Last 10 days of Ramadan!!!

Assalamualikum,

I hope you are enjoying the benefits of the month of Ramadan.

1. Last 10 days of Ramadan
As you are aware we are in the last 10 days of Ramadan. It is not uncommon to find brothers and sisters taking the month of Ramadan or the last 10 days of Ramadan off as holiday. Take a vacation for Allah - We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator. I did this last year and it was the best 10 days I spent.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf. It was a practice of the Prophet (pbuh) to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf. Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.

2. Laylatus Qadr
Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 2lst, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night. The popular opinion is, however, in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadhaan but that is not absolutely certain.

Hazrath Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reported that the Apostle of Allah said: "Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadhaan" (Bukhari).

Hazrath Aisha has narrated another saying:"I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I were to find a Night of Power, what should I recite therein?" Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised her to recite:

Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee
O Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me. (Bukhari).

Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud salaat, Tilaawat of the Qur'an, Dua, Zikr, etc.

Surah Al-Qadr (97) - To Listen (Click Here!)

Bismi Allahi arrahmani arraheem

1: Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylatialqadr
Muhsin Khan: Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)

2: Transliteration: Wama adraka ma laylatualqadr
Muhsin Khan: And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?

3: Transliteration: Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahr
Muhsin Khan: The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, (i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
4: Transliteration: Tanazzalu almala-ikatu warroohufeeha bi-ithni rabbihim min kulli amr
Muhsin Khan: Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees,

5: Transliteration: Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAialfajr
Muhsin Khan: Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.
It is best to utilise the last 10 days as much as possible. More information about the Night of Power can be found below...(please read these two articles)

- Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power)

- 16 things you can do on the Night of Power

3. Holy Qur'an
Ramadan has a special relationship with the Qur'ân, of course: "The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'ân was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (Soorah al-Baqarah 2:185)

Ibn 'Abbaas( R.A) narrates "That the Messenger of Allah(SAW) was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibreel would come to him every night and he would rehearse the Qur'ân with him." (Bukhari)

This Ahaadeeth contains recommendation of the following: * Studying the Qur'ân in Ramadhaan * Coming together for this purpose * Checking (one's memory/knowledge of) the Qur'ân with someone who has preserved it better * Increasing recitation of the Qur'ân in Ramadan * Appreciating that the night time is the best time to recite, when other preoccupations decrease and it is easier to concentrate, as in (Soorah Al-Muzzammil 73:6).

Further, Fatimah(Ra) narrated from her father(SAW), who told her that Jibreel would rehearse the Qur'ân with him (in Ramadan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death. (Bukhari 6/485)

There are various website you can read, listen and learn to read about the Holy Qur'an. One of the best websites is ...

http://www.quranexplorer.com/Quran/Default.aspx

For those who want to start learning Arabic again - this site is a good start...
http://www.searchtruth.com/arabic/lessons/unit1_writing.php

I have put many other links on the blogsite (right hand side) - so do check it out.


If you have found any of this information useful please make Dua for myself and my family, and all those who contributed to this article, as well as those who contribute to this blogsite and the Ummah in general.

Fasting Six Days of the Month of Shawwal

The month of Ramadan has ended but did you know that you can fast 6 additional days in the month of Shawwal

Q: What is the significance of fasting in the month of Shawwal?
Taken from islamonline.net

Answered by Mufti: Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi,
President of the Fiqh Council of North America (29/Oct/2006)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Fasting six days of the month of Shawwal is mentioned in a Prophetic hadith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said:

"Whosoever fasted in Ramadan and then followed up with six fasting days of Shawwal, it is like fasting every day." (Muslim)

The meaning is that the reward is like the reward of a person who is always in fast every day of his/her life. [Note: some scholars may interpret this as like fasting for the whole year rather than whole lifetime]

It is highly recommended to fast six days of the month of Shawwal, but it is not obligatory.

Those who want to fast can fast after `Eid Al-Fitr any six days during Shawwal.

It is not required to fast six days continuously without any interruption. One can fast according to convenience any time during the month.

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In additon to the above - just to let you know that you can use normal prayer timestables to indicate the start of fasting (make it ten minutes before Fajr to be safe) and when to break the fast (when it is time for Magrib).

Ramadan Announcement 2018 AD / 1439 AH

The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre is pleased to announce that 1^st Ramadan 1439 will be on Thursday 17^th May 2018, as agreed by the Coordination Committee of Major Islamic Centres and Mosques in London.

You can download a copy of the Ramadan Timetable via this link.

The Tarawih prayers will commence from Wednesday 16^th May 2018

The Muslim Jesus

The Muslim Jesus
TV Documentary - shown on Sunday 19 August 2007 on ITV1, UK

Islam and Christianity have been portrayed as mortal enemies for 1400 years. Locked in combat until the end of time when finally on the day of judgement God will announce the winner. This so called 'clash of civilisations' has defined Christian and Muslim relations from the wars of the crusades to the current 'war on terror'.

But there is another story. It’s a story that revolves around one man. The man whom a billion Muslims and 1.2 billion Christians call the Messiah but who is seen by both in very different ways – Jesus.

The Muslim Jesus uses the Quran and other Islamic texts to explore the differing ways in which Christian and Muslim faiths both acknowledge Jesus. Scholars, teachers, parents, rappers, poets and historians come together for the one hour special narrated by Melvin Bragg.  Full text - Click here

Watch the documentary:

Google Video

or on youtube as below:
Part 1/5

Part 2/5

Part 3/5

Part 4/5

Part 5/5

Fasting the Day of `Ashura’

The Ninth and Tenth day of Muharram… a Blessed Fast
Taken from islamonline.net

Q: What is so important about 9th and 10th of Muharram, known to be Tasu`ah and `Ashura'? Why do Muslims fast on these days?

Answered by Shahul Hameed
Thank you for your question.

Muharram is the first month in the Muslim lunar calendar, known as the Hijrah calendar. This month is marked by the fasting recommended for Muslims on the 9th (Tasu`ah) and 10th (`Ashura').

These fasts are not obligatory like the fast of Ramadan. Yet, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has laid great emphasis on them, as his hadith shows.

For example, upon his arrival in Madinah, he found the Jews observing fast on the day of `Ashura' When asked about this, they said:

"On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa [Moses] fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah."

Prophet Muhammad responded:
"We have more right and closer connection with Musa (peace be upon him) than you have." So, God’s messenger observed fast on the day of `Ashura' and taught us to observe it. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet also said:
"If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram [as well].” (Reported by Muslim.)

As it is evident from the above hadiths, the two days are important to us. This is because we Muslims are the real inheritors of the tradition of Moses, a great prophet of Islam. In fact, the Qur'an narrates the story in details, as to how Allah delivered Prophet Moses and the Children of Israel from the tyranny of the Pharaoh and his hordes.

Moses is one of five great prophets known to be Ulul-`Azm (The Resolute Ones). These are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all), as mentioned in the Qur'an. So there is no wonder that the day of `Ashura' that commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel, is important for the followers of the final Prophet too.

Thus, fasting on the day of `Ashura' is a sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. A believer who follows the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this regard gets a great reward, as in following him in other aspects of sunnah. Fasting day of `Ashura', expiates for the sins of the past year.

The Prophet said,
"Fasting the day of `Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year" (Muslim).

It is noteworthy in this connection that there are some unfounded ideas about `Ashura', prevailing among some Muslims. For example, this is like the belief that the Judgment Day will take place on the Day of `Ashura'. Such fanciful beliefs have no basis in authentic Islamic sources.

There is also the idea that the importance of `Ashura' is due to the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson Al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) at Karbala. This was a real tragic episode in the history of Islam.

Yet, to attribute the sanctity of `Ashura' to the martyrdom of Al-Husain is wrong. This, as it was the Prophet himself who established its significance for Muslims, long before the birth of his grandson.

The same idea is associated also with the belief that the month of Muharram is an unlucky month! So, some people avoid holding marriage ceremonies throughout this month. This is definitely a superstition opposed to the teachings of Islam.

We may notice on these days, people organizing elaborate lamentation and mourning ceremonies in memory of the martyrdom at Karbala. There is no doubt that the martyrdom of Karbala was one of the most tragic events in our history, as mentioned before. Yet, the processions and pageants held in that connection are far from Islamic; rather they are redolent of the jahiliyya (mental ignorance of truth) customs.

The Qur'an and Prophetic Sunnah teach us that in the event of a person’s death, we should be patiently forbearing and say: *{to Allah we belong and to Him is our return).}* (Al Baqarah 2:156).

So, there is no question of “celebrating” such an occasion. In fact, it is a practice that crept into the community after the time of Prophet Muhammad and has no basis in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

We as Muslims are enjoined to follow the explicit commands and prohibitions of the Qur'an and Sunnah in our life. Let us pray to Allah Almighty to help us all and guide us to be His sincerely obedient servants.


Further reading:
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/books/80

A Convert’s Letter to Born Muslims Before Eid

An excellent reminder for us all...

•••
Dear Muslims (born into Muslim families),

Do me a favour...especially those of you who consider yourselves active in da'wah...if you have a revert friend please invite them over on Eid.

Eid is the loneliest and most depressing day for many reverts and many of us don't have any Muslim family to celebrate or share our joy with.

Walking back to our car after Eid prayer is the worst.

On the long walk back to our cars we witness Muslim families posing for pictures, smiling from ear to ear and spreading glad tidings amongst themselves. While reverts don't have any Muslim family to celebrate with, oftentimes we are alone before, during and after Eid prayer.

Families and congregants speak to each other in their mother tongues, forgetting that we, the revert, don't speak or share their language and don't understand what they are saying. Making us feel like outsiders in our own community.

Others shriek with joy as they bump into old friends and extended family members. They embrace warmly and make oaths to reconnect. While we know no one. Many of our previous friends and family members stopped speaking to us since our conversion.

Children are running around wildly with balloons, candy and money. We know in that very moment we are witnessing a precious childhood memory in the making. For a second we share their joy and think to ourselves how lucky this kid is to have such a wonderful experience. At the same time, we can't help but wonder if our (future) children will ever experience the same joy.

We watch other families frantically rush off to partake in their traditions such as Eid breakfast, gift swapping or house hopping from party to party. While we sit in our cars, with our hands on the steering wheel wondering what we can do by ourselves for the remainder of the day...

Unfortunately, the aforementioned is the reality for many reverts on Eid. With a community as large as we have, NO ONE should be lonely on a day that should be full of congregational-communion, love, laughter and breaking of bread.

Born Muslims, do me a favor and call your revert friend and invite them over on Eid.

It means more to us than you'll ever know 🙂

JazzakumAllahuKhayran

Eid on Friday

Due to Eid being on a Friday, brothers have three options:

– Praying one of the Eid prayers and Jumuah as normal
– Praying one of the Eid prayers, and praying Zuhr (4 Raka’ah) instead of Jumuah
– If Eid prayer is missed, Jumuah is compulsory.