Welcoming Sha'ban

By Ismail Patel

Many people find it difficult getting into the spiritual state that Ramadan requires and complain in the last ten days of the great month that their month has gone to waste. A major reason for this it seems is that they assume that Allah would have Muslims worship him one month of the year! Whilst worship is a daily affair, Allah would have us worship more in some months more than others. Furthermore, the righteous, in understanding the importance of Ramadan, would want to be as prepared as possible, and as a result, would begin preparation two months earlier in Rajab!
Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar and considered one of the special months for which we find particular sunan of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It is reported that the Prophet would fast most of the month of Sha’ban except for the last few days.

A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that “Allah's Apostle used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah's Apostle fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban.”[1]

Although these fasts are supererogatory we can see how much importance the Prophet attached to them. We know that when he was asked by Usaamah ibn Zayd concerning his observance of the Sha’ban fasts, he answered, “It is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan; a month in which people’s deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds and I would like my deeds to be taken up when I am fasting.” This hadith clearly indicates the importance of Islamic months, and living in the west we must maintain a relationship with Islamic religious symbols, the Islamic calendar being an important one. Additionally, the Prophet informed us of matters of the unseen, namely that our actions are taken up in this blessed month, and so, it would be sensible to be in a state of servitude whilst being taken to account.

We also know that the Prophet prayed for Sha’ban to be blessed and connected it to Ramadan thus informing us of an inextricable link between the two. He would supplicate, "O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)."[2]

Many people find it difficult getting into the spiritual state that Ramadan requires and complain in the last ten days of the great month that their month has gone to waste. A major reason for this it seems is that they assume that Allah would have Muslims worship him one month of the year! Whilst worship is a daily affair, Allah would have us worship more in some months more than others. Furthermore, the righteous, in understanding the importance of Ramadan, would want to be as prepared as possible, and as a result, would begin preparation two months earlier in Rajab!

Abu Bakr al-Balkhi said: The month of Rajab is the month for planting, the month of Sha’ban is the month of irrigating crops, and the month of Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crops. He also said: The likeness of the month of Rajab is that of the wind, the likeness of Sha’ban is that of the clouds and the likeness of Ramadan is that of the rain; whoever does not plant and sow in Rajab, and does not irrigate in Sha’ban, how can he reap in Ramadan? Now Rajab has passed, so what will you do in Sha’ban if you are seeking Ramadan? This is how your Prophet and the early generations of the ummah were in this blessed month, so what will you do?

From amongst the forms of preparation is increasing in reciting the Quran. When Sha’ban would begin, ‘Amr ibn Qays (of the righteous early Muslims) would close his shop and free his time for reading Qur’an. The notion of excessive fasting, as quoted earlier, is found in the hadith of A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that she “did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban.”[3]

Fasting is a great act of servitude and devotion to Allah, and given that the Arabic word sawm (fasting) means to restrain from something, it implies the repression of one’s nafs and worldly abstinence out of a firm belief in the afterlife. Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah said: The fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My sake. Fasting is a guard (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.”[4]

Let us use Sha’ban to become people of prayer and fasting, that we use the coming month as a time of rectification and spiritual rectitude, and we prepare our souls for the last Ramadan we may ever face. A’ishah narrates that the Prophet never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban. He used to say, “Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” The most beloved prayer to the Prophet was the one that was done regularly even if it were little, and whenever the Prophet offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly.[5]

Notes:
Sources: www.islam21c.com
Islam21c requests all the readers of this article, and others, to share it on your facebook, twitter, and other platforms to further
spread our efforts.

[1] Bukhari
[2] Al-Tabarani and Ahmad
[3] Bukhari
[4] Bukhari
[5] Bukhari

Taken from: http://www.islam21c.com/spirituality/5402-welcoming-shaban

“And if you were to count Allah's favors, you would not be able to number them…"

By Sheikh Salman al-Oadah


And if you were to count Allah's favors, you would not be able to number them; most surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [Sūrah al-Nahl: 18]

Our lives are a continuous succession of Allah’s gifts. Many people, due to their outlook on life or their circumstances, fail to see that they are receiving Allah’s bounty. Allah has made it clear that we will never be able to count all of His blessings upon us, since they are innumerable.

This statement is found elsewhere in the Qur'an, emphasizing humanity's ungratefulness and heedlessness of Allah's blessings:

“If you were to count Allah's favors, you would not be able to number them; most surely humanity is very unjust, very ungrateful.”
[Sūrah Ibrāhīm: 34]

Consider the human body. It is made up of one hundred trillion cells. Each cell is a blessing from Allah. But this does not mean that there are only one hundred trillion blessings in the human body. There are far more, since Allah’s blessings manifest themselves within each one of those cells in innumerable ways. Moreover, each cell is exposed to an incalculable number of potential threats, from viruses to cancer to a variety of malfunctions, and Allah through His mercy protects the cells from all of these. Therefore, we can never begin to enumerate the blessings that Allah, at every moment, bestows upon us within our bodies.

Even if we entertain the idea that the blessings Allah bestows upon any one of us is some finite number, that number would not take into account all of the misfortunes that Allah withholds from us, though He certainly tries some of His servants with those misfortunes. Then there are all the blessings Allah has bestowed upon our predecessors, our contemporaries, and our descendants and on the incalculable aspects of creation upon which our lives depend.

Allah reminds us:
“And whatever good thing you enjoy, it is from Allah. Then, when misfortune reaches you, you cry out to Him for help.” [Sūrah al-Nahl: 53]

We should look at ourselves and the way we behave towards Allah’s blessings. Do we use them in obedience to His commands? Do we realize that Allah has a right over us in everything that He gives us? If we are blessed with wealth, the poor have a right in it. If we are blessed with health and strength, the weak and the infirm have a right in it. If we are blessed with knowledge, then those who are in want of knowledge have a right in it. For every ability that we are blessed with, those who are unable have some right in it.

We must praise Allah for empowering us to do that which others are incapable of doing. Part of the thanks we owe Allah is to give something of whatever we are blessed with to those who cannot do for themselves. We should remember that every blessing we enjoy will inevitably come to an end. Either we will lose the blessing some day in our lives, or we will depart this life and leave that blessing behind.

Another part of our gratitude to Allah is to serve Him with what He gives us and to use what we have in ways that are lawful and pleasing to Him. We should not be like Pharaoh. Some wise people advised him:

“Do not exult. Surely Allah does not love the exultant.” [Sūrah al-Qasas: 76]

Pharaoh replied: “I have been given this only on account of the knowledge I have.”

So Allah tells us:
“Did he not know that Allah had destroyed of the generations before him those who were mightier in strength than he and greater in assemblage? And the guilty need not be asked about their sins.” [Sūrah al-Qasas: 78]


We often do not notice a blessing that we have until we lose that blessing or are threatened with its loss. How many of our faculties, our limbs, and our talents do we take for granted? These are but some of the blessings in our own bodies. How many blessings surround us, in our families, our friends, our work, the status we enjoy, the connections we have, even our hopes and our dreams?

Even the world on which we live is a blessing, how it possesses everything needed for life to thrive. How many other words do we see and are still discovering in the heavens, some approximating our Earth in size, some smaller, some many times larger, but we find them to be sterile, hostile, unaccommodating worlds.

Praise be to Allah, who possesses all things and who gives without measure.

Source: http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-276-3544.htm

If those who had wronged possessed everything, they could not ransom themselves...

"Or think those who do evil deeds that they can outstrip Us (i.e. escape Our punishment)? Evil is that which they Judge! "

( سورة العنكبوت , Al-Ankaboot, Chapter #29, Verse #4)


"And if every person who had wronged (by disbelieving in Allah and by worshipping others besides Allah) possessed all that is on the earth and sought to ransom himself therewith (it will not be accepted), and they would feel in their hearts regret when they see the torment, and they will be Judged with justice, and no wrong will be done unto them. "

( سورة يونس , Yunus, Chapter #10, Verse #54)

Criminals in fetters

"And you will see the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism, polytheists) that Day Muqarranun (bound together) in fetters."

( سورة إبراهيم , Ibrahim, Chapter #14, Verse #49)

The Ramadan Early Bird Series (Part 3)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

by Yacoob Manjoo

Posted on Monday, June 4, 2012 in Featured, Get Motivated

With Ramadan now fast approaching, you may start hearing ulama and others highlighting the importance of preparing early. If you’ve been with this series, though, you’re way ahead. In part 1, we covered ways to start improving your salaah. Part 2 then focused on those time-zapping bad habits, such as Facebook and Twitter addictions (among others).



Now, in part 3, we return to the spiritual realm with the ‘essence’ of worship: dua (supplication).

The Ticket to Everything You Want

Humans – by nature – have been created to want, want more, and want more. And while sometimes this is good, many times it isn’t – because too often we focus intensely on the material things we want, while neglecting the spiritual things we need.

Regardless, the fact remains that we want – whether what we want is material, spiritual, or both. And when we want, we need to seek what we want from its source.

As Muslims, we know that everything comes from Allah. So anything we want – be it material sustenance, freedom from hardships or debts, cure from illness, that dream job, marriage, children, knowledge, achievement, spiritual purity, or anything else – we need to ask it from Allah (as long as it’s not haraam, of course).

 

Renewing the Link

Unfortunately, in our fast-paced lives, we often fall victim to thinking that we’re too busy to make dua. With so much to do, so much demanding our attention, and almost constant time pressures, it is rare that we get a moment to stop and make a really intense, in-depth, and heartfelt dua.

Maybe we do make duas often, but confine these to our ‘automated’ duas – the ones that we mechanically repeat in Arabic and/or English as part of a routine, without really feeling much sincerity when we make them.

Maybe we always rely on the imam to make the dua, and simply repeat our ‘ameen’ after him, thinking that’s enough for us when it comes to dua. And while there certainly is virtue in making dua behind an imam, the reality is that imam isn’t you – so he can’t make the personal duas that are most important to you – your heart’s deepest needs and desires – which are only between you and Allah.

The link with Allah is the most important aspect of a Muslim’s life, and dua is the means by which this link is maintained and nurtured. Allah loves for us to ask from Him, and actually gets angry if we don’t ask (as stated in a hadith).

So it’s clear that dua should really be at the core of our lives, because it’s the essence of our life’s purpose (i.e. worship) – and the means by which we can attain anything we need (or want).

 

The Early Bird Solution

Continuing the Early Bird methodology, we are following a five-step process to gradually improve ourselves:

1. Selecting of an area: For this month, the topic is dua
2. Diagnosis: Analyse what your current condition is in the area (quality, frequency, etc), and list your weaknesses
3. Root cause analysis: Get to the root of your weaknesses / problems
4. Solutions: Come up with practical methods to overcome those root causes
5. Planning and implementation: Set up a realistic plan of action to implement those solutions gradually in the coming months, then at a higher pace in Ramadan

 

Diagnosis:

Ask yourself:

• Do I really understand how important dua is in life?
• Do I make time each day to make dua to Allah?
• If I do make dua, are these automated duas, or those of the imam alone?
• Do I take time out to think about what I truly need and want, and make specific duas for that?
• Do I believe that my duas have to be in Arabic only?
• Do I truly believe that Allah will answer my duas?
• What actions cause Allah to reject duas?
• Am I doing anything – intentionally or out of forgetfulness – that would cause Allah to reject my duas?
• When are the best times to make dua (i.e. the times when they are accepted)?
• What actions cause Allah to readily accept duas?
• Am I carrying out these actions on a regular basis?
• Do I know the etiquettes of dua?
• Aside from personal duas, do I know duas from the Quran and Sunnah? (Either in English or Arabic)

Using this month’s worksheet, think through each question, and record your answers. Be honest with yourself – and do this either completely in private, without sharing it with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or with someone else (if you think that’s more beneficial). List all your weaknesses or problems.

Root Cause Analysis
Now go through each of your listed weaknesses or problems, and write down its outward symptoms that you notice (e.g. I don’t put enough effort into making personal duas consistently). Then try to find what the root causes of those problems are by interrogating each symptom: ask yourself “why?” that symptom persists, and keep asking “why?” of each answer until you get to the root cause.

Solutions
With the problems diagnosed, the symptoms identified, and root causes found, think of practical ways to solve those problems from the root.

For example, if you don’t put enough time and effort into tailoring your duas to your most dearly-held needs and desires, one solution is to take time out from life to sit and write down the areas that are important to you (this month’s worksheet can help with that), and the duas you’d like to make in those areas. Let your imagination run wild – without getting into haram, of course – and then find a period each day to make some of those important duas.

Planning and Implementation
With solutions identified, analyse what your schedule and life is like at this moment, and come up with a realistic plan of how you can implement the solutions over a period of time. Remember to plan this in ways that are realistic for you, even if it means you’ll be taking tiny steps over a long period of time. Doing things gradually – in small and consistent steps – is the best way to achieve sustainable, permanent solutions.
Also include, in your plan, the ways you’d like to intensify your efforts when Ramadan comes.

If, after a while, you find that you’ve incorrectly estimated your ability to follow the plan, simply make adjustments as needed. The goal for this month, and the four that follow, is to implement steps that are realistic for you – what you can manage, and not what will overburden you.

Worksheet

To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: RamadanEarlyBird3Worksheet.

Resources

To help you with this month’s focus, check out the following:

1. Mufti Ismail Menk audio lecture on ‘Supplication’ – from Ramadan 2009
2. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi video lecture on dua

And again, the most important resources of all are the right intentions, sincere dua asking for success in this venture, and then consistent effort to do your best.

About the Author:

Yacoob Manjoo is a writer, blogger, husband, and father of a very busy toddler. Writing is his passion, and sharing beneficial knowledge and insights has been a pillar of his life for the last decade. He blogs regularly at dreamlife.wordpress.com and Ramadan.co.za during Ramadan

Source: ProductiveMuslim

  Has not the time yet come for those who believe that 

their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah 

and what has come down of the truth? 

[Surah Al Hadid 57:16]

Video: Surah Al Kahf - Salah Bukhatir

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

  Has not the time yet come for those who believe that 

their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah 

and what has come down of the truth? 

[Surah Al Hadid 57:16]

There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri reported: Indeed, some people from the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and he gave them. Then they asked (for charity) again and he gave them. Then they asked again and he gave them until all he had was gone. He said,

“If I had anything, I would not withhold it. Whoever refrains from asking others, then Allah will make him content; and whoever would be self-sufficient, then Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whoever would be patient, then Allah will make him patient. There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience.”

[Sahih Bukhari, Book 24, Number 548]

  Has not the time yet come for those who believe that 

their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah 

and what has come down of the truth? 

[Surah Al Hadid 57:16]