Fasting
Dear brothers we are fast approaching the best time of the year, the month of Ramadan is nearly here and this year many can say that they have missed the blessing of this month more than ever before.
The imam reminded us of the 183rd ayat of Sura Baqara in which Allah SWT spoke of fasting. It is translated to say:
You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God.
Dear brothers, as the ayat explains, this is the time where fasting makes us more mindful of Allah SWT. But what does that mean?
For many people who observe Muslims in this month, they often mistakenly think that Ramadan equates to starving oneself of food and water, others think that this month is all about charity as Muslims donate more in this month than at any other time of the year.
However, the true meaning of the month is explained by the ayat. By abstaining from food and drink, by giving to charity, by being the best that we can be in this month, not only are we doing this because of the reward, but actually we alter our whole selves in this month because we become more aware of Allah SWT, of His mercy and of His complete influence over every part of our lives.
And so, we should prepare for this month now so that we are in the best position to make the most of the 30 days. This reminder concludes with 5 practical things we can do to prepare:
1)Intention: Make the sincere intention that you want this Ramadan to be a sacred and special Ramadan.
2)Make a plan: Plan how you would like to spend each day this Ramadan. Postpone things that can be postponed, and focus on activities that will benefit you, insha’Allah, in the hereafter. Here are some examples: Set a target for how much Qur’an you will recite, and make a plan for when you will recite it. Set a target for how many prayers you will pray at the masjid, and make a plan for how you will reach this target.
3)Make a du’a list: Make a list of supplications and include the following: a) your needs for this dunya; b) your needs for the hereafter; c) the needs of your family members and friends; d) the names of your friends and family members.
4)Fast beyond just limiting what you eat and drink: Most people believe fasting is about not drinking or eating, but they have missed the main reasons why we fast, our tongue is one of the most significant reasons for breaking our fast not food.
Dear brothers and sisters, we need to understand that fasting is prohibiting your mind, tongue and body from all impermissible actions. It is to detox the soul as well as the body from the dirt that has been accumulated over the past year. Don’t miss the opportunity to reap the complete rewards of this month.
5)Charity: Figure out how you can spend less on yourself so you can spend more on the needy during Ramadan. Begin calculating your assets, so that when Ramadan begins, you are ready to pay your zakat and sadaqah. Alongside that, get involved in community events, food banks, homeless shelters and other social causes so that this month maximises your reward with your Lord.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is the Imaan boost we pray for all year round. There is no better time than Ramadan to pray for forgiveness from your Lord. We can do this by making this Ramadan the best in terms of what we achieve during it. By doing this, we can aim to be of the people that benefit most from this month in this life and the next insh’Allah.
Read MoreRamadan Reminder 5 – Performing Sunnah Acts
Today’s reminder is on the following hadith of the Prophet SAWS:
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to the graveyard and said: “Peace be upon you, abode of believing people. If Allah wills, we shall join you soon. Would that I had seen our brothers.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, are we not your brothers?” He said: “Rather, you are my Companions. My brothers are those who have not come yet. And I will reach the Hawd (the “drinking lake”) before them.”
Dear brothers, I wanted to remind you of the love our Prophet SAWS had for us. We were not merely his Ummah just, but we were referred to as his brothers.
Our Prophet SAWS prayed for us without ever having met us. We prayed for us more than we pray for ourselves. This is the amount of love the Prophet SAWS had for each and every one of us.
As we embark upon this month of Ramadan, the focus is on fasting, night prayers and charitable acts.
However, we have in our esteemed teacher and the best of creation SAWS, someone who warrants an extra effort in this blessed month.
As this is the month of renewed habits and good deeds, lets all use this blessed month to take a single sunnah of the Prophet SAWS and make it a habit to establish now and continue after the month is over.
Whether it is something you’ve heard but never implemented or it is something small you can do, all is requires is a google of sunnah things to do and you’ll find something that can be easily done.
What better way to reciprocate the love of our beloved, dear teacher, prophet and the best of creation than to do something he has guided us to do. By doing so we can aim to be deserving of the title of his SAWS brothers as mentioned in the hadith today.
May Allah SWT enable us to follow a new sunnah act of the Prophet SAWS.
Read MoreRamadan Reminder 4 – Last 10 Nights
Today’s reminder is on the following hadith of the Prophet SAWS:
Aisha (may Allah SWT be pleased with her) reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet SAWS used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work harder) and used to pray the whole night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.
Dear brothers and sisters, there is a saying that if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. In the final ten nights we have a blessed night of Laylatul Qadr which has immense reward attached to it.
And with the reward of 1000 months being relayed to us for this blessed night, how can we afford not to make the most of the final ten nights?
This short reminder concludes with 5 practical tips that we can follow to make the most of this blessed night.
- Try to worship a little but consistently in the full ten nights. Often people focus their efforts on the 27th night, but we should aim to be consistent over the 10 night as our efforts will be maginified to the degree of 83 years!
- Try to remember the dua of the last 10 nights. Aisha (may Allah SWT be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He SAWS replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”
- Give charity. One act each night will mean that during Laylatul Qadr it will be as if you did so over the course of 83 years.
- Recite some Quran each night. Even a few lines if that’s all that’s possible. Catching the reward of Laylatal Qadr will be as if you recited the Quran over the course of a lifetime.
- Read some optional Nafl prayers. Even if its 2 rakats, it will be registered as a 1000 months worth of effort insh’Allah.
This is the month of immense blessings and this night marks the pinnacle of what this month is about. May Allah SWT enable us to make the most of this blessed night.
Read More