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Voluntary prayers fill the void of the obligatory prayers:
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The very first thing a servant will be asked about on the Day of Judgement is the prayer. If it is found to be deficient, then it will be said, ‘Doesn’t he have any optional prayers?’ If it is found that he has optional prayers, then they will fill the void, and thus his prayers will be accepted, and the rest of his deeds will also be accepted." [At-Tirmithee, Aboo Daawood, An-Nasaa’ee, Saheeh Al-Jaami’is-Sagheer wa Ziyaadah #2020]
The Best Opportunity to Change Our Lives Forever!
**The Best Opportunity to Change Our Lives Forever!
**Have you ever felt like having fresh new start again in life? Have you ever wished that all of your past sins were wiped out like you were a new born baby?
Have you ever felt like you just have not done enough for the Hereafter and that you have an empty good deed account that needs filling?
Have you also ever wanted to really get closer to Allah and to renew & strengthen your faith?
Well now is that opportunity. This is the perfect opportunity for us not only to have a fresh new start again in our lives but to have our entire lifetime sins wiped away like a new born baby and to have our good deed accounts filled to the brim! Want to make up for lost time? Well there is no better opportunity than this!
*This could be our last chance!*
We should firstly thank Allah that he has given us such an amazing unique opportunity. This is a favour upon us like no other. But this my be our last chance to change. We may well not see another Ramadan. We may never get an opportunity to change ourselves for the better.
We keep procrastinating and deceiving ourselves into thinking "I got plenty of time, I'm still only young with my whole life ahead of me". Or we want to sort our careers out first, or go Hajj or Umrah first or do this first or that first.
But how can we guarantee that we will be alive to see tomorrow let alone next week, next month, next year or the next few decades? How many of us know of people who have passed away this year of all ages, situations and circumstances? How many of us know of Muslims who did not make it to Ramadan? Therefore how can we guarantee that we will be alive next year to see another Ramadan and have another amazing opportunity like this?
Utter regret if we do not take this opportunity now!
The fact is that we CANNOT afford to miss this unique opportunity. This is an opportunity for redemption. A chance to change our lives for the better forever. All of us who know we have to change and want to change then this is that opportunity. If we don't take this opportunity now then we WILL regret it forever!
When we see what we could have had in the Hereafter we will beg Allah: "Please oh Lord I did not know, I was too consumed into the dunya (Worldly life). Please send me back so that I may worship you properly and live my life devoted to you."
But we will be rejected because we only have this ONE chance! Once this chance is over then we will NEVER be able to get it back again. Therefore we CANNOT miss this one opportunity to change our lives forever. If we ever wanted to have a fresh start and get ALL of our sins wiped out then this is our chance.
If we ever wanted to gain immense rewards to fill up our good deed accounts then this is our chance.
If we ever wanted the chance to renew & strengthen our imaan (faith) and get closer to Allah then this is our chance!
So we CANNOT afford to miss this opportunity for we may never get this chance again!
So let us make the commitment!
So we must make a firm commitment to change. We must look at ourselves and this life and think what is the point of chasing the worldly life when it may end any second? Will we take our possessions and hoards of wealth with us? The fact is this life compared to the Hereafter is like comparing a droplet to an ocean. There is absolutely NO comparison!
Therefore let us at this moment cleanse ourselves and fall into prostration (Sajda) to Almighty Allah and cry and beg of him for forgiveness. Let us ask of him and I promise you he will never turn you away. He is waiting for us to turn to him so patiently. So how can we make him wait any longer. How can we risk losing this opportunity that we may NEVER get back again.
Therefore let us repent for our past and present sins right this moment and make a firm commitment to Allah that we will devote ourselves to him and to his worship and that we will try our best to fulfil our obligations unto him and that we will try our best to do everything that pleases him and avoid anything that may anger or displease him.
Then let us devote ourselves in worship in this blessed month and cleanse our heart and souls with the worship and remembrance of Allah and recitation of the Qur'an and glorification of our Lord. Let us control our tongues and stop or significantly limit anything which may hinder our worship such as TV, social networks such as Facebook and Twitter and anything else that may waste a precious second in this most blessed month.
Let us worship Allah with full sincerity, hope for immense reward, forgiveness and mercy from Allah for an entire lifetime of sins and make a firm commitment that we will change ourselves for the better for the rest of the year as Ramadan is for life not just for one month.
We must remember that our time is very short and that this may well be our very last Ramadan as it was the last Ramadan for so many who thought they would make it!
So let us grab this opportunity with both hands! If we walk towards Allah then he will run towards us!
May Allah enable us to make the best of this most blessed month and enable us to gain the maximum rewards an so that we may change our lives for the better FOREVER! Ameen
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re: Maximizing each second of Ramadan
Ramadan Increases our Faith
During our lives, our faith increases and decreases at different times. We are blessed in that we know what affects this increase and decrease – our actions.
If we commit bad deeds and disobey Allah, our faith will decrease and we will feel distant from Allah. On the other hand, if we increase our good deeds and acts of obedience, our faith will increase and we will feel closer to Allah. Ramadan is therefore a time to increase our faith, or imaan, through obedience to Allah and doing good deeds.
Fasting is one of the most righteous deeds that brings about closeness to Allah. It makes us feel closer to Him, because we are fasting for His sake only, and we remember Him often. By Allah’s infinite mercy, it also keeps us away from disobedience and distances us from the Hellfire.
The standing in Ramadan entails closeness, love and obedience to Allah and a desire to rid oneself of hypocrisy. If we want to increase our faith we should perform the congregational prayer with reverence, humility, reflection and attentiveness. Allah, all praises and glory be to Him, tells us in the Qur’an:
“Recite (O Muhammad) what was revealed to you of the Book (the Qur’an) and perform As-Salat (the prayer). Verily As-Salat prevents from Al-Fahsha (great sins of every kind) and Al-Munkar, and the remembering (praising) of Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed, And Allah knows what you do.” (Surah Al-Ankabaut:45)
Reading Qur’an, reflecting on its verses and putting what it teaches into practice all increase our faith. Allah tells us:
“(This is) a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” (Surah Sad:29)
Constant remembrance of Allah with the heart, tongue and limbs all help to increase our faith. If we remember Him, He will remember us. If we call upon Him in the early hours of the morning, seeking His forgiveness, He, all praises and glory be to Him, promises to forgive us. Attend the sittings of remembrance also increases our faith, as does the seeking of knowledge.
Contemplating the signs of Allah in our universe increases our faith.
“Those who remember Allah standing, siting and lying down on their sides, and they think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth.” (Surah Al-Imran:191)
The Qur’an confirms that even in the succession of the day and the night are signs for those who contemplate.
We should remember, that just as faith can increase it can also suffer ill health and die. Faith decreases when we abandon the Qur’an and Sunnah and seek satisfaction in the passing delights of this world. It vanishes when we become obsessed with the mental produce of weak and helpless creatures. Amusement, play and association with people of falsehood similarly decrease our faith. If we adopt this course, Satan will surely overwhelm us. Allah warns us:
“And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of this world; and obey not those whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affairs have been lost” (Surah Al-Khaf:28)
We should therefore ask ourselves whether our actions this Ramadan have increased or decreased our faith? Did our convictions become stronger or weaker? Only when we can understand this will be able to distinguish between progress and regression and gain and loss. O Allah! Increase us in our faith and conviction. Ameen.
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Recite, Reflect and Implement the Qur'an in our daily lives!
Will they not then ponder over the Quran, or is it that they have locks on their hearts!? *[Quran, 47:24] *
(This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect. [Quran, 38:29]
The Quran is a guide to humanity which also includes all of us. Since none of us want to be misguided therefore it is paramount not only to read or recite the Quran, but to understand and implement it in our lives as well.
Re: 10 Good Deeds that carry the Reward of Hajj!
Umrah in Ramadan equivalent to Hajj:
Narrated that Ibn Abbas said, The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to a woman from among the Ansar — IbnAbbas mentioned her name but I forgot it — "What kept you from performing Hajj with us?" She said, "We only have two camels," and the father of her son and her son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other camel so that they could carry water on it. He said, "When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in (that month) is equivalent to Hajj." Al-Bukhari (1782) and Muslim (1256)
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How to repent from sins and ask for Allah’s forgiveness
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Re: 10 Hugely Rewarding Good Deeds to do in Ramadan
Allah raises the status of the one who is humble:
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Wealth does not decrease because of charity, and Allaah increases His slave in honour when he forgives others. And no one humbles himself before Allaah but Allaah will raise him (in status).”
Narrated by Muslim, 2588.
Re: 15 Easy Good deeds to do throughout Ramadan!
Recite Durood upon the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) throughout Ramadan:
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Whoever sends Salaat upon me once, then Allah sends Salaam upon him ten fold". (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nisa'ee, Tirmidhi)
12 Hugely Rewarding Dhikr's to keep repeating in Ramadan
*12 Hugely Rewarding Dhikr's to keep repeating in Ramadan
*
The following is a list of 12 daily Dhikr we should keep repeating during Ramadan. Set yourself a target. 100 of each in the morning and evening or however much you can manage:
Subhaanallah - Glory be to Allah
Alhamdulillah - All praise be to Allah
Allahu Akbar - Allah is the greatest
Laa ilaaha illallah - There is no worthy of worship except Allah
La hawla wa la quwatta illah billah-Hil aliyyil adheem - There is no power or might except with Allah
Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay -
‘I ask forgiveness from Allah the One whom there is no deity worthy of worship except He, the Ever-Living and Sustainer and I repent to Him’ three times, Allah would forgive his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.
Or the shorter version: Asthaghfirullah - I seek Allah's forgiveness
- Sub-Haan'Allahi Wa bi-ham'dihi Sub-haan'Allah-IL Adheem -
Glory be to Allah and Praise Him, **Glory be to Allah, The Supreme, and Praise Him
Or shorter version: Sub-Haan'Allahi Wa bi-ham'dihi - Glory be to Allah and Praise Him
- Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm -
Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest
- Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr -
(There is) none worthy of worship except Allah. He is only One. (There is) no partners for Him. For Him (is) the Kingdom. And for Him (is) the Praise. He gives life and acuses death. And He (is) Alive. He will not die, never, ever. Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand (is) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.
Or the shorter version:
Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer -
There is No God But Allah Alone, who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the raise, and He is Able to do all things
*10. **Astaghfirullah al-'Adheemal-ladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum wa atubu ilaih *
(I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none worthy except Him, the Living, The Eternal, and I repent unto Him)
- *Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana 'ala ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, A'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u Laka bini'matika 'alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta *
(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.)
- Recite the following abundantly especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee -
'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.'
NOTE: We should also send much salutations to our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), especially on Jummah. The best way of doing this is to recite much of Durood e Ibrahim which is what we recite during every Salaah just before we finish:
ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID. ALLAHUMMA BAARIK ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA BAARAKTA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID.
Oh Allah! Send blessings upon (Holy Prophet) Muhammad and upon the followers of (Holy Prophet) Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibraheem and upon the followers of Ibraheem; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. Oh Allah! Bless (Holy Prophet) Muhammad and the follower of (Holy Prophet) Muhammad as You blessed Ibraheem and the follower of Ibraheem; indeed, You are praise worthy and glorious.
Or the shortest Durood is: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim - Blessings of Allah be upon him and peace
May Allah enable us to say and do that which pleases him the most. Ameen
Re: Forty Very Easy, Quick & Rewarding Good Deeds for all of us to do Everyday!
BRIEF DEEDS WITH HUGE REWARD
**
1.Calling someone towards Good:** Each day we learn something good or some new deed. If we share this with others, we will get the same reward. The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “Whoever guides [another] to a good deed will get a reward similar to the one who performs it.” [Saheeh Muslim] Also, “By Allah, if Allah were to guide one man through you it would be better for you than the best type of camels.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
2.Visiting the Sick: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said “There is not a Muslim that visits another in the morning except that 70,000 angels ask forgiveness for him until the night, and if he visits him at night then 70,000 angels ask forgiveness for him until the morning, and he will have earned a garden in paradise” (At-Tirmidhi).
3.Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas: Reciting it once is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an. Imagine reciting it 3 times so the reward will be equivalent to reciting the whole Quran! Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to his Companions: ‘Could any one of you not recite one third of the Qur’aan in one night?’ They found the idea too difficult and said: ‘Who among us could do that, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, **‘Allaahu’l-ahad, al- samad *** is one third of the Qur’an.’” (Reported by Bukhari, 4628)
4.Build a house in Paradise by Reciting Surat Ikhlas: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever recites **Qul huwa Allaahu ahad **ten times, Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 6472).
5.Reciting Dua upon Entering market: The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “Whoever enters a market and says: ‘Laa ilaaha ill Allah waHdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul Hamdu yuHyi wa yumeetu wa huwa Hayyun laa yamoot, bi yadihil khayr, wahuwa `alaa kulli shay’in qadeer’ [there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, He is alone without partner, to Him belongs dominion and praise, he causes life and death and He is the Living and does not die. In His Hand is all the good, and He is over all things competent.] Allah will write for him a million good deeds, erase a million of his bad deeds and raise him a million levels.” [at-Tirmidhi]
**
6.Glorifying and Praising Allah:** In few minutes we can say Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi (Glory and praise be to Allaah) many times. Allah’s Messenger (Peace be Upon Him) said: “Whoever says ‘Subhaanallaahi wa bihamdihi’ [Glorified is Allah and praised is He] one hundred times a day, will have his sins forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.” [al-Bukhari and Muslim]
7.Preserving the ties of kinship: In a Hadith, it is stated: ” Whoever wishes that his provision be increased and his age lengthened, let him maintain the ties of kinship.” [al-Bukhari and Muslim]
8.Remembrance of Allah: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him) said: “When I say **‘Subhaan Allaah, wa’l-hamdu Lillah, wa laa ilaah ill-Allaah, wa Allaahu akbar’ **[Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god except Allah, and Allah is Most Great], this is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon.” [Muslim]
9.Performing prayers in congregation The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him) said: “Prayer in congregation is superior to praying individually twenty-seven times.” **[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
10.Performing Salat ul-Ishraq** In a Hadith reported by Prophet (Peace be upon Him) “Whoever prays al-ghadaa (i.e. al fajr) in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two units of prayer, has a complete reward of Hajj and Umrah [The Prophet repeated ‘complete’ three times for emphasizing].” **[at-Tirmidhi]** ** 11.Performing Umrah in the month of Ramadhan** The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “`Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to a Hajj with me” [al-Bukhari]
12.Providing food for breaking of the fast: “Whoever provides food for breaking of the fast of a fasting person receives the reward of the fasting person, without the reward of the fasting person being reduced in any way.” [at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]
**
13.Deeds in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah** are very important with regards to virtue. The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are dearer to Allah than these ten [days of Dhul Hijjah].” They said, “O Messenger, even jihad in the way of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for the man who leaves with his wealth, and does not return with any of it (life or wealth).” [al-Bukhari]
**
14.Reciting Four Phrases:** Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (R.A) reported that the Prophet came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy in performing the dawn prayer. He came back in the forenoon and found me sitting there. The Prophet said: ”Are you still in the same position as I left you.” I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “I recited four phrases three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. These are: ** ‘Subhan-Allah Wa bihamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida-a nafsihi, wa zinatah ‘arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi’** [Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise]” [Muslim]
15.Performing the Friday Prayers: narrated from Abu Hurayrah (R.A) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him) said: “Whoever does ghusl then comes to Jumu’ah, and prays as much as Allah decrees for him, then listens attentively until the khutbah is over, then prays with him (the imam), will be forgiven for (his sins) between that and the next Jumu’ah and three more days.” [Narrated by Muslim, 857]
**
16.Fasting 6 Days in Shawwal:** Abu Ayyoob (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah)
17.Jannah becomes obligatory: Abu Sa’id (R.A) said that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said “Whoever says ‘Radeetu billahi rabban, Wa bil-Islaami deenan, Wa bi-Muhammadin Nabiyan’ Jannah becomes obligatory for him (to enter). (Abu-Dawud)
Most of these actions will not cost us anything; they will not tire us or take much effort. May we find these small Deeds easy to perform and may it become a means of forgiveness for us. Ameen.
Re: The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!
*Multiply Your Rewards In Ramadan *
A different kind of sale?
Most of us take store discounts fairly seriously. We love going to stores with bargains to fish out deals.
Many of us like making shopping lists after flipping through advertisements. After all, who wants to miss a great bargain?
Once at the store, we head straight for the deals, and sometimes, while we’re there, we notice even more bargains. Buy, buy, buy!
We may be really tired when we get home, but we feel great, since we know we’ve picked up some great bargains. The feeling of satisfaction in knowing that we got good value for our hard-earned cash is sweet.
But our purchases only last us as long as they’re around, or at the most, until we’re around. After that, they become as useless as the dried leaves outside the door.
However, every year, there’s a very different kind of sale. For starters, we don’t need any money to benefit from it. There are no ads. There are no lines. We don’t even need to leave home. There are no receipts. Everything is recorded automatically. Most unique of all, we can’t even see the great deals we pick up (at least not right away). They’re automatically deposited into our account.
**
Welcome to Ramadhan.**
For a limited number of days every year, we are offered to the opportunity to put our good deed collection into overdrive, and along with that, improve ourselves.
Each of our good actions are upgraded by at least one level. A non-obligatory action commands the reward of a fardh (obligatory action), and the reward of a fardh is multiplied by seventy.
Regarding Ramadhan, the Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:
“…Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time... ” [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]
In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) is reported to have said:
“…(It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers…” [Narrated by Tabarani]
Over the course of the year, we tend to get spoiled. The environment around us and other factors ever so slowly drift us away from our true purpose, the service of our Lord.
Each Ramadhan, we get the chance to tame ourselves and come closer to Allah. We all need a diet that allows us to stay away from calories and fat that not only build up on our physical bodies, but on our souls as well.
Reducing the food given to horses tames them and makes them submissive to their masters. Our nafs (base desires) and our bodies aren’t much different.
**
Allah (SW) says in the Holy Quran:**
“O you who believe! Observing the fast is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become God-fearing.” (Quran: 2:183)
Fasting is not all about staying away from food, drink, and satisfying our sensual desires. Rather, the spiritual aspect of fasting calls for keeping away from all bad deeds that help in the decaying of our souls.
Wouldn’t it be plain dumb for us to spend time on bad deeds when we can instead be spending the same time multiplying good deeds?
Nightly taraweeh prayers give us the chance to listen to the recitation of the Holy Quran, and in the process, rake in more good deeds, instead of wasting time in front of the TV or downloading music, movies, and software over Qadhaa.
Since in Ramadhan, every good deed comes with bonus points, it’s a time to uplift ourselves in every way possible. Not only should we try devote more time to worshipping Allah, we must also try our true best to improve the way we deal with others. Forgiving others, being patient, soft-hearted, and nice are just a few the things we can all try to work on.
Just as we like to head into a sale with a shopping list, why not make a Ramadhan shopping list? What would we like to accomplish in Ramadhan? Be it a resolution to not miss any fasts, recite a certain amount of Quran daily, or stick through taraweeh each night, setting goals can help keep us focused and on-target when the big sale arrives.
Even if we get tired when we shop for our worldly, fabricated items, our self-satisfaction tends to overcomes our tiredness and we feel that it was well worth the effort.
There probably will be times in Ramadhan when we’ll end up suffering. Whether it’s the pain in our legs from standing in taraweeh every night or the hunger after a long day of fasting at school or work, it’ll all be worth it in the end, Insha-Allah.
The items we don’t mind getting tired for (when shopping) are with us for a few days, months, or years, yet what we’ll gain in Ramadhan through our efforts and hardships will help us when it really counts – in the Hereafter (Insha-Allah).
Who can’t use some extra good deeds, especially in this day and age? We are all sinners and regardless of whether we realize it or not, our good actions are usually overcome by our misdeeds.
No matter how bad (or good, for that matter) we think we are, Ramadhan is the one time when we can hope to make some gains, no matter how small. After all, every little bit counts! Who knows if it will be one good deed that may end up holding the balance of power between Heaven and Hell for us?
So let’s gear up and start getting ready to take full advantage of the sale of the year!
Re: How Productive Was Your Day Today In Ramadan?
8 Tips for a Productive Ramadan
A month full of enormous spiritual wealth and reward, Ramadan is an incredible opportunity that we shouldn’t lose out on.
However, many of us often suffer from lack of productivity during Ramadan and not making the most of the special blessed month.
With the start of Ramadan, I have put together eight steps that will help us reap the benefits of the special month and allow us to experience a spiritual transformation this coming Ramadan Insha’Allah.
1. Be Prepared
The key to a productive Ramadan is to prepare for it well in advance. God encouraged us to fast and do extra good deeds during the months of Rajab and Shaban as a means of preparing ourselves for Ramadan. Rajab and Shaban can be considered the months of sowing, while Ramadan the month of reaping.
To really have good harvest in Ramadan plant your seeds in those months; train your body to wake up one hour before fajr prayer, read more Qur’an during the day; fast on the preferred days, such as Mondays and Thursdays; and practice doing extra good deeds. By doing this, you will ease your way into Ramadan and performing those extra ‘ibadat (acts of worship) during Ramadan will become very easy for you Insha’Allah.
If you haven’t prepared for this Ramadan, make the intention to do it next Ramadan.
**2. Be Realistic, Consistent **
We usually enter Ramadan with very high aspirations and make promises to ourselves that we often can’t keep due to the impracticality of our goals. If you haven’t trained yourself before Ramadan for the ‘ibadat you wish to carry out, you will most likely not be able to sustain them.
Trying to finish the Quran three or four times during Ramadan when you barely read a page a day before Ramadan or wanting to pray tahajjud (extra night prayers) every single night when you’ve been struggling with waking up for fajr, will put too much physical and psychological pressure on you. This will most probably result in you slipping after the first week, losing hope and then giving up entirely. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
“The best deeds are those which are consistent even if they are small.” (Al-Bukhari)
If you don’t want to suffer from lack of consistency this Ramadan and end up feeling guilty about it, then be realistic in your expectations. Stick to a few `ibadat that you know you will be able to perform and be consistent with them.
For example, if you decide to complete the Quran only once during the month and pray only two rakaat (units) tahajjud (late night prayers) every night, and actually sustain this throughout the entire month, it will be much greater in the eyes of Allah than if you put pressure on yourself to do more ibadat than you can handle and then find you cannot follow through with them.
**3. Don’t Eat too Much at Iftar **
The mistake a lot of Muslims often fall into during Ramadan is making so many different kinds of foods and eating them.
Ramadan is a month of cleansing — cleansing of our souls and body. Fasting allows us to feel a little of the hunger pangs that poor people feel; and gives our overworked digestive system a break from continuous digestion. Unfortunately, it has become very common for Muslims to eat so much food at iftar (the meal after sundown that breaks the fast) time and late into the night that they often find that they have gained weight by the end of the month.
If you think about it, gaining weight defies the whole purpose of fasting. Instead of detoxing, we end up toxing; and instead of feeling hungry, we end up waking up the next morning feeling bloated and uncomfortable.
The mistake a lot of Muslims often fall into during Ramadan is making so many different kinds of foods and eating them. While the delicious, unhealthy fried food may be very tempting after a long day of fasting, it will just makes us lazy, sleepy and will most definitely result in an unproductive night. We may even be too tired to pray tarawih (the night prayer offered in Ramadan) after a heavy meal.
Thus, Iftar should be kept simple, balanced and healthy. Instead of relying mainly on empty carbohydrates that will fill up our stomach but give very little nutritional value to our body, we should choose foods that will nourish our body and provide us with sufficient energy for that night and the next day.
If you’re smart with what you eat at iftar and follow the Sunnah (prophetic behavior) of the Prophet, peace be upon him, by filling only a third of your stomach with food, a third with water and allowing a third for air, you’ll immediately notice a difference in your energy level while fasting and after you break your fast Insha’Allah.
4. One Hour before Fajr
The secret to a productive day is taking advantage of the times that God put barakah (blessing) in. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) taught us that there is barakah in the early hours of the morning. By spending the hour before fajr in prayer, recitation of Quran, and in the remembrance of Allah, you will get the spiritual nourishment your body requires for that day.
Just like we need to eat breakfast every morning to give us energy, the spiritual nourishment our body needs is equally important. Without it, we will not have much barakah in our time and we will find ourselves getting tired easily and not being very productive. Additionally, having suhoor (pre-dawn meal) gives us barakah. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said
‘Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is barakah.’ (An-Nasa’i)
Make sure you wake up every morning before fajr, pray at least two rakaat, make some du’as’ (supplication), read a bit of Qur’an, and have a bite to eat (even if it’s just a few dates). If you try this, I guarantee you, with Allah’s will, that one hour in which you deprive yourself of sleep for Allah’s sake will grant you so much barakah that day. You’ll find that you will finish your work early and still have plenty of time on your hands for your ibadat.
5. Prepare for Eid Early
it is extremely important to prepare for Eid early if you don’t want to miss out on the treasures of the blessed last ten nights.
It isn’t by coincidence that the last ten days of Ramadan are the most blessed and contain the most reward. Allah purposely chose these days to be the most rewarding to test us because He knew that very few people will be able to maintain or increase their amount of worship towards the end of Ramadan.
As Ramadan comes to an end, not only do we become tired physically (from continuous fasting), but we are also preparing for Eid – making Eid sweets, buying Eid clothes and even doing Eid cleaning. Therefore, we find ourselves struggling on those last ten days trying to finish our Eid preparations that we end up not having much time for our `ibadat. This is why it is extremely important to prepare for Eid early if you don’t want to miss out on the treasures of the blessed last ten nights.
The last thing you want to be doing on the 27th or 29th night of Ramadan, which are considered two of the most blessed nights of the month and contain a tremendous amount of reward, is spending your time at a shopping center frantically trying to find a pair of shoes to match your Eid outfit or making those last minute Eid sweets. If you prepare for Eid early (preferably even before Ramadan), you will be able to utilize your time in those last ten days in prayer, recitation of Quran, remembrance of Allah and doing good deeds.
6. Du’as for Others
We often get excited before Ramadan as we know that the time Allah will Insha’Allah answer our prayers is just around the corner. Some of us even memorize special du’as and prepare du’as’ lists well in advance. This is a wonderful thing to do of course, but if we want to increase the effectiveness of our du’as, we should make du’as for others. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
‘Whenever you make a supplication for another believer and he is not present, an angel will say ‘and same to you.’ (Muslim)
When we make du’as for our brother or sister in Islam, we are basically hitting two birds with one stone – praying for others and ourselves.
Due to the difficult time the Islamic ummah (community) is going through at the moment, let’s all plan to make a great deal of du’as this Ramadan for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Libya, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and all the other Muslim countries.
Choose times in which du’as is answered, such as the last third of the night and when you break your fast, to make the du’as with all sincerity and a wakeful heart. God does answer the prayers of those who supplicate Him. However, the key to receiving an answer to your prayer is to be sincere in your du’as, consistent, and patient. May Allah answer all our prayers this Ramadan. Amen.
7. An Opportunity to Purification
Ramadan comes once a year, and when it leaves us we don’t know if we will live to see the next one
Fasting is not only about abstaining from food and drink but it is also about abstaining from anger, backbiting, jealousy, greed, thinking ill of people; and all the other diseases of the heart. Purification of the soul from the illnesses of the heart is not an easy task and the person who is able to free him/herself from these unhealthy qualities is truly the successful one:
{And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it; And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and righteousness, he has succeeded who purifies it." (91:7-9)
We all suffer from the constant annoying whispers of the Satan (devil) that just won’t go away, thus making the task of purification even more difficult. For this, the blessed month of Ramadan is an ideal time to work on purifying our souls.
Not only does God lock away all those evil devils during the entire month; but fasting in itself is a form of purification. Fasting softens our hearts, weakens our human desires and instills in us the pleasant qualities of patience and will-power.
Unlike the normal days of the year, we feel more inclined to do righteous deeds and to keep away from committing sins. This Ramadan, let us all choose one unwanted quality about ourselves that we wish to change and make a conscious effort to purify ourselves of it.
8. Monitor Your Intentions
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
‘The deeds are considered by their intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intentions.’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
We usually make an intention before we perform good deeds such as fasting or giving sadaqa (charity). However, we often tend to forget to make an intention for the little everyday tasks we normally do. If you really want your hasanat (reward from good deeds) to soar during Ramadan, make a sincere intention for every little task you perform.
For instance, if you’re cooking iftar for your family, make the intention that the time you spend in the kitchen cooking in order to feed your fasting family is to please Allah. If you smile at a stranger in the street, make the intention that you are doing it because smiling at others is considered a form of charity, as the Prophet said:
‘When you smile in your brother’s face, it is charity.’ (At-Tirmidhi)
Even if you get into bed early, make the intention that you are doing this in order to be able to wake up early to pray tahajjud and have suhoor.
Glory be to God; when we make a sincere intention before performing these normal everyday tasks, they transform into `ibadat and we get rewarded for them — and the reward we get for doing good deeds in Ramadan is multiplied. Imagine the amount of reward we can get simply for sleeping — something everyone enjoys doing! Allah truly is merciful to His creation.
However, we must keep in mind that sometimes our initial intentions may be sincere but very slowly, due to the tricks of the Satan or our nafs (lower desires), our intentions begin to change and aren’t so sincere anymore. This is why it is very important to constantly monitor our intentions and check before we perform any good deed to see whether we are doing it purely for the sake of God or to please other people.
If you feel that the good deed you’re doing is to impress others, make a conscious effort to renew your intention. If you’re intention is pure and sincere, then Allah will make performing the good deed easy on you and you will be rewarded for it tremendously Insha’Allah.
Ramadan comes once a year, and when it leaves us we don’t know if we will live to see the next one, so let us strive to make the most of this Ramadan. May Allah grant us all a Ramadan full of barakah and blessings. Amen.
Source:Your Circadian Rhythm While Fasting - Faith & the Sciences - Health & Science - OnIslam.net
Re: 10 Good acts a Women can do on her Menses
10 Easy Ibadaat for Women in Ramadan on their Menses / Periods
What is Ibadah?!
The term “Ibadah” (worship) in Islam is not only confined to the pillars of Islam as it comprises many other goodly aspects. Allah [Exalted be His mention] says [what means]:
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” {Surat Adh-Dhariyat 51: Verse: 56}
Many people mistakenly understand the term “worship” to mean living an ascetic way of life. This is not true at all. In Islam, worship is not [only] restricted to prayer, going to the masjid, giving in charity, or going for Hajj, as one can even turn permissible acts such as sleeping, eating, drinking, going to work, etc. into an act of worship. How is that?! By having a good intention! So, if one sleeps with the intention to rest his body so he can have more energy to worship Allah then this is a good intention. If one goes to work so he can provide for his family and those under his care, then this is a good intention which he will be rewarded for.
Mu’aadh (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I sleep and I get up (to pray at night), and I seek reward for my sleep as I seek reward for my getting up.
**[Narrated by al-Bukhari] **
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “You will never spend anything that you spend for the sake of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it, even the morsel of food that you put in your wife’s mouth.”
[Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Tayimah (May Allah have Mercy on him) gave a very comprehensive definition of the word “Ibaadah” as he said: “Al-Ibadah is a collective term for all of the deeds and words which Allah loves and is pleased with [whether] inward or outward.”
**
WHAT CAN I DO DURING MY PERIOD?**
Many sisters feel that they cannot do much of Ibaadaat while on their monthly period, this is not true. Allah (Exalted be His mention) gave us the blessing of time, we should take advantage of it in doing things that are pleasing to Him. So, here is a list of ten easy Ibaadaat that can be done during the period:
1. Make lots of du’a (supplication) to Allah
Being in that state of ritual impurity should not prevent you from making du’a.
It is reported from An-Nu’man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported the prophet (Peace & blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “Du’a is worship.” [Abu Dawud]
2. Visit a close family member
When you are visiting one of your close family members make sure to have the intention of keeping good ties of kinship between both of you.
The prophet (Peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “And he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should unite his ties of kinship.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
**
3. Make lots of Istighfaar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) and dhikr (remembrance of Allah)**
This can be done when you are cooking, cleaning, going to work, going to the shop, etc. Allah [Exalted be His mention] says [what means]:
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.” [Surat Al-Ahzab: 33: Verse: 41]
4. Give Da’wah to Muslims and non-Muslims
This can be by sharing an Islamic post on face book, sharing Islamic knowledge in general through media, and most importantly being a good example through your manners, speech and actions. Allah says what means: “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.” [Surat Fussilat: 41: Verse: 33]
And the prophet (Peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Convey from me even if it is (only) one ayah (verse).” [Narrated by al-Bukhari]
**
- Read beneficial books**
Choose books that will help you understand more about Islam, purpose of this life and duties towards our creator. Anas ibn Malik said, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” **[Sunan Ibn Majah] **
6. Visit the sick
It is one of the rights upon another Muslim to visit them when they are sick, and not only that, there are great virtues for visiting the sick as mentioned by our beloved Prophet (Peace & blessings of Allah be upon him): “When the Muslim visits his (sick) Muslim brother, he is harvesting the fruit of paradise until he returns.” **[Narrated by Muslim].**This would also enable us to be more thankful to Allah for the good health that we have and content with the condition we are in.
7. Listen to the Qur’an frequently
Listening to the Qur’an would enable you to prefect your recitation of the Qur’an, help you revise what you memorized, and constantly remembering Allah in your heart and mind.
8. Help others
If you see your sister in Islam going through hard circumstances, do what you can to help her. One day if you are in that same position, Allah will bring to you someone who will help you too.
9. Smile in your sister’s face
By doing so, we are following the prophet’s sunnah and will be rewarded for it Insha’Allah.
**
10. Spread the greeting of “Salam”**
This should be done with those [sisters] we know or never met before. The prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you about something which, if you do it, will make you love one another? Greet each other with Salam.”
**[Muslim] **
In conclusion, let’s renew our intentions and make sure we are doing all these good deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake and following the footsteps of our beloved prophet Muhammad and his companions (May Allah be pleased with them all).
Source:10 Easy Ibadaat for Women in Ramadan on their Menses / Periods | The Ideal Muslimah