of two months before Ramadan, the second being Sha'baan. When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) saw the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words:

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'baan blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan".

Rajab is also the month in which the famous Mi'raaj event took place. The was the time when the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) travelled to Jerusalem, and then onto the Heavens.

The angel Jibraeel (a.s) came to Makkah with an animal called Buraq. He took them to Masjidul Aqsa in Jerusalem.

In Masjidul Aqsa, all the prophets (a.s) since the beginning of time were present. They stood up to pray, and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) led them in the prayer as their Imam. 

Then, they went up to the Heavens. There, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) met various prophets (a.s) at each heaven. All the prophets (a.s) welcomed the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

The Prophet (s.a.w) was offered drinks of milk, wine, honey and water. He (s.a.w) chose to drink the milk. Had he drank the wine, then the ummah would have strayed from the straight path.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w) was given a gift on this blessed night. This was the gift of Salah. Our ummah was first ordered to pray 50 prayers each day. But, when the Prophet Musa (a.s) found out, he told him to ask Allah to decrease it. Bit by bit, the amount of 50 went down to 5. Even then, Prophet Musa (a.s) said this is too much. But our Prophet (s.a.w) was too embarrassed to go back to Allah and ask for another reduction. He (s.a.w) was promised that the Muslims will get the reward of 50 prayers by just praying 5!

During the Mi'raaj journey, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) saw Jannah and Jahannam. He saw the various different punishments for different sins. 

When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) returned back to Makkah, and he told everyone about his journey, the non-believers made fun of him and didn't believe  him. 

But, there was one example who stood out, who had strong Imaan and belief in the Prophet Muhammad (s.aw), and this was his closest companion, Abu Bakr Siddiq (r.a.)! It was on this occasion that he recieved the name As-Siddiq which means the most truthful. When he was informed about what the Prophet (s.a.w) was saying from the non-believers, he simply replied, "If Muhammad (s.a.w) has said this, then it is the truth". 

Subhanallah, look at the way he believed what the Prophet (s.a.w) had said without even hearing the story from him. 

I want to end with another incident which shows the love that Abu Bakr (r.a) had for the Prophet (s.a.w). Once he was beaten until he was unconscious by some of the non-believers. When he became conscious  he only wanted to know about the state of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). His mother, seeing his great loyalty and love, took him to see the Prophet (s.a.w), and it was there that she became a Muslim. Subahanallah, through his state, his own mother was guided to the beauty of Islam!

So, in this month of Rajab, whilst we start preparing our minds and bodies for Ramadan, let us keep in mind the love and loyalty that Abu Bakr (r.a) had for the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), and pray to Allah to bring this level of love and loyalty into our lives - Ameen.

Wasalaam!