Every night Allah descends to the lowest heaven...
The noble time is to be chosen for supplication, such as the day of Arafa from the year, Ramadan from the months, Friday from the week, and the moment of daybreak from the night time:
Allah has said: "At daybreak they used to ask for forgiveness '(Qur'an; Surah 51, Adh-Dhariyaat, Ayah 18) The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'Every night Allah descends to the lowest heaven, when one third of the night remains. He says 'I will answer him who supplicates to Me. I will grant him who asks of Me. I will forgive whoever asks me for forgiveness.' (Muslim)
Since we are already awake for suhur (pre-dawn meal) it would be foolish not to make the most of such a golden opportunity to supplicate. We can wake up a little earlier before suhur and perform tahajjud prayer and supplicate.
It is related that the brothers of Yusuf (AS) asked their father Yaqub (AS) to forgive them for what they did (Read Surah Yusuf for the whole story). Then Yaqub (AS) replied: 'Ishall ask my Lord for forgiveness for you. Indeed it is He who is the Forgiving, ihe Merciful.' (Qur'an: Surah 12, Yusuf, Ayah 98) He said 'I shall' meaning that he will wait until daybreak to supplicate, and it is said that he rose at daybreak in order to supplicate while his sons were behind him saying ameen. Then Allah revealed to Yaqub (AS) 'I have forgiven them and made them prophets'.
A timetable for 'RAMADHAN'.
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you,
as it was prescribed to those before you, that
you may (learn) self-restraint."
(Holy Qur'an 2 : 183)
Sawm (fasting) means to refrain from eating, drinking and cohabiting from subha sadiq (early dawn) to sunset with a niyyah (intention) of observing fast.
Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is fardh (compulsory) upon every muslim who is sane and mature. Fasting has many physical, moral, and social benefits. However, Allah has made fasting compulsory so that we become pious and God-fearing.
Fasting will not be valid without niyyah. It is not necessary to express the niyyah in words. However it is preferable to recite 'Allahumma asoomu laka ghadan' - (O Allah tomorrow I shall be fasting for you only)'. In the case of Ramadhan, it is better to make niyyah in the night. However, should a person fail to do so, then it is permitted to make the niyyah during the day before zawal (midday).
Ideally a person would totally free himself for the whole month of Ramadhan, so that he may benefit fully from its blessings, This however is extremely difficult / impossible for most, thus it is acknowledged that a way or device needs to be utilised by people to make the most of whatever time they have.
To prevent time wasting and distractions from steering the mind and heart away from the remembrance of Allah, it is essential that one keeps check of oneself. This does not mean that one must do specific actions at specific times, but it does mean that a person fixes times during the day wherein he makes sure that he is doing something religiously constructive.
Fard acts need, more than ever, to be performed with unyielding punctuality. In reality, it should be that these are never missed at all. One must remember that if one neglects even one Fard then no amount of Nafl wilf ever recuperate the loss, and one may be liable to be punished for it. Thus one's priority must always be one's Fara'id.
Amongst the acts of worship given precedence in Ramadhan is the recitation of the Qur'an. Whatever free time one has should be spent engaged in this beneficial deed.
The niyyah (intention) for breaking fast - recite 'ALLAHUMMA LAKA SUMTU WABIKA AAMANTU WA ALAYKA TAWAKKALTU WA ALAA RIZ QIKA AFTAR TU FATA QABBAL MINNI.' - O Allah! I have kept fast for thee and I put faith in tliee and I have relied on thee and I break fast with the provisions provided by thee, therefore please accept from me my fast.
Read this DUA - O Allah! now thirst is gone, and the body has been refreshed while the reward had been attained if Allah so wills, O Great Granter of Favours, forgive me my sins. O Allah I beg You through Your Infinite Mercy which encompasses all things to forgive me my sins.
THINGS MAKROOH (DETESTABLE) WHILE FASTING
1. To chew items such as rubber, plastic etc.
2. To taste food or drink and spit it out.
3. To collect one's saliva in the mouth and then swallow it.
4. To clean teeth or mouth with tooth powder or toothpaste.
5. To complain of hunger or thirst.
6. To quarrel, argue with filthy words.
THINGS THAT BREAK THE FAST
1. To eat, drink or indulge in cohabitation intentionally.
2. To burn agarbatti (incense) and inhale its smoke.3. If water goes down the throat while gargling.4. To vomit mouthful intentionally.5. To swallow vomit intentionally.6. To swallow something edible, equal to or bigger than a grain of gram, which was stuck between the teeth. However, if it is first taken out of the mouth and then swallowed, it will break the fast whether it is smaller or bigger than the size of the grain.7. To drop oil or medicine into ear or nose.8. To swallow the blood from gums with saliva. However, if the blood is less than the saliva and its taste is not felt then the fast will not break.9. Snuffing.10. To eat and drink forgetting one is fasting and thereafter, thinking that the fast is broken to eat and drink again.11. Smoking.12. To apply medicine to the anus.13. For women to apply medicine to the urinary organs.14. To swallow intentionally a pebble, piece of paper or any item that is not
used as food or medicine.
In all the above circumstances, only a single fast will become qadha except in the case of number one (1), where qadha and kaffarah both will become obligatory. (Consult an alim regarding the rules of kaffarah).THINGS THAT DO NOT BREAK THE FAST
1. To eat, drink or indulge in cohabitation in forgetful ness.
2. To vomit without intention.3. To vomit intentionally less than mouthful.4. To have a wet dream.5. To oil the hair.6. To use surma (collyrium) in the eyes.7. To drop water or medicine in the eyes.8- To clean teeth with wet or dry miswak (a stick used for cleaning teeth).9. To apply or smell attar (perfume).10. To swallow a fly, mosquito, smoke or dust unintentionally.11. To swallow one's saliva or phlegm.12. Water entering the ears.13. To take an injection.SUNNAHS IN THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN
- 1. To observe taraweeh.
- 2. To increase the recitation of the Holy Qur'an.
- 3. To observe i'atikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan.
Sha'ban - Virtues of the 15th Night...
Virtues of the 15th night:
Sha'ban in the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. There are numerous ahadith narrated about the 15th night of Sha'ban, indicating that it has a certain distinction over ordinary nights. While some of these narrations are undeniably weak, there are others which have been graded as reliable by some hadith experts. Among the most authentic of these are the following two:
a) Hafiz Ibn Hibban recorded in his "Sahih": The Prophet (SAW), said, "Allah looks at His creation in the night of mid-Sha'ban; He forgives all His creation except for a mushrik (polytheist) or a mushahin (one who has illegitimate hatred or enmity of others)."
As is evident, this hadith was regarded as reliable by Ibn Hibban, who was a hadith expert, and a group of later hadith scholars have also judged it as hasan li-ghayrihi (good, through the support of other such narrations).
b) It is narrated that Ummul-Mu'tnineen ' A'ishah awoke one night to find the Prophet (SAW), missing, and so she went out to look for him. She found him in the Baqee' cemetery, with his head raised to the Heavens [it is recommended, in general, to visit cemeteries for the purpose of reminding ourselves of death, and to ask Allah to forgive the deceased Muslims], After helping to further reassure her, it is reported that he said, "Surely Allah, the Possessor of Blessings, the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven [with a meaning appropriate to Allah's majesty; not to be likened to the descending of finite, spatial, created things] on the night of mid-Sha'ban, and forgives more[people] than the the hairs on the sheep of [the tribe of] Kalb." [Narrated by Tirmidhi, who points out that its chain of narration is discontinuous, although we may note that such discontinuity is not detrimental to authenticity according to some scholars. Also narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and others. Ibn Rajab describes this narration as one of the best on the subject.]
Extra worship;
Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah mentions in his "Fatawa" that scholars have differed about this night; some of the salaf used to stay up on it, and the night has virtue. It was actually some of the prominent scholars of the Tabi'een (the second generation from the Prophet) in Syria, among them Makhool, who started the practice of performing optional prayer (tahajjud/qiyam) specifically during this night. On the basis of the ahadith mentioned above, fortified by more explicit but weaker ahadith, and by the practice of these Tabi'een, it is recommended, according to a group of scholars, to perform optional worship on this night. Hafiz Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali says, "So, it is appropriate for the believer to free himself [from worldly pursuits] on that night, [and apply himself] to the remembrance of Allah, making du'a to Him to forgive sins, conceal faults, and alleviate hardships, and [it is appropriate] to precede this with repentance (tawbah) for Allah forgives on this night those who repent." It may be noted, however, that other scholars are of the view that there is no special significance in performing optional worship on this night (although it is permissible, as on any ordinary night of the year), since they viewed all ahadith on the subject as weak, and considered that the practice of a group of Tabi'een does not by itself make it recommended. Whichever of the two views we choose to follow, we should tolerate both, since there exists scholarly disagreement.
It may also be noted that there is essential unanimity that there is no specific form of worship exclusive to this night, and so those who wish to offer 'ibadah in it may perform the usual form of tahajjud (qiyam) prayers, preferably 8 rak'ah, and/or other forms of worship such as recitation of Qur'an or remembrance of Allah. It is much preferred to offer such worship individually and privately; indeed most scholars consider it a bid'ah (reprehensible innovation in religion) to gather to offer such supererogatory worship in congregation.
Fasting on the 15th day:
There is no specific order to fast on the 15th day of Sha'ban. The hadith narrated by Tirmidhi, "When it is the night of the middle of Sha'ban observe the prayer during the night and observe the fast during the day," is severely weak, and therefore cannot be acted upon. However, if one wishes, he may fast on the 15th of Sha'ban, on the basis that it is recommended to fast the middle days of every month, and it is also recommended to fast during Sha'ban in general.
Usama ibn Zayd said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have not seen you fast in any of the months as [much] as you fast in Sha'ban!" He said, "That is a month which people are neglectful of, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds, and I like for my deeds to be lifted up while 1 am fasting." [Narrated by Nasa'i and Ahmad]
"Fasting three days from every month is like fasting perpetually." [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
"When you fast three days from a month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Narrated by Ahmad, Tirmidhi (who graded it hasan), Nasa'i and Ibn Majah]
There is also general agreement that one should not start the obligatory fasting of Ramadan early, in the last few days of Sha'ban (before the new moon for Ramadan has been sighted), because this is a false precaution.
And Allah, the Flawless, Knows best.
Imagine Your Mind Like Tea In A Cup
Approach your Salah in peace, pray it in peace, finish it in peace and you will get peace. When your mind is spinning with your daily activities and thoughts, you must allow a few moments to calm down before starting to pray. Imagine your mind like tea in a cup that has been stirred around: when you take the stirrer out from the tea, it does not stop spinning immediately, it takes a few moments. Likewise, before your Salah, stop what you are doing and relax for a few moments. Attend to the lavatory if you need to, and then make wudu, properly. Make sure your hair is done and clothes are tidy, free of any dirt: after all, you will be presenting yourself before the Master of the Universe in a few moments. Give the Adhan if it has not already been given, then stand up to pray your Sunnah Salah. After your Sunnah Salah, stay sitting in your place for a short while and make some remembrance of Allah. Once you are relaxed and ready for your main, obligatory Salah, get up to pray it, slowly and taking your time between the various actions of the Salah. You should do your best to pray when you are physically, mentally and spiritually relaxed. When the Salah is over, do not get up and run, but rather stay sitting for a few moments until you have completed your after Salah tasbih. Allah says "Maintain with care the (obligatory) prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah devoutly obedient". (Qur'an: Surah 2 AI-Baqarah, Ayat 238)
A Mosque goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to Mosque . "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 Lectures. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the Imams are wasting theirs by giving Lectures at all." This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher.....
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to Mosque for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... Allah is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank Allah for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment! All right .. now that you're done reading .. send it on!!! I think everyone should read this!!
"When Shaitaan is knocking at your door, simply say, " Allah, could you please get that for me?
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
"It is the Lord of Mercy who taught the Qur'an. He created man and taught him to communicate. The sun and the moon follow their calculated courses; the plants and the trees submit to His designs; He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance so that you may not exceed in the balance - weigh with justice - and do not fall short in the balance. He set down the Earth for His creatures, with its fruits, its palm trees with sheathed clusters, its husked grain, its fragrant plants.
Which, then, of Your Lord's blessings do you both (mankind and jinn) deny?
He created mankind out of dried clay, like pottery, the jinn out of smokeless fire. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
He is Lord of the two risings and Lord of the two settings.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
He released the two bodies of [fresh and salt] water. They meet, yet there is a barrier between them they do not cross.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Pearls come forth from them: large ones, and small, brilliant ones.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
His are the moving ships that float high as mountains on the sea.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Everyone on earth perishes; all that remains is the Face of your Lord, full of majesty, bestowing honour.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Everyone in heaven and earth entreats Him; every day He is at work.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
We shall attend to you two huge armies [of jinn and mankind].
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Jinn and mankind, if you can pass beyond the regions of heaven and earth, then do so: you will not pass without Our authority.
Which, the, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
A flash of fire and smoke will be released upon you and no one will come to your aid.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
When the sky is torn apart and turns crimson, like red hide.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
On that Day neither mankind nor jinn will be asked about their sins.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
The guilty will be known by their mark and will be seized by their foreheads and their feet. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
This is the Hell the guilty deny, but they will go round between its flames and scalding water. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
There are two gardens for those who fear [the time when they will] stand before their Lord. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
With shading branches.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
With a pair of flowing springs.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
With every kind of fruit in pairs.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
They will sit on couches upholstered with brocade, the fruit of both gardens within easy reach. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
There will be maidens restraining their glances, untouched beforehand by man or jinn.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Like rubies and brilliant pearls.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Shall the reward of good be anything but good?
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
There are two other gardens below these two.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Both of deepest green.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
With a pair of gushing springs.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
With fruits - date palms and pomegranate trees.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
There are good-natured, beautiful maidens.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Dark-eyed, sheltered in pavilions.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Untouched beforehand by man or jinn.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
They will all sit on green cushions and fine carpets.
Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?
Blessed is the name of your Lord, full of majesty, bestowing honour. (Qur'an: Surah 55 Ar-Rahman, Ayaat 1-28) - Please refer to a good tafsir for deeper meanings.
Paradise exists in two ranks: the higher level for the truly favoured, and this lower level described for the less exalted pious. This cosmology of hell, lower paradise, upper paradise is repeated in Surah 56 Al-Waqia, Ayaat 7-56.
Hijab
Hijaab:
Under the influence of the western civilization people are made to believe that bringing women out in the open is the need of the day as well as the objective of the Divine Law. But today it is sad to see that traditional and cultural limits are also being incorporated in the Divine Law. Doubts have been raised about the legal status and basic truth about Hijab.The scholars of the Holy Qur'an agree that the commandment regarding Hijaab for women was revealed in the following verse of Surah Ahzab:"O you who believe enter not the prophets houses until permission is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation but when you are invited enter; and when you have taken your meal disperse without seeking vain talk. Such behaviour annoys the prophet; he is ashamed to dismiss you"."But Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth""And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want , ask them from behind a screen (Hijaab)"."That makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs".It was in this verse that the Hijab was mandated for women. Although the wives of the Prophet were particularly addressed in this verse the commandment is meant for all women. This is clearly understood in the words of Almighty Allah:"That makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs".This clearly means that immodesty breeds indecency in the hearts. Undoubtedly the Muslim women are more in need of protecting themselves from this indecency since they are more liable to engage in sinful activities. It is also noteworthy here that the women who have been addresses in this verse of Hijab were the wives of the Prophet for whom Allah himself took the responsibility to ensure the purity and cleanliness of their hearts. This has been mentioned in the same Surah.Make Allah wishes to remove all abomination from you and your family members and to you pure and spotless.Who amongst us can claim that our self control is better than that of the respectable companions of the Prophet; that our women are more pious than the wives of the Prophet and that there is no danger of corruption today in men and women mixing freely with other.To protect the chastity of women and to maintain the moral character of a society, the most important factor is to minimise free contact between men and women. The best way to ensure this is for women not to leave their homes unnecessarily. Their excessive outings and coming in contact with ghair mahram men result in severe temptations. Say Allah in the Holy Qur'an in Surah Ahzab specifically commanding the women to stay in their homes."O consorts of the Prophet! You are not like any one of the (other) women; if you do fear (Allah), be not to complaisant of speech, lest in whose heat is a disease should be moved with desire; but speak you a speech (that is) just"."And make not a dazzling display, like that of former Times of Ignorance"."And establish regular prayer and give zakaat and obey Allah and his messenger"."Two important commandments become clear from the above verses".1- Women should not talk to (ghair mahram) men unnecessarily.So even when it becomes necessry to talk to the (ghair mahram) men, she should avoid the soft and attractive tone of voice which is part o her nature. She should not speak in a way that might charm or attract the listener as Allah says"…be not complaisant in speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire,"2- The best way for a women to observe Hijaab is to stay in their homes and not to come out without a valid necessity.Women are created in a way that they can be contented at peace only by staying within their houses, occupying themselves with home and family matters. The welfare and prosperity of society also depends on this.A women`s physical nature is not well suited for all the severe hardships associated with it, which only men have been equipped to deal with. This is why in Islam, women have not been made responsible to earn a living. Her parents and brothers carry on the responsibility to meet her material needs before her wedding, which is passed on to her husband after her marriage.Allamah ibn Jauzi writes: I believe that the coming out of her house and roaming about the streets in itself is sufficient to cause trouble, let alone exhibiting her beauty and her body.From the word Tabarruj in the above verse it is also clear that if it is necessary for a woman to leave her house, she has to hide her beauty. This can only be achieved by wearing a Burqah or Jalbab that cover the entire body.Says Allah Ta`ala in the Holy Qur'an:"O Prophet: Tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over them.""It is less likely that the would be known and not harmed and Allah is All Forgiving, Most Merciful."This verse clearly indicates that hiding ones face is included in the commandment of Hijaab. This verse is not specifically addressed only to the wives of the Prophet so there is no room to make excuses regarding its application to all women.I emphatically add by say that there is no room for doubt regarding status of Hijaab as has been clearly indicated from the above verses of the Holy Qur'an. It is complete and also comprehensive.
