badrobot14
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Why do we fast? (Obviously coz Allah ordered it, but what must be our aim?)
The Objective:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (i.e. get Taqwa*) -” 2:183
And Taqwa is very important… “O you who have believed, fear (have Taqwa of) Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear (have Taqwa of) Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (59:18)
*Taqwa is fear that includes in it the attempt to want to protect yourself, to be careful, to be cautious. Taqwa comes from the root 'wiqaayah' which means to protect and is used for a shield. Taqwa is to protect yourself from the consequences of your own actions. It is to protect yourself in two ways: to abandon sinning and adorn yourself with good deeds because you fear the punishment of Allah.
(Allah(S.W.T) even tells us that paradise was prepared for the muttaqeen/ppl of Taqwa)
Basics of fasting:
We must be aware of not only what goes in through the mouth but also what comes out:
The Messenger of Allaah (S.A.W) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting in accordance with it and acting in an ignorant manner, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhaari, 6057)
When we are hungry & thirsty, anger is ready to burst out BUT we are supposed to swallow it and be patient and not act “in an ignorant manner”, rather Prophet told us to say ‘I’m fasting!’ if someone picks a fight with us.
Also, if we are able to stay away from halaal (permitted) food, drink and marital relations from dawn till dusk for one month; then we can indeed stay away from haram (prohibited) food, drink and relationships for the entire year!
Therefore Ramadan is the training camp for Taqwa, prepares us for rest of the year. So if we work in Ramadan, defeating Shytaan rest of the year will be easy, insha’Allah.
Opportune moment:
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Ramadan has come to you - a blessed month. Allah has made obligatory upon you its fasting. In it, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is prevented from its good, then he has been deprived." [Ahmad & An-Nasa'ee.]
Prophet (SAW) said: “When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3277; Muslim, 1079. According to al-Nasaa’i: “The most evil jinn are chained up.”
Hence this is THE BEST TIME to get away from bad habits and sins:
Imagine, with the shytaan locked up its easy to defeat bad deeds… It’s easy to be regular at prayers now. This is the time to get away from that girl (or boy) with whom you have a haram relationship… or whom you cannot stop texting or chatting on XPC in the lovey-dovey mode. Always wanted to stop saying bad words or backbiting? Well act now, you can do it! Lowering the gaze is easy now – just do it! Any vicious cycle you are a part of, this is your golden opportunity.
Most decent Muslims stop listening to songs & music in Ramadan, Alhamdulillah. But what I’ve seen many times is that they replace it with listening to some form of poetry… That is foolish coz after Ramadan you’d end up going back to songs, rather when your soul craves to listen something GIVE IT QURAN! That is the real food of soul… listen to good recitations of it and insha’Allah you’ll start hating Justin beiber and poor 20 cents…
In another Hadith of Bukhari we find (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.’
Hence this is THE BEST TIME to do good deeds… Develop great habits:
Always wanted to don that Hijaab? Do it now… Don’t think what people will say, think what Allah will say! He ordered our women to cover their heads and wear proper clothing as they are precious... so that they may be known/recognized and not abused. Guys, Prophet (S.A.W) gave you an order so try growing the beard, you think people will say you are strange? Don’t you have faith in words of messenger of Allah (S.A.W) when he said “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” (Sahih Muslim). People follow most stupid looking ‘super-stars’, why can’t we follow the best of mankind – the prophets of Allah.
How to endure the heat and thirst of the day:
Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): Allah's Apostle (S.A.W) said,
"Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." The Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times." (Saheeh Al Bukhari, Book # 31, Hadith # 118)
Imagine! Allah loves that smell more than musk (best of perfumes!), SubhanAllah…! Whenever I feel thirsty or hungry, I just think of this and it makes a ton of difference!
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: "Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord" (Muslim).
“The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted.” (Musnad Ahmed, Bayhqi, Allama Albani classified it as Sahih)
Ramadan and Quran
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (2:185)
Notice the one aayah in Quran about Ramadan puts such emphasis on Quran, then goes on to describe it. How it is guidance for us and how it’s clear and how it is furqaan – that which differentiates b/w right and wrong. So really one of the core things we need to do is understand Quran in this month, get closer to it so it can help us in our journey of life…
How to do it though? Well here is an easy way; listen to at least one mp3 of the following per day:
http://kalamullah.com/juzz-amma.html (it’s a really interesting tafseer on surhas most have already memorized, u won’t regret this insha’Allah)
If you finish with that here is more: http://www.nakcollection.com/2-surah-baqarah.html
Fix a time for this like after fajr or when travelling to school or when making iftar etc.
Next, I’ll share an advice sum1 gave me, to finish reading the Quran once in Ramadan just recite about 1/4th of a juzz with each salah so that even if you miss reading a few times, you can still easily finish reading once insha’Allah. (Another advice I got was to make a timetable to cram all this in one day… “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Larry Elder)
Finally, try memorizing parts of it… Sounds too much but think about it, we won’t waste this Ramadan watching stupid shows on TV so we will have time to kill… We can, insha’Allah use it for good. May Allah grant me to act on all this advice and more… Aameen.
Aunties Alert
Ok, just wanna say do all your Eid shopping NOW, before Ramadan… or at the very least before the last 10 days… You will get good clothes etc. easily; and trust me no shopkeeper can put on a better sale than Allah so make the wise decision.
Oh, and give some charity in this month, please.
Make up the family ties etc. with shyateen (devils) locked up this is easy, beiznillah.
The Night of Qadar and the last 10 days
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” [al-Qadar 97:1-5]
Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allaah (S.A.W) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.
We know Prophet (S.A.W) told us to “Seek it in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.” of Ramadan (Bukhari, Muslim). But it's way better to strive in all of the last ten nights of Ramadan, not necessarily the odd ones only... Firstly, coz it was the way of Prophet: Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (RA) that when the last ten days of Ramadaan came, the Prophet (S.A.W) would stay up at night and would wake his family up, and would abstain from marital relations. Ahmad and Muslim narrated that he used to strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan as he never did at any other time.
Secondly, at the start of Ramadan they our local communities have, at times, disagreements that if moon sighted (for start of Ramadan) was correct or not... we follow the jamaah (people, community)... but suppose accidentally we were a day off; striving in all ten makes sure you get it, insha’Allah.
Thirdly, this is also the opinion of Ibn Taymiyah that it should be sought in all ten nights (al-Fataawaa, 25/284,285). His logic is very solid but lengthy to explain.
Dua (Supplication) List:
Remember to Repent! No sin is greater than Allah’s forgiveness. (Repentance = 1. Asking Allah for forgiveness while feeling sorry for the sin. 2. Having firm resolve in heart to not return to sin again, if by mistake u return then u can repent again. 3. Stop doing the sin 4. Returning the rights as much as possible e.g. if someone was harmed then compensating them)
‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what do you think, if I witness Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?’ He said: ‘Say, O Allaah, You are Forgiving and Generous, and you love forgiveness, so forgive me.’” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi (3515) and Ibn Maajah (3850). Its isnaad is saheeh.)
["Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"]
List continued here:
www.islamawareness.net/Dua/40_rabbana.pdf
And of course ask any dua you want… just be humble and do ask for Paradise and to be saved from the fire plus make dua for your family.
What we can gain
Allaah has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (S.A.W) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” And al-Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
WATCH THIS NOW (Real Eeman booster!):
Finally, don’t burnout in the starting days… if you find difficulty in doing all this at start then lighten your load but save energy for the last 10 days.
Extra reading material:
http://islamqa.info/en/ref/3455
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/12653
http://muslimmatters.org/2012/07/09/ramadanprep-noumanalikhan/
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/38747
http://muslimmatters.org/2011/06/13...ychological-approach-to-achieving-your-goals/
http://islamqa.info/en/ref/books/49
The Objective:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (i.e. get Taqwa*) -” 2:183
And Taqwa is very important… “O you who have believed, fear (have Taqwa of) Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear (have Taqwa of) Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (59:18)
*Taqwa is fear that includes in it the attempt to want to protect yourself, to be careful, to be cautious. Taqwa comes from the root 'wiqaayah' which means to protect and is used for a shield. Taqwa is to protect yourself from the consequences of your own actions. It is to protect yourself in two ways: to abandon sinning and adorn yourself with good deeds because you fear the punishment of Allah.
(Allah(S.W.T) even tells us that paradise was prepared for the muttaqeen/ppl of Taqwa)
Basics of fasting:
We must be aware of not only what goes in through the mouth but also what comes out:
The Messenger of Allaah (S.A.W) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting in accordance with it and acting in an ignorant manner, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhaari, 6057)
When we are hungry & thirsty, anger is ready to burst out BUT we are supposed to swallow it and be patient and not act “in an ignorant manner”, rather Prophet told us to say ‘I’m fasting!’ if someone picks a fight with us.
Also, if we are able to stay away from halaal (permitted) food, drink and marital relations from dawn till dusk for one month; then we can indeed stay away from haram (prohibited) food, drink and relationships for the entire year!
Therefore Ramadan is the training camp for Taqwa, prepares us for rest of the year. So if we work in Ramadan, defeating Shytaan rest of the year will be easy, insha’Allah.
Opportune moment:
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Ramadan has come to you - a blessed month. Allah has made obligatory upon you its fasting. In it, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is prevented from its good, then he has been deprived." [Ahmad & An-Nasa'ee.]
Prophet (SAW) said: “When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3277; Muslim, 1079. According to al-Nasaa’i: “The most evil jinn are chained up.”
Hence this is THE BEST TIME to get away from bad habits and sins:
Imagine, with the shytaan locked up its easy to defeat bad deeds… It’s easy to be regular at prayers now. This is the time to get away from that girl (or boy) with whom you have a haram relationship… or whom you cannot stop texting or chatting on XPC in the lovey-dovey mode. Always wanted to stop saying bad words or backbiting? Well act now, you can do it! Lowering the gaze is easy now – just do it! Any vicious cycle you are a part of, this is your golden opportunity.
Most decent Muslims stop listening to songs & music in Ramadan, Alhamdulillah. But what I’ve seen many times is that they replace it with listening to some form of poetry… That is foolish coz after Ramadan you’d end up going back to songs, rather when your soul craves to listen something GIVE IT QURAN! That is the real food of soul… listen to good recitations of it and insha’Allah you’ll start hating Justin beiber and poor 20 cents…
In another Hadith of Bukhari we find (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.’
Hence this is THE BEST TIME to do good deeds… Develop great habits:
Always wanted to don that Hijaab? Do it now… Don’t think what people will say, think what Allah will say! He ordered our women to cover their heads and wear proper clothing as they are precious... so that they may be known/recognized and not abused. Guys, Prophet (S.A.W) gave you an order so try growing the beard, you think people will say you are strange? Don’t you have faith in words of messenger of Allah (S.A.W) when he said “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” (Sahih Muslim). People follow most stupid looking ‘super-stars’, why can’t we follow the best of mankind – the prophets of Allah.
How to endure the heat and thirst of the day:
Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): Allah's Apostle (S.A.W) said,
"Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." The Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times." (Saheeh Al Bukhari, Book # 31, Hadith # 118)
Imagine! Allah loves that smell more than musk (best of perfumes!), SubhanAllah…! Whenever I feel thirsty or hungry, I just think of this and it makes a ton of difference!
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: "Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord" (Muslim).
“The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted.” (Musnad Ahmed, Bayhqi, Allama Albani classified it as Sahih)
Ramadan and Quran
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (2:185)
Notice the one aayah in Quran about Ramadan puts such emphasis on Quran, then goes on to describe it. How it is guidance for us and how it’s clear and how it is furqaan – that which differentiates b/w right and wrong. So really one of the core things we need to do is understand Quran in this month, get closer to it so it can help us in our journey of life…
How to do it though? Well here is an easy way; listen to at least one mp3 of the following per day:
http://kalamullah.com/juzz-amma.html (it’s a really interesting tafseer on surhas most have already memorized, u won’t regret this insha’Allah)
If you finish with that here is more: http://www.nakcollection.com/2-surah-baqarah.html
Fix a time for this like after fajr or when travelling to school or when making iftar
etc.Next, I’ll share an advice sum1 gave me, to finish reading the Quran once in Ramadan just recite about 1/4th of a juzz with each salah so that even if you miss reading a few times, you can still easily finish reading once insha’Allah. (Another advice I got was to make a timetable to cram all this in one day… “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Larry Elder)
Finally, try memorizing parts of it… Sounds too much but think about it, we won’t waste this Ramadan watching stupid shows on TV so we will have time to kill… We can, insha’Allah use it for good. May Allah grant me to act on all this advice and more… Aameen.
Aunties Alert
Ok, just wanna say do all your Eid shopping NOW, before Ramadan… or at the very least before the last 10 days… You will get good clothes etc. easily; and trust me no shopkeeper can put on a better sale than Allah so make the wise decision.
Oh, and give some charity in this month, please.
Make up the family ties etc. with shyateen (devils) locked up this is easy, beiznillah.
The Night of Qadar and the last 10 days
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” [al-Qadar 97:1-5]
Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allaah (S.A.W) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.
We know Prophet (S.A.W) told us to “Seek it in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.” of Ramadan (Bukhari, Muslim). But it's way better to strive in all of the last ten nights of Ramadan, not necessarily the odd ones only... Firstly, coz it was the way of Prophet: Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (RA) that when the last ten days of Ramadaan came, the Prophet (S.A.W) would stay up at night and would wake his family up, and would abstain from marital relations. Ahmad and Muslim narrated that he used to strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan as he never did at any other time.
Secondly, at the start of Ramadan they our local communities have, at times, disagreements that if moon sighted (for start of Ramadan) was correct or not... we follow the jamaah (people, community)... but suppose accidentally we were a day off; striving in all ten makes sure you get it, insha’Allah.
Thirdly, this is also the opinion of Ibn Taymiyah that it should be sought in all ten nights (al-Fataawaa, 25/284,285). His logic is very solid but lengthy to explain.
Dua (Supplication) List:
Remember to Repent! No sin is greater than Allah’s forgiveness. (Repentance = 1. Asking Allah for forgiveness while feeling sorry for the sin. 2. Having firm resolve in heart to not return to sin again, if by mistake u return then u can repent again. 3. Stop doing the sin 4. Returning the rights as much as possible e.g. if someone was harmed then compensating them)
‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what do you think, if I witness Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?’ He said: ‘Say, O Allaah, You are Forgiving and Generous, and you love forgiveness, so forgive me.’” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi (3515) and Ibn Maajah (3850). Its isnaad is saheeh.)
["Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"]
List continued here:
www.islamawareness.net/Dua/40_rabbana.pdf
And of course ask any dua you want… just be humble and do ask for Paradise and to be saved from the fire plus make dua for your family.
What we can gain
Allaah has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (S.A.W) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” And al-Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
WATCH THIS NOW (Real Eeman booster!):
Finally, don’t burnout in the starting days… if you find difficulty in doing all this at start then lighten your load but save energy for the last 10 days.
Extra reading material:
http://islamqa.info/en/ref/3455
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/12653
http://muslimmatters.org/2012/07/09/ramadanprep-noumanalikhan/
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/38747
http://muslimmatters.org/2011/06/13...ychological-approach-to-achieving-your-goals/
http://islamqa.info/en/ref/books/49
