Ramadan: A Time of Giving
Assembly for primary school children on being kind and generous during Ramdan. Download the powerpoint presentation here:
Rulings around divorce
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) described divorce as ‘the most hated of permissible acts’ to Allah [Abu Dawood] It’s disliked, but it’s still permissible: if you hit a dead end, you have an exit, and this is out of Allah’s mercy. If two people came together with right intention, but then discover that they have personality clash, or cultural clash, or whatever it may be, talaq is the way to leave with ihsan. In Jahiliyya times, they used to divorce their wives and then take them back, and go through cycles over and over again. This just caused extra pain, so in Surat al-Baqarah Allah places a limit of three talaqs, and in this surah He explains the valid forms.
Deal fairly with disbelievers
Be careful who you let in to your community Surat al-Mumtahinah is another Madani surah, all about who to take as your allies, and where to draw the line between the camp of the believers vs the disbelievers and their supporters. The context of surah is that it was revealed during the period when the…
Lessons from Surat al-Hashr
Whatever is made haram in the authentic hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is haram. Some people might say we do not see this prohibition in the Quran. If it is in the authentic Sunnah, it applies. Not every ruling is mentioned in the Quran – the Sunnah is a complementary revelation, and also provides commentary on the Quran.
Present your case to Allah
The story of Khawla bint Tha’laba Surat al-Mujadilah, which is a Madani surah with has an interesting story behind it. Khawla bint Tha’laba was a female Companion of the Prophet (peace be on him), who was married to a man named ‘Aws ibn as-Samit. They had had an argument, and he said to her ‘You…
He is with you wherever you are
Surat al-Hadid is another Madani surah with plenty of lessons. One of the most important verses is: ‘He is with you wherever you are, and sees whatever you do.’ [57:4] This is a very scary verse, but it’s also good news. If Allah is with us wherever we go, it means we need to be…
Laylatul Qadr and the reward of congregational worship
Focus on Allah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that in the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would spend the night in prayer, and wake up his family so they could also pray and worship Allah. Our focus on the last ten nights should be worshipping Allah….
The closest people to Allah on the Day of Judgement
In Surat ar-Rahman, Allah describes Jannah more than Hellfire. Although description of Hellfire do come up in some verses, the majority of surah is addressing the description of Jannah, and the favours which Allah will offer the people of Jannah. Categories on the Day of Judgement The following surah is Surat al-Waqiah, where Allah gives…
Certainty outweighs doubt – is my Wudu still valid? How many Rakahs did I recite?
Have clarity rather than doubt in your affairs اليقين لَا يَزُولُ بِالشَّكِّ There is a maxim in Fiqh that one must not let doubt creep into matters. It is a very wide ranging principle. This maxim has very wide application. This principle enables people to have certainty and block doubts in any affair. Particularly those…
What should I recite when beginning salah?
After the takbeer and before beginning the recitation of Surat al Fatihah, the sunnah is to recite either the thana or the dua al istiftah, followed by the istiadha. These are not fard elements of salah and one’s salah would not be invalidated if one missed them out, but one would be rewarded for doing…
How to be People of the Quran
The more you learn the Quran, the more Allah will open your heart and eyes to see the truth and implement it in your life. The barakah will envelop your family and your life. Every letter you recite will earn you ten rewards from Allah. (Every letter, not every word!)
Salah is your imaan-charger
Salah energises us, rejuvenates us, empowers us to face the tests we go through every day. This is why we have five prayers, not just one: because we face continuous tests all day, from waking up until we go to sleep, every day until we meet Allah. We need to strengthen our salah and make it in accordance with the Sunnah. And we have an opportunity in Ramadan. Some people might not be praying regularly, but in Ramadan they keep their salah. So don’t lose this after Ramadan. We ask Allah to strengthen imaan, and make salah our mi’raj to Him during every salah. Ameen.
What can we do to benefit the deceased?
What will reach the deceased in their graves? As per the well-known hadith, when someone dies three things continue to benefit them in their grave. These are charity given on their behalf, beneficial knowledge and the duas of their righteous children. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When the son of Adam dies,…
The circle of righteousness
In Surat al Ahqaf, Allah Almighty describes a circle of righteousness. It creates the blueprint of how to set your priorities straight and maintain righteousness within your family and society. وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ ….. قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي…
What dua can I make for righteous children?
Duas to have righteous children وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ Wazakariyyā idh nādā rabbahu rabbi lā tadharnī fardan wa-anta khayru-l-wārithīn And (remember) Zakariyya when he called his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me alone and You are the best of inheritors.’ (21:89) فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا…