Keeping motivated beyond Ramadan
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Keeping motivated beyond Ramadan

You end Ramadan with a clean slate, a new page. Be careful what you write on that new page. What do you want to see on it? Make a list of what you want to achieve as you do at New Year’s. This is your post Ramadan resolution if you want. What do you want to achieve after Ramadan? Maintain and improve the good deeds which you have done. Control your anger beyond Ramadan. Control your faculties – eyes, ears, tongue and limbs, after Ramadan. This will affect heavily what will be written on this new page. At the very least, keep up the bare minimum of what you have started in Ramadan, such as your salah. I know many people do not pray regularly, only on and off. Ramadan is the time they charge their batteries and they pray during Ramadan. Once Ramadan is over, don’t stop. Keep this energy and keep your prayer on time, even though Ramadan is past, as Allah Almighty is worthy to be worshipped not just in Ramadan. The reward is still there from Allah Almighty, so don’t cut yourself off from this reward. Allah Almighty is still forgiving, not only in Ramadan as well after Ramadan.

Laylatul Qadr and the reward of congregational worship
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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….

seclusion
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How long is the minimum for ei’tikaf? Can women do ei’tikaf at home?

One of the special features of Ramadan is ei’tikaf, which is going into seclusion to worship Allah Almighty. It is the sunnah to go into seclusion in the last ten days of Ramadan, as the Prophet (peace be on him) used to do and his wives continued do ei’tikaf in the mosque and continued this…

ramadan - a time for unity
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Ramadan – a time of unity, punctuality and ihsan

The first ten days of Ramadan have whizzed by and we await the next tens days and then the final ten. Alhamdulillah we have fasted and the most important thing is that Allah has accepted it from us. United Ramadan is a special month which Allah has given us and fasting was prescribed to believers…

How to turn an ordinary fast, into a super-fast
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How to turn an ordinary fast, into a super-fast

The aim of fasting is to achieve righteousness Allah Almighty said in Surat al Baqarah: يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous – [2:183] Alhamdulillah,…

What is the connection between closeness to Allah, excellence and fasting?
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What is the connection between closeness to Allah, excellence and fasting?

They ask you… My reflection today is on a very beautiful ayah among the 5 verses on fasting in the Quran which are found in Surat al-Baqarah (183-187). Allah Almighty says: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ If my servants ask you…

Psyching up for Ramadan
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Psyching up for Ramadan

Allah Almighty said in the Quran that fasting is an obligation in this famous ayah, but when was this ayah revealed and when was fasting made an obligation? يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was…

Fasting outside Ramadan. Can you fast on a Friday alone?
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Fasting outside Ramadan. Can you fast on a Friday alone?

Recommended fasts In general, as per the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be on him) it is recommended to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and the three white days i.e. the days of the full moon (13,14,15th of the lunar month). Fasting on Mondays It is also recommended to fast on Mondays: He was then…

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…

How to fill your bucket when it’s raining gold

How to fill your bucket when it’s raining gold

Laylatul Qadr is the night of greatness and magnificence. إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ Indeed, ˹it is˺ We ˹Who˺ sent this ˹Quran˺ down on the Night of Glory. (97:1) In Surat Dukhan, Allah Almighty said the Quran was revealed in a  very blessed night: حم ٓ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ By the clear Book! (44:2) إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ…

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…