The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down,
a guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion.
[Quran: Chapter 2:183]

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Dhikr During Ramadan

Remembering God During Ramadan - The Importance of Dhikr

The Quran tells us that believers will find rest in the remembrance of God. Whenever we feel lost or down, the antidote to such negative feelings is to remember God.

“Those who believe, and whose hearts find their rest in the remembrance of God – for, verily, in the remembrance of God [men's] hearts do find their rest.”  
Qurʾān 13:28


 During Ramadan, we are encouraged to increase our remembrance of God. One of the simplest way to remember God, is to consciously remember Him through our tongue and our minds.


What is Dhikr?

It is remembering God through tasbih, glorifying; takbir, exalting; tahmid, praising. Dhikr can be done silently in one's heart, or loudly. Both are accepted and recommended. Dhikr essentially is an act that involves recitation of specific verses from the Quran, or the 99 Names of Allah. The word dhikr is commonly translated as "remembrance" or "invocation".

Mention of Dhikr in the Qur'an

Allah said in Surat al-Baqara, 152: "Remember Me and I will remember you." [2:152]

Allah said in Surah Ali Imran, 41, "...and remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and in the early morning." And again, 191, "Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides..." [3:41, 191]

He said in Surat al-Rad, 28, "Those who believe, and whose hearts find their rest in the remembrance of Allah--for, verily, in the remembrance of Allah hearts do find their rest." [13:28]

And He said in Surat al-Ah zab, 35, "...and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Him..."

And again, 41,42, "O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance; and glorify Him morning and evening." [33: 35, 41-42]

There are many, many other verses of Qur'an mentioning dhikr.

Imam Nawawi said in his book, "Futahat ar-Rabbani cala-l- Adhkar an-Nawawiyya," vol. 1, p. 106-109, "All scholars of Islam have agreed on the acceptance and permissibility of Dhikr by heart and by tongue, for the adult men and women, for children, for the one who has ablution, and for the one without ablution; even for the woman during her menses. Moreover, dhikr is allowed by all scholars in the form of tasbih, tahmid, takbir and praising and praying for the Prophet (s)."

Dhikr polishes the heart and is the source of the Divine breath that revives the dead spirits by filling them with the Blessings of Allah, decorating them with His Attributess, and bringing them from a state of heedlessness to the state of complete wakefulness. If we keep busy with Dhikr, happiness and peace will be granted to us. Dhikr is the key to happiness, the key to joy, and the key to Divine Love.

Mention of Dhikr in the Sunnah

According to Bukhari, Abu Musa al-Ashcari related that the Prophet (s) said, "The difference between the one who makes dhikr and the one who doesn't make dhikr is like the difference between the living and the dead."

Tirmidhi narrated from Anas (r) that the Prophet (s) said, "If you pass by the Paradises of Heavens stay there." They asked, "Ya Rasul-Allah, what are the Paradises of Heavens?" He said, "The associations of Dhikr!"

Bukhari narrated in his book from Abu Huraira that the Prophet (s) said, "Allah, Almighty and Exalted, has angels who seek the people of Dhikr. If they find the people of Dhikr they encompass them until they reach the first heaven. And Allah asks his angels, 'What are my servants doing?' The angels say, 'O Allah, they are praising You and glorifying You and they are making Dhikr.' Allah says, 'Did they see Me?' The angels answer, 'No, they didn't see You.' Then Allah asks, 'How would it be if they were to see Me?' The angels reply, 'O Allah, if they were to see You, they would be making more praise of You and more glorification of You and more Dhikr of You.' And Allah asks 'What are they asking for?' The angels say, 'They are asking for Your Paradise.' Allah asks, 'Did they see My Paradise?' The angels answer, 'No, Our Lord.' Allah continues, 'How would it be if they saw My Paradise?' The angels reply, 'They would be more attracted and more eager to reach it.' Then Allah asks them, 'Of what are they afraid?' And the angels say, 'They are afraid of hellfire.' and Allah asks, 'How would it be if they saw my Hellfire?' and they reply, 'They would be running more and more away from it and asking more and more protection from it.' Then Allah said,' I am making you all My witnesses: that I am forgiving them of all their sins.' Then one angel asked, 'O our Lord, there is among these people one who is not from them, he came only to ask for something from one of them.' Allah said, 'Those are my beloved ones who are making My Dhikr. Anyone who comes into their circle will be forgiven, and I am forgiving him.'"
In Bukhari and Muslim it is narrated from Abu Huraira that the Prophet (s) said, "As my servant thinks about Me so will I be for him. I am with him if he will remember Me. If he calls on Me in himself I will call him in Myself, and if he calls on Me in a group of people, I mention him in a better group in My presence. If he approaches Me one handspan, I will approach him one arm's length; if he approaches Me one arm's length, I will approach him by a cubit; if he comes to Me walking, I will come to him running."
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah narrated on the authority of Abi Darda that the Prophet said, "Do you want me to tell you of your best deeds, and the most honored and praised and sanctified to Your Lord, and the highest in its reward; better than spending gold and better than meeting your enemy and cutting their necks in the jihad?" They said, "Yes, Ya Rasulallah." He said, "Dhikrullah."
The Prophet (s) said, "Everything has its polish and the polish of hearts is dhikrullah."
Mu'adh bin Jabal (r) said, "Nothing saves you from Allah's punishment except Dhikrullah."

Source: http://www.naqshbandi.org/topics/dhikr.htm

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Ramadan Healthy Eating: Stay Hydrated!

Importance of Staying Hydrated During Ramadan



Did you know that up to 60% of the human body is water, our brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water? 

Our lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight, as is the brain, and body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water!

About 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature. 

Each day humans has to replace 2.4 litres of water, some through drinking water and the rest taken by the body from the foods we eat. 

So during Ramadan, it is crucial that we hydrate ourselves properly. It is advisable to avoid caffeinated drinks during Iftar as the caffeine acts as a diuretic, which stimulates urination. This prevents the water from being properly taken by our cells.

It is also advisable to avoid sugary drinks such as soft drinks. The sugar in the drinks may give us a boost of glucose into our bloodstream so we may feel energetic as the glucose is taken up by our cells. But that rush of energy will be short-lived, and you would be looking to grab another sugary drink to keep up your energy levels for the nightly prayers and so on. If you continue on this pattern, you can accumulate an excess of glucose in your bloodstrea,m, which your cells cannot utilize, and which gets stored as fat instead!

Therefore, it is advisable to stick to plain old water to nourish your body. In your waking hours between iftar to imsak, be sure to sip water and re-hydrate your body. Getting a minimum of 2 litres of water during this period would be good for your body.

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Ramadan Quran Tafsir: Surah Al Baqarah

What does the Quran Say About the Differences Between Believers, Hypocrites and Disbelievers?
The following is a short but excellent tasfir (commentary) by Sheikh Yasir Qadhi on the definition and explanations of what constitutes as believers, hypocrites and disbelievers as in the Quran Surah Al Baqarah. Allah has categorized mankind in these main three groups.


 The video below mentions some of the following points:
  •  Believers will benefit the most from the Quran. Believers have belief (or faith) in that which is even unknown (cannot be proven). Believer is the one whose body, heart, mind and soul believes in Allah and the Quran.
  • The disbeliever have already decided that they will not believe. The Quran says there is a curtain over their eyes. The disbeliever can hear and see, but they have chosen to cover up their eyes and ears. If they wanted to, they could see and hear the Truth of Islam, but they choose not to.
  • The first category of hypocrites are those who pretend to have faith, but secretly their actions are contrary to what believers do. The hypocrite is given the ability to see light (the truth and guidance of Islam) so he is able to know and appreciate Islam. He is able to understand Islam. The light of Islam remains, but the hypocrite chooses to ignore the light and does not act on it. So Allah takes away the light from the hypocrite and makes him deaf, dumb and blind.
  • Unlike the disbeliever, the hypocrites has lost his faculties of seeing and hearing because he has purposely chosen to ignore the light of Islam. Such a hypocrite is a pure hypocrite.
  • There is a second category of hypocrites. These hypocrites sometimes see the truth and they will act on it, but then there will be a period of darkness when they do not see or act on truth. So essentially, they go between periods of faith - in faith and out of faith.
  • This second category of hypocrites also lives in fear, especially of death. This is unlike the believer who also has fears, of death too, but a believer also has hope and optimism for what follows after death.
  • Pure hypocrites are not common in this day and age because Islam is politically weak (it is difficult to be a Muslim in modern America).
  • But the second category of hypocrites can be common - and this is something we should be wary of so that we do not fall into this category.


Ramadan Reminder - Al-Baqarah: Believers, Hypocrites & Disbelievers by Yasir Qadhi




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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Avoid Weight Gain During Ramadan

Avoid This Ramadan Pitfall: Weight Gain During Ramadan

Fasting Muslims know that putting on excess weight is one of the unwanted pitfalls of Ramadan. The long hours without food or drink lowers the body's metabolism; the spiritual obligations do not end with the fast, but include special night prayers called the taraweeh, as well as doing acts to be more connected to God, such as making du'a (supplications). All of these activities mean that many Muslims end up sleeping less hours than they normally do. This also has the effect of lowering one's metabolism.

So it is critical that one does not over-eat, gorge, or feast during iftar (the breaking of the fast). Doing so would cause weight gain.

Here are some useful tips on how to avoid weight gain during Ramadan.

Balanced diet
Those observing the fast should have at least two meals a day, the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) and a meal at dusk (Iftar).

Food intake should be simple and not differ too much from your normal diet. It should contain foods from all the major food groups:
  • fruit and vegetables
  • bread, other cereals and potatoes
  • meat, fish and alternatives
  • milk and dairy foods
  • foods containing fat and sugar
Complex carbohydrates are foods that help release energy slowly during the long hours of fasting. They are found in foods such as barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour and basmati rice.
Fibre-rich foods are also digested slowly and include bran, cereals, whole wheat, grains and seeds, potatoes with the skin, vegetables such as green beans, and almost all fruit, including apricots, prunes and figs.

Foods to avoid are the heavily processed, fast-burning foods that contain refined carbohydrates (sugar and white flour), as well as fatty food (for example cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweets, such as Indian mithai).
It's also worth avoiding caffeine-based drinks such as tea, coffee and cola. Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates faster water loss through urination.

Wholesome foods
Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, should be a wholesome, moderate meal that is filling and provides enough energy for many hours. Suhoor should be light and include slow digesting food like pitta bread, salad, cereal (especially oats) or toast so that you have a constant release of energy.

It's customary for Muslims to break the fast (Iftar) with some dates, in accordance with the Prophetic traditions. Dates will provide a burst of energy. Fruit juices will also have a similar, revitalising effect. 

Start by drinking plenty of water, which helps rehydration and reduces the chances of overindulgence. Avoid the rich, special dishes that traditionally celebrate the fast.

Foods to avoid
  • deep-fried foods, for example pakoras, samosas and fried dumplings
  • high-sugar and high-fat foods, including sweets such as gulab jamun, rasgulla and balushahi
  • high-fat cooked foods, for example, parathas, oily curries and greasy pastries
Healthy alternatives
  • baked samosas and boiled dumplings
  • chapattis made without oil, baked or grilled meat and chicken. Make pastry at home and use a single layer
  • milk-based sweets and puddings such as rasmalai and barfee
Cooking methods to avoid
  • deep frying
  • frying
  • excessive use of oil
Healthy cooking methods
  • shallow frying (usually there is little difference in taste)
  • grilling or baking is healthier and helps retain the taste and original flavour of the food, especially with chicken and fish  
Healthy Eating During Ramadan Tips


More Ramadan Healthy Eating Articles 


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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Tasting Food While Cooking During Ramadan

Ramadan Question: Tasting Food When Cooking While Fasting

Many Muslims ask this question, particularly those who are tasked with preparing food for one's entire fasting family. This is true particularly for the women - mothers, sisters, daughters - who frequently cook meals for the breaking of the fast, as well as meals taken before the start of the fast.

One of the problems faced when cooking while you are fasting is that unless you taste the food, it can be hard to gauge if you have added enough salt, pepper, or not too much spices or chilli that might require diluting the dish somewhat.

Many women who cook while fasting try not to taste the food because they are so worried that their fast might be broken if their tongue touches the food. As such , many opt to cook without tasting.

However, it has been ruled by Islamic scholars that tasting food (as opposed to eating food) is allowed so long there is a necessity for it. And the food should only be put on the tip of the tongue. The food should not enter the throat, nor should it be swallowed, and after tasting the food should be spat out.

Of course, the intention behind this act of tasting food when cooking while doing the fast is primary - it goes without saying that this should not be done just because one is hungry!

Hadith Bukhari, Chapter 25 states:
Ibn Abbas said, "There is no harm in tasting the food of the pots or other meals."

 Is a Person Cooking Allowed to Taste Food While Fasting?
 By Dr. Zakir Naik



Labels: ,

Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Saturday, July 21, 2012

Dua During Ramadan Highly Recommended

Making Du'a During Ramadan is Highly Recommended for the Following Reasons:

  • Ramadan is month full of many blessings, thus the du'a of Ramadan is a blessed one. This can be inferred from the Prophet (SAW) saying: 'When Ramadan comes, the Doors of Mercy (another narration says Paradise) are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Shaitans are locked up' Thus, it is clear that du'a during Ramadan has a greater chance of being accepted, as the Gates of Paradise and Mercy are opened. [Sahih al-Bukhari #1899, Muslim #1079 and others]  
  • The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (SWT)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
  • The prophet (SAW) declared, 'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]

Specific Times To Make a Du'a During Ramadan That May Be Beneficial: 

  • Late at night
    When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (SWT) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (SWT) for whatever they need. The Prophet (SAW) said: 'There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.'
    [Muslim #757]
  • An Hour On Friday
    Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah’s Messenger (SAW) talked about Friday and said: 'There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (SWT), then Allah (SWT) will definitely meet his demand.' And he (the Prophet (SAW) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.[Sahih al-Bukhari]  Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer’s leader) enters the mosque on Friday’s prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer).  
  • While Prostrating
    Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW), said: 'The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (SWT) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175] When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (SWT) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (SWT) so it is best to invoke Allah (SWT) at this time. It is said that while in prostration, one should not ask for worldy needs (ie a nice car, a new job, etc), but for the Hereafter.
  • At The End Of The Obligatory Salat:
    Narrated Abu Omamah (RA): that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (SWT), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi]. This time is after saying 'At-tahyat' , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)  
  • The Night Of 'Qadr' (Decree)
    This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (SWT) said about it, "The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months." [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3] The Night of Decree is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when he doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter. 
  • While reciting Surah al-Fatihah 
  • The Prophet (SAW) said that Allah the Exalted had said: ' I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. When he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of Judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me, and sometimes He will say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me. When he (the worshipper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious -- not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. [Muslim 4: 395] 
More Articles on Ramadan Dua

Ramadan Dua Accepted 

Ramadan Dua From Quran

How to Make Dua to Allah Properly

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Friday, July 20, 2012

How to Make Dua to Allah Properly

The Etiquette of Making Dua to Allah

The following is an excellent lecture on how to make dua to Allah properly. In this lecture by Sheikh Yasir Qadhi from the Memphis Islamic Center in the United States, he notes that the Quran states that Allah will answer those who makes dua to Him. 

“Your Lord has said, 'Make du'ā' to Me.  I am going to be the One who will respond to you.  Those who are too arrogant to worship Me are going to enter the fire of hell humiliated.'” [Quran, 40:60]

Sheikh Qadhi explains that we are guaranteed a response from Allah, if we know how to make dua to Him properly. This lecture is essential reading!


Lecture by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi | Transcribed by Sameera

This lecture is brought to you by the Memphis Islamic Center (MIC). For more information about MIC, please visit www.memphisislamiccenter.org
 
[The following is the audio and transcript of Shaykh Yasir Qadhi's lecture "Surah Ghaafir: External Etiquettes of Du'a." The transcript includes slight modifications for the sake of readability and clarity.]
 
Sūrah Ghāfir has a very powerful verse in it, which is very pertinent to tonight.  Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) says:


“Your Lord has said, 'Make du'ā' to Me.  I am going to be the One who will respond to you.  Those who are too arrogant to worship Me are going to enter the fire of hell humiliated.'” [40:60]

“Your Lord has said [this is a decree from Allāh], 'Make du'ā' to Me.'”  It is a simple conditional clause that if you do this, I am going to do that.  “If you make du'ā' to Me, I will respond to you.”  Our scholars have said that this is one of the most optimistic verses in the Qur'an because Allāh has said if you do A, He will do B.  What is A?  “Make du'ā' to Me.”  What is B?  “I will respond to you.”

What this basically means – this is something wallāhi we don't think too much about – if we do a du'ā' properly, there is a guaranteed response.  Allāh has decreed this.  “Your Lord has said” is a decree.  “Make du'ā' to Me; I am going to respond to you.  Those who are too arrogant to worship Me…”  Notice that du'ā' has been equated with the entire concept of worship.  Our Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “Du'ā' is worship.”  In another hadith, he said, “Du'ā' is the backbone / spinal cord of worship.”  Du'ā' is the kernel or the gist of worship.

Therefore, on these nights, one of the greatest acts of worship is to make du'ā', and your Lord is saying, “If you make du'ā' to Me, I will respond to you.”  Inshā'Allāh in today's khātirah and maybe even a few more days, we are going to summarize some of the things we should know about du'ā'.

First and foremost, some of the external etiquettes of du'ā'.

1.  Of the external etiquettes of du'ā' is that a du'ā' is accepted more if a person is in a state of purity.
Once the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) needed to make du'ā', so he went into his chambers and did wuḍū' and then he came out and started doing du'ā'.  It is not a condition – nobody ever says it is a condition – it is mustaḥab.  It is encouraged to be in a state of wuḍū'.

2.  When you want to make a du'ā', you should face the qiblah.
There are many narrations where the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) wanted to make du'ā' and he would turn to face the qiblah.  Once again, this is not a requirement.  You can make du'ā' in a state of janābah.  You can make du'ā' lying down on the ground looking up at the sky or on your bed.  All of this is allowed, but we are talking about the best.  The best thing to do is be in the state of wuḍū' and then face the qiblah.

3.  The third etiquette of du'ā' is to raise your hands. 
There are three types of raising of the hands or three types of gestures, each one of which has a particular time to do it.

Sometimes the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would do the shahādah with his finger.  This is especially done when you make a du'ā' of ḥamd (praise) [such as]:  Alḥamdulillāh, la ilaha ilAllāh, subḥānAllāh.

There are two types of du'ā':  a du'ā' of thanā' / ḥamd and masannah.  In a du'ā' of ḥamd, you praise Allāh, and in a du'ā' of masannah, you ask Allāh.  Generally when you make du'ā' of ḥamd or thanā', it is good to raise your finger up for the shahādah.  This is good to do even if you are saying subḥānAllāh or alḥamdulillāh.  This is something the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would do.  Of course we are talking about outside of ṣalāh.  Inside of ṣalāh, there is only one location where you raise the finger.  Outside of ṣalāh, if you say subḥānAllāh, alḥamdulillāh, la ilāha illa Allāh, it is permissible and good to simply show this with your finger.

The second type of gesture is the common one we all know, which is with your two hands.  There is a common mistake that a lot of people make.  The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “When you make du'ā' to Allāh, ask from the palms of your hand and not from the backs of your hand.”  This is a common mistake that a lot of people do that when they make du'ā', they go like this [hand gesture – holding hands vertically with palms in front of the face].  This is a mistake because when you do this, you are asking Allāh with the back of your hand, which is not appropriate.  The palms are facing you, and this is not appropriate and is a mistake.

You literally show your poverty to Allāh.  How?  You are a beggar.  Musa says, “Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqīr. (O Allāh, I am a faqīr in front of You.  I need anything You can give me.)” [28:24]  You show your faqr.  How do you you're your faqr, complete poverty?  Flat hands.  Or you can curl a little bit, but the palms need to be facing up and not [facing] you.  The palms are facing upward just like the beggar when he comes in front of your car and is begging for food or something.  This is showing poverty.  And to Allāh belongs the better example.  When we beg Allāh, we show our poverty.  Like the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “Ask Allāh with the palms of your hands and not with the backs of your hands.”

It is permissible to put them together, and it is permissible to put them a little bit apart.  Both are narrated and there is not a problem about the distance between the two.  The main point is that you are showing poverty in front of Allāh.  Generally the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would put them around the chest level.  This is the second gesture.

There is a third gesture that is only narrated a few times in the sīrah. This shows that this is a gesture in extreme circumstances.  One of the times that this gesture is narrated is right before the battle of Badr when the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was invoking Allāh, crying and begging.  He said, “O Allāh, if you allow them to beat us, then nobody will ever be a Muslim until the Day of Judgment.  If you allow them to beat us, You will not be worshipped on earth.”  He is begging and pleading for the survival of Islam.  This is the battle:  on the one side is Abu Jahl and on the other side is the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him); on one side is Jibrīl coming to help and on the other is Shaytan literally telling them what to do.  This is literally the battle between good and evil.  He is begging and praying to Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).  How did he do it?  This is only in extreme circumstances.  He raised his hands all the way up to the heavens – not combined but split up – expecting Allāh's Mercy to come down.  

When he raised his hands all the way up – in those days they would wear what we call the iḥrām, this is common cloth – his iḥrām fell off, so he was not wearing anything from the top.  He is begging and pleading Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) in the burning sun for many minutes until Abu Bakr took up the shawl and covered him and said, “Ya Rasūlullāh, enough!  Your Lord has heard you!  How can He not respond to your du'ā'?”  He put his hands down.

This type of gesture is obviously not done in the ṣalāh – it is done outside of ṣalāh.  This type of gesture is done at times at times of extreme desperation and when you really need something.  The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would raise his hands all the way up to the heavens.

It is not a requirement that you put your hands up when you make du'ā'.  You may make du'ā' with your hands down.  The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) sometimes did this, but, again, we are talking about perfection and how you have more chance to make your du'ā' accepted.

4.  Another etiquette of du'ā' is that the first thing that should come from your mouth should be praise to Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)
The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was once walking and a man raised his hands and began asking, “O Allāh, I want this.  O Allāh, I want that.”  The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “This man has been hasty.”  They said, “How, ya Rasūlullāh?”  He said, “When one of you raises his hands to make du'ā', let him being by praising Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).”  SubḥānAllāh, when we ask somebody for something, we don't just go knock on their door and say, “Hey, I want some money.”  We don't even do this amongst ourselves.  You begin by thana' and ḥamd and by talking about your relationship.  Again, when we give these examples, nobody should think we are comparing our relationship with Allāh, but just to drive the point home, this is even how we conduct our affairs amongst ourselves, so how about even more so with Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)?  So when we need something – and we always need something from Allāh – we begin by praising Allāh and by talking about our relationship with Him:  “Ya Allāh, You are our Creator.  I am your 'abd.  Ya Allāh, You are Al-Rahman and Al-Raḥīm.  Ya Allāh,…”  We begin by praising Allāh, giving our thana', and talking about ourselves (“I am Your 'abd, faqīr, miskīn. I need everything from You.”  This is the introduction.  We begin our du'ā's by first praising Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).

5. Another etiquette of du'ā' is that we should be very careful about the content of our du'ā's.   
A lot of people unfortunately miss the plot and ask for things that might be good but are not essential or not as important as what they are asking about.  You can tell – and you can quote me on this and think about this – a person's īmān by what du'ā' he is making.  You can tell a person's īmān by what du'ā' he is making.  If the only thing you are asking about is “Ya Allāh, give me some money.  Ya Allāh, give me a good job.  Ya Allāh, give me this, give me that.”  Where is the ākhirah?  Where is Jannah?  Where is the time in the grave?  How about when Munkar and Nakir come?  What are your priorities?  What are you thinking about?

Nobody is saying to not ask for a good life.  We want a good life.  But more important than that is hidāyah and ākhirah and Jannah and maghfirah, especially in these [last] ten nights.
My dear brothers and sisters, if Allāh deprives you of everything of this world but gives you the next, wallāhi when you get there, you won't even think about this world.  You won't even remember this world and it will be gone completely.  If the opposite is true, then a'ūdhu billāh.

When you do ask for this world, it is of the adab that you ask in generalities and not specifics.  You might think something is good.  Suppose you are doing all of this and suppose you are asking for maghfirah and hidāyah and now also want a particular job you have applied for, then of course you ask Allāh for the job because only Allāh can give it to you, but don't ask “O Allāh, I want this job.  Give it to me,” because how do you know if this job is in your best interests?  Put a phrase or condition there.  “O Allāh, give me this job if there is good in my dīn and dunya in this job.”  Leave it to Allāh's condition.

This condition is never put for things in the akhirah.  You don't say, “O Allāh, forgive me if it is good for me.”  Forgiveness is good for you!  You don't say, “O Allāh, save me from the fire if it is healthy for me.”  It is healthy for you!  You don't put these conditions for religious du'ā's (hidāyah, maghfirah).  For these, you say, “O Allāh, I need it!”  Our father Adam said, “Rabbana ẓalamna anfusana wa i'llam taghfir lana wa tarḥamna lanakūnanna min al-khāsirīn. (O Allāh, if you don't forgive me, I'm gone and have no hope.)”  Those [religious] du'ā's have no conditions.

Du'ā's of this world have adab because Allāh loves you more than you can imagine, and Allāh knows what is better for you and you don't know.  It is possible you might want something but it is not for your good, so you say, “O Allāh, give me this job, give me this job, give me this job.”  When you get it, it turns out that the first job was much better for you but you got what you asked for, so you put a condition there.
In the du'ā' of istikhārah, there is a phrase there “O Allāh give this for me if it is good for my dīn and my dunya in this world and the next.”  Any worldly thing that you ask, you put this condition.

You also should ask for generalities.  Scholars say that asking for too specifics is problematic.  Look at the du'ā's of the Qur'an.  “Rabbana ātina fi dunya ḥasanah wa fi'l ākhirati ḥasanah wa qina 'ādhab al-nār.”  If you go to extremes, you do something that is called takalluf fi'l-du'ā'.  Once there was a ṣaḥābi making a du'ā' who said, “O Allāh, I want the white palace that is on the right hand side of the gate of Jannah as soon as I enter it with the river running right there.”  He has this imagination and that he wants this.  Another ṣaḥābi said, “Ask Allāh for Jannah.  When you get it, you will get everything you want in it.”  This is takalluf and going too far.  It is good to ask in generalities.

6. Also of the etiquettes of du'ā' is that you try to memorize the du'ā's of the Qur'an and Sunnah.   
These are the du'ā's that have the most chance of being accepted.  There is a book I encourage everybody to possess and memorize and read from all the time called Hisnul Muslim (The Fortress of the Believer).  It is one of the best books on du'ā' written.  It is a simple book which you will find written in Arabic and English and every language spoken by the Muslim ummah.  It is by Dr. Said al-Qahtani.  In it he has compiled the most famous du'ā's of the Qur'an and Sunnah according to topics: what to say when you see something positive, what to say when you see something scary, what to say at the beginning of the month, what to say after ṣalāt'l-fajr.  Keep this book in your pocket and keep on looking at it and after a few weeks insha'Allāh you will memorize most, if not all, of the du'ā's in there.

 We already mentioned the du'ā' of laylat'l-qadrAllāhumma innaka 'afuwwun tuḥibbu'l-'afuw fā'fu 'anna.  Another du'ā' I want to remind myself and all of you:  Al-'Abbās, the uncle of the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), came to the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and said, “Ya Rasūlullāh, teach me a du'ā'.”  The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “O my uncle, say:  Allāhumma inni asaluka al-'āfiyah (O Allāh, I ask you for 'āfiyah).”  What is 'āfiyah'Āfiyah means “to save me from any afflictions.  To be healthy, you are in 'āfiyah.  To have enough money to live, you are in 'āfiyah.  To have your children protected, you are in 'āfiyah.  And if you are forgiven and not punished, you are in 'āfiyah'Āfiyah means “O Allāh, protect me from any pain and suffering.”  This includes dunya and akhirah.  Al-'Abbās thought about this for a while, and then he came back after a few days and said (paraphrased), “Ya Rasūlullāh, this du'ā' seems a little short.  I want something big.”  The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “My dear uncle, ask Allāh for 'āfiyah for wallāhi, you cannot be given anything better than 'āfiyah.”  It is a simple du'ā'.  Sincerely mean what you say.  “O Allāh, I ask You to be saved from any distress, grief, hardship, harm.  Don't test me.”  All of this is included in “Allāhumma inni asaluka al-'āfiyah”.
Memorize these simple du'ā's, and they should become a part and parcel of your daily routine.

7.  You should conclude your du'ā's with the ṣalāt and salām upon the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).   
There is a ḥadīth in Ibn Mājah that the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “A du'ā' will be suspended between the heaven and earth (a du'ā' will not go up) unless it has a finish (khatm) with my ṣalāt and salām.”  So you begin by praising Allāh subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) and then you have the content and then you finish by sending ṣalāt and salām upon the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).

These are the external conditions of du'ā', and inshā'Allāh later we'll talk about the spiritual conditions of du'ā'.

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Ramadan 2012 During Summer in USA

Muslims Will be Tested During the Hot Summer Days of Ramadan

Ramadan 1433 (2012)

For many Muslims in the US, this year's Ramadan falls during the hot summer days. During Ramadan, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset, neither eating nor drinking.

In the US, the days are long during the summer. Temperatures (heat and humidity) can soar during summer as well. For instance, in Boston, MA on the east coast of the US, the imsak time (the time to start the fast) will range from 3.49 am on the first day of Ramadan to 4.31 am on the last day of Ramadan. And the iftar time (the time to end the fast) will range from 8.16 pm on the first day of Ramadan to 7.41 pm on the last day of Ramadan. 

The hours of fast are longer than in previous years. For examples, in Minnesota the daily Ramadan fast will be about 16 to 17 hours long. And religious and spiritual obligations do not end with simply abstaining from food and drink during the day. In the night, there are prayers too. So the hours of rest will be reduced during this Ramadan period.

Muslims fasting in the US will have to manage the heat, the long hours, and reduced sleep, all while maintaining their religious and spiritual obligations.

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Ramadan Mubarak Ramadan Kareem 2012

Ramadan 1433 (2012)

Dear Readers of The Ramadan Blog,

Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Kareem! For many of us in the world, the first day of Ramadan is already underway. In Asian countries, the first day of Ramadan will be on Saturday, July 21 2012.

It is with Allah's great blessings that we have reached Ramadan, and have the opportunity to fulfill our religious and spiritual obligations. Thank Allah for this great occasion, and take this month seriously. There is no other month such as Ramadan. Do not let it pass you by.



Imam Suhaib Webb from the Islamic Society of Boston shares the following words of wisdom and advice on how have a successful Ramadan.

The Prophet (sa) said that this month is one of the “pillars” of our faith. Its goal is piety and its means is to increase good works at all levels - the refinement of the soul and good character and increasing in acts of worship. In order to have a successful Ramadan, it is encouraged to focus on the following:


1. Repentance - The Prophet (sa) said, “A person who repents sincerely is like a person who has no sins.” Starting the month with a clean heart and record is one of the best ways to energize your relationship with Allah. 

2. Establishing the individual obligations (Fard al-‘Ayn). A person who fasts and fails to establish the individual obligations, such as prayer, does not understand the purpose of fasting.

3. Increase in voluntary acts of goodness such as charity, community service - volunteering at a local masjid, supplications, prayers and God’s remembrance.

4. Focus on making this the month of Qur’an. It is encouraged to read as much Qur’an as possible. This includes listening to it on the way to work, during the day at home, or on your computer or phone on the train.

5. Increase the din, reduce the dunya. Meaning: focus your talks, chats, tweets and Facebook posts on the Hereafter, reducing your conversations about things of no benefit in the Hereafter.

6. Make this a month for your family. Strive to be home for Iftar after work. Studies show that family meals act as major influences in keeping families healthy and strong.

7. Forgive those who have wronged you and hold nothing in your heart towards others. ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ood said, “Everyone is forgiven in Ramadan, except those who have hatred in their hearts towards their brethren.”

8. Be a constant source of good wherever you are. Whether waiting in the line for food, driving to work, at home with your kids, or preparing for prayers, keep the light of goodness on all the time. The Prophet (sa) said, “Best person is the one who is best to others.”

9. Spend time with your family or friends. Meaning: parents should worship Allah together by completing a reading of the Qur’an together (with their children if possible). And roommates or friends should try to complete one together as well. Praying in the night together is commendable as is remembering God in gatherings - driving in the car or at home.

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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Saturday, July 14, 2012

Ramadan 2012: When Does Ramadan Begin in 2012?

Ramadan 1433 USA: When Does Ramadan Begin in 2012? 

"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint." Qur’an 2: 183

It is estimated that the first day of Ramadan in North America will be on Friday, July 20, 2012 and Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, August 19, 2012, insha’Allah.

Please  refer to the annoucement by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) below.

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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 take place 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 on Friday, 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 24 hours before sunset, while moonset 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. For more detailed information, please visit: www.fiqhcouncil.org or www.moonsighting.com

Sincerely,

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi

Chairman, Fiqh Council of North America

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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