In the Shade of Ramadhan 18

Sister Purmul reminds us to always remember Allah and His blessings.

[Source: MAS]

What I've learnt is that Dzikir is remembrance of Allah SWT. In times of need, we instinctively remember Allah and Dzikir, like the human heart is what water is to fish. Why? Because Allah is the Best protector and the Best to help us in all our affairs. When you remember Allah, Allah will remember you and on its own Dzikir extends this honour to us to be so close to our Creator. Only in the remembrance of Allah do hearts truly find rest. Subhan Allahi wa bihamdi Subhan Allahil A'zim.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 17

Sister Purmul sheds light on evaluating one own self for self improvement. She offers some practical steps of muhasabah (self evaluation).

[Source: MAS]

What I've learnt is that Muhasabah is deliberate self-evaluation and self-development process, which is tied to time and time management. Practical ways towards Muhasabah include:
1. During the daily prayer, during sujud is the best time to self-reflect
2. During istighfar, reflect on what we are repenting for

Bottomline is to have goals to:
1. Increase our spirituality
2. Increase our knowledge
3. Increase brotherhood/sisterhood
4. Increase islamic/community's activism
5. Increase family relationships
6. Improve our health

May we be among those who self-reflect and follow a bad deed with a good deed on a daily basis.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 16

Sister Purmul discusses the benefits of reflecting on Allah and His creations.

[Source: MAS]

What I've learnt is that Ramadhan is the month for tafakkur (reflection) and muhasabah (self-evaluation). So reap the full benefits of this month which is full of barakah (blessings).

In the Shade of Ramadhan 15

Marwan Maroud relates a hadeeth (saying) of RasululLah SAW describing what true bankruptcy is.

[Source: MAS]

What I've learnt is that a bankrupt from the Ummah, during the day of Judgment, would have to release his hasanah/rights to the person who he/she has wronged in life. And when there is not enough rights to take, the person who is wronged would put his bad deeds to the person who did the bad deed. Simply, its not worthwhile to fast and do Ibadah and at the same time do bad deeds to others. So Ramadhan is the time for forgiveness.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 14

Marwan Marouf relates a hadeeth of Mohammad (sws) regarding setting a plan for our lives. He applies it to setting goals for Ramadan.

[Source: MAS]

What I've learnt is that the a hadith outlines the strategy of life:

1. Set goals in life (even in Ramadhan)

2. Set priorities (evaluate what is really worth it)

3. Aim high (enter the highest level of Al Jannah along with the Prophet SAW)

4. Indulge in As-Salah as it is in the sujud that one is closest to Allah SWT

In the Shade of Ramadhan 13

Marwan Marouf Discusses how our Iman shifts and changes before durring and after Ramadan. He offers advice on how to maintain an stabel Iman.



Source: MAS

What I learnt is that humans are expected to have natural ups and downs (flip flop) in our Iman. The month of Ramadhan is our opportunity to charge up our Iman. Ways to sustain our Iman at an expectedly high level are to:

1. choose the right friends (as our mirrors)

2. practice the rituals of Islam moderately (balanced according to the Sunnah)

3. learn about your deen (religion)

In the Shade of Ramadhan 12

Imam Suhaib Webb talks about the close relationship with Allah that one can gain through making du'a. He discusses it's importance and it's power.

[Source: MAS]

What I learnt is that Dua is the essence of worship, sign of someone's sincere tauhid to Allah SWT. Allah is Al A'lim (the ONE who Knows) and As-Samiq (the ONE who Hears) and its better for us to recite our dua in a hushed tone. The beauty of dua is that Allah will listen to anyone who calls to Allah via his/her dua since He even listens to the dua of the Iblis. And there is no dua in the quran that starts with "Ya"...because its a sign that Allah is closer to you than you think so call upon Allah with your dua and Allah will answer you, insya Allah.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 11

Imam Suhaib Webb discusses prayer as connection to Allah and highlights it's benefits



Source: MAS

What I learnt is that As-Salah literally is a connection; the heart is directly connected to Allah SWT through sound faith and Taqwah. The 5 times a day prayer is an opportunity for us to take a break from this life and flee to talk to Allah SWT as Allah is with us if we establish the As-Salah.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 10

Imam Suhaib Webb discusses what taqwa is and about it's importance durring the month of Ramadan.

[Source: MAS]

What I learnt is that the goal of Ramadhan is prescribed for us to achieve Taqwa, to be aware and conscious of Allah SWT, being cautious and stay away from those that are haram.

1. Understand the concept of Taqwa - it is a shield from hell's fire and protection from punishment from Allah SWT and from plans of Syaitan

2. Practise individual exercises include having pure intentions for Allah SWT, abstain from those that is haram

3. Practise communal exercises include pray and dua as a community, charity, etc

In essence, its:

1. Less talk of dunia, more of Allah

2. Less hatred of others, more love

3. Less money for oneself, more money to noble causes

4. Less time wasting, more for Allah

In the Shade of Ramadhan 9

Imam Suhaib Webb discusses prescription for change.

[Source: MAS]

What I learnt is that Ramadhan gives us the opportunity to stop and reflect on our spirituality and let the world take a back seat i.e understand the purpose of our creation via the act of ibadah like fasting to increase our Taqwah. I like the ayat from the Quran 2:183 - "Allah prescribed Ramadhan as the antibiotic of Imaan to cure our spiritual ailments". Due to the fitrah in all of us, Allah SWT would not change what is in the people until they change what's within themselves.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 8

Dr Imad Bayoon continues his discussion, this time on Acquiring Patience.



Source: MAS

What I learnt is that if you...

1. Know the nature of this life (hardships so be realistic)

2. Know that you belong to Allah SWT (innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rojiun)

3. Believe in the reward of Allah SWT

4. Use the dua of Allah (in dua, you call upon Allah for guidance in all qadar)

life would seem so much simpler and you would be at peace with everything, insya Allah.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 7

Dr Imad Bayoon discusses patience in the month of Ramadhan

[Source: MAS]

What I learnt is that Patience was mentioned more than 100 times in the Quran, reinforcing its importance in Islam. There are 4 types of patience:

1. when facing hardship as decreed by Allah SWT with acceptance and patience, you'll get a reward from Allah)i.e. state of mind/heart,

2. when facing temptation i.e. state of environment around you,

3. in fulfilling the commands of Allah SWT,

4. in the path of the da'wah i.e. the benefit goes to the Islamic community (its never an easy job due to paradign shift/change)

In the Shade of Ramadhan 6

Marwan Marouf discusses the victories of Ramadhan.

[Source: MAS]

What I learnt is that alot of significant victories in Islam happened in the month of Ramadhan. Allah Azza Wa Jalla has created incentives that gates of Jannah are wide open and syaitan are chained, gates of hell are closed and reward for your good deeds are multiplied so that Muslims can go out to achieve victories, maximising your potential. The soul is nourished while the bodily habits take a back seat.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 5

Dr. Imad Bayoon discusses the importance of cleansing ones soul/heart.

[Source: Muslim American Society, MAS]

What I learnt is that purity of the heart is the most important aspect in Islam because during Judgment Day, when nothing would help except those that have come to Allah SWT with a pure and righteous heart. So let go of grudges, hatred, envy, greed, and other disease of the heart for the love of Allah.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 4

Marwan Marouf discusses the value of Ramadan and implimenting this value in our practicing the ibadah during Ramadhan.

[Source: Muslim American Society, MAS]

What I have learnt is that Ramadhan is a blessed, magnificent and generous month by Allah SWT as it is a month of mercy, compassion, patience... a month that would increase the 'income' of the muslim. It is a month of spiritual cleansing, we fill up and re-energise so that we can sustain our Iman for the following year. The challenge is, what are we gonna do to reap the benefits of Ramadhan?

In the Shade of Ramadhan 3

Marwan Marouf discusses keeping the end goal of Al Jannah (Paradise) in mind before starting Ramadan.

[Source: Muslim American Society, MAS]

What I learnt is that always keep the end in mind, Al Jannah. You may seem to deprive yourself of some of the joys on earth during Ramadhan but in Al Jannah, you will receive absolute reward from Allah SWT via Ar Ryan, insya Allah. In my humble opinion, the life in the Hereafter is way better.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 2

Marwan Marouf discusses the different types of fasting.

[Source: Muslim American Society, MAS]

What I learnt is that fasting is more than just abstain from hunger and thirst; your entire body, senses and heart are also fasting, sincerely for Allah Azza Wa Jallah.

In the Shade of Ramadhan 1

Dr Imad Bayoon discusses about taqwa, good deeds and character.

[Source: Muslim American Society, MAS]

What I learnt from this is that regardless of the month of Ramadhan, the good deeds erase the bad deeds, a blessing from Allah SWT. If you have done something bad, do not give up on yourself and the mercy of Allah SWT because Allah SWT can forgive all of our sins, Allahu akbar!

Welcome Ramadhan

Why did I accept Islam?

Shared by Colonel DONALD ROCKWELL (American)

For a long time I had been impressed by Islam's clear logic and formal simplicity, by the magnetizing attraction felt towards its mosques, by the great solemnity and deep affection with which the adherents of that religion had devoted themselves to their faith, by the profound respect and pure sincerity in which Muslims all over the world had been prostrating themselves simultaneously five times daily.
A solemn and, at the same time, sentimental, attachment to life, [which was Muhammad's 'alaihis-salam' personal approach]; A mutually consultative method in doing daily chores;
A habitually soft behavior flavored with mercy and compassion in social lives, indiscriminately; charity for the poor; property rights, which women had been given for the first time; all these things, which were only a few of the many other revolutions that could only be evaluated as 'the most tremendous', and how aphoristical and concise a language it is through which Muhammad 'alaihis-salam' expresses these concepts!
Contrary to Europeans' assertions, the Islamic religion commands everybody first to do their best and only then to put their trust in Allahu ta'ala.
Qur'an al-karim acknowledges the prophethoods of the other prophets as well, beginning with Adam 'alaihis-salam' and including Musa and Isa 'alaihim-as-salam'. This is an exalted sense of faith and a great model of justice, which other religions do not possess.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Islam is that it has completely purified itself of idols. Whereas pictures, icons and signs are still being worshiped in Christianity, things of this nature do not exist in Islam. This is an indication of how pure and unstained a religion Islam is.
The facts stated and taught by Muhammad 'alaihis-salam', the Messenger of Allahu ta'ala, have reached our time without any interpolation. And the Qur'an al-karim, which is the Word of Allah, has been preserved in its pristine purity, exactly as it was revealed, without losing anything from the limpidity it had in the time of Muhammad 'alaihis-salam'.
The qualities of freedom and equity inherent in the Islamic religion have always magnetized me towards it. Muslims perform their acts of worship side by side in mosques. There are not any special places allotted for the leadership.
Muslims hold the belief that there is not a third person to act as an intermediary between Allahu ta'ala and His born slave. The Islamic acts of worship are performed between Allahu ta'ala and the slave. Every Muslim is the only person responsible for his personal behavior.
Adapted:http://serenityfountain.org/default.asp/Recommended