Live In Deen: April 2022

10 Easy Spiritual Practices to Continue After Ramadan

Every year, as Ramadan arrives, many of us feel determined to change for the better and become better Muslims. Yet as the blessed month leaves us on Eid, we may find that the good habits and practices that we established during Ramadan were left behind as well.

Well, this year can be different. I have found (at least for myself) that the key to making lasting changes is having small, sustainable goals rather than grand, unreachable ones. In fact, this is even a concept in our religion that Allah loves those deeds that are done consistently, even if they are small.

Here are 10 simple spiritual practices that we can all start now and easily continue after Ramadan has passed:

1- Pray 5 Times a Day

Islamic Prayer The Spiritual Ritual Special Folder

I know this one sounds really basic, but for a lot of people, praying on time 5 times a day is a struggle. However, this is a pillar of Islam and something that we should all be doing; so even if it’s a challenge, we should do it in Ramadan as well as year-round.

Some people benefit from having a buddy system where they are accountable to a close friend or family member, so this might help if praying all five times is something you struggle with.

2- Mindful Speech

This is a tough one for me. I want to have total command over my words, since Paradise is guaranteed for those who restrain their tongue and private parts. That means no gossiping/backbiting, talking back to parents, lying, using swear words, etc. Speaking in a way that is gentle, fair, honest, and productive is a good goal to have as Eid approaches.

3- Having a Relationship with the Quran

Some people are able to recite the entire Quran in the month of Ramadan, or even more than that. This is awesome, since it is so rewarding and Ramadan is a month of building our relationship with the Quran. But keeping that relationship up even after Ramadan is over is also very important.

This could be different for everyone. For some, it will mean continuing to recite large chunks every day. For others, it might mean reading just five verses and pondering over the meaning.

4- Giving Charity

I have been getting an email or message nearly every day this month to remind me to give sadaqah or zakat to a beneficial organization. Many people give the most charity during this month since the rewards are multiplied. But charity is something that we’re encouraged to give all the time, even if we don’t have much to give. For those who can afford it, monetary donations are always needed. For others, voluntary service or kind acts go a long way.

5- Dhikr

This one is easy to squeeze into even the busiest schedule. It’s just simple words and phrases praising and remembering Allah. We can do Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) even while driving or doing the dishes. There are YouTube videos available to learn more if it’s something you’re not used to doing.

6- Ask Allah for Forgiveness

Let’s be honest—nobody is perfect, no matter how much we might try to be. We all make mistakes, whether they be big or small. Although we do seek forgiveness from Allah during Ramadan, it’s important to keep this up after Ramadan. It also doesn’t have to take long, but it does require remorse, sincerity, and humility.

7- Be Grateful

Every so often, I remember a blessing that I took for granted and I wonder why I haven’t shown more gratitude for it. Well, today is a chance for a fresh start and a more grateful attitude. Allah gives us more than we realize, even when life doesn’t seem to be going so great, so we should try to express our gratitude more. Plus, gratitude has mental and even physical health benefits.

8- Pray for Others

A beautiful thing about taraweeh is that it often ends with the imam praying for the ummah, while the congregation emotionally says “ameen” behind him. We can continue this great practice after Ramadan as well, privately. Plus, if we pray for others, the angels will pray for us.

9- Smile!

Not only does smiling more naturally make us feel better, there are also many virtues of smiling that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized.

10- Fasting

Fasting does not have to be something that’s only done in Ramadan. For those who are able, voluntary fasts are very rewarding. We can keep These fasts throughout various times of the year and even within each month. A bonus point is that they make it easier to fast in Ramadan, since our bodies are already used to it.

These are only 10 spiritual practices and good deeds that we can keep up after Ramadan; but hopefully they will allow us to benefit from the special month throughout the year.

(From Discovering Islam archive)

The post 10 Easy Spiritual Practices to Continue After Ramadan appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/10-easy-spiritual-practices-continue-ramadan/

7 Sunnahs on the Night and Day of Eid

We’re going to talk about a few Sunnahs to do in Eid. There’s going to be one sunnah that starts from the night before ‘Eid and then a few more that happen on the morning of ‘Eid.

Takbir

In Islam, the new day basically starts at Maghrib. So as soon as we know that the next day is going to be Eid, we start saying the Takbir of ‘eid-ul-fitr. This is different than the takbir of ‘Eid-ul-Adha so don’t get confused. I’m only going to give you information Eid-ul-Fitr in this video.

How is takbir of ‘Eid-ul-Fitr done? Basically, you’re going to say: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi Alhamd. (Allah is the most great, none has the right to be worshiped but Allah. Allah is the most great, and to Allah belongs all praise.)

Once you’ve memorized this takbir, you should be saying it continuously. So starting from Maghrib until the next morning, when the Imam comes out for the ‘Eid prayers, you should be saying it all the time, when you’re cooking, when you’re working, when you’re driving… Keep saying it as much as you can.

Before Eid Prayer

Last Days of Ramadan - Seek Solitude at its End

What happens when you wake up the next morning?

When you wake up for Fajr, the other Sunnahs that you could be practicing are:

1- Eat an odd number of dates

2- Take the ritual bath (Ghusl)

3- Get dressed up for ‘Eid prayers and also for men can perfume themselves. For women, you should dress neatly and nicely but modestly.

4- The main sunnah for ‘Eid is to go to ‘Eid prayers. Prophet Muhammad encouraged everyone to go, men, women, children, even the women who are menstruating are encouraged to go and listen to the prayers and khutbah.

You might be wondering how ‘Eid prayers are offered. First of all, there is no adhan, no iqamah and when the imam is reciting, you just listen and then follow through with the movements.

The actual prayer is a two rak’ahs prayer done in congregation but it’s different from the Fajr prayer. In the first rak’ah there are seven takbir and in the second rak’ah there are five takbir, not including the takbir that you say before each movement.

In the first rak’ah you do the opening with takbir with your hands up and then you put your hands on your chest.

After that recite the opening du’a and then the imam starts with the takbir and you say the takbir after him.

Then the imam will start the prayer with the opening (Al-Fatihah) and other chapter.

When you stand up for the second rak’ah, the imam will again recite the takbir and you respond five times. Then you will go through chapter Al-Fatihah and a chapter, just like in the normal prayer, until you finish with salams.

After the Eid Prayer

I Felt the Power of That Night – I Found Peace

5- When the ‘Eid prayers are finished, basically worshipers should sit down and listen to the khutbah. As a reminder for us, no talking during the Khutbah! Just listen to the message of the imam and take in those blessings.

6- When the khutbah has been delivered, there will probably a flood of people who want to greet you. The sunnah greeting that you should be saying on eid: “Taqabbala Allah minna wa minkum” (May Allah accept from us the good deeds and also from you). The easiest response to this is to say “Ameen”.

7- The last Sunnah is leaving the place where you had ‘Eid prayers. When Prophet Muhammad wanted to go home after ‘Eid prayers, he actually took a different route. However he went to the place where he had the prayers, he would take a different route back home. We should also practice that too.

Reminder

If you have not paid your zakat-ul-Fitr, remember to do that before ‘Eid prayers.

‘Eid Mubarak!

Watch the full series of Ramadan Coach here

The post 7 Sunnahs on the Night and Day of Eid appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/7-sunnahs-you-should-do-on-the-night-and-day-of-eid/

Rewiring Brain to Stick to Ramadan Resolutions

Ramadan is the perfect time to abandon bad habits, acquire good ones, ditch old routines, and make new starts.

The holy month motivates you to make plans to transform into a better version of yourself. It works for the first few days.

Then, although your motivation wanes, your willpower keeps you going since your daily schedule is altered and your resolutions have become part of the Ramadan routine.

Then `Eid comes, and many of us find that once the festivities are over our self-discipline has evaporated and we are back in the old rut. Procrastination, laziness and bad time management make our Ramadan resolutions seem too hard to sustain, and we struggle until we eventually give up.

Read Also: 3 Ways to End Ramadan Strong

It’s a common scenario, but failure is not inevitable.

Plenty of literature is available on techniques we can use to develop new habits or get rid of old ones. Experts advise us to ‘rewire our brains’, but how is that done?

“Rewiring the brain is a lot trickier than most people think,” says neuroscientist Dean Burnett, who is also a science blogger for the Guardian and author of the book “Idiot Brain”.

“When we’re used to doing something constantly on a very regular basis over long periods of time, our brains essentially adapt to it; they grow to expect it.

When it’s something particularly potent, like drugs, this happens to an alarming extent, and it can be extremely difficult to counteract. Obviously fasting and giving up bad habits aren’t nearly as dramatic, but they’re still tricky.”

Read Also: The Power of a Thankful Heart

It’s tricky, but not impossible.

To start with we should make our goals clear and realistic. Our brain might try to resist big changes, but finds it easier to accept smaller ones. Take baby steps and start slowly.

If you struggle to recite the Qur’an daily, start by reading just a few verses or for fifteen minutes a day. You can increase the amount later.

Altering the context in which certain behaviors happen can make it easier for us to change them.

If we want to limit the time we spend on social media, for example, we can keep our phones and computers out of sight, or limit their use to a specific space, like our home office.

Or we might decide to only check our messages as a reward after finishing work or household duties.

“There are deep-rooted systems in our brains that are constantly monitoring effort and reward, and calculating the net gain/loss of our actions. Basically, there’s a part of our brain that’s constantly asking ‘is this worth it?’ and encouraging us to take the easy option,” says Burnett.

So if you want to make reading the Qur’an a daily habit, always keep a copy with you and have one placed within your reach from the sofa where you usually sit.

Or if you want to eat healthily, make sure you don’t have junk food at home.

“The hungry brain will think going to the kitchen is easy, while going to the shops is more difficult and needs more effort, so it will be discouraged from doing it,” explains Burnett.

Create triggers to help you maintain new habits. If, during Ramadan, you recited Qur’an after the fajr prayer, then use fajr as your trigger. If you want to exercise more and go for a walk after dinner, then that sequence of actions is your trigger.

Create Your Triggers

You can also create visual triggers, placing objects that remind you of your new behavior everywhere around you. Keep a chart of your progress and update it daily, for example.

Writing the number of verses you’ve read each day on a wall calendar could motivate you to read daily because your brain will want to keep the chain of record unbroken.

Motivation can also be maintained by associating our new habit with a social group.

“Much of our brains are engaged with social interactions and approval, so being alone means we’re more likely to give into temptation as nobody will know. However, being around others means we risk judgment and criticism, as do they from us,” says Burnett.

Get an exercise buddy, or find a Qur’an teacher who will check on your progress.

Finally, “How long it takes to form a habit varies considerably depending on the situation,” explains Burnett.

“The human brain in particular is so vastly complicated that there are countless variables to be considered. It varies from person to person. At the cellular level among individual neurons a habit can form in a matter of hours, but there are just too many things happening in the brain to be sure when it comes to human behavior.”

This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date, and highlighted now for its importance

The post Rewiring Brain to Stick to Ramadan Resolutions appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/science-muslim-issues/rewiring-brain-stick-ramadan-resolutions/

10 Pratiques Spirituelles Faciles A En Tenir Après Le Ramadan

Chaque année, à l’approche du Ramadan, beaucoup d’entre nous se sentent déterminés à changer pour le mieux et à devenir de meilleurs musulmans. Pourtant, alors que le mois béni nous quitte le jour de l’Aïd, il nous arrive de constater que les bonnes habitudes et pratiques déjà établies pendant le Ramadan sont également sur le point de nous abandonner.

Eh bien, cette année peut être différente. J’ai trouvé (au moins pour moi-même) que la clé pour apporter des changements durables est d’avoir de petits objectifs durables plutôt que de grands objectifs inaccessibles. En fait, c’est même un concept dans notre religion qu’Allah aime les actions qui sont faites à base régulière, même si elles sont minimes.

Voici 10 pratiques spirituelles simples. Nous pouvons tous commencer maintenant à les pratiquer. Il est également possible de continuer à les accomplir sans peine après la fin du Ramadan:

1- Priez 5 Fois Par Jour

Je sais que celle-ci semble vraiment basique, mais pour beaucoup de gens, prier à temps cinq fois par jour est presque une lutte. Cependant, c’est un pilier de l’Islam et quelque chose que nous devrions tous faire. Donc, même si c’est un défi, nous devrions le faire pendant le Ramadan ainsi que tout au long de l’année.

Certaines personnes bénéficient du soutien de leur entourage. Grâce aux soins d’un ami proche ou d’un membre de la famille, elles arrivent à prier régulièrement. Cela peut vous aider si accomplir les cinq prières chaque jour vous semble chose peu facile.

2- Soignez Ses Propos

Cette pratique m’est un peu difficile. Pourtant, j’aimerais avoir un contrôle total sur mes paroles, car le Paradis est garanti pour ceux qui retiennent leur langue et leurs parties intimes. Cela signifie qu’il n’y a pas ni commérages ni médisances ni répliques aux parents ni mensonges ni jurons, etc. Mais, il faut plutôt parler d’une manière douce, juste, honnête et bénéfique. Certes, c’est un bon objectif à viser à l’approche de l’Aïd.

3- Ayez Un Lien Etroit Avec Le Coran

Certaines personnes sont capables de réciter tout le Coran pendant le mois de Ramadan, voire plus. C’est génial, car cela procure énormément de récompense et le Ramadan est le mois propice pour améliorer notre relation vis-à-vis du Coran. Mais maintenir cette relation même après la fin du Ramadan est également très important.

Cela pourrait différer d’une personne à l’autre. Pour certains, cela signifiera continuer à réciter de longues sourates chaque jour. Pour d’autres, cela pourrait signifier lire seulement cinq versets et méditer sur leur signification.

4- Faites La Charité

5 Choses Qui T’empêchent D’augmenter Ta Foi

Presque tous les jours de ce mois-ci, j’ai reçu un e-mail ou un message pour me rappeler de faire la charité ou de payer la Zakât à une organisation bénéfique. Beaucoup de gens donnent le plus de charité au cours de ce mois puisque les récompenses sont multipliées. Mais la charité est quelque chose que nous sommes encouragés à donner tout le temps, même si nous n’avons pas grand-chose à donner. Pour ceux qui en ont les moyens, les dons en argent sont toujours nécessaires. Pour les autres, le service volontaire ou les actes aimables contribuera grandement à combler maints besoins.

5- Dhikr

Celle-ci est facile à intégrer même dans les horaires les plus chargés. Ce ne sont que des mots et des phrases simples répétées pour faire le rappel et la louange d’Allah. Nous pouvons faire le Dhikr (rappel d’Allah) même en conduisant ou en faisant la vaisselle. Il existe des vidéos YouTube disponibles pour en savoir plus s’il s’agit de quelque chose que vous n’avez pas l’habitude de faire.

6- Implorez Le Pardon d’Allah

Soyons honnêtes, personne n’est parfaite, peu importe à quel point nous essayons de l’être. Nous faisons tous des erreurs, qu’elles soient grandes ou petites. Bien que nous recherchions le pardon d’Allah pendant le Ramadan, il est important de le continuer après ce mois sacré. Cela ne doit pas non plus prendre beaucoup de temps, mais cela nécessite des remords, de la sincérité et de l’humilité.

7- Soyez Reconnaissant

De temps en temps, je me souviens d’une bénédiction que je tenais pour acquise et je me demande pourquoi je n’ai pas montré plus de gratitude envers cela. Eh bien, aujourd’hui est l’occasion d’un nouveau départ et d’une attitude plus reconnaissante. Allah nous donne plus que nous ne le pensons. Etmême lorsque la vie ne semble pas aller si bien, nous devrions essayer d’exprimer davantage notre gratitude. De plus, la gratitude a des avantages pour la santé mentale et même physique.

8- Invoquez En Faveur D’autrui

Une belle chose à propos des prières de Tarâwiyyh est qu’elles se terminent souvent par des invocations faites par l’imam en faveur de la Oumma, tandis que la congrégation répète derrière lui avec ferveur « Amen ». Nous pouvons continuer cette pratique grandiose après le Ramadan également, en privé. De plus, si nous invoquons pour les autres, les anges feront leurs mêmes invocations en notre faveur.

9- Souriez!

Non seulement sourire plus naturellement nous fait sentir mieux, mais il y a aussi de nombreuses vertus du sourire que le Prophète Mohammad (Salla Allah Alayhi Wa Sallam) a soulignées.

10- Jeûnez

Le jeûne ne doit pas être seulement observé pendant le Ramadan. Pour ceux qui en sont capables, les jours jeûnés volontairement seront immensément récompensés. Nous pouvons observer ces jeûnes volontaires à différents moments de l’année et même au cours de chaque mois. En prime, ils facilitent le jeûne du Ramadan, puisque notre corps y est déjà habitué.

Ce ne sont que 10 pratiques spirituelles et bonnes actions que nous pouvons maintenir après le Ramadan. Mais heureusement, elles nous permettront de profiter du mois spécial tout au long de l’année.

Pour consulter le texte originel en anglais, veuillez visiter ce lien.

The post 10 Pratiques Spirituelles Faciles A En Tenir Après Le Ramadan appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/fr/10-pratiques-spirituelles-faciles-a-en-tenir-apres-le-ramadan/

Eid at Home – 5 Tips for an Amazing Eid!

We are facing Eid at home but this Eid can still be amazing!

Here are 5 tips to make it the best ever!

1. Treat this Eid like any other Eid. Do all of the sunnahs and any other practices of Eid.

2. Pay your Zakat Al-Fitr. This purifies our deen and makes up for any shortcomings during Ramadan.

3. Reach out to others. Reach out to those who are alone on the day of Eid.

4. Pray the Eid prayer at home.

5. Congratulate people still via the telephone or online!

The post Eid at Home – 5 Tips for an Amazing Eid! appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/eid-at-home-5-tips-for-an-amazing-eid/

Por qué acepte a Muhammad como uno de los profetas de Dios

Me gustaría decir algunas palabras de por qué considero que un hombre llamado Muhammad, que vivió en el siglo séptimo en Arabia, es uno de los profetas de Dios.

Muhammad habló, enseñó y se comportó como los profetas de Dios anteriores. Si aceptaba a estos, le tenía que aceptar a él también.

Estas son mis razones personales, no necesariamente las que otras personas podrían dar.

Los profetas de Dios anteriores al Islam

Antes era cristiano y estudié los profetas en la Torá, los profetas judíos. También estudié las enseñanzas de Jesús en la Biblia hasta que lo conocía todo bastante bien. Y cuando llegué al Islam y lo estudié me di cuenta de que lo que el Profeta Muhammad enseñó es lo mismo que enseñaron todos los profetas.

¿En qué están de acuerdo la Biblia y el Corán?

Y por supuesto are igual a lo que es Jesús enseñó en los evangelios sobre la salvación, el pecado, el perdón, la relación con Dios, la importancia de la intención, de la “nia” como se dice en árabe, en todas nuestras acciones.

Una encrucijada

Entonces llegué a una encrucijada en el camino. Me di cuenta de que lo que Muhammad enseñaba era muy similar a lo que otros profetas de Dios, como Moises o Jesús, enseñaban.

Yo aceptaba a Jesús como un profeta de Dios enviado por él, pero no aceptaba a Muhammad como un profeta y enviado. ¿Pero tenía eso sentido? ¿Era lógico?

Tuve que vencer mis barreras psicológicas, como un hombre cristiano inglés para aceptar a Muhammad como profeta y enviado de Dios, porque no podía pensar ninguna buena razón por la que no era un profeta.

Tenía los atributos, el carácter, las enseñanzas, la sabiduría, la belleza, y trajo una revelación, la cual creo que la cosa más valiosa que he encontrado.

La Revelación

Tengo una casa en Francia, tengo riquezas materiales, esto y aquello, y la cosa más preciada que poseo, en la Tierra, es mi copia del Corán.

No lo digo por decir, realmente lo creo, es la cosa más preciada que poseo.

Entonces tenemos un hombre que hablaba como un profeta, enseñaba como un profeta, estaba en continuidad con los demás profetas de Dios, de los cuales ya tenía conocimiento, y también trajo esta extraordinaria revelación.

Por lo que al final, no había que pensarlo mucho.

Otros pretendidos profetas

Una de las cosas más increibles del Islam es que mientras que en el cristianismo tienes a Jesús, en el Islam tiene a Jesús y a Muhammad, los tienes a los dos. Es la única religión en el mundo donde los tienes a los dos.

Esta es la razón por la que lo acepto como uno de los profetas de Dios. Porque habla de una verdad espiritual de la misma forma que otros profetas de Dios lo han hecho.

Fui educado en eso, en tal medida que reconozco una afín espiritual cuando encuentro uno. Y eso no lo encontré en ninguno de los falsos profetas como Joseph Smith (Mormón) u otros pretendidos profetas. No he encontrado ni una millonésima parte de la sabiduría y el poder transformacional de las enseñanzas de Muhammad y la Revelación que trajo.

No hay nada como esta Revelación. Se mantiene en la misma línea que los demás profetas. Por eso los otros pretendidos profetas no me impresionaron. Si lo hubieran hecho, entonces habría tenido el mismo dilema. Pero no es así, no he encontrado nada interesante o atrayente en ellos comparado con los grandes profetas de Dios.

Por eso doy testimonio de que Muhammad es profeta de Dios, así como Jesús, Moises, Abraham y todo los demás profetas.

The post Por qué acepte a Muhammad como uno de los profetas de Dios appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/es/mi-camino-al-islam/por-que-acepte-a-muhammad-como-uno-de-los-profetas-de-dios/

Post-Ramadan Challenges – 9 Ideas to Keep on Track

Ramadan inspires us to be better human beings in various ways. Charity, kindness and self-restraint are focused on during Ramadan and it is very important to take it forward through your Eid resolutions. After all, it is not about one month, but who we become after it that counts.

Here are nine ideas to inspire your post-Ramadan resolutions.

1. Charity

Charity begins at home as they say and should be year-round, not just for one month. It is not only about giving when you have extra. It is about understanding our responsibility to other human lives in the world.

Giving, in whatever small amount, is a great way to help a less fortunate person. Ramadan teaches you to be kind and charitable, not just for a month, but for as long as you live.

2. Self-Restraint

Ramadan, as a month of fasting and restraint, teaches us the importance of self-restraint. Take a resolution to practice this control in all aspects of life. Put needs over wants in terms of food and money.

This restraint will help you realize the importance of how blessed we are in comparison to others who don’t have enough for their basic needs, and also help you have better control over yourself and your life

3. Sponsor a child

Sponsoring a child involves being financially responsible for his or her educational expenses, sometimes extending to include living expenses too. The payment involved in such programs are in yearly, half yearly or monthly installments of small amounts.

Almost all sponsorship programs give you periodic school progress reports and other details about the child. Some programs also allow you to be in contact with your sponsored child.

4. All or nothing

The essence of Ramadan is trying to be the best version of yourself whether it’s at work or at home. When fasting ends, keep your efforts up to maximum productivity and 100 per cent commitment to your work and family.

5. Fast one day in a month

Rekindle the spirit of Ramadan once a month by selecting one day to fast. It will refresh your mind and body. You can have water, but abstain from food. End your fast in as healthily a way as possible.

Meditate; spend time in positive introspection and take the day slow. This will help refresh your mind and help you de-stress while detoxing your body.

6. Tolerance

The spiritual element of Ramadan automatically instills a positive feeling, which permeates all our activities. Even people who don’t fast seem to take the extra effort to be positive, polite and tolerant. Carry this forward this Eid and strive to be understanding and tolerant of people or events around you.

Be ready to listen and learn as much as you can. Be open-minded to ideas, even if they make no sense to you at first. Tolerance only comes through understanding and acceptance of things that are new or different.

7. Eat less meat

As responsible human beings, we should avoid taking lives just because we like eating meat. We have so many options available to us, yet we seem unable to control our appetite for meat.

Regardless of your culture or normal eating patterns, eating less meat is easy to bring about and healthier for you. For a start, restrict yourselves to just one or two non-vegetarian meals in a week.

8. Stop smoking (If you are a smoker)

Take a resolution to be responsible for your own health and quit smoking. Make small changes such as avoiding or restricting daily smoking opportunities with colleagues and avoid buying cigarettes.

Challenge yourself, because the need to smoke should not control you.

9. Volunteer once a month

Volunteer for a cause close to your heart once a month. Find a cause you feel passionate about and do adequate research on the organization before registering as a volunteer.

The post Post-Ramadan Challenges – 9 Ideas to Keep on Track appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/family-life/muslims-4-humanity/post-ramadan-challenges-10-ideas-to-keep-on-track/

What are the Sunnah Actions for ‘Eid Al-Fitr?

‘Eid al-fitr is around. What are the Sunnah actions for ‘Eid al-fitr? Shaykh Yahya Ibrahim explains .

What Are the Sunnah Acts on the Day of Eid Al-Fitr?

The post What are the Sunnah Actions for ‘Eid Al-Fitr? appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/sunnah-actions-eid-al-fitr/

‘Eid is Meant to Thank Allah!

‘Eid is meant to thank Allah. We celebrate the end of Ramadan, we should thank Allah for the benefits that we have been given during the holy month. Everyone should attend ‘Eid prayer!

When Is Your `Eid Al-Fitr?

The post ‘Eid is Meant to Thank Allah! appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/eid-meant-thank-allah/

10 Beautiful Cards for Eid Al-Fitr 1443/2022

Check our collection of Eid Al-Fitr greetings cards for this year.

Share your Eid joy and greetings with your relatives, friends and colleagues.

To pick your card, click/touch the image. In the new window, right click on the image and save/copy it, if you are using PC, or keep pressing on it and then select share image or download image.

The post 10 Beautiful Cards for Eid Al-Fitr 1443/2022 appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/special-coverage-shariah/eid-al-fitr-special-coverage-shariah/10-beautiful-cards-for-eid-al-fitr/

Last Days of Ramadan – Seek Solitude at its End

How can we garner for ourselves some exclusivity with God during the last days of Ramadan, to focus on worship?

Unplug the ‘Cord’: Restrict Social Media Access

Tapping, clicking, and typing away on our phones, notebooks, tablet PCs and desktop computers has become second nature for most of us.

Many Muslims are online on social media websites and apps almost 24/7 nowadays, either by choice or due to work. Thanks to the short nights of Ramadan, most of which are spent awake due to prayer and meals, connectivity is even more “real time”.

Try to “switch off”. Tell yourself that these last nights of Ramadan come just once a year, whereas our distractive online conversations, comments, status updates and information sharing go on for the rest of it.

Snap yourself away from your latest online friends’ updates, photos, and tweets. Even avoid articles, over-sensationalized breaking news, and random television viewing.

Also try not to get attracted by commercial advertisements of sales, coupons, discounts and shopping deals in magazines, newspapers and brochures to avail them for Eid!

Resist the Urge to Host or Attend Suhoor or Iftar Banquets at Homes or Restaurants

Barakah - How Can We Obtain More Blessings in Ramadan

It is wise to reserve all our energies during the last ten nights of Ramadan for worshiping God at night. This will not be possible if we go out of the house earlier in the day to attend a banquet for iftar, or if we spend hours in the kitchen preparing to host one at our own home.

Many Muslims attend late night qiyam al layl prayers in congregation during the last odd nights of Qadr (Power) which culminate with lavish suhoor banquets.

Though well-intentioned, some of these gatherings end up having a festive, ‘party-like’ atmosphere and turn into social events, with some attendees breaking away from prayer to sit together in cliques at the back, eating and chatting away about worldly matters, while their children run around playing even as congregational qiyam al layl prayers are going on. This is quite uncalled for during the precious last nights of Ramadan.

Resist the Desire to Go Eid Shopping

I don’t know about others, but the special Eid sale and discount-deal advertisements displaying couture and fashion accessories that started cropping up on screens and billboards in my cosmopolitan city ever since Ramadan started, strike me as extremely dichotomous!

Eid is all about celebrating the fact that we, the Muslim ummah, spent a whole month in devout worship, doing righteous deeds and remembering God more than we normally do. Eid preparations should therefore never become the cause of distracting us from worship during Ramadan!

We should make a conscious effort to keep our discussions, actions and attentions focused on worship and repentance during the last few nights that Ramadan is still with us; instead of on what to buy, what to cook, what gifts to give, and what to wear on Eid day.

Spend Less Time in the Kitchen

Even if you are not attending or hosting banquets, you can still end up spending more time in the kitchen than in devout worship, if you cling to ‘old school’ methods of cooking and insist on needless culinary perfectionism.

Try to rely on healthy ‘ready-made’ foods for suhoor and iftar, such as dates, fruit, milk, nuts, and packaged breads.

And try availing affordable takeout or simple, one-stop, one-pot, easy-prep baked or simmered meals to do the work for you, such as slow-cooker or oven-bake recipes, stews, casseroles and grilled meats that do not require much chopping, kneading, frying, sautéing or cooking time.

Exclusiveness Even From Your Spouse

The Prophet was the most pious amongst us, yet even he abstained from having sexual relations with his wives (which is halal) during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

He would isolate himself from social interactions in the masjid for a ten-day exclusive period in solitary communion with his lord, a praiseworthy, Ramadan-related social isolation known as i’tikaf.

During this time, he would review Quran as usual with Archangel Gabriel, as was his routine during Ramadan every year, in addition to praying qiyam al layl. As the above-quoted hadith states, he would also encourage and involve his family members to pray at night.

If the tired but exhilarated athlete who is approaching the finishing line of this marathon, having spent the last many laps physically disciplining his body into optimum performance and unswerving mental focus on achieving his goal, allowed himself to get distracted by the hordes of awaiting, cheering, waving, and applauding fans gathered in the sidelines to witness his “win”, would he not lose focus and end up spoiling his whole previous preparatory effort to achieve a record-breaking sprint, at the very last minute?

It is time for us to get cracking on night prayers, Quran recitation, tearful repentance and intense, deep, dua’!

(From Reading Islam’s archive)

The post Last Days of Ramadan – Seek Solitude at its End appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/last-days-of-ramadan-seek-solitude-at-its-end/

`Aïd Al-Fitr: Un Jour De Joie Et De Gratitude

`Aïd Al-Fitr où l’on montre sa gratitude et sa joie. Il marque la fin du mois de jeûne. A ce moment, on se sent heureux et se montre reconnaissant envers Allah qui nous a permis de nous soumettre à Ses commandements. Nous avons tous observé le jeûne pendant le Ramadan. Puis, à la fin de ce mois, nous réalisons que les commandements d’Allah nous sont bénéfiques et ne visent que notre bien-être.

Allah ne veut nous imposer aucun fardeau. Il nous a institués le jeûne pour notre bien. Certes, le jeûne présente de nombreux avantages pour les individus ainsi que pour les communautés. Il comporte des avantages à la fois spirituels, moraux et physiques.

Signification De l’Aïd Al-Fitr

Des Stratégies Puissantes Pour Développer La Gratitude

`Aïd Al-Fitr a une profonde signification. Son esprit est empreint de valeurs et de vertus distinguées:

Remercier Allah et Lui exprimer notre gratitude
Ressentir la joie et se réjouir
Entretenir les liens de parenté
Prendre soin des pauvres et des nécessiteux

Reconnaissance Et Gratitude

`Aïd Al-Fitr est le jour qui marque la fin réussie du mois sacré du Ramadan. C’est une fête qui signifie l’accomplissement d’un acte par devoir et dévotion. Il nous enseigne que le vrai bonheur résulte du fait d’accomplir son devoir et de faire des sacrifices en vue d’un noble objectif.

Nous devrions remercier Allah (l’Exalté), car Il nous a guidés à jeûner pendant le Ramadan, à faire de bonnes actions et à réciter le Coran. Nous devons Le remercier, car c’est Lui qui nous a donnés l’argent pour payer la Zakât Al-Fitr et d’autres œuvres caritatives.

Allah dit dans le Coran :

« afin que vous en complétiez le nombre et que vous proclamiez la grandeur d’Allah pour vous avoir guidés, et afin que vous soyez reconnaissants! » (Coran 2:185)

Joie Et Réjouissance

L`Aïd marque notre joie; c’est notre fête. Le mois de Ramadan est une épreuve de la part d’Allah (l’Exalté). À la fin du mois, nous éprouvons un grand sentiment de réussite et de proximité d’Allah. C’est la joie de l’épanouissement spirituel.

Le jour de l’Aïd Al-Fitr, l’heure est à la célébration. Ce jour-là, nous ne devons pas nous permettre d’insulter ou d’injurier les autres, car cela pourrait nuire aux réalisations du mois de Ramadan. `Aïd Al-Fitr est un jour de bonheur et de joie en toute décence.

Allah (l’Exalté) dit :

« Dis: “[Ceci provient] de la grâce d’Allah et de Sa miséricorde; Voilà de quoi ils devraient se réjouir. C’est bien mieux que tout ce qu’ils amassent”. » (Coran 10:58)

Abou Hourayra a rapporté que le Prophète Mohammad (Salla Allah Alayhi Wa Sallam) a dit:

« Le jeûneur connait deux moments de joie: Le premier, la joie qu’il éprouve lorsqu’il rompt son jeûne; le second, celle qu’il éprouve lorsqu’il rencontre son Seigneur grâce au jeûne qu’il a observé. » (Boukhârî et Mouslim)

Cependant, en célébrant `Aïd Al-Fitr, nous devons profiter de notre temps en nous en tenant à ce qui est permis et en évitant ce qui est illégal.

Maintien Des Liens De Parenté

`Aïd Al-Fitr est un jour où les musulmans deviennent plus désireux de rendre visite à leurs parents et amis. A ces moments-là, ils échangent des salutations et entretiennent des liens de parenté. Nous devrions tous rendre visite à nos proches ou au moins les appeler au téléphone. Les frères et sœurs musulmans doivent se saluer en disant « `Aïd Moubarâk » (Joyeuse fête) ou « Qu’Allah accepte vos bonnes actions et les nôtres ».

Le Prophète a dit :

« Quiconque croit en Allah et au Jour Dernier doit entretenir de bonnes relations avec ses proches. » (Boukhârî et Mouslim).

Soin Octroyé Aux Pauvres Et Aux Nécessiteux

Bien qu’Allah (l’Exalté) nous ait commandé de prendre soin des nécessiteux, des pauvres et des orphelins tout au long de l’année, prendre soin d’eux pendant `Aïd Al-Fitr et `Aïd Al-Adha révèle une importance de plus en plus accrue. Allah et Son Prophète nous ont ordonné de satisfaire aux besoins des pauvres et des nécessiteux au cours des deux `Aïds, afin de les préserver de la mendicité.

C’est l’esprit de `Aïd Al-Fitr, alors gardons-le toujours parmi nous. Renforçons nos liens avec notre Créateur et les uns avec les autres. Soyons plus unis et de plus en plus engagés envers la justice en tant qu’individus, familles et communautés.

Enfin, voici quelques conseils qui peuvent nous aider tous à garder l’esprit de l’Aïd Al-Fitr:

Avant de terminer votre ‘I`tikâf (retraite pieuse à la mosquée), saluez tous vos frères et sœurs en leur souhaitant une fête joyeuse ou en leur disant : « Qu’Allah accepte vos bonnes actions et les nôtres ».
Rendez visite à tous vos parents, amis et proches et appelez ceux qui vivent loin.
Prenez soin de votre famille et de vos enfants et laissez-les ressentir le bonheur de l’Aïd.
Participez aux célébrations de l’Aïd pour voir vos frères et sœurs musulmans.
Faites des invocations en faveur de vos coreligionnaires musulmans partout dans le monde.
Essayez de célébrer l’Aïd par des pratiques permises et éloignez-vous de celles qui sont illégales.

Qu’Allah accepte nos bonnes actions et nous accorde Son pardon et Sa miséricorde.

Pour consulter le texte originel en anglais, veuillez visiter ce lien.

The post `Aïd Al-Fitr: Un Jour De Joie Et De Gratitude appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/fr/aid-al-fitr-un-jour-de-joie-et-de-gratitude/

Zakat Al-Fitr: lo que necesitas saber

Zakat al-Fitr es una forma de caridad que se da a los pobres al final del ayuno del mes de Ramadán.

Fue decretado en el segundo año después de la Hiyrah del Profeta Muhammad (la paz sea con él) a Medina. Ese fue el mismo año en el que se decretó el ayuno del mes de Ramadán.

El Mensajero de Allah ordenó dar el Zakat-ul-fitr a quien ayunara (es decir, quien ayunó durante el mes de Ramadán) para purificarlo de cualquier acto o palabra indecente y con el propósito de proporcionar alimentos a los necesitados. Se acepta como Zakat cuando la persona que lo paga antes de la oración del Eid y es Sadaqah (es decir, caridad voluntaria) para la persona que lo paga después de la oración del Eid”. Relatado por Abu Dawud e Ibn Majah y Al-Hakim lo calificó como Sahih”.
Abu Dawud

¿Quien paga el Zakat Al-Fitr?

Un musulmán debe pagar el Zakat al-Fitr por sí mismo y sus dependientes.

El Profeta, la paz y las bendiciones sean con él, ordenó el pago de un Sa’ de dátiles o un Sa’ de cebada como Zakat al-Fitr a cada musulmán, joven y viejo, hombre y mujer, libre y esclavo”.
(Al-Bujari y Muslim)

¿Cuánto cuesta?

La cantidad de un Sa’ (aprox. 2.175 a 3 kg) de trigo, harina, cebada, dátiles, pasas o alimentos similares.

Algunos juristas también permiten pagar el valor de la cantidad anterior en efectivo; esta opinión puede ser lo mejor para los pobres y necesitados de hoy.

¿Quién recibe a Zakat Al-Fitr?

El Zakat al-fitr se debe dar a todos los musulmanes, que no tienen suficiente para las próximas 24 horas (día y noche).

¿Cuándo deberías pagarlo?

Según algunos eruditos el Zakat al-Fitr se vuelve obligatorio al atardecer del último día del Ramadán.

Otra opinión es que el momento de la obligación es el Fajr (amanecer) del día de ‘Eid.

Video: Zakat Al-Fitr

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The post Zakat Al-Fitr: lo que necesitas saber appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/es/zakat-al-fitr-lo-que-necesitas-saber/

10 Tips to End Ramadan in the Best Way & Celebrating ‘Eid

Excellent advice from Dr. Yasir Qadhi about how we should end Ramadan & celebrate ‘Eid.

The post 10 Tips to End Ramadan in the Best Way & Celebrating ‘Eid appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/10-tips-end-ramadan-best-way-celebrating-eid/

Allah Is Waiting

Allah has already said He would forgive whoever seeks His forgiveness. Allah waits for the biggest sinner to turn to Him in the deep night, He waits to hear one Ya Allah! He responds 70 times. I am here.

The post Allah Is Waiting appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/allah-is-waiting/

A Final Push for Frazzled Moms before End of Ramadan

Ramadan is a month of challenge and striving. We Muslims push ourselves to perform good deeds and acts of worship while displaying self control in the face of hunger, thirst, and fatigue.

Twenty-four hours hardly seems enough time to accomplish enough each day, particularly for mothers whose duties never end.

From early morning until late at night, mothers tend to be “on call,” perpetually available for every family member’s wants and needs.

Particularly when their children are infants and toddlers, many women feel frustrated with their inability to dedicate themselves to extra prayer and remembrance of Allah SWT.

Dishes, laundry, diapers, cooking, and errands seem never-ending and overwhelming. As much as we would like to put those duties on hold for a month, the fact is that a household must continue to function, even during the holiest month.

So what can overextended mothers do to reap the benefits of Ramadan, despite their jam-packed schedules?

Make the best of Ramadan

1- Make every action count. Child care and housework might not seem very glamorous, but in the eyes of Allah SWT they are extremely noble and important.

For instance, babies need to be fed, cleaned, held, and diapered frequently. Instead of lamenting the time we could be spending in prayer, we can instead reap the rewards of our nurturing.

Remember to say “bismillah” before each and every thing you do, and know that your tender care of your infant is beloved by Allah SWT.

For instance, when a mother breastfeeds her baby, she receives a reward for every suck! And if her child keeps her awake during the night, she has a reward similar to the reward of freeing seventy slaves for the sake of Allah SWT.

While some Muslims are able to spend hours at tarawih prayer, inshaAllah the mothers who spends hours taking care of small children can still earn countless blessings.

Indeed, they have the status of a noble warrior! The Prophet (PBUH) said, “A woman in her pregnancy to the time of her delivery to the time of her weaning is like a soldier in the way of Allah.”

2- Make dhikr at every opportunity, even at red lights! Motherhood is full of mindless tasks: dishwashing, driving to and from appointments, cleaning, cooking.

Instead of letting our minds wander aimlessly as we stir the soup, wait for the traffic light to turn green, or fold the laundry, let’s use that time wisely. Praise and thank Allah constantly by repeating “SubhanAllah,” “Alhamdullilah,” and “Allahu akbar.”

Ask for His forgiveness by saying “Astaghfirullah.” Make it a habit to repeat those words during every mindless task, and soon it will become second nature, insha’Allah.

3- Allow family members to earn good deeds by helping around the house. Ramadan is a time for charity, and there are bountiful blessings to be earned by cheerfully supporting each other.

6 Steps to Catch the Blessings of Laylat Al-Qadr

Remind your children that Allah SWT loves when they help their parents, and during Ramadan they should increase their efforts to be useful and kind.

Many household tasks can be delegated to children, freeing more time for mother to pray and read Qur’an. For their part, husbands have the beautiful example of Prophet (PBUH) to emulate.

Since he (PBUH) helped around the house and was a model husband and father, it is clear that Muslim men need to participate in the running of the household and the upbringing of the children.

“The best of you are the best to your wives,” said Mohammad (PBUH). What better month than Ramadan for Muslim men to strive to be the best?

4- If having more free time to pray and read Qur’an is your fervent wish, then ask Allah SWT to enable you to have it! Sometimes we forget to ask Allah SWT to put baraka in our time — to make every minute blessed and productive.

If we start our day with the intention to do our best for the sake of Allah SWT and to use our time wisely, inshaAllah He SWT will enable us to get everything done with time to spare for focused worship.

5- Simplify as much as possible. It is worth reminding ourselves and our family members repeatedly that Ramadan is about fasting, not feasting. Iftar meals do not have to be complicated to be satisfying and nourishing.

6- Be a conscious, positive example for your daughters. Remember that young girls will be looking to you as an example of how to be a Muslim wife and mother. Show them by example how to welcome the month of Ramadan with dignity, patience, joy, and taqwa (God-consciousness).

If we let the demands of our life make us frazzled, resentful, and over-exhausted, then our daughters might begin to dread Ramadan.

On the other hand, if we demonstrate how to transform every single task into an act of worship and devotion, then inshaAllah our daughters will be inspired to follow our example.

Remember, too: our words will affect our children and ourselves. Instead of complaining, “I’m so tired of cooking!” we can train ourselves to say, “Alhamdullilah for food to eat!”

Instead of proclaiming to our older child, “Your little siblings are exhausting me, and I have no time to myself!,” we can say, “Please play with your brothers and sisters for twenty minutes. They love being with you, and inshaAllah you will earn good deeds by helping me.”

7- Finally, do not overextend yourself, Mama, even during Ramadan. Yes, it is a month to exert great effort and self-control; however, Islam is above all a religion of balance. If we mothers wear ourselves to exhaustion and collapse, it will certainly not benefit us, or our family.

A certain amount of self-care is necessary, even during a month of self-deprivation. Mothers who are “on duty” all day must get enough sleep at night. They also must make sure to eat healthy meals and drink plenty of fluids at suhor and iftar.

We do not want to model “martyr mothering” to our daughters, making them think that women should sacrifice everything — including their health, sanity, and happiness– for the sake of others. In fact, it is our duty as Muslim women to care for our bodies, minds, and spirits.

We should not feel guilty if we cannot complete all our work, or if we need to ask for help. Additionally, we should learn to say “no” when we are unable or unwilling to do something, without agonizing about the decision. It is our job to set boundaries and to make our own needs and wishes clear.

In the end, Allah SWT knows each individual’s efforts and intentions. If the tasks of motherhood are exhausting you this Ramadan, then know that He SWT sees all of your sacrifices, your fatigue, and your tears.

InshaAllah you will be rewarded for every single step you take to please Him SWT. At the same time, remember to take care of yourself because you, mother, are the linchpin of your family.

First published: June 2017

Read More by Laura:

Poison in our Mosques

A Letter to Muslim Husbands Spending Ramadan with Non-Muslim Wives

Beware of the Convert Zone – What Not to Say to a Convert

The post A Final Push for Frazzled Moms before End of Ramadan appeared first on About Islam.

source https://aboutislam.net/family-life/moms-dads/a-final-push-for-frazzled-moms-before-the-end-of-ramadan/