The Month of Mercy, the Month of Forgiveness awaits us….

Here are some useful last minute preparatory measures:

· Learn/review the Du’a for breaking the fast. Stick it up on your fridge for your kids and family members to memorize it as well.

DU’A FOR BREAKING THE FAST

ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر ­ان شاء الله

The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed, if Allaah wills.

To read the dua with the harakah/transliteration, click here: http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/Fortress/068.html

· Learn the special du’a that Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite during the last 10 nights of Ramadan:

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’ “(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Du’a is “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee”

· Print out the Ramadan check list and distribute it to others. It is always a good idea to keep track of our daily ibadah progress so that we don’t slack especially during the middle of Ramadan. Anything measured improves, so measure your righteous deeds during these blessed days. I have attached a very useful checklist to this email. (Please note a slight edit that is required: 5th point: It is supposed to be performed all 12 Sunnah prayers (instead of 13))

· Check your heart: If we don’t humble our heart during this month of mercy, then when will we? Only a purified heart will be entered into Paradise. Let us stop making excuses and work on our heart for a change. Download your personal heart journal at www.heartwheeljournal.com and print it out.

· Read the Fiqh of Fasting. Unsure about some of the rulings regarding menstruation, taraweeh prayers, the things that nullify the fast and similar issues? If so, then read it up & remove your doubts before Ramadan. Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam- we cannot afford to be ignorant about it. Click here to have your questions answered: http://www.islamqa.com/en/cat/295

· Renew your intentions: Ask your self – What are my inner feelings for greeting this month? Am I sad because I wont be able to indulge in my desires; am I excited because I can do Ramadan -tent- hopping all night long; or am I delighted because – this is my chance to win Allah’s Pleasure, to be saved from the horrors of hellfire, and to have all my sins forgiven!? What are your thoughts and feelings in greeting Ramadan? Check your heart. Even though we may hide our feelings – even from our selves, Allah hears our deepest thoughts. Lets renew our intention now for surely, we are rewarded according to our intentions.

· Schedule a personal Ramadan plan: If you are overwhelmed with what to do, and what not to do during these precious days, then keep in mind these 5 key activities that should be in place:

o Fasting: i. Fasting of food/drink/sexual intercourse during the day

ii.Fasting of our tongue – i.e. fasting from lies/ill speech/backbiting and any speech that is hateful to Allah.

iii. Fasting of our eyes/ears/ limbs  -i.e. refrain from using them in any way that is displeasing to Allah

iv. Fasting of our heart – Keep our thoughts clean and our heart focused on seeking the pleasure of Allah

o Qiyaam: Stand in Qiyaam/Taraweeh during the blessed nights of Ramadan, and do NOT miss any of the 5 obligatory prayers.

o Quran: This month is our chance to devote and bond ourselves with the Words of Allah. Seize this opportunity to read, reflect and act upon the Quran.

o Suhoor: Do not leave this sweet sunnah. Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Take Sahur as there is a blessing in it.”(agreed upon) .

o Iftar: Hasten to break your fast, and supplicate to Allah while doing so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The people will continue to be in a good state of affairs as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.” (Agreed upon)

· Prepare/modify you *du’a list*. Craving for something that you do not have? Well, this is the month to ask for it! Write a du’a list for all that you desire – in this world and the hereafter.

Send this last minute measures list to others, and gain tons of ajr, insha’Allah!!

May we all be blessed with a truly memorable Ramadan- one that is the most beloved to Allah, ameen!

p.s- I’ve a ramadan checklist with me that you can print out and use during the month insha’Allah. pls leave a comment here and I’ll mail it you if you want

o

Ramadan’s gone and…

I’m feeling the post-Ramadan blues. Honestly I wasn’t really excited when eid was ‘announced’. This year had been the best Ramadan I had alhamdulillah. Though I didn’t get to do as much ‘ibadah as I wanted to..but it never feels like it’s enough. I guess that’s what makes a Muslim. To keep striving to please Allah ta’ala, for your own good..

I’ve noticed people who become really ‘religious’ in Ramadan. And the second it’s over the satan’s let out.No more qiyam, no more or hardly any Qura’n, and so on. I’m sure most of us fall into that to some degree. insha’Allah let’s strive to be ‘religious’ all year round. Ramadan’s gone but Allah remains forever…

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-’As (ra):

Allaah’s Messenger salAllahu ‘alayhee wasallam said to me, “O ‘Abdullah! Do not be like so-and­ so who used to offer Salaat (prayer) at night and then stopped the night Salaat (prayer).” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]