Things to do in Ramadan

1) Frequent recitation of Kalima e Tayyiba

2) Excessive Istaghfaar

3) Supplications for Jannah

4) Asking for protection from Hell

5) Excessive recitation of the Holy Quran. Also, excessive recitation of Durood Sharif, if possible at least  300 times or as many times as possible.

6) Offering Fardh Salah with congregation and Takbir e Ula

7) Going early for Isha Salah and Taraweeh (20 Rakaat)

8 ) Spending free time in the mosque with the intention of Etikaaf.

9) Spending on charity, as much as possible conveniently.

10)  Strictly guarding the tongue from any useless talk. Avoid any unnecessary worldly talks.

11) Strictly abstaining from all sins specially watching TV, movies/cinema, back biting, listening to music, unnecessary use of the internet, mixed gatherings of na mehram men and women, women not practicing the veil, using foul language and swearing, shaving or trimming of beard to less than one fist length and other such sins should be very strictly avoided otherwise such a Roza / Saum would not hold any value before Allah(SWT). It is narrated in Hadith:

“Fasting is a shield against Hell unless one breaks it. Breaking it means committing sins” (Mishkat Sharif)

Note: We need to understand that during fasting, we even abstain from basic necessities such as food and water. Cigarette and other types of addictions which are usually hard to leave are also thrown away during fasting only in compliance with the commands of Allah(SWT) and in order to gain the blessings of fasting. How foolish then it would be to ruin our fasts by committing sins and other unlawful acts.

It is narrated in Ahadith that those who do not abstain from unlawful and sinful acts during fasting, Allah(SWT) does not care for their mere starving. Allah(SWT) helps those who strive in his path. A person who was a smoker for the last 20 years left it when he heard that it is extremely shameful to pollute the same tongue and mouth which we use to recite the Holy Quran and Durood Sharif. He just made intention and Allah(SWT) helped him. Another person, during my stay in London, immediately quit smoking when he heard the same thing. Masha Allah both of them have been steadfast in their intentions and Allah(SWT) has helped them.

Similarly, in this blessed month:

1) Keeping Sunnah Beard

One should make the intention to keep Sunnah Beard (which is wajib) up to one fist in length. Afterwards, look at yourself in the mirror and decide for yourself. Insha Allah you would realize that your face would be glowing with the noor of Sunnah. This is such a grave sin that the person who commits it is regarded as a continuous sinner. If somebody commits adultery, theft or murder in the darkness of night, nobody would know it in the morning. But by shaving off the beard, one can be identified as a sinner even during prayers, hajj and is deprived off the blessings of Allah(SWT).

Many people keep their beard up to one fist in length from the front, but trim it off from the sides on the cheeks. That is totally incorrect. It is mandatory (wajib) to keep beard up to one fist in length from the front as well as from both the sides.

2) Observing Hijaab / Veil / Pardah

Men and Women should observe Sharaee Pardah from all strange (na mehram) Women and Men respectively. (for details refer to Bahishti Zewar by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi R.A). Over here, only those na mehram relatives are being mentioned who are usually not considered as ne mehram even by many religious families.

Na Mehram Women For Men:

• Brother’s Wife
• Wife’s Sister
• Female Cousins
• Aunties (excluding sisters of parents)

Na Mehram Men For Women:

• Sister’s Husband
• Husband’s Brother
• Male Cousins
• Uncles (excluding brothers of parents)

3) Abstaining from Back Biting / Gheebat

Make special effort to abstain from Back Biting as it kills the spirit of Fasting.

4) Protecting Gaze (for both Men and Women)

Gaze should also be strictly guarded from strange (Na Mehram) Men and Women as it is one of the “Poisonous Arrows” of Iblees which deprives one of the blessings of prayers and worship.

May Allah(SWT) help us in acting upon these points.

For detailed references on each of the points mentioned below, you may refer to the following links:

1) 7 Log Jinki Shab e Barat Main Bhi Maghfirat Nahi Hoti (Audio Bayan)

2) Shab e Barat Ki Fazeelat Aur Sunnat Tareeqa (Audio Bayan)

3) Shab e Barat Ki Fazeelat (Book by Mufti Abdur Rauf Skaharvi Sahab Db)

Do’s and Dont’s of Shab e Barat:

1) 15th Night of Shaban or Shab e Barat, as it is known, is one of the blessed nights in the Islamic calender.

2) Make sure that you offer all the prayers in the masjid with Jamat. (This should be done in other days as well)

3) Make use of this blessed night by involving your self in individual nafl prayers. That includes recitation of quran, any zikr, nafl salah and most importantly, Dua!

4) Make as much dua as possible for the Ummah and for yourself.

5) There is no fixed or particular prayer for this night therefore stay away from any such gatherings where Nafl prayers are being offerd in Jamat. Allah(SWT) has granted us this night to get in touch with him personally and individually. We should value this opportunity and avoid gatherings.

6) It is not mandatory at all to stay up the whole night. Pray as much as you can conveniently. After that go to sleep and make sure you offer Fajr Salah in time in the Masjid.

7) You may also visit the graves of your loved ones, as it was done by our beloved Prophet(SAW) as well. However, it is not mandatory. Also, keeping in mind the sort of gatherings that take place at graveyards in these nights, it is sometimes better not to visit as one might get involved in sins.

8 ) Dua is the true essense of this night. Involve yourself in as much dua as you can

Things to be avoided on Shab e Barat:

1) Stay away from Bidaat. Stick to the simple straight path, i-e the Sunnah.

2) Shab e Barat has nothing to do with Halwa, Fireworks and other such non-sense.

3) Farz Salah is of much greater importance than any Nafl Prayer. Therefore make sure that we do not stay up so late that we end up missing the Fajr Salah.

7 Types of People Who Will Not Be Forgiven on Shab e Barat

Following are the types of people who, according to hadith, will not be forgiven even on the blessed night of Shab e Barat (if they do not repent).

However, if someone repents from these sins, then Allah(SWT) is all merciful and will surely forgive him.

1) Mushrik

2) The one who does not fulfill the rights of relatives

3) The one who covers his ankles with pants, shalwar or any other garment coming from the top (for men only)

4) The one who is disobedient towards his parents

5) The one who drinks Alcohol

6) The one who kills an innocent Muslim.

7) The one who keeps Keena (enmity) for other Muslims in his heart.

The Difference between Giving Up Sin and Being Made to Give Up Sin

Your corpse will not be able to cast lustful glances but that will not warrant one any reward from Allah Ta’ala, for the sacrifice of a corpse is not acceptable in His court. Allah Ta’ala wants us to become His, to sacrifice our desires, whims and fancies while hale and hearty,while still alive and able to commit those sins. Why are you waiting forthat time when death will reap your soul and you will be unable todisobey Allah? This will be termed, ‘being made to give up sins’ andnot ‘giving up sins’. Voluntarily giving up sins while the choice to commit them still exists within one will entail a lofty stage offriendship with Allah Ta’ala. Bear the burden of leaving sins. If onedesires to enjoy the pleasure of Allah’s pleasure, bear the burden andexperience that pleasure wherein the burden itself will no longer remain a burden.

Source: Patience and the Status of Siddiqueen (English) (Urdu)

Discourse: Aarif Billah Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab Db

He started by doing the Tafseer of Surah Fatiha. The Surah Fatiha Tafseer went on for 13 weeks and Alhamdulillah it was extremely beneficial and cleared many misconceptions that common muslims usually have in mind.

I would highly recommend everyone to listen to these Tafseer Lectures of Surah Fatiha and also share them with your contacts.

For detailed Tafseer, The Noble Quran by Hazrat Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahab Db would be ideal for English speaking users.

Suarh Fatiha Tilawat – 1

Surah Fatiha Tilawat – 2

Apart from this article, you can also Listen to a detailed Audio Lecture on the Sunnah of Istikhaara

Istikhara ki Haqeeqat

by Hazrat Maulana Mehboob Elahi Sahab Db

The Sunnah of Istikharah

It is narrated from Hazrat Jaabir () that Rasulullah () used to teach us the dua of istikharah for important matters in the same manner as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur’aan.

He () used to say, ”When you intend doing any important work, then read two rakaats nafl salaat and thereafter read this dua.” (which is mentioned below) (Bukhari-pg. 944)

Rasulullah () once remarked to Anas () “O Anas! When you are undecided with regards to any matter, then seek counsel from your Rabb and do this seven times. Thereafter, whatever decision prevails in your heart regard it to be beneficial.” (Shaami-Vol.1, pg. 507)

Note: It is not necessary that one sees a dream or hears a voice. Asking another person to make Istikhaarah on one’s behalf is not substantiated from any hadith. To make Mashwarah (consultation) with someone else is Sunnat.

It has been mentioned in the hadith that whomsoever makes Mashwarah  will never regret and whomsoever makes Istikhaarah will never be unsuccessful.

If one does not get the opportunity to perform Salaatul Istikhaarah and needs to make Istikhaarah urgently, then reciting the dua of Istikhaarah only will suffice. If one has not learnt the dua of Istikhaarah then one should recite this concise dua:

Detailed Dua of Istikhara

At this point you will bring to mind the matter for which you are making istikhaarah.

Trans: O Allah, I ask you of good through Your knowledge, and ability through Your power, and beg (Your favour) out of your infinite bounty. For surely You have power, I have none. You know all, I know not. You are the great knower of all unseen things.

O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter is good for my faith, for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs then ordain it for me and make it easy for me and bless me there in. But, if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for my faith, for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it and ordain for me the good wherever it be, and cause me to be pleased therewith.

After having recited this dua, adopt that aspect  towards which the heart is inclined.

Source: Solutions to Spiritual Maladies for the Lovers of Allah(SWT)

Author: Aarif Billah Hazrat e Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab Db

The Blessings of Daughters from Quran o Hadith

(Summary of the article above)
Taken from various lectures of Aarif Billah Hazrat e Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab Db

Daughters are a great blessing because Allah(SWT) has promised a place in paradise (Jannah) on bringing them up. The one who has 3 daughters or sisters, or 2 daughters or sisters and he brings them up properly and fears Allah(SWT) regarding their rights, then Paradise is made mandatory for him. In some Ahadith, when the Prophet(SAW) mentioned the blessings of bringing up 3 daughters or sisters, somebody asked “What if someone has only 1 daughter?” The Prophet(SAW) mentioned the same prize for him as well,i-e a place in the paradise. Paradise would never be made mandatory for such people had daughters not been blessings of Allah(SWT).

This shows that daughters are indeed a source of blessing from Allah(SWT), therefore if a daughter is born in someone’s house, he should not be saddened by this, instead he should rejoice and thank Allah(SWT) for this blessing. How can they be inferior when a place in paradise is being promise against them? Getting saddened by the birth of daughters was the practice of the Non-Believers(Kuffar) because before the Prophet(SAW) came, the Kuffar used to get saddened by the birth of daughters and used to consider them a burden as they would need to find someone for their daughters to marry. They were such animals that they used to bury their innocent daughters alive.

It is these blessed daughters that are the means for the existence of humanity, how can they be considered a curse, this is the act of the Non Believers. The Prophet(SAW) has called her a blessed woman who’s first child is a daughter. Therefore rejoice and smile when you hear about the birth of daughters and consider them a blessing for yourself.

Islam has given a very high status to daughters, therefore consider them a huge blessing of Allah(SWT). It is these daughters through whom Saints (Auliya Allah) are born and above all, our beloved Prophet(SAW), for whom this world was created, his family and bloodline was continued through his daughter. If daughters were not a blessing then Allah(SWT) would never choose them to carry forward the bloodline of his most beloved Prophet(SAW). This shows that daughters are indeed a great blessing so do not consider them inferior. Sons bring Daughters in Law and Daughters bring Son in Law. Sometimes the son in law is so obedient that he surpasses daughters in serving his parents in law.

However, making dua for Sons is not forbidden, one may do that. Ask Allah(SWT) for sons with the intention that you would make them Aalim, Hafiz so that they would take care of our Religious Institutions (Madaris) and hence become a Sadqa e Jaariya for us.

Sunnahs of Azaan and Iqaamah – Part 1

1.        It is Sunnat to face the Qibla while saying the Azaan and Iqaamah.

2.        It is Sunnat to say the Azaan with pauses after each phrase while the Sunnat methodof Iqaamah is to say it quickly.

3.        During the Azaan it is Sunnat to turn the face to the right when saying: and towards the left when saying However, the chest and the feet should remain towards the direction of the Qibla.

4.        It is Sunnat to repeat the words of the Azaan after the Muazzin (in reply to theAzaan). When the Muazzin call out
and

reply with:

5.        In the Azaan of Fajar when the Muazzin calls out: 

reply with:

6.        The reply will be given to the Iqaamah in the same way as it is given for Azaan. However, in reply to 
one should say: