Bismillaah.
Sep13
Category Archives: Ramadan Reminders
Sep6
Ramadan Reminder 27
Bismillaah.
I should have known. How could I have forgotten? It’s not like I haven’t prayed at the masjid on the 27th night of Ramadan before. I guess since it’s been so long – years, I’m sure – since praying taraweeh in the masjid, I’ve forgotten one of the cardinal rules:
UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO HOME BAREFOOT,
KEEP YOUR SHOES WITH YOU!
The first 2 rakats of taraweeh pass, and I start to feel those 4 cups of water I downed at iftar making their way through my system. Alhamdu lillaah for the break in the middle!!! I made it through the next 2 rakats, asked the sister beside me to hold my place while I ran to the restroom, and took off. The same thing happened the day before, and I managed to make it back to the line right as the imam was making takbeer alhamdu lillaah.
Oh, but the night before wasn’t an odd night…and certainly wasn’t the 27th night (perceived by many as laylatul qadr, therefore the masjid is always filled to the brim…and then some).
When I got to the shoe spot, I couldn’t find my shoes!!! I started panicking…Lord, I done lost my shoes. Oh, there’s one, alhamdu lillaah! Hmmm…where’s the other one? I scanned the area. Can we say “Complete and Utter Chaos”? I’m telling you, it was a MESS…a hot mess, as they say back home, lol! Shoes everywhere. Scattered, trampled on, turned over, strewn about, etc……like I said, a HOT MESS!
In spite of this mess I was able to gather up my girls’ shoes alhamdu lillaah. But, I still couldn’t find my other shoe….Shoot! What am I gonna do now? Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (We belong to Allaah and are returning to Him)….yes, I felt disaster had struck. This never happened to me before and I was totally unprepared, mentally, physically, emotionally (they were my favorite shoes!!!).
“Allaahu Akbar.” Oh no, he’s starting again already??? I still haven’t found my shoe…can’t he wait???? I still need to use the bathroom!!!!! Ya Allaah, what am I gonna do????
Back to the prayer line I went. I couldn’t find my shoe and there was no way I was even going to attempt to go to the restroom without both my shoes.
Ignored my bladder and made some serious du’aa about finding my shoe. I figured it couldn’t have gone far. I have to admit I was worried though.
Taraweeh prayer ended. The imam made the most beautiful, heartfelt du’aa I’ve heard this month mashaa Allaah.
I found my shoe alhamdu lillaah! Yay! Allaahu Akbar!!!
Lesson: Unless you want to go home barefoot, keep your shoes with you! Especially on the night of the 27th!
Oh, and guzzling at iftar isn’t always wise if you plan on going out…spread your water intake out throughout the night…bathroom runs at the taraweeh break don’t always work out, lol!
Sep5
Ramadan Reminder 26
Bismillaah.
How should we observe Laylat al-Qadr and when is it?
How should we observe Laylat al-Qadr? Is it by praying, or by reading Qur’aan and the Prophet’s Seerah, listening to lectures and lessons and by celebrating it in the mosque?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan as he never did at any other time, praying, reading Qur’aan and making du’aa’. Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that when the last ten days of Ramadaan came, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would stay up at night and would wake his family up, and would abstain from marital relations. Ahmad and Muslim narrated that he used to used to strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan as he never did at any other time.
Secondly:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined staying up and praying on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever stays up and prays on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Agreed upon. This hadeeth indicates that it is prescribed to observe Laylat al-Qadr by spending the night in prayer.
Thirdly:
One of the best du’aa’s that may be recited on Laylat al-Qadr is that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught to ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her). Al-Tirmidhi narrated, and classed the report as saheeh, that ‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’ He said, ‘Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).”
Fourthly:
With regard to specifying which night of Ramadaan is Laylat al-Qadr, this needs specific evidence, but the odd-numbered nights during the last ten nights are more likely than others, and the night of the twenty-seventh is the most likely to be Laylat al-Qadr, because that is mentioned in the ahaadeeth.
Fifthly:
With regard to innovations, they are not permissible during Ramadaan or at other times. It was proven that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” According to another report, “Whoever does any action that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.”
We know of no basis for the celebrations that are held during some nights of Ramadaan. The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the worst of matters are those which are innovated (bid’ah).
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas , 10/413
Sep5
Ramadan Reminder 25
Bismillaah.
“And if he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning Us (Allah), We surely should have seized him by his right hand, and then certainly would have cut off his life artery, and none of you could withhold Us from (punishing) him.” (Qur’an, Al-Haaqqah: 44-47)
Last night when the imam got to this verse, he began to sob uncontrollably. He was so emotional that it took him about half a minute to regain his composure. You could hear the heaving of his chest through the microphone. A few more seconds and you could hear the sobs of other brothers behind him. Then the woman beside me started breaking down in sobs. Then other women.
Sep5
Ramadan Reminder 24
Bismillaah.
Sisters! Try to be patient with those mothers who bring their children to the masjid for taraweeh prayers! They want – and have EVERY RIGHT – to pray in congregation with the rest of the muslim community. Pointing your fingers in their faces while yelling at them about “taking sins” for their children’s “misbehavior” is a terribly rude way of giving naseehah! Who knows? Maybe you’ll be in her shoes at some point in the future, tired of being stuck in the house with the kids all Ramadan long, desperately seeking to “feel” Ramadan, to feel the sisterhood…to listen to the beautiful recitation of an imam and feel khushoo’ from it…TO TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT PROPER MASJID ETIQUETTE (how else are they gonna learn except by coming to the masjid???)!!! Or maybe you were in her shoes at some point in the past and now you’ve seemed to forget what it’s like??? Why don’t you try helping, instead of being so darn nasty? Sheesh!!!
Should women be prevented from taking their children to the mosque?
Is it permissible to ban women from taking their children to the mosque with them for Taraweeh prayer?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Women should not be banned from bringing their children to the mosque in Ramadaan, The Sunnah indicates that women used to come to the mosque, bringing their children, at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because of the hadeeth “I start to pray, intending to make it long, then I hear the crying of a child so I make it short lest I cause hardship to his mother.” And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) carried Umaamah during an obligatory prayer when he was leading the people in prayer in the mosque.
But they have to try to protect the mosque from najaasah (impurities) and also pay attention to the children’s rights such as sleep and so on. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (may Allaah have mercy on him).
Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (4/214).
See also the fatwa of Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) concerning that in the answer to question no. 11605.
Mothers! Control your kids!!! Teach them about masjid etiquette (not playing, jumping, speaking loudly, etc.), and if they are out of control, take them to the end of the line or the back of the masjid! Fear Allaah and don’t allow your children to annoy other worshippers! Stop giving mothers a bad name! Sheesh!!!
