Invest in the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
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Invest in the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Allah Almighty swears in the Quran: والفجر . وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ By the dawn and the ten nights. (89:1-2) In another verse, Allah Almighty says: The months of Hajj are well known. (2:197) Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) commented that these ten nights were the nights of Dhul Hijjah and the months of…

What is the significance of the Shawwal fasts?
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What is the significance of the Shawwal fasts?

Extra reward post Ramadan The reward of fasting any six days in Shawwal after fasting in Ramadan is equivalent to fasting for a whole year, as per the narration of Abu Ayub Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan…

Eid: glorify Allah through takbeer, showing gratitude and spreading joy
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Eid: glorify Allah through takbeer, showing gratitude and spreading joy

In the verses regarding fasting in Surat al Baqarah, Allah Almighty said, He wants ease for us; He doesn’t want hardship for us, so that we may complete our fasts and glorify Allah for granting us guidance and be grateful. شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ…

The last ten nights of Ramadan are about heavenly food not earthly food
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The last ten nights of Ramadan are about heavenly food not earthly food

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that: “When the last ten nights of Ramadan arrived, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would tighten his belt, spend the night in worship, and awaken his family. (Bukhari and Muslim) عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ:” كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ…

Ramadan – a month of internal and external victories
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Ramadan – a month of internal and external victories

Ramadan: victory against your nafs and your enemy Praise be to God, we have received an honourable guest, Ramadan, which will stay with us for around a month. Guests usually brings gifts, and Ramadan generously brings with it forgiveness and mercy in abundance. In Ramadan, God has made it compulsory for us to fast, as…

The Spiritual Guide to Ramadan – FREE Booklet
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The Spiritual Guide to Ramadan – FREE Booklet

From preparing in Sha’ban to improving our relationship with Allah during Ramadan and beyond, Shaykh Haytham’s spiritual reflections on Ramadan give insight into what is on offer. This FREE booklet will help you attain deeper spiritual benefits, insights intoLaylatul Qadr and how to find tranquility in a month like no other. Download your Free copy…

The end of another year
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The end of another year… Time to reflect and renew your intentions and goals

The end of another year It has been another challenging year globally, for the environment, for families communities and individuals. This year we lost many blessed souls and personally I lost my dear father. May Allah envelop them in His mercy and grant them all jannatul firdaus. As Muslims we have to be people of…

The tragedy of Karbala should not make us revert to the mourning practices of  Jahiliyya
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The tragedy of Karbala should not make us revert to the mourning practices of Jahiliyya

Todays reminder is about unity and not returning to the habits of pre-Islamic (Jahiliyya) times. In Surat al Imran, Allah Almighty says: ﴿١٠٣﴾ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ…

Muharram and Hijrah – the lessons and virtues
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Muharram and Hijrah – the lessons and virtues

Today’s reflection is about the Hijra (the migration of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him to Madinah) and Muharram. Every year people celebrate the New Islamic Year. The conflation of Muharram with the Hijra was introduced later, as in fact the migration took place in Rabi’ al-Awwal not Muharram. The date of Hijrah The…

Dhul Hijjah and Hajj: An introduction
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Dhul Hijjah and Hajj: An introduction

Allah Almighty mentioned in the Quran that Hajj is ‘a well-known month’, ashurhum malumaat: “Remember Allah (God) during the well-known days.” (2:197) There are three months which are considered holy, because they are months of hajj. It used to take 1-2 months to travel to reach Makkah, therefore hajjis had to leave for hajj long…

Reflections on Surat Al-A’la and Al-Ghashiyah on Eid
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Reflections on Surat Al-A’la and Al-Ghashiyah on Eid

The surahs recited every Eid Every Eid, the Prophet (peace be on him) used to recite Surat Al A’la in the first rakah and Surat Al Ghashiya in the second rakah, which are two consecutive surahs in the Quran. He recited them at almost every Eid and sometimes at Jummuah. I was wondering why he…

Lailatul Qadr – a night better than a lifetime.
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Lailatul Qadr – a night better than a lifetime.

Every year we are keen to catch the blessings of Lailatul Qadr. Allah Almighty dedicated a whole surah to it, to emphasise its importance and grant it further honour. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. ﴿١﴾ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ 1. We sent it down on the…

isra wal miraj - all you wanted to know (part 3)
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Isra wal Miraj – All you wanted to know (part 3: the scenes of jahannum)

During the miraculous night journey of Isra wal Miraj, the Prophet (peace be on him) saw some of the people of hellfire. The scenes are vivid and terrifying, and a stark deterrent to sin, as they graphically represent the sin and the punishments they incurr. The punishment for backbiting and slander Anas ibn Malik reported…

Isra wal Mi’raj – All you wanted to know (part 1: al Isra)
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Isra wal Mi’raj – All you wanted to know (part 1: al Isra)

A wondrous journey سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ “Glory be to Him, Who took His servant during the night from the Sacred House to the farthest mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show…