Elevating Your Spirituality in The Month of Ramadan While Fasting

The common perception among people regarding Ramadan and fasting which Muslims do in it is that it is only to cause suffering to the human body where the body has to live from dawn to dusk without drinking or eating anything. Thus, for such people fasting is only a means of depriving the body of its nutrition and keeping one’s self hungry.

Fasting is not just nutrition deprivation and hunger; rather it is much more than that. It is an exquisite means of spiritual purification and transcendence. Therefore, thinking of fasting as a compulsion for keeping oneself hungry is undermining its great potential that it carries. The lines below discuss the spiritual importance of fasting and how it can help in elevating the spiritual stature you currently hold.

Fasting And Spirituality:

In Quran, Allah Almighty says:

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.” (2:183)

From this ayah it is clear that the primary objective of fasting is to help people learn self-restraint. The objective of self-restraint is to prevent a person from going down the path of evil and sticking to the righteous path no matter how hard the temptations get. Thus, this sticking to righteousness is what is spirituality all about and when a person keeps a fast, he or she is not keeping hunger and thirst, rather he or she is actually trying to make his or her spirit better. Ergo, fasting leads to self-restraint, which then leads to a pure and serene spirit.

The hunger and thirst in fasting surely helps in increasing self-restraint, which is a means to transcend spiritually. However, in the month of Ramadan, besides hunger and thirst in fasting, there are other ways to elevate spiritually. The lines below discuss those ways with the help of which one can transcend spiritually in the month of Ramadan.

Offer Prayers Regularly:

Prayers are the most effective and most common means of spiritual purification for a Muslim. Moreover, during the month of Ramadan, the reward and the intentions related with prayers increase and a Muslim feels more close and more associated with the prayers, which ultimately results in greater serenity and peace during prayer. Therefore, in order to transcend spiritually during the month of Ramadan, offering regular prayers with congregation is the best means of doing so, hence every Muslim must make sure that no prayer is skipped or delayed during Ramadan. Also, checkout for the prayers you can perform during the Month of Ramadan while fasting.

Connect With Quran:

The best and perhaps the most essential tool that can help in providing spiritual guidance to a Muslim is the Holy Quran. It is a book that contains guidance and each word of it serves as a means of purification of the soul and spiritual transcendence. In Quran, Allah says:

“Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran, as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between the right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend time in fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. God intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” (2:185)

From this ayah it is clear that Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan and it is the source of guidance and it contains signs. This guidance and signs are towards and in the path of Allah Almighty and this is the path of spirituality in Islam. Therefore, when one connects with Quran, actually one connects with the signs that help purify the spirit of a Muslim, which ultimately leads to rising to a higher spiritual status. Ramadan is a special month in which Muslims can particularly pay more attention towards developing strong relations with Quran in Ramadan. Therefore, you are strongly suggested to make use of this opportunity.

In addition, it is also a great opportunity for those who are naive to reading Quran in Arabic. You can daily take sometime out of your schedule and Join the Online Quran Tutoring Academy to start learning the divine book in this holy month of Ramadan.

Make Dua:

It is a part of Muslim belief that the reward of any effort is dependent upon Allah Almighty and He rewards, as He will. Therefore, thinking that offering a particular prayer, or reciting a particular part of Quran guarantees spiritual elevation would be naïve. Until and unless a person is true at heart and supplicates to Allah Almighty for His graciousness, till then all the efforts would be mere efforts and they wont translate into spirituality. Ergo, it is imperative that a Muslim makes Duas in the month of Ramadan to Allah Almighty for helping in spiritual awakening and its elevation later on.

Contemplate:

When it comes to spirituality, there is a grave need of contemplation, as it is contemplation that helps a person realize his or her place in this world and the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon him or her. For a Muslim it is imperative to contemplate and ponder over the sings in this world that point towards Allah Almighty, see all the blessings that He has bestowed upon humans, and how despite all our transgression He keeps on blessing us and wants us to repent on our bad deeds only. Therefore, when a Muslim tries finding answer to such questions, it ultimately leads to spiritual awakening, and when this awakening is guided by Quran, the results I elevation in levels of spirituality.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, for a Muslim it is imperative to think of fasting as something more than mere hunger and thirst. One should consider Ramadan fasting rules to get maximum blessings as well as a means of spiritual elevation and opt for some of the aforementioned tools that can help in making the spirit transcend at a higher level.

Significance of Offering The Isha Prayer and Its Benefits

Muslims are bound to learn Salaah and offer it five times a day, namely Fajr, Dhuhur, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. There is a great implication in praying daily, as it improves the link between a man and the Creator of the universe. It also serves as a means of forgiveness of sins and earning of lots of blessings from Allah SWT. Although every Namaz is equally important, but Fajr and Isha are considered as a measure of differentiating between Momineen (true believers) and Munafiqeen (pretenders of faith). Abu Hurrerah (R.A) narrates the Holy Prophet (PBUH) saying as:

“The most difficult salah for the munafiqeen is isha and fajr. Had they known the rewards for them they would have attended them even if they had to crawl on their knees.”(Bukhari)

As, it generally gets tougher to pray at the times of night and early morning, so it vastly increases the reward for executing Isha and Fajr, and the incentive itself could not be any better than being included among the ranks of the staunch disciples of Islam. Moreover, since it is our common belief that prayers always have a soothing effect on its practitioner, so does Isha, in the form of a pleasant sleep at night.

Now let us discuss some of the essential constituents of this prayer:

Time Duration

Every prayer has its specific time to offer, and mostly have strict schedule like Fajr, Dhuhur, Asr, and Maghrib. However, the interval of Isha is considerably far stretch than the rest, which is normally said to be starting from the end of Maghrib and concluding before Fajr. But specifically speaking, its desirable session lasts right before midnight according to the following Hadith described by Abdullah b. ‘Amr reported (R.A):

“The time of the noon prayer is when the sun passes the meridian and a man’s shadow is the same (length) as his height, (and it lasts) as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not come; the time for the afternoon prayer is as long as the sun has not become pale; the time of the evening prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended; the time of the night prayer is up to the middle of the average night and the time of the morning prayer is from the appearance of dawn, as long as the sun has not risen; but when the sun rises, refrain from prayer for it rises between the horns of the devil.” (Muslim)

In short, time period of every Namaz lasts as late as the beginning of next Salah, with the exception of the one in the morning, which only remains up to time of daybreak. As per above stated saying of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), Isha prayer has ideal timing till midnight, but there is some relaxation for those who fall asleep early and can accomplish this very Salah till the start of Fajr, but that is considered as Makhrooh (uninvited), yet not forbidden. Abu Qatadah (R.A) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah said:

“There is no negligence in sleeping, but the negligence lies in not praying a prayer until the time of the next prayer has come. And whosoever does so should pray as soon as he becomes aware of the negligence.” (Muslim)

That is why many Muslim scholars have spoken in favor of offering the night prayer till Fajr however perfect time for Isha remains up to one third of a night as per following Hadith narrated by Abu Hurrerah (R.A):

“If it were not to be a hardship on the Ummah, I would have ordered them to delay the Esha Salah until a third or half of the night had passed.” (Tirmidhi)

Since, one normally feels tired at night time, so it is advisable to complete this obligation before going to slumber, as it is difficult to wake up afterwards, and take care of prayer timings, so that one may not miss the prayers.

Making Wudu

Although it seems too common to mention having maintained proper ablution for Namaz, but unfortunately some of us do not care much about the delicacy of this matter, and opt for carrying out consecutive prayers through a single wudu. This act might result in cancellation of Salah if one was not able to uphold a state of purity for any reason in between two prayers, as it is necessary to remain clean both physically and spiritually before every Namaz.

Number Of Rakats

The quantity of Rakats included in Isha prayer in the ascending order is as follows:

1. 4 Sunna (Ghair Muakadda): not obligatory but result in “Ajar” (blessings) from Allah
2. 4 Fard: compulsory to perform along with Imam (person leading prayer)
3. 2 Sunnah (Muakadda): part of Namaz, which need to be implemented after 4 Fard Rakats. Since they were acted upon by the Prophet (PBUH) Himself, so they need to be executed.
4. 2 Nafl (Non obligatory): no penalty in case of not offering, but cause in receiving favors of the Almighty
5. 3 Witr (Wajib): carried out at the end of Salah, with different format than regular Rakats, consisting of Dua e Qunoot in third Rakah, with additional Takbir, and is followed by Rukooh.

Witr Prayer

Formerly being part of Tahujjud (voluntary) prayers which are offered at night time after sleep, but due to relaxation given by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to those who could wake up at night, especially in Ramadan, to offer it along with Isha, it has been taken as a part of this Salah afterwards, and that is why it is Wajib (necessary). Hazrat A`isha (R.A) related the Holy Prophet (PBUH) speaking as:

“Allah’s Apostle offered Witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the ‘Isha’ prayer) up to the last hour of the night.”  (Bukhari)

As, the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah has greatly emphasized on the significance of Tahajjud Salah, and regarded it as the way of getting closest to the Gracious Lord and gaining His bounties through purification of one`s soul, so it also enhances the status of Witr Rakats.

Dua E Qunoot

While the whole Namaz is a way of prostrating in front of the Most Merciful, and consists of Surah Fateha which is an appeal for adopting and maintaining right path. But Witr Rakats in Isha prayer contains an additional request in shape of Dua e Qunoot:

“O Allah! We beg help from You alone; ask forgiveness from You alone, and turn towards You and praise You for all the good things and are grateful to You and are not ungrateful to You and we part and break off with all those who are disobedient to you. O Allah! You alone do we worship and pray exclusively to You and bow before You alone and we hasten eagerly towards You and we fear Your severe punishment and hope for Your Mercy as your severe punishment is surely to be meted out to the unbelievers.”

So, it is a complete package of supplicating in front of the Almighty Lord, which contains almost every plea in itself.

Reciting Surah Al-Mulk After Isha Prayer

The Holy Quran is full of verses, which are entirely on the basis of realization of Greatness of the Almighty and praying to Him. Some of the Surahs (chapters) are even class as beneficial to be recited at specific timings due to their own significance. Surah Al-Mulk also consists of such lines which describe testifying about the Eventual force of Allah SWT and His punishment for disbelievers.

Al-Tirmidhi (2891), Abu Dawood (1400) and Ibn Maajah (3786) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (R.A) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“There is a soorah in the Qur’aan, with thirty verses, which will intercede for its companion [the one who recites it] until he is forgiven: “Tabaarak allaadhi bi yadihi’l-mulk (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion)” [al-Mulk, soorah 67]. Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a Hasan Hadeeth.”

Since, one is unconscious while in state of slumber which near to death, so it’s advisable to recite Quranic verses like the ones in Surah Al-Mulk, which could help in having a sound sleep and get up healthy. Even if one dies in its sleep, it would be advantageous for it to die in a state of Eeman (faith).

Blessings of Isha Prayer

Every Namaz has its own implication, like Fajr helps us to start a day in the most rightful manner and successful spending of whole day. And performance of the most deeds in Islam also results in greatest amount of benefits and rewards. Same way, Isha Salah is hard to execute so it also follows with vast rewards from the Almighty.

Uthman (R.A) recountes that the prophet (PBUH) said:

“Whoever offers Isha salah in jama’ah it is as though he spent half the night in worship. And whoever offers fajr salah in jama’ah it is as though he spent the entire night in worship.” (Muslim)

Such is the high status of this prayer that one gets the incentives equal to spending half a night in adoration of Allah SWT. It means taking out only 15 to 20 minutes for a single obligatory Namaz can be as useful as venerating God for hours.

So, to conclude, we can infer that Salah of Isha, due to its tough time frame, differentiates one as true devotee of Allah`s commands from those who only act as believers. It consists of Witr prayer which is actually to be offered at some part of night after sleep. It is also a good source of supplication in front of the Almighty God in the form of Dua e Qunoot. Last but not the least, it follows with huge quantity of benefits and rewards from the Creator of the universe. May Allah SWT give us the will and desire to offer all prayers, especially those which are tough to perform like Isha. Aameen!

Tips For Developing A Strong Relationship With Quran

Quran is the greatest miracle that Allah Almighty bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This Book is the word of Divine and it is in it that there is guidance about each and every matter of life. Therefore, it is quite natural that Muslims share a special kind of affiliation with Quran, that is primarily concerned with getting reward and seeking guidance.

Quran is the Book of enlightenment regarding which Allah Almighty says in Quran:

“[This is] a blessed Book (the Quran) which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad (PBUH)] that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” (38:29)

From this ayah of Quran it is clear that it is a Book of guidance and a reminder, however, in order to gain such benefits from it one needs to reflect upon its verses and understand them, which can only be done once one has developed a healthy relationship with Quran. The lines below discuss the way a Muslim can develop a strong relationship with Quran.

True Intentions:

Pertaining to the development of relationship with Quran, it is important that a Muslim is true at heart before starting recitation of Quran. In this regard, a Muslim needs to have the intention that it is the Book of God and the message in it is a direct message from Him, thus, to read that message one needs to be with pure intentions so that Allah might open the gifts of Quran on that person. Moreover, pertaining to developing a strong relation with Quran, a Muslim must also try to practice whatever is said in Quran, because in this way only would he or she make Quran a practical part of life, hence a healthy relationship.

Wudoo:

In addition to being clean at heart before touching and reciting Quran, a Muslim also needs to be physically clean before touching the Quran. Performing Wudoo before touching the Quran is one of the primary etiquettes of touching Quran, which every Muslim must try to observe. Therefore, like before going to prayer, a Muslim must also perform Wudoo before touching Quran as it is all praise of Allah, which must be done after ensuring cleanliness.

Learn to Read Perfectly

Another important aspect of developing strong relationship with Quran is to be able to read and recite the Quran in the way it deserves. That means, if you learn Quran with tajweed and know how to recite It beautifully, you will feel even soulful during the recitation. Therefore, you must take help of a Quran Teacher or Tutor to be able to recite Quran beautifully. This surely will help in increasing your love and affection with the Holy Book.

Develop The Relation Gradually:

The biggest reason why Muslims aren’t able to develop a long lasting relationship with Quran is that they go too hard on it. If a Muslim were to develop a relation with Quran by reciting it, then he or she would go on so hard that he or she would recite whole Surahs and Chapters in a single day. Although there is reward for it, but reading that much requires a substantial amount of time and when the reciter is not able to give that much time on regular basis then he or she quits recitation. Therefore, the smart way of developing the relationship is to be gradual in approach and start by allocating a few minutes to Quran. Once the temperament is developed, try increasing the time by adjusting your routine. Hence, when you’ll pursue recitation and learning of Quran gradually, you’ll find it easy to continue on and hence the relationship will be a long lasting one.

Try To Understand:

There is no denying the fact that Quran recitation comes with religious rewards that help in spiritual elevation of a person, however, it is the understanding of Quran that is the real essence of its revelation. The primary purpose for which Quran was sent was to give guidance to humankind, thus, if one does not understand Quran or does not try to understand the message it conveys, then one would not find the guidance that Quran truly delivers to humans. Hence, in addition to regular reading of verses of Quran, one must also try reading the translation of Quran as well to get an idea about what instructions Allah Almighty has sent in the Book and how those instructions are to be followed along with the possible benefits of the acting upon them.

Make It Interactive:

In order to develop a better and strong relationship, you need to make Quran recitation or learning more interactive. There are numerous software and games related to Quran learning available in the market with the help of which you can make Quran learning fun. Moreover, using interactive games and software is one of the best ways of making children learn Quran and develop a relationship with it at an early age.

Listen As Much As You Can:

Quran has a direct effect on the heart of a person whether he or she understands it or not. Moreover, the recitation of Quran by expert Qaris create a mesmerizing condition and leave a great impression on the heart of a person. Therefore, listening as much as you can to the recitation of Quran also does good to the heart and helps developing a relationship that is based on sanctity and love for the sound of the verses of Quran.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, the aforementioned are some of the major tips which a Muslim can utilize to develop a healthy and strong relationship with Quran so that he or she reads and understand the Book of Allah in the way it deserves and make it a part of life.

Tips on How To Get Your Supplications Accepted

Allah is the Supreme and the Provider for mankind. It is He who provides the humans and fulfills their needs and wants, therefore, it is imperative that a human realizes the need of invoking Him with the help of supplication. Under every circumstance a Muslim is to supplicate to Allah Almighty so that He might consider fulfilling the desire or need of the Muslim.

In Islam the word for supplication is #Dua. Although Allah Almighty is the Lord and Supreme who can fulfill every Dua of the believer, however, as the strength and firmness in the belief of people varies so does the acceptance of Dua as well. Therefore, in His #hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has given different tips pertaining to maximizing the chances of acceptance of Duas.  While you can check the daily Islamic Duas, the lines below give some major tips in the light of such hadiths of #Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) that increase the chances of Dua acceptance.

While Travelling:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one of His hadiths:

“Three supplications are answered without doubt. The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler and the supplication of the parents for his children.” (Tirmidhi)

From the hadith it is clear that a  person who is traveling and during his or her travel if they make Dua to Allah Almighty, then the chances of their Dua getting accepted are imminent without any doubt. The possible reason that can be inferred pertaining to the acceptance of Dua of traveler can be the fact that during travel a person is in discomfort and away from his or her closed one, thus in such a situation Allah Almighty comes closer to the person so that he or she might not feel that desolated. Therefore, whenever the chance becomes available a traveler must supplicate to Allah for whatever he or she wishes or wants.

Recommended Reading – 7 Persons Who Will be Under Shade of Allah on Judgment Day

When Oppressed:

From the same hadith that is mentioned above, it is clear that Allah Almighty also accepts the Dua of someone who is oppressed. When a person is oppressed it means that he or she has no one in humans who can rescue them or assist them in coming out of their plight, thus, Allah Almighty as a gesture of assistance grows closer to such a person and accepts and fulfills his or her Dua. Therefore, whenever one is feeling oppressed or in oppression, he or she must pray to Allah and ask for help. Moreover, this hadith also points to the fact that one must not oppress someone, else he or she might supplicate to Allah against that oppressor and Allah might than inflict punishment on the oppressor.

Parents For Their Children:

From the same hadith it is obvious that Allah Almighty accepts the Duas of parents which they make for their children. The Dua of parents for the children shows the love and sincerity which they have for their children, therefore, Allah Almighty accepts their love and sincerity and grants whatever they supplicate for their children.

In Later Part Of Night:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in another hadith of His:

“Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” (Muslim)

From the hadith it is clear that the chances of acceptance of Dua increase exponentially in the later part of the night. It is the part of night after which a quarter of night is left only and after which there is dawn. It is during this time that a person should supplicate to Allah for whatever he or she desires and Allah does answer to the call of a person at that time. Moreover, among other things which a person can ask Allah at that time, the special mention in the hadith is of forgiveness, therefore, any Muslim who seeks forgivenss for any particular sin of theirs or general forgiveness, should try seeking it in the later part of night when the chances of it increase substantially.

Supplicating For Another Muslim:

Prophet (PBUH) said in another hadith of His:

“The supplication of a Muslim for his (Muslim) brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Every time he makes a supplication for good of his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says: ‘Ameen! May it be for you too.’” (Muslim)

From the hadith it is clear that the supplication of a Muslim for another Muslim has greater chances of being accepted by Allah Almighty, compared to a Muslim supplicating for him or herself. In addition to increasing the chances of acceptance for another Muslim, the angel with the Muslim also supplicates the same Dua for the one who is making it for a Muslim brother. Therefore, a Muslim must try to supplicate for his or her mother as much as possible, which creates a win-win situation for all.

Complementing With Patience:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a hadith:

“The supplication of everyone of you is granted if he does not grow impatient and says: ‘I supplicated but it was not granted.’” (Muslim)

From the hadith it is clear that simply making a Dua is not enough, or one should limit his or her intentions to only making of Dua, rather the time after making the Dua is also of importance. Therefore, once a Muslim makes a Dua, then he or she should be patient regarding the fulfillment of Dua and eventually it will be fulfilled. The thing to avoid in this regard is becoming impatient and saying that the supplication was not fulfilled. If one resorts to patience, the Duas will be fulfilled in the right time.

When in Prostration:

Prophet (PBUH) said:

“A slave becomes nearest to his Rabb when he is in prostration. So increase supplication while prostrating.” (Muslim)

From the hadith it is clear that the position in which one grows closest to Allah Almighty is the position of prostration, therefore, logic demands that a person should supplicate to Allah when he or she is the closest to Him. Ergo, a Muslim should try supplicating to Allah by forming a posture of prostration whenever possible.

Dua After Adhan:

In another hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“Supplications at two times are never turned down, a supplication after the Adhan has been proclaimed, and a supplication during the battle combating the enemy.” (Abu Dawud)

Although the chances of a person being in a battle are far less, however, the chances of a person supplicating after Adhan are five times in every day. Every day Adhan is proclaimed five times a day, therefore, it is imperative that as soon as the Adhan ends, a Muslim should supplicate to Allah Almighty and increase the chances of that supplication being answered.

Conclusion:

In short, supplication is one of the best weapons that a Muslim can utilize in difficult times and at the same time it can also help a Muslim extend the periods of joy and happiness. Therefore, it is imperative that firstly a Muslim should supplicate as much as possible and secondly the supplications should be done in such a time and in such a manner that increases the chances of supplication being answered and fulfilled.

Qurani Sorton ka Khulasa by Syed Abdulwahab Sherazi

قرآنی سورتوں کا مختصر خلاصہ۔ رائے ضرور دیں۔       

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Islamic Dress Code for Men – Major Elements to Consider

Although one needs to see the inner beauty and character of a person to reach some judgment about the person, however, this does not mean that one should ignore the physical appearance of a person at all. The way a person looks from the outside is that gives the first impression about what a person is like or from which place or school of thought a person belongs to.

When it comes to physical appearance in general and dressing in particular, Islam gives clear instructions about how both the genders dress, so that they do not break the rules of Islam and in their dressing there is modesty. In addition to women, Islam has also spoken about the way Muslim males should dress.

The lines below give the general Islamic instructions pertaining to male dressing.

Avoid The Haram Elements:

Although in Islam there is great freedom to Muslim in terms of wearing the kind of dress they like to wear, however, there are some limits which should not be crossed by a male Muslim. In this regard, a Muslim is not supposed to wear gold and silk in part of dressing or the whole attire. Regarding this, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in His hadith:

“These two (gold and silk) are forbidden for the males of my ummah and permissible for the females.” (Ibn Majah)

From this hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) it is clear that both silk and gold are Haram and impermissible to Muslim men, therefore, they need to avoid the dressing which includes these two elements. If these two elements are present in the dressing, then the dressing will be Haram and against the teaching of Islam. Other than that, Muslims can wear any dress made out of skin of animals, their fur or the stuff made out of them.

Avoid See-through Dresses:

The second thing that Muslim men need to avoid in their dressing is the see through dresses. When the dresses are see through the ultimate result of it wall will be people being able to see the Aurah (the mandatory covering region). Hence when the Aurah of a person becomes visible, it is counted in the category of sin. Therefore, in order to avoid any such situation, Muslim men should refrain from wearing see through garments, until and unless they are wearing some kind of undergarment that protects their Aurah.

Avoid Imitation:

It is narrated that once Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) saw Hazrat Ali wearing two garments that were dyed with safflower, seeing which He said:

“These are the garments of Kuffar, do not wear them.” (Muslim)

From this ayah it becomes clear that a Muslim is not supposed to copy the non-Muslims when it comes to wearing of dress.  The dress of a person is a part of his identity, therefore, when one starts copying the non-Muslims in dressing, it means that the person is prone to accepting their values as well and losing his own Muslim identity. Therefore, for this very reason, a Muslim must avoid imitating the non-Muslims with regards to the type and kind of dressing worn.

Avoid Women Dressing:

In addition to refraining from gold and silk, Islam also instructs its followers to avoid dressing like women. It is quite evident that there is a difference between the way women dress and the way men dress, therefore, to keep things simple and to avoid any kind of awkward situation, a Muslim must refrain from dressing like women. In this regard, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in His hadith:

“Cursed be the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men.” (Bukhari)

Therefore, men must avoid imitating women in dressing and similarly women must avoid imitating men in their dressing. Checkout the Islamic dress code for Muslim Women.

Start From The Right:

In addition to the apparel, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has also spoken about the way a Muslim should start wearing a dress. In addition to starting wearing the dress with Bismillah (In the name of Allah) a Muslim must start wearing the dress from the right side. Regarding this, Prophet (PBUH) said in a hadith:

“When you get dressed and when you do wudoo, start on the right.” (Abu Dawood)

Hence, a Muslim must try wearing the dress with the right side first and then moving on to the left part of the attire.

Avoid Arrogance:

In the world of today, the dressing of a person has become a status symbol. Although Islam emphasizes on wearing clean and pleasant clothes and having modest dressing, however, it condemns the element of arrogance associated with it. Prophet (PBUH) said:

“No one will enter Paradise in whose heart is a mustard-seed of arrogance.”

The companion asked:

“What if a man likes his clothes to look nice and his shoes to look nice?”

Prophet (PBUH) replied:

“Allah is beautiful and loves beauty; arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” (Muslim)

Therefore, if the dressing is worn with the objective of making oneself superior and to make other people think that they are inferior, then it is strongly prohibited in Islam, whereas, if it done for the purpose of looking beautiful, whilst being modest, then such dressing is allowed in Islam.

Above Ankle:

Another important thing that Muslim men need to ensure in their dressing is the fact that their lower garment should be above their ankles. It means that the pants part of the dress should be above ankles. In this regard, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“Whatever of the lower garment is beneath the ankles is in the Fire.” (Bukhari)

This hadith of Prophet (PBUH) is specific to males, therefore, it is imperative that Muslim men avoid any such garment that hangs loose below the ankle length.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, the aforementioned are the major elements that Muslim men must ensure in their dressing. The presence of these elements gives them a Muslim identity and makes sure that they are as Muslim in their appearance as they are at their hearts.

10 Blessed Days And Events In Islamic Calender

Every religion has some specific occasions, which have special value and importance in the lives of its followers, like Christians celebrate Christmas and observe Easter, Hindus rejoice Diwali and Holi. Recognizing and taking part in these events enhance one`s knowledge and implication of its religious ideologies and conviction.

The Islamic Calendar also contains numerous days of great importance representing the deep lying allusions attached to their occurrences in the earlier history of our religion. Most of these happenings are mentioned in the Holy Quran and Allah SWT Himself has explained their worth.

In this post by QuranReading.com, we will explore the most significant and blessed Islamic days and instances in the lives of Muslims:

1)      Friday

Friday is considered as the most honored and hallowed day of week in the religion of peace. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has illustrated its worth in the following wording:

“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. It is the day Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered the Heavenly Gardens, the day when he was expelled from it and also the day he died. Friday is the day on which the Day of Resurrection will take place.” (Muslim)

All the happenings that are mentioned in this Hadith give the indication of great value of this day. Its significance even increases due to grand congregational prayer held during its daytime, which is called Salat e Jumu`ah (The Friday Prayers). During this Namaz, the Imam of the masjid (mosque) gives a special address known as the Friday Sermon, which is a great source of getting wisdom and spirituality. Its enormous position in the lives of us Muslims is evident from the fact that the Almighty God has separately mentioned it in the Holy Quran, which contains a separate Surah (chapter) by the name of this day, i.e. Jumu`ah (Friday).

“O you, who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” [Quran, 62:9]

It means that it has much wider appeal in a sense that God, the Exalted has directed us to leave every business and move towards answer call to prayer. It is also the same day on which the very first verses of the Sanctified Scripture were revealed to the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah.

“….. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion….” [Quran, 5: 3]

By reading this Ayah, one can know that Friday is indeed the best day to seek Allah`s mercy and blessings as on this very day, Quran which is the guiding principle for us Muslims, was first disclosed on the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Also, one can recite certain Quranic chapters like Surah Kahf on this day to be able to get the Almighty`s protection and blessings.

2)      Ashura

Observed on 10^th of Moharram (first Islamic Year), this day has two major implications. First, it serves as a means of remembrance of migration of Hazrat Musa/Moses (A.S) from Egypt to save His followers from the tyranny and oppression of Firaon (Pharaoh). We Muslims fulfill the sunnah of Musa (A.S) Who fasted on this day to thanks Allah SWT for saving them on this day.

Abu Hurrerah (R.A) reported:

“I asked the Prophet: ‘Which Prayer is the best after the obligatory Prayers?’ He said: ‘Prayer during the mid of the night.’ I asked: ‘Which fasting is the best after that of Ramadan?’ He said, ‘the month of Allah that you call Muharram’” (Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawwud).

It means that fasting on this day is closer to doing so in the Holy month of Ramadan. Second great factor that is associated with this day is that it refers to the heartrending death of the Prophet’s grandson, Hussain (R.A) at the hands of the Umayyad ruler, Yazid. It reminds us of the great significance of the action of standing firm one the word of righteousness against the tyrant and non-believing rulers.

3)      Rabi ul Awwal (Prophet`s PBUH Birth)

This is the month in which Muslims received the greatest blessing from Allah SWT, as the last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was born in it, though there is no general consensus among the Muslim sects related to the exact date of His birth. The fact remains that this wonderful month has that special day, which proved to be the stepping stone in revolutionizing the lives of millions of people. Muslims all over the world commemorate during this blessed month and take the opportunity to show their love and gratitude towards the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

4)      27^th of Rajab

One of four sacred months of Islamic Calendar (rest of three are Zul Qa`dah, Zul Hajj and Muharram), it has general meaning of ‘to respect” and is regarded as the Month of Allah by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Generally, it is associated with fasting for the sake of the Most Merciful. Rasulullah (PBUH) was quoted by Abu Hurrehah (R.A) as fasting throughout this month, besides Ramadan. Specifically, it contains a sacred night, i.e. 27<sup>th</sup> of Rajab, on which the Messenger (PBUH)of God was taken by Jibrael (A.S), the Angel of Allah, first on “Isra” (journey) from Makkah to Jerusalem where He (PBUH) lead the prayers with all the previous Prophets behind Him. Then, He went on “Mer`aj” (elevator) from Jerusalem to the heavens, till He got the honor of meeting with Allah SWT. From there, Muslims were directed to offer Salah daily which is the most useful way to get closer to the Almighty, and results in His forgiveness.

5)      15^th of Shaban

Commonly known as the month of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it contains a night, i.e. 15^th of Shaban, in which Muslims throughout the world ask for Allah`s clemency and His blessings by spending the whole night in His worship and reciting the Holy Quran. Although the topic of celebrating on this particular nighttime is a disputed one among the Muslim sects, but still it has the greater implication in terms of getting the Almighty`s mercy.

“In the fifteenth night of Shaban, Allah manifests and forgives all His creation except for the Mushrik (idolater) and the spiteful.” (Ibn Majah)

So, it means that the true believers of the religion of peace, when they expend the entire night in Allah`s remembrance and His pardon, the Almighty Lord responds to their plea and comfort their hearts and souls by forgiving their past sins.

6)      Laylat-ul-Qadr

The Holy month of Ramadan, which on one hand, provides us Muslims with the opportunity to fast for the sake of Allah Almighty, and earns us His compassion and good tidings. On the other hand, it also consists of an extraordinary and highly rewarding night which involves constant memory of the Creator of the universe through prayers and Quran reading. The great worth of this very time of the dark is discussed in the Holy Quran, where there is a separate Surah (chapter), named as Surat-ul-Qadr describing it like:

“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.” [Quran, 97: 1-5]

So, it is the night in which Furqan e Hameed was revealed on the Prophet (PBUH) for the first time, which is a great guiding source for Muslims in every walk of life. This single night is regarded as better than thousand months, which shows the great returns from the Almighty as a result of praying in it. Hazrat Aisha (R.A) stated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said,

“Look for Lailat-Ul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.” (Bukhari)

It shows that there is no defined night for acquiring the blessings of the Most Gracious; instead one has to keep searching for it during the odd nights of the last part of Ramadan. Majority of Muslims all over the world fulfill Sunnat I`tikaf, spend their time in the mosque to worship and recite the Sacred Scripture, till they acquire the blissful night of Qadr (the Nighty of Power/destiny/value).

7)      Eid-ul-Fitr (Festival Followin Fasting During Ramadan)

After fasting for whole month of Ramadan, Muslims are blessed by the Almighty Lord with a celebration named Eid-ul-Fitr. A special prayer is offered in the mosque having similar sermon like that of found in the Salah of Jumu`ah, but is done after Fardh (obligatory) Rakats. It not only serves a festival to enjoy the blessings of Allah for three consecutive days but also a great source of meeting other family members, sharing happiness, inviting guests, giving charity, which in turn make us able to receive many of the bounties of the Most Beneficent.

8)      The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

The 12^th and final month of the Islamic Calendar, called Dhul-Hijjah, is one of the most sacred months. Its literal meaning is “Possessor of the Pilgrimage”, which is because Hajj (grand pilgrimage) is performed by the Muslims on the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th of this month. Its first ten days are highly revered and blissful. Ibn Abbas (R.A) narrated the Holy Prophet (PBUH) saying as:

“No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.” (Bukhari)

The above mentioned Hadith shows that committing righteous actions during these first days have even more influence than other good deeds, even Jihad, which is itself one of the greatest things to do for Allah. The Messenger (PBUH) of the Almighty also used to fast during these days. One of the wivesof Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“Allah’s Messenger used to fast the [first] nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of ‘Ashurah, and three days of each month.” (Abu Dawud)

So, the first days of this month are highly sanctified and venerated that they serve as means of awarding us with great rewards of Allah SWT.

9)      The Day of ‘Arafah

On 9^th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the pilgrims gather around in the ground of Arafah for praying and seeking Allah`s mercy. Those who are not able to perform Hajj are advised to keep fasting on this day; however it is not necessary for the pilgrims to fast on this day because of their tough circumstances. Abu Qatadah (R.A) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said:

“Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah expiates the sins of two years: past one and coming one. And fasting on the Day of ‘Aashuraa’ expiates the sins of the past year.” (Muslim)

This Hadith describes the spirit of fasting on this day for sake of the Almighty in terms of being forgiven the sins of previous and coming year. Aaishah (R.A) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said:

“There is no day on which Allah frees people from the fire as He does on the Day of ‘Arafah. He comes close and then He boasts to His angels: ‘What are these people seeking?’” (Muslim)

It means that Allah SWT highly admires its servants who bow in front of Him, and seek His pardon, and He shows His gladness with His Angels about his fact as narrated in the above mentioned saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

10)  The Ruling Of The Udhiyah (Sacrifice)

The word udhiyah means an animal from class of “an`aam” (camel, sheep, cow, goat). Muslims who have the capacity to have or buy such animals are ordered by the Almighty Lord to sacrifice animal in His way, and get His rewards. It has great importance as it opens the gates of blessings and mercy of the Gracious God, and results in easiness of matters as Hazrat Musa (Moses) (A.S), as directed by the Allah to slaughter a cow to be able to solve the mysterious murder. The Holy Quran repeatedly mentions about sacrificing in the way of God:

Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.” [Quran, 6: 162]

This Ayah shows that sacrifice is done for sake of Allah SWT, as it is mentioned along with prayer. Anas (R.A) reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said:

“He who slaughtered before the prayer (of Eid) has only slaughtered for himself. But the one who did it after the prayer has indeed completed his sacrifice and conformed with the Sunnah of the Muslims.” (Bukhari)

The above stated Hadith tells about the right time of slaughtering the animal, i.e. doing it after the prayer of Eid-ul-Adha, which is obligatory to perform. The greater implication of this day is to keep the poor in mind, being aware of their poor condition, give them charity and divide the flesh of animal among them and be grateful to Allah for all His blessings.

These are 10 and the most important days and events that are found in the Islamic Calendar, which, unlike other religions, are not only meant for making merry or worshiping alone, but they are a complete package for keeping a balance between our worldly and eternal life by reviving the true essence of Islamic convictions.

How to Kiss Hajr e Aswad (Black Stone) During Hajj

The importance of kissing Hajre Aswad and the significance it has for a Muslim are evident from the previous post, which showed the references from Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) the importance of the stone. Thus, out of respect and to fulfill the tradition of Hajre Aswad Muslims kiss the stone whenever they are doing Tawaf e  Kaaba.

Pertaining to the kissing of Hajre Aswad, it is done during Tawaf in the days of Hajj. Without any doubt Hajj is one of the greatest congregations on the surface of this planet, therefore, kissing the Black Stone is not an easy thing to do when millions of others are also striving towards it. In this regard, those who are able to kiss the stone in person can do so, whereas those who are not able to go close to the stone because of all the crowd and hustle can raise their hand and point towards it which represents the same reverence as would a kiss do. Therefore, kissing the stone is not mandatory; rather it can be done by waving towards the stone as well.

Although there is an option of kissing the stone from a distance, however, there are ardent lovers of the stone who want to kiss the stone in the traditional way so that they are able to fulfill the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). For such people, there is a systematic way by following which they can increase their chances of kissing the stone. The following lines shall discuss few steps that can help in increasing the probability of kissing Hajre Aswad during Tawaf.

Step#1

The first step is of getting into the line of people who are along with the line of Kabah. The best way to start it is by getting into the line at Yemini corner.

Step#2

The second step is of sticking with the wall of Kabah. In doing so you need to make sure that one hand of yours should be constantly touching the Kabah wall so that you aren’t dragged away into the crowed. In addition, the second thing to do is to make sure the hand of yours that is towards the crowd is in a laid down position, so that you don’t push someone unintentionally when the hustle grows.

Step#3

The third step in progression towards the Hajre Aswad is not to break the flow and move forward within the current. The line moves forward inch by inch, therefore, any trying of overtaking the other person or changing the line and then moving ahead will all be in vain. Therefore, the best ploy is to go with the current and not break it.

Step#4

When you start getting near to the mob, now would be the best time to start reciting your Adhkars as when you grow nearer the pressure of the crowd increases and in such situation, it is quite natural that you might get impatient and forget your adhkar. Therefore, start reciting them when you are in line.

Step#5

When you will be reaching close to the corner, where perpendicular current will also be trying to push you, at that point, you need not to panic; rather you must use the force from opposite direction to your advantage, as all it will be doing is pushing you closer to the stone. Therefore, instead of fighting the current, maneuver to your benefit and move closer to the mob.

Step#6

If at some point you feel that you cannot handle the pressure of the crowd, then instead of panicing and removing your hand from the wall of Kabah, you must find the rings that are there instilled in the wall. These rings will help you maintain your center of gravity.

Step#7

When you get within feet or inches of the Stone, start reciting the duas you can remember and ask refuge and help from Allah Almighty. When you are near the stone and everyone is pushing, it can turn out to be a state of frenzy and you might push someone. Therefore, ask Allah Almighty to give you patience and courage to reach the stone with ease.

Step#8

Once you have reached the stone, then instead of losing your senses at the sight of the stone and sticking there for long, the wise thing to do is to just kiss it and move on quickly. If you stay there even for a second longer, then chances are that the incoming crowd would push you and you may fall, which is a risk you should never take in such a crowded place. Therefore, kiss the stone and move on quickly without giving a chance to others to push you.

Remember, while kissing the holy black stone is gives an immense feeling of being blessed by Almighty, it also requires you to follow a systematic approach to help your kissing cause come true peacefully. For that, you are suggested to keep these guiding steps in your mind that will ultimately help you towards kissing of stone.