ummtaalib

Ramadhaan is the most important month of the Islamic year. It is in this month that the family worships Allah and practices Islam more fervently and with greater enthusiasm. The Muslim family spend precious moments of their time together during Iftaar and Suhoor. These two meals provide the fuel and blessing that grant a Muslim the physical and spiritual strength to fast. The food Muslims consume plays a critical role in their worship. Allah mentions in the Quran : "Eat what is wholesome and do good deeds.[23:51]" In other words, wholesome and halaal food promotes good character and actions. The responsibility of ensuring that wholesome meals are provided for the family rests on the father and mother. The father earns pure and halaal sustenance. The mother ensures that the food that is consumed is wholesome and halaal. A few ideas on how a mother can create an Islamic home in Ramadhaan: -Encourage children to recite Quran regularly every day even if it be a little. This will discipline them and make them love the Quran. -Encourage them to fast even for an hour or half a day. This will build their confidence. -Let them perform Salaah together with the mother while she prays. -Teach them one new thing about Ramadhaan every day, eg. a dua, Hadith, benefit of fasting and Taraweeh, etc. -Teach them to avoid unhealthy food. Ramadhaan is, after all, a month of diet control! Assign one of the kids the responsibility for waking everyone up for Suhoor and Fajr (Set your alarm clock, just in case!) This will teach them the importance of Suhoor and Fajr. In Ramadhaan, specifically, there must be a constant reminder of an Islamic home! Children learn from a mother's personal example. A mother who is always there by supervising and disciplining her children and who keeps busy with Salah, Qur'aan and Dua provides the most favourable Islamic atmosphere for piety and happiness in the home. A mother provides a special warmth and tenderness to the family during Ramadhaan. Ramadhaan without a mother can never be a true Ramadhaan. Ask anybody who has lost a mother within the last year how sad and empty that home now is. May Allah grant our mothers the understanding of their critical role in every Muslim home. They are the spiritual pillars upon which the bricks of worship and obedience stand. If they fall or crumble the future of the Ummah is at stake. May Allah make our Muslim women true beacons of piety and strength. Ameen! islaaminfo.co.za

"The Spiritual Retreat" By E ISLAM (www.eislam.co.za) The meaning of Itikaf is to seclude oneself in the Masjid with the express niyyah (intention) of Itikaf. Allah Ta’ala has indeed in His perfect wisdom created humanity in a unique way. He has made it such that from time to time His creation needs a rest. We rest at night to give our bodies time to recover. Birds retire to their nests, horses to their stables, bees to their hives etc. However there comes a time when more intensive rest or a retreat is required. Sometimes due to a person’s physical condition he is admitted into the intensive care unit allowing his body time to recover. Likewise the soul also needs to recover from the hustle and bustle of the world, the spiritual pollution caused by evil elements of society, the rat race of wanting, desiring and acquiring more of this world and the distractions that has diverted our mind, heart and soul from the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala and His Beloved Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Intensive Care Unit(ICU) for the soul is the Masjid and Itikaf is the feature within this ICU to allow the soul to not only recover but be spiritually rejuvenated! Itikaf is indeed a Spiritual Retreat! Inside each and every human being, a constant battle rages. It is like a battle between two tigers. One tiger is a manifestation of evil. It is full of hate, lust, and greed. It’s fangs drip with bitterness and strife. The other tiger is an embodiment of good. It is full of love, compassion, and honesty. He never betrays his brother. These two tigers are constantly at war. Which tiger is going to win the battle? The answer is quite obvious…. Whichever one you feed. Our soul is being bombarded by forces of good and evil. We need to feed it good so that it overpowers the evil….and Itikaf is indeed an excellent opportunity to achieve this by feeding and nourishing the soul with good deeds. Since the life of the transient world keeps us busy for the whole year in studies, work, social functions, business, traveling and other such things that often causes us to be negligent of our souls and the next life, we may sometimes think that these things are the sole purpose in life and thus, we end up forgetting our true goal – Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him). Thus, it is for this reason that I’tikaf is referred to as “The spring of life in a world struck with the drought of negligence of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him).” I’tikaf indeed rejuvenates the soul and gives a fresh breath to life. In addition, we can once again find ourselves and our Lord Allah Ta’ala and spiritually return back to Him before we are forced to return back to Him when our soul separates from our body (death). The period of I’tikaf is the best time to force one’s self to sit and think and reflect on the self and the world around; the period of the I’tikaf is the best time to forget the worries of the transient world and to return to nurturing the soul and linking oneself with the Creator of the soul; the period of the I’tikaf is the best time to return back to Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) in true repentance for our sins committed through the year and to give our souls the spiritual strength desperately needed to live a spiritual and pure life in this challenging world. The Messenger of Allah ( Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam) observed, I'tikâf and the Muslims have on the whole adhered to it. It has become a regular feature of the month of Ramadhân and a confirmed practice with the devout and the faithful. Hazrat Ayesha (Radiallâhu anha) relates that "Rasulullâh. Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam regularly observed I'tikâf during the last ten days of Ramadhân till the end of his life. After him, his wives maintained the tradition." (Hadith-Bukhari) It is related by Hazrat Abû Huraira (Radiallâhu anhu) that "Rasulullâh Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam observed I'tikâf for ten days every year in the month of Ramadhân. In the year he passed away he observed it for twenty days." (Hadith-Bukhari) The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him s family) is reported to have said: "The persons who secludes himself (in the Masjid in I'tikaf) in true faith and hope (for the reward of Allah), all of his previous sins shall be forgiven." (Kanzul Ummal, Hadith 24007) 3 TYPES OF ITIKAF WAAJIB (Compulsory) Itikaf. This Itikaf becomes compulsory when a person makes it obligatory upon himself. An example of this is, when a person makes a vow to Allah that if Allah fulfills a certain wish of his, he will undertake to perform so many days Itikaf. In this case the moment his wish is fulfilled, Itikaf becomes compulsory. A person may just make unconditional vow whereby he makes Itikaf Waajib upon himself for certain number of days. This becomes a Waajib duty on from that moment onward. SUNNAH Itikaf. This was the general practice of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and it means to seclude oneself inside the Masjid for the last ten days of Ramadhan. NAFIL Itikaf. There is no special time or specific number of days for Nafil Itikaf. A person may make niyyah for any number of days at any time, even for his whole life Before engaging into Itikaf it is highly recommended to learn the rules relating to this important act of ibadah (worship). Please to do consult your local Ulama (Islamic Scholars) for more guidance. For a detailed article on Itikaf and its rules please visit : http://eislaminfo.blogspot.com/2010/08/itikaf.html

"....The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way (by coincidence) is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein....." Millions of plant and animal types present in the world stand out as evidence that prove the existence and might of our Creator. All of these living beings, a limited number of which will be described as examples here, deserve to be examined individually. They all have different body systems, diverse defence tactics, unique ways of feeding, and interesting reproduction methods. Unfortunately, it is not possible to describe all living beings with all their features in a single book. Encyclopaedias of many volumes would not be enough for this task. However, even the few examples we will discuss here will be sufficient to prove that life on earth can in no way be explained by coincidences or accidental happenings. From Caterpillar to Butterfly If you had 450-500 eggs and if you had to preserve them outside, what would you do? The wisest course for you would be to take precautions to prevent them from being scattered around, say, by the wind, or other environmental factors. Being one of the animals that lay the most eggs at one time (450-500), the silkworms use a very intelligent way to protect their eggs: they unite the eggs with a viscous substance (thread) they secrete to prevent them from being scattered around. The caterpillars that pop out of their eggs firstly find a safe branch for themselves and then get tied to this branch with the same thread. Later, to promote their own development, they start to spin a cocoon for themselves with the thread they secrete. It takes 3-4 days for a caterpillar that has opened its eyes very recently to life to complete this process. During this period, the caterpillar makes thousands of turns and produces a thread an average of 900-1,500 metres long. At the end of this process, it starts a new task through which it undergoes a metamorphosis to become an elegant butterfly. Neither the action taken by the mother silkworm to protect its eggs, nor the behaviour of a tiny caterpillar devoid of any awareness, education or knowledge can be explained by evolution. First of all, the ability of the mother to produce the thread it uses to secure its eggs is miraculous. The newly-born caterpillar's knowing the most suitable environment for itself, its spinning a cocoon in accordance with it, its undergoing a metamorphosis, and its coming through this metamorphosis without any problem are beyond human comprehension. Hence, we can simply say that each caterpillar is born into the world with a foreknowledge of what to do, which means that it was 'taught' all of these things before it was born. Let us explain this with an example. What would you think if you saw a new-born baby standing up a few hours after his birth, getting together the things he needs to make his bed (like quilt, pillow, mattress), and later putting all these together neatly, making his bed and lying down on it? After you recover from the shock of the event, you would probably think that the baby must have been taught in an extraordinary way in his mother's womb to perform such a process. The case of the caterpillars is no different from the baby in this example. This again leads us to the same conclusions: these living creatures come into life, behave and live in the way determined by Allah Ta'ala Who has created them. The Qur'anic verse stating that Allah Ta'ala has inspired the honeybee and commanded it to make honey (Surat an-Nahl, 68-69) provides an example of the great secret of the world of living beings. This secret is that all living beings have bowed to Allah's will and follow the fate determined by Him. This is why the honeybee makes honey and the silkworm produces silk. The Symmetry in Wings When we look at the butterfly wings in the pictures, we see a perfect symmetry prevailing over them. These lace-like wings are so adorned with patterns, spots and colours that each of them is like a work of art. When you look at the wings of these butterflies, you notice that the patterns and colours on both sides are fully identical, no matter how intricate they may seem. Even the smallest dot is present on both wings, thereby introducing a flawless order and symmetry. In addition, none of the colours on these thin wings mixes with the other, each being sharply set apart from the other. Actually, these colours are formed by the amassing of tiny scales clustered one on top of another. Isn't it a wonder how these small scales that are easily dispersed with your hand's slightest touch can be arranged in both wings without any mistake in their disposal so as to produce exactly the same pattern. Even the replacement of a single scale would destroy the symmetry in the wings and impair their aesthetics. However, you never see any muddle in the wings of any butterfly on the earth. They are as neat and elegant as if made by an artist. And they are indeed made by an Exalted Creator. The Animal with the Longest Neck: The Giraffe Giraffes have many amazing characteristics. One of these is that their neck stands on 7 vertebrae, just like that of all other mammals, even though it is so long. Another amazing fact about giraffes is that they do not have any problem pumping blood up to their brain on top of their long neck. A little thinking would make one notice how difficult it must be to have the blood pumped so high. But giraffes do not have any problem about this, because their hearts are equipped with features to pump blood as high as necessary. This enables them to carry on with their lives effortlessly. Yet they still face another problem while they drink water. Essentially, giraffes should have died of high blood pressure every time they bent down to drink water. However, the perfect system in their necks completely eliminates this risk. When they bend down, the valves in their neck vessels are shut down and they prevent excess blood from flowing to the brain. There is no doubt that the giraffes did not acquire these traits by planning them in accordance with their needs. It is even more implausible to say that all these vital features were shaped over time through a gradual evolutionary process. In order for a giraffe to stay alive, it is vital for it to have a pumping system to transmit blood to the brain and a valve system to prevent high blood pressure the minute it bends own. If any one of these characteristics did not exist or did not function properly, then it would be impossible for the giraffe to go on living. The conclusion to be derived from all this is that the giraffe species was born into the world with all the characteristics vital for its living. It is impossible for a non-existent being to master its body and acquire essential traits consciously. So, giraffes unquestionably prove that they are created by a conscious creation, that is by Allah Ta'ala. Sea Turtles Sea turtles living in the oceans surge in crowds towards the beach when it is time for them to reproduce. This is no ordinary beach though. The beach they arrive at to reproduce has to be the one where they were born. Sometimes sea turtles have to travel as far as 800 kilometres to arrive there. But a long and tough journey does not change the situation. They arrive at the beach where they were born to give birth to their offspring, no matter what. It is quite unaccountable how a living being can find its way back to the very same beach 20-25 years after its departure from there. It is all the more extraordinary that it can find the direction of its birthplace in the depths of the ocean where so little light penetrates, and then spot it from among numerous similar beaches. Finally, thousands of travellers with no compass meet on the same beach at the same time. Initially a mystery, the reasons underlying this insistent meeting came as a great surprise when finally revealed. Since turtles know that their offspring cannot survive in sea conditions, they bury their eggs under the sand on the beach. But why do all of them meet on the same beach, at the same time? Would not the hatchlings survive if they did the same thing at different times and on different beaches? Those who did research on this topic were faced with a very interesting situation. Thousands of offspring under the sand have to overcome a number of formidable obstacles after breaking their eggs with the hard lump on their head. The hatchlings of an average of 31 grams cannot dig the earth layer above them on their own and they all help each other. When thousands of hatchlings on the beach start to dig the earth, they make it to the sand surface in a few days. Yet before they appear on the surface, they wait for a while for nightfall. For in the day time, there is the danger of falling a prey to predators. In addition, it would be quite difficult for them to proceed by crawling on sands scorched by the sunlight. When night falls, they go up to the surface after completing the digging process. Although it is dark, they rush to the sea and depart from the beach to return there as much as 20-25 years later. It is impossible for these hatchlings to know that they have to dig their way up after they pop out of their eggs and wait for a while at a certain distance from the sea. It is by no means possible for them to know, when they are still buried in the earth, whether it is day or night, that predators exist outside and that they could fall a prey to them, that the sand is scorching because of the sun, that this could harm them, and that they must rush to the sea. So, how does this conscious conduct come about? The only answer to this question is that these hatchlings have been somehow 'programmed' to behave in this way, which means that their Creator has inspired in them the instinct that helps them protect their lives. Bombardier Beetle The bombardier beetle is an insect on which an enormous amount of research has been done. The trait that renders this insect so popular is that it uses chemical methods to protect itself from its enemies. In moments of danger, the insect squirts hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone stored in its body towards the enemy to protect itself. Prior to battle, specialised structures called secretory lobes make a very concentrated mixture of these two chemicals. The mixture is stored in a separate compartment called the storage chamber. This compartment is connected to a second one called the explosion chamber. The two compartments are kept separate from one another by a sphincter muscle. The moment the insect senses danger, it squeezes the muscles surrounding the storage chamber while simultaneously relaxing the sphincter muscle, and the chemical in the storage chamber is transferred to the explosion chamber. A large quantity of heat is released and a vaporisation occurs. The released vapour and the oxygen gas exert pressure on the walls of the explosion chamber and this chemical is squirted at the enemy through a annel leading outward from the beetle's body. It is still a great mystery to researchers how an insect can harbour inside itself a powerful system potent enough to trigger a chemical reaction that could easily cause it harm while also isolating itself from the effects of that system. No doubt, the existence and working of this system is too complicated to be attributed to the insect itself. It is still a matter of discussion how the bombardier beetle makes such a system work within its tiny body measuring about 2 cm in length, when human experts can perform it only in laboratories. The only apparent truth here is that this insect is a concrete example completely refuting the theory of evolution, because it is impossible for this complex chemical system to have been shaped by a series of coincidental variations and passed on to future generations. Even a minor deficiency or 'defect' in a single piece of the system would leave the animal defenceless, so that it would soon be killed or it would cause it to blow itself up. Therefore, the only explanation is that the chemical weapon in the insect's body had come into being with all its parts all at once and without any defect. Termite Nests No one can help feeling surprised at the sight of a termite nest erected on the ground by termites. These nests are architectural wonders, rising as high as 5 or 6 metres. When you compare the size of a termite and its nest, you will see that the termite has successfully completed an architectural project about 300 times bigger than itself. But what is even more astonishing is that the termites are blind. A person who has never seen the huge nests built by blind termites would probably think that they are made up of sand piles heaped upon each other. However, a termite nest proves to be of a marvellous design comprehensible to the human mind: inside there are intersecting tunnels, corridors, ventilation systems, special fungus production yards and safety exits. If you assemble thousands of blind people and give them all kinds of technical tools, you can never make them set up a nest similar to the one made by the termite colony. So, just think: - How could a termite measuring 1-2 cm. in length have learnt the architectural and engineering information needed to make such a subtle design? - How could thousands of blind termites manage to work in harmony to build this construction which is an artistic wonder? -If you divide a termite nest into two during the first stages of its construction, and then reunite it, you will see that all passage-ways, canals and roads fit each other. How can this miraculous event be explained? The conclusion to be derived from this example is that Allah Ta'ala has created all living beings uniquely and without any prior example. Even one termite nest is enough for a person to comprehend Allah Ta'ala and believe that He is the One Who created all. The Woodpecker As we all know, woodpeckers build their nests by boring holes in tree trunks with their beaks. This may sound familiar to most people. But the point many people fail to examine is why woodpeckers suffer no brain haemorrhage when they beat a tattoo so vigorously with their heads. What the woodpecker does is in a way similar to a human being driving a nail into the wall with his head. If a man ventured to do something like that, he would probably undergo a brain shock followed by a brain haemorrhage. However, woodpecker can peck a hard tree trunk 38-43 times in just two or three seconds and nothing happens to it. Nothing happens because the head structure of woodpeckers is ideally created for such a task. The skull of the woodpecker has a remarkable suspension system that absorbs the force of the blows. Its forehead and some skull muscles adjoined to its beak and the jaw joint are so robust that they help lessen the effect of the forceful strokes during pecking. Design and planning do not end here. Preferring primarily pine trees, woodpeckers check the age of the trees before boring a hole in them and pick those older than 100 years, because pine trees older than 100 years suffer an illness that causes the hard and thick bark to soften. This was only recently discovered by science and perhaps you may be reading of it here for the first time in your life; woodpeckers have known it for centuries. This is not the only reason why woodpeckers prefer pine trees. Woodpeckers dig cavities around their nests, the function of which was not originally understood. These cavities were later understood to protect them from a great danger. Over time, the sticky resin that leaks from the pine trees fills up the cavities and the outpost of the woodpecker's nest is thus filled with a pool whereby woodpeckers can be protected from snakes, their greatest enemies. Another interesting feature of woodpeckers is that their tongues are thin enough to penetrate even ants' nests in the trees. Their tongues are also sticky, which allows them to collect the ants that live there. The perfection in their creation is further revealed by the fact that their tongues have a structure which prevents them from being harmed by the acid in the bodies of the ants.Woodpeckers, each of whose characteristics is discussed in a different paragraph above, prove with all their detailed features that they are 'created'. If woodpeckers had evolved coincidentally as the theory of evolution claims, they would have died before they acquired such extraordinarily consistent traits and hey would be extinct. However, as they were created by Allah with a special 'design' adapted to their life, they started their lives by bearing all the vital characteristics. CONCLUSION Can the wind form an airplane by coincidence? The famous physicist Sir Fred Hoyle makes a very striking observation about the origin of life. In his book The Intelligent Universe he writes: The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way (by coincidence) is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein. This comparison of Hoyle's is quite inspiring. The examples that we have discussed above also reveal that both the existence of life and the perfection of its present systems force us to look for the great power making these come into being. Just as a hurricane cannot produce an airplane as a result of coincidences, neither is it possible for the universe to have come into being as a result of unanticipated happenings and moreover to harbour extremely complex structures therein. In truth, the universe is furnished with myriad systems of an infinitely greater complexity than those of an airplane Everything we have said in this chapter confronts us with the evidence of the flawless planning not only in our immediate surroundings but also in the depths of space. One who assesses these signs which are so evident as to be undeniable by both reason and conscience can come to only one conclusion: there is no room for coincidence in the universe; the universe was CREATED with all the minutiae contained in it. And Allah, the Creator of this flawless system, is He Who has infinite might and knowledge. www.islaaminfo.co.za

Tafsir: Surah Al-Fatiha - Part 1 [intro] Shaykh Saleem Nawab

Combating the Whisperings of Shaytaan By Shaykh Yunus Patel (Raheemahullah) Troublesome thoughts A lady called, saying that whilst reading Salaah, the images of idols come in front of her and there is a whispering in her heart : “You are not a Muslim. You are a Mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah Ta’ala), so prostrate (or make sajda) to this idol.” Surely if an image like that comes before a person in Salaah, the person will become terribly worried. And she repeatedly hears this: “You have become a Mushrik. You have become a Mushrik.” As a result she was very, very anxious and worried, saying that due to this worry, she hadn’t slept. Due to the frequency of these whisperings, she was becoming a nervous wreck. A VERY HELPFUL BOOK IN COMBATING WASAAWIS

Removing the Safety Net Transcription of a Talk by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (raheemahullah) The title, “Removing the safety net” was selected, because our beautiful religion and Shariah offers us a safety net with its various injunctions, teachings and prohibitions. Unfortunately, we have breached and disregarded many of those laws – similar to the person who removes the “safety net” which he covers his swimming pool with, as a safety measure for his little children and for those who are in-experienced in swimming; or on a larger scale : Like a people who remove the safety nets found near the shoreline of their beaches, as a protection against shark attacks. The title alludes to the fact that having, ourselves, removed the teachings of Deen from our lives, we find ourselves in deep waters, or having to face vicious “shark” attacks from all quarters – nafs, shaytaan and various other evil elements prevalent in society. CONTINUE READING

The Cure for Depression "Tafweez" (Resigning oneself to the Decisions of Allah) From a talk delivered by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Raheemahullah) Khalifa of Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Raheemahullah) Depression, it seems, has become synonymous with living in a society overrun with innumerable problems. It is an ailment which has unfortunately reached epidemic proportions. In the search for a solution, we sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of depression. Hardly a day passes, without some person complaining about his failures or of the acute depression that he is suffering, due to various factors. What I wish to discuss is Tafweez. If we learn Tafweez, then we have indeed found the antidote for depression. CONTINUE READING THIS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL BOOK

The Messenger of Allah Muhammad[peace be upon him] has said,"Almighty Allah says, 'I treat my slave (man) according to his expectations from Me, and I am with him when he remembers me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My heart…. if he walks towards Me, I run unto him."[Hadith-Qudsi] Make this Ramadan the month of "Change"..Are You Ready for it??? "Change" is the vogue today. "Change" is being chanted by the Presidents to rally up public support; "Change" is being demanded by the masses suffering due to skyrocketing fuel and commodity prices; "Change", a drastic one indeed, is what we are witnessing with awe in the global weather patterns. For Muslims, Ramadan is the prime time for change. This month dramatically alters our routines and schedules. From tight sleep schedules, to hunger for extended hours, to reduction in consumption of junk foods, to a technology diet; to withdrawal from caffeine addiction, to lengthy standing in Taraweeh prayers at night, to extensive listening to the Quran. What a change indeed! Beyond Routines and Rituals The real change, however, Ramadan demands of us is the internal change – a change that positively transforms our lifestyle, character, attitudes, conversations, and habits. Allah has described this change in the month of Ramadan as follows: "O you who believe, fasting has been ordained on you as it was decreed upon those before you so that you may adopt Taqwa[Taqwa is Allah consciousness ]" (2:183 [Quran 2:183]. Slavery to Ramadan? If our change is limited to outer physical practices only, we become slaves to Ramadan, instead of being servants to Ar-Rahman (Allah, the Merciful). Prophet Muhammad[peace be upon him] has warned us about those who don't fast from bad behaviour: "Allah has no interest in any person's abstention from eating and drinking, if that person does not give up lying and dishonest actions" [sahih al-Bukhari]. Ramadan Resolutions Every Ramadan we make resolutions and tell ourselves: "This Ramadan will be different. I'm going to change my ______ habit." "I will give up ………", "I will take my practice of Islam to the next level". But how many of us are really able to follow through? Plenty of good intentions, many amazing wishes, but sadly enough, life goes on as usual the morning of Eid. Ask yourself, how is my fasting benefitting my spiritual connection with Allah? How is my extensive worship in Ramadan helping me discipline my tongue (taste and speech), eyes, ears, and habits? Are you ready to take that first step to transform your bad habits into good ones? Ways to Kick Bad Habits Few things are more demanding than eliminating bad habits, since they are part of our daily routines and personality. It takes days of patience and practice to break old habits. However, the good news is, Ramadan offers a perfect and natural environment for moral training. Interestingly, researches from "positive psychology" (scientific study of successful people) have repeatedly shown it takes between 30 to 40 days to kick a bad habit and develop a new one. In addition to the physical discipline during the month of Ramadan, the increased spiritual exercise and connection with Allah, can transform your habits for life. Try these proven techniques for a successful positive change in your habits during Ramadan and beyond! 1. Acknowledge and Identify your bad habits: First step is to admit you need to change. If you are in a state of denial, you won't recognize that you have a bad habit to change. 2. Pick a habit for this month: Prioritize your bad habits and focus on one for this month. If you are committed to changing at least one habit, you will see remarkable results, Allah-willing. 3. Realize that it's in us to change: Don't believe the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." You can break a bad habit if you really want to. No one else can change your habits, if you don't want to. 4. Remember, Allah loves those who commit mistakes and repent: Prophet Muhammad[peace be upon him] said: "By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them." [sahih Muslim] 5. Intention & Plan to change: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." A healthy process of change in character requires a gradual pace, which entails planning. Develop concrete milestones to measure your progress. 6. Replace a bad habit with a good one: Completely eliminating a habit is more challenging than replacing it with a more productive habit. Moreover, it's crucial to replace the lost natural needs, such as the need to socialize and to be entertained with something healthy. For instance, it's easier to replace or balance your addiction to TV with a physical workout or reading, than to suddenly remove the TV from your life. Interestingly, Prophet Muhammad[peace be upon him], the greatest 'psychologist' of humanity, illustrated this principle in these words: "Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people." [At-Tirmidhi] 7. Change your Environment: Resist the negative peer pressure by finding a better company of friends. Collective action to change is very powerful. Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] explained this peer pressure effect with this analogy: "A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might singe your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of the furnace." [sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim] 8. Exercise: Spiritual exercise is important for lasting change. You may not realize that by exerting your yourself in spiritual exercises like the reading of Quran and Hadith, fasting, giving charity, Zikr[remembering Allah] etc helps in eliminating a number of bad habits. Through the spiritual light of doing noble deeds evil ones will gradually be eradicated from your life. Allah says : "Indeed, Salah restrains from Shameful and unjust deeds" [Quran:29:45]. A person complained to the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] about someone who read salaah and also committed theft .The Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] said "His salaat will very soon wean him off that sin.' This shows that the evil habits can be got rid of by adhering to good practises. The doing of good deeds such as remembering Allah cleanses the heart. A clean heart encourages a person to do good deeds and refrains one from evil habits! Moreover, exercising your will power (struggle to fight temptations) for this month helps you kick all kinds of bad habits and form new good ones. Willpower is like a muscle; the more you exercise it, the more you strengthen it. 9. Think of yourself as a changed, different, new person. This simple psychological shift in your thinking about your own image can do wonders. Tell yourself, "I can't continue this ill-behaviour. I am better than that. I am stronger. I am wiser." 10. Reward success: The most fundamental law in all of psychology is the "law of effect." It simply states that actions followed by rewards are strengthened and likely to recur. Unfortunately, studies show that people rarely use this technique when trying to change personal habits. Setting up formal or informal rewards for success greatly increases your chances of transforming bad habits into good ones, and is far more effective than punishing yourself for bad habits or setbacks. As Muslims we should also remember that the ultimate reward is Allah's Pleasure and Paradise in the Hereafter. 11. Get help: Tell someone about your effort to change if it helps. He or she may keep you on track and may offer some good advice. Read books that will encourage you to do virtues actions. Join programs in your local Mosque. Ladies should endeavour to join their local Taalimi Halqas. There are good and sincere people who are ready to assist. We are not an island- We are an Ummah! 12. Boost your spiritual immune system: By fasting,doiung good actions, spending time in the Mosque or going in the path of Allah will boost your Imaan[faith] which will provide you with internal strength to overcome temptations to reverting to old bad habits. 13. Remind yourself of Death and Hereafter often: "Remember often the terminator (or destroyer) of all the pleasures [i.e. death]," the Prophet [peace be upon him]once stated. [At-Tirmidhi.] 14. Resolve to continue on and follow up: Giving up bad habits or learning good habits requires regular maintenance and determination. It is a long, ongoing process, also known as "Tazkiyyah" in Islamic terminology. It's more difficult than the first few steps of change. ("How many times have I dieted, for example, only to gain the weight back?"). So ensure that you follow up. Link yourself to a good Allah-fearing Islamic Scholar and make a habit of spending time in Allah path. 15. Develop a relapse strategy: How do you ensure not to return to your bad habit you are trying to change? Some people donate money to a good cause every time they return to sinning or a bad habit. This reminds them of the 'cost' of going back to old bad habits. Others try physically demanding acts to deter them from reverting to old ways. For example that if you do___ act than you will keep three fast or pay so much sadaqah[charity] etc 16. Ask Allah for Help: MOST IMPORTANT!-Make Asking for Allah's Help an integral part of the overall change process. Ask for Allah's Help before, during and after every attempt at kicking a bad habit. Do so sincerely, even begging and crying, like a child does when he or she really wants something. Allah is Ever-Willing to Help and to Respond to our needs, but it is us who must take the first step towards Him. Allah will NEVER disappoint us! "And whosoever is conscious of Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He (Allah) will make a way for him to get out (from) every (difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he could never imagine." [Quran 65:2-3] EISLAM

By Abdur Rahmaan Umar “Sheikh, Ramadaan soon,” said Omar, his gruff voice making him sound a lot older than his 28 years, “We will really have to exert ourselves this Ramadaan!” Sheik Hamaad nodded quietly, taking a sip of his favourite Jasmine tea. “Yup, we really gonna have to try and do a lot this Ramadaan,” chorused Ridwaan. Sheikh looked at them and whispered, “Or not to do.” Omar jerked his head in surprise and looked at Ridwaan, searching for an answer. Ridwaan raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. The group looked at one another with skewed glances but said little until Omar mustered the courage and broke the silence, “Did Sheikh say not to do?” Sheikh nodded in silent affirmation, his long beard making little waves on his chest. They looked at one another for some clue, something just wasn’t right. Zaid, unable to contain himself and ventured softly, his voice barely audible from his usual position against the wall at the back, “But Sheikh always told us that this is the month to capitalize, to take maximum benefit of the time and to really … how you say…stock up.” Sheikh Hamaad’s lips curled into a soft smile as he placed his tea on the little ornate wood table beside him, “True, I did say that you have to work hard and earn rewards. But let me give you an example – if you have a bucket, how long will it take to fill up?” Omar’s face lit up, he adjusted his specs, and in his a very professional tone said, “Depends on many factors – what’s the rate of flow of the water, how big is the bucket, what is the size of the opening, and …” “Let say we ignore all that,” Sheikh continued, “If the bucket has a huge hole at the bottom will it remain full?” “Well,” began Omar, “depends on the size of the hole, and the rate of…” “No ways! It will not remain full,” Zaid interrupted him, and looked to Sheikh for an explanation of the analogy. Sheikh surveyed the puzzled look on their faces and decided to end the suspense, “If we do a lot in Ramadaan, but fail to give up sinning then we are like people who are trying to fill a bucket that has holes.” “Holy bucket!” said Zaid, chuckled softly at his joke. Sheikh smiled and continued, ”Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah Radiallahu anhu narrated that the Messenger of Allah Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam said: ‘There are many such people who fast but gain nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are many such people who stand up (in Prayer) for whom there is nothing but the (difficulty) of staying awake. (Hadith-ibn Majah)’ So….people may make a lot of effort, but gain nothing from it.” “Holes in the bucket,” acknowledged Zaid, his head nodding in affirmation, “But why?” Sheikh paused to sip his tea, “Because they don’t give up sinning…perhaps they break their fast with haraam provisions, or they indulged in backbiting during the day. Or they indulged in some other sin that erased the good of the fasting and prayer. “ In another saying of the Messenger of Allah Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam narrated by Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah( Radiallahu Anhu) that “Fasting is a shield until it’s not torn” (Hadith-Ibn Majah); which conveys a similar meaning. A shield is only useful if it’s able to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. If it’s damaged it’s no longer a source of protection. Likewise, we have to be extra careful about not committing sins in Ramadaan. Ridwaan leaned forward and asked, “Must we be more vigilant about sins than doing good deeds?” “Yes, you need to be more cautious, because if you do good deeds without refraining from sin then it’s like filling a bucket with holes. Holy bucket!” said sheikh nodding at Zaid, whose curiosity dragged him away from the back wall. Sheikh paused to take drain the cup of the last drops of tea, In another Hadith it’s mentioned that a person asked The Messenger Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam, just as you have asked, what causes the fast to tear, and he, Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam replied – lies and backbiting. Fasting is not just about giving up food and drink; it’s about staying away from haraam. So the eyes have to fast by not looking at anything impermissible, the ears have to fast by not listening to haraam. So too, the mouth, by avoiding lies, backbiting, swearing and other wrongful words. Even the limbs have to fast by not going to haraam or indulging in it. “That changes the whole notion of fasting,” asked Zaid, now having made his way close to the front, “But that’s tough…” Sheikh immediately began reciting in his melodious voice: “يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ” “From Surah Baqarah (verse 185) – Allah Ta'ala desires ease for you and does not intend for you hardship. And (wants) for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you;” “Zaid! You love your kebabs?” Sheikh asked. Zaid nodded bashfully. “Would you eat any one of those lovely, tasty kebabs just before fast breaking time? Say with 30 seconds to spare?” Zaid shook his head vigorously and replied, “No!” his voice a little too loud for the occasion. “Why not?” “Because that would be breaking Allah’s command!” “Even by a mere thirty seconds?” asked Sheikh and Zaid shook his head more energetically. “So we have so much self-restraint about what we put in our mouths that we won’t even transgress by thirty seconds, but we take very little care about what comes out of our mouths,” said Sheikh, “Allah Ta'ala has given us the ability to control ourselves, we have to use this ability to avoid all those things which earn His displeasure.” “So what’s the best thing we can do this Ramadaan? “asked Omar. “The best thing to do is to avoid sinning in this blessed month, and…and...do your best to fill the bucket. By the grace of Allah Ta'ala it will be filled which much good that will remain even after Ramadaan. So, simply, do nothing wrong this Ramadaan!” EISLAM

Q: To whom does the Ayat of fasting apply? A: Fasting is an act of worship (ibadat). It is one of the Fundamental Principles (Pillars) of Islam. Allah says:”Oh you who believe fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may attain Taqwa (God-Fearing).”Allah says Oh you who believe. This is a general command for everyone who is Believers in Islam. Q: Does a minor child have to fast? A: Fasting is not obligatory on a minor. A minor is he who is not physically matured (Baaligh) in the case of a male and in the case of a female, she has not attained puberty. However, if by the age of 15 lunar years, the male or female did not become baaligh, they will be regarded as adults and have to fast and fulfil all obligations of Shariah. Q: Does a sick person have to fast? A: A sick person is exempted from fasting altogether if there is genuine reason to believe that the current illness will intensify by fasting or that he will suffer another illness on result of fasting or that his recovery will be prolonged due to fasting. Q: Can a traveller omit fasting? A: A Shar’ī musāfir (traveller) who embarked on his journey prior to dawn is permitted to omit the fast of that day. As long as he is a Shar’ī musāfir, he may omit fasting. Q: What about travelling during the day? A: If a person embarked on a journey during the day after Subh Sadiq, he/she will have to fast that day. Q: Will the application of eye drops break the fast? A: Using eyedrops will not break the fast. Q: Can ear drops be used? A: If a person’s eardrum is imperforated, he may use ear drops. If someone has perforated ear drums, it will not be permissible to use ear drops. Q: Can we use insulin injections whilst fasting? A: It is permissible to use insulin injections. Injections do not break a fast. Q: Will a nasal spray break the fast? A: Yes, a nasal spray will break the fast. A: Can mouthwash be used whilst fasting? Q: It is not permissible to use mouthwash whilst fasting. Q: Is it permissible to brush teeth and use toothpaste? A: It is not permissible to use toothpaste whilst fasting. One may brush teeth, use a miswak and a tongue scraper. Q: Can an addicted smoker smoke whilst fasting? A: It is not permissible to smoke whilst fasting. Smoking will result in Qadhā and Kaffārah. A smoker may use a transdermal nicotine patch. Q: What is the ruling for using suppositories? A: Insertion of suppositories up the rear passage will invalidate the fast. Q: I forgetfully ate whilst fasting? A: If one was totally unaware that he was fasting, the fast will not be broken regardless of what was consumed. Q: By mistake I swallowed water whilst doing wudhu? A: By doing an act mistakenly will break one’s fast. However, only Qadhā will be necessary. Q: What if a person must break the fast due to an asthma attack? A: If a person suffers from an illness or has an asthma attack and there is no option but to have medicine or an inhaler, it will be permissible to break the fast. However, he will have to do Qadhā. Q: I engaged in intercourse with my spouse? A: Intercourse will invalidate the fast and will make Qadhā and Kaffārah compulsory. Q: I had a wet dream whilst fasting. Is my fast broken? A: A wet dream will not invalidate the fast. Q: What is the Kaffārah? A: A Kaffārah is expiation for a violation. It is fasting for 60 days consecutively without any interruption for those capable of fasting. If one cannot fast, he will have to give monetary Kaffarah. Q: When will Kaffārah be binding? A: Kaffarah becomes binding if one deliberately breaks his fast by eating or drinking or having intercourse. Q: Can a sick person pay fidyah instead of fasting? A: A person who cannot fast due a chronic or terminal illness may give fidyah. As long as a person’s condition remains such that they cannot fast, they will keep giving fidyah for each fast. If there is improvement to such a degree that they can fast, they will have to do Qadhā of all the previous fasts. The value of fidya is the same as that of sadaqah al-fitr which is presently R16 for the people in South Africa. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

0 A tsunami of mercy is about to hit us. An eruption of mercy is on the verge of exploding. A downpour of blessings is on the brink of descending. A gale of light is within sight. A month is dawning upon us wherein the clouds shower mercy, the rivers overflow with mercy, the gardens blossom with mercy, the winds whistle with mercy and the waterfalls trickle with mercy. Our horizons are illuminated. The skies are radiant. The trees seem to be in high spirits. Animals seem to be ecstatic. Ramadhan is approaching. The month of Ramadhan is the month of the Qur’an. It is the season of devotions and worship wherein spirituality reaches the highest peaks. The root letters of Ramadhan denote incineration. Ramadhan incinerates all our sins. It removes the rust from our lives. It makes us shine. It is a time to become pure from the filth contaminating our souls. Ramadhan is a provision for the whole year. It helps one through the remainder of the year until the next Ramadhan. It is like a person crossing the desert. The more water, food and other such provisions a person has, the easier the journey and the safer he will reach his destination. Likewise, the more the Qur’an Tilawah, Salah and other devotions a person has in stock, the easier the battle will be with the nafs and Shaytan throughout the year and the safer he will reach the next Ramadhan. The month of Ramadhan is a time to heal the soul from the effects of sin. It is like a sick person who has been deprived of medicine for 11 months and then is taken into hospital. He is given all the care and medication required. It replenishes his soul, strengthens his body and revitalises his spirit. Likewise, Ramadhan is our spiritual hospital. All the spiritual care and medication is available. Ramadhan infuses within us the vigour, courage, energy and drive to become Allah conscious. The month of Ramadhan is a time to nourish our souls. It is like a person who has been surviving on water and bread for 11 months and then for one month is given all the exquisite dishes of the world. He will eat as much as he can. He will put his mouth on everything presented in front of him. Likewise, the month of Ramadhan is where the cuisine of Allah is presented. Every deed is multiplied in reward. Every action emanates a different fragrance and blessing. Every act gives off a distinct taste. Ramadhan is synonymous to the Qur’an. Ramadhan is the month of the Qur’an. Our pious predecessors truly appreciated this. Their every second was tilawah of the Qur’an in this month. The authors stopped writing. Researchers abandoned researching. Scholars stopped working. They dedicated the month of Ramadhan to the Qur’an. Imam Shaf’i rahimahullah would complete 60 recitations of the Holy Qur’an. Aswad ibn Yazeed rahimahullah would complete the recitation of the Qur’an every two nights in the tahajjud prayer. Let alone the scholars of the past, more recently, Hadhrat Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Rahimahullah would recite approximately 35 chapters of the Qur’an daily. If they can do it, why can’t we? Have a competition within your families. Create an environment of Qur’an tilawah in your homes. The men should spend as much as time as they can in the masājid. Women should spend less time in the kitchens and more time on the musalla. We are entering a gold mine. Time is limited. The clock is ticking. Days are passing. How much gold do you want? The time has come to return to Allah. His doors are open. Will you enter? http://tasawwuf.daralmahmood.org/ramadhaan-time-for-change

lol thats funny sis! Its a serious problem though specially for the young and the unaware. May Allah protect. I too use it a lot but try and choose known sites for the info and if I cant find one then I often just leave it....or pester someone to get the info

Please beware of this shaykh, and do not make any attempt to approach him!

By Abu Muhammed Have you ever noticed that in Ramadaan how it is that everyone’s days (and nights) seem to rotate around their salaah(prayer) times and how easy it is to fast for long periods, perform Salaah, recite the Quraan, spend more time in the Masjid and to do good ? Business appointments are deliberately avoided close to salaah times and trips to shopping malls are strictly to get what’s required, recreation curtailed and ‘entertainment’, almost nonexistent. Journeys, if necessary, are planned in such a manner that destinations are reached before the time of futoor (opening of the fast). In summation we can safely say that life is taken very seriously and time scrupulously spent. A famous contemporary scholar was often heard saying, ‘If our lives are spent as we spend Ramadaan then death (our meeting with Allah Jalla Wa A’ala) will be enjoyable to us as the joy we feel at the sighting of the crescent of Eidul Fitr’ One of the most salient aspects of the Shariah (The Body of Islamic Law) is that almost all the formal acts of Ibaadah (Worship) have been fixed. It can be safely said that the temperament of Ibaadah in Islam is very ‘time and place’ specific. · Haj in the month of Zhul Hijjah (8th to the 12th) in the city of Makkah and its surrounds of Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifa · Zakaat once a year (Lunar) fixed · Salaah fixed five times a day at specific times, and · Fasting in Ramadaan The maximum benefit of these acts of Ibaadah will be reaped when they are done at their specific times and places. An example to emphasise the point is that most Muslims are aware of the great virtue of the day of Arafah (9th Zil Hijjah) during Hajj (pilgrimage). It is a day wherein Allah frees the most souls from Jahannum (Hell) and displays His Mercy and Forgiveness in waves and torrents like no other time. Arafah is essentially a desert plain with little or no vegetation. If a person were to be on the plains of Arafah on every other day of the year other than the 9th of Zhul Hijjah he will not benefit from the great rewards of Arafah. An example pertaining to Ramadaan is that if a person, with a valid reason, misses the fast of Ramadaan he cannot acquire the spiritual benefit of that one fast were he to fast for the entire year out of Ramadaan. The Qadha fast (late fulfillment) will fulfill his obligation but detract from the benefit of that fast in its original place and time. While there will be those who argue that the Shariah is not so stringent and allows for leeway there is great wisdom in fixing the formal acts of Ibaadah (Worship). Breaking away from a high profile meeting or stopping in the middle of an important task at work and heading off for Salaah to the local Masjid for the congregational prayer may not seem very different to fulfilling the obligation of Salaah after the meeting or completing one’s task but upon closer scrutiny under a ‘spiritual’ microscope one will find an important difference. In the first instance a person has put the command of the Creator – Allah Jalla Wa A’ala – before everything else while in the second instance, while not making a verbal statement, a person has given priority to his meeting or task over the fulfilling of the command of Allah Jalla Wa A’ala. The former is precisely the aim and objective of Shariah. After all we are the ‘Ibaad – Slaves’ of Allah Jalla Wa A’ala and as Hasan Basri (May Allah have mercy on him) says ‘a slave can have no other wish than to fulfill the wish (command) of his/her Master’. Fulfilling the command of Allah Jalla Wa A’ala is another name for ‘Worship’ which is the objective of the short and transitory life of a Human Being (Qur’an Surah 51, Verse 56) on this earth and determines the extent of his/her success or failure in the Akhira (the Hereafter) From this perspective then, Ramadaan is a practical exercise and lesson in learning Uboodiya (Slavery) to one’s Creator where one’s 24 hour day becomes consciously focused at fulfilling the Command of one’s Creator over and above all the ‘commands’ of a personal or vocational nature. Ramadaan is also proof to us that we do have the ability and capacity to dedicate ourselves towards a life of conscious worship of Allah Jalla Wa A’ala and not just one month of the year. One drawback is that we limit our niyyah (intention) only for Ramadaan. As mentioned at the beginning, we find that in Ramadaan it becomes easy to good deeds. This is the coming in to play of the powerful force that is collectivity in thought and action as well as the effect of an environment. Islam recognises the powerful force of social pressure towards conformance and adherence. This is borne out by the famous saying of the Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) narrated by Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) about a man from the previous nations who killed ninety nine people and then desired forgiveness. It is a lengthy narration but the crux of the matter was that he was forgiven, because the advice given to him by a scholar to maintain his state of Taubah (repentance) was, ‘Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place’ (Hadith-Bukhari & Muslim) This movement towards the environment of righteousness was the deciding factor that secured his forgiveness. This highlights the great effect that company and/or environment can have on influencing the actions of individuals and in turn communities and societies. This is also corroborated by another saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) narrated by Abu Musa Al Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) wherein the similitude of good and bad company (environments) is likened to a person spending time in the company of a perfume seller and a blacksmith. The least one will benefit from the former is a pleasant scent (without buying) while the latter will cause one to obtain an unpleasant and foul smell and may even burn one’s clothing. (Hadith-Bukhari & Muslim) The concept of ‘every man for himself and God for all’ is alien to Islam. Islam promotes the idea that ‘the strength of the community lies in the strength of the individual and in turn the strength of the individual lies in the strength of the community’. That is why the encouragement towards good and the forbidding of evil has been made an individual and collective obligation. Upon closer perusal we will find that the formal acts of worship in Islam while, being ‘time and place’ specific, are also very social and communal with an emphasis on collectivity and public benefit. This can be seen in the institution of Salaah, Haj, Zakaat as well as in Ramadaan. Therefore in Ramadaan we find it easy to do more good because everyone is in the same frame of mind, understanding the magnitude that is the month of Ramadaan, as well as consciously making an effort practically to maximise this great opportunity to earn good. This in turn creates an environment that generates energy and buzz that is an impetus for all acts of Ibaadah (Worship) even for those of us who normally feel lazy and disinclined. Ramadaan presents an excellent opportunity for positive individual and collective change. The first step towards achieving this would be, not to limit our niyyah only to Ramadaan but to make the niyyah that Ramadaan be the beginning of change for us. Once we do so the next step would be to attach ourselves after Ramadaan to such people and environments where such A’amaal (practices) are in vogue that would enhance and maintain all that we had reaped in Ramadaan. If we spend one Ramadaan to the next Ramadaan for the balance of our lives in this manner then have no doubt that the time of meeting with Allah Jalla Wa A’ala (death) will be enjoyable to us as the joy we feel at the sighting of the crescent of Eidul Fitr...if not more!!! And the one who achieves this has fulfilled the purpose of creation and passed the test that is called ‘LIFE’ and is entitled to an eternal and everlasting life of bliss and happiness. EISLAM

A young girl was once walking along a road. After a while she sensed that she was being followed. She turned around to find a boy walking behind her. She asked him as to why he was following her. He replied that he loves her deeply and was infatuated with her extreme beauty. She said to him, “My beauty is nothing. My sister is walking behind and she is much more beautiful than me.” As soon as she said this, the boy turned around to look behind him. But as he turned to look, the girl gave him a tight slap and said to him, “Do you not have any shame? You claim to love me, but you turn your gaze towards someone other than me!!” Lesson: In the very same way, it should never be that we claim to love Allah Ta’ala but our hearts are inclined to the haraam fashions, lusts and temptations of this temporary world. The one in who’s heart the love of Allah Ta’ala has settled will never look in any other direction. Source

By Nakata Khaula Do Muslim Women Have Rights? Anyone whose sole source of knowledge about Islam has been the Western media, "knows" that Islam "oppresses" women. The hijab or veil, is the symbol of such "oppression." To "liberate" Muslim women from such "oppression" has been the cherished goal of media pundits, Western "experts" on Islam, and the feminists. Such is the result of a fierce propaganda campaign that has been going on for a very long time. The attack has been so ferocious that the veil and all the aspects of Shariah (Islamic laws) dealing with women should have pulverized under its intense heat. Yet in the U.S., the Western Europe, Japan and Australia, it is the women who have been turning to Islam in record numbers. It was not supposed to happen! And when it does, the propaganda machinery does not acknowledge it. It just puts a little more pressure on the accelerator. There is something to be said about the N.Y. Times or L.A. Times reporter who will travel half way around the world to interview a woman with a Muslim sounding name in, say, Pakistan to talk about the Shariah's injustices to the women, while ignoring the Muslim women in their own backyard who have experienced both worlds and love the Islamic one --- hijab and all. The reporter travels not in search of truth, but only believability. For, the truth hurts; believability, on the other hand, is the foundation for building circulation and for propaganda. Should not we listen to the woman who was raised and educated in the west, had first hand experience of the status of women in this society, then studied Islam and observed the life behind the veil, decided to cross the fence against all the propaganda about immediate doom, and has enjoyed life ever since? That woman does not exist in the propaganda world. She is never allowed to speak on the pages of "prestigious" publications. She has no rights! She is the one you should be listening to, to find the truth. She speaks on these pages. Listen to her. Note: This article was taken from the magazine Impact. Veil: The View From The Inside When I returned to Islam, the religion of our inborn nature, a fierce debate raged about girls observing the hijab at schools in France. It still does. The majority, it seemed, thought that wearing the head-scarf was contrary to the principle that public - that is state-funded - schools should be neutral with regard to religion. Even as a non-Muslim, I could not understand why there was such a fuss over such a small thing as a scarf on a Muslim student' s head. Muslims contributed a proportionate amount of tax to the state funds. In my opinion, schools could respect religious beliefs and practices of students as long as they did not disrupt the school routine, nor pose a threat to discipline. However, the French faced, apparently, increasing unemployment and they felt insecure about the immigration of Arab workers. The sight of the hijab in their towns and schools aggravated such insecurity. More and more young people in Arab countries were ( and are ) wearing the hijab, despite the expectations of many Arabs and non-Arabs alike that it would disappear as Western secularism took root in Arab societies. Such a revival of Islamic practices is often regarded as an attempt by Muslims to restore their pride and identity, both undermined by colonialism. In Japan, it may be seen and understood as conservative traditionalism, or the result of anti-Western feeling, something which the Japanese themselves experienced following the first contact with Western culture during the Meiji era; they too reacted against a non-traditional lifestyle and Western dress. There is a tendency for people to be conservative in their ways and to react against anything new and unfamiliar without taking the time to see if it is good or bad. The feeling still persists amongst non-Muslims that Muslim women wear the hijab simply because they are slaves to tradition, so much so that it is seen as a symbol of oppression. Women' s liberation and independence is, so they believe, impossible unless they first remove the hijab. Such naivete is shared by "Muslims" with little or no knowledge of Islam. Being so used to secularism and religious eclecticism, pick and mix, they are unable to comprehend that Islam is universal and eternal. This apart, women all over the world, non-Arabs, are embracing Islam and wearing the hijab as a religious requirement, not a misdirected sense of "tradition." I am but one example of such women. My hijab is not a part of my racial or traditional identity; it has no social or political significance; it is, purely and simply, my religious identity. For non-Muslims, the hijab not only covers a woman' s hair, but also hides something, leaving them no access. They are being excluded from something which they have taken for granted in secular society. I have worn the hijab since embracing Islam in Paris.The exact form of the hijab varies according to the country one is in, or the degree of the individual' s religious awareness. In France I wore a simple scarf which matched my dress and perched lightly on my head so that it was almost fashionable! Now, in Saudi Arabia, I wear an all-covering black cape; not even my eyes are visible. Thus, I have experienced the hijab from its simplest to its most complete form. What does the hijab mean to me? Although there have been many books and articles about the hijab, they always tend to be written from an outsider's point of view; I hope this will allow me to explain what I can observe from the inside, so to speak. When I decided to declare my Islam, I did not think whether I could pray five times a day or wear the hijab. Maybe I was scared that if I had given it serious thought I would have reached a negative conclusion, and that would affect my decision to become a Muslim. Until I visited the main mosque in Paris I had nothing to do with Islam; neither the prayers nor the hijab were familiar to me. In fact, both were unimaginable but my desire to be a Muslim was too strong (Alhamdulilah) for me to be overly concerned with what awaited me on the "other side" of my conversion. The benefits of observing hijab became clear to me following a lecture at the mosque when I kept my scarf on even after leaving the building. The lecture had filled me with such a previously unknown spiritual satisfaction that I simply did not want to remove it. Because of the cold weather, I did not attract too much attention but I did feel different, somehow purified and protected; I felt as if I was in Allah' s company. As a foreigner in Paris, I sometimes felt uneasy about being stared at by men. In my hijab I went unnoticed, protected from impolite stares. My hijab made me happy; it was both a sign of my obedience to Allah and a manifestation of my faith. I did not need to utter beliefs, the hijab stated them clearly for all to see, especially fellow Muslims, and thus it helped to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood in Islam. Wearing the hijab soon became spontaneous, albeit purely voluntary. No human being could force me to wear it; if they had, perhaps I would have rebelled and rejected it. However, the first Islamic book I read used very moderate language in this respect, saying that "Allah recommends it (the hijab) strongly" and since Islam (as the word itself indicates) means we are to obey Allah' s will I accomplished my Islamic duties willingly and without difficulty, Alhamdulilah. The hijab reminds people who see it that God exists, and it serves as a constant reminder to me that I should conduct myself as a Muslim. Just as police officers are more professionally aware while in uniform, so I had a stronger sense of being a Muslim wearing my hijab. Two weeks after my return to Islam, I went back to Japan for a family wedding and took the decision not to return to my studies in France; French literature had lost its appeal and the desire to study Arabic had replaced it. As a new Muslim with very little knowledge of Islam it was a big test for me to live in a small town in Japan completely isolated from Muslims. However, this isolation intensified my Islamic consciousness, and I knew that I was not alone as Allah was with me. I had to abandon many of my clothes and, with some help from a friend who knew dress- making, I made some pantaloons, similar to Pakistani dress. I was not bothered by the strange looks the people gave me! After six months in Japan, my desire to study Arabic grew so much that I decided to go to Cairo, where I knew someone. None of my host family there spoke English (or Japanese!) and the lady who took my hand to lead me into the house was covered from head to toe in black. Even her face was covered. Although this is now familiar to me here in Riyadh, I remember being surprised at the time, recalling an incident in France when I had seen such dress and thought, "there is a woman enslaved by Arabic tradition, unaware of real Islam," (which, I believed, taught that covering the face was not a necessity, but an ethnic tradition). I wanted to tell the lady in Cairo that she was exaggerating her dress, that it was unnatural and abnormal. Instead, I was told that my self-made dress was not suitable to go out in, something I disagreed with since I understood that it satisfied the requirements for a Muslimah. But, when in Rome . . . So I bought some cloth and made a long dress, called khimar, which covered the loins and the arms completely. I was even ready to cover my face, something most of the sisters with whom I became acquainted did. They were, though, a small minority in Cairo. Generally-speaking, young Egyptians, more or less fully westernized, kept their distance from women wearing khimar and called them "the sisters." Men treated us with respect and special politeness. Women wearing a khimar shared a sisterhood which lived up to the Prophet' s saying (Allah' s blessings and peace on him) that "a Muslim gives his salaam to the person he crosses in the street, whether he knows him or not." The sisters were, it is probably true to say, more conscious of their faith than those who wear scarves for the sake of custom, rather than for the sake of Allah. Before becoming a Muslimah, my preference was for active pants-style clothes, not the more feminine skirt, but the long dress I wore in Cairo pleased me; I felt elegant and more relaxed. In the western sense, black is a favorite color for evening wear as it accentuates the beauty of the wearer. My new sisters were truly beautiful in their black khimar, and a light akin to saintliness shone from their faces. Indeed, they are not unlike Roman Catholic nuns, something I noticed particularly when I had occasion to visit Paris soon after arriving in Saudi Arabia. I was in the same Metro carriage as a nun and I smiled at our similarity of dress. Hers was the symbol of her devotion to God, as is that of a Muslimah. I often wonder why people say nothing about the veil of the Catholic nun but criticize vehemently the veil of a Muslimah, regarding it as a symbol of` "terrorism" and "oppression." I did not mind abandoning colorful clothes in favor of black; in fact, I had always had a sense of longing for the religious lifestyle of a nun even before becoming a Muslimah! Nevertheless, I balked at the suggestion that I should wear my khimar back in Japan. I was angry at the sister' s lack of understanding: Islam commands us to cover our bodies, and as long as this is done, one may dress as desired. Every society has its own fashions and such long black clothes in Japan could make people think I am crazy, and reject Islam even before I could explain its teachings. Our argument revolved around this aspect. After another six months in Cairo, however, I was so accustomed to my long dress that I started to think that I would wear it on my return to Japan. My concession was that I had some dresses made in light colors, and some white khimars, in the belief that they would be less shocking in Japan than the black variety. I was right. The Japanese reacted rather well to my white khimars, and they seemed to be able to guess that I was of a religious persuasion. I heard one girl telling her friend that I was a Buddhist nun; how similar a Muslimah, a Buddhist nun and a Christian nun are! Once, on a train, the elderly man next to me asked why I was dressed in such unusual fashion. When I explained that I was a Muslimah and that Islam commands women to cover their bodies so as not to trouble men who are weak and unable to resist temptation, he seemed impressed. When he left the train he thanked me and said that he would have liked more time to speak to me about Islam. In this instance, the hijab prompted a discussion on Islam with a Japanese man who would not normally be accustomed to talking about religion. As in Cairo, the hijab acted as a means of identification between Muslims; I found myself on the way to a study circle wondering if I was on the right route when I saw a group of sisters wearing the hijab. We greeted each other with salaam and went on to the meeting together. My father was worried when I went out in long sleeves and a head-cover even in the hottest weather, but I found that my hijab protected me from the sun. Indeed, it was I who also felt uneasy looking at my younger sister' s legs while she wore short pants. I have often been embarrassed, even before declaring Islam, by the sight of a women' s bosoms and hips clearly outlined by tight, thin clothing. I felt as if I was seeing something secret. If such a sight embarrasses me, one of the same sex, it is not difficult to imagine the effect on men. In Islam, men and women are commanded to dress modestly and not be naked in public, even in all male or all female situations. It is clear that what is acceptable to be bared in society varies according to societal or individual understanding. For example, in Japan fifty years ago it was considered vulgar to swim in a swimming suit but now bikinis are the norm. If, however, a woman swam topless she would be regarded as shameless. To go topless on the south coast of France, however, is the norm. On some beaches in America, nudists lie as naked as the day they were born. If a nudist were to ask a "liberated" female who rejects the hijab why she still covers her bosoms and hips which are as natural as her hands and face could she give an honest answer? The definition of what part of a woman' s body should remain private to her is altered to suit the whims and fancies of either men or their surrogates, the so-called feminists. But in Islam we have no such problems: Allah has defined what may and may not be bared, and we follow. The way people walk around naked (or almost so), excreting or making love in public, robs them of the sense of shame and reduces them to the status of animals. In Japan, women only wear makeup when they go out and have little regard for how they look at home. In Islam a wife will try to look beautiful for her husband and her husband will try to look good for his wife. There is modesty even between husband and wife and this embellishes the relationship. Muslims are accused of being over-sensitive about the human body but the degree of sexual harassment which occurs these days justifies modest dress. Just as a short skirt can send the signal that the wearer is available to men, so the hijab signals, loud and clear: "I am forbidden for you." The Prophet, Allah's blessings and peace on him, once asked his daughter Fatima, May Allah be pleased with her, "What is the best for a woman?" And she replied: "Not to see men and not to be seen by them." The Prophet, Allah' s blessings and peace on him, was pleased and said: "You are truly my daughter." This shows that it is preferable for a woman to stay at home and avoid contact with male strangers as much as possible. Observing the hijab, when one goes outside, has the same effect. Having married, I left Japan for Saudi Arabia, where it is customary for the women to cover their face outdoors. I was impatient to try the niqab (face cover), and curious to know how it felt. Of course, non-Muslim women generally wear a black cloak, rather non-chalantly thrown over their shoulders but do not cover their faces; Non-Saudi Muslim women also often keep their faces uncovered. Once accustomed to, the niqab is certainly not inconvenient. In fact I felt like the owner of a secret masterpiece, a treasure which you can neither know about, nor see. Whereas non-Muslims may think they are life imitating caricatures when they see Muslim couples walk in the streets, the oppressed, and the oppressor, the possessed, and the possessor, the reality is that the women feel like queens being led by servants. My first niqab left my eyes uncovered. But in winter I wore a fine eye-covering as well. All the feelings of un-ease when a man's eyes met mine disappeared. As with sun glasses, the visual intrusion of strangers was prevented. It is an error of judgment to think that a Muslim woman covers herself because she is a private possession of her husband. In fact, she preserves her dignity and refuses to be possessed by strangers. It is non-Muslim (and "liberated" Muslim) women who are to be pitied for displaying their private self for all to see. Observing the hijab from outside, it is impossible to see what it hides. The gap, between being outside and looking in, and being inside and looking out, explains in part the void in the understanding of Islam. An outsider may see Islam as restricting Muslims. Inside, however, there is peace, freedom, and joy, which those who experience it have never known before. Practicing Muslims, whether those born in Muslim families or those returned to Islam, choose Islam rather than the illusory freedom of secular life. If it oppresses women, why are so many well-educated young women in Europe, America, Japan, Australia, indeed all over the world, abandoning "liberty" and "independence" and embracing Islam? A person blinded by prejudice may not see it, but a woman in hijab is as brightly beautiful as an angle, full of self-confidence, serenity, and dignity. No signs of oppression scar her face. "For indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts within the bosoms, that grow blind," says the Qur'an (Al-Hajj 22:46). How else can we explain the great gap in understanding between us and such people?

How beautifully explained! May Allah subhaanhau wata'ala grant us Ikhlaas, aameen!

Break your fast a few minutes early? by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) For many years, without fail, I have been giving an example in the month of Ramadaan, that at the end of a very, very hot and long day of Summer, a person is sitting at the dastarkhaan (table cloth), close to the time of Iftaar, waiting patiently to open his fast. There is just 3 minutes left for the setting of the sun when he is told: "Eat! .. , What difference will it make if you break your fast now? What is another 2 or 3 minutes? ... You have already stayed away from food and drink for almost 15 -~ 16 hours." Even if this happens to be the weakest Muslim, in respect to obeying Allah Ta'ala, he will respond: "It is the ruling of the Qur'aan and the Ahadith that I break my fast after the setting of the sun and not before that time. It is the command of Allah Ta'ala and I cannot disobey Him." The weakest person's Imaan becomes so strong at this stage of his fast, that he will not break his fast. He will refuse to break his fast, even if the world's great personalities have to say so. So we should question ourselves and also answer truthfully: Is it not the Hukm, the Command of that same Allah, to perform Salaah five times a day and for the men, in the Musijd, in Jamaat as far as possible? Is it not the Command of that same Allah to correctly discharge our Zakaah, perform Haj, treat our parents with love and respect, be faithful to our wives and treat them with compassion and vice versa for the wives, be honest in our business dealings and be kind and just to those under our authority?

"Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?" Lamartine, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277. "He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports." Bosworth Smith, MOHAMMAD AND MOHAMMADANISM, London, 1874, p. 92. "I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today." --G.B. Shaw,THE GENUINE ISLAM, Vol. 1, No. 81936. "But Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity. It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation. No other society has such a record of success uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavours so many and so various races of mankind . . . Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition. In its hands lies very largely the solution of the problem with which Europe is faced in its relation with East. If they unite, the hope of a peaceful issue is immeasurably enhanced. But if Europe, by rejecting the cooperation of Islam, throws it into the arms of its rivals, the issue can only be disastrous for both." --H.A.R.Gibb, WHITHER ISLAM, London, 1932, p. 379. "It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher." Annie Besant, THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD, Madras,1932, p. 4. "His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement – all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad." W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52. "In little more than a year he was actually the spiritual, nominal and temporal rule of Medina, with his hands on the lever that was to shake the world." John Austin, "Muhammad the Prophet of Allah," in T.P. 's and Cassel's Weekly for 24th September 1927. "Four years after the death of Justinian, A.D. 569, was born at Mecca, in Arabia the man who, of all men exercised the greatest influence upon the human race . . . Mohammed . . . " John William Draper, M.D., L.L.D., A History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, London 1875, Vol.1, pp.329-330 "My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level." Michael H. Hart, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p. 33. "History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated." --De Lacy O'Leary, ISLAM AT THE CROSSROADS, London, 1923, p. 8. "Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world." --Lectures on "The Ideals of Islam;" see SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF SAROJINI NAIDU, Madras, 1918, p. 167. "Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people..." HILLARY RODMAN CLINTON, Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1996, p.3 Already more than a billion-people strong, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. ABCNEWS, Abcnews.com "Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country." NEWSDAY, March 7, 1989, p.4 "Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States..." NEW YORK TIMES, Feb 21, 1989, p.1 Moslems are the world's fastest-growing group..." USA TODAY, The population referance bureau, Feb. 17, 1989, p.4A "Muhammed is the most successful of all Prophets and religious personalities. " Encyclopedia Britannica "Islam is the fastest growing religion in North America." TIMES MAGAZINE "Islam continues to grow in America, and no one can doubt that!" CNN, December 15, 1995 "The religion of Islam is growing faster than any other religion in the world." MIKE WALLACE, 60 MINUTES islaaminfo.co.za

RAMADAAN FOR WOMEN By Hafidha Rayhaanah Omar In her article, 'A Women's Guide to Spirituality in Ramadan during Menstruation and Postnatal Bleeding' Kanika Aggarwal states: "Our menstrual cycles (or postnatal bleeding) are a part of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's creation and something that is ordained by Him. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us in the Qur'aan that "He has created us in the best of moulds" [At-Teen 95:4]. We are also told that Allah has "appointed a due proportion" [At-Talaq65: 2-3] for everything and that "for every matter there is an appointed time given" [Ar-Rad:38]. Thus, to complain about it would be to question the Wisdom of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. This is not anything to feel sad or inconvenienced about, but rather it should be accepted as part of the Divine Wisdom. This same message was conveyed to us by Ayesha radi Allahu 'anha via the hadith of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Ayesha narrates that, "We set out with the sole intention of performing Hajj and when we reached Sarif, my menses began. The Messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam came to me while I was crying and asked, 'What is the matter with you? Has your menses started?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'This is something which Allah has destined for the daughter of Adam.'" [Al-Hakim] Whispered supplications: · Increase in Du'aa; this meritorious act is the essence of worshipping Allah subhaanahu wa Ta'ala. So often, we are occupied with tilaawatul Qur'aan, nafl / qadhaa salah, etc. – here is an amazing opportunity to connect to the Creator. I personally love to review the du'as of the pious'Ulamaa, especially the transcription of Mawlana Yunus Patel (rahmatullahi'alayh)'s du'as. Spiritual investments: · Do the adhkar (remembrance of Allah) for morning and evening narrated from the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), recite a short chapter a day from the Munaajate Maqbool, Hizbul Aazam, morning and evening du'aas, and salaat and sallam. During this time of the month, when mood swings are pretty much prevalent, we are gifted with special prescriptions that can settle us in calmness and peace: Dhikrullah. · Seek forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa Ta'ala by reciting abundant istighfaar throughout the day or night. Recite Durood Shareef upon Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) often. The virtues are tremendous, the benefits immense! · Set aside time to memorise Allah subhanahu wa Ta'ala's Names and their meanings. The hadeeth of Rasoolullah (sallalaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) should be motivation enough: "Indeed, Allah has 99 names; whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim] Use the Asmaa ul Husnaa' in making du'a to Him. If you have already memorised the Names, review and choose to teach them to one more person. · Remember to seek out Laylat ul-Qadr throughout the month and do not let even one night go by without making du`a'. · Learn or revisw one Sunnah a day and bring it alive into your life! · Read an authentic book on the seerah of Rasoolullah (sallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam); review your favourite – motivating or insightful - excerpts from an Islamic book. · Offer to listen to your spouse / child's dhor (if they are huffadh and preparing with their revision for salaatut-taraweeh). · Make tawbah (repentance) and shukr (gratitude). · Contemplate the creation of the heavens and the earth, as a result you will be considered among the people of understanding whom Allah mentioned in the Qur'aan. · Reflect about gratitude to Allah subhanahu wa Ta'ala, loving Him, fearing Him, hoping for His Mercy and longing to meet Him - by doing so, you would have achieved great acts of worship while you may be resting or reclining. Meal preparations: · Assist in the preparation of meals for those sitting in i'tikaaf. · Join a group of sisters in cooking iftaar for expectant mommies, boarding students / newcomers to your city, expatriate in the area, etc. and surprise them with a simple homemade. · Search out new reverts, those who are newly practicing or people disconnected from the community and invite them over for iftaar. Helping hands: · Offer to babysit for family members and neighours during Taraweeh so that they can pray with added khushu' · Volunteer your assistance to complete chores or errands for a needy widow · Assist the elderly in their visits to a doctor or general clinic · Play an active role at a local / regional orphanage or soup kitchen. · Work on co-ordinating a donation project of clothes, food, toys or money etc. · Find out who is sick in your area or in the local hospital and go visit them or offer to assist them with hospital admin / paper work. Eid preparations: · Get a head start on spring cleaning, laundry, Eid shopping etc. that needs to be done now, so that you can fully focus on fasting / salah/ tilaawatul Qur'aan post-haidh or nifaas. · Why not prepare and freeze some vegetables /food now so that meal preparations are easier during the last 10 days of Ramadaan? · Make Eid/Ramadan goodie bags for the orphans so that they feel loved and feel attached to the Ummah of Islam. P · lay an active role in co-ordinating a Ramadaan / Eid awareness programme at your local school / madrasah / workplace. Reflect on your Ramadhan goals: REVIEW - RENEW – REFRESH. Reflecting upon your goals and intentions for this month of spiritual transformation, for they are key components to your personal development and spiritual growth, especially beyond Ramadhan… "Beware of every hour and how it passes, and only spend it in the best possible way, do not neglect yourself, but render it accustomed to the noblest and best of actions, and send to your grave that which will please you when you arrive to it." [imam Ibn Al-Jawzee] EISLAM

In the books of Fiqh (Jurisprudence), the Fuqahā (Jurists) generally state the rulings for three types of fluids (discharges) experienced by women. They are as follows: Fluid produced in the Farj al-Khārij (Vulva-the external region of the vagina) Fluid produced in the Farj ad-Dākhil (Vagina) Fluid produced anywhere beyond the Farj ad-Dākhil (beyond the vagina) With regards to the first type of fluid, the Fuqahā state that any moisture produced in the Vulva is pure and does not invalidate Wudhū. Regarding the second type of fluid, there is a difference of opinion among the Fuqahā. Imām Abū Hanīfah Rahimahullāh states that fluid produced in the Farj ad-Dākhil (vagina) is pure and the discharge of such fluid does not nullify Wudhū. However, Imām Abū Yūsuf Rahimahullāh and Imām Muhammad Rahimahullāh are of the view that discharge produced in the vagina is impure and nullifies Wudhū. According to the principles of Iftā (giving Fatwā), the view of Imām Abū Hanīfah Rahimahullāh is the preferred view.[ii] Regarding the third type of discharge, the Fuqahā agree that discharge produced in any region beyond the Farj ad-Dākhil (vagina) is impure and nullifies Wudhu. This includes discharge produced in the uterus. According to medical research, the normal discharge experienced by women is produced in the vagina and at times it may be produced in the cervix.[iii] The difficulty and real challenge is to determine the purity or otherwise of a women’s discharge from the cervix. This depends much on the position and classification of the cervix: If the cervix is part of the vagina, then discharge produced in the cervix is pure and does not nullify Wudhū. If the cervix is part of the Uterus, then discharge produced in the cervix is impure and it nullifies Wudhū. If the cervix is neither part of the vagina nor part of the cervix, rather it is a region between the two, then discharge produced in the cervix is still impure and it nullifies Wudhū since it is in an area beyond the vagina. According to medical research, the cervix is part of the uterus and not part of the vagina.[iv] In support of this, we have come across the following reference: وَالْحَاصِلُ أَنَّ رُطُوبَةَ الْفَرْجِ ثَلَاثُ أَقْسَامٍ طَاهِرَةٌ قَطْعًا وَهِيَ مَا تَكُونُ فِي الْمَحَلِّ الَّذِي يَظْهَرُ عِنْدَ جُلُوسِهَا وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَجِبُ غَسْلُهُ فِي الْغُسْلِ وَالِاسْتِنْجَاءِ، وَنَجِسَةٌ قَطْعًا وَهِيَ مَا وَرَاءَ ذَكَرِ الْمُجَامِعِ، وَطَاهِرَةٌ عَلَى الْأَصَحِّ وَهِيَ مَا يَصِلُهُ ذَكَرُ الْمُجَامِعِ شَيْخُنَا اهـ بُجَيْرِمِيٌّ (حاشية الشرواني على تحفة المحتاج في شرح المنهاج، باب النجاسة وإزالتها) Translation: In essence, there are three types of female discharges. The first type is pure. This is discharge that is produced in the region that is visible when a female is in the sitting position. This is also the same region that needs to be washed during Ghusl and Istinjā (vulva). The second type of discharge is impure. This is discharge produced in a region that is beyond the area a man’s private part reaches during intercourse (cervix and uterus). The third type of discharge is pure according to the preferred view. This is discharge produced in the area a man’s private part reaches during intercourse (vagina). (Hāshiyah ash-Shirwānī) It is understood from the text of the second type of discharge that the cervix is beyond the vagina as the cervix is beyond the area of intercourse. Therefore, the fluid discharged from the cervix is considered impure and invalidates Wudhū. Based on the aforementioned explanation, if a female is certain that the discharge she is experiencing is produced only in the vagina then such discharge is pure and does not nullify Wudhū. However this ruling is applicable on condition the discharge is clear or white (normal color). If it is mixed with blood or discharge due to arousal (Madhi)[v] the Wudhu will be invalidated. However, if a female is unaware of the exact origin of her discharge (the vagina or the cervix), then she must renew her Wudhū and purify herself before Salāh. This is so because of the possibility the discharge may be from the cervix and thus impure. Note: The previous Fatāwā issued by the Darul Iftaa on normal vaginal discharge were concise and did not address the position and discharge of the cervix. The present finding on the location of the cervix and the discharge from there being impure is based on precaution. If any woman regarded the cervical discharge to be pure based on the previous concise Fatwā, and performed Salāh, her Salāh will remain valid. It should be borne in mind that the term precaution should not mean that there is flexibility on the issue and the discharge of the cervix could be pure. Often, the Fuqahā have issued official decrees based on Ihtiyāt (precaution). Therefore, as a matter of precaution, the official ruling of the discharge from the cervix is that it is impure. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. http://idealwoman.org/2013/clarification-and-laws-of-vaginal-discharge/

Dhakiyya Umm Ruqayya presents a practical guide for how to make polygamy work, drawn from personal experience Dhakiyya Umm Ruqayya is happily married and currently lives in Bahrain. Her co-wife is living nearby, and they have four children between them, aged between 5 months and 6 years. Dhakiyya plans to work as a literacy and English as a foreign language tutor and freelance writer. Polygamy is often seen as the end of a happy marriage, but it need not be that at all. Take it from me, I’m a happily married first wife and I’m friends with my co-wife, masha Allah; in fact she’s sitting in the same room as me as I’m typing this. Polygamy can work if the husband and both or all wives go about it in the right way. I have heard many horror stories about polygamy gone very wrong, and in all those cases, at least one person in the marriage was not following the Qur’an and Sunnah, usually the husband. Polygamy requires us to adhere to everything that Allah (SWT) has taught us about marriage, and to follow the example of Muhammad (SAW) and his wives (RA). This is the foundation upon which any marriage, monogamous or polygamous, is built, but with polygamy, it’s even more critical. Without this foundation, it isn’t going to succeed. While polygamy is frequently seen as benefiting the husband to the detriment of the wives, the reality is that it’s far more difficult for the husband. He has to not only fulfil the rights of both wives and support both families financially and emotionally, he has to juggle his time between them, settle any disputes and difficulties that arise, and all the while ensure that he’s being just and fair. The penalty for him failing to treat his wives equally is being raised up on the day of Judgement with half his body paralysed. The Qur’an strongly warns men that if they can’t be just between their wives, they are truly better off with only one. For men that take Islam seriously, polygamy is a huge and weighty responsibility and it’s an arduous task to get it right. Meanwhile, each wife has no more responsibility than a monogamously married wife, and in some cases (e.g. where the wives choose to share accommodation) they can end up with a lot less responsibility than monogamous wives, as they share the running of the household and help each other out with the children. Sharing love One of the biggest fears women have of polygamy comes from a misunderstanding about the nature of love. Love is seen as something finite which has to be shared between people, so if a man takes a second wife, it’s assumed that he must love his first wife less because of it. The truth is that love is infinite and does not need to be shared between people. Just as when a mother has a second child she still loves her first child as much as ever, when a man takes a second wife he still loves his first wife just as much. Good Muslim men who choose polygamy do so because they truly want to love and protect two or more women. If he really didn’t love the first, divorcing her then remarrying is a much easier option for him both financially and emotionally than having two wives. Sharing time What you share in polygamy is your husband’s time. Whether spending less time with your husband is a good thing or a bad thing depends on your outlook. Of course it’s natural to want to spend plenty of time with people you love, but we also need time for ourselves. On the days when he’s with his other wife, there is no benefit in sitting around missing him. Instead, treat it as a time for you, and a chance to enjoy things that married women find it hard to make time for. On your nights with him, you have a husband to share your bed with; on the other nights you get the whole bed to yourself and can snuggle up with a good book and have some “me time”. Plan your evenings when you’re not with him to do things that you enjoy, so you look forward to your evenings without him as much as your evenings with him. Co-wife rivalry Try not to see your co-wife as a rival. Instead, try to focus on strengthening your relationship with your husband. If you don’t feel secure in your relationship, then it’s only natural that you’d see the other wife as a threat. If you are sure of your relationship with your husband, then ask yourself why you feel threatened, and remind yourself of what you have. If your husband is going to love you and stand by you no matter what, then what can she take from you? A useful piece of advice I heard from a brother is “the insecurity of the first wife is that the second wife is her replacement and he doesn’t love her any more. The insecurity of the second wife is that the first wife is his first love and he’ll never love her as much as he loves his first.” This reminds us that the other wife has her own doubts, and to see clearly what we have instead. Look at why your husband loves you and try not to dwell on what he may or may not feel about her. No love triangles in Islam Focus on your relationship with your husband as a single entity, disconnected from his other marriage. Islamic polygamy is not a triangular relationship; his marriage with you and his marriage with your co-wife are two separate relationships. You are not obliged to have anything to do with your co-wife, but if the two of you choose to be friends, then that’s a third and discrete relationship. This means when you’re with him, the two of you need to act like the other wife doesn’t exist. Enjoy your time with your husband and do all the same things a monogamous couple would do together. If you are friends with your co-wife, don’t discuss your husband when you’re together, and spend time with her when he’s not around. Tackling jealousy Jealousy is best tackled by focusing on what you have. “Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of your own,” (anon). If you feel jealous about anything, ask yourself if it’s over something that you really want, or whether you desire it simply because your co-wife has it. If it’s the latter, then try to forget about it and remind yourself that you don’t actually want it. If it’s something you really want, then focus on how you can get it for yourself because you would like it, not because she has it. If it’s the relationship you’re jealous of, concentrate on building your own relationship with your husband as though she’s not in the picture. If you feel that he loves her more than you, then maybe he isn’t giving you enough attention or affection, and frame this as a problem in your own relationship that you need to talk to him about and resolve, rather than as a problem with your co-wife. These things won’t eliminate jealousy altogether, but they should minimise it. Remember that even ‘A’isha (RA) had times when she was jealous of Muhammad’s (SAW) other wives (RA), and even broke a plate because of it. When things go wrong If your husband is not dividing up his time fairly, or not fulfilling your rights in Islam then he is the guilty party so don’t blame your co-wife for this. This applies whether it’s something minor or very serious. Speak to him about the problem and tell him how you feel. If he’s a good husband, he’ll do something to rectify the situation. If he doesn’t and you’re having significant problems in your marriage because of it, then you need to go about dealing with it in the same way you would if you were monogamously married. Marriages fail either because one partner is not fulfilling the rights of the other (or worse, abusing the other), or because the two partners are not compatible. This is the same in monogamy and polygamy. Relationships fail sometimes in spite of one or both partners putting in their best efforts, and that’s why divorce is halal. Sometimes men try to fix a failing monogamous marriage by taking a second wife – in my opinion this is like trying to put out a fire in the living room by starting another fire in the kitchen. Other men want all the benefits of polygamy but refuse to accept any of the responsibility and end up treating their wives very badly. There are some situations where staying in a marriage is not in anyone’s best interests. If you find yourself in such a situation, then you do need to know when to call it a day. An important thing to remember is not to blame polygamy itself for the marriage failure. The failure is due to incompatibility, or one partner systematically failing to fulfil their responsibilities to the other. Polygamy, when done according to the Qur’an and Sunnah can work and indeed be beneficial to the wives, and it’s my opinion that it doesn’t need to be feared. We should fear Allah swt, and be good spouses to each other. We should remember to show our husbands our appreciation of them and all that they do for us, and they need to do the same for us. This is the key to a happy marriage, whether polygamous or monogamous. Insha Allah, by following the advice above, this happiness can be maintained in a polygamous marriage, despite the specific challenges this type of relationship may bring. sisters-magazine

THE BLESSINGS EXCLUSIVE TO THE MONTH OF RAMAḌĀN 1) The Devil is Shackled, the Gates of Hell are Shut, and the Gates of Paradise are Opened: Ramaḍān is distinguished in that during this month the devil is shackled and the doors of Hell are closed shut while the doors of Heaven are opened and countless numbers of people are salvaged from Hellfire daily during each breaking of the fast. It is related on the authority of Abū Hurayra (R.A) saying, “When it is the first night of Ramaḍān, the devils and the jinn are shackled and the doors of Hell are closed and not a single door of it is left open. While the doors of Heaven are opened and not a single one is kept shut. And a caller calls out, ‘O seeker of goodness come forward! O seeker of iniquity stay back! And God saves people from the Hellfire.” -Al-Mustadrak: vol.i/p.421. It is also reported on the authority of Jābir (R.A) saying that the Prophet (SAWS) said, “God saves people from the Hellfire at each breaking of the fast and the same each night,” -Sunan Ibn Māja: vol.i/Kitāb al-ṣiyām 7, Bāb 2/h.1643 meaning throughout the month of Ramaḍān. 2) The Multiplication of Reward for Good Deeds From among the other blessings specific to the month of Ramaḍān is the multiplication of the reward for good actions performed during this month. It is narrated on the authority of Salmān al-Fārisī (R.A) saying that the Messenger of God (SAWS) said, “…Who performs any type of good, it is as though he performed an obligatory act. Who performs an obligatory act, it is as though he performed seventy obligatory acts outside of [Ramaḍan].” -Kanz al-ʿummāl: vol. 8/h.23714 3) Prayers Are Answered Another blessing specific to this holy month is that prayers are answered in it. It is related on the authority of Abū Hurayra (R.A) saying that the Messenger of God (SAWS) said, “There are three whose prayers are not refused: the just ruler, the fasting person when he breaks his fast, and the prayer of the oppressed.” -Sunan al-Tirmidhī: vol.4/ Kitāb ṣifat al-janna 39, Bāb 2:h.2526 God the Exalted also says directly following the verses on fasting, “And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” -[al-Baqara:186] 4) The Entire State of the Fasting Person is One of Worship Another blessing specific to the fasting person is that the entire state of the fasting person is a state of fasting. Whether he refrains from excessive speech or whether he sleeps to gain strength to fast, he is in a state of worship. It is related on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh b. Abī Awfī al-Aslamī (R.A) saying, “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘The sleep of the one fasting is worship, his silence is remembrance (tasbīḥ) , his [good] acts are multiplied, his sins are forgiven, and his prayers are answered.” -Shuʿab al-Īmān li-al-Bayhaqī : vol.iii/ Bāb fī al-ṣiyām 23/h.3931 5) The Fasting Person is Granted Two Moments of Joy From the distinct blessings of the month of Ramaḍān is that the fasting person is granted two moments of joy: once when he breaks his fast and once when he meets his Lord. It is related on the authority of Abū Hurayra (R.A) saying, “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘…The fasting person has two [sources of] joy with which he is made happy. When he breaks his fast, he is made happy with the breaking of the fast and when he meets his Lord he is made happy by his fasting.” -Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: vol.ii/Kitāb al-ṣiyām 13, Bāb 30/h.163 6) There is Great Reward in Breaking the Fast of the Fasting Person Without Diminishing their Reward Another blessing that is specific to Ramaḍān is that God has reserved a great reward for the one who breaks the fast of a fasting person without decreasing the reward of the one who fasted. This is a form of honoring the person who fasted and this immense reward is established even if achieved through a simple offering such as water or a date. It is related on the authority of Salmān al-Fārisī (R.A) saying, “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘Who breaks the fast of the fasting person during Ramaḍān through lawful earnings, the angels will send prayers upon him for the rest of the nights of Ramaḍān. Jibrīl will greet him on the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) and the one who is greeted by Jibrīl has the tears in his eyes increase and his heart softens. A man said, ‘O Messenger of God (SAWS), what about a man who does not possess this [i.e. sufficient wealth to break the fast of others]?’ He said: ‘Then with a piece of bread.’ He said: ‘And what about one who does not have this?’ He said: ‘Then [with] a portion of food.’ He said: ‘And what about someone who does not have this?’ He said: ‘Then a bit of milk.’ He said: ‘And what about someone who does not have this?’ He said: ‘Then a sip of water.’” -Kanz al-ʿummāl : vol. viii/h. 23658 7) God has Bestowed Five Things on those Fasting from the Prophet’s (SAWS) Ummah that no other Ummah has been Bestowed From the amongst the blessings exclusively reserved for the month of Ramaḍān is what has been described in the hadith related on the authority of Jābir b. ʿAbd Allāh (R.A.) saying that “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘In the month of Ramaḍān, my community has been granted five [blessings] that no community before me has been given. First, during the first night of Ramaḍān God looks at them [i.e. the Muslims] and whoever God looks at will never be anguished. Second, the smell of their mouth as the day becomes later is more beautiful to God than the smell of musk. Third, the angels make repentance for them each day and night. Fourth, God commands His Paradise, “Prepare and ornament yourself for the believers. They have come close to becoming relieved of the fatigue of this world, and [moving] into My abode and bounty.” Fifth, they are forgiven in their entirety during the last night.’ A man then said, ‘Is this the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) ?’ He said: ‘No. Do you not see how it is when workers work? When they have completed their work they receive their wages.’” -Shuʿab al-Īmān li-al-Bayhaqī : vol.iii, Bāb fī al-ṣiyām 23/2603. 8) There is an Immense Reward for those Fasting on the Day of Judgment From amongst the favors granted to those fasting is the immense reward they will receive on the Day of Judgment. God has reserved for them a specific door through which they will enter Paradise known as al-Rayyān. Nobody else will be allowed to enter through this door before or after them as a demonstration of their rank and distinction. A caller will call out, “Where are those who used to fast?” And on that Day all will desire to be from amongst this elite group. The Messenger of God (SAWS) said describing this scene: “In Paradise there is a door called al-Rayyān through which those who used to fast will enter on the Day of Judgment. None other than them will [be allowed to] enter. It will be said: ‘Where are those who used to fast?’ They will rise and nobody other than them will enter. Once they have entered the door will shut and nobody else will be allowed to enter from it.” -Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: vol.ii/Kitāb al-ṣawm 36, Bāb 4/h.1797. http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-blessings-exclusive-to-month-of.html

A Golden Opportunity Before Iftar Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh During Ramaḍān we should routinely spend 10-15 minutes before the Adhān for Maghrib in Du‘ā. Each one of us has numerous spiritual, physical and material needs. Hence we should ask from Allāh ta'ālā during this period, for it is a time of acceptance. We should counsel ourselves that these moments are golden opportunities and if they slip away we may never get another chance! (from muftisays.com)