Ramadan Reflection #3

"Don't let this Ramadan be just a holiday of rituals. Don't finish reading the Qur'aan without it transforming you. Don't feed your body at Suhoor, but starve your heart of Qiyam. 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."

--Yasmin Mogahed

Such inspiring words subhanAllaah. InshaAllaah lets all strive to make sincere changes (be it in the tiniest possible way) this Ramadan. May Allaah give us the tawfiq and hidayah to make sincere changes in our lives and bring us closer to that which He loves.*Ameen*

Tackling Low Emaan..

 

 

 

 

 

Abu Huraira (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

 

“Allaah (subhaanahu wa t'Aala) says I am closer to my slave than his supposition of which he keeps of me. And when he/she does dhikr of Allaah, I am with him/her. If he does dhikr in his heart, I do his dhik near MY proximity (closeness) and if he does dhikr in a gathering, I mention him in a gathering Afdhal (better) than it."

 

--Sahih Bukhari

So I've been meaning to just sit down and jot down some ideas on how to increase our emaan in times of low emaan. Of course as human beings, we do experience dips in emaan every now and then. It all depends on how we pick ourselves back up. The main thing is to realize and acknowledge that we are at a low-point. Once we acknowledge this, Insha'Allah we can take steps to recover from it. Some ways in in increasing our emaan may be:

• Increase the recitation of the Qur'aan
• Understand the tafseer behind the words in the Qur'aan
• Attend Islamic lectures or classes (This, I personally find is always a big booster)
• Fast the sunnah fasts of Monday and Thursday
• Fast the 'White days' or the 14th, 15th, and 16th of each Islamic month.
• Be sincere with your deeds (niyaah/intention)
• Must, must, must keep the waajib (obligatory) prayers going.
• Maybe read the seerah of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him)
• Why not read about all the Prophets (peace be upon them all)
• Make du'a. Lot's and lot's and lot's of du'a to increase our emaan and make us better Muslims

On that note, May Allaah continue to increase our knowledge and sincerity in His deen for His sake. And may He continue to strengthen our emaan and guide us on the right path. *Ameen*




 

Dhul-Hijjah

So the following is some information about these blessed 10 days that are soon coming to an end, from a sister's halaqa (amazing halaqa btw, mashaAllaah).

It's Importance:

• It is the month of Hajj - one of the 5 pillars of Islam!

    Hajj is centered around the story of Hajar (radhiAllaahu anha), who was Ibrahim (alayhi salaam)'s second wife and the mother of Ismael (alayhi salaam). It was through her and Ismael  (alayhi salaam) that the city of Makkah was formed and the well of ZamZam discovered. Many actions performed during Hajj are re-enactments of what she did throughout her test from Allaah t'Aala.

• It is the month of Eid-ul-Adha

On this day we offer qurbani (sacrifice) in order to appreciate and understand Ibrahim (alayhi salaam)'s test from Allaah to sacrifice his son, Ismael (alayhi salaam). We are meant to develop true love for Allaah - which should be above everyone.

• Its first 10 days are the BEST DAYS of this world - even better than the days of Ramadhan!

Ibn 'Abbaas (radhiAllaahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even Jihaad for the sake of Allaah?" He (peace be upon him) said, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." --Reported by al-Bukhari, 2/457)

• It's 9th day is the Day of Arafat - Day of Forgiveness

Aa'isha (radhiAllaahu anha) narrated that our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than on the day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels saying, 'What do these people (the Hajis) want?'" --Sahih Muslim

 

 

 

 

What We Should do to MAXIMIZE the Benefits:

• Perform Hajj or Umrah!
• Fast - Especially on the 9th (Day of Arafat)

When the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) was asked about the fasting on the Day of Arafat, he said: "It expiates the sins of the previous year and that of the following year." --Sahih Muslim

• Extra Salaah - Tahajjud, salaat-ul istighfar, salaat-ul shukr

• Khatm-ul-Qur'aan - Or at least read more than you normally do; Look up the english version of Surah Al-Hajj.

• Dhikr

• Sincere Du'a and Repentance

• Qurbani/Sacrifice - Share your qurbani with friends, family, and for extra bonus points give some to the poor/orphans.

• Attend the Eid Prayer! - Perform the Sunnah of  'Eid as well such as not eating anything until after the prayer.

• Good Deeds in General - Smile, give sadaqa, reconcile with family memebers and old friends, forgive others. If you can't seem to do any good deeds for some reason, make du'a to Allaah, and at least ABSTAIN FROM SINNING.

 

May Allaah accept our repentance and reward all those performing Hajj. *Ameen*

It's That Time of Year Again.. *Alhamdulillah*

Abu Hurairah(radhiAllaahu anhu) related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) quoted Allaah as saying, "Every act of Adam's descendants is for themselves, except fasting. It is meant for me Alone, and I alone will give the reward for it." --Sahih Muslim  

"You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you – so that perhaps you will be godfearing."

--Qur'aan (2:183)

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu Anhu) related that the Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him) said,"If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he would not be able to make up for it."

--Bukhari

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts during Ramadhn with faith and seeking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadhan with faith and seeking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Laylat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven."

--Bukhari & Muslim

May Allaah t'Aala accept our fasting and our prayers in this beautiful month of Ramadhan. May He also shower us with His infinite blessings and mercy.

*Ameen*

Ramadhan Mubarak Everyone!

Q&A Regarding The 15th of Sha'baan

Specifying the day of the 15th of Sha’baan by fasting or reciting the Qur.aan or performing naafilah prayers

Question: We see some people specifying the 15th of Sha’baan with particular supplications and reciting the Qur.aan and performing naafilah prayers. So what is the correct position concerning this, and may Allaah reward you with good?

Response: That which is correct is that fasting the 15th of Sha’baan or specifying it with reciting (the Qur.aan) or making (particular) supplications has no basis. So the day of the 15th of Sha’baan is like any other 15th day of other months. So from that which is known is that it has been legislated for a person to fast the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month, however, Sha’baan is characterised unlike the other months in that (except for Ramadhaan) the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to fast more in Sha’baan than any other month . So he used to either fast all of Sha’baan or just a little. Therefore, as long as it does not cause difficulty for a person, it is befitting to increase in fasting during Sha’baan in adherence to the example of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

al-Bid’u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu – Page 612

Fataawa Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen – Volume 1, Page 190

Standing the night of the 15th of Sha’baan in prayer and fasting during it’s day

Question: Is standing the night of the 15th of Sha’baan in prayer and fasting during it’s day legislated?

Response: Nothing firm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted during the day of the 15th of Sha’baan. So the night of the 15th of Sha’baan is like any other night, and if someone is a regular worshipper during other nights, then he may stand the night in prayer on this night without assuming anything special (because of it being the night of the 15th of Sha’baan). This is because specifying a time for any act of worship requires a authentic proof, so if there is no authentic proof then the act is regarded as an innovation and all innovations are misguidance. Likewsie, regarding specifically fasting during the 15th day of Sha’baan, then no (authentic) proof has been established on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) to indicate the legislation of fasting on that particular day.

As for that which is mentioned from the ahaadeeth regarding this subject, then all of it is weak as the people of knowledge have indicated. However, whoever has the habit of fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th (of every month), then he can continue and fast during Sha’baan as he fasts during the other months, without assuming anything special about the 15th of Sha’baan. Also, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to increase in fasting during this month (Sha’baan), however, he did not particularise the 15th day, rather proceeded as per norm.

Shaykh Ibn Fowzaan

al-Bid’u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa asla lahu – Page 614

Noorun alad-Darb Fataawa Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan – Volume 1, Page 87

Source: fatwa-online.com

The Day of 'Arafah

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ’Arafah, since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ’Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord.

It is mustahabb (highly recommended) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet (sallAllaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said, “It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.” -Related by Muslim (no. 1162), from Aboo Qataadah (radhiAllaahu ’anhu).

Likewise, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘There is no day on which Allaah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ’Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” -Related by Muslim (no. 1348), from A‘ishah (radhiAllaahu ’anha).

Imaam at-Tirmidhee (rahimullaah) said, “The People of Knowledge consider it recommended to fast on the day of ’Arafah, except for those at ’Arafah.” -Refer to Jaami’ut-Tirmidhee (3/377).