Anas (RA), a companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reported that when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two days they had carnivals and festivity. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked the Ansaar (the Muslims of Madinah) about it.
They replied that before Islam they used to have carnivals on those two joyous days. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told them: ‘Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other days which are better, the days of Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.’ (Hadith)
END OF RAMADAN – EID-UL-FITR
Ramadan the very special month from all the other months is the ninth month and to the very end of its blessings and mercy the next very first day of the Islamic month is Shawwal and this is precisely where you are to know that this is the day of EID, EID-UL-FITR. This is the day of joy and success and peace and happiness which Muslims are awarded on the very day.
Thus this is the true Thanksgiving Day in all sense where Muslims celebrate the joy and thanks ALLAH (SWT) to make it worth the month in their life time and bless them with the opportunity to take advantage of such a divine holy month.
SUNNAH OF EID
Wake up early in the morning
Prepare your clothes and other aspects related to cleanliness
Have a shower before wearing new clothes.
Take special measures for the cleanliness such as brushing your teeth.
Put on those clothes which are the best you have, new are not necessary (should be clean)
Use perfume (used by men only).
Have breakfast before leaving for EID-UL-FITR.
On Eid-al-Adha, eat breakfast after Salaat or after sacrifice (if you are doing a sacrifice).
Pay Zakaat-al-Fitr before Salaat-al-Eid (on Eid-al-Fitr).
Try to reach the prayer ground early.
Offer Salaat-al-Eid in congregation in an open place except when whether is not permitting like rain, snow, etc.
Recite the following Takbir on the way to Salaat and until the beginning of Salaat-al-Eid: Allaho-Akber, Allaho-Akber. La ila-ha ill-lal-lah. Allaho-Akber, Allaho-Akber. Wa-lilahill hamd.
Meaning in English: (Allah is great, Allah is great. There is no god but Allah. Allah is great, Allah is great. And all praises are for Allah).
OFFERING EID PRAYER
Ibn Abbass (RA) reported: “I participated in the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer with the Messenger of Allah (saw), Abu Bakr (RA), Umar (RA) and Uthman (RA), and all of them held Eid prayer before Khutbah, and then the Prophet Muhammad (saw) delivered the Khutbah (sermon).” (Muslim)
WHO IS WITH AN OBLIGATION TO PRAY
Umm Atiyah (RA) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) commanded us to bring out on Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha, young women, hijab-observing adult women and the menstruating women. The menstruating women stayed out of actual Salaat but participated in good deeds and Duaa (supplication). I (Umm Atiyah) said to the Holy Prophet (saw): Oh! Messenger of Allah, one does not have an outer garment. He replied: Let her sister cover her with her garment.”( Muslim )
(In the Name of Allah (SWT), Most Gracious, Most Merciful, all praise and thanks are due to Allah, Lord of the Realms and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (SAWS) and upon all his family and companions)
The Following Dua is compiled for you to make this Ramadan’s special night even better and in addition, glorify and justify those chances to make this happen in a much better way and this is why you are advised to consider the following Dua:
O Lord of Lailatul Qadr! (Night of Destiny!
Who has made it better than 1000 months!
O the Lord of the day and the night and the mountains and oceans, the Lord of light and darkness!
O the Lord of the earth and the skies!
O the Creator! O the Designer!
O Kind!
O One Who favours!
O Allah Who maintains everything!
O Allah!
O the Kindest!
O Allah!
O the Creator of new things!
O Allah! O Allah! O Allah!
The best names are for Thee alone.
Thou hast control over all virtues.
I ask Thee to send blessings on Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his Aal (A.S.).
Write my name, in this Night of Qadr, among the names of the fortunate.
Let my soul keep the company of the martyrs.
Let my good deeds be reckoned with “Illiyeen” (those exalted).
Forgive my sins.
Bestow on me such belief that Thou may be nearest to my heart.
Give me such understanding that all the doubts may be removed.
Let me be contended over that which has been ordained for me:
Let me have goodness and virtues in this world and the next.
Save me from the glowing fire of Hell. Encourage me towards Tine remembrance with pleasure and to be penitent.
Give me all those virtues that Thou hast given to Muhammad (S.A.W.) and Aal-e-Muhammad (A.S.).
(May Allah Send down Blessings and Mercy upon our Master Muhammad, the crowned one, and the one with holy ascension and the owner of buraq, mount of light who is the best in adab (conduct), intercessor of ummahs (communities), blessed with eminence and generosity. Salutation of Peace to the Prophet and his noble followers. Assalatu wa assalamu alayka Ya Rasool Allah)
It is the time of great grief and agony that we are embracing on time which has struck again causing to be a national disaster/tragedy. Here we are helpless and speechless, but that was the case when the flood victims of our mother land, our brothers and sisters faced such a calamity against nature and a simple intention aroused those who really felt it and got ready to help.
Time of Grief & Agony:
It is the time of distress and we as a nation should be willing to combine are very single handed efforts to make a contribution as say something is better than nothing. The honor goes to the team of QURAN READING, that the entire idea of helping the sufferers was arranged and executed in an extra ordinary professional manner.
As we all know that it’s the Blessed Month of Ramadan in which we seek nothing else, but Mercy, Blessings & Forgiveness and this is the very month in which there are millions of people awaiting our attention.
Manly Efforts In Time For Helpless:
The following are some very precise details for your consideration, and to applause the team to make this event of grief & sorrow, a bit helpful to those who are in desperate needs, for sure their efforts are respected.
August 15, 2010 was the date on which the crew of these eight members started their epic quest to help the flood victims with a one day journey in the following affected areas: Noshera, Dhobi Ghatt, Akhora Khattak, Peer Sabaq, Noshera Kallan.
The Team Of Quran Reading:
The team of QURAN READING was able to collect the following funds it also includes the Expenses we made:
The team covered a total of 250 families in the given resources, the donation is estimated to be sufficient for one week supply, it included:
Soap
Dates
Sugar
Salt
kalay chanay
Tea
Nimko Packs
Juices
Water
Dal Chana
Ghee (Oil)
Dry Milk Sachet
Feeders for kids
Washing powder
10 Kg Bag of Flour
Biscuit Box of 6 Half Rolls
It’s our humble request to all of you please run small campaigns in your friends/relatives and collect some more funds for flood victims as soon as possible. We also like to thank our employees who found out to be useful resources to be utilized as with their efforts. Special thanks to unknown and external resources who contributed on our personal behalves.
It Does Not Stop Here:
However, the good news is that it is just the beginning, as the success stories are being told by the above mentioned team members, there are next awaiting for their turn to serve and play a vital role whether it is monetary or voluntary, the next trip is to be announced soon. Would like to thank all of you who have been truly played a supportive role to make all of the above happen.
Ramadan is the month at whom arrival, Muslims are delightful and the entire environment, the aroma around the entire neighborhood changes that makes it even more predictive that The Month of Blessings and Mercy has began where uplift in faith results in more attention towards prayers, worship, Quran recitation & a clear inclined in sins is the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan with its blessing offers such opportunities that entire Muslims Umah change their timings / routine for eating, standing in prayer, sleeping as they do not seek anything else but forgiveness with complete submission to Allah (SWT). Seeking blessings, mercy and forgiveness for the life herein and hereafter as the result of a month long ritual of devotion, piety and abstinence.
PREVAILING DIVERSITY:
It is of the fact that many of us Muslims prepare for the very special month and it is of a fact that the diverse cultures are to establish and make certain aspects prevail in their own role playing duties. Special worshipping and praying in Ramadan may affect their practice as the timings of office
On the other hand a school / college student may find it difficult to set aside their studies however praying and Quran Recitation should be done with Taraweeh, while house wives find themselves busy preparing food and managing households, but may visit the ladies morning in which one daily Juz of Quran is studied.
OUR BELOVED PROPHET LIFE’S A LESSON TO MANKIND:
We as Muslims are provided with certain aspects of life which are perfect in every sense and if one is unable to understand the benefits does not stop to come and this is where one is to examine and learn the life of our Beloved Prophet (SAWS) for which HE practiced to be more:
Generous: Narrated Ibn Abbas: “The Prophet was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Jibreel visited him, and Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Qur’an to Jibreel, and when Jibreel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare).” (Al-Bukhari, 3/31, no. 126)
Quran Recitation: The Prophet (SAWS) use to recite Quran to Jibreel every night in Ramadan by which it use to recite Quran and memorize the entire revelation upon Him till that time.
Secluded Worship for last ten days of Ramadan: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would go into seclusion for (the last) 10 days during the month of Ramadan, but the year in which he passed away he went into seclusion for 20 days.” (Al-Bukhari)
It’s the moment of agony and great grief that the authorities yet considered to be provided and posted for security have failed again not doing anything was the case again and their silent spectatorship remained to be a big question for their entire existence. No doubt, leaving pondered, wondering the entire Nation and others.
SO CALLED JUSTICE:
It is not to be said that we would like to call for justice as we would definitely expect justice to be served if not mere by the Human rights commission or by the local so called government or by the various known and unknown law forcing agencies. There has to be someone behind the entire breathtaking scene created in Sialkot.
WHAT WERE THEY ACCUSED OF:
Said that it killed two robbers…. Not only robbers but they were brothers as well meaning two sons of one family and maybe the only sons and not only two sons were killed but the sons that were killed was not killed by law forcing agencies but by local mobsters group who were brilliant enough to claim that they know what’s best to do.
WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT FOR ROBBERS?
Well, we have people imprisoned for several years who committed either small bribes or have been serial killers in their outside suppose to be normal life, but things have changed now and mobsters have joined hands with the law enforcing agencies to plan, decide and execute their sweet will upon their desire and this is what these two young lads have suffered.
WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO KILL SOMEONE AS SUCH?
Not forgetting the thoughts of the very incidents where mobsters publicly killed two young lads brutally and hung them upside down just like movies, what were they trying to prove and who gave them the right to kill someone without a decent trial and even if they were what they were accused of ISLAM does not allow such execution.
This is the time for you to think what is right and what is wrong and with the advent of technology and media one is well aware of the facts around the world and this is where you are to learn and experience the true aspect and moral value of the life within oneself religion.
Whom to Believe: What To Trust: Two facets:
People are often unreasonable but let what can be done leaving them to their own destiny and moving forward might be the case for some, but for some it is time to make things work with the level of trust and integrity to explain one with the internal satisfaction to the very roots of one’s understanding of its belief helping to understand between righteous and wrongful.
Believe What You See:
It has been reported by CNN and other networks such as Facebook and other social networking websites hosting a event in American Church in which they are claiming to declare ISLAM as the religion of the devil and justifying themselves of their actions by posting comments that the entire prospective for this event is to revenge themselves from the 9/11 attacks.
What Does Burning Quran Means?
Every Muslims is attached to their Holy Divine Book, Quran and as we know they would be burning that making it very obvious and clear that what they think about our religions, but let me tell you the educated but illiterate people are following such a person who is known to be a priest. My question to him would be that what religion denies the religion of ISLAM?
Well, to all my Brothers and Sisters it is evident that such a thing is being planned, but not to worry as to their surprise burning Quran is a permissible act in ISLAM, but not in this sense. However, millions of Muslims around the world are protesting to stop such a misery, but what do they know what in real they are up to.
Ramadan Welcome Fellow Muslims:
Here is the second facet, as they say America is known to be offering freedom of speech where one priest is actively busy in organizing to burn the sacred Book of Muslims and on the other hand the President of America congrats Muslims to welcome Ramadan and its great blessings that are to be started with a good note with festive ending.
We as Muslims are not to be hindered by these acts by the unbelievers and with cool minded have to follow the path of forgiveness making our practices worth the time and blessing and the rewards awarded to us on our good deeds. This is the time to loot the blessing of the upcoming month Ramadan.
CNN Reports that a Church in Gainesville, Florida is holding an event against ISLAM as they plan to quench n revenge Muslims for the horrific act of 9/11/2001. It’s been nine years and the upcoming anniversary would be the date to hold this event. Believing that what is the cause of such an act is that they are imposing ISLAM to be a religion of Devil and as a result their wrongful acts would be Burning Muslims Holy Book, Quran.
NON-BELIEVERS AGAINST BELIEVERS:
Despite many efforts from various groups the poster is with the believe that ISLAM is the cause of sending many to Hell and this is a way to teach lesson to the believers. Well, to my understanding and his limited thinking ISLAM is way beyond the point which one could believe and this is where I insist on clear understanding and believe to be possessed without any prejudices.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF:
People around the world Muslims or Non-Muslims are protesting against such an act which will definitely give rise to tensions in the region and this is where we as believers require to be united and act bravely, not any battles to be fought but the belief within us and the practice of one’s religion teachings of the Islamic preaching would be the basis and fundamental cause of such an issue.
FACEBOOK PROMOTING THE EVENT:
I would like to urge the masses involved that instead of promoting hatred and acts which not only will end up in unreasonable terms when it comes to religion we all know how sensitive one can be whether a believer or not. And to all my Muslims brothers and sisters I urge that there has not been events held on a known social networking website, Facebook and this is where you are to take some productive steps.
TIME TO VOTE AGAINST SUCH AN ACT:
This humiliation & disgraceful events are often held on Facebook and instead of helping us win the voting and removing such a competition it is often Muslims that are surprisingly blocking or de-activating their account for good whereas they should be raising their concerns for such a shame and disgraceful act by non-believers.
ALLAH (SWT) SAYS IN QURAN:
“Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).” (Chapter 61, Verse #8)
We as Muslims are to learn and practice the very ISLAM that is told by us by our Beloved prophet (SAWS) and our Creator, The One & Only and The Lord For the entire universe, ALLAH (SWT) has made it as an obligation to understand and the true religion of its kind which is for sure better than any other religion.
Thus the time has come for our ummah to understand the importance of such things which have been widely accepted and practiced in the past, but as time passed their understanding and practice has diminished which is quite depressing. For this reason today we are to know the importance of ITIKAF in the month of Fasting, Ramadan.
Yes, that is right fasting is one of the important pillars in ISLAM and this comes in the month of Ramadan which is told to us by several Hadith and Quran verses that the Month of Ramadan is a true blessing to the mankind and those who want to seek mercy, forgiveness and blessings should pray and worship in abundance to please their Lord, ALLAH (SWT).
This is where performing ITIKAF provides the ultimate spiritual retreat to make things happen for you and this is an ultimate opportunity to devote oneself to the maximum limits of submission and this is where one is left with no other diversions or thoughts but to stay at Mosque refraining from the daily worries of life and praying to ALLAH (SWT) for HIS mercy.
Our Beloved Prophet (SAWS) said: “The persons who secludes himself (in the Masjid in I’tikaf) in true faith and hope (for the reward of Allah), all of his previous sins shall be forgiven.” (Kanzul Ummal, Hadith 24007)
This is what you are to understand that ISLAM began its journey from devotion and the revelation started from ITIKAF and this is where Allah (SWT) said: “And when We made the House a pilgrimage for mankind and a (place of) security, and said, ‘Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim [Maqam-e-Ibrahim].’ And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: ‘Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion, those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves.’ (Suratul Baqarah (2), Verse 125)
Thus the importance of ITIKAF is to be understood and practiced with ultimate succession as Allah (SWT) has promised great rewards, but to qualify for those you are to perform this act of worship in accordance with devotion and purity of your heart in the special month of Ramadan. May ALLAH (SWT) help you achieve what you seek (AMEEN).
Let’s keep things simple and easy for us to understand, we all claim to know our religion well but we fail to understand that what in real terms our religion expects us to practice and the entire thought of understanding would contribute to the rewards which Allah (SWT) has promised us.
As said keeping things to the point and simple will make you explain more about our religion and today what I would like to focus is upon the upcoming blessed Month of fastingknown as Ramadan and its virtues in context for the act of worship known as ITIKAF, which is to performed by staying at a Mosque.
Well, when we say Mosques instantly you are to compare the two separate conclusions that a person performing ITIKAF in the greatest of all months will be involved in such great acts like offering Salat in congregation will make him achieve rewards 27 times more than normally and the entire act of praying is done with peace of mind and devotion.
On the other hand when we compare a person who is not performing ITIKAF in the month of Ramadanand is at work will not be able to pray in congregation and will always be in a rush to pray and get back to business which continues to cause distraction, thus losing consistency and devotion that does not allow him to achieve any reward.
Thus, ITIKAF makes it easy for the person (Mutakif) performing to devote himself solely towards ALLAH (SWT) and this is where you are to understand all the benefits concerned with it breaking all the ties from the outside world and indulge in prayers and worshipping the Creator.
“And seek help in patience and As-salat (the prayer) and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khaashi’un (i.e. the true believers in Allah – those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His punishment, and believe in His Promise and in His Warning). (They are those) who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord, and that unto Him they are going to return.”(Surah 2)
In addition: “Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden).(Surah 23)
When it comes to the Month of Ramadan there is nothing that one can come across in the life time and the only way to know the real potentials of this special Month one is expected to acquire appropriate knowledge followed by understanding which makes it easy for a person to adopt and practice the precise teachings of ISLAM.
Before we are to go any further it is important to make it clear that the Month of Fasting, Ramadan is the Month in which Allah (SWT) raise the rewards and chances of HIS blessing upon mankind and this is where you are to know that our Beloved Prophet (SAWS) use to prepare and take special measures to practice and spend the Holy month.
Well, we should know why as to our understanding we as Muslims should follow HIS (SAWS) footsteps to be in a better position and this is what is required to know that our Beloved Prophet (SAWS) use to be more than before generous in this particular Month and this is for us to know that Ramadan in a special month.
Our Beloved Prophet (SAWS) said: «He, who serves food to a fasting person to break his fast, receives a reward like his reward, without reducing anything from the reward of the fasting person.» [reported by At-Tirmizi and others]
We are affirmed that in the Month of Ramadan Allah (SWT) showers his mercy, blessings and forgiveness on those who abstain and follow the recommended path and forgive those and their previous sins to make them a better Muslim and this is where you are know that all evils are imprisoned to help believers devote their attention and time to benefit in more rewards and mercy and forgiveness.
But for those who even then fail to submit to The Creator, what else can be said about them apart from praying that may ALLAH (SWT) guide them and help them to identify and learn and understand the path of glory the right path forgiveness, the path which leads to prosperity, success and forgiveness. (AMEEN)
