Some IMPORTANT Pointers regarding Ramadaan...

1. It is a condition of the fasting person to have the intention to fast. The intention is not to be uttered on the tongue; rather it is in the heart (your desire to fast).

2. It is Sunnah for the fasting person to eat suhoor, because the Prophet (saws) has said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.” [al-Bukhaari, 1923; Muslim, 1059] 

3. It is Sunnah to delay the suhoor and to hasten in breaking the fast.
Allah said: “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall” [Al-Baqarah 2:187]

Al-Bukhaari (1919) and Muslim (1092) narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (ra) that Bilaal used to give the adhaan at night, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktoom gives the adhaan, for he does not give the adhaan until the dawn comes.”
With regard to what appears on timetables as 'imsaak' – whereing people stop eating roughly 10-15 mins before Fajr Adhaan, the scholars have said that there is no basis for such a thing and goes against the Sunnah.

Ibn Hazm narrated that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab used to say: “If two men are uncertain about dawn let them eat until they are certain.”

FASTING - The Partnership between Body and Soul...

The dualism between the body and soul is very clearly evident in the physical world. The body is subservient and the soul is in charge; however both are indispensable. It is just that the soul is the master while the body is the obedient servant.

People have a habit of letting themselves become fully absorbed in fulfilling their physical needs to the utter disregard of their spiritual ones, which are rarely so much as contemplated.

We need only look at the vast number of institutions that exist to deal with the material aspects of our lives compared to the paucity of those that focus n the needs of the soul – the mosque being one of those.

The body has its rights and its demands upon us. However what worth does the body have without the soul? It is a mere corpse, no matter how powerfully or beautifully it is constructed. If the soul departs from it, it becomes a wasted husk. Its beauty can only be realized in partnership with the soul.

If we look to apply this concept within an Islamic context, we immediately notice that our four primary acts of worship – prayer , fasting, Zakâh, and Hajj – and indeed all forms of worship, require the participation of both the body and soul.

However, the regrettable thing that beset the People of the Scripture – the followers of Moses and Jesus – as well as many of the followers of Muhammad (saws) – is that of being overly concerned with outward appearances at the expense of substance. There is more concern about bodily actions than there is with the soul. Concern for the outward aspects of worship is something good (though at times it can get out of hand), but such concern should not result in the inner meaning of our worship being forgotten.

Some thought-provoking and heartfelt words on Ramadan by Ibn al-Jawzi:

‘… Where are those who fast and where are those who pray by night? Where are those who obey their Lord and where are those who work righteousness? Where are those who are foremost and where are are the humble ones? Where are those who remember (their Lord) and where are those devoted to Him? Where are the truthful and where are the patient? Where are the charity-givers? Where are those who enjoin good, who save the troubled ones and who forbid the wrong? Where are those who heed contemplation and who listen to good advice and life-lessons? By Allah, they have indeed gone with the Salihin (righteous), returned with the Mu’minin (believers), settled with the Anbiya’ (Prophets) and taken residence with the Siddiqin (truthful ones). But us, we remain behind with the ignorant, have settled with the wrong-doers and have taken the heedless as our guides…
 

Fasting is the shield of nations, protecting from the Hellfire
And fasting is a fortress for whoever fears that fire
Fasting is a covering for all the people of goodness
Those who fear the burden of blame and sinfulness
And this month is the month of the Lord of the Throne
A Most Merciful Lord, Who conceals the heavy sins & burdens
So therein have fasted men who thus profited
Their reward lies with the Exalted and Forgiving One
And so they came to settle in Everlasting Gardens
Surrounded by maidens, and rivers and plantations…

Laziness V/S Worship in Ramadaan !!!

Question: For many people in Ramadaan, their main focus is only that of basking in food and sleep. So Ramadaan becomes a month of laziness and inactivity. Likewise, some people play all night and then sleep during day. What is your advice to these kinds of people? 

Answer: I believe that this in reality consists of a waste of time and a waste of money. If people do not have any other objective than to vary their meals, sleep during the day and spend the night doing things that are of no benefit to them, then this is without doubt a waste of a valuable opportunity, which may not repeat itself again for some people in their lifetimes. 

Therefore, the determined one is he who goes through Ramadaan the way it should it be done, which is sleeping in the first part of the night, performing the Taraaweeh Prayer, and then standing in prayer during the last part of the night if one is able to. And one should not go to extremes in eating and drinking. 

Those who have the ability should strive to feed those who are fasting (when its time to break the fast) either in the masaajid or in other places. This is since whoever feeds a fasting person, he will receive the same reward as the one fasting. So if a person feeds his brothers who are fasting, he will receive the same reward as them. Therefore, those whom Allaah has granted wealth should taken advantage of this opportunity to obtain a great reward.

Month of Food and Savory Dishes..?

Ramadaan is the month of mercy, the month of forgiveness, wherein we increase our ‘ibadaah and hope to gain a closer connection with Ar-Rahmaan. But for many, the sweetness of this month lies solely in the special, savory dishes they are served during iftaar. Ramadaan then becomes a month wherein they may gather with family and eat special foods they do not eat for the rest of the year. And if Ramadaan looms significant only for this aspect, how then are we to extract the many benefits of this blessed month?


If one spends his day fasting only thinking of the dishes and delicacies they will have after sunset, then they may only think of this month in black and white; that is, fasting as a time of hunger and thirst and the time after the fast as a time of food, drink and perhaps indulgence. Compare this to the one who doesn’t hold this simple mentality, but one who understands the reality of this month. For them, fasting during this month is not a time to dwell on the lack of food and anticipation for the special dishes that await, but rather a time to race towards good deeds, to increase in their Qur’aan recitation, to make fervent du’aa & istighfaar, to pray their salawaat with the utmost khushoo, and to strive to please Ar-Rahmaan. As for the time after fasting, it is a time for gratitude for the food that has touched our lips, to increase the bonds with family and friends as we break our fast with one another, to make it to the masjid to pray Ishaa and Taraweeh, and to continue with the du’aa, the Qur’aan and the salaah. SubhanAllah, and once we realize the immense value of this month, the simplistic view of it as the month of special foods shall vanish, rather the remembrance of Allah will loom large and be of our utmost priorities.

Cutting off everything except Qur’aan in Ramadaan?!?

A question posed to Shaykh Al-Albaani by his daughter – Shall We Cut Off Everything Except For The Qur’aan?

Umm Sukaynah al-Albaaniyyah said: “I asked my father (Shaykh Al-Albaani):

“I read that some of the scholars would cut off all other actions and devout themselves to the Qur’aan alone when they entered Ramadan. This is in-spite of them being the from people of knowledge who give religious verdicts to the people. They would cut off all other actions even til’ the point of cutting off giving religious verdicts. Is this correct? Should I designate this month for the (reading of the) Qur’aan therefore leaving off the reading of the Ahaadeeth, their explanation and the religious lessons“?

He said in his response:

“This designation (of only reciting the Qur’aan and leaving off the other matters in the month of Ramadan) has no origin from the Sunnah. However that which is in the Sunnah and well known from the two authentic collections of the Prophetic narrations (Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim) is abundant recitation of the Qur’aan in the month of Ramadan (1).

Inner Secrets of Fasting

By Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee 
Mukhtasar Minhaaj ul-Qaasideen (pp. 38-41) 

Know, that in the fast (Sawm) is a special quality that is not found in anything else. And that is its close connection to Allah, such that He says: “The fast (Sawm) is for Me and I will reward it.” [al-Bukhari and Muslim] 
This connection is enough to show the high status of fasting. Similarly, the Ka`bah is highly dignified due to its close connection to Him, as occurs in His statement: 
“And sanctify My House.” [al-Hajj:26] 

Indeed, the fast is only virtuous due to two significant concepts:
The first: It is a secret and hidden action thus, no one from the creation is able to see it. Therefore riyaa’ (showing off) cannot enter into it. 
The second: It is a means of subjugating the enemies of Allah. This is because the road that the enemies (of Allah) embark upon (in order to misguide the Son of Aadam) is that of desires. And eating and drinking strengthens the desires.
There are many reports that indicate the merits of fasting, and they are all well known. 

The recommended acts of fasting 
The pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and delaying in taking it are preferable, as well as hastening to break the fast and doing so with dates.
Generosity in giving is also recommended during Ramadaan, as well as doing good deeds and increasing in charity. This is in accordance with the way of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

It is also recommended to study the Qur’aan and perform I`tikaaf during Ramadaan, especially in the last ten days, as well as increasing upon the exertion (towards doing good deeds) in it.

The Virtues of the blessed 8th Month - Sha'baan!

Sha'baan is the name of the (eight) month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it is so called because in this month the Arabs used to disperse (tasha'aba) in search of water, or it was said that it is so called because it sha'aba (branches out or emerges) i.e., it appears between the months of Rajab and Ramadaan. 

Fasting in Sha'baan 

'A'ishah (ra) said: "The Messenger (saws) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha'baan." (al-Bukhari and Muslim). According to a report narrated by Muslim, "He used to fast all of Sha'baan, he used to fast all but a little of Sha'baan." 

A group of scholars, including Ibn al-Mubarak and others, thought that the Prophet did not fast all of Sha'baan, but he fasted most of it. This is supported by a report in Saheeh Muslim narrated from 'A'ishah (ra), who said: "I never knew of him - meaning the Prophet (saws) - fasting for any entire month apart from Ramadaan." According to another report also narrated by Muslim, A'ishah said: "I never saw him fast for any entire month from the time he came to Madeenah, apart from Ramadaan." 

It was reported in al-Bukhari and Muslim that Ibn 'Abbas (ra) said: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) did not fast any entire month apart from Ramadaan." Ibn 'Abbas regarded it as makrooh to fast any entire month apart from Ramadaan. Ibn Hajar said: "He observed more voluntary fasts in Sha'baan than in any other month, and he used to fast most of Sha'baan."
 

Evidences on the Kuffr of the Rulers !!!

The textual evidences on the kufr of the rulers by other than what Allah has revealed!

The crux of the matter, and that is the evidences and proof for the disbelief of those rulers who rule by other than the sharee'ah of the creator.

So we say, and Allah is our sole helper:
There are three manattaat (main elements) of disbelief in this matter of ruling by other than what Allah has revealed:

1) Not ruling by what Allah has revealed: because ruling by man-made laws consequently means leaving what Allah has revealed and decreed for it, and for Allah is a ruling and a judgement in every matter.

2) Making or inventing a law other than the law of Allah: and these are the man-made laws themselves that we are talking about here.

3) Ruling by other than what Allah has revealed: meaning ruling by this law, that is contradictory and against the law of Allah.

Everyone of these three manattaat is disbelief in itself, and the portion that those rulers who rule our lands today receive of it depends on what they have actually done; as for the president and the ruler himself, then all three are found in everyone of them. Likewise, the parliaments and assemblies, i.e. the legislative council, then all three are found too, for he is the one who invents the law (manaat two) and likewise he permits it and rules by it (manattaat one and three). Likewise, the ministries of ‘justice’ also fall into this category as they are the ones who discuss its permissibility and what is to be legislated and what is not to be legislated and so on.

As for the judges, the qudaat, then manaat one and three are found in them, as they do not legislate any laws, but rather they rule by them and do not rule by what Allah has revealed. In that, if he were to decree that a thieve is to be jailed, then he has not ruled by what Allah has revealed (that is to cut his hand), and ruled by other than it and that 'other' is what they - the councils in charge and ruler - have legislated for it. In certain countries, the judges take the role of legislating as well, so that three manaattaat of disbelief are found in them.

In the following, we will seek to establish the decree of Allah in those rulers today, and an elucidation of their kufr:

The Terrible Consequences of not Praying Salah!!!

Bismillah. Today, Insha’Allah we’re going to touch on a slightly different angle on the concept of salah. Now, you know that salah is fard–the 5x daily prayers–and that the reward of doing so is great, and the sin of doing so are terrible. Hellfire, punishment on the Day of Judgment, punishment in this life, all these things are but possibilities.

But let’s take a look at a slightly different angle: scholars. What’s the position of the scholars on someone who doesn’t pray?

The position of all four madhaahib–Maliki, Shafi’ee, Hanbali, and Hanafi–with no difference of opinion–is that a person who does not pray, ever, is not a Muslim.

Think about that. Not a Muslim. Not anyone who has a chance of Paradise.

Why? 

There’s a very explicit hadith on this–the hadith of the Prophet (saws)
The contract between us and them is salaah. Whoever leaves it, he has disbelieved (fa qad kafara). [Related by Al-Imam Ahmad and Ahl-ul-Sunan (authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes) with a Sahih Sanad (chain of narrators)]

This is a very direct, explicit hadith–salaah is the contract, part of the mithaaq, the original contract, with Allah that all humans took. And this is only one of the explicit Ahadith like this.

What’s more, it was inconceivable in the time of the sahaba that someone could be a “Muslim” and not pray. It just doesn’t make sense.

Forgiveness: the mark of a Believer...

By Shaykhu-l-Islâm Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) 

With the Name of Allâh, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Indeed Allâh - to whom belongs all praise - has bestowed upon me immense grace, great favors and generous blessings which necessitates immense gratitude, being firm upon obedience to Him, and becoming accustomed to having beautiful patience in that which He ordered. Indeed, a servant is ordered to have sabr (patience) in times of ease more so than in times of hardship. Allâh - the Most High - said: 

“But if we let man taste the good favors after poverty and harm has touched him, he is sure to boastfully say: Harm has departed from me. Indeed he is exultant, boastful and ungrateful to Allâh, Except those who show patience and do deeds of righteousness and obedience to Allâh, for them will be forgiveness and a great reward.” [Sûrah Hûd 11:10-11]. 

And you all know that Allâh - the Most Perfect - has blessed this affair [2] with such blessings which contain the means to aid His Religion, raise high His Word, aid His Army, and grant honour to His Awliyâ (pious and righteous servants). It is also the cause for strengthening Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamâ’ah and causing humiliation to the people of innovations and sectarianism. Likewise, it is also the cause for affirming that which has been affirmed by yourselves from the Sunnah (regarding the truth of this matter), and a cause for increasing this by opening up the avenues of guidance, victory and proofs: such that the truth becomes known to the people, who none but Allâh can enumerate. It is also a cause for the masses to begin to accept the way of the Sunnah and the Jamâ’ah; as well as countless other favors. All of this must therefore be accompanied by immense gratitude to Allâh, as well as having patience - even ii this patience is in times of ease.

Are You Jealous of What Others Have ???

Hasad (jealousy and envy) is among the most destructive emotions which a man may develop toward his fellow human being. With Hasad, a person will wish evil for others and will be happy when misfortune befalls them. The Prophet (pbuh) warned against envy by comparing it to fire that completely burns the wood. He (pbuh) said:
"Beware of jealousy, for verily it destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood." [Abu Dawud]

The Prophet (pbuh) said:
"There has come to you the disease of the nations before you, jealousy and hatred. This is the 'shaver' (destroyer); I do not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (destroys) faith..." [At-Tirmidhi, No. 2434]

Hasad can take a person into disbelief because he may conclude that Allah has not been fair with him, while Allah is the Most Just. The person may forget all of Allah's mercy and blessings bestowed upon him.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
"They are enemies of Allah's bounties." When asked, "Who are they?", he replied: "Those who envy people for what Allah has given them of Bounty." [At-Tabarani]

Allah through His Absolute Wisdom gave some people more wealth, intelligence, beauty, strength, and children than others. Discontentment comes from the slave's ignorance of his Lord. If he recognizes his Lord with the attributes of Perfection, he would not be discontent and as a result would not develop Hasad. A believing Muslim should be content with what Allah has destined for him. Imam Ibn Qayyim said: "It (contentment) opens the door of peace and security for the slave."