Ramadan Announcement 2012 / 1433 AH – RamadanMubarak!

Ramadan Announcement by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA):
First day of Ramadan will be Friday, July 20, 2012
and Eid ul-Fitr on Sunday, August 19, insha'Allah.
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was
prescribedto those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint."
Qur'an 2:183
The Fiqh Council of North America recognizes astronomical calculation
as an acceptable Shar'i method for determining the beginning of lunar
months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal. FCNA uses Makkah
al-Mukarrama as a conventional point and takes the position that the
conjunction must takeplace before sunset in Makkah and moon must set
after sunset in Makkah.
On the basis of this method the dates of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr for
the year 1433 AH are established as follows:
1st of Ramadan will be onFriday, July 20, 2012
1st of Shawwal will be on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Ramadan 1433 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on July 19, 2011 (Thursday) at 4:24
Universal Time (7:24 a.m. Makkah time). Sunset at Makkah on July 19 is
at 7:05 p.m., while moonset is at 7:11 p.m. Moon is born before sunset
in Makkah and moonset is after sunset. Therefore first day of Ramadan
is Friday, July 20, insha'Allah.First Tarawih prayer will be on
Thursday night.
Eid al-Fitr 1433 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on August 17, 2011 (Friday) at 15:54
Universal Time (6:54 p.m. Makkah time). On Friday, August 17, sunset
at Makkah is 6:49 p.m. and moonset is 6:30 p.m. Moon is born after
sunset in Makkah and moon sets before sunset. On Saturday, August 18,
sunset at Makkah is 6:49 p.m. and moonset is at 7:11 p.m. Moon is born
24hours before sunset, whilemoonset is after sunset. Therefore, first
day of Shawwal, i.e., Eid al-Fitr is Sunday, August 19, insha'Allah.
May Allah (swt) keep us on the right path, and accept our fasting and
prayers. Ameen.

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Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays when he owes expiation for breaking an oath

I have several expiations to offer due to the fact that I broke
several oaths.These expiations are taking quite a lot of time.
Therefore, in the mean time, can i fasts on mondays and thursdays as
nafil fasts?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
What the Muslim should do is protect his oaths andnot swear oaths a
great deal or swear oaths except with regard to matters that are
deserving of oaths. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of
the meaning): "And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:89].
Shaykh as-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Tafseer:
"And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much)" means refrain from
swearing by Allah falsely, or swearing oaths frequently, and protect
them if you do swear oaths by not breaking them, unless breaking the
oath is better.
Tafseer as-Sa'di, 1/242
Secondly:
The expiation for breaking an oath (kafaarat yameen) is to feed or
clothe ten poor persons, or to free a slave.If that is not possible,
then one should fast for three days. Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Allah will not punish you for what is uninentional in your oaths, but
He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation (a
deliberate oath) feed ten Masakin (poor persons), on a scale of the
average of that with which you feed your own families; or clothe them;
or manumit a slave.But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should
fast for three days.That is the expiation for the oaths when you have
sworn. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much). Thus Allah
make clear to you His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations,etc.) that you may be grateful"
[al-Maa'idah 5:89].
It is not permissible for you to move to the option of fasting unless
you are unable to do any of the three acts of expiation, namely
feedingpoor people, clothing them or freeing a slave.
Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allahhave mercy on him)said:
(The scholars) are unanimously agreed that if a person who swore an
oath is able to feed or clothe poor people, or to free a slave, it is
not acceptable for him to fast if he breaks his oath. End quote.
al-Ijmaa', p. 157
Thirdly:
There is no reason why you should not observe naafil fasts, such as on
Mondays and Thursdays and so on, before observing fasts of expiation,
or before you have finished all of them, but that is on condition that
you do not regard them as part of the expiation.
But we advise you to hasten to observe the fasts of expiation first,
if you are unable to do the things mentioned above with regard to
offering expiation for breaking an oath. Hastening to observe the
fasts of expiation takes priority because it is obligatory and doing
what is obligatory takes precedence over observing naafil fasts.

And Allah knows best.

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Categories of its inhabitants

Disbelievers:
"But those who disbelieveand deny Our signs will becompanions of the
Fire; they will abide therein."
[Sahih al-Baqarah, 2: 39]
"Those who have disbelieved and died while they are disbelievers will
have the curse of Allah upon them and the [curse of the ] angels and
all of mankind.[they will abide] eternally therein. The punishment
will not be lightened for them, nor will the punishment be postponed."
[Sahih al-Baqarah, 2: 161-162]
Hypocrites:
"Indeed the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire; you
will find no helper for them."
[an-Nisa, 4: 145]
"The hypocrites are afraid that a surah be sent downabout them,
showing them what is [really] in their hearts. Say, 'Ridicule you! But
verily, Allah will expose all that you fear.' If you question them,
they declare, 'We were only talking idly and playing.' Say, 'Is it
Allah and His signs and His messengers that you were mocking?' Make no
excuses that you were rejected faith after havingaccepted it. IF We
pardon some of you, We will punish others because they were criminals.
The hypocrites - men and women are of one another. They enjoin evil
and forbid what is just and close their hands [in stinginess]. They
have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Verily, thehypocrites
are rebellious and perverse. Allah has promised the hypocrites men and
women and the rejecters of faith the fire of Hell; they will dwell
therein. It is sufficient for them. And Allah will curse them, and
they will have an enduring punishment."
[at-Tawbah, 9: 64-68]
Polytheists (Those who Associate Something with Allah): "Those who
reject [truth] among the People of the Book and the polytheists were
not going to depart [from their ways] until there comes to them clear
evidence - a messenger from Allah, rehearsing pure scriptures, wherein
are upright laws [or decrees]. Nor did those who had been given the
scripture make schisms until after there had cometo them clear
evidence. And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, sincere
in religion to Him, to establish regular prayer, and to pay zakah. And
that is the upright religion. Those who reject [truth] among the
People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell,
dwelling therein forever. They are the worst of creatures."
[al-Bayyinah, 98: 1-6]
People of the Book (Who Reject Islam):
"Those reject [truth] among the People of the Book are the polytheists
will be in the fire of Hell, dwelling there therein forever. They are
the worst of creatures."
[al-Bayyinah, 98: 6]
Arrogant Rejecters of the Truth:
"But those who reject Our signs and treat them witharrogance - they
are the companions of the Fire, dwelling therein forever."
[al-A'raf, 7: 36]
Sinners and Criminals:
"Indeed the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, dwelling
therein forever. It will not be lightened for them, and they will be
overwhelmedthere in despair. And We have not wronged them, but it is
they who have wronged [themselves]."
[az-Zukhruf, 43: 74-76]
The Unjust:
"Then it will be said to those who were unjust, 'Taste the eternal
punishment. Are you recompensed except for what you used to earn?'"
[Yunus, 10: 52]
Transgressors:
"But when there comes the Greatest Event - the Day when man will
remember what he strovefor and the Hellfire will bebrought forth for
[all] to see - then for him who had transgressed and preferred the
life of this world, indeed Hellfire will be his shelter."
[an-Nazi'at, 79: 34-39]
Concealers of Allah's Revelations:
"Those who conceal what We have sent down of proofs and guidance after
We have made it clear to the people in the scripture- those are cursed
by Allah and cursed by those who [are entitled to] curse."
[Surah al Baqarah, 2: 159]
("those who curse" refers to the angels and believers.)
Tyrants:
"But they asked victory, and disappointment is thelot of every
obstinate tyrant. In front of him is Hell, and he is given pus to
drink. He will gulp it but will hardly be able t oswallow it, and
death will come to him from every place, yet he will not die. And in
front of him will be a heavy punishment."
[Ibrahim, 14: 15-17]
"[It will be said to the twoangels], 'Throw into Hellfire every
obstinate rejecter [of Allah] - who prevented good, transgressed, and
doubted, who set up another god besides Allah- throw him into the
severe punishment.'"
[Qaf, 50: 24-26]
Murderers:
"And whoever kills a believer intentionally - hisrecompense is Hell to
abide therein forever, andthe warth and the curse of Alllah is upon
him, and He has prepared for him agreat punishment."
[an-Nisa, 4: 93]

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Some of its inhabitants

Imran bin Husayn (radiAllahu anhu) narratedthat the Prophet (salAllahu
alayhi wasalam) said: "I looked into Paradise and saw that the
majority of its inhabitants were the poor, and I looked into Hell and
saw that the majority of its inhabitantswere women."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Usamah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi
wasalam) stated: "I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that the
majorityof the people who entered it were the poor, while those of
means were held [for account], except the companions of the Fire, who
were already ordered to [be taken to] the Fire. And I stood at the
gate of the Fire and [saw that] the majority of those who entered it
were women."
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) stated: "The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi
wasalam) said, 'I looked into the Hellfire, and the majority of its
dwellers were women who were ungrateful.' It was asked, 'Did they
disbelieve in (i.e.were ungrateful to ] Allah?' He replied, 'They were
ungrateful to their husbands and were ungrateful for favors and the
good deeds done for them. If you had always been good to one of
themand then she saw something in you not to her liking, she would
say, 'I have never seen any good from you at all."'"
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Pharaoh:
"And We sent Musa with Our clear [signs] and an authority manifest
unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Pharaoh.
And the command of Pharaoh was no right guide. He will go before his
people on the Day of Judgment and lead them into the Fire. And how
evilwill be the place to which they are led. And they are followed by
a curse in this[life] and on the Day of Judgment. And evil is the gift
which will be given [to them]."
[Hud, 11: 96-99]
"The Fire - they will be exposed to it morning and evening, and on the
Day that judgment will beestablished [it will be said], 'Cast the
people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.'"
[Ghafir, 40: 46]
The Wives of Nuh and Lut:
"Allah has given an example of those who disbelieve: the wife of Nuh
and the wife of Lut. They were under two of Our righteous servants but
betrayed them; so they [the two prophets] did not benefit them [the
wives] before Allah at all, and they were told, 'Enter the Fire with
those who enter.'"
[at-Tahreem, 66: 10]
Abu Lahab and His Wife:
"May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth
will not avail him nor thatwhich he gained. He will enter a flaming
fire and his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood - around her
neck a rope of palm fiber."
[Masad, 111: 1-5]
Amr bin Luhayy:
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: "I saw 'Amr bin Luhayy bin Qam'a bin
Khindif, brotherof Bani Ka'b, dragging his intestines in the Fire."
[Muslim]
Amr bin Amir al-Khuya'i:
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) stated that Allah's Messenger
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: "I saw 'Amr bin 'Amir al-Khuya'i
dragging his intestines in the Fire; he was the first who dedicated to
animals to false deities."
[Muslim]
Abu Talib:
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: "Of the inmates of the Fire, the one
with the easiest punishment will be Abu Talib; he will be wearing
apair of shoes which will cause his brain to boil."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
"He will say, 'Enter into the company of communities who passed away
before you - of jinn and men - into the Fire.'"
[al-A'raf, 7: 38]
"If your Lord had so willed, He could have make mankind one people,
but they will not cease to dispute except those on whom your Lordhas
bestowed His mercy. And the word of your Lord will be fulfilled:
'Certainly I will fill Hell with jinn and men all together.'"
[Hud, 11: 118-119]
"Then they will be throwninto it [the Hellfire] on their faces - they
and those straying in evil and the soldiers of Iblees, all together."
[ash-Shu'ara, 26: 94-95]

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