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The Inner Secrets Of Fasting

Know, that in the fast (Sawm) is a special quality that is not found in anything else. And that is its close connection to Allah, such that He says:

‘‘The Fast (Sawm) is for Me and I will reward for it.’’

This connection is enough to show the high status of fasting. Similarly, the Ka’bah is highly dignified due to its close connection to Him, as occurs in His statement:

‘‘And sanctify My House.’’

Indeed, the fast is an excellent act of worship due to two significant reasons:

· It is a secret and hidden action, thus, no one from the creation is able to see it; therefore riya‘ (showing off) cannot enter it.

· It is a means of subjugating the enemies of Allah. This is because the road that the enemies (of Allah) embark upon (in order to misguide the son of Adam) is that of desires. And eating and drinking strengthens the desires. There are many Prophetic traditions that indicate the merits of fasting, and they are well-known

Recommended acts of fasting
The pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and delaying in taking it are preferable, as well as hastening to break the fast and doing so with dates. Generosity in giving in charity is also recommended during Ramadan, as well as doing good deeds and giving more and more in charity. This is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

It is also recommended to study the Qur‘an and perform I‘tikaf (seclusion for worship) during Ramadan, especially in its last 10 days, as well as exerting in doing good deeds in it. In the two Saheehs, ’Aa‘isha said: ‘‘When the last 10 days (of Ramadan) would come, the Prophet would grid up his loins’’

The scholars have mentioned two views concerning the meaning of ‘girding up his lions.’ The first is that it means the turning away from women.

The second is that it is an expression denoting his eagerness and diligence in doing good deed. They also say that the reason for his making an extra effort the last 10 days of Ramadan was due to his seeking of the Night of al-Qadr (Laylatul-Qadr).

Inner secrets of fasting
There are three levels of fasting, the general fast, the specific fast and the more specific fast. As for the general fast, it is the restraining of one’s stomach and private parts from fulfilling their desires.

The specific fast is the refraining of ones gaze, tongue, hands, feet, hearing and eyes, as well as the rest of one’s body parts from committing sinful acts. As for the more specific fast, it is the heart’s abstention from its yearning for the worldly objects and the thoughts which distance one away from Allah, as well as its (the heart’s) abstention from all the things that Allah has placed at the same level.

Among the characteristics of the specific fast is that one lowers his gaze and safeguards his tongue from the repulsive speech that is forbidden, disliked, or which has no benefit, as well as controlling the rest of his body parts. As is mentioned in a Hadith by Al-Bukhari: ‘‘Whosoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, Allah is not in need of his giving up food and drink.’’

Another characteristic of the specific fast is that one does not overfill oneself with food during the night. Instead, he eats in due measure, for indeed, the son of Adam does not fill a vessel more evil than his stomach. If he were to eat his fill during the first part of the night, he would not make good use of the remainder of the night.

In the same way, if he eats to his fill for suhoor, he does make good use of himself until the afternoon. This is because excessive eating breeds laziness and lethargy.

Therefore, the objective of fasting is lost due to one’s excessive in eating, for what is indeed intended by the fast, is that one savours the taste of hunger and readily shuns his carnal desires.

Do You Pray More When Other People Are Watching You?

Ar-Riyaa: The Hidden Shirk
Abu Saeed reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to us while we were discussing Dajjal and said,
“Should I not inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjal? It is the hidden Shirk (Riya); A person stands to pray, and he beautifies his prayer because he sees the people looking at him.” (Sunan Ibn Majah vol. 2, #3389)

Riyaa is to perform acts that are pleasing to Allah with the intention of pleasing other than Allah.

The primary cause of Riya is a weakness in Iman (Faith).

When a person does not have strong faith in Allah, he will prefer the admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.

There are three symptoms that are indicative of Riya, and it is essential that a believer avoid all of them.

1. The Love of Praise 
As mentioned in a hadeeth of the first three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous).

All three of these people desired the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore, of him becoming arrogant and boastful.

 2. Fear Of Criticism 
No one likes to be criticized.

The dislike of criticism regarding religious practices may be divided into two categories:

The first category is that of a person who neglects a commandment of Allah in order to avoid the criticism of his peers.

The second category is that of a person who obeys certain commandments of Islam, not for the sake of Allah, but because he fears people will look down on him and criticize him if he does not do it.

For example, a man may make his formal prayers in the mosque because he does not want people to criticize him for praying at home, or to think that he is not praying at all.

3. Greed for Peoples Possessions 
If a person covets what other people possess, whether it is rank, money, or power, then he will wish them to envy him similarly.

For example, if he is jealous of a position of a certain person in society, he will try by every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires lead people to spend their lives putting on a show for other people so that they will admire their rank, money, or power.

Ways to avoid Riyaa
1. Increasing knowledge of Islam
2. Dua (Supplication)
The Prophet (PBUH) taught the specific dua for riyaa:
“O Allah, we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and ask your forgiveness for (the shirk that we may commit unknowingly) “.
3. Reflecting upon Heaven and Hell
4. Hiding ones good deeds
5. Reflection upon oneself shortcomings
6. Accompanying the pious
7. Knowledge of Riyaa

Believe In Angels

Sheikh Saleh Bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, author of ‘Belief in Angels and its Effect on the Life of the Ummah’ says, “Our purpose in learning about angels is not just for knowing about them for general understanding, rather, it is so that we become aware of their constant presence around us […] If we become conscious of the fact that there are two angels with us at all times recording our statements and actions, we would become careful of what we say and do…”

Belief in the existence of angels and their duties has an undeniably positive effect on our Faith (Iman):

It heightens self-awareness and God-consciousness, which makes us realize that not only actions, but even intentions have consequences.

The Qur’an tells us that there are two angels that accompany a person everywhere he goes, on his right side and his left, who record every word he utters (Qur’an, 50: 17-18).

Similarly, according to a narration, angels even record a person’s intentions:

Abdullah Bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), related from his Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He):

“Indeed Allah has recorded the good deeds and the evil deeds.” Then he clarified that: “Whosoever intends to do a good deed but does not do it, Allah records it with Himself as a complete good deed; but if he intends it and does it, Allah records it with Himself as 10 good deeds, up to 700 times, or more than that. But if he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, Allah records it with Himself as a complete good deed; but if he intends it and does it, Allah records it down as one single evil deed.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

There is another narration to the same effect, that the angels say: “O Allah, this is Your servant and he intends to do a bad deed, while Allah is more aware about that. Allah says: ‘Watch him, and record it if he does it.’”

Commenting on this narration, Imam An-Nawawi quoted Abu Ja`far Al-Tahawi as having said: “According to these Ahadith the angels appointed over human beings record man’s intentions, contrary to those who say that angels only record apparent deeds.”

It encourages steadfastness in acts of worship.
According to a narration, “There are angels who take turns in visiting you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the dawn (Fajr) and the late afternoon (`Asr) prayers. Those who have spent the night with you, ascend to heaven and their Lord, Who knows better about them, asks: `In what condition did you leave My slaves?’ They reply: `We left them while they were performing prayer (Salah) and we went to them while they were performing prayer.’’’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Thus, when the angels come or go, the people who are punctual in their prayers are distinguished by their piety. Similarly, angels surround people who are constantly engaged in remembering Allah by themselves (for instance, by reciting the Qur’an) or in assemblies. This encourages a believer to increase their acts of worship and to perform them with greater focus and presence of mind.

It fosters love for creatures that are beloved to Allah
Belief in angels fosters love in our hearts for them, as they are free from any physical or spiritual blemish, completely devoted to their worship and obedience to their Lord. It is a feeling of love that is unlike any worldly emotion, since it is solely for the sake of Allah, and for the sake of being pleased with what He is pleased with.

-Based on the book ‘Belief in Angels and its Effect on the Life of the Ummah’, by Sheikh Saleh Bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan

Are We Muslims Only In Ramadan?

It is now time for us to re-evaluate our Eman. Question yourselves, and in the process improve yourselves.

We claim to be Muslims, and we claim to believe in Allah, but do we really believe in it with a firm heart, or is it just something we say? We claim to “believe” in the Unseen God, but we see the harmful effects of drinking, clubbing, and smoking, yet we don’t avoid them. Ask yourselves that if we don’t even believe in what can be seen, do we really believe in the Unseen, Just ‘believing’ in the existence of Allah does not make us true Muslims, Shaitaan also, by the way, ‘believes’ in Allah. We must act like Muslims also.

We must also do in actions what we say in words and what we know in our thoughts. We say we’re Muslims, but are we really? He/she is not a true Muslim whose hands and tongue are violent. Several of us stopped cursing and backbiting and lying during the month of Ramadan, but now what? Since Ramadan is over, should we return to those faults? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan?

Every Muslim is to pray 5 times a day, every day, with no exceptions. Several of us did that very promptly during Ramadan. Now that Ramadan is over, now what? Should we give up those prayers just because Ramadan is over? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan?

We made duas because we understood that indeed it is Allah who listens and grants. We sought forgiveness from Allah because we realized our faults and felt guilty. We improved our conduct and lowered our voices and controlled our tempers because we realized that a Muslim is one whose actions represent peace and nobility. Now that Ramadan is over, will we go back to our same old selves? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan?

We tried our best to close our ears to that which was not permissible to hear, we tried our best to stop our tongues at times when we were about to say something which we are not allowed to say, we tried our best to lower our gazes at sights which we are not allowed to see. Now that Ramadan is over, do those things become permissible to us? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan?

We refrained from going to clubs and watching movies and listening to songs and music during Ramadan because we realized these attributes do not represent Muslims. Now that Ramadan is over, should we return to our previous lifestyle? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan?

We were awake at night, not spending time in clubs, watching TV, or with friends, but instead, we were awake at night to do ibadat for the Will and Pleasure of Allah. Now that Ramadan is over, are we relieved of our responsibilities? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan???

We refrained from dawn to dusk, not only from the Haraam but also from the Halaal. The purpose of this abstinence was to create patience and virtue, and realize that if you want you can even stay away from the Halaal, so why can you not avoid the Haraam? Sure you can. You just need the will. Now that Ramadan is over, can we go back to eating, talking, watching, doing, and thinking Haraam? Are we Muslims only during Ramadan?

Beating The Heat With Positive Thinking

Every other person nowadays repeatedly exclaims, with loud sighs and exasperated wipes of wet brows, how extremely hot the weather is. Despite going through this bout of intense heat every year as summer makes its debut, we seem to find it shocking how high the temperatures can shoot up, come July. Consequently, we loathe how the heat adversely affects our day-to-day living, especially in those developing countries where air conditioners, generators, refrigerators, and deep freezers are still elusive luxuries that not everyone can afford.

There are ways of countering our by-default habit of complaining, cribbing and negative thinking about the hot summer. We should remind ourselves that we are indeed tremendously blessed by Allah through His wonderful creation of the heavens and the earth, which sees four seasons come and go throughout the year, with each bringing forth special bounties and joys that benefit us.

Heat brings vegetation
The heat, accompanied by rainfall, brings forth our provision – all that we eat and drink with much relish. The blazing sun melts the snow from the mountains causing rivers, geysers, and fresh-water streams to gush forth for us.

“And He it is who has caused waters to come down from the sky; and by this means have We brought forth all living growth, and out of this have We brought forth greenness. Out of this do We bring forth close-growing grain; and out of the palm tree, dates in thick clusters; and gardens of vines, and the olive tree, and the pomegranate: (all) so alike, and yet so different! Behold their fruit when it comes to fruition and ripens! Verily, in all this, there are messages indeed for people who will believe!” (Qur’an, 6:99)

The process of photosynthesis that the sunlight causes makes the dead trees come alive and bear fruit; the seeds sown into the ground produce grains, pulses, vegetables, and rice that we whip up into exotic delicacies. Furthermore, animals mate during this season and increase in numbers.

Fruit and flowers
When Allah brings upon us the summer season, He also provides us with means to get relief from the hot weather in the form of succulent seasonal fruit full of nutrients that replenish our bodies, saving them from the adverse effects of dehydration and perspiration. Similarly, the summer sees flowers bloom and arid landscape come alive with greenery and color. The Muslim gets a chance to see the breathtaking beauty of Allah’s creation that immediately sets his tongue in motion with praise and dhikr!

Blessing of clothing
If Allah shines the sun’s heat down upon us for some weeks without relent, He also provides us with the material with which we can protect ourselves from it. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And Allah has given you, of that which He has created, shelter from the sun; and has given you places of refuge in the mountains, and has given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats (of armor) to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus does He perfect His favor unto you, in order that you may surrender (unto Him).” (Qur’an, 16:81)