"As we enter this blessed month of mercy, I give this advice to myself first, and then to you:
Don't let this Ramadan be just a holiday of rituals. Don't finish reading the Quran without it transforming you. Don't feed your body at suhoor, but starve your heart at Qiyam. Don't reduce the downpour of mercy to just a month of sweets and lavish iftars. Seek Him, you will find. Take a sincere step towards change, transformation, redemption. If you do, you will find Him in front of you. Find Him this month. He's been there all along. Closer than you jugular vein. Look and you'll find. Walk and you'll arrive." - Yasmin Mogahed
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Today, on this blessed Jum'ah, I was graced with the opportunity to host Sunnatul Hayaat's very first sisters' iftar potluck during this beautiful Ramadan.
[...] After iftar (which was filled with a delicious array of food) and maghrib prayer, we gathered together in a circle and each pulled a saying from the jar [filled with our favorite quotes, hadiths and/or ayats], going around one at a time to share and discuss them. Some of the slips of paper read:
- Sheikh AbdulNasir Jangda This is Ramadan, the month of giving. Forget not your zakaatul fitr (post to be written on this soon), your sadaqah, your charity. Allah (swt) has written your wealth and status in this world, and you will only climb in rank for the hereafter through your actions. Give, you will get in the hereafter, inshaAllah.
You decide for yourself.
Ramadhān is a month of Forgviness, Ramadhān is a month of Rahma, Ramadhān is a month of generosity. The month that Allāh ﷻ accepts Tawbah of His servants and the month that Allāh ﷻ blesses His servants. One of the ways to improve your relationship with Allāh is to be kind to His creation.
So this Ramadhān: • be more forgiving • be more giving • be more patient with others • love for others what you love for yourself • greet people with a smile • smile even more • do random acts of kindness for people • be helpful • don’t hurt people with your tongue • don’t hurt people with your hands • be affectionate with children and the old • be kind to your family • be merciful with animals and birds This is how we must strive to be and Ramadhān is in an excellent opportunity for us to work on improving our character. Remember that Allāh is merciful and kind to those who are merciful and kind to His creation. O Allah, on this day, help me with my fasting and my prayers, keep me away from my mistakes and any sins, for I fast for You. I am remembering You throughout this day, by Your will alone.
Ya Rab, forgive me for my past misgivings, forgive me for my ignorance, guide us who are astray. Ameen. - arab proverb
- Mufti Menk If instead of dwelling in our habits we slowly start to integrate good deeds, we can slowly overcome many of our vices. It doesn't have to be any overtly huge and obvious action that includes a 180 flip-start with incorporating dhikr. Start by trying to pray everyday. Start by fasting. Start by changing your intentions, purifying them. Just start. Say "alhamdulillah" every time you wake up; "SubhanAllah" at the wonders that surround you; "AllahuAkbar" every time you take a breath and realize that Allah created you, put you on this world, and gave you this life, in the fold of Islam. Just this will slowly change your life and increase your taqwa (God-consciousness), which is essential to your imaan (faith).
May Allah bless the believers and their families with peace and piety this month. May He allow this month to be the gateway for each and every one of us to turn back. May Allah accept our hearts, purify them, accept our repentance, and raise us amongst the ranks of the Mu'minoon. May He bring together the Ummah and fill this month with blessings.
Allahumma Ameen! Ameen ya Rab. |
RemindersFor you and I both; here are a collection of reminders-writings, quotes, sisters' posts and more. May we benefit from this experience and be blessed with the light of Allah's guidance. Archives
April 2016
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