Al-Muhajiroon Magazine’s Ramadan issues
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
“Magazine?”
Somehow, I knew that word would catch your eye.
What is “Al-Muhajiroon”?
Well, that’s the name of a bi-monthly magazine run by the sisters at the Enlightened into Islam Center in Kuwait. [Here’s their blog.]
And it’s quite nice indeed. [Those of you who want to know more about the Names of Allah will REALLY like it. They have an article on a Name in each issue.]
You can download all the previous issues here.
Here are the Ramadan issues:
[Click on the picture to download the issue.]
1) Servitude in Fasting (Year 1429 AH)
2) What is after Ramadan? (Year 1430 AH)
3) Two Occasions of Joy for the Person Observing Saum (Fasting) (Year 1431 AH)
4) Patience and Gratitude during the Month of Ramadan (Year 1432 AH)
5) Lailatul Qadr – The Night of Decree (Year 1433 AH i.e. this year’s edition)
The Centre has also produced a couple of books. You can find them all online here.
Two of them are related to Ramadan:
[Click on the picture to download the book.]
1) The Verdicts of Fasting
2) Zakaat-ul-Fitr (The Breaking Fast Charity)
PS. It’s a total coincidence that three of the last four posts (including this one) have links to Islamic magazines.
Article: A Concise Study Guide to Fasting
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
For some reason, many of us forget the rules and regulation related to fasting (although we study it every year).
So, as usual, here’s something for this year: A Concise Study Guide to Fasting During the Month of Ramadan
It’s a translation of the chapter on fasting from the book “Akhsarul Mukhtasaraat” (The Most Concise Summary) by Imam Ibn Al-Balban (rahimahullah) who died…..350 years ago.
The book, from where this chapter comes from, is one of the most famous books of Hanbali* fiqh (jurisprudence). In fact, it’s one of the basic books that students are advised to start with.
[*For those who might be unaware: This is one of the four schools of fiqh, the others being Hanafi, Shafi and Maliki.]
The translator, may Allah reward him, has added some parts of Shaikh Saleh Al-Fawzan’s explanation of this book.
I’d advise everyone to read through it.
Note: If you want something more detailed or if you prefer audio, you can find plenty of resources in the relevant categories in the top navigation bar (or you can just use the search bar. That’s what I do – and I wrote all the posts!)
Some resources for the Last Ten Days and Eid
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Yes, they’re almost upon us – the best nights of the year.
No more napping. We need to take some action.
This Ramadan, I haven’t posted many resources because I did that last year.
I thought I would just link to the useful ones:
[All of these link to the post which contains the resource.]
Last Ten Days, Laylatul Qadr, Itikaf, Zakaatul Fitr and Eid
Articles / Books
1) When is Laylatul Qadr? [Don’t forget to read this one!]
2) The Excellence of the Night of Qadr
3) The Last Ten Days of Ramadan
4) A Guide to the Last Ten Days
5) Why have the Muslims forsaken Itikaaf?
6) Resources for Itikaf – Umm Muawiyah’s very own guide as to what you REALLY need for itikaf.
7) “There is no Itikaf except in the three Masjids”
[Note: It seems that some people get confused between Zakaah and Zakaatul Fitr. They are two totally different things.]
10) Some more Resources for Eid
Lectures
1) Making the Most of the End of Ramadan
2) Focusing on Laylatul Qadr and Itikaaf
3) Rulings and Virtues of Itikaf
4) Zakaatul Fitr – Is it money or food?
Is this the last post for this Ramadan, you ask?
I wish but no. A few more to go, insha-Allah…
KIU Free Fiqh of Fasting Webinar (starting tonight!)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Knowledge International University is offering two live (free) webinars on the Fiqh of Fasting.
Webinar 1: Introduction to Fiqh of Fasting
Friday 12th August, 10:30PM Saudi Time by Assim Al Hakeem
[That’s 11:30 PM UAE time and 7:30 PM GMT.]
Webinar 2: Contemporary Issues to Fiqh of Fasting
Sunday 14th August, 4:30PM Saudi Time by Shaikh Saad Ash-Shethry
[[That’s 5:30 PM UAE time and 1:30 PM GMT.]
There’s no registration required.
How can you listen in?
Just go to the KIU website and click on the live session link. You’ll find it on the main page.
This is a good opportunity for all of us to review what we already know and learn more, insha-Allah.
Seriously Short Reminder No. 25: Remember to use the siwak…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
[Siwak = Miswak]
What’s a “siwak”, you ask?
Well, it looks like this:
Why should we use it?
Well, some of the reasons would be:
لولا أن أشق على أمتي ، أو على الناس لأمرتهم بالسواك مع كل صلاة
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “If I had not found it hard for my nation or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume No. 2, Hadeeth No. 12]
السواك مطهرة للفم ، مرضاة للرب
Aishah (radiallahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord.” [Sunan An-Nasai, Hadeeth No. 5. Graded “sahih” by Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan An-Nasai, Hadeeth No. 5]
One should use it at the time of wudhu (ablution).
And yes, we can use it whilst fasting.
This is one of those “easy” good deeds that we can do all the time, and especially in Ramadan.
What types of ibaadah (worship) can one do in Ramadan?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Firstly, one can practice just about all the deeds that one does in Ramadan outside of it, so there’s no reason to limit ibaadah to Ramadan.
Secondly, we need to understand what ibaadah is.
When we refer to “ibaadah”, it means everything that Allah loves and is pleased with. It could refer to an action of the heart, the tongue or the limbs. [Fearing Allah is an example of an action of the heart.]
Here’s an article which explains the definition of ibaadah in more detail.
Our problem is that we confine ibaadah to just a few things, and that shouldn’t be the case. Any lawful (halal) act can be turned into an act of worship with the proper intention.
Thirdly, so what can we do in Ramadan?
a) Do the basic acts of ibaadah (prayer, fasting, etc) properly.
You know, we always think in terms of quantity. Let’s first try to work on the quality. That should keep us busy for a while.
b) Add the other acts that are easy for us.
Is giving charity is easy for you? Then do it.
Is reciting the Quran easy for you? Then do it.
Is doing dawah easy for you? Then do it.
Is keep good relations with your family and neighbours easy for you? Then do it.
Is feeding orphans easy for you? Then do it.
Is making iftar for the poor easy for you? Then do it.
c) Try to improve in those acts which we fall short in.
Can’t stop snarling at your mom-in-law? Hey, Ramadan is a good time to change that.
d) Try to think about the proper deed to be done in every situation.
For example, you’re late for taraweeh. Whilst rushing to the masjid, somebody in front of you slips and falls.
Do you keep rushing to the masjid? NO! Stop and help that person. That’s the right thing to do at this time. It’s okay if you’re late for taraweeh.
Another example: Suppose you’re breaking your fast in the masjid. Do you sit and recite Quran whilst some other brothers/sisters serve the food and also end up cleaning the whole mess?
No! Get up and ask them if they need any help with the serving or with the cleaning.
Another example: Your neighbour walks into the elevator with you (let’s assume that both of you are of the same gender).
Do you stare coldly at this person or try to be cordial given the fact that they have rights over you? Be cordial and ask them how they are. You might think of this as useless talk but it isn’t if you talk about halal things and you do it with the intention of keeping in touch with your neighbour.
Remember the best thing to do at a give time is the one that pleases Allah the most.
How would we know what pleases Allah the most? Well, we need to seek knowledge. That’s what knowledge ultimately is: knowing how best to worship Allah at a given time.
e) Leave evil deeds.
You know why? Because that’s also an act of ibaadah.
A few points to keep in mind:
a) Don’t compare yourself to anybody else.
If you have to compare yourself to someone who you feel is doing more than you, then please do it to motivate yourself and not to demotivate yourself.
b) Don’t follow those famous Ramadan planners.
Sorry, I can’t stand those. They make me feel depressed.
They have a long list of all the good deeds to be done in one day and after you toil away trying to do each one, you check the list and find that you still have half the list left!
Don’t get me wrong. Some of them are useful but not as your main Ramadan planner. They’re just good for some ideas on what types of ibaadah that you could do.
I think what would be better than this, is for each of us to sit down and plan what deeds we can do during Ramadan. We could add the obligatory, then the voluntary that we are good at and then the other deeds which we need to improve upon. At least this way, we won’t feel like such losers.
Another reason that I don’t like those planners is that worship then becomes a numerical thing rather than a spiritual thing.
c) The more that you do outside Ramadan, the easier it is to do more in Ramadan.
You know why? Because your soul, body and mind are already used to doing these things.
When you dump things on them out of nowhere (like in the first few days), they get exhausted because they aren’t used to doing all these things.
d) Strive to purify your intention.
It’s the most difficult thing to do yet it is the most important one of them all.
It’s possible that someone who does a little deed with a pure intention (i.e. to please Allah alone) might get more reward than the one who does a whole lot of deeds but with an intention that is not very pure.
e) Try, try and keep trying.
Striving to do ibaadah is itself an ibaadah, so don’t give up, because we don’t fail when we keep trying.
We only fail when we give up.
Sukainah’s questions to her dad…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Sukainah who, you ask?
Sukainah bint Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani.
She’s the daughter of that guy who authenticated thousands of hadeeth.
Oh and he also happened to be one of the greatest scholars of our time.
Nothing to write home about (not if you’re part of that family anyway).
So, whilst Shaikh Al-Albani (rahimahullah) was alive, his daughter asked him a few questions.
And then she posted these questions on her blog under the label: “I asked my father”.
Two of these questions were about Ramadan and a brother has translated both of them on his blog:
How does a Menstruating Woman Worship During the Night of Decree?
I had written an article on the second topic last year. However, Shaikh Al-Albani makes a terrific point about how the ibaadah (worship) of the woman prior to her menstruation would make a difference. The same issue applies to ill people as well. It’s an excellent point that everyone needs to understand.
PS. He mentions the 27th night in particular as he holds that this is Laylatul Qadr. However, as I explained in this post, there is a difference of opinion of the scholars on this issue.
Some resources to study the fiqh of fasting…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
[Fiqh = Jurisprudence. It sort of means the rulings regarding a particular thing.]
Last year, I put up a lot of resources on studying the fiqh of fasting so I thought I’d link to some of those again.
Which resource should you use?
Well, it depends on your level. If you are a beginner, try to choose one and stick with that for now.
However, if you are a student of knowledge, then you should try to go through as many of them as possible.
Also, I’d advise everyone to take notes and summarise the points in your Ramadan journal. That way, you won’t have to go through these books and lectures each year. All you have to do is to read your own notes.
[Note: The links take you to the earlier posts which contain the resources. I haven’t linked to the resources directly.]
Lectures
1) Basic Fiqh for Ramadan by Brother Abu Taubah.
Nice and simple.
2) Ramadan Rulings By Brother Moosa Khoory
Also nice and simple. Oh and he’s also from the UAE.
3) 186 Rules for Ramadan by Brother Waleed Basyouni.
Good series. It mentions all the required issues.
He also has another lecture entitled “How to make this your best Ramadan ever“.
4) The Month of Mercy by Brother Abu Abdissalam
For those who like British accents.
5) Fasting for the Everlasting and Fiqh of Moonsighting by Brother Shakiel Humayun
Both of these are from a seminar entitled “From the Moon to the Spoon”….
6) Fasting in Ramadan by Shaikh Saleh As-Saleh
Covers just about every important topic related to Ramadan.
7) Fiqh of Siyaam by Brother Abdur Rauf Shakir
I haven’t linked to this before. His lectures are really detailed, masha-Allah. It’s very good for students of knowledge.
8) Two free courses from Islamic Online University
For those who prefer to study properly.
Books / Articles
1) The Fast of Ramadan by Shaikh Muhammad ibn Jamil Zino
Nice, simple, well-organized book.
2) Ramadan and Fasting by Brother Abdel Kader Kamel Tayeb.
Organised in a different way but that makes it more appealing.
3) Fasting and its Rulings by Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qusee
Summarises the rules of fasting.
4) Rulings Pertaining to Ramadan by Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid
All the fatwas from Islam Q and A.
5) Ramadan as observed by the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) by Shaikh Saleem Al-Hilali and Shaikh Alee Hasan Al-Halabee
6) Lessons on Fasting, Taraweeh and Zakaah by Shaikh Muhammad Saalih Aal- Uthaimeeen (rahimahullah)
Simple book? Of course. Didn’t you notice the “Uthaimeen” in the author’s name?
7) The Nature of Fasting by Imam Ibn Taimiyyah (rahimahullah)
Just another book by one of the greatest scholars of all time.
Article: Giving charity to the non-Muslims
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Many Muslims get confused between obligatory charity (zakaah) and voluntary charity (sadaqah).
I had previously posted an article that outlined the differences between the two.
One of the differences is that sadaqah can be given to the non-Muslims. In the above post, I had also linked to a fatwa which stated that it was permissible.
Here’s another article that discusses the permissibility of giving sadaqah to non-Muslims. The information is especially useful for those who have poor non-Muslim relatives or those that live in the non-Muslim lands.
[Some of the laypeople deny that it is permissible but this is incorrect. It is only impermissible if they are at war with the Muslims.]
______________________________________________________________
http://www.madeenah.com/article.cfm?id=1347
Giving Charity to the non-Muslims
Shaykh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baaz (rahimahullah)
As for voluntary charity, then there is no problem in giving it to the poor and needy disbeliever who is not involved in any war with us i.e. the one with whom we have safety, security or a contract of peace – there is no problem with this.
Allah (the Majestic & Exalted) said in His Great Book, in Soorah Al-Mumtahina:
{Allaah does not forbid you to be just and kind to those who did not fight against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity.} [60:08]
So Allaah (the Glorified & the Most High) informed us that He does not prevent us from this. He said: Allaah does not prevent you from kindness and justice with those who do not fight you nor expel you from your homes. Charity is from amongst the channels of kindness.
Also, the mother [1] of Asmaa bint Abee Bakr As-Siddeeq (May Allaah be pleased with her) came to Madeenah in the days of the truce, seeking charity and aid from her. Asmaa (may Allaah be pleased with her) asked permission from the prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) for this. The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) granted her permission to give charity to her and show goodness to her. He said, ((maintain your ties of kinship with her.))
The intent by this is that there is no problem in showing goodness and giving charity to the poor amongst your relatives who are disbelievers or other than your relatives.
This is the case when there is peace between you and them; they live under your security or there exists a contract of safety. As for the one who is fighting against us in a state of war then no, we don’t give them anything, neither a little amount nor a large amount.
As for donating Zakaah to them, then no; it is not given to them [the disbelievers] except those people who [come under the category of those] ‘whose hearts are inclined to Islaam.’
So Zakaah is given to those who we wish to attract [to Islaam] from amongst the influential ones amongst the people, the tribesmen; the people who, if Zakaah was given to them, it is hoped they will accept Islaam and also those who are under their authority will accept Islaam – thereby repelling harm upon the Muslims. This is because these people are the leaders and the influential persons. Zakaah is given to them because Allaah (the Exalted) said in his Great Book,
{As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaat) is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who are inclined (towards Islaam)} [09:60]
[The category of] those whose hearts we wish to reconcile by giving to them Zakaah includes:
1. The Muslim – the one who is weak in his faith, from the Bedouins or other than them.
2. The Disbeliever – the one who is shown kindness to hoping from him that he will accept Islaam, prevent evil upon the Muslims or that those who are under his authority will accept Islaam. There is nothing wrong with giving Zakaah to this person.
As for the common people from amongst the disbelievers, then they are not to be given any wealth from the Zakaah, but they can be given from charity other than Zakaah and this is because they are in need and poor.
Footnotes:
[1] She was a disbeliever at the time.
The Greatest Month 