₦airaland Forum

In Ramadan, we learn to gain mastery over our nafs (inner selves), by abstaining from things that are halal for us… food, drink, intimacy, etc. This allows us to turn our focus to what is most important in life – the worship of Allah . However, if one ponders deeply – the goal of the disciplines that we gain in Ramadan is to benefit us in our lives, long after Ramadan is over.

To help us understand the deeper requirements of an accepted fast, we have the following hadith:

Abu Hurairah  reported that the Prophet  said:

“Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)” 1

From this hadith, we learn that the deeper meaning in fasting the month of Ramadan is not just to make one’s body accustomed to physical deprivation or even to increase in acts of nawaful (supererogatory) worship. Instead, it is a training ground for mastering your nafs (soul) on a deeper level. And moreover, this training should position the Believer to move throughout life in a much different way – increasing his or her obedience and noticeably improving in character the remaining 11 months of the year and beyond.

In Ramadan, we are shown that if we can focus and submit purely for Allah’s sake — to leave off things that are halal for us – then what about the haram? The same level of self-mastery that we hopefully apply in Ramadan can be a springboard to permanently rid ourselves of vices, actions and mindsets that are not becoming of a Muslim. In essence, Ramadan is literally a training ground for the rest of the year – and the rest of your life, for those who take heed.

As humans, we all have things that we struggle with. However, Allah is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy, and has blessed us with this opportunity for purification and elevation. So this Ramadan, in addition to focusing on Quran, Qiyam-ul-Layl (Night Prayer), feeding the poor, and seeking Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Decree), let’s also use this opportunity to strive to rid ourselves of un-praiseworthy actions and habits.

Below are just a few potential areas of focus (depending on the person), that can help one to exit Ramadan a better person than when they entered, and gain the love and reward of Allah .

Music, Movies and Other Unproductive Media:

Most people will abstain from watching lewd movies and listening to music out of respect for Ramadan. However, if this is something associated with piety, then would it not be even more beneficial to reevaluate the type of media you allow yourself to absorb, partake in and are entertained by the rest of the year?

In addition to much of it being haram (musical instruments, fornication and immodest dress), much of what is broadcasted is purposely designed to reduce ones morals, increase promiscuity and keep a person distracted from their true purpose in life – the worship of Allah :

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”  2

Mixing with the Opposite Sex:

In Ramadan, we frequent the masaajid more and purposely strive to lower our gaze, so as not to cause a break or deficiency in our fast. This is excellent training for life outside of Ramadan as it allows one to gain mastery in remaining chaste, guarding the eyes and not interacting with those who are not halal for us. Also, if you are in a haram relationship prior to Ramadan, honor yourself enough to either demand marriage, or walk away for Allah’s sake.

In addition, with the advent of social media, mixing of men and women has increased dramatically and has even spilled into real life. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has also impacted the Muslims, with many having “friends” or contacts whom they chat with on social media – yet, they would not want to be caught mixing with in the community. Use this Ramadan to purify your interactions and use the tools that Allah  has placed at our disposal for benefit, not harm.

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.”

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.)…” 3

Backbiting and Slander:

One of the most grievous sins is to backbite or slander someone, or to accuse someone without proof. In today’s hyper-connected world, people have more access than ever to “information” about people, groups and events, and this often leads people to critique, blame and slander individuals – often without knowledge. And when this action is directed toward your fellow Muslim, it is even more detrimental. Use this Ramadan as an opportunity to master your heart and tongue, and maintain speech that is fair and honorable throughout the year. 

“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” 4 

Usury and Unlawful Money:

One of the most hated sins to Allah  is the practice of ribaa (usury/interest). Many Muslims (especially in the West) feel as if they cannot live and acquire things that they need (education, housing, etc.) without accepting or paying riba. However, Allah  is sufficient for His slaves and provides without measure for those who truly place their trust in Him .

If you have loans or transactions that involve interest, use this month to pray to Allah  for relief from this, and seek out the means to purify your wealth – even if it takes time. Also, if your income involves engaging in any haram or something illegal, know that leaving that off for the sake of Allah  will not only cleanse your wealth, but will also open up bigger and better opportunities inshaAllah.

“Those who eat Riba (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitan (Satan) leading him to insanity…” 5

Hijab:

It has become customary that some sisters who may not observe hijab, will do so during Ramadan, especially with the increase of activity in the masjid. Observing the hijab is a command from Allah  and is a means to ward off many evils. If you’ve struggled in this area, use Ramadan as a starting point to improve in your practice of hijab. And know that with any positive move, there may be setbacks. However, take this step sincerely for Allah  and He  will reward you greatly.

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e.screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” 6

There are many such examples and we can all examine our lives to identify areas that we can work to improve during Ramadan and inshaAllah continue thereafter. So this Ramadan, all of the things that you do for Allah’s pleasure, and things that you abstain from fearing His displeasure – try to keep those up for the remainder of the year. If you do, imagine where you will be next Ramadan, by Allah’s Mercy!

Using this formula, you can embark on a journey of spiritual elevation each Ramadan – each year becoming better, instead of merely settling for yearly repetition. And with Allah  is the best of rewards.

Is there any reward for good other than good?” 7

“Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”  





  Saheeh Bukhari ↩

 Ad-Dthaariyaat 51:56 ↩

 An Noor 24:30-31 ↩

 Al-Hujuraat 49:12 ↩

 Al Baqarah 2:275 ↩

 Al-Ahzab 33:59 ↩

 Ar-Rahman 55:60 ↩

 Bukhari ↩




http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/use-ramadan-as-a-time-to-shed-your-vices/

mrsefan:
you ryt I see may Allah guide us from evil deeds

Amin

Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem (in the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

You may have heard some terrible stories about young women who have been forced, by their family, into marriage with someone that they do not want to be with. You may have also heard that this is what the Muslims do. You may have heard this and you would be right.

But you need to know that, although there are Muslims who do this, who force their daughters into marriages without their consent, this is an unIslamic practise. And this is not something that is particular to Muslims either. There are forced marriages in a number of socieities and cultures, including the Indian and Pakistan cultures, some African cultures and I am sure it is more widespread than what I have cited here.

Allah Has Not Instructed the Muslims to act in this fashion and you will not find a shred of evidence for Forced Marriages in the Qur’an or in Hadith. So if you do come across something that claims a forced marriage is from Islam – that is wrong and you should challenge this claim.

Arranged Marriages are in accordance with Islam but Forced Marriages are not.

Marriage in Islam

In Islam, marriage is such an important thing as it is the centre of Islamic upbringing for children, has so many benefits for both spouses and their families and can bring communities and people together in a way that no other relationship can. This was demonstrated in many of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) marriages and there are plenty of authentic sources to read about those marriages.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When Allah Grants one a righteous wife, He Has Helped him (by that) to preserve half of his religion. Let him then fear and revere Allah in regard to the other half.” [At-Tabarani and Al-Hakim]

Marriage in Islam is between consenting Muslim men and women. It helps both parties to fulfil their desires without engaging in sinful acts such as fornication, pornography, incest and promiscuity. Marriage also has other benefits in that both husband and wife are partners to each other – each treating the other with respect. In fact the Qur’an’s description of this relationship is deeper than that. This is contrary to the myth that Islam says that Muslim husbands can treat their wives like garbage.

“They (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them…” (Qur’an 2:187)

In Islam there is no marriage between two people of the same sex – this is not about intolerance to consenting adults but about condemning sinful acts. Western societies that have adopted this practise can clearly learn some morals and standards of behaviour from Islam.

Who is the wali (guardian) of the woman to be married?

The conditions of the walee are as follows:

He should be of sound mind
He should be an adult
He should be free (not a slave)
He should be of the same religion as the bride. A kaafir cannot be the walee of a Muslim, male or female, and a Muslim cannot be the walee of a kaafir, male or female, but a kaafir can be the walee of a kaafir woman for marriage purposes, even if they are of different religions. An apostate (one who has left Islam) cannot be a walee for anybody.
He should be of good character (‘adaalah – includes piety, attitude, conduct, etc.), as opposed to being corrupt. This is a condition laid down by some scholars, although some of them regard the outward appearance of good character as being sufficient, and some say that it is enough if he is judged as being able to pay proper attention to the interests of the woman for whom he is acting as walee in the matter of her marriage.
He should be male, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No woman may conduct the marriage contract of another woman, and no woman can conduct the marriage contract on behalf of her own self, because the zaaniyah (fornicatress, adulteress) is the one who arranges things on her own behalf.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 1782; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7298)
He should be wise and mature (rushd), which means being able to understand matters of compatibility and the interests of marriage.

The fuqahaa’ put possible walees in a certain order, and a walee who is more closely-related should not be ignored unless there is no such person or the relatives do not meet the specified conditions. A woman’s walee is her father, then whoever her father may have appointed before his death, then her paternal grandfathers, no matter how far the line of ascent reaches; then her son and his sons, no matter how far the line of descent reaches (this applies if she has a son); then her (full) brother through her father and mother; then her (half) brother through her father only; then their sons, no matter how far the line of descent reaches; then her paternal uncles; then their children, no matter how far the line of descent reaches; then the father’s paternal uncles; then the ruler. (al-Mughni 9/355). The Muslim leader (or his deputy, such as a qaadi or judge) is the walee for any woman who does not have a walee of her own.



The Responsibility of Walis (guardians)

A man does not need to have a wali (guardian) for marriage, but a woman does.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, according to the hadeeth narrated by ‘Aa’ishah: “Any woman who gets married without a wali, her marriage is invalid, invalid, invalid.”
[Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1102; classed as hasan by Abu Dawood, 2083; Ibn Maajah, 1879.]

It is the responsibiluty of a wali (guardian) to ensure a suitable husband for his female relative (or for the woman who is getting married). The wali needs to ensure that the suitor is of good Islamic character and can only object to a suitor upon a valid reason (not one based upon cultural practises or finances).

But if the wali repeatedly refuses the proposal of a compatible suitor, he is to be regarded as preventing the marriage of the female relative under his care, and his guardianship is thus rendered null and void, and that right is transferred to the next closest relative on the father’s side.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

If the wali refused to let a woman marry a man whose religious commitment and character are good, then guardianship passes to the next closest male relative on the father’s side, then the next closest and so on. If they refuse to arrange her marriage, as usually happens, then guardianship passes to the qaadi, and the qaadi should arrange the woman’s marriage. If the matter is referred to him and he knows that her guardians have refused to arrange her marriage, then he should do that, because he is the wali in cases where there is no specific wali.

It is not permissible for the walee to refuse marriage because the prospective husband does not follow his manhaj of da’wah, or because he is not of his tribe or from his country. The Prophet (ﷺ) commanded us to marry religious people and not to refuse them, otherwise corruption and tribulation would be the result.

http://islamqa.info/en/2127

The Qualities of the Husband

With regard to the conditions and qualities that should be present in the husband, the most important of these is religious commitment. The husband must be Muslim (marriage to a non-Muslim male is prohibited in Islam).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If there comes to you one with whose religious commitment and character you are pleased, then marry [your daughter or female relative under your care] to him, for if you do not do that there will be fitnah (tribulation) on earth and much corruption.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1005) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 1084.

“Verily, the most honourable of you with Allaah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwaa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqoon (the pious)]” [al-Hujuraat 49:13]

“Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women)” [al-Noor 24:26]

A’ishah (ra) reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Make a good choice for your sperm (ie. offspring); marry those who are compatible and get married to them.” [Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim]

The Qualities of the Wife

With regard to the conditions and qualities that should be present in the wife, the most important of these is religious commitment. The wife can be Muslim, Jew or Christian.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: “A woman is sought in marriage for four reasons: wealth, social status, beauty and deen. So seek the one with deen – may you then be successful.” [Bukhari and Muslim]



Asking for One’s Hand in Marriage

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: “A man must not make proposal of marriage to a woman when his brother has done so already. And he must not offer a price for a thing for which his brother had already offered a price; and a woman must not be combined in marriage with her father’s sister, nor with her mother’s sister, and a woman must not ask to have her sister divorced in order to deprive her of what belongs to her, but she must marry, because she will have what Allah has decreed for her.”
[Muslim]

Consent of the wife

One of the shar’i conditions of marriage is the consent of the wife, because the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A previously-married woman should not be married without consulting her and a virgin should not be married without asking her permission.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how does she give her permission?” He said, “If she remains silent.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4741; Muslim, 2543.

Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (ra) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When one of you wants to give his daughter in marriage, he should take her permission.” [At-Tabarani]

No one has the right to force a girl to marry anyone, but at the same time she does not have the right to get married without her guardian’s permission.

The presence of the guardian is an important condition for a marriage to be valid, but a girl should not be forced into marrying someone who she does not want to marry, and she is not regarded as disobeying her parents in this case. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: “The parents do not have the right to force their son to marry someone whom he does not want, and if he refuses he is not being disobedient, like eating something that he does not want.” Al-Ikhtiyaaraat, p. 344

‘A’ishah reported that a girl came to her and said, “My father married me to his brother’s son in order to raise his social standing, and I did not want this marriage [I was forced into it].” ‘Aa’ishah said, “Sit here until the Prophet (ﷺ) comes. The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) came and she told him about the girl. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent for her father, then he gave the girl the choice of what to do. She said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I have accepted what my father did, but I wanted to prove something to other women.” (Reported by al-Nisaa’i, 3217).

Ibn Abaas (ra) reported that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “We have an orphan girl under our custody. A poor man and a rich man have both courted her. She prefers the poor man but we prefer the rich man. (What should we do?)” The Prophet (ﷺ) responded, “For those who like each other, nothing has proven as good as marriage.” [Ibn Majah, Hakim]







Witnesses

And he (ﷺ) said: “There is no marriage except with a wali and two witnesses of good character.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi from the hadeeth of ‘Imraan and ‘Aa’ishah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ 7557.

Stand Up 4 Islam!



https://standup4islam./2015/03/01/forced-marriages-they-are-not-from-islam/

Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem (in the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

Many Muslims are under the impression that music is halaal. Some scholars are also of this opinion, which is wrong and creates fitna amonst the ordinary Muslim, who can’t work out who is right and then is in danger of following their desires. Music is haraam and more details and evidences for this can be found in two books that you can download for free from my blog:

The Prohibition of Music

The Islamic Ruling on Music and Singing by Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi

Music is haraam

I have included some excerpts from these books that I hope you will find enlightening and hopefully lay to rest any confusion around whether music is halaal or haraam.

Allah says in Surah Luqman (interpretation of the meaning):

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allah…” [Luqmaan 31:6]

The scholar of the ummah, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: this means singing. Mujaahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: this means playing the
drum (tabl). (Tafseer al-Tabari, 21/40).

Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This ayah was revealed concerning singing and musical instruments. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/451).

Al-Sa’di (may Allah have mercy on him) said: this includes all manner of haraam speech, all idle talk and falsehood, and all nonsense that encourages kufr and disobedience; the words of those who say things to refute the truth and argue in support of falsehood to defeat the truth; and backbiting, slander, lies, insults and curses; the singing and musical instruments of the Shaytaan; and musical instruments which are of no spiritual or worldly benefit. (Tafseer al-Sa’di, 6/150)

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The interpretation of the Sahaabah and Taabi’in, that ‘idle talk’ refers to singing, is sufficient. This was reported with saheeh isnaads from Ibn ‘Abbaas and Ibn Mas’ood. Abu’l-Sahbaa’ said: I asked Ibn Mas’ood about the ayah (interpretation of the meaning), ‘“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks’ [Luqmaan 31:6]. He said: By Allah, besides Whom there is no other god, this means singing – and he repeated it three times.

It was also reported with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that this means singing. There is no contradiction between the interpretation of “idle talk” as meaning singing and the interpretation of it as meaning stories of the Persians and their kings, and the kings of the Romans, and so on, such as al-Nadr ibn al-Haarith used to tell to the people of Makkah to distract them from the Quran. Both of
them are idle talk. Hence Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “Idle talk” is falsehood and singing. Some of the Sahaabah said one and some said the other, and some said both. Singing is worse and more harmful than stories of kings, because it leads to zinaa and makes hypocrisy grow (in the heart); it is the trap of the Shaytaan, and it clouds the mind. The way in which it blocks people from the Quran is worse than the way in which other kinds of false talk block them, because people are naturally inclined towards it and tend to want to listen to it. The ayat condemn replacing the Quran with idle talk in order to mislead (men) from the path of Allah without knowledge and taking it as a joke, because when an ayah of the Quran is recited to such a person, he turns his back as if he heard them not, as if there were deafness in his ear. If he hears anything of it, he makes fun of it. All of this happens only in the case of the people who are most stubbornly kaafirs and if some of it happens to singers and those who listen to them, they both have a share of this blame. (Ighaathat al-Lahfaan, 1/258-259)

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and befool them gradually those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and any other call for Allah’s disobedience)…” [al-Israa’ 17:64]

It was narrated that Mujaahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “And befool them gradually those whom you can among them with your voice” – his voice [the voice of Iblees/Shaytaan] is singing and falsehood. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This idaafah [possessive or genitive construction, i.e., your voice] serves to make the meaning specific, as with the phrases [translated as] “your cavalry” and “your infantry” [later in the same ayah]. Everyone who speaks in any way that is not obedient to Allah, everyone who blows into a flute or other woodwind instrument, or who plays any haraam kind of drum, this is the voice of the Shaytaan. Everyone who walks to commit some act of disobedience towards Allah is part of his [the Shaytaan’s] infantry, and anyone who rides to commit sin is part of his cavalry. This is the view of the Salaf, as Ibn ‘Abi Haatim narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas: his infantry is everyone who walks to disobey Allah. (Ighaathat al-Lahfaan).

THE VIEW OF THE TAABI’EEN IMAMS AND SCHOLARS AFTER THEM
The view held by the companions was generally adhered to by the taabi’een and their followers, the four imams and the great majority of dependable Islamic scholars up to the present time. From among the taabi’een and their followers, there are such authorities asMujaahid, Ikrimah, An-Nakha’i and Al-Hassan Al-Basri.(*107)

IMAM ABU HANEEFAH:
Imam Abu Haneefah(*108) has perhaps the harshest view of the four famous Imams of jurisprudence.

His school of thought is the strictest, for he detested singing and considered it sinful. As for his disciples, they have explicitly confirmed the prohibition of listening to all musical amusements and pastimes, including wind instruments (mazaameer),(*109) all types of tambourines, hand drums (dufoof)(*110) and even the striking of sticks(al-qadeeb). They have asserted that such actions constitute disobedience to Allah and that the performer of such action is sinful, therefore necessitating rejection of his testimony.(*111) They have further stated that it is incumbent upon the Muslim to struggle to avoid listening to such things, even if he were passing by or stationed near them (without any willful intention). Abu Haneefah’s closest disciple, Abu Yoosuf, stated that if the sound of musical instruments (ma’aazif) and amusements (malaahi) were heard coming from a house, the house could be entered without permission of its owners.(*112) The justification for this is that the command regarding the prohibition of abominable things (munkaaraat) is mandatory, and cannot be established if such entering rests upon the permission of the residents of the premises.(*113) This is the madhhab (position) of the rest of theKufic scholars as well, such as Ibraheem An-Nakha’i, Ash-Sha’bi, Hammaad and Ath-Thowri. They do not differ on this issue. The same can be said of the general body of jurisprudence of Al-Basrah.(*114)

IMAAM MAALIK:
It is related by Ibnul-Jowzi that Ishaaq bin ‘Eesaa At-Tabba’a asked Imaam Maalik bin Anas,(*115) the leading jurisprudent of Madeenah, about the view of the people of Madeenah regarding singing (ghinaa). He replied, “In fact, that is done by the sinful ones.” Abut-teeb At-Tabari said, “As for Maalik bin Anas, he truly did prohibit singing and listening to it.” He further related that Maalik said, “If one purchased a slave-girl(*116) and found her to be a professional singer, he could return her to the original owner for reimbursement on the claim of having found fault in the merchandise.”(*117)

The ruling of prohibition (tahreem) is generally agreed upon by the scholars ofMadeenah. The Maaliki jurisprudence and commentator, Al-Qurtubi, reports Ibn Khuwayz Mandaad as saying that Imam Maalik had learned singing and music as a small boy until his mother encouraged him to leave it for a study of the religious sciences. He did, and his view became that such things were prohibited.(*118) Al-Qurtubi confirmed Maalik’s view by saying that the only exception to this general ruling was the type of innocent songs such as those sung to placate the camels during travel, or during hard labor or boredom or during times of festivity and joy, such as the E’ ed days and
weddings – the latter to the accompaniment of a simple daff (hand drum). Al-Qurtubi then said, “As for that which is done in our day, by way of the [blameworthy] innovations [bidah] of the Sufi mystics in their addition to hearing songs to the accompaniment of melodious instruments such as flutes, string instruments, etc., such is haraam [forbidden].(*119)

IMAAM SHAAFI’EE:
In the book, Aadaabul Qadaa, Ash-Shaafi’ee is reported as saying, “Verily, song is loathsome [makrooh]; it resembles the false and vain thing [al-baatil]. The one who partakes of it frequently is an incompetent fool whose testimony is to be rejected.”(*121) His closest and most knowledgeable disciples clearly stipulate that his position on this issue is that of prohibition (tahreem) and they rebuke those who attribute its legality to him.(*122) This is confirmed by the later Shafi’ite scholar, Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami. He related that one of Ash-Shaafi’ee’s disciples, Al-Haarith Al-Muhaasibi (d.243 H) said, “Song is haraam, just as the carcass [maytah](*123) is.” Furthermore, the statement that singing is haraam is found in the treatise, Ash-Sharh Al-Kabeer, by the authoritative Shafi’ite scholar, Ar-Raafi’ee (d.623 H.). This is further corroborated by the accomplished Shafiiite jurisprudent, Imam An-Nawawi (d.676 H.) in his Rowdah.(*124) Such is the correct view of the dependable scholars of the Shafi’ite madhhab. However, due to limited knowledge and personal fancy and desire, a few of their latter-day scholars disagree with this view.(*125)

IMAM AHMAD BIN HANBAL:
Imaam Ahmad’s(*126) position regarding this issue has been narrated in detail by the Hanbalite jurisprudent and Quranic commentator, Abul-Faraj Ibnul-Jowzi (d.597 H.) in his treatise, Tablees Iblees (Satan’s deception). He tells us that ghinaa during Ahmad’s era consisted primarily of a rhymed, rythmical chanting (inshaad) of poems(*127) whose purpose was to lead people to a pious, abstentious way of life. However, when such chanters began to vary their simple style to one of a throbbing, affected melody, the narrations regarding Ahmad began to differ. His own son and student, Abdullah, relates that his father said, “Singing(*128) sprouts hypocrisy in the heart; it doesn’t please me.” The scholar, Ismaa’eel bin Ishaaq Ath-Thaqafi, reports that Ahmad was questioned regarding one’s listening to those poems (qasaaid) to which he replied, “I despise it, for it is a bid’ah [innovation]. Don’t sit down to listen to its reciters.” Abul-Haarith relates that Ahmad said, “At-taghyeer(*129) is an innovation,” whereupon it was said, “But it sensitizes and softens the heart.” Ahmad rejoined, “It is a bid’ah [blameworthy innovation].” Yaqoob Al-Haashimi narrates that Ahmad said, “At-taghyeer is a recent innovation,” and Yaqoob bin Gayyaath reports him as saying that he despised at-taghyeer and prohibited one’s listening to it.(*130)

Ibnul-Jowzi then mentioned some narrations related by Abu Bakr Al-Khlallaal and Ahmad’s son Saalih, which indicate Ahmad’s not being averse to poetry sessions. It is related that Ahmad heard a singer (qawwal) a didn’t reproach him, whereupon Saalih said to him, “Oh father, didn’t you used to criticize and censure such a thing?” Ahmad replied, “That was because I was told that they were doing reproachable things, so i despised it; as for this, I do not dislike it.” Ibnul-Jowzi commented at this point, “Some of the scholars of our [Hanbalite] school mention that Abu Bakr Al-Khallaal (d.311 H.) and his disciple, Abdul-Azeez, permitted singing [ghinaa]. Such a statement refers to the spiritual poems [qasaaid zuhduyyaat] which were prevalent during their time. This is precisely the type of singing which was not disliked by Ahmad [as previously mentioned].(*131) Ahmad bin Hanbal attests to this in the instance where he was asked regarding a deceased person who left behind him a son and
a [professional singing] slave-girl.(*132) The son then needed to sell her. Ahmad said that she was not to be sold on the basis of her being a singer. Upon this it was said to him that, [as a singer], she was worth thirty-thousand dirhams, whereas if she were sold only on the basis of her being simply a slave-girl, she would perhaps be worth only twenty dinars. Ahmad reaffirmed that she was allowed to be sold only on the basis of her being simply a slave-girl.” Ibnul-Jowzi explained, “The reason Ahmad
said this is because the singing slave-girl doesn’t sing spiritual poems [qasaaid zuhdiyaat]; rather, she sings throbbing lyrics which incite passion in one’s being. This is proof that such singing is haraam, for if it were not so, the incurred loss of the orphans son’s wealth would not be permissible.(*133) Furthermore, it is reported by the jurisprudent Al-Mirwazi that Ahmad bin Hanbal said, “The earnings of the effeminate [mukhannath] singer are foul [khabeeth] because he doesn’t sing spiritual poems, but rather, he sings erotic poetry [al-ghazal] in a licentious, cooing manner.” Ibnul-Jowzi concluded that it is obvious from what has preceded that the variant narrations relating to Ahmads dislike of (karaahah) or permission for singing depended upon the type of singing that was meant. As for the type of singing which is popular today,(*134) it would be forbidden according to Ahmad’s view. If only he could see what the people have added to it by way of innovation.(*135)

In conclusion, the general consensus of the companions, taabi’een and the following generations of Islamic scholars up to the present day, including the four Imams, points to the ruling of prohibition of music and song (other than the exceptions to be mentioned later).




https://standup4islam./2012/08/20/music-is-haraam/

Edwardhead:
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wa yyakum

Marriage to the Joneses? No. Islamic Marriages please!


marriage

Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem (in the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

Marriage is the cornerstone of our lives – we all belong to a family and in the majority of cases, we were born out of a married couple. Islam places huge emphasis upon family, family ties, marriage and the upbringing of children.

Unfortunately, in today’s society, marriage tends to follow trends and cultures and there is a lot of perceived pressure from the community for a marriage to be better than or equal to the last wedding that was held – in a sense, weddings have become competitive. Marriage has become a case of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ and this puts unnecessary pressure on families, a huge amount of extravagance and a burden financially. The simplicity of the marriage ceremony has been shadowed by culture and improper expectations and demands upon potential spouses and their families. This is not the correct way to go about a marriage.

It’s important to start married life in the correct way and to be married according to Qur’an and Sunnah. In this post, we simply outline an Islamic ceremony. More detail can be found in the book: “Fiqh of Marriage” by Dr. Al-Saldaan.

Islamic Marriages

Al-Mahr (Dowry)

A dowry should be paid to the woman however this doesn’t necessarily have to be something financial. The dowry belongs to the wife and to no one else (not her guardians or relatives) and it is the wife’s decision what to do with it. The dowry should not be so excessive that it places a burden upon the man. If the dowry isn’t paid, it does not invalidate the marriage contract and if the man and woman agree to get married without a dowry, this is valid. There is no maximum amount for a dowry but there are some minimum amounts (which vary from the schools of thought).

And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm (as Allah has made it lawful).
Surat An-Nisa, v4

Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed; but if after a Mahr is prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Surat An-Nisa, v24

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to the one who was to marry the woman who had offered herself to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “Seek something [to give her as a dowry] even if it be a ring made of iron” – Sahih Bukhari

Al-Waleemah (Wedding dinner)

The wedding feast is a strongly recommended sunnah.

Safiyyah bint Shaib said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) gave a wedding feast for one of his wives with just two mudds of barley” – Sahih Bukhari

Abu Hurayrah stated, “The worst food is the food of the wedding feast in which only the rich are invited and the poor are avoided. And whoever does not respond to the invitation, has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) – Sahih Bukhari

There is no lower or upper limit to what may be given as a wedding feast but as a general rule, Muslims should not be extravagant.

O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawaf of) the Ka’bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Eat and drink and give in charity but without lavishness or arrogance. Verily, Allah Loves the effects of His Bounty upon His servant to be seen.” – al-Nasaai

The Rights of the Husband and the Rights of the Wife

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great.
Surat An-Nisa, v34

And divorced women shall wait (as regards their marriage) for three menstrual periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
Surat Al-Baqarah, v228

The Prophet was asked by one of the Sahaba, “What is the right of our wives upon us?” He replied, “It is that when you eat, you feed her; when you get clothing for yourself, you get clothing for her; do not strike the face; do not swear at her; and do not boycott her except in the house.” – Abu Dawood

The rights of a Husband over his wife are (in summary):

obedience (hadeeths in An-Nasaai and Al-Musnad)
Remaining in the house and going out of the house with the permission of the husband (Surat Al-Ahzaab v33)
Responding to his call, when he calls her to his bed (hadeeth in Sahih Muslim)
Not allowing anyone to enter his house except with his permission (hadeeth in Sahih Muslim)
Serving the husband (hadeeths from Sahih Bukhari)
Protecting his honour, children and wealth (hadeeths from Sahih Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Being thankful to the husband, not denying his virtues and treating him in a good manner (hadeeths from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

The rights of a Wife over her husband are (in summary):

Treating the wife in a good and kind manner (Surat An-Nisaa v19) – this includes the husband not hurting his wife with his actions or his speech.
Teaching her the matters of the deen and supporting her in her acts of obedience to Allah (Surat Al-Tahreem, v6)
Maintaining her chastity (hadeeths from Sahih Muslim)
Financically maintaining the wife (Surat Al-Baqarah, v233, and Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari)

Common rights

Having the right to enjoy one another (Surat Al-Baqarah, v187)
Establishing the rights of inheritance between the spouses (Surat An-Nisaa, v12)
Treating each other in a good and kind manner (as above references)
Establshing the forbiddance of marriage to relatives

MISCONCEPTIONS AND WRONG ACTIONS ABOUT MARRIAGE:

It is not Islamic to expect the woman or her family to pay the dowry.
The dowry is not a price for merchandise or to ‘buy’ the woman. The dowry is not a price for the value of the woman but the dowry is a token of the man’s interest in the woman.
Engagement rings and engagement parties – this is a newly adopted custom and is not from Islam. This practice is that of a Pharoanic practise or christian tradition.
Mehndi celebrations are not from Qur’an and Sunnah – this is a tradition from Indian culture.
Dancing at a wedding (or any other time) is haraam
Free-mixing at weddings is not permitted
Following the dress of weddings from other cultures is not from Islam (eg. white wedding dresses with long trains as in christian/western culture, red dresses without proper hijaab as in indian tradition etc). The dress code for Muslims at weddings and in public should always conform to Islamic rulings.
The groom entering a room full of women (who aren’t wearing proper Islamic attire, eg. hijaab) is wrong and from Indian culture.
Extravagance is not from Qur’an and Sunnah – Allah and His Rasool (ﷺ) have warned us against this.
There is no such thing as a honeymoon in Islam – this is from culture.
‘Ruqsati’ – the act of the woman leaving her parents’ house, is not from Islam but from Indian culture.
The throwing of rice and other such customs is not from Islam.
Engagement – it is not allowed in the period before a man and woman become married, for them to be left alone together, to get to know each other – this is not from Islam.
Marriage is by consent. Forced marriages are haraam in Islam.

MISCELLANEOUS

In many cases, a maried couple will be living with their in-laws. It is not permissible for relatives to interfere between a husband and his wife. For example, it is not permissible, even if a married couple is living with their in-laws, for any of your in-laws to enter your room without your permission, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them; that is better for you, in order that you may remember” [al-Noor 24:27]
Some specific examples and advice is given on the following posts:

http://islamqa.info/en/174331
http://islamqa.info/en/6388 – advice regarding in-laws
http://islamqa.info/en/96665 – advice with mother-in-law

Stand Up 4 Islam!


https://standup4islam./2014/09/07/marriage-to-the-joneses-no-islamic-marriages-please/

SINS Muslims should try to stop



As Muslims, we are in now way perfect. BUT we do have the potential and opportunity to improve ourselves and leave our sins behind. Here’s a few things we should try to stop (feel free to add comments on other things we should encourage our Muslim brothers and sisters to stop):

SIN: Stop listening to music
Why? >“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allaah…” [Luqmaan 31:6] The scholar of the ummah, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: this means singing. Mujaahid (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: this means playing the drum (tabl). (Tafseer al-Tabari, 21/40). Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: this aayah was revealed concerning singing and musical instruments (lit. woodwind instruments). (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/451).
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SIN: Stop smoking Sheesha
Why? > See my blog post on “The Harms of Shisha & Hookah”
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SIN: Stop backbiting and slandering
Why? > “neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful” [al-Hujuraat 49:12]
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SIN: Stop associating partners with Allah
Why? > “Then do not set up rivals unto Allaah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [al-Baqarah 2:222]. The worst sin in Islam is associating partners with Allah – SHIRK. This can be done in a number of ways, such as Major Shirk (ascribing to someone other than Allaah something that belongs only to Allaah, such as Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (uloohiyyah) and the divine names and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat) – this can also be putting trust in other than Allah) and Minor Shirk (see IslamQA for more details)
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SIN: Stop zina
Why? > Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: I do not know of any sin after murder that is worse than zina, and he quoted as evidence the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood who said: “O Messenger of Allaah, which sin is the worst?” He said, “Setting up a rival to Allaah when He is the One Who created you.” [‘Abd-Allaah] said: “Then what?” He said, “Killing your child for fear that he may eat with you.” [‘Abd-Allaah] said, “Then what?” He said, “Committing adultery with your neighbour’s wife.” And confirmation of that was revealed in the Qur’aan:

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such person as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment” [al-Furqaan 25:68]
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SIN: Stop drinking
Why? > “They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit” [al-Baqarah 2:219]
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SIN: Stop immodest dressing
Why? > “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful” [al-Noor 24:31]

For men:

Abu Dawood (3140) and Ibn Maajah (1460) narrated that ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not show your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of anyone, living or dead.”

Ahmad (21989) narrated that Muhammad ibn Jahsh (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by Ma’mar when I was with him, and his thighs were uncovered. He said: “O Ma’mar, cover your thighs, for the thigh is ‘awrah.”
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SIN: Stop lying
Why? > “Fear Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [at-Tawbah 9:119].

Imam Ahmad (26731) narrated that Umm Kalthoom bint ‘Uqbah said: I never heard the Messenger of Allah grant a concession allowing any kind of lying except in three cases: a man who says something intending thereby to bring about reconciliation; a man who says something at the time of war; and a man talking to his wife or a woman talking to her husband. [Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Saheehah, 545]
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SIN: Stop engaging in acts that are bid’ah and not what the Prophet (pbuh) did
Why? > And he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) also said: “… and every innovation is misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire.” Reported by an-Nasaa’ee (1/224) from Jaabir bin Abdullaah and it is saheeh as declared by Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in Majmoo’ ul-Fataawaa (3/58).
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SIN: Stop being unkind towards your parents
Why? > “say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy” [al-Israa’ 17:23-24]

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents” [al-Isra’ 17:23]

“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination” [Luqmaan 31:14]

Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked which deed is the best? He said, ‘Faith in Allaah and His Messenger, then honouring one’s parents…’” And there are many other Aayat and Mutawaatir Ahaadeeth which say similar things.  [Bukhari & Muslim]

https://standup4islam./2012/06/16/sins-muslims-should-try-to-stop/

Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, the month of mercy and forgiveness, the long-awaited month of the year. It is where people find themselves eager to revive their hearts, form a bond with their Creator and simply cleanse themselves thoroughly from within! Therefore, is it not natural for one to be keen on making the most out of this blessed month by avoiding the distractions and obstacles?

Many of our daily routines and practices act as potential obstacles for us during the month of fasting, thus hindering our productivity and *golden* opportunity for spiritual growth. We must not allow that to happen, rather we should benefit from every moment to come in order to prevent ourselves from being disappointed at the end of the month.

The ‘Not-to-do’ list:

1) Having the wrong intentions

The reward a person gets from fasting during Ramadan is simply tremendous. This is why it becomes a major loss for one if the entire month is fasted for the sake of showing-off rather than for the sake of Allah .

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah  said:

“Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied for him, between ten and seven hundred times for each merit. Allah said: ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it.'” 1

Purify your intentions every single day in order to not miss out on such a great reward!

2) Overeating at suhur/iftar

Due to the special meals that are prepared during the month of Ramadan, people tend to overeat, hence, gain weight by the end of the month. This, however, is a habit that MUST be avoided, because the quality of our prayers are thus affected. Overeating at suhur could lead to missing or being late to fajr prayers. Similarly, heavy iftar meals result in late maghrib prayers. Moreover, the feeling of satiation discourages one from standing for taraweeh- Ramadan’s special bonus!

The importance of moderate intakes of food is vividly portrayed in this hadith:

Miqdam bin Ma’dikarib said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah  saying: ‘The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath.” 2

Ramadan is a month of spiritual growth and excessive consumption of food will only result in negative consequences, thus we should try our best to avoid that.

3) Over-indulging in lavish iftar parties

This is an especially negative point for women, as they are given the responsibility of preparing the meals. Spending an entire day trying to host an iftar party results in less time for worship and spiritual nourishment as well as exhaustion by the end of the day, hence, the inability to pray taraweeh. Moreover, the majority of these iftar parties involve more of idle talk and time wastage rather than quality ‘ibadah.

Tips:

Take a simpler approach when hosting an iftar party (where you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen)

Avoid attending all the gatherings you are invited to

Introduce activities in gatherings to include more ‘ibadah such as fund raising for charity, reading duas, sharing reminders and prophetic lessons, etc. 

4) Engaging in useless activities and wasting time

This would include watching TV, playing games, engaging in useless debates, gossiping and idle talk. Gossiping and backbiting are not only useless but are also forbidden in Islam.

Allah  warns us in the Noble Qur’an about this condemned act:

“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (Surat Al-Ĥujurāt; 49:12)

We should avoid wasting time during the month of Ramadan as every moment grants us the opportunity to gain Allah’s forgiveness. Enormous rewards can be earned if time is spent wisely and for the sake of Allah .

Tips:

Reciting, learning and memorizing the Qur’an

Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah 

Prepare an iftar meal for the orphans and poor

Donate money and clothes to charities

Distributing water to the poor, etc.

5) Unhealthy meals

Unhealthy, oily food is very common during Ramadan, but these must be avoided as they unfortunately lead to obesity and heart diseases. They also affect the quality of our ‘ibadah due to the fatigue caused by fatty foods.

Tips:

Avoid eating oily, fatty foods

Increase you intake of fresh fruits and vegetables

Drink adequate amounts of water to avoid dehydration

Have more sunnah and energizing foods, especially at suhur e.g. dates, olives, watermelon, honey, etc.

Ramadan is a beautiful month revolving around ‘ibadah, a gift from Allah  to erase our sins and to help us establish a strong, long-lasting bond with Him. Do not waste this chance by pursuing trivial activities. Treat it as your last Ramadan, thus stimulating yourself to maximize your rewards.

May Allah  make us from those who fully utilize this month and from those who win His acceptance and forgiveness. Ameen.

Resources:

Avoid burnout during Ramadan- Productive Muslim: http://productivemuslim.com/avoid-burnout-during-ramadan



Let us know in comments section what was the best tip and if there is any tip you would like to share  

  Sunan Ibn Majah ↩

  Jami’ at-Tirmidhi ↩



http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/ramadans-not-to-do-list-5-things-to-avoid-this-ramadan/

Ramadan is a month-long race towards righteousness.

As Allah  says: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” 1

It is a period of mindfulness, doing good and shunning sins. It is also a month of self-reflection, self-purification and self-discipline. Despite these opportunities, fasting tests your ability to remain a self improving, righteous servant. It requires great physical, mental and spiritual effort in order to help you pass successfully, to get your sins forgiven, increase in consciousness of Allah and ultimately, earn His Pleasure and jannah.

But, is there a better time for improving yourself, a better opportunity for dropping bad habits and building on good ones other than Ramadan? What offer comes with so many incentives to guide you through the finish line with great success?

Ramadan is that perfect opportunity. It is your personal race to righteousness and success.

What you need to do is sign and commit to a personal challenge to help you attain success. And the challenge is simple – pick and stick.

Pick at least one self improvement idea. Choose one that will increase your consciousness of Allah ; help you grow, achieve excellence and gain rewards; and develop your personality spirituality beyond Ramadan.

Stick to that habit daily for each of the 30 (or 29) days of fasting. You can pick 2 or more but make sure you repeat this activity every single day.

Easy, right? Let’s get down to some Ramadan self improvement ideas.

Ideas to Improve your Personality

Allah’s Messenger said: “The most perfect man in his faith, among the believers, is the one with the best behavior.” 2

Each day…

Spread salaam to those you know and those you don’t; and return the greeting of peace.

Meet your brother/sister with a smiling face.

Keep silent for each time you are about to speak and realise you have nothing good to say.

For each time you gossip, make sincere du’a for the person and give charity – task yourself with a specific amount before starting the challenge.

When you catch yourself complaining or if you’re about to complain, say alhamdulillah; remember and thank Him for His blessings.

Read a page from the Prophet’s seerah and note practicable lessons.

Control your anger. Repeat ‘A’udhu billahi minash shaytan-ir rajim when you find yourself getting angry.

Write 3 things you are thankful for.

Lower your gaze and look away when your gaze accidentally falls on something sinful.

Say jazak Allah khair (may Allah reward you) for something gifted to you or good done to you. 

Ideas to Improve your Spirituality

“And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness. He has succeeded who purifies it, And he has failed who instils it [with corruption].” 3

Each day…

Provide food for breaking of fast for a fasting person.

Pray 2 units of tahajjud (night prayers).

Repeat the Istigfar; constantly ask for forgiveness for your sins and errors.

Supplicate to Allah  sincerely when breaking your fast.

Spend 30 minutes with the Qur’an daily – recite, reflect, read the translation/ tafseer and take lessons.

Memorize one verse each day (e.g surah Al-Mulk with 30 verses).

Invite someone to Islam.

Teach the Glorious Qur’an to someone.

Listen to a beautiful recitation of the Qur’an for 30 minutes – one of my favorite is Sheikh Khalil Khusary.

Offer a total of 12 units of optional prayers throughout the day.

Memorise 3 of 99 names of Allah ; remember and reflect upon the names and use in your supplications.

Ideas to Improve Relationships

Allah  says: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.”4

And the Prophet  said: “None of you has belief until he desires for His Muslim brother that which he desires for himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim) 5

Each day…

Visit an elderly relative or neighbor.

Visit, call, chat, email or send an SMS to your parents and siblings.

Teach someone a beneficial skill or knowledge you have.

Make sincere du’a for your friends and loved ones.

Baby sit for 30 minutes so a busy mother can take a nap.

Serve iftaar meals at the masjid or community center.

Before going to sleep, empty your heart of all grudges.

Wake your friend, sibling or spouse for tahajjud.

Be kind and compassionate to everyone you meet.

These are ideas to aid you on your personal race for success – in this world and the next.

Now, it’s your responsibility to turn these simple deeds into mountains of rewards.

Finally, remember that Allah  only accepts and rewards deeds which are done sincerely for His sake. If done according to the sharia, it becomes a form of worship. You can turn your challenge into a worship fountain that will nourish you with righteousness by affecting your thoughts, feelings and behavior positively.

Excited? 

Ready for the challenge?

Great! Hurry and get on the race to righteousness – to all that is good and rewarding this Ramadan.

Pick and stick to the Ramadan self improvement ideas you need to succeed in your life.

Which of these challenges will be you be taking on? And what other ideas can you think of? Please share below in the comments section 

 Al Baqarah, 2:183 ↩

  Sound, Abu Dawood ↩

 Ash Shams, 91: 7-10 ↩

 ‘Ali ‘Imran, 3:103 ↩

  Bukhari and Muslim




http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/ramadan-challenge-30-day-self-improvement-ideas/

searay:
Baba never stay for long and job creation everywhere but...








Pls Buhari as you are going to South Africa, its...
1. AU and not OAU
2. Its Zuma not Mandela
3. Its Xenophobia not aparthied
Thanks so much for your understanding.......lolzzzzzz

For your mind u don make sense ode oshi

400billionman:
I am not a Muslim.

Please delete.

Ur reason can't be justify if u can giv m a genuine one nd which can also b justifiable no prob but for this I pray may Allah guide u aright nd direct ur steps towards seeing d light


Thanks for ur mssg

It has always fascinated me how Allah  says in Surah Al Baqarah ayah 185,

“Allah  intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship”.

By negating the opposite, Allah  emphasizes that truly, it is in fact, ease, that He intends for us through Ramadan. Despite this though, the first thought that crossed my mind when I thought of Ramadan was that this is a difficult month of deprivation from even permissible actions: long hours of enduring hunger and unbearable thirst, disturbance of the sleep cycle by standing the night in prayer and so on. All of these reasons at first thought, made me question where exactly the ease lies, for it all seemed like a series of hardships to me.

I later realized that this incredible concept cannot be understood by people of narrow perception. Perception of the immediate. The now. Rather, with an open-mind and deep reflection, we see that this rich concept actually reflects long-term ease and success, at the expense of short-term difficulties and hardships.

A good friend of mine saw a very easy upbringing growing up. Her parents were mellow and laid-back, leaving her decisions to her freedom of choice. I remember her often saying that she had never heard her parents say “no” to her; without restrictions, she was free to do as she liked. Once when I was eight, she came over to play; walking around the house with soiled shoes, jumping on the sofas and playing pranks on the neighbors. I had felt a slight uneasiness of restriction when I compared my life with hers, as I grew up in a household of expectations and guidelines. Almost a decade and a half later, we got a chance to meet up at a local coffee shop. After a bit of reminiscing on our past, she told me how her parents were no longer together and that she had dropped out of school due to a relationship. By the end, her tears flowed uncontrollably as she sobbed about how she felt her life had hit a brick wall. I thought to myself, she spent her childhood in apparent freedom, but that short-term ease caused her long-term grief.

When I was in eighth grade, I made acquaintance with a girl during lunch one day. After a few exchanges, our bond strengthened as we became good friends, sisters even. Her work ethics, dedication and commitment to her education got her name plastered at the top of every honor roll, ma sha Allah. Her mother invited us over one afternoon, and our mothers talked while we listened. For the first time, I realized that my best friend had seen an array of difficulties in her childhood; she lived with her single working mother, grandmother and uncle. Her grandfather, whom she had been very close to, had recently passed away. Moreover, raised in a home of rules and expectations, the only places her mother allowed her to visit included school and the Masjid. Her socializing, involvement and education all occurred in school; thus with all distractions removed, she focused her complete attention on her studies, participated in class discussions and always excelled in every test. She graduated high school as Valedictorian, ma sha Allah. Studying on a complete scholarship, she worked her way through her undergraduate engineering degree. I recently got a chance to speak with her, and she explained how she had just applied for masters at a prestigious university and was currently looking for a job before settling down. Her voice, filled with excitement, contentment and relief proved that those few early years of dedication and difficulty were paying off with a future of ease and relaxation alhamdulillah. 

If you were given the choice to choose between: effortless ease and success but only short-term versus one requiring effort but yielding long-term contentment, which would you choose? True ease and contentment is one that is long lasting. One that is permanent. In exchange for a bit of effort and sacrifice, Allah Al Hakeem promises us true ease through the blessing of Ramadan, not only in this dunya, but also in the timeless akhirah. In our limits of humanness, we tend to be nearsighted, looking only at the immediate. Yet, here is Allah  observing the road ahead for those who accept His incredible transaction. A transaction which requires little investment on our part compared to the limitless profit.

The hunger. The thirst. The sleep. What seemed like a series of hardships at first, in reality, have turned out to be steps to a whole lot of ease and contentment. The contentment which occurs when the dying soul rejuvenates, when the untamed tongue recites the words of its Creator, when the dehydrated heart pumps with du’as and dhikr, when the dry eyes weep out of love for its Master. Attaining Al Firdous, the ultimate and eternal success, is actually possible through the venue of Ramadan by the mercy of Allah Ar Rahman. May Allah  grant us the tawfeeq to taste the true ease and success of Ramadan not only in this month, but also beyond, ameen!

 

Please share your suggestions on how you keep yourself motivated throughout  Ramadan.


http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/striving-for-ease/

Please disregard any claim by some clowns dancing naked on social media that the Nigeria First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari wore a wristwatch worth over 10 million Naira to the inauguration of her husband as the President of Nigeria. Is it not only a show of shame, it is a further manifestation that these individuals are yet to recover from the trauma of loosing the election.

I have seen these claims, though not from unusual quarters, but it pains me as these clowns are portraying Nigerians as ignorant people, I think it is only a fool that would believe this claim in the first instance.

A backgroune check on Hajia Buhari's watch showns that it only worth about $129 dollars, this is verifiable as individuals can also visit the address appearing on the address bar of the picture shown below, www.kowatch.co for further and first hand findings.

I think Lai Muhammed has offered these Mumu a free coaching on how to be a good opposition.

What really bothered me the most is: are these clowns saying that the first lady had looted Nigeria treasury before PMB was sworn in? This is a total dance of shame by the opposition.

Why is it that pple find it difficult to read b4 typing?Read the interview before typing comments based on the above stupid heading.Bad journalism everywhere!dis is not helping lazy Nigerians who indolently trash an heading with thwarted comments without sipping through its contents!

Why is it that pple find it difficult to read b4 typing?Read the interview before typing comments based on the above stupid heading.Bad journalism everywhere!did is not helping lazy Nigerians who indolently trash an heading with thwarted comments without sipping through its contents!

Many of us start Ramadan with a bang. Some of us lose the spark in a week or so and others just have no clue how the month came to an end. In this article, I’d like to explore some easy and amazing tips that can make this Ramadan your best ever insha’Allah.

#1 Organize Yourself!

The key to having a successful Ramadan is to organize, plan and then execute. It may sound simple but it’s a goldmine to help you have a satisfying Ramadan.

How:

Make a list of all the goals you want to achieve in Ramadan; and then ask yourself these four questions for every goal:
a) Why do you want to accomplish this goal?
b) How are you going to do this?
c) What steps are you willing to take?
d) When do you want to reach the goal?

By doing this for every single goal, your planning is complete. Now, all you have to do is execute the same. Refine your intentions and do it for seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Examples for your goals could be:

Reading Quran with meaning and writing my reflections each day (Insert your “Why”, “How”, “What” and “When” questions to this goal, and continue).

Learning 99 names of Allah and using it in my dua.

Doing one secret deed between me and Allah.

# 2 Mountain of Rewards

Ramadan is a month filled with blessings and mercy. Any good deed you do gets multiplied many times over, so don’t miss out on collecting a mountain of good deeds.

How:

Involve others

Encourage others to do a good deed rather than doing it all by yourself. This is especially helpful if you’re feeling down and out. Your rewards get multiplied manifold when you edge others to do good because Allahwill reward you for every act of worship they do due to your persistence. Imagine getting a huge mountain of good deeds just because you gave others an encouraging word or pushed them to reach a higher level of emaan.

Â’ishah tells us: “During the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet would tighten his waist belt and spend the night in worship. He would also wake up his family.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî 1920]


#3 Give and give some more!

Want to see the barakah and blessings in your life increase manifold? Give charity. Want to see your duas answered? Give charity. Why? Because sins form a barrier between you and dua; and charity extinguishes those sins like water puts off fire [At-tirmidhi].  Imagine your sins getting removed because of the charity you gave, in turn, increasing your chances of duas being answered! It’s a win-win situation overall! Imagine having a clean book of deeds with no sins against your name!

How:

Every single act of good deed is multiplied innumerably during the month of Ramadan, so you may

Buy a mushaf and donate to your mosque –you earn rewards when someone reads from it.

Donate any amount (big or small) to build a well/mosque. Intentions matter, so even if it’s just $5, your rewards from Allahcan be in billions or more if you had sincere intentions.

Buy nice looking Eid dresses and gift it to a poor family.

Arrange for one (or more) iftaar meals for the poor.

Take part in organizations that are involved in charitable works.

Ibn `Abbâs relates that: “Allah’s Messenger was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadan, so the Prophet could recite the Qur’ân to him. Whenever Gabriel met with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1902) and Sahîh Muslim (2308)]


# 4 Tame That Tongue

This month isn’t just about restricting our body from food and drink. This is a month where we can polish our character with righteous deeds and become Allah’s beloved slave because of our deeds, words and actions. It makes no sense when our actions are not in concurrence with our words. Allah doesn’t like a fasting body which doesn’t desist from foul words or backbiting or slander.[1]

Our dress/car/house/wealth/family status doesn’t define us. What we speak defines our character. So let’s tame our tongue this month. We can use our tongues to plant a seat in the everlasting gardens of Paradise or use the same tongue to dig a seat in Hellfire. The choice is ours.

How:

We don’t want the angel of death to snatch our souls when we’re gossiping. Going away from this world while reading Quran or doing dhikr is so much better.

All of us have weaknesses in one form or another, so you don’t have to feel bad that you are not able to control your tongue. Make dua to Allah , begging Him to help you use your tongue in beneficial ways. He answers *all* duas!

Your heart is a reflection of what you say and think. Most of the evil thoughts, intentions and feelings including backbiting, slander and/or jealousy occur because of the kind of feelings we foster and harbor in our hearts. So, cleanse your heart with dhikr and repentance. A heart that’s busy in glorifying our Lord will not have time for useless speech.

What your friends discuss *always* has a direct impact on what kind of words come out from your mouth. Make it a habit to surround yourself with righteous company. If you don’t have righteous company, sit with the Quran.


# 5 Time to Make a New Friend

Yes, this month is perfect for you to make a new friend, a companion who is not only going to be your source of strength and support, but can heal your scars, mend your heart, boost your eemaan and give you joy and happiness like no other. It’s time to build a lifelong relationship with Quran this Ramadan.

How:

Make Quran Buddies

This is the fastest and most effective way to keep your interest in Quran intact. Discuss one page or even half a page of Quran with your friends/family/siblings/spouse/children every day in Ramadan.

Fix a time for this activity.

Talk about your reflections and how you can implement what you read in the Quran in your day-to-day life.

You can also include tafseer if you have the time to do so.

Involve your family members, because there is nothing more beautiful than learning Allah’s deen together. Wouldn’t you want angels to surround you and invoke Allah’s mercy on you?


# 6 What if the Spark Dies?

Most of us are on a spiritual high when Ramadan begins. The excitement and collective enthusiasm to achieve ‘xyz’ number of goals can light up a sudden spark in you, only for it to slowly die without you even realizing it. This usually happens after a week or so. Soon, you realize that your Ramadan days are no different from the rest of the year. You feel emotionally and/or physically drained and feel like you’re slacking off. This leads to unfinished goals and emaan lows. But there is a way out…a solution to this! Yes! Here’s what you need to do… 

How:

Ramadan isn’t over until it’s actually over, so if you are still breathing, you have time to right the wrongs and achieve what you wanted.

Intentions matter: Seek to please Allah alone and not to expect praise from family or friends. Seek your reward from Allah ONLY. If you’re waiting for peoples’ praise, your expectations are from people, not Allah .

Beg For Strength

If Allah has allowed you to wake up during the remaining days of Ramadan, it means that He trusts that you *will* raise your standards and make the best use of the month. An overdose of dua never hurts, so repent, cry and beg from the depths of your heart to Allah to guide you through and give you the strength to achieve your goals this Ramadan.

Baby Steps

Don’t focus on what others have achieved, focus on what you want to achieve and don’t lose heart if you see a family member or friend complete more Quran than you or pray more than you. Take baby steps rather than not taking any step at all. Start with 10 minutes of extra worship and build it up from there. Start with one page of Quran and build it up from there. Its quality and sincerity over quantity and show off!

Small and consistent steps *do* matter. Allah’s sees your intentions and hard work and He  will reward you for it. But you need to focus on constantly striving to please Him  even if you falter. Remember, being a good Muslim doesn’t end with Ramadan. You have time to grow and heal spiritually until your last breath. So don’t give up and let no one tell you otherwise. Walk with the end goal of paradise in mind and not just the end goal of Ramadan in mind.

Please share your tips on how we can make this Ramadan the most memorable one ever. Pour your thoughts in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you. 

http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/six-tips-to-make-this-your-best-ramadan-ever/

personal59:
Hmmm oga ooooo

AceOfDiamonds:
All these foreigners spiting us in our own land...

personal59:
Hmmm oga ooooo

My brother no be there fault bt the fault of pure corruption for it to pass tru d border which also av Nafdac officials is just too bad nd it shows dat pure bribery is involved. How I wish the govt can hold ppl responsible on dis cos dis is not d fault of d president whatsoever atleast there re ppl to check nd balance wat com in nd out of d country nd tomao dey will b shouting d president is bad nd co may God help us

Nd to NAFDAC crying foul did dey ask themself salient questions on hw did it com in tru d boarder cos as I knw abt them they have there representative over there bt the bribery nd corruption within them too is hmmm how I wish ppl knw the present tru picture of nafdac so many visitation that end up in bribing let me just siddon dey look

Hmmm oga ooooo

The countdown has begun and we have less than a month left until the greatest month of the year, Ramadan knocks at our doors! I’m sure by now most of you are stock-piling the goodies for iftaar and downloading as many resources as possible for Ramadan preparation (which I hope includes my past articles) but the question remains “How can I manage my time well enough to get it all done?”

That is what this article is going to assist you with, insha’Allah. Without any further ado, let’s jump right into our Time Management Tips for Ramadan:

Plan in Advance

Time Management is divided between planning and application. Without adequate planning, there isn’t anything much to apply and the result is another Ramadan that just flies by. To plan for Ramadan, we need to be clear regarding the goals (Maqasid) of Ramadan, which is to attain taqwa. Therefore, our objective of Ramadan should be an increase in guidance and taqwa.

Calculate how much Ibaadah time you will have daily

Ideally, we all want to spend Ramadan performing acts of worship 24/7, but this isn’t realistic and most of us have other obligations that we need to take care of as well. So work out in advance how much time you will have daily for Ibaadah, then set goals to get that much Ibaadah done. The formula is simple: 24 Hours – (Sleep time, Work Time, Family Responsibility) = Ibaadah time.

If for example, you have 3 hours of ibaadah time, you can schedule in an hour of Qur’an reciting, an hour of studying Islam and an hour for dua and Dhikr. You can really get a lot done if you stick with this formula for the entire month.

Set Clear Goals

Now that you know how much Ibaadah time you have available daily, the next step is to set S.M.A.R.T goals. S.M.A.R.T means that the goal is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. For example,  if your goal is to study some Tafsir this Ramadan, the problem with this goal is that it is too vague (which Tafsir), not measurable (How many pages), and not attainable or realistic (does one page of Tafsir fulfil the goal or five books of Tafisr?).

A S.M.A.R.T goal would be: I want to complete studying this 800 page book of Tafsir this Ramadan. In order to complete 800 pages in 29 days, I need to read an average of 28 pages a day.

4. Allocate time for each goal:

Now that your goals for Ramadan are clearly defined and you know how much time you have daily for Ibaadah, the next step is to combine this by allocating specific times daily for chasing each goal. Eg: If you have the goal of reading 30 pages of Tafsir daily and that will take you an hour, and you know that you have an hour a day free every evening before Tarawih, then allocate that time to be your Tafsir time. Set a specific time of the day for reciting Qur’an (perhaps before or after Fajr), making dua (before Iftar), having a family Halaqa (after Asr or after Tarawih) and any other goals you are working towards.

5. Utilize the early hours of the morning:

In Summer countries, Suhoor is quite early and many people can’t wake up too early before it. In that case, I recommend utilizing an hour after Suhoor for Ibaadah. In Winter countries, Suhoor is quite late, so waking up an hour before it is easier. In such countries, I recommend waking up an hour earlier and dedicating that time to Qiyam Al-Layl (Tahajjud), dua and reciting Qur’an. The early mornings are known having Barakah (blessings) and it is a time when we are not pre-occupied with work and family obligations. Use it!

6. Schedule in a family Halaqa:

Ramadan is the perfect time for the family to bond and grow in Imaan together. The devils are locked up and everybody is more spiritual. This spirituality needs to be nurtured so that we can benefit from it after Ramadan. One way to do this is to establish a family Halaqa (study circle). Read a chapter of an Islamic book (or listen to a lecture) then discuss its contents with each other. Continue this even after Ramadan.

7. Dedicate time daily for Qur’an:

Ramadan is the month of Qur’an and so it is obvious that time must be dedicated daily to Qur’an. In some communities, people recite Qur’an very quickly each Ramadan to get it over with or complete as many Qur’an recitals as possible. Instead of doing this, focus on reciting properly, studying the Tafsir and reflecting on its meanings. This will have a longer lasting effect on one’s Imaan and Taqwa.

8. Avoid Multi-Tasking

This is a general time management tip that applies outside Ramadan as well. Studies show multi-tasking actually slows down productivity and causes sloppy work. Modern time management experts agree that focusing on one task at a time gets the task done faster with better quality than multi-tasking. Don’t try to recite Qur’an, while browsing through Facebook and taking care of a child all at the same time. The same applies to studying Tafsir or making dua. Choose a place, time and situation in which you will have the least distractions and give the act of worship your undivided focus.

9. Fast from excessive socializing

This includes both social media and physical socialization. Ramadan is the month of Itikaf. One of the goals of Itikaf is to take a break from our social lives so that we can focus on our relationship with Allah. If you are unable to make Itikaf, you can still get this benefit in Ramadan by cutting down on socializing and dedicating more time to Ibaadah. Attend a few less Iftaar parties, log into Facebook and Twitter for shorter durations and excuse yourself from unnecessary gatherings.

10. Stay Healthy

You cannot accomplish your goals if you are feeling lazy, weak, agitated or sleep-deprived. Some of us do too much during the first few days of Ramadan and end up without any energy to push on for the remainder of Ramadan. Pace yourself and take care of your body by getting enough sleep, eating healthy and staying hydrated.

The average person needs between 6-8 hours sleep a night, so make sure you are getting it, even if it means going to bed a bit earlier. Avoid sugary and oily foods and eat wholesome foods for both Suhoor and Iftaar. Drink a lot of water at night before bed as that will keep you hydrated during the day.

May Allah make this Ramadan a productive and blessed one for all of us. Ameen

We would love to hear time management tips which you follow to get the most out of the blessed Ramadan. Please share in the comments section below. 



This article has been adapted from the following links. Please click the links below to read the entire article insha’Allah.

http://islamicselfhelp.com/2015/05/10-time-management-tips-for-ramadan-2015-part-1/

http://islamicselfhelp.com/2015/05/10-time-management-tips-for-ramadan-2015-part-2/

http://islamicselfhelp.com/2015/05/10-time-management-tips-for-ramadan-2015-part-3


http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/10-time-management-tips-for-ramadan-2015/

youngalex:
Yeah
His threat to probe the NNPC, subsidy payments, jail this and that fuelled this scarcity.
I am in support of him probing and punishing anybody that dipped his/her hand in our treasury but he should have held it to his heart till next week.
Marketers are scared of loosing their investments and subsidy claims ..and the APC never agreed that subsidy existed.
If subsidy is removed after May,29 the price of PMS will increase by at least 30% and some marketers are already hoarding the products..Dumkem12

Best definition of crap

Many of us seem to spend an incredible amount of time and energy chasing the “dream” job (neglecting our akhira, in the process). After all, a bigger paycheck often translates into a better car, a bigger house and a higher worldly social status. Right?

But we are warned about this in The Qur’an:

“Rivalry in worldly increase distracts you (from the remembrance of Allah), till you come to the graves” 1

“Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward.” 2

Ever think of the results of your worldly efforts?

“It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.” 3

Lavish homes and fancy vacations are temporary worldly fixes whereas, dedicating time and effort into something that lasts an eternity make more sense, doesn’t it? Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong in treating ourselves to worldly enjoyment, provided it’s done in moderation and within the halal limits, but not at the cost of neglecting our primary duties of ibadah or forgetting our akhira.

Have you ever stopped for a minute and considered building a house for yourself in Jannah?

“Allah will build house in Jannah for whoever is diligent in observing 12 Sunnah rakat(as follows: 2 before Fajr, 4 rakat before and 2 after Dhur, 2 after the Maghrib, and 2 after Ishaa).” 4

Yet, worries and anxieties are dominating our lives so much so that many of us have missed our sunnah rakats or sometimes even a few obligatory prayers for some worldly reason, (like, having an “important” meeting with your boss). Have we forgotten our meeting with Allah ? Our appointment with the Angel of Death?

We have the opportunity for high stations of Jannah – to meet the Prophet , to meet the blessed companions , and most of all to see Allah, The Most High! It sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Yet, many of us choose to not strive for Jannah. We have sadly become distracted and absorbed by this dunya, and lost sight of our purpose – worshiping Allah ; and our main goal – the pleasure of Allah  and subsequently Jannah.

“No, you prefer the life of this world, while the hereafter is better and that which remains” 5

Indeed, the akhirah is better for us; we need to use our time in this dunya to work for it.

So why do we prioritize dunya over Jannah?

1. The Cool Factor

Imagine being denied an eternal life of bliss because…

You neglect your prayers fearing you may not look “cool” among peers

 You choose not to live according to what the Quran says fearing ridicule or poverty, or because, “What will the people say?”

 You do not wear the hijab and jilbab because it is ‘out of fashion’. Or in some societies, solely wear it *for* fashion.

 You spend hours listening to music or staring at magazines filled with haram pictures

When we sit down and logically think about it, what are we doing? Our souls are precious, and can only be equal to the price of Paradise. Therefore, sell them only at that price.

2. The ‘No Time’ Factor.

Our Prophet and the Sahaba were much busier than us, yet they never fell short in their duties to worship and remember Allah. The truth is that we are not busier, but rather we have forgotten our goals and messed up our priorities. The pleasures of this world are nothing compared to those of the Hereafter so why then have we neglected, or even abandoned, our primary duties?

If you find yourself constantly prioritizing dunya over akhirah, it is time to strike a balance:

So you have decided you want to be productive for the Hereafter? Alhamdulillah, making that intention is the first step! If you are still breathing, the doors of repentance are still open and it is not too late to make it to Jannah.

Top 5 Tips:

 List your priorities and arrange them accordingly

 Use an agenda/time planner to organize your days (rather than waking up each day and not knowing what to do during that 24 hour period). I’ve always managed to get an incredible amount of work done, have ample time to invest in my religious duties and still have lots of free time to rewind and refresh whenever I plan my day. This technique never fails!

 Schedule your day around your prayers: Do this as much as you can; make your prayers a priority! So, instead of saying, “After finishing my assignment, I will pray Asr”, say, “I’ll pray Asr and then finish my assignment in the next half an hour”.

 Schedule a realistic and practical time
Like for example: I will read Qur’an between 4.30 PM- 5.00 PM everyday (you can increase this amount as you progress) rather than vaguely telling yourself “I’ll read Quran today”. Setting up practical time slots will help you assess where you’re wasting time, in turn, helping you be more productive insha’Allah.

 Use the night hours: The blessed tahajjud is magical in ways you can never imagine!“Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words. Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation. And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with [complete] devotion” 6

Try to ensure that you give everything its right – your deen, your health and body, your sleep, your family, your work, so on and so forth.

So What are you Waiting for?

If you’re still breathing, then alhamdulillah it’s not too late! Begin now – review how to correctly pray and establish your daily prayers, make a daily habit of reading The Qur’an and then acting upon it, learn sunnah actions and lessons from the life of the Prophet . Have eman and work righteous actions, and take small consistent steps to improve – you will enjoy super productivity in this world and joy in the next insha’Allah!

Remember Jannah isn’t for 1 week or 100 years, it’s for eternity and comes with unlimited pleasure. Strive now!

“Other faces that day will be happy; pleased on account of the effort they had put in earlier (in the dunya)”. 7

Please share your tips and suggestions on how we can me the make the best use of our time in dunya to strive for akhira in the comments sections inshaAllah. 

 At Takathur: 102: 1-2 ↩

 At- Tagahbun 64:15 ↩

 An Naziat 79:46 ↩

 Tirmidhi ↩

 Al- A’la 87: 16-17 ↩

 Al Muzzammil 73: 6-8 ↩

 Al Ghashiyah 88: 8-9 ↩


http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/what-are-you-striving-for-dunya-or-akhirah/

The countdown for Ramadan has begun. Some would say, “A long way to go still…”, while others would say, “It is so close!”. It’s a matter of perspective: how do we look at a situation. In the case of Ramadan, perspectives don’t count. The fact is that Ramadan is around the corner and we need to start our preparations. But, what should be the goal of our preparations?

Allah  says,

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” 1

The goal has been laid down: to have taqwa, to become righteous, to become the muttaqoon!

What is Taqwa?

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah states that taqwa includes doing everything that Allah has enjoined whether it is waajib (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended), and avoiding all that He has forbidden, whether it is haraam (forbidden) or makrooh (disliked). 2

The scholars in Islam have said that:

 “Taqwa is an abundant treasure, a precious trait, an honorable substance, a great success and it assembles the best of both worlds. Those who have taqwa are the friends of Allah. Allah has promised them success at the time of death and deliverance from Hell on the Day of Judgement. They will abide forever in Paradise next to their Gracious Lord…….Every intelligent person envies such prestige and only a fool undermines such privileges. So beware! Do not become among the foolhardy lest you regret on the day when remorse and sorrow will have no effect.” 3

Prepare To Achieve Your Target

This is the ultimate goal of our Ramadan preparations; to be among the righteous, for now and forever!

Let’s talk facts. Do we expect to become muttaqoon overnight? The Ramadan moon is sighted and BOOM!!! the taqwa seed blossoms into a radiant flower within us? NO, of course NOT! 

In order to have the privilege of being among the righteous, we have to start now. For the moment, we can think about preparing ourselves with this goal for Ramadan and then, let this goal become a part of our lives too insha’Allah. We have already delayed our responsibilities as a Muslim for a long time or just attended to them in the month of Ramadan and have ultimately become “Ramadan Muslims”. This is the sad reality of the ummah today. So, how can we rectify our mistakes and achieve the goal of becoming muttaqoon?  Let’s find out:

Fasting The First Half Of Sha’ban:

‘A’ishah  said: “The Messenger  used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’ban.” 4

I refer to this as starting my “internal countdown timer”! These fasts tend to send a 30-day advance notification to your mind and body. You will experience the spiritual foundation being laid within yourself. You will have also succeeded in following the advice of the Prophet , and in turn obeying Allah . Also, if your intention while observing these fasts was to please Allah  sincerely, you have managed to multiply your rewards!

Begin The Countdown

Put all your social media to beneficial and productive use. Share Ramadan posts, tips, ahadith, articles, ayahs and so on. When the hype goes up, the excitement grows and the preparation increases ten folds! By this, you will get into the spiritual ‘groove’ quite early, thereby, increasing your acts of ‘ibadah.

“Stock” Your Mind

We know how to stock our pantry for Ramadan. How about doing the same with our mind? Confused? I am referring to seeking knowledge. Read, read and read more! Gather information on the sunnah practices to be observed during Ramadan, how to enhance rewards in this blessed month, how to purify yourselves, how to please Allah  and so on. The topics are endless and so are the resources. You are not expected to become an ‘aalim/’aalimah overnight. Start small: maybe one hadith/ayah per day with explanation, an inspirational article, stories about our Prophets or Sahabas, anything will do. Just make a start!

“Mirror Mirror On the Wall!”

Look past your skin, flesh and bones, deep into your soul. You know what kind of haraam activities you are involved in- big or small. Train yourself from now to get rid of them, one at a time. Punish yourself for repeating it and thank Allah each time you refrain from it. Being a responsible Muslim, it’s time to learn self-control.

The Pre-Ramadan Plan

Education plans, career plans, wedding plans, etc. – we are great at all of it. Then why not a pre-Ramadan plan? You know your life, your schedules and your commitments. Keeping these in mind, chalk out a daily/weekly task plan (you could do this mentally too) that should include at least one Islam oriented activity- nafl fasts, nafl salaah, dhikr, Qur’an recitation, reading an Islamic book/article, listening to a lecture, charity and so on. The point is to ‘Islamisize’ your time. Of course, this is not only a pre-Ramadan, post-Ramadan or during-Ramadan plan alone, but something you should make a regular habit of throughout the year.

Sincere Dua’

Do not under estimate the power of dua’ and do not over estimate your capabilities. You may have had a sincere intention but maybe, you did not ask Allah  to help you achieve it. If that’s the case, you will eventually end up giving up on it. Remember that without the Will, Mercy and Help of Allah , you cannot be successful. You must make an attempt to turn to Allah . Ask Him to help you. Ask Him to make you steadfast in your pursuit, ask Him to help you attain His pleasure. We are the slaves of Allah . Submit to Him with humbleness. Beg for His forgiveness, yearn for His Mercy, ask for His Guidance, for the ones who are truly guided are the ones guided by Allah!

 5

Beg for His forgiveness, yearn for His Mercy, ask for His Guidance, for the ones who are truly guided are the ones guided by Allah!

Small Beginnings

Start small. Set achievable goals. Do not overburden yourself. Else, you will run out of steam in a week. Always set aside some “me” time too, but bear in mind to keep it halal.

There are many ways in which you can make small beginnings. You can include sunnah salaah to your daily prayers, fast at least 1 nafl fast per month, read one page Qur’an daily, include the daily adhkaar before eating, leaving the house, entering the washroom, etc. This hardly takes 10 minutes out of 24 hours. Are we not ready to set aside such a small amount of time for the One who has blessed us with this life? Selfish we are indeed!

Brothers and Sisters in Islam, do not be “Ramadan Muslims” who only remember their religion in the month of Ramadan. Allah  is calling us to righteousness and success. How long will we live in this world? 40, 60 or maximum 80 years? What next? Have we polished ourselves with the taqwa that Allah  has asked us to? Have we submitted ourselves in totality to our Creator?

Make this Ramadan the turning point in your life. Break free from the deceptions of this world and indulge into the sweetness of eeman. Trust me, you will never regret!

Please share your suggestions on how we can boost our taqwa in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.  

Until next time,

Assalamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu!

 Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 183 ↩

 From the essay of al-Wasiyyah al-Jaami’ah li khayr al-Sunya wa’l-Aakhirah : http://archive.org/stream/AdviceForOnesAffairs-IbnTaymiyah/AdviceForOnesAffairs-IbnTaymiyah_djvu.txt ↩

 Taqwa: The Provision of Believers. Compiled by Aby Maryam Majdi, Al-Firdous Ltd from the works of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya and Abu Hamid al-Ghazali ↩

 Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 1833; Muslim, no. 1956; Also refer: http://islamqa.info/en/13726 ↩

 Surah al-Kahf, 18:17 ↩




http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/the-pre-ramadan-preparation-the-taqwa-boost/

chinyereokore:
Please can Someone help me with a copy of standard CV sample.my email:chinyereokore@gmail .com.Thanks

Can u pls forward it to me plsssss
mrpersonal59@yahoo.com

Check your mail! Please.

Pls help m send also my mail is mrpersonal59@yahoo.com thanks

I like people who are proactive never affected by der situation nd some of those who re insulting him will melt if they see him physically that's if dey will ever see him na jealousy go kill u all



Senate President, David Mark, on Friday, decried the epileptic power supply in the country in spite of promises made by investors in the wake of the privatisation of the sector.

Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, stated this while hosting the management team of the Electricity Management Services Limited in Abuja.

He said, “In spite of the high expectations and promises on account of the privatisation of the power sector, Nigerians have yet to feel the positive impact of the sector.”

He therefore charged operators of the industry to give meaning to the privatisation by making the sector work so that citizens can enjoy un-interrupted power supply.

Mark noted that the snail-speed rate of development in the power sector does not give credence to the privatisation exercise and the expectations of Nigerians.

He also challenged industry operators to get rid of quacks in the profession in order to give consumers quality services.

The Senate President tasked them to ‘take the bull by the horn’ by embarking on manufacturing of electrical tools instead of relying totally on importation.

He said that by so doing, they would save cost and curtail capital flight, apart from creating jobs for the populace.

The Managing Director, EMLS, Mr. Peter Ewesor, explained that the mandate of the agency includes ensuring that electrical equipment used in the energy supply industry are of the right quality, standards and specifications.

Ewesor added that the agency ensures the safety of lives and property within the grid and off grid networks.

The EMSL is one of the players in the electricity supply industry established in accordance with the provisions of part 1 section 8 of the power sector reform act 2005 and the supplementary regulations number 46/47 (B499-452 ) of the Federal Government official Gazette no 374 of 2010.

Meanwhile, Mark has sent a message of solidarity to the Nigerian workers urging them to uphold the indomitable spirit and resilience that have propelled the nation to greatness.

The senate president in the solidarity message to mark the Workers’ Day in Abuja, urged them to sustain the hands that produces the wealth of the nation just as he told employers of labour to reciprocate through improved welfare. He said, “On this day as always, I salute the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian worker. I commend your resilience and steadfastness that have kept the nation alive.

“I am to remind you to always make productivity the cornerstone at all times. That way, you will be contributing to the survival of the nation.



http://www.punchng.com/news/mark-laments-poor-electricity-supply-in-nigeria/?hootPostID=ec76f8bd7eaf667e9416a2ec1d62b866

tintingz:
Hypocrisy is this thread.

What's so bad in this classy, stylish dresses.

I thought Islam is also about the past, present and future?

Not everyone Islamic background or knowledge are the same even the Arabs are now stylish in their dressings.

Hmm arab too are now stylish hmmm so where and wen is it said that u practise d religion based on what the Arab are doing. Abi is it not d now compromised arab u are talking abt dear what doesn't mk d religion better yesterday will never mk it better today rather it onl mk it worst

ademoladeji:
Keep improving jare my dear...
Whn ladies put on skimpy dresses that expose their bodies, we tend to appreciate dem.
Whn some try to improve by covering all their parts buh with a lil tight fittings, we scream HARAM...
What abt we guys that hv our trouser below or ankle n sweeping the floor? Is that Islamic?
Is social network islamic? Is the various music we listen to islamic? Is havin bf n gf islamic?
Just try to keep your good work going n stop listening to those condemning you.
God bless you ma

My brother thanks jare but sincerely u need to know more about your religion

kemibenji:
Nigerian politicians, they can never be trusted

CountDracula:
What wil he say bfor

Mogidi:
We knew it won't happen, we warned Nigerians they were being scammed by the "change" slogan.
The reality is staring us all in the face, Buhari would chew gworro for 4yrs and leave Nigeria much worse than he met it.

We know also all I want it a better nigeria either it crawl or work it must just move for d best

FitnessNigeria:
Why didn't they tell us so before election? #SCAM

We know also all I want it a better nigeria either it crawl or work it must just move for d best


Seun pls I need this guys real age before I comment on this their post but on d long run there is an adage that says its easier to destroy than to rebuild



But seun pls I need deir age thanks

What do you make out of the answer to this question and also the response from the teacher? Though funny but is it nt too expensive, is it a good response and if you are to be the one to mark the script what would you have written?

Kendzyma:
dy/dx=udv/dx+vdu/DX
u=sin(2πvt)
du/dx=0
v=cos(2πx/n)
dv/dx=-2π/nsin(2πx/n)
dy/dx=-2πA/nsin(2πvt)sin(2πx/n)
using product rule to find d2y/dx2
u=sin2πvt
du/dx = 0
v=sin2πx/n
dv/dx=2π/ncos2πx/n
d^2y/dx^2=-4π^2A/n^2sin(2πvt)cos(2πx/n)
d2y/dx2=-4π^2y/n^2

Thanks am grateful

agentofchange1:
hey, my guy make your question clear , or better still , snap & post .

We are been ask to differentiate it twice with respect to X I mean dy/dx and also second derivative d2y/dX2


The question in word cos I don't av my book here

Y = Asin2piVt.cos2pi x/n that Is A sine 2pi v t dot cos 2pi X over n op u get it am to submit by 8am pls