Actions Which Nullify the Fast
The following acts, when done knowingly and deliberately in the days of Ramadhan, will invalidate the fast. In addition to being considered great sins, a person committing one of these acts will have to continue fasting the rest of the day that he/she committed it, and he/she is also required to take certain measures of reconciliation as indicated below.
1-Intentional eating, drinking
Allah says [in the meaning of]: "Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall." [al-Baqara, 2:187].
This applies to the one who does so consciously. However, if a person eats or drinks forgetfully or accidently or is forced to do it, the fasting is intact, the day is not to be made up and the person should continue fasting.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (S) said:"Whoever forgets he is fasting, and eats or drinks is to complete his fast, as it is Allah who fed him and gave him something to drink." [Bukhari, Muslim and others]
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (S) said:" Allah has excused for my Ummah mistakes, forgetfulness and what they are forced to do". [Tahawee, al-Hakim and Daraqutni; Sahih].
Similar to eating and drinking is smoking [besides being prohibited in itself] and letting any substance into the stomach.
However, if a person eats or drink out of forgetfulness, then he/she should continue fasting and the day fasted is valid and counted and does not need to make up the day. This is based on the hadith of Abu Huraira in Sahih al-Bukhari: The Prophet said, "If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah.".
Similarly if a person breaks the fast before the actual maghrib (sunset) or after fajr because of a mistake in time recognition, he is not to make up the day.
2-Sexual intercourse
Just like eating and drinking Allah has forbidden sexual intercourse during the days of Ramadan;
"Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knows what you used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate (i.e. have sexual intercourse) with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you (i.e. offspring), and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while you are in seclusion (I`tikaf) in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint. [al-Baqara; 2:187]
The `ulama' [Scholars] differ about stimulating oneself [whether alone or with his wife or vise versa], without intercourse, to the point of ejaculation. Some of them treat it as complete intercourse, while others say that it does not invalidate the fast even though it causes a loss of its rewards.
3-Intentional vomiting
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (S) said :"Whoever is overcome and vomits is not to make up the day. Whoever vomits intentionally must make up the day." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi and Ibn Majah; Sahih]
4-Poor Intentions
Failing to intend (i.e. with the heart) to fast from before the dawn of the day of fast. (Note: voluntary or nafl fasting is excepted from this requirement)
Intending to stop fasting at any moment during the day of fast. These last two actions are actions of the heart and are related to the intention which has been shown as being an essential element [or pillar] of fasting. These actions void the fast even if the person does not actually eat anything. This is because the intention is one of the pillars of the fast and, if one changes his/her intention, he/she has nullified his/her fast.
Except intercourse, a day invalidated by such an action cannot be atoned by even fasting the whole life. Thus, in addition to the qadha' [making up the day], the only way to atone such an act is by true and sincere repentance and strong determination never to do it.
The only action, according to most scholars, which requires that both the day be made up and the act of expiation be performed is having sexual intercourse during a day of Ramadan.
Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: "I am destroyed, 0 Messenger of Allah!" The Prophet asked: "What has destroyed you?" He said, "I had intercourse with my wife during a day of Ramadan." The Prophet asked: "Are you able to free a slave?" He said, "No". The Prophet asked: "Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?" He said, "No." The Prophet asked: "Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?" He said, "No." The Prophet said: "Then sit." A basket of dates was brought to the Prophet and he said to the man: Give this in charity. The man said: "To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than us!" The Prophet laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and said: "Go and feed your family with it." [Bukhari, Muslim and others]
Most scholars say that both men and women have to perform the acts of expiation (Kaffarah) if they intentionally have intercourse during a day of Ramadan on which they had intended to fast.
5-Injections containing nourishment
Though this type of action is committed intentionally and thus falls under intentional eating and drinking, it is not considered as a sin if given to a sick person in need of it. All what is needed is to make up the day later. These injections are meant to give nourishment intravenously so that it reaches the intestines, with the intention of nourishing the sick person. Also if the injection reaches the blood-stream then it likewise breaks the fast since it is being used in place of food and drink. Similar is the use of drips containing glucose and saline solutions, and inhalers used by people sick of asthma. May Allah relieve all sick believers.
Involuntarily events that break the fast
The fast is disrupted (and there is no point or reward then in continuing to fast) when a woman sees the blood caused by either of:
1-Menstruation
2-post-childbirth bleeding
Even if such bleeding begins just before the sunset, the fast of that day is rendered invalid. A woman in this case will have to fast a day later (qadha') for every day (or part of day) that she missed.
If a menstruating woman becomes Tahira (ceases bleeding) before dawn, then she takes her Ghusl (purifying shower) and intends to fast the next day. However, if she becomes Tahira after fajr then she takes her ghusl, and starts praying as usual and the day has to made up after Ramadan. She may eat and drink during that day as it is an invalid day as Shaikh Ibn Otheimin observed.
The Prophet (S) said: "Is it not that when she [the woman] menstruates, she does not pray nor fast?" We said : Yes indeed. He said: "That is the deficiency in her Deen [religion]. In another narration: "She remains not praying at night and refraining from fasting in Ramadan, that is the deficiency in her Deen".[Muslim]
The order to make up for the days of menstruation is reported in the lesson `Aishah gave to Mu`aathah who came and asked her "Why is it that the menstruating woman has to make up her fasts but not the prayers?" `Aisha said: "Are you a Harooree(*) woman?" I (Mu`aathah) said: "I am not a Harooree woman, but I wish to ask". `Aisha said: "That used to come upon us and so we were ordered to make up the fasts and were never ordered to make up the prayers" [Bukhari and Muslim]
(*)Haroorees are the people of Haroora near Koofa [Iraq]. They had the belief of Khawarij who fought Ali radhiya Allahu `anh. They make it obligatory on the woian to make up her prayers if she menstruates. `Aisha feared that Mu`aathah was among them
Friday, 25 March 2011
The Essentials Elements of Siyam (Fasting)
The Essentials Elements of Siyam (Fasting)
Definition of Siyam (Fasting): Siyam in Arabic means "to abstain from something". For example, Allah says about Mariam (Mary) in the Qur'an that she said [meaning]: "Verily!, I have vowed a fast to the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human this day "[Maryam 19:26]. In religion (Islam) Siyam means "abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the sincere intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah). Therefore the pillars of fasting are :
1-The intention:
To sincerely fast for the sake of Allah. The intension need not be uttered. It is in reality an act of the heart which does not involve the tongue. It is a bid`ah [innovation] to do so. The fact that one knows he is fasting the next day is "intention". The fact of taking Suhoor is "intention. About sincerity in acts of worship Allah said in the Qur'an [in the meaning of]: "And they were ordained nothing else than to worship Allah, keeping religion pure for Him" [al-Bayyinah,
Also the Messenger of Allah (S) said : Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and for everyone is what he intended" [Bukhari and Muslim]
The intention must be made before fajr and during every night of Ramadan and is valid if made in any part of the night.
Hafsah reported that the Prophet (S) said: "Whoever does not determine to fast before fajr will have no fast" (that is it won't be accepted) [an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and others, Sahih].
2-Abstaining from the acts that break the fast:
Allah says in the Qur'an [in the meaning of]: "Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall." [al-Baqara, 2:187]
`Adiyy Ibn Hatim said "When the Ayah 'Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you ... was revealed, I took a black thread and a white thread and placed them underneath my pillow. During the night I looked at them to if I could distinguish between them. In the morning I went the Messenger of Allah and mentioned that to him and he said: 'It is the black of the night and the white of the day.' " [Bukhari and Muslim]
Therefore, the believer must fast from Fajr [dawn] to Maghrib [sunset
Definition of Siyam (Fasting): Siyam in Arabic means "to abstain from something". For example, Allah says about Mariam (Mary) in the Qur'an that she said [meaning]: "Verily!, I have vowed a fast to the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human this day "[Maryam 19:26]. In religion (Islam) Siyam means "abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the sincere intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah). Therefore the pillars of fasting are :
1-The intention:
To sincerely fast for the sake of Allah. The intension need not be uttered. It is in reality an act of the heart which does not involve the tongue. It is a bid`ah [innovation] to do so. The fact that one knows he is fasting the next day is "intention". The fact of taking Suhoor is "intention. About sincerity in acts of worship Allah said in the Qur'an [in the meaning of]: "And they were ordained nothing else than to worship Allah, keeping religion pure for Him" [al-Bayyinah,
Also the Messenger of Allah (S) said : Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and for everyone is what he intended" [Bukhari and Muslim]
The intention must be made before fajr and during every night of Ramadan and is valid if made in any part of the night.
Hafsah reported that the Prophet (S) said: "Whoever does not determine to fast before fajr will have no fast" (that is it won't be accepted) [an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and others, Sahih].
2-Abstaining from the acts that break the fast:
Allah says in the Qur'an [in the meaning of]: "Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall." [al-Baqara, 2:187]
`Adiyy Ibn Hatim said "When the Ayah 'Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you ... was revealed, I took a black thread and a white thread and placed them underneath my pillow. During the night I looked at them to if I could distinguish between them. In the morning I went the Messenger of Allah and mentioned that to him and he said: 'It is the black of the night and the white of the day.' " [Bukhari and Muslim]
Therefore, the believer must fast from Fajr [dawn] to Maghrib [sunset
Why do we fast ?
Why do we fast ?
It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to the question some ignorants may ask "Why do we fast ?" we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice by to obey Allah and Please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says in the meaning of : "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa" (Qur'an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Ibn 'Umar reports that Allah's Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger.
To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) .
To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]
Abu Huraira narrates that one day while Allah's Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger. What is Belief?" The Prophet said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Islam?" The Prophet replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity i.e. Zakat and to fast the month of Ramadan." [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e.. perfection or Benevolence)? The Prophet said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you." .... Then the man left. The Prophet said, "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, "That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion." [Bukhari]. (Note that there are other narrations of this hadith, I took here one from Bukhari)
Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us
It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to the question some ignorants may ask "Why do we fast ?" we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice by to obey Allah and Please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says in the meaning of : "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa" (Qur'an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Ibn 'Umar reports that Allah's Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger.
To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) .
To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]
Abu Huraira narrates that one day while Allah's Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger. What is Belief?" The Prophet said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Islam?" The Prophet replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity i.e. Zakat and to fast the month of Ramadan." [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e.. perfection or Benevolence)? The Prophet said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you." .... Then the man left. The Prophet said, "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, "That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion." [Bukhari]. (Note that there are other narrations of this hadith, I took here one from Bukhari)
Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us
Blessings of Ramadan
Blessings of Ramadan
All praise is to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds. Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never find enlightenment. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allah said, what translated means, "O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam" [3:102], also, "Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations) of the wombs (kinship)! Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you." [4:1] and, "O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the Truth." [33:70].
The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance sent with Mohammad - peace be upon him. The worst of matters are Bid'ahs (innovations in the religion), every Bid'ah is a Dhalalah [misguidance], and every Dhalalah is in the Hellfire.
Dear Muslim Sisters!
We are hosting soon inshaa'a Allah a unique, a generous and a honorable guest. A guest that visits us once a year and brings with it all sorts of goodness and happiness. A guest that brings with it the wide Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah. A guest that brings with it a smell of Paradise. A guest that makes the believer closer to Allah and His Paradise and away from Shaytan and Hell Fire. It is Ramadhan, the month of the Qur'an, the month of Mercy, the month of Forgiveness, the month of prayer at night and Suhoor, the month of solidarity and mutual help, the month of all blessings. We are advised in our merciful religion of Islam to be kind and generous towards the guest, so what if the guest is the best of guests over the year? we should exert ourselves in generosity which is in this case good behavior and intense worship.
It is from the immense mercy of Allah upon us that He made us Muslims and believers and that He extended our lives till we reached this Ramadan. It is reported from some of the Salaf (Muslims of the first three centuries of Islam that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, praised in the well known famous hadith) that they used to pray to Allah during the six months before Ramadan to extend their lives so that they can fast Ramadan, and in the 6 months after Ramadan they would ask Allah to accept their fasting of Ramadan. Therefore, we have to be thankful to Allah that He allowed us to witness this Ramadan, so let us please Him during this month.
Why do we fast ?
It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to the question some ignorants may ask "Why do we fast ?" we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice by to obey Allah and Please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says in the meaning of : "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa" (Qur'an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Ibn 'Umar reports that Allah's Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger.
To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) .
To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]
Abu Huraira narrates that one day while Allah's Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger. What is Belief?" The Prophet said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Islam?" The Prophet replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity i.e. Zakat and to fast the month of Ramadan." [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e.. perfection or Benevolence)? The Prophet said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you." .... Then the man left. The Prophet said, "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, "That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion." [Bukhari]. (Note that there are other narrations of this hadith, I took here one from Bukhari)
Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us.
All praise is to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds. Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never find enlightenment. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allah said, what translated means, "O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam" [3:102], also, "Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations) of the wombs (kinship)! Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you." [4:1] and, "O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the Truth." [33:70].
The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance sent with Mohammad - peace be upon him. The worst of matters are Bid'ahs (innovations in the religion), every Bid'ah is a Dhalalah [misguidance], and every Dhalalah is in the Hellfire.
Dear Muslim Sisters!
We are hosting soon inshaa'a Allah a unique, a generous and a honorable guest. A guest that visits us once a year and brings with it all sorts of goodness and happiness. A guest that brings with it the wide Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah. A guest that brings with it a smell of Paradise. A guest that makes the believer closer to Allah and His Paradise and away from Shaytan and Hell Fire. It is Ramadhan, the month of the Qur'an, the month of Mercy, the month of Forgiveness, the month of prayer at night and Suhoor, the month of solidarity and mutual help, the month of all blessings. We are advised in our merciful religion of Islam to be kind and generous towards the guest, so what if the guest is the best of guests over the year? we should exert ourselves in generosity which is in this case good behavior and intense worship.
It is from the immense mercy of Allah upon us that He made us Muslims and believers and that He extended our lives till we reached this Ramadan. It is reported from some of the Salaf (Muslims of the first three centuries of Islam that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, praised in the well known famous hadith) that they used to pray to Allah during the six months before Ramadan to extend their lives so that they can fast Ramadan, and in the 6 months after Ramadan they would ask Allah to accept their fasting of Ramadan. Therefore, we have to be thankful to Allah that He allowed us to witness this Ramadan, so let us please Him during this month.
Why do we fast ?
It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to the question some ignorants may ask "Why do we fast ?" we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice by to obey Allah and Please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says in the meaning of : "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa" (Qur'an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Ibn 'Umar reports that Allah's Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger.
To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) .
To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]
Abu Huraira narrates that one day while Allah's Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger. What is Belief?" The Prophet said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Islam?" The Prophet replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity i.e. Zakat and to fast the month of Ramadan." [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e.. perfection or Benevolence)? The Prophet said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you." .... Then the man left. The Prophet said, "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, "That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion." [Bukhari]. (Note that there are other narrations of this hadith, I took here one from Bukhari)
Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us.
Introduction
Introduction
Assalamu alaikum
This a first draft of a long paper that I am submitting to the Women's magazine Al-Mu'minah recently started by Al-Qur'an was--Sunnah Society. This magazine is in its early days and needs a lot of support [in all possible ways] from all of us. It is in this regard that I am writing this article for them to help them in this noble and much needed effort. I also call on all of you SISTERS AND BROTHERS to support this new magazine.
How you can help?
Moral support:
By making du`a to Allah to make this project successful and sincere for His and only His sake
Financial support:
By sending your donations to the production and distribution of the magazine and by subscribing to the magazine.
Advertising support:
By subscribing your local masjid or center to the magazine and informing others about it.
Intellectual support:
By writing articles and sending questions for Fatawa
Brotherly support:
By advising us, correcting us if we get wrong, sharing with us your experience and knowledge, showing us our shortcomings and giving us alternatives.
Make your donations/subscriptions payable to Al-Mu'minah/Al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society P.O. Box 82518 Rochester, MI 48308
For inquiries you may call 513-381 6577 or fax 513-381 6578
Insha'a Allah before the end of Ramadan Al-Mu'minah shall be available in a WEB page and will be published electronically for those who do not have access to the WEB.
As this is the first draft only, it may contain many mistakes, typos, weak ahadith, improper wording,...etc, I ask all of you to report any of that to me. Some of the passages are taken from some books of Fiqh, some of them have been referenced and others not, as this is only the first draft, future versions will include proper references insha'a Allah.
Also feel free to distribute this [if you think it is worthy] with proper reference to "Al-Mu'minah/al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society"
Though this article is addressed to Muslim women mainly, the matters of fasting are all the same for men and women except few exceptions. Therefore, it is for general use.
Whatever is right in here is from Allah and whatever is wrong is from me and shaytan, may Allah forgive me that.
wa salla Allahu wa sallama `ala Nabiyyinaa Mohammad wa `ala 'aalihi wa Sahbih
By Abu Abdillah Abdelkader Kamel Tayebi al-Athari
for Al-Mu'minah Magazine
Published by Al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society of North America
Assalamu alaikum
This a first draft of a long paper that I am submitting to the Women's magazine Al-Mu'minah recently started by Al-Qur'an was--Sunnah Society. This magazine is in its early days and needs a lot of support [in all possible ways] from all of us. It is in this regard that I am writing this article for them to help them in this noble and much needed effort. I also call on all of you SISTERS AND BROTHERS to support this new magazine.
How you can help?
Moral support:
By making du`a to Allah to make this project successful and sincere for His and only His sake
Financial support:
By sending your donations to the production and distribution of the magazine and by subscribing to the magazine.
Advertising support:
By subscribing your local masjid or center to the magazine and informing others about it.
Intellectual support:
By writing articles and sending questions for Fatawa
Brotherly support:
By advising us, correcting us if we get wrong, sharing with us your experience and knowledge, showing us our shortcomings and giving us alternatives.
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For inquiries you may call 513-381 6577 or fax 513-381 6578
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As this is the first draft only, it may contain many mistakes, typos, weak ahadith, improper wording,...etc, I ask all of you to report any of that to me. Some of the passages are taken from some books of Fiqh, some of them have been referenced and others not, as this is only the first draft, future versions will include proper references insha'a Allah.
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Though this article is addressed to Muslim women mainly, the matters of fasting are all the same for men and women except few exceptions. Therefore, it is for general use.
Whatever is right in here is from Allah and whatever is wrong is from me and shaytan, may Allah forgive me that.
wa salla Allahu wa sallama `ala Nabiyyinaa Mohammad wa `ala 'aalihi wa Sahbih
By Abu Abdillah Abdelkader Kamel Tayebi al-Athari
for Al-Mu'minah Magazine
Published by Al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society of North America
Three Grades
Three Grades
It should be known that there are three grades of Fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.
Ordinary Fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.
Special Fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet -- and all other organs -- free from sin.
Extra-special Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world. Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of trust in the bounty of God, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of certain faith in His promised sustenance.
To this third degree belong the Prophets, the true awliya and the intimates of God. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in utmost dedication to God, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than God, Exalted is He. It is bound up with the significance of His words: 'Say: "Allah (sent it down)": then leave them to play in their vain discussions.' [al-An'am,6:91]
Inward Requirements
As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It means keeping all one's organs free from sin and six things are required for its accomplishment:
1. SEE NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: 'The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God will receive from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.'
Jabir relates from Anas that God's Messenger, on him be peace, said: 'Five things break a man's Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.'
2. SPEAK NOT...
Guarding one's tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness, arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue. Said Sufyan: 'Backbiting annuls the Fast.' Layth quotes Mujahid as saying: 'Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.'
The Prophet, on him be peace, said: 'Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: "I am Fasting, I am Fasting!"'
According to Tradition: 'Two women were Fasting during the time of God's Messenger, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the day, from hunger and thirst, that they were on the verge of collapsing. They therefore sent a message to God's Messenger, on him be peace, requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, the Prophet, on him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: "Tell them to vomit into it what they have eaten." One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished. Then the Prophet, on him be peace, said: "These two women have been Fasting from what God made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what God, Exalted is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they maligned!"'
3. HEAR NOT...
Closing one's ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why God, Great and Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His words, Exalted is He:
'Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit gain.' [al-Ma'idah, 5:42]
God, Great and Glorious is He, also said:
'Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and consume unlawful profit?' [al-Ma'idah, 5:63]
Silence in the face of backbiting is therefore unlawful. God, Exalted is He, said: 'You are then just like them.' [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Prophet, on him be peace, said: 'The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.'
4. DO NOT...
Keeping all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast -- to abstain from lawful food - only to break one's Fast on what is unlawful. A man who Fast like this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city. Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess. The object of Fasting is to induce moderation. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: 'How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!' This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food, but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their organs from sin.
5. AVOID OVEREATING
Not to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the point of stuffing one's belly. There is no receptacle more odious to God, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful food. Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering God's enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together. It is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.
The spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are Satan's means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to cut down one's intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much as one would usually take during the day and night combined. Moreover, one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious of the weakening of one's powers, with the consequent purification of the heart.
One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into the night, making it easier to perform the night Prayers (tahajjud) and to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover around one's heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven. The Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this Kingdom is revealed. This is what is meant by the words of God, Exalted is He:
'We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.' [al-Qadr, 97:1]
Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the starting point of it all is cutting down on food.
6. LOOK TO GOD WITH FEAR AND HOPE
After the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one's Fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with God, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.
It is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: 'God, Great and Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won, while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends the victors, and failure the wasters. By God, if the veil were lifted off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works and the evildoer with his evil deeds.' In too full of joy to indulge in idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be precluded by remorse.
Of al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: 'You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.' But he replied: 'By this I am making ready for a long journey, Obedience to God, Glorified is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.'
Such are the inwardly significant meanings of Fasting.
It should be known that there are three grades of Fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.
Ordinary Fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.
Special Fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet -- and all other organs -- free from sin.
Extra-special Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world. Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of trust in the bounty of God, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of certain faith in His promised sustenance.
To this third degree belong the Prophets, the true awliya and the intimates of God. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in utmost dedication to God, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than God, Exalted is He. It is bound up with the significance of His words: 'Say: "Allah (sent it down)": then leave them to play in their vain discussions.' [al-An'am,6:91]
Inward Requirements
As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It means keeping all one's organs free from sin and six things are required for its accomplishment:
1. SEE NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: 'The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God will receive from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.'
Jabir relates from Anas that God's Messenger, on him be peace, said: 'Five things break a man's Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.'
2. SPEAK NOT...
Guarding one's tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness, arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue. Said Sufyan: 'Backbiting annuls the Fast.' Layth quotes Mujahid as saying: 'Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.'
The Prophet, on him be peace, said: 'Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: "I am Fasting, I am Fasting!"'
According to Tradition: 'Two women were Fasting during the time of God's Messenger, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the day, from hunger and thirst, that they were on the verge of collapsing. They therefore sent a message to God's Messenger, on him be peace, requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, the Prophet, on him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: "Tell them to vomit into it what they have eaten." One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished. Then the Prophet, on him be peace, said: "These two women have been Fasting from what God made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what God, Exalted is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they maligned!"'
3. HEAR NOT...
Closing one's ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why God, Great and Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His words, Exalted is He:
'Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit gain.' [al-Ma'idah, 5:42]
God, Great and Glorious is He, also said:
'Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and consume unlawful profit?' [al-Ma'idah, 5:63]
Silence in the face of backbiting is therefore unlawful. God, Exalted is He, said: 'You are then just like them.' [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Prophet, on him be peace, said: 'The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.'
4. DO NOT...
Keeping all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast -- to abstain from lawful food - only to break one's Fast on what is unlawful. A man who Fast like this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city. Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess. The object of Fasting is to induce moderation. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: 'How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!' This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food, but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their organs from sin.
5. AVOID OVEREATING
Not to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the point of stuffing one's belly. There is no receptacle more odious to God, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful food. Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering God's enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together. It is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.
The spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are Satan's means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to cut down one's intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much as one would usually take during the day and night combined. Moreover, one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious of the weakening of one's powers, with the consequent purification of the heart.
One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into the night, making it easier to perform the night Prayers (tahajjud) and to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover around one's heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven. The Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this Kingdom is revealed. This is what is meant by the words of God, Exalted is He:
'We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.' [al-Qadr, 97:1]
Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the starting point of it all is cutting down on food.
6. LOOK TO GOD WITH FEAR AND HOPE
After the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one's Fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with God, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.
It is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: 'God, Great and Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won, while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends the victors, and failure the wasters. By God, if the veil were lifted off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works and the evildoer with his evil deeds.' In too full of joy to indulge in idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be precluded by remorse.
Of al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: 'You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.' But he replied: 'By this I am making ready for a long journey, Obedience to God, Glorified is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.'
Such are the inwardly significant meanings of Fasting.
Other Rulings Pertaining to Fasting
Other Rulings Pertaining to Fasting
The interval between the end of suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and the start of the obligatory prayer is the interval sufficient to recite fifty Aayaat, as indicated by the Prophet (s.a.w.) and related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
Eating the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) contains many blessings and the Prophet (s.a.w.) ordered us to do take it, forbade us from leaving it and told us to take suhoor to make a distinction between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book. In spite of this, Ibn Hajar reports in Fathul-Baaree that there is Ijmaa that it is mustahabb (recommendation). Allah knows best.
Falsehood, ignorant and indecent speech are to be avoided as they may render one’s fasting futile.
A fasting person can begin fasting while in the state of Janaabah (major state of impurity that requires bath due to a sexual intercourse), as explained in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
Use of Siwaak (tooth-stick) is permitted. Likewise, washing the mouth and nose is permitted, but it should not be done strongly.
The Prophet discouraged a youth from kissing while fasting, while he allowed an old man since he is able to control himself.
Pouring cold water over one’s head and taking a bath contain no harm to a fasting person.
It is the Sunnah of the Prophet and the practice of his companions to break the fast as soon as the Sun sets even if some bright redness remains upon the horizon. Muslims are strongly encouraged to hasten breaking the fast. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “The Deen will not cease to be uppermost as long as the people hasten to break the fast, since the Jews and the Christians delay it.” [Abu Daawood, Ibn Hibbaan, Hasan]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to break his fast before praying and he used to break it with fresh dates, if not then with older dates. And if not with dates, than with some mouthfuls of water.
The supplication of the fasting person when he breaks his fast is not rejected. The best du’aa’ (supplication) is that reported from Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). He used to say when breaking the fast: “Dhahaba-DH-DHama’u wabtallatil-’urooqu, wa thabatal ajru inshaa Allah.” (The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.) [Abu Daawood, al-Baihaqee, al-Haakim and others, Hasan]
The Prophet said: “He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]. Also, a fasting Muslim should not reject invitation of another Muslim to break fast.
As for Lailatul-Qadr, the Night of Decree, that is better than a thousand months (see Soorah Qadr (97)), the Prophet (s.a.w.) told us: “Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]. That which is the most specific states, “seek it on the (twenty) ninth and the (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.” [al-Bukhaaree]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to exert himself greatly during Lailatul-Qadr. He would spend the nights in worship, detaching himself from women and ordering his family with this. So every Muslim should be eager to stand in prayer during Lailatul Qadr out of Iman and hoping for the great reward. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Lailatul Qadr out of Iman and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The supplication that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) taught ‘Aa’isha, radiyallaahu ‘anhaa, to say when seeking the Night of Decree is: O Allah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.[at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah,, Saheeh]
It is Sunnah to pray Taraweeh in congregation and the one who knew best the practice of the Prophet (s.a.w.) at night, ‘Aa’isha, radiyallaahu ‘anhaa, said: “Allah’s Messenger did not increase upon eleven rak’ahs in Ramadhan, or outside it.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
All who are capable should take advantage of the month of Ramadhan and perform I’ikaaf, i.e. fully attach oneself to worshipping in the mosque. One should inquire how the Prophet (s.a.w.) performed I’ikaaf.
Zakaatul Fitr is prescribed by Allah as a purification for those who fasted from loose and indecent talk, and to feed the poor Muslims as a provision for eidul Fitr. One should inquire further about rulings related to it, especially upon whom it is obligatory and what is its quantity.
The last but not the least, we should strive to constantly improve our worship and obedience of Allah the Most High, including once the month of Ramadhan is over, inshaa’ Allah
The interval between the end of suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and the start of the obligatory prayer is the interval sufficient to recite fifty Aayaat, as indicated by the Prophet (s.a.w.) and related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
Eating the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) contains many blessings and the Prophet (s.a.w.) ordered us to do take it, forbade us from leaving it and told us to take suhoor to make a distinction between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book. In spite of this, Ibn Hajar reports in Fathul-Baaree that there is Ijmaa that it is mustahabb (recommendation). Allah knows best.
Falsehood, ignorant and indecent speech are to be avoided as they may render one’s fasting futile.
A fasting person can begin fasting while in the state of Janaabah (major state of impurity that requires bath due to a sexual intercourse), as explained in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
Use of Siwaak (tooth-stick) is permitted. Likewise, washing the mouth and nose is permitted, but it should not be done strongly.
The Prophet discouraged a youth from kissing while fasting, while he allowed an old man since he is able to control himself.
Pouring cold water over one’s head and taking a bath contain no harm to a fasting person.
It is the Sunnah of the Prophet and the practice of his companions to break the fast as soon as the Sun sets even if some bright redness remains upon the horizon. Muslims are strongly encouraged to hasten breaking the fast. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “The Deen will not cease to be uppermost as long as the people hasten to break the fast, since the Jews and the Christians delay it.” [Abu Daawood, Ibn Hibbaan, Hasan]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to break his fast before praying and he used to break it with fresh dates, if not then with older dates. And if not with dates, than with some mouthfuls of water.
The supplication of the fasting person when he breaks his fast is not rejected. The best du’aa’ (supplication) is that reported from Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). He used to say when breaking the fast: “Dhahaba-DH-DHama’u wabtallatil-’urooqu, wa thabatal ajru inshaa Allah.” (The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.) [Abu Daawood, al-Baihaqee, al-Haakim and others, Hasan]
The Prophet said: “He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]. Also, a fasting Muslim should not reject invitation of another Muslim to break fast.
As for Lailatul-Qadr, the Night of Decree, that is better than a thousand months (see Soorah Qadr (97)), the Prophet (s.a.w.) told us: “Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]. That which is the most specific states, “seek it on the (twenty) ninth and the (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.” [al-Bukhaaree]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to exert himself greatly during Lailatul-Qadr. He would spend the nights in worship, detaching himself from women and ordering his family with this. So every Muslim should be eager to stand in prayer during Lailatul Qadr out of Iman and hoping for the great reward. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Lailatul Qadr out of Iman and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The supplication that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) taught ‘Aa’isha, radiyallaahu ‘anhaa, to say when seeking the Night of Decree is: O Allah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.[at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah,, Saheeh]
It is Sunnah to pray Taraweeh in congregation and the one who knew best the practice of the Prophet (s.a.w.) at night, ‘Aa’isha, radiyallaahu ‘anhaa, said: “Allah’s Messenger did not increase upon eleven rak’ahs in Ramadhan, or outside it.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
All who are capable should take advantage of the month of Ramadhan and perform I’ikaaf, i.e. fully attach oneself to worshipping in the mosque. One should inquire how the Prophet (s.a.w.) performed I’ikaaf.
Zakaatul Fitr is prescribed by Allah as a purification for those who fasted from loose and indecent talk, and to feed the poor Muslims as a provision for eidul Fitr. One should inquire further about rulings related to it, especially upon whom it is obligatory and what is its quantity.
The last but not the least, we should strive to constantly improve our worship and obedience of Allah the Most High, including once the month of Ramadhan is over, inshaa’ Allah
Actions Which Nullify the Fast
Actions Which Nullify the Fast
The following acts, when done knowingly and deliberately in the days of Ramadhan, will invalidate the fast. In addition to being considered great sins, a person committing one of these acts will have to continue fasting the rest of the day that he/she committed it, and he/she is also required to take certain measures of reconciliation as indicated below.
1- Intentional eating, drinking - Allah says [in the meaning of]: “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall.” [al-Baqara, 2:187]. This applies to the one who does so consciously. However, if a person eats or drinks forgetfully or accidently or is forced to do it, the fasting is intact, the day is not to be made up and the person should continue fasting. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (S) said:”Whoever forgets he is fasting, and eats or drinks is to complete his fast, as it is Allah who fed him and gave him something to drink.” [Bukhari, Muslim and others] Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (S) said:” Allah has excused for my Ummah mistakes, forgetfulness and what they are forced to do”. [Tahawee, al-Hakim and Daraqutni; Sahih]. Similar to eating and drinking is smoking [besides being prohibited in itself] and letting any substance into the stomach. However, if a person eats or drink out of forgetfulness, then he/she should continue fasting and the day fasted is valid and counted and does not need to make up the day. This is based on the hadith of Abu Huraira in Sahih al-Bukhari: The Prophet said, “If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah.”. Similarly if a person breaks the fast before the actual maghrib (sunset) or after fajr because of a mistake in time recognition, he is not to make up the day.
2-Sexual intercourse - Just like eating and drinking Allah has forbidden sexual intercourse during the days of Ramadan; “Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knows what you used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate (i.e. have sexual intercourse) with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you (i.e. offspring), and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while you are in seclusion (I‘tikaf) in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint. [al-Baqara; 2:187] The ‘ulama’ [Scholars] differ about stimulating oneself [whether alone or with his wife or vise versa], without intercourse, to the point of ejaculation. Some of them treat it as complete intercourse, while others say that it does not invalidate the fast even though it causes a loss of its rewards.
3-Intentional vomiting - Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (S) said :”Whoever is overcome and vomits is not to make up the day. Whoever vomits intentionally must make up the day.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi and Ibn Majah; Sahih]
4- Failing to intend (i.e. with the heart) to fast from before the dawn of the day of fast.- (Note: voluntary or nafl fasting is excepted from this requirement) Intending to stop fasting at any moment during the day of fast. These last two actions are actions of the heart and are related to the intention which has been shown as being an essential element [or pillar] of fasting. These actions void the fast even if the person does not actually eat anything. This is because the intention is one of the pillars of the fast and, if one changes his/her intention, he/she has nullified his/her fast. Except intercourse, a day invalidated by such an action cannot be atoned by even fasting the whole life. Thus, in addition to the qadha’ [making up the day], the only way to atone such an act is by true and sincere repentance and strong determination never to do it. The only action, according to most scholars, which requires that both the day be made up and the act of expiation be performed is having sexual intercourse during a day of Ramadan. Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: “I am destroyed, 0 Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet asked: “What has destroyed you?” He said, “I had intercourse with my wife during a day of Ramadan.” The Prophet asked: “Are you able to free a slave?” He said, “No”. The Prophet asked: “Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?” He said, “No.” The Prophet asked: “Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?” He said, “No.” The Prophet said: “Then sit.” A basket of dates was brought to the Prophet and he said to the man: Give this in charity. The man said: “To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than us!” The Prophet laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and said: “Go and feed your family with it.” [Bukhari, Muslim and others] Most scholars say that both men and women have to perform the acts of expiation (Kaffarah) if they intentionally have intercourse during a day of Ramadan on which they had intended to fast.
5- Injections containing nourishment - Though this type of action is committed intentionally and thus falls under intentional eating and drinking, it is not considered as a sin if given to a sick person in need of it. All what is needed is to make up the day later. These injections are meant to give nourishment intravenously so that it reaches the intestines, with the intention of nourishing the sick person. Also if the injection reaches the blood-stream then it likewise breaks the fast since it is being used in place of food and drink. Similar is the use of drips containing glucose and saline solutions, and inhalers used by people sick of asthma. May Allah relieve all sick believers.
Involuntarily events that break the fast The fast is disrupted (and there is no point or reward then in continuing to fast) when a woman sees the blood caused by either of:
1-Menstruation
2-Post-childbirth bleeding, even if such bleeding begins just before the sunset, the fast of that day is rendered invalid. A woman in this case will have to fast a day later (qadha’) for every day (or part of day) that she missed. If a menstruating woman ceases bleeding before dawn, then she performs Ghusl (purifying shower) and intends to fast the next day. However, if blood flow ceases after Fajr then she performs ghusl, and starts praying as usual and the day has to made up after Ramadan. She may eat and drink during that day as it is an invalid day as Shaikh Ibn Othaymin observed. The Prophet (S) said: “Is it not that when she [the woman] menstruates, she does not pray nor fast?” We said: Yes indeed. He said: “That is the deficiency in her Deen [religion]. In another narration: “She remains not praying at night and refraining from fasting in Ramadan, that is the deficiency in her Deen”.[Muslim] The order to make up for the days of menstruation is reported in the lesson ‘Aishah gave to Mu‘aathah who came and asked her “Why is it that the menstruating woman has to make up her fasts but not the prayers?” ‘Aisha said: “Are you a Harooree(*) woman?” I (Mu‘aathah) said: “I am not a Harooree woman, but I wish to ask”. ‘Aisha said: “That used to come upon us and so we were ordered to make up the fasts and were never ordered to make up the prayers” [Bukhari and Muslim]
(*)Haroorees are the people of Haroora near Koofa [Iraq]. They had the belief of Khawarij who fought Ali radhiya Allahu ‘anh. They make it obligatory on the woman to make up her prayers if she menstruates. ‘Aisha feared that Mu‘aathah was among them.
The following acts, when done knowingly and deliberately in the days of Ramadhan, will invalidate the fast. In addition to being considered great sins, a person committing one of these acts will have to continue fasting the rest of the day that he/she committed it, and he/she is also required to take certain measures of reconciliation as indicated below.
1- Intentional eating, drinking - Allah says [in the meaning of]: “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall.” [al-Baqara, 2:187]. This applies to the one who does so consciously. However, if a person eats or drinks forgetfully or accidently or is forced to do it, the fasting is intact, the day is not to be made up and the person should continue fasting. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (S) said:”Whoever forgets he is fasting, and eats or drinks is to complete his fast, as it is Allah who fed him and gave him something to drink.” [Bukhari, Muslim and others] Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (S) said:” Allah has excused for my Ummah mistakes, forgetfulness and what they are forced to do”. [Tahawee, al-Hakim and Daraqutni; Sahih]. Similar to eating and drinking is smoking [besides being prohibited in itself] and letting any substance into the stomach. However, if a person eats or drink out of forgetfulness, then he/she should continue fasting and the day fasted is valid and counted and does not need to make up the day. This is based on the hadith of Abu Huraira in Sahih al-Bukhari: The Prophet said, “If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah.”. Similarly if a person breaks the fast before the actual maghrib (sunset) or after fajr because of a mistake in time recognition, he is not to make up the day.
2-Sexual intercourse - Just like eating and drinking Allah has forbidden sexual intercourse during the days of Ramadan; “Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knows what you used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate (i.e. have sexual intercourse) with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you (i.e. offspring), and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while you are in seclusion (I‘tikaf) in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint. [al-Baqara; 2:187] The ‘ulama’ [Scholars] differ about stimulating oneself [whether alone or with his wife or vise versa], without intercourse, to the point of ejaculation. Some of them treat it as complete intercourse, while others say that it does not invalidate the fast even though it causes a loss of its rewards.
3-Intentional vomiting - Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (S) said :”Whoever is overcome and vomits is not to make up the day. Whoever vomits intentionally must make up the day.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi and Ibn Majah; Sahih]
4- Failing to intend (i.e. with the heart) to fast from before the dawn of the day of fast.- (Note: voluntary or nafl fasting is excepted from this requirement) Intending to stop fasting at any moment during the day of fast. These last two actions are actions of the heart and are related to the intention which has been shown as being an essential element [or pillar] of fasting. These actions void the fast even if the person does not actually eat anything. This is because the intention is one of the pillars of the fast and, if one changes his/her intention, he/she has nullified his/her fast. Except intercourse, a day invalidated by such an action cannot be atoned by even fasting the whole life. Thus, in addition to the qadha’ [making up the day], the only way to atone such an act is by true and sincere repentance and strong determination never to do it. The only action, according to most scholars, which requires that both the day be made up and the act of expiation be performed is having sexual intercourse during a day of Ramadan. Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: “I am destroyed, 0 Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet asked: “What has destroyed you?” He said, “I had intercourse with my wife during a day of Ramadan.” The Prophet asked: “Are you able to free a slave?” He said, “No”. The Prophet asked: “Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?” He said, “No.” The Prophet asked: “Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?” He said, “No.” The Prophet said: “Then sit.” A basket of dates was brought to the Prophet and he said to the man: Give this in charity. The man said: “To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than us!” The Prophet laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and said: “Go and feed your family with it.” [Bukhari, Muslim and others] Most scholars say that both men and women have to perform the acts of expiation (Kaffarah) if they intentionally have intercourse during a day of Ramadan on which they had intended to fast.
5- Injections containing nourishment - Though this type of action is committed intentionally and thus falls under intentional eating and drinking, it is not considered as a sin if given to a sick person in need of it. All what is needed is to make up the day later. These injections are meant to give nourishment intravenously so that it reaches the intestines, with the intention of nourishing the sick person. Also if the injection reaches the blood-stream then it likewise breaks the fast since it is being used in place of food and drink. Similar is the use of drips containing glucose and saline solutions, and inhalers used by people sick of asthma. May Allah relieve all sick believers.
Involuntarily events that break the fast The fast is disrupted (and there is no point or reward then in continuing to fast) when a woman sees the blood caused by either of:
1-Menstruation
2-Post-childbirth bleeding, even if such bleeding begins just before the sunset, the fast of that day is rendered invalid. A woman in this case will have to fast a day later (qadha’) for every day (or part of day) that she missed. If a menstruating woman ceases bleeding before dawn, then she performs Ghusl (purifying shower) and intends to fast the next day. However, if blood flow ceases after Fajr then she performs ghusl, and starts praying as usual and the day has to made up after Ramadan. She may eat and drink during that day as it is an invalid day as Shaikh Ibn Othaymin observed. The Prophet (S) said: “Is it not that when she [the woman] menstruates, she does not pray nor fast?” We said: Yes indeed. He said: “That is the deficiency in her Deen [religion]. In another narration: “She remains not praying at night and refraining from fasting in Ramadan, that is the deficiency in her Deen”.[Muslim] The order to make up for the days of menstruation is reported in the lesson ‘Aishah gave to Mu‘aathah who came and asked her “Why is it that the menstruating woman has to make up her fasts but not the prayers?” ‘Aisha said: “Are you a Harooree(*) woman?” I (Mu‘aathah) said: “I am not a Harooree woman, but I wish to ask”. ‘Aisha said: “That used to come upon us and so we were ordered to make up the fasts and were never ordered to make up the prayers” [Bukhari and Muslim]
(*)Haroorees are the people of Haroora near Koofa [Iraq]. They had the belief of Khawarij who fought Ali radhiya Allahu ‘anh. They make it obligatory on the woman to make up her prayers if she menstruates. ‘Aisha feared that Mu‘aathah was among them.
The Essentials Elements of Fasting
The Essentials Elements of Fasting
Definition of Siyam (Fasting): Siyam in Arabic means “to abstain from something”.
For example, Allah says about Mariam (Mary) in the Qur’an that she said [meaning]: “Verily!, I have vowed a fast to the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human this day “[Maryam 19:26]. In religion (Islam) Siyam means “abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the sincere intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah). Therefore the pillars of fasting are:
1-The intention: To sincerely fast for the sake of Allah. The intension need not be uttered. It is in reality an act of the heart which does not involve the tongue. It is a bid‘ah [innovation] to do so. The fact that one knows he is fasting the next day is “intention”. The fact of taking Suhoor is “intention. About sincerity in acts of worship Allah said in the Qur’an [in the meaning of]: “And they were ordained nothing else than to worship Allah, keeping religion pure for Him” [al-Bayyinah, Also the Messenger of Allah (S) said : Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and for everyone is what he intended” [Bukhari and Muslim] The intention must be made before fajr and during every night of Ramadan and is valid if made in any part of the night. Hafsah reported that the Prophet (S) said: “Whoever does not determine to fast before fajr will have no fast” (that is it won’t be accepted) [an-Nasa’i, atTirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and others, Sahih].
2-Abstaining from the acts that break the fast: Allah says in the Qur’an [in the meaning of]: “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall.” [al-Baqara, 2:187] ‘Adiyy Ibn Hatim said “When the Ayah “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you ...” was revealed, I took a black thread and a white thread and placed them underneath my pillow. During the night I looked at them to if I could distinguish between them. In the morning I went the Messenger of Allah and mentioned that to him and he said: ‘It is the black of the night and the white of the day.’” [Bukhari and Muslim] Therefore, the believer must fast from Fajr [dawn] to Maghrib [sunset].
Definition of Siyam (Fasting): Siyam in Arabic means “to abstain from something”.
For example, Allah says about Mariam (Mary) in the Qur’an that she said [meaning]: “Verily!, I have vowed a fast to the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human this day “[Maryam 19:26]. In religion (Islam) Siyam means “abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the sincere intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah). Therefore the pillars of fasting are:
1-The intention: To sincerely fast for the sake of Allah. The intension need not be uttered. It is in reality an act of the heart which does not involve the tongue. It is a bid‘ah [innovation] to do so. The fact that one knows he is fasting the next day is “intention”. The fact of taking Suhoor is “intention. About sincerity in acts of worship Allah said in the Qur’an [in the meaning of]: “And they were ordained nothing else than to worship Allah, keeping religion pure for Him” [al-Bayyinah, Also the Messenger of Allah (S) said : Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and for everyone is what he intended” [Bukhari and Muslim] The intention must be made before fajr and during every night of Ramadan and is valid if made in any part of the night. Hafsah reported that the Prophet (S) said: “Whoever does not determine to fast before fajr will have no fast” (that is it won’t be accepted) [an-Nasa’i, atTirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and others, Sahih].
2-Abstaining from the acts that break the fast: Allah says in the Qur’an [in the meaning of]: “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall.” [al-Baqara, 2:187] ‘Adiyy Ibn Hatim said “When the Ayah “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you ...” was revealed, I took a black thread and a white thread and placed them underneath my pillow. During the night I looked at them to if I could distinguish between them. In the morning I went the Messenger of Allah and mentioned that to him and he said: ‘It is the black of the night and the white of the day.’” [Bukhari and Muslim] Therefore, the believer must fast from Fajr [dawn] to Maghrib [sunset].
Virtues of the Quran
Virtues of the Quran
Shaykh `Abdul Qadir al-Arna'oot
(c) IIPH 1999
"The best of you is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches it." [al-Bukhari]
"Will not any of you go to the masjid and learn or read two verses from the Book of Allah `azza wa jall? (For) that is better for him than two she-camels, and three (verses) are better for him than three (she-camels), and four (verses) are better for him than four (she-camels). And the number (of verses read in total) are better than the same number of camels." [Muslim]
"There is no envy (acceptable) except in two (cases): a person whom Allah has given the Qur'an and recites it throughout the night and throughout the day. And a person whom Allah has given wealth, that he gives out throughout the night and throghout the day." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
"Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter." [At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi]
"He who is skillful in reciting the Qur'an is with the unveiled, honorable, and pious (i.e. Hur al `Ain). And he who stutters when reading the Qur'an, (and its recitation) is difficult upon him, will receive two rewards." [Al-Bukhari]
"Verily he who has nothing of the Qur'an in his heart, is like a house (which has been) destroyed." [At-Tirmidhi]
"Read the Qur'an. For verily it will come forth on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its readers." [Muslim]
"The Qur'an is an intercessor (which by Allah's permission) intercedes, and an opponent (which is) truthful. He who appoints it as his leader, (then it) will lead him to Paradise. And he who puts it behind him, (then it) will lead him to the Fire." [Ibn Hibban, Al-Bayhaqi, At-Tabarani, Sahih]
"Fasting and the Qur'an will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: 'O My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.' And the Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.' He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: 'And they will (be allowed to) intercede.'" [Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih]
"Maintain learning the Qur'an, by heart for verily it is greater in escaping from the chests of men than camels from their reins." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
"Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the Qur'an) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it." [Muslim]
"The likeness of the believer who reads the Qur'an is like that of citron; its taste is delicious and its scent is pleasant. And the likeness of the believer who does not read the Qur'an is like that of a date; its taste is delicious, yet it has no scent. And the likeness of a hypocrite who reads the Qur'an is like that of a basil; its scent is pleasant, yet its taste is bitter. And the likeness of a hypocrite that does not read the Qur'an is like that of a colocynth; its taste is bitter and it has no scent." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
"It will be said to the beholder of the Qur'an: 'Recite, ascent and rattil (recite slowly and distinctly) as you used to rattil in the life of this world, for verily your level (in Paradise) is at the last verse you read." [Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Sahih]
"Read the Qur'an, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not put grudges (upon others) through it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it." [Ahmad, At-Tabarani, Sahih]
"Read the Qur'an and through it seek the Face of Allah, Exalted be He, before there comes a nation that implements it like an arrow. They read it fast and they do not recite it slowly (to implement)." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Hasan]
"Verily, the best of people with regards to voices, is he whom you feel fears Allah when he recites." [Ad-Darimi, Sahih]
From Anas ibn Malik, radhiallahu `anhu, (who said) that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said to Ubay ibn Ka`b (radiallahu `anhu):
'Verily Allah has ordered me to read upon you.'
He [Ubay] said: 'Has Allah named me for you?!'
He [sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam] said: 'Allah has named you for me.'
He [Anas] said: 'So Ubay began to weep.'
[Muslim]
"There is not a group which has gathered in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, and studying it between them, except that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will befall them, the Angels will encircle them, and Allah will mention them to those who are with Him (i.e. the Angels). And he who falls short (in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an) should (be prompt in) action, (in) that which lineage (*) will not hasten him (to do)." [Muslim]
(*) For example, if someone is the son of a scholar and falls short in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an, then it is upon him to hasten in redeeming himself through studying and hard work, not by relying upon his lineage, i.e. him being the son of a scholar, king, or even being from the descendants of the family of the Messenger, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, etc. This meaning is taken from An-Nawawi's explanation of Sahih Muslim. [Transl.]
Shaykh `Abdul Qadir al-Arna'oot
(c) IIPH 1999
"The best of you is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches it." [al-Bukhari]
"Will not any of you go to the masjid and learn or read two verses from the Book of Allah `azza wa jall? (For) that is better for him than two she-camels, and three (verses) are better for him than three (she-camels), and four (verses) are better for him than four (she-camels). And the number (of verses read in total) are better than the same number of camels." [Muslim]
"There is no envy (acceptable) except in two (cases): a person whom Allah has given the Qur'an and recites it throughout the night and throughout the day. And a person whom Allah has given wealth, that he gives out throughout the night and throghout the day." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
"Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter." [At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi]
"He who is skillful in reciting the Qur'an is with the unveiled, honorable, and pious (i.e. Hur al `Ain). And he who stutters when reading the Qur'an, (and its recitation) is difficult upon him, will receive two rewards." [Al-Bukhari]
"Verily he who has nothing of the Qur'an in his heart, is like a house (which has been) destroyed." [At-Tirmidhi]
"Read the Qur'an. For verily it will come forth on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its readers." [Muslim]
"The Qur'an is an intercessor (which by Allah's permission) intercedes, and an opponent (which is) truthful. He who appoints it as his leader, (then it) will lead him to Paradise. And he who puts it behind him, (then it) will lead him to the Fire." [Ibn Hibban, Al-Bayhaqi, At-Tabarani, Sahih]
"Fasting and the Qur'an will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: 'O My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.' And the Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.' He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: 'And they will (be allowed to) intercede.'" [Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih]
"Maintain learning the Qur'an, by heart for verily it is greater in escaping from the chests of men than camels from their reins." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
"Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the Qur'an) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it." [Muslim]
"The likeness of the believer who reads the Qur'an is like that of citron; its taste is delicious and its scent is pleasant. And the likeness of the believer who does not read the Qur'an is like that of a date; its taste is delicious, yet it has no scent. And the likeness of a hypocrite who reads the Qur'an is like that of a basil; its scent is pleasant, yet its taste is bitter. And the likeness of a hypocrite that does not read the Qur'an is like that of a colocynth; its taste is bitter and it has no scent." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
"It will be said to the beholder of the Qur'an: 'Recite, ascent and rattil (recite slowly and distinctly) as you used to rattil in the life of this world, for verily your level (in Paradise) is at the last verse you read." [Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Sahih]
"Read the Qur'an, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not put grudges (upon others) through it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it." [Ahmad, At-Tabarani, Sahih]
"Read the Qur'an and through it seek the Face of Allah, Exalted be He, before there comes a nation that implements it like an arrow. They read it fast and they do not recite it slowly (to implement)." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Hasan]
"Verily, the best of people with regards to voices, is he whom you feel fears Allah when he recites." [Ad-Darimi, Sahih]
From Anas ibn Malik, radhiallahu `anhu, (who said) that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said to Ubay ibn Ka`b (radiallahu `anhu):
'Verily Allah has ordered me to read upon you.'
He [Ubay] said: 'Has Allah named me for you?!'
He [sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam] said: 'Allah has named you for me.'
He [Anas] said: 'So Ubay began to weep.'
[Muslim]
"There is not a group which has gathered in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, and studying it between them, except that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will befall them, the Angels will encircle them, and Allah will mention them to those who are with Him (i.e. the Angels). And he who falls short (in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an) should (be prompt in) action, (in) that which lineage (*) will not hasten him (to do)." [Muslim]
(*) For example, if someone is the son of a scholar and falls short in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an, then it is upon him to hasten in redeeming himself through studying and hard work, not by relying upon his lineage, i.e. him being the son of a scholar, king, or even being from the descendants of the family of the Messenger, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, etc. This meaning is taken from An-Nawawi's explanation of Sahih Muslim. [Transl.]
Ramadan and the Quran
D. Ramadan and the Quran
This is based on an extract from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali’s “Lataif al-Ma’arif” (pp. 179-182), quoted by Fahd bin Sulaiman in “Kay nastafeed min Ramadan” (pp. 48-50)
--------------begin quoting---------------------------
Ramadan has a special relationship with the Quran, of course, surah al-Baqarah:
“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down ... so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it...” [Note: in the tafsir of this verse, it is mentioned that the word ‘so’ (fa) in this verse gives the following paraphrase of one aspect of the meaning of the ayah: “Fast this month BECAUSE it is the one in which the Quran was sent down” -- see Sifah Sawm an-Nabee (saws) [eng. version] by Ali al-Halabi & Saleem al-Hilali for elaboration of this
In the Two Sahihs, from Ibn Abbas: “that the Messenger of Allah SAS was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan, when Jibril would meet him and make him rehearse the Quran, Jibril would meet him every night in Ramadan to do this ...”
This hadith contains recommendation of the following:
studying the Quran in Ramadan
coming together for this purpose
checking (one’s memory/knowledge of) the Quran with someone who has preserved it better
increasing recitation of Quran in Ramadan
The night time is the best time to recite, when other preoccupations are less & it is easier to concentrate, as in Surah Muzzammil.
Also, the hadith of Fatima (ra) from her father (saws), who told her that Jibril would rehearse the Quran with him (in Ramadan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death (saws).
Then, Ibn Rajab talks about the situation of the Salaf during Ramadan:
“Some of the Salaf would finish (reciting the whole Quran) during the night prayer of Ramadan every 3 days, others every 7 days (e.g. Qataadah), others in 10 days (e.g. Abu Rajaa’ al-Atardi). The Salaf would recite Quran in Ramadan in Prayer as well as outside it.
Al-Aswad would finish the Quran every 2 nights in Ramadan; Ibrahim an-Nakh’i would do that in the last 10 nights specifically, & every 3 nights during the rest of the month. Qataadah would regularly finish the Quran in 7 days, but in 3 days during Ramadan, and every night during the last 10. Ash-Shafi’i would finish the Quran 60 times in Ramadan, outside of Prayer, and similar is reported about Abu Hanifah. Az-Zuhri would say when Ramadan began: It is recitation of Quran & feeding people. Ibn Abdul Hakam said: when Ramadan began, Malik would leave reciting Hadith and sitting with the people of knowledge, and stick to reciting the Quran from the Mushaf. Abdur Razzaaq said: When Ramadan began, Sufyan Thawri would leave other acts of worship and stick to reciting Quran.
Aishah (ra) would recite from the Mushaf at the beginning of the day in Ramadan (i.e. after Dawn), until when the sun had risen, she would sleep. Sufyan said: Zayd alYaami would bring copies of Quran when Ramadan began and gather his companions around him...”
Ibn Rajab later continues: “the forbiddance of finishing reciting the Quran in less than 3 days applies to this being made a regular practice, but as for favoured times such as Ramadan, esp. the nights in which Laylat al-Qadr is sought, or favoured places such as Makkah for the visitor, it is recommended to increase reciting the Quran to avail the time and place. This is the view of Ahmad, Ishaq & other imams, and the practice of others indicates this too, as has been mentioned.”
---------------------------------------end of quote from book------------------------------
This is based on an extract from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali’s “Lataif al-Ma’arif” (pp. 179-182), quoted by Fahd bin Sulaiman in “Kay nastafeed min Ramadan” (pp. 48-50)
--------------begin quoting---------------------------
Ramadan has a special relationship with the Quran, of course, surah al-Baqarah:
“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down ... so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it...” [Note: in the tafsir of this verse, it is mentioned that the word ‘so’ (fa) in this verse gives the following paraphrase of one aspect of the meaning of the ayah: “Fast this month BECAUSE it is the one in which the Quran was sent down” -- see Sifah Sawm an-Nabee (saws) [eng. version] by Ali al-Halabi & Saleem al-Hilali for elaboration of this
In the Two Sahihs, from Ibn Abbas: “that the Messenger of Allah SAS was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan, when Jibril would meet him and make him rehearse the Quran, Jibril would meet him every night in Ramadan to do this ...”
This hadith contains recommendation of the following:
studying the Quran in Ramadan
coming together for this purpose
checking (one’s memory/knowledge of) the Quran with someone who has preserved it better
increasing recitation of Quran in Ramadan
The night time is the best time to recite, when other preoccupations are less & it is easier to concentrate, as in Surah Muzzammil.
Also, the hadith of Fatima (ra) from her father (saws), who told her that Jibril would rehearse the Quran with him (in Ramadan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death (saws).
Then, Ibn Rajab talks about the situation of the Salaf during Ramadan:
“Some of the Salaf would finish (reciting the whole Quran) during the night prayer of Ramadan every 3 days, others every 7 days (e.g. Qataadah), others in 10 days (e.g. Abu Rajaa’ al-Atardi). The Salaf would recite Quran in Ramadan in Prayer as well as outside it.
Al-Aswad would finish the Quran every 2 nights in Ramadan; Ibrahim an-Nakh’i would do that in the last 10 nights specifically, & every 3 nights during the rest of the month. Qataadah would regularly finish the Quran in 7 days, but in 3 days during Ramadan, and every night during the last 10. Ash-Shafi’i would finish the Quran 60 times in Ramadan, outside of Prayer, and similar is reported about Abu Hanifah. Az-Zuhri would say when Ramadan began: It is recitation of Quran & feeding people. Ibn Abdul Hakam said: when Ramadan began, Malik would leave reciting Hadith and sitting with the people of knowledge, and stick to reciting the Quran from the Mushaf. Abdur Razzaaq said: When Ramadan began, Sufyan Thawri would leave other acts of worship and stick to reciting Quran.
Aishah (ra) would recite from the Mushaf at the beginning of the day in Ramadan (i.e. after Dawn), until when the sun had risen, she would sleep. Sufyan said: Zayd alYaami would bring copies of Quran when Ramadan began and gather his companions around him...”
Ibn Rajab later continues: “the forbiddance of finishing reciting the Quran in less than 3 days applies to this being made a regular practice, but as for favoured times such as Ramadan, esp. the nights in which Laylat al-Qadr is sought, or favoured places such as Makkah for the visitor, it is recommended to increase reciting the Quran to avail the time and place. This is the view of Ahmad, Ishaq & other imams, and the practice of others indicates this too, as has been mentioned.”
---------------------------------------end of quote from book------------------------------
. Virtues of Fasting as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah
. Virtues of Fasting as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah
The reward for fasting is immense, as mentioned in the following Hadeeth: “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.’ for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.” [al-Bukhaaree]
Also, Sahl ibn Sa’ said that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enters it, so when the last of them enters it, it is closed, and whoever enters it drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty.” [Ibn Khuzaimah, Saheeh].
Fasting is a shield against the Fire: “Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire.” [Ahmad, Saheeh] and his saying (saws) “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further from his face.” [related by the group except for Abu Dawood]
On the Day of Judgement, “Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him.” [Ahmad, al-Haakim and Abu Nu’aim, Hasan]
Fasting is a means for one’s sins to be forgiven. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “He who fasts Ramadhan, due to Iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Fasting is an expiation for various sins, as mentioned in the Qur’aan, in verses: 2:196, 4:92, 5:89, 5:95 and 58:3-4.
The supplication of the fasting person is answered: “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 a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, Saheeh]
The fasting person will be among the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs: ‘Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhaanee r.a.a. said: A man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and said: O Messenger of Allah, what if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and I observe the five daily prayers, and I pay the zakaah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadhan, then amongst whom shall I be? He said: Amongst the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs. [Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]
Fasting is a shield against one’s base desires, as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told the youth: “O youths, whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts, and he who is unable, then let him fast because it is a shield for him.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Once we realize the greatness of fasting and what achievement it leads to, we must put all our efforts in performing the fast in the best manner possible. And since fasting is worship, it must be done solely for Allah’s sake, and no intention is accepted, other than pleasing Allah and seeking His Face with all one’s sincerity. Without a correct intention, no deed is of any value in the Hereafter.
We Muslims must constantly verify our intentions and consider why we perform fasting. Do we do so merely because it is the practice of our parents and friends, or do we do so because it is part of our tradition, or perhaps because we simply want to conform to our environment in order to avoid any problems? A Muslim who realizes that only that which is with Allah remains, and that He (swt) is the only One who grants and withholds, would not be of those to which the Prophet (s.a.w.) alluded in the Hadeeth: “On the Day of Judgement, a caller will cry out, ‘Whoever performed a deed for someone other than Allah may seek his reward from that for which he performed the deed’” [Saheeh al-Jami].
The reward for fasting is immense, as mentioned in the following Hadeeth: “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.’ for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.” [al-Bukhaaree]
Also, Sahl ibn Sa’ said that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enters it, so when the last of them enters it, it is closed, and whoever enters it drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty.” [Ibn Khuzaimah, Saheeh].
Fasting is a shield against the Fire: “Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire.” [Ahmad, Saheeh] and his saying (saws) “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further from his face.” [related by the group except for Abu Dawood]
On the Day of Judgement, “Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him.” [Ahmad, al-Haakim and Abu Nu’aim, Hasan]
Fasting is a means for one’s sins to be forgiven. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “He who fasts Ramadhan, due to Iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Fasting is an expiation for various sins, as mentioned in the Qur’aan, in verses: 2:196, 4:92, 5:89, 5:95 and 58:3-4.
The supplication of the fasting person is answered: “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 a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, Saheeh]
The fasting person will be among the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs: ‘Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhaanee r.a.a. said: A man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and said: O Messenger of Allah, what if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and I observe the five daily prayers, and I pay the zakaah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadhan, then amongst whom shall I be? He said: Amongst the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs. [Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]
Fasting is a shield against one’s base desires, as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told the youth: “O youths, whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts, and he who is unable, then let him fast because it is a shield for him.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Once we realize the greatness of fasting and what achievement it leads to, we must put all our efforts in performing the fast in the best manner possible. And since fasting is worship, it must be done solely for Allah’s sake, and no intention is accepted, other than pleasing Allah and seeking His Face with all one’s sincerity. Without a correct intention, no deed is of any value in the Hereafter.
We Muslims must constantly verify our intentions and consider why we perform fasting. Do we do so merely because it is the practice of our parents and friends, or do we do so because it is part of our tradition, or perhaps because we simply want to conform to our environment in order to avoid any problems? A Muslim who realizes that only that which is with Allah remains, and that He (swt) is the only One who grants and withholds, would not be of those to which the Prophet (s.a.w.) alluded in the Hadeeth: “On the Day of Judgement, a caller will cry out, ‘Whoever performed a deed for someone other than Allah may seek his reward from that for which he performed the deed’” [Saheeh al-Jami].
Blessings of Ramadan
. Blessings of Ramadan
Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters! We are hosting soon inshaa’a Allah a unique, a generous and an honorable guest; a guest that visits us once a year and brings with it all sorts of goodness and happiness; a guest that brings with it the wide Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah; a guest that brings with it a smell of Paradise; a guest that makes the believer closer to Allah and His Paradise and away from Shaytan and Hell Fire. It is Ramadhan, the month of the Qur’an, the month of Mercy, the month of Forgiveness, the month of prayer at night and Suhoor, the month of solidarity and mutual help, the month of all blessings.
We are advised in our merciful religion of Islam to be kind and generous towards the guest, so what if the guest is the best of guests over the year? We should exert ourselves in generosity which is in this case good behavior and intense worship. It is from the immense mercy of Allah upon us that He made us Muslims and that He extended our lives till we reached this Ramadan. It is reported from some of the Salaf (Muslims of the first three centuries of Islam that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, praised in the well known famous hadith) that they used to pray to Allah during the six months before Ramadan to extend their lives so that they can fast Ramadan, and in the 6 months after Ramadan they would ask Allah to accept their fasting of Ramadan. Therefore, we have to be thankful to Allah that He allowed us to witness this Ramadan, so let us please Him during this month.
Why do we fast? It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to this question “Why do we fast?” we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice but to obey Allah and please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says what means : “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa” (Qur’an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Ibn ‘Umar reports that Allah’s Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity)
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah narrates that one day while Allah’s Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, “O Allah’s Messenger. What is Belief?” The Prophet said, “Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection.” The man asked, “O Allah’s Apostle, What is Islam?” The Prophet replied, “Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity (i.e. Zakat) and to fast the month of Ramadan.” [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, “O Allah’s Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e. perfection or benevolence)? The Prophet said, “Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.” Then the man left. The Prophet said, “Call him back to me.” They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, “That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion.” [Bukhari].
Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting, He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us.
Abu Umaamah (r.a.a.) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise. He said: Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it. [An-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh]
In this hadeeth, the Prophet (s.a.w.) singled out fasting when asked about a deed that leads its doer to the best of rewards, Paradise. This fact alone is sufficient for us to understand the greatness of fasting. Mere knowledge of the importance and superiority of fasting, however, is not enough for a Muslim to attain Allah’s pleasure and then, in shaa’ Allah, His great reward.
Indeed, the Prophet (s.a.w.) has said: “Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst.” [Ibn Maajah, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad, al-Baihaqee, Saheeh]
This hadeeth should raise our concern about fasting and increase our desire to perform this act of worship with the best intention and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.). The first step is for a Muslim to realize that Allah has prescribed fasting as a means of gaining Taqwa. Allah (swt) has also informed us that it is taqwa that distinguishes people in the His sight.
Allah says: “The most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwaa.” [49:13]
Ali ibn Abi Taalib was asked about the definition of taqwa, to which he answered: “[It is] Fear of the All-Mighty, acting upon the revelation, preparation for the day of travel [when we meet Allah], and contentment with a small amount.”
Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters! We are hosting soon inshaa’a Allah a unique, a generous and an honorable guest; a guest that visits us once a year and brings with it all sorts of goodness and happiness; a guest that brings with it the wide Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah; a guest that brings with it a smell of Paradise; a guest that makes the believer closer to Allah and His Paradise and away from Shaytan and Hell Fire. It is Ramadhan, the month of the Qur’an, the month of Mercy, the month of Forgiveness, the month of prayer at night and Suhoor, the month of solidarity and mutual help, the month of all blessings.
We are advised in our merciful religion of Islam to be kind and generous towards the guest, so what if the guest is the best of guests over the year? We should exert ourselves in generosity which is in this case good behavior and intense worship. It is from the immense mercy of Allah upon us that He made us Muslims and that He extended our lives till we reached this Ramadan. It is reported from some of the Salaf (Muslims of the first three centuries of Islam that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, praised in the well known famous hadith) that they used to pray to Allah during the six months before Ramadan to extend their lives so that they can fast Ramadan, and in the 6 months after Ramadan they would ask Allah to accept their fasting of Ramadan. Therefore, we have to be thankful to Allah that He allowed us to witness this Ramadan, so let us please Him during this month.
Why do we fast? It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to this question “Why do we fast?” we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice but to obey Allah and please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says what means : “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa” (Qur’an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Ibn ‘Umar reports that Allah’s Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity)
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah narrates that one day while Allah’s Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, “O Allah’s Messenger. What is Belief?” The Prophet said, “Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection.” The man asked, “O Allah’s Apostle, What is Islam?” The Prophet replied, “Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity (i.e. Zakat) and to fast the month of Ramadan.” [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, “O Allah’s Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e. perfection or benevolence)? The Prophet said, “Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.” Then the man left. The Prophet said, “Call him back to me.” They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, “That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion.” [Bukhari].
Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting, He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us.
Abu Umaamah (r.a.a.) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise. He said: Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it. [An-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh]
In this hadeeth, the Prophet (s.a.w.) singled out fasting when asked about a deed that leads its doer to the best of rewards, Paradise. This fact alone is sufficient for us to understand the greatness of fasting. Mere knowledge of the importance and superiority of fasting, however, is not enough for a Muslim to attain Allah’s pleasure and then, in shaa’ Allah, His great reward.
Indeed, the Prophet (s.a.w.) has said: “Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst.” [Ibn Maajah, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad, al-Baihaqee, Saheeh]
This hadeeth should raise our concern about fasting and increase our desire to perform this act of worship with the best intention and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.). The first step is for a Muslim to realize that Allah has prescribed fasting as a means of gaining Taqwa. Allah (swt) has also informed us that it is taqwa that distinguishes people in the His sight.
Allah says: “The most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwaa.” [49:13]
Ali ibn Abi Taalib was asked about the definition of taqwa, to which he answered: “[It is] Fear of the All-Mighty, acting upon the revelation, preparation for the day of travel [when we meet Allah], and contentment with a small amount.”
The Magnificent Month
. The Magnificent Month
Salman Al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) addressed us on the last day of Sha’ban and said: “People, a great blessed month has come upon you, a month containing Laylat al-Qadr which is better than a thousand months. Allah has made fasting during it an obligation, and steadfastly observing its nights in worship a voluntary act. Whoever undertakes an act of obedience to Allah during this month with a righteous deed, it is as if he has performed an obligatory act at other times; and whoever performs an obligatory act during it is as one who performed seventy obligations at other times. It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is the month of goodwill, during which provisions are multiplied. Whoever feeds a fasting person will be compensated with forgiveness of sins and salvation of his soul from Hell. He will also receive a reward equal to that of the person he feeds, without causing him any reduction (in his good deeds).” (The Companions) said: “Not all of us can find something to feed a fasting person.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah gives this reward to whoever feeds a fasting person even with just a taste of milk or dates, or a drink of water. Whoever quenches the thirst of a fasting person, Allah the Almighty makes him drink from my pond such that he will never feel thirsty again until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is emancipation from Hell.
Therefore display four characteristics to a greater extent; with two of which you will please your Lord, and two you can not dispense with. The two with which you will please your Lord are to testify that there is no one deserving of worship except Allah, and to seek His forgiveness; whereas the two which you cannot dispense with are that you beseech Allah to place you in Paradise and that you seek refuge with Him from Hell.” [related by Ibn Khuzaymah and AlBayhaqi].
Salman Al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) addressed us on the last day of Sha’ban and said: “People, a great blessed month has come upon you, a month containing Laylat al-Qadr which is better than a thousand months. Allah has made fasting during it an obligation, and steadfastly observing its nights in worship a voluntary act. Whoever undertakes an act of obedience to Allah during this month with a righteous deed, it is as if he has performed an obligatory act at other times; and whoever performs an obligatory act during it is as one who performed seventy obligations at other times. It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is the month of goodwill, during which provisions are multiplied. Whoever feeds a fasting person will be compensated with forgiveness of sins and salvation of his soul from Hell. He will also receive a reward equal to that of the person he feeds, without causing him any reduction (in his good deeds).” (The Companions) said: “Not all of us can find something to feed a fasting person.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah gives this reward to whoever feeds a fasting person even with just a taste of milk or dates, or a drink of water. Whoever quenches the thirst of a fasting person, Allah the Almighty makes him drink from my pond such that he will never feel thirsty again until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is emancipation from Hell.
Therefore display four characteristics to a greater extent; with two of which you will please your Lord, and two you can not dispense with. The two with which you will please your Lord are to testify that there is no one deserving of worship except Allah, and to seek His forgiveness; whereas the two which you cannot dispense with are that you beseech Allah to place you in Paradise and that you seek refuge with Him from Hell.” [related by Ibn Khuzaymah and AlBayhaqi].
Ramadan Virtues, Blessings & Essential Elements
Ramadan Virtues, Blessings & Essential Elements
by Iman Badawi
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
All praise is to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness.
We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds.
Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never find enlightenment.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allah said, what translated means, “O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam” [3:102],
also, “Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations) of the wombs (kinship)! Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you.” [4:1]
and, “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the Truth.” [33:70].
The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance sent with Muhammad - peace be upon him. The worst of matters are Bid’ahs (innovations in the religion), every Bid’ah is a Dhalalah [misguidance], and every Dhalalah is in the Hellfire.
***Contents****
A. The Magnificent Month
B. Blessings of Ramadan
C. Virtues of Fasting in Quran and Sunnah
D. Ramadan and the Quran
E. Virtues of the Quran
F. Essential Elements of Fasting
G. Acts Which Nullify the Fast (intentionally/involuntarily)
H. Other Rulings
by Iman Badawi
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
All praise is to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness.
We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds.
Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never find enlightenment.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allah said, what translated means, “O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam” [3:102],
also, “Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations) of the wombs (kinship)! Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you.” [4:1]
and, “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the Truth.” [33:70].
The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance sent with Muhammad - peace be upon him. The worst of matters are Bid’ahs (innovations in the religion), every Bid’ah is a Dhalalah [misguidance], and every Dhalalah is in the Hellfire.
***Contents****
A. The Magnificent Month
B. Blessings of Ramadan
C. Virtues of Fasting in Quran and Sunnah
D. Ramadan and the Quran
E. Virtues of the Quran
F. Essential Elements of Fasting
G. Acts Which Nullify the Fast (intentionally/involuntarily)
H. Other Rulings
What is Ramadan
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar - that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays "move" each year. In 2003 Ramadan begins on Oct. 27; in 2004 it will begin on Oct. 15.
For more than a billion Muslims around the world-including some 8 million in North America-Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. This year Ramadan precedes Christmas and overlaps Hanukkah.
But while in many places these holidays have become widely commercialized, Ramadan retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion to God (Allah in Arabic).
Why this month?
Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Around 610 A.D., the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to go out to the desert near Mecca (in today's Saudi Arabia) to think about faith, society and God.
One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Quran.
At many mosques during Ramadan, about one thirtieth of the Quran is recited each night in prayers known as Tarawih. In this way, by the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited.
Why do Muslims fast?
Muslims practice Sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they may eat or drink nothing, including water, while the sun is up as well as making a special effort to avoid sins. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in Sawm from about age twelve.
Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.
During Ramadan in the Muslim world, most restaurants are closed during the daylight hours. Families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as Iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost.
How does Ramadan end?
Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which in 2003 occurs on November 26. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other occurs after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family.
A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to Mosques
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar - that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays "move" each year. In 2003 Ramadan begins on Oct. 27; in 2004 it will begin on Oct. 15.
For more than a billion Muslims around the world-including some 8 million in North America-Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. This year Ramadan precedes Christmas and overlaps Hanukkah.
But while in many places these holidays have become widely commercialized, Ramadan retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion to God (Allah in Arabic).
Why this month?
Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Around 610 A.D., the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to go out to the desert near Mecca (in today's Saudi Arabia) to think about faith, society and God.
One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Quran.
At many mosques during Ramadan, about one thirtieth of the Quran is recited each night in prayers known as Tarawih. In this way, by the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited.
Why do Muslims fast?
Muslims practice Sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they may eat or drink nothing, including water, while the sun is up as well as making a special effort to avoid sins. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in Sawm from about age twelve.
Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.
During Ramadan in the Muslim world, most restaurants are closed during the daylight hours. Families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as Iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost.
How does Ramadan end?
Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which in 2003 occurs on November 26. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other occurs after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family.
A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to Mosques
Adhkaar for Morning and Evening
ﻢﻴﺣﺮﻟﺍﻦﻤﺣﺮﻟﺍﻪﻠﻟﺍﻢﺴﺑ
Adhkaar for Morning and Evening
*Whatever you say you must be working on, or believe it in your heart, or else you’d be lying*
.ﺮﻮﺸﻧﻟﺍ ﻙﻳﻟﺇﻮ ،ﺖﻭﻤﻧ ﻚﺑﻮ ﺎﻴﺤﻧ ﻚﺑﻮ ،ﺎﻧﺣﺑﺼﺃ/ﺎﻨﻴﺴﻣﺃ ﻚﺑﻮ ،ﺎﻨﻴﺴﻣﺃ/ﺎﻧﺣﺑﺼﺃ ﻚﺑ ﻡﻬﻠﻟﺍ
“O Allah, by your leave we have reached the morning/evening and by your leave we have reached the evening/morning, by your leave we live and die and unto you is our resurrection.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 111)
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ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﺎﻧﻳﺒﻧ ﻥﻴﺪ ﻰﻠﻋﻭ ،ﺺﻼﺨﻹﺍ ﺔﻤﻠﻜ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ،ﻡ ﻼﺴﻹﺍ ﺓﺮﻂﻓ ﻰﻟﻋ ﺎﻨﻴﺴﻣﺃ/ ﺎﻧﺣﺑﺼﺃ
.ﻥﻳﻜﺮﺸﻣﻠﺍ ﻥﻣ ﻥﺎﻜ ﺎﻣﻮ ﺎﻣﻠﺴﻣ ﺎﻔﻴﻧﺤ ﻢﻳﻫﺍﺭﺑﺇ ﺎﻧﻳﺒﺃ ﺔﻟﻤ ﻰﻟﻋﻭ ،ﻢﻟﺳ ﻮ ﻪﻴﻟﻋ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻰﻟﺼ
“We rise/leave upon the fitrah of Islam, and the word of our Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, and the religion of our forefather Ibrahim (saw), who was a Muslim and of true faith and was not of those who associate others with Allah.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 129)
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ﻚﻠﻓ ،ﻚﻟ ﻚﻳﺮﺷ ﻻ ﻙﺪﺣﻭ ﻚﻨﻤﻓ ،ﻚﻘﻠﺧ ﻦﻣ ﺪﺣﺄﺑ ﻭﺃ ،ﺔﻤﻌﻧ ﻦﻣ ﻰﺑ ﻰﺴﻣﺃ/ﺢﺑﺻﺃ ﺎﻣ ﻡﻬﻠﻟﺍ
.ﺮﻜﺸﻟﺍ ﻚﻟﻭ ﺪﻤﺤﻟﺍ
“Oh Allah, what blessing I or any of Your creation have risen/left upon, is from You, alone, without partner, so for You is all praise and unto You all thanks.”
“…Whomsoever says this in the morning has indeed offered his day’s thanks and whomsoever says this in the evening has indeed offered his nights thanks.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 116)
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ﻚﻧﺃ ،ﻚﻘﻟﺨ ﻊﻳﻤﺠﻮ ﻚﺘﻜﺌﻼﻤﻮ ،ﻚﺸﺮﻋ ﺔﻟﻣﺣ ﺪﻬﺷﺃﻭ ،ﻙﺪﻬﺷﺃ ﺕﻴﺴﻤﺃ/ﺖﺤﺒﺼﺃ ﻰﻧﺇ ﻡﻬﻠﻟﺍ
.ﻚﻟﻮﺴﺮﻭ ﻙﺪﺑﻋ ﺍﺪﻤﺤﻤ ﻥﺃﻮ، ﻚﻟ ﻚﻴﺮﺸ ﻻ ﻚﺪﺣﻮ ،ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﺖﻧﺃ
“O Allah, verily I have reached the morning/evening and call on You the bearers of your throne, Your angels, and all of your creation to witness that You are Allah, none has the right to be worshipped except You, alone, without partner and that Muhammed is Your servant and Messenger.”
“Every time you say this, ¼ of your body is protected from Jahannam.”
4 in the morning and evening (page 114)
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.ﻻﻮﺴﺮﻮ ﺎﻴﺑﻧ ﻢﻟﺳﻮ ﻪﻴﻟﻋ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻰﻟﺼ ﺪﻤﺤﻤﺒﻮ ،ﺎﻧﻴﺪ ﻢﻼﺴﻹﺎﺒﻮ ،ﺎﺒﺮ ﷲﺎﺑ ﺖﻴﻀﺮ
“I am pleased with Allah as a Lord, and Islam as a religion and Muhammad as a Prophet.”
“With these words, Allah promises to suffice us, and no calamity shall befall us.”
3 in the morning and evening (page 123)
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،ﺕﻌﻂﺘﺳﺍ ﺎﻣ ﻙﺩﻋﻮﻭ ﻙﺩﻬﻋ ﻰﻠﻋ ﺎﻧﺃﻮ ،ﻙﺪﺑﻋ ﺎﻧﺃﻮ ﻰﻧﺘﻘﻠﺨ ،ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ﻲﺑﺮ ﺕﻧﺃ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﺭﻔﻐﻴ ﻻ ﻪﻧﺈﻔ ،ﻲﻟﺮﻓﻏﺎﻔ ،ﻰﺒﻧﺬﺒ ﺀﻮﺑﺃﻮ ،ﻲﻟﻋ ﻚﺘﻤﻌﻧﺒ ﻙﻟ ﺀﻮﺑﺃ ،ﺖﻌﻧﺼ ﺎﻤ ﺮﺸ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺃ
.ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﺏﻭﻧﺫﻟﺍ
“O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide by your covenant and promise as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil which I have committed. I acknowledge your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive except You.”
“Whomsoever says this at night, and dies in the morning, it will save him from Jahannam. Whosoever says this in the morning, and dies that night, he will be saved from Jahannam.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 113)
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.ﻡﻴﻈﻌﻠﺍ ﺶﺮﻌﻠﺍ ﺐﺮ ﻮﻫﻮ ﺖﻠﻜﻮﺗ ﻪﻴﻟﻋ ،ﻭﻫ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻟﺇ ﻻ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻲﺑﺴﺣ
“Allah is sufficient for me, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, upon Him I rely and He is Lord of the exalted throne.”
7 in the morning and evening (page 118)
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.ﻖﻠﺧ ﺎﻤ ﺮﺷ ﻦﻤ ﺖﺎﻤﺎﺘﻠﺍ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﺖﺎﻤﻠﻜﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺃ
“I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil He created.”
.ﻢﻳﻠﻌﻠﺍ ﻊﻴﻤﺳﻠﺍ ﻭﻫﻭ ﺀﺎﻤﺴﻟﺍ ﻲﻓ ﻻﻮ ﺾﺮﻷﺍ ﻲﻔ ﺀﻲﺸ ﻪﻤﺴﺍ ﻊﻤ ﺮﺿﻴ ﻻ ﻱﺬﻠﺍ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻢﺴﺑ
“In the name of Allah with whose name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens and He is the All-Seeing; The All-Knowing.”
“He who says these 3 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening, he is guaranteed protection and a shield (no calamities can befall him)”
3 in the morning and evening (page 119+123)
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ﻪﻠ ،ﻪﻠ ﻚﻴﺭﺸ ﻻ ﻩﺩﺤﻮ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻟﺇ ﻻ ﻪﻠﻠ ﺪﻤﺤﻠﺍﻮ ﻪﻠﻠ ﻚﻟﻣﻠﺍ ﻰﺴﻣﺃ ﻮ ﺎﻧﻴﺴﻤﺃ/ ﺢﺑﺼﺃﻭ ﺎﻧﺣﺒﺼﺃ
،ﺔﻟﻴﻠﻠﺍ ﻩﺬﻫ/ﺮﺎﻬﻧﻠﺍ ﺍﺬﻫ ﻲﻔ ﺎﻤ ﺭﻴﺨ ﻚﻠﺄﺴﺃ ﺐﺮ ،ﺮﻴﺩﻘ ﺀﻲﺷ ﻞﻛ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻭﻫﻮ ﺩﻣﺤﻟﺍ ﻪﻠﻭ ﻚﻠﻤﻠﺍ
ﺏﺭ ،ﺎﻫﺩﻌﺑ/ ﻩﺩﻌﺑ ﺎﻤ ﺮﺸﻮ ﺔﻟﻴﻠﻠﺍ ﻩﺫﻫ/ﺮﺎﻬﻧﻠﺍ ﺍﺬﻫ ﺮﺸ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺫﻮﻋﺃﻮ ،ﺎﻫﺩﻌﺑ/ ﻩﺩﻌﺑﺎﻤ ﺭﻴﺧﻮ
.ﺭﺑﻘﻟﺍ ﻲﻔ ﺐﺍﺫﻋﻮ ﺮﺎﻧﻟﺍ ﻲﻓ ﺐﺍﺬﻋ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺫﻮﻋﺃ ﺏﺭ ،ﺭﺑﻜﻠﺍ ﺀﻭﺳﻮ ﻝﺴﻜﻟﺍ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺍ
“We have reached the morning/evening and at this very time unto Allah belongs all Sovereignty, and all praise is for Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. My Lord, I ask You for all good of this day/night and the good of what follows it and I take refuge in You from the evils of this day/night and the evil of what follows it. My Lord, I take refuge in You from laziness and senility. My Lord, I take refuge from You from torment in the fire and punishment in the grave.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 109)
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ﻚﻧﺇ ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻭ ،ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﻰﻟﻋ ﺖﻳﻟﺼ ﺎﻣﻛ ،ﺪﻤﺣﻣ ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ،ﺩﻣﺣﻣ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻝﺼ ﻢﻬﻟﻟﺍ
ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ،ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﻰﻟﻋ ﺖﻜﺮﺎﺒ ﺎﻣﻛ ﺪﻤﺣﻣ ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ﺩﻣﺣﻣ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻚﺭﺎﺒ ﻢﻬﻟﻟﺍ ،ﺩﻴﺟﻤ ﺪﻴﻤﺤ
.ﺩﻴﺟﻤ ﺪﻴﻤﺤ ﻚﻧﺇ ،ﻦﻴﻤﻠﺎﻌﻠﺍ ﻲﻔ ،ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ
“Oh Allah, send prayers upon Muhammed and the followers of Muhammed, just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim. Verily, You are full of Praise and Majesty. Oh Allah, send blessings upon Muhammed and the followers of Muhammed, just as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim. Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.”*
“Whomsoever sends blessings upon me 10 times in the morning and ten times in the evening, he will be granted intercession on the day of judgment.”
*Any version of salawaat on Rasulullah is correct
10 in the morning and evening (page 79)
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ﻥﺃ ﺩﻬﺷﺃ ،ﻪﻛﻴﻟﻣﻭ ﺀﻲﺸ ﻞﻛ ﺐﺮ ،ﺾﺮﻷﺍﻭ ﺖﺍﻭﻤﺴﻟﺍ ﺭﻁﺎﻓ ،ﺓﺪﺎﻬﺸﻠﺍﻮ ﺐﻳﻐﻠﺍ ﻡﻠﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﻰﺴﻔﻧ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻒﺭﺗﻗﺃ ﻥﺃﻮ ﻪﻜﺭﺸ ﻮ ﻦﺎﻂﻴﺸﻟﺍ ﺭﺸ ﻥﻣﻭ ﻰﺴﻓﻧ ﺭﺸ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺍ ﺕﻧﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ
.ﻢﻠﺴﻣ ﻰﻠﺇ ﻩﺭﺠﺃ ﻮﺃ ،ﺍﺀﻮﺴ
“O Allah, Knower of the unseen, and the seen, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and sovereign of all things, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I take refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil and shirk of the devil, and from committing wrong against my soul or bringing such upon another Muslim.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 121)
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.ﺕﻧﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ،ﻱﺮﺼﺑ ﻲﻔ ﻲﻧﻓﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻟﺍ ،ﻲﻌﻤﺴ ﻲﻔ ﻲﻧﻓﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻟﺍ ،ﻲﻧﺪﺑ ﻲﻔ ﻲﻧﻓﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻟﺍ
“O Allah, grant my body health. Oh Allah, grant my hearing health. Oh Allah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You.”
.ﺕﻧﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ،ﺮﺑﻗﻠﺍ ﺐﺍﺬﻋ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺫﻮﻋﺃﻮ ،ﺮﻗﻔﻟﺍﻭ ﺮﻓﻜﻠﺍ ﻥﻤ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺃ ﻲﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
“O Allah, I take refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I take refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You.”
3 in the morning and evening (page 117)
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ﻪﺑ ﻰﻧﻐﻟﺒﺗ ﺎﻣ ﻚﺘﻋﺎﻄ ﻥﻤﻮ ،ﻚﺘﻴﺼﻌﻣ ﻥﻴﺑ ﻭ ﻰﻧﻳﺑ ﻪﺒ ﻞﻭﺣﺗ ﺎﻤ ﻚﺘﻴﺸﺧ ﻦﻤ ﻲﻠ ﻢﺴﻘﺍ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
.ﺎﻳﻧﺪﻠﺍ ﺐﺌﺎﺼﻤ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻪﺒ ﻥﻮﻬﺘ ﺎﻣ ﻥﻴﻗﻴﻟﺍ ﻦﻤﻮ ،ﻚﺘﻧﺠ
“Oh Allah, bestow upon me a share of fear from You which will prevent me from disobeying You and bestow upon me a share of obedience with which you will take me to your jannah, and bestow upon me a share of yaqeen with which you lighten the effects of the hardships and tribulations of this dunya on my heart.”
1 in the morning and evening
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ﻲﻔ ﺔﻳﻔﺎﻌﻠﺍﻭ ﻭﻓﻌﻠﺍ ﻚﻠﺄﺴﺃ ﻲﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﺓﺭﺨﻵﺍﻮ ﺎﻳﻧﺪﻟﺍ ﻲﻔ ﺔﻳﻔﺎﻌﻠﺍﻭ ﻭﻓﻌﻠﺍ ﻚﻠﺄﺴﺃ ﻲﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﻥﻤ ﻲﻧﻅﻔﺣﺍ ﻡﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﻲﺘﺎﻋﻮﺮ ﻦﻣﺁ ﻮ ،ﻲﺘﺍﺭﻭﻋ ﺮﺘﺳﺍ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﻲﻟﺎﻤﻮ ،ﻲﻠﻫﺃﻭ ،ﻱﺎﻴﻧﺩﻮ ،ﻲﻧﻴﺪ
ﻞﺎﺗﻏﺃ ﻥﺃ ﻙﺘﻣﻅﻌﺒ ﺬﻭﻋﺃﻮ ،ﻲﻗﻮﻔ ﻥﻤﻮ ،ﻲﻠﺎﻤﺷ ﻦﻋﻭ ،ﻲﻧﻴﻣﻳ ﻥﻋﻭ ،ﻲﻔﻠﺧ ﻥﻣﻮ ،ﻱﺩﻴ ﻥﻴﺒ
.ﻲﺘﺤﺗ ﻥﻤ
“O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this life and the next. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, an my family and my wealth. O Allah, veil my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay. O Allah, preserve me from the front and from behind and on my right and on my left and from above, and I take refuge with you lest I be swallowed up by the earth.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 119)
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.ﻪﺘﺎﻤﻠﻜ ﺪﺍﺪﻤﻮ ،ﻪﺷﺭﻋ ﺔﻧﺯﻮ ،ﻪﺴﻓﻧ ﺎﻀﺮﻮ ،ﻪﻗﻟﺧ ﺪﺪﻋ ﻩﺪﻤﺣﺒﻭ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻥﺎﺣﺑﺴ
“How Perfect is Allah and I praise Him by the number of His creation, and His pleasure, and by the weight of His throne, and the Ink of His words.
3 in the morning and evening (page 124)
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،ﻦﺎﻜ ﷲﺍ ﺀﺎﺸ ﺎﻣ ،ﻢﻴﻅﻌﻠﺍ ﺶﺭﻌﻟﺍ ﺐﺮ ﺖﻧﺍﻮ ،ﺖﻠﻜﻮﺗ ﻚﻴﻠﻋ ،ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ﻲﺑﺮ ﺕﻧﺃ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﺀﻰﺷ ﻝﻜ ﻰﻠﻋ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻦﺃ ﻢﻟﻋﺃ ،ﻡﻳﻆﻌﻟﺍ ﻰﻠﻌﻠﺍ ﷲﺎﺒ ﻻﺇ ﺓﻮﻘ ﻻﻭ ﻞﻮﺤ ﻻ ،ﻦﻛﻳ ﻢﻠ ﺄﺸﻴ ﻢﻟ ﺎﻤﻮ
ﻥﻣ ﻚﺒ ﺫﻮﻋﺍ ﻰﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﺍﺩﺩﻋ ﺀﻲﺸ ﻞﻜ ﻰﺼﺣﺍ ﻭ ﺎﻣﻠﻋ ﺀﻰﺸ ﻝﻜﺑ ﻂﺎﺣﺍ ﺪﻘ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻥﺃﻭ ،ﺭﻴﺪﻗ
.ﻢﻴﻘﺘﺴﻤ ﻂﺍﺭﺻ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻰﺑﺮ ﻦﺇ ،ﺎﻬﺗﻳﺼﺎﻧﺒ ﺫﺧﺁ ﺖﻧﺃ ﺔﺑﺍﺪ ﻞﻛ ﺮﺸ ﻦﻣﻭ ،ﻰﺴﻔﻧ ﺮﺷ
“Oh Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You. I completely rely on You and You are the Lord of the throne. There is no Power except by Allah, the Exalted, the Great. What Allah wills will be, and what He does not will, will not be. I know that Allah has Power over all things and that Allah’s knowledge has encompassed everything and Allah has count of everything. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own nafs and from the evil of every creature subject to your power. Verily, my Lord is on a path that is straight.*
* To be kept last as an act of respect for the words of Rasulullah because it is not authentic
1 in the morning and evening
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Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “ Whoever says:
ﺀﻲﺷ ﻞﻛ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻭﻫﻮ ،ﺖﻴﻤﻴﻭ ﻲﻴﺣﻴ ،ﺩﻣﺤﻟﺍ ﻪﻠﻭ ﻚﻠﻤﻠﺍ ﻪﻠ ،ﻪﻠ ﻚﻴﺭﺸ ﻻ ﻩﺩﺤﻮ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻟﺇ ﻻ
.ﺮﻴﺩﻘ
“None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, He gives death and causes death, and He is over all things omnipotent.”
…a hundred times during the day, has the reward of freeing ten slaves, a hundred good deeds are recorded for him, and a hundred bad deeds are wiped away and he has gained refuge from the devil that day until evening and none shall come with anything better except someone who has done more.”
(In Another Narration- Ten times = “Is like one who has freed four souls from among the children of Ismae’el”)
100 in the morning and evening
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Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever says at morning and evening time:
.ﻩﺩﻤﺣﺑﻮ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻥﺎﺤﺒﺴ
“How perfect Allah is and I praise Him.”
…a hundred times during the day, his sins are wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
( In another narration: “Whoever says…one hundred times, none shall come on the Day of Ressurection with anything bettter except somone who has said the same or more)
100 in the morning and evening
Adhkaar for Morning and Evening
*Whatever you say you must be working on, or believe it in your heart, or else you’d be lying*
.ﺮﻮﺸﻧﻟﺍ ﻙﻳﻟﺇﻮ ،ﺖﻭﻤﻧ ﻚﺑﻮ ﺎﻴﺤﻧ ﻚﺑﻮ ،ﺎﻧﺣﺑﺼﺃ/ﺎﻨﻴﺴﻣﺃ ﻚﺑﻮ ،ﺎﻨﻴﺴﻣﺃ/ﺎﻧﺣﺑﺼﺃ ﻚﺑ ﻡﻬﻠﻟﺍ
“O Allah, by your leave we have reached the morning/evening and by your leave we have reached the evening/morning, by your leave we live and die and unto you is our resurrection.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 111)
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ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﺎﻧﻳﺒﻧ ﻥﻴﺪ ﻰﻠﻋﻭ ،ﺺﻼﺨﻹﺍ ﺔﻤﻠﻜ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ،ﻡ ﻼﺴﻹﺍ ﺓﺮﻂﻓ ﻰﻟﻋ ﺎﻨﻴﺴﻣﺃ/ ﺎﻧﺣﺑﺼﺃ
.ﻥﻳﻜﺮﺸﻣﻠﺍ ﻥﻣ ﻥﺎﻜ ﺎﻣﻮ ﺎﻣﻠﺴﻣ ﺎﻔﻴﻧﺤ ﻢﻳﻫﺍﺭﺑﺇ ﺎﻧﻳﺒﺃ ﺔﻟﻤ ﻰﻟﻋﻭ ،ﻢﻟﺳ ﻮ ﻪﻴﻟﻋ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻰﻟﺼ
“We rise/leave upon the fitrah of Islam, and the word of our Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, and the religion of our forefather Ibrahim (saw), who was a Muslim and of true faith and was not of those who associate others with Allah.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 129)
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ﻚﻠﻓ ،ﻚﻟ ﻚﻳﺮﺷ ﻻ ﻙﺪﺣﻭ ﻚﻨﻤﻓ ،ﻚﻘﻠﺧ ﻦﻣ ﺪﺣﺄﺑ ﻭﺃ ،ﺔﻤﻌﻧ ﻦﻣ ﻰﺑ ﻰﺴﻣﺃ/ﺢﺑﺻﺃ ﺎﻣ ﻡﻬﻠﻟﺍ
.ﺮﻜﺸﻟﺍ ﻚﻟﻭ ﺪﻤﺤﻟﺍ
“Oh Allah, what blessing I or any of Your creation have risen/left upon, is from You, alone, without partner, so for You is all praise and unto You all thanks.”
“…Whomsoever says this in the morning has indeed offered his day’s thanks and whomsoever says this in the evening has indeed offered his nights thanks.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 116)
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ﻚﻧﺃ ،ﻚﻘﻟﺨ ﻊﻳﻤﺠﻮ ﻚﺘﻜﺌﻼﻤﻮ ،ﻚﺸﺮﻋ ﺔﻟﻣﺣ ﺪﻬﺷﺃﻭ ،ﻙﺪﻬﺷﺃ ﺕﻴﺴﻤﺃ/ﺖﺤﺒﺼﺃ ﻰﻧﺇ ﻡﻬﻠﻟﺍ
.ﻚﻟﻮﺴﺮﻭ ﻙﺪﺑﻋ ﺍﺪﻤﺤﻤ ﻥﺃﻮ، ﻚﻟ ﻚﻴﺮﺸ ﻻ ﻚﺪﺣﻮ ،ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﺖﻧﺃ
“O Allah, verily I have reached the morning/evening and call on You the bearers of your throne, Your angels, and all of your creation to witness that You are Allah, none has the right to be worshipped except You, alone, without partner and that Muhammed is Your servant and Messenger.”
“Every time you say this, ¼ of your body is protected from Jahannam.”
4 in the morning and evening (page 114)
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.ﻻﻮﺴﺮﻮ ﺎﻴﺑﻧ ﻢﻟﺳﻮ ﻪﻴﻟﻋ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻰﻟﺼ ﺪﻤﺤﻤﺒﻮ ،ﺎﻧﻴﺪ ﻢﻼﺴﻹﺎﺒﻮ ،ﺎﺒﺮ ﷲﺎﺑ ﺖﻴﻀﺮ
“I am pleased with Allah as a Lord, and Islam as a religion and Muhammad as a Prophet.”
“With these words, Allah promises to suffice us, and no calamity shall befall us.”
3 in the morning and evening (page 123)
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،ﺕﻌﻂﺘﺳﺍ ﺎﻣ ﻙﺩﻋﻮﻭ ﻙﺩﻬﻋ ﻰﻠﻋ ﺎﻧﺃﻮ ،ﻙﺪﺑﻋ ﺎﻧﺃﻮ ﻰﻧﺘﻘﻠﺨ ،ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ﻲﺑﺮ ﺕﻧﺃ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﺭﻔﻐﻴ ﻻ ﻪﻧﺈﻔ ،ﻲﻟﺮﻓﻏﺎﻔ ،ﻰﺒﻧﺬﺒ ﺀﻮﺑﺃﻮ ،ﻲﻟﻋ ﻚﺘﻤﻌﻧﺒ ﻙﻟ ﺀﻮﺑﺃ ،ﺖﻌﻧﺼ ﺎﻤ ﺮﺸ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺃ
.ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﺏﻭﻧﺫﻟﺍ
“O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide by your covenant and promise as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil which I have committed. I acknowledge your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive except You.”
“Whomsoever says this at night, and dies in the morning, it will save him from Jahannam. Whosoever says this in the morning, and dies that night, he will be saved from Jahannam.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 113)
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.ﻡﻴﻈﻌﻠﺍ ﺶﺮﻌﻠﺍ ﺐﺮ ﻮﻫﻮ ﺖﻠﻜﻮﺗ ﻪﻴﻟﻋ ،ﻭﻫ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻟﺇ ﻻ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻲﺑﺴﺣ
“Allah is sufficient for me, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, upon Him I rely and He is Lord of the exalted throne.”
7 in the morning and evening (page 118)
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.ﻖﻠﺧ ﺎﻤ ﺮﺷ ﻦﻤ ﺖﺎﻤﺎﺘﻠﺍ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﺖﺎﻤﻠﻜﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺃ
“I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil He created.”
.ﻢﻳﻠﻌﻠﺍ ﻊﻴﻤﺳﻠﺍ ﻭﻫﻭ ﺀﺎﻤﺴﻟﺍ ﻲﻓ ﻻﻮ ﺾﺮﻷﺍ ﻲﻔ ﺀﻲﺸ ﻪﻤﺴﺍ ﻊﻤ ﺮﺿﻴ ﻻ ﻱﺬﻠﺍ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻢﺴﺑ
“In the name of Allah with whose name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens and He is the All-Seeing; The All-Knowing.”
“He who says these 3 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening, he is guaranteed protection and a shield (no calamities can befall him)”
3 in the morning and evening (page 119+123)
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ﻪﻠ ،ﻪﻠ ﻚﻴﺭﺸ ﻻ ﻩﺩﺤﻮ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻟﺇ ﻻ ﻪﻠﻠ ﺪﻤﺤﻠﺍﻮ ﻪﻠﻠ ﻚﻟﻣﻠﺍ ﻰﺴﻣﺃ ﻮ ﺎﻧﻴﺴﻤﺃ/ ﺢﺑﺼﺃﻭ ﺎﻧﺣﺒﺼﺃ
،ﺔﻟﻴﻠﻠﺍ ﻩﺬﻫ/ﺮﺎﻬﻧﻠﺍ ﺍﺬﻫ ﻲﻔ ﺎﻤ ﺭﻴﺨ ﻚﻠﺄﺴﺃ ﺐﺮ ،ﺮﻴﺩﻘ ﺀﻲﺷ ﻞﻛ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻭﻫﻮ ﺩﻣﺤﻟﺍ ﻪﻠﻭ ﻚﻠﻤﻠﺍ
ﺏﺭ ،ﺎﻫﺩﻌﺑ/ ﻩﺩﻌﺑ ﺎﻤ ﺮﺸﻮ ﺔﻟﻴﻠﻠﺍ ﻩﺫﻫ/ﺮﺎﻬﻧﻠﺍ ﺍﺬﻫ ﺮﺸ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺫﻮﻋﺃﻮ ،ﺎﻫﺩﻌﺑ/ ﻩﺩﻌﺑﺎﻤ ﺭﻴﺧﻮ
.ﺭﺑﻘﻟﺍ ﻲﻔ ﺐﺍﺫﻋﻮ ﺮﺎﻧﻟﺍ ﻲﻓ ﺐﺍﺬﻋ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺫﻮﻋﺃ ﺏﺭ ،ﺭﺑﻜﻠﺍ ﺀﻭﺳﻮ ﻝﺴﻜﻟﺍ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺍ
“We have reached the morning/evening and at this very time unto Allah belongs all Sovereignty, and all praise is for Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. My Lord, I ask You for all good of this day/night and the good of what follows it and I take refuge in You from the evils of this day/night and the evil of what follows it. My Lord, I take refuge in You from laziness and senility. My Lord, I take refuge from You from torment in the fire and punishment in the grave.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 109)
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ﻚﻧﺇ ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻭ ،ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﻰﻟﻋ ﺖﻳﻟﺼ ﺎﻣﻛ ،ﺪﻤﺣﻣ ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ،ﺩﻣﺣﻣ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻝﺼ ﻢﻬﻟﻟﺍ
ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ،ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﻰﻟﻋ ﺖﻜﺮﺎﺒ ﺎﻣﻛ ﺪﻤﺣﻣ ﻞﺁ ﻰﻟﻋﻮ ﺩﻣﺣﻣ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻚﺭﺎﺒ ﻢﻬﻟﻟﺍ ،ﺩﻴﺟﻤ ﺪﻴﻤﺤ
.ﺩﻴﺟﻤ ﺪﻴﻤﺤ ﻚﻧﺇ ،ﻦﻴﻤﻠﺎﻌﻠﺍ ﻲﻔ ،ﻡﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ
“Oh Allah, send prayers upon Muhammed and the followers of Muhammed, just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim. Verily, You are full of Praise and Majesty. Oh Allah, send blessings upon Muhammed and the followers of Muhammed, just as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim. Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.”*
“Whomsoever sends blessings upon me 10 times in the morning and ten times in the evening, he will be granted intercession on the day of judgment.”
*Any version of salawaat on Rasulullah is correct
10 in the morning and evening (page 79)
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ﻥﺃ ﺩﻬﺷﺃ ،ﻪﻛﻴﻟﻣﻭ ﺀﻲﺸ ﻞﻛ ﺐﺮ ،ﺾﺮﻷﺍﻭ ﺖﺍﻭﻤﺴﻟﺍ ﺭﻁﺎﻓ ،ﺓﺪﺎﻬﺸﻠﺍﻮ ﺐﻳﻐﻠﺍ ﻡﻠﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﻰﺴﻔﻧ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻒﺭﺗﻗﺃ ﻥﺃﻮ ﻪﻜﺭﺸ ﻮ ﻦﺎﻂﻴﺸﻟﺍ ﺭﺸ ﻥﻣﻭ ﻰﺴﻓﻧ ﺭﺸ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺍ ﺕﻧﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ
.ﻢﻠﺴﻣ ﻰﻠﺇ ﻩﺭﺠﺃ ﻮﺃ ،ﺍﺀﻮﺴ
“O Allah, Knower of the unseen, and the seen, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and sovereign of all things, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I take refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil and shirk of the devil, and from committing wrong against my soul or bringing such upon another Muslim.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 121)
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.ﺕﻧﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ،ﻱﺮﺼﺑ ﻲﻔ ﻲﻧﻓﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻟﺍ ،ﻲﻌﻤﺴ ﻲﻔ ﻲﻧﻓﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻟﺍ ،ﻲﻧﺪﺑ ﻲﻔ ﻲﻧﻓﺎﻋ ﻢﻬﻠﻟﺍ
“O Allah, grant my body health. Oh Allah, grant my hearing health. Oh Allah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You.”
.ﺕﻧﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ،ﺮﺑﻗﻠﺍ ﺐﺍﺬﻋ ﻥﻣ ﻚﺑ ﺫﻮﻋﺃﻮ ،ﺮﻗﻔﻟﺍﻭ ﺮﻓﻜﻠﺍ ﻥﻤ ﻚﺑ ﺬﻮﻋﺃ ﻲﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
“O Allah, I take refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I take refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You.”
3 in the morning and evening (page 117)
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ﻪﺑ ﻰﻧﻐﻟﺒﺗ ﺎﻣ ﻚﺘﻋﺎﻄ ﻥﻤﻮ ،ﻚﺘﻴﺼﻌﻣ ﻥﻴﺑ ﻭ ﻰﻧﻳﺑ ﻪﺒ ﻞﻭﺣﺗ ﺎﻤ ﻚﺘﻴﺸﺧ ﻦﻤ ﻲﻠ ﻢﺴﻘﺍ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
.ﺎﻳﻧﺪﻠﺍ ﺐﺌﺎﺼﻤ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻪﺒ ﻥﻮﻬﺘ ﺎﻣ ﻥﻴﻗﻴﻟﺍ ﻦﻤﻮ ،ﻚﺘﻧﺠ
“Oh Allah, bestow upon me a share of fear from You which will prevent me from disobeying You and bestow upon me a share of obedience with which you will take me to your jannah, and bestow upon me a share of yaqeen with which you lighten the effects of the hardships and tribulations of this dunya on my heart.”
1 in the morning and evening
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ﻲﻔ ﺔﻳﻔﺎﻌﻠﺍﻭ ﻭﻓﻌﻠﺍ ﻚﻠﺄﺴﺃ ﻲﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﺓﺭﺨﻵﺍﻮ ﺎﻳﻧﺪﻟﺍ ﻲﻔ ﺔﻳﻔﺎﻌﻠﺍﻭ ﻭﻓﻌﻠﺍ ﻚﻠﺄﺴﺃ ﻲﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﻥﻤ ﻲﻧﻅﻔﺣﺍ ﻡﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﻲﺘﺎﻋﻮﺮ ﻦﻣﺁ ﻮ ،ﻲﺘﺍﺭﻭﻋ ﺮﺘﺳﺍ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﻲﻟﺎﻤﻮ ،ﻲﻠﻫﺃﻭ ،ﻱﺎﻴﻧﺩﻮ ،ﻲﻧﻴﺪ
ﻞﺎﺗﻏﺃ ﻥﺃ ﻙﺘﻣﻅﻌﺒ ﺬﻭﻋﺃﻮ ،ﻲﻗﻮﻔ ﻥﻤﻮ ،ﻲﻠﺎﻤﺷ ﻦﻋﻭ ،ﻲﻧﻴﻣﻳ ﻥﻋﻭ ،ﻲﻔﻠﺧ ﻥﻣﻮ ،ﻱﺩﻴ ﻥﻴﺒ
.ﻲﺘﺤﺗ ﻥﻤ
“O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this life and the next. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, an my family and my wealth. O Allah, veil my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay. O Allah, preserve me from the front and from behind and on my right and on my left and from above, and I take refuge with you lest I be swallowed up by the earth.”
1 in the morning and evening (page 119)
________________________________________________________________________
.ﻪﺘﺎﻤﻠﻜ ﺪﺍﺪﻤﻮ ،ﻪﺷﺭﻋ ﺔﻧﺯﻮ ،ﻪﺴﻓﻧ ﺎﻀﺮﻮ ،ﻪﻗﻟﺧ ﺪﺪﻋ ﻩﺪﻤﺣﺒﻭ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻥﺎﺣﺑﺴ
“How Perfect is Allah and I praise Him by the number of His creation, and His pleasure, and by the weight of His throne, and the Ink of His words.
3 in the morning and evening (page 124)
________________________________________________________________________
،ﻦﺎﻜ ﷲﺍ ﺀﺎﺸ ﺎﻣ ،ﻢﻴﻅﻌﻠﺍ ﺶﺭﻌﻟﺍ ﺐﺮ ﺖﻧﺍﻮ ،ﺖﻠﻜﻮﺗ ﻚﻴﻠﻋ ،ﺖﻧﺃ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻠﺇ ﻻ ﻲﺑﺮ ﺕﻧﺃ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ
ﺀﻰﺷ ﻝﻜ ﻰﻠﻋ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻦﺃ ﻢﻟﻋﺃ ،ﻡﻳﻆﻌﻟﺍ ﻰﻠﻌﻠﺍ ﷲﺎﺒ ﻻﺇ ﺓﻮﻘ ﻻﻭ ﻞﻮﺤ ﻻ ،ﻦﻛﻳ ﻢﻠ ﺄﺸﻴ ﻢﻟ ﺎﻤﻮ
ﻥﻣ ﻚﺒ ﺫﻮﻋﺍ ﻰﻧﺇ ﻢﻬﻠﻠﺍ ،ﺍﺩﺩﻋ ﺀﻲﺸ ﻞﻜ ﻰﺼﺣﺍ ﻭ ﺎﻣﻠﻋ ﺀﻰﺸ ﻝﻜﺑ ﻂﺎﺣﺍ ﺪﻘ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻥﺃﻭ ،ﺭﻴﺪﻗ
.ﻢﻴﻘﺘﺴﻤ ﻂﺍﺭﺻ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻰﺑﺮ ﻦﺇ ،ﺎﻬﺗﻳﺼﺎﻧﺒ ﺫﺧﺁ ﺖﻧﺃ ﺔﺑﺍﺪ ﻞﻛ ﺮﺸ ﻦﻣﻭ ،ﻰﺴﻔﻧ ﺮﺷ
“Oh Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You. I completely rely on You and You are the Lord of the throne. There is no Power except by Allah, the Exalted, the Great. What Allah wills will be, and what He does not will, will not be. I know that Allah has Power over all things and that Allah’s knowledge has encompassed everything and Allah has count of everything. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own nafs and from the evil of every creature subject to your power. Verily, my Lord is on a path that is straight.*
* To be kept last as an act of respect for the words of Rasulullah because it is not authentic
1 in the morning and evening
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Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “ Whoever says:
ﺀﻲﺷ ﻞﻛ ﻰﻟﻋ ﻭﻫﻮ ،ﺖﻴﻤﻴﻭ ﻲﻴﺣﻴ ،ﺩﻣﺤﻟﺍ ﻪﻠﻭ ﻚﻠﻤﻠﺍ ﻪﻠ ،ﻪﻠ ﻚﻴﺭﺸ ﻻ ﻩﺩﺤﻮ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻻﺇ ﻪﻟﺇ ﻻ
.ﺮﻴﺩﻘ
“None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, He gives death and causes death, and He is over all things omnipotent.”
…a hundred times during the day, has the reward of freeing ten slaves, a hundred good deeds are recorded for him, and a hundred bad deeds are wiped away and he has gained refuge from the devil that day until evening and none shall come with anything better except someone who has done more.”
(In Another Narration- Ten times = “Is like one who has freed four souls from among the children of Ismae’el”)
100 in the morning and evening
______________________________________________________________________________________
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever says at morning and evening time:
.ﻩﺩﻤﺣﺑﻮ ﻪﻠﻠﺍ ﻥﺎﺤﺒﺴ
“How perfect Allah is and I praise Him.”
…a hundred times during the day, his sins are wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
( In another narration: “Whoever says…one hundred times, none shall come on the Day of Ressurection with anything bettter except somone who has said the same or more)
100 in the morning and evening
end of actual hadith
Ibn Salmaan says that he heard one of the sahabah of our nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam narrating, " When we had won the battle of khayber, we began to buy and sell among ourselves the booty that had fallen to our lot. One of us came and said 'O rasoolullaah sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam, no one else has earned so much profit as i have obtained in today's trade.' How much did you earn?' asked rasoolullaah sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam. He replied, ' I kept selling and buying till i earned a net profit of three hundred ooqiya of silver.' Rasoolullaah sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam said, ' Shall I inform you of something better than that?' He exclaimed, ' Do tell me, O rasool of Allah.' Rasoolullaah sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam remarked, ' Two raka'At nafl after obligatory salaah.' "
end of actual hadith
Three hundred ooqiya of silver come to about thirty six and a half Kgs. According to nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam, the perishable gain of this world stands no comparison with the everlasting gain of the aakhirah. Our life will be pleasant and worth living if we develop our eemaan to an extent where two raka'At of salaah, in our sight, are more valuable than all the riches of this world. Salaah is really a great treasure and that is why the nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam has called it " the comfort of His eyes " and has enjoined its observance right upto His last breath. Ummu Salamah radiyal-laahu a'nha narrates that the last words of nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam, which he could hardly utter, were about taking care of the salaah and kindness towards the slaves.
May Allaah guide us all. Allah Hafiz.
eemaan --> faith ; salaah --> prayer ; aakhirah --> judgement day
end of actual hadith
Three hundred ooqiya of silver come to about thirty six and a half Kgs. According to nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam, the perishable gain of this world stands no comparison with the everlasting gain of the aakhirah. Our life will be pleasant and worth living if we develop our eemaan to an extent where two raka'At of salaah, in our sight, are more valuable than all the riches of this world. Salaah is really a great treasure and that is why the nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam has called it " the comfort of His eyes " and has enjoined its observance right upto His last breath. Ummu Salamah radiyal-laahu a'nha narrates that the last words of nabee sallal-laahu alayhi wa sallam, which he could hardly utter, were about taking care of the salaah and kindness towards the slaves.
May Allaah guide us all. Allah Hafiz.
eemaan --> faith ; salaah --> prayer ; aakhirah --> judgement day
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GO BACK AND PRAY, FOR YOU HAVE NOT PRAYED!
By Muhammad Al-Shareef, LL.B. Shari’ah
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
During the night, Abu Lu’lu’ Al Majoosi hid in the shadows in preparation for the Fajr Salah where he would execute his satanic mission: to Murder the Ameer of the Believers: Umar ibn Al-Khattab - Radi Allahu Anhu. Umar would lead the Fajr with a long surah, giving time for the community to join the congregation. As he led that Salah, Abu Lu’lu advanced from a dim pillar, a poisoned dagger hidden in his sleeve. He jumped in front of Umar Radi Allahu Anhu and tore open his stomach with the dagger. Abu Lu’lu’ then attempted an escape through the congregation, slashing left and right, murdering in his path many others. One Companion threw a cloth over and – realizing that he was caught – Abu Lu’lu’ killed himself. Umar completed the Fajr Salah and passed away later in his bed Radi Allahu Anhu.
The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned after mentioning the testimony of faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all peoples. Allah declared its obligatory status under majestic circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly to Moses, He said,
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha 13-14]
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers. [Successful are the believers, those that offer their Salah with all earnestness and full obedience] - Al Mu’minoon 23/1-2
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in many of the Prophet’s statements. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
In reality, when the prayer is performed properly – with true remembrance of Allah and turning to Him for forgiveness – it will have a lasting effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be filled with the remembrance of Allah. He will be fearful as well as hopeful of Allah. After that experience, he will not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys Allah. Allah mentioned this aspect of the prayer,
"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" (al-Ankaboot 45).
However amongst our community of Musalleen (those who perform Salah) we find some hazy actions that need to be brought back into focus.
· Some do not concentrate on what they are saying.
· Some speed when they pray
· Some wander with their gaze during Salah,
· The number of raka’aat performed is constantly forgotten.
· For some, the Dunya hugs their hearts during Salah and clouds their minds.
· Sometimes, before the Imam says Allahu Akbar, some in the congregation are already in the next prostration.
Compare this to those that came before us: People used to think that ar-Rabee' bin Khaitham, due to his constant lowering of his gaze and keeping his head low (in Salah), was blind. He used to live behind the house of Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood for twenty years and when his servant girl used to see him she would say: Your blind friend is coming, and Abdullaah used to laugh at her speech.
In Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah - Radi Allahu Anhu, a man entered the Masjid and the Messenger of Allah - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - was sitting. The man prayed (2 raka’) and then came to the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - and said salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” So the man went back, prayed (2 raka’) like he did the first time and then came back and repeated the salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” So the man went back, prayed (2 raka’) like he did the first time and then came back and repeated the salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” He said it three times until – on the third time the man said, “By He who sent you with the truth O Messenger of Allah, I do not know any better than this. Teach me.” The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - then said, “If you stand up for Salah say ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Then read what comes easy for you from the Quran. Then bow until you are comfortable in your ruku’. Then stand up until you are standing up straight. Then prostrate until you are comfortable in your Sujood. Then sit until you are comfortable in your Juloos. Then prostrate until you are comfortable in your Sujood. And do this in your entire Salah.”
Let’s go back and do our Salah again. This is our topic for today.
· Why do we come to the Masjid, why do we perform Salah? We do it in application of the command of our Creater Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. Why should we then lose the blessing and reward because of a wandering heart and an itchy hand? Concentration is the soul of our Salah. Concentration is the fruit of our Eeman. Yet regardless of this understanding, people still leave their Salah and only a small protion of it is written for them because of their imperfection of it.
The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “Verily, a man will leave from (his Salah) and only a tenth of his Salah is written for him, a ninth, an eighth, a seventh, a sixth, a fifth, a forth, a third, half.” – Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi.
Uthman ibn Abi Dahshah said, “I have never prayed a Salah that I have not asked Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala to forgive for my shortcomings in that Salah.”
· Someone who short changes his Salah is a thief. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “The evilest thief is he who steals from his Salah.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his Salah?” He - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “He does not perfect it’s ruku’ and Sujood.” – authentic
· Because of the speed some apply to their Salah, it is as if they are pecking up and down like a bird. Narrated Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others, the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - forbade that someone should peck (in Salah) like a crow…”
Umar - Radi Allahu Anhu - once stood on the pulpit and addressed the community with a loud powerful voice, “A man may grow old in Islam and never have completed to Allah a single Salah!” They said, “How is this?” He said, “He does not perfect his concentration, nor his humbleness, nor his focus on Allah - Azza wa Jall.”
Once, Ma’roof Al-Karkhee – Rahimahu AllahimahUllah – stood amongst some of his students and one said to the other, “Please lead the Isha Salah.” The first student accepted but said, “I shall lead the Isha’ Salah on condition that you lead the Fajr Salah and not me.” Ma’roof Al-Karkhe was shocked at what he said and commented, “By Allah, if you think that you’ll be alive at Fajr then – by Allah – you have not yet perfected your Salah.”
Part II How to Concentrate in Salah
Al Qaasim ibn Muhammad - Rahimahu Allah - said, “I went out one day, and whenever I would go out I would always pass by Aisha - Radi Allahu Anha - and give her my Salam. That day I went out and when I found Aisha she was praying Salat al-Duha, reciting over and over the verse of Allah
[Saying: ‘Aforetime we were afraid with our families (from the Punishment of Allah). But Allah was gracious on us and saved us from the torment of the Fire.”]
– At Toor 52/26-27
She was crying and invoking Allah - Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala - and repeating the verse. I stood there waiting until I got tired, she remained as I found her. When I saw this I said to myself, ‘let me go to the market, do what I have to do and come back.’ So, after I had finished what I needed to do at the market, I returned to Aisha - Radi Allahu Anha. She was as I left her, repeating the verse, invoking Allah, and crying.
How do we concentrate in Salah? From the Sunnah, the Prophet – Sal Allahu Alayhi wa sallam – taught the following:
1. Come early for Salah and prepare yourself to concentrate. Repeat the Adhan to yourself with the Mu’adhdhin, and - after the adhan - say the prescribed supplication. Between the Adhan and Iqamah make dua’. Do Wudu properly, cleanse your mouth, and wear your finest clothes.
2. Aim to get the entire reward of your Salah.
Abu Bakr ibn ‘Iyaash said, “I saw Habeeb ibn Thabit in Sujood. If you saw him you would think he was dead (by how long he held his Sujood).”
3. Contemplate the aayaat and adhkaar being recited during the prayer.
Think about the meanings of the verses that you are reciting. Isn’t is disheartening that someone may perform Salah for decades, day after day, and he/she still does not know what they are saying?
The Qur’aan was revealed to be pondered over! Allaah revealed: “(This is) a Book (the Qur’aan) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Saad 38:29].
4. Pray in congregation. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala commands
[And perform Salah, give Zakah, and bow with those that bow.] 2/43
5. Never miss your Nafl Salah, especially those that the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - used to pray constantly, especially Witr and the sunnah of Fajr
6. Do not speed up your Salah. Take your time and do not allow your Salah to become the most invaluable action of your day.
Ibn Wahb said, “I saw Ath-Thowree at the Ka’bah. After Maghrib, he got up to pray and then prostrated. He did not come out of that prostration until the Adhan for Isha’ was given.”
7. Know that Allaah responds to your prayer
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted has said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave, into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.” When the slave says ‘Praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’ When the slave says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has extolled me.’ When the slave says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgement,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has glorified me.’ When the slave says, ‘It is You alone we worship and it is You alone we ask for help,’ Allaah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’ When the slave says, ‘Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured, not the path of those who receive Your anger, nor of those who go astray,’ Allaah says, ‘All these are for My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’” (Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Salaah, Baab wujoob qiraa’at al-Faatihah fi kulli rak’ah). [Words in italics are the translation of the meaning of Soorat al-Faatihah – Translator].
8. Pray with a barrier (sutrah) in front of you and pray close to it
Another thing that will help one to have khushoo’ is paying attention to the matter of having a sutrah and praying close to it, because this will restrict your field of vision, protect you from the Shaytaan and keep people from passing in front of you, which causes a distraction and reduces the reward of the prayer.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays, let him pray facing a sutrah, and let him get close to it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 651).
9. Seeking Refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught us the following methods of combatting the whispers of Shaytaan.
Abu’l-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that he said, “O Messenger of Allaah, the Shaytaan interrupts me when I pray, and I get confused in my recitation.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “That is a shaytaan whose name is Khanzab. If you sense his presence, seek refuge with Allaah from him, and spit [dry spitting] towards your left three times.” [Abu’l-‘Aas] said: “I did that and Allaah took him away from me.” (Reported by Muslim, no. 2203)
10. Pray as if you were told that after Salah you would be going back to Allah.
Abu Bakr Al-Muzanee said, “If you want your Salah to benefit you, then say, ‘I shall die after this Salah!’”
If you would rather not recieve these khutbahs please let me know.
GO BACK AND PRAY, FOR YOU HAVE NOT PRAYED!
By Muhammad Al-Shareef, LL.B. Shari’ah
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
During the night, Abu Lu’lu’ Al Majoosi hid in the shadows in preparation for the Fajr Salah where he would execute his satanic mission: to Murder the Ameer of the Believers: Umar ibn Al-Khattab - Radi Allahu Anhu. Umar would lead the Fajr with a long surah, giving time for the community to join the congregation. As he led that Salah, Abu Lu’lu advanced from a dim pillar, a poisoned dagger hidden in his sleeve. He jumped in front of Umar Radi Allahu Anhu and tore open his stomach with the dagger. Abu Lu’lu’ then attempted an escape through the congregation, slashing left and right, murdering in his path many others. One Companion threw a cloth over and – realizing that he was caught – Abu Lu’lu’ killed himself. Umar completed the Fajr Salah and passed away later in his bed Radi Allahu Anhu.
The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned after mentioning the testimony of faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all peoples. Allah declared its obligatory status under majestic circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly to Moses, He said,
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha 13-14]
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers. [Successful are the believers, those that offer their Salah with all earnestness and full obedience] - Al Mu’minoon 23/1-2
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in many of the Prophet’s statements. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
In reality, when the prayer is performed properly – with true remembrance of Allah and turning to Him for forgiveness – it will have a lasting effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be filled with the remembrance of Allah. He will be fearful as well as hopeful of Allah. After that experience, he will not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys Allah. Allah mentioned this aspect of the prayer,
"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" (al-Ankaboot 45).
However amongst our community of Musalleen (those who perform Salah) we find some hazy actions that need to be brought back into focus.
· Some do not concentrate on what they are saying.
· Some speed when they pray
· Some wander with their gaze during Salah,
· The number of raka’aat performed is constantly forgotten.
· For some, the Dunya hugs their hearts during Salah and clouds their minds.
· Sometimes, before the Imam says Allahu Akbar, some in the congregation are already in the next prostration.
Compare this to those that came before us: People used to think that ar-Rabee' bin Khaitham, due to his constant lowering of his gaze and keeping his head low (in Salah), was blind. He used to live behind the house of Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood for twenty years and when his servant girl used to see him she would say: Your blind friend is coming, and Abdullaah used to laugh at her speech.
In Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah - Radi Allahu Anhu, a man entered the Masjid and the Messenger of Allah - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - was sitting. The man prayed (2 raka’) and then came to the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - and said salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” So the man went back, prayed (2 raka’) like he did the first time and then came back and repeated the salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” So the man went back, prayed (2 raka’) like he did the first time and then came back and repeated the salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” He said it three times until – on the third time the man said, “By He who sent you with the truth O Messenger of Allah, I do not know any better than this. Teach me.” The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - then said, “If you stand up for Salah say ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Then read what comes easy for you from the Quran. Then bow until you are comfortable in your ruku’. Then stand up until you are standing up straight. Then prostrate until you are comfortable in your Sujood. Then sit until you are comfortable in your Juloos. Then prostrate until you are comfortable in your Sujood. And do this in your entire Salah.”
Let’s go back and do our Salah again. This is our topic for today.
· Why do we come to the Masjid, why do we perform Salah? We do it in application of the command of our Creater Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. Why should we then lose the blessing and reward because of a wandering heart and an itchy hand? Concentration is the soul of our Salah. Concentration is the fruit of our Eeman. Yet regardless of this understanding, people still leave their Salah and only a small protion of it is written for them because of their imperfection of it.
The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “Verily, a man will leave from (his Salah) and only a tenth of his Salah is written for him, a ninth, an eighth, a seventh, a sixth, a fifth, a forth, a third, half.” – Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi.
Uthman ibn Abi Dahshah said, “I have never prayed a Salah that I have not asked Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala to forgive for my shortcomings in that Salah.”
· Someone who short changes his Salah is a thief. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “The evilest thief is he who steals from his Salah.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his Salah?” He - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, “He does not perfect it’s ruku’ and Sujood.” – authentic
· Because of the speed some apply to their Salah, it is as if they are pecking up and down like a bird. Narrated Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others, the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - forbade that someone should peck (in Salah) like a crow…”
Umar - Radi Allahu Anhu - once stood on the pulpit and addressed the community with a loud powerful voice, “A man may grow old in Islam and never have completed to Allah a single Salah!” They said, “How is this?” He said, “He does not perfect his concentration, nor his humbleness, nor his focus on Allah - Azza wa Jall.”
Once, Ma’roof Al-Karkhee – Rahimahu AllahimahUllah – stood amongst some of his students and one said to the other, “Please lead the Isha Salah.” The first student accepted but said, “I shall lead the Isha’ Salah on condition that you lead the Fajr Salah and not me.” Ma’roof Al-Karkhe was shocked at what he said and commented, “By Allah, if you think that you’ll be alive at Fajr then – by Allah – you have not yet perfected your Salah.”
Part II How to Concentrate in Salah
Al Qaasim ibn Muhammad - Rahimahu Allah - said, “I went out one day, and whenever I would go out I would always pass by Aisha - Radi Allahu Anha - and give her my Salam. That day I went out and when I found Aisha she was praying Salat al-Duha, reciting over and over the verse of Allah
[Saying: ‘Aforetime we were afraid with our families (from the Punishment of Allah). But Allah was gracious on us and saved us from the torment of the Fire.”]
– At Toor 52/26-27
She was crying and invoking Allah - Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala - and repeating the verse. I stood there waiting until I got tired, she remained as I found her. When I saw this I said to myself, ‘let me go to the market, do what I have to do and come back.’ So, after I had finished what I needed to do at the market, I returned to Aisha - Radi Allahu Anha. She was as I left her, repeating the verse, invoking Allah, and crying.
How do we concentrate in Salah? From the Sunnah, the Prophet – Sal Allahu Alayhi wa sallam – taught the following:
1. Come early for Salah and prepare yourself to concentrate. Repeat the Adhan to yourself with the Mu’adhdhin, and - after the adhan - say the prescribed supplication. Between the Adhan and Iqamah make dua’. Do Wudu properly, cleanse your mouth, and wear your finest clothes.
2. Aim to get the entire reward of your Salah.
Abu Bakr ibn ‘Iyaash said, “I saw Habeeb ibn Thabit in Sujood. If you saw him you would think he was dead (by how long he held his Sujood).”
3. Contemplate the aayaat and adhkaar being recited during the prayer.
Think about the meanings of the verses that you are reciting. Isn’t is disheartening that someone may perform Salah for decades, day after day, and he/she still does not know what they are saying?
The Qur’aan was revealed to be pondered over! Allaah revealed: “(This is) a Book (the Qur’aan) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Saad 38:29].
4. Pray in congregation. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala commands
[And perform Salah, give Zakah, and bow with those that bow.] 2/43
5. Never miss your Nafl Salah, especially those that the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - used to pray constantly, especially Witr and the sunnah of Fajr
6. Do not speed up your Salah. Take your time and do not allow your Salah to become the most invaluable action of your day.
Ibn Wahb said, “I saw Ath-Thowree at the Ka’bah. After Maghrib, he got up to pray and then prostrated. He did not come out of that prostration until the Adhan for Isha’ was given.”
7. Know that Allaah responds to your prayer
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted has said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave, into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.” When the slave says ‘Praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’ When the slave says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has extolled me.’ When the slave says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgement,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has glorified me.’ When the slave says, ‘It is You alone we worship and it is You alone we ask for help,’ Allaah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’ When the slave says, ‘Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured, not the path of those who receive Your anger, nor of those who go astray,’ Allaah says, ‘All these are for My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’” (Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Salaah, Baab wujoob qiraa’at al-Faatihah fi kulli rak’ah). [Words in italics are the translation of the meaning of Soorat al-Faatihah – Translator].
8. Pray with a barrier (sutrah) in front of you and pray close to it
Another thing that will help one to have khushoo’ is paying attention to the matter of having a sutrah and praying close to it, because this will restrict your field of vision, protect you from the Shaytaan and keep people from passing in front of you, which causes a distraction and reduces the reward of the prayer.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays, let him pray facing a sutrah, and let him get close to it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 651).
9. Seeking Refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught us the following methods of combatting the whispers of Shaytaan.
Abu’l-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that he said, “O Messenger of Allaah, the Shaytaan interrupts me when I pray, and I get confused in my recitation.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “That is a shaytaan whose name is Khanzab. If you sense his presence, seek refuge with Allaah from him, and spit [dry spitting] towards your left three times.” [Abu’l-‘Aas] said: “I did that and Allaah took him away from me.” (Reported by Muslim, no. 2203)
10. Pray as if you were told that after Salah you would be going back to Allah.
Abu Bakr Al-Muzanee said, “If you want your Salah to benefit you, then say, ‘I shall die after this Salah!’”
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