1426 2005azeezfar./Articles/RamadanWelcomePacket.pdf1426 / 2005 Brought to you by the ... The Gates of Paradise remain opened in this month; so pray that Allah your ... By Shafi Ahmed

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

“Oh People! Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Al“Oh People! Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Al“Oh People! Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Al“Oh People! Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah. A month of lah. A month of lah. A month of lah. A month of blessing, mercy, and forgiveness; a month which with Allah is the best of blessing, mercy, and forgiveness; a month which with Allah is the best of blessing, mercy, and forgiveness; a month which with Allah is the best of blessing, mercy, and forgiveness; a month which with Allah is the best of months.months.months.months. Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of nights, and its Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of nights, and its Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of nights, and its Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of nights, and its

hours, the best of hours. It is the month which invites you to be the guests of hours, the best of hours. It is the month which invites you to be the guests of hours, the best of hours. It is the month which invites you to be the guests of hours, the best of hours. It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah andAllah andAllah andAllah and invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your

supplications are answered…”supplications are answered…”supplications are answered…”supplications are answered…”

- Prophet Muhammad

Prophet’s Sermon on Ramadan …………………………………………………... 3

Now or Never ………………………………………………………………….… 5

Prophetic Sayings on Ramadan…………………………………………………… 6

10 Great Goals to Set for this Ramadan ………………………………………….. 7

Better than a Thousand Months…………………………………………………… 9

Preparing for the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan …………………………………. 10

Making the Most of Ramadan…………………………………………………… 12

Kick Start Your Heart …………………………………………………………… 13

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SERMON OF THE PROPHET ON THE COMING OF RAMADAN

On the last Friday in the month of Sha’ban, the Prophet delivered this speech about

the coming of Ramadan:

Oh People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has approached you with His mercy and

blessings. This is the month that is the best of all months in the estimation of Allah. Its

days are the best among the days, its nights are the best among the nights, and its hours

are the best among the hours.

This is a month in which he has invited you. You have been, in this month, selected as the

recipients of the honors of Allah, the Merciful. During Ramadan your breathing praises

the Almighty, and your sleeping adores Him. Your voluntary acts of worship are

accepted, and your pleas are answered. Ask Allah your Lord, therefore, in sincere

intentions and pure hearts to enable you to fast during it and to recite His Book [the Holy

Quran], for only a wretched person the one who is deprived of Allah's forgiveness during

this holy month.

While fasting, let your hunger and thirst remind you of the hunger and thirst of the Day of

Resurrection. Give alms to the poor and the needy. Pay respects to your elders. Have pity

on those younger than you and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your

tongues against unworthy words, and your eyes from such scenes that are not worth

seeing (forbidden) and your ears from such sounds that should not be heard by you. Be

kind to orphans so that when your children become orphans they also may be treated

with kindness.

Repent your sins to Allah and raise your hands to Him in supplication during the times of

your prayers, as it is the best time for asking His mercy. When we invoke at such times,

we are answered by Him, when we call Him, He responds, and when we ask for anything,

it is accepted by Him.

O People! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires; therefore, free it by

seeking Allah’s forgiveness. Your backs are breaking under the heavy load of your sins,

so lighten this load by prostrating before Him for long intervals; and know that Allah, the

Exalted and Mighty, has sworn by His Loftiness that He will not take to task those who

perform their prayers and prostrate to Him, and will guard their bodies against the Fire

of Hell on the Day of Judgment.

O People! If anybody amongst you provides Iftar (food for the ending of the fast) to a

believer during Ramadan, then Allah will give him a reward as if he has set free a slave

and will forgive his past (minor) sins.

Then the companions of the Prophet said: "But everybody amongst us does not have

the means to do so?"

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The Prophet told them: “Keep yourself away from the Fire of Hell, by inviting for

believers for Iftar, even if it be half a date or simply with water if you have nothing else.

O People! Anybody who may cultivate good manners in this month will have a safe

passage over the Siraat (Bridge on the Day of Resurrection), when many feet will slip

away. Anybody who in this month decreases the burden of his workman (male or female),

Allah will make easy his accounting on the Day of Judgment.

Anybody who does not tease others in this month, Allah will keep him safe from His

wrath when he meets Him. Anybody who respects and treats an orphan with kindness in

this month, Allah will amply reward him on the Day of Judgment. The one among you

who improves the ties with his kin during this month will be rewarded by Allah with His

mercy, while anybody who severs his ties with his kin during this month, Allah will keep

him away from His mercy upon meeting him (on the Day of Judgment).

Whoever offers Sunnah (recommended) prayers in this month, Allah will decree a

clearance for him from the agony of Hell fire. Whosoever offers one obligatory prayer in

this month will receive the reward of one who has offered 70 such prayers in any other

month.

The one among you who increases the sending of blessings on me during this month,

Allah will make the balance of his good deeds weigh heavily when the scales will be light

[on the Day of Judgment]. Whosoever recites one verse from the Holy Qur'an in this

month will receive the reward of one who recited the entire Qur'an in other months.

O People! The Gates of Paradise remain opened in this month; so pray that Allah your

Lord does not close them on you, while the Gates of Hell are closed; so pray that Allah

your Lord does not open them on you. During this month, Shaytan is imprisoned so ask

your Lord not to let him have power over you.

- Reported by Al-Baihaqi, classified as weak by some scholars. However, other authentic narrations mention similar virtues

Sermon of the Prophet on the Coming of Ramadan

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NOW OR NEVER By Shafi Ahmed

Our annual friend is here again,

Ramadan is here to set free the women and men, The hellfire is what we seek refuge from, We ask for help from the Almighty one, These thirty days are do or die time,

No excuses because the Shaytan is gone for a while, Time to shape up before the time is lost,

We’ll be asked about our time that we spent with others and on our own, Allah will ask, “You amassed so many sins, why didn’t you repent?”

Our laziness and the dunya is what makes us forget, Tawbah is lost and must be found,

Before we’re six feet under and dirt all around, In that abode we wait until with Allah we face,

Each of us will stand before Allah, filled with regret and so much disgrace, Allah will ask, “How did you spend time your time during all the Ramadan’s, the months of grace?”

I had to study and get those tests back with a big four, But who did you those studies for?

Ya Allah I did it for you and no one more, The actions depend on the intentions how true is this? But we have to keep remembering Allah and not resist,

Allah will ask us “Why didn’t your pray for me in the last third of the night?” Ya Allah, Ya Allah, I don’t have that kind of mental might,

Allah will say, “What about the three days straight you studied all night? The ability of endurance was apparent within you, But you gave up on praying at night too soon,

We do our Taraweeh and lots more, But do the tears fall for what this is for?

If this Book (Qur'an) was revealed on a mountain, the mountain crumbles into dust because of the weight of this revelation,

How come the Qur'an can't shake our hearts with this true love sensation? Our hearts must be impenetrable and harder than rock,

We have to find the key and break this lock, This is reminder for us all,

A time to change and stop the denial, No one can guess what will happen on Judgment Day,

Yawmul Qiyaama is an uncertain day, That’s why it’s important to ask for Allah’s help every day,

So what is there left to say? Its time to act before it’s too late, There is no more time left to wait, If change is what we want,

There is no better time than Ramadan to start, So don’t delay because the time is here,

Each of us is in the driver’s seat, it’s up to us to steer.

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PROPHETIC SAYINGS ON THE MONTH OF RAMADAN

� Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, “Whoever establishes prayers

during the nights (i.e. Tarawih) of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and

hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be

forgiven.”

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Number 36

� Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, “Ramadan, a blessed month, has

come to you during which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the

gates of the Garden are opened, the gates of the Fire are locked, and the

rebellious Shaytan is chained. In it Allah has a night which is better than a

thousand months. He who is deprived of its good indeed suffered deprivation.”

From Ahmad and Nasaa’i

� It was reported that the Prophet said, “Two joys are prepared for him who

observes the fast, the joy of breaking the fast and that of meeting his Lord.” Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

� Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, “Whoever established prayers on

the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then

all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of

Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his

previous sins will be forgiven.”

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Number 125

� Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged

speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e.

Allah will not accept his fasting.)”

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Number 127

� Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said that your Lord said, “Every (sinful)

deed can be expiated; and the fast is for Me, so I will give the reward for it; and

the smell which comes out of the mouth of a fasting person, is better in Allah's

Sight than the smell of musk.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Number 629

� It was reported that the Prophet said, “A human being has not filled any vessel

which is worse than a belly. Enough for the son of Adam are some mouthfuls

which keep his back straight, but if there is not escape he should fill it a third

with food, a third with drink, and leave a third empty.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah

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10 GREAT GOALS TO SET FOR THIS RAMADAN

1. Dua’

Ask Allah to make this the most awesome, spiritually uplifting Ramadan you've ever had.

Only He can make it happen and relying on Him completely is one step in boosting our

spirits.

2. Eat, drink and be moderate

Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our

mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally

contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self-control not

self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with

one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.

3. Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but

even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this

year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that

counts.

4. Go to Tarawih prayers

Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out

to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in

congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't

miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.

5. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box

It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those

four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't

the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our

spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.

(Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some

money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel

like punishment. At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the

person whom you've backbitten the most against)

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6. Call/email your relatives

You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates,

phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But

the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness." Strengthening

ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and

an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email

them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.

7. Quiet your mind, turn off the...

TV, Internet, radio, cell phone, pager, iPod, etc. No, not all day, but for at least 10

minutes a day. Find a quiet place, close your eyes and connect with God. At first, your

mind will swirl with the useless and not-so-useless info in your head. But force it to think

of three things in these few minutes:

a. Allah

b. Your purpose in life

c. Are you living your life on purpose?

Do this every day of Ramadan if you can. If that's not possible, try it at least three times a

week.

8. Read 5 minutes of Qur’an a day...just five, not more, not less

Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone

and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or

follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through

His revelation in the month of the Quran.

9. Forgive everyone who has hurt you

Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Or are you still bitter

about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain

this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good

for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are

devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?

10. Give up one lifelong bad habit

Ask yourself what some of your defining traits are. Then decide which is the worst of

them. Is it a hot temper? Apathy? Laziness? Impatience? Whatever it is, use this

Ramadan to put an end to it. Practice the opposite of your bad habit every day until the

end of the month. By then Insha’Allah, you'll look back and be amazed at what a change

you've made for the better.

Adopted from www.Soundvision.com

Ten Great Goals to Set for this Ramadan

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BETTER THAN A THOUSAND MONTHS

In Ramadan, there is a night know as Laylatul Qadr, or the Night of Power/Decree. Allah (SWT) says in the holy Qur’an, “Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).” [Surah Al-Qadr, 97:1-3]. It is not known when this night is. Some scholars have said it to be on any night in Ramadan. Some say it can be found on the odd nights. Others say that it can be found in the last ten nights. Still others say it can be found on the odd nights of the last ten nights, while some would say it is on the 27th night. But we do not know specifically when it is, so we should search for it in all nights to ensure that we don’t miss this opportunity. Of the blessings of Laylatul Qadr is that in this night, the decrees for the coming year are written. Imam Ibn Kathir mentioned in his tafsir of the verse “We sent it (the Qur'an) down on a blessed night; Verily, We are ever warning. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter Hakim." [Al-Dukhan: 3-4], "On Lalylatul Qadr, the decrees are transferred from Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz to the (angelic) scribes who write down the decrees of the (coming) year including life span, provision, and what will happen until the end of the year. This was narrated by Ibn Umar, Mujahid, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak among others among the salaf." So we should make sure we make dua to Allah (SWTA) on this night, so that He may decree for us what we ask. It is kind of like all the preparation we make for elections - it’s your chance to let your voice be heard right? Well, here, in this night, is your chance to let your dua' be heard and answered. One of the supplications to make on the night of Qadr was taught to us by the

wife of the Prophet , A’isha (R). She narrated that the Prophet advised us to

say, "Allahuma innaka 'afuwwun karimun tuhibbul 'afya fafu anni; O Allah (SWT)! You are the Most Forgiving and Most Gracious! You love to forgive, so forgive my errors and sins" (Ibn Majah). Let us all try our hardest to take advantage of this great night. We ask Allah (SWTA) to make us among those who stand in prayer during Laylatul-Qadr with a sincere heart and that our prayers answered. Ameen.

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PREPARING FOR THE LAST TEN NIGHTS OF RAMADAN

Do you guys believe it? We are already in the last ten nights of Ramadan! Subhan Allah,

how fast time flies. It feels like just the other day I was beaming over arrival of Ramadan

and charting out my schedule to increase my deeds and get closer to Allah (SWTA).

If you guys are like most, you're probably wondering, "Where did all that time go? 20

nights?! And I'm still on Juz (para) 5 in reading! What happened to my plan... the master

plan, that wonderful schedule I set out for myself in which I was going to accomplish all

the goals I had set out for this blessed month?"

My brothers and sisters in Islam, we are past the half way point of this once in a year

opportunity. Many of us have been so busy, balancing work, school, youth group, MSA,

family, friends, etc. that we have missed out to a certain degree on what this month has

brought to us in the past - that reborn faith, that closeness to Allah (SWTA), that inner

feeling of peace and tranquility which we miss so dearly and strive to get back.

But even though we haven't felt that Ramadan spirit yet, it’s not too late. I know, I know,

don’t even say it. I hear the concerns all ready: "I'm so busy... I wake up at 6:00 am to go

to school, and don't get back to bed until 12:00 am, after a long day full of work and

study. How do you expect me to get up and pray at night? I just can't..." Listen to what

Allah told the Prophet , and pay attention:

"O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad SAW)! Stand (to pray) all

night, except a little. Half of it, or a little less than that, Or a little more..."

[Al-Muzzammil, 73:1-4]

But then, what does Allah (SWTA) tell the Prophet three verses later?

Surely you have in the daytime a long occupation (with ordinary duties)

[Al-Muzzammil, 73:7]

Subhan Allah! Who among us can claim that we are busier than the Prophet in the

daytime? He, who was a teacher, a doctor, an Imam, a military leader, a political

leader, a mentor, a counselor, a guide, an advisor, a caller to Allah, a husband, a father -

who made himself available at all times of the day AND night for his Ummah? Yet even

though the Prophet had these long days in front of him, Allah (SWTA) still

commanded him to stand in the night and pray. What about you and I?!? We're using a

few hours of class and work every day as an excuse to not get up and pray. Even though

we have busy days, our strength for them comes through our Salah in the night.

So now, with only 10 nights left, where does that leave us?

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For those of you going strong and sticking to that Ramadan Regimen, much props to you,

but don't let up now. We are nearing the last ten nights, nights in which people are freed

from the hell fire. So increase in your diligence and keep doing what you are doing.

For the rest, we need to start planning ahead. You got exams you say? Got a 15 page

paper due the day after the 27th

night? Now's the time to get to work. Now is the time to

start hitting up and taking care of those responsibilities you have, so you can be free in

these last few days to go full throttle and get the most out of it. Mentally prepare yourself

for the next 12 days or so. Know that every night you’re going to get up and pray to

Allah, that every day your going to read the Qur'an... you have to mentally ingrain it into

your head, convince yourself.

We're hitting that stretch where they separate the men from the boys. It's time to step up

baby. When you are trying to muster up that strength to bench that seemingly 300-pound

blanket off of you at 4:00 am for the next 10 days, remember all the other days that you'll

have to rest. Remember that this is your time to shine, your opportune moment to get

back on the right path, to get those sins forgiven, to get closer to your Creator and your

Judge.

The time has come. Are you ready?

DID YOU KNOW?

THE PROPHET

MARRIED SAWDAH (R) in

the 10th year of his

Prophethood in the month of

Ramadan. She was the first

wife the Prophet married

after the passing of his

beloved, Khadijah (R).

THE BATTLE OF BADR took place on the 17th of

Ramadan, in the year 2 AH.

Approximately 313 believers

were able to defeat around

950 of the non-believers in

the first battle of Islam’s

history.

THE OPENING OF

MEKKAH occurred in the 8th

year AH during the month of

Ramadan, during which the

Muslims entered Mekkah

without bloodshed and

cleansed the Ka’bah of idols.

FATIMAH (R) PASSED

AWAY on the 3rd of

Ramadan in the 11th year

AH. She was the wife of Ali

Ibn Abi Talib (R), the

daughter of the Prophet ,

and the mother of the leaders

of the youth in Paradise,

Hasan and Husain (R).

THE BATTLE OF BUWAIB occurred in the 13th year AH

in the month of Ramadan.

The Muslims, about 20,000 in

number, were victorious over

the Persians, approximately 200,000 in number. The

battle took place in current

day Iraq.

ALI (R) WAS MARTYRED during the month of Ramadan

in the year 40 AH after

serving as the Khalifah of the

Muslim Ummah for six

years. The son-in-law of the

Prophet was assassinated

by Abdurrahman ibn Muljam.

Preparing for the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan

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This Ramadan, Insha’Allah, I hope to accomplish…

� __________________________________________________________

� __________________________________________________________

� __________________________________________________________

� __________________________________________________________

� __________________________________________________________

The Prophet is reported to have said, “Realize the value of five states before the other

five states come to pass and make good use of them, your youth before your old age, your

health before you fall ill, your wealth before poverty, your free time before you become

busy, and your life before your death.”

- Related by Imam Al-Tirmidhi

Some things I want to focus on when making Dua’…

� ________________________ � ________________________

� ________________________ � ________________________

� ________________________ � ________________________

� ________________________ � ________________________

� ________________________ � ________________________

� ________________________ � ________________________

� ________________________ � ________________________

Allah (SWTA) says in the Holy Qur’an, “And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad

) concerning me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My

Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on me

(without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey me and believe in me, so

that they may be led aright.”

- Qur’an, Chapter 2, Verse 186

THE RAMADAN DEEDS CHART

The Prophet is reported to have said, “The best of deeds are those done consistently, even if they are small”

THE MUSLIM STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

www.MSAMSU.com

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Prayed Fajr on time Prayed Thuhr on time Prayed Asr on time Prayed Maghrib on time Prayed Isha’ on time Number of prayers

offered in the masjid

Prayed Sunnah Prayers Prayed Taraweeh Prayed Tahajjud Read Qur’an Gave charity Helped someone out Served/called your

parents

Offered Iftar to a fasting

person

Asked for forgiveness Forgave someone else

Brought to you by the good ‘ole folks at the

MUSLIM STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

of

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

www.MSAMSU.com

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