Ramadan is nearing its end, and I wonder where I’m at in my goals and my progress. Could Allah azza wa jall possibly accept my fast and my charity and my worship? Could He possibly be pleased with me? Continue reading “Ramadan: where am I?”
Ramadan: know your Lord (2)
He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.
He is Allah , the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Ramadan: know your Lord (1)
I should’ve covered this earlier, I think… Who exactly is Allah? What do we know about Him? Who exactly is it that we worship? Continue reading “Ramadan: know your Lord (1)”
Ramadan: Jihad of the Self
According to Ibn Qayyim, there are 14 modes of Jihad, subdivided into 4 categories, and Jihad is one of the best actions we can do as Muslims. If we want to earn the pleasure of Allah, we need to strive in His path with our hearts, wallets, tongues, and bodies.
O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good – that you may succeed.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah . He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.
وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ
(Note: there is a sajda in the first ayat.) Continue reading “Ramadan: Jihad of the Self”
Ramadan: Best Actions (3)
The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah . It is those who are the truthful.
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ
Don’t be afraid: Allah’s not telling us to go off to war, much less to participate in any of the so-called jihads being perpetrated by various political groups around the world. And insofar as there is no Muslim Caliphate there’s no opportunity for western Muslims to physically fight fisabilillah (for the sake of Allah). Instead, we have to strive and struggle in the path of Allah and in whatever ways He presents to us. This struggle is the third best action that we can perform. Continue reading “Ramadan: Best Actions (3)”
Ramadan: Best Actions (2)
The prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, told us that the next best of all actions is to be dutiful to and honor ones parents, and, again, this same commandment is clearly spelled out in the Quran.
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
Ramadan: Best Actions (1)
Rasoolullah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that the best of all actions is to pray at the fixed times, and no wonder: Allah azza wa jall wa jall commanded us to pray at fixed times:
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ
These 5 daily prayers give us an opportunity to pause whatever we’re doing and connect with Allah azza wa jall, and if we try a bit, they can also help us improve our character. Continue reading “Ramadan: Best Actions (1)”
