Reality and Obligation in Ramadan

During this Ramadhan do not let the sweetness of our deeds vansh into the night, leaving only emptiness. When one contemplates the texts on fasting, its wisdom and goals in Shariah, and looks at the reality of the Muslimcommunities, one realizes a wide gap between the reality and our obligations.Remember that Ramadhanis a bounty that Allah blessed His servants with, to strengthen their faith, and increase their piety (Taqwa). Allah said: "O youwho believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious." (Al-Baqarah 2:183). This article is an attempt to present the essential causes of this gap, and to some remedies. primary reason for the gap is ignorance about the goals of fasting and the wisdom behind it. Many Muslims ignore the purpose and wisdom of fasting. Fasting is done merely to conform to the social environmet without contemplation. If one is not aware of the divine wisdom of Shariah and its fruits in this world and in the hereafter, one will not apply it in the right way.
Goals of Fasting
Achieving Taqwa: is one of the most important wisdom of fasting. Fasting brings on Taqwa as it lessens the desire of the stomach and mutes the sexual appetite. Whoever fasts frequently would overcome these two desires more easily. This deter against committing abominations and sins andassist in controlling life leading to Taqwa.
Strengthening willpowerand acquiring patience: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam called Ramadhan the month of patience as it increases one's will power to controlhis desire and the selfishness of his soul. This training allows him to be strong in following Allah's commands. The most important being to carry the Message and propel it forward. The person trains himself to be patient in obeying Allah by stopping at the limits set by Allah both by way of action and abstention. Allah said:"These are the limits set byAllah, so approach them not." (Al-Baqarah 2:187)
Fasting is pure worship: The fact that he is abstaining from food and drink both in public and in secret shows his honest faith and strong love of Allah, and his knowledge and feeling that Allah is all-knowing of everything. For this reason Allah has made the reward for fasting greater than for any other type of worship. Allah said in the hadith Qudsi: "Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied [in rewards], the good deed by ten of itslike, up to seven hundreds,up to whatever Allah wills,except fasting, it is for Me and I will reward it. He abandons his desire and his food for My sake.." (Related by Muslim) lbn al-Qayyim said: "...And people may see that a person is not eating in front of them, but the fact that he is really abandoning his food and his desire for the sake of God is a thing that nobodycan find out about, and that is the essence of fasting." (Zaad al-Ma'ad 2/29).
Relieving Muslims from life's distractions: Eating, drinking, and socializing alldistract a person and weaken ties with Allah. It is by the Mercy of Allah that Muslims are ordered to fast so as not to be bothered by the intrusion of these activities. Nor by the thought about them nor the anticipation for them when devoting themselves to the all typesof worship Either reading the Qur'an, offering additional prayer or making I'tikaf. For this reason the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Fasting is a shield, and a secure fortress against Hell fire" (Related by Ahmad).
Discovering Allah's Blessings: A person experiences the hardship of the poor. He should then be thankful to Allah Who has blessed him with His bounty while others are deprived. This should make him more sympathetic and willing toshare this bounty. The poor rediscovers that fasting helps a person be more devoted to worship. More able to concentrate and meditate. He should then be able of this devotion all year long, a blessing he should thank Allah for.
Acquiring strength and endurance: It has been discovered that depriving the body of food for a period of time helps its defense and endurance mechanism. This in turn this protects the body from certain diseases.
Remember that fasting isnot only dependent on abstentions: Many believethat fasting consist only of certain abstentions, forgetting that Allah established certain acts of worship with fasting./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Miscellaneous Issues Related to Dua

Making dua for others
You can make dua for Others. The Prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam, said “Whenever you make a supplication for another believer and he is not present, an angel will say ‘and same to you.’” One of the ethics when making dua to others is that, if youare going to make dua to yourself and others, start with yourself first, then you make dua to others. But if you are going to make dua for others only, then you don’t have to mention yourself first. An example of starting with one’s self is seen is the verse, “And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who were before us in the faith…’” (59:10)
Wiping the face after making dua
It was never narrated that the Messanger of Allah, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam, wiped his honorable face during Salah, such as in Witr. If itis after Salah, the scholars of Hadith have differed in the Authenticity of the Hadiths regarding this issue, the correct opinion, inshallah, is that they are all inauthentic. Therefore it is better not to wipe the face after making dua. (There is a detailed research by the MuhaddithSheikh Bakr Abu Zaid about this issue). And Allahknows best.
Making dua against oneself
Don’t make Dua’a against yourself or against your children.
The Prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam, said, “Don’t make dua against yourselves. Don’t make dua against your children. Don’t make dua against your maids. And don’t make dua against your wealth. It might be in a time in which Allah answers the prayers.” (Authentic, Abu Dauood)
Dua for victory
When ye sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): I will help you with a thousand of the angels, rank on rank. Allah appointed it only as good tidings, and that your hearts thereby might be atrest. Victory cometh only by the help of Allah. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise. (8:9-10)
It’s from the Sunnah to make dua for the Muslims all over the world, especially in the month of victory, the month of Ramadhan. The Prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam, made dua at the night before the Battle of Badr, which took place in the month of Ramadhan, until his upper garment fell. By dawn, he came with the glad tiding from Allah, tala, to the believers,concerning their enemies, “Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs. Nay but the Hour is their appointedtime, and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter.” (54:45-46)
Supplication of the Prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam
The prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said that: “Every messenger has a Supplication that will be accepted, and I have savedmy Supplication as a Shafaa Intersession for my Nation on the Day of Judgment.”
May Allah make us among those who follow and emulate His Prophet, sala Allahu alaihi wa salam, till they receive his intersession on the Day of Judgment. We beg Allah, tala, that He forgives the ones who wrote this article, and forgives the Muslims among their parents. May He benefit the readers, and guide them to the path of His beloved. We ask Allah by His most beautiful names to show mercy to those who spread guidance and stand together upon the truth. Ameen.
Subhanaka Allahumma wabehamdik. Ash’hadu a’laa ilaha illa Annt. Astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Repenting to Allah

Telling Allah about your situation
A mention of the mercy of thy Lord unto His servant Zakhariyyah—when he cried unto his Lord a cry in secret, saying, “My Lord! Lo! The bones of me wax feeble and my head is shining with grey hair, andI have never been unblest in prayer to Thee, my Lord.Lo! I fear my kinsfolk after me, since my wife is barren. Oh, give me from Thy presence a successor who shall inherit of me and inhereit of the house of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, acceptable (unto Thee).” (Maryam:2-6)
Al-Yaqeen and full awareness (“presence of the heart”)
The Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) said, “Ask Allah with certainty that He will answer your prayers, and know that Allah will not accept the supplication from an absent heart.” (hasan, at-Tirmidhi)
Asking Allah three times
“If you ask Allah for the jannah three times, the jannah will say, ‘O Allah, make him enter jannah.’ And if you ask Allah to protect you from hellfire three times, hellfire will say, ‘O Allah, protect him from the hellfire.’”
NB. Not every supplication should be performed thrice.
Having patience
Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good. [Isra:11]
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (s.A.w.s.) said, “The person’s supplication will be answered unless he asks for sin or severing the ties of kinship, except if the person is hasty.” Then the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) was asked about hastiness. So the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) described it as, “The personsays, ‘I asked, and I have not seen the answer.’ Thenhe leaves dua.” (Sahih Muslim)
NB. It is not considered haste in dua to ask for a speedy answer.
Asking with persistence (Al-Ilhah ala Allah)
The Prophet (s.A.w.s.) said, “When you ask Allah, ask with confidence.”
Some of the early Muslims used to say that the suppliant should be like a child when you ask Allah, crying until you are answered.
Asking in secret
An example of this lies in the dua of Zakariyyah,
“A mention of the mercy ofthy Lord unto His servant Zakhariyyah—when he cried unto his Lord a cry in secret.” (19:2)
Benefits of this secrecy include sincerity and beliefin Allah’s attributes (Hearing, Seeing, Closeness).
Mentioning the result you expect from the fulfillment of the du’a
As in the surah,
“(Moses) said: My Lord! Relieve my mind and ease my task for me; and loose a knot from my tongue, that they may understand my saying. Appoint for me a henchman from my folk, Aaron, my brother. Confirmmy strength with him. Andlet him share my task, thatwe may glorify Thee much,and much remember Thee.Lo! Thou art ever Seeing us.” [Ta Ha:29-34]
Omitting details in the actual request
Such as in the ayah,
“Our Lord, give us good in this world, good in the hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.” (2:201)
Aisha narrated that the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) used tolike comprehensive supplications, and he would leave others. (Sahih,Abu Dawud)
One of the Sahaba saw his child asking, “O Allah, give me the right palace on the right side of jannah.” So hetold his child, “Do not do that. Rather, ask Allah to enter you into jannah and to protect you from the fire.”
Tahaarah
It is better to have wudu when making dua.
Facing the qiblah
The Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.), when he climbed the Saffa and the Marwa, he would face the qiblah and make du’a.
To ask Allah by His names and attributes
Allah’s are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. (7:180)
Raising the hands
Salman narrated from the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.), “Surely Allah is Hayyee, and He loves to conceal the shortcomings of His servants. If His servant raises his hands, He does not let him go empty handed.”
NB. It is inappropriate to raise the hands in certain occasions of dua (i.e. during Friday khutbas) andsunnah upon other occasions (i.e. the dua for rain).
Not consuming Haram
On the authority of Abu Hurairah, The Messenger ofAllah said,
“Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only thatwhich is good. Allah has commanded the faithful todo that which he commanded the messengers, and the Almighty has said: ‘O ye messengers! Eat of the good things and do right.’ And Allah the Almighty hassaid, ‘O ye who believe! Eatof the good things wherewith We have provided you.’”
Then he (s.A.a.w.s.) mentioned [the case of] a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his handsto the sky [saying] : "O Lord! O Lord!" Meanwhile, his (the traveler’s) food is unlawful, his drink unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully; so how can he be answered!
(Related by Muslim)
Thinking well of Allah (Husnu thun bi’llah)
When the wife of Imran said, “My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me,/ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

The Relationship Between Supplication and Ramadhan

Making dua is a part of themonth of Ramadhan. The connection between the noble practice of supplicating to Allah and the honored month of Ramadhan is shown in the following ways.
The ayah of supplication is preceded and followed by ayaat of fasting (2:183-187).
183. O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed tothose before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-
184. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
185. Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sentdown the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill,or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.
186. When My servants askthee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.
187. 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 knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves;but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, 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 ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto.Thus doth Allah make clearHis Signs to men: that theymay learn self-restraint.
The Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) said that the du’a of the fasting one is accepted.
“Indeed for the fasting person, when he brakes his fast, is a supplication that will never be rejected.”
“Three people’s supplication will not be rejected: a just ruler, a fasting person until he brakes his fast, and an oppressed person.”
It is encouraged to make du’a in laylat’ul-qadr.
Aisha asked the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) “What should I say on Laylat’il-qadr?” Andhe replied, “O Allah, indeedyou are a Pardoner, and you love pardon; so pardon me.”
The Prophet (s.A.w.s.) supplicated all night before the battle of badr, which occurred during Ramadhan.
Manners of Supplication
Asking Allah alone
Do not make dua to anyone alongside Allah. (70:18)
Say (O Muhammad): I make dua unto Allah only, and I ascribe unto Him no partner. (70:20)
The Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) said, “Dua is worship.” Making dua is an act of worship; and directing one’s worship to other than Allah alone is major shirk, a sin which nullifies the person’s islam altogether.
Praising Allah at the beginning of the dua
The primary example of praising Allah before beseeching Him-subhanahu wa ta’ala- is in Surah al-Fatiha,
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds
The Beneficent, The Merciful,
Owner of the Day of Judgement
You alone we worship
And You alone we ask for help
Guide us on the straight path,
The path of those You favored,
Not of the on whom is wrath, nor the astray.
The Prophet was sitting in a masjid and a man came, and prayed, “O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me.” So the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.) told him, “You were hasty. When you pray, praise Allah and send the salah on me, then ask Allah.” Another man came and he praised Allah and he sent the salah on the Prophet (s.A.a.w.s.); so he (s.A..a.w.s.) said, “O suppliant, ask Allah and your prayer will be answered.” (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi)
Sending the salah on theProphet (s.A.a.w.s.)
“Every supplication will be denied until the suppliant prays upon the Prophet.” (hasan) NB. Not every dua should contain the salah upon the Prophet. In fact, he (s.A.a.w.s.) instructed hiscompanions with several dua without the salah upon him (such as the dua of istikhara)./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en