Jewels of iman issue 7

JEWELS OF IM AN www.aateam.org

Issue 7

May 2015 Rajab/ Sha'baan 1436

Ramadaan Past Befriending the Qur'an

Misconception: Qur'an

Plus much more inside...

Read In The Name of Your Lord!

Edit orial: Assalamu Alaykum, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be with you. We begin by praising and glorifying Allah, high above is He, the Almighty. We send peace and blessing upon the last Messenger, and seal of the Prophets, Muhammad.

Ramadaan is fast approaching. Before we go any further, I would like to ask you, what do you hope to achieve this Ramadaan? Have you prepared for its arrival? Is it priority on your list? Have you started your engines?

If you are unable to answer these questions, then my friend, you need to start working fast. Ramadaan will be here shortly, before you realise that time has flown. Ramadaan is a temporary visitor; its arrival is much awaited, but the time it spends with us is limited.

Let?s make the most of this year Ramadaan, may Allah allow us to live through it, and reap its rewards. Let?s prepare for it, set out goals, make changes and improve ourselves this year.

Let?s become better muslims, with increased Taqwa, and stronger imaan. Let's not neglect the importance of this month of Sah'baan and use it to make preparations for Ramadaan.

I hope this issue will serve as an inspiration for your Ramadaan. May Allah allows us to live to see Ramadaan, and make adequate preparations so as to make the most out of it.

Bibi Zainab Dowlut, Editor-in-Chief, AAT

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CONTENTS Sel f Improvement :

Dawah: 5

Misconception: The Quran

7

Reflection: Ramadan past

20 The moon shines as Rajab begins.

l ink withyour creator: 9

22 Get re-energised 24 Fasting Sha'baan 25 Fasting not Feasting 27 Muharramat: Equality in gifting

Al-Hadi Pt2

11

Iqra

12

Befriending the Quran

28 Repentance

sisterssection: 30 Zainab bint Jahsh

journey tothe hereafter: 15

Signs of the hour # 6

17

Softer Carpets

36

havingfunthe hal aal way: 33

Quiz Answers

34

Quiz Time!

35

In Preparation for Ramadaan

Acknowledgement

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THE QUR' AN Misconception # 5 The Qur?an. What can I say about it? Some, would say it?s the biblical equivalent for the muslims. In some respect, perhaps it is, in the sense that it?s the holy book of guidance for the muslims as the bible is for the Christians. However, the bible and Qur?an are very different, in numerous ways.

The Quran is the word of the Almighty God, in its original form as He spoke it. The words have not been changed, and are exactly the same. The Qur?an is not the creation of Allah, rather it is His speech.

Allah spoke the words to the noble arch angel, Gabriel, who then conveyed the words, as they were to Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him). Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not the author of the Qur?an, for he was an illiterate man, unable to read or write, uneducated in matters of religion or scriptures. Therefore he was unable to copy the scriptures available, or even conjure up such a movement. In addition, he was widely known as trustworthy, honest and truthful, before the advent of his prophet hood, so it was impossible for him to forge a lie against God. Rather, Allah is the One who spoke the words of the Qur?an. The Qur?an is not written by human beings, but by the Divine Being that is God. He, Himself

vowed to preserve these words, ?Indeed it is We who sent down the Qur?an and indeed, We will be its guardian.? (Surah Al-Hijr 15:09) The Qur?an has remained in its original unaltered form since its revelation approximately 1400 years ago. It has been preserved in writings, and in the memory and hearts of many muslims. Millions of muslims, young and old alike have memorised it, from all corners of the globe. Its study has become a science, and not only is its verses preserved, but the reasons behind the revelation of each and the location of revelation are maintained too.

The Qur?an was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) over a period of 23 years. Yet, despite this long period of revelation, it contains no contradictions. It is in its pristine condition, without doubt or uncertainty, ?Then, do they not reflect upon

the Qur?an? If it had been from (any) other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.? (Surah An-Nisa 04:82) The long-period of revelation for the Qur?an illustrates its authenticity. It presents a challenge, as its style does not slack, its information does not whither and its principles do not waiver. It remains true to its purpose throughout. Had a person written it over 23 years, surely evidence of their fallibility would have surfaced! ?This is a Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah,?

Allah revealed the Qur?an as a guidance for mankind, a type of manual or handbook from The Creator. ?This [Qur?an] is a clear statement to all the people, and guidance and instruction, for those conscious of God,? (Surah Aal-Imran, 03:138) The Qur?an informs us of guidelines by which to live, 5

the best course of direction and the keys to success. It also warns us of the consequences of failing to live by these instructions. It distinguishes truth from falsehood, and right from wrong.

The content of the Qur?an is unique. It confirms the scriptures before it, relates incidents of the past as lessons for us, prophesises future events to prepare us and deals with the present. Its subject is us ?humans.?It relates to us the Laws of God, evidence of His existence, and reality of the Day of Judgement. The Qur?an relates to us the story of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Pharaoh, The People of Aad and Thamud, so that we may learn from their mistakes, and take heed. The Qur?an informs us of facts as microscopic as the embryo and its development, and those of a greater magnitude such as the heavens held up above us.

Now, I ask you, how did a man who was illiterate, living in a barbaric civilisation in the midst of the desert, one thousand four hundred years ago know these facts, which have only recently been ?discovered?by scientists of our age? It can only be with the help of God above!

The language and style of the Qur?an are inimitable. Whilst

the translations fall short in conveying its true, complete meanings; the original Arabic of the Qur?an, is of the highest standards. It contains no mistake in this regard, which only serves to prove it is from a higher being, devoid of mistakes and imperfection. It possesses a rhythmic grace, though it is not poetry, all the while conveying its profound message directly, without faltering in its communication.

The Qur?an presented a challenged to the Arabs at the time of its revelation, and for those who deny it today,

revealed this guidance for us to abide by. The Qur?an is no less than a miracle; it is accurate in information, precise in grammar, articulate in its conveyance. It is a message for those of understanding.

By Bibi Zainab Dowlut

?Or they say he (Muhammad) invented it? Say, ?Then bring ten surahs like it that have been invented, and call upon (for assistance) whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful,? (Hud 11:13) ?Let them then produce a recital like unto it (the Qur?an) if they are truthful.? (At-Tur 52:34) But the truth of the matter is, ?If mankind and jinn gathered together in order to produce the like of this Qur?an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.? (Al-Isra 17:88) The Qur?an is a divine book, from Allah the Almighty. It is His words, which are proof of His existence and perfection.

He is Our Creator, who has 6

REFLECTION: RAM ADAAN PAST Oh it's amazing how fast time flies by and it is already Sha'ban. Ramadaan is just around the corner, and let us reminisce our past Ramadaan. How did we do last Ramadaan? Did we do ?good?? Was there any changes in our act of worships? How did we do during the past year?

What I love most about Ramadaan, is how everyone comes together and puts a halt to everything that goes on in their life. I love how we make time to double and triple our ibadaah during this month. I love how everyone seems to respect each other during Ramadaan. I love how the mosques will get crowded. It really is an amazing feeling. In spite of all this, there will always be a joy-killer. There will always be someone who questioned, who mocked, who disapproved. They say ?why are the women covering themselves only in Ramadaan??, ?these are hypocrites, they only go to the mosque during Ramadaan?, ?they're not being sincere, after Ramadaan they will go back to who they were before?. Well, we don?t know about that for sure, do we? I would like to share my story, on how my life changed in the span of five Ramadaan. Five Ramadaan ago, the workplace decided to have, what we call 'tadarus' here. We gather in a circle, everyone will start reciting Qur'an one by one, with one person checking our recitation. I was a cocky young woman, so I signed up my name under the average category. Here's the thing, I hadn?t been reading Qur'an for over 10 years! Imagine that? Just so I wouldn't be embarrassed at work, I decided to come prepared. At home, I picked up the Qur'an that had been collecting dust on the shelf. And that was where my journey began.

Four Ramadaans ago, I was just starting to change my life. I had been reading Qur'an, on and off all throughout the years. That Ramadaan, I focused on covering myself, praying five times a day and reading the translation of Juz Amma. Three Ramadaans ago,

I was an enthusiastic muslimah. A duracell bunny. My energy might be off the chart, but when it comes to Qur'an, I was still weak. My recitation was like a road trip with pot holes all over the road. To overcome my weakness, I decided to spend my Ramadaan reading the Qur'an slowly. After every page, I would read the translations. I wasn't able to finish the entire 30 chapters. I managed to read 1/ 3 of the Qur'an. Two Ramadaans ago, I was determined to finish all 30 chapters. I would wake up at odd hours to pray and read Qur'an. I would spend every spare time during Ramadaan trying to read Qur'an. I wasn't able to finish the entire 30 chapters, but, I was close. I managed to read 2/ 3 of The Qur'an Last Ramadaan. I was fully prepared. I attended Qur'an class for couple of months, and I was improving. Alhamdulillah, with Allah's will, I managed to finish the entire 30 chapters a few days before Ramadaan ended. It is easy to judge others. It is easy to mock and point fingers. What we might not know is that one Ramadaan might be their first step toward changes. That Ramadaan might be their last.

That Ramadaan might be the one that change others around them. Instead of judging, instead of mocking, why don't we help them out and support them? ?Help one another in acts of piety and righteousness. And do not assist each other in acts of sinfulness and transgression. And be aware of Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment? (Al-Ma?idah 05:02) Now we are done looking back at the past, let's plan for Ramadaan!

By Anisah Matasim 9

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LINKWITH your creator

AL-HADI CONT'D Asma Was Sifaat # 6 The word ?Hadi? (the Guider) is derived from the Arabic word ?Hada? which is translated as ?guide?. Allah guides His creation is many ways.

Dear Readers! In continuation of part 1 about Allah's beautiful Name Al-Hadi, we will look at ?the effects on our faith? for this Name of Allah.

They are as follows: 1) Allah has sent the Prophets and Messengers (May peace be upon them all) for our guidance. ?And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path.?

(Surah ash-shoora: 52) ?It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.? (Surah as-Saff: 9)

2) Allah honours whomever He wills, humiliates whomever He wishes to but He gives guidance to whoever asks for. ?Those will have lost who deny the meeting with Allah, until when the Hour [of resurrection] comes upon them unexpectedly, they will say, "Oh, [how great is] our regret over what we neglected concerning it," while they bear their burdens on their backs.

Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.?

(Surah Al-An?am: 31) 3) Hidayah (guidance) is a big blessing from Allah (May He be glorified) and it must be considered as a blessing!

4) The Prophets (May peace and blessings be upon them all) had perfect guidance from Allah but still they used to invoke Allah for it. Prophet

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Suleiman used to supplicate: "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants." (Surah an-Nahl: 19) Prophet Yusuf supplicated saying: ?My Rabb, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."

(Surah al-Yusuf: 101) 5) The supplication for guidance should be done all the time even if we get guidance.

6) Allah guides all His creation: ?[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.?

(Surah at-Taha: 53) Ibn Taymiyyah said, ?Servants are in need of Allah?s guidance every time in whatever Allah has commanded us to do and not to do. For example: whoever does something displeasing to Allah, he needs Allah?s guidance to do tawbah and istighfaar (repentance).? ( (Bayan ad-daleel ali batlaan at-tahleel (5)) May Allah keep us guided on His straight path.

Ameen

By Maliha Rahmat

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IQRA! The Qur'an has about 6,236 ayahs. But one of the 6,236 ayahs has caught my heart. It is quite endearing to me. And that ayat is: "Read! In the name of your Lord who created."

The Holy Qur'an is a divine mercy for the nation of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is a light for us, a solution for all our troubles, the spring of our hearts. It is a miracle given to the Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

The first word sent down by Allah from the heavens to Rasul (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was ?Read!? Allah's wisdom behind revealing the first word 'Iqra' is glorious and monumental. Allah (Glorified He be) could have sent many other significant words but He preferred to send the word 'read'.

Have you ever marvelled over the fact that why Allah had sent the first word as 'read'? Weren't you ever curious to know about this? Allah has shown the superiority of reading by annunciating it as the initial word because reading helps us to seize the Islamic knowledge. It is a way to accumulate it. It is a way to discover Islam and to apprehend it.

If you?re one of the people who don?t make a habit of reading/ reciting Qur'an, you might be missing out. Reading has a significant number of benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below: 1) Ment al St imul at ion: Staying mentally stimulated reduces the chances of Dementia. Qur'an is an effective remedy for mental illnesses. By constantly reading Qur?an your mind is stimulated, not only by the recital, but by pondering upon its verses, and meanings.

2) St ress Reduct ion:

No matter how much stress you have at work or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in reciting Qur'an. When reciting the Qur?an, one realises the bigger picture of life; that it is merely a test and we have to bear patience with whatever comes our way. Various ayahs in the Qur'an also cause Taqwa (God-fearing) in our hearts.

3 Knowl edge: When you go through the beautiful ayahs of the Qur'an, you actually gain knowledge. And when you read more, you accumulate a great amount of beneficial knowledge.

4) Tranquil it y: Qur'an is indeed the spring of our hearts. It is a great tranquilizer. Reciting Qur'an brings immense peace and serenity. As Allah says, ?Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.? (13:28) When reading/ reciting the Qur'an has so many benefits, then how can we neglect its significance in our lives?

To sum up, I would like all my brothers and sisters in Islam to ponder upon the first ayat and start implementing it. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have conversation with your Lord?

Then go, fetch a Qur'an and start comprehending it.

May Allah (Glorified He Be) assist us in understanding the Qur'an. Aameen.

By Bint Nayeem 11

BEFRIENDING THE QUR' AN The month of Ramadaan is soon upon us, the month in which the Qur?an was first revealed, hence it is only natural that there should be a connection between Ramadaan and the Qur?an.

This connection is beyond what we can imagine it to be, Allah says, ?The month of Ramadaan, in which was revealed the Qur?an? ? (Al-Baqarah 02:186) This relationship is deep and it should extend to us. During this month we should utilise our time to read the Qur?an and ponder upon its meanings, and take lesson from it. Moreover, the night of Decree, Layla-tul-Qadr, the specific night on which the Quran was revealed, occurs during this month, as Allah says, ?We sent it down on a blessed night.? Ibn Abbas was of the opinion that the entire Qur?an was revealed on the night of Decree to Bayt-Al-Izzah. To strengthen the relationship of Ramadaan with the Qur?an, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to study the Quran during it, and he was the most knowledgeable with regards to it. Ibn Abbas narrated that, ?Jibril would come to him (peace be upon him) every night and he would study the Qur?an with him.? (Agreed upon) Many scholars say this was the time when the Prophet would learn the tafseer.

The Qur?an is not limited to the recitation in Taraweeh or Qiyam-ul-layl prayers. It should be recited throughout the day of the fast, and if one is capable at night too. In comparison to the salaf, our state is pitiable, and shameful.

Uthman ibn Affan used to recite the entire Qur?an in a single rak?ah, whilst imam Ash-Shafi? used to recite it sixty times in the month of Ramadaan. Just to note; these narrations are true! We have become disconnected from the Qur?an, and it is reflected in our state as an ummah. As an ummah we have little or no standing, we bicker amongst ourselves, and are equivalent to prey for the hunters. This is because we have neglected the words, and

commands of Allah, and as a result sealed a fate of continuous downfall. It is only when we reconnect with the Qur?an and obey the commands of Allah, can we gain honour and restore our dignity.

Our distance from the Qur?an is proof as to why the Prophet will testify against us. As Allah says in the Qur?an, ?And the Messenger has said, ?O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur?an as a (thing) abandoned.? (Surah Furqan 25:30) Imagine the greatest of all people, the Messenger, who we claim to follow bearing witness against us, that we were neglectful in our duty towards this Qur?an!!! What more motivation do we need for us to change our ways?

Many of us struggle to recite the entire Qur?an once in Ramadaan, yet this is a time when the salaf, would halt their usual routines, in order that they may secure the advantages of this month. They understood the value of Ramadaan, and how it affects one?s akhirah. They understood that this month has high significance, and they utilised every second of it. They would prepare months before its arrival, mourn its passing, and make duaa to live to see the next one. How amazing were they! And how far we have strayed from their ways!

The stories of the salaf and their connection with the Qur?an are endless, and perhaps beyond our scope, though we should aim to imitate them. The question remains, what can we do to establish that broken link? Begin, 12

before Ramadaan comes. Just like the salaf would anxiously prepare, follow in their footsteps and prepare yourself for its coming.

Sadly, Ramadaan only lasts a month, and it will quickly pass. It is essential that one prepares in advance. Now, I don?t mean stocking up the fridge, or filling samosas and spring rolls are preparation for Ramadaan. Many of us miss the essence of fasting, because we are only geared up for iftaar! We can?t wait till the mu?athin says, ?Allahu Akbar? or till the clock strikes the minute. All some of us can think about is food!

May Allah help us, this is the state of the ummah today. Millions of brothers and sisters are dying on a daily basis from lack of nutrition, and here we are a few hours without food, and our minds cannot think about anything else. No, this is wrong. What I mean by preparation, is that we begin a routine suitable for Ramadaan.

Start reading extra Qur?an in the month of Sha?ban so that it is easier for Ramadaan, and that it lasts even after Ramadaan.

Learn the value of Ramadaan, not just in terms of food. Ramadaan is not about losing weight in time for Eid, or starvation. The benefits of Ramadaan begin in this life, and continue in the hereafter. Whilst one may lose weight, one will also increase their Taqwa, and indulge in more righteous deeds which will Inshallah grant a place in Jannah. Understand the significance of this month in sight of Allah, and come to grips with what rewards lie in store for those who make use of its days.

month, and also throughout the year. For who can get enough of the Speech of Allah? The Qur?an needs close friendship, and dedication in recitation for it to affect our hearts. Allow the Qur?an to penetrate your heart, and reach the depths of your soul. Recite it so that it will be for you and not against you,

The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, ?recite the Qur?an, for on the Day of resurrection, it will come as an intercessor for its companion.? (Muslim) May Allah allow us to live to see Ramadaan, and may He allow us to become companions of the Qur?an.

By Bibi Zainab Dowlut

Contemplate on the meanings of the Qur?an.

When one is hungry and thirsty, the heart is softer, as arrogance and pride diminish and humility is enhanced. Hence it is more receptive, and the verses of the Qur?an will have a more profound impact on the heart, which will result, in more Taqwa and more good deeds, Inshallah.

Remember the importance of the Qur?an in this 13

Journey tothe hereafter

SIGNS OF THE HOUR Signs of the Hour # 6 The Qur'an reminds us time and again that this universe has been created temporarily. This world is transient. At an appointed time it will surely be annihilated. The tectonic mountains and every momentous thing are bound to efface.

"Everyone thereon will be annihilated and only the Countenance of your Mighty and Glorious Sustainer shall remain." (Surah Rahman) The exact date and time of this event is known to Allah alone.

"Verily Allah Alone has the knowledge of the Hour." (Surah Luqman) We, as Muslims, surely believe in Allah, His angels, His books. We also believe in the fate, good or evil. And then we believe in the Day of Judgement and its signs. It is the Day of commotion and turmoil.

Let us know some of the spine-chilling signs of the Overwhelming Day. ? Abundance of eart hquakes: Narrated By Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established (1) till two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine, (2) till about thirty Dajjals appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah's Apostle, (3) till the religious knowledge is taken away (by the death of Religious scholars) (4) and earthquakes will increase in number." [Sahih Bukhari Volume 009, Book 088, Hadith Number 237] Recently, there has been massive earthquakes around the world which have caused great havoc. This is a sign which was prophesised by Allah's Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah

be upon him). Indeed the hour is near. "At the time of an earthquake, eclipse, strong wind or flood, (we must) repent to Allah, beseech Him, ask Him for well-being, remember Him a great deal and seek His forgiveness.? Sheikh Ibn Baz The Prophet (peace be upon him) said at the time of an earthquake:"When you see that, then turn to remembrance of Allah and call upon Him and ask for His forgiveness." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) ? Increase in t hunderbol t : It was reported from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Thunderbolts will increase so much as the Hour approaches that when a man comes to a people, he will ask, 'Who amongst you was struck by a thunderbolt this morning?' and they will say, 'So-and-so and so-and-so was struck'." (Ahmad) In the aforementioned hadith, it has been said that there will be increase in the thunderbolt.

A thunderbolt is a flash of lightning that makes a loud sound of thunder and that hits someone or something. As the hour approaches this will increase so much so that it will become a norm for people to be struck by it. ? Frequent occurrences of sudden and unexpect ed deat h: Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: 15

"Hasten in performing these good deeds (before these) six things (happen): (the appearance) of tribe Dajjal, the smoke, the beast of the earth, the rising of the sun from the west, the general turmoil (leading to large-scale massacre) and the death of masses and individuals.? (Sahih Muslim Book 041, Hadith Number 7040) One of the signs of the Hour is the proliferation of sudden and prompt deaths. Death is a reality which no one can escape. It can confront anyone, at any time. It is an actuality which could make anyone shake like a leaf! It is a calamity that wrenches our hearts. A catastrophe which every one of us is bound to stumble upon! None knows their hour of death, and it will come suddenly. In the past, people would ?see?their end coming, they would feel the agonies of death, and would perhaps be on their deathbed for some time before their soul left their body. Today, death comes unexpectedly and abruptly.

Therefore, we are supposed to pull up our sleeves and work for gaining rewards from Allah because we aren't aware when we would be carried by the men on their shoulders for Salahtul Janazah!

May Allah (Glorified He Be) make us among His pious believers who endeavors in pleasing their Lord. Aameen

By Bint Nayeem

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SOFTER CARPETS Ways to Jannah # 7 ?Can you please shift towards your right, brother.? ?Umm, I am not so sure, you see, the air seems cooler and more pleasant at this spot.? matter of fact, the excuses that people come up with, just to fill the gaps whilst standing for prayer are so incorrigible, that the whole situation approaches the brink of absurdity.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded us to make the rows straight and to close the gaps in them, and to complete the first row, then subsequent rows. That is mentioned in well-known hadeeth, such as that narrated by al-Bukhaari (690) and Muslim (433) from Anas, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ?Make your rows st raight , f or st raight ening t he rows is part of t he perf ect ion of prayer.? According to the version narrated by al-Bukhaari: ?? is part of t he est abl ishing of prayer.?

Moreover, I am certain that as Muslims we certainly abhor the Shaytaan (devil), yet were we aware that if there were gaps left between us then it is the Shaytaan who fills them up. This occurrence is evident

from the following hadith It was narrat ed f rom ?Abd-Al l ah ibn ?Umar t hat t he Messenger of Al l ah (peace and bl essings of Al l ah be upon him) said: ?Make your rows st raight , st and shoul der t o shoul der and cl ose t he gaps, and do not resist your brot hers?hands. Do not l eave any gaps f or t he Shayt aan.

Whoever compl et e a row, Al l ah wil l reward him, and whoever breaks a row, Al l ah wil l f orsake him. Abu Dawood said: What is meant by ?Do not resist your brot hers? hands? is t hat a man shoul d be easy-going if his brot her pushes him f orwards or backwards t o make t he row st raight . (?Awn al-Ma?bood).

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 666; al-Nasaa?i, 819. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 620.

My dear friends, please fear Allah!! Truly what will be the fate of one whom Al l ah f orsakes, the above ahadeeth are authentic! and it shakes one?s heart as one even tries to fathom the destiny of such a person

Henceforth I beg of you my dear friends, let us take heed of the above ahadeeth, and believe me it isn?t a herculean task to fill the gaps, so let?s resolve to do so from now itself.

However, this is an article from the ?ways to Jannah? series, therefore I arrive at the climax; The Messenger of Al l ah (peace and bl essings of Al l ah be upon him said); "Whoever f il l s t he gap, Al l ah wil l raise him a l evel and buil d f or him a house in Jannah" [Saheeh at-Targheeb v.

1 p. 336 Shaikh al-Albaani said this hadeeth is Saheeh li Ghayrihi] Baffling, isn?t it, yet it?s true, and yet another easy way to Jannah, but my dear friends don?t forget that we have to undertake this act (i.e. filling in the gaps) with true determination and steadfastness.

Moreover, it?s a way to Jannah! So it is an essential that we educate ourselves with the etiquettes of filling 17

the gaps. The worshipper should stand in a moderate fashion, neither standing with his feet together nor making them too far apart, because the further apart he makes them, the further his shoulders will be from his neighbour?s shoulders. Making the rows straight and compact is achieved by standing foot-to-foot and shoulder-to-shoulder.

However, there are more mannerisms that one should adopt whilst filling the gaps, so please visit http:/ / islamqa.info/ en/ 21502 , http:/ / islamqa.info/ en/ 34160 and other authentic resources that you can find.

So finally my dear friends the next time we think of softer carpets whilst filling the gaps remember the carpets of Jannah, carpets of such superiority that it isn?t within the perimeter of human imagination?

By Bint Ayesha

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Self Improvement

The Moon Shines as Rajab Begins A full moon ahead, its sheen sending silver shafts of rays, not only mesmerizing its spectators but also marking the advent of a new month- a month known for its sanctity and sacredness, the holy month of Rajab.

Alas, it?s sad that not many of us are aware of the blessings of this month and unfortunately let this month pass away as any other, yet it?s not too late to enrich our knowledge and resolve to accomplish our ambitions.

The month of Rajab is one of the sacred months of which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): ?Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein?

[Al-Tawbah 9:36] Therefore, the sacred months are: Rajab, Dhu?l-Qa?dah, Dhu?l-Hijjah and Muharram. Al-Bukhaari (4662) and Muslim (1679) narrated

from Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ?The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu?l-Qa?dah, Dhu?l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha?baan. These months are called sacred for two reasons: 1- Because fighting therein is forbidden unless initiated by the enemy 2- Because transgression of the sacred limits therein is worse than at other times.

Hence Allah has forbidden us to commit sins during these months, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): ?Wrong not yoursel ves t herein?

[Al-Tawbah 9:36] Although committing sins is haraam and forbidden during these

months and at other times, in these months it is more forbidden. Al-Sa?di (may Allah have mercy on him) said (p.

373): ?In the phrase ?wrong not yourselves therein?, the pronoun may be understood as referring to twelve months.

Allah states that He has made them a measure of time for His slaves, which they may use for worshipping Him, and thank Allah for His blessings, and they serve the interests of His slaves, so beware of wronging yourselves therein.

The pronoun may also be understood as referring to the four sacred months, and this forbids them to wrong themselves in those months in particular, as well as it being forbidden to do wrong at all times, because it is more forbidden at this time, but it is worse at this time than at others.?

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Therefore, we comprehend the prominence of this month i.e. were you to transgress in this month, verily you may be punished more than at other times.

Also, the sanctity of this month is such, that we are rewarded more than at other times for doing good.

Hence, don?t you think we should make it incumbent on ourselves to do more good with the intention of being rewarded more and yet

remain within our boundaries and not indulge in bid?aah (innovations).

Indeed, we should thank our Rabb, The Most Merciful forgranting the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with such opportunities.

So, dear friends, let?s prepare ourselves for this month, let?s purify our intentions, abstain from transgression, desist from committing bid?aah, spread the message, enrich

our and others knowledge with regards to knowing about this month. However, one shouldn?t neglect those deeds that have been made obligatory on us (such as Salah (prayer)) in the quest of doing the supererogatory (nawafil) deeds We beg Allah to guide us and help us.

Ameen

By Bint Ayesha

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GET RE-ENERGISED Our Character # 7 ?My exams are coming up, I need to study, I need to focus, I need to make a time-table, I need to be healthy and what not? ?

Before any major event in our life we prepare and try to make everything best of the best, aiming high and still wanting to do better next time.

Approximately 45 days left until Ramadan. It?s far; no need to think about it yet, but think again. Time never waits and Ramadan will come to you in no time. Ramadan is an opportunity for muslims to boost their imaan, to attain the highest levels of Jannah by doing good deeds which are multiplied several times. Islam teaches us a way of life. Most of our life is full of dealing with ourself and dealing with the people around us. So, it is important to have a good character which implies we need to be a person with the best character in Ramadan.

Many of us know someone close or far who was with us last Ramadan and now s/ he is with Allah. This is a great chance for all of us who are alive and healthy Alhamdulilah! We may never get the chance again. Think about those people who were very good in character and had good relations with others around them, they are mostly remembered in our prayers and vice-versa, so think about in which group of people you would want to be after your death.

What most of us do is try to get energized when Ramadan starts. We start our engines to correct ourselves, do ibadah and by mid-Ramadan we are charged. However, that means we have lost most of Ramadan adjusting to our new selves and new routine. Lost time is never found. So in order to get the best and utilise every day and every minute of Ramadan, we need to train ourselves beforehand. Practice will make us perfectly fit for the new routine, Inshallah.

Firstly, let?s organize ourselves, and this is the most important. Fix your personality: anger management, attitude, rude comments and remarks etc. (we all know what is wrong with ourselves) get rid of all these bad traits. Reduce the number of times you sin every passing day.

For example; if you get angry four times a day, the next day try to reduce it to three, and so on.

This will require lots of patience; which is also needed for fasting, so this is a great way to gain patience. Mending your character in advance, and ridding yourself of bad habits will help you to gain the patience needed in Ramadan to get through a long day without the necessities of nutrition and water. Hence, whilst fasting you will be able to smile, spread happiness and gain more good deeds. Even if you are tired, good deeds like helping out your mother, family , neighbors etc. will also help you gain characteristics of patience, kindness and will build a better neighborhood. Remember to be the change you want to see in the world. By these simple ways you can gain good deeds now and if you continue this in Ramadan your good deeds will multiply making a you a better person for the rest of your life.

Narrated Abu Hurairah, 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)."

As we can conclude from this hadith that it is very 22

important to get ourselves away from not only bad deeds, but also we have to be very cautious about our character. Once you have, identified problem areas in your character begin immediate work on them. But don?t get stuck only on character; you may remain there forever, work on other things too. Start finding your lost time. That means time management; assigning time periods for ourselves and daily tasks, you will find that you have lots of spare time even if you take 5 minute breaks after each activity. In the spare time you need to do ibadah of any kind, whether it be reading Qur?an, praying or remembering Allah. So organize your time now and you will see that in Ramadan it won?t be very hard for you to balance work and ibadah. Again remember having a proper schedule and organizing time is an important part of character as this will make you a punctual person which is highly

appreciated in Islam as well as in the world.

Organize your work place at home and office so that it doesn?t take much time to find and work on things. For women they should make it simple so that dishes and meal prepping doesn?t take most of their time. Remember Ramadan isn?t about feasting it?s about eating just enough to be healthy enough to do ibadah.

Also try completing your shopping beforehand whether it be clothes or food, so that you don?t miss the blessed nights of Ramadan.

So, start preparing your character and your body for Ramadan and you will see that this Ramadan will be different; it will be easier for you to do good deeds, stay away from the bad control yourself and be in the best of iman and character. You will see that these little tips will make a huge difference. In Shaa Allah.

By Fatima Damad

"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.)"

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Sh a'baan In preparation for Ramadaan, it is good habit to begin fasting.

Firstly, you begin piling up the rewards, and building your iman ahead of time.

Furthermore, one?s body becomes accustomed to a day without food or drink. This is especially useful for those who experience stomach cramps, and ?unbearable? pangs of hunger on the first of Ramadaan.

Ai?shah narrated, ?The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to fast all of Sha?ban; he used to fast Sha?ban except a few days.?

(Muslim) This hadith explains that is Sunnah to fast in the month of Sha?ban. Not only do you get the opportunity to prepare for Ramadaan, but also that of reviving and performing a Sunnah. However, it is preferable to fast in the first half of the month of Sha?ban.

As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ?when Sha?ban is half over, do not fast,? (collected by Tirmidhi, Sahih

by Albani) This indicates that

one should refrain from fasting the sixteenth day onwards of Sha?ban. To fast after the middle of Sha?baan is considered disliked (makrooh) by scholars.

Nonetheless, there are other narrations, which give exception to this ?rule.?Muslim and Bukhari both report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ?Do not anticipate Ramadaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a person habitually fasts, then let him fast.?

This makes it clear that if a person is in habit of fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or the white days, they may continue to do so, even in the second half of Sha?ban. What a person is prohibited from doing is fasting the days before Ramadaan, in anticipation of its arrival. This prohibition is even more applicable today or two prior to the beginning of Ramadaan. We should not fast on the thirtieth day of Sha?baan also known as the day of doubt because it may fall as the last day of Sha?baan

or the first day of Ramadaan.

Ammar ibn Yasir is reported to have said, ?whoever fasts on the day of doubt has disobeyed Abul-Qasim,? meaning has disobeyed the Prophet peace be upon him, (this tradition is authenticated

by Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban). In another narration, Ibn Abbas said that Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ?don?t meet the month fasting,? in a similar narration, do not meet Ramadaan with a day from Sha?baan.?

(Authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah). From these narrations we learn that it is impermissible to fast on the day of doubt, the day before Ramadaan begins. We should not converge Sha?baan and Ramadaan together, by fasting continuously through them.

May Allah, helps us to practice the Sunnah correctly and in its totality.

For more information on this matter please visit: http:/ / islamqa.info/ en/ 13726

By Bibi Zainab Dowlut 24

FASTING NOT FEASTING Heart Softeners # 4

?A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food), and a kafir (unbeliever) or a hypocrite eats in seven intestines (eats too much).? (Bukhari) As the blessed month of Ramadan rapidly approaches us, we begin to prepare for it in many ways. Some have already written out a "game plan" for the 30 days of fasting and the intense worship they want to do, others have decided to start increasing in good deeds, and some, well, they have only started to prepare for nothing but a schedule for iftar gatherings with recipes of savouryand sweet meals. Yes, breaking your fast is very important and a must, but we should remember that Ramadan is something more than just fasting the entire day and then meeting with friends and family to do nothing but feasting. Since I reverted to Islam, I have met a fair share of born Muslims who are very cultural. Surely there is nothing wrong with incorporating your culture into your daily life but it should never supersede your religion and it should never be the driving force for your actions. Islam is a complete religion and it is a way of life. The Qur'an guides us and the Sunnah helps us understand how to live our daily lives. We all know that Islam is a religion of moderation and that Allah does not likeextravaganceand those who waste.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ?The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few morsels to keep him alive. If he must fill it, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink, and one-third for air.? (At-Tirmidhi, Sahih by Albaani) The month of Ramadan is no exception. In fact, during this blessed month, we must remember

that it is a month to purify ourselves and our intentions and to strengthen our relationship with Allah the Almighty. Our priority should not be counting down the minutes until Maghrib and then rushing over to our friend's or family's home to stuff our faces at iftar to the extent that we are so full that we cannot even stand and pray taraweeh. Ramadan is about fasting, not feasting. In Ramadan, we should be losing weight (not intentionally) and we should not be gaining weight. We should be gaining spiritual guidance and purity.

During Ramadan we should focus on taking selfies of our character, instead of taking selfies with our food. We should be thinking of ways to help the needy and poor during and after Ramadan. We should reflect on how blessed we are to be given another chance for Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness to be showered upon us. We should remember that there are many starving people all around the world and we should not overeat and waste food. I never realised how many Muslims waste food until I met some who eat and eat and eat and then waste and waste and waste! Can you imagine how many poor people all the wasted food could feed? If you can't finish something, pack it home and eat it the next day, even if you aren't a "I don't eat leftovers" kind of person, at least think about the blessings Allah has blessed you with and do it for His Sake. Also, remember that because you wasted so much food, Allah could easily test you with hunger and poverty somewhere in the near future.

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?And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance)? [al-A?raaf 7:31] The blessed month of Ramadan, is a month where we recharge our iman battery and to pick up on certain obligatory acts and worships that we were not able to during the year. Fasting is something that is done solely for the sake of Allah and it should be done sincerely. If we really want to earn reward and please Allah, we will remember that once we break our fast, we should not overindulge and stuff our faces until nothing but belches come from our mouths.

Abu Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ?A man burped in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and he said: ?Keep your burps away from us, for the one who eats his fill the most in this world will be hungry for the longest time on the Day of Resurrection.? (At-Tabaraani, Sahih) Let us remember what the purpose of Ramadan is and let us work hard and strive to not waste food and to overindulge in extravagance. As we want to take that extra bite of food, let us remember that extra bite may hinder us from making a long sujood which could earn us the Forgiveness of Allah, the Almighty. Let us remember, before throwing away that plate of

food, those who are fasting all year around because they are too poor to eat a warm meal every day.

Remember that Ramadan is a month of giving and not taking. Ramadan is a month for us to change what is within ourselves and to turn back to Allah and seek His Mercy and Forgiveness. Ramadan is a month where we learn to give up bad habits and try our best to come out fuller and stronger, not with food but with iman, wisdom, and taqwa.

Ramadan is a month of fasting, not feasting.

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "He who observes the fast during Ramadan out of sincerity of faith and in hope of earning merit will have his past sins forgiven him." (Bukhari and Muslim) May Allah bless us with many opportunities to fast during Ramadan and may He give us success and a chance to change for His Sake and to come out of this Holy month, better, kinder, wiser, and adhering to the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Ameen!

By Umm Abdur-Rahman

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EQUALITY IN GIFTING Muharramat # 6 There is something my mother has always said, ?I love my children equally,? it may seem controversial, or impossible, but my mother has never shown affection or given one of us more than the other. She has always maintained the position that a child may be distanced from his parents if they do so, or may feel rejected. It has been her principle to ensure justice between us, so as not to damage self-esteem, and at the same time instil in us the values of justice, as children learn by example, and the mother is the primary role model, and first teacher.

With Ramadaan and Eid coming, many of us will go shopping. For many parents, this will be a pain in their pockets, and some unfairness may arise, if you have more than one child. Let me caution you, therefore, before it unintentionally happens. Many parents do not realise the devastative consequences that may arise from such favouritism. Allah instructs us in the Qur?an, ?Be just, that is nearer to piety; and fear Allah? ? (05:08) Justice is one the inherent teachings of Islam.

Fairness and equality are at the core of Islam, a muslim is to give everyone their due rights; the Almighty Creator above the heavens, and the tiny insects that crawl around the earth. A muslim has obligations to fulfil our duties towards each, and each one is considered a shepherd in this regard responsible for their flock. For parents; their flock are their children, and it is upon them to deal with justice between them.

child is equal unless one has a greater need, or if given as a reward for a specific achievement, which will then serve as a motivation to the others to try to succeed.

Favouritism can have many negative effects. It may cause jealousy and sow the seeds of hatred between siblings. It can cause children to withdraw, feel deficient, and uncared for. Even if a parent harbours more love for one child, they should be careful not to openly exhibit it, and make other children feel left out. This Eid, make a change and show all your children you care, love and believe in each one.

I will end with this rhetorical question of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said, ?Do you not want all your children to respect you equally?? (Ahmad 4/ 269) May Allah help us to establish justice through following His laws.

By Bibi Zainab Dowlut

In the hadith of Nu?man ibn Bashir, whose father brought him before Rasulullah (peace be upon him) and said, ??I have give this son of mine a slave that I had.?The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, ?Did you give all your children a similar gift??He replied, ?No.?The Prophet then said, ?then take it (the gift) back.?? (Bukhari) In another report also in Bukhari the Prophet said, ?Fear Allah, and be fair to your children.? This was the extent of the Prophet?s justice. Each 27

REPENTANCE

#3

It?s not for no reason that we begin every prayer with the phrase, ?Allah is the greatest!?It serves as a constant reminder to us, that He truly is grander and more magnificent than anything we can ever conjure up.

We as humans have a bad habit? well, we have lots of bad habits, but there is one in particular that I am referring to, and that is our tendency to sin. Attached to that, is a problem. When we sin we are in a different mind frame. (Though that?s no excuse for the sin!) The problem with our mind set at the time of sin, is that we believe Allah is far, even though we know He is closer to us than our jugular veins. We also tend to undermine the greatness of Allah at the time of sin. Think about it, if we did not undermine the greatness of Allah, and we were fully aware of His Lordship over us, would we ever fall into sin in the first place? No, because we would be afraid of His Might, and motivated by His Grandeur. Allah has strategically allocated the timings for Salah as a reminder for us; that is He is the Greatest and we are in servitude to Him. Every prayer is an opportunity for repentance, and a time for us to humble ourselves before the Lord of the worlds. Our inability to grasp the greatness of Allah may act as a barrier preventing us from repentance or hindering our repentance. We have to be aware of Allah, and get to know Him. The more we know Him, the more we comprehend His greatness, the more we will humble ourselves before Him and seek out His forgiveness and pleasure. Repentance is a duty upon us for every sin we commit, and every ungratefulness that we exhibit. We are blessed by Allah in countless ways, and yet we are not thankful to Him. Being repentant illustrates that we submit to Allah and are subservient to Him.

later may never come, or one may forget, or the remorse and regret may leave the person?s conscience. Thus it is important to repent immediately. The disease of procrastination can affect you, without you even realising. Allah says in the Qur?an, ?And you were deceived by false desires, until the command of Allah comes to pass, and the chief deceiver deceived you in respect to Allah,? (Surah Hadid 57:14) Meaning you procrastinated with regards to righteous deeds, until death overtook you, and Shaytaan deceived you.

It is no wonder that the prayer of repentance can be prayed at any time of the day, even at the disallowed times. Salaat-at-Tawbah is one of the best means of repentance; it is an act of Ibadah, one of the most beloved acts to Allah, a good deed, which wipes out the bad deed, a means by which the sinner draws close to Allah, and a reminder that Allah is the greatest.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ?There is no one who commits a sin, then purifies himself well, and stands and prays two rakaats, then asks Allah for forgiveness, but Allah will forgive him.? (Abu Dawud) The doors of repentance are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It?s a door that doesn?t shut until the soul reaches the throat, or the sun rises from the West. Whilst the door is open, turn back to Allah with humility. Crush your arrogance and remember Allah is the Greatest!

By Bibi Zainab Dowlut

Shaytaan deceives us into thinking, later? but 28

Sisters Section

WOM EN OF THE GOLDEN ERA # 7 Zainab Bint Jahsh

It is as if the fragrance of Ramadan is near. The night descends with its habitual calmness and tranquility, while the voice of the imams reverberate throughout the city, the voices sweet and endearing to us.

Oh, what a beautiful sight, that I am envisioning. Imagine: the iftar laden down with delectable dishes, the devils locked up, people scurrying towards the masjid, hastening towards good deeds and indeed why not, since the rewards are going to multiply and multiply. It is as if a beautiful period of peacefulness and tranquility is descending upon us.

Islam is in the air, it is as if we can feel it, see it, and breathe it. People hurrying up, giving iftar to the poor, sending iftar to the masjid, standing for the taraweeh and then the standing in the night prayer (qiyam ul layl)? the time for Ramadaan is coming!

A paragon of generosity and righteousness is our Mother of the believers, Zainab bint Jahsh (May Allah be pleased with her).

Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated; "The Prophet (peace and blessings

be upon him) said to his wives: ?One who has the longest hands amongst you would come after me'. She further said: 'after his death, we would stretch our hands on the wall to measure their length. We never ceased doing that until Zainab died and she was a small woman so she could not have been the one with the longest hand. It is at that point we realised that what he meant (by the longest hand) was charity. She used to work with her hand, she used to tan (leather) and pierce leather and she would spend (that income) on charity".

paradigm of a lady and increase in our ibadah and good deeds. She stands as an outshining example throughout the sands of times, up to the very present and will continue to inspire in the upcoming future till the very end of time.

And once again, Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her ) said, ?I have never seen a woman who was better in her religion, who feared Allah more, who was more truthful in speech, who strengthened the ties of kinship more and was more benevolent in charity than Zainab. May Allah be pleased with her.?

A greater motivation still is, Ibn Abbas narrates, ?the prophet (saw) was the most generous person and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because jibril would come to him every night and he would study the Quran with him. Truly when Allah's messenger would meet jibril he would be more generous than a fleeting wind.? Agreed upon.

Why don't we learn from this

Friends, what a great incentive for us and what better time than the approaching of Ramadan, which we know is the month of sale to proliferate our rewards. Why not avail this opportunity and spend our time performing enormously good deeds.

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So my dear friends roll your sleeves, tie your waist bands and get ready to take complete advantage of this blessed month. It is soon here; it?s fragrance is in the air.

By Bint Hasan

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Having funthe Hal aal way

Answers t o Last mont h's Quiz: (From Lef t t o right ): 1) To invite others to believe in the oneness of Allah, worshipping Him alone, and associating none with Him. 2) Sha'baan The Islamic months are according to the lunar calendar and are twelve in number they are; Muharram, Safar, Rabi-ul-Awwal, Rabi-ul-Akhir, Jumadal-ula, Jumadal-Ukhra (thani), Rajab, Sha'baan, Ramadaan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qa'dah, and Dhul-Hijjah 3) The Qur'an. there are many reasons as to why the Qur'an is a miracle. It was given to Muhammad (peace be upon him) who could neither read nor write. It also was eloquent in speech and was composed of the highest grammar, and perfection in the Arabic language. Its chapters maintained their subject, whilst posessing a rhythm. It still exists today in its original form, unchanged, and has been memorised by millions, both young and old alike, many of whom do not speak or understand Arabic.

4) Muhammad (peace be upon him) was nicknamed Al-Ameen, meaning the trustworthy, or honest one, due to his upright character and the extent of his truthfulness.

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Quiz Time!

W hat is t he name of t he gat e of Paradise reserved for t hose who fast oft en?

W hi ch duaa d i d t he Pr ophe t r ecom mend A i shah t o r ead in Ramad aan?

s and n e p o t a h W n e h w s e s o l c what Ramadaan comes?

Compl et e t he hadi t h, " t ak e suhur f or t he re i s...." ( B uk har i and ot her s)

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In Preparation for Ramadaan Narrat ed 'Adi bin Hat im: When the verse "Until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread," was revealed, I took a white rope and a black rope, and placed them beneath my pillow ; and then I looked at them, but they were not clear to me. So I mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He laughed and said: Your pillow is so broad and lengthy ; that is (i.e. means) night and day. The version of the narrator 'Uthman has: That is the blackness of night and whiteness of day.

(Abu Dawud, Sahih by Albani)

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