Eid

Eid MuslimPages Eid Magazine • June - July 2014 • Port Elizabeth, South Africa

10 TIPS on taking maximum benefit in search of the night of Power

I’tikaf

the Spiritual Retreat

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Dear Reader

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Compassionate.

All praises are due to Allah who has allowed us to benefit from this great month of Ramadaan which is nearing to its end.

Laylatul Qadr is the perfect opportunity to attain this forgiveness so lets search for this great night in the last ten nights.

Although we have benefit from the blessings Allah has placed in Ramadaan each one of us can look back with some regret that we did not take maximum benefit from this month.

Fortunately for us Ramadaan has not yet ended and these last few days are of utmost importance. These are the days that we need to beg for Allah’s forgiveness.

Nabi said: “Woe is to the one who witnesses Ramadaan and does not get forgiveness”.

In this edition we cover certain aspects on how we can ensure a fruitful last few days of Ramadaan, I`tikaf, Eid and how to cash in our rewards. The benefits of fasting in Shawwal is also covered along with some Ramadaan Q&A. And of course some delicious recipes for Eid. We’d love to hear from you! Send us your feedback to info@muslimpages.co.za

MuslimPages Eid Magazine is published by Oliva Design & Print and is a MuslimPages project. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without permission is prohibited.

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06 Ramadaan News 08 Fasting Times 12 I’tikaf 14 Laylatul Qadr Ramadaan in 18 the Middle East 20 Sadaqatul Fitr 22 Operation Ramadaan 24 Eid ul Fitr 26 Recipes 28 Ramadaan & Eid Q&A EDITOR Ihsaan Abrahams SALES Naadir Sharmar Contributors Ml Muhammad Badsha Ml Ubaidullah Ebrahim Ml Khalid Ebrahim Umm Ubaidullah

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Ramadaan News local and abroad

Miami A Florida Masjid welcomed non-Muslims to join in festivities during the Islamic holy month of Ramadaan.

The Miami Herald reports Masjid An Noor held a fifth annual open house to coincide with Ramadaan.

Participants from a variety of faiths joined at the Masjid and learned about Muslim customs.

watching other Muslims end their fast.

Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has launched a UAE Water Aid campaign to provide access to fresh drinking water for more than 5 million people across the world. “As usual we welcome the generous month of Ramadaan with charitable initiatives and our hands extended to needy people.

We ask Allah Almighty to accept our worship and good deeds,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

Dubai Dubai’s night market during the holy month of Ramadaan is all set to open its doors on Thursday, July 17, at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Argentina boasts the largest Masjid in Latin America and has one of the biggest Muslim communities in the region.

Egypt

Sermons will have extra restriction during the holy month of Ramadaan to topics of faith and morality, the state’s top official in charge of religious affairs said Sunday, in the latest measure by the government to control Masjids and limit access to them by opponents.

Johannesburg

Armed men stormed a Masjid in central Johannesburg and robbed worshippers who were performing Taraweeh.

Running till July 27, the 11day expo will run from 8pm till 2am everyday with an Dubai 150 Sikhs from easy access and free parking Dubai’s Guru Nanak Darbar Armed men entered when for visitors near Za’abeel invited to visit the Al Manar worshippers were praying Hall.

Islamic Centre in Dubai on and ordered them to lay Friday and experience an Iftar. on the floor, the robbers Iraq Kuldeep Singh had never then stole cell phones and On the 1st of Ramadaan, been to a Masjid in his life. money from the Muslim Jihad group ISIS has said it For him, an invitation by an worshippers. About 200 cell has established a caliphate, Islamic centre in Dubai to phones were stolen from the on the territories it controls come and experience Iftar worshippers, with the ordeal in Iraq and Syria. came as a surprise. lasting about 30 minutes.

Sheikh Zahid Masjid, Abu Dhabi

“This was the first time It also proclaimed the anyone invited me to a Masjid group’s leader, Abu Bakr aland have iftar,” remarked Baghdadi, as caliph.

Kuldeep as he sipped water, 6 MuslimPages Eid 2014

The robbers also stole the lillah boxes. This was the second Masjid robbed in the region since the starting

of Ramadaan.

There were more than five reports of Masjid robberies in Johannesburg this Ramadaan.

Johannesburg

Hafiz Jassat, a Quran teacher at Darul-Uloom Azaadville recited the entire Quran in Taraweeh on the first night of Ramadaan starting at 7:30pm and completing at 5:27am

Brasil

The Algerian national team donates their World Cup prize money to the people of Gaza.

The news comes shortly after Algeria were knocked out in the Round of 16 against Germany after a 2-1 after extra-time defeat where they won over neutrals with their bravery and endeavour on the pitch during the World Cup.

Brasil

Many Muslim players at the soccer world cup have been observing the fast of Ramadaan. One such player Kolo Toure who is from the Ivory Coast and plays for Liverpool explains: I’ve been observing Ramadaan during all the years I’ve been in football.

Brasil

With the ‘Know Islam’ campaign at the World Cup, Brazil, 12 people converted to Islam. Halid Rezzak

Masjid in Muslim village in Xishuangbanna, China not far from the Myanmar border

Tagiyüddin, the President of Brazilian Islam and Imam’s High Council said that during the World Cup so far 12 people have converted to Islam with the help of the campaign ‘Know Islam’ which they started.

United Kingdom

‘The Big Iftar’, a communityled scheme, supports and promotes communities, regardless of their background to have iftar together. What started as a small scale initiative last year, has generated a growing interest and now have more than 100 public Iftars. The initiative has received a mention by the British Prime Minister.

The month of charity and hospitality comes at a time in the UK when Muslims have been named as ‘Britain’s top charity givers’, giving an average of £371 per person each a year.

China

Some local governments and institutes have posted notices in China’s restive Xinjiang province banning students and civil servants from taking part in traditional fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadaan. Experts on the region say although the orders are not new, they run the risk of reinforcing recent tensions.

Palestine, Gaza

Israel’s intensive bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip left more than 100 Palestinians dead many of whom are women and children. More than 1000 were injured and dozens of homes destroyed.

Uganda

Muslims in Uganda are urged to remain united and pray for peace in the Holy Month of Ramadaan against a MuslimPages Eid 2014 7

backdrop of widespread discrimination and violence against Islam.

The country’s Mufti Sheik Shaban Ramadaan Mubajje cautioned Muslims ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadaan to observe all the teachings of Islam and respect the words of the Holy Quran. Many Muslim clerics have been attacked or killed in Uganda without any provocation with investigations into their death remaining undisclosed.

Bosnian Ramadaan gunner Smail Krivic fires a round from his firework cannon to signal the end of dawnto-dusk fast in Sarajevo.

Muslim Bosniaks make up around 40 percent of Bosnia’s population of 3.8 million.

Iraq

Iraqis are used to higher food prices during the holy Ramadaan, attributing this to greater demand and merchants manipulating the market price.

Philippines - In a bid

Bosnia

Fasting times around the world 0 hours

Reykjavik, Iceland Stockholm, Sweden London, England Toronto, Canada Istanbul, Turkey New York, USA Karachi, Pakistan Mecca, Saudi Arabia Rio, Brasil PE, South Africa Sydney, Australia 8 MuslimPages Eid 2014

12 hours

21:47 20:57 18:53 17:14 17:13 16:43 15:09 14:53 12:04 11:58 9:56

24 hours

President Benigno Aquino III has declared July 29 as a public holiday across the country in observance of Eid ul Fitr or the end of the month-long Ramadaan.

Aquino said the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid ul Fitr.

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Col. Eliglen Villaflor, Commanding Officer of the 4th Special Forces

Philippines

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to show their support to the Muslim community’s observance of the Holy Month of Ramadaan, the military in Basilan trooped to Masjids to clean the surroundings.

Battalion, said this is one of their ways to express their unity with their Muslim brothers in the observance of Ramadaan.

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Local News • Taraweeh takes place in new Jamaat Khana in Thorogood Street, Korsten.

• I`tikaf takes place possibly for the first time at Masjid Aziz (Pier Street) in South End. • More than 35 inmates at St. Albans prison participated in the Taraweeh prayers in a cell arranged by the National Muslim Prison Board.

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I`tikaf the Spiritual Retreat

The idea behind i`tikaf is to exhort the Muslims to devote themselves exclusively to prayer and devotion at least for a few days during the year in order to develop deep Allah-consciousness, because it is this consciousness which is the fountain-head of a Muslim’s thought and deed. I`tikaf is, in fact, the next stage of fasting in spiritual development and purification of the soul. During the days of i`tikaf, the mu`takif (one who enters in i`tikaf) dissociates himself from all worldly affairs and spends his time in prayer and supplication.

I`tikaf is a Sunnah upon able Muslims. This is because the Prophet used to do it all his life and the Mothers of Believers and Companions continued to do it after the death of the Prophet . Even before he received the revelation, the Prophet used to retreat in the cave of Hira’ in Makkah every Ramadaan for a number of days and nights, contemplating and thinking about Allah and His creation.

I`tikaf teaches us how to measure the real value of life and to make sure that we are on the right track, to shake off the dust of 12 MuslimPages Eid 2014

sins from our souls, to enrich and deepen our spiritual sense, to sharpen our vision, to look forward towards the Hereafter before it is eminent for us.

In our daily routine, we should have a vacation or holiday. Some spend their holidays by traveling abroad, or at the seashore, and in this way they may spend lots of money just to feel happy. I`tikaf will provide you with much greater happiness, refreshment, tranquillity and mental stability.

In Zad al-Ma`ad fi hadyi khayr al-`Ibad, Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, a famous Muslim scholar, explains the idea behind i`tikaf saying: He (Allah) also prescribed i`tikaf for them (Muslims), by which it is intended that the heart is fully occupied with Allah , the Most High, concentrated upon Him alone, and cut off from preoccupation with the creatures. Rather it is so engrossed with Him alone, the One free of all defects, that remembering Him , loving Him and turning to Him takes the place of all anxieties of the heart and its suggestions, so that he is able to overcome them. Thus all his concerns are for Him . His thoughts are all of remembrance of Him , and thinking of how to attain His pleasure and what will cause nearness to Him . This leads him to feel contented with Allah instead of the people, so that prepares him for being alone on the day of at peace with Him loneliness in the grave, when there is no one else to give comfort, nor anyone to grant solace except Him . So this is the greater goal of i`tikaf.

“I’tikaf helps prepare him for being at peace with Allah alone on the day of loneliness in the grave, when there is no one else to give comfort” In his book Fiqhas-Siyam, the eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi states the following: I`tikaf is a temporary seclusion and retreat to worship Allah and draw near to Him. For Islam does not accept celibacy and permanent seclusion for worship, but it appoints certain times for extra worship and devotion.

Imam Al-Zuhri said: “How strange the Muslims are! They have given up I`tikaf, despite the fact that the Prophet never abandoned this practice from the time he came to Madinah until his death.”

Nafl I’tikaf for those who do not sit for the whole 10 days If a person cannot sit I’tikaf for the full ten days & nights then they should try & sit I’tikaf on as many days & nights as they possibly can.

Intention can be made for doing Nafl I’tikaf everytime one enters the Masjid so a person will be rewarded for the duration of their stay in the Masjid as long as they did not commit any sins or indulge in idle talk.

Abdullah bin Abbas reported that Prophet said: “Whosoever for Allah’s sake did even one day of i’tikaf, Allah would keep him away from Jahannam by trenches.” (Tabarani) DO’s and Donts whilst in I`tikaf Do’s 1. Purify your intentions 2. Set up a timetable for Ibadah 3. Recite the Quran abundantly 4. Perform long nafl Salaah 5. Excessive Dhikr 6. Muraqaba (Introspection) 7. Dua for yourself, family and the Ummah 8. Search for Laylatul Qadr 9. Push yourself to acheive more Dont 1. Refrain from sin and idle talk 2. Avoid the use of cellphones 3. Dont oversleep or over eat 4. Dont leave the Masjid

I`tikaf Notice Those who intend sitting for I`tikaf should be in their respective Masaajid on Friday the 18th July 2014 before Maghrib salaah.

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Laylatul Qadr T h e n i g h t o f Po w e r

َ ْ َ ‫مِّن أل ِف شه ٍْر‬ ْ ‫لَْي َل ُة الْ َق ْد ِر َخ ٌْي‬ The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, “better than a thousand months”. Any good actions done on this night is greater in virtue than acting for one thousand months.

Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in ibaadah during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.” (Muslim).

Aisha related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an oddnumbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadaan (Bukhari).

The Prophet said: “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira ).

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.

Take a break for Allah

We take breaks from our work or for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshipping and thanking our Creator.

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Perform I`tikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadaan in the Masjid for I`tikaf.

I`tikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

Make this special Dua

Aisha said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’ “(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Dua is “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee”

Recite the Quran

If you are still trying to complete a khatam accelerate your efforts on these nights. You could also read all the important surahs such as Fatiha, Yasin, Dukhaan, Tabarak, Sajdah, Mulk, Waaqiah and the Quls.

Reflect on the meaning of the Quran

Choose the Surahs that you recite often in Salaah and understand their meaning.

Perform lengthy Salaah

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah , will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim).

Don’t just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation before hand and then perform Salaah reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.

Make a personal Dua list.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not.

Allah loves to hear from us.

Make long, sincere and deep Duas

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).

Have Iftar with the family

If you’ve spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you’ll have this Ramadaan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.

Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Taraweeh prayers in Ramadaan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. See if you can attend different Masjids’ Taraweeh prayers the night they finish reading the Quran.

Plan for the next year

Once you’ve done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you’ll, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year.

To do list for the Night of Power

Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which is common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power.

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Ramadaan in war torn

Suhoor in a Syrian refugee camp

Gaza seaport

Ramadaan in Gaza looks to be bleak for a population under the miserable conditions they are undergoing. At the beginning of Ramadaan, purchases are restricted to mostly basic needs such as vegetables and meat – traditional Ramadaan sweets like dates and pastries are to be carefully rationed so that it may last through the month. For many of the people, shopping has become akin to begging due to the level of debt that they have already accumulated. Hard-hit by extremely harsh Israeli-western sanctions, this Ramadaan has the smell of real penury. Gaza’s children used to light colourful lanterns to celebrate Ramadaan, now, many parents can’t afford even the small toys, as Gaza sinks deeper into poverty whilst in its bleakest Ramadaan yet. At al-Zawya market in the old quarter of Gaza City, fewer Ramadaan ornaments were visible than in previous years, and though the market was busy, the majority were not buying.

access to food and work, but is actually killing them in droves and on a daily basis.

Unpaid wages and a struggling economy, Palestinian families have little to celebrate during the Holy month.

Israel is not only impoverishing and starving Palestinians by denying them 18 MuslimPages Eid 2014

While Masjids are full for most of the day, at night people in Gaza are preoccupied

by Israeli air strikes on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Indeed, not a day passes without a number of Palestinians getting killed and maimed in Gaza where an average of three to five Palestinians, most of them innocent civilians, are killed on any given day. On the fifth day of Ramadaan, an Israeli tank fired an artillery shell at a northern Gaza home, That was the “perfect” Ramadaan gift by Israel to that Gazan family. And more and more “gifts” of this kind are in the offing, as indicated by the Israeli Chief of Staff, who said he slept well the night he ordered the dropping of a one-ton bomb on a Gaza apartment building, killing 12 sleeping children.

So, the innocent is killed and the story of their murder is also killed.

Most of Gaza City is without power after two of the three functioning lines bringing power from Israel were damaged by airstrikes

Water and sewage infrastructure in eight locations have sustained damage. This has affected more than 350,000 Gazans.

Reports say 75 per cent of Gaza City is without power. And the world keeps silent.

This is what Ramadaan looks like in Gaza.

Syria Meanwhile in Syria for the 4th consecutive year the Syrian regime has been waging indiscriminate war against its own people.

The result is 5 million refugees, 7 million internally displaced (according to United Nations) and 5.5 million children affected by the war (According to UNICEF).

There are refugees in neighbouring Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq The difficulty of reporting from inside Syria means the world has heard very little about the suffering of the country’s people.

Thousands of children are facing malnutrition as food production is wiped out and severe shortages take hold Millions of children have been forced from their homes and tens of thousands are living in parks, barns and caves.

Over one million Syrian refugees in Lebanon entered Ramadaan with sighs and pain rather than joy that usually accompanies the celebration of the holy month of Ramadaan.

Despite the harsh conditions in Zaatari camp, located in a desert landscape where dust storms frequently arise, most refugees fast during the holy month of Ramadaan. To cope with the heat and accompanying thirst, many refugees stay in their tents or caravans during the day where there is no electricity and very little water, celebrating iftar with their family when the night falls and the

cooler weather sets in. Ramadaan in the Middle East is usually characterized by many bright decorations, shops filled with sweets and families happily celebrating iftar together. However, this year, a frugal and quiet atmosphere persists over Zaatari.

It’s just over half-way through the month of Ramadaan. Syrian refugees have fled their homes and are now living in neighbouring countries. Families are crowded into rented accommodation, temporary tented settlements or are living in refugee camps.

Life is tough and the month of Ramadaan makes them think of home more than ever.

“Before we arrived with food, they were preparing these leaves to eat.”

-Syrian aid worker

Reflecting the deprivation brought on by the war, more than 7 million people are now reliant on food aid simply to eat. The fighting that has destroyed much of the country, combined with prices that have soared in recent months, have left Syrians struggling to survive.

“People come by the kitchen just begging for scraps, it tears the heart,” said an activist in the rebel-held northern Syrian city of Maarat al-Numan.

Activists are using a communal kitchen to distribute a simple Ramadaan evening meal of rice, vegetable stew and soup to some 400 of the city’s neediest families.

We should continue with dua and financial assistance as Allah will definitely repay us either in the dunya, akhirah or both.

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Sadaqatul Fitr Zakaah al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr. The word Fitr means the same as Iftar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast.

Thus, Islamically, Zakaah al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributed at the end of the fast of Ramadaan.

Sadaqah al-Fitr is a duty which is Waajib on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.

The proof that this form of charity is compulsory can be found in the Sunnah whereby Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa of dried dates or one Saa of barely.

The head of the household may pay the required amount for the other members.

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree said, “On behalf of our young and old, free men and slaves, we used to take out during Allah’s Messenger’s lifetime one

Saa of grain, cheese or raisins”.

The significant role played by Zakaah in the circulation of wealth within the Islamic society is also played by the Sadaqah al-Fitr. However, in the case of Sadaqah al-Fitr, each individual is required to calculate how much charity is due from himself and his dependants and go into the community in order to find those who deserve such charity. Thus, Sadaqah al-Fitr plays a very important role in the development of the bonds of community.

The rich are obliged to come in direct contact with the poor, and the poor are put in contact with the extremely poor.

This contact between the various levels of society helps to build real bonds of brotherhood and love within the Islamic community and trains those who have, to be generous to those who do not have.

The main purpose of Zakaah al-Fitr is to provide those who fasted with the means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. Zakaah al-Fitr also provides the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (Eid ul Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.

Ibn Abbaas reported, “The Prophet made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and shameful talk (committed during Ramadaan) and so that the poor may be fed.

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Whoever gives it before Salaah will have it accepted as Zakaah, while he who gives it after the Salaah has given Sadaqah.”

ordered that it (Zakaah al-Fitr) be given before people go to make the Salaah (Eid Salaah).

Zakaah al-Fitr is only Wajib for a particular period of time. If one misses the time period without a good reason, he has sinned and can not make it up.

And Ibn Abbaas reported that the said, “Whoever gives it before Prophet the Salaah will have it accepted as Zakaah, while he who gives it after the Salaah (will not, for it will only be considered as) ordinary charity. Therefore, one who forgets to pay this Zakaah al-Fitr on time should do so as soon as possible even though it will not be counted as Zakaah al-Fitr.

Hence, the goal of Sadaqah al-Fitr is the spiritual development of the Believers. By making them give up some of their wealth, the believers are taught the higher moral characteristics of generosity, compassion (sympathy for the unfortunate), gratitude to Allah and the righteousness. But, since Islam does not neglect man’s material need, part of the goal of Zakaah al-Fitr is the economic well-being of the poorer members of society.

Zakaah al-Fitr is only Wajib for a particular period of time. If one misses the time period without a good reason, he has sinned and can not make it up. This form of charity becomes obligatory from sunset on the last day of fasting and remains obligatory until the beginning of Salaah ul Eid (i.e. shortly after sunrise on the following day). However, it can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many of the Sahaabah used to pay Sadaqah al-Fitr a couple days before the Eid. Nafi reported that the Prophet’s companion Ibn Umar used to give it to those who would accept it and the people used to give it a day or two before the Eid. Ibn Umar

The amount of Zakaah is the same for everyone regardless of their different income brackets. The minimum amount is one Saa (two handfuls) of food, grain or dried fruit for each member of the family.

This calculation is based on Ibn Umar’s report that the Prophet made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory and payable by a Saa of dried dates or a Saa of barley.

The Sahabi, Abu Saeed al-Khudri said, “In the Prophet time, we used to give it (Zakaah al-Fitr) as a Saa of food, dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese”.

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reported that the Prophet MuslimPages Eid 2014 21

Operation

Ramadaan Ramadaan is a month for Muslims to reflect on their spiritual being, their family and at the same time strengthen their belief in Allah . Fitrah is an amount paid by Muslims during this month to ensure that their abstention from food and drink is purified and accepted.

In 2014, SANZAF distributed more than R5 million in nutritional food, fresh produce and canned goods to up 22,000 families across South Africa as part of the Ramadaan Campaign

The objective of SANZAF’s Operation Fitrah is to ensure that every Muslim is free from want on the auspicious day of Eid ul Fitr. In 2014, SANZAF distributed more than R 5 million in nutritional food, fresh produce and canned goods to up 22,000 families across South Africa as part of the Ramadaan Campaign. SANZAF Port Elizabeth provided Fitrah hampers to some 300 families in time for Eid. The programme is carried out over a three-month period and includes individual assessment of families as well as home visits to verify the eligibility of recipients.

The Fund also takes into consideration referrals from

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other agencies and has formed and strengthened a number of partnerships over the years.

The aim of the organization is to improve the quality and impact of its services. With South Africa’s high unemployment rate and the spiralling cost of living, these cases often run into the thousands.

The success of the project is largely based on an interactive approach, which includes planning and networking with individuals and groups enabling the organization to accomplish goals that could not be achieved alone.

In keeping with the overall objectives of SANZAF and the established Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the fund established Operation Fitrah as a vehicle to encourage Muslims to pay their Zakatul-Fitr during this Holy month.

Although the efforts at SANZAF are largely concentrated on Ramadaan during this time, SANZAF Port Elizabeth assisted 600 families thus far under the Operation Winter Warmth initiative which will continue until September this year.

Visit www.sanzaf.org.za to find out more about SANZAF or contact 041 4571459.

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Eid

a time of reflection

by Ml Muhammad Badsha

The thought-provoking couplets of Ibn Rajab rahimahullah serve as a beautiful introduction to the great day of Eid ul Fitr: “Eid is not for the one who wears new clothes. Eid is for the one whose obedience rises. Eid is not for the one with beautiful clothes and fine means of transport, Eid is for the one whose sins are forgiven.” [Imam Ibn Rajab, Al-Lata’if, p. 371]

While we enjoy the bounties of Allah on this auspicious day, we reflect on the objective of Ramadaan that we need to achieve by Eid: an increase in our obedience to Allah, and getting our sins forgiven through repentance.

The pious people of the past used Eid as a day of introspection and a continuation of the piety of Ramadaan: Ibn Abi Al-Dunya rahimahullah related that: “We went out one Eid with Sufyan AlThawri rahimahullah and he said, “The first thing we will do on this day of ours is to lower our gaze (from looking at prohibited things).” [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya, Kitab Al-Wara’ article 66] It is reported that Hassan bin Abi Sinan rahimahullaah went out one Eid and when he returned home his wife said, “How many beautiful women have you looked at today?” After she kept asking him, he said, “Woe to you! I have looked at nothing but my toe from when I went out to when I returned to you.” [Ibn Abi al-Dunya, Kitab Al-Wara’ article 68] In its outward celebration Eid ul Fitr is actually meant to symbolize: the acceptance of acts of worship; forgiveness of sins and the glad tidings of an upgrade to higher spiritual degrees.

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Eid should be celebrated, but together with celebrating it, Allah Ta’ala should also be remembered. Whether there is happiness or sadness, He should never be forgotten; “Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of difficulty” (Tirmidhi) If we study the lives of the Sahaaba and our pious predecessors we will see that even though they used to worship extensively in the month of Ramadaan, they would still feel regret and sorrow on the day of Eid. They were constantly worried about the fact of whether or not they had fulfilled the rights of Ramadaan.

Umar used to weep so much on Eid that his beard was soaked.

It is reported about Hazrat Umar that on the day of Eid, he sat in a corner and cried so much that his beard became soaked.

When people asked the reason for this, he replied, “How can a person who does not know if his fasts have been accepted celebrate Eid?” It was on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr that a man once entered the presence of Hazrat Ali and found him eating coarse brown bread. “Today is the day of Eid, yet here you are, eating coarse brown bread!” the

“Whoever stands up (in worship) in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die.” (Ibn Majah) man exclaimed. Hazrat Ali replied to the visitor, saying, “Today is the day of Eid for someone whose fast has been accepted, whose effort has been deemed worthy, and whose sin has been forgiven. Today is Eid for us, and tomorrow is Eid for us.

Every day in which we do not disobey Allah is an Eid for us.”

Together with being a joyous occasion of eating from the blessings which Allah has sent in the form of food, of being in the company of family and wearing good clothes, Eid needs to be a day for reflecting on how much we have introduced of Allah’s worship in our lives and planning the way forward after Ramadaan in His obedience.

The hadith directs us to begin this reflection on the night preceding Eid: “Whoever stands up (in worship) in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting

rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die.” (Ibn Majah) It is reported in a hadith that, on the day of Eid ul Fitr, the angels stand on both sides of the roads and proclaim, “O believers, walk toward your Lord, Who is the Most Generous. He favours you with goodness and gives you great reward. He commanded you to pray during the night and fast during the day. Now that you have obeyed Him, come and receive your rewards.”(At-Tabarani) As the believers finish the Eid prayer, the angels say, “Allah has forgiven you. Return to your homes with the best of good and glad tidings.

This is the day of reward. This day is called the day of reward in heaven as well.” (AtTabarani) After gaining such magnificent rewards, it is foolhardy to throw it all away with indulgence in sin.

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Baklava Ingredients • 100 g wheat brick breakfast cereal, broken into crumbs • 100 g pecan nuts, chopped • 100 g castor sugar • 5 ml ground cinnamon • 450 g phyllo pastry • 230 g butter, melted • 250 g honey • 60 ml lemon juice • 1 stick cinnamon Method 1. Mix cereal crumbs with nuts, castor sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

2. Cut sheets of phyllo pastry in half. Grease a 27 x 17 cm baking dish, place 1 phyllo sheet in the base and brush with some melted butter. Repeat with more phyllo pastry and butter until there are 6 sheets in the dish.

3. Sprinkle half the crumb and nut mixture over the phyllo pastry. Repeat layers of buttered phyllo and filling. Fold in edges of phyllo and end with a layer of pastry.

Brush with melted butter.

4. Cut halfway through layers in a triangle pattern.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 150 °C for 1 hour 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. Heat honey, lemon juice and cinnamon.

Do not boil. Spoon evenly over hot baklava.

7. Cool for at least 1 hour. Cover with foil and leave at room temperature until ready to serve. VARIATION Make cigar shapes for individual servings.

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Mini Nandos Chicken Burgers Ingredients

 Editors pick!

• One doz mini coctail round rolls.

• 500g of chick fillet (it is important to slice the fillet thin and shape to the size of the cocktail rolls) • Lettuce washed and broken to small pieces.

• Tomatoes sliced to fit. Add salt & pepper • Two large tatable spoons full mayonaise • Two tablespoons nandos Hot sauce or mild Method 1. In a flat pot, melt butter and add chicken fillet pieces. Marinate the fillet with salt , aromat, crushed red chilli and garlic or Aminas wonder spice chick tikka wet masala.

2. Add your chicken to the butter and fry on medium heat till done. Add mayo and nandos sauce and simmer. Set aside off heat.

3. Cut your cocktail round rolls. You can butter them if desired. Assemble your burgers. Put a piece if lettuce, then your tomatoe then chicken. add a tsp full of the sauce from the chicken in the roll..

4. Can add a piece of pineapple to this and a piece of cheese to make it hawaian burgers..

Lazy Lady Cinnamon Palmiers

Delicious Nikki Chocolates

Ingredients

Ingredients

• One sheet of puffed pastry rolled thin.

• 1/4 cup castor sugar plus 1 tablespoon • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon

• 3 cup desiccated coconut • 2 tablespoon melted butter • 6 to 8 tablespoons of condense milk • 4 tablespoons liquid Warmed glucose • Lots of plain dairy milk chocolate to melt

Method 1. Roll pastry thin, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar all over.

2. Start rolling the pastry from both edges towards the centre.. so you have two opposite edges rolled meeting in the centre. Cut into one centimetre slices. Lay them out on a well greased baking sheet, and bake at 180deg till golden..

Baking Tip Always pay attention to your butter temperature. If you’re baking cakes or cookies [which require roomtemperature butter] and your butter is too soft and squishy, you’ll get cookies that spread and cakes that don’t rise enough. Bright yellow butter is a good indication that it’s warmer than room temperature. On the other hand, for things like biscuits and pie crust, cold butter is essential.

Method 1. Mix all ingredients together 2. Line a Pyrex dish with cling wrap 3. Pour mixture inn,and set in fridge.

4. Once set cut into bite sized rectangles. Melt your chocolate on the stove over boiling water or in the microwave as desired, for every 200g of chocolate you use add a tsp of oil,mix this into the choc. This will make it easy to dip and coat.

5. Now dip each rectangle into melted chocolate. place on wax paper and set in fridge.

Let us know if you tried and enjoyed these recipies

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Ramadaan Q&A Compiled by Mufti Ubaidullah & Mufti Khalid Ebrahim Q: Should Sadaqatul Fitr be paid on behalf of a deceased family member?

A: Sadaqatul fitr does not have to be paid on behalf of one’s deceased family member, only for those who are still living.

Q: If a person is sitting in I’tikaf, is it acceptable for him to send text messages or call his family members?

A: Sending of text messages and calling ones family is permissible during i’tikaaf.

However, one should restrict it to necessity (such as enquiring about the well being of one’s family, etc) and not to merely while away one’s time in idle chatter with friends, as this will result in lessening one’s reward of i’tikaaf.

Q: Due to a family member’s illness, she cannot fast. Is there any way for her to repay for her fast? A: If one is unable to fast due to sickness and has no hope of recovery to fast in the future, then she will be excused from fasting and will have to give Fidyah for each missed day. However, if she is suffering from a temporary sickness, then she may not give Fidyah in place of missed days. The missed days will have to be made up once she has recovered.

Q: When should one enter the Masjid to perform I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadaan? A: Those who intend to observe i’tikaaf in the last ten days should ensure that they are in the Masjid before Maghrib of the 20th Q: Must the six fasts of Shawwal be done consecutively? A: No it is not necessary to fast the six days consecutively, but rather it can be fasted as individual days anytime throughout the month.

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Q: I missed some days of Ramadaan due to my period, can I make up those days as part of the six fasts of Shawwal?

A: Imaam Ibn Nujaym Rahimahullaah mentions in Al-Ashbaahu Wan Nadhaa’ir that it is not possible to combine a Fardh and a Sunnah action, therefore you would have to fasts the six days separately if you wanted to do so. Any amount of Sunnah actions however can be combined, so you could fast on a Monday and a Thursday fulfilling that Sunnah while fulfilling the six days of Shawwal at the same time.

Q: Can I put my fitra in the Masjid collection box? A: Sadaqatul Fitr may not be placed in the Masjid collection box to be spent on the Masjid. Imaam Ibn `Aabideen Rahimahullaah mentions in Raddul Muhtaar that Sadaqatul Fitr has to be given to such people who are eligible to accept Zakaah, and the Masaajid are not such recipients, hence it will not be valid.

Q: As a woman can I make I`tikaf at home? A: Yes, it will be permissible for a woman to perform her I`tikaaf at home with the permission of her husband, however it should be done in the “Masjid” of her house as mentioned in Noorul Eedhaah by Imaam Ash-Shurunbulaali Rahimahullaah. What that means is that she has a specific place in the house where she performs her `Ibaadah that she should seclude herself in, and should only exit it for necessity. However this should not be done at the expense of neglect to the husband and family/ house. So if there is a need to do anything around the house she will leave her place of I`tikaaf and do it, and then return to it again once she is done.

Q: Are there any signs to know it is Laylat al-Qadr. A: There are a number of signs, the most salient one mentioned by Rasullulah is that the next morning the sun will rise without rays, and its light will not be harsh on a person’s eyes but rather it will be subdued.

Another sign of the night itself is that it will be a serene night, and the weather will be neither cold nor hot. If it happens that it falls during a cold rainy season then you would look which night was the calmest out of them all, and also look at the sun as it rises the next morning for further clarity.

Q: Should we spend all night laylat ul qadr praying quran?

A: It is a night of worship, thus whatever `Ibaadah a person does will be good and recommended, whether it’s reciting the Quran, performing optional Salaah, engaging in the remembrance of Allah etc. It is not necessary to restrict yourself to only one, neither are you obligated to do many different types if you only want to restrict yourself to one.

Q: Is it sunnat to say eid mubarak?

A: Saying Eid Mubaarak is not from the Sunnah of Rasullulah but rather is a customary practice of people, hence there is no harm in saying it provided that it is not considered to be Sunnah. A Sunnah greeting that the Sahaabah used to say is: “TaqabbalAllahu minnaa wa minkum” meaning “May Allah accept from us and from you (our good deeds).

fasting the

six days of Shawwal

Fasting six days of Shawwal after the obligatory fast of Ramadaan is Sunnah. It is recommended for the Muslim to fast six days of Shawwal, and in this there is great virtue and an immense reward. Whoever fasts these six days will have recorded for him a reward as if he had fasted a whole year, as was reported in a sahih hadith from the Prophet .

Abu Ayyub reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” [Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nisa’i and Ibn Majah]

The Prophet explained this when he said: “Whoever fasts for six days after Eid ulFitr has completed the year: (whoever does a good deed (hasanah) will have ten hasanah like it).” According to another report: “Allah has made for each hasanah ten like it, so a month is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days completes the year.”

[An-Nisa’i and Ibn Majah. See also Sahih at-Targhib wa’t-Tarhib, 1/421].

It was also narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah with the wording: “Fasting for the month of Ramadaan brings the reward of ten like it, and fasting for six days brings the reward of two months, and that is the fasting of the whole year.”

Another of the important benefits of fasting six days of Shawwal is that is makes up for any shortfall in a person’s obligatory Ramadaan fasts, because no one is free of shortcomings or sins that have a negative effect on his fasting. On the Day of Resurrection, some of his nafil deeds will be taken to make up the shortcomings in his obligatory deeds, as the Prophet said: “The first thing for which people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be their salah (prayer).

Our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, will say to His angels - although He knows best - ‘Look at the salah of My slave, whether it is complete or incomplete.’ If it is perfect, it will be recorded as perfect, and if something is lacking, He will say, ‘Look and see whether My slave did any voluntary (nafil) prayers.’ If he did some voluntary prayers, [Allah] will say, Complete the obligatory actions of My slave from his voluntary actions.’ Then all his actions will be dealt with in a similar manner.”

[Narrated by Abu Dawud]

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