Women site, - A Day in the Life of a Muslim Woman - II

Afternoon
Preparing a healthy lunch.
Performing Thuhr prayer
)4 Rak'ah of Sunnah, 4 Rak'ah Fard, and 2 Rak'ah Sunnah(
Regarding the Sunnah prayer, `Aa`ishah, may Allaah be pleased with
her, said:"When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to be
in my house, he would offer four Sunnah Rak'ahs before Thuhr, then he
would go and lead the congregation, and thereafter return home and
offer two Sunnah Rak'ahs. Similarly, he would lead the Maghrib prayer
in the congregation and come back and offer two Sunnah Rak'ahs.
Likewise after having led the `lshaa` prayer, he would come back to my
apartment and offer two Sunnah Rak'ahs."]Muslim[
Obviously, for women it is preferable to perform both Sunnah and Fard
Prayer within the home; Umm Humayd As-Sa'idiyyah said:"O, Prophet of
Allaah, I love praying behind you." Thereupon the Prophet of Allaah,
sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, told her: ''I had known that you like
praying with me. But your prayer in your private room is better than
your prayer in other rooms of your house, and your prayer in other
rooms of your house is better than your prayer in the halls of your
house, and your prayer in the halls of your house is better than your
prayer in your community's mosque, and your prayer in your community's
mosque is better than your prayer in my mosque."]Ahmad and
At-Tabaraani[ However, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, did
not forbid women from going to the mosque as he said:"Do not prohibit
the female-servants of Allaah from coming to the mosque of Allaah.
When a wife of one of you asks for permission to go to the mosque, she
should not be refused this permission."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
„X Saying this Du`aa` when leaving the house:If a woman goes to the
mosque or must leave the house for her needs or the needs of the
family, she should say this Du`aa`, "In the name of Allaah, I trust in
Allaah, there is no might and power but in Allaah." Allaah's
Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"When a man leaves his
house, saying: 'In the name of Allaah, I trust in Allaah there is no
might and power but in Allaah', it is said to him at that time, 'Your
are guided, you are taken care of, you are protected.' Then Satan
turns away from him, and another Satan says, `How can a man approach
you, who is already guided, cared for and protected?"']Abu Daawood[
„X Du`aa` when entering the house:The prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam, said:"When a man enters his house, let him say: '0 Allaah, I
ask of You the good of entry and the good of exit. In the name of
Allaah, we enter; in the name of Allaah, we exit. And upon Allaah, our
Lord, we depend.' Then he should say Salaam to his family."]Abu
Daawood[
Performing 'Asr prayer:
)4 Rak'ah Fard(
The prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"He who leaves the
'Asr prayer is like one who has lost )some of( his family and his
property."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ The significance of the afternoon
prayer is often likened to that of Fajr prayer. The Prophet,
sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said:"A person will not be sent to Hell
who has offered his Fajr prayer and his 'Asr prayer."]Muslim[
Evening
Preparing a healthy dinner for the family.
Perform the Maghrib prayer
)3 Rak'ah Fard and 2 Rak'ah Sunnah(
It is advised that the family makes the prayer together in
congregation at times when two or more are present. Young children may
even be encouraged to participate in the activity. This is a good way
of strengthening family ties and setting a positive example for the
children.
Conducting a study circle within the home:
The evening is a nice time to gather the family members for the study
of the Quran, Ahadeeth, Seerah )Biography of the Prophet( and other
areas of Islamic knowledge.
This is something that can be made a regular part of the daily or
weekly schedule.
Although parents will be primarily responsible for the topics and
discussions, older children may be given assignments to prepare for
the group. Encouraging them to actively participate will enhance their
excitement and interest in learning. Creative and engaging methods may
be used to maintain the attention of younger children, although they
should not be forced to sit for long periods of time. Regarding the
importance of teaching, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam,
said:"Each of you is a guardian, and each of you will be asked about
your guardianship. The leader )Muslim ruler( is a guardian, and the
man is a guardian over the people of his house, and the woman is a
guardian over her husband's house and children. So each of you is a
guardian, and each of you will be asked about your
guardianship."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Holding a family discussion:
The evening is also an ideal time for family discussions since most
family members are likely to be present. The family may discuss
happenings or special events of the day, issues that need to be
considered together, or other matters of importance such as rules or
schedules. Doing this on a regular basis will instill responsibility
and respect in children and make them feel that they are a vital part
of the family unit. As children mature and reach the age of
responsibility, it becomes necessary to include them in discussions
and decision-making, particularly in matters that pertain to them.
This is actually a time for them to learn how a family should function
and the most effective ways to plan and make decisions, since they
will eventually begin a family of their own. Obviously, the parents
should provide acceptable role models that the children will want to
emulate.
„X Du`aa` after a meeting or gathering:"Glory be to You, O Allaah, and
praise be to You. I witness that none is worthy of worship but You. I
seek Your forgiveness and I turn to you in repentance." ]At-Tirmithi[
Securing the house:
Keep children in after the darkness begins and be sure to secure the
house. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"When the
darkness of the night or evening )comes(, then keep in your children,
for satan is then out. And when an hour of the night has gone, then
let them go and close the doors, and invoke the name of Allaah, for
satan does not open a closed door, and tie up your water-skins and
invoke the name of Allaah, and cover your vessels and invoke the name
of Allaah, even when you put something on them, and put out your
lights."
Reviewing the day for acts of charity:
There should be at least one act of charity in each person's day and
this can come in many forms. Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi
wa sallam, said:"Charity is due upon every limb of a human being on
each day that the sun rises. To act justly between two )people( is
charity. To help a man with his riding beast, or to load his
provisions on it or lift them up for him is charity. A good word is
charity. Every step going to prayer is a charity. Removing from the
road what causes harm is charity."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Performing `Ishaa` Prayer
)4 Rak'ah Fard and 2 Rak'ah Sunnah(
Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"No Prayer is
more burdensome to the hypocrites than the Fajr prayer and the `Ishaa`
prayer, but if they knew what blessings lie in them, they would
certainly come for them, even if they had to crawl."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[ It is best to perform the `Ishaa` prayer before one-half of
the night is over.
Performing Witr Prayer
)an odd number of Rak'ah(
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"Allaah is single, He
loves what is single, therefore, do the Witr, O you people of the
Quran."]At-Tirmithi and Abu Daawood[ He also said:"He who fears that
he will not get up in the later part of the night should do the Witr
in the first part of it. And he who eagerly wishes to get up in the
later part of it should perform the Witr then, for the prayer in the
later part of the night is witnessed and that is more
excellent."]Muslim[ It is recommended to include the supplication of
Qunoot )the standing-in-Prayer supplication( in the Witr Prayer . The
Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to recite the Qunoot
Du`aa` after raising his head from the position of bowing, saying:"O
Allaah, guide us among those whom You have guided and preserve us from
all ill among those whom You have preserved. Take us for friends among
those whom You have taken and bless for us that which You have given.
Protect us from the evil of that which You have ordained, for it is
You who ordains and none can ordain upon You. Indeed, never is he
abased whom You have taken for a friend, and none is honored whom You
have taken for a foe. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted. There is
no escape from You except in You. And may Allaah bless Prophet
Muhammad."]An-Nasaa'ee[
„X Du`aa` before sleeping:The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam,
said:"When one of you goes to bed, he should dust it with the edge of
his gown three times and then say: `0 Allaah, in Your name I die and I
live. In Your name, my Lord, I place my side )upon this bed(, and
through You I raise it. If you retain my soul, have mercy upon it; if
You release it, then protect it as You protect Your righteous
servants."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ It is also beneficial to read some
chapters or verses from the Quran before sleeping. `Aa`ishah, may
Allaah be pleased with her, said:"Every night when the Prophet,
sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would go to bed, he would cup his hands
together and blow into them after reciting Surah Al-Ikhlaas, Surah
Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Naas. He would then rub his hands over whatever
he was able from his body, beginning with his head, face and the front
of his body. He used to do that three times."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
The verse of Al-Kursiyy ]2:225[ is also a special verse. The Prophet,
sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"When you go to your bed, recite
the verse of Al-Kursiyy, 'Allaah! There is no god but Him, the
Ever-living, the One Who Sustains and Protects all that exists' to the
end, for then there will remain over you a guardian from Allaah, and
Satan will not come near you until morning."]Al-Bukhaari[ It is also
preferred to perform ablution before sleeping and to lie on the right
side.