Articles

Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree/ Power)

In the Name of Allah, the Ever Merciful, the Most Compassionate

The excellence of this night in the last ten days of Ramadhaan is well known.The Prophet (SAWS) said:

"Whoever stands (in prayer) Laylatul-Qadr out of Faith and seeking reward, then his previous sins are forgiven." (Bukhari)

And the special du'a for this night is:

Allaahumma, innaka `Afuuwwun, tuHibbul `afwa, fa`fuu `annii

(Oh Allah, you are the One who pardons greatly, you love to pardon, so pardon me) [from the hadiith in at-Tirmithii and ibn-Majah -sahiih]

It has signs, for the Messenger (SAWS) said,

Laylatul-Qadr - The night of decree & it's virtues

Author: 
Muhammad Ma`ârij-ul-Islâm: translated by Raffiq Ahmed Moosa Patel

Abû Hurayra radiyallahu `anhu relates that the Holy Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

"Whosoever worshipped on Laylatul-Qadr, with faith and with a sincere intention, all of his previous sins are forgiven." (from al-Bukhârî and Muslim)

From the nights of the blessed month of Ramadan, one is known as Laylatul-Qadr and during it, blessings, rewards and an abundance of good can be gained.

Allah Most high has made worship during this night worth than a thousand months, i.e. anyone who spent this night in worship, would have worshipped an equivalent of eighty three years and four months - khayru(n)m-minalfi shahr

The Manners of Fasting

Author: 
Unknown

Ramadan comes with blessings to the Muslims.

The reports from the Qur'an and the Sunnah encourage an increase in action to get reward as we saw and also out of gratefulness to Allah who says [in meaning]:

"(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must glorify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him" [al-Baqara, 2:185]

and similarly about Hajj;

"So when you have accomplished your rites (of Hajj) remember Allah as you remember your fathers or with a far greater remembrance" [al-Baqara, 2:200]

1 - Eating the Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal)

Suhoor is distinctive of the Ummah of Muhammad salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam;

Crying in Front of Allah - It’s not impossible

Author: 
Unknown

When was the last time you cried? Not a few drops of salty water from your eyes, or the odd tear that slipped down your face while watching Muhammad, the Palestinian boy screaming in agony.

I’m talking about a flood of tears that won’t stop. Tears that stain your face. Tears that sting your face because they’ve been there so long, their bitter saltiness hurts your skin.

When was the last time you cried like a baby. Back when you, and all of us, were closer to our Fitra, our true nature.

The virtues of fasting in general and of Ramadan in particular

There are many virtues of Ramadan and fasting expressed in the Qur'an and in the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam. If only one of these virtues was told to us it would have been enough motivation to perfect our fasting seeking that reward and the pleasure of Allah, but it is again from the mercy of Allah that He taught us many virtues of fasting so that we get encouraged even more. I will focus mainly on the virtues of forgiveness, salvation from Hell fire and reward of Paradise, but before that I shall mention few other virtues that are not less important than the latter.

The Grades Of Fasting

Author: 
Unknown

It should be known that there are three grades of fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.

Ordinary fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.

Special fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes,tongue, hands and feet-and all other organs-free from sin.

Extra-special fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but Allah.

See not what displeases Allah

A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or which distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God.

Why Should I Fast?

Every year, for one complete lunar month-the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, you as an adult Muslim are required to fast. From dawn to sunset in the month of Ramadan, you are required to refrain from all food and drink and sexual relations with your spouse.

If you are sick or on a journey you are allowed not to fast but you must make up for it by fasting the same number of days missed during Ramadan.

Why should I fast?

The main purpose of fasting is described in the Quran as "so that you may attain Taqwa or God-consciousness." Fasting is thus yet another instrument for bringing us closer to our natural state, our state of Fitrah and for cleansing this state from the dross of any disobedience and corruption.

Ramadan: Rules & Regulations

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory on every Muslim adult. The Arabic word sawm is used for fasting.

The word sawm (plural siyam) literally means 'to refrain', but as an Islamic term, it means refraining from food, drinks and sexual activity from dawn to sunset.

Allah says in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2-183):

'O you who believe, siyam is prescribed on you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become self-restrained.'

The importance of Siyam in Ramadan is clearly expressed in several sayings of the Prophet(S.A.W.). It is reported by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said:

Importance Of Tarawih

Author: 
M. I. H. Pirzada, Islamic way of Worship

Tarawih prayer is Sunnah Mu'akkadah for men and women since the blessed Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said:

'The month in which Allah has prescribed for you fasting and I have initiated for you the night prayer.Whoever fasts in it and prays with sincerity and faith, sins leave him clean and the day his mother gave birth to him'. (Ibn Maja)

The Tarawih with congregation is more virtuous since `Umar (r) established it with the congregation and the congregational prayer is a communal Sunnah. If no one prayed it in the Mosque all the people have sinned and missed the Sunnah.

Hadith on Taraweeh & The night of Power

Praying at Night in Ramadan (Taraweeh) & the importance of The Night of Power

Ahadith from Sahih Al- Bukhari, The Book of The Prayer Of Taravih, Chapter of The benefits of standing in Ramadan:

Volume 3, Book 32, Number 226:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah's Apostle saying regarding Ramadan, "Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

Volume 3, Book 32, Number 227:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said,

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