Surat Al-FATIHA (The Opening)

 

 

 

This is SURAT AL-FATIHA, the first Surat of the Holy QUR'AN. and this is the translation of the meaning:

 

"I begin with the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"

"All praise is to God, Lord of all the worlds.

Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Master of the Day of Judgment.

You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we ask for help.

Guide us to the straight path.

The Path of those on whom You bestowed Your bounties.

Not the path of those who incurred Your wrath or those who went astray.” (Quran 1:1-7)

 

 

And this is the short audio of reciting this Surat:

 

http://www.mp3quran.net/newMedia.php?id=1&file=https://server14.mp3quran.net/khalf/001.mp3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramadan mubarak

 

 

 

نسأل الله أن يعيننا على صيامه و قيامه

و يكتبنا فيه من المقبولين

و أن يجعلنا من عتقائه من النار

 

Meaning: 

we ask Allah to help us in its fast ,and the prayer at its nights

and to accept all that from us

and make us protected from hell

—————————

 

 

من صام رمضان إيماناً و احتساباً,غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه

 

which translated as:

"who fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward from Allah ,will have his past

sins forgiven "

_______________

 

May the holy month of the revelation of Qur'an usher upon you peace, happiness, and prosperity .

 

Wisdom behind fasting

 

 

 

          Whenever the month of Ramadan (Ramadhan) begins and the sighting of its crescent is affirmed, this marks the celebration of the willpower and strong determination of every Muslim. 

 

Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan out of obedience to their Lord and their urge to benefit from such a great spiritual experience. They embark on a month-long spiritual journey of purification, hoping to disclose the wisdom behind fasting and obtain the abundant rewards of this blessed month, the fasting of which is one of the pillars of Islam.

 

The following are some of the rationales for fasting in this month:

 

 

1-A self-training process:

 

          The month of Ramadan is a practical self-training process on the sincerity and honesty of the believer. If the fasting person abstains from doing what is permissible such as eating and drinking during the day of fast, it is unbecoming of him to commit what is forbidden whether it is during fasting or at any other time. 

 

A wise man would not refrain from what is lawful out of his obedience to the commands of his Lord and commit what his Lord deemed prohibited during the month of Ramadan. Indeed, adultery is forbidden according to the consensus of Muslims. The person who commits adultery is not a fasting person even if he refrains from eating in Ramadan.

 

Fasting cultivates honesty in man that drives the believer to comply with the Commands of Allah The Exalted at all times and in all situations. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.} [Quran 2:183]

 

This means that fasting teaches people to refrain from committing sins and wrongdoings, just like they abstain from eating and drinking during the fasting day.

 

 

2-A social and humanitarian context :

 

          Fasting is a holistic spiritual experience that poses a huge question mark for those who grasp the wisdom behind this obligation. 

 

A fasting person should ponder on the spirit of caring and sharing which fasting develops in Muslims. All fasting Muslims share the same pain, hunger, thirst, and bitterness of deprivation while fasting with the poor and needy. 

 

Ramadan creates a social and humanitarian context that fosters compassion for the needy around the world. By our voluntary hunger and thirst we realise what it means to be deprived of basic necessities of life. 

 

Ramadan is a time to remember and help those who are less fortunate. Moreover, all Muslims also feel the joy of breaking their fast and relish thankfulness to Allah The Exalted for His grace. The poor people rejoice at their wealthy brothers who are sharing their pain and suffering with them. 

 

They rejoice at the thought that their wealthy brothers help them to ward off the scourge of hunger and bitter deprivation. Fasting rejuvenates the concept of social solidarity among the Muslim community. Whoever fails to feel these refind feelings of brotherhood towards his fellow Muslims, has failed to perfect his fasting. Therefore, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever sleeps on a full stomach while his neighbor is hungry is not a believer."

 

 

3-Unity of the community:

 

      Fasting generates in man feelings of happiness, peace of mind and spiritual satisfaction and fosters the unity of the Muslim community. It inculcates in man the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood.

 

When one fasts, he feels that he is joining the whole Muslim society in observing the same duty in the same manner at the same time for the same motives and to the same end. 

 

Fasting unites all Muslims. They all share the same sufferings and hardships of deprivation throughout the thirty-day self-discipline experience in which they break free from their habits. 

 

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "The fasting person has two occasions for joy, one when he breaks his fast (because of his breaking it) and the other when he meets his Lord (because of the reward for his fast)."

 

4-Self-control:

 

          The month of Ramadan grounds in man self-control. It is the month of radical positive change. When he fasts, he is in control of himself and exercises full control over his habits and desires. 

 

At other times, one can not endure abstaining from eating and drinking for a short period of time. However, in the month of Ramadan, he may look at the food for which he craves, yet he would not dare to eat it out of his obedience to the commands of Allah The Exalted. 

 

Indeed, one is not forced to fast in the month of Ramadan; [there is no authority to check man's behavior or compel him to observe fasting.] One may pretend to be fasting in front of people, if his heart does not have any fear of his Lord. 

 

Fasting is an act of worship that is offered to Allah The Exalted with full devotion and sincerity, hoping only for the rewards of Allah The Exalted. Such sincere fasting people do not fear anyone but Allah The Almighty. Therefore, the rewards for fasting are beyond measure and only Allah The Exalted can identify such abundant rewards. 

 

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said in a Hadeeth Qudsi (sacred narration): "Allah The Exalted Says: "Every deed of the child of Aadam is for himself, except for fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward it."

 

Hence, fasting people would be distinguished and honored on the Day of Judgment as they would enter Paradise through a special gate called Ar-Rayyaan. Howevere, those who violated their fasting by committing sins and wrongdoings that jeopardize such an act of worship will be excluded.

 

 

Health and psychological benefits

 

 

          Fasting has clear health and psychological benefits that were disclosed after scientific discoveries were made and the insights of those who were blessed with insight and good understanding of the divine obligation. 

The challenges presented in this month also offer up many opportunities to benefit both physically and psychologically. Here are 5 of those potential benefits.

 

1. Increasing Insulin Sensitivity:

Insulin sensitivity is a term used to describe how effective a body is at lowering blood glucose levels, by way of secreting the hormone insulin. Someone with higher insulin sensitivity will require less insulin to deal with the glucose in their blood than someone with lower sensitivity. Having low insulin sensitivity can bring on a range of ill effects such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease and obesity. Fasting has been scientifically proven to increase insulin sensitivity significantly.

 

In short, fasting can help promote insulin sensitivity, which can in turn help us to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol levels, heart functions, to be of a healthier weight, and to reduce our risk of having diabetes.

 

2. Inducing Autophagy:

The winner of Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology, Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, has devoted himself to the study of a process called Autophagy. Autophagy is the process by which living cells breakdown and recycle dead, diseased or unused cellular parts, rendering them available for use again in a more effective way. Put in layman’s terms, it is like stripping down an old car and reusing the parts that might still be of use elsewhere. Autophagy has been found to play a crucial role in helping the body fight the onset of a wide range of diseases and ailments, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease. Fasting has been found to be a potent way to induce the body’s process of autophagy. For those of us who are more concerned about beauty rather than the health of their brain, autophagy has also been found to reduce the speed at which individuals age

.

In short, fasting can induce autophagy, which can in turn keep a range of neurodegenerative disorders at bay, as well as helping us to look younger.

 

3. Promoting Gut Health:

The presence of a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut has been found to be crucial to digestive health. Researchers from the lab of Professor John Thomas reported that fasting fruit flies experienced a genetic activation that results in an anti-inflammatory response that protected their digestive systems and the bacteria within them. While this study was carried out on fruit flies, the flies were chosen due to the fact that they have the same metabolism-related genes as humans do. A healthy digestive tract can significantly boost our immune system. Accordingly, the researchers found that flies that fasted lived twice as long as flies that did not.

 

In short, fasting can promote healthier guts, which in turn can improve our immune system and digestive processes, allowing us to potentially live longer.

 

4. Killing Cancer Cells:

Fasting has been shown to kill cancer cells. Researchers from UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, reported that intermittent fasting inhibited the development and progression of the most common type of childhood leukaemia. Another study, this time carried out at the University of Southern California, reported that fasting, when combined with chemotherapy, stripped away the guard that protected breast cancer and skin cancer cells, thus allowing the body’s immune system to more effectively tackle the cancer. Other published research has shown that combining fasting with chemotherapy makes the therapy more effective.

 

In short, fasting can help the body fight cancerous cells, as well as slowing their progression and development.

 

5. Increasing Willpower:

Professor Roy Baumeister of Florida State University has spent a significant amount of time researching both self-esteem and self-control/willpower. Perhaps surprisingly, he has found that it is willpower that is more important to happiness and success than self-esteem. His Strength Model of Self-Control likens willpower to a muscle that can get stronger with exercise. Using this model, Baumeister and his colleagues have found that individuals who dedicate some time to improving their “self-control muscle” see a whole raft of benefits, some expected and others less so. By having participants engage in self-control improvement programmes, researchers have found that individuals consume less nicotine and caffeine, manage their emotions better, carry out more chores, spend less impulsively, eat less junk food and spend more time studying too. Their research found that self-control can be improved, and significantly, improving self-control in one area (e.g. abstaining from food and drink) led to improvements in other areas (e.g. emotional control, financial habits, or time management).

 

Researchers have used the strength-model of self-control to find that stronger willpower can also help individuals act in ways that are pro-social. Psychologist Nathan De Wall reported that individuals whose willpower was intact were more likely to help a stranger, donate money to a sick child and give food to a homeless person. Improving our willpower strength can be a useful way in increasing our compassionate behaviours.

 

More famously, psychologist Walter Mischel’s Marshmallow Test is a seminal study that highlighted the benefits of having strong willpower. Mischel’s tasty experiment put children in the hot-seat, presenting them with one marshmallow that could be eaten immediately, or they could choose to wait for a number of minutes, after which they could have two marshmallows. This study got very interesting when the researchers followed up with the children later in life. They found that the children who were able to resist the urge to eat the single marshmallow, and so delay their gratification for a bigger, later reward, were less likely to be on the wrong side of the law, obese, users of drugs, while also being more likely to have higher levels of academic achievement, have better relationships, to be more competent, and to be healthier, both physically and psychologically.

 

A huge volume of scientific research now exists that highlights just how important strong self-control is to success, happiness and quality of life.

 

In short, fasting can improve our willpower, which in turn can help us in a range of behavioural, physical and psychological outcomes including academic success, relationship health, eating habits, spending behaviour, prosocial and compassionate acts, management of our emotions, and psychological wellbeing. 

 

 

 

Tamim Mobayad

          Ph.D. in Psychology

TO NON-MUSLIMS: What is Ramadhan?

 

 

All you need to know: What is Ramadan and why do Muslims fast all day?

All your questions about Ramadan — the month of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts for millions of Muslims — answered.

By: AP 

 

          Millions of Muslims around the world mark the start of Ramadan — a month of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts. Here's a look at some questions and answers about Islam's holiest month:

 

Why do Muslims fast?

The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. Muslims often donate to charities during the month and feed the hungry.

 

Fasting is an exercise in self-restraint. It's seen as a way to physically and spiritually detoxify by kicking impulses like morning coffee, smoking and midday snacking.

 

Ramadan is a time to detach from worldly pleasures and focus on one's prayers. Many Muslims dress more conservatively during Ramadan and spend more time at the Masjid (mosque) than at any other time of the year.

 

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity, and performing the hajj (pilgrimage) in Makah.

 

How do Muslims fast?

Observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk for the entire month of Ramadan, with a single sip of water or a puff of a cigarette considered enough to invalidate the fast.

 

Muslim scholars say it's not enough to just avoid food and drinks during the day, though. Spouses must abstain from sexual intercourse during the day, and Muslims should not engage in road rage, cursing, fighting or gossiping.

 

Muslims are also encouraged to observe the five daily prayers on time and to use their downtime just before breaking their fast at sunset to recite Quran and intensify remembrance of God.

 

To prepare for the fast, Muslims eat what is commonly called "suhoor," a pre-dawn meal of power foods to get them through the day.

 

How do Muslims break their fast?

Muslims traditionally break their fast like the Prophet Muhammad did some 1,400 years ago, with a sip of water and some dates at sunset. That first sip of water is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

 

After a sunset prayer, a large feast known as "iftar" is shared with family and friends. Iftar is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. Across the Arab world, juices made from apricots are a staple at Ramadan iftars. In South Asia and Turkey, yogurt-based drinks are popular.

 

Across the Muslim world, mosques and aid organizations set up tents and tables for the public to eat free iftar meals every night of Ramadan.

 

Can Muslims be exempted from fasting?

Yes. There are exceptions for children, the elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant or menstruating and people traveling, which could include athletes during tournaments.

 

Many Muslims, particularly those who live in the U.S. and Europe, are accepting and welcoming of others around them who are not observing Ramadan. They also are not expecting shorter work hours, as is the case in the public sector across much of the Arab world during Ramadan.

 

However, non-Muslims or adult Muslims who eat in public during the day can be fined or even jailed in some Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, home to large Western expat populations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

 

Meanwhile, minority Chinese Uighur Muslims complain of heavy restrictions by the Communist Party, such as bans on fasting by party members, civil servants, teachers and students during Ramadan, as well as generally enforced bans on children attending mosques, women wearing veils and young men growing beards.

 

What are some Ramadan traditions?

Typically, the start of the month is welcomed with greetings such as "Ramadan mubarak!" Another hallmark of Ramadan is nightly prayer at the mosque among Sunni Muslims called "taraweeh."

 

In Egypt, a common sight during Ramadan is a lantern called the "fanoos," which is often the centerpiece at an iftar table and can be seen hanging in window shops and balconies.

 

In the Arabian Gulf countries, wealthy sheikhs hold "majlises" where they open their doors for people to pass by all hours of the night for food, tea, coffee and conversation.

 

Increasingly common are Ramadan tents in five-star hotels that offer lavish and pricey meals from sunset to sunrise. While Ramadan is a boon for retailers in the Middle East and South Asia, critics say the holy month is increasingly becoming commercialized. 

 

Scholars are also disturbed by the proliferation of evening television shows during Ramadan. In the Arab world, monthlong soap operas starring Egypt's top actors rake in millions of dollars in advertising.

 

How do Muslims mark the end of Ramadan?

The end of Ramadan is marked by intense worship as Muslims seek to have their prayers answered during "Laylat al-Qadr" or "the Night of Destiny." It is on this night, which falls during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, that Muslims believe that God sent the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad and revealed the first versus of the Quran.

 

Some devout Muslims go into reclusion those final days, spending all of their time in the masjid.

 

The end of Ramadan is celebrated by a holiday called Eid al-Fitr. Children often receive new clothes, gifts and cash.

Muslims attend early morning Eid prayers the day after Ramadan. People usually spend the day at parks and visiting friends and families.

 

 

 

How to Receive Ramadhan?

 

Islamweb.net

 

 

Muslims should not neglect the seasons of worship; rather, they must be among the first to excel in and compete in them. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So for this let the competitors compete.}[Quran 83:26]

So, we must try our best to receive the month of Ramadan in the following recommended ways:

 

The first way: 

Supplicate Allah The Almighty to keep you alive and in good health until Ramadan comes so that you will be able to actively worship Allah The Almighty. The righteous predecessors used to supplicate Allah The Almighty to let them live until the coming of Ramadan and to accept it from them. At the sighting of the new moon, supplicate Allah The Almighty saying: "O Allah, let this moon come to us with security and faith; with safety and Islam; and guidance to what You love and approve. My Lord and your Lord is Allah."

 

The second way:

Thanking Allah The Almighty for attending this month. It is recommended for the person who experiences an obvious favor or is protected from an obvious curse that he prostrates in gratefulness to Allah The Almighty or praises Him duly. Among the greatest blessings Allah The Almighty grants people is guiding them to obedience and worship. When Ramadan comes and the Muslim is in good health, this is a great blessing worthy of thankfulness and it requires the praise of Allah The Almighty Who bestows it. All perfect and continuous praise be to Allah The Almighty as suits the majesty of His Face and His Great Authority.

 

The third way: 

Happiness and joy. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was authentically reported to have congratulated his Companions on the coming of Ramadan. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "Ramadan has come to you. It is a blessed month during which Allah The Almighty Prescribed fasting and in this month the gates of the heavens are open and the gates of Hell are shut...". Our righteous predecessors, the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), and those who followed them in the best way, used to take great care of the month of Ramadan and were happy with its arrival. There is no happiness greater than receiving the news of the approach of Ramadan, the season of blessings and the descent of mercy.

 

The fourth way: 

Planning in advance how to benefit from Ramadan. Unfortunately, many people -- even practicing Muslims -- draw detailed plans for worldly affairs of this life, whereas only a few of them plan for the affairs of the Hereafter. This results from the lack of awareness about the mission of the believer in this life, or forgetting or deliberately ignoring that there are numerous chances for the Muslim with Allah The Almighty and important periods of time to train oneself in to be firm in this regard. Planning for the affairs of the Hereafter includes planning to invest Ramadan in acts of worship. A Muslim must put a practical plan into action that spans the days and nights of Ramadan in obedience to Allah The Almighty. This message is supposed to help the person spend the duration of Ramadan in obeying Allah The Almighty – Allah willing.

 

The fifth way: 

Being sincerely determined to be among the believers who achieve success and felicity in Ramadan and fill its days with righteous deeds. If a Muslim is true to Allah The Almighty, He will fulfill His promise to him, help him in worship, and facilitate the ways of goodness for him. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {If they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.} [Quran 47:21]

 

The sixth way: 

Learning and understanding the Fiqh rulings related to fasting in Ramadan. The believer has to worship Allah The Almighty with knowledge, and is not excused for his ignorance of the obligations Allah The Almighty prescribed for people. This includes fasting in Ramadan. The Muslim is obliged to learn the issues and rulings related to fasting before the coming of Ramadan so that his fasting will be correct and accepted by Allah The Almighty Who Says (what means): {So ask the people of the message if you do not know.} [Quran 21:7]

 

The seventh way: 

We have to receive this month with the decision to give up sins and misdeeds, sincerely repent of them all, stop them, and not commit them again. Ramadan is the month of repentance and if a person misses this chance, when will he repent? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.} [Quran 24:31]

 

The eighth way:

 Being spiritually and psychologically prepared. This could be done by reading books and articles, and listening to beneficial lectures and discourses which highlight the virtues and rulings of fasting, so that the soul is prepared for worship in this month. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), used to prepare the souls of his Companions to utilize this meritorious month by saying on the last day before Ramadhan: "Ramadan has come to you..."

 

 

The ninth way: 

Prepare oneself well for calling to Allah The Almighty in Ramadan. This can be done in the following ways:

1- Preparing short sermons and lessons to be given in the neighbourhood Masjid if possible.

2- Distributing some booklets and articles of admonition and jurisprudence related to Ramadan to the worshipers and people in your area.

3- Reminding people of our duties towards the poor and needy and giving them charity and Zakah (obligatory charity).

 

The tenth way: 

We receive the month of Ramadan by opening a bright new page with:

a- Allah The Almighty by sincerely repenting to Him.

b- The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), by obeying his orders and avoiding what he prohibited and warned against.

c- Parents, relatives, and one's spouse and children by being dutiful to them and maintaining ties with them

d- Society by being a righteous and useful person. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "The best of people is the one who benefits them most."

This is how the Muslim receives the month of Ramadan like a barren land which is in need of water, a patient when he sees the doctor and the lover when he receives his long-awaited absent loved one.

O Allah, Keep us alive till the coming of Ramadan and accept it from us! Indeed, You are The Hearing The Knowing!

 

 

Manners And Dealing With Others

 

 

 

          Islam places great emphasis on manners and on the proper way to deal with others, whether they are Muslims or not. Relations between people are very important in Islam, and maintaining good relations with others should be a main priority of a practicing Muslim. In fact, Islam teaches that Prophet Mohammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "I have been sent to perfect the best of manners". He summarized the goal of his entire message into the perfection of the best of manners. The following is just a sample of some of the teachings of Islam regarding manners and relationships with others.

 

1- Kindness to the Neighbour: Islam greatly emphasizes the relationship with neighbours. Muslims are expected to treat their neighbours in the most kind and gentle way, and are strictly forbidden from harming them. In fact, the Prophet Mohammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said that a person who hurts their neighbours is not a believer. He also said that if a person does not hurt their neighbours, they will enter paradise, even if the rest of their acts of worship are not numerous. On the other hand, a person who performs plenty of worship but hurts their neighbours will enter hell fire.

 

2- Removing Obstacles From The Way: Can you believe that Islamic teachings extend even to clearing an obstacle from a path? Yes, it is true. The Prophet Mohammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) taught us that one of the traits of a true believer is that they remove obstacles and harmful things from a public path or street.

 

3- Kindness to Parents: Islam has raised the importance of kindness to parents to the highest possible level. In numerous verses of the holy Qur'an, kindness to parents is mentioned immedeatly after belief in God. This shows that it is perhaps the most important action a Muslim must take after belief in God. Muslims are also instructed to take care of their parents, especially in their old age, just as their parents took care of them when they were young and weak. Muslims are forbidden from uttering even a single word of displeasure towards their parents.

 

4- Kindness to Spouses: There is a lot of emphasis in Islam on kind and fair treatment of spouses. The Qur'an describes marriage as tranquility and contentment, and teaches that God has created feelings of love and mercy between the spouses. In fact, the Qur'an further describes spouses as being garments for each other, in a reference to the sense of protection and warmth that spouses should provide to each other. Prophet Mohammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) forbade Muslims from mistreating and being unjust to their spouses. He went even further by saying that the best of men are those who treat their wives in the best way.

 

5- Honesty: Islam teaches us that we are to be honest in all our dealings with all people. There is no justification for lying and being deceitful. Islam teaches us that honesty leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to heaven, while lying leads to sinfulness, and sinfulness leads to the hell fire. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) explicitly said that a person who cheats others is not a believer.

 

6- Mercy: Mercy is an important trait of any Muslim. Islam teaches us that mercy and kindness in every matter only makes things better, and the lack of mercy and kindness in any matter only makes it worse. In fact, the Qur'an teaches us that even with the person with whom we have an enmity, we should deal kindly and in the best possible way, as this will help to change this person from an enemy to a close ally. Muslims are even instructed to be merciful to animals. Although Muslims are allowed to eat the meat of certain animals, they are instructed to minimize the suffering of animals during their life and even during their slaughter. This is done by using a sharp knife to cut the throat and the main blood vessels to the animal's head, which ensures that the animal feels the least possible amount of pain. Muslims have been following these teachings for over 1400 years!

 

7- Smiling: Islam even goes to the extent of rewarding Muslims for smiling in the face of others! Smiling when others look at you is regarded as a form of charity for which Muslims get rewarded. This is why Muslims usually smile and shake hands when they meet, and they hug if they have not seen one another for a long time. Muslims are also instructed to greet each other when they see each other with the best possible greeting.

 

8- No Backbiting: Islam forbids backbiting, which is to talk about others behind their backs. The Qur'an compares backbiting to eating the flesh of your friend, which shows how hated this action is in Islam. The Prophet Mohammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) taught us that mentioning anything negative about a person when they are not present is backbiting. One of his followers asked: "What if this negative thing is really true about this person?" The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied by saying that even if it is true, this is considered backbiting. But if it is false, it is even worse than backbiting because it is also a lie.

 

9- Do Not Curse or Ridicule: Muslims are forbidden from ridiculing or cursing others. The Qur'an teaches us that we should not do this because the person we are cursing or ridiculing may be better than us in many ways. Also, engaging in these types of actions casts doubt on the strength of the belief of a Muslim. Islam teaches us that God despises those who use foul language and continually curse and ridicule others.

 

10- Generosity: The Qur'an teaches us that we should be generous and give the needy and share our wealth. In fact, Islam teaches us that the poor have a share in our wealth, so it is not optional to give charity. It is their right. Also, Islam teaches us to be generous and to give others from what we have, even if we have a real need for it. When the early Muslims of the city of Al-Madinah received refugees from the city of Makkah, they divided their entire wealth with them in half, sharing with them their houses, farms, animals and money.

 

11- Friendship: Islam takes friendship to a higher level, referring to Muslims as brothers and sisters, and expecting them to treat each other as such. A Muslim is expected to wish for others that which they wish for themselves. Also, a Muslim is expected to give honest advice to friends and to be there for them and help them whenever possible. Muslims are forbidden from abandoning or boycotting a friend with whom they have had a disagreement for more than three days. After the three days, they are expected to forgive their friend and resume the friendship.

 

 

 

questionsaboutislam.com

 

The Married Couple in Ramadan

 

 

 

 

 

The blessed month of Ramadan carries sublime implications for human life in general and the marital life in particular. It is a great opportunity for the spouses to draw closer to each other and for all family members to maintain kinship ties.

 

Gathering on obedience and worship in an atmosphere of faith increases love and affection in marital life. It is a true opportunity to lead a sublime marital life.

 

There are wonderful lessons in the month of Ramadan that the spouses can benefit from, including: Patience, generosity, forbearance, tolerance and other general noble morals.

 

The spouses should persevere to benefit from this month from the outset, so that the goals and wisdoms behind the legislation of this act of worship during that month is achieved. They should consider the blessed month a training course.

 

They should learn the following from this training course:

 

- Open-mindedness, acceptance of each other and mutual sharing of feelings.

 

- Just as you gather to have the Iftaar (fast-breaking) and Suhoor (pre-dawn) meals, you should gather on obeying Allah, and plan together for happiness and a life that pleases Allah The Almighty

 

- You should care to show your feelings of love, affection and closeness. The couple should try to remove any misunderstandings. Always remember the Hadeeth of our beloved Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ): "When anyone of you is observing fasting, he should neither use obscene language nor raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.'"

 

- Treat the children and family members generously and kindly, take care of them and avoid raising your voices and getting irritable. Remember the Hadeeth in which the noble Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any of the acts of goodness in this month shall receive the same reward as is there for performing an obligatory deed at any other time; and whoever observes an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time."

 

- Practical training on having sublime morals, starting from forgiving other's faults, tolerance, apologizing, forbearance and keenness to do the acts of the Sunnah as well as other Sharee'ah etiquettes.

 

- Generosity and giving to the poor and the needy. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was generous and he would his highest degree of generosity during Ramadan.

 

Forms of spousal convergence during Ramadan

 

*Gather on obedience:

- The spouses should rightly seize the opportunity of this blessed month and make a plan together to observe the prominent of righteous deeds: recitation of the Noble Quran, giving in charity, observing the voluntary night prayer, supplication, performing the prayer in the Masjid (Mosque), and so on. The husband should teach his wife and children the virtues of this great month. He should revise with them the rulings and etiquettes of fasting and urge them to give in charity, recite the Quran, maintain kinship ties and do other righteous deeds.

 

*For women: How to love your husband in Ramadan?:

 

1- Do not be stingy in showing your love for your husband daily, just as you offer him daily delicious meals.

 

2- Do not think that love entails that you offer big material sacrifices. Rather, you need to offer greater moral and spiritual sacrifices. So, be morally and spiritually generous with your husband and you will own him.

 

3- Thank your husband for his care, kindness and generosity. Do not treat him on the basis that he is obliged to take care of you, for this will diminish his care for you as time passes.

 

4- Be fully convinced that gold, money, authority and a luxurious lifestyle are valueless when there is no love. A life which is full of love is the successful marital life. Without love, the chances of a successful marriage are almost non-existent.

 

5- Grant your husband a different Ramadan as well as a different, or rather wonderful, marital relationship during this blessed month. You should seek the reward from Allah The Almighty for each word, deed and smile. 

 

Safiyya's confessions

 

 

 

Safiyya:

Lawyer, mom, researcher, internet junkie, music lover.

 

 

10 Challenges I Face Every day During Ramadan: 

 

 

"What? You fast from dawn to sunset? Whoa, how do you do it? No water either, not even a sip!?!".

 

 

          Welcome to my world folks, the world of a Muslim during the sacred month of Ramadan.

 

The Islamic calendar is lunar based, so Ramadan shifts by approximately 11 days every year. Fasting during the winter months is easy with dawn being so late and sunset being so early. Fasting during the summer months is difficult, dawn is currently at 3:45 a.m. and sunset is at 8 p.m.

 

          The followers of any given religion range from non-practicing to fanatical weirdos, though I like to think most people fall somewhere in the middle. In the name of faith, we (believers in God) all do things that, for others, don't completely make sense. We argue over silly things. We can be hypocrites. We shift values when necessary. We judge even though we know we should not. But I would be lost without my belief in God and, therefore, regardless if it makes sense to others or not, I am accepting of fasting for over 16 hours.

 

          Initially, my thoughts were to write about the wonderful aspects of fasting and why Muslims and those from other religions fast. I wanted to write about my faith in God. So I went ahead and wrote a short piece and, as I read it back to myself, I realized how little it included my "true voice." I always like to give voice to the emotions that people do not like to vocalize.

 

          For example, I have always encouraged moms-to-be to ignore other moms who claim that every moment of motherhood is amazing. In fact, these other moms are more likely than not lying to you or lying to themselves. Motherhood is hard and it perfectly fine to cry, complain and realize you need time to yourself; this does not mean you love your kids any less. Similarly, I would like to talk about the tough aspects about Ramadan.

 

So why am I'm worried when looking forward to fasting? Well, let's summarize what a day in the life of a fasting Muslim mom could look like this:

 

1. Get up around 3 a.m., eat something nutritious and drink as much water as your bladder can hold. Dealing with your incredibly grumpy husband at that hour is far from a dream come true.

 

2. Try to go back to bed before it is time to wake up again.

 

3. Start your day and hope for least amount of interaction with Muslims who are suffering from tea/coffee and smoking withdrawal.

 

4. Respond to your kids 100 questions while your throat dries up.

 

5. Survive a trip to:

(a) the zoo where your kids want to stay under the sun instead of go to an indoor pavilion.

(b) McDonald's where your kids happily eat their happy meal while your tummy growls.

 

6. Deal with clients who want to chat endlessly while you manage your headache.

 

7. Prepare dinner without tasting the food (this usually results in "oops, I forgot the salt!").

 

8. Count down to sunset at least a dozen times.

 

9. Break your fasts and attempt to drink 8 glasses of water before bedtime.

 

10. Spend the night going to the bathroom on-and-off until its 3am-ish when you start back at 1) above.

 

 

If you think the above sounds easy, I dare you to try a day. We are in Ramadhan ... and I'm not ready to starve yet!

 

 

from: 

My Diary 

by: SAFIYYA

 

Sahar:Special Hours for Supplication

 

 

 

          Ramadan is a blessed month when the people of faith receive many bounties and righteous people compete in performing many good deeds and are determined to do every praiseworthy act. You can see many Muslims fasting during the day, endeavoring to perform other acts of obedience such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah The Almighty frequently, invoking Him, asking Him for forgiveness, as well as offering food for people to break their fast when the time of Iftaar is due. All this is because of the guidance of Allah The Almighty.

 

          However, what is strange is that such good deeds virtually vanish at night, after the diligent person prays Taraaweeh (voluntary night prayers) after the 'Ishaa' (night) Prayer. What comes next? This is the question that we would like to address.

What do most people – the elderly and the youth, the women and girls – do during the last hours of the night in Ramadan?

We should answer these questions frankly. What are we Muslims doing during the last third of the night during the month of Ramadan?

 

          Some Muslims stay up late at night in Ramadan and talk about worldly matters such as their traditions and customs. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.}[Quran 29:45] 

 

          Some other people spend the night watching television as they consider Ramadan to be a season where they can watch comedy shows, competitions, movies and series. Such people do not join the competition of gaining Paradise. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the Bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is The Possessor of great bounty.} [Quran 57:21] 

 

          Some other people spend a lot of time in the markets as they forget that they will be asked about their time and that by looking at what is prohibited, they would be doing something that spoils the mind and disobeying the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

 

[] The late hours of the night is a special time that has great virtues throughout the year, even more so in Ramadan. This is the time when Allah The Almighty descends, as the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said in the Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him: "Allah descends every night in the last third of the night [in a way that befits His Majesty] to the lowest heaven and Says, 'Is there anyone invoking Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone asking Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?'" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

These are the hours where people are granted what they want and when their Lord forgives them. These are the hours of the last third of the night.

 

The righteous people knew these hours and observed them. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {They used to sleep but little of the night, And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness...} [Quran 51:17-18]

 

Thus, we must ask: Where are the people who are in need? Where are the sick people? Where are the repentant people? Where are the debtors? Why do they not wake up and utilize these hours?

 

It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "There is an hour during the night in which no Muslim will ask Allah for good in this world and the next without His giving it to him – and this applies to every night." [Muslim]

 

Did Allah The Almighty not Say in the Quran among the verses of fasting (what means): {And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2:186]

 

[] For everyone who witnesses the month of Ramadan, be keen on invoking Allah The Almighty during the Sahar (last third of night). Be wary of missing this opportunity because of watching television or going to the markets. Never waste the night without invoking Allah The Almighty, to Whom belongs the depositories of the heavens and the earth. Allah The Almighty Says in the Qudsi Hadeeth (sacred narration):

 

"... O My slaves! All of you are misguided except those whom I guide, so seek My guidance and I will guide you. O My slaves! All of you are hungry except those whom I feed so ask Me for food and I will feed you. O My slaves! All of you are naked except those whom I clothe so ask Me for clothing and I will clothe you. O My slaves! You make mistakes by night and by day and I forgive all wrong actions so ask for My forgiveness and I will forgive you. O My slaves! You can never reach a level where you can do Me any harm or can you do Me any good. O My slaves! If the first and last of you, all the jinn and all the men among you, possessed the heart of the most pious man among you, that would not increase My kingdom in any way. O My slaves! If the first and last of you, all the jinn and all the men among you, possessed the heart of the most evil man among you, that would not decrease My kingdom in any way. O My slaves! If the first and last of you, all the jinn and all the men among you, were to stand in a single place and ask of Me, I could give every man what he asks without that decreasing what I have any more than a needle when it enters the sea." [Muslim]

 

Do you not want guidance? Do you not want Allah The Almighty to grant you forgiveness? Do you not wish that Allah The Almighty would reform your life and Hereafter? Do you not want Allah The Almighty to forgive your sins? Do you not want your debts to be repaid? Do you not think of Al-Firdaws? Then, you have to be keen on staying up and supplicating at Sahar (last third of the night).

 

 

 

The Night of Al-Qadr (Lailat ul Qadr)

 

 

 

 

          The Night of Qadr (Lailat ul Qadr) is a special night that occurs every year in Ramadan and represents a golden opportunity for Muslims to gain blessings and forgiveness from Allah (God).

 

          The word Qadr can be best translated as: value, valuability, worthiness, or stature. However, from the same root of this word, another word, Qadar (which means destiny or pre-destination) is derived.

 

The Quran describes this Night.

 

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ

أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ وَمَآ

لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

سَلاَمٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ

 

"We have indeed revealed this (Quran) in the Night of Qadr: And what will explain to you what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) by Allah's permission, with every decreed command.

Peace it is until the rise of Dawn!" (Quran 97: 1-5)

 

And in it every decreed matter for the year is conveyed. Allah, the Most High, says:

 

" We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed Night. Verily, We are ever warning (mankind of Our Torment). Therein (that Night) is decreed every matter of ordainment. A command from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messenger) as a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He (Allah/ Lord) is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower." (Quran 44: 3-6)

 

The Night of Qadr is the night of spiritual bliss. Prophet Mohammad (s.a.a.w.s) is reported to have said:

 

"Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a Night which is better than a thousand Months. Whosoever is deprived of it, is deprived of all goodness; and none is deprived of its goodness, except a totally unfortunate person". 

 

          On this particular night, all the provisions, wealth, agricultural products, who is to live and die that year, and everything on the Earth concerning mankind, is to be decided.

 

          The Night of Qadr is also the night in which the Quran was sent down by God based on the Preserve Board (which contains the knowledge of everything in the seven heavens, universe, humans & other creatures, everything that happened in the past, is happening now and is going to happen in the future, etc.). Allah (God) sent down the first revelations of the Quran from the Preserve Board to the first heaven. The book was then taken from the first heaven by the arch-angel Gabriel and brought to Earth, where the first part of it was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad on the Night of Qadr, and the rest revealed to him gradually over a period of 23 years.

 

          The Night of Qadr, as the Quran says, is better than a thousand months. One thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months, meaning more than a lifetime of average human being. Very fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer. The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night, will deserve blessings and reward from Allah as if he or she has prayed for eighty three years and four months consecutively.

 

          Prophet Mohammad (s.a.a.w.s) said: "The Night of Qadr has been bestowed by Allah (as an honor or privilege) to my Ummah (People/ Nation). It was not given previously to any other Ummah." 

 

          This indicates that previous prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc) were not offered by God this privileged occasion for their followers.

 

When is it?

 

          It is reported from the Prophet (s.a.a.w.s) that it is within the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth or the last night of Ramadan.

 

          The most correct saying is that it occurs in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan and this is shown by the hadith of Aa'isha (r.a.), who said: "Allah Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) used to practice I'tikaaf in the last ten nights and say: 'Seek out the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan." 

 

          However if the servant is too weak or unable, then he should at least not let the last seven days pass him by, due to what is reported from 'Ibn 'Umar, who said: Allah's Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) said: "Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven." 

 

          This is also confirmed in another saying of Prophet Mohammad's (s.a.a.w.s): "I see that your dreams are in agreement (that it is in the last seven) so he who wishes to seek it out, then let him seek it in the last seven." 

 

          It is also known from the Sunnah, that knowledge of the exact night upon which the Night of Qadr falls was taken up because the people argued. "Ubada ibn As-Saamit (r.a.) said: The Prophet (s.a.a.w.s) came out intending to tell us about the Night of Qadr, however two men were arguing and he said: "I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the (twenty) ninth and (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth." 

 

           In conclusion: The Muslim should seek out the Night of Qadr in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten: the night of the twenty-first (the night before the twenty-first day), the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. If he is too weak or unable to seek it out in all the odd nights, then let him seek it out in the odd nights of the last seven: the night of the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. And Allah knows best.

 

 

How should a Muslim seek the Night of Qadr?

          One who misses this blessed night, then he has missed much good for no one misses it, except one from whom it is withheld.

          Prophet Mohammad (s.a.a.w.s) said: "Whoever stands in (Prayer) in the Night of Qadr out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." 

 

          It is recommended to supplicate a great deal in it, it is reported from 'Aa'isha (r.a.) that she said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night the Night of Qadr was, then what should I say in it?" He said: "Say: Allaahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee." (O Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.) 

 

          From 'Aa'isha (r.a.) who said: "The Prophet (s.a.a.w.s) used to tighten his waist-wrapper - (meaning detaching himself from his wives in order to worship), spend the nights in worship, and ask his family to stay up praying in the last ten nights." 

 

          From 'Aa'isha n(r.a.): "Allah's Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) used to exert himself in the last ten nights (of Ramadan) more than he would at any other time." 

 

Its Signs

          Allah's Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) described the morning after the Night of Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From Ubayy, (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) said: "On the morning following the Night of Qadr, the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up." 

 

          From Abu Huraira, (r.a.) narrated that: "We were discussing the Night of Qadr in the presence of Allah's Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) , so he said: 'Which of you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a plate?"  [Qaadi 'Iyaad said: "This is an indication that it was towards the end of the month - since the moon does not appear like that when it arises except towards the end of the month."]

 

          Ibn 'Abbas (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.a.w.s) said: "The Night of Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red." 

 

 

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Texte: Islamweb.net ,, discoveringislam.org ,,, questionsaboutislam.com
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 21.05.2018

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