#which means no family iftar or tarawih time
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Ramadan Challenge 2023
Day 1: What are your goals this Ramadan? Possible suggestions: 1 habit to build, 1 habit to break, and one accomplishment you hope to gain
It's tempting to set many goals but I'm trying to focus on a few intentional things this year:
specific goals:
- complete one recitation of the quran
- refrain from listening to music
- read 1 or 2 Islamic books
habits I'm trying build:
- spending my free time in a mindful way (maybe a craft / reading, instead of scrolling,etc)
- to take my time while praying and switch up the surahs for rakahs
- being consistent with my morning and evening dikr
And I think, for this Ramadan, I need to be patient with my situation (and that doesn't just mean waiting, rather controlling my emotions and not letting out frustrations on others, being grateful etc, etc)
#ramadanchallenge2023#i had a bad day 1#thought i was gonna have to spend the whole ramadan in my room#which means no family iftar or tarawih time#but today i managed to convince my mom to see if i could try going downstairs for iftar + tarawih time#and we did#so it only felt like ramadan started today lol#its incomplete w/o familee
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Interesting Facts about Ramadan
When Muslims see the crescent moon at the end of Sha’ban, they are happy and full of hope. This means that Ramadan has begun. A lot of people around the world fast in this time because it is a holy month. A fast isn't the only thing you can do during this time. You can also grow in your faith, your community, and your own thoughts. During Ramadan, many Muslims travel to Mecca to explore an amazing spiritual environment by booking the Best Ramadan Umrah Packages. There is a lot of interesting information about Ramadan that isn't clear, like not eating or drinking. This information helps to paint a more complete picture.
1. Fasting Is More Than Just Not Eating:That people who fast from dawn until dusk, which is known as Suhoor-Iftar- are said to become more spiritual and self-controlled. A great many people think that fasting in Ramadan means not having any food or drinks. You should think about more than just this, though. Muslims don't do lie, get angry, or get antsy when they fast.
2. Traditions of Suhoor and Iftar: Muslims eat a big breakfast with water, protein, and complex carbs before dawn. Suhoor, the meal eaten before morning, is important for staying alive during the day. Every evening, to break the fast, a big meal called iftar is given to everyone. The Sunnah, or customs, of the Prophet (PBUH) say that dates and water must be followed by a more sincere dinner. People from the same family or community often get together for iftar to strengthen their spiritual bonds. 3. Kindness and generosity:
Ramadan emphasizes kindness and giving to others. Muslims help others by giving money, doing volunteer work, and doing kind things. Muslims believe that giving to the needy to make them more responsible and compassionate individuals. Zakat, the Islamic charity, has a major celebration this month. Zakat is among Islam's five pillars.
4. Thoughts and Spiritual Renewal: Muslims improve their ties with Allah, pray more (Tarawih), and ask for forgiveness for past wrongdoings during this month. During Ramadan, people fast, but they also meditate and get spiritually refreshed. People focus on spiritual growth and understanding all year, not just during the month of Ramadan. It shows in their thoughts and actions. 5. Peace and unity around the world: All Muslims are urged to stay united and give each other a helping hand throughout Ramadan. No matter where they reside or what culture they hail from, Muslims worldwide fast, pray, and think collectively. Everywhere in the world, Ramadan supports the idea of a global Ummah (community). It also helps people of all races and countries get to know each other better and work together.
6. Celebration of Eid al-Fitr:
There is a holiday called Eid al-Fitr at the end of the holy month of Ramadan where people break their fast. Muslims pray, have fun, and share food when they get together. Seasonal blessings include giving thanks, mending fences, and letting go of grudges. As a family, you share prayers and presents with one another. Muslims are expected to pay a kind of charity known as zakat al-Fitr. It aids the poor and needy and expedites forgiveness for any wrong action or speech. Summary Muslims fast for one whole month during Ramadan. This is just the beginning of a hard but ultimately fruitful path of spiritual growth. History, custom, kindness, and personal growth are some of the things that are talked about. For a better understanding of the main ideas of kindness, self-control, and unity, reading about the interesting part of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan can help. During this blessed month, Muslims all over the world get together to pray, do good deeds in the community, and think about their faith.
Moreover, the last 10 days of Ramadan is very important for every Muslim worldwide. During these days, millions of Muslims visit Mecca to complete their religious duties. The holy sites of Mecca and Medina are very crowded due to this large crowd. This huge crowd and other things can irritate you if you travel to Mecca for the first time. If you perform your entire pilgrimage without any hassle, book your Umrah travel from a reliable Umrah Travel Agent. This consideration will enable you to complete your religious trip with ease.
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Ramadan Month
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which contains 12 months, and it’s one of the most sacred times for Muslims. It is the month in which it is believed that the Holy Qur'an was sent down from heaven "as guidance for men and women, a declaration of direction, and a means of salvation."
During this month, Muslims observe a strict fast from dawn until sunset. They are not allowed to eat or drink (even water) during daylight hours.
The fast is broken at the end of the day with prayer and a festive meal called iftar.
Usually in the first few days of Ramadan people visit each other and have Iftar meal together.
After Iftar Muslims go to the mosque and spend several hours praying Tarawih. In addition to the five daily prayers
Laylat Al Qadr
There is Laylat Al Qadr Night: it’s a special night and one night of the 21st – 23rd – 27th – 29th Ramadan nights, it is believed that Muhammad first received the Holy Qur'an on this night, It’s a special night for Muslims as they pray all night and ask god for all they want.
What is Fasting in Ramadan
Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, fasting generally entails abstaining from food, drink from before the first light of dawn until the setting of the sun. Muslims are required to fast on each 30 days of Ramadan. If unable to fast, charity or fasting days outside Ramadan may suffice. Breaking fast at sundown is often done with dates and milk.
At the end of Ramadan, Eid El-Fitr Celebration is the breaking of the fast. Friends and families gather for festive meals and exchange gifts.
10 Things you don’t know about Ramadan:
Ramadan is the ninth Month of the Islamic Calendar which contains 12 months,
Young children, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or on their periods, the elderly, and people with health problems, aren’t expected to fast.
By the end of Ramadan, adults who have more food than they need must pay Zakat al-Fitr – a contribution to support people in need of approximately £5/US$7 per head.
Muslims consider fasting in Ramadan a core part of their religious beliefs. Before dawn, people eat a meal called the suhoor. The dusk meal is called the iftar.
7. During Ramadan, many offices and schools in Muslim-majority countries shut early.
During the last 10 days of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Laylat Al Qadr, the holiest night of the year. It commemorates the night that the Quran, the Muslim Holy Book, was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
You can express well-wishes for Ramadan by saying “Ramadan Kareem” (“Have a generous Ramadan”) or “Ramadan Mubarak” (which can translate as “Have a blessed Ramadan).”
After the last day of Ramadan, on Eid-al-fitr, the greeting changes to “Eid Mubarak”
Ramadan Falls in Different Dates, as the lunar calendar is used to determine the exact start and end dates of Ramadan each year. Every year, Ramadan starts a few days earlier than the year before. This also affects the length of the fast and will mean a lot shorter fasts when Ramadan falls in the winter months.
Muslims Usually break their fast with dates and Milk as its sunna of Mohamed.
If you would like to know more about Ramadan in Egypt, you should check this blog's link for more details.
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RAMADAN MUBARAK! As Salaam Alaikum & Ramadan Mubarak!
We trust this reaches you in the very best of health and spirit.
Please find below this Ramadan's Prayer Schedule and Calendar links. Praise be to Allah, fasting began on Monday, May 6, 2019, according to astronomical calculations and majority consensus.
For official updates, local prayer times, ongoing information during the Holy Month of Ramadan and related activities please visit us at noi.org/Ramadan.
May Allah Bless and Reward you with a successful Holy Month of fasting!
Ramadan Mubarak!
We thank Allah for giving us life for the blessing to take part this year in another Beautiful Month of purification, devotion and service!
Allah has Revealed in The Holy Quran: Chapter 2:183-185 "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil... for a certain number of days. But whoever among you is sick or on a journey, (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days And those who find it extremely hard may effect redemption by feeding a poor man."
We will begin the fast before dawn (Fajr Prayer) on the 6th of May until sundown and abstain from food, drink and relations with our husbands or wives during daylight hours for approximately 30 consecutive days. Before dawn we begin our fast with plenty of water or juice - or something light to be sure we are well hydrated throughout the day. This light nourishment before dawn is called Suhoor, which marks our intention to fast each morning. We break our fast at sunset prayer (Maghrib) with water and food of our choice for what is known as Iftar, simply meaning to breakfast.
During this month of fasting, from dawn to sunset, from dawn until dark, the Muslim will not put a drop of water or food in his or her mouth. Nor will that Muslim feed the hunger of sex during the daylight hours. Out of our love for Almighty Allah (God) and obedience to what He has ordered for us in the Holy Qur'an we carry out His discipline.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan writes,"Fasting strengthens discipline. Thus, fasting is prescribed for us as it was prescribed for those before us that we may guard against evil. What are the results? Self-imposed discipline. When we deprive ourselves of something so essential to life as water and food, for a period of 15 to 18 hours, during the heat of the day, this discipline imposed on ourselves makes it easy for us to discipline other hungers or desires. When we can stop eating and drinking, drives which are natural to life itself, how much more easy is it for us to stop lying, stealing and the practice of those sins that destroy the peace and brotherhood of the society? This fast of Ramadan is one of the greatest means of inculcating self discipline."
This is a month wherein we celebrate the revelation of The Holy Quran through daily readings and extra prayer where many Muslims gather after night prayers for Tarawih prayers, which culminate in the last 10 days of the month in which we observe The Night of Power (Laila-tul-Qadr). It is a month of celebration which ends with a communal feast called 'Id-Al-Fitr - for the Festival of Renewal. We should extend invitations to family, neighbors, and friends to join in fellowship in celebration of this Holy occasion. Children receive gifts and sweets. Charity and feeding the poor is required prior to attending the 'Id feast prayer, in remembrance of the principles of Freedom, Justice and Equality.
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Muslim worshippers perform a night prayer called 'tarawih' during the eve of the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Turkey at Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, April 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
— Associated Press | April 02, 2022
Ramadan Kicks Off in Much of Middle East Amid Soaring Prices
CAIRO (AP) — The Muslim holy month of Ramadan — when the faithful fast from dawn to dusk — began at sunrise Saturday in much of the Middle East, where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent energy and food prices soaring.
The conflict cast a pall over Ramadan, when large gatherings over meals and family celebrations are a tradition. Many in the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia planned to start observing Sunday, and some Shiites in Lebanon, Iran and Iraq were also marking the start of Ramadan a day later.
Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart.
Muslim-majority nations including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates had declared the month would begin Saturday morning.
A Saudi statement Friday was broadcast on the kingdom’s state-run Saudi TV and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates, congratulated Muslims on Ramadan’s arrival.
Jordan, a predominantly Sunni country, also said the first day of Ramadan would be on Sunday, in a break from following Saudi Arabia. The kingdom said the Islamic religious authority was unable to spot the crescent moon indicating the beginning of the month.
Indonesia’s second-largest Islamic group, Muhammadiyah, which counts more than 60 million members, said that according to its astronomical calculations Ramadan begins Saturday. But the country’s religious affairs minister had announced Friday that Ramadan would start on Sunday, after Islamic astronomers in the country failed to sight the new moon.
It wasn’t the first time the Muhammadiyah has offered a differing opinion on the matter, but most Indonesians — Muslims comprise nearly 90% of the country’s 270 million people — are expected to follow the government’s official date.
Many had hoped for a more cheerful Ramadan after the coronavirus pandemic blocked the world’s 2 billion Muslims from many rituals the past two years.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, however, millions of people in the Middle East are now wondering where their next meals will come from. The skyrocketing prices are affecting people whose lives were already upended by conflict, displacement and poverty from Lebanon, Iraq and Syria to Sudan and Yemen.
Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which Middle East countries rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles. They are also top exporters of other grains and sunflower seed oil used for cooking.
Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, has received most of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine in recent years. Its currency has now also taken a dive, adding to other pressures driving up prices.
Shoppers in the capital Cairo turned out earlier this week to stock up on groceries and festive decorations, but many had to buy less than last year because of the soaring prices.
Ramadan tradition calls for colorful lanterns and lights strung throughout Cairo’s narrow alleys and around mosques. Some people with the means to do so set up tables on the streets to dish up free post-fast Iftar meals for the poor. The practice is known in the Islamic world as “Tables of the Compassionate.”
“This could help in this situation,” said Rabei Hassan, the muezzin of a mosque in Giza as he bought vegetables and other food from a nearby market. “People are tired of the prices.”
Worshippers attended mosque for hours of evening prayers, or “tarawih.” On Friday evening, thousands of people packed the al-Azhar mosque after attendance was banned for the past two years to stem the pandemic.
“They were difficult (times) … Ramadan without tarawih at the mosque is not Ramadan,” said Saeed Abdel-Rahman, a 64-year-old retired teacher as he entered al-Azhar for prayers.
Soaring prices also exacerbated the woes of Lebanese already facing a major economic crisis. Over the past two years, the currency collapsed and the country’s middle class was plunged into poverty. The meltdown has also brought on severe shortages in electricity, fuel and medicine.
In the Gaza Strip, few people were shopping Friday in markets usually packed at this time of year. Merchants said Russia’s war on Ukraine has sent prices skyrocketing, alongside the usual challenges, putting a damper on the festive atmosphere that Ramadan usually creates.
The living conditions of the 2.3 million Palestinians in the impoverished coastal territory are tough, compounded by a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007.
Toward the end of Ramadan last year, a deadly 11-day war between Gaza’s Hamas rulers and Israel cast a cloud over festivities, including the Eid al-Fitr holiday that follows the holy month. It was the fourth bruising war with Israel in just over a decade.
In Iraq, the start of Ramadan highlighted widespread frustration over a meteoric rise in food prices, exacerbated in the past month by the war in Ukraine.
Suhaila Assam, a 62-year-old retired teacher and women’s rights activist, said she and her retired husband are struggling to survive on their combined pension of $1,000 a month, with prices of cooking oil, flour and other essentials having more than doubled.
“We, as Iraqis, use cooking oil and flour a lot. Almost in every meal. So how can a family of five members survive?” she asked.
Akeel Sabah, 38, is a flour distributor in the Jamila wholesale market, which supplies all of Baghdad’s Rasafa district on the eastern side of the Tigris River with food. He said flour and almost all other foodstuffs are imported, which means distributors have to pay for them in dollars. A ton of flour used to cost $390. “Today I bought the ton for $625,” he said.
“The currency devaluation a year ago already led to an increase in prices, but with the ongoing (Ukraine) crisis, prices are skyrocketing. Distributors lost millions,” he said.
In Istanbul, Muslims held the first Ramadan prayers in 88 years in the Hagia Sophia, nearly two years after the iconic former cathedral was converted into a mosque.
Worshippers filled the 6th-century building and the square outside Friday night for tarawih prayers led by Ali Erbas, the government head of religious affairs. Although converted for Islamic use and renamed the Grand Hagia Sophia Mosque in July 2020, COVID-19 restrictions had limited worship at the site.
“After 88 years of separation, the Hagia Sophia Mosque has regained the tarawih prayer,” Erbas said, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
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Receiving Ramadan
How should we receive the month of Ramadan? Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) points us in the right direction. This is a summary of various lectures on the topic.
We are about to receive the master of all months, the best of all months, the month in which gifts constantly pour forth from the ocean of divine generosity. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once mentioned Ramadan and said out of veneration: “Do they realise what is coming to them and what they are receiving?” The believer should reflect upon his connection with his Lord, the One who has made this month an opportunity for him to receive His gifts and His forgiveness. We should receive this month in three ways.
Firstly, we should have joy upon its arrival.
Allah says: Say: “In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice! That is better than the wealth they amass.”1Take a look at the manifestations of Allah’s bounty in this noble month. Sayyiduna Salman narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke to us on the last day of Sha`ban saying: “O people, a great and blessed month has approached, a month in which there is a night greater than one thousand months. Allah made fasting in this month a compulsory act and made praying in the night a voluntary act. Whoever seeks to draw close to Allah in it with a good deed will be rewarded like someone who performed a compulsory action at another time. Whoever performs a compulsory action in it will be rewarded like someone who performed seventy compulsory actions at another time. It is the month of steadfastness (sabr) and the reward of steadfastness is Paradise. It is the month of charity. It is the month in which a believer’s provision is increased.”2
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah made fasting Ramadan compulsory and made the night prayer recommended. Whoever fasts in it and prays in the night in a state of belief; seeking Allah’s reward, will be free of sins like the day on which his mother gave birth to him.”3 The Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed us that in this month gates of the heavens are opened,4 meaning that it is easy for our actions, our prayers and our repentance to find acceptance with Allah. It has also been narrated that when Ramadan enters, Allah orders the angels who carry His throne to stop praising Him and to seek forgiveness for the Ummah of Muhammad.5
The Prophet ﷺ said: “My Ummah has been given in Ramadan five things that no prophet before me was given. The first is that on the first night of the month of Ramadan Allah gazes upon them and if Allah gazes upon someone, He will never punish them. The second is the smell emanating from their mouths in the latter part of the day is sweeter in Allah’s sight than the scent of musk. The third is that the angels seek forgiveness for them every day and night. The fourth is that Allah says to Paradise: ‘Prepare yourself and beautify yourself for My slaves for they will soon find rest in My Abode in the place of My generosity after the hardship of this life. The fifth is that they will all be forgiven on the last night.”
Someone asked: “Is that Laylat al-Qadr? He replied: “No, look at workers: when they finish their work they are given their wages in full.”6
Secondly, we should be wary of things that prevent us from attaining the gifts that are bestowed.
Fasting and all acts of worship were legislated to allow us to attain true taqwa: O you who believe, fasting was prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may attain taqwa.7The essential meaning of taqwa is to place a barrier between yourself and the anger of Allah by obeying His orders and avoiding that which He has prohibited. The Ummah has lost this fear of Allah and as a result its enemies have been given power over it. Acceptance of our fasting and other acts is also based on taqwa: Allah only accepts (the actions) of people who possess taqwa.8
We should avoid any false speech. The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid: “If someone does not leave false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink.”9
We should avoid rude and obscene speech and argumentation. The Messenger of Allahﷺsaid: “Fasting is a shield. If someone is fasting let him not speak obscenely or argue.” He also said ﷺ: “Fasting is a shield, as long one does not pierce it.”
He was asked: “How does one pierce it?”
“By lying or backbiting,” he replied.
There are four categories of people who are denied Allah’s forgiveness in Ramadan and at other times. They are those who sever kinship ties, those disobey their parents, those who have rancour in their hearts for other Muslims and those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
The believer should be extremely careful to break his fast on lawful food, for “Allah is good and only accepts that which is good and wholesome.”10 One of the early Muslims said: “When you fast, pay attention to what you break your fast on and who you break it with.”
Prepare to receive Ramadan with pure hearts, for by Allah, abundant prayer, fasting and recitation of the Qur’an will be of no benefit if your hearts are full of darkness.
Thirdly, we should strive to do good works to the best of our ability, for Ramadan is an opportunity to take provision and to gain great rewards.
It is narrated that an angel calls every night in Ramadan: “O seeker of good, approach! O seeker of evil, retreat!”11The believer must thus constantly seek good. He must constantly seek to rectify himself and their families and those over whom they have been given authority. They should spread goodness among the Muslims and among humanity. If he has these good and broad intentions he will then be called by the angel: “O seeker of good, approach!”
During Ramadan, Imam al-Shafi`i would complete the Qur’an once during the day and once during the night so that by the end of the month he had completed the Qur’an sixty times. People used to be so absorbed in worship during Ramadan that they would hardly see their relatives or their friends. They would see each other briefly at the Friday prayer but even then everyone would be busy with prayer and reciting the Qur’an. For this reason `Id would be a joyful occasion, because on that day it would be as if people were meeting each other for the first time after having been apart from each other for a whole month.
Since the gates of the heavens are open during this month we should take advantage of this, and plead with Allah for our needs to be answered. Are you concerned with the Ummah of Muhammad? This is the Lord of the Ummah of Muhammad promising you that He will answer your prayers. So plead with Him that the Muslims are granted relief from their sufferings; that their hearts are united; that the sick are healed; that the disobedient are given the ability to repent and that the ignorant are granted knowledge. Allah says: You sought relief from your Lord, and He responded to You. He said: Call upon Me and I will answer you. Nothing is too great for Allah. “Come to know Allah in times of ease, and He will be with you in times of hardship.”
Al-Sayyidah `A’ishah asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ what she should ask for if she knew that it was Laylat al-Qadr.
He replied: “Say: ‘O Allah, truly You are all-Pardoning, You love to pardon so pardon us.’”12
He also said ﷺ: “Do four things in abundance: two things with which you please your Lord, and two things which you cannot do without. As for the two things with which you please your Lord: your testifying that there is nothing worthy of worship other than Allah and your seeking His forgiveness. As for the two things which you cannot do without: your asking Allah for Paradise and seeking refuge in Him from the Fire.”13
So say these things in abundance, for they are the best things for which you can use your tongue. Say them in your homes, in the streets, in the mosques not just at Iftar or after Tarawih.
[On the basis of these two hadiths the scholars and people of Tarim repeat the following du`a throughout the month of Ramadan:
أشْهَدُ أن لا إلهَ إلا الله نَسْتَغْفِرُ الله نسأَلُكَ الجنَّةَ ونَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ النَّار(3)
Ashadu alla ilaha illallah, nastaghfirullah, nas’aluk’l-jannata wa na`audhu bika min an-nar
“I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship other than Allah and we seek the forgiveness of Allah. We ask You for Paradise and take refuge in You from the Fire.” (3 times)
اللهمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنَّا(3) يا كَرِيم
Allahumma innaka `afuwun tuhibbu-l’`afwa f`afwa `anna
“O Allah, truly You are all-Pardoning, You love to pardon so pardon us” (3 times). On the third time say “O Most Generous” (Ya Karim).]
Allah give us the biggest portion of all goodness. Make Ramadan a cause of rectification and the removal of tribulations.
Your Prophet ﷺwould expend great efforts in worship in Ramadan, and particularly in the last ten days, so emulate your Prophet ﷺ. Beware of striving at the beginning of the month and then becoming lazy towards the end, as “actions are judged by their endings.”14
Please also benefit from the Ramadan Reader, which includes an outline of Sayyidi Habib `Umar’s schedule for students of Dar al-Mustafa throughout Ramadan.
May Allah grant us His Enabling Grace to make the most of the blessed month and aid us in doing so by giving ease in observing at least some parts of the blessed schedule.
—
1 Yunus, 10:58
2 Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah
3 Narrated by Ahmad and al-Nasa’i
4 Narrated by al-Bayhaqi
5 Narrated by al-Daylami
6 Narrated by al-Bayhaqi
7 Al-Baqarah, 2:183
8 Al-Ma’idah, 5:27
9 Narrated by al-Bukhari, Abu Daud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah
10 Narrated by Muslim
11 Narrated by Ibn Majah, al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi and Ibn Hibban
12 Narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi with a sahih chain of transmission
13 Narrated by Ibn Khuzayma
14 Narrated by al-Bukhari
Source: http://muwasala.org/receiving-ramadan/
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So it's been Ramadan, and, you know, we've been doing Ramadan things — family iftars, the whole go to mosque and do tarawih things. It's kind of notable because this is the first year where we kind of felt $CHILD_1 was ready for going with us, what with taking them to the mosque and everything.
And to be fair, they really enjoy going — it's got a huge open area, which is great for running around and exploring, which is what they wanna do. They don't break anything, they don't hurt anyone, they're just running with their relatives and the other kids they meet in the mosque.
Which is fine, except that they decide to run past the jema'ah and in the front row of the mosque, just behind the imam. By that point, after that, it's like, my mother-in-law comes to @were-cow and tells her, and my father-in-law tells me, that it's probably best that they go home.
And I'm like, that's fine. It's even kind of funny, because yeah, it's social norm violation, but a fairly benign one and one that people wil laugh about as $CHILD_1 grows older.
Anyway, last night it was Maghrib at our in-laws' place, and we're all doing the jema'ah prayers, when $CHILD_1 comes over to my side, in the last raka'at, quietly murmuring to themselves, “I'm going to solat”, and joins me. And, I won't lie to you, I was so filled with affection it kind of leaked on my face, and we both sat together quietly as the prayer finished and they went on their way.
It was after the prayer that my mother-in-law tells them, hey, you're not supposed to lock the other people in the TV room 😂😂😂
And, you know? It was kind of funny, because, yeah, no one was hurt, everyone was okay, just… don't do it again, right? So I tell them I'm really happy they joined us for solat, but please, kid, locking everyone in the TV room was wrong, don't do that again.
And later on my mother-in-law tells both @were-cow and I that we're too lenient on $CHILD_1, and I literally respond, so? I've seen what the other approach leads to. I have friends dealing with the anxiety, the trauma, and the depression that comes from parents who are… strict? What does that even mean?
Which… yeah, what do you mean by us being “too lenient”? I mean, it's not as if we've not hurt our kids or shown anger towards them, but when those things happen, we've treated that as failure, and something that we have to be accountable to our kids, and something to apologize and do better with. It's not as if we want our parenting to revolve around anger and threats of violence, or even just… sternness.
And I recognize that by doing this, it could be a mistake. We could be spoiling our children, by not showing our authority.
It's not as if we don't, and haven't, enforced boundaries, and shown that our children's actions have consequences. I've kept firm, through the tears and the tantrums, of decisions we have made, such as on occasion limiting their screen time and making sure they understand that their actions have consequences. It's something we've had to constantly enforce with $CHILD_2, because they're 3, and who's learning that hitting, screaming and crying won't get them what they want, and only stiffens parental resolve. The difference is, we don't use anger, when we are able to.
Of course we've failed. Of course, when exhaustion strikes, we've snapped at our children and caused them hurt and distress. But it's often treated as a failure, and something we try to be accountable to our children, and something we try to apologize and try to be better to them for. And we let them know it.
I've had friends and family growing up under stern parenting, whose parents don't think a harsh word and even hitting was a problem. Hell, I've been subject to it, even if it was inconsistent and never clearly defined. I've seen the damage it can cause — the anxiety, the self-harm, the self-hatred, the depression and mental illness and trauma it can bring. Why would I want my children to have that be a part of their childhood?
Maybe, once they're much older, we'll come to regret our decision to not default our parenting with anger and violence as a default, to not use authority and sternness as a guiding principle of our parenting. But you know what?
In trying to avoid that, at least we're trying something different than what our parents and the generation before did to us.
If we're making mistakes, it will be new mistakes.
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What are the Sunnahs of Eid? How Do We Pray Eid Salah at Home?
By Danah Shuli
It’s hard to believe that we are in the final days of Ramadan. While many of us were unsure about how it would unfold given the current global COVID-19 pandemic and sheltering-in-place so many of us are doing, I think it’s safe to say that Ramadan 2020 has been a unique experience that forced us to think outside of the box in the way we worship during Ramadan and the traditions we are so very used to.
From experiencing a more intimate Ramadan in the comfort of our homes and connecting with Allah (S) on a personal level, to not rushing to eat iftar to make it in time for tarawih at our masjid and instead praying it at home – Allah (S) has shown us His mercy in so many different ways this year despite the chaos surrounding us. Alhamdulillah.
Image source: Pexel
Although we may have adapted to this new Ramadan normal (with a mixed bag of experiences reflected here and here), I am sure we are all feeling a sense of uncertainty about how we will make the most of Eid ul Fitr in quarantine. How can we make it special at home when many of us are used to Eid being a large community prayer and event? If we take a closer look into the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) we will see that he has laid out the foundation for celebrating a joyous Eid that can be done from home by following his sunnahs.
The Sunnahs of Eid
Saying Takbir: Takbirat ul Eid are an initiation of Eid. Hearing these takbirs signals that the days of Eid have begun. Repeating Takbirat Ul Eid is a sunnah that starts on the night of Eid (the evening before Eid day) after Maghreb prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) would start reciting the takbirat after praying Maghreb and throughout the morning, after Fajr until the time of Eid prayer. Reciting the takbirat is also a form of glorification and gratitude to Allah (S) for His guidance and aid in completing the “prescribed period” mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah:
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” [2:185]
It is also part of the sunnah to stay up after Fajr (as it is everyday) and continue making the takbirat while beautifying and preparing your home for the Eid festivities. My fondest memories of Eid growing up was waking up early to the smell of homemade Eid cookies, the calming melody of the takbirat, the earthy aroma of incense and bold Arabic coffee filling each room and my mother and father’s warm embrace. Now with a family of my own, reciting the takbirat after Maghreb prayer and seeing my kids play throughout the house as we get ready in the morning has been a tradition and sunnah I strive to maintain.
Performing ghusl and looking your best: As is the sunnah of getting ready for Jumu’ah (Friday prayers), it is also the sunnah of our beloved Muhammad (saw) to take a bath or perform ghusl in preparation for Eid. Cleanliness is a cornerstone of our faith – whether that’s making wudu, performing ghusl in order to pray after intimacy or a women’s menstrual cycle, clipping your nails and taking a bath for Friday prayers and even washing the body of those who have passed before their burial.
Taking the extra time to groom ourselves in preparation for Eid should still hold the same importance, whether or not we will be celebrating in congregation or within our nuclear families at home.
It was narrated by Ibn Abbas (rah) that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to take a bath on the day of Eid ul Fitr. [Ibn Majah] It is from the sunnah to adorn ourselves in the best, and cleanest, clothing we have for Eid. This does not mean that we have to necessarily buy new clothes, however the garments that we wear for Eid should be special. They should be clean and new in a sense that they are not worn everyday. Men are encouraged to wear musk or cologne before heading out to Eid prayer.
It was narrated by Jaabir (rah) that the Prophet (saw) had a cloak which he would wear on the two Eids and on Fridays. [Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 1756]
Photo by Jack Sparrow from Pexels.
Breaking fast before Eid prayer: Eid ul Fitr is a celebration of feasting after we have obeyed the commandments of Allah (S) to fast the month of Ramadan. Hence, it only makes sense that we mark this day by eating early in the morning to signify that we are no longer fasting. It is from the sunnah of the Prophet (saw) to eat an odd number of dates before praying the Eid prayer.
It was narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (raw) that the Prophet Muhamad (saw) used to not go out on the morning of Eid ul-Fitr until he had eaten some dates, of which he would eat an odd number. [Bukhari 953]
A tradition that I’ve picked up from my mom is to have all of the Eid cookies or Ka’ak/Maamoul (in the Middle East they are traditionally made out of flour, semolina, or a blend of both stuffed with dates) laid out early in the morning, or the night before, on the dining room table alongside Arabic coffee or your hot beverage of choice. This way we would have ka’ak on our way out to prayers as our breakfast for the morning of Eid. We all have rich food traditions from our different cultures – be sure to enjoy yours before your Eid prayers!
Offering congratulations: Fasting and practicing deep spiritual reflection and worship for an entire month is a huge accomplishment that should not be swept under the rug or taken lightly. It is from the sunnah to congratulate one another on a job well done! We all worked hard during Ramadan, regardless of what that may have looked like for each one of us, depending on our individual circumstances.
Eid ul Fitr is a celebration of that hard work and devotion. There are many forms of good wishes that can be exchanged during Eid such as Taqabbala Allaah minna wa minkum (may Allah (S) accept good deeds from us and from you) and Eid Mubarak!
Jubayr ibn Nufayr said that when the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allaah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.” [Al-Fath, 2/446]
This is an especially easy sunnah to practice whether we are at home or celebrating in public. Make it a family affair and get creative in the ways in which you offer your Eid well wishes this year: Schedule a virtual call with family friends, send a personal text message, make a family Eid video and send it to loved ones, schedule a drive by and offer your congratulations in person while still maintaining a safe distance. You can even decorate your car, and have the kids make Eid banners and posters to hold up while you “visit” your family and friends. The possibilities are endless!
How to Perform Eid Prayer at Home
Although Eid will look different this year, that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on Eid prayer. Did you know that even under regular circumstances, one can perform their Eid prayer at home? Because the conditions of Eid prayer are different from those of Friday prayer (which has to be performed in congregation with a khutbah), Eid prayer can be performed alone or within your family without a khutbah.
Below are some references from the sunnah and Scholars of Islam taken from Sheikh Yasir Qadhi:
The servant of the Prophet (saw), Anas b. Mālik (r ) once missed the Eid prayer in Basrah, so he gathered his family and had one of his household lead them in two rak’ats. And Aṭāʿ b. Abī Rabāḥ (d. 114 AH) said regarding the one who missed the Eid prayer, “Let him pray two rak’ats and say the takbīrs”. Hammād b. Abī Sulayman (d. 120 AH), the famous scholar of Kufa and teacher of Abu Ḥanīfa, said when asked the same question, “He should pray as they prayed, and do the takbīrat as they did” [These reports are in the Muṣannaf of Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/4-5]. All of these reports are regarding those who missed Eid for any reason. Notice that the Friday prayer would not be 'made up' like this, and one who misses Friday prays Dhuhr instead.
Sheikh Yasir Qadhi has also published a comprehensive video guide for families at home to perform the Eid prayer together:
The Eid prayer has special takbīrat and two rakat total. There are seven takbīrat in the first rak’at inclusive of takbīrat al-iḥrām (the initial takbir that initiates the beginning of your salah), and six in the second rak’at inclusive of the takbīrat al-qiyām (the takbir that initiates the beginning of each rakat done after sujood) - this is the position of the Ḥanbalī school, and Ibn Taymiyyah.
Note that Shafi’is say seven not including the takbrat al-ihrām (that would make eight total); the Ḥanafis say four takbīrat inclusive of iḥram and qiyām for both rak’ats.
The Eid khutbah, as mentioned above, is not a requirement of the prayer, hence there is no need to give one. In fact, all four schools of law state that the khuṭbah of Eid is not obligatory. In the report above, Anas (r) merely prayed two rak’ats and didn’t ask his servant to deliver a khuṭbah. Alternatively, it would be allowed for masjids to broadcast Eid khuṭbahs. All families could pray their individual congregational prayers at a given time; then, after they finish their own Eid prayers, they can listen to a khutbah broadcast live from their masjid as a general reminder.
And, as always, Allah (S) knows best.
Given our current situation, observing all of the sunnahs of Eid and then praying a congregational prayer at home with one’s family is one of the best ways we can make Eid ul Fitr special. In fact, we should enjoy and partake in the sunnahs of Eid to mark a joyous end to Ramadan.
From all of us at Haute Hijab, we wish you and yours a blessed Eid ul Fitir and May Allah (s) accept from us and from you our good deeds and worship. Eid Mubarak!
What are the Sunnahs of Eid? How Do We Pray Eid Salah at Home? published first on https://lenacharms.tumblr.com/
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16 things you can do on Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power/Destiny) Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power/Destiny) is described in the Quran as, "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr. Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during th e last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).
The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira). Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.
1. Take a vacation for Allah We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator. If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.
2. Do Itikaf It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf. Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs. Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.
3. Make this special Dua Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi). The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"
4. Recite the Quran Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite. If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.
5. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level. (If you want to study the Quran with more understanding, check out Way to the Quran and Access to Quranic Arabic.
6. Get your sins wiped out Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim). Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray. Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs. This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted. 7. Make a personal Dua list. Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things: • Ask Allah to give you those things • Think about what actions you have taken to get those things • Develop a work plan to get those things in future. 8. Evaluate yourself. Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. (see a short and a long evaluation guide) This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above.
9. Make long, sincere and deep Duas
One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).
That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction. For some tips on making Dua please see the article Some personal Duas you can make.
10. Memorize a different Dua every night They don't have to be long. They can be just one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don't know the exact translation in English. You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc.) Then practice them at night in prayer.
11. Have Iftar with the family If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.
12. Take the family to Tarawih Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the Masjid, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights.
13. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night's Tarawih prayer with your family. See if you can attend different Masjids' Tarawih prayers the night they finish reading the Quran.
14. Finish reading a book on the Prophet Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.
15. Plan for the next year Once you've done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you'll Insha Allah, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year.
16. To do list for the Night of Power Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power. (by Abdul Malik Mujahid) http://www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com/2012/08/16-things-you-can-do-on-night-of-power.html
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16 things you can do on Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power/Destiny) Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power/Destiny) is described in the Quran as, "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr. Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during th e last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari). The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira). Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it. 1. Take a vacation for Allah We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator. If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf. 2. Do Itikaf It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf. Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs. Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well. 3. Make this special Dua Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi). The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee" 4. Recite the Quran Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite. If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice. 5. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level. (If you want to study the Quran with more understanding, check out Way to the Quran and Access to Quranic Arabic. 6. Get your sins wiped out Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim). Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray. Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs. This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted. 7. Make a personal Dua list. Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things: • Ask Allah to give you those things • Think about what actions you have taken to get those things • Develop a work plan to get those things in future. 8. Evaluate yourself. Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. (see a short and a long evaluation guide) This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above. 9. Make long, sincere and deep Duas One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim). That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction. For some tips on making Dua please see the article Some personal Duas you can make. 10. Memorize a different Dua every night They don't have to be long. They can be just one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don't know the exact translation in English. You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc.) Then practice them at night in prayer. 11. Have Iftar with the family If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely. 12. Take the family to Tarawih Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the Masjid, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights. 13. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night's Tarawih prayer with your family. See if you can attend different Masjids' Tarawih prayers the night they finish reading the Quran. 14. Finish reading a book on the Prophet Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice. 15. Plan for the next year Once you've done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you'll Insha Allah, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year. 16. To do list for the Night of Power Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power. (by Abdul Malik Mujahid) http://www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com/2012/08/16-things-you-can-do-on-night-of-power.html
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16 things you can do on the Night of Power in Ramadan
Power in Ramadan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLywkrawwOw
16 things you can do on the Night of Power in Ramadan ...
Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr.
Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).
The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).
Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.
1. Take a vacation for Allah
We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator.
If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day.
It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.
2. Do Itikaf
It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf.
Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs.
Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.
3. Make this special Dua
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).
The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"
4. Recite the Quran
Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite.
If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.
5. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran
Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.
(If you want to study the Quran with more understanding, check out Way to the Quran and Access to Quranic Arabic.
6. Get your sins wiped out
Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim).
Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.
Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs.
This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted.
7. Make a personal Dua list.
Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:
Ask Allah to give you those things
Think about what actions you have taken to get those things
Develop a work plan to get those things in future.
8. Evaluate yourself.
Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. (see a short and a long evaluation guide) This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above.
9. Make long, sincere and deep Duas
One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).
That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction.
For some tips on making Dua please see the article Some personal Duas you can make.
10. Memorize a different Dua every night
They don't have to be long. They can be just one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don't know the exact translation in English.
You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc.) Then practice them at night in prayer.
11. Have Iftar with the family
If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.
12. Take the family to Tarawih
Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the Masjid, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights.
13. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation
Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night's Tarawih prayer with your family. See if you can attend different Masjids' Tarawih prayers the night they finish reading the Quran.
14. Finish reading a book on the Prophet
Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.
15. Plan for the next year
Once you've done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you'll Insha Allah, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year.
16. To do list for the Night of Power
Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power.
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Ramadan Tips for Western Muslims
New Post has been published on http://www.truth-seeker.info/jewels-of-islam/ramadan-tips-for-western-muslims/
Ramadan Tips for Western Muslims
By Talaat Pasha
Allah the Almighty has blessed us with special hours such as the pre-dawn hours (sahar); with special days such as Friday, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the Day of `Arafah; with special nights, such as the last ten nights of Ramadan and the night of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) and with special months like the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is the most blessed month of the year. Since it is around the corner and as it is the case with respectful and dear guests that we get ourselves ready to receive them, we have to show Ramadan that it is the long-awaited-for guest.
In the rest of this article, we will try to pin down some practical tips to make the most use of this blessed time. We can make use of Ramadan to uplift our personality on three levels:
On the Individual Level
1- Start your day with light rak`ahs after Suhur and before Fajr Prayer.
2- Make sure to pray Fajr in congregation to be given complete light in the Day of Judgment that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) promised those who pray Fajr in the mosque.
3- Have a daily Qur’an reading assignment (wird). Reading one Juz’ (part) is the minimum that you can do in Ramadan. If you really cannot, then try to read as much as you can. If you have a recitation group after Fajr, this will help tremendously to make the task easy.
4- Assign to yourself that task of reading the tafseer of one juz’; knowing the meaning of the vocabulary and the context.
5- Try not to eat much. Follow the Sunnah (one third for food, one third for water and one third for air). This will help a lot in being attentive and not being lethargic during the Tarawih Prayer.
6- Challenge yourself to observe Duha Prayer. The Prophet said that this Salah is the one of the sincere and pious people.
7- Each day in Ramadan, teach yourself the meaning of Allah beautiful Names.
8- Take a nap to be able to stay focused during `Isha’ and Tarawih prayers.
I would like to finish this section by saying that the ultimate goal of Ramadan for a Muslim is to reorient and redirect his/her interests, change the things that keep the heart busy with material life.
On the Family Level
1- Some of the steps mentioned above can be done with family too, like gathering after Fajr Prayer, reading Qur’an etc.
2- Family contest: Have a daily contest which can take 10-20 minutes before Maghrib. Have a poster, ask each member to prepare a section in the poster; e.g. an ayah with meaning, a hadith with meaning, a piece of wisdom or short story and a quiz.
Family members may rotate in doing the different sections each day. It is suggested that parents take care of writing the quiz questions and the kids undertake preparing other sections.
Twenty minutes before Maghrib Prayer (or right after eating and before `Isha’), all family members gather and each one reads his or her section with brief comments. Then, a raffle is done to choose the winner of the day. Symbolic gifts and surprises may be offered.
3- Donate your Iftar: devote one day where you prepare one of your best Iftar and take it to your neighbor or at least share it with them. It does not matter whether your neighbor is a Muslim or not. This is a golden chance to get closer to your neighbor, introduce them to Islam and share the spirit of Ramadan with them.
4- If you cannot do # 3, you may replace it with a medium-sized sweet tray.
5- Choose one day where you can invite your friends and your children friends to iftar.
6- Create a program with questions and answers on Ramadan if guests come early.
On the Community Level
1- Most of the Muslim communities in the West have their own gatherings, depending on the size of a certain ethnic population. In the relatively small-size Muslim communities, people tend to have a daily iftar in the Islamic center where each group from a certain country offers iftar for the whole community. Join these collective activities.
2- Invite your non-Muslim co-workers or classmates to the Center and introduce them to other Muslims.
3- Choose a group of young youth and start together a project to help the community at large. The following are some suggestions:
– You can plan for a soup Kitchen, using the Masjid and a mobile vehicle.
– You may invite a guest speaker every Saturday.
– You may plan for an event that only for moms and daughters, and another for fathers and sons.
– Fast-A-Thon: an event where you ask interested non-Muslim to pledge to fast and have free iftar.
This way, we will have a productive month on all levels which in a way reflect the comprehensive nature of Islam. When we practice some or all the steps mentioned above for thirty days, this indicates that being positive and productive is becoming to be a habit and an integral part of our daily life.
———-
Talaat Pasha has a doctorate in Arabic and linguistics. He chaired the department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Bahrain. He is now a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan, USA.
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The Second Ten Days of Ramadan – Renewing Intentions & Focusing on Forgiveness
We’re well underway now into Ramadan, right? The first ten days passed in a mixture of excitement (and perhaps some apprehension) as we got used to fasting and our ibadah (worship) while most of us quarantined at home. We all shared a lot of of advice, articles, du'as, stories and notes and zoom meetings on how to make the most of this holy month – prayers to say, lectures to listen too, Quranic recitations to watch on Zoom, Quran apps to make our reading easier.
But now the challenging part of Ramadan begins – the second ten days. These are the Days of Forgiveness. And I don’t know about you, but I could use some forgiving in my life.
The second ten days are when we tighten our proverbial belts and settle into this month of fasting, when suhoor perhaps becomes a chore and our intention to have a healthy iftar gives way to whatever we have on hand and can quickly prepare when it’s time to break out fast. When tiredness can reign supreme and whatever goals we have set for ourselves this month may feel unattainable.
When it becomes a bit of a fasting slog, and focusing on the why of this whole endeavor – to grow closer to Allah (S) and learn self-restraint – may get lost or buried in the daily grind of work, family-rearing and, well, living. As we are now probably settled into our Ramadan routine at home, between ibadah, work, home and family obligations, perhaps supervising distance learning or home schooling for our kids, we may be yearning community more and feeling that fatigue.
Maybe I should speak for myself here, but I’ve certainly felt that tiredness in the second ten days – the struggle to find the meaning in my fast, to focus on my Quran reading and really connect with Allah (S).
But, I can’t imagine I’m alone in this.
Perhaps you’ve struggled already in your first ten days of fasting. Maybe like me, you had to miss a fast or two. Maybe your kids were sick, and you weren’t able to pray tarawih or read Quran like you wanted to. Maybe you cannot fast at all due to medical or mental health or other reasons. We're all doing out best by listening into Quran recitations online, perhaps with tafseer and tilawat, but I'm sure many of us are missing being at our masajid and being with family and friends for iftars and community events. Surely this is an unprecedented Ramadan for many of us, and, best laid plans had to be set aside for new plans.
Just because, perhaps, things didn’t go according to plan during the first ten days doesn’t mean all is lost for the second ten days and the last ten days of Ramadan. Remember, we are in the Days of Forgiveness now. It’s never too late to start afresh, to seek forgiveness. Allah (S) is waiting for us to come to Him, even if it’s well into the month.
This is a time to regroup, to renew your intentions, to dig deep and give into the uncomfortable parts of fasting – the parts which pushes us to dig deep, worship more, appreciate our blessings and reflect upon why we fast. My friend Fatima Pashaei nailed it last year when she said in a Facebook status update:
We are nearing day 10 of Ramadan, which is when our bodies realize that this starving thing is the new normal. Days 10-20 are (IMO) the toughest days of fasting, because you reach full withdrawal. Ramadan rage is real – your body runs out of regular fat reserves, and you lose patience easily. Your brain isn’t operating at 100%. Your sense of smell intensifies. Sounds bother you. You take lots of naps. You think about food all day and maybe even start to watch cooking shows just to get a cheap fix.
Of course, it could be worse – we could have NOTHING to eat in the evenings. For many people around the world, going hungry every day is NOT a choice, it’s a necessity. If nothing else, fasting reminds you of this fact and humbles you. Hang in there, friends!
She is right. At the end of our long day of fasting, alhumdullilah we have food to break out fast with. Yeah, we may be tired and feeling the effects of managing our fasts and elevated ibadah with our other worldly responsibilities, but so many of us have the basics of humanity – food, clean water, shelter and hopefully family – things we all to often take for granted. Even now, when so many of us are facing economic hardship, job insecurity, separation from loved ones and maybe even illness with this COVID-19 pandemic, we fast and worship for the sake of Allah (S).
I like to remind myself of why we fast. The Quran lays it out for us in Surah Baqarah, where it says:
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn self-restraint.
How many of us can say we practice self-restraint in our lives, like in aspects of our lives we may have never considered? If we are fasting from food, are we also fasting from backbiting, from insulting speech, from envy, from judgment? Are we exercising more patience and understanding and forgiveness? This is my biggest challenge in Ramadan (and in general) – drawing on patience and understanding in the way I navigate my world, in how I parent my children and help my son manage his autism. In how the kind of wife I am to my husband. And most importantly, in the kind of believer I am for Allah (S).
There’s a reason these second ten days of Ramadan are the Days of Forgiveness. It’s a time when we as Muslims must seek the forgiveness of Allah (S) for all our transgressions and shortcomings and turn towards Him with the intention of doing better, being better. If we can remember this and hold on to this, hopefully this middle portion of Ramadan will be uplifted and treasured as it should be.
You got this, my friends!
The Second Ten Days of Ramadan – Renewing Intentions & Focusing on Forgiveness published first on https://lenacharms.tumblr.com/
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The Second Ten Days of Ramadan – Renewing Intentions & Focusing on Forgiveness
We’re well underway now into Ramadan, right? The first ten days passed in a mixture of excitement (and perhaps some apprehension) as we got used to fasting and our ibadah (worship) while most of us quarantined at home. We all shared a lot of of advice, articles, du'as, stories and notes and zoom meetings on how to make the most of this holy month – prayers to say, lectures to listen too, Quranic recitations to watch on Zoom, Quran apps to make our reading easier.
But now the challenging part of Ramadan begins – the second ten days. These are the Days of Forgiveness. And I don’t know about you, but I could use some forgiving in my life.
The second ten days are when we tighten our proverbial belts and settle into this month of fasting, when suhoor perhaps becomes a chore and our intention to have a healthy iftar gives way to whatever we have on hand and can quickly prepare when it’s time to break out fast. When tiredness can reign supreme and whatever goals we have set for ourselves this month may feel unattainable.
When it becomes a bit of a fasting slog, and focusing on the why of this whole endeavor – to grow closer to Allah (S) and learn self-restraint – may get lost or buried in the daily grind of work, family-rearing and, well, living. As we are now probably settled into our Ramadan routine at home, between ibadah, work, home and family obligations, perhaps supervising distance learning or home schooling for our kids, we may be yearning community more and feeling that fatigue.
Maybe I should speak for myself here, but I’ve certainly felt that tiredness in the second ten days – the struggle to find the meaning in my fast, to focus on my Quran reading and really connect with Allah (S).
But, I can’t imagine I’m alone in this.
Perhaps you’ve struggled already in your first ten days of fasting. Maybe like me, you had to miss a fast or two. Maybe your kids were sick, and you weren’t able to pray tarawih or read Quran like you wanted to. Maybe you cannot fast at all due to medical or mental health or other reasons. We're all doing out best by listening into Quran recitations online, perhaps with tafseer and tilawat, but I'm sure many of us are missing being at our masajid and being with family and friends for iftars and community events. Surely this is an unprecedented Ramadan for many of us, and, best laid plans had to be set aside for new plans.
Just because, perhaps, things didn’t go according to plan during the first ten days doesn’t mean all is lost for the second ten days and the last ten days of Ramadan. Remember, we are in the Days of Forgiveness now. It’s never too late to start afresh, to seek forgiveness. Allah (S) is waiting for us to come to Him, even if it’s well into the month.
This is a time to regroup, to renew your intentions, to dig deep and give into the uncomfortable parts of fasting – the parts which pushes us to dig deep, worship more, appreciate our blessings and reflect upon why we fast. My friend Fatima Pashaei nailed it last year when she said in a Facebook status update:
We are nearing day 10 of Ramadan, which is when our bodies realize that this starving thing is the new normal. Days 10-20 are (IMO) the toughest days of fasting, because you reach full withdrawal. Ramadan rage is real – your body runs out of regular fat reserves, and you lose patience easily. Your brain isn’t operating at 100%. Your sense of smell intensifies. Sounds bother you. You take lots of naps. You think about food all day and maybe even start to watch cooking shows just to get a cheap fix.
Of course, it could be worse – we could have NOTHING to eat in the evenings. For many people around the world, going hungry every day is NOT a choice, it’s a necessity. If nothing else, fasting reminds you of this fact and humbles you. Hang in there, friends!
She is right. At the end of our long day of fasting, alhumdullilah we have food to break out fast with. Yeah, we may be tired and feeling the effects of managing our fasts and elevated ibadah with our other worldly responsibilities, but so many of us have the basics of humanity – food, clean water, shelter and hopefully family – things we all to often take for granted. Even now, when so many of us are facing economic hardship, job insecurity, separation from loved ones and maybe even illness with this COVID-19 pandemic, we fast and worship for the sake of Allah (S).
I like to remind myself of why we fast. The Quran lays it out for us in Surah Baqarah, where it says:
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn self-restraint.
How many of us can say we practice self-restraint in our lives, like in aspects of our lives we may have never considered? If we are fasting from food, are we also fasting from backbiting, from insulting speech, from envy, from judgment? Are we exercising more patience and understanding and forgiveness? This is my biggest challenge in Ramadan (and in general) – drawing on patience and understanding in the way I navigate my world, in how I parent my children and help my son manage his autism. In how the kind of wife I am to my husband. And most importantly, in the kind of believer I am for Allah (S).
There’s a reason these second ten days of Ramadan are the Days of Forgiveness. It’s a time when we as Muslims must seek the forgiveness of Allah (S) for all our transgressions and shortcomings and turn towards Him with the intention of doing better, being better. If we can remember this and hold on to this, hopefully this middle portion of Ramadan will be uplifted and treasured as it should be.
You got this, my friends!
The Second Ten Days of Ramadan – Renewing Intentions & Focusing on Forgiveness published first on https://lenacharms.tumblr.com/
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The Ultimate List of Ramadan Programs, Lives & Resources to Prepare While Quarantined
By Nargis Rahman
Ramadan this year will be different than it has been ever before. With COVID-19, most people, except healthcare professionals and essential workers, are at home under state-at-home orders. Kids are home from school, in some cases for the rest of the year. As organizations and mosques are shifting to online platforms to prepare for Ramadan, there’s a lot of virtual offerings to help you get the most out of Ramadan.
Haute Hijab compiled this master list for you to get a heads up on preparing for a Ramadan in quarantine, from decorating to creating a prayer space at home for the month-long tarawih prayers to different programs and classes you can avail. It’s by no means complete; as we hear about more offerings, we’ll keep posting them here, so be sure to bookmark this post! (And, please add your suggestions in the comments below!) Here’s a list of what we’ve found.
Physical Prep
It is never too early to prepare for Ramadan. In fact, we have about a week left to get things in order for the fasting month. As many of us adjust to our new normal and prepare what it looks to be a virtual and at-home Ramadan experience, here are some resources:
1. For multitasking moms – This Haute Hijab guide for busy mamas will give you tips on meal prep and physical chores to save up energy for more important things like increasing good deeds during the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
2. Shopping ahead – To make this Ramadan special, keep in mind you will be eating at home and shopping less often during COVID-19. So, plan ahead for your groceries! Oh, and yes it’s okay to take out those fancy dinner sets. A pretty table can definitely help make things special!
3. Virtual iftars – Breaking fast via Zoom or Google Hangouts may be the new norm with family and friends this Ramadan. However the Ramadan Iftar Project began virtual iftars for converts to connect to Muslims on Facebook in 2014 via Skype. Muslims, who will now be home for Ramadan rather than at the mosques, can take on an initiative to break bread virtually with local converts and community.
4. Family time – The Family Youth Institute put out this toolkit on preparing mentally for Ramadan as a family member, student or employee by spending time on healing and creating traditions. FYI put out this needs assessment questionnaire to determine what assistance Muslims will need during these unique circumstances.
5. Prepping versus winging it – If you’re like me, some years fluctuating between how much you can prepare ahead of time or not, here is a quick list of things to consider whether you’re prepping or winging it this Ramadan.
Islamic Lectures & Programming
Organizations and masajid are coming together to provide tips and help for Muslims for spiritual healing as well as to prepare for Ramadan. Here are a few places to look for daily, weekly and pre-recorded programming and lectures.
Daily Offerings
1. Reflections with Imam Omar Suleiman – Imam Omar shares daily thoughts at 9 p.m. on his Facebook live, as well as a short Friday lecture at 2 p.m. weekly.
2. Family Programming from Miftaah Institute - In Michigan this institute has created daily family programming, from seerah to Quran reflections, to hadith.
3. Islamic Foundation – This organization is leading daily programming (mostly evenings) ranging from companions of the Prophet to tafsir.
4. Sacred Learning – This organization is running a 15-min daily reminder with families in mind each night at 8:45 CST for their Foundations of Faith webinar and is offering a Ramadan prep course on April 18.
5. Qalam Institute – Based in Dallas, the Qalam Institute, which aims to provide “accessible Islamic knowledge,” created the Qalam Podcast last year, including the episodes Ready for Ramadan by Abdul Nasir Jangda and Ramadan Reflections with Mufti Hussain Kamani. This year the online course, Fiqh of Fasting, is open for registration.
6. SuhaibWebb.com – With free registration, suhaibwebb.com is featuring Quran reflections with various speakers at 10 p.m. EST. and various other free programming.
Weekly Offerings
7. Salam Youth – Masjid AlSalam’s youth group in Michigan is hosting a kid-friendly Stories of the Prophets series Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. live on Instagram and Zoom with Br. Belal Elkadri. Ramadan programs include tajweed, DIY crafts for kids, purification series, Quran and nasheed nights.
8. ALIM Weekly Hangout – Shaykh Ubaydullah Evans leads a weekly halaqa on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. CST on contemporary issues as part of the American Learning Institute for Muslims.
9. Boston Islamic Seminary – If you’re into discussion, this seminary is diving into Surah Kahf each Friday.
10. Ta'leef Collective – If you’re looking for extra support, the Ta'leef Collective has a number of Lives and Zoom support meetings to help you.
11. The Rahmah Foundation – This foundation is focusing on preparing women for Ramadan through a number of classes and halaqas.
12. ICNYU Community Du'a – If you’re looking for a weekly du'a session, Imam Khalid Latif of the Islamic Center of New York University hosts community du'as Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 p.m. EST.
13. Islamic Society of North America – ISNA brings on a special speaker for Friday Reflections at 1 p.m. EST.
14. Mondays with Muhsen – Muhsen (Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs) is offering Monday night online spiritual talks via Facebook Lives with wonderful imams and leaders (check here for timings).
Pre-recorded Lectures and Classes
15. Rabata – Dr. Tamara Gray and others provide an overview of fasting, spirituality, health and more in a women-led Ramadan Ready course, discounted to $35.
16. MAS Youth Ramadan – In 2006-2013 MAS Youth recorded seven seasons of "In the Shade of Ramadan" about various topics of faith.
17. Inspiration Series – Imam Omar Suleiman narrated a two-season mini-drama series called Inspiration, featuring the character and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), a Ramadan rerun favorite in my home.
Decoration Prep
Preparing your home for Ramadan is a newer trend in North America, while Muslims around the world regularly decorate their homes and towns for this holy month. These guides and resources will help you get your home in tip-top shape for Ramadan!
1. Cover the basics – If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to decorating for Ramadan, here are five ways to decorate, from outdoor lights to indoor lamps.
2. Kid-friendly decor – Haute Hijab’s guide on how set up space and activities for kids this Ramadan provides a way to implement the fasting month in your home – from using creating an itikaf tent for the kids to read Quran to displaying banners and activities baskets.
3. Eid Creations – In 2011 Rana Bacaloni started selling the first mass-produced products for Ramadan and Eid party decor. Rana offers tips on Haute Hijab on how to spruce up your home to make it more festive for the month and activities to do with kids!
4. So many awesome Muslim vendors – Along with major retailers for Ramadan and Eid decor like Party City and Target, Etsy has become a place to find customized decor. Fellow blog writer Danah Shuli compiled a great list of Muslim vendors and links to their Ramadan-oriented products on Instagram, Etsy or their own websites!
5. DIY crafts – Not a person who likes to spend a ton on decoration but wants to remain festive? Try following this DIY Eid banner. Here are nine other great activities (including decor) you can do with your kids to prep for and do in Ramadan!
Spiritual Prep
Spirituality is a big part of Ramadan. There are many online offerings out there, from creating spiritual goals to how you can schedule Quran into your day to amping up your charitable giving. When deeds are multiplied by 70 times per deed, it’s essential to keep your A-game up in this department. Here are some places to start.
1. Al-Maghrib tafsir – Understanding the Quran is a part of reflecting and learning from it. That’s why Al-Maghrib has courses on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays with Facebook live @almaghribworld and @hasibmn.
2. Spiritual goals – Whether you’re on your own, with a small family of one or large family, creating spiritual goals individually and/or as a family helps keep you on course to reaping rewards in Ramadan.
3. Muslim Matters – If you’re a busy adult, perhaps still working an essential job or a stay-at-home mom of little ones or homeschooling in COVID, Muslim Matters put together this list for busy people to get a comprehensive understanding of how to prepare for Ramadan (especially for new Muslims), with daily and weekly scheduling advice.
4. The Productive Muslim Company – This company has a great deal of literature and free prep classes about increasing productivity and barakah, visual infographics on dhikr, remembrances of Allah, tips on how to eat and sleep, schedule deeds, and make du'a lists, to effectively ask for supplications on behalf of yourself and others.
5. Tarawih at home – mosques will most likely remain closed due to the coronavirus during Ramadan therefore Haute Hijab has a guide on how to create a prayer space and routines at home.
We hope these resources shared here help you pick and choose everything you need to help you make the most out of your Ramadan. So many masajid and organizations are offering great programming. We know we missed listing everything here. Please share in the comments below what else you want us to include here!
The Ultimate List of Ramadan Programs, Lives & Resources to Prepare While Quarantined published first on https://lenacharms.tumblr.com/
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Power in Ramadan
16 things you can do on the Night of Power in Ramadan ...
Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr.
Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).
The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).
Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.
1. Take a vacation for Allah
We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator.
If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day.
It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.
2. Do Itikaf
It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf.
Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs.
Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.
3. Make this special Dua
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).
The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"
4. Recite the Quran
Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite.
If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.
5. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran
Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.
(If you want to study the Quran with more understanding, check out Way to the Quran and Access to Quranic Arabic.
6. Get your sins wiped out
Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim).
Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.
Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs.
This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted.
7. Make a personal Dua list.
Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:
Ask Allah to give you those things
Think about what actions you have taken to get those things
Develop a work plan to get those things in future.
8. Evaluate yourself.
Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. (see a short and a long evaluation guide) This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above.
9. Make long, sincere and deep Duas
One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).
That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction.
For some tips on making Dua please see the article Some personal Duas you can make.
10. Memorize a different Dua every night
They don't have to be long. They can be just one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don't know the exact translation in English.
You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc.) Then practice them at night in prayer.
11. Have Iftar with the family
If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.
12. Take the family to Tarawih
Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the Masjid, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights.
13. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation
Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night's Tarawih prayer with your family. See if you can attend different Masjids' Tarawih prayers the night they finish reading the Quran.
14. Finish reading a book on the Prophet
Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.
15. Plan for the next year
Once you've done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you'll Insha Allah, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year.
16. To do list for the Night of Power
Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power.
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