بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

This is the continuation of the series, that focuses on implementing sunnah in our lives.

Here is the sunnah items, we will be focusing on in this week:

Click here to show evidences/reference links

Sunnah’s of Eating:

• Pronounce the Tasmiya (Bismilla) [Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 65 :: Hadith 288]
• If you forget to say Bismillah, before starting, say this supplication. [At-Tirmidhee 5/506]
• Eat with the right hand
• Eat from what is infront of you
• If some food drops, clean it and then eat it [Muslim :: Book 23 : Hadith 5044]
• Eat with three fingers [Muslim :: Book 23 : Hadith 5040]
• Eat together [Dawud :: Book 27 : Hadith 3755]
• Not finding faults in food [Muslim :: Book 23 : Hadith 5121]

After Eating:

• Lick the bowl and the finger [Muslim :: Book 23 : Hadith 5043]
• Praise Allah - Supplication Link. As per the hadith in [At-Tirmidhee, The Book of Supplications, Hadeeth 3458], whoever says this dua after eating, his previous sins will be forgiven.

Tip of the Week:

Go through the list again and for each item, ask yourself “Do I follow this sunnah most of time , or some of the time, rarely or not at all” and then act accordingly.

Action Item:

1. Share this post on Facebook.

References:

• 1000 Sunnah Per Day and Night [View/Download]
• Booklet: Sunnah Checklist – published by Alhuda International
• More than 1000 Sunan for Every Day & Night – Dar us Salam
• IslamQa - The etiquette of eating, with detailed evidence

Previous Post in this Series:

• Week 1 - On Waking Up
• Week2 – Entering and After Entering the Washroom
• Week3 – On Coming out of Washroom and Making Ablution
• Week4 – Duas after the Salah
• Week 5 – Making dua, Having breakfast and Responding to Adhan
• Week 6 – Dressing Up, Walking
• A Siwaak a Day

Here is the sunnah items, we will be focusing on in this week:

Making Dua:

• Raise your hands
• Glorify and praise Allah, in the beginning and at the end
• Send salutations on Prophet (May Allah Peace and Blessing be on him) in the beginning and at the end
• Cry while making dua

Adhaan:

• Respond to it (see the first dua here)
• Make salutation on the prophet (May Allah Peace and Blessing be on him)
• Make dua (last one on this page)

Breakfast:

• Mix honey in water and drink it
• Eat 7 Ajwa Dates

Tip of the Week:

But things like this and this one for your kids

Action Item:

1. Memorize the duas from the sunnah: Mashary Qunoot Dua, Alhuda Masnoon Duas Collection, Saad al Ghamdi Qunoot Dua – Learn some ways to praise and glorify Allah in the duas

Inshallah, next week, we will look at the sunnah on wearing clothes and going out of the house

Previous Post in this Series:

• Week 1 - On Waking Up
• Week2 – Entering and After Entering the Washroom
• Week3 – On Coming out of Washroom and Making Ablution
• Week4 – Duas after the Salah

References:

Booklet: Sunnah Checklist – published by Alhuda International (download link)

After the fard salahs:

• After slautation, say Allahu Akbar in loud voice
• Say “Astagfirullah” thrice in low voice
• Recite “Ayat Kursi”
• Read the morning and evening supplications after farjar and asar prayers (Another Link)
• Recite other Adhkars and Supplications
• Pray the two rakahs of ishraq after the fajar prayer (The Messenger of Allah [SAWS] said, “Whoever prays the dawn prayer (fajr) in a group and then sits and does dhikr until the sun rises, then prays two rakas, shall have the like of the reward of a hajj and an umra.”)

Tip of the Week:

Get some nice colorful cards/sticky notes. Put the relevant information and stick them in various places in the house as reminders.  For example, summarize the sunnahs about using the washroom that we have learnt in previous weeks, put it on the card and stick it on the washroom mirror or door.

Action Item:

1. Share this post with 5 other people and get the ajar. Post on facebook, twitter, email etc

Previous Post in this Series:

• Week 1 - On Waking Up
• Week2 – Entering and After Entering the Washroom
• Week3 – On Coming out of Washroom and Making Ablution

References:

Booklet: Sunnah Checklist – published by Alhuda International

Muslims, living in the Muslim Countries, generally tend to have limited exposure to Fiqh and its rulings. There is usually one dominant madhab and that’s all people know about. Rarely, if ever, people are exposed to other madahibs. However, the situation for many of us living in west, like Canada, is quite different.

Because of the diversity of muslims, from various countries, cultures and backgrounds, we are exposed to many madhabs. We find many different opinions on a given issue. We see people praying little differently in mosque. When Ramadhan comes, the whole moon sighting debate starts and not to mention the zabiha meat issues.

The question then arises, why do scholars differ? This then would be the topic of these series of posts Inshallah. So let’s get started.  To make it easy for us to understand these difference, scholars usually divide the reasons of differences into various categories and aspects. Here is one such categorization. The differences exists, due to:

1. Interpretation of word meanings and grammatical constructions
2. Hadith narrations
3. Admissibility  of  certain principles
4. Methods of Qiyas

In the next few posts, we will look at each category one by one.

Action Item:

1. To get the feeling of some of these difference, skim though some of the fiqh issues in the following books:
   • Fiqh us Sunnah
   • The distinguished jurist’s primer
   • Fiqhpedia
2. Post in the comments, evidences that show that the differences of opinions existed in the time of the Messenger (SAW) and that the differences are inherently bad or evil. (Hint: there is a post on this website, that talks about this)

References:

• The Evolution of Fiqh by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

May Allah make this series beneficial for us.

Continuing in the ten ways to achieve the love of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, here are the last five points as per ibn al-Qayyim rahimuhallauh:

Sixth, observing Allaah’s kindness, goodness and bounties, both hidden and open.

It is to be aware of the vast amounts of Mercy Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has engulfed His slaves with. It is to recognize and accept the blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and to show thanks for it. As Allah says: “Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny?” [Surah Rehman V.13]

Seventh, and this is the most wonderful, the heart being soft, subdued and meek before Allaah.

Eighth, being alone with Allaah during the time when the Lord descends during the last portion of the night while reading His Book and ending that by asking for forgiveness and repenting.

Allah says in the Qur’an, the meaning of which is: “And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salat (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Quran in the prayer), as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawafil) for you (O Muhammad SAW). It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaman Mahmuda (a station of praise and glory, i.e. the highest degree in Paradise!)” [17:79]

Imam as-Suyooti rahimuhallah says in his tafsir of this verse: “It may be that your Lord will raise you to, establish you, in the Hereafter in a praiseworthy station, one for which the first and last [of mankind] will praise you — and this is the station of intercession [which will take place] during [the passing of] the Final Judgement”

Much can be said about the blessings of the night prayer. It is sufficient though for our purpose to quote the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah radhiAllah anhu in which the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said (the meaning of which is): “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’”

Truly, those who regularily commit to praying in the last third of the night, they are the successful ones. We ask Allah to make us amongst the blessed people who can reach that status.

Ninth, sitting with the beloved and sincere, benefitting from the most fruitful of their speech. And not to speak unless speaking is more beneficial and you know that it will improve your state and be beneficial to others.

Tenth, remaining away from every cause that comes between the heart and Allaah

In a hadith collected  by Imam Bukhari rahimuhallah and narrated by Nu’man ibn Bashir radhiAllah anhu, the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said: “…Beware, in the body there is a flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt, and behold, it is the heart.”

The purity of this heart is directly linked to the actions of the heart, the limbs, and the statements of the tongues because these are the three means of sinning. With every sin the Son of Adam commits his eman diminishes and his heart gets dirtier.

In regards to the heart, some of the salaf used to say: “The heart is the king of the limbs and the rest of the limbs are its soldiers; they always obey him by implementing his instructions and they never disobey him in any regard.  (Remember) when the king is pious, his soldiers will also be pious.  Similarly, when the king is sinful, his soldiers will also be sinful.”

May Allah shower us with a blessed journey towards attaining His Love. Ameen.

Umer radhiAllah anhu used to say:

“If Allah strikes me with calamity I will thank Allah for four things: 1) that the test was not in my deen 2) the calamity could have been worse 3) it is an expiation for my sins 4) any loss after losing the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam is nothing”

The greatest man that lived after the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam and Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radhiAllah anhu, Umer ibn al-Khattab radhiAllah anhu. What a man! SubhanAllah. We thank Allah for giving us such amazing examples of people to emulate and look up to. Alhamdolilah!

Being thankful to Allah is indeed a great favour granted to the slave from Him. Without His will we would never have the ability to thank Him. On top of that, being thankful to Allah in times of a calamity is a greater favour granted to the slave from Him, subhanahu wa ta’ala. Not only has Allah allowed the slave to thank Him for the bounties that are evident, but He has allowed him to look deeper and thank Him for those bounties that arn’t as evident.

My brothers and sisters, all calamities are indeed a great blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala because it gives us an opportunity to reflect and understand that everything is in His control. and if He has willed it, then it is always for our betterment. Look to the example of Umer ibn al-Khattab radhiAllah anhu, and let’s start putting things into correct perspective. Next time we stricken with a calamity–a lost job, car accident, death in  the family–go back and thank Allah because atleast you are still Muslim and you still have Jannah waiting for you in the hereafter. Thank Allah, say Alhamdolilah, because we all know things could have always been much worse: if you lost your job, you could have lost your home; if you had a car accident, you could have lost your legs; if you lost a member in the family, you’ve already lost the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam.  And thank Allah, in abundance, because that little bit of distress and difficulty is an expiation of your sins. Allahuakber!

• While the khaleefah of the Muslims, Umar (RA) passed by a home where a girl and her mother were differing over whether to mix water in with the milk they intended to sell to the Muslims. The mother said to mix water with the milk so that they may sell more and the daughter reminded her that even if the Khaleefah couldn’t see them committing wrong, Allah is Al-Baseer (Always All-Watching). Umar (RA) was soo taken by the vigilance of this girl he married her to his son who later produced righteous offspring.

• A man who was successful wealthy man Nooh ibn Mariam, had
  a beautiful daughter and had a slave (Mubarak). He called his
  slave and told him to take care of his garden. One day he went
  to visit the garden and ordered Mubarak to get him a cluster of
  grapes. He brought the grapes they turned out to be bitter and
  he did this 3 times and each time they were bitter. Nooh
  became upset and said to Mubarak that don’t you know the
  difference between bitter and sweet grapes. He said By Allah I
  have never tasted a single grape because you ordered me to
  take care of your garden. Nooh was impressed and proposed
  that he marry his daughter. The result of that marriage was
  ‘Abdullah ibn Mubarak.

• Luqman, the wise, when he advised his son, he said: “[And Luqman said], “O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted [31:16] This advise came even before he advised his son about salah, enjoining good and forbidding evil. This shows the importance of being vigilant. This is a very good lesson for parents as well. They can’t be with their kids all the time so they need to cultivate this feeling of consciousness into the young minds. This way no matter wherever they are,  they will always remember that Allah is watching over them.

Action Steps:

1. Check out the verses: 50: 16 – 18 and post the translation in the comments.  Be the first one to post!
2. Any time you think about committing some sin, remind yourself that Allah, the AlRaqeeb is watching over you.
3. If you are trying to get rid of some bad habit, copy the verse 96:14 on a piece of paper and stick it in the place of temptation (TV, computer, mp3 player…..)
4. Watch this video and find out which of the 5 advices relates closely to our topic (post in the comments)
5. Make dua that Allah makes us among these people who are always aware of His presence.
6. Pray for me

References:

• Sheikh Riad. Lecture. AlMaghrib.  A Heart Serene. August 2008

Ramadan is still fresh in your mind; the long days of fasting, the pain in your legs and back from taraweeh, and most of all, that biting regret that you didn’t do enough.

Would you like to make the next Ramadan even better? With only five minutes worth of effort?! Try this out: create a new document (by hand or computer, whatever you like) called “Ramadan Retrospective.” List out the following:

• What you did well. Maybe you read more Qur’an than ever before! Or you prayed taraweeh every day. Whatever it is.
• What you didn’t do well enough. Maybe you neglected your sunnah prayers because you were tired, or slept after Fajr. Write all that down.
• What to do better next time. List the missed opportunities. Maybe you didn’t have a concrete plan for the last ten nights. Or you never bothered planning for ‘ittakaaf, and so, missed it.

The key step is to keep this in a safe place and look at it next Ramadan. This will insha’Allah give you a strong starting-point to move forward from. The key is to spend some time really thinking about it. If you don’t, it’ll just be superficial.

May Allah accept our good deeds and keep us doing them even after Ramadan has ended–ameen. And that, scholars say, is one of the best signs that your deeds were accepted.

Wallahu a’lam.

One final point–please list in the comments any lessons you learned (or heard about but maybe already knew) from Ramadan. Let’s see how much benefit we can come up with, insha’Allah. Here are a few to get you started from what I learned:

• Eat little in Iftar, because bloat makes you sleepy in taraweeh.
• Learn Arabic, because then taraweeh will be enjoyable, not endless.
• Make a du’a list and use it every night in the last ten nights.
• Pray two rakaahs before Fajr. It counts as Tahajjud!
• Make du’a when you break your fast — that’s one of the best times.
• Eat healthy.

Ramadan is coming to a close. Like the last half-kilometer of a 10km race, the finish-line is in sight. This is the time to pull out all the stops and to sprint, flat-out. This is the time when Laylatul-Qadar, the night where deeds are multiplied by more than one thousand, hides.

Are you ready for it?

Maybe you felt like Ramadan breezed by. Maybe you felt like you didn’t do enough. Well, this is your chance to make up for it. You need to finish strong, insha’Allah.

So take five minutes and make an action plan. This plan will, insha’Allah, help you milk the end of the month. Grab a piece of paper and write “Ramadan Plan” on it.

First, list two categories of historical items:

• The Good: List all the things you did, that you’re happy with. You read Qur’an. You prayed Taraweeh. You donated $100. And so on. You need to ensure you keep doing these things.
• The Bad: Maybe you didn’t pray tahajjud. Maybe you didn’t even pray Fajr in the masjid! List all these things. Don’t hold back.

Then, create your action plan: Pick as many items as you think you can handle, the best of The Good and whatever you can take from The Bad. Using the example above, your action plan might include: Read Qur’an, pray Taraweeh, pray Fajr in the masjid.

Then, list all the things you need to stop doing to get this to work. Maybe you watch 2-3 hours of TV a day. Or you spend six hours daily on Facebook. Whatever it is–list it, and aim to get rid of it.

It’s crucial to realize that you need to sacrifice in the short-term. You want to maximize Laylatul-Qadr. Do so, even if you’ll drop behind on things here and there for a few days.

Insha’Allah if you do this, you’ll have a strong, action-oriented plan for the last ten nights. And remember to stretch yourself. Go beyond your comfort limit. That’s what Ramadan is about–breaking the limits.

If you have any other tips, insha’Allah list them in the comments. I’d love to squeeze more benefit out of Laylatul-Qadr. May Allah give us all the tawfeeq to catch this awesome night with the best good deeds.

Bismillah.

This is a guest post by an author who compiled a wide number of resources related to fasting, reciting Qur’an, and sincerity of intention. This is a great resource of ahadith and ayaat related to fasting. May Allah grant them a great reward (ameen!) and forgive any mistakes I have made in re-formatting it and linking all the sources to their citations.

So without further a-do, let’s jump into it.

Reported al-Bukhari that Umar bin al-Khaatab narrated: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa salaam) saying: “The reward of deeds depend on the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.” [Al-Bukhar: 1/1/1]

The Intentions of Fasting: Compilations of Intentions and benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadan

1. To carry out the orders of Allah and to attain piety as Allah said: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-Muttaqun (pious)” (Al-Baqarah 2:183)
2. To get protection from Hell-Fire. Allah’s Messengers (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “When a person fasts for a day, for the sake of Allah, Allah drives away the Hell-Fire from him to a distance of seventy years of traveling.” [Al-Bukhari: 4/52/93 and Muslim 6/2570 to 6/2572]
3. To expiate one’s past sins. Allah’s Messenger said: “whoever observes Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramadan, out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari 1/2/37 and 3/32/231]
4. To enter Paradise .Abu Umamah said: I asked the Prophet,’O Allah’s Messenger, guide me to a deed with which I may enter Paradise. “He (salallahu alyhi wa salaam) replied,’ Observe fasting; there is nothing like it.’” [An-Nissai, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim]
5. To get the intercession on the Day of Judgment. “On the Day of Judgment, fasting and Qur’an will intercede for the person who observes fast and recites the Qur’an.” [Ahmed]
6. To get a granted invocation (supplication).Allah’s Messenger said:’ Three kinds of invocations are to be granted; the invocation of the person who observes fast, the invocation of an oppressed person, and the invocation of a traveler.” [Al-Silsilah as-Sahiha no. 1797]
7. To enter through the gate of Ar-Rayyan on the Day of Judgement. Allah’s Messenger said: “There is a gate of Ar-Rayyan on The Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it.”
   [Al-Bukhari 3/31/120, Muslim 5/2239 and 5/2240].
8. To receive the reward in full without reckoning. Allah’s Messenger said:’ A man’s good acts are recompensed many times, from ten times to 700 times. Allah, the Exalted, says ‘But a fast is an exception because it is undertaken simply for My Sake) i.e.,there is no limit for it’s recompense) and I, Alone shall bestow the reward for it.’” [Muslim 6/2566 to 6/2568]

The intentions When taking Sahur (the Pre-Dawn Meal):

1. To carry out the commandment of Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and follow his sunnah, when he said: “Take the Sahur because there’s blessing in it.” [Al-Bukhari 3/31/146, and Muslim].
2. To be different from the people of the scriptures who do not observe partaking of Suhur [Muslim].
3. To seek the salaah of Allah and his angels upon oneself. The Prophet Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Allah sends his salaah (graces, honors, blessings, mercy, etc.) and also his angels send their salaah (ask Allah to bless and forgive them) upon those who take sahur.’” [Ibn Hibban and at-Tabaraani]
4. To facilitate fasting and gain strength for worshipping.
5. To make Du’aa and ask forgiveness after taking Sahur at the end of the night.

The intentions at the time of breaking Fast.

1. To carry out the orders of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) by eating at sunset.
2. To gain strength for worshipping Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala).
3. To follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) in hasting the breaking of the fast.
4. Allah’s Messenger said: “The people will continue to be in a good state of affairs as long as they hasten the breaking the fast.’” [Bukhari 3/31/178 and Muslim 6/2417]
5. To get the pleasure (Joy) when one will meet his Lord on the day of resurrection. Allah’s messenger said: “There are two pleasures of the person observing fast, one at the time of Iftar (breaking fast), and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; Then he will be pleased because of his Saum (fasting).” [Al-Bukhari 3/31/128 and 9/93/584]
6. To get a granted invocation (prayer) at the time of breaking the fast. Allah’s messenger said: “Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking fast a prayer (supplication) which is not rejected.” [Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim]

The Intentions of Qiyaam (Establishing the nights with Prayer):

1. To expiate ones past sins. Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever establishes (Nawafil, voluntary) prayers during the nights of Ramadan, faithfully, out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven.’” [Al Bukhari]
2. To search for Lailatul -Qadar (The Night of Qadar).Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Search for the night of Qadar in the odd nights of the last nights of Ramadan.” [Al-Bukhari 1/2/37]
3. To enter paradise with peace. Allah’s Messenger said: “O people! Spread Salaam (greetings), feed others, join your kin, and pray at night while people are sleeping, you will enter paradise with peace.” [Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi]
4. To be one of the Muhsinun (Goodoers) who, “They used to sleep but little by night and in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness.” (51:17-18)
5. To imitate and follow the way of the righteous predecessors. Allah’s messenger said: “exert your utmost to offer night prayers, because it is the way of the righteous predecessors before you it is nearness to your Lord, it expiates sins and prevents one from committing evil deeds or sins.” [At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by al-Albaani]
6. To receive the great booty that comes from reciting the Qur’an in the night prayer is. Allah’s messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever establishes the night prayer and recite ten verses, will not be written down as one of the heedless and whoever prays at night reciting 100 verses will be written down as one of the sincere devotes, and whoever prays at night reciting 1000 verses will be written down as one of the al-Muqantarin [i.e. those for whom is written a Qintaar (a weight measure) of reward].” [Abu Dawoud and authenticated by al-Albaani]

The intentions when reciting the Qur’an

1. To get the intercession. Allah’s messenger said: “Read the Qur’an as it shall come on the day of resurrection as an intercessor for its readers” [Muslim 4/1757]
2. To get the healing for that which is in the breast (disease of ignorance, doubts, etc…)
3. To be raised in grade (ranks) Paradise.
4. To make it a protection (and a shield) from Hellfire
5. To attain high ranks and to be with the angels.
6. To be one of Allah’s special people.
7. To get the Light with which one can be guided in the darkness (i.e. it is a light in the heart, in the face, in the grave and on the bridge (As-Siraat) on the day of Resurrection)
8. To get increased amount of reward and to attain Allah’s love.
9. To get the guidance and mercy of Allah.(Subhana wa ta’ala)

We ask Allah to help us be among those who implement all of these things consistently in our lives–allahumma ameen!