Opportunities to prepare for Ramadan

[Pacifist]

AsSalaamu Alaikum,

 

I pray that all of you and your families are in good health and high Iman.

 

I just wanted to forward this information on to all of you, given that

Ramadan is fast approaching. Zaytuna (www.zaytuna.org)is providing two

great opportunities to assist us all in preparation for the month of

Ramadan (and their provided on the net):

 

1) "Ramadan Preparation: By Imam Zaid Shakir." This is an audio clip.

 

2) "The Fiqh of Ramadan." FREE online courses that provide "an informative

overview of the general and detailed rulings and guidelines related to

fasting and other aspects of Ramadan according to the Malaki, Hanafi, and

Shafi'i Madhab."

 

Both of these mediums are located at the following site:

http://www.zaytuna.org/index.asp

 

InshAllah, we all will find some benefit from this opportunity.

Ramadan Kariim

[Haaraahur.]

Haa, waa runta waa in la isku diyaariyo ramadaan.

Mahadsanid walaal

Ramadaan Kariim

[Muhammad]

JZK walaal Pacifist.

 

May Allah(swt) give you health, wisdom and understanding

 

May Allah(swt) give you peace, felicity and security

 

May Allah(swt) grant you, your du'as, dreams and goals.

 

Amiin

[Haneefah]

^^Masha'Allah, may Allah accept your prayers walal. Can you send some this way too...nin lagu jiraba Ilaah baa og you know

 

Pacifist, Jazakallah khair walal. I've listened to the interview while back and it is indeed very beneficial. I usually try not to miss any lecture made by Imam Zaid or Shaikh Hamza--wonderful shayuukhs Masha'Allah.

 

While we're at preparing for ramadan, let me take the opportinity and post a short article with some reminders:

 

 

Preparation of the Winners in Ramadan

 

The following is a reminder of some matters that help one to be among the winners in Ramadan by using its days and nights properly. “Remind, for indeed reminding benefits the believers.†(51:55)

 

1. Mujaahadah: struggling against the nafs

 

“As for those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths.†(29:69)

 

Do you want guidance? Do you want steadfastness? Struggle against your soul, for if we bring ourselves closer to Allah, Allah will come closer to us.

 

2. Having high aspiration and determination

 

Ibnul Jawzi said, "The sign of completion of the mind is high aspiration, for he who is satisfied with low aspiration is disgraceful, and I didn't see a severer shortcoming than that of people who are capable of completion yet don't aspire for it."

 

3. Knowing the virtues of the month and its distinguishing characteristics

 

He who knows something develops interest in it and preserves it. Even if there was nothing in Ramadan but Laylat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power), which is better than one thousand months, that would suffice.

 

4. Recognizing Ramadan's few days and its speed of departure

 

“A fixed number of days…†(2:184) [From the verse, “(Observing fast is) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other daysâ€].

 

Yesterday we were congratulating each other for the beginning of Ramadan and today we give each other condolences for its departure. This is how both days and life are, passing quickly. So hurry up to benefit in Ramadan.

 

5. Competition of the righteous people in doing good deeds

 

The righteous people compete for good deeds, while the others are captives of their lusts and slaves to their desires.

 

“Then We gave the Book (the Qur'an) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah's Leave, foremost in good deeds. That is indeed a great grace.“ (35:32)

 

6. Remembering death and bewaring its suddenness

 

You might not reach another Ramadan, so watch for yourself!

 

source

[Proud_Muslimah2]

Wa'laykum Salam Pacifist,

 

Jazakum'Allahu Kairan...Insh'Allah will check them out.

 

Here is a good article to read Insh'Allah!

 

Nine reasons why we must plan for Ramadan:

 

Reason #1: To be in "Ramadan mode"

 

By planning for Ramadan before it arrives, you put your mind in "Ramadan mode". If you plan, you will mentally prepare for it, and it will force you to see it as the special month it is outside of your regular routine the rest of the year.

 

Reason #2: To adjust your schedule

 

By planning in advance, you can adjust your work, sleep and meal schedules in such a way as to make time for Suhoor, Iftar, etc. That means, for instance, that if you normally go to bed at midnight, in Ramadan you would sleep earlier in order to get up early for Suhoor. Or if you usually study late, you can instead sleep earlier and start studying after Suhoor in the early morning hours. Planning in advance allows you the luxury to make time for the change in schedule that Ramadan brings.

 

Reason #3: You can plan Ramadan family time

 

Is dinnertime usually an individual affair in your home, as opposed to a time the whole family eats together? Are Friday evenings the time every family member goes off to his/her own social activities? Planning in advance can change this at least in Ramadan. Calling a family meeting about a month in advance, explaining the importance of Ramadan, its implications for the family and the need to eat Iftar together when possible as well as to attend Tarawih prayers, for example, will allow all family members to adjust their work and school schedules accordingly. That will, Insha Allah, make Ramadan a blessing not just to every person in the family, but to the family as a whole.

 

Reason #4: To make the menu

 

While Ramadan may mean extra Ibadah to some of the brothers, it usually means extra cooking for most of the sisters. Ramadan’s blessings are for men and women. Making a Ramadan menu for Iftar and meals, and working out when you want to invite relatives, neighbors and friends for Iftar will give sisters the opportunity to catch Tarawih and various other advantageous Ibadat instead of spending Ramadan’s 29 or 30 days stuck in the kitchen. (And by the way, brothers, helping out with cooking or cleaning was a practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him-maybe this is a way you can increase your Sawab [rewards] this month).

 

Reason #5 : You can plan a Iftar at your home

 

You may have eaten fantastic Iftars at friends’ homes last year. This year, open your doors. There is blessing in feeding a fasting person other than yourself and your family. Planning in advance gives you the luxury of calling friends over the month before and setting a date, so you can "grab" them before others get an opportunity to. Muchos Sawab, Insha Allah!

 

Reason #6: To make a travel schedule

 

Do you know a fellow Muslim in your neighborhood who wants to get to the mosque for Tarawih every night but doesn’t have a car? Or do you look at your work schedule and realize you have to work overtime near the end of Ramdan, so your family will miss out on Tarawih at the mosque the last ten nights of Ramadan? Planning in advance helps you work out your daily or weekly travel schedule to attend Tarawih prayers at the mosque, or even a trip for Iftar at a friend’s place who may life farther away. It also helps ease the burden of transportation in winter. Maybe you can start a car pool? Since you have the time before Ramadan begins, you can work this out with neighbors and friends.

 

Reason #7: To do good at high Sawab times

 

Being generous is definitely an Islamic merit, but being generous in Ramadan is even more highly rewarded. Match Ibadat with specific times that carry more reward. Prepare to do Itifkaf, increase asking Allah for forgiveness in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Plan to give increased Sadaqa this month. Plan to visit that relative you may have not seen for months, if not years. Thinking about and arranging to do these things and finding other ways of gaining the pleasure of Allah in Ramadan will Insha Allah help you benefit more from it.

 

Reason #8: You can squeeze in Eid shopping

 

Planning in advance helps you think about all of those things you wanted to do in time for the end of Ramadan or Eid last year but couldn’t. Maybe you wanted to go Eid shopping for gifts for family and friends in the last week of Ramadan but were too busy with the last ten nights of Ramadan. No problem. This year, you decide to go in the third week of Ramadan instead.

 

Reason #9: You can plan Dawa activities during Ramadan

 

Some Muslims have gone to soup kitchens and made meals during Ramadan, while they were fasting. Not only will, Insha Allah, they be rewarded, but this is a great Dawa opportunity to explain what Ramadan and Islam are about. Planning in advance for such an activity gives you the time to call up a soup kitchen in your area, explain what you want to do, and get your act together. You can also plan school Dawa activities in Ramadan by planning in advance, by meeting with the principal or teacher beforehand, preparing a presentation, etc.

 

Read the rest here --> http://muminuun.boardsxp.com/viewtopic.php?t=17

 

Salam