Blessings of Ramadan

All praise is to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds. Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never find enlightenment. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allah said, what translated means, "O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam" [3:102], also, "Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations) of the wombs (kinship)! Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you." [4:1] and, "O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the Truth." [33:70].

The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance sent with Mohammad - peace be upon him. The worst of matters are Bid'ahs (innovations in the religion), every Bid'ah is a Dhalalah [misguidance], and every Dhalalah is in the Hellfire.

Excellence of fasting in Ramadan

Ramadan is the Holy Month of Quraan

* Forgiveness of sins

THE Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) urged that one fasts in Ramadan,

explaining its excellence and high station, such that if the fasting

person had sins as many as the foam upon the sea, then they would be

forgiven for him through this pure and blessed act of worship. From Abu

Hurairah, radiyallaahu anhu, from the Prophet who said: He who fasts

Ramadan, due to eemaan and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his

previous sins are forgiven.

From Abu Hurairah, radiyallaahu anhu, that the Prophet climbed upon the

mimbar (pulpit) and said: Aameen [O Allah grant it], aameen, aameen. So it

was said, O Messenger of Allah, you climbed upon the mimbar and said,

aameen, aameen, aameen? So he said: Indeed Jibraaeel, alayhis salaam, came

to me and said, Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have

[his sins] forgiven and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him,

say aameen So I said: aameen ...

* That supplication (duaa) is answered and freedom from the Fire is

granted

The Meaning of Ramadan

Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier? In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don?t have any. Obviously fasting would have been easier under the circumstances. So why not then?

The answer may be that Ramadan is not only about skipping meals. While fasting is an integral and paramount part of it, Ramadan offers a comprehensive program for our spiritual overhaul. The entire program required the peace and security that was offered by Madinah.

Yes, Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. At the beginning of Rajab --- two full months before Ramadan --- the Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate thus: "O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha?ban, and let us reach Ramadan (in good health)."

Reaping the opportunities in Ramadan

BISMILLAHIARRAHIMANIRRAHEEM

In the name of Allah, the source of Mercy, the Mercy-giving

Reaping the opportunities in Ramadan

The Prophet's (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) companions used to say, "Let not the day that you fast and the day that you do not fast be equal." It is important that one's behaviour, attitude and outlook should not be the same on the day that one is fasting and when one is not fasting. There should be a change, as one is trying to worship Allah more, so one's fasting should have an effect.

Lesson 1: Gaining taqwa (fear of Allah)

Welcome To the Month Of Ramadan

Welcome to the Month of Ramadan 

Once again we welcome it, once again it welcomes us. This month will be, for each of us, what we shall make of it. A month of return, introspection, meditation, brotherhood and love. The month of the Qur.an. Or a month of mechanical fast, almost unaware, that hurries to turn upside down nights and days ending up living the nights to .forget. the fast of the day...

This month is a feast... not of noise, but silence; not of banquets but restraint; not of forgetfulness but remembrance. This month is a feast for the faith.

We wish everyone a beautiful month of Ramadan. May it be a month of teaching where gift wins over avarice, generosity over selfishness, love over hatred. Be it a month where everyone tries to master one.s anger: the Prophet advised once to respond to adversity during these days of meditation : .I am fasting.... and to pass over. Be it a month where everyone of us cares more than usual for the needy people in her/his nearest environment.

Happy Ramadan to all of you! May your fast be accepted and blessed. May the Most-High and His Light go along with you, protect you and love you.

The Month of Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is a great month. It is the month in which Allah revealed the Quran as a guidance for the whole of mankind. It is the month in which Allah gave the Muslims victory in their first and greatest battle at Badr. It is the month which has Laylat al-Qadr, a night which is better than a thousand months.

In Ramadan the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the shayaateen (devils) are tied up and the reward for good deeds, acts of charity and acts of worship are multiplied in this month.

Definition of Fasting

Fasting means abstaining from several things, from just before the starting of dawn (i.e. just before the start of Fajr) until sunset, with the intention of fasting.

A Muslim fasting must abstain from the following

Food and Drink

Sexual intercourse

masturbation (most scholars say this not allowed even when not fasting)

deliberately causing one's self to vomit

If these four things listed above are done deliberately a persons fast will be broken.