Da'wah Tips

1. Keep things simple

2. Answer in terms the questioner can relate to.

3. Try to answer directly instead of beating around the bush.

4. If you don’t know, say so.

5. Emphasise commonalities and not differences.

6. Use wisdom.

7. Never insult another person’s faith.

8. Acknowledge if a Muslim has done wrong- don’t defend wrong doing-Not everything is a reflection of Islam.

9. Don’t white wash the truth.

10. Avoid being defensive and apologetic about Islam.

11. Avoid preaching.

12. Avoid denigrating groups- ex. The Wahabis/sufis/shias are this or that.

13. Do not get emotional.

14. Always speak truthfully.

15. If you cannot be truthful, be silent.

16. Don’t overstep your knowledge-Speak what you know.

17. Study so you have the knowledge.

18. Speak at the level of understanding of the person asking the question.

http://www.alhudacanada.com/dawah/?p=162

Download free nasheeds

follow this link to download free nasheeds:

http://blog.iloveallaah.com/2010/06/downloadnasheed/

:) 

Be choosy

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A man follows his friend’s religion. So each one should consider whom he makes his friend.” [Mishkat Al-Masabih]

There is a principle according to which you are said to become like the people with whom you associate. Make friends but be very choosy about whom you befriend. Slowly and gradually the way you talk, what you talk about, the way you dress, the way you behave, what you eat, how you spend your time, all ends up becoming like that of the company you keep. Keep in mind that on the Day of Judgement you will be raised with those whom you loved. May it never happen that we are grouped with those people who are to be thrown into the Fire


http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com/#.

Momin dies Working!

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "The momin dies with his sweat on his brow (i.e. with labour and hard work)." [Tirmidhi, Nasai]

A momin's work is never done. If a conscientious student is sitting for a three hour exam and gets done in two and a half hours, he/she will go over their work making sure that they did not miss anything or make any mistakes. Moreover, if an exam has been designed for three hours, it is meant to take around three hours to finish.

Our lifespan should likewise be fully utilized to make sure we have not left anything undone that we could have earned Jannat with. This is the only chance we get; there will be no exams after this, only results. Therefore, we have to give this one exam our best shot.

If somebody is sitting around with nothing to do, it means that they have not understood the purpose of life, what Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) gave it to us for! There is no time to waste, no moment to lose. As long as we are alive we can keep earning sawaab. A momin, therefore, keeps working to please Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) before death overtakes him, and his exam paper is taken away from him.

http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com

Death will be Slaughtered

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “On the Day of Resurrection death will be brought forward in the shape of a black and white ram. Then a call maker will call, ‘O people of Jannah!’ Thereupon they will stretch their necks and look carefully. The caller will say, ‘Do you know this?’ They will say, ‘Yes, this is death.’ By then all of them will have seen it. Then it will be announced again, ‘O people of Jahannum!’ They will stretch their necks and look carefully. The caller will say, ‘Do you know this?’ They will say, ‘Yes, this is death.’ And by then all of them will have seen it. Then it (that ram) will be slaughtered and the caller will say, ‘O people of Jannah! Eternity for you and no death. O people of Jahannum! Eternity for you and no death.’” Then the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) recited: “And warn them of the Day of Distress when the case has been decided, while (now) they are in a state of carelessness (i.e. the people of the world) and they do not believe. (Quran 19:39)” [Sahih Bukhari]

After people have reached their places in Jannah or the Fire Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) will destroy death. Nobody will ever die again after this. This eternal life will be a source of great joy for the people in Jannah. But the people in Jahannum will wish for one thing from the bottom of their heart: death, if only they could cease to exist then they would not feel the punishment that is now their due. They will not wish for any of the things they wished for in the world, because of which they disobeyed and ignored Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and the warnings of His Messengers. They will not want eternal life, they will not want Jannah. All they will want is to die. And it will be denied them. This is really scary if we think about it.

Be useful; live longer

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Nothing keeps away the decree (of Allah) except prayer, and nothing increases the life (of man) except goodness; and man is only denied the provisions (of life) because of sins upon which he falls." [Ibn Majah] "Almsgiving extinguishes the wrath of Allah." [Tirmidhi]

This hadith tells us many important things:

1. If we want to prevent misfortunes, accidents, and bad things in general from happening to us, we should make dua. Dua alone has the power to stall some misfortune that was decreed to befall us.
2. If we want to live longer, then we should practice what Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) defines as goodness.
3. If we want our rizq/provisions to increase, we should not commit sins.
4. If we don't want to be punished by Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) for our sins, we should give sadaqa/charity.

Research suggests that those who spend 4-6 hours in various voluntary activities weekly live 6-8 years longer than those who don't. This is one of the benefits of helping others that modern research has revealed. There are hundreds of other benefits. Make yourself useful so that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) may let you live a few more years to serve His creation. [30 Second Successories by Faiez H. Seyal]

Best Wedding

Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The most blessed nikah is the one with the least expenses.” [Bayhaqi]

Today, the youth of many men and women is destroyed because they cannot afford the lavish weddings that have become the standard. They do not possess, in terms of dowry or mahr, what society says they must give in order to get married. Others get into debt for extravagant wedding functions. Even those who can afford lavish weddings are responsible for the wastage involved, while the money could have been put to so much better use. To make matters worse, the resulting marriage is often not even a successful one. In order to make our weddings more blessed we need to abandon these customs, and on such occasions take a lesson from the simple nikah of Fatima (radi allahu anha) whose dowry was one water-bag and one bed.

Which Women enter Jannah

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Shall I inform you which woman will enter Paradise?” The Sahaba replied: “Yes, most certainly.”  Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The woman who has children, is lovable, when she becomes angry the husband consoles her, and when the husband becomes angry she says that as long as you do not become pleased with me, I will not even apply surmah (antimony) to my eyes.” [Tibrani]

The love between husband and wife offends Shaytaan more than anything else. If husbands and wives are to care for each other and try to keep the environment of the house as peaceful and loving as possible, every Muslim house can become a model of Jannat. All kinds of quarrels will cease and the misfortune of divorce will not prevail. Children brought up in such environments will be an example of piety, discipline, love and sympathy. May Allah make every Muslim house a model of Jannat.

If the hearts of both spouses are united, there can be no greater bounty, and if there are differences between them (Allah forbid), there can be no greater calamity.

Useless treasure!

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allah." [Tirmidhi]

One reason that a miser is considered a fool is that he or she does not benefit from what they crave yet possess. Similarly, a person who has been given a lot of wealth but does not purchase Paradise with it is also a fool. Whatever comfort you can buy in the world with your wealth, will nevertheless be taken away from you at your death. If instead, you use your wealth to purchase Jannah, you will have bought the best of luxuries that will never be taken away from you.

By the same token, knowledge of Islam is a treasure that can be utilized to purchase Jannah by bringing one’s feelings and actions in line with what one has learnt. Only then is the knowledge of lasting benefit to the person. A person who is not able to earn Jannah from his/her knowledge of Islam is but a loser. His/her case is comparable to that of the person who has treasure but does not use it to purchase Jannah.

Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) is Rehmat-ul-lil-Alameen (mercy for all the worlds) because he showed us how to convert the brief pleasure that life on earth can offer, into everlasting pleasure.

The Greatest Women Who Ever Lived

source: The Sisters Magazine
Sparkling gems in their own times, they continue to glisten beyond their age, making their appeal everlasting...Each one a legend in her own right, they were declared the best of women by the Last Prophet (SAW)...So what were the special characteristics these illustrious women had and how can we follow in their footsteps in our times? Fatima Barakatullah looks for answers and finds inspiration and guidance.


What are the most famous women of today celebrated for? Those held up as role models for the modern woman include actresses, singers, footballers WAGs (wives and girlfriends) and glamour models - all celebrated for their physical appeal. Very rarely will a woman be deemed 'successful' for other than what is really just superficial and then, as is often the case, when she ages and her physical features fade, she will fall out of favour with the media and younger women will replace her as the icons of their era.

But Allah shows us in His Book that a woman is so much more than the outer shell that is her body. Our history is replete with examples of great women who were gems of their times and whose sparkling appeal is timeless. Islam defines for us that the truly successful are those of integrity, who fulfil the purpose of their creation and rise to the challenges that are presented to them throughout life with tenacity, thereby gaining the pleasure of their Creator and everlasting victory in the next life.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said in an authentic Hadeeth:

"The best women from the people of Jannah are Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatima daughter of Muhammad, Aasiya bint Muzaahim - the Wife of Pharoah and Mary daughter of Imran, may Allah be pleased with them all."

In fact Allah specifically mentions two of these great women in the Qur'an, as role models for believing men as well as women. In Surat ut-Tahreem Allah says:

"And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: The wife of Pharaoh, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with you in Paradise, and save me from the Pharaoh and his actions, and save me from the people who are oppressors.



And Maryam, the daughter of Imran who guarded her chastity. And we breathed into the sleeve of her garment through our Ruh, and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and believed in His books and was of those who are obedient to Allah."



So what were the characteristics that made them worthy of such accolades? What made Allah and His Messenger single out these women above all others? And more importantly, how can we benefit and learn from their example?

They affirmed the Truth immediately

The four greatest women submitted to the Truth and to the commands of Allah immediate, without any hesitation. We see from their stories that Mariam accepted the huge task that Allah had set for her, of going through pregnancy and childbirth by herself, unsupported by a man and then of presenting her child to the people who would inevitably accuse her of being unchaste.

Khadijah accepted Islam immediately and was the first Muslimah. When the Prophet returned from Mount Noor having received the first revelation from Angel Jibreel, it was Khadijah who immediately accepted his message and believed in him even though he himself was shaken by the event.

Lesson I: Today, there is a culture amongst us of 'Fatwa Shopping'. In other words, when an Islamic ruling makes us feel uncomfortable, instead of saying 'We hear and we obey', we just go and ask someone who has another opinion until we find the opinion that is most akin to our own desires. We must become women who, when faced with the truth in any matter, sincerely accept it and submit without hesitation.

They had a strong relationship with Allah

Their knowledge of Allah and His attributes made them close to Him. When the Prophet returned from the Cave of Hira, fearing something bad had happened to him Khadijah knew Allah would never forsake him. She said: "Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress." She knew that Allah is Just and does not humiliate the righteous.

Aasiya knew when Pharaoh was torturing her to turn her from her faith, that Allah could hear her cries and her du'a, she asked Allah to build for her, with Him a house in Paradise. During her ordeal, Allah showed her house in Paradise to her, which made her smile, just as she was martyred at the hands of her husband.

Mariam had such a close relationship to her Lord that he would provide her with the fruits of the Summer in the Winter and the fruits of the Winter in Summer. When the Prophet Zakariyyah (AS) saw this he quizzed her about the origin of the food she always had. She said, "This is from Allah. Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whomsoever He wills without limit."

Lesson II: If we are to become close to Allah we too must have correct knowledge of Him and His names and attributes and mention Him often through His Dhikr. If we remember Him much in times of ease, only then will we be able to remember Him in times of difficulty.

They had Qunoot

Allah describes the True Believing women as being Qaanitaat and described Maryam in particular as having the characteristic of Qunoot. He says in Surah Aal Imran, Aayah 43:"O Maryam! Submit yourself with obedience (Uqnuti) to your Lord and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with those who bow down."

Qunoot means to stand for long periods in prayer and this was particularly a characteristic of Maryam and Fatima. Qunoot also means to be devoutly obedient and to submit to Allah.

Lesson III: We must become true worshippers of Allah, not only striving to establish our prayers, but striving to concentrate and to lengthen our prayers, in particular, the Night Prayer (tahajjud). We must have soft hearts that accept Allah's commands and obey him with devotion.

They supported the Believing men in their lives

Aasiya saved the baby Musa from Pharoah and brought him up & believed in him. Mariam was pivotal to the message of Eesa and she brought him to the people as a sign from Allah. Fatima defended her father when the idolators in Makkah threw the blood and carcass of a dead camel on her father's back while he prayed. She removed the filth and stood up to the men who had attacked her father, only to be slapped in the face by Abu Jahl.

Khadijah stood by the Prophet (saw) and spent her wealth for the sake of his message. She endured the difficult boycott period when the Muslims and their supporters were forced to dwell in a valley away from the people of Makkah and were refused food or trade. The Muslims used to eat the leaves of the trees due to the extreme state of poverty they were in. Khadijah endured these hardships and stood by the Prophet (saw).

Lesson IV: We must support our men folk and help them to be 'real men'. We must stand by them in times of difficulty and strengthen them when they feel weak in their Iman. It's amazing the effect that a woman can have on a man's self-esteem and confidence. Insha Allah, we will be rewarded for helping our men to be better servants of Allah.


They had Courage

Fatima was often seen in the wars that the Muslims fought, treating the wounded and stood up to Abu Jahl when he attacked the Prophet (saw). Mariam had the courage to bring Eesa to people after her difficult ordeal. She knew they would accuse her of being unchaste, yet she bravely obeyed Allah's command. Khadijah had the courage to follow and encourage the Prophet (saw) in his mission even though she endured hardship due to it. Aasiyah courageously stood up to Pharoah, the greatest tyrant of that time and refused to become a disbeliever.

Lesson V: We have to be prepared to do difficult things in our lives. We must have the courage to speak out to defend the oppressed and to tell people about our Deen without watering it down and we must be prepared to sacrifice anything for the sake of the Truth.

They had Istiqamah and Sabr

Istiqamah means to stand firm upon the straight path and sabr is patient perseverance. In other words, they tenaciously held on to the truth come what may.

Asiyah stayed firm upon the Deen of Musa throught her torture and martyrdom. Mariam had sabr when facing her peoples' accusations and stayed firm throughout the tests she faced. Khadijah and Fatima endured the three-year boycott that was imposed on them and went through the persecution of Makkah and kept their Iman.

Lesson VI: We live in a time when we need Istiqamah. We need to stay true to the message of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and not be tempted to water-down our Deen to appease other people. It will mean being patient and displeasing people sometimes, but ultimately we will have pleased Allah and He will give us success.

They had Tawakkul (Reliance Upon Allah)

When she was being persecuted for worshipping Allah, Aasiya's reliance upon Allah made her stay firm upon Iman and not yield under the intense pressure. Fatima faced poverty and physical hardship after her marriage to Ali to the point that her hands became rough and her face changed colour due to the physically demanding work she was doing. Despite this she was not allowed to receive Zakah and was not granted a servant when she wanted one. Instead the Prophet taught her and Ali to say 'Subhan Allah' 33 times and 'Alhamdulillah' 33 times and 'Allahu Akbar' 34 times. He reminded them that Allah was the One who would make things easier for them so they should put all of their trust in Him. All four of the women persevered in the tests they faced due to their reliance upon Allah and knowledge that He would make their affairs right.

Lesson VII: We must learn to truly have tawakkul in Allah and trust that after we have done our bit, Allah will make everything turn out right as long as we are conscious of Him.

They had Zuhd (were not attached to the life of this world)

The Prophet (saw) once told Fatima to remove the gold bangles she was wearing as he wanted to teach her not to desire this life. She immediately removed the bangles and gave them away in charity. Khadijah spent her wealth in supporting the Da'wah during the Makkan period, she gave up her status as one of the most noble and esteemed women of the Quraysh in order to stand by the Prophet.

Aasiya could have had a life of luxury as she was married to the richest and most powerful man in the world. She gave up the material delights she could have enjoyed if she complied with Pharaoh's wishes. Yet she chose what was with Allah over this worldly life.

Lesson VIII: We must be willing to give up all we have for the sake of Allah. We must avoid joining in the race to have the best and latest commodities and realise that what is with Allah is so much more.

Women

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, "Treat women nicely,
for a woman is created from a rib, the most curved portion of the rib (is
its upper portion), so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break,
but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women
nicely."

Bukhari Vol. 4 : No. 548

All intoxicants

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was once asked about mead. He replied, “Every drink that intoxicates is forbidden.” [Sahih Bukhari]

Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “How could any man ruin his mind, which is the most beloved thing in God’s creation, with wine?” An Arab was once asked why he did not drink, and he replied, “By God, I am not happy with my mind when it is sound, so why should I corrupt it even further?” [The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith by Imam al-Bayhaqi]

"According to official statistics, of the 5059 people who died in traffic accidents in Britain in 1988, more than a thousand lost their lives as a result of alcohol consumption. Similarly, over a third of British hospital beds are occupied with alcohol-related cases. But it is not merely people’s health that suffers from alcohol use. More than half of Britain’s violent crimes are committed ‘under the influence’. The U.K. economy loses more than 2 billion pounds annually thanks to this drug. Suicide, sterility, depression, brain damage, child neglect, wife beating – these are just some of the other effects of this habit forming narcotic." [Translator’s note, The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith, p.30, The Quilliam Press]

A wise man once asked his son, “Why do you drink?” and he replied, “It helps to break up the food in my stomach.” “By God,” his father replied, “it will break up your religion even more surely.” [The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith]

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says in the Quran, “Say: My Lord has forbidden only shameful acts, be they open or secret, and sin, and wrongful oppression.” [Surah 7: 133] Imam al-Bayhaqi says: “In this verse, ‘sin’ [ithm] is forbidden explicitly, and it is said that ‘ithm’ is actually one of the names of wine, as is shown by the following verse:
                                           I drank ithm, until my mind went awry,
                                           Truly, ithm does away with the minds of men.

Sale-100% off

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that Allah said: “I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to human heart.” [Bukhari]

In other words, Jannat is better than anything you can imagine. Our human experience does not prepare us to imagine how wonderful it could be. “And no soul knows what joy for them (the inhabitants of Paradise) has been kept hidden.” [Al-Quran 32:17]

Ever been to a sale where everything was 100% off?

Actually you have. You bought Jannah for practically nothing. Allah insisted on buying our earthly lives from us in exchange for eternal life in Paradise. He made us and He made Jannah. He needs neither. Then why make either?

Because He wanted US -- you and me!

Only when you really want something do you insist on buying it despite its defects. Humans are impatient, hasty, weak, stingy and irritable, yet Allah(subhana wa ta’ala) insisted on buying our faulty earthly lives in exchange for infinite happiness. Our bargain is in the Quran: “God has bought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them paradise in return… a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself… And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God? Rejoice, then, in the bargain which you have made with Him: for this, this, is the supreme success!” [Al-Quran 9:111]

In exchange for a limited lifespan we made a deal to get pure happiness for an infinite amount of time. Make a ratio of your time on earth compared to your time in the akhira, it would be 100 years: trillions of years. It doesn't matter how long you live because any number when compared to infinity (life in Jannat), becomes zero. So we essentially got Jannah for free. That is why Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that if a person were to be dragged on his face from the moment that he was born to the time that he dies, he would consider that insignificant on the Day of Judgment.

“O Allah, Make Your love the most beloved thing to me of all loves, and make my fear of you be the most fearful thing to me of all fears. Free me of the necessities of this world, by [granting me] a desire to meet You. When the eyes of the people of the world are cooled by their worldly belongings, let my eyes be cooled by Your worship.”

Cleanse your heart with the remembrance of god!

The Prophet of Allah (Sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said,
“There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah.”


Bukhari

Patience and calamity!!

The Prophet of Allah (Sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said,
“The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.”

Reported by Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 2 : No. 389

Goals for Ramadan

1. Eat, drink and be moderate 
Almost all of us do it – once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it’s hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we’re supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let’s try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.
2. Give a dollar a day in charity…or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let’s open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it’s the intention that counts.
3. Memorize 4 new Surahs 
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you’ve started, you’ll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.
4. Go to Tarawih prayers 
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan’s blessings. Don’t miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.
5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran’s recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.
6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting � with a special box
It’s hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone’s upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn’t the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we’ve got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.

At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you’ve backbitten the most against.
7. Call/email your relatives 
You’d think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we’d keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life’s “busyness.”

Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.
8.Go on a technology diet 
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.

9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day…just five, not more, not less Even if you feel you’ve got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.
10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it’s also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah’s forgiveness, shouldn’t we lesser beings forgive too?

If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.

Ramadan Preperation

Ramadan is just around the corner. Here are some tips of how to make the best out of this blessed month.


TIPS:

1. Clean up the time:

a) Telephone: Try to minimize your chat on the telephone. If you are used to chat with your friends on a regular basis, try to make it short. Share with her the importance of this month & tell her that you want to devote yourself for Ibaadah in order to get the maximum reward in this month. Try to share with her these tips.

b) Cooking: Try to cook something simple during Ramadan as this is a month of Ibaadah & Quraan, not a month of food. There are some husbands who push their wifes to cook different varieties of food & sisters have to spend their time in the kitchen. If its very necessary, keep a tape of Quraan in the kitchen & listen to it while you are busy in Kitchen, or keep your toungue moist with the Zikr. [Try to find out some short cut & tips to prepare the food quickly]
C) Shopping: Try to get all your shopping done before Ramadan. Make a list of the things/grocery/ items, that is enough for one month & buy it all together.

Important: Try to do the Eid shopping NOW. The last ten days of Ramadan when we have to be doing more Ibaadah & spend our time in doing good deeds, most of the muslims are busy in doing shopping for Eid & their kids.
Sisters! These ten days, we has to exaggerate ourself in doing more ibaadah & to catch Laila-ul_qadr. Try to make this Ramadan a very different from all the previous ramadaans.
D) Dinner Party/Iftaar: Iftaar parties during ramadan are getting very common now. This is the Month for you sisters. we have the rest of the full year to do parties & to get socialize. Indeed its a great reward to break someone’s fast but try to give food to people who are needy & poor. The prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said,
�Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person.� (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 3/171; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/451).
E) Sleeping: Cut less the time of sleep during this month. Its a month of Ibaadha, doing good deeds. Who knows this could be our last ramadan. try to reduce your sleeping hours. Its only one month & then you can get back to your normal routine.
F) Computer & Internet: this is my personal request.I am spending lot of time on the internet, though visiting Islamic sites & checking & sending emails. Try to spend less time on the internet.
Now when we have cleaned up a big amount of time, lets schedule it for Ibaadhah.

1) Fard: Pray the Obligatory salah on time with Khushoo. Get yourself ready as soon as the salah comes in. Make duaa to Allah to give you Khushoo. & try to get rid of all the thoughts & waswaas that comes in the mind. Think of that you are standing infront of your LORD the Almighty.
2) Sunnah: If you are already praying the 12 sunnah, continue them & add the 2 rak’ah of sunnah after Zuhr. [making them 14 altogether].
The prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said,
�Whoever maintain 4 rak’ah before Zuhr & 4 rak’ah after zuhr, Allah will make the fire Haram on that person” [Ibn-Majah]
4 rak’ah before Asr: The prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said,
�may Allah have mercy on him who prays 4 rak’ah before Asr”. [Tirmidi]

Salah Al-Duha: Increase the no. of Rak’ah if you are already in a habit of praying salah al-Duha.

3) Qur’aan: Ramadaan is the month of Quraan. Try to schedule it all the moments you have. If you are working, try to keep a pocket size Quraan with you & read it whenever you get the time,like, coffee break, lunch break, etc
Try to read with reflection. Read slowly in a beautiful voice & reflect on its meaning. Try to read this time, with translation & tafseer.
3) Traweeh & Qiyaam-ul-lail: Try to read the traweeh in the mosque where the Imaam is doing long Qiyaam.
4) Tahajjud: Try to get up little earlier to pray 2 rak’ah & make duaa. Its the best time for making duaa & accepntance of duaa.
5) Du’aa: Write all the duaa you want to make for yourself, your children, family or any duaa that you want to make. Each day try to focus on duaa, & keep on repeating it throughout the day & at times when the duaa is accepted. Make duaa to Allah to give you Ikhlaas, khushoo, make duaa that you catch lailat-ul-Qadr. make duaa for the whole Ummah.
[repeat the duaa that are important to you,during the last ten days of Ramadan]
6) Zikr: Select one zikr for a day & focus on it daily, reflecting on its meaning & thinking about its reward. [ get the Duaa book "Hisn-ul-muslim or hisn-ul haseen from any store]
7) Charity: Try to give as much charity as you can, as the reward gets more during the month of ramadan. Give food to the poor & needy people & help those in need.

 Last 10 days: Double & triple the amount of Ibaadah you are doing during the last ten days of Ramadan. Sleep less & worship more.. pray as much as you can & make a lot of duaa.

Keep strong family ties (hadith)

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosever desires to have expansion in his sustenance and a prolonged life, should treat his relatives with kindness.” (Bukhari & Muslim) 

According to a Hadith, “One who joins ties when family members are co-operative and returns the same affection cannot be said to be one who joins family ties, rather the one who can truly be termed a person who joins ties is he who upholds and maintains the ties when the other family members have severed ties with him.” (Bukhari)  

A cursed person is one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah. It is an indication of this deprivation that this sin is punished in this world as well as in the Hereafter. “There is no sin more deserving of having punishment meted out by Allah to its perpetrator in advance in this world along with what He stores up for him in the next world than oppression and severing ties of family.” [Tirmidhi].  

 

Keep strong family ties!

Quran verses
16:90 (Y. Ali) Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.
2:177 (Y. Ali) It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin…
4:36 (Y. Ali) Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious.
Narrated Jubair bin Mut’im: That he heard the Prophet saying, “The person who severs the bond of kinship will not enter Paradise.”(Bukhari 8:73:13)
Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “Who ever is pleased that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be pro longed, then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin.” (Bukhari 8:73:14)
Narrated  Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) The Prophet said, “The word ‘Ar-Rahm’ (womb) derives its name from ‘Ar-Rahman’ (i.e. Allah). So whosoever keeps good relations with it (womb i.e. Kith and kin), Allah will keep good relations with him, and whosoever will sever it (i.e. severs his bonds of Kith and kin) Allah too will sever His relations with him. (Bukhari 8:73:18)
Narrated Abdullah bin ‘Amr: The Prophet said, “Al-Wasil(one who maintains good relations with his kin) is not the one who recompenses the good done to him by his relatives, but Al-Wasil is the one who keeps good relations with those relatives who had severed the bond of kinship with him.” (Bukhari 8:73:20)

Action Plan

When we say “family” we mean the traditional definition of it namely husband, wife and children. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins , in laws and other relatives are also part of the extended Muslim family.
1.  Have at least one meal daily together  as a family preferably supper/dinner -- so you can catch up with each other.
2. Pray together -perform a salaah together as a family.
3. Learn something together i.e hadith, quran, arabic
4. Play board games or sport with each other.
5. Be loyal to each other, support each other and always consult the family when making big decisions.
6. Join a charity organisation and encourage the family to volunteer and assist with the cause.
7. Be nurturing to each other.Be able to communicate openly with respect to each other.
8. Set up family rules.
9. Ensure all the family chores are dealt with fairly.
10. Listen and understand each other.
 
Ideal Muslim home should be:
1. Simple and not ostentatious, for the Holy Prophet said: “Eat, drink, give sadaqah (charity) and wear good clothes as long as these things do not involve excess and arrogance.”
2. Clean, for the Noble Prophet said: “Cleanliness is part of faith.”
3. Free from statues or revolting pieces of art, for the Holy Prophet said, “God is beautiful and loves beauty.”
4. A place where there are the basic necessities of food and clothing; where meals are eaten together, and where there is hospitality and generosity.
5. A place where the greeting of Salaam (Peace) is heard at dawn and at night, and at times of going and coming.
6. A place where tenderness, love and mercy are the norm, for the Quran says: And we have made between you love and tenderness.
7. A place where the recitation of the Quran and the performance of salaat [prayers] is a daily occurrence, and where knowledge is imparted and pursued.
8. As a Muslim, one is required to maintain a close and caring relationship with one’s relatives. According to the Holy Prophet, one is required to visit relatives, inquire about their circumstances, spend on them, and give them sadaqah (charity) if they so deserve.

Taking notes!!!

1) Active listening. "Passive" listening is what you do when you watch a sitcom or have a casual conversation. In contrast, active listening is when you listen carefully to make sure you understand and learn the information that is being conveyed. Here are some things you should do to listen actively.

• Listen for the main point and major subpoints. Don't just write everything down. Listen carefully and make sure you understand what the purpose of this lecture is. As you take down notes, keep the main point in mind and make sure you understand how these notes are related.
• Listen for an organizational structure. Unless the teacher is a terrible lecturer, his or her notes are probably organized into some kind of outline. Listen carefully to figure out how the ideas are organized and they will make more sense. Of course, if your professor provides an outline by writing on the board or using PowerPoint notes, take advantage of this.
• Pay attention to organizational cues. Listen carefully for words and phrases that reflect the organizational structure of the lecture. Pay close attention to the introduction, as it will probably indicate how you should organize your notes. If the lecture begins with, "Today I'm going to talk about three ethnic conflicts in the Middle East," then you have a good idea of what's going to follow. Listen for "signpost" words to indicate a transition for one point to the next, such as "next" and "finally" and numerical signposts like "first" or "third."
• Listen with your eyes. Speakers communicate information through nonverbal communication. Watch the professor, and be aware of how he or she uses hand gestures, eye contact, and other body language to convey points.
• Remove distractions. Don't tempt yourself! Put away all potential study distractions, such as the campus newspaper, your Sudoku puzzle, your cell phone, and anything else that might be more interesting than the lecturer.
• Practice. Learning to concentrate and listen actively is an endurance skill. Make yourself do it, and it will get easier over time.

2) Proper techniques for writing and lecture notes. Learning to write down all the important information in an organized way is a challenge as well. Here are some tips to help you out:

• Write down the date and the topic of the lecture. This will help trigger your memory when you are studying.
• Learn to write quickly. Or type quickly, if you're using a laptop. Use lots of abbreviations. Don't worry about getting down every word, especially words like "a" and "the." Don't worry about writing neatly. As long as you can understand your notes, it's neat enough.
• Write down definitions. If your instructor defines a term, make sure you write it down and understand what it means. .
• Don't copy outline or PowerPoint notes word for word. Here's a common problem: a teacher puts a PowerPoint slide up, and students are so busy writing down every word on the slide that they stop listening to the lecture. This causes them to miss information that was discussed in the lecture but not written on the slide, and it also makes active listening impossible. Instead, use the notes to help you follow along.
• If your instructor indicates that something is important, mark it. This is a strong clue that something may be on the test.
• If your instructor is going too fast or is unclear, say something. Even the best lecturers get a little garbled sometimes. There's nothing rude about asking your teacher to clarify a point.
• Err on the side of writing down too much. Excess notes are probably not going to hurt you on the exam. Not writing down enough will.

3) Reviewing your notes. This is very important, but students don't do this nearly enough. Review your notes to make sure you understand all the information and to keep it fresh in your head. Here are some note reviewing tips:

• After the class period is over, rewrite or type your notes as soon as you can. This can help quite a bit with retaining the information.
• Read over your notes before each class period. This doesn't take very long and helps you contextualize the new information.
• As you look over your notes, mark anything that doesn't make sense to you. Stop by the instructor's office hour and ask for clarification, or ask a fellow student to help you out.
• Make friends with a studious fellow student. Find someone who goes to class all the time and who takes good notes, and sit down together once in awhile to compare notes with each other. Even if you listen actively and come to class all the time, you're bound to miss a point here and there, so this can help you both out.
• Get help if necessary. If you're having problems, show your professor your notes and ask for some guidance. Or stop by your campus study skills center and have someone go over your notes with you.

Read more at Suite101: How to Take Effective Class Notes: Active Listening and Lecture Note Taking Skills for College Students http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_take_effective_class_notes#ixzz0uolJxv9b

Friday Reminders

Recite Surah Kahf
Abu saeed khudri (R.A) says that Rasulalah (S.A.W) has said that :
"Whoever recite Suratul-Kahf on Friday (the night between Thursday and Friday) enjoys the illumination between two fridays."(Nasai)
Hazarat Abdullah Bin Umar(R.A.) says that the Rasulallah(S.A.W) has said that: "Whoever recites Suratul-Kahf on Friday, will enjoy a light shining from his feet to the heaven and will have his sins forgiven comitted between the two Fridays." (Ibn Marduya)
Friday Bath:
Hazrat Abu Amama (R.A.) says that the Rasulallah (S.A.W) has said that: "The bath of Friday, pull out every sin of the man from its root." (Tibrani)
Read "Ale-imraan" after Maghrib
Abdulla Bin Abbas (R.A.) says that Rasulallah (S.A.W) has said that: "Whoever recites Suratul-Aale Imran on Friday, angels enjoy the divine shouwer of salutation on him till sunset." (Tibrani)
Read "hha-meem-Dukhan"
It is reported from Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A.) that Rasulaalah (S.A.W) has said that:"Whoever recites Suratul-Ham-Mim Dukhan on Friday (the night between Thursday and Friday) enjoys the prayer of 70,000 angels for his forgiveness and gets all sins forgiven."(Tirmizi)

"Strive for your life in the Hereafter as if you will will die tommrow.....
and strive for your life on Earth as if you will live forever." (Islamic teaching)

Gems from class

Kareema- Saying Bisimililah should always be said before doing anything; but do not say it if you intend to do something wrong.

Nabeela- leave that puts you in doubt and take out that which does not put you to doubt

Nabeela- gem from the recitation-listen to the recitation of the Quran attentively and ponder over the verses

Sana- Ask from the one who is the Lord of the worlds and you will not be deprived

Sameera- Quran has hidaya for all mankind, but only those with taqwa can benefit from it

Rania- Allah swt is the owner of mercy all mercy and he has special mercy for those who are true believers, (I want to be with those people inshallah)

Zamirul- It's a Dua, so reflect upon the verses and say Ameen sincerely.

Annie- malik yaoum deen, deen is the recompense of what we deserve ...that just illuminated my hearth and my desire to attain taqwa

Zara-Beg for guidance. we have to ASK to be guided.

Nabeela: it is Allah who could guide you and non other...guidance is the best blessing.

Umme: True guidance is the guidance from Allah

Taibaimtiaz: Allah(SWT) be our guide.

Ameena- Ar Rahman : possessor of vast mercy and Ar Raheem: shows mercy for those who deserve it.

Faiza: We ask Allah to guide us to the straight path, In guidance we ask him to take us there until we have reached our destination, Subhan'Allah.

Tayaba-True knowledge is not what we know, but what we act upon

Zainab-Stay on the path that is straight and Allah will give you of his blessings and fulfill all your needs, Inshallah.

Sana-Ar-Raheem meaning specially merciful for the believers,Alhamdulillah we are Muslim and Allah is s[specially merciful for us

Nabeela: i.a ameen let Allah(SWT) guide us till the end.

Siddikha:  'nabudu, wa iyyaka nasthaeen': first the act of worshipping Him alone, and then asking for His help/guidance

Sara- Ibaadah is humility coupled with love and it is every action that Allah loves and is pleased with - a slave usually obeys the master but without loving to do it, however, the slave of Allah obeys Allah with humility and love at the same time.

Zamirul-It's the first surah in the Quran-Allah swt is educating us.

Moderator_02: Gem - Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een - Allah links the aim and the means. The aim is to worship Allah and the means is by seeking His help.

Maha- " we humans believe we are so mighty and strong, yet without Gods help all, always goes wrong"

Bushra:Every day in every Salah, ask Allah for Hidayah irshad and tawfiq

Misbah- My Gem:Thanks Allah SWT for everything 7 for every need ask Allah SWT

Misbah-Always ask HIM SWT to show us the right path because HE SWT knows what is good for us.

Mardhiya- Allah is so merciful He has made it so easy for us if we only knew. And our enemy shaton tries to make us forget, give up, make excuses.