Morning and Evening

This Ramadan… I will remember Allah عز وجل in the morning and the evening.

               ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“Praise and thanks belong to Allah, who gives us life after He has caused us to die, and to Him is the return.” [Bukhari]

Steady and unrelenting, my heart beats and I am reminded of Him, subhanahu wa ta’ala. I inhale sharply and raise my head from a web of dreams, woven in my sleep. I have another day, another opportunity to worship, and another chance to remember my Maker.

The water, frigid in the morning air, cleanses me and I am ready to stand before my Lord. I bury my face in my hands and thank Allah for blessing me with another day. My thumb traces the horizontal lines of my fingers and my lips motion for words of remembrance. I quickly call to mind a verse in which Allah says,

“And remember your Lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and in awe, without loudness, by words in the morning and in the afternoon, and don’t be among those who are neglectful.” [Al-A’raf, 7:205]

How will I remember my Lord today?

                ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

As Ramadan continues to unfold, we inch closer and closer to seeing another Ramadan depart, and it’s crucial that we utilize the time we’ve been given. We have to engage in moments of active reflection and ask ourselves: How are we remembering Allah subahanahu wa ta’ala? Do our actions or deeds inspire remembrance? Maybe our words or our surroundings inspire us to acknowledge the One we owe everything to?

The virtues of remembering Allah are countless, and the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “He who remembers his Lord and he who does not remember his Lord, are like the living and the dead.” [Bukhari]

To choose to remember Allah is not just to choose a better life; it’s to choose to live. Making dhikr and reminding ourselves of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is a huge part of our faith. So much so that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala tells us to be reminded of Him various times in the Qur’an when He says,

“Oh you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance.” [Al-Ahzab, 33:41]

And He says, “Therefore remember Me. I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and never show Me ingratitude.” [Al-Baqarah, 2:152]

A heart suspended on the edge of consciousness can be stirred to life and left trembling with simple dhikr or reminders of Allah. So what are some practical ways we can begin to incorporate active remembrance of Allah into our lives?

1) Don’t allow your du’aas and dhikr to become mundane or tedious. Consistently memorize new adkhar and du’aas to recite and fully understand the significance and power of the words you’re uttering.

2) Learn and study the virtues of constantly being in the remembrance of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’la. Read about our pious predecessors and how they would strive to remember Allah subhanahu wa ta’la in all aspects and avenues of their lives. This will strengthen your own zeal and conviction.

3) Encourage others to recite their adkhar whenever and wherever they can. Try posting them on a wall at home for family to see, or agree with your friends that you’ll remind each other to make dhikr. Also, take any opportunity you can to teach others about the invocations found in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Even something as simple as a person sneezing can be a learning point (see Fortress of a Muslim, p. 186).

4) Look at every inch of your life as a continual blessing. Don’t look in the mirror without reciting your du’aa and thanking Allah for creating you in such a perfect fashion. Don’t break your fast without being utterly grateful for the meal you’re about to eat. Don’t leave or enter the masjid without seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Every situation is a cause to be reminded of Allah subhanahu wa ta’la.

5) Set aside some time that’s only for making dhikr, even if it’s just five minutes a day. Get into the habit of spending five minutes after Fajr and five minutes after ‘Asr to say your morning and evening adhkar. These phrases are a protection for you during the day and night.

6) Read and learn about the seerah of the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam. Learning and reciting the same adkhar and du’aas as the Prophet did will only strengthen your love for him, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

While thinking about dhikr, I’m reminded of a powerful statement Sheikh Yasir Qadhi made during one of his lectures. He said, “Constantly thinking about someone is a sign of true love – so how often do those who claim to love Allah remember Him?” Are we people who claim to truly love Allah? How often do we remember Him? How often are we thankful to Him, subhanahu wa ta’ala?

May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala make us of those who continually remember Him. May He grant us the mercy of constantly being in a stare of thankfulness and gratitude and may He grant His love and mercy as we embark on the rest of the blessed month. Ameen.

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A Positive Light

This Ramadan… I will be positive.

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In a hadith qudsi, the Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, Allah says: “I am as My slave thinks I am; and I am with him when he calls upon Me.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

                    ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

This Ramadan, one thing will change everything. I am going to completely change my mindset and actually think positively. Negative thoughts eat away at the joy once they are inside you. They weigh heavy on our minds and do no good.

So this Ramadan, I’m going to change this one small thing about myself but allow it to change everything else in my life, bi’ithnAllah. I want to be positive with the people around me.

This Ramadan, I will ask Allah to forgive me and make me forgiving towards others. In a month when I am desperately seeking forgiveness, how can I be stingy in forgiving others? On top of that, I am going to look at the good within people instead of looking for faults; and if I see a fault, I am going to make excuses for them.

Umar radiya Allahu ‘anhu said, “Don’t think ill of a statement which comes from another Muslim if you can find a good interpretation for it.” Whether their words or their actions, I’ll look for that good interpretation when it comes to the people around me.

More importantly, I want to be positive in my thoughts of Allah. I will have yaqeen (certainty) that when I make du’aa, my du’aa will be answered… If not now, then later, I just have to keep asking. If not in the way I want it, then in a way that’s better, or in a way that pushes away evil from me. If not in this world, then because Allah is saving a greater reward for me in the Hereafter. Whatever Allah decrees, and whenever He decrees it, I will know it’s for the best, even if I don’t see the wisdom right away.

I want to be positive with my situation and my circumstances. I am going to trust in Allah’s plan and know that whatever happened or is happening, or will happen, is for the best. I am going to direct myself to look on the bright side of every situation and not think or say negative things…

This Ramadan, I will know that Allah is with me… and this is the thought which will drive me in all endeavors of becoming a positive, optimistic, seeing-the-good-in-people-Muslim. When Prophet Musa and those with him were chased by the Pharoah, the Children of Israel were sure they were going to be destroyed. But Musa alayhi assalam was positive, because he had trust in Allah: Thus [We turned Pharaoh’s people out] and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them. * So they pursued them at sunrise. * And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Musa said,

“Indeed, we are sure to be overtaken!” [Musa] said, “No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” [26:59-62]

Everything is a choice… and this Ramadan, I choose happiness. I will be positive despite the situation… after all, Allah is with me.

A Positive Light

This Ramadan… I will be positive.

                ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

In a hadith qudsi, the Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, Allah says: “I am as My slave thinks I am; and I am with him when he calls upon Me.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

                    ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

This Ramadan, one thing will change everything. I am going to completely change my mindset and actually think positively. Negative thoughts eat away at the joy once they are inside you. They weigh heavy on our minds and do no good.

So this Ramadan, I’m going to change this one small thing about myself but allow it to change everything else in my life, bi’ithnAllah. I want to be positive with the people around me.

This Ramadan, I will ask Allah to forgive me and make me forgiving towards others. In a month when I am desperately seeking forgiveness, how can I be stingy in forgiving others? On top of that, I am going to look at the good within people instead of looking for faults; and if I see a fault, I am going to make excuses for them.

Umar radiya Allahu ‘anhu said, “Don’t think ill of a statement which comes from another Muslim if you can find a good interpretation for it.” Whether their words or their actions, I’ll look for that good interpretation when it comes to the people around me.

More importantly, I want to be positive in my thoughts of Allah. I will have yaqeen (certainty) that when I make du’aa, my du’aa will be answered… If not now, then later, I just have to keep asking. If not in the way I want it, then in a way that’s better, or in a way that pushes away evil from me. If not in this world, then because Allah is saving a greater reward for me in the Hereafter. Whatever Allah decrees, and whenever He decrees it, I will know it’s for the best, even if I don’t see the wisdom right away.

I want to be positive with my situation and my circumstances. I am going to trust in Allah’s plan and know that whatever happened or is happening, or will happen, is for the best. I am going to direct myself to look on the bright side of every situation and not think or say negative things…

This Ramadan, I will know that Allah is with me… and this is the thought which will drive me in all endeavors of becoming a positive, optimistic, seeing-the-good-in-people-Muslim. When Prophet Musa and those with him were chased by the Pharoah, the Children of Israel were sure they were going to be destroyed. But Musa alayhi assalam was positive, because he had trust in Allah: Thus [We turned Pharaoh’s people out] and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them. * So they pursued them at sunrise. * And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Musa said,

“Indeed, we are sure to be overtaken!” [Musa] said, “No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” [26:59-62]

Everything is a choice… and this Ramadan, I choose happiness. I will be positive despite the situation… after all, Allah is with me.

This Ramadan…Be Grateful

This Ramadan… I will be grateful.

Pick a day when you’ll try to be grateful to Allah. Allah deserves our thanks all the time, and we shouldn’t limit our thanks in any way… but set aside one day when you’re more grateful than normal. A day when you wake up and go to sleep, and your whole goal is to be grateful to Allah, to thank Him, subhanahu wa ta’ala, as much as you possibly can. When you rise from sleep, thank Allah with all your heart for the new day, the chance to start over. The chance to grow and get closer to Him.

Thank Him for the air you’re taking in with your lungs, and for each breath He’s given you – without having to do anything on your part – since the day you were born. When you stand up to pray, thank Him. Each time you recite the Fatiha – all seventeen plus times in your day – don’t pass over the phrase “Alhamdu-lillahi Rabb al-‘aalameen” without letting a feeling of gratefulness wash over. Gratefulness that you’re able to stand and bow down before your Lord, Most High. And when your prayer is over, and you sit down to remember Allah… as you count “alhamdulillah” thirty-three times… reflect on all the things you’re grateful for. Thank Allah for your eyesight. Thank Him for your hearing. Thank Him for the fingers you’re counting on in that moment, then thank Him for your body and your health. Thank Him for the clothes you’re wearing, and the closet full of clothes at home. Thank him for the roof over your head and the family He’s blessed you with. With each “alhamdulillah” you utter, make sure you’re absolutely grateful in that instant for something.

And don’t forget to thank Him for making you Muslim. When you’re ready to break your fast, and you take that first bite out of your date, don’t forget that He’s just fed your hunger, and thank Him for it. As you let the first sip of water into your parched mouth and down your throat, drink in the gratefulness. Be grateful during iftar for each bite of food; be grateful for the comfort of going hungry during the day, all the while knowing you’ll have something to break your fast with at night. And thank Allah for the chance to have your du’aa answered that day while you were fasting.

And while you’re being grateful to Allah, don’t forget that part of being grateful to Him, subhanahu wa ta’ala, is also being grateful to people and taking the time to thank them. Thank them for being there for you. Thank them for helping you. Thank them for their assistance, big and small, and for doing things which make your existence easier and more pleasant. Go through your whole day this way, trying your best to be grateful. Whenever you notice anything good in your life, be sure to attribute it back to Allah ‘azza wa jall.

The more you try to count Allah’s blessings, the more you’ll realize the truth of Allah’s statement in the Qur’an,

And if you should count the favors of Allah, you would never be able to enumerate them. Truly! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [16:18] No matter how hard we try, we’ll never be grateful enough to Allah. But the harder we do try, the happier and more satisfied we’ll become with what we have, and the more Allah’s blessings will show in our lives: And (remember) when your Lord declared,

‘If you are grateful, I will certainly increase you (in favor); but if you are thankless, indeed, My punishment is severe.'” [14:7]

Don’t let this Ramadan leave without becoming a more grateful person than when the month began!

This Ramadan…Give charity,Daily

This Ramadan… I will give charity, daily.

“The Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alayhi wasallam, was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during Ramadan, when Jibreel met him. Jibreel used to come to him every night and teach him the Qur’an. The Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wasallam, was certainly the most generous person, even more generous than the strong, uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Outside, in the lit up parking lot of the masjid, you walk slowly towards your car, relishing in the gentle caress of the wind against your face and its playful tug at your hijab, inhaling deeply the warm, earthy scent lifting up from the ground where the rain fell fresh just moments before. “More generous than the strong, uncontrollable wind, he was,” you mouth the words to yourself lovingly, reverently. “Salla Allahu alayhi wasallam…” It is almost midnight after the third night of praying taraweeh; and as your feet carry you away from Allah’s house, you feel somehow lighter. The Imam’s recitation included ayahs from Surat al-Baqarah related to spending, and in the short talk in between, he gave a reminder about sadaqah, about the spirit of giving in Ramadan.

So on your way out of the masjid, you emptied the contents of your wallet without counting, bills and coins and a stray peppermint that fell through the slot of the donation box before you had time to catch it. You got paid at work today, so you know you had over fifty dollars in cash. It wasn’t so much your purse that felt lighter, though, it was your heart. Lighter for having given. Lighter for having heard the Words of Allah and the example of His Messenger, and rushing forward to follow them.

This Ramadan, I will give sadaqah daily, you decide… But a worry settles in: How will you keep it up? If tonight you gave freely without hesitating, what will you do tomorrow? Do you empty your pockets daily for the sake of Allah? Where will you get the money? If you do what you just did tonight, you’ll be broke in no time… Your heart aches because you want so much – in your own, small way – to resemble a generous wind… Maybe you can just be a zephyr, small, gentle breeze that it is. But with so little to give, how do you compete with the generosity of the generous? How do you vie for a similar reward? Allah tabaraka wa ta’ala is so Gracious, and so Appreciative… He doesn’t ask much of us. He doesn’t burden us with more than we can bear. He’s not in need of our charity, but He asks us to give for our own good, our own purity. And He loves that when we do something, we keep it up and do it consistently. Your sadaqah doesn’t have to be immense. And when times are tight, remember that it doesn’t have to be just monetary. If half a date can save you from Hell-fire, then don’t be shy to give half a date. If smiling in the face of your sister can be charity, then smile once with the hope that Allah will accept it, the hope that this one act will leave you smiling eternally in the Hereafter. If you can’t spend much, then give a little, but give consistently. Give a little, but give sincerely. Give what you can now with the intention of giving more when times are easier. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala doesn’t look at our pockets, but at your hearts. All He asks us is to be sincere to Him and truly seek His Face and His Pleasure. Give of your time. Give of your skills. Give whatever you can, but give. And do it daily.

If you have much, give from the bottom of your heart… and if you don’t, give of your heart.” – Sheikh Abdulbary Yahya
Perspective:
This Ramadan, change your perspective on sadaqah. The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wasallam) advised: “Save yourself from Hell-fire, even by giving half a date in charity” [Bukhari]. Where can half a date take us if we were to consider it at face-value? Really, what is half a date in terms of Allah’s immeasurable wealth? So break your fast with half a date, and if you have nothing else, then – literally – give the other half to someone who hasn’t broken their fast yet. And be amazed at Allah’s generosity and mercy.

Sadaqa list:

– Put a bit of change in the sadaqa box on your way out from taraweeh. Whenever you receive a gift of money, or your salary, or any monetary benefit, take out a portion from it out of gratefulness to Allah.

– Donate a few volunteer hours to help out at the masjid. – Help out with local projects such as food drives, volunteer at soup kitchens, etc.

– Share a good word, spread some knowledge, impart beneficial advice, lend an ear.

– After iftar, help clean up and pick up leftover litter if you’re at the masjid.

– You’re fasting. Consider all the coffee/tea/snack breaks you would take on a normal basis, and donate that amount for the sake of Allah.

– Smile. Sincerely. At everyone you meet at the masjid. And greet them well.

– Set up water bottles at taraweeh prayer for the worshippers so they can quench their thirst and make du’aa for you.

– Prepare food for others and partake in the extra reward, not only for that of charity but for their fast as well.

– Donate your time to your loved ones, and those that you may have been neglecting throughout the year.

– Pray Salat ad-Duha. The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “Each morning, there is a charity due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Each utterance of Allah’s glorification (subhan Allah) is an act of charity; every utterance of praise (ahamdulillah) is an act of charity; every utterance of affirmation of His Oneness (la ilaha illa Allah) is an act of charity; every utterance of affirmation of His Greatness (Allahu Akbar) is an act of charity; enjoining good and forbidding evil is an act of charity. And it’s enough for all of this to offer two rak’ahs of Duha.” [Sahih Muslim]

This Ramadan, give charity daily… Look for unique ways to be charitable and make the lives of those around you even a tiny bit better. Consider sadaqah an amazing and exciting opportunity for you to draw closer to your Lord.

This Ramadan…Invest in your hereaftet

This Ramadan… I will invest in my hereafter.

When a man insulted the life of this world in the presence of ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Ali radiya Allahu anhu responded by saying, The dunya is an abode of truth for the one who is truthful in it; and it is an abode of safety for the one who understands it perfectly; and it is an abode of richness for the one who prepares his provisions in it. This dunya is the place where Allah’s revelation came down. And it’s the place where Allah’s Prophets prayed and bowed down. And it’s the marketplace for the allies of Allah… in this marketplace, they received Allah’s mercy, and earned His jannah.

We need to understand this word for what it truly is: Temporary, yes. Insignificant compared to the next life, yes. But this world is also our only chance to work for a better hereafter, and we should embrace the blessings Allah has given us and treat it as such. This Ramadan, invest in your hereafter by building your home in jannah. Here are some simple, easy phrases and words everyone can take advantage of.  Say them on the nights of Ramadan for multiplied reward, especially if it lands on the night that is greater than a thousand months. The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said:

1. “Whoever recites “Qul huwa Allahu ahad” [the entire Surah] ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” [Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer]

2. “Whoever says: ‘Glorified is Allah, the Most Great, and praised is He’ [Subhan Allah al-‘Adhim wa bi-Hamdih] will have a date palm planted for him in Paradise.” [Sahih al-Jami; # 5531]

3. “I met Ibrahim alayhi assalam on al-Israa’, and he said to me: ‘O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Ummah, and tell them that Jannah is of pure land and sweet water. It’s expanse is vast and levelled, and its plants are, Subhan Allah, wal-hamdu-lillah, wa la illaha illa Allah, wa Allahu akbar.‘” [Sahih at-Tirmithi]

4. “Shall I not point you to one of the treasures of Paradise? [It is], ‘There is no power and no might except in Allah’ [La hawla wa la quwatta illa billah].” [Bukhari]

5. “Whoever is stricken with sadness, grief, sickness or hardship and says: ‘Allah is my Lord, without any partners’ [Allahu Rabbi, la sharika lah], then it will be removed from him.” [Sahih al-Jami’; # 6040]

6. “Whoever ate something, then said: ‘Praise be to Allah who has fed me this food and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part’ [al-Hamdu lillah aladhi at’amani hadha wa Razaqnih bi ghayr hawlin minni wa la quwwa] is forgiven his past and future sins. And whoever wears a garment and says: ‘Praise be to Allah who has clothed me with this garment and provided it for me without any strength or power on my part’ [al-Hamdu lillah aladhi kasani hadha at-thawb wa Razaqnih bi ghayr hawlin minni wa la quwwa] is forgiven his past and future sins.” [Sahih al-Jami’; # 6086]

7. “Whoever enters the marketplace and says: ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah who has no partners, for Him is the Dominion, and for Him is all Praise, He brings life and He causes death, and He is Alive and does not die, in His Hand is all good, and He is able to do all things,’ [La ilaha ill-Allah, Wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-Mulk, wa lahul-Hamd, yuhyiyy wa yumit, wa Huwa Hayyun la yamut, bi Yadihil-Khayr wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir] then Allah will write one million good deeds for him, and will wipe away one million of his bad deeds, and will raise him one million levels and will build a home for him in Paradise.” [‘Sahih al-Jami’; # 6231]

8. “Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times [Allahumma inni as’aluk al-Jannah], then Paradise will say: “O Allah! Enter him into Paradise!” And whoever seeks protection with Allah from the Fire three times [Allahumma najjini min an-Nar], the Fire will say: “O Allah! Protect him from the Fire!”” [Reported by at-Tirmidhi, and it is authentic]

9. “Whoever seeks forgiveness for the believing men and the believing women, Allah writes for him – for every believing man and woman – a good deed.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad, and it is authentic]

10. “Whoever asks Allah sincerely for martyrdom [Allahumma inni as’aluk ash-shahadah], Allah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed.” [Bukhari; # 1909]

11. “No one witnesses that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that I am Allah’s Messenger – truthfully, from his heart – except that Allah makes the Fire of Hell forbidden to touch him.” [Reported by Muslim, Ahmad, and al-Bayhaqi] ______________ List largely taken from http://iskandrani.wordpress.com, which contains a few more phrases; make sure you check out the original post!