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.
A great event that took place on the 24th of Ramadan…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
What is this great event, you ask?
Well, it’s the revelation of the Quran, of course.
We know (from Surah Al-Qadr) that it was revealed on Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Decree).
This great event took place on the 24th (which is tonight).
أنزلت صحف إبراهيم أول ليلة من شهر رمضان ، و أنزلت التوراة لست مضت من رمضان ، و أنزل الإنجيل بثلاث عشرة مضت من رمضان ، و أنزل الزبور لثمان عشرة خلت من رمضان ، وأنزل القرآن لأربع وعشرين خلت من رمضان
“The Suhuf of Ibrahim were revealed on the first night of Ramadan. The Tawrah was revealed on the sixth of Ramadan. The Injeel was revealed on the thirteenth of Ramadan. The Zaboor was revealed on the eighteenth of Ramadan. And the Quran was revealed on the twenty-fourth of Ramadan.” [Sahih Al-Jaami, Hadeeth No. 1497. There seems to be a small dispute over its authenticity but quite a few scholars authenticated it. Also, it would explain why Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu) did what he did on the 24th.]
Now, does this hadeeth mean that tonight is Laylatul Qadr?
Well, as most scholars say that the date changes from year to year, no not necessarily. However, what this hadeeth does show us is:
1) The magnificence of Ramadan and how it was historically a month of guidance.
2) The fact that the original Laylatul Qadr was on the 24th means that the 24th (and any of the even numbered nights for that matter) could also be Laylatul Qadr.
So, let’s not wait for the odd nights. Let’s give the even nights our best efforts as well.
[Note: Let me clarify things again. When we say that “it was revealed on this night”, it means that a copy of it was sent from the Lawh Al-Mahfoudh (the Preserved Tablet) to Bait Al-Izzah in the first heaven. (After this, it was revealed to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) over a period of 23 years.)
Many people seem to think “it was revealed on this night” means that this was the night that Jibreel (alaihissalam) came to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and said “Read.”
No, that’s not Laylatul Qadr, although from what I heard, that also took place in Ramadan.
What’s the proof for this, you ask? It’s from the language used. I would need an entire post to talk about it….]
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…
A Pictorial Summary of what is left of Ramadan…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
What’s left of it, you ask?
Well….
Half of it is left.
Yes, I know that half of it is gone – just like the cake.
However, half of it is left – just like the cake.
So, instead of moaning and groaning about how half of Ramadan is gone, let’s think of the second half of Ramadan as though it were the remaining half of the cake.
Let’s saviour what’s left of it.
And let’s take each day as it comes and increase in our ibaadah (worship), insha-Allah.
A Pictorial Summary of where to be and where not to be during Ramadan
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Where to be
[That’s the Jumeirah Masjid in Dubai, by the way. It’s close to one of my favourite childhood places: Dubai Zoo.]
Of course, Masjid Al-Haram would be the best place to be in Ramadan.
Where not to be
[Even if this is a rather funky looking kitchen.]
Ah…the kitchen. If one is looking to increase in iman, this is the last place to be in!
Audio: In the Middle of the Night
Assalamu Alaikum.
You know one of the most amazing things about our magnificent religion?
It tells us the best way to go about doing….well, absolutely everything.
Some people find this to be “burdensome”. [When did sheer excellence become “burdensome”….?]
To such people, I say: Okay, stick to your lousy way of doing things. We’ll follow the way of excellence.
As for those who want to pursue excellence, marhaba!
What do we start with first?
Well, what about how to sleep in the proper way?
Being an insomniac, I’ve noticed that if one’s sleep gets messed up, then it starts going downhill from there. Sleep problems could lead to missing Fajr, which leads to a bad start to the day.
On the other hand, if one sleeps properly and moderately, then one can get up early, for Fajr and also for Tahajjud. After this, one is fresh and ready to go. The whole day starts on a high note.
So, how does one sleep in the “proper” way?
Well, it’s however the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alaihi wasallam) practiced it , of course.
Here’s a lecture dedicated to discussing his sleeping habits:
In the Middle of the Night: The Sleeping Habits of the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alaihi wasallam) by Muhammad Alshareef (Download)
Lecture: The Ten Best Days
Assalamu Alaikum.
Here’s a lecture to help get you excited about The Best Days of The Year:
What the 27th night of Ramadan looks like in Alexandria…
Assalamu Alaikum.
[As soon as I complained about my visitor traffic decreasing, it proceeded to dip down even further. Alhamdulillah, it’s a good thing that I have a sense of humour…]
Remember the 27th night of Ramadan? It’s usually the night that everyone arrives at the masjid.
Sometimes, thousands of people show up at one masjid* leaving us with eye-popping scenes like this:
[*That masjid happened to be Al-Qaid Ibrahim Masjid in Alexandria, Egypt.]
Subhan Allah, it’s amazing stuff (although I wondered about the fiqh of praying behind moving taxis, but that’s just me).
“He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it victorious over all (other) religions even though the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad) hate (it).” [Surah As-Saff (61) : 9]
Article: Farewell Ramadan
Assalamu Alaikum.
Another day, another article.
[The Learning Arabic Post will be continued tomorrow, insha-Allah.]
You know what makes me sad? Let me tell you.
This blog got a whole lot more visitors during Ramadan.
Am I sad because my blog traffic went down? No, because ultimately blog popularity is not at all important.
I’m sad because people seemed to have lost their enthusiasm for Ramadan a mere two weeks after it has ended. If this is what happens a few weeks after Ramadan, then what will happen after a few months??? Subhan Allah, it’s really sad.
What’s also sad is that we do things the wrong way around. We start advertising Ramadan a few weeks before it starts (rather than a few months ahead as it should be done) and then after the last day of Ramadan, we hear one or two lectures on steadfastness and that’s it.
The early generations prayer for Ramadan for 6 months in advance and prayed to get Ramadan 6 months after it ended.
[Actually, it should be 5.5 months if you do the math, but anyway…]
Here’s another Adios Ramadan article:
[This lecture seems to have been right at the end of one of the previous Ramadans, hence he mentions zakaatul fitr, etc.]
[Note: I has some issues formatting the article so it looks a bit strange in some places. My apologies.]
____________________________________________________________
http://www.alminbar.com/khutbaheng/2260.htm
Farewell Ramadan
Abdur Rahman As-Sudais
Summary
1) The course of life.
2) The anguish at the end of Ramadaan.
3) Those who rejoice during Ramadaan.
4) Acceptance of good deeds was the greatest concern of the salaf.
5) Acts of worship performed during Ramadaan.
6) The wonderful opportunity that Ramadaan represents
7) Persistence on obedience.
8) The effects of Ramadaan upon the soul.
9) The painful predicament of our Ummah.
10) Propaganda against Islaam and Muslims.
11) Salvation is achieved through sound faith.
12) Good deeds at the end of Ramadaan.
13) Zakaatul-Fitr (charity paid at the conclusion of Ramadaan).
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah, for that is the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. It is the best provision for the Abode of Peace and whoever possesses it will prosper and be saved from all evils.
Fellow Muslims! When one ponders over the history of nations, they will realise that all are in the process of constant change. This is the course destined for them by Allaah and nothing can change that.
Brothers in Islaam! Tell me, if an honourable guest visits you in your dwellings, showers you with goodness and loves you – which you reciprocate; then the time for his departure arrives, how are you going to bid him farewell and how are you going to feel? What separation is then greater and more emotional than that from the beloved guest of the Muslims, the blessed month of Ramadaan?
The Greatest Month 