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“Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival”




Eid Mubarak!

We didn't want to leave you hanging after Ramadan with no productivity tips, so here are 10 tips to have a Productive Eid!

1. TAKBIR!

Keep reciting the Eid Takbir as much as you can wherever you go from the maghreb of the last day of Ramadan till the Eid Prayer! Recite the takbeer in the car, in the shopping malls, at home! Revive this Sunnah and truly feel the greatness of Islam.

2. Prepare your Eid outfits early!

Maybe too late now but I hope you bought all your Eid clothes BEFORE Ramadan started! If not, don't panic, try to find something reasonable in your wardrobe and don't stress yourself with late night shopping on the night before Eid.

If you've bought your Eid clothes early, then prepare it the night before and place everything you need in one place (last thing you need is the early morning rush before Eid prayer and forgetting where you've put your new shoes!)

3. Follow the Sunnah before the Eid Prayer

The following acts are prescribed as Sunnah at the beginning of the day of 'Eid-ul-Fitr before proceeding to the Eid prayer:


1. Take a bath.
2. Put on your best available clothes.
3. Wear perfume (for the men).
4. Eat a sweet food, preferably dates, before the Eid prayer.
5. Recite the following Takbir while going to the 'Eid prayer:

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ila Allah Wa Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahi Alhamd (Eid Takbir)

4. Increase your supplications

On this blessed day, ensure you make Dua that Allah accepts all your good deeds and grants you another Ramadan. Thank Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta'la) for blessing us with good food, clothes, families/friends, and safety. Also don't forget the Ummah in your prayers; pray for Palestine, for the flood victims of Pakistan, the famine victims of Niger, and all those suffering in our Ummah.

5. Take a different route to/from the mosque

In a narration the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to take a different route on his way back from the Eid prayer. Changing lanes gives you the chance to spread the greetings of Salam to different people. There's also a subtle meaning here when you come back with a different route; you're coming back home after Eid a changed and better person inshaAllah.

6. Take a day off!

Yes, I am talking to the workaholics here. Eid is Eid, take a day off, you won't get fired! (I hope ). Best advice is to book your day off in advance. Explain to your employers that Eid is as important to you as Christmas (or any other festival they like) is to them. However, we don't want to be accused of being unproductive nor all the Muslim staff going awol, so ask early, and the employer can arrange staff replacement or reduce your hours on the day inshaAllah.

7. Visit friends/neigbours/relatives

This is a great part of Eid. But first a few forgotten etiquettes:

1. Call before you visit (you don't want to visit and find them all sleeping!)
2. Take a Gift (no matter how small) especially for the children.
3. Invite them to yours as well (they've played host, now it's your turn!).




For those who have made amends and established broken family relations during Ramadan, Eid is your opportunity to strengthen these new ties inshaAllah, so don't miss out!

Also, for relatives living far, make sure you prepare a call list and call them one by one with Skype or international phone cards, they'd really appreciate your call.

8. Eat moderately

This is a big one to look after. We almost ruin our diets in the space of one day with Eid food. I know it's hard, but try to limit the amount of food you have and stick to regular meals on the day. To help you, think ahead and the pains you'll have by over-indulging during Eid day. You don't want an Eid with a stomach ache now do you?

9. Stick to the good deeds

This is super important, and it'll make sure that you continue with your good deeds after Ramadan inshaAllah. Make sure you stick to the good deeds after Eid from day 1; so Salah on time, Hijab on (if you're new to Hijab), reading few pages of Quran..etc. You want to build these good deeds into your daily habit and get them to be part of your new you from day 1. If you let go on Eid day, it'll be harder to pick them up again on the 2nd or 3rd day of Eid.

10. Exchange Gifts/Make Cards

Exchange gifts amongst family/friends and relatives, this can be small perfumes to beneficial household items. For family/friends that are far off from you, send a handwritten Eid card via post (instead of really boring E-Cards). Here are simple tips how kids can make gifts for family/ friends.

For Kids: How to make an easy Eid Card and Eid Mubarak Bookmarks. Frugal Card making from Happy Muslimah and more tips

Hope you like the above! Have a happy and productive Eid!




via productiveramadan.com

If you’re reading this article you’ll be one of the blessed people to reach yet almost the end of another Ramadan. Recently we shared a story about an old man standing in taraweeh prayer despite feeling the difficulty on his body.

Today I want to tell you about a young man. Only a week ago I heard of a brother who was a father of 3 young children, he was regarded for his sacrifice and trials in the world, and of his pious character. He passed away in a motorbike accident. ‘Verily to Allah we belong and to Him is our return.’ I wondered what if I don’t reach another Ramadan. In the last few nights we’ll be trying to make up for our shortcomings over the month but imagine this is the last Ramadan you live through -

Ask yourself:

1. What have you prepared for the meeting with Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala)?
2. What would you have liked to achieve?
3. How can you be better in your worship after Ramadan?

Our busy lives make us heedless of remembering the one guaranteed end – death. Yet we spend so little time to ponder over this journey when Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala) warns us in Surah Al-Imran: “Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” [3:185]

Below we provide some practical steps to help you prepare for that final meeting with Allah.




1. Remember death frequently

- The Prophet (peace be upon him) would often advise the companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) to remember death, telling them that if they knew what he had possessed of the revelation they would laugh less and cry more.

- Make it a habit to spend at least 5-10 minutes on reflecting deeply on the journey of death after salah.

- Visit the grave of those who have passed on before us, for these few minutes you invest in reflection will allow you to see this life is a test of what we have prepared. Allah says: “(He) Who created death and life, that He may test which of you is best in deed. He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” [67:2]

2. Pray as if it is your last

So often we are reminded ‘pray as if it your last’ as we stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet. With this emphasis in our direct form of ibaadah comes a spiritual cleansing of the heart and the mind.

- Before starting your salah take this moment to tell yourself that this may be your last opportunity to worship Allah in the dunya. Will you give it your utmost concentration, and focus on standing before Allah? Imagine it is the final standing on the Last Day to increase your consciousness.

3. Attend Janazah Prayer

- The Prophetic teachings of attending the janazah prayer after someone has died brings with it many merits which are too many to list here. From taking your focus away from the worldly matters to softening the heart, attending the janazah prayer is medicinal to our spiritual productivity.

4. Sleep is the brother of death

- A couple of years back, I recall seeing a relative on the hospital bed, he lay there looking like he was fast asleep. ‘Verily to Allah we belong, and to Him is our return’. Remember sleep is the brother of death and to prepare yourself to return to Allah every time you sleep.

- Practical tips to apply here include making wudhu before sleeping, reciting adkhar, reciting Surah Mulk/Sajdah and sleeping in the sunnah positions, as well as ridding your heart of any hate or envy you have towards others.

5. Stand in the night prayer




-One characteristic of the successful Muslims before us was the vigilance in the night prayer. You’re probably thinking I can barely get up for Fajr, yet knowing the rewards of it can really motivate us.

- These last 10 days are our chance to reap the fruits of the night prayer. To cry out of sincere fear of our Lord attracts the Mercy of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala) and is a time when no one else can distract you as Allah descend to the lowest heavens seeking our servitude. In the depth of the darkness remind yourself of the grave; plead for salvation from the trials and punishment of the Hereafter.

With the above tips, make a firm intent to be a better Muslim if you are granted the blessing of being here after Ramadan and seek acceptance for your good deeds in the next few months.

Remember the succinct advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he said: “Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.” [Al-Hakim] because Ramadan is an opportunity that may not come again.

via productiveramadan.com

1 – The Meaning of Qadr

Ibn Hajar said in 'Fath al-Bari' (4/323-324):

2 – Better than a Thousand Months

Ibn Kathir mentioned in 'Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Adhim' (4/686) that Mujahid said:3 – The 27th Word

Ibn Kathir mentioned (4/690):4 – Why the Exact Day Was Hidden

Ibn Hajar said (4/328):5 – Heavy for the Hypocrite

Ibn Kathir mentioned (4/692) that Ka'b al-Ahbar said:6 – What to Supplicate on the Night of Qadr

In 'as-Silsilah as-Sahihah' (3337), it's reported that 'A'ishah asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): "If I happen to catch the Night of Qadr, how should I supplicate?"

He replied: "You should say:

O Allah, You Pardon and Love pardoning. So, Pardon me."


7 – In the Shade of the Night of Qadr

Sayyid Qutb said in 'Fi Dhilal al-Qur'an' (6/3945):"...This night is better than thousands of months in the lives of human beings. How many thousands of months and years have passed by without leaving in our lives the changes that this single blessed, joyous night leaves us? The might of this night is such that its reality transcends the limits of human comprehension: {"And what will make you understand what the Night of Qadr is?"}

...When we look today after the generations of the past to this noble, joyous night and imagine the amazing festive atmosphere that the Earth witnessed on that night, and we reflect over the reality of what took place that night, and we let its significance in history in the reality of the world, and in the outlook of our hearts and minds sink in, we see something that is truly great. We begin to understand a bit of the purpose of the Qur'anic mention of this night: {"And what will make you understand what the Night of Qadr is?"}

On that night, every wise judgment was made. Values, principles, and scales were laid down. Ordainments were made that surpassed that of individuals: ordainments for nations, countries, and peoples. In fact, it is even greater and mightier than this: ordainment of realities and hearts!

Humankind has become heedless – due to its ignorance and disconnection – of the value of the Night of Qadr and the reality and significance of this event. Since the time that it became heedless of this, it has been deprived of the most joyous and beautiful gifts from Allah. It lost the true happiness and peace – the peace of mind, and peace in the home and society – that Islam granted it. This cannot be replaced by the material bounty, civilization, and power that it has been given. It is in a bad state despite the outpouring of production and high standards of living it possesses!

The beautiful light that shone on it at one time has been put out, as has the illuminating happiness that carried it to the highest levels. The peace that once soaked hearts and souls is absent, and the spiritual joy and heavenly light and ascension to the highest levels can never be replaced.

We as believers are commanded to never forget or be heedless of this memory. Our Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) showed us an easy way to bring this memory to life in our souls and remain connected to it forever, as well as to remain connected to the universal event that occurred in it. This is why he encouraged us to pray on this night every year and to seek it out on the last ten nights of Ramadan. In the two 'Sahih's, it says: "Seek out the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan," and: "Whoever prays in the Night of Qadr out of faith and expectation of reward will have all of his past sins Forgiven."

Islam is not simply outer actions meant for show. This is why the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said that this prayer should be out of faith and expectation of reward. Likewise, this night prayer should bring back to life the massive concepts that this night encompasses. It should be done out of faith in order to make it purely for Allah, as well as in expectation of reward. At this point, the heart will have a specific reality ingrained in it because of this night prayer that is tied directly to the purpose for which this Qur'an was revealed.

The Islamic method of tarbiyah ties worship to the reality of belief in the conscience. It turns worship into a method of resurrecting these realities, clarifying them, and solidifying them in a living image that transcends mere emotion and isn't limited to theory. It is confirmed that this method alone can resurrect these realities and turn them into a movement in one's conscience and character, and that mere realization of these realities without the support of physical worship will not establish these realities or push them into a movement in the life of an individual or the life of a group.

This direct connection between the memory of the Night of Qadr and praying at night out of faith and expectation of reward is just one aspect of this sound and successful Islamic method..."

Courtesy of Iskandrani

Is it not amazing to see one who having no belief in Allah strive for what he aspires with all his might without relent?...

As we enter the last ten days and nights of Ramadan for this year, the following is a short reminder of how significant the last third of Ramadan is and why any opportunity to increase one’s quantity and quality of worship should be seized.

Ai’shah, may Allah be pleased with her, relates, ‘On the onset of the (last) ten, the Messenger of Allah would tighten his waist belt, stay awake the night and wake up his family.’¹ Muslim also relates, ‘The Messenger of Allah would strive in the last ten in a manner he would not do so in other times.’²

The phrase ‘tighten his waste belt’ has been interpreted to mean intensifying one’s worship of Allah or abandoning sexual relations at night for this period, which is also indicative of a heightened level of devotion to Allah ta’ala.

It is for this reason that I’tikaf has been legislated. It is reported that The Prophet would observe I’tikaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan up until he died.³ To retreat and seclude oneself within the confines of a mosque allows one to remain free from all manner of distractions. A believer has the opportunity to transcend such heights brought about by words of remembrance, supplication, recitation of Qur’an, prayer, and seeking of forgiveness and salvation.

Patience is key to the good of a Muslim’s journey in this world and its strengths are called for in Ramadan, especially during the last ten days and nights. Will you strive and give that extra measure? Will you plead before Allah as you know you need to? Is it not amazing to see one who having no belief in Allah strive for what he aspires with all his might without relent? Surely, our faith must be weak if such a person can endure so much more than we can endure when we claim belief in Allah, love of Him, fear of Him and hope in Him! One of the greatest ways to obtain patience is through conviction; if one knows of what Allah has prepared for His righteous slaves and really believes it, not just on a superficial level, this will enable a person to bear all for what he covets and desires.

These last ten nights contain a night better than the lifespan of anyone of us, ‘The night of al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.’⁴ How is it possible then to not give our all? Al-Nakha’i said, ‘Good works performed on this night are better than those performed consistently for a thousand months.’ Have we not read that the Prophet has said, ‘Whoever spends the night of al-Qadr in prayer, having iman in Allah and seeking His reward, will be forgiven all of his past sins’? So take the opportunity to seek this great night this Ramadan, not the next one as there is no guarantee you will be around to see it. Let us all try not be amongst those about whom the Prophet said, 'Whoever is deprived of its good is surely deprived!'

I ask Allah through His most beautiful names and most high attributes to grant us the divine accord to worship Him benevolently and to forgive us our past sins in this month and may Allah shower His blessings upon the ummah. O Allah you pardon much and you love to pardon, so pardon us.

<sup>___________________________________________________________
Notes:

1. This is related by al-Bukhari, and Muslim with a similar wording
2. Muslim
3. Al-Bukhari and Muslim
4. Surah al-Qadr 97:3

Source: Islam21c</sup>