Ramadan thread

[rudy-Diiriye]

this thread is simply about what says! Ramadan.. so if you have good stories, advices or just wanna share your experiences in this holly month...plz do so here..thx

 

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Try to do everything differently this month.. lose the attitude, be kind, repent, and toobadh keen!!

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Kids' Activities in Ramadan

 

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

 

All Muslim parents face the same issue - how can we help make Ramadan fun and educational for our children?

 

Parents living in the non-Muslim world often feel the need to emphasize Ramadan over other celebrations. Especially this year, many parents find it difficult to compete with the glitz of the Christmas season.

 

A pioneer in children's Islamic entertainment and education, Soundvision offers advice on getting your children involved in observing Ramadan and finding pride in their own faith. On the Ramadan section of the Islam forum, parents can share ideas for activities.

 

Many parents are busy in the kitchen for part of the day, preparing the family's iftar (dinner for breaking fast at the end of the day). Why not let your children help you in the kitchen? Even young children love to smash garlic, sprinkle spices, and wash rice. Older children can help chop vegetables for salad, stir soup, or roll samosas. Invite your children to help, according to their ability.

 

In the evening, spend some time with your children simply telling them stories. You can read from a book, but often children enjoy it more if you just tell them stories - of your childhood, of the Prophet (peace be upon him), of the sahaba, etc.

 

Ramadan is a time of sacrifice and sympathy for the poor and needy. Help your children decorate a jar, and collect coins in it for the remainder of the month. At the end of the month, they can count the change and give it to the mosque or another Islamic organization to help those in need. Or, give them some boxes and encourage them to clean out their closets. Every child can find unwanted clothing or toys to give to children who need them.

 

About now, many parents are hearing the oft-repeated question: "Is it 'Eid yet?" or "How many days until 'Eid?" Help your child make a Ramadan calendar, so they can mark off each day and do the 'Eid countdown themselves. You can create a calendar on the computer, or draw one from scratch. Let your children color and decorate it, and hang it on the wall where they can see and reach it. Offer stickers for them to mark the days.

 

And remember, above all, Ramadan is a time for family togetherness, helping each other, and remembering the mercy of Allah. Simple is better. Relax and enjoy!

[Proud_Muslimah2]

Assalamu Alaikum,

 

A Short Advice on Ramadan, by Shaykh Ihsaan Elahi Zaheer

 

The Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sent as a guide and as a leader to humanity. He guided us to believe in the Oneness of Allaah and ordered us to obey the Commands of Allaah and accept him as the last and final Messenger sent to mankind. Eemaan and Islaam represent these two Beliefs.

 

We Muslims are approaching the blessed days of Ramadan; we must work hard to please Allaah in these virtuous days of Ramadan, whilst following the Commands of Allaah and obeying His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

 

We should also keep in mind that the worship we undertake in this month is not an easy task to accomplish. In the hot and long days of Ramadan, we keep ourselves hungry and thirsty from dawn to dusk, hold back our desires and avoid even those matters, which Allaah has made Halaal in the common days. Then in this situation, we accomplish our daily works and spend the day according to the Commands of Allaah. In the evening, after the Suhoor, we await the night not to slip into the bed and rest, but to make the Qiyaam and listen to the Book of Allaah; we thank Allaah and make sujoods unto Him. Then we await the call of adhaan to initiate the great act of worship once again.

 

All this hard work is done only to please Allaah and with the hope that this act would become a means to our salvation. Indeed, many people put together hard efforts in the month of Ramadan, BUT who is the one, whose worship will truly benefit him on the Day of Resurrection and protect him from the severe punishments and trials of that Day?

 

He is the one, who believes in the Oneness of Allaah and does not associate partners with Him, and performs all his worships according to the guidance of Allaah's Messenger, because Allaah says:

 

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him, and Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheist and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.†(5:72)

 

This was also what Allaah warned his Messengers with, He said:

 

“But if they had joined in worship others with Allaah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.†(6:8 )

 

Similarly, if one performs all his worship with full sincerity but does not abide by the guidance with which the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came, then all his worship will become invalid and be of no benefit on the Day of Judgement. Allaah says:

 

“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and Obey the Messenger and make not vain your deeds.†(47:33)

 

We ask Allaah to make all our worships sincerely for His Sake and make us strong adherents to the guidance of Allaah's Messenger.

[rudy-Diiriye]

AVOIDANCE OF THE THINGS THAT CONTRADICT THE SPIRIT OF ramadan:

 

Fasting is one of the best acts of worship. It is mandated by Allah (SWT) to purify the soul along with the practice of good deeds. Thus the faster ought to be aware of acts or behaviors that may spoil his fast so that he or she will attain the highest benefit physically and spiritually.

 

Fasting is not only restraining oneself from fast-breakers - food, drink and sex - that restrain only the mouth and the private parts. Every limb (jawarih) must be restrained. The tongue must desist from slander and back-biting . The eyes must restrain themselves from any unlawful look. The hand must not touch or take what does not belong to it. The ears must not listen to idle talk, gossip, lyrics and notes that contain obscene and indecent things; the nose must fast also by not sniffing, smelling unlawful things. The feet must fast by not going to places where sinful acts are propagated. When you eat sahuur and iftar, make sure the food on the table has been obtained lawfully. If the servant has observed the fast in these terms and acted accordingly, he or she will have gained positively by Ramadan and will receive the maximum reward.

 

Hence, fasting is a state of mind that transcends the physical restraint. In a hadith by Abu Hurairah, the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "It is not fasting, just to restrain from food and drink, instead the fast is to cease from idle talk (laghw), obscenity, and should anyone insult or provoke you, or act ignorantly towards you, respond to it by saying, 'I am fasting, I am indeed fasting.'" (Ibn Khuzaimah)

 

In another citation reported by Abu Hurairah (raa) the Messenger of Allah, (saas), said: "He who does not stop from false talk or stop from acting upon false talk, Allah will have no need that he abstain from his food and drink." (Bukhari)

 

worshipper will not receive any reward from his pAgain, in the same spirit, the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "Many an observer of fasting will not receive from his fasting any reward but the pain of hunger, and many a night rayer but the loss of sleep." (Nasaie and Hakim)

 

These three ahadith are evidence that the most important thing in the eyes of the Lawgiver is not merely physically restraining from the obvious food and drink, but the total commitment of the servant's body and soul to the letter and spirit of fasting. The curfew of the body and mind during the state of fasting enables the person who has fasted in the true spirit of Ramadan to have the necessary requirements to withstand the turbulence of life for the next eleven months.

 

When the Messenger of Allah (saas) said in the hadith, "Allah will have no need..." (Bukhari), he was indicating the depth or seriousness of this case. If you fail the test, Allah will have no need that he abstained... in that test. If Allah rejects the test, who else will accept it? Nobody! Hence, the pain of hunger and the burning of thirst will go unrewarded.

[Yonis]

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of people, particularly in Ramadan. Inshallah, let’s help and send some money to our close relatives and anybody who you think needs some support in this Ramadan if you are able to do so. It is because the rewards and benefits of this month are guaranteed and highly emphasized.