1a] He broke the fast deliberately when he was younger; what should he do?

1a] "And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah, then such
are the Zalimoon (wrong-doers, etc.)"
[al-Baqarah 2:229].
And just as if he did this act of worship before the time for it
began, it wouldnot be accepted from him,by the same token if he does
it after the time for it has ended it will not be accepted from him
unless he had an excuse.
End quote from Majmoo' Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 19/89
In the case that it is obligatory to make it up, if the individual has
forgotten the number of days on which he broke the fast during
Ramadan, then he must do what he thinks is most likely to be the case,
because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the
meaning): "So keep your duty to Allah and fear Himas much as you can"
[at-Taghaabun 64:16]. If he thinks it most likely that he broke the
fast on ten days, then he should make up those ten days.
And Allah knows best.

1] He broke the fast deliberately when he was younger; what should he do?

I am now sixteen. When I was fourteen I had some bad friends and I
used to spend most of my time with them. I used to go out with them
during the day in Ramadan, and I used to break the fast andeat food
and smoke cigarettes, etc. I also used to do the secret habit.
I do not remember how many days I broke the first, as it never
occurred to me that I would have to make them up. I also did not know
that the secret habit is haraam. What should I do now? Can you give me
any advice? Can observing naafil fasts take the place of making up
fasts?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Islamic duties are not obligatory for a boy until after he reaches
puberty, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) said: "The Pen has been lifted from three: from the insane one
who has lost his mind until he comes to his senses; from the sleeper
until he wakes up;and from the child until he reaches puberty."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4399; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood.
The sign of puberty for males is when one of three things happen:
emission of maniy (semen), growth of coarsehair around the private
part, or reaching the age of fifteen.
In the case of females, puberty is reached when one of these three
signs appear; in addition there is a fourth sign, namely menstruation.
It is not essential that all of the signs appear; ratherthe appearance
of one of them is sufficient to rule that the individual has reached
puberty.
It should be noted that the years that count with regard to reaching
puberty are hijri years (Islamic lunar calendar). If your age at the
time you mentioned was fourteen years according to the Gregorian
calendar, then your age according to the Hijri calendar will be
approximately half a year more than that; in this case it is likely
that you had reached the age of accountability.
All of this applies so long as the other signs had notappeared in your case.
Based on that, if you broke the fast in Ramadanwhen you had not yet
reached puberty, then youdo not have to do anything, because fasting
was not obligatory for you (at that time).
But if you broke the fast during the day in Ramadan when you had
reached puberty at that time according to one of the signs of puberty
mentioned above, then what you have to do is repent and regret it, and
resolve not to go back to that grave sin again.
With regard to making upthe fasts, if you broke the fast during the
day after having started to fast it, then you have to make upthe fast,
but if you did notfast at all, then you do nothave to make it up and
it is sufficient to repent sincerely, in sha Allah.
You have to do a lot of voluntary fasts, because that will make up for
the shortcomings that occurred with regard to the obligatory fast.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy onhim) was asked about
theruling on breaking the fast during the day in Ramadan without any
excuse.
He replied:
Breaking the fast during the day in Ramadan without any excuse is
oneof the gravest of major sins, and the individual becomes a faasiq
(rebellious evildoer) thereby. He has to repent to Allah and make up
thatday on which he broke the fast. In other words, if he fasted and
during the day he broke the fast withno excuse, then he has sinned. He
has to make upthat day on which he broke the fast, because when he
started to fast it became binding upon him; because he started it on
the basis that it was obligatory, he has to make it up, like a vow
that must be fulfilled. But if he deliberately did not fast at all
with no excuse, then the more correct view is that he does not have to
make it up, because it will not benefithim at all, as it will never be
accepted from him. The basic principle with regard to the act of
worship that are connected to a specific time is that if it is
delayeduntil that specific time hasended with no excuse, it will not
be accepted, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) said: "Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of
ours will have itrejected." And because he has transgressed the limits
set by Allah, and transgressing the limits set by Allah is wrongdoing,
and good deeds are not accepted from the wrongdoer. Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of themeaning):
"And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah,:->

The chaining up of the devils in Ramadaan

We know that in Ramadaan the devils (we seek refuge with Allaah from
them) are chained up. And I would like to know whether the
practitioners of sihr (magic, witchcraft) – may the curse of Allaah be
upon them – practise their craft in this month?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, the devils may whisper to man in Ramadaan, and the practitioners
of witchcraft may practise their craft during Ramadaan, but that
undoubtedly happens to a lesser extentthan at times other than
Ramadaan.
It was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened,
and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3277; Muslim, 1079. According to al-Nasaa'i:
"The most evil jinn are chained up."
This does not mean that the devils have no influence at all, rather it
indicates that they become weaker in Ramadaan and are not able to do
what they are able to do at times other than Ramadaan.
It may be interpreted as meaning that the ones who are chained up are
the most evil devils, not all of them.
Al-Qurtubi said: If it is said, how come we see many evil actions and
sinsbeing committed in Ramadaan, for if the devils were chained up,
that would not happen?
The answer is that (evil actions) are reduced on the part of those who
fastmeeting all the conditionsof fasting and paying attention to the
etiquette of fasting.
Or some of the devils – namely the most evil ones– are chained up, not
all of them, as previously mentioned in some reports.
Or it may mean that evil actions are reduced in Ramadaan, which is
something that we can see. Even though evil actions happen in
Ramadaan, they are less than at other times. Even if all of the devils
were to be chained up, that does not mean that no evil action would
happen, because there are other causes of evil action besides the
devils, such asevil souls, bad habits and the human devils.
From Fath al-Baari.
And Allaah knows best.

Will the person who dies in Ramadan enter Paradise without being brought to account?

The Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "When
Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell
are closed and the devils are chained up." Does this mean that the one
who dies in Ramadanwill enter Paradise without being brought to
account?.
Praise be to Allaah.
That is not the case. Rather what this means isthat the gates of
Paradise are opened to encourage people to strive hard, so that they
can enter it, andthat the gates of Hell are closed, so as to
encouragethe believers to refrain from sin, so that they will not go
through these gates. That does not mean that the one who dies in
Ramadan will enter Paradise without being brought to account;rather
those who will enter Paradise without being brought to account are
those whom the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
described when he said: "They are the ones who do not ask others to
perform ruqyah for them, or believe in omens, or use cautery, and they
put their trust in their Lord", in addition to their doing the
righteous deeds that are enjoined upon them. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy onhim).

Is it permissible to say, “By Allah, I shall certainly disciplineyou, O nafs”?

I have come up with a campaigncalled "By Allah, I shall certainly
discipline you, O nafs". This is a campaign that promotes
self-development and jihad an-nafs. I am going to set up programs for
purifying the soul,softening the heart and reminding one of death, and
I want to post lectures by trustworthy shaykhs.
Is there anything wrong with saying I shall certainly discipline the
nafs that was created by Allah?
Does the fact that this title contains an oath mean that other members
are compelled tojoin the campaign? Please note that I said that
whoever posts a comment on this topic will be regarded as having
joined us in this campaign.
Praise be to Allah.
There is nothing wrong with a person saying to himself, "I
shallcertainly discipline you, O nafs" if he is disciplining himself
in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Even though Allah created
the nafs, the main purpose for which Allah has prescribed religion is
to discipline the nafs, purify it, and instruct it to do acts of
worship and obedience. To Allah belong the creation and the
commandment.
Imam al-Aajurri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If someone were to say: what evidence is there for discipliningthe
nafs? The answer is: The Qur'aan, the Sunnah and the words of the
Muslim scholars. End quote from Adab an-Nufoos, p. 9
He also said (p. 17):
How bad is the situation of the one who neglects to discipline his
nafs and train it on the basis of knowledge; and how good is the
situation of the one who pays attention to disciplining hisnafs and
knows what Allah has enjoined upon him and what He has forbidden to
him, and is patient in going against the whims and desires of his
nafs, and seeks the help of Allah the Almighty in doing so. End quote.
And he narrated in his book (p. 13) that ar-Rabee' ibn Anas said,
concerning the verse "Ward off from yourselves and your families a
Fire (Hell)" [at-Tahreem 66:6]: Discipline and train yourselves and
your families to adhere to the commands of Allah, may He be glorified
and exalted.
And he narrated (p. 14) that Sa'eed ibn Jubayr said: that is: proper
etiquette and manners.
Then he (may Allah have mercy on him) said (p. 15): Do you not see,
may Allah have mercy on you, that your Lord Most Generous is urging
you to discipline yourself and your families. Pay heed to Allah and
make yourselves adhere to that. End quote.
Based on that: there is nothing wrong with the phrase mentioned and
there is nothing wrong with giving the group the title mentioned, even
if this phrase was not narrated in this way from some of the Salaf, so
long as it is Islamically acceptable in and of itself and does not
include anything that is not appropriate according to Islam.
If you choose a title that is similar in meaning, such as
"Self-discipline" or "Training the nafs" and so on, that is also good.
Such words were used as book titles by some of the Salaf.
The oath mentioned is not regarded as compelling anyone to join the
group; rather he is a member if he accepts the conditions stipulated
in the group.
And Allah knows best.
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Can he give zakaat al-fitr to the poor in the form of cash if they will not accept food?

Is it permissible to give the poorzakaat al-fitr in the form of cash
instead of food, if they will not accept food?
Praise be to Allah.
Zakaat al-fitr must be given in the form of food, and it is not
permissible to give it in the formof cash.
But, if the poor will not accept food and ask for cash, it is
permissible to give it in the formof cash in that case, and in that
case one will be excused for notgiving it in the form of food.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
With regard to one who knows that it must be in the form of food, but
he gives it in the form of cash because it is easier for him, that is
not acceptable. But in the example mentioned by the questioner, if we
cannot find anyone who will accept food, i.e., there is no one who
will accept the rice or dates or wheat, and they will not accept
anything but cash, in that case we may give it in the form of cash. So
we should work out thecash value of a saa' of average quality food and
give it to them.
End quote from Fataawa Noor 'ala al-Darb
And Allah knows best.
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The True Religion ofGod

Islam alone has been, and will be the true religion of God.
In conclusion we ask Allah, the exalted, to keepus on the right path
to which He has guided us, and to bestow on us His blessings and
mercy, for He is indeed the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be on prophet Muhammad and
on all theprophets of God and their righteous followers.

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Fasting

…Let us return to the commentary on the hadithof Harith, where he
Prophet speaks of what will rescue a servant from the Foe:
"And [God] enjoins upon you the fast. Verily, the similitude of that
is a man carrying a sack-full of musk in a crowd of people,all of them
marvelling at its fragrance—for the breath of someone fasting is more
fragrant to God, Most High, than the scent of musk." [Tirmidhi,Amthal,
2790; Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 16542.]
The Prophet uses the image of someone carrying a sack-full of musk
concealed from view, hidden under his garments, after the habit of
those who carry musk. Fasting is, likewise, hidden from the eyes of
men and unperceived by their senses.
The fasting person's limbs fast from sins; his tongue fasts from lies,
base language and false witness; his stomach fasts from food and
drink; and his pudenda fast from union. If he speaks, he saysnothing
to violate his fast; and if he acts, he does nothing to spoil his
fast. Allhis speech is salutary and wholesome, as are his deeds—like
the fragrance one smells while sitting next to the bearer of musk.
Anyone who sits with a fasting person benefits from his presence and
is safe from false witness, lies, base language and wrongdoing.This is
the fast prescribed by the Sacred Law, not simply abstinence from
eating and drinking.
Hence, a sound hadih states:
"When someone does not refrain from speaking falsely and the action
that springs from it and from ignorance, God does not need him to
refrain from food and drink." [Bukhari, Adab, 5597; Ibn Maja, Siyam,
1679; also in Bukhari, Sawm, 1770, without the word 'ignorance']
And in [another] hadith:
"Some who fast obtain nothing from it but hungerand thirst." [Ibn
Hanbal, Musnad, 8501, with the ending 'And some may stand for prayer
at night and receive nothing from it but sleeplessness.' Also in
Bahyaqi, Shu`ab al-Iman, 3542, with 'standing at night' mentioned
first.]
True fasting is when the limbs fast from sin and thestomach fasts from
food and drink. As food and drink can break the fast or spoil it, so
sins can cut off its reward and spoil its fruits, as if one had not
fasted at all.

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Al Quran's last ayath came to Nabi{s.a.w}

Allah states the following: "Thisday have I perfected your religion
for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam
as your religion." [Qur'an 5:3]

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7a] Rights of the Husbandand Wife in Islam

7a]
hurt his feelings. Perhaps nothing can illustrate the point better
than the Qur'anic statement which describes the righteous people as
those who pray saying: "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring
who will be the joy and the comfort of our eyes, and guide us to be
models of righteousness." (Al-Furqan: 74)
This is the basis on which all the wife's obligations rest and from
which they flow. To fulfill this basic obligation:
1- The wife must be faithful, trustworthy, and honest.
2- She must not deceive her mate by deliberately avoiding conception
lest itdeprive him of legitimate progeny.
3- She must not allow anyother person to have access to that which is
exclusively the husband's right, i.e. sexual intimacy.
4-She must not receive anyone in his home whom the husband does not like.
5-She may not accept their gifts without his approval. This is
probably meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion, gossip, etc., andalso to
maintain the integrity of all parties concerned.
6- The husband's possessions are her trust. If she has access to any
portion thereof, or if she is entrusted with any fund, she must
discharge her duty wisely and thriftily. She may not lendor dispose of
any of his belongings without his permission.
7- With respect to intimacy, the wife is to make herself desirable; to
be attractive, responsive, and cooperative.
8- A wife may not deny herself to her husband, forthe Qur'an speaks of
themas a comfort to each other. Due consideration is, of course, given
to health and decency."

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7] Rights of the Husbandand Wife in Islam

7]
First of all, we'd like to state that in Islam the marriage of a man
and a woman is not just a financial and physical arrangement of living
together but a sacred contract, a gift of God, to lead a happy,
enjoyable life and continue the lineage. The main goal of marriage in
Islam is the realization of tranquility and compassions between the
spouses. For the attainment of this supreme goal, Islam defined
certain duties andrights for the husband and wife.
For a detailed account of these mutual duties and rights, we'd like to
cite the following:
"Piety is the basis of choosing the life partner. Many are the
statements of the Qur'an and the Sunnah that prescribe kindness and
equity, compassion and love, sympathy and consideration, patience and
good will. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says, "The
best Muslim isthe one who is best to his family." Also, he says, "…
and the most blessed joy in life is a good, righteous wife." (Reported
by At-Tirmidhi)
The role of the husband evolves around the moral principle that it is
his solemn duty to Allah to treat his wife with kindness, honor, and
patience; to keep her honorably or free her from the marital bond
honorably; and to cause her no harm or grief. AllahAlmighty says:
"…consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen
that you hate a thing wherein Allah has placed much good." (An-Nisa':
19)
The role of the wife is summarized in the verse that women have rights
even as they have duties, according to what is equitable; but men have
adegree over them. Allah Almighty says, "And they (women) have rights
similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are adegree
above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Al-Baqaraqh: 228)
This degree is usually interpreted by Muslim scholars in conjunction
with another passage which states, among other things, that men
aretrustees, guardians, and protectors of women because Allah has made
some of them excel others and because men expend of their means. Allah
Almighty says: "Menare in charge of women,because Allah has made the
one of them to excelthe other, and because they spend of their
property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient,
guarding in secret that which Allah has guarded. As for those from
whom you fear rebellion, admonishthem and banish them to beds apart,
and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them.
Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great." (An-Nisa':34)
A-The Wife's Rights; The Husband's Obligations:
Indonesian Muslim couple
Because the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings
be upon him, have commanded kindness to women, it is the husband's
duty to:
1- Consort with his wife inan equitable and kind manner. Allah
Almighty says, "… and consort with them in kindness." (An-Nisa': 19)
2- Have responsibility for the full maintenance of the wife, a duty
which he must discharge cheerfully,without reproach, injury, or
condescendence. Allah Almighty says: "Let him who has abundance spend
of his abundance,and he whose provisionis measured, let him spend of
that which Allah has given him. Allah asks naught of anysoul save that
which He has given it. Allah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease.‏"
(At-Talaq: 7)
Components of Maintenance:
Maintenance entails the wife's incontestable right to lodging,
clothing, nourishing, and general care and well-being.
1-The wife's residence must be adequate so as toprovide her with the
reasonable level of privacy, comfort, and independence. The welfare of
the wife and the stability of the marriage should be the ultimate
goal.
2-What is true of the residence is true of clothing, food, and general
care. The wife hasthe right to be clothed, fed, and cared for by the
husband, in accordance with his means and her style of life. These
rights are to be exercised without extravagance or miserliness.
Non-Material Rights:
A husband is commanded by the law of God to:
1- Treat his wife with equity.
2- Respect her feelings, and to show her kindness and consideration.
3- Not to show his wife any aversion or to subject her to suspense or
uncertainty.
4- Not to keep his wife with the intention of inflicting harm on her
or hindering her freedom.
5- Let her demand freedom from the marital bond, if he has no love or
sympathy for her.
B. The Wife's Obligations; The Husband's Rights:
The main obligation of the wife as a partner in a marital relationship
is to contribute to the success and blissfulness of the marriage as
much as possible. She must be attentive to the comfort and well-being
of her mate. She may neither offend him nor hurt his feelings.
:->
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3a] 5 Ways to Reconnect with the Spirituality of Ramadan

3a]
interest to your family.
4. Experiment with Sadaqa
Do new types of sadaqa (acts of goodness and charity), and take
comfort that what you already do for family and friends is sadaqa as
well. I used to get discouraged each Ramadan (especially once I was a
parent), that I couldn't properly do thosethings recommended to
Muslims during Ramadan: Go for tarawih prayers in the evening, or read
the entire Qur'an. But my mom and mother-in-law gave me sound insight:
Everything you do for the comfort of your family is sadaqa and a way
of worshipping God.
That being said, Ramadan is still a great time to try new acts of
charity and goodness: Put aside a can of food a day and donate it all
when the month is up; Cook a few dishes andtake them to your mosque
for those come there to have iftar; Volunteer at your child's school
for the month and offer to do a Ramadan presentation to explain why
your child is fasting.
Not Muslim? Recognizing the things you do for family and friends as
acts of goodness that are acknowledged by God is agreat step toward
achieving inner spirituality. But take a step out of your comfort zone
to tackle one small charitable project each month, whether it's
donating a little money each day to your favorite charity or taking
charge ofyour office's annual volunteer project.
5. Reconnect with Your Community
For many Muslim Americans, about the onlytime they can find to go to
the mosque is for Friday prayers, or on Sunday when scores of kids
take part in Muslim Sunday school. During Ramadan, why not make the
mosque an integral part of worship? Go there for as many tarawih
prayers as you can, especially the end ones when the Qur'an is being
completed. Pick one day aweek and go to your mosque for iftar. It's
amazing how good we feel to see others fasting and striving as much as
we are, and it can renew our strength to face the next week of fasting
with vigor and joy.
Not Muslim? If you are religious, try visiting your church, synagogue,
or temple outside of worshipservices. You may meet different people
and partake in different experiences that can replenish your spiritual
well. If you don't favor any particular house of worship, designate
some spot–a park or your backyard at sunset–whereyou feel some calm
and visit it with family or friends, free of mental distractions, and
with a focus on each other.

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3] 5 Ways to Reconnect with the Spirituality of Ramadan

3]
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is special to
millions of Muslims worldwide as a holy period dedicated to fasting,
self-purification, and spiritual attainment. Every year the world's
Muslims redesign their lifeto focus on the goals of Ramadan: A
whole-body awareness of God and a humble thankfulness for whatever
blessings He hasgranted.
But Ramadan in non-Muslim countries can be more challenging, as
Muslims try to navigate the requirements and recommendations of
Ramadan–fasting from sunrise to sunset, fitting in the five daily
prayers attheir appointed times, attending special evening tarawih
prayers at the mosque, and reading the Qur'an each day for an entire
month–while juggling the demands of work, school, and family.
While I passed lunchtime in my junior high school guidance counselor's
office during Ramadan, or sneaked a date and waterto break fast during
an evening class in college, or grabbed five minutes in my editor's
office to pray at my first job, my cousins in the United ArabEmirates,
Saudi Arabia, and in Pakistan enjoyed half-days at school and work and
a week's vacation for Eid-ul-Fitr, the holiday at the end of Ramadan.
But I figure, though it's harder to fast and heighten spirituality
when everyone around you isn't joining in, it sure makes the inner
striving more special. And 18 years of fasting in this country have
taught me some valuable strategies for living a Muslim life in
anon-Muslim society while enjoying both.
Here are five practices I'vefound helpful in simplifying and
spiritualizing my Ramadan experience. And if you're not a Muslim,
these tips can be adapted to make your daily life a little more
spiritual and uncomplicated.
1. Take the Remembrance of God Inward
Do as much dhikr as you can during Ramadan
Do dhikr (reciting short du'as, or supplications) silently while
you're driving, waiting in line somewhere, or doing endless household
tasks. Keep a thasbi (the equivalent of a Muslim rosary) in your purse
or pocket and use it to countoff du'as.
Not Muslim? Spending whatever downtime you have to remember God or
peacefully meditate is a great idea for everyone. Thousands of hours
go by every year in our work commutes, in chauffeuring our kids
around, in keeping the house going. Why not try to use that time to
quiet our minds, remind ourselves of a higher being, and appreciate
what we've been given?
2. Appreciate Technology, and ThenTune It Out
In past Ramadans I always went on a sort of technology crash
diet–television, music, inane web surfing, and movies were all
self-banned for 30 days. All the extra time was designated for reading
Qur'an, praying, and reconnecting with my family. Well, crash diets
never work in the long term, and technology does keep the world
connected.
So the better thing to do is to use technology wisely: Use your email
to stay in contact with friends and family and seehow their month is
going,get the news from television and the Internet, watch one
favorite TV show to wind down, and use your ipod to listen to Muslim
books or Qur'anic prayers. And then, when basic needs have been met,
turn the technology off and take the extra time to pray andreconnect.
Not Muslim? The same rule can apply. Use the technology to do what you
need to do for work and family. But then, instead of spending
hourssurfing the web or TV channels, fight the urge and tune out.
Discover your family, and discover meditation and prayer. You can
start slow–cut out an hour of web surfing (or one TV program) every
week andbuild up.
The Al-Zaim family of Duxbury, Massachusetts sits, gathered together
fortheir dinner after 7pm on September 14th, 2008, to break their
Ramadan Fast.(Justine Hunt/Globe Staff Photo) #
3. Iftar as a Family
Having iftar as a family more often should be easier this Ramadan.
Muslims follow a lunar calendar, which moves Ramadan back 10 days
earlier each year. This year nearly half of the month will progress
with iftar time being around 7 p.m.–late enough for the family to be
home together. Breaking fast with the family is a great opportunity to
appreciate one another's holy efforts and discuss spiritual topics.
Not Muslim? The family dinner is a concept hammered home by family and
social organizations. Even some television stations, like Nickelodeon,
show promos advising us to "Make time for the family table." A weekly
or bi-weekly family dinner isa great time to reconnect, to learn about
each other,and to discuss a designated list of topics that are of
interest to your family.

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Willing to Excel

This is all too familiar for a Muslim family who busy themselves
preparing for 'Iftar' - the dinner that marks the breaking of a
religious fast.
During the holy month of Ramadan, millions of Muslims from around the
globe will undergo a physical and mental abstinence known as fasting.
From the time dawn breaks in the morning, until the time the sun sets
at night, Muslims will refrain from eating or drinking, partaking in
sexual activity, speaking or actingin an obscene manner, or indulging
the mind and heart in things other than the remembrance of Allah. In
other words, for a period of 30 days, Muslims will focus on devoting
themselves to steady prayer and self-control.
Muslims Rise to the Challenge
This period of self-denial requires an incredible forceof will power,
and yet millions of Muslims worldwide will rise to the challenge. The
most addicted of smokers will give up their habits in order to comply
with the rules of fasting. Those like myself, with a strong
relationship to all things chocolate, will ignore the glistening
shimmer of a glazed doughnut and wait patiently for sundown to indulge
in sugary sweets. Even those with the occasional outburst of road rage
will simply grit their teeth and mutter the words '"Please watch out
Mr. cut-me-off" rather thanthe usual 'friendly' greeting.
Why Only in Ramadan?
This determination to better one's self as a Muslim and humanitarian
is so strong that one cannot help but feel proudat the accomplishment.
For30 days I can experience the joys of belonging to a community who
pray, fast and break fast in unison. I can sympathise with thosewho
are less fortunate than myself by suffering asthey suffer. I can act
on this sympathy by fulfilling my duty and paying a donation to the
poor, providing a meal for people in need and physically making a
contribution to assist others.
And so I begin to wonder: why should such accomplishments prevail only
in Ramadan? Why can't it be 'Ramadan' all year round so to speak? AsI
sit by my colleague, who nervously bends a paper clip in the hope of
quashing his nicotine craving, I realise that as the holiest month in
the Islamic calendar, ignoring the obligations of Ramadan would cost
morethan the puff of a cigarette.
Determining Priorities
The spiritual blessings received during Ramadan are so great that even
those most distant from their faith will surrender toGod. Living in a
city as diverse as Sydney, some will often be influenced bya culture
not of their own. It may be choosing to live a lifestyle which is
contradictory to the Islamic ideal. It may be thepreoccupation with
achieving a 'status' of importance in order to obtain respect and gain
a voice within the wider community. It may even be as simple as
changing the radio dial in one's mind - from highly focusedon your
duties as a good Muslim, to preoccupied with surviving a hectic dayat
work and home. Whatever the choice, it is up to the individual to
determine his or her priority in life, and fulfill it with only the
fear of judgment by a higher power.
Unfortunately for some, keeping up appearances infront of fellow
Muslims in order to live by a different set of standards seems to be
the solution. Always looking over their shoulder, always worrying
about getting caught in anact of indiscretion. This façade seems to
provide a superficial sense of 'freedom' and yet, as a Muslim, the
only consequences they should fear are those which come from God.
Perhaps a sense of duty is intensified during Ramadan, for there is no
other explanation forwhy this façade comes to ahalt only during this
time of the year.
Attaining Humility All Year Round
Those who focus on attaining that level of humility all year round
should be applauded for their strength of character and
responsibility. For choosing to live without being ashamed of their
identity as an Australian-Muslim. For being more concerned about how
God perceives them rather thanbow to external pressures from society.
And most of all, for setting an example to all those channel
surferswho display an outstanding force of will power and yet do not
go the extra mile unless asked to do so.
It is this which highlights the true beauty of Ramadan - its ability
to unite a community and people, and to encourage an attitude of peace
and generosity. If excelling as afaithful believer and good
humanitarian for 30 days reaps such rewards, then itwould only be a
disservice to ourselves to keep such behaviour dormant for another 335
days of the year. So as I pass by the bakery and look at that
doughnut, I learn that simplicity is the key to a good life - I can
have my cake and eat it too.

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How to Choose a Husband, Wife or Friend

Is his hair nicely styled? Is he the perfect height?
Is her makeup just right? Does her body have the perfect curves?
This is packaging, it's irrelevant.
American, Pakistani, Mexican, Egyptian, Bengali, Indonesian,
black,white, brown, this is a veneer. It's unimportant in the long
run. When you're sick and battling torecover, it's not an American who
holds you and tells you that it will be okay, who makes you chicken
soup with lemon and ginger… It's a human being, a husband or wife who
loves you.
We must get beyond superficial and meaningless classifications like
race and nationality.
Does he wear Armani suits cut just right? Are hisshoes sleek and
shiny? Does her clothing drape elegantly on her figure?
You know what? That Armani suit can't stand onits own. It needs a
hangarjust to stay upright. That elegant clothing can't raise your
children right.
We must learn to look beyond appearances. I'm not saying that
appearance is irrelevant, but how much of our attraction is based on
truehuman beauty, and how much is based on distorted standards and
poisonous imagery pumped into our brains by TV, movies,
advertising,magazines and billboards? In other words, to what degree
have we been brainwashed?
The world of advertising teaches us to focus on thewrong things.
Consultantsare paid millions of dollars to design the perfect package
for a box of cereal or an energy drink, just the right shape and
bright color to catch your eye and entice you to buy. Meanwhile, the
product – as often as not – is actually bad for you, consisting of
empty calories, sugar, chemicals and dyes. They are teaching us to
make choices based on packaging and image, andwhat they are teaching
usis entirely ruinous and wrong.
Human beings, however, are not consumer products. We're not
disposable. When you marry someone you're in it for the long haul.
You'rewith them when they wake up in the morning with crust in their
eyes and hair stuck to one side of the their head; when they get laid
off from their job and you don't know how the bills will get paid next
month; when they're depressed, tired, sick; when they make mistakes,
when they say and do the wrong things, when they lose their temper,
when they're afraid or insecure…
This is as serious as it gets. This is life, and the right package
won't get you through it, won't helpon you the path, won't hold you up
when you're weak, or put a smile in your heart when you're down. The
package can't do that. Remember that when you buy something,the
package ends up in the trash. If you choose someone for the package
only, you may be bitterly disappointed when the storm comes and no one
is there to keep you safe.
These are lessons learned through heartache and disappointment. These
are lessons I have learned.
Look deeper. Find a gentleheart, a strong backbone, a striving spirit.
Look to what the person does, how they live, how they treat people,
how they relate to the Almighty. Look to that shimmering soul inside,
and discern whether it's a selfish and bitter soul, or loving and
true. Look beyond the packaging to the person inside, and trust your
fitrah-based instincts, and you'll find yourself a rare happiness, and
a precious partnership.
The most beautiful, powerful things in the world don't come in
packages. Mountains, trees, ocean, sky, stars… their true attributes
are bared to the world. They don't need packages because they are
beautifuland profound in their essence.
By basing your life choiceson matters of substance, you'll avoid
social and financial traps that ruin somany. You'll build friendships
as real and solid as mountains, with people you can trust with your
honor, your heart and your life. You'll do work that matters, and
leave a legacy that improves people's lives in unforgettable ways.

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Love for your partner what you love for yourself

Imam Zaid Shakir writes:
As Salaam Alaikum,
To summarize the duties of brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam, we
should love for our brother and sister what we love for ourselves.
This is an incredible teaching that if implemented would go a long way
towards improving relations between us. This spirit of love is
especially important between husbands and wives, as we often treat
each other as abstract enemies as opposed to Muslims, first and
foremost.
- Imam Zaid Shakir
This is an excellent observation and insightfulpiece of advice. Many
of us are familiar with this hadith but have not thought of it in
terms of husband and wife.
When we want for our spouse what we want for ourselves, it takes our
marriage to a new level oflove. We begin to think about our partners
needs and wants, we pray for our partner just as we pray for
ourselves, we work for our partner's material and spiritual success as
much as our own.
We also forgive them for their mistakes just as we would hope to be
forgiven. We praise them for the good they do, thank them, hug them,
and when they need it wecorrect them in kindness. That's love, and
it's what a good marriage is made of.

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Eid Mubarak, have a blessed and happy Eid!

Eid Mubarak to all ourfaithful readers, first time visitors, brothers
and sisters, and friends.
Last year when I posted an Eid message I wrote,
"The last year has been difficult for me personally.But I thank Allah
that I amalive to see another sunrise, to see my daughter laugh and
learn,to enjoy all the blessings that Allah has given me, and to have
another day to ask Allah's forgiveness, pray, work, and think. Another
day to strive to be a better Muslim, a better father, and a
betterhuman being."
Alhamdulillah, since then things have improved. WeMuslims are people
of patience and truth, and if we adhere to that path then Allah will
never abandon us, rather He willguide us, ease our hearts, and open
opportunities for us.
On this day of celebration and commemoration of the sacrifices of
Ibrahim, Hajar and Ismail (may Allah be pleased with them all), may
Allah ease the hearts of all who are suffering, replace pain with
comfort and joy, sickness with health, oppression with liberation,
tyranny with freedom, and fill our hearts with the hope and tawakkul
(trust in Allah) that is sorely needed by our Ummah.

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4a] Ten Tips for Ramadan

4a]
for our Creator?!
So what if we have to sacrifice our sleep, and random other luxuries
that we can do without anyway. As the saying goes, "No pain, no gain."
The amount of sacrifice and struggle we put into this month, Allah
will reward us in this world and the next accordingly.Give yourself to
Allah, and see what Allah has in store for you.
6. Dua':
The essence of worship is supplication to Allah. This whole month,
Allah is willing and readily open to accept all that we ask of Him. It
is only to our own loss and detriment that we lack in begging Allah
for the things we need.
Prioritize your supplications. Ask firstly for yourself, then your
family, community, then the Ummah at large. Within that, prioritize
andask for things pertaining to the hereafter, then ask for things
pertaining to this world.Just remember one thing when it comes to
dua', the point of dua' is not that we need something or we need
protection or refuge from some other thing, the point is that Allah
told us to supplicate to Him, and that is why one should make dua'
abundantly. There are certain things Allah loves to do, and one of
them is to answer the supplications of His servants who call unto Him.
One final aspect regardingdua' is crying or pretending to cry. Tears
are something foreign to Allah and therefore He hasimmense value for
tears. The whole year we become filthy and impure spiritually by
sinning, Ramadhan is the month where we purify our spirits by bathing
our spirits in our tears.
7. Good Company:
Ramadhan is a month to maximize on good deeds and keep bad deeds at
zero. Being in the company of the righteous will allow one to attain
this goal. I will keep this point short. The minimumbenefit one gets
by being in good company is that one will not sin which in turn will
cause one to become the greatest worshiper.
There is a hadith reportedin Tirmidhi wherein An-Nabi (Sallallahu
'AlayhiWa Sallam) took Abu Hurayrah's (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) hand and
said, "O Abu Hurayrah, abstain from all prohibitions and you will
become the best worshiper."The maximumbenefit is that being with the
people of Allah, Insha Allah; a person may just Attain Allah. What can
be greater?!
8. Gratitude:
The secret to an increase in anything is to be thankful for it. To
make sure that we see this month the next year, appreciate it this
year. Be thankful for all that we have in every aspect, eventhe basic
things we neglect and take for granted. We have Iman, we have Islam.
Alhamdulillah, we are the best Ummah. We have been given the best
book,i.e. the Qur'an.
The best way to appreciate a bounty is to use it for its purpose.
Allah has blessed with infinite blessing and bounties. Ramadhan is one
of those bounties, so to fully appreciate Ramadhan, we must spend it
the way Allah would like us to spend it and attain out goal which is
Taqwa.
9. Following the Sunnah:
Anything of the beloved isalso beloved. That is a principle of love.
Allah hasproclaimed the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) as His
beloved. If we follow the Sunnah andshow a resemblance, thenwe can
also gain the focusof Allah. Particularly follow the Sunnah acts which
the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) performed in Ramadhan.
If we have to do something, might as well do it the best way possible.
The best way foranything to be done is theway of the Sunnah. If by any
chance it was some other way, Allah would have had His Prophet
(Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) do it that way then.
10. Istiqamah:
Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi(RA) said, "Steadfastness isgreater than a
thousand miracles." Please do not tire one's self out in the initial
stages of Ramadhan, rather figure out a routine that works and stick
to it regularly. The most beloved of actions to Allah are those that
are done consistentlyeven though they may seem minor.
We all need to be thankful for the good thatwe have done and also for
the evil we are able to abstain from. We also need to be thankful for
whatever level of steadfastness that we have. We want to make Ramadhan
last beyond Ramadhan as well.
I'll end with a quote from one of our mashaaikh, Shaykh
In'aam-ul-Hasan Kandehlawi (RA) said, "Whoever lives their life as
they do in Ramadhan, then death will come to that person just as the
moon of 'Eid comes for the fasting person."
To conclude, we pray to Allah that He accepts all ofour efforts and
overlooks and forgives all of our shortcomings. Aameen.

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4] Ten Tips for Ramadan

4]
As the blessed month of Ramadhan approaches, we need to prepare for it
in such a way that we cangain the maximum benefit of this month. For
many, Ramadhan comes and goes. However, very few people actually
benefit from this great month.
Our teachers advise us to live the whole year as if we are in the
month of Ramadhan. This magnanimous achievement can only be attained
when the actual month of Ramadhan is spent properly. In order
toacquire a droplet of the reality mentioned above, Insha Allah, I
hope to mention ten points that were given as form of advice to me and
many others.
1. Discipline:
Most people already knowto abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual
relations from one's spouse during the daytime of Ramadhan. However, a
level of discipline must be developed to do righteous acts and
abstainfrom those acts which would earn the displeasure of Allah. That
was a basic form of discipline that needs to bedeveloped but along
withthat, one needs to have discipline in following a particular
routine or schedule for Ramadhan.
This will be the real life changing factor for an individual. They
wake up for suhoor but also pray Tahajjud at that time. Recite some
Qur'an. They eat. Make dua' while waiting for Salah. They pray Fajr.
Recite Qur'an and make zikr. Rest if theyneed to.
The idea is to make a schedule and act accordingly the whole month
without sacrificing their schedule. This is the desired discipline
that is required.One may ask, "Why did he not just put the first point
as a 'making a schedule'?" Well, the answer is very simple. Anyone can
come up with a schedule, but it takes real discipline to abide by it.
2. Devotional life ('Ibadah):
Ramadhan is the month where Allah allows us to really fulfill the
purpose ofour being, and the purpose of our creation. Allah created us
all to worship Him, and Him alone.Here, I will not mention virtues of
variousacts or worship because those can be found in the many books on
the meritsof certain deeds.
However, since Ramadhanand Qur'an are closely connected, I will say
that much of our devotional life should be focused on the Qur'an.
Reciting at least the entire Qur'an once in this month. Understanding
it from erudite scholarship of our community or from accepted
commentaries and Tafaaseer.
I am not asking that a person recites the entire Qur'an and completes
oneentire commentary of it inone month. Perhaps it may be feasible to
recite the entire Qur'an and startoff a regimen of a Tafseer and try
to finish it on an annual basis.
3. Identifying with the Ummah:
It is important that we feel our fast, i.e. feel hunger and thirst.
Apart from that, we can use thisto our benefit by making other
people's fast count for us as well. This means that if we feed or give
to drink something to someone who fasts, we can get the reward of
their fast as well.
Another aspect of identifying with the Ummah is to be grateful for
whatever Allah has given us and realize that alittle of that we need
to give to others so that they may have a decent Ramadhan and
wonderful'Eid. See what the Ummahis going through and see how we can
actively participate to help the Ummah in any way possible.
4. Contact with the Qur'an:
Ramadhan is the month wherein the Qur'an was revealed. This is the
month of the Qur'an. It is extremely essential to establish a
relationship with the Qur'an. Without going into much detail, I will
just mention something practical with regards to the Qur'an and
Ramadhan.For the average person, i.e. one who is not scholar or is not
a Hafiz, they should read at least one juz per day so that they finish
at a minimum one entire Qur'an for the month of Ramadhan.
If one can do more, than Alhamdulillah, no one is stopping anyone.The
nextthing is to understand theQur'an. So take the first volume of
Ma'ariful Qur'an(for example) and read one section of the Arabic part
(if one can) and then read the translation, then read the commentary.
Do this every day without fail. Obviously the whole commentary will
not be completed in one month, but at least a schedule to read a
portion regularly will be developed and hopefully within a year it
could be completed.
Also, one should try to memorize those chapters/surahs which areread
often like Mulk, Kahf, Ya Seen, Waqi'ah, and Sajdah. Also memorize
Surahs from the last juz atleast and more if possible.
5. Mujahadah:
Ramadhan is a month of sacrifice and struggle. It is a month where
Allah wants our time, our health, our wealth, and our whole being. We
literally live the whole year for everything and anything. It is just
one month…can we not live one month solely for our Creator?!

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Did You Thank Allah for Your Eyesight?

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He
held upa sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a
few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. Hetook a few coins from his pocket and dropped
theminto the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around,and wrote
some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would
see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to
theblind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to
see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,"Were
you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a
different way."
What he had written was:"Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."
Do you think the first signand the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign
simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were
so luckythat they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the
second sign was more effective?
"It is He, Who has created for you (the sense of) hearing (ears),
sight (eyes), and hearts (understanding). Little thanks you give."
[surah Al-Mu'minun; 78]

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2a] Ramadan 2012, The 20th Day

2a]
If man does not forget that satan has no power –that he only performs
according to the command of Allah- and that he is a very helpless
creature and does not see the satan as an independent power and take
up a position in the side of Allah , satan will lose all power against
that person.
If man evaluates the tricky schemes of the satan, the truths he turns
about, the lies he tells, thetricks he plays, the evil impulses he
gives with the verses of the Qur'an, he will instantly see that all
those are very corrupt and weak traps and the satan again will not be
able to influence him in any way.
When man acts with a faithful consciousness against the satan, by the
leave of Allah, the efforts of satan will remain inconclusive until
the end of his life.
The point of view of man against the satan should never involve any
logic other than these facts. A Muslim should never see satan as
powerful and should never assume that it is difficult to neutralize
it. A Muslim should never forget that "Allah created satan only as a
deviator for the unbelievers; that he has no authority over the
devout Muslims who love Allah and who live bythe morality Allah
likes".
A Single Example is Enough to See How Darwinism is an Utter Nonsense
Each Protein Molecule in our bodies acts with discipline to carry out
Allah's commands. Allah, the Lord of the worlds, is the One Who
creates eachmolecule to do "absolute must" type operations.
Albumin, which is one of the "carrier" proteins in the blood, binds
itself to fats like cholesterol, hormones, toxic gallbladder materials
and drugs such as penicillin. Albumin travels with the blood in the
body and leaves the poisons which it collects in the liver for
neutralization, and carriesthe nutrients and hormones wherever they
are needed throughout the body.
* How does a molecule like albumin, which is made up from atoms and do
not have consciousness or knowledge, distinguish between fats,
poisons, drugs and nutrients?
* How does the albumin recognize between the liver, gall bladder and
stomach and take the substances which it carries to the right place,
in the right amount and invariably without error?
* How does it recognize the differences between toxic substances,
drugs and nutrients carried in the blood and understandexactly how
much should be left in which organ?
The albumin molecule, which is a combination of a few unconscious
atoms, knows information that the vast majority of people do not know
without proper education,and has performed its duty in every person
who has ever lived thus far for millions of years. The capability of
showing a consciousness like this doubtlessly takes place through
Allah's infinite power and knowledge.
Enemies of Hazrat Mahdi(as) will be scholars of religious law
Page 27 of the Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar :
"Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will preserve Islam at the end in the same way
that the Prophet (pbuh) preserved it at the beginning. HazratMahdi
(pbuh) will leave no subsequent additions," says our Prophet (pbuh).
Our Prophet (pbuh) says that, as in his own day, the Mahdi (pbuh) will
perform all the requirements of the faith but do away with all
nonsense added on afterward .
"The enemies of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be those who imitate scholars
of religious law, " some people from amongthe fanatics. "Because when
they see that HazratMahdi (pbuh) governs in the opposite manner to the
imams of the sects, this will displease them, they will accuse him of
not being one of the People of the Sunnah, andwill refer to people of
perversion and subsequent additions to the faith. But they will be
unable to overcome him. The declared foes of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will
be scholars of religious law. Because they will have no more prestige
among the public. Their knowledge will even decline. Ibn Arabi says
thisin Al-Futuḥat al-Makkiyya. In other words, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)
will be branded as perverse and outside the people of the Sunnah. We
can see this inthe hadiths of our Prophet (pbuh), as well asin
statements by Ibn Arabi. The Prophet (pbuh) says they will say. "He
hasruined our religion." The Mahdi (pbuh) will wish people to live by
the Qur'an, but since they are used to living by nonsense, they will
say, "He has ruined our religion."

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2] Ramadan 2012, The 20th Day

2]
Satan is your enemy so treat him as an enemy. He summons his party so
theywill be among the people of the Searing Blaze. (SurahFatir, 6)
"There are two impulses inthe soul, one from an angel which calls
towards good and confirms truth; whoever finds this let him know it is
from Allah and praise Him. Another impulse comes from the enemy which
leads to doubt and denies truth and forbids good; whoeverfinds this,
let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil." Then he recited
the verse: "The devil shows you fear of poverty and enjoins evil upon
you." (Tirmidhi)
But people avoid praying because they depict it as very difficult and
because satan puts pressure on them. But prayer is in fact comfortable
and simple. We must pray in a relaxed manner, as our Prophet (saas)
prayed. Allah says He wants things to be easyfor us, not difficult. It
is satan and his trickery that makes prayer impossible to perform with
complicated nonsense and superstition added on afterward. Ritual
cleansingis easy. You must wash your hands, arms and feet, and wet
your head, and when you wet your ears and neck you will feel
veryrelaxed. They have invented lots of complicated details so people
do not pray at all. So satan foolishly thinks he has won.
Satan is the Most Dangerous Enemy to Man. However it is Very Easy ForA
Muslim to Neutralize the Satan
If we tell someone;"Somewhere, there is a person who is harboring a
grave enmity towards you.There is nothing that he wouldn't do to give
you the biggest harm one can ever give. He is a master inevery form of
trickery, lie, games and deceitfulness. And he would not leave you
alone until he can harm you the way he wants," how would one react?
Would it be possible for him to only say "Okay" and go on withhis life
without taking any precautions against that enemy and not be
interested at all?
Of course the answer to that question is a "No". Every person, the
minute he becomes aware of such an enemy, would pay a great attention
to this matter.
However, man has a much more dangerous and ravenous enemy than any
other man harboring a grave enmity against him. This enemy is the
"satan". And the satan is man's biggest and most determined enemy
ever existed on Earth.
That is because there is an"end" that satan aims for aman. This end is
his entering to the "endless Hell". It is not possible for the satan
to leave man alone until he gets this result. This is a definitive law
of Allah, He revealed inthe Qur'an:
...And do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He trulyis an
outright enemy to you. ( Surat al-Baqara, 168)
I will lead them astray and fill them with false hopes. I will
command them and they will cut off cattle's ears. I will command them
and they will change Allah's creation.' Anyone who takes satan as his
protector in place of Allah has clearly lost everything. (Surat
an-Nisa, 119)
In the Qur'an Allah tells man to "treat satan as an enemy" , in the
face the satan being an enemy to mankind. In that case manshould obey
this commandof Allah –for the approval of Allah- and make neutralizing
the satan, a prioritized aim for him.
Satan is a big enemy for man. However Allah madeit very easy for man
to be saved from the evils of thesatan. In the Qur'an Allah revealed
many secrets to show man the way for that. Some of those secretsare as
follows:
Satan has no authority over those who believe and put their trust in
their Lord. Satan only has authority over those who take him as a
friend and associate others with Allah. (Surat an-Nahl, 99-100)
Only the fact that man –by the leave of Allah- knows these secrets
Allah revealed in the Qur'an is enough for him to neutralize his
biggest enemy, the satan, promptly and conclusively.If man lives
without forgetting that there is no power other than Allah; that
neither the satan, nor man has any power and do not ascribe any
partners to Allah, no matter from which aspect satan approaches him,
he will take no result and willnot be able to give any harm to man.
If man –under any circumstances whatsoever-is determined to put his
trust in Allah; and do not forget that Allah creates everything on a
destiny with goodness and wisdom and that man can only act as Allah
preordained in destiny, satan will never be effective on him. Upon the
evil impulse of the satan, ifa man seeks refuge in Allah and thinks
with the verses of the Qur'an –by the leave of Allah- that evilimpulse
will be removed and satan will never be effective on that person.:->

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Let Me Be True

When it all comes down,
let me be true.
When seas thicken to brown,
and the world grows dim,
and love scatters
like ash on the wind,
and every man lies
to protect his skin:
let me be true to You Allah,
let me be true.
To the Messenger,
let me be near:
when in a dream I sat by him
against the beam of a wrecked ship,
he in a green turban, and a battleclashing…
we drank water, and breathed,
then he turned to me, and said,
"It's not what you speak that matters
but what you do."
To my heaven-blessed hero
let me be true.
To my love, let me be sincere.
I stand beneath a lamp
in a sphere of light
on a desert road. I don't peer
into the night. I listen,
beard dewed with rain,
for the footsteps of her soul.
Let me lead her to Jannah
and fulfill the shepherd's goal.
Let me soothe her sight,
carry her through storm,
and stand like a lion
as armies swarm on.
To my little daughter,
O Allah I implore you,
let me be forever true.
When she laughs and exclaims,
"You're so strong, Baba!"…
When I speak God's name
and she listens solemnly,
when she leaps and believes
that I'll save her…
To her nature and her dreams,
let me be true.
To myself – the greatest dare -
let me be real as earth.
Through the cinder heaps
and broken cities of the world
let me sweep, through black smoke,
eyes streaming, striding
like a bear. Let me hold on
to Book and pen, knife and drum,
true love as gun and guide.
Let me bow down on the roadside,
true to the Lord of the Dawn.
Let me rise, head up,
bloody and torn
but voicing truth
to the livid eyes of death,
and spreading peace
where only hate was found.
Dress me in taqwa.
Feed me dust and bone
and find me where sea meets stone
at the Western edge
when, finally, every secret is dredged,
and the world is used and done.
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Unbroken in the Sun

This won't break me
or even knock me down.
I remember El Reno,
thick brown stone
and layers of cages,
a thousand men
in various stages
of hidden rages
and nothing past the wire
but wind and grass;
and I lived through that
with ten knuckles and a laugh.
Do I look crazy?
That's okay.
Keep the games you play
and clear my way.
Break me? Come on now.
Drop a mountain
and I bust through stone.
I'm a pile of smile and bone
and when you see that light
in my eyes
you'd better step for your life.
Try, go on.
It'll be fun.
Come with your Black Hand
and sideshow man.
Come with your entourage,
your knives and guns,
lies and history redone.
Grind my love
beneath your heel – I'll reel it out
like blast wire,
and you'll catch fire.
Betray me and I bleed
but that's no test –
I fight bloody with the best.
So baby, I have to laugh.
Sorry if that lets you down
but I'm not wearing a frown
cause I've got Laa ilaha il-Allah
and as I look around
every glory
reflects the glory of the One,
and I stand unbroken
in the sun.
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Read News

http://mobile.time.com/

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1a] Ramadan: The Month of Deeds

1a]
beyond your normal deeds with more voluntary acts and increase them in
a gradual manner. Then whoever can perform i'tikaaf (confinement of
oneself to the mosque) they spend all of their time in good deeds
until the end of Ramadan, while those who cannot, exert themselves to
spend their days performing good deeds and their nights in prayer.
After celebrating Eid al Fitr, the six fasts of Shawwal should be
performed and good deeds should remain part of our routines until the
following Ramadan.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may
Allahbe pleased with them) would perform various good deeds in
Ramadan. Some of the deeds that have been mentioned in association
with fasting and Ramadan will now be mentioned, all of which are
highly recommended acts of worship to be performed.
Allah the Most High combined fasting with eight other deeds when
Hedescribed the successful believers "(The believers whose lives Allah
has purchased are) those who repent to Allah (from polytheism and
hypocrisy, etc.), who worship Him, who praise Him, who fast (or go out
in Allah\\\'s Cause), who bow down (in prayer), who prostrate
themselves (in prayer), who enjoin (people) for Al-Ma\\\'rûf (i.e.
Islaamic Monotheism and all what Islaam has ordained) and forbid
(people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds
andall that Islaam has forbidden), and who observe the limits set by
Allah (do all that Allah has ordained and abstain fromall kinds of
sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden). And give glad tidings
to the believers. [6] Ramadan is also the month of Quran as Allah the
Most High said
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between
right and wrong)" [7]
Abdullah ibn 'Amr (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah said
"Fasting and the Quran will intercede for a slave on the day of
judgement, the fasts will say, 'my Lord I prevented him (or her) from
food and desires so let me intercede', and the Quran will say, 'I
prevented him (or her) from sleeping at night so let me intercede',
then they will intercede" [8] .
It was said that the salaf would spend the days of Ramadan reading the
Quran [9] , and the importance of studying the Quran cannot be
emphasised enough. A single ayah recited with contemplation (tadabbur)
may be better then reciting many ayaat (verses) of the Quran without
contemplation. Scholars differed regardingwhether it is better to
recite more or recite less with contemplation. Although as isolated
deedsthey both may be equal, the latter will benefit you for the rest
of your life andthus the effects of understanding the Quran will
elevate you further in the Hereafter. Abu Jumrah once said to Abdullah
ibn
Masud 'I am fast in my recitation and perhaps I would recite the Quran
once or even twice in a single night', Abdullah (ra) replied 'For me
to recite one surah is more pleasingto me than if I did that which you
do, if you do so then make sure that you recite so that your ears hear
what you recite and your heart pays attention.' [10]
Ibn 'Abbas (ra) narrated
"Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people
and he was the most generous in the month of Ramadan, when Jibreel
would meet him. Jibreel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to
teachhim the Quran." [11]
This hadith emphasises theneed to be generous in giving all kinds of
charity in Ramadan, in addition to studying the Quran. It is also
important to feed others, especially those with less. The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said
"whoever gives a fasting person (food or drink to break their fast),
they will have similar to the reward of the one who fasted, without
any decrease for the one who fasted." [12]
It is upon us all to fear Allah, and direct our best efforts in and
out of the month of Ramadan towards obeying Him. Allah the Most High
commanded us
"So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can; listen
and obey; and spend in charity that is better for yourselves. And
whosoever is saved fromhis own covetousness, then they are the
successful ones." [13]
No one is burdened with more than they can take, however it is through
the performance of good deeds and the attainment of taqwa that we will
earnthe reward prepared for the muttaqeen.
Notes:
Source: www.islam21c.com [1] Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183
[2] Mu'jam al-lughatul-fuqahaa, Dar An-Nafaes
[3] Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, Zaad al-Ma'aad, Maktabah Al-Risalah,
Volume 2, pp27-29
[4] Sunan al-Tirmidhî 618 and Ibn Maajah 1632; authenticated by Sheikh Albaani
[5] Sahîh Ibn Khuzaymah 1887
[6] Surah At-Taubah 9:112/

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1] Ramadan: The Month of Deeds

1]
All praise belongs to Allah the Most High, who created both life and
deathas a test to see who is foremost in deed. ThroughHis infinite
mercy He blessed mankind with selected times and seasonsin which the
best deeds are made obligatory and the reward for good deedsis
multiplied. Allah, the Most Wise, prescribed the third pillar of
Islam, fasting, in the second year after the hijrah of the final
Messenger (peace be upon him). Fasting is obligatory upon every sane
Muslim adult, Allah the Most High says,
"O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain
taqwa." [1]
Taqwa is defined as "the consciousness of the soul to fulfil what
Allah the Most High has commandedand abstain from what He has
prohibited" [2] . Fastingis therefore a means towards achieving a
level of self-restraint. The scholars of tafsir (exegesis)mention
various behaviours that are restrained by fasting including eating,
drinking, fulfilling one's desires, being angry and disobeying Allah
the Most High in general. Sufyan Al Thawri said,
"The reason for the title muttaqin (those who havetaqwa) is that they
leave that which is not left".
Ibn al-Qayyimsaid
"The objective behind fasting is to restrain the soul from desires
(for food,drink, and sexual relations), divert it from itsnormal
circumstances, tame the strong desires, prepare it to attain the
happiness and benefits (from fasting), and purify itfrom its untamed
state. By experiencing the intensity of hunger and thirst, one
isreminded of the condition of the hungry stomachs of needy people."
[3]
The Prophet (peace be upon him)
said "On the first night of Ramadan, the devils and rebellious jinn
are bound in chains; the gates of Paradise are opened until not a
single gate remains closed. The gates of Hell are bound shut until not
a single gate remains open. Then a caller calls out, 'O desirer of
good, go forth! Odesirer of evil, restrain yourself! Allah is
emancipating people from the Fire every night'." [4]
On the last day of Sha'ban, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a
sermon and said
, "O people! A great and blessed month has approached you, a month
containing a night better than a thousand months. Allah has made
fasting in its days an obligation and prayer in its nights a
(recommended) voluntary act. Anyone who seeks nearness to Allah in
this month through any virtuous act will be like one who carried out
an obligatory act at another time (outside of Ramadan),and whoever
performs an obligatory act in this month will be like one who
performed seventy such acts at another time. It is the month of
patience,and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is the month of
equality, the month in which the wealth of the believer is
increased..." [5]
With the reward for obligatory acts multiplied, one must exert to
performthem in the best of manners, and with the reward for voluntary
acts multiplied one must hasten to perform good deeds. Ramadan is
withoutdoubt a golden opportunity for the one who seeks to be absolved
from the Hell fire and the one who yearns to dwell in Paradise,
wherein they will have all that they desire.
Many Muslims assume thatwhen Ramadan comes they will endeavour to
become obedient Muslims and do the maximum possible good deeds for the
whole month. If you imagine the reality as a graph, what happens is
that you start off with a peak and then the influx ofdeeds becomes
difficult forso many reasons, so you trough or lull for much of this
precious month. You then try a bit harder at theend to try to catch
laylat-ul-Qadr (the night of decree), but even then youmay sleep some
nights and even miss some obligatory prayers! This approach to Ramadan
is not correct will repeatedly fail. The Messenger (peace be upon him)
and his companions would pray, fast, and be obedient to Allah all year
round. In Ramadan, like other special times in the year, they would
maximise theirefforts to excel in good deeds.
Ramadan should be used as a platform to change lives, every day should
get increasingly better, the case being even more so each and every
year. Allah the Most High loves those deeds that are done with
consistency, because they represent a Muslim's personality, and they
are the deeds that will pave the path to Jannah (paradise). Prior to
Ramadan, Muslims must perform the obligatory acts, otherwise they will
be punished for their negligence after this life. The obligatory acts
should be supplemented with voluntary acts that are part of one's
daily routine. Once Ramadan arrives then that is the time to exceed
beyond your :->

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Bride-Price / Dowry for a poor man

One day, a woman came to see the Prophet of Allah [PBUH= Allah's
blessings and Peace be upon him] and said: "Oh! Messenger of Allah! I
do not have a husband and I want to be a good wife; i give myself to
you."
The Messenger of Allah [PBUH] kept silent for a long while.
Suddenly, a man who waspresent stood up and asked if the woman would
accept him for a husband.
The Messenger of Allah [PBUH] said: "Do you haveanything to give her
as a dowry."
The man thought and said: "I have half of my cloth," and indeed he was
wearing a single cloth around him.
"If you give her part of this cloth, you will have nothing to wear
anymore;it will become her possession. Find something else." Since at
this time the followers of Islam and the Prophet himself [PBUH] were
poor,the man thought again a long time and declared:"No, I do not
possess a thing to give her."
The Messenger of Allah then told him: "Go to yourhouse and look for
something, even if it is an iron ring."
The man departed and came back a while later, and declared: "I looked
everywhere, but I did not find anything to give her as her dowry."
After reflection, the Prophet of Allah [PBUH]said: "Did you learnsome
of the Qur'an?"
"Yes, I have learned by heart so-and-so Surahs [chapters of the Qur'an]"
The Messenger of Alah [PBUH] therefore declared:"Teach her what you
know of the Qur'an, and this will constitute her dowry."
The couple felt contented with what was proposed, and they got married.

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The miracle at the spring of Tabuk

During the year of Tabuk, they went out with the Messenger of Allah
[PBUH=May Allah bless him and grant him Peace],and the Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) prayed Dhur and 'Asr together.
Then he said, "Tomorrow we will meet, Insha Allah, at the spring of
Tabuk. Do not go there until well into the morning. You should not
touch the water until i arrive." We all agreed and, the day after, we
all gathered at the spring of Tabuk. But, when we got there, two men
had already reached it before us and the springwas dripping with very
little water.
The Messenger of Allah [PBUH] approached and asked them: "Did you
touche this water?" They said: "Yes, we did." "Take water with your
hands from the spring little by little until you have collected a
small amount in something." When this was done, the Messenger of Allah
[PBUH] washed his face and hands on it. Then he put it back into the
spring and the spring began to flow with abundant water, and the
people began to draw water from it. Then he said [PBUH): "If you live
long enough, you will see this place full with gardens."

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