Thursday, July 26, 2012

Eating Habits in Ramadan


By Kamal El-Mekki.


The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying,

"Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time.

It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah


Download in mp3 format Part 1 | Part 2


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Goals Of Fasting


In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The acts of worship that the Muslims practice seek to achieve certain goals and benefits that Allah wants His slaves to acquire knowledge in them and to comprehend and achieve them. Among these acts of worship is fasting during the lunar month of Ramadhan, which has several goals that the Muslims must strive to achieve with his heart and by his actions. These goals are as follows:

Achieving taqwa, that is, to become God-fearing. Allah said:

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those who came before you; that you will perhaps be God-fearing.” [Al-Qur'an 2:183]

Hence, fasting is a means to achieve taqwa. In fact, all acts of worship and tawhid are methods and means to achieve taqwa, as Allah has said:

“O mankind, worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you, so that you may become God-fearing.” [Al-Qur'an 2:21]

Acquiring the rewards of Allah. Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:

“Allah the Exalted said, ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are his, except for fasting, for it is Mine and I will reward for it.’ “

The Prophet also said:

“The one fasting has two happy moments: when he breaks his fast, and when he meets his Lord he is happy because of his fast.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

About his saying, “When he breaks his fast he is happy,” and Imam Muslim’s addition, “Because of his breaking his fast,” Imam al-Qurtubi commented, “It means he is happy because his hunger and thirst have ended, since he is allowed to break his fast. This happiness is natural and this is apparently the desired meaning. It was also said that his being happy is because of his breaking the fast, means that he has fulfilled his fast, and as a culmination for his practicing the acts of worship. His saying, ‘And when he meets his Lord he is happy because of his fast,’ means he is happy because of the rewards for fasting and its complete awards.’ ”

Fasting purifies the soul and helps it acquire the habit of obeying Allah and His Messenger by defeating the desires of the heart. Fasting teaches refraining from following the desires because the soul of the one fasting becomes obedient to Allah’s commands. Also, Satan has a stronger hold over the souls that often obey their desires. When the soul abandons its desires, it will become more difficult for Satan to have a hold on the heart.

Being saved from the Fire, for the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

“And Allah has those whom he frees from the Fire, and this occurs every night (meaning in Ramadhan).”[At-Tirmidhi and ibn Majah]

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

“Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede on behalf of the slave. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord! I prevented him from food and obeying his desires in the morning. Therefore, accept my intercession on his behalf.’ And the Qur’an will say, ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night. Therefore, accept my intercession on his behalf,’ and they will be accepted as intercessors.’ “ [Ahmad, al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi]

There is no doubt that fasting directs to having one’s sins forgiven and erased. The Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:

“The five prayers, and from Friday to the next Friday, and Ramadhan to the next Ramadhan, are erasers for what occurs between them, as long as major sins are avoided.” [Muslim]

Also the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadhan with iman and ih’tisab, will have his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Imam Ahmad and an-Nasa’i added the following to the above narration:

“And also what will occur later on (meaning future sins, as well).”

Fasting with Iman entails fasting while believing with the heart in the obligation of fasting during Ramadhan. As for ih’tisab, it means that one anticipates the reward and his fasting is therefore only for the sake of Allah and not to imitate his people and community or for any other worldly gain.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

10 Tips for Ramadhan



As the blessed month of Ramadhan approaches, we need to prepare for it in such a way that we can gain the maximum benefit of this month. For many, Ramadhan comes and goes. However, very few people actually benefit from this great month. Our teachers advise us to live the whole year as if we are in the month of Ramadhan. This magnanimous achievement can only be attained when the actual month of Ramadhan is spent properly. In order to acquire a droplet of the reality mentioned above, Insha Allah, I hope to mention ten points that were given as form of advice to me and many others.

  1. Discipline: Most people already know to abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from one’s spouse during the daytime of Ramadhan. However, a level of discipline must be developed to do righteous acts and abstain from those acts which would earn the displeasure of Allah. That was a basic form of discipline that needs to be developed but along with that, one needs to have discipline in following a particular routine or schedule for Ramadhan. This will be the real life changing factor for an individual. They wake up for suhoor but also pray Tahajjud at that time. Recite some Qur’an. They eat. Make dua’ while waiting for Salah. They pray Fajr. Recite Qur’an and make zikr. Rest if they need to.
    The idea is to make a schedule and act accordingly the whole month without sacrificing their schedule. This is the desired discipline that is required.One may ask, “Why did he not just put the first point as a ‘making a schedule’?” Well, the answer is very simple. Anyone can come up with a schedule, but it takes real discipline to abide by it.
  2. Devotional life (‘Ibadah): Ramadhan is the month where Allah allows us to really fulfill the purpose of our being, and the purpose of our creation. Allah created us all to worship Him, and Him alone. Here, I will not mention virtues of various acts or worship because those can be found in the many books on the merits of certain deeds. However, since Ramadhan and Qur’an are closely connected, I will say that much of our devotional life should be focused on the Qur’an.
    Reciting at least the entire Qur’an once in this month. Understanding it from erudite scholarship of our community or from accepted commentaries and Tafaaseer. I am not asking that a person recites the entire Qur’an and completes one entire commentary of it in one month. Perhaps it may be feasible to recite the entire Qur’an and start off a regimen of a Tafseer and try to finish it on an annual basis.
  3. Identifying with the Ummah: It is important that we feel our fast, i.e. feel hunger and thirst. Apart from that, we can use this to our benefit by making other people’s fast count for us as well. This means that if we feed or give to drink something to someone who fasts, we can get the reward of their fast as well.

    Another aspect of identifying with the Ummah is to be grateful for whatever Allah has given us and realize that a little of that we need to give to others so that they may have a decent Ramadhan and wonderful ‘Eid. See what the Ummah is going through and see how we can actively participate to help the Ummah in any way possible.
  4. Contact with the Qur’an: Ramadhan is the month wherein the Qur’an was revealed. This is the month of the Qur’an. It is extremely essential to establish a relationship with the Qur’an. Without going into much detail, I will just mention something practical with regards to the Qur’an and Ramadhan.

    For the average person, i.e. one who is not scholar or is not a Hafiz, they should read at least one juz per day so that they finish at a minimum one entire Qur’an for the month of Ramadhan. If one can do more, than Alhamdulillah, no one is stopping anyone. The next thing is to understand the Qur’an. So take the first volume of Ma’ariful Qur’an (for example) and read one section of the Arabic part (if one can) and then read the translation, then read the commentary. Do this every day without fail. Obviously the whole commentary will not be completed in one month, but at least a schedule to read a portion regularly will be developed and hopefully within a year it could be completed.

    Also, one should try to memorize those chapters/surahs which are read often like Mulk, Kahf, Ya Seen, Waqi’ah, and Sajdah. Also memorize Surahs from the last juz at least and more if possible.
  5. Mujahadah: Ramadhan is a month of sacrifice and struggle. It is a month where Allah wants our time, our health, our wealth, and our whole being. We literally live the whole year for everything and anything. It is just one month…can we not live one month solely for our Creator?! So what if we have to sacrifice our sleep, and random other luxuries that we can do without anyway. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” The amount of sacrifice and struggle we put into this month, Allah will reward us in this world and the next accordingly.Give yourself to Allah, and see what Allah has in store for you.
  6. Dua’: The essence of worship is supplication to Allah. This whole month, Allah is willing and readily open to accept all that we ask of Him. It is only to our own loss and detriment that we lack in begging Allah for the things we need. Prioritize your supplications. Ask firstly for yourself, then your family, community, then the Ummah at large. Within that, prioritize and ask for things pertaining to the hereafter, then ask for things pertaining to this world. Just remember one thing when it comes to dua’, the point of dua’ is not that we need something or we need protection or refuge from some other thing, the point is that Allah told us to supplicate to Him, and that is why one should make dua’ abundantly. There are certain things Allah loves to do, and one of them is to answer the supplications of His servants who call unto Him.

    One final aspect regarding dua’ is crying or pretending to cry. Tears are something foreign to Allah and therefore He has immense value for tears. The whole year we become filthy and impure spiritually by sinning, Ramadhan is the month where we purify our spirits by bathing our spirits in our tears.
  7. Good Company: Ramadhan is a month to maximize on good deeds and keep bad deeds at zero. Being in the company of the righteous will allow one to attain this goal. I will keep this point short. The minimum benefit one gets by being in good company is that one will not sin which in turn will cause one to become the greatest worshiper based off the hadith of Tirmidhi wherein Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) took Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu)’s hand and said, “O Abu Hurayrah, abstain from all prohibitions and you will become the best worshiper.”

    The maximum benefit is that being with the people of Allah, Insha Allah; a person may just Attain Allah. What can be greater?
  8. Gratitude: The secret to an increase in anything is to be thankful for it. To make sure that we see this month the next year, appreciate it this year. Be thankful for all that we have in every aspect, even the basic things we neglect and take for granted. We have Iman, we have Islam. Alhamdulillah, we are the best Ummah. We have been given the best book, i.e. the Qur’an. The best way to appreciate a bounty is to use it for its purpose.

    Allah has blessed with infinite blessing and bounties. Ramadhan is one of those bounties, so to fully appreciate Ramadhan, we must spend it the way Allah would like us to spend it and attain out goal which is Taqwa.
  9. Following the Sunnah: Anything of the beloved is also beloved. That is a principle of love. Allah has proclaimed the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) as His beloved. If we follow the Sunnah and show a resemblance, then we can also gain the focus of Allah. Particularly follow the Sunnah acts which the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) performed in Ramadhan.
    If we have to do something, might as well do it the best way possible. The best way for anything to be done is the way of the Sunnah. If by any chance it was some other way, Allah would have had His Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) do it that way then.
  10. Istiqamah: Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi (RA) said, “Steadfastness is greater than a thousand miracles.” Please do not tire one’s self out in the initial stages of Ramadhan, rather figure out a routine that works and stick to it regularly. The most beloved of actions to Allah are those that are done consistently even though they may seem minor. We all need to be thankful for the good that we have done and also for the evil we are able to abstain from. We also need to be thankful for whatever level of steadfastness that we have. We want to make Ramadhan last beyond Ramadhan as well. I’ll end with a quote from one of our mashaaikh, Shaykh In’aam-ul-Hasan Kandehlawi (RA) said, “Whoever lives their life as they do in Ramadhan, then death will come to that person just as the moon of ‘Eid comes for the fasting person.”
To conclude, we pray to Allah that He accepts all of our efforts and overlooks and forgives all of our shortcomings. Aameen.

Friday, August 27, 2010

The Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h Sermon on the Reception of Ramadan


“Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah. A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness. A month which, with Allah, is the best of months. Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of nights, and its hours, the best of hours. It is the month, which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take glorifies Him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered. So, ask Allah, your Lord; to give you a sound body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite His Book, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of Allah’s forgiveness during this great month.

“Remember the hunger and thirst of the Day of Qiyamah (Judgment) with your hunger and thirst; give alms to the needy and poor, honor your old, show kindness to the young ones, maintain relations with your blood relations; guard your tongues, close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight, close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear, show compassion to the orphans of people so compassion may be shown to your orphans. Repent to Allah for your sins and raise your hands in du’a during these times, for they are the best of times and Allah looks towards his creatures with kindness, Replying to them during the hours and granting their needs if He is asked…

“O People! Indeed your souls are dependent on your deeds, free it with istighfar (repentance) lighten its loads by long prostrations (sujood); and know that Allah swears by his might: That there is no punishment for the one who prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the Fire on the day when man stands before the Lord of the Worlds.

“O People! One who gives iftaar to a fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed someone and his past sins will be forgiven.”

Some of the people who were there then asked the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم): “Not all of us are able to invite those who are fasting?” The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) replied: “Allah gives this reward even if the iftaar (meal) is a drink of water.”

He (صلي الله عليه وسلم) continues, “one who has good morals (akhlaaq) during this month will be able to pass the Siraat (hair-thin bridge over the Hellfire which every individual must cross on the Day of Judgment) … on the day that feet will slip … One who covers the faults of others will benefit in that Allah will curb His anger on the Day of Judgment.

“As for one who honors an orphan; Allah will honor him on the Day of Judgment. And for the one who spreads his kindness, Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgment.

“As for the one who cuts the ties of relation; Allah will cut His mercy from him.

“Whoever performs a recommended prayer in this month Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him. Whoever performs an obligatory prayer, Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

“And whoever prays a lot during this month will have his load lightened on the day of measure. He who recites one verse of the Holy Qur’an will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.

“O People! Indeed during this month the doors of Heaven are open, therefore ask Allah not to close them for you; the doors of Hell are closed, so ask Allah to keep them closed for you. During this month Shaytaan is imprisoned, so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.”

Saturday, August 14, 2010

The Meaning of Ramadan


Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier? In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don?t have any. Obviously fasting would have been easier under the circumstances. So why not then?

The answer may be that Ramadan is not only about skipping meals. While fasting is an integral and paramount part of it, Ramadan offers a comprehensive program for our spiritual overhaul. The entire program required the peace and security that was offered by Madinah.

Yes, Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. At the beginning of Rajab --- two full months before Ramadan --- the Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate thus: "O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha?ban, and let us reach Ramadan (in good health)."

During Ramadan the believers get busy seeking Allah?s mercy, forgiveness, and protection from Hellfire. This is the month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our Creator. It is the spring season for goodness and virtues when righteousness blossoms throughout the Muslim communities. "If we combine all the blessings of the other eleven months, they would not add up to the blessings of Ramadan," said the great scholar and reformer Shaikh Ahmed Farooqi (Mujaddad Alif Thani). It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Iman, purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him.

"Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven," said Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. "Anyone who stands in prayers during its nights with purity of belief and expectation of a reward, will have his previous sins forgiven." As other ahadith tell us, the rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan.

Along with the possibility of a great reward, there is the risk of a terrible loss. If we let any other month pass by carelessly, we just lost a month. If we do the same during Ramadan, we have lost everything. The person who misses just one day?s fast without a legitimate reason, cannot really make up for it even if he were to fast everyday for the rest of his life. And of the three persons that Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam cursed, one is the unfortunate Muslim who finds Ramadan in good health but does not use the opportunity to seek Allah?s mercy.

One who does not fast is obviously in this category, but so also is the person who fasts and prays but makes no effort to stay away from sins or attain purity of the heart through the numerous opportunities offered by Ramadan. The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, warned us: "There are those who get nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst. There are those who get nothing from their nightly prayers but loss of sleep."

Those who understood this, for them Ramadan was indeed a very special month. In addition to fasting, mandatory Salat, and extra Travih Salat, they spent the whole month in acts of worship like voluntary Salat, Tilawa (recitation of Qur?an), Dhikr etc. After mentioning that this has been the tradition of the pious people of this Ummah throughout the centuries, Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi notes: " I have seen with my own eyes such ulema and mashaikh who used to finish recitation of the entire Qur?an everyday during Ramadan. They spent almost the entire night in prayers. They used to eat so little that one wondered how they could endure all this. These greats valued every moment of Ramadan and would not waste any of it in any other pursuit?Watching them made one believe the astounding stories of Ibada and devotion of our elders recorded by history."

This emphasis on these acts of worship may sound strange --- even misplaced --- to some. It requires some explanation. We know that the term Ibada (worship and obedience) in Islam applies not only to the formal acts of worship and devotion like Salat , Tilawa, and Dhikr, but it also applies to worldly acts when performed in obedience to Shariah and with the intention of pleasing Allah. Thus a believer going to work is performing Ibada when he seeks Halal income to discharge his responsibility as a bread-winner for the family. However a distinction must be made between the two. The first category consists of direct Ibada, acts that are required for their own sake. The second category consists of indirect Ibada --- worldly acts that become Ibada through proper intention and observation of Shariah. While the second category is important for it extends the idea of Ibada to our entire life, there is also a danger because by their very nature these acts can camouflage other motives. (Is my going to work really Ibada or am I actually in the rat race?). Here the direct Ibada comes to the rescue. Through them we can purify our motives, and re-establish our relationship with Allah.

Islam does not approve of monasticism. It does not ask us to permanently isolate ourselves from this world, since our test is in living here according to the Commands of our Creator. But it does ask us to take periodic breaks from it. The mandatory Salat (five daily prayers) is one example. For a few minutes every so many hours throughout the day, we leave the affairs of this world and appear before Allah to remind ourselves that none but He is worthy of worship and of our unfaltering obedience. Ramadan takes this to the next higher plane, providing intense training for a whole month.

This spirit is captured in I?tikaf, a unique Ibada associated with Ramadan, in which a person gives up all his normal activities and enters a mosque for a specific period. There is great merit in it and every Muslim community is encouraged to provide at least one person who will perform I?tikaf for the last ten days of Ramadan. But even those who cannot spare ten days are encouraged to spend as much time in the mosque as possible.

by Khalid Baig

Through direct Ibada we "charge our batteries"; the indirect ones allow us to use the power so accumulated in driving the vehicle of our life. Ramadan is the month for rebuilding our spiritual strength. How much we benefit from it is up to us.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Recite Throughout the Month after Salaat

Recite the following duas after every obligatory namaz throughout the month of Ramadhan
1. Allahumma Adkhil A'laa
2. Allahummar zuqni Hajja
3. Ya Aliyu Ya Azeem
4. Dua Hajj
1.Allahumma Adkhil A'laa

Manifestations of the All Merciful -A Book giving detailed Commentary on this Dua
In al-Misbah and in al-Balad al-Amin, Shaykh al-Kaf'amiy, has narrated that the Holy Prophet (saws) said that one who says the following supplication after each obligatory prayer in Ramadan will have all his sins forgiven up to the day of Resurrection:

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
O Allah bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.
O Allah, gladden the people of the graves,
O Allah, enrich every poor person,
O Allah, satisfy every hungry one,
O Allah, clothe every unclothed one,
O Allah, help every debtor pay his debts,
O Allah, relieve every distressed one,
O Allah, return every traveler (to his home),
O Allah release every prisoner,
O Allah, correct every wrong in the affairs of the Muslims,
O Allah, cure every sick one,
O Allah, ease our poverty by Your wealth,
O Allah, change our evil state to a good one through Your excellent state,
O Allah, relieve us of our debts, and help us against poverty, Surely You have power over all things.

ALLAAHUMMA ADKHIL A’LAA AHLIL QUBOORIS SUROOR , ALLAAHUMMA AGHNI KULLA FAQEER, ALLAAHUMMA ASHBIA’-KULLAJAA-EE-I’N ALLAAHUMMA AKSU KULLA U’RYAAN ,ALLAAHUMMAQ-Z”I DAYNA KULLI MADEEN ,ALLAAHUMMA FARRIJ A’N KULLI MAKROOB ,ALLAAHUMMA RUDDA KULLA GHAREEB ,ALLAAHUMMA FUKKA KULLA ASEER ,ALLAAHUMMA AS’LIH’ KULLA FAASIDIN MIN UMOORIL MUSLIMEEN ,ALLAAHUMMASH-FI KULLA MAREEZ”, ALLAAHUMMA SUDDA FAQRANAA BI-GHINAAKA ,ALLAAHUMMA GHAYYIR SOOO-A H’AALINAA BI-H’USNI H’AALIKA ,ALLAAHUMMAQ-Z”I A’NNAD DAYNA WA AGHNINAA MINAL FAQR INNAKA A’LAA KULLI SHAY-IN QADEER

Sayyid Ibn Tawus has narrated that Imam Sadiq (as) and Imam Kazim (as) instructed that the following supplication is advisably said after each obligatory prayer throughout the month of Ramadhan.

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. O give me enough means so that I may go to Thy Holy House for pilgrimage this year and every year till I live in ease and comfort bestowed upon me by Thee; do not deny me these opportunities of visiting the venerable places and calling upon the resting abode of Thy Prophet (Thy blessings be on him and on his children), and in the matter of all the needs of this world and the Hereafter continue to do good for me. O Allah I request you to take a decisive decision regarding my affairs in the night of "Qadr", a decision that cannot be reserved, nor can be changed, which includes me among the pilgrims of the "Sacred House" their dutiful pilgrimage receiving Thy approval, their efforts acknowledged, their mistakes forgiven, their sins atoned for; and in the course of it make it possible that I like long in ease and comfort, pay back my debts and settle the money obligations. So be it, O the Lord of the worlds.

ALLAAHUMMAR-ZUQNEE H’AJJA BAYTIKAL H’ARAAM FEE A’AMEE HAAD’AA WA FEE KULLI A’AMIN MAA ABQAYTANEE FEE YUSRIN MINKA WA A’AFIYATIN WA SA-A’TI RIZQIN WA LAA TUKHILNEE MIN TILKAL MAWAAQIFIL KAREEMATI WAL MASHAAHIDISH SHAREEFAH WA ZIYAARATI QABRI NABIYYIKA S’ALAWAATUKA A’LAYHI WA AALIHEE WA FEE JAMEE-I’ H’AWAA-IJID DUNYAA WAL AAKHIRAH FAKUN LEE ALLAAHUMMA INNEE AS-ALUKA FEEMAA TAQZ”EE WA TUQADDIRU MINAL AMRIL MAH’TOOMI FEE LAYLATIL QADRI MINAL QAZ”AAA-IL LAD’EE LAA YURADDU WA LAA YUBADDALU AN YAKTUBANEE MIN H’UJJAAJI BAYTIKAL H’ARAAMIL MABROORI H’AJJUHUMUL MASHKOORI SAA’-YUHUMUL MAGHFOORI D’UNOOBUHUMUL MUKAFFARI A’NHUM SAYYI-AATUHUM WAJ-A’L FEEMAA TAQZ”EE WA TUQADDIRU AN TUT’EELA U’MREE WA TUWASSI-A’ A’LAYAA RIZQEE WA TOO-ADDIYA A’NNEE AMAANATEE WA DAYNEE AAMEEN YAA RABBAL A’ALAMEEN
In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. O High, O Mighty, O Forgiver, O Merciful, You are the Mighty Lord, who has none like Him, and He is the All Hearing, the All Seeing. This is a month which You have made; exalted, honored, ennobled and excelled over the other months. It is the month in which You have made fasting obligatory on me, and it is the month of Ramadhan, in which You sent down the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, having clear signs of guidance and distinction. (2:185)You have placed in it the night of power, and made it better than a thousand months. (97:2) O One who favours, and none favours You, favour me by saving me from the fire, amongst the ones You favour, and make me enter Heaven, by Your mercy, O the most Merciful.
Transliteration

YAA A’LIYYU YAA A’Z’EEM YAA GHAFOORU YAA RAH’EEM ANTAR RABBUL A’Z’EEMUL LAD’EE LAYSA KAMITHLIHEE SHAY-UN WA HUWAS SAMEE-U’L BAS’EER WA HAAD’AA SHAHRUN A’Z’Z’AMTAHU WA KARRAMTAHU WA SHARRAFTAHU WA FAZ”Z”ALTAHU A’LASH SHUHOORI WA HUWASH SHARUL LAD’EE FARAZ”TA S’IYAAMAHU A’LAYYA WA SHAHRU RAMAZ”AANAL LAD’EE ANZALTA FEEHIL QUR-AANA HUDAN LIN NAASI WA BAYYINAATIM MINAL HUDAA WAL FURQAAN WA JA-A’LTA FEEHI LAYLATAL QADR WA JA-A’LTAHAA KHAYRAN MIN ALFI SHAHR FA-YAA D’AL MANNI WA LAA YUMANNU A’LAYKA MUNNA A’LAYYA BI-FAKAAKI RAQABATEE MINAN NAARI FEEMAN TAMUNNU A’LAYHI WA ADKHILNIL JANNATA BI-RAH’MATIKA YAA ARH’AMAR RAAH’IMEEN
4.Dua Hajj Download mp3

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. O Allah, from and through Thee I seek fulfillment of my needs and wants, and (like) him who turns to others for satisfaction of (his) desire, I do not make a request to any one but to Thee alone, (who) has no associate. I beseech Thee in the name of Thy kindness and indulgence to send blessings on Muhammad and on his children and, in this month, arrange for me the means that enable me to visit Thy Holy House to perform the "Hajj", in right frame of mind, accepted, pure, sincere, (so that) I am consoled by its pleasant sight, and my rank is raised. Keep me alive in a manner that I close my eyes and turn them aside (from ugliness), that I watch over my boundaries of action, that I desist from all that which Thou has prohibited, till nothing comes in my way unto Thy obedience, and my fearfulness of Thy punishment, and the lovable actions, and keeping aloof from the despicable deeds which Thou has forbidden (all that Thou has done for ease, happiness and welfare) and that bounties which Thou has bestowed upon me. I make a request to Thee to let me die striving in Thy way, adhering to the ideals of Thy Prophet and Thy dearest representatives. I make a request to Thee to let me live opposing and putting an end on Thy enemies and the enemies of Thy Messenger. I make a request to Thee to give me the honour of condemning those who harbour such hostility from among Thy creation, but never touching any one of Thy friends. O Allah keep me on the way of the Messenger. Allah is sufficient for me and enough is that which Allah wants

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE BIKA WA MINKA AT’LUBU H’AAJATEE WA MANT ALABA H’AAJATAN ILAN NAAS FA-INNEE LAA AT’LUBU H’AAJATEE ILLAA MINKA WAH’DAKA LAA SHAREEKA LAKA WA AS-ALUKA BI-FAZ”LIKA WA RIZ”WAANIKA AN TUS’ALLIYA A’LAA MUH’AMMADIN WA AHLI BAYTIHI WA AN TAJ-A’LA LEE FEE A’AMEE HAAD’AA ILAA BAYTIKAL H’ARAAM SABEELAN H’AJJATAN MABROORATAN MUTAQABBALATAN ZAAKIYATAN KHAALIS’ATAN LAKA TAQARRUBIHAA A’YNEE WA TARFA-U’ BIHAA DARAJATEE WA TARZUQANEE AN AGHUZ”Z” A BAS’AREE WA AN AH’FAZ’A FARJEE WA AN AKUFFA BIHAA A’N JAMEE-I’ MAH’AARIMIKA H’ATTAA LAA YAKOOONA SHAY-UN ATHARA I’NDEE MIN T’AA-A’TIKA WA KHASHYATIKA WAL A’MALI BIMAA AH’BABTA WATTARKI LIMAA KARIHTA WA NAHAYTA A’NHU WAJ-A’L D’AALIKA FEE YUSRIN WA YASAARIN WA A’AFIYATIN WA MAA AN-A’MTA BIHEE A’LAYYA WA AS-ALUKA AN TAJ-A’LA WAFAATEE QATLAN FEE SABEELIKA TAH’TA RAAYATI NABIYYIKA MA-A’ AWLIYAAA-IKA WA AS-ALUKA AN TAQTULA BEE AA’-DAAA-IKA WA AA’-DAAA-A RASOOLIKA
WA AS-ALUKA AN TUKRIMANEE BI-HAWAANI MAN SHIA-TA MIN KHALQIKA WA LAA TUHINNEE BI-KARAAMATI AH’ADIN MIN AWLIYAAA-IKA
ALLAAHUMMAJ-A’L LEE MA-A’R RASOOLI SABEELAA H’ASBIYALLAAHU MAA SHAAA ALLAAH

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ya Zallazi Kana Qabla Kulli Shay

In his book of al-Muqniah, Shaykh al-Mufid has narrated on the authority of Ali ibn Mahziyar that Imam Muhammad Taqi (as) said that it is recommended to recite the following supplication as many times as possible throughout the days and nights of the month of Ramadhan:

يَا ذَا الّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَ كُلّ شَيْءٍ،
O He Who has been always there before all things,
ثُمّ خَلَقَ كُلّ شَيْءٍ،
And He then created all things,
ثُمّ يَبْقَى وَيَفْنَى كُلّ شَيْءٍ،
And He then stays while all things vanish.
يَا ذَا الّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ،
O He Whose like in not found at all
وَيَا ذَا الّذِي لَيْسَ فِي السّمَاوَاتِ العُلَى،
O He; neither in the highest heavens,
وَلا فِي الأَرَضِينَ السّفْلَى،
Nor in the lowest layers of the earth
وَلا فَوْقَهُنّ وَلا تَحْتَهُنّ وَلا بَيْنَهُنّ إلهٌ يُعْبَدُ غَيْرُهُ،
Nor above them, nor beneath them, nor there is between them any god that is worshipped save Him.
لَكَ الحَمْدُ حَمْداً لا يَقْوَى عَلَى إحْصَائِهِ إلاَّ أَنْتَ،
To You be the praise that none can count save You,
فَصَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ صَلاةً لا يَقْوَى عَلَى إحْصَائِهَا إلاَّ أَنْتَ.
So, please bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad with the blessings that none can count save You.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Prayer For First Day of Ramadhan

Perform Ghusl in flowing water and splash thirty palmfuls of water on the head. This is a cause for prevention of illnesses throughout the year.
Wash your face with a palm full of rose water to avoid poverty and distress and splash a palm full on the head to avoid delirium during the year.
Recite two rakaats in the first of which, after the recitation of Sura Hamd, recite Sura Ikhlaas thirty times, and in the second after the recitation of Sura Hamd recite Sura Qadr thirty times and after the prayers give alms. Whoever does so , will have purchased from Allah swt his safety for the month.
If supplication 44 in Sahifa Sajjadiya was not recited on the first night, it should be recited in the day.
Recite two rakaats, in the first of which after Sura Hamd recite Sura Fath (Sura no 48). In the second rakat after the recitation of Sura Hamd recite any sura you wish. Allah will keep away form you all evil during the year and keep you in his protection until the following year.

Recite this supplication after Fajar
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allahumma qad hadhara shahru ramadhana

O Allah: the month of Ramadhan has commenced,

wa qadi aftardhta `alayna siyamahu

And You have made obligatory upon us to observe fasting during it,

wa anzalta fihi alqur’ana

And You revealed the Qur'an in it,

hudan lilnnasi wa bayyinatin mina alhuda wal-furqani

As guidance for people and clear proofs of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong).

allahumma a`inna `ala siyamihi

O Allah: (please) help us observe fasting in it,

wa taqabbalhu minna

And accept it from us,

wa tasallamhu minna

And receive it from us (with acceptance)

wa sallimhu lana fi yusrin minka wa `afiyatin

And keep it sound for us with easiness and good health from You.

innaka `ala kulli shay‘in qadirun

You verily have power over all things.

Allahumma Rabba Shahr Ramadhan

Al-Kaf'amiy, in al-Balad al-Amin and al-Misbah has quoted the Kitab al-Ikhtiyar of Sayyid ibn Baqi that if one recites the following supplication everyday in Ramazan, Allah will forgive the sins of forty years of his age:
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O Allah: the Lord of the month of Ramadhan,
In which You revealed the Qur'an,
And You imposed fasting on Your servants:
(Please) confer upon me with the pilgrimage to Your Holy House,
In this year and every year,
And forgive my serious sins,
For none can forgive them save You,
O the Lord of majesty and honor.


اللّهُمّ رَبّ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
الّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ القُرْآنَ،
وَافْتَرَضْتَ عَلَى عِبَادِكَ فِيهِ الصّيَامَ،
ارْزُقْنِي حَجّ بَيْتِكَ الحَرَامِ
فِي هذَا العَامِ وَفِي كُلّ عَامٍ،
وَاغْفِرْ لِيَ الذّنُوبَ العِظَامَ
فَإنّهُ لا يَغْفِرُهَا غَيْرُكَ
يَا ذَا الجَلالِ وَالإكْرَامِ.


Transliteration
allahumma rabba shahri ramazan
alladhy anzalta fihi alqur’ana
waftaradta `ala`ibadika fihi alssiy¡ma
urzuqny hajj baytika alhar¡mi
fi hadh¡ al`a¡mi wa fi kulli `amin
waghfir liya aldhdhunuba al izama
fa’innahu la yaghfiruha
ghayruka ya dhaljali wal-ikram

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Allahumma Hadha Shahr Ramadan

Recite following supplication tat is mentioned by Shaykh al-Tusi ans ayyid ibn-Tawus:

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The most Advisable Acts Of Ramadhan

In his book of al-Muqniah, Shaykh Mufid has mentioned that one of the most advisable acts of Ramadhan is to send blessings on the Holy Prophet at one hundred times a day; and the more the better.It is recommended to repeat the following dua one hundred times everyday in Ramadhan

Glory be to Him Who can expose anyone to loss or to gain.
سُبْحَانَ القَاضِي بِالحَقّ،
Glory be to the Judge with truth.
سُبْحَانَ العَلِيّ الأَعْلَى،
Glory be to the Most High, the All-high.
سُبْحَانَهُ وَبِحَمْدِهِ،
Glory be to Him and to glorify Him is one of His graces.
سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
Glory be to Him and most Exalted be He.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Allahumma Inni Asaluka Min Fazlik

Both Shaykh Tusi and Sayyid ibn-Tawus have recommended saying the following supplication throughout the days of the month of Ramadhan:
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