Practical RAMADAN Prep Poem: 10 Of 10: Sawm University OF RAMADAN: ENROLL NOW!

With a course syllabus, boxed into the HOLY QURAN
Pro Vice Chancellor, MOHAMMED AL MUSTAFA
The Dean, exalted Archangel JIBRIL (Gabriel)
Senior Lecturers, the blessed SUHOOR and IFTAAR
Lecturers, I’TIKAAF, TARAAWEEH and TAHAJJUD
Students Rep Council (SRC) President; AL HILAL
SRC administrator and secretary; AL ADHAAN
Other SRC executives, JUZ’I, HIZB and QIRAA’A etc
With a Prophetic thesis preserved in the SUNNAH
Diploma courses offered in KAFFAARA studies
Specialized Degree course; FIDYA and QADAA analysis
Masters program in IT’AAM and NIYYAH studies
PHD course in LAILATUL QADR and ZAKAATUL FITR
Global campuses; MASAAJID and EID grounds
Campus Annex, RAJAB, SHA’BAAN and SHAWWAL
Pioneer students, TAQWA, RAHMA and AFWA
Following thereafter, SHAFAA’A, MAGFIRA and SALAM
Apt and calm University motto: "IN-NEE SWAA'IM"
Let’s be proud, we are affiliated to FACULTY OF SAWM
Insha Allah graduate after SWIYAAM via AR RAYAAN
Best University of our lives; RAMADAN UNIVERSITY

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 9 of 10 (Terminology Bank)

1. Suhoor
The pre dawn meal a person eats to start fasting

2. Iftaar
The fast breaking meal after sunset

3. Ar Rayaan
A door to Jannah, reserved for people who fast enter Jannah

4. Taraweeh
The optional prayers said after Ishae prayers

5. Lailatul Qadr
The night of power, occurs in last 10 days of Ramadan, it’s better than 1000 months or 84 years of accepted ibaadah (worship)

6. Tamr
Dates. Rasool used wet dates to break his fast, if he didn’t get he used dried dates, if he did not get that too, he used water to break his fast

7. I’tikaaf
Period of seclusion of a fasting person in a mosque where Jum’ah prayers is offered

8. Zakatul Fitr
Alms (usually food) given to poor people at the end of Ramadan, so they can also enjoy Eid

9. Juz’i
One thirtieth part of the Quran. I a person reads a juz’i a day, he will complete the Quran in Ramadan

10. Taqwa
Fear of Allah. The main benefit of Ramadan

11. Eidul Fitr
The Eid (feast/celebration) that comes immediately after Ramadan

12. Qadaa
Making up/ repaying missed days of fasting

13. Shafaa’a
Intercession. The Quran and Ramadan shall be intercessors for Muslims on day of Qiyaama

14. Misk
A very nice fragrance/perfume. But the breath of a fasting person is dearer to Allah than misk

15. Kaffara
Repayment of missed fasts with penalty for intentionally breaking ones fast.

16. Fidya
Compensation paid daily for a person who by Islamic law is unable to fast. Old age or terminally ill etc.

17. Niyyah
Intention, this should be made at the beginning of Ramadan to fast for the period.

18. It’aam
Feeding the poor as a substitute for a person who cannot fast because of old age or sickness. Word is from the Arabic word: Twa’aam = food

19. Sawm
Abstinence, in the case of fasting; it is abstinence from food and drink and other things that spoil fast between dawn and dusk

20. Swaa’im
A term for the fasting person

21. Innee swaa’im
“I am fasting” prophetic response to anyone who offends or angers you during fasting period.

22. Dhikr
Glorification of Allah, Remembrance as taught by Allah and Rasool

23. Qiraa’a
Reading of Quran.

24. Tahajjud
Waking up in the middle of night to offer prayers and supplication unto Allah

25. Sha’baan
The month that comes before Ramadan. 8th Islamic month

26. Ramad
The root word for Ramadan meaning heat, dryness or scorched.

27. Wisaal
Fasting day and night without breaking. It is haram/forbidden to do so in Islam

28. Umrah
Lesser pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, it can be offered every time of year but more rewarding if done during Ramadan

29. Tafseer
Exegesis/interpretation of Quran

30. Al Hilal
The crescent/moon that a people must see in order to start and end Ramadan

31. Shawwal
10th Islamic month, comes after Ramadan

32. Eidul Adha
The feast of sacrifice which comes 2 months 10 days after Ramadan

33. Hizb
This is one sixtieth part of the Quran

34. Ayyaam Tashreeq
The three days after Eidul Adha, meant for feasting by Muslims.

35. Swiyaam Dawud
A type of fasting where a person fasts every other day. Fast today, rest the next day in that order

36. Hijriyya
Islamic dating system that is calculated based on the moon’s cycle

37. Ramadan
The 9th Hijri (Islamic) month in which Muslims fast

38. Imsaak
Arabic meaning of “fasting” i.e. to cease or abstain, refrain or desist

39. Miswaak
Chewing stick, preferred for oral hygiene during Ramadan

40. Mu’takif
A person performing I’tikaaf

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 8 Of 10 (Social Media)

Recap: Clearing distractions in months preceding Ramadan, be it at work or in respect of other obligations. This would help one to FOCUS better on worship during Ramadan. May Allah be our guide. Ameeen!

    8.  Social Media

Social media has come to stay. It is affecting lives positively and negatively. In positive light, it is effecting an aura of knowledge acquisition and of guidance; whereas on the flip side, it is infecting others with the waste of time and sickening over indulgence.

The element of having people almost immediately respond to a post or comment ties into a person’s yearning to see what next or who next likes or comments on their post etc.

Whether it is a post, a tweet or a comment on anything, remember that in Ramadan, there should be a limit to which you pop into the social media arena. And if you can whatsapp for say 30 minutes then be ready to read more than half an hour of Qur’an.

Remember that it should be a time when you should be VERY careful with what information you post or forward. Woe unto you if you mislead people unknowingly much more if you do so knowingly. Seek to verify information before even typing “Ameen.”

You are under no obligation to respond to a post, if it is targeted at you, deal with its veracity before pushing it on. Bearing in mind that even your most trusted Imam or Sheikh is fallible in the general scheme of events.

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 7 Of 10 (Clear Potential Distractions)

Recap: Du'aa is an integral part of our daily lives, more so in a blessed period as Ramadan. Hope you have learnt and or revised the proper kaifiyyah of supplicating unto Allah.

    Tip 7:  Completing Tasks and Cutting off Potential Distractions

Ramadan should not be seen as the normal daily life. A lot of the quotidian and mundane things we do must be ditched.

As we project tasks, endeavor to lessen the burden of work or studies from now, by putting in place measures that would enable you to concentrate on Ramadan even if it means doubling up in Shaban ahead of Ramadan.

Start giving signals of your desire to have a more relaxed schedule to employers and superiors. But remember that their acceptance or otherwise should strengthen you to plan better and make time for Allah when the time comes.

Of the distractions are chatting with friends (replace that with Azkaar and Qiraa’aat). For females, overly watching television programs of no ramadanic value instead of that, stick to reading and listening to the Qur’an or engaged in Azkaar.

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 6 Of 10 (Intensify Supplication)

Recap: Reading wide about Ramadan and knowing the injunctions thereof was on the radar. Here we go with point 7

    6.   Dua Intensification

Dua (supplication) is the heart of worship. How can we then accept the tag of being servants and not seek from our Lord. “Which of his favours shall we deny? Subhaanal Laah!

Shall we refuse to ask as he Allah instructed us so to do? Ramadan is a time to strengthen our ad’iya (prayers) unto Allah, to first and foremost seek his forgiveness and to repent unto him but more critically to resolve not to return to our bad ways (known and unknown).

Question is; what is the kayfiyyah of supplicating unto Allah as taught by Rasool? Topic for another day insha Allah, but for now; go and seek to know yaa ikhwa.

Hadith: “Nothing is more honorable to Allah the Most High than Dua’a” (Sahih al Jami’ 5268) and also; “The Most excellent worship is Dua’a” (Sahih al Jami’ 1133)

May Allah accept our du’aat. Ameen

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 5 Of 10 (Read Wide About Ramadan)

Recap: This tip dwelled on lacing our nawaafil boots as Ramadan approaches. Taraaweeh and Qiyaamul Layl warm up if you ask me. May Allah accept from us. Ameen

    Tip 5: Seeking and Spreading Knowledge About Ramadan

Ramadan is an act of worship, like all others it comes with injunctions and restrictions. It behooves on every Muslim to find literature and read extensively and expansively about the month of Ramadan.

By so doing, there shall be practical areas in need for clarification. Oya! Head towards an Imam/Aalim and seek the necessary clarification on the matter. And when you do, spread the message to others.

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 4 Of 10 (Intensify Nawaafil Swalawaat)

Recap: Planning Quranically was the topic of our last tip. Month of Qur'an, hope you have your plan drawn out. May Allah accept our Ibaadaat. Remember: "Reading the Qur'an is an act of worship."
    Tip 4: Intensification of Nawaafil Salawaat in Shaban

One cannot but admit that some acts of Ramadan are stamina based. Nothing tactical or technical but pure stamina wal Laahi. Standing in prayer especially during Taraweeh and Qiyaamul Layl, Tahajjud.

These require that a person stands for long periods and engaging in prayer, tiredness will set in no matter how a person prepares yet the best preparation in this regard is to start doing a lot of nawaafil salaat if we are to aim at an achieve our tahajjudic goals and aspirations.

On the subject of doing good deeds of which nawaafil is part, I quote a relevant hadith.
Rasool said: “Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory act in other times.” Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1887

May Allah accept and reward our acts.

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 3 Of 10 (Plan Quranically)

Recap: For Tip Two we encouraged that we take advantage of optional fasts that are available till Ramadan comes

    Tip 3. Draw a doable/realistic plan for Qur’an in the month of Qur’an

Ramadan is the month of Qur’an, Allah states in the Qur’an: “The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong) ….” Quran 2: 185

A doable Qur’an plan is a consistent one. Not exactly convenient because a Muslims must strive to accrue as much blessings in the month of Ramadan seeing that the blessings of the month far surpass that of the other months.

Reading a juz’i (one thirtieth) daily would mean that a person would complete the Qur’an by the end of the blessed period. The most known plan is to read 20 pages of the Uthmani King Fahd Mushaf daily (i.e. 4 pages per each salat)

Now, that seems easy on face value but anyone who means to go that way would have to build a certain measure of stamina and consistency to achieve the consistency so badly required. The time to start ‘test transmission” is now, in Sha’baan

All the better for those who are able to complete the Qur’an more than once in this month. For them indeed is great reward no doubt. And Allah alone knows the extent of their reward.

Hadith: “Recite the Holy Qur’an as much as we can for it shall be an intercessor for its reciter on the Day of Judgment.” (Muslim)

The words of a pious predecessor (Abu Bakr al-Balkhi) is apt to share at this point: “The month of Rajab is the month for planting, the month of Sha’baan is the month of irrigating the crops and the month of Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crops.”

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 2 Of 10 (Engage In Optional Fast)

Recap: In the first tip, we took a look at the importance of having to clear owed fasts before Ramadan comes.

    2. Taking advantage of all optional fasts till Ramadan begins

Optional fasts are recommended and are a great boost for Muslims wishing to get into shape for Ramadan. Available opportunities exists in Monday and Thursday fasts and the white days (ay-yaam al beed) 13 – 15th of the month of Sha’baan.

It was narrated by Aaisha (may Allah be pleased with her,) she said: “Rasool (may Allah exalt his mention) used to fast until we said; he will not break his fast …. I never saw Rasool (SAW) complete a month of fasting except Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than Sha’baan.”

Narrated by Al Bukhari (1868) and Muslim (1156)

You may also refer to hadith narrated by al – Nasaa’I (2357) narrated by Usaamah Ibn Zayd and classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

What better way to prepare for fasting by fasting?

As I write today (3rd Shaban, a Thursday) opportunities left to undertake optional fasts are as follows; four Mondays 7th – 14th – 21st – 28th Shaban, and three Thursdays 10th, 17th, 24th.

Interestingly, the white days fast starts from Sunday – Tuesday (13th – 15th) so one of the days is already a Monday. These are days you can fast in order to brace up for Ramadan proper insha Allah.

Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Practical RAMADAN Prep Tips: 1 Of 10 (Clear Owed Fasts)

It is a blessed season that the sahaaba (companions) yearned to reach and when they did, they took maximum advantage of the period.

But all of that came as a result of their preparations whenever the month beckoned.

A good preparation is almost 80% of a task done. Preparation is what drives a person’s energies in a direction so as to achieve a set of intended goals and objectives.



So for people who planned six months ahead, one can imagine how effective and efficient the sahaabah were with their ibaadaat (acts of worship) during the blessed month of Ramadan.



I hereby compile a list of preparatory tips that we can employ in order to also take full advantage of Ramadan. May Allah ease for us our affairs and make us among those who will experience the goodness of Ramadan, amen!

   

          1.   Repayment of missed fasts



If you have a backlog of fasts from last year, do well to repay it before the new one kicks in. A person should also pay all fasts arising from a pact with Allah for some good or protection against some evil.
 
How charitable Allah and the sunnah is to us.

Even though Ramadan is a restricted obligation for the 29/30 day period; its payment terms are spread across 11 full months. Glorified be Allah Jalla jalaaluhuu! 



 Relevant Hadith: Narrated Abu Salamah: I heard Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) say: “I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadan and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha’baan.”


 Narrated by Al Bukhaari (1849) and Muslim (1146)



Also remind family and friends to also repay the fasts, as did Rasool to members of his household when the month of Sha’baan came.

A point of note is that; a person should also assess the circumstances under which he or she missed fasts of the previous Ramadan and put in place measures to forestall a repeat.


Always bear this in mind: "Ramadan Starts LONG before it comes, PREPARE!"

Majlis Ramadan: Conceptualization and Projections

 As salamu Alaikum:

I sincerely hope and pray that we are all doing well insha Allah.

Majlis Ramadan shall be a blog purely dedicated to issues surrounding Ramadan; the fourth pillar of our noble religion and also the very blessed period that comes upon Muslims with all its blessings and goodness. May Allah accept it from us. Ameeen.

The concept was hatched as I started putting in place material for social media broadcast in the run up to the blessed month of Ramadan this year 1436/2015.

This is a blog that would be dedicated to of sharing the message of Islam using a three pronged approach insha Allah.

1. Ramadan Reminders (will be a 10 part series on how to prepare for Ramadan)
2. A quiz series on all things related to Ramadan (i.e. General Knowledge)
3. Motivational quotes and pictures related to the very blessed period insha Allah.

Thanks for visiting this blog and i hope that it would serve the best interest of the Ummah at large insha Allah.

3 Sha'ban 1436 = 21 May, 2015



I reproduce below a piece (abridged) i posted on another blog earlier:

Letter to an August Visitor: Ramadan

ADDRESS:
Al Quran;
Chapter 2, Baqara,
Verse 183.

Salam Alaika Yaa Ramadan,

We thank Allah for you. One of HIS most blessed creations, a creation that obeys the dictates of Almighty Allah by your arrival and departure from the lives of Muslims and non Muslims alike. All praise is due to Allah

We love you but the companions clearly loved you better. Sub haanal Laah! In any case, the reason for which the sahaabah yearned for you is different from why we await your arrival. The goodness we are promised and we so believe to be true leaves us impatiently waiting still .... Subhaanal Laah!

We long to take our “suhuur” (pre dawn meal) in “salaam” (peace) and to have “iftaar” (fast breaking meal) with “istigfaar” (seeking for forgiveness) from Subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa.

Key elements like the recommended taraaweeh, Qiyaamul Layl, the Tafaaseer and qiraa’aat of the Qur’an not to talk of the benevolence and fellow feeling is almost always infectious and rightfully so. Masha Allah!

Even as we ain't guaranteed meeting you, we acknowledge the loads of goodness, tons of peace, gallons full of tranquility, acres of blessedness and infinite divine grace and mercy and for that we thank Allah for honoring us with your blessed presence.

May our efforts at worshipping Allah, during your visit be acceptable and may we be servants of the Almighty who shall enter jannah via Ar rayaan.

Bil Khayr was salam.
Ahlan wa sahlan alaika yaa Ramadan
Sharafta Yaa Sharal Qur’aan!

19 Rajab, 1436 = 08 May, 2015

Very Sincerely Yours

SIGNED
Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban