The Greatest of Losses

Bismillah,

Assalamu alaykum,

Something I’m sure everyone can find benefit in: (I found it on this blog www.tawheedfirst.wordpress.com)

“Know that the greatest of losses is for you to be preoccupied with one who will bring you nothing but a loss in your time with Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – and being cut off from Him; wasting your time with the person, a weakening of your energy, and the dispersing of your resolve. So, if you are tested with this – and you must be tested with this – deal with him according to how Allah would wish, and be patient with him as much as possible. Get closer to Allah and His Pleasure by way of this person, and make your getting together with him something to benefit from, not something to incur a loss from. Be with him as if you are a man who is on a road who was stopped by another man, who then asks you to take him on your journey. Make sure that you are the one who gives him a ride, and that he is not the one giving you the ride. If he refuses, and there is nothing to gain from travelling with him, do not stop for him, bid him farewell, and do not even turn back to look at him, as he is a highway robber, regardless of who he really is.

So, save your heart, be wary of how you spend your days and nights, and do not let the Sun set before you arrive at your destination.”

Ibn al-Qayyim; ‘al-Wabil as-Sayyib’

Eid Al Adha Mubarak! (10th of Dhul Hijjah, 1430/2009)

Eid Mubarak I am wishing you a blessed and joyous Eid-ul-Adha

تقبل الله مننا و منكم

Taqabbala Allaah minna wa minkum (May Allaah accept (good deeds) from us and from you

In al-Musnad it is narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days on which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allaah than on these ten days, so recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah), Takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar) and Tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillaah),”

اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ اكبر

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great, Allah is Great

اللّهُ أكبر

Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great

لا إلَهَ الا اللّه

La illaha il Allah
there is no God, but Allah

اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ اكبر

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great, Allah is Great

و لِلّه الحمدَ

walilahil Hamd
to Him belongs all Praise

Fasting on the day of Arafat

 

Fasting on the day of Arafat is a true blessing and a means of great forgiveness for all who undertakes it and there is no doubt that we should all try our best to fast on this blessed day which is Tomorrow (Thursday the 26th November 2009)

The Prophet (saw) says: “Be content with the fact that Allah will expiate for your sins for a whole year before the day of Arafat and the year after the day of Arafat”! [Saheeh Muslim]

“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels saying, ‘What do these people want?’” [Saheeh Muslim]

However whoever is at Arafat as a pilgrim then fasting is not expected of him as the Prophet (SAW) stopped at Arafat to eat.

Glorifying Allâh with Takbîr: (Takbîr al-Muqayyid):

From the day of Arafat until the Asr prayer of the 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah, one should make Takbîr after every obligatory Salât. Ibn Abî Shaybah relates that Alî (RA) used to make the Takbîr beginning after the Fajr prayer on the day of Arafat, until after the Asr prayer on the last day of at-Tashrîq. [(Sahîh) by Shaikh al-Albanî in al-Irwa. Related by Ibn Abî Shaybah in al-Musannaf]

Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said:

“The most correct saying concerning the Takbîr – that which the majority of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors), and the Scholars from the Companions and Imams were upon – is to begin making the Takbîr from Fajr (dawn) on the day of Arafat up until the last day of at-Tashrîq (the thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah), after every Prayer.” [Majmû al-Fatawa (24/220)]

Read more about the virtues of Yawmul Arafah here:

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/7284

The first 10 days of Dhu’l-Hijjah

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.” They said: O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad for the sake of Allaah? The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out with his self and his wealth and comes back with neither.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (969) and al-Tirmidhi (757), from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him).

The Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allaah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following deeds:
1 – Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which Allaah has chosen for Himself as it says in the hadeeth qudsi: “Allaah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1805.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462.
2 – Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great deal
It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allaah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allaah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allaah…

On Nov.18, the 10 days beginn?‏

 

You are probably familiar with the last ten nights of Ramadan, and how virtuous those nights are? Yes.

Well, let me introduce to 10 days that are MORE virtuous, yet many people are not aware of it. It’s the ten days of the Islamic calendar month of Dhul-Hijjah (which starts on Nov.18)

Dhul-Hijjah (the Month of Hajj) is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. It is during this month that Hajj takes place.

According to Rasul Allah, sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the first ten days of this month are a special time for worship and an increase of good deeds.

Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “There is no day more honorable in Allaah’s sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)”

In particular, the 9th day of the month marks the day of Arafah, and the 10th day is Eid. Even if you are not traveling for Hajj, you can still put in extra effort to do more good deeds.

What sort of extra good deeds can you do?

*****************************************

1. Fasting these 10 days

2. Giving more charity during these 10 days

3. Say the “Eid” Takbeers loudly wherever you go. (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illa Allah. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Walillaahil hamd.)

4. Try to pray more prayers in the Masjid

5. Increase ties of kinship (visit family, say kind words to them, etc.)

6. Perform more voluntary prayers at home

7. Read more Quran, contemplating the meanings

8. Do more Dhikr

9. Ask for forgiveness more frequently

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!

- Muhammad Alshareef

www.SuccessinIslam.com

What After Ramadan?

Adapted from “Wa maadha ba`da Ramadaan”, by Dar Al-Watan (120)

AlHamdulillahi wa kafaa, was-Salatu was-salamu `alaa `ibaadihi-lladheena Stafaa

We leave the blessed month of Ramadan, its beautiful days and its fragrant nights. We leave the month of the Qur’an, taqwa, patience, jihad, mercy, forgiveness and freedom from hellfire…

Have we fulfilled the requirements of taqwa and graduated from the Ramadan school with the diploma of the god-fearing?

Have we fought our souls and desires and defeated them, or have we been overtaken by our customs and blind imitations?

Have we performed our actions in a way that fulfills the conditions for receiving mercy, forgiveness and release from the Fire?

Many questions and numerous thoughts come to the heart of the sincere Muslim, who asks and answers with truthfulness.

What Have We Gained From Ramadan?

Ramadan is a school of iman and a ’stop to recharge one’s spiritual batteries’ – to acquire one’s provision for the rest of the year…

Should he start with the six days of Shawwaal before making up missed fasts, if there are not enough days left?

Is it permissible to fast the six days of Shawwaal before making up days that I did not fast in Ramadaan, if there is not enough time left in the month to do both? May Allaah reward you with good.

Praise be to Allaah.
Fasting six days of Shawwaal is dependent upon having completed the Ramadaan fast, according to the correct view. This is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted a lifetime.” Narrated by Muslim, 1164.
The conjunction thumma (then) indicates that this must be done in this order. This indicates that the fast of Ramadaan must be completed first (by observing the Ramadaan fast and making up any missed fasts), then after that one may fast the six days of Shawwaal, so as to attain the reward mentioned in the hadeeth.

EID MUBARAK!!-Eid ul Fitr 2009

EID MUBARAK!!

TaqabalAllahu Minna wa Minkum.

”May Allah accept your (good works) and ours.”

May Allah accept our Ramadan, guide us to continue striving to do the good deeds and worship all year round, and bless us to see another Ramadan. Ameen

Eid 101: Watch this Quick Refresher …

Here’s a quick flash presentation that I made that’ll remind you of the sunnats to do on Eid.

You might already know this stuff, but it’s something really beneficial to share with family members, extended family and friends.

www.FiqhFlash.com >> Eid 101
Taken from – Muhammad Alshareef

What if Laylatul-Qadr is tonight?

Subhan Allah 27 days of a Month of mercy and blessings has passed us by already ,and now we’re still in the last 10 days of Ramadan so let us make the most of these precious few days by asking Allah to accept our good deeds and rush in doing good deeds, and asking him to pardon our sins specially in the nights of Ramadan..

Because who knows when truly Lailatul Qadr will fall but Allah Subhana’Wa Ta’ala.

”A reminder for you and I: WHAT IF!!! Laylatul Qadr is tonight? Will we be ready? I want to take advantage of every night of the last ten nights! It’s too precious – the reward of 1000 months is too great!
With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef www.PostRamadan.com”

Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’ ”

- Meaning of the Dua
O Allah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.

- This Dua is taken from the following Hadith

Aisha radhiya Allahu `anha, that she said: “O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?” He said.- “Say.- (Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.)

“O Allah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.”. [at-Tirmithi and Ibn Majah with a Sahih Isnad]