Sunday, May 31, 2015
14 Tips To Prepare For Ramadan
There is a wealth of material out there on preparing for Ramadan. Here I present just 14 tips which have been recycled as timeless pieces of practical advice I have collected along the way!
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Friday, July 27, 2012
5 Ways To Maximise Ramadan By Serving Others
There is a wealth of material online which can help provide many ideas on making your Ramadan spiritually more uplifting. My piece here is a tiny addition to all the wonderful stuff that is out there.
Many people cannot fast. There is a whole catergory of
individuals who do not fast and this is available through the links above. When we generally think
of an individual who cannot fast due to health reasons who do we think of?
Someone in a hospital bed with machines all over them? A diabetic? Or someone
with kidney failure? Or someone receiving chemotherapy? It seems that some of
us think that you must be quite poorly (physically) to be considered exempt
from fasting. However, the wisdom in Tradition allows a whole host of different
illnesses to be considered valid conditions for not fasting. Sometimes fasting
may be delayed until the individual is feeling better, but other
times the individual may have a continuous health condition meaning they will
not make up those fasts.
Some people who are not fasting may appear healthy-looking
with a lot of energy but removal of food and drink would not be conducive to
their wellbeing. It is important never to question the sincerity of an
individual who is not fasting, for that is between them and God Almighty.
The Tradition teaches us that the Prophet Alaislam was the
most kindest person and he was even more generous in Ramadan. Serving others is
one unique way in incorporating this characteristic into our lives. Here are
some things you may wish to consider if you are not fasting to help maximise
your day:
1. Housework
Helping an individual who is fasting can really be
appreciated, especially given the length of the current fasts. Help with
housework chores including cleaning and preparing food can go a long way. This
would be particularly welcomed prior to the end of Ramadan when Eid
preparations begin and the house can do with a good ole scrub!
2. Clear out
I have written before about doing clear-outs for charity
here. It really is a fantastic way to combine both helping others aswell as
letting go of possessions and taking a few steps towards freeing yourself from
material chains.
3. Child minding
As more children are on holidays this Ramadan, this can
cause additional work for families in terms of feeding them and keeping an eye
on them. Children can consume more energy in the holiday season because they
get bored so easily and are always on the look-out for fun activities. You can
volunteer your time to assist in this process by spending some time with
children on a worthwhile activity.
4. Gardening
People who have gardens to take care of will know how
keeping on top of it all can require a considerable amount of time and energy.
Weeding itself can be very time-consuming. With all the rainfall we have had,
many people's gardens have not maintained a good shape. Helping someone with
regular maintenance (even a few hours per week) can contribute significantly in
reducing the workload they have. If you know of people with allotments, then
you can volunteer to assist with that too. Gardening in the summer can be very
testing as the heat can cause dehydration - a fasting individual would be
unable to have regular drink breaks. Any help therefore would be great.
5. Shopping
Who enjoys shopping on an empty stomach? We don’t but we
must get in essentials! Helping someone by doing their shopping for them can
save them valuable energy, time and unnecessary queing!
So there you have it, a few things you can do in
Ramadan to attain goodness through your service to others!
Ramadan Blessings!
Labels: Ramadan, Serving Others, Tips
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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Happy Ramadan 2011
May God Almighty bless everyone with a peaceful month.
I decided against texting well-wishes to friends this year.
Of course, I will reply to messages.
Just thought to gather a few moments away from technology.
And think about those friends and contemplate friendships.
And give thanks for their presence.
With love and prayers to all.
Ramadan Thoughts can be found to the right hand side of this page on the other blog.
I decided against texting well-wishes to friends this year.
Of course, I will reply to messages.
Just thought to gather a few moments away from technology.
And think about those friends and contemplate friendships.
And give thanks for their presence.
With love and prayers to all.
Ramadan Thoughts can be found to the right hand side of this page on the other blog.
Labels: Ramadan
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Happy Ramadan 2010 - 1431
The Prophet Alaislam's welcome to Ramadan:
A Sermon on the Last Friday of Sha’ban -
“O People !
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.
A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
A month which with Allah is the best of months.
Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of nights, and its hours, the best of hours.
It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to Him.
Each breath you take glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered.
So, ask Allah, your Lord; to give you a sound body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite his book, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of Allah’s forgiveness during this great month.
Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyamah (Judgement) with your hunger and thirst; give alms to the needy and poor, honour your old, show kindness to the young ones, maintain relations with your blood relations; guard your tongues, close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight, close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear, show compassion to the orphans of people, so compassion may be shown to your orphans.
Repent to Allah for your sins and raise your hands in dua during these times, for they are the best of times and Allah looks towards his creatures with kindness, replying to them during the hours and granting their needs if he is asked …
“O People!
Indeed your souls are dependant on your deeds, free it with Istighfar (repentance) lighten its loads by long prostrations; and know that Allah swears by his might: That there is no punishment for the one who prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the day when man stands before the Lord of the worlds.
“O People!
One who gives Iftaar to a fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed someone and his past sins will be forgiven.
Some of the people who were there then asked the Prophet (s):
“Not all of us are able to invite those who are fasting?”
The Prophet replied:
“Allah gives this reward even if the Iftaar (meal) is a drink of water.”
“One who has good morals (Akhlaq) during this month will be able to pass the ‘Siraat’ … on the day that feet will slip …
“One who covers the faults of others will benefit in that Allah will curb His anger on the day of Judgement …
“As for one who honour an orphan; Allah will honour him on the day of judgement,
“And for the one who spreads his kindness, Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgement.
“As for the one who cuts the ties of relation; Allah will cut His mercy from him …
“Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him …
“Whoever performs an obligatory prayer Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.
“And who so ever prays a lot during this month will have his load lightened on the day of measure.
“He who recites one verse of the Holy Quran will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Quran during other months.
“O People!
Indeed during this month the doors of heaven are open,
therefore ask Allah not to close them for you;
The doors of hell are closed,
so ask Allah to keep them closed for you.
During this month Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.”
Taken from: Darvish.
Image: copies of the Quran in a mosque in Hadramout, Yemen, 2008
My Ramadan Thoughts
Labels: Ramadan
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Monday, September 01, 2008
Happy Ramadan 1429
Marhabba hey Guest!
You are here again - Great to see ya mate!
Lookin' forward to spendin some quality time wiv ya..
Links:
Daily Ramadan Thoughts I did a while ago
Daily Prayers from a fellow blogger
Advice from our teacher in Yemen
Advice from our teacher in Yemen but when he came to Woking
Advice, but this time from our teachers across the pond in California
Advice from alot of teachers everywhere
And once you have read the above, a little something I was told recently: that make the aim to attain newer understandings from the Quran this Ramadan. Remember; there is no comprehensive commentary on it, indicating how vast an ocean it is.
Peace & Prayers
x x x x x x x x x
You are here again - Great to see ya mate!
Lookin' forward to spendin some quality time wiv ya..
Links:
Daily Ramadan Thoughts I did a while ago
Daily Prayers from a fellow blogger
Advice from our teacher in Yemen
Advice from our teacher in Yemen but when he came to Woking
Advice, but this time from our teachers across the pond in California
Advice from alot of teachers everywhere
And once you have read the above, a little something I was told recently: that make the aim to attain newer understandings from the Quran this Ramadan. Remember; there is no comprehensive commentary on it, indicating how vast an ocean it is.
Peace & Prayers
x x x x x x x x x
Labels: Ramadan
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Friday, October 12, 2007
Goodbye Ramadan
Oh what a glorious time we had together..
For some unusual reason this was one of the Ramadans after a very
long time that actually had more day-light hours than twilight. As the next years will roll in we shall see the cycle of Ramadan becoming more apparant in the Summer season: less time for night prayer, greater time for daylight fasting and abstination. Perhaps in this is a lesson for us all?
Fasting: keeping away; but at the same time drawing closer to.
What do we keep away from?
And what do we draw closer to?
These are two pertinent questions for anyone wishing to do a reflective exercise on their practise. Individually we need to ask ourselves how we decided to answer these questions and what were the lessons learnt, any drawbacks, or barriers which sneaked our way.
It i
s also important that a few weeks later, once Ramadan is a bygone memory, one makes a list of all the positive things that have happened since Ramadan. For sure we hear that this is a Month of openings, realisations and the unfolding of secrets for our wellbeing.. so why not make a physical acknowledgement of all those specialities? We shall find that the manual process of making such a list will enable a stronger recognition of the grandness of this Guest. And who knows, hopefully it will teach us to look forward to greeting it again next year with a greater yearning and love.
For me, the Balance Sheets are totally out of place. I put in very little this Ramadan, but managed to receive so much more. Perhaps that is why God is the Creator and I am a mere mortal? A lump of flesh in the vastness of His creation? It is at times like this that one has to acknowledge that this must be a Month of Mercy.
Before I end, I would like for you all to forgive me for the many times I am unable to reply promptly to emails, text messages, calls and comments. And forgive me for not updating this blog as much as you and I would like. I promise I have been drafting away in my jotter and someday soon will type up those blog entries!
I would also like a prayer for all those who have been affected by any sadness during this Month of Ramadan. May God Almighty give everyone the solace to continue their journeys to Him.
And finally, it is my belief that we can keep the spirit of Ramadan alive every day for the next 11 months. By living out what this Guest has taught us we shall realise that Ramadan never left us in the first place. Wishing you all an accepted Ramadan.
Until next time, goodbye my dear friend :)
Peace & Prayers
x x x x x x x x
A Must-Read by the Noble Man of Zaytuna:
Face To Faith
For some unusual reason this was one of the Ramadans after a very
long time that actually had more day-light hours than twilight. As the next years will roll in we shall see the cycle of Ramadan becoming more apparant in the Summer season: less time for night prayer, greater time for daylight fasting and abstination. Perhaps in this is a lesson for us all?Fasting: keeping away; but at the same time drawing closer to.
What do we keep away from?
And what do we draw closer to?
These are two pertinent questions for anyone wishing to do a reflective exercise on their practise. Individually we need to ask ourselves how we decided to answer these questions and what were the lessons learnt, any drawbacks, or barriers which sneaked our way.
It i
s also important that a few weeks later, once Ramadan is a bygone memory, one makes a list of all the positive things that have happened since Ramadan. For sure we hear that this is a Month of openings, realisations and the unfolding of secrets for our wellbeing.. so why not make a physical acknowledgement of all those specialities? We shall find that the manual process of making such a list will enable a stronger recognition of the grandness of this Guest. And who knows, hopefully it will teach us to look forward to greeting it again next year with a greater yearning and love.For me, the Balance Sheets are totally out of place. I put in very little this Ramadan, but managed to receive so much more. Perhaps that is why God is the Creator and I am a mere mortal? A lump of flesh in the vastness of His creation? It is at times like this that one has to acknowledge that this must be a Month of Mercy.
Before I end, I would like for you all to forgive me for the many times I am unable to reply promptly to emails, text messages, calls and comments. And forgive me for not updating this blog as much as you and I would like. I promise I have been drafting away in my jotter and someday soon will type up those blog entries!
I would also like a prayer for all those who have been affected by any sadness during this Month of Ramadan. May God Almighty give everyone the solace to continue their journeys to Him.
And finally, it is my belief that we can keep the spirit of Ramadan alive every day for the next 11 months. By living out what this Guest has taught us we shall realise that Ramadan never left us in the first place. Wishing you all an accepted Ramadan.
Until next time, goodbye my dear friend :)
Peace & Prayers
x x x x x x x x
A Must-Read by the Noble Man of Zaytuna:
Face To Faith
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