TAQWA - The consciousness of Allah During Ramadhan

By M H Ahssan

Again, this year, Allah SWT has blessed His servants with the splendid month of Ramadan. The month of seeking forgiveness and hastening towards Paradise is back. The month of strengthening our relationship with the Almighty Creator and His book, the Quran, is back. The month of Badr, the conquest of Makkah and Jihad is back.

There is an amazing aura and energy that surrounds us in this month, enabling us to be a better person than the rest of the year. No matter how heavy one sleeps, Ramadan empowers you to wake up for Suhoor halfway through the night. No matter how fond you are of eating, Ramadan keeps you away from eating and drinking in these long summer days. No matter how far you are from the Quran, you try to listen and pay attention in the Taraweeh prayers.

How To Make Your 'Body Life' In Last 10 Nights Of Ramadan?

By Dr.Muneeb Faraaz

Every Ramadan, along with the serenity of the last 10 nights, there’s always a few “Itikaaf horror stories” that inevitably get passed around our local Masjid. 

One year, a brother fainted in his salah, presumably due to intense dehydration. Another year, an uncle collapsed to the floor, feeling nauseous after a heavy masjid iftar. Although everyone was awfully worried when the ambulance pulled up to carry away the poor man in a stretcher, the event was soon forgotten once the particular uncle returned a few days later. After all, that was a freak accident that would never happen to YOU, right?

Unfortunately, there are many more stories of sickness, weakness, lethargy and general lack of wellness during the last 10 nights of Ramadan. While we all strive to reach new spiritual heights, often we forget our health.

Beyond 'Alhamdulillah': Confronting 'Islamic Spirituality'!

By Hina Ahmed

How often is it that when I ask someone how their fasts aregoing that I am met with the classic, politically correct, and emotionally safe-guarded response of: ‘Alhamdulillah, great sister, how about yourself?’ I am awkwardly left feeling as if I too need to respond with the same gentle nod of the head and polite smile back, suggesting just enough of a hint of genuineness to be believable; a response that manifests itself in the nice,neat, little package of my response of ‘Alhamdullilah’ reciprocated right back at them.

In the high prevalence of these social exchanges that are occurring in our mosques, on our street corners, at work, and within families in Muslim communities this Ramadan, how often are we actually telling the truth of how our Ramadan is going?

Five Motivations To Avoid Heavy Iftaar In Ramadhan

By M H Ahssan

Do you know, many sins originate from the stomach? Overeating increases one’s sexual desires, laziness and desire to sleep excessively, leading to difficulty in praying, doing good deeds, maintaining good ties and avoiding satanic whispers amongst others. This could also lead to increased desire to earn haram money and indulge in uncontrolled desires. You might experience difficulty at your workplace as well.

Moderation is hardly seen today. In fact, it’s a challenge to motivate people to tread the path of moderation in contrast to our Prophet saw who practiced ‎and advised moderation . People get motivated in two ways: positively (looking at benefits of the task to do) and negatively (looking at the loss in not doing the task). One should know which category he/she may fall into and try to list down the reasons to motivate accordingly.

The Night of Decree In Holy Ramadhan - 'Lailatul Qadr'

By M H Ahssan

1.  Allah has blessed Ramadan with Laylatul Qadr, which is the best night of the year and worship on this night is better than worshipping for a thousand months. Allah says: “Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”

2. This night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’an. It was sent down from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet) to the first heaven on Laylat al-Qadr (the night of the Decree) all at once, then after that it was sent down in stages over twenty-three years.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (MALE radi-allahu-anhu) said, concerning the verse
“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.” The Qur’an was sent down all at once on Laylat al-Qadr, then Allah sent it down to the Messenger of Allah (s) bit by bit.