Countdown to Ramadan Begins (Memories & Reflections)

 

ANOTHER 3 DAYS TO RAMADHAN

With the month of Sha`ban passing all too quickly, one can’t help but think of the approaching month of Ramadan, the Muslims’ favorite time of the year.

Ramadan is where we are given the chance to start afresh. It is a month where new beginnings can be mad, requiring special preparations and a list, if you may, of resolutions. It is also a month full of happiness, hope, fond memories and promises

I for one fear the momentum, drive and motivation that normally keeps us going during Ramadan is not up to notch with the approach of this month.

So, how do we establish an attitude of faith and victory in the messed-up, crazy world we are living in before we put everything on hold to begin our blessed month?

Returning to the blessed Qur’an we will learn that Ramadan is not just a month-long abstinence from food and liquids that starts at the crack of dawn and ends at sunset. The Qur’an states:

How do we continue to walk in confidence and holy optimism when things are going on around us?

{O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous} (Al-Baqarah 2:183)

Ready, Steady, Go!

Counting down for Ramadan will help create excitement in our mind and amongst the people around us. Since we are all counting down to the same event, it becomes part of regular conversation and excitement spreads.

Now is a good time to put things in perspective by replacing the “have-to’s” with the “want-to’s”.

While we may “have to” put on a big iftar meal at least once or twice in the month, the truth is, we do enjoy the yearly get-together of the whole clan. Think of it as bringing together family and reviving the sunah of family ties. The key here is to prepare and know your priorities.

Being a Kid in Ramadan

Ramadan in all of its magical fervor never fails to trigger memories of incidents throughout my life. For me there are many things associated with Ramadan. However there are many many more things associated with Ramadan for me as a child in Australia.

Preparing for Ramadan included our Muslim community gathering together armed with telescopes, binoculars and whatever was necessary and driving up the mountain. Since our house was the closest to the Mt Gravatt Lookout they all gathered at our house.

As kids, fasting apparently was the type of activity that would put us in the visible league of ‘grown-ups’. Did we even pray then? Not much. Did we know why we were fasting? Not really. But fasting was something that we wanted to do as a child. It was almost thrilling.

I felt quite special and important telling all who wanted to hear that we were going to  confirm the sighting of the new moon to declare the onset of the beginning of the Holy month as if I had a hand in the sighting. I honestly believed I was the trustworthy source that the southern hemisphere was waiting to hear from regarding when to start fasting. In my defense I was 7.

Managing Ramadan Stress

Ramadan can also be a month of pressure, extra demands, and anxiety. Of course, the stress can pile up and have us sadly dreading the month rather than savouring it.

Make a Ramadan plan by listing things you would like to achieve in the month and then plan on achieving these goals. It is important that goals are realistic and it is better that your life doesn’t need to entirely take a different road in this month. Recognizing what you want to achieve in the month will help you stay focused.

Create Memories

This is beautiful. For my siblings and I getting up for Suhoor was the toughest part of fasting. No amount of begging or trying to explain to my mother that we have eaten enough at dinner would work. She would use it as a condition to allow us to fast.

She would use the pot lid and wooden spoon and joyfully bang on it to wake us up trying to create the ‘masaharaty‘ (The man who calls on the people to wake up for Suhoor) atmosphere.

This resulted in a bunch of really cranky swollen-faced kids at the table. What made it worse was that my parents were always amazingly cheery during that ‘middle-of-the-night’ meal. Now thinking of it I am all teary eyed. A time lost now; I wish I could have frozen the moments.

For us as children there was no work, no childcare duties, no worries about the world to interfere with the pure task of fasting. After all we were now doing grown up stuff and fasting like them.

Wrapping up I remind myself first and foremost that Ramadan is a month that should be anticipated and not bemoaned. Preparing by reading or listening to inspiring stories from the Qur’an is usually rewarding and humbling at the same time. After all, the stories in the Quran are words of inspiration to help us through our most difficult challenges in life.

As we know fasting is a means of learning self-restraint and patience. With patience we are able to strengthen our resolve to sincerely worship God alone and also cope with life’s ups and down.

About Deana Nassar

Deana Nassar is a published writer. As a mother of four, in her home she’s the sole expert on all things related to marriage, children’s psychology, motherhood and creative survival. She loves charity work, reading and writing poetry, and is mostly known for writing articles discussing family and social issues, faith, freedom, and purpose that comes through God. She can be reached at deana_nassar4@hotmail.com

-aboutislam.net

Welcome Ramadan With Love

 

There is a hadith narrated by Abu Ya’la that our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

Were the servants to have known what is in Ramadan, my Ummah would have wished that Ramadan be the entire year.

Prophet Muhammad is teaching us the requisite ethic and etiquette that we should have in relation to the outpour of the Divine Mercy and the outpour of the Divine generosity. Naturally, this is something that should move us from within; this is something that we should desire.

In this hadith, our Prophet (peace be upon him) is teaching us something special about Ramadan, and that’s, there is a special outpour of the Divine Mercy in this blessed month.

We tend to forget that human beings have an absolute need for mercy. We are in need of receiving the Divine Mercy; we are in need of receiving the Divine generosity.

And if you notice here that the Prophet Muhammad that, “were servants to know…” and then he’s going to speak about his ummah; because Ramadan is a month of worship. It is a month that there is fasting but there is also standing, and there is a number of other forms of worship that we do in this special month.

Love Ramadan

This etiquette that Prophet Muhammad is teaching us is that we should protect ourselves from just wanting to go through the motions and quickly finish fasting so we can get back into our normal everyday life. Instead we should love Ramadan. It should take us to an ultimate opportunity for us to be able to resemble the angels and be able to do that which that if we remain upon it, we will meet our Lord in the best of states.

So, were those who long for worship and they love worship to know what is really in this month; and everything that we can possibly imagine what would be in this month from the outpour of the Divine mercy and generosity. Even though that we never truly know, is that we would want Ramadan to remain with us the entire year.

Watch the video here

-aboutislam.net

3 Easy Steps to Overcome Anxiety of Ramadan

 

No doubt you have heard that Ramadan is just around the corner–whether that corner is a day, a week, a month or more away.

And maybe you are eagerly anticipating the special blessings which come at that time of year.

Or, maybe, you’re anxious about fasting during the long summer days, managing your responsibilities with a daunting new sleep schedule, or just trying to find your place in the Muslim community.

And while the internet abounds with Ramadan-related advice, I am just going to focus on overcoming Ramadan-related anxiety. The key is to harness your anxiety, and direct it towards preparation.

Find the Source of the Anxiety

If you’re not sure, or you’re feeling anxious about Ramadan generally, then what you can do is imagine yourself when Ramadan actually begins, and think through the first few days and night in great detail.

To start, take some time to think about what specifically is causing you anxiety.

In your mind, you’ll play through those first days, plus any other big days or events that are significant for you–like a birthday, family gathering, a presentation at work, or travel–and which could be additional sources of anxiety because they fall in the month of Ramadan.

While you’re thinking through these days or events, take note (literally, write it down!) of anything that seems to trouble you. We’ll call those your pain points. Here are some things you may want to consider:

(1) When is the first day? Do you know when you will start fasting? If an announcement will be made later, do you know how you will find out? (Email, phone call, check a website, or facebook?)

(2) When will you start and break your fast? Do you have a prayer timetable or app to help you with this?

(3) What will you eat for suhoor (before fasting)?

(4) What will you do after fajr? Sleep, work, read Quran?

(5) What will you eat for iftar (to break the fast), and where? Home, mosque, restaurant?

(6) When will you be able to sleep? Especially if the time between isha and fajr is very short where you live, you may wish to plan for additional time to sleep during the day.

(7) What will it feel like to go about your day without eating or drinking? Do you have a caffeine addiction?

(8) Is there an activity you are used to that may be affected by Ramadan? Exercise, TV, dose of medicine?

(9) Are there any ways to make your days easier?

Planning for the Pain Points

Deal with each pain point individually, and determine a solution to help you prepare for it. Some things, like hunger and thirst, cannot be entirely avoided. However, their impact can be reduced with thoughtful preparation, like adjusting your schedule and careful meal planning.

After discovering the sources of your anxiety, you can plan ways to help you deal with them. You may have a unique situation which you have to prepare for, so you are the best person to develop a solution, though it may help to ask friends or colleagues for ideas.

One friend of mine used to go in to work extra early in the morning, soon after eating suhoor and praying fajr, so she could get her work done before getting too hungry. Someone else would break up work into chunks throughout the day–some time in the morning, and then some later after a mid-day nap, and sometimes even in the middle of the night. Not everyone has such a flexible work schedule, but find out what you can do that will help.

Planning meals to maximize nutrition while minimizing negative after-effects is also a wise way to prepare for Ramadan. With such a short time to eat during the long summer months, it’s very important to make those meals healthy. Drinking plenty of water throughout the night (keep a water bottle handy so you can keep sipping!) will also help you stay hydrated.

One friend of mine bought an extra large bottle for this purpose, to ensure she would drink enough water every night. A coffee or soda habit may have caused a caffeine addiction–what worked for me was having some caffeine with suhoor andiftar, in order to avoid headaches, though there are undoubtedly many other solutions.

Ramadan will likely affect your routine, so you may need to reschedule an activity, or take a temporary break from it. Plan ahead–if exercise is important to you, then find a time when it will work best for your fasting body (or non-fasting, if necessary–working out after iftar) and schedule it accordingly.

If you’ll miss your favorite TV shows while you’re at taraweeh prayers, plan to record or DVR them or watch online. I had one friend who loved watching certain shows, but every year without fail she would record them on video tapes, and spend each night praying, and then catch up on the shows after Ramadan.

Reviewing Your Plans

Imagine going through your day while fasting–adjusting the schedule as necessary, including prayers. Imagine how you will spend your iftar–try not to be alone, but imagine where you will be when you break your fast, what you will eat and drink. If there is a special situation, review it also in detail to prepare for it. Imagine your interactions with non-fasting family members and co-workers.

After developing a plan to deal with the sources of your anxiety, you should mentally rehearse your plans in detail. Imagine waking up to prepare suhoor–how dark it will be, how you will prepare the food, what you will eat and drink.

Imagine any additional problems that may come up–oversleeping, exhaustion, overheating. Figure out how they can be prevented (like setting an alarm clock), and add that to your plans. Also imagine how to deal with these problems if they do occur–is there a place you can go that is cool and air-conditioned?

Continue to review your plans and preparations, in as much detail as you can, first with all the problems you may encounter. And then, at last, imagine spending Ramadan immersed in its blessings, with everything going perfectly.

Lastly, remember what Allah says after the verses which prescribe fasting:

… Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

So make duaa that Allah will give you mercy, forgiveness, and success in Ramadan. You’ll be ready for the pain points, and prepared with their solutions. You’ll have made your anxiety work for you, so that when Ramadan comes you can really enjoy it In-Shaa-Allah.

(From Discovering Islam archive)

About Amy Klooz

Amy Klooz is an American revert to Islam since 2005. Her blog, Daughter of Guidance, is located at http://ibnatalhidayah.blogspot.com/ and her e-mail is ibnatalhidayah@blogspot.com

- aboutislam.net

How Can I Make This Ramadan Memorable?

 

To make this Ramadan memorable we really have to work on changing, mending, or developing something about our character.

This will be memorable because we can then always remember that the blessed month of Ramadan was the turning point in our lives.

It was the time when we started purifying our characters, started a new positive habit, or left a negative, harmful one.

Allah Almighty says in the Quran:

{O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may [gain taqwa].} (Quran 2: 183)

Taqwa means to be more God-conscious in a way that leads us to do what He commands and leave what He prohibits.

Self-Purification

Essentially, Allah Almighty wants us to purify ourselves.

He says:

{And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness, He has succeeded, who purifies it. And he has failed, who instills it [with corruption].} (Quran 91:7-10)

The purification of the self is something that we need to constantly be working on.

But Allah has provided us with the month of Ramadan, wherein we have a great opportunity to progress in this regard.

What corrupts the self is essentially desires and inclinations that are harmful or impure, for example, anger, arrogance, ego, stubbornness, pride, jealousy, self-conceit, uncontrolled desires, etc.

In the month of Ramadan, we learn to control our desires.

Allah Almighty gives us the opportunity to control our innate human desires (like hunger, thirst, etc).

Self-Control and Patience

The only reason we refrain or leave something is for the sake of Allah.

In Ramadan, we may be fasting in a hot weather and we see a glass of cold water right in front of us. And the only reason why we wouldn’t touch it is our God-conscious.

We learn self-restraint and patience. We empower our own soul over our basic desires.

Additionally in this month, Allah is helping us by chaining the devils. So the strong whispering of doing evil are paused.

This is all to help us train ourselves to empower our pure self over the physical desires.

What we can learn is that, just like we were able to control ourselves from the necessities of life for a time like eating and drinking, we also can prevent ourselves from impure things that are not necessary to sustain life.

This includes unleashing our anger on someone, remaining in disagreement with someone due to ego, or refusing to follow a command of Allah due to a personal desire.

A Starting Point

So this Ramadan, one way to make it memorable is to make it a starting point to purify our character; give up something wrong that we’re doing, or start practicing something right that is commendable.

We have a month to train ourselves to do that, while every good deed is multiplied and the evil whispers are distant.

At the end of Ramadan, we are meant to give out zakat (obligatory charity) which is a purification of our wealth, but this is one reflection of the tazkiyya (purification of the self) that we ought to work on throughout the month.

Purification of the self means to have more faith in Allah and more love towards Him that we give up something bad or harmful and control any unhealthy desires for His Sake and for His reward.

Just like we can give up some money for His sake to benefit others, we also give up wrongdoings for His Sake and to bring more peace to ourselves and others.

Quran is the Best Guide

In Ramadan, we’re meant to read the Quran and ponder on its meanings and take it to heart and then reflect this purity in our actions.

The Quran that Allah Almighty has revealed in this month is the best source of self-purification and guidance in this life and the next.

The Quran puts matters in perspective and reminds us of the real worth of this mortal, material world, and the value of the unlimited rewards of Allah and His Closeness that are worth patience and efforts.

The Quran clearly shows us the right path and the pure instructions of what is just and fair, what to do in this life and how to handle it properly.

Let this Ramadan be a turning point.

Make a list of things you want to change about your character.

It could be your anger, short temper with siblings or parents, ego, stubbornness, watching/listening to/speaking about immorality, etc.

All of these could be matters to work on in order to purify ourselves and our characters, not solely for Ramadan, but for the rest of the year so that we would truly be people of taqwa who are conscious of God and in good, pure service to Him.

(From Ask About Islam archives)

- aboutislam.net

Preparing Your Body for Ramadan - Part 1

 

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

The Muslim world is welcoming a very dear guest, the holy month of Ramadan, the month of auspicious blessings

Having awareness of how to prepare our bodies physiologically and our daily diets for the month of fasting is highly essential for enhancement of functions of our organs and their internal processes.

Do you feel shell-shocked for having Ramadan around the corner? Looking for tips to get your health in order before Ramadan? Having bad sleeping habits and want this fixed before Ramadan?

To tackle this important topic, Dr. Amira Ayad, a pharmacist, nutrition specialist and natural health consultant provides answers to all these questions.

A: On the contrary, fasting a few days before Ramadan, beside being Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH who used to fast a lot during the month of Sha’aban, will help your body get used to the process and your physiology to adapt to the changing in eating pattern.

Q: I want to fast in some few scattered days before Ramadan. Could this cause fatigue to me before Ramadan or it will help me to get used to fasting?

Q: I suffer from Type II Diabetes , how can I prepare myself for Ramadan fasting?

A: The most important factor in type II Diabetes in controlling blood sugar level (BSL).

I’m not sure about the dosage and timing of your medication, but, I guess like most of type II diabetes patient, you take your medication once or twice a day. In this case, it would be no problem to gradually shift the time of the medication to be at the time of suhoor and Iftar.

If you take your medicine more than twice a day or you suffer from any other complications please consult your physician first before undergoing any changes.

Second, you should concentrate your carbohydrate intake on what we call low glycemic index foods. These are the carbohydrates that slowly release glucose in the blood like whole wheat, barley, brown rice, beans and legumes.

Avoid simple sugars and refined carbohydrates like white flour, syrups… which cause rapid rise in BSL and pauses stress on your pancreas.

Eat lots of fresh green vegetables, berries and add cinnamon to your desserts, 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon a day is proven to help balance BSL. Consume adequate amount of protein with each meal (20-30%) of your diet. Alternate between vegetable sources (like legumes, nuts, and beans), meat poultry and fish. Make sure your diet contains lots of fiber as they are known to stabilize and balance your BSL.

Other foods that help stabilize BSL include berries, brewer’s yeast (great source of B vitamins), dairy especially cheese, egg yolk, fish, garlic, kelp, beans and vegetables (not root or starchy vegetables).

Finally, always keep something sweet handy and if at any time of the day you feel any sign of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) like dizziness, headache, fainting, nausea… don’t hesitate to break your fast as your body is sending you a warning signal.

Q: Shall we decrease the number of our practices and activities during Ramadan summery daytime to avoid dehydration?

Of course avoid over exertion and too much sun and heat exposure, but, in general, most healthy individuals do not require any special consideration during fasting. Just insure getting enough water, juices and herbal teas during iftar and suhoor and avoid dehydrating drinks like coffee and tea.

A: This is a purely individual concept. Many people withstand hard work and labor with no signs of thirst or dehydration, while others couldn’t. The most important thing is to listen to your body signals and trust them.

Q: Do I have to decrease the food quantities I eat before Ramadan in order not to feel hungry during fasting?

A: I am not sure how much and how frequently you eat now. What I advice is moderation. Eat at regular timing, avoid snacking in between meals and shift to healthy whole food alternatives. This simple change in habits is advisable throughout the year, so it is good to start a practice and try to keep it up.

The most important thing, though, is to focus on quality of food to make sure you get all the required nutrients from your diet. You shouldn’t starve yourself, feel hungry or deprived, if this is the case, this means your body is not getting its full nutritional needs.

This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date, and highlighted now for its importance

About Amira Ayad

Amira Ayad is a natural health consultant and a holistic nutritionist. She holds a Master Degree in Pharmaceutics; and a PhD in natural health. She is a Board Certified Holistic Health practitioner by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and a Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner by the International organization of Nutrition Consultants (IONC). She published 2 books: Healing Body & Soul, in 2008; and, The True Secret, in 2011. Amira teaches Biochemistry & Body Metabolism at The Institute of Holistic Nutrition in Toronto, Canada.

- aboutislam.net

This Ramadan, Let Your Family Heal with the Qur’an

 

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”  ~George Bernard Shaw

How many times have you promised yourself to change for the better? How many ambitious plans have you made and then failed to achieve?

Every year Ramadan comes with its blessings and we promise that this time it would be better, yet here we are again, it’s a vicious cycle.

As Allah (swt) says in Surah Fussilat: 46,This Ramadan, make it happen. Make it a family project to bring about change. Allah calls the Qur’an Al-shifa (the healer). This is exactly what we need to do. We need to heal our souls. Dust off the covers of not only the Qur’an, but also the interpretations of the Qur’an.

“whosoever does good deeds, it is for (the benefit of) his own self; and whosoever does evil it is against his own self. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.”

Get closer to His commands, get closer to His mercy and connect your families into pleasing and worshiping the sole creator.

Start with yourself

One of the best ways to learn what Allah (swt) wants from us is through the glorious book which He revealed, Al-Qur’an. Each time we open the Qur’an, it is as if there are many things that are still unfamiliar to us. There is always a new lesson we walk away with.

First, invoke Allah to give us Barakah in our time and then embark on this journey of connecting with the Qur’an as a family.

Don’t wait for your parents, your spouse, your friend, or anyone else; you be the first one to start a family halaqa. Be among the sabiqoon (those who begin and make the initiative) that Allah mentions of in the Qur’an. You be the goal setter. Allah (swt) loves those who seek to please Him.

Al-Bukhari narrated in a beautiful hadeeth, that Abu Huraira said: the messenger of Allah (S) said, “Allah (swt) says,

“My slave does not draw closer to Me by anything more beloved to Me than that which I have made obligatory upon him, and My slave continues to draw closer to Me by doing nafil deeds (Voluntary worship) until I love him, and if I love him I will be his hearing with which he hears, his vision with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his feet with which he walks. If he were to ask of Me, I would surely give it to him; if he were to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.”

What can be more beautiful than Allah (swt) loving you and your family!

A great way to please Allah (Swt) is to worship Him collectively as one unit with your family. Ramadan is a perfect time to start and reboot our iman.

Take time out of your busy schedule, slow down and make goals prior to Ramadan, so that you are ready in Ramadan. Prepare your Ramadan days as you would prepare yourselves for meeting with a higher authority. Make the family aware of the project you are about to start.

Collective worship

One of the numerous ways to connect with the Qur’an is to start a family meeting with all the family members present. For instance, your spouse arrives from work at around asr time. Wait for him/her then pray salah as a jama’.

Sit down with your family in a circle, it’s easier to make eye contact and address each of them this way. Begin with talking about your day, then pick an ayah from the Qur’an, it’s easier if you go in order as to bookmark it for the next time.

Each of the members seated in the circle has to recite it, with proper tajweed if possible, then, don’t stop there. Open a book of tafseer (interpretation), such as Ibn Katheer and read the interpretations of it.

Discuss with each other in what manner to implement what was just learned. If you have older kids, you can make it a bit more challenging by trying to memorize a surah of the Qur’an as a family. Get creative and come up with projects that will benefit each member of the family.

What about kids?

Most of us are running low on Islamic books, now would be a good time to stock up. Especially for children. At bedtime read them stories that are connected to the Qur’an, there is a plethora of them available in stores and online.

There are numerous lessons that are mentioned in the Qur’an in the form of stories. Allah has given us those stories to reflect upon. However, it’s a challenge for caregivers to teach those lessons to young children.

One beneficial way for kids to learn and implement lessons from the Qur’an is through creating with their hands.

You can make a treasure box with the kids in which they get to pick any story from the Qur’an. Then prepare crafts together about it. For instance, the Qur’an mentions the story of Prophet Noah. Get construction paper and build an ark with the kids. Make this time a special one that your family will cherish for years.

The Qur’an addresses each and every human being at a personal level. It touches the soul with inspiring words and uplifting meanings. We need to first and foremost be aware of what Allah (swt) is telling us and guiding us towards.

We are the building blocks that are working on the structure of the family. Construct your family by implementing the teachings of Qur’an in your daily lives. Share that joy, that indescribable feeling with your families.

Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an, surah Al-Isra: 82,

“and We send down of the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe.” This Ramadan get closer to Allah (swt) and heal yourself and your families.

First published: June 2016

About Umm Muadh

Umm Muadh is a student at AOU university studying Islamic studies and currently resides in Texas, USA with her husband and four beautiful children!

-aboutislam.net

Where’s Love in the Quran?

 

You are right that if you search the Quran more carefully you’ll find a lot of very moving beautiful verses. You are also right about translations not doing the Quranic text justice. You can try reading M.A.S. Abdel Haleem’s modern English translation for a clearer picture.

The Quran is not only a book of prayer; it’s a unique book chartering a complete system for a human’s life, so it contains a wide array of information, from creed to legislation, to historic lessons, to scientific phenomena, to rules for handling domestic, social, and business affairs, thus giving Muslims a practical manual of how to run their lives according to God’s laws in the universe.

However, all of these topics are woven with fantastic literary brilliance into one solid and mesmerizing text, touching the depths of the soul, and speaking both to the mind and the heart of the reader. It’s important to engage your senses in exploring the Quran in order to get the full scale of the experience.

What About Love in the Quran?

According to dictionaries, the verb “to love” in English means:

Love is definitely one of the prominent topics of the Quran, although it is illustrated in a highly evolved, sophisticated manner, both linguistically and intellectually.

1- To have a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward (a person):We love our parents. I love my friends.

2- To have a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person.

3- To have an intense emotional attachment to something or someone.

In Arabic, the same verb carries more than just the simple emotional meanings illustrated above, as Arabic is a very rich and complex language. Moreover, the deep shades of love could be expressed very eloquently without mentioning the word “love” at all in the way we do in English.

Expressing the manifestations of love and its obligations and responsibilities of compassion, care, esteem, respect, self sacrifice, humbleness, forgiveness, and so on, is a very beautiful form of expressing love in Arabic, the original language of the Quran.

God’s love for His creation, and of believers’ love for God

The Quran is full of verses with practical manifestations of God’s love for His creation, and of believers’ love for God. In Islam, faith is a practical deed, not just an emotion. It has to be expressed practically in deeds as well as verbally in prayers. Consequently, you will find that in the Quran whenever faith is mentioned, it will always be coupled with “doing good deeds”.

Similarly, whenever God’s love is mentioned, it’s coupled with the practical gifts this love will bestow on believers, as the practical application of their love for God brings them closer to Him.

The Quran’s approach to human nature is balanced: it recognizes that emotions sway between positive and negative, and people are not expected to be angels who do not know weakness or negative feelings. Consequently, the Quran regulates emotions and disciplines manners, while rewarding the reader with amazing tenderness, hope, and soft emotions interwoven into the text.

Some of the most beautiful verses of the Quran that can be recited as prayers are those spoken by the prophets to invoke God, and those spoken by God to the believers detailing His rewards promised to them in this life and the next, and even to the wrongdoers, promising them forgiveness and limitless mercy if they repent and return to His path.

There are also magnificent verses with the beautiful names of God, recited to sing His praises and exalt His grace.

Prayers

It is also seen as a chance to “talk” to God directly five times a day through reciting the Quran, as well as one’s own simple, honest, and spontaneous words pouring straight from the heart during prostration.

When a Muslim meets God in prayer, this is seen as the ultimate expression of love through humbleness and obedience from a loving respectful creature to his or her exalted Creator.

The same applies to all the forms of practicing Islam, whether mandated or optional, rituals or conduct. God’s answer and rewards to such honesty of feelings and sincerity of deeds is detailed in the Quran, and felt daily by millions of worshipers. What more would one need to prove a mutual love relationship?

Jeffrey Lang addressed this subject in his book Losing My Religion: A Call for Help, so let me borrow so
me of his thoughts:

Worship in Islam is holistic. Self-surrender to God is revealed more by our day-to-day conduct toward others than only by our practice of religious rites. Righteous living enhances our relationship with God.

The Quran frequently speaks of the love of God for the good-doers (2:195; 3:134; 3:148; 5:13; 5:195) the repentant (2:222), those that purify themselves (2:222; 9:108), the God-conscious (3:76; 9:4; 9:7) the persevering ones (3:146), those that put their trust in God (3:159), the upholders of justice (5:42; 49:9; 60:8), and those who struggle in the path of God (61:4).

God’s names and attributes mentioned in the Quran sum up the virtues that enable us to attain His love. The most frequently occurring names are associated with God’s attributes of mercy, compassion and forgiveness: the purest manifestations of love. Therefore, we find the relationship between the sincere believer and God consistently characterized as a bond of love.

In the Biblical verse you quoted, it’s clearly stated that love is an absolute, greater in value than deeds, however good, and that it is more important than faith.

Since God is the perfection of the virtues we should acquire, the more we grow in them, the greater our ability to get closer to Him. The more we grow in mercy, the greater our ability to experience God’s infinite mercy. The more we develop compassion, the greater our ability becomes to know God’s infinite compassion. The same could be said of love. (90;295)

In Islam, this doesn’t hold true, since faith is the supreme source of everything related to a human’s relationship with God.

Faith, therefore, is where love comes from, blooming to generate and strengthen faith, thus producing more love to fortify faith even more, and so on, in an eternal golden circle.

(From Ask About Islam archives)

- aboutislam.net

The Triangle of Bliss: Ramadan, Quran and Taqwa

 

Would you like to get the very best out of Ramadan this year?

A better understanding of these important elements may help you achieve your goal.

Allah informs us that Ramadan is the blessed month in which the Quran was revealed and fasting prescribed.

{The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it…} (2:185)

We understand from the above verse what Quran is all about: “as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and a criterion (between right and wrong)…”

We also understand that it is in Ramadan that fasting was prescribed. But what is the purpose of fasting?

{O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may become righteous (achieveTaqwa).} (2:183)

So we note that the importance of the month of Ramadan is the advent of the revelation of the Quran and it is thorough understanding followed by action, the commandments in this blessed book, that we are to achieve Taqwa (God consciousness!)

{(It is) a Quran in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may become righteous (achieve Taqwa).} (39:28)

We see a very important triangle of bliss here: fasting in Ramadan, the Quran and Taqwa. This heavenly connection is possible at its highest level only in Ramadan!

One may not obtain full aspiration unless the three are interwoven together.

So, one who is interested to achieve taqwa may ask themselves: “Can I achieve this without the Quran?”

The answer is clear no.

The next question is “What if I incorporate the Quran into my life. Can I achieveTaqwa without fasting?” the answer is most likely no. And obviously the best time to fast is in the month of Ramadan.

Allah gives us clear signs how to achieve Taqwa.

{Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn Taqwa(God consciousness).} (2:187)

Why Should We be so Concerned about Taqwa?

Let us use some practical examples:

George works as an actor and is a very kind, honest and decent man. He harms no one and in fact he helps others as much as he can. He adheres to no religion. People who know him, really love and respect him.

George has a few girlfriends with whom he has premarital relationships. In fact women are so attracted to his loving kind behavior and good looks, they often offer themselves to him for companionship and pleasure. He accepts when he wishes and they all seem to be winners. But are they?

Now let us look at a similar scenario with Ahmad. He has similar nature, but with one very distinct difference! He is very God conscious and will not approach any sinful activities. He has Taqwa.

Will God reward the good deeds George is doing?

We do understand that Allah rewards those who do good deeds in this world but as for the Hereafter, He informs us:

{Allah does only accept from those who are righteous (Muttaqeen).} (5:27)

Muttaqeen are those who have achieved Taqwa and are righteous by having a clear understanding of Allah’s commandments in the Quran and adhering to them. They are more concerned about the Hereafter than this world.

{That home of the Hereafter we shall give to those who intend not high-handedness or mischief on earth: and the end is (best) for the Righteous (Muttaqeen)} (28:83)

The ones who have Taqwa consider the life of this world a short journey. They do their best to prepare the proper provision for the Hereafter.

But what is that provision?

{…and take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions isTaqwa (righteousness). So fear Me, O you that are wise.} (2:197)

When Ali ibn abi Talib was asked to define Taqwa he said:

“Taqwa is to fear the Most Exalted One, work upon His revelation, become content and ascetic and always prepare for the departure from this life.”

Taqwa is an elevated level of consciousness of the Creator in all its aspects. Fearing and loving Him and having the highest hope in Him above all His creation are among the fruits of Taqwa. When a person reaches this stage, he/she is considered a righteous person. It is this stage that gains the servant the most honorable position with Allah.

{…Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he/she who is) the most righteous of you…} (49:13)

Attainment of the station of a Muttaqi (one who has Taqwa) is a life-long journey and not limited to the month of Ramadan only. However the most potent time of the year is Ramadan which facilitates this great opportunity. The heart and the soul is most in-tune with the Quran – the words of Allah. The soul is receptive and the mind flushes out the forbidden and impure thoughts, if Ramadan rules were observed righteously and with sincerity.

How Do I Reach this Station?

The number one element is the desire to get closer to Allah and intense longing to be in a higher spiritual station than the one we are in.

There is no book, guide, teacher or course than can help a person reach this station better than the Quran. Of course a teacher of the Quran can help explain some verses and backgrounds. A tafseer (interpretation) book can shed more light on the depth of the verses and historical background on events. Yet, most of the words of the Quran speak to the heart of the seeker without any interpretation or teacher.

Many Muslims try to read the entire Quran in the month of Ramadan. Some do so without even understanding the Arabic meaning and some try to complete the Quran so fast that they pay little attention to the spiritual depth of this Holy Book.

It is better to read one chapter with full understanding than reading the entire Quran for the sake of completing a task!

It is also highly recommended to memorize as many chapters of the Quran as possible and recite them during the daily prayers. Repetition with understanding the meaning will continue nurturing the longing soul and bring him closer to understanding Allah’s message to humankind.

One understands that fasting is not limited to abstaining from food only, but having Taqwa is the key.

Taqwa means consciousness, awe or fear of Allah, which inspires a person to be on guard against wrong action and eager for actions which please Allah and stay away from those actions which displease and anger Him.

About Raya Shokatfard

Raya Shokatfard holds an MA in Journalism/Mass Communications and an M.A.D. in TV journalism. BA in Communication and BA in Islamic Studies. She has been Islamic propagator in the U.S and Egypt for many years and academic lecturer, writer, international presenter, consultant, foreign correspondent. She can be reached at: raya4peace@gmail.com

-aboutislam.net

Should We Do Good for the Sake of Good Or for Reward?

 

You are quite right when you say that good deeds should be done not merely for a reward from people, but because they are good deeds in themselves.

But why do we wish to do what is good and just?

Our intention for any good deed should always be for the sake of Allah, to please Him because He created us and to Him we shall all return. In the Quran, the reason for our existence is clear.

Every act we perform has an intention behind it, either good or bad.

I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me. (Quran 51:56)

We serve Allah not because he is in need of it, but because we need it. That is true mercy from the Lord of all the worlds.

Allah is not in need of us to do good, and is not affected if we do evil. We are the ones who benefit or suffer from our actions.

However, if we do not seek reward from people that is one thing, but if we do not seek reward from Allah, what are we trying to accomplish in performing good deeds?

Only those believe in Our Signs, who, when they are recited to them, fall down in prostration, and celebrate the praises of their Lord, nor are they (ever) puffed up with pride. Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them. Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them – as a reward for their (good) deeds. Is then the man who believes no better than the man who is rebellious and wicked? Not equal are they. For those who believe and do righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes, for their (good) deeds. (Quran 32:15-19)

In the Hereafter there are only two final destinations for mankind, Paradise and Hellfire.

When we see the Hellfire, and every one of us will have to see it, we will wish that we could do anything to get as far away from it as possible, not only because of the heat, but because of the roar of its flames and sounds of those being tormented in it.

Regardless of how good we were in this life, we will be in fear not knowing whether we will be saved from it or not.

When we see Paradise, we will hope that we are among those to be admitted to it. And if we are admitted, we will wish that we had done more so that we could receive more of its blessings and pleasures.

More Than Reward

To expect no reward from Allah is also good but only if it is because we feel, out of humility before Allah, that we do not deserve it.

It is quite noble to do good for the sake of Allah alone, seeking no reward from others.

If we do good without seeking reward from Allah because we are confident that we have 100% pure intentions, that would be somewhat arrogant of us.

Allah teaches us in the Quran to ask him for what we need.

And there are men who say: “Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!” To these will be allotted what they have earned; and Allah is quick in account. (Quran 2: 201-202)

We ask to be saved from the torment of the Hellfire and to be in Allah’s company and the company of those with whom He is pleased.

Should Allah not be a gracious host? And if Allah is gracious and hospitable as a host, would it not be an unimaginably nice visit; one that we would not want to come to an end?

He loves to provide for His creation and has ordained that He will be Merciful over it, even for those who deny His existence.

For those who believe and follow His commands there will be a great reward.

If you loan to Allah, a beautiful loan, He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you Forgiveness: for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service), Most Forbearing. (Quran 64:17)

Allah loves to hear us asking for help and guidance

It is a way of teaching us that we are truly in constant need of Allah, and that without Him we are nothing.

Sometimes He will even make life difficult for us so that we will feel helpless and turn to Him for help.

The highest level of faith is to love Allah and His Prophet more than anything else, including ourselves.

To love Islam more than anything, to love the truth and what is right more than our own desires.

We should put others before ourselves and that is the most noble of deeds.

We seek the pleasure of Allah because He has given us everything, including our own selves.

He is the reason we exist and the reason for our existence is to worship Him.

We worship Him by doing things that please Him, in the ways that please Him.

It pleases Allah when He sees that we recognize the Truth, that He is all that matters in our lives.

Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which ye delight – are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause; then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious. (Quran 9:24)

I ask Allah, praise be to him, that He guides us all to what He likes and pleases Him. Amen.

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(From Ask About Islam’s archives)

-aboutislam.net