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Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan Mubarak to you and your families! May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) make this a most blessed and beneficial month for you all, and a source of taqwa and eman for the whole year, ameen!

Subhanallah, one of the companions of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) even said, "We spend half the year making du'a for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to allow us to see another Ramdaaan, and we spend half the year making du'a for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to accept the Ramdaan that passed."

So make good use of this month inshallah, don't let it pass you by! The key is to plan ahead--if you would like to finish reading the Qur'an, or attend taraweeh every night, or something else, make sure you plan it well ahead of time. And Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is the best of planners.

Bookmark this post, inshallah it will contain links to many other entries beneficial to your Ramadan experience!

Some tips to get the most out of Ramadan while it lasts:

• Purify: The same way you prepare your house when other guests arrive, prepare yourself for Ramadan--by purifying your soul! Make a resolution to avoid haram activities, foods, etc. and stick to it as best you can.
• Plan: Plan what actions you intend to do this Ramadan. Read Qur'an every day? Finish it in thirty days? Pray Taraweeh three times a week?
• Pray: Purify your intentions and pray for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to accept your good deeds. May He accept all our good deeds this blessed month, ameen!

• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Eid Mubarak!
• Eid Mubarak!
• Eid Mubarak!
• Your Amazing Ramadan: Planning

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Three Levels of Practice

In Surah Fatiha, Allah Almighty says:

Translation: Not of those who earned your anger, nor of those astray.

From this verse, scholars mention that we identify three levels of practice.

First, there are those who don't know--they don't know about Islam. They don't know about the truth. Or they don't know enough--for example, how to pay zakaah. These are the ones mentioned as gone astray (الضَّالِّينَ).

The second level is those who know, but do not practise. They know Islam is the truth, they might even claim to be Muslim, but they don't pray, they don't fast, they don't enjoin good and forbid evil, they don't follow the Sunnah--they don't act on their knowledge. And while it's true that they could also be as those astray, to be more correct, they are closer to those who earned Allah's anger (لمَغضُوبِ).

The third level is those who know and practise what they know--the believing Muslims. May Allah make us all of that level, ameen!

So practise what you know--don't just sit on it!  And remember, knowledge, unused, fades away.

Khutba Between Taraweeh Prayers. By Abu Owais Qais. Istiqamah Masjid, Mississauga. 27 Sept. 2006.

• Learn Pronounciation in Surah Faitha
• Knowledge, Practice, Da’wah
• Leadership Lessons: Power With Conciseness
• Fallout From Not Practicing Islam Properly
• Think!

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Ramadan: The Excuse-Killer

Ramadan kills all the excuses we make for ourselves throughout the year, and allows us to soar to new heights of eman!

If someone said to you, "let's go to the masjid every day," you'd say "we can't do it!" but, in Ramdan, you do it! If someone said "let's play Qiyam al-Layl all night," you'd say "we can't do it!" but, in Ramdan, you do it! Subhanallah, in Ramdan, wishes and hopes and dreams can become reality!

But why does this happen? Is it because of the well-known hadith that when Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise open, the gates of Hell lock, and the devils are shackled? [Bukhari 3/31/123, Muslim 6/2361] Undoubtedly that's part of it! But beyond that, we all raise our standards and transform things we should do into things we must do!

What are some common excuses that die gruesome deaths in Ramadan?

• I can't visit the masjid every day! (Taraweeh, anyone?)
• I can't pray long prayers regularly! (Taraweeh, anyone?)
• Qiyam-al-Layl tires me out! (But you do it, for a whole month!)
• Fasting Mondays and Thursdays is too hard! (But fasting one month straight isn't?)
• I can't live without my coffee! (But you do, don't you?)
• I need [beer/alcohol/cigarettes/other haram goods or activities] to survive! (But you survived fine without them!)
• I can't control my anger! (In ramadan, you dont even argue!)
• I don't get much time to read Qur'an! (In Ramadan, your recite the full quran!)
• I can't wakeup for Fajr! (In Ramadan, not only do you pray Fajr on time, but you also wake up at the prime tahajjud time--the last third of the night!)
• I can't tell my friends about Islam! (Was it so hard to tell them about fasting?)
• Post the many excuses you killed in comments!

Interestingly, anything you do consistently for about 21 days becomes a habit--and the effort you need to keep doing it drops dramatically!

So this Ramadan, purge yourself of some limiting excuses and enjoy the new heights of eman they can bring!

"Sure," you might say, "but what about 'Eid and beyond? How do I make sure I don't backslide?"

If you do backslide, don't beat yourself up--after all, everyone makes mistakes. Remember--you completed one month without giving in! There's no reason why you can't do it again! So refine your action plan, remember your goal, and start over. And make lots of du'a, because the help of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is always near!

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) give us all success in reaching the highest peaks of eman through Ramadan and beyond, ameen!

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Rizq Management. University of Toronto, Toronto. June 2006.

• Eid Mubarak!
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Your Amazing Ramadan: Planning
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Six Days of Shawwal

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Madd: Fard and Mustahab

Madd (pronounced like "mud"), literally means "extension". In recitation of the Qur'an (tajweed), madd is when you extend and stretch a vowel sound (aah, ooh, etc.).

There are two types of madd: fard (obligatory: you have to recite it) and mustahab (recommended: you should recite it). The general rule is that a madd inside a word is fard, while a madd that connects two words is mustahab.

For example, in Surah Baqarah, Allah says:

Translation: Reveal the names if you are true. [Surah Baqarah, verse 31]

the word [هَؤُلاء] contains two madh in the middle of the word (they are part of the word)--so you should always extend them in your recitation.

Meanwhile, in another verse of Surah Baqarah, Allah says:

Translation: Those who believe in what was revealed to them and what was revealed before them and in the Akhira they have certainty. [Surah Baqarah, verse 4]

Here, we see a madd that connects two words, [مَا] and [أُنْزِلَ], so it is recommended to extend the alif sound.

Also, madd most commonly occurs when you have an alif, waw, or ya, followed by a hamza--these vowels recieve madd.

Wallahu ta'ala 'alim.

• Fard vs. Wajib
• Sofa Fard, Bucket-Seat Fard
• Five Categories of Everything
• Three Acceptable Types of Lies
• Ramadan Mubarak!

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Moonsighting or Moonfighting?

In many countries (mostly Western countries--America, Canada, Europe, etc.) our communities fight over the actual start date of Ramadan. This, itself, is not so bad--because, alhamdulillah, everyone backs up their opinion with a legitimate fiqh source (more on that in a second). However, the problem is that people in the same region fast on different days--sometimes, even two people in the same house fast on different days!

So how do we go about picking an appropriate date to start fasting?

First, read the hadith below:

Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) made a mention of the new moon and (in this connection) said: Observe fast when you see it (the new moon) and break fast when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal), but when (the actual position of the month is) concealed from you (on account of cloudy sky), then count thirty days. [Sahih Muslim 6/2381]

To give you a glimpse of where different opinions stem from, note some key-words. For example, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, fast when you see the moon. What's meant by you? Different opinions sprout from it--does it mean people in the same city? People all over the world? He (صلي الله عليه وسلم) also said, count thirty days, i.e. calculate, so should we calculate the starting date according to the phases of the moon?

And this is just one hadith! What's a person to do? Who do we follow?

Don't look for the one "true" opinion to rule them all, and think the rest are wrong--they all have legitimate fiqh bases. Don't try and evaluate the sources of the opinions yourself, either--Usool-ul-Fiqh is a science in itself that takes years to learn properly. In cases like this, with multiple opinions, all strong, and all backed up by legitimate proof, you end up confused about what to follow.

So what do you do?

Find a person of knowledge and taqwa, and follow them!

Remember, if they have knowledge--and taqwa (somewhat evident by their actions, their manners, how many scholars and people of knowledge agree with them, etc.) then they conduct all the research on your behalf (and on behalf of the community), and tell us what they think is the closest to what Allah () and His messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) instructed us to follow. The responsibility falls on them to teach us and guide us to the truth as best as they can.

And remember, in an Islamic state--like in many Muslim countries today--they follow one opinion. They make shura, decide what they think is best, and then everyone abides by it--even if they personally disagree with that opinion. And if someone decides to open a masjid across the street and follow a different opinion, under Shari'ah, they can actually be punished for that. Subhanallah!

Does that mean you change your own, personal opinion in your heart? Nope! Don't we allow for difference of opinion? Of course! But breaking the ummah is a very serious matter. If trustworthy leaders pave the way, we follow.

And Allah knows best about all things.

External Links: Should We Fast Based on Local Sightings or Saudi Sightings? By Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Rizq Management. University of Toronto, Toronto. June 2006.

• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Eid Mubarak!

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Lowering Your Gaze: The Six Ps

For those who live in Western societies, fitnah abounds. From the moment you leave your house (or even before that), it bombards you from all sides, whether you're a man or a woman. How can we lower our gaze under these distressing conditions?

The following tactics will benefit you inshallah if you apply them consistently.

1. Peripheral Vision: Fix your gaze on the ground a meter or two in front of you and see with your peripheral vision. You can safely see everything in front of you (so you won't walk into other people--or telephone poles), and you can tell--without looking directly at things--if they are "safe" to look at or not.
2. Prepare in Advance: Before you go somewhere, spend a minute or so and think about the environment. Will you pass giant billboards or posters? What kind of people frequent the area? For example, if you walk to school in the winter, there are fewer things to worry about then in the summer. Similarly, the mall is usually far worse than an office.
3. Practise: Practise, practise, practise! Like all skills, the more you practise (and succeed), the easier it becomes in the future to do the same thing again. If you fail, don't beat yourself up--revise your plan, and try again until you succeed.
4. Purify: If possible, purify your environment. For example, if you're at home, throw out your TV, and install blockers on your computer (such as Firefox's Adblock, which allows you to block any image on any website--useful for websites you frequent). Or, at the office, select landscapes and scenaries as your backgrounds and for decorations. Try Islamic calendars instead of regular calendars--they usually feature landscapes or masaajid instead of people.
5. Protect: Protect yourself from fitnah. If you know a certain route, a certain time, a certain place is trouble, avoid it. Safeguard your modesty.
6. Pray: Pray to Allah to help you--for surely, His help is the best help, and nothing happens without His will. Truly, He hears all those who call on Him for aid.

Another general tip is to increase your eman. You can try dhikr (subhanallah, alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar), or perhaps study Islam or study the Qur'an and find out more about our basic beliefs. (See the Related Entries section for more information.)

May Allah help us all to avoid the haram and enjoy the halal, ameen!

Related Posts: Blessings of Knowledge, Belief: A Beautiful Tree, 'Ibadah, Natural Actions, Religious Actions

• Good Character
• Blessings of Knowledge

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Ten Tips for a Happy and Successful Marriage

The following is some amazing nasiha adapted from an article by Dr. Aisha Hamdan (additional notes are italicized). Read it inshallah ta’ala and benefit from it. Props to The Muslimah Corner for finding it. You can find the original here.

The young and excited bride-and-groom-to-be, ecstatic about the upcoming wedding and marriage, and the joy that it will bring. Three to six months later, reality sets in, and both spouses realize that marriage is no easy task, but one that takes a great deal of effort and patience.

The following are tips for both wives and husbands, to help make the task a little less daunting, and to increase the many rewards that are possible in such a marvelous and complex relationship.

Both spouses should enter the marriage with the pure intention of pleasing Allah, (سبحانه وتعالى), in order to receive His grace and blessings. The marriage itself, then, becomes an act of worship, and one for which both spouses will be rewarded. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will be pleased with them, and this will be the most critical element in ensuring peace, stability and happiness throughout the marital life. Realize that when an act of worship is continued over a long period of time, it becomes necessary to renew one's intention often to remain on the correct path and to obtain the most benefit.

Too often Muslims treat other people outside the home with kindness and sincerity, but then behave in a very different manner when it comes to their own spouses. Muslims should always remember that one's spouse is also another brother or sister in Islam and that the rights and duties that apply to the general brotherhood (sisterhood) of Islam, should also form the basis of the marital relationship. Obviously, a spouse has rights beyond these, but there should be a clear understanding of the rights of brotherhood (sisterhood) and adherence to these principles.

The Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: None of you are true believers until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. [Bukhari, 2/12] Subhanallah, how many marriages could this hadith alone save? It counters every kind of negative treatment and encourages every kind of good treatment!

Before marriage, people often have unrealistic ideas about their spouse-to-be, and expect perfection in all aspects. This rarely, if ever, plays out in reality, and can lead to unnecessary problems and concerns. We should recall that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) created humans as imperfect beings, which means that many mistakes will be made throughout a lifetime. By turning the table and expecting imperfection, we will be pleasantly surprised and pleased when we discover our spouse is much more than we ever hoped for. This, in turn, leads to contentment within the marriage.

Since no one is endowed with all of the best qualities, emphasis should be placed on the positive qualities that a spouse possesses. Express encouragement, praise, and gratitude on a regular basis, to strengthen these qualities and to encourage developing others. Make an attempt to overlook or ignore negative characteristics, as the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, "A believing man should not have any malice against a believing woman. He may dislike one characteristic in her, but may find another in her which is pleasing." [Muslim, 8/3469]

Try to think of what a best friend means and be one to your spouse. This may mean sharing interests, experiences, dreams, failures and upsets. It may involve understanding a spouse's likes and dislikes and attempting to please him or her in any way possible. A best friend is also usually someone that can be confided to trusted, and relied upon. A spouse should be the kind of friend that one would want to keep throughout life.

It is not enough to share meals, chores and small talk together. Spouses should also find time to focus on strengthening the relationship. Often couples get busy with their own separate tasks and forget about working on one of the most important elements in life. Quality time may be anything from having a quiet, profound conversation to going for a nice long nature walk, to sharing a special hobby or project. Both spouses should enjoy the particular option they choose and distractions should be kept to a minimum.

The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) used to race with his wife, 'Aisha (رضي الله عنها). Sometimes she won, and sometimes he won. Remember, he was in his fifties at the time!--how many of us think we are to "mature" to do something enjoyable that can also, with a proper intention, count as an act of worship and ring in piles of good deeds?

This seems like a very "Western" concept and one that some people may struggle with, but it is important to be open and honest about one's feelings, both positive and negative. The lines of communication should always be open and any concerns should be brought to the attention of the other spouse as soon as they arise. The rationale of this is that, what begins as a simple concern, may grow into a major problem if it is not addressed quickly and properly. The "silent treatment" never fixes anything in the long-term.

Just as we ask Allah to forgive us when we make mistakes, we should also ask our spouses to forgive us when we make mistakes. The stronger person is the one who can admit when he or she is wrong, request pardon from the other, and work hard to improve his/her aspects that are in need of change. When a person is unwilling to do this, there will be little growth and development in the marriage.

It can be very hurting for another person to be reminded of past mistakes. In Islam, it is generally not recommended to dwell on the past. One may remember errors that were made so that they are not repeated, but this should not be done excessively. Certainly, as humans, we are not in the position to judge another person. Advice may be given, but in the proper manner and with the best of intentions and etiquettes.

This may entail bringing home a small gift or flowers, preparing a special meal, dressing up and beautifying oneself (this is not only for women), or sending a secret note in a lunch-box. A little imagination goes a long way here. The idea is to spice up the marriage and avoid getting into a dull routine that may negatively impact the marriage.

Joke with your spouse. This particular aspect goes a long way in preventing arguments and brightening the atmosphere of the home. Life is a constant stream of challenges and tests, and to approach it in a light-hearted manner helps make the journey smoother and more enjoyable. You may also find that your spouse enjoys this characteristic, and looks forward to spending time with you because of it.

In fact, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) himself joked with his wives, as well as with companions (though without lying), and tolerated some companions who were known for being light-hearted and prankish.

• Begin with the intention to resolve the issue. If both spouses have this intention and plan to consult together, it is more likely that there will be a successful resolution.
• Remember that it takes two to quarrel. If only one person chooses not to argue, there will be no argument. Generally, the one who is wrong does most of the talking.
• Both spouses should not be angry at the same time. If one of the spouses becomes upset, it is best if the other tries to remain calm and collected.
• Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire. Of course, house fires do not occur very frequently; yelling should occur at about the same rate.
• Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled. This is one of the worst things that can happen in a marriage and should be avoided as much as possible. This allows hurt feelings and thoughts to linger and generally exacerbates the problem.
• If one spouse needs to win, let it be your mate. Do not focus on winning yourself; this is the main reason that discussions tend to become heated.
• Remember your house in Paradise! The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: I guarantee a house in the surroundings [suburbs] of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good. [Abu Dawud, 41/4782]
  

(1) Hamdan, Aisha. “Tips for a Happy and Successful Marriage.” Madrasa In'aamiyyah. 13 September 2006 <http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/tipsmarriage.htm>.

• The Love of Your Life
• Five Points From Marriage 101
• Ten Tips Towards Being a Successful Husband
• The Key to Happiness
• Are You a Believer?

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Leadership Lessons: Power With Conciseness

Another important gem we learn from the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and the early generations is that power comes with conciseness.

During the time of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم), he received a letter from a man named Musaylimah, who claimed prophethood as well, and wished to divide up the area. In response, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) wrote:

"From Muhammad the Messenger of Allah to Musaylimah the liar. To proceed. Verily, the land belongs to Allah, and He inherits it to whom he wishes. And the outcome will always be for the believers."

Subhanallah, such a short letter, in which he ripped Musaylimah apart and made it clear that he would be part of no such alliance.

Similarly, when Iyaad ibn Ghanim sent a letter to Khalid bin Walid (رضي الله عنهما) outlining his situation and requesting military assistance, the letter he received in response said only: "You, I seek." And when Iyaad ibn Ghanim looked up, he saw the army on the horizon.

Take heed of this lesson: power comes with conciseness. When you need to speak out, especially when you're in positions of leadership, do your best to apply this practice.

Some tips to help you keep it "short and sweet":

1. Think before you speak! Before you say a word, make sure you think about what exactly you need to say.
2. Avoid Fluff! Unless you have a strong reason to expand on your core message, leave it at the bare minimum.
3. Practice, practice, practice! The more you practice, the easier it gets.

And you can apply this practice to emails, letters, speeches, discussions, everything.

Wallahu 'alim.

Related Posts: Qualities of Musaylimah, “It has a Ropy Tail and a Trunk.”

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Conquest: History of the Khulafa. University of Toronto, Toronto. November 2005.

• Stepping Up: Leadership Lessons from Az-Zubayr
• The True Measure of Leadership
• Leadership at the Front and Leadership from the Back
• Consultation (Shura): A Fundamental Leadership Technique
• Money, Power, Respect

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Stepping Up: Leadership Lessons from Az-Zubayr

During the battle of Yarmuk, Az-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) tried to incite the mujahideen to fight against the Romans. (You can read the entire incident here.)

From this incident, we learn some important leadership lessons:

1. When nobody steps up to the task, the leader must take the initiative to get the job done. Because, one way or another, the task must be completed.
2. Leaders also work in the trenches, when circumstances require it of them. They don't sit back, delegate, and superwise, but rather, when called on, they jump in.  And when the companions built the first masjid in Medina, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) laid bricks and spread cement with them.
3. Real leaders don't hide. Unlike many leaders of countries today, real leaders from the best of generations did not hide, tucked away safe in their strongholds, while the battle waged. In fact, when 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) became Khalifa, the other companions talked him out of fighting--otherwise, he would have been first at the front lines.

May Allah grant our ummah true leadership, as practiced by the best of examples before us, ameen!

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Conquest: History of the Khulafa. University of Toronto, Toronto. November 2005.

• The True Measure of Leadership
• Leadership at the Front and Leadership from the Back
• Seek Knowledge from the Best Sources
• Az-Zubayr and Yarmuk: The Man Worth 1000 Fighters
• Leadership Lessons: Power With Conciseness

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