AsSabiqoon # 8

! A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#8 July 2014

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!!بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم

Introduction!!

! شهر رمضان الذي أنزل فيه القرآن هدى للناس! وبينات من الهدى والفرقان

The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind

and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). (Surah

Al Baqarah: Ayah 185)!!Dear reader, elhamdila it’s Ramadan, the month of joy! Is it not a joy, when we are lost & someone guides us? Have you ever been lost in a countryside, with no signs of life around you? What did you feel at that time? And how did you feel when you found the way? Subhan Allah, Ramadan is month when Allah (swt) revealed the Qur’an as a guidance, as a criterion of right & wrong, to tell us which direction we should take to get to our destination - Jannah.!!Hence, it is important to spend the month of Ramadan in reciting, understanding & reflecting on the Qur’an. What does the Qur’an teach us & why do we link the Qur’an to Ramadan? The Qur’an teaches us the benefits of: taqwa, sabr, & shukr! Ramadan, the month of Taqwa, restraint, & a time when we should strive to attain consciousness of the absolute presence of Allah (swt) & hence before any action, you must ask yourself if it is pleasing to my Lord? !! يا أيها الذين آمنوا كتب عليكم الصيام كما كتب على

!الذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقونO 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-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2). (Surah-AL Baqarah:  ayah:183)!

!Ramadan is a month of shukr. Is it not good enough that our guide was revealed in Ramadan? Is it not good to know that we have a Book where we can turn to all the time to show us what direction we should take or avoid?!!Ramadan is a month of fasting, so what does fasting teach us? It teaches us sabr & controlling desires while fasting. Subhanal Allah. If you are happy to stop drinking & eating during the hours that Allah forbade, then are you not going to do the same with the sins, which Allah forbade at all times?!!The Prophet (pbuh) said when the month of Sha`ban drew to a close: "O Muslims! A noble & generous month has come to you. A month in which a night is better than one thousand months, & this month is the month of charity, patience, & mercy. In this month the gates of Paradise become wide open & the gates of Hell are shut, & the devils are chained." (An-Nasa'i)!In Sha Allah I would like to end where I started, that Ramadan is the celebration of the revelation of the Qur’an & why should we celebrate the Qur’an?!!ا يا أيها الناس قد جاءتكم موعظة من ربكم وشفاء مل

!في الصدور وهدى ورحمة للمؤمننيO mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus: 57)!!

!الحمدهلل رب العاملنيوالصالة والسالم على أشرف املرسلني

A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #8 July 2014

This Issue Introduction: Page 2!

The Gems Box: Page 4 !

Linguistic Miracles of the Glorious Quran - Accuracy in Prepositions:

Pages 5 - 6!

Learn, Live & Love the Names of Allah Azza Wajal: Pages 7 -10!

Don’t miss that Night!!: Pages 11 - 13 Ramadan the month of the Qur’an:

Pages 14 - 17!

Power of Dua with Faith: Page 18 - 19 !

Cheer Up! Pages 20 - 23!

Dates: Pages 24-26!

The Real Superstars: Pages 27 - 29!

Learn Tajweed: Page 30!

Brain Squeeze: Page 31!

Gems of Surahs: Page 32-33!

Home Truths: Page 34 - 36!

The Uncountable Benefits of Eating Dates: Page 37 - 38!

Masjid Bani Hashim: Page 39 - 41

Pages 27-29

Page 4

Pages 18-19

Pages 5-6

Pages 7-10 Pages 20-23

Page 30

A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#8 July 2014

Pages 32-33

31

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The Gems of The Month of Ramadan

“Be Generous”

Your value is not in what you have. Your value is in what you give!

The Sun is made of fire but does it give fire? No… it gives light, energy, and vitamins…

It benefits us!

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“Give from your Heart”

Once a rich man offered expired food to a poor person as charity. Shortly after that, the rich man received a basket full of beautiful flowers from the poor person.

Guilt started filling the rich man’s heart while he asked: “Why did you offer me these fresh flowers when I have only given you rotten food?”

The poor person replied with a smile: “ Each one gives what is in his heart”.

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“Give Horizontal but ask Vertical!”

Be like a date palm tree! Benefit others in the best as well as in the hardest times!

Stand high above lowly concerns and give shade to others.

Stay firm and strong on faith no matter how violently the storm hits you.

Give fruits when others throw stones at you!

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“Dunia is like a House”

The roof of the Dunia is the Heavens and the floor of Dunia is the Earth. Why are you then worried when Allah has written all the decree of every creature before He

created Dunia?

In this article we will briefly discuss the linguistic miracle of accurate prepositions used in the correct context. !!Allah (‘Azza wa Jal) in the Qur’an mentions two negative emotions of the heart: Fear & Anger/Grief. !!Firstly, we need to distinguish between Fear & Anger/Grief: !Fear is felt during a particular situation & time. For instance, if there is a loud thunder clap, this may set fear in our heart, however as soon as the thunder rolls away our fear diminishes & things are back to normal. Fear is an emotion which is felt over the entire body. It overcomes our heart & is felt on our skin. Anger is an emotion which rages inside our heart, which may trigger again from

time to time as you recall a particular situation. It sets inside our hearts.!!Let us compare these two emotions in the Ayah of the Qur’an. !!Surah Al-Fath: 4!!

ؤمنني هو ٱلذى أنزل ٱلسكينة فى قلوب ٱملوت نهم وهلل جنود ٱلسم نا مع إيم ليزدادوا إيم

رض وكان ٱهلل عليما حكيما !وٱأل!“It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens & the earth, & ever is Allah Knowing and Wise.” !!!

Accuracy in Prepositions

The Muslims have travelled to Makkah from Madinah in the hope of performing Hajj, however they are not able to do so, resulting in anger & frustration. Hence, Allah (‘Azza wa Jal) sends tranquility inside their hearts as anger or grief is embedded inside. !!!Surah AtTawbah: 40!! إال تنصروه فقد نصره اهلل إذ أخرجه الذين كفروا ثاني اثنني إذ هما في الغار إذ يقول لصاحبه ال تحزن إن اهلل معنا فأنزل اهلل سكينته عليه وأيده

بجنود لم تروها وجعل كلمة الذين كفروا!السفلى وكلمة اهلل هي العليا واهلل عزيز حكيم!“If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave & he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down His tranquility upon him & supported him with angels you did not see & made the word of those who

disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might & Wise.!!When Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) & Prophet Muhammad (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) were in the cave & the enemies were on the verge of finding them, Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) naturally felt fear & this is when Prophet Muhammad (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) consoled & comforted him. Since this was a situation of fear Allah (‘Azza wa Jall) sent tranquility upon them as fear is felt all over the body.!!Glory to Allah (‘Azza wa Jal) Who is perfect in His words! Such accuracy of prepositions can only be divine, from one source, one Ilaah. This is a small attempt to unravel the linguistic miracles in the Qur’an amongst many others. And only Allah (‘Azza wa Jal) has true knowledge of them.

Disputing with the Language of the Sacred Texts !A - The Issue of Mutashabih!“It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise (muhkam) – they are the foundation of the Book – clear & others not as clear (mutashabih). As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation (ta’wil) except Allah . But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.” And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.” [3:7] Muhkam linguistically means to prevent or obstruct. In context of the Quran it means an ayah is clear & does not need interpretation. An example of this is are the verses pertaining to inheritance. On the other hand, Mutashabih means to resemble or be similar to. It is the verses that can have more than one meaning & can be misinterpreted if misunderstood. All scholars of have stated that the mutashabih verses must be understood in light of the muhkam ones.  Allah (swt) divides the Quran into 2 categories. People with a disease in their hearts misinterpret the mutashabih ayat. The main point to remember is that the mutashabih ayat are to be understood in light of the muhkam ones.!!Interpretation (Tafseer)Tafseer is to strip a word of its primary meaning & understand it in light of a secondary meaning. This meaning was unknown to early scholars. For example, the ayah (3:7) can be read in 2 ways. The first is to stop here, “…& no one knows its ta’wil except for Allah. And those grounded in knowledge say….” This is how Ibn Mas’ood and Ubay

bin Ka’b would recite it. The second is to read it, “…& no one knows its ta’wil except for Allah & those grounded in knowledge. [They] say….” and this was the recitation of Ibn Abbas. The recitation of Ibn Abbas goes back to the interpretation (tafseer) & reading of Ibn Mas’ood is that of actualisation. One of the proofs of this is Ibn Abbas

saying that I am of the people of knowledge & know the ta’wil. !B - Tafseer of Muhkam and Mutashabih!Allah says: “It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’an). In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkam (commandments), Al-Fara'id (obligatory duties) & Al-Hudood (laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers)]; & others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism & trials), & seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings save Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord.” And none receive admonition except men of understanding”. [Al ‘Imran 3:7]. The meaning here is that the Qur’an contains verses that are entirely clear & those that are not entirely clear. The entirely clear verses (muhkam) are those concerning which there is no confusion. This applies to most of the verses of the Qur’an. These verses are the “Foundations of the Book”. As for the verses which are not entirely clear (mutashabih) these are verses which may not be clear to some people, in exclusion to others. The scholars know them but the ignorant do not, and there are some which only Allah knows. Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Tafseer (2/6): Allah tells us that in the Qu'ran there are verses which are entirely clear, which are the foundation of the Book, i.e., they are clear in meaning, with no confusion for anyone; & there are other verses which are not entirely clear as to what they mean for many or some people. The one who refers that which is unclear to him to that which is clear & uses the clear verses to understand what is not clear to him will be guided. But the one who does the opposite will be misguided. Hence Allah says: “It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’an). In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book” i.e., they are the root to which reference should be made in the event of confusion; “and others not entirely clear” i.e., they could be interpreted in accordance with those that are entirely clear or they could be interpreted in some other way based on the wording & the way they are written not according to the meaning.

“So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation”, i.e., misguidance, & ignoring the truth in favour of falsehood, “they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof” i.e., they interpret that which is not entirely clear in such a way that allows them to distort it to suit their corrupt aims. But in the case of the verses which are entirely clear,

they have no chance of doing that, so that is clear proof against them. Hence Allah says: “seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism & trials)” i.e., to misguide their followers & give them the impression that they are using evidence from the Qur’an to support their bid’ah (innovation). This is evidence against them, not for them. !!It is similar to when the Christians argue that the Qur’an says that ‘Isa (Jesus) is a Spirit from God & His Word that He bestowed upon Maryam (Mary), but they ignore the verses in which Allah says: “He [‘Isa (Jesus)] was not more than a slave. We granted Our Favour to him.” [Al-Zukhruf 43:59] & “Verily, the likeness of ‘Eesa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!’ – & he was” [Aal ‘Imran 3:59] – & other clear verses which unambiguously show that he was one of the creatures created by Allah. And the words “and seeking for its hidden meanings” mean, they distort it as they wish. End quote.Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Allah has divided the Holy Qur’an into two categories: the verses which are entirely clear & those which are not entirely clear. What is meant by those which are entirely clear is that the meaning is obvious to everyone like the heavens, earth, stars, mountains, trees, animals & so on with no ambiguity in its meaning. The verses which are not entirely clear are those verses which are general in meaning & do not give details, but they are explained in detail in the Sunnah. For example: “And perform As-Salah [prayer]” [Al-Baqarah 2:43]. How prayer is to be performed is not known from this verse; but it is known from this it is obligatory to perform prayers. But how that is to be done is known from other evidences. !!The wisdom behind the fact that the Qur’an was revealed with verses of these two types is that this is a test, because those in whose hearts is deviation will follow that which is not entirely clear & will remain confused. But those who are well-versed in knowledge believe in all of it, both that which is not entirely clear & that which is entirely clear. They know that it is from Allah & that there is no contradiction in it. For example, verses that are not entirely clear are the verses in which Allah says: “There

will then be (left) no Fitnah (excuses or statements or arguments) for them but to say: ‘By Allah, our Lord, we were not those who joined others in worship with Allah’” [Al-An'am 6:23] & “On that day those who disbelieved & disobeyed the Messenger (Muhammad) will wish that they were buried in the earth, but they will never be able

to hide a single fact from Allah” [al-Nisa' 4:42]. One may say that they contradict one another. How can they say “By Allah, our Lord, we were not those who joined others in worship with Allah”, then it is said of them that “they will never be able to hide a single fact from Allah?” They quote the verses against one another in order to confuse people. But those who are knowledgeable say: It is all from Allah & there is no contradiction in the words of Allah. !End quote from Fataawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb.These are all examples of relative ambiguity which some people may not be able to understand, but those who are knowledgeable understand it. As for the verses which are not entirely clear & which no one knows except Allah relate to matters such as the essence & nature of Allah’s attributes, or what is with Allah of the delight of the people of Paradise & the torment for those who disobey Him. All of that is known to no one except Allah. Secondly, whoever is confused about any of the verses which are not entirely clear should try to understand it in the light of that which is entirely clear, especially if he is a scholar who is able to use evidence in order to reach conclusions. Otherwise he should ask the scholars, as Allah says: “So ask of those who know the Scripture, if you know not” [al-Nahl 16:43]. In any case, let him say: “We believe in it; the whole of it (clear & unclear Verses) are from our Lord” [Al ‘Imran 3:7].Praise be to Allah that there is no contradiction between the verses of the Qur’an, or between the Sunnah & the Qur’an, because it is all from Allah, and He says: “Do they not then consider the Qur’an carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely, have found therein many a contradiction” [al-Nisa' 4:82]. We ask Allah to guide us & to grant us beneficial knowledge & enable us all to do righteous deeds. And Allah knows best.

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs) said: “Whoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eman (firm belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven.” [1]!!This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as well as performing qiyaam (night prayer) on that night. It indicates that it is a grand night which Allah has honoured and made it better than a thousand months (eighty-three years and four months) with regard to its blessing and the blessings found in the righteous deeds that are performed on that night. Due to this, whoever performs qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith and while seeking reward, will be forgiven his past sins. !!There were certain verses revealed concerning this virtue:!

إنا أنزلناه في ليلة مباركة  إنا كنا منذرين ﴿

!﴾٣﴾ فيها يفرق كل أمر حكيم ﴿٤

“We sent it (the Qur’an) down on a blessed night. Verily We are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.” [2]!

Therefore, it is a “blessed night” meaning it possesses much good and blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the one who does good deeds. Among its blessings, is that Allah revealed the Qur’an on that night. !!

!سورة القدر

!بسم اللـه الرحمـن الرحيم

إنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر ﴿١﴾ وما أدراك ما ليلة

القدر ﴿٢﴾ ليلة القدر خير من ألف شهر ﴿٣﴾ تنزل

الئكة والروح فيها بإذن ربهم من كل أمر ! امل

!٤﴾ سالم هي حتى مطلع الفجر ﴿٥

“Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by their Lord’s permission with all decrees. (All that night) there is peace, until the appearance of dawn.” [3]!

!Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said concerning Allah’s saying: “Therein descend the angels and the Rooh”: “This means that the descending of the angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its blessings. !And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur’an is recited and encompass the gatherings in

The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr

which Allah is remembered and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, out of respect for him.” [4]!!This night occurs only in Ramadan, since Allah revealed the Qur’an in it. He informs us that its revelation occurred during the month of Ramadan in His saying: !

!إنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر

“Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr.” [5] !Also His saying: !!

شهر رمضان الذي أنزل فيه القرآن هدى للناس

! وبينات من الهدى والفرقان

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an.” [6]. This means that its revelation from Allah to Muhammad began in it. Allah’s (sصلى اهلل عليه وسلم)

statement: “The night of Al-Qadr” is either an indicative of the honour and station of that night, as it is said: “Such and such person has great Qadr”. The conjunction of “the night” to Al-Qadr is the joining of a descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean “An honourable night”. !!The word “Al-Qadr” may also be in reference to the ordainment and disposal of affairs. Thus, its being joined to the word “the night” in order to denote a place or time for it. !So it would mean “the night in which all that will occur in the following year will be decreed.” This is similar to Allah’s saying: “Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.” [7]. Qatadah said of this: “Therein is decreed every matter for the (upcoming) year” [8] and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct opinion. [9]!

What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the possibility of these two understandings and Allah knows best. His statement: “with Eman” means with firm conviction in what Allah has prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent night. “Seeking reward” means looking for reward and attainment of recompense.!!Thus, this is a grand night, which Allah has chosen for beginning the revelation of the Qur’an. So a Muslim must acknowledge its weight in worth, by guarding it and spending it in worship whilst having firm conviction and seeking the reward of Allah, in order that Allah may forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) warned us about being heedless of this night and being neglectful of spending it in worship, for the Muslim would be prevented from its good. !!Abu Hurairah (رضي اهلل عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) said: “Ramadan has come to you – a blessed month. Allah has made it obligatory upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is prevented from its good, then he has been deprived.” [10]!!A Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night of Al-Qadr is sought with that which the Prophet (صلى رضي اهلل) s) instructed Aishaاهلل عليه وسلم with, when she asked him: “What if I (عنها

know on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I say?” So he (صلى اهلل !:said: “Say (عليه وسلم

!اللهم انك عفو ، تحب العفو فاعف عني!

“Allahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni' “ meaning O Allah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love to pardon, so pardon me.” [11] !!Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: “It is recommended to supplicate a lot at all times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of Ramadan, its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly recommended to increase ones invoking with this supplication.!!Footnotes:![1] Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759)![2] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4![3] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5![4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465)![5] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1![6] Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185![7] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 4![8] Reported by At-Tabaree in his Tafseer (25/65) as well as Al-Bayhaqee in his book Fadaa’il-ul-Awqaat (pg. 216). Its chain of narration is saheeh.![9] See Shifaa’-ul-’Aleel of Ibn Qayyim (pg. 42)![10] This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa’ee. See Ahmad Shaakir’s checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of Al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395)![11] Reported by At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah with an authentic chain. [Translator's note: The supplication transliterated from Arabic reads: "Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul-'Afwa Fa’affoo ‘annee." ]![12] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 8/472

There is a very good reason why Ramadan, out of all the months in the Islamic calendar was chosen by Allah to be the month of fasting. It was in this month on the Night of Decree (Laylatul-Qadr), that the Qur’an was revealed to mankind. !!Allah, the Most High says: !

شهر رمضان الذي أنزل فيه القرآن هدى للناس

وبينات من الهدى والفرقان  فمن شهد منكم الشهر

فليصمه  ومن كان مريضا أو على سفر فعدة من

أيام أخر  يريد اللـه بكم اليسر وال يريد بكم العسر

ولتكملوا العدة ولتكبروا اللـه على ما هداكم ولعلكم

!﴾تشكرون ﴿١٨٥

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Furqan (criterion) [between right and wrong]. So whoever of you sights [the crescent on the first night of] the month [of Ramadan], he must fast that month.” [Surah al-Baqarah (2) :185]! !Allah honoured this month by revealing the Qur’an and it is because of this that He obligated fasting .This is also the month in which Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) would come to meet the Prophet (صلى اهلل s) every night in order to repeatعليه وسلمthe recitation of the Qur’an with him. [1]. Thus, the relationship between Ramadan

and the Qur’an is very close, which is why Muslims worldwide turn to the Qur’an with a heightened sense of vigour during this month.! !Recitation of the Qur’anThe main purpose of the Qur’an is to be a source of guidance for mankind leading those who cling to it from darkness into light, from misery to happiness and raising them from lowliness to a lofty station. However, another important feature of the Qur’an is that its recitation is in itself a form of ‘ibadah’ (worship). In fact the Qur’an is defined as being the (uncreated) word of Allah, sent down to Muhammad (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs)، the recitation of which is a form of worship” [2] a unique definition that can be applied to no other book, writing or statement.! !From the beginning of the Prophet’s Messenger-ship great emphasis was placed on the recitation of the Qur’an. The literal meaning of the word Qur’an itself is ‘Reading’ or ‘Recitation’. First ayah (verse) to be revealed on that momentous occasion where Jibreel (‘alayhis salaam) came to Prophet Muhammad (صلى اهلل عليه s) whilst he was alone in the caveوسلمHira was: !

!﴾اقرأ باسم ربك الذي خلق ﴿١

Ramadan  the  Month  of  the  Qur’an

“Iqraa (Recite/Read), in the name of your lord who created you…”[Surah al-Alaq (9): 1] !The Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs) himself strongly urged his companions to recite as much of the Qur’an as possible. He said: “whoever reads a single letter from Allah’s Book will receive a blessing (for each letter) and each blessing is worth ten times its value.” [3]! !Indeed the virtues of reciting the Book of Allah are many. And by way of encouragement to all of us to spend time reciting and reflecting upon the Qur’an, some of these virtues are listed below: !1. It will come as an intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.The Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs) said: “Recite the Qur’an, for verily on the Day of Resurrection it will act as an intercessor for those who recite it” [4]. !!On the day when neither our family nor our wealth will be of any benefit to us, this Qur’an will beseech Allah on behalf of those who recite it frequently. Allah will give it a speech and Allah is able to do all things -and it will say to Allah: “I prevented him from sleep at night, so accept my intercession for him” [5]. And its intercession will be accepted.! !2. Tranquility descends. Al Baraa reported that a man was reciting Suratul-Kahf and there was a horse tied with two ropes at his side, when a cloud overshadowed him. As it began to come

nearer and nearer his horse began to take fright from it. He went and mentioned that to the Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) in the morning, who said: !“It was tranquility [as-Sakeenah] which came down at the recitation of the Qur’an.” [6] !!This shows us that the tranquility and the calmness which results from the recitation of the Qur’an is not something abstract, but something very real which permeated the whole atmosphere so that even the animals can feel it. This ‘Sakeenah’ which descends upon the reciter is accompanied by angels who assemble to listen to the Qur’an. !!The Companion Usaid ibn Hudair (ra) mentioned to the Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه that once when he was reciting the (وسلمQur’an, he صلى اهلل عليه وسلم something like a canopy or a cloud with what seemed to be lamps contained inside. The Prophet :explained to him that (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم)Those were angels who come near to you for your voice if you had kept on reciting till dawn it would have remained there till morning when the people would have seen it as it would have disappeared.” [7]! !3. It will be a shade on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) said: “Recite the two bright ones, Al-Baqarah and Surah Aal-e lmran, for on the day of Resurrection they will come as two

clouds, or two shades or two flocks birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them”[8] !!We are well aware that on a hot summers day when we are out in a scorching Sun, the thing we appreciate most is a tree or some sort of canopy, beneath which we can shade ourselves. Imagine how much more we will be pinning for a shade on the Day of Resurrection. When… !“ the people will be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some up to half of their knees, some up to the waist and some would have a bridle of perspiration up to their mouths” [9].! !“ We seek refuge in Allah from the terrors of this awful Day.”! !So these are just some of the blessings awaiting those who recite the Qur’an as it should be recited, bringing with them a receptive heart.!!Furthermore, these blessings and rewards are only multiplied for those who struggle in their recitation, for the Prophet (صلى اهلل ,s) said: ”One who is skilled in itعليه وسلم‘the Qur’an’ is associated with the noble upright, recording Angels, and he who falters when he recites the Qur’an and finds it difficult, he will have a double reward.” ! !Of course it goes without saying that although great emphasis and encouragement has been made to recite

the Qur’an, this is not the goal in itself. Recitation of the Book of Allah is just a means through which we can absorb its message and act on whatever that messages entails. However, reciting with the meaning is superior to merely reading as the Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs) explained.! !He (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) said “The example of a believer who recites the Qur’an and acts on it, is like an orange which tastes nice and smells nice. And the example of the believer who does not recite the Qur’an but acts on it is like a date that tastes sweet but has no smell. And the example of the hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like sweet Basil which smells good but tastes bitter And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’an is like a Coelacanth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell”.! !Companion of life:In this month of Ramadan, lets habituate ourselves into spending a daily period with the Qur’an – reciting, memorising and acting upon it. Because we should know that no people are better and more worthy of our envy than the companions of the Qur’an, which is why the most striking and outstanding character of every pious person of knowledge is their love and attachment towards the Qur’an. !!There is no man or woman who is considered to be righteous, except he or she is known to possess this noble quality.

So when Aisha (ra) was asked to describe the best of mankind, the Prophet (صلى اهلل s), she could find a more suitableعليه وسلمdescription other than to say that: “His character was the Qur’an”. And among the scholars we have the example of lmam Malik, whose sister was asked: ”What did Malik occupy himself with in his House?” She replied, “The Mushaf (i.e the Qur’an), reciting.!!Dear readers, no person can afford to remain ignorant or neglectful of the Qur’an. Reading it regularly, sincerely not ritualistically, to derive guidance from it and adopt the company of those who make mention of it in their gatherings. Make the Qur’an your constant companion, not just for Ramadan, but for life.! !FOOTNOTES: !1. Collected in Saheeh al-Bukhari (eng. Trans. Vol. 6, pg. 486, no. 518-520) !2. Al-Waadih Fee Usoolil Fiqh (p.66) of Muhammad Sulayman al-Ashqar !3. Reported by Ibn Majah and collected in at-Tirmidhee. !4. Sahih Muslim (eng. Trans. vol. 2, p. 385. no.1757) !5. Hasan part of long Hadeeth reported by Abdullah Ibn Amr and collected by Ahmad and others. Authentic by Shaikh Alee Hasan al-Halabee in Sifaat Sawmin Nabee. !6. Sahih Al-Bukhari (Eng Trans. vol. 6, p.492, no. 531) !

7. Sahih al-Bukhari (eng. trans. vol. 6, p. 496. no. 536) And Sahih Muslim (Eng Trans. vol. 1, p.382, no. 1742) !8. Sahih Muslim (eng. trans. vol. 6, p. 385. no.1757)!9. Sahih Muslim (eng. trans. vol. 4, p. 1487. no. 6852) 10. There are many virtues attached to the recitation of certain parts of the Qur’an, for example; Ayat-Al-Kursee [(2):225] is a protection against Shaitaan (Bukhari), Soorah al-Naas and Soorah al-Falaq, protect against the evil eyes and is a cure (Muslim).!!

The month of Ramadan is a virtuous month, and more specifically the last ten nights are more virtuous, and more specifically the ‘Night of Decree’ is the most virtuous night in the last ten days of Ramadan. And by the mercy of Allah (swt), He sent us our Messenger (pbuh) to teach us what to supplicate on this blessed night. !'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: "O Messenger of Allah (ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص)! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?" He (ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص) replied, "You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are All-Pardoning, You love to pardon; so pardon me)." – At Tirmidhi Book 9, Hadith 1195.

Let us see what this means exactly:!✤ !Allahumma : (اللهم)

‘Oh Allah’ – you are calling by the name of Allah. !

✤ !innaka 'afuwwun : (إنك عفو)Truly You are Most Pardoning – you are using another name of Allah, so you are beginning your dua’a by using two names of Allah - His name ‘Allah’ first and ‘Al ‘Afuw’ – The All-Pardoning . And this shows us that when we begin a dua’a, it is best to begin with the names of Allah. This is a type of etiquette in dua’a as you are asking your Lord, The Most High. As Allah (swt) says in Surah Al ‘Aaraf 180: ( سمآء ٱلحسنى فٱدعوه بہا ! (وهلل ٱأل

(And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allâh, so call on Him by them)!!

✤ ! tuhibbul-'afwa : (تحب العفو)You love to pardon – Here we see an action of Allah (swt) that He loves to pardon. You might ask what is the difference between being forgiven and being pardoned? To be forgiven is to have concealment of the sins. No one likes to be exposed, and seeking forgiveness is a means to have your sins concealed from others. Pardoning however is greater than forgiveness. To be pardoned means to have the sin completely erased from the book of records with the angels, Subhan Allah. There would be no reckoning related to a sin that is pardoned In Sha’a Allah. Also, it means that any traces to that sin be eliminated. It means that you will not be affected by any negative consequences as a result of your sins. We all know that each sin has a negative consequence, be it deprivation, elimination of blessings, misguidance, etc. We ask for Allah’s pardoning. Ameen. !!

✤ ! fa'fu 'anni :(فاعف عني)So pardon me – After having called on Allah’s names and His action, now you ask what you would like, which is to be pardoned. And this shows your humility and being broken in front of your Rabb. You are confessing that you are a sinner and that you need to be pardoned. This shows how we are all humans who make mistakes though we need Allah Al ‘Afuw to pardon us, we need to be attached always to Allah alone, and this is tawheed. And no matter how great your sin may be, the pardoning of Allah is greater – never despair from the mercy of Allah, Alhamdulillah.

Who are the slaves of The Most

Compassionate (Ibaadu

ArRahman)? !!

! بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم!الحمد هلل رب العاملني والصالة والسالم على أشرف املرسلني

!No doubt in life we should aim today to be better than yesterday and to be better tomorrow In Shaa اهلل عز وجل than today! Similarly we want this Ramadan to be the best! How can this Ramadan be the best one ever? Subhanal Allah, I found the answer in the Qur’an! Why do we not make the intention that with the help of Rabbana, that we want this Ramadan to become the praiseworthy slaves of Ar Rahman? Yes, in shaa Allah I think it is a good aim to strive for and hence in this month’s “Cheer up!” I take resort to the best speech, the speech of Allah subhana wa t’Ala and those verses where Ar Rahman defines who are Ibad Ar Rahman! These verses do not need any اهلل عز وجلcommentary, any explanation, they are clear per se. May Rabbana open our hearts and our actions towards becoming Ibad Ar Rahman.!!!Qur’an Chapter 25- Al Furqan (The Criterion of right and wrong), verses 63-77!!

!رض هونا وإذا خاطبهم الجاهلون قالوا سالما ن الذين يمشون على األ !وعباد الرحم

63-True servants of the Compassionate (Allah عز وجل) are those who walk on the earth in humility and when the ignorant people address them, they say: “Peace;"!!!

!والذين يبيتون لربهم سجدا وقياما64-Who pass the night prostrating before their Lord and standing in prayers;!!

!!والذين يقولون ربنا اصرف عنا عذاب جهنم إن عذابها كان غراما

!إنها ساءت مستقرا ومقاما65 & 66- Who say: "Our Lord! Ward off the punishment of hell from us, for its punishment is !atrocious - certainly it is an evil abode and an evil resting place;”!!!!!

!والذين إذا أنفقوا لم يسرفوا ولم يقتروا وكان بني ذلك قواما67-Who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but keep the balance between those two extremes.!

!! والذين ال يدعون مع اهلل إلها آخر وال يقتلون النفس التي حرم اهلل إال بالحق وال يزنون ومن يفعل ذلك يلق

!أثاما!يضاعف له العذاب يوم القيامة ويخلد فيه مهانا

!68- Who do not invoke any other god besides Allah عز وجل, nor kill any soul which Allah has made sacred, except for a just cause, nor commit fornication - he that does this shall be punished for his sin, 69- And his punishment shall be doubled on the Day of Resurrection and in disgrace he shall abide forever,!

!

!!!

إال من تاب وآمن وعمل عمال صالحا فأولئك يبدل اهلل سيئاتهم حسنات وكان!اهلل غفورا رحيما

70- Except the one who repents, becomes a true believer, and starts doing good deeds, for then Allah عز وجل will change his evil deeds into good, and Allah عز وجل is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.!

!!!!!

!!ومن تاب وعمل صالحا فإنه يتوب إلى اهلل متابا

!71-He that repents and does good deeds, has truly turned to Allah عز وجل with good turning.!!!!!!!!

!والذين ال يشهدون الزور وإذا مروا باللغو مروا كراما!

72-Those are the ones who do not bear witness to falsehood and, if they ever pass by futility, pass with dignity.!!!!!!

!ا وعميانا !والذين إذا ذكروا بآيات ربهم لم يخروا عليها صم

!73- Who, when reminded about the revelations of their Lord, do not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to them.!!

!!والذين يقولون ربنا هب لنا من أزواجنا وذرياتنا قرة أعني واجعلنا للمتقني إماما

74- Who pray: "Our Lord! Make our wives and our children to be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the righteous.”!!!!! !

!أولئك يجزون الغرفة بما صبروا ويلقون فيها تحية وسالما!خالدين فيها حسنت مستقرا ومقاما

75-Such are the ones who will be rewarded with the lofty places in paradise for their patience, wherein they shall be welcomed with greetings and salutations. 76- They shall live forever in that excellent dwelling and excellent resting place!!!!!

!!!

!قل ما يعبأ بكم ربي لوال دعاؤكم فقد كذبتم فسوف يكون لزاما77- O Muhammad! Say: "My Lord would not have any care for, but for invocation to Him. Now that you have rejected His revelations, soon you will face the inevitable punishment.”!!Alhamdulil Allah Rabb al alameen, Praise be to Allah عز وجل, The Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allah عز وجل be upon the Prophet (pbuh), his family, companions and followers.

!!The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Break your fast by eating dates as it is purifying.” (Narrated by

Ahmad)!During the month of Ramadan, there is an abundance of dates everywhere we turn. There is good reason for this, as Muslims generally break their fast by eating dates. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to break his fast by eating dates and if ripe dates were not available, he would substitute them with dried ones. When even these were not available, he used to have a few sips of water, according to some accounts. Dates contain sugar, fat, and proteins, as well as important vitamins. Hence the great importance attached to them by the Prophet (PBUH).!!Regarding the Messenger of Allah ! breaking his fast with (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم)fresh dates, dried dates, or even water, there is of course a subtle reason for this. Since dates travel faster to the liver and are converted more quickly than other nutrients, particularly if they are moist, the liver accepts their contents more readily and hastens their

distribution to the rest of the body, which is thirsting for energy. So dates are the perfect food with which to break the fast, since they quickly supply the body with the energy it needs.!!Research has proven that having dates after fasting has great benefits for our nutrition and health. Following are the 6 health benefits of eating dates after fasting:!1. Dates are easy to digest so they don’t

exhaust the fasting person’s stomach.!2. Dates decrease the great hunger feeling of

the fasting person and so he doesn’t rush into excessive food eating which causes digestion disorders.!

3. Dates prepare the stomach to receive the food after being inactive through out the day with activating the release of digestive secretions and juices.!

4. Dates are very rich with glucose (sugars) and so the body is supplied with the most important nutrients which is sugar that is irreplaceable as a nutrient for the brain cells and nerves.!

5. Dates protect the fasting person from having constipation as a result of changing meals times or as a result of having low fibre amounts in meals.!

6. The alkaline salts in dates adjust the acidity of blood which result from excessiveness eating of meat and carbohydrates which causes a lot of hereditary diseases as diabetes, gout, renal stones, gall bladder inflammations, high blood pressure and haemorrhoids).!

Another factor making dates the ideal food is their digestibility. Within half an hour of

A date with Ramadan!

eating them, the tired body regains new vigour. The reason for this is that low blood sugar is the main cause of hunger, not an empty stomach as is often assumed. When the body absorbs the nutritional essence of a few dates the sensation of hunger is abated. Many who break the fast with dates afterwards find themselves unable to eat much. It would seem that taking dates after fasting helps one avoid overeating.!!Other Benefits of Eating Dates !Dates are high in vitamins A, B6, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and natural sodium. They also contain a small amount of protein, some good fats, and additional minerals including calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, magnesium, and volatile oils. They are extremely beneficial for the stomach and for the digestive tract because they can prevent bad parasites and bacteria from infiltrating the digestive tract and causing all sorts of digestive and intestinal problems. Dates are also rich in natural fibers and therefore the eating of them helps to fight many of the ailment with which we commonly suffer today. Modern medicine has shown that eating dates is effective in helping to prevent abdominal cancer. Dates also surpass other fruits in the sheer variety of their constituents. They are the most wholesome food among fruits because of their hot and moist substance. Eating dates in the morning on an empty stomach kills intestinal worms and other parasites, for dates have an antidotal potency which inhibits their growth.!!Dates and date palms are mentioned in the Qur'an 20 times, thus showing their importance. The Prophet (PBUH) likened a good Muslim to the date palm saying, "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall.” (Al Bukhari - 60)!

Dates were the food that Almighty Allah عز be عز وجل provided for Maryam (Allah وجلpleased with her) when she felt labor pains and gave birth to Jesus (PBUH) under the palm tree. Allah عز وجل revealed to her the following:!"Shake the trunk of the palm tree, and it will drop ripe dates on you, so eat, drink, and comfort your eyes with what Allah عز !gave you." (Qur'an 19:25) وجلExperiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants which strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery and reduces post-natal bleeding. Dieticians consider dates the best food for breast-feeding mothers. This is because dates contain elements that assist in alleviating depression and enrich the breast milk with the nutrients needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease.!!Aisha (R.A.) used to prescribe dates for those suffering with giddiness. It is now well known that low blood sugar and low blood pressure are among the causes of giddiness. She was also reported to have used dates combined with cucumber to treat her over-slim condition.!!As previously mentioned, dates are rich in several vitamins and minerals. When the level of trace elements in the body falls, the health of the blood vessels is affected, which leads to increased heart rate and a consequent inability of the heart to perform its functions with normal efficiency. As dates are rich in calcium, they contribute to healthy bones. For this reason it is recommended that children and older adults, especially women, eat plenty of dates to strengthen their bones. Dates are also important in maintaining good

vision and are effective in guarding against night-blindness. In the early years of Islam, dates were served as food for Muslim soldiers. As the best stimulant of the muscles, they are the best food for one about to engage in battle.!!The Prophet (PBUH) would sometimes combine dates with bread. At other times he mixed ripe dates with cucumbers or combined dates with ghee (clarified butter). He took all varieties of dates, but preferred the variety called ‘ajwah’. Dates are variously classified as food, drink, fruits, sweets, nutrients, and medicine. Cured dates are called 'ajwah in Arabic. Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) related the saying of Allah's Messenger (PBUH), "Ajwah date is an excellent remedy." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim). Dates are also among the fruits of Paradise, as noted in the hadith: !"Ajwah is from Paradise and contains an antidote against poison." (Reported by at-Tirmidhi).!!Dates are also reported to be useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders, heart conditions, cancer (due to its high magnesium and calcium content), anemia, allergies, and constipation. Bedouin Arabs, who eat them on a regular basis, show an extremely low incidence rate of cancer and heart disease.!In addition to being mentioned in numerous verses throughout the Quran there are many hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the dates. !!From the Quran:!And in the earth are neighbouring tracts, and gardens of vines, and green crops (fields etc.), and date-palms, growing out two or three from a single stem root, or otherwise (one stem root for every palm ), watered with the same water, yet some of them We

make more excellent than others to eat. Verily, in these things, there are Ayât (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs) for the people who understand. [Quran 13:4]!!From the Hadith:!Aisha (may Allah عز وجل be pleased with her) said: the prophet (PBUH) said: “Indeed in dates there is a cure”. [Reported by Muslim (14/3) and Ahmad (6/152)]!!We know that whatever Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended us to do are from Allah our Creator who knows what is good and bad for a human body! If we fully follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in all aspects of life, health benefits is just one of the numerous benefits we are going to have In Sha Allah. Let us begin with breaking our fast by eating dates with these ethos and not just for the sake of breaking our fast this Ramadan & carry it on forward. Islam is indeed the beautiful way of life!!

!!

How did our Real Superstars prepare for Ramadan?!

We all know that the sahaba used to prepare for Ramadan 6 months in advance. 6 months in advance?  Did you ever wonder what exactly they did 6 months in advance? We, on the other hand, find preparing 6 days in advance for Ramadan too much. And what does our (some of us) preparation for Ramadan really entail?"✦ Planning Ramadan meals."✦ Planning iftar parties , guest lists, etc."✦ Planning which tv programs to watch

after iftar (because we somehow feel Ramadan is over after iftar; we don't watch islamic programs unnecessarily either)."

✦ Planning how to make food in bulk & store."

✦ Planning our siestas."✦ Some hotels plan the iftar buffets & we

plan which ones to go to."✦ Some shops have sales this month &

our time is spent shopping from one mall to another. ... and so on..."

For many people, the month of Ramadan is either  a month of starvation or a month of feasting."!What did the Sahaba do?"As stated earlier, it was narrated from some of the Salaf that they used to pray to Allah عز وجل for six months that they would live until Ramadan, then they would pray for five months afterwards

that Allah would accept it from them. We should ask the same from Allah عز وجل to let us live until Ramadan with a strong religious commitment & good physical health. We should ask Allah عز وجل to help us to obey Him during the month & to accept our good deeds."!Ibn Umar used to say when Ramadan started, ‘Welcome oh the month that purifies us from the sins’. This was their situation before Ramadan started. How do think their situation was in the midst of Ramadan?!"!The Sahaba would be happy & rejoice when the month of Ramadan came. They would welcome the month with a lot of joy & hope in their hearts. We should check the state of our hearts. Do we moan & groan at not being to drink our tea with the morning papers?"!The Sahaba used to call the month of Sha'ban as the Month of Reciters (Qurra), as they would read Qur'an the most & kept their tongues moist with Istaghfar (forgiveness) & different adhkars (supplications). Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan, “It is only about reciting the Qur’an & feeding the poor.” Abdur-Raziq said, “When Ramadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give up all acts of (voluntary) worship & devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.” When Sha’ban began, ‘Amr ibn Qays would close his shop & free his time for reading Qur’an. They tried to not only read much Qur'an but also tried their best to live their lives according to the Qur’an. Aswad Ibn Yaziid used to finish the recitation of Quran in

two nights whereas Khataada used to finish the recitation of Quran every seven days & every three days in Ramadan. But for many of us the Qur'an has

gathered a lot of dust since the last time we picked it up."!Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) used to fast the most in Sha’ban. It was narrated that Usamah bin Zaid said: “I said: O Messenger of Allaah, I do not see you fasting in any month as you fast in Sha’baan? He said: ‘That is a month that people neglect between Rajab & Ramadan, but it is a month in which people’s deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds & I would like my deeds to be taken up when I am fasting.’” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i (2357); classed as Hasan by Al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i. Our deeds are being presented in front Allah عز وجل in the month of Sha'ban. In fact Sha'ban is the month when we should really be in full gear to meet Ramadan. We should try to get our sins forgiven before we enter Ramadan & get our acts together, pull up our socks & get ready to welcome Ramadan."!Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) said "O Abu Tharr! If you fast three days of every month, then fast the 13th, 14th & 15th [Al-Ayaam Al-Beedh, the white days]". (Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i & at-Tirmithi; Sahih). They would pray Qiyam all night, which is not an obligatory prayer, but a highly recommended voluntary Salah. They didn't pray long hours because they were suffering from something, or were in need of prayers to

be answered. They did out of love & fear for Allah عز وجل. They would follow the teachings of Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمS) to the maximum possible. They had total submission towards Allah عز وجل. They submitted fully to Allah عز وجل, out of love for Him. Their goal was only the Hereafter. It was this goal that kept them focussed & so they knew what they had to do."A typical day of Uthman bin Affan in Ramadan was fasting during the day time & prayer & prostration at night ‘(Sunan Al-Bayhaqi 4/301). And Uthman bin Affan  was also killed while he was fasting."!When the time of iftar arrived, they used to race in feeding the poor & unfortunate. It’s narrated that Ibn Umar used to break his fast with the poor people & if a poor person came to him asking for food while he was eating he used to give him his portion. "!The basic level of fasting is staying away from eating & drinking but the higher level is when all the senses & limbs abstain from doing anything haرضي اهلل m. At this level even the heart abstainsعنهfrom thinking anything haraam. When we reach that level, then we break free from all evils, that chain us down. Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) said, ‘When you fast then let your ears, eyes & your tongue fast from false statement & bad deeds. And be calm & don’t let the day your fasting & the day you are not fasting be the same’. The prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) said “Whoever doesn't desist from speaking falsehood & acting upon it, Allah has no need that he desist from his food & drink.” - Bukhari. "

In short,the Sahabah would focus & compete on:"✦Fasting & not feasting after iftar. "✦Reading & pondering on the

Quran plus living by it."✦ Doing lengthy Qiyaam at night."✦ Du'a, Du'a ,Du’a & thikir."✦ Giving charity with generosity, sharing

what little they had."✦ Feeding the poor was their main

priority."✦ Speaking good & avoid saying

anything that would be displeasing to Allah عز وجل."

The Sahaba's lives revolved around Ibadah. But during Ramadan they would try their best to utilize it to the maximum possible & their guide was Prophet " They followed his .(صلى اهلل عليه وسلم)".ways to the maximum (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم)A great mistake we make every day every year in Ramadan is that we deprive ourselves from the benefits of hunger. Every year we focus on how to spend our time from Fajr to Maghrib. This year let us focus on the time from Maghrib to Fajr too.What that basically means is that we shouldn't indulge too much in eating. The Sahaba never over ate. Let's remember means to abstain — not صلى اهلل عليه وسلمto indulge."!Remember the month of Ramadan is the month of developing Taqwa, to become more pious. It is to become more conscious of Allah, to become closer to Allah & Qur’an. Allah says that He has bestowed His Grace on everyone & he who uses that for Allah's disobedience is going to cry the most on the Day of

Resurrection. 'Ramadan' is one of the greatest graces that Allah عز وجل has bestowed upon us.It is a month in which the Qur’an - a Book of guidance — was sent down from the lofty heavens — for us to hold fast on to & keep to the Siratul Mustaqeem. Ramadan is:"✦ a month of forgiveness"✦ a month of purification for our bodies,

souls & wealth. "✦ a month in which every little single

deed is multiplied beyond proportion if done sincerely"

✦  a month in which we can recharge our eman & experience new spiritual heights "

✦  a month in which if we are to please Allah, Jannah will be our abode, In Sha Allah Ameen."

So how shall we treat this  beautiful grace? Let us purify our intentions, seek the forgiveness of Allah عز وجل for our casual & careless attitude so far & our negligence in our Ibaadaat, anticipate it with a sincerity like never before, plan well in advance, & prepare by embarking on this journey right away."Actions are judged by intentions, so even if we for some reason fail to see Ramadan, know that Allah for sure is going to bestow His reward on us as He would have, had we seen Ramadan."Let us strive hard 'not' to be from amongst the category of people who will 'cry the most' on the Day of Resurrection..a Day of Regret, for taking this special grace casually & spending it in disobedience. But rather let us strive to be from amongst those who are obedient & submissive on its numerous blessings.

!Abu Huraira (R.A) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) saying : Allah does not listen so attentively to anything as He listens to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by the Prophet who recites well with melodious & audible voice. متفق عليه"!As Ramadan is approaching & we all want to recite Quran beautifully like our dearest Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) to please Allah عز let’s plan this Ramadan وجل سبحانه وتعالىwith Quran to not only do recitation but to do it with correct tajweed, meaning & pondering upon its beautiful verses. Let’s cover one more topic of tajweed which is pronunciation of the letter ر."

!We discussed earlier that there are heavy letters & light letters. Seven letters are always heavy where as two letters which are ل & ر are sometimes heavy or light. In our previous newsletter we discussed ل & now we will discuss ر. There are some basic rules which we simply have to follow to pronounce ر with تفخيم or heaviness & with ترقيق or softness. So lets do it point wise. The basic principle is that whenever it carries a Fat’hah or Damma, it is heavy & whenever it carries a Kasrah it is light."

" أحكام الراء

! مفخم Heavy ر7.When the حركة on ر is فتحة or ضمة. This also includes الف مدية & واو مدية. For example, ".رسول، رسل، روح ، راضية

8.When ر has a sukoon & the letter before it has a فتحة or ضمة. For example, غفور،أرحم."

9.When ر sakinah is preceded by another sakinah letter which is preceded by a fatha or damma. For example, والفجر."

For .همزة الوصل ا sakinah preceded by ر.10example, ارجعى."

preceded by kasrah but followed by ر.11".مرصادا ,For example .حروف االستعالء

! مرقق Light ر

1.When the حركة on the letter ر is a kasrah. For example, رسالة."

has sukoon preceded by a letter with a ر.2kasrah. For example, فرعون."

3.When ر is preceded by another ر is preceded by a letter with a kasrah. For example,الحجر."

4.When ر sakinah is preceded by a ي. For example, خير، بصير."

5.One exception is the word in Sura Hud : 41 which is read with a kasrah although مجريهاthe letter preceding it has a sukoon & before it a fatha on م، ج."

Words which can be pronounced either heavy or light!

!( فرق، يسر، نذر، القطر، أسر، مصر)

!

!

encaseبسم اهلل الرحمن ! الرحيم

Surah Al Masadd!!

Brain Squeeze:

Essentials for Ramadan & Eid Across: 1.According to the hadith, staying in the Masjid during the last 10 days of Ramadan is called _____________ (Sahih Muslim 2784) 2.How many units of prayer (raka't) does the Eid prayer have? (Sahih Al-Bukhari 989) 3.What is the name of the Surah that is dedicated to the night of Decree? 4.According to the sunnah, fasting in the month of aramadan (obligatory fasts) followed by fasting _____ days in Shawwal is equal to one full year of fasting. (Sahih Muslim 2758) 5.Along with men, who should also go to pray the Eid prayers in congregation? (Sahih Muslim 2054) Down: 1.One night amongst the last 10 nights of Ramadan is called _________ 2.The night of Decree is better than a ___________ months 3.Itikaaf is only valid in a __________ (Sunan Abu Dawood 2483) 4.Aishah narrated: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view if I know when the Night of Al-Qadr is, then what should I say in it?” He said: ‘Say: اللهم إنك عفو كريم تحب العفو فاعف عني What does the word العفو mean?

(Sunan Al-Tirmidhi 3513) 5.What is the charity paid before the Eid prayer called? (Sunan Abi Dawud 1609) - down to up

2

1 2

4

5 3 1

5

4

3

!Quran Outline"

The purpose of this breakdown is to see the surahs of the Quran in an ‘outline’ format.

This facilitates the way of seeing the flow of the ayat, and it helps to remember the

words, In Sha’a Allah. !

!!

111 Surah Al Masadd – The Palm Fiber "(سورة املسد)

Perish the two hands of Abû Lahab (an uncle of the Prophet), and perish he! (1) His wealth and his children will not benefit him! (2) He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames! (3) And his wife too, who carries wood (thorns of Sadan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) or use to slander him). (4) In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad (palm fibre). (5)"!The Surah is addressing Abu Lahab (uncle of the Prophet (pbuh)) and his wife who used to abuse the Prophet (pbuh). When the Prophet (pbuh) was directed to invite his clan to Islam, he ascended to the Mount of Safa and cried out to the tribe of Quraish in a manner that was known among them for warning the tribe of an expected attack from an enemy. All the clans of Quraish assembled around him, and he said, “If I were to tell you that the enemy is about to attack you, would you believe me?” And all of them said, “Yes”. Then the Prophet (pbuh) said, “I am a warner sent to you before a severe torment (if you continue worshipping idols).” Abu Lahab responded, “Perish you! Is it for this purpose that you have called us together?” This Surah was revealed in this background. "

!✤ What happened to Abu Lahab"★ Perish (تبت)!

✦ The hands of Abu Lahab ( !(يدآ أبى لهب✦ And perish he (وتب)!

★ No benefit for him (مآ أغنى عنه)!✦ From his wealth (ماله ۥ)!✦ Nor what he earned (children) (وما ڪسب)!

★ He will be burnt in a fire (سيصلى نارا)!✦ Of blazing flames ( !(ذات لهب

!✤ What happened to his wife?"★ And his wife who used to carry wood (وٱمرأته ۥ حمالة ٱلحطب)!

✦ On her neck (فى جيدها)!๏ Twisted rope from palm fiber (she will be resurrected like this) ( (حبل من مسد  !!

!

ANSWERS !Across: 1. ITIKAAF 2. TWO 3. SURAH ALQADR 4. SIX 5. WOMEN  !Down: 1. LAYLATUL QADR 2. THOUSAND 3. MOSQUE  4. PARDON  5. ZAKAT ALFITR

WHY DO YOU WANT TO SUCCEED THIS RAMADAN?

We all want success. But why we want it varies, and our intentions matter! Some can resist peer pressure and pull away from temptations and desires - however others get sucked in. We despair when our child or loved one falters; we may want more, for, or from them. How can we escape the pitfall of despair? Why we want something is important because our intentions can affect the outcome of matters; without correct intentions we may crumble in the face of difficulties and we may also lose the reward of our good deeds... !So, why do you want to succeed? If I were to ask you why you want to succeed, as a parent, what would your response be? These were questions posed at a gathering I attended. Some people responded because of fear of Allah, and the desire to ensure we are not held to account for raising a bad child. Some responded that a good pious successful child will inevitably benefit them in the future and will obey their parents more. The child may In Sha Allah be an investment of Sadaqah Jaariya for their Aakhirah. Some envision a boomerang effect; they see successful children as a reflection of them being a successful parent. Therefore a failure or weakness in their child would directly translate into a weakness or failure in their parenting. This can’t possibly be

healthy and could become a reason for conflict when things go pear-shaped. !Resentment and anger could breed from this approach, because, this approach is reactive - not pro-active. It’s true that we are rewarded by Allah for the good deeds our children عز وجل

do. Our intentions for their success may begin revolving around how our children directly reflect us to the world. One mother explained she wanted to succeed to fulfil the huge responsibility (Amanah) that Allah عز وجل has trusted

us with, “We should ensure that we do our best to look after and nurture the gift of a child that we have been blessed with…” A few replied that they love their children, so much, that their intention for wishing success and piety for their child is out of love for them; they want them to enter paradise, as well as enjoy a successful life. !All of these reasons encompass different intentions; some are for the parent’s benefit or out of fear of Allah’s wrath. Some are for the benefit of the child. This question is difficult to answer ‘correctly’… Our reasons and intentions play a huge role in determining the outcome of every

situation though. ‘Actions are according to our intentions’, as we know. !So, how can we purify our intention? We could do it purely for the sake of Allah عز وجل. What does this actually

mean though? When we approach any situation purely for the sake of Allah عز وجل it takes away the

expectations and assumptions on others. It also removes our own motives that fuel our negative feelings when things don’t go by plan. When we have a sound healthy balanced belief, Eman, in Allah عز وجل we realise

that we are not the controllers and shouldn’t attempt to control everything. Allah عز وجل guides whom

He wills, as He wills, if He wills – and His judgement is just. Once we establish a purer intention we are able to see everyone as individual creations of Allah who belong to Him. Our influence and authority over each other is for the specific term that Allah allows. This applies to all people we come across. Whilst forming our intentions for any deed or thought, we can combine our love for our creator with hope in His mercy and fear of His punishment - this would provide us with balance. Having a pure balanced intention leads to peace of mind and a tranquil heart - even when we have clearly failed. By remembering every day why we are striving for success we can feel peace,

even in the midst of conflict of hardship. !We should strive out of love and obedience to Allah عز وجل - not merely

out of His fear. As parents, we can aim to have a child who continues to worship, obey and benefit the deen of Allah. In doing so, we want to contribute positively to the Ummah of Muhammad (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم) and

leave behind a nation which continues to worship Allah عز وجل, as He deserves

to be worshipped. Allah عز وجل doesn’t

need us or our children for deen to rise. But if we analyze our intention and make it solely for His sake, in every action, we are trying to live according to the true purpose we were created and designed for. As Allah عز وجل

says,“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” [al-Dhaariyaat 51:56] Worshipping Allah عز وجل brings inner

peace and healing for our soul and should be the basis of all intentions. During worship the soul dwells in tranquillity and peace - as it fulfils the true purpose it was designed for. One of the key words in the above ayah is ‘alone’ – meaning to make Him the

most important factor in our lives – and judge ourselves and everything surrounding us according to the criterion that He has revealed, and He taught through our Prophet (صلى اهلل

Whenever we deviate and .(عليه وسلم

fail to fulfil that purpose we begin to find our hearts lost, confused and wallowing in pain, or sin. !Thinking about why we were created, and realising we have no power over our birth, death or origin leads to the affirmation that Allah عز وجل is

sustaining us, and He deserves our submission. This can be applied to every challenge we face. The seeds of faith must be planted from a young age, so we must convey this to our families, as early as possible, and lead by example, always. !‘Worshipping Allah’ encompasses believing in Him correctly, obeying His commands, seeking His help, relying on Him, trusting Him and His decisions and decree, and learning and following the example of His Prophet This worship .(صلى اهلل عليه وسلم)

actually benefits, nurtures, strengthens our souls, bodies and hearts, and is the most essential food for our survival; without it our systems come crashing down and we fall into traps, temptations, and calamities, and eventually our own failure. !

The problems of this world are all temporary – and confined to this life – yet we allow our souls to be pressurized by them. Our creator knows us better than we do. For example a pen or phone is designed for a particular purpose; and no matter how pretty looking or expensive it is, if it stops working there is no use for it anymore, and it becomes useless. As humans, we would get rid of it, but, Allah’s patience and mercy is vast and immeasurable. He has given us till the end of our lives to try to fulfil that purpose – to prove our worth and gain entry into Paradise through His mercy. He knows what is in every heart and mind. We must sincerely reflect on our intentions in every aspect of our life, always, and strive to purify our intentions so that we are worthy of having our deeds accepted. May Allah guide and assist us all to the purest of intentions. Ameen. اللهم أعنا على ذكرك، وشكرك، وحسن عبادتك

O Allah, help us remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in

an excellent manner. Ameen.

Intestinal Disorders: The nicotinic content that is present in the dates is said to be beneficial for curing any kinds of intestinal disorders. Continuous intake of dates helps to maintain a check on the growth of the pathological organisms and thus, helps in the rise of friendly bacteria in the intestines.!!Constipation: Date is termed to be a laxative food. This is the reason that dates are beneficial for people suffering from constipation. For getting the laxative effect from dates, you need to soak dates for one full night in water. You should consume these soaked dates in the morning like syrup to get their advantages.!!Healthy Heart: Dates are quite helpful in maintaining your heart in a healthy condition. When soaked for a night and crushed in the morning and consumed, they prove to be quite advantageous for weak hearts. They help in fortifying the heart, if taken twice in a week.!!Weight Gain: Dates are said to be a part of healthy diet. They consist of sugar, fats, proteins as well as many essential vitamins. If the dates are consumed with the paste of cucumber, one can easily come out from the problem of over-slimming. One kilo of dates contains almost 3,000 calories. These calories alone are sufficient to meet the daily requirements of a human body.!

!Diarrhea: Ripe dates contain potassium, which is beneficial for controlling diarrhea. They are easily digestible, which helps to cope up with diarrhea.!!Abdominal Cancer: Dates are beneficial for curing abdominal cancer. They work as a useful tonic for all age groups. They work as better than medicines, and are natural and do not bear any side effects in the body. They can be easily digested and used for supplying extra and needed energy.!

� !!Nutritional Value/Facts of Dates"! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 2 mg of

"Sodium".!! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 75 gm  of

"Total Carbohydrates".!! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 8 gm of

"Dietary Fiber".!! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 63 gm  of

"Sugars".!! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 2 gm  of

"Protein".!

The Uncountable Health Benefits of Eating Dates

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; A 10 IU  of "Vitamin".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.4 mg  of "Vitamin C".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.05 mg  of "Vitamin E".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 2.7 mcg  of "Vitamin K".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.052 mg  of "Thiamin".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.066 mg  of "Riboflavin".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 1.274 mg  of "Niacin".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.165 mg  of "Vitamin B6".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0 mcg  of "Vitamin B12".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 19 mcg of "Folate".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.589 mcg  of "Pantothenic Acid".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 39 mg  of "Calcium".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 1.02 mg  of "Iron".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 43 mg  of "Magnesium".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 62 mg  of "Phosphorus".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 656 mg  of "Potassium".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 2 mg  of "Sodium".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.29 mg  of "Zinc".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.206 mg  of "Copper".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.262 mg  of "Manganese".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 3 mcg  of "Selenium".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.39 mg  of "Total Fat".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.032 mg  of "Saturated Fat".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.036 mg  of "Monounsaturated Fat".!

! •! 100 gm of dates contains; 0.019 mg  of "Polyunsaturated Fat”.!

!With the spread of cancers worldwide and the other health conditions we’re faced with, it’s important for us to be aware of foods that may help cure these diseases and also prevent these diseases affecting us in the first place. These are just some of the benefits of dates and I hope that they will encourage you to eat them more regularly, rather than only in Ramadan.!!Hope that you are all in the best of health In shaa Allah! !

!!

Masjid Bani Hashim"At Jumeirah Islands, Dubai

!Masjid Bani Hashim by the Grace of Allah عز وجل, opened its

doors 2nd Ramadan 1434; July 10th, 2013 & is a Non-Profit Organisation. It envisions to offer intensive courses, lectures,

workshops, Tafseer elQuran with Taddabur, Tajweed, Seerah of the Prophet pbuh & major Islamic Studies."

!Our Mission"

Masjid Bani Hashim’s mission is to provide authentic understanding of Islam based on Qur'an and Sunnah of our

beloved Prophet Mohammed (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs). Masjid Bani Hashim welcomes all and provides a golden opportunity to access Islamic Courses to all seekers of Ilm. Without rushing back home, you can make a stop at Masjid Bani Hashim to nurture your soul,

pray & recite Quran.