Daily Hijabi Issue 2

Daily Hijabi RAMADAN 2009

FINISH THE ENTIRE QURAN THIS MONTH

FREE ISSUE

Here’s a tip that makes it easy

5

FABULOUS FINDS!

A STRONG CASE FOR TARAWIH

LAYLATUL

QADR

Why you should pray Tarawih even when you don’t want to

RAMADAN MUBARAK

Laylatul Qadr has many names. It is called “The Night of

In the name of God, the Benevolent, the Merciful.

1 Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.

2 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!

3 The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

4 The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.

5 Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 1

LAYLATUL

QADR

by Muslimah Wali

Power”, “The Night of Decree” and “The Night of Measure”. It is a night that is greater than a thousand months. It’s a very important night because it is the night in which the fate of humans will be decided for the next year. Muslims pray all night for Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, salvation, sympathy and understanding. Apart from that, Muslims believe that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the the blessed Prophet on that night. We are told that Laylatul Qadr happens on odd numbered nights. Because of this, some Mosques pick a certain night and say that that night is Laylatul Qadr and many Muslims take time off from work and school to spend that night in prayer. It’s actually a beautiful thing to behold and be a part of. The Mosques end up full of people reading the Quran, standing in prayer or reciting dhikr. But it’s also very dangerous. Dangerous because the knowledge of that night rests solely with Allah and noone can be certain about which night it is other than Him. That’s why going to the Mosque on the 27th night though good for you, in no way guarantees you that Laylatul Qadr wasn’t on the 25th night. So relying on a Mosque to tell you which night is the Night of Destiny, is a big mistake. The Night of Power is too important for you to simply leave it to chance. The safest thing to do is to pray every odd numbered night of the last ten days. And to treat each night as if that night was indeed the Night of Decree. May Allah grant us Laylatul Qadr and His infinite mercy and forgiveness. Ameen.

A PICKLEY RAMADAN Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah, A few days ago my sister and I were making shawarma for Iftar when I started craving pickles. I love pickles and hadn’t had any in a long time. I believe they are the secret ingredient in Shawarma that add a slight tang to the flavor and a nice crunch to the texture. So I started mentally calculating which was the closest store to me that had pickles and how long it would take me to go there and back. In the midst of my reverie I remembered that it was Ramadan and I put all thoughts of pickles aside. I reminded myself the purpose of Ramadan; to learn self-discipline and thankfullness as well as to appreciate what we have and identify with the less fortunate. It was good that I craved pickles, because without that want, I wouldn’t feel a loss. So I denied myself the pickles, made do with the ingredients I had at hand and said a silent thanks to Allah. The shawarma was a resounding success. My brother claimed it was the best shawarma he’d had in years and it was also a great success because it reminded me of why I was fasting. (Try out the recipe yourself it’s on page 23) In that spirit of remembrance and resolve, we created this issue to Insha’Allah serve as a reminder of why we fast.We also hope to teach you some dua’s and a few other things to help strengthen your Iman. We’ve decided to make this a free issue so it reaches as many people as possible so please pass it on to every Muslim you know.

As we enter the second week of Ramadan, it’s time to buckle down and get serious because it’ll be over in the blink of an eye.

Jazakumullahu Khairan Nusrah Wali Editor-In-Chief Send editorial enquiries to: editor@dailyhijabi.com Advertising Sales Ads@dailyhijabi.com Call/Text: +234 703 6622 601

Please address comments and suggestions to: comments@dailyhijabi.com To submit an article please email us at: write@dailyhijabi.com DAILYHIJABI.COM 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 - Ramadan 2009

RAMADAN CHILDREN.................15

ERASE YOUR SINS......................37

RAMADAN BONANZA.................33

HOW ABOUT SOME TEA..............11

RAMADAN BITES........................23

FASTING DU’AS............................9

I WRITE......................................25

AVOID ANGER............................31

HANDSHAKE BONUS..................32

RAMADAN CHECKLIST...............39

LAYLATUL QADR..........................1

We found the Ramadan Checklist on ProductiveMuslim.com we liked it so much we’re sharing it with you.

ON THE COVER

13 FINISH THE QURAN Finally, finishing the Quran is easy! You can finish it in a month or less it’s up to you.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 3

ADHAN A CALL TO PRAYER, A CALL TO ALLAH PAGE 5

27

35

PRAY TARAWIH

5 FABULOUS FINDS

Tarawih is not easy especially on a full stomach, here are a few reasons to encourage you.

Here are five things you can’t afford not to know about!

DAILYHIJABI.COM 4

ADHAN

A CALL TO PRAYER, A CALL TO

ALLAH

Some of us are fortunate to hear the Adhan 5 times a day. Unfortunately, some of us don’t hear it except on special occassions like Eid or a lecture at the mosque.

The adhan happens to be one of those things that we take forgranted like breathing.It’s time that changed. I went on a mission to find out the importance of the Adhan (& Iqamah), what to say during and after the adhan and to discover the blessings in it. Here’s what I found >> by Fatima A. Bello DAILYHIJABI.COM 5

“If people knew how much reward there was in Adhan then swords would be used amongst them [to say it].” (Rawahu Ahmad) Nowadays when we hear the Adhan, it barely registers. I myself have been guilty of this. it’s the rare occassion when I stop talking and listen. I noticed that after the adhan some people point their index finger to the sky and whisper some words. I’ve seen others raise both hands to their ears and whisper different words. I’ve heard people respond after each phrase in the adhan and others only to some of the phrases. Needless to say I felt a bit curious, slightly confused and somewhat overhwhelmed. What do they say I’d wonder to myself sometimes.

And why did some do it differently from others? Who was wrong? Or was everyone right? So I decided it was time to do a little digging for my own benefit. Here is what I found.

I. RULES OF THE ADHAN: a. When you hear the Adhan, repeat what the Mu’athin says, except for when he says: Hayya ‘alas-Salaah (hasten to prayer) and Hayya ‘alal-Falaah (hasten to salvation). Here you should say: Laa hawla wa laa quwwata ‘illaa billaah. | There is no might and no power except by Allah. Reference: Al-Bukhari 1/152, Muslim 1/288. b. After the Mu’athin says: Ashadu an laa ilaaha illallah, Ashadu anna Muhammadar-Rasulullah (there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger) you should recite: Wa ‘anaa ‘ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu, radheetu billaahi Rabban, wa bi-Muhammadin Rasoolan wa bil’islaami deenan. | I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Muhammad as my Messenger and with Islam as my religion.

Reference: Muslim 1/290. & Ibn Khuzaymah 1/220.

c. After replying to the call of Mu’aththin you should recite in Arabic Allah’s blessings on the Prophet. Allaahumma Rabba haathihid-da‘ watit-taammati wassalaatilqaa’imati, ‘aati Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelata, wab ‘ath-hu maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa’adtahu, [‘innaka laa tukhliful-mee’aad] O Allah , Lord of this perfect call and established prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favor, and raise him to the honored station You have promised him, [verily You do not neglect promises] Reference: Al-Bukhari 1/152, and the addition between brackets is from Al-Bayhaqi 1/410 with a good (Hasan) chain of narration. See ‘Abdul-Aziz bin Baz’s Tuhfatul-’Akhyar, pg. 38.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 6

ADHAN / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Some things about the Adhan and Iqamah mentioned in the Ahadith.

1) The Prophet of Allah has said, “I went to paradise and saw domes of pearl and its dirt was of musk.” He said, “Oh Jibril, who is this for?” He replied, “This if for your ummah’s Muazzin (one who says the Adhan) and Imams.” [Rawahu Abu Ya’la Fee Musnad] 2) The one who says Adhan for Sawaab is like that martyr who is drenched in blood and when he dies insects will not touch his body. [Rawahu Tabrani] 3) If people knew how much reward there was in Adhan then swords would be used amongst them [to say it]. (Rawahu Ahmad) 4) Between the call to prayer and the ‘Iqamah, you should supplicate Allah for yourself. Invocation during this time is not rejected. [Abu Dawood & Tirmizi] 5) During Iqama do not put your fingers in your ears and do not not put your hands on your ears, say the Iqama with a lower voice compared to the adhan but not so low that the people there cannot hear, say the words of Iqamah without pauses like in Adhan.

6) During Iqama all people present, Imam and Muqtadee, should be sitting. When the Mukabbir (one who says the Iqama) reaches everybody should stand up while standing up before this is against the Sunnah. Imam Mohammed (D. 189 Hijri), student of Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa (Radi-Allahu anhu) & teacher of the teacher of Imam Bukhari writes in his famous book of hadith, Muta Shareef, “When the Muazzin says it is mustahab for the people to stand for salaah, get into saf, straighten the saf, and be shoulder to shoulder. This is the fatwa (verdict) of (Imam-e-Azam) Abu Hanifa Rahmatu-llahi alaih.” [Muatta Sharif P. 68] 7) Some people would stand before during iqama. Prophet of Allah said, “Do not stand up until you see me. “ (Bukhari) 8) It is Makrooh to stand and wait at the time of Iqama instead one should sit-down and stand when the muazzin says [Raddul Muhtar V. 2 P. 71 & Fatawa Alamgiri V. 1 P.57] 9) When adhan is being said one should listen very attentively, answering the adhan. At that time, one is not allowed to talk, to say salaam, or to answer to a salaam. Even if some one is reading the Holy Quran they too are ordered to stop and answer the adhan.

10) The Holy Prophet(SAW) said, Stop doing everything during the Adhan, even reading the Quran, the person who talks during the Azaan will not be able to say the KalimatusShahadat on his/her death bed....

DAILYHIJABI.COM 7

11) In Tabrani it is stated that for the exchange of every kalima one will be upgraded by one million grades.

12) It is misfortune and misery of a mu’min that when he hears the muazzin say the takbeer he does not answer it.

13) When the muazzin says the adhan, whoever says the same [words], when he says or they answer, they will enter paradise [Muslim] 14) In Adhan, it is Mustahab to kiss the thumbs and the index finger upon the name of the Prophet SAW. 15) The Holy Prophet SAW said, “Whoever kissed the nails of both his thumbs upon hearing I am his leader I will get him into the saf of Jannah.

16) In exchange of every Kalima, Allah writes 100,000 Hassna [in your record of deeds], upgrades you by 1,000 grades and removes 1,000 of your sins. [Ibn-e-Asakar] These are a few of things about the Adhan and the Iqamah that I found from different websites and books. I hope you find them useful.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 8

break your fast

DU’AS WHEN BREAKING YOUR FAST

Allahumma inni laka sumtu, Wa bika amantu, Wa ala rizqika aftartu.

Oh Allah! I fasted for You And I believe in You And I break my fast with your sustenance

AFTER BREAKING YOUR FAST Zahabal zama’u, Wabtallatul urooq,

Wa thabbatal ajiru Insha’Allah

DAILYHIJABI.COM 9

Thirst is gone, The veins are flowing again And reward is certain Insha’Allah

before you fast

DU’AS THE INTENTION TO START YOUR FAST

Wa bisawmi ghadinn, nawaitu min shahri Ramadan.

Tomorrow I intend to fast in the month of Ramadan

DAILYHIJABI.COM 10

For as long as I can remember Mom has been telling us not to drink cold water for iftar. “Your stomach will close up and you won’t be able to eat.” She insists. Now it turns out there’s another reason not to drink cold water with meals. Apparently, drinking cold water after a meal, solidifies the fats in your food. The resulting sludge reacts with the acid in your stomach and lines your intestine. Over time the accumulated fatty sludge prevents your body from absorbing enough nutrients and can eventually lead to cancer. Another way drinking cold water affects us is this: When we eat, enzyme and acid secretion is started which warms up the body.

Drinking cold water at that point provides the opposite temperature. This shock to our system interrupts or slows down digestion.

So why not take a cue from ancient cultures such as Japanese, Arab and Chinese cultures who always drink hot tea after their meals. If you’re still not convinced, know this: tea provides lots of health benefits such as increased metabolism and improved heart health. The antioxidants in tea such as catechins, flavonoids and polyphenols fight the free radicals in the body and prevent them from harming your healthy cells. Tea also contains flouride which has bacteria killing properties that fend off bad breath and plaque formation. Different types of teas have different health benefits for example, black tea may lower bad cholesterol and some types of teas prevent or lower risks of certain cancers . According to a study by UCLA researchers that was published in the International Journal of Cancer ([Vol. 92: 600604], 2001), “green tea consumption may lower stomach cancer risk.” Well no wonder tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. That being said, everything is best when done in moderation. It’s safest not to consume more than four cups of caffeinated beverages per day.

As there are many different types of tea you’re sure to find one that is agreeable to your taste buds. Why not have some peppermint tea with your iftar today?

DAILYHIJABI.COM 11

t u ? o a b e t a e w m o o h s

[Article by Nusrah Wali | image from Stock Xchange] DAILYHIJABI.COM 12

READ THE ENTIRE QURAN THIS MONTH AND EVERY MONTH HERE’S HOW >>

It’s so simple so doable, you’ll wonder why you never thought of it, and why until now you considered it a daunting task worthy of only the most dedicated and pious.The key to reading the entire Quran each month is to simply read five pages from the Quran after every salat.That’s five pages five times a day.When you want to finish the Quran in double the time simply double the pages you read after each salat or halve the pages to read at a slower pace. Not only do you finish the Quran, but this gets you into the habit of reading it daily.To make it even more interesting, play a recording of your favorite reciter and read along.This way you’ll also learn correct tajweed.

That’s it, happy reading!

[Wall paper from Share Islam www.shareislam.org]

DAILYHIJABI.COM 14

Boy waiting for iftar at a mosque in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

DAILYHIJABI.COM 15

RAMADAN CHILDREN CHILDREN & RAMADAN IN WORDS AND PICTURES

DAILYHIJABI.COM 16

my first ramadan DAILYHIJABI.COM 17

“ ” Finally when people asked me “How many fasts did you observe?” I was able to say “All of them!”

When I was ten people would ask me “how many fasts did you observe?” and I would answer zero. After awhile I got annoyed so I promised myself that next year I would fast the whole of Ramadan. Time flew and before I knew it, it was 2007 and I was eleven so my cousins and I fasted.

But it was a competition for us to see who could fast the most. That first day I was really hungry. I found that by mid-morning I was already starving. But what could I do? I had promised that I would fast so I kept my promise.

When it was finally time to break my fast I was so excited! I broke my fast by eating alot of food. Infact I ate so much that it was very difficult to pray but I guess that happens to almost everyone. My first Ramadan I managed to fast all twenty-nine and thus won the competition. Out of all my cousins, I had been the only one to fast the whole of Ramadan. I was so happy! Everyone kept telling me how impressed they were that someone my age fasted the whole month. Finally when people asked me “How many fasts did you observe?” I was able to say “All of them!”

A lot of people said that I would lose weight if I fasted all of Ramadan. But I learnt that fasting doesnt make you thin it can actually make you fatter in a way because it slows your metabolism down. Also, when you break your fast you eat alot all at once and so end up putting on weight. I think that although Ramadan doesn’t necessarily change your body, it certainly changes your mind.

My dad says that if its not time for you to fast then don’t. He thinks you should wait until it becomes compulsory for you.

Anyone who wants to fast at a young age doesn’t have to but they can if they really want to.

In the meantime, they should eat well, grow big and not miss the chance of being healthy just to prove they can fast.

My first Ramadan was difficult, but Alhamdulilah now fasting is very easy for me.

by Salsabila M. Wali DAILYHIJABI.COM 18

I was driving the other day when I tuned into a program on the radio where they were talking about strange celebrity kids names.

Names such as Scout, Sage Moonblood, Tomorrow, Jermajesty and other truly bizarre names. That got me thinking about some Muslim names and I realized that sometimes we give our children some unfortunate names as well. I remember the case of the parents who named their child Rajeem. At a glance you might say oh, well that’s not so bad it even sounds familiar and has a nice ring to it. But the reason it sounds familiar is because each time you say Auzubillahi minas-shaitanir-Rajeem you say it. When you ask for Allah’s protection against Satan the RAJEEM, you say it. Is that really what those parents meant to name their child? Or was it an ignorant mistake?

While it’s not the only thing that does, a person’s name greatly affects their personality. It is rare to meet someone whose name is Saliha or “the Pius one” that is a loud, obnoxious person. It is quite unfortunate that while there are so many beautiful Islamic names in the Quran and in Islamic history, we usually use the same old Aisha, Asmau, Hauwa and Zainab. Not that there’s anything wrong with those names, but why not name your daughter Aalia “the Exhalted and Noble” or Thaqib “Shooting Star”? Because of these reasons and more, we’ve decided to add a section on Islamic Baby names to each issue to give you ideas. And please PLEASE make sure you know what the name of your child means before you give it to them don’t just name them Priya after an Indian actress or Samir after an Arabic singer. The pronunciation is important too, so its best to avoid names like Qalb or “Heart” which sounds a lot like Kalb or “Dog” because either intentionally or accidentally, people could end up calling your child a dog.

l e e

h a R

h a fi

a R

DAILYHIJABI.COM 19

[image from Stock Xchange]

b Su

By Nusrah Wali

We hope our picks for Muslim baby names this month inspire you. In honor of Ramadan we picked names starting with the letter “R”.

ite

is qu

x

E e*

lim

As for Rajeem’s parents, they had no idea what his name meant, and surprisingly no one who attended the naming ceremony realized anything was wrong either. By the time my friend’s dad went to visit them and met Rajeem, he was no longer a baby. When he told them what Rajeem meant they were in shock. Alhamdulillah this happened while he was still a kid. Imagine being an adult and then discovering that you’ve been named after Satan!

Remember that children are an Amana or a Trust from Allah so make sure you take special care of them starting with their name.

y

wa e h s t ve w a sho r br o o wh less e On Fear

?

Name what’s in a

DAILYHIJABI.COM 20

A Kenyan child reads verses from the Quran on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

A girl eats iftar with her mom on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey on August 21, 2009.

(REUTERS/Osman Orsal)

The two lamps of Omar Bin Al-Khattab

by Fatima A. Bello In the days when Omar was Amirul Mu’mineen (leader of the faithful) he had two lamps. Whenever he received anyone at his house in the evenings who came on official business or for matters of state, he would turn on the first lamp. As soon as his guest left, he would turn off that lamp and request his second lamp. The second lamp was his personal lamp and the one he used for his family and himself.

He kept two separate lamps because he believed that the lamp he used for public affairs belonged to the people and not to him. When his personal lamp ran out of oil, he would buy the oil from his own money whereas the public lamp was paid for by the treasury.

In our thirst for power, we tend to forget our responsibility to the ummah and their rights over us. Consider this a reminder.

“Therefore remind (men) incase the reminder profits them.” [Quran S87:V9]

[Image from Flickr]

This honesty is what separates the Khulafa from us. Their sense of right and wrong and their avoiding any type of impropriety and selfishness is something that to this day we should emulate. The next time you try to convince yourself that using something that’s not yours is alright because the owner won’t mind, or because it’s one of the perks of your job, think again. Do not allow your good deeds to be nullified because you used things that were not yours.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 22

Ramadan

Bites

Here are two very simple recipes you can make in no time. One is savory while

the other is sweet. The best part about them is that they are cheap (one uses in-

gredients already in your kitchen including leftovers), easy to eat (they are finger foods) and fun to make (your children can make these recipes with you). If you

stock of your kitchen and use what you do have. My sister has made a delicious

shawarma using just potatoes, peppers and eggs. If all you have is fish, use that!

Be creative and remember the cheaper your iftar is the better. After all an im-

portant aspect of ramadan is to identify with those that have very little and ap-

preciate what you have. So making a very fancy expensive meal could defeat the

purpose. If you come up with a really cool shawarma recipe of your own, please

share it with us! Kids and adults alike love these light and chewy puff balls. After eating iftar, theys are the perfect companion to tea or coffee. It’s also excellent for suhoor. Happy eating!

DAILYHIJABI.COM 23

by Nusrah Wali

[image from Stock Xchange]

are lacking in any of the ingredients in our shawarma recipe, don’t worry. Take

Mom’s Puff Balls

Pickle Free Shawarma

My mom makes the best puff balls!

They’re sweet but not too much, and although fried, not too oily. And the best part is they’re very cheap to make and take no time at all.

We make a different Shawarma every time depending on the ingredients we have. You can adjust the recipe according to what’s in your fridge.

INGREDIENTS 3 cup of all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon yeast 1 cup of water 23 cubes of sugar A deep fryer or a stock pot with enough oil to deep fry the puff balls. It’s important to have enough oil otherwise the puff balls will become flat.

Mix all the dry ingredients together then add water. Let your mixture sit for 2 hours so the yeast has had time to rise. If you’re in a hurry, 1 hour is enough.

Heat your oil and when it’s nice and hot, drop ladles or spoonfuls of your mixture into the oil. Don’t put too much in at once otherwise the mixture will clump together and you’ll have twin puffballs. Usually when one side is done the puffballs will turn themselves over. If they don’t, then just turn them when they’re a nice golden brown.

When they’re done on both sides, take them out and place them on a tray that’s lined with paper towels to soak up some of the oil. You can eat them hot or cold, with custard, icecream, or jam, infact you can even eat them with soup! Just use your imagination, and don’t forget to send some to your friends and neighbours.

INGREDIENTS 6 left over pieces of grilled chicken deboned and diced 1 bowl of leftover french fries 8 small green tomatoes seeded & diced 1 medium onion peeled and diced 5 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar 1 pinch of salt 4 tablespoons of oil 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of curry 1 pack of 7 pita breads Mayonnaise and hotsauce Heat the oil in a skillet and add 1 table spoon of onions and sautee for a few minutes. Add the cinnamon and let the aroma seep into the onions. Then add the chicken, french fries and curry. Sautee till the fries are nice and soft then add the balsamic vinegar. Make sure every piece gets some of the vinegar.

Set up your work station. Put the chicken mix in a bowl. Put the diced tomatoes, onions and garlic in another bowl. Then get mayonnaise and hotsauce ready.

Spread each pita bread with mayonnaise then put a few spoonfuls of the chicken mix and a few spoonfuls of vegetables on the pita. Sprinkle with hot sauce then roll and secure it with a toothpick. Cut it diagonally (if you can). Repeat with the remaining 6 pita breads.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 24

I WRITE

by

[Cropped calligraphy painting by Jamil (image from Flickr)] DAILYHIJABI.COM 25

I write with this first of creations of the creator al-Qalam I write for it is bound to take me on a journey like no other through the smallest crevices I will crawl above the fluffiest cloud I will soar I write for after my wildest dream it will curtail me to bow graciously to His will and just at the scariest point of my vulnerability it will embolden me draw out the strength within I write for my voice to grow small enough to be heard for my thoughts to speak loud enough to be read

Fawzah

Out of pleasure out of pain out of joy or plain disdain a word to share burdens to bare a hand of help a staggering step...

Appeal to the strayin’ aid Muslimah in the makin’ remember the forgotten save my soul from rottin’ To find inspiration to challenge oppression to seek restoration begin a journey of re-education...

I write.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 26

A STRONG CASE

Muslims on the eve of the first day of Ramadan at Al Akbar mosque in Surabaya, East Java, Indones DAILYHIJABI.COM 27

FOR TARAWIH

Why you should pray Tarawih even when you don’t want to

sia on August 21st, 2009 (REUTERS/Sigit Pamungkas) [article by Nusrah Wali] DAILYHIJABI.COM 28

FEW

things symbolize Ramadan the way Tarawih does. It is the main reason why all the mosques are full to the brim right now. And the main reason why for a month the mosques are never silent. Standing shoulder to shoulder with your sisters this month bonds you like nothing else does.

Because you are humbled when the sister standing next to you starts sobbing and you feel her iman as her tears drop silently to the floor beside you. She makes you realize that you have to try harder.

That there is more work to be done. Here you get to stand in unison with tired feet and a heart turned in sincere repentance. After a month of standing beside your sister in prayer, you can’t help but love her like a blood sister.You finally understand why Islam is color, race and nationality blind.

Because when you stand in prayer rubbing shoulders and feet, there is no difference, there is no segregation. In those rows there is only Islam, only submission to one Creator.

Tarawih is the moment where you feel a tangible sense of worship. It’s one thing to fast and be hungry during the day but after a few days of that you get used to it. And some people are so busy in other months that they don’t eat lunch anyway. One of the things that makes Ramadan more special than any other month is the Tarawih prayers. If you don’t pray Tarawih, and you don’t get up in the night to pray and seek repentance, then Ramadan passes you by just like any other month.

This is why you can’t afford to miss it. Many of us forget that Ramadan is a time for repentance and reflection.We can’t wait for the sun to set so we stuff our bellies to the point of Haram.We eat till we can hardly breath and till the only thing we can do is lie down. If you do that for the whole of Ramadan can you honestly tell me that you are in a state of repentence? And feeling the true meaning of Ramadan? I doubt it. Knowing that you have Tarawih prayers is an incentive to eat less and eat more reasonably so that you can stand in prayer for as long as it takes. Knowing that you have Tarawih prayers helps you eat halal portions.

Another thing Tarawih keeps you from is falling into the same old habits you have.Whether your routine is vegging in front of the TV or getting on the phone and gossiping for hours,Tarawih changes that. It becomes your new schedule, your Ramadan schedule. It’s also a way of gauging your selfdiscipline. How strong is your iman? How strong is your heart? Are you Muslim only in words and thoughts? Or are you able to see your iman in action?

REASON #1 DAILYHIJABI.COM 29

Tarawih though challenging is easy. It’s easy because you’re not alone.You stand together with the entire Muslim community and when you say Amin together with a thousand other voices the Angels will respond.They will tell Allah about the actions of his servants. At that point where would you rather be? In your living room watching TV? Or upright in prayer amidst the servants of Allah?

We all have good intentions at the beginning of Ramadan.We plan to read the entire quran, to give out sadaqah and to visit the sick. Some of us may even succeed at the beginning. But slowly we either forget or start makin excuses. After the excitement of the first week wanes we don’t read the Quran for as long as we intended or we stop reading it all together.We tell ourselves that there’s still time, that we’ll make it up in the last ten days.

And before we know it, we’re back to the way we were before Ramadan began. I can’t imagine a greater loss in Ramadan than to not gain all those extra blessings. So stick to Tarawih because of it’s baraka. Because of the congregational blessings and because it is easier to do than making arbitrary plans like reading the Quran or praying extra nafils on your own.You have to pray Isha’a anyway, so after you pray Isha’a, just stay for Tarawih.That’s all you have to do is stay for Tarawih.

The last reason I will leave you with is exercise.You should pray Tarawih because it’s a form of exercise that your body needs.We tend to feel that because we’re fasting we don’t want to or we shouldn’t exert energy by exercising.The fact is, exercising increases energy. And what is really unhealthy is stuffing yourself at night then going to bed. Keep that up and you’ll likely become more lethargic as Ramadan progresses and you’ll probably end up with digestion and sleep problems as well. Allah prescribed Tarawih to us and because Islam is a way of life everything is taken into account.The exercise we get from praying Tarawih is a crucial part of the Ramadan experience so neglecting it is ill advised.

Pray Tarawih because few things are as beautiful as rows upon rows of Muslims standing shoulder to shoulder in complete equality and with humility before their Creator.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 30

Avoid Anger

by Jameela Kabir Baba

In this sacred month of Ramadan anger is one of the things that reduces a person’s rewards while fasting. Therefore we should learn to repress our anger and avoid anything that could make us mad especially those of us that are short tempered Anger is an extreme behavior. Extreme behavior is wrong and is not tolerated in Islam. Allah says “And if an evil whisper comes to you from Satan then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, AllKnower” (Al-A’raf: 200). This verse means if at any point a person gets angry he or she should seek refuge with Allah from the devil.

The Prophet (S.A.W) advised one of his companions, saying “Don’t be angry” He repeated this three times and when a man became angry in his presence, the prophet ordered him to seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

Anger is like a disease to the heart it inflicts pain to both the person involved and others. Sometimes anger even gives a person pre mature wrinkles on the face and it also causes ulcers. A person who gets angry over little things or gets angry unnecessarily is not a happy person because nothing seems to please them at all. They get eaten up inside by the anger and it affects their health physically and mentally.

Anger is something Satan uses to make people do things they later regret for a long time; some times their whole life. Some people hurt their loved ones and friends out of anger. They say hurtful words or cause physical pain. And in most cases the things anger causes are completely unnecessary and cause embarassment as well as pain. So it’s important to keep your anger in check.

Anger when it becomes extreme and uncontrollable can be caused by spiritual possession by jinns. Sometimes possession starts from childhood. If a child exhibits an excessively hot temper he may be under the influence of jinn. The child’s parents should pray for him and seek refuge for him or her against the devil and his counterparts.

Anger also causes depression and sadness. Notably a person who gets angry easily also gets depressed and frustrated easily over little things. Allah says “And those who repress anger and who pardon men; verily Allah loves the good-doers” (Al-Araf Q: 154).

The Prophet (S.A.W) prescribed some ways to help us control anger.

1. Make ablution. Since anger is an ember of the fire, it can be extinguished by water.

2. If you are, standing sit, and if you are sitting lie down.

3. When angry, remain silent.

4. Remind yourself of the reward of those who repress their anger and of those who forgive.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 31

[image from Stock Xchange]

As you shake hands with the words Assalamu Alaykum, your sins are wiped away. The longer your greeting the more sins you lose.

So what are you waiting for? Start shaking like you mean it!

DAILYHIJABI.COM 32

ramadan BONANZAS DAILYHIJABI.COM 33

The 4th pillar of Islam is Fasting and I see it as the fastest way of getting into JANNA, here’s why.

Abu Hurairah (R.A) narrated that the Prophet (S.A.W) said “when the month of RAMADAN starts, the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.“ - (Al Bukhari).

The above hadith sounds so positive that in Ramadan, we hardly see the possibility of any muslim going to hell.

If you dont know any body that has died before this month then you must have atleast heard of the death of a Muslim brother or sister. Even if you haven’t heard, you must believe as a Muslim that at every second, minute, hour, and day a Muslim dies.

My brothers and sisters in Islam since you are opportuned to be alive and privileged to read this magazine and particularly this article right now; I’ll ask you some questions. Are you sure you will be alive at the end of this RAMADAN? Do you know how many more RAMADANS you will witness? Since the question is rhetorical, the answer is definately a capital NO. The easiest way to maximise the opportunity of now (RAMADAN) is through the utilization of today because today, right now is all that you and I have. As the proverb says, make hay while the sun shines.

Brothers and sisters in Islam all telecommunications companies, banks and other establishments display their BONANZAS and so many of us make every effort to win this ending pleasure. But are we putting in any effort for 29-30 days to attain endless pleasure till eternity?

Here are some RAMADAN BONANZAS: As reported by Bukhari and Muslim; the Prophet (S.A.W) used to give his companions good news saying “The Month of RAMADAN has come to you all. It is a month of blessing. Allah (SWT) looks at your competing for good works during RAMADAN and He tells the angels proudly about you. “Therefore, show Allah goodness from yourself for verily the wretched person is the one who is deprived of Allah’s Mercy during Ramadan” He also said “Whoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward, he will be forgiven for all his sins.Whoever stands (for prayers at night) during Lailatul Qadr (the night of the decree) with faith and hoping for reward, he will be forgiven for all his previous sins.”

He also stated that Allah said “Every good deed of the son of Adam will have reward like it up to seven hundred times in increase except for Fasting. For verily Fasting is for me and I will give the reward for it. He (the person fasting) leaves off his

desire, his food, and his drink for My sake.”

My brethren, it is of the BONANZA of RAMADAN that the Prophet (S.A.W) said as transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim “The fasting person has two delights; the delight when he breaks his Fast and the second is he is delighted when he meets his Lord and verily the foul odour from the mouth of a person Fasting is more preferable to Allah than the fragrance of Musk “ I conclude by saying, UTILISE RAMADAN WHILE YOUR BREATH LASTS. SALAM IDRIS ISMAIL MOHAMMED

DAILYHIJABI.COM 34

five

fabulous finds

Each month we’ll scour the world and the web to uncover five fabulous things that will change your life for the better. The items on this list are fabulous for a number of reasons. All of them will inspire you, inform you, change your attitude and at the very least will be a feast for your eyes. BY ISLAM W.

UNDERSTAND QURAN Many of us read the Quran everyday either in Salat or by itself.

But unfortnately many of us do not understand the words without an accompanying translation. There is now good news for all those willing to make an effort to understand the Quran. According to the Understand Quran website, there are 80,000 words in the Quran but the actual words are only around 2000!!! This is one of the miracles of the Quran. Accordingly, if a reader decides to learn only 10 new words everyday, she can understand the Quran within a period of seven months! So it is very possible to understand the Quran, provided you are willing to learn it. visit their website at www.understandquran.com DAILY HIJABI At the risk of tooting our own horn, we think you should pay a visit to our blog. While it’s still a work in progress, we feel it’s worth a visit. And as we’re just starting out, we could you use your help. So sign up, send in articles, comments and pictures and help us make this website truly fabulous and truly yours! www.dailyhijabi.com/blog

DAILYHIJABI.COM 35

UMMAH WEBSITE Alhamdulillah Muslim websites increase everyday but what’s really exciting is when a new website for Muslims comes out that’s great not only in its look but even more so in its content! If you haven’t yet, you should visit Ummah. com You’ll be impressed by the site design which will make you more willing to visit and stay for awhile. But when you actually get to the content you’ll forget all about the look and be wrapped up in the content.

So check it out now at www.ummah.com SUNNAH FOLLOWERS Would you like to study under many renowned scholars without leaving the comfort, convenience and privacy of your home? Offcourse you would! How about if all that was offered to you at no cost? Hard to believe but it’s true.

Sunnah Followers offers you a free Islamic education. For more information visit www.sunnahfollowers.net

IMAM ANWAR AL-AWLAQI If you’ve never heard of this Imam before, you’re in for a treat. He has a series of lectures on different Khulafa’a that you simply must listen to. Google him on the web or ask for him at Islamic bookstores because you have to listen to his series on the different companions of Rasulullah especially his lectures on Omar Bin Al-Khattab. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll make changes to your life. You’ll feel re-energized and so incredibly proud to be a Muslim. So don’t delay order his CD’s or DVD’s today then sit your children, spouse and parents down to listen with you. He’ll certainly change your life, if you let him.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 36

sins erase your

“Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.”

[Quran S83:V14]

The Blessed Prophet SAW told us that a good deed wipes away a bad one.

So the only way to clear all the Ran covering our hearts is to start doing good deeds. Lots of good deeds! Make sure that for every bad deed, we immediately do a good one or two to wipe it clean and replace it with a good one. Over time all the Ran that accumulates covers our hearts and hardens them. That is why sometimes we find it harder to do good. It’s because those repetition of bad deeds block our hearts and block our capacity for good. So this Ramadan lets start clearing away our sins. Lets take advantage of the extra reward points in Ramadan to really make a dent in the Ran. In this month of mercy we should seek Allah’s forgiveness and protection. May Allah guide us to the right path.

DAILYHIJABI.COM 37

evil

good

evil

good

evil

good

evil

good

evil

good

evil

good DAILYHIJABI.COM 38

an to write

Have you ever wanted to share your voice with the world?

Do you feel passionate about something? Hurt by something? Or inspired by it? Write it out, send it to us and we’ll help you tell your story. Become one of our correspondents, or a contributing writer. We’re giving you the chance to become a part of Daily Hijabi.

Send your articles including a short bio to write@dailyhijabi.com For more information visit us on the web at www.dailyhijabi.com

THIS COULD BE YOUR

ADVERT Contact us at ads@dailyhijabi.com or call 0703 6622 601 to discuss your advertising and promotional needs.

NURI DAILYHIJABI.COM