Ramadhan Checklist

I came across this checklist by chance, unfortunately I do not know whom to give the credits for it, but I thought I might share it with the readers of this blog.

1. Make a resolve to win the maximum favour of Allah: perform extra voluntary prayers (Nawaafil), make frequent Du'a and increase remembrance (Dhikr).

2. Try to recite some Qu'ran after every Prayer. In fact if you read 3-4 pages after every Prayer you can easily finish the entire Quran in Ramadan! Study the Quranic Tafseer (commentary) every morning.

3. Invite a person you are not very close with to your home for Iftar, at least once a week. You will notice the blessings in your relationships!

4. Bring life to your family! Everyday, try to conclude the fast with your family and spend some quality time together to understand each other better.

5. Commit to an Islamic study circles to enhance your Islamic knowledge and practice. Plan to complete reading a book on Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) life in these 30 days.

6. Donate generously to the masajid, Islamic organizations, and any where people are in need. "This is a month of sharing!"

7. Seek the rare and oft-neglected rewards of 'the night better than a 1000 months', Laylatul-Qadr.

8. Weep in private for the forgiveness of your sins: It is the month of forgiveness and Allah's Mercy! It's never too late.

9. Learn to control your tongue and lower your gaze. Remember the Prophet's warning that lying, backbiting, and a lustful gaze all violate the fast! Abandon foul language forever.

10. Encourage others to enjoin and love goodness, and to abandon everything evil. Play the role of a Da'ee (one who invites to Allah) with passion and sympathy.

11. Experience the joy of Tahajjud prayers late at night and devote yourself purely and fully to Allah in the I'tikaf retreat during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

with thanks: Sarah

Concepts, facts and ideas that can be derived from the Story of Adam (A.S)

1. The great value Islam assigns to man, his role on earth and his position in the universal system as well as the values by which he will be judged.

2. The high regard in which man is held in God’s universe is manifested in the divine will to declare man a vicegerent on earth and in the symbolic gesture of ordering the angels to prostrate themselves before him, and the subsequent condemnation of Iblīs who refused to join them.

3. Elevates man above all other beings and forbids his subjugation or humiliation for the sake of material achievement

4. Achievements must not come at a price that would undermine fundamental human values, or at the expense of man’s dignity or integrity.

5. Man, rather than the means of production or distribution, is the force of change on this earth; he influences and alters the course of all life on it.

6. This view of man is easily distinguished from, and vastly superior to, the feeble and negative role assigned to him by materialistic philosophies.

7. Islam aims to always guide man towards a decent and moral life.
Production, consumerism and the satisfaction of man’s carnal instincts and desires are not all that life is about.

By Syed Qutub Shaheed (R.A) in Fi Zilaal ul Qur'an

Quranic Definition of Taqwa

Allah (swt) has defined Taqwa in The Glorious Qur'an in a very clear cut manner.
According to Verse no. 177 of Surah Al-Baqarah, Taqwa is:

1. To believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers.
2. To spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves
3. To be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity
4. To fulfil the contracts which ye have made
5. To firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of conflicts.

Put yourselves on this scale and measure your level of Taqwa

Seeking Forgiveness From Allah

"Say: O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (Quran 39:53)

"And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor commit adultery - and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty; (68) The doom will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein disdained for ever; (69) Save him who repenteth and believeth and doth righteous work; as for such, Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. (70) [Quran 25:68-70]

Allahuma innaka 'afuwwun karimun tuhibbul 'afwa fa ‘afu anni
(O Allah! You are the Most Forgiving and Most Gracious! You love to forgive, so forgive my errors and sins)

The seven secrets of Success!

And the Quran Says:

By the time!
Lo! Man is in a state of loss;
save those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other to hold on to truth and counsel each other to be steadfast.
Surah Asr 103 : 1 - 3

Br Sadiq Pasha sent me this photo with an inspiring message. Jaza kallah, Sadiq!

Read : A poem on success and perseverence.

What is Zuhd..???

Ibn Taymiyyah said: Zuhd is to leave alone those things which will not benefit you in the next life.
Sufyaan Ath-Thawri said: Zuhd is to have limited amount of expectations: it does not mean eating poor or inadequate foods as many think or wearing a cheap gown or cloak.
Ibn Ja’laal said: Zuhd is to know that life is a temporary one that will pass away; it should not be magnified in ones heart, nor should much focus be placed on it. Rather one should turn away from it; it is said Zuhd means to refrain from this world, without showing off.
Al Ju’nayd said: Zuhd means to free the heart from always wanting
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said: Zuhd is not to have too many expectations.
Ibn Mubaarak said: It is having trust in Allaah and being content in times of poverty.
Abdulwaahid Ibn Zaid said: Zuhd can be practised by a person even if he only possesses one dinaar or dirham.
Ad-Daa’rani said: Zuhd means to leave those things that distract you from Allaah the exalted and high.
Hassan Al-Basri said: Zuhd is not that you make the permissible (things) impermissible or by wasting ones money. But, rather Zuhd is that you acknowledge that what Allaah the exalted has (destined for you) is better than what you have.
___________________
Madaarij As-Saalikeen by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah

An Intelligent Muslim

The intelligent person is the one who constantly performs self-assessment on his deeds, and ensures that all his actions are geared for his life after death. On the other hand, a careless person is one who follows his wanton desires, but at the same time wishes all good rewards from Allah.
-Muhammad (saw), narrated by Imam Tirmidhi

The hadith mentions the two traits of an intelligent Muslim. First, he always does self-accounting on his past deeds.

Second, he ensures that all his actions are not only for this life, but for his life in the Hereafter.