Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan starts at sunset.  Reminder for you and me, this month is about remembrance of Allah and the hardship of those that don't have the pleasure of going to a fridge and being picky about their food or being picky period.  

If your remember Allah he will make this month easy for you.  

Final Day

Alhamdulilah, We have made it to the final day of Ramadan.  May Allah bless all those who are completing their fasts and those who were unable but had the intention to do so.  In this last day I can't help but count my blessings that I have been able to fast the entire month (not counting my cycle days) as this year I haven't been breastfeeding, pregnant or sick. So I say again Alhamdulilah!  Shukran (Thank You) for my family may you bless them with long lives, lots of love and most important plenty of knowledge and faith in their deen.

Ramadan Half way point

Alhamdulilah, Allah has made it easy on my husband and I that we have successfully made it through to the half way point of Ramadan.  This Ramadan and all others are a blessing and we are so thankful we have made it this far and for our little family.

My daughters have grown by leaps and bounds in their faith and I am so very proud of them.  My son mashaAllah was praised Saturday at the Masjid for praying so well at the ripe old age of 2.  I would like to thank Allah and my husband for being the best teachers.  Allah for teaching my husband who is in turn teaching my son.  My daughters are coming into their own in this deen and mashaAllah it is amazing to watch.

I pray: May Allah continue to make it easy on all of us fasting muslims that we may be able to complete the remainder of the fast, Insha'Allah.

Ramadan 1435 and the Family Q

Family Qhamata will start fasting tomorrow Insha'Allah.  As usually DH called it.
Hilal Committee
Assalam u Aaikum WaRahmatullahe WaBarakatuhu

The Hilal for the month of Ramadan was not sighted anywhere in North America on the evening of Friday, June 27, 2014. Therefore, we will complete 30 days of Shaa'ban and the 1st of Ramadan 1435H will be Sunday, June 29, 2014, Insha 'Allah.

Jazkaumullahu Khairan
Hilal Sighting Committee of North America

5 extremely practical tips to prepare for a Productive Ramadan

5 extremely practical tips to prepare for a Productive Ramadan. 

So here we go:

Tip #1 READRead a chapter on fasting from any well-known Islamic Fiqh book. There are many in the market, but the most popular fiqh book is a book called Bulugh Al-Maram by Imam Ibn Hajr Asqalani (773H-852H) and it has the rulings regarding fasting from the major schools of Fiqh in Islam. If you find this book technical, I suggest you go through the bits you don't understand or not sure about with your local imam/scholar. Make sure you don't start Ramadan without you being clear about all the issues you normally are not clear about regarding fasting. This will save you tons of hours of confusion and doubt!

TIP #2 WRITEWrite down at least 10-20 pages of duas you want to make for yourself, your family/friends, and Ummah. This tip was shared with me by Sh.Muhammad Al-Shareef in a recent interview I held with him and I found it really useful. Do this exercise with your spouse and children and it'll be a great bonding experience. You might think it's hard to come up with 1 page of dua even, but really believe that you're asking the King of All Kings, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and He'll grant you what you wish, so ask and never be shy or think "it's too much!".

TIP #3 FASTPractice fasting! Yes, practice to fast during this last month before Ramadan. If you want to avoid the headaches and hunger pangs of the first days of Ramadan, fasting during these last few weeks before Ramadan would get you physically & mentally prepared. Aim to fast Mondays & Thursdays during this month and do more if you can. Also, don't just practice fasting from food and drink, but also from backbiting, lying, looking and listening to haram and anything that will harm your fast.

TIP #4 PRAYIf you're not used to night prayer, aim in the next few weeks before Ramadan starts to pray at least 2 rak'ah of night prayer + 3 rak'ah of witr prayer either right after Isha or just before you sleep. This will help you overcome laziness during Ramadan from praying the taraweeh prayers or late night prayers.

TIP #5 DOWNLOAD5. Download our Productive Ramadan Taskinator! This is our very own hour-by-hour Ramadan planner, which helps you plan for each hour of Ramadan. It might be overwhelming at first when you first fill it, but keep filling it and you'll end up with a beautiful and practical Ramadan plan inshaAllah.

I hope these tips help you. Don't let them stop here though, pass them to your friends and families by simply clicking forward above OR sharing them with your friends on Facebook/Twitter.

P.S. More practical tips coming this Friday ;)

Sincerely,
Abu Productive

Ramadhan Focused

With a little more than a month to go before Ramadhan starts I have already started preparing.  I am in the process of working up meal plans and days(nights) at the masjid.  I have also started to put together ideas for what I want to buy everyone to wear for EID and gifts to give.  I am looking forward to the blessings of this month and pray that I am able to sustain the fast and my breastfeeding.

A few websites to check out:

A Muslim child is Born

TJ Ramadan

Ramadan Planner

Ramadan Reminders

Eid Mubarak

Alhamdulilah another Ramadhan has passed.  May Allah bless all those that fasted this Holy month and those who had the intention (like myself), but were unable to.

We look to tomorrow Eid al Fitr which is not a day to gorge on food just because fasting has ended, but as another blessing of another day and the blessing to see another Ramadan come to a close.  Please join me in welcoming the month of Shawal and blessing all of those who will fast the first 6 days as well.

May Allah have mercy on all of our souls on the day of Judgment and bless us that we may make it to the Hereafter with those we love.

Ramadhan approaches August 1-August30

Assalamu alikum wr wbr...

★ ★ Practical Pre Ramadhaan Tips ★ ★

It is important for us to prepare for the Holy Month of Ramadan in order to reap the maximum benefits from this month. Rasulullah (may the prayers of Allah and peace be upon him) and his noble Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to look forward to the coming of the blessed month of Ramadan. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would say in his supplications:

Allahumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Sha’ban wa ballighna Ramadan
“Allah bless us in the month of Rajab and Sha’ban and help us to meet and spend Ramadan (in a deserving manner).”

Ramadan is the month of excitement and enlightenment for Muslims. It is the month of revelation of the Holy Qur’an, the month of reading and reciting the entire Qur’an, the month of tahajjud and qiyamul layl, of tarawih prayers, of sadaqah, zakatul fitr, and zakatul mal.

No one can go anywhere without preparation, and no one invites a guest without preparing to welcome him/her. Similarly, to welcome Ramadan — the month of fasting — one has to prepare. The following are some tips to help you receive and welcome this noble month of Ramadan.

1. Try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, as of today.

2. Start reading Qur’an daily after Salatul Fajr.

3. Spend some time listening to recitations from the Qur’an.

4. Train yourself to go to bed early so that you can wake up for Salatul Fajr.

5. Keep yourself in a state of wudu’ at all times.

6. Evaluate yourself daily before going to bed. Thank Almighty Allah for all the good deeds you do, and repent to Him for your mistakes and sins.

7. Give yourself some time alone, so that you can meditate, make dhikr, tasbih, takbir, tahmid, tahlil, and other forms of dhikr. You will experience spiritual elevation and you will enjoy life tremendously.

8. Those who can afford to make ‘Umrah before Ramadan comes should do so, and those who are able to perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan should do so. ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to (the reward of) a hajj.

9. Start giving (charity) daily, no matter how little it is. Make it a habit, like eating and drinking.

10. Find time to pray extra nawafil (optional) salah, such as Salatul Duha, Qiyamul Layl, and Salatul Tahajjud. (note: If you have fardh – obligatory – prayers to make up, it is much more important to fulfill those first.)

11. Spend more time reading Islamic books, especially the Holy Qur’an, books on Seerah (the life of the Messenger of Allah), hadith, and fiqh.

12. Find time to help others with your wisdom, knowledge, and other talents.

13. Try to write articles on Islam for Muslims and others for non-Muslims.

14. Associate with Muslim scholars, ‘ulama, and pious believers so that you may learn from them.

15. Train yourself to do good, no matter how insignificant it may seem, and render useful service to others.

16. Try to learn how to make da’wah to non-Muslims, and engage in this noble activity. It is an art requiring knowledge and training.

17. Try to spend more time with your family, and remind them to prepare for Ramadan as well.

SOURCE: Ramadan Companion

by Faisal Abdur Razak