Thursday, August 7, 2014

Halaqa # 9

Farewell Ramadan


Attendance:
  • 2  Sisters
  • 2  Junior Sisters
Location:  Headquarters
Agenda: (please note, we have included many links where you can read in detail more on each subject)


  • OPENING DUA
Oh, Allah, All Mighty, Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted are You, accept our fasting, our standing in prayer, our recitation of Quran and all the deeds and acts of worship we have performed solely for your sake during the month of Ramadan.
It was from the traditions of the sahaba that they would prepare for Ramadan six months in advance. They would pray to Allah for forgiveness, and pray that Ramadan would arrive in a time where they were at the peak of iman. For five months after the completion of Ramadan, the sahaba would ask Allah to accept their deeds.

  • QURAN RECITATION
We read Surah Faatihah aloud altogether, then sisters individually read aloud a few letters/words, ayahs (according to her ability and with the help and encouragement of her fellow sisters).  We read Surah Baqarah from Ayat 106  till Ayat 112.  In sha Allah, this will be an ongoing part of our halaqa and one day in sha Allah, we will have Khatam Quran and begin again.

  • SISTER’S TALK
Sister Winnie read aloud an article called “Ramadan my dear guest, I’m sorry”  To read this article, click here.
  • LEARN A DUA



Qul 'Inna Şalātī Wa Nusukī Wa Maĥyāya Wa Mamātī Lillahi Rabbi Al-`Ālamīna
Verily, my Salaah, my sacrifice*, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.
قُ‍‍لْ ‌إِنَّ صَ‍‍لاَتِي ‌وَنُسُكِي ‌وَمَحْي‍‍َ‍ايَ ‌وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ ‌‍رَبِّ ‌الْعَالَم‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍نَ
Sharīka Lahu ۖ Wa Bidhalika 'Umirtu Wa 'Anā 'Awwalu Al-Muslimīna
He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims
لاَ‌ شَ‍‍ر‍ِ‍ي‍‍كَ لَه ُ‌ ۖ ‌وَبِذَلِكَ ‌أُمِرْتُ ‌وَ‌أَنَ‍‍ا‌ ‌أَ‌وَّلُ ‌الْمُسْلِم‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍نَ


* 'The Arabic word nusuk used here signifies ritual sacrifice as well as the other forms of devotion and worship.

  • SISTERS TALK
Sister Rim read aloud an article titled Post Ramadan Syndrome  which  shares two reminders sent out by  FOSIS (Federation of Student islamic Societies)  upon Ramadan's departure.
  • VIDEO  
Allah is near (12:26) from Quran Weekly by Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan
  • DISCUSSION
Two questions were brought up after hearing the articles.
First: Would a mourning widow be allowed or encouraged to attend Eid?
Second:  In regards to the 6 days of Shawwal.  Do they have to be done before or after making up fasts missed due to menses etc.
Post Halaqa we posed these two questions to Sister Mariam from our Shura Council and received this reply:  
1 - Woman in her iddah whether it is after divorce or death of her husband should not leave her home except dire necessity, thus she cannot attend eid prayer which is recommended act for women but not an obligation - this is supported by ash-Shawkani and Assim al-Hakim among others.
2 - According to the majority of the scholars, the make-up fasts should be done before the Shawwal fasts, because that which is obligatory always comes before that which is additional; however some scholars will allow to reverse the sequence if she has a valid excuse preventing her from fasting all of the days (make up + 6) in Shawwal, yet many will argue that actually fasting the 6 days can be done in any month starting from Shawwal till the next ramadan, thus making up should come first.
  • CLOSING DUA
We pray to Allah All Mighty, Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted be He (subḥānahu wa ta'Ala) to  Allow us to continue our acts of worship and to grow closer to you every hour of the day, every day of our lives.  

If any of this information was good and true, know that it comes from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.  If there are mistakes we ask for Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Recommended Tips for the Last 10 Nights

Presented by: Sister Safiyyah

Below are just some tips on what is recommended for a Muslim to do during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
1. Take a Vacation for Allah

We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshipping and thanking our Creator.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra acts of worship, not having to worry about getting to work the following day. This will also make I`tikaf easy.

2. I`tikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the mosque for I`tikaf.

In I`tikaf one makes a spiritual retreat in the mosque all the time, performing various forms of dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Qur’an. One does not go outside the mosque except in case of emergencies. I`tikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

3. Make This Special Du'a

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:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni' "

'Say: O Allah, You are Oft-Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.'"
[Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmidhi].
4. Recite the Qur’an

Perhaps one can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which one has heard in Taraweeh this past Ramadan to recite.

On attending a class for Qur’anic recitation, this is a great time to put one’s knowledge into practice.


5. Get Your Sins Wiped Out

Abu Hurairah quoted Allah’s Messenger as saying: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim].


6. Evaluate Yourself

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when invoking Allah and supplicating to Him in these blessed nights.


7. Make Long, Sincere and Deep Du'as

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) quoted the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) as saying: “When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that and I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I forgive him?”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim].
This means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) time to invoke Allah for anything and everything is something recommendable. This can be done using the Du`as (supplications) recorded in the Sunnah, but one is also allowed to say Du`a in one’s own language, with sincerity and conviction.


8. Have Iftar with the Family

If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.


9. Take the Family to Taraweeh

Have your spouse and kids missed Taraweeh most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the mosque, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Taraweeh in these last ten nights.


10. Attend the Du'a After the Completion of the Qur’anic Recitation

Almost all the mosques where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Qur’an in Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan will now be approaching the end of the task in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Du`a’ at the end of reading the Qur’an. Attend this particular night's Taraweeh prayer with your family. See if you can attend different mosques’ Taraweeh prayers the night they finish reading the Qur’an.