ARAFAH DAY.

Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuhu.

Tomorrow is Arafah day...... the day the hujjaj are standing on the mountain of Arafah........if you could not fast the other days of thul hijjah don't miss this day. Fasting Arafah is an expiation for two years so make sure you fast and urge your loved ones to fast. And here more virtues of the day of Arafah:

1. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s Favour was completed.

In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”

2. It is a day of Eid for the people who are in that place.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Yawm ‘Arafaah (the day of ‘Arafaah), Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) and Ayyaam al-Tashreeq (the 3 days following Yawm al-Nahr) are Eid (festival) for us, the people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking.” This was narrated by the authors of al-Sunan. It was reported that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: “It – i.e., the aayah ‘This day I have perfected…’ was revealed on a Friday, the Day of ‘Arafaah, both of which – praise be to Allaah – are Eids for us.”

3. It is a day by which Allaah swore an oath.

The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty. Yawm ‘Arafaah is the “witnessed day” mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of ‘Arafaah].” [al-Burooj 85:3].

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

It is the “odd” [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allaah swore in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And by the even and the odd” [al-Fajr 89:3]. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of ‘Arafaah [i.e., 9th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] This is also the view of ‘Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak.

4. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” Narrated by Muslim.

This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of ‘Arafaah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast on this day in ‘Arafaah. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah in ‘Arafaah.

5. It is the day on which Allaah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam.

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., ‘Arafaah. He brought forth from his loins all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’ let you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allaah, and we were (merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil (i.e., ploytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allaah)?’ [al-A’raaf 7:172-173 – interpretation of the meaning].” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. And there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this.

6. It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there:

In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” Narrated by Ahmad and classed saheeh by Al-Albaani

HOW TO GET REWARDS OF HAJJ WHILE AT HOME.(part 2)

Assalam Alikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatouh

Imagine you entered a masjid on Friday and there was 1500 people praying. Suddenly you hear an angel calling from the sky saying: only three from the 1500 will be forgiven from their sins and the angel starts to mention their names….my dear sister and brother won’t you want to be one of those three??!

I am sure you would love to be the chosen one.

The Muslims population now is about 1.5 billion which is 1500 million people and the ones who will go to Hajj this year are 3 million, so that is 3 million out of 1500 million. So if Allah chose you this year to be from the people who will go to hajj then you are from the winners ( the 3%).....so don’t you wish to be among them?

We spoke last time about the great reward of Hajj which we all cannot afford to miss.

I know we all wish to go to Hajj and we can’t wait for the chance to come. Allah SWT knows how his servants are in need of the reward of hajj that is why he granted a chance to those who are not able to go to hajj. He gave us deeds which if we do; we get the same reward as the Hajj….Subhana Allah Al Kareem

Last time we covered three deeds if you do you can get the reward of hajj while you are at your home country….so let’s continue

Hajj no. four:

The Prophet PBUH said: “Whoever goes to the Masjid for the purpose of learning or teaching Knowledge, receives the reward of a Haji whose Haj was perfect.

(Tabarani, hadith:7473 with a sound chain. See Targheeb vol.1 pg.104 & Takhreejul Ihyaa, hadith:4253)

Imagine Allah grants you the reward of Hajj just because you went to listen to a lecture and acquired knowledge. This shows you how Allah SWT loves Eilm and knowledge so we should always strive to acquire as much knowledge as we can and never have enough of it.

Hajj no. five:

Is the most beautiful hajj because you won’t be alone doing this hajj…it is a hajj filled with love and great feelings. Read this hadith

Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (R), Umm Sulaim (R) came to Prophet (S) and said, ‘Abu Talha and his son have both went for Hajj and they left me.’ The Prophet(S) said, ‘O Umm Sulaim, Umrah done in Ramadan equals Hajj done with me.’ (Ibne Hibbaan).

Ya Allah, can you imagine, going to Hajj with the Prophet (Sallah Allah alaihi wa Sallam)??
This would be the most beautiful hajj ever.

I know most of you would think, I still have to wait for next Ramadan to come, I really want the reward now. !!!
You can get the reward now. Have the intention and plan to go to Umrah next Ramadan and you will get the reward from now with your neyya even if you die before next Ramadan …..Allah SWT Kareem and he knows what is in your heart and will reward you for the intention Subhana Allah.

Hajj no. six:

I call this Hajj as the hajj of the intelligent and smart ones. How?
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala rewards us for our intentions. So if you can’t go to hajj for some reason but have money, pay for someone to go instead and you will have the same reward in shaa Allah.

The Prophet PBUH said: "Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended.

Another smart Hajj, if you can’t go and you don’t have the money to send someone to do Hajj, encourage someone who can to go and tell them the great reward of Hajj and in shaa Allah you will get the same reward.

The Prophet PBUH said: Whoever directs someone to a good, then he will have the reward equal to the doer of the action. [Muslim (1893)]

Also pray in secret for people to go to Hajj, (Oh Allah send so and so to go to hajj this year) and you will get the same reward and an angel will answer Ameen and pray for you too.

Pray to Allah to accept the Hajj of the hujaaj and you will get the same reward in Shaa Allah.

The Prophet PBUH said: “He who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence), the angel commissioned (for carrying dua to his Lord) says: 'Ameen, and it is for you also.'” [Sahih Muslim]

Hajj is the happiest moment of life…only the Hujaj feel it….

Remember if you have the ability to go to Hajj and you don’t go, you are sinning and you need to repent and plan your hajj as soon as possible. It is one of the pillars of Islam and without it your Islam is incomplete. Allah knows your ability so you are only fooling yourself if you can go and you don’t go….none of us know when we will die….and we will be questioned by Allah if we had the ability and didn’t go.

HOW TO GET REWARDS OF HAJJ WHILE AT HOME.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

I know many of us wish to go to Hajj but still haven’t got the chance.
Some of us don’t even know the major reward of Hajj

There is a hadith if you read, you will wish to go to Hajj right now and you will wish to do it every year if you could.

One day Ibn Umar (RA) was sitting with the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) in the masjid in Mina when a man from the Ansaar and a man from the Thaqeef came. They gave Salaam and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, we came to ask you questions."

So the Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "If you want I can inform you why you came and what you want to ask, and I will do so, and if you want I will hold back and you can ask me and I will answer you."

They said: "Tell us O Messenger of Allaah!"

The man from Thaqeef said to the Ansaari: "Ask." So the Ansaari man said: "Inform me O Messenger of Allaah!"

The Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "You came to me, to ask about leaving your house and aiming for the Bait-ul-Haraam and the reward for it; about praying two Rakah after Tawaaf and the reward for it; going between as-Safa and Marwa and the reward for it; your staying the evening in Mina, and the reward for it; stoning the Jamarah and the reward for it; slaughtering an animal and the reward for it; and the Tawaaf of al-Ifaadh."

The man said: "I swear by the One who sent you with the truth! This is what I came to ask you about."

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "As for you leaving your homes aiming for the Bait-ul-Haraam: then your she-camel does not place its foot nor does it raise it except that Allaah writes for you a reward due to it, and wipes off one of your sins.

As for the two Rakah after the Tawaaf, then it is equivalent to freeing a slave from the Children of Ismaeel.

As for your circuiting of as-Safa and al-Marwa, then it is the same as freeing 70 slaves.

As for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allaah descends to the sky of the Duniya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: 'My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if their sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.'

As for stoning the Jamaar (the pillars), then for every stone that you throw, it removes a big sin from the deadly sins.

As for your slaughtering, then it is saved for you with your Lord.

As for shaving your head, then there is a reward for every strand of hair that you shaved, and a sin is wiped off by it.

As for you performing Tawaaf of the House after all this, then by this time you are performing Tawaaf with no sin upon you and an Angel comes and places his hand between your shoulders saying: "Perform good deeds in what you face of the future, for verily your past sins have been forgiven." (at-Tabarani and al-Bazaar--graded hasan by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb')

What a beautiful hadith

Today I want to talk to you about how you can get the reward of Hajj while you are at home….

I am sure you are thinking: is that really possible?

Yes it is possible …..how?

Our beloved Prophet PBUH told us and taught us that.

I will mention things you can do while you are at your country and you will be able to gain the reward of Hajj. However, this does not mean you don’t have to go to Hajj!!….No….You will still must fulfill the fard of Hajj one time in your life when you can in shaa Allah.
This is similar to the prayer in Al Masjid Al Haraam in Makkah…….We all know that praying one prayer in the haram in Makkah is worth one hundred thousand prayers in any other place but this doesn’t mean if someone prays in the haram they can stop praying for a hundred thousand years!!!...... There is a difference between the reward of the prayer and the prayer itself, same thing with Hajj.

So are you ready to collect the reward of many many Hajj in your account on the day of Judgment?

I am sure the answer is YES…..ok let’s start

Hajj number one:

The Prophet PBUH said: 'Whoever prays the morning prayer in congregation then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two units of prayer has the reward like that of Hajj and `Umrah.'" Al Tirmithi.

So if someone prays in a Jama3ah and sits after that doing thikr (Thikr could be tasbeeh or dua or reading Quran or listening to a lecture or meditation which is the worship of the heart and Allah loves it) even if you move around the masjid but you don’t go out, until the time of Shurouq (Sunrise) then pray two raka’as
But make sure you check the time of sunrise from the masjid timetable and give yourself another extra 15 min after sunrise then pray….Why?

Because the Prophet PBUH prohibited to pray at the time of sunrise, instead we wait another 15 min from the time of sunrise until the sun goes up a little and then we pray two raka’as and this is called Salatul Duha…..some people say it is salatul Eshraaq but that is wrong because there is no salah called Al Eishraaq.

What about the woman who prays at home, does this mean she loses this great reward? (I am sure all of you ladies are wondering)

Well, there are many views of scholars on this but the predominate view is that if she does the same in her house; she will get the same reward in shaa Allah because she did what is in her ability. The Prophet PBUH said: If I order you to do something do it to your ability.

Allahu Akbar…Imagine!! every morning you get a reward of Hajj…how amazing is that?

Hajj number two

Here is another hajj which you can do while you are at your home country and this time you will not just get the reward of one hajj per day but five hajj per day!!!....How?

Abi Umamah may Allah be pleased with him narrated that The Prophet PBUH said: Whoever walks to an obligatory prayer in congregation has the reward of Hajj and whoever walks to a Sunnah prayer has the reward of Umrah. Ahmad and Abu Dawood. Hadith sahih in Sahih Al Jame3

So when you walk to the Masjid you don’t just get forgiveness for every step you step but you also get the reward of Hajj. Try to walk to the masjid for the five prayers or at least walk for one prayer per day

Someone may ask, what if the Masjid I like to pray in and I concentrate well is far and I can’t get there walking, shall I go to a nearer masjid so I don’t miss this reward?

The answer: No go to the further masjid which helps you in Khushou3 because that is the aim of the salah and in shaa Allah you will get both rewards (Hajj and Khoushou3) because Allah SWT knows your neyya and he knows that you wanted to walk but you chose the further masjid so you can concentrate and Allah loves Al Khushou3 in Salah. The Prophet PBUH said: "Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended.

I know by now so many of you my dear sisters are sad thinking that you are missing this great reward because you have to pray at home. Don’t be sad and listen to this great news: you could get more reward in shaa Allah than the men in your household…..how?

With your neyya, If Allah sees in your heart that you really want this reward and you would walk to the masjid just to get it, he will grant you the reward in shaa Allah.

Also you could get the reward by reminding the men in your household to walk to the masjid, so if each one of them does you will get the reward just like them. The Prophet PBUH said: Whoever directs someone to a good, then he will have the reward equal to the doer of the action. [Muslim (1893)]

What if they didn’t do it? Then you still have the reward for your neyya and for calling them for it.

Another way to get this reward is to promote this hadith to as many people as you can and in shaa Allah every man who follows this, you will have the same reward as them without reducing any of their reward.
So can you see how a man could walk to the masjid and get a reward of one hajj but you have the chance to get much more in shaa Allah by doing da’awa for it (calling for it). So can you see greatness of doing da’awa?
Allah SWT says in surat Fussilat (And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims.") 33

Our lord is generous Subhanahu wa ta’ala

Hajj No. three:

You can get the reward for doing hajj after each prayer…..how?

There are certain thikr if you do after each prayer you will get the reward of Hajj.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Some poor people came to the Prophet and said, "The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and 'Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity." The Prophet said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "Sub-han-al-lah", "Alhamdu-lillah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer." We differed and some of us said that we should say, "Subhan-al-lah" thirty three times and "Alhamdu lillah" thirty three times and "Allahu Akbar" thirty four times. I went to the Prophet who said, "Say, "Subhan-al-lah" and "Alhamdu lillah" and "Allahu Akbar" all together for thirty three times." (Book #12, Hadith #804)

We still have more rewards for hajj which we can get but I let you comprehend and start implementing this and I will cover the rest next time in shaa Allah.

Translated from my favorite Sheikh Mushari Al Kharraz

AL REYA'A (Showing Off)

Assalam Aleikum wa Rahmatu Allah wa barakatuhu.

Today I am going to cover a very important subject which bothers many of us.

And that is Al Reya’a (Showing Off)

What is Al Reya’a:

It is doing good for the people to praise you or increasing your good deeds so you can become famous among the people and they say so and so memoried the Quran, or prays a lot, or have a high knowledge in the matters of the religion.
Some people show certain characteristics in front of certain people, example: Showing that they are pious in front of their manager so they would trust them or show that they are religious in front of their clients so that they would buy more from them….etc.

The person who does this is not doing his good deeds for the sake of Allah but seeking the praise from the people, this is what we call Reya’a (Show off)

What will I lose if I fall into Reya’a?

The first thing, I would lose is the good deeds which I did….they will be simply gone like I did not do any!!….On the Day of Judgment when Allah SWT rewards the people who did good he will tell the people who fell into Reya’a: Go to those you were showing off to in dunia and see if they will reward you!!

That is why Ibn Al Jawzi said; if you are not sincere then don’t bother yourself and work hard without any reward!!

Why bother yourself and read the Qura’an or pray at night or fast to show off and in the end you get nothing, you are better off relaxing because in both cases you are earning zero reward.

The big misfortune about Reya’a is that the person who does it works so hard and in the end they will be punished! While if this person was sincere to Allah in their deed, Allah will accept their deed, they will enjoy the feeling of a good deed in this dunia, will be rewarded for it on the Day of Judgment and will enter Jannah in shaa Allah. Can you see the difference?

What is even more ironic that this person who is showing off will lose even the people he was showing off for!!

How?

The Prophet PBUH said:
Whoever sought the pleasure of Allah though it was displeasing to the people then Allah becomes pleased with him, and will make the people please with him, and whoever sought the pleasure of the people though it was displeasing to Allah then Allah becomes displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him
(Ibn Hibban/ Tirmidhi)

Losing the people is not the worst thing this person will go through but it is losing Allah SWT which will cost him a lot…..Allah SWT is Rich and he is in no need for any of us.
Allah says in the hadith Al Qudsi: “I am The Wealthiest, and in no need of associates at all, thus whoever perform deeds by which he associated anything to Me, I will certainly abandon him with his shirk.” (Narrated Muslim in hadith no. 46)

Imagine if the angels came down and said so and so is a Mura’ai (showing off) and he was doing all those deeds not for the sake of Allah but to show off in front of you!!!....What will happen?

We will all look down on that person and despise them……………There is a question which shook me when I heard it and I would like you to address it to every Mura’ai…..

Why would you work so hard for someone if they knew that you did what you did for them, they would look down on you and despise you?? And you leave the Ikhlaas (sincerity) to the creator whom if he knew you are working hard for the sake of him, he would love you and reward you?

My dear sister and brother Al Reya’a is a severe disease that needs to be cured very fast before it kills the heart.

How can the patient of Reya’a be cured?

The patient must contemplate and think daily about the following:

1. You must know, when people praise you, they did not actually praise you as a person but they praised the Sitr (covering) of Allah upon you. If this sitr or cover was removed from us, it would be impossible for anyone one to praise us. Imagine if those who are praising me now could see a small screen behind me with all my sins scrolling down a sin after the other…..do you think they will continue to praise me?

The answer: of course not….so this means that all this time they have been praising the cover which Allah SWT put on me…..so in reality they are praising the sitr of Allah SWT.

2. The second dose which the patient must take is to know when the people praise them, they are actually praising Allah SWT….I know they said you are pious and you are very generous but despite all that, they did not really praise you, they praised Allah SWT…..How?!!

Ask yourself: Who gave you all these blessings?

The answer in Surat Al Nahl aya 53 (And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allah .)

So how can you show off with something which doesn’t belong to you??!

Let’s imagine you had guests in your house and your neighbor brought you a nice dish and you served it to your guests…….Your guests loved it and started praising you….if you are honest you will simply say: I didn’t make it, it is a gift from my neighbor but if you accept the praise and act like it is you who made the dish then that would be terrible.

A very important question: What is the reason that makes us love to be praised by people?

It is because our hearts are so concerned and attached to the people and we give them so much importance and attention which should be given to Allah SWT instead.

If a sincere person stopped expecting and looking for the praising of others, nothing will affect them whether those people praised or dispraised them.

Let’s say you go to work and you hear that the cleaner dispraised you or said something bad about you, you wouldn’t bother but if you heard you manager dispraised you, that is when you start worrying….why?

Because your desire to please the manager is greater than your desire to please the cleaner and it is incomparable

Fight the Reya’a and don’t let it control you….you are a slave of Allah SWT…..you are not worshiping people and you are not working for them….this is a type of Shirk!!

So many people don’t think they could fall into shirk while they are actually falling into it every day…….and that is Reya’a

The Prophet PBUH named it Al Shirk Al Khafi (The hidden shirk) because it is hidden from so many people and this was the most thing that our Beloved Prophet PBUH was fearing for us. Shirk is the most sin which Allah SWT hates.

Watch out!!

If you stay away from Reya’a the Shaytaan will change his plans against you and will follow a different route. He knows if he tells you to do Reya’a you won’t follow him, instead he would start to make you suspect that you are doing Reya’a by telling you: You are not sincere…..you are doing Reya’a…..etc.

How can I deal with him?

You can deal with him by answering these three questions?

1. When you decide to do any form of worship or good deed, who is the one who decides whether to be sincere or to show off, you or the shaytaan?

The answer will be: Of course Me.

Correct answer

2. The one who comes and whispers in your ears and tells you, you are doing Reya’a and is spoiling your concentration during your worship, is it an angel or shaytaan?

The answer: For sure it is a shaytaan

Good

3. Will Allah SWT hold you accountable for the decision of the Ibadah (worship) or for the whispering of the Shaytaan?

The answer: Of course he will hold me accountable for the decision of the ibadah

If this is the case, why do you fear something which Allah will not hold you accountable for?
let him whisper until he burns…why should you bother?

There is no Reya’a by force……if you want to do Reya’a you will do and if you don’t you won’t, as simple as that.

You know what is the proof that you are not a Mura’ai (showing off)?
That it is bothering you and you are worried to fall into it. That is enough proof that you are not a Mura’ai. So don’t bother about the Shaytaan because if you do, he will grow so big in your heart…let him say whatever he wants to say and you continue doing what you are doing for the sake of Allah.

May Allah accept our deeds sincerely for his sake

Translated from one of my favorites Sheikhs Mushari Al Kharraz

AL IKHLAAS ( SINCERITY)

Assalam Aleykum!!!

Today I want to speak to you about a form of worship (Ibadah) if you master it, you will enjoy all your ibadaat which you do everyday

Let me start with this short story

There was once a very expert carpenter who used to build perfect houses. The carpenter was getting old, so he decided to retire and informed the owner of the establishment which he was working for.
The owner refused his resignation and tried to persuade him to stay but the carpenter refused saying: I can’t I am too old now and I need to rest and spend the rest of my days with my children. The owner of the establishment accepted the wish of the carpenter under one condition….!! And that is to build one last house for the establishment to benefit from.

The carpenter accepted and started building. He knew this was his last job so he wanted to finish it fast and leave, he did not do a good job this time and he finished so fast and gave the key to the owner.

The owner surprised the carpenter by telling him: Take the key this house is a gift from the establishment to you for all the hard work you have done in the past years.
He told him: Now you have a new house to enjoy with your children instead of your old house……the carpenter almost fainted, when he heard the news. He wished he knew this house was going to be his; he would have built it properly.

Now that you read the story let me tell you about the ibadah I am talking about: It is (Al Ikhlaas) or in other words Sincerity, if you master this ibadah well, you will enjoy all your ibadaat and not just that but you will enjoy all your actions in this life.

What is Ikhlaas?

Ikhlaas means, all your deeds are for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of anyone else.
You are good to your parents whether they are good to you or they are favoring your sister more than you. You are helping the poor whether people knew about it or did not know. What is important to you is that the Angels registered your work and you don’t care about anyone else.

Don’t be good to your friends or in-laws because you want them to be good to you….No….. instead be good to them whether they are good to you or not. The most important thing, Is Allah satisfied with you or not?!
If you pleased Allah, then anything or anyone else doesn’t matter.

The most important thing is for you to enter paradise….. you don’t need anyone to praise you…..it is not important that your manager notices you or praises you when you do your job well….Aren’t you sure that Allah SWT sees you and knows what you are doing??!……so you don’t need any human to notice….believe me, humans won’t be able to reward you and won’t know your value….only Allah SWT is the one who can reward you and he is the one who knows what you deserve and will give you more than you deserve.

Allah SWT says: مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا

Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgment] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit]…) 6:160

If you think like this, nothing will ever upset you and you will never bother about anyone who did not appreciate you because from the beginning you did not do what you did for them….very few people live like this….

So many people do good in their job and treat their families well but if they do not receive the appreciation, they stop being good and they stop the ihsaan and Ikhlaas…Why?.... You should not stop because you did not work for them and you did not do good for them….the most important thing is you get your reward from Allah SWT and that is it….this is what we call Ikhlaas (Sincerity) All your deeds are for the sake of Allah only.

Have you ever asked yourself ….. What will happen to me if I have Ikhlaas in everything I do?

First let me tell you this, Ikhlaas or sincerity is not one level….it comes in different levels

If Ikhlaas increased in your heart, you will be treated differently and specially by Allah SWT…not like any other person!!......and this special treatment is in these three matters:

1. You will be getting more reward for the deeds you do than anyone else, even if the other person did the same deeds as you did.

The companions of the Prophet PBUH used to do many deeds which many of us do now but their reward was much higher because the level of Ikhlaas in their heart which was way greater than us.

Bukhari, Muslim relate from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri that Allah’s Messenger warned:

Do not curse my Companions! Do not curse my Companions! I swear by Him in Whose hand my life is that, even if one among you had as much gold as Mount Uhud and spent it in the way of God, this would not be equal in reward to a few handfuls of them or even to half of that.

2. The second special treatment: If you fall in some sins…Allah SWT will overrides them for you.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, a prostitute saw a dog lolling around a well on a hot day and hanging his tongue from thirst, so she drew some water for it in her shoe and Allah forgave her.”

Subhana Allah, not every prostitute will give water to a dog will be forgiven!! But Allah SWT saw the level of sincerity (Ikhlass) in the heart of that prostitute and rewarded her for it.

Justice is not to treat all people the same, but it is to treat everyone according to their heart and neyya

Look at the example of Prophet Musa PBUH, he threw the boards which had the words of Allah SWT and broke them, he pulled the beard of another Prophet (Haroon) PBUH and reproached Allah SWT on the night of Isra’a about Prophet Mohammad PBUH….despite all that Allah SWT forgave him, and treated him with very special treatment….why?.....because he did a lot for the sake of Allah, He stood up to Feroun and he spent years trying to guide Bani Israeel.

Now look at Prophet Yunus PBUH, he did not have the status and deeds of Prophet Musa PBUH, so when he wronged Allah SWT once, Allah SWT locked him inside the whale as a punishment.

So there is a big difference between the one who commits a sin and has a big account full of good deeds and the one who commits a sin and his account is not as full or empty.

3. The third special treatment is: the happiness which you will feel in the dunia before the Akhera

The Prophet PBUH said: “Whoever makes the Hereafter his preoccupation, then Allah places freedom from want in his heart, gathers his affairs, and Dunya (worldly life) comes to him despite being reluctant to do so. And whoever makes Dunya his preoccupation, then Allah places his poverty in front of his eyes, make his affairs scattered, and nothing of the Dunya comes to him except that which has been decreed for him.” [At-Tirmidhi]

The companions of the Prophet PBUH used to work so hard to hide their deeds so that it is purely for the sake of Allah. They will be praying in a Jama3ah and cry out of the fear of Allah and the one next to them does not feel them or notice them. Nowadays we see people screaming and weeping so loudly in the masajid. Allah SWT loves Al 3abd Al Khafi (the one who hides his deeds)

Now that we learnt all this, what could stop us from Ikhlaas?
Ikhlaas does not need a physical effort from us. It is a work of the heart and the neyya so let’s not waste it.

But there is a slight problem with some of us. Some of us always feel that they are doing Reya’a (showing off) no matter what they do, the shaytaan always comes to them and convinces them that they are doing Reya’a…… I will talk more about this issue and how to solve it next time in shaa Allah.

Translated from lecture of one of my favorite Sheikhs Mushari Al Kharraaz

.....ALLAH KNOWS, WHILE YOU KNOW NOT.

So and so is disobeying Allah and Allah gave him so many blessings and I am obedient to Allah but he is not giving me?

A question that could cross your mind!!

I have the answer for you today

If you understood the Qura’an you won’t have asked such a question even within yourself!!.

Fer3oun was not even believing in Allah and he had all the money and the richness of the world and Our beloved Prophet Mohammad Peace be upon him (the most obedient to Allah) used to wrap his stomach with a piece of cloth and a rock out of hanger!!

I will give you a very simple example that will make you understand the theory behind this.

Picture a little child seeing some colorful medication pills and wanting to play with them thinking they are sweets….her parents see her and take them away from her……why?

Don’t they love her? Why not give her what she wants?

They do love her so much more than anything in this world, but if they let her, she might eat them and harm herself or die……..

They know the danger of those pills……she doesn’t ………because they love her….they wont let her

Wa LeLLAH al Mathal Al A3laa……sometimes, you think something is khair for you and you wonder why Allah is not granting it to you? But because he loves you, he wants the best for you….as the case of the parents with their child and more.

Allah SWT says in Surat Al Baqarah: (But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not) 2:216

Focus on this part: (Allah Knows, while you know not)

Read the Qura’an with understanding, your life will change to the better.

The other person whom you see disobaying Allah and still Allah gives them…..its either Allah SWT wants to fulfill them in this dunia so they have nothing in Akherah left in their account of good or it is a test to see how they will react to his blessings and in both cases, you don’t want to be in their shoes…..Allah SWT has a hikmah in everything he does.

Be content with what Allah gives you and make dua. If he gives you be happy and if he doesn’t….be happier

One of the Salaf said: I ask Allah and pray…..if he gives me what I prayed for, I become happy once and if he doesn’t I become happy 10 times….because the first one was my choice but the second one is his choice Subhanahu wa Ta’ala

That is why our beloved Prophet PBUH taught us to pray istikharah on every little thing….so that we seek Allah’s advice and help as he is the most knowledgable and he will give us only what is khair.

Smile and be happy…..Allah loves you

Laylatul Qadr,Is it gone or do i still have a chance??

Assalam Aleikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatouh my dears.

Laylatul Qadr, is it gone or do I still have a chance? 

This is the night we are all waiting for and hoping to catch while we are in Qeyaam and in Ta3a. Let’s consider these simple points Baraka Allah feekoum: 

1) Laylatul Qadr could be on a witr or a shaf3 night, even though the Prophet PBUH said: seek it in the witr but he also said seek it in the last 10 days and he did not exclude the shaf3 nights. Therefore, we should work hard in all the remaining nights.

2) One of the signs of laylatul Qadr, the believers will feel sakeena (calmness) in their heart. 

3) It might rain a little 

4) As we said before, in these last days, work harder, do more ibadaat. If you were doing thikr in a certain number, double it. If you are reading Quran, double the amount and focus on the meaning, don't just rush to finish the juzu. Also please don't waste your time in the kitchen or in iftaar parties....wallahi you don't know how much you are missing. 

5) Qeyamulail......Qeyamulail......Qeyamulail, is the best ibadah during Ramadan and after Ramadan so please make sure you don't miss it, even if you will sleep a little during the day or early in the night, sleep with the neyya to have strength to do Qeyamulail and in shaa Allah your hassanat meter will be counting even when you are sleeping and put an alarm and wake up fresh and strive. 

6) Always remember Allah sees what is in your heart and he sees how much you are working hard and he is the most generous. 

7) Even if you missed laylatul Qadr and may be it passed, you still have a chance to be exempted from Hell fire and never touch it. Because the Prophet PBUH said: إن لله عتقاء في كل يوم وليلة 

Translation: There are in the month of Ramadhan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim an supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, Saheeh] And do you know what freedom from Hell fire is? It means you will never ever touch hell fire in shaa Allah. How? What if I sin after Ramadan? Allah SWT will make your heart attached to him, he will make you enjoy doing good deeds and even if you sin, you will not be sinning major sins and you will always repent because he will give you Tawfeeq and keep you steady until you meet him Subhanahu wa ta’ala. 

Another hadith of the Prophet PBUH: إن لله عند كل فطر عتقاء Translation: Allah grants freedom from hell fire at the time of breaking fast. Subhana Allah, when you are tired, hungry, thirsty and hopeful that he accepted your fast….how beautiful is that. Finally I tell you my dears, keep striving and Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala can see what is in your heart and he is the most Merciful, the ever Merciful. May Allah grant us all freedom from hell fire Ameen.

IBTILA'A (HARDSHIP)

Assalam Alikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatouh

Are you sad because of your serious illness?
Are you sad because you wish to get married but the right man hasn’t come yet?
Are you sad because you don’t have enough money to be able to live comfortably?
Are you sad because your husband is mistreating you or cheating on you?
Are you sad because you can’t see your kids?
Are you sad because you got divorced?
Are you sad because your son or daughter is sick with a serious condition?
Are you sad because you lost an important loving person in your life?
Are you sad because you can’t find a job?
Are you sad because your children are not pious and you lost control over them?
Are you sad because you lost everything you had?

We all have our shares of ibtila’a in this world….today I want to put a smile on your face and show you how to be happy and content despite what you are going through.

When you see the Ibtila’a (hardship) coming….you should say welcome to the sign of Saliheen….you will be holding the flag of Saliheen!! Ibtila’a is the legacy of the Prophets of Allah as they had the biggest share.
The one, who has no share of ibtila’a, has no share of the legacy of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah……. Are you smiling already ?

Once you see the Ibtila’a coming towards you, you should know the following things:

1. That you are in the company of Allah SWT.

2. That this Ibtila’a is not the worse…..Yes, I have ibtila’a in my rizq but I am still healthy, Yes my husband is mistreating me but I have beautiful loving children, Yes I have ibtila’a in my health but I still have my rizq, Yes I lost a loving person but I still have more people who I love, I still can breathe, I still can see, I still can give…. When the companion of the Prophet PBUH Orwah may Allah be pleased with him lost his leg as it had to be amputated, he cried, the other companions of the Prophet PBUH said: How could you cry from destiny of Allah….he said Wallahi I am not crying because my leg is amputated but Allah SWT is the only one who knows that this leg did not walk anywhere except to build the houses of Allah (Masjids) and to take care of the orphans and the poor…but Oh Allah if you took a little from me, you still left me a lot so how can I thank you!! (Subhana Allah)

Yes he lost one leg, but he still has the other leg, has eyes, he has hands, he can breathe…can you think like Orwah?

3. You should be happy that the ibtila’a is not in your deen because the ibtila’a that has no compensation is the ibtila’a in your deen but the matters of dunia are always changing….Money comes and goes, health comes and goes.

The scholars say if 40 days pass you without having ibtila’a, review your accounts with Allah….something must be wrong…..A true believer is the one who sees the ibtila’a as a ne3ma (blessing) and the ne3ma as ibtila’a…..how?

After Ibtila’a only ease could come your way but after ne3ma there is ibtila’a…..today I am healthy….but tomorrow I might not be…..And if I am sick today ….I will live and pray with hope to become healthy….and waiting for ease to come from Allah is also considered Ibadah.

4. When the Ibtila’a comes, sit and feel the Mercy of Allah SWT…..the moaning of the sick when they say Ah, Ah, Ah…..to Allah SWT is like the sound of the people who do tasbeeh…our scholars told us that the angels when they hear the sound of the sick when they say Ah, Ah, Ah, they hear it as Allah, Allah, Allah….so you are considered doing thikr despite the fact that you are moaning and in pain.

When the Khalifa Abu Bakar was ill towards the end of his days, the companions of the Prophet PBUH said: we should get you a doctor…..he said: the doctor came to me…..they said: when, we didn’t see any doctor, he said: he told me: I am the Effecter of what I intend (from surat Al Burooj)ayah 16.

Al Shafie when he was sick, he said: they called a human doctor for me and I called the doctor of the heavens…two doctors….one to give the medicine and the other one to put to make it work.

5. Remember one thing….as much humbleness and humility you go to Allah with…as much as he will give you….how?

Look at Prophet Musa PBUH when he ran away from Egypt and reached Madian, he was so tired, he had nothing, he had no job, no home, no family…

Allah (SWT) says: ( And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, "What is your circumstance?" They said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man.") (28:23)

(So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said….(28:24)

What did he say?

If you were in his place what would you say?

May be: Oh Allah grant me a job, Oh Allah grant me a home to stay….But Prophet Musa PBUH did not say that….instead he said:

My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good you would send down to me, in need."

This means, I am in in-need and I don’t know what are the things I need so I can be satisfied ….he did not specify…he said I am poor and you are the rich and I need every good from you…

What did Allah SWT give him?

Read surat Al Qassas and see….

He gave him a job as the father of the two girls asked him to work for him, he also gave him a home, he gave him a wife and he give him Prophecy (SWT)

In our time, someone in Prophet Musa’s circumstance will be the last one to be considered to marry as he had no home, no money…simply nothing…..but look at the greatness of Allah SWT….as much humbleness and need you go to Allah with as much as he will give you, so go to him with extreme and complete humbleness, need and patience.


The baby in his mother’s womb is completely helpless…..but look at the Mercy of Allah…he gave him an umbilical cord which provides him all his nourishments…if you ask him about hunger…he will not know what it means……
When he is born that umbilical cord is cut so he loses his source of food…but Allah grants him double sources (his mother’s breasts)….here, he starts to have some ability of sucking and his mother helps him ….so some external help is intervening …Now he knows hunger and he cries when he feels hungry then his mother helps him….

After two years he loses the two sources (his mother’s breasts) but Allah SWT grants him double that so he gets four, two drinks, water and milk and two foods meat and vegetables…and now his hardship starts…He has teeth to eat with, legs to move around and as he grows, he starts thinking of his rizq and how he is going to get it and as much as he does that as much as things get more complicated and difficult. Allah SWT says: (No! [But] indeed, man transgresses (96:6) (Because he sees himself self-sufficient (96:7)

So what do we learn from this my dear brothers and sisters?

We must have complete faith in Allah SWT and go to him with extreme and complete humbleness and need. Try it and you will see how your life will change and how you will enjoy look at things differently.

Love you for the sake of Allah….smile …. Allah loves you

The Secrets of Surat Al Fatiha

Translated from the book Khawater Qura’ania by Dr. Amr Khaled

What is the secret of this Surah? Why did the Qura’an start with this surah? Why is it called the (the mother of the Qura’an)? Why do we read it a minimum of 17 times in a day and night? Why a prayer cannot be right without it?

One of the companion of the prophet PBUH said : the prophet PBUH said to me:"I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Qur'an, before you leave the Masjid." Then he got hold of my hand, and when he intended to leave (the Masjid), I said to him, "Didn't you say to me, 'I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Quran?' He said, "Al-Hamdu-Lillah Rabbi-l-Alamin (i.e. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds) which is Al-Sab'a Al-Mathani (i.e. seven repeatedly recited Verses) and the Grand Qur'an which has been given to me." (Sahih Al Bukhari).

The secret of Surat Al Fatiha :

It contains the all the meanings of the Qura’an. You will find the goals of the whole Qura’an in Al Fatiha. How?

The Qura’an covers three main meanings which are required from the Muslim or the reader of the Qura’an :

1. Beliefs (In who do we belief?).
2. Acts of worship (How do we worship who belief in?).
3. Life methods (The method that Allah wanted for us).
Surat Al Fatiha covers all these three goals.

When you read (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense) Tawheed and belief in the Day of Judgment is the belief of the Muslim.

When it comes to the act of worship, you read إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (It is You we worship and You we ask for help).

And when it comes to life method, you read اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ (Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray) and the whole Qura’an after surat Al Fatiha is elaborating those three main meanings.

Surat Al Fatiha reminds us of the fundamentals of Islam:

1. Allah’s blessings الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

2. Sincerity with a word إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ, means we only worship you , we ask your for help وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ.

3. Asking for good companion اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (6) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ.

4. Warning from bad companion غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ.

5. The names of Allah, with the focus of the two names of Allah الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. The root of Allah’s relation with humans is Rahma (Mercy) that is why it came twice ( the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful).

6. Straight path اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ.

7. The Day of judgment and preparing for it مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ and اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيم.

8. The importance of making dua’a and the etiquette of making dua’a, the surah ended with a dua.

9. Our Ummah (Nation) is one … that is why you find all the verses in this surah came in the form of plural even if the person is praying alone in his room, he still must use the plural form, so he knows he is part of one Ummah not alone in this Universe.

Manners and etiquette with Allah:

This surah teaches us the manners and etiquette with Allah, it is divided into two, the first part is tribute and compliment to Allah and the second part is the Dua. Whenever you pray you must start with tribute and compliment to Allah by calling him with his best names and thanking him for all the blessing then we ask for whatever we want. The amazing part in this surah is, the number of letters in the tribute is equal to the number of letters in the dua.

The dialogue with Allah

Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.' If he says,

[الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ] (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.)
Allah says, `My servant has praised Me.' When he/she says,

[الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ] (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)
Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me.' When he/she says,

[مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ] (The Owner of the Day of Recompense.)
Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me,' or `My servant has related all matters to Me.' When he/she says,

[إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ] (You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.)
Allah says, `This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought.' When he/she says,

[اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ ] (Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray),
Allah says, `This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.').''

So you feel when you are reading Surat Al Fatiha that Allah SWT is responding to you, what an honor?
Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz used to read Al Fatiha and after each ayah he pauses for a while, when people asked him for the purpose of that pause, he said: So I can listen to my lord’s answer.

Can you feel the importance of this Surah? Ibn Al Qayem said: Allah revealed 104 books, he collected the meaning of all those books in three books: The Torah, The Gospel or the Einjeel and the Qura’an and he collected the meanings of those three books in the Qura’an and he collected the meanings of the Qura’an in Surat Al Fatiha.

Why was it named Al Fatiha?

1. The simple meaning is because it started the Qura’an as it is the first surah in the mus-haf.

2. The deeper meaning, it is the key of the meaning of the Quran.

The prophet PBUH him said: ليس للعبد من صلاته الا ما عقل منها , this means Allah accepts from your prayer what read with understanding and concentration. None of us want to pray and gain nothing from it by being absent minded or not understanding so from now on let read surat Al Fatiha with a full understanding have a beautiful conversation with our creator, the creator of all Universe.

How we can get maximum Benefit in Ramadhan.

Salah :
Make a goal of performing every fard prayer at its prescribed time. The best tip to help you in this regard is to prepare for the salah a little before the adhan goes on. Add sunnah and voluntary prayers with each fard prayer that you perform (where applicable). Perform different extra voluntary prayers such as Duha and Tahajjud.
Qur’an :
Recite a quarter of a juz’ after every prayer. As you recite take out a few minutes to read and understand the tafsir of the ayah that you just recited. Work on your Arabic knowledge by identifying new words in the ayah and studying their syntax and morphology. Corpus Qur’an is an excellent website to study Arabic grammar. Another resource for understanding root words is Project Root List. Here you can search Arabic words by their root letters and find their meaning. Next time when a similar word appears you will have an idea of what it means.
Dhikr:
Keep your tongue moist with dhikr throughout the day. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) taught us morning and evening adhkar that are beneficial for the dunya and in the hereafter. Besides the morning and evening adhkar do astaghfar as much as you can. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) sought Allah’s forgiveness and repentance more than seventy times a day. Sincere repentance is our key to Jannah and a means for increase in provision. Don’t ignore it.
Dua :
Prepare your dua list in advance. Write down everything that you really desire in your life, no matter how insignificant or silly it may appear to you. Memorize the masnoon duas. Understand their meaning so that when you recite the dua, you do so with full khushu’ and sincerity. Be creative and make dua cards for yourself and your family. Hang or place them around your house so that you are reminded to recite them.
Sadaqah:
Besides the obligatory zakat keep some allowance for sadaqah. Give your time, your company or sincere advice to someone, is also a sadaqah. Look for opportunities to volunteer your time and skills.
Gaining and Sharing Knowledge:
Work on your tajweed or help a friend in improving theirs. Along with studying the tafsir, take out time to study the sahih ahadith books. Start from Sahih al-Bukhari. Purchase or download awe-inspiring and motivational books to strengthen your iman. Kalamullah.com is a resourceful website that offers free books, lectures and articles. Share your knowledge with others. Teach the tafsir that you learned with at least one more person; do so either verbally, through a Facebook status, a text message or an email. Teach a hadith or masnoon dua to your family. Ask them the lessons they can derive from it. Improving Akh’laq (conduct) Utilizing the knowledge that you have acquired, start working on your character, righteousness and integrity. Commit to leave one bad habit and seek sincerity from Allah (glorified and exalted be He).
Avoid gossiping and backbiting:
Do not concern yourself with other’s private matters but concentrate on cleansing your soul. Now that we have identified the areas we can work on to extract maximum benefit, let’s plan a schedule: Morning Wake up for Tahajjud by reciting the masnoon dua for waking up. Wash yourself and use the siwak. Perform Tahajjud in a quiet place seeking Allah’s love and forgiveness. Complete your prayer by asking dua for your concerns and worries. Prepare or help the family in setting up suhur. Pick nutritious food and thank Allah for His blessings. Perform Fajr as early as possible. Recite a portion of the Qur’an and study its tafsir. Make morning adhkar, read one hadith and perform Duha. Get ready to start your day. Keep reciting adhkar or astaghfar as you dress up for work or school. Listen to a lecture during your commute. Try to talk less and do more dhikr throughout the day. Afternoon Perform Dhuhr. Recite a portion of Qur’an along with its tafsir. Recite five masnoon dua’s and do astaghfar. If you are not at work try to squeeze in a power nap for 15 – 20 minutes i.e. qailulah. This will give you the energy to stand up during Qiyaam-ul-Layl. Evening Before the Asr prayer take out a book and improve your Islamic knowledge by reading a page or two. Perform wudhu and get ready for the prayer. Recite the Qur’an portion for Asr along with its tafsir. Recite five masnoon dua’s and do astaghfar. Give sadaqah either through money, giving food to a poor person or removing something harmful from the path. Exercise Help the family with preparations for iftar while keeping your tongue busy with adhkar. Late Evening When the time for Maghrib approaches go into seclusion, take out your dua list and earnestly pray for whatever you want. Make dua loudly at the iftar table so that if there are any young children at home they too can pick it up from their elders. Recite the masnoon dua for breaking fast. Start with dates and thank Allah for your provision. Do not eat too much and consume food in moderation. As you wait for the Isha adhan, sit with your family and share an ayah that you learned today or a hadith. Ask them what they learned or a good deed that they performed during the day. Share with them stories of the Prophets and how they used to worship Allah (glorified and exalted be He). Recite the fourth part of the juz’ before you leave for Isha prayer. Night Start preparing for the exclusive worship of Ramadan i.e. the Taraweeh prayers. Take your family along if there is an arrangement for women as well. Pray the Witr praye, recite Surah Mulk and go to bed in a state of ablution. Set an alarm for Tahajjud and recite the masnoon dua for sleeping. Contemplate on your life in this world, the Day of Judgment and the hereafter. Make dua to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) to accept your good deeds, and give you the strength to perform better. The deeds dearest to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) are the ones that are done consistently. Stay committed to your goals and do not become a “Ramadan Muslim” only!

Conditions To Fulfill for your Dua To Be Accepted And Granted

Many of us say: I prayed but Allah did not grant me what I prayed for!!? Or did not accept my dua

Have you ever asked yourself why?

Do you know for dua to be accepted and granted you must fulfill four conditions?

1. Yaqeen or (certainty) that Allah will answer your call

This is when you are praying and deep inside you, you don’t have the yaqeen or you are not certain that Allah will answer your call.

According to the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah: “Make dua’ to Allah when you are certain of a response.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’

So pray to him with determination and belief, tell him (Ya Allah give shifa to my child, Ya Allah grant me a pious husband, Ya Allah grant me rizq halal, Ya Allah I know you will not let me down, Ya Allah I have no one to help me and lift my pain except you……….)

Talk to him with your heart, you don’t have to use Arabic words, use your language and plead and beg and complain to him…….You spend hours complaining and telling your stories to friends and strangers and in the end they give you a look of remorse and there is nothing they can do for you, some even use it against you when they feel like it…..so why not take your story and your complaint to the one who can make a change, the one who can give you the solution?!

How can you pray and doubt the acceptance? Who are you doubting? And why are you doubting?

He is the creator of the whole Universe….the one who says to something Koun fa yakoun (Be and it shall be).

Clear the fog from your belief my dear sister and brother and know that he is the only one who can grant you what you wish for…..no one else…..NO ONE

“And your Lord says: Make duaa (supplicate) unto me, and I will respond and accept your duaa”. (Surah Ghaafir: Ayat 60)

“I respond and accept the duaa of the one who supplicates unto me”. (Surah Al Baqarah: Ayat 186)

“Make duaa unto Allah with humility and secret”. (Surah Ale Imraan: Ayat 55)

“Verily, Allah is modest and noble. He feels ashamed that a servant lifts up his hand in supplication and he is returned empty handed”. (Abu Dawood)

He is telling you all this to comfort you and give you the guarantee…….so do you still have doubts?


2. Khoushou3 or concentration while making the dua….. Pray with your heart and focus on what you are saying.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Know that Allah does not answer a dua from a distracted heart.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3479; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 245.

Focus and talk to him, tell him all your problems and issues and he will lift them in shaa Allah.

3. Not having patience when making dua

The Prophet PBUH said: “One of you may be answered so long as he is not hasty and says, ‘I said dua’ but I got no response.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6340; Muslim, 2735.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH), "The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say (for example): `I supplicated my Rubb but my prayer has not been granted'.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration of Muslim is: "The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient.'' It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?'' He (PBUH) said, "It is one's saying: `I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.' Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether.''

The one who pray and have no patience for their dua, is like the one who plants a seed and water it for few days, the plant starts to grow slowly under the soil but it has not reached the surface yet and just before it comes out, he gives up and stops watering it…..so it dies before it even comes to light.

Don’t be hasty….keep making dua….keep repeating it and you will see the response very soon just be patient and never stop. Even if Ramadan finishes, continue and in shaa Allah before the next Ramadan you will have what you asked for.

4. Eating Halal ….. your rizq must be halal if you want your dua to be accepted…you can’t eat haram and expect your dua to be accepted….they don’t go together.

Prophet SAW said, “…a man having been on a long journey is all disheveled and dust-coated and he stretches his hands upwards for du’a (saying): ‘ 0 my Lord! 0 my Lord!’ while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink: haram, his dress: haram, and he himself was brought up on the haram - how then, could his du’a become worth accepting?” (Reported by Muslim)

So Make sure your earning is halal if you want your dua to be accepted.



Finally I add to these beautiful conditions the etiquette of the Prophet PBUH in making dua:
Saeed Ibn Al Musayab said: With these in shaa Allah your dua will for sure be accepted.

1. Take Wudu.

2. Face the Qibla

3. Start with Istighfaar.

4. Address and ask Allah with his Asma’a Al Husna (Names) …. Ya Kareem, Ya Raheem, Ya Mujeeb, Ya Qareeb….etc.

5. Thank Allah SWT and Salli Ala Al Rasoul.

6. Insist and repeat your dua with concentration and humiliation.

7. Be certain at the end of your dua that Allah SWT will accept your dua.

8. Finally, when you finish your dua, go look for a poor person and give them sadaqa to purify your money and lift the sorrow of someone else.

And in shaa Allah after all this your dua will not be rejected.

Finally I remind myself and you my dears of the following hadith

“Allah becomes angry upon the one who does not make duaa”. (Ahmed)

So please make dua and never give up.

Misconceptions in Ramadhan.

Very important notes and misconceptions in Ramadan.

What does Al Neyya mean

It means the intention of the heart.

Is it a must to have the intention every night of Ramadan or is it enough to have an intention done once at the beginning of Ramadan?

According to the Jumhoor (majority) of the scholars, you should have the intention or the neyya every night before fajr for fasting in Ramadan. While in fasting of sunnah das you don’t have to have the intention at night, you can have the intention any time during the day as long as you did not eat or drink or have intercourse.

Do I have to say the neyyah?

The intention is an action of the heart. We should resolve in our heart that we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by the Shari'ah for us to say out loud, "I intend to fast", "I will fast tomorrow" or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah. Whatever 'dua' you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is a Bid'ah.

How to have the neyyah?

Have the neyya in your heart that you will fast Ramadan seeking from Allah to forgive you and accept your tawbah and raise you higher in his ranks.

How do I start Ramadan?

Start your act of worship gradually in Ramadan. The beginning of Ramadan is not like the middle and not like the end. So start with your prayers on time, nawfil, thikr and Quran and do it gradually and keep increasing so you don’t lose interest in the middle or towards the end. It is important to have a plan and to focus on achieving it.

Work like this is your last Ramadan, you don’t know whether you will be in this dunia next Ramadan or not.

Keep praying to Allah to guide you and give you thabat and strength to complete Ramadan in a way which pleases him.

Avoid eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up

Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. That is obviously not right. The Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, them he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if you wish.

Don’t Miss the golden chance of having your Dua accepted

The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler." (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani).

Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it....Is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.

What is the dua to be said before Iftaar?

You say: (Thahaba Al Dama’a wa ebtallat Al Ourouq wa thabata Al Ajr in shaa Allah)
(ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر ان شاء الله)

Bismillah
(Allahuma laka Sumna wa ala rizqikaka aftarna, wa bika Ama’ana, wa alika tawakalna)

(اللهم لك صمنا وعلى رزقك أفطرنا وبك آمنّا وعليك توكلنا)

Then ask Allah what you wish for…..make a list of the things you wish for and repeat them every day and in shaa Allah before the coming Ramadan you will have them all or better.

Don’t Skip Suhoor

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing."(Bukhaari, Muslim).

And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor." (Muslim)

Fasting but not praying

The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer." (Muslim)

In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.
"Whoever does not pray 'Asr, his good deeds will be annulled." (Bukhaari)

Fasting and not wearing Hijaab

Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.

Mixing fasting and dieting

DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone. Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.

Fighting over the number of Raka'ah of Taraweeh

There is no specific number of rak'ahs for Taraweeh prayer, rather it is permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: "No one should be denounced for praying eleven or twenty-three (raka'ah), because the matter is broader in scope than that, praise be to Allaah."

Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th

Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan." (Bukhaari, Muslim).

Wasting the last part of Ramadaan preparing for Eid

Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to strive the hardest during the last ten days of Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping.

Aa’ishah (RA) said: “When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)) would tighten his waist-wrapper (i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay awake at night and wake his family.” (Bukhaari and Muslim).

Iftaar parties

Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged, some people go to extremes with lavish 'Iftaar parties' with all sorts of disobedience to Allaah, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women, to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness to Salaah, and Taraweeh.