Saturday, September 30, 2006

Amazing Kid

MashaAllah, Here's an amazing little brother with an awesome voice while reciting the Holy Qur'an (Surat ul-Yaseen).

A close friend of mine gave me this link just now, May Allah (swt) bless her for sharing it, SubhanAllah it's just soo beautiful.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

A Du'a from Reflections of Pearls


I was looking through this book that I have, "Reflections of Pearls" by Shaykh Inam Uddin and Mufti Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yusuf. It's "A concise & comprehensive collection of Prophetic invocations & prayers".


I came across this du'a, I know this one, but what I never knew was the hadith regarding it.

It's on page 39,

I scanned it so I can share it with you all, click on it to make it larger.


May Allah (swt) give us the tauwfiq to always say our du'as (especially when going shopping to square one).

Ameen.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Knowledge is Light


For all the students of knowledge (Ilm)


Knowledge Is Light

shakautu ila Waki` su’a hifdhi
wa arshada-ni an tark al-ma`asi
wa akhbara-ni bi anna ilman nur
wa nur Allah la yu`ta al-`as

The great Imam ash-Shafi’, he went to his teacher Waki`
Complaining about the weakness of his memory.
He told him, ‘abandon rebellion, for knowledge is a light
And the light of Allah is not bestowed upon a rebel.’




Click here to hear a sample







From Brother Talib Al-Habib's new Album "Rahma"

"An anthology of exquisite nasheeds based entirely on Hadith, that will inspire the soul to contemplation of Allah and love of Islam. This album is an invaluable educational resource, introducing children to the sayings of the blessed Prophet (SAW) through song."

Other Samples

Rahma

1. Light of the Dawn
2. Rahma – the Hadith of Mercy
3. Tasbih – the Seedlings of Paradise
4. Tauhid – the Unity of Allah
5. Knowledge is Light
6. Iman - The Articles of Faith
7. Hilya – the Description of Rasulullah (SAW)
8. Kalimatan – the Seal of al-Bukhari

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

The Ummah Fasting

The doors of Hell are closed and the doors of Paradise are open. Allah (swt)'s Mercy, Blessings, Forgiveness and much more descends to this Ummah in glorious and gracious amounts that are uncountable.


Shaitan the rejected one is chained up in the depths of Hell, so our hearts and souls are free for this month. It is in this month that we can become closer to our Creator in every possible way. Every organ, cell, element, and atom in our selves should be closer to Allah (swt) in this very special month because we fast/sacrifice only for Him. Oh how blessed are these days, that every supplication, recitation, worship and all good deeds are multiplied in rewards so bountiful that only Allah(swt) knows how much He is bestowing upon us.


As the whole Ummah around this world recites, repents, prays, worships and supplicates to Allah (swt) in this month, at once, let us pray for each other and remember each other in our prayers for many, many, many prayers are accepted on these blessed days of Ramadhan.


May Allah (swt) increase our Iman, May He (swt) have Mercy on every Muslim (alive or dead), May He (swt) forgive our sins major and minor (done knowingly/unknowingly) and May He (swt) save us all from the fitnahs of shaitan, dajjal and May He (swt) save us all from the punishments of the grave and the Hell fire.

Ameen.


A Palestinian woman reads the Koran in front of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City during the holy month of Ramadan early September 27, 2006. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (ISRAEL)

A Somali Muslim woman prays at her makeshift hut in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, on Somalia's fifth day of the holy month of Ramadan. Hargeisa is the capital of the breakaway republic of Somaliland, which set up its own administration after Somalia descended into anarchy in the early 1990s. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

A street vendor prepares sweets for breaking fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Karachi September 27, 2006. REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN)
Survivors of last year's earthquake offer prayers during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Balakot, 180 km (112 miles) from Islamabad September 27, 2006. REUTERS/Ibrar Tanoli (PAKISTAN)
n this Sept. 19, 2006 file photo, reviewed by a U.S. Department of Defense official, a detainee stands at a fence holding Islamic prayer beads at Camp Delta prison, Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba. Nearly all the alleged al-Qaida and Taliban members held at the detention center in Cuba are now observing the holy month of Ramadan, officials said Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Meals are offered before dawn and after sunset to accommodate their fasting during daylight hours. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A girl prays during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Amman September 24, 2006. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN)
A Palestinian girl reads the Koran during a class at the Koran house (Dar Al-Koran), in Ali-Bakaa mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron, on the second day of the holiest month of Ramadan September 24, 2006. REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun (WEST BANK)

Pakistani Muslims perform an evening prayer called 'tarawih', the night before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006. During Ramadan observant Muslims refrain during daylight hours from eating, drinking and smoking. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

A Palestinian reads the Koran during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at Nebi Musa mosque near Jericho September 25, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Eliana Aponte (WEST BANK)

A Egyptian Muslim man rests at Al-Azhar mosque, during Islam's first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Cairo, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
An Egyptian Muslim man prays at Al-Azhar mosque, during the first day of Islam's holy month of Ramadan, in Cairo, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Muslim men break their fast at sunset in Kuwait on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan September 24, 2006. Kuwait's Beit al Zakat (House of Alms) provides meals for fasting Muslims and distributes them to mosques around the country where people enjoy a meal of rice, meat, and salad along with dates and a dessert of fruit. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee (KUWAIT)
Young women covered in traditional Muslim dress walk home from school in Hargeisa, Somalia, Monday, Sept. 25, 2006 on the third day of the holy month of Ramadan. Hargeisa is the capital of the breakaway republic of Somaliland, which has seen peace and stability since parting ways with Somalia 15 years ago. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Egyptians pray the 'taraweeh' (traditional for Ramadan) outside a mosque in the Al Munira area in Cairo, Monday, Sept. 25, 2006. During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Muslims pray during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan on a road in Srinagar September 26, 2006. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)

A vendor prepares food among the debris of the October 8, 2005 earthquake in the devastated city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir , September 26, 2006. The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan began in sombre mood in northern Pakistan on Monday, nearly a year after an earthquake struck the mountainous region, killing 73,000 people. REUTERS/Amiruddin Mughal (PAKISTAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)

Indonesian Muslims read a giant Koran, while waiting to break their fast during Ramadan, in an Islamic boarding school in the outskirts of Jakarta September 26, 2006. REUTERS/Dadang Tri (INDONESIA)
An Indonesian Muslim youth reads a giant Koran, while waiting to break his fast during Ramadan, in an Islamic boarding school in the outskirts of Jakarta September 26, 2006. REUTERS/Dadang Tri (INDONESIA)

A Palestinian reads the Koran during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a mosque in Qalandiya refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah September 26, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Oleg Popov (WEST BANK)

A Palestinian reads the Koran during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a mosque in Qalandiya refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah September 26, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Oleg Popov (WEST BANK)

Syrians buy sweets in downtown Damascus on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Sweets are increasingly demanded during the Muslims' holy month of Ramadan where Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo / Bassem Tellawi).

Palestinians shop in the market of the West Bank city of Hebron, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, September 26, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun (WEST BANK)

A Palestinian reads the Koran at Deir Qadis mosque during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan near Ramallah September 26, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Eliana Aponte (WEST BANK)

A Palestinian Muslim reads from the Quran, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in a mosque in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

A Palestinian Muslim leaves the Mosque after prayers during Ramadan in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating Ramadan, with observants fasting from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Muslims break their fast at a roadside during the Holy month of Ramadan, in Karachi September 26, 2006. REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN)

Pakistani Muslims wait to break their fast at sunset in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Sept 26, 2006. Muslims observe Ramadan, a holy fasting month of Islamic calendar when they fast from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo/Shaklil Adil)

Palestinians shop in the market of the West Bank city of Hebron, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, September 26, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun (WEST BANK)

Illuminated Jama Masjid (mosque) is seen during the Holy month of Ramadan in the old quarters of Delhi September 26, 2006. REUTERS/B Mathur (INDIA)

An Afghan street sweeper works the last hours of the day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan , Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Muslims around the world refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during the all holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A Palestinian Muslim prays during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in a mosque in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating Ramadan, with observants fasting from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)


Pakistani Muslims pray during the fasting month of Ramadan in Karachi September 26, 2006. REUTERS/Zahid Hussein (PAKISTAN)

Muslims eat their Iftar (fast-breaking) meal on the first day of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid (mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi September 25, 2006. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA)

A Muslim boy recites a prayer beside his Iftar meal before breaking fast on the first day of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid (mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi September 25, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA)
Allah Din (L), a survivor of the October 8 earthquake, eats an Iftar (fast-breaking) meal with his family outside his tent on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the earthquake-devastated city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, September 25, 2006.The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan began in sombre mood in northern Pakistan on Monday, nearly a year after an earthquake struck the mountainous region, killing 73,000 people. REUTERS/Amiruddin Mughal (PAKISTAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)

A Pakistani vendor arranges caps at his stall on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Islamabad September 25, 2006. Muslims around the world refrain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood(PAKISTAN)

Islamic students arrange free food to be distributed among worshippers for breaking fast on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Karachi September 25, 2006. Muslims across the world abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN)

inside Kashmir 's Grand Mosque in Srinagar September 25, A Kashmiri woman reads the Koran on the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan2006. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)

Workers prepare sweets for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a shop in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, September 25, 2006. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish (IRAQ)

REFILE - CORRECTING NOUN A vendor displays prayer beads during the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Islamabad September 25, 2006. Muslims around the world refrain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood (PAKISTAN)

Bangladeshi Muslims buy food from a market to break their fast during Ramadan, in Dhaka September 25, 2006. Muslims around the world refrain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman (BANGLADESH)

HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR RAMADAN

Awameh, a famous Syrian sweet that is increasingly demanded by Syrians during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, is sold in a shop in Damascus Monday, Sept. 25, 2006. During Ramadan Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/ Bassem Tellawi)


I love this article, every Ramadhan I have to read it over so I can balance out my Suhoor and Iftar. I’m sure many of you have probably read it already, it’s on many different sites on the net, Sunnipath and other Q&A sites also have it.

NOTE: You should read it especially if you get stomach problems after Suhoor/Iftar


HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR RAMADAN

This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadhan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadhan.

During the holy month of Ramadhan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadhan is an ideal time to normalise one's weight.

In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.

Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).
Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
Fibre-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.

The foods eaten should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.

AVOID

  • Fried and fatty foods.
  • Foods containing too much sugar.
  • Over-eating especially at sehri.
  • Too much tea at sehri. Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
  • Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadhan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.

EAT
  • Complex carbohydrates at sehri so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.
  • Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
  • Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
  • Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
  • Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
DRINK
  • As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.
CONSTIPATION
Constipation can cause piles (haemorroids), fissures (painful cracks in anal canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling.

Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.

Remedy: Avoid excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.

INDIGESTION AND WIND

Causes: Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola also produce gas.

Remedy
: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.

LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')

Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.

Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.

Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.

Caution:
Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadhan. They should consult their doctor.

HEADACHE

Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day, lack of sleep, hunger usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end of the day. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar.

Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before Ramadhan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganise your schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache, palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.

Causes in non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates especially at suhur (sehri). The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.

Remedy: Eat something at sehri and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.

Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult your doctor.

MUSCLE CRAMPS

Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.

Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and dates.

Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult their doctor.

PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA

Increased acid levels in the empty stomach in Ramadhan aggravate the above conditions. It presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under the ribs and can extend upto the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola drinks worsen these conditions.

Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well before Ramadhan.

KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.

JOINT PAINS


Causes: During Ramadhan, when extra salah are performed the pressure on the knee joints increases. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.

Remedy:
Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for the additional strain. Being physically fit allows greater fulfilment, thus enabling one to be able to perform salah with ease.


Dr. Farouk Haffejee Islamic Medical Association of South Africa - Durban

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Ramadhan Mubarak!!!!

Ramadhan Mubarak to those who were fasting today, or will be fasting tomorrow, or those who will fast on Monday… sounds kinda crazy eh?

(As for me, I'll be following the Hilal Committee as always inshaAllah)

SubhanAllah, time flies when you’re at JAS. I’ve been there for a whole month. Yaaaayyy! And now we’re home for a month, InshaAllah inshaAllah I’m going to try me very best to not forget anything. With all the homework I don’t think it’s possible, but even then I think the best thing to do is review and do a bit of homework everyday, InshaAllah.

Okay I’ll stop about the homework, I know some of the girls from JAS (as salamu alaykum to you all) are going to come on and I know just mentioning homework will cause their hair to curl…aww I miss you all already, especially my cutie patutie Kulthum.

Well I gotta put the laundry clothes away (home chores seemed to have missed me) so I’ll post later inshaAllah, take care all!

Ma’asalama :)


When we came home my lil sister (who was at JAS with me) did this on the chalk board:

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

As salaamu alaikum..
I don't know why, but I really liked reading this lol.

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Mmm, Cheesecake

As salaamu alaikum

I decided to finally make my cheesecake yesterday...and after quite a while of delaying, I got to it. I left it in the fridge overnight, and decorated it just now..with whipped cream and chocolate - Aero to be precise. I love cheesecake *faint*


Saturday, September 09, 2006

Sha'ban

As salaamu alaikum

I was going to post this yesterday, but didn't have time. InshaAllah though it can still be helpful for the sake of knowledge itself...

Today is the 15th of Sha'ban -or Laylatul Mubarakah- The blessed night which is full of unseen benefits. The night before the 15th of Sha'ban is known as Laylatul Bara'ah (The night in which people are observed and pronounced clear of sin).

“Ali (R.A) reports the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) as saying: “When the night of Sha’baan-half comes, stand up in prayers, and begin fasting with dawn, because Allah the Glorious turns His special attention to the nearest heaven from the moment the sun sets and proclaims, “Is there any who seeks forgiveness that I may forgive him? Is there any who seeks provisions that I may provide him? Is there any in trouble, that I may relieve him of his trouble?” And until pre-dawn He continues proclaiming in such strain, “Is there any in such and such want that I may answer him?”
{Ibn Majah}

“Ayesha (R.A) tells us that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said to her, 'Do you know what happens on this night of the middle of Sha’baan?' She said, 'Tell me, O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W).' He (S.A.W) said, 'In this night the name of every child to be born in the ensuing year and of everyone who is to die is written down, and the provision of everyone is sent down. (Allah knows everything; a list is given to the angels.)' She asked, 'Will no one enter heaven save by the mercy of Allah?' He (S.A.W) said three times, 'Yes, that is so. No one will enter heaven save by Allah’s mercy.' She asked, 'Then, will you also not enter heaven save by Allah’s mercy?' Hearing these words, he placed his hand on his head and said three times, 'Yes, I too will not enter heaven unless Allah covers me with His mercy!' ”
{Bayhaqi}

I came across the following article...it's pretty long, but an excellent read.

Sha'ban - The Neglected Month
Abu Eesa - www.propheticguidance.co.uk

One would agree that from the most unfortunate things possible is to be the rightful recipient of some good news – a present maybe, a gift of money, a bequest etc – but then one remains unaware of this fact, or doesn’t pay attention to all the phone calls informing him of such glad tidings.

So there’s your present waiting for you, and you’re not really aware to its full worth or value – no-one else is going to claim it on your behalf and if you knew its real significance, you’d never leave it to waste!

Yet the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told us, as narrated by Imām al-Bayhaqī, that, “Sha‘bān is a month between Rajab and Ramadhān, much neglected by people. In it, the actions of all servants are raised to the Lord of the Worlds; I love that my actions are not presented except that I am fasting.”

Here is a man, the wisest and most eager of creation to obtain all possible good, who saw this blessed month of Sha‘bān very differently to many of us. He (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would never leave it to waste, rather he would be seen fasting almost the entire month of Sha‘bān, only ever surpassed by the fasting of the whole of Ramadhān.

So why exactly is that?

There are numerous authentic reports that detail how the majority of Sha‘bān was spent by our beloved Prophet in a state of fasting; a state which heightens our God-consciousness, makes us aware of our desires and the need for their control, makes us aware of the problems and difficulties of so many poor people around the world when we feel those pangs of hunger. The fasting one becomes very mindful of their tongue and how they abuse by it, their eyes and how they deviate from purity, their hearts and how much filth enters it without wilful control.

All in all, there is nothing more conducive to sincerely worshipping our Master, the Lord of the Worlds than doing so whilst fasting.

But doesn’t that occur whenever someone is fasting? Why then the month of Sha‘bān?

With Ramadhān just around the corner, where many of us really do ‘make it or break it’ for the rest of the year due to the quality of our ‘ibādah in it, it becomes paramount to prepare properly for this once in a lifetime opportunity. After all, do you know whether you’ll ever be lucky enough to greet another one? Weren’t the Sahābah described by Ma’lā bin Fadhl as those people who spent six months of the year asking Allah to accept their ‘ibādah of their previous Ramadhān and the next six months asking just to be allowed to reach the next one?

So often do many of us think we can just turn up to the show in Ramadhān, take a seat and watch the game, see the team win and go home happy at the end. What a huge mistake.

Spending thirty odd days of Ramadhān refraining from food and drink from morning to night isn’t the second pillar of Islam known as Siyām. No – I think people might be getting a bit confused there don’t you? That’s just a hungry and thirsty person, someone who in reality, has just wasted his time.

Rather as the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised us, we need to avoid all the well-known slips of the tongue, eyes, heart and really just our desires in general in order to be one who fulfils the conditions of Ramadhān. We need to make sure that we adorn our fasting with all other possible extra good actions such as praying extra nawāfil, giving charity, re-establishing family ties, increasing our social and da’wah work, displaying generosity to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, extra dhikr, memorisation of the Qur’an etc. Surely that is the whole point here – that we fast so as to be more aware of our actions and that they are presented to Allah ‘azza wa jall in their best possible light.

Only with such a high quality day of fasting can we really have hoped to achieve the desired consequence – that all our previous sins are forgiven and that we enter His Garden with His pleasure, insha’Allāh.

But don’t think such a day is easy to come by. Rather it is the exception although it shouldn’t be like that. Hence the greatness of Sha‘bān, that blessed opportunity to see whether we can make the mark, the mock exam before the impending finals, the last practice in front of the mirror before the key interview – although each practice is important itself, mistakes that are made here are blessed ones if they are learned from and not repeated at the key moment.

This has to be our aim in the remaining days of Sha‘bān. Try and make it a real and sincere practice effort for Ramadhān which is only a few weeks away – keep a note of all your external and internal actions during the day whilst you refrain from food and drink and be horrified at the amount of rubbish we espouse from our bodies on a daily basis. It’s going to be a major wake-up call and alhamdulillah for that – I would rather that I’m rudely awoken today than be found in a drunken stupor during Laylatul Qadr…

Don’t you want to take full advantage of Ramadhān when it comes? Don’t you want to profit whilst the doors of Heaven are thrown wide open, the doors of Hell are slammed shut and our greatest detractors of all, the devils, are firmly chained up? Which believer doesn’t welcome those open doors and which sinner of us doesn’t sigh with relief at the taming of the Fire – if but just for a small moment?

For as the poet said, “Whoever is shown mercy in Ramadhān is Marhūm (blessed, receiver of mercy), whoever prohibits for himself its good is Mahrūm (devoid of blessing and good) and whoever doesn’t take provision and sustenance from it is Malūm (has no-one to blame but himself).”

So at this ‘neglected time’, when the majority of our friends, family and community are not paying attention to what could be gained, the environment is not conducive to steeling one’s resolve and focus on that which is good, where people are concentrating on ‘enjoying’ themselves as much as possible before the ‘hardships’ of Ramadhān – during this time, let us strive to perfect ourselves now and learn from our mistakes whilst we prepare for the ‘Big One’, so as to really achieve the objective behind fasting and indeed life itself – to become those who are constantly aware of Allah (al-Muttaqūn). How on Earth can we possibly achieve this if we just dive into Ramadhān without a care in the world, not having conditioned our bodies, physically and spiritually in Sha‘bān? How can we work on preserving our energy during Ramadhān, not simply to last till Sunset, but to pray all the extra Sunnah available if we don’t try and test ourselves now? How will we know the looseness of our eyes if we don’t catch the eyes out now? How will we ever realise how much we gossip and backbite during Ramadhān when we don’t try refraining ourselves from the rafath and fisq during our fasts today?

Surely, the fact that we can perfect ourselves and reach the true goal during Ramadhān simply by exerting ourselves now during Sha‘bān is a compelling argument for why the Companions observed that when they saw the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) fasting at this time, they thought he’d never eat again - May Allah bless him, give him eternal peace and reward him with the very greatest of rewards!

Last, but certainly not least, for those who look for bargains and the like at such times (and who wouldn’t considering how miskeen to our Lord we all are!), there is another super jackpot moment in this blessed month. If all the obvious benefits were not enough, we also have a special night in which forgiveness is on a unique limited offer for the Believers.

In a much disputed hasan narration collected by ibn Hibbān, one of many other weak ahādīth, it is reported that on the authority of Mu‘ādh b. Jabal (radhy Allāhu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah looks to His creation on the middle night of Sha‘bān and forgives all of His creation, except for the one who ascribes partners to Him and the one who holds malice against others.”

Which one of us isn’t in need of this special moment of forgiveness? Yes, Allah ‘azza wa jall descends in the last third of every night offering salvation to us but here is another special moment for us to profit from, not restricted by the length of the night and specifically chosen by Sayyidina Mustapha (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to strive for.

Let us use this night to beseech our Lord for His bounty and pardon, prioritising our good deeds. After all, this is a night of forgiveness so what else better to do but to seek it!

Imām ibn al-Jawzi (rahimahullāh) was once asked, “Is it better for me to make tasbīh or to make istighfār?” He replied, “The dirty robe is more in need of soap than perfume.”

Hasan (radhy Allahu ‘anhu) once said, “Increase in making istighfār for you’ll never know when His Mercy will next descend.”

Indeed. So let us be aware of these blessed times in our times of need – let us pay attention to that which is neglected and make our Sha‘bān and Ramadhān our sources of salvation.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

*Sigh*

As salaamu alaikum

This is just torture, it’s horrible! Did you know that----hold on just a second there…*turns around*

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *falls down off of the chair onto her knees in despair and screams frantically while pulling onto her hijab*

*quickly calms herself and sits down composed*

Where was I? Oh yes…I was going to mention something utterly horrifying. It pains me to even bring it up. But alas, I must do so.

Tomorrow…*takes a deep breath*…Ihavetogobacktoschool *cries dramatically*

Horrible isn’t it!?!?! I know I know, but what can I do? *sigh*

Okay…that was quite the scene I suppose. But more or less – um less actually – it’s true. I have to go back to school tomorrow…for another like what, 10 months. 10 whole months. I will, once again, no longer have a life. Day in and day out I will be trying to swim up to the surface of this huge ocean working to my limits to save myself from drowning (which ofcourse metaphorically symbolizes homework, assignments, tests, exams and the like). And it doesn’t get any better. There’s so much pressure I might as well stick myself into a pressure cooker and let everything finish quicker……….yeah…lame...who cares *shrugs*.

I’m sure most of you feel the same way. You do don’t you. I know you do. Right…..I don’t mean to scare anyone..teehehe. Maybe that just did…

Hmm..so anyway…InshaAllah I’ll still be posting…though not as often I expect. Remember me in your duas and pray that this year goes by quick :)

-believeress

Monday, September 04, 2006

JAS

I'm home for the long weekend! But I miss my new home…in Bowmanville…

Jamiah Aishah Siddiqah (JAS) is truly my home from home. I don’t even know how I’m going to explain what I think of this place. What can I say? The Islamic classes (Alima classes) are beyond amazing, the amount of knowledge I’ve learnt in the past two weeks (since I’ve been there) has really started to rapidly quench my thirst for knowledge (it was practically like a desert), the facility is amazing, the nature around the place is captivating, the diversity of the students (in there backgrounds, personalities, life stories, etc.) is not only inspiring but it also previews the unity of the Ummah, and most importantly the teachers are a great, great, great blessing from Allah (swt) in every way possible for the students and for myself. May Allah (swt) make them successful in their efforts and reward them most generously in this life and in the hereafter.

SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, AllahuAkbr.

There’s soo much to say about all the things I did in the past two amazing (and fast) weeks. SubhanAllah. I think I’ll just post from there about the things I’m doing. Yeah they have computers there! Oh and I tried to post 4 times, unfortunately they never got posted because of various annoying reasons…so InshaAllah I'll try posting more often about my stay at JAS, but it’ll be hard…I tend to get really busy there.

Remember Jamiah Aishah Siddiqah and myself in your du’as everyone!