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Ramadan Gems In Attaining Allah’s Pleasure And Becoming Sinless

Our beloved Ramadan is about to leave us. To fully utilize the month of Ramadan and leave Ramadan sinless, the following 7 deeds can be performed to obtain Allah’s pleasure fully. When performing this, your intention must be clear and pure and for the sake of Allah alone. We can only attain perfection by being true slaves of Allah. The more our servitude increases, the more perfect we become and the higher we rise in status and attain Allah’s pleasure.

DEED 1: Wudu Followed By Two Rakat Salah
Make Wudhu (ablution) as perfectly as possible and offer 2 rakat Salah with Khushoo, without being distracted. Try your best to be least distracted and offer Salah like you are seeing Allah, and if you cannot do that at least try to offer Salah like Allah is watching your every move. With every Allah hu Akbar and every Ruku and Sujood humble your heart and soul before Allah.

Narrated Humran: (the slave of Uthman) I saw Uthman bin Affan asking for a tumbler of water (and when it was brought) he poured water over his hands and washed them thrice and then put his right hand in the water container and rinsed his mouth, washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out. Then he washed his face and forearms up to the elbows thrice, passed his wet hands over his head, and washed his feet up to the ankles thrice. Then he said, “Allah’sMessenger (ﷺ) said ‘If anyone performs ablution like that of mine and offers a two-rakyat prayer during which he does not think of anything else (not related to the present prayer) then his past sins will be forgiven.’ [Sahih Bukhari]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/bukhari/4/25

DEED 2: Subhan Allahi Wa Bihamdihi -100 Times
This simple dhikr of 3–5 minutes will erase mountains of bad deeds. Reflect on what dhikr you are making and let the meaning of the dhikr sink in and change your life. Do not make it a robotic dhikr where your tongue is at work, but your heart is lost. Always remember, whenever you remember Allah, ALLAH REMEMBERS YOU! Subhan Allah!

What greater honor is there than Allah, the Creator, the Sustainer, and Lord of the Universe remembering us? The door of Allah is always open for us: Remember Me and I will remember you. We need to find our way to and through that door.

Narrated Abu Huraira (RA) : Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)said, “Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allahi wabihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea. [Bukhari]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/bukhari/80/100

DEED 3: Saying Astaghfirullah This Way
Are your sins worse than leaving Jihad? Making this dhikr only one time will ensure you gain mountains of good deeds.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who says: ‘Astaghfir ullah-alladhi lailaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayyumu, wa atubu ilaihi (I seek the forgiveness of Allah, there is no true god except Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance),’ his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allah).”
[Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim (on conditions Al-Bukhari and Muslim for accepting Hadith)]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/20/6

DEED 4: Dua After Eating
Reciting this small and beautiful dua after eating a meal will forgive your past sins. Just a little act of praising Allah for providing us with food.

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who has taken food and says at the end: Al-hamdu lillahi-lladhi at ‘amani hadha, warazaqanihi min ghairi haulin minni wa la quwwatin (All praise is due to Allah who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavor on my part or any power) all his past sins will be forgiven.” [At-Tirmidhi]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/48/89

DEED 5: Habit Of Reciting This After Every Wudu
Every single one of us wants paradise. Imagine 8 gates of paradise being opened for you 5 times a day!

Narrated ‘Umar (RA): Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “If one after performing ablution completely recites the following supplication: (Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allahu wahdahu lasharika lahu, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu) ‘I testify that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah, He is Alone and has no partner and Muhammad (ﷺ) is his slave and Messenger’, all the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through any gate he wishes”. [Bulugh al-Maram]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/bulugh/1/66

DEED 6: Recite This Dhikr 4 Times
Reciting this dhikr one time equals doing ibadah for 6 continuous hours. And if you recite this 4 times, it will be as if you have been continuously praying 24 hours a day!
Imagine the reward of praying 24 hours a day –subhan Allah

Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with her) reported, the Mother of the Believers: The Prophet (SAW) came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy performing the dawn prayer. He came back to the forenoon and found me sitting there. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Are you still in the same position as I left you.” I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon, the Prophet said, “I recited four words three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. These are: Subhan-Allahiwa bihamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinatah ‘arshihi, wa midadakalimatihi [Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise)].” [Muslim]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/16/26

DEED 7: Surah Iklhas3 Times
Nearly every single Muslim knows this, but how many of us truly put this into practice or benefit from it?

Qul huwa Allahu ahad
Allahu assamad
Lam yalid walam yoolad
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad

Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” {Surah Al Ikhlaas 112}

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.” According to another version, he (ﷺ) said to his Companions, “Is anyone of you incapable of reciting one-third of the Qur’an in one night?” They considered it burdensome and said: “O Messenger of Allah, which of us can afford to do that?” He (ﷺ) said, “Surat Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah (the) One]is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.” [Al- Bukhari]
Evidence – http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/9/20

Islam is beautiful and Islam is easy. Our Rabb is Ar Rahman – Ar Raheem and He azza wa jal has given us so many easy pathways that lead to Jannah. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has encouraged us to follow a middle path without going to either extremes.

This is a very small list of good deeds.

Don’t Delay Your Prayers

There were only 15 minutes left before Salat-ul Isha.

He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-ul Maghrib.

While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was embarrassed by how he had prayed.

His grandmother prayed with such tranquillity and peace.

He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for a while.

He had been at work all day and was tired, so tired.

He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting.

He was sweating profusely.

He looked around.

It was very crowded.

Every direction he looked in was filled with people.

Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting.

Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was.

His heart was about to burst.

It was the Day of Judgment.

When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the Day of Judgment, but that seemed so long ago…

Could this be something his mind made up?

No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined this.

The interrogation was still going on.

He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name had been called.

No one could answer him.

All of a sudden, his name was called and the crowd split into two and made a passageway for him.

Two angels grabbed his arms and led him forward.

He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd.

The angels brought him to the center and left him there.

His head was bent down, and his whole life was passing in front of his eyes like a movie.

He opened his eyes but saw only another world.

The people were all helping others.

He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending his wealth in the way of Islam.

His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being set while the other was being cleared.

He pleaded his case,

‘I too was always on this path.

I helped others.

I spread the word of Allah.

I performed my Salah.

I fasted in the month of Ramadan.

Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did.

Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not.’

He began to cry and think about how much he loved Allah.

He knew that whatever he had done in life would be less than what Allah deserved, and his only protector was Allah He was sweating like never before and was shaking all over.

His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision.

At last, the decision was made.

The two angels, with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd.

His legs felt like they were going to collapse.

He closed his eyes as they began

To read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam.

His name was read first.

He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn’t be,

‘How could I go to Jahannam?

I served others all my life,

I spread the word of Allah to others.

His eyes had become blurry, and he was shaking with sweat.

The two angels took him by the arms.

As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward the blazing flames of Jahannam.

He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him.

He was yelling about all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his father, his fasts, prayers, and the Noble Qur’an that he read, he was asking if none of them would help him.

The Jahannam angels continued to drag him.

They had gotten closer to the Hellfire.

He looked back and these were his last pleas.

Had not Rasulullah [SAW] said, ‘How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed five times cleanse someone of their sins’?

He began yelling,

‘My prayers? My prayers? My prayers.?’

The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam.

The flames of the fire were burning his face.

He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope, and he had nothing left in him.

One of the angels pushed him in.

He found himself in the air and falling towards the flames.

He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard.

He wiped some dust off himself and asked him,

‘Who are you?’

The old man replied,

‘I am your prayers’.

‘Why are you so late! I was almost in the Fire!

You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in’.

The old man smiled and shook his head,

‘You always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?’

At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah.

He was in a sweat.

He listened to the voices coming from outside.

He heard the Adhan for Salat-ul Isha.

He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu.

Purifying Ourselves, Physically And Spiritually

WUDU is a pre-condition for Salah. It shows Islam’s stress on purifying ourselves, physically and spiritually.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said about the virtue of Wudhu: “When a slave makes ablution and rinses his mouth, his wrong deeds fall from it. As he rinses his nose, his wrong deeds fall from it. When he washes his face, his wrong deeds fall from it until they fall beneath his eyelashes. When he washes his hands, his wrong deeds fall from them until they fall from beneath his fingernails. When he wipes his head, his wrong deeds fall from it until they fall from his ears. When he washes his feet, his wrong deeds fall from them until they fall from beneath his toenails. Then his walking to the mosque and his prayer fetch him an extra reward.” (Malik, An-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim)

After we complete our Wudhu, one of the Du’as our Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us to say is: “Ash-hadhu An Laa ilaaha illAllahu wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahu wa Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhu wa Rasuluhu” (I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).

Sheikh Salih Al-Fowzan explained: “The reason behind reciting Dhikr and invocation following ablution is to combine both physical and spiritual purity.

Ablution is a means of attaining physical purity, whereas Dhikr and invocation (implying declaring monotheism and repentance for sins) are signs of spiritual purity.

In this way, one gets into the perfect state of purity (combining both physical and spiritual purity) and becomes pure enough to be admitted to stand before Allah in prayer, imploring Him humbly and submissively. (Mulakhkhas Al-Fiqh, Eng. version, vol. 1, ch. 7, p. 43)

Develop Khushoo In Salah

  1. Striving to gain that which gives and strengthens Khushoo.
  2. Preparing oneself properly for Prayer.
  3. Moving at a measured pace during Salah
  4. Remembering death while praying
  5. Thinking about the Aayath and Adhkaar being recited during Salah and interacting with them.
  6. Pausing at the end of each Aayah.
  7. Reciting in a slow, rhythmic tone (Tarteel) and making one’s voice beautiful while reciting.
  8. Knowing that Allah responds to Salah
  9. Praying with a barrier (sutrah) in front of one and praying close to it.
  10. Looking at the place of prostration.
  11. Varying the Surahs, Ayahs, Adhkaars, and Duas recited in Salah.
  12. Performing Sujood al Tilawah when reciting an ayah where this is required.
  13. Seeking refuge with Allah from the Shaytaan.
  14. Thinking of how the Salaf were when they performed Salah.
  15. Striving to offer duas at the appropriate times during Salah, especially in Sujood.
  16. Adhkaar is to be recited after prayer.
  17. Removing anything that may distract the worshipper.
  18. Not praying in a garment that has decorations, writings, or pictures that will distract the worshipper.
  19. Not praying when food is prepared when one wants to eat.
  20. Not praying when one needs to answer the call of nature.
  21. Not praying when one feels sleepy.
  22. Not praying behind someone who is talking or sleeping.
  23. Not occupying oneself with smoothing the ground in front of one.
  24. The Prophet (SAW) said: Do not wipe the (ground) when you are praying, but if you have to do then do it only once. (Abu Dawud:946)
  25. Not disturbing others with one’s recitation.
  26. Not turning around during prayer.
  27. Not raising one’s gaze to the heavens.
  28. Not spitting in front of one when in Salah.
  29. Trying not to yawn when in Salah.
  30. Not putting one’s hands on one’s hips when in Salah.
  31. Not letting one’s clothes hang down (Sadl) during Salah.
  32. Not rembling like animals in Salah.

Our Faults In Ramadan

At this point, we should ponder over our ibadah. How much importance do we attach to it in Ramadan? How many nafl do we perform? As for fardh deeds, we observe how numerous people who after having eaten sah’ri get back into bed with the result that the Fajr ‘salaah is neglected. Many perform it, but not with Jamaa’ah. It gives the impression that we give thanks to Allah for the food we had eaten for sah’ri by not performing the most important fardh or by not performing it with Jamaa’ah. Such a ‘salaah has been termed defective. Rasulullah (SAW) said that “There is no ‘salah for those near the musjid except in the musjid”.

In the Kitab ‘Mazhaahire Haq’ we find that there is no reward for the ‘salah for persons who do not perform ‘salah with Jamaa’ah without any valid reason or excuse.

Similarly, in numerous cases at the time of iftar (boeka) Maghrib ‘salah is missed, and many who do not come to the musjid miss the Takbeer at the beginning or miss the first raka’ah. Many people hasten to get over the Taraweeh ‘salah early and even perform the ‘isha’ ‘salah before the time of ‘Isha’ commences. (Some do not pay any attention to ‘salah even in Ramadan.)

That is the way we look after our very important fardh ‘salaah in Ramadan. Sometimes in the process of performing one fardh, three others are destroyed. How often do we see even the time of Zhuh-r ‘salah going by because we are asleep, while the time of A’sr goes by because we are too busy buying, selling, or cooking to prepare for iftar.

If such is the case with the faraa’idh, then we can imagine how much less importance is given to the nafl actions. One finds that because of sleep, the time of ‘salaatul Ishraaq (after sunrise) and ‘salaatul Dhuhaa (before noon) go by.

Then what about ‘salaat Awwaabeen (just after Maghrib)? Here we find ourselves busy with If’tar and when thinking about Taraweeh after about an hour this ‘salah too is wasted. Further, we find that for ‘salaatul Ta-hajjud the time is the same as that for sah’ri with the result that this too goes by. One may make a thousand excuses for not finding time for these nawafil. These are all excuses for not performing these ‘salah.

We see that there are many who do find the time to do all these ‘ibadahs during these precious moments. I personally observed my ustaaz Maulana Khalil Ahmad during many Ramadan. He was a weak sickly person and of advanced age but in spite of these drawbacks, he used to read one and a quarter juz of the Qur’an in nafl namaz after Maghrib. Thereafter he used to have meals for about half an hour. After performing all other necessities in preparation for Taraweeh ‘salah he used to stand in Taraweeh for about two and a half hours when he was in India, and when he was in Madinah Munawwarah the duration was three hours.

Thereafter he used to sleep about two or three hours (according to the season). Then he used to again recite the Qur’an in Tahajjud ‘salah until about half an hour before Fajr. Then he ate sah’ri. From that time until Fajr he remained busy with reading the Qur’an or reciting of wazifas. With the greyness of dawn, he performed Fajr ‘salah, thereafter he remained in meditation (muraa-qabah) until Ishraaq. Having performed Ishraaq he used to write his famous kitab, ‘Baziul Majhood’, commentary on Abu Dawood. Then he normally attends to letters and dictating replies up to mid-day. Then he used to rest up to Zhuh-r ‘salah. Between Zhuh-r and A’sr he used to recite the Qur’an.

From A’sr Namaaz until Maghrib he used to be busy with tasbeeh and answering the queries of those who visited him. When he completed ‘Baziul Majhood’ then part of the morning used to be spent in tilaawah and studying some monumental religious works, especially Baziul Majhood and Wafa al Wafa. This was his daily program for nafl ‘ibadah throughout the year.

In Ramadan however, he used to spend a bit more time in his ibadah, making the rak’aats longer. For the ordinary person to observe the special programs the other pious elders had for Ramadan would be difficult. Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmoo-dul Hasan (Rahmatullah alaihi) used to remain in nafl ‘salah from after Taraweeh until Fajr, while also listening to the Qur’an recited by various huffaazh one after the other.

Maulana Shah Abdurraheem Raipuri (d 1963) remained busy with tilaawah (recitation) of the Qur’an day and night through Ramadan. There used to be no time for attending to correspondence or meeting visitors. Only his special ones were allowed to wait on him after Taraweeh for a short period while he drank a cup of tea.

Amazing Tips To Love Your Prayer Like Never Before!

Why Can’t We Always Be Close to Allah?

It just doesn’t feel the same . . . I lost it . . . How can I get it back?

Get ready for the ultimate Salah booster; a set of amazing productivity tips to enhance your prayer, give you a fresh perspective on the world of Salah, and make you love your prayer like never before, Insha’Allah!

Allah advises and seeks help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah). (Quran 2:45)

Below are productivity tips based on a summary of the beautiful :

How to taste the true beauty of the Salah series by Mishari AlKharraz:

1. Say Allahu Akbar and throw the world behind you
Did you ever think: why do we start our prayer with Allahu Akbar, not with Subhan Allah? Realize that when you say Allahu Akbar you affirm that the one before whom you are about to stand is greater than anything occupying you at that moment—greater than your sleep, your families, your bills, and your worries. Just imagine that when you say Allahu Akbar while raising your hands you are throwing all of that behind you!

2. Visualize the veil
When you stand to pray, Allah commands: Raise the veils from between Me and my servant! As soon as you say Allahu Akbar and start your prayer, Allah sets His beautiful face to yours and doesn’t turn away from you, unless you do.

When your thoughts your sight drifts off, He orders the veils to be drawn back down.

Visualize these veils being lifted to keep concentrated with your heart and body. Are you still drifting? This is why you repeat the great words, Allahu Akbar, as you move into each position; it’s a reminder and a new chance again and again to focus!

3. Salute the King
Imagine walking into a palace, how would you recognize the servants of the king?

Probably by their humble position: looking down. As you lower your gaze to the place of your prostration and place your hands right over left and close to your chest it is time to salute the King.

Imagine standing in front of Allah as you utter this beautiful salutation and feel each word: SubhanakaAllahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaaraka ismuka wa ta’alaa jadduka (How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You. Blessed be Your name) and lofty is your position and none has the right to be worshiped.
Realize that only the parts of Salah you are mindful of are being accepted and that Satan does his very best to steal every sweet moment you have with Allah!

4.Feel Each Ayah of Surah Al-Fatihah is Answered
You are now ready to enter the essence of it all: SurahAl-Fatihah, the greatest chapter of the Quran. Know that Allah Himself answers back when you recite surah Al-Fatihah, so add a short pause after each ayah, feeling this amazing dialogue. How can you ever drift off in this part of the prayer?

5. Utter His Name with Pure Love
What has brought us to stand here right now? It is your love and longing to be with Allah. And when you meet up with your beloved, what do you first say? The sweet sound of the beloved’s name, the name that blesses everything it falls upon! Feel the bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem soothing your heart as it gently rolls off your lips…

6. Stand Still at: “the Lord of the Worlds.”
The Prophet told us, “Alhamdulillahfills the scale!” (Muslim)

Really feel grateful when you say Alhamdulillah. Did you see those documentaries where they zoom out from the cells of a plant’s leaf all the way to the planets and galaxies?

Now instead of that leaf, start the zoom-out process with the image of yourself standing before Allah. Then zoom back down, through the universe, to the place you are standing in prayer. The next time you pray view yourself from above and faraway and truly taste the meaning of Rabbil al-alameen(Lord of the worlds)!

7. Reflect on Ar-Rahmaanir Raheem before MaalikiYawm-Deen
Have you ever wondered why Allah’s names Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem come before Maalikiyawmid-Deen (Master of the Day of Judgment)? Be reminded that it is the Most Gracious and Merciful who will judge us on the Day of Judgment! So feel empowered and comforted when you say Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem and then pause a moment at Maaliki yawm-Deen, realizing the horrors of that Day.

8.Know what “Iyyaaka Na’budu wa Iyyaaka Nasta’een” ReallyMeans
You alone we worship, and unto You alone, we turn for help.

Let this remind you to make Allah alone your focus, not the people. So when you are asked, why did you do this or that (deed), you can firmly answer: for Allah!

Feel this ayah by knowing that the companions used to weep for hours reciting it. One of them was once praying in Mecca. His friend went ahead and did the tawaf and when he returned him, he was still at this verse, repeating it and crying, until the sun came up.

9. Say Ameen As if Your Life Depended on it
The most comprehensive supplication you can make is: ihdinas-sirat-al-mustaqeem(Guide us to the straight path). See how you followed the proper etiquette of how to ask Allah.

You started glorifying and praising Him and then you make your request: Guide us. Now realize that your entire existence depends on this supplication. The Ameen you’ll pronounce now will have to come from the bottom of your heart. Ameen means my lord, grant or answer (my prayers). Say Ameen as if you have been sentenced to death and are pleading for pardon, begging with passion.

10. Feel the Bond with Your Lord
When you say subhanaRabbiyya- al-‘adheem (How perfect My Lord is, The Supreme)in ruku’, focus on the pronoun that means my (in Rabbi). It adds that element of bonding: He is My Lord, who raised me in His care and who is nurturing me. Know the Prophet and the companions used to be in the bowing position as long as he would be in the standing segment of Salah.

One companion said that he recited Al Fatihah, then Al Baqarah, Ali Imran, An-Nisaa’, and AlMa’idah, and the companion Abdullah Ibn Al Zubair was beside him, still in his ruku’!

11. Win the Grand Finale: Your Sujood
Your Sujood is the ultimate symbol of complete submission to your Creator. The Prophet said: The closest that a servant is to his Lord is when he is in prostration. (Muslim)

And: Prostratemuch because there is no Muslim that prostrates to Allah except that Allah raises him one degree in Paradise by it and forgives for him a sin. (Ahmad)

Imagine you are being raised one degree in Paradise with each sujood and a sin falls off you with each prostration. Prostrate with body, heart, and soul and taste the sweetest feeling in the world!

12. Supplicate Before the Tasleem
After the words of the tashahhud (sitting position at the end of prayer) and before the tasleem (saying salaam to indicate the end of prayer), there is a precious moment many wastes! When the Prophet taught Abdullah ibn Mas’ood the tashahhud he said: … Then let him choose whatever supplications he wishes. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Remember this: the sweetness of this life lies in remembering Him, and the sweetness of the next life lies in seeing Him! The next time you proceed for prayer, go because you love Him, go because you miss Him and long to be with Him… Feel your heart flutter. Only then, will you be on your way to attaining that inner peace and comfort Salah was prescribed for?[Mishari Al-Kharraz]

Republished from Understand Quran.
Courtesy: Khawlah Bint Yahya
Compiled, edited, and adapted by Khalid Latif

 

Azan And Iqaamah (Call To Prayer)

To give the Azaan for Salah is proven from the Holy Quran-e-Majeed. Almighty Allah says in the Glorious Quran: “And when you call the Azan for Salah”.
The Ulema have stated that to give Azaan for the five daily Salaah including Jummah Salah, is Sunnat-e-Mu’akadah and if the Azaan is not given by anyone, then the people of the entire area are sinners individually. With the exception of the Fardh Namaaz, there is no Azaan for the two Eids, Witr, Janazah Salaah, or any Nafil Salaah. The time for Azaan is the same time as that of Namaz. It is not permissible to give any Azan before the time of that particular Salah.

One who gives the Azan must be a Sunni Sahihul Aqeedah person who is in his proper sense of mind. If Azan is given without Wudhu, it will be complete, but it is not correct to do so. It is not permissible for a person who is in an impure state, an insane person, an intoxicated person, or a Faasiq (open sinner) to call out the Azan. It is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi for women to give the Azaan or Iqaamah. Azan must be given standing facing the direction of the Qibla, with the index fingers in the ears. The Azan must be called out with a loud voice, pausing after each Takbeer. The Azan must be given outside the actual Musjid and not inside as this is Khilaaf-e-Sunnah (against the Sunnah) and Makrooh. This law even applies to the Azaan of the Jummah Khutba. Azan should not be given in front of the Mimbar, but outside the main Musjid, but standing in line with the Khateeb.

To reply to the words of Azan is Mustahab. When the Mu’azzin says, “Hayya Alas Salaah” and “Hayya Alal Falah”, then you should say, “Laa Howla Wa laa Quw’wata illa Billahil Aliyul Azeem”. In the Azaan of Fajr, when the Mu’azzin says, “As Salaatu Khairum minan Naum”, then you should say, “Sadaqtu Wa Barartu”.

It is not allowed to give an answer to the Azan during the Khutba of Jummah. It is important to remain silent and listen to the Khutba. When Azan is read, all talking should stop. Even if a person is reciting the Quran, he should stop and answer the Azan. Even when walking on the street, one should stop and give answer to the Azan when it is heard. If in your area, you are able to hear the Azan of various Masaajid, then you should answer the first Azaan that you hear. In one Hadith, The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) stated: “Freedom from the fire of Hell is written for that Muslim who calls out the Azaan for seven years.”

Benefit In The Answer To Azan:
Once while speaking to a group of women Huzoor-e-Anwar (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) calls out the Azan and Takbeer, then say as he says, since for every Kalma (word) Almighty Allah will bless you with one hundred thousand good deeds, He will exalt your status by one thousand folds and He will forgive your one thousand sins”. The women then asked, “And what is (the reward) for the menfolk ?” The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “Double that amount.”

Let us take some time to ponder on this fact, in the Azan of one day, there are seventy-seven words, and in the Iqaamah of one day, there are 85 words. If the Sawaab for the women was so great then imagine it being doubled for the men. Then think that this is for one day, what is the Sawaab of that person whose daily practice this is. Subhan-Allah!

Dua  After The Azan:
“O Lord of this beautiful Azan and the Salah which will follow, give our Master Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam’s) Wasila and greatness and a very high station. And let him reach the Plain of Mahmood of which You have promised him and let us receive his Intercession on the Day of Qiyamah. Without doubt, You never go against Your Promise.”

Other Instances Where Azan Can Be Given:
With the exception of Namaaz, it is also Mustahab (desirable) to give Azan in the following instances:-

  1. To give Azan at times of fear brings tranquillity.
  2. During an uncontrollable fire. Insha-Allah, the fire will be quickly extinguished.
  3. Azan can be given in the ears of a person to remove fear and sadness.
  4. At the birth of a child, Azan should be given in the right ear and Iqaamah in the left ear.
  5. Azan can be given at the grave-side to give Sukoon (tranquillity) to the deceased.
  6. Say Azan to cure somebody who is affected by Jinnaat or Shaitaan.
  7. During the time of the storm.
  8. To ask for rain during drought, or to stop a heavy storm.
  9. When lost in a forest, by saying Azan, someone will show you your way.
  10. Saying Azaan in your business or residence will increase Barakah (blessings).

Iqamah(Takbeer)
The Takbeer or Iqaamah that is called out after the Azaan and before the Jamaah is also like Azan except for a few differences in Azaan and Iqaamah:-

  1. Iqaamah is given inside the Musjid and Azaan is given outside the Musjid.
  2. Takbeer is given softly and Azan is given loudly.
  3. During Takbeer, the fingers are not placed in the ears.
  4. Takbeer is read rapidly.
  5. Takbeer for Fajr does not have the words “As Salaatu Khairum minan Naum”.
  6. In Takbeer, “Hayya alal falaah” is followed by “Qad Qaamatis Salaah”.
  7. In answer to “Qad Qaamatis Salaah” at least say: “Aqaamuhallahu Wa Adamahaa”
  8. Takbeer must be said by the Mu’azzin and through his permission, someone else will be allowed.
  9. To stand during Takbeer is Khilaaf-e-Sunnah. The Imam and Muqtadi should sit during Iqaamah and only stand when the Mu’azzin says “Hayya Alas Salaah” – “Haya Alal Falaah”.

Are You In Love? Have You Ever Fallen In Love?

Being ‘in love’ can be both a wonderful experience and a dangerous one. Love involves attachment. Attachment involves clinging to something created. Clinging to something created involves the reality of mortality. For indeed it is as Allah has said,

“Everyone shall taste death.” 3:185

The dangers of attachment are manyfold. However, one of the biggest dangers is that Love can overcome the heart. In doing so, the dedication of one’s life will be for the object of love, and not for the objective of Loving Allah.

Indeed, the one in love must ask their soul, “Is this love for the pleasure of Allah? Do I love this object so that I may come closer to my Lord? Will this love benefit my hereafter, or will it place it in ruin?

If the soul answers ‘no’, then one needs to step back and correct the intention. Not just the intention of yourself, but the intention of the one loved. We, as Muslims, must remember our goal. Our goal is not the pleasure of the creation unless it pleases Allah, rather our Goal is Allah. Our goal is to strengthen our love for Him through our love for others.

An example of strengthening our love for Allah through our love for others is the bond of marriage. If the wife or husband wakes one another up in the early morning for Fajr or Qiyaamul-Layl (night prayer), they have used this love to increase love for Allah.

If the wife encourages her husband to spend his wealth on the poor or encourages him to become involved in bettering this Ummah (nation), the result insha’Allah (by the will of Allah) result will be an increase in Love for Allah.

An increase in love for Allah can even be achieved by having marital relations that bring about children that will worship Allah alone.

We must understand the importance of reaching this noble objective of increasing our Love for Allah. We should make our Salah (prayers), give sadaqah (charity), make du’aa (supplications) in the late parts of the night, based upon love for Allah.

A brother once told me that he felt his Salah was worthless. So I advised him to start making his Salah, not JUST because it is fardh (obligatory), but because he wants to increase his closeness with Allah. I told him that he should build a relationship with his Master. Salah is not a one-sided ritual. Rather, it is two-sided. Allah is pleased by your submitting your soul to him. By gaining that pleasure and Love of Allah, you too, begin to increase in love for him by realizing his favors and blessings. If you increase your asking of Him in prostrations (sajdah), and you truly begin to rely upon Him within your life, your Love will increase for Him.

Indeed building this trust with Allah will only be of benefit in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah says,

And in Allah should the believers put their trust. (Aali Imran 3:122)

Placing one’s trust in someone other than Allah has no guarantees. Whereas placing your trust in Allah alone, always has the guarantee of being fruitful. ‘Certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).’ (Aali Imran 3:159)

The point is that we should strive to love for Allah’s sake, even before loving for our own sake. By loving for Allah, we are living for Allah.

And indeed, Allah commanded,

Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (Al-An’am 6:162)

So ask your soul if your life and love are dedicated to Allah!

So if you love Allah, remember that you must love, obey and cling to the best of mankind’s way, Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alaa Aalihi wa sallam – may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Allah says,

Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Aali Imran 3:31)

Let us not be careless and forget our objectives. Let us not be careless and forget what our love really means.

This Impact On Our Lives

Islam consists of five basic pillars which is obligatory for every Muslim to follow. The Prophet said: Islam is based on five things declaring there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salah, the payment of Zakah, the Haj and sawm in the month of Ramadan. (Bukhari)

The five pillars as mentioned in the Hadith are; Shahadah (declaration of Faith), Salah (Five compulsory daily prayers, Zakah (welfare contribution), Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan).

A Muslim declares his faith by reciting La ilaha il-Allah Muhammad Ar-RasulAllah.

These Arabic words mean, There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is the Shahadah, after pronouncing it the person enters the fold of Islam and submits himself to the other beliefs and practices of Islam.

After pronouncing this Kalima Tayebba we submit ourselves to the Almighty Lord without question which brings us so much peace and tranquility, because we feel that we are dependent on a higher entity who cares and looks after our affairs. A big load is lifted off our shoulders when we know that we have a higher entity to depend upon. In times of trouble, we invoke upon Him and we feel less anxious than ordinary humans who have no one to depend upon. We feel peace and tranquility that is not found in ordinary humans and we leave our affairs on Allah since He is the best source of help. In times of joy, we thank Him for the bounties He has showered upon us for which He increases. When we know the truth, we start feeling an unseen presence always with us, ready to guide, comfort, and help us. We know that we belong to Allah and He is our Master. And we should obey and please Him and must practice the other four pillars of Islam, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, and Haj.

Salah is the second pillar of Islam. It refers to the five compulsory daily prayers. Salah is offered five times a day individually or in the congregation. It helps to organize and discipline our lives. We have to be aware, alert, and ready at the time it is offered and schedule ourselves accordingly which helps us to be organized in our day-to-day living. It makes us more conscious of our time and we tend not to lax our time but complete our work and keep ourselves free at the time of offering salah which disciplines us. We offer salah to remember Allah. It brings us closer to Him. The Quran says, Establish salah to remember Me. Salah is the practical proof of our faith in Allah and Islam. It has fixed timings. Allah says in the Quran Salah at fixed times has been enjoined on the believers. (4:103) Fajr (from dawn until just before sunrise) Zuhr (after mid-day until the afternoon) Asr (from late afternoon until just before sunset) Maghrib (after sunset until daylight ends) Isha (after night until midnight ends or dawn)

Salah protects us from many evils; we learn to keep ourselves pure and clean to be ready for salah because for offering salah we must be clean and pure. The Quran says Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care for cleanliness. The cleanliness of the body and clothes is called Taharah or purification. It is important to remove all traces of urine or excrement from the clothes worn for salah. We have to fully wash the whole body with pure water or we can have a part wash. The full wash is called ghusl and part wash is wudu.

When we feel tired or lax if we perform wudu we freshen up and feel more alert and energetic.

While performing salah our concentrative and meditative powers increase. Performing salah submits us completely to Allah. We bow down before Him in ruku and sujood and come to know of our place in this vast universe. We feel humbled by submitting to Allah and do not feel arrogant like the shaytan. We feel a spiritual uplift in performing salah which is not found when we are engaged in our worldly affairs. Salah refines us. All the Prophets and their Ummah were commanded by Allah to offer salah. It is the last relic of a lost civilization.

Salatul Juma ah: (Friday Prayer) is offered in the congregation. It is obligatory for all adult male Muslims. It is offered at Zuhar time on Friday. It is not obligatory for women, however, they can join if it does not upset their household duties. Friday prayer is an occasion for the assembly of all Muslims in an area. It gives them an opportunity to meet, discuss, and solve their community problems. It develops unity and co-operation.

Zakah (welfare contribution) is the third pillar of Islam. The Arabic word zakah means to purify or cleanse. Zakah is paid once a year on savings at the rate of two and a half percent. This rate applies to cash, bank savings, and gold and silver jewelry. The rate for cattle and agricultural produce is different. Zakah helps us to protect us from greed and selfishness. Zakah has to be given to the poor, the needy, payment of salaries to its collectors, to free prisoners and debtors, to the wayfarer, and to win hearts for the cause of Allah. Most economists believe that zakah is the only solution to improving the economy of the world and erasing poverty. Zakah when given properly and with good intention multiplies our wealth and property and we seldom experience loss in our wealth and property. The needy kith and kin have their first right over it. The Prophet said, if you want long life and wealth you should be kind to your relatives. Moreover, spending on needy kith and kin improves our health too. We are enjoined by Allah to give charity to help the poor and needy, this voluntary charity is called sadqa. All our fard or obligatory ibadah should be to obvious to the eyes of the world, whereas nawafil or voluntary acts of Ibadah should be best performed hidden from the eyes of the world to get greater benefits from Allah. It is better to give hidden sadqa every day just for Allah to solve many of our problems of this life and the Hereafter.

Sawm: (fasting) is the fourth pillar of Islam. AII adult Muslims fast from dawn to sunset daily in Ramadan. They have to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and conjugal relations during the hours of fasting. Travelers and sick can make up later on.

Sawm develops taqwa, self-control, self-restraint, and helps us to overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other faults. We feel closer to Allah during Ramadan fasting and praying at night, Taraweeh. We experience hunger and thirst during fasting and we realize the feelings of the poor and hungry people.

During fasting a Muslim has to avoid all kinds of sins like lieing, breaking promises, or doing any other deceitful act. Hunger should also be controlled. Fasting disciplines us and we learn patience and self-control, it improves our health and our obesity is also restrained.

Haj: Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a visit to the Holy Ka aba, the house of Allah.in Makkah, once in a lifetime by those Muslims who can afford it. It is performed from 8th to 13th Dhul Hijjah.

Ka’aba is the (House of Allah), a cube-like one-story building that was built by Adam (peace be upon him) and later rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail (peace be upon them both). It is the first house ever built for the sole purpose of worship of Allah. Allah has blessed the Holy Ka’aba.

Muslims who are able and fit come here from all corners of the world. During Haj, Islamic brotherhood can be seen and experienced by the pilgrims. Barriers of language, country, color, and race disappear and the supremacy of faith is evident. Everyone has the same status in the House of Allah i.e. his servant. During Haj we have to perform these important rituals.
1. Putting on Ihram.
2. Going round the Holy Ka aba seven times.
3. A fast walk between As-Safa and Al-Marwah near the Ka’aba.
4. Throwing pebbles at three fixed places at Mina.
5. Shaving or trimming hair.
6. Sacrifice of an animal (sheep, goat, cow, or camel).

At the time of Haj while approaching Makkah, a pilgrim must put on his Ihram before reaching a point called miqat. The Ihram for men consists of two unsewn white cloth, for a woman, lhram is her ordinary dress but she should be well covered except for her face and hands. This reminds man of his place before Allah. He is a humble servant of his Creator, and it reminds him of death when he will wrap in white sheets without his expensive or favorite clothes.

In the state of Ihram the pilgrim has to abstain from using perfume, killing or harming animals even insects, breaking or uprooting plants, hunting, marrying or taking part in a wedding, doing anything dishonest or arrogant, carrying arms, cover the head for males and cover the face for females, wearing shoes, covering ankles, cutting hair, clipping nails, having conjugal relations.

All these restrictions make a pilgrim think of Allah and his eventual abode the Hereafter. Haj teaches us all the lessons of salah, zakah, and sawm. We do all this for Allah and it teaches us self-control and patience.
And from all these five pillars of Islam, we learn that we belong to Allah, and we will return to Him and we must do His as He commands.

Excessive Display Of Charm

Praise be to Allah. Allah has prescribed fasting for great reasons. One of the most important of these reasons and one of the greatest purposes achieved by the fast is so that we may attain piety (taqwa), as Allah says: O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious). (Qur’an 2:183)

Taqwa or piety means obeying that which Allah has commanded and avoiding that which He has forbidden.

The person who is fasting is commanded to do acts of worship and obedience, and he is forbidden to do haraam things. Sins are bad enough when committed by anyone, but they are even worse when committed by one who is fasting. Hence the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting in accordance with it, and ignorant conduct, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink. (Al-Bukhari)

Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Fasting does not just mean giving up food and drink, rather fasting also means giving up idle and obscene talk. (Sahih Al-Targheeb)

Secondly, a woman’s making a wanton display (tabarruj) of her beauty and charms to non-mahram men detracts from the reward of fasting. The more sins are committed and the more serious they are, the more that detracts from the reward of fasting, and it may cancel out the reward altogether, so that a person may have denied himself food, drink and all the things that invalidate the fast, yet still is deprived of the reward for that by disobeying Allah.

Hence the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The one who fasts may get nothing from his fast but hunger, and the one who performs qiyaam (salah) may get nothing from his qiyaam but a sleepless night.” – Narrated by Ibn Maajah.

Thirdly, with regard to fasting that is accompanied by sins – including tabarruj on the part of a woman – the fast is not invalidated by that, rather it is valid and the fasting person has fulfilled his obligation and does not have to make up for the fast. But the reward for fasting gets decreased owing to that sin and it may be cancelled out altogether as stated above.

Al-Nawawi said in Al-Majmou: The fasting person should protect his fast from backbiting and slander. What this means is that it is more important for the fasting person to avoid these sins than others, although those who are not fasting should avoid these sins too, as that is the command for all situations. If a person backbites while fasting, he has committed a sin but that does not invalidate his fast in our view.

This is the view of Malik, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad and all the scholars except Al-Awzai‚ who said that the fast is invalidated by backbiting, and must therefore be made up.

Based on this, the fasting person has to avoid haraam words and actions, so he should not backbite people, or tell lies, or spread malicious gossip amongst them, he should not engage in haraam transactions, and he should avoid all haraam things.

If a person avoids that for a whole month then he should be able to adhere to that straight path for the rest of the year. But unfortunately many of those who fast do not differentiate between the days when they fast and the days when they do not fast, so they carry on as usual with haraam speech such as lying, cheating and so on. You do not feel that they are observing the sanctity of fasting. These actions do not invalidate the fast but they do detract from its reward, and may cancel out the reward of fasting altogether.