Ramadan 2011: Some Do’s and Don’t's

DO…	make intention before the start of each fast.	This is obligatory
DO…	take suhoor (the meal before fasting starts). The difference between the fast of a Muslim and the fast of others is the taking of suhoor (from Muslim)	This is recommended
DO…	delay the suhoor to as close to Fajr as possible.	This is recommended
DO…	hasten to break the fast at Maghrib time	This is recommended
DO…	try to break your fast with dates, as this is a sunnah. If dates aren’t available, break your fast with water	This is recommended
DO…	make a dua at the time of breaking the fast, eg. ‘O Allah, for you I have fasted and on Your Provision I have broken the fast’ [Abu Dawud]‘The thirst is gone, the veins are moisten and the reward is certain, insha’Allah’ [Au Dawud]‘Indeed there is for the fasting person, when he breaks his fast, a supplication which is not rejected.’ [Ibn Majah, al-Hakim]	This is recommended
DO…	Use a miswak during fasting, as this is sunnah	This is recommended
DO…	Exercise patience
DO…	Ask Allah for His Mercy and Forgiveness
DO…	Engage in Islamic acts of worship and good, eg. Give in charity, be good to your neighbour, show good character
DO…	Read the Qur’anThe Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘The best among you is he who learns the Holy Qur’an and teaches it.’	From Bukhari & Muslim
DO…	Increase your Islamic knowledge
DO…	Get rid of any innovated practices from your habits
DO…	Make dua to Allah frequently during the day and night
DO…	Be generous‘The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the most generous of men and he was the most generous during Ramadan when Jibreel would visit him every night and recite the Holy Qur’an to him.’	From Bukhari & Muslim
DO…	Provide something to a person who is fasting, to break his fast‘He who provides something to the observer of fast for breaking the fast earns the same reward as the one who observes the fast, without diminishing.’	From Ahmad & Tirmidhi
DO…	Pray the night prayer
DO…	Practice I’tikaf (seclusion in the masjid) in the last 10 days of RamadanAishah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to perform I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah the Mighty and Majestic, took away his life, then his wives  followed this practice after him.’	From Bukhari & Muuslim
DO…	Seek Laylatul Qadr in the last 10 days of Ramadan
DO…	Give your Zakat-ul-Fitr before Eid	This is obligatory
DON’T…	Deliberately eat anything during the fast, unless you are not physically able to complete the fast . You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Deliberately drink anything during the fast, unless you are not physically able to complete the fast. You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Deliberatley engage in sexual intercourse during the fast. You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	lie	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Slander	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Backbite	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Swear or use other bad language	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Raise your voice or argue	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Engage in indecent actions	From Bukhari
DON’T…	Forget that if you are travelling, you have the option to not fast and make up for that fast later on.Aisha reported that Hamzah Ibn Amr Al-Aslamee (ra) asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah (pbuh) I am a person who fasts often, so should I fast while travelling?’ Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) replied, ‘Fast if you wish and refrain from fasting if you wish.’	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Fast if you are on your menstrual cycle (women). You must make up for this fast later
DON’T…	Deliberately make yourself vomit	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Take injections  or drugs that are used instead of food	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Delay breaking your fast
DON’T…	Smoke or take drugs
DON’T…	Worry about the following: swallowing saliva, putting on perfume, gargling water in your mouth and nose for things like cleaning and wudhu, putting eye drops in your eyes putting kohl on eyelashes having a bath/shower tasting food whilst cooking (as long as nothing goes down the throat) bleeding (unless it is menstrual)	These acts do not break the fast
DON’T…	Fast on Eid
DON’T…	Forget that if you are very ill, you are excused from fasting and can make up the fast later or give fidyah (a compensation to feed people)
DON’T…	Forget that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you do not need to fast, although you can if you feel able to and it won’t harm the baby.
DON’T…	Worry, it is not a sin to not perform taraweeh. However, praying is of great benefit

Stand Up 4 Islam!

Other Ramadan Posts:

Ramadan 2011: Make a change in this month of fasting

Ramadan 2011: The significance and benefits of Fasting & Ramadan

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Ramadan 2011: The significance and benefits of Fasting & Ramadan

Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar. It is during this month that the Shayateen are locked away in chains, that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed and Laylat-ul-Qadr is to be found:

‘The month of Ramadan, in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the  criterion (between what is right and wrong)’ Surat Al-Baqarah v185

‘Verily! We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than one thousand months..’ Surat Al-Qadr, v1-3

‘When the month of Ramadan arrives, the doors of Heaven are opened, the doors of Hell are closed and the devils put under chains.’ [Bukhari and Muslim]

Benefits of Fasting and Ramadan

Allah Commanded us to fast. It’s the one deed that is purely for Allah alone. And the benefits of fasting are many:

The Prophet (pbuh) said that Allah said: ‘The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from hell), and there are two moments of pleasure (moments of happiness or joys) for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah’s Sight than the smell of musk.’ [Bukhari]

Allah declared: ‘O you have believed! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious).’ Surat Al-Baqarah v183

‘Whoever observes (fasts) during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.’ [Bukhari & Muslim]

Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” [Sahih Muslim]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadaan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” [Ahmad]

‘Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said: My nation is given 5 privileges in the month of Ramadan that no nation was given before:

• The khaloof (odour of the mouth of a fasting person) is sweeter in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk
• The angels keep praying to Allah to forgive the fasting people until they break their fast
• Allah decorates Paradise every day saying to it ‘My righteous slaves are about to be comforted of their burdens and sufferings and enter you’
• The Shayateen are chained during this month
• Sins of the believers are forgiven  by the last night of Ramadan. [Muslim]

Stand Up 4 Islam!

Other Ramadan Posts:

Ramadan 2011: Make a change in this month of fasting

Ramadan 2011: Some Do’s and Don’t's

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Ramadan 2011: Make a change in this month of Fasting

Another Ramadan is on us, Alhamdulillah. The timetables are distributed, food is being prepared. We get the duas out, the Qur’ans, the nasheeds and qiraats. We know our routines, so let’s not spend this post discussing that. Instead, let’s look at what’s going to change. Change? What do you mean ‘change’?

Ramadan is a Blessed Month; one where we can get into new and good habits, get rid of bad habits and move the ummah forward. It’s not just about doing some extras for one month and then back to our old ways. Ramadan cleanses you, increases your imaan and should mean that you come out stronger than when you started.

Get a Boost in the Sacred Months, and beyond!

Have you ever stepped back and tried to realise how much Allah is Helping us?

Allah is Helping us constantly, in ways we cannot imagine and to the extent that we cannot count what He Has Done for us. So let’s heed this Help, let’s start to build up our Imaan (level of faith) and keep it rising. We are now half way through the month of Shawwal (at the time of writing) and it’s probably a good time to just have a look at what our journey is and has been and could be.

Sha’ban
In the month of Sha’ban, in the run up to Ramadan, we are encouraged by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to do voluntary fasts. And remember that fasting is not just about refraining from food and drink etc – it’s about increasing your faith/Imaan, improving your state, being a better Muslim, praying more, worshipping Allah more, learning your deen more. So whenever fasting is mentioned, it always means more.

Aisha (ra) narrated “..I never witnessed Rasoolullah, salallahu alaihi wa sallam, fasting for a whole month except Ramadaan and did not witness him fasting in any month more than the month of Sha’ban” [Bukhari]

Anyway, getting back to the point.

Rajab – one of the sacred months
Voluntary fasting is especially encouraged during the four sacred months. Rajab is one of these four sacred months. So imagine if you were to do some fasting in the month of Rajab – you could do a few or even more than that. By doing this, insha’Allah your Imaan would rise. But doing good deeds is not restricted to just fasting – there are much more that you can do, such as reading Qur’an, remembering Allah, contemplating on Islam, learning the deen, improving your character, and so on.

Sha’ban
Then after Rajab, comes Sha’ban. As said above, we are encouraged to fast in the month of Sha’ban – this is good discipline for Ramadaan but, again, also builds up your Imaan/faith. Again, other forms of worship are good too.

Ramadan
The comes Ramadan and I think all Muslims are aware of this being an obligation – even non-Muslims are aware that this is an important time for Muslims and Islam. I touched on some of the benefits of fasting in Ramadan in my other post: http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/always-ramadan/. Needless to say that after a whole month of fasting and engaging in worship, Ramadan should be leaving its mark on us. If it isn’t, then this is something we probably all want to reflect on.

Shawwal
After Ramadaan, comes Shawwal and it is commonly known about fasting the 6 voluntary fasts in this month. (Note that it is not necessary to fast the six fasts continuously or immediately after Eid – the fasts can be kept as your convenience, at any time during the month of Shawwal).

Abu Ayub al-Ansari (ra) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The one who observes the six fasts of Shawwal after (having fasted throughout) Ramadan has, as if, fasted throughout the year.” [Muslim]

So after a month of fasting, we are encouraged by Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him) to continue fasting – at least six! Not much to ask, is it? But what’s the gain? Again, by the Grace and Will of Allah, Muslims can benefit by raising their Imaan and becoming more pleasing in the Sight of Allah.

Are we seeing a pattern here? Allah Wants only the Best for us!

Dhul-Qa’dah – one of the sacred months
After Shawwal comes Dhul-Qa’dah – another of the four Sacred Months. Again, we are encouraged to do good deeds and fast during this month – this has benefit in that it prepares us for Hajj, subhan’Allah! And those who are not going on Hajj can also benefit from doing ibaadat during this month. It should be noted that the blessings/rewards of good deeds are multiplied in this month.

Dhul-Hijjah – one of the sacred months
Following Dhul-Qa’dah comes another sacred month – the month of Hajj! And what a sacred month that is! Those who do not go on Hajj can benefit from fasting the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, until Eid-ul-Adha. Those who go on Hajj; there are so many blessing contained within this act, one of which, if your Hajj is accepted by Allah, is to return with ALL your sins wiped away from you – you start again with a clean slate! Subhan’Allah!

Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Good deeds performed on other days are not superior to those performed on these (first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah).” [Bukhari]

Muharram – one of the sacred months
Dhul-Hijjah signifies the end of the Islamic year. Then the new Islamic year begins with Muharram, another sacred month. Again, this is another time for Muslims to engage in doing deeds that are multiplied in reward and blessings.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The best of fasts beside the month of Ramadan is the fasting of Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of salat beside the fardh (compulsory) salat is the tahajjud salat.” [Muslim]

Fasting on the 9th and 11th of Muharram, or the 10th and 11th of Muharram is a great virtue. But so is praying so do not restrict your ibadaat to fasting only.

After Muharram come the months of Safar, Rabi-ul-Awwal and Rabi-ut-Thani.

The lesson?
From Rajab onwards, for a nine month period, there are specific times where Muslims are encouraged to worship more, increase in deen and Imaan and improve their state. Needless to say that Muslims are encouraged to do good throughout the year but it’s important to see that Allah Has Put in Place steps which encourages us to do good continuously – to be consistent in our worship – and this can only lead to more good things happening to us! The sacred months have been placed in such a way as to keep Muslims consistent, to keep on gently pushing them to do good deed and refrain from sins. It is also worth noting that sins in the sacred months are heavier than in other months.

This kind of consistency will help build Imaan, insha’Allah. So take advantage of it! Imagine what you could do for Islam, if you were stronger in faith. Imagine what everyone could do together, as an Ummah, if we were all stronger in faith.

Allah Has Put Things in Place to Help us. So Muslims, help yourselves and take advantage of these blessings and motivations.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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Always Ramadan

Ramadan 1431 AH (2010 CE) – What a Blessed Month!

It’s not just been a month of fasting, abstaining from food and drink. It’s much more than that. It’s about being disciplined, being able to fortify yourself against temptations, against bad behaviour; giving in charity – even a smile is charity; and reflecting and having gratitude for the things that we have and own in this world; reflecting about those less fortunate than us, whom when the fasting stops, their hardships don’t. And it’s about reflecting upon deen, worshipping Allah, subhana wa ta’ala, doing good deeds, performing more prayers, frequenting the masaajid, reading the Qur’an, learning about Islam, strengthening the brotherhood and sisterhood and growing in Imaan (faith).

Read the above paragraph again and just let it sink in how much blessings there are in the month of Ramadan. Not only that, Allah Has Helped us by chaining the Jinn/Devils/Shayateen, so that we suffer less from their whispers.

Oh, what a blessed month of Ramadan!

And then, not only that, but Allah Gave us Lailat-ul-Qadr, the night which is better than a thousand months. Many Muslims worshipped during this night, which is to be found on one of the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. How many Muslims, who don’t normally pray, read Qur’an, visit the masjid, turned towards Allah during Ramadan, and especially during the last 10 days? Insha’Allah, millions!

Oh, what a blessed month of Ramadan!

I’ve spoken with a few Muslims and there seems to be one underlying thing they are all saying… This Ramadan has been so good for them – Subhan’Allah! I’ve noticed a difference with myself as well. I feel like I’ve benefited from this Ramadan to a degree that I haven’t felt for quite some time – Alhamdulillah! I’ve felt my Imaan solidify and I’ve started to do things, in worship, that I hadn’t done before – Allahu Akbar! I’ve started to strengthen those things that I have been doing – masha’Allah!

And I know I’m not alone. I know that there are others who feel the same. Everyone is at a different level of Imaan (faith) but I feel that so many Muslims have had their Imaan RISE during Ramadan. Oh my Brothers and Sisters, do you feel it as I do? Do you feel invigorated and stronger as a Muslim? Do you feel that you are leaving Ramadan at a higher level of Imaan than when you entered Ramadan? Insha’Allah you do!

One of the real benefits of Ramadan is that you enter at one level of Imaan (faith) and come out of Ramadan at a higher level of Imaan. After 29 or 30 days of fasting, of our bodies getting used to a more disciplined routine, of ourselves learning to not desire after food, drink, and other ‘luxuries’, we have conditioned ourselves and proven to ourselves that we are not as weak as we thought, that the things that Shaytaan whispered to us (about leaving off prayer, delaying good deeds, about giving up on Islam) are absolutely not true at all. We are Muslims and we have been through Ramadan!! And we come out of Ramadan as Muslims!! Not weakened, apologetics, looking for excuses to fall back into our bad habits. Not people who cannot find time to pray. Not people who cannot do good deeds.

We have proven to ourselves that we can worship more! And it didn’t really cost us anything – just a little time. It didn’t burden us with anything – just a little effort. How many Muslims around the entire world, worshipped more during Ramadan?

Insha’Allah, Millions!

So we have actually proven to ourselves that we can be better Muslims, we can please Allah more, we can start to pray or pray more, we can start to wear hijaab more, we can stop smoking, we can stop the drinking, we can stop the backbiting, we can stop listening to haraam music, we can stop following the idols of the world (the pop stars, the footballers, the non-Muslim role models). We can do all these things, and STILL deal with the pursuits of everyday life. We can see where our priorities lie!

And that’s where the danger is now. And it’s coming to us fast.

Oh Muslims, now that Ramadan is coming to an end, what will you do after EID? Are you going to make excuses to yourself, listen to the Shaytaan and go back to your old ways? Or are you going to carry on with the new things you have done, the better routine you have followed for the past month?

Don’t let Shaytaan fool you! Don’t let him convince you that you’ve completed Ramadan, so there’s now no need to visit the masjid, no need to pray, no need to cover up your modesty.

Stay true to what you have been doing for the past month of Ramadan. And reap the rewards of it.

Many a non-Muslim are amazed that we fast! Our fasting is not like any other – the non-Muslims are amazed by it. “How do you manage it?”, they say. “I couldn’t last for a day like that!” they say. Look at how much respect you have earned, just from the month of Ramadan. These people actually respect Muslims who hold fast to their deen because it is something that they do not do – even if they despise us for it! Don’t get me wrong, we are not in it to win over the non-Muslims – Ramadan is for Allah, subhana wa ta’ala. But surely you can SEE the ways in which you have benefited over Ramadan??

Oh my brothers and sisters, the days that follow Ramadan are the TEST! Will you carry on or will you just fade back to the shadows of duniya? Shaytaan wants you to and he will be working round the clock to get you to stop praying, stop worshipping, stop pleasing Allah. Don’t fall into the trap of these whispers. The shaytaan is pathetic and has NO POWER over you – the best he can do is whisper – that’s it! Nothing more!

Are you going to be beaten by whispers? No, insha’Allah, NO!

Hold firm to your deen, start to build on what you have done in Ramadan, hold fast to these good habits until you reach the next Ramadan – and then see how you will fly insha’Allah after a few years; see how the Ummah will strengthen after you have done this! If you don’t want the world to be messing with the Muslims, dictating their deen to you – then BUILD UP YOUR STRENGTH NOW! You have already begun down this road through Ramadan. You’ve proven to yourself that you can EASILY do better.

Start to form relationships with practising brothers and sisters – draw on their strength to build your own. Don’t waste your Ramadan! Use opportunities like the six fasts of Shawwal, establish your prayer – Oh Muslims, there is no deed more crucial to you than prayer. Without it, a Muslim is nothing. Establish your prayer, then establish your sunnah, then establish your nawafil. Build on these things. Perform voluntary fasts, so that you are never too far away from Ramadan. The best fast, outside of Ramadan, was that of the Prophet Dawud (alaihi salaam), who fasted one day and left one day, fasted one day and left one day, and so on.

Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-As narrated: Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) said to me “The most beloved fasting to Allah was the fasting of the Prophet Dawud, who used to fast alternate days. And the most beloved prayer to Allah was the prayer of Dawud, who used to sleep the first half of the night, and pray for one third of it and again sleep for a sixth of it.’” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on Monday and Thursday. On being asked about that the Prophet said: “Deeds are presented on every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim or every believer, except for those who are forsaking each other. He says [about them]: ‘Leave them.’ ” (Reported by Ahmad with authentic chain of narrators)

Brothers and sisters, these are just a few suggestions on how to increase your Imaan following Ramadan. Find a way to keep your Imaan high. The higher our Imaan, the higher the Imaan of the Ummah. Imagine an Ummah with Millions of STRONG Muslims, with STRONG Imaan.

Grow from this, learn, become closer as an Ummah.

This could be the start of you Standing Up 4 Islam!

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Brothers and sisters, please add comments on how you have benefited from Ramadan. This will help other, who read, to gain confidence and grow in Imaan, knowing how other brothers and sisters feel.

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Jazak’Allah

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