ummtaalib

After the attack Worshippers clean the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque after the withdrawal of occupation forces from the mosque. www.instagram.com/p/CcpKh3NlLkK/

For the 7th day since last Friday, Palestinian worshippers were brutally attacked by Israeli Occupation Forces at Masjid Al-AqsaThis morning, as the last 10 days of Ramadan start, Israeli forces stormed the compound with heavier versions of rubber bullets and deliberately hit the upper bodies of Palestinians. Sound grenades were fired to disorient worshippers hearing.These attacks resulted with a tree up in flames. Every inch of the compound is sacred.A total of roughly 250 Palestinians have been injured as a result.🟡 Call on your MP to condemn these attacks and to sanction Israel Friends Of Al-Aqsa (@friendsofalaqsa) • Instagram photos and videos

Dismayed by the evil and immorality around him, he finds himself drifting away from his kinsmen, wishing more and more to be alone. Ascending the mountains around his town, he retreats to a small cave. From here, he is still able to see his beloved Kaʿbah, built by his grandfather, the imām of tawḥīd: Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhis-salām). He takes food along with him, and spends several days in this cave in isolation: reflecting, pondering, and worshipping. And then one night, everything changes. The stillness and silence of the night is interrupted by one word: “Read!” The greatest of men – unbeknown to him at the time- has just experienced his first encounter with the greatest of all angels. It marks the beginning of Allah’s greatest gift to mankind: His very own words. Words of eternal guidance, instructing man how to live and prosper. A blueprint to attain eternal bliss. This night will change the entire course of history. The world will never be the same again. More than a thousand years later, we commemorate this incredible night. It is the mother of all nights, a night of blessings and forgiveness, a night of closeness and intimacy with one’s Creator. From His deep love and generosity, Allah al-Akram (The Most Generous) named this night for us (‘Laylat al-Qadr’), and revealed a sūrah dedicated to it. This is so that we do not ever forget the greatness of this Night, the greatness of this gift (the Qur’ān), the greatness of the angel (Jibrīl) responsible for its transmission, the greatness of the man (Muḥammad ﷺ) upon whose heart the book was revealed, and ultimately the greatness of the Greatest: Allah, Magnificent and Exalted is He! Step Up In The Last 10 Days ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would combine both prayer and sleep (at night) during the first 20 (days of Ramaḍān). But when the last ten days arrived, he would exert himself in worship and stay away from his wives” (Aḥmad). The last ten days of Ramaḍān are for intense worship. Just as the Messenger ﷺ used to cut himself off from people and perform iʿtikāf in the masjid, we too should try to do the same. We should take off as many days as possible from work and use this time to connect deeply with Allah (ʿazza wa jall). We should avoid wasting this precious time with Eid preparations, and switch off from social media. Along with ourselves, we should have a deep concern for the spiritual well-being and upliftment of our families. The atmosphere in the home during these days, and especially the nights, should be different. ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said, “When the last ten days of Ramaḍān arrived, the Prophet ﷺ would tighten his waist belt (stay away from his wives/strive hard), spend the night in worship, and awaken his family” (Bukhārī). 10 Tips For The Last 10 Nights of Ramadan Switch off social media and don’t surf the internet. Don’t waste time with Eid preparations. Give sadaqah (charity) every day. Push yourself to worship Allah. Perform Iʿtikāf. Perform at least ʿIshā and Fajr (at the minimum) in congregation. Perform qiyām in the night. Constantly ask Allah for forgiveness and freedom from the Hellfire. Strive in every potential night and recite the Sunnah duʿā. Bathe, apply perfume and adorn yourself for this great night. What is Laylat al-Qadr? There is an entire sūrah in the Qur’ān dedicated to this one night. This shows its great importance and virtue. Allah, al-ʿAẓīm (The Magnificent), says: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ﴿1﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ﴿2﴾ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿3﴾ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿4﴾ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ “Indeed, We sent this (Qur’ān) down on the Night of Qadr. And what will make you realise what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl) descend in it, by the permission of their Lord, for every matter. It is Peace — until the rising of the dawn” (97:1-5). Let us reflect on this sūrah to help us understand the significance of this incredible night: Ayah 1 إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ Indeed, We sent this (Qur’ān) down on the Night of Qadr. This Night is special as it marks one of the most magnificent events in history: the first revelation of the Qur’ān. Even if we worshipped Allah for a thousand years, it would not be enough to appreciate and thank Him for this favour. Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) said that the Qur’ān was revealed in its entirety from the highest heaven to the lowest heaven, and was subsequently revealed to Muḥammad ﷺ over the span of twenty-three years. Qadr could refer to: 1) Honour and nobility. It is a noble night as the Qur’ān descended in it, Allah’s noble angels descend in it, and the mercy of Allah descends on the entire earth. A noble angel (Jibrīl (ʿalayhis-salām)) was chosen to descend with a Noble Book – the words of the Entirely Noble- upon the heart of the most noble man. Allah states, “Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night…” (44:3). Likewise, the one who worships Allah on this night is noble and honoured by His Lord. 2) Decree. The angels descend with the allotted decree of each person for the next year. Allah says, “On that night every matter of wisdom is ordained” (44:4). 3) Constraint and congestion. This could refer to the earth becoming restricted as angels fill up the earth, and there is no room for any evil. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed there are more angels on the earth on that night than the number of pebbles (on the earth)” (Ibn Khuzaymah). It could also allude to the specific identity of this night being unknown (‘constrained’). There is a significance of the Qur’ān being revealed at ‘night’, as opposed to the day. Elsewhere in the Qur’ān, Allah says, – “Limitless in His glory is He who transported His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque [in Makkah] to the Aqṣā Mosque [in Jerusalem] (17:1); – And pray during a part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise (17:79); – Indeed, rising by night (for prayer) makes for a stronger impression (on the soul), and is best for the recitation (of Allah’s words) (73:6).” These verses indicate a strong connection between worship at night and enjoying a lofty rank in the sight of Allah. At night, when one sacrifices the comfort of their sleep and company of their spouse, and instead turns towards His Creator, his heart brimming with His love and trembling from His fear, he is closer to receiving the exclusive outpourings of Allah’s mercy and light. In the stillness of the night, the heart is calmer, distractions are limited, and one is able to absorb the weighty message of the Lord of Majesty and Nobility. Allah descends to the lowest heaven every night when one-third of the night remains and says, “Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” (Bukhārī). Ayah 2 وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ And what will make you realise what the Night of Qadr is? ‘Mā adrāka (what will make you realise)’ is a powerful rhetorical question which draws our attention to the importance of this night. We can never fully appreciate the greatness of this night. It is something which we should not take for granted. Ayah 3 لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. Worshipping Allah in this one night is not just equivalent to a thousand months (more than 83 years), but even better than that. Allāhu Akbar! Look at the kindness of Allah! We struggle to worship Him for more than few hours, let alone spend a major portion of our lives in worshipping Him – and yet, from His immense generosity, He gifts us with Laylat al-Qadr. Not once in our lifetime, but once every year throughout our time on this earth. According to a narration in Muwaṭṭa’, “The Messenger ﷺ was shown the lifespans of the people before him, or what Allah willed of that; and it was as if he thought that the lifespan of his ummah was short, and they would be unable to reach the level of deeds as others before them had due to their long lives. Thus, Allah gave him Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months.” The average lifespan of this ummah is between 60 and 70 years. Despite such short lives however, Allah blessed us that we are able to gain the rewards of worshipping Him for many lifetimes. Just as every deed is potentially multiplied by ten, this one night brings with it immeasurable rewards, blessings and goodness. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said, “In it, Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is truly deprived!” (Nasā’ī). Juwaybir said: “I asked Ḍaḥḥāk, ‘Do women experiencing post-natal bleeding and menstruation, those travelling, and those asleep (due to illness) have a share of Laylat al-Qadr?’ He replied, ‘Yes. Whoever’s deeds Allah accepts, He will give them their share of Laylat al-Qadr.’” Ayah 4 تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ The angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl) descend in it, by the permission of their Lord, for every matter. Ibn Kathīr (raḥimahullāh) wrote, “The angels descend in abundance during this night due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur’ān is recited and surround the gatherings of dhikr.” Allah announces the decree of the upcoming year to His angels on this Night, as they will be carrying out His commandments. This includes births, deaths, provisions and calamities. The earth is full of goodness and blessings on this night, as there are a huge number of angels filling up the entire earth. The ‘spirit’ refers to Jibrīl (ʿalayhis-salām), the greatest of all angels, the link between the heavens and the earth, the angel tasked with the most prestigious job: conveying the message of the Creator to His creation. This is the only time of the year in which he ascends to the earth. We can only imagine how blessed this night is. It is difficult to appreciate the spiritual and physical greatness of Jibrīl. He has 600 wings. If he was to unroll a pair of them, it would fill the space between the sky and the earth. Allah describes him as an angel of ‘mighty power, and great perfection’ (53:5-6). Ayah 5 سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ It is Peace — until the rising of the dawn. ‘Salām’ (Peace) could mean that this night is full of peace. All of it is good and there is safety from all harm and evil until dawn. As the earth is full of angels, there is goodness and peace throughout the earth. It has also been said that angels greet (say salām to) the believers. They pray for the protection, and the removal of evil and harm, for every slave who is worshipping Allah. When is Laylat al-Qadr? The Prophet ﷺ said, “Seek out Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten (days) of Ramaḍān” (Bukhārī). Abū Bakrah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said regarding Laylat al-Qadr, “I am not searching for it except in the last ten nights only after something which I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say. He ﷺ said: ‘Search for it (Laylat al-Qadr) in the last ten nights: the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or the last night’” (Aḥmad). There are various opinions as to what date exactly is Laylat al-Qadr, and whether it changes every year. A wisdom of the date being unspecified is that we strive hard to seek it and worship Allah wholeheartedly in many of the nights, instead of limiting our worship to one night. This is similar to how the hour of acceptance on Jumuʿah has been left unspecified, to encourage us to fill the day with duʿā’. Best Deed For Laylat al-Qadr: Qiyam The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever stands in prayer at night (qiyām) in Laylat al-Qadr with īmān and hoping for reward (iḥtisāb), all his previous sins will be forgiven” (Bukhārī). The best deed a person can perform on Laylat al-Qadr is qiyām. We should perform it with: (1) īmān i.e. with a firm belief that Allah has asked us to do this, loves this deed and will reward us; (2) iḥtisāb i.e. seek reward only from Allah, perform it sincerely for Him alone, and not for any other motive. Qiyām (night prayer) is one of the best acts of worship. In ṣalāh, we combine reciting and reflecting on the Qur’ān, praising and remembering Allah, duʿā’, and turning to Him in repentance. It is an act wherein we worship Allah with the tongue, body and heart simultaneously. The duration of the night is short. However, the blessing of this short time can be multiplied by infusing quality into our ʿibādah. We should renew our intention, and humble our hearts before Allah. We should perform qiyām with full khushūʿ (humility and full focus), lengthening each posture, and crying to Allah in sujūd. Click here to read about how to perform qiyām. At the bare minimum, we should perform ʿIshā’ and Fajr at the masjid. ʿAbdurraḥmān b. Abī ʿAmrah said: ʿUthmān b. ʿAffan (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) entered the Masjid after the Maghrib prayer, and sat down by himself. So, I went and sat by him, and he said, “O my nephew, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, ‘Whoever performs ʿIshā’ in congregation, then it is as though he has stood half the night (in prayer). And whoever performs Fajr in congregation, then it is as though he has prayed the entire night’” (Muslim). 5 things to do in Laylat al-Qadr The night begins at sunset. Do not miss out on the time between Maghrib and ʿIshā’. Pray Maghrib, ʿIshā’ and Fajr in congregation, and be there before the first takbīr. Pray qiyām (night prayer) for as long as you can. Recite Qur’ān and do dhikr. Make abundant duʿā’, especially in sajdah. Make sincere repentance & conclude the night with istighfār. On this night, we should take time out to reflect on the enormity of what occurred on this Night over a thousand years ago. Let us feel humbled that Allah chose us to be amongst the ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ, and the recipients of His magnificent words; that He granted us the incredible gift of the Qur’ān. Let us feel regret on our neglect of the Qur’ān: our failure to recite it, understand it, reflect on it and ‘live’ it. Let us realise the damage we have caused our souls, and our societies, by failing to establish its guidance. Let us ask Allah to help us build a strong relationship with the Qur’ān from this Night onwards. Let us beg Allah to make us from His chosen people: the People of the Qur’ān. Duʿa’ for Laylat al-Qadr ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “If I know which night is the Night of Qadr, what do you think I should say during it?” He ﷺ replied, اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّيْ O Allah, You are the Ever-Pardoning, the Generous; You love to pardon so pardon me (Tirmidhī). Forgiving us is more beloved to Allah than punishing us. This duʿā’ fits beautifully here, as this night is the night of forgiveness. Moreover, after many days of intense worship, this duʿā’ is a reminder to not become deceived with our (few) good deeds. Rather, we are sinful, have many shortcomings, and desperately need Allah to forgive us. Yāhyā b. Muʿādh (raḥimahullāh) said, “The one whose deepest hope from Allah is not forgiveness, does not truly know Allah.” We ask Allah in this duʿā with His Beautiful Name, Al-ʿAfuww. Al-ʿAfuww is the one who wipes away sins and forgives our shortcomings. Whilst Allah’s Name ‘al-Ghafūr’ also means The Forgiving, al-ʿAfuww is more than that. Al-ʿAfuww is the one who completely removes all traces and consequences of our sins. He wipes them away from the records of the angels: He will not hold us to account for them on the Day of Judgement, nor will He remind us of them to make us feel guilty. This is why we ask Him in this duʿā’ with His Name ‘al-ʿAfuww’ to forgive us and fully wipe our slates clean. Laylat al-Qadr is a night of forgiveness. Just as Allah loves to forgive and pardon us, He also loves for us to forgive each other. Sometimes we may think we have forgiven someone, but the negativity in our hearts linger and resurfaces in a passive-aggressive manner. Allah says, “…Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love to be forgiven by Allah? And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (24:22). Beg Allah For Freedom From The Hell-fire Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed Allah has freed slaves (from Hell) every day and night (in Ramaḍān), and every servant amongst them has a supplication which is answered” (Aḥmad). Throughout these nights, we should pour our hearts out and cry to Allah in sajdah. We should beg Allah to free us from the Hell-fire: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْتِقْ رِقَابَنَا مِنَ النَّارِ O Allah, free us from the Hell-fire. Bathe, apply perfume & wear nice clothes for this great night. Many of our predecessors went out of their way to adorn and prepare themselves for these amazing nights. Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī (raḥimahullāh) would bathe in each of the ten nights. In the night in which he’d hoped it was Laylat al-Qadr, Thābit al-Bunānī (raḥimahullāh) would wear his best clothes, apply perfume and use fragrance in the masjid. Imām Mālik (raḥimahullāh) used to bathe, apply perfume and would wear a special outfit for this blessed night. In the morning, he would fold them away, and not wear them till the following year. Just as we should adorn ourselves for Allah externally, we should adorn ourselves internally through repentance. We should keep seeking forgiveness to wipe away the dirt of our sins. Ibn Rajab (raḥimahullāh) reminds us that on this night, we should adorn ourselves externally through our clothes, and internally through taqwā. As the best night of the year comes to an end, let us end it in the best way: by humbling ourselves and seeking forgiveness, as Allah describes the pious, وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ‏ “And they would seek forgiveness before dawn” (51:18). Source

Violation of Masjid Al-Aqsa continues Yesterday 20th April 2022: For the FIFTH time since Friday, Israeli Occupation Forces violated Masjid Al-Aqsa.This morning, they fired rubber-coated bullets at worshippers and assaulted others, forcing them out of the compound to make way for Israeli settlers. Today: Israeli forces fire tear gas at worshippers inside Musallah Al Qibly. This is the 6th attack on Masjid Al Aqsa since last Friday Friends Of Al-Aqsa (@friendsofalaqsa) • Instagram photos and videos

Now that we have arrived in the middle of this sacred month, let us reflect on how the first half of this month has passed. Let us ask ourselves: Have I lost momentum? Have I controlled my tongue? How is the state of my heart? Am I meeting my Qur’ān target? Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says in the Noble Qur’ān, ‏ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا۟ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِىْرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ “Believers! Be mindful of Allah and let every soul carefully consider what it has sent forth for tomorrow. And fear Allah: certainly, Allah is All-Aware of what you do” (59:18). This āyah teaches us that if we are to be worthy of ‘īmān’, we have to adorn ourselves with taqwā, in private and public. Similarly, we have to hold ourselves accountable of what we do in this world, and what consequences our actions will have in the hereafter. This āyah also teaches us that we should live our lives with a focus on the hereafter. This world is a bridge to the hereafter, our real home. Everything we do in this world should be so that tomorrow, when we stand in front of Allah, He is happy with us. We are happy to meet Him, and He is happy to receive us. ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “Hold yourselves to account (in the world) before you are held to account (in the hereafter). Evaluate your actions (today) before you are evaluated (tomorrow), for the Reckoning will be easier upon you tomorrow if you hold yourselves accountable today.” Muḥasābah, an action of the heart, is to evaluate one’s actions and behaviour of the nafs (inner self); and then rectifying the mistakes, and continuing the good deeds. When we evaluate our daily, weekly, and monthly actions, we should identify our sins and repent sincerely. We should ask Allah to forgive us, and make a firm resolve to stay away from that sin in the future. We should identify the root causes of the sin, and plan how we can stay away from what causes us to fall into that particular sin. Similarly, we should identify where we are falling short in terms of fulfilling the rights of Allah. Doing this will mean we do not become deceived with our ʿibādah. Instead, we will put our hope and trust in Allah, and not our own paltry actions. This should be followed by asking Allah to help us worship Him with excellence. Whilst we are reflecting on our shortcomings, we should contrast this with the immense blessings of Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) upon us. This should fill our hearts with ḥayā (shyness). How much He blesses us, and how little we thank Him! How much He does for us, and yet we disobey Him. How often we disregard His commands, yet He does not deprive us! If we fail to hold ourselves accountable and do not live a life of taqwā, we will become like the people who Allah describes as: وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الْفَٰسِقُونَ “And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. It is they who are defiantly disobedient” (59:19). If we are heedless of Allah, and we fail to remember Him and uphold His rights, Allah will cause us to forget that which is actually beneficial for our souls. In effect, it is we who lose out, when we move far away from our Creator, and surrender to the whims and desires of our souls. The Prophet ﷺ would seek the protection of Allah from ‘the evils’ of the nafs. If our nafs is left to its own devices, and we allow it to lead us, instead of leading it, it will lead us to sin and evil. How To Treat Your Nafs It has been said that the nafs is like a treacherous business partner. If you do not hold him accountable, he will run away with your money. Similarly, if we do not hold our nafs accountable, it will run away with our success and land us in the pit of destruction. We often go easy on our nafs, but this is exactly what it wants! Fasting trains us to gain mastery over it and teaches us not give in to its every whim. We should not let our nafs fool us by thinking, ‘This is only a minor sin’ or, ‘There is a difference of opinion anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.’ We should treat our nafs as though it is another person and remain very strict with it. When the nafs slips and errs, we should reprimand it; and when we find it leaning itself to the obedience of Allah, we should push it in that direction. ʿĀmir b. ʿAbd Qays (raḥimahullāh) said, “I saw a number of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ and I accompanied them. They informed us that those who were the most stringent in taking their inner selves to account in the world, will be the ones with the purest īmān on the Day of Judgement.” Muḥāsabah is not just for ordinary Muslims. It is actually more important for those involved in seeking and spreading knowledge, and calling others to Allah. Theoretical knowledge alone will not protect the heart and nafs. Actively working on one’s nafs is essential to avoid envy, pride, hatred, and backbiting. We should allocate time every single day and evaluate our actions on a daily basis. At night before we go to sleep, we should ask Allah to forgive us for our day’s shortcomings and sins. We should free our hearts from hatred and malice, and forgive all those who may have wronged us. We should sincerely repent, as we do not know if we will wake up the next day. Self-Reflection Questions Did I do it sincerely for the sake of Allah alone? What were my deficiencies in the act of worship I did (e.g. Did I miss out on khushūʿ in ṣalāh? Did I ruin my fast by backbiting?) Did I perform a good deed which was of lesser importance, and justified it to myself by thinking that I was ‘still doing something good’? Did I use my intention to transform an ordinary deed into an act of worship? How much of my ‘screen time’ is spent on what spiritually and mentally nourishes me? The Order of Accountability Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) explains that we can evaluate ourselves in the following way: 1. Obligatory (farḍ) deeds. Firstly, we should reflect on whether we fulfilled those deeds which are obligatory upon us, and then expiate for them. E.g if ṣalāh was missed, then immediately perform qaḍā or if it was rushed and deficient then make amends by praying additional voluntary (nafl) prayers. 2. Forbidden acts. Then, we should reflect on our sins. We should sincerely repent by regretting what we did and resolve to not repeat such a sin. Where possible, we should also make amends e.g. if we insulted someone, then we should apologise to them and make duʿā’ for them. 3. Heedlessness/moments of distraction. The next step is to evaluate moments where we are not doing ḥarām, but are indulging in activities which are not conducive to our purpose in life (worshipping Allah). In an era of distraction, we are bombarded with various forms of entertainment and notifications leading us to wasting precious time. We should make amends for this by increasing our remembrance of Allah (dhikr, ṣalāh, Qur’ān etc.). 4. Intentions. This is vital, as we may perform an amazing deed, but ruin it due to riyā’ (showing off) and not do it for the sake of Allah. Or we may have done something ordinary in the day, but this could become a great act of worship if we intended to do it for the sake of Allah. For e.g. we may have a mind-numbing job, but we could intend every day before we leave the house that we are doing it to earn a ḥalāl living, provide for our families, give charity through it etc. Or we may feel like cooking for our families is a chore, but this could become an act of worship if we intend with it to feed nutritious ḥalāl food to our loved ones, so they can become strong believers and serve the dīn of Allah. May Allah al-Bāṭin (The Intimate) make us mindful of our outer and inner deeds, and allow us to prepare for meeting Him. Source

Various peices of news from eye.on.palestine From the old city of Jerusalem where the Israeli occupation forces close the gate of Al Aqsa mosque and prevent worshippers from entering it, while hundreds of settlers are breaking into the mosque. The Israeli occupation forces close the gates of the Dome of the at Al Aqsa mosque, dozens of women are besieged there. Worshippers, who are besieged inside Al Qibli prayer hall, use the loudspeakers to ask people to defend Al Aqsa mosque from the raid of the occupation forces and Israeli settlers. According to the Islamic Awqaf : 545 Israeli settlers broke into Al Aqsa mosque, since the early morning

What is happeningin Al-Aqsa? At dawn (April 15th), thousands of worshippers in Al-Aqsa mosque thwarted repetitive aggressive attacks by the Occupation Forces, storming Al-Qibli Mosque, injuring 150 Palestinians, and detaining over 400, in an escalating level of violence. This attack precedes the Jewish Passover holiday (15th- 22nd of April) which settlers have been crowding for months to offer its sacrifice inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, promising incentives for those who succeed to offer the Passover sacrifice inside the mosque. Starting from today, settlers might implement their plan at any moment, and their announced intrusions into Al-Aqsa are expected to start on Sunday morning (April 17th) and continue for four days. Israeli attempts to offer the sacrifice of the holiday in Al-Aqsa Mosque is a step on the path of solidifying the Occupation’s control over the Mosque. Realizing this danger, Palestinians (Murabiteen) have been guarding Al-Aqsa with their presence and confronting the Israeli Occupation Forces’ intrusions and brutal attacks, regardless of hundreds of Israeli arrests aiming to quell their resistance. www.instagram.com/p/CcX4HS8NdEU/

Press reports of Al-Qibly Masjid storming Outright lies on Sky news: Al-Aqsa mosque: 'More than 150' injured as Israeli police clash with Palestinians The violence broke out shortly after morning prayers, with Israel saying dozens of masked men carrying Palestinian and Hamas flags had marched to the compound.

The damage in Al-Qibli Masjid Eye On Palestine (@eye.on.palestine) • Instagram photos and videos

Al-Qibli Masjid stormed by Occupation forces The Israeli occupation forces stormed Al Qibli mosque at Al Aqsa mosque. The Israeli occupation forces stormed Al Qibli mosque, assaulted worshippers and detained dozens of Palestinian youth. www.instagram.com/p/CcXMFXNlcOi/

Palestinian factions warn Israel against desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Passover Palestinian factions yesterday warned the Israeli occupation against the planned desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque by right-wing Jewish extremist during the Passover holiday this weekend. Calling for "popular mobilisation", they said they would be on standby to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem. In a press conference held at the Hamas headquarters in Gaza, the Palestinian factions announced their joint statement on the issue. This came following a declaration made by extremist Jewish groups about plans to carry out Jewish sacrifices inside Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish Passover holiday, which starts tomorrow. Adverts seen online have called on Jews to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and offer animal sacrifices. "Join the attempts to make the Passover sacrifice and receive a financial reward!" Source

Threat of Passover sacrifice in Al-Aqsa! We are currently seeing a rise in Israel’s brutal violence against Palestinians. Israel have launched large - scale attacks on Palestinain towns, villages and refugee camps.🟡 Since the start of #Ramadan, there have been several incursions by Israeli settlers at Al-Aqsa. This weekend is Jewish Passover and extremist Israeli settlers have called for the slaughter of animals at Al-Aqsa.This poses a serious threat.🤲🏾 Please keep Palestinians and Masjid Al-Aqsa in your duas 🤲🏾 @friendsofalaqsa

Update on trial: The Israeli court will not consider the case of Ahmad Manasra as a case of "terrorism" because there wasn't a defense attorney for him during the initial trial. Thus, the first verdict is no longer valid, which will be the beginning of a new legal process to pursue the freedom of him

Today all eyes are on Ahmad Manasra’s re-trial after being tortured and imprisoned by Israeli forces since the age of 13 years old, back in 2015. #FreeAhmadManasra #Unchilding

Palestinian prisoner did not know Ramadhaan had started He was isolated for 14 months, he could not distinguish between day and night, and he does not know that he is in the month of Ramadan. The Occupation Prisons Administration is carrying out a crime against the Palestinian prisoner Rabie Abu Nawas (33 years), from the town of Sinjel / Ramallah, who is married and is a father of three daughters who has been detained since 2019. The jailers and confronting him. Today, the occupation authorities are requesting a sentence of up to 16 years in prison. The occupation prisons administration continues to isolate him in dangerous conditions in Ayalon Prison - Ramle, with his health and psychological condition continuing to deteriorate. He spent a total of 20 months in solitary confinement, of which 14 months were continuous. His wife, who was able to visit him recently after a ban that lasted for several months, "confirmed that he is facing a dangerous situation, without any belongings in his cell, his clothes are dirty, he suffers from severe weight loss, she asked him about his situation in the month of Ramadan, and he was surprised that we are in the month of Ramadan where no way to connect him with the outside world. www.instagram.com/p/CcQu3WcN500/

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TAHAJJUD AND TARAWEEH PRAYERS? Question: Can you please provide a guidance to differentiate between Tahajjud and Taraweeh prayers? Some have belief that Taraweeh, Tahajjud and Qiyaam ul Layl all refer to same prayer while on many mosques both Tahajjud and Taraweeh prayers are offered in congregation. Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Qiyamul Layl literally means ‘standing at night’. Tahajjud and Taraweeh are Salahs performed at night, hence from a literal point of view, they are Qiyamul Layl. However, Taraweeh is different from Tahajjud. Hereunder are the differences between Tahajjud and Taraweeh. 1) Tahajjud is classified as a Nafl Salah, and Taraweeh is classified as a Sunna Salah. 2) Tahajjud can be prayed throughout the year, while Taraweeh is exclusively prayed in Ramadan. 3) Taraweeh is a 20 Rakat Salah, while Tahajjud could be any number of Rakats. 4) Taraweeh should be prayed in congregation, while according to Imam Abu Hanifah, it is Makrooh to pray Tahajjud in congregation if there are more than 3 people. And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Rahimahullah) Darulifta.net

Jazaakallah Wanted to ask about his speaking out for people of Kashmir and Palestine. This would also be an added reason for him being ousted? "They" would not like that at all right?

The first Ramaḍān after you get married is different. You have additional responsibilities and your routine has changed. Just as you’d thought you had made enough adjustments in your life, Ramaḍān comes along. Ramaḍān can sometimes challenge a relationship, especially if it involves rituals which are heavily cultural and, perhaps even, contrary to the spirit of the month (e.g elaborate ifṭārs and fancy ifṭār parties). Don’t make food the focus of your Ramaḍān. Make it about Allah, and you will witness immense blessings in your home and marriage. The long days and hunger can affect your mood and make you feel ‘hangry’. This may test your patience and make you snap at your spouse. Ramadan is the month of cultivating ṣabr (patience). Be gentle and kind. Walk away when things get tense and control your tongue. They Are a Garment for You Within the āyāt about fasting, Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says, > أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ “It has been made permissible for you to be intimate with your wives during the nights preceding the fast. They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them” (2:187). Spouses are described in this āyah as a ‘garment’, a source of comfort and peace. Just as our clothes protect us from harm, we should protect each other from harm and ḥarām. Just as we adorn oneself with clothes, spouses adorn each other. Just as our clothes are attached to our bodies, likewise in marriage, there is a strong attachment and closeness to each other; a unique physical, emotional and spiritual bond which connects both spouses. Our clothes cover us. Similarly, we should cover each other’s faults and protect each other’s secrets and dignity. Clothes give us comfort, and thus spouses should be a source of mutual comfort. Sometimes our clothes may become tight for us and slightly uncomfortable. Or they may tear and need patching. Similarly, our marriages may go through rough patches. Instead of despairing, we should turn towards Allah and look inwardly as to how we could improve our conduct. Seek the blessings of Ramaḍān and use them to strengthen your connection to each other by connecting to Allah. Support each other and encourage each other to increase in ʿibādah. Serve each other, share the knowledge that you have attained, and discuss your reflections with each other. Listen to a lecture or read a book together. Make duʿā’ for your marriage and family. As the institution of marriage is under increasing threat, ask Allah to protect, strengthen and bless your marriage. Ask Him to make your relationship the means of attaining His pleasure. Ramadan as Parents Once you have children, you will probably look back wistfully at Ramaḍān pre-children. Ramaḍān post-children will be different. However, it is key to remember that ʿibādah is a comprehensive concept, and is not limited to reciting Qur’ān or performing tarāwīḥ. Looking after your children is indeed a great act of ʿibādah. You are raising the next generation of the ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ, and this is no small feat. Ramaḍān in the state of nifās, without fasting, can be overwhelming, and can sometimes leave mums with a sense of guilt and inadequacy. Remember to try your best, and Allah will reward you for your intentions. The Prophet ﷺ said, “If a servant falls ill or travels, the likes of what he used to do when he was a resident (i.e. not travelling) and healthy will be recorded for him” (Bukhārī). Even with fasting, Ramaḍān with young children can be challenging. Asking for help from other family members, and reciprocating in return can be helpful. For example, you may find a family member who is menstruating, willing to take care of your young children, whilst you perform tarāwīḥ in peace! It is vital to be considerate and give your spouse their own ‘alone time with Allah’ whilst you take care of your children. Your spouse connecting with Allah will result in him/her being a better spouse and parent to your children. Nurturing Our Children As parents, we should be concerned about instilling moral and spiritual values in our children, and nurturing them to love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Some parents do not awaken their mature children for Fajr, thinking it will disrupt their sleep. Similarly, some will happily allow their mature children not to fast, under the pretext of ‘too much school work’ or ‘exams’. On the contrary, we should nurture our children to love and perform ṣalāh and fast even before they reach puberty. Encourage them to fast when they are small, starting with one or two fasts, and build on this each year. Reward them as appropriate and make fasting exciting for them. On the day they manage to complete the fast, cook their favourite meal. When they do not manage to complete it, be gentle with them, and use it as an opportunity to teach them about tawbah (repentance) and not giving up. Have age-appropriate discussions with them, and explain to them why this month is so special. Let them see your home transformed in this month to a home of worship and Qur’ān, so that this memory will always stay with them as they grow into adults. Al-Rubayyiʿ b. Muʿawwidh (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a messenger to the settlements of the Anṣār surrounding Madīnah, in the morning of ʿĀshūrā’ to announce, ‘Whoever is observing the fast should complete it, and whoever has eaten something should not eat the rest of the day.’ After that, we used to fast on that day regularly and if Allah willed, we would also make our young children fast; and we would go to the Masjid. We used to make toys out of wool for them: if any one of them cried for food, we would give them the toy until it was time to open the fast” (Bukhārī). This ḥadīth indicates that the companions (radiy Allāhu ʿanhum) used creative methods to encourage their young children to fast, even though they were not obligated to fast. Tips on how to cultivate an atmosphere of īmān and ʿibādah in your home • Share the stories of the Prophets, Companions and the pious people of the past. • Recite Qur’ān together. • Hold a daily family circle where you can have discussions and share reflections. • Do fun and beneficial activities related to Ramaḍān. (There are lots of ideas on the internet for different crafts and activities.) • Go for walks in nature, and remind each other about Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā). Recite Qur’ān together and do dhikr on your outings. Remember to renew your intention whilst spending time with them, and you will be rewarded for this great act of ʿibādah (worship). The Best House on the Block: Can the Angels Easily Identify Your House? Make your house shine through reciting the Qur’ān. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The house in which the Qur’ān is recited appears to the inhabitants of the heaven as the stars appear to the inhabitants of the earth.” (Bayhaqī) A Family of the Night Prayer: A Blessed Family The Prophet ﷺ would awaken his wives in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān to perform the night prayer. Similarly, throughout the year, he would finish praying tahajjud and wake ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) up to pray tahajjud. His concern was not restricted to his spouses. Rather, he was actively involved in the spiritual nourishment of his adult daughter and son-in law. One night, he ﷺ knocked on the door of Fāṭimah and ʿAlī (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) and said, “Will you not get up (and pray)?” (Bukhārī). Likewise, we should be eager for our spouses and children to not miss out on any good. By becoming a family of the night prayer, we will inshallah witness the blessings and tranquillity in our marriages, families and homes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “May Allah have mercy upon a man who gets up at night, prays, and wakes his wife up. If she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy upon a woman who gets up at night, prays, and wakes her husband up. If he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face” (Aḥmad). ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) used to pray for a large portion of the night, and when it would be the middle of the night, he would awaken his family for ṣalāh, saying to them, “Ṣalāh, ṣalāh!” and he would recite the verse, “Instruct your family to perform ṣalāh, and adhere to it yourself” (20:132). Exhorting her husband to stand up for tahajjud, the wife of Abū Muḥammad Ḥabīb (raḥimahullāh) used to say to him at night, “The night has gone. Ahead of us lies a long journey, and the provisions are little. The caravans of the righteous have sped ahead of us, whilst we have remained behind.” May Allah al-Ra’ūf (The Most Compassionate) fill our homes with love, compassion and īmān; and our hearts with hope, awe and love for Him. Source

Brutal assaults on Palestinians since Ramadhaan began A group of Israeli soldiers brutally assaulting a Palestinian young man near Damascus Gate in the occupied city of Jerusalem. www.instagram.com/p/Cb-825alEjQ/ Israeli soldiers brutally attack a Palestinian young man near Damascus Gate in the occupied city of Jerusalem, shortly before. www.instagram.com/p/Cb-8A54FdGE/ Brutal arrests against Jerusalemites carried out by the occupation police in Bab al-Amud tonight. www.instagram.com/p/Cb_I_4Tt1hm/ life under occupation goes on....