Walking to Masjid Nabawi after Asr are scenes of vans parked in the shade of palm trees with serpentine lines of people holding a plastic bag waiting their turn to have "ful" scooped from massive pots into the bag. Other vans and trucks park closer to Haram, distributing drinks, bread, dates, yogurt. And once in the courtyard groups are beginning to roll out various forms of ground covers preparing for the laying of the strips of plastic sufra in rows upon rows upon rows. Some of the more sophisticated, and prestigious locations go to the extent of laying down a vinyl area. The prized and most sort after place for Iftar being as close to the Abode of Peace as possible. I can barely imagine how our Beloved Prophet SallAllah alahi wasllam, would be reacting to the activity so close by, SubhanAllah. People begin sitting here soon after Asr to procure their place for breaking fast. Other areas do not fill up until closer to Maghrib time.

The sun is still radiating an intense heat, challenging levels of patience, with the majority knowing that Allah Ta’ala has blessed us with this month of patience, promising the patient with His Jannah. Sitting on the marble is like sitting on a hot plate!

It is the month where the true believers Rizq is increased, the month of increased sympathy with our brothers and sister of the Ummah of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the month of drawing nearer and nearer to Allah Ta’ala and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the month where virtuous deeds are rewarded as a Fardh, and every Fardh blessed with the reward of seventy Faraa-idh in any other time. The donors, or philanthropists who year after year vie for providing Iftar to everyone in and around the Haramain, with the numbers in the millions over the month, are to be blessed.

Generations after generations have taken on this honour of feeding the inhabitants, whoever they are and wherever they are from, of the Haramain for Iftar. The organization each day is beyond superlative! The donor families not only organize the purchase of the food, but the transporting, the distribution, the serving and the initial cleaning up. Most areas seem to accommodate one hundred to two hundred people, with groups of brothers performing the Khidmah to the masses. Many personally invite you to their sufra as you walk by, eager to gain the multitude of blessings promised. The whole scene is so emotional, tears of overwhelming gratitude soaking my niqab! The selfless serving of hundreds of brothers, themselves fasting, and yet caring more for the welfare of total strangers. The true spirit of brotherhood is deeply felt at such a time.

Whoever feeds another who fasted at Iftar, will be the forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam, and receives such a reward as the one who fasted without that persons reward being decreased in the lest. I contemplated how many rewards the provider would be accumulating! Each day being as though they had fasted one hundred, two hundred times, multiplied by thirty! SubhanAllah!

And Allah Ta’ala grants the same reward to the one who gives a fasting person a mere date or a drink of water, or a sip of milk. And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink Allah Ta’ala shall grant the giver to drink from His Fountain, such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah.

Every person is fed ample for renewing and sustaining energy levels in preparation for the evenings Ibadah, culminating in the resounding offering of Taraweeh.

The atmosphere is incredibly subdued given the thousands strolling in from all directions, seeking a place to share this moving time together. The whole spectrum of the Ummah is present; from the bent over elderly to babes in arms, every country represented, the rich and the poor. But this is a time when we all should feel so rich in the eyes of Allah Ta’ala, for all the favours He is so generously pouring on us in these days and nights. Eyes patiently watch the sinking sun paint the sky in hues of gold, reds, pinks, mauves, until that piercing moment Adhan fills our hearts and the sky. There is a contented and grateful silence as parched lips are quenched and hunger satiated by the One Who has gifted us with this most Blessed Ramadhan.

Iqama is slightly prolonged during Ramadhan, giving ample time to break fast. Most of the sufras offer water, juice, dates, yogurt, break, fruits, some offer rice, some offer home made pastries. The transformation of one massive eating area into a prayer area has to be seen to be believed! The teams who have been serving, in an instant roll up the long strips of plastic containing all the rubbish, into huge yellow garbage bags, which are loaded into strategically placed trolleys and or metal caged trailers attached to the Haram vehicles. After Salat the cleaning continues with bands of the usual Haram cleaners, consisting of fully covered sisters with pans and brooms, brothers with fan shaped sweeper things which can catch large amounts as they swiftly move along, others pushing big moveable bins, the Raptors attempting to vacuum the outer courtyard, as people seem reluctant to move for them, others washing the outer areas followed by the lines of the squeegee operators! And then the bothers assigned to rolling out the carpets in preparation for Esha and Taraweeh struggle to move groups in order to complete their task! Insha’Allah make Du’a for all of these people who immediately after Salatul Maghrib tirelessly go to work to ensure the cleanliness and comfort of the worshippers.

 

The following articles, which have been appearing in Arab News over the past few days may be of interest:

Ful in Makkah

http://arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=87231&d=27&m=9&y=2006&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Umrah from within the Kingdom

http://arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=87290&d=28&m=9&y=2006&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

 
Ramadan then and now

http://arabnews.com/?page=21&section=0&article=87306&d=28&m=9&y=2006

 
Excessive spending on food during Ramadhan

http://arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=87341&d=29&m=9&y=2006&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen. 

 

 

 

 

As this Blessed Month slowly slips away, as surely as the moon’s face slowly changes before our eyes, the seconds for earning the Divine Bounties are so precious.

 

Allah Ta’ala’s Mercy is overflowing, His Generosity and Kindness beyond our comprehension during this unique month, says our Noble Master SallAllahu alaihi wasallam: "In every hour of Ramadhan Kareem, six hundred thousand people are delivered from divine punishment. It goes on like this till the Night of Power. When the Night of Power comes, the rate of deliverance becomes equal to the total of those spared in all the hours between the beginning of Ramadhan and the Night of Power; it continues like this till Eid."

Jabir RadhiAllahu anhu reports: "The Messenger of Allah said to us one day: ‘On the last night of Ramadhan, the Heavens the Earth and the Angels weep for the misfortune of my Ummah.’ When we asked: ‘What misfortune, O Messenger of Allah?’ he gave us the reply: ‘The misfortune of Ramadhan being over. In Ramadhan prayers are accepted, charity is received, good deeds are recompensed many times over, punishment is waived and sins are pardoned; so what misfortune is as great as the passing of Ramadhan?’’

Heaven and Earth and the Angels weep for the passing of this Blessed Month, but it is us who should be wailing and weeping for our negligence and wasting of time. Allah Ta’ala instructs the recording Angels: "Write down the good works of the Ummah of Muhammad, but do not record their bad deeds, and wipe out their past sins."

May we all be striving our utmost, increasing our efforts in all aspects of our Deen, and encouraging others to do so too.

 

Rewards For Performing Taraweeh During Ramadhan

 

1ST NIGHT – Almighty Allah Ta’ala forgives all the sins of a Mu’min.

 

2nd NIGHT – Allah Ta’ala will forgive your parents if they died as Mu’min

 

3rd NIGHT – Below the Arsh-Allah’s throne an Angel is commanded to proclaim: "O, MU’MIN your deed was pure, Allah Ta’ala has forgiven your past sins"

 

4th NIGHT – You are awarded the thawaab of reading the Torah, Injeel, Zaboor and the Quraan Majid.

 

5th NIGHT – You get thawaab equal to that which you would gain if you read your salaat in the Sanctuary of the Ka’aba, Al-Madina Al-Munawwarah and Masjid Aqsa.

 

6th NIGHT – You gain the thawaab of the Tawaaf made by the 70,000 angels made at Baitul Mamoor in the seventh sky.

 

7th NIGHT – You receive the thawaab of those good people who helped Musa alaihis Salaam when he fought Fir’un and Haman.

 

8th NIGHT – The rewards for the 8th Taraweeh are equal to the thawaab awarded to Ibrahim alaihis Salaam

 

9th NIGHT – The rewards of this night are that one becomes the beloved of Allah Ta’ala, Allah loves that servant.

 

10th NIGHT – Allah proclaims for you all the best in the world, one is endowed with the goodly provisions of this world and the Hereafter.

 

11th NIGHT – The reward for this night is that when a Mu’min leaves this world, he does so with Iman.

 

12th NIGHT – On the Day of Resurrection you will appear with a face with so much Nur, lustre on it, as much as the shining full moon.

 

13th NIGHT – On the Day of Resurrection, you will be protected from evil and stand secure.

 

14th NIGHT – On the Day of Resurrection, the Angels will be witnesses for the Taraweeh you are performing. On this evidence Allah Ta’ala will grant your entry into Paradise without account.

 

15th NIGHT – All the Angels who carry the Throne and the Footstool pronounce benedictions for the servant performing Taraweeh on this night.

 

16th NIGHT – Allah Ta’ala gives instructions giving you immunity from Jahannam, and entitling you to enter Jannah.

 

17th NIGHT – Allah grants you the thawaab of the Anbiya Alaihumus Salaam

 

18th NIGHT – On this night an Angel announces that Allah is happy with you, and your parents.

 

19th NIGHT- The reward for this night is that Allah Ta’ala elevates your position in Jannah.

 

20th NIGHT- On this night Allah Ta’ala rewards you by granting to you the thawaab of the martyred and the pious.

 

21st NIGHT – On this night, Allah Ta’ala builds a pavilion of Nur for you in Paradise.

 

22nd NIGHT – You will arrive to the Resurrection ground duly freed from sorrow and distress.

 

23rd NIGHT – On this night Allah Ta’ala makes a garden ("shaher") for you in Jannah.

 

24th NIGHT – On this night Allah Ta’ala grants twenty-four duas, prayers.

 

25th NIGHT – Allah Ta’ala lifts his punishment from your grave.

 

26th NIGHT – Allah Ta’ala increases for you the thawaab of 40 years.

 

27th NIGHT – The rewards for this night of Taraweeh are that you will be able to cross the Pul-Siraat (bridge) like lightning.

 

28th NIGHT – Your position in Paradise is increased by one stage.

 

29th NIGHT – Allah Ta’ala grants the thawaab of 1,000 "makabul" (accepted) Hajj.

 

30th NIGHT – By performing this night of Taraweeh you would be one of the many persons who, on the Day of Resurrection will hear Allah Ta’ala say in Paradise, "Eat whichever fruit you like to eat, bathe with the water of Salsabil and drink from the Kawthar! I am thy Lord and you are my slave!

 

May we all be striving our utmost, increasing our efforts in all aspects of our Deen, and encouraging others to do so, thereby gaining our own thawaab as well as what we have encouraged. May our greed for the spiritual gains of Ramadhan match our greed at Iftar! Insha’Allah.

 

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen. 

 

 

 

 

..and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night.. (2:187)

The following is from the Islam in Perspective section of Arab News.

The author discusses how fasting was before the Revelation regarding the stipulated times between sunrise and sunset, and then describes how it was first interpreted by some of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum.

"The Qur’anic verse speaks of distinguishing the whiteness of the day against the blackness of the night. This is an idiomatic translation of this Qur’anic statement. A more literal translation may be rendered as follows: "You may eat and drink until you can distinguish the white line from the black line at dawn." The Arabic term, khayt, used for "line" also means "thread". Some of the Prophet’s companions, RadhiAllahu anhum, however, took this expression literally. Adiy ibn Hatim RadhiAllahu anhu reports that when the verse was revealed he said to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam: "Messenger of Allah! I placed under my pillow two ropes, a white one and a black one, so that I could distinguish night from day." The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to him: "Your pillow is certainly wide. This is a reference to the blackness of the night and the whiteness of the day." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Adiy ibn Hatim RadhiAllahu anhu was not alone in doing so. We have several Hadiths that suggest that many of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum understood the statement literally and tried to determine the time for the beginning of fasting by holding a white thread and a black one. They continued to eat and drink until they couls clearly distinguish one from the other. We note here how the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam explained to Adiy RadhiAllahu anhu what was meant by the Qur’anic verse.

He first told him that his pillow was wide. He meant that Adiy RadhiAllahu anhu would be sleeping late if he waited until he could distinguish one rope from the other. The break of dawn takes place earlier. Much of the light of the approaching day would be needed before we are able to distinguish the two ropes. Ibn Hajar, a great scholar of Hadith in his own right, mentions in his extensive commentary on Al-Bukhari’s Sahih anthology of Hadiths that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam reply was figurative, pointing in a different direction. He is of the view that Adiy RadhiAllahu anhu’s pillow must be very wide indeed if he could cover the two ropes Allah Ta’ala meant, i.e. the blackness of the night and the whiteness of the day. When the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam made this abundantly clear to his companions, they were in no doubt about the time when they had to start their fast. Anyone could determine that by merely looking at the sky. He is certain to note when the first ray of light shows against the blackness of the night."

I wonder how many of us actually rely on looking at the sky to determine when to begin our fast and when to break it? How it must have been during the time of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, when there was no electricity flooding the true depth of the sky and all its wonders! SubhanAllah! How it must have been to wander from a simple dwelling to directly observe the conditions. Maybe children would excitedly watch the sky and then excitedly relay their observations. Allowing the mind to wander back in time conjures such a different feel in the heart. Now the majority of us set the alarm clock, based on a printed calendar. Some places fire canons, beat drums, some villages use a caller to run around verbally announcing the time to stop eating and drinking in the morning. 

I wonder how many of us actually rely on looking at the sky to determine when to begin our fast and when to break it? How it must have been during the time of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, when there was no electricity flooding the true depth of the sky and all its wonders! SubhanAllah! How it must have been to wander from a simple dwelling to directly observe the conditions. Maybe children would excitedly watch the sky and then excitedly relay their observations. Allowing the mind to wander back in time conjures such a different feel in the heart. Now the majority of us set the alarm clock, based on a printed calendar. Some places fire canons, beat drums, some villages use a caller to run around verbally announcing the time to stop eating and drinking in the morning.

Maybe take time during this Ramadhan, to go outside, with your family, watching the pre-dawn signs, as well as at Maghrib, then comparing your observations with the clock, Insha’Allah.

Many of our actions towards this glorious Deen have become habitual and mechanical, cast in a mould and become second nature and performed like lifeless rituals. Let this Ramadhan herald some great change and progress in our lives. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to appreciate this Ramadhan, who knows it may be our last. Only Allah Ta’ala knows who may not even make it to celebrate the coming Eid. Each night as Taraweeh prayers are performed here in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Allah Ta’ala has deemed that we pray the Janazah prayers on the new inhabitants of Jannatul Baqi. May their new abode be full of Nur and perfumed by the heady fragrance of Jannah. Ameen.

May we value this Ramadhan and exert ourselves to the fullest, and make this time a real turning point in our lives.  

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen. 

 

 

 

 

 

Divine Blessings are being showered upon us, Mercy raining down as the Shayateen are bound and the Heavens being decorated. May we take full advantage of this month of purification, determined to exit after our offering of fasting purely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, reformed and revitalized. May we be deeply immersed in our annual renovation of our inner spiritual qualities. This is the time to strengthen our Iman, purify our heart and soul, crying for our efforts to be accepted, crying for forgiveness, repenting over and over until not a trace of remorse is left in our heart. Begging for guidance, unity and peace for the entire Ummah. Ya Rabb, Ya Lateef, keep me awake to lament for my sins, keep my heart aflame with Your remembrance, with Your Book, with Your Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. I am weak, You are strong, I am in need, You satiate the needy, I am mortal, You are Everlasting.

Allah Ta’ala said to Musa Alaihis Salaam, when he requested to see His countenance, "Musa, how can you see My beauty when there are seventy thousand veils between us? You are incapable of seeing Me. But near the Resurrection I shall give a month as a gift to the Ummah of my Beloved Muhammad. That month shall be called Ramadhan. To the Ummah of Muhammad that fasts during that month, I shall so manifest Myself at the time of breaking fast that, whereas between you and Me there are now seventy thousand veils, there will be no veil at all between Us and the fasting Ummah of Muhammad at the time of breaking fast."

 

Allah the Exalted and Almighty said: "The fast is for Me and it is I who will reward it."

May our days and nights be steadfast and persistent in seeking this grand reward. "Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with the expectation of reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven," said the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasllam.

 

 

A scant selection of sites from an overwhelmingly array available:

http://www.weneedtounite.com/sermon1.htm Go to the section on Ramadhan for a diverse "taste" of articles.

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/madina.htm An inspiring article! I read this years ago with the burning desire and fervent Du’a that Allah Ta’ala grant me residence in this Radiant City, and SubhanAllah, Ramadhan in Madinah has become a reality for me!

http://www.islamonline.net/English/ram2002/10/topic05.shtml A huge smorgasbord of information!

http://www.duas.org/ramadhan.htm An excellent Ramadhan planner, not too late to check what you may be able to add to your schedule!

http://www.islam786.org/ramadan.htm#51609227 An extremely comprehensive selection concerning all aspects of Ramadhan, Eid and fasting in Shawwal.

http://www.zaytuna.org/ramadansection2006.asp The usual high quality offerings from Zaytuna, Masha’Allah.

http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/r.plan.asp Helps us to "wake up" to what we should be trying to achieve during this Mubarak time.

http://www.101ramadan.com/thoughts.html  e-cards and thoughts

 

And more and more in the following links!

http://www.sacredlearning.org/audio/general/2006/checkin_ramadan_32k.wma

http://www.alinaam.org.za/ramadhaan/countdown.htm

http://www.khutbah.com/index.php?type=5&id=574&language=8

http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/dua1/Ramadan_dua.html

http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa1/ramadan/ramadan_index.html

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=287&CATE=6

 

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.