24 August 2009

Three Tough Questions

There was a young man who went overseas to study for quite some time. When he returned, he asked his parents to find him a religious scholar or any expert who could answer his Three Questions.

Finally, his parents were able to find a Muslim scholar.

"Who are you? Can you answer my questions?," asked the young man

"I am one of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)'s slaves and Insha'Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions," replied the Scholar.

"Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions," replied the young boy

"I will try my best, with the help of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)"

"I have 3 questions," began the boy

1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.

2. What is takdir (fate)?

3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end he will be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. It certainly will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?

Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face very hard!

The young man, who was shocked and hurt by the slap became confused, "Why do are you angry at me?" he asked

"I am not angry," answered the scholar, "The slap is my answer to your three questions."

"I really don't understand," the young man said. He was really confused.

The scholar began to explain, "How did you feel after I slapped you?," he asked

"Of course, I felt the pain. it hurt," he replied

"So do you believe that pain exists?" the scholar asked

"Yes."

"Now Show me the shape of the pain!" said the wise Scholar

"I cannot," the young man replied

"That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape... Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?," the ascholar replied

"No"

"Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?," the scholar continued

"No."

"That is takdir (fate)........" The scholar continued, "My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?"

"It is created from flesh," replied the young man

"How about your face, what is it created from?"

"Flesh, as well" replied the young man

"How did you feel after I slapped you?"

"In pain."

"Even though Shaitan (satan) and Jahunnum (Hell-fire) were created from fire, if Allah wants, insha'Allah (God willing), the Hell-fire will become a very painful place for Shaitan (Devil)" ended the wise Scholar.

The wise Scholar had answered all three of the tough questions by one slap.

23 August 2009

Pearls Of Ramadhan - How to spend time in this month

First Pearl - The Month of Mercy

Many a secular person has gone and many pious saints have passed away, but we that read this pamphlet have this opportunity once again to correct our lives by following the sunnat of our prophet Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam and pleasing Allâh. Ramadhân is for the Muslims a very great favour from Allâh. The reality of this favour can only be felt in our lives and heart if we appreciate it, otherwise this blessed month of Ramadhân will come and go without gaining anything.

Kâb bin Ujrah (RadiAllâhu Anhu) relates, that once while climbing the pulpit (mimbar), Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Âmîn." The Sahabah asked, "O Rasul of Allâh, today we have heard something that we have never heard before." Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said that Jibraeel (Alaihis Salâm) said, "Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadhân and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness." Upon that I said "Âmîn."

Let us ask ourselves who is making the du'â and who is saying Âmîn. Now can we still let this month of Ramadhân go by idly or are we going to spend it in accordance to the teachings of Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam?

Second Pearl - Fasting

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reports that Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "The du'â of a fasting person is not rejected until he breaks his fast." Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Whoever eats during one day of Ramadhân without a valid excuse, shall never be able to recoup that day even by fasting for the rest of his life."

Third Pearl - Sehri

Ibne Umar (R.A.) relates that Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Verily Allâh and his angels send mercy upon those who partake of Sehri."

Fourth Pearl - The Qur'ân

There is a very great link between Ramadhân and the Qurân. Ramadhân is the month of the Qurân. Therefore read as much Qurân as possible. Hadhrat Abdullah Ibne Umar (R.A.) narrated that Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "The hearts become rusted as iron rusts with water." When someone asked, "What could cleanse the hearts again?" Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Frequent remembrance of death and recitation of the Qurân." The month of Ramadhân and the Qurân is with us. Let us use it to cleanse our hearts of rust.

Fifth Pearl - Tarâwîh Salâh

Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said that Allâh made fasting fardh for the day and Tarawîh sunnat for the night. Let us realize that through our fasting we kill the desires of our Nafs (carnal self) and through our Tarawîh we can reach Allâh. What a blessing!

Sixth Pearl - Itikâf

In Kashful Ghummah, Allâma Sha'râni relates a Hadith wherein Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Whoever performs Itikâf for the final ten days of Ramadhân, for him is the reward of two Haj and two Umrahs and whoever performs Itikâf from Maghrib until Esha doing nothing except performing Salât and reciting the Qurân, Allâh will prepare a place for him in Jannah."

Seventh Pearl - Laylatul Qadr

Amongst the nights of Ramadhân, Laylatul Qadr is one of the most blessed. The Qurân describes it as being greater in spiritual virtue than a thousand months, which in turn means that it is more valuable than 83 years and 4 months. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reports that Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said "Whoever stands in worship on the night of Qadr with complete faith and with sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven."
Hadhrat Ayesha (R.A.) reports that Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Seek Laylatul Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of the month of Ramadhân." Hadhrat Ayesha (R.A.) reports that she said, "O Messenger of Allâh, if I find Laylatul Qadr, what should I read?" The Prophet Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam replied, "Say, 'O Allâh, thou art the one who grants pardon for sins, thou lovest to pardon, so pardon me."

Advice on How to Kindle Our Spiritual Upliftment

Reduce all business or worldly commitments to a minimum.

Do not waste time doing Eid shopping or eating with friends and other family members just because it is Ramadhân.

Increase Nafl Salât or complete Qaza Salât as much as possible.

Increase the recitation of the Qurân, Zikr and Tasbeeh.

Make a total commitment to avoid all sins. If any sins are committed, (major or minor), make taubah (repent) immediately.

Free the mind from all evil thoughts and make an effort to reform oneself (eg. remove pride, hatred, jealousy, anger, looking down upon others, etc.)

Increase acts of charity and assist the needy as much as possible. Do not forget to pay your Zakât.

Spend time reading good Islamic books (eg. Teachings of Islam, Bahishti Zewar, Good Character, Upbringing of Children etc.)

Bear in mind that each of one of us will be asked by Allâh how we spent our Ramadhân . Let us not forget that we will be punished equally for our sins just as we are rewarded for our good deeds.

Four Acts To Perform In Abundance

a. Read Kalima Tayyibah
b. Read Durood Shareef
c. Ask for Jannatul Firdous
d. Ask to be saved from Jahannam

Twenty-four Hour Programme

Hereunder we suggest a 24- hour programme for the month of Ramadhân. It is an example of spending our time correctly. The programme starts from Maghrib till Maghrib the following day.

Read: "O You who are Great in Bounties, forgive me", as many times as possible before Iftâr.

Make du'â 5 to 10 minutes before Iftâr. The du'â of a fasting person is readily accepted at this time.

Make Iftâr quickly. Thereafter perform Maghrib (for men with Jamât and for women at home).

After Maghrib perform 6 to 20 Rakâts Awwâbîn Namâz.

Read Surah Tabarak after Maghrib. The benefit of it is that it will save us from the punishment of the grave.

Read Surah Waqiyah. The virtue of it is that it will save one from poverty.

Have supper quickly. Our suggestion is that due to the long days, have a rest for 15 - 20 minutes before Esha, so that one may be fresh for Tarawîh and Esha salâh.

Prepare for Esha before the Esha Azân and proceed for Esha and Tarawîh Salât. Return home immediately after Tarawîh or after any Deeni programme in the Masjid. Do not waste time talking and discussing political and business issues.

On returning home, read Surah Sajdah. Thereafter spend a few minutes with the family and try to sleep as early as possible allowing one to arise at 3.00 a.m. for Tahajjud salâh.

Read Tasbeeh-e-Fatimi before sleeping.

Perform at least 4,8, or 12 rakâts Tahajjud salâh, thereafter read the first kalima 100 times and then make du'â before partaking of Sehri.

Immediately after Sehri proceed to the Masjid for Fajr Salâh. After Fajr recite the Qurân till Ishrâq time.

Perform 2 or 4 Rakâts Ishrâq. The benefit is that your daily work will become easy and you will attain the reward of an accepted Haj. After Ishrâq rest before going to work. People who are self employed should take advantage of this rest and also give their employees this opportunity.

At work or at one's business, one should keep one's tongue moist with Zikr eg. Kalimah Tayyibah, Istighfâr and Durood Shareef. Those who are bay't to a Sheikh should complete their prescribed Zikr.

Try to be early for Zohar Namâz so that one could read the Qurân immediately after one has read the 4 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah before the Jamât Namâz. If possible try to read Qurân after Zohar Namâz as well, depending on how long one's lunch break is.

After completing Asar Namâz, read Durood Shareef at least 100 times and Istighfâr 100 times. Thereafter spend the balance of the time reciting Qurân till Iftâr time, not forgetting the du'â before Iftâr.

Remember : If we have Qaza Salâh to perform, then instead of all our Nafl Salâh eg. Awwâbeen, or Ishrâq, we should perform all our Qaza Salâh. The first question on the day of Qiyâmat after Imân will be about Salâh.

A great spiritual mentor (Sheikh Zakariyya) always told his Mureeds, "Eat as much as you want to (Halâl Food), sleep as much as you want to, "BUT DO NOT TALK." In other words, one should not waste any time in Ramadhân in futile acts. Our time should be spent in Salâh, Tilawat of the Qurân and Zikr.

An Example of How Our Elders Spent their Ramadhân

Sheikhul-Hind Moulana Mahmudul Hasan (R.A.) used to remain in Nafl Salât form after Tarawîh until Fajr and would listen to the Qurân recited by various Huffâz. Moulana Shah Abdur Rahim Raipuri (R.A) remained busy with tilawat of the Qurân day and night throughout Ramadhân.

The Three Parts of This Month

In a Hadith it is mentioned the month of Ramadhân is divided into 3 parts. The first part is that of Allâh's mercy, the second part is that of forgiveness, while the third part is that of freedom from the fire of Jahannam.

Note: We find that many of us are absent from the Masjid without a valid reason. Now ask yourself how will one get freedom from Jahannam, when one was supposed to be forgiven during the middle ten days while absenting oneself from the most important act of worship.

Resolutions

One should draw a resolution every Ramadhân to stay away from all sins and to remember Allâh. Remember also to make a dedicated resolution eg. from this Ramadhân I will control my gaze and make five times Salâh. Each resolution will bring us closer to Allâh. Control the gaze and you will attain respect in this world and peace in the hereafter - Insha Allâh.

Practical Tips For Fasting In Ramadhan

Muslims view the fasting month of Ramadan with much sanctity and honor. The fasting month brings about a personal reflection of where we are, what we have done and where we hope to go. Many Muslims feel a heightened sense of excitement as well as anxiety. In this state of excitement, we try our best to welcome in the fasting month with as much preparation as possible. However, at times, we tend to forget the little things. Here are some practical tips to fasting during this blessed month.

Firstly, there’s the pre-Ramadan preparation. Reduce your caffeine habit, preferably a few days before you start fasting so you don’t crave your cup of java during the day. Try to do the optional fasts on Monday and Thursdays (or any day that suits your lifestyle). This will help you get into the Ramadan vibe. Overall, start eating less, especially during the daytime. Or you could have an early morning breakfast and eat lightly during the day then have a full meal at dinner time.

Next, during Ramadan, it is important to make a serious conviction to follow the Ramadan routine. Wake up before dawn, have the pre-dawn breakfast (suhoor) and perform the dawn prayers (fajr). This routine must be ingrained in your mind, body and soul. It is common to have a boost of faith during the early days of Ramadan. The spiritual energy is vibrant and you feel that it is easy to meet Ramadan head on. Then, we may get weak and lose our conviction. We may get lazy and tell ourselves that we have another 3 weeks or so to get back on track. It is best to stay the course and be moderate.

Reduce sodium in your diet, especially during suhoor. This will help to reduce your urge to drink throughout the day. Extreme foods should be avoided as well. These include super spicy dishes (again to reduce the urge to drink after suhoor), high sugar content (to avoid the ‘crash and burn’ feeling), fatty foods and anything else that normally disagrees with you. Try to include foods that have high fiber content (for easy digestion) and that are ‘filling’. It’s important to eat ‘complex carbohydrates’ as they break down slowly. These include grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, and unpolished rice. Lots of fruits and vegetables are not only healthy but also provide a good balance to your meals. These will help sustain yourself until you break your fast. If you are already taking multi-vitamin supplements, don’t stop. Check with a health advisor if you plan to start a new multi-vitamin supplement. Don’t look far to find a vital health supplement. Dates are abundant throughout the year and especially during Ramadan. Dates are known to provide a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits. Another important tip: hydrate! Drink lots of water in the night and before dawn. During suhoor, remember that coffee and tea are known to be diuretics. This could cause you to lose fluids faster.

Don’t binge. Having an empty stomach during the day and then gorging yourself at night can cause lethargy and other gastrointestinal discomforts. The last thing you need is a sloth-like behavior at night and then you miss the precious dawn breakfast.

Source: San Jose Muslim Examiner

25 Golden Advices For Ramadhan

From the book Khulaasatul Kalaam by Shaykh Jaarullah.

Brother Muslim, Sister Muslima:

1. Fast Ramadhan with belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah the Most High so that He may forgive you your past sins.

2. Beware of breaking your fast during the days of Ramadhan without a valid Islamic excuse, for it is from the greatest of sins.

3. Pray Salat ut-Taraweeh and the night prayer during the nights of Ramadhan – especially on Layatul-Qadr – based on belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah, so that Allah may forgive you your past sins.

4. Make sure that your food, your drink and your clothing are from halal means, in order that your actions be accepted, and your supplications answered. Beware of refraining from the halal while fasting and breaking your fast with the haram.

5. Give food to some fasting people to gain a reward similar to theirs.

6. Perform your five prayers on time in congregation to gain the reward and Allahs protection.

7. Give a lot of charity for the best charity is that of Ramadhan.

8. Beware of spending your time without performing righteous deeds, for you will be responsible and reckoned for it and will be rewarded for all you do during your time.

9. Perform `umrah in Ramadhan for `Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to Hajj.

10. Seek help for fasting during the day by eating the sahoor meal in the last part of the night before the appearance of Fajr.

11. Hasten breaking your fast after the sun has truly set in order to gain the love of Allah.

12. Perform ghusl before fajr if you need to purify yourself from the state of major impurity so that you are able to do acts of worship in a state of purity and cleanliness.

13. Cease the opportunity of being in Ramadhan and spend it with the good that has been revealed in it – by reciting the noble Quran and pondering and reflection of its meanings so that it be a proof for you with your Lord and an intercessor for you on the Day of Reckoning.

14. Preserve your tongue from lying, cursing, backbiting and slander for it decreases the reward of fasting.

15. Do not let fasting cause you cross your boundaries by getting upset due to the slightest of reasons. Rather, fating should be a cause of peacefulness and tranquility of your soul.

16. Upon completion of fasting, be in a state of taqwa of Allah the Most High, being aware of Allah watching you in secret and in public, in thankfulness for His favors, and steadfastness upon obedience of Allah by doing all what He has ordered and shunning all that He has prohibited.

17. Increase in remembrance of Allah, seeking of forgiveness, asking for Paradise and protection against the Fire, especially when fasting, while breaking the fast and during suhoor, for these actions are among greatest causes of attaining Allahs forgiveness.

18. Increase in supplication for yourself, your parents, your children and Muslims, for Allah has ordered making of supplications and has guaranteed acceptance.

19. Repent to Allah with a sincere repentance in all times by leaving sins, regretting those that you have done before and firmly deciding not to return to them in the future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who repent.

20. Fast six days of Shawwal, for whoever fasts Ramadhan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasts all the time.

21. Fast on the Day of `Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the last year and the coming year.

22. Fast on the day of `Aashuraa, the 10th of Muharram, along with the 9th, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the past year.

23. Continue being in a state of iman and taqwa and perform righteous actions after the month of Ramadhan, until you die. And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death). [Quran 15:99]

24. Ensure that you attain the positive effects of your acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj, sincere repentance and leaving of customs that are in variance with the Sharee`ah.

25. Invoke a lot of salawat and salam upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allahs blessings and peace be upon him, his Companions and all those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.

O Allah make us and all Muslims of those who fast and stand in prayer during the month of Ramadhan based on belief and truly seeking Your reward so that we are forgiven our past and future sins.

O Allah make us of those who fasted the month, attained full reward, witnessed Layatul-Qadr and attained success by permission of the Lord, Blessed and Most High.

O Allah, verily you are Forgiver, like to forgive, so forgive us.

O Lord, accept from us, verily you are the All-Hearing, all-Seeing, O Living, O Independent, O Owner of all majesty and honor.

And may Allahs blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, his family and his Companions.

Source: MyUmmah