Checklist of Muslim's minimum activities

Below are some basic activities that Muslims perform daily when it comes to religion. Some go beyond this list and add many other activities, while some others perform only the mandatory ones. Muslims’ activities are very diverse. The list below is just an example, and may be considered relaxed by many Muslims, note that the list doesn’t include special events.
 
1-      When Waking Up: the following are recommended Azkaar to be said in the morning to start a new day.

 
اللّهُـمَّ ما أَصْبَـَحَ بي مِـنْ نِعْـمَةٍ أَو بِأَحَـدٍ مِـنْ خَلْـقِك ، فَمِـنْكَ وَحْـدَكَ لا شريكَ لَـك ، فَلَـكَ الْحَمْـدُ وَلَـكَ الشُّكْـر .  أبو داود 4/318 -1  

Allahumma ma asbaha bee min ni’matin, aw bi-ahadin min khalqik, faminka wahdaka la shareeka lak, falakal-hamdu walakash-shukr.

1-‘O Allah, what blessing I or any of Your creation have risen upon, is from You alone, without partner, so for You is all praise and unto You all thanks.’

______________________________________________

 (اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَدَنـي ، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في سَمْـعي ، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَصَـري ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ. (ثلاثاً -2

اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكُـفر ، وَالفَـقْر ، وَأَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ . (ثلاثاً) أبو داود 4/324

Allahumma AAafinee fee badanee, allahumma AAafinee fee sam’ee, allahumma Aafinee fee basaree, la ilaha illa ant.(three times).

Allahumma innee a’oothu bika minal-kufr, walfaqr, wa-a’oothu bika min Aathabil-qabr, la ilaha illa ant (three times).

2-‘O Allah, grant my body health, O Allah, grant my hearing health, O Allah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times)

‘O Allah, I take refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I take refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times)

______________________________________________
 
  حَسْبِـيَ اللّهُ لا إلهَ إلاّ هُوَ عَلَـيهِ تَوَكَّـلتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ العَرْشِ العَظـيم . ( سبع مَرّات حينَ يصْبِح وَيمسي)    أبو داود موقوفاً 4/321 -3

 Hasbiyal-lahu la ilaha illa huwa, Aalayhi tawakkalt, wahuwa rabbul-Aarshil-Aatheem

3-‘Allah is Sufficient for me, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, upon Him I rely and He is Lord of the exalted throne.’ (seven times morning and evening)

______________________________________________

4- اللهم صلي على محمد
4- Allahumma sallee ala Mohammad (10 times).

2-       Fajr Prayer (it’s a recommended prayer which is performed just before the Subh prayer)

3-      Subh Prayer (one of the five mandatory prayers, its time starts at twilight)

4-      ½ Juzu’ of Qur’an (It’s recommended to read one juzu’ of Qur’an every day, half during the morning and half during the evening, so that within a month you can finish the whole Qur’an)

5-      Duhr prayer (2nd mandatory prayer, it’s performed from noon to the point where the shadow of objects under the sun becomes the same size of the original object), it’s also recommended to perform 4 Sunnah rakaats just before and 4 rakaats (2 Sunnah, 2 Nawafil) just after the Duhr prayer but not mandatory.

6-      Asr Prayer (3rd mandatory prayer and can be performed anytime within the following times:  starts when the shadow of objects under the sun becomes taller than the actual objects themselves and it ends just before sunset).

4 Sunnah rakaats are recommended before the Asr prayers.

7-      Maghrib prayer (4th mandatory prayer and can be performed after sunset and ends when there is no more redness in the sky from the effect of the sunset, when the sky is totally dark, you can also check online for the time of prayers),

8-      2 rakaat after Maghrib are recommended.

9-      Evening Azkaar
أَعـوذُبِكَلِمـاتِ اللّهِ التّـامّـاتِ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما خَلَـق . (ثلاثاً إِذا أمسى)   أحمد 2/290، وصحيح الترمذي 3/187  -1

aAAoothu bikalimatil-lahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.

1-      ‘I take refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil He has created.’ (three times in the evening)
 
اللّهُـمَّ بِكَ أَمْسَـينا، وَبِكَ أَصْـبَحْنا، وَبِكَ نَحْـيا، وَبِكَ نَمـوتُ وَإِلَـيْكَ المَصـير.   الترمذي 5/466 -2
 Allahumma bika amsayna, wabika asbahna, wabika nahya wabika namootu wa-ilaykal-maseer.

2-      ‘O Allah, by Your leave we have reached the evening and by Your leave we have reached the morning, by Your leave we live and die and unto You is our return.’

اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَدَنـي ، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في سَمْـعي ، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَصَـري ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ -3

اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكُـفر ، وَالفَـقْر ، وَأَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ . (ثلاثاً)   أبو داود 4/324

Allahumma AAafinee fee badanee, allahumma AAafinee fee samAAee, allahumma AAafinee fee basaree, la ilaha illa ant.

Allahumma innee aAAoothu bika minal-kufr, walfaqr, wa-aAAoothu bika min AAathabil-qabr, la ilaha illa ant (three times).

3-      ‘O Allah, grant my body health, O Allah, grant my hearing health, O Allah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’

‘O Allah, I take refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I take refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times)

حَسْبِـيَ اللّهُ لا إلهَ إلاّ هُوَ عَلَـيهِ تَوَكَّـلتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ العَرْشِ العَظـيم . ( سبع مَرّات حينَ يصْبِح وَيمسي) أبو داود موقوفاً 4/321 -4

 Hasbiyal-lahu la ilaha illa huwa, AAalayhi tawakkalt, wahuwa rabbul-AAarshil-AAatheem

4-      ‘Allah is Sufficient for me, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, upon Him I rely and He is Lord of the exalted throne.’ (seven times morning and evening)
 
  أَعـوذُبِكَلِمـاتِ اللّهِ التّـامّـاتِ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما خَلَـق . (ثلاثاً إِذا أمسى)  أحمد 2/290، وصحيح الترمذي 3/187-5

 aAAoothu bikalimatil-lahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.

5-      ‘I take refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil He has created.’ (three times in the evening)
 
لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِين   الأنبياء/87 -6 

La elaha illa anta subhanaka enni kunti mena adhalimeen.

6-      "None has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers."

10-   Ishaa’ prayer (5th mandatory prayer, and is performed after dark, when there is no sun light outside, not even a redness in the sky, when it’s completely dark in the horizon).

11-   Shaf’ and Wetr (these are highly recommended after Ishaa’ prayer, Shaf’ is a 2 rakaat, and wetr is a single rak’aa and should be the last prayer performed that night).

12-   ½ Juzu’ of Qur’an (also called hezb, Qur’an contains 30 Juzu’ or 60 Hezb) hezb = ½ Juzu’.

13-   What to say after the each end of mandatory prayer:

أَسْـتَغْفِرُ الله (ثَلاثاً)  -1

اللّهُـمَّ أَنْـتَ السَّلامُ ، وَمِـنْكَ السَّلام ، تَبارَكْتَ يا ذا الجَـلالِ وَالإِكْـرام .  مسلم 1/414

Astaghfirul-lah (three times)
Allahumma antas-salam waminkas-salam, tabarakta ya thal-jalali wal-ikram.

1-      ‘I ask Allah for forgiveness.’ (three times)
‘O Allah, You are As-Salam and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour.’ AS-Salam: The One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies.
 
لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وحدَهُ لا شريكَ لهُ، لهُ المُـلْكُ ولهُ الحَمْد، وهوَ على كلّ شَيءٍ قَدير، اللّهُـمَّ لا مانِعَ لِما أَعْطَـيْت، -
2
 وَلا مُعْطِـيَ لِما مَنَـعْت، وَلا يَنْفَـعُ ذا الجَـدِّ مِنْـكَ الجَـد.   البخاري 1/255 ومسلم 414

La ilaha illal-lahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku walahul-hamd, wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeer, allahumma la maniAAa lima aAAtayt, wala muAAtiya lima manaAAt, wala yanfaAAu thal-jaddi minkal-jad.

2-      ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent.O Allah, none can prevent what You have willed to bestow and none can bestow what You have willed to prevent, and no wealth or majesty can benefit anyone, as from You is all wealth and majesty.’

 سُـبْحانَ اللهِ، والحَمْـدُ لله ، واللهُ أكْـبَر . ثلاثاً وثلاثين -3
لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحْـدَهُ لا شريكَ لهُ، لهُ الملكُ ولهُ الحَمْد، وهُوَ على كُلّ شَيءٍ قَـدير.    مسلم 1/418

Subhanal-lah walhamdu lillah, wallahu akbar (thirty-three times).

La ilaha illal-lahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku walahul-hamd, wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeer. ‘How perfect Allah is, all praise is for Allah, and Allah is the greatest.’ (thirty-three times)

3-      ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent.’
14-   Before Sleeping
 
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّـي وَضَعْـتُ جَنْـبي ، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُـه، فَإِن أَمْسَـكْتَ نَفْسـي فارْحَـمْها ، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَـها فاحْفَظْـها بِمـا تَحْفَـظُ بِه عِبـادَكَ الصّـالِحـين -1   

Bismika rabbee wadaAAtu janbee wabika arfaAAuh, fa-in amsakta nafsee farhamha, wa-in arsaltaha fahfathha bima tahfathu bihi AAibadakas-saliheen.

1-      ‘In Your name my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise, so if You should take my soul then have mercy upon it, and if You should return my soul then protect it in the manner You do so with Your righteous servants.’
 
بِاسْـمِكَ اللّهُـمَّ أَمـوتُ وَأَحْـيا     البخاري مع الفتح 11/113 ومسلم 4/2083 -2

Bismikal-lahumma amootu wa-ahya.

2-      ‘In Your name O Allah, I live and die.’
 
 اللّهُـمَّ أَسْـلَمْتُ نَفْـسي إِلَـيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْـتُ أَمْـري إِلَـيْكَ، وَوَجَّـهْتُ وَجْـهي إِلَـيْكَ، وَأَلْـجَـاْتُ ظَهـري إِلَـيْكَ، -
--3
 رَغْبَـةً وَرَهْـبَةً إِلَـيْكَ، لا مَلْجَـأَ وَلا مَنْـجـا مِنْـكَ إِلاّ إِلَـيْكَ، آمَنْـتُ بِكِتـابِكَ الّـذي أَنْزَلْـتَ وَبِنَبِـيِّـكَ الّـذي أَرْسَلْـت .   البخاري مع الفتح 11/113 ومسلم 4/2081

Allahumma aslamtu nafsee ilayk, wafawwadtu amree ilayk, wawajjahtu wajhee ilayk, wa-alja/tu thahree ilayk, raghbatan warahbatan ilayk, la maljaa wala manja minka illa ilayk, amantu bikitabikal-lathee anzalt, wabinabiyyikal-lathee arsalt.

3-      ‘O Allah, I submit my soul unto You, and I entrust my affair unto You, and I turn my face towards You, and I totally rely on You, in hope and fear of You. Verily there is no refuge nor safe haven from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.’

This is just one way to keep track of the daily activities without forgetting, once you get used to it then you wouldn’t need a list. If you have any question don’t hesitate to contact us.

Advice of the Prophet

Advice of the Prophet

Companion of Prophet Muhammad , Khalid Ibn El Waleed narrated the following:

A Bedouin came one day to the Prophet and said to him, "O, Messenger of God! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter. "

The Prophet responded Ask what you wish.

I'd like to be the most learned of men.
Fear God, and you will be the most learned of men.

I wish to be the richest man in the world.
Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.

I'd like to be the most just man.
Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.

I want to be the best of men.
Do good to others and you will be the best of men.

I wish to be the most favored by God.
Engage much in God's praise, and you will be most favored by Him.

I'd like to complete my faith.
If you have good manners you will complete your faith.

I wish to be among those who do good.
Adore God as if you see Him. If you don't see Him, Know that He sees you. In this way you will be among those who do good.

I wish to be obedient to God.
If you observe God's commands you will be obedient.

I'd like to be free from all sins.
Bathe yourself from impurity and you will be free from all sins.

I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.

I'd like God to bestow His mercy on me.
If you have mercy on yourself and on others, God will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.

I'd like my sins to be very few.
If you seek the forgiveness of God as much as you can, your sins will be very few.

I'd like to be the most honorable man.
If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.

I'd like to be the strongest of men.
If you put your trust in God, you will be the strongest of men.

I'd like to enlarge my provision.
If you keep yourself pure, God will enlarge your provision.

I'd like to be loved by God and His messenger.
If you love what God and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.

I wish to be safe from God's wrath on the Day of Judgment.
If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of God on the Day of Judgment.

I'd like my prayers to be responded.
If you avoid forbidden actions your prayers will be responded.

I'd like God not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment.
If you guard your chastity, God will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.

I'd like God to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgment.
Do not uncover your fellow peoples faults, and God will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment.

What will save me from sins?
Tears, humility and illness.

What are the best deeds in the eyes of God?
Gentle manners, modesty and patience.

What are the worst evils in the eyes of God?
Hot temper and miserliness.

What alleviates the wrath of God in this life and in the Hereafter?
Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.

What extinguishes hell's fires on the Day of Judgment?
Patience in adversity and misfortunes.

Imam El Mustaghfiri said: "I have never heard a tradition more comprehensive of the beauties of religion, and more beneficial than this hadith. It collects all the good things of Islam but not put to use." (Related by Imam Ibn Hambal)

10 + 3 blessed days

Dr. Suhaib Hasan and Dr. Fazal Elahi are Professors at International Islamic University, Islamabad.

Some young and muttaqi friends came to my house and told me Dr. Fazal Elahi leads the prayers at Minarul Huda in G-10. So today I searched for the masjid, and prayed the Jumma Salat there.

The masjid:

Masjid Minarul Huda is a no frills mosque, except perhas a simple design of its bookshelf doors. It is simple, solid, and functional. It has a hall with 21/22 musallas in each row. The height of the hall for the first 4 rows is 22-24 feet. The hall is double storied for the 3 rows following these. There are some rows in the open courtyard to the right as well.

It has a separate entrance leading up to the stairs, which most likely is for females. The stairs lead to a first floor hall which has skylights in the internal section, and may have windows for the outside, so the females can hear the imam, but there is no visual communication. The masjid is still under construction.

The imam:

Dr. Fazal Elahi is a renowned scholar who has written several books, including the history of Makkah, Madina Munawara, and the Masjide Nabawi. He has other books to his credit, the names I forget now, but maybe DarusSalam has published these.

He is the younger brother of the late Allama Ihsan Elahi Zaheer, the scholar-politician who was martyred by political terrorists in 1987.

I will insha`Allah pray the Eidul Azha with him.

The Jammat today:

I was wrongly told the khutba would start earlier, so when I entered, there were very few brothers, who were all busy reading the Quran. First I said the masnoon tahayyatul masjid, then picked up a copy of the Quran, and read Surah Kahf.

In the meantime I noticed that every bother who entered, said "asaalmau alykum", one went so far as to say "assalamu alaykum was rehmatullahe wa barakatuhu". That I have not encountered anywhere else, as there are others praying the nawafil, or reading the Quran. What is the right thing to do in a masjid. Should one disturb others by Salaam, or not offer the salaam?

Most had the masnoon beard, a full one, in various colors, reflecting the varying ages of the wearers of beard.

Most offered the tahiyyatul masjid (two nawafil).

The khutba was precise, to the point, and pure Quran and Sunnah.

Gist of the khutba:

These blessed days will begin here today or tomorrw (from 30th Nov.2008 here). The hadith narrated by Abdulla ibne Abbas and collected in Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and ibne Maja says these are days in which whatever good deed is done exceeds any good deeds done on any other days.

What is to be done, asked the Sahaba.

Say alHamdulillah, La ilaha illah, Allahu akbar

Fast on 9th dhilHajj (yawm arafa), but see the Ahadeeth below

Make sacrifice on 10th dhil Hajj

And for these ten days, no cutting of hair or clipping of nails for the person who intends to make sacrifice.

___________________

The lesson:

No time to lose now.

___________________

Thirteen Blessed Days
by
Muhammad al-Jibaly


Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem
With Allah's bounty, we are at the doors of very blessed days for both the hajeej (pilgrims) and the residents. So we should know the Sunnah regarding these days in order to make the best out of them.

I.The First Ten Days of Dthul-Hijjah:
-------------------------------------
1. Ibn Abbas (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said: "There are no other days on which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than on these (Ten) Days" He was asked: "Not even Jihaad in Allah's way?" He replied: "Not even Jihaad in Allah's way; except for a person who went out (for Jihaad) with his self and wealth and came back with none (i.e., lost all for Allah)." [Al-Bukhaaree, ...]

2. Ibn Umar (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said: "There are no other days that are greater before Allah (T), or that good deeds are more beloved to Him in them, than these Ten Days, so say in plenty Tahleel (laa ilaaha illa 'Llaah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and Tahmeed (al-Hamdu lillaah)." [Ahamd & at-Tabarani; authentic]

3. In Tafseer of the aayah {And to mention and remember Allah's Name [plentifully] on known days} [al-Hajj 28], Ibn Abbas said: "These are the Ten Days." [Ibn Katheer]

4. Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah used to go out to the market places on the Ten Days making Takbeer. And people used to say Takbeer too based on their action. [al-Bukhaaree].

5. Hafsah (R) said: "There are four acts that the Messenger of Allah (S) never stopped to do: Fasting on Aashooraa, on the Ten Days, and three days of every month, and to pray two rak'aat before the morning prayer." [Ahmad & an-Nasaa'ee; authentic]

6. One of the wives of the Prophet (S) said: "Allah's Messenger (S) used to fast the (first) nine days of Dthil Hijjah, the Day of 'Aashooraa', and three days of each month." [Sahih Abi Dawud by al-Albaani]

7. Fasting on all these days, however, is not a waajib or a sunnah that the Messenger (S) was striclty constant in it. Aaishah (R) said: "I never saw the Messenger (S) fasting the Ten Days." [Muslim]

8. It is reported that once the Ten Days started, Sa'eed bin Jubair used to exert very excessively (in worshiping Allah) that it was almost beyond his capability.

II. The Day of 'Arafah:
-----------------------
1. Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger (S) said: "Fasting the Day of 'Arafah expiates the sins of two years: past one and coming one. And fasting the Day of 'Aashooraa' expiates the sins of the past year." [Muslim, ...]

2. Aaishah (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said: "There is no day on which Allah (T) frees people from the Fire as He does on the Day of 'Arafah. He comes close and then He boasts to His angels: 'What are these people seeking?'" [Muslim, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah]

III. The Ruling of the Udhiyah (Sacrifice):
-------------------------------------------
1. Suurat ul-Kawthar ((... For Your Lord Pray and offer Sacrifice ...))

2. ((Say: my salaah, sacrifice, life, and death are for Allah the Lord of the peoples. He has no Partners, with this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the believers.)) [al-An`aam 6:162-163]

3. Abu Hurairah (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said: "He who has the capacity but chooses not to sacrifice may not approach our prayer place (on Eed)." [Ibn Maajah, Ahmad, ..; authentic]

4. Anas reported that the Messenger (S) said: "He who slaughtered before the prayer (of Eed) has only slaughtered for himself. But the one who did it after the prayer has indeed completed his sacrifice and conformed with the Sunnah of the Muslims." [Al-Bukhaaree]

5. Al-Baraa' reported that the Messenger (S) said: "The first thing that we do on this day (al-Adhaa) is to pray. Then we go back and slaughter. The one who does this has indeed complied with our Sunnah, but the one who slaughtered earlier had only gotten some (regular) meat for his household, which does not count as sacrifice in the least." [Al-Bukharee & Muslim]

6. The one who cannot afford to sacrifice has been covered by the Messenger (S) who sacrificed for those who did not sacrifice in his Ummah, as was reported by Jaabir. [abu Dawud, at-Tirmidthi, ...; authentic:Irwa ul-ghaleel]

IV. Some Sunan and Regulations:
-------------------------------
1. Umm Salamah (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said: "The one who has a slaughtering to slaughter (on Eed) then, once the hilaal of Dthil Hijjah is observed, he should not cut any of his hair or nails until he sacrifices." [Muslim, ...]

2. Anas (R) reported that the Messenger of Allah (S) sacrificed two rams of beautiful (dark) eyes and large horns. He slaughtered them himself, putting his foot on the side of the kneck, and saying: "Bismillah, wallahu Akbar." [Al-Bukharee and Muslim.]

3. Aaishah (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said to her: "Give me the knife." Then he said: "Sharpen it against a stone." Then He took it, laid down the ram, and slaughtered it saying: "Bismillaah. O Allah, accept from Muhammad, Muhammad's family, and Muhammad's Ummah." And thus he sacrificed it.

4. The Messenger (S) first prohibited saving any of the Sacrifice's meat, to benefit poor people. Then permitted it saying: "Eat (from the meat), save, and give as Sadagqh." [Al-Bukharee & Muslim]

5. It can be done on any of the three days (Days of Tashreeq) following the Eed. Jubair bin Mut'im (R) reported that the Messenger (S) said: "All the Days of Tashreeq are slaughtering days." [Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, etc. Good in its collective chains of narrators]

6. Ibn Umar said: "The days of slaughtering are the day of adhaa and the two days following it." [Al-Muwatta'; Authentic]

V. The Three Days of Tashreeq:
------------------------------
1.'Uqbah bin Aamir said the the Messenger (S) said: "The day of 'Arafah, the day of slaughtering, and the days of Tashreeq are our Eed - Muslim people. They are days of eating and drinking." [Abu Dawud; authentic]

2. 'Amr bin al-'Aas said: "These days (the Days of Tashreeq) are the days that the Messenger (S) used to order us to eat on them and to prohibit us from fasting them." [Abu Dawud; authentic]

3. Nuhaishah al-Hudthali said that the Messenger (S) said: "The Days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking, and mentioning Allah." [Muslim, Ahmad]

4. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (S) said: "The Days of Minaa are days of eating and drinking." [At-Tahaawi & Ahmad; as-Saheehah 1282 by al-Albaani]

Wa Salla 'Llaahu 'alaa Muhammad.

anxiety and sorrow

1. Supplication for anxiety and sorrow

makedua.com dua34

‘O Allaah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You name Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.

Jamae (encompassing) dua, said in jalasa

this dua is said in between prostrations during the Salah, but it can be said on other occassions as well.

‘O Allaah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, enrich me, give me health, grant me sustenance and raise my rank.’

Telawah - prostration

‘My face fell prostrate before He who created it and brought forth its faculties of hearing and seeing by His might and power. << So Blessed is Allaah, the best of creators.>>’

on hearing the adhan ...

What happens to you when you hear the adhan, especially when you are outside the mosque and you hear it on the loudspeaker. I guess in Western countries the adhan on the mike is forbidden, so many there would not know the feeling I have on hearing it.

I said in a post that I went to Karachi in 1977 from London. There:

I met my mother, siblings and assorted nephews and nieces, handed over the keys of my suitcase to my youngest sister, ate what mother had prepared for me, took a shower and changed.

I was about to lie down to rest when I heard it:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allah is Great, Allah is Great
meaning: "Allah is the Greatest, or Allah is the Great One"
(As I heard it, it registered with me how much I had missed this declaration. Yes indeed Allah is the Greatest, nay Allah is the Only Great One.)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Ash-hadu anla ilaha illallah
meaning: "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah"
(Allah is derived from al-ilaha, the God, the One and Only God)

Ash-hadu anla ilaha illallah

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah
meaning: "I bear witness that Muhammad (sallahu alaehi wa sallam) is His (last) Prophet

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah

Hayya alas-salah
meaning: "Come to offer prayers"
(Lahawla wa la quwwata illa billah
There is no power to do good or to refrain from bad except through the Power of Allah)

Hayya alas-salah

Hayya alal-falah
meaning: "Come to Salvation"
(Lahawla wa la quwwata illa billah
There is no power to do good or to refrain from bad except through the Power of Allah)

Hayya alal-falah

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

La ilaha illal-lah
meaning: "There is no God but Allah"
(Indeed there is no God but Him!)

As I finished answering the adhan, I recalled that we are to make this dua:
Allahumma Rabba hazehid-Dawatitta`mma
WasSalatil Qaaima
Aati Muhammada nil waseelata wal fadilah
Wabhashu maqamam mahmoodanilladhi wa`adtah


Hearing the adhan, I felt strangely empowered. This feeling lasted for more than 25 years. Any time I was down, all I had to wait for was the time of the adhan, and I would hear it, and all worries, all weights on my shoulders would be lifted. Allah is Great, so what do I have to worry about? It is only in the last three or so years that on hearing the adhan, I no longer feel that internal strength to face anything in the world. Maybe it is the age, maybe I need to rejuvinate my faith.

I wouldn't exchange hearing, answering the adhan and this feeling of empowerment for a trillion dollars.

Surah Fateha amal for problems or needs

When there is an problem, particularly life-threatening one, like an illness, operation, accident, etc. here is an amal that is based on Surah Fatiha.

Between the Sunnah and the Fard rakaahs of the Fajr prayers,

start with duroode Ibrahimi, at least once, or in odd numbers

Say Surah Fateha 41 times, together with ta3awwudh and bismillah, every time

Say duroode Ibrahimi again (the number of times you said at the beginning)

Then blow your breath on the sick person, or the one with problems. (It could be you).

No other word is to be spoken. No diversion for other tasks.

Repeat for 40 days.

It has been used in my family, for very serious problems of health, with very satisfactory results, alHamdulillah.

I have seen it in Hafiz Rehmani's book.

monetary problems, debts

after every fard prayer,please say the following three times:

اللهم اكفني بحلالك عن حرامك، و اغنني بفضلك عمن سواك

Allahummakfini bi halalika an haramika, wa aghnini bifadlika 3amman siwak

O Allah! make it sufficient for me through the halal (permitted) means, and make me indpendent through Your bounty of everyone except Yourself

aameen

The Kaaba - an old (?) view

dua for loss or tragedy

duas for loss or tragedy

duas


I hope mutmainaa2 does not mind this clipping.

Here is a dua:


when a tragedy strikes: Umme Salama's husband was a very good man. When he died leaving behind small children, she was grieved. The Propeht (saw came to offer condolence, and asked her to recite this dua. She did, but thought: "I am old and with children. How can I get a better husband than Abu Salama?"

After the Iddah, the prophet (saw) proposed to her, and she was married to the best man ever.

insoluble problems, and the cure

Why do we suffer from almost insoluble problems, and what is the cure?

This is in the light of my experiences and something of the deen that I remember.

· What happens is almost always due to one’s own mistakes. E.g. we say something that becomes a wish for hard times, or at least expresses our readiness to brave such times. I give here an example from my life. I was not given a directorship, and I said I don’t care, I don’t need or want it. Result: I never got it at my place of work. Similarly I was denied promotion many times, in the initial stages, when I was bypassed for promotion, I said haughtily: “So what, I do not care. I have fifteen years before I retire, I can wait.” Result: I got my promotion just before retirement. I was reminded of this statement of mine when I retired, and I had never given a thought to what I had said.

So it was for health, for housing, for anything that I suffered from, or was not able to get, I expressed disdain. Result: I either did not get it, or got is very late in life. And this is true of matters pertaining to the deen, too. When I came back to Pakistan, I said I would Islamise my life gradually. It has been very, very slow. Result: Despite my age, I have a very long way to go compared to others.

A friend’s wife had a stroke of partial paralysis, and was hospitalized. Whe we visited her, she confided that she had been praying that whatever punishment she was likely to get in the Hereafter, she wished to get it in this world. I told her this was precisely what a Shahabi had wished, and became severely ill. The Prophet :swas: visited him and told him something like: Subhanallah, you do not have the strength to endure such hardship. Why didn’t you ask Allah for forgiveness.”

Moral & suggestion: Do not express disdain. Keep thanking Allah for His fanours, and keep asking Him for more of them. None of us can do without.

And make Istaghfaar - lots of it.

a very endearing, complete dua

اَللَّٰهُمَّ اِنَاَّ نَسْئَلُكَ

مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَئَلَكَ مِنْهُ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٌ


صَلَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ


وَ نَعَوْذُ بِكَ
مِنْ شَرِّ مَا اَسْتَعَاذَ مِنْهُ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٌ


صَلَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ


وَ اَنْتَ الْمُسْتَعانُ

وَ عَلَيْكَ الْبَلاغُ

وَ لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلا بِااللَّٰهِ



ط



O Allah!
We ask you
to give us from what You were asked by Your Prophet Mohammad
(sallallahu alehi wa sallam)
and we seek Your protection from
what Your protection was sought from You by Your Prophet Mohammad
(sallallahu alehi wa sallam)
and You are the (only) Helper
and for us is only to give voice
and nothing gets done done except with Your Help


(Tirmidhi)

protection against old age etc.

اَللَّهُمََّّ اِنِّىْ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ اَنْ اُرَدََّ اِلٰى اَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَاْبِ الْقَبْرِ


ط

O Allah! I seek your protection against miserliness,
and I seek your protection against cowardice,
and I seek your protection against old useless age,
and I seek your protection against punishment in the grave.

protection against oppression etc.

protection against oppression/tyranny and other things

Here is another short dua against all sort of excesses:

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْفَقْر

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ اَلْقِلَّةِ

وَ الذِّلَّةِ

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ اَنْ اَظْلَمَ

اَوْ اُظْلَمَ

ط

O Allah! I ask your protection from
poverty/need/wants, and I ask your protection from
shortages, and
humiliation, and
that I should oppress or tyrannize someone or
that someone should oppress or tyrannize me.

(Nisai, Abu Dawood)

for mutual love

A common complain these days is that spouses (more so the husbands) start misbehaving, and even hitting out. Here is a dua for mutual love:

أَللّٰهُمَّ اَلِّفْ بَيْنَ قُلُوْبِنَا



وَ اَصْلِحْ ذَاتَ بَيِْنِنَا


وَ اَهْدِنَا سُبُلَ السَلامِ


وَ نَجِّنَا مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ اِلَى النُّوْر



وَ جَنِّبْنَا الْفَوَاحِشَ

مَا ظَهَرَ مِِنْهَا وَ مَا بَطَنَ



وَ بَارِكْ لَنَا

فِىْ اَسْمَاعِنَا وَ اَبْصَارِنَا وَ قُلُوْبِنَا

وَ اَزْوَاجِنَا وَ ذُرِّيَّاتِنَا



وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ

اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التََّّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ .





Allahumma allif baena quloobena
wa asleh dhata baenena
wa ahdena subulassalaame
wa najjena minaz zulumaate elanNoor

O Allah! create mutual love in our hearts
and make peace between us (or set us straight)
and guide us along the path of peace, safety and harmony
and bring us from darkness to light

at least 3 times after every fard prayer, and when going to bed.

for shifa and any other need

After praying the Fajr Sunnah and before the Fajr Fard, you recite the duroode Ibrahimi (that we recite in the last rakaah) odd number of times. I have finally settled on one as in winter the time between the Sunnah and Fard is very short. Then Ta`awwudh, and then Surah Fatiha with complete Bismillah 41 times, then duroode Ibrahimi again (the same number as before), and then you blow upon the patient, and then you pray the Fard part of Fajr. Then, of course, do your usual dhikr after the Fajr Salaah. All this time nothing else is to be spoken. This is to be done for 40 days.

If it is Allah’s will, the patient will recover. In any case, the suffering will be gone or considerably lessened, insha`Allah.

You can use this for any permitted need or wish.

link to Nawawi Hadeeth videos

Nawawi Hadeeth videos

The God of all Things - Facing Reality

I wish I had paid attention to expressing myself. My vocabulary is so short, and I never took reviewing seriously, but here is a book that tells the most compelling story, of Truth. It does so in a simple way, too, explaining the concepts in a way that are easy to comprehend:

The God of all things - Facing Reality, by Aminah Kamble (Rajasa Robbins)

The thread above on themadinah discussion board is the most uptodate online collection of chapters in her book. Not all the chapters have been posted there. I intend to keep posting the rest of the 40 chapters in my possession, insha`Allah.

The story is told by Aminah Kamble, whose own story of reversion is a fascinating search for the Truth:

The story of sister Aminah Kamble

The author(ess) started to post the chapters of her book on her own site for the book:

God of all things site

but she has been very busy, and couldn't continue beyond chapter 16 on that site. The madinah board thread is the most uptodate one so far.

Her book is ready for publishing. A total of 585 pages. The book dimensions are 5.25 x 8 (inches). The price of the book I'm told will be $15.99. And it will be available for purchase on amazon.com

When it is published and/or ready on amazon.com, I will let you all know, Insha`Allah.

Halal food guide

Halal Food Guide

zabeeha vs. non-zabeeha

Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Al-Maeda 5:3]