Ramadan Tip

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fasting, he will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing the reward of the latter at all." (At-Tirmidhi)

Shirk Explained

Any one associating others with Allah is a Mushrik and is doomed in hell forever unless he repents to Allah before he dies. Idol worshippers justified their Shirk by saying: ‘We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever’. Calling other than Allah in matters that no one can do except Allah is shirk. Anyone calling the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam to prevent him from harm or bring benefit to him is a disbeliever. Allah says to Our Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam: Say "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except what Allah may will. Anyone thinking that the dead can help him, benefit him or protect him from harm is both a liar and a disbeliever. In order to save yourself, forget your religious upbringing and what the turbaned Sheiks taught you. Go back to what Allah ordered you to follow; the Quran and Sunnah. Calling the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam is Shirk. Calling Ali, may Allah be pleased with him or his descendants is Shirk as well. Calling Al Jilani or Attijani or Al Badawi is major Shirk. The sad thing is that a lot of so called Muslims are falling into the most major sin of all. Allah says: “And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him”. What a shame that people live so many years only to die as s disbeliever!

- Sh Assim Luqman Al Hakeem

Ramadan Advice

In a very weak hadeeth that’s often quoted, the first 10 nights of Ramadan are for mercy, the second 10 are forgiveness, and the third 10 are redemption. Aside from the fact that the chain of the hadeeth is broken, the concept is also problematic since it implicitly justifies the laziness many people carry themselves with through the first two thirds of Ramadan waiting for the redemption part. In truth, the entire month is mercy, forgiveness, and redemption.

In fact, in an amazing authentic hadeeth, the Prophet (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam) said, "At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems from the fire." [Ahmad]

SubhanAllah can you imagine, EVERY night some people are written as those who will be protected from the fire?!

Why is this so important: The Prophet (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam) and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) frequently emphasized the importance of treating every moment as your last. So with that, we have the narrations such as “pray as if it is your last prayer”, “actions are judged by their ending”, etc.

As such, we should fast every day as if it is our last fast and hope that on each special night, we are amongst those written from the redeemed!

- Sh Omar Suleiman

Observing Proper Manners While Fasting

While fasting, it is important to not only abandon one's food and drink, but also to shun evil deeds. This includes false speech, backbiting, obscene behaviour, etc. 

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 
"Whosoever doesn't abstain from speaking falsely, and acting upon false speech, Allah does not care for his abstaining from eating and drinking." (Al Bukhari)

He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 
"Fasting is shield; so on a day that one is fasting, he should not indulge in offensive behaviour or arguing; if anyone verbally abuses him or provokes him, he should say: 'I am fasting.'" (Al Bukhari and Muslim)

Ramadan Preparation

The blessed month of Ramadan is approaching us. This in itself is a great blessing which we should be thankful to Allah for. We will again be gifted an opportunity to experience the days and nights of this beautiful month inshaAllah. A month in which every night, Allah sets His servants free from the Hell-fire. A time in which hasanaat (rewards for good deeds) are multiplied.  

Before it begins, it is important to ponder about its many virtues and how we can best worship Allah swt. How can we fruitfully use our time to reap its benefits? How will this Ramadan be different?

One step we can take now is to set objectives which we can achieve during the month, by Allah's Mercy.  It might be useful to write up your objectives on a piece of paper and post it somewhere where you can see every day.  

Hadith on the Importance of Charity

The Meaning of Zikr

A short lecture by Mufti Menk on the meaning and benefits of zikr:

http://www.muftimenk.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENK-TheMeaningofZikr_64kb.mp3