May 2021 – Islamwise

Ramadan is over, now what?

With Ramadan now a distant memory, it is extremely important we do not undo the efforts we made during this month. We found how much more we could do once we put our minds to it and really exerted our efforts into worshipping Allah. Don’t leave off good actions Imagine there was a person who exerted so much effort into doing something and then all of sudden un-done all this hard work. Imagine a person finishing the Quran numerous times during Ramadan then not picking it up after Ramadan. Alternatively, a person who would stand the night in prayer and then left if after Ramadan. This was a warning given by the Prophet SAW as he said to Abdullah ibn Amr: “يا عبد الله، لا تكن مثل فلان، كان يقوم من الليل ثم ترك قيام الليل” متفق عليه “Oh Abdullah, don’t be like such and such, he used to stand part of the night in prayer but then he left the night prayer” (Agreed upon) Allah blessed us with being able to pray the night prayers during this month. To avoid falling into what the Prophet SAW warned against, the least we can do is to keep up two optional units of prayer after Isha, and pray witr before we sleep. We can then work on things gradually to pray more and pray later in the night, because the most virtuous prayer, after the obligations, is the night prayer. Continue fasting! A person, just as he can continue with night prayers outside the month of Ramadan, can also continue with optional fast outside the month. There are many opportunities for this including: – 6 days of Shawwal Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six (fasts) of Shawwal, it would be as if he fasted for the whole year.” [Muslim] – The month of Muharram Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “The best fast after Ramadan is the fast in the month of Allah Al-Muharram [Muslim] – Fasting Monday and Thursday The Prophet Muhammad SAW said that deeds are raised to Allah on Monday and Thursday, I want my deeds to be raised and I am fasting (collected by Ahmad) – Fasting the day of Arafah “Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on ‘Ashura, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years.” Reported by all except Al-Bukhari and At-Tirmidhi

Close the door to evil!

So how can we preserve these good deeds? How can we keep them up after Ramadan?

Something important the scholars say is:

ليس المهم أن تَفتَح بابَ الخير فقط، المهم أن تُغلِق باب الشر

“It is not only important to open the door to good, but it’s also important to close the door to evil”

This is because if the door to evil is open, it’ll take over your good deeds. Just as we find people doing good deeds, they may at the same time be indulging in evil actions, this may be causing deficiencies in their good deeds.

Some doors of evil we can close are:

Safeguarding our tongue – maybe one word we utter may harm a person, this could be a cause for our good deeds to be taken away and becoming null and void.

We learn from the Prophet Muhammad SAW who when it was said to him about a particular lady, she prays at night, fasts during the day and gives charity but she harms her neighbour with her tongue, the Prophet said, there is no good in her, she is from the people of the fire. He was then told about a lady who prays her obligatory prayers but never harmed anyone, the Prophet said, she is from the people of paradise. If you want to preserve your good deeds, preserve your tongue and be mindful of what you say.

Not being envious of others

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْحَسَدَ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَدَ يَأْكُلُ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ أَوْ قَالَ الْعُشْبَ

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Beware of envy, for it devours good deeds just as fire devours wood or grass.

Allah also says:

أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ

“Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty”

When we aren’t happy and pleased with what Allah has given us, we’ll envy other people for what Allah has blessed them with, but we forget what we have.

Allah has blessed us with health, wealth and family, what else can we ask for? Yet we look around us and see our neighbour has more than us, they have a better car and here the envy starts! We’ll look at what’s in the hands of others, yet we won’t look at what we have! Allah says

وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

…and in yourselves. Then will you not see?

Allah tells us:

لقد خلقننا الانسان في أحسن تقويم

“We have certainly created man in the best of stature”

Allah has created us in the best of stature, we have many blessings; our sight, being able to touch, smell, listen and walk, we’ve been given everything yet we’re still envious of others.

The Prophet SAW told us when it comes to the dunya to look at those below you and not above you.

انْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ دُونَكَ وَلا تَنْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكَ

Only then, will truly realise and appreciate the blessings Allah has bestowed us with.

We ask Allah to accept our fasting and good deeds during the month of Ramadan, to make us continue with the good deeds and habits we strived to perfect and to make it a means for us to enter through the gate of Ar-Rayyan (one of the gates of heaven).

During Ramadan, we found out how much more we can do, so let’s try to keep up with those extra actions even if they are only “small”. Whether it was making sure you prayed every prayer on time, praying at the masjid at least once a day, giving a small amount of charity every day or being kind and gentle with your family; remember the words of our Messenger, peace be upon him:

“Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240

In society today we sees people around the world celebrating days such as: world women’s day which is then shortly followed by a day to acknowledge women in their role as mothers.

Whilst recognition for women is a good thing in itself, the fact that we need to have a day to mark the importance of women in society and to highlight their many struggles is a sad indictment of the world in which we live.

Women are the bedrock of society, they are daughters, sisters, mothers, and grandmothers. They are doctors and engineers, teachers and nurses, leaders, and pioneers in every field. To reduce this, by singling out just one day to acknowledge their contribution to society and all of the struggles they have faced and continue to face, quite often just for basic rights, is not Islam and not from Islam. Islam gave women these rights and the honour and status they deserve over fourteen centuries ago.

Sadly however, Islam is often attributed with being oppressive to women, with the hijab (Head cover) and niqab (face veil) the prime indicators for this incorrect label. Muslim women are seen as subordinate to Muslim men and thought to be subservient to the males in their families, be it their spouses, fathers, or brothers.

The truth couldn’t be far more removed from this. In fact, it is Islam above all other religions that gives women a high status and rights that other societies have only just acknowledged so many centuries later. This includes not only financial rights but the fundamental right of life, for the Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him was sent at a time when baby girls were being buried alive. Islam came to prevail over the barbaric practices and great injustices of the time. Islam is a religion of justice not of equality. Each and every person has a role to play, and each is entrusted with rights and responsibilities that they are answerable for to the highest authority, that of their Lord Allah Who will not let something even as small as the size of an atom be missed from their record of deeds

“So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) shall see it; And whoever, does evil equal to the weight of an atom or a smallest ant) shall see it.‘ (99.7-8)

There are so many great women in Islam, some of whom we will discuss in another article in shaa Allah (God Willing), they are revered for their intellect, their chastity and strength, They were honoured and respected and never belittled nor taken advantage of. Whether as mothers, daughters, or scholars, they were given rights, and declared sole owners of their own wealth, with rights of inheritance and maintenance, which so many are still battling for today. This was over fourteen centuries ago, and without a single protest movement or struggle.

This is one of the many reasons why so women are turning to Islam.

Every stage of a woman’s life is given its due importance and mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, as an infant; when the mother of Maryam (Mary) realised she had given birth to a baby girl whom she put into the service of her Lord Allah. As daughters; the Prophet Peace be upon him, mentioned the importance of raising daughters or looking after one’s sisters and the reward for doing so by saying, Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that; the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever has three daughters, or three sisters, or two daughters, or two sisters and he keeps good company with them and fears Allah regarding them, then Paradise is for him. (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1916)

As spouses, the Quran mentions that women should be treated well and the Prophet peace be upon him said;

“The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1977)

Then, as Mothers, we are reminded of the great debt we owe to the one who gave birth to us, whose rights over us are so much greater than that of our fathers.

The Prophet Muhammed Peace be upon him was asked “Allah’s Messenger, who amongst the people is most deserving of my good treatment? He said: Your mother, again your mother, again your mother, then your father, then your nearest relatives according to the order (of nearness)” (Sahih Muslim 2548b)

Mothers are not just treated well on one day out of the year, they are honoured every day of the year and granted the status of being the key to paradise for their children.

Assalaam’alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu

Today’s blog is at the end of Ramadhan, at the end of the striving and when the heart pleads with sincere duas to Allah swt.

I would like you to read sister Sumaya’s (name changed) story. Read about her duas during Ramadhan, were they fulfilled? How did she react?

…

My first Ramadhan, I was studying at Uni and working part time. The days were hot and long! Everyone around me was munching and drinking.

But Allah swt made it easy for me. Like a mental transition. Like something washes over, maybe the rules of Islam (so many as a new revert!) I knew I just had to obey, and I think that’s why Allah swt gave me the sabr.

So, I coped with the not eating. Work and Uni was fine. I remember my friends at Uni, very innocently say “Eat a bit, I won’t tell anyone!”

My mum knew I was Muslim, but my dad didn’t. It was very hidden; it was agonising that my mum knew but dad didn’t.

My mum the detective (I did purposely leave clues in the house like a pray mat), found out I was fasting through a closed milk bottle when I claimed I had cereal! I was afraid and anxious of dad finding out, my stomach was in knots, but mum made it a little easier. Alhamdulilah she was my mercy at the time even though I knew there was a thunder on its way.

My dad was the ‘big cookie’. Mum was soft. I couldn’t tell dad, I was too afraid. I wanted to know more about the deen ready to answer his questions, but also emotionally ready. When dad did find out he strangled me, on a day I was fasting, til I passed out on the ground. I refused to be thrown out my house as he demanded.

Every time I opened my fast, I made dua that my dad wouldn’t blow up. Yet he did. But I felt like I was under Allah’s wing. It is not what I prayed for or hoped for, but I still had enough trust in Allah that it would still work, and this is part of the bigger picture. My duas where so thorough but what happened was the opposite of what I prayed for, I knew it had to be Allah’s mercy, His plan would be better than mine.

Later due to the reaction of my dad finding out and subsequent events I was forced to move out, I happily married and had children. My mum left my abusive dad and became Muslim herself, just over ten years later.

I learnt to submit to the will of Allah. Even though it looked like Allah gave me the opposite of what I made dua especially during Ramadhan, I learnt to ride it out and trust that this was is better. Years down the line you will realise the benefits of why it played out the way it did.

…

Often we say from the lips “Allah swt is the best of planners”, then when we feel our duas are not answered or we are tested in the thing we made dua for; we crumble and say “Allah swt is punishing me”, “I am a bad Muslim”, “Why me?”, “I am not good enough”.

Sumaya is an inspiration to me. She put her trust in Allah swt when making dua, she maintained her sabr and repeated her dua. When the unexpected happened, she had the emaan to turn words into action, to enact “this is how Allah swt wanted it and He is the best of planners”. She did not complain, falter or question rather she believed in Allah’s wisdom being greater than hers, she believed in Allah’s foresight of her future, she believed in Allah’s LOVE.

As Ramadhan comes to an end and you remember the duas you pleaded for, as life continues and trials continue; remember that the duas you made are heard by your Lord, they will be answered by His infinite wisdom, you only need to put your trust in His plan. Duas are answered in 3 ways, I will give a very brief summary, but I strongly advise you learn in more depth inshaAllah;

1. You ask for something and Allah gives it to you immediately. Be grateful.

2. You ask for something and Allah delays in giving it. Be patient. Allah swt may do this to bring you closer to Him. Be sincere and reflective.

3. Allah will withhold giving you what you ask for if it is bad for you, but you don’t realise, or He will give you something better on the day of Judgement. Don’t panic. Like Sumaya, look at the situation from a different perspective and know Allah swt is the best of planners.

Be positive about your Lord, ‘I am what my servant thinks of me.’ (Qudsi hadith). Remember the story of our sister Sumaya, who was only in her first months of being Muslim SubhaanAllah. Her knowledge of who Allah swt is, allowed her to overcome a test many reverts and non-reverts face. I ask you keep struggling reverts in your duas, I ask this Eid you open your homes to those Muslims that are on their own and I ask you make dua for the ummah. On that note (another essay instead of short blog!) have an amazing Eid, don’t forget the sunnah – the best gatherings and feasts are where the poor are also fed! Wasalaam.

Week 4: Introspection and Acceptance With the end of Ramadan upon us, we must ask ourselves; what have we achieved from this month? Are we the same as when we entered the month or have we changed, have we improved; has our connection with Allah become stronger? We spent the nights praying and reading Qur’an and the day abstaining from food and drink. We would see the Masjid full to the brim, faces you had never seen before and in reality, you probably will not see again until next Ramadan. We need to understand that it does not end here; doing good deeds does not end by the ending of Ramadan. The Lord you worshipped and strived to please in Ramadan is the same Lord you need to strive to worship outside of Ramadan. The same Qur’an you read in Ramadan is the same Qur’an you need to be reading outside of Ramadan. This goes for all the acts of worship you done inside of Ramadan, from giving in charity to performing I’tikaaf in the Masjid, all this can still be done outside of Ramadan. We know the Salaf used to supplicate to Allah for six months asking Him to get them to the month of Ramadan; and then they used to supplicate for six months that Allah accepts their fasting and other worship in Ramaḍan. We ask Allah Almighty to accept our fasting, qiyaam , and righteous deeds and that he blesses us with many more opportunities to witness the month of Ramadan, ameen!

Alhamdulillah – All praise and thanks are for Allah, that we are about to complete this blessed month of Ramadan. A month full of blessings and we hope that everyone was able to attain their share Insha’Allah. I hope we are all able to implement and continue the good habits we tried to develop during this month until next Ramadan! For many of us, our focus will now turn to Eid, but we need to take a moment to reflect back on how the month went for us, the highs and the lows and what we could have done to make it a better experience. We should also pray to Allah, that he accepts our worship from us, and in fact, this forms the basis of one of the greetings of Eid which we will explain later. One of the ways to make up for some of the shortcomings in Ramadan is to pay Zakat-Al-Fitr, this is a small amount of money paid for each person young or old and given to the poor and needy in the form of food before Eid. It must be given before the Eid prayer and ideally some time in advance. If you haven’t already done so, you can donate it via our partner organisation Taskforce GLM. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined zakat al-fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene speech, and to feed the poor. Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is Zakat Al-Fitr, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is ordinary charity. This was narrated by Abu Dawood and classed as Hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. With regard to the day of Eid itself, there are some Sunnah acts and ettiquettes we should observe. · Wearing our best clothes- which should be modest. · Wearing perfume – Only for men. · Eating an odd number of dates in the morning. · Travelling by different routes to and from the place of prayer. · Praying the Eid prayer and listening to the Khutbah (Sermon) afterwards. You can read more on these HERE. As for greeting other Muslims, we can offer the greeting of the day of Eid as mentioned earlier which is the following supplication. It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another: “Taqabbal Allaahu minna wa mink (May Allah accept (this worship) from us and from you).” Al-Haafiz said: Its isnaad is hasan. On behalf of everyone at Islamwise we pray that Allah swt accepts all of your fasts and worship and blesses you and us with the ability to better ourselves and build on what we have put into practice during this blessed month. Aameen.

Assalaam’alaykum, One of my favourite blogs… FISH FINGER SANDWICH SAVED ENGLISH REVERTS RAMADAN!!!!!! I am a healthy woman with a healthy diet and attitude towards food, but after 3 Ramadans of what felt like I had an eating disorder coming upon me, I decided to do what felt right and good to me – I had a fish finger sandwich for IFTAAR, yep not a date, not a samosa, not a giant plate of meat and rice. That was it, I could eat, focus and enjoy my Ramadan. Here I am on my 8th Ramadan. I feel no pressure, no anxiety, I just hope for a blessed month for all the ummah Insha’Allah. I have spent all my Ramadans in a small town. I have had iftars alone and helped at charity iftars. I have spent Ramadans as the only Muslim in the house. I have had iftars where I could hardly eat a piece of fruit at iftar as I had gone beyond hunger and where I was nearly sick at the sight of piles of meat and oil on other plates.

The expectations for Ramadan are all around us, what is best to eat, to drink, to read when to sleep etc. etc. But now I know quite simply, I can eat what I want for iftar and a little at suhoor is a sunnah, and what I have been asked to do at Ramadan is FAST. Yes, there are blessings in abundance in this month but if I have done my 30 fasts, I have done what Allah asked of me. Your relationship with Allah is just that YOURS. Know what Allah expects of you and strive to enjoy Ramadan. Allah knows your intentions. Find small Islamic practices to add to your daily routine, to continue with after Ramadan, small and consistent is good. Now I am off to the shops for bread butter and fish fingers. … SubhanAllah, such an upbeat blog by sister Andrea, 56, English living in England; as described. She really has put a smile on my face. A beautiful reminder to not be excessive in Ramadhan. Moderation in Ramadan is a great time to get into a habit that should be practised all year round. The prophet Muhammad peace be upon him has advised the stomach is the worse vessel to overfill, to only eat enough to keep your back straight, that food for one is enough for two and so on. “O Children of Adam…eat and drink, but not excessively: verily, God does not like the excessive” (7:31). As sister Andrea also reminds us, there are several reverts eating alone this Ramadan…please share your food with a person who needs your kindness more than food and may Allah swt reward you for filling a person’s heart this Ramadan. Have an amazing 10 days! Walikumassalaam

Week 3: Analogy between Yusuf عليه السلام and the month of Ramadan Scholars have mentioned many analogies between Yusuf عليه السلام and the month of Ramadan; some of which are:

1) The twelve months of the year are like the twelve sons of Prophet Yaqub. Just as Prophet Yusuf was the most beloved to Yaqub, the month of Ramadan is the most beloved to Allah.

2) Just as Allah forgave the eleven brothers by the du’a of one (Yusuf), He can forgive your eleven months of sins by your du’as in Ramadan.”

3) Just as Yusuf was loving and forgiving and forgave his brothers when he said:

(سورة يوسف 92) لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَNo blame will there be upon you today (Surah Yusuf – 92) Similarly, we find the month of Ramadan full of blessing, love and forgiveness, it saves a person from the hellfire and is a month in which Allah forgives us!

4) The brothers of Yusuf came to Yusuf in a state of loss after having committed grave sins, but Yusuf treated them with love and respect; he fed them, was good to them and gave them hope. Likewise, we reach the month of Ramadan with deficiencies, sins and in a state of loss. The month of Ramadan provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with our Lord, self-reflect, and rejuvenate our worship for His sake.

We ask Allah to make the most of what is left of this blessed month, Ameen!

Ramadan is over, now what?

Close the door to evil!

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